the beauty of a drive

Do you ever want to go on a drive....a drive to get away, a drive to slow down, a drive to see something new? Well, yesterday I was able to take the day and head to Nanaimo (about 1 hour away), and wow, was it good. On the way I realized what a privilege it was to have the freedom to get away. Being in a place of busyness to now one of reflection while driving, the shift was enormous!

As I drove I was able to start giving thanks to God for what he has done. The power of giving thanks to someone else - forces our mind to see the goodness of our surroundings rather than all the problems. I can have an amazing week, but one little thing can shift my focus. It's like I can get caught up in seeing the thorns on a rose, rather than the beauty of the rose pedals.

Are you caught in a way of thinking that is driving you to worry and bitter? A helpful alternative is to thank God for the positives of that person, for your situation, or for what you have learned and seen. "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

the deep struggle of death and the great BIG GOD

This past week was one of those odd weeks as a pastor where you just can't train for. Upon receiving a call from a funeral director that a family was looking for a pastor to officiate at a funeral, I asked about the details. I was saddened to hear of a 20 year old had died.

As I met with the family, then worked on what I would share, and went through a somber week of reflection, I did realize a deep sense of loss. There was a deep sense of loss where I saw so many hopes and dreams that were not yet realized (in this case - friendships, marriage, college, travel, fishing, laughter) in the life of this popular 20 year old. Why it was all gone, I can not explain.

So what could I say in front of this crowd of people (over 400) who were searching for comfort, or words of hope.....well, really all I could (and should) deliver was about comfort & hope in God. Here's an excerpt of what I shared:

"I’m not sure what type of God you believe in….but the problem is if you think God is only in a church, or far away – he’s not going to be much help today….if God in your mind is really small and wimpy…I want you to give that God the boot today.

I want to invite you to believe in a God that is BIG and CARING and RELATIONAL....

Hear these words of hope and promise:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” Psalm 46:1,2"

So are these words (the Bible Verses) that will bring back this young man...NO way! But, my sincere prayer is these words will offer hope for all who read them in a GREAT BIG GOD.
I'm not sure what you are grieving the loss of or struggling deeply with this week....but I invite you to step out and believe in the God of the Bible - a BIG, and Caring and relational God -for He is the one who can give us strength when we need it most.

BIG Picture is always helpful

Do you ever get drawn down and drained by a situation that you run into. As much as you try to forget about it....it becomes the center of your reality.

Last week I read this quote, "Getting bogged down by a problem...zoom out and look at the Big Picture." What an awesome reminder, that when God has and is doing some incredible things....don't get stuck in a rut, don't focus on the zit on your nose, or look at the crack in your windshield but see the beauty around you! Sometimes, even as followers of Jesus, maybe even more as a followers of Jesus, there is a strong urge to get sucked into the devastation & mess of the problems of those around us....rather then trying to help them out of the problems.

Hear these words as encouragement:
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea..." (Psalm 46:1-2).

Even when things are falling apart around us (or way over in Egypt), we can still hold onto God as our refuge and strength. It's so important to see and give thanks for what God has done....and continues to do (....breath, the sunshine today!, clouds, mountains).
Thanks God :)