Bucket List part 1

Pandora played "Wonderful Merciful Savior" by Selah this morning on my "quickmix" channel. Now a favorite. Don't know where I am going with this? More and more feeling the mortality of this Life. This time on earth passing so quickly. No I have not received a terminal diagnosis or anything, just all of a sudden I am 54 not far from "3 score and 10" , 16 years, 832 weeks, 5824 days, 34944 hours.... Events in my mind that seem not that long ago are now 10 years, 20 years, 30 years ago. So how do I make the best use of the last 25% of my life, Lord willing? A sense of urgency, after all it seems many don't feel all that great in their last years. On one hand I want to experience this life's offerings, to travel, hunt, fish, and to love..my wife.. and my kids deeply. Yet the compelling tug that there are more important, even eternal things that I could do, that make those former things seem selfish and shallow....vanity in the words of Solomon. What really belongs on my "Bucket List"???

Giving and Receiving

Luke records in the book of Acts: "remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:34-36. I was thinking on this the last couple of Days. I always thought the point was' it is better, nicer, righter, to give than to receive. That is part of it. Charity...Putting others ahead of yourself. The opposite of selfish. sort of. But, I got to thinking..in the context of Christmas. How unsatisfied many are. We didn't get what we wanted. Or we got it and it didn't live up to the Hype. Or just watching it all has depressed us because we couldn't afford(time or money) to get everybody the perfect gift.

Then it made sense. The giver is more BLESSED than the RECEIVER! As in receiving a blessing, the greater blessing. If the Holiday Blues are hitting you. You feel forgotten or ignored. Perhaps, look for someone you can give to. A kind word, A smile, A hug. A prayer. A meal, or a coat, or a place to stay. Maybe a visit. You will be the MORE BLESSED! And the blues will be gone. It is a spiritual law. Just as real as the law of Gravity.

Just as true, then, is the reality that at some point many of us have to allow others to give to us, In order for others to receive their blessing. For some, that is the most difficult admission to make.

Thank you Lord, for your most Generous gifts.

Be blessed,
Lyle

too long...

Been too long since I have written. more than 2 years... How can that be. 2 years have past. without a thought or a picture. Where did those 2 years go?? I have not felt inspired and always too busy you know. There is much to record and to meditate on. New Grand babies, More on the way. Pleasant memories of birds and dogs. vacations that got detoured. and God's hand print on nearly everything it seems. Perhaps I can get started once again. One of the first things I must put down... the impact of a man they called "RED BULL". soon.

Lyle

Deja Vue

I have had alot of that the past few days...... Steven says simply "Im Sorry.. " And we both laugh. Why is that funny?? We try... to laugh....

We were moved back into the Ronald McDonald House on December 4. Sherry, House manager informed us that it was 6 years to the Day 12/04/02 after we moved out of RMH to Target House.

Steven's Good friend Mikey had surgery for the same recurrent tumor a couple of weeks ago. Has been fighting Meningitis since. They finally did another surgery to remove infected bone tissue.. Hopefully he can get to feeling better. Steven battled meningitis for a week after we arrived at St.Jude.

Steven this go round is not feeling sick... not feeling like he needs anything "fixed". Not in that divine state of ignorance as in the first go round. He knows the risks.. knows the pain.. knows recovery... knows...it may benefit... and may not... These things don't cause him worry. This time he worries for .... a wife, parents, siblings, grandparents, family and friends. He worries the pain they would feel if the worst....would happen.. He worries for others.. My only counsel is the same God that holds his future.. Holds ours as well... I hope that is enough..because I have no other answer....


Psalm 111

1[a] Praise the LORD. [b]
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate. ..........

Once again the lord sustains us with his word.. and his people.. Phone calls. Conversations with other parents... Prayers and notes from multitudes of family and friends at just the right moment. Deja Vue.

Politics

With everything going on..the political happenings seem trivial to me most days. However a wise man once said "For evil to triumph only requres good men to do nothing" . Like many of you I am not excited for the 2 choices before us in the presidential race. However, along with Dr. Dobson and many others who cherish their faith and Judeo- christian values, I fear senator Obama and the CHANGES he would bring, far more. Senator Obama is the most liberal Senator in the Senate. He has deliberately avoided taking positions on many controversial issues during his short career in order to cultivate his electability. His record shows however that he has, supported post birth abortion, asssociated with terrorists and favors submitting U.S. autonomy to United Nations authority. The videos posted above explain many of these issues.

My prayers are for Steven and Britney, that God would heal Steven's cancer. And for our country as we approach this most important election.

God's words says
1 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We must put our hope and trust in the Lord. Not in men and their solutions or promises. And choose to what is right....according to HIS Word... regardless of the cost.

My first and final political post