John

My wife and I met a guy named John the other day. We could have talked to John for hours about nearly anything because you could easily tell that he cared. He was secure in who he is and simply confident about life. At one point in the conversation he told my wife how much he loved God. We weren’t surprised in fact we already knew. John’s love for God was all over him. At one point quite a ways into our encounter John told us about his eleven year old son that has leukemia. Sometime later we asked about other children and heard about his newborn son who two weeks before was in the NIC Unit due to major complications at birth. The complications were a huge medical issue for John’s wife too. In fact at one point in the last few weeks his wife was at one hospital while his sons where at different hospitals in another city. None of them were within twenty miles of their home.

At no time did John indicate anything other than joy! He had every reason to be down and good reason to doubt yet his excitement for God was amazingly contagious. We loved how he told us about his Lord not his church because it’s personal. His trust was infectious. We can all learn from John and people like him.

John’s wife and baby are home doing well, will you please pray for their older son Toby?

Part of the Change

You can be encouraged when life is difficult and overwhelming. Struggle is part of the change. If you were plugging along in your comfortable life, convinced that all is well you’d be fooled. More of Him comes in difficulty. Trust!

Through the Pain

We needn’t carry all the shame
Or find a place to put the blame
Poor choices and mistakes
Are what He came from us to take
If we won’t learn to grow through pain
His gift to us remains in vain

Fatherhood

Eighteen years ago my lessons in fatherhood began. It didn’t come as a surprise, we’d had nine months to prepare. But what I didn’t know at the time was that this is a class you never finish.

The total revelation however was how much I needed to learn about being a son. I’m so thankful for the lessons these past eighteen years have brought and am looking forward to those ahead. Thank you Elliot for all you have taught me, Happy Birthday! I love you.

And Happy Birthday Grandma Grace.

It’s a New Day

“When you go through a disappointment, when you go through a loss, don’t stop on that page in your life. You’ve got to decide to keep moving forward. There’s another chapter in front of you but you’ve got to be willing to take the next step.” – Jen Munro

“What we learn is far more important than what we go through.” – Lindy Chamberlain (Thank you Alison)

We needn’t be defined by the tragedy that befalls us, we must grow through it.

Fear or Trust

What’s it going to be?

Every decision, every action even every thought has its roots in either fear or trust. We can choose right now, in the days ahead and in this wonderful New Year to operate out of trust. We can learn to recognize when fear is having its way in our lives and increase our ability to break free.

Listening to Others

Have you noticed how little listening takes place these days? Everyone has something to say but few are able or willing to listen. A pause in the middle of a story is the perfect opportunity to jump in with what I’ve been thinking about while you’ve been talking. We all have so much to learn from each other maybe we should listen more.

And Still More

Bob Goff’s “Love Does”

“I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.”

What can I learn here Lord, is always a great question to ask no matter the circumstance. There is always more of God to be found in good as well as difficult times.

How real is God?

Over the next several days let’s take a look at some of the varying degrees we allow God into our lives. Everyone has a perception of God and that view affects us immensely. I know God’s desire is for our understanding of Him to increase no matter what we believe today and that He wants this understanding to grow into knowing Him on a very personal basis. It’s possible for our connection with Him to be the deepest and most honest relationship we could possibly know. So let’s see where we are with God as well as where others may have Him so we can draw closer while helping those around us get nearer too.

Space Makers

Jesus always made space for those around Him to grow. Isn’t it incredible that He said, “I am the light of the world” and then told us that we too are the light of the world making it clear that we aren’t to sit back and watch what He’s doing? We should be the same, making room for those around us to develop and encouraging their relationship with the Lord.