Flicka

I am not usually an emotional person, but this night was different. My eight year old daughter and I had just finished watching, "Flicka", a movie about the struggles of a daughter and the love of her father. As the credits were scrolling across the screen, I sat down next to Savannah who was bundled in a blanket on the living room couch.

I looked into her beautiful brown eyes and tenderly said, "Do you know that you are very special." "Yes." she said with a confident smile. With a curious tone, I asked,"Why do you know that you are special?" She simply stated, "Because you say I am and that is good enough for me." Her response warmed my heart.

Savannah believes she is special because she trusts in my words. God's words are even more trustworthy. He has a special love for me ... for all of us. The more I realize this ... the more it warms His heart.

Flat Tires

I just couldn't believe it. As I pulled up my snowy driveway and got out into the frigid February air, I noticed that my wife's mini van appeared to be lopsided. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that our gray toyota mini van had a flat tire. You may be thinking, "What's the big deal about a flat tire." For me it was not just one flat tire, it was the second flat tire that day. As a matter of fact, within the last seven days I had bought two new tires for the car, one new tire for the van, and now was about to take another trip to the repair shop. "Unbelievable, what's next?!", I muttered as I stared at the deflated tire.

In the midst of my frustration, I realized that the situation was effecting my attitude. I paused and thought, "Was it really that terrible?" I mean ... I did have the money to pay for the repairs, none of the flats occurred in unsafe areas, and I do have a trustworthy auto repair shop to assist me. Though inconvenienced, it really was not that big of a deal.

I had a choice -- was I going to rise above the situation or allow the situation to negatively effect my attitude. The truth be told; on this occasion, I probably fell somewhere in the middle. Well, at least for a little while.

itunes

The search was on. With $15 to spend in my itunes account, I excitedly began to hunt for a few of my favorite songs. With each click of the mouse, my search narrowed from several different songs to one, "Your Love, Oh Lord". I now needed to choose the musical artists who conveyed its message with just the right style, vocals and instrumental mix. I listened intently to the dozens of renditions until finally making my selection.

With my search complete, I am reminded of God's longing for me to search for him just as intently as I looked for that song. My focus and attention to God's words not only pleases Him, but it is profoundly beneficial to me as Proverbs 4:20,22 states - "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words ...for they, (God's words), are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body."

It is an easy choice to listen and obey God because of the "life and health" that he gives us. However, when I fall short to fulfilling God's instructions -- I will get up and try again.

Homemade Valentine

He searched and searched the church lobby with no luck. Our 5 year old diligently went from person to person looking for someone "who did not know God" to give his homemade valentine. He found no one.

His disappoint would be short-lived, however, as our family entered a local nursing home two days later. He grasped the simple heart-shaped valentine with anticipation, hoping that he would find someone who needed it. His goal would be accomplished as he approached the first person in his view, the nursing home's maintenance man. "Hello, happy valentines day, Jesus loves you," he said with a great big smile filled with joy. The man seemingly surprised by Spencer's boldness, but blessed by his kindness received the hand crafted gift.

Spencer's simple act of love exemplified 1 Thessalonians 5:15b where it states, "... always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." I am often kind to the "each others" in my life -- those I know; my friends. Spencer challenged me to be kind to "everyone else".

Hot Wheels

Ouch!!! Hopping around the room trying not to plunge into a piece of living room furniture, I look down to see what caused the bottom of my foot such pain. There it was, shining with its high gloss paint job and jagged edges, lay ajar on the floor - a Hot Wheel. As I tried to rub out the indentions in my foot, I could feel frustration rising up within me. "Why was there a Hot Wheel in my living room? Which of my boys had left it?!" As the sharp pain subsided, it gave me a chance to put this moment into perpective.

Proverbs 14:17 tells us that "a quick-tempered man does foolish things". In my moment of frustration, I could have foolishly spoken harsh words to my boys. In reality, the hot wheel was on the floor because -- that is where you play with hot wheels. It really did not matter who left it. What matters is how I handle it ... or more truly ... how I handle myself.