I have a bumper sticker on my car. It says "I Love My Wife". Simple in text but it creates more conversation than any I have ever seen.
Most of the comments come from men who ask if my wife made me put that on my car. I had such a comment this past week from a person who serves on a committee with me. He then asked if my wife made me put the sticker on my car when she caught me with my girlfriend. I responded "no, man... I put it on my car because I love my wife!"
A good response at the time but later I wish that I spent a little more time witnessing to this guy about the love for my wife as well as its source (God).
You see, my wife IS my girlfriend. She is all I ever need. I feel that way because I do not want to seek the worlds description of 'love' but want to only depend on God's. Jesus came and walked on this earth to show us the perfect example of love. That perfect love as abused to the point of being unrecognizable and then nailed to a cross because of His perfect love for you and for me.
Perfect love... not love as the world tries to describe or redescribe. Why would you want to have a dime-store copy of a Rembrandt when you can have the actual painting by the creator himself. I have a Rembrandt whose beauty is beyond description. I am blessed beyond all measure.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Being the Dad that God Expects
I found myself yesterday sitting on the floor speaking with my 21 year old daughter. She has been searching for direction to go in a career after finishing college and she just keeps hitting dead ends.
Something told me that this was the most important use of my time. It was time to drop everything and just listen.
You know, being a Dad... I feel that I need to have all the answers. I need to be able to 'fix' things but sometimes, I just need to sit and listen. I didn't have any answers for her and only marginal guidance. I did have a heart for her though and I do know who does have the answers... Jesus.
I sat and I listened. Yesterday was a good day...
Something told me that this was the most important use of my time. It was time to drop everything and just listen.
You know, being a Dad... I feel that I need to have all the answers. I need to be able to 'fix' things but sometimes, I just need to sit and listen. I didn't have any answers for her and only marginal guidance. I did have a heart for her though and I do know who does have the answers... Jesus.
I sat and I listened. Yesterday was a good day...
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Remember K.I.S.S?
I remember that acronym from years back when working with computers. K.I.S.S. stands for 'Keep it simple, Stupid'. I don't particularly like the stupid part but the keep it simple has some merit.
Back in the days when Jesus walked the earth the religious leaders of the day had turned the 10 commandments from Moses day to 613 rules and commands that one must obey to be 'upright' in God's eyes. Basically impossible to all including the Pharisees who came up with the additional commands.
When they tried to corner Jesus by asking Him the most important commandment, His reply was simple... Love the Lord your God with all heart, with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:38). That to me is 'keeping it simple'.
I find as I strive toward integrity that this simple response is vital to my striving towards integrity. It is a constant battle between my selfish thoughts and desires and those that I would honor God with. If I love God with all my heart, soul and mind, there are things that I just will not entertain in my heart. Selfishness, jealousy, lust, among others.
Jesus' simple commandment is all I need. You see to love God in such a way, I will keep all of the Ten Commandments and my walk will be upright and steadfast. Will I ever achieve this here on earth. No, only one could have done that and His name is Jesus. Is that reason to give up and throw in the towel? By no means!
I want to constantly strive towards that goal... to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind. I want to throw off and immediately turn away from any thought or action that may lead me otherwise. It is a constant battle but isn't that why its called spiritual warfare? Life is not easy, its hard and the battlefield is no place for wimps.
God, help me be a spiritual warrior for you today. I put on your armor and I confidently go into battle knowing that you will provide the victory.
Use me today...
Back in the days when Jesus walked the earth the religious leaders of the day had turned the 10 commandments from Moses day to 613 rules and commands that one must obey to be 'upright' in God's eyes. Basically impossible to all including the Pharisees who came up with the additional commands.
When they tried to corner Jesus by asking Him the most important commandment, His reply was simple... Love the Lord your God with all heart, with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:38). That to me is 'keeping it simple'.
I find as I strive toward integrity that this simple response is vital to my striving towards integrity. It is a constant battle between my selfish thoughts and desires and those that I would honor God with. If I love God with all my heart, soul and mind, there are things that I just will not entertain in my heart. Selfishness, jealousy, lust, among others.
Jesus' simple commandment is all I need. You see to love God in such a way, I will keep all of the Ten Commandments and my walk will be upright and steadfast. Will I ever achieve this here on earth. No, only one could have done that and His name is Jesus. Is that reason to give up and throw in the towel? By no means!
I want to constantly strive towards that goal... to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind. I want to throw off and immediately turn away from any thought or action that may lead me otherwise. It is a constant battle but isn't that why its called spiritual warfare? Life is not easy, its hard and the battlefield is no place for wimps.
God, help me be a spiritual warrior for you today. I put on your armor and I confidently go into battle knowing that you will provide the victory.
Use me today...
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Intriging Dream
I had an intriguing dream last night that I'm still trying to figure out. In the Bible in Acts 2:17 it states:
"In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old me will dream dreams."
Hmmm, I guess that this verse puts me in the latter category if we are in 'the last days' which I think that we are.
Anyway... back to the dream. I was speaking with an older women who was excited about her daughter moving to California to become pregnant. No mention of marriage, no mention of a particular soul that she was going to see. I don't know why it was California that she was going too either.
What was interesting about this dream is that she was as excited about this as if her daughter was going to the animal shelter to pick out a dog to bring home. What is disturbing about this dream is that it isn't too far from reality in today's society in the United States.
Families and marriage are both created and ordained by God. It seems like the more we move away from God's Word, the more we take all of this stuff at what ever value that our surrounding society places on it. It thus spirals downward.
I've been reading in Ezekiel lately. In Ezekiel as well as pretty much throughout the Old Testament, God is trying to move His people, the Jews back toward Him. They continually are wandering off and worshiping other gods and idols. Calamity hits and they turn back only to do the same thing all over again.
Where are we today in the United States? Where am I? I fear that God will soon allow (not create or cause but allow) great correction to take place in the United States. I can't change the direction of our country but I can take responsibility for myself today. Today God, I place myself under your authority. Today God, I give myself to you. Use me... I close with one of my favorite verses to provide my direction. "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15... Bold is my own)
What god will you choose today?
"In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old me will dream dreams."
Hmmm, I guess that this verse puts me in the latter category if we are in 'the last days' which I think that we are.
Anyway... back to the dream. I was speaking with an older women who was excited about her daughter moving to California to become pregnant. No mention of marriage, no mention of a particular soul that she was going to see. I don't know why it was California that she was going too either.
What was interesting about this dream is that she was as excited about this as if her daughter was going to the animal shelter to pick out a dog to bring home. What is disturbing about this dream is that it isn't too far from reality in today's society in the United States.
Families and marriage are both created and ordained by God. It seems like the more we move away from God's Word, the more we take all of this stuff at what ever value that our surrounding society places on it. It thus spirals downward.
I've been reading in Ezekiel lately. In Ezekiel as well as pretty much throughout the Old Testament, God is trying to move His people, the Jews back toward Him. They continually are wandering off and worshiping other gods and idols. Calamity hits and they turn back only to do the same thing all over again.
Where are we today in the United States? Where am I? I fear that God will soon allow (not create or cause but allow) great correction to take place in the United States. I can't change the direction of our country but I can take responsibility for myself today. Today God, I place myself under your authority. Today God, I give myself to you. Use me... I close with one of my favorite verses to provide my direction. "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15... Bold is my own)
What god will you choose today?
Friday, August 31, 2007
A Man of Integrity is Hard to Find
As I venture out into the blogging world I do so wanting to speak my heart hoping that it will encourage others of the same mindset. You see I am just a family man who is seeking God's heart in all that I think, say and do. I strive to see the world around me as Jesus would have me see it.
I am a husband of the wife of my youth for 26+ years and I have two grown daughters and one son-in-law. I absolutely consider myself to be the most blessed (I don't like the use the word 'lucky') person alive. I adore my wife and my family more than I could ever possibly express.
I only feel that way though because I daily throw off the things of this world that are considered important and ... well, just the way that guys are. I'm far, far, far from perfect. I have made so many mistakes in my life that I deeply regret. I know that I will probably make more. Yet, I approach today reaching for God's hand, depending on His word (The Bible), and trying my best to please Him.
I pray that you will join me on this journey. A journey to make a difference in the lives of those around me. A journey to stand up for what is right. A journey to be a man the way that God intended. Join me, will you?
I am a husband of the wife of my youth for 26+ years and I have two grown daughters and one son-in-law. I absolutely consider myself to be the most blessed (I don't like the use the word 'lucky') person alive. I adore my wife and my family more than I could ever possibly express.
I only feel that way though because I daily throw off the things of this world that are considered important and ... well, just the way that guys are. I'm far, far, far from perfect. I have made so many mistakes in my life that I deeply regret. I know that I will probably make more. Yet, I approach today reaching for God's hand, depending on His word (The Bible), and trying my best to please Him.
I pray that you will join me on this journey. A journey to make a difference in the lives of those around me. A journey to stand up for what is right. A journey to be a man the way that God intended. Join me, will you?
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