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Second Chances
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr94zStsk8E&feature=player_embedded]I resonate so much with this commercial. I’m so thankful for second chances and for people who help me get back up. Thank you!
This Is How I Roll – Blessed Be Your Name
This morning on my way into the office, I heard this song by Tree63 – Blessed Be Your Name. This is how I’m trying to roll these days – if you hear what I’m saying! God is good through the ups and downs of life. Great way to start the day!
Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
Lord Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
Lord Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say Lord,
Blessed be your name
Making Music With My Son
Last night, I decided to take out the saxophone for a little bit. Back in junior high and high school, I used to play it quite a bit. I loved the fact that I could make music and express myself through this instrument. I loved playing in several jazz groups, concert bands, marching bands, pit bands, and even all-state bands.
A couple of years ago, I took lessons again to see if I could get back into playing shape. To some degree it worked. I relearned a few things, and I was able to get my lip back into playing shape.
Getting back to last night, my son has been working on a few pieces for us to play together. Isaac has a real gift; his ear for music is incredible. He enjoys playing the trumpet. And his piano skills are really coming along. Last night, we jammed to two songs, Going Home and Tequilla Sunrise. It was so much fun to play with him. We both have some work to do before we’re ready to take our show on the road, but it is so much fun to play together.
Today, I’m thanking God for this gift of music.
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
Thankful!
This afternoon and evening, I went to the wedding of a co-worker with my beautiful bride. Here’s a picture of us before we left. I’m so thankful for today and for Leanne.
Strength to Carry On…
It seems like I’ve connected with a lot of songs recently. I am thankful for the words that song writers have to share. I sometimes wonder what they may have gone through in their lives that have inspired them to write the very words that resonate with me. Tonight, on the way home from work, I heard another song that really met me where I’ve been. Steven Curtis Chapman’s When You Are A Soldier reminds me how God carries us when we can’t go any further on our own, cheers us on, and cries along with us when we’re down.
The last couple of days have been good. I am thankful! And I can see where God has carried me to this point. He has surrounded me with encouragement. He has given me strength for one day at a time. And He has brought me light and rest at night.
Here are the words to Chapman’s song:
When you are a soldier I will be your shield
I will go with you into the battlefield
And when the arrows start to fly
Take my hand and hold on tight
I will be your shield, ’cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier
When you’re tired from running
I will cheer you on
Look beside you and you’ll see you’re not alone
And when your strength is all but gone
I’ll carry you until you’re strong
And I will be your shield ’cause I know how it feels
When you’re a soldier
I will be the one you can cry your songs to
My eyes will share your tears
And I’ll be your friend if you win
Or if you’re defeated
Whenever you need me I will be here
When you’re lost in darkness I will hold the light
I will help you find your way through the night
I’ll remind you of the truth
And keep the flame alive in you
And I will be your shield
‘Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier
40
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjtpplE39_g]This morning, I was reading Psalm 40, and I was reminded of this song from U2 – one of my all time favorite bands. The song and Psalm seem to fit in so well with my own life, but also with what is going on as I type this post. 8 of 33 Chilean miners have been rescued so far after being locked in a mine a half mile below the earth’s surface for over two months. As I watch the CNN report, I cannot help but be inspired by the faces of the miners as they emerge from the depths of the earth. I also am inspired by the efforts of the rescue team to stay at it for so long to save these miners.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
“The LORD be exalted!”
17 Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.
Helping Hands
Over the past several weeks, I have come to realize how important it is to have helping hands in our lives – friends and families who have our backs. When life gets stormy, we need people in our lives who will go to extremes to keep our heads above water. These weeks have reminded me how blessed I am to have these types of people in my life. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had friends pray with me. I’ve had friends and family call me to check in. I’ve had friends bring meals over. I’ve had friends and family take care of the kids. I’ve had family and friends pick up a few things at the grocery store at just the right time. I’ve had friends come over to clean up my flooded basement. And these are just a few of the ways that I’ve been supported over the past few weeks. There is no doubt that I am blessed with an amazing support structure.
I’ve thought about this a lot over the past few weeks. The sad thing is that there are many people out there who do not have any kind of support structure to help them weather the storms of life. They must feel like someone lost at sea without hope or help.
– How and why do people become so isolated?
– How can I help people who don’t have support in the storms of life?
– How can I inspire people to reach out to their neighbors who might need a meal, a blanket, or even just a hug?
These are just a few of my questions. I realize that it’s important at this time to make sure our family gets our feet back on the ground. But I’m still looking ahead to the future – in hope, that I can lend a helping hand to those in need.
Blessed
Sunday morning before I even made it into the auditorium of our church, I had been asked more than six times how I was feeling. This continued the rest of the day as I ran into other people. I am amazed at how many people care about me. This is the kind of community that I want to be involved in. The response to my brief illness reminds me how it must have been for the earlier church pioneers. Read Acts 2:42-47 below:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I am so thankful to be a part of a group of Christ followers who are trying to figure this out and live it out.
Until the next post…
Happy Thanksgiving
This year, our family traveled to Dallas, TX to be with my parents and my brother Erik for Thanksgiving. We had a great time, and I’ll try to share more about the trip in some future posts. For the time being, I just wanted to include you all in a family Thanksgiving tradition that we started in 2001 and has continued through this year. We have a Thanksgiving table cloth that comes out every year at this time. Each year we trace our hands onto the table cloth using some sort of permanent marker, and we write down five things that we’re thankful for as we look back on the past year. This has been a really neat tradition as the table cloth now includes family members who have passed on as well as family from all over the USA. Here are the things that I wrote on each of my fingers this year:
1. Grandpa Stolpe – this February, Grandpa went home to heaven. He was a remarkable man and an incredible grandpa. He always made sure each of us felt special. The last time that I saw him living, he introduced me to everyone as his special grandson – because I came on his birthday. This year’s birthday (Dec. 8th) will be a little strange since we won’t be celebrating it together.
2. Supernanny Parenting Group – as you’ve probably read in my previous posts, this group as meant a lot to us this year. I’m thankful to God for the idea, the direction, and the parents who helped make this group a success. I look forward to finishing up the completed study guide for replicating this group before the year is over.
3. Washington, DC Trip – we had one of the best vacations with just the four of us this year when we traveled down to DC for three nights in early July. It truly was a great trip.
4. Job at Siemens – while things are not always easy in the construction world or in the world of a big corporation, I’m thankful to have a job where I’m treated well and challenged regularly. I look forward to my future opportunities in the future.
5. Last but not least, my family – I am truly blessed with a wonderful wife and two amazing children.
Hope you had lots to be thankful for as well this year.
Until the next post, hope you survived black Friday…