Waiting For The Snow

Psalm 130:6  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 

This morning our girls woke up and their excitement bubbled over as they peered out of our large front window in the living room. Why, you ask? BECAUSE IT'S SNOWING!!! Darci and I are not so excited. What is the difference? I believe one of the differences is in what you are anticipating.

My daughters are looking forward to playing in the snow, building snowmen, and tobogganing down the large hills (BTW, to my southernly-challenged friends, a toboggan is NOT the warm hat you wear during the winter. The picture above explains what a toboggan is.). 

On the other hand, when the wife and I see snow, we see harsh driving conditions, high gas bills to keep our home warm, and hours and hours of shoveling and de-icing. 

You see, the difference is in the anticipation. As we begin the season that is set aside to celebrate the first coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ, are we waiting with anticipation for his Second Coming? Is our heart full of love and anticipation for that glad reunion day? That day should be looked toward with joy and anticipation, and not dread fear.

When you begin to think about all those things you are anticipating this Christmas season, is the Lord's return one of them?

Why Hide?

Jeremiah 23:23-24  Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?  (24)  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

As I decided to read a little more in my Chronological Bible this morning, I came across the 23rd chapter of Jeremiah and spent some time contemplating the many great truths for us today (So much so, that I may preach through this chapter sometime soon!). I wanted to share with my readers these two verses, mainly because they parallel what we have been studying in Sunday School.

There once was a couple who thought they no longer needed God. Now, I am sure they did not think that way outwardly, or ever even verbalized it, but that was the case inwardly. They had wonderful fellowship with God, the likes of which no one ever had before. God had richly blessed them with an abundance of provision and love and only had one restriction. 

Yet, soon after there comes along someone who begins to get them to doubt that God's way was the only way. Soon thereafter they make the choice to make their own decisions on what is right and what is wrong and wilfully disobey God. Quickly they fall under conviction and begin to try to formulate their own means of reconciliation by a covering of fig leaves. But this covering was not enough, and when they hear the LORD God walking in the garden towards them, they hide in the trees of the garden.

I am sure that most of my readers by now realize that I am speaking about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The amazing thing is that some 6,000+ years later man is still trying to hide their sin from God. First, a small covering of fig leaves. And when that does not work, we go for a forest of cover -- but are still naked to God in our sin and shame.

Let each of remember that there is no place we may hide from the presence of God and no way for us to fool Him with our feeble works of righteousness. Wherever you may be at in your fellowship/relationship with God, realize this: God sees you where you are and loves you in spite of it. Do not let your past failures and mistakes keep you from having the fellowship/relationship that your Heavenly Father wants with you. Realize about yourself what God already knows: you are a sinner saved by His wondrous grace. Then, repent of that sin and return to Him. 

His love is greater than our sin, and His Grace reaches down further to bring us out of the miry clay.

Two Ways Before All Of Us

Jeremiah 21:8-9  And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.  (9)  He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

The prophet Jeremiah is giving a Divine Warning to the King of Jerusalem and his people. They have two choices before them: one leads to life, and the other leads to death. But there is no standing still, there is no wavering. Choose, and choose quickly, the path that you will take.

In a very real way, the same choice is before us today in regards to salvation: chose to stay in the city (sin) and die an everlasting death of separation and punishment in Hell and the Lake of Fire. Or, leave the city (sin) and fall on the Lord for his mercy and grace. The Lord has given the warning and the choice is yours to make.

Book Review: Living Life In The Zone: A 40-Day Spiritual Plan For Men

Upon receiving the book, Living Life In The Zone: A 40-Day Spiritual Plan For Men by Kyle Rote Jr and Dr. Joe Pettigrrew, I must admit I was a little excited. I have been reevaluating my methods and manners in my own personal daily devotions and was looking for something more devotional to use as a basis. Add in to that my love for sports (as you can see by the decor in my office), this book had the beginnings of something very useful and good.

But as I began to read through this daily, I found myself a little let down. It was heavily centered on man and not nearly enough focus on God for my taste. And maybe that is just the byproduct of combining sports with spiritual growth. It seemed to me as if this book was trying to reach the new/young Christian man who needs lots of milk and not quite ready for meat because most of the entries were very basic with lots of examples and illustrations. Which is fine, but the problem I saw with it is that it was so long on stories, and so little on Scriptures. Each daily entry was somewhat long, so this could not and should not be considered if you are looking for a short, daily devotional book to get your day started.

Over all, I would not discourage you from reading this book, but I just don't think you should get your hopes up about it.


This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: Remember Why You Play by David Thomas

Remember Why You Play is an excellent book for any Christian who is a sports enthusiast, and any teenage athlete who looking for inspiration for the field.  I might have been one of the few people who did not know anything about the game between the Faith Christian Lions and the Gainesville State Tornadoes (I won't reveal it here in case there are others who want to read this book and be surprised). The author does a good job in building up to the moment, even going back to the prior season. The book has a great layout with each chapter covering each game/major moment. You get a good feel and intimate knowledge of the coaches and players as you journey with them up to this memorial event.

As I was reading this book, it stood out to me why our public school system is failing - the removal of God. There are so many great lessons Coach Hogan shares with his team that just would not be allowed in a public classroom. It is a reminder to me that we are all created by God and have a God-given purpose in this life - to know Him as our Saviour and glorify Him with our life.

Overall, this is an excellent book and well worth the read.

This book was given to me free by Tyndale House Publishing.

What Is Your Parenting Goal?

Often times, in reference to our children, and especially our teenagers, we hear the phrase, "I did ____________, and I didn't turn out too bad. That's just a teen being a teen and you've got to let them live and learn." In taking this stance, many parents think that they are being understanding and even doing what's best for their child, but is that really the case?

We read in God's Word in Jeremiah 16:11-13 about a generation of Judah and the judgment that was heading their way. God tells Jeremiah to proclaim them, "Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;  (12)  And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:  (13)  Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour."

Here, we see a generation of people that grew up and "experienced" the same things as their parents, only with a twist: they took it farther than their parents did. I wonder if some of the parents, as they observed their children growing up, thought, "Ehh, I did the same thing when I was their age. no big deal."? We see in our passage the dangers of this attitude. As Jeremiah is preaching to Judah, he reminds them that even though their fathers have forsaken the Lord, they are in worse shape because they have have walked further from the Lord. 

Often times, we allow our past experiences to dictate how we handle present day actions in light of the truth of God's Word. As parents, we should always remember: Past experiences do not trump Bible truths. Just because you dabbled with alcohol and drugs while in high school doesn't mean you should look the other way when you know your teen is doing the same today. Remember, they will take it further than you ever did. Just because you had some immoral and impure relationships in high school doesn't mean you should look the other way when you know your teen is heading down that same route today. This is why teen pregnancy and STD's are at an all time high. 

My goal as a parent is not to be the "cool" parent or to be so "understanding" and for my children to experience all that I experienced; but for them to live a better, and more pleasing life to the Lord. What is your goal?

Does Everything Really Rise and Fall With Leadership?

As I was reading this morning, I came across this verse: Jeremiah 15:1  Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. As I read it, my mind immediately thought of the well-traveled quote, "Everything rises and falls with leadership." While I have no problem with the rising part, I have often wondered about the falling aspect. 

(On a side note, do not take this as a criticism of the one who originated the quote. I do not know the context of when and why he said it, but I do know how it is used today and disagree with it.) 

One of the first people I always think of is Noah. By today's standards, he was a failed leader. Yet, God calls him a "preacher of righteousness." I've read some, but not all, of the leadership books that are out on the market today, and many have some good truths for us to learn. But, as Jeremiah points out to us, even a great leader, such as Moses and Samuel, will not be enough to change the direction of some people. Instead of focusing on results, we should focus on those things that we can control, like our spiritual vitality and work ethic. Don't allow the guru's or lack of results frustrate you and to minimize what you do for the Lord.

Let's remember, sometimes great "preaching" does not make for great "doctrine."