Grief of a Missing Friendship

I’m trying something different today and doing a video blog.  Let me know what you think.


https://youtu.be/1a9opkUCo84

A Reoccurring Theme

Tonight I had the privilege of spending some time chatting with someone to whom, up to this point, has just been an acquaintance.  Fortunately, we had a chance to connect tonight and have a much deeper conversation about life and just some of the things that we have both experienced in the past and really created a connection that felt both natural and refreshing.  More on that in a second.

About twelve years ago, I worked with a man that introduced me to the whole idea of life as a journey.  He explained to me about how life is a path that we were on and people would come and go on that path because their path would align with ours for an unknown amount of time and then the paths sometimes separate and go different directions.  Other times, the paths continue along the same journey together.  He told me that either way, we need to understand that the paths of others are intended as part of our journey through life to help us grow and develop personally and to allow us the privilege of impacting someone else's journey.  It is the way that God has designed us to be connected together.  I've never forgotten that lesson and have held it close to my heart ever since.

In my daily devotions, I have been working through the book of Proverbs and I have really had some thought provoking verses jump off the page at me, but the one from yesterday's devotion was Proverbs 16:9.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

 We can have all the wonderful plans in the world of where we want to go and what we want to do, but ultimately, it is God who determines what happens along the journey of our lives.  His divine plan of who is going to enter or exit our journey as we continue to move forward in this life is intentional and He has purpose for everything that happens in our lives.  THAT'S CRAZY!!!  He knows ahead of time when someone will come into your life and totally change the direction you thought you were going to go or change your perception of what is important or not important.

The truth is, we should be asking Him each and every day how He wants to use us today to further His purpose in our lives.  We should be looking to Him for guidance about where He wants us to go; who He wants us to talk to and what He wants us to say.  You never just know how God will use you to change someone else's life without you even knowing it.  You never know what someone else might be going through and how your interaction with them might be the difference between them thinking they can't go any farther in their journey and them realizing that they can make it through this difficult leg of the journey.  You never know how you might be the person that causes someone to rediscover their purpose in this life.  You also never know how someone else might be used to help you see things just a little bit differently.  You never know how God might use someone else to give you a hope when hope seems so far away.

So back to my conversation tonight.  I'm not so sure who that conversation was supposed to help, but for some reason I believe that both of us had a moment where we knew that God has something bigger in store for the both of us and that he used our paths crossing to remind us that He still cares for both us.  I look forward to seeing how this journey continues on but I'm definitely more aware tonight of this reoccurring theme of "journey".

The Loyal Journey

Yesterday, I had a co-worker for the past three years move on to another opportunity with another company. She was very dedicated to the company in her time with us but some people would say that she wasn't very loyal for leaving so quickly. This couldn't be further from the truth. 

I made a point of voicing to the rest of our staff that her years of service has no indication of how loyal she was, but rather, her efforts every time she came to work was the true indication of her loyalty to the company. When we give our all each and every day to further the success of those we work with/for, that's what truly shows where our loyalty lies. I've known people that have worked for companies for decades but never have a good thing to say about the company they work for or the people they work with. Often, these same people are the first to take advantage of the company or "play the system" to get ahead. 

In Colossians 3:23, it states: "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Often at work I forget the greater purpose of why I am there. I also often forget Who put me there. 

Today in my devotions, I was reminded of that very thought about Who put me in the position I am in doing what I am doing. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:33, "“We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.”(NLT) We can think that it is because of our efforts that we get where we are in life, but ultimately, God determines where we end up because He has purpose for each and every person in this world. Just read the rest of the chapter and you'll quickly discover how true that is. You have a purpose and God cares about you. That is so humbling the more you think about it. 

So the next time you're heading into work, remember that you're not going there by mistake. There is a reason why you're there and you never know how God will use you in that opportunity. Also, remember to give your best effort and to be a loyal employee no matter how long you work for a company. It might just be the tool God uses to move you to the next step in your career. 

As for the employee I started off mentioning, I wish her all the best and thank her for her loyalty over the last three years. I know her new employer is very fortunate to have her and they will benefit from what she brings to the table. Best wishes. 

Pulling Weeds

Today I had the lovely job of pulling dandelions from our lawn so that I could kick off the season of cutting the grass. I obviously wanted to do a good job because the more I got out now would hopefully mean the less I would have to pull out later. More on that in a second.

This year will mark our 5th wedding anniversary. I love my wife dearly and I want to make sure I do everything I can to make our marriage as happy as it can be. Because of this, I've started a daily reading plan on YouVersion called, "The Five Love Languages for Him". I want to put all the efforts in that I can now into doing my part in our relationship to hopefully make it the best it can be as we continue on this journey together. It doesn't mean there won't be bumps in the road, but at least when we hit those bumps we will have a strong relationship to handle that rough road.

I'm not going to lie, like pulling weeds, it is a lot of work. There may be times when you have to go back and work on the same area again and again but in the end, the result will be a healthy relationship that will stand the test of time.

As for my lawn, I'm sure I missed one or two weeds along he way but I have a whole new season to work on whatever pops up. I'm just grateful I've got a lawn to pull weeds from.

Happy Springtime Everyone!!

Life Isn't Fair

My little boy has learned a new phrase, "It isn't fair!"  When things don't go the way that he thinks they should go, he likes to throw these words out as a blanket statement that somehow is going to sway my decision about what he wants.

I can think of many times in my life that I thought the very same way as my Little Man and somehow felt that o should get my way. Even in my adult years, I sometimes struggle to see how some people continue to get ahead my means of corruption and deceit and yet I struggle to make it through or get overlooked because I won't conform to a way that would question my integrity. It doesn't seem fair.

Today our pastor preached on the very subject of this blog. It was quite a compelling message founded in the book of Habakkuk. He went on to explore how in chapter one Habakkuk went indignantly to God with his disgruntlement over the nation of Israel's current state and put God in his place. However, in chapter two, it was God who put Habakkuk in his place for crossing the line with a Sovereign God. It made me think back to my son.

How many times have I had to correct my son for speaking to me with a tone that wasn't fitting or for demanding something above his entitlement?  There is a line (a gracious one) that my three year old is slowly discovering as he matures and I am helping him discover that my decisions are in the matter of his best interests. I want nothing but the best for him although he might see it as unfair at the time.

God wanted nothing but the best for Habakkuk and the nation of Israel although Habakkuk failed to understand it at the time. Once God showed Habakkuk His ultimate plan, Habakkuk recognized that he had crossed that line and needed to trust God and His sovereign ways.

For you and me, the truth is we need not look into our current situation and exclaim to God that, "Life isn't fair!"  We simply need to trust God and know that His ways are sovereign and that He has our best interests at heart. It may not go the way we think it should. He may use on orthodox ways of bringing our attention to Him, but His ways will always be best.

I guess the question I have to leave us all with is, are we so focused on what we think we want and deserve that we forget to be thankful for what we have already been provided with by God? Maybe one more: Are we so caught up with fairness that we forget to acknowledge His faithfulness?

Maybe we need to spend more time like Habakkuk in chapter three. Check it out!

The Struggle

I am humbled by the number of people that have viewed this page. It boggles my mind to think that people all over the world have stopped to read my thoughts. Whether on purpose or by accident, people have visited this blog and have been very kind to me about my murmurings. 

The biggest struggle I have with this whole thing is when I think, "Who am I to be sharing my thoughts about my faith?" I so often fight with the sinful nature and whether I win or lose, I still don't understand why God has asked me to share my stories through this format. I am far from perfect or a model Christian. 

I'm not alone. In Romans 7, Paul writes of his own struggle with his sinful nature. He tells us:

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

What do you struggle with today? What is it that holds you back following Christ wholeheartedly? Ask Jesus to help you in your struggle. He will bring you through. 

If you don't know Jesus personally, ask him into your heart by praying this simple prayer;

"Jesus. I acknowledge my need for you. I know that you are fully God, that you died for me and that you love me. Please forgive me of my sin and help me to live my life for you. Thank you Jesus for loving me."

If you prayed that prayer for the first time today, tell someone about it. Even comment below and let me know. I will pray for you as well. 

I'm grateful for all Jesus has done for me. It is by faith in Him that I will one day be with Him. Until then, I continue to fight the good fight as I press towards the goal. 

So, despite my failures, I will continue to share of the things that God is doing in my life. I'm not perfect, but I will trust God with my life and continue to struggle. It's worth it!

Learning to Breathe

My family and I are camping in a beautiful park in Ontario, Canada called Bon Echo Provincial Park. It has amazing scenery, great swimming and a demand for calm that is hard to fathom even when experiencing it. 

Today, we were out in my brother-in-law's boat, swimming in the middle of the lake. It was here that I learned to snorkel for the first time. To say that I was the source of my families laughter would be an understatement. I snorted more water than an elephant taking a bath. 

Just before leaving on vacation from work, things have been extremely busy. We have had tight deadlines, large demands and limited staff. Just when you feel like you have one thing accomplished, another large task gets dropped in your lap. It has meant many long days and labour intensive tasks. 

In chapter 3 of Ephesians, Paul finishes with a prayer that truly puts things into perspective:

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Sometimes in my Christian walk, I wonder: "Will I ever get it right?" and then I read a passage like Paul has written above and remember to take a breath and look to God to help me as my only source of strength and not my own ability. 

At work, I have had to take a step back, breathe and trust the team I work with to get it done and to think outside the box when situations seem impossible. I'm very fortunate to work with the people that I do. 

As for snorkelling, I need to remember to breathe (through my mouth) and just slow down and enjoy the beauty that lies beneath the waters. (That's a whole other post in and of itself). It all takes practice but eventually I will figure it out. Fortunately, I have a very patient and forgiving family that understands what it means to learn to snorkel. (I think they are still laughing though.)

Are you facing a struggle today? Do you have a bad habit that you think you cannot break? Do you have a situation that seems insurmountable? Read through Paul's letter and remember to take a breath. Sometimes, we forget that we serve a limitless God with our limited imagination. 

Take the limits off, breathe and watch what God can do. You will be blown away. 

He Knows

Right now, a very close friend of ours needs a touch from God for a blood clot between his lung and his heart. The next 12 to 24 hours are crucial critical as mentioned by the medical staff. 

At work, we have a very large project with a very tight deadline. The task seems insurmountable but the project needs to be completely quickly as it is critical to our business' success. 

In my devotions, I was reading the story of Jonah and how God had a tight deadline for Jonah and it involved Jonah for the redemption of the great city of Nineveh. God needed Jonah to go whether he wanted to or not. 

In the above three instances, there is a crucial need and a necessity for action. Often in life, we find ourselves in tight spots wondering what's next but ultimately it is not about what we know or don't, but rather Who knows. Our response is simply to trust that God is sovereign and that He will bring us through whatever tough situation we face. 

So for my friend, I ask that God intervene guide this situation. With work, I ask God that He would give wisdom in making the right decisions and the strength to make it through the next month. Most of all, I thank God that He uses people like Jonah (you and me) that don't necessarily listen the first time to accomplish His Will because after all, He knows!

Here We Go Again ...

When I started this blog a few years back, I had my life all figured out. I was pastoring in a church, getting back on my feet after a marriage that failed and loving life. 

2016 has started off with a bang and a million things has changed since this whole journey began but God is really laying on my heart to write again. It started in Bon Echo at the Pump House beach when a friend questioned why I hadn't blogged in a while. She missed reading it. To be honest, I didn't really think people cared about what I had to say and also that my time could be used on better things like dropping my wallet into the middle of that lake. 

Have you ever gone through a time where you felt that God really wasn't speaking to you or that your existence really wasn't important to the grand scheme of things? Maybe it's a valley, slump or rough spot but to you, you just don't feel that you're really important. You're not necessarily spent with life to the point you're looking for a way out (and if you're reading this and that's what you're feeling, please know you are important and to talk to someone) but you just don't feel your life really is going to alter the coarse of the world. There are days like that. 

In 2 Samuel 9, King David was looking to bless someone from Saul's family because of his friendship with Saul's son, Jonathan. He asked Ziba (one of Saul's servants) if there was anyone alive from Saul's family. Ziba told him that there was one of Jonathan's sons still alive but he was crippled in both feet. In these times, people who were crippled were usually beggars who sat outside of temples and at city gates begging for money. Dave summoned for Mephibosheth to come to the palace. That day, a man of insignificance became a man of importance. His life changed. 

God has your life in His hands and when you least expect it he will choose you as His son or daughter to rise up and be a person of influence; sometimes without you even knowing it. 

I blog because I want to encourage someone to keep going and live a purposeful life. I don't know who reads this (or if anyone does), but if God wants to help one person to go from feeling insignificant to important, alone to loved or empty to empowered, then I will continue to take the time to share my thoughts through this medium. 

I'm not in a church as a pastor any more. I have a beautiful wife and the cutest son in the world. I enjoy my job (has its moments) and love the people I work with. I have a good life but I still don't have it all figured out. Life is messy sometimes and not always fair. Know this, God loves you and cares for you today and at the end of it all, that's all that really matters. 

So with that, here we go again ...

Learning from Lefty

I had the unique privilege of attending a funeral today for a man I never really knew. It was my wife's dad's uncle who had lived a good full life and had moved on to a much better place. I'll come back to this in a minute. 

Life has been extremely busy as I late hence the reason I haven't really been writing a lot. There have been a lot of changes at work and with a 7 month old, I'm learning something new every day. My time seems to be pulled between home and work. I'm doing the best I can and that's all I can do. 

It's amazing how quickly our life can get filled up with things to do. We get so busy doing that sometimes we forget to be. When my wife and I started dating, she had a note stuck to her fridge that I will always remember because it struck me so profoundly. It went like this:

Be still and know that I am God. 

Be still and know that I am. 

Be still and know. 

Be still. 

Be. 

Let me take you back to the funeral. This man was affectionately known as Lefty. I won't get into the story behind the name, but Lefty was man that I learned today loved his family an would do anything for them. Most of all, Lefty loved his wife. Ironically, he passed away on Valentine's Day to be with his bride in a already in heaven. But what really stood out to me today was that during the eulogy, his grandson said this: "Gramps would always give to everyone else before himself, especially grandma." What a beautiful thing to say about someone. But it was from knowing how to "be", that he was able to give. He knew who he was, which meant he knew what he didn't need which allowed him to give. 

I hope in the busyness of my life I always remember to put others before myself. I hope that in "being", that I learn who i am that I know what I don't need which will allow me to give. May people say about me that "he gave of himself for others, especially his wife." What a great legacy to have. That's the legacy I desire to leave. 

Thank you Lefty for being a great example to so many people. 

A Glass of Water

Today marks my 365th day of drinking nothing but water.  That's right!  For the past year, I have had nothing but water to drink.  I never had pop, juice, milk (except on cereal because water on cereal would be gross), coffee or tea.  That's a lot of water.

When people asked me why I was doing it, there were a number of reasons for my choice.  One was I get a lot of acid reflux and my doctor had told me years ago that laying off of acid filled drinks would help.  Another reason was it was healthier for me.  Given the copious amounts of sugar I ingest through candy intake, this was a wise decision otherwise I would have probably been a few pounds heavier.

Have you ever decided to do something but found it difficult to do?  What were the rewards or benefits?  Did you give up?  Did you think to yourself, "I will never ever accomplish this?"  How many times in life do we give up on what we are trying to do because we just think we cannot do it?  Maybe you're trying to quit smoking.  Maybe you're trying to read more. (I should probably do that.)  Maybe you're trying to lose weight. (Given the candy intake, I should probably do this too.)  Maybe you're just trying to be a better person in general. (We should all do this!)

But do you give up?

There are a lot of things that I would love to change about myself but have often thought that I just cannot do it.  That right there is the biggest struggle that I face.  My thoughts tell me that I cannot do it, so I give up and accept failure.  I've been defeated before I've even started.  I had to change my thinking before I could even hope to achieve what I was hoping for.  However, the road to completion wasn't easy.  There were times when I wanted a cup of coffee more than I thought I would.  There were times when I just wanted to stop into a Starbucks and pick myself up a Cinnamon Dolce Latte.  But it was my goal to not do it and I am glad to say that I didn't.

The author of Hebrews talks about these kinds of struggles.  In a single verse he talks about the struggle, but also the benefit of overcoming that struggle:

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way" (Hebrews 12:11, NLT).

It isn't easy saying no to yourself.  It isn't easy to deprive yourself of something that you really think that you want, but the benefit is that, not only do you achieve your goal, you also have trained yourself to know that you can do it again and again and again.  You are preparing yourself for what you might think is the impossible.

So why did I choose to give up all forms of drinks except water for an entire year?  The answer is really that I wanted to train myself to be disciplined.  I wanted to prove to myself that if I set my mind to something, that I could attain what I was striving for.  It may have seemed silly to some.  It may have seemed ridiculous to others.  However to me, it was a battle of the will to win.  I have a family, a job and most importantly, a living God that needs me to be self-disciplined.

I am happy to report that I have won this battle.  I am also happy to report that I will continue to win because I KNOW THAT I CAN!!!  I have proved it over this past year and I will continue to discipline myself in the future.  I want to change to have "a peaceful harvest of right living" in my life.

Here is the great news ... YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!  If you determine in your mind that you will succeed, you will.  You might have struggles along the way, and at times it might seem next to impossible, but you will be victorious if you set it in your mind that you're going to do this.  Start training yourself.  Maybe start with something small and exercise your discipline until you see the results you're looking for.

I started with a glass of water.  What are you going to start with to train yourself to be self-disciplined?

Happy New Year!

Imperfectly Perfect

Tonight I celebrated Christmas Eve with my family.  It was much like most Christmas Eves in the past.  We eat, we open presents, we go to church, we eat and then we go home.  But what stood out tonight to me caught me off guard.

Part of our yearly tradition is going to church together as a family.  This year was no different and when I got there, I was asked to play the drums for the service.  My nephew was even asked to play the bass.  A little rusty, we both agreed to step into these roles and have a front row view of the service.

It was your typical service.  There was some carols, special music, a message and a reminder about what the season is all about.  But what stood out to me was a young girl who played silent night on her keyboard.  For some reason, in that moment, I was lost in what Christmas was all about.  Her playing wasn't perfect, but it was a reminder that in our imperfections, we still can worship God for who He is and what He has done for us.  I'll get to that in a second.  At the end of the song, she missed a chord but was able to perservere through the minor mishap and finish the song.  She went back and sat beside her mom visibly upset because she hadn't done it quite the way she wanted.

After she had finished, another accomplished piano player also played another Christmas medley.  He was very good but he too, missed a few chords but perservered through and finished a beautiful song. It was as if the whole night was about missing things.  I too, missed the cymbal at one point which brought a chuckle from both my nephew and myself.  

When Mary and Joseph showed up in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the hotel.  They had missed getting a room for the night.  However, they persevered in a stable.  They saw it through to the finish that their Son was born just the way He was supposed to be.  He came imperfectly perfect.  It is not how most of us would imagine a king being born, but God saw it fit that the King of kings was born in a stable on a cool winter's night.

How many times do we find ourselves trying to do things 'just right' only to be disappointed with the outcome?  We strive for perfection but often make mistakes.  The truth is, that sometimes, it is those mistakes which bring about the best results.  Tonight, a young girl brought me into the presence of a King and reminded me that He never asks us to be perfect, but He just asks us to come and worship Him for who He is ... Jesus Christ ... a Saviour ... Emmanuel.

So, this Christmas, if it isn't perfect, don't sweat it.  As long as you give your best God will take what is imperfect and make it perfect.

To the young lady who played Silent Night ... thank you for allowing me to worship ... perfectly!

Merry Christmas!!!

A Balanced Life

It has been a long time since I've put anything up here. To say that I've been distracted from blogging would be an understatement. With my current job and a new baby, my life has been very occupied with doing. 

My social life has taken a back seat as well. I'm very much a social butterfly and because life has got busy, I haven't really invested the time that I use to in my friends. Meeting for breakfast, grabbing a coffee or even a quick email has been dropped for work and then time at home with my family. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret spending time with my family or doing a good job at work, but maintaining the balance hasn't been well achieved. 

Unfortunately, my personal walk with God has also been neglected because of all my busyness in my life. My devotional time has been hit or miss at best. Spending quiet time with God has been a quick conversation in the car or shower but there hasn't been a lot of one-on-one time with a close friend.  The scales of balance are definitely weighted the wrong way in my life. 

Maybe if you're reading this, your life is out of balance as well. Maybe you have allowed things to distract you or command your attention while other things get neglected. I understand your struggle but maybe this blog today will help you take a look at your schedule and see where you can bring things back into a balanced life. It might not not be easy, but if you commit yourself to being attentive to it, you're going to see a change. 

For me, I'm spending more time with a God that loves me. If He truly is a priority for me, then I need to make time for Him. Work still needs to get done and I enjoy what I do, but if I don't have Him as number one, then the job isn't worth doing because the job is not eternal. Also, when I spend time with God, He leads me in my job. He helps me make the right decisions and shows me how to treat the people that I work with. He also helps me be an example of His love and grace.

So today, I choose balance. What do you choose?

Get It Right?

I heard a song in the car today while I was driving that really got me thinking.  Although the song is not the most famous song on the radio, or even a number one hit, it is definitely a favourite of mine. 

A few years ago, I was going through some very difficult times. No matter what I did, nothing just seemed to go my way. It seemed like the more I tried to make it better, things just kept getting worse. Life just continued to get more difficult, and despite my best efforts, I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into a state of depression. Now, if you know me, you would know that I'm a fairly positive guy. I always try to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, in this case, the light was fading and fading quickly. 

How many times have you found yourself struggling to get ahead only to find yourself farther back then where you started? Maybe your career is not where you want it to be. Maybe your relationship is a constant struggle and no matter how hard you try, you don't feel good enough in it. Maybe you desire a relationship but just can't seem to find the right person to connect with. Maybe you're struggling with habitual problems that are holding you back. My hope out of today's blog, is that you leave with a sense of hope. That despite how tough life gets, you continue to get back up after you've been knocked down, wipe the dust off and continue to fight no matter how difficult the situation is. But how do you keep going?

I don't know how many times I tried to get it right, but I do know that eventually my situation turned around. However, the turning around wasn't done by myself. My faith in God has always been my support in the darkest of times and although there were moments when God seemed far away, I now know He was closer then I could possibly imagine. He gave me hope. He gave me the motivation to keep going and when I was at my lowest, He was always there to help me through. He was and is my Light at the end of the tunnel.  

The funny part in all of this is there are still times when I find myself trying to get it right and yet, I fail miserably. Does that mean that God isn't with me? Nope ... Not at all. It just means that He wants me to keep trusting Him and keep pressing forward. 

About that song. It isn't a 'Christian' song, but it does remind me of where I've been and where I am now. I'm just thankful that I have a Heavenly Father that abounds in grace and helps me 'get it right' despite my failures. Here's the song with lyrics. I pray that you look to God to get it right. http://youtu.be/qfjp9tqgrHk

A Dog's Life

 I was doing my morning devotions outside this morning as the weather was gorgeous and I looked up and saw my wife's dog sprawled out on the grass sleeping in the sunshine.  I thought to myself, "MAN!!!! I wish I could do that!"  Of course, my mind was persuaded that if I did, the owner of that dog wouldn't be very pleased with me, and honestly, I probably wouldn't be pleased with me either.  It's laziness at it's best.  I have to admit though, it would be nice to just lay there and not have a worry in the world.

However, there are times in our lives that we get so busy that we forget to stop and just "be".  We have so many things to do that we forget to cherish the moments that we are in.  We get caught up with having to go there, or having to be here and forget that sometimes you just need to stop.  That doesn't mean that you don't get things done, but there has to be a time of rest.

Then I got thinking some more about our furry little friend soaking up the sunshine ... how many times do we stop and take time to be with God?  In the hustle and bustle of life, how many times do we stop?  Even in our personal devotions, often we find ourselves drifting off to the to-do lists of the day or week and not really focusing on our time with God.  Maybe it is just me.  I have been sometimes labeled as A.D.D. but I'm sure there are more people out there like me.  

When I first started dating, my wife showed me a quote that she had posted on her fridge and it has stuck with ever since.  It goes like this

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know

Be still

Be

Psalm 46:10

Today I am choosing to live a dog's life.  I am choosing to stop all that I am doing and just calm myself in the Sonshine of my Heavenly Father.  It isn't easy (especially for this A.D.D. kid), but I am going to make time to spend some uninterrupted time with God.  I still have my to-do list, but I am going to make God a priority on that list.

Colourblind

I was reading a friend's status this morning on facebook and I had to laugh.  Instead of retelling it, let me just quote it:

"Tucking [my son] in- [He] pulls up my bangs and says "mom, look at that nice "blonde" hair...here...and here...and lots more here..." - totally had a straight face and was serious! Didn't want to break it to the kid that he was really looking at grey:) he IS colour blind;)"

What a sweet sentiment this creates for those who are aging gracefully.  For the rest of us, we can just laugh and appreciate the heart of the child.  But this got me thinking.

I've been reading through the book of Job in my devotions lately and currently I am at the part where Job is sitting down with his three friends and they are constantly bombarding Job with how he must have sinned in order for the wrath of God to be poured out upon him like this but that cannot tell Job what he has done wrong.  They offer suggestions, but through their eyes, he has sinned.  Job on the other hand, maintains his righteousness and just wants a conversation with God asking why is this all happening to me.

I have been on both sides of the fence.  I have seen the things going on in people's lives and wondered what they have done to get themselves into the state of where they are at and ignorantly assumed it was their mistake.  I have also seen where people have seen something happening in my life and assumed that I had done something horrible to get myself into the situation that I was in.  No matter what a person has done or what they are going through, we are called to love people and appreciate them for who God has created them to be.  We need to stop focusing on their external situations and start focusing on the person.  We need to be colourblind.

God has called us to, "Love your neighbour as yourself"(Luke 10:27b).  Luke goes on to recount the parable of the Good Samaritan who helped his arch rival despite his circumstances.  No matter who the person is, what they have gone through or are going through, we need to be loving them the way that we would want to be loved ourselves.  We need to be colourblind.

If you are going through a difficulty today, I pray that people will be colourblind to your circumstances and come and help you in whatever way they can.  Likewise, if you know someone that is going through a tough situation today, may you not see the grey in their hair, but may you help them reach the blonde that you see in their life.  May you be the person who speaks encouragement in their time of trouble.  May you be colourblind.

The Secret Stash

Yesterday, my wife and I were out for an afternoon of shopping and time together.  It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and plenty of laughs.  We decided to stop at one of my favourite spots, Starbucks for a treat for us before we went for a walk.  I just ran in and ordered while she stayed in the car.  In my backseat were a few articles of clothing, a blanket and pillow (for those long road trips) and a few receipts.  However, what was under my seat (and possibly under the pillow too) was my secret stash.  

The secret stash is something I keep in the car for when I have that craving for something sweet.  I have some gummy candies, mints and other things, but nothing that melts.  It is meant for those moments when the sweet tooth just gets the best of you and you need a quick fix.  I value my secret stash quite a bit, but one thing I neglected to tell my wife, is that I have one.  *insert innocent angelic grin here*

How many times in our lives do we have those secret sins in our lives that no one else knows about?  What are we trying to hide under the seat and below the pillow so that no one will ever find it?  My mom and dad used a phrase a lot when I was growing up, "Be sure your sins will find you out".  I hated that phrase!  No matter what I did, I always got busted by them.  For instance, there was the time that I was given the car and told to go to work, pick up my cheque and head straight home.  I did that of course ... and then I went to my friend's place to play some basketball.  However, locking the keys in the car ... not such a good idea.  Did I mention that the car was running at the time?  Well, to make a long story short, I had to call my mom and have her come to my friend's house and let me in the car.  We laugh about it now, but the ride home was a little bit rough.

The bible says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to Whom we are accountable"(Hebrews 4:13).  Paul also says in his first letter to the Corinthians: 

"My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right.  It is the Lord Himself who will examine me and decide.  So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time - before the Lord returns.  For He will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives.  Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due"(I Corinthians 4:4-5).

Just when you think that no one knows about that little sin that you have in your life, God knows.  That habitual thing that might plague you, God knows about it.  That secret stash you have, nobody else might know that it is there, but God knows that it is there.  In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet says,

"'The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?  But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.  I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve'"(Jeremiah 17:9-10).

What do you deserve today?  Let me take you back to my secret stash for a moment.  When I hopped back in the car excited for our walk, I noticed that the back seat had been straightened and that my secret stash wasn't in it's secret spot.  I was busted.  My sins had been made known.  However, I am very grateful for a loving and gracious wife.  Despite my shortcomings, she still loves me and forgives me.  We have already had a good laugh about it, but she still wants me to take care of myself and make sure that I am eating healthy things.  She loves me.

Jesus loves you!

We serve a loving and gracious God.  No matter how deep and dark our secrets are; no matter how big our secret stash is, He loves us.  It doesn't matter how bad you have been, His grace is enough for you.  The truth is though, no matter how good we are, we can never be good enough to earn salvation from our secret stash.  We all have fallen short of the mark and need God's saving grace (Romans 3:23).  But the best part is this, "But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness"(I John 1:9).

So no matter what is in the dark recesses of your life today, come clean with God and allow Him to reward you.  He is a great God!  He is a gracious and loving God!  Quit hiding your secret stash and allow God to change your heart today.

Call of Encouragement

Have you ever been in one of those ruts where you feel like God has forgotten about you?  Have you ever gone through a time of disappointment and you just don't understand where God was in the whole situation?

I don't know how many times over the course of the last four to five years that someone has contacted me when I have been struggling or going through a hard time.  When I was ready to throw in the towel or just plain tired of the struggle, someone would call or email with a simple message of encouragement and remind me that God was still thinking of me.  It never ceases to amaze me each time it happens.  Think about it for a minute: Almighty God, the Creator of the universe cares about what I am going through enough to push someone to send a quick message to me at my time of weakness.  It really is a humbling thought.

I've been reading through the book of Job in my devotions and my thoughts keep coming back to the fact that God allowed Job to go through his struggle.  He actually even handpicked him and pointed him out to Satan when he said, "Have you noticed my servant Job?"(Job 1:8).  Then after Job had lost everything, God yet again focused Job out and said to Satan once more, "Have you noticed my servant Job?"(Job 2:3).  God knew in advance exactly what Job could handle and he knew that though Satan may try to get him to falter, Job would remain faithful.  He knew exactly what Job could handle.

There is a humbling thought to be considered in all of this.  When we go through trials, difficulties, struggles and times of frustration, we need to remember that God sees all that we face and He knows what we are going through.  Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians,

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more that you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure"(I Corinthians 10:13).

God makes a way, where it seems that all hope is lost.  God makes provision, when it seems your bank account is all but empty.  God provides healing even when the doctors tell you that you're as good as dead.  God sends people into our lives when we feel all alone.

God is faithful!

No matter what you are going through today, realize that God is with you.  He loves you and He is faithful to bring you through.  He might use someone to speak into your life and encourage you OR he might use you to speak into someone else's life.  Be willing to be used and watch how God steps in to change the situation.  Make the call and encourage someone.  Send the email and brighten someone's spirits.  You never know just how much your simple act of kindness can change the course of what the other person is facing.  They will greatly benefit from it and so will you.

What Are You Cooking?

Do you remember walking into your mom's house and smelling the fragrant delight of her toils in a hot kitchen and think to yourself that I just can't wait to sink my teeth into what she is cooking?  Often times, I am sure that you could even know what she was cooking just by the scent of what was permeating from the kitchen.  The best part is, you knew that what was being cooking was for you.  Oh the aromas.

For me, there are two smells that really stand out when I came home.  The first smell was usually cooked during the week either on a Monday or Tuesday.  I don't know why it was on those days, but I can remember coming in from school and getting smacked in the face by the smells of cabbage soup.  Now let me explain something.  I have not been, I am not and I probably never will be a fan of cabbage soup or the smells associated with it.  Honestly, it smelled like a sporting bag being found months later after a demanding game.  You first reaction was to try and control your gag reflex as you crawled with any strength you had left for the door.  It just wasn't pleasant at all (sorry mom!) but yet she was a fan of cabbage soup.

The second memory associated with smells from my mom's kitchen almost always happened after church on Sunday. Yes, you probably guessed, it was mom's roast beef dinner.  Reaching in trying to grab a small piece of the dad's carvings usually got your hands smacked followed by strict orders to get out of the kitchen until dinner was ready.  But that aroma, that comforting smell was like a warm blanket on a cold winter's days.  It just wrapped around you and sucked you in and said, "I love you".  My mouth is drooling now as I just think about it.  Words really cannot justly describe that pleasant nostril sensory overload.

I've just started a chronological reading plan of the bible with some friends. (NOTE: If you want to read the bible this way click on this link: Chronological Reading.)  It is a great read so far but the way things are popping off the page at me kind of catches me by surprise.  I've read the bible before but this time, things are grabbing my attention and I find myself asking, "How did I miss that before?".   In today's reading, God had just saved Noah, his family and the animals from the destruction of the earth.  Once God had given the okay, Noah and his entourage departed the world's first mighty ship, the bible says, 

"Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.  And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood.  I will never again destroy all living things.  As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night'"(Genesis 8:20-22).

The sacrifice was pleasing to God.  

Immediately, my mind is brought back to my reading yesterday about Cain and Abel and the sacrifices that they offered to God.  Both brought a sacrifice, but only Abel brought his best.  Cain's offering was rejected because God got a whiff of the cabbage soup.  But Abel's offering was accepted and favour was shown to Abel because his Sunday dinner was presented from his best efforts.  Abel's offering pleased God and was a satisfying aroma.

What are you bringing to the table?  When you come to God, are you bringing your best offering?  Are you using the talents that He has given you to bring glory to Him and offer a sweet smelling aroma for God to enjoy?

I'm not hugely talented when it comes to sports, art or music.  I don't have a bucketload of money sitting around collecting dust.  My intellect isn't bursting off the top of the charts (just ask my brothers ... lol).   BUT ... whatever I do have, I want to use it to bring glory to God and allow Him to bless.  So if I run into some money, I want to use it to glorify God.  If I am able to help out behind the scenes at events, I want to bring my best efforts.  If I can help someone who is unable to do something that I can do, I want to do the best job that I can so that God is honoured.  Let's be people who bring our best to God.  Let's cook a meal that is pleasing to the senses and let God be pleased and bless it.

Holding On

The struggles of life can be overwhelming sometimes. Wondering if there is ever going to be some good news starts to become a common thought in your mind. You just don't know if you're going to make it. Even as a believer, your mind can get the best of you. You begin to over think things and the best of optimistic thinkers crumple to their knees in disbelief of where they are at.

In the Old Testament, Job is infamous for going through one struggle after another. Just as things look like they couldn't get any worse, another message of despair follows the one before it. Then after all hope is lost, his health takes a turn for the worst. Even his wife tells him to just curse God and die. (Job2:9)

Do you feel like giving up today? Do you feel like you're at the end of your rope? Is all hope gone in your life? Are people telling you that you need to toss in the towel and just give up on your faith?

I don't know when the answer is going to come in my own struggle and I know it hasn't been an easy road, but I have come too far to give up on a God who has been with me through so many other tough times in my life. God promises me in His Word that "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you"(Hebrews 13:5b). I cling to that truth. I hold God to His Word and I continue to have faith.

Don't give up! Keep looking to God to lead you. He won't fail you. He won't abandon you. He is Faithful.