Trust

My daughter crawls across the room to me. She grabs onto my legs and clumsily pulls herself up. Of course, she wants me to pick her up. I reach my hands down towards her, but in the split second before I actually grab her arms she lets go and throws her hands straight up. 

She's wobbly.

She's all alone. 

She's put her trust in me and knows I won't let her fall.

In this journey of life there are many times I've felt clumsy, wobbly or even all alone. Have you ever been there?

Through my daughter I believe that Christ has tried to show me how simple it really is. I'm the one that has made it complex. He will always be there and will never let me fall. In the times I feel like I'm wobbly or all alone He has proven many times over that He'll always be there.

So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:4 (Amplified Bible)

For me this verse is easier quoted than done. I haven't mastered it yet, but each day I learn to trust Him just a bit more. Maybe it took a little girl named Gisele to bring it home. She's teaching me how to have childlike faith.

What are some ways that you've learned to trust God? Do you have any examples? I'd love to hear from you.

Gisele's 1st Birthday

As I type this it has now struck midnight here in California. That would mean it is now officially my daughter's first birthday. 

I can't believe how fast the year went by, so I just wanted to say a few things on the chance that Gisele will someday read this.

Gisele McKenzie,

I love you. You mean the world to me. I'm so thankful for the day that God brought you into our lives. You've been an amazing baby. You sleep a LOT, so that makes it easy on your mother. You have such a great temperament. You've been so awesome as we pack you around all over the country and Southern California. I love to watch you dance to most any music you hear. I love to hear you say "da da da" and crawl to me as fast as you can when I come home from work. Pretty soon you'll be walking and talking and I'm sure you'll be miss independent. However, for now you've recently become a daddy's girl and it melts my heart. I could go on and on, but just know that you will always be my baby girl. I love you and am praying that you have another healthy and amazing year, just like year number one.

Love,

Daddy

Thankful

It's been several months since my last post. Almost a year to be a little more precise. I never realized how much time a child would occupy. I wouldn't trade it for anything though. 


Finally, here I am once again with my random thought for the day. I'm thankful. 


"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning."  -Albert Barnes


This quote best describes my sentiments today. Life doesn't always work out how I think it should, but I have nothing to complain about. I know in the end He will never leave me and for that I'm thankful. There's no better life to live.

Forgiveness

Weakness in another person can be contagious. One good way to catch that weakness is with resentment.


The best way to avoid taking on the weakness of others is with forgiveness. Forgiveness frees you to be strong and to look forward. What others may have said or done or failed to do cannot be changed now. What you can do now is begin moving beyond the pain with sincere forgiveness.


With forgiveness, you are no longer a victim. With forgiveness, you take control of your own destiny.


Forgiveness does not mean you support or endorse what happened. Forgiveness means that you are bigger than what happened and confident enough to move past it. 


After all, in order for us to receive forgiveness from Christ, we must first forgive others.


For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)


Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; Luke 6:37 (ESV)


Forgive, and stop poisoning your own life with the past transgressions of others. Forgive, and feel the strength of your own integrity.

Gisele Sleeping

We thought this was hilarious.

The New Addition

Most of you are now aware that our baby girl was born this week on 12/16/09. Her name is Gisele McKenzie. It has been such an amazing and eye opening experience. Words would not even be able to begin describing it. In short, it is more awesome and thrilling than I could have ever imagined. I instantly fell in love with her. As they had her under the "heat lamp" giving her the first bath, she was flailing around and crying. As she was crying I put my hand out and she instantly grabbed on to my finger. This single act stole my heart. I love this little girl so much. I'm sure as time goes on I will have more profound things to write about with her, but for now, this is it. I'm hooked. I love being a dad.


Below are a few pictures of this amazing day:

Rage Against the Machine

You owe it to yourself to check out the following blog: "Rage Against the Machine" at http://www.livingclear.net/livingclear/blogger.html. Great post.