Multiply

It is neat to watch God work. There is a movement happening at CU and we are excited that we can be a part of it in a small way. It is students like this that make a difference.

Up's and Down's

They come in all different shapes and sizes don't they. They can look different, feel different, sound different, but there still up's and down's. I have to admit I have had a few of both lately, and they have all looked different. Some in myself and some with others. And they have all produced different reactions. Frustration, hurt, tears, sadness, yet on the other hand excitement, hope, happiness, encouragement.

What I am learning once again is that this life will be filled with both the up's and the down's. There will be times of great highs and times of deep lows, and everything in between. I am learning it is not so much about those high's and lows, as much as it is about what I do with them. I love it how Swindoll puts it. "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Meetings

This morning I was coming out of my office (aka my basement) and I was greated by a little sleepy eyed guy in pj's. I had just finished meeting with someone and after they left Asher said,

"Daddy, No want yours go to work today."

I realized that I had not even gotten to see him two days before, I left before he was up (which is a pretty hard task to do with him) and got home after he was asleep. And the weekend before was not much of a weekend. In fact the week was packed a little too full.

Now I am trying to balance life and what it means to be a husband, and father, and pastor, and school supervisor, and church planter, and friend... you know the drill. I am learning there are just times that I need to stop what I am doing, or what I had planed, no matter how busy the day week, month, year, or what I have to do, and just be fully present... available... to my family.

So I said, "Ok, what do you want to do Asher?"

to which he responded, "Want to have a meeting with Asher?"

Me, "Ok."

He came down the stairs and sat on the couch accross from me, which I guess is what he has seen me do, so I just rolled with it.

Me again, "How are you doing?"

Ash "Good."

"What are you going to do today?"

"Play."

Me, "That sounds like fun."

"Yep."

Me, "Want to hear a story"

"Yes."

Me, "About what?"

Asher, "A boat."

So I proceeded to tell him this incredible story about a boat, and a guy named Noah. He ran to get my Bible and sat down on my lap. I had to recite it by memory because he wanted to turn the page every two seconds. (To bad my Bible doesn't have pictures).

Anyways the whole thing had to end with some wresting or wrassel as he calls it. The whole thing only lasted about 15minuts but it was just one of those little reminders of the important things in life.

December 10, 2008 was a good day.

Faith

Some time back my brother gave me his copy of The Complete Green Letters by Miles J. Stanford. I had read through it several years ago and picked it up every now and then to read a section or two. A few weeks back I was meeting with several pastors and one of them said that in their reading if they read an new book they will follow it up by an old book that has been tried and tested. And they went on to say how they had been reading the Principles of Spiritual Growth which which is an updated copy of the previous book. Anyways I was challenged to begin reading the book again, and have not been let down. Check out a few of these excerpts.

"Many people are willing to believe regarding those things that seem probable to them. Faith has nothing to do with probabilities. The providence of faith begins where probabilities cease and sight and sense fail. Appearances are not to be taken into account. The question is--whether God has spoken it in his word." Mueller

"Faith must be based upon certainty. There must be a definite knowledge if God's purpose and will. Without it there can be no true faith. For faith is not a force that we exercise or a striving to believe that something shall be, thinking that if we believe hard enough is twill com to pass." Alexander R. Hay

"It is a great thing to learn faith: that is, simply dependence upon God. It will comfort you much to be assured that the Lord is teaching you dependence upon Himself, and it is very remarkable that faith is necessary in everything." J.B. Stoney