I’m pretty sure the Prayer of Jabez went through a popular phase in Christian teaching somewhere around 1996 because I remember seeing a little “Prayer of Jabez” book on our coffee table, but I know that I was too young to care.
Well… Now I care, and thankfully, Pastor Chris Hodges preached an awesome sermon on the Prayer of Jabez last August (so we don’t have to go back to the 1996 cassette).
Do yourself a favor and listen to it! Link above…
Reading “God’s Work” by Watchman Nee. Love this quote:
We are indeed weak, utterly weak, but there is something to be gloried in. Christ in us is not weak. He is strong, he is mighty he is all-sufficient.
Love this thought. It’s so freeing to think our mistakes aren’t always mistakes:)
So a few weeks ago was Father’s Day. Spending the weekend at home gave me a chance to hang with my dad a lot… we planted flowers, watched Indiana Jones, sat on the patio, looked at old family pictures, went to LUBY’s… yes, Luby’s… etc. And while I’ve always bragged about how awesome my dad is, something about this weekend made me realize it on a much deeper level.
First off, when it comes to toughness, he is at the top of the manly charts. And not just tough in a way that he can handle a lot of pain. He could easily go up against Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and the likes. Movies like Big Fish and Secondhand Lions are basically about him… he is legendary.
And while he could definitely break your neck and make you suffer, I have found, as his little girl, that there is also a very soft side inside of him. There is heart of compassion that gives and gives and gives to those in need; a side of him that taught me “we are blessed so that we can be a blessing… look for ways to bless people every day.”
I could type for days and days and days and never fully express how awesome my dad is. And he would probably never agree with anything I’ve said. But I’m telling you… spend 5 minutes with him, and you will definitely know that everything I’ve said is true.
[photo: j.perkproductions]
Once upon another time
Before I knew this life was mine
Before I left the child behind
I saw myself in summer nights
And stars lit up like candle lights
I made my wish but mostly I believed ….
[sara bareilles]
[photo courtesy of August Ortiz]
It is quite a beautiful thing when God exceeds one’s expectations. I am so excited to watch one of my best friends in the world, Callie Bezet, get married today. God has, in so many ways, outdone himself, and my heart is so full:) Congratulations, you two!
