Pray log

I thought I might start using this to keep a journal on my prayer life:

1.       My mom and dad

2.       My wife

3.       M – strength for her day to overcome shortcomings

4.       L – focus, diligence, strength in the Lord

5.       C – direction, diligence, to continue becoming a warrior for Christ

6.       LE – organization, continue to grow in her sweet spirit

7.       J – decision making, love for his brothers and sisters

8.       JD – humility, continue to grow in strength and confidence, laziness

9.       N – seriousness, to throw off some of the childishness – to know you more Lord

10.   Ma – that she would have a desire to be like her sweet momma

11.   Z – salvation, love for his sibs, selfishness

12.   BG – comfort for the passing of his mom

13.   KE – her sick father – health, salvation, rest.

14.   My sister and her awesome family – that they would know I love them, that they would know Gods love. Health, job, growth

15.   Wife’s folks – love, salvation, strength to overcome obstacles

16.   JH – health, encouragement, salvation.. to be an encouragement despite his circumstance, to his older brothers

17.   Church

18.   Financial decisions about house, insurance, indebtedness

19.   Job

20.   Patience and wait on the Lord..yet when He says to “do”, I would immediately.

21.   My pastors:

a.       LH – that he would seek your will and accomplish mighty things for your Names sake. That he would be overwhelmed by Your provision.

b.      GS – strength for the work you have him doing. Wisdom to continue to move forward while watching you.

c.       CM – his growing family. Wisdom in growing and feeding your flock.

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Rewards?

I think I am finally understanding a little more about what rewards are. Or, at least what one really feels like. Right now I am blessed to be leading music at Awana at Immanuel baptist. It's basically singing songs with a bunch of kids. The first couple of times I was really feeling pressured for just the right songs, playing the guitar just so...the feedback was minimal. After all a majority of the kids are too young to read! We are about 7 or 8 weeks into it and those kids have remembered most of the words to the songs!!! Wow! Kids are just amazing. What a reward to be able to hear all those little voices singing praises to God...it's awesome.

So, I still want to play well an pick the right songs, but the pressure feels lifted. Another reward!!

I am so glad the pastor asked me to do this. I am starting to understand a little more about love and service...and the rewards involved. No, it's not about the reward since I know that so much of what we do is either done without reward (which is fine), rewarded in heaven, or not worthy of a reward due to impure motives or what ever...but, in THIS situation, I have a newly realized reward that I probably would not have considered a reward before I did this.

That probably doesn't make any sense. I guess it doesn't have to.

:-)

My second oldest boy

I had to take care of some things at the office last night and my 10yo came with me. He swept floors, stacked thin clients, rolled cables...and the best thing was he did them so happily. He's such a great help.

Thanks Jdude!

Wisdom?

Eat less and exercise. Eat your veggies. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

I have been given correct advice so many times from very wise people. Typically, I would just admire from a distance but be to afraid or unwilling to act on my own.

At the same time, I have experienced various successes. People occasionally inquire how certain things were accomplished. Yet, they think things like....that works for you, but (insert excuse here).

Why do we do that? The only reason I can think of is that we are too in love with our own ways.

Visitors

My parents made the rounds for this summer and are now headed back to sunny, warm, boring Florida. It was great having them here. My dad worked furiously to get my boat in good repair...he pretty much knocked everything out on it too! It looks better than I expected it to. He is leaving just at the time comes to use it...oh well, maybe next year. Mom made vegetarian egg rolls in mom style. Manna from heaven...yum.

It would be pretty cool if they would just move here...maybe my sister and her family would too then.

Speaking of my sister...she came for a very short visit as well. She brought my oldest nephew with her. I sure do like having him around. He's just a really great young man.

It was a great visit.

Crazy idea

I had a crazy idea to take the kids camping. But, not just camping around here, camping where I used to go as a kid. I have a lot of fond memories camping at Baskahegan lake when we lived in Maine. Sleeping in the front of the truck, fishing ALL day, and the food!!!

I looked up directions on google maps to see how far it is from here...1920 miles...each way. 64 hours of driving. 200 gallons of gas. That's where it really became crazy. 800 dollars, just for gas!

We may have to forget that craziness..too bad.

How are you?

What do you say when someone asks you that question? It's typically become a greeting that really doesn't warrant an honest answer. It has become the more sincere "hi". But, even so, shouldn't my answer reflect the truth. And not just the truth as it pertains to that instant, but eternally?

I find myself being so caught up in what's happening to me that I become a victim of my circumstances. A prisoner of the situations that I am in. I have a hope that's greater than all things that could ever happen to me on this earth. I have the bread of life that will sustain me for eternity. What should I feel ho hum about? Or, even slightly depressed?

I read in John where Jesus says He is the bread of life. That the food He has will fill us forever...that's the food I have. So, I think from now on when people ask me, "how are you?" I am going to answer "full!"...

Family

My mom, dad and grandmother are visiting and I find myself struggling with something. I really love that we pray at meals, but, my extended family are not believers. They participate but I can tell they are uncomfortable and that makes me nervous...so, I had been praying for us before they joined the table...but, that might give the kids the impression that I am ashamed. It's hard to pray when you know there are those around the table that are staring at the top of your head as they don't participate. They are good sports about it and hold hands with everyone. But, my dad occasionally utters a "geez" when it's time and I really don't like an authority figure doing that...

What to do?

2 Sets of kiddos

I have 2 sets of kids…the first are the pre Vas kids and the others are post Reversal kids. There are about 4 years separating the 2 groups. The first group of kids are amazing young people now. They all appear to love the Lord and love service to Him. They are amazingly well mannered, sweet and pleasant to be around. We all have flaws and they do to..but, for the most part they are perfect.

 

This post is about my 2^nd set of kiddos. They are also extremely wonderful, well-mannered and pleasant. But, they are the unfortunate recipients of older, less aggressive parenting. I often wonder how things will turn out with them. It seems like they get the short end of the stick from me. It's so easy for me to expect the same things from them as I do their older sibs. For the most part, they live up to it. I can't help but think that they are only "responding" and not really understanding. My memory may be way off but with our first group I seem to recall taking the time to explain things, having the energy to respond immediately to situations that need attention. Now, it's more like I just want "it" done – without the work or explanations and I think my littles are the ones that will pay the price for it.

 

I need to focus more energy and patience with them. They are amazingly eager to please and as they get older, I need to spend the time to make sure there's more understanding and less, "Cuz I'm the dad" reasoning. They need to be prepared and not surprised by what the world is like – I need to teach it to them…Teach = work. Like everyone else, I need more energy and hours in the day to accomplish this. However, there will be opportunities for me – now, if I would only take advantage of them.

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Lifting up

When I was reading John 3 I noticed something that didn't stick out before. Jesus was talking with Nicky and talking about being born again and believing on Him. The he stated that, like Moses did to the serpent, believers would need to lift Him up ... Actually, here's the verse from the ESV translation:
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:11-15 ESV)

I think this is what Jesus is referencing:
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. (Numbers 21:4-9 ESV)

Once everyone who is bitten sees it, they shall live. Even though the are repentant, it didn't remove the punishment. But, God provides salvation from His wrath. So, we are bitten, we need to look upon Jesus who was raised up on a cross in order to live...