The other night as we were getting ready to go to bed, Hannah looks up at me, holds up her finger and says, “I’ll be right back, I have to go check my email.”  She’s 2 years old mind you and she has to get out of bed to go check her email. 

That one incident let me know that maybe our society is a little too consumed with technology.  Hannah has heard us say on many occasions that we are going to check our email and she has picked it up. 

It got me to thinking about how often we are consumed in our life with, not only technology, but also things that distract us from our families and more importantly distract us from our relationship with God.  You notice, Hannah didn’t say, “I’ll be right back, I have to go read another chapter in the Bible.”  Or, “I have to go pray a few more minutes.”  So in all of our busyness, what are we doing that is the most important?  Is it checking another email or finishing up some household chores?  Is it filling our schedules with events and other things or are we making time for the deeper things of God?  I believe we miss some our greatest times with God because we have too many other things to do.  Make a renewed effort to grow in your relationship with God.  Don’t let busyness consume you!

Many people have a hard time with the growing old thing.  They do not like to get more wrinkles, or lose their hair.  Others do not like the thought of leaving their youth behind.  For me, getting older is not that hard.  Now granted, I am only turning 37 but I find beauty in growing old.  When we go through life as a believer,  the game of life is different.  We look at things different!

Growing older doesn’t just mean we are one step closer to death’s door.  We are not even guaranteed to grow old.  Growing older doesn’t just mean we will be getting arthritis sooner.  Growing older doesn’t mean that we have lost our zest for life or even our youth.  To me, growing older means that I am growing older in Christ.  The older I get the more mature in Christ I get.  For the believer, we are meant to grow in Christ.  So with years, comes more maturity and growth.

In the Bible you see incredible blessings when men and women of God grew older.  As Joseph and David turned thirty, their dreams were coming to pass.  Abraham and Sarah’s promise was fulfilled when they were finally in their nineties.  Anna, at the age of 84, was in the temple day and night.  Certainly, there are some good things about getting older.

I look forward to the future of life, if the Lord tarries His coming.  I am excited about the prospect of young minister’s seeking out an old man for wisdom.  I can’t wait to see how my prayer life and knowledge of the Word have grown when I am in my seventies (if I am privileged to live that long).  So on this birthday, I am looking back at my Christian life and look to see how far I have come since I gave my heart to Christ.  God has been good to me!

Looking through a box of Valentine heart candy always makes me want to spend more time with Sonya.  It always describes with simplicity my love for Sonya, as well as my heart’s desires.

The candies read:
Soul Mate
You Rule
UR Mine
and my all-time favorite…Kiss Me.

Sonya and I have spent many valentine’s together and these words still ring true.  She is my soul mate.  She is mine.  And yes, I like her to kiss me.  I am fortunate that God has allowed us to be partnered together for life.

“This past Sunday I reminded everyone that if we Christians are asked what we want to do with our lives and our answer is anything smaller than, “I want to change the world” than we are offending God with our small expectations because God is changing the world and he has enlisted his fallible people to join him in his work. Small things are used by the Devil to fuel big anxieties–which inevitably become big distractions. Don’t let him get a foothold. Don’t let the “ankle bites” steer you off course (and don’t allow yourself to become an ankle biter). If your vision is smaller than God’s vision, it needs to change. Focus on the Big Things!”

-Tullian Tchividjian-

"For half a century I have been writing my thoughts in prose and in verse—history, philosophy, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song. I have tried all. But I feel I have not said the thousandth part of what is in me.

"When I go down to the grave I can say, like many others, ‘I have finished my day’s work!’ But I cannot say, ‘I have finished my life.’ My day’s work will begin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes on the twilight, it opens on the dawn."

—Victor Hugo

In the last 24 hours I have lost two friends, both to different forms of cancer.  Yes, they were older friends but they were also people I greatly admire and love.

First was the wife of a dear friend of mine.  In fact, I consider him my father in ministry.  For years he served as a pastor while his wife, Denise, served in the home and in various ministries in the church.  As a pastor’s wife she often didn’t get the recognition he did or the “glory” of the role of pastor.  She simply loved God, loved her family, supported her husband and served the church.  The pastor’s wife is the unsung hero of the church.  She often bears a heavy load from the sacrifices she makes because of ministry.  Denise was a faithful wife and supporter of the ministry even when it was tough on her and her family.  I believe as she has now entered into Heaven, she will receive the crown of life with joy.  She hears the Heavenly Father say, “Well Done, thou faithful and good servant.  Enter into the joy of the Lord.” 

For many people, they think the pastor receives the greatest reward, I don’t.  I have nothing theological to back it up but if God counts the sacrifices the pastor’s wife makes, there will be a great reward.  What sacrifices?  Dinners interrupted as her husband takes a phone call to minister to someone.  Vacations cut short to come home and bury a church member.  Listening to her husband share the burdens of his heart, while she quietly silences her burdens.  Helping her husband fulfill his dream for a great church, while she lays aside her life’s dreams to support his.  Raising her child in a fishbowl and holding her tongue when she is criticized.  Always displaying joy and grace even when she is heavy-hearted.  It is the pastor’s wife, not just Denise but all pastor’s wives, who are the unsung heroes of the faith.  We will miss you, Denise!

This morning, my friend, Reggie passed away.  He loved life and loved people.  Every time I would be in mullygrubs, I wanted to get around Reggie.  When I wanted to give up on ministry, he was the one I wanted to talk to because he was so full of joy.  No matter the circumstances, Reggie would look at it from a positive light.  He ministered to thousands of people.  He had a heart of compassion for the down and out.  He breathed life into every church he pastored and encouraged people to pursue their purpose in life.  Many times when I wanted to grumble and complain about my situation, Reggie would tell me to speak positive because you eat from the fruit of your mouth.  I often wondered if Reggie ever got down in the dumps.  But I never saw him that way.  We worked together on a couple outreaches and he came to life when he witnessed to people.  He would love on people no matter the color of their skin, how rich or poor they were, young or old.  He loved people!  Reggie was an example to me.  The greatest principle he taught me was, “Make the best of where ever you are.”  We will miss you Reggie!

“John Brown in a letter of paternal counsels to one of his pupils newly ordained over a small congregation:

“I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small, in comparison with those of your brethren around you; but assure yourself on the word of an old man, that when you come to give an account of them to the Lord Christ, at his judgment-seat, you will think you have had enough.”

-Mark Dever from an interview with C.J. Mahaney when asked “What single bit of counsel has made the most significant difference in your leadership?”