We put the boys in public school about 4 years ago after much prayer and fear.
It has proven to be a very good thing and we continue to review this decision yearly.
As the new school year began I was thinking how much I have been blessed with three incredible little boys. All very special and unique in there own ways. From one that is quiet, one that is out going, and one that I think even talks in his sleep! They are the best and worst of their dad, I can see myself in all of them. Which brings me to the topic, I came across this verse the other day and pondered on it for a while.
Psalm 127 (The Message)
3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous 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! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.
I love this verse, it is such a spiritual picture of what I am to being preparing the boys for.
Arrows are awesome weapons that can be used to attack in offense and in defense.
As much as I want the enemy to quake when I am awake, I want him to be that much more fearful of the three boys that we are raising. I pray that they will be victorious in life in areas that I have failed. It is my responsiblity to make sure they are crafted out of the right material.
Everyday we pull the bow back and shoot our three arrows into this crazy world. We then go an retrieve them to make sure they are still in good condition. Sometimes they are bent and go the wrong way, we then straighten them out. Sometimes they hit an unexpected target and we must sit down with help reconstruct them. I do not fear what they will encounter, I know the material that they are made of. It will withstand anything that they may encounter.
I hear the comment that it is so much more difficult and tougher now days. Have you seen the bow and arrows that are made now days? They are much more sophisicated today - more than they used to be. As the times have changed, so has our understanding on how to make better bows and arrows! I know I am a much better bow today then yesterday.
I also know one day we will pull that bow back one last time as hard as we can. At that point, I hope and pray that the enemy is shaking in terror as he hears them screaming across the sky.
I say, bring it on, we will be ready.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Who I have become
The 2009 year has been an interesting year for me to say the least. 2008 ended with Chase in the hospital for about a week and then 2009 started with no job for the first 5 months of the year. I know it is all about character building, I just thought I was already a character!
It has been a very good time. I have realized that I am happy with the man I have become. I have done more growing up the past five years then in the 34 previous, I guess that is good since I will be 40 in November of this year.
The growing I needed to do was to to learn to take responsibility for things in my life. Not things like paying the mortgage, loving my wife, these I things I already knew to do. It was about taking responsibility for things in my life that I wanted to blame on others. It started with a men's group I was leading about 6 years ago when I had one of those encounters with God that is like running into a brick wall. God really spoke to my heart and told me to quit blaming situations in the past for where I was at that time. It is always easier to look for blame somewhere but yourself....the Adam Syndrome.... it has been around a long time!!
In life there will always be circumstances that arise that set us back. We can complaim about them or embrace them. I do not mean embrace them in a silly way, but we need to understand that this is life and life is full of tests. I have no doubt learned more after tough times then I learned during the tough times, but as I have matured I have began to learn more during the tough times.
This past 6 months I have faced a lot of personal attacks toward my character and to who I am as a man. I have purposed in my heart to not get bitter and to be the better man, it has not been easy. The attacks on my character were taken very hard by Carrie and that caused me more grief than the anything. I know at the end of the day that I know who I am, God knows who I am, and the people that know me - know me regardless of what was being said.
I thank God that I am a man that is not determined by what others say or think. I only have to be true to God, my wife, and my kids....that is what I have signed up for. As long as I can stand before God with my head held high, look my wife in the eyes anytime, and know that I have done the best to teach my boys to be true men, then I do not care what is or has been said.
I am grateful to God for restoring the relationship I had with my previous employeer and I am curious to see what the future may hold. I truly had favor with him and it appears that as the truth is coming out, that the favor is returning. Not sure what God has in mind, but glad that I did not get in the way of what He wants to do.
As I have touted my great manliness, I at the same time must admit that I am still dealing in my heart with another individual - still in the character building process I guess. I have forgiven, the forgetting is not coming as easily as it should. Maybe there is still some growing to do, I know it will never stop....until I take my last breath anyways.
Not sure what the point is here, goes well with the title of the blog I guess!
Really, the point is that I am happy with the man God has allowed me to become.
Not reached full maturity, but like my 13 year old......I appear to be on the right track.
It has been a very good time. I have realized that I am happy with the man I have become. I have done more growing up the past five years then in the 34 previous, I guess that is good since I will be 40 in November of this year.
The growing I needed to do was to to learn to take responsibility for things in my life. Not things like paying the mortgage, loving my wife, these I things I already knew to do. It was about taking responsibility for things in my life that I wanted to blame on others. It started with a men's group I was leading about 6 years ago when I had one of those encounters with God that is like running into a brick wall. God really spoke to my heart and told me to quit blaming situations in the past for where I was at that time. It is always easier to look for blame somewhere but yourself....the Adam Syndrome.... it has been around a long time!!
In life there will always be circumstances that arise that set us back. We can complaim about them or embrace them. I do not mean embrace them in a silly way, but we need to understand that this is life and life is full of tests. I have no doubt learned more after tough times then I learned during the tough times, but as I have matured I have began to learn more during the tough times.
This past 6 months I have faced a lot of personal attacks toward my character and to who I am as a man. I have purposed in my heart to not get bitter and to be the better man, it has not been easy. The attacks on my character were taken very hard by Carrie and that caused me more grief than the anything. I know at the end of the day that I know who I am, God knows who I am, and the people that know me - know me regardless of what was being said.
I thank God that I am a man that is not determined by what others say or think. I only have to be true to God, my wife, and my kids....that is what I have signed up for. As long as I can stand before God with my head held high, look my wife in the eyes anytime, and know that I have done the best to teach my boys to be true men, then I do not care what is or has been said.
I am grateful to God for restoring the relationship I had with my previous employeer and I am curious to see what the future may hold. I truly had favor with him and it appears that as the truth is coming out, that the favor is returning. Not sure what God has in mind, but glad that I did not get in the way of what He wants to do.
As I have touted my great manliness, I at the same time must admit that I am still dealing in my heart with another individual - still in the character building process I guess. I have forgiven, the forgetting is not coming as easily as it should. Maybe there is still some growing to do, I know it will never stop....until I take my last breath anyways.
Not sure what the point is here, goes well with the title of the blog I guess!
Really, the point is that I am happy with the man God has allowed me to become.
Not reached full maturity, but like my 13 year old......I appear to be on the right track.
Monday, June 15, 2009
BIBLE - I do not understand !!
okay, so most people that know me know that I have a sense of humor or like to think I do. As I go through life I tend to see things from that perspective, I have discovered that as I read the Bible, I see stories through the same sense of humor. I decided to put in print three stories from the Bible that I find a little bit interesting to say the least.
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO -
I am sure we have all read the story how the Israelites marched around this big city six times and then 7 times on the 7Th day - that is 13 times in one week. This is no doubt a miracles story to say the least......but I do not think I would have wanted to be an Israelite at this time. If you read the stories before the story of Jericho the Israelites had just been circumcised!!!
1. I would not have wanted to be the guy at the end of the line! "What is all that yelling for?" - "Did somebody kill a pig or a goat or something up there?" - " They did what to you again!" - " I cannot talk right now, I am really busy making sure this rock is very sharp!!"
2. I would imagine that after all this, they may have been some built up tension and the Israelites were ready to go to war.....only to have Joshua tell them that they were going to WALK around the city 13 times in the next 7 days. WALK - that is the last thing I would want to do, and that must have been a sight seeing them walk.....me personally, I think I would have stayed back and wadded in the Jordan River or something! :)
SAMSON KILLS 1000 PHILISTINES WITH THE JAWBONE OF AN ASS
This is the first case of an ass-whooping in the Bible - sorry, I could not leave it out!!
My one question is what were the last 2 or 3 guys thinking?!! " Hey, I think we can take him, if you go to the right of the pile of dead people, then I will go to the left of the pile of dead people. These idiots have to get some credit for being determined anyways!
THE HEALING POOLS OF BETHESDA
I have read several articles about the size of the pools and most agree that the depth was about 25 feet. As I read this I begin to realize how much faith it took to get into the waters to be healed. I read that the pool is surrounded by the sick - lame, blinds, deaf, all sorts of sickness. When the water is stirred but the Holy Spirit the first person in the water is healed.
1. What about the second guy in the pools!!?? If this poor guy is lame, and is the second guy in the pool then he is not healed and that is not a good position to be in.
2. NEWS FLASH - one man healed today at the pool of Bethesda, 25 others drown!!
Everyone else around the pool is sick in someway so if you are not first in, not good for you.
Okay, so I took some liberties with my thoughts.....but the stories are there in print to read.
What stories do you find slightly funny or interesting in the Bible?
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO -
I am sure we have all read the story how the Israelites marched around this big city six times and then 7 times on the 7Th day - that is 13 times in one week. This is no doubt a miracles story to say the least......but I do not think I would have wanted to be an Israelite at this time. If you read the stories before the story of Jericho the Israelites had just been circumcised!!!
1. I would not have wanted to be the guy at the end of the line! "What is all that yelling for?" - "Did somebody kill a pig or a goat or something up there?" - " They did what to you again!" - " I cannot talk right now, I am really busy making sure this rock is very sharp!!"
2. I would imagine that after all this, they may have been some built up tension and the Israelites were ready to go to war.....only to have Joshua tell them that they were going to WALK around the city 13 times in the next 7 days. WALK - that is the last thing I would want to do, and that must have been a sight seeing them walk.....me personally, I think I would have stayed back and wadded in the Jordan River or something! :)
SAMSON KILLS 1000 PHILISTINES WITH THE JAWBONE OF AN ASS
This is the first case of an ass-whooping in the Bible - sorry, I could not leave it out!!
My one question is what were the last 2 or 3 guys thinking?!! " Hey, I think we can take him, if you go to the right of the pile of dead people, then I will go to the left of the pile of dead people. These idiots have to get some credit for being determined anyways!
THE HEALING POOLS OF BETHESDA
I have read several articles about the size of the pools and most agree that the depth was about 25 feet. As I read this I begin to realize how much faith it took to get into the waters to be healed. I read that the pool is surrounded by the sick - lame, blinds, deaf, all sorts of sickness. When the water is stirred but the Holy Spirit the first person in the water is healed.
1. What about the second guy in the pools!!?? If this poor guy is lame, and is the second guy in the pool then he is not healed and that is not a good position to be in.
2. NEWS FLASH - one man healed today at the pool of Bethesda, 25 others drown!!
Everyone else around the pool is sick in someway so if you are not first in, not good for you.
Okay, so I took some liberties with my thoughts.....but the stories are there in print to read.
What stories do you find slightly funny or interesting in the Bible?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
A bright and rainy day....
As I drove in to work this morning I enjoyed the morning rain. I noticed in my rear view mirror that the sky was dark and very rainy. I enjoyed the rain on the winshield with the sun in front of me. It was kind of reassuring in a way....to have a storm and sunshine all at the same time.
It was a reminder that God is always there. I know a lot of times during storms you cannot even see the sun because the clouds block our view. It reminded me that even with the storms, the sun was still shinning.
Sometimes I need that reminder, that God is still there no matter the storm - even when I do not think I can see Him. God loves me more now then any other time, there is nothing I can do to make Him love me more or less.
Let the wind blow - I know the maker of the wind!
I may be undecided, but my sporadic thoughts are not.
It was a reminder that God is always there. I know a lot of times during storms you cannot even see the sun because the clouds block our view. It reminded me that even with the storms, the sun was still shinning.
Sometimes I need that reminder, that God is still there no matter the storm - even when I do not think I can see Him. God loves me more now then any other time, there is nothing I can do to make Him love me more or less.
Let the wind blow - I know the maker of the wind!
I may be undecided, but my sporadic thoughts are not.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Choose a god other than God and it is yours
Carrie and I have been discussing that it is interesting that what people choose as there god is exactly what they get. I have a friend that would tell you he struggles with money being his god. I would say that there is no struggle, it has become his god. Always easier to point out others problems I know!
Money has become his god and it would appear that it is exactly what God has let him have. He wakes up concerned about it and when he does actually get to sleep; it is the last thing on his mind. He is very good at making it, spending it, and sometimes dispersing it. There is an arrogance that comes with his ability to make it. It is almost like a Midas touch or something.
Interestingly, while he excels at making money; he feels that he falls short in his Christian life.
I am now trying to look at my life to see what consumes me. Is there something that I have made my god in place of the God. God is a jealous God and wants all of you or none of you.
The bible says that he wants you either hot or cold, but not lukewarm. If He is not your God, then He will let you choose your god.
I think I want Him as not only my saviour, but as my Lord also.
That is one thing that I know that I am not undecided about!
Money has become his god and it would appear that it is exactly what God has let him have. He wakes up concerned about it and when he does actually get to sleep; it is the last thing on his mind. He is very good at making it, spending it, and sometimes dispersing it. There is an arrogance that comes with his ability to make it. It is almost like a Midas touch or something.
Interestingly, while he excels at making money; he feels that he falls short in his Christian life.
I am now trying to look at my life to see what consumes me. Is there something that I have made my god in place of the God. God is a jealous God and wants all of you or none of you.
The bible says that he wants you either hot or cold, but not lukewarm. If He is not your God, then He will let you choose your god.
I think I want Him as not only my saviour, but as my Lord also.
That is one thing that I know that I am not undecided about!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Light - my first shot at my blog
Today is a pretty lazy day around our house...to much rain to do much else, or that is our excuse anyways! Some cleaning, paper airplanes, and yelling going on right now. We are trying to decide what movie to watch today as it seems like a nice movie day. Got a lot on my mind right now and trying to decide where to start. I guess that goes well with my blog address - the sporadic thoughts of the undecided! oops - almost got hit by a paper airplane!!
Carrie had to give a little speech a week ago to some ladies at church and talked about the different types of light. I began to notice how each type of light also represents the stages of our Christian life so I have listed them below:
Absorb
Reflect
Transmit
Absorb: I recently installed some solar powered landscape lights in the front of our house. These absorb the sun light and light up when it gets dark. As a new christian we begin a journey with God that must start with us learning to absorb who He is. We must learn this so that we can put away the things of our old ways.
Reflect: Light also reflects....off the ground, water, mirror, the balding spot on the top of my head! As Christians we start with absorbing the Light and then start to reflect the Light that we have to others.....sometimes unknowingly.
Transmit: At this stage we are not only absorbing and reflecting Light, we begin to transmit Light. We added solar powered spot lights to the front of the house which transmit direct light to a desired location. We as Christians begin to transmit to others the relationship with God to others.
Which type of light are you being to the world around you?
Are you in the Sonlight so that you can shine bright in the darkness?
Here is my closing point and one I find very interesting. The solar powered lights that I installed need to absorb the sunlight during the day to shine in the dark. The lights still charge even on cloudy days......because the sunlight is still shining above the clouds even if we cannot see it.
Know that whatever circumstance you are in, the SON is always there no matter what.
I have more to write about, but I am undecided as how to continue right now! :)
Carrie had to give a little speech a week ago to some ladies at church and talked about the different types of light. I began to notice how each type of light also represents the stages of our Christian life so I have listed them below:
Absorb
Reflect
Transmit
Absorb: I recently installed some solar powered landscape lights in the front of our house. These absorb the sun light and light up when it gets dark. As a new christian we begin a journey with God that must start with us learning to absorb who He is. We must learn this so that we can put away the things of our old ways.
Reflect: Light also reflects....off the ground, water, mirror, the balding spot on the top of my head! As Christians we start with absorbing the Light and then start to reflect the Light that we have to others.....sometimes unknowingly.
Transmit: At this stage we are not only absorbing and reflecting Light, we begin to transmit Light. We added solar powered spot lights to the front of the house which transmit direct light to a desired location. We as Christians begin to transmit to others the relationship with God to others.
Which type of light are you being to the world around you?
Are you in the Sonlight so that you can shine bright in the darkness?
Here is my closing point and one I find very interesting. The solar powered lights that I installed need to absorb the sunlight during the day to shine in the dark. The lights still charge even on cloudy days......because the sunlight is still shining above the clouds even if we cannot see it.
Know that whatever circumstance you are in, the SON is always there no matter what.
I have more to write about, but I am undecided as how to continue right now! :)
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