- Home /
- faith
It’s Been A Minute
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
Carl Sandburg
Hello!
It’s feels as though I need to start again.
Logging in again this morning, I see it’s been since November (2021) when I last posted on Reflections on Hardship. Where has the time gone? What happened to my discipline of writing almost daily and then at least weekly?
Life continues to happen. I have seen God move and work through some of the hardships which prompted those reflections. Sure, life has brought new hardships and challenges, but I remain confident that God cares for me – He loves me – He provides in ways I don’t always understand and in ways I often don’t appreciate.
Since November, I turned 50 (I know this is hard to believe). I celebrated Christmas with my family. I received a promotion at work. I traveled to Bonita Springs, Florida with Leanne to spend time with my in-laws. I have continued my daily discipline of 10,000 or more steps each and every day. And I’ve done many, many other things.
What is God teaching me these days?
A couple of weeks ago while I was reading in the book of Deuteronomy, I was struck by the story of Moses who led the Israelites through the wilderness to the very edge of the Promised Land. Moses knew he would not have the privilege of leading God’s people into the Promised Land, yet he led with strength, energy, and a long-term vision for God’s people. Leadership can be challenging. There are days in which we lose hope. There are days in which we want to give up. And there are days in which we realize God has us in a leadership role for a specific season. In my job and in my role as a leader where I work, I have had to navigate significant organizational changes along with changes within my team. Despite my tendency to despise change, I have had to see the vision for the future despite the cloudiness of the present. I’ve had to remain positive and hopeful when it would seem easier to be negative and desperate. I was encouraged by this story of Moses to keep leading well.
I’ve also been witnessing significant changes in some of my family members. My Mom’s battle with Alzheimer’s is not getting easier. Her short term memory is getting worse and worse. My Dad has shared other details of Mom’s decline. It’s not easy to witness your parents as they age. Mom will turn 74 in early May. We don’t know the number of her days. Despite having confidence in her eternal destination, it’s hard to navigate how to be a son who lives 850 miles away. The writer of Psalms 90:12 reminds us, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” As I witness my parents’ aging while I also see the growth of my own kids as they reach exciting milestones in their lives, I think God is teaching me to enjoy each day, to celebrate the good days, and to trust Him during the harder days. I want to honor God with my life. For me that starts with thanksgiving to God for each day.
God’s showing me that leadership isn’t a popularity contest. As a natural people pleaser, I want people on my team to like me. This isn’t always going to happen. Leaders make tough decisions. Leaders carry the blame even if not directly making decisions that impact team members. Leaders set the tone. Leaders put in the time. Leaders carry the burdens. These burdens are related to achieving business success, to ensuring customer satisfaction, to providing accountability for team member performance, and to the health and welfare of those we serve. I had a team member comment to me the other day that I looked stressed. I explained my struggle with sleep the night before which contributed the the bags under my eyes. As a leader, I’m learning again and again that I have more to learn.
What’s on my radar?
Much of my energy and attention is going to my job right now as I seek to build my team for the next stages of our business. I will be spending a lot of time recruiting, interviewing, and planning. It’s exciting to envision the future of my team and the success we will have as we grow.
I’ve been preparing to take on the President’s role for the Rotary Club of Blue Bell. I am learning that delegation and building the right board will be essential for staying balanced and for making a difference as our club seeks to serve our community and our world.
I recently accepted a request to join my church’s leadership team. I’m excited to serve in this capacity at the church I’ve called home for over twenty years. I won’t go into detail now, but this recent event has taught me a lot about my pride, about humility, and about God’s timing.
My son, Isaac, is getting ready to graduate from Grove City College. Leanne and I are overjoyed at the man our son has become. We are praying for the right job for him as he enters this next stage of his life.
Leanne and I have navigated some health challenges since I last wrote. God is good! And it’s been a blessing to see God’s faithfulness and healing hand over these last months. We are excited about some upcoming things I may share more about in the future.
How about you?
The blog world is different than when I started this thing so many years ago. How are you doing? What is God teaching you? What’s on your radar? I’d love to catch up with you and hear about you. Leave a comment.
Do Yourself a Favor and Get Finding Favor by Brian Jones
Humility is the gateway into the grace and the favor of God.
Harold Warner
Finding Favor: God’s Blessings Beyond Health, Wealth, and Happiness officially releases TODAY.
People often look at God like Santa Claus. Prayers are sent God’s way like little kids making a list for Santa Claus the weeks before Christmas. When God doesn’t provide exactly what they wanted, people become discouraged, desperate, and disillusioned.
When I initially picked up a copy of Finding Favor, I was a bit skeptical. I’m one of those people who have prayed for healing, for conflict resolution, and for provision. Some of those prayers have been answered; however, many prayers weren’t answered – at least not in the way I desired and expected.
In Finding Favor, my perspective on prayer and God’s response to prayer was challenged and changed….
To read the rest of my review, go to Amazon.
Better yet, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of yourself. Click here to order now.
(Note: I am part of the Finding Favor Launch Team. I received a FREE digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to positively rate or review this book. I truly believe Finding Favor is a valuable tool and resource.)
The Parable of the Lost Landscaping Plan
Don’t matter how much money you got, there’s only two kinds of people: there’s saved people and there’s lost people.
Bob Dylan
Have you ever lost something?
You remember having the item at one point in time, but now you can’t find it.
The search begins. You look all over the place for your lost item. Every closet, every corner, and every crack is checked and checked again. You look under every bed, and you look everywhere else. The search continues until you find the lost item or until you lose hope.
When you find the item (especially after a long search process), you celebrate.
Recurring Theme
This seems to be a recurring theme in my life. In June, I wrote about The Parable of the Lost Blue Water Bottle. There was much rejoicing when I found my lost bottle. Since I made this story public, I’ve had several people point out my water bottle, “Is that the famous blue water bottle?”
Almost two years ago, I wrote about a lost item.
Over two years ago, I wrote about a lost child.
Four years ago, I wrote about a lost key.
Over five years ago, I wrote about a lost landscaping plan.
The lost and found theme that seems to run through my life is powerful. Despite the countless stories of missing items, I’m generally a very organized person. But God seems to be trying to get my attention.
Found!
My collection of lost and found stories grew last weekend when I discovered a long-lost item.
At my house, we have been going through a season of de-cluttering. We are selling and giving things away, and we are simply discarding things we no longer need. As we go through each room in the house, we take time to sort through the “stuff” we have accumulated since we moved into our house ten years ago. I’m amazed to discover how many things we never use.
Last weekend, we spent the day cleaning up our basement. As I was cleaning up my workshop area, I came across a brown bag full of paperwork. I decided I should probably look through the paperwork to see if anything needed to be saved. After twenty minutes of paging through appliance owner’s manuals and other miscellaneous pieces of paper, I discovered a familiar folded up document – I found our lost landscaping plan!
A smile immediately crossed my face, and the smile quickly turned into laughter. I couldn’t contain my excitement. I ran upstairs where Leanne and Isaac were preparing lunch, and I unfolded the landscaping plan for them to see. They could hardly believe their eyes.
We had the landscaping plan designed for us shortly after we moved into the house. We had big dreams of using the plan to beautify our property over the years. Unfortunately, we lost the landscaping plan several years ago, and the initial landscaping plans were replaced with a new make-it-up-as-we-go plan. We looked high and low (but not in the brown bag in the basement).
Whenever we lose an item in our house, our family jokes that the lost item must be with the landscaping plan.
This week, we celebrated the return of our landscaping plan with our H.O.P.E. group. Leanne made cake. I shared the story of our rediscovered landscaping plans. And our friends helped us celebrate.
I’m planning to frame the landscaping plan to hang in our house as a reminder. This new wall hanging will remind our family of the humorous story that has become a part of our history. And the wall hanging will remind me of something else…
We Were All Lost
At one point or another, we were all lost. God went to great lengths to “find” us. He sent his Son to give us a way home. When we decide to follow Christ, there is much rejoicing in heaven. My lost landscaping plan reminds of the measures God took to help me find my way home, and the landscaping plan reminds me of the opportunity to share God’s love with others.
If you want to read more stories about the lost and found, check out Luke 15.
When was the last time you found something you previously lost? How did you celebrate when you found the missing item? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Rediscover The Wonder
Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.
Stephen Hawking
Yesterday morning, I woke up at 4 A.M. (when my alarm went off) with the E.T. movie theme song swirling around in my head.
Why the E.T. soundtrack?
I have no idea.
As I rolled out of bed, I remember thinking about the feeling I first had when I heard that music while Elliot flew his bicycle in front of the moon with E.T. safely tucked in the basket on the front handlebars. As I watched E.T. for the first time, I experienced a feeling of wonder.
I wonder what it is like to fly.
I wonder how the moon was so full.
I wonder about the possibility of rescuing an extraterrestrial.
Recently, I had this feeling again as I dropped our oldest off at Messiah College for her freshman year.
I wondered again at the feelings of freedom and excitement that clearly shown on my daughter’s face as she prepared to embark on this new journey away from home.
I wondered again at the thought of meeting so many new people and learning so many new things.
And I wondered again at the opportunity to plug into the community offered at a Christian college.
I think we sometimes forget to look through the lens of wonder as we move into adulthood. We allow our sense of responsibility and our tendency for routine take over. We forget to look at the world with enthusiasm and zest for life. This trickles into our relationships and even into our faith.
I like routine, but I don’t want to become complacent as I experience life around me. I want to approach the world with energy. I want to take on each relationship and each conversation with a sense of purpose. And I want to live like me faith is fresh and God’s mercies for me are new every single morning.
I want to live with wonder!
What causes you to wonder? What part of the world are you seeing with fresh, new eyes? Share your thoughts in the comments.
4 Ways To Deal With The Burden You Are Carrying
None knows the weight of another’s burden.
George Herbert
Over the weekend, Leanne and I were taking a walk along the Perkiomen Trail. As we approached the base of the steepest hill on the entire trail, we crossed paths with a man who was running down the hill with a heavy bag held behind his neck. We exchanged greetings, and I asked him how he was doing. His response made me chuckle, “Tired.”
Of course he was tired. He was running with a huge load on his back. What does he expect. If he had simply left the bag at home, his run would have been easier. And he wouldn’t be so tired.
We kept walking, and I started thinking.
How many of us go through life with a heavy weight tied to our back?
I know I’ve been carrying around a couple of heavy loads lately. I’ve lost sleep. I’ve experienced other signs of stress and fatigue.
How would my life change if I let go of these burdens?
I wouldn’t be so tired. I’d have more energy for other more productive things. I’d be happier. I might even have less gray hair.
We all have burdens to carry, but there are a few things we can do to lighten our loads:
4 Ways To Deal With The Burden You Are Carrying
- Ask for help. Our pride gets in the way of asking for help. We don’t want to appear weak, or we don’t want to let others into our world. Sometimes we need help. Plug into people who can help you when you need it. This may be a small group or church group. Or it may be a professional. Several years ago when I was carrying a heavy load, I met with a counselor for a few months.
- Limit the time you carry your burden. Either take care of the issue that is causing the burden as quickly as possible, or give yourself fixed periods of time to deal with the burden you are carrying. A prolonged period of feeling overloaded leads to fatigue, ineffectiveness, and even depression.
- Let it go. This is easier said than done for most of us. Maybe the writers of the Disney “Frozen” song had something right. We may need to simply drop the heavy bag from behind our necks and keep going. This may not sound responsible, but it may be the choice you need to make today to get out from under the heavy load you’ve been carrying around.
- Give your burden to the One who can carry it no matter what. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 This is a promise. The bumper sticker “Let Go And Let God” seems so cliché, but maybe there’s far more truth in it than we care to admit.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
What burden are you carrying? What step will you take TODAY to lighten your load? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The Parable Of The Lost Blue Water Bottle
Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.
Henry David Thoreau
I have a blue water bottle. It travels with me most places I go. From the looks of it, the blue water bottle isn’t anything special. I picked it up at Target several years ago for $5. It’s metal, and it has scratches and dents all over it. I’ve had to hammer out the bottom of the bottle several times, so it can stand up straight on a flat surface without wobbling.
I could easily replace the bottle, but I’m hoping it will stick with me for a while. It has value to me. It’s been to Guatemala three times so far. It reminds me of my times there, and it also reminds me to be thankful for the clean water I have at home. In some ways, I feel like I would be lost without my blue water bottle.
Friday night, I took my blue water bottle to Hannah’s graduation ceremony. I took a few sips of water throughout the evening, and I tucked the bottle under my chair to prevent others from tripping over it.
At the end of the ceremony, we stood up and moved into the sea of graduates in hopes of finding Hannah. When we found her, we embraced, celebrated, and preserved the occasion with pictures in the middle of the football field. Eventually, we exited the stadium and headed to our car and home weaving through the heavy foot and vehicle traffic along the way.
As we pulled into our driveway, I realized I had left my precious water bottle under my chair. I was crushed. I knew I couldn’t go back for the bottle that night as I didn’t want to sit in traffic for another hour while our family waited at home, so I did the only thing I knew how to do. I tried to move on.
Friday night, I tossed and turned in bed as I reflected on Hannah’s milestone, time with our extended family, the party coming up the next day, and my lost water bottle.
On Saturday morning, I woke up early to take care of a few things. Then, I drove back over to the high school in hopes of finding my water bottle. When I arrived there were a few people on the field stacking chairs and tearing down the stage. I was hopeful that my blue water bottle would be found. As I walked towards the chair I had been sitting in, I was saddened not to see any signs of my blue water bottle.
Next, I did the natural thing, and I started looking under all the other chairs. I walked towards the stage to see if anyone on the tear down crew had seen my prized possession. Luckily, one of the maintenance staff members (who thought I looked a little old to have just graduated) offered to help. He drove over to the grounds building at the side of the field, and we looked through the area to see if my bottle happened to make its way over there. No luck.
Then one of his team members rolled up in his gator. We asked if he had picked up a water bottle from the night before, and his response caused my heart to leap. He said, “You mean a blue water bottle?” Within minutes, I was reunited with my treasured, blue water bottle. I thanked both of the gentlemen and explained how much the bottle meant to me. They were glad to help.
As I brought my blue water bottle back into the house, I proclaimed “The lost has been found. All is right. My blue water bottle which was lost has now been found.” And we celebrated later that day with a big party under a tent in our backyard. Actually, the party was for Hannah’s graduation, but I think I celebrated a little bit more knowing my blue water bottle was safe and sound.
Every time I find something I previously lost, I am reminded to what lengths the Father went to find me. He sent His Son to pay the price for my sins and to make it possible for me to come home – safe and sound. I am blessed!
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coin and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10
When was the last time you lost something that meant a lot to you? How did you go about searching for your lost item? What did you do when you found it? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Guatemala 2016 Update – God Is So Good!
In less than 5 weeks, I’ll be in Guatemala again.
I can’t wait!
I long to take in the beautiful mountains of this country I have come to love. I can’t wait to smell the aromas produced by local street vendors. I can’t wait to walk the streets of Xenacoj where smiles and stares greet me. And I can’t wait to experience the magnificent people who hold my heart.
Our family is going back again. There are many reasons for our trip (admittedly some of them are selfish):
- We want to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in Pennsylvania. We have found the pace of life so different in Guatemala. Relationships and activities aren’t rushed. They happen when everyone is ready. They happen when they happen.
- We want to wrap our arms around the people we have come to love – families, children, widows, brothers, sisters, and friends. It’s been nearly two years since our last visit, and we miss the people of Xenacoj.
- We want to re-calibrate ourselves. A trip to a third world country for a week or two (or more) will teach you a lot of things (if you let it). In the past, our family has learned a lot about being content with very little, about being generous, and about caring for those in need. Yes, this is how we try to live here at home. But there is something amazingly powerful about traveling even further outside your comfort zone.
- We want to help widows and orphans. We want to encourage. And we want to help them get on their feet to help them survive and thrive. Widows and orphans in Guatemala are often forgotten. We want to help them know they are loved and valued. We want to give them the boost they need to make it to tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. We want to be the voice for those who don’t have a voice. We want to help tell their story, so others will get involved to help.
- We want to do something with our lives that matters. Life is so short. We have a relatively short period of time to leave our mark. Our names may not be remembered in Guatemala, but I’m convinced these trips have helped families get on their feet. And I’m convinced the fruits of our labor will far outlast us. Our kids are different, because we went to Guatemala. Assuming our kids have families one day, their families will be different.
- We want to follow God’s calling for our lives. In the great commission, Jesus instructs us to go into all the world sharing the gospel. For our family, this means going into our local community and going to Guatemala.
God continues to shape and mold us, and He takes our selfish, misguided motives. And He shows us over and over again how good He is.
Many of you know, I have a goal. I want to build 100 houses in Guatemala before I leave this earth. I’ve helped build three homes so far. Only 97 more to go!
A couple of months ago, our family launched a gofundme.com site to help raise funds for our trip and for building a house in Guatemala this summer. We had already paid for our airfare and some of our expected expenses, but we needed to close the gap the costs associated with the trip and the house build. When we launched the fundraising site, we honestly weren’t sure what to expect. Would people step up to close the gap? Would we have the funds to build a house this summer? Would God provide?
Why did we doubt?
God is so good!
If you check out the gofundme.com site, you’ll see that we are close to meeting our goal. We will definitely be going to Guatemala, and we will definitely be building another house.
It gets better!
God is so, so good!
I received a phone call last week. Someone is stepping up to make a second house possible this summer.
Sometimes, serving others requires a leap of faith. And often, reaching our crazy, big goals requires one step at a time. We questioned and we doubted, and God provided through others.
God is so very good!
As our family prepares to return to Guatemala, we are humbled and thankful. We can’t wait to see how and where God continues to work. Thank you for being part of our journey.
What leap of faith do you need to take? What’s preventing you from seeing God’s goodness in your life?
[Note: If you want to get in on the action our family is taking this summer in Guatemala, please pray for safety and effectiveness in our ministry. If you want to give to the cause, click here. Any funds raised above our goal will be used to build more homes in Guatemala. Thank you!]
Commitment to Prayer
When we work, we work; but when we pray, God works.
What would happen if you made a decision to pray for somebody every single day for the next month?
This is a question that somebody in my Friday morning men’s group posed to the group last week as we were closing up our time together.
We talk a lot about doing things for people, and we talk about wanting to share our faith. But do we put prayer behind it? And what would it look like if we put corporate prayer behind these requests?
In other words, what would happen if a whole group of men (or a whole group of people) made the conscious decision to pray for the same person every sing day for the next month?
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
I think there is amazing power behind prayer. That power may be to impact the person for whom we are praying, but I also think there is amazing power to impact our own lives and the lives of those in the group of people who are praying corporately for the same person.
On Friday, my group decided we were going to pray for three people for the next 30 days, and I am interested to see what happens to the people for whom we are praying and for the people in our group.
“If you are willing to invite God to involve himself in your daily challenges, you will experience his prevailing power – in your home, in your relationships, in the marketplace, in the schools, in the church, wherever it is most needed.” Bill Hybels – Too Busy Not To Pray
Have you ever made that kind of commitment – to pray for someone every day for a month? What was the impact on your life? What was the impact on those for whom you were praying? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
For other interesting articles on prayer, check out these links:
- Prayer Thoughts (Jon Stolpe Stretched)
- W2R Take Home 2: Make Prayer A Priority In Our Marriage (Jon Stolpe Stretched)
- Why Pray? (Rob Shepherd)
- How Are You Going To Pray In 2016? (Larry Carter)
- Pray Anyway (Shawn Washburn)
Podcast Interview @ And Dad Makes 7 with Rocco DeLeo
Yesterday, my friend, Rocco DeLeo, released the first part of our interview for his podcast – And Dad Makes 7. In this part of the interview, we talk about being “On Track” in the various aspects of life. Please stop by and give it a listen. I had such a blast talking to Rocco, and I believe our conversation will encourage you. Get to the interview by subscribing to his podcast or by clicking here.
After you give it a listen, let me know what you think in the comments below.
When The Waves Grow Fierce Around Me
I had the best of intentions.
I had every thought of writing a nice, new “STRETCHY” post last night for you today, and then my plans kind of got derailed.
There have been a few things going on in my world the past few days that have caused a little higher amplitude to the normally steady, manageable waves I’m used to experiences. Sometimes, life causes us to experience fear, anger, anxiety, disappointment, and fatigue. I think I’ve felt a little bit of each of these things over the past few days.
Instead of writing a nice, new “STRETCHY” post, I’m left writing something with more rawness. I hope you don’t mind.
I wish I could fix things.
I wish I could mend relationships.
I wish I could tear down walls.
I wish I could heal wounds.
I wish I could make scars vanish.
I wish I could snap click my heals together three times and be home.
I wish I could sleep soundly.
I wish I could just make it all better.
But I can’t. I can’t do any of these things. I wish it wasn’t so, but there are times when I need these reminders. I need to be reminded that I can’t do it all.
But I know the One who can.
I know the One who can fix things (even if I don’t understand the remedy).
I know the One who can repair relationships.
I know the One who can tear down walls.
I know the One who can heal all wounds.
I know the One who provides the security of home we are all looking for.
I know the One who provides perfect rest.
I know the One who can make it all better.
And it’s this knowledge – it’s this One – that keeps me from being swallowed up by the giant waves of life. And this is right where I need to be right now.
The nice, new “STRETCHY” post will have to wait for another day, because this is all I have for now.
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6