Vengeance is mine......
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Prayer Request
Many of you will remember my request not long ago for my cousin Shelly (Dill) Perry. She was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with a brain tumor and had surgery. I was really surprised when I went to see her after her surgery at how well that she did post op. The doctors were optimistic and we were very happy. Today I received a call from my mom informing me that Shelly received the pathology results and they showed that the tumor was malignant. I would appreciate your prayers for Shelly, Rick and the girls. We never know why we must face these trials but God has promised He would be all that we need and that His grace is sufficient.
We Are So Blessed
This morning I had the chance to attend our church's first Men's Prayer Breakfast. This morning 30 men ranging from their teens to their 70's gathered at our school for Breakfast, a little fellowship, a devotional and prayer. As I sat there I realized how blessed that I am to have men around me who are like-minded...men who share a desire to be men of God and want to be all that God wants them to be. Very few holiness churches even have 30 people let alone 30 men to gather together. We are truly blessed to have a church with so much to offer and has such a passion for the well being for its people. I am proud of my church, it's Leadership Team, and my church family. We are so Blessed!!!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
It Must Be the Canadian Side Coming Out
This evening I stepped into our bathroom to find our oldest child sitting on the toilet. I know that this is completely normal but what was not normal was that he was wearing his goggles while he did his business. Of course I had to ask why he was wearing his goggles while he was using the bath room and his reply was "In case I fall into the toilet again." Needless to say there are not many dull moments in this household. It must be the Canadian side coming out because my family is completely normal.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Trying to Understand Life
I have been thinking recently about several different people and families that seem to be facing those trials of life that seem to define who we are and what we will be or become. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I think that it is time that I read the book Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. As mortel beings we struggle sometimes to understand the perfect will of God. Why do I face the trials that I have to face? Why must I suffer or out of the millions of people why does this have to happen to? The past few weeks I have been spending some time in prayer and alot of time in thought about some of these dear people to me that seems to be suffering for some unknown reason. I have been searching God and trying to understand and this is what I feel that He has shown to me.
1) Sometimes we face these problem because God is trying to get our attention. At first thought one can easily get angry to think that God must be some mean God if He can't think of some kinder way of getting my attention than to make me go through what I am going through. One would agree that surely there must be some kinder/gentler way but my question to you is "has God been trying some other way to get your attention that has no worked". Has God tried in kind and gentle ways to get your attention but due to the hurried and busy way of life we have not heard the voice of God speaking to us. Have we filled our lifes with so many things and so many activities that the only way that God can get our attention is to bring us to our knees. I am afraid that we to often have blamed God when the fault for our demise and troubles lay at our own front door. I know that this is extremely difficult to hear and to even swallow when the pain is real and the tears are flowing and you just want to know why. Why me, Oh God, Why me??? The very answer might just be in your own question......it's me.
2) Sometimes there are leasons that God needs to teach us to prepare us for something that is much greater that we will face. I am reminded of the song where the verse goes something like this "There's been times when I question oh Lord why is this..I would rather be living on mountain top bliss, but looking back I see leasons that I might have missed if the Lord had not lead me this way." I have found in life that in every difficut leason or trial of life it has only prepared me for something else that I would have to face. Those difficult times and trials that seemed so hard to understand seemed to be so much clearer once I went a few more miles down life's road. Perhaps those pain and tears are to prepare you for something much greater or maybe to help someone else out that will need your help and/or empathy. How else will you be able to help someone else if you yourself have not walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
3) Believe it or not but maybe God is trying to show you the depth of His Love for you personally. I know that that sounds funny and hard to fathom and perhaps it sounds like an oxymoron...Hurt/Love, Pain/Love, Suffering/Love. But when we think of the cross and the pain He experienced we see the love of God. When we think of the crown of thorns and the pain and hurt he endured we see Love. In the midst of being rejected and forsaken by his own disciples and the suffering from the pain of that rejection we see Love. It was from an old rugged cross filled with pain, suffering and hurt that He did not deserve that we experience first hand His Love. Why than is it so hard for us to comprehend that in the midst of our pain and in the midst of our suffering that God is trying to show us the greatness of His Love.
4) Another reason that we face the perplexities of life is because we live in a fallen world. I have heard our own pastor make this point and I do agree that many of our problems are a direct result to sin. Perhaps it is not our sin but due to the sin of others that sometimes we suffer. A drunken driver kills an innocent family coming home from church. Did the family sin? No!! But due to the fact that we live in a world with sin we to suffer from the results of a fallen and sin filled world. This is one of the challenging reason that we face. It is easy to become cynical and make such rash statements as "If God really cared about me He would have never let this happen" or "Is there really a God". We must be careful and realize that God is not to blame for the fallen nature of man and the results of sin. We must always keep in mind that God is Love and that He alone is able to heal our broken hearts and mend our wounds. He alone is the Great Physician who can take the balm of Heaven and turn our sorrows into joy.
5) The final reason is one that is the most difficult to understand and to comprehend. You see there will be times and situations that that we may never find the answers to our questions. The "why's" will never be answered and the mysteries of life will never be solved. As humans we struggle with this and as christians we often times stumble on this very reason. For some untold reason we feel that we deseve the answers to all of life's questions, but are there answers that we would understand. Believe it or not I think that at times God is doing us a favor by not letting us understand all the twists and turns that life deals to us. Often times as a parent I am asked questions by my child that I know the answer but as a parent I do not feel that he is not prepared to know or understand the answer to his question. I will tell him that now is not the time and he must wait. My child has a choice to either demand an answer that he will not receive or he can accept the fact that out of love and concern for him I will not tell him the answer to his questions at this time. Does it change the fact how he responds? No!! He will not know till I am feel that he is ready to know the answers to his questions. How much more and with greater love and perfect wisdom does God look out for us and only out of love and our best interest lets us know the anwer to our questions when He feels we are ready.
Why does bad things happen to good people...I really don't know. The one thing that I do know is that what ever I am facing or whatever happens God has promisd that He would be there and He has promised to furnish the grace that is needed. I am also reminded of the scripture that states "Be still and know that I am God." My prayers are with many of you as you face the trials of life. I pray that the God of peace will fill you with His Love, Joy and Peace.
1) Sometimes we face these problem because God is trying to get our attention. At first thought one can easily get angry to think that God must be some mean God if He can't think of some kinder way of getting my attention than to make me go through what I am going through. One would agree that surely there must be some kinder/gentler way but my question to you is "has God been trying some other way to get your attention that has no worked". Has God tried in kind and gentle ways to get your attention but due to the hurried and busy way of life we have not heard the voice of God speaking to us. Have we filled our lifes with so many things and so many activities that the only way that God can get our attention is to bring us to our knees. I am afraid that we to often have blamed God when the fault for our demise and troubles lay at our own front door. I know that this is extremely difficult to hear and to even swallow when the pain is real and the tears are flowing and you just want to know why. Why me, Oh God, Why me??? The very answer might just be in your own question......it's me.
2) Sometimes there are leasons that God needs to teach us to prepare us for something that is much greater that we will face. I am reminded of the song where the verse goes something like this "There's been times when I question oh Lord why is this..I would rather be living on mountain top bliss, but looking back I see leasons that I might have missed if the Lord had not lead me this way." I have found in life that in every difficut leason or trial of life it has only prepared me for something else that I would have to face. Those difficult times and trials that seemed so hard to understand seemed to be so much clearer once I went a few more miles down life's road. Perhaps those pain and tears are to prepare you for something much greater or maybe to help someone else out that will need your help and/or empathy. How else will you be able to help someone else if you yourself have not walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
3) Believe it or not but maybe God is trying to show you the depth of His Love for you personally. I know that that sounds funny and hard to fathom and perhaps it sounds like an oxymoron...Hurt/Love, Pain/Love, Suffering/Love. But when we think of the cross and the pain He experienced we see the love of God. When we think of the crown of thorns and the pain and hurt he endured we see Love. In the midst of being rejected and forsaken by his own disciples and the suffering from the pain of that rejection we see Love. It was from an old rugged cross filled with pain, suffering and hurt that He did not deserve that we experience first hand His Love. Why than is it so hard for us to comprehend that in the midst of our pain and in the midst of our suffering that God is trying to show us the greatness of His Love.
4) Another reason that we face the perplexities of life is because we live in a fallen world. I have heard our own pastor make this point and I do agree that many of our problems are a direct result to sin. Perhaps it is not our sin but due to the sin of others that sometimes we suffer. A drunken driver kills an innocent family coming home from church. Did the family sin? No!! But due to the fact that we live in a world with sin we to suffer from the results of a fallen and sin filled world. This is one of the challenging reason that we face. It is easy to become cynical and make such rash statements as "If God really cared about me He would have never let this happen" or "Is there really a God". We must be careful and realize that God is not to blame for the fallen nature of man and the results of sin. We must always keep in mind that God is Love and that He alone is able to heal our broken hearts and mend our wounds. He alone is the Great Physician who can take the balm of Heaven and turn our sorrows into joy.
5) The final reason is one that is the most difficult to understand and to comprehend. You see there will be times and situations that that we may never find the answers to our questions. The "why's" will never be answered and the mysteries of life will never be solved. As humans we struggle with this and as christians we often times stumble on this very reason. For some untold reason we feel that we deseve the answers to all of life's questions, but are there answers that we would understand. Believe it or not I think that at times God is doing us a favor by not letting us understand all the twists and turns that life deals to us. Often times as a parent I am asked questions by my child that I know the answer but as a parent I do not feel that he is not prepared to know or understand the answer to his question. I will tell him that now is not the time and he must wait. My child has a choice to either demand an answer that he will not receive or he can accept the fact that out of love and concern for him I will not tell him the answer to his questions at this time. Does it change the fact how he responds? No!! He will not know till I am feel that he is ready to know the answers to his questions. How much more and with greater love and perfect wisdom does God look out for us and only out of love and our best interest lets us know the anwer to our questions when He feels we are ready.
Why does bad things happen to good people...I really don't know. The one thing that I do know is that what ever I am facing or whatever happens God has promisd that He would be there and He has promised to furnish the grace that is needed. I am also reminded of the scripture that states "Be still and know that I am God." My prayers are with many of you as you face the trials of life. I pray that the God of peace will fill you with His Love, Joy and Peace.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
How do I love thee let me count the ways!!!!
I want to wish my beautiful wife a Happy Valentine's Day. It still amazes me that after nearly 10 years that she is still willing to put up with me. I hear that often times men are all put in the same category...you know...unsensitive, not very talkative (except if it is something they like), once married they forget how to be romantic. And I guess you could say that I would have to be placed in this group...I am sorry to say( I know that my wife is shouting AMEN). But I have been thinking over the last few days about this and I guess I owe an apology to none other than this woman I refer to as the most beautiful woman in the world (my Wife)...Angie. I know that I tease her that beneath that blond hair is horns supporting her halo, but seriously she is a saint (especially if she puts up with me). My wife is patient (most of the time), dependable, faithful, and just an over all wonderful person that I to often take for granted.
I know that I do not tell her thank you for all that she does for the boys and I. Nor do I just tell her how much I appreciate how hard she works to hold our home and family together while I am off at work, school or other meetings. I know that I to often assume she knows that I love her but fail to just say those words she needs to hear "I love you!" I know that I fumble in expressing to her how proud I am that she is my wife and how smart, beautiful and charming of a woman she really is.
Life seems to be speeding by at a rate far faster than I ever imagined. I watch our boys growing up so fast before my eyes and I know that it won't be long before they are grown and out on their own. I know that there are coming ahead of us years that it will again be just us. I want to not forget who she is and have to rediscover her and her love. I want to take the time now and hold your hand. I want to take long walks and talk about nothing and yet everything. I want to look into your beautiful blues eyes and see that same woman that I fell in love with. I want to grow old and forgetful with you and torment our children with stories that they wish we would forget.
And so to this most beautiful woman in the world I say I am sorry for being "one of those husbands" who fails to tell you what I should and does not tell you how wonderful and beautiful you really are. But I love you and cherish you with all my heart. You are the love of my life and the joy of my days. I love your smile, your laugh, your faithfulness and your love. Thank you for everything that you do for me and the boys. You are a wonderful mother and a wonderful wife.
I love you,
Your dopey and nerdy husband.......Me
I know that I do not tell her thank you for all that she does for the boys and I. Nor do I just tell her how much I appreciate how hard she works to hold our home and family together while I am off at work, school or other meetings. I know that I to often assume she knows that I love her but fail to just say those words she needs to hear "I love you!" I know that I fumble in expressing to her how proud I am that she is my wife and how smart, beautiful and charming of a woman she really is.
Life seems to be speeding by at a rate far faster than I ever imagined. I watch our boys growing up so fast before my eyes and I know that it won't be long before they are grown and out on their own. I know that there are coming ahead of us years that it will again be just us. I want to not forget who she is and have to rediscover her and her love. I want to take the time now and hold your hand. I want to take long walks and talk about nothing and yet everything. I want to look into your beautiful blues eyes and see that same woman that I fell in love with. I want to grow old and forgetful with you and torment our children with stories that they wish we would forget.
And so to this most beautiful woman in the world I say I am sorry for being "one of those husbands" who fails to tell you what I should and does not tell you how wonderful and beautiful you really are. But I love you and cherish you with all my heart. You are the love of my life and the joy of my days. I love your smile, your laugh, your faithfulness and your love. Thank you for everything that you do for me and the boys. You are a wonderful mother and a wonderful wife.
I love you,
Your dopey and nerdy husband.......Me
Monday, February 11, 2008
Please Help Us Pray
I have never read the book but I think that maybe it is time that I read the one with the title "Why bad things happen to good people." It seems as though the last several weeks I have felt deep pain for those around me. I know so many "good people" who are facing some of the hardest times in their lifes. I have been giving this some thought and I hope to soon post my thoughts to this overwhelming thought.
In the mean time I would greatly appreciate all of you boggers out there that know the possiblity and the power of prayer. Today my cousin Shelly (Dill) Perry is facing one of these bigger than life problems. Today she is having surgery to remove a brain tumor. Shelly is 38 year old with two daughters and a husband. Shelly and I were seperated in our childhood by only three houses. Needless to say as children we were the best of friends. You usually never found the one without the other. We fought like cats and dogs but you could never ever think of seperating us. We even got our first real jobs at the same place...a nursing home. We have shared many days and many hours together and although time and miles seperate us we are like Twiddle Dee and Twittle Dumb (I will let you guess who is who). I would cherish your prayers for Shelly, her girls, her husband and her Dad and Mom. I don't always understand why God works the way that he does but I am reminded of the scripture where I am commanded to "Be still and know that I am God."
In the mean time I would greatly appreciate all of you boggers out there that know the possiblity and the power of prayer. Today my cousin Shelly (Dill) Perry is facing one of these bigger than life problems. Today she is having surgery to remove a brain tumor. Shelly is 38 year old with two daughters and a husband. Shelly and I were seperated in our childhood by only three houses. Needless to say as children we were the best of friends. You usually never found the one without the other. We fought like cats and dogs but you could never ever think of seperating us. We even got our first real jobs at the same place...a nursing home. We have shared many days and many hours together and although time and miles seperate us we are like Twiddle Dee and Twittle Dumb (I will let you guess who is who). I would cherish your prayers for Shelly, her girls, her husband and her Dad and Mom. I don't always understand why God works the way that he does but I am reminded of the scripture where I am commanded to "Be still and know that I am God."
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Fun Food and Fellowship
Today we had the opportunity to do three of my favorite things...have fun, eat food and have good fellowship with some wonderful friends. This post of Karen and Angie is only being placed here because they both begged me to post it so that they would not appear vain by posting it on their own blog. It was truly great to be able to get with the Walden family today. Thanks for a great day!!!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Most Beautiful Woman In the World
Mrs. Davis has been after me for some time to update my blog. I know how she loves to have pictures of her on my blog. If you all never hear from me again.....please send flowers!
Please vote and tell me if you like this picture or not?
She has threatened my life over this photo...I personally think that it is a beautiful picture of a beautiful woman.
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