If Only....It Strikes Everyone.

Almost everyone tells expecting and new parents that their lives will never be the same.  What they don't tell you is that you have to say goodbye to the life you have been living.  They don't tell you that you are going to have to mourn the loss of that life.  That you will no longer be able to live as you or your spouse are accustomed to living.  And you know what...it's perfectly alright to mourn the loss of this life.  Moreover, this is not the only time that this happens to a person.  This is probably one of the most dramatic of them, but it is not the only time.  As humans we are creatures of habit.  So anytime there is to be a major change in our lives we must prepare to say goodbye, at least for a little while, to a life that we found comfort in.

Now this may seem strange to think about because after all I wanted a child.  This little girl was as planned as can be and I would not give her up for the world.  In fact I would die for her in need be.  That is how much I love this little girl.  But, even when change is sought after we are never quite prepared for the cost of this change in our life.  In fact, we often get a case of the if only's almost as quickly as the desired change came.  If only she could hold her own head up.  If only she could talk.  If only......  This is why others are inclined to tell new parents to cherish every moment and stage of life.  The reason is that every stage of development brings new joys and new if only's.

The important thing is to find peace in your life no matter what is going on in it.  I was reminded by God about this when after a week and a half of having Sophia I got back into the habit of opening my Bible and reading other believers thoughts on the Christian life that I found peace again.  It was at that moment that I finally felt refreshed.  It was then that I stopped mourning for the life and freedom that I had before she came.  It was then that I experienced the peace of God.  I was reminded that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  He is the One that gave me the patience to be able to be calm at 1 A.M. when she is crying and I don't know what to do.

Now do the if only's try to resurface and distract me?  You bet they do.  But, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that if I don't find joy and peace in Him that I will never satisfy the if only's that will never cease.  So if you you are being troubled with by the if only I was done with High School or College, If Only we I was married, If Only we had a child, If Only we had a house, If Only I had a better job, If Only________.  Whatever it is it won't satisfy.  Turn to Christ and ask others to pray for you and to help you through this time.  Don't be afraid to open up to someone else.  It is how our relationships with one another and God grow.

PENTECOST: Or the Forgotten Christian Holiday

Francis Chan's book Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit has helped me to put together many of my thoughts concerning the Holy Spirit in the Church today.  Many people don't really understand the Holy Spirit at all.  They don't understand much if anything that He promises to the those who believe in Christ.  Then there are those who think, as Chan states, "I've got Jesus...why do I need the Spirit?"  The answer is found in Jesus words where He tells His disciples, "It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7)

So why so much talk about the Holy Spirit all of a sudden?  The reason is that this Sunday is the one day a year that we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.  We celebrate the power that He gives us to live for Christ and to cope with a world that rejects Him.  The traditional color for this holiday is red symbolizing how he came and rested on the disciples in the upper room like tongues of fire.  So if you want wear red with me on Sunday.

In the mean time I would like to encourage you to read John 16:5-16 and Acts 2.  If you don't know much about the Holy Spirit I would encourage you to pick up a copy of Francis Chan's book that I mentioned above.  It is great for those who know nothing of Him as well as those who have received a Master of Divinity.  Lastly, there is a poem below about the Holy Spirit...that is for those of you like me who enjoy reading poetry.


Hymn to the Holy Spirit
     by Richard Wilton

   Come, Holy Dove,
Descend on silent pinion,
Brood o'er my sinful soul with patient love,
Till all my being owns thy mild dominion.

   Round yon sad Tree
With frequent circles hover,
That in my glorious Surety I may see
Grace to redeem and righteousness to cover.

   On wings of peace
Bring from that precious altar
The blood which bids the storms of conscience cease,
And blots out all the debt of the defaulter.

   Spirit of grace,
Reveal in my my Savior,
That I may gaze upon his mirrored face,
Till I reflect it in my whole behavior.

   Oh, let me hear
Thy soft, low voice controlling
My devious steps with intimations clear,
With comforts manifold my heart consoling.

   Let that sweet sound
To holy deeds allure me,
With heavenly echoes make my spirit bound,
And of my home in paradise assure me.

   Come, Holy Dove,
Guide me to yon bright portal,
Where I shall see the Savior whom I love,
And enter on the joys which are immortal.

Grace Overflowing

***Warning, there is some race related language in this post, but it is used to make a point***

As you may already know, this Saturday, May 5th West Greenway Bible Church will be showing The Grace Card at 6:00 PM.  This is a movie that will hit you hard in regards to your relationships with other people.  It is a movie that will challenge the way that you look at other people.  

As you may have guessed the title is a play on words.  The movie challenges us to play the 'grace card' instead of the 'race card'.  You may be thinking to yourself, "I'm not racist" and or "I don't know anyone who is racist'.  The reason for this is that in Phoenix you will primarily hear the word nigger only in rap songs or kids trying to act like gangsters.  But, that doesn't mean that you don't know someone that acts differently to those with darker skin tones than his or her own.  What about when someone uses the slurs wetback, spic, gringo, cracker?  Are those less hateful?  Or, what about when you see some Hispanic men standing outside a Home Depot looking for work?  Do you automatically think illegal?  When the topic of immigration is brought up what does the heart of your speech sound like?  What about those you converse with?  Even if you don't speak hatred, are you willing to take a stand against it when family or friends speak out in hatred?  The Grace Card is just as relevant here as it is in Mississippi, if not more.

This movie will challenge you to look deep inside yourself.  Remember, Jesus said that it is not what goes into a man's mouth, but what comes out of it that makes him unclean (Mat. 15:17-20).  Or remember that Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount that those who speak with hatred to others are guilty of murder in their heart.  Let us not forget that anger is a poison.  It can only be sucked out by the power of GRACE and FORGIVENESS.  All are created in the image of God and Christ came to save all.  So, come see the movie and learn to both give and receive THE GRACE CARD.

And Remember:

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world