I know that he is a man, but part of me wants to bring him back to that seven year old boy.  I want more time…I want to do some things over.  I want to relive some more moments.  I want to spend more time with him.  But, it is too late.  His graduation to the next part of his life is upon us.  Today, he turns the page to official adulthood.

Sonya and I are truly blessed to have a son such as him.  While I wasted my teenage years on trivial, frivilous things.  I lived my life for myself, not concerned about the difference I could make in life.  Yet, this son of mine, has impacted a high school.  He became a leader among his peers instead of caving into the peer pressures.

I’m thankful for all that Josh has accomplished:

• Executive Vice President of the Student Council
• Inducted into the National Honor Society
• Graduating with Honors
• Maintained a 3.85 GPA
• Received a couple scholarships
• Founded and led G.O.T. (God ON  Thursdays) – a student led Bible Study group
• Influenced kids in more ways than he will know on this side of heaven.

Josh has not only excelled in school, but also in church life as well.  He gets to the church every Sunday at 6:30am and Wednesdays at 4:30pm and prepares for the services.  He makes coffee, makes sure everything is ready to go when people arrive.  In essence, he serves behind the scenes so that it relieves the pressures from his dad, the pastor.  Often, I have taken for granted his serving me, but today I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Josh has been called by God to serve in ministry.  Not because his dad is a pastor but because He believes God has called him to that.  With Josh’s drive and ability to learn, he could be very successful in business.  He could make a lot of money, yet, he has chosen a path that doesn’t always earn great earthly reward.  He has chosen the life that stores up treasures in heaven.

Today is the beginning of a new journey in Josh’s life.  I am proud that he is my son.  I am pleased with the man he has become. 

DISCLAIMER: Its not often that I use this blog as an avenue to brag on the accomplishments of my kids.  I don’t want to be one of “those” parents  However, its his day.  Bragging is in order!

Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. We have a standard that we set for the way we think we ought to be, but most of the time we fail to attain that standard. The problem with this is that we tend to set our standard compared to what we see in someone else. We feel like we have to be as good or somehow like another person. God created everyone of us different. There are different people doing different works in different places. You will never be like the person you set your standard by, nor should you want to be like them. God created you special. He made you like you are to be the person He wants you to be. We have this idea that some people have it all together and that we will never amount to anything. You see, God made you to do things others can’t do. In your area of influence, only you will be effective because God put you there. God’s thoughts toward you are awesome. He thinks of you as a prize, as a jewel, even the apple of His eye.

Psalm 40:5 says, “Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to you in order; if I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbered.”

God thinks of you all the time! When He sees a job that needs to be done, He says, “You know they would be good at that.” I believe that it frustrates God when you constantly declare that you are not good enough. You may not have the same talent as someone else, but God gave you talents that others don’t have. God looks at you with great pleasure. You are His cherished vessel. The thoughts He thinks about you cannot be numbered. My friend, pick your head up and realize that God has chosen you for a purpose that no one else can do. You are important to God!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Stop wanting to be someone else, be yourself. That is the way God made you, and what a future you have!

When Napoleon was in exile on the island of St. Helena he said  to Count Montholon, ““I know men, and I tell you that Jesus was not a man! The religion of Christ is a mystery, which subsists by its own force, and proceeds from a mind which is not a human mind.  We find in it a marked individuality which originated a train of words and actions unknown before.  Jesus is not a philosopher, for His proofs are miracles, and from the first His disciples adored Him.  Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires but on what foundation did we rest the creation of our genius? Upon force.  Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.  I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth, to become food for worms.  Such is the fate of him who has been called the great Napoleon.  What an abyss between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, which is proclaimed, loved, and adored, and is extending over the whole earth!”

Here is some pictures of Josh on his Florida spring break trip.

Happy Birthday, My Love!  I’m glad you were born just for me.

Growth is an amazing thing! If you water the grass it grows, if you put money in savings it grows and if you put a bottle in a baby’s mouth, the baby grows.

It is hard to believe that Hannah is already five years old. As I look back over the last five quick years I am amazed at God’s creation. I am in awe that this little child could be nourished and growing in so many ways at one time.

When you watch a baby you see them develop in so many different areas in a short period of time. You cannot help but know that there is a God. Growth and development are a healthy part of bringing up children. If they did not grow, something would be wrong. If they did not learn things, we would worry.

In spiritual things, are we amazed at our growth in God or worried because we are lacking? Just as a baby develops different traits and learns at a rapid pace, so should it be in the believer’s life. We should be growing in the things of God.

II Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Are you growing in grace and knowledge? Our spiritual walk ought to be a journey of forward progress. The longer we are a Christian the more like Christ we ought to become.

Josh is going to turn 18 un April and he is three inches taller than me. He wears a size thirteen shoe and looks like a man. In 17  years he has grown from a little baby to a young man.

So it should be with our walk with God. Our knowledge of the Word should be more today than it was last year. Our prayer life should be more consistent than it was five years ago. We should all be serving in ministry somewhere if we are growing in grace.

I challenge you to make sure that you are continuing to grow in grace and knowledge. Evaluate your life and see where you might need to make some adjustments so that you might grow in your life with God.

How can we be happy when we know that the Lord is correcting us or chastening us?  This happiness is birthed out of the relationship that we have with God.  The Word of God reminds us in another verse that the Lord chastens those He loves.  If He loves us, He will correct us.  Though chastening is never pleasant, it is a sign of God’s working in our lives.  In fact, it is a reminder of His involvement in us and through us.

His correction brings hope because we know that He loves us enough to shape us.  Though He bruises us, He still binds us up.  When we are wounded, He has hands to heal.  This loving correction is coupled with His compassionate desire to mold us into what He desires us to be.  He sees what we can become.  He sees us for the good and desires to work things “out” of our lives rather than allowing us to hold on to things that do us no good.

To find happiness in chastening means that we must have a right heart even when we are bruised.  His correction is meant to nudge us back to the right path.  When we tend to wander off, He allows things in our life to push us back to the good way.  This is where our heart must be open to His guidance and leading.  Our prayer should be, “Lord, what are you trying to show me through these things?  Where have I strayed and how can I get back to Your perfect plan?  Search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me.”

Happiness is attainable in chastening as you learn to walk with God and follow His heart for your life.  Instead of becoming upset that you have to endure hardship, rejoice that you are loved enough to be corrected.  Thank Him for loving you enough to not let you stay the same.

I shared this post last year, as we entered a week of fasting for the New Year.  These are timeless principles that will help us focus during this week of fasting.

As we enter our week of fasting, remember that fasting is a time of discovery. Some might ask, “A time of discovery?” Any period of fasting allows us to discover the things we are dependent on and even addicted to. Just a half day into any fast reveals what you have become dependent on.

Our bodies begin to scream for food or caffeine, while others might be having withdrawals from TV or computer. When we begin to lay down our fleshly cravings and desires, we become ready to hear from God more clearly. Granted, for the first few days of a fast, many will not hear a lot because they are still going through the withdrawals, but the longer we fast the more prepared we are to hear from God. His Word becomes alive to us, His presence seems real and we sense His nearness.

I encourage you to press in and hang on. It will get better!

While we are fasting, it is a good time to search our hearts. Some questions that I use for a Spiritual Health Test may help you as well:

• Am I being honest with God and myself?
• Do I love God’s Word?
• Am I Praying Faithfully?
• Am I looking for opportunities to share Jesus’ love with others?
• Do I hate sin?
• Am I obeying the greatest commandment, to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind?
• Am I looking for Christ’s return?

These questions will help you know where to start in changing your life this new year.