September 8, 2014

Unlikely Places

“Courage is found in unlikely places.” ~ Tolkien

We have entered a new chapter as our boy goes I kindergarten. I love that he is experiencing new things, learning, growing and developing relationships.

But as his father my humble desire for my son is that he explodes with courage–finding it in the most unlikely places.

Courage in the lunchroom.
Courage in the halls.
Courage to explore and have fun.
Courage to stand up.

I’m proud of this little man–and look forward to celebrating each courageous day with him.

January 27, 2013

His First Shiner

I don’t know if it was my first–but for sure my worst “shiner” as a kid. I was running through the store, in spite of my mother’s directions, and caught my eye on a store display.

My apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

In a moment of defying his mother’s directions, the Buggar was going Animal and connected his head with the shopping cart.

The result was a first. His first shiner.

January 26, 2013

31 Days: Day 26

PATIENCE

See all previous 31 Days posts here.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:22-23

It takes power to have patience. As a parent you may know that all too well.

Today I pray that my children would come to know the fruit of the Spirit, including an enormity of patience that is resting on God Almighty.

I pray as they grow they would learn to listen for His voice. I pray they would live to see His hand–knowing that will involve a wait–and that in the wait they would know patience.

January 25, 2013

31 Days: Day 25

HOPE

See all previous 31 Days posts here.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13

Life a magnificent fountain, I pray that my children will overflow with hope and hopefully that comes from the Holy Spirit.

January 24, 2013

31 Days: Day 24

A SERVANT’S HEART

“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Ephesians 6:7

Funny thing about being a parent… You start to see and know how much your kids pick up or imitate from you.

What they say.
How they say it.
What they do.
How they deal.

As the wife and I say, they are sponges.

So as I pray for my kids to develop a servant’s heart–I have to do a check to see if I have one.

We aren’t fireman. But our neighborhood fire station is one that we love. Because of the Buggar’s early expressed love for fireman, we have taken the local station as an opportunity to show our kids how to have a servant’s heart.

On occasion, we will take them cookies or muffins or something just to say “Thank you for your service.”

It’s a small action. But it’s one that I pray manifests itself into a life of serving others. That’s my prayer today.

January 23, 2013

31 Days: Day 23

FAITH

See all previous 31 Days posts here.

“Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses”
1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight.

Real faith isn’t easy. When everything feels like it is up against you–faith can be overcome by doubt.

I pray for my kids that even now they would be developing a strong faith in Christ… So that, as they grow and some of life’s more difficult challenges come, they would have a mature and strong faith.

January 22, 2013

31 Days: Day 22

CONTENTMENT

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13

Our kids go without want. Every need–and much, much more, is filled.

The problem is that this lifestyle and society of abundance creates in us a difficulty in feeling content in general, much less contentment in Christ.

My prayer for my kids is that they would know and feel contentment in all situations, experiencing gratitude and provoking in them generosity towards the great Giver.

January 22, 2013

31 Days: Day 21

RESPONSIBILITY

See all previous 31 Days posts here.

“For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”
Galatians 6:5

Being a parent comes with inherent responsibilities. Making sure your kids are safe. Making sure their basic needs are met. Making sure your kids feel love.

As I’m writing this, I’m holding my littlest one while she receives a breathing treatment for a bout with RSV. It’s my responsibility to make sure that I nurture and care for my lovely family–starting with my wife, followed by my kids.

But how do you teach your kids about responsibility?

Chores? I had them–I did them so I could go play.

Picking up after yourself? That’s what under the bed is for.

Truthfully, I think responsibility is an action seen and soaked up. Do my kids see me take my responsibilities seriously? Do they see me give priority to my commitments?

Today, pray that you would dwell on your commitments–your responsibilities. Pray that you would live as an example to your children in doing what’s right and what’s important. And pray they would be out in situations to put their responsibilities to test.

January 21, 2013

31 Days: Day 20

COMPASSION

See all previous 31 Days posts here.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Colossians 3:12

The verse you see above uses an interesting word–clothe.

I’m a clothes horse. My wife is as well. And the Buggar–good gosh he will wear three or four sets of clothes in a day. He clothes himself for the right occasion.

He clothes himself for church–wearing his Sunday best.

He clothes himself for fighting bad guys.

He clothes himself for partying.

So he gets the idea of clothing himself. But with compassion–that’s something altogether different. Not only that, but this verse speaks of this compassion being out of a response and that response being one founded in God’s love for us.

That is a righteous prayer for my kids. One I take very seriously.

January 20, 2013

“When can I be the REAL Captain America?”

“Hey dad–when I grow up, can I be the REAL Captain America?”

“Sure, son. If you work hard you can be anything you want.”

“Okay. When I turn 14 I want to be the REAL Captain America.”

“Okay. Just work hard.”

“And then when I turn 15 I want to be Ironman. And when I turn 16 I want to be Batman. And when I turn 17 I want to be Robin. And, Dad, is Thor a boy?”

“Yes, Thor is a boy.”

“Okay, when I turn 18 I want to be Thor. And when I turn 19 I want to be Green Lantern.”

“That sounds like a great plan, son.”