Disappointed but safe

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and feel energized this morning.

This past Saturday my daughter and I had tickets to a baseball game and were so excited about our daddy/daughter date. My wife and two sons were away from the house, so this was a great opportunity for bonding. We both grabbed our baseball hats and she grabbed our stadium cushions. We prepared by having a wonderful meal of hot dogs and we were on our way…or so we thought.

As I stepped on the brake pedal to start my truck it went all the way to the floor. Immediately the ABS warning lights came on. I got out opened the hood and saw the brake fluid reservoir was down. “Ok, I can salvage this,” I said to myself. I pumped the pedal a few times and had pressure again…wonderful! So I drove 1 block and immediately could not stop, so I nursed the truck back to our house and broke the bad news to my daughter.

As we went back into the house she went to her room and within a few minutes I could hear her crying. I called her into the room with me and she sat on my lap. I told her that I was sad too and that we should pray and let God know that we were hurting. The prayer that came out of my daughter’s mouth was one of the most touching I have ever heard: “Dear Jesus, I’m very sad that I didn’t get to go to the baseball game. Thank you for giving me a daddy who wants to keep me safe.” Now if that doesn’t make you want to cry, I don’t know what would, but it also was a very teachable moment for me and it is that thought that I wish to convey today.

I can think of many times in my life where my plans have been interrupted, sometimes very painfully. In many of those instances I have later learned the reasons why, only to find out that I would have been devastated had the Lord allowed me to proceed. One of the greatest examples in my life occurred as I was first entering the ministry. I had been interviewing with a church in Dover, DE. Everything seemed like a perfect match. The church was vibrant and healthy, the pastor was also a former police officer and our philosophy of ministry was nearly identical. His health was failing and he wanted to groom a successor to take on the ministry over the next few years. My wife and I were ready to go, but during our last interview we all came away with a lack of peace. I ultimately took on my first pastorate at a much smaller church in Hoisington, KS. I learned a year or so later that the pastor in Dover had died a few months after our final phone conversation and that the church had disbanded. Had I taken that position we would have been stranded away from family and friends with no means of financial support.

God had to dash my hopes and dreams that day, but ultimately He was sparing me even greater pain and hardship. These things are reminders that we have a loving Father who sees much more than we do. He knows the events of tomorrow while we are confined to the present.

Psalm 4:8 (NLT)
I will lie down in peace and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

This week you may be experiencing events in your life that are disappointing and even devastating as you watch your hopes, dreams and aspirations fall by the wayside. Take comfort that God sees the pitfalls and dangers that you do not. Be thankful that He would rather see you disappointed than see you severely hurt.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

A trip through time

Good morning! I hope you are well rested after the weekend.

Last week my son Collin began a road trip adventure with my dad. He has been very excited to call each night and tell us some of the things he has gotten to see. As part of this trip my dad has taken Collin to see his boyhood home, my boyhood home, my first school and a variety of other nostalgic places.

The importance of a trip like this is the insight into the experiences, places and people who shaped you and your family. These are the places where what was and what is come together once again to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. This is also a place where the lessons of the past are taught to the generations of the future.

The Bible speaks about this intergenerational sharing as well:

Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT)
“But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

The greatest institution of learning established on the face of this earth is still the family. I have forgotten many classroom lessons over my lifetime, but the lessons of the home still stick. The importance of faith, the value of integrity, work ethic and the dynamics of relationships are all life lessons that were learned in those times of sharing. My grandfather birthed in me a love for fishing; my dad a love for flying and my mom a love for reading and cooking.

Take a look around at your children and grandchildren they are young minds still exploring their true identity. Seize the moment and help them unlock the doors of their heritage and the frontiers of their imaginations. Share with them your own stories of God’s providence and movement in your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Get a clue America

If My People

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and are starting your week off with renewed energy.

Over the past few weeks we have seen our nation and different parts of our world rocked by serious natural disasters. This tornado season has been one of the worst on record, the Midwest has been ravaged by floods while other parts of the nation face a serious drought. In China the earthquakes continue and in Myanmar the devastation of the cyclone continues to take a human toll. The stock market is a roller coaster ride and the price of oil is making families choose between food and gasoline.

So how do we handle such crisis situations? The answer is simple; we need to get serious about renewing our intimacy with God. What I am going to say next may not be very popular, but the Bible makes it clear that it is accurate. The wickedness of men does not go unchecked. Just as God prevents and protects, He also chooses at times to allow. I am amazed so many times that we want God to be “Almighty” and able to move mountains, but we don’t want Him to be holy or righteous. We expect Him to just bless and bless and bless without any regard for our actions. That is utter foolishness!

God gives us the antidote for those times that He is allowing difficulty to break our rebellious spirit:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

What a promise…the only “if” is us. Please understand God is a loving Father who disciplines those He loves, not to bully them, but to better them. His actions are no different than any parent who molds their child’s will and behavior.

This week take a few moments, assume a posture of prayer and ask God to show you the areas of your life that need to change course and claim this promise that if we will all commit to doing this their will be forgiveness and healing.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

More than you can handle

Good morning! I hope you have rolled up your sleeves ready to face the challenges of the week.

At different times in our lives we all face challenges that push us well beyond the limits of human capability and understanding. The circumstances that are thrown before us are immeasurable and seem nearly impossible to cope with, much less overcome. These are the times when we feel like giving up. The times when the nights are sleepless and the voices in our head only offer greater anxiety.

In all honesty, these things truly are greater than our ability to cope with them; however, we were never meant to cope with them in our own strength and abilities. Notice the following verses from Proverbs:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Our understanding comes primarily from what we see and hear and by nature offers a very limited scope of understanding. We can only see that which is directly in front of us or that which is behind us. God on the other hand sees eternity. In His economy there is no past, present or future, only what is.

Having an eternal perspective, means that God has already responded to the crisis of today and the calamity of tomorrow. God is not caught off guard or unaware in these times of challenge. Tragedy and calamity do not sneak up on Him. In light of His perspective, you can take comfort in the knowledge that He has already made provision to see you through these times of difficulty. He has released strength, encouragement, support, etc…to help you walk, when you don’t feel like carrying on.

Today I want to leave you with a couple of verses from Psalm 34. This is a chapter of scripture that speaks volumes about difficult times and God’s provision in those times.

Psalm 34:4-7 (NLT)
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me,
freeing me from all my fears.
[5] Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
[6] I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and he heard me.
He set me free from all my fears.
[7] For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him,
and he rescues them.

Psalm 34:17-19 (NLT)
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
[18] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

[19] The righteous face many troubles,
but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.

This week you may be at your breaking point, I invite you to put your understanding aside. Ask God to take the burden from your shoulders and to guide your path moment by moment. Over time you will look back and see how each step was guided and that even through this, you have somehow made it to the other side.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Fan the Flames

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start.

Yesterday our family celebrated a life milestone with our oldest son, Christopher, as he graduated from high school. I was tickled last night as he summed up the experience this way: “Seems rather anti-climatic that I spent the last 13 years working towards graduation, only to sit through an hour and a half ceremony and receive a blank, rolled-up piece of paper.” In some respects there is some truth to that statement; however, it is upon the foundation that has been laid over those years that the man he is to become will be built.

This next week we take Christopher to college and move him into the dorms. He will then begin the next chapter of his life, no longer known as Carl and Carol’s boy, but instead known as a Midshipman in the Reserve Officer Training Corps of the United States Navy. It is from the foundation that has been laid within him that he will find the tools and resources to be successful in the next leg of the journey.

This process got me to thinking about our lives and the journey that God leads us on. Notice the words of the Apostle Paul to young Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT)
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

We often lose sight of the timeless nature of God. There is no section of our lives (past, present or future) that is unseen by Him. He knows every turn, pothole, detour, washed out bridge, good choice, bad choice and storm of life that we will experience along the journey. Knowing what you would face along your journey, God saw fit to equip you with the tools and resources necessary to complete it.

The key with these gifts and resources is that we each become adept in their usage. Our spiritual muscles are not unlike our physical muscles. When we fail to use these muscles they begin to atrophy and weaken. When we take the time to fan the flames, to exercise these spiritual resources that God has given us, we find that we have exactly what we need successfully navigate the road before us.

As I have reflected on Christopher’s time in my watch care, I find myself questioning if there was more I could have done. The truthful answer is absolutely, there is always more that could have been done; however, I also have the confidence of knowing that God used Carol and me to give him exactly what he needs.

This week I encourage you not to get caught up in the “Pomp and Circumstance,” but instead be glad that you have been given a proper foundation on which to build. God has equipped you with everything you will need; now it is your responsibility to fan it into flame.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Fan the Flames

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start.

Yesterday our family celebrated a life milestone with our oldest son, Christopher, as he graduated from high school. I was tickled last night as he summed up the experience this way: “Seems rather anti-climatic that I spent the last 13 years working towards graduation, only to sit through an hour and a half ceremony and receive a blank, rolled-up piece of paper.” In some respects there is some truth to that statement; however, it is upon the foundation that has been laid over those years that the man he is to become will be built.

This next week we take Christopher to college and move him into the dorms. He will then begin the next chapter of his life, no longer known as Carl and Carol’s boy, but instead known as a Midshipman in the Reserve Officer Training Corps of the United States Navy. It is from the foundation that has been laid within him that he will find the tools and resources to be successful in the next leg of the journey.

This process got me to thinking about our lives and the journey that God leads us on. Notice the words of the Apostle Paul to young Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT)
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

We often lose sight of the timeless nature of God. There is no section of our lives (past, present or future) that is unseen by Him. He knows every turn, pothole, detour, washed out bridge, good choice, bad choice and storm of life that we will experience along the journey. Knowing what you would face along your journey, God saw fit to equip you with the tools and resources necessary to complete it.

The key with these gifts and resources is that we each become adept in their usage. Our spiritual muscles are not unlike our physical muscles. When we fail to use these muscles they begin to atrophy and weaken. When we take the time to fan the flames, to exercise these spiritual resources that God has given us, we find that we have exactly what we need successfully navigate the road before us.

As I have reflected on Christopher’s time in my watch care, I find myself questioning if there was more I could have done. The truthful answer is absolutely, there is always more that could have been done; however, I also have the confidence of knowing that God used Carol and me to give him exactly what he needs.

This week I encourage you not to get caught up in the “Pomp and Circumstance,” but instead be glad that you have been given a proper foundation on which to build. God has equipped you with everything you will need; now it is your responsibility to fan it into flame.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl