A Note To A Special Young Man...

“I am the President and CEO”. “I am the senior pastor”. “I am the head of the house”. “I am the captain”, “I am the leader”, “I am”, “I am”, “I am…”

Justin, it wears me out just writing it, let alone how weary it makes me thinking about it. “I am…” is a subtle attitude that can permeate our psychological make-up robbing of us of our purpose in life, the source of our greatest joy, … our calling to know Him and to serve one another. Pop culture constantly bombards us with the perception that those who are successful are to be served. In God’s reality it is simply the opposite.

Arrogance creates “The Man” who thinks thoughts such as “I do not have to do the manual labor”, “I do not have to help organize the volunteers”, “and I do not have to help with the dishes or take out the trash”. “I do not have to sit out an inning, wait on others, or share the spotlight with a friend”. “I am entitled to my desires and wishes. I have earned it, I am …”!

Matthew 20:26-28 – “…whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave...” This is the verse you have learned which will serve you well throughout life. The verse will act as an anchor for your soul and an alarm for your mind to prevent you from drifting from the nature of Christ within you.

“I and “self” are identical brothers of destruction. Like termites in a foundation they operate quietly and efficiently to, over time, steal from you the very nature of Christ that the Holy Spirit has built up within you. Proactively purposing to serve others is an antidote for the destructive virus of “I” and “self”. As the Holy Sprit continues to transform you from day to day you will find the servants heart as second nature to you as breathing itself.

Justin, as you serve, your comfort with who you are, your confidence in your value in Christ, will shine forth as a light to those around you. Your Spirit lead inclination to serve others will be the point of the spear of your testimony of Christ to those around you, and whether or not anyone recognizes your leadership by service, this will be yours which no man can take from you, the joy of the Lord abounding in your heart and soul.

Thank you Lord!

Sometimes at the most random moments I find myself stopping and just saying "Thank you Lord!" "Praise you!" Walking through the house, out in the yard, ridding down the road. The only thing that seems to be consistent about the moments when it happens is that everything around me is fairly quiet. There is also an overwhelming sense of God's presence that accompanies these moments. They are brief yet powerful. Anyone else know what I am talking about?

More Toast!

Daddyyyyyyyyyyyy! The voice to loud for inside the house comes from the dinning room table. My youngest is hollering for me because here brother just took the last piece of cinnamon toast. She is upset because there is no more for her!

As the great family provider I quickly respond assuring her she needs not fear. I can make more! There is more to be had. There is a supply that is plentiful to meet her needs. She need not get mad or be upset... just ask.

Obviously in my heart I heard that still small voice remind me of all the times I get upset or concerned that what I want, need, enjoy, desire, etc. appears to be running out. If I, an earthly father have the ability to meet the simple needs of provision for my kids how much more can our Heavenly Father. I hope next time I sense a need I will simply ask Him before I begin to holler, scream, get angry, scared or upset, whatever the case may be.

A Poem From a Marine About Christmas

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 
HE LIVED ALL ALONE, 
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF 
PLASTER AND STONE. 

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY 
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, 
AND TO SEE JUST WHO 
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE. 

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, 
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, 
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, 
NOT EVEN A TREE. 

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, 
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, 
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES 
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS. 

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, 
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, 
A SOBER THOUGHT 
CAME THROUGH MY MIND. 

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, 
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, 
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, 
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY. 

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, 
SILENT, ALONE, 
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR 
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME. 

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, 
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, 
NOT HO W I PICTURED 
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER. 

WAS THIS THE HERO 
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ? 
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, 
THE FLOOR FOR A BED? 

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES 
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, 
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS 
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT. 

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, 
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, 
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE 
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY. 

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM 
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, 
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, 
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE. 

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER 
HOW MANY LAY ALONE, 
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE 
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. 

THE VERY THOUGHT 
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE, 
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES 
AND STARTED TO CRY. 

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED 
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, 
'SANTA DON'T CRY, 
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE; 

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, 
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE, 
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, 
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.' 

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER 
AND DRIFT ED TO SLEEP, 
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, 
I CONTINUED TO WEEP. 

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, 
SO SILENT AND STILL 
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED 
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL. 

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE 
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, 
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR 
SO WILLING TO FIGHT. 

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, 
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, 
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA, 
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.' 

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, 
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT. 
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,! 
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.' 

This poem was written by a Marine. 

The following is his request. I think it is reasonable..... 

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending 
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming 
soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and 
women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. 
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we 
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and 
dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your 
small part to plant this small seed.

Day of Public Thanksgiving...

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our sasety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Just a thought...

An accomplished student of motivation does not a leader make.
Eloquent inspiration must be tempered with experience and humility.
The leader is accountable to the follower and while responsibilities can be delegated,
accountability cannot.
Leading for the sake of leading falls short of a just cause.
A leader loves above all else and true love bares the scars of experience.

Our Final Home!

John 14: 1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Sometimes we just need to take a deep breath and think about heaven, our future dwelling place with God… it is a real place.