Author: Wick

Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, Writer, Poet, Friend, reader, coffee enthusiast, hockey Wing-Nut, musical participator, etc...
Posted in Different Scriptures

“one more night”- syndrome

Posted on by Wick

I remember when we switched Addie from a crib to a “big girl bed” (a toddler bed). Lower to the ground, she could finally get in and out as she pleased. As we find difficulties with our younger two making the same transition, I’m reminded of how much Addie loved staying in her bed.

She seemed to be comforted by the bars, snuggling up against them like she used to in her crib days.In the book of Exodus, we see Moses offer Pharaoh a chance to get rid of the plague of frogs. Pharaoh responds, “come back tomorrow and do it”.  (Exodus 8:10)  Which begs an obvious question: If the plague was so terrible (and it seems to have been), why spend an extra night sleeping with the frogs?

We’ve been offered freedom. Freedom to exist, live, relate, receive, and build towards the Kingdom of God. To make choices and decisions based not on what the world would think, our friends or family or social structures at school or work. Not to make choices selfishly based on what “we want, or think” (which can change easily based on emotions/situations) . But actually based on how the Kingdom of God (the Reign and Rule of God) is revealed to exist, both now and coming.

We are given this freedom. The freedom to know we’ve been created for a purpose. The freedom to not have to “conquer” the situations of our life in order to prove the “power” of that freedom. But at the same time, the freedom to stand in the name of God in the midst of injustice, and work towards justice.

But at the same time, we press our faces comfortably against the railings we know so well. The railings of materialism. Of unforgiveness. The railings of jealousy, of pride, of anger. We spend another night captive, maybe out of fear, and maybe out of laziness, or maybe because last time we slept without the railing we fell out of bed and got bruised.

But it still remains. We have been made free. Life to it’s fullest, the nature of God, and the Kingdom He is revealing…all drawing us nearer…

Posted in Different Moments

vacationing.

Posted on by Wick

And then there’s some days where the best way to show your kids how to love Jesus,

is to be a tourist in the world He created. 🙂

Gotta love being able to see the sunrise every morning with a good book…
Blue crab for breakfast anyone??
Moon-lit dancing on the beach before bed…
Catchin’ waves…
Whew…vacation is hard work…
Like Father….

:

..like daughter.
Shared a family sunrise…what a blessing. 🙂
Posted in Uncategorized

raising our children for the sake of others…

Posted on by Wick

It’s a phrase heard in homes around the world on a regular basis.  Not quite a phrase really, but a word. A word that can speak volumes, or simply be a moment of wanting.  From a very young age, our kids learn the word “MINE!”.  It takes different forms as they age, and becomes a longer sentence, but it’s meaning can still be a very powerful thing.

Our role as parents, is not just to help our kids grow into “grownups” someday.  It’s not even about helping our kids to achieve the “American Dream” or become “successful”.  One of the most important roles we live out as parents, is to help our children to follow Christ.  To live in a way that they bring His healing, New Life, freedom, and Love.  In a world where adults are often seen yelling “MINE!” just as loudly as the 3 year old in my house – this can often prove difficult.

Nevertheless, as we live it as parents, we find our children inclined to follow us.  In the everyday outpouring of our lives for others.  In our living as a part of communities, extended families, and adopting others into our lives, grafting those God Loves into our families and homes just as we ourselves have been grafted into being sons and daughters of His.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

This is no easy task.  In James, we are told that “no man can tame the tongue”, and yet we’re called to honor Him with our words.  The illustration James uses talks about a salt-water steam not being able to produce fresh-water.  It’s the same with our humility and Love for others.  This is not merely talking about the actions and words that come out from us.  This is talking about examining our “source”.  Where do we “receive life”?  What do we wake up each morning, declaring as our goal?  What would make today “successful” in your book?

As we allow our lives to be shaped by God’s Love for Others in such a way that these sorts of things take priority, we may find that others are following in our footsteps.  Yes, there will still be times where we have to sit our children in “Time Out”, and enforced moments of sharing…but our lives speak much louder than our parenting techniques – as they grow into who God is calling them to be…