the me I want to be...

"The Me I Want To Be... Becoming God's Best Version of You" is the book I have read and almost completed while on vacation. Great book ... I would recommend the read!

One of the sections has me doing some thinking... so I thought I'd offer you the points from the book pertaining to adversity and let you ponder them as well... thoughts about embracing adversity...

John Ortberg writes... "God isn't at work producing the circumstances you want; God is at work in bad circumstances producing the you He wants."

...rising to a challenge reveals abilities otherwise hidden within you (and beyond you!) that would have remained dormant...

...adversity can deepen relationships...

...adversity can change your priorities about what really matters...

...adversity points us to hope beyond ourselves...

The chance to trust God when trusting isn't easy is wide open. There are some certain truths that remain unchanged: God remains sovereign, grace beats sin, prayers get heard, the Bible endures, heaven's mercies spring up new every morning, the cross still testifies to the power of sacrificial love, the tomb is still empty, and the kingdom that Jesus announced is still expanding without needing to be bailed out by human efforts.

God is still in the business of redemption... specializing in producing something very, very good at out something that may not look or feel so good...

...maybe we should embrace adversity a bit more...

other stand-out provebs...

Prov 21:21 ... "He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor."

Prov 24:3-4 ... "Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Prov 15:6 ... "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble."

Prov 4:20-27 ... "My son, give attention to my word; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."

Prov 10:22 ... "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it."

a good name...

Proverbs 22:1... "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches; loving favor rather than silver and gold."

While sitting on the beach under the big tent I set up I have been doing a little reading. One of my goals while on vacation as to reread the book of Proverbs and make some mental notes. This verse is one that for some reason really stood out to me. The verse is indicative of our lives being mostly about decision making... and this decision being one of great importance.

So imagine your own a game show and your given the option to receive something from behind door 1 or door 2... you know that "a good name" is behind door 1 but you have the choice to give it up for the potential behind door 2... what choice do you make?

I'm sure that at many times I have forfeited door 1 for the gamble of door 2, but after living life and experiencing so many joys and sorrows, accomplishments and failures... I think a good name and loving favor sound pretty good!

another school year...

I had the joy of sitting in on an awards ceremony today at North Garner Middle School. Hope received awards today for year-long honor roll. I'm so proud of her!

It's hard to believe another school year has come to an end. Noah is actually graduating tomorrow from elementary school and will be moving up to middle school. I can't believe how fast they grow up. Nate will be the only one remaining in elementary school. Although he'll be the only one I can assure you they will know he is there!

Luke had a great year for his freshman year at Garner High School. He's a great student and is becoming a great young man! I'm so proud of him too!

I've got to say... being a dad is one of the greatest things in the world! I love my kids!

thoughts from books I've been reading...

Proverbs 29:18 ... "where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law."

"The Me I Want To Be" by John Ortberg ...
Spiritual growth is hand-crafted, no mass-produced... God does not do one-size-fits-all.
The main measure of your devotion to God is not your devotional life. It is simply your life.

"Primal" by Mark Batterson...
The heart of Christianity is primal compassion.
The soul of Christianity is primal wonder.
The mind of Christianity is primal curiosity.
The strength of Christianity is primal energy.