I have a fast growing friend who is going through a series of serious disappointments. He hardly sees his daughter, has a difficult relationship with his ex and finds himself recently losing a “significant other”. After months of “hearing” I knew stepping out into the waters of relationship were on the plate. I did. Yesterday, he shook my hand and said, “thanks for being a friend”. Continue reading Maneuvering Disappointment
Category Archives: Old Friends
Like A Child…
Like many, I often find myself caught up in wanting to pray or needing to pray. In the middle of the night, I awoke feeling the need to pray. As I prayed about what I felt was given to me to pray, another picture formed in my mind. Actually, two pictures.
The first was a scene with me, running in the house, telling my parents, they “needed” to see something. I am sure you have seen the scene. The child bursts into the house, the parents look towards him or her. They indicate “wait a moment”. The child starts to squirm and get antsy, waiting to tell what is on his or her mind. Finally, it is “their turn” and a string words begin to spill forth. “Urgency” accentuating each and every word. Sometimes a discovery they made or the sounds of an ice cream truck going by. But it is now. This minute. Continue reading Like A Child…
Your Influence Shapes Your Legacy
Last night the wife of an old friend came by to visit. Martha and I go back a long ways. Her husband, Darryl and her were influential in my life for many a year in ministry, before he had a stoke, subsequently passing a way some time later. It was so good to see her and her travel companion, Joan. Continue reading Your Influence Shapes Your Legacy
Choosing To Go Over
Last night a good friend called me. Ironically I was headed to bed, having already fallen asleep earlier, sometime around 7. (It was a l-o-n-g day.) But we had not spoken for a long time. His wife has been dealing with some pretty unusual sickness issues. I wanted to bring comfort and so I stayed up. On some levels it was more for me than for him.
A lot of our conversation was focused on the “next” step. I needed that. Continue reading Choosing To Go Over
Answered Prayers and Prophecy
I wrote this January 1, 2005 after multiple dreams. Some of these have come through. A lot of it actually.
Over the last week I have had many dreams and last night was no different. Continue reading Answered Prayers and Prophecy
Deception-Losing Your Destiny In Lies
I wrote this some 10 years ago, but as I was drawn to it last night, I realized it still holds true. Please read it and think about the questions at the end. Continue reading Deception-Losing Your Destiny In Lies
A New Season…What Does That Mean…
A new season…
What does that really mean? How do we digest that? What do we do with that? So often we think a new season is going to be great, but what if it isn’t?
For instance I began a new season a few months ago. By my standards (And others…) I failed. For the first time in my life I was “unsuccessful” and did not meet goals or expectations. Was that a good season? Does God look at it and say “you failed” or you had a bad season?
The result of my “bad season” is I have turned inward. I have stayed closer to God. (Further from friends and family.) I don’t have my verve. I am not sure what it looks like to be like Paul and Silas in a prison singing praise. Do not get me wrong. I have praised God. Only yesterday I am sure some folks thought I was “loose” from somewhere as I sang my songs of praise.
Here we are. August.
As I spoke to many people, most were ready for July to end. It had not “panned” out the way they thought. So what are our standards? I had a new grandchild. Made a couple of new friends. What is your thought?
I believe that the “hunger” for the Lord to move has increased. Things often change in a day or a moment. Only last month people wanted Health Care resolved but today it is the fears caused by the border explosion: hungry children, disease and violence.
Down seasons can make you bitter or better. They can reduce you or increase you. Who is your hope tied to?
Lee…where is the word? I believe this is it.
Today is the day of the beginning. The day where you can say “I am going to praise God in my season of downness”. To recognize God with my praise. To look for Him in what I do not see Him doing yet. To review what He did do for me in my season of down, of apparent failure. To recognize He is “now” in my now.
I looked at Joseph. The man who seemed to lose coats. The man who went from the pit to Potiphar’s, to the prison to the palace. How long did he sit in his place of apparent failure, of despair while in the pit? How long did he languish after he gave a “great” word to a baker and a butler? What was his standard? Did he give up? Did he stop giving words or interpreting dreams? Apparently not, because it was an interpretation that set him free.
Will you extend grace in your pit? Will you minister in your prison? Will you not waver in the “house of Potiphar”?
My time in “darkness” has revealed to me what I am good at and what I am not.
August. The dictionary describes the word August, as majestic, imposing, dignified or of noble birth. So, I say to you this day, what will you birth of majesty, of dignity? Will you release that which has been within you all these years?
Regardless of your prison or palace, God is in you, seeking a place to express Himself through you. Whether it is in the work place or in the grocery store. God invested in you. He invested with a return in mind and He is a long term investor. Regardless of the season, the return is coming.
Where Have All The Birdies Gone?
My frustration
Today I was in a meeting for work and the question on the table was, “what is your major frustration?” My answer was a simple, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” My reason was simple. It seemed like the idea of a “simple” sale (One that didn’t need extra parts, special efforts or more.) was beyond me. Each sale seemed to require extra forms and effort to get it all together. I was fast coming to a place of “melt down”. Too many things were being required and each time I thought I had a pathway, a different route was required. Continue reading Where Have All The Birdies Gone?
Salmon And The Land Of New England
Like many children I learned to fish at my dad’s feet. My dad had been an awesome fisherman. He fished all kids of fish, all kinds of places. One of the main rivers he took us to fish was a tributary to the Connecticut River. I loved to fish and while I preferred lake fishing and live bait, I learned the ways of the river and the fish.
Last night I was in a meeting and I saw my dad, I saw fish and I saw something that I saw from roughly 1995-2001. It was during that time I saw something involving fish and spirituality. On the way home from the meeting I was reminded of it and saw the emphasis of. Continue reading Salmon And The Land Of New England
Change One, Change The World
Change a person, change a community. Change a community and change the world. The progress is simple, though the actual happening a little more daunting.
I often think of the people who are changed by spiritual parents or mentors. Continue reading Change One, Change The World
