Spelling Test and Baseball Games

Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength"

Janet and I have been teaching this verse to our children every since they were infants.  Sometimes we wonder if our boys are 'getting it'.  The other day, I was really blessed to see one of Dawsons test come home from school.  It was a spelling test and obviously it had many words on the page.  At the bottom of the page however, Dawson had written the words "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength".  He even put Phillipians 4:13 at the end of it.

The very next week Dawson had his first big time baseball game.  He is playing in the minor division of the Little League.  They played him at various positions including pitcher and first base.  I was nervous for him pitching although he did extremely well.  After the game he asked "dad, you know when they played me at first base?"  I responded "yes".   "Well", he stated, "I was really nervous about that position.  My knees were even shaking I was so nervous.  So I just started repeating over and over in my mind, 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength'.  Then I was able to settle down and make the plays!" 

He showed me a new wristband that he had recieved from his grandparents.  Then Brayden, hearing the conversation, showed me his wristband as well.  Imprinted on both of those wristbands is Phillipians 4:13.  They both shared with me that they are wearing these bands to school everyday, as well as everywhere else, to remind themselves that God is helping them with everything that they face everyday. 

My heart was pounding like any proud papa.  I want my sons to know where their help comes from.  Not just in baseball or for a spelling test, but with everything in life.  In my opinion, Dawson certainly passed the test and regardless of the score of the baseball game, he won! 

Life can be tough, that's no secret to anyone of us!  We can face some difficult 'test' along the way.  Sometimes we are challenged to attempt things that are a little out of our comfort zone.  But if we will keep this verse in mind we can be encouraged.  This scriptures implies that it is not in 'us' to do all things, rather it clearly states that it is 'through Christ that we can do all things'.  We when really begin to understand this then we can move forward with a confidence and assurance that we can face any challenge.

I know that as a father I am to be continually teaching and training my boys, but through Dawson's spelling test and testimony of God helping him on the baseball field, I feel as though my son has taught me.  There are many challenges in life as a husband, father, minister, friend and, quite frankly, simply as a man that I often feel overwhelmed about and inadequate for.  I want to be like my boys, confident that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK:

"PLAY BALL"  Get out and play some baseball together.

"Still Growing"

                                            
"I have hid your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you."  Psalm 119:11

The other morning I was shaving and my seven year old, Chandler, was watching me intently.  He said, "Dad, I am going to have to start shaving pretty soon because I am growing up fast and I already have some hair on my face."  I told him I knew that he was growing up quickly.  He was very excited about the reality of his maturing and the pontential of facial hair.  Of course, I was thinking to myself, shaving every day is not all that young men think it is.  But that thought was overshadowed by the concern of not wanting to see my little man grow up too quickly.  I wanted to tell him that growing  up is a process and that he won't be shaving a soon as he thinks  but I chose to let his boyhood fantasizing continue.

Why is it that when we are young we wish we could grow up faster and when we are older we desire to find a way to make time slow down so we can grow slower, (perhaps in more ways than one)? 

As I thought about the conversation with my youngest son, I thought about how true that this is with our Christian growth.  Sometimes it seems that we forget growing up in the things of Christ is a process.  None of us experience instant maturity, although many of us think that we would like too.  God uses everything in our lives to contribute to our growing up in Him.  Circumstances that we would wish to avoid.  People that rub us wrong.  Set backs and struggles.  Schools, jobs, churches, athletics, the arts, even our hobbies and extra curricular activities can all contribute to our growth as followers of Christ.

As I continue to mature in the Lord I am continually asking God to help me to not despise the process.  Sometimes I would wish for instant maturity, but it never works that way!!  There are some things that we learn by experience.  Some things we learn through books and studies about God's Word.  We learn from other followers of Christ.  We learn in small groups, in large groups and even when we are all alone.  We are continually learning as children of God. 

  

I don't know how soon Chandler will actually be shaving because everyone's growth is different.  To me, the important thing is not WHEN will Chandler shave, but the understanding that someday HE WILL be shaving.  With that in mind, let me encourage all of us that it is not so important how fast we grow in the Lord, but the importance that we ALL should be growing!  Let me close this blog with a couple of questions:  What are you doing, intentionally, to contribute to your growth in the Lord today?  What are you doing to grow in the things of the Lord as fathers and sons?

ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK:

Find a book to read together that will help you to grow in your understanding of God.   A book that I have been reading with my boys is by C.J. Mahaney and is entitled "The Cross Centered Life".  It is an easy read and is helping us all to grow closer together and closer to God.   All of three of my boys and myself are enjoying the readings. 

"Fathers on the Floor"

       "The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God."  Galatians 8:16

My youngest son Chandler doesn't care much for sports.  His brothers play just about every sport available to them, but Chandler has only tried a few.  A couple of months ago he decided to play a sport that neither one of my other sons had ever played, floor hockey.  He was very excited about the opportunity to play something different and I believe that somehow he hoped to identify himself a little more through it. 

I was able to attend his first game and he played hard.  It is not an easy sport to play and Chandler put forth a tremendous effort.  That evening we complimented him on how well he had done just as we normally do.  I wasn't expecting what happend in the early morning hours of the next day.  Chandler woke me at four A.M. the next morning as he crawled into be with Jan and I.  I looked at him and he seemed to be wide awake.  He asked "Dad, did you like how I played last night?"   Now I don't know what you are thinking about at four o'clock in the morning, but I was visiting intensely with Mr. Sand Man and in no condition to respond responsibly.  Chandler's question, however, pulled me out of my slumber.

I really believe that at that moment my son and I had a divine encounter with our Heavenly Father.  I responded to Chandler, "I thought you played great tonight son, but what made me the most proud was the fact that you are my son!  I was just proud to see you out on the floor, playing in the game!"  (I know that had to be the Holy Spirit, because that would not be my normal response so early in the morning.)  Chandler smiled a great smile and then contently snuggled up close to me and drifted back to sleep.

In that moment however, I felt God speak to my heart words that I needed to hear.  I had been walking through a period of time in my life where I was feeling like a total failure.  I felt inadequate as a husband, a father, a minister and even as a follower of Christ.  I felt as though I had disappointed many in my sphere of influence, but it was my wife and my children that were of the most concern to me.  I took some radical steps to try and get some things figured out and attempted to find my focus again.  It was in the stillness of the early hours that morning that I felt God reassure me that He, my Heavenly Father, was pleased with me.  Not because of how I was 'performing' my responsibilities, rather, He was proud of me simply because I am His son and I am "on the floor", playing in the game!  I felt my Father so close it was if He was snuggled up close to me. 

Wow!  I needed to hear those words of life and to feel his presence near.   I began to think differently at four A.M.  I began to understand that my life is not about trying to make God proud of me!  He's already proud of me because I belong to Him!  My Father is pleased with me because I am on the floor, I'm in the game,  not based on my performance!

What about you?  Are you feeling like you have been failing as a father?  As a son?  Do you feel as though you are not 'performing' well enough to please your Heavenly Father?  Today, REST in the reality that those who have committed their lives to being a follower of Christ, belong to Him.  We are His sons!  He is proud of His children, every one of us!!  Not because we 'play' the game well, but simply because we are on the floor!!!!

ACTIVITY FOR  THE WEEK:

Go have a special date together and share with each other how much you mean to one another and how proud you are of them just because!

"A Father In The Night"

A few nights ago, my oldest son Brayden, had a rough night.  He was very frustrated and seemed to make every attempt to let his parents and brothers know just how upset he was. As the evening progressed he got very angry with me and at my attempts to correct him. Ofhis own choosing, he went to bed earlier than normal obviously hurt and very angry. 

In the night, Brayden had a bad dream.  He came to my bedside and woke me, telling me of his nightmare.  He asked if I would come into his room with him until he fell back to sleep.  Without even thinking about it, I jumped right up and went to his bedside, eager to comfort my son.  I put my arms around Brayden and held him tight, quietly speaking to him.  I let him know I was right there with him and that everything would be okay.  Within moments, peace and sleep overtook him and he rested well for the rest of the night.

As I held my son I thought of the great love of our Heavenly Father towards us, His children.   We get frustrated in life.  We experience feelings of anger.  Sometimes, out of our hurt, we hurt others.  Sometimes we even yell at God.  But in our darkest of nights, when we are afraid and feeling alone, we can turn to Father God and we find that He is there.  His love for us remains the same.  He holds us securely in his arms and reassures us of his continued faithful presence.

I am glad to know that my son knew he could come to me, no matter what had happened prior to his fear.  He knew that I would be there for him.  He knew that I would not turn him away.  He knew that I would receive him.  He knew that I would respond to his need.  He knew that I would remain with him.  He knew my love had not changed!

I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father is more dependable for us, His children even greater than I could ever be for my own sons.  God is there for us in our darkest of nights.  No matter what we have done, or what has transpired in our relationship with Him, he remains the same loving Father.  Maybe you need to be reminded of this truth today.  Maybe someone around you needs to hear this truth. 

"Be still and know that I am God……"  Psalm 46:10a

ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK

     Have a 'camp out' on the living room floor together as father and son(s) 

"Teaching My Boys To Do The Backfloat"

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation."  Isaiah 12:2


A few weeks ago the boys and I went swimming.  We had a wonderful time ast hey showed me all of the new things that they are learning to do in the water.  My two younger boys have not yet learned how to do the back float so I decided it was time that they learn how.  Chandler is my youngest son at six years old and he laid right back into my arms with very little coaching.  he was afraid at first I could tell, but as I gently spoke instructions to him, I could feel him relaxing.  He eventually kept his head above water and floated!


Dawson is eight years old and is my middle son.  He struggled much more than Chandler for some reason.  I tried to encourage him as I gave him the same instructions as I had given to his younger brother.  Yet despite all of my attempts to put Dawson at ease, he just had a really difficult time of relaxing.  Fear seemed to overtake him and he just couldn't trust me. 


As I calmly assured them that I would hold them up, and not let them go, it was almost as if I cold hear my Heavenly Father speaking those same words directly to me.  "Trust me!  Relax, I am holding you!  I will not let you go, it will be okay.  Just lay back and trust me."  Man did I need to hear those words!  Maybe you do also.


One son chose to trust and the result was far greater than he had ever anticipated.  My other son struggled to relax in the trustworthy hands of his father.  Which would I be?  Would I dependantly relax into my father's arms or would I struggle to keep myself upright?  To be in control?  I know God spoke to me that day.  I have a choice.  So do you!  Let's not doubt that our Father in heaven is able to keep us afloat even when we feel vulnerable and anxious.   Why not trust in the faithfulness of our Father to hold us up with His might arms. 


Take a minute and reread our verse of scripture again.  This time read it together as father and son.  Talk together about the reality that our Father God is completely trustworthy!  (BTW, from this fathers heart, there was NO WAY that I was goin to let my sons be destroyed!)  Our Father loves us with a great love! 




ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK


   Go swimming together as father and son(s).

"Putting Jesus In The Attic"

                                            
                                       

This year's outdoor nativity set was different than the previous years for us at the Lee home.  Something was wrong with the electrical cords for Mary and Joseph so only baby Jesus "lit up".    Although the set didn't work like it was supposed to I tried to make something positive and spiritual out of the situation telling the boys that this was the way these outdoor sets should be anyway as only Jesus is the "light of the world".  Okay, so maybe that is a bit of a stretch to justify the bad wiring, but hey, it seemed to work.

A few days after Christmas I put Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus away in the attack of the garage for another year and something just did not seem right about it.  There is something inside me that feels very sac-religious and almost hypocritical each year when I hide Jesus away again.  This year I began to think about the reality of putting away the "lit Jesus".  Somehow it seemed that there was a lesson to be found in what I was doing.

Interesting that every year around Christmastime most of the world thinks about Jesus more than most any other time of the year.  Typically empty churces are often filled on the weekend before Christmas and most certainly on Christmas Eve.  Billboards and signs that normally promote the things of this world now host messages about the Savior of the world.   All of this amazes me but it is people, their kind deeds, and generosity in the name of the Lord that impresses me the most.  I can't help but to think, what if 'Jesus shined' like this year round. 

And then I remember that He does shine year round.  He shines through his people all of the time.  Well at least he should.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; nor does it give light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light shine before men, that they SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

I shared this scripture with my three boys.  It was a great reminder to us that although I put away the nativity for another year, Jesus will continue to SHINE through his people throughout 2012.  Suddenly I didn't feel so bad for putting Jesus away in the attic one more time.  The truth is, His light still shines.  He shines through our kindness.  He shines through our words and deeds.  He shines through our love for each other.  So today I challenge you both father and son, to let your light SHINE! 


ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK


Do a good deed together as father and son(s).