Monthly Archives: February 2016

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Flat

I’m flat right now.

Tired.  Exhausted.

Maybe it’s work.  Perhaps its the weather.  Maybe my schedule has created conflict in my attempts to be a good family member and friend.

I’m just in a bit of a funk.

Life contains peaks and valleys.  If you are like me, you don’t tend to embrace or celebrate the good times enough…but really dwell in times when life’s circumstances are kicking us in the shins.  Or the seat of our pants.

I have much to be thankful for each day.  My family.  My health.  My job.  A great circle of friends.  But the trials of life can diminish the good and cause me to dwell on the negative.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  James 1:12

I sometimes forget that I have a loving God in my life.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  Psalm 34:4-7

Pride sometimes keeps me from seeking God first.  I think that I can fix anything on my own.

Life soon reminds me that I can’t.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18

My prayer is to have the humility to let go…and let God lead me when my spirit is weak.  He’s always willing.

Let me know how I may pray for you this week.  God bless.

 

 

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Not making the team

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Our (not so) little guy, Britton, tried out for a highly-competitive travel basketball team last week.  So did about 35 other kids.

Unfortunately, only 10 boys could make the team- and B was one of the 25 who were left out.

He was crushed.  He’s watched our daughter, Carson, play AAU basketball his entire life.  He knows how much fun it is to travel with team members to cities all over the South and play in fun, interesting places.  On top of it all, he just loves basketball.

The truth is- basketball probably isn’t his best sport.  He’s big, strong and smart, but his feet and coordination haven’t quite caught up to his ever-growing body yet.  Give him some time…he’ll get it all figured out.  It’ll just take some maturation.

Isn’t it wonderful that there are no tryouts (or cuts) when it comes to God’s love?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39

Regardless of our flaws and imperfections, we are made perfect through the grace of Jesus Christ.  Through His blood we are all made complete…and can all serve together…on the same team.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3:28

Pray for me to be a good father and help my children navigate life.  And let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

 

 

 

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Cracked

Hollianne and I were recently driving back from a dinner when a semi truck threw a rock into my windshield.

The impact created a crack that was less than an inch long.  It was just a little scratch.

The scratch quickly grew.  The damage now stretches across my entire windshield and has started to splinter off in a couple of new directions.  It’s now difficult to ignore the damage when driving the truck.

Isn’t that a lot like sin?

I sometimes let anger or pride overtake me in a weak moment.  It may not be expressed outwardly, but it’s there…just beneath the surface.  And while it might not dominate my day- it stays in my head and heart…and I can dwell on it.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  1 John 1:8-10

Left unchecked, this sin can spread and grow into other aspects of my life.  It can leave me bitter, unfulfilled and angry.  It’s noticeable to others.

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”  Mark 7:20-23

My prayer this week is to recognize the sin in my life- and to have the courage to confront it before it overtakes me.

Please let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

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I ain’t answering

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JT, our middle child, was surprised one day when I didn’t answer an unidentified call to my cell phone.

I explained to him that some people choose to block their phone number- and that when those “no caller ID” messages pop up- I’m not prone to answer the phone.

He didn’t understand the concept.

I explained that I get approximately 40 phone calls a day, and communication is very important for my roles as a worker, husband and father.  But if people choose to have a blocked identity assigned to their phone number, then I reserve the right to not immediately answer.  Voicemail can collect the call…and I can respond quickly.

I’m so thankful that God listens to all calls.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  Mark 11:24

Can you imagine the millions of prayers that are directed toward our heavenly Father each day?

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.  Luke 11:9

We are loved so much that He listens to each one.  God knows our hurts of the past, our concerns of the present and our hopes for the future.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.  Jeremiah 33:3

If you don’t have a healthy prayer life, I hope you’ll commit to one.  It’s therapeutic, peaceful and personal…just you and God.

And he’ll always pick up the phone.

Please let me know how I may pray for you this weekend.

God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

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