I had signed up to deliver Christmas baskets for the needy through our church. The idea was to take groceries, clothing and toys to families who were struggling financially.

But the end-of-year holiday crunch had caught up with me. I was facing a huge deadline at work and kept putting off the delivery of my baskets. So here it was…December 23…and I was hastily trying to get these baskets delivered to homes all across Knox County.

My heart wasn’t in it.

Carson, my six-year old daughter, and I had five homes to visit.  Our instructions were to deliver the baskets and to pray with these families before leaving. At each stop I rushed through the prayer-thinking only about the next stop on the list.

Our last stop was in a desolate part of the county. The directions led me to a gravel road that curved up a mountain. After sunset we stopped in front of a battered, aging trailer.  Surely no one lived here…

A frail woman opened the door and welcomed us inside. Her trailer was sparely furnished and very cold. I could feel gusts of wind pushing through cracks in the windows and doors. It was obvious that she lived alone.

She told us that she was facing a losing battle with cancer. She had been hopeful that her treatments would help, but rounds of chemotherapy and radiation had ravaged her body and weakened her ability to fight the cruel disease. She told us that she had a few months left to live.

It was a sobering sight.

I felt sorry for this woman- fighting cancer all by herself. I didn’t know what to say, as I was overwhelmed with grief.

Carson reminded me that we needed to pray. The three of us stood in her trailer and I said a soft, sad prayer for her.

Then it happened.

We were turning to go and she asked if she could pray for us. She took our hands and led the most beautiful prayer I’ve ever heard. She prayed for me as a husband, father and son. She prayed for Carson as a daughter and leader at her school. She prayed for family’s health and happiness. And she prayed for our “unselfish act of service” that night- and how much that visit had meant to her.

With all her pain and suffering- she thought of us. She prayed unselfishly for us while facing the reality of death.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

She told us that she had no fear about her circumstances.  She had already overcome this world.

Carson continued to talk and hold her hand as I returned to the truck to get extra food we had packed. We wished her a Merry Christmas and headed back out into the night.

I fought back tears as we drove down that mountain. I was ashamed that I had approached this task with such a bad attitude.

We delivered food for her that evening, but she returned to us an even greater blessing. She gave us a gift of hope.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

I pray that we all have good attitudes this holiday season. I pray that we find someone to lift up during this time of year. Perhaps in doing so- we’ll be the ones who receive the blessing.

Please let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

Getting ready to go somewhere…anywhere…is a chore at our home. Five people sharing two bathrooms complicates the matter.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle doesn’t come from a crowded closet or bathroom, however. The simple decision of “what to wear” often throws a huge roadblock into the preparation.

I’m not going to publish the names here, as I need to protect the guilty. (I also need to note that the folks that cause the waiting are also some of the most beautiful people I know…)

In a broader sense, I wonder how much time we put into our preparation to be followers of Jesus.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

How much effort do I put into clothing myself with compassion and gentleness?

If you ask those I work with- or better yet- those in my home, I’m afraid that I might receive a failing grade.  I’m not routinely working to be kind or patient.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

I have to be intentional in my preparation to be a Christ follower.  I need to make reading the Bible a habit.  I need to meditate on and study God’s word.  And I need to pray for wisdom and discernment.

Filling my heart and head with the teachings of Jesus is the best preparation for my daily walk.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  1 Peter 2:21

Pray for me to be more intentional about my faith.  You all deserve it.

And let me know how to pray for you.

God bless.

We’ve officially entered the holiday season.  Thanksgiving day kicks off approximately five weeks of celebrations, including Christmas and culminating with New Year’s Day.  It’s a period of spending time with friends and family.

The irony of this month of fellowship?  It also brings out the worst of us.

Stores are crowded.  Streets are congested.  Our schedules are packed.  It’s cold and rainy…and nightfall comes quickly.

If we aren’t careful, we can become irritable.  The holiday season can be stressful and depressing.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.  Philippians 2:14-16

That’s a powerful passage.  Paul was encouraging the Philippians to be different. Do everything without complaining or arguing.  Paul asked them to be a light…to shine like stars.

It’s the same for us today.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

Be a joy for someone every day during this holiday season.

Don’t let busyness distract you.  Make sure to let your light shine.

Someone needs it.

Please pray for me.  Let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

Hollianne went back to work a couple of years ago.

Once the kids were all in school, Hollianne decided that she wanted to go back to work on a part-time basis.

Her job requires her to travel occasionally.  When this happens, I’m always happy to step up and do my part.

But I’ve noticed that things don’t flow so smoothly when Hollianne is out of town.  The food doesn’t taste as good. It’s a struggle to get the kids to bed.  And, no matter how early we set our clocks to prepare- we’re always running to get the boys to school on time.  Worst of all, I can’t keep up with the laundry and dishes…and the kids and I scramble to get the house clean before Hollianne gets home.

We are a hot mess when Hollianne is gone.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!    Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Hollianne is always greeted by excited hugs and big smiles when she gets home.

It’s a shame that we don’t appreciate all that Hollianne does for our household until she’s out of pocket.  Perhaps you struggle with that too.  There are many people in our lives that we don’t fully appreciate…often until it’s too late.

My prayer this week is for better awareness of those that make my life complete.  Parents. Spouse. Children and friends.

Who are those people in your life?  Make sure you reach out to them and let them know how much you appreciate them.

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

A good friend almost died last week.

He had a massive heart attack.  He’s young, active and eats right.  He’s the picture of health.

But he had a bad ticker.

His crisis revealed a series of hidden health problems.  The doctor discovered that he had high blood pressure and bad blood sugar.  Heavy amounts of plaque lined his arteries.  Not surprisingly, he had a history of heart problems in his family.  While he worked hard at being healthy, he simply couldn’t overcome genetics.

He was given medication, a new heart-healthy diet and prescribed activities that would allow him to heal and get his heart stronger.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

Jesus is concerned about our heart health.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10

I have a sinful nature…bad traits and characteristics hidden deep within my heart that cause me to hurt others.  Barriers and bad habits that keep me at a distance from Jesus.  Perhaps you do too.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36:26

I desire a new heart…and to be rid of my heart of stone.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.  Proverbs 21:2

Pray for me to be more aware of the attitudes that hurt my heart.  And let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.