Time was running out. We were down one goal to zero with a spot in the semifinals on the line. With just a few minutes to go, one of our top players was able to break through for a goal. The score was still tied when the clock hit zero. So with rain pouring down, the wind blowing, and freezing parents bundled up in blankets on the sidelines, it all comes down to this: penalty kicks.

Tie games in the tournament are decided by alternating penalty kicks (best of five). It’s a pressure-packed situation for everyone, but the biggest burden lies with the goalkeeper.

Jack, one of my 10-year-old twins, was interested in playing goalie the previous season. He started that season as the backup, but he seemed to have good instincts for it. Midway through the season, he won the starting job and never looked back. He continued to grow and do well at the position this season, but as a 10-year-old perfectionist, he sometimes struggles to keep things in perspective.

We spent extra time on penalty kicks the night before the tournament. It paid off. We scored on three of our first four attempts, including a score by Jack’s twin brother, Luke. Jack managed to get an early stop, and the other team scored on three of their first four attempts as well. I gave Jack the nod to be our fifth shooter because he had done so well at practice, and as goalkeeper, this would be his only opportunity to score all season. He lined up and nailed the shot to give us a five to four advantage. He trotted back into the goal to face their fifth shooter. A stop here wins the game. The shot comes, Jack makes the block, and the referee blows the whistle to signal game over. Our team and sideline erupt with cheers, and Jack is mobbed by his teammates. It’s one of the most exciting sports moments of his life.

Less than an hour later, we’re playing a semifinal game against the number one team and eventual champion. They punched in a few goals in the first half, and at halftime, Jack came dragging toward the bench with shoulders drooped, his gloves off, and tears rolling down his cheek. I question him, and he proceeds to tell me that he’s the worst goalie ever and doesn’t deserve to play anymore. Those sentiments are clearly lies - lies that he’s telling himself.

I reminded him that those are lies, and he needs to replace them with some truths. I told him to repeat after me: “I am goalie for a reason. I am a good goalie. I’ve made great plays. I can do it again. No one is perfect. I can’t do the impossible. God loves me. My dad loves me. My dad is proud of me. Nothing can change that.” With his head full of those truths and several others instead of lies, he played confidently and joyfully in the second half. Although they scored some more, he made some unbelievable diving stops that impressed the whole crowd - including the opposing coach. To my delight, he was still joyful after the loss. He told me he finally gained perspective.

The enemy and even our own brain feeds us lies about ourselves. Replace those lies with truth. What does God say about you? Remember who you are, and, more importantly, whose you are. Christian, rest in God’s truth and walk in freedom.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said,"I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
(Psalm 32:5)

Driving along listening to the radio, oblivious to the world around when suddenly something flashing catches your eyes.

Blue lights in your rear-view mirror and it’s not the “Prize Patrol”.
These huge blue strobe lights that happen to have a car (or something attached below) are not trying to pass you.
The chicken tenders you just ate appear to be coming to life in your stomach.
You pull over, and after an hour or so, the officer gets out of the car, adjusts their hat then slowly paces forward.

I said “slowly” so wait a minute before you go to the next line.
All along, family, friends, neighbors, …the “Pope”, all pass by and wave…and you could swear they snicker a little (especially the Pope).

Ok, ok…how do I know this experience?
A long time ago, in a galaxy in a town not so far away…
I was pulled over (I wish it was the only time ever).
Yep, you know the feeling.
How it all unfolded impacted me incredibly!
After the officer pulled me over and I stopped my stomach from convulsing,
He came up and asked; “Do you know why I pulled you over?!”
My sarcastic inner voice wanted to say; “Because you’ve had a bad day and need a hug?!” but wisdom told me to shut up.

Instead, I said: “Officer, I sure must have been speeding.”
He replied; “What?”
I responded; “Sir, I just got off work, I’m driving home, and I have no doubt I was speeding.  Is there anything you need me to sign?”

For a moment he acted baffled and surprised.
Next he had me get out of the car and walk a white line. Honest!
All said and done, he gave me a “warning” and said caringly, “Please just be careful and slow down. Take care!”
Before I got back in my car, I asked him, “Why the multiple questions and the “white line”?”

His response caught me; “Mr Gordon, in all my years serving as an officer, I have NEVER had anyone admit to me that they were speeding. I assumed you must have been drunk…and I actually wasn’t quite sure what I should do next.”

Our Sovereign God has a perspective on our lives that most of us cannot grasp.
He knows all of our sins (yes, even the one you are thinking now) in full detail.
But He is not a Barney Fife with a radar gun…and one bullet… waiting to chase us down.

No. His love is so compassionate that He wants us to be captive to it.
So captive that any sin in our lives is so offensive to US because we know it is to Him and that it causes separation between us and Him!
So captive to His love that we cannot help but run to Him and beg forgiveness the moment we see “blue lights” or whatever cue the Holy Spirit gives you and me (That’s called “conviction”).
When you and I hold on to our sin, cover it up, rationalize it, not acknowledge it as what it is and even in some cases, claim it as righteousness, we “cover our iniquity” and choose to be separated from Him.

Ultimately, it is pride.  Truth is, None of us want to be wrong then have to admit it.
“But God”(I love when I read that in His Word) forgives our sin and the guilt when we pray and ask forgiveness.
Did you catch that? The “guilt” is forgiven as well as the sin.

As an occasional passenger on “Guilt International Airlines” (with a lot of frequent flyer miles), that’s huge for me as I hope it is for you.

You can get off that plane with a simple acknowledgement…
“God, I’ve blown it.  I cannot blame it on anyone else…anything else….I…I  have blown it!”

In 1 John 1:9, God’s Word tells us that if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. THAT is Huge!
So why not get rid of The Ticket now?
How?
Pray, openly acknowledge your sin, and then enjoy the guilt free ride of His grace and forgiveness.

Don’t drive too fast though.

One of my favorite TV shows currently is "The Great British Baking Show" on Netflix. On this show, 12-13 amateur bakers, people like you and me who enjoy baking at home, get to compete. They make elaborate desserts for two judges to decide who is the best baker out of them all. It doesn’t sound exciting, but trust me when I say I’ve watched every episode at least three times. My husband’s exact words when I got him to watch with me was, “Why would I want to watch a bunch of amateurs bake?”

Oftentimes as pastor, I get asked to do spiritual practices out in public. Whether I’m in a circle of people and get asked to pray or if someone needs specific care, people always reach out to me to make an effort with the person hurting. All of these things are a part of my job and I enjoy them, but I also think about how every person who asks me to perform these tasks are more than capable of it themselves!

God calls all of us to be his “ambassadors” here on Earth.

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

We all speak for Christ every day in how we act and treat other people. We all have the opportunity to fulfill the great commission by choosing each day to give God our best and share Jesus with those around us.

I was reminded of this recently after spending time with a couple in our church who truly make their lives a ministry to Jesus, though they aren’t ministers vocationally. When they walk into a golf shop, the workers are glad to see them. They befriend and show genuine care to people who are different from them. I was inspired and convicted after spending time with them.

Most of all, I was reminded of the calling of Christ in each of our lives to “make disciples” and I asked myself, other than what I do for my job, am I making disciples? Am I forming relationships with non-believers hoping to show them our Savior?

Just like amateur bakers with no professional experience can create some of the most beautiful cake designs, any person can show someone the love of Christ.

I’m not a very good gift giver. Fortunately, my wife’s love language is not receiving gifts. She prefers quality time. That works much better for me.

When I reflect on gifts that I’ve given loved ones in the past, I can’t think of many that were perfect. Giving my future wife a diamond engagement ring for Christmas was a good move. I think my teenagers were grateful when we provided cars for them to drive. But there is one gift that I bought my in-laws that was perfect.

I bought it from a gift shop in Jerusalem in 1997. It’s a hand carved piece of olive wood depicting Jesus washing a disciple’s feet. You can find the story of Jesus’ act of service and humility in the New Testament book of John, chapter 13. In Jesus’ day, only servants washed feet. You can imagine that the disciples were taken aback when Jesus got up from the table, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin, and knelt down to begin his living illustration of selflessness.

I’m reminded of this gift because as I write this I’m sitting in my in-law’s living room. My mother-in-law will be passing through this life to a life of eternity any time. We are watching and waiting for her last breath. By the time you read this, she will have already made
the move from earth to heaven.

I have great in-laws. They have been humble servants of Christ their entire lives. They never preached a sermon. They never wrote a book. They never sang moving duets to a crowd. They never were in, nor did they ever seek, the spotlight.

They have taken the posture of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet for as long as I’ve known them. They served quietly in the background. I don’t know if they ever washed feet but I know they’ve washed a lot of dishes in the church kitchen! They loved and served many widows and widowers. They gave sacrificially. They loved flawed family members and friends. They honored Christ in all they did.

Of all the gifts I’ve given people over the years, the olive wood carving of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet was one of the best ever. Not because it was expensive because it wasn’t. Not because it was fancy because it’s not. It was the perfect gift because it honored lives that displayed the very act Jesus was performing. It sits in their den today and it reminds me of lives well lived every time I look at it.

Are you humbly serving Christ today? Are you willing to get on your knees and wash the feet of those around you? Jesus did. And he asks us to do the same.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Every morning, my 3-year-old asks if we can go on a “lizard hunt” before school. She loves all things lizards and critters. Most mornings, I’m rushing to get ready. Trying to pack lunches, get myself and kids dressed, breakfast on the table, etc. But she is so cute when she asks with so much hope that I usually give in to a quick trip around the block to search for lizards and caterpillars. On particularly busy mornings, I find myself battling my brain to enjoy the walk around the block instead of thinking about how I still have to find water cups and pack those before we can leave…and where is my sweater? Did I leave it at work or is it in my closet somewhere? And shoot, I forgot to pack snacks for myself! And before I know it, we’ve made it back home and I don’t even know if my 3-year-old spotted a lizard or not and now I’m yelling at said 3-year-old to hurry up because we have to leave in 2 minutes and I still have 800 things to do! What a way to start the day!

Well, yesterday morning, I was determined to do things differently. Sure enough, my cute little kiddo asked to go on a lizard hunt and I was ready! I had everything packed ahead of time so I had little to nothing to freak out about on our walk. Out the door we went and we found so many critters. She actually had a worm attached to her pants and when we both noticed him, we laughed together. She pulled the worm off and we spent a solid 2 minutes watching as the worm wiggled away back towards the dirt. She smiled so big and said, “Mama! She is SO cute!” I disagreed completely but couldn’t help but notice the complete joy in my little girl's face as she said that. All of the sudden, I felt joy too. We got back home, both of us feeling light and joyful and left for work/school with smiles on our faces unlike the previous day when we left stressed and agitated.

There’s something so peaceful about being present in the moment with the people we love. And while life is often overwhelming and busy and hard, maybe we should fight for creating those peaceful moments with our family and friends. I know for me, it changes the whole tone of my day. When I’m able to “just be” instead of stressing, worrying and trying to control, I feel so much lighter.

In Matthew 6:34, God tells us to live for today and not worry about tomorrow! I love the way the message breaks this verse down. It says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal.”

Mama, it hurts,” my daughter said. We may need to go get an X-ray, sweetie. “No! Then I won’t be able to dance or do any stunts on Friday!” She cried. Those beautiful blue eyes staring into mine so disappointed and in pain. She had broken her right arm which meant at least 6 weeks in a cast. That was her whole summer: no swimming, no birthday party at the lake, no gymnastics classes, and no finishing cheer camp. Her heart was broken more than her arm and she sat crying in the pain of it all. “Mama, Why would God let this happen to me? He knows it’s my birthday. He knows how much I love gymnastics. I don’t understand,” she hugged me, tears falling down. I said, “I’m so sorry. I know this must feel really hard right now, but I will be right here the whole time to help you through this and so will God. In 6 weeks, your arm will be healed so we have to be careful with it now so the healing doesn’t take longer. I promise this won’t be forever. I love you. We will get through this together."

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)

I knew this promise well, but my daughter had to experience pain to fully believe in it. When we go through adversity, our focus tends to veer more towards the pain than the promise. We feel the pain deeply and it screams for all of our attention. Calmly and quietly, our Father holds us and carries us through the storm. The pain makes us feel like He must have forgotten us, but His promise remains.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

My daughter was blessed to be in a waterproof cast for 5 weeks. She still got to have her birthday party at the lake and swim this summer! Her cast is off now and she is healed. I asked her what she learned from having to wear a cast this summer. My ten year old said, “I learned to be more patient with myself and others.” Sometimes you have to wait through the pain for the promise.

I'm sure you've been in this scenario, you are on your favorite streaming service searching for something to watch. Well this happened to my family recently while we were on Disney+. We let my daughter have control and she settled on Brave. Now, some kind of princess movie is not normally high on my list, but while watching I saw a great illustration that I think can apply to all parents. I have to give you some context so stay with me for the payoff.

I’m not sure if you have seen this movie or not, but one of the story lines is the relationship between a girl and her mom (The Queen and the Princess). They are having some (a lot) of communication issues which lead to a huge fight. After the fight the Princess finds a witch who makes a potion to change the fate of Princess. This potion turns the Queen into a bear (definitely did not see that coming!!) And as a result the queen (now a bear) and the princess flee to the forest.

It is in the forest that the queen and the princess really start to communicate. There was not a lot of talking going on because the queen couldn’t talk as a bear, but for the first time the queen and princess got some insight into the other person.

Here’s the pay off: Sometimes we have to get away from the routine in order to truly start to communicate.

I think sometimes as parents we have a hard time communicating with our kids. And the struggles we face change as they get older. My struggles as a dad to communicate when my kids were 4 and 2 year are far different now that I've got a middle school boy, a 10 year old girl, and a 7 year old boy. But there are things that we can do to help us better communicate with our kids.

1) Go do something that they enjoy doing. Whatever they are into, be into. By doing this it will help you 1) know what they like and 2) this will give you insight on how to talk with them about it.

2) Go for a day or weekend trip. This gets you both out of the normal routine and almost forces you to communicate. But the trip itself will not create it. Do something you both have never done, try a new food together. The "what" doesn’t matter,  doing it together does. I was able to do this with my oldest son a few months ago and we still laugh at some of the stories that came out of that trip.

3) Resist the temptation to look at your phone/email/other distracting things. Make a pact with your child that for the time you are together your phones are in Do Not Disturb. THEN DO IT! We all need to disconnect sometime, especially when we are around our family.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking about how you can approach communicating differently with your child. Summer time can create the perfect time to try some different things in order to build better relations with our families. It does not have to be perfect, but I will say the results are worth the effort!

Everyone can remember something they regret. You know what I’m talking about because you are already trying to stop thinking about it. Too late!

That first “regret” I remember goes way back… in Stoudemiers, a hometown grocery store in DeLand, Florida. Mom had filled the shopping cart with all the usual items: bread, pasta, ground beef, milk, peas (Ugh!), peanut butter, Lima beans (yuck!)…you get the picture. Aisle 6 had all the baking goods on it. After loading the baking necessities for raising 5 kids, including powdered milk (Oops! that one slipped out), mom moved onto the next aisle.I quietly stayed on Aisle 6.

You see, while waiting “patiently” (hey, it’s my story) for mom to get exactly what she needed, I had noticed a bag of marshmallows on the bottom shelf that was slightly torn open…and a pile of marshmallows were lying beside the bag. Once mom’s cart rounded the end-cap, I knew what my mission was; To rescue these marshmallows…and check for any others that might be trying to escape their bag-o-captivity. Within seconds, I had six to seven full size marshmallows stuffed in my cheeks, and had passed the point of being able to play “Chubby Bunny."

Suddenly, a loud billowing voice came echoing across the store.
“Stop Kid! STOOOP!”; the Large butcher, fully equipped with a bloody apron and meat clever, began yelling from behind the meat counter.
Steven King could only have dreamed of having such images as a child.
Oh No! I was in trouble! I saw my life flash before my eyes (all 4-5 years of it). I knew a lifetime of working on a farm would be my “sentence” and my tricycle would be put in lock-up for at least 30 years. Life was over.

I wanted to cry, but I was too afraid!
I wanted to explain and say “I’M SORRY!”, but I couldn’t because of all the marshmallows stuffed in my face. “SWWWWYYY!” SWWWWY!”
“STOP KID!” -did I mention his apron was really bloody?!

(breathe deeeeep Chuck…. Ok, I can continue)

Then, a HUGE hand landed on my shoulder.
I turned around and realized it was the store owner, Mr. Stoudemier himself. A big smile on his face, Mr. Stoudemier said; “it’s ok Charlie! It’s ok.” Behind my back, I saw him sternly wave-off the butcher… still frothing at the mouth. I swallowed, tears rolling down my face (I was good!), again I said “I’m sooorrry!”, then quickly grabbed all the money I had in the world out of my front right pocket; approx. $0.28, and tried to give it to him. He politely refused.
…then, he sat down on the aisle floor of the store…
…smiled,
…and, he ate a marshmallow.

Within seconds, my mom came back around the end of the aisle to find me…and found both of us holding a marshmallow…me still with tears on my face, she said; “Are you ok???!”

Mr Stoudemier replied with a smile:
“Your son was wonderful helping me clean up a spill.”
…and he NEVER told on me. Israel had a way of going the wrong path over and over again. They somehow always seemed to find marshmallows (idols). But, as the Israelites cried out, God placed His huge hand over them…and rescued them… and gave them land. Though they did not deserve it, the Creator of the World still forgave them and rescued them… because they were HIS children.

We all have those things in our lives we regret… those things that have impacted our relationship with God! We all have picked up marshmallows we have no business eating. It’s done. YOU Can’t change it. Sometimes the best thing we can do is what Samuel called Israel to do when they Finally realized they wanted.

God’s presence back: fast before God…honestly say; “I’m sorry!”
Then TURN from it (…Don’t continue eating the marshmallows)….
Then SERVE Jesus wholeheartedly!!

When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord."
And Samuel was leader* of Israel at Mizpah. (1 Samuel 7:6)

The same God of Israel then is the God we serve today.
The response they had from Him then is the same one He will give you and I  as well. Fast, pray…for an hour…a day – whatever He leads you to.
Confess and Repent. Turn back to Christ!
…and get ready for His Huge hand to rest on the shoulders of the child He loves so much.
…You!

Had enough marshmallows yet?

Practicing silence and solitude-- especially when we are busy– is essential to experiencing a healthy spiritual life.

I’m no expert. To be honest, those closest in my circle would testify this is a fault in my routine that I need to make a priority. Some would describe me as wired, extroverted, can’t sit still and always on the go. Even ways that I find rest involve working out, cutting the grass or walking the dog. These aren’t necessarily bad traits but they can lead to burnout if not meshed with ways of stillness and renewal.  

Personally, I’ve found that finding silence and solitude isn’t always associated with resting but rather the removal of life's distraction. When I’m cutting the yard, it’s one of the most peaceful and silent moments of my day. Working in the yard clears my mind and allows me to see myself clearly. However, I’ve learned over the last ten years there is a greater way to experience rejuvenation.

“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”  (Luke 5:16)

Jesus showed us how to find renewal, refreshment and rejuvenation. Jesus healed, strengthened, saved, encouraged, led and provided all of mankind with an opportunity for salvation through his obedience. Jesus was efficient with his time and ironically, he never appeared to be in a hurry. Jesus stayed the course and knew his mission.

Jesus was able to stay the course and mission because he knew how to withdraw from distractions and draw near to God. We see multiple examples of Jesus rising very early in the mornings to experience silence and solitude.

I’m extremely challenged by this beautiful practice of Jesus that I don’t even scratch the surface of getting this spiritual discipline right in my life. Truthfully, the practice of silence and solitude strips us from our comfort zone and brings our sinful, broken, vulnerable state to the surface. It often hurts. However, the beauty of this is that Jesus doesn’t allow us to remain in that state as he is always near us and brings revival to our souls.

How can I keep from falling short of this practice and make my time alone with God a priority? Simply, make time for it! Where our phones, smart watches and emails can be extremely distracting; they can also be very helpful with reminding us to make and take moments of internal silence and time alone with God in reading and prayer throughout our day. Creating a physical place where you can practice this in your car, home, office or out in nature. Inviting God’s presence into this experience is where renewal is found.

Silence and solitude are foundational for our lives in connecting with God! That being said, how can we incorporate a practice of intentional withdrawal with Jesus into our daily routines?

As a kid, I remember getting so excited for celebrations. Birthdays, Valentines, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, good report cards and all the in betweens. As an adult, I’m finding that I allow celebrations to cause more stress than excitement. Many times, I skip celebrating things that maybe I should because of the effort it would take. Celebrations allow us to step back and take time to incorporate fun and excitement into our mostly busy and routine lives. Sometimes it seems like as adults, we forget how to have fun. We focus on the “have to’s” instead of the “want to’s.” Without celebrating, it can be easy to stay stuck in the negatives of life.

This past weekend I went to my hometown to celebrate my Uncle's wedding. It was maybe the busiest weekend I’ve had in a long time. The rehearsal dinner and a lunch the day of the wedding was scheduled at my parent’s house. It was a lot to get ready for and we obviously had to clean up when each event was over.  At first, I started to feel overwhelmed by all that we had to do in 3 short days. But then, I remember realizing that this weekend was going to be over soon. I wanted to be able to think back on the weekend and remember the celebration and the joy instead of the stress and the running around. Luckily, I was able to catch my mindset and change it before it was too late. Now when I think about the weekend, it brings me so much joy! I was able to stay present and celebrate with my family instead of getting caught up in the stress.

Celebrating is also a way to thank God for the good things happening in your life.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

God doesn’t want us to go through each day and forget to notice the good. He loves us and wants to see us rejoicing in our daily lives. Allow yourself and your family and friends to break up the routines and have fun together. Find ways to encourage each other where you can by celebrating each other!

Storms reveal a lot about a child…and us.

When our daughters were small, my bride and I would pray that they were in a deep sleep whenever a storm passed through at night. Otherwise we knew it would be a long night. I vividly remember one storm that seemingly passed through our neighborhood …and stopped over our home. Thunder rolled loudly almost as an afterthought to the buckets of water that poured down.

Eventually the thunder woke up our middle daughter, Abi. Now in all honesty, this wouldn’t be bad… if she wasn’t so quiet. On this night, as Jen and I were asleep, I suddenly sensed a presence that was very, very close to my face ….and it was not the Holy Spirit. When I opened my eyes, my precious daughter was only a couple of inches away from my eyes. “DAAAD-DYYYYY” she whispered loudly.  I don’t care who it is, at 3:00AM, anyone that close, whispering loudly, will freak you out!

After Jen completed CPR on me, I asked; “What’s wrong sweetie?” “Mommy, Daddy, I’m scared! Can I get in bed with you?!” she nervously shared. Of course my response was loving; “Honey, sure… After you sit on the back porch for an hour or two so you can face your fear of storms!”
Well, maybe not.  

We pulled her up in bed between us, held onto her for a little while, talked to her quietly and lovingly, then carried her back to her room.  Then after a few more hugs, we assured her that everything would be ok, and then we prayed with her. Before we left her room, we sang an old Steve Green children’s song together that each of our daughters loved; “When I am afraid, I will trust in You!”  (Psalm 56:3)
…And… the storm passed.

In the midst of the biggest struggles I have faced, there have been moments where the child in me would still love to hear my mom and dad’s voice tell me, “It’s going to be ok…it’s going to be ok!”
More than likely, you and I are no different in this.
But the wonderful truth is that we have a Heavenly Father…
…who is always ready to embrace us, who won’t freak out when we approach Him no matter what the storm or struggle is and no matter what time of day or night we come to Him.
He is that hiding place your heart longs for, that protection from the storms you are now facing and will face again. He is the voice that can and will always let you know, “It’s going to be ok…it’s going to be ok!” And He means it!

In God’s Word, King David said it so perfectly; “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Psalm 32:7)

Whatever storms you are facing right now, know that Your Heavenly Father is ready and waiting for you to curl up in His arms and pray (or even sing as David did) …When I am afraid, I will trust in you, in God whose Word I praise!

My wife and I moved into a small one bedroom apartment after selling our nearly 2400 square foot house this past July. Neither of us like to clean or make home improvements, so we have loved living in our new tiny place! When we made the move, we removed so much clutter from our old home knowing that there wasn’t space for it at our new apartment.

Fast-forward a few months to October and we found out that we have a new little baby girl on the way. We are ecstatic, but we also realized quickly that our one bedroom apartment isn’t going to be big enough for the three of us. We are on a waiting list now to get into a two bedroom apartment that will allow for the baby to have her own room with a crib, rocker, changing table, and everything else her grandparents are dying to buy her!

While we love the size of our tiny apartment, we know that we have to make room for our new little one. Sometimes, our spiritual life feels like my next housing move. I can become complacent in the easiness of my “one bedroom apartment spiritual life.” So often, God wants to do a work in us, but we have to make room for him. We have to make room for the new life God wants to bring us.

Taking time to read scripture or singing worship music in the car are such great practical ways to make room, but I often find that making room always starts with prayer. A prayer that centers my heart around surrender.

If you find yourself in a similar place of needing to make room, here are some things that you can pray: come clean and repent, invite God into your daily life, not just your quiet time, and ask God to renew your heart and to make you like Him. God wants to do a work in you and all you need to do is make room for Him.

I think we would all agree that praying for our children is important and something we should do.

But, I bet if we are being honest we have no idea how to do this outside of asking God to keep them safe.

That’s the heart behind this writing. I want to equip you as parents to know how to pray for your student. I want to make it easy for you to know what to pray and even give you some scriptures to use as you pray for your child.

There are a ton of different ways and areas you can pray for your child, but what’s presented below is a great way of getting started.

Two quick thoughts before we dive in: 1) It’s never too late to start! Even if your child is in college, they are still your child and you are still their parent. So don’t worry that you haven’t started sooner. You can start now!

2) Let your child know you pray for them. I still remember as a 10th grader seeing my mom’s prayer list and seeing how she was specifically praying for me then, the kind of man I would (hopefully) become, and even for my future wife.
As a 10th grader it was not lost on me on how big of a deal it is to pray for your children. And it is all that more powerful now that I’ve become a parent.

I pray that my children would:

1.) Receive and love Jesus as their Savior – I pray that my children will understand that You loved them so much that You gave Your only Son for them, and that because they believe in Him, they will have life forever with You. (John 3:16)

2.) Commit their lives to make Jesus Lord and be filled with Your Spirit – I pray that my children will recognize that Jesus is the Name above all names and will confess Him as Lord of all. I pray that they will trust Him with all their hearts, not lean on their own understanding, and acknowledge He is Lord in everything; thus You will guide them in Your best way for them. May they be filled with Your Holy Spirit to the fullness of Christ. (Philippians 2:9-11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 5:18; 1:23; 4:13)

3.) Know the true and living God intimately and cherish and apply all Your names – I pray that my children will desire to truly know You, Father. May they love You, know You intimately, powerfully apply Your names, and rely on the character they represent in all their needs. (Daniel 11:32b; Philippians 3:10; Psalm 9:10)

4.) Learn to pray and praise – I pray that my children will learn to communicate with You, their loving Father. Put Your praise in their hearts and on their lips continually. Lead them to be dependent on You for everything, so they talk with You about all things and give You the honor and glory that You deserve. (Mark 10:14-15; Matt 21:16; Philippians 4:6)

5.) Know who they are in Christ – I pray that my children will know how precious they are to You. Teach them to base their identity and security on Christ. Give them Christ-centered confidence and Christ-centered worth. Give them Your mind about how You see them and how You feel about them. As Your creation, help them to fully know who they are and what they have in Christ and what they can do through Him. (Ephesians 1:4,7,11-14; Colossians 1:27)

6.) Be protected from the evil one by the blood of Jesus – Protect my children by the covering blood of Jesus. I pray that my children will know the power of the blood to defeat all the works of the evil one. By the blood of Jesus, bind the enemy from interfering with Your perfect purposes in their lives. (John 17:15; 1 John 4:4)

7.) Receive the love of God the Father – I pray that my children will know Your Father-heart and have the assurance of Your great love. Let them know by experience how extravagantly and unconditionally You love them. Father them with Your holy love, so that they know without a doubt that You are always working in their lives in Your love. (1 John 3:1)

8.) Love the word of God – I pray that my children will treasure Your word more than wealth. Teach them to love Your word and base their lives on it as their standard of life. Give them understanding as they humbly seek You in Your word. Teach them to plead Your unbreakable promises and to defeat all the lies of the enemy with Your truth revealed in Your word. (Psalm 119:127-130, 159-162)

9.) Learn to hate sin and love holiness, righteousness, and fear of the Lord – I pray that You will write Your word on the hearts of my children, so that they will choose the obedience of hating sin and loving Your holiness. Work in their lives the holy fear of You and the righteousness of Jesus. Help them not to just keep a set of rules, but to desire to please You in all they do. Create in them a pure heart. Make them wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. Move in them to dedicate their lives to You as living sacrifices. (Psalm 119:9,11; 2 Timothy 2:22; Romans 16:19b; Proverbs 8:13)

10.) Grow up in maturity in the Lord – I pray that my children will be built solidly on the foundation of Jesus and grow in Your grace with a conscious sense of Your presence conforming them to be like You. May they continue to be built up with your wisdom, favor, truth, love, life, faith, strength, and thankfulness. (Luke 2:52; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 2:6-7)

11.) Glorify God in their bodies as Your temple – I pray that my children will honor You by keeping their bodies pure because they are the temple of Your Spirit. Teach them the great price you paid in the death of Jesus for their holiness. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2)

12.) Respect those in authority – I pray that my children will submit to the authorities You have placed over them as to You. Let them understand that You have established loving, wise covering for their good through parents and others in authority. Cause them to obey and not reserve for themselves the right to choose whether to obey, which You call rebellion. Give them a joyful, grateful heart as they submit to Your ordained authorities. (Romans 13:1; Ephesians 6:1, 3:22-25)

Aprendi a compartir mí fe desde muy pequeño. Siempre escuché a mi mamá hablar de Dios con otras personas. Supongo que ella ha sido una de las mayores influencias en mi vida para mantener una relación con Jesús.

I learned how to share my faith when I was very young. Day and night I heard my mom share her faith with other people. She has been the biggest influence in my life when it comes to having a relationship with Jesus.

Como lo he dicho antes, sus oraciones diarias, es lo que me protege desde niño y los versos que repetimos todos los días “Si Dios está conmigo, quien contra mi” Romanos 8:31. Los versos diarios son solo una parte de lo hoy me ayuda a compartir mi historia.

I have said this in the past, her daily prayers protected me since I was a child. Not only her prayers, but also the verses we repeated together: “…If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). The verses my mother instilled in me are what helps me share my faith to this day.

En las ultimas semanas, la iglesia a la que asisto se ha enfocado en enseñarnos a como compartir nuestra historia de una mejor manera, esa historia que todos creamos conforme crecemos y la que escribimos cada día.

In my church in the past few weeks, we’ve talked a lot about sharing our story.

Hace una par de semanas una amiga dentro de mi celula nos contó que tuvo la oportunidad de compartir su fe, por el simple hecho de que uno de sus compañeros de trabajo vio un sticker en su clip board. La semana Love Does, es una semana dentro del calendario de nuestra iglesia, donde damos el todo por el todo por nuestra comunidad.

A friend from my journey group shared about how she was able to tell her story to a coworker when they saw a sticker from our church on the back of her clipboard. It was a “Love Does Week” sticker. Love Week is a time where as a church we go all in and find ways to help and love on our community.

Un simple sticker llevo a mi amiga a compartir su fe en Dios con otros y a sembrar una semilla dentro de un corazón. Puede recordar claramente cuándo fue la ultima vez en la que una conversación con un compañero de trabajo trajo luz a su vida? Yo creo que mi testimonio puede cambiar vidas y el suyo también.

A simple sticker helped my friend share her faith with others and to potentially plant a seed in someone's heart. When was the last time a conversation you had with a coworker brought light to their life? I believe my testimony can change someone’s life and so can yours.

I can remember first learning the term “growing pains” when I was a kid.

My brother was having some pains in his legs and my parents were trying to ease his worries. They told him it was completely normal, it was just growing pains, something he may experience as his body continued to develop. The term came to me again recently as I’m pregnant with my first child and I can feel pains in my body as it makes room for the life growing in me.

We’ve all experienced growing pains of some sort, whether it be physically, emotionally, or spiritually. In my personal experience, I’ve found that anytime I’ve made a significant change in my life, there's always been pain involved. Whether it was going off to college, choosing to move, or making a new career decision.

Each change meant having to connect with new people, learning to trust in God, and relying on Him to help me in new situations. I can look back now and see how God used the pain and discomfort to grow me.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul shares how God uses the pain he is experiencing to make him stronger. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

It’s in the times that we feel weak and incapable that God can move the most in our lives. When pain, sorrow, or fear overwhelm us, God invites us to rely on his strength which is always available to us. Whatever difficult situation you may be facing this week, know that you were never meant to do it alone. The Holy Spirit is present to show you just how strong you can be. Each time we experience the pain of growth, we can trust that God is making way for new life in us.

There is nothing like the wonder and joy that a child has when they see snow!

Now let me preface this with, we live in the South obviously, so when kids see snow here it’s a big deal.

I know many parents that allowed their children to stay up on Jan. 21, to see the snow come down. I also know parents that went and woke their children up once the snow started falling.

I have a two-year-old, so I fell in neither of those categories. I enjoyed the snow like a child again with my adult sisters and just went outside with my toddler first thing in the morning to make snowballs before it all melted.

I hope you were like a child again and enjoyed some of that snow!

But more than that, I hope you don’t miss out in the wonder of the small blessings that come each day. Children never cease to amaze me with their excitement for life. They experience a small surprise like getting a little bit of snow and they act as if it’s Christmas morning.

My child cried when my husband and I told him that we had to go back inside because his hands were freezing and red (we never bought gloves for him!) He was so content and curious playing in the small amount of snow, or ice rather, that remained.

God’s word encourages us to enjoy whatever each day brings. Every day that we are alive is worth celebrating and finding the little blessings to rejoice in!

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

It may not snow often, but there are always little blessings available to us each day from God to rejoice in. Every day that we get a warm meal, our vehicle works, or our family members are healthy and whole are blessings that we often take for granted.

I know we can all find something to rejoice in today even if the season we are in seems hopeless or we have just become numb to the little things.

May the God of joy remind you today of the blessings that you have in your life. There is always something we can rejoice in!

I remember when I was about 15 years old and a freshman in high school trying to figure out where I fit in. I was pretty much up for any kind of adventure that involved a group where I could connect and belong. I’ll never forget when my friend Kim walked up to me after second period and asked if I wanted to come with her and some friends. I didn’t know where they were going or what they were doing but I said yes. We ended up leaving school when we were supposed to go to lunch. I somehow ended up in the bed of a truck (to my disgust now) with NO seatbelt on, driving around aimlessly while 3 other people I didn’t know smoked cigarettes and my friend and I joined in like we had a clue what we were doing. We did not. Of course, we got busted. And of course we got into so much trouble at school and at home. I had just started my high school career and it felt like this poor choice I made was going to define me for the rest of my life.

If you’re human, you’ve made mistakes. It’s easy to forget that fact when you are the one who made the mistake. I know for me, when I’ve made poor choices or have done or said things I shouldn’t have, I will beat myself up for it and make myself feel like the worst person on the planet. And while I should take account of what I’ve done wrong and ask God and others for forgiveness, I should also be able to forgive myself and move forward. That is sometimes the hardest part.

I don’t know about you, but I like to hold myself in my own personal prison cell after I make mistakes. I allow myself to believe that the mistakes I have made are a larger reflection of who I am than anything else I’ve done. That’s simply not true, but sometimes, it can feel that way. The weight of our guilt and shame can distort our thinking. It can cause us to forget that we are not our poor choices. We are not our mistakes.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

God doesn’t want us to live stuck in our past mistakes. He wants us to confess our sins and live in freedom so we can follow him wholeheartedly. God wants us to know who we are in him so that we are able to show his love and grace to others  when they need it most in the same way He showed it to us when we needed it most. Believe it or not, God can use your mistakes to bring Glory to Him. So maybe instead of allowing yourself to be swallowed by shame and guilt of past choices, allow yourself to find the freedom that Christ offers so your mistakes can be used for His glory!

"It's so unusual, it's frightening. I'm fully known and loved by You." - Tauren Wells
 
 A little over a year ago, my wife and I received an unexpected gift. As we unwrapped the gift, my wife was ecstatic and I was hesitant. My hesitation stemmed from the long hours of installment and setup. However, my feelings and emotions quickly changed towards this product when I learned the company walks you step by step through tutorial videos and the use of their app. Since the day of installment, we have fallen in love with our Ring doorbell!
 
This unexpected gift has become a daily fixture in our life. Our Ring doorbell allows us to see video through a tiny camera in the doorbell, using an app on our phone. Throughout the day, I’m quick to check notifications and alerts. Even our golden retriever is more alert to the activity in front of our home as she recognizes the notifications from our phones.
 
With the use of the Ring doorbell, we are always in the know.
 
The same is true with our God. God is and has always been in the know. God knows every intricate detail of our being. He knew everything about us before our own existence.
 
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
(Psalm 139:13-14)
 
For some, this brings great joy while for others having an omniscient God may bring fear. However, we should not be frightened that God knows our being through and through.
 
The beauty of this truth is, amidst our disobedience and God’s knowledge of our sins, He still chooses to love us.
 
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24)
 
Being intimately known by God means we are not hidden, nor should we feel compelled by guilt or shame to hide from Him. The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross eliminated the shame which led Adam and Eve to hide from God in the garden. Though we may be tempted to run and hide when we fall short, God had a better plan for us in Jesus. God desires us to bring our sin to His feet and confess and turn from it. Even if it is difficult to fathom, God offers His forgiveness, mercies, and His grace available to us through Christ Jesus.
 
Be encouraged and your yoke made easy with this great love intertwined with grace and truth offered to you by God through Jesus!