We take nothing for granted Lord. No technology can save us. No day is a given. No life is an accident. Every moment, every minute…it is from you. Thank you. Thank you for each hour. Every healthy breath. Every beat. Every sunrise. Every chance moment of laughter. For the near misses. For the negative test results. For the songs in our hearts. We thank you. Thank you that you are mindful of us. May I never take one second for granted. … [Read more...] about The Gift of Now
Archives for August 2012
Bold Ministry
When we minister, we meet with our inadequacies. Or at least I do. I fall hopelessly short of the glory I proclaim. Paul says he is all things to all people. I can barely be some things to some people, and even then, not all the time. Paul preaches on the priority and picture of love, and I see how small my heart can be by comparison. When Jesus talks about sacrifice, I see in myself selfishness. Conclusion? I am not competent for ministry. Period. But neither are you. No one is … [Read more...] about Bold Ministry
Chasing Soul
I'm chasing soul. I've been too thin too long. I've been too busy, too heady, too distracted. I need soul. I long for soul. "My soul thirsts for God, the living God." Save me from dead religion! Save me from empty theologizing. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me." More than words. More than rituals. More than religion. But sincerity! (1 Cor. 5:8, 2 Cor. 1:12, 2 Cor. 2:17) I want divine life. … [Read more...] about Chasing Soul
Be Light
Caroline, Life is about to change. This week you begin school. You go from slow mornings and boundless days to classes and homework, schedules and practices. You go from family to friends. You go from home to world. We are sending you out. Your mom and I know you're ready. Every day you remind us you're ready. Your endless energy, your active mind, your desire to learn...you are ready for school. And as you go, as the excitement builds, as the fun begins, as the craziness starts, this … [Read more...] about Be Light
Missing God
I knew a man who went to Mt. Rushmore as a child. He said the whole trip bored him. The drive, the gift shop, the usual rigmarole of tourism, all of it was a drain. Mt. Rushmore was a dud.But then something happened, something that changed everything: He looked up. As the day ended and his family drove away, this boy for the first time actually looked up at the mountain. He looked up and screamed out, "There are faces on the mountain!" What he missed all day he finally saw. He got it. He was … [Read more...] about Missing God
Simple
I am fascinated by simple. Captivated. Simple sentences written clearly. Short fragments of verse. They all seem so refreshing. Life is complicated and noisy. My mind is complicated and noisy. Give me simple. My children love simple. They demand it. I constantly catch myself saying impossibly abstract things. I stop and ask if they understand what I mean. Blank stares. Give them simple. They need simple explanations, clear statements. So I'm working at being simple. How … [Read more...] about Simple