end of the year

Rev 22

¹⁷ ... Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

I think I spent too much time this year focused on physical water.  In retrospect, I regret not spending more time with my wife and sons.  I spent way too much time on work. 

I want to live my life in balance so that people can see that I am drinking the Water of Life.  I want to stay Hydrated.  Specifically, I want to be known as a person of joy.

I want my wife to know me as a person of joy.  I want my sons to know me as a person of joy.

I want to be a spiritual leader for my family.

Heavenly Father, please help me be a man who seeks you and loves you.  Please help me experience and express the love of Christ.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus.

I worked too much this semester

Rev 16

This past month was intense.  I over-committed myself.  My wife spoke something very carefully to me a couple of weeks ago, "Shane, I am very proud of you for all the things that you have accomplished professionally this semester, but I am sad that you didn't spend much time with your family."

I am beginning to realize that I need to do a better job being intentional about training my PhD students to be more independent thinkers and researchers.

More than that, I want to be more intentional in pursuing my wife and knowing my children.

Heavenly Father, please help me stay focused on the important things.  And may my life be full of joy as I pursue you and share you with others.  Please fill my heart with peace and love.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

presence versus presents

Rev 8

I am pretty sure that I have heard this before, but as part of our church emphasis on the Advent Conspiracy, our pastor reminded us that most everyone wants "presence" more than "presents".

I am reminded that I need to spend more time with my wife, and I need to spend more time with my sons.  I worked too much this semester.  I feel like I can tell that Beau is frustrated because he doesn't get to spend as much time with me as he wants.  I don't want him to grow tired of wanting to spend time with me.

I wish I wanted to spend time with my Heavenly Father as much as Beau wants to spend time with his earthly father.

Heavenly Father, please help me be a better husband and father.  I need to give my presence.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus.

beholding

Rev 5

Last night, we had a "teaching team" meeting to discuss ideas for sermons/messages for our church next year.  In the discussion, Randy mentioned the "four 'b's": behold, belong, believe, behave.  I was thinking about "behold" as I read these Scriptures in Rev. 5 this morning:

⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth."

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹² In a loud voice they were saying:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!"

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

¹⁴ The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

I think the essence of Christianity is beholding and loving Jesus.  I want my heart to want to know Him and walk with Him daily.

Heavenly Father, please lead me to your Son, and reveal Him to me.  Lord, please grow in my heart the desire to love you and walk with you.  I ask in the name of Jesus.

redline

Rev 3

The past two weeks have been intense.  I feel like have been operating at my redline, and I still have another week to go.

The Lord is sustaining me.  I know that this is a season.  I will get to take a few weeks off during Christmas break.  Reminds me of harvest season on the farm.  Get it done.  Then rest.

Heavenly Father, please help me.  Please give me strength.  Help me do what is right.  Deliver me from temptation, and use me to bring hope, joy, peace, and love.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.