Finishing By New Years

I don't know about any of you, but I seem to struggle at finishing stuff. Things sound like good ideas, but life is so busy with good ideas that I often find it difficult to complete one good thing for something that may be perceived as better or more pressing.

A few weeks ago, one of my friends asked me to read a book. I really did want to read it...so when he gave it to me, I committed to do it. I did it for two reasons...I wanted to and I knew he would ask me about it. The same thing has happened with a guy in my church. I began a study some months ago...but stalled after chapter 30. The other day, this guy (who also was reading along with me) asked me if I had finished. I had to admit that I had stalled in the process, but was grateful for his challenge...(he also had stalled at around chapter 25). I re-started where I left off today.

This process has left me with two thoughts: (1) My New Year's resolutions for this year are to finish a few things before New Years and before I commit to start others. And (2) I need people to hold me accountable...even for some things that may seem trivial. And if I need to be reminded of some of these important things, maybe you do as well. Hope this helps...it does me good to confess occassionally.

Life Begins

Tonight, I had the honor of visiting the newest person in our congregation. Little Sawyer was born this morning at around 10:30 a.m. So many times I (as a pastor) get to visit the sick and comfort the grieving. But for some reason, I was blessed today to see life the same day that the first earthly air was breathed. It sure was refreshing...and inspiring...and caused much reflection.

It is an incredible blessing from God to be a parent...4 times over. I met a grandma in the elevator who was visiting her 4th grandchild. The dad of the little guy I went to see just looked at me and grinned. Each of us had now had the privilege to parent 4 children of our own.

There is so much potential...and so much risk in living (whether you are the parent or the child). As I prayed over the parents and the child, it seemed that all I could focus on was an incredible need to see and sense God's hand in our lives, and my incredible desire for people (including myself) to know the awesome plan of God for our lives. Even though life in this atmosphere has just begun for one little guy, thank God we get the chance to put today behind us and begin again afresh tomorrow as we breathe in the new mercies of our heavenly Father.