I Do Believe!

Over the past few weeks and months, I've been listening to a couple of songs over and over again.  I've been listening to Jon Reddick's song, "I Believe It."  The chorus states, "I believe in the life of Jesus.  I believe that He conquered death.  I believe in the resurrection.  I believe He's coming back again.  I believe that His Spirit's with us.  I believe that He gives us power.  I believe that He is the son of God.  I believe it; I believe it; I believe it!"  It is a powerful song.  Another one I've been listening to is the song, "Believe You Will," by Jeremy Rosado.  The chorus of that song states, "You will turn this into something good, show up right on time for me, do everything You said You would, I believe, I believe, I believe You will.  You will turn my sorrow into joy, calm the storm with just Your voice, do everything You said You would, I believe, I believe, I believe You will!

As I have been listening to and singing these songs, I cannot help but go to that passage of Scripture in Mark 9.  A man brought his son to Jesus; his son was possessed by a spirit and was suffering seizures and could not talk.  The man had asked the disciples to drive out the spirit, but they were unsuccessful.  The man turned to Jesus.  Mark 9:21-29... 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"  "From childhood," he answered.  22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.  But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."  23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus.  "Everything is possible for one who believes."  24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I DO BELIEVE; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!"  25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit.  "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."  26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out.  The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead."  27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.  28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"  29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

I don't know about you, but I am a lot like that father many, many times.  I DO BELIEVE!  However, I desperately need the Lord to "HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!"  The father went to the right place and he found the right One to help...both him and his son.  Notice what the father said at the end of verse 22: "But if you can do anything, take pity on US and help US."  I struggle with this...daily.  I struggle in this journey of faith and belief.  I am desperate for the Lord to help me!!!  I struggle like this father; many times I am praying to the Lord, "If you can."  I love what Dr. David Jeremiah says in his commentary: "Even though the father of the afflicted boy did not have great faith, Jesus did not refuse to help.  Still, Jesus did not heal the boy immediately either; instead He drew faith out of this anguished father."  That is what I want.  I want the Lord to keep on showing me His love, His power, His grace, and His mercy.  I want the Lord to keep on growing me in the faith He has given me; I want Him to draw it out more and more, as Dr. Jeremiah says.  

One of the ways I am growing in my faith is through the study of God's Word.  I am not only reading the Bible, but I am inviting God to read me; I am inviting God to show me who He is and show me who I am.  I am desperate for God's presence and God's Word in my life.  Songs like the ones I mentioned earlier remind me that I DO BELIEVE, but they also remind me that I need the Lord's help.  I need the Lord to HELP MY UNBELIEF...every day, every week, all the time!

Wednesday in the Word - 12.20.2023

What is your PURPOSE (WHY)?

A few days ago I had a great conversation with one of my friends and fellow runners.  We talked about WHY we run (purpose).  I have had many people ask me all the time about WHY I run.  "WHY?" is a good question.  WHY and purpose are really linked together.  "Purpose," according to Merriam-Webster, means "something set up as an object or end to be attained; intention; resolution; determination."  I can tell you this: my main WHY (purpose) is found in Colossians 3:17, which says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Everything I say and do is to give the Lord glory, praise, and thanksgiving.  I also have other WHYs (purposes) when I run.  I run because I enjoy it.  I run because I have the ability and the opportunity to run.  I run for people, people who cannot run or people who have passed away, keeping their memories close to my heart.  However, all of my smaller WHYs (purposes) fall under my main WHY (purpose).  Our smaller WHYs (purposes) can be good; they can change; they can even be finalized or continuously set before us.  However, until I take my final gasp of air in this life, my main WHY (purpose) will never change and will never be fully finalized on this side of eternity...and that is OK and good.  I will keep striving to give the Lord glory, praise, and thanksgiving in my running and in my everything else.  I know WHO I am and WHOSE I am and WHY I am, and that gives me hope and strength!  Over the next 143 days, I will be training to run in the 2023 New York City Marathon.  My main WHY (purpose) is Colossians 3:17, with many other WHYs (purposes) nestled underneath...I am running to raise money for my charity, TEAM FOR KIDS...I am running for people on my heart and mind...and I am running to fulfill a dream.  Whatever you are doing, whatever you plan to do...keep your WHYs (purposes) in front of you and keep them in the right order...and go do it!

Memorial Day, May 29, 1989

Memorial Day, May 29, 1989.  It is a day etched into my heart and into my memory forever.  My dad loved the Lord; my dad loved his wife; and my dad loved his boys.  My dad loved his country, serving in the Air Force for several years.  We have always celebrated Memorial Day, a day of thankfulness and gratitude for those who served our country and gave their lives for our freedom.  On Memorial Day, May 29, 1989, I was one month away from my 16th birthday.  My dad grilled sausage, chicken, and pork chops for our family.  Later that evening, he even coached my little brother's baseball game.  Around 5:30 PM that day, we called an ambulance because my dad wasn't feeling well.  My older brother and I were helping him to the ambulance, with my mom and Marty right behind us.  He turned and looked at us and my mom, and he told us that he loved us, and he was gone.  My dad passed away that evening, and my life and the lives of all of my family changed forever.  I look back now, and I realize that it wasn't about the QUANTITY of years we had with my dad; it was about the QUALITY of years we had with him.  God is good, and God blessed us with a great man!  He was a great husband, he was a great father, and he was a great friend.  God is so, so good!  Today, I read Psalm 9:1-2 as I thought about the goodness of God and I thought about my dad.  Psalm 9:1-2 says, "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High."  We have so much to be thankful for today, and it is because God has truly blessed us in so many ways.  Happy Memorial Day to you and to your family.  My prayer for you is that you will be filled with thankfulness and gratitude and then share it with others!

For I Know the Plans

 

Katie Beth, Katie Beth, where has the time gone?  We remember the day you were born.  We remember the day you first started school at OCS.  You have gone from your first day in Pre-K 3 class to your last day of senior year.  Today you walked those halls one more time and parked in your spot one more time.  To say that we love you and are very proud of you would be understated, but we do very much love you, and we are very much proud of you!  You are a gift from God to us, and you have blessed our lives in so many ways.  Our prayer for you is to continue walking with the Lord and trusting His plans and purposes for your life.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  We can't wait to see you walk across the stage to receive your high school diploma, and we can't wait to see you walk into the hope and the future that God has for you.  Make the most of every opportunity God gives you.  Enjoy each minute of each hour of each day that God gives you.  Be blessed in this life and be a blessing to others in this life.  Honor and glorify God with every word you speak and every action you take.  

We love you, Katie Beth!

Your dad, mom, brothers, and sister