Blank Canvas

I obviously haven’t posted for a while. The great thing about blogging slash writing a journal is that it is a free will offering and not an action performed under duress. There is a lot that has happened over the past few months, but needless to say, it’s time for me to post a little update…

The biggest highlight of my entire life happened on July 17 at 10:31pm…my first grand baby made her entrance into the world and took her first breath of life. I held this little bundle of life for the first time exactly nine minutes after her birth, and had the humble honor of praying for her. Little Marleigh Jane was born healthy and alert and recently turned a whole two months old. I know it’s early days yet, but when I get home from work, she is the first little life I look for at home, and putting all the cares and worries of life aside, instantly spend time with her, and we connect…this is a beautiful thing. The shrieks of delight, the smiles, and baby chatter melt my heart and time stands still. I held her in my arms and told her the story of Noah and the Ark – her first bible story, I was going to make it short and sweet, but over an hour later the animals were still on board deciding whether to get off or stay in the safety of the deck and hull of the Ark. Not sure who was more engrossed and intrigued by the story; Marleigh or me! If you follow me on Facebook there are some photos there and Marleigh’s first conversation…am loath to share that across this platform for obvious reason. It’s been an otherwise interesting couple of months. Learning to be a grand father, adapting to the change and responsibility has come naturally, and it’s fun too! This little girl is blessed and her life is going to be absolutely amazing under the umbrella and care of Christ!

Yes, interesting indeed. As many of you know, I have been working for the past year in an amazing business. I shared this story in the company newsletter a while back, and wanted to share it with you too. When I started my Apprenticeship in printing as a pressman at the age of sixteen in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, I stumbled across a christian magazine and on the inner back page was a photo of employees standing infront of a massive printing press. In my heart I asked the Lord if that could be me one day, and never again gave much thought to it. Low and behold 25 years later, I am plugged in to a christian business that prints, markets and distributes everything from invite cards to mailers, to bulletins, to banners, teaching material and campaigns. Many of you will know some of the movies we have been involved in; Fireproof, To Save a Life, Soul Surfer, Grace Card, Courageous, Facing the Giants etc. It’s a marvelous freedom being able to work in a true team oriented company that has a vision, purpose and goal to promote Jesus Christ and to spread the gospel, and especially in this day and age to have THAT freedom to share with coworkers, to pray with each other and to be a support without facing judgment – it’s unique.

I have learned that if you ask the Lord to humble you, be careful what you ask for. But here is the thing; He is still gentle and won’t purposefully bring harm across your path. I find that every day literally, I am being humbled. Does that mean I am arrogant? Maybe, maybe not. But in my heart I know there are areas and zones that I have tried to protect and withhold from the Lord and in the process damaged and hurt myself and those in my circle of influence. So…that is where “humble me Lord” comes into play for me, and that across every aspect of my life. Physically, mentally, spiritually the process of being humbled will reach every nook and cranny – only if you let Him. It sort of makes sense why Israel after leaving Egypt circled the mountain and didn’t see the promised land. They were fed by God in the morning, with angel’s food – manna fell from the skies, they complained and asked for meat and the Lord honored their request and gave them quals, by day they had the cloud protecting them from the heat and a pillar of fire by night…still they doubted and denied the deity and provision of the Lord, and fashioned an idol and called it god and began serving it.

Where I am going with this? I think many of us are sometimes like this too. God does these amazing things for us across the duration of lives. Sure there are major obstacles, but yet still He delivers us, and yet STILL we want to go it alone and fix it, only to discover our methods don’t really work. And that is where I found myself in this place of being humbled across my life. Looking at Israel and using their experience as a template for my life has given definition to my past, present and future. The key must lie in my ability to be humbled, to be led by grace, and to have some kind of flavor of hope to offer by way of being authentic in who I am and who I am not.

Sometimes it’s a good thing to stop for a moment, and reflect…puts little bits of life back into perspective…

*Here is a little plug for the company I work for. If you live in the continental USA, are in leadership and follow this blog or know of someone in ministry and leadership needing any of the above mentioned printed material and/or campaign material or want to engage a speaker for your church event etc…swing by our company website here: OUTREACH INC.

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