A little over a year ago Roxie, our wonderful canine companion of nine years, had an early morning stroke and passed away five hours later. It was sudden, heart-wrenching, and left a dog-shaped hole in our lives.
As the cold, dreary days of winter rolled in, Kristi started to casually peruse some pet adoption web sites. It wasn't long before she was posing the question, "Are we ready to get another dog?" I wasn't.
The question kept popping up until it was obvious that Kristi's need to once again have a four-legged friend clicking around on our hardwood floors was deeply felt. I relented and now we have Piper, a shelter dog from Osage Beach. She is very shy and has many fears, but we are patiently working with her and seeing a lot of progress.
As I was walking Piper, God impressed on me that while agreeing to another dog, even though I was not 100% on board, was important for Kristi and a sacrifice of sorts on my part, it was not as important as the day-in and day-out, small-scale sacrifices I often over look.
Going to the basement to fold the laundry even though I am in an interesting part of a book. Making sure the forks are turned the right way in the silverware drawer. Asking for, then taking Kristi's advice. Putting down the iPad when Kristi wants to tell me about her most recent plant purchase. These are what show love every day. These "small" things make her feel valued and cherished.
Diamonds, vacations, and even new puppies are visible, grand gestures of love. But they should never replace washing dishes, warming up the car, and taking an interest in crochet.
Big love gets "oohs" and "ahhs", but small, consistent love strengthens and endures.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Never Too Old January 9, 2019
Recently while preparing to teach a small group lesson over Genesis 31, I did some background research and discovered that Jacob was around 80 years old when he arrived at his uncle's house in Haran. Over the next 20 years he married two women, fathered 12 children, and amassed a fortune through selective stock breeding. Not bad for a guy his age. What is even more amazing and encouraging is the personal and spiritual growth we see in Jacob.
Jacob left his home in Beersheba in a hurry. He had tricked his father in to giving away Esau's blessing and was under a death threat from his brother. Jacob's mother concocted a story to deceive Isaac about why she was getting Jacob out of the country.
But after 20 years of hard work and being deceived and cheated himself, Jacob transforms into a man of integrity and faith.
In Genesis 30, Jacob asks his uncle, Laban, permission to return to his home in Beersheba. Laban does not give that permission, but talks Jacob into another 6 years of work. During these years Jacob becomes "exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkey" through astute animal husbandry and God's provision. (Gen. 30:43)
Eventually God tells Jacob in a dream, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." (Gen. 31:3) At this point we see Jacob's spiritual growth.
Over the next six verses, Jacob repeatedly acknowledged God's protection and provision in his life. The self-serving, self-sufficient man of his former days is gone. He has become a man of faith who realized all he had become was a result of God's involvement in his life. Jacob's conniving resulted in being run out of town. His reliance on God resulted in prosperity and protection.
I have had several periods in my life where I was a "Jacob". Self involved. Manipulative. During these times I was number one. People were there to make my life better, to benefit me. Satan loves to drag my mind back to those times. Guilt about wasted years and damaged relationships can be tools he uses to create doubt, self-recrimination, and inaction.
But Jacob shows us that past does not determine future. What was does not have to be what is. God can, over time, change us. His love and wisdom and guidance will create within us the growth He desires. Jacob went from a fugitive to the father of a nation.
Jacob was close to 80 years old when the transformation started. He was pushing the century mark before he was ready. But God got him there. Through Jacob's obedience and God's love, he became the man he was destined to be.
It is never too late. We are never too old.
Jacob left his home in Beersheba in a hurry. He had tricked his father in to giving away Esau's blessing and was under a death threat from his brother. Jacob's mother concocted a story to deceive Isaac about why she was getting Jacob out of the country.
But after 20 years of hard work and being deceived and cheated himself, Jacob transforms into a man of integrity and faith.
In Genesis 30, Jacob asks his uncle, Laban, permission to return to his home in Beersheba. Laban does not give that permission, but talks Jacob into another 6 years of work. During these years Jacob becomes "exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkey" through astute animal husbandry and God's provision. (Gen. 30:43)
Eventually God tells Jacob in a dream, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." (Gen. 31:3) At this point we see Jacob's spiritual growth.
Over the next six verses, Jacob repeatedly acknowledged God's protection and provision in his life. The self-serving, self-sufficient man of his former days is gone. He has become a man of faith who realized all he had become was a result of God's involvement in his life. Jacob's conniving resulted in being run out of town. His reliance on God resulted in prosperity and protection.
I have had several periods in my life where I was a "Jacob". Self involved. Manipulative. During these times I was number one. People were there to make my life better, to benefit me. Satan loves to drag my mind back to those times. Guilt about wasted years and damaged relationships can be tools he uses to create doubt, self-recrimination, and inaction.
But Jacob shows us that past does not determine future. What was does not have to be what is. God can, over time, change us. His love and wisdom and guidance will create within us the growth He desires. Jacob went from a fugitive to the father of a nation.
Jacob was close to 80 years old when the transformation started. He was pushing the century mark before he was ready. But God got him there. Through Jacob's obedience and God's love, he became the man he was destined to be.
It is never too late. We are never too old.
Friday, January 4, 2019
Not For January 4, 2019
29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31, ESV)
A Post-it message on the mirror. An unexpected morning Starbucks. A single flower on the windshield. All these things are quick little surprises that remind your wife you love, and are in love with them. But what I have discovered from the 20 years of marriage, is that as important as these out-of-the-blue surprises are, for Kristi it is not so much what I purchase as what I do day in and day out. Do I help with the laundry without being asked? Is the trash taken out before it overflows on the floor? How much clutter do I allow to NOT pile up on my end of the kitchen table?
As a Christian I am to love God with all my heart, mind, and soul. I can show this love with my tithes and offerings. Spending time in corporate worship, prayer, and Bible are all demonstrations of my love for Him. But what about those times when I am not consciously focused on Him? Do those thousands of decisions I make each day reflect my feelings for the Lord my God?
My love for God is not just demonstrated during the "God times", but also by how I spend the hours away from my Bible and prayer closet.
Do I treat others in a way that demonstrate my love for Him? What about the books I read or how I spend my downtime? Every decision I make each day reflect my love, or lack thereof, my love for my Heavenly Father.
Love is shown not by what we do for, but by what we do because of. God doesn't need us to do things for Him, but because of our love for Him.
A Post-it message on the mirror. An unexpected morning Starbucks. A single flower on the windshield. All these things are quick little surprises that remind your wife you love, and are in love with them. But what I have discovered from the 20 years of marriage, is that as important as these out-of-the-blue surprises are, for Kristi it is not so much what I purchase as what I do day in and day out. Do I help with the laundry without being asked? Is the trash taken out before it overflows on the floor? How much clutter do I allow to NOT pile up on my end of the kitchen table?
As a Christian I am to love God with all my heart, mind, and soul. I can show this love with my tithes and offerings. Spending time in corporate worship, prayer, and Bible are all demonstrations of my love for Him. But what about those times when I am not consciously focused on Him? Do those thousands of decisions I make each day reflect my feelings for the Lord my God?
My love for God is not just demonstrated during the "God times", but also by how I spend the hours away from my Bible and prayer closet.
Do I treat others in a way that demonstrate my love for Him? What about the books I read or how I spend my downtime? Every decision I make each day reflect my love, or lack thereof, my love for my Heavenly Father.
Love is shown not by what we do for, but by what we do because of. God doesn't need us to do things for Him, but because of our love for Him.
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