Honoring a Veteran and a Father

There are so many qualities of a man who risks his life and devotes himself completely and selflessly for the benefit of others. Today, 11/11/11 at 11:00, I want to honor my father who by blood is not my own but by selfless sacrifice stepped in to adopt me in place of the one who left me and made a pledge to be here for me as a supporter, encourager, and provider. Over 39 years of faithful dedication, he has been committed and diligent to keep his promise to be my father and now a grandfather. He has attended numerous sporting events, celebrated holidays, made it to most grandparents days and been an overall fabulous role model. Just about anyone can reproduce a child, but it takes a person of true honor and character who is selfless and sacrificial to stand by one not his own. Through the years, he has given help, assurance and love that surpasses my ability to express full gratitude. Over the years, I have learned so much about helping others and service through his careful consideration of what it means to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He served in Vietnam, he worked relentlessly to get a degree, worked hard, took many risks and showed me what hard work and perseverance mean. His ability to sacrifice all of these things to benefit so many others is a true honorable mention. Thanks dad for the life you have given me and for the father and grandfather you are and for serving this country so well!

Fruitfulness Despite Suffering

God is steadfast and never failing. I know I can rely on him through hard times and difficult circumstances. His faithfulness to me means he follows through on his commitments and unfailing love and also enables me to do the same when I put my trust and confidence in him. He promises not to depart from me. He is able to replace a heart of stone filled with heartache and transform that same heart and fill it with peace, love and joy. Experiences of true transformation in the heart translate into being able to accept suffering because the suffering comes from his providential orchestrating of events in order to refine the heart for redemptive purposes. 1 Peter 4:19 says "so then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good. Perspective: In the long run, there will be no pain or suffering and every tear will be wiped away, so this life and the sufferings that come along with it are temporary. I can rejoice and remember that not even a hair can fall from my head without his knowledge and will. What great news and comfort to know how well I am known and loved. Psalm 139:1-18 "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body, All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. This is so comforting in the midst of sorrow.

Drifting spiritually

Our hearts are prone to wander. It is hard to stay focused and be intentional. Spiritual work takes perseverance and dedication. In January, I decided to take on a challenge and follow a friend's blog to get through the Bible in a year. I am thankful for her devotion, hard work and perseverance. Some days her words of encouragement and ability to bring the abundant truth to life were so exuberant and full of wisdom I could hardly contain myself to share this knowledge with others. Even with this kind of spiritual awareness and spoon feeding of the gospel, I found myself facing setbacks and spiritual drifting. Somehow daily life and challenges can steal joy. It is easy to get distracted and turn my heart toward other things. The security deposit of the holy spirit enabled me to not drift too far and am thankful for God's intervention to help me believe the truths in scripture and to pray and act upon the graces that have been shown to me. Hebrews 2:1-3 says "we must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? The punishment for sin is death unless you are alive in Christ and accept what has been given so freely. There is nothing to add to this except acceptance and gratitude. Being a believer means I have trusted in Christ's accomplished work and am resting in him. This is really good news.

Things I've Learned

This morning I was praying to the Lord and asking him what he wants from me. A few minutes later, I opened the drawer next to my bed and low and behold was a piece of paper peaking out of a very special book. It is entitled "Things I've Learned" and when I started reading it, I realized why I saved it. These are not my words, and I am not even sure how I obtained this awesome piece of wisdom but am thankful I was smart enough not to throw it away. I think I will blog it, so it can be referred to as often as necessary, as there are some key principles that are meaningful and fruitful. Here goes:

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I've learned that the heroes are the people who do what has to be done, regardless of the consequences. I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score. I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I've learned sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you are down, will be the ones to help you get back up. I've learned that sometimes when I am angry I have the right to be angry but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean the don't love you with all they have. I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experience you have had and what you have learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you have celebrated. I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they are going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other and just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do. I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I've learned that the people you care about in life are taken from you too soon. Share this with all the people you BELIEVE in...I just did. Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Well, now that I am choked up, that is all for now.