One Minute...

I just took Jonah my 7 year old to the dentist, after going through the cleaning and polishing process (which he was very brave and I was very proud.) The dentist encouraged me to take time he brushes a little more seriously. The key is talking one minute of focusing on each tooth for a couple of seconds and getting all the "sugar bugs" off so they don't start causing trouble in the form of cavities. That one minute a night can save him a lot of pain in the form of shots and that menacing dentists drill... (dont you hate that high pitched sound?)
In this blog my goal is to take my daily experiences and learn spiritual principles and apply them to my life based on God's word. My take away from this session is that I want to take a little inventory of my life daily and look for the "sugar bugs" that seek to harm me. They may seem innocent and small but left unattended they coudl grow into habit and addictions out of my control. There is a great passage in the bible that I would like to use as my One Minute guide it comes from Psalm 137:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

This one minute of hearing from a source of help and guidance (not guilt and shame) could save me a lot of hours, weeks, months and possibly years of pain.

Foggy Day

Today we woke to a heavy fog, our day changed due to the fact that Jonah would not be riding the bus and school wouldn't start till 11:15. It was interesting to see the way that people people change their driving habits. Fortunately the fog wasn't so bad that we could leave or drive so we did venture out today. I have been in a few different fog spells here in the valley where you couldn't see the front of your bumper, thats is not fun to drive in.
Sunday night I encouraged people to read Proverbs 3:5-6, it talks about giving everything to God and being committed to his plan and he promises to direct our future. Living life without seeking Gods guidance is liek driving in the fog, sure you can get around a little, but there is lots of danger and sooner or later your going to have an accident. Living with Gods direction and guidance is not only having a good map, but it is also protection from the things that can harm us today.
My challenge today is to seek God's counsel on all things in life.

I'm Connected

After a few weeks of being without the internet, cable and phone service I am now connected with technology. I never realized how much I am dependent on being "connected." I felt lost like I was missing a part of my life. What a great feeling to turn on the computer and be able to send and receive emails, to watch the news and my favorite shows and be available to people who are looking to talk with me. I wonder how connected I am with Jesus on a daily basis, when I get disconnected does my life begin appear to be missing the most important part or do I just go on with life as normal. I really hope and pray that I truly sense my dependence on God and my need to be connected to him. In John 15 Jesus says "I am the Vine and you are the branches. Todays phrase translation could be "I am the World Wide Web" and you are the computer. Jesus goes on to say if we stay plugged into him we will produce fruit, or there will be results in life that prove we are connected to Jesus. Now that I am connected to the internet I am going to be more organized, have better information, and be better and following up on friendships and people that I minister to. But the most important thing for me is not to be a better person, a more organized person, or even more creative; but rather to be connected to Jesus and let my life be a reflection of what he wants and has planned for me.

How connected are you? Its not a guilt driven question- its a challenge to be connected to the best resource available for life- period. Jesus. Remember its not what you know, its who you know.

The Battle Continues

I will now be without internet till Monday. So by Monday I should be back up and writing.
I am done moving! no I mean forever, i am never ever doing it again, i can't find anything. I am so far behind in everything. I am learning much patience and dependence on God, as well as a powerful lesson in priorities.
If I dont learn anything through this process to live out when things are less crazy (like that ever happens) I will be a complete fool. Proverbs 1:3-5 puts it well.
I need to learn to let God direct my path...
Have a great day...
Will start wrting regularly on monday....

Technical difficulties

I am without internet till Jan 9th. N ever realized how dependent on technology I am. My life has come to a screeching halt. And then no Cable- which means no espn- am am going through major withdrawals. I am challenged to have the same dependence on Gods word, psalms 119:105 talks about Gods word as a light to our path. I need Gods light to shine in my life and when I get away from his greatest tool for living I hope that I recognize the absence.

Have a great day, and enjoy some of Gods amazing wisdom from his word...

WAITING... AGAIN

I have been learning a lot especially in the area of patience. Patience is tough because you have to give up control. I am sitting in the airport right now and have 2 hours to kill, and I am not enjoying the wait. The internet connection is extremely slow and I am anxiously tapping the keyboard while it takes forever to load the pages. When I get in a hurry and lose my sense of patience I tend to dwell on the negatives rather than thinking of the positives. I am spending some quality time with my son, the flights are not canceled, the internet connection may be slow but it is free, and I just got to spend a few days with my parents. For me one of the greatest things I can do to stop rushing through life and dwelling on the negatives is to stop and take time to be thankful. The series I taught on slow motion is really beginning to impact my life, and as long as I begin to practice what I preach and what I am learning from God, life is much more meaningful, effective, and enjoyable.
The verse from psalms continues to challenge me: "be still and know that I (He), is God." He is God and I am not. He is in control, and the quicker I begin to live like that, the less of a mess I make out of things.
Enjoying the journey and remembering the great things in my life make waiting a positive experience rather than making me bitter and agitated.
I am now enjoying this beautiful 2 hour layover in Denver.

Happy New Year

I am out of town (actually out of state) visiting my parents for the new year. It is great to be with them but I had to leave Codie and Jackson at home because of Jackson's ear infection. Being away is not fun, but it does make you appreciate what you have. I am thankful for my family and I hope that this year I will continue to be a good father and husband.
What I find is that on my own I can't do that, however, the more time I spend with God the more he makes me more like him and does things through me that I am incapable on my own.
The closer I get to him the more he fills me with his presence and that is truly the greatest gift I can give my family.

Have a great new year!!!!!