Learning about God’s love through my children…

I am amazed how much God uses my children to teach me about His love for me. I’m working from home this morning for two reasons. 1. We are running so fast at the office that I have little time to study so i needed a minute to catch my breath and focus on God’s Word. 2. My daughter was up off and on all night with a bad sinus infection and cough. Needless to say, when your 8 month old isn’t happy NO BODY sleeps! When I say she wasn’t happy I mean she was restless. Nothing and absolutely NOTHING made her happy. She wanted to be held, she wanted to be rocked, she wanted to lay she wanted to walk, she wanted her blanket and then she wanted nothing. She would scream, she would whimper, she arch her back, and then nothing. I would’ve done anything to stop her pain and her frustration, but she wouldn’t stop long enough to see that I was holding her. Then it hit me! This is the way I act in my relationship with Christ. I scream, fuss, hold my breath, nothing suits me. If I could just have it my way. I am not always sure what it is that has me frustrated, but I fight. I thrash. I pursue peace from what has me shaken on the inside and yet I am so busy fussing that I miss out on the fact that my Father is holding me. He doesn’t always take away the pain, but He Always provides Comfort. He promises that He will never leave me nor forsake me no matter what I am facing, and sometimes it isn’t that He removes the obstacle, it’s that He is willing to hold me all the way through it! When my daughter finally relaxed and realized it was her daddy that was holding her while she struggled, she finally gave up laid her head on my shoulder and we rocked til she was sound asleep! Sometimes when the pain comes all you can do, is be still and know that He is God!

Question – What has your children taught you about your relationship with Christ?

Thanksgiving!

This morning I woke up to the sound of my sons singing the Thanksgiving song. You know the one, it goes something like this…..”Thanksgiving day is a happy day, when we say Thank you God”……..as we all sang the chorus around the house, because we couldn’t remember the other words, I began to ponder all that I want to tell God I am thankful for. I’m not trying to be all sentimental, but honest, and I really have a lot to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for our new Westlake campus. We have had the privilege to see many people who are looking for a Church family come to the Westlake campus. I have met many new people with great God stories, and I have met some who are waiting to see their God story happen! I can truly say thank you God for Westlake and the great honor to be a part of the journey. I am thankful today for my family and especially the addition of my daughter Mahala. Last year we were expecting her and this year…….she is sitting in the living room crying!……I never thought I would have a daughter and now that she is here, I am thankful and humbled all at the same time.  

It has been a fast year. It has been a hard year. It has been a historic year. The economy has been up and down, mostly down with some historic lows and fall outs. We have a new President-Elect, who will be the first African-American President. 2008 has proven to be a one-of-a-kind year. But even in the midst of all the changes, worry, and excitement, God has given us all some things to be thankful for. I have many more things that I am thankful for and will share with you soon. But I have a question for you……….Today what are you thankful for? Be Bold, Be proud, Be thankful. Tell us all what you are thankful for!

Candy, Candy, Candy

I don’t know if you and your family acknowledge Halloween, but we have decided that Candy is a good motivation to get dressed up! In fact this year we dressed up like Spiderman, Batman, the Incredible Hulk, and a butterfly, and would you believe, we bagged some serious Candy. I must admit I encouraged the superheroes to pursue the always fulfilling “Milk Duds” yum! We visited the grandparents and once again we were not disappointed.

Question – What is your must have Candy?