Friday, October 31, 2008

The Definition of Blessed

Thank you Lord for the gifts you've given me, Amen.






Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I'm Waiting



Found this article during lunch. I like how he writes on a topic that brings out so much emotion in all of us. Let me know what you think.


God Bless and
Keep Looking UP!!

I'm Not God......Thank God!

I was having a bad day a couple of weeks ago (see how long this post has been rattling around in my head...and if you asked my wife she would have said a bad "few" days), and while in my kitchen a moth went fluttering by my face. Most days, I would have gently cupped the creature in my hands and taken him to the door so that he could join his friends and family in the joy of finding illumination to dance around...but not today. Without a second thought I snatched the winged insect from the sky and slapped it down on the counter. I specifically remember thinking, "I am not in the mood to deal with you today!!!" (Yes, I know I should have rated this post PG-13...I'm sorry)

It is not like this moth had been bothering me for most of the day. It is not like I was fearful that fangs would shoot out of its mouth and it would begin to attack. No, I had been dealing with a lot of "crap" (could have taken that a little further but this a PG-13 post) that day and I did not want to deal with anyone or anything.

As soon as "the deed" had been done, I began to feel regret. I began to think about how I had lost control. It scared me. It bothered me. It saddened me.

I then began to hear my own words haunt me. I have made the point, during different lessons I've taught or just talking to friends, that we can believe the love that God has for us by what He doesn't do. We have all heard sermons or Bible studies discussing how much God loves us by seeing the things He has given us: A beautiful place to live. Family and Friends that love us. And, lets never forget the greatest gift of all...His Son. These are all great things that God has given us and we should be very thankful for each and every one of them. But, let us be thankful for the thing that He does not do also. He does not start over.

You see, if God so desired He could start all over with one snap of the fingers. He could look around at what we are doing to the home He has given us, the bodies He has given us, and to each other and say to Himself, "It just is not worth it anymore....I think I'll start over." The last sound that any of us could hear is...SNAP, and then nothing. No life with Him forever. No chance to see the children grow. No ability to watch a blanket of snow cover the ground this winter. But, he keeps His hands in his pockets and waits. Can you imagine the love it must take for us to show this kind of patience. Can you imagine the faith He must have in us to see the kind of things we are capable of and still say, "They can do better...and they will". Can you imagine the amount of grace and forgiveness it must take to be hurt (I know He is hurt because I disappoint Him on a daily basis. Am I the only one?) as often as He is and still look at us and say, "I love you".

I am so glad I'm not God, because if I were...we might all be in deep trouble.

Keep Looking Up!