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.