Naturally, the older kids always had a big advantage, so my fatherly inclination to help the younger would kick in. After all, no parent wants to see his kid wind up sad and empty-handed. But I wasn't about to just hand ​them the candy. They had to seek. As long as they were really trying, I would make sure they were rewarded in the end.
       The Bible has a lot to say to me about 'seeking'. It tells me over and over that I am to seek Him— His face, His ways, wisdom, counsel, peace, His kingdom, righteousness,  "the treasures that are above", etc.  I am to do this earnestly (Hebrews 11:6) and with all my heart (Jeremiah 29:13).  In others words, my Father doesn't just want to hand me everything; He knows that I will benefit more by getting into the game. His goal for me isn't merely that I get easy stuff.  He wants me to be a seeker and a finder. 
       In the six decades that I have been getting to know God, I've learned a few things about 'seeking and finding.' I've discovered a few of His choice hiding spots — places where it hadn't crossed my mind to look before. Nowadays I try to look more carefully with my eyes wide open, because it is in obscure hiding spots like these that I have discovered some real gems... 

1. At a discouraging convention. On October 12, 2011 I was feeling very low. I had gone out on a financial limb by exhibiting at a three-day booksellers convention far from home, and by every indication the event was an utter failure. Back in my hotel room, tears blurred my view of the baseball game on TV. "God, are You with me?" I cried. I heard a TV voice announcing the next batter, a weak number 9 hitter who was in the biggest batting slump of his career. Out loud I prayed a crazy prayer: "Lord, if You are with me, let this guy hit a home run right now." Instantly, the announcer's voice shouted, "There's a long drive to deep left field!" The very second the prayer left my lips Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers, the least likely person on the field, tied up the game with one swing of the bat. I have no memory of the rest of the game. I only know that my loving God was willing to stoop to my silly terms to lift me up when I called to Him in desperation.  
2. On a bed of pain. In 2014, a debilitating condition in my nervous system left me bedridden with excruciating pain for nearly four months. What did God let me find in that bed? Not only the grace to endure, but fresh perspective and insights to write three new books while lying there: "The ABCs of God", "God Paints the World", and "God Loves the World".
3. On a busy freeway.  In March 2005, while traveling to the funeral of my dear nephew Jonathan, my mind was unexpectedly flooded with most of the text to the book "There's a Party in Heaven."
4. Under a semi-truck.  On March 8, 1986 Jan and I found ourselves pinned underneath an eighteen-wheeler for 30 minutes, part of a 17-vehicle pileup on icy Michigan roads. The top half of our vehicle was sheered right off, but miraculously neither of us suffered any injuries. What we found? A renewed love for each other, and an unbroken little bulb from our taillight — exactly like another we had saved eight years earlier after another serious accident (neither of us were driving that time). We saved both bulbs as reminders of how our fragile lives are in the hands of our Maker and Protector.
5. In a cold, dark woodshed.  In the winter of 1979-80, bitter Midwest blizzards kept me swinging an ax morning and night to feed the little potbellied stove that struggled to keep my young family warm in our drafty 1880's farmhouse. What did God have waiting for me inside that woodshed? Many sweet conversations, spontaneous songs of joy, parenting tips, answers to important questions, guidance for our future, invigorating exercise, and His wonderful provision.
6. In a lonely attic. In 1976 as a single young adult in a secluded third-floor bedroom, I collected countless nuggets of wisdom from the writings of obscure, godly men and women; and my perspective was tweaked as the Holy Spirit listened to the deep longings of my heart that I whispered only to Him.
7. At a dried up river bed. In August 1974 while hiking the Appalachian Trail in southwest Virginia, I found myself  extremely thirsty with an empty canteen as darkness set in after a 20-mile forest hike. The water our guide book promised us was not to be found. I raised my head and called up through the trees, asking the Good Shepherd to lead us to water. He did, to a completely different stream that did not appear not on the map.
8. In waiting rooms. More times than I can recall I have found surprises in E.R.s and clinics. Sometimes, what seemed like certain sorrow turned into inexpressible joy. Other times, sorrow was met with a grace for which God was the only explanation.

        God hides goodies for His kids in the strangest places. They may be tucked away in a checkout line, an old coat pocket, a ditch, a rain gutter, or in the comment of an annoying co-worker. They might be waiting for us at a restaurant, a theater, an ATM, or a compost pile.  The value lies not only in the discovery, but also in the seeking, for this is where the heart is prepared for the treasure.
       What special treasures from God have you found in odd places?  I would love to hear about them!

      ​It was a beautiful July evening, back in the olden days before GPS and cell phones. The weather was perfect as we left the rustic lodge in the foothills of Appalachia. With my new bride in the seat beside me, I was enjoying the gorgeous scenery (both inside and outside the vehicle) on our way to an event. The winding road threaded through a dense forest of hardwoods, and with every twist and turn I became a little more unsure of my bearings. Somewhere along the way I missed a turn, and we became lost among the trees, unable to find our way out of the park. The signage was poor and there were no hikers to ask for directions. I could’ve kicked myself for leaving the lodge without my park map.
               As a Christian, I have a map, directions to help me navigate my way through this thick forest. It’s called the Bible.

​               Same week, same honeymoon, different region. In a sparsely populated area known for its countless inland lakes, we found ourselves again driving along a dark winding road, this time with map in hand. It was after midnight when the lights of our 1967 Plymouth suddenly went dead. We pulled over and sat in darkness wondering how to find our way, until a friendly local stopped to offer help. After hearing our situation she said, “I know the place. Follow me.” Her tail lights guided us the rest of the way.
               As a Christian, I have a mentor, a guide to lead me through places that are so dark I struggle to see the map clearly. He’s called the Holy Spirit.

              Moses received his directions (his map) when God spoke clear instructions to him at the burning bush (and later on the mountain). Moses also had a guide (his mentor) in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so he and the people could keep going even in the dark. After all the opposition they had faced in Egypt, Moses and his people were finally making some real progress, heading down the road toward the destination God had for them. Except for one problem: they ran out of road. 

​               You’ve probably been there. I know I have, trying to follow God’s Word and seek Him for guidance. And just when you think you’ve received your directions and you’re heading down His path for you, you hit a brick wall (or in Moses’ case, a sea). There simply is no more road. The career door closed. The ministry opportunity ended. The family plan dissolved. The medical options ran out. The money dried up. You’ve taken the last step you can take, right up to the water’s edge, and the hostile army is closing in. Here’s how I describe it in my kids’ book The Hurry-Up Exit from Egypt: “This is the sea that made them all cry, ‘We’re trapped here like rats and we’re all gonna die!’”
 
               Sometimes, I’ve found that mentality in me. I’ve followed my map and my mentor right up to what seems like a brick wall, and here I am at the end of the road. But God had a third “M” for Moses: a miracle. While hundreds of thousands looked back at the approaching terror, Moses looked forward and watched the Waymaker make a way. God used a tremendous wind to heap up the waters of the sea like a wall on each side. Extraordinary! Truth really is stranger than fiction.
 
              And while this was a truly incredible miracle, it was by no means the only miracle God did for His people. How about water in the desert…out of a rock? (Exodus 17.) Or defeating an innumerable army while standing still and singing? (2 Chronicles 20.) The Bible is filled with mind-blowing miracles done for the helpless in times that were hopeless. It tells us repeatedly to remind ourselves and our children of the wonders God has performed. (Joshua 4:21-24; Psalm 78:2-7; Psalm 105; 1 Chronicles 16:8-12; Isaiah 43:16-19). These reminders build faith in our children. They build faith in me. And as my faith starts to swell again, I realize that, with God, not even the sky is the limit. Many years after He parted one sea, He simply chose to walk on top of another one.
 
               I’m not exactly sure why my painful losses tend to be easier to recall than the incredible answers to prayer I’ve experienced. Maybe that’s why I’m supposed to tell and retell my children about God’s wonderful deeds. I can’t afford to let myself forget the miracles God did yesterday; I may be needing one tomorrow.

​               I’ll continue to look to my map. I’ll try to keep up with my mentor. And sometimes, when I run out of road, I’ll just have to remember to ask for a good old fashioned miracle.

Whenever there was a pause in my pounding, the rooftop was a serene and quiet place. Chickens clucked and scratched below, and a songbird gave me a little private performance from a nearby branch. At some point it occurred to me that this must be about the time that Jesus was crucified, and my thoughts carried me from that tranquil rooftop to a hill far away.

I continued to pound, then suddenly realized that I was holding a hammer and nails, just like those Roman soldiers.  Of course, my inch-and-a-quarter roofing nails were nothing like the heavy spikes that pierced the hands and feet of Jesus — or were they?

I thought about those big, ugly spikes that held Him to that cross, representing the big, ugly sins of mankind.  Every murder, act of terrorism, rape, kidnapping, theft...the list of big, ugly sins is as long as those big, ugly nails.

Then I looked down at my handful of small, shiny roofing nails, and another thought entered my mind.  It isn't only the "big uglies" that pierced my Lord.  It was also all the "small shinies."  Snooty attitudes, snippy comments, egotistical thoughts, morsels of gossip, moments of apathy, tiny tantrums, harsh judgments, wisps of mini-rebellions, and countless secret self-centered sins also made Him bleed.

I looked at my big 35# bucket of little nails and saw myself.  Innumerable sins, each one a nail that inflicted pain on my dear, loving Creator.  

So that's how I spent my Good Friday.  In grubby clothes, with filthy hands, on a secluded rooftop where my lips kept whispering, ​"WHAT A SAVIOR!!!"      
​

Tip #2: Nighttime Blessings. 
Over thirty-two years ago at a men’s group I attended, a good friend posed a challenge to me.  “For seven consecutive nights, when you put your kids to bed, lay your hand on each one’s head and ‘bless’ them.”  I agreed to the challenge, though somewhat reluctantly, thinking it might be a bit awkward, both for me and for the kids.  Oh, they had heard me pray plenty of times – at meals and on other occasions – but this seemed a little contrived.  Nevertheless, I committed to seven days, and was determined to follow through by “blessing” my 4-year-old, 3-year-old, and 1-year-old.

On the first night, I started with the youngest, probably so I could “practice” on someone who was less intimidating.  I bent over the crib, placed my hand on her little bald head, and uttered something like, “Lord, please bless little Hannah with peaceful sleep and sweet dreams” and perhaps another simple request or two.  I ended with a kiss on her forehead as she just lay there and smiled.  That wasn’t so hard, I thought.  One down, two to go.

Next was 3-year-old Dena, curious and inquisitive. A simple blessing couldn’t suffice; she would require an explanation. I explained that I just wanted to ask Jesus to bless her.  I stroked her silky hair as I asked God to watch over my little girl and give her a happy, healthy day tomorrow.

Our 4-year-old Nathan, always a quiet observer, asked no questions.  As he got his blessing, I knew the wheels were turning silently in his head as he pondered this odd new ritual.  Like the others, he also got a hug and kiss.

Nights two, three, and four went pretty much the same, except that I found myself lingering a little longer over each one and changing up the blessings a little.  Each night, new things came to my mind to pray for each child.  I found myself not only asking God to bless each one, but thanking God for each one.  The kids were hearing me tell the Lord how much I loved them…how special they were…how unique they were.  By the end of the week, the older two were scampering into bed without their usual stall tactics.  As I approached Dena, she was grinning, eyes squeezed tightly shut in eager anticipation of a fresh blessing.

Seven consecutive nights of blessings made an unexpected impact on me.  I couldn’t help but notice that bedtime was becoming calmer.  It felt great to know that I closed each busy day with a tender point of connection with each of my kids.  Every night the blessings grew gentler, more intimate, and more specific.  I tried to imagine how it must feel for a small child to hear their Daddy say nice things about them to Almighty God. 

I didn’t stop at seven nights.  Although I never actually made a conscious decision to continue the blessing my kids each night, I continued the routine.  Not because I'm so disciplined, but simply because I enjoyed it so much.  Weeks turned into months, and months into years.  It’s been somewhere around 12,000 nights, and now my oldest seven are parents themselves.  Now, blessings from their lips go to God’s ears on behalf of their children.  My five youngest are still at home, and they still get blessed at night.  I don’t bless them in their beds as often (although sometimes I do), but I do bless them – individually, specifically, intimately.  Four of them are young ladies whom I hug, and with my bristly cheek against theirs, I whisper loving words of blessings into their ears.  They hear me tell God how pleased I am with their character, their kind deeds to others, and their wise choices.  They hear me ask for God’s favor on their efforts and dreams.  I speak health into their bodies, courage into their hearts, and life into their endeavors.  I ask God to guide their steps, and bless their future spouses.  My son’s blessings often come with a strong bear-hug.  I let him hear me marvel at the things God planted inside him.  I tell the Lord how proud I am of a young man who loves Him and his family and isn’t ashamed to say so.  I ask God to anoint his talents, guard his heart, fill him with understanding beyond his years, and fill his life with purposeful adventures.  Sometimes I tickle him or wrestle with him at the end of the blessing. 

After 12,000 nights of blessings I’ve learned that there is no end to the countless ways God would love to bless them, so I just keep asking.  I try to find out their needs throughout the day so I can pray specifically and personally for them. 

What has this got to do with praying as a family?  Prayers of blessing have been woven into the fabric of our family culture.  Going to bed without a blessing (which does happen on occasion) feels odd, kind of like going to bed without eating supper.  These nightly blessings have brought God a little closer, helping us sense the reality of His presence in our home.  I suggest that you try it for yourself for a week.  Imagine the natural impact these blessings could have on the way your kids see prayer, which leads to the subject of my next post.

Next:  Tip #3: Siblings Praying for Siblings.    

Recently, several people have asked me for specific tips for successfully praying together as a family.  While I’m certainly no expert, I’ll be happy to share what we do if it can be of help to anyone.  The things I share will reference our family in its current form, which consists of Jan, myself, and our five remaining children at home, ages 21 through 11.  (Our seven oldest kids have families of their own.  Don’t ask me how we did things back then…I can’t remember that far back!) 

With all our imperfections, one thing that I’m grateful for in our home is that we pray together.  It’s gradually become a part of our climate.  We do it fairly regularly, and it feels pretty natural.  I’d even say that we do it somewhat casually, sometimes at the drop of a hat.  There’s no occasion or issue that we can’t pray about.  What I appreciate most of all is that every one of the kids seems comfortable participating.  No one is afraid of their family members hearing them pray.  It’s as natural as carrying on a conversation.  In fact, that’s exactly what it is – prayer for us is consciously including God in our conversations.
How did we become comfortable praying together?  Over the next few blogs, I thought I would share specifics about how we are learning to pray together.  Here’s the first one:

Tip #1: It starts with you. 
My family’s prayer habits start with me.  I don’t want to sound narcissistic, but I’ve seen it time and again that a huge chunk of what my family experiences as a group is a reflection of what’s going on in my own life.  If my self-control weakens and I buy ice cream, everyone else is likely to cave eventually.  If I sulk around the house, the overall atmosphere becomes moodier.  If I’m feeling silly, others join in the silliness.  And if talking to God, whether silently or out loud, is natural for me, it will gradually become natural for them, too.  It’s all about modeling.  If there is a magic shortcut for teaching my kids to do something, I’ve not found it.  They will more likely discover Christ to be real in their lives if they see over a period of time that He has been consistently real in mine.  That’s a fact – a responsibility – that I can’t dodge.

Please don’t think that I see myself as some great prayer hero, because I know for a fact that I’m not.  Sadly, I forget to check in with the Lord sometimes, much like I might fail to notice a family member in the room or a grandchild who entered my office if I’m too preoccupied.  Sometimes I rush ahead with my “great idea” without talking it over with God, forgetting that if you “acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct your steps” (Proverbs 3:6).  When I rush ahead without consulting with Him, I invariably pay the price.
But with all my flaws, the truth is that I definitely pray more than I used to.  Much more.  Pain, failure, and hardship have driven me to my knees.  At this stage of my life (I’ll turn 58 in a couple of days) I’m not sure I ever go through a day prayerless anymore.  If so, it’s rare.  That’s because my limitations require it.  It’s like getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.  I mean no disrespect by this comparison, but I just can’t go as long as I used to without praying.  There’s too much at stake.

Here’s my routine:  On a typical day, I wake up around 5:30-5:45am, the house dark and quiet.  As I lie there transitioning from partially to fully awake, my first conversation of the day with my Maker takes place in my mind.  I thank Him for the peaceful rest, for watching over my family all night long, for allowing me another day to breathe, to love, and to be loved, things like that.  I tell Him that I love Him, and that as He helps me, I’m willing to serve Him today.  Then, if Jan’s awake, we’ll pray together in bed.  If she’s not awake, I whisper a quick blessing over her.  From there, I may go to my office, take a walk on the treadmill, or perhaps drive to a faraway appointment.  Whichever, I pick up my conversation with Him where we left off, only this time I’m trying to listen.  If I’m in my office, my Bible is open and so is my heart, receptive to whatever specific things He wants to point out to me.  If I’m driving, I keep the radio off for about an hour or so, chatting with Jesus out loud.  I talk a little, but I try to listen more, because when I do lots of fascinating promptings and perspectives come to my mind.

Usually as I go through my work day, I’m aware that God is close by.  Maybe because my mind was tuned in to Him early the awareness just lingers; I don’t exactly know.  But I know that He rarely distracts me from my work; on the contrary, as I focus on the task at hand, that inner awareness makes me feel like the two of us are working as a team.  Typically, I’ll find myself saying things under my breath like “What do You think?” or “I need Your help with this.”  I think and talk and work like He is actually with me because He actually IS.

At the end of the day when I go home and join the family for supper, I guess it just seems only natural to include the Lord then, too, and all evening long while we’re at it since we’ve hung out together all day.  Then come the kids’ bedtimes. 

Ah, bedtimes!  Those amazing prayer opportunities deserve a blog post of their own.  That’s for next time.

Does anybody else hate to wait?

When Jan finally persuaded me that we could raise chickens, I plunged right in building the best henhouse I knew how.  I gave it more size, comfort, and options than any chicken needs.  The way I figured, happy chickens would mean more eggs.  Jan said we could expect to see eggs in about 16 weeks.  I was confident that my extra effort would have our hens cranking them out in 12-14 weeks, tops.

But as we approached 19 weeks, the only egg we experienced was a big goose egg.  Nothing.  Zilch.  Nada. 
I cleaned the coop, adjusted their lighting, added fresh straw to their nesting boxes, changed their feed, and let them free range longer each day.  Still no results.  A couple of times I found myself loitering at the chicken coop, as if staring at them could intimidate them into laying.  "A watched pot never boils" ran through my head.  I was half tempted to stick them in a boiling pot.

Today, on day one of their 19th week, we got our breakthrough!  It's only one egg, but hopefully it's a start of grander, more glorious omelets to come. 

Have you been waiting for results?  To sign the deal?  Strike oil?  Pass the exam?  Conceive?  Go into labor?  Receive the check?  Get the lab results?  Get a proposal?  Get some answers?  Waiting is HARD, isn't it? 

I'm in the process of learning how to wait for more things than eggs.  As a writer who submits manuscripts for my livelihood, it sometimes feels like waiting is at the top of my job description list.  I. DON'T. LIKE. IT.  Wait for a reply from the agent...wait for a reply from the editor...wait for the decision of the committee...wait for the contract...wait for the check...AAAUGHH!!!  As weeks turn into months, I can find myself stressing, pressing, and obsessing.  But there are other options.  Here are 4 things I'm learning to practice while I W.A.I.T.

• WORK:  I must always attack the next project.  Remain productive.  People who are busy canning today's beans don't have time to whine about yesterday's peas.  I must always look to the fresh tasks of today, disciplining myself to look forward and pour my whole effort into my next undertaking (Colossians 3:23).  It's harder to get to the next destination if we're always looking in the rearview mirror.   
• ASK:  We all know the importance of follow-up when it comes to business.  One call rarely does the job; it must be followed by more calls.  I understand that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" in the natural world, but sometimes I forget to apply that to God.  For some reason, He wants me to.   I tend to pray about my situation once, maybe twice, and after that assume that it must not have been what He wanted.  But Jesus told a story about a persistent widow that shows we "should always pray and not give up" (Luke 18:1-8).  I'm learning that it's okay to keep asking until the final answer is clear. 
• IMPROVE:  Waiting often provides the opportunity to polish up on my skills.  A few months ago, I submitted to my agent a proposal for a book series I thought would catch a publisher's eye.  While waiting for a response, I happened to pull out another series of unpublished short stories I wrote many years earlier that had never garnered any interest.  As I re-read these old manuscripts, I could still see their potential, but I also realized why they never went anywhere.  After revising and tweaking for several days, I submitted them in a proposal to my agent just for grins.  When I finally got a response of serious interest from a publisher, it wasn't for the series I had expected, but for the old stories I dusted off and reworked.  The waiting period gave me time to get a fresh set of eyes and make much needed improvements. 
• TRUST:  God told the Israelites at the end of their road, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  That was right before He plowed a highway right through the sea.  I find it especially difficult to trust Him in areas I think I can handle myself (although I know I really should because I know I really can't).  Maybe the first step toward trusting God more starts with AT LEAST letting go of things that I know I have absolutely no control over.  When my worrying does absolutely no good, and the Bible gives me countless examples of how and why I should trust the Lord, then trusting God and His promises is, clearly, the most productive thing I can do.

What are you waiting for that seems to be taking too long?  Do you have any "waiting" insights, encouragements, or experiences that might help someone else?  I would love to hear them! 

The phone rang around dusk yesterday, October 15, 2015.  My oldest son said, “Dad you really need to take a look at the sky right now.”  I headed to the porch where I was treated to a magnificent spectacle in our Northern Michigan sky.  A stunning double rainbow could be seen from end to end, stretching over blazing autumn leaves more colorful than cameras could adequately record. 
Those familiar with the account of Noah and his ark know the significance of a rainbow.  It is a promise.  God promised He would never again wipe life off the entire earth by a universal flood.  Whatever other ways the meaning of the rainbow has been hijacked today, to me it will always mean that God made a promise.  Never again.  And He has kept that promise.
Now, when I make a promise (which I've learned to make sparingly), I try very hard to keep it.  I vowed to my wife I would never abandon her.  I've told my kids I will never stop loving them.  Have you ever tried to coax a timid child to risk sharing her opinion?  If she said, "Promise not to laugh?" your reassuring response might be, "I would never do that."  But what if that sincere and innocent opinion comes out in such an unexpected funny way a is just too unbearably cute to hold a straight face?  Can you keep that promise?  An argument could be made that perhaps it's safer not to make "never" promises.  The age old cliché "never say never" (first recorded, by the way, in 1837 by Charles Dickens in The Pickwick Papers) may be a safe general rule of thumb for humans to live by.
But the Rainbow-Maker -- the Promise-Maker/Promise-Keeper -- has dared to say "never" quite a few times.  Here are a few interesting examples for your encouragement: 

1) "He will NEVER allow the righteous to be shaken" (Psalm 55:22).  And that's precisely why, if you are His child, you can "cast your burden upon the Lord."  ANY burden.  EVERY burden.  YOUR burden. 

2) "...the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom that will NEVER be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44).  Imagine a homeland where no threat of terror.  No fear of nuclear annihilation.  No moral decay.  No economic crash.  No climate scares.  No government oppression.  No dishonest politicians to throw out of office.  And in this country, God has made a clear and simple way to immigrate and become a legal citizen!

3) "I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to Me will NEVER go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will NEVER thirst" (John 6:35).  Captain Barboza on Pirates of the Carribbean felt an insatiable desire for an apple that could not quench his desire even if he ate it.  Whenever I feast on Jesus and His Word, I invariably find satisfaction instead of disappointment.

4) "I am the Light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will NEVER walk in darkness…" (John 8:12).  As I walk with the Light Himself according to His Word, my mind is illumined by His teachings (Psalm 119:105).  The farther I stray from Him, the fuzzier, grayer, and more confusing life gets.

5) "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall NEVER perish…" (John 10:27-28). "He who believes in Me, if though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will NEVER die…" (John 11:25-26). Most flocks will eventually face the slaughter house.  Jesus promises His flock His house.

6) "Love NEVER fails…" (1 Corinthians 13:8).  Genuine love cannot be argued away, silenced, eradicated, or disarmed.  It accomplishes many things that deceit, threats, money, manipulation, strong-arming, and laws cannot.  The effects of its supernatural and sacrificial nature continue once the vessels that carried it are long gone.  If this were not so, then why do millions of true followers of God’s love Gift to the world still spread that love all over the globe 2,000 years later?

7) "He has given us new birth…into an inheritance that can NEVER perish, spoil or fade" (1 Peter 1:4).  "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will NEVER fade away" (1 Peter 5:4).  God’s promises indestructible rewards with an eternal guarantee.  There is no better warranty.

8) " NEVER will I leave you; NEVER will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).  This is the “double rainbow” of promises.  The original language is so emphatic that it literally means “NEVER, NEVER will I fail you; and NEVER, NEVER will I in any way abandon you.”

Are you feeling alone?  I thought someone reading this might.  I just thought I’d let you know that there is a double rainbow here worth focusing on.

Thanks to my daughter-in-law, Jennifer, who took these shots outside her door near Traverse City, Michigan.

So far, 2015 has delivered me some real downers.  A few of the lowlights: 
Our business has seriously struggled all year. 
My brother's suicide on May 19th was beyond excruciating.  
On September 23rd, I learned that my mom has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Today I learned it is stage 4. 
If you are familiar with painful tragedy, you know that things like these are not mere events that appear as journal entries confined to a particular date. They don't allow us to just flip the page. These are ongoing, life-altering realities that spill over into EVERY day, week, and month.  For me, they are an ever-present emotional mixture of grief, disappointment, worry, fear, confusion, loss, sorrow, melancholy, anger, abandonment, guilt, and helplessness.  They're like ingredients of a painful soup that is reheated and served up for me over and over, that I have no choice but to eat.  These unpleasant ingredients float around together in a big pot, simmering in a broth. 

And, strangely, for me that broth is PEACE.

I really don't have much to say about God's peace because, like the Bible says, I simply cannot figure it out (Philippians 4:7).  But I've been experiencing it, and it's VERY real -- even though it seems to make absolutely no sense.  The other unpleasant feelings remain in the mix, but they don't dominate.  Nor do they seem so harsh or bitter when simmering in this broth of peace.  The hard chunks soften, becoming easier to swallow.

The broth of peace can only come from God.  And so, I've developed the habit of going to Him frequently.  In my youth, I used to go to God for answers, searching the Scriptures to figure everything out.  But nowadays, I tend to seek Him out as my Master of CGI: comfort, grace, and instructions...
...Comfort that assures me there is much more to this story that God is writing than I am able to see.
...Grace that keeps me standing, proceeding, and persevering with purpose to the end.
...Instructions that will guide my next steps into a future that appears hazy.

Asking "why?" can only send me on a goose chase up a mountain that is too steep to climb.  It's not that there are no answers; it's just that they lie on the other side of a mountain that is too high for me to scale.  My aptitude can't handle the altitude.  But whenever I ask "what now, Lord?" or "how, Lord?" it's like He places me on a seat that transports me to wherever He wants me to be at that point in my timeline.  He handles the transport control, and I rest in the confidence that eventually, in His time, I will end up on the other side of that mountain.  I'll see a new perspective that will make me say, "WOW!  What a brilliant plan!  It all makes so much sense now!"

Meanwhile, I'm eating my soup.  I still don't prefer all the chunks, but I savor the broth of peace -- this mysterious, very real feeling that makes absolutely no earthly sense.

My wife gave birth in four different decades. Each decade brought new challenges as we raised our twelve kids, and we worked hard to water their faith and cultivate character in a climate that wasn't especially conducive to spiritual things.

Fast-forward to 2015. Now our kids are raising kids. New challenges still pile on top of the old ones, but the issues have intensified. Terrorism, school shootings, inconceivable national debt, the attempted dismantling of our country and our sacred values ...these dominate the headlines of the world my grandchildren are growing up in. Their parents - my children - are trying to raise their crop of kids in tougher conditions and in an environment more hostile to Christ than the world I raised my kids in. Drastic climate change has set in. No, I'm not talking about global warming, but a spiritual ice-age.

Quickly fading are the days when sincere followers of Jesus were simply smirked at or ridiculed. There was a time when those who didn't share your moral convictions might still respect you for having some. Back then, many who didn't embrace the Bible's teachings for their own personal lives still referred to it as the "Good Book." Maybe you've noticed that the climate has changed.

This drastically-changed cultural climate wants to leave Jesus out in the cold. Young followers of Jesus today face an environment that isn't merely growing harsher - it's growing toxic. Oh sure, things like angels, heaven, miracles, spiritual energy, karma, etc. are acceptable and remain topics of bestsellers; and for many, believing in God (or god) remains the decent, patriotic position to take. But Jesus? Nobody makes people nervous like Jesus can. He's a threat. And the Bible? It is rapidly getting a cultural makeover that attempts to subtly redefine its terms, cleverly reinterpret its teachings, and insolently reprogram those who once tried to live by it. The "Good Book" isn't getting such good reviews lately, with a growing number of Biblephobes portraying it as a collection of myths & fairy tales at best, hatred & bigotry at worst.

In a climate so hostile to the Christian faith, what chance do parents have to raise their tender plants to bear eternal fruit? Is there any possibility for the children of believers to have a bright future? Emphatically, YES! Here are 7 reasons why my children can have a bright future:

1) Because I am free to invest every free moment that I choose in my children's lives. I can take them on outings, read them powerful stories, and share fun & wholesome entertainment with them. With the wonders of God's world, wonderful books, and pleasant conversations I can shape their worldview, their values, and their futures.

2) Because I have opportunities that others don't to probe my children's minds. This gives me the advantage of intimately knowing their likes, dislikes, fears, dreams, passions, insecurities, etc. By really listening and truly caring, I will gain access to their hearts, because they'll know that they are in mine.

3) Because no law can ever keep me from praying to the One "who is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." (Ephesians 3:20 TLB)

4) Because Jesus promised that in Him we "can have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)"

5) Because "I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return." (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT)

6) Because despite our weaknesses, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4 KJV)

7) Because of "the incredible greatness of God’s power...the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms...far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things..." (Ephesians 1:19-22 NIV)

The first three reasons motivate me. The next four reasons embolden me. These precious promises are worth memorizing and playing over and over in your mind. They do wonders to encourage this grandpa's heart!

Years ago, I split wood by hand for hours each night to keep our drafty old farmhouse warm. When the wood pile ran out I busted up and burned pallets I found in the shed...old furniture I found in the basement...whatever it took. I just couldn't let my family freeze.

This cultural ice age doesn't have to claim our children. The love of God burns within us. His Word blazes our trail. Read it with your kids. Pray with your kids. Talk to your kids. Read stories to your kids. Play with your kids. Now is the time to spend more quality time with them than ever before. It will likely take some sacrifice. But, hey, it's really cold outside! Bust something up that you really don't need and throw it on the fire. God is eager to help you keep your kids' hearts toasty warm.