When the Rain Comes

My Sunday morning run with your mom was a rainy day run today, and it really was a great way to jumpstart the day (despite the fact that my hands were really cold at the end...). 

With rain on my mind this morning, I wanted too share with you a song called "When the Rain Comes" that is one of my favorites. This is a song I put on a playlist that I made to take with me to the hospital when I was in labor with Anna. 

I just want you to know that when you have dark days and when the rain comes, I am so grateful there are many people who would drop anything to be there for you.  Your mom and dad are the first of course that come to mind. And know that I will be right there behind them ready to cheer you on and support you.  And in those times and places that we can't be there because you are away from home, know that I am praying right now that you would know that God's love for you is bigger than all the pain of this world.  

WHEN THE RAIN COMES 

When the rain comes it seems that everyone has

gone away

When the night falls you wonder if you shouldn't

find someplace

To run and hide

Escape the pain

But hiding's such lonely thing to do

(Chorus)

I can't stop the rain

From falling down on you again

I can't stop the rain

But I will hold you 'til it goes away

When the rain comes you blame it on the things

that you have done

When the storm fades you know that rain must fall

on everyone

So rest awhile

It'll be alright

No one loves you like I do

(Chorus) (x2)

When the rain comes

I will hold you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQq-z5lVImY

Divine Dissatisfaction

In light of the inauguration yesterday and the march today,  

I wanted to share the following excerpt from a speech my MLK with you: 

This was delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference address on August 16, 1967. It rings so true for today too: 

"Let us go out with a divine dissatisfaction.

Let us be dissatisfied

until America will no longer have

a high blood pressure of creeds

and an anemia of deeds.

Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls

that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort

and the inner city of poverty and despair

shall be crushed by the battering rams

of the forces of justice. Let us be dissatisfied

until those that live on the outskirts of hope

are brought into the metropolis of daily security.

Let us be dissatisfied until slums are cast

into the junk heaps of history,

and every family is living

in a decent sanitary home.

Let us be dissatisfied

until the dark yesterdays of segregated schools

will be transformed into bright tomorrows

of quality, integrated education.

Let us be dissatisfied until integration

is not seen as a problem

but as an opportunity to participate

in the beauty of diversity.

Let us be dissatisfied until men and women,

however black they may be, will be judged

on the basis of the content of their character

and not on the basis of the color of their skin.

Let us be dissatisfied.

Let us be dissatisfied until every state capitol

houses a governor who will do justly, who will love

mercy and who will walk humbly with his God.

Let us be dissatisfied until from every city hall,

justice will roll down like waters and righteousness

like a mighty stream. Let us be dissatisfied

until that day when the lion and the lamb

shall lie down together, and every man

will sit under his own vine and fig tree

and none shall be afraid. Let us be dissatisfied.

Let us be dissatisfied until that day

when nobody will shout White Power!

—when nobody will shout Black Power!—

but everybody will talk about

God’s power and human power.

The road ahead will not always be smooth.

There will be still rocky places of frustration

and meandering points of bewilderment.

There will be inevitable setbacks here and there.

There will be those moments

when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed

into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams

will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted.

The road ahead will not always be smooth.

There will be still rocky places of frustration

and meandering points of bewilderment.

There will be inevitable setbacks here and there.

There will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope

will be transformed into the fatigue of despair.

Our dreams will sometimes be shattered

and our ethereal hopes blasted.

Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on

in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future."

picture from January 21, 2013 

Live Loved- Part 2

Along the lines of yesterday's song that has been stuck in my head, 

I read this story and thought it was worth sharing: 

"One evening, I grabbed a bite to eat with my friend. She shared the details of a complex conflict between her and a co-worker. The key to resolving to the disagreement was recognizing that she was operating out of an area of insecurity that had haunted her since childhood. With this realization, she renewed her efforts to work hard and well with the co-worker. The irritant in the relationship disappeared. 

'That's one of those cases of learning to live loved,' she said. 

'What do you mean?' I asked. 

'Living as if we are loved by God instead of responding out of the usual petty jealousies, insecurities, fears, or annoyances that try to get the best of us.'
-Margaret Feinberg 

May you live loved today, Liam... 

Live Loved- Part 1

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? (for better or for worse..) 

Well- I've had this one running through my head the last few days, 

and I've tried to turn it into a prayer for you.  

"Live Like You're Loved"

You're not the only one who feels like this
Feelin' like you lose more than you win
Like life is just an endless hill you climb
You try and try, but never arrive

I'm tellin' you somethin'
This racing, this running
Oh, you're working way too hard! (You're working way too hard)
And this perfection you're chasing
Is just energy wasted
Cause he love's you like you are!

So go ahead and live like you're loved
It's ok to act like you've been set free
His love has made you more than enough
So go ahead and be who he made you to be

And live like you're loved
Live like you're loved
Live like you're loved
Live like you're loved

And live like you're know you're valuable
Like you know the one that hold your soul
Cause mercy has called you by your name
Don't be afraid to live in that grace

I'm tellin' you somethin'
This God we believe in
Yeah, he changed everything
No more guilt! No more shame!
He took all that away
Gave us a reason to sing

So go ahead and live like you're loved
It's ok to act like you've been set free
His love has made you more than enough
So go ahead and be who he made you to be

And live like you're loved
Live like you're loved
Live like you're loved
Live like you're loved

Live like you're loved, walk like you're free
Stand like you know, who he made you to be
Live like you're loved, like you believe
His love is all, that you'll ever need

So go ahead and live like you're loved
His love has made you more than enough

So go ahead and live like you're loved
It's ok to act like you've been set free
His love has made you more than enough
So go ahead and be who he made you to be

And live like you're loved
Live like you're loved
Live like you're loved
Live like you're loved

Live like you're loved, walk like you're free
Stand like you know, who he made you to be
Live like you're loved, like you believe
His love is all, that you'll ever need
Live like you're loved!

Wonderful Mess

Tim Hansel writes, "I have some very dear friends who almost lost their home recently in one of this famous California brush fires. The flames were so close they were licking over the patio and roof. My friends were out of town at the time and only the heroic efforts of neighbors saved the day. Some wet down the roof while others quickly moved furniture and other personal items out into the yard jus tin case the house did go. I talked to Peg and Gary after they returned and she said, 'Oh, it's such a wonderful mess!' She realized it would be weeks before she could clean up the soot and ashes and get things back together, but she still knew that it was wonderful to have the mess to clean up, rather than have nothing but ashes.  I can't help comparing the experience of Peg and Gary with being a parent. There are plenty of brush fires, but the question for me is, do I stop and realize what a wonderful mess my home and family can be?" (What Kids Need Most in a Dad, pg 166)

As you think about the messy parts of your day, Liam, 

may God bless you with perspective and gratitude in the midst of it all. 

While this picture has nothing to do with the quote above, 

I thought it would make you smile today....

splash

In church on Sunday, this was part of the benediction, and I loved the image....

May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.  1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 

praying right now that God would pour on the love today and that it would fill you up and splash over on everyone around you (starting with Sifa, your mom, your dad and Micah...) 

MLK Day Thoughts

Thankful for a day to remember the wisdom and strength of Martin Luther King Jr.'s words:

"Within the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. When we come to see this, we take a different attitude toward individuals. The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation who hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every person and see deep down within what religion calls “the image of God,” you begin to love in spite of. No matter what the person does, you see God’s image there." Loving Your Enemies (sermon at Dexter Ave Baptist Church 1957) 

This speech from August 28, 1963 still has so much to say to us today... 

May you be a person who stands up for justice 

and who makes a difference in this world, Liam!