Phil.

Philippians 3:12 as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message:

Focused on the Goal

 ^12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  ^15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
 ^17-19Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
 ^20-21But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

I really like Peterson's take on this.   "Easy Street is a dead end street."  That's wonderful imagery...
Anyway, as I read this portion of Scripture- I actually read from the NCV- verse 12-15-  

¹² I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his.¹³ Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead,¹⁴ I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.

Tonight, the idea of reaching that goal and the joy that is waiting at that finish line... unfathomable joy resonates.  I mean, that is what we are living for.  The fruition of our faith is eternity in Heaven.  We are all in the race, but we're in different parts- some are closer to the finish line than others, and still others have already crossed.  And me, at mile marker 31- I wish some of the people who have already crossed the line were still running beside me... but that's selfish because their race is complete.  Their struggle and training and falls and successes and all that goes into a lifetime of running is over.  They enjoying the fruits of the labor.  But, man, do I miss them sometimes. Soon enough I will join them... but every once in a while I wish they were here to run with me until I cross the finish line, you know?  Everyone knows that it is more enjoyable to have someone to run with you- to help pace you and to talk to you and keep you on course- and you can mutually encourage each other... sometimes I miss that pace partner who's race is over. 
Alas, I keep the focus.  I run on.  Enjoying the memory of when we were running together and looking forward to spending eternity not running- out of breath, tired, and weary- but in paradise- fully nourished, in perfect joy, and basking in the Light of God.  Until then, "stick with me friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal." 

This is a tune I appreciate tonight:

for starters

OK so it took me a couple of days, but I was busy navigating the flatness that is southern MN.  Alas, here goes nothing...
I decided to start in Jeremiah, mostly because it was where my Bible opened to... This probably is a bad idea, because I am so intrigued and yet baffled by Jeremiah- there is so much allusion and prophetic language that it gets confusing when read page by page... Anyway, Jer. 33:3 says: Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  I gave a message yesterday in which I mentioned this verse when it comes to God promising to answer prayer... after reading the surrounding chapters, I'm not entirely sure I used it properly in context... thankfully, it was a mere mention in passing... 
Regardless, can you imagine what it was like to be an OT prophet?  Somehow God spoke to these men, and what they were told was often not what they (or their countrymen) wanted to hear.  But verse 33 is different.  God tells Jeremiah that there is hope for Israel.  He will bring healing to his people and Jerusalem will once again be restored.  There will be happiness and joy- wedding parties and people singing in the temple.  All will once again be well with the people of Judah and Israel.  Even though the people think that I am far off, God says to Jeremiah, I am still here and I will keep my promise and be kind to them and cause good things to happen to My people. 
BUT some crazy stuff had to happen first- verse 34 tells how Nebuchadnezzar was advancing and was about to storm Jerusalem.  Times were going to get worse before they got better, but God assured Jeremiah that He would keep His promise.  This is the wonder of wonders when it comes to our righteous God- even though we deserve rags and we deserve nothing but our Lord's rejection, He cannot and will not break His promises.  He is a perfect God, as such He cannot lie.  He cannot.  It is impossible- if He lies, He ceases to be God.  This cannot happen.  So, we rest in the assurance that this is not our home, Heaven is.  And we bank on the fact that He hears our prayers and His Son's blood is THE atoning sacrifice for our sin.  He promises to deliver us when we call upon Him, and that He will work all things for the good of those who love Him, according to His perfect will.  And, even when He seems far off- that is, when our sinful, selfish pride blinds us from seeing the cross- rather we look at the mirror of desperation- we are reminded that He hasn't moved.  He is still right beside us, nay, living within us.  Sometimes we traverse through tough terrain, but God is faithful and His mercy endures forever.  Just has he restored joy to Jerusalem, He restores joy to my heart, undeserved as I am.  Thank you, God for your unfailing faithfulness.
Man, Jeremiah is such a great section of God's Word... 36 is Jehoiakim burning the scroll because he didn't like what it said and Jeremiah just wrote another one- God's word stands despite our trifle attempts to quell it... Then Jeremiah goes to jail and almost dies in a well... man... I need to just read this through and through... soon.
Tomorrow is 8am bball practice. eww.  then Philippians.  1 down, 65 to go.

idear.

I have an idea.  And I think it's awesome... if I say so myself.
I am going to post something from each book of the Bible every day for 66 days.  I think I'll have to miss a couple of days- since I'll be driving for 2 whole days to Florida... other than that, though, I think this will be sweet.  Now where to start???  Genesis is so predicable... :)  We will see... tomorrow, perhaps??? Vision!  Purpose!  fun!!!

ho hum

Man I have really enjoyed this winter.  Especially since the past two were to brutally snowy and cold.  This year's mild snowlessness has been a welcomed treat.  I'm not one to excessively comment on the weather, but seriously, it is noteworthy in its fantasticalness.  So sunny and (relatively) warm... not too shabby.  Currently, however, I have a cold and my nose is quite stuffy.  I was bragging about how I never get sick, and of course here I am a Rudolph. That's what I get, I suppose... it'll pass soon enough.

I've written many bla(h)g posts in my head recently, and I'm kinda bummed that they never made it to fruition.  There's a lot to think/write about.  Currently I'm thinking about this whole "a year ago" thing-
I could get pretty bogged down with stuff- I don't know why it matters, why anniversaries are a big deal-a year ago my car was broken into, its been a year since I last saw my mom not in a hospital bed, a year since we went with our guts, that kind of thing... and soon enough it will be a year since everything started going down hill with my mom... its crazy to think about, and it will be a fine line to tread between intentionally remembering and honoring the past and looking toward the future.  I  think that balance shouldn't be too hard to find, but it is something that I'm thinking about nonetheless.  All the more reason why I am exceedingly grateful that this winter has been so lovely.  God is good!

Perhaps that is the best thing to gain from looking back 365 days- remembering the pain or the joy and seeing how even in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, I was always safely in the grip of our loving Savior.   Even if, in my sinful nature, I felt as if I was all alone, I wasn't.  Not even close.  Each and every time I was seen safely to shore through the storms and now I am enjoying the higher ground of perspective and experience.  And, while those things certainly suck to go through, they make me a better me and that is pretty great.  So even in the doldrums of death we can be thankful because our God is refining us in the fire of trials.  Good things.
I need nyquil.

Chisel Away

Man... no matter how many times I watch this it is always awesome.  They just updated it, and in my opinion made it more Christ-centered.
I just love the line, "You were never holding me up. I hold you up with my victorious, righteous, right hand. Don’t you forget that. In this relationship, I hold you up"
Thank you Lord.

6 days... plus 30

I said that in 6 days I'd bla(h)g... like 30 days ago... regardless, I'm glad I wrote that because it reminded me to write about jellyfish and lost dreams.
Several years ago I attended a youth workers convention in San Diego.  At that convention I Phil Vischer- the creator of VeggieTales- speak.  I liked his talk so much that I ended up buying a DVD of it.  He told the story of how his crazy idea of animated talking vegetables went from a cute idea to a multimillion dollar enterprise to bankruptcy in a matter of 5 years.  It is a fascinating story that I won't get in to, but he asked the question that I was thinking as I was listening... why?
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago- I'm driving in my car on a Sunday morning heading to church.  Now, I don't know why exactly I have this tradition- maybe its to get me in the "worshipful" mood- or maybe I'm a pietist schwarmer- but for whatever reason, as I'm driving to church I always listen to Christian radio.  Sometimes it is already tuned in, but more often than not I have to dial in the ol' 98.5 for the 15 minute journey to church.  Anyway, I have it on and hear Phil Vischer talking about his VeggieTales story but this time he talks about how he wants to be a jellyfish, and I was reminded why I loved his talk that I heard 5 years ago, and why I too want to be a jellyfish.

Allow me to attempt to put them both in one nice and neat package.

First of all, why?  Why would God give Phil this huge ministry only to take it away?  Or why would God give Bob his dream job only for him to get laid off 6 months later? Or why would God put "the one" in Walt's life, only to have her go far, far away, never to see Walt again? Why?  Why do these awesome things happen only to seemingly randomly fall apart?  I see it all the time- I really do.  I'm don't think I believe in coincidences or fate or destiny.  That is, I know that God is Lord over all things.  He IS power, He IS dominion, He IS God... So, fate or happenstance- I don't think I buy into that.  I really don't know, though- because I wonder- does God care (care isn't the right word, but I hope you get my point) about Tebow winning football games? Or is God really helping me remember facts for a test that I didn't study for?  These types of things- to what extent God interweaves Himself into our daily activities, I do not know.  The classic example is a hot July Saturday there are dozens of brides praying earnestly for no rain so their wedding can go off without a hitch.  At the same time there are hundreds of farmers praying for a downpour so their crops can grow and they can feed their kids... who's prayers are more "important"?  OK, OK, those questions can be discussed later- but methinks they fall under the same general idea- Why does God do what He does?
Does this question make you feel as uneasy as it does me?  I don't like to ask that at all, because I trust God- I really do.  I know He is bigger than me, and I rejoice over that fact!  If God was only as intelligent or as mighty as the smartest, strongest man, imagine how hopeless we would be.  I know God is big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.  As such, I am not one to ask such a haughty question as why does God do what He does.
BUT.
I do wonder... so...
2 Kings 4 has an interesting story that could shed some light on this subject-
Whenever Elisha visited Shunem there was a woman who would feed him.  He came around enough that she and her husband even gave him a room on their roof to sleep in whenever he was in town.  Elisha was so grateful that he wanted to show her his gratitude.  She was along in years and she had no son, so Elisha told her that by this time next year she would be holding a little baby boy.  She was shocked and even said, "don't you mess with me, oh man of God!"  But Elisha wasn't messing with her- just as he said a year later she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.  Such joy! Such jubilation!  All of her dreams had come true! 
The boy grew and everyone was happy until one  morning this young boy complained of a headache.  By noon he had died in his mother's lap.  The woman (we don't know her name) jumped on a donkey and rode out to Elisha.  She was in great anguish- in essence she asked, "why did you give me my dream only to have it taken away?!?!"  Why did you give me a son only for him to die so young?  Elisha told her to go back home, but the Shunammite woman said she would not leave Elisha's side.  So Elisha went with her to her home and found the boy dead on the couch.  Elisha prayed and then laid on the lad- eyes to eyes hands to hands mouth to mouth.  The boy sneezed seven times and woke up.  The woman had her son back and she praised the Lord.

What on earth?  Why did this all take place?  Why would God give this woman her dream- a son- only to have it taken away... to only give him back to her? 
I don't know. 
But Vischer thinks, and I just might agree with him, that this happened so to make sure that God was still Lord of her life.  That is to say, it is easy to rely on God when your dreams are shattered and your hopes are dashed, right?  After all, when the going gets tough, the tough get praying.   But what about when that dream comes true?  I know I struggle to be the one leper who thanks God for healing.  I'm often out enjoying being healed, you know?  I've seen the movie story line over and over again- the nerdy kid becomes popular and forgets where he came from- that kind of an idea.  Perhaps this was a test to see where the Shunammite woman would turn when her dream had (literally) died.  And what did she do?  She turned immediately to God.  And she wouldn't leave His servant.  Her eyes were still heavenward- even though her dreams had come true, so God returned her to her dream.  Her son was restored to life. 
I like that explanation of this account.  I haven't read any commentaries on 2 Kings 4, so I don't know if that is a widely held summation or not, regardless, I'm a fan.  We are so blessed.  We have so many good and wonderful things in our lives- things that can easily become a distraction.  We pray and pray for this or that, and when we are given it, we forget about the source.  (I realize I'm speaking generally here).  Thanks be to God that He sometimes takes those things away so that we might regain focus on the Source of all our blessings.  Sometimes He gives us our dreams back.  Sometimes- as with Job- He gives it back exponentially grander than before!  And, sometimes, our dreams stay dead.  God, however, is still there.  He is still God.  He is still Lord over our lives.  He is what matters.  His love and grace and salvation won through Jesus is THE dream come true in our lives, and we are assured that nothing can separate us from the love that is in Christ Jesus.   Shattered dreams are a gift from God.  The lost job, broken heart, departed loved one, and forgotten friend are all reminders that our faith in Jesus is all that matters. 
He is Lord over our lives. 
Apparently,  according to Phil, jellyfish, for the most part, are unable to propel themselves.  At least, they can't cover great distances under their own power.  Rather, jellyfish are largely dependent on the tides and currents to take them to where they want to go.  And this is OK because the current will keep them in warm water which is rich with their primary food source. As long as they ride the current, they're happy as clams.
I want to be a jellyfish.  If God has Lordship over my life, and I truly trust in Him-  If my hopes and dreams are truly in His hands and my greatest hope is in His Son's suffering and death on the cross, then I should have no problem letting His current take me to where He wants me to be.  Why would I want to try and swim against the current- I'd only wear myself out and get nowhere.  Rather, if I just trust the current like a good jellyfish, I can relax and know that I'm being taken to warm water rich with food.  My joy and worth and completion doesn't rest in my dreams coming true, rather my joy and worth and completion is found in a loving God sending His one and only son to live the perfect life that I was unable to live, die so that I wouldn't have to, and rise again so that I could do the same.  What Joy!  He loves me THAT much?  I'm worth Jesus' life??  Such worth!  He who makes all things new is living within me through the waters of baptism??  I'm complete!  These... these are good things.

perdy

Wow.  God is cool.


The Mountain

now i know...

I just came across this article that exposes the top 10 words people mispronounce.  Thankfully, I'm pretty good on most of them.  However, I JUST- like within the past month- realized this one... Man do I feel silly:

FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES

• Incorrect pronunciation: “for all intensive purposes”
• Correct pronunciation: “for all intents and purposes”

All right, yes, I cheated a little bit here (for posterity’s sake, I should note that a phrase and a word are not the same thing) but this is still a very popular pronunciation mistake and one that I really feel must be addressed in a public forum. While “intensive” is absolutely a word, the clichéd saying that most people are trying to channel is all about intent. As for the rumor that I, as a younger man, frequently employed the incorrect pronunciation… no comment.

Full article here: http://www.primermagazine.com/2008/learn/10-words-you-mispronounce-that-make-people-think-youre-an-idiot

the good stuff

Spoiler alert: I got my niece and nephew two books for Christmas- both by S.L. Jones. My favorite is the Jesus Storybook Bible, which turns the Biblical Narrative into a children's book. It's brilliant and wonderful and amazing all rolled into one. Granted, the baptism theology is Armenian, but the rest is just plain fantastic. I love the part about the Paslms (read this with a very refined British accent. Ever since I heard Ms.Jones read her own work, I can't get her accent out of my head)

"David was a shepherd, but when God looked at him, he saw a king. Sure enough, when David grew up, that's just what he became. And David was a great king. He had a heart like God's heard- full of love.
Now, that didn't mean he was perfect, because he did some terrible things. No, David made a big mess of his life. But God can take even the biggest mess and make it work in his plan.
'I need a new heart, Lord,' David prayed, 'because mine is full of sin. Make me clean inside.'
God heard David's prayer. He forgave David...
David was a songwriter, too... David's songs are like prayers... and this one is called 'The Song of the Shepherd:'
God is my Shepherd
And I am his little lamb.
He feeds me
He guides me
He looks after me.
I have everything I need.

Inside, my heart is very quiet.
As quiet as laying still in soft, green grass
In a meadow
By a little stream.

Even when I walk through
the dark, scary lonely places
I won't be afraid
Because my Shepherd knows where I am.

He is here with me
He keeps me safe
He rescues me
And makes me strong
And brave...

He fills my heart so full of happiness
I can't hold it all inside.

Wherever I go I know
God's never stopping
Never giving up
Unbreaking
Always and Forever
Love
Will go, too!"

Now that is the good stuff.


Check out some cool videos and illustrations here: http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com/index.php?option=com_video

Well... its been a while.
Its been a while since I've been plagued with this type of sleeplessness. The motors in the ole noggin are churning over time, thus its time to bla(h)g.
I can't believe it is already December 27th. Man, time slips away much too quickly.
I've been thinking a lot lately. Truthfully I've had a lot to think about- some heavy- too deeply personal and downright heartbreaking to even touch on this here piece of the internet- others frivolous and not worth wasting time actually putting into 1's and 0's. It is staggering how quickly things completely change- like even reality changes on a dime... things I thought I knew I no longer do... its enough to make the most committed of men throw up their hands and give up out of sheer exhaustion.
I realized my main goal right now is to just figure out how I fit into God's plan. Does that make sense? I know that God has a hope and a future for me. I know I have the desire to do great things- to make a difference, to love and be loved, to share Jesus, to live a story worth telling, to savor life and relish adventure... et cetera... I know these things and I have a desire to be all those things, yet I feel as if I'm missing my assignment. Or, perhaps, it seems as if nothing is clear- like every path is un-tread and tumultuous. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem working for what I want- quite the opposite- but its hard to travel when there is no inkling as to where I'm heading.
I have this battle in my head between the rational mind- the one that I've been grooming over the past several years- the one that I never really had before and the one that makes me mostly act like an "adult" even though on the inside I want to do the opposite- a battle between that rational and the throw-wimsey-to-the-wind-you-only-live-once-take-life-by-the-horns-and-live-life-to-the-fullest part that really truly made me the person I am today. The stories I have aren't about sitting at home alone at night watching movies because it was the practical thing to do- no, the stories I love to have lived and love to tell are of the me that was surrounded by adventure and the foolhardy. What happened to that me? My peers could say they settled down, got married, had some kids... but what's my excuse? Why do I long to live differently than the way I am now? I don't want to be ungrateful- because I am, God. I am! Thank you for all the gifts you lavish upon me... but there is so little joy in my life right now- and its not because of depression or because I'm all down on things- not at all. I'm still living and breathing and fulfilling my duties just like I have for the past 7 years- maybe with a little more cynicism than before, but that is based on precedent not on emotion... its just that the thrill is gone, you know? And I get that "the thrill" doesn't need to be there all the time, I realize that life isn't always thrilling and dazzling and sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and do what it takes to get the job done... but then I stop and I shake my head and I wonder why it has to be that way for me?
I don't have a family to support. I don't have a 401k to worry about. I don't really have roots here anymore- and they are getting cut off more and more every day, lately. I have a house, but as much as I lament about it's worthlessness, I've never really truly looked into no living here. I dunno. I've done the safe thing- applied for grad schools- which will be fine if they work out, but I don't know if that's what its all about either... Is it wrong to chase the high of adventurous living? And I don't mean that irresponsibly, I mean that is it wrong to want a change if what you're doing isn't where you want to be? The problem is, I don't mind what I'm doing, its just where I am doing it... blah... I could continue to complain, but it is what it is... and what I am is blessed. I just need a win, man. There has been so many losses lately, I just want a win. (Ironically, JV girls, 3-0, baby! Turns out I AM a coach. Take that, naysayers!)
I long with my whole heart for some direction in life... or, on the flip, contentment. Hence, the things that I think about. What does God have in store for me? Where? How? With whom? These types of things. He's made it abundantly clear that I am not one for keeping up with the Jones' when it comes to my station in life as compared to my peers- but why not? My human brain would say that it is because there's something big and special on the horizon... but that just sounds cliche' and delusional... What is it all about? Or, more importantly, why do I care? Did my parents ever wrestle with these questions? Can anyone who hasn't possibly understand?
wonder fills my soul at 1:25 in the am.
I trust in God. I know He's in charge. I have contemplated taking charge lately, but I know that isn't what I'm called to do. I'm called to serve and share and love. And its not about serving me and sharing me and (only) loving me- maybe that is the biggest roadblock- me and my selfishness... gah. I think the reason we as a culture enjoy looking back to the "good old days" is because we can look at those years through the filter of hindsight. We see the results and we forget the process. I'm tempted to long for before- when it was easy- and things were "normal"- but I realize that I struggled just as much then as I do now- just with different things, I suppose. In a lot of ways, things really suck right now. and, in a lot of ways, things are really awesome... maybe my goal is to just experience more awesome than suck on a given day. And if I succeed, then consider that a win... there's a story worth telling...
SO my prayer tonight is, Lord: Quiet the selfish desires of my mind. Chase out the whispers of the evil one: Thoughts and desires of resentment and grudges, envy and jealousy, discontentment and anger. Fill my heart with your joy, your peace, your hope. May your desires be my desires, your eyes my eyes, your heart my heart. Help me strive to be a better servant to you, and may I find joy and fulfillment in being your hands and feet.
Lord come quickly!

Beheld.

Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
Behold the Lamb of God
The life and light of men
Behold the Lamb of God
Who died and rose again
Behold the Lamb of God who comes
To take away our sin.

I couldn't get through those words without crying this weekend.

I'm reminded that He was born to die. for me.
my sins are gone.
I'm washed clean.
I'm God's dear child.

So no matter who's not speaking to me.
No matter who resents me.
No matter the sadness and emptiness and brokenheartedness...
Emmanuel is here.
for me.
and for you.
The only person who ever chose to be born, chose to be born so that He could die so that I might live.
Thank you Jesus.

GK, you're great!

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?
-GK Chesterton

simply put:

Lord, tonight remind me that I'm a tree in a story about a forest.

I don't think I have any regular readers left... but... Its been a while since I've written anything meaningful... thus, it's been a while since I've apologized for my delinquency. sorry. For anyone who's stumbled upon this here bla(h)g- welcome! and know that I've been marinading on a couple of thoughts, so stay tuned.

In the meantime know that right now as I lay on a blow up bed in one of my favorite people's living room in one of my favorite places on earth i am glad. and grateful. and relishing every moment of this reprieve. good things. Enough about me.

Coming up- jellyfish, lost dreams, 3g's, top 8 albums of the year, year in review (its been a doosy!!) and mobile soup kitchens. So what I'm saying is... if you're bored in 5 or 6 days, check back and you'll have lots of words to read. I can't promise they'll be worth your time, but they'll be here for your perusal.
until then... mazel tov!

Go out and start creating...

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done…”
-C.S. Lewis

mums the word

Man, I just love these guys...
I stumbled back upon this album, and naturally this song...
Granted, as a band they are very formulaic... but their formula rocks my socks off.
so good.

‎"And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart, and flowers in your hair."
that's poetry, folks.

a thankful monologue

Do you ever spend time pontificating the amazingness of our existence?  I mean not only do I live in this beautiful country, but I also get to live in the suburbs in a great state very comfortably.  I was raised in a wonderful family, was able to go to private schools throughout my education, was given the given the gift of faith and parents who watered it daily.  Not only that, but I’m in the 21 century- where innovation and technology is growing at bananas pace and I have the entire world at my fingertips.  No piece of information is further than a click away.  Crazy.  Sure, we’re in a recession and my house’s resale value is nil, but holy moly- I quite literally lack nothing… well, I could use a new pair of Keens… but… my thirst for shoes is quite insatiable.

It is downright mind-blowing to think that of the billions of people who have lived on this earth, I’m the only one who has my job in my town in this house with these friends and family, etc. It is just nutty.  I am drowning in blessings- I can do nothing but breathe in the goodness of God. 

So I thought it apropos to list a blessing for every kernel of corn on my plate… and maybe a couple more…

Gracious God, Heavenly Father

The Headwater to the river of blessings that overwhelms me each and every day-

I am grateful for your loving kindness.

Your gentleness, your patience, your relentless forgiving and your consuming grace.

I am humbled by your love and your desire to have a relationship with me.

You sent your one and only son to live, breath, eat, sleep, laugh, cry, die and rise so that I might be one with you through His holy and precious blood.

You did that for me.

It seems that words aren’t enough, but tonight they’re all I have.

Thank you Lord.

Thank you for life.

For the air I breathe

The food I eat

The water I drink

Who am I that you would provide these things in abundance daily?

I am not worthy of your mercy.

Thank you for death.

For it is in death that we are returned to you in perfect glory.

Because of your Son death is not some veiled unknown, rather it is a homecoming where we are welcomed eternally into your loving, nail-marked hands.

But we were created to live and not to die

So Lord let me treat each moment as what it really is:

A gift from you.

While you know the number of breaths I have left, I do not have such knowledge, so let me use each to bring you glory.

May my words bring encouragement and peace

May my presence bring joy

May my thoughts be focused on loving those whom you love

And my eyes focused on the cross.

May my hands bring blessings to others

And my feet the Good News to everyone I meet.

May You be at the center of my life,  oh Lord, until the day we meet face to face.

Thank you for my family.

We all know you, Jesus, and because of that our kinship is not just of this earth but also in the life to come.  This is chief of all blessings: to know we will share eternity.

You provided a home that was not perfect, that was not always peaceful, not always joyous, but it was a home that was built on the Rock. 

Thank you for parents who brought me to the waters of baptism.

Who were concerned with parenting me, not merely befriending me

Who set boundaries

Who disciplined me

And held me accountable for my actions
But in all things reflected you

I am who I am because of them, gracious God, and for them I am grateful.

In you all things are possible, so I pray that those homes that are broken-

Those families where children don’t feel safe

Where they go unfed and un-loved by their earthly parents

Where there is no peace, no boundaries, no grace-

Creator of the heavens and earth, I pray that you bring to them

Your peace

Your love

The stuff that passes understanding-

The safety of your goodness and mercy

The fullness of your redemption

Come quickly to help them

Heal them and restore them to you

You calmed the wind and the waves, so Lord please bring calm to the lives of those families enveloped in the storms of divorce, abuse, adultery, alcoholism, and every other rift-making device the father of lies uses.

Adonai, you have put people in my life that love, support, encourage, anchor, listen, care for, provide, pray for, and invest in me each and every day

Oh how shameful it is how often I take them for granted

It is haughty for me to ever feel alone or unloved-
Thank you for the amazing people of God that you have put in my life

Keep them close to your heart, oh Lord

May I always aim to be a blessing to them

And to let them know whenever possible how much of a blessing they are to me.

Lord make me quick to listen and slow to speak

That I could be for them what they have so often been for me.

Give me ears to listen

And wise, soft words to speak.

Lord you are close to the broken hearted

And you know those relationships that are strained right now.

Bring healing and restore peace to that which was not too long ago filled with joy, love, and closeness

You are able to do immeasurably more than I can fathom, oh God

I know this to be true

not my will, but yours be done.

Thank you for music, my Lord and my God. 

It is an amazing blessing given to us by you.

Your heavenly angels sang to announce your birth

How can I keep from singing?
Thank you for the gift of a musical heart

And for the outlet that it provides for me

It reminds me of you, Lord, music does-

I cannot see it but it fills me up

Just as you are invisible, but your benefits fill me to the brim and then some.

Thank you for your Word

I don’t mean to put this so far down the list-

But you- God- unimaginable, unthinkable, unfathomable-

God

you speak to us in your Holy Word

In books that collect dust

And prop up chairs

Sanctify me in the truth- your word is truth

Give me a thirst for the truth and make me always consciously aware of your Spirit living inside of me

Cause Him to stir within me the desire to serve you with gratitude and honor you with everything I think, say, and do

Make my words and desires actions.

Thank you, Lord.

There is so much beauty in this world, Precious Redeemer-

The mountains.  Oh, the mountains...

The oceans

Flowers that boom in season

Vegetables and fruits in their brilliant colors

The awesome muscular frames of tigers and panthers

The stripes of a zebra

The antlers of a moose

The gentle eyes of a horse

The songs of the robins

The enormity of a whale

The breathtaking sunsets

The films that cause tears

And the paintings that cause one to stand in pensive silence

The perfect symmetry of the human body

And the striking beauty of deep blue eyes

Orchestras that cause goose bumps

And the amazing worlds that CGI can take us

The thrill of a roller coaster

And the ability to savor memories through pictures

All these things are from you, Lord

And we are not able to express our gratitude.

Thank you for the internet

Where people can support and pray and share in joy and heartbreak

Where we can stay connected

Face to face

In real time.

And forgive us for the wretched use of such a wonderful gift, oh Righteous Judge.

Thank you for:

Jokes

Stories

Books

Songs

Games

Scrabble

Laughing

Pumpkin pie scented candles

Guitars

Memory foam beds

Live streaming tv shows

Blogs

Walks

Bros

Cars

Mousetraps

Secretaries

Quotes

Trivia

Medicine

Icebergs

Juicers

The post office

Roommates

Retreats

Trampolines

Camps

Camp counselors

Campfires

Camp directors

Democrats

Republicans

People who want to make money

People who want to give money away

Police and firemen

Military personnel

Our leaders and lawmakers

Safety

Freedom

Churches

Gyms

Schools

Vespers

Teachers

Pastors

Professors

Encouragers

Those who are hard to love

Hugs

A good pair of blue jeans

Track pants

Inner peace- the kind that only comes from you

Uncertainty- because it makes me realize you are changeless

Pilot Uniball Micro 207 pens:  Best. Ever.

College degrees

iPods

Amazon Mp3

Nashville

MacBooks

Jr vs Sr night with Tim

Coaches

Love

Wool socks

I just fell asleep for a second, so I’m going to wrap this up, Big Guy.

You are good.

You are holy.
I am a sinner in need of a savior.

Use me, God. use me.

Thank you for loving me, Abba.

Keep us steadfast in your Word.

Keep them safe- the ones you put in my life

Build around them a hedge of protection from the assaults of the evil one.

May my value be found the price you paid for me

And my wholeness be always rooted solely in you.

Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me,

bringing comfort to my anxious soul.

Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me

draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal.

Love divine, beyond all mortal measure,

brings to naught the burdens of my quest;

Savior, lead me to the home I treasure,

where at last I’ll find eternal rest.

Day by day, I know you will provide me

strength to serve and wisdom to obey;

I will seek your loving will to guide me

o’er the paths I struggle day by day.

I will fear no evil of the morrow,

I will trust in your enduring grace.

Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow

till in glory I behold your face.

Oh, what joy to know that you are near me

when my burdens grow too great to bear;

oh, what joy to know that you will hear me

when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer.

Day by day, no matter what betide me,

you will hold me ever in your hand.

Savior, with your presence here to guide me,

I will reach at last the promised land.

In your mercy, Lord, hear my prayer.

A-Men

For whatever reason, Tuesday is quote day.
Yesterday I asked my buddy (via text) if he had time to hang out before he left for his next tour.  He replied in such a kind way I almost shed a tear.  A simple "sorry I don't have time, but I'll see you next month" was expected, but instead I received words of encouragement and affirmation.  It was awesome.
This morning I came across this quote-

“Here’s something you can do right now, right where you are, and you don’t even need a book to show you how: when that next person walks into your office, calls you on the phone, or sends you an email, stop to seriously ponder the question, “Why am I glad this person is on the planet?”
When you have the answer to that question, take it from your mind, put it into words, and give those words to that person.”
- Trey Pennington

I think I'm going to try that.  I now know first hand the boost it can give.  After all, as Plato said:  “Be kind.  Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

God Made You Special

My buddy Randall made a fantastic kid's album called Slugs & Bugs: Under Where?
It is really solid.
Here is a sweet lullaby from the album.  enjoy.