Passing it on

Today was a new service for our church.  The youth were in charge and they did an excellent job.  Their singing was amazing.  It started with hearing the beautiful voice of my very talented but often shy oldest daughter.  Her voice is so rich and full and I was just proud of the way she lit into the song and praised God. I was just as happy as can be.  It kept going with my other daughter leading one of my favorites, "I give myself away."  Another amazing part was my niece and nephew doing a duet.  They continue to get better and better.  I encourage you and I to dig deeper than the horror stories on the news and look for youth that are being positive.

I also want to pass on an amazing message from the speaker today.  He had a couple of points that stuck with me.  I won't steal them put try to pass them on in case you need them as much as I do.  He mentioned:

• Bad company corrupts good morals
• Choose your friends wisely
• You can choose who is around you
• Those around you will affect you
• Set standards for yourself, high standards
• You don't have to try to fit in
• Choose standards in line with God's will and his way
• When you set high standards you don't have to stoop down to fit in
• Sometimes you will walk alone
• When you have standards not everyone wants to follow you
• A lot of people don't want to really hear about God
• God sometimes puts you alone so he can put in you what you need
• When trouble comes it shows you who you are
• A child of God
• Strong enough because of the power of Christ at work in you
• When trouble comes it shows you who is really around you
• In the good times everyone wants to hang out
• In the bad times only real friends will remain
• When the good times are ending you can discover whether you had good or bad friends

I'm just passing these few nuggets along.  I definitely needed the refresher of knowing God; the reminder of setting and keeping high standards; the truth about being a child of God; and most of all the part about who is around you.

Finally, we need to remember the scripture that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or think according to the power at work in you.

Blow the Dust Off

I'm sitting here at the table hacking and coughing.  No, I don't have a cold!  Well, not really!  I've already been to the doctor for that.  Anyway, that is not the reason I'm hacking and coughing.  Instead I'm hacking, coughing and choking from all the dust that has been accumulating on this blog.  I'm mean seriously.  I can't even remember that last time I actually sat down and typed something in.  Now that doesn't mean I didn't have anything to say.  Instead what it really means is I got lazy.

So here is a quick catch up.  I'm back in school and this one class, this one class is trying to kick my butt.  Well, actually my butt was kicked and I thought I was going down for the count.  Luckily for me I have an awesome woman in my corner.  My wife!  Yes, she came to the rescue with a dose of truth that reminded me that I am a child of God.

You know, sometimes that is what we all need.  Not a kick in the pants.  We don't need more yelling and screaming.  We don't need someone else telling us to get over it, forget it or even a big move on speech.  Nope!  Sometimes what we need is somebody to come along side us and empathize long enough to gain our trust.  And, when they have our trust we need them to say to us, "God loves you, you are special, and you have tremendous value in God's eyes."  That is what we need more than anything else.  That is what I got from my wife.  Some people had all but stolen my joy, confidence and belief in myself.  I don't even know why they were so negative.  Nor do I know why I was somewhat dumb enough to let them try to take it in the first place.  I'm just blessed because my wife took the time to say - you are a child of God and no matter what, God loves you.

So, perhaps you have had a bad day.  Maybe your spouse has been a jerk, or your boss, or someone at school or on the road.  Maybe it was someone you trusted or respected and they took a cheap shot at you.  Well, if that is you than let me say to you - God loves you!  God knows you are special and you have tremendous value.  And you are a wonderfully made child of God.