tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44342473010022509542024-02-06T22:33:17.211-05:00A "Radical" LifeStriving to live a life less-ordinary.THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-14527486298505905492012-09-04T09:49:00.002-04:002012-09-04T09:49:28.145-04:00a matter of life & death<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://liveoakcc.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/what-matters-most-sermon-title-570x428.jpg" href="http://liveoakcc.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/what-matters-most-sermon-title-570x428.jpg" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-46" data-mce-src="http://liveoakcc.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/what-matters-most-sermon-title-570x428.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://liveoakcc.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/what-matters-most-sermon-title-570x428.jpg?w=300" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: inherit; cursor: default; display: inline; float: left; font-style: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-right: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px;" title="What-Matters-Most-Sermon-Title-570x428" width="300" /></a>Why must it take death to wake us up to what we have; to the finality of life; to what matters and what doesn't?</div>
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Sadly, I tend to see everything differently when confronted with death. I want to be hold my wife and kids all day long. I let stuff go that would normally get me all worked up because, well, <strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">it usually doesn't matter</strong>. I am much, <em style="color: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">much</em> more patient with my kids and just plain <em style="color: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">nicer</em> to them. I feel an urgency I don't usually feel to tell people about the hope and peace they can have in by trusting in Jesus. <strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">I soak up relationships and conversations instead of sports and Facebook. </strong></div>
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Why? Because I'm reminded of the <strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">Truth</strong>. It's something I always know, technically speaking, but life just goes so fast and I get so distracted that somehow <strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">I just lose sight</strong>. <em style="color: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">Anybody else with me here?</em> Death makes me see more clearly. What matters in life is not your bank account or the awkward situation at school or work. God did not place you on this planet to freak out about who will win American Idol or the Super Bowl.</div>
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<strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">We are here for two reasons: God & people.</strong> Everything else is meaningless; a chasing after the wind.</div>
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How do you remember this truth without waiting for a confrontation with death to smack you in the face? I think the best thing you can do is slow down and <strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><em style="color: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">make</em></strong> the time to<strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><em style="color: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"> think and pray </em></strong>on a <em style="color: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><strong style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">daily</strong> </em>basis. Don't tell me you don't have time. This stuff is just too important (Is anything more important? Really?) Pray daily for Gods Spirit to help you see clearly. Beg Him to help you understand his grace better, to help you fall more in love with Him, and to help you see people the way <em style="color: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">He</em> sees people. </div>
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God matters. And His people matter. You can relax about the rest.</div>
THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-85279558220337455722012-06-20T13:51:00.000-04:002012-06-20T13:51:06.161-04:00Christian?<br />
<i>We have reduced the idea of a good Christian to someone who believes in Jesus, loves his or her family, and attends church regularly. Others will label you a good Christian even though your life has no semblance to the way Christ spent His days on earth. </i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Try to be COMPLETELY honest with yourself right now. Is the following true of you?:</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
<i>You passionately love Jesus, but you don't really want to be like Him. You admire His humility, but you don't want to be THAT humble. You think it's beautiful that He washed the feet of the disciples, but that's not exactly the direction your life is headed. You're thankful He was spit upon and abused, but you would never let that happen to you. You praise Him for loving you enough to suffer during His whole time on earth, but you're going to do everything within your power to make sure you enjoy your time down here.</i><br />
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<i>The American church has abandoned the most simple and obvious truth of what it means to follow Jesus: You actually follow His pattern of life. I pray for those who read this article- that we don't become cynical or negative toward the church. Instead, let's make a personal decision to stop talking so much and begin living like Jesus. Then we can say as the apostle Paul, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). My guess is that you've never had someone say that to you, and you've never said it to anyone else. Why Not?</i><br />
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- Francis Chan<br />THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-73096568496034754662012-06-12T19:09:00.003-04:002012-06-12T19:09:39.732-04:00my goal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f6b26b;">Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">- Paul (1 Cor 9:19-23 - The Message)</span>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-87233303774406376702012-04-12T15:43:00.002-04:002012-04-12T15:43:29.373-04:00Shrugging Off Sin<div>
The truth is, God's standards are <i>way</i> too high for me to live up to. He demands perfection. After all, <i>He's</i> perfect. But...</div>
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He took the punishment for me<i> </i>not living up to His standards on <i>Himself</i>. In fact, He allowed Himself to be murdered for it. And then He conquered death & sin, therefore <i>redeeming</i> me and making it possible for me to be made right with Him once again.</div>
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The average Christian reading these words is probably nodding along in agreement by now. We all believe these things to be true, of course, because it's the very foundation for our faith. But in my experience as a pastor, there is much confusion about what happens next. </div>
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<b>RESPONSE 1:</b> Some still don't get the concept of grace and therefore try to <b>win points </b>with God by doing all the right things and avoiding the bad ones. Quite the impossible feat. Jesus had a lot to say about this because it was a prevalent way of thinking in that culture too. Frankly, we're sinners through and through. Try as we might, we'll still fall short and then proceed to beat ourselves up about it only to start to process over again, and again, and again. <b>Not exactly the "freedom" Christ promised.</b> All Christians know this is not the appropriate response...but we fall into the trap none-the-less.</div>
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<b>RESPONSE 2: </b>Others<b> shrug off their shortcomings.</b> Because they believe in God's unmerited grace and don't do any of the "major" sins, they feel pretty good about all the "minor" sins. Okay, maybe they don't feel "good" about them. They just don't feel much of <i>anything</i> about them. They don't see these "minor" sins as a big deal and so they aren't making any big efforts to change. No, they may not be doing <i>everything</i> exactly the way Jesus said, but compared to everyone else, they feel pretty good about how things are going. Sure, they know they should stop doing this one particular thing and that they probably should be doing <i>more </i>good things<i>. </i>But hey...they're good people and they know God has forgiven them. What more do you want? Why kill yourself trying to be perfect? You <i>can't </i>be perfect, and God's grace covers you anyway.</div>
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I've tried both ways of thinking and I can tell you that neither works. One leaves you desperately attempting to do the impossible and the other leaves you obviously happier, but ultimately unsatisfied and living <i>well</i>-short of what God intends.</div>
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<b>WHAT'S THE PROPER RESPONSE?</b> Well, I'm certainly no brilliant scholar or great theologian, but I think Jesus made it pretty clear that even though His grace is unmerited and paid for, <b>He will not take second place.</b> He's to be first. In <i>everything</i>. That following Him means absolute commitment and devotion, and therefore every sin (major or minor) cannot be brushed under the rug as if it's no big deal. We're to scour the passionate (and sometimes harsh) words of Jesus and examine honestly whether or not we're really following Him, <i>regardless</i> of whether or not we believe we're saved.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">To me, it's not about points OR grace. It's about <i>God.</i> And it's about loving Him so much that the very idea of continuing to do something you know He isn't okay with makes you sick to your stomach...as does continuing to <i>not</i> do the things you know He wants you to do. It's a love that doesn't allow you to shrug it off.</span></div>
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Yes, you will still fall short.</div>
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Yes, God's grace still covers you.</div>
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But if you really love Him, you will not shrug it off. <b>Your shortcomings, even though they're covered, are still a big deal.</b> "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" - John 14:15</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-23352210800862375222012-01-23T14:31:00.000-05:002012-01-23T19:31:15.622-05:00Word to the Wise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmekSiQif77hLYx9yDPHbe81s4NQrVOrXUl81EMQWGPA8Noi0WgAHtxnoySyZqsEWxJ0oyFdEmLo18vphY5vrPHo1WwmVVmgHvxBb0GTeaK7_1FhX3gmnbrRyx0zQoZvtVPXW9LFTGZY/s1600/knowledge-vs-wisdom-170859-460-340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmekSiQif77hLYx9yDPHbe81s4NQrVOrXUl81EMQWGPA8Noi0WgAHtxnoySyZqsEWxJ0oyFdEmLo18vphY5vrPHo1WwmVVmgHvxBb0GTeaK7_1FhX3gmnbrRyx0zQoZvtVPXW9LFTGZY/s320/knowledge-vs-wisdom-170859-460-340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><b>It would help if I were smarter. </b></span><br />
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Or is it, "...<i>was</i> smarter"? (Just in case your'e curious, I looked it up...both are technically correct). Either way, intelligence sure would come in handy. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><b>"Knowledge is power,"</b></span> after all. Don't believe me? Maybe it's just because you don't know better.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><b>But knowledge isn't everything</b></span>. I could learn twelve languages, but still not understand the ways of God. I could study my brains out to learn everything that math, science, history and art have to offer, and it would probably help me a lot in life...but it wouldn't help me understand my purpose <i>for</i> life.<br />
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Nope. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><b>I'd much rather be <u>wise</u> than </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><b><u>smart</u><i>,</i></b></span> thank you very much (this is a really good thing, since I'm pretty ignorant about most of life). After all, both the wise and the smart still end up in the grave, but only one will be prepared for what comes next (relatively speaking).<br />
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But what can I do about it? How can I "gain wisdom"? If I wanted to be <i>smarter</i>, I'd study more. But <i>where does wisdom come from?</i><br />
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<u><b>Job 28</b></u><br />
“...do people know where to find wisdom? <br />
Where can they find understanding? <br />
No one knows where to find it, <br />
for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">it is not found among the living</span></b>. <br />
It is not here,’ says the ocean. <br />
‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea. <br />
It cannot be bought with gold. <br />
It cannot be purchased with silver. <br />
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“...do people know where to find wisdom? <br />
Where can they find understanding? <br />
It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. <br />
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. <br />
Destruction and Death say, <br />
‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">“God alone understands the way to wisdom; <br /> he knows where it can be found, </span></i></b><br />
for he looks throughout the whole earth <br />
and sees everything under the heavens. <br />
He decided how hard the winds should blow <br />
and how much rain should fall. <br />
He made the laws for the rain <br />
and laid out a path for the lightning."</div>
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<b>Wisdom comes from God. </b></div>
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<b>So if your looking for answers to life, ask <i>Him</i>. </b></div>
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<b>You won't find it in a book...unless it was written by Him.</b></div>
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<i>"Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! Though it cost all that you have, get understanding. (Prov 4:7)</i></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-66521006981773775232012-01-14T15:04:00.001-05:002012-01-14T15:24:24.551-05:00Win or Lose, God is God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrzlpRLDVTYO9ObrLzT1J1aiCWSPfpKgpKoQuU_o-wL7cHjaCdU2aEZmko83bKbUnze7Wbp5jIFYxb35V3MYhyU4_Rj1ogM6JmiCMidVk0Z6BTeIiUY4Gr-wUeqaYuogrmT6ullRrkxU/s1600/225px-Tim_Tebow_20071223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrzlpRLDVTYO9ObrLzT1J1aiCWSPfpKgpKoQuU_o-wL7cHjaCdU2aEZmko83bKbUnze7Wbp5jIFYxb35V3MYhyU4_Rj1ogM6JmiCMidVk0Z6BTeIiUY4Gr-wUeqaYuogrmT6ullRrkxU/s200/225px-Tim_Tebow_20071223.jpg" width="140" /></a><b>IT DOES NOT MATTER </b>whether Tim Tebow and the Broncos win or lose tonight. <br />
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Don't get me wrong, I <i>want</i> them to win...badly...especially since they're playing the dreaded Patriots! It would give me great satisfaction! I <i>promise</i> that I will be jumping up and down, celebrating such a victory if it happens!<br />
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But here's the problem. If they lose, all the anti-Tebowers will rejoice and some will even go so far as to say, "See...there's no God helping him win," or "God doesn't care about football," and they'll feel somehow vindicated and relieved. If they win, some over-zealous Christians will start analyzing it to <i>death</i>, as if the improbable victory proves once and for all that God exists.<br />
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Here's what I think (not that it really matters):<br />
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<ul>
<li>I think the football game tomorrow has zero bearing on God's existence. </li>
<li>I think that <b>God can do whatever He wants. </b> And if He wants to use football to point people to Him, He'll do it (<i>even if you think it's stupid</i>).</li>
<li>I think that despite what your perspective is on the whole thing, literally <i>millions</i> of people googled "John 3:16" after last weeks win. <b>People are reading about the love of Christ because of this.</b></li>
<li>I think that Tebow understands that the game isn't what matters most (even if his fans don't). He wants to win, of course, but he knows that <b>football is just a game - God and people are what really matter.</b></li>
<li>I also think that Tebow knows full well that he has an incredible platform to point people to Christ and help people...and he's using it for just that.</li>
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Maybe God is helping him win.</div>
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Maybe He's not.</div>
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I'm honestly not sure which it is.</div>
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Either way, I'm pretty convinced that He's at least <i>using</i> all this for His purposes. </div>
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And either way, people need to get off his back and root for the guy. I know many of you are tired of hearing about him (and yes, some of the articles written about him <i>are</i> ridiculous). But <b>we're not talking about football here. </b>We're talking about a good guy who is serving those in desperate need <i>on a weekly basis</i>, and who is making a BIG difference in many lives. <b>Why on earth would you not applaud that?</b></div>
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As for my fellow Christ-followers who are reading this...please understand that <b>Tim Tebow is NOT Jesus. </b> I promise, he screws up a lot, just like the rest of us. Don't put him on such a pedestal that your faith is determined by his life. <b>Perhaps we should spend our efforts praying for the guy</b> to not collapse under the pressure that comes with being a star athlete.</div>
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Tebow is going to win some games and lose some games. <b>Win or lose, God is God. </b></div>
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In the meantime, I say ROOT FOR THE GUY...not for his football skills, but for the example he's displaying.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-34340439520806042262011-11-16T16:36:00.001-05:002011-11-17T15:45:31.959-05:00asking God to break your heart<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujT6rFZYBW6sSVHt-VYDoOT8XueqJXT8etKKDCDK0_hq2m68f9HuvE1p7OyJCqtQdObqU36fsUVlpBWBbvX983NgBMIxWixx_cDR5DV0Yp4N5jpkVf7mTueaGR0HiHy7vZ3-I3sLmRIM/s1600/homeless_man_on_street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujT6rFZYBW6sSVHt-VYDoOT8XueqJXT8etKKDCDK0_hq2m68f9HuvE1p7OyJCqtQdObqU36fsUVlpBWBbvX983NgBMIxWixx_cDR5DV0Yp4N5jpkVf7mTueaGR0HiHy7vZ3-I3sLmRIM/s320/homeless_man_on_street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The most powerful bridge of any song I know is in the middle of a Brooke Fraser song called "Hosanna": </div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">"Heal my heart and make it clean</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Open up my eyes to the things unseen</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Show me how to love like You have loved me</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Break my heart for what breaks Yours</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Everything I am for Your Kingdoms cause</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">as I walk from earth into eternity"</span></b></i></div>
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My son, Elijah, is especially obsessed with this song...to the point where, some days, he asks us to play it every 30 seconds...literally. Frankly, it gets annoying. We're often saying, <i>"NO Elijah. No more for today, okay buddy?"</i> We sing it to him before putting him to bed <i>every</i> night. But hey, at least it's a song we love!</div>
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I've gone from singing it repeatedly just to get him to go to sleep, to actually worshipping as I hold him. It's a pretty sweet deal to hold your child and worship the God who put him in your arms at the same time. The song has become a nightly prayer for me.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">When you pray for God to break your heart for what breaks His, or to see people the way <i>He</i> sees them...watch out. It <u>will</u> cause friction in your life. It <u>will</u> require change. It <u>will</u> get uncomfortable and require sacrifice.</span> And people will probably think you're misguided, too emotional, or just plain crazy. Probably all three.<br />
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Erin and I began praying for these things a few years back, and He responded. He began opening our eyes to see people the way He sees them, and it wrecked us. He pointed out several passages of Scripture we had conveniently ignored or reasoned away, because they required too much. And we made some seemingly significant changes in response. But, as we often do, we fell back into our old habits. After all, it was a lot easier the old way. We got sucked back in to complacency and justifying, of comparing ourselves with others instead of Christ.</div>
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Thankfully, God has been not-so-gently reminding us lately of what He once laid on our hearts. </div>
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At the end of Schindler's List, you see Oskar Schindler breaking down, wishing he had done <i>more</i>. Here's the dialogue from the movie:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Oskar Schindler</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't know. If I'd just... I could have got more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Itzhak Stern</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Oskar Schindler</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Itzhak Stern</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: There will be generations because of what you did.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Oskar Schindler</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: I didn't do enough!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Itzhak Stern</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: You did so much.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i class="fine">Schindler looks at his car</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Oskar Schindler</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i class="fine">removing Nazi pin from lapel</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Oskar Schindler</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i class="fine">sobbing</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Oskar Schindler</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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That's a pretty good way to describe how Erin and I feel right now. Some, who don't know better, tell us we've given up plenty. While we have made some very <i>small</i> sacrifices, we still have <i>far</i> more than we need. <b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">The rub for us comes not from feeling like it's wrong to have those things, but from knowing that <i>we could help more people</i> if we were willing to live without them.</span></b></div>
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<i>Please hear me on this:</i> It's not that I think it's wrong to have nice things, as if it's some sort of sin. It's just that I can't bring myself to do it anymore. This newfound love for others won't <i>let</i> me, daggonit! It's not a result of feeling guilty. I'd just rather help someone else instead of helping myself. It's simply a response to the grace and love He's shown me.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">1 John 3:16-18 says this: </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>"...we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."</i></span></i></div>
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The ugly truth is, I <i>have</i> seen my brother in need. And I have material possessions that could be used or sold to help him. <u>And I haven't done it.</u> Which begs the hard question: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Then how can the love of God be in me?</span> </i>May sound harsh, I know. But hey...not my words. That's just what the passage says. Besides, how can I really argue with it? I <i>know</i> it's true. If I have chosen "things" instead of "people"...well, that's not exactly a replica of the way God loves, is it?</div>
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Why do you think Jesus had "no place to lay his head"? (Matt 8:20) Or that he mentioned that fact in response to a disciple telling him he'd follow him wherever he went?</div>
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Why did Jesus tell us the story of the "sheep and the goats" in Matthew 25? <i>"For I was hungry and <u>you gave me nothing to eat</u>, I was thirsty and <u>you gave me nothing to drink</u>, I was a stranger and <u>you did not invite me in</u>, I needed clothes and <u>you did not clothe me</u>, I was sick and in prison and <u>you did not look after me</u>...I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me...Then they will go away to eternal punishment." </i>It's pretty hard to argue that Jesus didn't mean that literally.</div>
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Why does Isaiah 58 tells us that if we want for God to hear our prayers, we need to "<i>loose the chains of injustice...to set the oppressed free...share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him...</i><i>spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed..."</i></div>
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Oh, I could go on and on. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">I don't claim to have it all figured out, and I <i>certainly</i> don't judge anyone who thinks differently than me.</span> Erin and I are just desperately trying to figure out what we're supposed to do with all this, because we're pretty comfortable and pretty bad about <i>showing</i> love to those around us (as opposed to just <i>saying</i> we love them).</div>
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The bottom line for us is that we must do <i>something</i>. Something <i>more</i> than what we're currently doing.</div>
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We asked God to break our heart for what breaks His and to see people the way He sees them. And as a result, we simply can't continue to just give a list of reasons as to why it's "okay" to have things that have zero kingdom significance. <i>Of course</i> we could justify it all away...and maybe even use Scripture to back it up! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">That's not the point. </span> He has opened our eyes to see the needs of those around us. Plain and simple: Either we respond to those needs by making some "sacrifices," or we continue to ignore them.</div>
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The "love your neighbor as yourself" commandment means loving <i>everyone. </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">We're to love the rich, the poor, and all in-between. We're to love old people and young people, white and black, believers and unbelievers, good looking and ugly, brilliant and mentally handicapped.</span> All. The way God loves us. And loving them means more than just <i>saying</i> we love them, but <i>showing</i> we love them ("<i>not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth"</i>). We're not too bad at showing love to the people who are like us; who we relate to the best. But what about the rest?</div>
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I challenge you to earnestly and consistently start praying for God to break your heart for what breaks His and to help you love others the way He loves. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">See for yourself.</span></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-24448232045772257842011-09-21T16:49:00.000-04:002011-09-21T16:54:50.026-04:00picking yourself upIf I'm honest, I'd have to admit that I'm a lousy follower of Jesus. "Inconsistent" doesn't even begin to describe me. One week, I'll be so fired-up and confident and passionate about all that God has done and is doing in me, and two weeks later I'll have become so bogged down with "life" and busyness that I'll be feeling distant from God and worn out, trudging through life.<br />
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There have been multiple occasions in my life where I have felt as if, in that moment, I am becoming a true follower of Christ for the first time. Crazy, I know. After all, I grew up in a Christian home. I was baptized when I was 12. I was a leader in our church youth group, went to a Bible college, earned a degree in youth/music ministry, and have now been in ministry for about 13 years (yeesh...is that right?...wow). You'd think I'd have a pretty good grasp on the whole God thing.<br />
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And yet, I have these moments (like today) where suddenly, things click, almost as if it's for the first time. It's all so clear. The story of God and, more specifically, Jesus, makes more sense than ever. It's a "aha!" moment that translates into a deeper, more mature and much more <b>bold </b>faith. A faith that radically alters my prayer life. My family life. My ministry. My relationships with others. My finances. My possessions. <i>Everything.</i><br />
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So things are great right now. The reason? God continues to pursue and wreck me, even when I push Him to the side. That, and I refuse to stay in such a place of dry place. When I'm there, I feel as if I've been hit by a linebacker in the chest, and I'm lying on the ground gasping for air. I have a choice in that moment to keep lying there, hoping for the best, or to fight to pick myself off the ground. Allowing God to be anything but central to my life leaves me feeling weak and lost, wandering around like a lost puppy. I lose all sense of direction and purpose, and I HATE it.<br />
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So lately, I've been taking more time to study and think and pray, even if I haven't felt like doing it. And this morning, I took about 3 hours to shut up and listen. I got away from the noise and stared solely at Gods creation and didn't say hardly a word. Turns out, God wanted to talk.<br />
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It's inevitable that if you pursue God, you'll find Him, because He's pursuing you too. It's not as if you start chasing Him and He runs the other direction. If you're bogged down with life right now, start fighting to get back up. Change some priorities. <i>Create</i> some time to breathe and think. Pursue God...He won't ignore you.THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-16967226896427138952011-07-20T14:08:00.007-04:002011-07-20T16:27:24.444-04:00thanks, mom & dad<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBoU7cwppI6lnnTLtXU-ZcDaX_PnI6pKm4FOqxIJgVHfbqtozP4hRjXaBeyHC_mQkGo701MY51uYx9LAjwT4jNwOXuxPZwNnrR66Dko776dj_peGGK4blSul7y-0ACPWrsOCD7SVUf3g/s1600/mom+and+dad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBoU7cwppI6lnnTLtXU-ZcDaX_PnI6pKm4FOqxIJgVHfbqtozP4hRjXaBeyHC_mQkGo701MY51uYx9LAjwT4jNwOXuxPZwNnrR66Dko776dj_peGGK4blSul7y-0ACPWrsOCD7SVUf3g/s320/mom+and+dad.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631531043003943234" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><div><div>In many ways, my life has followed a common path. Grow up. Go to college. Get married. Get a job. Have kids. But I, like you, have a unique story within the common story. </div><div><br /></div><div>To say I grew up might be a bit of a stretch. I still feel very much like a kid sometimes, and I certainly act like one. When I'm around a bunch of adults talking about adult things such as mortgages and loans and insuran</div><div>ce, I feel like I may as well still be a 12-year-old without a clue as to how such things work.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>But besides that, I didn't grow up the way most people grow up. I lived in a log cabin without running water or electricity. We collected rain water to wash dishes in and take sponge baths. Seriously. And we lived in the middle of the woods up a 1/2 mile mud hill that necessitated 4-wheel drive and big tires which sometimes still weren't enough on rainy or snowy days. Living the way we did often involved hikin</div><div>g up and down multiple times in whatever crazy whether we were having, with loads of groceries or clothes or whatever else we need to get from the vehicle stuck at the bottom of the hill. Heck, before that, we lived in a camper for a few years, literally inside the fence of some friends' cow pasture. So that was different.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2x404aTC2sR-WBH86s9eZ_fYR-619DI8jgIZhmlZ8O3OKcSbOZHjzuHAR5VeXsuj86GpTFBBK5FKwqC4a_VV6BiBQ3iAdWr7pUcU2GlKxxmX1jvKkWxVId7P3KYLKa3PCHVw9DXRYA0/s320/cabin+-+color+-+cropped.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631531657400190914" /></div><div><br /></div><div>No, my family isn't Amish. Just a little crazy (in a good way!). My unique childhood is something I'll be forever grateful for. We had (and have) an incredibly tight-knit family due, in part, to our lack of distractions. When we got a TV, it had a 5" or 6" screen, was in black and white, and was hooked up to a car battery. We played board games together by lamp light or lanterns. We read a lot. Played in the woods. We most definitely LAUGHED together. Loudly. And vacations together were never on the table of things to cut out when money was tight. Somehow, my parents made it work, because it mattered to them for our family to have that time.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now, here I am. 34 years old (I think...yep, that adds up). We adopted two incredible children 3 1/2 months ago. And so obviously I'm thinking a lot about how we're going to raise them. We live in good neighborhood in a nice, comfortable home complete with electricity and running water...ever air conditioning! We have cable and internet. Our fridge is stocked full of food (as opposed to the cooler we used for awhile growing up). There are distractions all over the place for our kids, especially when you consider what they came from. And we have no idea how to afford a family vacation.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the truth is, those things only matter a little. The family I grew up in wasn't close just because of our circumstances. I didn't fall in love with Christ because I grew up in a log cabin. It definitely helped to not have all the "stuff" that comes with normal childhood, and I want to impress that on my children as well. But the real reason our family was close and I fell in love is God was because my parents made family and God priorities.</div><div><br /></div><div>When you make God the biggest priority in your life, you're going to stick out. </div><div><br /></div><div>My parents still stick out. Sure, they live in a way that is quite common is some respects. They live in an old farmhouse now. Mom is a nurse practitioner and dad does maintenance and groundskeeping at a church. Not all that unusual. But how they conduct themselves is actually quite rare. For instance, their home practically has a revolving door on it from the hordes of people that come to visit, eat, do Bible study, or live with them. I'm convinced that you couldn't find a more inviting place on the planet. That's because they don't just hang out with people. They invest in them. They pour into them and quite willingly delve into their messy lives, not to try to fix anyone, but because they genuinely love them and want to help if they can. Quite rare indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to be more like mom and dad. What I do for a vocation and where I live are small pieces of the puzzle. What matters most is how I conduct myself. My general life may follow a common pattern, but I want the details to jump out. And I think that if I'm actually following the words of Christ the way my parents do, there is no alternative. In general, people do not live the way Jesus tells us to live. So to live such a life tends to force you down an uncommon path.</div><div><br /></div><div>I get scared sometimes thinking that my life looks like everyone elses. And it <i>does</i> in many ways. There is still a lot I need to change. But I also am grateful that I can honestly look back at the life I've lived to this point and know that there have been many hard decisions I've made along the way that were the result of following Christ, not the crowd. That's the example my parents set for me and that's the example I want to set for my kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks, mom and dad, for the example you continue to be for me.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-11937400157323373552011-07-14T13:34:00.005-04:002011-07-14T14:24:59.413-04:00understanding God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhmL6XOEQGQyJnFf59e81XFl5_SVeZ1Q3HxnOLlNSt2rTM0bzWj6ci_hmm3wmXMX12fGwU0SpV1Pea_dwcTPkDzoKqMyOtQrvAuTiblb7NkIXaxcmYAv8RWXuz8omRqPvvweSsS7sWyo/s1600/contemplating+%2528600+x+400%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhmL6XOEQGQyJnFf59e81XFl5_SVeZ1Q3HxnOLlNSt2rTM0bzWj6ci_hmm3wmXMX12fGwU0SpV1Pea_dwcTPkDzoKqMyOtQrvAuTiblb7NkIXaxcmYAv8RWXuz8omRqPvvweSsS7sWyo/s320/contemplating+%2528600+x+400%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629274331222821346" /></a><div>I'm grateful that it's only my <i>understanding</i> of God that changes, not God Himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been reading a lot lately on the concept of grace as well as on all the heaven / hell discussions that are going on. The weight of these subjects is great. They're topics with eternal consequences and they need to be understood to the best of our ability, not glossed over hoping it will all work out in the end. It's not at all like talking about whether drinking is okay or giving out helpful tips for a marriage. This is much more significant. Actually, that's a severe understatement. This is <i>crucial</i>. We <i>must</i> spend much of our time and energy thinking about such things. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Our understanding of these topics lays the foundation for the rest of our lives and how we live them. </span></b>If you don't believe in the idea of grace, it affects the decisions you make. And if believe in grace but misunderstand how it works, you live accordingly. If you believe hell to be a real place, it will show in how you live your life just as it will show if you <i>don't</i> believe it exists.</div><div><br /></div>Over the years, my understanding of how God works has solidified greatly. Don't get me wrong. God is INFINITELY bigger than me. His ways and thoughts are ridiculously higher than mine, so I will never have God completely figured out. Not even CLOSE. There is a lot about God and how He works that we simply can't fathom, but there is also much that God has made clear and wants us to understand. There are sooooo many very strong opinions out there of how it all works, and all sides can be quite convincing.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> If you don't know Scripture, you don't know what to believe.</span></b> So if someone gives you a convincing argument, you just end up saying, "Oh. Okay." You may think it sounds good or sounds weird, but you don't really have any reason for it beyond what feels right or what you've always been taught. Believe it or not, the pastor at your local church isn't the final word on the subject. On <i>any</i> subject. Neither is anyone else. Just God.<div><br /></div><div>I've debated whether to share my thoughts on this for fear of controversy, and then I thought, "Well, that's stupid!" God has a BEAUTIFUL and perfect plan in place. Why would I not share it? But I will reserve those thoughts for another post, because I don't want to take away from the heart of the message that's already been laid out.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There are some topics we can't afford to be lazy on. </span></b> If you're not sure what to make of "Jesus," it's beyond crucial for you to figure it out. If you only have a "general idea" of how grace works or why we need it in the first place, you need to dig deeper and grow some roots. If you like the idea of heaven but aren't sure a loving God would send people to hell, you'd better be able to back it up with Scripture, because the consequences of being wrong are eternal. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, it takes work to get there. It takes a lot of brain power and time to read. Don't you think it's worth it?</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-25756344981802245312011-06-22T10:07:00.005-04:002011-06-22T16:24:09.426-04:00things that matter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GeM1aSn15CVuJXnfseMkoy3DPcIG7b-9QKPLiIo4Kp2QzDKFUEfQhaqVE-XXnWkEeiqy9fwH6tPbyszHbdKwexNQxKYsXqHmY09La1x34ldUx0_RKpdRb9KHa7M2zL3oaIM2RrOsrqY/s1600/DSC_0291.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GeM1aSn15CVuJXnfseMkoy3DPcIG7b-9QKPLiIo4Kp2QzDKFUEfQhaqVE-XXnWkEeiqy9fwH6tPbyszHbdKwexNQxKYsXqHmY09La1x34ldUx0_RKpdRb9KHa7M2zL3oaIM2RrOsrqY/s320/DSC_0291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621142423825434946" /></a>I'm always surprised to find that there are people who actually read this blog. I feel highly inadequate to compose anything worth reading. I make a ton of mistakes in my spiritual walk and I don't feel like I'm very good with words. <div><br /></div><div>But I get reports that say that quite a few people are, in fact, reading these ramblings of mine. And for whatever reason, I think God wants me to keep doing it. After all, if He can use all the screwed up people we read about in Scripture to accomplish the unimaginable, it seems that He might just want to use my little 'ol inadequate self too. But trust me, if these words somehow affect you for the better, it's only the result of HIS movement to draw you into a deeper relationship with Him. </div><div><br /></div><div>I must confess that I've let the busyness of adjusting to a life with kids affect my spiritual life. My mornings by the water before work are very difficult to squeeze in (I think I've done it twice since returning from Africa). And once the kids are in bed, I'm pretty wiped out and usually check out and go to be early to keep from getting too exhausted...because it's hard to connect with God very well when you're exhausted all the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the past, my best times to really think and pray and read and focus have been first thing in the morning and before bed. Those times have been erased. The result? I've been left feeling spiritually dry. I'm yearning to return to the place I once was. I'm hungry for the deep intimacy I've known before. It's not a crisis in the sense of losing ones faith, but once you've tasted the goodness of constant communion with the Creator, it certainly <i>feels</i> like a crisis. </div><div><br /></div><div>The truth is, it has nothing to do with our kids. Ellie and Elijah are INCREDIBLE and gifts from God, given out of pure grace. If anything, they should inspire me all the <i>more </i>to bow before Him. The heart of the problem is really a problem with the heart. I'm trying to come to grips with the simple truth that I have not made Him the main priority. Sure, He's been <i><b>a</b></i> priority, but one of many.</div><div><br /></div><div>It makes me sick to my stomach to confess that to you. But I'm sure you can relate.</div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of you reading this have kids and have hidden behind that excuse for far too long. I get it. It's HARD. You're spiritually dry, but what are you supposed to do? How can you find time for solitude and prayer and reading and serving when you have kids pulling at your legs, needing your attention from sun-up to sun-down with work in-between and a house that needs taken care of and bills that need paid? </div><div><br /></div><div>You adjust. You refocus. You re-prioritize. </div><div><br /></div><div>What will matter <i>most</i> in the end is <i>not</i> your kids. Hear me out on this and keep reading before you write me off. I'm not saying they're not important. Of COURSE they are. They matter more than almost anything else. All I'm saying is that what will matter the <b><i>most</i></b> in the end is Jesus. Not your kids. There can only be one thing that matters the "most" and I'm sorry, but your kids do not trump God. You cannot serve both God and your kids. When you're standing before Him, it will be much more clear to you than it may be right now. But I promise, in the end there won't be any doubt as to what you should have built your life around. Make your kids <i><b>a</b></i> priority, but make Him <i><b>the</b></i> priority. And in turn, your kids will learn what matters most from the example you've set.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm adjusting my schedule. I'm not squeezing God into it. I'm building my schedule around Him. I'm listening to podcasts again. I'm reading books that motivate me. I'm praying more and taking time to think. I'm shutting off the computer more and leaving the remote untouched.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you struggle with this, I can assure you it won't get better if you just sit there with good intentions. <i>Act</i> on them.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-32329781227113410442011-05-24T14:19:00.004-04:002011-05-24T16:01:52.413-04:00knowing your neighbors<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietYfvUXIBFVNXgUmIfTepRL7BdZ8w0g856kSOaAsbIFgF3iHQk3YpObVGji_uS_sarlozbqP6FCTccjrKMJtmuCOPX0G49ewDkMoP6NdZOLL5fIQt0CqmlLrV430WjwqJUKSywex7q6o/s1600/All+Joy+Beach+016.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietYfvUXIBFVNXgUmIfTepRL7BdZ8w0g856kSOaAsbIFgF3iHQk3YpObVGji_uS_sarlozbqP6FCTccjrKMJtmuCOPX0G49ewDkMoP6NdZOLL5fIQt0CqmlLrV430WjwqJUKSywex7q6o/s320/All+Joy+Beach+016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610374345220859218" /></a>I sat by the water for awhile this morning, so I could breath and think and pray. Soon after arriving, a carload of people parked next to me. Five people in their early 20's I would imagine, tumbled out of the car to fish, smoke, and drink a case of Vault. Good times. Immediately, f-bombs started flying and my concentration started waning.<div><br /></div><div>But it got me thinking about my role as a follower of Christ in such a situation. What's the right thing to do? </div><div><br /></div><div>Option 1: Sit there and ignore them. </div><div>Option 2: Walk out and say, "Hey, do you guys know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" </div><div>Option 3: Something in the middle where I simply befriend them and see where the conversation leads.</div><div><br /></div><div>Option 1 is easy. Doesn't require, well, anything. Of course, it doesn't produce any fruit either. But I could relax and do what I came to do, and get what I needed out of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Option 2 is stupid. If I had any chance of telling them about Jesus, I just blew it by being an idiot. My chances of them listening to anything I have to say after such a statement would then diminish to approximately .7%. And I know that technically I'd be "asking" them if they knew Jesus, but really wouldn't I be saying something more like, "You're definitely not Christians because you wouldn't be talking like that if you were. Or smoking...Christians certainly don't smoke. Pretty sure it's in Scripture somewhere." In other words, they'd <i>hear</i> "I've decided you must be bad people and that you need <i>me</i> to tell you all the things you're doing wrong, because I'm far superior."</div><div><br /></div><div>Option 3 would generally be the direction I would go. I'm a firm believer in the idea that the best way to tell people about Jesus is to build relationships. Be their friend, show them you care about THEM, and<i> then, </i>when the timing is right, bring the conversation around to all the God/Jesus/church stuff in a very non-foreceful and loving way. Sometimes this happens immediately, but usually, it takes more time because in our culture, people are most likely not going to listen to you until they know they can trust you. </div><div><br /></div><div>I played the scenario out in my head and decided to stay in the car. I didn't think I could build a relationship in the situation we were in. I racked my brain for anything I could do or say after walking up to them that could possibly lead to anything helpful, and decided I could end up doing more damage than good. I probably should have at least prayed for them at the point, but I guess I'm not that spiritual. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've given a lot of thought to this as the day has gone on though. I was reminded once again of an entirely separate culture from what I know. They're from the same town, speak English and are white just like me (okay, they weren't nearly AS white as me, but you get my point). Even though we're very similar by most definitions of "culture," we're worlds apart. We speak very differently, we likely have different values and we look and dress very differently. I would <i>severely</i> stick out if I hung around them. I never have any interaction with that culture any more. <i><b>Why not?</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div>So I decided that getting out of the car would be a mistake. But it got me thinking about how badly I need to get out of my bubble and make a commitment to be more intentional about building relationships with people outside of my "culture." And I've decided it needs to<i> start</i> with my neighbors (not figuratively speaking...literally, my next door neighbors). I want to, over the course of the summer, invite each of our 5 immediate neighbors and families over for dinner with no intentions other than to get to know them better. I'm <i>ashamed</i> to admit that we haven't done this already. I've made this commitment before, and failed. We know all our neighbors of course, and we talk to them fairly regularly and get along great. But honestly, it's all a bit superficial. We need to invite them into our home...and see where God takes it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Interestingly enough, as I've sat in this coffee shop writing this, 3 of the people from the water and one of my neighbors walked in. Hmmmm...</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm hoping that writing this inspires other followers to be more intentional about building relationships as well. We MUST stop going through the motions and live out our faith. Otherwise, our faith is dead and useless.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-64525200330229764142011-05-18T10:00:00.005-04:002011-05-18T12:48:52.870-04:00first church of the consumer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F4R-BMInLVxbJIr6RofPuRurLp0o4fX-5SVgma21inMO5d6SzemzbrBzdtFU1KPDROHLWKj2GTsz8IYQRTyeKPhr2RBFwcdNWghObeXgKCHX_33pIHYh5cP9zFrHbpHXPHciLsmlPNc/s1600/shopping_bags.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F4R-BMInLVxbJIr6RofPuRurLp0o4fX-5SVgma21inMO5d6SzemzbrBzdtFU1KPDROHLWKj2GTsz8IYQRTyeKPhr2RBFwcdNWghObeXgKCHX_33pIHYh5cP9zFrHbpHXPHciLsmlPNc/s320/shopping_bags.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608075764366123138" /></a><div>Church is not about what you get out of it. Somehow, we'd adopted this idea that the local church is there to meet our needs, but that was never the intent. And it's because of this mindset that we tend to "church shop" based off of what we like or don't like about the preaching, the music, the children's ministry, etc... We critique our services based on how we "felt" the morning went rather than whether or not WE brought our best to God.</div><div><br /></div><div>"The little things that might irritate you about your church might not be as big of a distraction if your focus is on what you are giving of yourself, rather than on what you are getting out of it for yourself." (Cathy Little - "First Church of the Consumer")</div><div><br /></div><div>And I might add that if you do in fact love your church, be careful that you don't let the church become a distraction from your relationship with God. That might sound weird to some of you, but I've seen far too many people who are obsessed with "my" church rather than "the" church or more importantly, God. They LOVE going to church, but not BEING the church. For them, it's all about the experience. They love singing the songs and the whole vibe the church puts off, and they love all the cool things it offers. And that's great! But while their relationship with the local church is great, their relationship with God is lacking quite a bit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Either way, church isn't about YOU. It's about the God who created you. So, stop consuming and start giving.</div><div><br /></div><div>For my friends who already go to church, you should definitely check out this article: <a href="http://www.churchleaders.com/worship/worship-articles/151078-first-church-of-the-consumer.html">First Church of the Consumer</a></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-15562725793853276162011-05-17T09:52:00.004-04:002011-05-17T11:31:37.863-04:00life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6P8ZnIWBF03K8SsFgnWJloq_zGDOtHn6cC6DfCIOR1R3FQlEJZhhyphenhyphenWDSG-cWTqiyjNuuMPGni0z9zzIzh7md_zckmea_FOqu_tFy6RqgVyARDvhO30fG9s8o4u81np5ZOJpMIX61EtS8/s1600/sunrise_01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6P8ZnIWBF03K8SsFgnWJloq_zGDOtHn6cC6DfCIOR1R3FQlEJZhhyphenhyphenWDSG-cWTqiyjNuuMPGni0z9zzIzh7md_zckmea_FOqu_tFy6RqgVyARDvhO30fG9s8o4u81np5ZOJpMIX61EtS8/s320/sunrise_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607707396290627922" /></a>I'm back. I'm regaining my momentum and passion rather than simply surviving and transitioning. <div><br /></div><div>Becoming an immediate father of two children who speak a different language, have several health concerns, and throw tantrums has been an adjustment. Many seem to think it's like a fairy tale and that we must be on cloud nine. And we <i>are.</i> Seriously, it been <i>amazing</i>, but that doesn't mean it's been easy. The transition is a lot for Ellie and Elijah to take in. Yeah, they're living a much better and healthier life...they live in America have a mom and dad now. They have toys, and food, and running water. They have a house, and warm beds, and clothes. But it was only 1 1/2 months ago that they had known nothing outside of a small orphanage in Rwanda Africa. It's a lot for them to take in and adjust to. So, while they've been adjusting and figuring out their new life, parenting has pretty much consumed us. We've <i>loved</i> it and anticipated most of it, but we've definitely been in survival mode.<div><br /></div><div>Today I feel like the fog is lifting and I can see a bit more clearly. Life has been breathed back into my lungs. I'm gaining control of my new life...and my emotions. I'm feeling a renewed hunger and passion for leading worship, being a pastor, and devouring Scripture. I'm again eager to spend time in solitude and silence so that I can hear better. I want to soak in knowledge from books and blogs and sermons and friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>I must be a better follower so that I can be a better leader, both to my family and to my church. In a way, nothing has changed. My <i>circumstances </i>certainly <i>have</i> changed, but my <i>purpose</i> has not. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Christ is the center of my life, not my family.</span></b> They're certainly next in line, but if they observe me putting <i>them</i> above all else, even <i>God</i>, then I will have only led them astray from the point and source of life.</div><div><br /></div><div>God has blessed me to the point of absurdity. I can't get enough of my incredible kids and my beautiful wife. I love my job. I have far more than I know what to do with. And most importantly, I've been given this incredible and undeserved GIFT of grace and life with Christ. Eternity with the Creator of the Universe!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't deserve any of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to spend more of my thoughts on what I have been given, and my life needs to reflect some gratitude for it. Life is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">good.</span></b></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-54018687147007734992011-02-19T08:47:00.002-05:002011-02-19T09:13:09.430-05:00yesterdayYesterday was a very big day.<div><br /></div><div>I'm honestly trying to sort out all my thoughts, and journaling helps me with that. After 34 years of life, 12 1/2 years of marriage and 20 months of going through the exhausting adoption process, we saw pictures of our kids for the very first time.</div><div><br /></div><div>It came the same morning I was leaving for a worship leaders conference in Atlanta. Needless to say, I did not leave on time. I'd had a bad night of sleep...which translates to me sleeping on the couch (not b/c Erin makes me...just so I don't keep her up!). So I slept in much later than normal. At 8:00, I crawled off the couch and wabbled my way sleepily over to the laptop, wondering if maybe today could possibly be the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>After four e-mails loaded quickly, one incoming message was taking forever to come in. I knew that our long-awaited e-mail would have several attachments to it, so I was trying to not get too excited. After all, we've been down this road before. Our hopes get up only to be let down, over and over again. When the e-mail came up, the message line said "FW: Matching File". But the e-mail address looked familiar, so I looked back at the e-mail we got when we received our referral and, sure enough, it was the same address. My heart was racing. My whole body was shaking.</div><div><br /></div><div>I carried the laptop into the bedroom where Erin was sleeping. She rolled over and saw me standing there with the laptop and said "Did it come?!" I said, "I'm not sure. I think so!" So we slowly and shakily opened the e-mail and saw the pictures of our kids for the first time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was surprised to find myself NOT crying. I think I was just in shock. We made several phone calls and sent several texts and e-mails, and I took off a wee-bit late for my conference. It literally took about 45 seconds before I started breaking down.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then last night, I had the privilege of worshipping the Creator of the Universe in an intense and powerful worship service. The One who has held us up through all of this. The One who has done the impossible in raising up the $30,000 needed to bring these kids home. The One who has shown us in dramatic ways just how faithful He is when we step out in faith to do what we believe He's calling us to do, knowing it will fail if He is not behind it. It didn't hurt that we were led by Chris Tomlin, Nathan and Christy Nockels and Matt Redman, or that Louis Giglio spoke.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it was a great reminder of what I hope to be a constant them in our lives and in parenthood. And that is: It's not about us. And it's not about our kids. They are not everything. He is everything. Our kids will NOT be the center point of our lives. Yeah, they're going to be up there! But God is the head our household. We're bringing these kids home because of Him. And our kids are going to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God comes first in our family.</div><div><br /></div><div>I slept VERY well last night.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-71321274206520166952011-02-17T08:29:00.003-05:002011-02-17T09:27:01.521-05:00robocop vs. things that actually matter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirp_7Vb0caOpv_6hcxz_Ae2pgfcyS_ijvHcmTIDAsrT9dDvRdv6RuZ9_DcdqvLPXjdQ0sY0KYh197AhFagpmaCe3BnvpLkPHpHzIy0QT4r1uc8MRSj9rF-6P78Xf2YRoaq_G_ibB3UOWE/s1600/Robocop.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirp_7Vb0caOpv_6hcxz_Ae2pgfcyS_ijvHcmTIDAsrT9dDvRdv6RuZ9_DcdqvLPXjdQ0sY0KYh197AhFagpmaCe3BnvpLkPHpHzIy0QT4r1uc8MRSj9rF-6P78Xf2YRoaq_G_ibB3UOWE/s320/Robocop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574664559921790242" /></a>I read an article this morning about how the fine people of Detroit have, in only six days, raised over $50,000 in an effort to revive the city. What exactly were they raising the money for? A RoboCop statue. Amazing what can happen when people get behind such a noble cause! (insert sarcasm here). I bet the homeless people of Detroit are going to be pretty stoked to see that statue go up!<div><br /></div><div>Okay, okay. I'm a little edgy this morning. Drinking my coffee faithfully, but it would appear to be failing me. I'm finding this stretch of waiting for pictures of our kids to be rather emotionally draining. I'm tired of waking up morning after morning, knowing the e-mail might have come, only to be let down once agin. It wears on a person. I absolutely know without any doubt that God's got it. That His plan is best and that He knows what He's doing! I just want to see our kids' faces.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then I read stories about RoboCop...or about how we're trying to build a 53 <i>billion </i>dollar high-speed train system...or about how Justin Bieber is unimpressed with our health care system, and I can't help but get frustrated. How have we gone so far off the mark? How is it that we can so easily turn a blind eye to things that actually matter, and instead become <i>infatuated</i> and fascinated by things that don't? We've proven that we're more than capable of pouring all kinds of energy and money money into something that matters to us (even if we don't have the money). It's just that the things that matter to <i>us</i> are often not the things that matter to <i>God, </i>and therefore are things that don't actually matter.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-15703657826010628892011-01-21T13:19:00.005-05:002011-01-21T14:32:41.995-05:00you don't know everything (and neither do i!)<div>Did you realize that more than 38 of the 50 chapters in Genesis are all about Abraham and his family? I've been reading through it again, and I'm once again blown away at how cool and powerful God is. When He says something to going to happen, it's going to happen. You can't stop it. He is in control and knows all...and is ridiculously faithful.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a summery of those 38 chapters. Maybe it's not your cup of tea, but give it a chance if you don't know the story very well. It's pretty amazing what God did...</div><div><br /></div><div>When Abraham was 75, God told him he would have more descendants than he could count, even though he didn't have any kids. 75 years old! I don't know about you, but I've not met a lot of 75 year-olds having kids. After 10 years of waiting and God NOT giving them kids, he and his wife Sarah took matters into their own hands and Abraham slept with Sarah's maidservant, Hagar - apparently doubting God's promise. That son was named Ishmael and <b>from him came the Arab nation / Muhammad / Islam</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>13 years after he was born, God FINALLY gave them a son...Isaac. Abraham was 99. Yowser. He'd definitely have been one of those guys that you assume is a grandparent, but is really the dad...or in this case, you'd assume he's like the great-great grandpa. "Impossible!" you say? "Clearly that's made up!" Look, if I didn't believe in an all-powerful God, I'd be inclined to agree with you. But I DO believe in an all-powerful God...so why would I doubt that He could do this? </div><div><br /></div><div>Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob. <b>Jacob was renamed "Israel" and through him came Judaism / Christianity. <i>So, from Abraham's kids came both Islam and Christianity.</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Jacob had <i>13 kids</i>. Yikes! One of them was a guy named Judah, whose descendants include small names like King David and um, <b>JESUS</b>. But none of Jacob's family would have survived (and therefore fulfilled God's promise to Abraham) if it wasn't for what God did through another one of Jacob's kids...Joseph. To make a long story short, Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery, landing him in Egypt. God rose him up to be second in command only to Pharaoh in all Egypt, and it was because of Joseph (and God speaking through him) that Egypt knew <i>in advance</i> that there would be a severe famine for 7 years. So they were ready for it, and no one else was...which eventually brought Joseph's brothers all the way down to Egypt to beg for food. The whole family ended up moving there, which saved the lives of Abraham's descendants. <b>So, if God had not brought Joseph to Egypt (even though I'm sure it seemed horrible to him at the time), Abraham's descendants would have died of starvation, and God's promise would have not held up. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The cool thing is, Joseph somehow knew it was God's plan all along. When his brothers begged for forgiveness, he replied with "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, <b>but God intended it for good</b> to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."</div><div><br /></div><div>Pretty smooth, Joe. Maybe you're a doubter and think is all far-fetched. I'm not here to argue with you. But I am here to say that if you believe God can create something out of nothing (and if you don't believe He can, I'm not sure you understand the concept of "God"), why would you have a problem believing these incredible stories? </div><div><br /></div><div>Is it so hard to believe that the God of the universe can give a 99 year old man a child? Or that He knew about the famine well in advance and moved people around to save Abraham's descendants? Or that a young virgin girl could give birth to the Son of God? Or that somehow Jesus' death and resurrection can save you from your rebellion against God? </div><div><br /></div><div>And how hard is it to believe that God has a plan for <i>your</i> life and knows all, just as He did with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and Joseph? I know it can be hard to see because our view is limited. But <b>God's view is NOT limited and He can do <i>anything</i> He wants. </b>Believe it or not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe you don't understand Him or how He works, but would God really be God if you did? Who are <i>we</i> to claim we know more about how the world should operate than <i>God</i>? Let go and admit that you don't know everything.</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-89489387007096119242011-01-06T14:00:00.003-05:002011-01-06T14:30:07.785-05:00what are you focusing on?<div>January 6th, 2011</div><div>Thursday. 2:22 p.m.</div><div><br /></div>Well, it's been an interesting week. Some good things, some not-so-good things.<div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The good: </span></b> I've been making some changes to try to get ready (as well as one <i>can</i> get ready) for kids. I've been getting up consistently early to try to adjust my body somewhat for all the lack of sleep that's on the horizon. And I've been exercising each morning, eating better, and studying Scripture (going through a "Bible in a Year" program). I've pretty much always done the Scripture thing, but it's kind of nice having an e-mail reminder telling me what passages to read. </div><div><br /></div><div>And while we haven't received our referral yet for our adoption, there have been several other families that have been approved...so things are moving! After exercising each morning, before I go to get my shower, I check the e-mail...just in case. What an incredible moment it will be when I see one titled "referral" and Erin and I get to see pictures of our kids for the first time. Tearing up just thinking about it!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also found myself walking into each our kids rooms this morning to pray for them. Very cool.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The not-so-good:</span></b> Well, I can't really go into details on here. It's nothing bad, really. Just reality...and a little frustrating / discouraging. BUT, as I told Erin, "If we haven't learned that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">God is faithful</span></b> after all we've been through, we are truly dense." We would be complete idiots to think that God is somehow not in control anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, now that I'm writing this out and sorting out my thoughts, I guess it's really been a pretty good week! <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Funny how you can have so much good in your life and focus solely on the not-so-good, letting it control you. </span></b></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-31107945904749001152010-12-13T09:53:00.006-05:002010-12-13T11:00:25.430-05:00presents<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIl6qt377sCpjOfLei4BdLND7FiHz_VqFWsB_ShGgOX9JiRwVyi_6IbSYzjdPnv1nkMi-NA72MO_mtgUhAPhkuDhu5PdBw2oN3eFm8tfmoCwIzpZxnMn6HgpSdWw6Cyu4q6r5ZGsmc_g/s1600/big-red-bow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIl6qt377sCpjOfLei4BdLND7FiHz_VqFWsB_ShGgOX9JiRwVyi_6IbSYzjdPnv1nkMi-NA72MO_mtgUhAPhkuDhu5PdBw2oN3eFm8tfmoCwIzpZxnMn6HgpSdWw6Cyu4q6r5ZGsmc_g/s320/big-red-bow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550197181444172290" /></a>Monday, Nov 13<div>10:15 a.m.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is impossible for mere words to adequately express how I feel. Friday morning, Erin and I finally received our long-awaited "Letter of non-objection" from the Ministry in Rwanda!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone has been SO kind about it all and are truly excited for us, but most don't realize just how momentous of an occasion this was. And since this is published online and not a true personal journal, I can't divulge into ALL the details of what truly make it remarkable, but suffice it to say that if there was ANY doubt that God had called us to adopt from Rwanda, it's gone.</div><div><br /></div><div>God has cleared the path in a way that <i>only</i> God could do. What a rush to step out in faith to do something that will absolutely fail if God is not behind it!!! Oh, how I wish more people would do that! Too many Christians are missing out.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the first time in the 19 months that we've been on this journey, we feel like we can exhale. We can let ourselves be excited. And, man I have I been excited! I seriously can't sleep at night because I have a bagillion thoughts running through my noggin. I feel like little kid on Christmas Eve who can't sleep because they're thinking about all the presents under the tree. </div><div><br /></div><div>And that's exactly what these kids are. Presents. Gifts from God. You may call it "blessed" - I call it spoiled. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I know it's going to be harder than anything I've ever done and that it comes with enormous responsibility. But we're praying desperately that we never forget why we began this journey in the first place. These are kids who have no family. Who need a home. Who need a mom and a dad to guide them, and love them, and care for them, and teach them about life and God.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I need to pick up some Melatonin to help me sleep...</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-83187516984115586982010-11-29T11:39:00.003-05:002010-11-29T15:23:24.651-05:00blahness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyIomaDROYMzjlH98HLxVg2SzaO9tj1GpynnE5QWHb_e5UZecf0QXPi3Ryxnc-zKiYqfnLGusyLEUt6Wp6lF9Eva8tJ5uwNEPVN91PcpJ7vBkiGxzk0MQD96LJwVTQ2c1HV-TWUbxGG0/s1600/blah.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyIomaDROYMzjlH98HLxVg2SzaO9tj1GpynnE5QWHb_e5UZecf0QXPi3Ryxnc-zKiYqfnLGusyLEUt6Wp6lF9Eva8tJ5uwNEPVN91PcpJ7vBkiGxzk0MQD96LJwVTQ2c1HV-TWUbxGG0/s400/blah.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545069798895654786" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">November 29th, 2010</span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Monday - 3:00 p.m.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Feeling kind of "blah" today. Like I'm in a fog. Call it post-Thanksgiving blues or whatever, but I'm desperate to get back on track. Physically, spiritually, mentally.</div><div><br /></div><div>It might be the copious amounts of food I seem to continue to consume, post holiday. It might be the overdose of football...something I was pretty convinced was not at all possible. It might be the lack of discipline to exercise for several weeks now, or the simple and sad truth that I tend to lack <i>spiritual</i> discipline during holidays and vacations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Certainly, the whole adoption process isn't helping matters. Things are not exactly moving quickly. Rumors float about the adoption blogger world of just how long things are going to take, and frankly it's depressing. Today's one of those days where I'm just tired of waiting. I want to hold my kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's no single thing that is causing my blahness - it's the cumulative result of all of them. </div><div><br /></div><div>And yet I <i>know</i> that I'll soon snap out of it and all will be well. I'll stop consuming food at a Kobayashian rate and will cut back on the pigskin as well. I'll start exercising again and digging into Scripture. I'll stop staring so much at computer screens and television screens, and pay more attention to faces and creation. And even though I have zero control over our adoption process, at some point we WILL get our kids and the wait and frustration will be well worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am blessed beyond all reason. God, disturb my slumber.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">I press on</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"> toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Php 3:13-14</span></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-48330011259302292402010-11-22T10:25:00.003-05:002010-11-22T11:08:37.478-05:00your heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOtTIALYnN3JneRmw3mYk1fX2lHdZwTW2-QAWbTazBScPdECEF4Do0jEI_1RmbeYHvDLHCLTf18iXzn_mCfJqw3nt04-YaC538J0s8uQzZI1HvvKQJ5iLvN8qFeVxoWhayoYs9hNHENw/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOtTIALYnN3JneRmw3mYk1fX2lHdZwTW2-QAWbTazBScPdECEF4Do0jEI_1RmbeYHvDLHCLTf18iXzn_mCfJqw3nt04-YaC538J0s8uQzZI1HvvKQJ5iLvN8qFeVxoWhayoYs9hNHENw/s400/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542406642797239826" /></a><div>November 22, 2010</div><div>Monday, 10:26 a.m.</div><div><br /></div>I busted a string about 30 seconds into the first worship song yesterday morning. I used to break strings all the time, so I'm pretty used to just moving on and leading through as if nothing happened. When a string breaks, it throws all your others strings out of tune because the tension on the neck changes. So, my guitar sounded pretty terrible and I had to get through three songs without letting it be a distraction for people worshipping. Yeesh.<div><br /></div><div>My eyes might have been closed during the entire three songs. I was trying so hard to get into the right frame of mind and to think about power of the words I was lifting up. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> But the harder you try to worship, the further you get from it. </span></b> It was just such a huge distraction for me, though I do think we succeeded in pulling off a time of authentic worship. People noticed the string breaking, but they moved on.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't have any strings with me, so I had to drive home for a new one (thank goodness we live close!). On the drive, I was praying for God to use the worship despite the string, which of course is a silly thing to pray. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We worship in response to God's movement, not in response to all the strings of a guitar remaining intact. </span></b> </div><div><br /></div><div>I also found myself praying for forgiveness for being so distracted. Another silly thing to pray. And then this thought popped into my head: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Just because my head was in the wrong place doesn't necessarily mean my heart was in the wrong place.</span></b> It was quite a comforting thought, really. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think most people in my position would have been distracted. And I don't think God was all that concerned that I was having so much trouble focusing. What mattered to Him was my heart...and I'm proud to say that <i>my heart was good</i>. My intentions were good. My devotion had not wavered.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think we tend to put a lot of undue stress on ourselves sometimes, trying so hard to do all the right things to make God happy, as if we could earn His love. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Somehow, even though we all know better, we just can't get it through our thick noggins that God's main concern is our hearts, not our actions. </span></b> Certainly, we should strive to please God. But what pleases God? Avoiding bad things and doing good things? Hardly. Our <i>hearts</i> trump all.</div><div><br /></div><div>And not-so-surprisingly, at College Church last night, this is precisely what Michael Beaumont talked about. I say "not-so-surpsisingly" because I've noticed that this is how God does things when He's trying to teach me something. It keeps coming up. Over and over and over. And it's not coincidence and it's not that I'm just noticing it more because it's on my mind. It's because God is pursuing me relentlessly until I get it. So...thanks Michael for letting God use you (again).</div><div><br /></div><div>How's your heart?</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-54706640674680017612010-11-17T18:36:00.003-05:002010-11-17T19:37:16.753-05:00peace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPdfcllW6uoqTTDCoTkakSv3wGWSQ_tgBxiBV8QQ6_s1NQPdQ4mKutQLJ5zAkJ7Yql1VeYVmKm7V3E1RL1GBK2bJsqOysXJWiXZEBfY7OAU4bIZnPfkf1EgqWSbHiDZwuTuSVO_DCCtk/s1600/bike.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPdfcllW6uoqTTDCoTkakSv3wGWSQ_tgBxiBV8QQ6_s1NQPdQ4mKutQLJ5zAkJ7Yql1VeYVmKm7V3E1RL1GBK2bJsqOysXJWiXZEBfY7OAU4bIZnPfkf1EgqWSbHiDZwuTuSVO_DCCtk/s400/bike.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540682149984529730" /></a><div>November 17th</div><div>Wednesday, 6:42 p.m.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some days, God is hard to see. Others, He's quite obvious. Today, He was obvious.</div><div><br /></div>9 hours. Beautiful scenery. My Bible. My bike. A good book. Coffee. <div><br /></div><div>This was my day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Early this morning, I drove out to Palmetto Bluff here for a much-needed spiritual retreat. Most of my day was spent in silence. Just thinking and talking honestly with God. Listening. Reading Scripture. Absorbing creation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could think more clearly than I had in quite some time. It didn't take as long as usual to feel at peace again, something I was most grateful for because it meant I could thoroughly enjoy the rest of the day. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think God was easier to see today because I made Him the priority. No technology got in my way. The day was blocked out for HIM. Oh, that more people would do this!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am simply blown away by God's generosity in my life. He spoils me rotten. I am at peace again, the way I should always be...</div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-38045421376700060512010-11-15T10:27:00.003-05:002010-11-15T10:38:56.750-05:00even ifI am unaware of just how big You are<div>I am unprepared to stand in the presence of You who breathed life in me</div><div><br /></div><div>You are more faithful than the greatest friend</div><div>You are more loving than I can comprehend</div><div><br /></div><div>I am unworthy to call You my Father</div><div>I am unworthy to call You my Friend</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So even if the sun won't rise</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And even in my darkest times</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Even if the world around me crashes down</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Still I choose to trust in You</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Let my heart do what my eyes can't do</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">'Cause even if You're silent, I believe in You</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>God in the highest, You have rescued me</div><div>I don't deserve You or the grace that You've shown by setting me free</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Well the truth is we have no right </i><i>to question Your ways, or even stand in Your light</i></div><div><i>And the truth is we cannot see </i><i>the picture that you're painting </i></div><div><i></i><i>of what has been and what will be</i></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-4079650752926981982010-11-01T09:45:00.004-04:002010-11-01T10:53:47.352-04:00fundraising with God<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqfkeqybitjAQH_T3Zhu-GEDuman2YiaN-gL9e_fz_wBTwOvVoIDL7WI_gK27WaSZbq62SNnqiNu5CvAtIamCtdBIvxI4J-M9WI1ngtQcmn8DV3jO5okwly-cnmha6JvhvuL7x71qpAg/s1600/1194h0004.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqfkeqybitjAQH_T3Zhu-GEDuman2YiaN-gL9e_fz_wBTwOvVoIDL7WI_gK27WaSZbq62SNnqiNu5CvAtIamCtdBIvxI4J-M9WI1ngtQcmn8DV3jO5okwly-cnmha6JvhvuL7x71qpAg/s400/1194h0004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534594548906905650" /></a>November 1st, 2010<div>Monday - 9:45 a.m.</div><div><br /></div><div>Great weekend. Got a lot accomplished, relaxed some, and had a great time of worship with my church family. And tonight, we get to hang out with the Beaumont girls and watch the Colts!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's officially "National Adoption Month." We're one week away from putting on this big ol' Adoption Fundraising Open House, which has consumed a large part of our time and energy lately...but we're excited! </div><div><br /></div><div>It's interesting the reactions you get from people when you talk about fundraising. We've heard it all. Most people are very kind and supportive, but there are others that don't think we should have even started the process if we didn't have the money. And I can appreciate that. To many, it looks like we're just being irresponsible. That we should have planned better. That we should have at least had <i>something</i> set aside before we took off on this journey. </div><div><br /></div><div>But what do you do when God clearly calls you to do something? Say, "Ummmm...sorry God. We'd like to, but now's not a good time for us financially"? Ha! I don't think so. Instead, we said, "Okay God. If you're asking us to do this, we need You to provide...because we've got <i>nothing.</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Oh, what we would have missed out on if we had not stepped out in faith</b></i>. I still can't even fathom how it is that God has used the people in our lives to provide around $25,000. I can't even wrap my head around that number. I can't think of how it's even possible. It is truly a modern day miracle. God stepped in and did the extraordinary, doing what could not be done without Him. Don't try to tell me we've raise $25,000 </div><div><br /></div><div>That's why we will shout it from the mountaintops. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">That's why we talk unashamedly and quite specifically about our financial needs and about what He's already provided. </span></b> If this was about us and what WE are doing, it probably should rub people the wrong way that we talk so openly about our money. But <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">this is GOD'S story, not ours.</span></b> When people hand us a check, we know it's because God moved their heart to do so in response to our cries for His provision. And He has not let us down. He has blown us away with His goodness!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, really...the remaining $5000? Please. What basis would we have to worry about it? God will provide. And when He does, <i>we will brag on Him. </i></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434247301002250954.post-42729400859276202772010-10-26T09:26:00.004-04:002010-10-26T10:05:13.105-04:00stupid flyersOct 26, 2010<div>Tuesday - 9:27 a.m.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night, I found myself getting really antsy. And frankly, kind of grumpy (just ask Erin!). I was working on a flyer for our big Adoption Fundraising Open House that we're doing Nov 8th, and I kept getting interrupted. And it wasn't going the way I wanted it to, so I was getting frustrated. And then I started getting frustrated at the simple fact that I was getting frustrated. I knew that once I got some work done on it, I'd feel much better. And I did. The whole thing was really quite stupid, and I feel foolish for letting it happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>Blame it on a lack of sleep I guess, but I never used to get that way. Ever. <i> Every</i>thing used to roll off my back like it was no big deal, even if it was a big deal and <i>should</i> have bothered me. For a while, I thought: "Well, it's just because I've grown up. I have real responsibilities now and that's just how it is." And I suppose there's <i>some</i> truth to that, but not much. </div><div><br /></div><div>If I didn't believe in or follow the God of the universe, I could understand my anxiety. If I didn't believe the promise of Heaven, <i>of course</i> things would get to me. If I didn't know what Scripture says about worrying or hadn't learned about grace, then I would have every right to worry.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I <i>know</i> better. I know what Scripture says. I know about and believe in God's grace and about Heaven. <i>So, why do I still have times that I worry?</i> It's stupid. I mean, for crying out loud, the flyers for our event aren't that big of a deal. Why let it eat at me?</div><div><br /></div><div>It's certainly NOT that I didn't know or believe all the promises of God. It's that I let myself get sucked in by the things of the world, and temporarily took my eyes off of what matters. And I sank. For some reason, I couldn't stop focussing on those stupid flyers and forgot that they have absolutely zero effect on anything eternal. Now that I got some work done on them, won in fantasy football, and got in a good nights rest and a good chat with God, I'm good again. I'm at peace.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just want to stay there.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7</span></span></span></div>THE SMITH FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14362225817660901045noreply@blogger.com0