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2 Timothy 1:3-7 – “I am grateful to God – whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did – when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power, and of love, and of self-discipline.”

Paul is writing to Timothy as a leader in a very new church. He’s trying to encourage Timothy, though he remembers the tears Timothy shed, possibly seeing Paul dragged away by the Romans. He’s honest that there are tough circumstances in their lives, but he focuses on this being so much larger than what is happening here and now.

He compliments the sincerity of Timothy’s faith, and connects it to a long line of faithful heritage. Maybe you enjoy a heritage like Timothy’s. Maybe you connect yourself with the heritage of those who helped lead you to Christ. Maybe you’re beginning a new heritage that someday your grandchildren will be encouraged by.

No matter what our lineage, though, the emphasis here is not on where you come from or who you came from. The emphasis is on the spirit that you have been given as a gift from God. A gift that apparently we need reminded of and “rekindled” at times.

This “rekindling” makes me think of hockey. I’m excited there will actually be a season this year, even if it’s shortened!!  If you watch much, you’ve seen a game where there’s only a minute left in the game. The score is 3-2, and the losing team pulls their goalie as a last ditch effort. It allows them to have an extra attacker on the ice…and sometimes they can score a goal right away. When they score that “GOAL!!!!!” and it becomes 3-3….tied up with less than a minute to play – their spirit is re-kindled. They see hope in a potential victory. The momentum is in their favor, and you see it on their faces, their energy, and their enthusiasm. You also see it in the desperation in the opposing team.

This is what we’ve just gone through at Christmas. Yes, there are difficult circumstances in our lives. We each know of areas of our world that bring us to our knees in prayer. But we’ve celebrated Christmas, and have been reminded that Jesus has come to be Lord over all things. That God is Immanuel – God with us. This is sooo much more than a tied hockey game. The victory is ours. The spirit we’ve been given is NOT a spirit of the cowardly, that goes with the flow and tries not to upset the status quo.

It’s a Spirit of POWER…not our strength, but God’s. Of Love….not romantic emotions of fluff….but actual, save the world and love the unloved stuff. And finally, of self-discipline – So that the power we have access to stays in check, and the love God has given us retains its inherent purpose.

So today, and this year….may your gift be rekindled. The victory is ours. May it show on your faces, in the speed of your skates, and the way you handle the puck. With power. With love. And with self-discipline.

Well, here we are in 2013!  The year we hope and pray to bring home our daughter from the DRC in Africa.  There are still many unknowns, but we have faith that God will help us kick down the doors still closed ahead of us.  Here’s a (not-so-brief) summary of our adoption journey so far:

1. The Announcement – April 20, 2012

2. Update – Preparations – April 29, 2012

3. Update – rams and hope – May 11, 2012

4. Update – Creating Context for Kingdom – May 31, 2012

5. Update – Praying for the DRC – June 14, 2012

6. Update- Still Getting Ready… – July 5, 2012

7. Update – On Adoption… – July 26th, 2012

8. Update – Not Waiting – August 16, 2012

9. Update – Praying for Peace – August 22, 2012

10. Update – red tape of love – November 7, 2012

11. Update – love does a book review – November 29, 2012

12. Update – both hands! – December 31, 2012

So far we’ve raised quite a bit of money, awareness, and prayers for the DRC…..will you join us???  If you’re able to give, click on the “Both Hands” link on the right side of this page.  All donations are tax deductible!  Thanks so much for joining us in prayer, and we look forward to celebrating with you as our daughter is brought home this year!!!

Here we go again with another “Five Minute Friday” post!  To learn more about “Five Minute Friday” (FMF), check out the linked image here.  Basically, each week there’s a word given for you to write about.  You start writing, no back-tracking, editing, etc.  At the end of 5 minutes, you stop.  Then you post it, and share in the community of words that were birthed during these 24-ish hours.  It’s cool stuff.
So here’s this week’s response to the word: “opportunity ”

It’s a word that hit’s home.  Sometimes as an accusation, and sometimes just as a soft reminder.  My children are not simply asking for my time.  They’re not running to me  when I come home from work, looking for ways to add to my “to do” list.  They’re offering me opportunities.

It’s easier to remember sometimes than others.  When they’re smiling in the afternoon sun, sliding down the hill on the brand new tube I got for them last year.  We’ve waited a loooong time to be able to enjoy this moment.   My 3 year old in the seat in front of me, and I’m dragging my hands in the snow behind us, steering us away from the tree on the left, and the slight hole on the right.  We arrive at the bottom, and the tube spins around just a bit.  She’s still screaming with joy, as she stands up and turns around, begging to do it again.  Just 5 minutes ago, she was terrified that I even offered to let her sit on that tube.

But she was convinced by her daddy to see the challenge as an opportunity.

I want to ride these moments of parenting with that same joy.  I want to reach out to them in their unexpected moments of need, not with the dutiful dedication of a parent who wants to be responsible….but with the heart of a father who wants to express the joy of parenting and the love of his children with every step of the journey….

Gorp.  Times up.

What is something you’ve been going through the motions of…..that perhaps God is reminding you of how precious an opportunity you have??