Ahhh... Thanksgiving!

I hope that you had a truly wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. This year, for the first time in years, we traveled for the holiday. Several years ago, we began to host Thanksgiving dinner for both of our parents at our home in Temple.

Jan's parents, Kenneth and Betty, would come along with my parents and we would have a great time catching up on all kinds of things. We would always have a feast - more food than could be consumed in a month. Pies and candy (both of which Jan is exceptionally talented at making) would be sliced and tasted over lies and football! Dad and Kenneth would talk tractors or whatever else happened to cross their minds. The funny ones though were mom and Betty. As mom's dementia and Betty's alzheimer's progressed, they would have the same conversation multiple times during a meal - and enjoy it every time. So did we, by the way.

As my parents began to age, we started to find creative ways to get them to the house. When Mom first went in the nursing home, I would drive to Waco early to pick Dad up, most of all to make sure he would come! He never wanted to leave mom's side, especially on holidays. After Mom passed away, one of us continued to make the journey to pick Dad up to spend time with us. Dad passed away in 2007 and that has been one of the big things I have missed every year. It really didn't sink in how much he was missed until I could no longer go to pick him up.

This year, Betty's Alzheimer's has progressed to a point that the travel and crowds are difficult. Little stops us from finding some way to spent time together so Jan, Sharon and I made the trip to our nephews home in Cleburne. Seems like the destination changed, but the fun never ceased! This year, there was an addition - Ava's first Thanksgiving. I certainly hope she can grow up to enjoy this time of the year just like we have.

You see, it's not the food we eat, although it was wonderful. It was simply being able to spend time together, watching football, swapping stories, spending time throwing a ball and waiting for a Turkey to fry. It was witnessing a new life and sharing in a child's first Thanksgiving. It was spending time with loved ones that may not recall even having the meal. It is all about love and building and renewing of relationships.

My prayer for you is that each time you get together with those you love, you find more reasons to enjoy the time together than to find to spend apart. We were made for this purpose - the feast is special because we share it together!

Choices Made

I ended my last post with a statement "I make a choice every day, every breath, because I am free." What does that mean? What kind of choices? Fairly simple really...

• I choose to see the good in everyone I meet.
• I choose to love even at the risk of that love not being returned.
• I choose to expect the absolute best out of everyone I am associated with.
• I choose to give my absolute best in every situation.
• I choose to believe that no one is intentionally out to hurt me.
• I choose to believe that everyone has a story to tell and it is as unique as the story teller.
• I choose to believe that what is right for me may not be right for you - and it's ok!
• I choose to live my life today expecting that there will be no tomorrow.
• Everyone has flaws - that's a given. If I choose to live my life pointing them out, it would be a pretty miserable existence. You don't have to look far to get a glimpse of mine!
• I choose every day to love my wife and my family. It's a pretty easy choice. By making that choice, I also choose not to allow anything to come between us. Because I choose to have nothing come between us, I have an expectation of the same from each of them. Failure is not an option.
• I may get angry, I may get frustrated. I choose not to allow those emotions to rule my life. They are irrelevant.
• I choose to believe that the same Jesus who gave it all up for me, did so for everyone else and did so freely - that's what makes Him a Savior.
• I choose not to make choices for you - that is your choice, choose wisely.

Modern Day Pharisee?

I've grown up in the church. I've grown up in religion. I've grown up knowing the right things to say and the right things to do and the right ways to act. I've grown up knowing what to hide, and what to conceal behind my smile. I'm fine - how are you? Sound familiar?

Growing up, I don't recall a time when I missed Sunday morning, Sunday night or Wednesday evening services. It was a family thing. We did it - rain or shine, ice or snow. Check the box, we made it. Ever hear the statement "As long as you're under my roof?". Growing up, I did - not many times because I knew what it meant and I went. When I didn't go - it was easier to lie and say I was somewhere else than to say I sat at home and watched the Cowboys! Even after I got married, the Sunday morning call would come - really missed you at church this morning. Check that box!

I know everyone meant well! I know they loved church and loved family and were blessed to be where they were - and after we had kids, we began to do much of the same things. The question has never been did we show up - for me it is did we show up for the right reason? I've struggled - I have to admit it! I can't always say that my favorite time has been walking into the church building one more time. Finding a class to go to that I felt enriched and encouraged was a challenge. Is that what this is all about? There would times that I'd rather be in a dentist chair - in the 1800's!

Why is that? I'm sure many people feel the same way I have felt for years. It's fairly obvious. People are turned off by "religion". Going through the motions. Showing up just to say we have been there. And then there is the longing to do something different. Surely Father gets tired of 2 songs, a prayer... Heaven forbid if we change something. Can you imagine if you had been watching a rerun every week on television for years? Boy, can't wait to watch it again tonight! Wonder who will play the characters? But - we better not miss it - who knows what might happen?

Is Satan enjoying this one? I bet he is.

So, maybe I should tell you that I've had an attitude shift. I now can't wait to be in His presence. I long for an opportunity to spend time in worship. I get up in the mornings to go for a walk just to spend some time in prayer before the day and to be blessed by the presence of the Spirit. Why now - why not before? Surely nothing has changed that dramatically that I would now say that "finally, something is provided that I can participate in and fulfill me". See, I believe it is simply the Spirit being active in my life. The Spirit penetrating me to a point that I can say "I want more - I need more, fill me Lord". And He responds, anxious to love me as much as I love Him.

You see, religion is not the key to success, neither is a name on a building or a check in a box. We began to accept the lie! We started believing that religion was more important than relationship, our knowledge more important than grace. We started buying into the lie that our own human reasoning would win out over walking in faith, that our programs were more important in reaching the lost than following the will of the Holy Spirit. We cherish the musical tradition more than worship of the Father. Yes, we put laws ahead of love. If we put the traditions we keep up against the scripture we read - which one will win?

I don't have any answers. Half the time, I don't even know what the question is. I do know that I'm tired of going up against and being the modern day Pharisee. I now refuse to concede. I will never again lose ground. I no longer worry. I make a choice every day, every breath, because I am free. I am a warrior! I am willing to fight for that freedom - it's a really cool thing. Join me! Let's go to battle together!

Thank you, Jesus.

Come and See!

Soar Like Eagles!

As I stood out last night, surrounded by the family of God under the magnificent starry sky of His creation, soaking in His very presence through the voices of those that love Him, my heart looked back to see where we were just a few short years ago. There were those at that time, praying for revival, praying for deliverance, seeking Father to awaken the Spirit within the body and rekindle the fire that had long been quenched. Some believing that Father had lost track of us. Then, one by one, hearts returned to Father in a powerful way. His very Spirit rekindled within us. Our brothers and sisters wanting what the Spirit had put on our hearts.

What started out with a single individual going to a retreat that no one had heard of - dragged off kicking and screaming, looking for any means of escape, now has traction. Looking around and seeing the fruit of that first step, that step of faith - even though it was difficult - we are witnesses to the bounty that Father has shared with us. Looking into the eyes of that first participant, through her tears of joy, the Lord's blessings poured out on us.

Below is a passage from Isaiah that has been on my heart today. May you be blessed as you taste its fruit.

Isaiah 40:27-31

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying,

"God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"?

Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come and go. God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.

And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.

Come and See!

I Believe

I believe the divine came and lived on Earth by choice with no other motive than to love us and save us.

I believe everything shows the glory of Father.

I believe He works His glory in everything that has happened, everything that is happening, and everything that will happen.

I believe if I'm not living for Him life isn't worth living.

I believe the Lord that spoke the world into existence still speaks to us everyday. But we have to listen.

I believe Father loves me just as much in my sin as He does when I have it all together.

I believe the absurdity of Father's plan gives it validity. Just watch Him put all the pieces together.

One touch of His robe healed. He still heals. Sometimes He heals physically. But I think mostly He longs to heal our hearts, to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him.

I believe Father hates religion. Hates our pathetic attempt to put rules in the place of Him. Hates that we put rules ahead of relationship.

I believe Jesus came to give us freedom. But we have to trust Him with our hearts.

I believe once you really, truly meet Jesus you'll never be the same again. Something inside of you changes and nothing will satisfy you but Him.

I believe in His promises. I believe in the promises He has made to all of His people and the promises He has made to me as an individual.

I believe nothing is worth believing in but Him.

Sharon Hardwick, October, 2010