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2014 Top Posts & Year End Review

I am having a difficult time wrapping my mind around the fact that 2014 is over. This has been a year of developing new habits and routines, and has been a great year. It has simply gone by too fast. 2015 is here and promises to be an adventurous year as well.

2014 Year In Review

2014 was a good year. It definitely wasn’t as crazy as 2013 was, but it had some moments. Here are a few of the more memorable events from the past year:

  • I settled into a good routine in my role as lead minister at our church.
  • We have settled comfortably into our home, and it now feels like home.
  • I continued my studies for my Master’s Degree, although somewhat sporadically.
  • Both my wife and one of my sons suffered from serious ankle injuries, but both are healing well.
  • My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and has almost completed her treatments to beat it.
  • We got a new dog, a boxer, named Delilah.
  • We are nearing the end of the pregnancy of our seventh child, a girl, who is due to be here in February.

That list is much more subdued than it has been in year past, and I’m perfectly alright with that. It’s kind of nice not to have so much excitement and busyness in our lives. Though busy enough in its own right, 2014 has been much more calm, and we have been able to relax and settle into our life here in Cabool comfortably.

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Top Posts For December 2014

It is hard to believe that 2014 has ended. The year went by too quickly, and it seems as if I didn’t have enough time to get everything finished that I wanted to accomplish.

December 2014 Word Picture from Wordle.net

Even though it seems to have flown by, 2014, and the month of December specifically, have given us many things to be thankful for. Our family Christmas was relaxing and enjoyable, and we simply stayed home and enjoyed our time together.

The season was pretty busy with holiday events at our church, from late October through the end of the year. Hopefully, January will be a little slower so we can catch our breath a little. It doesn’t look like that will be the case though, with our seventh child due in February, and a search for a couple of new staff members at our church

Life simply gets crazy sometimes.

In the meantime, here are the top posts for the month of December:

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2015 Bible Reading Plans

Spending time in God’s Word is one of the most important aspects of daily spiritual growth. Allowing God’s Word to impact your life will not happen unless you are exposing yourself to it consistently. Bible reading is perhaps the most critical of the spiritual disciplines.

Bible Reading Plan 2015

I’ve written several times in the past about this discipline:

I firmly believe that this is a critical element of our spiritual lives. And it seems to be lacking in a lot of people’s lives. I think, when you experience the many benefits of consistent, daily time spent in God’s Word, you’ll develop a craving for more.

God’s Word truly does change us.

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Coffee Break – 12.29.2014

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Christmas has come and gone and 2014 is drawing to a close. With a new year just around the corner, here are a few articles and links to check out. May they be helpful and encouraging as you move into 2015!

Incredible Hyper-Realistic Cat Latte Art – Though I am not a big cat fan, these artistic expressions through the medium of my favorite drink are pretty impressive, assuming they aren’t photoshopped. If that’s the case, then I have one more reason to not like cats.

Swiss Army Knives – For most of my life, I dismissed the Swiss Army Knife as a simple tool with a lot of blades and gadgets in it. I assumed they were all alike. And then I discovered the SAK Alox. I am sold on these little things, and have added a few to my collection. My favorite so far is the Cadet.

Passion Planner – I really have a soft spot for analog writing tools such as planners, journals, pens and old typewriters. The Passion Planner was a project I stumbled across on Kickstarter, and I pulled the trigger and sponsored it. They won’t ship until mid-January due to some logistical issues, but a downloadable PDF is available on their website for now. This looks like it could be a very practical tool.

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Memorize Scripture: Titus 2:15

Paul’s final encouragement to Titus in the second chapter of his letter is a poignant reminder to us as well, especially as the year closes. This short verse is a very encouraging reminder to us as we enter into the coming year.

You can find this passage in Titus 2:15:

Titus 2:15

Paul has encouraged Titus throughout this chapter with several different specific teaching opportunities. He explained to Titus what to teach to older men, to older women, who in turn teach the younger women, the younger men, and slaves. From there, Paul shifted to some basic discipleship and the very foundations of the gospel itself.

In this verse, he expresses to Titus that these are the things that he must teach. The word translated “teach” here is literally the word “speak.” These are the things that Titus is to speak to the people on Crete. These are the things that Titus is to speak to his church. These are the things that Titus is to speak to those he comes into contact with daily.

Titus is called to exhort. That is what this mean. He is called to speak, to teach, to preach these things to the believers on this island. This is no small or light task. The responsibility is huge. But it is powerfully important.

Titus is to encourage the church with his words. And he is to rebuke them with his words, when necessary. The word “encourage” is closely tied with the word “teach” or “speak.” The idea here is to exhort those who are growing and give them the encouragement to carry on.

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Coffee Break – 12.22.2014

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In just a few days, we celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. In light of that fact, for this Coffee Break, I invite you to take a few moments and simply reflect on the events of his birth, as foretold by Isaiah, and as reported by Luke. Enjoy the holiday, and remember the Savior. Merry Christmas!

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. – Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)