Tuesday, November 27, 2007

if you're happy and you know it...

It's easy to be happy when life's circumstances are good. Things like health, job and relationships effect our mood and effect our happiness. If things are going well or as expected, sometimes by an arbitrary standard or a changing tolerance, we like to say we are happy. It's socially acceptable to not be sad... no one likes a whinner. But, we recognize in ourselves that if things changes for the worse, our ability to express happiness is not easy. So what is real biblical happiness? And how do we rest there no matter what?

"...there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Three questions define happiness:

  • something to do... "how am I serving Him today?"
  • someone to love... "who have I shown kindness, forgiveness?"
  • something to hope for... "where do I place my faith and trust?"
We recognize that our real happiness is defined by our relationship to God. Our choices regarding the qualities of life including "the where" (environment), "the what" (opportunities), "the why" (purpose) and "the how" (contentment) will determine if we are happy and know it. And only a life lived in love with Him will bring happiness, no matter what.

"You will make known to me the path of life. In your Presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever."
Psalm 16:11

Choose joy. Choose Him. Be happy :)

Thursday, November 22, 2007

thanksgiving

"...put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." - Colossians 3:12-17

Friday, November 16, 2007

thankful

I know the road is long from the ground to glory
But a boy can hope he's getting some place
But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing
And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase


'Cause no, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, I said no not one

So I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own...



Caedmon's CallThankful

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

13 years

Do you remember 13 years ago? 1994. A lot has changed since then. Somethings have not. In 1994, I graduated college and started my first professional job, the same job I hold today. The same job!? Amazing? Not really. Different and usual? Maybe, especially compared to many friends and relatives. Many have had changed jobs or started entirely new careers. Some have moved across town or across the country. Think of all the decisions we make in life. What we will do? Where we will live? Who we will marry? These questions don't always have obvious answers. Sometimes we do what we are supposed to do. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we are faithful and trust in God's providence. Other times we make rash decisions based on selfish wants or bad information. Each time we learn there are consequences to the choices we make. Some good. Some bad. All of them change us.

We read throughout scripture of people making choices to either follow God or go against His will. In the end, those are really the only choices we can make. To follow Him or not. Each day is a result of the choices we made the day before. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Trust Him. Ask Him. Seek Him. Know Him. Align yourself in His Will. And He will make your decisions right. A perfect promise. Yet, we struggle. Struggle to believe the promise. Struggle in our sin nature to place our faith completely in Him.

Read Genesis 16 & 17. Abraham struggled for 13 years with the consequences of a fateful decision. In chapter 12, God commanded Abram to leave and go in faith, establishing the covenant (a promise) of a great nation. By chapter 16, impatient and lacking faith, Abram decided to not trust in God's promise and tried to do it on his own. Impatient and lacking faith? Sound familiar? Chapter 17 begins 13 years later with God, always faithful, reminding the rebellious Abram of His promise. God never changed. God did not forget. God always had a plan. Yet, Abram needed to learn the consequences of not trusting the Lord with all his heart.

As I reflect on my past 13 years, I recognize God's faithfulness in spite of me. I am blessed developing a career here in WNY with the opportunity to stay close to family and the familiar. I have grown up in a healthy church ministry serving Him in a fun and creative way. My home has provide both financial structure and a place to build relationships with fun gatherings and neighborhood activity. Yet I continue make some bad decisions, deal with the consequences and anxiety and conflict. But through it all, I see God working in my life. Sometimes my expectations do not match up. And sometimes I am surprised with blessing. I learn, sometimes late, that God is always, has been always and will be always in control of my path… along this 7 mile journey… a faith walk with Him… 13 years, 13 days, 13 minutes, 13 seconds from my last decision.

I pray. I hope. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

hail to the leafs

On this election day 2007, the ice and snow is falling. It's cold and wintery outside… brrrrr. Some leaves are still on the trees, but the weather has made the turn. Grab your parka, lace up the boots and put on your toques (for our French Canadian fans)

Our "let it snow" poll was unanimous for Christmas Eve. Sorry, this November 6, 2007 will be the first official snow of the season.

I hope you got out the vote today. Pray for those elected to office. "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior" 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Sunday, November 4, 2007

game on


I had a great weekend of games with friends this weekend...

Saturday morning was another perfect Fall day of football in the warm sun... in November!? We had a great effort in a tough loss :(

In the evening, I hosted a fun game night with alot of laughs and great competition... "Last Word, Pictionary, Moods, Apples-to-Apples, Blockus, Split" With the clocks turned back, we played until late. And with some homemade chili, awesome desserts and great friends, it was a very enjoyable evening.

33-21 Win #4 for our Buffalo Bills! Yeah! I had the privelege of sitting in a corporate box with my friend Rich the "Bills Fan". It was an entertaining and exciting game... thanks for the invite Rich!!! Too bad the Colts lost. Watch out Patriots, the Bills are on a winning streak!

So ends a fun weekend of games. I love how games bring out the best (and not so best) in people. The stress of competition and performance, an ideal way to enjoy relationships and learn more about our friends and teammates. Games and how they are played reveal much about who we are, deep down... a humble winner or the sore loser? Win at all costs! Or tentative shy? Take a chance or quietly strategic? Which are you? And what are some of your favorite games?