Father's Day

My Dad. There are many wonderful things about my dad. He is generous, dedicated to his work, has a sharp wit, loves my mom, loves spending time with his grandchildren, and above all loves God. It's that love that changed my father's legacy. See, my dad wasn't raised in a christian home. He didn't have examples of Godly fathers or husbands. Oh, there were good men~but not ones that took him to Sunday school or read him the Bible~or were living pictures of God. When he and my mom were newlyweds living in Turkey, a sweet man taught my dad the Gospel. He could see the power in the truth and couldn't get enough of Gods Word and teaching. He went to school and became a preacher. That forever changed the path my dad has traveled down. My sister and I reaped the benefits of that daily. We played Bible quiz on long car rides, had family devos, went to church camp, and had limited access to tv and radio {I didn't even know Billie Jean was a song on the Thriller album until I was in college}. We witnessed the love he had for my mom everyday, saw what God wants husbands to be. He was a dedicated father. Doing his best to be at each activity, coach my softball team, listen to my unending singing, and build quilt forts over the ping pong table. He disciplined us when needed and delighted in seeing our faces when we got the special gift our little girl hearts were longing for. All of those little moments taught us about God. About how God, our Father, loves us and cares for us. About how He disciplines us, and delights in our joy when we get our hearts desire. On Father's Day, 23 years ago, my dad baptized me. I was living out the legacy. Years later, I married a Godly man. So too, my sister. Again, living out the legacy. We both now have children and are doing our best to raise them as God wants us too. I have no way of knowing how life would have turned out had my dad never obeyed the Gospel, but I do know the legacy he has created by doing so. We know the promise of heaven, the hope of things to come, the peace of a loving Father. Every Father's Day I think of my dad and how the legacy he has created is touching generations to come. He is my earthly example of my heavenly Father. He is my dad. And I am blessed beyond words to have him.

The simple truth

One of my favorite things is reading and talking about relationships. Single relationships, marriage relationships, parent-child relationships, friendships, just about anything you can add ship to. I chose a degree and career that played into that. I hit these isles at the christian bookstore as often as I can. It's a huge part of my life. HUGE. Lately, I've noticed a lot of books about being overwhelmed. An overwhelmed parent, an overwhelmed child, an overwhelmed christian. As I sat talking with a friend one day, she complained about her kids being overwhelmed with homework, her husband being overwhelmed with his work schedule, and her being overwhelmed with trying to keep up with everything else. Her desperation was evident. Her exhaustion, her list of "to-do's", her piles and piles of laundry are ever mounting and she is sinking further and further into a never-ending ocean of stress. Listening to her was, well, overwhelming . I found myself suggesting several books and a great website. I left thinking how much I wished there was an all encompassing resource. How there was one book, if read and put into daily practice, would be a blueprint for keeping it all together. Then, like writing on the wall, I passed a church marquise that read "A Bible falling apart belongs to a person who isn't". There it was. In huge letters, high about the street. The simple truth I needed to remember. God gave us the ultimate "self-help" guide. He provided that blueprint. We may read every book ever written about our "issues", but they will never give the peace that comes from being in God's Word. My love of all things relational has provided me some really great tips, suggestions, options, even spreadsheets. They are great tools. But, if I want to "keep it all together" I have to wear out my Bible.

"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple". Psalm 119:130.

Hhhhmmmm.....

Is it bad that I watched The Biggest Loser while chowing down on cookies?