Hiding from God

God,



"But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? (Genesis 3:9-11)"

Thank you for this scripture God. I have the privilege of speaking to our Youth Group tomorrow night and this is the scripture that I will be speaking from. We are still so much like Adam. So many of us feel that we can hide from You. This scripture hits on so many levels.

• Do we hide because we are scared of what you will see?
• Do we hide because we think that we can fool you?
• Do we hide because of our sin, our secrets, or our thoughts?

Even today, we think that You can't see us. Do we not realize that we are still just as naked before You as Adam was so many years ago?

"The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them (Genesis 3: 21)." Even when Adam and us sin and fall, You are there with your grace, love and forgiveness to clothe us and to make us whole again.

Thanks for the garments,

Derek

Wrong Side of the Bed

God,

I am just having one of those days when I am just in a bad mood. I do not want to be like this but I have been very short tempered with my children, my wife and my co-workers.

Paul put it this way, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate (Romans 7:15)." I hate when I am being like this because I am normally a very encouraging and positive person but when I have one of these days, it seems like I can't put it behind me. I do not want to be short tempered but it seems like this is a day when everything sets me off.

God, please help me have a better day tomorrow. Please help me remain focused on You even on days like this. Please give me the words to seek forgiveness of those that I have wronged this day.

Just being honest,

Derek

My Son, Bennett

God,



I wanted to take the time tonight to thank You for my son, Bennett. Kat and I feel so blessed and honored to have the privilege to be his mama and papa. We have had him for a little over a year and in that time, he has already grown up so much. He went from being a young boy that hardly spoke to a "Papa's big boy" that speaks and laughs and is full of life. He is such a caring boy that takes care of his sister and makes sure that we take care of her as well.

One of the most amazing things about Bennett is that he seems to have a very strong connection with You already. From saying "God made it" every time he sees the sun set to making comments about getting ready for "Jesus" to come back to his special prayers.

Over the course of the last 6 months, Bennett has loved to pray at night. His prayers began very simply with being thankful for family. However, over the course of time Bennett has seemed to be in tune with You unlike most people. First, Bennett always wanted to pray for his Grumpy, my father that I have talked about in previous blogs that has not accepted Your love and forgiveness. Bennett still seems to always want to pray for his Grumpy. The second special prayer came after Bennett has done something that he should not have (I can't remember what Bennett did). During Bennett's prayer that night, he prayed that You would forgive him and that he was sorry. I am pretty sure that we had not told him that (He could have learned it from his amazing Sunday School teachers at Grace) but either way it was very special.

The third special prayer happened this evening. On Wednesday night, a friend of mine shared a prayer request about her husband. She simply asked me to pray for him. I had not spoken of this prayer request to anyone. This evening as Bennett began his prayers, he called this man by name and said "(the man's name) not feel good." God, I was blown away. I had to call the wife and share what happened. It shows that You care about this man and that You are speaking through my son. I pray that You continue to speak through him and that he accepts your love, grace and forgiveness at a young age and does not go down  the same path that I choose.

Thankful for my son,

Derek Hunter

Running Out of Gas

God,



This morning on the way back from eating breakfast with the family at Marcy Jo's, Kat realized that the van was almost out of gas. Therefore, we finished going home and everyone got out so that I could go and fill up the gas tank. Kat said that she had not even noticed that she was almost on empty.

Later this evening, I was returning home on my way back from Upward and my gas light came on. I decided that instead of going to the nearest gas station that I would try and make it a gas station farther down the road. Fortunately, I made it to the gas station without running out.

But these two situations made me wonder God, why do we allow ourselves to run on empty? Why do we push ourselves and run on fumes? Many a time, I have turned off the radio and air conditioner just to try and save a little gas to get me to a gas station. What do we turn off in our lives to just make it one more day or even one more hour? Love, patience, or maybe even faith? I mean we know that you promise to fill us up.

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)" The term be filled in this scripture means to be continuously filled. God, I know what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and yet sometimes I am like the van situation this morning and I just do not pay enough attention to determine if I am close to running on empty. Other times, I like to push myself to the limit of almost being on empty because honestly I am an idiot.

How many times must I run out of gas before I will stay filled up? The peace, security and joy that comes from living a life full of You is like nothing else. God, grant me the wisdom, the self-analysis, the selflessness to remain connected to You and running on full.

Thanks for Your continuous filling,

Derek

Soul Mate

God,

I believe that we cross paths with people each and every day that can impact our lives. I also believe that we have people enter our lives that we can impact. 8 years ago this summer Kat and I crossed paths at a leadership conference learning how to be better consultants for our respective Greek Organizations. The interesting thing about our paths crossing that week was that I was not supposed to be at the conference.

We met at this conference and my life began to change. At this time, I was very far from You. Not only would I fall in love with Kat but she would introduce me to You.

I do not think that we have a soul mate but I do believe that You can use people to reach other people. I believe that You used Kat to reach me.

Too often, people put so much pressure on themselves to meet that "One" person. What happens if you miss that divine meeting? What happens when you get into your relationship and you fight, do you start to doubt that the person you are married to is your soul mate? Does it give you the right to divorce because your soul mate is out there?

Kat deserves a lot of jewels in her crown for putting up with me for the last 7 years. Has our marriage been smooth the whole time? No. However, we knew that we entered into a covenant with each other but more importantly with You. Thank You for keeping our marriage together and thank You for helping us to love one another.

Loving my wife more each day because of You,

Derek

Are you a Circle Maker?

God,



I just finished the short book, Be a Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson. It was a great book on learning to pray bigger prayers to You. I do not feel that this is part of the theology, "Name and Claim it." However, I do feel that it challenged me to pray differently. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

• His prayer was was resolute yet humble, confident yet meek, expectant yet unassuming.
• If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are insulting to God (I had heard Steven Furtick say this before reading this but I really love this thought)
• The greatest moments in life are the miraculous moments when human impotence and divine omnipotence intersect- and they intersect when we draw a circle around the impossible situations in our lives and invite God to intervene.
• Who you become is determined by how you pray.
• Miracles are the by product of prayers that were prayed by you and for you.
• The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked.
• Yet many of pray as if our problems are bigger than God.
• I don't always know if He will, but I always know that He can.
• But God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called.
• Sometimes the power of prayer is the power to carry on.

God, thank you for Mark Batterson and the words that You gave him. I know that I am called, may you qualify me. Help me to draw prayer circles around the big dreams that You have given me. Help me and those who read these words believe that You can answer our prayers.

Learning to Pray Bigger, more Audacious Prayers

Derek



Becoming Content

God,

Twice today, I had conversations about contentment. God, I am trying to be more aware of what you are saying to me. I think that overall I am very content with my life but I struggle because I know that there are things that I am not content with.

•  How do I fix being discontent?
•  Can discontentment be used for change?
•  Is being discontent always a bad thing?
•  Can contentment become a crutch to keep us from being the men/women that You have called us to be?

I think there exists a tight rope between being content and becoming stagnant. If we stay content, I wonder if that means that we are not being challenged. I think that we can be content with our life despite our circumstances which is an amazing thing. I think that the idea of contentment allows for much discussion.

God, help me to be content when I need to be content and understand what I need to learn when I am discontent.

Waiting for answers,

Derek

Thank You

God,



This weekend, Pastor Mark shared a saying that went something like, "What if tomorrow, you only had the blessings you thanked God for today?" I believe that the saying went something like that but I am sure that You get what I am trying to say. So often, I forget to STOP and be thankful for the great multitude of blessings that You have blessed me with. I think most days that I thank You for my wife and my kids but what about everything else? I am not sure that I take enough time each day to just be thankful.

My really good friend and workout partner hurt his back a week ago today. Last Wednesday, he woke up and was unable to make it to his car without help from his wife. A week later and his back is still not any better. So this evening, I called to check on him and he said that he could not even put his socks on today after getting treatment for his back. As we were talking, I told him that I bet you will be thankful for the ability to put your socks on when your back is better. His injury helped me to be more thankful for being able to bend down and put my socks and shoes on.

 God, why does it take something bad happening to make us thankful for what we have? I can't tell you how many times I heard a story of a broken relationship and I came home and kissed my wife. Why does it take something bad to make me appreciate something good? Why can't I be thankful all of the time?

As Kat and I are teaching our kids to say thank you for all of the small things that we give them or that someone else gives them, I think that we all could learn from children and be more thankful to You for all the blessings that we have.

Learning to be thankful,
Derek

Accountability

God,

James says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (5:16)."



Twice today, I had conversations about accountability. Your word tells us to confess our sins to other people. Most of us can't share the best part of our day, much less our sins with other people. Through these two conversations, I was challenged to think about whether I had someone that had permission to hold me accountable and the answer is no. I feel like I can tell Kat just about everything but your spouse can't be your accountability partner. I also have a really close friend but I am not sure that I have allowed him permission to speak truth into my life.  I, we need to open ourselves up to others and share our struggles, our temptations and our failures.

God, help me open up completely with others. Help me let go of the past when Kat and I were hurt so deeply when we opened our hearts up. God, help me be real and  not just put a smile on and say everything is fine. Help me to be honest with you, others and myself.

Heal me from the Inside Out,

Derek

Pain

God,



As I think back to the years that I have lived, many days have been scarred with pain. Not every day and not in every way but there are many days that I have felt intense pain. Tonight, Kat and I watched one of our guilty pleasures on television, Once Upon a Time. Near the end of the show, Grumpy the dwarf told Snow White, pain makes me who I am.

I think that this speaks of the old debate, "Would you change your past if you could?" If you could go back and change an experience from your past, would you?

During the time that I was experiencing the painful moments, I think that I would have gladly given them up (or drank the magical potion like in the show) and not cared if they affected my future me.

• Having my dad work out of town for all of those years
• Brother almost dying (Stabbed several times in Wal-mart bathroom and ran off the road)
• Grandmother dying in 7th grade
• High School (enough said)
• Broken hearts
• Feeling Alone
• Parent's relationship struggles
• Not getting high enough score on LSAT to go to the law school that I wanted
• Mistakes made
• Infertility

However, as I ponder on just a few of the painful moments from my past, I can see how each of these moments shaped me, changed me and led me down the road to become the man that I am today. Therefore, I would have to agree with Grumpy that the moments of our past whether painful or filled with joy have shaped my life.

No matter our pain, no matter our wounds, no matter our struggles, You can heal our pain, You can turn our wounds into scars and You can use our struggles to bring us closer to You.

Please give us strength to see past our current pain to our future story.

Derek

To Be or Not to Be

God,



As You know, I turn 30 this year. 30 years ago this Spring, a doctor told my mom that it was in her best interest to abort the unborn child in her womb. Thankfully, my mom did not listen to the doctor's advice.

I think that I need to keep this in perspective each day because for me, it reveals that each day is truly a blessing, a gift from You. My mom was told that at best, I would be born with severe mental disorders and would never live a full life. I sit here, 29 years later thinking about the gift of life. We are only here on this earth for so long. Am I doing all that I can for You? Am I going to do something great for You?

All of us are given 24 hours in order to do something for You, what are we going to do with our time?

Thanks for my life,

Derek

Politics

God,

Tonight, Kat and I had a date night. I hate to admit it but these have been far and few between. Most nights when we had child care, it was for a church event or for working our second job of catering. Well, tonight we decided to have a night where we put the kids to bed and rented a movie and just spent time on the couch cuddling together.

We decided on the movie, Ides of March. It is a political drama that Kat and I both enjoyed. However, the movie made me think rather you really care about politics. Most Republicans claim to be Your party which means what that Democrats are Satan's party? If You voted in the next election, would You vote Republican, Democrat or other? I think You would have a difficult time voting Democrat because they endorse the position of Pro-Choice. Also, I think that You would have a difficult time voting Republican because most Republicans do not care about those in need or anything about the environment. At the end of the day, I do not think You really care because I think that You will take what happens and work it out for Your good. In addition, I think that most politicians are dishonest and unethical and would try and win an election at all costs.

Let's not mix our religious beliefs with our politics because I do not think that You would vote for either party.

Still learning,

Derek

Self-Check

God,



Just a couple of days ago, I was at the gym working out with my good friend. As we were talking, he stated that I do not say much about my life to him. Those words affected me because I never want to be a friend that doesn't share and I never want to be fake. As I came home that night, I asked Kat if she felt that I communicated with her. She said that she did as much as I could. She felt that I do not take the time to reflect upon my own feelings. She suggested that I take the time each day to ask You how I am doing.

God, how many days do I know that I am going down the path of being negative and chose to do nothing about it? How many times do I make things worse for those around me because I am being negative? I heard recently that people can be the spiritual thermometer for those around them and I think that I am one of those people. I can either make everyone feel better with encouraging words or I know exactly what to say to make people look at things through a negative lens.

God, help me to have encouraging words and not negative ones, help me to build up and not tear down and help me to bring the light to others and not to snuff out the light of others.

Needing your help,

Derek Hunter

Sunsets

God,



This afternoon, Kat (my wife) was driving Bennett and Celia to get Bennett's hair cut.
On the way, Bennett said, "Mama, look pink sky."
Kat was driving towards the horizon and responded to Bennett, "Yes, that is the sunset."
Bennett said, "Yeah, God made it."

As Kat recounted this story to me on the phone, I was struck and reminded that children often have such wisdom and faith. If only, we as adults would retain our childlike faith.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17)."

How quickly we forget to watch the sunset and admire Your creation. How quickly we get so caught up in our lives, our worries and our fears that we don't even take the time to notice the sunset that You created.

As I was starting to write this blog, Kat reminded me of a song that has spoken to both of us lately. Check out this Gungor song. May we be reminded that You have created beautiful things all around us and we need to slow down and admire Your creation even as we look in the mirror.

Thank You for being a Wonderful Creator,

Derek

Won't You Lead Me

God,

We are told to seek Your will. However, how do we do that? I am at a point where I need to know what you want for my life? What direction do I go? I need Your help, Your guidance and Your wisdom. Too often, I think that my own feelings and desires get in the way. I want nothing more than to know what You want for my life.

How can I be the man that You have called me to be? How can I be the Husband that You want me to be? How can I be the father that You want me to be? How can I reach others for You like You want me to?

I just googled the song, Lead Me, by Sanctus Real. It has spoken to me and challenged me. One of the verses says:

So, Father give me the strength
To be everything you called me to be
Oh Father, show me the way
To Lead Them

Won't You lead me



If I am being honest with You, God. I am not sure that I am being everything that you called me to be. I think that I am not being the husband, father, Man of God that You called me to be. Please open my heart and my mind to help me to be all that You want me to be and to seek You with everything that I am. I need your help. Won't You Lead Me?

Derek

Toy Story 2

God,



I love how when I listen and look for You, You are able to talk to me in a wide variety of ways. As I am sitting here, watching the end of Toy Story 2 with the kids, I know that You are speaking to me through this movie. Here is what I heard:

• Woody has a love for Andy like we should have for you. No matter where we go, we should do everything that we can to get back home to You. Our love for You should be the same.
• Just as Woody has the name Andy written on his boot, we should wear Your name on us everywhere we go because we belong to You.
• Woody wanted to make Andy so happy and we should live our lives serving You and bringing Your name praise.
• I love that Woody was always bringing others to Andy, bringing others to the family. As a Christ follower, I should do everything that I can to bring others with me into Your Family.
• Mr. Potato saved the three aliens at one point from falling out the window. The aliens continue for the rest of the movie repeating, "You have saved our lives, we are eternally grateful." Do we live our lives with eternal gratitude to You for not only saving our lives but giving us life?
• "Stinky Pete", the Prospector kept trying to make Woody doubt that Andy would love him. I see so many similarities to the lies and deception that the serpent used with Eve. The serpent wanted Eve to question God and in a way become their own God.
• As a last defense, "Stinky Pete" tells Woody that he will live for eternity in a landfill (also a reference to Toy Story 3) because Andy will not love him forever. I think that we will all end up in a landfill if we do not accept the Love and Forgiveness that You offer.

Thanks for speaking to me in so many different ways,

Derek

Life Group

God,

It was so great to have our life group get back together tonight. As You know, we had not met since our Christmas party. I love being part of a Life Group because I know that You created us to be in relationship with other people. Everyone needs other people because life is too hard not to have others to carry us when we are too weak to take even one more step.

Tonight, our group completed Prayer Requests for 2012. Each person listed their hopes and desires for this year. We did this a couple of years ago and it was great to see how You moved at the end of the year either by answering prayers or by how You opened doors for the unanswered prayers to become learning opportunities for Kat and me.

I pray that You will answer the prayers of our group.

We love you and once again thanks for putting us together with others,

Derek

Upward

God,

As You know, this is our 4th year having Upward Basketball and Cheerleading. Our season began today and it was amazing. This was a unique year for me because I transitioned leadership responsibilities over to B.J. Bolton. It was great to see how well Upward went on this first Saturday. B.J. is a great leader that will continue to grow our wonderful ministry.

I love Upward because:

• It is a true reflection of our community. We have African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic and even a couple of kids adopted from other countries. I just wish our churches reflected this.
• I love seeing the kids run out the tunnel as their names are announced. I really think this is one of the best things about Upward. (We play the old Chicago Bulls music as the names are announced)
• It is wonderful to see the kids that have played for several years continue to grow but also continue to improve at basketball or cheerleading.
• The volunteers are amazing. From the smiles at the concession tables to the refs encouraging words to the Coaches emulating Christ by their attitudes and words, Upward Volunteers are the best.
• It helps people step outside of their comfort zone (Maegan Tosh led the Upward Devotions today and overcame her dislike of speaking in public by leading the devotion and game all 6 hours and did a great job).
• You are talked about, shared and focused on while playing basketball and cheer.

I hope that You can use Upward to reach these adults and children for Your kingdom.

Thanks for listening,

Derek

Procrastination

God,

I'm sure that everyone has heard the saying, "Why put off doing what you can do today, tomorrow?" Well, I have always lived by the saying, "Why do today what I can do at the very last moment as my hair turns grey and my hands shake from the stress of waiting to the last moment?" How many others procrastinate? I can usually find anything to keep me from doing something that I know needs to be done. Currently, I am taking two online classes to try and finish the course work that I need to complete in order to be ordained. I will watch television, play with my kids, take the dogs out or donate my blood to keep from having to complete an assignment. As I type this blog, I know that I am writing this blog instead of writing a couple of papers for my classes.

Procrastination is often something that people joke about including myself. However, there are things that no one should ever put off. One of those things is accepting the grace and forgiveness that You offer freely. Tonight, as Kat and I read the story of Joseph to Bennett and Celia (because they are learning about Joseph in their preschool Sunday school class), it ends as Joseph forgives his brothers. In recent normal Bennett fashion, he asks why. As I answer each why question, it comes to the point where I make the statement that You are coming back and we need to be ready. Bennett started saying, "Jesus coming, not yet." He then said, "Need to be ready." You offer us forgiveness to the very last moment (See Matthew 20: 1-16). However, we are not guaranteed the next day much less one more breath. I know that for many years I ran from You but I came to the point where I could not deny Your existence and accepted Your grace and forgiveness.

May you help me to not procrastinate when it involves things like life and death.

Derek

Celebration

God,

So many times, we are there for each other in times of struggle but I feel that we need to be there for each other in times of celebration. However, most of us can't be there for others when celebrating because our lives are not filled with happiness. God, help us to be people that can truly celebrate with our loved ones no matter what is happening in our lives.

Today, Kat and I celebrate with our friends the Whittens( as you know God, Derek Whitten and I work together). They got their court date for their adoption of two beautiful young ladies from Ethopia. Thanks be to You God for completing families through the miracle of Adoption.

Derek

Religion versus God

God,



So many people confuse You with religion. I was reminded of this and this blog to You was inspired by this video that Kat showed me today.

This video is so inspiring. Sometimes, I am not able to put my thoughts into words but this young man shared exactly how I feel. I think so often that we "Christians" give You a bad name. War, hate, oppression, bigotry, and indifference are just a few of the things that us "Christians" have done in Your name. To all those that we have hurt, I am sorry. God, please forgive us for we don't always know what we do (and other times we do and still do them). Atrocity after atrocity have occurred in Your name and for that, I must apologize to You and to those that have been hurt by people carrying Your name.

The message of God should be a message of love, grace, forgiveness and a message of action to help all those in need. However, we have turned Your message into hate, judgement, bondage and along the way we have hurt people. Even as I write this, I am reminded of my favorite section of Donald Miller's book, Blue Like Jazz. In his book, he and some fellow students set up a confessional booth on a college campus. However, the booth was not for the students to come confess their sins but for the Christians to apologize for the horrible things that have been committed in Your name.

God, may You help those of us that read this blog that call themselves "Christians" to be compelled to love not hate, to forgive not judge, to care not forget and to be called to action not complacency.

Yours,

Derek

Discipline

God,



So many people struggle to be "fit" in three areas of their life. These areas are being physically, financially and spiritually fit.

To be physically fit for me is such a hard one because I have to decide what I want to look like. Do I want to be able to run 26.2 miles or do I want to be able to lift 300 pounds (Neither of these will probably ever happen but it was fun to think about for a second)? A few years ago, I stuck with a work-out routine called P90X and was able to lose weight and gain muscle. After completing the 90 days, I did not work out for three years. Why, because I was not disciplined. Now, here I am trying to work-out again with a great friend and trying to determine what my goals are and I have no idea. I just want to be fit but I do not know how to define this.

I feel very fortunate that my wife and I are financially fit. Are we rich? No. But since we became married, we have made wise financial decisions that have allowed us to become debt-free minus our house twice (we had to take out a loan to complete our adoption but we paid that off this last summer). Could we become more financially fit? Yes. We need to have goals about our future and what we need to do with our money that we currently have. However, I am sometimes scared to invest money because of the recent turmoil in the market. Kat and I have been married for 6 years and I know that we have had our fair share of difficult times but since we got on the same plan to become debt free, money has not been an issue of frustration in our household. Thanks be to You God for putting Kat in the right place just prior to our marriage. She was able to work for Dave Ramsey. Through her job and his program, we gained Financial Freedom. To become financially fit, one needs lots of discipline.

The last area that I have struggled with and so do many others is the area of being spiritually fit. I think that this may be the most difficult of all. I think that with all of the distractions, noise and loss of focus, we have become spiritually malnourished (this includes myself). I think about to the Jewish children that memorized the entire Old Testament before they were 15 and most of us struggle to remember a few verses. I think that we all need to gain some tools so that we can become more spiritually fit. In order to know You, one must read Your Word, spend time with You in prayer and meditation and be willing to surrender control. All of these require discipline.

God, may you help me and my friends to be fit this year. I know that I want to be a person that is wholly devoted to you and that is physically and financially fit as well. Help us to have the discipline to be FIT.

Love ya,

Derek

Faith & Football

God,



You can't watch a Denver Broncos game this season without hearing Your name mentioned! For the most part, it is because the starting quarterback for the Broncos is Tim Tebow. Tebow is a Christian that has been talking about You since his college days at the University of Florida. The conversation has gotten much louder this season because Tebow stepped into the starting lineup part of the way into the season. However, it is well known that Tebow is not the prototype quarterback. He does not throw the ball very well. However, he led his team to the playoffs. Just yesterday, he played the defending AFC Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers. As has occurred most of Tebow's football career, when the stakes are higher, Tebow lifts his game to the next level. Tebow had one of his best games of his career, if not his best. Pittsburgh forced the game into overtime to set the stage for one of the longest touchdown passes in a playoff game that went into overtime. On the first play of overtime, Tebow throws the ball to his wide-receiver Thomas who is able to break a tackle and take the ball all the way to the end zone for the win. As people began to make statements about You being on the side of Tebow (including myself), I wonder if that means that you aren't on the side of the Steelers? I know for a fact that Troy Polamalu, one of the best defensive players for Pittsburgh is a very devout Christian. So can we make statements about You  being with Tebow and not with the Steelers? Or can we look at this in a different light that you are able to use the win and allow Tebow the opportunity to speak about You?

Even now, I am watching the National Championship Game between Alabama and LSU. It appears that Alabama is going to win. Will Alabama fans say that You were with them and not LSU or that God wanted Alabama to win? I doubt that. I think that You can use wins or losses to draw people closer to Yourself. You will use a wide variety of ways to reach people and I believe that You can use football and players like Tebow. However, I hope that all of us don't start jumping to conclusions that may not be true but that we understand that You love Broncos, Steelers and possibly Patriots!

Thanks for listening,

Derek

Be Present

God,



Being a father for a little over a year now, I have found that it is difficult to be present all the time with my family. I think that before having kids, it was a little easier to come home after work and spend time wth Kat. We would eat dinner and watch a movie or a television show together. As I am writing this, maybe in some ways we both were not present as much as we should have been.

However, I know that with kids I have a whole new understanding of trying to be present. I leave in the morning and return in the evening after working all day. To be honest God, I do not have the most physically challenging job but many days when I return home, I am emotionally exhausted but the moment I come in the door and here the words, "Papa's home," I know that I must be present with my children and my wife. However, I know God that I need your help to be the Papa and the husband that I want to be to my for my family.

I think that being present with my kids begins my being present with You. I know that being present with You is not the easiet either. So many times, I have found that we are easily distracted. Radios,cell-phones, computers, I-Pads, cars, television shows, internet, Facebook, and noise are just a few of the distractions that we face on an everyday basis.

I was reminded of a story of a 17th-Century monk named Brother Lawrence. He did not have any prestigious titles or big important job. Brother Lawrence was a dish washer. During his life, he was able to experience you through everything that he did no matter how mundane. God, I need your help. I want to experience you at a deeper level in everything that I do whether it is talking with a difficult person, playing with my kids or even washing dishes. God, not only do I want to be present with my wife and kids but I want Your Presence in my life all of the time.

Brother Lawrence said, " "Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

Thanks for listening God,

Derek

Bearing Burdens

God,

I think that I understand why you said that we needed a helper in Genesis. I think that this statement was not only meant for man and woman but for friends. I am so thankful for to You for all the many people that you have put into my life. As I think back over my life, I have walked this road with many people. Over the years, people have been there for me to help carry my burdens and I am so thankful. However, I do not think that there is any greater privilege than to have the opportunity to walk with someone and be there for them through rough times. God, please give Kat and I the wisdom and grace to bear the burden of those around us.




Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)


Thanking you God for always being willing and able to carry our burden,

Derek

Resolutons-Week 1

God,

A week of resolutions. Starting this year, I really wanted to start the New Year off right. Therefore, I set several goals that I hope to maintain. Here are a few of them:



• Blog Everyday (I started late but have blogged everyday since I started)
• Read the Bible Everyday (Kat and I have each read the same section of the Bible and discussed it each night)
• Work-Out (I have worked out 4 out of 5 days this week and hope to do a little something this weekend)
• Not eat at fast food restaurants (I have not eaten fast food this year)

These are just a few of the resolutions that I have set. I am writing these out in my blog to see how I will do in a month, 6 months and by the beginning of next year.

I pray that you will give me the strength to fulfill these or some variation of these. At the end of the year, I just want to be a better follower of You, God.

Love,

Derek

The Giving Tree

God,

Each night, we read books to our kids before prayers at bedtime. Tonight, Bennett grabbed the book, The Giving Tree, by author Shel Silverstein. As I began to read the story, Kat looked at me and said I was going to need tissue. With each page, I could feel the tears about to come. As I started crying, I was unsure exactly why I was crying. It was a heartwarming and sad story, yes. However, I did not understand why I was crying until Kat prayed that God was the ultimate "Giving Tree."



You are the Giving Tree. You give in so many ways. You give us everything from the air that we breathe to the ground that we walk on. You give us rain and You give us sunshine. Sometimes, You give in ways that we do not understand or even in ways that infuriate us. I can think of times in my life when you did not answer prayers and I was so mad but in Your Way, You were giving me such a blessing. As I wrote this, I was reminded of a great song that I heard recently called Blessings by Laura Story.

One of the lines from the song says, "What if trials in this life are Your mercies in disguise?" Until you have seen a trial become a mercy, it's hard to understand how this makes sense but it does. You do not always answer our prayers in the way we wish, you do not make life easy when we choose to believe, you do not promise prosperity and a life filled with zero discomfort. In fact, Your Word promises that we will suffer. May we have the wisdom to see our trials as blessings in disguise.

Thanks for giving and giving so freely to each of us,

Derek

Your Grace Amazes Me

God,

Wow does not begin to do you any justice God for how amazing you are. Since September, I have been praying for God to answer a prayer request. Sometime in October, I knew that God for sure was telling me to share His Love with my dad before he would begin to answer my prayer. Even though I knew the answer, I still found ways to avoid being obedient. How many times does God ask us to do something and we find ways to avoid being obedient?

If you read my blog from yesterday, you knew that I finally made a decision to write my dad an email. After hitting the send button, I was taken back to all of my emails.

 In my inbox was an email that was the answer to the prayer that I had been praying for since September. God, you are so cool. I can't explain all of the details right now but it is truly an amazing story of obedience but more importantly about your Grace. At any moment along this way, You could have decided to not answer my request because I was not following through on what you asked me. Instead at the exact moment that I am obedient, you bring the answer. Your grace amazes me.

In the grander scheme of things, I hope that this means that I followed through at the time that I was supposed to and that Your Word can make a difference for my dad.

Derek

P.S. On a side note, I went to the class Sex Begins in the Kitchen. I want to be a better husband to my wife and I hope that I continue to learn ways to be a better and more attentive husband. God speak through this book and our wonderful teachers, Ken and Dawn O'Brien.

A Call

God,

I know right, two posts in one night. Am I bored because my wife is at a meeting or am I really going to follow through with my resolution? I guess we will see.

Kat and I have decided to read Your Word together. We are in Genesis and I just read the first few words of Genesis 12 including the title, "The Call of Abram." Why did you call me into ministry? I have always wondered why. I have yet to really even share your love with my father and yet you have called me to ministry. I am humbled and yet often times feel unworthy to have been called.

And yet, I read the words that you told Abram to leave his country, his people and his father's household to follow your call. I think about my friend, Jesse Shuster and his family that answered your call to leave everything they know and follow your call. I think about my life and wonder if you will call me to leave everything I know. Will I do like Abram and just go or will I be more like a Jacob and want to have a wrestling match? I wonder what paths this call will carry me down, what people I will meet and how you will use me?

Just as Abraham said, my response is, "Here I am." As I read over the words that I have written, I feel compelled to send my dad an email. May you be with each word and prepare his heart.

Derek

Honesty

God,

I am not sure that you read blogs but if you do get the time, I hope that you read my thoughts and ramblings. I have decided that with the new year, I want to be a new man. I know that so many people are making resolutions and wasting their time but I hope that I will not waste my time but more importantly your time.

This past weekend, Pastor Mark, my boss (oh wait, you know him) gave a great message. In his words that I am sure that you gave him, he talked about repenting. So many people have used this word through the ages that it may have lost it's true meaning. However, Pastor Mark suggested that it was not just that we are repenting to try to get out of hell but we are repenting to face You. I think that too many of us are just buying Fire Insurance. We have our "GET OUT of HELL CARD" and now we think that we are good and we have forgotten to pursue you.



As I thought about this concept, I was reminded of a great book I read recently by Mark Batterson, Wild Goose Chase. In his book, Batterson describes that Celtic Christians have a phrase for the Holy Spirit called An Geadh-Glas, which means Wild Goose. In keeping with the title of this blog post, I have decided to be honest. I need to pursue God more. I need to repent not to get out of Hell but because I can't imagine spending a second without you in my life. I need to focus on you more and my job less. I need to rekindle that passion for you and others that sometimes being in ministry robs you of. More than anything, I want to pursue you God. I want to stop talking about you and talk to you. So, I hope, plan and intend on writing you blog posts. Some posts will be filled with questions, some will contain doubt and others may just be me gushing my love for you.

Thanks for reading,

Derek