Category: Different Moments

Posted in Adoption Journey, Different Moments

Advent: Peace

Posted on by Wick

You know that feeling you get in the midst of a conversation, when someone is talking and it triggers something amazing you really want to contribute to what’s being said?  But one person to the next, the conversation moves forward, and you’re struggling to find a place to insert your audible “foot in the door”.  Finally, as you sense your window of opportunity passing, you take a deep breath, allow yourself to “let go” of the need to say something, and experience a moment of peace.

That’s nothing.

This peace we talk about during Advent, is the peace of the world.  Peace for a creation that is waiting and groaning for what God has in store.  We’ve experienced this peace in our own lives as well.

Peace that came to me as a teenage boy, working late one night at a campground.  Surrounded by the animals I was caring for, smelling the straw and the dung.  I was feeling the frustrations of life, all the angst of being a teenage boy full of unknowns, multiplied by a difficult family background that made me wonder what would become of life.  I was reminded of a baby boy who was God, born into a similar scene, and the promise that boy gave to always be with me.

Peace that came to my wife and I, in the midst of our 3rd child waiting in the womb.  The doctors had found something that caused alarm in a recent ultrasound.  They explained calmly how this could really be nothing at all.  Or it could be something terrible.  We spent time and tears in prayer, offering our worries to God, and asking that He would give us peace.  Ruby continues to be a reminder of God’s ability to bring peace in the unknown moments.

peacePeace that we rely on even now, waiting for concrete news on bringing home our daughter from Africa.  There are horrible living conditions in the DRC, in the midst of peace talks between their soldiers and rebels in the East.  We’re trying to raise funds in the midst of a season where most people we know have already stretched their budgets tight to provide Christmas for their families.  There are others “ahead of us” in waiting for a referral (where we would be matched with our daughter).  But one step at a time, requirements are being met that will lead to us rescuing our daughter.  We are being reminded of the peace He offers even now.

It’s not a peace that declares “Everything will go well from now on.”  After all, it wasn’t long after the arrival of Jesus that Herod ordered the horrible slaughter of babies across the land.  In this we are reminded that peace is so much more than “things going well”, or a quiet starry scene with someone singing “Silent Night” in the background.

Peace, is the presence of God in our midst.  Immanuel.  In our joy.  In our worries.  In our suffering.  We have a peace that passes understanding.  We will have it still tomorrow.  Breathe deep…and be thankful…

Posted in Different Moments

prayers sprouting

Posted on by Wick

I remember visiting the “Church of the Pater Noster” on a trip to Israel when I was in high school.  Being in the very location where it was believed Jesus had taught his disciples to pray was an incredible experience.  To pray out loud, together with those who were gathered, the very same words others have for ages….it was moving.  The artwork around the Church had the Lords’ Prayer in over 44 different languages.  It was a very impressive day, and I still remember much about it.But last night, I experienced the Lords’ Prayer in an even more memorable way.  In most evenings, we close the day with daddy reading a chapter from a book (We’ve been doing “Little House on the Prairie” books, but recently took a break for one or two other “fun” books).  Then we have a prayer time where they say what they want to pray about, and we pray.  Sometimes, we close the time of prayer by saying the Lords’ Prayer together.
Last night, after reading a chapter from a silly book “Miss Daisy is Definitely Crazy”, we shared our prayers together.  Their first request on most nights is for their sister in Africa.  They pray for her health and safety, and for “the mommies and daddies in Africa to stop fighting”. (that’s as far as we’ve explained most of the current conflicts in the DRC)  Usually that leads to praying for our sponsored girl from the Philippines, Sheila Mae.  Then they go through a mental checklist of whatever they can remember from that day, including boo-boos, stuffy noses, friends and family, etc.
Last night,  I closed prayer with them by my signature “Aaaaaaaaaaaa—(wait for them to join me)—Men.”  But as soon as I began climbing off her bed, my 3 year old sat straight up and wondered, “Daddy?  Wat ’bout da’ Lowd Pear?”
I love it.  She can’t even pronounce it really, but she knows that prayer by heart.
I smiled and said sure, we could close with the Lords’ Prayer together.  All three of our kids joined me in saying the prayer out loud, and as the final “Amen.” came – they all seemed to nod, turn over and cuddle their pillow tight.  Finally, something had been spoken that enabled them to transition into what came next.
I pray that as we continue on this journey, my daughters continue to require praying together as a natural requirement before moving forward into what comes next…
(for more moments like this, and how God can use parenting to transform who we are, check out my book, “Different” today!)

 

Posted in Different Moments, Different Scriptures

Jesus – Superior

Posted on by Wick

I was recently able to preach on Hebrews 1 and 2. My daughters were sitting in service, because it was a communion Sunday, and our oldest daughter turned a bit red during one cute illustration. We’ve not instituted a “When daddy uses your name, you get paid $1.” rule. I praught again this past week at a nearby church, and my daughters listened closely. Unfortunately that time, no one was paid. 🙂

If you have a few minutes, I hope you enjoy the Truth found in God’s Word here…thanks for listening.