The Beauty of the Snow

Last night I drove around town and just stopped and took some pictures of the snow. Sometimes it's hard to just take the moment and realize God's handiwork...this was one of those moments of reflecting on the beauty of His creation.

Snow Days are Non-Existant

Snow, snow go away, don't come back another day...

Relationship vs. Ritual

It's a fine line...relationship vs. rituals. God AGAIN challenged me this weekend through a series of events to evaluate my relationship with Him and stop focusing on the rituals that have for so long defined my relationship. Being rasied in a Christian home, attending Christian school for half of my life, and church services three times a week made it easy for me to fall in the the trap of measuring my "Christianity" by these standards. But it's not about church attendance and wearing a suit and tie. To stop focusing on "man's approval" but the true and ultimate authority, Jesus Christ.

Evaluate what's important...an intimate relationship with the Savior, Father, Messiah, Redeemer, Friend...it may seem cliche, but there is no guarantee of tomorrow. "Fire insurance" isn't enough...don't waste years and years trying to "do, do, do". Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not on the basis on deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (NASB).

Simply Annoying

So tonight I went to Arby's to get a quick bite to eat, and the order took awhile in the drive-thru so I had enough time to drink my entire cup of unsweeten ice tea...but there are no refills in the drive-thru. Very sad, Arby's, very sad. If there is enough time for me to drink my entire cup of tea, shouldn't you at least fill it back up. So in theory, I could have parked my car and filled the cup up myself?

I know, I know...don't sweat the small stuff.

A Servant's Heart

This is my calling...to be a servant.

In today's society, we can go to a spa or salon, pay $25-$50 to be pampered for thirty minutes while someone massages our heels, toes, and ankles, moistures and trims our cuticles, and finishes the pedicure with a nice coat of nail polish. Relatively speaking, the feet are not too much cleaner than when the pedicure began and

John 13 portrays the day in which Jesus washed His disciples feet. Think about the culture when John writes. Men would walk miles and miles every day in sandles that barely cover their feet. Dirt and germs would cultivate their feet. Jesus, the Savior who would be betrayed several hours later, was not giving these men a pedicure, but rather cleaning one of the dirtiest parts of their body as a symbol of giving as a true servant should.

Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless Savior humbled himself to wash His disciples feet in order to show us that being a servant is important and critical part of our efforts toward being more Christ-like, Christians.

If people's physical needs are not met, how can their spiritual needs be met?

Tonight, along side several other believers, we are going to do exactly this...serve a family in need. Not for our own praise or admoration, but to the glory and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayfully and optimistically desiring to rekindle old relationships with fellow believers and ultimately Jesus Christ.

The Little Things...

Isn't it amazing how God can show us how involved He is in our lives in the small things? Psalm 139 is a perfect example of how God is intimately involved in our lives.

Today, Ryleigh called me to tell me that she went potty on the "big potty". She was so excited and proud of herself. Jared and I have been struggling SO MUCH to potty train her. As many may know, she is very stubborn in nature and preferred to do things in her own time.

Today, I needed this little bit of encouragment and good news. It may seem small to some, but thankful that God helped us through a daunting task.

For the record, I know the challenges of potty training are not finished, but this is surely a step in the right direction.

The Office

Oh, the lazy evenings of watching The Office re-runs...wish these nights could be more often...

Leaves, Leaves, and More Leaves

Two sugar maples in the front yard = too many leaves. Glancing out of the front window, from the edge of our property paning across to the edge of the sidewalk, all that is seen is a blanket of leaves. Varying in color, size, shape, and design. The beauty of fall's changes in colors is tantalized by blowing, raking, and mowing. This year's leaves are gone. Leaves, we'll meet again...hopefully later than sooner.

Pride in Jesus Christ...NOT Ourselves

Undefeated...7 wins and 0 losses...over double the amount of points of our opponents - 248 points with opponents only scoring 101 points...even in junior high basketball it can be so easy to become prideful.

Right now, this is my mission field. To coach. To my knowledge, the girls profess to be born-again believers and I have the amazing opportunity to teach the girls Biblical truth through practical situations and athletics.

While an athlete in high school, my attitude due to my pride was to say it mildly, horrible and haunts me to this day. I didn't start with the attitude but developed it as my skill level increased. God gave me a talent and passion for basketball and instead of using it for his glory, I used it for my own satisfaction and gain. This is one of those things that when asked if I could do one thing differently, what would it be? This is my "one" thing. Who knows where I'd be today and God has blessed me even despite myself.

This is why I coach the way I do. Wearing your emotions can be so dangerous because it shows how the heart is inside. If our heart is humble, the poor and prideful attitude will not be demonstrated on the court.



Recently I heard an analogy that has stuck out to me and I can't stop thinking about it. I've heard, read, and thought about the Christmas story countless times, but never thought about it in this context. Think of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to earth as a newborn baby. I don't know if you've ever witnessed a baby being born, but it's not "pretty". There is blood and fluids everywhere. Jesus came through the birth canal just like everyone else. How humbling was it to be born in a stable entering the world with nothing...but yet living a perfect life.

Honestly, what is there to be prideful about? Who gave us the ability to do all these things? Not ourselves, Jesus. Does it only make sense to have pride in Jesus and not in our ourselves. The concepts are so trivial; however, it took me over 20 years to figure it out.

Do yourself a favor...heed the advice today. Pride is like a POISON!!!

Tarheels

Just signed top recruit Harrison Barnes and joins recruits Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall...GO TARHEELS!!! Excited for this season and next...CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE WE COME!!!

Exhaustion

I honestly don't know how single parents do what they do. My "single parenting" has only been for three days and I am at the point of complete exhaustion.

It all started on Tuesday evening while still on vacation in Orlando, FL. My mom's leg began to swell and turn bright red. After spending 3 hours in the emergency room, the decision was to hospitalize her...but she was suppose to board a plane in 5 hours. Immediate decisions needed to be made. After 2 hours of sleep, we packed everything up and left Jared to stay with my mom and Ryleigh and me flew back to Kansas City. Taking a two year old with "personality" on a flight is enough "fun" with two parents, but with one parent, we'll just say it got ugly. Those three hours were probably 3 of the longest, hardest, and emotionally draining hours of my life. After getting off the flight, trying to retrieve luggage - 7 bags, stroller, and backpack carrier, carrying, pulling, pushing the luggage from the ecomony parking to the car, then driving 3 hours back to Des Moines...trying to not fall asleep with my sleeping toddler in the backseat. Next step, trying to arrange schedules for work, coaching, sleep...at the end of it all...just exhausted.

Thankful that my "single parenthood" is only lasting 3 days...and excited for Jared's return.

Today, pray with me for individuals who are are single parents, for strength and encouragment knowing that God can provide the strength needed in everything and all situations. Isaiah 40:29 "He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, He increases power" NASB.

Imitator of Christ: Thankful

Ephesians 5:20 says "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the father" NASB.

Over the last year, God has been teaching me SO MUCH about being thankful. First, by truly examining the meaning of being thankful. Webster's Dictionary says that to be "thankful" is to be "conscious of benefit received" or "well pleased". So to take this definition and put it into what the Bible says about being thankful is to always being conscious of benefit(s) received. To be thankful in the good is fairly easy. But to be thankful when things are not so good, is another story.

"Christians" sometimes focus on hiding struggles rather than sharing those struggles and working along side other believers to fight through those struggles that others share too and hense grow closer to Christ. So let me be honest...

I have not "always" been thankful. My perspective about being thankful changed about a year ago. One would think after being raised in a Christian family and being taught Biblical truth for 25+ years, that a concept perceived as so simple would not be such a daunting task. Quite the contrary. It took my life nearly being taken, for me to understand how to be thankful. Is it easy? No, it's a process. But asking questions like "am I glorifying God by responding this way" or "is this how Christ responded" is a step in the direction or being an Imitator of Christ.

New To Blogging

Never before have I blogged...but now is the time. I have so many things that I want to say and don't...so this will be my new outlet.