Two weeks ago we moved to Missouri and that took an entire week. Last week I was back in Dallas for Catalyst. Yesterday was the first “normal” day I’ve experienced in a while. Things are busy and crazy as I settle into my new ministry position. I have many thoughts to share about what God is showing me. Please know I love being a Campus Pastor and know I’m exactly where God wants me. More soon.
Today, my youngest child, Katie turns 7 years old. What a joy and honor to be her dad. She lights up my world with one little smile. Below is her getting her ear pierced this weekend for her birthday. You can see the tears in her eyes after they had finished and she saw herself in the mirror. I thank God for this precious gift.
This past weekend we went on a family mini-vacation to Charleston, SC. We got to do a ton of fun things and I loved every minute of it. We went through the market in downtown Charleston and I gave each of my kids money to shop for something special. I loved seeing their faces light up. They also had fun exploring downtown and spending a day at the beach.
I started thinking of the Scripture that talks about if I, as an earthly father, love giving good gifts to my children… Wow. I was struck by my Heavenly Father’s love for me and for my family. Read the following verse and reflect on God’s love for you. He truly loves each and every one of you.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:11
Today is Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentines Day to you all. I thought I’d share what’s on my heart lately. I’ve been on a prayer journey of seeking God daily and falling more in love with Him. As I go deeper and deeper on this journey, I’ve also fallen more in love with my awesome wife.
We’ve been married for 15 years and she is the mother of my three amazing kids: Grace, Tommy and Katie. Here we are on Christmas Eve of this past Christmas.
On this Valentine’s Day I officially announce that I’m more in love with my Savior, Christ than ever before and I’m more in love with my Valentine, my wife Chrissy. I’m also grateful to God for our beautiful family and the joy of raising three precious kids.
Chrissy and I have been through tough times, difficult times, stressful times, deaths, sickness, financial pains, brokenness, good and bad, up and down, lean and well, we’ve never been rich. We’ve been through a lot and we’re still together and in love. That’s my story. Happy Valentine’s Day.
The New York Times best-selling authors of One Month to Live are back with another 30-day plan in Love At Last Sight: Thirty Days to Grow and Deepen Your Closest Relationships.
The new book by Senior Pastor Kerry Shook and Chris Shook, co-founders of Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas, helps readers focus on their key relationships—spouse, children, close friends—with the aim of deepening each. Instead of what they call “love at first sight,” the authors are encouraging a “love at last sight” mentality.
With regard to marriage, Chris Shook said: “Love at first sight is the idea that you meet that one and fall in love and that’s it. As Kerry and I found out in our 26 years of marriage and in raising four children, we found that love is really what happens in the in-between times, what you do in the tough times and in the times when you aren’t filled with butterflies and roses and music.
“We want the last time that we see each other, we want us to be more in love than ever before,” Shook added. “Since that’s our goal, it means working on that every day.”
Readers are challenged “to think of three key relationships in your life—and it could be family members, friends, co-workers—and tell them they are important to you,” Shook said. “Find people in your life that mean a lot to you and then really focus on those three relationships during the first 30 days, and we hope that after that month, this will become a lifestyle, a ‘love at last sight’ lifestyle.”
The book divides the 30 days into four weeks and the four keys behind the “love at last sight” lifestyle: being all there, acting intentionally, risking awkwardness and letting go.
As with their previous book, Love At Last Sight can be used by an individual, group or whole church. Drumming up interest among churches, Shook said: “There are actually many churches who did a campaign for One Month to Live who have already expressed a lot of interest in doing this as well, so we will be launching and meeting a lot of churches this fall with churches across the country.”
As one part of the book’s launch, the Shooks are encouraging participation in a Facebook Fast on Aug. 25.
“We do feel like it’s really important to recognize that we’re becoming too dependent on social-networking sites to conduct everyday affairs of relating to each other, to the people we love,” Shook said. “So we are encouraging a national Facebook Fast where for a day you don’t go to social-networking sites and only use your computer for necessary things that day for work or school or whatever—not texting if possible, but calling people or seeing them face to face.”
To order the book, go HERE.
Yesterday I had a web conference meeting get postponed until today and decided to use my afternoon free time to take my three kids to see Toy Story 3 (our local movie theater has movies for $5 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!).
Obviously, I don’t want to spoil it for those of you that haven’t seen it, yet, but I think we all know Andy is getting older. In this movie he’s going off to college – surely he can’t play with his toys forever and thus the movie tells the rest.
I don’t know if it was the fact that I was surrounded by my precious children while I was watching the movie and deeply resonating with the theme of kids growing up and not interested in the stuff they used to be interested in, but I was moved – very moved. I found myself crying and wanting to stop time.
Here’s a few pictures of how time flies:
Today’s post is an example of what I refer to as life-streaming and have talked about all around the country. If you’re reading this via email or RSS, please click on the link and look at the above pictures on my blog.
Easter is over! Are you glad? Are you exhausted and relaxing today? I hope so. I’d love to hear about your Easter services. Tell me how things went at your church. I got to experience a number of Easter services. Friday night I watched the live stream online of Church of Hope in Ocala, FL. Saturday night, I went to church online with LifeChurch.tv and Flamingo Road Church. Sunday, we drove to Atlanta and went to North Point Community Church – awesome!
Today, I’m taking my family to Opening Day baseball game at the Atlanta Braves. I took my son to Opening Day last year with the Texas Rangers. As you know, I love going to baseball games. I’m really looking forward to our family taking in the first game of the season together this afternoon. I grew up a Braves fan and have fond memories.
I’m so grateful to all my friends that have been guest blogging for me so I could concentrate on my book. I’ve been able to get some serious writing done. I have a few more guests that I want you to hear from starting back tomorrow.
Again, tell me how yesterday was for you!
I know for many of you, dear friends in ministry, this is an extremely busy time of year. I pray that you would be able to enjoy Christmas, enjoy your families and get refreshed between Christmas and the new year. Get some rest, friends. I’m taking the rest of the week off.
Below is a picture of my precious family taken this week. I’d appreciate your continued prayers for my wife.
