Family Albums

At Christmas, everyone always lists "spending time with family" as one of the reasons that they love (hate?) Christmas. I just spent a little time snooping around my mother-in-law's photo albums. Did you know that my wife was as pretty when she as a little girl as she is now? It's true! Did you know that I see my own kiddos' expressions in their aunts/uncles/grandparents expressions from years ago?

I saw an interesting question posed on another blog a while back. It asked, if your "picture" was in God's "wallet." I'm gonna take that question one step further...

You see, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." We were "knit together in the womb." When God looks through his own "Family Album," what part of Himself does he see in you? Does he see his compassion? His joy? His anger at injustice? His own "dreams and wishes"? What part of God do you reflect?

We ARE the children of the Living God of the Universe.

Sign on the dotted line....

Are you talented? I don't think that I am. I marvel at people who can take watercolors and a canvas and create a masterpiece. I'm in awe at a mechanic who can take a busted engine and make it work again. I'm speechless when watching a sculptor carve a life size Elvis out of butter. You get my point. Did you know that you are God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)? That word "workmanship" is the Greek word poema. Look familiar? Literally translated it means "masterpiece." We are God's artwork! But keep reading…

What are we, as God's masterpieces, to do on this Earth? We are to do God's work that has been laid out in advance for us! In other words, God's got a plan for his masterpiece. We were made to fit PERFECTLY into His plan by doing His work. This is no "volunteer" position…we're MADE to serve!

There is a difference between being a volunteer and being a servant in the Lord's church. Being volunteer means that you have the choice as whether or not you complete your task. You are not paid for your work, not much is really expected of you, and you have little accountability to others. Is that what it's like to be a member of the Church? Granted, we don't necessarily get "paid," but does God EXPECT something from us? Hint: the answer is not just sitting in a pew on Sunday morning! If you want to be a volunteer, join a social organization here in town. We are a body of servants! When we chose to put on Christ, we were told to set our hearts on things above (Colossians 3). We were told to run the race as to win it, not just participate when we feel like it. We were told to love one another and bear one another's burdens, not just say "Good morning" as we walk into the auditorium. When you became a member of the Lord's body, you became a part of a working organism, not just a "due paying" member of a social club. Been serving for a while? I don't read of a retirement age in Christianity.

I have to constantly remind myself of this. There are definitely times where I wish I could "sneak out" of doing something. God expects more from me, though. So, until he calls me home, I'm turning in my volunteer badge and signing up for the long haul.

Random thoughts

I wonder...

Does God get as excited when he answers our prayers as we do when we watch our kids open presents at Christmas?

What type of preacher would want to preach in Corinth?

Did Peter's mother-in-law cook "as good as mom"?

Where was Joseph during Jesus' crucifiction?

Was David really redheaded, or was he just "rudy" in complexion?

When did Elisha start going bald?

You know the answers? Neither do I. What to know what's REALLY cool? It doesn't matter. What matters is that God DOES know all of the answers, and one "day," we'll get to sit for as long as we want and ask Jesus about it. Pretty cool, eh?

The old man

I have to tell you that I'm proud of my dad.

Now, before you go and write to me about how sappy I've gotten over the last few posts, stay with me. Remember, even God bragged about his kiddos every now and then (just read the first chapter of Job, and you'll see what I mean).

My dad has been through it all when it comes to ministry. Youth Ministry, preaching, Education, Involvment, Family Life (wasn't that your original title at Mansfield, Dad?). He's taught, written, called, organized, wept, bled, fought, cried, stressed, and praised with the best of them.

This weekend, whether he wants to admit it or not, God used him, and used him mightily. He delivered, in my opinion, a knockout punch for a seminar. God used him to show Jesus to the leadership of a congregation. Not just the Jesus we read about on Sunday mornings, but the Jesus that we should model our lives after, our service after, and our entire being after.

I know that he's been thinking about his effectiveness as a "minister" lately. I have thought about my effectiveness as well. If this past Saturday's seminar is any indication, he's "still got it."

Good job, Dad. You were used.

Now if I can just get my brother to cough up those Dallas Cowboy tickets....

Mmmmm....cereal.

Reading before bedtime....

Just a bunch of kids...

I wonder why Jesus said we should be like children. You remember the passage? He says that in order to inherit the kingdom, we must become more like children. Aren't kids the ones that ask questions relentlessly? Aren't they the ones that argue over the smallest toy? Aren't they the ones that won't do as they are asked? Aren't they the ones that will even lie to you in order to get out of trouble?

Wait a second.....

Maybe we are a lot like children. So exactly what did Jesus mean when he said that we supposed to be more like children?

Maybe he meant that we are to have the blind faith in our parents (Heavenly Father?) that children have. Think about it. When you strap your child into their car seat to go grocery shopping, do they worry about whether or not you will get them to the store in one piece? Do they ask you if you are sure that you REALLY need to go get groceries? Are they concerned that you are not necessarily taking the most "efficient" way there? Of course not.

Jesus tells us that we just need to trust him to drive the vehicle. All we have to do is enjoy the ride.

Cheese!

"Trick or Treat!"

Owen

Distractions

I just don't feel motivated this morning.

I don't know if it is because I haven't been getting as much sleep as usual (Tanya has been getting even LESS sleep because Owen has been sick), or if it's because I just need a break. Life has been going at a break-neck pace lately. Our minister is stepping down this weekend, the classes I've been co-teaching have been VERY helpful to families with preschoolers (at least to my family), the deacons have asked my father to come up in a few weeks to help jump-start a ministry system, and school work/internship have been increasingly demanding. Over all of this, my family has been a source of support and oasis.

Just another day in the life, eh?

Did you catch it?

I bet you didn't even know that you missed it.

I noticed something about the above paragraph. Something's missing.

Now did you catch it?

What about my relationship with God? I didn't notice that it wasn't mentioned until I actually typed the paragraph up. Wow.

I think that our busyness is Satan's way of distracting us from what is really important. Think about that. Satan will place something in your path that looks important, demands your attention, and may even consume your future thoughts and emotions.

God should be center stage in EVERYTHING. When Paul says in Philippians 3 that his "citizenship is in heaven," he says that he has RENOUNCED his affiliation with things in this world. That means his WHOLE being is given over to God's work (Ephesians 2:10).

So, do I have a lot of distractions in life? Sure. Everyone does. But do you just "bounce" from one distraction to another, or do you look to God as your "explanation" for everything?

Ok....enough ramblings. I'm gonna go to class and watch a video. Hopefully, this post wasn't TOO distracting for you.

If It Were Your Last

Tanya has been reading a series of books by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley. I wanted to share a poem written by one of the characters in the book Rejoice. In it, a mother is reflecting on her days with her son, who will be married the next day...

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of lasts.

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips...
Last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip...
Last time when you had a binky stuck inside your mouth...
The last time that you crawled across the floor of this old house.

Last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold,
Last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from the past,
Would I have held you longer if I'd known they were the last?

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade...
Last at bat in Little League, last colored paper made.
Last time that I tucked you in for one last midday nap...
Last time when you wore your beat up Green Bay Packers cap.

Last time that you caught a frog in that old backyard pond...
Last time when you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.
Silly scattered images to represent your past.
Would I have taken pictures...If I'd known they were the last?

The last dark night you slipped in bed and slept between us two,
When last I read to you of God or Horton Hears a Who!
Last time that I smelled your hair and prayed after your shower...
Last time that we held devotions in the evening hours.

The last time you were Michael Jordan in our games of give-and-go...
Last time that you made an angel in the melting snow.
I never even said good-bye to yesterdays long passed.
Would I have marked the moments...If I'd known they were the last?

Last piano lesson, and last soccer goal you kicked...
The last few weeks of middle school, last flowers that you picked.
Last time that you needed me for rides from here to there...
The last time that you spent the night with that old tattered bear.

Last time that I helped you with a math or spelling test,
Last time when I shouted that your room was still a mess.
Time and life moved quicker, taking pieces of your past.
Would I have stretched the moments...If I'd known they were the last?

The last time you needed help with details of a dance...
Last time you asked me for advice about a romance.
Last time you talked to me about your hopes and dreams.
Last time you wore a jersey for your high school team.

I watched you grow and never noticed seasons as they passed.
I wish I could've frozen time, to hold on to your lasts.
For come tomorrow morning life will never be the same.
You'll pledge forever to your girl, and she'll take your name.

And I will watch you, knowing God has blessed you with this day.
I never would have wanted to somehow make you stay.
They say a son's a son until he takes for him a wife.
You're grown-up now; it's time to go and start your brand new life.

One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss...
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how quickly childhood sped past.
Would I have held on longer...If I'd known it was your last?