Settling for less

I find that I do this often...I don't do it on purpose, but I do it none the less...I, once more, have found myself settling for less than I know God wants for me. It's like a "V8 moment" when I realize what I have done. I could have had joy instead of happiness. I could have had time with God instead of a time of worry. I could have had peace instead of an anxious heart. I could have had..... I have done this so often, with such a regularity, that I know I will do it again, but I'm always disappointed with myself when I realize I have done it once more. God wants so much more for me than I enjoy. So, once more, this morning I find myself repenting. Not for any sin. That's not what repentance is always about. Repentance means to turn and go in a completely different direction. So, once more I get my spiritual map out and change my directions, repent, and get back on the path I want to follow. It's a path that starts with a relationship with God and from that relationship comes all the rest. It's so simple I easily seek other things and lose out on God's best. So, once more....a new direction....a refocus and a humble walk back to my relationship with God. There will be much behind me that I have focused on that will call out to me....needing my attention. It will be hard to ignore all those things and simply walk with God, but I must. The rest will work out.

...
Mat 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

God's work among us

I got to meet with two different pastor friends today and an old friend who has moved to east Texas. Each of these visits was great. Each of the pastors has problems and issues they are working through. Their problems and situations are different, so are their denominations, but they are both seeking to follow God as they lead their churches. My old friend is part of one of these ministries. He's an elder in his church, teaches Sunday school and is a valuable leader. Each of these men is so different, but each of them is serving God in amazing ways. As I was coming home today I thought about my visits with these 3 men. It made me think about the book of Esther. I know, they aren't connected at all, except for this...Esther and my friends are all trying to follow God and serve him. Sometimes we don't see God working, but he is. Sometimes we ask what his plan is for us, but that unfolds in His time, not ours. Each of us lives out life in the middle of moments that leave us unable to see God's big picture, but he's painting it. He's working. In each life it looks different. In each ministry his plan is specific, yes it will all be for his glory, but he uses all kinds of men and women to accomplish his work. It's such a blessing to see God working in the lives around me. I can't wait to see what he does in each of these lives because they are each an example of God's work among us.

Monday's cartoon

Billy Mclaughlin

I'm still amazed at what I heard and enjoyed tonight at church. Here is some of Billy's work. I think he was even better tonight.

Quote of the day

Darwin

A new movie is coming out on the life of Charles Darwin. This is a brief trailer for the movie. It's amazing the impact on culture and the world this one man has had. It's amazing how his thoughts, only theories really, have changed the way our whole culture believes. It's amazing to me that so few realize the leap of faith they must make to believe in evolution. So now, here we are, with two clear systems of faith- one believing there is a God who made everything, and the other believing it all just happened with the help of the god of chance. For me, in case you wondered, I have made my leap of faith and believe a sovereign God made everything, and I even take it further, I believe he made it just as he said he did...in 6 days. Crazy, you may say, but may I say that to believe all of this amazing universe simply happened by accident is an even greater leap of faith than the one I make. So, here I stand, in conflict with the science of the day believing in a God who made everything. It's a step of faith I gladly make because he has proven himself to exist and he has proven his word to be faithful.

Everything I need to know...

One of our ladies brought me a framed picture with this photo and list. I liked it, thought you might too.

...

Everything I Need To Know I Learned From Noah's Ark
...
One- Don't miss the boat.

Two- Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three- Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four- Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five- Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six- Build your future on high ground.

Seven- For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

Eight- Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine- When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten- Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven- No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Happy Anniversary!

Some things should never happen, but they do. Spongebob SquarePants has been on television for 10 years! Being a grandfather I have watched EVERY episode of Spongebob OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!

Just writing about it is making me nervous. Mr. Crabs, Patrick, Plankton, and Squidward have become part of our lives. It's the price we pay to be parents and grandparents- stinky diapers and Spongebob!

In fact, on our recent trip to Iowa, I listened to the Spongebob movie at least 4 times!

So, my point? There are some things in life that make others happy and us miserable. It's true. My grandchildren can sit for hours watching Spongebob and as I sit with them I feel my brain turning to mush. But I watch it because they love it, I love them and I love being with them. It's one of the sacrifices of life. It's something we do because we love those around us. Love bears all things according to Paul in 1 Corinthians. I never imagined that would include Spongebob SquarePants!

Observation for the day

I'm reading in Leviticus right now and it suddenly struck me....

God is not now, nor has he ever been, politically correct.

And for that I'm eternally grateful!

A question from the bleachers

Here's a good question for discussion from the bleachers. Let me throw it out for your thoughts. I have a lot to say on this topic, but will wait for your thoughts. Here's my friend's question-

Mike,

As a Christian that loves to argue the fine and unimportant issues of Christian life I came to a question that I have no good answer for. On the question of 'faith versus works' I am strongly on the faith side. The real issue then becomes "how much understanding of the true God makes my faith valid?". I am not looking for a one-on-one explanation of this question, but I am putting it out as a question for your blog, or possibly a sermon topic. God tells us that we can never fully understand Him while we are still in the flesh, so is the knowledge of God through His work in creation, with faith that He will provide for my eternal needs enough?

Always questioning and never fully knowledgeable Mike McM

Ok, readers, have at it and have fun....

A funny moment...

Last night, as we were coming home from dinner with friends, Joye and I both broke out laughing at the same time when, in front of us, we saw a pickup truck with a dog in back. The dog turned to look at us and to our surprise the dog was wearing bright green goggles. It's funny when moments like this happen. Unexpected moments. It's great to have moments to laugh. Life gets far too serious at times, so a dog with bright green goggles was just what we needed at the moment and it was completely unexpected. I'm glad to have funny moments to celebrate.

Top 10 reasons

There is something very interesting about the top 10 reasons young adults drop out of church....the reasons haven't changed much since I was in my 20's. Some may disagree with me, but I don't see a lot of difference from the reasons I heard nearly 40 years ago. So I wonder...is it ultimately just a heart issue? I know there are things about the church that we must change and work on, but even if we had the music just right. Even if the pastor was the best teacher, best guy in the world. Even if all things were perfect I don't think these reasons would change that much. I wonder...is it ultimately a heart issue?

Monday's cartoon

Quote of the day

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …
Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”

-Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

Home

What a great word "home" is. It speaks of a place to rest, to be yourself, to come back to. We are finally home. The drive back was an ordeal. Nearly 15 hours in all, but we finally made it back home.....to a hot house that needs some air conditioner work, but we are home. It's great. The time with my parents to celebrate their 60th anniversary was wonderful. I'm so glad we went. It won't happen in many generations after theirs, but to be married 60 years is an amazing thing to me. We really enjoyed our time in Iowa and the short visit with family. But there's nothing like home. So, time for a little rest, an air conditioner guy to visit and then back to work. Here's a photo of the "mob" of great-grand children as we celebrated with my parents.