Purpose Driven Life, Chapter 20

Thank You God, for reminding me that there were many times in the Bible where You wanted to kill Your own children. The reason was they they were being morons, but the fact still remains: Sometimes children are moronic and stir up wrath. Lord I need this reminder as we’re dealing with Mia lately. Her absolute refusal to play soccer has been a huge source of disappointment, anger and angst in our household.. mostly between Meagan and I. It’s so difficult for us to know what to do. It just seems that she’s content with blatantly disobeying us, and we’re not sure what to do to be “good parents.” I’m having a very difficult time not being bitter and resentful to Mia. Lord, I know she’s a sinner just like I am, but I’m having such a hard time having mercy on her. One of the main reasons it’s so difficult is because I don’t sense a humble spirit it in her at all. She’s proud of the fact that she doesn’t care that she can’t watch tv or only have one desert a day. I’m at my wit’s end because I don’t even know what punishment will work with her. In fact, I feel like like most of our punishments do little with her, but rather make her upset she got caught more than anything. So needless to say, i’m frustrated.

And on top of that (or maybe because of this), I’m not reading Your word or speaking to You. I feel cut off from You and I’m disappointingly aware of the fact that it’s my fault. I’ve neglected You and wonder why I feel neglected by You.

Lord, I pray You will give me a supernatural strength and urging to do the right thing! And Lord, I pray that You’ll give Meagan and i the supernatural strength and wisdom to deal with Mia the right way! I love You.

Tags: discontent, Mia, parenting, struggles

Our Daily Bread, Jeremiah 20:7-13

Lord, I haven’t journaled since Thursday when I found out what Elevation Church was going to offer me for salary.  Lord, i trust You.  I know that we could have gone and just had faith, but Lord, I feel that I’m having faith by not going, also.  Lord, i trust that You gave us the wisdom that we needed to make the decision.  Lord, You’ve put the people in my life to offer me wisdom, and You brought me through a lot of life experiences that brought me wisdom.  I feel that You’ve prepared me in my life for this point.  Lord, thank You so much for allowing us to be ok despite the fact that we thought we were going to Charlotte.  I really sometimes have no idea what You’re doing, but Lord, i trust.  I don’t what’s in store for the future for us, but Lord, i know You want to give me the desires of my heart. Two things I desire, (this is me knocing!) to be a loving and gracious dad that my children love and learn from, and to be involved in ministry where I see life-change daily, but also provide valuable service for Your kingdom, doing the things You’ve equipped me to do.  Lord, this prayer isn’t quite sufficient for me, but I know the Holy Spirit sees my heart, and is translating my prayer.  Lord, i LOVE You!

Tags: disappointment, elevation church, parenting, work

God thank You for a good time with my family last night.  i really felt like it was an answer to  my prayers, and that i actually enjoyed the time quite a bit.  Thank You for my overtime, and for helping me to get up early.  Please help me to go to bed sufficiently as well.  Thank You for Mia and Jewel and how great they are.  They aren’t perfect but they definitely bring life to our family.  Please help me to get through this non-relaxing part of their youth, and not to be whiny about it but to remember it only happens once.  Thank You again, and i love You!  OOH also thank You sooooo much for letting me sing and play guitar.  That was such a huge blessing to me.  I pray that You’ll help me to continue and grow in that role to where i can regularly sing and play and worship.  I love You!

Tags: guitar, parenting, singing

Our Daily Bread

God thank You again for everything You’ve given us. Thank You for our two beautiful daughters, and the great personalities they both have.  I pray that You’ll continually give me strength to be a better husband and father.  You said, when i am weak that You are strong, and i am definitely weak in these areas, and i’m asking You to be strong for me.  I’m also asking that You would make me strong.  Teach me how to be a great father and husband, and help me to passionately enjoy it.  Thank You for the overtime i’ve been getting, and i pray that You’ll allow us to pay off so much debt with it.  Help us to stay focused, and to knock out our debt!  Lord, i love You so much.  Please give us a good day, and keep my family from harm.

Tags: job, parenting

It Starts At Home

Lord, thank You again for  a good day yesterday of productivity, and for basketball.  I really thank You for basketball as it gives me a chance to hang out with some guys, and get some exercise.  Lord, thank You for the approved overtime.  Please help me to maintain a healthy balance between work and my family life, and please help me to take advantage of this time.  Also thank You so much for allowing me to sing while playing guitar… I can’t tell You how exciting that is for me!  Please help me to continue to be better musically, both with guitar and singing, and doing them together. I also pray that as a result of me singing & playing that I would be able to worship You more fully while leading and participating in leading the worship.  Lord, thank You again for how far You’ve brought me musically.  It really is a dream of mine.  Also my job… You really have fulfilled many of my dreams.  Now i pray that You would help me to be a great father, and that i would enjoy parenting more, and dread having to spend time with them.. It’s because i’m lazy, and they make me work. Please help me to grow up, and more importantly to start looking forward to my time with them.  Lord, i love You so much!

Tags: guitar, music, parenting, singing

It Starts At Home

Dear Lord, thank You for all the gifts You have given me, and thank You for my beautiful children.  I love them so much. Thank You for helping me to have the patience to play with Mia, and to try and be a better dad.  Help Mia to have a wonderful birthday!  Please let her have great memories of her childhood birthdays.  Thank You for what i’m reading, and for the reminder that children will not find out what the truth is on their own… The world, and the devil is bent on making our children believe in relativism, and i pray that You would help us to teach the absolute truth to them, and that they would be able to stand for what they believe.  i also pray that You’ll help me to stand for what i believe.  Help me to not shrink back from the truth, when it presents itself.  Lord, i love You… Please give me an incredibly productive day and week.

Tags: birthday, Mia, parenting

It Starts At Home

Today I read about the legacy principle: the principle that dictates that we will pass down our spiritual traits through the generations. It talked about how Joseph was able to break the legacy of deceit passed down by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Lord, thank You for helping me break the legacy of both of my parents in some ways.  Thank You for helping me kick the sexual addiction, and i humbly pray that You’ll continue to sustain me in that.  I pray that You’ll help me to work on my legacy in other areas as well, including my closeness with You… I want Mia and Jewel, and if You choose to give us any other children, to fully understand what it’s like to have a relationship with You, because they have a good relationship with me.  Lord, help me to be a better father… One who’s interested, and will take the time to play, when i really don’t want to.  Help me to remember that each day is a blessing.  Help me to begin with the end in mind.  I know i can do better in so man areas, and i pray that You’ll help me!  I also pray that You’ll help me to be a better husband.  I know there are many areas there that i’m lacking as well.  Lord, i pray that You’ll give me a good idea for Meagan’s birthday, and help me follow through.  Lord, i love You so much.  Thank You, thank You, thank You!

Tags: father, husband, legacy, parenting, sexual addiction