Weakness

Weakness sounds like such a bad word!! But I am finding out if our desire is really to be strong we have to go through times of weakness and vulnerability.

I am less than two weeks from my first full marathon.  Our Father teaches us in natural things to prove  spiritual things.  In my training I have had good days and some very weak days.  Looking back I am thankful for the weak days.  For in my weakness it challenged me to change.

In this life we will have heartache.  We will experience weakness.  But in our weakness we find we can't do it alone.  We need Him and each other.  We find that it is not my life that brings me life, but it is your life that brings me life and my life brings you life.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:8 (MSG)

Beloved Son- Aaron Custer

Acts 13:36 Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;

Aaron Custer served God's purpose to his generation and he has fallen asleep.  My greatest honor in life is being chosen to be a father.  God, our Father has chosen me and my dear friends Stacey and Cody Custer chose me to be a Father to Aaron, Lacey and Brett.  There are a lot of  achievements we can attain in life.  I believe being a beloved son is the highest.  A-man you achieved it and I am proud!  I have never seen nor heard of what I have experienced the last two days.  Aaron's life has touched so many.  When Jesus died His request to the ones He loved was to allow His life of sonship to live in them.  Now it is my turn to allow Aaron's life of sonship to live in me.  Aaron you are my beloved son whom I am well pleased.  Thank you Cody and Stacey for sharing your son and your lives with Lorissa and I.  You guys are the most faithful people I know!!  

Simple Not Easy

Yesterday I was talking to my oldest daughter Chaynee.  We talked about how the choices in life that bring life are simple choices.  We came to the conclusion that simple and easy aren't the same thing.  Here are our examples:

It is simple to get off the couch and exercise not easy.
It is simple to open a book and read not easy.
It is simple to believe in yourself and others not easy.
It is simple not to talk about others not easy.
It is simple to order clean food not easy.
It is simple to not drink coke not easy.
It is simple to hear the voice of Our Father not easy.
It is simple to overlook an offense not easy.
It is simple to forgive not easy.
It is simple to show mercy not easy.
It is simple to be compassionate not easy.
It is simple to LOVE not expecting anything in return not easy.

I fear that just like the devil deceived Eve that we will also be deceived and forget the simplicity that is in Christ!  May the Father by His LOVE for US give us the power to make the simple choices to allow His kingdom to come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Rebellion or Religion?

Neither!!! Rebellion- is a refusal of obedience or order.  Religion- a set of beliefs concerning the purpose of the universe.  I have tried both and haven't found life in either.  My days of rebellion when I said deep on the inside "to hell with it" allowed me to shift blame to who I thought was the self righteous, the hypocrite, but still didn't help me do my part.  My days of religion when I was so sure of how right I was concerning scripture allowed me to look at other peoples short comings and be critical and not accurately judge my own actions.  I still struggle through rebellion and religion, but I do know life is found in Our Father.  It is not rebellion to His order or believing I have the head knowledge that would fix the world.  It is following His Spirit that He has given to each one of us that would be willing to receive.  It is not following my head knowledge that leads me in to truth, but following His Spirit that lead us all into His truth.

US and THEM

I believe as a follower of Christ I must fight against the separation of us and them.  It can begin with my doctrine or theology or moral code.  I begin to "tie the ends up" and begin to think I know who is in (us) and who is out (them).  Maybe not overtly but subtly I believe I have God figured out and I know the method in which to find Him.  And if you are not finding Him the way I believe,  you are them and we are us.  When in truth Jesus taught us to pray Our Father.  No one group does or will ever have God figured out (He is pretty big).  An us and them attitude will produce pride and limit our ability to accurately represent who He really is.  LOVE!!! :)

Heaven or Hell

Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!  Heaven or hell is a present day experience.  When we choose to follow what Father is saying,  Heaven  comes.  Or we choose to do it our way and have hell to pay.  When we live by His characteristics: love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion, Heaven comes.  When we live by criticism, bitterness, envy, pride, hate and strife, hell comes.  It is our choice.  Eternity is now and it is our choice how we live it.  Jesus way was always God's way.  He always brought Heaven! Heaven or Hell it is our choice!

Failure

Is failure a bad thing?  No, not when you handle it correctly.  Lorrisa, Brandon, Jill, Gabe, Stephanie and myself met in Dallas for a 1/2 marathon.  Lorissa and I have been training hard getting  ready for my first 26.2 full marathon.  So I thought this would be a breeze and would be able to PR (1:39).  Not so!  I bonked at about seven miles and crossed the line in 1:46.  I trailed Lorissa and Brandon the whole way as they were easing through the race.  There are reasons (excuses) for my performance, but none of them quenched the fire burning inside me.  The only thing I knew that would quench the fire is to redeem myself at my next race.  The only way to redeem myself is through training.  You know,  time spent.  OKC Memorial is in ten days.   I guess we will see?  But I have a feeling through my new commitment, 1:38 here I come.  When you believe you have failed in life it is a chance for a fresh start.  A new commitment.  The majority believed Jesus failed when He died on the cross.  He knew differently, He was prepared for His race.  Failure is just a temporary timeout for a new commitment.  Thank you Father for  "failure" (in the world's eyes) and allowing Jesus to die for us.