Humor me for a moment...Let's pretend you are Mary or Joseph.  And every day...the diapers...the constant cleaning up...the meals...the goofy dancing and off-the-cuff made up songs...whatever it is that fills your days...think about doing all that...for Jesus.  

WHOA!  Can you even wrap your mind around that one?

I wonder if I would be a better father than I have been to my children...if Jesus were my kid?  I can't imagine looking into the face of JESUS and getting inpatient.  Or being bothered in the middle of the night because Jesus had a bad dream and needed some extra cuddles.  (Okay...so I've never even thought about cuddling with Jesus until now).

No phone call, no TV show, no facebook status update would ever be more important.  I would cherish every moment.

What about you?  How do you measure up?  We spend so much time looking at and comparing our lives to our perceptions of the lives of the people around us.  And they all seem to have it together.  How about we throw that trash out...and look at the only measure that matters.  Matthew 25:40 says"...I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

I resolve to be a better father and a better man tomorrow...To love "the least of these"...whether that's a stranger or my precious boys. And I know that in the day to day...I miss it.  But I will wake up tomorrow and seek Him first.  And those other things will fall into place.  I will vow to be the man and husband and father that He has created me to be.  And when tomorrow comes to an end...I will wake up the next day and seek Him first again.  That's what I have.  That's what I know...

To My Love...

What is a perfect day?

It doesn't consist of lunch in a rowboat with swans on a glassy pond filled with lilypads. And gone are the days of wearing white:)

No...I think a perfect day has very little to do with our ideas and plans.

And maybe that looks like all of you STILL in your pajamas at noon. Those pajamas only coming off because the boys are caked in mud and soaking wet. (I pray that we see the value in these moments. The hearts that we are shaping...the opportunity that we have been given to raise up these men.) And everyone says that we will blink and our boys will be grown. That we will long for days of dirty diapers and endless laundry...

And when they are older, they'll look back and recount the precious memories they have from these humble beginnings...and they'll smile.

They will say to their own children, "Goodnight, Mr. Butterfly!" in a silly deep voice. And they'll remember that they had to wash their hands until, "Jesus Loves Me," had been sung through at least once. They will always know that you love them, "Too too too too too pieces".
And these are just a whisper.

I think a perfect day is a day filled with abiding in Him. Nothing else. No expectations or checkmarks on your to do list.

A perfectly imperfect day is just giving our boys a home that is filled with His love...and our love.

Everyday Evangelism

It's not a new idea...and there are likely thousands of blog posts out there like this...but here goes...

Mark 16:15 says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation".

ALL the world.

There is some amazing work being done in "all the world". What do you think of when you hear this? I think of Africa and Honduras...and a lot of far off places.

And I have to ask myself (which is something that I tend to shy away from because the result generally involves an uncomfortable shift in my beliefs or in my life...or both). But, I have to ask myself...

What am I doing? On a daily basis...what am I doing to make this world a better place?
To effect change.
Good change.
Great change.
Life-changing change.
What am I doing?
And you know what's coming next...What are you doing?

It seems I've hidden behind my station in life. I have a wife and a three year old and a one year old...and they all need me. I'm a husband and a father and a son and a brother and an uncle and a coworker and a life coach.

Ok, I'm not a life coach...it was just getting boring so I thought I'd throw that in there to make my life sound more exciting. Because, frankly, my life is VERY full. In an amazing way...but maybe not exciting in a, "What did you do this weekend," recap kind of way. Don't get me wrong...there are adventures at every turn...bathtime and bedtime and breakfast time and all kinds of other "b times" that I can't think of right now. (As in-my three year old is climbing on my back and belly flopping into the pillows on my bed as I type this-time.)

So where were we? I was about to tell you how I don't see how I can pack up and go to Africa for three weeks on a mission trip. AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE DOING IT...I get that. I commend them! I really do. And maybe I just need to take a leap of faith and do that very thing. And maybe I will...with the whole family. But that's not the point here.
My point is that, "All the world," includes HERE! Right here!

It means Austin, Texas. It even means my home. My neighborhood. My office. My church.

I can effect change today. Right where I am.

And I'm not talking about smiling at some one and being kind. Sure...that's nice. But that's not going to get them into heaven.

Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron in, "The Way of The Master," lay it out like this...they say that your compassion must be greater than your fear. As in...Your love for people has to overshadow the fact that they might not want to hear what you have to say in regards to eternity. And really, that's okay...and it's not about what YOU have to say anyway...it's about what the Bible says. Right? So the fear of rejection shouldn't really come into play here.

But it will.

Just know that it's not from God. Fear does not come from Him. Plain and simple!

And you don't have to be weird about this. Just be yourself...and, yes, you will be nervous the first time you talk to someone about God. And that's okay. Just know that you'll be less nervous each time you do it...and God will use you in BIG WAYS as you keep at it.

So now we're back to my point. Which is this...

God can and will and WANTS to use you to change the world. Just be open to that. Spend five minutes...(do you like how I worked that into this blog?...FINALLY?!)...ask God what He wants to do with your day...and then LISTEN. Get in a quiet place and wait.

And do what He says.

That's all. That's all I wanted to say.

What're You Lookin' At?

James 1:2...
"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." (NLT)

Can you believe that? I'm supposed to, "consider it an opportunity for great joy," when I have troubles? Geesh. That's a tough one.

Maybe? Maybe not? I think it comes down to where you're looking.

Man oh man do I understand troubles. Not to say that my life was/is any easier or harder than your life...I'm just saying that there are some troubles out there. This world is full of people with troubles.

And here's the key...it's all about where you look.

Are you looking at the economy?
The fact that my local news home page, TODAY, predicts a hike in gas prices of 5-20 cents per gallon within the next THREE DAYS?
Are you looking at the job market?
Your bills?
Your spouse's paycheck?

OR...are you looking to God? And His word. Paul writes in Philippians 4:19 that, "...my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (KJV) As in, He already took care of all of our needs! All we have to do is tap into that. And I know that's hard. I know that on a daily basis...in the midst of the grind...this is hard to do. And I also know that it's the ONLY ONE true option that we have. Because it's not just about money. Money is nice...it's nice to be able to pay your bills and have fancy stuff...right?

But if we are really here for a reason...and we seek God, and we do NOT get discouraged by what we see...and we press in and get to the point to where we rely on God in EVERY situation...there will be victory.

That's what all these TV preachers are talking about. And I know that people are put off by the money talk. It's a shame...because there is so much more to the message and if we tune out because of the money talk...we miss a LOT. It's not about having a fat bank account. It's about walking in the fullness of what God has for us.

Well, we will know EXACTLY what that means if we will just slow down, shut up, put down the ipad:)...and seek...and listen. And I miss this. It seems I have to remind myself of this daily. And it's frustrating that I can't just get it right! And I just have to know that I'm getting better every day. I'm getting more used to relying on God and not on anything else. NOTHING ELSE.

Because, really, how am I going to be effective as a rich man if I can't rely on him now...right where I am.

Here's one to leave you with...if we're going to stand on what the word says...it's nice to know that the word also says this...

"Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true". (Joshua 21:45 NLT)

And we are the seed of Abraham...so this is a promise to US.

The Israelites were wandering in the desert for FORTY YEARS before these promises were fulfilled...and it all came down to obedience and trusting in God.

I've done some desert wandering myself...

And I'm over it...

There is a story at every turn...at every wrinkle...every old, worn out pair of gloves...at a song...and a beat up chevy truck.   Our neighbors have stories...our coworkers have stories...What's your story?

My father-in-law took his life a few weeks ago.  There's definitely a story there.  And through the tears and questions and screams...my wife and her sister...they wanted the story.  They wanted letters.  They refused to believe that he would NOT say goodbye to them. 

And, so, we searched his modest home.  We expected letters each time we checked our mail...and his mail.  We prayed that God would reveal the letters!  And NOTHING.  For two long weeks...nothing!  So we settled into the fact that there would be no goodbye from him. 

AND THEN WE GOT OUR LETTERS!  And they are more amazing than anything we could have imagined.  In true fashion...God over delivered!  We prayed for letters...and we had no idea how He would answer that prayer. 

We checked Stan's mail on Saturday and there was a packet FULL of letters.  Letters that he had written throughout his life.  Letters dating back to 1971!  And they are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. They have been so healing for Trish and Mandy.

God is so good. I love how He continues to show me that His plans are higher than my plans & His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

Thank you, God, for the story that is my life...










What's your story? 

An Out-of-Flesh Experience

At some point in every man's life...in every person's life...you have to step outside of yourself. You have to step out of your flesh. And there is blessing there. I've experienced it enough to know that this is true.

You have to move beyond yourself to be sold out for Jesus...I know that much. I'm not saying that my past includes me being totally sold out for Jesus...I'm just saying that my future will be a song of praise to Him!

How do I need to step out of my flesh?...


1. I know that I've got to step out of my flesh if I'm to know everything that He has for me. To wake up before every one else and have some quiet time with God...that'll take some steppin' out. And the rewards are grand. The Bible is full of promises of things to come for those who seek God and believe in Him.

Psalm 31 says, "What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world. (Psalm 31:19-21 MSG)


That's good stuff there!

2. We all know that you have to go beyond yourself when you're married. Need I say more? :)
I'm reading a marriage book that my dear wife craftily placed on my bed side table...and it talks about the "Sweet Sixteen" of marriage. According to this guy...EVERY DAY...for 16 minutes...a husband and wife should put down phones and TV shows and KIDS and any other distraction and just sit and LOOK AT EACHOTHER and TALK and LISTEN...for SIXTEEN MINUTES! I really love my wife...and that seems like a HUGE "out of flesh" experience for me.
But I think it will strengthen our marriage.
Because, let's be honest, marriages don't dissolve in an instant. A husband or a wife doesn't just wake up one day and decide they want a divorce. The best I can figure...from watching divorce from the outside looking in...it's a gradual thing. That's why the world, and what the world has to offer, is toxic to a Godly marriage. And please know that I'm not talking from on high here! I don't know what I'm doing either...but I think it's critical to constantly pursue a more Godly and God-centric marriage.

We've done the FIVE minute hug thing before...And it seems like forever! I'm not gonna lie. But after the first 2 minutes or so...you kinda sink into it...and it's good stuff:)

The idea here?...it's hard to hug and be that close to someone when there is strife or anger or resentment.


3. To not cuss the person driving in front of me when they are driving like an idiot...to pray a blessing over them and get on with my day WITHOUT getting in my flesh about it.
Because...frankly, God loves idiots too.

OKAY...just kidding! I will work to not even say that as I drive past that wonderful person:)

I definitely learned a lesson recently. Nearly two weeks ago, I got a phone call from my wife. And as I rambled on (without even saying hello!) about vegetables for a dinner party she was hosting (and I was cooking for)...I finally took a breath and realized she was sobbing. Her father was dead! She just got the call from her uncle. She was at home...with the kids...and her heart was breaking. AND I WANTED TO GET HOME TO HER IMMEDIATELY! And you know what else?...EVERYONE WAS DRIVING TOOO DARN SLOW! I couldn't get there fast enough...it felt like an eternity. All I wanted to do was hold my wife. I say all that...to say this...be kind out there. I will no longer be a butthead on the road...I will let people zip around me and let them drive as slowly as they want. At the end of it all...we really have no idea what people are facing...on the road way and in everyday life. If I'm to be the salt and the light, then I'm going to have to start being a little nicer to everyone else out there.

Check out www.LiveDecorated.com for the whole story on that adventure!


4. I don't have to even mention how much, "out of flesh" time we need for our kids. It seems we have to fight to do anything that WE want to do. They demand so much of our time and energy.

AND...I don't have to tell you the blessing that they are either!
This might be the most obvious & tangible Cost-Benefit experience that we have in our lives. Boy oh boy are there costs...and aren't the benefits a thousand times greater?
They have been entrusted to us, BY GOD, and we need to take that seriously folks! I have to take a step back and remind myself of just how big this is!

And consider what you're saying about and SPEAKING over your children. They are not brats, they are not pains, they are not terrors, or troublemakers, or stinkers. What is a "stinker" anyway? Don't let your kids grow up hearing those things spoken over them. I think this is fundamentally essential if we are to progress as a people.

I say, "MY KIDS WILL CHANGE NATIONS!". What are you saying about your kids?


And...it's time to sign off. Those precious little bundles of joy are hitting each other and need a little redirecting:)

Obedience

Here's the thing about obedience. I know it seems ridiculous and a little over the top when I redirect and discipline my boys over the most simple thing. And I don't really care. I want them SO used to obeying...that it's totally natural for them to obey God...all the time. Can you even grasp that?...can you even begin to imagine?!?!?! What would your life...what would MY life...look like, if we obeyed every time. If we heard His voice...recognized it for what it was...and OBEYED...right away. That's where I am. I'm making it a personal goal to OBEY immediately for tomorrow. Just tomorrow...for starters...This is gonna be good:) I know I must model these things to ensure that my boys live them out