God doesn't come and go. He lasts. Our faith in him does wax and wane. God knows each and every star in the solar system by name -- can I really doubt that he doesn't also know each and every one of us? including me?

When God finished creating everything (heaven, sky, day, night, us, animals, etc.) he looked back and saw that it was a good thing.

But, the one thing he did when he created us was give us free will. Our free will destroyed that good thing. Our free will and free will alone can only make it good again.

Only God and our mother's truly knew us when we were in the womb. I've got kids; but, when they were in their mother's belly I didn't really know them. Only their mom knew them at that time. Their mom and God.

Bruce McLaren relates a story about a bug. He saw a ladybug land on his shirt one day and proceed to walk to the left...then walked up...then walked down...and then the bug stopped and began to wash itself with his left antennae. Then his right antennae. And then in another moment the bug was gone. Of all the places the bug could have landed he landed on Bruce's shirt. And the bug had a purpose. To rest and clean itself. Basically an Entomological Argument for the Existence of God.

If there are living, purposeful bugs, there must be a God!

I can't paraphrase this any more eloquently than it is already written:

Isaiah 40:28-31 (The Message)

27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.

God is known by so many names. So are we. Selfish and ungrateful. Fallen and sinful. Weak and helpless. Proud and arrogant.

Yet, God still comes to redeem us. What could be more incredible?

It's been a journey -- and there are days I absolutely don't feel God in my spirit or in my home. But, he is there -- and I'm embarrassed and humiliated by what he sees. But, he still loves each and every one of us.

yes, God can handle the truth even though most times we can't.

Either we can't handle hearing the truth -- or we can't handle being truthful for fear the other person can't handle the truth.

Fortunately God doesn't hold grudges nor does he judge. He listens and guides us. No matter how angry we may get at him - he doesn't leave us. Since he created us he knows our every emotion. He definitely knows me better than I know myself.

I have found God to be very responsive in the past to my complaints and frustrations and I never do believe I'll drive him away. But, I do know sometimes I take his grace for granted.

I wish I could be more like God when I've wronged. I think we all crave that unconditional love. It's so easy to want it; but, so hard to give it.

When the world seems dark -- light enters in. This is when God does his best work. In my life -- like many others - sometimes the storm hits hard.

I am grateful that last night my family and I did get to spend a few minutes before bedtime praying together. I want this to be a routine that our boys grow to love and expect.

I know many of us remember things our parents did for us when we grew up. This I want to be one of those things. If our children don't see us praying to God for guidance how are they going to learn to do so?

We are going to continue to have storms; but, if we seek shelter by sharing with God he'll get us through the storm.

Right now it's stormy out -- and I look forward to balmy weather.

Verse of the day...Psalm 97:1-12

Like many men I tend to compartmentalize things. I'm working really hard to stop doing that.

Many of us tend to build our lives around this type of pie:



We carve out chunks of our life for him. Usually the smallest chunk -- an hour on Sunday and a few minutes each day (if we are good Christians).

But, what we really should be looking for is a pie that looks like this:




Pastor Loveless at Discovery Church demonstrated this really well last weekend. I strive to put God in the center of my life.

My prayer is that he takes charge of my struggles. That he helps me get our family praying together.

That he helps me get our family on a budget spending less than I make. :-)

I know it can be done; but, not if I continue to only look to humans for help.