Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last week my wife Traci made homemade chocolate chip cookies.  I’m sure everyone remembers the smell coming from the oven, and the great taste they have just out of the oven.  If they are made correctly the chips melt even days later when you eat one.  They are just a wonderful thing to have, even if they aren’t too wonderful for you.

As I was eating one of the chocolate chip cookies the other day I thought about how much I enjoyed that cookie.  The flavor was just perfect, they were not burnt at all, and the chips were melting just perfectly .  Then I related this to my Christian walk.  How at times I just have it perfect.  I’m fully experiencing the love of my Heavenly Father, and it melts in my mouth.  I experience it like the cookie, almost like it’s a little hug from the person who made it. 

The other thought about that cookie and its relationship  to my Christian walk is that oftentimes I enjoy it so much that I don’t want to share.  Yet, when I do share, I get to pass on the love to others who will enjoy it as much as I do.  Why wouldn’t I want to share that cookie, or God’s love, with others?  Why wouldn’t you?

Rate It!

Have you ever looked something up on the internet before you purchased it to see what others who own that same thing think about it? Have you ever noticed that the majority of the time there are more negative comments than there are positive? Why is that?
I’d say that there are more negative comments because oftentimes the unhappy people are the ones who make the biggest fuss. Instead of us celebrating something we really like and enjoy, we keep that happiness to ourselves, while those who are unhappy rant and rave and make everyone know they are unhappy.

The point I’m trying to make this week is that maybe we need to start showing joy a lot more than we do. If we’re truly happy with the Christian lives we’re living, why don’t we show that in everything we do? Why can’t others see it in us all the time?

It’s time to start drowning out the negative and expressing our happiness with God and our relationships with Him. If we do that, just maybe others will want to be a part of this life as well.

Determination

This past weekend as I stood on top of my roof I had one thought going through my head, I gotta get this work done so I can get off of here!  That is right, at that point I was determined to get the work done.  What got me there, let me explain.

So at least two months ago I decided that I was tired of paying Time Warner Cable for TV channels.  I was looking for ways to cut some costs and I found alternatives to allow our family to still see some TV shows we enjoyed.  The only thing we were really going to miss was sports.  Then a little over a week ago, after weeks of research, I purchased a TV antenna for my house that would hopefully get us at least the main 4-5 local channels I wanted, which would allow us some football games, etc.

So on Thursday I had a friend come over and we worked on putting the antenna in the attic.  We got everything hooked up just fine, but the results were bad.  We didn’t get much of anything receptionwise, and after a few hours of work we gave up for the night.  I then went and continued researching what to do, and finally resolved that I’d have to put the antenna outside on the roof.  I’d avoided that because I’m not a lover of heights, and I didn’t know what I was doing.  Well, after much research Saturday came along and I had everything I needed to get the job done.  A different friend was there to hand me whatever I needed, but I was going to be the one on the roof doing the job.  I had two choices, either not do it that day, or do it myself.   Well, I was determined to get the work done as I didn’t think we’d get another nice day like that when I had the time, so I took the steps up the ladder and got up on the roof.  Long story short, I now have an antenna up on my roof that is properly wired and securely attached and it’s something I accomplished even though I’m not all that handy overall.

Upon reflecting on this adventure I was able to get a perspective that I didn’t expect at the time but have come to appreciate since.  When we’re determined to do something, we can accomplish our goals even if we didn’t know how to accomplish that goal prior to doing the work.  I was determined to get a clear signal for my house.  I was determined to do it right the first time.  I was also determined not to be rushed to the ER from falling off the roof! 

How often are we as Christians determined to accomplish a goal?  How often are we determined to reach someone for His kingdom?  How often are we determined to do that one thing that we feel He’s asking us to do in order for others to do their part for the kingdom of God?  This weekend I was determined, God gave me the great conditions to work in, and not only did I accomplish my goal, but we also receive a number of other channels I had never even hoped to receive.  You see that my determination to complete the goal not only allowed me to reach the finish line, but I received more than I could have imagined before.  What if we actually completed all the goals that God gave us to achieve?!  Do you think we’d all be even more blessed than we hope?  Do you think the kingdom would be blessed?  Are you willing to be determined for God and achieve His goals?

Joy

I know that I’ve been talking about my kids a lot lately on here, but what can I say?  I really enjoy them and my daily dealings with them give me some ideas for the blog, so here I am writing about them again.

This weekend I really got to experience joy.  I had all three kids in action at their sports.  I got to watch them all play well and do well for their teams.  Abby played soccer Saturday morning in the rain and mud, and although she didn’t score any goals, she braved the elements and ran all over the field, only days after having a cold that she was still trying to get over.  Sunday Andrew’s U9 B division soccer team finished up an undefeated season with him as the starting goalie for the team.  Andrew played very well all season and really has improved throughout the year.  After that game I was able to watch Noah and his 6^th grade football team win their first game of the season.  He couldn’t be stopped by the opposing team and really led the charge for the defense and played very well on offense as well.

Why do I mention this?  Is it just to brag on my children?  (Which I’m very happy to do btw!)  Because of that joy I was able to experience.  As I was looking back at the day that was, I started to reflect about what kind of joy we give God daily.  Does my working hard at my job give Him that kind of joy?  When I spend time with my kids does that give Him joy?  What about when I do well playing a sport, leading a Bible study, praying with others, spending time with my wife, etc.?  The answer – YES! 

How great it must be to experience as much joy as God does, eh?  I only got a glimmer of that joy this weekend, and He has billions of people He gets joy from!  Yet, when I experienced the joy that I did, I had a hint of what it’s like to be Him. 

What have you gotten joy from lately?