What Fun!

I had the opportunity to go to see the Texas Rangers last night with a good friend. He is also my brother in Christ. I admire his love for his family and his dedication to raising them correctly and know that so much of life is before him. He is an inspiration to me and I wish that I had his attitude about so many things.

We had great dialogue, at least for me it was, I can't speak for him. I enjoyed being with him and being able to meet a friend of his that he apparently admires. His voice lifted when we talked of his children, his wife and his parents. He seemed content in life, not satisfied, content. There is a great difference and he knows it.

It made me wonder, "Do we know what it truly means to be thankful and content?" I hope I do now. It has taken me a long time to get there but I believe God is helping me by giving me people to see living contented lives.

I'll see you later!

Facebook Realities

Yes, it has hit me and hit me hard. The reality of the fact that past friendships that have been left alone for decades still twinge my heart when I find the outcome has been a death. Wow, I could not have been more saddened by news than when I found my dear friend's, Nick Stevens, daughter had tragically been killed in a freak accident last year. We hadn't seen each other or been in contact in over eighteen years. How sad?



We made connection on Facebook and I cried for two days as I read the story of his daughter's passing. It was as if I had lost a close friend myself. I felt hurt and pain in my heart unlike any I had ever had in a friend losing a child. I was amazed at how it impacted me emotionally and spiritually. I longed to wrap my arms around my friend and comfort him from his loss. But, it had been over a year. He had begun his healing and I found comfort in it.



I do not seek comfort for myself in all of this, I am just thrown back into reality that the world is getting smaller all the time and my days are numbered with nothing but better things to come.



Facebook, last week, brought me face to face with the loss of twelve friends I knew nothing about having passed away. I grieve that I had lost contact. I morn the fact that the only thing I will have for the rest of my life is a memory of them, as vague as they are. I have morned the loss of loved ones but for me to see my class and school mate's names on a list of those who have left this life hurt me and I cry.



I hope that now I can keep up better, because of Facebook, and let them know that they were special and still are in so many respects. Teachers, classmates, church family from the past, church camp friends, ministry friends and my relatives, thanks for letting me know how you are doing.



I'll see you later (on Facebook)

Children and Grandchildren are to Love

Well, I'm a grandfather. I am proud to be a grandfather. I have four wonderful grandsons, Kyle, Andrew, Joe Braden, and Joshua. They make me happy and I love being happy.

As I raised my children through the years I heard others make statements like, "If I would have known how fun grandchildren were I would have had them first." I understand the sentiment of that statement to a degree, but let me tell you what I have been thinking about the raising of my family, my children.

I didn't do a great job in a lot of ways, but I made sure of one thing. I loved them and I believe that they knew it. Oh, we had arguments and power struggles just like most families. I had to apologize a lot for the mistakes I made and even had to say I am sorry on more occasions than I care to admit. But, I don't think one of my children would ever think I didn't love them with all of my heart.

I can only hope that my children learned the lesson on loving their families in the way that it was intended. I know that at looking at my grandsons that they are loved and they are cared for beyond their needs. That is a good thing.

I hope that my grandchildren grow up to love their children and grandchildren the way that I love mine. I also hope that my children grow to love their children and grandchildren in that same way.

My children are far from perfect, I know, I brought them into an imperfect world to love, hold, and comfort through the difficulties they would face. I wasn't always right, but I never stopped loving any of them. My children, Lori, Jeff, Tony, and Tim are mine and their mother's joy and bond. We love them and I believe they love us and have learned that love from being loved.

May God bless you in your love for your family.

I'll see you later.

Why Do We Do That?

Why is it that when we travel we ask for prayers for a safe trip, but we fail to pray that same prayer when we drive across town? Why do we ask God to be with our loved ones traveling to see us yet, when they arrive, fail to fall on our knees and thank God for their safe arrival?

We ask a lot of God and many times fail to thank him for what he has given us. We ask expecting God to give us what we ask for, then, when things are given we give no thanks. Too many times we fail to remember that a "No!" is sometimes a better answer. Ever thank God for saying "No"?

I too find this problem at work in my life. So many times I ask God for help in leading me in my studies and then, when the sermon is prepared and delivered, I fail to thank him for clearing my mind to bring the sermon to life. Many times the sermons I am not really happiest with are the ones that get the most "Hey preacher, great sermon today," or "Britt, I really needed to hear what you had to say today. The message was right on target."

Not too long ago one gentleman came up to me and said of a sermon I was not particularly happy with the delivery of and felt I had missed getting the message I was looking to get across to make sense, "Preacher, that was one of the best sermons I have ever heard. I am so glad you listen to God when you prepare your lessons." I definitely stopped right then in my mind and thanked God for the lesson.

What have you stopped and thanked God for specifically lately? Why don't you drop to your knees and be thankful for what he has done in your life in a specific area? Don't expect yeses from God when you pray, expect answers to your needs. Listen to the Father call out your name and lead you to where you need to be and then thank Him for leading you in the direction that is best for you. Thank Him for listening and doing for you what is best.

Sometimes we need to remember to pray about all things. Like I have begun telling folks lately, "Ask God to do for you what is in your best spiritual interest." Then thank Him for the answer, whether it is "Yes", "No!", or "Wait."

I'll see you later.

Liberal, Conservative, or Independent?

Liberal means to most, "You don't think like I do." Conservative means "You and I think alike." Independent means, "You do your thing, I'll do mine." In reality, do we not have a more pressing thought, "I want to do things God's way and not the world's?" No matter how hard we try to be one way or the other we seem to forget that God was very liberal in many areas and very conservative in others.

Maybe its time we started concentrating on God and let Him take care of the world. He asked us to be different and that would make a difference. I am sure that he is disappointed with the way things are now, but when has he not been? He is a gracious and loving God who accepts us where we are and strives to lead us to where He wants us to be. The question is, "Do we want to please the world or God?"

Liberal or conservative take on a whole different meaning when we are talking about ourselves and our relationship with the Father. Question, God gave us the freedom to choose. Did he not try to persuade us to do what He chose for us to do? He gave us the right to be independent in our choices. However, those choices, if made incorrectly, have ramifications which will be shown for what they are in the end. There may be discipline due us as a result of the choices we make independently of God. He is, after all, our Father. Isn't He? I am sure we can answer that question without going into much detail.

So, where do you stand? Liberal? Conservative? Independent? Do we have one hand out and the other on our pocketbooks? Or are we truly just a Christian, just God's child, because we want what is best all round in our lives.

Just thinking!

I'll see you later.

Britt

Oklahoma, You Got to Understand!

First a little history lesson. "Sooners" were cheaters from day one. They went in on the land rush early, therefore gaining an advantage on the "Boomers" and cheating to get what they wanted. Why they would call themselves something that glorifies cheating I don't know. I'm from Texas...I don't understand what they do up North.

Jon Paige asked while we were at camp why Oklahoma was such a poor state. He didn't know his Oklahoma history about the land rush. If you think that it was fair ask someone who is over 80 and lived all their lives in Oklahoma. Roads need work, the political climate is something of a mess, not to mention mirroring the federal government, the native Americans have the gambling rights, and the only thing good about Oklahoma is made up of Texans, and a few outsiders.

No really, I love most of the people in Oklahoma I have met, they are some really great people. Most of them I know have always been friendly and very sporting about my bashing of the "team" from up I35. I am not, nor ever have been an Oklahoma Sooner fan, not even when they play Notre Dame (I usually hope both of them lose when playing each other, but miracles in sports are rare.)

So, as I drove through Oklahoma yesterday on the way home, I exhaled before we crossed the Red River and inhaled the sweetest air I know when we crossed the Red, good Texas breathable air. I didn't want to pollute the good Texas air and hope you wont either.

I'll see you later.

Returning

I never get tired of watching God's children return after an extended time away from home. Spiritually speaking, I can not begin to tell you how many folks I have witnessed in my lifetime return to God with tears and stories that would, as my Grandmother used to say, curl your hair. Story after story of folks walking through the darkness so long that when finally they come to their right minds and begin looking for the light again they have a hard time believing they are worth saving.

Ever been there? I have and it is even tougher when you don't feel comfortable sharing it with anyone. My story is so dark compared to some of the ones I have heard. So much so that I am not going to share it with my readers. Just suffice it to say, "I've been there!" "I know how it feels."

Waking up wondering why God hasn't called your name to judgment. Waiting to see what discipline there will be for you when you finally come to grips with it all. Knowing you deserve so much more than you received in discipline, or have received.

However, on the up side, there is always a light at the end tunnel as we always say. God will forgive and forget and that is his promise. No matter where we come from or what we have done he will accept us back. The father of the prodigal son didn't leave home to seek out the lost boy. He waited patiently for him at home with the rest of the family. His thoughts were on him, his love was with him and his prayers were for his lost son. But, he didn't run after the boy, he waited for the boy to return...to come home...to take his proper place at the table.

Don't wait for God to find you, he is waiting for you at home with the family.

I'll see you later!