New Year Thoughts

The new year prompts me to pause and assess the past year. Counting my blessings, I recognize that the teams I work beside are a huge part of the good things I experienced this year. Some of you are new to the teams and in you God has brought me new friends. Those of you who have been here for a while have become even more dear to me over this year. All of you serve tirelessly bringing your best. Your best creates a synergy that stirs me to bring my best

We had a first this year. The “Come Hungry Concert” was a great success. God was lifted up, decisions were made to follow Christ and families sacrificed together as they ate beans and rice that week. The worship team grew together as we worked hard. Their talent, hours of rehearsal and personal practice laid out in surrender before God gave Him glory and blessed the church. We as a team grew in relationship as we prayed, practiced and laughed together.

As individuals you have worked on your talents by honing your gift. The music you are producing now is not what you produced a little over a year ago. You keep stretching and growing in your musical abilities. I simply praise God for each of you and admire your dedication.

This next year God has much in store for us. We may not know all the details but we generally know the path. It is one in which we see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly day by precious day. It is a walk of worship. This worship walk is lived out in the way we love our spouses, kids, friends and the world. That is worship. Music is a very small avenue of worship. Life 24/7 is the worship highway.

As creation participates in worship by simply being what it was created to be, we have the privilege of entering each day in worship by living out our God ordained purpose. God's purpose for me is simple. It is to love Him with everything that is within me. As a result everything I do should be motivated by this love affair with my God. I do life for Him and with Him.

I believe we make following Him complicated. We try to find the perfect will of God when HIs perfect will is spelled out very succinctly. "Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength." Simple.

The Magi

Like you, I have been pondering the Christmas Story this season. My focus today is on the Magi. We know they came from the east. Some speculate it was a long ways east from which they traveled for many days or even months. What strikes a chord in me is that they came with nothing more than “theory” and a star to lead them. What drove them to travel far and wide, to follow a star in search of another King? What gnawed inside of them that simply would not go away and caused them to leave behind the familiar in order to find this King they did not know?

Upon finding this baby King, they were overjoyed and bowed down in worship. As I let this scene play out in my imagination, I am overcome with their responses of joy and worship. Their search lead them to bow down to a baby in worship...true, real, honest, vulnerable worship. Months of hard travel, wondering if they were crazy while following a star, resulted in joy.

The question I have to ask myself is am I willing to leave what I know in order to search for my King? My search, like the Magi will result in overwhelming joy and worship. May our search lead us to our King, our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer and our Friend Jesus Christ.

I was reading from Luke 8:18. The words of Jesus, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen.” For some reason this has stopped me in my tracks today. Reflect on His words, read through the chapter and then listen.

Listening is becoming a lost form of communication. God is pushing me to be a better listener. The nudging to listen to people’s words calls me to pay attention to their hearts. The prayer of Richard of Chichester says it better than I can. It reads, “To see You more clearly. To love You more dearly. To follow You more nearly, day by day.” When I stop to listen to God and others, truth becomes clearer and life is more vibrant.

During this Christmas season, steal away some moments to quietly listen to the cries of a baby, our Savior, born in Bethlehem.

Omnitasking or Solotasking

I have been reading and musing over the book “The Good and Beautiful God” by James Bryon Smith. (I recommend it) The last chapter was about slowing down in order to live in the present moment with God. Admittedly, I don’t have this one down at all. It takes me a while at the end of the day or during a vacation to unplug from not simply multitasking but that ominously new phenomena of omnitasking. Omnitasking is being engaged in such things as texting from your Iphone while driving down the freeway at 70 miles per hour while on the business trip with the GPS device is telling you where to go, sipping the latte you purchased and talking on your bluetooth to your spouse about the kids school work. Are you tired yet? I need a nap but can't because I'm racing down the freeway. The nap will have to wait until I get on the plane..oh wait a minute. I have to create a report while flying home. You get the picture.

On the other hand solotasking is giving your total attention to one activity or person in order to produce or engage at your highest level and experience the deepest fulfillment. Rested, aware of surroundings, and connected to God is where life is lived...really lived. Hurry vanishes while peace, calm and order replaces the out of control lifestyles. Spouses draw closer to each other, parents have energy for their kids, people take care of their bodies through eating right, exercise and rest, and joy returns to the heart.

The world is working hard to steal our peace. Peace doesn’t usually reside in a state of constant hurry and stress. Peace resides in those who can go against the cultural norm in order to find solace and quiet in God.

I am seeking a slower pace, one where living deeply occurs as a result of being profoundly connected to the heart of God. My Christmas present to myself is to walk away from the frenetic pace so I don’t leave God behind in my wake. Instead, I want to stay in step with the Spirit. My first step in this process is to take Friday and Saturday off from work. Equally important to this change will be the necessity for time in the Word, meditation and prayer before the day begins. Five minute walks to get away from the computer and phone are in order so as to reconnect with the Spirit are part of my plan as well. You may think this is a funny idea but I plan to drive slower too. I don't drive excessively fast but I do get nervous when I am behind a slower car...Know what I mean? Eating slower, playing while doing the dishes...living simply and simply living.

How about you? Which do you want? Omnitasking or solotasking? Some place in the middle? At the end of the day, what brought you fulfillment? Stop, slow down, look for God, open your eyes to see Him...ENJOY!

Time

Time is drawing near. Lauren will soon be headed down a sandy aisle to wed her future husband. Being the MOB (Mother of the Bride) is a blessing. As I watch my kids become all that God has created them to be, I see how little I had to do with it. Given 18 years by God to train them in His ways is but a mere breath.

Time slows down for no one. As I look back I wonder what I may have missed and what seems to have worked. While musing over the past, I see the truth that with God's grace we are made into His image. His hand guides us to green pastures and quiet waters, restoring our souls. We want for nothing because all He is is ours. The pasture He has designed for me is safe, fitted with sturdy boundaries.

I am thankful today for my Lord's leading. In this green pasture I sense peace and contentment while my heart is sad. Lauren will forever be my daughter. She now prepares to leave and cleave to her wonderful fiancee David. He is getting a Godly woman who loves and deeply respects him. She is getting a Godly man who would lay down his life for her. What more could this mom want for her daughter.

David and Lauren, I love you. May God's blessing always be close to your heart. May His desires be your desires, His character your character, His strength your strength and His love your love.