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How Becoming A Grandfather Gave Me A “Do Over”

I remember that day when I walked into the kitchen of her mom’s house and sat down across the table from my daughter. Looking into the her eyes there was an awkward silence, as she fought to stop the tears from welling up.

Not knowing what was coming next, my countenance drifted towards concern. She seemed overwhelmed with fear as her eyes were affixed on the floor. Still holding back her tears the words came…”Dad, I’m pregnant.”

Her mother sat beside me at the table as emotions broke the heavy silence. I sat there bewildered as a waterfall of thoughts rushed through my head like class 5 rapids. Half way through college and beginning her passage into adulthood…getting pregnant was not part of anyone’s five-year plan.

After a long silent pause, I collected my thoughts and shared my commitment to be there for her and the baby. I also reaffirmed to her that there was a Father in heaven who loves her unconditionally and a dad down here who does too.

On the ride home still trying to piece it all together, I reached out to my friend and mentor who gave me the comforting words I needed from Heaven’s throne. “Tim, this is part of God’s plan for your daughter’s life and He is with her. This baby will usher in the beginning of a new and joyful life for all who get to know her. As odd as this may sound, this baby is God’s lifeline to your daughter.”

Thankfully, through my good friend, my heavenly Father began to quiet my inner turmoil and the storm started to subside.

Roll the tape forward a bit…

How To Take Charge Of The Mediocrity In Your Life

Have you said or heard any of these before?

I hate my job. I hate my life. I hate my choices. I hate my future. My relationships suck. Fill in the blank ______. Come to think of it…I hate everything!

Do you find yourself in any of these places, right now?

The big question staring those who find themselves in these places is…why don’t we change? We put so much energy and effort into complaining about our current circumstance, but we put none into changing it. We convince ourselves that this is hand we’ve been dealt and the conversation stops there. It’s never going to get any better and we drag these anchors around with us where ever we go!

Have you ever asked yourself how did I get here? or how did I become this? Have you ever really taken a deep dive in to reality of your life and wondered how you’ve become so bland?

We are so desperate for life but we are so afraid to live! So what do we end up doing?

7 X 70 = Forgiveness

Your parents weren’t perfect and I meet so many adult men and women who hold a life numbing unforgiveness towards their parents. I was a member of that “not-going-to-forgive-you” gang for years.

Our parents often made it very difficult to love them growing up. They may not have been physically divorced, but it really felt like they were emotionally divorced. As kids growing up they had a front row seat to the breaking of our hearts…and they didn’t even know it.

I remember running down the hallway. Playing hide and seek. I didn’t know that I was searching for someone to notice me. I felt alone and undiscovered and old enough to understand, just when I’m supposed to be learning to love you let me doubt again

—Chris August (lyrics)

It’s tough enough to navigate life on a good day and many of us choose to carry an overstuffed sack of “unforgiveness.” God knows the pain and the price we pay for not forgiving and He wants to teach us what it means to forgive…to really forgive. Although we had tough and difficult days as a family, we had some good ones too. On my road to healing, I can now thank God so much that He used these times as my classroom to teach me how to better love and to forgive in every aspect of my life.

The 15 Principles Of Manhood

There are times along our journey when God calls us to stand in the authority of His Son; to engage in spiritual warfare against the enemy of our souls and shout with authority, “Enough—thus far and no more!” This is not something we should take lightly, because there is not an earthly power that rivals that of satan, and whenever he wages war against one of God’s children, he does so by trying to intimidate and paralyze us through fear. We need God to fight the battle.

In 1 Samuel, we read the awesome account of the confrontation of David and Goliath. The scene unfolds where David is asked by his father to bring some food down to the battle at Ephes-Dammin, which literally means “edge of blood.” At this point in the story, Goliath has been relentlessly taunting the army of Israel for thirty-nine straight days, simply beating them down through intimidation and fear. David walks into the scene on the fortieth day as Goliath continues to curse and intimidate the army of Israel. This shepherd boy looks back at one of the soldiers and says, “Who does this guy think he is and what do I get for shutting this fool up?” David stands before this giant enemy of Israel, picks up five stones and with divine line of sight, sends a stone deep into the head of Goliath sending him to his death on the ground.

There are giants in our land that aren’t supposed to be there!

Getting Rid Of Fear Once And For All

Asked to leave the familiar security of my house, I would cry myself to sleep in a sleeping bag on the hard basement floor of my friend’s house. With my fragile, battered soul and any remaining hope ripped from me, I would simply collapse from the weight of my life. Images pounded me like the relentless, battering waves against a rocky sea shore as I replayed events in my mind. Chaos entered my life as my entire world eroded and washed away all around me. I became so completely crushed and broken that a part of me wanted to die because I couldn’t stand the torment of this deep, gut-wrenching pain. Broken and alone, I would silently drown within a puddle of my tears fading into this scene of sorrow.

My spirit ached!

The greatest blessing spiritually is the knowledge that we are destitute; until we get there Our Lord is powerless.

—Oswald Chambers

I found myself standing between fear of the unknown and the weight of my circumstances bearing down on me, which felt like the death of any remaining hope.

How Becoming A Grandfather Gave Me A “Do Over”

How To Take Charge Of The Mediocrity In Your Life

7 X 70 = Forgiveness

The 15 Principles Of Manhood

Getting Rid Of Fear Once And For All

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

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