You may know that I have been asked by Zondervan to write a book about our church and our journey.  It will be called DANGEROUS CHURCH.  The deadline for the finished manuscript is next month, so I have carved out this week to work hard on getting it finished.

It’s interesting how God always shows me a picture of something to help me understand.  It's even more interesting that usually those pictures come at exactly the moment I need them.

Yesterday I was sitting, writing, and almost daydreaming watching a little girl in pink goggles swimming in a pool.  She would swim and poke her head up and look, and swim, poke her head up and look.  In her frantic search, she wasn’t really enjoying the swim.  I watched her do this for what must have been 5 minutes.  The last time she came out of the water she saw who she was trying to find: her daddy.  I’m so grateful I was sitting close enough to hear her conversation, because it spoke so much to my heart.

She said, “Oh daddy, there you are. What are you doing?"  I looked at this dad with camo hat on, probably mid 40’s, kind of perched on a rock next to the pool, just watching his daughter.  As she was so frantically looking, he was so calm.  She was confused and he was in control.  He replied to her, “I am just here watching you”.   

It gave me such a cool picture of God, that this little story will be in a chapter where I talk about Elijah, who ran panicked and confused to the point he didn’t want to carry on.  The entire time Elijah ran God was there, watching, loving, protecting, and even feeding him. 

I think so many of us are like that little girl.  We spend so much time looking for God that we miss out on simply enjoying life and really living the abundant life.  
The little girl got out of the pool, kissed her dad on the cheek and jumped back in the water.  Only this time she was totally enjoying the swim.  She now had confidence and freedom knowing that her dad was watching her.

I think we can live life that way, with a God awareness.  The verse that God brought to me heart as I watched this scene unfold is in Hebrews 13:5.  It says, “never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”  Using the word never twice is a double emphatic.  In our language it would read  “never, ever, ever, ever, will I leave you!"

Maybe today as we go through life, we can have this God awareness, that He is just there for us, with us, and nothing will make Him love us less.

I hope all of us can live knowing our Father in heaven is watching, smiling, and wanting us to enjoy this life.

Have a great day.

John
 

It has been so long since I have blogged.  Sorry.  

I just got a package in the mail that has exposed so many emotions.  Unexpected and totally appreciated.  My cousin sent me some “things” to remember my dad. 

My dad died when I was just 4 years old in 1967.  To be exact, 2 days after my birthday.  For so many years I have wondered and dreamed what it would be like to know him, to talk to him, to hear his voice.  Weirdly, I have wondered what he liked to do, places he would have wanted to visit.  He was so young.  I have almost made up stories in my mind about fishing trips and Christmas memories.  I have heard so much, wondered so much and hoped so much.  

My dad died young.  He was the age of my son David, who actually bears his name.  In the wake of the divorce of my parents and death of my father, I grew up with my grandma and grandpa.  I was so blessed.  Everyone loved “mom” and “pop”.  I remember so many times that we would talk about my dad.  I remember hearing stories and seeing pictures.

Today, moments ago, I received this package that captured my attention and assaulted my emotions.  Stuff that made me think of my dad.  His name was David Lee Bishop.  I received a picture I had almost forgotten about.  It is now framed and in my living room.  I also have a funeral bulletin and a Bible.
As I opened the Bible and as tears ran down my face, I was stunned at the moment I saw his handwriting.  He signed his name in 1956.  He was 14 years old. 

Someone, somewhere, gave my dad a Bible. 

It is torn, it is old, it is from the Gideons and it bears the name of my daddy.  Maybe he went to church?  Maybe he met Jesus?  Maybe he will be there when I get there?  Ugh.  So many emotions.  So many questions…..

When the day is over, I saw a picture that I had almost forgotten about and found hope that I had never thought about.  I know it is a Bible.  A worn, ragged, torn up Bible.  It may mean nothing, but to me in this moment…it means everything.  Because with tear-filled eyes I have a hope-filled heart.  My dad may have met our Savior.  My dad may be there right now in Heaven.  Waiting for his son.  The hug I have never felt and the voice I can’t remember is a possibility. 

Life is so short my friends.  Love people while you can.  Listen more than you talk.  Like people you don’t want to be around, and in your family leave a legacy.  In fact more than leave, make a decision to LEAD a legacy.  Your kids need you.  You matter to so many people.  Take pictures, give hugs and make your one and your only life count.

Good day for me.  Just wanted to share.
John LEE Bishop