I just got back in from giving blood. The Red Cross is here on campus this afternoon for 5 hours. The sad thing is I was only #29. Pretty bad when there are over 20,000 students on campus and 5000 faculty/staff. I did get the honor of the procedure where they split out your white blood cells in the machine and then inject you with COLD saline. Well, its not that cold its at room temp but that is still only like 67 degrees. It makes you feel funny and my lips turn blue. During checkin the lady had a puzzled look on her face - she said did you just eat some icecream? I said heavens no - why? She said you temperature is only 94.3 degrees... I smiled and said - that is pretty normal for me -my wife is the HOT one. :)
I always reflect back to when my mom was sick when I give blood. This procedure is done mostly for cancer patients and I am glad to do my part in helping them in some way. It is a horrible disease and I am glad to have given this "Gift" to a person who is sick and their family during this Thanksgiving season.
Now I get to rest on the couch tonight and rest - nurses orders :)
Lonnie~
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Morning time.....
James 2
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[i] so also faith is dead without good works.
Ever get those nudges where you know God is asking you to do something? You sit and examine what it is you are feeling and then talk back and forth with God? You want me to do what? Now? Here? I will look stupid or silly ... Can't you ask someone else God? What if I fail or they reject me? I don't want to extend myself ... I am scared.
I do this as well. But I do it less and less often. I have had some nudges lately from the Lord. I have been blessed in the experience by just saying, "Ok God - I am on it".
There are some hurting people around us. There are some who feel they are walking completely alone. They may be surrounded by hundreds of people - but feel they are there - alone. We can feel alone even while sitting at a football game with 80,000 people around us. We have lost our purpose, our vision, experienced or experiencing something very dark and hurtful, but God can open that wound and clean it. He can shed light on that struggle and hurt and provide healing. He can restore that marriage, friendship or child who seems very far away from the family right now. The pit that you are in right now, whatever it may be, is God getting your attention. He is chasing you down. Every day of rebellion is a brick that is building a wall between you and our heavenly father.
Last night while spending some time with some good friends... I couldn't help but to look out the window and see the rain falling. This morning I know why the rain really stood out in my mind. It was God washing away what was left at that table. There was a start to healing because God sat at that table with us last night. He has told us that when 2 or more get together in His name, He would be there with us. Last night was a church night. We didn't have to wait till Sunday - we took the church with us. That rain is special, it refreshes our soul and makes new.
Psalm 95
If only you would listen to his voice today! 8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts."
God can and will do amazing things in your life, if you would just let Him. It's by His grace that we even draw our next breath.
I want to be right with God - Whatever it takes and whatever it costs...... join me in those words. Examine what you are carrying... the load is heavy. How much do you have control over those things anyways? You do your part....and God will do His part.
I too have had to learn that lesson....... I am thankful for many things this morning but most important - I am thankful that God accepted me as I am.
Start today Loved ones..... TRUST- The Real U Starts Today
With love and prayers,
Lonnie~
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[i] so also faith is dead without good works.
Ever get those nudges where you know God is asking you to do something? You sit and examine what it is you are feeling and then talk back and forth with God? You want me to do what? Now? Here? I will look stupid or silly ... Can't you ask someone else God? What if I fail or they reject me? I don't want to extend myself ... I am scared.
I do this as well. But I do it less and less often. I have had some nudges lately from the Lord. I have been blessed in the experience by just saying, "Ok God - I am on it".
There are some hurting people around us. There are some who feel they are walking completely alone. They may be surrounded by hundreds of people - but feel they are there - alone. We can feel alone even while sitting at a football game with 80,000 people around us. We have lost our purpose, our vision, experienced or experiencing something very dark and hurtful, but God can open that wound and clean it. He can shed light on that struggle and hurt and provide healing. He can restore that marriage, friendship or child who seems very far away from the family right now. The pit that you are in right now, whatever it may be, is God getting your attention. He is chasing you down. Every day of rebellion is a brick that is building a wall between you and our heavenly father.
Last night while spending some time with some good friends... I couldn't help but to look out the window and see the rain falling. This morning I know why the rain really stood out in my mind. It was God washing away what was left at that table. There was a start to healing because God sat at that table with us last night. He has told us that when 2 or more get together in His name, He would be there with us. Last night was a church night. We didn't have to wait till Sunday - we took the church with us. That rain is special, it refreshes our soul and makes new.
Psalm 95
If only you would listen to his voice today! 8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts."
God can and will do amazing things in your life, if you would just let Him. It's by His grace that we even draw our next breath.
I want to be right with God - Whatever it takes and whatever it costs...... join me in those words. Examine what you are carrying... the load is heavy. How much do you have control over those things anyways? You do your part....and God will do His part.
I too have had to learn that lesson....... I am thankful for many things this morning but most important - I am thankful that God accepted me as I am.
Start today Loved ones..... TRUST- The Real U Starts Today
With love and prayers,
Lonnie~
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday morning....
And I did not like the alarm this morning. I was pumped up last night after Rock Group. Maybe it was the people and maybe it was God's word moving in me or maybe it was something shared. Maybe it was everything about it.... this thing of doing life with others. Others that are like family in so many ways. People you really care about and kids who you really want to pour into.
Yesterday at church Brandon and April shared with everyone that they are being called away from our church. Carol and I both sat and let a few tears go as they shared the answer of Gods direction. It must have been hard and tough for them to do this but honoring God is above all those things, especially the emotions and the goodbyes. Love you both ....... and so proud of you. I am excited for ya'll and the journey ahead.
Carol has got our turkey. She will be fixin to make the preperations for the 10 minute meal that takes 10 hours to get ready. Looking forward to some down time and sharing the meal over and over again... I am sure there will be turkey sandwiches, soup, cake and more turkey somethings. I continue to feel that this year will be a giving year even with the shape that folks are in. I do believe it will be a year spent on others. If money is short this year...... spend your gift in "TIME" - there are people out there who need someone to walk with them, to help that hurt, an ear for talking with, leaves that need to be cleaned out of the gutters, kids that can be watched so mom can have some "Mommy" time.... You fill in the "TIME" ....
Hoping to hang out with some of my guy peeps tonight........ have a great Monday~
Love ya'll,
Lon~
Yesterday at church Brandon and April shared with everyone that they are being called away from our church. Carol and I both sat and let a few tears go as they shared the answer of Gods direction. It must have been hard and tough for them to do this but honoring God is above all those things, especially the emotions and the goodbyes. Love you both ....... and so proud of you. I am excited for ya'll and the journey ahead.
Carol has got our turkey. She will be fixin to make the preperations for the 10 minute meal that takes 10 hours to get ready. Looking forward to some down time and sharing the meal over and over again... I am sure there will be turkey sandwiches, soup, cake and more turkey somethings. I continue to feel that this year will be a giving year even with the shape that folks are in. I do believe it will be a year spent on others. If money is short this year...... spend your gift in "TIME" - there are people out there who need someone to walk with them, to help that hurt, an ear for talking with, leaves that need to be cleaned out of the gutters, kids that can be watched so mom can have some "Mommy" time.... You fill in the "TIME" ....
Hoping to hang out with some of my guy peeps tonight........ have a great Monday~
Love ya'll,
Lon~
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday - has been a good day. Last night got to serve at the Angel Food Ministry at a local church. There was not much to do since most everything was done already. We were introduced to a man that gave us a tour of this awesome facility. It makes one dream big for a building built for Jesus. Makes me excited to one day see a place where Jesus will be a part of our community in a BIG way! Life changed and children growing up knowing they have a purpose, a plan, gifts and talents and that God loves them. It is very exciting indeed.
We dropped off the meal that came in a large box, feeds a family of 4 for a week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I hope to continue to help those around me who need a little encouragment and a little help..... God has really placed this on me the last month or so.
Today I was awake early. Have one of "MyKids" onn my mind and heart today. She is with her dad for the first time in 2 years. I pray for that time together. Church Rock Group meeting this morning and then some wood splitting with Kyle. He worked his butt off getting that wood split. Love it when he learns about hard work. This afternoon we headed to the movies. It was a good family time together.
49ers game tonight. Kyle has his green hair and face painted...... hee looks awesome. Hope we come out with a Win against Clemson....should be exciting.
Early start tomorrow with setup at church. Going to be cold but really looking forward to serving. Praying God moves like never before and in a new exciting way. Big changes coming ...... but I am trusting God above all else. Walk by Faith.......
talk tomorrow....
Lon~
We dropped off the meal that came in a large box, feeds a family of 4 for a week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I hope to continue to help those around me who need a little encouragment and a little help..... God has really placed this on me the last month or so.
Today I was awake early. Have one of "MyKids" onn my mind and heart today. She is with her dad for the first time in 2 years. I pray for that time together. Church Rock Group meeting this morning and then some wood splitting with Kyle. He worked his butt off getting that wood split. Love it when he learns about hard work. This afternoon we headed to the movies. It was a good family time together.
49ers game tonight. Kyle has his green hair and face painted...... hee looks awesome. Hope we come out with a Win against Clemson....should be exciting.
Early start tomorrow with setup at church. Going to be cold but really looking forward to serving. Praying God moves like never before and in a new exciting way. Big changes coming ...... but I am trusting God above all else. Walk by Faith.......
talk tomorrow....
Lon~
Friday, November 21, 2008
Philippians 3:12-15
I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
A few years ago, I did everything I knew how to do to speak for Jesus to my family. It was a promise that I made to my mom before she passed. We were at the hospital and a LOT of my family members where there visiting with mom. It was early on in her fight with cancer and mom had some toughness about her! I remember her sitting up and asking everyone to leave the room. Shocked at this...we all began to leave and she asked my dad to leave to and then said "Except for you Randy". I thought, oh boy, I am in trouble - what did I do or say now?
Mom began to explain to me what was ahead for her. She explained to me that she wanted to see my dad and my brother and so many others in heaven. She didn't want to fight this cancer and not know for sure that she would see them again. On a napkin -she made me write -"I Promise" on it. I promise to make sure I would lead our family to Jesus. I would do everything I could to make sure mom would see the people she loved the most - her family. I walked out of the room with the napkin shaking in my hands and everyone sitting on edge waiting for me to come out. 1000 questions at once - I showed them the napkin and then sat down next to the little kitchen coffee area - and wept.
I held strong on that promise for the first year and half. I did everything I could, I was driving myself crazy, I was feeling the weight of that promise on my shoulders. I felt letdown and shamed that I had no gotten any closer to bring my family to Jesus than when I wrote those words. God spoke to me then and told me - "Hey, I got it". "Keep serving me and doing as I ask and I will take care of everything, leave it, leave them with me". It was well needed and God lifted that weight off my shoulders. He carries it now and even though I am still not sure if God is the centerpiece ... I know its in His time and not my time. Its in His hands and not in My hands. I can only do my part in leading folks to Jesus - I can only do my part in showing them the practical love of Jesus - I can only do my part in living out my life for Jesus and what He means to me. Their walk is their walk....... I press on because I know what is ahead. The last few months, I have felt a bigger calling to do more for those around me. I told a family just this week when dropping a meal off to them that I had stopped arguing with God about doing His will. I hear his voice to do something and I say no way ... you want me to do what? Come on, this is silly - often times I would pass it off. I miss out on the blessing or what God wants to teach me. I am finding myself more in tune the last few months with God and just doing what He wants me to do...regardless ......
Even though things around you today seem dark, things never seem to change, people are the same, you have taken 2 steps up and now something has happened and 3 steps back are in order.... God is working in those steps regardless of what we see.
When you accepted the call to follow Jesus - You also wrote "I Promise" in your heart. Press on loved ones, even during those sticky parts and those hard places. Keep doing The Hard Things...........God is working in them even when we don't see it. God is working in those family members, your neighbors and loved ones - even when we don't see it. I heard about a wife who worked at a church as the pastors assistant for over 14 years. Every Sunday she served the Lord, served their pastor and the community - she lived a life worthy of being called a follower of Jesus. Her husband came to church every Sunday, supported her in everything she did - but he did not know Jesus - even though the pastor and so many others have shared Jesus with him. He was not ready ... he was not there yet. One day at a prayer meeting, he again felt the call on his heart to accept Jesus. He owned a local restaurant and had invited his pastor and many of his family and friends for a meal. After the restaurant had long closed - everyone was still there.... everyone wondering why - it was then that he shared his story. How he was not ready, afraid of what others might think, 14 years of walking and wandering, afraid to take the step in faith to trust in Jesus over his life. It was then that the pastor, his family, friends and his wife shared in him accepting Jesus. 14 years .......... but worth every step of it.
Mom, "I Promise" will forever be written on my heart. Because of your sickness, the darkest time ever in my life, it changed the direction of my life. Something good came from something so horrible. Darkness turned to light - I answered God's call on my life. I am His ....
TRUST - The Real U Starts Today
Look ahead loved ones.... there is more and the best is ahead of us - exciting things are in front of us. Its time to dig in and "Do the hard things".
What is God asking of you today?
Lon
I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
A few years ago, I did everything I knew how to do to speak for Jesus to my family. It was a promise that I made to my mom before she passed. We were at the hospital and a LOT of my family members where there visiting with mom. It was early on in her fight with cancer and mom had some toughness about her! I remember her sitting up and asking everyone to leave the room. Shocked at this...we all began to leave and she asked my dad to leave to and then said "Except for you Randy". I thought, oh boy, I am in trouble - what did I do or say now?
Mom began to explain to me what was ahead for her. She explained to me that she wanted to see my dad and my brother and so many others in heaven. She didn't want to fight this cancer and not know for sure that she would see them again. On a napkin -she made me write -"I Promise" on it. I promise to make sure I would lead our family to Jesus. I would do everything I could to make sure mom would see the people she loved the most - her family. I walked out of the room with the napkin shaking in my hands and everyone sitting on edge waiting for me to come out. 1000 questions at once - I showed them the napkin and then sat down next to the little kitchen coffee area - and wept.
I held strong on that promise for the first year and half. I did everything I could, I was driving myself crazy, I was feeling the weight of that promise on my shoulders. I felt letdown and shamed that I had no gotten any closer to bring my family to Jesus than when I wrote those words. God spoke to me then and told me - "Hey, I got it". "Keep serving me and doing as I ask and I will take care of everything, leave it, leave them with me". It was well needed and God lifted that weight off my shoulders. He carries it now and even though I am still not sure if God is the centerpiece ... I know its in His time and not my time. Its in His hands and not in My hands. I can only do my part in leading folks to Jesus - I can only do my part in showing them the practical love of Jesus - I can only do my part in living out my life for Jesus and what He means to me. Their walk is their walk....... I press on because I know what is ahead. The last few months, I have felt a bigger calling to do more for those around me. I told a family just this week when dropping a meal off to them that I had stopped arguing with God about doing His will. I hear his voice to do something and I say no way ... you want me to do what? Come on, this is silly - often times I would pass it off. I miss out on the blessing or what God wants to teach me. I am finding myself more in tune the last few months with God and just doing what He wants me to do...regardless ......
Even though things around you today seem dark, things never seem to change, people are the same, you have taken 2 steps up and now something has happened and 3 steps back are in order.... God is working in those steps regardless of what we see.
When you accepted the call to follow Jesus - You also wrote "I Promise" in your heart. Press on loved ones, even during those sticky parts and those hard places. Keep doing The Hard Things...........God is working in them even when we don't see it. God is working in those family members, your neighbors and loved ones - even when we don't see it. I heard about a wife who worked at a church as the pastors assistant for over 14 years. Every Sunday she served the Lord, served their pastor and the community - she lived a life worthy of being called a follower of Jesus. Her husband came to church every Sunday, supported her in everything she did - but he did not know Jesus - even though the pastor and so many others have shared Jesus with him. He was not ready ... he was not there yet. One day at a prayer meeting, he again felt the call on his heart to accept Jesus. He owned a local restaurant and had invited his pastor and many of his family and friends for a meal. After the restaurant had long closed - everyone was still there.... everyone wondering why - it was then that he shared his story. How he was not ready, afraid of what others might think, 14 years of walking and wandering, afraid to take the step in faith to trust in Jesus over his life. It was then that the pastor, his family, friends and his wife shared in him accepting Jesus. 14 years .......... but worth every step of it.
Mom, "I Promise" will forever be written on my heart. Because of your sickness, the darkest time ever in my life, it changed the direction of my life. Something good came from something so horrible. Darkness turned to light - I answered God's call on my life. I am His ....
TRUST - The Real U Starts Today
Look ahead loved ones.... there is more and the best is ahead of us - exciting things are in front of us. Its time to dig in and "Do the hard things".
What is God asking of you today?
Lon
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednsday thoughts...
Kyle has his Wednesday evening Bible study with his friends tonight. I am thankful for his peeps and their parents that come and get him and drop him off. It gives Carol and I 2 hours to get things done, have dinner together, sit and talk ... just have a little time together. With everything we are doing and all the places and needs we are meeting - it is nice to have a little time for each other. I miss that and I look forward to the Thanksgiving break and the Christmas break to have more time together.
Some of the things I am learning ......
Proverbs 24:
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - at first. Anything worth doing is worth failing at and trying again. So many times we stay in our comfort zones. We feel inadequate in taking on new challenges, especially when we have never done something before. We are afraid to move forward. I have struggled in the past to staff my ministry teams with the right amount of people. There never seems to be enough people willing to help. Willing to step forward and take a chance and coming out of their comfort zones. The last few days, it has been clear that people who serve - need to serve with their families. It needs to be a total buy in to Gods vision and purpose and it has to be within the family. The family needs to be involved. I have seen so many times the dad serving or the mom serving and the other is not.... it just doesn't last. I am not saying that to be true in all cases - there are some wonderful folks serving and have served for an extended time. I continue to pray for 7 all out, totally sold out, totally got the fever for Jesus families to come to my church and step up in a way that no matter if they are cleaning toilets, teaching kids or just moving heavy speakers from one place to another........ SOLD OUT!!!
I can remember when I first started serving at church after years of excuses. Excuses of lies really. I just was not sold out on this church thing and was not following Jesus with my heart even though outside - I appeared to be doing everything right. I remember the first few times serving, putting the screen together wrong, upside down, legs at different length - I remember putting chairs up in a row that a blind person could put straighter - I remember those tough days serving and having no idea what I was doing but I knew God wanted me there......... I am forever grateful for the step in faith and trusted Him for leading me to serve. It has been an amazing walk to say the least.....
I have come to realize that its OK to fail at hard things, because all effort - even failed effort- produces growth. I think about our teenagers and our children - we rescue them way too often when they fail. We don't let them experience it and then encourage them to try again. Often times we either bale them out or do the task ourselves. Lessons passed instead of lessons learned. Years later we may have teenagers or 20 somethings afraid to "Do the Hard Things" because fear of failure keeps them from even trying.
Pastor Furtick from Elevation wrote on a recent blog - that when we move up to the next level - we often find ourselves at the bottom of that next level instead of at the top. Its like moving from Elementary school to Middle School. We are at the top of the school in 5th grade only to come to 6th and be at the bottom. Middle to High - High to College - Job Promotion to Job Promotion......... God wants to stretch us, teach us, push us to our limits and beyond .... so that we grow.
Growth being a Christain is the same concept. We are baby Christians we think and act centered around us. Spoon fed........ learning, shaping, character building because of Jesus - our focus becomes others, serving others, helping others.... the graduation from one level to another can't happen without some failure along the way.
BUT - it produces growth...........Great things are ahead ~
Peace,
Lon~
Some of the things I am learning ......
Proverbs 24:
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - at first. Anything worth doing is worth failing at and trying again. So many times we stay in our comfort zones. We feel inadequate in taking on new challenges, especially when we have never done something before. We are afraid to move forward. I have struggled in the past to staff my ministry teams with the right amount of people. There never seems to be enough people willing to help. Willing to step forward and take a chance and coming out of their comfort zones. The last few days, it has been clear that people who serve - need to serve with their families. It needs to be a total buy in to Gods vision and purpose and it has to be within the family. The family needs to be involved. I have seen so many times the dad serving or the mom serving and the other is not.... it just doesn't last. I am not saying that to be true in all cases - there are some wonderful folks serving and have served for an extended time. I continue to pray for 7 all out, totally sold out, totally got the fever for Jesus families to come to my church and step up in a way that no matter if they are cleaning toilets, teaching kids or just moving heavy speakers from one place to another........ SOLD OUT!!!
I can remember when I first started serving at church after years of excuses. Excuses of lies really. I just was not sold out on this church thing and was not following Jesus with my heart even though outside - I appeared to be doing everything right. I remember the first few times serving, putting the screen together wrong, upside down, legs at different length - I remember putting chairs up in a row that a blind person could put straighter - I remember those tough days serving and having no idea what I was doing but I knew God wanted me there......... I am forever grateful for the step in faith and trusted Him for leading me to serve. It has been an amazing walk to say the least.....
I have come to realize that its OK to fail at hard things, because all effort - even failed effort- produces growth. I think about our teenagers and our children - we rescue them way too often when they fail. We don't let them experience it and then encourage them to try again. Often times we either bale them out or do the task ourselves. Lessons passed instead of lessons learned. Years later we may have teenagers or 20 somethings afraid to "Do the Hard Things" because fear of failure keeps them from even trying.
Pastor Furtick from Elevation wrote on a recent blog - that when we move up to the next level - we often find ourselves at the bottom of that next level instead of at the top. Its like moving from Elementary school to Middle School. We are at the top of the school in 5th grade only to come to 6th and be at the bottom. Middle to High - High to College - Job Promotion to Job Promotion......... God wants to stretch us, teach us, push us to our limits and beyond .... so that we grow.
Growth being a Christain is the same concept. We are baby Christians we think and act centered around us. Spoon fed........ learning, shaping, character building because of Jesus - our focus becomes others, serving others, helping others.... the graduation from one level to another can't happen without some failure along the way.
BUT - it produces growth...........Great things are ahead ~
Peace,
Lon~
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Footprints.....
What I have to share this morning comes from Acts 26: - I have been thinking about this for weeks now as a piece a story together.
What kind of footprint are you going to leave that represented your life? When its all said and done - what will be your mark that your life stood for? What imprint is left?
Our footprints are all different. They are also there only for a short while until the water washes it away and shifts the particals of sand from one place to another. The last few years has taught me some very important things in life. Never take it for granted and don't put off what you can do today until tomorrow because tomorrow may not come. Today is a gift and we should thank God for each of them because its by His grace we are allowed to live it. My mom was such a giving woman. She lived her entire life giving and serving others. Often times, doing without so that someone else could have. I can remember her telling my brother and I that it was always better to give than to receive. Only until the last few years have I really understood that. Only until recently it has really got a hold of my heart.
I have always wanted to live my adult life as simply as possible. I never really dreamed of being rich or famous. I just wanted to live a happy life with what I had with family and friends around me. So many of us persue the dreams of the rich and famous. You can see how some of their lives have gone and make that decision. I know many folks who have tossed their marriages aside, raising their kids or working endlessly for the bigger house and bigger paycheck. Today people move across country for $2000 more a year when they should be putting down roots and footprints for their children. I spoke a little about this on Sunday being that I feel very blessed to have what I have. To have more than my fair share of things in this life and how I did not want to just store those things up. Build bigger barns to hold more things - many of us have garages today only to hold stuff - instead of the family vehicles. I want my life to be about "Jesus" and about "Giving". In that order - I walked through the graveyard where my mom is buried a few weeks back after my family reunion. So much is told in the words on those headstones. ~Loving wife - loving mother - war veteran - died too early .... so many things that people will read and remember. That one thing sums it up? Is that what we will remember of that person? Over the last few years my family and I have shared in the loss of some close family members. They were hard times to go through. Coming out on the other side has left a lasting mark on our lives. Life is way too short ...and now that we are officially middle age I guess - 42 - who knows how much time is left here. We just don't know and I have been just heart pressed to make a difference today. SO many of us work and raise our families, doing our own thing and waiting for retirement. Thinking then we will be living - got some free time, don't have to work, kids are grown - now its time to live. Doctor calls and things change. Plans come to a halt. Life is paused as our life plays out its story. As followers of Jesus - we are called to be different. We are called to make a difference in those around us, to share the "Good News" to breath truth and life into those around us. To be that encouragement someone needs and to be that friend when someone needs it. To be that male or female role model for that child who needs one. To forgive because God has forgiven you regardless of what has been done. Grace is an amazing thing!
When taking a stand for Jesus - it can be really hard at times. We carry the weight of those around us often times. I could never imagine the weight that our local church pastors carry. I feel 1000 pounds sometimes! But I know those pounds are because of Jesus and I am willing to carry the load for Him because one day I will stand alone - me and Him - and I will be judged for my -Footprints- that I have left here. I don't want to waver or quit the fight. In Acts 26: Paul who led a life chasing down Christians, killing them, putting them in jail and so many other things. He often called himself the worst of the worst. God used him in one of the greatest capacities ever. He faught the good fight and stood strong for Jesus all the way to the finish line. No matter how hard it was..... he endured even when he had the chance to walk away from it - to live his life longer.
SO I am asking this morning - what kind of footprint are you leaving behind? We all will have a headstone with something written on it .... what is that going to be?
Some of us will have a chance to write that and some of us won't. Some of us will have the chance to tell family and friends what they have meant to us and some of us won't. That is one reason why I tell so many of you now and today - I love you. There is no question or doubts - I am willing to "Do the Hard Things" and serve others ~ and give so much of myself. I want my footprint to mean something........ something significant for Jesus. Let Him live in you and through you loved ones. Chin up...... and leave your mark.
With a footprint love,
Lonnie~
Acts 26
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. 7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. 8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'
" 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Christ[b] would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kids Small Group~
I wanted to share this morning our kids small group lesson from last night. As the big kids (parents) got their meeting started, I huddled the kids together in the office. I asked each of them what it meant to be "Fit". I got some good responses and then asked how does one become fit?
I then asked the kids for 20 situps. We all crossed our legs together and like a giant star in the floor - we did 20 situps together. I then asked for 20 pushups - each of us doing our modified pushups ...some better than others :) - I then explained to everyone that if we did these exercises each day that we would become physically fit. But God has also called us to take care of our spiritual side as well. It makes a body complete when we are physically fit and spiritually fit. Each day we are to read in our bibles and study Gods word just like we exercise our bodies. We can't just workout on Tuesday and expect to be in good shape. We can't just go to church on Sunday and live anyway we want to the rest of the week.
I asked how we could do that - be spiritually fit? The kids shared with me: to read their bibles each day ... Also to do one good thing for someone each day. To be thankful in all things.....I then got a hug from one of "MyKids" and she said - there got that good thing done today! All I could do was smile ... that really meant a lot to me. We then closed in prayer. I rejoined with the big kids in their lesson~
The lesson comes from 1 Corinthians 9
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
T.O - has a new commercial out - while in the gym the reporter asks to see his abs. They are 10 pack for sure.... he has earned them and works hard for them. (kyle loves this commercial) He is in shape ....... many of us know that feeling of being pushed when we are running or doing something that really strains us. I know the feeling of running and not knowing if I am going to make that next step without dropping or quitting. We are in that zone .... and we push through it and keep going. Our spiritual side works much that way. Maybe we have come to a place where its tough. Tough to keep going, tough to keep serving, tough because people are talking or pushing us away or we have been hurt in some way.... maybe its not what we expected all this following Jesus stuff. But like an athlete - we have to push through our tough spot in order to break new ground ... we then will reach new understanding and experience something new that we would never have experienced or understood if we just gave up.
Following Jesus is hard - it is tough. Really follow Him for some time and you will agree. We become more about others than we do ourselves but we must remain committed to serving God and learning His word. The end is the result in finishing the race. You competed and finished - as you stand before our awesome God - it will be a proud moment that you can say.... you didn't quit......
Finish strong loved ones and break through your sticking point....... new ground awaits and new understanding is waiting for you to experience - the AWESOMENESS of Jesus.
Praying for many things this morning and for many close to me,
Lonnie~
I then asked the kids for 20 situps. We all crossed our legs together and like a giant star in the floor - we did 20 situps together. I then asked for 20 pushups - each of us doing our modified pushups ...some better than others :) - I then explained to everyone that if we did these exercises each day that we would become physically fit. But God has also called us to take care of our spiritual side as well. It makes a body complete when we are physically fit and spiritually fit. Each day we are to read in our bibles and study Gods word just like we exercise our bodies. We can't just workout on Tuesday and expect to be in good shape. We can't just go to church on Sunday and live anyway we want to the rest of the week.
I asked how we could do that - be spiritually fit? The kids shared with me: to read their bibles each day ... Also to do one good thing for someone each day. To be thankful in all things.....I then got a hug from one of "MyKids" and she said - there got that good thing done today! All I could do was smile ... that really meant a lot to me. We then closed in prayer. I rejoined with the big kids in their lesson~
The lesson comes from 1 Corinthians 9
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
T.O - has a new commercial out - while in the gym the reporter asks to see his abs. They are 10 pack for sure.... he has earned them and works hard for them. (kyle loves this commercial) He is in shape ....... many of us know that feeling of being pushed when we are running or doing something that really strains us. I know the feeling of running and not knowing if I am going to make that next step without dropping or quitting. We are in that zone .... and we push through it and keep going. Our spiritual side works much that way. Maybe we have come to a place where its tough. Tough to keep going, tough to keep serving, tough because people are talking or pushing us away or we have been hurt in some way.... maybe its not what we expected all this following Jesus stuff. But like an athlete - we have to push through our tough spot in order to break new ground ... we then will reach new understanding and experience something new that we would never have experienced or understood if we just gave up.
Following Jesus is hard - it is tough. Really follow Him for some time and you will agree. We become more about others than we do ourselves but we must remain committed to serving God and learning His word. The end is the result in finishing the race. You competed and finished - as you stand before our awesome God - it will be a proud moment that you can say.... you didn't quit......
Finish strong loved ones and break through your sticking point....... new ground awaits and new understanding is waiting for you to experience - the AWESOMENESS of Jesus.
Praying for many things this morning and for many close to me,
Lonnie~
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Home.....
Just letting everyone know we are home from the cabin. Long weekend that was much needed. Got to put the last spin on the lake on Saturday - God blessed us with a great day - sunny and somewhat warm. We had rock group tonight and glad we did. I was pretty close in just taking the night off and calling it off - but one thing I am learning from the book I am reading is - do the hard stuff. Easy to take the night off - but God shown me tonight that it was worth not calling it off. I am feeling good and glad we didn't call it.
More tomorrow on this weekends events.
Unplugging for now.....
Lon~
More tomorrow on this weekends events.
Unplugging for now.....
Lon~
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wow- almost time..... It has been a long time since I have been this excited about a day off. My family and I are headed to the cabin tomorrow after Kyle gets home from school. We are taking one of "MyKids" with us as this will probably be a weekend she will always remember.... and its not that we are doing anything crazy or especially fun ... its just a change of scenery and that is something we all need right now.
Carol and I have been burning the candle at both ends lately - especially the last few weeks. We are looking for some down time for sure..... we have to pull the boat out of the water on Saturday, but not before a quick ride around the lake - I don't care how cold it is.... we are making some waves! We have enjoyed the lake this past year and will be very excited for next year. Lots of good family and friends time up there!
Anyways - ya'll have a good Friday - I will try and post as time permits but unplugging might be in the doctors orders! Rock Group peeps - see ya Sunday ... Can't wait......
Love ya'll and keep looking up - God is so wonderful~
Lonnie~
Carol and I have been burning the candle at both ends lately - especially the last few weeks. We are looking for some down time for sure..... we have to pull the boat out of the water on Saturday, but not before a quick ride around the lake - I don't care how cold it is.... we are making some waves! We have enjoyed the lake this past year and will be very excited for next year. Lots of good family and friends time up there!
Anyways - ya'll have a good Friday - I will try and post as time permits but unplugging might be in the doctors orders! Rock Group peeps - see ya Sunday ... Can't wait......
Love ya'll and keep looking up - God is so wonderful~
Lonnie~
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wed......
Yesterday my aunt Sharon called me - she is spending time with my grandma for a few days up on the farm. Something in that quick conversation is still ringing in my ears. She said, "You have much more on your heart than just work." She is right.... I do. I continue to find in my life the difference between - My Will and Gods will. Sometimes its pretty clear and sometimes its not.
....So often ........
“Finding God’s will usually involves us doing something rather than waiting for him to do something.”
I am in the 2nd book of Peter......Chapter 1:
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Looking back - one of the things in my life I don't have regrets on is making a decision and doing something. Carol and I moved to NC from NJ 15 years ago....it was a big decision and we made it together leaving family and friends and the only place Carol has ever lived. Leaving Princeton University was tough.... I would probably still be there today. I loved that place! We put a plan together to build a log cabin in the mountains - it took years for the pieces to come together.... (we will be enjoying it this weekend) we have opened it up to some folks that we really love and appreciate more than anything! Thats a blessing all in itself! We have a church home that we pour ourselves into and invest so much time, money, sweat and tears over because people matter - a relationship with Jesus means that much to us that we are willing to do whatever is asked. Our relationship with Jesus is a family thing. Kyle never has to ask what we are doing on Sunday mornings..... He often asks at the breakfast table what am I learning in my bible that morning....... Gods will is often times revealed to us when we are in tune with Him. When we are eager for His word, we are studying and praying every chance we get. We are reaching out to people and serving their needs and forgiving those who have done us wrong.
It's scary stepping out in faith - but necessary. Jesus asked those around him - to follow Him - no explanation, no checking with the family, no logging in to check the 401k and benefits program..... Just follow....... my buddy Mike said it perfectly Sunday night. When walking in the sand at the beach we often ask God if He is really walking with us ~ why aren't there 2 sets of foot prints?.... Jesus shares with us - because He is carrying us.
Really following Jesus will give you a heart for people, compassion for those who are hurting, love like you have never known and a burning in your heart like you have never experienced.
You would think God would make things pretty clear for us stupid people right?
But I have been giving some thought the last few days concerning Gods will. How do we really know Gods will? You have a big decision to make, a job offer, a relationship that you are not sure about moving forward with or moving on, starting a new business... whatever it is ...how do you know that its God's will and not your own?
I recently shared with everyone a few weeks ago on a post that we should pray for God to open doors and if they don't - don't take matters into our own hands and pry them open ourselves. That is sometimes a hard thing to do...... BUT.......So often ........
“Finding God’s will usually involves us doing something rather than waiting for him to do something.”
I am in the 2nd book of Peter......Chapter 1:
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Looking back - one of the things in my life I don't have regrets on is making a decision and doing something. Carol and I moved to NC from NJ 15 years ago....it was a big decision and we made it together leaving family and friends and the only place Carol has ever lived. Leaving Princeton University was tough.... I would probably still be there today. I loved that place! We put a plan together to build a log cabin in the mountains - it took years for the pieces to come together.... (we will be enjoying it this weekend) we have opened it up to some folks that we really love and appreciate more than anything! Thats a blessing all in itself! We have a church home that we pour ourselves into and invest so much time, money, sweat and tears over because people matter - a relationship with Jesus means that much to us that we are willing to do whatever is asked. Our relationship with Jesus is a family thing. Kyle never has to ask what we are doing on Sunday mornings..... He often asks at the breakfast table what am I learning in my bible that morning....... Gods will is often times revealed to us when we are in tune with Him. When we are eager for His word, we are studying and praying every chance we get. We are reaching out to people and serving their needs and forgiving those who have done us wrong.
It's scary stepping out in faith - but necessary. Jesus asked those around him - to follow Him - no explanation, no checking with the family, no logging in to check the 401k and benefits program..... Just follow....... my buddy Mike said it perfectly Sunday night. When walking in the sand at the beach we often ask God if He is really walking with us ~ why aren't there 2 sets of foot prints?.... Jesus shares with us - because He is carrying us.
Really following Jesus will give you a heart for people, compassion for those who are hurting, love like you have never known and a burning in your heart like you have never experienced.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Last 4 or 5 days.....
I have been really listening to the music from Jeremy Camp. Kyle even asked me the other day if I was sick of it yet? How can I be when his music is so much a part of my walk?
I have come to realize that what is in my heart has got to be on the edge of my lips - PRAISE.
In all things, no matter what we are struggling with or how God is stretching us - Praise has to be the first thing that we do. Life doesn't always turn out the way WE think it should or how it should go ..... but regardless there is purpose and meaning. That is what is on my heart the last few days...I want to be real.
I want to be real - no faking - just plain ol' me. I am who God says I am and not what my past says or what anyone else says I am.
I want to be real - I want to choose what is right. Not what people say I should choose or feel I should choose. I want my motives to be what is right and what would make God smile. I don't want my choices to be for people...choosing Gods path might mean walking to places people don't understand and you may lose a few along the way.
I want to be real - I know I am supposed to be that Christian that encourages others, that walks through those hard places with friends, who comes to help others without being asked, to be that Male role model to a young person who needs one. I want to be real knowing that this is on my heart and I want to be real knowing that faith and praying is so small when its not followed up with action.
I want to be real - meaning that when I am there on Sundays - you Lord have my attention. You Lord have my heart. You Lord, have my worship. I am thankful to be serving you and not only on Sundays .... I want to be real and not just show that on Sundays but all through the week.
I want to be real - when I need to forgive. When I am not hung on the details of someone hurting me or my family. Help me be real and pray for them. You tell us to pray for our enemies... and for those who have hurt us or who have walked away.
I want to be real - I want to be moved to new understanding and a new level in my faith and trust because I am blessed. I have felt the presense of You Lord during the many difficult seasons in my life. I want to be real when I say thank You!
I want to be real - when I choose Your way over my own. When I see Your things and the things I am seeing fade. I want to see people around me the way You do and not how I see them.
I want to be real - I want to be generous for the right reasons and continue to do so. I want to shine each day for You Lord so that other see You and not so much me. I don't want 10 loaves of bread but I want to give 9 of them so that I am not hoarding. I want to give freely and willingly because those blessings when we give to others far outway the blessings of me keeping them.
I want to be real - when I am that friend that I needed when I needed a friend. They say that friends love each other even when everyone else walks away. I believe that~ I trust that~ I have seen that.
Lord you are making me real - Continue Lord to help me to be real.
Lonnie~
Jeremy Camp -
You want to be real
You want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the King
You want to be whole
You want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind
You want to be set free today then lay it all down before the King
(Chorus):
This is my desire This is my return This is my desire to be used by you
You want to be real
You want to be emptied inside And I know my heart is to feel you near And I know my life
It's to do your will It's to do your will
(Chorus) All my life I have seen where you've taken me
Beyond all I have hoped and there's more left unseen
There's not much I can do to repay all you've done so I give my hands to use
I have come to realize that what is in my heart has got to be on the edge of my lips - PRAISE.
In all things, no matter what we are struggling with or how God is stretching us - Praise has to be the first thing that we do. Life doesn't always turn out the way WE think it should or how it should go ..... but regardless there is purpose and meaning. That is what is on my heart the last few days...I want to be real.
I want to be real - no faking - just plain ol' me. I am who God says I am and not what my past says or what anyone else says I am.
I want to be real - I want to choose what is right. Not what people say I should choose or feel I should choose. I want my motives to be what is right and what would make God smile. I don't want my choices to be for people...choosing Gods path might mean walking to places people don't understand and you may lose a few along the way.
I want to be real - I know I am supposed to be that Christian that encourages others, that walks through those hard places with friends, who comes to help others without being asked, to be that Male role model to a young person who needs one. I want to be real knowing that this is on my heart and I want to be real knowing that faith and praying is so small when its not followed up with action.
I want to be real - meaning that when I am there on Sundays - you Lord have my attention. You Lord have my heart. You Lord, have my worship. I am thankful to be serving you and not only on Sundays .... I want to be real and not just show that on Sundays but all through the week.
I want to be real - when I need to forgive. When I am not hung on the details of someone hurting me or my family. Help me be real and pray for them. You tell us to pray for our enemies... and for those who have hurt us or who have walked away.
I want to be real - I want to be moved to new understanding and a new level in my faith and trust because I am blessed. I have felt the presense of You Lord during the many difficult seasons in my life. I want to be real when I say thank You!
I want to be real - when I choose Your way over my own. When I see Your things and the things I am seeing fade. I want to see people around me the way You do and not how I see them.
I want to be real - I want to be generous for the right reasons and continue to do so. I want to shine each day for You Lord so that other see You and not so much me. I don't want 10 loaves of bread but I want to give 9 of them so that I am not hoarding. I want to give freely and willingly because those blessings when we give to others far outway the blessings of me keeping them.
I want to be real - when I am that friend that I needed when I needed a friend. They say that friends love each other even when everyone else walks away. I believe that~ I trust that~ I have seen that.
Lord you are making me real - Continue Lord to help me to be real.
Lonnie~
Jeremy Camp -
You want to be real
You want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the King
You want to be whole
You want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind
You want to be set free today then lay it all down before the King
(Chorus):
This is my desire This is my return This is my desire to be used by you
You want to be real
You want to be emptied inside And I know my heart is to feel you near And I know my life
It's to do your will It's to do your will
(Chorus) All my life I have seen where you've taken me
Beyond all I have hoped and there's more left unseen
There's not much I can do to repay all you've done so I give my hands to use
Monday, November 10, 2008
Walking by .....
There is so much going on these days. Life is busy but it is good. I know so many folks around me are having struggles. They are not in their sweet spot today but I am here to tell you that no matter what you are going through - God is with you. He is walking with you no matter what you are feeling or what you are seeing. God will be faithful through your struggles. He will see you through your tough time. God uses these tough times in your life for many purposes but He does not leave you there.
Loved ones, God is looking down on us as he prepares his will for us. He is doing His part without forcing you to do anything. So many times we make decisions in our life based on what we are seeing or what we are feeling. God would not be a part of those decisions if we were not walking by faith.
God wants us to depend on Him ....and that means deciding to walk with Him no matter what we are seeing, no matter what we are feeling and no matter what we are experiencing. God will see us through those tough and hard times. Imagine where you will be WITH God on the other side of your struggle............ faith loved ones.... stand strong in your faith..........
Yesterday was a long day. Church early, setup and breakdown, shopping for a new fridge - Carol doesnt have to make ice anymore! - Got to invest in one of "MyKids" for the afternoon and enjoyed Rock Group last night.... life has been too busy the last few weeks. It was good to change the pace up some today. Working lunch with Kyles class - Thanks Carol M. for coming in to help me with the kids..... it would have been nuts without you~ Got the leaves up and grass cut..... fire going now and enjoying some family time now. Long overdue.......... LONG OVERDUE....
hitting it....continued prayers for our church leadership team as they plan out the next year or so ... very exciting!!!
Lonnie~
Loved ones, God is looking down on us as he prepares his will for us. He is doing His part without forcing you to do anything. So many times we make decisions in our life based on what we are seeing or what we are feeling. God would not be a part of those decisions if we were not walking by faith.
God wants us to depend on Him ....and that means deciding to walk with Him no matter what we are seeing, no matter what we are feeling and no matter what we are experiencing. God will see us through those tough and hard times. Imagine where you will be WITH God on the other side of your struggle............ faith loved ones.... stand strong in your faith..........
Yesterday was a long day. Church early, setup and breakdown, shopping for a new fridge - Carol doesnt have to make ice anymore! - Got to invest in one of "MyKids" for the afternoon and enjoyed Rock Group last night.... life has been too busy the last few weeks. It was good to change the pace up some today. Working lunch with Kyles class - Thanks Carol M. for coming in to help me with the kids..... it would have been nuts without you~ Got the leaves up and grass cut..... fire going now and enjoying some family time now. Long overdue.......... LONG OVERDUE....
hitting it....continued prayers for our church leadership team as they plan out the next year or so ... very exciting!!!
Lonnie~
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friday ~
I am hungry for lunch. That is a good thing since my tummy has been wrecked since like last Saturday evening time. Actually got to sleep last night and slept good. That seems to be rare these days for some reason.
Headed out for lunch and also to do some Fall Festival stuff with a buddy of mine who has a truck. Please keep Carol and her peeps from the Harrisburg PTA in your prayers. They have been working OT on this fall festival. Its their biggest fund raiser of the year and I bet they will be showing the wear and tear tomorrow evening. I am honored to be doing my part tonight and tomorrow. Its really a shame that when it comes to volunteers - 10% of the people do 90% of the work. This leads to frustration, mixed emotions, angry people and stressed people. Eventually leading to burn out and then quitting. So please keep them all in your prayers!
I have been reminded the last week now how much I just despise Myspace. I just can't stand the ads, the lure to dating and meeting one night flings ...etc. If you have a teenager... how hard would it be to pull them off of it? There is some real crap on there.
I have also been upset some with the language that some of our teens are using. I never dreamed I would hear or read some of the things coming from some of the kids I know. Nothing worse than a foul mouth teenage girl or boy. Expectations too high? I don't think so....
Words are such important things - they can either be used to build up a person or tear down a person. If we tear people down then we are really saying we don't respect them or value them at all. I especially dislike it when we see a family out to eat or shopping together and the mom or dad is screaming or yelling at the waitress or cashier. Man they can use a break from idiots!
Looking forward to the weekend...... hope to see lots of "MyKids" tomorrow - lots of awesome families enjoying time together. Church Sunday .... Rock Group Sunday night and Panthers!!!!
Thats all for now........ I am on the move~ Thankful big time today!
Love ya'll,
Lonnie~
Headed out for lunch and also to do some Fall Festival stuff with a buddy of mine who has a truck. Please keep Carol and her peeps from the Harrisburg PTA in your prayers. They have been working OT on this fall festival. Its their biggest fund raiser of the year and I bet they will be showing the wear and tear tomorrow evening. I am honored to be doing my part tonight and tomorrow. Its really a shame that when it comes to volunteers - 10% of the people do 90% of the work. This leads to frustration, mixed emotions, angry people and stressed people. Eventually leading to burn out and then quitting. So please keep them all in your prayers!
I have been reminded the last week now how much I just despise Myspace. I just can't stand the ads, the lure to dating and meeting one night flings ...etc. If you have a teenager... how hard would it be to pull them off of it? There is some real crap on there.
I have also been upset some with the language that some of our teens are using. I never dreamed I would hear or read some of the things coming from some of the kids I know. Nothing worse than a foul mouth teenage girl or boy. Expectations too high? I don't think so....
Words are such important things - they can either be used to build up a person or tear down a person. If we tear people down then we are really saying we don't respect them or value them at all. I especially dislike it when we see a family out to eat or shopping together and the mom or dad is screaming or yelling at the waitress or cashier. Man they can use a break from idiots!
Looking forward to the weekend...... hope to see lots of "MyKids" tomorrow - lots of awesome families enjoying time together. Church Sunday .... Rock Group Sunday night and Panthers!!!!
Thats all for now........ I am on the move~ Thankful big time today!
Love ya'll,
Lonnie~
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Here is something that amazes me...finally I see it in print somewhere.
http://climate.weather.com/articles/teentv110301.html
What are they thinking? Could it be true? .... come on already. As a parent, we need to take a stand. We are way too casual as parents........ and thats not cool.
Did you know that the word teenager was just invented? Yes its true, it has not been around that long. Just a 100 years ago, we were either considered a child or an adult and then just old. When our youth becomes of the ripe old age of 13 14 or so - they were working, holding responsibility, taking ownership of the tasks at hand... and YES they did a great job. Our youth today is not being challenged. They have talents and energy that is untapped and being wasted on things that don't matter. They are the generation that is forgotten and labeled as lazy and a host of other labels. If we expect immaturity and irresponsibility from them and ourselves, then that is exactly what we get. We are pushing those traits in our youth back to the 19-23 years of age mark. We are holding them back instead of leading them.
As my son grows and matures as does his peeps - I find it amazing how certain lines of clothing comes into play and then out again. I know of certain teenagers who change their entire clothing lines according to what is hot or not. Where does this comes from? I would say some of it comes from the media and tv shows - magazines etc. I was telling the folks in the office just this morning about the one character trend that shines brightly on tv shows today. The father in a tv show is made to look, act and be the village/family idiot. He can't make a decision, he can't decide anything, he is made fun of and screws up everything! The family dog is respected more. Over the next week, keep that in the back of your mind and email me your discovery. What else are you seeing? Maybe the article above?
As a dad I want to lead my family. I want to be the best example I can be to show my son and his friends and the kids I am associated with what it means to lead a family, to love God, to serve Him and others, and to love my wife. I want them to know that they have God given talents and they can use them. I think of the many college grads that leave the universities today with a degree and still have no idea what to do with their lives....
Jesus has called us as Christians to be different!! We are the salt of the earth! I think our kids are lazy because we are lazy as parents. We are lazy at leading them. We are lazy at being that good example. We are lazy with our attitudes and we are lazy in our faith and trust in God.
There is an incredible level of character under the surface of our children. We need to help them find it....... let me share some of the things we can do.
This is from a blog a few weeks back that I have printed and have been praying over since then. This is from Cindy Beall... great stuff Cindy! Her blog can be read here - http://cindybeall.com/
1. Teach them to love Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.
2. Teach your child how to handle criticism. If all they ever receive is praise, they will not be prepared for the real world.
3. Reject entitlement. Too many kids think that they are entitled to things. Teach them to earn things instead.
4. Teach them to earn more than they make when they have a job. Having a strong work ethic will get them everywhere.
5. Teach them to honor commitment and not to give up when failure enters the picture. Your best way to teach this is by your example.
6. Teach them humility. When a child thinks he/she is far better than others, it’s highly unattractive and often repels friends.
7. Don’t permit dishonesty. This is absolutely unacceptable in our family. Period.
8. Don’t make any subject off-limits. If they want to talk about something you are not comfortable with, do it anyway. If they don’t talk to you, they’ll talk to someone.
9. Teach them to be a respecter of persons. My son knows that disrespect basically means that they don’t think that person is important.
10. Don’t be afraid to tell them you don’t know something. While you may be the parent, you don’t have all the answers.
Loved ones, get out of your comfort zone and "Do the hard things". I think our expectations of our children are set way too low. They need the challenge .... we need the challenge.
Off to have lunch now with Kyle and some of "MyKids" -
Lonnie~
http://climate.weather.com/articles/teentv110301.html
What are they thinking? Could it be true? .... come on already. As a parent, we need to take a stand. We are way too casual as parents........ and thats not cool.
Did you know that the word teenager was just invented? Yes its true, it has not been around that long. Just a 100 years ago, we were either considered a child or an adult and then just old. When our youth becomes of the ripe old age of 13 14 or so - they were working, holding responsibility, taking ownership of the tasks at hand... and YES they did a great job. Our youth today is not being challenged. They have talents and energy that is untapped and being wasted on things that don't matter. They are the generation that is forgotten and labeled as lazy and a host of other labels. If we expect immaturity and irresponsibility from them and ourselves, then that is exactly what we get. We are pushing those traits in our youth back to the 19-23 years of age mark. We are holding them back instead of leading them.
As my son grows and matures as does his peeps - I find it amazing how certain lines of clothing comes into play and then out again. I know of certain teenagers who change their entire clothing lines according to what is hot or not. Where does this comes from? I would say some of it comes from the media and tv shows - magazines etc. I was telling the folks in the office just this morning about the one character trend that shines brightly on tv shows today. The father in a tv show is made to look, act and be the village/family idiot. He can't make a decision, he can't decide anything, he is made fun of and screws up everything! The family dog is respected more. Over the next week, keep that in the back of your mind and email me your discovery. What else are you seeing? Maybe the article above?
As a dad I want to lead my family. I want to be the best example I can be to show my son and his friends and the kids I am associated with what it means to lead a family, to love God, to serve Him and others, and to love my wife. I want them to know that they have God given talents and they can use them. I think of the many college grads that leave the universities today with a degree and still have no idea what to do with their lives....
Jesus has called us as Christians to be different!! We are the salt of the earth! I think our kids are lazy because we are lazy as parents. We are lazy at leading them. We are lazy at being that good example. We are lazy with our attitudes and we are lazy in our faith and trust in God.
There is an incredible level of character under the surface of our children. We need to help them find it....... let me share some of the things we can do.
This is from a blog a few weeks back that I have printed and have been praying over since then. This is from Cindy Beall... great stuff Cindy! Her blog can be read here - http://cindybeall.com/
1. Teach them to love Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.
2. Teach your child how to handle criticism. If all they ever receive is praise, they will not be prepared for the real world.
3. Reject entitlement. Too many kids think that they are entitled to things. Teach them to earn things instead.
4. Teach them to earn more than they make when they have a job. Having a strong work ethic will get them everywhere.
5. Teach them to honor commitment and not to give up when failure enters the picture. Your best way to teach this is by your example.
6. Teach them humility. When a child thinks he/she is far better than others, it’s highly unattractive and often repels friends.
7. Don’t permit dishonesty. This is absolutely unacceptable in our family. Period.
8. Don’t make any subject off-limits. If they want to talk about something you are not comfortable with, do it anyway. If they don’t talk to you, they’ll talk to someone.
9. Teach them to be a respecter of persons. My son knows that disrespect basically means that they don’t think that person is important.
10. Don’t be afraid to tell them you don’t know something. While you may be the parent, you don’t have all the answers.
Loved ones, get out of your comfort zone and "Do the hard things". I think our expectations of our children are set way too low. They need the challenge .... we need the challenge.
Off to have lunch now with Kyle and some of "MyKids" -
Lonnie~
A little encouragement....
Its a little cloudy this morning. Yes outside and in my head. Stayed up too late last night I guess! Pretty exciting to be an American today. This country is in sure need to get the "GREAT" back to her.
I want to pass along a little lesson that I got to live out yesterday - that little lesson is - "A little encouragment goes a long way". I bet you could encourage someone today no matter what it may be in. Sports, personal, attitude, a relationship like a mom or dad, husband or wife, a child or a friend or maybe even the cashier at the local grocery store. Sometimes that is really all that a person needs to hear to make a big impact on them!
I have been reading a new book - "Do The Hard Things". So far I am enjoying it as I look to challenge myself in some areas but also look to challenge those around me. Too often in life, we take the easy road. We avoid the hard conversations or tip toe around the tough things. So often we wait, dodge and weave around something and it grows bigger than it should be - if we would tackle the issue when it comes up, it is often movable then and fixable. I think about friendships that I have had and how they are different now or not at all - all because of something that was not taken care of from the beginning or a conversation that needed to happen but didn't. The hard thing became harder and too big to move - so it was avoided and the friendship ends. Shame really........ I think about our young folks and the way society challenges them. They have fire in them but they just don't know it or how to use it. They need direction and guidance but as adults/parents we don't address it. We don't have that talk with our kids because it is too hard or difficult - for us! Our kids have untapped energy and are wanting to take on things, to be challenged and to make a difference. You were young once - you know what they are feeling! As I look around me and see the influence I have in not only my son but also the kids and families around me - I know my example has to be bigger! I have to be excited for them. I have to have passion in my love for Jesus so that they can see it even with their eyes closed. I don't want my faith to be casual. Life today, society tells us its ok to be casual - casual how we dress, casual sex, casual friendships - the list goes on. Very little passion and feeling/action behind anything at all. We are called to be different!! But all through the bible - people that met Jesus did not take that meeting casual! They were changed big time. I don't want to take what Jesus is teaching me, casual. I don't want to take my friendships nor "MyKids" casual. Nor do I want to serve Him and those around me casual. God is using us in the greatest story ever told! We should not be casual in HOW God is using us. In a world that is full of disposable things.... we are not disposable and we each matter to God.
So do a little encouraging today. Reach out to someone or to that family and extend a helping hand. Take a risk and let God direct the paths head.
To "My Kids" and my peeps out there....... "Do the Hard Things"~ and put some action into your faith.
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
Love you all - peace,
Lonnie~
I want to pass along a little lesson that I got to live out yesterday - that little lesson is - "A little encouragment goes a long way". I bet you could encourage someone today no matter what it may be in. Sports, personal, attitude, a relationship like a mom or dad, husband or wife, a child or a friend or maybe even the cashier at the local grocery store. Sometimes that is really all that a person needs to hear to make a big impact on them!
I have been reading a new book - "Do The Hard Things". So far I am enjoying it as I look to challenge myself in some areas but also look to challenge those around me. Too often in life, we take the easy road. We avoid the hard conversations or tip toe around the tough things. So often we wait, dodge and weave around something and it grows bigger than it should be - if we would tackle the issue when it comes up, it is often movable then and fixable. I think about friendships that I have had and how they are different now or not at all - all because of something that was not taken care of from the beginning or a conversation that needed to happen but didn't. The hard thing became harder and too big to move - so it was avoided and the friendship ends. Shame really........ I think about our young folks and the way society challenges them. They have fire in them but they just don't know it or how to use it. They need direction and guidance but as adults/parents we don't address it. We don't have that talk with our kids because it is too hard or difficult - for us! Our kids have untapped energy and are wanting to take on things, to be challenged and to make a difference. You were young once - you know what they are feeling! As I look around me and see the influence I have in not only my son but also the kids and families around me - I know my example has to be bigger! I have to be excited for them. I have to have passion in my love for Jesus so that they can see it even with their eyes closed. I don't want my faith to be casual. Life today, society tells us its ok to be casual - casual how we dress, casual sex, casual friendships - the list goes on. Very little passion and feeling/action behind anything at all. We are called to be different!! But all through the bible - people that met Jesus did not take that meeting casual! They were changed big time. I don't want to take what Jesus is teaching me, casual. I don't want to take my friendships nor "MyKids" casual. Nor do I want to serve Him and those around me casual. God is using us in the greatest story ever told! We should not be casual in HOW God is using us. In a world that is full of disposable things.... we are not disposable and we each matter to God.
So do a little encouraging today. Reach out to someone or to that family and extend a helping hand. Take a risk and let God direct the paths head.
To "My Kids" and my peeps out there....... "Do the Hard Things"~ and put some action into your faith.
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
Love you all - peace,
Lonnie~
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Finally the day has come. I am ready to move on with this election thing. Tired of the bickering, name calling, the spins and not telling the whole truth. Who would want that job anyways? Check us out in 4 years and tell me what has happened. Will you be better off? Would you have experienced real change? There are times in life when we have defining moments. This is one of those for our country but for us ... its the same ol same ol. Poor stay poor and the rich stay rich. Our defining moments are when something happens in our lives, a new direction or the loss of a loved one. Everything changes........ everything. Life is not the same any more......
The last couple months I continue to ask the Lord to teach me and expand me. I don't want to stagnate in my faith and understanding. Yes there are seasons of spiritual highs and lows - growth and quietness and many times we come to Sunday mornings and don't feel God at all even when we think we are doing everything right. We continue to walk around with that yoke in our life that keeps us looking down, head pulled low and carrying the weight of our one thing that continues to hang on us. You know what that yoke is in your life. It keeps you tied to it like a mule plowing a field - just drudging along.
God has called us to be different. As followers of Jesus Christ - we are to be His light for the world to see. He has called us to be different and to personally take the Good News into the people in our lives. ALL PEOPLE - no matter where they are or what has been done to them.
Over the last couple of months I have really asked God to step my faith up either through testing me or through showing me. What is it that He wants me to do? I have quietly fasted and stepped up my prayer life. It has been an amazing experience in many ways. Not only does it feel good with accomplishing something that is pretty hard like a fast - it also puts my heart and mind in the right places. We all have something in our lives that we are praying about. Maybe God is quiet these days and it seems He is not answering your prayers. Maybe there is a reason He is not answering. Is there something in your life that is holding those prayers back? Sin of some kind, a relationship that is not right, maybe how you are treating others, maybe its you keeping your faith to yourself - maybe you are not really taking your faith seriously. Maybe just going to church on Sunday morning is your check mark to be seen by others or maybe your not looking to change at all and let God turn your life around. Maybe you're not really trusting God at all~
There are a lot of people really struggling today. Sunday while at my family reunion with all the food around - I just couldn't help but to think about the couple of families that are in need that are just breaking my heart. It really bothered me as we all ate our FULL share and then tossed so much out or took home leftovers for the dogs. How I wanted to take a plate or 2 for them. We all have so much but like so many others and what society teaches us - we keep are barns full and strive for more. We build bigger barns only to hold more stuff. I don't want to be that Christian who has 10 loaves of bread and gives out 1 loaf to someone in need. I am fine with doing without so that someone else may have some. I want to give 9 loaves .... to be that encouragement for someone who needs a reminder in life that God cares and loves them. I want to share what I have been blessed with through Jesus and His way - not ANY other way. I am OK with walking through those tough places with them - to be there to listen and to pray for them. Life is hard and so many of us have that yoke around our necks just dragging along in life - God has called us to put on the yoke of others to help carry the load. AND by doing so - we get to share the message of Jesus with them - we get to remind folks they are not alone - we get to share the peace that only God gives us in this life - we get to share in their burdons so that they too can come through their tough time and drop what is dragging them down and experiencing true freedom with Jesus. Eventually they too will walk along in life and fill a need of a family or a child or a sick neighbor and help carry their yoke in life.
The government cannot do this - this election won't do this - Jesus can do this. Today is not only a day that we get to vote - it is a day I get to drop off a meal to a hungry and hurting family. A family who needs some encouragement and a reminder that God is with them and my family and I are with them. There is a child who needs to experience that someone out there has not just given up on her and thrown her to the side to accept whatever life is given to her. There are people who care and willing to go to those hard places. It doesn't matter that the past has been hard - we are not to live in our rear view mirrors! We are look ahead and see that victory with Jesus is where we are going.
Yesterday I asked if there was anything special that I could get for her family. She paused, thought for a good 3 seconds and said - "A loaf of bread".
Jesus fed 5000 men and many more with adding women and children with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. Imagine what this country (and our communities) could do if Jesus, His church and His family of people reached out and shared their barns of bread with others and only keeping what they need. People would experience change.......... real change .... the Change that can only come from Jesus. Today is one of those days and I am excited to be serving the Lord this way. I got a feeling I will be picking up 2 loaves of bread this evening..... and that will be a great moment - think of all the awesome things you could experience - What blessing are you missing out on because you are not serving others.
Love you all,
Lonnie~
If you feel like your prayers never get off the ground ....... Isaiah 58 is that reminder and encouragment you are seeking through Gods word.
Isaiah 58
1-3 "Shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!Tell my people what's wrong with their lives! They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me.To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— law-abiding, God-honoring.They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me on their side.But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' 3-5"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard.You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist.The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground.Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility?To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black?Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?
6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once.Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage.Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins,If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones.You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
The last couple months I continue to ask the Lord to teach me and expand me. I don't want to stagnate in my faith and understanding. Yes there are seasons of spiritual highs and lows - growth and quietness and many times we come to Sunday mornings and don't feel God at all even when we think we are doing everything right. We continue to walk around with that yoke in our life that keeps us looking down, head pulled low and carrying the weight of our one thing that continues to hang on us. You know what that yoke is in your life. It keeps you tied to it like a mule plowing a field - just drudging along.
God has called us to be different. As followers of Jesus Christ - we are to be His light for the world to see. He has called us to be different and to personally take the Good News into the people in our lives. ALL PEOPLE - no matter where they are or what has been done to them.
Over the last couple of months I have really asked God to step my faith up either through testing me or through showing me. What is it that He wants me to do? I have quietly fasted and stepped up my prayer life. It has been an amazing experience in many ways. Not only does it feel good with accomplishing something that is pretty hard like a fast - it also puts my heart and mind in the right places. We all have something in our lives that we are praying about. Maybe God is quiet these days and it seems He is not answering your prayers. Maybe there is a reason He is not answering. Is there something in your life that is holding those prayers back? Sin of some kind, a relationship that is not right, maybe how you are treating others, maybe its you keeping your faith to yourself - maybe you are not really taking your faith seriously. Maybe just going to church on Sunday morning is your check mark to be seen by others or maybe your not looking to change at all and let God turn your life around. Maybe you're not really trusting God at all~
There are a lot of people really struggling today. Sunday while at my family reunion with all the food around - I just couldn't help but to think about the couple of families that are in need that are just breaking my heart. It really bothered me as we all ate our FULL share and then tossed so much out or took home leftovers for the dogs. How I wanted to take a plate or 2 for them. We all have so much but like so many others and what society teaches us - we keep are barns full and strive for more. We build bigger barns only to hold more stuff. I don't want to be that Christian who has 10 loaves of bread and gives out 1 loaf to someone in need. I am fine with doing without so that someone else may have some. I want to give 9 loaves .... to be that encouragement for someone who needs a reminder in life that God cares and loves them. I want to share what I have been blessed with through Jesus and His way - not ANY other way. I am OK with walking through those tough places with them - to be there to listen and to pray for them. Life is hard and so many of us have that yoke around our necks just dragging along in life - God has called us to put on the yoke of others to help carry the load. AND by doing so - we get to share the message of Jesus with them - we get to remind folks they are not alone - we get to share the peace that only God gives us in this life - we get to share in their burdons so that they too can come through their tough time and drop what is dragging them down and experiencing true freedom with Jesus. Eventually they too will walk along in life and fill a need of a family or a child or a sick neighbor and help carry their yoke in life.
The government cannot do this - this election won't do this - Jesus can do this. Today is not only a day that we get to vote - it is a day I get to drop off a meal to a hungry and hurting family. A family who needs some encouragement and a reminder that God is with them and my family and I are with them. There is a child who needs to experience that someone out there has not just given up on her and thrown her to the side to accept whatever life is given to her. There are people who care and willing to go to those hard places. It doesn't matter that the past has been hard - we are not to live in our rear view mirrors! We are look ahead and see that victory with Jesus is where we are going.
Yesterday I asked if there was anything special that I could get for her family. She paused, thought for a good 3 seconds and said - "A loaf of bread".
Jesus fed 5000 men and many more with adding women and children with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. Imagine what this country (and our communities) could do if Jesus, His church and His family of people reached out and shared their barns of bread with others and only keeping what they need. People would experience change.......... real change .... the Change that can only come from Jesus. Today is one of those days and I am excited to be serving the Lord this way. I got a feeling I will be picking up 2 loaves of bread this evening..... and that will be a great moment - think of all the awesome things you could experience - What blessing are you missing out on because you are not serving others.
Love you all,
Lonnie~
If you feel like your prayers never get off the ground ....... Isaiah 58 is that reminder and encouragment you are seeking through Gods word.
Isaiah 58
1-3 "Shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!Tell my people what's wrong with their lives! They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me.To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— law-abiding, God-honoring.They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me on their side.But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' 3-5"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard.You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist.The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground.Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility?To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black?Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?
6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once.Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage.Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins,If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones.You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Reunion~
Monday morning already. Where does the time go? Had a great halloween spent with some 
friends in their neighborhood. We had a trailer hooked up to the 4wheeler, had some lights on the trailer and some hay bails.... Kids hit the streets hard and we all had a blast. Moms stayed back at the house and enjoyed each others company. Saturday night we attended a grown up Halloween party - its been a long time since Carol and I did something like that. I was not feeling that well and did not stay as long as we would have liked but it was fun - we hang with some crazy peeps! You know who ya'll are :)
friends in their neighborhood. We had a trailer hooked up to the 4wheeler, had some lights on the trailer and some hay bails.... Kids hit the streets hard and we all had a blast. Moms stayed back at the house and enjoyed each others company. Saturday night we attended a grown up Halloween party - its been a long time since Carol and I did something like that. I was not feeling that well and did not stay as long as we would have liked but it was fun - we hang with some crazy peeps! You know who ya'll are :)My family reunion was great yesterday. It is still hard to believe that my mom was not there. It just didn't seem real that she was not. Uncle Homer spoke to the family and thanked God that we had another year together. The weather was awesome even if the leaves were just a little past peak - it was still beautiful. FOOD was awesome as well....and so much of it. I couldn't help but to think about the families that Carol and I and our Rock Group will be helping over the next few months. I wish we could have taken plates back for them and let them enjoy some good country cookin! Kyle was besides himself with the banana puddin. WOW - it was good.
We got to spend a little time yesterday on our way out at the cemetary. It was hard to hold back the tears but it was good to be looking up at that mountain and knowing where mom is and feel how BIG God is.
Feeling very thankful this morning.......
Lonnie~
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