Sixteen Minutes

Posted on February 9, 2013 by day1of1

hannibal

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

There are certain movies that leave a lasting impression on us, introducing characters that you never forget. One such movie is the 1991 thriller, The Silence of the Lambs. More than twenty years have passed since its release, but movie goers still remember Anthony Hopkins and his Oscar winning portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. We recall the way he spoke; formally and with an elegance that masked his darker character. We envision the iconic images of him in his glass walled cell, peering between the bars as he spoke with Clarice Starling, or being transported on a truck dolly in a straitjacket and a mask with steel bars covering his mouth. For Hopkins, this was the pinnacle of his career, the character for whom he would be most lauded and with whom he would be most associated. But what many people don’t realize is that when you add it up, of the film’s 118 minute running time Hannibal Lecter is only on screen for sixteen minutes.

Talk about making every moment count! You don’t need to be in every scene to leave your mark on a movie. Hopkins proves that character development, the content of the script and the feelings conveyed by the actor matter far more than the screen time. In film, as well as in life, substance is more valuable than length.

According to averages reported by the CDC, we can expect to live for 78.7 years. Of course, that is an average and not a guarantee. While some of us will live to see 80, 90, or even 100 years, others will only live 40, 20, or even 5 years. This is a sobering reminder that we must strive to make every moment of every day count. Life is precious, so take time to cherish it, to live it, and to serve and glorify God through the many gifts He has given. Anthony Hopkins’s acting career spans 50 years, but he will ultimately be remembered for 16 minutes. When you look back on your life, what 16 minutes would you offer up as your greatest moment? Live your life in such a way that when faced with answering that question, you simply cannot pick only one moment.

So take some time today, and every day, to share your joy with the people God has placed in your life; all of them – even those of us who make you crazy or don’t necessarily deserve it. They are the canvas on which our masterpiece will be painted and the instruments that will play our song. As Paul instructs the church at Ephesus, make the most of these opportunities to fulfill the role that God has given you in the kingdom. He will guide your steps and bring you peace as you extend the love of Christ to a world that is desperate to receive it.

God has blessed us with life, not time. Embrace the former as you maximize the latter.

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Shout Out for Students

Posted on February 5, 2013 by day1of1

Student

I heard a most interesting news story out of Japan early this week. It seems that a few men took the opportunity to go stand in a Tokyo park and shout declarations of love for their wives. As I read in a news story (http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/01/30/us-japan-husbands-idUKBRE90T05D20130130), for the past five years, a Tokyo florist has promoted this event to get more men to “show their affection in more explicit ways.” Why January 31 you ask? Apparently when you say “January 31” in Japanese, it sounds similar to the Japanese words for “Beloved Wife.” All in all a cute story, but as I reflected upon it, I found myself thinking about the idea of declaring love.

In America, we are not lacking for holidays to express our feelings about the special people in our lives; Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Sweetest Day, and so on. We buy candy, flowers, presents and dinners. We write poems, cards, and notes dripping with love and admiration. This is a good and important thing. We should tell the people who mean the most to us just how strongly we feel. Too many people don’t hear these words; leaving them to feel alone and unloved. What if we could change this? What if we could share a simple word of care and concern for one another – simply telling each other what we admire about them?

That question sparked an idea. What if every teacher in America wrote a short note to every one of their students, telling them something they like and admire about them? Nothing elaborate or overly crafty: A simple 3×5 card laying on a desk or a sticky note on their locker. Imagine how they would feel when your students walked into their school and saw notes taped onto their locker or sitting on their desk in the classroom reminding them of just how special they are. Imagine how good it will feel for you as their teacher to remind yourself of the wonderful blessings that your students are to you and your school.

If you are a teacher or professor, I would encourage you to pick a day this school year to surprise your students with this simple yet significant act of kindness. Share the idea with your colleagues. Post and repost this on your social networking sites. Even if you are not a teacher, you could share the idea with the teachers you know. Together we can spread the word and show our students just how much they are loved. No shouting necessary!

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Kathleen Elizabeth

Posted on January 31, 2013 by day1of1

Katie

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:10-11

After more than 25 years as an educator, I have seen many strange and wonderful things. Like every other teacher I have experienced some incredible highs and some rather disappointing lows. Many of these major events have fallen from my memory, but I can honestly say that I will never forget the worst day of my teaching career: January 31, 2003.

Katie was a typical twelve year-old. She was good student, popular among her classmates, and a developing talent on the basketball court (when I could keep her thoughts away from cheerleading). As a friend of her parents, I enjoyed spending time with Katie and her family at different events away from school. There was one memorable trip to a minor league baseball game where I had to explain (in vain) that she need not report to her classmates the number of Lutheran lemonades I had enjoyed (I wasn’t driving). She babysat my young son a few times and did a great job. As her principal, basketball coach, and classroom teacher, I was given the opportunity to spend a lot of time with her that year. I remember calling her by her proper name: Kathleen Elizabeth, but I don’t remember why I started doing so – I just found it funny. In a profession where you aren’t able to pick favorites, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the role I was playing in preparing her for a bright future.

This changed on the evening of January 17. Katie passed out while at a party with her family and was unresponsive. She was transported to a local hospital and later flown to the University of Michigan Medical Center. I was on a youth retreat in Northern Michigan when I received the word from our pastor. I remember sitting up all night waiting for news; praying for healing and peace. By morning she had stabilized but was still unresponsive. I spent the rest of the weekend trying to serve the youth on the trip, but my mind was on Katie, her family, and on our school. I felt helpless. For the next several days I found myself working with many other people to meet the needs of a community of believers who were hurting. Many decisions were made. Many prayers were lifted. Tears were shed and hugs were shared. But as our church and school community rallied together, Katie’s condition never improved. Finally, after two weeks of fighting, on January 31, 2003 we received the news that God had taken Katie to her heavenly home.

The days that followed were just as hectic. There were so many things that needed to be done, so many people coming together to offer comfort and help in any way possible. But in spite of everything I was doing to help, I continued to feel absolutely helpless. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t imagine the shock and pain my friends were experiencing. I felt as though everything I had done and everything that I was doing was meaningless.

The funeral was a difficult day, but one that allowed everyone who knew Katie to mourn our loss while celebrating her victory. In his sermon, Pastor Kurt Lambart made a simple yet enlightening observation. He said that all of the homework, all of the tests, all of the grades didn’t mean a thing. What proved itself to be most important for Katie was the faith she had in her Lord Jesus Christ. It had been placed in her by the Holy Spirit, taught to her by her parents and supported through the work of Christian pastors and teachers. Because of this work, Katie went to the arms of her Father knowing full well that the destination was Heaven. It was at that moment that it dawned on me. I had been looking at it all wrong. My efforts had nothing to do with academic preparations or athletic achievements that would be unrealized. I had helped contribute to something far greater.

On Wednesday, January 15, Kathleen Elizabeth and the rest of her schoolmates attended our weekly chapel where they heard a message which reminded them that Jesus Christ loved them enough to die on a cross so that they would someday go to Heaven. I just didn’t realize that my chapel service on that day would be Katie’s last formal worship opportunity…

and the single greatest accomplishment of my teaching career.

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Extravagant

Posted on January 26, 2013 by day1of1

Las Vegas

Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us – He calls us children of God! – 1 John 3:1

I recently had the pleasure of hearing Ben Freudenburg present at a conference of Lutheran school principals. Ben is a colleague of mine, serving as the director of the Concordia Center for the Family at Concordia University, Ann Arbor. In the course of his presentation on the importance of families in schools, Ben used a term that has stuck in my head now for over a week: Extravagant Love. The type of love God has for us, and the kind of love we in turn should show to others.

His words struck a chord with me. I must admit that I have never paired those words together before. I’ve heard of showing love, expressing love, deep love, puppy love, unconditional love, brotherly love, lavishing love, 40-Love, Courtney Love, and Davis Love III, but never extravagant love.

So how could it be that a self-proclaimed logophile would have missed this one? Frankly, the two words never seemed to fit together. A Google search for examples of extravagance lead me to a reasonable location: Las Vegas. I read an article highlighting the ten most extravagant hotel rooms in Vegas. My definition of extravagance was confirmed: rooms costing anywhere from $3,000 to $40,000 a night featuring private elevators, 24 hour butlers, people to pack your suitcase for you, massage rooms, salons, bowling alleys, Jacuzzis overlooking the strip, and even a half-sized basketball court with a lockers, a scoreboard and cheerleaders. This showed me exactly what I already knew: Extravagance is wasteful and unnecessary spending. How could true love ever be wasteful or unnecessary? The love that I feel for my wife is not wasteful. The love I give to my children is not unnecessary. Thankfully, my familiarity with bewilderment helped me to seek God on this, and so I asked Him how love could be extravagant. My inquiry led me to two sources: the Bible and the dictionary.

Let’s start with the dictionary. Thanks to the good people at dictionary.com, I discovered that my definition was right, but that there were other definitions to consider. The one that jumped off the screen read, “going beyond what is deserved or justifiable.” It didn’t take long to understand that this was exactly what Ben meant by God’s extravagant love. Our sinful lives are deserving of condemnation. The ways we ignore, defy, and abuse God would more than justify any action He would take to distance Himself from a corrupt, fallen creation. But out of the unfathomable depths of His love for us comes an extravagant response; salvation through the death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. I love my son deeply. I want nothing but the best for him. I work daily to provide what I can to help him realize the destiny God has for him. So if I were asked today to sacrifice his life, I would say no. If asked to take his life for someone who has mistreated me from moment I first met them, I would say no along with many other colorful adjectives to emphasize my point. But that’s exactly what God did for us. That seems unnecessary. The loss of a loving Son to benefit undeserving people is an unjustifiable waste, and therefore, by definition, extravagant.

1 John 3:1 challenges us to “Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us – He calls us children of God!” Reclaimed, refreshed, and restored, we are brought back to the God who created us, free from blemish and filled with the power of His Holy Spirit to serve Him by sharing with others the extravagant love that can only come from the throne of grace. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul leaves us with this reminder. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Give thanks to God today for His grace and for the extravagant love He has shown to us, that we can be called the greatest name imaginable: His.

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Stronger than Yesterday

Posted on January 15, 2013 by day1of1

boys-flexing-their-muscles

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

I got out of bed this morning with very little desire to get going with my day. Bed felt good. Work’s been tough lately. There is way too much to do and no time to do it. And to top it all off, I am still sore from working out last Friday and Saturday. But as I descended the stairs, God spoke three words to me that smacked me pretty good: Stronger than Yesterday.

If you think about it, we have always been getting stronger. Beginning as a combination of egg and sperm, we have increased in size, strength, and abilities. Our bodies developed until we were ready to sustain life outside of the womb. After birth, the process of growing bigger and stronger took on an even greater significance. In time, we would become strong enough to raise our head, to roll over, to push ourselves up, to sit up, stand, and finally to walk. Walking turned to running, skipping, jumping and playing. We’ve grown cognitively as well – strengthening our minds to be able to recognize people, objects, and a language we would use for a lifetime. We also grew stronger in our personal development. We found ways to express ourselves, to show emotion, to develop opinions and express our thoughts. And most remarkably, we have all done these things simultaneously and without ceasing from the moment we were conceived.

As we grow older, we continue to grow stronger and stronger in our bodies, our minds, and in our personalities. While we may slow down in the physical areas, we continue to grow in other ways. Every day we’re alive brings new experiences that impact us, providing growth and greater perspective. In fact, we grow stronger in wisdom until the moment we pass on into the new life that God has designed for us from the beginning of time. Long story short: we never stop growing stronger.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always feel that way. Some days provide challenges that test every area of strength we possess. Are we strong enough to run the 10K we set for our goal this year? Are we strong enough to avoid the temptation of junk food on the way home, gossip in the staff lounge, or the sexual advances of someone who is not your spouse? Fatigue tells us that we aren’t strong. Failures identify weaknesses. Braggarts masquerading as experts bombard you with proof of just how fragile you are and in the next breath offer to sell you the solution. And while the world convinces us that this is just a part of the aging process, we as believers must see through the lie to get back to the truth of who God created us to be.

For starters, we need to realize that God designed us to be strong. There is nothing in all of creation that can compare to the strength of God. The psalms remind us that God is our strength and shield (Psalm 28), our refuge and strength (Psalm 46) and my strength, song and savior (Psalm 118). As we were created in His image, we too can trace the imprint of strength into our DNA – it’s what we strive to be. Follow that up with the understanding that when we as believers put our trust and faith into God, we are tapping into His strength. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 make it clear that through Him we receive our power and our strength. If we stay in Him, and He remains in us, our strength can never wane.

Finally, true strength can only be measured when it is put to the test. Imagine walking into a gym today for the first time in many years. You may consider yourself strong, and you may have been a beast back in the day. But today you aren’t sure what you have in you; how much you can do. And the simple truth is this: you will never know how much weight you can lift until you pick up a barbell and try. If you can only lift 100 pounds today, don’t quit in disgrace. Keep lifting; build the strength through adversity and next time attempt 110. Over time, 100 pounds will seem light, but that’s okay because you’ll keep pushing to find the next challenge in front of you.

God has delivered you from some unbelievable things – struggles that only He could have seen you through. But in the process, you have grown stronger and are better equipped to face the next thing. He’s not going to leave you. Like a good trainer, He will always be there. But look back for a moment to consider what you have accomplished in Him, allowing it to motivate you to move forward stronger than ever!

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So Different…

Posted on January 12, 2013 by day1of1

anne-hathaway-short-hair-crying-in-les-miserables-2012

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. – Psalm 9:9-10

“I had a dream my life would be, so different from this hell I’m living…”

If you’ve been to the movies recently, you’ve probably heard Anne Hathaway’s emotional portrayal of Fantine in the musical “Les Miserables.” Knowing her story makes her statement understandable. Abandoned as a child, she finds herself working in a factory where she meets a man. She falls in love with him. He takes full advantage of her feelings and enters into a relationship with her. However, upon learning she is pregnant; he abandons Fantine and their child. Left without options, Fantine leaves her daughter, Cosette, with an innkeeper and his family so she can work to support the child. The innkeeper, an unscrupulous man, deceives Fantine into believing Cosette is sick to extort more money out of her for childcare. Before long, the factory manager learns of the illegitimate child and fires Fantine. Desperate to pay the mounting “bills” for her child, Fantine resorts to selling her hair, her teeth, and finally her body to save Cosette. By the time her story is known by someone who can help, her health fails and she dies before she could be reunited with Cosette.

It is in the midst of this tragic story that Fantine sings “I Dreamed a Dream,” a musical soliloquy venting the anger and frustrations felt by a young woman who had been beaten down by the world at every turn. As I had previously blogged in I Dreamed a Dream, Fantine’s dreams simply weren’t enough to help her overcome her misfortune. But for me, this new recording offered a new revelation and something to which we all might relate.

Every now and again we hear stories about people living out their dreams. These stories are inspirational to many people because for most of us, our dreams and our realities are in two very different places. Did the happy newlyweds ever dream they’d end up in divorce court? Did the new business owner ever plan for the day she would have to close her doors and liquidate? Did the man who felt great walking into his physical exam anticipate the cancer diagnosis that the tests would show? It is fair to say that for one reason or another, most of us can relate to the anger and frustration felt by Fantine in her song. But before the pity party begins, let me ask one simple question: What are you doing about it? Let me offer two thoughts in the form of a cliché in reverse; Let God and let go.

Start by going to God with your troubles, trials and concerns. In prayer, we can find comfort, peace and clarity to move forward. Listen to the testimonies of others who have faced challenges both big and small. Hear how faith and trust in God led them out of darkness into a new and brighter place. Then once you know that God is with you, leading and encouraging you, step out into the newness of whatever you are called to do knowing that in Him you will not fail. Deuteronomy 28: 1-14 provides a clear reminder of all we can become when we obey the commands of the Lord.

Now that you are seeking the will of God for everything in your life, you can effectively do the one thing that so many people can’t – let go. We’ve all been wronged. We’ve all had things taken away from us. We’ve all experienced dead end jobs with uninspiring leaders. We’ve all faced bills we couldn’t pay. We’ve all lost someone we love. Many of us have clung to those things like Linus to his blanket. But what peace comes from holding onto anger; what joy grows out of unforgiveness? God is showing you the path to the next thing. He has prepared the course and has promised to lead us there. Leave behind the things that Satan and the world tried to saddle you with and sprint forward in the freedom of the future God has waiting for you. Cast of the former thing – the hell you may be living and change the dream into your life in the Lord.

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Unburdened

Posted on January 8, 2013 by day1of1

Hug

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. – Psalm 55:22

Over the past several years, I have had the pleasure of working with Randy Woody as a personal trainer. Over that time, Randy has helped me to see myself in an entirely new light. The way I view food and exercise has changed dramatically and thanks to his work, diligence, and inability to listen to any excuse – good or bad, I have grown thinner, stronger and healthier. But there is one more thing that he has introduced to me over that same period of time that I would like to share with you. It’s a little something I like to call…

Pain!

If it is true when they say, “No Pain, No Gain,” I can say that I have gained a LOT! Now, I am not looking for sympathy or a shoulder for my tears, but when you prepare to do an exercise and you hear your trainer suggest you wear a hat to church tomorrow because you won’t be able to lift your arms to comb your hair, you know you’re in for it! Sounds crazy, but that’s not the half of it. What is most ridiculous about this is that I just recently went out and spent Christmas money on a new set of dumbbells so I can bring the pain home for those days when I’m not working at Randy’s gym!

The strange thing (or one of the many strange things) about this is my seven year old daughter’s reaction to this new purchase. You see, Emma is a hugging kind of kid and is still little enough for her dad to pick her up to give her those really good, really big squeezy hugs – except after working out with Randy. She doesn’t like it when I tell her I can’t pick her up because I am physically unable to lift anything heavier than my sleeves. But she has a solution – tell Randy that she could be my weight. And while I continue to decline her offer, I must admit that the idea of using her for dumbbell swings would be fun (until she slips, falls or gets tossed across the room). So for a variety of reasons, I have decided to stick with regular weights; but there is one reason I’d like to share.

Look at the definition of a weight and you will find the synonym of burden, and while the words have similar meanings, their connotations are vastly different. While weight can speak to the mass or heaviness of something, a burden adds the idea of being saddled with something; carrying a load that is unwanted or uncomfortably heavy. For me, this makes all the difference in the world. When I am at the gym I bear the burdens of the weight to build muscle, to strengthen my body and to grow healthier so that I am able to serve God better and enjoy the blessings He has given to me – one of which is a daughter who loves to hang on my neck and be held in those strong arms God provided and Randy enhanced. No matter how difficult a day may be, my children need to know that they are NEVER a burden, but always a blessing – welcome to come into my open arms (although my 14 year old son can substitute the hug for a fist bump).

So why is this so important? Two reasons come to mind: #1 – Because children need to know that they are immeasurably loved and never a burden. #2 – Because that is exactly the way God the Father modeled it for us in how He treats His children. Psalm 55:22 is clear when it tells us to “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” What I can’t handle is His and what I am left with is forgiveness, grace, peace and love. Why would I offer my children anything less?

Bask in God’s grace for your life. Release the burdens you are carrying by seeking His face. Together you will do the heavy lifting and be stronger in the end – ready for big squeezy hugs!

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No Experience Required

Posted on January 4, 2013 by day1of1

Nick Saban

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

If you are a football fan, then this is your favorite time of the year – playoff time. The regular seasons for both college and professional teams have ended and only the best have moved on to play in the playoffs or one of the many collegiate bowl games. For me, I enjoy watching the sport played at the highest levels – the very best teams peaking at just the right time to produce the most entertaining games possible.

What I don’t look forward to is the hours of analysis that go into the hype before the game. The NFL’s schedule allows for two weeks preparing for, and analyzing, that one game. The matchup for this year’s national championship in college football has been known for over a month, providing sports reporters 30+ days to analyze what might happen during a 3 hour game. Oh and the information they share! I saw a three minute segment on one TV show talking about the hotels where the teams were staying, trying to find advantages and disadvantages in the accommodations. So what can be learned from all this? I suppose it teaches us that a large segment of our population loves football. It also teaches us that we have way too many television networks with nothing valuable broadcast. But in the midst of all of this, I found something to which I could relate and share.

A big factor in many playoff games is experience. Teams who are making their first appearance on a big stage might struggle with the limelight of participating in a championship game. However, teams who have been in these games before know what to expect. That experience often proves to be helpful in avoiding distractions that could hurt their performance. Because of this, experience will play a big role in pre-game discussions and predictions of the outcome. Of course, once the game starts, experience doesn’t guarantee victory. Teams who win multiple championships couldn’t get there until they won their first – back when they were upstarts who played and won despite being new to it all. Those are the teams who didn’t believe that it was just good enough to be there, or that if they didn’t win now it wouldn’t matter because they would always be back. They took hold of every opportunity, starting with the first, and gave everything they had to be successful in spite of what came their way.

In life, we may find ourselves faced with similar circumstances. We all know somebody who applied for that first job and got rejected because they lacked experience. Of course, the frustration comes when you need experience to get the job but nobody will hire you because you don’t have any experience. Or maybe you were losing your job because your boss wants to replace you with somebody with more experience – also frustrating considering you are currently doing the job for which you lack experience. Both scenarios will test our patience, our resolve, and most importantly our ability to trust in the promises God has spoken over us. This is key because while we are prone to failure, God’s word always accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Still uncertain? Think about that person you know who has stepped out into something totally new; risking comfort, safety, and pride to pursue a dream. Rarely do they make that move on their own terms, or after they have gained enough experience to be completely ready. Waiting for the perfect moment only improves our ability to wait. I recently heard Dr. Tim Elmore, founder and president of Growing Leaders describe this type of challenge as the opportunity to make a choice. We can use it as a stepping stone on which we propel ourselves to something new, bigger, better, and God-ordained, or we can make it a tombstone under which we lie down, give up and die. Trust in the Lord to take you to that place. Pray and seek His will for your life, and once you know what He is calling you to do, pursue it with confidence and purpose. Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 confirm this as he reminds us that we were created in Christ for a purpose. If we are striving to do the work God created us to do, we can be assured that He will bring success to our endeavor.

As for your favorite football team, stick with the sportswriters for projections.

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Suddenly

Posted on December 31, 2012 by day1of1

Suddenly

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. – 1 John 3:1

Les Miserables opened in movie theaters on Christmas Day. As a fan of the show, I was blessed with the opportunity to see the movie as one of my Christmas presents. I enjoyed the movie – the way the songs were filmed, showing the emotion of the actors in ways the stage couldn’t effectively convey. One song that I found particularly moving was one that had been written specifically for the film, called “Suddenly.”

Jean Valjean has made a deathbed promise to a woman that he would care for her orphaned daughter, Cosette. He has found her and is now traveling to start their life together. As she sleeps in the carriage, Valjean’s thoughts are captured in the following song.

“Suddenly I see
Suddenly it starts
Can two anxious hearts
Beat as one?

Yesterday I was alone
Today you walk beside me
Something still unclear
Something not yet here
Has begun.

Suddenly the world
Seems a different place
Somehow full of grace
Full of light.

How was I to know
That so much hope
Was held inside me?
What has passed is gone
Now we journey on
Through the night.

How was I to know at last
That happiness can come so fast?
Trusting me the way you do
I’m so afraid of failing you
Just a child who cannot know
That danger follows where I go
There are shadows everywhere
And memories I cannot share

Nevermore alone
Nevermore apart
You have warmed my heart
Like the sun.
You have brought the gift of life
And love so long denied me.

Suddenly I see
What I could not see
Something suddenly
Has begun.”

Speak to most any parent and they will tell you how the birth of their first child brought about a change in them. There is something that happens to a person when they gaze upon their child for the first time – a previously undeveloped portion of their heart opens and a love unlike any other is born. What we also see is a love that is returned from that child – a totally dependent, unconditional love born out of the need for nothing more in life than to have full access to the love that can only come from the parents from whom the child was born. Though he is not Cosette’s biological father, her immediate attachment to him and the love he has begun to show her has struck him to the core. In just a moment he is forever changed; sharing the love of a parent to a child who returns it without reservation can do that to even the hardest of hearts.

I’d like to think that this relationship is the closest example of the love that God has for his earthly creation. This isn’t exactly a crazy leap on my part. After all, God refers to Himself as the Father who loves and cares for His children here on earth. We have access to Him at any time, are showered with His love continually, and can take heart in knowing that He is guiding us in the directions that are always best for us, no matter where life or our poor choices may lead us. God didn’t create us to be His friend, his neighbor, or those folks we send a Christmas card to every year simply because they always send us one and we don’t want to offend. We are His children, with all of the honors and privileges of being heirs of the Creator of the universe.

Sleep easy in the arms of your Father tonight, but before you do, be sure hug your children tightly, showing them the fullness of the love that you know in your Heavenly Father.

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One Day More

Posted on December 25, 2012 by day1of1

One Day More

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

I have to admit that I am looking forward to Christmas a little more this year. The motion picture Les Miserables opens on Christmas Day and as a fan of the show, I have been waiting “patiently” to see it. Now that it is almost here, I must admit that I am excited to see what the film will be like.

In fact, as I think about it I am reminded of a line from one of the more famous songs – One Day More. “Tomorrow we’ll discover what our God in heaven has in store. One more dawn, one more day, one day more!” In the show, there are several plotlines that have potentially life-changing events take place yet on one particular day. This line is rather appropriate for many people today.

Christmas Eve is a favorite night of children and parents alike. For kids, it’s the anticipation of the coming of Santa to bring presents in the morning. For parents, it’s the one night out of the year they can use some serious leverage to get their kids to go to bed early, not that they’ll be sleeping early or for long. And who can blame them? It’s the anticipation of what is to come that gets the better of them. But as I think more about this, I am reminded that we as Christians should not wait until Christmas Eve to feel the enthusiasm of what is to come. That is a feeling that we are called to experience every day.

2012 has been a year of sweeping changes for me; one that has brought me to a place I hadn’t seen even a few years ago. But while I think about the events of the recent past, it is the thoughts of the things to come that have me most excited. Some of these changes are known to me, but the vast majority of them remain undiscovered. Now for some people this might cause panic, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t have any concerns about how things will come to pass. But as I wait and wonder, I will not worry. Paul’s words to the Corinthians speak to us as well, reminding us that God has prepared something marvelous for me and for all of those people who love Him and put their faith in Him. I don’t need to see, hear, touch, or even understand it. God has led me through changes before. He has molded me for what is to come and so as the changes come, I will be ready.

One Day More!

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