So I'm listening to Dr Phil and need to say to all the stay-at-home-moms and stay-at-home-dads . . . WAY TO GO!!
To you working mothers and fathers - WAY TO GO!
Forget that you work out of the house or work in the house as a parent. YOU ARE PARENT'S! Love your children with all you are.
Go now . . . give them a hug.
God has called you to be all that you can be . . not the Army. . . God!
Be the man that God the maker of heaven and earth called you to be!
Be the woman that God the creator of the stars called you to be!
Now go. . . give them a kiss.
Your child needs that touch and needs you to be all you can.
Forget the title of stay-at-home or working . . . and love them!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
The light goes on
How come no one told me I hadn't been on here in forever?
Guess that speaks for how many people are reading my thoughts.
Well, I'll say that yesterday was probably the saddest day of my life so far and yet the most exciting. Yesterday was our last day at New Works. God has reaffirmed in my life the call to youth ministry. And has called Angela into that with me. Oh how God has blessed me with this excitement! But it is sad that the work God has been building for nearly the past 10 years has come to an end for us. We will continue to pray for New Works leaders and for our family there. I love you guys more than you will ever know.
And now . . . to a new adventure with A J K and L!!
Guess that speaks for how many people are reading my thoughts.
Well, I'll say that yesterday was probably the saddest day of my life so far and yet the most exciting. Yesterday was our last day at New Works. God has reaffirmed in my life the call to youth ministry. And has called Angela into that with me. Oh how God has blessed me with this excitement! But it is sad that the work God has been building for nearly the past 10 years has come to an end for us. We will continue to pray for New Works leaders and for our family there. I love you guys more than you will ever know.
And now . . . to a new adventure with A J K and L!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sipping Turtle Soup
So in my book today one of the key thoughts that kept pressing itself was two words. "Our Father"
Yeah the Lord's Prayer. That's what the books starts with. BTW, Becoming the Answer to our Prayers, is (somewhat) the name of it.
Anyway, back at the ranch;
Our Father. Our. This prayer begins with a small 3 letter word that we may have overlooked before. Our. Jesus as he's teaching the disciples (and eventually us) to pray begins with "Our"
It begins with a statement of relationship. Our. Not mine, Not yours. Our Father. As some of us know, God is all about relationships.
Adam and Eve
The Trinity
Lion and the Lamb
(just to name a few)
In speaking of prayer He says "where two or more are gathered . . ." - relationships
Marriage, biological family, small group Bible studies, etc are all morsels - little glimpses - of community.
God has invited us into a great feast. And often we miss out. We stop short.
Truly praying the Lord's Prayer as members of the church is inviting God to make us what we already are - the beloved COMMUNITY of a new humanity.
OUR FATHER.
Again, I'm not sure where each of you are with being in a relationship with God. But please comment. Share your thoughts, agreements, disagreements with this statement. It doesn't matter how eloquent or not you are. I want to hear from you. Or I wouldn't have tagged you. :)
Peace
Gary
Yeah the Lord's Prayer. That's what the books starts with. BTW, Becoming the Answer to our Prayers, is (somewhat) the name of it.
Anyway, back at the ranch;
Our Father. Our. This prayer begins with a small 3 letter word that we may have overlooked before. Our. Jesus as he's teaching the disciples (and eventually us) to pray begins with "Our"
It begins with a statement of relationship. Our. Not mine, Not yours. Our Father. As some of us know, God is all about relationships.
Adam and Eve
The Trinity
Lion and the Lamb
(just to name a few)
In speaking of prayer He says "where two or more are gathered . . ." - relationships
Marriage, biological family, small group Bible studies, etc are all morsels - little glimpses - of community.
God has invited us into a great feast. And often we miss out. We stop short.
Truly praying the Lord's Prayer as members of the church is inviting God to make us what we already are - the beloved COMMUNITY of a new humanity.
OUR FATHER.
Again, I'm not sure where each of you are with being in a relationship with God. But please comment. Share your thoughts, agreements, disagreements with this statement. It doesn't matter how eloquent or not you are. I want to hear from you. Or I wouldn't have tagged you. :)
Peace
Gary
Friday, April 3, 2009
Sitting in the lap
So, I've started a new book. Not that I've finished the one I'm supposed to have done. But I've started "becoming the answer to our prayers."
I read through the forward (or introduction, I can't remember what it was called as I sit here and write) and even there the book had come cool thoughts. One that stuck out goes kind of like this:
"Prayer is like a little girl playing at her grandma's feet. She doesn't have to say or do anything to please grandma (she's content to watch her play). The most beautiful moment is when the child grows tired. She crawls into grandma's lap to be rocked. To hear a lullaby. To feel a kiss on her forehead and feel the warm embrace of love."
And really how true is that? It's less about what we say, and more about being with the one we love. It's about being there together.
Thoughts???
I read through the forward (or introduction, I can't remember what it was called as I sit here and write) and even there the book had come cool thoughts. One that stuck out goes kind of like this:
"Prayer is like a little girl playing at her grandma's feet. She doesn't have to say or do anything to please grandma (she's content to watch her play). The most beautiful moment is when the child grows tired. She crawls into grandma's lap to be rocked. To hear a lullaby. To feel a kiss on her forehead and feel the warm embrace of love."
And really how true is that? It's less about what we say, and more about being with the one we love. It's about being there together.
Thoughts???
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
So . . . Kaitlyn
We have had a crazy few weeks/month! I really thought that I had told everyone about this but apparently we had not... my mind plays tricks on me! So here is all the info...
Kaitlyn went to see the peds cardiologist today... a few weeks ago she complained about her hurt "feeling funny" and when I listened to her with the stethoscope she had an irregular sounding heart beat.... Having not ever heard it myself and not having had a doctor noticed it before.... we asked the pediatrician about it and she referred us to the peds cardiologist to have a work-up.
SOOOO - today she had an echo and a EKG and we saw the dr. The echo was normal... which was good, but she did have an irregular heart beat in the office. We saw it on the EKG and the dr heard it when he was listening (SO I am not crazy!)
It is called a sinus arrhythmia which is the best irregular heart beat to have and generally requires no additional treatment... it's just good to know that it is her baseline. The dr did have us apply a 24 hr heart monitor to see if he catches anything else abnormal. So she is wearing a little monitor around her neck and we take it to the office in the morning for it to be read. They should have a reading by friday.
The other thing that he noticed was a heart murmur ... which no one else has ever noticed... it's very mild. But because he saw nothing abnormal on the echo we can call it a still's murmur which is an innocent or benign murmur. But again it is a good thing to know it is there.
All of that being said- she is cleared for surgery on the 20th unless the 24 hr monitor catches anything else...
That's the info!
Kaitlyn went to see the peds cardiologist today... a few weeks ago she complained about her hurt "feeling funny" and when I listened to her with the stethoscope she had an irregular sounding heart beat.... Having not ever heard it myself and not having had a doctor noticed it before.... we asked the pediatrician about it and she referred us to the peds cardiologist to have a work-up.
SOOOO - today she had an echo and a EKG and we saw the dr. The echo was normal... which was good, but she did have an irregular heart beat in the office. We saw it on the EKG and the dr heard it when he was listening (SO I am not crazy!)
It is called a sinus arrhythmia which is the best irregular heart beat to have and generally requires no additional treatment... it's just good to know that it is her baseline. The dr did have us apply a 24 hr heart monitor to see if he catches anything else abnormal. So she is wearing a little monitor around her neck and we take it to the office in the morning for it to be read. They should have a reading by friday.
The other thing that he noticed was a heart murmur ... which no one else has ever noticed... it's very mild. But because he saw nothing abnormal on the echo we can call it a still's murmur which is an innocent or benign murmur. But again it is a good thing to know it is there.
All of that being said- she is cleared for surgery on the 20th unless the 24 hr monitor catches anything else...
That's the info!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Man I Stink
So not a lot going on. Not a lot to share.
One thing. I love Angela. That will work for now. ;)
See you all later.
One thing. I love Angela. That will work for now. ;)
See you all later.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Totally
I totally meant to come back and answer this ( http://universalgary.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-do-you-respond-to-this-statement.html ).
Before I give my feeble attempt to answer I wonder where you really stand on what you believe. Have you acted on it?
Why didn't you come and answer, how come? Please do. Give a thought any thought.
I asked the question because of a book that my friend and pastor were working through, Revolution of Character. It's been a trying book. Eye opening even.
I have to agree with the statement. If we TRULY believed in what He had to say . . . what he said. Then NOTHING would hold us back. Giving to the poor. The widowed. The orphaned. The least of these. (This is where God is working on me)
Going where He said to go
Going when He said to go
Doing what He said to do
NOTHING would hold us back
We would be so in love with Him.
We Would know He'll really take care of us.
We wouldn't care about the things around us, but on the things He's focused on
The implications are quite profound. We don't truly trust Him to do anything.
We don't trust His love.
We don't trust His care.
We don't trust His heart for us.
If we did our heart would be truly be different.
Our life.
Our society
Our world
Where do you stand?
Before I give my feeble attempt to answer I wonder where you really stand on what you believe. Have you acted on it?
Why didn't you come and answer, how come? Please do. Give a thought any thought.
I asked the question because of a book that my friend and pastor were working through, Revolution of Character. It's been a trying book. Eye opening even.
I have to agree with the statement. If we TRULY believed in what He had to say . . . what he said. Then NOTHING would hold us back. Giving to the poor. The widowed. The orphaned. The least of these. (This is where God is working on me)
Going where He said to go
Going when He said to go
Doing what He said to do
NOTHING would hold us back
We would be so in love with Him.
We Would know He'll really take care of us.
We wouldn't care about the things around us, but on the things He's focused on
The implications are quite profound. We don't truly trust Him to do anything.
We don't trust His love.
We don't trust His care.
We don't trust His heart for us.
If we did our heart would be truly be different.
Our life.
Our society
Our world
Where do you stand?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
wow
So evidently I've not hadn't anything super to share. Either that or I'm waiting for you to answer my other questions. Hmmmmm. Surely it's the last one. LOL
I really don't have anything to share now. I just wanted to read what others have said lately.
So I've shared a list with Cliff and recently the other Gary. For me the reason to have made such a list was humbling. It was a list of sin I deal with. Things that hold me back from deeper relationships. With God. With those around me. It was something encouraged by a book, Revolution of Character. And then Kurt encouraged me to share that with 2 people I trusted. That was even harder than making the list. So I finally shared with both of them. WOW that was the hardest thing. To admit it to someone else. To someone I care for and love. To admit that I'm not perfect.
Yeah, some of you are going "NO DOUBT GARY!" And yet some are say "Really? You aren't?" LOL
But really so often, we think we're okay. We never really take a look at the depravity in us. We don't say it, but often think, I'm not as bad. This had to change for me, yeah I'm not as bad as . . . but I'm not as good as Jesus. And that's been a big difference in my thought pattern.
I just wanted to thank you guys, even though you may not read it. I wanted to say thanks for listening to me and the list.
I really don't have anything to share now. I just wanted to read what others have said lately.
So I've shared a list with Cliff and recently the other Gary. For me the reason to have made such a list was humbling. It was a list of sin I deal with. Things that hold me back from deeper relationships. With God. With those around me. It was something encouraged by a book, Revolution of Character. And then Kurt encouraged me to share that with 2 people I trusted. That was even harder than making the list. So I finally shared with both of them. WOW that was the hardest thing. To admit it to someone else. To someone I care for and love. To admit that I'm not perfect.
Yeah, some of you are going "NO DOUBT GARY!" And yet some are say "Really? You aren't?" LOL
But really so often, we think we're okay. We never really take a look at the depravity in us. We don't say it, but often think, I'm not as bad. This had to change for me, yeah I'm not as bad as . . . but I'm not as good as Jesus. And that's been a big difference in my thought pattern.
I just wanted to thank you guys, even though you may not read it. I wanted to say thanks for listening to me and the list.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
What a sunset . . . !!
EEEEEEKK! I have two "followers"??!! Two people actually reading the stuff I write. Guess I better write well huh?
Well here's my thought today, moments before I head out. . . so it's gonna be short and sweet.
Have you ever really noticed the simplicity of things? Like the beauty of a flower? Simple! The colors of the sunset? Simple. God's call on a life? Simple?
Don't believe me? His first call on the original 12. And now on ours . . . . FOLLOW. To begin a relationship. It's about spending time with him. Follow.
Not stop sinning now then follow. Not get right. Not "you're bad." Nothing like that. It was and is simply "Follow me" - spend time with me - hang with me - simple.
As we begin that and understand that, the steps later become easier too.
FOLLOW.
Till Next Time
Gary
Well here's my thought today, moments before I head out. . . so it's gonna be short and sweet.
Have you ever really noticed the simplicity of things? Like the beauty of a flower? Simple! The colors of the sunset? Simple. God's call on a life? Simple?
Don't believe me? His first call on the original 12. And now on ours . . . . FOLLOW. To begin a relationship. It's about spending time with him. Follow.
Not stop sinning now then follow. Not get right. Not "you're bad." Nothing like that. It was and is simply "Follow me" - spend time with me - hang with me - simple.
As we begin that and understand that, the steps later become easier too.
FOLLOW.
Till Next Time
Gary
Thursday, January 15, 2009
AHHHHHH another BEAR
So frustration is beginning to set it. Levi has gas. Okay so that's not really what's got my knickers in a bundle but it's a good excuse for that moment.
I'm simply wondering why when people don't agree with a given statement they being to not listen to the rest of the story. They begin to defend themselves. Ahhh wait that's our juvenile response to being convicted of something. We don't know how to respond so we simply respond with negativity. I guess I expect more from some people. And then I expect a lot more from others.
I think it's high time to do something bigger than we think we can. I think it's time to do something. Stop giving excuses. Stop whining. Do something.
What are you doing? Are you giving excuses? Are you whining? Are you doing something?
Till Next Time
Gary
I'm simply wondering why when people don't agree with a given statement they being to not listen to the rest of the story. They begin to defend themselves. Ahhh wait that's our juvenile response to being convicted of something. We don't know how to respond so we simply respond with negativity. I guess I expect more from some people. And then I expect a lot more from others.
I think it's high time to do something bigger than we think we can. I think it's time to do something. Stop giving excuses. Stop whining. Do something.
What are you doing? Are you giving excuses? Are you whining? Are you doing something?
Till Next Time
Gary
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ambassador to England
Ambassador - an authorized messenger or representative
So basically the US Ambassador to England is simply someone authorized to represent the US in England. They share what's going on in the US. And speak as if they were the entire US. They have a new residence in England. They send word back to the US as to what's going on where they now are and how the US can help
Just like Christ followers, we are ambassadors. We are authorized to represent Christ.
We share what's going on in Christ.
And speak as if we were Christ.
We are Jesus' ambassador to the place that we live. Earth. North America. US. Missouri. Christian County. Rogersville. Jennifer Lane.
We represent Him where we go.
Do we really want God to open our eyes to the world around us?
Do we really want God to open our eyes to the people we're representing Him to?
When we do . .. we really will realize that we are Christ's example to the world around us.
Then I have to ask myself. What do they really see?
Are they seeing a good picture of Jesus? Or one so messed up that they don't want or understand it?
HMMMMMMMMMM
till next time.
Gary
So basically the US Ambassador to England is simply someone authorized to represent the US in England. They share what's going on in the US. And speak as if they were the entire US. They have a new residence in England. They send word back to the US as to what's going on where they now are and how the US can help
Just like Christ followers, we are ambassadors. We are authorized to represent Christ.
We share what's going on in Christ.
And speak as if we were Christ.
We are Jesus' ambassador to the place that we live. Earth. North America. US. Missouri. Christian County. Rogersville. Jennifer Lane.
We represent Him where we go.
Do we really want God to open our eyes to the world around us?
Do we really want God to open our eyes to the people we're representing Him to?
When we do . .. we really will realize that we are Christ's example to the world around us.
Then I have to ask myself. What do they really see?
Are they seeing a good picture of Jesus? Or one so messed up that they don't want or understand it?
HMMMMMMMMMM
till next time.
Gary
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Realizations
So today I made the realization that some people just don't want to put in effort to make things happen. People want to complain that things aren't working the way they are and yet don't want to do anything to make it better. They don't want to put themselves out there to do something bigger. Better. More. They're content to let others do it, or not. And then complain that it's not happening. What would happen if we all did something when we thought something needed done. If instead of complaining that it wasn't done, we just started doing it. What would happen if we got out of our shells and became what we were supposed to be? The man. The woman. The husband. The wife. The son. The daughter. Sister. Brother. Whatever. That we were created to be. Imagine it. Now what's holding you back?
Till next time.
Gary
Till next time.
Gary
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Son of Moto?
So I post a blog. I chose Son of Moto. Wanna know why? After watching Madagascar 2. . . . I need to. Of course it should be Son of "Moto Moto, a name so nice you gotta say it twice".
I really have nothing to say. I just thought I'd be cool and get a blog. I don't really blog on Xanga or MySpace. And not sure if blogging is done on Facebook. I need to figure that out. Anyway. Any thoughts on what to write?
Hey Cliff, Levi's not farting as much today. LOL
Anyway, I'll leave you with this thought . . . . You're ready. You just don't really realize it. God has called you to something greater than what you think you can do. And when He calls. He'll empower you. You just have to do it. Are you willing to take the chance that God really knows what He's doing?
Till next time.
Gary
I really have nothing to say. I just thought I'd be cool and get a blog. I don't really blog on Xanga or MySpace. And not sure if blogging is done on Facebook. I need to figure that out. Anyway. Any thoughts on what to write?
Hey Cliff, Levi's not farting as much today. LOL
Anyway, I'll leave you with this thought . . . . You're ready. You just don't really realize it. God has called you to something greater than what you think you can do. And when He calls. He'll empower you. You just have to do it. Are you willing to take the chance that God really knows what He's doing?
Till next time.
Gary
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