Check-up

Well the year is half over and I've had some time to reflect and get the dumb smacked out of me. It's been since February since my last post so...surprise! My wife recently spoke to me on my lack of contribution in our house and relationship. I grew into a very lazy person with all the time off from work and did just enough to get by. Oh there was a major house cleaning/ rearrangement that happened but after that I was a couch potato. I just did what I wanted to do. It was nice but waaaay overdone! God was hinting I needed to do something about it all along. My intentions stayed intentions and no action was taken.
In the midst of the dumb smacking I had the notion to read my blog and specifically the 'Word' God gave me for this year. I forgot. I had an idea what it was but I was way off. My word was 'excel'. Ouch! Excel? I was so far away from that word it wasn't funny. So far my word is decel instead of excel! I guess that is why we reflect. So God can show us what's broke. The only area I've excelled at this year has been paying our debts off. We are within a couple thousand of doing it and it's been with a limited income due to all the time off from work. It has been a goal for the past 3-4 years to get our debt under control. Our wants and needs seemed to take over and we never gained any ground. This year God opened my eyes that having this debt and being so close to not having a job is unwise.
However, this is about my whole life and not just money. I have let myself go. I let the world do whatever it wanted and joined in when only dragged to do something. My wife has patience and grace but they do run out and her tank is almost dry. So she opened my eyes to how bad it was and I actually listened. I know her love language is acts of service. I have that much going for me. I know how to fix this with God. I just need to be unselfish in everything instead of selfish. Also, spending time with Him needs to become a habit.
Well that's all for now. Don't want to over do my comeback :-) Keep me honest and keep me in prayer. Too many people depend on my gift of encouragement, whether they know it or not. If I just have my words and not His the encouragement doesn't last or isn't as effective. I need the confidence that only He can give.

Empty Me

Here is Chris Sligh. He was a contestant on American Idol and sings this awesome song called "Empty Me". I found a video that shows the words like church so you can sing along if you'd like. Listen and be drawn closer to our Lord while you empty me.

It is Well

I originally wanted to start this post by calling it 'Frustration'. Needless to say God turned it around pretty quickly! I was frustrated with several areas in life. Things were just being difficult and irritating. Since originally wanting to post this God has revealed some of these frustrations being rooted in my selfish ways (surprise, surprise!!).
Well as the title reads, It is well! I went to a men's Bible study and then to a follow up meeting that allows us men to talk about our problems, victories and application of the Word and the study into our lives. As recently posted in 'revival' I wrote out the whole ordeal. Leaving that get together, I felt connected to men that are just like me. They love the Lord and fight to strive to live like they do. Talking about God with others that love Him is such a rush! We get going on how He works and how good He really is. We tell of what He's telling us and what He does as we trust in Him. Afterwards the joy is overflowing and pondering begins. You start thinking of how else God can move and what He will do. How close to the Bible are we living? And on and on it goes. We just sit there with a big smile on our face because it is well!
I was going to work that night and it got me thinking about what I like. I had the windows down a clear road and K-Love on the radio. After that meeting I was in heaven with this combination of things. I just love driving fast with the wind flying through my hair or just the breeze on my face. The warm summer night and the fresh air, ahhhhhhh!!! Listening to David Crowder, Newsboys, and other bands that sing of God's mercy and goodness. All the while I'm thinking how good God is and how He's going to use me. I love you Jesus!!! You are soooo good.
It is well indeed!!