WARNING!

One of the neatest features in my wife's new SUV is the back-up warning system. This is truly a slick feature... and since the vehicle is the size of a small bus, it's really a necessary feature (not sure we need the "bun warmers" in the rear seats, but I know we need the back-up warning system-- as the rear bumper of our mini-van will attest.). Here's how it works: There is a series of five sensors or electronic "eyes" in the rear bumper. If the sensor detect an object behind you while you are backing up the system will sound a tone and a yellow light will appear. As you get closer to the object the tone grows louder and more frequent, and a second yellow light appears. At the absolute "you must stop backing up point" the tone grows much louder and frequent and a red light appears. If we hit something with all of those warnings... well I guess we're just beyond help!

That got me to thinking about my own life. How wonderful that God has equipped each of us with a similar warning system! He provides us with His word, equips us with His indwelling Spirit, surrounds us with our church family, and if you're really blessed, a close group of friends who will hold you accountable. Even with such a sophisticated system, we occasionally ignore it and have a bump or two. But here's the awesome part-- unlike the SUV, if I "hit something" God will make everything brand new again! Wow! Now that's a feature to brag about!!!

Thank you Lord for your ways! Thank you for your word, your church, and your grace. Amen.

Changes

Well, I've been completely distracted from the "real world" for the past few days caught in the new car vortex... have you ever been sucked into that place? Oh my it can be scary! It's amazing how confused and emotionally distraught you can get just shopping for a new car! But we survived and have a new car-- actually it isn't new, and it's not a car-- it's an '03 Cadillac Escalade. (However, it does SMELL new, and I guess that's really important?!)

I know what you're thinking-- I'm way too young and hip to be driving a Cadillac Escalade, right? Well, it's not mine it's my wife's... and she LOVES it! It was time for a change. We've had a mini-van for the last 12 years (since our daughter's birth) and we decided it was time for a change. So we've turned a page in our life journey and waved good-bye to Van-Land.

Speaking of changes, the kids started school this week... a welcomed change! My wife is throwing a party right now! The summer was wonderful, but I think everyone was ready for school to start this year. My "little" girl is now a big 7th grader and my son is now a confident 3rd grader.

It's been an interesting couple of days. We've had some emotional times and a few rough spots... but change is like that. However, I've always found that change brings about a refreshing newness to all of life and therefore is worth it.

I love how the Lord makes us new everyday, so that our spirit always has that "new car" smell no matter how old we really are!

Lord, thank you for change in our lives. I pray that you will bring about spiritual renewal for me and our family. Thank you for our life lessons in stewardship. Thank you for renewing us daily. Amen!

Surrender

Why is it so hard to surrender? I'm thinking specifically about surrendering my life to the Lord, but really... surrendering in general is so difficult for me.

In our house church last night we spent the majority of our time talking about surrendering, the topic of Chapter 10 of The Purpose Driven Life. For most of the time I didn't say much-- highly unusual for me-- as I'm not really very good at this and didn't really have much to offer the group. I listened as various members of our group shared some of their struggles and expressed their views on a number of thoughts and statements made in the book.

I was re-skimming the summary of the chapter as I listened to the others share, and something really jumped out at me. There was a statement in the book that surrender is not a one time thing. It is something that may have to happen daily or hourly, or in my case, moment-by-moment. I found so much liberation in that statement... this isn't something I only get a one-time shot at, it's something I get a second chance at every moment of my life.

The chapter went on to encourage us to surrender every aspect of our lives to God-- our hopes, fears, past struggles, current struggles, etc. And that got me to really thinking... so this is what I wound up sharing with the group:

"OK... this may be either really dull or really deep... but what if we just surrender our struggle in surrendering to God and let Him help us through it."

The room was really quiet, but I think it got everyone thinking. Isn't that the whole point... we are to surrender EVERY aspect of our life to Him-- even the fact that we struggle with surrendering?

Father, I surrender my struggle with surrendering to you. I know that you alone can help me. Thank you for your mercy and your steadfast love. Refine me. Amen

Aspirations

Yesterday, after a major over-dose of watching the Olympics non-stop for six hours, my eight year-old son announced that he was no longer going to be the next NBA super star-- He was headed for Olympic Gold as a swimmer!

He marched into the garage, dug his blow-up swimming pool out of the toy box, blew it up, filled it with water, and began his official Olympic training. I admire that kind of inspiration and determination! It's refreshing... and even inspirational!

I hope that he will keep that child-like enthusiasm and can-do attitude the rest of his life. I love that he didn't even stop to think about all the obstacles that might impede such aspirations-- like the fact that his pool is so small he can not even lay down flat in it, let alone swim in it. I love that he didn't form a committee to study the probable outcomes of such an endeavor, nor did he even make the proverbial list of pros and cons. Nope. He just dove in-- head first.

I'd like to be a little more like that in my life... and I wish others that I care about could be, too. How often has the Lord called us in ways that He needed to use us, only for us to over-analyze the opportunity to death? How many spiritual aspirations have we allowed to just die, because the pros and cons list didn't add up properly? How many committees (even committees of one) have killed our aspirations and others?

Lord, help us to become child-like about our aspirations and enthusiasm for you! Bless us with dreams that are big and hearts that are bigger! Amen.

Prayer

We have such a powerful tool in the gift of prayer. Sometimes we take prayer for granted, don't we? How ridiculous!! We have a direct line to the Almighty... the Creator of the Universe, and we often fail to even use it.

Today, I'm very mindful of the power of prayer. My good friend Dwight, after lots of prayer, was awarded a much needed job! Praise the Lord!

I have been struggling with some issues in my own life that God has been so faithful to work through and has answered my prayers-- and He's done it in such fantastic ways, so beyond anything I had the creativity to even request of Him.

But today I am asking all of you in my blog community to pray for my sister. I'm concerned about her and her family because she lives in Sarasota, directly in the path of hurricane Charley. I ask that you will pray for her safety. But actually, I'd like to ask you to pray for something even more important... I'd like you to pray for her salvation. My sister has left her faith and turned her back on God. Please pray that He will watch over her through this storm... but also that He will guide her through the real storm in her life.

Thank you God for the gift of prayer. Forgive me for not spending more time with you in prayer. Please watch over my sister and her family. Guide her through this storm and bring her back to you. Amen.

Restored!

Sorry to be so down yesterday... not exactly sure what happened. OK, I know exactly what happened... I allowed Satan to fill my head with ridiculous thoughts that I don't really matter, my life is insignificant and no one loves me. Of course I KNOW that's not true, but sometimes I have a hard time not listening to that and not allowing those false ideas to impact how I FEEL.

But, today is today... I feel so restored! God is so faithful and His voice is louder, bigger and RIGHT! I can't even begin to tell you all the different ways God spoke to me and ministered to my hurts. He used many of my good friends and certainly this Blog community. He used the ministry of music and song. He used my wife and children and their love expressions for me. And He used His word. Consider these passages:
"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." Romans 8:6 (Message)
"You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isa. 26:3 (TEV)
"God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made." James 1:18 (NCV)

Thank you oh Lord, for your goodness and faithfulness. Thank you for your unfailing love. Thank you for restoring me from yesterday. Thank you for those you have put in my life. Amen.

Am I here?

Lately-- especially yesterday and this morning-- I have felt estranged from the world. After a wonderful weekend of feeling very alive and very present, spending lots of time with my family, and being surrounded by friends, I suddenly feel so out of touch. Almost as if life is happening around me, in spite of me-- indifferent to me. Am I the only one who ever feels this way?

I had yet another committee meeting last night for the volunteer Board of Directors (one of several) I serve on for a local arts organization and didn't make it home until after 9 p.m. When I got home my family was at a neighbor's house playing. I was lonely and tired, and hopped in bed. "Did Monday even happen?" I asked myself.

What a rapid fall from my mountain top high on Sunday. I don't like being moody... and I certainly don't like being told I'm moody. But I do have to admit that I identify with David and many of his Psalms of lament. I don't want to feel this way. I want to feel alive and present. I want to feel safe in the arms of my God. I want to feel loved and needed. I need my Father and I am realizing all the more... I really need my brothers and sisters.

Father, draw me close to you. Don't be far from me! Even though I have pushed you away, rescue me and draw me near. Remind me of your love. Call me by my new name! Restore me!

"Standing here in silence, I wait for you to speak,
For your whisper heals me with one word.
Restore me!
I would have no way but yours my Lord,
Restore me!
Like the eagle spreads its wings and soars,
I will lift my faithless heart to a God who's love is pure.
Resting in your arms I am secure!
Restore me!"

The Church

Not the place, the people... God's family... The body.

I am so grateful, especially this week, for my church family. It's just amazing how God has used this past week to show me what a wonderful family He has put in place for me over the past few years. A family who meets my needs, loves me and accepts me just as I am. Also, a family who needs me... which actually might be my greatest need of all-- to be needed.

This past week in my efforts to be more intentional (see my recent "Good Intentions" post) with my compassion and service I have learned the blessing of those God has put in my life-- some old, some new-- some nearby, others farther away. My own bouquet of friends hand-picked by God. Isn't that an incredible thought? God cares enough about me and my needs that he has called out a group of individuals specifically and uniquely for me. It's almost embarrassing, but mostly it's comforting.

I am so thankful for these brothers and sisters. And as I see how they love me and minister to me I am all the more motivated to love and serve them.

Father, thank you for your church. Thank you for placing such wonderful people in my life. Help me to love and treasure them all the more. Thank you for the encouragement they are to me. Help me to become more of an encouragement to them. Amen.

Good Intentions

This Sunday our minister challenged us regarding our "one another skills." It was a wonderful and much needed topic for me. The part that especially hit home for me was his challenge for us to move beyond well intentioned compassion to acted upon and expressed compassion. In other words, to do more than just think about people. To act in their lives!

I've been taking the challenge on this week and it has been such an incredible blessing! I thought this was all about me becoming more disciplined and service-oriented-- but it seems I'm the one reaping all the benefits! I haven't felt this good in years! It makes me wonder why I have been holding back all this time-- living in the land of theoretical compassion!

I've learned that when we do hold back we not only short the people whom we could be blessing, but even ourselves! Of course when we hold back we are also not allowing God to do His work through us!

So, go ahead and take the challenge... buy the card, sign the card and MAIL the card! Make the prayer list and then PRAY over the prayer list! Call that friend-- introduce yourself to that shy person in the corner--bake cookies and then share them with someone who needs a baked hug!

I promise (and so does God) you will be blessed exponentially beyond any blessing you can give!

Thank you Lord for your love and compassion. Thank you for giving me a heart for compassion... and now hands, feet and a voice as well! Thank you for Larry and his wisdom and ability to deliver your message to me. Amen

The worst place to be driving

I have found it... The worst place in the world to be driving. I figured it would be in NYC during rush hour, or trying to get out of that make-shift parking lot at a Cubs game, or maybe a country two-lane road in a Central Illinois blizzard. But much to my surprise, it was none of those places. In fact, what I learned was that it wasn't really a place at all.

No, the worst place to be driving is not really a location or a situation, or even a combination of the two. It's about whom or what you are driving behind. In my case yesterday, it was behind a truck precariously loaded with several port-o-potties! I've never felt so trapped in all my life! The five seconds I was stuck behind that truck and unable to move into the adjacent lane felt like an eternity of panic. Can you imagine a rear-end collision with that truck? Or what if the driver hit a bump or suddenly jerked causing his precious cargo to tip backward! Oh my!

Well, it got me thinking about how many times I have found my self "stuck" behind a person or situation in my life that was far more precarious or toxic than that truck. You know, that friend who is a negative influence, or that movie, book or web site that is polluting your mind. Well, I hope that from now on that truck will be a reminder and motivator for me that next time I find myself in one of those potentially compromising positions, I will put on my life's blinker and quickly move into the clear lane-- as fast as possible.

Father, thank you for teaching me through traffic! Thanks for always providing that clear lane that I can move over into. Help me to be more self-aware and act more swiftly when I am tempted. Thank you for your grace. Amen.