Father's Day has changed for me in recent years. My girls are in college these days and my oldest hasn't been home for Father's Day in a few years. This is the first year that both my wife and I haven't had our fathers. Her's passed away last June and mine this past February. Seems a little odd how life changes.
When my girls were little they used to make special cards or gifts for me for Father's Day. They might color me a picture or write a note. But things have changed. Today I'm lucky to get a phone call.
Memories of past years still flow through my mind. I often find myself commenting to my wife that our girls aren't little any more. They both have boyfriends and I soon realize that I will be replaced as the man in their life. For the time being, they still need me and I occasionally find an unfamiliar charge to my credit card.
As simply a steward of my kids lives I realize that God has a purpose for them. My job has simply been to craft their hearts to pursue God and His will for their lives. It's not been nor is my job to mold them into what I want them to become. It's been and continues to be to plant the things of God in them and cultivate their thoughts with the precepts of His Word.
It was God who knit them in their mother's womb. Oh sure I contributed the sperm, but it was God who wove into them their talents, passions, skill sets, personality and vision to accomplish a task specially designed for them. All I did was offer a little genetic material and God did the rest. As a parent, I have had the responsibility to feed, nurture, teach, guide, protect, enlighten, encourage, challenge, and point them toward the path to follow God's leading. Hopefully I haven't screwed up God's purpose and plan for their life or steered them from Him.
God has a plan for each of our lives. He formed us in our mother's womb with that purpose in mind. He injected all the right ingredients for us to fulfill that plan. He sees our whole future before one day of them happens. That ought to say something of our value. But the kicker is will we choose to allow God to truly direct and lead our life to accomplish that unique mission He has for us. That's why seeking Him, His thoughts, His heart, His plan is essential to living a truly fulfilled life.
God, sometimes I question my existence. I wonder why am I here. I don't seem to have a lot of significance according to the world's standards or probably even my own. Yet I know you created me and my life has meaning to you. I just want to be in your will. I just want to accomplish what you placed me here to do. Keep showing me the path to take daily. I'm listening. I'm looking. I'm anticipating.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 62:1-8 (God, Please Speak to Me)
I'm a doer person by nature. I really don't like to just sit around much. I'd much rather being hanging with people or working on some project. I have a tendency to get a little mopey when I have nothing to do or no one with which to hang out. In fact, I struggle with maintaining a regular quiet time because I spend much of my time in study for sermons and lessons anyway.
Recently I've been wresting with some direction for the church and my own life in various areas. So I knew that I needed some extended alone time with God. Our temps are ranging right now in the mid 90's, a little unusual for Missouri this time of year. I decided to go hit the links late in the day yesterday since my evening appointments had canceled. Alone time on the golf course is one of my favorite retreats. No phone. No intrusions or interruptions. Just a couple hour walk in nature with God.
When I need this time of refuge I always walk and play alone. God had pressed on me the passage from Genesis where God comes to walk and talk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, which I interpreted to be dusk. I reasoned that no one in their right mind would be out playing golf on a Monday evening when the temps were over 95 degrees and the humidity was nearly that much. I love late afternoon and early summers eve. The sun slowly sets. The wind stills. Nature starts its wind down from the day. I simply wanted to be still and hear the voice of God.
As I strolled up on the first tee my prayer was, "God, I'm coming to you in the cool of day. Walk with me. Talk with me. I want to hear your voice. Speak to my heart. Give me your wisdom and direction. I just want to be alone with you for a couple of hours."
But that's not what happened. Instead of a time with God that was encouraging or enlightening or inspiring or directional or even a time of face to face confrontation, what God sent me was seemingly torment. Instead of a still small voice I got constant irritation. There was a five-some of golfers three groups ahead of me that refused to let anyone play through and they were horribly slow. I was planning on taking my time but this was ridicules. I couldn't have alone time because we were stacked up four deep on every hole. I was standing around with two other groups of people on each tee box listening to them complain and be frustrated at the rude group in front of us.
Normally an 18 hole round of golf would take about 3-4 hours. I stepped to the first tee at 5:30pm. I stepped up to the ninth tee at 8:20pm. Three hours for nine holes is slower than a snails pace. We waited on EVERY agonizing, hot, sweaty shot. No rhythm to the golf. No voice from God.
As I FINALLY finished the front nine and the other groups in front of me headed off the golf course, I decided to push on and finish as many holes as possible before dark. Maybe, just maybe, I could get some alone time with God yet. Since I'd been stalled for so long I was hoping to finish my round. I started out pushing the pace to make up for lost time. I played the first three holes on the back side in about 15 minutes or so. But I was pressing and not listening. I made up my mind I was going to listen knowing that I wasn't going to finish the round.
I cried out to God again asking Him to speak to me, explaining to Him that I really wanted to hear His voice. I asked Him to come to me, to fill my mind and my spirit. Darkness was creeping in faster than I had hoped. As I quieted my spirit, listening for God's voice I hit the best drive of the day and followed it up with another pretty good shot just short of the green.
By this time the golf course attendants had pulled the flags for the evening. Just as I went to chip the ball onto the green, I was attacked by some bees. Now I have a phobia of bees. Although I've never been stung, I'm deathly afraid of them. It's nearly 9pm. It's getting hard to see. I've got angry bees after me. I went swatting and running all over the fairway. I finally had to rip off my shirt and went to flailing. It work for a while, but not for long. I grabbed my ball and clubs that I had flung and started in a quick pace for the clubhouse. I happened to be on the back side of the course, the longest distance to the club house.
Here they came again. I started swinging my shirt wildly and tried running with my antique pull cart. It kept falling over side ways. And everytime I stopped to right my cart and bag, back they came. I couldn't get away. In near tears and frustration with my cart on its side and handle in disarray and bees still after me, I screamed, "God, please protect me!!!!"
Fortunately He did. I never received one sting. The bees left. I hurriedly made my way to the empty parking lot where my van stood alone. After I nervously loaded my cart into the van fearing that they might have taken up refuge in my bag, I sat down on the open tailgate and nearly begin to weep like a school girl. Once again, I cried out, "God, I just wanted to hear your voice and you sent me irritating people and bees. I just wanted to walk and talk with you in the cool of the day." I felt truly broken and helpless at that moment.
I never did hear His voice which I still long for today. It took an hour or so and a cool shower for my pulse rate to subside. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness and lots of questions as I lay on my bed in front of a fan.
God, I'm still listening. I want to hear your voice. I believe you alone are my refuge and my rest. I'm worthless. I have no hope without you.
Recently I've been wresting with some direction for the church and my own life in various areas. So I knew that I needed some extended alone time with God. Our temps are ranging right now in the mid 90's, a little unusual for Missouri this time of year. I decided to go hit the links late in the day yesterday since my evening appointments had canceled. Alone time on the golf course is one of my favorite retreats. No phone. No intrusions or interruptions. Just a couple hour walk in nature with God.
When I need this time of refuge I always walk and play alone. God had pressed on me the passage from Genesis where God comes to walk and talk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, which I interpreted to be dusk. I reasoned that no one in their right mind would be out playing golf on a Monday evening when the temps were over 95 degrees and the humidity was nearly that much. I love late afternoon and early summers eve. The sun slowly sets. The wind stills. Nature starts its wind down from the day. I simply wanted to be still and hear the voice of God.
As I strolled up on the first tee my prayer was, "God, I'm coming to you in the cool of day. Walk with me. Talk with me. I want to hear your voice. Speak to my heart. Give me your wisdom and direction. I just want to be alone with you for a couple of hours."
But that's not what happened. Instead of a time with God that was encouraging or enlightening or inspiring or directional or even a time of face to face confrontation, what God sent me was seemingly torment. Instead of a still small voice I got constant irritation. There was a five-some of golfers three groups ahead of me that refused to let anyone play through and they were horribly slow. I was planning on taking my time but this was ridicules. I couldn't have alone time because we were stacked up four deep on every hole. I was standing around with two other groups of people on each tee box listening to them complain and be frustrated at the rude group in front of us.
Normally an 18 hole round of golf would take about 3-4 hours. I stepped to the first tee at 5:30pm. I stepped up to the ninth tee at 8:20pm. Three hours for nine holes is slower than a snails pace. We waited on EVERY agonizing, hot, sweaty shot. No rhythm to the golf. No voice from God.
As I FINALLY finished the front nine and the other groups in front of me headed off the golf course, I decided to push on and finish as many holes as possible before dark. Maybe, just maybe, I could get some alone time with God yet. Since I'd been stalled for so long I was hoping to finish my round. I started out pushing the pace to make up for lost time. I played the first three holes on the back side in about 15 minutes or so. But I was pressing and not listening. I made up my mind I was going to listen knowing that I wasn't going to finish the round.
I cried out to God again asking Him to speak to me, explaining to Him that I really wanted to hear His voice. I asked Him to come to me, to fill my mind and my spirit. Darkness was creeping in faster than I had hoped. As I quieted my spirit, listening for God's voice I hit the best drive of the day and followed it up with another pretty good shot just short of the green.
By this time the golf course attendants had pulled the flags for the evening. Just as I went to chip the ball onto the green, I was attacked by some bees. Now I have a phobia of bees. Although I've never been stung, I'm deathly afraid of them. It's nearly 9pm. It's getting hard to see. I've got angry bees after me. I went swatting and running all over the fairway. I finally had to rip off my shirt and went to flailing. It work for a while, but not for long. I grabbed my ball and clubs that I had flung and started in a quick pace for the clubhouse. I happened to be on the back side of the course, the longest distance to the club house.
Here they came again. I started swinging my shirt wildly and tried running with my antique pull cart. It kept falling over side ways. And everytime I stopped to right my cart and bag, back they came. I couldn't get away. In near tears and frustration with my cart on its side and handle in disarray and bees still after me, I screamed, "God, please protect me!!!!"
Fortunately He did. I never received one sting. The bees left. I hurriedly made my way to the empty parking lot where my van stood alone. After I nervously loaded my cart into the van fearing that they might have taken up refuge in my bag, I sat down on the open tailgate and nearly begin to weep like a school girl. Once again, I cried out, "God, I just wanted to hear your voice and you sent me irritating people and bees. I just wanted to walk and talk with you in the cool of the day." I felt truly broken and helpless at that moment.
I never did hear His voice which I still long for today. It took an hour or so and a cool shower for my pulse rate to subside. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness and lots of questions as I lay on my bed in front of a fan.
God, I'm still listening. I want to hear your voice. I believe you alone are my refuge and my rest. I'm worthless. I have no hope without you.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Daily Reflections on Jn. 5:19-20 (My Dad)
My dad died a week ago, on a Sunday evening of a massive stroke. He had been a pioneer and an innovator in ministry throughout his eighty years of life. In the early 60's he envisioned a new approach to teaching teens God's truths and was snatched up by a Christian publishing company to write a new curriculum which unbelievably is still being used in some circles today. In the mid to late 60's he saw a generation of baby boomer students hitting the college campuses and losing their hope in Christ. He helped formulate a new kind of ministry, Campus Ministry, to reach, challenge, encourage, shape college age young people for Christ.
In the late 70's and early 80's my dad envisioned a new ministry to Senior adults who were leaving the workplace. This "Greatest Generation," as termed by Tom Brokaw, was the most successful, had the most available resources, the most experience, the greatest work ethic of any generation heading into retirement. My dad saw the potential to the Kingdom of God. He sought to mobilize this vast army of talent, heart, wealth, experience to action and thus launched Christian Seniors Fellowship.
I learned a lot from my dad. It's weird the memories that suddenly pop into your mind at such a time of loss. I can picture my dad teaching me to ride a bike as he ran along side. He taught me to play baseball in the back yard and enrolled me in Little League. He gave me my first taste of sports. He taught me how to pick cherries from our trees, to plant roses and how to care for them. He taught me to drive in all sorts of traffic and weather conditions. He gave me the confidence to try to fix things around the house or on the car when they broke down. I learned to be "me" no matter the environment or company in which I found myself. Growing up in Cincinnati, he taught me to hustle, to give my all and run out every play like Pete Rose. I learn how not to camp from my dad. I learned to be a giver from him.
For all my dad taught me, my love for God is first and foremost. It was his life. Just as Deuteronomy instructs fathers to teach their kids formally and informally, my dad did that for me. Whether it was working in the rose garden, family devotions, riding in the car or around the campfire, he found ways to point me to God and His truths.
My dad loved people. The coffee was always on at our house. There's nothing he enjoyed more than sitting around the kitchen table with friends and family eating, laughing and sharing well into the evening. It was no reclining to the living room at our house, the dining room table was relaxing enough as the laughter and stories went on for hours. It was party wherever he went. He realized the value of relationships and how much people mattered.
I wore my dad's shoes to his funeral. Filling his shoes is probably not possible. He accomplished more in his lifetime for the Kingdom of God than I ever will. I'm not him. I've developed some of his mannerism and am working on his profile, but I'll never be him. However, I am a part of his legacy and so are you if you're reading this. I developed my passion for people and ministry through the example he set for me. And although I can't fill my dad's shoes, I can follow in his foot steps, allowing God to use my gifts and talents for Him.
God, thanks for the example of faith and service my dad was not only to me but to many. I'm a follower of Christ because of he and my mom. I feel so blessed. I pray that I can be as an effective servant for you as he was. I'm so thankful for heaven. I look forward to being in your presence and being united with my dad for eternity. Thanks for the hope beyond the grave, God, that you made possible through Jesus Christ.
In the late 70's and early 80's my dad envisioned a new ministry to Senior adults who were leaving the workplace. This "Greatest Generation," as termed by Tom Brokaw, was the most successful, had the most available resources, the most experience, the greatest work ethic of any generation heading into retirement. My dad saw the potential to the Kingdom of God. He sought to mobilize this vast army of talent, heart, wealth, experience to action and thus launched Christian Seniors Fellowship.
I learned a lot from my dad. It's weird the memories that suddenly pop into your mind at such a time of loss. I can picture my dad teaching me to ride a bike as he ran along side. He taught me to play baseball in the back yard and enrolled me in Little League. He gave me my first taste of sports. He taught me how to pick cherries from our trees, to plant roses and how to care for them. He taught me to drive in all sorts of traffic and weather conditions. He gave me the confidence to try to fix things around the house or on the car when they broke down. I learned to be "me" no matter the environment or company in which I found myself. Growing up in Cincinnati, he taught me to hustle, to give my all and run out every play like Pete Rose. I learn how not to camp from my dad. I learned to be a giver from him.
For all my dad taught me, my love for God is first and foremost. It was his life. Just as Deuteronomy instructs fathers to teach their kids formally and informally, my dad did that for me. Whether it was working in the rose garden, family devotions, riding in the car or around the campfire, he found ways to point me to God and His truths.
My dad loved people. The coffee was always on at our house. There's nothing he enjoyed more than sitting around the kitchen table with friends and family eating, laughing and sharing well into the evening. It was no reclining to the living room at our house, the dining room table was relaxing enough as the laughter and stories went on for hours. It was party wherever he went. He realized the value of relationships and how much people mattered.
I wore my dad's shoes to his funeral. Filling his shoes is probably not possible. He accomplished more in his lifetime for the Kingdom of God than I ever will. I'm not him. I've developed some of his mannerism and am working on his profile, but I'll never be him. However, I am a part of his legacy and so are you if you're reading this. I developed my passion for people and ministry through the example he set for me. And although I can't fill my dad's shoes, I can follow in his foot steps, allowing God to use my gifts and talents for Him.
God, thanks for the example of faith and service my dad was not only to me but to many. I'm a follower of Christ because of he and my mom. I feel so blessed. I pray that I can be as an effective servant for you as he was. I'm so thankful for heaven. I look forward to being in your presence and being united with my dad for eternity. Thanks for the hope beyond the grave, God, that you made possible through Jesus Christ.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Daily Reflections on Prov. 27:14 (Dealing with Irritating Neighbors)l
Neighbors can be a blessing or a curse. For the most part I've been blessed with decent neighbors. However, in one place I lived, I had a neighbor who wasn't very sensitive to her neighbors. It's not that she was obnoxious. It's that she had a some dogs that were out of control and she did nothing to control them.
Her adult children struggled with relationships and keeping jobs. So they would be in and out, staying with her for various periods of time. They would buy dogs and since they had no place to keep them, they would bring them to mom. Max, a mutt with some apparent German Shepherd mix, was an irritant. He didn't like staying in his own yard so he, on a daily basis, would dig out under the fence in her yard run around my back yard and eventually dig out under the fence in my yard. My girls were terrified and for years wouldn't play outside, especially the back yard because Max could be on the loose. I tried staking and tying down the fence, unsightly railroad ties to no avail.
As irritating as that was, Garth was a very energetic dalmatian. Hyper was an understatement. But, he had his days and nights mixed up. Every night he would sit in the corner of the fence next to my bedroom window and bark and howl at the moon and everything else all night long. When day break, he'd be quiet. He was so loud and obnoxious that my neighbors on the other side complained vigorously that he kept them awake. I tried everything to get that dog to shut up, but once again to no avail. I learned to sleep with two fans running in the room just to cover some of the noise.
Although my neighbor acknowledged the problem, she didn't do anything to resolve it. She just blamed it on her kids. I thought of a few solutions, like antifreeze and a twenty-two, but my wife wouldn't let me. Wouldn't that be great news, preacher gets arrested for poisoning or shooting elderly neighbors companion. So I did without sleep and my girls played in the house.
This Proverbs passage talks about being sensitive to your friends and neighbors. Nobody likes a loud or boisterous person first thing in the morning. It's too much to handle. Some people don't like anyone in the morning, at least until they have their coffee. But sensitivity goes beyond just being noisy. Obnoxious behavior drives people crazy any time of the day.
Why is it that the people we're closest to are the very people with whom we have the least manners or around whom we have the most obnoxious behavior? Why is it that people we are closest to we have the least sensitivity for? We are the least concerned about offending our own family than anyone. We say what's on our mind with little regard to the affect it has on our listeners. We show the least respect for members of our own household. Why is it we become the most selfish with the people we love the most?
God, I know I'm selfish. It's apparent in my home the most. Help me to be more sensitive to my wife, to consider her and her needs.
Her adult children struggled with relationships and keeping jobs. So they would be in and out, staying with her for various periods of time. They would buy dogs and since they had no place to keep them, they would bring them to mom. Max, a mutt with some apparent German Shepherd mix, was an irritant. He didn't like staying in his own yard so he, on a daily basis, would dig out under the fence in her yard run around my back yard and eventually dig out under the fence in my yard. My girls were terrified and for years wouldn't play outside, especially the back yard because Max could be on the loose. I tried staking and tying down the fence, unsightly railroad ties to no avail.
As irritating as that was, Garth was a very energetic dalmatian. Hyper was an understatement. But, he had his days and nights mixed up. Every night he would sit in the corner of the fence next to my bedroom window and bark and howl at the moon and everything else all night long. When day break, he'd be quiet. He was so loud and obnoxious that my neighbors on the other side complained vigorously that he kept them awake. I tried everything to get that dog to shut up, but once again to no avail. I learned to sleep with two fans running in the room just to cover some of the noise.
Although my neighbor acknowledged the problem, she didn't do anything to resolve it. She just blamed it on her kids. I thought of a few solutions, like antifreeze and a twenty-two, but my wife wouldn't let me. Wouldn't that be great news, preacher gets arrested for poisoning or shooting elderly neighbors companion. So I did without sleep and my girls played in the house.
This Proverbs passage talks about being sensitive to your friends and neighbors. Nobody likes a loud or boisterous person first thing in the morning. It's too much to handle. Some people don't like anyone in the morning, at least until they have their coffee. But sensitivity goes beyond just being noisy. Obnoxious behavior drives people crazy any time of the day.
Why is it that the people we're closest to are the very people with whom we have the least manners or around whom we have the most obnoxious behavior? Why is it that people we are closest to we have the least sensitivity for? We are the least concerned about offending our own family than anyone. We say what's on our mind with little regard to the affect it has on our listeners. We show the least respect for members of our own household. Why is it we become the most selfish with the people we love the most?
God, I know I'm selfish. It's apparent in my home the most. Help me to be more sensitive to my wife, to consider her and her needs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 139:17-18 (Keeping Focused on the Right Things)
There's just something about looking at the stars at night. On a cloudless night, away from all the city lights, gazing into the starry heavens is just amazing. I remember when I was kid, my dad got me a telescope so that I could gaze more deeply into the universe. I had gotten into space from the time I listened to John Glenn orbiting the earth. But my interest heightened after the first landing on the moon. My dad and I got out the telescope to look closely for the astronauts landing site.
It was easy to see the moon and some of the terrain, but my little telescope didn't allow me to see any of the stars real close even at maximum power. They still were so far away. It really hit me how vast the universe really was and how really small I was in comparison. It got me thinking how vast God must be to have created it all. I was in awe of Him. The expanse of God's power and thoughts blew me away.
The psalmist talks about the vastness of God's thoughts in Psalm 139. God's wisdom, His understanding, His knowledge is unfathomable. Like the universe there is no end to them. It dawned on me one day that God understood and knew all about nuclear fission long before we discovered it, because He laid out the principles. We have may a hard time with quantum mechanics and string theory, but God just smirks at our quandary over it. There is nothing He doesn't know. The most complex questions of our universe is child's play to God.
Yet of all the things God knows, the focus of His thoughts are on us. Now that blows me away. I keep going back to Psalm 8 and crying out, "O God, how majestic your are. What is man that you think about us? about me?" Yet He does. I'm the object of His thoughts. That's incredible. He's got a whole universe to consider and deal with and He is thinking about me first and foremost. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He knows when I have a hang nail. Unbelievable! He's thinking of me and He's thinking of you this very moment. He knows my thoughts right this instance.
If with all that God has to do in the universe He's focused on each of us, on me, then how can I be too busy to think about Him. And better yet, how can I be too busy for my spouse or my family? God has a whole lot more on His plate than I do. And if He can stay focused on us, individually, what excuse do I have not to focus on the people who are closest to me? I know that I'm not God and have physical limitations, and after all there is only so much time in the day. However, it ought to help prioritize what's really important in my life. My responsibilities, my stuff, my agenda isn't nearly as involved or important as God's, so if God thinks that focusing on the people He loves above all else is vital, maybe there's a lesson for me.
God, you are so awesome. I'm am drawn to your majestic nature. I'm drawn not just because you have unlimited knowledge and power. I'm drawn because you're focused on me and demonstrate that love to me. Help me to have the same kind of thoughtfulness and focus on my wife and family. Give me the insight, wisdom, strength, timing and love I need to express to my loved ones.
It was easy to see the moon and some of the terrain, but my little telescope didn't allow me to see any of the stars real close even at maximum power. They still were so far away. It really hit me how vast the universe really was and how really small I was in comparison. It got me thinking how vast God must be to have created it all. I was in awe of Him. The expanse of God's power and thoughts blew me away.
The psalmist talks about the vastness of God's thoughts in Psalm 139. God's wisdom, His understanding, His knowledge is unfathomable. Like the universe there is no end to them. It dawned on me one day that God understood and knew all about nuclear fission long before we discovered it, because He laid out the principles. We have may a hard time with quantum mechanics and string theory, but God just smirks at our quandary over it. There is nothing He doesn't know. The most complex questions of our universe is child's play to God.
Yet of all the things God knows, the focus of His thoughts are on us. Now that blows me away. I keep going back to Psalm 8 and crying out, "O God, how majestic your are. What is man that you think about us? about me?" Yet He does. I'm the object of His thoughts. That's incredible. He's got a whole universe to consider and deal with and He is thinking about me first and foremost. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He knows when I have a hang nail. Unbelievable! He's thinking of me and He's thinking of you this very moment. He knows my thoughts right this instance.
If with all that God has to do in the universe He's focused on each of us, on me, then how can I be too busy to think about Him. And better yet, how can I be too busy for my spouse or my family? God has a whole lot more on His plate than I do. And if He can stay focused on us, individually, what excuse do I have not to focus on the people who are closest to me? I know that I'm not God and have physical limitations, and after all there is only so much time in the day. However, it ought to help prioritize what's really important in my life. My responsibilities, my stuff, my agenda isn't nearly as involved or important as God's, so if God thinks that focusing on the people He loves above all else is vital, maybe there's a lesson for me.
God, you are so awesome. I'm am drawn to your majestic nature. I'm drawn not just because you have unlimited knowledge and power. I'm drawn because you're focused on me and demonstrate that love to me. Help me to have the same kind of thoughtfulness and focus on my wife and family. Give me the insight, wisdom, strength, timing and love I need to express to my loved ones.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Daily Reflections on Rom. 12:10 (Honoring Others)
Sunday, I challenged our congregation to take the "Love Dare" by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. It's a forty day devotional and lifestyle challenge especially focused at married couples, but has some profound implications to all relationships. We're doing it in correlation with a series I'm doing on marriage and family. Each day the Love Dare has a basic scripture followed by some thoughts and then finally a love challenge for the day. There's a place to keep a journal of what's happening in your relationship. So for the next 6 weeks I have decided to use the basic scripture as a basis for my own reflections.
My first observation is that each day as you digest the scripture and thought for the day and then take the challenge, that something happens to you. It changes you, your attitude, your behavior patterns. It's easy to get into destructive behavior patterns without even knowing. The more familiar we become with our partner over time, there is a tendency to just let our relationship hover. The routines of life take over and before you know it the thrill is gone.
Day to day it's hard to stay focused on your relationship. Before long many marriages are more like a drudgery than a joy. Things get said or don't get said that begin to create small fissures in a marriage. Over time those fissures grow and if nothing is done can be devastating. But if proper steps are taken, those fissures can be repaired.
When we got married we promised to love, honor and cherish our spouse till death. Unfortunately the honoring and cherishing dissipates rather quickly. Mistake. Honoring our spouse is the key to a healthy a relationship. Sunday, I talked about the importance of husbands honoring their spouse from 1 Peter 3:7. There's a tendency among men to want their wives to honor them, to build them up, to have their wives support them while they build their own careers or accomplish their own goals. Yet, God instructs husbands to honor their wives and build them up in the same way Christ does the church.
But the truth is honoring our mate has to happen by both marriage partners. As I honor my mate, my spouse is moved toward me. Who wants to be criticized, critiqued or made to feel subservient all the time. But if someone honors you, you are drawn to them. And something strange happens to me, as I focus on honoring someone, especially my spouse, my heart and attitude change toward them. I find myself rooting for that person and wanting to invest more into that person.
God, I want to honor my wife in practical ways. I realize that when I honor her I'm honoring you. Give me the insight and wisdom to help her become all she can be. Help me rid myself of my selfishness and sometimes critical or demanding or demeaning speech.
My first observation is that each day as you digest the scripture and thought for the day and then take the challenge, that something happens to you. It changes you, your attitude, your behavior patterns. It's easy to get into destructive behavior patterns without even knowing. The more familiar we become with our partner over time, there is a tendency to just let our relationship hover. The routines of life take over and before you know it the thrill is gone.
Day to day it's hard to stay focused on your relationship. Before long many marriages are more like a drudgery than a joy. Things get said or don't get said that begin to create small fissures in a marriage. Over time those fissures grow and if nothing is done can be devastating. But if proper steps are taken, those fissures can be repaired.
When we got married we promised to love, honor and cherish our spouse till death. Unfortunately the honoring and cherishing dissipates rather quickly. Mistake. Honoring our spouse is the key to a healthy a relationship. Sunday, I talked about the importance of husbands honoring their spouse from 1 Peter 3:7. There's a tendency among men to want their wives to honor them, to build them up, to have their wives support them while they build their own careers or accomplish their own goals. Yet, God instructs husbands to honor their wives and build them up in the same way Christ does the church.
But the truth is honoring our mate has to happen by both marriage partners. As I honor my mate, my spouse is moved toward me. Who wants to be criticized, critiqued or made to feel subservient all the time. But if someone honors you, you are drawn to them. And something strange happens to me, as I focus on honoring someone, especially my spouse, my heart and attitude change toward them. I find myself rooting for that person and wanting to invest more into that person.
God, I want to honor my wife in practical ways. I realize that when I honor her I'm honoring you. Give me the insight and wisdom to help her become all she can be. Help me rid myself of my selfishness and sometimes critical or demanding or demeaning speech.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 119:66 (Give Me Wise Discernment)
I'm bewildered. Why is it that we know the right thing to do and choose to do the wrong thing? We know you can't put a square peg in a round hole, but we'll give it the good ol' college try even to the point of exasperation. We'll pound and squeeze and manipulate to get that sucker in there. We do that with life all the time. We know the right thing, but we try to make our way work anyway.
"Christians" aren't any better than non-Christians when it comes to this subject. I guess that's why the hypocrite label gets attached so quickly. I'm going to go party with my friends, but I'll be there Sunday morning. I'm gonna move in with my girlfriend but I still plan to play in the worship band. I'm gonna join the prayer team, but not stop my verbal abuse of family and coworkers. How is it that we blatantly ignore God's truth and teachings and still expect everything to be hunky dory in our spiritual life, walk with God or even everyday life?
The psalmist says in our passage today, since I believe in God's commandments, teach me good discernment and knowledge. In other words, God I believe in your Word, teach me how to live it practically in my everyday life. Many people believe in God's Word, they just refuse to do it. The Bible's definition of sin is whoever knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it. Sin breaks our relationship with God. Jesus said you can't serve two masters, either you hate the one and love the other or serve the one and not the other. So when we purposely decide to do what God said not to do, we alienate ourselves from God. We are choosing to sever our relationship with God at our own risk.
However, if we truly believe in God and trust Him, then we will do as He asks, instructs, teaches us to do. God isn't interested in being a killjoy to rob us of our fun. He's interested in our well being emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. It only makes sense to seek God's specific instruction on life issues, daily issues. I'd be a moron not to follow His ways. And since God knows all things and I don't, seeking His direction in the practical areas of life only makes sense.
God, I pray the psalmist's prayer. I believe in your truths. Teach me GOOD discernment and knowledge today and tomorrow and the next day. I want to be in step with you.
"Christians" aren't any better than non-Christians when it comes to this subject. I guess that's why the hypocrite label gets attached so quickly. I'm going to go party with my friends, but I'll be there Sunday morning. I'm gonna move in with my girlfriend but I still plan to play in the worship band. I'm gonna join the prayer team, but not stop my verbal abuse of family and coworkers. How is it that we blatantly ignore God's truth and teachings and still expect everything to be hunky dory in our spiritual life, walk with God or even everyday life?
The psalmist says in our passage today, since I believe in God's commandments, teach me good discernment and knowledge. In other words, God I believe in your Word, teach me how to live it practically in my everyday life. Many people believe in God's Word, they just refuse to do it. The Bible's definition of sin is whoever knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it. Sin breaks our relationship with God. Jesus said you can't serve two masters, either you hate the one and love the other or serve the one and not the other. So when we purposely decide to do what God said not to do, we alienate ourselves from God. We are choosing to sever our relationship with God at our own risk.
However, if we truly believe in God and trust Him, then we will do as He asks, instructs, teaches us to do. God isn't interested in being a killjoy to rob us of our fun. He's interested in our well being emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. It only makes sense to seek God's specific instruction on life issues, daily issues. I'd be a moron not to follow His ways. And since God knows all things and I don't, seeking His direction in the practical areas of life only makes sense.
God, I pray the psalmist's prayer. I believe in your truths. Teach me GOOD discernment and knowledge today and tomorrow and the next day. I want to be in step with you.
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