I Love My Family
A man’s family is his greatest earthly asset. I have without doubt been blessed beyond measure. I first met my wife in July of 2001 (you can catch a glimpse of our amazing story here) at Heritage Youth Conference in Colorado Springs, CO. We have many wonderful and precious memories from our courting years and into our marriage. February 2, 2010 our family begin to grow as we were blessed by God with a little boy, Carter Daniel Short. Not too far behind came sweet little Avalynn Mariah. They both have great dispositions and are a pleasure to raise. Yet, no one should be surprised as they absolutely have the best mom in the world. She is not only committed to being everything they need her to be, but she is also a sweet and loving wife. Frankly, I would be lost without my family.
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CAPS LOCK
How many would agree that good manners are important?
Good. Me too.
THEN WHY DO YOU USE ALL CAPS WHEN YOU WRITE????????
If you leave the CAPS LOCK button on when you write, then this post is for you. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who did not just talk, they shouted? You wanted to say, look mister, I’m RIGHT HERE! No need to shout!
Essentially, when you use all caps you are shouting at the reader. Similarly, when you use no caps you appear to be mumbling (though mumbling is preferred over all caps).
In short, there is a very good reason for the difference between the caps…
How To Get Where You Are Going
I spent over 5 years in the temporary staffing industry. It seemed I was constantly giving directions to people. I can’t begin to count the times I received a call and someone was lost, needing directions. I quickly learned that before you can give directions, you must first find out exactly where they are. So, I would usually ask questions like, “what are you looking at?” or, “can you see a street sign?”. Until I knew where they were, it was impossible to help them get where they were trying to go.
Before you can grow in God, you must first recognize where you are. You must be honest with yourself and with God. You must identify your shortcomings and weaknesses. This is done by looking into the mirror of God’s Word, and by the “foolishness” of preaching. Only then can you begin to head in the right direction.
Elder D.C. Moody once said, “If you cannot recognize your weakness, you’ll never be strong. If you cannot recognize you’re wrong, you’ll never be right.”
Be honest with yourself. Your success depends on it.
Don’t avoid dealing with problems but embrace them and get some help. A life of skirting the real issues will only end in miserable frustration. Frankly, that’s no way to live.
Positively “Full of Beans”
I grew up on old fashioned home cooking. My mother was a tremendous cook and us boys didn’t complain much. There’s nothing quite like walking in the house and smelling a bunch of pinto beans boiling on the stove and a pan of cornbread in the oven. This simplistic meal was sure to get the saliva glands flowing in a hurry! Now, while I absolutely love just about any kind of bean I’ll be the first to say the thought of eating beans as a sandwich just didn’t do it for me. Beans go on the side of the plate, not in the place of the Angus!
However, Rusty Rowe, owner of Mod’s Coffee and Crepes on Boston told me about Jake’s Black Bean Burger and he acted quite serious so I had to try it. Well, I’ll have to admit it was probably the most scrumptious food I’ve sunk my teeth into for some time (don’t you dare tell my wife).
It was a bit crunchy on the outside, warm and bursting with flavor on the inside. Simply amazing. If you are a vegetarian (I am not) it is not an option for you. You must try it.
Visit The New Atlas Grill on 4th and Boston and ask for the Black Bean Burger…tell them James with ClickandEatNow sent you.
The New Atlas Grill
415 S Boston
Tulsa, OK 74103
Whose Mail Are You Reading?
No where does the devil fight us more, than in our marriages. The marriage union is a beautiful type of the covenant relationship between Christ and the Church. The devil knows that if he can tear down the sanctity of marriage that he has chipped away at the very institution God ordained in the beginning. His first mission was to cause division between the wife and the husband and he has not stopped the assault.
Ephesians 5:21-33 (Hover for partial passage or click to read full passage)
22 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
This concept of submission in the marriage union is becoming scarce. This is the age of rebellion, not submission. Women are pushed to become independent and self-reliant. This is not the plan of God.
25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it”
Likewise, there is a void of true love expressed on the part of the husband toward the wife. We don’t have the time nor space to adequately look at all the reasons why this is the case. For now, we will just acknowledge the fact that in general, husbands do not honor and respect their wives as Paul commands. Our model is “as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it”. Many husbands today take and demand rather than give.
Yet, the intent of this blog post is not to expound on the lack of submission from the wives or the lack of love expressed from the husbands.
It is simply this: READ YOUR OWN MAIL!
Welcome, Avalynn Mariah Short!
About 4:ooam on Thursday 26th I woke to my sweet wife saying, “I think Avalynn is coming to see us today”. Normally, if I see 4:00am it’s because I stayed up way too late so it took just a bit to clear the cobwebs and fully comprehend what she said. Our little baby girl was finally knocking on the oven door wanting out!
After feeling like everything was officially “ready” Sandra announced that Avalynn was welcome to come anytime. She proceeded to say she thought Thursday would be a good day. Well, Thursday it was. Avalynn listens very well for such a tiny little thing.
About 6:00am we arrived at St. Johns Hospital where fifteen and a half months ago our firstborn, Carter Daniel was born. The nurses that helped us with Carter, Susie and Kim, were both there to assist again which was pretty cool. Avalynn arrived at 12:18pm and proceeded to wrap me around her little finger.
Oh my! ”Wow” is the most appropriate word I can muster!
She weighed a whopping 6lbs 3oz and is 20 inches long. She would have been longer but God decided to take some of that length and put it on her feet! Her big brother Carter just loves on her and grins at her. Absolutely the cutest thing in all the world.
Mom and baby are both doing great and for this I am extremely grateful. I feel like a blessed man today.
JEHOVAH is Become My Salvation!
Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
We recognize this passage of scripture to have a prophetic meaning and this will be the focus of this post. It is evident by contextual reading that this prophecy spanned more than just the incarnation, death, burial, resurrection and even ascension of Jesus Christ. Truly, we are not “saved” (I will post on the word “saved” later) until the catching away; when mortality takes on immortality, when we hear those words, “well done, thy good and faithful servant”. The ultimate fulfillment of “God is become our Salvation”; when He ultimately “saves” us from sin, is when we are caught up to forever be with Him. (I Thessalonians 4:17).
So, it seems this prophecy actually spans the incarnation (the Branch in Isaiah 11:1) to the millennial reign following the Second Coming. Isaiah 11:11 says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people…” When His disciples questioned Him in Acts chapter 1 concerning the time He would “restore again the kingdom to Israel” Jesus answered them saying that they were not to know the exact time when His earthly Kingdom would be established. He did not deny the fact that a kingdom would be set up, He just denied them the knowledge of its timing.
In this verse, as well as in chapter 12:1 the wording “in that day” is used. However, this is not speaking of a particular calendar day but it is speaking of the time when God “is become my salvation”. Chapter 12 seems to depict the rejoicing of Israel; the ones whom God’s anger is turned away because they no longer bear the mark of sin. Then all His people can sing the song of the redeemed; JEHOVAH “is become my salvation”.
God is and will always be my Salvation. (Revelation 11:15-17) His work of redemption began with His incarnation and will end when He calls home all of those who has obeyed His plan, the plan that Peter summarized for us in Acts 2:38. Obedience to the Gospel allows us to take part in God’s plan to “save” His people from their sins.
When we stand before our Savior and hear those words, “Well done” we can together sing the Song of the Redeemed and with full understanding say “I’m saved”! Until then, we are “confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in [us] will perform [complete or finish] it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)
I would love to know your thoughts and ideas on this subject.
Smile, and Give Your Face a Rest
I’m sure you have heard the old adage “It takes 47 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile” or something to that effect (read Snopes.com for some interesting insight). I like to add, “But, it doesn’t take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face!” and that usually evokes some response to be sure.
Have you ever met someone that just seemed to always be down and depressed. It was as though if they smiled their face would crack, so they chose to look as if they had been sucking on prunes! While I certainly think there is a better way to live, I do know that life can bring a lot of pain to an individual and sometimes that pain is very hard to grapple with.
In scripture, we find that there is a time to weep and a time to mourn. It is okay to be emotionally affected by circumstances. However, we must learn to allow God to heal those hurts. We must learn to cast our cares upon Him understanding He truly cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) While weeping is biblical, and necessary in it’s proper place (i.e. carrying a burden in prayer, etc), we must remember what the Psalmist said that sorrowful weeping doesn’t last, but joy will come in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) Joy will only come if we allow the giver of joy to take our burdens and carry them for us.
So, if your having trouble smiling, perhaps it’s because you haven’t quite given your troubles to the Lord. Try it. I find it works!
Has your day ever brightened by seeing someone’s radiant smile?
Time Flies
It has been way too long since I’ve posted. This must change!
I enjoy writing to the three of you who read this blog. Okay, so maybe I exaggerate. I really do enjoy writing to both of you though.
Someone asked me just the other day why I blog. Honestly, the main reason I blog is because I enjoy writing. Since I tend to write better when I know someone might actually read what I’ve written, and publishing a book is out of the question for many reasons, I choose to blog.
At any rate, I feel the need to publicly tell myself to start writing again. So, that’s just what I did.
Stay tuned!
About
For those who may not know me, let me properly introduce myself. I’m thirty years old, have a beautiful wife who makes me look good, a wonderful son – Carter Daniel – born February 2, 2010, and a cute little girl – Avalynn Mariah – born May 26, 2011. Life couldn’t be better!
I like music, songwriting, graphic design, leather working, and wood carpentry.
I lead worship and serve under Pastor Gary L. Howard as the youth minister at The Lighthouse Church, where I’ve attended since I was four.
Professionally, I represent an online company, ClickandEatNow, as Business Development Manager.
Overall, I love God and love people – the first helps with the latter.
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