My own Secret Service "team"!

PThe Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV)

I am always fascinated by the entourage that travels with our President and the planning it takes to coordinate his protection. Recently President Obama has been making unscheduled public appearances. I'm sure this makes his security team anxious to say the least. They are with him and his family 24-7 and there is no such thing as being alone, yet you always get the impression the president and his family are just like the rest of us when we leave home. Not true!

I have my own secret service. God, my mighty warrior, is always there to save me. He constantly watches over me like a finely trained secret service detail. He loves his job! He delights in the time he spends with me, he rejoices with singing at his assignment. He is there to keep me from my enemies. He is not there to judge. There will be time for that later. I am awed by his unyielding presence in my life. 

Thank you Lord! I feel your presence even though you are not visible. I know you are there, behind the scenes, directing my life and I praise you for it! I praise you that you let me be free to choose your direction in my life. I have seen your protection and I know the only real choice is to choose you to guide me and watch over me. Thank you Lord. You are amazing and truly wonderful!

What do you love?

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:21 NIV)

I love riding motorcycles, especially with my wife. I love traveling and exploring Gods creation. I love technology and all the cool things we can do with it. I love teaching and working with kids. I love spending time in ministry with my CMA family. I love summer time and the warm weather. I love taking care of my yard, growing flowers, and watching them bloom. I love a great sunset. I love camping and sitting around a campfire. What is it that you love? I know I use this word love in a rather flippant way. People say "I love your outfit, your hair, your car, your house, your, blah, blah, blah!" I am one of those people. 

It's not evil to love the "things" of life. But, when I get to what I really Love -- God, my family, my brothers and sisters in Christ, there is a big difference. In some ways I wish there was another word for these two types of love because there is a huge difference between the love I feel for my motorcycle and the love I feel for God. But, there's not so it's up to me to make sure I live my life in a way people know what is REALLY important to me. I need to put people in front of "things" in my life. Love is about relationships. I don't think the Bible ever mentions love in terms of anything except relationships. This is love, that God sent his Son to Earth to die for us. That's not the "love of things" kind of love. That's real Love!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7 NIV)

Running through Life!

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

This verse has a different meaning for those of us who call ourselves "runners". I have run 5k's, 10k's, 20k's, half marathons, and marathons. It doesn't matter the distance, I've always been exhausted at the end. I've seen sprinters run a 40 and be useless the rest of the day. So saying "they will run and not grow weary" I saying a lot. 

The bible refers to life as a race, on many occasions. Running a race is exhausting and there always comes a point, after you think you have given everything you have, that you start wondering if you can make it. You fight an internal battle between your body and your spirit. The body says "this is crazy, stop!" and your spirit says "you can do it!" The spirit starts fighting the battle well before race day when it would be easier to stay in bed instead of getting up early to go on a training run. The body tries to convince you that a twenty mile training run is not necessary. The minds says, "do it, it will be worth it!"

That's exactly what God is trying to do for us. The world is telling us everything is ok. Do what you want. Live now, eat , drink, and be merry. There is no right or wrong, there is no truth. Living  in step with the world levels you tired, drained, and drifting aimlessly through life. The Holy Spirit is here to encourage us to remain faithful to the real truth of The Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit of God is here to help us fight our sinful nature, to make good decisions, and follow the perfect plan he has laid before us. I have found life continues to be exciting, energetic, and full of joy, when you follow the Spirit of God. You will be strong and able to deal with anything! 

Life is sometimes a grueling marathon. We need training and guidance to be able to win the race. We need the coaching of Jesus Christ to not only run the race, but win the race and cross the finish line into eternity! Our strength will be renewed, we will soar, we will not grow weary, and we will be blessed and life will be amazing!

Are you Coachable?

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16:20 NIV)

I have enjoyed coaching students and athletes in my lifetime. I have had the great fortune of being around some really talented young people both through athletics and In the classroom. My fondest memories are with those young people that were coachable, those students that trust you enough to try new things. They let you push them into uncomfortable territory and are willing to fail to get better. I can't remember too many of the great ones that weren't coachable. 

I wonder how God would describe my coachability? Do I listen to God? Do I let God stretch me, push me into uncomfortable territory? Am I willing to fail to improve myself and further the kingdom of God? In education, I see so many of my colleagues unwilling to try new things, stretch themselves, and risk failure to grow. We either have an arrogance that we can't improve or we are paralyzed with fear of failure. As a professional educator or as a Christian, these two theories doom us to ultimate failure and missed blessings.

We all need to be coachable in all we do. We need to always accept instruction because we are not perfect and we need to grow.  God wants us to develop beyond where we are right now in ALL parts of our lives, jobs, faith, and relationships. I need to be open to the leading of his spirit and willing to be led by those coaches he puts in my life. Open your hearts, minds, body, and soul. Let Jesus coach you up!

God as Father

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:3-5 NIV)

It's almost Fathers Day. I am a proud father. I have three wondeful daughters, two son-in-laws, 6 grandkids, and a wife who is my best friend. It may seem strange, but I wonder what my kids will remember of me after I'm gone. I know it seems a little vain. I want to be remembered well. I want to be remembered as someone who first loved The Lord, was devoted to his family and would die for them. I want to be remembered as someone who worked with passion and conviction, loved adventure, loved people, and was excited about life.  

I don't want to be remembered as the father who "talked" the dog into getting hit by a car, or who had to pull the car over on the Springmill Parkway to follow through on a threat of discipline. I don't want to be remembered as the angry father that found out his teenage daughter was pregnant. I don't want to be remembered as the father that brought fear to his daughters when they made mistakes or put undo pressure on them to run faster or work harder.

How do we look at our Heavenly Father? Do we look at him like a fat, jolly, Santa Claus? Do we look at him like the heavy handed tyrant that doles out discipline when we sin? Do we look at him as a God of mercy and grace or Father that sends pain and suffering out of his anger?

I have seen nothing but a loving Heavenly Father. I have seen a God that has shown ME mercy when I deserve wrath. I have seen a God that has brought me through my own mistakes to help me grow closer to him. I have seen MY Heavenly Father send his own son so that I might live. I have seen a Father that endured the pain of rejection and opened his arms when I came to my senses. He sacrificed all for me and continues to show that same love everyday. I love you Lord! I love you with all my heart! Thank you for directing my life in ways I could never understand! Tank you for being the perfect example of a Father. You are truly amazing! AMEN!