911

On Saturday morning my oldest daughter came up from her bedroom and was complaining that she had a headache. I too was experiencing the same thing, along with dizziness (more than the usual). An hour later my youngest daughter came upstairs stating that she did not feel good. All of the sudden she's running to the bathroom to throw up. I thought,"What's going on?Are we all getting the flu"?Later , I called the kids to come up for lunch. My wife was at a ladies seminar and my oldest son had spent the night at a friends. I was the cook and I had prepared a great meal, frozen pizza! When my oldest daughter came up from the basement she looked exhausted. She sat down at the kitchen counter and rested her head. As I turned to get something I heard a loud bang. I turned around and found her on the floor. She had passed out. As I approached her, I knew that something was terribly wrong. Her eyes started to roll up into her head and she began to convulse. "Dear God", I thought, "What's going on?" Suddenly she went totally limp. She was not responsive. I thought she was dying. I ran to get the phone and dialed 911. After a couple of rings they answered and I began to explain my situation. A few moments later my daughter began to open her eyes. She stood up and asked, "What happened"? I told 911 to never mind the ambulance, I was bring her into the hospital myself.

As we frantically prepared to go, my youngest daughter came up from the basement crying and saying that she did not feel good. My three kids and I drove to the hospital. Half way there it dawns on me. I think we have carbon monoxide poisoning.

After blood work on all four of us, they confirmed my suspicions. All four of us had carbon monoxide poisoning.

God has certainly reminded me of several things through this.

1. People matter most.
I could have cared less about my possessions, status or successes, what mattered most was my family. I have always been a hugger, now more than ever. I realize how fast life can change. I had a wake up call to the things that matter most.

2. We must be ready to die.
We never know when that time may come. Some people say, "I have time" or "I'll decide later". The Bible says, "Now is the time of salvation". If you haven't given your life to Jesus, now would be a great time. I'm thankful that my entire family was ready.

3. He is my protector.
Psalms 138:7 (NIV) 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

4. Have a good, working carbon monoxide detector.
A digital one the reads the parts per million and that says "nighthawk" on the package is the best according what I've been told.

Renewed Strength

This morning in my time of prayer the Lord put a verse in my heart. I know the things that I'm about to share were for me, but perhaps it will encourage you.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Have you ever had a day, week, maybe a life :>) where you felt absolutely exhausted. Sometimes I have so many things on my plate, that I feel I have nothing left to give.

I remember a professor I had in college that had a reputation; A reputation for falling asleep. One day I sat in his office visiting with him and he fell asleep. "Wow" I thought, "am I that boring"? He did this to others also so I didn't take it personally. In fact he had a sign on his desk that read, "I'm not asleep, I'm just thinking with my eyes closed".

Whenever I'm overly tired, it always leads to irritability. I get cranky and short with those I love the most.

The Holy Spirit told me this morning that the reason I get so exhausted is because I am not waiting in the Lord's presence like I need to. What happens to me when I am not in close communication with the Lord is that I start to take on things that He never intended for me to do. I start living out my agenda instead of His.
What also takes place is that my battery drains. If I don't spend adequate time in the presence of the Lord my battery isn't recharged. When I stay in the Word, pray and worship the Lord, I am refreshed. I feel like I can mount up with wings as eagles; like I can run, and not be weary; like I can walk, and not faint.

Let me share a few other verses that remind us of God's strength in our life.

Exodus 15:2 (NIV) 2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) 10 Nehemiah said, "... Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Right now would be a great time to turn off the computer and take some time to be with Jesus.

Stress Reduction, part 2

5. Dont try to be something you are not.

• Be who you are (Within reason). We all have areas of our life that need to be changed in order to be more like Jesus, but Jesus has made each of us unique. He did that for a reason. You will only frustrate yourself be always wishing you could be someone else. Chances are, they are wishing they could be like you.

6. Learn from criticism without personalizing it.

7. Share the load and ask for help.

• Surround yourself with people who are gifted in areas that you are not.

8. Have a safe, perspective-giving peer group.

• Do you have people that love you enough to tell you the truth, to keep you in perspective?

Stress Reduction, part 1

This week I am attending a seminar for minister's and their spouse. I come to this every year with the expectaction that my battery will be recharged and my tank re-fueled. This year my expectactions have been exceeded.

Jim Bradford, who pastors Central A/G in Springfield, MO, was called in at the last minute due to the illness of the scheduled speaker . Think of the stress this must have caused in his life. Ironically, in this mornings session he spoke about stress.

God knew I needed to hear this. It was if I was the only one in the room and he had been reading my mail.

Over the next couple of days I want to share with you a few of the points that Jim taught on.

1. WATCH FOR THE DANGER SIGNALS

• Can't Sleep
• Grumpy
• Irritable
• Paranoid
• Physical Symptoms

2. SCHEDULE INTENTIONAL REST

• One day in seven is God's rhythm

3. CHANGE WHAT YOU CAN BUT DON'T TRY TO CONTROL WHAT YOU CANNOT.

• Keep the two seperate.
• Stress reduction becomes stress management
• Every problem in ministry is not your fault.

4. LEARN TO LAUGH AND CONSTANTLY FORGIVE.

Communication

Today our nation witnessed the importance of good communication. Last night, word was spread that the 13 miners trapped underground were alive. The families began celebrating and church bells were ringing in celebration of prayers answered. Three hours later, the chears and smiles came to a screaching halt as the loved ones were told that all but one of the miners were confirmed dead. I couldn't begin to imagine how the families must have felt. It's beyond describing it as a "rollercoaster of emotions".

One person thought they heard something that was never said...and then repeated it.

Poor communication has been the root of a lot of broken hearts. From marriages and families, to close friends and co-workers; the lack of communication has caused some hard and unnecessary feelings.

My wife and I attended a Gary Smalley Marriage Conference a few years back. One of the sessions was on "communication". The way they taught it was actually pretty funny.

Most of us have ordered food at a drive-thru restaurant. The process of ordering food is the same process we use when it comes to good communication.

1. State what it is you want or need.
2. The person listening then confirms what they heard you say by repeating it back to you. "This is what I heard you say".
3. You then say, "yes that is correct", or "no, this is what I said".
4. You restate your order.
5. The person listening repeats back what they heard until you confirm they understand it.

Bingo...another happy customer.

It takes great patience and listening skills for good communication to occur, but in the end it is worth the effort.

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 13 He who answers before listening-- that is his folly and his shame.

Vacation

You may have noticed that I haven't written anything for a number of days. I just arrived home from vacation. I love to take vacations with my family. We always have a great time getting away from our busy schedules and playing. This trip wasn't to Hawaii, or the North Pole. It was only two hours away. We went home for Christmas.
Our vacation playing included; ice skating, the Mall of America, board games, watching movies, reading books and sleeping in.
I have found that one of the most spiritual things I can do is rest. I can get a little cranky after a week of meetings, counseling families, and a lot of administration that comes with being a pastor.
God Himself thought it was a great idea to rest. After he created everything, the Bible tells us that on the seventh day He RESTED.
GOD BELIEVES IN REST.
Psalms 62:1 (NIV) 1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV) 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
You see, I wasn't kidding. Rest is spiritual.
I know you, you're a bear when you haven't slept enough or properly. You're ornery when you haven't been able to take some time off and get away. We all need rest and vacation.
Now might be a time to shut off the computer and close your eyes for a few minutes.
Now might be the time to check out a vacation deal online.
NOW is definately the time to come to the Lord and let Him give you rest!