Heartbreaking
My heart breaks for the Chapman family’s loss.
I remember hearing this song and getting chills.
Cinderella (lyrics found here) by Stephen Curtis Chapman
She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shouldersIt’s been a long day
And there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me
Saying “Dad, I need youThere’s a ball at the castle
And I’ve been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone…She says he’s a nice guy and I’d be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says, “Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be goneShe will be gone
Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, “Dad, the wedding’s still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone
How heartbreaking for him. There are no words to describe this kind of pain and loss. But I know God is with them, and I pray for His comfort during this awful time.
Frustrated
Words are my thing.
God gave me a way with words. Not just that I like to talk, either. I understand words and I don’t just mean definition-wise.
I mean I understand the power of them. I’m good at finding the right words for almost any given situation. Or rather, I’m open to hearing the words God has to give me for any situation.
I’m in one right now where there are no words that I can find to help ease the pain a friend is feeling.
It stinks.
Daily Reads
I made a decision a few weeks ago to starting reading my Bible more regularly.
So far, I’m through the first part of Exodus and getting to the point to where my day fills unfinished if I don’t read a couple of chapters.
Here’s my personal commitment to start reading more regularly.
Five more minutes on that treadmill
God,
I’ve been trying hard. Not as hard as I could, so I won’t claim otherwise. You know when I lie anyway.
Well, I’ve lost about 20lbs now and I’m actually able to run off & on when I’m on the treadmill versus the walk with maybe two minutes of running I started out at.
But I want to do better. This week, can You give me the physical strength to stand another five minutes of running?
Sincerely,
Me
Celebrate your daughter…
I heard this song on the radio today.
She spins and she sways
to whatever song plays
without a care in the world
and I’m sittin’ here wearin’
the weight of the world on my shoulders.It’s been a long day
and there’s still work to do.
She’s pulling at me saying
Dad, i need you.There’s a ball at the castle
and I’ve been invited.
And I need to practice my dancin’.
Oh please, daddy please.So I danced with Cinderella
while she is here in my arms.
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew.Oh, I dance with Cinderella.
I don’t wanna miss even one song.
‘Cause all too soon,
the clock will strike midnight
and she’ll be gone.She says he’s a nice guy
and I’d be impressed.
She wants to know if I approve of the dress.She says,
Dad the prom is just one week away
and I need to practice my dancin’
Oh please, daddy please.So I danced with Cinderella
while she is here in my arms.
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew.I danced with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song.
‘Cause all too soon the clock with strike midnight
and she’ll be gone.
She will be gone.Well she came home today
with a ring on her hand,
just glowing and telling us all they had planned.
She says,
Dad the wedding’s still six months away
and I need to practice my dancin’
Oh please, daddy please.So I danced with Cinderella
while she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew.I danced with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
and she`ll be gone.
When it was over, the announcer came on and mentioned how he just really connected with that song, having a daughter of his own. Then he said something, Hope I’m able to dance with my daughter many times…any of you dads out there feel that connection to the song? I hope you do…celebrate that. Celebrate your daughter, your sons…
Now that really resonated with me.
Celebrate your daughter, your sons, the family God has given you.
Lyrics found here Song by Steven Curtis Chapman
A crutch
At church today, the minister mentioned that a popular newscaster/tv persona (I can’t remember who) said
Christianity is a crutch for the weak.
My knee jerk instinct was outrage.
But in my heart…you know what? This is true. I am weak. Hey, I’m human. All humans are weak in some way or another and we all come to a point in our lives when we need help.
The thing with Christians is that we know where we can turn to find that help. To Him. Always to Him.
There’s nothing wrong, nothing shameful, nothing sad in needing help. The sad thing is when you think you’re above needing help. Or that you’re too strong for it. Or that there’s something demeaning in asking for help some an omniscient being you can’t see.
Faith is sometimes an oxymoron. Because we are weak, we know we need help in our lives. Asking for help when you need it isn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Many people aren’t strong enough to know when they’ve taken on too much and that they need the guide of others.
Asking for helping, knowing it will come in some form or another? Weak? Hardly. If that’s not strong, nothing is.
The Entire Law
“The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14
Has this law been forgotten?
Have people of the Christian faith forgotten that we were commanded to love…not hate?
Christians are told to ‘hate what is evil’. This is true. But we are also told:
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12: 17-18
and
On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans12:20-21
Hate what is evil; hate the evil act, hate the sin, but the sinner? The sinner we are told to offer him food. Drink. Clothing.
You defeat evil or sin by doing good, by showing compassion.
Wherever does it say to overcome evil by showing mocking contempt for a man that is already dead? Where does it say to judge? God will judge and those who have acted as judges, those who have brought immeasurable pain on a grieving family will also have to face judgment.
Passage found @ Bible Gateway & Christ Notes.
He Made a Way in a Manger
written (I think) by
vs 1:Longing for a saviora hopeless world would waitsin demanded justiceat a price we could not paybut God displayed his mercythe greatest gift of lovewhen we could not reach heavenheaven came to usChorus:He made a way in a mangera way through the crossMessiah the promisedbefore time had begunfor God so loved this worldthough he knew what love would costHe made a way in a mangerto make a way to the crossVs. 2In Bethlehem a stablebecame a throne of graceas God himself our Saviordrew near to take our placehis mother smiled in wonderas shepherds stood in awethe sacrifice of heavenlay sleeping in the strawBridge:He is the life that died our deaththe precious Lord Jesuslaid down his sweet head . .followed by the lyrics to Away In A Manger
What peace?
This time of year one of the most quoted lines in cards, on TV, in songs, is
Luke 2:14 (King James Version)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men
Scripture found via Biblegateway.com
Yet many people want to know what peace? There’s war, famine, strife, unhappiness, crime…and it gets worse with each passing generation. Reading this without understanding the Bible can make Christians seem a little too “Pollyanna”, naive, too trusting, and maybe even a dumb.
Taking this line out of context can be so easy.
The above scripture is from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. The New International Version (NIV) actually makes it easier to understand.
Luke 2:14 (New International Version)
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest.
Christ’s birth wasn’t to bring peace to the world as we know it…but to offer a way to have peace with our Maker, peace with the Lord. Salvation.
Christ Himself said
Matthew 10:34 (New International Version)
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Christ’s birth, and His subsequent death, aren’t meant to be seen as an immediate pass to freedom, an immediate pass to peace across the world. Anybody with eyes, with the ability to think, can see there is little peace in the world in general. As long as free will exists, people will make bad choices. Some will choose to live the vilest lives imaginable, things that both Christians and non-Christians find appalling, murder, rape, theft, cruelty, maliciousness.
No, Christ’s birth, His death, His resurrection was God’s offer of salvation. Believe… and you will be saved.
Acts 16:30-31 (New International Version)
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved
Christ’s first coming wasn’t meant to bring peace to the world. He came to offer peace to those would believe in Him. Those who would follow Him.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest.
God bless you, and keep you. Have a Merry Christmas.
