To My Fellow Parents

Just a note of encouragement to say…keep going, keep wanting the best for your kids, keep training them up, keep trying, keep loving them, keep believing the best, keep leading them, keep their perspective in mind, keep trusting He cares for them more than you ever can.

Don’t give up. Parenting is one of the most important roles ever created for us on Earth. If you’re a parent, you know it’s one of the most challenging, too. There is no manual and it may get stressful to the point it hurts, but it is worth it. Your kids are worth it.

So, take a deep breath and know you are making a difference in their lives when you do your best as a parent. Sure, you’re not perfect, but they don’t need perfection. They need you to show them how to live, as best as you – flawed, imperfect but caring, loving, dedicated you – possibly can.

Love on your children today. It is a deposit you will get back with interest. It’s perhaps the best investment you will ever make.

Have a great day.

The Right Tool for the Job

After trying to saw through a piece of 4×4 wood with a dull pruning saw the other day, I realized this truly was the wrong tool for the job!

At the same time, it made me realize how often I do that in life, in general. For example, when something stressful comes around, I try to handle it or figure it out on my own. Problem is, that’s also using the wrong tool for the job! God has such great wisdom for us, such great strength, such great peace. It comes in His word, it comes in talking with Him, it comes in turning to Him during these times.

Gotta remind myself to do that more often. 🙂

Is God Sovereign?

I don’t know about you, but I tend to give those seemingly not-so-significant moments of worry a lot more credence than they deserve.

You know what I mean. How will I have time to get these tasks done? What will they think about this? Why won’t this work? And on, and on.

Little worries can add up to big stress – if we let them. I’m here to say, I let them. Too often. Ah well, it happens.

That said, I’ve been asking myself one simple question lately, when these little worries start to add up.

Is God sovereign?

As a Christian, the answer has to be yes. Right?

When I make myself remember this, it’s then – during that “light bulb moment” – where I start to feel better and worry less (at least, until I start over analyzing things again).

Of course, I recognize some things in life are genuinely serious concerns that cause genuinely serious cause for worry. But, this also can help during those times…at least, I think so. 🙂

It’s been really helpful to me to ask myself this question during times of stress. Hopefully it will be helpful to you, too!

Have a great day.

God Is Who He Is

“Obedience is the key to real faith – the unshakable kind of faith so powerfully illustrated by Job’s life. Job lost his home, his family, his health. But though it appeared God had abandoned him, Job clung to the assurance that God is who He is.”
-Charles Colson

Isn’t it funny how quickly we forget that God is who He is?

• Stuck in traffic. What am I going to do? I’m running late!
• Tough day at work. How am I ever going to get this done? Why do I have to deal with this situation?
• Family issues. Why can’t this child see the right way to do things?
• Financial problems. How are we going to afford this? We’ll never get out of this hole.

Where’s God in all of these questions? We all (myself absolutely included) tend to forget that He is in control…that God is who He is.

So much stress, so much worry. 

As the author goes on to say, real faith is believing and acting obediently regardless of circumstances or contrary evidence.

A reminder to myself today, and anyone else who needs it, to keep that in mind. If we truly believe in God, incorporating that belief into our daily routine and applying it to difficulties that come up will keep us in a place of peace.

Simply remembering that God is who He is can be a real game-changer.

Have a great day.

Getting Away from it All

Life gets pretty busy sometimes (or most of the time, depending on what you have going on.) I don’t know about you, but I like to get away from it all, every now and then. A little respite from being busy and, unfortunately in today’s world, a break from all the bad news and tragic events.

For me these days, that place of escape is being on the water in a canoe.

No cares, no worries…and lots of beautiful scenery to look at. That “scenery” normally includes my wife 🙂 But, last night I took a solo journey out on the water. The photo above doesn’t do justice to the magnificent sunset, but gives you a glimpse at what I got to see out there.

It was very relaxing. There’s something about the feeling of just floating on top of the water, drifting along. Ah. Wonderful. Sunsets are a bonus out there, and they often have been quite spectacular for us in our various outings.

We try to get out to different places, and we go as often as it’s practical to do so. When it comes to these evening excursions, it seems that instantly whatever cares you have from the day just drift away as you set off on the adventure into nature. Great stress relief, and always time well spent.

What about you? What do you do to relax or get away from it all? Would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment, below!

Have a great day.