Slow Fade

The contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns has consistently released songs over the last few years that seem to always relay great wisdom from God's Word about daily life situations. This is one of their latest that has a very 'heavy' theme, but is something we all need to remind ourselves about and guard our hearts...

Slow Fade

"Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow"

"It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade"

"Be careful little ears what you hear

When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near

Be careful little lips what you say

For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray"

"It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself awayPeople never crumble in a day"

"The journey from your mind to your hands

Is shorter than you're thinking

Be careful if you think you stand

You just might be sinking"

"It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

Daddies never crumble in a day

Families never crumble in a day"

"Oh be careful little eyes what see

Oh be careful little eyes what you see

For the Father up above is looking down in love

Oh be careful little eyes what you see"

[For a music video of the song above, click the "Slow Fade" title of this post.]

God's Daughter

Something that made a real difference in my attitude about my marriage, and how my response to my wife should be, was the realization one day that God gave me about who she was. Sure, she was my wife; the mother of my children. But, much bigger than that... she was God's daughter... and He expected me to treat her accordingly!

This insight caused me to realize that it was no longer all about me and this other person. It was actually a relationship between us and a passionately interested third party... God. The Bible teaches us to think of God as our Heavenly Father. But if you really want to give your marriage a new perspective, take that one step further and spend some time thinking of God as also being your Father-In-Law... because He is!

If I'm disrespectful to my wife or mistreat her in any way, I'm inviting trouble with her Father, who feels passionately about her welfare. He adores her! His care and concern for her far exceeds anything I can feel. In fact, He loves her so much that He sent his only Son to die for her!

Sure, she's not perfect. But, I'm called to love her in spite of her imperfections. The Holy Spirit usually quickens me that I, too, have just as many imperfections, and Jesus loves me unconditionally. He sees me not as the person with a tarnished past, but as the person He knows I can be in Him. I am also to view my wife not with her faults, but as the woman God created her to be.

My goal is to always be her encourager; to build her up and speak life into her daily. When I focus on these things, I will ensure a lasting and successful marriage.

Purpose and Validation

It seems to me that these days one has to regularly publish a dissertation on your thoughts, feelings, emotions, interpretations, or beliefs for everyone in cyberworld to read and ponder in order to feel validated. Let me first assure you that if you choose to spend a few minutes of your time occasionally to read this blog, it is the furthest thing from my mind to have my validation come from these ramblings.

My validation comes from one thing only...the fact that I acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God; that He died on a cruel cross for my sins; that He rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God the Father; that because I asked for and received His forgiveness for my sins; and that as a result the Holy Spirit indwells me. This alone is all the validation I need!

That settled...these posts will simply be my random thoughts on life, my walk with the Lord, love & marriage, family & friends, pets, humor, and (for those that remember the Jerry Seinfeld shows) maybe even thoughts about "nothing."

So, I am off on this trek [journey], and if along the way anything I say benefits you (or me) in any way...that's just icing on the cake. If, on the other hand, anything I say offends you in some way...sorry about that. My goal is not to offend, but only tell the truth as I see it.

Thanks for stopping by!