Every body needs a moment of applause now and then for all the things they do that never get noticed. No one else may ever read this, but I know that Brian is my biggest reader and it will mean something to him. I also hope my girls will read it and someday mean something to them.
So here is the message to you all. I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. Never let anyone convince you to settle for less. Brian truly is a godly (not just a formula follower!) leader of our home. He has completely taken Christ's example of servant leadership to heart and works everyday to put it into practice. He works REALLY hard and still finds a way to help with therapy and doctor appointments and all the other craziness that is our life. He is the most selfless person I have ever met. He is patient and kind with me, with our children, and with almost any one else whom he deals. He coaches the girls teams and his parents love him. He reminds kids to have a good time, praises even small accomplishments and will stop a pitch to ask a player to smile. He remembers they are little girls. Despite his own likes and dislikes, he goes to movies filled with princesses and music, keeps up with cheer events and our reading habit. He will take me on a date that includes Starbucks (he doesn't drink it) and browsing through Barnes and Noble for an hour. He sings silly songs on voicemail and dances in the kitchen or jumps on the trampoline. He can make me laugh like no one else and seems to work at, to delight in, finding ways to make me smile. He is quick with compliments. He likes me for who I am and not what others wish I was. There is no one I would rather talk to, laugh with or just be with. Brian, you are amazing and we love you!! Happy Birthday!
As a side note-- My play list is a mix of Brian/Cathy songs. If I could have found "I Want to be Just Like You" from Phillips Craig and Dean (He played this for me on a very early date) and "Ticks" by Brad Paisley, it would be perfect.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Following the Formula
I think the term godly is over used. I hear it applied almost flippantly, "godly girls", "godly guys", "the gorgeous godly women of ........" I look at the group in question,and while they may in deed be nice people, I am usually left wondering if "godly" really means "nice people with cute shoes" or "clean cut guys whom still say Yes Mam." There is nothing wrong with these descriptions, but I don't think it makes people "godly." Some how, I can't imagine Christ teaching that as long as you are basically good, and attend church on a regular basis, you are well on the way to Christlike. Andy Stanley shares in one of his Bible studies, that most Christians replace true faith with a formula "pray, pray, fast, fast, go to church." And, then hope God does what they are asking. We kind of miss that real faith is doing what God asks of us and not the other way around. So, the million dollar question seems to be " If there are so many "godly" people out there, why aren't we asking God what He wants us to do instead of just telling him what we think we need?"
The women's Bible study group I meet with at church is an interesting mix of women. First off, no one in the group was born and raised in our church. For a small congregation in the middle of no where, this is pretty unique. Secondly, everyone in the group has met with some really big life challenges- cancer, death of a child, physical abuse etc. Perhaps because of this, all of us have a pretty long list of bad "advice" given to us by fellow Christians. As a general rule, I think alot of us just make other Christians uncomfortable. Sort of like the story of Job, if God can let that happen to them, what about me? A fellow church member once told me she didn't want to pray for God to direct her because she really liked where she was and was afraid God would want her someplace else. Following the formula. Asking for God's blessing, but not real faith. Honestly, don't I, don't we all, sometimes want to be the good girl with cute shoes instead of struggling to follow in faith?
Somewhere along the way, most Christians seem to have bought into the prosperity gospel or other variations. We want desperately to believe that as long as everything flows easily along, we must be in God's will. After all, God is a parent and don't parents want their children to be happy? Of course we do, but my children would be happiest if I let them watch hours of TV, never wear sunscreen and live on junk food. We want to believe that the people like those in my Bible study suffer because they have issues or (sins) that God is dealing with. Rick Warren points out just the opposite in his book The Purpose Driven Life, "If Satan hasn't been attacking you lately, maybe it is because you aren't a danger." Now there's a thought to chew on.
Lately I am really feeling God pushing me. The usual church view seems to say I stepped out in faith to bring home a child with severe special needs and now God will reward you through her miraculous healing. We pray for this nightly. But, what if God has another plan? What if God is using this to develop my patience, to strengthen my family, to make us unselfish? What if God is more glorified through L's disability than through her healing? What if faith means continuing to follow even when, as with Abram, the path is not clear to me? For a control freak like me, this is a tough one. What if I have to let God drive, and my job is to make the most of the journey?
Being "godly" is hard work. Sometimes letting go is harder than holding on. In the end,"godly" really just comes down to one question "When people see me or you, what do they see first?"
I'm very much a daily work in progress.
The women's Bible study group I meet with at church is an interesting mix of women. First off, no one in the group was born and raised in our church. For a small congregation in the middle of no where, this is pretty unique. Secondly, everyone in the group has met with some really big life challenges- cancer, death of a child, physical abuse etc. Perhaps because of this, all of us have a pretty long list of bad "advice" given to us by fellow Christians. As a general rule, I think alot of us just make other Christians uncomfortable. Sort of like the story of Job, if God can let that happen to them, what about me? A fellow church member once told me she didn't want to pray for God to direct her because she really liked where she was and was afraid God would want her someplace else. Following the formula. Asking for God's blessing, but not real faith. Honestly, don't I, don't we all, sometimes want to be the good girl with cute shoes instead of struggling to follow in faith?
Somewhere along the way, most Christians seem to have bought into the prosperity gospel or other variations. We want desperately to believe that as long as everything flows easily along, we must be in God's will. After all, God is a parent and don't parents want their children to be happy? Of course we do, but my children would be happiest if I let them watch hours of TV, never wear sunscreen and live on junk food. We want to believe that the people like those in my Bible study suffer because they have issues or (sins) that God is dealing with. Rick Warren points out just the opposite in his book The Purpose Driven Life, "If Satan hasn't been attacking you lately, maybe it is because you aren't a danger." Now there's a thought to chew on.
Lately I am really feeling God pushing me. The usual church view seems to say I stepped out in faith to bring home a child with severe special needs and now God will reward you through her miraculous healing. We pray for this nightly. But, what if God has another plan? What if God is using this to develop my patience, to strengthen my family, to make us unselfish? What if God is more glorified through L's disability than through her healing? What if faith means continuing to follow even when, as with Abram, the path is not clear to me? For a control freak like me, this is a tough one. What if I have to let God drive, and my job is to make the most of the journey?
Being "godly" is hard work. Sometimes letting go is harder than holding on. In the end,"godly" really just comes down to one question "When people see me or you, what do they see first?"
I'm very much a daily work in progress.
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