The sight of my daughter's raised hand...
Kami was home from college and I had the weekend off from teaching. So lightning struck twice in the same place on Saturday Night.
I say that because it's a rare occurrence to have her home and rarer still that I'm not speaking so that I can sit with my family and attend a service with them. There's just something about sitting next to my wife and having my kids lined up in chronological order down the row. Most people take that for granted, but man, is that ever something I miss out on as a preacher-man.
We were sitting there laughing during a funny video leaning forward and catching eyes during certain parts enjoying it together. During announcements my arm was around Heidi and I felt like a real stud, like, "This is my family and, like, I'm really a pretty lucky dude."
During singing we sang some of our family's favorite songs like Death was Arrested and Reckless Love. I could just tell we were all singing with full-throated, whole-hearted abandon and there's nothing like lifting up and hallowing the name of Jesus for all that He's done for us and is too us. As my daughters get older, they appreciate it more and more--Him more and more.
During Reckless Love we were finishing the chorus and beginning to sing the bridge...
"There's no shadow you won't light up,
no mountain you won't climb up
comin' after me.
There's no wall you won't break down
lie you won't tear down
comin' after me."
I just love those lyrics and we've listened the dickens out of this song as a family rocking it at full volume in the van on many occasion, so I just opened my eyes for a second to make eye contact with the girls as if to say, "Hey, can you believe we're singing this all together in church?!" But no eye contact was available since they were all lost in the song, eyes closed, entered in.
But one thing that caught my eye was Kami's right hand outstretched toward heaven. At first I thought it was Heidi's hand, but I know her hand like the back of my own. It was hers alright, and it was lifted in recognition of Jesus' relentless love, his scandalous grace.
For a moment it was as if the music stopped and time stood still. The picture of her raised hand branded itself into my soul. My father's heart soaked in every emotion. My deepest dreams for her life were--at least for one moment--fully realized. There isn't a desire I have for her that takes a close second place to the desire of her loving Jesus with all her heart. This passion has no rival.
So to see her raised hand flooded my heart with a thousand joys. My love for my family and my love for Jesus converged in that moment stunning me with the blessing of my life.
And so today I pray for my kids--each one of them--that they would each come to the personal place of encountering God and finding him irresistible and irreplaceable. I know what life does to crowd out his supremacy and sufficiency, but his reckless and ruthless love chases us down, leaving the 99 every single time.
God, never stop pursuing my children even if they drift away from you. Plant in their souls a fire of love for you and this world that is unquenchable. This is the cry of my heart this morning.
I say that because it's a rare occurrence to have her home and rarer still that I'm not speaking so that I can sit with my family and attend a service with them. There's just something about sitting next to my wife and having my kids lined up in chronological order down the row. Most people take that for granted, but man, is that ever something I miss out on as a preacher-man.
We were sitting there laughing during a funny video leaning forward and catching eyes during certain parts enjoying it together. During announcements my arm was around Heidi and I felt like a real stud, like, "This is my family and, like, I'm really a pretty lucky dude."
During singing we sang some of our family's favorite songs like Death was Arrested and Reckless Love. I could just tell we were all singing with full-throated, whole-hearted abandon and there's nothing like lifting up and hallowing the name of Jesus for all that He's done for us and is too us. As my daughters get older, they appreciate it more and more--Him more and more.
During Reckless Love we were finishing the chorus and beginning to sing the bridge...
"There's no shadow you won't light up,
no mountain you won't climb up
comin' after me.
There's no wall you won't break down
lie you won't tear down
comin' after me."
I just love those lyrics and we've listened the dickens out of this song as a family rocking it at full volume in the van on many occasion, so I just opened my eyes for a second to make eye contact with the girls as if to say, "Hey, can you believe we're singing this all together in church?!" But no eye contact was available since they were all lost in the song, eyes closed, entered in.
But one thing that caught my eye was Kami's right hand outstretched toward heaven. At first I thought it was Heidi's hand, but I know her hand like the back of my own. It was hers alright, and it was lifted in recognition of Jesus' relentless love, his scandalous grace.
For a moment it was as if the music stopped and time stood still. The picture of her raised hand branded itself into my soul. My father's heart soaked in every emotion. My deepest dreams for her life were--at least for one moment--fully realized. There isn't a desire I have for her that takes a close second place to the desire of her loving Jesus with all her heart. This passion has no rival.
So to see her raised hand flooded my heart with a thousand joys. My love for my family and my love for Jesus converged in that moment stunning me with the blessing of my life.
And so today I pray for my kids--each one of them--that they would each come to the personal place of encountering God and finding him irresistible and irreplaceable. I know what life does to crowd out his supremacy and sufficiency, but his reckless and ruthless love chases us down, leaving the 99 every single time.
God, never stop pursuing my children even if they drift away from you. Plant in their souls a fire of love for you and this world that is unquenchable. This is the cry of my heart this morning.
Comments
Post a Comment