Thanksgiving 2013

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

I woke 5 am to no alarm this morning and rustled in bed only to get the normal and reasonable response from my wife, "why don't you get up and have some coffee."  My ears hear, "get out of here and let me sleep!"  Time to serve my wife and get up...

Love Thanksgiving mornings and the thoughts of what is ahead in the day. Group ride, hanging with family, playing with the kids, delicious foods, wine, and a stomach ache (or two) as the day progresses.  It is one of those days that reminds me that "my cup overflows..."

As I sat this morning looking to read various news articles of the world, I found this article Opening the Gates which describes that the leaders of Iran were considering (or reconsidering) their rule of whether the women of their country may watch world soccer.  As I read on, I was reminded of the realities of the world and different countries that oppress their people in the name of their religion.  Unfortunately, the article does not seem to state that the reality for women in Iran will change anytime soon, especially under the regime of the nations Islamic Law.  It pauses me this morning to give thanks for so much.

This guttural thanks is not just rooted in giving praise for basic comforts and our country's prosperity (those things are good too), but a much greater thanks for our real and eternal freedom in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is my prayer that both our religious freedoms and basic liberties never change.  I also pray for those who are oppressed (such as the women of Iran) and looking forward to when God decides to explode his Church in even that part of the world.  May he open the real gates of freedom!

God thank you for this life and the wonder of your world.  Thank you for my marriage and the joy of family.  Thank you for my children, Sean and Amber.  Thank you that my daughter can live in freedom without oppression and being cursed a second class citizen!  Thank you for your hand in our lives.  Thank you for the reminder to trust you always, and to remember that it is not our circumstances that say we are blessed, but rather the much deeper and eternal blessing of knowing you and being loved by you.

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving to you all...

Greater Grace

If you are like me, you remembered Steve McQueen in such favorable ways.  As a child, I had no idea of his life, his addictions, his background, and certainly not this story of redemption.  I remember this cowboy, stuntman, moto rider, and all around fun actor that did it all.  I am sure we all recall the most famous car chase scene in Bullet...

I love waking early and seeking various stories on the Gospel Coalition Blog and to my delight, I found this amazing nugget.  Who knew?  I surely did not know this story but what a delight to read it.  Indeed, God gives the greater grace...

Click this attachment, read on and enjoy and hit the player button at the bottom for some cool tunes...

http://southerngospelyankee.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/greater-grace-a-story-of-god-redemption-and-steve-mcqueen/

Giving Thanks (part two)

My family arrived in Borrego Springs this afternoon.  We are having a great time and love seeing my wife and kids enjoy the experience.  It is a very beautiful desert landscape and our creator seems much bigger than I regularly give credit.  Father, your work is beyond my imagination and gratitude.  Thank you for loving your people infinitely more than they deserve.  Thank you for sending your son so that we may have life from certain death.

I look forward to waking to Thanksgiving tomorrow.  May we praise your name all the day!

Psalms 100:1-5 ESV "Make a joyful noise to the Lord , all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord , he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Encouragement...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

http://bible.us/Col1.15.ESV

Outward Sign of Faith - Sean's First Communion

Praise God.  Sean experienced his first communion at Grace Church this morning.  After much discussion in the household, and even some tearful moments, we were blessed to present the opportunity for Sean to outwardly declare his love for God and his absolute need for Jesus Christ, our savior.

I believe it is important to share this event with my family and give even my personal testimony in this experience.  The timing of Gods word was and is always timely and nourishing.  And today was no exception to that fact.  Before sharing the message today, let me share what has been going on with my son.  He desires to take communion.  Partly because that is what we do, and because he thinks he is ready.  I was trying to do my best to discern his understanding of the gospel and the right timing of this celebration and communion experience.

Prior to worship this morning, and over many months, our family contemplated what the essence of communion really is with my son.  Notwithstanding the important biblical command, I enjoyed explaining to my son the version that my pastor explained, which I believe is consistent with being centered in the gospel.  Pastor Tim described communion as being an "outward sign of an inner reality."  Since I believe that salvation is by Gods grace alone, in faith alone, through Jesus Christ alone, the concept of an outward sign of an inner reality really describes this best, which is another description of faith and outwardly professing our need in Christ, our savior.  I don't believe my son at age 8 perfectly defines this and understands it the same as I do, but I truly believe he loves the Lord and believes Christ Jesus saves.  He acknowledges we are sinners, in need of a savior.  And he knows who Jesus Christ is.  This is enough.

But even with all this knowledge from my son, I continued looking for more surety of the right time...  I continued looking for unwavering understanding from my 8 year old son.  It was as if I believed that my instruction, timing, and the success of my father pastoring was a key element in Gods work.  As the elements were being passed this morning, I told Sean I would prefer to let the elements pass from him and he looked at me sadly and respectfully and said "I will do as you tell me dad."  As I took the elements in my hand, and at just the right time, I repeated to myself that salvation is of the Lord.  I looked at his precious face knowing that he desired to be part of the Lords table and the only reason I was wavering is I thought he was not fully confident in the Gospel and he could not perfectly recite the answers I wanted.  It was at this time, I looked at Sean and told him he and I would take communion together.  I declared this is Gods work and needed to let that stand as it should.  Tears of joy immediately sprang from the both of us!  I was emotionally reminded that this is Gods work and I need to be graceful in this, and especially to my son.  I needed to give him a gift during this worship Sunday that God provided us both.  How precious, and how fortunate it was to experience this moment with my son.  As my Pastor preached the word, I began to whisper to Sean in his ear the significance of each element of the supper we were about to take.  About this time, as we were taking communion, I realized it was not just Sean and I becoming emotional and tearful since both Amber and Jennifer were both in tears of joy.  What a blessing...

Today was a message on Psalms 78.  The message focus was the importance of equipping our children and disciples in the gospel so that the generation to come may know and continue it's teaching in the word of God.  It was fitting timing to pass the baton on to my son today.  It is my prayer that we do this well.  It is also my praise that God will get it done.  May he give me strength to be part of his work.  I plan to continue instructing my family in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and thankful that I have trusted men and a Pastor who continually poor it in to me with love, truth and application.  He who began a good work in you, will take it on to completion until the day of Christ!

There is many reasons to remember this date.  Partly because of the tragedy of 9-11 where so many lives we lost in our county.  That tragedy is still vivid in my mind and I still grieve for the families affected by it.  But to remember this time and Gods blessing in my son will be the prize and focus of this father.  I will do my best to remind my son of this memory for many future years.

We celebrated the day by enjoying a lunch together following worship service at Sean's favorite spot, Habit.  His grandparents also treated him to a great dinner complete with cookies.  Great day, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Dinner time with the Grandparents!

Family Weekend

Started Thursday with a drive to Valencia to hang with the brother brohem Uncle Sean and his wife Deb.  We started things off with our treat at La Cocina for some awesome mexican cuisine...

On Friday, we started the day off with a morning run and Sean ripping my legs off in the neighborhood.  We then got the family ready for the day and headed to Hurricane Harbor at Magic Mountain.  At the park all day until 6pm and then headed to my sister Donna's house for some more family get togethers with our visiting Alabama family.  Great time.

(The Martin Fam at Hurrican Harbor ala 95 degrees F!)

On Saturday, spent the day at Castaic Lake and had a blast.  Tubing, food, site seeing, swimming, boating, and a little bit of fishing.  Great time and memories were being remembered and created on this lake.  When we finished, we hit the pool for a bit more of water - we were water logged by 7pm...  My kids could not get enough of it.  I'm tired, and cannot explain why...

(Tubing Castaic Lake)

(Heading into Elizabeth Canyon at Castaic Lake)

(Wifey enjoying some summer sun in the Canyon)

(Martin Family Totem Pole!)

Really enjoyed the adventurous weekend.  I don't think I took a shower the entire weekend.  My wife confessed she took one shower!!!  We never got out of the water.

So thankful for the experiences and what God has provided in our lives.  I woke this morning and had the delight to read Isaiah 53 in the Bible and was just simply humbled to read about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.  Sweet time this weekend.  Good rest for the brain, even though we never slow down...

Looking forward to more of lifes adventures.

14 Years...

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

This is the wedding vow made to each other on June 21, 1997.  This is Gods word.  We are grateful that Gods love for us, and our faith in Him, gives us the power to live out these things together.  Without God, these important marriage vows and scriptures flee and we would be self absorbed in our own individual needs.  Praise God for his faithfulness in our lives, especially in our marriage.

I met my beautiful bride at Cal Poly in 1994 as we were waiting for class early one morning.  This blog photo marks the spot which was just under the canopy.  Only the original canopy was much smaller.  She looked at me, and I stared at her.  I did not stop staring.  As our invitations said when we married, a glance and a smile, turned into friendship, and then fell in love...  Her outer beauty caught my attention - her inner beauty captured me for good.  This is Gods work, and I am thankful for that fact.

Looking forward to more marriage adventures...

This Video Fires Me Up!

My Pastor recently posted this video.  It fires me up and speaks volumes...!

Does it grab you as well?

Ambers Communion Sunday - Jesus Conquered the Grave!

This morning I celebrated my 41st birthday with my family and children. We celebrated with a pancake breakfast and my wife treated me with an iphone accessory alarm clock stereo. A very nice surprise and something I will certainly enjoy. Thank you wifey for the surprise and very kind gift.

I also had a fantastic time at worship and celebrated something far more profound than the counted years of my life. After longing to join us at the Lords table, my daughter Amber took communion this morning, February 8, 2009. After a few tearful months prior when she asked and argued to participate, we were joyed to present this to her.

It was a precious experience as Amber and I sat together waiting for both Gods word and communion. She and I sang together and I took brief moments to whisper to her reminders Gods redeeming grace and had her repeat to me the significance of each element of both the body and the blood of Jesus. We kept repeating one of the worship songs Mighty to Save - Author of Salvation - Jesus conquered the grave! These brief words really tell a story of Gods grace and His intention to save us from the beginning. We are indeed thankful that Amber has an understanding of the gospel and understands our condition apart from Jesus our savior.

God bless you Amber and may God be with you in your journey here. We love you dearly and look forward to watching you grow in Christ.