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Showing posts from August, 2006

Smoke and Mirrors...

I'm remembering that verse in Ecc chapter 2: "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" The revelation in Ecc is that if everything ashes in the wind why not focus on what matters. God gave us specific goals to hit. Put Him first, build the kingdom, rely on Him to provide. Everything is folly and foolishness. Here's the rub though. We as finite humans focus all of our energy on the matters at hand instead of the matters of import. The "rat race" of society keeps us unaware of the promises of God and even His presence. We've got to get out of day to day living and focus on a lifetime of service and blessing. Then we can break free of this "wheel of empty struggle". This message is more for me than you but I cannot keep God's messages to myself. With love I share, God's Man

Are you Open??

Challenge: Are you open as a parent? Are you available? I learned/am learning that I have to be “on purpose” about being open and available to my daughter. She has to KNOW from experience that she can come and talk to me about ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING. Any subject, challenge, issue, anything under the son. But in order to do that I have to be open, receptive, and prepared to stop and listen. Joyce Meyer said this morning that our kids pick up things from us that we don’t like about ourselves. Then, when they resemble that behavior, attitude, etc we begin to not like them, distance ourselves, and resent them for feeling unloved, unappreciated, etc. I thought that was so powerful! I wonder if we as parents are willing or even strong enough to allow God to work on us and REALLY MOVE some mountains out of our lives, I mean REALLY fight against some mediocre attitudes, behaviors, “stinking thinking” so that our children don’t have to go through exactly what we are dealing with at this exac

REJOICE...

I got this great email from my wife today and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Does anyone have any good things to say about life? (Caveat: I am speaking to myself FIRST!!) When I ask about weekends or vacations most people go to the negative first. Well, do you remember ANY good part of your weekend. Forget that it is “never” long enough. Or that it rained when you wanted to grill or the dog ate you new shoes. How many good things happen in life that we just gloss and glance over without a second thought. The Word says, “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say rejoice!!” The emphasis on “Again” has convicted me of the words I allow to come out of my mouth. When someone asks me about my weekend, I usually say good things, but what am I saying about my daily activities of life?? Am I complaining b/c I get requests for information at the last minute or that some co-worker made me mad? OR am I rejoicing in the Lord and being happy on my ability to think clearly,

Quiet Time...

I love quiet times. When everyone is asleep or should be. I've been thinking about what it means to be God's Man. I wonder if David sat and thought about what being God's Man really meant. He was called a Man After God's Heart. Abraham was called a Friend of God. Jesus is God! Where does little Carlton fit in the pantheon of Great Men of God? Where is my place? What is my purpose? How do I cope when my responsibilities seem overwhelming? It's times like these when I can really hear God. I know that He is reaching out to me. Comforting me. He is in every situation and if we can hold on to that truth we can smile and give Him praise. I often ask my god-daughter what are you creating? It's time to tap back into my source. The Creative Power of God. God be Praised. You chose "little" 'ol me. The crazy guy for the Country and stuck me with Your men and said you will do great things indeed. Good Night All God's Man