Place of ministry

It occurred to me while sitting here sharing my last blog post, my blog has been quite abandoned for a few months. Believe me it is not because I have had nothing to say, for I even bore myself with all the talking I do every day. Actually since August my days have been full bouncing between working and taking on four online classes at the University. Since much has changed perhaps I will now quickly update those who are interested; all seven of you.

Currently I am enrolled at the University in town working toward a degree in Elementary School education, so I can be a teacher. Since there are many classes ahead of me to take I decided it would be best to take on as much as possible. The class load is great but it is necessary to push through. I trust this is the path I am set on by God in this time. He knows. So between running my daycare, school, and family life is pretty full and busy.

Every blog post really should have a theme or a given point to why its being written. After all you are taking the time to read so you deserve nothing less. So maybe the theme tonight is just to remind you to keep pressing ahead. My last blog post was an open letter I wrote to Bible school students who are looking ahead at starting a new path. It really was good for me to read because being 8 years out now, having graduated in 2005, I sometimes wonder if I am still on the right track. And as long as God is with me, then He has me where He wants me.

Is there is one thing I learned about working customer service all those years, is life is really about helping other people. Jesus taught lessons of service all through His ministry. Story after story is about giving time, energy, the little you have or the great, whatever it is you give it to the Lord. We need people, we need each other to get us through everything in life. Every day of the week I spend with my kids, and three daycare kids. Each of those little ones remind me of how important the message of God’s love is for everyone. They teach me compassion, grace, sharing, mercy, patience, trust, so many lessons I thought I already understood. For now my place of ministry is to my little Doodle bugs. And that is the place I will give myself while I study to be a school teacher. Looking forward to the days ahead.

Life Pacfic University Alumni Letter

Where will you be in the next five years? Ask yourself this question continually as you begin the first few classes of your college freshmen life. You are embarking on a incredible journey which will take you soaring through the Scriptures, embracing your professors and fellow classmates, and help mold you into a new person when all is said and done. In the end you will discover a new beginning, one which will keep you reaching back to those days in Bible school for inspiration and encouragement. Now there are several important things I learned I would like to share with you as you begin this adventure.

You are in Bible school to learn the Bible! I know this sounds like a no brainer but you would be surprised how much else you will learn along with the Scripture during your days at Life. One thing you will not be learning is the experience factor and intimate make up of what will make you a Pastor, worship leader, or educator depending on your program. This amazing life giving book you will carry to class with you every day can never be placed on the shelf as a text book. True it is used in just about every class, even Algebra if you end up with the same teacher I had. But your main focus should be the Bible this is why your degree path is Biblical Studies.

When I graduated my major was Biblical Studies with a secondary in Pastoral Ministry. Perhaps I felt the two being the other way around makes any difference in the real world. Shouldn’t the Bible already be the main area of everyone in ministry regardless of occupation? Artists, bakers, mail clerks, should all regard the Bible as important as Pastors, worship leaders, and missionaries.

Remember a five year degree at Life Pacific College or any college does not guarantee a job as soon as you graduate. This may come as a great life altering disappointment to many who think this piece of paper is a ticket to a paycheck. If you think about the whole scope of what a Pastor is and does in this world, shouldn’t it be harder to take on that responsibility?  The one standing in a ministry spotlight is to be a very example of Christ Jesus and the life should bear fruit of His work. Your degree does support the backbone of knowledge you will expand from but do not forget you need other bones, blood cells, tissue, and all that stuff to make a body. Your knowledge of the Bible will not come to an end when you are handed your degree, it is only the beginning. It should be the start of a lifetime relationship with your Creator and His Word.

Secular schools really do not care where you come from, Bible school is no exception. Start planning ahead now, beyond five years into what you hope to have after you complete your Biblical degree plan. If you want to attend State schools later make sure you research now what classes will be covered.

Carry the torch as Paul tells his protégée Timothy in his final letter appropriately named Second Timothy. Paul has given Timothy years of education and leadership plus much life experience to help carry him through the young Christian life. Timothy went on after Paul’s death to be the Bishop of Ephesus, or so we believe by tradition. We do know enough that the wisdom he gained would have kept him going as a messenger of God’s love and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. His calling has not changed either. You are where you are for a reason and this must never be forgotten. Get a journal and write down why you are attending Bible College in the first place. Believe me you will be reading it again if not during your first finals week, definitely afterword! His call on your life does not change, but sometimes there is a period of waiting as we grow. You may or may not end up right in a pulpit after you leave school. Some people really are not meant to be there, but are to use the time at school to learn who their God is and go into the world as a light!

A few of my professors often commented to me on the importance of the work and call ahead. But a common phrase was, “if you can do anything else other than be a Pastor, do it!” I regret listening to this because there can be no greater gift then to follow a calling and no greater regret than losing track. This world is full of many, many, Bible school grads who are now discouraged since their degree is doing nothing but sitting on a wall in the spare bedroom. Maybe it comes in handy when talking to a friend about the Word, you know, “I have that degree so you should listen to what I have to say!” The degree means nothing if your heart is still living in the world.

There is nothing worse than a Pastor living outside of God’s will! A wonderful man of God said this from his pulpit shortly after leaving our town’s large Baptist church for another one in the city. He may take you through rough patches from time to time. It may be years before you even find yourself in a "ministry" role. Do not get discouraged; keep pushing forward into His will for you. We are all called into the ministry of God's Word and His love to people. This ministry displays itself through different ways from every individual.

It is my hope you take this degree path seriously. Do it for the fun of getting to know your God more. Do it for the sense of accomplishment. Do not think it means churches will be lining up out the door to get you hired. God appoints man to his positions, not man. You are a child of God and your knowledge of ministry and work only begins here. Experience is found in the real world.

 It is outside of the classroom you really find out who you are called to be in Him. When you are counseling friends who are going through marriage or relationship struggles, dealing with issues of forgiveness, having your own mud slinging battles with yourself, its when you learn what ministry is, it is about people. People are what matters to God. He wants you to know how to love them, how to show them His love. He wants you to lose judgmental attitudes and embrace kindness. Jesus went down on His own knees many times to show us humility comes before anything.

Lastly I want you to remember who called you to Bible school. If the answer is not God, leave now. Do not turn back. Only God could get you to give yourself to this call and work. Only God Himself could give you the divine task of learning His Word in order to teach it to others. He would not have you endure such a challenge if not to use you as a river into someone else’s life. I pray you make an impact on this world. I pray He uses the gift of the degree to empower you and strengthen you. I pray even more He encourages you through this letter from someone who is ministering for Him every day outside of a Church pulpit. What I do for God is to day by day live for Him. It is what I am supposed to be doing now while I learn more of whom I am and who He is in me.

Life Pacific Alumni
David B  Bowlby

August 6th 2013

Parent and Teacher Partnerships

Benefits of teacher-family partnerships  

Families in today’s world are much like they have been since the beginning of mankind. Man was given woman as a helper and companion and together they were given children to continue the human race and multiply into the world. The centuries as seen through the history books and Biblical accounts have shown families to exist in the same pattern. We classify the family unit as several people of similar backgrounds and common identity who love and care for one another. They are not necessarily living in the same area, but share a bond together. This bond grows deeper than blood lines because many families include adoptions and multiple marriages.

Teachers in a very real way create a piece of the family unit for each child they encounter in the classroom. They become a leader and guide to the child, and also a person to be looked up to and admired. For some students their own home life might be awkward and chaotic but at school they can find a common ground with a stable teacher student relationship. It is important that a bond be established between the teacher and the parents in order to better understand how to lead the students who are placed in the teachers care.  

Parents and teachers become partners in the growth and maturity of the student throughout the school year and in turn place another rung on the ladder of their learning and development. It is critical for teachers to work with the parents as the students need a consistent learning environment both in school and at home.

Methods for developing partnerships

It can be difficult to look at the amount of children you have in a classroom and the amount of parents and believe you can ever achieve a level of partnering with them all. At the starting point it is important to remember having a healthy relationship between teachers and parents is for the benefit of the students learning and the teacher’s ability to educate to the needs of the children individually and collectively.

Parents will not always feel connected into what is going on in their children’s lives. Teachers can help by sending daily or weekly reports on what is being learned in the classroom along with tips and ideas for the kids to do at home as a family. Such tools help aid the process of learning and school work becomes homework.

Teachers need to know a little about what is going on in the lives of the kids they are teaching every day. This knowledge helps them to develop lesson plans and strategies designed to specifically hit points the kids will understand and want to learn. Not everything in the classroom will be fun for every student, but the teacher can work to make sure everything is presented in ways to engage the imaginations and excitement of the students.

A classroom is a community of individuals brought together for a year to learn and develop new skills. The teacher is the leader and head of the group and is in the place of getting to know the kids and being able to help them learn more. Students who know they are appreciated as individuals will function better in the group. Once they know they are a partner in the overall learning plan, it gives a kid -confidence and assurance they are not alone.

Making partnerships work

Several factors go into making partnerships work in the world of business as well as education. Parents and teachers essentially are similar to that of a workforce partnership. The overall agenda is for the student to learn and develop into the person they were created to be. You can never know from the point a person is young what they will achieve in life and who they will eventually become.

Mutual trust between parties is a key to any successful business arrangement. As the teacher and parents come together there is an unspoken belief the parents will be open and honest about concerns and be willing to ask questions. Nothing can be accomplished or changed if people do not communicate and share ideas. A teacher should have the trust that the student will take the homework home and complete assignments. Parents should also trust teachers to inform them when there are learning concerns.

Partnerships need to be built on a common ground, providing for the overall development of the student. Focus always on the good done for the student and there will be a solid work accomplished done. Anytime something is starting out there will be conflicts and pressures. Teachers face pressures just as much as the parents. Both are going to require a focus. You are not just taking the student to the school so they have somewhere safe to hang out and hopefully learn. And teachers have to remember that they are influencing lives daily by giving the students time and attention while teaching.

Schools are making it easier for parents and teachers to have more time to interact. There are positive programs and more are needed, which bring the parents to the school for more than just pick up and drop off time. Students need more than just an annual parent teacher conference for them to be understood and taught correctly.

Anytime you bring people together for a common goal, it is important to keep that goal in mind. With teaching and parenting alike the students overall development path should be the main objective. As parents and teachers develop partnership relationships they will also grow as individuals themselves. There is much learning to be done for all three parties involved in the school system. Parents are the lifetime teachers of their own kids. Teachers have the ability to be constant in the lives of the kids for a season. And the kids themselves will be able to grow from both individually and learn to respect and admire themselves as well as their parents and teachers.

Ezekiel 2:1-10: Called to be a watchman

Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” ² As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. ³ Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. ⁴ I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

⁸ “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” ⁹ Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. ¹⁰ When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.
Ezekiel 2:1-10

Jesus taught His disciples to be a light on the hill which shines out to the entire world as a message of hope in the darkness. Ezekiel was called out in the midst of captivity and persecution to be a watchman to the people of Israel and give them God’s message. A watchman was in charge of standing on the wall of the city, always prepared to sound the alarm is an enemy was drawing close. It was the duty of the watchman to keep alert and be ready at all times so the guards of the gates would not be caught by surprise.

We are called by Jesus to be watchmen on the wall, taking his message to the people that the wickedness is around and seeking to destroy. Notice something important about the message God gave to Ezekiel. It was a message that he had to give to Israel regardless of how it was received. Acceptance of God’s message is not a prerequisite for its importance of delivery. God knew the people were stubborn and would be rebellious. Such is the majority  of the world today when the message of God’s Word preached, the world turns a deaf ear.

As a watchman on the wall it is our call, just as it was Ezekiel’s’, to deliver the message. Do not worry about who you might offend in the process. Do not worry if they hate you or persecute you or say all kinds evil things about you. Jesus warned us these kinds of persecutions would happen we speak of His Law and Truth. Do so with grace and gentleness, but by no means water down the gospel message or our duty as believers in Jesus. Follow Ezekiel and learn from the way God used the prophet to speak to a people who did not want to listen.

Ezekiel 1:4-28 - Vision of Heaven

⁴ As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. ⁵ Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. ⁶ Each of them had four faces and four wings…. ¹⁰ As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. ¹⁵ Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. ¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl…. ²⁴ I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings…..
Ezekiel 1:4-28

Ezekiel’s vision of these heavenly beings can be compared to the similar visions of Isaiah and the Apostle John in Revelation. One of the questions when approaching the Bible should always be, what can we learn from this passage? It might be hard to sit down and read because the whole description sounds so incredibly out of this world. Indeed it is a picture of living beings which are apparently angels or some other form of creature in the Spiritual world. One thing we should remember is there is a very real spiritual realm.

Each of the creatures had four faces which I find fascinating. The face of an eagle, an ox, a man, and a lion are seen on each creature. Now we know that the Messiah is also known as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is also seen as a suffering servant which would be seen as the ox. We learn from the new Testament as well that Jesus Christ is also fully God and fully man. We can take the eagle to be the symbol for God as it is the only bird who can fly directly into the sunlight. These idioms being in place create a fourfold picture of Jesus Christ as presented by the creatures and also the four gospel books.

Ezekiel is being prepared for a call which will change his life. He has already been separated from his home by a forced exile of his nation. Now he waits along with the rest of the Jewish nation wondering if there is any hope left, any reason to praise God or if they should just give up and turn to the Babylonian idols. The message is going to be clear that God desires for His people to come to Him. Ezekiel is told no matter what to stick with the call and tell the people about the God who is King over all.

Ezekiel 1:1-3: Ezekiel the Priest

Word of Truth - Ezekiel

On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. ² This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity. ³ (The Lord gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.)
Ezekiel 1:1-3

Ezekiel was a young man when he and his family were sent into Exile along with the Nation of Judah. Babylon took Judah in 597 BC which places the events of chapter one around 593. Ezekiel was thirty and at the right age to begin ministering in the temple, but it remained back in Israel. Still God calls him to be a watchman and to warn the people of Israel of coming judgment.

It is in the nation of Babylon while he is in exile that Ezekiel will receive a heavenly vision of the Lord Almighty as well as a call to be a message carrier. God put a heavy responsibility on Ezekiel as a watchman to Israel, so as long as he carried through on the message he was being obedient. It was then up to the people to listen and obey.

We are watchman on the wall of the city, warning the world of the dangers brought about by sin and wickedness. There is danger in being too polite and trying to not offend too many. Ezekiel’s warnings are for today as much as they were for the people of Israel. And as it is read there will be sweetness in the mouth and bitterness in the stomach for His Word has been lost to this generation.

Growth as Child Care Professional and Christian

Professionals always sound like people with lots of notebooks and pens at their sides at all times. These kinds of people who seem to know everything about everything- especially the area they have studied. It seems though now as I have previously studied in the area of Biblical studies and find myself in the world of child care and teaching, “professional” means so much more.

As a man who dearly loves the Word of God and also enjoys being around kids daily, I am drawn with excitement toward teaching. It has been a goal, at least since high school, to be in a teaching setting. It is what drew me into the Bible college route to begin with. It seems though, over the years, it has been made clear to me that I am better suited toward working with children, as I am myself a big child at times.

Back to the term “professional” for a moment I have changed my outlook since I am now working toward being one in the area of childcare. My desire is not to be the best teacher in the world but to be the best teacher I am. First it is about knowing there is always something new to be learned. The course of study has shown me there are many flaws within myself and many weak areas which would keep me back without confidence and assurance this is the right place to be for me.

It is the Lord who works and moves in our lives and centers His will in all things. Two and a half years ago I quit my day job and became a stay at home dad. A year later I started a home daycare out of my house in order to bring other kids in to play with my twins as well as gain some extra income. It was through the daily work with my kids plus a few others that I realized how rewarding the act of teaching young children is and will be. I am inspired daily by my kids as they are a constant puzzle of lessons and mysteries to me. God is never finished using them as ways to teach me new things I need to work on while I work to teach them.

Career Plan for the future

My perspectives on what it means to be a teacher and how to teach have changed a great deal through the course of my study. Certainly, my patience is producing character from within and I believe that is always where the Lord starts working with His children. Each class, one after another, has not just taught me how to teach but how to be a teacher. It is not just about the developmentally appropriate practices, or creative lesson strategies, but about being the kind of person from whom children want to learn.

Once I have attained my degree with Oklahoma Wesleyan, I will continue my studies at North Eastern State University. It has been called the teaching school of Oklahoma since many of the greatest teachers in this state have studied to become the professionals they now are. With my degree completed, I will pursue teaching grade school levels somewhere of God’s choosing.

There has been much I have learned about how to be a good teacher and good role model for my kids to follow. I believe it is important to instruct children not just with book knowledge but heavenly wisdom. The ways of this world are destructive so it is important to season everything with the salt of the Word of God. Everything I have learned so far about being a teacher will carry through as I begin to impart to my future students life lessons wrapped up in truth. Even in a public school setting I will still remain strong to my beliefs in how a teacher should behave.

Philosophy on early childhood education

Every child is a unique individual capable of learning, understanding, and responding to education. Children come from all different backgrounds, and are placed in with a mix of others who are all in the same way going to respond to everything in their own way. I have always believed it is important to understand what a child is saying and respond to them with respect and kindness. There really can be no other way as a teacher, as teachers are called to teach and guide.

Early childhood education is the very roots of the rest of a persons’ life. As that child grows up to be an adult what they learned while young will have greater influence on them as anything else they experience. Kids are going to take the things they learned growing up, from the classroom environment to the home environment and use those lessons to become who they are in the world.

When I first approached early childhood courses I believed I would be taught a lot of information on what I would be teaching- not so much the methods on how to teach. I realized, through the course of time that it is of greater value for me to learn how to be a teacher than to start right off with knowing all of the things I need to know. It would be like handing a new parent all of the diapers, wipes, crib material, and everything else that comes with a baby but not giving them any instructions on how to be a parent. Early childhood education takes the teacher and tells them how they should look at themselves first as a teacher and model to the kids and then go from there to understand what they will be teaching.

With each new child I teach I will look at them as a created individual made by a God who thinks they are special and loves them. That child will deserve my attention, along with all of their classmates, and acceptance that they do not know everything yet. I can be confident in what I know and am able to teach them. I will be ready; knowing everything I do is a reflection of what I believe. My faith will be seen in my actions. Because of this it is always important to be strong and true to the Lord in all things and continue to press on toward the high privilege of teaching just as God has taught me, with grace and truth.

 

1 Peter 1:6-9

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9

It seems rather backwards when you think about it, have joy while you are enduring many trials. Joy is not something we generally associate with trouble or difficulties. Rather joy is the thing we expect to be feeling when everything is going great. But Peter reveals just the same things Jesus taught him about the source of joy and peace, is Christ.

For many in the early days, the Apostles spoke of Jesus having had the firsthand experience of working alongside Him. Many watched Him throughout his ministry up to the cross and witness His resurrection. Peter writes to those who never saw Him, which includes every believer today. We believe with a faith that was different than the Apostles for we believe in whom we have not seen walking around healing people and raising dead men to life. Our faith stems from His work in our own lives, walking us through difficult times, and restoring broken things around us.

When you go through difficult times, and you will go through them be sure, have faith even more. Write down your journey with the Lord, even when you do not see Him in the circumstances. After you have been pulled through the storm you will not want to forget the lessons He was teaching. All glory belongs to Him, and He will be glorified in all things. The trials you endure are testing your faith but they are also evidence you have faith first in which needs to be tested. Strengthen yourself by this knowledge that you are counted worthy to suffer and deal with worldly trial so that His work will be made seen in your life. To Jesus Christ be the glory for doing all things well with you.

1 Peter 1:3-5

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
1 Peter 1:3-5

Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no hope. It is through the death of Christ we have been saved from the punishment of sin, and through his resurrection we have no life in Him. He executed the covenant between man and God by dying on the cross. And He returned to enforce that same covenant and to ensure us of our future inheritance. 

Every believer who has come to the saving cross of Christ and died with Him, also rises with Him into new life. There is a promise here of an eternal reward we will all receive in heaven. Notice Peter gives us insight into what heaven will be like when he says there is no change or decay. Heaven will not be like the earth, a place outside of time and the laws of disorder, chaos, and destruction. It is a place all of us should long for, and even those who do not realize it, desire.

 

God is the protector of our souls and will watch over us in this world. He is the one who is in charge of our future and hope. Not only do we have a purpose to fulfill here on earth, but there is also so much more waiting for us in heaven. He knows and we can trust Him that one day it will all be revealed. The future salvation of our souls when we pass from this life into the life prepared for us by Jesus. Praise be to the Lord who has died to set us free, and risen to keep us free indeed.

1 Peter 1:1-2

This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
May God give you more and more grace and peace.

1 Peter 1:1-2

You have been known, chosen, and made holy by God the Father. Peter begins writing his letter to the Jewish people scattered around the nations. He begins by reminding them of their position and God’s choice to set them apart from the world they live in as strangers. All believers fit into this category for we are all citizens of Heaven, temporarily placed on this earth for service to the King.

Being known by the God of the universe is no small matter. Imagine someone in leadership you highly admire. Now what if that person invited you to lunch, wouldn’t that be amazing? Then what if they gave you their cell phone number and told you to call them whenever you had a question or just wanted to talk? You would feel wonderful if this happened, you wouldn’t feel so alone in this big world just because you were noticed and considered highly valued. Your heavenly Father, the one who created everything including you, has called you by name and given you his own personal line to talk anytime. To Him you are a highly treasured!

Apostle Peter knows firsthand what it feels like to be called by the Lord. When he was still a fisherman in Galilee, Jesus walked along the shore and invited him to be a disciple. From that moment on Peter was in the company of the King of the universe, even though he probably did not realize it at first. When we know the Lord desired fellowship with Fishermen, tax-collectors, notorious sinners, why wouldn’t he want to also have us? He does, and desires us greatly every day and every minute. Allow these words to fill you with the same grace and peace Peter prays for over the chosen of God.

Psalm 131

Psalm 131

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
or too awesome for me to grasp.
² Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
now and always.

Humility is the act of acknowledging who you are in relation to God. Remember David was the youngest of his brothers, working as a shepherd boy when God anointed him to be king of Israel. When David through a parade to bring God’s holy Ark back into the city, his own wife scolded him for being undignified. He responded by declaring he would be even more so before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is a testament to humility as a man who was already on the throne with a great history of military and political conquest. This Psalm is a message to us about being humble.

Our God is the creator and master of the universe. He did not just create it and leave it to grow, but is at work in everything everyday of existence. There is not one petal on any flower falling to the ground without His awareness. You can never catch him by surprise or disappoint him. The Holy One is Holy and worthy to be praised as David continues to remind us throughout the Psalms.

When was the last time you got on all fours before the Lord of the universe? When did you last lay it all down literally and give Him everything you own? Do you own past regrets, guilt, pain that should be given to Him. Do you track your sins even though they were each already paid for by the blood on the cross? Worthy is the Lamb who was slain for us! When we focus on who He is, its impossible to not be humble before His Awesome Might and Power. His unending grace and mercy are abounding for all of us forever and ever, Amen!

Ever busy season of our lives

Life in the Bowlby house is never boring and rarely quiet. On this night however I have reached the point where everyone is sleeping except me so I am going to use this moment to be productive in my blog and attempt an update on our ever busy lives. My beautiful wife and three children keep me ever so on my toes and running every direction seemingly endlessly. Ill first being with our youngest hatchling….

Erin Nicole has been growing ever so slowly it seems for the past year. Now pictures are evidence she has changed a little, and there is more hair to get in the way of those pretty little eyes. Every morning it is a fight to get her hair in pony tails. Daddy is just not as good with those things as mommy. But we do have a good time getting dressed every morning. Still not good working with the potty though so all things in time…. She is only two and a half. She does love her snacks though, including anything daddy considers yummy and wants to keep to himself. Oreos are a major such snack that must be hidden or causes a good deal of mess! She just craves chocolate and caffeine, and baby dolls. So she is a girl in every way.

Kenneth the twin brother or prince charming as mommy calls him, is always on the move. Unless he is somehow in the zone of Super Why or Curious George, he never stays in one spot more than a few seconds. Kenny is our own form of curious monkey. He does like to play with his sister from time to time, but they fight a lot too as siblings do. All of our kids are fond of play time, who isn’t really? His word bank is growing little by little as he always wants his milk or juice milk as he says. He can get a bit frustrated when it comes to things like sitting in the car waiting for Avery to get out of school, or simply not getting his way and throwing a tantrum. But his charm and sweet spirit every other time of the day wins us over.

Avery finished cheerleading and will be going back into soccer in the fall which is great! She is really athletic and enjoys the sport. I imagine our children will be keeping us very busy in the years ahead with sports. Hopefully I can come to some of her games this time, working on weekends tends to take away the time. But it is necessary in the long run since the kids do well with being at home with their parents rather than a big daycare environment. Avery is doing really well in school and enjoying her time with friends and playing outside. She has learned how to ride her bike now without training wheels, and has recently expressed desire to go to her friends house’s across the street to play. So our little girl is not so little anymore and it is just too soon! I am so thankful for her and for the woman she is becoming. I could not have asked for a better Avery than the one the Lord gave us. The same goes for all my children.

Holly and I remain busy with various work and school projects. I am busy with my degree for childhood education and Holly with her Human Resources. So I imagine the coming Spring will be very busy. Hopefully I will find more time to update then, but for now its late and I must be getting to rest now!