Please help me get the word out about this blog. I really love sharing my heart, and I'd like for this blog to be a forum for sharing my heart with many people...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
No, I'm not moody...but thanks for asking...
Moody? No, not really. But I do have those days when things are kinda "blah." Everyone has those I'm sure. I came into the office this morning and re-read my blog from yesterday...and all the comments and words of encouragement that resulted. God sure has given me some amazing people in my life - people that truly hold me up in prayer. I've been asked the question, "I know you like blogging your thoughts and stuff, but should a Pastor really be putting things like that online for the world to see? I mean, what does that say to a lost person, without Christ?" (I asked the person who said this if I could include the question in my blog...they agreed.) So, I thought I'd take a second this morning and answer that question with today's Thought from the Heart.
What does that say to a person who doesn't personally know Christ yet? I think it says, very simply, I'm just like you. The only difference is Christ, but that doesn't make me immune from hurt or pain. A Christian isn't a superhero that can fly above all the hurt in life, nor is a pastor able to do those things. We are human. Period. But - we do have a place to turn in those times - a God Who loves us and wants to carry the burdens with us - and even for us.
Yesterday I became overwhelmed, I'll admit. I am a Pastor at heart, by calling, and by trade - and I am also a Chaplain for the Fire Dept. I truly consider myself to be the pastor at that FD, and want to help all of my firemen when they are in turmoil or pain. There are a lot of them that are hurting right now - with family stuff, job stuff, just plain and simple life stuff. And I'm a fixer - I want to make things okay for them. Just as with the church, when these guys hurt, I hurt. It's as simple as that. And yesterday it all sort of piled up on me. And I'll admit, a little bit of selfishness crept in regarding another issue.
Human beings are, by nature, selfish at heart, and we want our way. Our ideas, our concepts, our dreams - sometimes we begin to think they take priority over others' ideas, concepts, or dreams. And then there are times that we have an idea and someone has an idea to improve our idea and before we know it our idea isn't what's being pursued at all...I know, I know...I just used the word "idea" like 50 times...but you get the point. And sometimes that bothers us. If we get "run over" from time to time, eventually we reach a point that the thought comes to our mind, "I really don't like getting run over. I think I'll stop it."
That's where I was yesterday - and in the interest of "Public Confession" (since my feelings yesterday were very public via the blog), I will admit: I was being selfish. And I was wrong in that. And I am sorry.
I walked in today with an entirely new outlook - I've given those thoughts and issues to the Lord, and I'm not going to carry them around anymore. I have decided to "practice what I preach" when it comes to worries and concerns. So there you go. Yesterday my tune was "woe is me." But today, my heart sings a new song...
...Singing oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm,
Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low,
Oh no, You never let go, Lord You never let go of me!
You keep on lovin' and You never let go!
That's just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time, live blessed!
blake
This blog is brought to you by Thoughts from the Heart.
To view daily updates and devotional thoughts, go to http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com .
What does that say to a person who doesn't personally know Christ yet? I think it says, very simply, I'm just like you. The only difference is Christ, but that doesn't make me immune from hurt or pain. A Christian isn't a superhero that can fly above all the hurt in life, nor is a pastor able to do those things. We are human. Period. But - we do have a place to turn in those times - a God Who loves us and wants to carry the burdens with us - and even for us.
Yesterday I became overwhelmed, I'll admit. I am a Pastor at heart, by calling, and by trade - and I am also a Chaplain for the Fire Dept. I truly consider myself to be the pastor at that FD, and want to help all of my firemen when they are in turmoil or pain. There are a lot of them that are hurting right now - with family stuff, job stuff, just plain and simple life stuff. And I'm a fixer - I want to make things okay for them. Just as with the church, when these guys hurt, I hurt. It's as simple as that. And yesterday it all sort of piled up on me. And I'll admit, a little bit of selfishness crept in regarding another issue.
Human beings are, by nature, selfish at heart, and we want our way. Our ideas, our concepts, our dreams - sometimes we begin to think they take priority over others' ideas, concepts, or dreams. And then there are times that we have an idea and someone has an idea to improve our idea and before we know it our idea isn't what's being pursued at all...I know, I know...I just used the word "idea" like 50 times...but you get the point. And sometimes that bothers us. If we get "run over" from time to time, eventually we reach a point that the thought comes to our mind, "I really don't like getting run over. I think I'll stop it."
That's where I was yesterday - and in the interest of "Public Confession" (since my feelings yesterday were very public via the blog), I will admit: I was being selfish. And I was wrong in that. And I am sorry.
I walked in today with an entirely new outlook - I've given those thoughts and issues to the Lord, and I'm not going to carry them around anymore. I have decided to "practice what I preach" when it comes to worries and concerns. So there you go. Yesterday my tune was "woe is me." But today, my heart sings a new song...
...Singing oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm,
Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low,
Oh no, You never let go, Lord You never let go of me!
You keep on lovin' and You never let go!
That's just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time, live blessed!
blake
This blog is brought to you by Thoughts from the Heart.
To view daily updates and devotional thoughts, go to http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com .
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
WARNING: This blog is being written by a tired person...
Yup. Let's just get that out of the way - I am tired...and I'll admit it, a little cranky as well. My shoulders are heavy with situations that are top secret and can't be share with anyone - except the Lord of course. My heart is heavy because I want there to be some way that I can fix those situations - but I'm helpless. My mind is exhausted because it's been running 100 miles an hour trying to figure these things out - to no avail. And in the midst of that I can feel satan's attack in a huge way. I know he's after me - I can feel it.
He's making a huge attempt to divide me and some of the people that mean the most to me. I can feel my heart being tugged - there are thoughts going through my mind that would never normally be there. I don't know how long this will last, but I'm praying it all ends soon because it's really heavy. I love these people -they mean the world to me. They are my support net - my family in Christ. Don't jump to conclusions - that doesn't mean that I'm having "church problems."
Nothing could be further from the truth - God's blessing the church! He's moving in a huge way, and everyone - well, most everyone - can see that. He's doing something that is out of my league, and it's a privilege and honor to even have a small part in it. And I think, just maybe, that's why the enemy is so up in arms against me right now. I need the prayers of my family, the family of God, right now more than ever. I need you praying for me. Please pray for me.
And some will ask why I blogged this. Why couldn't I just keep this to myself? It's just this simple: that's not the way I work. When my heart hurts or is heavy, I need to write. And when I need the prayers of God's people, I will ask for them. It's as simple as that. And I do - so I am.
Not all of this blog is "down in the mully grubs" though. Today two angels of God were born at Baptist Hospital in LR. Both twins weighed in at just under 3lbs and are about 2 months premature - but they are alive. And the brand new, first time parents are elated with their new family. And for a moment today my heart lept within me knowing that I had been in the vicinity of a miracle of God. And I'm reminded that even when we're in a valley - the Son still comes up!
That's just a thought - and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time, live blessed!
blake
This blog is courtesy of A Thought from Blake.
Go to http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com/ for daily updates and devotional thoughts!
He's making a huge attempt to divide me and some of the people that mean the most to me. I can feel my heart being tugged - there are thoughts going through my mind that would never normally be there. I don't know how long this will last, but I'm praying it all ends soon because it's really heavy. I love these people -they mean the world to me. They are my support net - my family in Christ. Don't jump to conclusions - that doesn't mean that I'm having "church problems."
Nothing could be further from the truth - God's blessing the church! He's moving in a huge way, and everyone - well, most everyone - can see that. He's doing something that is out of my league, and it's a privilege and honor to even have a small part in it. And I think, just maybe, that's why the enemy is so up in arms against me right now. I need the prayers of my family, the family of God, right now more than ever. I need you praying for me. Please pray for me.
And some will ask why I blogged this. Why couldn't I just keep this to myself? It's just this simple: that's not the way I work. When my heart hurts or is heavy, I need to write. And when I need the prayers of God's people, I will ask for them. It's as simple as that. And I do - so I am.
Not all of this blog is "down in the mully grubs" though. Today two angels of God were born at Baptist Hospital in LR. Both twins weighed in at just under 3lbs and are about 2 months premature - but they are alive. And the brand new, first time parents are elated with their new family. And for a moment today my heart lept within me knowing that I had been in the vicinity of a miracle of God. And I'm reminded that even when we're in a valley - the Son still comes up!
That's just a thought - and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time, live blessed!
blake
This blog is courtesy of A Thought from Blake.
Go to http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com/ for daily updates and devotional thoughts!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Paperclips and whiteout...
Ok, I know, strange title...but here's the story to go with it. So I'm getting ready to head out of the office to make some visits at a local hospital and begin the day in that way. Now, granted my brain does function slightly differently at 8AM than it does at, say, 2PM, but nonetheless I think I just had an epiphany. Yes, I said it, epiphany. And it all came about because of paperclips and whiteout.
On my desk I have a few stacks...okay, a ton of stacks of papers. Each stack represents a different project...or period of time...or mood I was in when I stacked them...anyway, I have stacks. On the top of one stack was (until I discarded it) an idea that I had handwritten for a blog devotional thought. Boy, was it ever edited - whiteout and sharpy lines everywhere. And turns out, I didn't even use it. After all that, I just found that it was simply unusable. Okay, get ready - here's when I had the epiphany.
The blog thought written there wasn't really worth the paper it was written on. There were a couple of pages - all held together by paperclips...whiteout on the pages...paperclips holding them together. So I just happened to glance at the second page before filing this is "File 13" and something caught my attention. A phrase I'd written spoke to me distinctly. It said, "God can't use me." I sat for just a second and thought about why on earth I'd write that. What was going through my mind that I'd write that statement. Then it hit me: there have been many times in my life when He couldn't use me. My pride, ego, whatever you want to call it - prevented me from being usuable. And in those times do you know what I would try to do?
I'd pull out the "Whiteout of Life" and try to simply cover over the areas of my life He didn't like. I would make valiant attempts to just cover it all up - just sweep it under the rug. When God would convict me of areas of my life that weren't pleasing Him (marking it with a black sharpy pen) I would take out the whiteout and try to fix it myself. And all along - He just wanted a fresh page.
My life, at times, was held together by nothing more than cheap paperclips - my efforts, my accomplishments, my bragging rights, my this, my that. And when those cheap paperclips were removed - it all fell apart. God wants to give us an entirely new sheet. And even more than that - He wants to write the story of our life in red ink...His Son's blood - our redemption. And He wants to hold it all together with TONS of staples...our relationship with Him - an intimacy with the Almighty that's second to none.
Some might call that an epiphany - I just call it a God moment. And I'm just waiting and watching for the next one!
That's just a thought - and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time, live blessed!
blake
PS: Sign up to be a "follower" of this blog at http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com !
Get daily updates of devotional thoughts from Pastor Blake!
On my desk I have a few stacks...okay, a ton of stacks of papers. Each stack represents a different project...or period of time...or mood I was in when I stacked them...anyway, I have stacks. On the top of one stack was (until I discarded it) an idea that I had handwritten for a blog devotional thought. Boy, was it ever edited - whiteout and sharpy lines everywhere. And turns out, I didn't even use it. After all that, I just found that it was simply unusable. Okay, get ready - here's when I had the epiphany.
The blog thought written there wasn't really worth the paper it was written on. There were a couple of pages - all held together by paperclips...whiteout on the pages...paperclips holding them together. So I just happened to glance at the second page before filing this is "File 13" and something caught my attention. A phrase I'd written spoke to me distinctly. It said, "God can't use me." I sat for just a second and thought about why on earth I'd write that. What was going through my mind that I'd write that statement. Then it hit me: there have been many times in my life when He couldn't use me. My pride, ego, whatever you want to call it - prevented me from being usuable. And in those times do you know what I would try to do?
I'd pull out the "Whiteout of Life" and try to simply cover over the areas of my life He didn't like. I would make valiant attempts to just cover it all up - just sweep it under the rug. When God would convict me of areas of my life that weren't pleasing Him (marking it with a black sharpy pen) I would take out the whiteout and try to fix it myself. And all along - He just wanted a fresh page.
My life, at times, was held together by nothing more than cheap paperclips - my efforts, my accomplishments, my bragging rights, my this, my that. And when those cheap paperclips were removed - it all fell apart. God wants to give us an entirely new sheet. And even more than that - He wants to write the story of our life in red ink...His Son's blood - our redemption. And He wants to hold it all together with TONS of staples...our relationship with Him - an intimacy with the Almighty that's second to none.
Some might call that an epiphany - I just call it a God moment. And I'm just waiting and watching for the next one!
That's just a thought - and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time, live blessed!
blake
PS: Sign up to be a "follower" of this blog at http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com !
Get daily updates of devotional thoughts from Pastor Blake!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Grace like rain...
It's raining again today. Yes, we need it, but I kinda already miss the sun! However, even in this dreariness there's a pretty deep lesson, I think, about who God is. Allow me to explain...
This morning at around 6:30 Shauna and I left the gym and I got a page that I was needed at a motor vehicle accident. When I got there it was barely drizzling, but that quickly turned into a downpour. So, standing out in the buckets of rain being poured down upon us, I began to ponder...yes, I ponder from time to time...not think...ponder...anyway...
These big drops of rain are all made up of molecules...and I just wonder...where has that water been before it fell from the sky over Hot Springs onto me? Were those very molecules present when a giant killer whale swam by? Or maybe they were in a giant wave that a surfer dude rode into the beach off the coast of California? Did these drops of water experience what it's like to fall during a major hurricane of mass devastation? Were they the drops that brought life to a drought ridden tribe in Africa? Am I crazy? Maybe. But just think about that for a second...
And then, like a tidal wave of energy, I began to think...when I'm calling out to God - who else is He listening to at that very moment? While I am pouring my heart out to Him this morning...was He also listening to the heart's cry of a Christian in China who worships in spite of the danger to his family? While I'm complaining about the rain, is He hearing at that very moment, the cry of a homeowner in Australia whose home is on fire and everything they have it burning because of the massive wildfires?
"Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me! Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, they're washed away!"
That's just a thought - and I welcome your's!
Email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com !
Until next time - live blessed!
blake
This Thought from the Heart is directly posted from http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com .
For daily blog updates from Pastor Blake, visit that site and become an official "follower."
This morning at around 6:30 Shauna and I left the gym and I got a page that I was needed at a motor vehicle accident. When I got there it was barely drizzling, but that quickly turned into a downpour. So, standing out in the buckets of rain being poured down upon us, I began to ponder...yes, I ponder from time to time...not think...ponder...anyway...
These big drops of rain are all made up of molecules...and I just wonder...where has that water been before it fell from the sky over Hot Springs onto me? Were those very molecules present when a giant killer whale swam by? Or maybe they were in a giant wave that a surfer dude rode into the beach off the coast of California? Did these drops of water experience what it's like to fall during a major hurricane of mass devastation? Were they the drops that brought life to a drought ridden tribe in Africa? Am I crazy? Maybe. But just think about that for a second...
And then, like a tidal wave of energy, I began to think...when I'm calling out to God - who else is He listening to at that very moment? While I am pouring my heart out to Him this morning...was He also listening to the heart's cry of a Christian in China who worships in spite of the danger to his family? While I'm complaining about the rain, is He hearing at that very moment, the cry of a homeowner in Australia whose home is on fire and everything they have it burning because of the massive wildfires?
"Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me! Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, they're washed away!"
That's just a thought - and I welcome your's!
Email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com !
Until next time - live blessed!
blake
This Thought from the Heart is directly posted from http://www.fromblake.blogspot.com .
For daily blog updates from Pastor Blake, visit that site and become an official "follower."
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Boy, I really blew it this time...
How many times have you said that in your lifetime? I can honestly admit that I say that way too often...and then it's usually followed by, "If only I would THINK before I SPEAK..." All too often...way to often...
I'm going to tell you - I'm truly a messed up stack of bones a lot of the time! And as ashamed as I am to admit it, the closer I get to the Lord the more I am aware of my failures each day! Just let me tell you - there have been many moments that I've have wondered how on earth God could ever accept me...
...but He does! And in such a HUGE way! This morning I was reading Genesis 43. I've been interested in the life and story of this man we call Joseph here lately, and so I was reading another "episode" in the life and times of this man when I ran across a verse that jumped out at me. "...may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man...(Gen. 43:14a) May God grant you compassion...
Compassion...I don't know if you've ever stopped to think about it, but that's a very big word...and I'm talking about more than just how many letters it has in it. God tells us to be a people of compassion as His children, but sometimes I think that we view that as a "benevolent responsibility." Somehow we think that we are in such an amazing position that we have to "stoop down" and offer someone compassion when they are in need, whatever that need may be...but is this really the case?
From my understanding, the only one that "stoops down" is God...to us! When it's all said and done, regardless of what a person's need may be, we aren't sitting on some lofty throne of righteousness offering them an amazing gift of our time and talents...we're really in the same boat they are. And my point? We're all in this together - every last one of us.
We all need grace. All of us. From the richest executive to the poorest man on the street. From the pastor in the pulpit to the prostitute on Central Ave. To quote a well known Jackson - "From the out house, to the poor house, to the White House"...we all need grace.
So next time you're tempted to "look down" or "snub your nose" at someone else, regardless of the reason, just remember: without Christ you're just a dirty and needy. The only difference is Him, which gives you nothing to boast of in yourself - only Christ.
That's just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time...live blessed!
blake
Go to www.fromblake.blogspot.com for daily blogs from Pastor Blake! Become an official "follower" and tell your friends!
I'm going to tell you - I'm truly a messed up stack of bones a lot of the time! And as ashamed as I am to admit it, the closer I get to the Lord the more I am aware of my failures each day! Just let me tell you - there have been many moments that I've have wondered how on earth God could ever accept me...
...but He does! And in such a HUGE way! This morning I was reading Genesis 43. I've been interested in the life and story of this man we call Joseph here lately, and so I was reading another "episode" in the life and times of this man when I ran across a verse that jumped out at me. "...may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man...(Gen. 43:14a) May God grant you compassion...
Compassion...I don't know if you've ever stopped to think about it, but that's a very big word...and I'm talking about more than just how many letters it has in it. God tells us to be a people of compassion as His children, but sometimes I think that we view that as a "benevolent responsibility." Somehow we think that we are in such an amazing position that we have to "stoop down" and offer someone compassion when they are in need, whatever that need may be...but is this really the case?
From my understanding, the only one that "stoops down" is God...to us! When it's all said and done, regardless of what a person's need may be, we aren't sitting on some lofty throne of righteousness offering them an amazing gift of our time and talents...we're really in the same boat they are. And my point? We're all in this together - every last one of us.
We all need grace. All of us. From the richest executive to the poorest man on the street. From the pastor in the pulpit to the prostitute on Central Ave. To quote a well known Jackson - "From the out house, to the poor house, to the White House"...we all need grace.
So next time you're tempted to "look down" or "snub your nose" at someone else, regardless of the reason, just remember: without Christ you're just a dirty and needy. The only difference is Him, which gives you nothing to boast of in yourself - only Christ.
That's just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .
Until next time...live blessed!
blake
Go to www.fromblake.blogspot.com for daily blogs from Pastor Blake! Become an official "follower" and tell your friends!
Friday, January 30, 2009
So there really are 24 full hours in a day?
I think I'm on to something here. The past few days have gone by entirely too fast, and I think I know why. You see, I have this theory - someone's stealing time. I know, I know - it sounds crazy. Just hear me out on this.
We have people who watch everything from our borders to our airspace...but what about time? Is there some guy sitting in a room in the "US National Time Defense HW" insuring that our time, our valuable time, isn't stolen by some...I don't know...terrorist? I really do think that some of my days here as of late have not had the full 24 hours in them...
And now I know what I'll hear from so many - "It's all about time management, Blake, time management." I understand that totally - and that's why I have a Dayplanner in my phone. The truth of the matter is - there's just too much to do in so little time! So, I've made up my mind about today...it's just this simple: I'll only do what's crucial today. That'll be my "time management" tactic for the day. Anytime else just won't get done. Bottom line.
I guess I should stop blogging now and get to work...oh, and did I mention that today's my day off? Life is so funny these days... :)
That's just a thought from my heart...and I welcome your's!
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com.
Live blessed!
blake
We have people who watch everything from our borders to our airspace...but what about time? Is there some guy sitting in a room in the "US National Time Defense HW" insuring that our time, our valuable time, isn't stolen by some...I don't know...terrorist? I really do think that some of my days here as of late have not had the full 24 hours in them...
And now I know what I'll hear from so many - "It's all about time management, Blake, time management." I understand that totally - and that's why I have a Dayplanner in my phone. The truth of the matter is - there's just too much to do in so little time! So, I've made up my mind about today...it's just this simple: I'll only do what's crucial today. That'll be my "time management" tactic for the day. Anytime else just won't get done. Bottom line.
I guess I should stop blogging now and get to work...oh, and did I mention that today's my day off? Life is so funny these days... :)
That's just a thought from my heart...and I welcome your's!
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com.
Live blessed!
blake
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