Should we keep that?

So Kristi and I are moving in 3 days. Wow, that's really close. The last several weeks and days we have been packing and packing, or so it seems, only to ask ourselves the question, "should we keep that?" Isn't it funny how you accumulate things over the years? I know I've bought so many things that get put in a corner, drawer or some out-of-sight place only to come across it and decide, "you know I really didn't need that". I'm sure we all get caught up doing those things too.

With all the packing we have done, inevitably I have come across many things that never get used, or I just can't (or have decided not too) take with me. So what do you do with that stuff? Well, I made a run to the Christian resale shop down the road with a bunch of stuff this morning and it got me thinking about giving.

Since I accepted Christ at 18, I've heard many conversations about giving. Most of the time the topic always included two distinct topics. One was giving away, and the second was getting back. It never seems to fail how many of those conversations always began with helping someone else, giving to the church, etc, but always ended with God giving back ten-fold. That hit me this morning as I was delivering my lawn mower, weed-eater and blower to a friend's house after I dropped off the other stuff we needed to give away.

What hit me was, I don't care if I get anything back by helping someone else out. The best thing I have gotten by helping others through the years, is the great feeling of doing what I know to be right. That seems to be enough. I don't have to pray about it to see if it's right, I just know it's right and make it happen. Yes, I do believe God returns our generosity in many ways, but we should ask ourselves the question, "If I didn't get anything back for doing what you know is right, would I do it?" I would like to think most of us would, but then again, why do we always tag on what God will give us back when we talk about giving things away in the first place? Maybe it's because we live in such a material world, that we almost always feel obligated inside to justify our actions in a way so we know what we give up will come back. I guess this is a security blanket, and we must talk it out to make ourselves feel better.

My challenge to you is, is there something that you could be giving away or do for someone else that you know to be right but you haven't done it yet? If so, make it happen. Stop praying about whether you should or shouldn't and just do it. It is right and you know it.

Control Freak

Ok, I have to admit, I like to be in control. No, I love to be in control. When things need to get done or I have a lot of things to do, I hate waiting on getting things done. Let's do it now, do it right and get it over with. That's my motto.

But sometimes, life doesn't let you do it your way, or in your own time. I love my wife. She's so good at reminding me to focus on God and have faith. "God will work it out, Brent." That's what I've heard for a couple of weeks since we made the decision to move to Tennessee. And so far, she is right. Even though there are still things that haven't been finalized, most everything has worked out. So why shouldn't I believe the rest will too?

It's funny how God allows us to be in situations where we must trust Him. Even in a situation where He opens a door and you know you should walk through it, He still must be trusted. It's how we should live our lives. Not just how we should live a moment, or a temporary situation, but all of our lives. Worrying gives me a headache, it's draining, and I hate it. Lord, keep molding me.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:25-34).

Lining Up

Have you ever heard the statement, "Well, it looks like the stars are lining up?" That's the way my life feels right now. Things just seem to be lining up. Times like this don't really happen very often in our lives. I guess its because God's plan and timing take time to develop and things have to be worked out that we don't even know about. Other times it seems there are lessons that must be learned or hardships endured to become ready for God's movement. Either way, God's timing is perfect I've found. His movement never seems to be on our schedule, but it's never late either.

Some years ago I read a book called When God When. At this time I was faced with some deep longings for God to bring someone special in my life, yet nothing ever seemed to work out. I found myself crying out to God asking this very question of the book's title. When will you work in my life God? When will this happen or when will that happen? I think we all go through these things from time to time. The nice thing about living by faith is getting to look back and really see how God worked in our lives giving us the confidence that he is working now, whether we see it, feel it or know it. God is working to line things up.

So whenever you feel down or just plain blah about what is going on, remember, God is working behind the scenes. He is working, allowing you to become mature in Him, so the next step will be a great one by His standards.

Yep, things are lining up. We move in two weeks to a place I've only been once, yet everything that has happened over the last month, both good and bad, point the way to be followed. Ok God, I'm taking a step of faith. I trust you will be found faithful again.

Goodbye

I had the opportunity to share a tribute for Kristi's grandmother on Wednesday. Here is what I was able to share:

On behalf of the entire family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your presence here today to celebrate the life of Winnie Stover. We would also like to thank Richland Hills Christian Church for your ministry over the many years that Dean and Winnie Stover called this church their home. To the widowed women’s group, we say thank you for your friendship and care as you watched over Winnie for all these many years. And to Marcy and Betsy, we thank you for taking care of your mother, our Grammy and Great-Grammy, during her final days.

To Grammy, today we say thank you one last time. Thank you for a warm bed and a place we could call a home away from home. Thank you for the hot meals and the many desserts. Thank you for the midnight conversations and just listening to our hopes and dreams. Thank you for always greeting us with open arms and an inviting smile. And most importantly, thank you for living a life of example to help us become better human beings.

We can only imagine and assume, but we know today Winnie Stover would want us to celebrate. She would want us to celebrate life. She would want us to celebrate each other. And she would want us to celebrate and take comfort in the very knowledge that she is home. She is finally reunited with the love of her life Dean Stover, and she finally sits before the throne of the Most High in praise, adoration and thanksgiving. And she would want us to know her life doesn’t end here today, but is just starting in eternity. For this reason Winnie tells us today do not fear death, celebrate life and enjoy the blessings each of us are given.

Her example of loving life, loving people and loving Jesus is her gift to us, and as a result each of us are left with a small piece of her generosity and kindness. However, all of us are given far more than a small piece of who she was. Today we receive another torch to carry, passed down by those who lived their lives in honor and service to God. For this reason we are given the opportunity to receive it and hold it high for all to see, unashamed of the message which God has for all us, and unashamed to follow in the footsteps of another passionate lady and Christian, by loving God with all your heart, soul mind and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

Grammy, we can only imagine how you are standing among the great cloud of witnesses today cheering each of us on to live a life worthy of the example of Jesus, and encouraging us to live life fully, giving until it hurts, and loving unconditionally. We will miss you, but we must take a hold of the faith given to each of us to make a difference in this world as you did yourself. May we all accept this challenge that you pass to us today.

All of our love, your grateful family.

Whirlwind

WHOOSH... That's the only way I can describe the last several weeks. Sometimes life moves faster than you want it to or faster than you thought it could. Is it God? Is it just circumstantial? Is it destiny? I've always believed that God was right in the middle of all of our lives, directing the very things that go on and using that which might not be directed. I don't know. I haven't figured out that essence of how God actually works, but I do know that I trust Him. I trust Him to direct me and help me make decisions. I trust Him that when things come into your life that are unexpected, good or bad, He always deserves our praise. I trust Him, when He only gives you a glimpse of the next step, you ought to take it and forget what the next step after that is. Easier said than done. And I trust the little voice inside that speaks clearer that most of us tend push down and not listen to, including me.

So the last several weeks have included complications with Kristi's pregnancy, the death of Kristi's grandmother, viewing, funeral, job interview and offer, and now contemplating whether moving halfway across the country to take a great job. It's what we've been waiting for, just happening way faster than what we would ever imagine. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe God's fast pace sometimes causes us to stop thinking and start walking, not knowing what the next step is, but taking the first step first. He's gotten us this far right?

So the next step is making a quick trip to Northern Georgia, Southern Chattanooga, TN. Is it God? Only a quick trip will tell.

Radical Generosity

Cindy Kienow, who works at a popular restaurant in Hutchinson, Kansas, had been waiting on one of her steady customers for 3 years. He always tipped her well, sometimes leaving as much as half the tab. Then he outdid himself—he gave her a $10,000 tip for a $26 meal. He told her, “I want you to know this is not a joke.” What an amazing display of radical generosity!

Paul advised Timothy to encourage the wealthy in his congregation to display radical generosity (1 Tim. 6:18). Timothy ministered in the prosperous city of Ephesus, where certain members of the church were wealthy. Some of these people didn’t understand their responsibility to the kingdom of God. So Paul challenged Timothy to remind them that having great wealth carried great responsibility. That included being humble, finding their security in God, not in riches, and using their money to do good. How they handled their money revealed the condition of their heart.

Even if we’re not wealthy, God has called us to radical generosity. We can share what we do have and be rich in good deeds. If we have a generous attitude about money, we are much more likely to be generous in other matters concerning the Lord’s people and His work. — Marvin Williams

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share. —1 Timothy 6:18