Part Three: Thankful Thoughts...

I am thankful that God shows Himself to me in the "small things" of life. I love the fact that God is a part of the details of life. It is fun to see God, big and large, in the make-up of a flower or the laughter of a person... Now it really is fun... take a look around you during the day and begin to see God all around you...
Just this morning I was sitting on the deer stand and about 6:20 and looked over my right shoulder to see a brown Owl perched in the tree next to me and about an hour later I saw small gaggle of geese sounding off as they made their way to a near by field or body of water.
I paused at some point and just thanked God for the opportunity to be a part of what He was doing. It was good and I am thankful!! Aren't you?

Part Two: Thankful Thoughts...

I am thankful for my wife and for the relationship that we enjoy. I am amazed at the way God uses different experiences to draw us closer to each other. The truth is that challenging moments in the lives of any couple, have a way of either drawing them closer or pushing them further away. I guess it depends on how a couple responds to the turbulence they face.
Julie and I have recently trudged the up and down road of "trying" to have a child. For a couple desiring to be parents, this experience has been painful but fruitful in our lives. We have seen fertility specialists in hopes of having a child only to hear the news that it will not happen. This episode is still stings when the bill for their "services" finds its way into our mailbox as a nagging monthly reminder, "it did not work but you still must pay"... not much fun, but as I said we are seeing the fruit of this journey in our lives. I can truly say, that all of this is a small price to pay for the work the Lord has done in our lives and marriage. Though we do not have a child at this point, we are better on this side of the whole experience. Julie is my best friend!! This is not a cliche, but the truth. We have walked through the depths of despair together and are now enjoying some of our most joyful days together as we continue down the journey of that God has us on.

As a word of encouragement, let mention something that has helped me when dealing with difficult situations. Now, remember that this is not easy nor does it fix the situation, but does help in time with ones perspective in a situation.

Don't ask "Why?", but "What are you trying to teach me Lord?". This really has helped me as I have processed things in my life and may also provide you with a different take on the circumstance you may be facing.

Part One: Thankful Thoughts...

I was thinking just this weekend about different ways that I am thankful... I am thankful that God is patient with me... I think of how often I just don't get it when God points me in the right direction. It seems that I often find my way back to the wide road and leave the path He has marked out for me... Daily I fall and bump my knees, but God continues to work with me and encourages me to keep walking by faith. Learning to walk by faith is hard, but thankfully God is patient. I am not a very patient person and don't really have very much sensitivity to others when they can't pick up on something quickly... How about you? Are you hard on others... Most of us are terribly hard on ourselves. Aren't you glad that the Lord is patient with us?

Christ In Us

How did you feel this morning when you got up? What was your thought when your alarm went off or your baby started crying or your coffee was spilt in your lap or your car would not start or you were throwing up in the middle of the night or someone pulled out in front of you at the light or your homework was "lost" or you did not get the raise you thought you would or your spouse left you or a temptation set in that you did not expect or you gave in one more time to a habit that you thought was over... most us of think: what in the world?; where did that come from? why me? how the heck did that happen? not again!! not me! etc, etc, etc...

Scripture tells us... "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ; the old has gone, the new has come!"
2 Corinthians 5:17

"...Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

This is what scripture tells us is the truth about me as a believer. As a follower of Christ, I have Christ living in me. WOW!! Often I forget this or fail to live like this. Often my life circumstance gets in the way of this truth. How about you? How does this strike you? To know that Christ is living in you and daily you carry him around in your body and actually lives through you as you walk around in this world. Is this evident in your life. I mean do others see Christ in you? Are you aware of this reality?
It has been said, "It is the image of Christ in us that so enrages hell." The image of our Savior is in us and is on display as we live. As we grow closer to the Lord this reality becomes more and more evident in our journey with Him. So today remember... you are not alone in this world, but as a follower of Christ you have the Hope of Glory in you!!

Ahh... The Mountains

This past weekend Julie and I had the opportunity to get away for a couple of days. When the Eagles play Furman in Greenville, Julie and I usually make the trip to see the game. This year we decided to go a couple of days early in order to spend a little time together away from our hectic schedule. We had a blast and thankfully the weather cooperated for us. Yes it was cloudy and cool, but the rain stayed away and we were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of the great Smoky Mountains.

There is something about getting away that is refreshing and enriching to the soul. There is merit in pulling aside and allowing a fresh breeze to blow into our lives. Jules and I had a grand time and I hope that you too will take some time to do the same. There may be nothing better than laughter with the one you love the most.