I've been thinking lately about obedience. God calls us to be obedient to him and to his ways. But it seems like often our obedience is a rote mental exercise without passion or feeling. We're obedient because we have to be... because we don't want to suffer the consequences of being disobedient, so we obey.

I read this quote the other day though and it really struck me: "Obedience to God is not a mental discipline; it's a yielded heart to God." In other words we obey not because we have to or something bad will happen, but because we get to... because we are so moved by the love that God has for us that we are passionate about loving him in return and doing things to please Him. I submit myself to my wife and am obedient to her (most of the time :-)) not because I have to or something bad will happen but because I am so in love with her that it is a joy to please her.

It's true that God has laid out some guidelines for our lives that he invites us to follow... and sometimes they aren't the most fun things for us to do. But the Bible is very clear that the  guidelines God has given us are for our own benefit. He loves us sooooooooo much and wants us to experience all that life with him has to offer, but in order to experience that, there are some rules to follow.

It's kind of like eating vegetables... there are a lot of kids who hate eating vegetables. As kids we'd rather just eat junk food all the time because it tastes better. But our parents make us obey the rules and eat our vegetables because they know if we only eat junk food that in 10 years we are going to be 400 pounds! It may seem better to just eat junk food because it tastes better but the truth is in the long run we will suffer because of it.

God sees the bigger picture and he invites us to follow his rules because he knows that in the long run we will be better off. Can you imagine what a mess life would be if there were no rules or guidelines? Perhaps some of you are suffering because you have failed to follow the rules... you've metaphorically become the 400 pound kid and now are struggling to get out of the mess you've made.

The truth is there is no middle ground when it comes to obedience... if we don't obey then we disobey. I pray that we would all become passionate lovers of God who are obedient to all he tells us to do... not because we have to, but because we get to!

So I'm not by nature a very self-disciplined person... I suppose compared to some I am! But I tend to be a person who is led by my emotions. If I feel the urge to be self-disciplined then it's not a problem, but when I don't feel like it, it's very difficult. But I've been working really hard at being more self-disciplined and doing things because it's the right thing to do whether I feel like it or not.

Let's face it, none of us really like discipline! Discipline is not a fun thing... that's what makes it discipline! But the truth of the matter is that discipline is for our benefit. When we were children our parents disciplined us when we did things we shouldn't do because they wanted us to become the best people we could become. I don't think any of us probably enjoyed that discipline but ultimately it was for our benefit. I've known people over the years who really lacked parental discipline during their childhood and although it may have seemed like a great thing at the time, their lives have been ruined because of it.

The Bible speaks of how God also disciplines us for our benefit so that we can become all that he intends us to be. Listen to the words from Hebrews 12:

⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
   “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
   and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, ⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
   and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^[a]
 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.


Our natural tendency is to want to run from trial, hardship, pain and discipline but sometimes those are the very things we need to go through to grow into the people that God wants us to be.


I heard this great quote once about self-discipline that has stuck with me: "Discipline yourself so someone else won't have to." I love that because the truth is the only time someone else has to discipline us is when we are not doing what we are supposed to do. So if you discipline yourself to do the things you know you need to be doing, then no one else is going to have to discipline you.


So consider, in what areas are you being disciplined? In what areas do you need to be more disciplined?

Hebrews 11:1 says that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We live in a culture that says "I have to see it to believe it." But faith as it is defined in Hebrews 11 does not mix with this worldview. We cannot live with an "I have to see it to believe it" mentality and also live in faith... the two are irreconcilable.

As Christ followers, God has called us to live by faith. If you think about it, the whole notion of "I have to see it to believe it" is really an issue of control. "I want to be in control of my life and so unless I have proof that something is real and true, then I can't accept it. I don't want to act in extreme ways, ways that seem contrary to what would be beneficial to me, unless I have proof that it's going to pay off in the end."

On the contrary then, living by faith is surrendering control. "Even though I can't see it, taste it, touch it, hear it, or smell it, I believe it to be true. Even though it may seem extreme, counter-cultural and it may not make sense to me, I accept it because God says it's true." It's learning to let go of control and believing that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways are better than our ways... it's believing that he's big enough and strong enough to order and direct our steps. It's learning to live life his way instead of our way.


So what areas of your life have you been clinging to control? What things do you need to surrender to God? In what ways do you need to begin living by faith?

I was reading this morning in the book of Isaiah and was struck by a particular verse in which the Lord rebuked the people for taking notice and celebrating the things around them that were indeed good, but failing to look to the One who created and brought about those good things. I wonder how many times I do the same? So many good and beautiful things surround me on a daily basis and yet how many times do I fail to stop and acknowledge the One who brought those good and beautiful things about? My prayer today is that not only will I be more aware of the beauty that surrounds me, but that I'll also be more aware of the presence of the One who brought these things to be.

Thanks be to God!!

"'not called!' did you say? 'not heard the call,' i think you should say.

put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. go and stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there.

then look Christ in the face - whose mercy you have professed to obey - and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world."

- William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

By God's grace, might we seek to become communities of humility, repentance, and authentic hope.


"Humility comes when we see ourselves as beggars who have been gifted with food and invited to bring that food to others. Repentance demands the courage to admit our weaknesses, acknowledge our wounding of others, and seek reconciliation. Authenticity means that we bring our grievances with an honesty of emotion and openness to correction. Hope means that in spite of the relentless terrors, tragedies, and traumas of life, we abide with a stubborn confidence that there is a greater story at work - a story that does not deny these painful realities but interprets them in light of the story's ending, an ending where weeping turns to laughter, and despair dissolves into joy. These corporate virtues and practices articulate the very color and texture of the gospel story. By living them out, we are the message." Shane Hipps

Jonas Brothers Concert


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A little paint and some work and we've got a new table!!


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so i set out a while back on this 365 treasures adventure. the goal was to take time to slow down and find one "treasure" every day and to snap a photo of it and post it. as of late, i have done a terrible job at keeping up with it. my apologies to those of you who have been following me and waiting for the updates. i am going to make a concerted effort to a do a better job at keeping up with it. in the mean time i am updating today with numerous photos from the past several weeks of things that have been meaningful!

I needed this today!

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.



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Location:Psalm 121

My office buddy for the day!


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i was reading this morning in 1 corinthians:8 and was struck by a particular thought. in verses 1-3, paul says, "we all possess knowledge. but knowledge puffs up while love builds up. those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. but whoever loves God is known by God."

i was struck, thinking many of us come to church seeking to "know more" about God, but how often do we come together to really let God change us... to learn to love more. sure, knowledge is helpful but if that knowledge doesn't somehow change us and cause us to live our lives differently (in this case, loving more) then all we get is a big head. as he says in verse 2, "those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know." true knowledge of God that changes us, brings with it humility, whereas knowledge alone that doesn't affect our lives only brings pride.

let love change you!

A little bedroom makeover!

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First day back to school!

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Our vacation ride!

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Making a plate for Nana

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Picture day!

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Coast Guard Parade


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Got to sit on a 1.4 million dollar custom bike made by Orange County Choppers!


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Illy getting her nails done... So cute!


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The backdrop to my morning run.


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Heading to Michigan


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Surfing!


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Izzy's Birthday


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Sleeping Beauty!!


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My new MacBook!!


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Good times with good friends!


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Sleeping Beauties!!


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Marianne's Ice Cream... Yummm!!!


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She fell asleep on my lap... Nothing better!!


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We start 'em young!


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Family snack tine!


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Thankful for my new iPhone!!


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Thankful for our new house!


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i started reading the book of job today. i think job chapter 1 is quickly becoming one of my favorite scriptures. all of us at some point or another experience suffering and loss (some more than others) and can identify with job. probably few of us have experienced suffering and loss in one single day on the scale that job did... but nonetheless we know what it's like to have a bad day.

what i love about job chapter 1 though is his response to it all. he doesn't ignore the suffering but tears his robe and shaves his head which is the custom of mourning in job's time. he is obviously deeply effected by the tragedy that has just occurred. but it doesn't end there. the scripture says that he tore his robe and shaved his head, then he fell to the ground and worshiped! what an amazing response to the worst day of his life... he fell to the ground in worship.

listen to job's words:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, 
and naked I will depart. 
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; 
may the name of the Lord be praised.”


in this world, we will all experience suffering and loss. but i pray that in those moments we would have the faith of job to acknowledge our pain, but also in it and through it, to fall to the ground and worship.

Thankful for restful activities like disc golf!


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Fun at Costco!


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