FROM THE INSIDE OUT
My dad came and hung out with us tonight. Josiah was so excited!! Every 10 minutes at the pool today he was asking, is PaPa Dan here yet? My dad finally got here at 6:00pm and neither onw of the boys let him out of their sight. They wrestled, played soccer, watched a movie, and ate cookies. It was so good to see them connect with my dad. The coolest part for me was watching Jackson and PaPa Dan eat cookies together and then Josiah showing PaPa Dan his yearbook from school.
Tonight, as we are laying down as a family, Jackson is watching a Baby Einstein movie and the three of us Stephanie, Joe, and myself are in the bed. Josiah decides to ask, “Why are people Black?” It is amazing how little minds think. I simply answered that God made some people white and some people black. Even you and mommy have different skin color. He thought for a moment, and said, some people are yellow. I said thats right Josiah because God made them that way. Kind of like the song: Jesus Loves The Little Children
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
Whether you’re rich or whether you’re poor
It matters not to Him
He remembers where you’re going
Not where you’ve been
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
If your heart is troubled
Don’t worry, don’t you fret
He knows that you have heard His call
And he won’t forget
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
All around the world tonight
His children rest assured
That He will watch and He will keep us
Safe and secure
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
“‘But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.’” v.23-24
One of my favorite passages describing authentic, true and humble worship. Where we worship isn’t as important as who and how we worship. I admit, sometimes it’s easy to participate in worship but never worship. It’s easy to sing the songs but not focus on the words and Who we are singing about and for . My prayer for myself is that I could be an authentic worshiper, who doesn’t go through the motions, but one who is authentic and near the heart of God!
I had the joy of taking Jackson to get one of his shots today. Stephaine usually does it but now that she works in the afternoon looks like it is going to be a daddy and son bonding moment. We had some time to kill, so I took the boys to McDonalds, and so did every other Mom in town. It was crazy, but the boys had fun!
Saw this today on Ryanne’s blog. Great post specifically for their summer interns, but also great for volunteers. Read it Here!
“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” v.30
As a pastor, it is easy to look at other ministries, churches, people and see things that we desire or wished we had. Sometimes we even begin to compete with those same ministries, churches, and people, forgetting that we are on the same team trying to accomplish the same things, Bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Johns disciples were at seeing Jesus start His ministry and when they saw some people choosing to be baptized by Jesus instead of John, they said, “everyone is going to him instead of us.” John’s response is so humble, yet mature when he says, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John understood his purpose was to point people to Jesus. Instead of feeling attacked or less effective, he realized his role and continued to do the things God had called him to do. He was more concerned about God’s Kingdom than his kingdom. He was more concerned about people following Jesus than people following him!
What about me? What about you? Can we begin to be people that understand how and where God has called us? Can we be more about advancing His Kingdom instead or our kingdom? Can we begin to celebrate what God is doing in other ministries, churches, and people, without feeling like there is something wrong with us when others begin to advance the Kingdom? Can we truly be people that say and mean, may He become Greater and I become less?
Met with a great couple this morning!! They have been married for 28 years (awesome) and have two grown kids. Unfortunately, we met at 6:00am at Starbucks. Yeah, my phones alarm didn’t know that time existed. First time I have ever talked about student ministry that early! However, even though I was tired at first, I think my body woke up quickly and I feel ready and eager for the day! I think I might like this time in the morning. I know, sick thinking, I probably need counseling!
Sitting in the Student Worship Center watching our student worship team practice with a potential candidate. Going awesome. Great to see the instruction and guidance given to the students in this area!! Excited to see what God does next!!!
Wow, just got an email thru facebook from LoveSac saying they saw my blog post and are giving us a discount when we buy!!! How awesome is that!?!?!?!? Thanks soooo much LOVESAC! Click here to visit their website!
So, this weekend as I put Josiah in Time Out for one of the many things he has done lately, Jackson our 1 year old thought it was time to play. Here is a pic,
As a dad what do you do? We didn’t experience the terrible two with Josiah, but the three’s and four have been ruff. Yes he has had to deal with a lot this past year so we try to be understanding, but the kid just seems to do off the wall things leaving Steph and I saying, “Where did he learn that?” So we are looking at what we watch, how we talk, how we act and respond to situations, because he is starting to model who we are. This is the scary reality we must face as parents. Or we could just blame the kids he goes to school with. After all, he didn’t act this way until he went t school this last year! It’s much easier to play the blame game instead of owning our own dysfunction.
