Count Your Blessings

Here it is early Thanksgiving morning. I'm the only one up so far. Surprisingly, Toby isn't even whining to go out yet. Years ago, the hymn writer encouraged us to COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. He even went as far as to say NAME THEM ONE BY ONE. If you look at the verses you'll see that it's in the rough times, those discouraging times when the waves of life are engulfing us that we are to count our blessings. Is that really fair? It's much easier to be thankful in the good times, isn't it? In the midst of conflict, whether great or small, I'd much rather wallow in the muck of my circumstances. But no, throughout this timeless hymn I am to remember that God is over all. Side note...God isn't in overalls. That kinda messes with the image of God to me. Sorry, squirrel moment. Back on track, God is over all. God is in control. Reminded of a saying, things over MY head are under HIS feet. Perspective, perspective. So today, with a scratchy throat, I count my blessings. I say thank you. I express gratitude to God, to others, maybe even to strangers, who knows who God will place in my path today. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Change

We have had a huge change in the weather this week. Monday it was in the 60's and here it is now Wednesday and I'm not sure if our temps are going to be above freezing for a couple of days. Compared to our friends in Winnipeg this is nothing. We go for days below freezing, they go for weeks, even months. Brrrrr. There were actually a few snowflakes flying around today. No accumulation but it is beautiful. 

I wonder if God made the seasons to keep us from being bored. I know that the seasons we have in Missouri are wonderful, even Summer. I also wonder if He changes the seasons just to blow our minds that He never changes. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. 

Regardless of what season in life we find ourselves, know that we aren't alone. God is with us and He has everything under control.

Try This Again

I've never been a daily blogger, or a weekly blogger, or a monthly blogger. If you've looked at my blog recently, you could say I'm not a blogger at all. Consistently, I'm a rare blogger. My last blog was the beginning of Summer and now we're into Autumn. Recently it's been raining...a lot. The rain was depressing to me. Felt like I was in the mid-Winter blahs a few months early. Well today is a cloudless, sunny day. There's a coolness in the air. Down our street there's a tree whose leaves are turning a brilliant red-orange color. The tree leaves nearest us are turning a less than brilliant brown. As the leaves all around us change it is usually breath-taking. The hues are beautiful. I know someone has said this before but it hit me today that these leaves, at the height of their beauty, are nearing their demise. As they turn color, they won't be staying on the trees long. They will indeed 'FALL'. But, it doesn't mean that the tree itself is dying. It is necessary for the trees to lose their leaves to survive the coming winter. God's design is mysterious at times. As winter approaches many animals' fur thickens in anticipation of the colder temperature but for most trees they seem to lose their covering and lay bare for the winter onslaught.  Maybe we can learn from these extreme plans of God for our lives. Are there things in our lives, maybe even beautiful things, that need to fall from our lives as we approach the next season in our lives? Are there layers of our lives that need to be added for our protection in this life change moment? Paul mentioned something about putting off those things that so easily entangle us. This is suppose to be a daily routine in our lives but maybe, like fall and spring cleaning, now is a good time to let some things fall from our lives. And what are a few things we can add...maybe an extra measure of love, grace, mercy, faith, and kindness. No matter how hard we try, our life seasons will change. Most trees seem to do this gracefully. Never heard a tree scream as its leaves are flying off in a strong wind. Also, never seen leaves protest before leaving the life-giving branch of their tree. We can also learn that as God changes our lives we should accept it gracefully.   

New Post

Every time I click on the second folder of bookmarks on my computer I see the link to my blog. Many times when I see it I think I should I write something. And now it's been since February that I've written. Time flies. Not sure if it's all been fun or not. We are on the upstart of another busy summer. Bonnie's team already has 3 VBS under their belt with another 6-7 to go this summer plus 3 mission trip. I am participating in next week's VBS because it's at our church. I'm teaching 6th grade. This is my third year teaching the first 2 years I think I did recreation. Thankful to be in the classroom rather than the heat all week. LOL. Praying that we will all keep our energies up throughout the summer. Oh and I have Youth Camp I'm leading in July which ends two days before we leave for Canada. Guess I need to pray I can remember where I'm supposed to be when this summer. On top of summer activities I'm listening occasionally to Christmas music getting ready for the most wonderful time of the year. Although I love listening to Christmas music, I'm not sure I get as excited as I use to. Not sure if it's circumstances or age or what. I know I've written before about not being as excited about Christmas as before 2008. There are still times when life seems less life-full but other times like the past couple of weeks that have been great. Our anniversary and birthday was a couple of weekends ago and Bonnie's birthday was this week. Those days were sweet, fun, memorable. I want more days like those. I believe there are more of them on the horizon. A reminder from the movie God's Not Dead was the line...God is good all the time and all the time God is good. I needed that. I hope to update more throughout the summer. If I don't well...I'll see you in the Fall. 

Here We Are Again

Here we are again. It's been 6 years now since the girls' departure from this world and entrance into eternity. It's just after 330 pm when I'm writing this. We are within 15 minutes from the last time we saw the girls alive. Alive as we knew them. I did see Alicia in the ambulance at the accident scene. She was still alive, but she wasn't the 17 year old I knew then. It's amazing how time flies. I used to remember every detail, now I have to make myself remember anything about that day. Beginning to wonder if there's something wrong with me or not. Is it that I simply don't remember or am I choosing not to remember? I don't know. Honestly, I don't think about Kayla and Alicia everyday. Does that make me a bad dad? I know I wasn't the best father then, I believe I'm a little better now. I'm a lot less hot-tempered. Sometimes I want things to be the same but I know they can't be. I know they are ok. And I believe I am or will be ok. We are so blessed with family and friends who love and care for us. Friends who knew the girls and friends who didn't. Friends who knew us before and friends who didn't. For our new friends, it may seem as if we've always been this way, however they perceive us. For our old friends, they may see a difference in us. I've been told I am different than the person I was 6 years ago. My problem is I don't see it. I don't remember how I was. Apparently, more talkative, happier maybe, more social. It's like everything ended and started over again all in one instance. This is my rambling site. Please don't get overly concerned about me. I just need to place to vent sometimes. Probably should try to get these thoughts out of my head more often. There are some basic truths that we cling to...

1. Kayla and Alicia both had a real relationship with God through Christ. They are without a doubt safe and sound, enjoying eternity. Sometimes it seems like they on the mission field in some beautiful remote place serving God. The biggest drawback is that there is no communication. No letters, no calls, no texts, no nothing. But they are doing well and are completely content serving God with their lives. 

2. We WILL see them again some day. We don't know when that day will be. It's not like we can plan a family vacation to go visit them. But there will be a day when we will be reunited. When I was younger I never fully appreciated our hymns and other songs on heaven. That seemed to be a time so far away. It still feels very far away but I have this yearning now, this unexplainable yearning, to be there. Steven Curtis Chapman and Bart Millard of MercyMe and many other writers have so eloquently expressed a longing to be home, really home. Not these temporary surroundings that we call home.

3. God is in control. He is forever faithful. Forever loving, Forever true. He is forever forever. That makes me smile. 

Believe it or not, I have a peace that passes understanding. I have a joy that is not based on circumstances. I have a love that is not founded on feelings. I have a God who is and always will be right where I am, even in those times when I'm even uncertain where that is. 

In the time it's taken me to write this entry, 6 years ago Kayla and Alicia moved from seeing a reflection of God through a dirty mirror to seeing Him face to face. That to me is...simply, beautifully, utterly amazing!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!!!! 2014 is here. Seems like yesterday was the beginning 2013. If time flies when we're having fun then we must be hilarious! I've been considering a theme for 2014. This will be the thing that shapes the year. It may not be overly profound. As I look at things I want to accomplish the next 364 days I want to add these four words...   
    I want to be a better husband...SO HELP ME GOD.
    I want to be a better father...SO HELP ME GOD.
    I want to grow closer to others...SO HELP ME GOD.
    I want to grow closer to my Savior...SO HELP ME GOD.
    I want to love more...SO HELP ME GOD.
    I want to give more...SO HELP ME GOD.
    I want to share more...SO HELP ME GOD.
As I wake up every morning this year before I get outta bed I want to glance through my day and whatever needs to be done may I always say SO HELP ME GOD.