Slowing and Slow Rain

Rain is moving in, and apparently, the cold rolls in tonight and tomorrow. I'm sitting in the Franklin Mercantile finishing up prep for staff meeting, and on first glance, it looks a little dreary outside. The rain had started as I left Spring Hill, and my first thought, was, "oh great, a rainy drive." But the funniest thing occurred to me on the drive. When it rains, everything seems to slow down. Yeah, there are crazies who think wet roads translates into faster driving. But most of us tend to slow down and be a little more cautious.

In a season that tends to spin out of control, every opportunity to slow down should be seen as a good thing. My calendar, and really our family calendar, can get jammed. But I think we've made the intentional choice to control what we schedule. Relationships and quality time matter. What is going on in peoples lives around me matter. I'm determined to make time for what is important this Christmas season.

I'm glad its raining. I'm glad for the reminder to slow down. I hope you can slow down a little today and the rest of the Christmas season.

Tell them... tell Him...

The drive to Knoxville yesterday was beautiful. Bright sunshine and a crisp blue sky provided the perfect backdrop for Pam and I to talk almost non-stop. In our crazy world, the opportunities to just talk come far too infrequently. As we talked and laughed and dreamed, it became increasingly clear to me how truly blessed I am. Today, make sure you actually tell someone how much they mean to you. Don't assume they know just because they are your spouse / child / parent / friend. Tell them. Then, tell the Father how thankful you are for His continued blessing. Tell Him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving thoughts - A Christ Follower in the US

The big day of gluttony is just around the corner!  Most of us are having our attention drawn to the blessings that have been showered with, and those thoughts will no doubt intensify as we get later in the week.  If you have time, take a look at the link below.  It's a long article, but one that every American needs to read.  We, as a nation, are so blessed.  

www.worldmag.com/articles/14714

(copy into your browser!)

Middle of the Night Thoughts

Maybe it was the late supper...

Maybe it was because I knew Ben had to be up at 5am...

Maybe it was medicine that I'm still taking for this cold that wont go away...

Or maybe it was something else...

Regardless, I've been up since just before 3 this morning.  It's funny what you think about in the predawn hours when you wish you could sleep, want to sleep, but just can't get there.  As I tried to slowly breathe in the still, cold, night air, I couldn't help but begin to think about how blessed I've been.  Now, before you move on to something else because you think this is going to be a boring Thanksgiving post, HOLD ON!

This season tends to make all of us reflect on how blessed we are because of the stuff we have.  And, it's somewhat typical to be thankful for our family and other significants in our life.  Interestingly enough, as I listened to the silence this morning, I've thought alot about the process of life that has shaped me.  Decisions made, churches served, family circumstances, etc.  

These are the things that have shaped me; the things that have hardened, softened, smoothed, and roughed.  Does that make sense.  Sometimes we think that life just rumbles along leaving us in it's wake.  I was reminded again this morning how God desires to use our circumstances to shape us in to the people he has called us to be.   Circumstances turn in to processes when we act on them, and more importantly, act on them through faith.  

I wont get into too many specifics, but most recently Pam's fight (our fight) with breast cancer and the decision to step into the life of a family in our church and walk with them on an extremely personal level are two examples of circumstances turning to processes that will forever shape me. 

 And I am thankful.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 ESV