Do you see what I see

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With at tail as big as a kit.
With at tail as big as a kit."

You know we have probably sung the Christmas carol "Do you hear what I hear" with its catchy lines and melodies for years.  For years I know I've sung it in the youth choir, as a part of the congregation, and even at home during our holiday celebrations.  It has been on the radio and playing in our cars even more often than this.  I'd probably guess we have heard it a dozen times this month alone.

Mel Lawrenz in his devotional "Christmas Joy Day #20: Star" noted that buried in the scripture behind the song is an amazing truth.  "Only the observant see!"

The scripture for the story and the verse of the song describe the star that the Magi saw in the sky.  The star dancing in the night, the star with a tail as big as a kite is one of the same stars that shine every night.  The star that lit up the sky for the Magi was the same star that appeared over cities and nations all over the area of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the world.  The brightness and peculiarity of it may have been eye catching, but we are told only of Magi who come from the east actually seeing.  Lawrenz said, "Only the observant see!"  The stars where shining.  The heavenly host were proclaiming glory.  I can just imagine them with an extra twinkle or sparkle.  I close my eyes and I see them lighting up the night and pointing out that something spectacular has taken place.  As if each little star and star cluster is jumping up and down like the student who knows the answer in class, or like the person who is giddy with the secret they are bursting to share.  The night sky proclaimed that something special had taken place.  The Magi saw it.

"Only the observant see!"  Though these stars may have spoken to all the world, not all the world saw what the Magi saw and not all responded.  Only the Magi set out to find the King whose star was shouting, dancing, twinkling a bit brighter and announcing something amazing.  They saw it!

Thinking about this quote throughout the day made me ponder what am I missing?  Are there things that I am not looking for?  Do I see?  Am I observant enough to know when the King of Kings is breaking into this world?  Do I see miracles; heavenly hosts; glorious wonders; and wonders to behold?  Are my eyes watching the sky for his return?  Am I awake and alert to the presence of Christ being active in the day to day?  Surely others looked up at the sky; shepherds, kings, queens, mothers and children.  Surely they saw the sky, but somehow like Lawrenz suggests they weren't observant and they didn't see.

God, open my eyes to see.  Let me be observant of what you have planned and prepared and of what you are doing.

Choose better stories

Flipping through my notebook at work, I landed on a page with the words,"Choose better stories." It was a heading I jotted down during a discussion where our team seemed stuck on the negatives of a proposal. Words like "never", "always", and "can't" flew through the air like missiles destroying whatever seeds hope had been planted.  I watched as energy, passion and innovation were repeatedly crushed by harmful and careless words launched like unguided missiles, hitting the intended and the collateral in mass.

In the meeting, as I listened to the words being thrown about and the devastation it was creating I stopped and reflected deeply.  At that moment I realized my life was a lot like that meeting. Somehow, the meeting attendees were allowing fear, doubt and despair to drown out hope, innovation and creativity.  Likewise, in my own life I was allowing fear, doubt, regret and past mistakes the freedom to rain down and drown out my hope. I began to reflect on blogs never posted, ideas never spoken, devotionals never written, and this growing fear of going back to the place of my last epic failure.  The heading I captured was from a blog I read entitled, "Choose better stories.".

My key take away from the blog, the meeting and my life is this:  I don't have to let the past hurt, hamper or dictate the future. Nor do I have to let negative words dominate my landscape and overtake my vocabulary. I too can choose better stories. I can choose to reflect but not regret. To learn from mistakes and see obstacles as opportunities and challenges waiting to be solved. I can let my heart take courage in God and let my thought think the best will arise from my circumstances.  I can take the words of David to my heart, "When I'm afraid I put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3)," and I can keep Paul's words near my heart "All things work together for the good for those who love God."

I can choose better stories about myself and when I start choosing better stories, better words, brighter thoughts and emotions about myself - then I will have the capacity to think better stories about the world around me.

So, today, I will choose better thoughts.

Painful memories have a powerful purpose

Back in the late 90's I played basketball with a group of friends on an outdoor court.  When it rained we often had to use one of the guy's squeegees to help remove the pools of water and dry the court.  With such a large court it often took a long time for one person, so I bought a second squeegee.  After a few years we switched offices and started playing on a much nicer indoor court and I retired my squeegee to the garage. 

Over time the squeegee went from being a needed item to prepare the court for lunchtime basketball to a nuisance that, even in the garage, was in the way.  One day as I moved it around for what seemed like the 100th time, I lamented the purchase, wondered if it would ever be used again, and wished it were trash day so I could throw it out.  However, I didn't, which was lucky for me because later that week I needed the squeegee to clean off all the water on our porch at home following a pressure washing fiasco.

This squeegee reminded me of our how God often sees and uses our past experiences for greater good.  Many times when we are younger we do and experience things which we may lament, wonder why they happened, and we often wish we could erase them out of our memories.  I've had my share of words that wound, actions that damage and destroy, and moments I wish I could redo or never do.  Sadly we can't erase these memories or those experiences.  We can't undo what was said, we can't undo the hurt that was done, and we can't remove the scars that we created or that were created in us.  

However, it is comforting to know that no matter the experience, God is able to use it to bring glory to His name and to lead others into a deeper relationship with Him.  The memory of a loved one in tears, teaches us to guard our lips.  The pain of discrimination leads us to a compassion for the marginalized.  

Our job isn't to understand all the reasons why the painful memories occurred.  Instead, our job is to wait patiently until the divine encounter is created for us to share our experience with others.  In the meantime we can enjoy the comfort of his peace and forgiveness for our past sins.

Scriptures remind us that God's grace is sufficient and his love unconditional.  Whenever painful memories trouble your soul, lean on that grace and fall into his loving embrace and remember: "Painful memories have a powerful purpose!"

Long time no post

So, has it really been since November 19th since I did an actual post.  Well, yes and no.  The reality is I've created many drafts and then forgotten to actually push them live.  I have also forgotten to just do some basic housecleaning and basic blocking and tackling.

For example, where was the post about Thanksgiving?  In my head, where I spend way too much time, the post was already written and pushed live.  In bold letters it would read, "Happy Thanksgiving."  In the body of the post, as I imagined, it would contain all the many wonders of what I was thankful for.  It would start with giving thanks to God for the "big" things

I am thankful for:

• God loving me and sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins
• forgiveness
• grace and mercy
• God giving me a beautiful family
• God restoring my life
• safety and protection while we sleep
• my wife and children
• waking up my family
• health and strength
• peace of mind
• finances and a job
• a roof over my head
• clothes on my back
• food on the table, especially the ham and turkey
• friends, make that good friends

In my mind this type of post was already written and posted.  Yet, sadly I look at my sight and realize that I never moved my list from my head to the actual keys and then to the blog.  Surely, I thought I had written about my thanks for what my kids call silly things, such as:

• White Chocolate Mocha
• Starbucks fresh brewed coffee
• weekend dates with my wife
• quiet time in the office in the morning
• the treadmill being repaired with a quick shot of WD-40
• Coldstone's cotton candy milkshake
• Chickfil-A and the chicken sandwich
• losing weight
• having a truck that, though it is well worn, continues to get me around
• cookies and milk on late night sweet tooth episodes

If I was feeling particularly good, the post may have included thanks for the less obvious things, such as:

• trials and tribulations
• challenges and failures

Somehow in all the thinking and mental hoops I never posted my list.  Somehow I never actually got around to pushing anything live since November 19th.  Well, here is one post to hopefully get the ball rolling.  Happy Thanksgiving and then some.  

What are you most thankful for?

Friday thoughts gone by

 I have had a great week. Like your week, mine has been filled with opportunities disguised as challenges and blessings disguised as troubles.

I have also had some of the most amazing memories at home and at work:
On Tuesday I took a walk up to the third floor and got a glimpse of the coming of fall. The color change of the leaves are so beautiful and offer such peace and refreshment.

Ava took Emma for a ride on Wednesday morning, pushing her around in her bouncer.  Imagine that one moment the two are laughing and playing in plain sight, you turn away and the next moment they are both gone! :).

On Thursday morning I was nearly able to get a picture of a majestic hawk perched outside the office on a car roof. As I fumbled for my phone he/she stretched out these beautiful wings and glided off into the woods. (Reason #100 why I want a new phone).  I also enjoyed the deer that came out to play at work also.

Perhaps the best part of Thursday was Ava giving herself a chocolate pudding facial at dinner time.
All in all, a very thankful week. The girls are well and doing well.   Cassarra has finished marching band with finals that took place on November 2nd in Irmo. Gabbi has advanced in gymnastics and finally is catching a glimpse of her enormous God given potential and gifts. Sydney is training for a 5k in Girls on the Run. Paige made it to high Orange belt in Tae Kwon Do. Ava and Emma are doing well. Ava is making history in the terrible 2's.  Emma is crawling and exploring more each day. She has 2 teeth on the bottom and seems so fascinated with touching them & eating.   These are just some thoughts from a Friday gone by...

A couple of amazing quotes

Today, I was listening to a wonderful talk on Ted.com.  The talk was given by Sarah Kay and the title given on the website was "Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter."  In the end of her talk she made reference to this moment.  I cannot recall the actual quote but she spoke about meeting you in this one moment and she mixed into that this idea of the impossible and your own uniqueness.  Please check out her presentation for the fullness of its power and see for yourself how it led me to this, my own moment and quote.

Coincidentally or providentially, prior to listening to this Ted talk I was just finishing up a reading on the Upper Room.  In this devotional the author, Roger C. Palms spoke about "Living in the Moment."  Mr. Palms used as a devotional the concept of living in the moment from the vantage of watching an aging father and a growing child.  The author described how an aging Father with dementia and a growing infant came together to share a moment.  It was a priceless moment that we can just picture with our eyes.  A child with his grandfather sharing ice cream and lucid memories of days gone by.  It was a priceless moment; it was a moment that only existed once!

 

From these two sources I'd like to share these thoughts:

We only have this one moment - once!

We will only have this one time where we are this age, with these thoughts, with these expectations, with this opportunity, with this set of skills and abilities, surrounded by these people or surrounded by no one at all.  Whatever our current circumstance, wishes, dreams or abilities the moment we are in only comes by this one time and then it is gone.  Once!  This moment, right now, is that moment.  In another space a new moment will come complete with new context, new ideas, new regrets or successes.  Which leads me to my second and bigger thought.

In this moment - do the impossible!  

In this moment, do the impossible!  Yes, you are right that sounds huge!  It is!  It should be!  It must be!  We must strive to do the impossible with every moment that we have.  Why?  Because we only have this moment once.  When else should we begin reaching for that impossible dream?  What other time is right for searching for the cure to cancer, AIDS, despair, ALS, Alzheimer, war and destruction, or widespread neglect and poverty?  What other time or moment is right for you to launch out into the deep end of your wonderful dreams to grab hold of the potential that you have and make it your slave to transform potential into reality?  When should you start down the path of making your future destiny, your current reality, and your current reality a footnote of other past accolades and acclaim?  If not in this moment, when?  The impossible for each of us sits out there waiting to be transformed into the possible.  Dance, poetry, science, archeology, mathematics, physics, and engineering feats all cry out in this moment to intertwine with you in such a way that their impossibility meets the one who will make it possible.  The one who will make the most of this moment!

In this moment, right now with your set of dreams, and your set of circumstances do the impossible.  Be the impossible!  Dare the impossible.  Is it a huge task.  Yes!  Yet, it is one that we must strive and seek to do each time we have this one moment. 
 

We waste too much time

Today it dawned on me.  We waste too much time.  No, I'm not talking about the waste that goes on when we get up and mill around in the mornings.  I'm not talking about wasting time, as when we sit like couch potatoes on the couch on Saturday and Sunday during football season.  Really, I'm not even bashing any of those activities.  No, I'm saying we actually wast too much time pursuing things and do things that have no real value and don't really matter.

We spend a lot of time working to be the best in a career that only lines someones pockets, but does nothing for the environment.  We spend time creating solutions to problems, without thinking about the fact that the solution and the problem are manufactured.  Or we churn night and day to solve problems in technology that are the direct result of a technologically induced problem.  We talk about solving issues with crops and food sources that were created by previous ideas for improving crop yields and farm land.  Seriously, as I reflect these are only even the tip, the very tip of the iceberg of our waste.  But even as black as these wastes are, that's not what I want to focus on.

Deeply, I think that we waste too much time hiding our gifts instead of using them wisely.  Sure, there are the rocket scientists, the astrophysicist, the computer wiz, the medical revolutionary, the refreshing throwback artist, the grand master performer and the talented athlete.  However, these few gifted people applying their gifts and talents are only a mere fraction of those who are gifted.  The whole world has been gifted.  However, much of the world keeps these gifts buried behind walls and walls of boredom and safety.  The difference between the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the IT multi-millionaire inventor and you is probably a lot less than you think.  In fact it might be the short distance between the words passion and lack of passion.  We waste too much timing filling our time with pursuits that we are not passionate about.  As a result our gifts, talents and in some cases our very lives are wasted. 

We all waste too much time pursuing the safety of 9 - 5, or careers that put 3 squares on the table and a nice four bedroom 3 bath roof over our heads.  We all waste too much time trying to blend in, without realizing that we were made to stand out.  We weren't made to look like the Jonesses or even keep up with them.  If anything, they should be trying to keep up with you.  You have a fire, a passion an interest that yearns to be set free and can only be quenched by the gifts God has given you.  

We waste our time.  We want to be careful, conservative and safe.  We don't want people to know that we love purple hair, crazy colored socks, cooking for others, and caring for seniors and children.  We take that corner office graphic artist gig, because mom said, "find something that pays the bills."  Meanwhile every time our eyes and hearts are set ablaze when we see that perfect sunset, that innocent child and that iconic moment that we'd love to capture - if only we weren't running off to the mundane meeting to sketch designs for the next ad campaign of 'Tasty Treats', or the next vision meeting for a dog that won't hunt!  

Now, I'm not saying everyone turn in the badge for some boots and a knapsack and start hitching the rail cars.  But, hear me out.  I am saying that someone should know that that it breaks your heart to see the homeless, that education means more to you than getting a degree, that you can create a video game with unlocking levels, but you can also write code that will one day unlock the mystery to defeating cancer.  

Really, we need to stop wasting so much time with pursuits that won't amount to a hill of beans and start pursuing something that will have eternal value and a legacy well beyond our days.  Start with being passionate about God, then ask him to help you find the thing in this world that he wants you to be passionate about until he returns.  And stop wasting your time.

P.S.  What do you think?

--- Cassius Rhue "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28)

Thought for the week [09.15.2013]: And what did it cost God to become our Father? His only-begotten Son. The infinite delight of his infinite heart. Betrayed, beaten, scourged, mocked, spit on, nailed, stripped, and forsaken. How much our Father loves us!

 

She is...

Over the past couple of days I have tried to post an open letter to my wife.  For various reasons I've had technical challenges with getting the post live. 

My wife is simply amazing.  This week my beautiful wife who works wonders in our house.  She takes care of the entire family and manages our household schedule like a pro.

My wife is thoughtful.  This weekend, Trish, arranged for a Sunday afternoon date.  We had a great time eating at Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  Of course, we don't always eat burgers, so this was a real treat.  The food was great, but the conversation and the beautiful woman that sat beside me at the table was even better.  We even had an ice cream date afterwards.

My wife is a great listener.  During our date Trish listened as I poured over episodes, stories, events, successes and failures from the last couple of weekends.  She listened patiently and objectively and didn't pass judgment.  When she felt she understood what was said, she added some encouragement and advice.

My wife is a great mother.  Several nights this week I could hear Trish downstairs listening to our two teenagers tell their stories.  I can only imagine how tired she must have been after a long day of taking care of a two year old and a seven month old.  Yet, she stayed until the last story was done.  Early in the morning she got up and listened to the stories, worries and concerns of the younger crew.  She loves these girls more than words can express.

Trish is amazing, thoughtful, great with kids, an amazing friend, and a wonderful wife.  I thank God for placing her in my life and I praise her for being who she is.

A coffee and cream facial anyone?

Trish sent me this picture a few days ago.  I thought it was just too cute not to share.

When I first saw it I had to do a double take.  Take a quick look and you will see that Ava has been busy.  Her Dollie must have needed a coffee facial, or perhaps a warm cream and sugar exfoliation treatment.  Right in the middle of a great cup of Starbucks coffee is her Pollie Pocket doll. 

Ava gives us our share of "moments".  I'm sure my initial reaction if it was my cup of coffee may not have been a smile and a laugh.  However, I couldn't help but smile and laugh when I saw this picture later that day.  What can I say, this picture is just too cute!

Welcome to Friday - 09/27/2013

Another amazing week has come and gone.

Welcome to Friday!

I had a great week.  We had a busy week with school, appointments, conferences, and all that comes with life, family and work.  By grace and favor we made it through and I must say, it was a wonderful week.  Not that everything was wonderful, but "all things worked out for the good" for our family as they so often have done in the past.  How awesome is he!

Cassarra was still riding her emotional high from the band winning 1st place in their competition last Saturday.  She was so excited about the entire experience.  Even though they had to march in the rain and on a muddy field.  They have another competition this week.

Sydney and Paige both had a good week.  Sydney is riding high on the honor choir officially starting practice.  This honor choir is quite the deal as we are finding out more and more.  She is also excited about her interim grades.  They were very good as usual.  Paige is excited about participating in the local town parade (The Irmo Okra Strut).  She will be walking with her Tae Kwon Do peers and instructors.  She is doing well in school also, but Paige does school very differently.

Gabbi is celebrating one of her best starts to the school year and she is enjoying some of the fruit of being a teen, making good grades, and developing good character.  Gabbi is also enjoying gymnastics.  She has progressed really well.  I think the combination of Dance classes at school and gymnastics afterschool are helping her, and she enjoys both.

Ava is enjoying herself and growing so much.   Sometimes I feel like she is enjoying herself a little too much.  She learns new phrases and develops new little personality traits weekly.  This week her new phrase is no, and her new habit is running away when it is time for bed.

Emma is delighting herself with rolling across the floor and trying to put everything her older sister Ava leaves on the floor.  You would be tickled to watch her set her sights on a doll that Ava drops on the floor.  She will contort and roll herself over and across the floor to try to get her hands on one of Ava's dolls.  As soon as she manages to roll herself over to it though, Ava swings by and snatches it back up. 

Trish and I are celebrating making through a week with appointments dotting just about every afternoon, and midafternoon of the week.  She is amazing and life for us would be chaos without her.

Welcome to Friday!  Welcome to the Weekend!

Thought for the day: And what did it cost God to become our Father? His only-begotten Son. The infinite delight of his infinite heart. Betrayed, beaten, scourged, mocked, spit on, nailed, stripped, and forsaken. How much our Father loves us!

What a turn around

One child sat in the back with a scowl on her face.  She forgot her water bottle. and even after getting it for her she seemed to be still upset over it.  The other child sat in the front and she was pensive and worried that we were going to be late.  One tardy note was more than enough for her and if she could walk by herself to school, she would prefer the walk to being late.  And of course, I was filled with all kinds of "wrong" emotions from anger and worry, to fear and fatigue.

Each of us sat in a sad, very sad state.  For Paige, I'm sure she wondered why couldn't she have remembered to get her water bottle in the first place.  For Sydney, I imagine she couldn't understand how I could be running late again.  And as for me, I was upset because no one came to the door to open it quickly when I knocked, and I was also frustrated that despite getting up early and trying my best - I was still late.  I was also worried and afraid that frustration, anger and fear are becoming regular guests instead of occasional visitors.  This is not exactly the way you want to start a day. 

Even when we started our morning prayers, it was evident we were hurt and hurting people.  We were hurt from disappointment, and hurting each other by our tones, body language, and our words.  Even as we prayed we didn't seem to mask that we weren't happy and we were wounded.  However, it all seemed to turn around when God told me to praise Him in prayer.

You see, my prayer started out so bland and dry and sad that I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into anger and sadness.  But then God spoke to my heart and said to give thanks.  Give thanks?  Yes, give thanks and expect even more good things to come.

So I did, and I am again right now.  I thanked God and I thank God for my house, the doors that lock and keep us safe.  The clean water that fills our water bottles.  I thank God for the roof over our heads that doesn't leak, the truck that continues to faithfully get us to school and work.  I thank God for the job that puts enough food on the table and allows me the privilege of being at home at night with my children.  I thanked God for each of my girls and the fact that Christ died for them even before they were born.  I thank God for salvation and freedom, for love and his love.  I thank God for my wife, even as we go through a season of disappointment, fear and worry.  I thank God for the breakfast I ate, the legs that walked this morning.  I thank God for waking up and being able to get out of bed.  I thank God that when Emma cried there was formula and bottled water to feed her.  I thank God that Ava is fiery and so full of life that she wakes us up, keeps us on our toes, and has a smile that lights up a room.  I thank God that Paige keeps a short memory of her hurts and that Sydney is so well organized.  I thank God for Gabbi's sense of fashion, her creativity and smarts.  I thank God for Cassarra's talent in band, her organization, her health and strength and that she has her mom's caring spirit.

Try it!  Praise God for the little and the large and see if it can't turn your day around.  I think the main thing that brings us triumph isn't having more of stuff or less of pain, but how we praise God.  No one opened the door, and yes the kids are sometimes slow to respond to knocks - but thank God there is a door.  Thank God we have a house.  Thank God that I didn't have a true emergency.  Thank God that he is God, and he is good.  Thank God that he reminded me to praise him.

Your turn.....

What is one thing you can give thanks for?

Welcome to Friday - Bonus

Welcome to Friday!  Welcome to the Weekend!

As I sat here thinking about the week it suddenly dawned on me that I failed to share with you a few of the best and brightest things of my week.  Even though it was a tough week on a few fronts, I got many glimpses of God's goodness, the greatness of family and friends, and the beauty of nature.

First, Paige shared with me and Sydney on the way to school her dream of a place called Marshmallow land.  Paige was so descriptive and funny as she talked about it, it was probably the biggest and best laugh of the week.  The main keys of Marshmallow land

• veggies were bad, candy and junk food were good
• sugary drinks were healthy, water (alone) was unhealthy
• whatever you like to eat, but can't - you can in this magical land.

Sydney and I laughed real good b/c I'm sure much of Marshmallow land was developed after Paige wasn't allowed to get Kool-Aid or dessert the night before.

Second, Sydney discovered yesterday that she has been accepted to the school district's honor choir.  This is a big honor.  She had to audition by singing two songs.  She was so excited.  We are as well.  Sydney loves to sing and we are so blessed that she enjoys using this gift that God has given her.  It is amazing to hear her really get into a song.  I know it didn't come from me b/c even in the shower I sound bad :)

Third, Cassarra did very well at her game last Friday and she will have a tune up practice during the game tonight.  Tomorrow the band will travel to its first competition of the year in Pendleton High School.  She is very excited about this year's band show and the band group.  I pray that they will pull together their best show and best effort in each practice and every show. 

I also got a glimpse of the beauty of nature this week.  A couple of days this week I was able to witness beautiful skylines and sunsets over Lake Murray.  This morning I watched two does and three fawns eating and playing just outside our office window.  This was such a nice break from the hectic pace of work.  Five dear found there way into the little wooded patch behind our office building and they just hung out. 

Again, I hope you have a wonderful Friday.  I hope that today will bring you more than you ever expected and everything you need.  Have an awesome weekend!  Be safe, have fun, get rested and continue to be the wonderful blessing that you are.

Marshmallow land...

This morning I had the strangest of all blessings.  It all started last night when Paige woke up from a bad dream.  Of course, she came into our bedroom and woke both my wife and I from our sleep.  Trish gladly calmed her down and invited her to lay down in the bed beside her.  I of course slid over to the edge to make room and returned to my sleep.  It wasn't until my alarm clock went off that I began to uncover and discover how blessed this morning was.

First, I was blessed by the truth.  The truth is Paige was scared and frightened by her dream.  The greater truth was that she came to her parents for comfort (primarily mom).  It was neat to wake up and realize that our daughter didn't run to anything, but to her mom.  She knew that her mom loved her and that her parents both loved her too.  This was a blessed reminder that when we are scared, we too can go to someone for comfort.  Our comfort and refuge is God.  The psalmist declares the Lord is my rock and my refuge and a refuge to all who trust in him.  The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27)  Last night and early this morning, our bedroom was a refuge for Paige in a time of fear.  Love and safety where there.  God is our refuge and our strength in times of fear.  This was a neat reminder for me this morning.  I even had the chance to share with Paige this truth.

Second, I was blessed by innocence, childlike faith and a picture of intimacy.  Paige and Trish were still asleep when I got up.  They were laying down and just resting.  It was a great picture of being a child resting in the arms of a loving Savior.  Paige was peaceful, relaxed and able to rest with Trish's arms around her.  Childlike faith and trust in a parent is a wonderful thing.  It is just innocent and amazing.  I caught of glimpse of this innocence and childlike faith watching these two rest.  Another picture was reflected in the fact that Trish didn't seem to mind being a safe shelter for Paige.  For me this was a real glimpse of God's love this morning and the picture of our innocence in Christ.  We are called to rest and abide in Christ.  We are called to be like little children.  This is what little children are like, innocent, resting, abiding, feeling safe, and trusting that all is well in their parents arms.  All is well when we rest in our Father's arms.

Third, I was blessed with joy.  Paige declared that in our room she dreamed of Marshmallow land.  "What land," I asked.  She said it was marshmallow land where everything was made of marshmallow's and everything that we loved and wanted was good for you.  She described how Kool-Aid and sugar filled drinks were good and plain water was bad.  She described a land where veggies were bad and chips were good.  Marshmallow land was a place that was fun, exciting and she enjoyed being there.  The streets were made from marshmallows and so were the cars, although Paige said, "sometimes the cars aren't marshmallows."  It was just a joy to hear her talk about this strange but unique place.  It was a joy to hear her imagination in full bloom discussing buildings, cars, roads, flowers, food and drink in this special place.  She was excited.  You know what, this is joy for me too.  No, I'm not thinking of Marshmallow land, but I am thinking about a place of joy, peace, love and excitement.  Paige gave me a joyful reminder that heaven is everything that earth is not.  Heaven is a place where good is great, and bad things don't exist.  In Marshmallow land there was no fear, pain or worry.  In heaven all our tears will be wiped away and their will be no more suffering or crying or pain. 

It is also nice to think and realize that we can only get to Marshmallow land when we are resting in the arms of love and safety.  Likewise, we can only get to heaven if we rest in the love and grace of our Savior.

Thanks Paige for the truth that God is our refuge, the picture of innocence and faith, and the reminder of the joy and wonders of heaven - a beautiful land of goodness, greatness and joy.

Welcome to Friday - a post of 9/13/2013

This week was really special for me and my family.  Although we seemed to fail on our plans to leave the house on time for school, we managed to make it to school on time.  In fact, I actually made it into the office early.  This week has been mostly meetings, but getting into the office early was such a blessing.  I'm sure you can relate to being ready to face the day.  For example, on Wednesday I made into the office early enough to prepare for all of the days hurdles, challenges and meetings.  I had my reports in hand, my facts checked and double checked, and I was prayed up before the next person walked in the door.

The girls had a good week.  Cassarra will have her first home game tonight with the band and they will perform on the field for halftime.  She didn't have any complaints this week about school or band practice other than the heat.  Gabbi continues to enjoy dance and gymnastics.  She had a great day yesterday in P.E. her least favorite subject when she realized that she was actually very fast.  In fact she was one of the three fastest girls in the class.  Paige and Sydney had minor homework meltdowns, but recovered nicely by Wednesday and Thursday.  Of course, Ava and Emma continue to be amazing in their growth and growing.  Ava seems to be growing up too fast and Emma is not far behind.  Emma has satisfied her curiosity with getting out of the bouncy seat on her own and she is officially capable of rolling all the way over.  It was funny to see her earlier this week roll completely from one side of the blanket on the floor to the other side of the room.  She was only stopped by furniture, but you could tell she was still trying to move.  Trish is working hard on a number of projects.  She is truly an amazing woman.  This week she is busy pulling together photos from various events and working on the girls school yearbook. 

God did some amazing things this week in answering prayers.  A co-worker blessed me with an amazing book that I was hoping to buy.  My truck didn't start this morning and Trish had to take all of the girls to school, but she was up early enough and we were ready early enough to make that all possible.  Initially I was frustrated that the truck didn't start, but after a quick word of prayer, God gave me a peace that even if the truck never started again, it would be okay.  I had no idea how it would be okay, but I really had a peace that the day was not lost and things would be fine.  So, after not starting in time for school, and 30 minutes of tinkering - my truck started right up.

Today, the office is filled with treats.  Can you believe we have a pan of macaroni in the break room along with a huge plate of brownies, a equally large plate of chocolate chip cookies and a box of donuts.  This afternoon we are having a party and later today I get to go to the football game with Sydney and Paige for Elementary School night. 

Indeed it has been a great week for me.  I hope you have had a wonderful week.  I hope that you can roll the tape back and share with me the best part of your week so that I might be happy and encouraged for you and with you.  Enjoy the weekend.

I pray that you will have a great weekend.  I pray that great things will be done for you and done by you to bless others.
--- Cassius Rhue "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28)

Simple, powerful, true

God is good.  God is God.

So this small line was tagged on the bottom of my sister's email about her week.  It struck me with its simplicity and its power.  There is so much I could say about each part of this simple statement, and I hope I don't ruin it for you.  Before I give my take, let me just suggest you start with repeating the first part to yourself and meditate on it.

God is good!

Just let it marinate.  Let it roll around. Push back against the immediacy of doubt and fear.  God is good!  Do you feel it?  Don't move yet... wait until you feel it.

Now repeat the second part. 

God is God!

Let it have room to breathe.  Let it be heavy or light.  Let it stay a while before you keep reading.

God is good!  God is God!

 God is good!  It simple, true and powerful.  It means that right now at this moment you can rest from the worry that this will not work out, or that somehow God has it in for you.  God is good.  He will not withhold from you, forsake you, or stop loving you.  God is good!  I find peace that what I'm going through, hard or easy, painful or pleasant, will be a snapshot within the beautiful whole of God's good plan for my life.  God is good!

God is God!  Feel the relief.  Feel the freedom in know that you can retire, resign or step down.  You don't have to hold the world up on your own.  God is God.  There is someone in control.  Things are not out of control.  There is an end and a purpose.  God is God!  There is a designer, creator and maintainer - and it is not you!  You can let go of trying to control your life, worrying about tomorrow, or being afraid of circumstances or people.  God is God!

One more time...

God is good!  God is God!

On Rule 2..

I started reading "Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living" by Rueben P. Job.  It was a gift from my good friend Rev. John Culp (Big John).  The three rules are simply stated:

1. Do no harm.
2. Do good.
3. Stay in love with God.

Today, I was reading the section under rule 2, do good.  This rule sounds so simple, but it is very hard. In the book the author mentions that we have to do good even if we are abused, misunderstood, mistreated, or neglected for it. 

You may be wondering, how could you be misunderstood or mistreated for doing good.  You may be wondering how could you be neglected or abused for it.  Sometimes I wondered this as well, but we don't have to go very far to see it in action. 

First, think about Christ.  He stood up in the synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand and healed him on the Sabbath.  It was an amazing miracle and an act of grace, mercy and goodness.  Yet, many in the crowd were angry.  The same is read in scripture after the healing of Lazarus, the healing of the paralytic, and the proclamation of truth.  Jesus healed many, taught, fed, helped, served and cured.  His reward from these same crowds.

Second, consider the apostles, disciples and others.  Stephen was stoned for his testimony, James, John the Baptist,  Peter and Paul all did good and met their end as martyrs for their faith. 

To do good is a risky endeavor that is not always rewarded as good should be. 

Let me give you an example of just how hard it can be even now.  The same day I read this portion under rule 2 I volunteered at work to help a coworker who was running behind in his work.  Almost immediately I was berated, misunderstood, yelled at and even the coworker tried to retake the task that he clearly could not complete.

So, why bother?  Not so fast.  The desire to live by, abide in, and do rule 2 extends from my love for God.  I am loved by God, beloved of God, created in the image of God, redeemed by God, saved by God, being made complete by God and will be with God again in glory.  Since God has recreated me to know and be my true self, I am free to love others and to do good despite what others say, think or do in response. 

We do good because we are in love with God.  We do good because we have been given the invitation to follow Christ.  We do good because our true selves, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love to do good. 

It isn't easy, but most things worth having or doing aren't necessarily easy.  So, on rule #2 - let us do good and pray for the strength to keep at it.


Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Tell yourself something good

Basically, for years I considered myself to be the positive thinker and optimist of the family.  I always seemed to find the silver lining and always seemed to think the best of most situations.  Somewhere, though, I must admit that this changed.  I'm not sure when, but I have my suspicions.  From a spiritual standpoint it began when I stopped writing or giving thanks for the blessings in my life.  It probably also started when I gave some people in my life too much leeway in affecting how I felt about myself.  Or when I let the negativity of others infect me.

No matter when it actually started, the main point is that it got to a point that we had to do something.  Trish noticed and pointed out that I had become so negative that my whole outlook had changed.  I stopped seeing people, situations, circumstances or even opportunities as anything other than something negative.  I even began to be a drain on her.  I took being negative to a whole new low.  You see, if I could find a way to bring out the negative, I did it.  I was doing it so well that unless Trish told me, I didn't even know I was doing it.  It was really bad.

So, we decided to do something about it.  Trish and I have been reading some really good books and articles about our words.  We are reading one by Joyce Meyer, another book by a speaker at a Weekend to Remember conference (familylife.com/weekend), and various other blogs.  Many of these posts talk about the power of our words, the power of our minds, and the power of agreeing with God.  This post is part of my journey towards being recreated in the positive self image that God created for me.  It is also my spin on many of the articles I've read today.

We all probably know the scripture from Proverbs 18, life and death are in the power of the tongue.  And we probably have heard a few of the other scriptures about getting rid of all course talk, all filth, slander, anger, wrath and malice.  I know just recently I have read about putting away all filthy speech.

I've read all of these before, but it wasn't until today that I really began to get the picture.  We say what we think, and we believe what we say.  This applies not just to what we think about others, but most of all about what we think and say about ourselves.  In being negative, I was thinking and saying negative things about myself.  I didn't put it together that what I needed to do was think about the true, noble, right, pure, lovely and praiseworthy things about myself.  I didn't realize that I needed to refute and cast out arguments and any stronghold that went against the knowledge and will of God.  So, I needed to say these positive things about myself as well.

In the concept of positive thinking  I needed Philippians 4:8:

whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (NIV)

Somehow, I missed or forgot that I needed to agree with God, that he loves me, that I am wonderfully made, and that I was created in his image and it was good.  I needed to remember that Jesus died for me, while I was a sinner.  He also promises to complete the process of making me more mature and perfect in Christ.  I need to remember that while I am on this journey, I will fail, but he also promises to never leave me or forsake me.  Somehow, I just got caught up in believe what others said about me and I totally forgot what God said and what I needed to say.

Today's blog was a great reminder to put it all back in focus.  To that end, one blogger suggested that we need to find a catch phrase, motto or mantra for those times when we are tempted to be negative or things aren't going as we thought or planned.  She suggested we find something that we tell ourselves - something to bring a spring back into our step and a smile to our faces.  I'm searching for my motto and my mantra.  I have a few, but so far nothing seems to stick.  Here are a few:

• Yes, Jesus Loves Me!
• Forgiven, Saved, Loved!
• Smile, God Loves You!
• Do Not Fear
• Your Better Than This
• Let it Rent Space
• No Long Term Leases
• God favors me and I'm expecting something awesome to come my way soon.
• Blessed are the pure in heart
• Jesus keep me near the cross

I need something!  I need something to help me re-frame conversations.  I need something to remind me that hurt, pain and negative thoughts can only rent space (and no long term leases).  I need something to remind me that God is in love with me, still in love with me, and will always love me.  I need something good, easy to remember and up beat.

I'll keep thinking - but I'm positive I'll come up with something soon.

Today's Tears

Today we celebrated at WUMC with Youth Sunday.  This Sunday featured my good friend,  and "brother from a different mother" Jeff Snow as the speaker giving the devotion.  Or, so I thought.  As usual I worried about the form and function of the service and the experience, the order of service, how it would be received, starting on time, and etc.  Somehow I seemed to miss the key thing, worship!  I was missing until Gabbi got up to sing.

In almost an instant she was singing "Take me to the King," and I was proud.  My chest was swelled and I was taken away into the thought of being in front of my king.  Suddenly, I started to notice that she was tearing up.  I tried to smile and to comfort her from where I sat, but the tears started.  I thought I was proud before then, but I was moved to tears and beaming with pride afterwards.  Gabbi pushed past her fears and her tears and caused nearly a whole church to celebrate the Spirit and power of God working in her.  Trish and I both agree that God placed his Spirit on her and she showed a tremendous amount of courage.  With each tear and each note, I cried tears of joy, tears of pride in her and all the girls, and tears of thanksgiving for God who was at work.

From Gabbi's song, the Spirit moved in the youth.  One by one they shared testimonies.  Not adult type, practiced and rehearsed and stiff testimonies.  Not the rote and memorized stuff.  No, this stuff was real.  From a child proclaiming how God saved her and redeemed her after a brutal rape, to another child proclaiming that she had seen God b/c she was able to see herself as someone who could be loved.  One after another proclaimed God's glory in the sweet and tears of working in the summer heat for someone that didn't know.  One after another they told stories of hurt and pain turned into triumph.  I cried.  I think we all cried.

I cried b/c of the pain I heard in voices that were never meant to know such pain.  I cried b/c of the suffering I heard told of houses broken down on the ground, and children who pray for God's people to come help them - and hold out hope for years until we come.  I cried b/c of the sadness in voices that encountered unspeakable hurts.  I cried b/c there were stories of children who were so lost and afraid that they were thinking of killing themselves.  I cried b/c of the reality that somewhere, right now, someone will kill themselves.  I cried b/c I realized that my sin, my anger, my apathy, my neglect contributes heavily to all these hurts and pains and suffering that came out of the voices of these youth.  I cried b/c I have so much, yet give so little, do so little and yet expect so much from God and everyone else.

But I also cried today b/c of the joy of knowing that God saves.  I cried b/c many of the youth found moments during Salkehatchie were God went from being their parents God, to their Savior and friend.  I cried tears of joy b/c someone found God and was found by God.  I cried b/c I realized that years ago, God found me just like he found these kids.  I cried b/c the Spirit was moving and he opened up a door for us to be real and to realize that we hurt.  I cried b/c I heard the truth that God rescues, saves, defends, uplifts, repairs, restores, heals, and loves.  I cried b/c a young girl retold the truth that God loves us just the way he created us; wounds, warts, habits and frailties.  I cried b/c I was reminded that God loves us so much that he won't just leave us there.  I cried realizing that God sends us these voices to remind us of his love, to tell of his truth, to give us comfort at that moment - and peace.

It has been a long time since I have been moved like this.  It has been too long since I have cried tears of both joy and sorrow.  It has been too long since the last time that I truly thanked God for Jesus, for his love, for his forgiveness and for the power he gives.  It has been too long since the fire has been stirred in my belly to be real with God and confess that I too am broken, scared, hurt, abused, ashamed, lonely, wondering, fearful, wounded, and in despair.  And it has been too long since I have asked God to lift me up by the power of the cross so that I may be healed, restored, repaired, forgiven, loved, found, in relationship, filled with hope, and on fire in the Spirit.

God, be my God.  I speak your promise into my life.  Never leave me, never forsake me - be to me my Shepherd, my Rock, my Savior, and my God.  Be to me the source of my joy, the reason my tears become tears of joy.  Be my all and let me be wholly yours forever - Cassius 08.25.2013.

First Day Back...

Wow!  A whole summer has come and gone.  It seemed like it was only yesterday that school was ending for the year.  We were wondering what we were going to do for the summer and how we would pull it all off.  Now, I am looking back and wondering where did all the time go.  I can't believe that today, 8/20/2013, is the first day back to school.  Whoever said to cherish the moments because they go by so quickly was right.  These moments fly by!  We had a whirlwind summer.

Right after school ended we had the beautiful trip to the mountains with views that were amazing.  Within days it seemed like it was already July.  We had our June events, like birthday parties for Ava and Grandma, but where did it all go.

In July we had "grandma" camp and fourth of July celebrations.  The girls started their summer schedule of library trips, zoo trips and miscellaneous adventures.  Many of which, I can't remember.  Trish and I had some great dates during the summer and I enjoyed being up early by myself, and then hanging with Emma, Ava, and Paige.  Paige and I probably can trace most of July to video games in the early morning and late night.  We had Dad's great party for his 70th birthday.  Aside from some harsh comments about my weight it was great.

On to August and we could already sense the tension rising as summer was fading away.  Some of the girls began a countdown.  Paige spent most of her remaining summer days catching up on all her summer reading and trying to squeeze in as many games of Super Smash brothers as possible.  Sydney went to "grandma" camp along with Cassarra.  Cassarra also had band camp and a host of other social events.  Now that I think about it, she probably had the busiest summer of us all.

As the last few days trickled by, we had the flurry of shopping for supplies and the excitement (or lack of excitement) for the coming year.  And then today, the first day arrived.  Traditionally I take the girls to school on the first day of school.  This year we did two trips.  First, Sydney and Paige went to DFES.  We walked the halls and dropped them off to start a new year.  Next, it was the older girls turn.  Cassarra and Gabbi were taken to school and dropped off in their lines.  Ava and I said goodbye to them as we realized the summer has ended.

I pray that this year will be the best year yet, but not as good as next year.  I pray that this year will be filled with learning, and that they will learn more next year and years to come.  I pray for their safety, sanity and security and I expect a great day - welcome back to school.

Moments like these

A couple of weeks ago, maybe a week ago, I was up earlier than usual and earlier than I wanted to be.  The sound of our newest family member was ringing out from the crib and I decided to proatively prepare for her feeding.  I went downstairs and fixed a bottle while praying that she might go back to sleep.  However, Emma decided that she was not going to sleep, but instead she was going to eat an early breakfast or an early morning snack.

As I sat feeding her, this moment of fatigue turned into a very special and tender moment.  She ate just a little bit at first.  Not really doing a whole lot with the bottle except moving it from side to side in her mouth.  As she fussed with the bottle, I began reading from my Bible that I brought upstairs.  After about 10 minutes or so, Emma had calmed down and began to drink her milk.  After another 10 minutes she had fallen back to sleep with a smile on her face.

Just as I was getting ready to lay her back down, she seemed to grab on to my shoulder and my shirt and lay her head on my chest.  Her little face was bright and she appeared to be smiling and quite content.  It's hard to describe, but it was a moment worth waking up for at 4:30 am.  It was a moment that just touched my heart and reminded me that being a dad is awesome.

The truth is these are the moments we live for, moments when a single hug, a smile, or even a kiss take flight and change our whole day for the better.

Never Stop Learning

I have always been a huge fan of learning.  I readily admit that many of our school teachers are overwhelmed, under appreciated and underpaid.  This often results in classes that are counterproductive to learning.   However, this week reaffirmed my belief that we must "never stop learning."

The classroom is not the only, and often not the best, place to learn and continue our education.  I am not simply talking about picking up a street education or learning common sense.  This week I had the chance to learn from a series of business articles.  The first article dealt with holding yourself back.  It was an interesting article focused on how top leaders often hold themselves back from success.  The key points I learned from this article include:

1. Get over yourself
2. Model the attitudes and behaviors that you want others to adopt
3. Choose impact over image
4. Recognize competitors as people and allies
5. Don't go it alone.
6. Get started.

The article was really good.  It outlined both scenarios where we hold ourselves back, and solutions for stopping these destructive habits.  While I am in a leadership position, I intend to use these key learnings in my everyday life as a husband, father and friend.  I especially thank God that I had the opportunity to find this article.  I pray for the strength to apply what I have read to continue to triumph in life.

Beyond these high level points there were a few key points for having impact that I gleaned.  These points include:

• Get over yourself
• Don't waste your time and energy trying to prove yourself to others
• True leadership is about making other people better
• Place others and their goals first
• Don't define yourself by your title, your goals, or your fears
• Model the attitudes and behaviors that you want others to adopt
• If you want people to care what you think, then make it clear that you care what they think
• Choose impact over image
• Desire to impact something or someone more than you strive to preserve your image
• You must choose between looking powerful and together, or actually having a real impact
• Recognize competitors as people and allies, not enemies
• Don't reduce people to two dimensional characters
• Rethink what you think about people; they are rich with other experiences
• Work to recognize the lessons you can learn from your competitors
• Don't go it alone.
• Success requires a team of wise counselors
• Find the people who believe in your desire and ability to lead
• Meet regularly with these people and fall in love with them
• Get started!  
• You must simply begin.  
• Do something. 
• Don't wait for others, do what you can with whatever informal power you have now

The complete article is available at hbr.org:  Managing Yourself; Stop Holding Yourself Back.  Five ways people unwittingly sabotage their rise to leadership by Anne Morriss, Robin J. Ely, and Frances X. Frei.

A Bold Red Bird

This guy was just hanging out in the yard the other morning.  He was simply beautiful.  I haven't seen one of these in a long time.  I really haven't seen one since I was young and we were in the country with a BB Gun trying to hunt birds.  In the city I rarely catch a glimpse of one of these colorful birds.  Even when I do it is only for a second and just enough of a red blur to know that they still exist.

This guy, on this day though was quite bold.  He was in the yard and acting as if it was his yard.  I'm not sure what inspired his courage, but I enjoyed looking at him and I even took a few pictures before he took flight.  He didn't actually fly away until the truck got right up on top of him.

Red Bird:  Sorry about the rotation.

I guess I took a picture of him because he was so beautiful and he reminded me of growing up.  I think I also took a picture of him because he was quite bold.

If you are reading this, then this little guy is symbolic of you and me.  We are one of God's creations and we are beautiful.  We have a beautiful color whether that is white, black, tan, yellow, orange or purple.  We have a wonderful sound that we can sing, and we can be bold.

We can be bold b/c God is above all and he is always with you.

Awesome Weekend Experience - Part II

Last Sunday, May 19th was an awesome day for a number of reasons.  You are going to need a cup of coffee or tea and a couple of minutes to read this one.  Seriously, it took me about 40 minutes to write it all down.  I'm sure I'll probably split it up later and post some more as I remember more of the details.  Anyway, read on and enjoy.

The second awesome experience came on Sunday morning as we all headed to church where I was selected to be the devotional speaker for the morning.  It was Family and Friends Day at Cumberland AME.  Wow!  What an experience!

Here is a little background, my grandfather was Rev. Felix C. Rhue.  Granddaddy preached his last sermon, ever on this side of heaven, in 1994 from the pulpit of Cumberland A.M.E church. I can still see him standing there proclaiming the word of God and the truth of Christ in his robe.  Sometimes I even see him in his white suit.  I see his big rimmed glasses and his curly hair neatly combed to one side.  I see his smile and his powerful facial features.  I see hear his voice.  After he died, long after, I began the process of entering the ministry.

Now, the rest of the current story.  I was invited to speak at Cumberland once before, but the pastor informed me that I would not be using the pulpit but instead the podium.  This was okay, but secretly and not so secretly I longed to have an experience of being in the pulpit where granddaddy once stood.  Anyway, this weekend when I arrived I spoke to the pastor and we both were excited about the day.  He is a very nice man and huddled the choir and the pastoral staff together before the service started.  In the huddle before the service started Rev. Lance prayed an amazing prayer.  I had never witnessed such a strong word.  He prayed for the church, the pastor, the families and friends, the occasion, the speaker - me, the choir and all the ears and hearts that would hear the word of God.  He prayed a strong prayer and he didn't take all day.  He was moved.  Well, as we got ready to walk in, I asked the pastor did he want me to sit on the side again like I had done before with the previous pastor.  He smiled and said no.  I was shocked but excited.  He said, come on into the pulpit.  I was speechless and so grateful.

Stepping into the pulpit was amazing.  Instantly the emotions of the moment began to build.  I was siting in the speaker's chair.  I was in God's pulpit where his servant Rev. Felix - granddaddy once preached.  I was just so humbled and overwhelmed.  Wow!

The service started with powerful songs from the choir, a powerful prayer by Brother Philip Lance, Jr.  Little Lance prayed in a way that you knew it was God.  His words were clear, powerful, poignant and precise.  He hit things that one doesn't get on rote memory.  From then on it was clear that God was moving in a powerful way.

There were moments during songs that I smiled as I thought of grandma and granddad.  I had tears as I thought of his last sermon, his last days, and grandma never getting to hear me preach.  I got chocked up at thinking about the moment.  I can remember during the litany thinking, God has had his hand on this whole moment b/c everything is flowing together so well.  I mean the call to worship, the purpose, the litany, the prayers and the songs were all on point.  In fact some of the songs were the same ones I had been singing since I started preparing.  Also, the litany contained two or three ideas that God had given me to touch on in the devotional.

As I sat I could feel my nerves and my emotions rising.  I wanted to do well.  I wanted to do well for God.  I wanted to do well for me.  I wanted to do well for the congregation, my family and friends, and my grandparents.  I remember praying, "Lord don't let the magnitude of this moment swallow me up and overwhelm me."  I also prayed the lines from a Toby Mack song, "Lord, if you want to steal my show... I'll watch you lead, if you have something to say... go ahead and take it away."  I prayed for the church, the message and messenger.

As it got closer to the devotional on the program I pulled out my paper.  By now I had most of it memorized but I was nervous that I might forget something or misquote myself.  I jotted down a few notes and then listened to Mr. Bates play Amazing Grace and a medley on the saxophone.  He was awesome as were all others worshiping God.  I think that was the key, they were all worshiping God.

I was introduced as the speaker by my brother and one of my best friends, Vincent.  Except for my wife, Vincent is my best friend.  We are brothers and friends and I owe a lot of my life to the blessings God has given me through him.  I'll tell anyone who will listen that he is an awesome brother and friend.  He has helped me through more jams, into better situations, and kept me safe more times than I can count.  As he began his introduction I started to cry.  Heck, I'm staring to cry now just thinking of it.  Vincent has always been there for me since I can remember.  Even though we fought a lot growing up, we were thicker than thieves as they say.  We worked together, played together, laughed together, fought together, struggled together, rode together, went to school together, and just kept each other through some dark days.  As he talked we both cried.  I couldn't stop crying.  I was being introduced in the most raw and real way by a friend and brother who has seen me at my lowest and cheered me on when I was at my best.  When he finished I was so glad, for once, that the choir had another song before the message.  I needed all that time to dry my eyes, my nose and get myself "together."

When I got ready to speak I took a moment to thank Vincent for the introduction, thank the pastor, praise God, praise the members and participants in the worship service and get myself ready.  And yes, God stole the show.  In that moment he stole the show.  I got a chance to look at Daddy in the congregation sitting to my left, and he started to smile.  I saw Felicia, Liz, Ari and Tina.  I saw Trish, my wife who is so loving and lovely.  I saw other family and friends and even my kids waiting to see if I was okay and what would be next.  I hope they saw Christ.  I definitely saw him.  I saw him in their faces.  I saw him in my dad's eyes, so strong and powerful.  I saw Him in my wife's smile which reminded me of "I am with you."  I saw him and I felt Him and it got rolling.

The message title was "Why is God Awesome."  The message seemed to just flow out, or fall out of me.  I spun around and saw mom smiling and nodding and I knew that God had heard my prayer.  He had stolen the show and he had kept the moment from being to big.  The sermon was raw, emotional and fun.  I felt it all.  I felt granddaddy, and grandma.  I felt my parents and siblings love.  I felt my wife's love and joy and support welling up and spilling over.  I felt the Spirit telling me to leave it all there.

It was awesome to spend the time in worship and be in the place where granddaddy was before.  It was awesome to have God show up and show out.  It was awesome to feel it all.

We made it home safely at 8:30 and we put the cap on the weekend.


God, thank you.  Thank you for the time in worship, the chance the worship, the introduction and the fellowship, the family ties and bonds, the church that keeps on praising you, and the opportunity to live a dream of mine.  Lord, I love you.  Lord, I need you.  Lord, I want you to always steal the show and say what needs to be said; to me and through me.  Lord, I love you and I thank you for an awesome weekend with my Awesome God and awesome family.

Trish, thank you for all that you did this weekend for Gabbi and me.  You are amazing!

Awesome Weekend Experience - Part I

Last weekend was awesome because it was Gabbi's birthday on Sunday.  Gabbi our second oldest turned 13 on Sunday.  She was so excited about her birthday.  She counted down the days for over a week.  I can remember seeing 9 days left neatly written on the fridge whiteboard.  She kept updating it until we left for Georgetown.  I was a bit worried that all of our activities would overshadow her special day, but I think it went well.

We started off the celebration at Frank's arcade in Inlet Square Mall.  Somehow we managed to get a couple of cards with $5 - $10 each for the girls and Ziah.  They played a skeeball, air hockey, motorcycle racing, frogger games, and even the hot shots basketball game.  Gabbi managed to burn her money really quickly playing one of the higher cost higher reward games.  Those games usually pay out big prizes when you win, however, you win very infrequently.  In any regard we gave her another couple of dollars and it seemed like she had a good time.  We were there for a hour or so before everyone was out of money.  The girls and Ziah won over 300 tickets on their card.  I think Gabbi had over 300 on hers as well.  She bought a tiara with her winning tickets.  Cassarra had to combine several cards and tickets, but used it to score some ridiculously large shades.

All in all the arcade was a fun memory for us all.  We even managed to get in and out of the Inlet without being grossed out or embarrassed by any of the bikers who were frequenting the beach for the "Biker's Weekend."

When we got to my mother's house on Saturday night the girls had tacos and got to sleep in the playroom.  I have no idea what time they fell asleep, but it seemed like it was very late.  However late they stayed up, they seemed fine on Sunday.

On Sunday we shared in a worship service, and after church on Sunday the awesomeness of Gabbi's special day continued.  We celebrated Gabbi's birthday with cake and ice cream at my parents house.  She had a great cake from Publix that we picked up in Columbia and brought with us.  We also grabbed a bucket of Neapolitan ice cream to go with the cake.  She had all of my siblings except Alex, plus Deatrice and Ziah singing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.  All of the nieces and nephews were there except for Abby.  I could see Gabbi smiling as they sang.  She loved being in the center of attention, I could tell.  I was very happy for her.  We all need moments like this.

After making a quick wish and blowing out all thirteen candles we all carved up the cake.  Of course the birthday girl got the first slice.  Afterwards, mom bought her presents and we had our gifts there as well.  I was happy that the evening was ending with her as the center and focus.  She is a wonderful child and I hope that at 13 she continues to grow and mature towards the amazing adult that I know she can be.

We got back around 8:30 and gave Gabbi one last surprise, a bag on nail polish.  Gabbi smiled and said, "Yes, I was starting to run low!"

Gabbi - Happy Birthday!  You are awesome and I hope you had an amazing 13th birthday.

New Discovery

Yesterday I was watching TV, as usual, when something unusual happened.  A TV evangelist caught my attention as I was flipping through the stations trying to find something at six o'clock on Sunday that I wanted to watch while feeding Emma.  Now, I'm not one to really stop and listen to TV evangelists.  On most occasions I have listened for a moment only to hear the equivalent of a "pay for healing" or "pay for a blessing" or "give to get prosperity" message.  In my lifetime the only exceptions that I can personally attest to are TD Jakes, Charles Stanley and Son, Billy Graham, and one or two others.  Then of course a local evangelist that I have met personally.  So, for me to stop on this station was pretty remarkable.  Actually it was the work of God.

I listened as Rev. Prince (again I've only heard him this once) provided me with a new discovery.  He was speaking about the woman with the issue of blood.  During the sermon he asked did we see what was remarkable in this passage.  Now, as a part of school I have begun to look deeper at God's word but I always seem to miss something.  I try to ask:

• What is God doing?
• Who are the main actors?
• What is missing from this story?
• What jumps out at you?
• What seems out of place?
• What question is being answered?

Yesterday, Rev. Prince asked his congregation to look for something remarkable.  Like most everyone else I jumped to the healing of the woman who had grown sick and worse.  He, however, said God led him to two things.  First, the connection between Jesus and the Old Testament prophecies of the Sun of Righteousness, and the promise of healing in the Messiah.  Second, and this was very new to me, was the fact that the crowd pressed on Jesus and crowded him yet only the woman who touched him was healed.  Did you get that?  The crowds were jostling, pressing, bumping, touching, grabbing, pushing and shoving, and running into Jesus as he walked to heal a little girl.  Surely many were sick, in need, and wanting healing.  Yet, only the woman who said, in faith, "if I can touch the hem of his garment" was made whole.

How often have we all walked beside him, praying for a touch, a word, a blessing from God?  And this passage tells us that it is already there for us.  We all need to touch, in faith; touch while believing; touch with hope; and touch Christ ready to receive.  Will we all be healed instantly, I don't know.  Will we all be blessed, definitely!

They got it done!

Proof positive that you can do anything you put your mind to and your heart into can be found in Sydney and Paige.

Paige has been taking Tae Kwon Do since March.  She recently completed her test to move up from a white belt to a yellow belt.  This included breaking a board and going through all of her forms.  It was so amazing to watch.  We have always been proud of our children and this was just another reason why.

Sydney has been training with Girls on the Run (GOTR) to complete a 5k run.  This Saturday she did just that.  She ran a 5k with her Aunt Felicia.  I knew she could do it and I watched her train during the spring.  She even ran on the treadmill during her spring break when they didn't have any practices at the school.  On top of all of this, Sydney still plans to run during the summer and with GOTR in the fall.

Sydney and Paige have always had the mindset that they can do anything.  I wish that I had more of their mindset in more things.  I also wish that the world did as well.  They see the good that needs to be done and they ask, "Why not me," instead of "Why can't someone else?"  They set their minds on doing good, changing their world and changing their lives and they get it done.  They did it!  They got it done!  We are proud of them both.  We are proud of all of our family as well.

So, what about you?  Yes, you!  What are you going to do today, this week, this year, and with the rest of your life?  What do you see a need for?  What do you wish someone would do?  What do you want to change about right now?

Whatever good it is that you have in your heart and mind to do, do it!  I know I am going to do it, and I will get it done to.

Welcome Emma Grace

We were blessed last week with the healthy, happy, and joyful birth of our sixth child.  She is a wonderful and beautiful testament to the awesome creativity and favor of God.  The whole process of conception to delivery is simply awe inspiring and unbelievable.

So, join me in celebration, praise, thanksgiving to God, and sheer joy as we welcome Emma Grace to God's family of disciples and to our Rhue Family.  We are just so blessed to be given the chance to be guides for her journey of faith, growth and maturity.

I pray that God will use her in a mighty and unique way for God's own glory, and that she will be a faithful lover of Christ her entire life.  I pray that Trish and I will be able to lead her and train her in the way that she should go, and that our lives will more closely reflect the character of Christ so that she will have a living example of faith, hope and love of God.  I also pray for each of her sisters, that they too will have a growing and loving relationship with the God who does such awesome things that we cannot even imagine or understand it all.  I also pray for all of her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents that together we will all love God and one another.


Welcome Emma Grace!

Emma Grace: 12 March 2013, 7 lbs, 10 ounces.

More to come!

The journey to Emma Grace

God is amazing.

Over the last nine months, Trish and I have been on an amazing, exciting, and challenging journey.  If you are quick, you already know about the journey.  Yes, nine months ago we got the news that we were expecting our sixth child.  It was news that we weren't really expecting, and I'm not entirely certain we were prepared to hear.  Yet, we heard it and it started a journey that I hope we will never forget.  I know it is one that we will never regret.

We experienced a whole range of emotions; fear, joy, sadness, frustration, anxiety, anger, disappointment, happiness, wonder, awe, and peace.  We experienced some of these emotions on the same day.  For example, as Trish returned one day from the doctor, I peppered her with questions.  "What did the doctor say?  How was the ultrasound?  Did they run any tests?"  And by any tests, I was trying to figure out why the doctor felt adamant about checking for birth defects with Ava, but not now.  My questioning came from fear.  I was afraid that we were too old to have another child.  I was even afraid that we might have a miscarriage. I have two friends who were going through just that kind of pain.  As I was nearly drowning in fear a word of prayer came to mind from the psalms.  When I'm afraid, I trust in you (Psalm 56:3).  Wow!  That did the trick for this season.  There was this amazing peace that came over me.  I realized that no matter what happened with this baby and this pregnancy, I was going to trust in God.

I'd love to say that this was the only episode of fear, but that would not be truthful.  Instead, fear and peace, joy and sadness, anxiety and calm, worry and trust, anger and gladness have been in constant tension throughout the nine month journey.  There were days when I wondered if we were both too old, if we had enough energy, money, or square footage.  Some days the state of the world scared me to tears, while other days the reports of mishaps, miscarriages, and health scares nearly crushed me.  But, as this blog is named, God has given me a Life of Triumph.  No matter how dark the days seemed, God gave us victory and I can truly say that joy, trust, peace and love won the battle overall.

And, after a nine month journey we welcomed Emma Grace to our family of disciples on March 12th.  She is simply beautiful.  Her delivery was amazing.  Even as fear rose, joy and peace rose higher and higher.

Trish and Emma are both doing well and resting as much as possible with a new born.  There is so much I learned about myself, my fears, and my need for a deeper (less stuff related) relationship with God.  I may have realized on this journey that I'm not who I want to be, but I also realize that I'm not who I used to be either.

God is amazing!