Michael's Notes - Thoughts On Worship, Leadership & Fitness

Giving That Is Remembered

Gifts exchanged are a part of our Christmas. This year we added another tradition, take some of the money we would use to exchanged gifts and send that money to some great charities.  Here are four non-profits that we choice to support.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

    Our hearts were touched this year at this non-profits support of a family that we know. To find out more about Ian Miller and his story check out his Caringbridge site.

Compassion International

    We have talked about supporting this ministry for quite some time,  but on this Christmas Eve we all sat around the computer screen and got started. It was our choice not to choose a child from the pictures displayed, but allow the ministry to choose. My kids can’t wait to get the information pack in the mail.

Blood Water Mission

    The office of this ministry is located in Franklin, Tennessee, our home town. I drive by their office every day, but it wasn’t until a friend, Anne Jackson (flowerdust.net) became personally involved that I went searching for more information. After the search we decided to make a contribution. Anne is making a big contribution as she and others will do a cross country bicycle ride the summer of 2010 to bring awareness to this mission.

Operation Smile

    I knew nothing of this non-profit until a friend from high school became the Donor Relations. This group travels around the world performing life changing operations on children with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. This link gives a better description of their mission.

It seems that many years all we do is exchange money with family members, we buy them gifts they buy us gifts. But our new tradition will hopefully make a greater impact.

Do you give to charities during the holiday season?

Christmas: What Should Be Remembered.

Red of the sunrise
Began to decorate Christmas Eve
Taking its place along side
The other reds and greens

Rays of color
Began to warm the air outside
As the roar of the fireplace
Did the same inside

Waiting under the tree
Wrapped with thoughts of love
Sit gifts for the family
An echo of Christ’s love

All gifts whether intentional or not
Are a reflection of the Father’s thought
That gives us a chance to believe
And His One and only Son see

The gift from the Father
Humbly entered this world
Filling that place of hay
With the presence of grace

Tonight we celebrate
The arrival of that gift
And remember the suffering
That allows us to live.

Birth exchanged for death
Life given for all
Death exchanged for life
Whether accepted or not

May this Christmas be remembered
Not by what we give or receive
But by what was given on a cross
To set us free

Waiting to be unwrapped
The gift Jesus Christ
Doesn’t have to be received
On some special day or night

A gift always accessible
Obedient sacrifice
Provision of the Father.
The Son that did rise.

Christmas Isn’t Christmas Without?

 
Around the tree with the family
Sharing thoughts of Christmas past
Presents given and received
Making mem'ries that will last
At the center of it all
Is a gift of love so small
A baby boy a gift from God
His one and only Son

Christmas isn't Christmas without Jesus
A miracle of a baby boy
Became a miracle for me
He turned my life around
And I'll never be the same
I know Christmas isn't Christmas without Jesus

Some gifts I remember
Some I can't recall
But the one that's in my heart
Is the greatest one of all
© 1999 Michael H. Smith | Backscratcher Music | Gramily Music Publishing  |Michael H. Smith  | T.W.Hale
 

A Fish Story

A little boy, 5 years old, was fishing with his older cousins; everyone had caught a fish but him. That’s when he drop to his knees and loudly pleaded to God to let him catch a fish. He then stood up and put his line back in the water. He got a bite and when he pulled the line out of the water he had caught the biggest fish of the day.

 

I don’t know if the prayer of the boy had anything to do with him catching the largest fish of the day. I do know that it can be a reminder of the importance of prayer and yes talking to God even about the trivial.

 

“Let me have the simple faith like a child, willing to crawl up in the Father’s lap and just talk.”

 

Oh and about the story of the fish…it is true…it was my son who dropped to knees.

Become A Leader By Saying Yes

 

As we become older we often fall into the trap of staying in our comfort zone. Doing things that we have always done in the same way we have always done them.

 

In two recent situations I have been reminded by youth how important it is to step out of our comfort zones and say yes to new opportunities.

Whether that step is to help the team I lead or just to give myself a new perspective. 

 

The first reminder came as I heard that my son had volunteered to step into a new role in a worship band that he participates in.  Normally he is one of the acoustic guitar players, but one night he knew they would be without a bass guitarist. Without hesitation he said he would fill-in. Now this is something he has never done, but he was willing to do so for the team.

 

The second was when I witnessed a group of high school students recognize a deteriorating situation and took it upon themselves to approach the adult leader about making some changes.

 

In each of these instances if it had not been for the willingness of youth to say yes to something new there would have been a team lacking a member and a team churning in status quo.

 

Witnessing these events has reminded me that I must ask myself these questions?

 

Am I willing to seek out new things?

Am I too satisfied with my routine?

Am I willing to say yes when opportunity rises?

The Best Father’s Day Gift

Over the last few months my son Spencer and I have spent quite a bit of time together. During this time I have even got him hooked on NCIS and House. For me it is not about the shows, but that we sit together in the same room and comment and laugh about the story lines….just spending time together.

On Father’s Day morning I found a note taped to the coffee pot. The cover said “Dad from your son.” At first I thought he had got the coffee pot ready to brew the first pot...no such luck. When I realized that was not the case I open the note. Here is what I found.

 

Happy Father’s Day Dad.

Thanks for everything, like my new phone, guitars and bike.

You are the best dad ever.

I hope when I have a family I will be half as great a dad as you. Love you! Thanks so much.

Want to play some bocce ball today.

Love you so much, talk to you later, love you.

 

What else could a dad ask for? 

God truly help me to be a good example to my children.
Help me point them to Christ.
Help me be an example of love.

Leaders With Influence

When I think of leaders that influence my life and others that I have come in contact with there are a few names which come to the top of the list. However, this week I have been reminded of two who set the example of being leaders and true followers of Christ…my parents. 

 

What precipitated this reminder were connections that I have made on Facebook. As I connected with persons from different parts of the country and different periods in my life; graciously they asked about me, but very quickly turned the conversation to inquiry about my parents. There were people my parents lead as ministers in a local church and those who they mentored in a college setting and still others they met in a social setting.

 

Why did these people ask about my parents? I believe it was because they witnessed these traits:

1. they have always felt a call of God on their lives and it was evident.
2. they have served faithfully in every situation that God has placed them in.
3. they treated everyone equally, accepting everyone.
4. they cared about the spiritual well being of those whom they were around.
5. they took and continue to take the Bible as the authority every situation and encouraged others to do the same.
6. they did and do make spending time in conversation with God in prayer a priority.

 

These are lifestyle characteristics that will set followers of Christ apart from all others. These are lifestyle characteristics that I hope I model for those that I come in contact with.

 

My parents = parents yes, but also leaders with influence.

 

A Personal Story: God has a plan

The Christmas holidays are suppose to be a time for family and celebration of God’s gift to us.  It is not suppose to be a time when you face tragedy and the death of a loved one.  This year that is exactly what our family faced.  On the day after Christmas my sister’s 23 year old son passed away due to complications from the flu.  Many of you already know this and have been very supportive, speaking to us words of encouragement, comfort and letting us know you are supporting us in prayer.  My sister, her family and my parents still need that kind of support.

 

Many of you have asked what exactly happened…we really don’t know…and may never know. 

 

In the few days after the tragedy some of the  local newspapers ran a few articles and one of the TV stations in Charlotte North Carolina (WCNC-TV Channel - 36) did a story on the my nephew and the facts of a vibrant, full of life 23 year old dying from the flu.  The link to an article and news spot is here.

 

Thank you again for your prayers. 

 

One last thought, very soon after the receiving the tragic news my 14 year old son comforted his grandmother with these words:  “Mimi, we don’t understand it now, but God does and He has plan.” Amen.

A Father's Wish

Two Sundays ago I was given an amazing gift.  As I was on stage leading worship I looked out to the audience and spotted my children. My daughter was home for the weekend from college and my son was in his usual spot. They attended different worship hours, but I saw them both. What made this father thankful was what I saw, my children engaged in worship; my son singing and clapping and my daughter singing and at one point her eyes closed and I could tell she was really communicating with the Almighty. What more can a father wish for?

 

As a father I often wonder if I have done enough of the right things, taught my children what is important and led them to understand the things of God.  I still ask myself those questions but witnessing the events of last Sunday helped me see I just might have got some things right and I will continue to try to be the father that my heavenly Father wants me to be.

So Thankful

Just recently I was sitting around a table with a group of friends for a time of prayer.  Two of the prayer requests centered on parents, more specifically how some parents had disappointed grown children, because of choices they had made.  In that moment I had to stop and thank God for my parents who have always demonstrated love, acceptance and forgiveness and who have been great examples on how to live a Godly life.  My parents have and continue to model lives fully devoted to Christ…and because of that I am so thankful.  My prayer is that I can be that same type of example to my children.