I've been thinking a lot lately about how God must view my "relationship" with Him. I've heard all the analogies about parenthood...you know, how a loving parent could never stop loving their kids, even if the only reason they ever call is when they need something. "Hey Dad, I love you...and by the way, can I have $20 bucks?" or..."Hey Mom, love your hair...and by the way, can I spend the night at a Jamie's house?" or..."Mom, Dad, you guys are the greatest! Can I borrow the car Friday night?"
You get the idea...
But I want my relationship with Jesus to be more than that. And sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn't. The whole idea of prayer should be more about knowing Him, and less about getting something from Him. Psalm 37:4 offers an incredible promise to all those who know God, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Encouraging, isn't it? But in an effort to claim the latter part of that verse (giving us the desires of our heart), I often skip right past the first part (delighting in Him).
Which brings me back to this simple question: Is my prayer time a DELIGHT or a DUTY? Do I pray because I want friendship with Him, or because I want something from Him? The cool thing is that Psalm 37:4 tells us that one leads to the other--as long as we keep the right perspective. It ends up something like this: "God I love you, and you already know what I need, so let's just talk a while and I know you'll take care of that other stuff later."
Sounds more like a true relationship, huh? Of course, the alternative is always an option: "Hey Jesus, you look great today...and by the way, can I have $20 bucks?"
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Father's Day News of a Fourth!
OK, the news is out: Michele and I are having another baby. (Whew! It's hard to keep something like that in...) Although we actually found out on the day before Mother's Day (ironic, huh?), we didn't share the news with the church family until this past Sunday, Father's Day. Wanting to wait until after the "official" doctor's visit, seeing the heartbeat, and telling our daughters the news...NOW I'm ready to let the whole world know! Praise the Lord!
In case you don't know our "story," Michele and I consider ourselves so blessed to be parents. After our first 2 daughters were born (2 1/2 years apart), we thought we wanted one more. (Maybe a son?) But what followed was 5 years of unexpected disappointment, as we struggled with infertility. Then during a season of prayer & fasting in early 2006, God spoke to my heart that we were going to have another child. (Long story...much too long for this blog, but still really cool!) Sure enough, in October of that year, Mackenzie Faith was born.
And now...she will have a little "something" of her own (brother or sister yet to be determined, or maybe I should say yet to be revealed, since actually the baby's gender is obviously already determined, well, you know what I mean...). At any rate, our new baby will arrive around Christmas time. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us, and thank you for sharing our joy at this exciting news. Isn't God awesome?!
In case you don't know our "story," Michele and I consider ourselves so blessed to be parents. After our first 2 daughters were born (2 1/2 years apart), we thought we wanted one more. (Maybe a son?) But what followed was 5 years of unexpected disappointment, as we struggled with infertility. Then during a season of prayer & fasting in early 2006, God spoke to my heart that we were going to have another child. (Long story...much too long for this blog, but still really cool!) Sure enough, in October of that year, Mackenzie Faith was born.
And now...she will have a little "something" of her own (brother or sister yet to be determined, or maybe I should say yet to be revealed, since actually the baby's gender is obviously already determined, well, you know what I mean...). At any rate, our new baby will arrive around Christmas time. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us, and thank you for sharing our joy at this exciting news. Isn't God awesome?!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
June 15th is coming...
Just a little reminder that Father's Day will be here "Sooner" than you think.
(NOTE: This hint is directly intended to spark creative and expensive gift ideas in the hearts of wives & kids. In case you need suggestions, most men like ice cream, golf clubs, fishing gear, and gift cards to Academy Sports, Home Depot, or Fuddrucker's. Please do NOT attempt to spoil your #1 dad with a surprise Chuck-E-Cheese's pizza party or a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift basket. Just trying to help...)
Pot of Gold at End of Rainbow
My apologies to those for whom this image forever ruins their love for the classic song, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." But hey, you've got to admit it's a pretty cool picture...
Headlines of Healing
A woman with a severely damaged knee is told she may never walk again...but later takes up mountain-climbing in Colorado. Another woman with a wounded wrist regains full strength and movement. A young diabetic begins to lose his vision due to complications from the disease...but returns to the doctor for more tests and is completely cleared. A young woman tells of a time when she collapsed and fell, was believed to be dying...but she awoke 3 days later to find her family making funeral arrangements(...which they immediately called off!).
Cool, huh?
These were just a few of the stories shared during our worship service Sunday. In all, there were 7 changed lives who testified of experiencing miracles of healing--and more surprisingly, nearly 50% of the congregation who stood, indicating they, too, had been healed at some time in their life.
What made the difference? In every case, people prayed in faith for God to heal...and He did! I still believe in divine healing--and even though I don't understand why ALL people aren't healed immediately when we pray, I will keep praying. God is faithful and I know He answers every prayer of faith--so just believe!
Back to Sunday, at the end of our service, the altars were filled with those in need of healing. And so we prayed! If you are one of those who came forward, please let us know when your miracle comes--because I want to be the first to celebrate with you! I am waiting expectantly, and I believe the miracles are on the way! (read Luke, chapters 8-9 for more of the miracles of Jesus; your faith will be increased, so be careful...)
Cool, huh?
These were just a few of the stories shared during our worship service Sunday. In all, there were 7 changed lives who testified of experiencing miracles of healing--and more surprisingly, nearly 50% of the congregation who stood, indicating they, too, had been healed at some time in their life.
What made the difference? In every case, people prayed in faith for God to heal...and He did! I still believe in divine healing--and even though I don't understand why ALL people aren't healed immediately when we pray, I will keep praying. God is faithful and I know He answers every prayer of faith--so just believe!
Back to Sunday, at the end of our service, the altars were filled with those in need of healing. And so we prayed! If you are one of those who came forward, please let us know when your miracle comes--because I want to be the first to celebrate with you! I am waiting expectantly, and I believe the miracles are on the way! (read Luke, chapters 8-9 for more of the miracles of Jesus; your faith will be increased, so be careful...)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
March Madness with a Twist
I recently read a blog from one of my good friends, Tom Goodman, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Austin--so I'm passing it on to you. Although I am an Oklahoma Sooner fan at heart, I can't help but root for the Longhorns, too, in the upcoming March Madness college basketball tournament. Gotta represent... Anyway, this article will add a little something to your interest in the tournament--because it's about HEARTS, not hoops. Enjoy...
"Horns Coach Under Construction"
Maybe you missed today's Statesman article about UT men's basketball coach, Rick Barnes. Kirk Bohls points out that Barnes has dropped the swearing, started eating healthier, and developed a more serene sideline persona that has positively impacted his team. His players and assistant coaches have noticed, and their remarks on the change show up in the article.
Down in the closing paragraphs, you get a hint about what's going on:
"Ask him what's on his iPod," assistant coach Russell Springmann coaxed.
If Barnes isn't breaking down film of Austin Peay before Texas' NCAA tournament opener in Little Rock, Ark., on Friday, there's a very good chance he's listening to one of the sermons from Matt Carter, a preacher at the Austin Stone church where Barnes and his family attend services. They are members of Lake Hills Church in Westlake.
The coach also takes part with his wife Candy's daily devotionals and reads from books she has given him, such as Billy Graham's "The Holy Spirit" and Minneapolis preacher John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life."
"The journey's real important," one Barnes confidante said. "Having self-control is never a bad thing."
I'm hoping to hear more about this life change in the near future. Life-change in Christ is noticeable! While few of us are as high-profile as a UT head coach, all who follow Christ have people watching our lives. Would your life-change be worth a Statesman article?
"Horns Coach Under Construction"
Maybe you missed today's Statesman article about UT men's basketball coach, Rick Barnes. Kirk Bohls points out that Barnes has dropped the swearing, started eating healthier, and developed a more serene sideline persona that has positively impacted his team. His players and assistant coaches have noticed, and their remarks on the change show up in the article.
Down in the closing paragraphs, you get a hint about what's going on:
"Ask him what's on his iPod," assistant coach Russell Springmann coaxed.
If Barnes isn't breaking down film of Austin Peay before Texas' NCAA tournament opener in Little Rock, Ark., on Friday, there's a very good chance he's listening to one of the sermons from Matt Carter, a preacher at the Austin Stone church where Barnes and his family attend services. They are members of Lake Hills Church in Westlake.
The coach also takes part with his wife Candy's daily devotionals and reads from books she has given him, such as Billy Graham's "The Holy Spirit" and Minneapolis preacher John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life."
"The journey's real important," one Barnes confidante said. "Having self-control is never a bad thing."
I'm hoping to hear more about this life change in the near future. Life-change in Christ is noticeable! While few of us are as high-profile as a UT head coach, all who follow Christ have people watching our lives. Would your life-change be worth a Statesman article?
Monday, January 14, 2008
God is a Know-It-All
This past Sunday, I began a new series of messages called, "Scrubs." The text for the series is Psalm 139, which is filled with references to the omniscience (all-knowing character) of God. By itself, that's an awesome thought! Just think: God knows everything! All the facts of the scientific world. All the figures of the mathematical world. All the formulas of the engineering world. He knows every species of the animal kingdom, every star in the solar system, and every symptom in the medical profession. He knows it all.
Yes, it's true: God is a know-it-all.
But here's the kicker. He not only knows everything there is to know about everything...he actually knows ME! (And since you're reading this, let's make it personal: He knows YOU!)
Read Psalm 139 and see for yourself. If I go up to the heavens, God's there. If I go to the depths, He's there. If I go to the far side of the sea, yep, you guessed it--He's there. In the light, in the dark--either way, He's still there. He knows my thoughts. He knows my words before I speak them. (That's scary.) He sees me when I sit and when I rise. Today, tomorrow, all my days were numbered before one of them came to be. Get the picture?
He's a know-it-all. But that's OK, because here's the coolest part. He loves you as you are. That's real love. Morning breath. Bad hair. Wrong-side-of-the-bed mornings. He sees it all...and He loves you. Road rage. Pressure at work. Sneaking that last piece of chocolate cake before bedtime. He sees it all...and He loves you. Blown fuses. Blown tempers. Blown promises. He sees it all...and He loves you.
Don't you just hate "know-it-alls"? I used to...but not any more!
Yes, it's true: God is a know-it-all.
But here's the kicker. He not only knows everything there is to know about everything...he actually knows ME! (And since you're reading this, let's make it personal: He knows YOU!)
Read Psalm 139 and see for yourself. If I go up to the heavens, God's there. If I go to the depths, He's there. If I go to the far side of the sea, yep, you guessed it--He's there. In the light, in the dark--either way, He's still there. He knows my thoughts. He knows my words before I speak them. (That's scary.) He sees me when I sit and when I rise. Today, tomorrow, all my days were numbered before one of them came to be. Get the picture?
He's a know-it-all. But that's OK, because here's the coolest part. He loves you as you are. That's real love. Morning breath. Bad hair. Wrong-side-of-the-bed mornings. He sees it all...and He loves you. Road rage. Pressure at work. Sneaking that last piece of chocolate cake before bedtime. He sees it all...and He loves you. Blown fuses. Blown tempers. Blown promises. He sees it all...and He loves you.
Don't you just hate "know-it-alls"? I used to...but not any more!
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