I know it has been awhile since I posted last. I have entered into a new chapter of my life. I am a grandfather now! WOW! My daughter and son-in-law who are serve at a church in Royal Oak, MI are the proud and grateful parents of a little girl. When she was born my mind quickly went back to the day that my daughter was born and I held her for the first time. I carried her from the delivery room to the nursery and walked past a hallway filled with our friends from college. I often think I wish I knew then what I know now. Why doesn't God give us children when we are wiser, more mature, and better prepared? I then realized because He wants us to trust Him! He wants us to lean upon Him for the guidance we need in raising our children! He wants us to trust Him to provided spiritually and financially for our families. We all want what is best for our children and grandchildren and isn't that exactly what God wants! Then why don't we trust Him? He can provide for them and protect them in ways we cannot even begin to do. Have you been blessed by God to be parents or grandparents? Will you trust God with those precious gifts?

This is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It has been referred to as Good Friday. There are many ways in which it can be considered good, perhaps the best is that our salvation was provided for on this day by the death of Jesus Christ. I was running this morning and thinking about the sacrifice of Christ. I have been blessed by a good life. I have not faced many health issues and have been supported by a great family, wife, and church all of my life. I have enjoyed some good years! Then I thought that Christ, in the prime of His physical ability and ministry potential, sacrificed it all for me. He gave the best of His life! Many people give the best years of their life to work, family or even to the church. Christ sacrificed all of that for me! What are you doing with the "best" years of your life? Doesn't Christ deserve them?

The last several years I have started to understand why Solomon asked God for wisdom when he began to lead the children of Israel. Early in my life and ministry I would always ask God for wisdom when it came to the "big" decision. I knew I needed God's direction when in came to marriage, where to go in ministry, my family, even buying a house or car. Those were things that I saw as having "long term impact" on my life and the lives of others. Over the last several years I have started to realize I need that same wisdom everyday of my life. One easy way to define wisdom is, "the ability to live a life pleasing to God." If that definition hold trues, and a Christian's goal is to please God with his life, then I need wisdom everyday! I need God's wisdom in every relationship, every task that I face, and every decision that I make. When you woke up this morning you probably asked God to protect your family, lead someone that you know that is lost to Him, or provision for a need you have in your life. Maybe we would be better off if we just asked God for wisdom. "Lord, how can I live my life to please you today? Please give me wisdom to do just that."