Walking through Trials

2 Corinthians 4:8-18 (KJV)

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As I was reading for devotions this morning, I came to this passage. It struck a chord with all that my family, both immediate and extended, is going through. So, I went about a quick study and then put down some thoughts.

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The trials of life are often incredibly weighty. The burdens that we bear, though differing from one person to another, can cause us to stumble under the load. Often, while under the burden of the moment, we lose focus and look to ourselves and not to God. Instead of looking up to see Him, we look to our path to see what is before us or to our feet to see where we should step next. Yet, our understanding of our situation is flawed, as we can see only the very moment in time that we are in. We cannot see the future and, indeed, our view of the past is flawed -- remember the “good old days” that were not really so good.

We have two promises (and many others) from our God that go well with these verses.

1. God has promised to never leave us nor to forsake us.
2. He has declared that He will never put more on us than we can bear.

So, when we are called on to bear great trials, tests, and/or burdens, we can have 100% certainty that our great and loving God is with us all of the time. He will empower us to accomplish what He wants to see done. Romans 8:28 is still a true declaration; a conditional promise, but true nonetheless. He has stated “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” we may not see how the pieces fit together, but when it is over (perhaps in eternity), we will see the completed puzzle and marvel at the omniscience of God as He knew the beginning from the end and marvel in His omnipotence as He was able to accomplish what we thought impossible.

We may be knocked down, but He is still working. We may be in the midst of impossible circumstances, but God is still God. We can trust Him. We may not be able to see our way our, but He has a plan. He can be trusted to do right by His children. Our role is to trust and obey. Regardless of what we face and are called to endure, He will see us through to the other side and He wants to be glorified in us and through us as we follow the path He has put us on.

Psalm 129:2

Walking through another Year

Incredibly, my little girl turned three this weekend. It seems like she has been here forever and for only a few months at the same time. That she is three seems unreal. She understands enough to know that she had a birthday, but still doesn't understand that the birthday was only one day thought the change in age continues.

Meanwhile, the older daughter attended her final week of summer camp. Summer camp is important in our home and has been. Both of the older kids attended camp every year that they were old enough. Camp is a place where they have, I trust, learned much about themselves and much about their God while meeting new friends and having a good time. It will be a while before I have to deal with summer camp again (see sentence #1).

Walking through Life's Stages

The Baccalaureate service for child #2's high school graduation was tonight. In just a few days, graduation will be upon us. In the meantime, there are exams and other activities that require attention. Family will be coming into town, schedules need to be merged, and activities need to be arranged. 

Pastor Jonathan Tillman was the special speaker for the Baccalaureate service. He preached from the text of III John 4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." It is my desire and my prayer for my kids that they do indeed walk in truth. They have been greatly blessed of God, but they need to understand that He is more than the one who gives to them and learn that He is the God who meets each and every need -- even those needs that we do not realize are needs. In the fall, as I have two kids in college, it is my desire that their knowledge and understanding of God develop and their love for Him become more genuine as they walk in truth.

And so now summer is before us. Jobs, summer classes, family activities.... As we continue to grow as a family, it becomes more and more difficult to do things together. Work schedules seldom match up and if they do, summer jobs do not offer vacation time. When there are weekend activities, often one or more have something that demands their attention. In the midst of such hectic, busy time, we still see God at work as He meets the needs of the family. Those jobs that "interfere" with the schedule are themselves answers to prayer. We have jobs to help meet the needs that we have. The kids are both enrolled for the coming semester of college and while we do not know how God will provide, we are confident that He will because we have seen Him provide in the past.

All of which brings us back to today (graduation events). It has been a wonderful journey to see Brie grow to be the young lady she has become. She has been actively involved in athletics; she is involved in the arts, particularly clay sculpting; she has been involved in any/every athletic opportunity afforded to her. She worked at a bakery until it closed its doors. As busy as she has been, she was and is a great student. It has been my privilege and honor to be her dad and her coach, teacher, principal, etc.

As I sit here and reminisce, it is my desire that she and her brother both continue to learn more about their God and develop a greater love for Him that leads to more zealous service for Him. I want to hear that my children walk in truth, both today and for years to come.

Walking with No Tracks

Well, it has been a year and a couple of days since I last posted anything here and much has happened, hence the title, "Walking with No Tracks." Just because I have not posted, that doesn't mean that life has been nonexistent, boring, or stagnant. No, it has been a busy time indeed -- much of that thanks to Josie. Seriously, the past year has been busy, but it has been a time in which God has been at work. Justin has basically completed his junior year of college and Brie is almost done with high school. Josie is 2 1/2 and in to everything, and yes, I mean everything. She lives by the mantra, what you can do, I can do. She loves to build, play with Play-Doh, and watch videos on her tablet. of, an did I mention that she loves to hide the dog toys. We find them in cabinets, in her toybox, and even in the fridge.

I had the opportunity to visit both BJU and PCC this year and had to opportunity to visit dear friends, some whom I have not seen in many years. I was even able to visit with some former students from TX. It was wonderful to visit with them.

I guess that the greatest lesson of the last year was the reminder that whether life is peaceful or hectic, slow or breakneck, smooth or bumpy, God is still in control. I may not always understand what He is doing, not why He is doing it, but I can trust that what He does is for my good and His glory.

Twenty Years of Walks

I meant to write this yesterday, but alas, that did not happen. Yesterday was Justin's birthday and today is Easter. It is an important weekend for the family.

First, Justin. I know it is often said that the years fly by, but in this case the years flew by. Seriously, it doesn't seem possible that Justin was born. It also doesn't seem possible that home home has moved halfway across the country, and yet, both statements are true. The more amazing is that Justin is 20 years old. He is a sophomore in college 9 hours away. My little boy has become a fine young man. I am very proud of him and the work he does. He works as a lead for the snack shop, and on the university audio-video crew. He also serves on the AV team at his church. I miss having Justin around here, but at the same time I am thrill knowing that God is preparing him for something great. All the while, Justin is developing skills and abilities that will assist him for years to come. He has taken up hiking, a hobby that he can continue well into the future. He will be able to take another 4 or 5 day hike after school dismisses in early May. Another sign of a young man growing up. My prayer for Justin is that he will realize for himself who God truly is and what He wants of Justin and then passionately seek that calling.

And then we move to Easter. This day represents a God who loved us completely, so much so that He sent His Son to live and die for us. After His death, three days later He rose from the dead. Again, He loved us greatly. We serve a God that loves us thoroughly, to the point that He is willing to give what is most valuable to redeem us. Such love demands of us a devotion that causes us to be committed to Him completely. May our love for Him show that He is the focus our hearts.

Walking Hand-in-Hand (while miles apart)

As I sit here in Greenville, SC on Valentine's night, I think of my dear wife back in Mechanicsburg. There have been a great many times over the years that I have had to travel for school and for most of those trips I have left Bec (and the kids behind). I enjoy traveling, but I do not really enjoy traveling without my wife so much. On this special (Hallmark) holiday, I want to say again, "I love you" to Becky. She has been such a wonderful, faithful helper over these years, willing to put up with so much, including the occasional trip at an inopportune time. I trust that you had a good day and that you know how much you are loved.

See you late in the week.

Walking Hand-in-Hand

How quickly time flies. Twenty-six years years ago today I married my lovely bride on a day that was cold and nasty in Upper Michigan. It was about 30 degrees with freezing rain; a 60 mile drive took us almost 2 hours to navigate. Today, it was about 18 degrees with about a 4 degree windchill. Lovely indeed.

It is amazing to think back over the years and see how God has worked.

• I am from a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
• Becky was from central Iowa.
• I went to college in the Florida Panhandle.
• Bec went to college in south central Wisconsin.
• We met in middle Tennessee during one week of summer camp after our sophomore years of college.
• I was working on summer staff at the camp.
• Bec was there for only one week as a church chaperone.
• The boys from her church were assigned to my cabin.
• They felt that she and I should meet.
• The rest, as they say is history. Suffice it to say, I just bowled her over with my rugged handsomeness and incredible wit and charm...or something like that.

Consider for a moment how unlikely it was that we would even meet, let alone continue to stay in touch and then in time marry. It was definitely most unlikely that we would meet and then marry, yet God accomplished what only He could do. And 26 years since we married I look back and say, "How wonderful is my God that He has blessed me so."

Thanks you, my Heavenly Father for the wife you have given me. Thank you, Rebecca, for being such a wonderful wife.