Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

What Happened? Did You See? Did I Miss It?

dreamstealers2014-It was to be the year of stepping out of the boat, grabbing the brass ring and changing the world.

What happened? As I watched the Broncos lose to the Seahawks, I was reminded that not everything goes according to plan.

You and I are here, because this is where we are. Whatever lead up to us being here, while relevant, is now in the rear view mirror. It is behind us. Forever destined to be nothing more than a stepping off place.

I get it. Over the last few months both my wife and I have experienced tremendous changes. Job losses, moves and few other things have brought us to this place. How do you correct that? Well, despite using my most “authoritative” tone, my “best posture” and a few other “tricks” I “know” the train is still running in a different direction. It has required me to once again be outside my “comfort zone.

I do understand. Both of us understand rejection letters and changing life.

BUT-if you stop swinging the bat, putting one foot in front of another, you will not win. I could easily have envisioned Peyton Manning’s desire to just “have it over.” But despite the lopsided score he just kept going out. You may not want to go out, but sometimes that is where your miracle appears. You may not want to even be “there” but hiding your head will not accomplish what you desire to see happen. In fact, it may even be greater than you imagine.

Many years ago, following my salvation I decided it was time to clear the decks of debt and such. I owed a lot of money back then. $60,000 was owed to the IRS alone. I moved ahead and got met me miraculously. One of the things on the plate was a SAAB I had bought in a fit of whimsy. I had paid cash but now saw it as a stumbling block to moving out of debt. So, away it went. I was close enough to my main place of work that getting there was not a problem. But being 35 and carless was a stretch.

One Thanksgiving weekend a new friend from our church fellowship asked me to join him and his family. I agreed (If he would come get me!) and he soon was sitting in my driveway. Nothing would have prepared me for what happened. As we were finishing up the meal my friend handed me a key, a SAAB key. My response was “why are you making fun of me?” He and his wife looked strangely at me and pointed to the driveway. There in the drive was a 9000 Turbo SAAB with a bow on it. “Go ahead. Take it.”

Now it was easy then to make a performance orchestrated formula on “how to receive blessing.” And I did and I am not sure if worked quite like that again. Yes, I made some “right” moves. Yes, I had prayed for “deliverance” and prosperity and such. But, really some of the greatest miracles come when we least suspect it.

Oh, we may be positioned for goodness in our minds. But truly it is the “position” of being in Him that aligns us with goodness and God.

I know that Elijah was looking for a response in 1Kings 18:41. And he saw the response to that. God had revealed it to him. Surely. But how many await the “revealing” of a prophetic word to come to pass? And just what was the “word” that sent him to a cave? I am sure he was hanging on destiny and a belief that God would miraculously show up.

But what about the woman who had picked up the last stick to cook her death meal? What was her word? What was her rationale or thinking? How was she “positioned” for a drop out of heaven?

In our desire to encourage or “help” people we sometimes set them up for an encounter that is not on the radar screen. I find as a prophetic voice it is “too easy” to try and give a word to fix something when in fact God wants to reveal something. I know my own immaturity lead me astray. I have come to the conclusion that it is “rare” that prophecy cures immaturity and removes sinful actions. (Oh that I might not be so!) Have we not learned that just telling people to “grow up” does not work?

But faith in Him! When our faith is settled in our understanding that our position (With Him.) has already been established and our place is a place of blessing (For are we not the garden?) then the rest becomes so much easier.

Relax. In the words of The Carpenters, We’ve Only Just Begun. 2014 just barely got here. We have barely inched through 1/12th of it. The words of the prophets ring true. (Perhaps this is one of the greatest reasons I ask people to “Accept or Reject” a word early on rather than cluttering your mind’s closet space.)

I encourage you to revisit my 2014 word. Perhaps we are further ahead or slightly behind where we thought we were. It is okay. While “one game” makes a Super Bowl, it was many games that brought folks there. But for many their destiny of that “kairos” moment began in the hidden places of “chronos” time.

Today is your day with a now God in a now moment. Do not look across the table to the Lord and get swept away in despair for yesterday or concern for the future. Today is your day. THIS is the day the Lord has made… Embrace your today. Psalm 118:24

And let me be clear. Today may not be the kairos but the chronos timing of life. BUT where God is kairos to you in the sense it often prepares for the “wow” moments. How so? What about what you said about the “woman and the death watch”? Through the understanding that where you are so is the Lord. For whom is joined to the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Impatience too often is the sign of lack of trust. Whatever captures you from the rest is the enemy. This is the enemy we must overcome.

For the Broncos there is not another 2014 Super Bowl. But their response will dictate will there be another shot. The answer of course is “yes”. But keep in mind that is related to their performance and rightly so. But the ability to simply be is on you. Labor to enter His rest. Hebrews 4:1-2. Unite your faith today with the promise of God. I did not say “press in” or push harder but accept the gift of faith and the knowledge of position in Him to realize this.

Today in the “super bowl” of life mix your faith with the knowledge that you are there.

We’ve Only Just Begun

Sung by The Carpenters

“We’ve Only Just Begun” is track #6 on the album Singles 1969-1981. It was written by Nichols, Roger S. / Williams, Paul H..

We’ve only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we’re on our way
We’ve only begun

Before the risin’ sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We’ll start out walkin’ and learn to run
And yes, we’ve just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin’ it over, just the two of us
Workin’ together day to day, together

And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
And yes, we’ve just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin’ it over, just the two of us
Workin’ together day to day, together, together

And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
And yes, we’ve just begun

Songwriters
NICHOLS, ROGER S. / WILLIAMS, PAUL H.

Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

What Was I Thinking?

Frequently I have had the unpleasant task of ripping the blinders off someone’s eyes. That point where they have continued over and over in a process or a relationship. Some may call it a wakeup call.

Wakeup calls come in all forms. They may be the result of a relationship crisis, a critical medical report or a firing from a job. Certainly that is not the “complete” list but that encompasses a lot.

The wakeup call is often founded in faulty thinking or process, misunderstanding of protocol or just plain disastrous choices. Not too long ago my brother was sent to the hospital with viral myocarditis. 2 years later after beating it he ran his first marathon. His wakeup was the hospitalization. His answer was reevaluating health. The results are simply amazing. Continue reading What Was I Thinking?

Have You Embraced Your Neighbor?

thanksgivingSo often I am faced with a situation where I get to pray for another. As we enter into the trinity of holidays, with Thanksgiving and turkeys, family and friends, I felt the Lord saying, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:39-41

I was reminded of the story Jesus shares about the good Samaritan and his aid to an injured man.

And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:30-37)

So often, I personally get “caught” up in busyness and while I feel no condemnation about missing an opportunity, I wonder what I have missed. Continue reading Have You Embraced Your Neighbor?

Crowds Or Family? Your Call

$50 bill What the holidays can do.

So many are talking about the commercialism of the holidays. They tie it to Black Friday, August Christmas ads and now “black Thanksgiving!” People are working on holidays. On some levels they are two different things. People are working because a company has asked them to with the hopes that people will come shopping. And the commercialism or cheapening of the holiday.

It is one thing to talk about commercialism and the holidays. It is another to just get through the holidays!  So many bemoan the commercialism of the season and miss out on the coolness of it. I remember a young pastor one year talking about the unbeliever and how the lights of the season might be the closest understanding of heaven for them. I sat there thinking about that for days. I get it. Not everyone celebrates the same way.  Continue reading Crowds Or Family? Your Call

The Trinity Of The Holidays Nears

Christmas 2012
Christmas 2012

I know we have not made it through Halloween but when you have family in different states, married children with new families you learn to make plans. And seeing my first Christmas lights, well, it excited me.

The holidays! Yippee! Break out the lights! As I have said in previous columns I am a huge fan of the holidays. Over the years my wife and I have used this opportunity to open our home to many. We have had people out of prison, off the streets and folks who were “worse” off than us. We have had as many as 25 people in our living room sharing our meal. This year is somewhat different as we are “displaced” on some levels with our home, but our children and grandchildren will still be with us and who knows, maybe someone who needs company. Over the last year or so, I have lost a few friends. I am sure their spouses would appreciate the company of others. Nothing can replace the life lost, but healing is a process and it often begins with friends and family. Continue reading The Trinity Of The Holidays Nears

One Life To Change

2013-12-20 17.14.38Christmas as celebrated on the 25th is over for 2012, but there is still much to do. The very spirit of giving that surrounds Christmas can not be contained a day, a week, or even a year. (And yes, my Christmas clock, has begun the countdown to Christmas 2013…)

My week was a fun filled, family weekend. Alyssa, my oldest showed up with children on Saturday and that “began” my holiday weekend with friends and family. I was able to get a candlelight service. More friends and family. Tuesday was the main event here as the meal began it’s route towards the holiday table at 2PM. Foods, snacks, traditional turkey, egg nog and lots of everything else. It was fun. My son had asked if a few friends could come, so that happened. My children and grandchildren…it was a full and “noisy” day. Lots of fun. I am so glad we did it. Continue reading One Life To Change