Averageyouthpastor

Goodbye For Now

Yesterday evening I was privileged to have the opportunity to take the most amazing person in the world out for ice cream...my daughter, Abby.  We decided to go to Dairy Queen where we shared a Banana Split and we laughed with each other...loudly...and a lot. 

While we were sitting there a mom came in with her two children and sat in a booth close to us. They were all enjoying their ice cream, not as much as Abby and I, when the mother received a phone call.  Now I don't know who called her and I wasn't trying to be nosey, but I could tell by her tears and by what she was saying that she just found out someone very dear to her had just passed away. 

I just couldn't take my mind off of this family for the rest of the time we were there.  I wanted to get up and give them a hug.  I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for them.  I wanted them to know that, in some ways, I knew what they are going through.  But what I did do was enjoy the rest of the time I had with my daughter eating ice cream, go to the car, and I quietly prayed for the family as we pulled away.  

Losing those we love and care for is such a difficult part of this life.  We will always have the memories to cherish and remind us of how much those that we care for have meant to us.  We also have the hope of everlasting life and the opportunity to see them again when they are in heaven.  

Sometimes it's important that we are reminded that this life we live is only temporary.  As I sat there sharing a special moment with my daughter last night, a family was grieving over their loss and beginning the process of saying goodbye.  

I don't know the name of the family and I didn't feel like it would be appropriate to speak with them last night, but I would pray that during this time they would have peace.  I pray that they would hold on to the hope that someday soon they will be together again.  The peace that comes from knowing that can make a world of difference.  It doesn't have to be goodbye forever...my prayer would be it's only goodbye for now. 

"I will turn their mourning into gladness.  

 I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."

                                                                                            Jeremiah 31:13

 

Perspective

Life can be overwhelming sometimes.  It's so easy to get caught up in what's being thrown at us everyday that we forget to take a step back and enjoy the moment.  Maybe today would be a good day for us to take a look at life from a child's perspective. 

Children can't help, but be loud, joyful and full of life.  I have yet to meet a two year old that is overwhelmed with all of the responsibilities that he/she has.  They love life and their face shows it.

I am not saying that we all should neglect all of our responsibilities and begin to live careless lives.  I just think that we can sometimes become a prisoner to the negatives and we lose focus of all of the great things that really make our lives special.  

Take a moment today to enjoy the good things in your life.
Take your spouse on a date.
Play with your children.
Call a close friend and let them know how much you appreciate them.
Invite Sam and Dana to dinner.
Laugh.

We only get one chance at this life. 

Why not make the most of it?

(Don't you just love that picture of my 2 year old, Sidney, above?)

Being Honest

INT. PLAY ROOM - DAY

  ABBY and SIDNEY are playing.  They are laughing and dancing around when, all of a sudden, there is a short moment of silence before SIDNEY begins CRYING.

DAD

Abby, why is Sidney crying?

ABBY

Because I hit her on the back with this big stick.

SIDNEY

Abby, hit me on my back and it hurted.

DAD

Why would you hit Sidney with a stick?

ABBY

She wouldn't give me back that My Little Pony.

SIDNEY

No Hit, Abby.  Bad. Bad Abby.

ABBY heads over to the naughty mat to spend some time THINKING about why it might be bad to hit people with sticks. 

END SCENE

MORAL OF THE STORY

Don't hit people with a stick just because you want your My Little Pony back. 

Naughty mats are where children learn to think.

The truth can be shocking, but still worth sharing.

  

Abby Got That....

Abby started playing around with Photo Booth on our iMac and I wanted to share it with all of you. I took the liberty to spice it up a little.  She is a very funny girl....not sure who she gets her sense of humor from??

Sending our love to Oma and Papa!

Sending love to the Fam! from Sam Frederick on Vimeo.

Be Thankful!

Once I became a teenager it seemed like Thanksgiving became a day where I was stuck at home, waited way to long to finally eat, and played my part in the special game of which brother would start the family argument this year.  Having children of my own has given me a new perspective on this holiday season and is another example of the young leading the old in my life.   Last night I asked Abby what she was thankful for....

 "I am thankful to be a big sister. I am thankful for Sidney.  I am thankful for Mommy and Daddy. I am thankful for my princess toys.I am thankful for my friends......I am thankful for everything!" 

It's been a challenging year for a lot of us this year.  

The economy has tightened the clamps on the lifestyle many of us were used to. 

Maybe you believe God has forsaken you because a Democrat was elected.  

For some of us, we lost a dear family member or close friend making the holidays challenging this year.  

But through all the the ups and downs we still have so much to be thankful for.  Life's journey sometimes just causes us to lose perspective.  It took a little girl to remind me again just how much I have to be thankful for.  

Family. Friends. Salvation. Health. A Job. A Smokin' Hot Wife. 

Using Paul's words in his letter to the Philippians,  

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

My prayer this holiday season for all of us would be that we think less about gifts this year and spend more time on those we are giving gifts to or receiving gifts from.  People matter - Stuff doesn't. 

Just some thoughts from a father who is learning everyday from his daughter. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

  

How to Get a Wife

Here is a great video clip from Perry Noble the Pastor at NewSpring Church.

All single guys should watch this AND take notes!

Beautiful_02- Single Guys Outtake from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

How's Your Energy Budget?

This morning our staff had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Dr. Earl Creps. Earl is a church planter, author, thinker and, more importantly, a great person to be around. One of the things that he shared with us was the importance of maintaining the Energy Budget in our personal life's and the institutions we lead.

In our personal lives we commit time and energy to those things that we give priority too. There are only so many hours in the day and so much we are able to give before we simply are unable to provide adequate time or energy to anything else. The key is deciding what should be a priority and what shouldn't be. Are we providing the appropriate energy to our family to keep it growing and healthy? Are we making our personal devotion and prayer life a priority or do we allow other areas of our life to keep us "too busy" to budget the proper energy to this crucial area of our lives?

In our churches we need to be thinking not only of the energy it takes from a leadership standpoint to sustain a growing ministry or program but also from the point of view of those in our church we are asking to attend. One of the questions we might need to ask when creating a new ministry or program could be what to give up to begin doing this instead. It's interesting to think about from that perspective. The more programs we have at church the more we are trying to budget the energy and time of the people that attend our church keeping them away from having a life outside of church. It makes sense that most church growth is church to church instead of unchurched to church...we are creating so many programs for church people to connect that we are not truly promoting or allotting time for them to invest in those that are unchurched.

How is your energy budget?

What ministries or programs, that are under your leadership, need to be taken out behind the church and buried?

Is your family and devotion time getting the best of the energy you have to offer?

Now I lay me down to sleep.....

Last night after I got home I went up to my daughter's room to talk to her for a few minutes and get her ready for bed.  After she was in bed and winding down, I prayed with her...which is typical.  As I was praying my daughter closed her eyes and she prayed along with me.  I stopped a couple of times to listen to her and could tell she was picking up on whatever I was praying for and then she would pray for the same thing herself. 

There is nothing better than hearing your little girl pray. 

There is nothing better than being a Dad.