Enriched Affections

This post was a bit of a struggle to be honest. A week of wet basement, which is now just moist and musty, repair estimates, band prep, Dadding... I feel kind of distracted. I wish I'd spent more time in the Word, wish I'd spent more time doing lots of things, but that's not how things worked out. And you know what? That's ok. Even when I'm feeling pulled all over the place and anything but profound, which is most of the time, it's so good to listen to my song of the week and reflect back on what God has done. Up today is A Christian's Daily Prayer. This is the perfect song for me in the morning, or before bed, or really any time. So often I awake with little to no energy to face the day. Rather than feeling refreshed, I feel lethargic and ready for a few more hours of sleep. In the early months of 2018 this was particularly pronounced while I went through depression. As I awoke, I'd have a few blissful seconds of hazy semi-consciousness where the r...

I was hoping to post this morning after spending some time blogging last night. But I never got to blogging last night. Real life kicked in a bit. I'm sure you know what I mean. You plan to work out, get your gym bag all ready, and then you get sick that morning, or a child gets sick, or a work meeting goes late. I used to beat myself up a bit about missing those self-imposed deadlines. I'd feel terrible for missing a morning quiet time or not blogging when I meant to. But you know what I've learned? You probably already know this, but salvation doesn't lie in checking off everyday of McCheyne's "Read the Bible In A Year" calendar. It doesn't lie in posting on your blog and getting tons of hits. It doesn't lie in being a pastor or having the wife, 2.5 kids, and a dog. Salvation is found in the Lord alone. excuse me...be right back  ...    ...    ...    ... Sorry about that. You see, my basement is flooding. If you live down here in Chattano...

I don't remember when I first came across this song. It was probably one of those suggested songs that Spotify played once my playlist was over. I'm so glad it came on. It has become a regular listen and a consistent encouragement. "River of Grace" has one of those melodies that gets stuck in my head... way better than Baby Shark or that awful Selfie song (both of which were gifted to me from my daughters and took a solid week to clear out of my head... thanks girls). Anyway, this song comes from an album of "Lullabies for the Beloved", so don't read anything unintended into the baby reference. When I first heard it, I needed the comfort of a lullaby. We all bear burdens, some which we place on ourselves; some which are forced upon us. Everyone's burden is different, but no less important or difficult. I texted with my brother a bit about that today, and I think it may be helpful for me to put a few of my thoughts down regarding these burdens ...

Today is the last day I'll be a married man, at least for now. I'm not sure how to feel about that, or what I should be feeling. Honestly, it's a whole spectrum of things, but one of the greatest emotions is relief. For so many months, going on almost a year now, I feel like I've been living a lie. I've been married, but unable to do really anything a married man is supposed to do. I haven't been able to shepherd my wife, love her, be intimate with her, care for her soul, or truly be one with her. But I also haven't been free to find that anywhere else. I think that's a great blessing in a way as it has forced me to seek the satisfaction and love that often comes from a wife from the One who truly satisfies- the Lord. I've been with Moriah since October of 1999 and married since June of '04. If you do the math then you know we'll be missing some great anniversaries this year. We certainly had many good years together. The end of it all wa...

Are you weary? It is an underutilized word considering how many of us feel its weight. Often, weariness is something you don't realize you have until you find relief. In other seasons, weariness is a known companion as constant as an aching limb or poor eye-sight. So I ask again, are you weary? I've known weariness this past year. I wish it was from working out too much or from wearing myself thin with ministry work. Those are a different kind of weariness which I've often worn and even enjoyed. However, I'm speaking of a more difficult journey. It's the weariness of facing the unknown day after day, of not knowing where the next paycheck will come from, how medical bills will be covered, whether a marriage will work out, what will happen to the kids, does anyone even care about me, why do I feel so alone, will this season ever end? Often I'd go weeks without noticing it. Maybe I got used to it, like breathing the thinner air of the mountains. But of course...