God Knuckles

It was a good morning. I haven't gotten up to spend time with God in longer than I care to admit...and my wife insisted that we get up today. And I finally did... And it was sweet. It was awesome.

We were praising God with the kids (again...something we intend to do more of on a more consistent basis) and a song came on...

I will never leave you
I will not forsake you
I will always be with you

And I was holding our 13 month old, Koen, and as the song went on to talk about how God is always with us through our trials...

...it hit me!

In a new way...in the way that things hit you that you've thought of and acknowledged before...but that still catch your breath and freshly resonate deep at your core.

My boys will have trials.

UGH.

Daddy doesn't like that. I just want to keep them safe...away from this world and all the junk that is in it.

Protected...

And isn't that what Jesus is all about? Isn't that why God sent His ONLY Son to earth? My Daddy in heaven didn't like what the world had to offer me either. What the world had become...so He sent me a Savior. He sent us a Savior. We should really rejoice in that more!

So I come full circle...and I know that I can protect them...through that precious blood of Jesus. And that for all the things that will come and for all the things that will be...they matter not. I want to commune with my Maker. I want to know Him more intimately. I WILL SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO ME!

And, today...

He will never leave ME
He will not forsake ME
He will always be with ME.

Me!

Right here and right now! I rest in that. I resolve to know that. Not only in my head...I resolve to know that in my heart.

When I go out into the world today...I'm taking God with me.

So if you see me pump my fist in the air and wonder what I'm doing...?


I'm just giving knuckles to God and saying, "We got this".

Kung Fu Panda

I wanna be like Jesus...and I'll start by being a little bit more like my buddy...

I have this friend who is like Kung Fu Panda for Jesus.  (I was gonna say Chuck Norris but that doesn't fit quite as well...for me or for him.)  He is totally unafraid of what people will think about him.  The other day, after he told me about another epic battle...I just sat there grinning...I couldn't wipe the smile from my face... I could see a glimpse from his story. A glimpse of fullness. And I say to him..."I haven't even been living"....

I shared some things about what God had put on my heart for another friend and how I hadn't obeyed.  His response?..."What's the worst they can do to you?  They can't do anything to you...Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world".  Right?  Totally Kung Fu Panda.  


We talk about how unworthy we are and how incredible God is.  And our conversation settles on the blood of Jesus.  And I can't even finds words...I remain in awe of that gift.  My buddy lives in that place.  Everything that it encompasses...the authority, the power, the health, the richness of it all.   All we have to do is reach out and take it...and my pal? He reaches out and takes it.

New Years Day 2012

IT's 6 am and I decide to succomb to the nagging inside me to get up and pray, spend time with God, take charge, and...blog...? That's right.

I've spent my last few years in a hurry. Mostly because my wife struggles with being late...and I struggle with showing up to places 30 minutes early because traffic was favorable and I allowed more than ample time for my 10 minute drive:)

So here's to slowing down. Smelling the roses as they say. Taking time to appreciate the moments that make a life. It will be a journey...and I will have to stay focused and not allow myself to rush...and I can handle it.

Just in the past few weeks of "practice" I've had some amazing times. Priceless moments with each of my boys...with my wife...with God. Some amazing prayer. And it all comes down to this...

I can see greatness in five minutes. Taking the time to hug and cuddle before running out the door for work, to pray before a meeting to get my head on straight and put some angels to work.

I'm excited. This is a year of restoration...

God is moving in a big way.

I can feel it.

I expect greatness in 2012.