Same Difference

Lately, I’ve been staying up past my bedtime quite a bit with my youngest (ear infections), and I’ve had a great deal of time to think.  A friend of mine posed a great question about a month ago to me.  He simply stated, “What makes me different?”  It’s the old question God or good?  Are we a Godly people or simply good people?  What is the distinction?

My thought that night has stayed with me.  The word that came to my mind was compassion.  Yes, there are people that don’t have any kind of relationship with God that still show compassion towards others…I get that, but that was one of Jesus’ defining qualities that made him so different.

Romans 12:2(NLT)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

That’s my challenge to you MCC–How can we be different to glorify our Father?  How is your marriage different?  How are your relationships at work different?  How are you a different classmate?

Dessert Pancakes

So tonight I got the urge to cook. This doesn’t happen that often, and I almost didn’t act on it.

What a HUGE mistake that would’ve been.

24 was on the TV, and I was mixing all the ingredients so I could enjoy my delectable treat the moment Jack Bauer was done being my hero for the evening.

This is what came to mind. I wanted the comfort of a hot breakfast, and the tooth decaying satisfaction of a dessert…so this is what happened

Dessert Pancakes

• Made from scratch pancakes
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Peaches
• Powdered Sugar

I probably shouldn’t have eaten this, but MAN it was good.

Lazy day before the snow

Last Thursday it was about 58 degrees outside, so KJ and I decided to read books out in the new hammock I got for Christmas. We had a great time relaxing in the beautiful weather before we got dumped on with snow.

Playing with Photoshop

Give it up

Anyone who does not give up everything he has, cannot be my disciple.  (Luke 14:33)

I’m reading a book titled “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.  It’s a great book.  I have loved it’s “refocusing” nature, and how I am reminded of God’s love for me.

Laura, the girls, and I stayed with my sister-in-law last night on our way to Oklahoma to see my brother and his family for a few days.  Ansley slept in our room, so if she cried, we would hear her (at least Laura would).  I was woken up at 5:30 by my beautiful bride, tossing around in hopes to stir me, so I would get a bottle (she will probably refute this–but it is true).   So now, it is very early, and I am awake.  Betsy was leaving at 6:45, so I got up to have some coffee and chat with her a bit.  While she was getting ready, I opened up my book, and read a little.  Then I picked up my Bible and read a bit in there.  The I put them both down, because I decided that it was too early to be reading this stuff.

I happened to be reading the section from Luke that I quoted above, and the chapter in the book I was reading was “Serving Leftovers to a Holy God”.  What an insane Monday morning read.  It wasn’t what I was ready for at all, but it depicts me.  I read the scripture from Luke and say, “That’s right…preach it Jesus”, but then I really think about what Jesus is saying.  If we don’t give up everything to HIM, we are not HIS.

Ummmm, hold up there Jesus.  You’re talking about the people who aren’t baptized believers right?  Surely squeezing in Bible reading and prayer a few times a week is good right?  I mean, You just came and gave yourself to suffering for me, the least I can do is try to read a chapter a day.

Our time with God is whatever we can squeeze in, or even while we’re doing something else.  God literally gets my leftovers.  If I have a friend that I want to spend time with, I will let Laura know, so I can have a bit of time to be with him, but the time I spend with God is a second thought.  I will take off work to have a “guys weekend”, but have never thought to have a “God weekend”.  God is worth more than our extra time, and I fear what God will do when He sees me NOT giving everything.  Will I not be his disciple?  Am I not His disciple now?  I know I haven’t given up everything, so I guess there’s really no question.

Time for me to change, because I know where God stands.