April 27


Spheres of Life


... old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:12 (NLT)


For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)


Last night I wrote a letter to a young girl we sponsor in Ecuador. Then this morning I woke up thinking how different we were and how unalike the places where we each lived. So different, and yet, we share so much....

This morning Sara inspired another poem—I share it with you.


Spheres of Life

You and I, so far apart: you the slow, unsettled South and I the well-traveled North

Our differences, a blessing, as you, the courageous young heart, so move my words


My season is fall with a cold blowing wind and dead leaves floating to the ground

Your season is spring where the breeze, so soft and gentle, caresses your happy face


I rest in shadows stretched long and thin beside gray, northern mountains while

You play in southern fields of green and run with ease that warm and sunny hill


My days grow short with dimming light and growing shivers

Your day stretches and yawns, fresh in sweet, slowing luxury


Hunters stalk my brown countryside as mourning nature calls all to hibernate or die

But for you, flowers bloom, so fragrant, and jungle birds sing in wondrous celebration


My nights loom long and lonely in darkening wonder of what may come ... yet

Your night barely shrinks, promising still another great and glorious sunrise....


Oh, how sweet! Apart, we seem so unalike and in very different worlds, but ... together ...

We come to enjoy the progress of life, the unfolding of joy, and a deep soul satisfaction


Lord, thank You for courageous young friends, may You bring Your rich blessing this day. Amen.

April 26


The Quest


He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 21:21 (NAS)


It is quiet this morning. The only sound the tick of my clock—a gift from former coworkers. The constant tick-tock reminds me time passes on. It flows, and there will come a day when my time on earth will be done. This is true for all of us.

Death, the great equalizer (Hebrews 9:27) doesn’t scare me, but sometimes life does. Does that seem odd?

Life here on earth is so short. We have but one shot at it, and I want my life to count. Don’t you? So, if I could choose but one thing my life would accomplish ... I would choose legacy. I want to follow Christ, and in the following, I want to leave my children and their children the legacy of a life well lived. I want them to catch this truth: that life can be beautiful; it can be fulfilling; it can magnify and glorify God. I want to leave them an example, an example of selfless love, of devotion, of right living. I want to follow Christ so well, they see Christ in me. To me, this would be the greatest honor: Christ seen in me. Christ, our hope of glory.


Lord, I am weak and unable in so much of life. Help me in this quest, I pray, that You may be formed and found in me. Amen.

April 25


A Good Catch


I want them to have full confidence ... understanding of God’s secret plan ... so that no one will be able to deceive....

Colossians 2:1-5 (NLT)


A couple days ago, 9-year old Alex lost another tooth. He dutifully put it under his pillow. You see, while we haven’t allowed Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny easy access to our kids, I’ve given exception to the Tooth Fairy.

Overall, the Tooth Fairy has been good to Alex. And what a deal: taking Alex’s used enamel and replacing it with a shiny silver dollar? Yeah! By the way, one ounce of silver is worth a lot more than a dollar nowadays....

Well guess what? I couldn’t find a new silver dollar to place under Alex’s pillow, and so, I forgot about it. Until about 6:30 a.m. the next morning. In the dim, early-morning light, I found a couple of makeshift Kennedy half-dollars. They would have to do. I crept into his quiet room thinking I was safe, but as I slid the fifty-cent pieces under his pillow, Alex came to life. He popped up, grabbed my hand and yelled, “Aha! I knew it was you!” Once I got my heart back in my chest, we had a good laugh.... I had been caught, but it was a pleasant surrender.

My children, it seems, are growing up and there is ... in this ... a quiet pleasure....


Father God, thank You for pleasant surprises and the joy of children. May You guide them in truth and love. Amen.

April 24


Good Hopes


I have written these things to you because of those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you and continue to live in Christ.

I John 2:26-27 (NLT)


I’m sitting at my desk reflecting on God’s many blessings. The Secret Life of Daydreams spills out of my Boise CD player—lovely, mellow piano notes tickle my ears. I am happy and thinking of others, and I am full of joy over God’s gifts to me. One gift set includes my three boys, another includes the precious word of God—the very foundation for His life-blessings.

The music floats in my room's quiet air, stirring pleasant memories, and I thank God for my children. Each boy so bright in his own way. I remember Drew, ten years ago unintentionally showing off his mathematical skills. He was racing through a sheet of math problems. Mentally he would add or multiply or whatever then record the figures, but all the while he was counting out loud, timing himself! And he got them all right! Then I think of Ryan who, for the past ten years, has devoured the Sports page first thing every morning. From cover to cover, he devours obscure names, facts and figures—all locked away in his head—unbelievable! Finally, I consider my youngest son, 9-year old Alex. Yesterday, he was at the piano. Tired of playing the same old song perfectly for the umpteenth time, he played it backwards instead. Egads! I can’t even find middle-C....

But it’s my greatest desire that Alex and his two brothers hunger for and excel in truth. This is my heart: that my children grow strong in faith ... that their lives count for something greater than themselves. This is my prayer ... that their lives resound with the purest, richest melodies....


Lord, continue to give us Your truth. May my children grow in faith, washed in Your words of love, forgiveness and peace. Amen.

April 23

This Service Thing


For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life....

Matthew 20:28 (NLT)


I was previewing a DVD I wanted to show my small group as we investigate and discuss this spiritual discipline of servanthood. I didn’t expect to hear what I did and I came under conviction.

John Ortberg was telling a small group of people some of the benefits of servanthood. The primary one? Humility. If we are to serve, truly serve in the spirit of Christ, we will become humble. True service, it seems, excludes pride.

He went on to explain there are simple acts of service we never consider, small acts that can fill our day. Opportunities, I must admit, I have missed or sadly neglected. Ortberg quotes Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, teacher and theologian. Bonhoeffer pointed out the potential service we can render in the daily routine of life.

One was the ministry of the mundane. Ortberg tied this to a trip to the grocery store and doing simple tedious things for the good of others. I immediately thought of all that laundry my wife does. How much fun is that? I think it qualifies for the ministry of the mundane, don’t you? And then, ouch, he pointed out the ministry of interruption—allowing others to interrupt our day without losing our cool—showing love and not offense or impatience. This one pierced my heart, but now I better understand. If Jesus could live and serve this way, I can too. And then there was the ministry of holding your tongue. No description needed on this one!

Simple service, but more: transforming service. For when I do these small things well, I become smaller and He becomes greater in my life. And my life will begin to reflect His life—one of serving others, one of giving it for Him.


Lord, I know I need to be a better servant. Help me get my eyes off of me. Help me to serve even as Jesus did. Amen.

April 22


Hearing Joy


God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them....

I Peter 4:10 (LB)


... let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be.

Romans 12:5b (The Message)


I went to a Contemporary Christian concert recently and I was reminded of the importance of pursuing our passions and our strengths—no matter what. It was a Todd Agnew concert, but the only thing I heard from Todd was his initial comment. He introduced his opening performer by saying he didn’t listen to the commercial music most of us listen to. “No,” he said, “when I listen to music on my iPod, I listen to Joy Whitlock.” A minute later, she took the stage.

Like most of the performers she was casually dressed in T-shirt and jeans. She had a punk haircut and a soft, believable voice. At twenty-six, she was looking back and confessing to some serious bumps on her life path, but four years ago, she found Jesus. It’s been a hard journey, but she’s on an upward climb. She’s into music and doing what she loves. She’s singing for Him. Joy performed beautifully ... in a laid back, give them every once of truth they can take kind of way. I bought one of her $5 CDs and wish I’d picked up four more. I’ve just about worn this one out. :-)

Joy sings from a richness of experience and her tunes haunt the soul. Both guitar and words resonate and stir. She has dug deep, disciplined herself and courageously ventured where God has called.

She is someone, and she reminds me I am someone too. I have a sacrifice to make too, and so do you. To be the best we can be takes commitment, courage and a lot of soul. It takes ... depending on Him.

Her official CD comes out in spring, 2008. Soon, many will hear and appreciate Joy Whitlock. And us? People may never hear our voices or understand our sacrifices or appreciate how God has moved in our lives, but it doesn’t matter. We keep on keeping on. We do what He designed us to do—serving in His strength.


Lord, bring Your blessing to Joy, Your voice to her message, and help us all to be the people you call us to be—completely Yours! Amen.