Oh What a Mess!

This past week I started to do a remodel of our kitchen. Heidie wanted to remove the wallpaper and paint the walls along with replacing the doors to the stairs and pantry. I tried to get the wallpaper off but it was difficult at best and was really screwing up the drywall. I had to skim coat the whole wall then sand and that just made one big mess. The decision was made to remove all the drywall and replace it. Well I removed a major part of the drywall and this past Saturday her father and I replaced the insulation and hung new drywall. The problem was that even doing it that way we still had a mess to deal with. It cannot be helped. I know my dear wife was struggling because of it. She loves to keep the house clean. But let's face it when you do a remodel there will be a mess!

I thought about how much trash a remodel like this can produce. No matter how much you try to keep it to a minimum, you will have trash to get rid of and have a mess to clean up. I have done several remodels over the years and each time it is the same. You make a mess to do the job then clean up afterwards. Well our lives are nothing more than a remodel that God is doing in each of us. Just like my home remodel, there is always garbage that needs taken out as result. God starts with a plan and knows what He needs to remove from our lives. Then He starts the process of replacing that which He has taken from us. The removal process is what we don't like because it can hurt. Much like removing the drywall is time consuming and can make a mess, it often can mess us up pretty good. We have to remember that it isn't the process of being transformed that we should focus on but rather the end result of that transformation. The process is the journey we call life and we need to press forward as we look to the goal of becoming like Christ. The things that we go through here are only temporary afflictions in light of the eternal glory that awaits us. We see this transformation as messy and seemingly disruptive in our lives yet when it is all done we will rejoice in everything that our heavenly Father did in and through us.

I hope to get to the remainder of the kitchen redone before long. We are both looking forward to what it will look like once we are done. The process may have taken time but in the end it will be well worth the work. There will be a day when we clean up the last of the mess and enjoy the remodeled kitchen. That will be nothing compared to what we will experience in our heavenly home! Thank the Lord that there will be no more need to remodel our heavenly mansions!

A Legacy in Happy Valley

Today they held a memorial service for Joe Paterno at Penn State. The service was touching as different speakers shared their memories about JoePa. The thing that stuck out through all of them was the theme of his legacy. They talked about his values and his desire to see his players succeed not just on the field but in every part of their lives. That concern was shown to students who didn't even play football. His biggest accomplishment was not the 409 wins he had in football but how he lived his life and was a man of integrity. That is his legacy!

As people shared how he would not only have concern for how his players did both on and off the field, they pointed out how many lives he touched with his life. Their lives will touch their families and others that they interact with on a daily basis. JoePa was a man that believed in teaching others how to handle life no matter what the circumstances were. They talked about his values and how he kept them no matter what. I was glad to see how he is respected by so many. Even after he was treated like he was, he refused to be bitter. I recall how people were calling for his ouster when they struggled for wins. He kept his thoughts and feelings to himself and kept on doing what he thought was good for the program and the school. If he would not have been the man he was, he could have lashed out time and time again. But because he was JoePa, he did what he always did. He got dressed and took the field to play football. Was he disappointed when they lost? Sure but he never let that stop him from going on. God knows that we do not live lives that are free from pain and trials. But He also knows that we do not have to let them dictate to us how we live our lives. We have a heavenly Father that is always there for us no matter what comes along. God wants us to be like JoePa and keep going. He didn't create us to fail but to succeed in whatever He has for us to do!

I can't help but feel that watching a Penn State football game will ever be the same again. When I see the team take the field, I will think that JoePA is leading them out in spirit. But his memory will live on in the legacy that he has left for us. I look forward to seeing Beaver Stadium called Paterno Stadium! Thanks Joe for all the great memories over the years! As a sign at Penn State stated "We are because you were!" Go Penn State!

Nothing As Lovely As A Tree!

I saw something on the internet that caught my attention today while checking my email. The article was talking about global warming and several things were mentioned that contradicts the global warming theory. The thing that stuck out to me was about the trees and the tree rings that are contained in them. These rings show not only the age of the tree but also the conditions in which these trees grew during those years. The rings are wider when the conditions are good and thinner when they are difficult. The thing they notice is that they see cycles when the trees do well and when they don't. The bad conditions show up every so often then years of good conditions. This blog isn't about the issue of global warming but rather about the trees.

If you think about it, we are much like the trees. The trees do not always have good growing conditions. They go through dry periods as well as times of ample rain and water allowing for excellent growth. The key is that even in the dry times they still grow! We are much like the trees in that we face both good times and bad. But it doesn't matter whether we are enjoying good times or struggling through the tough times. I do not know where it started but some folks think that when you become a Christian you no longer have any problems or difficulties. That is not the case. God never said that we would sail through life with a peaceful breeze in our sails and calm seas. What He did promise is that He would be with us through the storms of life as well as the serene times. We still grow under any conditions. The problem I see that faces us is that we need to accept the good times and the difficult times from God. He allows them to come to test our faith and to conform us into His Son's image. Faith without testing will never grow. It grows in adversity because we are dependent on Him to see us through. The only time a tree stops growing is when the roots die and no longer take in the water and the needed nutrients. We will die spiritually if we do not remain in a life changing relationship with Christ. Remember that He is the Vine (and His roots will never die) and we are the branches!

So when you look at a tree think about the times it must have seen and all the dry periods in its life and realize it is still here and growing. God has saved you and will help you grow in Him no matter what you face if you place your trust in Him! Don't forget that a mighty oak starts from a little old acorn! Imagine what God can do with you!

2011- A Year of What?

2011 is past and 2012 has begun. So I wonder what type of year did you have in 2011. Was it a great year or maybe just a good year? Or did you have one of those years that you would prefer to forget ever happened? On Saturday night at our New Year's Eve service I got to listen to a great preacher share her 2011 story. She shared her ordeal with with breast cancer and all the things she faced because of it. But do you know what type year she had? According to her, she had a good year!

Now wait a m inute! She was diagnosed and battled breast cancer. How could she have had a good year when she faced surgery, Chemotherapy and radiation? It doesn't make sense. Then on top of that she also had to be concerned with her finances which were affected by her not being able to preach. So what type of struggles did you have this past year? Did you face a death issue or major health problem like Gayle? In light of her difficulties, how do you view the problems you encountered over the past year? You see we think we face life changing issues but when you look at others around you, you often realize that your problems are minor compared to other folks. The amazing thing with Gayle was that she had the same perspective. She saw others worse off than her. Battling breast cancer and she thought she had it easier than some others. If you know Gayle, you would understand why she can feel the way she does. YOu see it is because of what but who her strength is in life's battles. She knows that God is there for every step of the way. Not just in this battle but every one she experiences in life. She serves a God that will never leave her nor forsake here no matter what circumstances come our way. If you could sit down and talk with her I am sure of this one thing. She would desire that you have the same faith and confidence in Christ as she does. He loves you and wants to be your strength as well.

She said she didn't ask for the cancer but she looks back on it as a time of growing closer to her Lord because of it. She knows that it is just something else God is using in her life to grow her faith. SHe shared that it was alight affliction working in her fo a far superior glory. How about you? Do you know that God is there for you and that He has a desire to bless you? You do not have to go through anything alone! Have a Happy New Year and put your trust in Him in 2012!