All is quiet...It's Christmas Eve Morning

I have been getting up early in the morning to enjoy time alone. It is something that I really don't enjoy doing, but know that I must. I have tried, very hard sometimes, to sleep in, but it never happens. One of the babies will cry. The dog will need to be let out. Or I simply cannot sleep. No matter what it is, I must get up. I get up and simply begin to type. Type my thoughts and my questions to my God who knows all before I even type them. I type and then listen. I will be honest, there are some mornings when the keys begin to blend into one giant blur. But there are other mornings when I hear the quiet whisper of the one that shaped the dust into life. I hear the small voice that called out to Lazarus to come out and live. I hear the invitation to the same abundant life that has been given to all and the question is...will I accept it or will I chose something of less worth? There are many mornings I listen. I want to hear what the Creator has to say. There are other mornings where I am more concerned about my requests than I am His response. This is so backwards, I know, but it is how I respond sometimes. I am constantly learning. I am always being shaped and molded even when I do not feel like I can be stretched anymore. The moment I believe I will break I realize there is rest and it is not because the stretching has ceased, but it is instead God has moved me on to something different.

I typed "bigger" and it is often the case, but there are times when different and bigger is actually "smaller". It is not that God is not concerned about the big things in life, but the reality is that He is going to move me in the direction of the "bigger" things when I have been refined enough in the smaller things. When I have been refined enough to be patient with a child. Refined to pay attention to detail in memorizing "His word in my heart." Refined enough to...hear His small voice when I want to scream with my long list of requests. Life is constantly a refinement period and an opportunity to listen and grow. It is certainly a journey and I am not sure where I am at on the journey, but I know who has charted the course and I trust Him. And I will follow Him wherever He leads in both the big and the small.

Something New

It has been a very long time since I last posted. It is not because I have nothing to post, but instead because so much is going on. It seems to be that way doesn't it. The busier you are the more you have to say. How do you slow down enough to do what you need to do? How do you relax enough to enjoy the moments that you are experiencing? This is something that I am wrestling with. I hear everyone say about my kids growing up, "Don't blink, because it won't be long until they are married." I think, if that is true how do I do this? How do I handle all of the busy-ness of life in a way that is honoring to my kids growing up and the work that I have been called to? It is something that I will wrestle with and someday may discover the secret to. Until that time I will simply continue to take each moment that I have and live it to the fullest.

Thoughts about God

I am sitting in my living room...that is empty. I still cannot believe as I sit here all that is happening. Just a few days ago we had no idea where we were going to be moving and now the house is empty and we are moving to an incredible house. How does this happen? How do we continue to be blessed over and over again? We truly do not deserve it and yet God continues to chase after us with His incredible love. How do I put all this together? I am not going to the extreme that says "name it and claim it" but how do I not believe that God wants to bless His children? The question still continues though when there are questions about bad things happening to good people. Why if God is in the business of blessing? I don't get it. It is something that I will continue to wrestle with. God help me to understand. Help me to see how these two "views" of God reconcile.
I hope to post more in regards to this in the future. Right now my mind is going all over though and I don't know at all what to post. Thanks for listening though to my ramblings.

God is good all the time

I am just reflecting how good God is all the time. There are many times that we know this fact, but there are some days that it simply stands out to us like a glaring neon sign. This past Friday, August 1st, 2008, was my wife's birthday. She stated that the only thing she wanted was to know if we were going to get the house that we had made an offer on. It was in the dreaded "short sale" process. We had been told that the shortest time that this could take was 45 days. Her birthday would be less than 21 days and I wanted to prepare her for the worst...it wouldn't happen. Well, that afternoon we heard that in fact the short sale had gone through. God cared enough to let my wife know his love in a very personal way. It did not stop there tough. We went shopping for a rocking chair for her as we will be having our newest member to our family soon. We took the information up to the counter to pay for it and they range it up...$260 off. They were having an 18 hour sale and the chair was already on sale so it was going to be 45% off. Amazing. Then we went out for dinner and I asked the waiter what the specials where for birthday's. My wife is kicking me under the table now because she does not want cake nor have them come and sing for her. The waiter informed us it was a free meal! God is good all the time, but there are days like my wife had today that make it so clear. It is simply amazing!

First in many to come

Just want to start posting some things. I hope to use this blog spot as a way to keep people up to date with what is happening with my family and to help people better pray for us. It will also be a way that I or Tricia will be able to articulate our thoughts as to what God is doing in our midst. I hope you enjoy.