Posts Tagged: ‘joy’

A Day Of Boasting 2

A year ago tomorrow I created my own holiday,  A Day of Boasting, inspired by this quote from the prophet Jeremiah:

This is what the Lord says: Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me…(Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God convicted me that it was time to quit my futile pursuit of wisdom, power, fame, or riches.  Instead, He wanted me to get to know Him personally; not just the idea of Him.

So, for the past year He has been knocking down my idols.  The more I seek Him, the more He reveals Himself to me.  The more He reveals, the bigger He seems.  The bigger He seems, the more I trust Him.  The more I trust Him, the more He reveals.

The greatest discovery of this past year was that He loves me without condition or limit.  He has forgiven me completely.  I don’t have to perform for Him to earn this.  He loves me as much as He loves His Son, Jesus.  Can’t get much more love than that!

Most days, as I drive to and from work, I find myself tearing up as I bask in His affection and approval.  I don’t deserve it, but I crave it.  I don’t listen to the radio much anymore.  I want to hear from Him instead.  He fills me with peace and love and joy the more I spend time with Him.

It’s changed my marriage and my fathering.  When your heart is filled with the love of God, it overflows into your relationships.  You care less about you and more about others.  The desire to be comfortable becomes less of a god, and the desire to comfort becomes a mission.

I’m just scratching the surface.  I do not yet know how much my Father in heaven loves me.  I can’t fathom it.  I do not yet know how much He delights in me.  When I do wrong, I’m tempted to take my eyes off of Christ and place them on my failings.  This leads to discouragement and a tendency to do it again.  Instead, I’m learning to gaze at Christ and see myself through His eyes.  He sees me as forgiven.

This coming year?  My goal is to stay in His presence daily and listen.  The more I know Him, the less I have to say.

I hope that sharing my journey will help you find courage to lay down your idols, too.  Look to Jesus.  Find forgiveness.  Find love, joy and peace.  Find acceptance.  Find life!

What is your story?  What do you boast about?

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The Promise Of Pain

Becky tells me she misses my inspirational blogs, and I miss writing them, so here goes.

One of the Bible verses that has been a constant reminder of God’s power and goodness is Romans 8:28:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

The next two verses go on to say that His purpose for us is to grow in Christ-like character, to reconcile our relationship with Him, and to be with Him in glory.  In these words lie the promise of pain.

Pain breaks us.  It humbles us.  It reminds us to call on the Lord.  Then, in our broken state, He lifts us up and injects us with His life-giving comfort, His character, His peace, and His glory.

When, in my own suffering I am tempted to doubt the goodness and power of God, I read the blogs of two childhood friends who know well the purpose for suffering:

After reading their blogs, it is clear that God uses pain to raise up His best servants.  These precious people inspire me as they cling to the promise that their suffering has and is accomplishing ALL that God intended from it–none of it wasted.

I share them with you so that in the midst of your own present or future suffering, you also may find encouragement in their words of hope, joy, and peace.

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First Things First

Re-evaluating priorities and rethinking the purpose of my music

For the past 20+ years I made it my goal to make a living from my music, yet God hasn’t seen fit to bless it in that way. Instead He’s blessed me and my family through software and web development.

If I can find a web/software job, I’m taking it and staying there until God peels me away from it. I’d rather provide for my family everything I am capable of giving them than pursuing a dream that God doesn’t seem to agree with me on. The latter leaves my soul lean.

So I am letting go of the goal which has robbed me of my joy and consumed my mind to the exclusion of more important things. I will still compose and produce music, but only because I enjoy it. It will be a hobby to share, and not so much a business to run.

What does this mean to you, my friends?

The biggest change is in my mind.  The second biggest is allowing my fans to pay what they want for my downloads (including FREE), and to share it freely with their friends.  I will still sell sheet music, CDs, licenses for business use, piano tributes (portraits), etc.  Please stay tuned over the next week as I implement this change.

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Better to forget the things we THINK will make us happy than to forget the things that ALREADY make us happy.

Another thought that has haunted me over the past few months is that I only have seven more years with my oldest daughter.  She’s had a father who is preoccupied mentally and emotionally with his dreams.  What she needs is a father who cares more for her than for himself.

Whatever we can dream up will last for a moment, but children are eternal.

Pursue them first, and then when they are gone, pursue your dreams.  If they are good dreams, they will rise again.

The world says pursue your dreams at any cost; but it is far better to enjoy what God has already given to you with contentment, joy and peace.

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