My Mom!
(Love you, Mom! Can you tell she likes purple?)
(I’m taking a few days off and decided to repost some of the more well-received “More Than Useless” posts. See you next week!)
There are lots of things floating through my mind this morning, Father. Help me to be able to connect with You now in our time together, as we go through worship this morning, and throughout the entirety of the day. Amen.
Lord, today is Mother’s Day and I, along with numberless others love and cherish our mothers. I am grateful that I still have the opportunity to call and tell her so – and I do several times a week. My heart goes out to friends and family who have lost their mothers. I lift them in prayer today.
I am grateful for a mother who so visibly showed me her love for You, Lord. I am sure that that love impacted her love for me and has greatly influenced me and the man I have become.
I clearly recall my mother’s mother – my own personal prayer warrior and how, often, I would call and share a need and knew that Grandma would be lifting me up to You, Lord. She went home to be with You almost 20 years ago but the prayer warrior baton was not dropped – my mother has continued to carry it forward. There is no one I’d rather have in my corner than Mom!
Thank You, Lord, for the many women in my life who continue to impact me – the mother of my child (oh, what a helpmate and friend!), my sister, my niece, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, many cousins, other family members, the many, many godly women at my churches, the women with whom I work and have worked and the list goes on and on. Lord, bless them this day. May these daughters of Yours feel Your presence today and every day. Amen.
May 14th, 2016, Sun, 6:48 am
Unwanted Visitor
(I’m taking a few days off and decided to repost some of the more well-received “More Than Useless” posts. See you next week!)
Father, as I come before You this morning, may my thoughts be under Your direction. May I focus on You. Speak to me, that I may be blessed and be a blessing as well. Amen.
Matthew 4:1-11 (<<click the green)
As we were leaving my sister’s place this past weekend a Yellowjacket paid us a visit. First, it was flying around my wife, then around me, then around my mom. He was an unwanted visitor. Each of us tried walking away but until it decided to move on, it buzzed around incessantly. None of us were stung but that possibility was there.
The word I would place beside the word “temptation” is “ugh”. And in this fallen world, much like our unwanted visitor, it just won’t leave us alone. Just thinking of temptation makes me groan.
Now nobody in their right mind would entertain a Yellow jacket’s presence. When we see one in our vicinity, most of us would high-tail it out of there. And most certainly, we wouldn’t get so up close and personal that we would welcome its sting…but isn’t that what we do with temptation?
We all know what temptation is. We all know what temptation does. But each of us, on a regular basis lays out the welcome mat for it. Many times we say “no”, and many times we do run away, but it seems like inevitably there comes a time when we yield.
Looking at Your response to temptation, Lord, it seems the big difference is that You were prepared for the attack. You were never caught unawares. When the tempter laid out his enticements – no matter how enticing – You shot it down with Scripture.
Hebrews 4:15 tells me that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
You know. You’ve been there. May I learn from You, Lord. May I be prepared for all the wily ways of temptation. May I stand strong in You, armed with You Word, when it comes my way. Amen.
Oct 3rd, 2017, Tues, 6:33 am
For Better, for Worse
(I’m taking a few days off and decided to repost some of the more well-received “More Than Useless” posts. See you next week!)
Father, what a week it has been! It has been full of its challenges but Your presence has made all the difference. I am so grateful that Karen’s back surgery went so smoothly and that we got home with no problem. In some ways the last several days have been taxing but…I don’t want this to sound corny but…what a privilege it has been to serve my wife! She has cared for me for 31 years (and counting!) and this week I have been blessed to give back, if only for a few days. And I have another whole week to help her in whatever way I can. May I have the heart of a servant as we go through this week. May my love for her be strong, so much so that I cannot help but express it in a multitude of ways. Thank You, Father, for the great blessing of a wonderful helpmate and friend.
Lord, there are so, so many relationships that are on the rocks. Couples bicker and fight and let the smallest of things come between them. Maybe initially it is not too impacting but all too often it multiplies and eventually becomes a wedge between two people who at one point would have done anything for one another.
On June 14, 1986, I vowed to love Karen, “for better, for worse” and that simply does not have an expiration date. I am here for her and she is here for me. We by no means have a perfect relationship but we love each other and as Your word says, “love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8b) Your love is the example by which we live. You forgive, You forget and we move on. Your love is totally unconditional. I don’t live up to that standard in totality but with Your influence and strength, I strive to do so more and more each day. What better investment can I make than in my relationship with my wife?
The first part of verse 8 is my goal,
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other…”
Lord Jesus, may that not only be the goal in my marriage but may it be my goal every day of my life. It is surely a challenge but may I strive “to show deep love“ for everyone that crosses my path. May I live my life as You did. Amen.
Nov 5th, 2017, Sun, 7:43 pm
One and Only Son
(I’m taking a few days off and decided to repost some of the more well-received “More Than Useless” posts. See you next week!)
Father, thank You so much for the blessing of the last several days. Massey has been home from school and I have cherished the time You have given us to be together. Karen and I are grateful to have this fine young man in our lives – to have had the privilege to guide and protect as he grew up. As he heads back to school today, please keep Your hand upon his shoulder. Draw him to You more and more each day. You know not a day goes by that I do not lift him up to You – that You would guide and direct him, that You would bring people after Your own heart into his life. I do so again today.
It is hard for my mind to conceive that You could love him more than I do, but You surely do! I cannot be by his side through all the comings and goings of his life – but You can. I cannot help him stay true to You when temptation comes – but You can. I cannot give him a place of refuge when life comes at him from every side – but You surely can.
Many years ago, I gave my one and only son over to You and he could be in no better hands. I don’t know what the future holds for any of us but we are all in Your care.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Mar 18th, 2016, Fri, 5:15 am
Embrace What’s Best
(I’m taking a few days off and decided to repost some of the more well-received “More Than Useless” posts. See you next week!)
Father, I am grateful that You truly care for me. I look back over the last year and can see obvious signs – answered prayers, changed mindsets, altered behaviors spiritual growth and development. Your love has enabled me to be an overcomer. Praise Your Holy Name!
Hebrews 12:11-13 (<<click here)
Over the years, Lord, I have struggled with feelings that I have not been disciplined. Verse 8, in particular, has weighed heavy on my heart. “If God doesn’t discipline you…it means that you are…not really his children at all.” I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am Your child but what about the discipline? In reading through the notes of my study Bible*, it has brought to light that a big factor when we are disciplined is my response to it. Do I fight it? Do I accept it but resent it? Or do I embrace it for what it is, Your helping me to be what I need to be?
Thinking through this reminds me of Massey when he was little. We are not opposed to spanking but I don’t recall ever having to spank him. At that point in his life, a stern word could bring him to tears. He would do something inappropriate, we would verbally correct him and send him to his room, he’d wail and cry but in short order, he’d come out, say he was sorry and give us a big hug. He was disciplined and has truly turned out to be a fine young man but he didn’t need more drastic measures to be taken to get through to him (another area where he was smarter than I was!)
But, that’s how I respond to Your discipline, God. I don’t fight it, I don’t resent it, I embrace it. I want to be what You want me to be, Lord. I realize that You want what is best for me. You love me…and what could be better than that?
June 6th, 2016, Mon, 6:39 am
*New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible