What I've learned about God from being a parent

We are about to experience some big changes around my house. We are having a boy in just a few days. We are all so excited and cant wait to have him here in our home without being inside my wife. Getting ready for another has made me think back to all that being a parent has taught me and it is incredible what parenting teaches you about God and your relationship to him. Here are a few:

1- It is incredible how courageous my kids are when they know their dad is there to catch them - My kids are pretty daring but their courage is amped up 100% when they know that dad is their to catch them. My youngest will climb and jump off anything if she knows that i am there to catch her, and she knows i will never drop her. So true spiritually. I want to always know that if i am walking in obedience he is right there with me and i can be filled with courage and be daring in this life.

2 - It is awesome to see my kids not walk in fear because i am with them - the dark is scary when you are young, but when i am holding my daughters hand we are ok. Let go of that hand and you will hear it in the next county, but if i am there holding her hand we can trek through the darkness with no problem because she knows i will not lead her into a bad place. I am realizing that it is never God's hand that pulls away but rather mine and if i am willing and seeking after him, he is there.

3 - It is amazing how my kids will give away almost everything when they know i am willing to buy them something better - Now that might sound pretty shallow but i think there is a huge truth packed in there that you can find in Malachi 2:8-10. When they know that i am going to buy them something they are so willing and even excited to give away what they currently own. Amazing how i forget that what i own currently is and will always ultimately belong to God but i get so nervous and try to hold onto it all.

4 - It is humbling how my kids ask for the biggest things thinking their dad can do anything - I both love it and hate it when my girls ask for something so outlandish that it is almost funny. I love it because they think I'm superman, and i hate it because i know i can not give it to them. How awesome is it that we can ask those big things to God and not have to be worried that He cant handle it. Now maybe He will in His love say no, but "Sorry i cant" will never be the response. God ahead and ask - He can do anything.

YOU ARE OR YOU ARENT

Im a huge Yankee fan and I love being a Yankee fan. WHat i love most is when i walk into a ball park, other than Yankee stadium, wearing my Yankees jersey and showing my dedication to my team no matter who is with me or against me. Thats the best part of being a Yankee fan. Either people hate the Yankees or they love them. There aren't many baseball fans that are neutral about the Yankees, and if they are they aren't true baseball fans.

I have been so challenged by a few different books that i am currently reading and of course God's Word and one challenge that i really feel God has been speaking to me is that this: EITHER YOU ARE FOLLOWING ME OR YOU AREN'T. There is not such thing as a seasonal follower of Christ. Someone who who goes to church but isn't doing or striving to do what God's Word has revealed to them is not a follower of Christ. Praise God for His grace that He is there with open arms when we return to Him and realize how great His love for us is, but there must be a point where you turn your back on the world and its desires and follow Christ. And remember He will walk through some circumstances that are not fun and entertaining. He may bring you to a place where close friends won't go and you will have to end some dear relationships. If you think i'm wrong, read about the disciples journey with Christ. Look at your week or even just your day today and ask - DID I FOLLOW CHRIST TODAY - and remember - EITHER YOU DID OR YOU DIDNT.

5 things I think every student needs to know about God

I love my job. I have an incredible opportunity to help students grow closer to God and equip them with the tools they need to walk close with Him in one of the most difficult times in their lives. Here are 5 things I wish every student knew about God:

1. God loves you. But understand this: His love is perfecting not pampering. He is more concerned about you growing more like him, not simply you being happy.

2. God has spoken to you. God wrote a book and He wrote it to you. READ IT. Don't try and just open it when you have a problem and expect it to all make sense. Get into a habit to reading a little each day, but remember to dig into it and see how it applies to your life and what it has to teach you.

3. God isn't acting on your terms. Don't wait for God to light up a burning bush in your locker. He has spoken and the ball is on your court.

4. God had a plan for you. Don't let this statement freak you out and make you think that if you ever make a bad decision your screwed and you will never be able to live up to what God made you to be. What i mean by that statement is that God has gifted you and is going to open doors for you to live the abundant life if you give him your all.

5. God wants to hear from you. Going to church is awesome and having good biblical morals is great, but what God wants most of all, and this blows my mind, is a relationship with us. He wants to walk with us through life and guide us. He is looking for people who are willing to follow him.

To know God is our goal, not simply know about Him. Do you know Him?

Am I Losing the Race?

In the student ministry this month we are studying the word love on Wednesday nights with a series called THANDA=LOVE. Thanda is the name of a ministry we are supporting in south africa that is helping kids who have lost parents to AIDS. We are studying different aspects of Love that we are called to. Putting these messages together has caused me to look at myself and whether or not i am where i need to be in this category. Now i "love" a lot of things - but what we are realizing is that we are not only called to choose to love stuff and people that are easy to love but to love those that are not so easy also (Matthew 5:43 - 48). I want to make sure that you and i understand that this category of love is the BIG ONE - just read 1 john 4. GOD IS LOVE. He is serious about this characteristic. So if i am failing in this category than i need to be able to honestly understand that i am losing the race that God has set out for me. I want to be great - not in a prideful way but what i mean by great is being exactly who God made me to be. Not letting dumb worldly stuff get in the way. Are you there? Are you loving? Don't say yes just because you love your mom and dad and your best friend, but think about the ones that are difficult to love. Think about the people who have hurt you and those who have forgotten you. Remember God's love is an action love, we need to act it out.

The Tough Question

I am writing this entry about something that God has been urging in my life for the last year or so. It is this statement that He has continually been pushing into my path and i am so thankful that He did. The statement is "Ask the tough question." I find that there are many times that we surround ourselves with some thing that we know shouldn't be there, but we simply don't want to face the difficult or uncomfortable situation of dealing with it. It might be something that isn't even a SIN but just something in our life that is a waste and is pulling us from something better. It might be a weight issue that is there but you haven't faced it, or a personality issue that everyone else can see but you can't, and it all boils down to the fact that you don't want to ASK THE TOUGH QUESTION. Here is the incredible thing that I have learned in this: every time i ask the tough question, it is always a positive result. It may not be fun or comfortable but in the end i am always thankful that i asked. I challenge you to do the same. Face those things in your life that are bugging you and are pulling you away from being who you want to be. ASK THE TOUGH QUESTION.