Come on God, what are you thinking? These were the words on my lips early last Sunday morning when I stepped out of my car on my way to the Tupelo shelter at Wannamaker Park for our Journey Out Day. I came dressed ready to play volleyball, in shorts even though the wind chill was below 45 degrees. I saw this as a step of faith; everyone else saw it as a sign of stupidity.
Ethan, my middle son, reminded me as we walked back to the car to get some final items, “Daddy, you said we were going to pray.” “Oh yeah,” I replied.” But I was thinking, “What good will it do?” My prayer was one mixed with frustration and anger. Considering the proceeding day’s weather was in the 70’s and the following day’s weather was forecasted to begin a warming trend, I just said to God, “I know you have the best in mind for us, but I don’t understand this one.” All I could think about was the money that we spent on this event and now, do to weather, no one was going to show up. Come on God, what are you thinking?
It was about an hour into the event that I saw what God was thinking. Over one hundred people bared the cold, the wind, and the rain to hang out with us. This pat Sunday was the most successful event our church has ever had.
Later that evening, my family was eating supper together. We were all talking about what we enjoyed most about the day and Ethan reminded me, “Daddy, we prayed that God would make this a great day, and he did!”
Ethan, you are right buddy. Ethan helped me understand what God meant when he said, “Have child-like faith.”
Will <><
When we moved down to South Carolina to plant the Journey Church we knew several things would change. The weather changed, no more fall colors and white winters. We traded that in for bathing suits, sweat-rags, and sunny days. Our friends changed, no more free lunches from Bobby or vacation planning with the Harris’s. We traded that in for lunches with the unchurched and dinner-times with new church prospects. The biggest change came when we went from two incomes to one.
This is not a pity-party, it is the beginning of our testimony of God’s goodness. When we left, we hoped to see God differently. We wanted to depend on him. We wanted to see him miraculously provide for our needs. I recognize that if we had not stepped out on faith, we would not have witnessed these small miracles. When we needed a car to fit a family that added three kids in one year, God moved in someone’s heart to buy us a van. When I prayed that God would provide money for Tarah and I to have two date nights a month, a check came in the mail. When the grocery money got tight, a church offered to give us groceries once a month. Mind you, we never put out these requests publicly but nonetheless God knew what we needed. There are even more stories than these but some people have requested to stay anonymous.
If you feel like you have never seen God’s hand move in your life in a real and tangible way, let me encourage you to take a step out, in faith, and trust God.
Here is a cliché that is true, prayer works. About three weeks ago, as we were walking through the book of Jonah, God convicted me of something. It is a lesson that I have learned repeatedly but I always seem to require a refresher. That lesson is that nothing godly happens without prayer. That week, we arrived at Jonah’s prayer in chapter two and I felt the weight that I had not mobilized my people to pray.
This all became even more painfully obvious when I met with another church planter and heard him tell his story about how his church prays together each week. I was crushed, embarrassed, and ashamed. But I took my spank’n and made some changes. The next week our church gathered for prayer before the service and guess what happened . . .
Out of nowhere (and I mean nowhere) twenty new people walked in our door. Now this is pertinent because our little church of forty just grew by 50%. We kept praying and the next week twenty new people, on top of the twenty from the week before, showed up to worship God with us. If you haven’t done the math in your head, our church doubled (from 40 to 80) in the course of two weeks!
There was only one variable that changed, Prayer. Please keep praying for us. God is doing great things down here and we are asking Him to do even more. Would you ask God, on our behalf, to do great things in our midst?
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This was a great weekend! The kids had Friday and Monday off from school, so my parents decided they would keep our three kids so that Tarah and I could spend Valentine’s Day together and a few days following. We needed this time desperately. We saw a movie, went to dinner, talked about future plans, and got some important things off our chests.
We have taken on so much in the last year or so. Adding three kids in 6 months, selling one house and buying another, living with in-laws for two months, teaching two kids English, planting a church, working two jobs, and having friends live with us for a few months, all takes a toll on a marriage. Honestly, I failed so many times. Somewhere along that road, Tarah and I lost focus but this weekend was a chance for us to readjust.
Tarah expressed to me that she needs some time to herself each week. We are planning that, two days each week (Wed & Fri.), Daddy will take care of the kids so that she can do whatever Mom wants. We are committing to going on two dates each month. We’re unsure of how we are going to pay for childcare and the date but we are asking God to provide. Third, Tarah and the kids are going to guard Daddy’s time of studying, reading, and meditating on God’s Word.
The one thing that I learned from all this is: I love my wife! Tarah loves me, she loves my children, she loves that I am a pastor, and she loves being right next to me on this road that God has called us to. Thank you God for sending me the perfect partner.
Will has been asking me to enter another blog and besides I am so sick of the "Man Cold" clip!
The other night Piper and I were having some girl time and putting lotion on each other's feet. She is awesome at massages and I wanted to have some one on one time with her. Before we knew it, here came daddy wanting in on the girl party and begging for his feet to be rubbed. (Unfortunately, Piper made a deal with her dad to trade one piece of bacon for a one hour massage. I know. It is not a fair deal and I warned her.) Anywhoo, as Will began to settle in for his moment of relaxation, there was such an eagerness in Piper to serve her dad. It was so exciting to observe and quite unbelievable if you ask me. I am all too familiar with the funk that lies beneath Will's toes and yet our daughter wasn't the least bit concerned.
What a lesson for me to learn. Who have I served lately, in spite of their dirtiness or messed up life? If the creator of the universe could humble himself for me, what's holding me back? Serve. Love. Give of yourself.
Sickness has been the "name of the game" around here. It has effected kids, women, and men. I have a question, "Why is it that many times women lack compassion over men when we are sick?" Watch this video and you will see what I mean. Comments welcome (and expected).
This story may seem a little out-of –season but nonetheless it is worth telling. Some of you have already heard this story, but it bears repeating for the enjoyment of the rest of the world. This fall, I got to live out one of my dreams: Take one of my sons to his first South Carolina Gamecocks football games. If you know me at all, you know this moment is one that I have been dreaming of for a long time.
Ethan and I set out for Williams Brice Stadium in full Gamecock gear. It was an hour drive from my Mom’s house, who graciously bought us the tickets. Typical of my middle son, he fell asleep during the car ride. Honestly, if any car ride is over 15 minutes long he is a for sure a sleeper! I saw his nap as a blessing because I no longer had to listen to Mickey Mouse kid’s songs any more and could turn on the pre-game show!
I knew exactly when I was going to wake-up Ethan. I was yearning for this moment. The moment of the trip when the Stadium comes into full view. I was giddy, remembering my first trip with my dad. Just a few minutes before we arrived at the point I woke Ethan up. Just after he had wiped his eyes it happened . . .
The Stadium came into full-view and I said with an antagonizing tone, “Ethan, look at that!” Ethan’s response filled his daddy’s heart with joy when he responded, “Oh my gosh dad, look at that! Are we going to get to ride on that?” Knowing the comments was a little off but I understood his confusion, I said, “Yeah buddy, that’s where we are going?" My smile could not have been any bigger and my eyes were even welling up with tears.
This is where the story takes a turn that I was not expecting. Ethan said, “It’s so pretty and colorful.” I was confused and perplexed by this statement. There was nothing pretty or colorful about the stadium. It was at this point that I noticed his eyes were not fixed on the stadium. HE WAS LOOKING AT A HOT-AIR BALLOON in front of the stadium.
The rest of the night went just about like that. I tried to teach Ethan about 4-3 defenses and zone blitz schemes, while he played with his transformers and kept his back to the field. He watched the band’s halftime show with twice the urgency as the football game. My dream was finally and fully crushed when Ethan began to beg me to, in his word, “To go home.”
Is there a life lesson here? I’m sure there is but I am too dumb to figure it out. Maybe just a good laugh is all there is.
I've been tracking this 'relationship' with great awareness over the last, almost two years. The truth is my son, Jedidiah, is much more inthralled with Eliana than is receipricated in return. Jedidiah is the prototypical boy. He likes to climb large objects, babble at adult volumes, and explore the most dangerous things. Elle, the prototypical girl likes to play quietly, enjoys seditary snuggle moments, and reading books.
I caught them in a good moment while the girls were doing ministry on a local college campus. As they were enjoying their favorite past-time, watching Baby Einsten, Jed leaned over and put his hand on her shoulder. I'm sure Elle's dad sees this in a different light but I thought, "Good job son, that is how you treat a woman." It will be hard to teach my boys how to treat a woman but these are the starting points. Make her feel valuable. Put her comfort above your own. Treat her as the precisous, crowning jewel of God's creation that she is.
The truth is, I could use a lesson in this myself. It is so much easier to be a teacher than a learner. I can say all the right things before my kids but what I model is the most important.
Remembering my gymnastic's days...
Tonight, Piper attended a trial seesion at a local gymansium. She was so excited and a bit nervous as well. I was excited for her, but caught up in my own memories of childhood. For 6 or 7 years of my childhood I was a competitive gymnast. It was a big investment of time and money on behalf of my family. Part of me fears that Piper will have this immediate love for gymanstics, but it would be great to see her become passionate about something.
We are so proud of our only daughter and thank God for the gift that she is to all of us. I love to see her deep love for her brothers, especially her Jedders. Hopefully soon we will see her begin to invest her young life into something she is excited about. One day , her father and I yearn to see her passion become Christ. All these learning experiences in her life will hopefully teach Piper about living a passionate life for Jesus.
Thank you Lord for my Piper/Pipes/Sissy!
SIncerely,
A Proud Mother
You are looking at Jedidiah's new home, the corner. From what I gather, this little boy is a spitting image of his Dad, in more than just looks. As my Mom was over this weekend, I saw a definate grin on her face when Jed was being a little mischievous. The grin on her face came with a chuckle and her saying, "You are getting in return what your Dad and I put up with from you."
It is scary to see your sins in the lives of your children. The Bible teaches us that we are all broken, bent, and sinful from birth. I can't argue with that truth. I see it in my life, my kids' life, and honestly in everyone's life I run into. Discipline is the name of this game. God says that he disciplines those that He loves. God desires that I become like Him but that doesn't come without some discomfort. Jed, Piper, Ethan, and Mom & Dad are in for some discomfort. Why? Because we love these kids. God disciplines us because he is the Father who knows what is best for his child.
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