Oct 12, 2009
Another walk
Tony walks out of the room coaxing Lily to go with him. Brandon plays with Lexi on our bed. The time is right and Tracy and I slip out the door. Another walk together. It has almost become a daily tradition. Thanks to my big boys for watching the little ones. I so enjoy walking with Tracy's hand in mine the .4 miles up our gravel road, across Kibler, up through the cemetery and then back again. Not sure when this season will end but it will be one of my favorites.
Jun 21, 2009
Wake up hungry
Jeremiah finally got me out of bed around 6:45. He had made breakfast for us on father's day. He is so excited about today and I am so blessed.
Jan 28, 2009
Beyond the stained glass window
It’s has been a long time but I really do like posting so here goes.
The doctor told Tracy that the place where her incision was made years ago (Before Jeremiah, Josiah, Lily, and now Lexi) was stretched so much that it looked like a stain glass window. I wouldn’t have wanted to see Lexi through that window (as I am a bit squeamish) but I do appreciate that her body held up until Lexi could be delivered safely. Anyone who knows me well and was around me a bunch the last few weeks, probably knew that I was a bit stressed.
We are blessed to have all of these children. And the last four have been a blessing that some doctors told us was not possible. We were told that there was no alternative to shutting down the factory. So here is Lexi. I don’t know her very well yet, but I think she will grow up and tell you that God has a plan for her and for you too.
The doctor told Tracy that the place where her incision was made years ago (Before Jeremiah, Josiah, Lily, and now Lexi) was stretched so much that it looked like a stain glass window. I wouldn’t have wanted to see Lexi through that window (as I am a bit squeamish) but I do appreciate that her body held up until Lexi could be delivered safely. Anyone who knows me well and was around me a bunch the last few weeks, probably knew that I was a bit stressed.
We are blessed to have all of these children. And the last four have been a blessing that some doctors told us was not possible. We were told that there was no alternative to shutting down the factory. So here is Lexi. I don’t know her very well yet, but I think she will grow up and tell you that God has a plan for her and for you too.
Sep 1, 2008
Open a door
In Sunday school we were discussing David and Saul. The passage below is part of what we were reading:
1 Samuel 18:28
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success [f] than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known.
God brought to mind the passage about opening doors. When I looked it up, I was suprised to see the words "who holds the key of David".
Revelation 3:7
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
As me and my friends move forward in an outreach ministry I do feel like I have little strength. Will you pray with me for God to open a door that NO ONE CAN SHUT! Pray with me that many will fall down at the feet of Jesus and acknowledge his love.
1 Samuel 18:28
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success [f] than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known.
God brought to mind the passage about opening doors. When I looked it up, I was suprised to see the words "who holds the key of David".
Revelation 3:7
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
As me and my friends move forward in an outreach ministry I do feel like I have little strength. Will you pray with me for God to open a door that NO ONE CAN SHUT! Pray with me that many will fall down at the feet of Jesus and acknowledge his love.
Aug 8, 2008
Anniversary
Happy anniversary Tracy. That is today isn’t it. I have been married well over half of my life. The wife of my youth has been faithful and loving. Our marriage is not perfect. Pride and selfishness sneak in at times and we argue about stupid things. That tends to happen anytime you take your eyes off of the Lord. I confess this because it is true. But do you know what? God has been faithful and patient with us . I am grateful to you Lord. It is amazing that he has blessed us so greatly. He has given us His word to live by and to train up our children with. He has given us many beautiful children and the strength, wisdom, and patients to raise them. Again, not that I have done this perfectly, but He has given us so much grace. He has given us wonderful friends that we can share with and grow with, friends who have touched our lives and encouraged us to be better people, better parents, and better children of God.
What is this married couple that I belong to. I am Papa and she is Momma. We are a team. We dream together and often find reality outside of our dreams together. We parent as a team. We love to cook together. We love to be together but try not to neglect the other things that God has called us to be. In fact, we are a team that has been built to fulfill His many purposes, children be a primary purpose in our marriage. The many blessing God has given me I do not deserve. I don’t know why he chose me to receive them. But I thank you Lord, and I will give you the glory for all the good in my life.
What is this married couple that I belong to. I am Papa and she is Momma. We are a team. We dream together and often find reality outside of our dreams together. We parent as a team. We love to cook together. We love to be together but try not to neglect the other things that God has called us to be. In fact, we are a team that has been built to fulfill His many purposes, children be a primary purpose in our marriage. The many blessing God has given me I do not deserve. I don’t know why he chose me to receive them. But I thank you Lord, and I will give you the glory for all the good in my life.
Jul 19, 2008
Papa pursuing Joy (and Love)
What is up with Papa. Well, I have been dealing with a lot of emotions this year.
To sum up:
TJ moved out
I turned 40
Lana got married
Mom passed away
We are having another baby
I’ve learned something, when the emotions swell up, the mental, physical, and spiritual take the back seat, shrink from grapes to raisins, dry up like tears on a hot sidewalk, um you get the point. So it has been time for evaluating where I am and where I want to go (or as God’s child, I could also say, where does God want me to go, I mean the same thing).
Priority one - Me. Not in a selfish way, but the papa has to be ok. The leader has to have a plan. He has the have a vision that fulfills his purpose, which indeed implies that he has a purpose. He needs to have patience and lots of it. He has to have a storehouse of faith and hope that he can share in a moment. To be followed, he needs to have joy. He’d like to have peace and in great measure too. He can’t get wrapped around the axel, sucked in by the vacuum of details, tipped over and tossed out by the waves of tasks and demands. (I think I hear the grass growing right now, wait, stop it, it’s still dark out.) Yet he can’t let the details fall to the ground. The Papa has a lot to do and a lot giving to give. He can’t demand to much from the helpmeet that is given to him, he can’t drain the children to shore up his emotional well being. He needs to be close to the commander and know the commanders heart. He needs time for reflection, refreshing, refilling, and revival of the heart.
I’ve recently memorized I Corinthians 13:4-8, that was the easy part. The Papa need to put that into practice. I have also memorized the fruits of the spirit but my branches are not necessarily straining to support large quantities of fruit. The Papa needs that kind of fruit. The soldier needs his training and his armor. The shepherd, his wisdom and his staff. But the dad, this here Papa, he needs to be drenched in and dripping of the attributes of love. This here Papa has got his own arrows to shoot and I need to make sure that I am seeing clearly. I can’t allow myself to be blinded by selfishness or ugliness. I can’t allow selfishness to cloud my discernment. I must discern the correct target. There are a million things to aim my arrows at but I can only aim at one of them. I have a great influence on where my arrows land.
Pray that I will stay faithful to getting up and spending time seeking the Lords will, favor, blessings, discernment, aid, comfort, protection, provision, strength, vision, direction, wisdom, and love. This here Papa needs all that and so much more from the Lord and I would cherish your prayers in this regard because I intend for things to keep changing around here.
Peace from the Papa who is pursuing Joy (and Love).
To sum up:
TJ moved out
I turned 40
Lana got married
Mom passed away
We are having another baby
I’ve learned something, when the emotions swell up, the mental, physical, and spiritual take the back seat, shrink from grapes to raisins, dry up like tears on a hot sidewalk, um you get the point. So it has been time for evaluating where I am and where I want to go (or as God’s child, I could also say, where does God want me to go, I mean the same thing).
Priority one - Me. Not in a selfish way, but the papa has to be ok. The leader has to have a plan. He has the have a vision that fulfills his purpose, which indeed implies that he has a purpose. He needs to have patience and lots of it. He has to have a storehouse of faith and hope that he can share in a moment. To be followed, he needs to have joy. He’d like to have peace and in great measure too. He can’t get wrapped around the axel, sucked in by the vacuum of details, tipped over and tossed out by the waves of tasks and demands. (I think I hear the grass growing right now, wait, stop it, it’s still dark out.) Yet he can’t let the details fall to the ground. The Papa has a lot to do and a lot giving to give. He can’t demand to much from the helpmeet that is given to him, he can’t drain the children to shore up his emotional well being. He needs to be close to the commander and know the commanders heart. He needs time for reflection, refreshing, refilling, and revival of the heart.
I’ve recently memorized I Corinthians 13:4-8, that was the easy part. The Papa need to put that into practice. I have also memorized the fruits of the spirit but my branches are not necessarily straining to support large quantities of fruit. The Papa needs that kind of fruit. The soldier needs his training and his armor. The shepherd, his wisdom and his staff. But the dad, this here Papa, he needs to be drenched in and dripping of the attributes of love. This here Papa has got his own arrows to shoot and I need to make sure that I am seeing clearly. I can’t allow myself to be blinded by selfishness or ugliness. I can’t allow selfishness to cloud my discernment. I must discern the correct target. There are a million things to aim my arrows at but I can only aim at one of them. I have a great influence on where my arrows land.
Pray that I will stay faithful to getting up and spending time seeking the Lords will, favor, blessings, discernment, aid, comfort, protection, provision, strength, vision, direction, wisdom, and love. This here Papa needs all that and so much more from the Lord and I would cherish your prayers in this regard because I intend for things to keep changing around here.
Peace from the Papa who is pursuing Joy (and Love).
Jul 3, 2008
Happy Birthday America!
I am greatful to live in this country. As I get older, I understand just a little more how blessed we are. I leave you with a few quotes from John Adams (our second president) and a link to many more quotes on WallBuilders. What a rich heritage we have.
"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!"
"I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world."
"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!"
"I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world."
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