Whose Fault is it I'm Running on Empty?

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I am reading a book titled "Running on Empty" by Fil Anderson. Well it is not that long of a book and I should have finished it but I took a break to read "The Furious Love of God" by Brennan Manning. Both are excellent books and I need both right now. But on to the purpose of this blog. I am now back in "Running on Empty" and am reading a chapter on prayer.

A few thoughts from the book may help you as they have me:

"This Holy Other, this Lover of my soul, invites me to approach Him, often urging me to linger, to remain with Him. With God practically begging me to stop by and share some unguarded conversation, why do I continue to resist the plunge into unspeakable intimacy with Him?" p.99

"I resist this open invitation because I'm usually in a hurry. Yet God never raises His voice...and God never hurries."
p. 100

Here are two great questions: "What do I long for so deeply that I can taste? What do I feel I can't live without?"
p.103

Finally, speaking of some monks he encountered at an abbey he said, "They have decided to want only one thing: God. And on those days when God is not their one and only desire, they at least want to want God."
p.104

That last one is a kick in the stomach.

Buy and read both books. Manning is a little bit of a Christian mystic but interesting. (I found his at the $5 Christian bookstore at the mall.) Anderson is very helpful.

To me both are like a cool drink of water on a hot, exhausting day.

Gripped by Grace,
Hal

Family Talk

I have a couple of great son's-in-law (Don't tell Andy I said that) and a great daughter-in-law.

But this is not about the two s-i-l's but the d-i-l.

Just last week she waved Bye to "my boy" as he goes for further training to be deployed to "the big sandbox". I watched the two of them and I am so glad the Lord put them together.

He calls her his "puzzle piece" because it took her to make his life complete and I must say, I agree.

She makes him happy... happier than I have seen him since he was a little boy and killed his first two squirrels, two squirrels two shots, and that was happy. Don't take that wrong, that was a big happy day for an 8 year old.

Now I watch as she prepares to wait for him over the next months and I see the love of my son's life counting the days and waiting.

I believe the Lord gave him a Prov. 31 woman. Especially verses 10-12, "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life."

Thank you Brantley for loving "my boy" and making him happy and giving him someone to be excited about coming home to.

Gripped by Grace,
Hal

Saying "Bye"...

I'm sitting here trying to say on a blog, to the few who read it, how I feel after saying "Bye" to Jonathan this morning ... for a year.

All I can say is, I already miss "my boy" real bad.

Gripped by Grace,
Hal

Another year...

Most of my blogs are somebody else's thoughts. You know - quotes from stuff I am reading. But this time it is my thoughts.

It won't be profound but it will be true.

DeeDee and I are about to say "Bye" to our son. This "Bye" will begin a year of separation. He will be in the "sandbox" serving his country, again.

(By the way he has been back less than a year from his last deployment. Is this "change I can believe in?")

A year. Wow, that is such a long time to not see someone. I have my beautiful wife, my baby daughter and son-in-law, my two precious grandchildren. Even every now and then my oldest daughter and son-in-law, come around.

But a year with out seeing "my boy". That was tough last time and it will be hard this time.

If I told you the stuff we have done over the years you would probably look at me strange and say, "The two of you did what?"

But many of those things are the things that are going through my mind

and my heart hurts

and I have a big lump in my throat.

So if you really want to help, pray first for Jonathan's precious wife, Brantley. I can't imagine how she is feeling. Then pray for DeeDee. (see her blog here) Then before you finish - mention me.

I would appreciate it.

I am so glad I am...
Gripped by Grace,
Hal