Sunday, I had a chance to go up the "pamper pole" at Oil Belt Christian Camp. A pamper pole is a 23 feet high "telephone pole" which has rungs on the side for you to climb it. You get into a harness and there are people holding a support rope which keeps you from falling once you get up high. Then when you get to the top rung, you're supposed to stand straight up on the top, turn around, and jump off. I had been "supporting" all weekend and was asked if I wanted to climb... so I gave it a try.
I didn't make it.
And it bothered me. It REALLY bothered me. I blamed my shoes, but I still really don't know for sure if it was just stupid fear that made me think they were too slick on the bottom, too worn out. I wanted so badly to go back and say I've got to try this again. To attack that challenge head-on and accomplish the simple objective. Instead I just complained about my shoes, and my lack of willingness to finish what I started. Well, maybe next time... right?
Mike Ditka said "You're never a loser until you quit trying."
So, here's your assignment: do better than I did! Choose something you failed at before, and TRY AGAIN. Give it another go. Win or lose, at least you can say you gave it your best. And for God's sake, don't ever let those past failures keep you from going out, here and now, and accomplishing something for His glory!
PS later that same day, I got on a mechanical bull, and got slung off just like everyone else. That's not failure, that's just fun.
Tonight my wife is going to have a spa day with a friend who also has little kids. I don't even know what that is, but apparently it will be good for her... I think I will take this as a reminder that we gotta treat mommies special. They deserve a break.
Mommies are a major influence on young ones!!! They pour their lives into raising the kids well... teaching them about God and life and love and so much more. Let's give 'em a break and do a little extra to lighten their load.
Give 'em their spa day. They've earned it.
It's easier to sit at the computer, but it's better to go outside and push my kids on the swing. I'm gonna tell them how great their mommy is. So... see ya!
Father, I'm amazed by you today. You created me. You know me. You see me. You hear me. You sought me. You bought me. You want me. You help me. You lead me. You call me. You equip me. You strengthen me. You aid me. You teach me. You chose me. You change me. You redeem me. You rescue me. You push me. You guide me. You direct me. You use me. You break me. You heal me. You hold me. You purify me. You forgive me. You move me. You sustain me. You comfort me. You fulfill me. You quiet me. You fill me. You keep me. You show me. You pursue me. You're with me. You're for me. You save me. You LOVE me. You love... even ME. And I love you too. You're simply amazing.
Yep... PRAY. That's the clever thought. That's the simple idea. That's it.
Did you know that today is the National Day of Prayer? (the other 364 days can be, too...) Well for this SEVENS, I couldn't ignore that fact. So here's what I want us to do. On the official National Day of Prayer website, they have something called 7x7, which stands for seven points of prayer, seven days a week. Check it out here. That's what I'm encouraging you to do today. Read some of the prayer aids on each of the seven topics, then PRAY. Spend some time in prayer with your loving Father who knows what you need (Matthew 6:8). Remember, He created you, He loves you, He knows you. So do your best to push all else aside and give some undivided time to your Heavenly Father.
People of the world have no HOPE of heaven except through a saving relationship with Jesus.
What if you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow? Or in a week?
What would you do differently?
Since we don't know when - He MIGHT even return today - why aren't we doing those things?
As we prepare for Easter, we expect a lot of people who don't normally attend church to be coming. What will you do differently this year? Will you be the reason someone attends (have you asked them)? Will you be a part of the reason someone comes back (greet them warmly, help them find a class, a seat, a friend)? Will you welcome them to the family of God (offering them a place to feel valued, a place to serve, a place of acceptance)? Will you be the one God uses to give them the ONE TRUE HOPE - a saving relationship with Jesus?
Sometimes, when my kids are sick, I just feel helpless. And when I see them miserable, it hurts so deeply to not be able to do more for them. I just love them so much, my heart aches.
Sarah, the younger of my two angels, is getting close to 4 years old. And last month at this time, she was sick with a cold. It went through the house, we all got sick, we all got better… then just a couple weeks later, Sarah got sick again. And she was just miserable. Every time she coughs, I'm reminded that she is not well, and there's nothing more I can do…
And now today, Ruthie is starting to cough more. SIGH. I know things could be MUCH worse, but even the slightest ailment makes me want to do everything I can for them. Which never feels like enough.
While Sarah was sick, I prayed with and for her, and told her I would give her a hundred hugs to help her feel better. She has improved much, and before they went to bed tonight, we were at 39. We're both keeping count.
I love them with everything I've got. They say being a father gives you some insight into what God is like. Into how He loves us. I can't imagine how much it hurts Him when we are sick. When we are physically ailing, emotionally distressed, spiritually troubled… God loves us and does not want that for us. In fact, the most obvious evidence of his love was that he let HIS Son Jesus die – though that unquestionably hurt Him very much. He let Jesus die so that we could see His love! So that we could KNOW His love!
This month's project? Soak in God's love. Perhaps your heart is hurt, and you need God to begin to heal it. Just be assured that the healing begins with the realization that God loves loves LOVES LOVES you. A hundred hugs' worth.
Welcome back to SEVENS, a once-monthly devotional thought designed to help us think about God and DO something about it. This month...
.THE LORD PROVIDES.
Deuteronomy 8 begins:
1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.
The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God delivered them from that slavery. Yet even as they traveled from slavery to the promised land, they grumbled about it. They even wished they were back in Egypt. So on the way to their destination, He caused them to wander through the wilderness for 40 years. Forty years!
But even God's punishment came laced with blessings. He provided for them everything they needed. Their food, their water, their protection from the elements, their direction... they couldn't get any of it anywhere else but FROM GOD HIMSELF!
The Israelites needed to be reminded that God had provided for them. They also needed to be reminded that they should return the favor by living by His commands. And we would do well to remember the same: God provides, protects and guides. Just look around and see all that He has done.
I want to show you something...
I got these shoes on the day of my wedding - in October of the year 2000. And they were already used when I got them. I've worn them every Sunday since, and on countless other occasions when I needed something nicer than tennis shoes. But through all this time, they haven't worn out. I've taken to calling them my "wilderness shoes" because they constantly remind me of those verses in Deuteronomy. As I get ready each Sunday morning for worship, for teaching, for fellowship... they remind me of one simple truth.
The Lord provides.
Tomorrow we gather for the very first time to worship at our new location: 321 Log Cabin Road! Some have drawn parallels between this relocation and the stories of the Exodus to the promised land. It's certain that God has provided for us, and has guided us, over the last few years. He has led us to move to a new place.
I'm guessing it's about time to get some new shoes. But I'm glad to see God's blessings all throughout my life. As I type this, my wife is singing bedtime prayers with my two beautiful children. They are blessings, indeed! Tomorrow, I will teach the Word to middle school students. Blessings! I have a warm bed and toilets that work and two cars and I can read and I have a nice office with a brand new love seat… and… well, the blessings are everywhere!
May such commonplace things as these remind you of God's love for you. In fact, that's what this month's project is. Go on and comment below about something that reminds you of God's provision, protection, guidance… and His love.
at before, and TRY AGAIN. Give it another go. Win or lose, at least you can say you gave it your best. And for God's sake, don't ever let those past failures keep you from going out, here and now, and accomplishing something for His glory!
