Live courageously from your heart!
Challenge: speak hope to a friend, family member, or stranger with a written note. Doesn’t have to be much, just a little inspiration. Ready, set, GO! Be inspired, go inspire!
I am a father, a grandfather, I lead a technology team, I am the founder of Heartstone Journey, I am working on various projects and I am a leader in the men’s ministry at our church…just to name a few things I do. I seemingly have been managing my work-life balance a bit better and not feeling overly stressed these days, but God started to reveal that I need a bit more margin in my life to unplug.
Recently I had an opportunity to head outdoors for some ice fishing with the guys from the men’s ministry. I immediately went into what I had queued up for the weekend and focusing on the needs of others. At first glance, you might think…”What’s wrong with that,” right?
We have bought into a culture that demands an instant fix and that convinces us that our way is the best way! Over time, this becomes an automatic response, like breathing, and we blindly strive to satisfy this intense, cultural lie. This striving robbed me of my ability to rest and enjoy life’s moments, and for much of my life, I struggled with this. No matter what I did or where I went, something would entangle me and pull me into restlessness. I would later learn through months of counseling that I was stuck in a pattern of trying to fix the relationship between my mom and my dad, a kid still believing that somehow I could still fix it. This pattern became so embedded in my psyche that I convinced myself that if I couldn’t fix their relationship, it somehow made me a failure. God will never give up on us because He loves us—we are the ones who give up on Him! I’m glad I didn’t give up.
As a dad, I was almost taken out by the enemy. I almost blew it, but my Commander in Chief, God Himself, God gave me another chance.
Men, I don’t know what you are facing as a husband, as a father, but we are being taken out left and right. There is a war on the family unit and significant ground is being lost. This will not be won politically, by the government, by the courts, by the media or by sitting around waiting for the next guy to do something. This war will be one by us manning up and stepping into the role of fatherhood that God has called us into.
Here is a re-work of the Navy Seal Ethos for all you husbands and fathers out there fighting the good fight for your families, may you be encouraged!
In times of trouble or uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our family’s call. A common man with uncommon desire to succeed. Forged by adversity, he stands alongside a brotherhood to serve his God, his family, and protect their way of life. I am that man.
Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on
And when youre tired of fighting
Chained by your control
Theres freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go
So when youre on your knees and answers seem so far away
Youre not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place
Im on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held…
Lyrics: Casting Crowns (2014). Just Be Held [Recorded by Elton John]. Label: Reunion Records.
