Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Welcome Levi Kennedy Gibbons!
Our newest edition... Levi Kennedy Gibbons was born 12/2/08 at Lexington Medical Center.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Proud to be an American!
We knew we’d have a new president and it was pretty obvious that this is the way it would go. Now that it is over, it is time for us all – no matter which lever you pulled or screen you touched – to come together in support of our country. It’s time to pray for President Elect Barack Obama and our country! But PLEASE don’t do it with distain in your heart, like a religious dagger. Pray for him because we’ve come so far from some of the worst times in our history. Pray for him because we have the honor and freedom to elect our leaders, and should have the regard to respect the office they hold.
Remember, love your neighbor as yourself. “Judge not, that you not be judged…”, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you… It doesn’t say – treat others as they have treated you. We are called to do more, we are called to “turn the other cheek” and show everyone our amazing capacity to do good -- together.
The election is over – it’s in the books. What’s ahead for all of us is how we participate in our collective future. What examples will we set? What will we teach our children about respect for others and the presidency? How do we want to be treated by those that don’t always agree with us? What an awesome opportunity we have before us…
God bless you all, our country, president elect Barack Obama and all of our leaders!
Remember, love your neighbor as yourself. “Judge not, that you not be judged…”, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you… It doesn’t say – treat others as they have treated you. We are called to do more, we are called to “turn the other cheek” and show everyone our amazing capacity to do good -- together.
The election is over – it’s in the books. What’s ahead for all of us is how we participate in our collective future. What examples will we set? What will we teach our children about respect for others and the presidency? How do we want to be treated by those that don’t always agree with us? What an awesome opportunity we have before us…
God bless you all, our country, president elect Barack Obama and all of our leaders!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Darth Vader and God?!
Jennifer's been pointing out I come home with a lot of God stories lately. Maybe one of the oddest would be connected to a halloween costume (being such a religious holiday and all -- I won't get into the fact that it's rivaling Christmas in popularity -- maybe later!).
So I was in the 4th store looking for a Darth Vader costume for the little man for halloween (he hasn't even seen Star Wars, but he saw Darth Vader on the front of the Target circular and said that's who he wanted to be for halloween). I had been up and down the aisles multiple times, as I had three times prior, to no avail. I accepted that I wouldn't be able to find "exactly the right one that I wanted", and grabbed an adult costume that would require some major renovations. Not a big deal unless you are such a control freak like me -- it should have been utter failure (according to Rob's Rules of Order). But the oddest thing happened once I accepted the smallness of the battle, that we are not in control of the big things NOR the little things. I turned the corner, and there in front of me -- right where I started and revisited at least one other time -- was the only remaining children's Darth Vader costume left in the Midlands (or so it feels). I immediately thanked God.
Now, really... I mean seriously... Does God care about a halloween costume? I pretty sure the answer is no!
But we know God cares about us -- he knows every hair on our head (more for some than others) -- he knows our struggles and our joys, our strengths and our weaknesses, he celebrates our victories and comforts us in defeat. He is our heavenly Father and he loves us very much. He wants us to succeed and he wants us to experience happiness and joy -- but as every good parent, He knows we cannot experience such things until we appreciate such things.
As I've mentioned, there are many other little stories along the way. Maybe I catalog them, maybe I won't, and this would be one of the least of those stories. But I do think it's another example of how we should celebrate and thank God for everything, everyday. My personal victory was NOT finding the costume, but finding God's hand in everything I do and thanking Him accordingly.
So I was in the 4th store looking for a Darth Vader costume for the little man for halloween (he hasn't even seen Star Wars, but he saw Darth Vader on the front of the Target circular and said that's who he wanted to be for halloween). I had been up and down the aisles multiple times, as I had three times prior, to no avail. I accepted that I wouldn't be able to find "exactly the right one that I wanted", and grabbed an adult costume that would require some major renovations. Not a big deal unless you are such a control freak like me -- it should have been utter failure (according to Rob's Rules of Order). But the oddest thing happened once I accepted the smallness of the battle, that we are not in control of the big things NOR the little things. I turned the corner, and there in front of me -- right where I started and revisited at least one other time -- was the only remaining children's Darth Vader costume left in the Midlands (or so it feels). I immediately thanked God.
Now, really... I mean seriously... Does God care about a halloween costume? I pretty sure the answer is no!
But we know God cares about us -- he knows every hair on our head (more for some than others) -- he knows our struggles and our joys, our strengths and our weaknesses, he celebrates our victories and comforts us in defeat. He is our heavenly Father and he loves us very much. He wants us to succeed and he wants us to experience happiness and joy -- but as every good parent, He knows we cannot experience such things until we appreciate such things.
As I've mentioned, there are many other little stories along the way. Maybe I catalog them, maybe I won't, and this would be one of the least of those stories. But I do think it's another example of how we should celebrate and thank God for everything, everyday. My personal victory was NOT finding the costume, but finding God's hand in everything I do and thanking Him accordingly.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Just a spoon full of Sugar...
Just a spoon full of Sugar... Helps the medicine go down… (not my typical 80’s genre, I know)
When Donelle was talking last week, I (apparently) scribbled down a note that has taken me all week to notice and interpret. The two lines in were:
So what does any of that have to do with any of this… Well, God is our sugar (I guess everyone needs a pet name)… Life can be sour when God’s not present, but when you add God (allow him in), you get lemonade, or when there’s something tough to swallow (like medicine) – decisions or issues – make sure you’ve got a spoon full of God (He goes a long way) and take on that decision knowing that He has a plan for each of us – far be it for us to understand it – and it can make it easier and give you peace (helps that medicine go down – much better than a 16 calorie teaspoon of cane sugar).
I’m not sure why that seems to tie to today’s scripture verses, but the apply at the bottom says “Take time over the next few days to reflect anew on who you are in Christ, asking God what that means for how you should live.” We (I) need to stop trying to drink lemon juice and take nasty medicine straight up -- it doesn’t prove anything to anybody, the smart man accepts God’s help and involvement, and becomes a better example in the process. Share God’s love and how he can help us all, every day, for it is by Him and through Him all things are possible… Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down (and helps it all make better sense)…
My prayer for us all this week is, in the words of one of the (again, not so great) 80’s theologians, Def Leopard: “Pour Some Sugar on Me!”
Rob
When Donelle was talking last week, I (apparently) scribbled down a note that has taken me all week to notice and interpret. The two lines in were:
- Spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down
- When life gets sour (make lemonade by adding sugar)
So what does any of that have to do with any of this… Well, God is our sugar (I guess everyone needs a pet name)… Life can be sour when God’s not present, but when you add God (allow him in), you get lemonade, or when there’s something tough to swallow (like medicine) – decisions or issues – make sure you’ve got a spoon full of God (He goes a long way) and take on that decision knowing that He has a plan for each of us – far be it for us to understand it – and it can make it easier and give you peace (helps that medicine go down – much better than a 16 calorie teaspoon of cane sugar).
I’m not sure why that seems to tie to today’s scripture verses, but the apply at the bottom says “Take time over the next few days to reflect anew on who you are in Christ, asking God what that means for how you should live.” We (I) need to stop trying to drink lemon juice and take nasty medicine straight up -- it doesn’t prove anything to anybody, the smart man accepts God’s help and involvement, and becomes a better example in the process. Share God’s love and how he can help us all, every day, for it is by Him and through Him all things are possible… Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down (and helps it all make better sense)…
My prayer for us all this week is, in the words of one of the (again, not so great) 80’s theologians, Def Leopard: “Pour Some Sugar on Me!”
Rob
Pray for gas!?
So, funny thing happened on the way to the doctors office today... As we passed the gas station, I asked Jennifer to remind me I needed gas on the way home (my gas light had probably only been on for 3 or 4 days, but I remembered putting a couple gallons in -- I just didn't remember when). You guessed it, no sooner had I said it than the van turned off -- ran out of gas! Seriously!! That hasn't happened in YEARS.
So, we can see LWC from the van and Jennifer is determined we're going to walk (I really think she was excited about the opportunity to actually walk further than 10 feet at the time). I was pondering an easy solution -- and, as usual, it wasn't going to embarrass me or require us to impose on anyone. I had a great idea -- we just needed a landscaper to drive by. They'll have a gas can in the back of their truck and we'll be set. I said a little prayer that please, oh please let a landscaper come by so we could quickly get back to our plans. After waiting for what must have been a full minute with no sign of "help", I got out of the car. Immediately, a landscaping truck showed up -- no, really! The driver didn't speak much (any) English, but I managed to get the point across that we needed some gas. I stuck my head in the van and told Jennifer how great it was that I prayed for a landscaping truck!
Well, his gas can was empty. He had gas and oil mixed, but no plain gas. I thanked him and stood confused for a moment or two. Luckily, I laughed as Jennifer said -- "should have prayed for gas!"
So what's the point? My very first blog (that I've posted here instead of e-mailing). The point is, what am I praying for? Sometime we (especially me) think we're so smart we're willing to tell God how he can answer our prayers. Don't pray for our solution, but that His will be done, in His time, and His way -- not ours. So, pray for gas -- and a softened heart so our ears may hear or our eyes may see if and how God wants to answer that prayer.
Our God is truly Awesome!
(By the way, Stephanie's dad brought us some gas and got us back on the road. But not until I got to see a couple church friends pass by and offer help.) Thanks!
So, we can see LWC from the van and Jennifer is determined we're going to walk (I really think she was excited about the opportunity to actually walk further than 10 feet at the time). I was pondering an easy solution -- and, as usual, it wasn't going to embarrass me or require us to impose on anyone. I had a great idea -- we just needed a landscaper to drive by. They'll have a gas can in the back of their truck and we'll be set. I said a little prayer that please, oh please let a landscaper come by so we could quickly get back to our plans. After waiting for what must have been a full minute with no sign of "help", I got out of the car. Immediately, a landscaping truck showed up -- no, really! The driver didn't speak much (any) English, but I managed to get the point across that we needed some gas. I stuck my head in the van and told Jennifer how great it was that I prayed for a landscaping truck!
Well, his gas can was empty. He had gas and oil mixed, but no plain gas. I thanked him and stood confused for a moment or two. Luckily, I laughed as Jennifer said -- "should have prayed for gas!"
So what's the point? My very first blog (that I've posted here instead of e-mailing). The point is, what am I praying for? Sometime we (especially me) think we're so smart we're willing to tell God how he can answer our prayers. Don't pray for our solution, but that His will be done, in His time, and His way -- not ours. So, pray for gas -- and a softened heart so our ears may hear or our eyes may see if and how God wants to answer that prayer.
Our God is truly Awesome!
(By the way, Stephanie's dad brought us some gas and got us back on the road. But not until I got to see a couple church friends pass by and offer help.) Thanks!
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