It has been a few busy days to say the least. School is finally back on track and exams are taking place right now and makeup days are being scheduled. It has everyone still a little out of sync and I bet even some had a tough time sleeping last night with the getting up earlier than in the past. Its good to get back into the groove as I am sure lots of folks would agree.
I want to take a pause today from John and speak about something that is hitting very close to home these days. With Rock Group getting together Sunday and us having time together as we watched the Jets game and pushed back a message that is just in perfect season to share with everyone - it reminds me that sometimes we need to just take a pause from life and smile. Love on each other and just share some laughs, a football game, talk a little about whats going on in life and really connect heart to heart with the people in our lives. As I look to these friends for guidance, comfort, prayer - I know without a doubt that these folks have my back. I know that many of them would call me out if my paths were leading me to a place that was no good. I know they would support me if I had a big decision to make or was going to take a different journey in life. I know they would walk side by side with me.
A true friend is someone who gets hurt at times and instead of doing what the world would do by stepping out, they step in closer than before. We all need friends like that in our lives. Not just friends who never get past the Bears and Packers game coming up. Not just friends who talk about the 6 inches of snow and ice in Charlotte NC and it shutting down the area for a week. I am talking about a friend who comforts, who corrects, who deeply loves, who cries with you, who smiles with you, who rejoices in your life when you rejoice. I am talking about someone who has the right to speak into your life because of the paths you have walked together. I am talking about a friend who has the right to go to the hard places and conversations because they have earned that right to speak. Trusted and loved like family.
Proverbs 18:24 - Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
A true friend gets hurt sometimes because they are willing to be hurt. Most times friends part ways because of one person getting hurt. Maybe over something that was said, maybe a misunderstanding and the value of the situation has move value than the friendship. Do you value the friendship more than the friend if you look around in your inner circle? A true blessing and treasure in life is being understood by your inner circle. Think about it - most people dont get you, your ways of thinking at times, your feelings on certain things, feeling with other people - but a true treasure if being understood by those special people. They are hard to find and hard to keep. Often times in life we put up walls to keep people out and its a protection reflex because we have all been hurt in the past by someone - by that at the time you thought was a good friend.
Proverbs 16:28- Troublemakers start fights; gossip break up friendships.
More often than not a real friend leads you. They take you along on a journey of life together sharing like family. The cool thing about these friends is there is nothing that stand in between them. One does not take and the other gives. Its an equal partnership and who don't stoop the level to the place where gossip becomes an issue. If a friend gossips in front of you about someone - then rest assured they will probably gossip about you to someone else. I have had to learn this from time to time working with students. Student have not the discipline to tame their tongues and sometimes they never outgrow that and continue those same habits into adulthood. The BFF is so over rated today as friends try to leverage themselves against popularity and appearance. Its a shame that friends can't just be friends knowing that both have different circles that they roll in. Its that integrity and character that Christ is looking for.
Are you a true friend? Do you have people in your life that you could call a true friend? You will always have a true friend in Jesus. No matter what people do around you and to you in your life - you can always rest assured that you will always have one true friend who is our example of a friend to aspire and look up to. I hope you know him today ... and like a real friend, place his friendship into the lives of you inner circle friends. He is not a facebook friend but someone who is on your trusted list to call in case of emergency.
We could all use a friend like that.
Lonnie~
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
It has been a few days since I last posted here on "thewalk". It has not been short on events taking place thats for sure. 6 inches of snow and 2 inches of ice has crippled the Charlotte NC area here all week. With schools closed and makeup days are announced, parents are frustrated, kids have cabin fever and things are just a mess with everyones routine out of whack. Hoping for a fresh start next week as things get back in groove and normal - what ever that is - comes back into our lives.
I had a chance this week to sit down and share a coffee with a friend and leader and brother. He and his family are moving and even though thats hard, its only miles inbetween a relationship and with the internet, email, texting and facebook - those miles wont seem so far away. I am praying hard for them and their next destination in serving God. I am praying for big things for them and using all that they have learned over the last few years to further their walk and service for God and his family. I know great things are yet to be done there and looking forward already to camp or outreach somewhere in the middle - I am thinking NYC and spending a few days teaming, planning and outreach when God gets us to that place.
As one friend parts another comes in.... Thats how life works most times as I look at things not so much as a mountain to climb but railroad tracks running parallel to each other. Sometimes the train takes a person but another train comes and along those tracks, life has its good and has its tough spots but they both go together and without one of those rails - our lives are crashing. I walked away after a great coffee and conversation - I love those 2 things going together - God sure had a plan to make those 2 things....coffee and conversation! - for 2 hours talking, dreaming, catching up on families, and just sharing our heart for God and all that is going on in our lives. I am especially pumped for that friendship and his leadership in my life. I am so needing it..... and God has perfect timing and a perfect plan. His ways or bigger than mine.
God will do amazing things in your life when you humble yourself to serving him, his teachings and ways of doing things. Your relationships with others take on a new deeper walk when we serve them by being humble. When we come to that place loved ones, we begin to see things differently and in a new way that we may have never seen before. I think about that as I dig into God word and what I read last year or a few months ago, when reading today sometimes has a new meaning to the words. Sometimes we see them in a different way or have experienced something in life that makes the words and the parables and the teachings come to life. I love when that happens and there is such blessing that comes through that process of God shaping and molding us to be more like him.
John 16: Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. BUt I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. UNless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement; in regard to sin, because me do not believe in mel in regard to rightouesness, because I am going to the Father, wher eyou see me no longer; and ion regard to judgement, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can bear. But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belings to the Father is mine. That is why I said the spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. IN a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.
As Jesus prepared his disciples for his earthly departure - it was clear to him that the world would mostly be rejoicing and celebrating but his closest people who knew who he was and called him friend would be filled with grief. By sending the holy spirit it is God who lives in us and in the proper season as our understanding grows and our walk deepens, the holy spirit will open our eyes in new ways and understanding. So as we strive forward reaching to understand more and living a life of significance - God reveals things to us as we mature. Its like when we are teenagers - we think and act like teenagers but as adults we mostly act like adults and mostly think like adults. As our spirit deepens so does our understanding and our thoughts and our actions.
We all have one sentance in life. A life lived on this earth is mostly recorded on the tombstones of where our earthly bodies are placed. Its a reflection of a life lived here - What would be your sentance that you would leave to others? What is your life about? What is important enough to you that you would leave as a standing legacy? Most people I would say want to live a life with significance. As a man, I know this to be true because I want to stand knowing that I am making a difference in the lives and of the people in my life. Leading students to know Christ and walking with them as they learn to not only trust God for their salvation but also in their lives - the good times and the bad times. I know there wont be much in the terms of "Thank You" or seeing their fruit take but someone else will see those things. Thats upsetting but its also the way it is. I plant the seed that God has trusted me in doing to them and down the road, at some point in their lives, they will lean back and know I was there - cheering them on from the balcony of life planting Gods seeds for their future. Some stick, some walk away, some float and some take charge - its up to them but I have done my part and what God has called me to do.
So as I think about my buddy Travis and his family today. Thank you my friend for your wisdom, guidance and challenging me to be the person that God has called me to be. I am not worthy to study God word, to teach it at times and live my life as an example for others. I surely cant beleive that at this place in my life the students and their families mean that much to me that they break my heart, keep me up at night for days on end and praying for them with tears in my eyes and a heart that is unreal in being so heavy at times. I know Travis you have inspired me and given me leadership to shape me and you have also given me a foudation of trusting God and doing what he says. You have shown me that example time and time again. Thirst camp being so hard, emotional and life changing and calling me to lead when you didnt hardly know me but my heart shown. Thank you my friend, my brother. We will hook up down the road and serve God together again. Keep in touch ....... the best is yet to come.
Authentic, lasting significance is hid with Christ. That means to say a man cannot find significance in any lasting way apart from Christ. So if a man in Christ, and submitted to Gods plan and purpose, then he can satisfy his greatest need in a way that endures.
Lonnie~
I had a chance this week to sit down and share a coffee with a friend and leader and brother. He and his family are moving and even though thats hard, its only miles inbetween a relationship and with the internet, email, texting and facebook - those miles wont seem so far away. I am praying hard for them and their next destination in serving God. I am praying for big things for them and using all that they have learned over the last few years to further their walk and service for God and his family. I know great things are yet to be done there and looking forward already to camp or outreach somewhere in the middle - I am thinking NYC and spending a few days teaming, planning and outreach when God gets us to that place.
As one friend parts another comes in.... Thats how life works most times as I look at things not so much as a mountain to climb but railroad tracks running parallel to each other. Sometimes the train takes a person but another train comes and along those tracks, life has its good and has its tough spots but they both go together and without one of those rails - our lives are crashing. I walked away after a great coffee and conversation - I love those 2 things going together - God sure had a plan to make those 2 things....coffee and conversation! - for 2 hours talking, dreaming, catching up on families, and just sharing our heart for God and all that is going on in our lives. I am especially pumped for that friendship and his leadership in my life. I am so needing it..... and God has perfect timing and a perfect plan. His ways or bigger than mine.
God will do amazing things in your life when you humble yourself to serving him, his teachings and ways of doing things. Your relationships with others take on a new deeper walk when we serve them by being humble. When we come to that place loved ones, we begin to see things differently and in a new way that we may have never seen before. I think about that as I dig into God word and what I read last year or a few months ago, when reading today sometimes has a new meaning to the words. Sometimes we see them in a different way or have experienced something in life that makes the words and the parables and the teachings come to life. I love when that happens and there is such blessing that comes through that process of God shaping and molding us to be more like him.
John 16: Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. BUt I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. UNless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement; in regard to sin, because me do not believe in mel in regard to rightouesness, because I am going to the Father, wher eyou see me no longer; and ion regard to judgement, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can bear. But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belings to the Father is mine. That is why I said the spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. IN a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.
As Jesus prepared his disciples for his earthly departure - it was clear to him that the world would mostly be rejoicing and celebrating but his closest people who knew who he was and called him friend would be filled with grief. By sending the holy spirit it is God who lives in us and in the proper season as our understanding grows and our walk deepens, the holy spirit will open our eyes in new ways and understanding. So as we strive forward reaching to understand more and living a life of significance - God reveals things to us as we mature. Its like when we are teenagers - we think and act like teenagers but as adults we mostly act like adults and mostly think like adults. As our spirit deepens so does our understanding and our thoughts and our actions.
We all have one sentance in life. A life lived on this earth is mostly recorded on the tombstones of where our earthly bodies are placed. Its a reflection of a life lived here - What would be your sentance that you would leave to others? What is your life about? What is important enough to you that you would leave as a standing legacy? Most people I would say want to live a life with significance. As a man, I know this to be true because I want to stand knowing that I am making a difference in the lives and of the people in my life. Leading students to know Christ and walking with them as they learn to not only trust God for their salvation but also in their lives - the good times and the bad times. I know there wont be much in the terms of "Thank You" or seeing their fruit take but someone else will see those things. Thats upsetting but its also the way it is. I plant the seed that God has trusted me in doing to them and down the road, at some point in their lives, they will lean back and know I was there - cheering them on from the balcony of life planting Gods seeds for their future. Some stick, some walk away, some float and some take charge - its up to them but I have done my part and what God has called me to do.
So as I think about my buddy Travis and his family today. Thank you my friend for your wisdom, guidance and challenging me to be the person that God has called me to be. I am not worthy to study God word, to teach it at times and live my life as an example for others. I surely cant beleive that at this place in my life the students and their families mean that much to me that they break my heart, keep me up at night for days on end and praying for them with tears in my eyes and a heart that is unreal in being so heavy at times. I know Travis you have inspired me and given me leadership to shape me and you have also given me a foudation of trusting God and doing what he says. You have shown me that example time and time again. Thirst camp being so hard, emotional and life changing and calling me to lead when you didnt hardly know me but my heart shown. Thank you my friend, my brother. We will hook up down the road and serve God together again. Keep in touch ....... the best is yet to come.
Authentic, lasting significance is hid with Christ. That means to say a man cannot find significance in any lasting way apart from Christ. So if a man in Christ, and submitted to Gods plan and purpose, then he can satisfy his greatest need in a way that endures.
Lonnie~
Monday, January 10, 2011
I am really thankful for the snow today. It is beautiful and the part I love about it is the whiteness of it all and the fact that it softens the sounds around us. I remember working at Princeton early in the mornings during winter and walking across campus, it was so quiet after a snowfall, the sounds muffled out by the snow and the peaceful white flakes floating down. Last night I got in really late from WinterJam which was totally awesome and I will say more about that in a minute but the alarm went off this morning at 6:30 for work and I grunted... Carol said - turn it off you dont have to go to work. I rolled over and woke up 3 hours later. Hey I am getting old you know? I fully enjoy hanging with 23 students and other leaders at a concert but hey - I am there to have my worship game face on and thats what I did. I don't think I sat down hardly at all and seeing 16000+ folks, I wouldn't call them fans, but people with their arms raised, singing, and seeing that just blows my mind and warms my heart. I love those moments when I know God is doing something amazing.
Last night during the opening acts, they called for student ministry leaders to come forth and go to the back room. I grabbed 2 of my students who I fully believe with all my heart that one day - they will be involved in ministry in some capacity. Maybe not student ministry but personal outright, souled out ministry !! We grabbed hands and walked to the back room. There we met NewsBoys and David Crowder who them and a few members of their band thanked us for serving God in our students. They shared with us that our work is the hard in the ditches work as they travel the world singing and praising and helping us do our ministry - long after they leave and go on ahead to the next city impacting that 16000. They both prayed over all of us and we got some neat free stuff on the way out but the thing I remember most is seeing their faces shine knowing they were in a special place. A place much bigger than they were and for those brief moments - I really felt like they were seeing and feeling a vision for their life much bigger than anything they may have planned. Middle school students are all over the place as they try to sort things out and figure out things but a HUGE GOD seed was planted last night and I am praying hard that those seeds produce so much fruit for Gods kingdom in the coming years. One of the parents sent me a facebook message thanking me for taking her daughter back stage. When she came to pick her up - she was talking 100 mph and was all pumped up about meeting the band members, getting a CD and having it signed, to be prayed for and just having a chance to be a part of something to huge and impactful.
You can say that you believe in Christ - you may have all the correct human answers to questions - you can go to a big concert but something happens to a person who has that seed planted and it begins to grow. It changes that person and they begin to believe in bigger things, they see things differently and they have a heart that shows others who they are and what they stand for and believe in.
NewBoys played a song last night that I have forgotten how much I truly love. They were awesome as they finished out the show. The band members were on their individual stages that moved out over the crowd and way up in the air - even the drummer was elevated and tilted and then in a drum solo - the stage he was on spun as he played..... I have never seen anything like that before and it was really totally amazing!
If we are doing something for God - It should just be plain BETTER!!!
Excited to sit this afternoon, rest a little next to the fire today and recharge some of my batteries.
Talk tomorrow ......
Lonnie~
Thursday, January 6, 2011
I have been really digging deep the last few days with this communication thing as I step back out in front of the students and rock group kicking back up again in a few weeks. I know I wont be the main person speaking in our student ministry and that is ok but I am grateful for the chance to be in front of them in some capacity - even if its just walking with the students in their faith building those relationships. After such a heart blow with our student leader stepping away - its hard for many, including myself at times, to think past him not being there and being a little worried of who might stay and who might leave. So effective communication is something that I am going to work on and pressing in on my words and actions because teenagers are like no other group of people. They have their own way about themselves and without a good connection to them and speaking in terms that means something, they understand and coming from someone they trust and who they know cares about them - we are only talking AT them.
So like I said the other day, those first few minutes are so important to make that connection. You gain their attention the rest of the time you are speaking or you completely lose them for the rest of the evening - RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
So building those bridges - I love bridges because it connects 2 separate places and it usually is taking those 2 places over something. When I think about being that speaker, its me on one side of the bridge and them on the other. Gods word is in that middle but so is so many other things like: relationships, mom and dad, school work, the cute boy or smokin girl, and even sometimes that exam in the morning and for some it may even be them wondering if anyone notices that they came to this place on drugs or is battling some other form of addiction. There are so many things!
For me today - my focus is making sure that my heart is in the right place. When our hearts are in the right place and full of what God wants to pour into us - there is no other way but to let those things out. Often times those things reflect on our face. Its easy to see someone who is struggling, the hard life that has been lived by that worry look that they always seem to have, the wrinkles that appear as we age, the red eyes from not sleeping and the frowns that life seems to drag down our smiles. Life has a way of reflecting our hearts on our faces!
Imagine the drama in teen years and how they can go in an instant from happy to sad to happy - angry to laughing and then back again. Life is a pressure bubble for them and life can burst at any second and often time does.
So making that connection for me today - is making sure my face reflects my heart. A warm kind heart will bring a warm gentle smile and people notice that. Especially students pick up on that. There is nothing worse for me to experience a student who I have good relationship with come in and completely diss me and walk right past me. Not knowing what is wrong or if there was something I did (I often times do that) but its not about me at all - its about a fight that just took place with a brother or sister or even a parent. Its hard not to carry that to others and our faces and THAT TEENAGE LOOK shows it big time like a giant neon sign.
Time has shown me who is listening and who cares nothing about being there. The looks down and the lack of eye contact is profound. The head down and in the palm of hands often times reflects the position of hurry up and get me out of here. There is nothing more engaging though when the eyes in the room are staring and you can feel the light bulbs going off. That bridge is being connected and the material is not just being said but being understood. Effective communication is taking place. Its during these times that a heart is challenged and the mind opens up to new possibilities and new thinking. That is the contagious part!!
Bridging the gaps of the 2 sides of the bridge and making it possible for a student to understand the message of Christ and how Christ fits into their lives and all those distractions that keep their bridge to Christ from bridging their gap and connecting their 2 sides. Our bridge between us and God has been build through what Christ Jesus has done. He has made a way for us to connect both sides.
So what else do I need to learn about communication, making that important connection to the students and bringing home a message? - It starts for me with reflecting my heart on my face and making people feel welcome in my life and not just being glad they are there but also being needed. Our walk with Christ is not meant to be a lonely walk along a windy and dark path but one of fellowship and accountability. A path that has others along the way to pick us up and share in life those hurtful seasons as well as the wonderful seasons. Ministry is relationships - relationships with Christ but also with each other.
Next time you open your Bible - let God words come to life and know as His child, loved ones, that you have the full rights to intimately interact with Jesus on every single page.
Lonnie~
So like I said the other day, those first few minutes are so important to make that connection. You gain their attention the rest of the time you are speaking or you completely lose them for the rest of the evening - RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
So building those bridges - I love bridges because it connects 2 separate places and it usually is taking those 2 places over something. When I think about being that speaker, its me on one side of the bridge and them on the other. Gods word is in that middle but so is so many other things like: relationships, mom and dad, school work, the cute boy or smokin girl, and even sometimes that exam in the morning and for some it may even be them wondering if anyone notices that they came to this place on drugs or is battling some other form of addiction. There are so many things!
For me today - my focus is making sure that my heart is in the right place. When our hearts are in the right place and full of what God wants to pour into us - there is no other way but to let those things out. Often times those things reflect on our face. Its easy to see someone who is struggling, the hard life that has been lived by that worry look that they always seem to have, the wrinkles that appear as we age, the red eyes from not sleeping and the frowns that life seems to drag down our smiles. Life has a way of reflecting our hearts on our faces!
Imagine the drama in teen years and how they can go in an instant from happy to sad to happy - angry to laughing and then back again. Life is a pressure bubble for them and life can burst at any second and often time does.
So making that connection for me today - is making sure my face reflects my heart. A warm kind heart will bring a warm gentle smile and people notice that. Especially students pick up on that. There is nothing worse for me to experience a student who I have good relationship with come in and completely diss me and walk right past me. Not knowing what is wrong or if there was something I did (I often times do that) but its not about me at all - its about a fight that just took place with a brother or sister or even a parent. Its hard not to carry that to others and our faces and THAT TEENAGE LOOK shows it big time like a giant neon sign.
Time has shown me who is listening and who cares nothing about being there. The looks down and the lack of eye contact is profound. The head down and in the palm of hands often times reflects the position of hurry up and get me out of here. There is nothing more engaging though when the eyes in the room are staring and you can feel the light bulbs going off. That bridge is being connected and the material is not just being said but being understood. Effective communication is taking place. Its during these times that a heart is challenged and the mind opens up to new possibilities and new thinking. That is the contagious part!!
Bridging the gaps of the 2 sides of the bridge and making it possible for a student to understand the message of Christ and how Christ fits into their lives and all those distractions that keep their bridge to Christ from bridging their gap and connecting their 2 sides. Our bridge between us and God has been build through what Christ Jesus has done. He has made a way for us to connect both sides.
So what else do I need to learn about communication, making that important connection to the students and bringing home a message? - It starts for me with reflecting my heart on my face and making people feel welcome in my life and not just being glad they are there but also being needed. Our walk with Christ is not meant to be a lonely walk along a windy and dark path but one of fellowship and accountability. A path that has others along the way to pick us up and share in life those hurtful seasons as well as the wonderful seasons. Ministry is relationships - relationships with Christ but also with each other.
Next time you open your Bible - let God words come to life and know as His child, loved ones, that you have the full rights to intimately interact with Jesus on every single page.
Lonnie~
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
I am pretty encouraged today after last nights student ministry meeting. A good conversation and some help from another leader in our student ministry has that student from yesterday plugged back in and seeing the bigger picture. Its so easy to lose focus on the big picture when we are distracted by the little things all around us. I am glad at least for now, his steps are moving forward again.
Last night we got a great vision for our student ministry at church, though it may be different right now than what was, it is steps in the right direction and I am grateful for the opportunities ahead to serve Christ and live out this passion in my heart for the students placed in my life to know more about Christ. Honored to be serving them and their families in their walk discovering Christ in their lives.
As I got the prompt from Pastor Jimmy last night to close out the meeting with a few announcements and a few moments to share my heart with the students, something occured to me that really has me thinking. It has been a month or so since being out in the front of people in this type of situation and most of my life it has been one I have done my best to completely avoid - but since answering the call that God placed on my heart, I can't shy away from it..... It was revealed to me that those first few moments, that long 1 minute standing in front of a crowd of people are simply the most quiet experience you alone might ever face. As they look at you and you prepare to open your mouth and hopefully words come out clear and not in some raspy bird like call - the first few moments you have the crowds attention. In those first 2 minutes of speaking, you are either going to lose them or you are going to keep them. You will probably lose a few because of distractions and todays kids being ADD because they live their entire lives with a remote control in their hands and if something doesn't grab them right out of the gate - they turn the channel. They will do that to you as well if you don't grab them right out.
So, that is something I am going to focus on in the coming weeks.... attention to keep their attention and then gaining retention - why speak in front of people if they are not going to remember any of it right?
I shared last Sunday with a handful of my close kids that if they don't write things down, in 72 hours....in 3 short days - 97% of what you just heard you will never remember. Those are pretty poor odds of remembering anything and if your goal is to learn and apply. You better have a pen and paper to reflect back on.
Today I am in John 4:43-54
After the 2 days He (Jesus) left for Galilee. When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders." Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said. "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the 7th hour". Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his house hold believed. This was the 2nd miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
As a dad, I can so relate to this royal official in his panic with his son near death. Not that my son or any of my close kids have been near death before but because as a dad, you know you would do anything, give up anything for the life of your children. I have walked pretty close to parents who have sons and daughters who have had surgeries and emergencies and I know the panic and heart felt pain that comes with those moments. As this man and his servants rode for days on horseback, one can imagine that this man had wealth. Not many folks had horses and servants so I can imagine this was a wealthy man but still a desperate man. The ride must have been long, hard, tiring as they rode their horses hard to get to Jesus. Imagine the faith that it took as to beg Jesus to come and make his son well and Jesus tells him, You may go, your son will live. Imagine that thought process right then as to the man believing Jesus on his word and immediately left to head right back home, another days travel by horse.
Now knowing me and probably knowing you, I don't think I would have had the faith of Christ word right there. I can just picture myself begging Jesus to come, to possibly grabbing Jesus and pulling him to come and to hurry! I can just see the panic measures taking place. But this father, takes the words to Jesus, trusts them and believes him.
What incredible faith as a father to do something like that. He didn't have time to think it through, to weigh in on the pro's and con's of waiting a while, leaving right then, making Jesus come with him or just take his word at heart - knowing his sons life is on the line.
I can't even imagine the feeling this dad had and the thoughts going through his mind as he raced a days travel by horse back home, only to be met by his servants meeting him part of the way and telling him -His son will live. Figuring the time that the fever left was the exact moment that Jesus said his powerful healing words and promise - Your son will live.
What an amazing story that shows what power we have in our lives when we believe and trust in Gods word.
As you seek your life and heart today - What are you not trusting God with that you need to trust him for? What is that struggle that you just cant seem to shake that God can take and free you from? What is that big decision that you keep going back and forth on that you need to trust God and take Him for his words that you already know but afraid to do?
As a parent and father - I am trusting God for my son and mykids. I trust that his plans a far better than my plans for them. I am taking his word on that.
Lonnie~
Last night we got a great vision for our student ministry at church, though it may be different right now than what was, it is steps in the right direction and I am grateful for the opportunities ahead to serve Christ and live out this passion in my heart for the students placed in my life to know more about Christ. Honored to be serving them and their families in their walk discovering Christ in their lives.
As I got the prompt from Pastor Jimmy last night to close out the meeting with a few announcements and a few moments to share my heart with the students, something occured to me that really has me thinking. It has been a month or so since being out in the front of people in this type of situation and most of my life it has been one I have done my best to completely avoid - but since answering the call that God placed on my heart, I can't shy away from it..... It was revealed to me that those first few moments, that long 1 minute standing in front of a crowd of people are simply the most quiet experience you alone might ever face. As they look at you and you prepare to open your mouth and hopefully words come out clear and not in some raspy bird like call - the first few moments you have the crowds attention. In those first 2 minutes of speaking, you are either going to lose them or you are going to keep them. You will probably lose a few because of distractions and todays kids being ADD because they live their entire lives with a remote control in their hands and if something doesn't grab them right out of the gate - they turn the channel. They will do that to you as well if you don't grab them right out.
So, that is something I am going to focus on in the coming weeks.... attention to keep their attention and then gaining retention - why speak in front of people if they are not going to remember any of it right?
I shared last Sunday with a handful of my close kids that if they don't write things down, in 72 hours....in 3 short days - 97% of what you just heard you will never remember. Those are pretty poor odds of remembering anything and if your goal is to learn and apply. You better have a pen and paper to reflect back on.
Today I am in John 4:43-54
After the 2 days He (Jesus) left for Galilee. When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders." Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said. "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the 7th hour". Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his house hold believed. This was the 2nd miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
As a dad, I can so relate to this royal official in his panic with his son near death. Not that my son or any of my close kids have been near death before but because as a dad, you know you would do anything, give up anything for the life of your children. I have walked pretty close to parents who have sons and daughters who have had surgeries and emergencies and I know the panic and heart felt pain that comes with those moments. As this man and his servants rode for days on horseback, one can imagine that this man had wealth. Not many folks had horses and servants so I can imagine this was a wealthy man but still a desperate man. The ride must have been long, hard, tiring as they rode their horses hard to get to Jesus. Imagine the faith that it took as to beg Jesus to come and make his son well and Jesus tells him, You may go, your son will live. Imagine that thought process right then as to the man believing Jesus on his word and immediately left to head right back home, another days travel by horse.
Now knowing me and probably knowing you, I don't think I would have had the faith of Christ word right there. I can just picture myself begging Jesus to come, to possibly grabbing Jesus and pulling him to come and to hurry! I can just see the panic measures taking place. But this father, takes the words to Jesus, trusts them and believes him.
What incredible faith as a father to do something like that. He didn't have time to think it through, to weigh in on the pro's and con's of waiting a while, leaving right then, making Jesus come with him or just take his word at heart - knowing his sons life is on the line.
I can't even imagine the feeling this dad had and the thoughts going through his mind as he raced a days travel by horse back home, only to be met by his servants meeting him part of the way and telling him -His son will live. Figuring the time that the fever left was the exact moment that Jesus said his powerful healing words and promise - Your son will live.
What an amazing story that shows what power we have in our lives when we believe and trust in Gods word.
As you seek your life and heart today - What are you not trusting God with that you need to trust him for? What is that struggle that you just cant seem to shake that God can take and free you from? What is that big decision that you keep going back and forth on that you need to trust God and take Him for his words that you already know but afraid to do?
As a parent and father - I am trusting God for my son and mykids. I trust that his plans a far better than my plans for them. I am taking his word on that.
Lonnie~
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
I was ready to walk on in the Gospel of John today reading on ahead in chapter 4 and 5 but I find myself since last night stuck in chapter 2. If I had known what was going to happen last night I would have acted and reacted much differently. See, last night I lost control with one of my close students. After years of seeing this child grow in his faith, follow the teachings of Christ through our student ministry, leaders, and other students - who once was a shy child with no friends and the example of every joke possible - turn into a vibrant voice, a witty character, funny as anything at times, alive in coming out of his shell, on fire for God during peak moments in youth ministry..... to see him turn and walk from his faith is a hard thing to swallow. Especially with as much time so many, including myself that have invested in him. Its never easy but life is hard and when life is hard often times we walk and just give up. So much of growing in our faith comes from not getting out of the boat when the waves of life are pounding us from every direction. The waves of desires and personal issues seem to overwhelming to comprehend and gain control over. The waves of not understanding things and not wanting to ask questions or reach out for help from a trusted friend, parent or leader.
The last few months I have stepped up in my direct questions on where his heart was at and where he was deciding to go. Being lazy and not caring about much in life including school work, going to church, what others think - is a tough pit to be swallowed in. So again asking if he was joining us at church or coming to small group or even visiting another church and the answer was "NO" before I even finished the question.... sent me over the edge as I have not been that upset or angry in a very long time and NEVER over a student and their faith.
As I reflect back to John 2: 12-22 - I am reminded the even Jesus lost his cool when it came to the passion in his heart for his father and his church. Lets read that now.....
John 2:12-22- After this he went down to Capernaum wit his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
His disciples remembered that it is written "Zeal for your house will consume me" (Psalms 69:9) Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken us 46 years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in 3 days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus was indignant over what he saw and in his rage he cleared out the area in this huge outburst. I can honestly say that my actions where not Christ like, especially in my words, but I have to admit that it shows my heart. I fully know this student understands where I am, the passion for students to know Jesus and to follow him with their lives to the best that they can. I pour myself into them and make so much available in my actions, my words, (except this time) and to see a close student just chose to walk away is hard! He would not give up on wrestling even after a season of losing every single match. He stuck it out - even when losing a match this year and what seemed to be a loss by points, in the last seconds turned his opponent over and pinned him with 4 seconds left in the match for the win - is not giving up. SO why on earth would you just give up and walk away from your faith, the people who are pouring into you with everything they have and the friends that are there willing to walk with you in your faith.
Walking away is sometimes good and I have to admit that I too have done that in my life. But looking back I have always had something to go to. I leave a job, I have had another job to go to. I walk out of situation, I had something better to walk into. When walking away from your faith, you are walking into nothing and with nothing comes the fact that its all up to you.
So often our anger issues build up and its those underlining things that lead us to just quit and walk away. Jesus didnt suppress his anger any more than he exploded with rage that day in the temple. His anger was upfront, out in the open. He responded quickly, positively, and appropriately and then he went on with his business. I see far too many men today with hidden anger built up inside of them. Often leading to drug abuse, addictions with drinking and disengaging from the family. These stored up anger issues lead so many today into prescriptions to control our anxiety and depression.
No matter if its our students, close friends, parents or even ourselves - if we don't deal with our anger issues and bring them to the surface, it will someday, somewhere, somehow come out and express itself in an out of bounds manner.
I pray last night was not a hurtful moment but a moment that reflects the passion in my heart for Christ and for others to know him. Like Jesus clearing the temple because of his passion for his father - mine came out and I cleared the house.
Youth ministry is a calling of extremes. There are days that are never the same. There are students and situations that are never ever the same. I have made mistakes, I have made good choices and have been on the ends of both extremes. Students taking huge leaps of faith fo the things of God as well as students making the worst possible mistakes and choices possible. There is extreme pressure sometimes and that sometimes comes not from others but also from yourself. Extreme hours, emotions, work that never seems to end. Why on earth would anyone want to do this?
Extreme fulfillment. Seeing a student sell their lives out for Christ and living like no other, living with purpose and meaning and others being attracted to that wonderful difference is the most rewarding thing imaginable. Just as Christ walked this earth in skin and flesh - those then didnt understand and follow him them - some will not today. They chose to walk away ....
My point is today - chose to walk away from your old self, clear out YOUR temple and chose to walk with Christ.
Passionate about what I have been called to do. Sometimes I have to let that out. Sorry, but time to move forward and carry on with what I have been called to do. Some stick and some wont. I cant help that...plant the seed and let God set the stage for growth.
Lonnie~
The last few months I have stepped up in my direct questions on where his heart was at and where he was deciding to go. Being lazy and not caring about much in life including school work, going to church, what others think - is a tough pit to be swallowed in. So again asking if he was joining us at church or coming to small group or even visiting another church and the answer was "NO" before I even finished the question.... sent me over the edge as I have not been that upset or angry in a very long time and NEVER over a student and their faith.
As I reflect back to John 2: 12-22 - I am reminded the even Jesus lost his cool when it came to the passion in his heart for his father and his church. Lets read that now.....
John 2:12-22- After this he went down to Capernaum wit his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
His disciples remembered that it is written "Zeal for your house will consume me" (Psalms 69:9) Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken us 46 years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in 3 days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus was indignant over what he saw and in his rage he cleared out the area in this huge outburst. I can honestly say that my actions where not Christ like, especially in my words, but I have to admit that it shows my heart. I fully know this student understands where I am, the passion for students to know Jesus and to follow him with their lives to the best that they can. I pour myself into them and make so much available in my actions, my words, (except this time) and to see a close student just chose to walk away is hard! He would not give up on wrestling even after a season of losing every single match. He stuck it out - even when losing a match this year and what seemed to be a loss by points, in the last seconds turned his opponent over and pinned him with 4 seconds left in the match for the win - is not giving up. SO why on earth would you just give up and walk away from your faith, the people who are pouring into you with everything they have and the friends that are there willing to walk with you in your faith.
Walking away is sometimes good and I have to admit that I too have done that in my life. But looking back I have always had something to go to. I leave a job, I have had another job to go to. I walk out of situation, I had something better to walk into. When walking away from your faith, you are walking into nothing and with nothing comes the fact that its all up to you.
So often our anger issues build up and its those underlining things that lead us to just quit and walk away. Jesus didnt suppress his anger any more than he exploded with rage that day in the temple. His anger was upfront, out in the open. He responded quickly, positively, and appropriately and then he went on with his business. I see far too many men today with hidden anger built up inside of them. Often leading to drug abuse, addictions with drinking and disengaging from the family. These stored up anger issues lead so many today into prescriptions to control our anxiety and depression.
No matter if its our students, close friends, parents or even ourselves - if we don't deal with our anger issues and bring them to the surface, it will someday, somewhere, somehow come out and express itself in an out of bounds manner.
I pray last night was not a hurtful moment but a moment that reflects the passion in my heart for Christ and for others to know him. Like Jesus clearing the temple because of his passion for his father - mine came out and I cleared the house.
Youth ministry is a calling of extremes. There are days that are never the same. There are students and situations that are never ever the same. I have made mistakes, I have made good choices and have been on the ends of both extremes. Students taking huge leaps of faith fo the things of God as well as students making the worst possible mistakes and choices possible. There is extreme pressure sometimes and that sometimes comes not from others but also from yourself. Extreme hours, emotions, work that never seems to end. Why on earth would anyone want to do this?
Extreme fulfillment. Seeing a student sell their lives out for Christ and living like no other, living with purpose and meaning and others being attracted to that wonderful difference is the most rewarding thing imaginable. Just as Christ walked this earth in skin and flesh - those then didnt understand and follow him them - some will not today. They chose to walk away ....
My point is today - chose to walk away from your old self, clear out YOUR temple and chose to walk with Christ.
Passionate about what I have been called to do. Sometimes I have to let that out. Sorry, but time to move forward and carry on with what I have been called to do. Some stick and some wont. I cant help that...plant the seed and let God set the stage for growth.
Lonnie~
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year~
Want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new years. With Carol still up in PA with Kate and Bob, I got to spend a quiet new years with some of our rock group families. It was a nice surprise invite and enjoyed the time together. The kids and I stayed up all night and I am thankful for the smiles and invested time with Kyle, Morgan, Maddi and Brody. It was fun seeing the sun rise and the lazy day of new years spent mostly in our jamms.
I am praying that as the new year gets under way that the past year issues become full circle in your life. As you look at looking back and plan forward - I pray that God is a huge part of your life. If he has not been or if you are feeling as though God didnt get the respect and honor in your life last year that not only do you put Him ahead of some things this year - You make Him a part of everything you do. We all don't have to pastors or preachers from the stage on Sunday mornings. God has specific plans for your life to be the pastors in your workplace and in our schools or whatever it is that you do. Be that person that God has called you to be in that place and in your world. God wants to use you as a pastor while you coach that basketball team, while teaching in the classrooms, while helping that lady in 325 in the hospital and minister to that family. God wants to use you today in amazing ways and I pray that this year not only is He a focus and priority in your life -You make him a part in everything you do. Shine that light He has given you so that others in your world will be able to see his glory through you.
This year I am challenging myself to begin to dig to a deeper level in my walk with Christ. I am jumping into the Gospel of John and there are already a few things that stand out to me. First let me say that as this new year begins and my leading role in the student ministry is in flux as to what I will be doing at this point I do not know - I want to remain focused on a few things during this season of time. I want to remain focused on God as to his plans are bigger than mine and during this time, He may have something bigger in store for me than I have planned. I also want to reinvest my time and energy into the people that are closest to me. I want to reach a few others that have been heavy on my heart but I want to remain committed to those who I am doing life with. My rock group families - I am dedicating a deeper impact in our relationship as we walk with Christ together. I am also going to refocus a big part of my energy and attention to my schedule and pouring more into my wife and family. As a husband and father, I don't do everything right and fall short on so many things. I want to refocus so that my heart is aligned and in the direction we all need to go in as family.
So today I want to begin the Gospel of John in 3:19
Light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness instead of light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Most people today want to be a good person. They want to do well and succeed in life. Most people want to take credit and receive recognition for the things they do. All of us have a past and all of us have that sinful nature that is the dark part of our selves. Once accepting Christ and walking in Christ light - he is the recognition that we serve and for all we do - he is the one that receives the glory. Our light shines for Christ so that others may to see the light. We are not of this world loved ones and our words and actions should align with those of Gods and that alone should make us stand out to others as being different. Not different in some weird odd way but a way that brings peace, comfort and something so different that people want to know more.
John 3:27- John replied, " A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice. That is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."
I love how John puts the correct perspective into him becoming less and Christ being greater. So often we get caught up in our own worlds and we push aside God. Remaining focused and in correct perspective keeps us from doing that - even when things are great - we honor God in all we do by giving him the glory for our season of fruit. When things are bad and there seems to be no way out - honoring God in those trials brings our faith into a new level and deeper understanding that otherwise could not have been. Our situations may or may not change but our relationship with God will. As John was baptising and leading the way for Christ - John stepped back knowing his time and service was setting up Christ for bigger and more wonderful things. He knew his place and set the stage for Christ and for others who were following him.
Today, as I look around me and the people I have influence with - I ask the question, Am I setting up Christ for greater things in their lives because of what I am doing? I pray I am. I pray I am serving Christ and them well as I pour myself out and put the needs of them ahead of my own.
There is a song by Chris Rice - Life Means so Much that I want to share a few lines of lyrics with that I hope will be a setting place for you to begin a new more meaningful walk with Christ. As you connect with these words - Who in your life this year do you need to reach out to for Christ? Who's stage are you setting up in their life? Your own or the one who has a bigger more meaningful stage? I bet that person needs someone on their stage for all the world to see.
Chris Rice - Life Means So Much
Every Day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And theres plenty of room for writing in
All we do is believe and think
So will you compose a curse
Or will today bring the blessing
Fill the page with rhyming verse
or some random sketching
Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Every day is a gift you've been given
Make the most of the time every minute you're living
May this year be a banner year loved ones as you walk closer to God than ever before, you reach those around you for a bigger stage and life brings colors you have never seen before. Make the days count.......... Happy New Year.
Lonnie~
I am praying that as the new year gets under way that the past year issues become full circle in your life. As you look at looking back and plan forward - I pray that God is a huge part of your life. If he has not been or if you are feeling as though God didnt get the respect and honor in your life last year that not only do you put Him ahead of some things this year - You make Him a part of everything you do. We all don't have to pastors or preachers from the stage on Sunday mornings. God has specific plans for your life to be the pastors in your workplace and in our schools or whatever it is that you do. Be that person that God has called you to be in that place and in your world. God wants to use you as a pastor while you coach that basketball team, while teaching in the classrooms, while helping that lady in 325 in the hospital and minister to that family. God wants to use you today in amazing ways and I pray that this year not only is He a focus and priority in your life -You make him a part in everything you do. Shine that light He has given you so that others in your world will be able to see his glory through you.
This year I am challenging myself to begin to dig to a deeper level in my walk with Christ. I am jumping into the Gospel of John and there are already a few things that stand out to me. First let me say that as this new year begins and my leading role in the student ministry is in flux as to what I will be doing at this point I do not know - I want to remain focused on a few things during this season of time. I want to remain focused on God as to his plans are bigger than mine and during this time, He may have something bigger in store for me than I have planned. I also want to reinvest my time and energy into the people that are closest to me. I want to reach a few others that have been heavy on my heart but I want to remain committed to those who I am doing life with. My rock group families - I am dedicating a deeper impact in our relationship as we walk with Christ together. I am also going to refocus a big part of my energy and attention to my schedule and pouring more into my wife and family. As a husband and father, I don't do everything right and fall short on so many things. I want to refocus so that my heart is aligned and in the direction we all need to go in as family.
So today I want to begin the Gospel of John in 3:19
Light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness instead of light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Most people today want to be a good person. They want to do well and succeed in life. Most people want to take credit and receive recognition for the things they do. All of us have a past and all of us have that sinful nature that is the dark part of our selves. Once accepting Christ and walking in Christ light - he is the recognition that we serve and for all we do - he is the one that receives the glory. Our light shines for Christ so that others may to see the light. We are not of this world loved ones and our words and actions should align with those of Gods and that alone should make us stand out to others as being different. Not different in some weird odd way but a way that brings peace, comfort and something so different that people want to know more.
John 3:27- John replied, " A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice. That is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."
I love how John puts the correct perspective into him becoming less and Christ being greater. So often we get caught up in our own worlds and we push aside God. Remaining focused and in correct perspective keeps us from doing that - even when things are great - we honor God in all we do by giving him the glory for our season of fruit. When things are bad and there seems to be no way out - honoring God in those trials brings our faith into a new level and deeper understanding that otherwise could not have been. Our situations may or may not change but our relationship with God will. As John was baptising and leading the way for Christ - John stepped back knowing his time and service was setting up Christ for bigger and more wonderful things. He knew his place and set the stage for Christ and for others who were following him.
Today, as I look around me and the people I have influence with - I ask the question, Am I setting up Christ for greater things in their lives because of what I am doing? I pray I am. I pray I am serving Christ and them well as I pour myself out and put the needs of them ahead of my own.
There is a song by Chris Rice - Life Means so Much that I want to share a few lines of lyrics with that I hope will be a setting place for you to begin a new more meaningful walk with Christ. As you connect with these words - Who in your life this year do you need to reach out to for Christ? Who's stage are you setting up in their life? Your own or the one who has a bigger more meaningful stage? I bet that person needs someone on their stage for all the world to see.
Chris Rice - Life Means So Much
Every Day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And theres plenty of room for writing in
All we do is believe and think
So will you compose a curse
Or will today bring the blessing
Fill the page with rhyming verse
or some random sketching
Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Every day is a gift you've been given
Make the most of the time every minute you're living
May this year be a banner year loved ones as you walk closer to God than ever before, you reach those around you for a bigger stage and life brings colors you have never seen before. Make the days count.......... Happy New Year.
Lonnie~
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