Tonight I watched as a dear friends dad took his last breath. My heart hurts for her. I know she's tried so hard to hang on to him, to let him know how much she loves him...I know she is empty tonight as she longs to be able to say it one more time.
My ability to comfort her however is very limited. I can't be there for the funeral because of prior committments. I can't participate like her dad had asked sicne I'll be gone...but there is something I can say that will be a constant reminder to her...MA, I love you. You are a very dear friend. Please know that I'll continue to talk to God about you and for you in the days that come.
Thank you Lord for friends. Thank you for life. Thank you for MA and her Dad and for giving her one last chance to say, "I love you"!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Blessings Beyond Measure!!!
As I think about my life and family I can't begin to express my amazement at how blessed I am. My wife is the model of support, love and strength. My children are all productive members of our society, not afraid of hard work and convinced that God is central to their success. My parents have lived far beyond current life-expectations and my in-laws continue to be among my hero's in the faith.
Beyond that I have now been blessed with SEVEN grandchildren. Four of those seven are actually related to me by blood. Three have been inherited through a new son-in-law who proves daily how much he loves one of my daughters.
The Psalmist wrote, "Don't you see that children are God's best gift? They are the fruit of his legacy. Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents with your quivers full of children!" (Psalm 127:3-5a, The Message) I am learning more and more each day the truth of those words.
Thank you great Lord for blessing me with children and grandchildren. Help me to be the kind of father and grandfather that cares more for their souls than anything else. Help me to spoil them with true AGAPE love and to shower them in the grace that is Yours alone to give.
Beyond that I have now been blessed with SEVEN grandchildren. Four of those seven are actually related to me by blood. Three have been inherited through a new son-in-law who proves daily how much he loves one of my daughters.
The Psalmist wrote, "Don't you see that children are God's best gift? They are the fruit of his legacy. Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents with your quivers full of children!" (Psalm 127:3-5a, The Message) I am learning more and more each day the truth of those words.
Thank you great Lord for blessing me with children and grandchildren. Help me to be the kind of father and grandfather that cares more for their souls than anything else. Help me to spoil them with true AGAPE love and to shower them in the grace that is Yours alone to give.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Questions...Always Questions
How do you determine what God's will really is? Does it matter to Him where or how you serve as long as you serve? What is the responsibility of the children when it comes to adult parents? How can we ever know for sure what God has in mind for us?
Those questions contiune to swirl in my head as I look from a distance at my parents health concerns, my grandchildren growing and my children settling in to their lives. Frankly I don't know how to completely discern what God is trying to tell me. I'm not sure I WANT to know what he's saying.
Over the past few weeks I've fallen more and more in love with the Psalms. The writers of those wonderful bits of poetry continue to challenge me to have a right relationship with my God. So many times they "hit the nail on the head" with how I'm feeling. Sometimes it's hopeless...sometimes it's higher than the clouds...sometimes it's just plain confused.
For years I have steered away from the Shepherd's Psalm (23) because I believe it has been misused, abused and overused. But the truth of the matter is, I've looked at it all over again and it speaks to how I need God to handle me.
I can't always say honestly, "The Lord is my Shepherd" because I don't always allow Him to "lead me in green pastures". Sometimes I try to fill my own cup, choose my own pastures, pick my own waters. But every once in a while, when I'm feeling particularly vulnerable, I allow "his rod and staff to comfort me". When I do amazing peace comes over me.
I know why...it's because His guiding hand is the only hand that can truly lift me up. It's because He has already scouted the path, chosen the place and prepared the pastures. He's has already walked the valley and defeated the only enemy ever to really exist. Now if I can just allow myself to let His victory keep me in the shadow of His love.
As I make decisions about the future...as I continue to ask the questions and wonder about what is right I can boldly proclaim, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I will NOT be in want!"
Thank You Lord for continuing to lead me even when I don't want to be led.
Those questions contiune to swirl in my head as I look from a distance at my parents health concerns, my grandchildren growing and my children settling in to their lives. Frankly I don't know how to completely discern what God is trying to tell me. I'm not sure I WANT to know what he's saying.
Over the past few weeks I've fallen more and more in love with the Psalms. The writers of those wonderful bits of poetry continue to challenge me to have a right relationship with my God. So many times they "hit the nail on the head" with how I'm feeling. Sometimes it's hopeless...sometimes it's higher than the clouds...sometimes it's just plain confused.
For years I have steered away from the Shepherd's Psalm (23) because I believe it has been misused, abused and overused. But the truth of the matter is, I've looked at it all over again and it speaks to how I need God to handle me.
I can't always say honestly, "The Lord is my Shepherd" because I don't always allow Him to "lead me in green pastures". Sometimes I try to fill my own cup, choose my own pastures, pick my own waters. But every once in a while, when I'm feeling particularly vulnerable, I allow "his rod and staff to comfort me". When I do amazing peace comes over me.
I know why...it's because His guiding hand is the only hand that can truly lift me up. It's because He has already scouted the path, chosen the place and prepared the pastures. He's has already walked the valley and defeated the only enemy ever to really exist. Now if I can just allow myself to let His victory keep me in the shadow of His love.
As I make decisions about the future...as I continue to ask the questions and wonder about what is right I can boldly proclaim, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I will NOT be in want!"
Thank You Lord for continuing to lead me even when I don't want to be led.
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