Shifting

I desire for my perspective to change. I want to shift my motivation for following God from one of obligation and expectation to one of godly passion. I read in Psalm 119 of the passionate desire to meditate and follow God's law and I know that it does not describe me-even if I want it to. I pray that God would transform my heart-even slowly if need be-so that my greatest pleasure is found in Him.


"I'm single-minded in pursuit of You; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked Your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in Your ways of wise living. I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from Your mouth. I delight far more in what You tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from You, I attentively watch how You've done it. I relish everything You've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it."
-Psalm 119: 9-16 (The Message)

No Surprise

I make a lot of mistakes. Anyone who knows me at all will readily agree with that statement. Some of them are bigger than others and some of them cause more grief than others. I don't like it when I continue to make some of the same mistakes and see how it disappoints the people around me. Sometimes those choices will change and even eliminate close relationships.

When I find myself in this regretful pattern, I often wonder how much God is disappointed in me too. He has blessed me with more than I deserve and given me more chances than He should and yet I still fail.

As these thoughts roll through my head I am reminded that God already knows all of my thoughts and deeds long before I even choose to think or do them. While that can be somewhat intimidating to ponder, it also brings me a small amount of comfort. I cannot surprise God. There is nothing that I can do that will take away His love for me. Even as my choices will cause others to reevaluate their perception of me, it doesn't work that way with God. He does not change.

Thank you Father for loving me in spite of me. I am grateful that You see the whole of who I am and You consider me worthy of Your love.

Father's Day

As we celebrate Father's Day today, I think about my grandfather and how much he means to me. It has been a year and half now since he has been gone and rarely does a day go by without a reminder of his influence. He was more my father for most of life than a grandfather. In a simple way of honoring him I thought I would post the video of pictures we showed at his funeral.

I miss you Gramps.



Gramps Video from Northridge Christian Church on Vimeo.

Individuality

I'm reading the book, The Me I Want to Be, by John Ortberg and came across this today-thought is "blog-worthy" to share an excerpt.

"Spiritual growth is hand-crafted, not mass-produced. God does not do 'one-size-fits-all'."

"Our great model for this is God himself, for He always knows just what each person needs.

He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap.

He gave Moses a forty-year time out, He gave David a harp and a dance, and He gave Paul a pen and a scroll.

He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar.

He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle.

Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.

God never grows two people the same way. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer.

Now it is your turn."

'Nuff said.

Coach Wooden

John Wooden passed away last week. I have an immense amount of respect for him as a coach, a leader, a developer of leaders, a husband, and a Christ-follower. In honor of his passing I have borrowed several quotes from him to post below:

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
"Never mistake activity for achievement."
"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
"Be prepared and be honest."
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player."
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character."
"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."
"I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent."
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."
"It isn't what you do, but how you do it."
"Ability is a poor man's wealth."
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be."
"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings and the feelings of others before your own rights."
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
"It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it."
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."
"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."
"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."
"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
"Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

Thanks Coach for years of wisdom that affected more people than you know. Glad that you are back with Nell once again.

Making Plans

Proverbs 16:9 says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines His steps." On the surface this seems like an easy verse to understand, but as I reflect on it at this time in my life, it gains a depth of meaning I didn't know before.

I have always been a planner. In fact, I get frustrated with myself when I don't plan accordingly for things. I write them down in the huge Franklin planner on my desk, sketch out ideas & notes on whiteboards, send myself e-mails and make notes in memos on my Blackberry. Through all of my own endeavors however, God continues to work His great plan.

If you had asked me when I graduated college where I saw myself I can readily assure you that I would not have told you that I was a pastor in Milledgeville, GA. I would have had no clue that I was going to leave the high school to work in ministry in Florida. Actually, I wouldn't have been able to tell you that I was going to spend nine years working at the high school level either.

I didn't always get things right (still don't), but I believe that because I was willing to open myself up (sometimes in very small doses) to what God wanted to do in my life, He chose to re-order some of my steps. It's easier to see this on the other side and to look back at the detailed work that God has done. I don't pretend to understand it, but I am definitely grateful.

It's definitely comforting (and a touch scary) to serve a God who has a better plan than I do.