God is moving in CR

A six year old boy was about 50 yards from his destination. His mom walking ahead of him a few feet. He had a walker and two braces covering his legs. I don’t know why his legs were in braces but it was apparent from his walking that each step was very laborious walking on the sandy beach. His goal? Make it to the ocean. As I watched this scene unfold, I was mesmerized by the interaction from the six year old boy and his mom as he took his journey thru the sand. Mom: “C’mon son…the doctor said it would be good for you and make you stronger.” Boy: Mom, it’s…too…hard. Mom: Son, you are doing so good. I wish you could see how good you are doing right now. (The boy seemed to be encouraged as he took additional steps.) Boy: I can’t go anymore! It’s not fair! Mom: Son, you are doing so good, you can do this… Keep going…. After about 25 minutes, the boy got within 10 feet of his destination and started crying out to his mom. Then I saw a picture of incredible compassion as the mom reached dow...

Well it happened again two nights ago...you know those nights where you toss and turn, lying wide awake "worrying" about stuff that is not in my control. 3am rolled around and once I finally realized what I was doing I decided to get up and get in the Word.  I opened my CR bible to read on Powerless and guess what scripture the reading was tied to? "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Mt 6:34 Yeah, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Once I started voicing my worries in my journal to the Father and let go of the stuff I was hanging onto, I was able to go back to bed and sleep like a baby. I am learning that worrying is just a form of failing to trust God. God is teaching me that I need not fret about those things out of my control, and start focusing on what God can do. As I continue to seek Him, my anxiety will begin to fade away. Now, if I can just remember this tomorrow when I wake up. :) What ha...

There is an old Andy Griffith Episode where a Hollywood producer comes to Mayberry cause he wants to make a big film. Andy gives him a tour of the town and introduces him to all the great people. He absolutely falls in love and plans on returning to begin filming. When he returned a few days later he found a town that was now unrecognizable. A town that completely changed but only on the surface. The town now dressed, spoke, "acted", differently, and had completely changed the look of the town, all to impress the producer. They were trying to be something that just wasn't them. Reminds me of how we can be in our faith walk. We are accepted and received just as we are but after Christ receives us, we think we have to do something to make Him more impressed with us. When in fact, He just loves us for us.  He just wants us to be us, real and not put on a fake mask or costume that makes us look like something we are not.  Truth is, growth will come, but He wants i...

A little boy and girl asked their dad if they could get candy on the way home. Their dad replied, "yes, but don't eat it until after dinner ok? We are having fish tonight and i don't want you to spoil your dinner." "Ok daddy," the son replied. "But can I hold it on the way home?" Dad: "Yes, but remember, don't open it ok?" On the way home dad heard the wrapper crinkling. He pulled into the drive way and turned around to look at his kids in the back seat. The son's candy was gone. Dad asks the son, "what happened to your candy son?" Without missing a beat, the son says, "sissy ate it!" The dad took his son inside the house and sat him on the bathroom counter where he could see himself and...the chocolate smothered all around his face. He asked his son again, "son, let me ask you again, did you eat your candy bar?" Realizing the evidence was not in his favor, he replies, "yes daddy." Dad: ...

“…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” 2 Peter 2:19 I am not a big fan of infomercials. Can you imagine what one would look like for DENIAL? Wanna feel like you’ve never felt before? Tired of feeling anything? Then try DENIAL. Learn how to freeze all those emotions and feelings and never have to worry about understanding your feelings again. Why should you put your energy on anything valuable? Forget about your family, friends, let alone yourself. With DENIAL you can now be a prisoner in your own skin. Tired of the process of growth. No Problem! Growth stops here with DENIAL. We can help you believe all that you are doing is ok and you will now believe that you are getting away with the dysfunction in your life. You will start living a life that convinces you that you are the only one that knows what’s going on in your life. Sure others will know, but you will believe they don’t. Finally, if you call now and order your DENIAL, your pain will fester and gro...

"I don't do that. Sorry, that's just not me."  It has been an interesting the last couple of weeks as I have been dealing with some old character defects that were trying to creep back in. If I find myself in a standstill in my growth process, I have to ask myself, "is there anything I am in denial about right now?" The key is that I listen to the Holy Spirit when he taps me on the shoulder: "Rodney, do you have a strong need to be in control of your life? Do you overreact if things don't go your way? Do you take action impulsively without considering an alternative way to handle a crisis?" The old me would have brushed it to the side. The new me knows better and hits them head on with God's help. I love how the stunted growth thru my denial turns into progress as I face my defects head on, one day & one defect at a time. "...He brought me out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains." Ps 1...

I was leaving my morning appointment at Village Inn this morning and it happened. You know that moment when you look down at your gas gauge and it is sitting below empty!! "No problem, I will just hit the gas station two buildings down from the restaurant. DOH!?!" It's closed?!?! No problem, I will hit the next exit down and go to Pinnacle Station Gas Station. "Lord, just get me to the gas station and all will be well...." I coast into the station no problem. One problem, I notice all the pumps have white grocery bags wrapped around the pump handles. What is this all about?  "Sorry, all our pumps are down" says the clerk. So I ask her, "Where is the closest gas station from here?" "Oh only about a mile away", she replies with great confidence. I don't think I have a mile left in my tank. (Side bar, isn't interesting when you are trying to get somewhere how every light feels like an eternity?) I get to the next light, I see t...