Recently, we drove from Michigan to Idaho to see my brother and his family. You must understand that to drive from Lawton, Michigan to Kuna, Idaho, one must possess great stamina and patience on a multitude of levels. It is about 1,900 miles, and takes 25 hours of driving to make it. Leaving at 4 PM EST and planning an 8 PM arrival the following day is no small task.
We also have four children with us in the van. Audrey is 10, Haley is 9, Brett is 6, and Madalyn is 3. After an hour in the van on May 30th, Haley proclaimed we needed to stop for a restroom. We did not. Traveling with children adds an entirely new complexity to such a trip.
We eventually stopped (I think after 3 to 3.5 hours) for a restroom. All felt better, and we continued for the remainder of the 25 hours. Somewhere in Iowa, Brett asked me where we were, and I told him. I added that we were headed for Idaho. He knew this anyway, but I wanted to let him know he shouldn't expect a quick solution to our problem of being trapped in a minivan.
His response to me was what caused me to think, and not to get after him, or scold him for his childishness, but to ponder.
After I said we were headed to Idaho, he replied, "But, I don't see Idaho."
As a parent, I could have said, "Well, of course you can't! We have 1600 miles to go and 20 more hours, and with the curvature of the earth, there is no practical way you could see Idaho even if it was 20 miles in front of us." All true, but I didn't respond that way. I don't think I said anything; however, I began to compare his response with many of my own.
God takes us in life where He wants us to go. We are young and inexperienced in existing. (Think about that) We think we know what is going on, and we think we should be able to see or grasp what the final solution or destination might be for our plans, but God in the "front seat" holds the wheel, and has the entire "lifeplan" on schedule, and destined for success when we say, "But I can't see what you're doing." As if we question which way He turns us, or the speed at which He travels. " What about stopping here? It looks nice here", we might respond.
Questioning God on his plans is worse than my son telling me that while we were in Iowa driving on I-80, he couldn't see Idaho.
We must believe that every turn, every valley, every exciting mountaintop is His plan. We must not question Him when we can't see the way. He is working in our lives. We can't stop having faith for a moment when cancer strikes, death steals, or fires, economies, and stock markets collapse. These aren't our focus. Our faith, hope, and love should be squarely focused on the God walking us through our lives in complete control just as my son should trust his father (who by the way had guided Brett to Idaho and back the exact same way twice before) to complete what he said he would complete.
The God of the universe has guided every single person who has ever existed on this planet since the dawn of time. If that is about 6,000 years ago, I know that is a lot of people. If God can handle all those people, and has never broken a promise to them or failed them in any way, I certainly trust that when He takes me somewhere that I am not familiar with, I need to trust Him just the same.
He has done this many times before, and if you are His, he'll do it for you too.
Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 33:3,
Friday, June 22, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Days, Months, and Years
I heard something recently that struck a cord within me, and might have a great impact for you. I had never heard this before, and thought it was something every person should know.
It has to do with why we do some of the things we do all the time, or why we acknowledge some things day in and day out, week in and week out.
Let's start with a day. Do you know why we have periods of time in lengths called days? You might say that it is because it takes that long for the earth to rotate. You're right. We turn on an axis, and complete that rotation in a one day period.
How about a month? Why were there month cycles set up? Based waxing and waning of the moon, we used months the separate the times into months. This make sense, I guess, and as I look at my calender, you can see the full moon, quarter moon, and half moon, etc that make up each month. This happens monthly and I never really paid much attention, but I'll accept that, and perhaps you will too.
I guess next would be a year. Any idea why we have years, or what type of thing denotes a period of a year? Turns out it takes exactly that long for the earth to orbit the sun. As we rotate on our axis, we have a day, but as we make our way around the center of our solar system, we create a year's worth of days. We are about halfway through our year now.
The next part I heard really got me. Why do we have periods of time divided into a thing called a week? Answer? There is no scientific, astrological reason for this time period. I found that to be interesting; however, the reason was much greater than any celestial body's movement. The reason we have weeks, and that there have been periods of time separated into weeks for thousands of years is because God created the world in six days, and rested on the 7th, and this was a week.
So what this means is that for every 7 days period starting with Sunday, as the world counts its calendar they and we are commemorating God's 7 day creation so long ago.
Just think about that for a while.
It has to do with why we do some of the things we do all the time, or why we acknowledge some things day in and day out, week in and week out.
Let's start with a day. Do you know why we have periods of time in lengths called days? You might say that it is because it takes that long for the earth to rotate. You're right. We turn on an axis, and complete that rotation in a one day period.
How about a month? Why were there month cycles set up? Based waxing and waning of the moon, we used months the separate the times into months. This make sense, I guess, and as I look at my calender, you can see the full moon, quarter moon, and half moon, etc that make up each month. This happens monthly and I never really paid much attention, but I'll accept that, and perhaps you will too.
I guess next would be a year. Any idea why we have years, or what type of thing denotes a period of a year? Turns out it takes exactly that long for the earth to orbit the sun. As we rotate on our axis, we have a day, but as we make our way around the center of our solar system, we create a year's worth of days. We are about halfway through our year now.
The next part I heard really got me. Why do we have periods of time divided into a thing called a week? Answer? There is no scientific, astrological reason for this time period. I found that to be interesting; however, the reason was much greater than any celestial body's movement. The reason we have weeks, and that there have been periods of time separated into weeks for thousands of years is because God created the world in six days, and rested on the 7th, and this was a week.
So what this means is that for every 7 days period starting with Sunday, as the world counts its calendar they and we are commemorating God's 7 day creation so long ago.
Just think about that for a while.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
You are everything
Driving from place to place, I usually have a lot of time to think. Frequently, I'll have a song on or a message to stimulate my thinking rather than just allow it to drone on and on over things that "need to get done."
Friday morning this past week, I started what was a 90 minute drive, and hadn't turned on the radio yet, or began listening to anything, and I was just letting my thoughts wander.
From time to time, and it seems pretty regularly to me, I find myself thinking about the seasons of life, and the things we all do. I started to think about gardening, and how my garden this year looks pretty good, but there are some improvements I'd like to make for next year. Then I thought about how many more years I'd have to make improvements before I really get it how I'd like to get it.
My wife and I werent' planning on having more than four children, and I had accepted God's plan of limiting us to four. At 29 (when Madalyn was born), I wasn't ready to say that at that age, I would never again have another child. I began to think that not many 29 year olds probably ever think that whatever they are doing is the last time they will ever do it.
Then God gave us another child, and now I'm thinking the same thing. This is going to be the last time. When this baby walks, it will be the last time a child of mine walks for the first time. When this child graduates, it will be the last time. When this child marries, it will be the last child of my children to get married.
Then, my thoughts traveled.
One day I won't be able to make any garden improvements. One day will be the day I last drive a car. One day will be the last day I write a blog. One day will be the last day I clean out the barn. One day will be the last day I hug my children. One day will be the last day I go to church. Another day may be the last day I kiss my wife, clean my room, shoot a gun, mow the grass, high-five someone, put on sunglasses, shoot a deer, have sex, or even sharpen a pencil.
So, my conclusion to the matter is that all the things that I do every day-these things that fill up most days- will end. I was feeling rather discouraged.
The next thought hit me like it wasn't even my own. It seemed to land on me with great promise-a guarantee that surpasses all guarantees. My eyes moistened, and I cracked a little smile after this thought, and I thought I would share it with you:
"But, I can worship God forever."
Friday morning this past week, I started what was a 90 minute drive, and hadn't turned on the radio yet, or began listening to anything, and I was just letting my thoughts wander.
From time to time, and it seems pretty regularly to me, I find myself thinking about the seasons of life, and the things we all do. I started to think about gardening, and how my garden this year looks pretty good, but there are some improvements I'd like to make for next year. Then I thought about how many more years I'd have to make improvements before I really get it how I'd like to get it.
My wife and I werent' planning on having more than four children, and I had accepted God's plan of limiting us to four. At 29 (when Madalyn was born), I wasn't ready to say that at that age, I would never again have another child. I began to think that not many 29 year olds probably ever think that whatever they are doing is the last time they will ever do it.
Then God gave us another child, and now I'm thinking the same thing. This is going to be the last time. When this baby walks, it will be the last time a child of mine walks for the first time. When this child graduates, it will be the last time. When this child marries, it will be the last child of my children to get married.
Then, my thoughts traveled.
One day I won't be able to make any garden improvements. One day will be the day I last drive a car. One day will be the last day I write a blog. One day will be the last day I clean out the barn. One day will be the last day I hug my children. One day will be the last day I go to church. Another day may be the last day I kiss my wife, clean my room, shoot a gun, mow the grass, high-five someone, put on sunglasses, shoot a deer, have sex, or even sharpen a pencil.
So, my conclusion to the matter is that all the things that I do every day-these things that fill up most days- will end. I was feeling rather discouraged.
The next thought hit me like it wasn't even my own. It seemed to land on me with great promise-a guarantee that surpasses all guarantees. My eyes moistened, and I cracked a little smile after this thought, and I thought I would share it with you:
"But, I can worship God forever."
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