Dwelling

Poor thinking, negative thoughts, believing lies, mistrust and so many of the other things that have a way of creeping into our minds are going to happen. We shouldn’t be surprised when they do. Where we get into trouble is when we dwell on them and let them take a prominent place. The sooner we can recognize them and turn them over to God the better. The more we practice this the easier it gets.

Top Ten

I got to hear two of the most wonderful things ever the other day. Our nine year old daughter came home after a rough day at school and though it took awhile, she finally let me in on what had gone on. Essentially circumstance and a couple of isolated encounters had her believing lies about herself and how others feel about her. We then had a really special talk about the things that are true about her and how perfectly loved and lovable she is. That’s when she said, “Dad can we spend a whole day together?” Later that night I went in to kiss her goodnight after she and her Mom had prayed and the first thing she said was, “Thank you for saying what you did Dad.” Raising someone’s spirit has a wonderful way of raising yours.

Upstream

Swimming against the current is difficult. The flow of this world can be overwhelming as it comes at you with all it has; you’re not loved, you’re all alone, you’re not good enough, you have nothing to offer and so much more. Often it’s tempting to stop swimming and just float along with everyone else but here’s great news, it’s not that deep. Stop swimming and stand up. Take life a step at a time with one foot firmly planted. The further you get the easier it becomes; you get stronger and the surge becomes a trickle. How God thinks about you overtakes the lies you’ve believed and you can give a hand to those still struggling.

Outcast

Rejection is all around; we’ve all experienced it and know its pain. But how often do we look for those around us that could use a smile, a hug and a friend? Each day we’re given chances to counter the lies of rejection faced by folks near to us. Let’s not miss those chances today.

Directions

Be secure in who you are, sure of how much you are loved and confident in your future. Set aside whatever your insecurities look like, while thinking less about you. Don’t be easily offended and think highly of others. Repeat vigorously.

Desperately Crave

The connection, the one of a kind relationship and unconditional love that we all desperately crave, can only be found through an intimate relationship with our God, our Creator, our Heavenly Father. It’s out of the abundance of this union that we are able to be a portion of His love to those around us. The beauty of these relationships is deeper and richer than we could’ve hoped for before realizing how God truly feels about us. We can’t help but want those near us to know and experience what we’ve found. We can be the evidence that stands staunchly against the lies that we’re all confronted with each day. We can be the kind of friends and family that we only dreamed we could find.

Our son Max played a song for me yesterday by Ray LaMontagne. It’s about being the kind of friend I so very much want to be and am so thankful to have. The song’s called Let it be Me and I hope you can hear it by clicking here.

Another Tricky Day

I hadn’t heard this song by The Who for many years but God really spoke to me when I heard it today.

The world seems in a spiral
Life seems such a worthless title
but break out and start a fire y’all

Everyday throws curves at you, the lies seem endless but knowing the truth makes it just another tricky day that we can overcome.

Big Fish

We watched the movie “Big Fish” tonight and the following quote really hit me. “The truth is, I didn’t see anything of myself in my father. And I don’t think he saw anything of himself in me.” Think about that for a minute.

While that may be true of some of our earthly fathers, that’s certainly not the case with our heavenly Father, we mustn’t buy into that lie. The truth is that we are made in His image. Don’t let theology complicate that for you, there is much in us that is of Him, He sees it and wants to help us see it too.

Don’t Believe

Don’t believe the lies that will come at you today. No matter how overwhelming the evidence may be, you are perfectly and uniquely loved. The less you entertain the lie the less hold it will have. Be secure in who God made you and how much He loves you.

You may not

Somehow, “You may not” has become God’s most famous misquote. Since the Garden of Eden when, “You may eat of every tree…” got twisted, God has far too often been thought of as a stingy, joyless authoritarian Who doesn’t want us to have any fun. Nothing is further from the truth. All of creation is His gift to us, made for our pleasure and enjoyment. He wants to withhold nothing from us save that which is harmful or that we are not ready for. True joy can only be found in Him and He has graciously offered to share His authority with us. First by giving us choice and second by allowing us to live in His presence, being guided and instructed by Him moment by moment. What He wants for us far exceeds what we want for ourselves.