The other night, Trey and I were going through our nightly bedtime routine with our three children. He was managing our two kids, who are 3 and 5, while I was getting our youngest, who is 15 months, dressed for bed. After Trey tucked Justin into bed, I heard him instruct Kate, our oldest, to put on her pajamas and to brush her teeth. We had gotten in from church earlier that evening, so while Kate did as he instructed, Trey stepped outside to finish cleaning out the minivan from our day’s activities. 

We have a small ranch-style house, and all three bedrooms are on the same hallway. This hallway also leads out into our garage. As I was putting on Alisa’s diaper and pajamas, I heard the alarm over our garage door beep. I thought nothing of it since I knew Trey was going in and out of the house, but I also wondered what Kate was doing. She should have been brushing her teeth by that point, but I assumed she had gotten sidetracked playing in her room, as she often does. 

“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me….”

It is the first line in a two-part prayer that has been known throughout history. Bearing the complete and desperate honesty of a Man who was experiencing absolute brokenness, this prayer reveals one who knew of the bitter cup from which He was about to drink. And like many similar prayers that have escaped the lips of others throughout the course of time, this agonizing part of His prayer was answered with silence. God said no.

We are officially one week into 2017!

By internet standards, this blog post is a day late and a dollar short. I must admit, though, that while the New Year is already old news to the blogosphere, I am barely finding the quiet moments needed to tread into that deeper place of my heart, dust off the cobwebs, and reflect on this past year as I also contemplate a new beginning. A fresh start. Another year. 

“Love is patient, love is kind…”

First, a story.

Several weeks ago, I took our youngest daughter to her therapy appointments. Alisa is 12 months old, and she receives occupational therapy and physical therapy twice a week. Alisa also has Down syndrome. 

Yesterday, Christians across the nation awoke with tempered spirits and broken hearts. For weeks and months on end, we have prayed for America and watched with bated breath. Yesterday, all of the unrest, the backbiting, the frustration, and the turmoil came to a head. What would be the culmination of what has been a most horrific display of corruption, immorality, and ugly politics? Who would “win”?

Of course, no one can feign ignorance, as the headlines are everywhere. Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton in a surprising turn of events. Donald Trump is the 45th President-Elect of the United States of America.