13 inches of snow in Texas!

Do you believe it? Take that, DENVER!!!!! 13 inches of snow (even longer...I mean "deeper" in some areas)! Just kidding, but it did snow today, which in Texas means that everything shuts down, so I didn't have to go to work. School starts tomorrow, so hopefully it will be safer to drive.

Krispy Kreme & Flux Capacitors

We had a good time together yesterday, and I thought I'd share some photos. As you can see in the first pic, Will got his first opportunity to go to Krispy Kreme Donuts by our house. He loved watching the donut life-cycle (especially the part where the donuts are flipped over to cook the other side). Blake's getting bigger. He's rolling from front-to-back and back-to-front. We have to be careful now because if you're not watching, he'll roll across the room before you know it. He loves to watch and laugh at Will, and Will loves to oblige. This Thursday starts the Spring Semester at Seminary, and it already looks like a lot of reading (maybe more than last semester).

We're getting an ice storm today, which stinks. It's kind of a slap in the face to go on top of the 3 weeks of fresh snow in Denver that I'm jealous of. Even though I know God brought us here in his timing, I wish I could have been there for the incredible sledding and skiing we could have enjoyed. When I kept hearing the news reports about the snow in Denver, all I could think was "Fresh Powder"!

I've read many people's blogs lately, and it seems a lot of them are talking about resolutions. For me, I don't need a resolution, I need a revolution. (Kind of catchy, huh) My life's been in a state of flux lately, and I feel very confused. I want my relationship with God to grow deeper, but honestly, I don't always want to put forth the effort to see it happen. It's like wanting a really good meal and having all the ingredients but being too lazy to get up and make it, so you end up eating grilled cheese and spaghettio's instead. I'm working through this, and a very powerful book (in addition to the Bible) that I've read on the subject has been helpful. It's called "When I Don't Desire God" and it talks about fighting for joy. I highly recommend this book by John Piper. If you've read Piper before, you know that his stuff can be weighty, but to use another analogy, you can't be a body-builder if all you do is workout with fluffy pillows. (I should start collecting these Keithisms...okay, maybe not) Anyhow, I write all this to encourage those of you out there who may be struggling as well. Keep trying. Don't give up.

I've been reading the book of Job. Maybe these verses can tie all this rambling together.

Job's state of flux (Job 29:4): "Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,"

Elihu's encouragement (Job 36:15-16): "But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction,"

Job's final words (Job 42:5): "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you."

Blessed!

Ain't God incredible?! He has supremely blessed us and our family. A week before Christmas, Keith's 93-year old grandfather passed away. We weren't planning on going down to SouthEast Texas for Christmas but changed our plans due to the circumstances. My grandfather was not a Christian despite numerous attempts to share the Good News with him. We are saddened that he chose to forfeit the grace that could have been his (read Jonah 2:8). It was hard not to correct people when they tried to comfort us with phrases such as "He's in a better place" or "He's not suffering any more" because just the opposite is true. I know they meant well, but the reality is that he showed no signs of embracing Jesus. Now, I will say that I don't know his heart, and he may have trusted in Jesus in the final moments, but evidence points to the contrary.

You might be thinking, "How can he say God is incredible and then talk about someone dying without Jesus?" The reason I can say that God is incredible is that in spite of grieving over the loss of my grandfather, God allowed all of my family to be together for Christmas, which hasn't happened in years. God knew when my grandfather's final moments would be and how much my mom would be needing her family around her during the holidays after a long, exhausting year, so he orchestrated the events to coincide. A guy by the name of David Crowder once said that when His divinity meets our humanity, it's a beautiful collision.

We had a great Christmas, and I want to thank God for making it happen. The picture above is amazing as well. Who would have thought that you could get 16 out of 17 individuals (including kids and a dog) to look at the camera and smile at the same time. My nephew Tex is the only one not looking, but I have to give him credit...he was consistent...he wasn't looking at the camera in any of the attempts to get this picture to turn out right. I guess he's just making his mark. :)

School starts in 2 weeks. Better start reviewing that Greek. For those curious, I pulled off A's for the first semester!