Why I love being a dad

1. It reminds me daily to watch what I say and do, because they imitate everything they see in me.  This morning my daughter saw me reading my Bible in bed, so she ran to her room, grabbed her "special" Bible, and came to ask me if she can read in bed also!
   
2. Everyday I'm filled with indescribable joy when I see them.  I love it when they wake up in the morning laughing at one another. I love coming home in the afternoons a
   
   nd they run with open arms to hug me.  
   
3. It is truly impossible to fully understand fatherly love, until you have a child.  I love these girls beyond my ability to explain it.  And the love grows daily.
4. It helps me seek God more.  I'm constantly reminded of how inadequate I am to train a child in such a messed up world.  I need God's grace to guide me and give me wisdom.
5. I have the incredible opportunity to daily train up 2 daughters to serve God and change the world by the way they live.  
6. I love the freedom that you find in parenting.  Many people are scared of having kids because they might lose their "freedom", but I've found such great joy in the new types of freedom you find in having a family.  Freedom to love differently, enjoy life together, learn about each other, make memories...
7. Being a dad makes me a better husband.  I appreciate my wife so much each day, because of all the sacrifices she makes for them.  We made a decision that the best gift we can give our children is a healthy marriage, so we're constantly reminded to stay close to each other.
8. I love it when I'm putting Lily to sleep and she hugs my neck and says "I love you so much daddy".  Won't trade those moments for anything.
9. I love it when in the middle of my busy days and stressful times, I can hold Cailyn in my arms and, in that moment, I'm reminded of God's loving grace and everything just seems to get better.  
10. Being a dad allows me to daily understand a little bit better how God loves me - as His child.  Why He disciplines, forgives, guides...  I love being a dad.

There are people in the numbers.

Today as I read the Scriptures, I felt God reminding me of how deeply concerned He is about each person on this earth and, more specifically to where I live, how deeply He cares for each person living in the Silicon Valley.  

My daughters were watching the "Jonah" Veggietales movie this morning, so I decided to read again book of Jonah in the Old Testament during my personal devotional time.  It's a great story about God's mercy and never-ending compassion toward even the worst people on earth.  

At the end of the story, Jonah, a devout and stubborn Hebrew Prophet, gets mad at God for mercifully "changing His mind" about destroying the city of Niveveh, since they had turned from their evil ways.  I love God's final words:

"Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals.  Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" Johah 4:11

I could picture God saying, "The Silicon Valley has more than 2.5 million people living in spiritual darkness... shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great place?"  I'm not saying all people in the valley are in "darkness", but I do believe that to live life to the fullest, or in the "light", we need to walk in relationship with our Creator.  Statistics show us that more than 95% of people in the valley don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and in that way, they live in spiritual darkness.   

Just as God sent a Prophet (who was also a sinner) to Nineveh in order for them to experience His Presence, He has also sent us to the Silicon Valley, so that someday the 2.5 million people here can experience His Love and then take it to the rest of the world.  This also serves of a reminder of how God can use imperfect, but willing people, to accomplish great things on His behalf.  We all have our areas of "darkness" and only through God's mercy we can live purposeful and meaningful lives.  

"Thank you God for letting us be part of your Work on Earth.  Thank you for not just looking at us as numbers, but as individuals who desperately need you everyday."

Preview Pic

1st Preview Service for South Bay Church

Wow, we had an incredible morning! 175 people at South Bay Church's 1st Preview Service.  It was so exciting to see people from many different nations, faith levels, and backgrounds all together.  All this is a dream coming true for us families who moved across the country to help launch South Bay Church. 

Our goal for this morning was 100 adults and God definitely did more than we hoped for.  The Kid's Ministry (BayKids) was exciting, the volunteers were incredible servants, and God was exalted in the Main Service!  

Many people responded with commitments, including 5 people who said they were committing their lives to Jesus for the very first time!

 

 So amazing to think that more and more people will have the opportunity to hear the most Powerful message on earth in a way that they can relate to.  

Thank you all who have prayed, given, and served to make this happen.  There's so much more ahead, but we're anxiously anticipating the day where thousands of people from every nation in the Silicon Valley will find the joy and peace of living life in relationship with Jesus 

Christ.  

Here are some pics: