Thursday evening my Life Group gathered and I asked for individuals to describe their week up to that point. To a person they did with the good and the bad and the triumphs and struggles. I noticed that all had not a “good” week but one of frustration, struggle, aggravation, and turmoil. Would that be your description of this past week?
I probably would describe this past week with all of those terms. Sometimes it just goes like that. This week has been filled for me with health care woes in two of our children. Geoffrey continues to have periodic acute pain in his abdomen. This week we have seen two doctors and been to the ER once with no definitive cause or certain treatment option. We are trying something but so far not improvement. That is frustrating. He so wanted to march in the south game this week but can’t. I decided last night I would take on the pain in a heartbeat so that he could do that Friday. I think I would give it back Saturday morning bright and early. If I could do that I would have already done it. Elizabeth is waiting for some pathology results from a biopsy. The doctor is pretty sure of the results. They will not be what we would like. Waiting is a struggle. I think the word wait is the nastiest FOUR LETTER WORD in the English language. What about you? Add to that the aggravation and turmoil over the Troy Anthony Davis case on Wednesday. I was in a turmoil just waiting and listening to the rollercoaster ride. It is a tragedy for both families.
I believe that those in ministry are often attacked by evil through their families. If evil cannot entice you through division with your spouse, the attack will come upon your children. I wonder are Geoffrey and Elizabeth paying a price because of me. That’s not fair! But that has happened before; I don’t know why I would think it would not happen again. Like I said earlier, all of this living has added up to a week of frustration, struggle, aggravation and turmoil for me and others I am finding out. Then there is God.
I was reading this devotional book that is a collection of Max Lucado’s writing over the years. One of the days I read Thursday morning. I don’t read the right day on the right day. The scripture was the Word of Jesus from John 14:1 Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.” Max Lucado went on to elaborate by writing when you mind cannot comprehend what is going on God takes on the role of parent by saying “trust me.” Just as we do when our children are afraid, we come alongside of them telling them you know me and we have been through much so trust me we will get through together. Isn’t that just like God to say the best thing at the right time?
I hope you know that too!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
We have a new family member a three year old (Part 4)… beagle named Anne.
I told you in Part 3 that she ran away after writing about the first adventure well after writing last week’s continuing saga she disappeared again. The usual components were involved Barbara (my wife), Jake (the cat) and Anne (the spooky dog). Yes, she was gone that night and yes she was in the driveway the next morning no worse for wear.
A missing pet, keys, homework, project etc. all can be aggravating. The loss is bad, the questions worse. What if I’d…always leads nowhere and to no solution but we go there anyway. If we are not careful it will define our day and in the most extreme situations a traumatic event by our own hand or others can define us and our lives.
What defines you? Who and or what do you allow to define you and your day? Does traffic make of break your day? Do you co workers make or break you day? The coffee pot running over or failing to make that morning, does that define the day. Does that spill on your blouse ruin your day? Does that horrible trauma that you suffered as a child define you as a victim? Sure, any one of these moments may require us to change our direction for a short while. They may cause a drastic change in how we live and where. But do they define us, all of us? Do we allow the events of our lives to define us rather than us defining them?
I spoke of the story of David and Bathsheba last Sunday. That story is filled with opportunity and the willful disregard of the opportunity. David was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, looked too long, learned too much, went too far, arranged a cover-up, underestimated honor and premeditated murder. Anywhere along the way he could have stopped but he did not. Sin always takes you farther than you want to go and costs more than you want to pay. In this case the price was continued war, a family of calamity and death; the child conceived in the adultery would die all of this from “a man after God’s own heart.”How can that be?
How can a man after God’s own heart, of whom it was said “from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon” (1 Sam. 16:13) do such things? How can the boy who killed a giant not defeat his own lust? The answer is found not “blowing in the wind” but rather in the mirror. The one you look into each day and see yourself. How could you do that or how could you have said that and you call yourself a Christian? It’s easy when we allow our circumstances to dictate our actions, when we allow our situation to define us, when we allow our feelings to be our compass. Does it have to be like that? The answer is No.
David knew this. After his child died as a result of his actions, David was told his son was dead and he 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. (2 Samuel 12:20 NIV). That’s just not normal is it? His son has just died because of his sin. He is responsible. Any good Christian would beat himself up every day of his life for the rest of his life, certainly not wash, smell good, put on clean clothes worship God and eat! God had defined David into this King and was using this horrible series of events to define David. He was a man after God’s own heart and knew God would forgive him not without consequences but forgiven.
Hear these words of God 17…Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God…defines your life. (1 Corinthians 7:17 The Message). God uses people, places and events to transform us into the image of Christ. God is shaping us even in our sin. God is at work defining us into his children. Christ defined the cross forever. The cross has never had the same meaning. Instead of a symbol of death Jesus defined it as life. Instead of a symbol of hopelessness Jesus defined it as a symbol of hope for all mankind. In all things allow God to define you the situation, event and your feelings. Look what he did with the cross and the tomb? He is doing that in you!
In HIS Service and Yours,
BroG
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Today marks half of September gone.
Can you believe it?
I was thinking the other day that 20 years has gone by in a flash. I often mark times passage by the growth in the children of friends. Now they are graduating college and entering the work force. It all seems strange. Yet our lifetimes as long and important as they seem are nothing when compared to the breadth and length of eternity.
The realm of God.
It is only when we see ourselves in the image of Christ do our short inconsequential lives take on a vast new meaning and importance. Within the vastness of eternity there is ONLY the Kingdom of God. Jesus makes it possibly to live now AND forever within that kingdom.
That is meaning.
So time does not go faster or slower as it is not the ultimate reality but merely a subset within eternity. Time continues because God considers it important.
Can you believe it?
I was thinking the other day that 20 years has gone by in a flash. I often mark times passage by the growth in the children of friends. Now they are graduating college and entering the work force. It all seems strange. Yet our lifetimes as long and important as they seem are nothing when compared to the breadth and length of eternity.
The realm of God.
It is only when we see ourselves in the image of Christ do our short inconsequential lives take on a vast new meaning and importance. Within the vastness of eternity there is ONLY the Kingdom of God. Jesus makes it possibly to live now AND forever within that kingdom.
That is meaning.
So time does not go faster or slower as it is not the ultimate reality but merely a subset within eternity. Time continues because God considers it important.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
We have a new family member (part3)...
beagle named Anne.
From the previous post...
…We must choose.
Free will.
How it must hurt his heart waiting for us to choose!
God will wait!
I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.
It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.
We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.
I wrote the above last Friday morning…Friday night she (Anne) ran away!
She was on the leash outside with Barbara after the football game (11pm) and got spooked by the cat and who knows what else (probably a leaf in a tree). She yanked on the leash and it left Barbara’s hand. There goes leash behind dog into the woods. So we got flashlights and the three of us went hunting in the woods for the dog calling her name. With leash still attached, I thought for sure she would get hung up after all pull a hose, rope, extension cord or sting behind you for any distance and grass blades become like bridge supports. That rope, string, hose will hang up 10 out of 10 times. I thought for sure her leash would do the same thing. It is a retractable 16’ leash. No such luck.
We did not find her.
We were sick.
We went to bed.
I woke up before the sun came up and almost got up and went looking for her. I decided it would be just like the previous night and waited for sun up. I walked our property, the neighbor’s property and the property next to that looking for a beagle hung up on a leash.
I did not find her. Ugh!
My fear (key word there) was she was hung up unable to get water or defend herself all alone…(you know how that conversation goes in your head). So I came back in got some breakfast and the three of us went on the hunt again over the same ground. We then expanded out search down the road to the next two subdivisions and the woods across the road. No dog, No sign of no dog (don’t you love my English usage) nothing to be found. It was not a good day.
Regularly throughout the day I would open the front door step out on the porch and look for the dog. Hoping but not seeing. I wonder how often the Prodigal’s Father scanned the horizon hoping to see the silhouette of his son. How many times did he turn around back to life such-as-it-was having not seen his son? God knows where we are and yet looks for us too, waiting, longing hoping for us to return to him and his home. We placed notices on facebook and all five of us made a plan for posters on Sunday.
We did not find her.
We were still sick.
We went to bed.
I get up first most days. Sunday is no exception. My alarm went off and I started my Sunday routine. I looked out the front door as the tea pot whistled and saw the day dawning but no dog. I made my tea let it steep while I looked at e-mail. Fixing my hot tea with sugar and lemon I gathered my notes for that day’s message and headed to my chair for prayer and review. I set the paper and tea cup down and thought I would look one last time before the day took off in its normal busy start. I stepped out on the porch. I looked to my right and then left and in the driveway was a dog. I really looked and it was Anne. She saw me and her tail wagged. When I got to her she was fine with pink halter on but no leash and no worse for wear.
We did find her.
We were elated.
We all got up!
But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. (N) He ran, threw his arms around his neck, [k] and kissed (O) him. Luke 15:20 HCSB
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " Luke 15:31 HCSB
What a Father!
In HIS Service and Yours,
BroG
From the previous post...
…We must choose.
Free will.
How it must hurt his heart waiting for us to choose!
God will wait!
I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.
It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.
We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.
I wrote the above last Friday morning…Friday night she (Anne) ran away!
She was on the leash outside with Barbara after the football game (11pm) and got spooked by the cat and who knows what else (probably a leaf in a tree). She yanked on the leash and it left Barbara’s hand. There goes leash behind dog into the woods. So we got flashlights and the three of us went hunting in the woods for the dog calling her name. With leash still attached, I thought for sure she would get hung up after all pull a hose, rope, extension cord or sting behind you for any distance and grass blades become like bridge supports. That rope, string, hose will hang up 10 out of 10 times. I thought for sure her leash would do the same thing. It is a retractable 16’ leash. No such luck.
We did not find her.
We were sick.
We went to bed.
I woke up before the sun came up and almost got up and went looking for her. I decided it would be just like the previous night and waited for sun up. I walked our property, the neighbor’s property and the property next to that looking for a beagle hung up on a leash.
I did not find her. Ugh!
My fear (key word there) was she was hung up unable to get water or defend herself all alone…(you know how that conversation goes in your head). So I came back in got some breakfast and the three of us went on the hunt again over the same ground. We then expanded out search down the road to the next two subdivisions and the woods across the road. No dog, No sign of no dog (don’t you love my English usage) nothing to be found. It was not a good day.
Regularly throughout the day I would open the front door step out on the porch and look for the dog. Hoping but not seeing. I wonder how often the Prodigal’s Father scanned the horizon hoping to see the silhouette of his son. How many times did he turn around back to life such-as-it-was having not seen his son? God knows where we are and yet looks for us too, waiting, longing hoping for us to return to him and his home. We placed notices on facebook and all five of us made a plan for posters on Sunday.
We did not find her.
We were still sick.
We went to bed.
I get up first most days. Sunday is no exception. My alarm went off and I started my Sunday routine. I looked out the front door as the tea pot whistled and saw the day dawning but no dog. I made my tea let it steep while I looked at e-mail. Fixing my hot tea with sugar and lemon I gathered my notes for that day’s message and headed to my chair for prayer and review. I set the paper and tea cup down and thought I would look one last time before the day took off in its normal busy start. I stepped out on the porch. I looked to my right and then left and in the driveway was a dog. I really looked and it was Anne. She saw me and her tail wagged. When I got to her she was fine with pink halter on but no leash and no worse for wear.
We did find her.
We were elated.
We all got up!
But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. (N) He ran, threw his arms around his neck, [k] and kissed (O) him. Luke 15:20 HCSB
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " Luke 15:31 HCSB
What a Father!
In HIS Service and Yours,
BroG
Friday, September 2, 2011
We have a new family member a three year old Part 2...
beagle named Anne. She is still timid. I don’t know why. Sound is her greatest enemy. If it is loud she will shake and cower in fear. If the TV is loud with shouting or gun fire she is gone like a shot back to Lizzy’s bed. That is where she sleeps at night and most days too if we let her.
In the mornings it is my custom to read and pray in a particular spot in the house. I have a platform rocker with matching foot stool (a garage sale find), lamp table, Bibles and books all in one location in the house. When I pray I rest my knees on the floor and my torso on the rocking foot stool. It’s comfortable but not too comfortable (no sleeping). Well, the last several mornings as I have prayed Miss Anna has come and stood by me. Not next to me or bothering me just in the area. In fact, Thursday she laid down on the floor next to the stool. Wednesday she was standing there and I thought of how I just wanted to love on her so she would feel comfortable, loved and happy. Then I recognized that is what God wants for us.
In a book titled Gentle Thunder Max Lucado writes,
“For all its peculiarities and unevenness, the Bible has a simple story. God made man. Man rejected God. God won’t give up until he wins him back.”
That’s it! Now I didn’t make the dog but she does not trust us yet and I have not given up. We have tried treats, hugs, praise but we are not there yet. As she stood close but out of reach I thought how God loves us so much that he has taken every step needed to win us back save one. He is so close but out of reach because we choose not to reach out. He lets us choose. He wants us to choose him and his love. Not have it forced upon us (He could do that you know). I want Anne to choose us but all I can do is provide for her, love her letting her come to us. That’s exactly how God deals and treats us. He waits for us to choose; a choice to come back after running away, a choice for us to come to him for the first time; a choice to admit our wrong and be forgiven for the “umteeth” time.
We must choose.
Free will.
How it must hurt His heart waiting for us to choose!
God will wait!
I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.
It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.
We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.
In HIS Service and Yours,
P.S. Has God surprised you recently? He has me! More about that next week!
In the mornings it is my custom to read and pray in a particular spot in the house. I have a platform rocker with matching foot stool (a garage sale find), lamp table, Bibles and books all in one location in the house. When I pray I rest my knees on the floor and my torso on the rocking foot stool. It’s comfortable but not too comfortable (no sleeping). Well, the last several mornings as I have prayed Miss Anna has come and stood by me. Not next to me or bothering me just in the area. In fact, Thursday she laid down on the floor next to the stool. Wednesday she was standing there and I thought of how I just wanted to love on her so she would feel comfortable, loved and happy. Then I recognized that is what God wants for us.
In a book titled Gentle Thunder Max Lucado writes,
“For all its peculiarities and unevenness, the Bible has a simple story. God made man. Man rejected God. God won’t give up until he wins him back.”
That’s it! Now I didn’t make the dog but she does not trust us yet and I have not given up. We have tried treats, hugs, praise but we are not there yet. As she stood close but out of reach I thought how God loves us so much that he has taken every step needed to win us back save one. He is so close but out of reach because we choose not to reach out. He lets us choose. He wants us to choose him and his love. Not have it forced upon us (He could do that you know). I want Anne to choose us but all I can do is provide for her, love her letting her come to us. That’s exactly how God deals and treats us. He waits for us to choose; a choice to come back after running away, a choice for us to come to him for the first time; a choice to admit our wrong and be forgiven for the “umteeth” time.
We must choose.
Free will.
How it must hurt His heart waiting for us to choose!
God will wait!
I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.
It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.
We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.
In HIS Service and Yours,
P.S. Has God surprised you recently? He has me! More about that next week!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
We have a new family member in our house a three year old...
beagle named Anne. She is the most timid dog for 20 lbs. and 13 inches tall. Jake the cat has become a green eyed monster to quote Berenstain Bears. He is the cat who came to the half-way house for cats (my house) and made it a whole-way house instead. Anne has invaded his kingdom. Another problem is Anne used to play with her cat but this one (Jake) does not play. No blood yet but today is another day.
For the first few days Anne stayed on the couch. She would not come off for anything. Not food or treats nothing, we were bringing her food and treats to her. She would eat but not off of the couch. When we took her outside she would walk at the end of the retractable leash. As far away from me as she could get. Last Saturday I took her outside and the leash left my hand so there goes Anne. She was not running but those four small legs were moving her along at a fine clip anywhere away from me. So I started calling her and walking after her. I was closing in on her she looked and took off into the neighbor’s woods. She got so far ahead of me that I lost sight of her. I kept walking/running but could not see her.
It didn’t last long because she was dragging that retractable leash. Just like a hose, rope, string anything that drags it will hang up at the least convenient moment. Yes, it did just that for Anne and for me. I saw her stuck because the leash was wrapped around a tree and would not come loose. Got her, that’s when I saw the rest of the family in the woods too. Dressed in their finest get-out-of-bed-on-Saturday-morning-not-expecting-to-be-seen-by-anybody-outfits. You know the kind. We were a sight. Even Jake was out there in the woods. He was probably cheering Anne on, “go faster, farther run away.” Cats will do that you know.
Tuesday I took her outside the same way on the leash etc. and what happens again? You guessed it, the leash left my hands and Anne left the porch. Scooting away at about the same clip headed to the tall grass and the neighbors woods. So I followed calling her name etc. and she kept going. This time I stopped to watch where she went trying to make a plan to go get her. I looked up and she stopped, sniffed the air and looked at me. I had squatted down close to the ground waiting and called her name. Slowly she came back to me finally crouching and close so I could touch her. I was thrilled.
The Sunday before I had preached from Genesis 3 about the fall of Adam and Eve, several things were new to me:
• Genesis outlines the entire Bible, 11 chapters cove the beginning of time to Abraham and 35 chapters cover his life: emphasis
• There were many trees to eat from only one to not eat from
• When sin is exposed and consequences handed out, God provides for future salvation first (v.15) present punishment second (v.16-19) and makes particular provision today (the making of garments out of skins.
I was thrilled Anne had come back. I chose not to chase her but let her come back on her own of her own free will. It must thrill God when I come back of my own free will. I thought of Adam and Eve. Their sin separated them from God so that they covered themselves and hid among the trees from God. Guilt does that. He called for them until they revealed themselves and their situation naked and exposed. I thought of God heartbroken over their choice and the consequences yet he loved them still. He provided for their future salvation and for their present need (the first sacrifice provided by God I add (can you say foreshadow?)). He does the same today for sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.
Like I said I was thrilled Anne had come back to me as I waited for her. I took the leash in a firmer grip and we went sniffing and exploring for a few minutes. She got a treat when we went back inside. Now she is up and down, down and up on and off the couch exploring the new house. If she gets spooked she is right back to the couch but not for long. She is hoping the cat will play (we won’t get our hopes up for that).
Continue to pray for rain in Somalia…It WILL rain in Somalia.
In HIS Service and Yours,
For the first few days Anne stayed on the couch. She would not come off for anything. Not food or treats nothing, we were bringing her food and treats to her. She would eat but not off of the couch. When we took her outside she would walk at the end of the retractable leash. As far away from me as she could get. Last Saturday I took her outside and the leash left my hand so there goes Anne. She was not running but those four small legs were moving her along at a fine clip anywhere away from me. So I started calling her and walking after her. I was closing in on her she looked and took off into the neighbor’s woods. She got so far ahead of me that I lost sight of her. I kept walking/running but could not see her.
It didn’t last long because she was dragging that retractable leash. Just like a hose, rope, string anything that drags it will hang up at the least convenient moment. Yes, it did just that for Anne and for me. I saw her stuck because the leash was wrapped around a tree and would not come loose. Got her, that’s when I saw the rest of the family in the woods too. Dressed in their finest get-out-of-bed-on-Saturday-morning-not-expecting-to-be-seen-by-anybody-outfits. You know the kind. We were a sight. Even Jake was out there in the woods. He was probably cheering Anne on, “go faster, farther run away.” Cats will do that you know.
Tuesday I took her outside the same way on the leash etc. and what happens again? You guessed it, the leash left my hands and Anne left the porch. Scooting away at about the same clip headed to the tall grass and the neighbors woods. So I followed calling her name etc. and she kept going. This time I stopped to watch where she went trying to make a plan to go get her. I looked up and she stopped, sniffed the air and looked at me. I had squatted down close to the ground waiting and called her name. Slowly she came back to me finally crouching and close so I could touch her. I was thrilled.
The Sunday before I had preached from Genesis 3 about the fall of Adam and Eve, several things were new to me:
• Genesis outlines the entire Bible, 11 chapters cove the beginning of time to Abraham and 35 chapters cover his life: emphasis
• There were many trees to eat from only one to not eat from
• When sin is exposed and consequences handed out, God provides for future salvation first (v.15) present punishment second (v.16-19) and makes particular provision today (the making of garments out of skins.
I was thrilled Anne had come back. I chose not to chase her but let her come back on her own of her own free will. It must thrill God when I come back of my own free will. I thought of Adam and Eve. Their sin separated them from God so that they covered themselves and hid among the trees from God. Guilt does that. He called for them until they revealed themselves and their situation naked and exposed. I thought of God heartbroken over their choice and the consequences yet he loved them still. He provided for their future salvation and for their present need (the first sacrifice provided by God I add (can you say foreshadow?)). He does the same today for sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.
Like I said I was thrilled Anne had come back to me as I waited for her. I took the leash in a firmer grip and we went sniffing and exploring for a few minutes. She got a treat when we went back inside. Now she is up and down, down and up on and off the couch exploring the new house. If she gets spooked she is right back to the couch but not for long. She is hoping the cat will play (we won’t get our hopes up for that).
Continue to pray for rain in Somalia…It WILL rain in Somalia.
In HIS Service and Yours,
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