Care Bear Hugs

26 01 2011

I came home from work the other day and Makalah (our 6 year old) said “I haven’t given you a Care Bear hug yet today.  Can I give you one?”  (Care Bear is my nickname for Makalah) And immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to me and got me thinking on a spiritual issue.

You see, several months ago I asked Makalah for a hug, and she proceeded to give me the biggest, warmest hug she could muster.  I LOVED it.  All I did was comment on it one time.  I said “Kalah, you give the BEST Care Bear hugs ever!  I love them.”  And from that ONE comment, it became her goal to offer me Care Bear hugs as much as possible.  She began offering them more often.  Then she began to offer them daily.  As her dad, through one comment, one commendation, one word of encouragement, I gave her the DESIRE to do something for me and EMPOWERED her to do it again.  Now I don’t have to ask for a hug, she OFFERS one cause I told her how much it pleased me and how good she was at it.

I wonder if our response to our Heavenly Father should be the same?  Philippians 2:12-13 says “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases Him.”

I think so often we tend to view our relationship to God as trying to avoid the things He doesn’t want us to do, when in actuality He’s trying to REINFORCE the things He DOES want us to do.  We’d be more comfortable if that verse said “Giving us the desire and the power to avoid what displeases Him”.  But that’s not how God works.  As a child of God, He is working IN me, GIVING me the desire AND the power to do what pleases Him.  “Jeff, I LOVE it when you do that.”  “Jeff, it PLEASES me when you pursue that.”  “Jeff, I DELIGHT in you when you say that.”  God is more into the business of giving us desires and empowering us to do them, than He is condemning our mistakes and holding us over them.

I wonder how much effort I waste trying to avoid MY list of the things I’m NOT supposed to do, instead of focusing my efforts on the things I know HE wants me to do?  Things that PLEASE the Father.  Which by the way, if we’d focus SOLELY on the things that PLEASE the Father, we’d naturally avoid the things that don’t!  We just need to LISTEN to what the Father is saying.

Makalah started focusing on that thing that pleased me, and she was empowered to do it again and again.  Maybe I should do the same.  Where has God spoken into your life saying “I LOVE it when you do that!”?  Then DO it!  What is your “Care Bear hug”?

Hugging my Father,

Jeff

 





What A Man Needs

9 11 2010

No…No…No!  Don’t worry, I am NOT going there!  But I do what to talk quickly to any wife out there who may be happening to read my blog.  To be honest, I don’t think my wife reads my blog so I’m not sure anyone else does either, BUT, I wanted to share this:

This week I find myself at an annual denominational conference in Bozeman, MT.  I travel several times a year for church stuff and I ALWAYS hate being away from my family.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have a GREAT time hangin’ out with my pastor friends, with the guys on my staff (who are my closest friends).  I love learning and growing and being stretched.  But I HATE being away from my family.  But my wife does something for me while I’m way that has become the ONLY think I enjoy about being away from her.

Before I leave, I don’t know when or how she does it, but she writes little notes of encouragement, support and affirmation(some I WILL NOT share with you), and places them in my pants pocket.  It started several years ago when I spoke at a youth camp for a week.  I pulled out my first pair of jeans and reached in the pocket to find an encouraging note from her.  Now, she does it every trip I go on.  And I LOVE IT!  This week, I pulled out my pants on Monday and found this note:

I was talking with Kody about “our wives” as we sat at lunch yesterday.  We were talking about the value of what they do and “what a man needs”.  As far as I can remember, my wife has NEVER nit picked at me.  She has never been a nag.  She doesn’t complain about who I am or what I do.  She doesn’t “wish I would do this” or “wish I would do that”.  My wife is an ENCOURAGER.  She AFFIRMS me and BELIEVES in me.  And friends, THAT is what a man needs.  I CANNOT tell you how many Sundays, weekdays or WEEKS that the only reason I kept going is because I KNEW my wife believed in me.  Knowing that SHE believes in me, means the WORLD to me!  I don’t think she knew how important those notes would be for me…but now I look forward to them EVERY time I’m away.

Wives…encourage your husbands.  Wives…support your husbands.  Wives…respect your husbands.  Wives…BELIEVE in your husbands.  Trust me…THEY NEED IT!  They look to you for it.  They’re probably not going to tell you, but trust me, THAT is what they need!  I’m SO THANKFUL for a wife who gets it.  I don’t dread coming home each day from work.  Why?  Because SHE knows what I NEED and then gives it. Thanks babe.  I love you!

Blessed,

Jeff





Father’s Day 2010

21 06 2010

In November of 1936, I bet my Great Grandpa (Silas Wesley Maness) didn’t think his little leather journal would ever mean much to his great grandson (me). But 74 years later, his life…his faith…his ministry, is still having a ripple effect in his descendants.  You see My Great Grandpa was a pastor, but WAY more importantly than that, he was a man of God.  He passed on his faith to his son Elzie, who passed it on to his son Gary, who is STILL passing it on to his son, Jeff (me)!  This past Sunday some of Silas’ life was literally…physically, passed on to one of his descendants.

I had the rare privilege of being with my dad on Father’s Day.  Both of us being pastors, we don’t get many Sunday’s away, and well, Father’s Day is always on a Sunday.  But my family was finishing up our vacation/missions trip yesterday at High Plains Community Church in Gillette, WY,  where my dad was delivering the morning message.  It doesn’t really matter much what was sung, or what was said, for me it was more about what was done.

I LOVE listening to my dad preach, I think I always have (even when I didn’t admit it).  He is highly influential in my preaching style today (so you can blame him).  And while the sermon was fantastic (I even jotted some notes to use in a future message), the closing was the best.  He surprisingly asked me to join him on the platform and then pulled out the little leather journal you see pictured here.

This journal belonged to my Great Grandpa, who, between November of 1936 and June of 1938, used it to record his statistical records of ministry.  Numbers of sermons preached, numbers of souls saved, numbers of souls seeking the fullness of God’s Spirit through complete surrender, numbers of prayer calls, and donations received, etc.  It is literally, a written record of his faith in action.  I had no idea my dad even had this.  He challenged all the dads in the room on their responsibility to “pass on” the faith to their children, and then he passed on my Great Grandpas journal to me.  WOW!  It was a physical demonstration of a spiritual discipline.  I was blown away.   It was EASILY, the best Father’s Day gift I could have received.  BUT…

That leather journal wouldn’t have meant much, if my dad hadn’t of ALSO already passed on his “spiritual journal”…his faith to me.  The gift of the journal I will ALWAYS display and hopefully pass it on to my son one day.  But my dads “spiritual journal”…my Grandpas “spiritual journal”…my Great Grandpas “spiritual journal”, is ALWAYS on display.  It’s on display in me.  So what will my “journal” say in my son, grandson(s) or great grandson(s)?

Some day, some Father’s Day, my Great Grandson(s) will hopefully point back to me and say “Thank you!” like I do today.  Thank you Grandpa Silas.  Thank you Grandpa Maness.  Thank you Dad, for living out your spiritual journal!  Dad’s DO NOT take for granted your spiritual OPPORTUNITY to pass on a “spiritual journal” to your children.

Till the end,

Jeff





Raising A Man

11 05 2010

The GREATEST responsibility I have as “Jeff Maness” is not in leading Element Church or being a pastor.  It is not in preaching God’s Word, or discipling new believers.  It’s not casting a compelling vision, serving God’s Kingdom or serving God’s children.  The greatest responsibility I have, is loving my wife and raising my children.  Specifically, as a man with a son, I have a HUGE responsibility to raise a MAN OF GOD!

For months now I’ve been challenged about the time I have left with Jonah.  Jonah turned 9 this past Sunday, so that means I have another 9 years left (give or take) where he is living under my roof and under my care.  Almost HALF of my time with him is already gone!  Holy cow!  (That actually just hit me)  What will I do with it?  How will I leverage it?  What will come of it? So I began praying for God’s direction in this and received some HUGE help from a book called “Raising A Modern Day Knight”.

I know that following Christ is a decision HE will have to make, and becoming a man of God is a work ONLY God can do.  HOWEVER, it is my duty and obligation to set forth a path on which Jonah is steered in the right direction.  That path started today.  Next year on his 10th birthday, and for the following 9 years, I am going to take Jonah through a rite of passage.  (Jonah will be 19 when he graduates high school)

The first step?  This week I bought Jonah a Bible that I will be reading for the year.  Every day as I read, I will underline verses and make notes (as his dad), that I think are important to him becoming a man.  Next year on his 10th birthday he will receive it from me to start his rite of passage.  I’ve told him about this, showed him the Bible, and even this morning he asked “Is that the Bible you’re giving me?”  The Bible came with a poster that we are hanging in his room too, to remind him and me of the process.

I’ve also developed our own “Code of Honor” that I want to teach, instill and model for him, so that, he will not only KNOW what it means to be a man, but also what it LOOKS like.  I’ll highlight that code of honor through the Bible as I read.  At 10 years, 13, 16 and 19 we will have some special event we share together as he walks through the stages of becoming a man.  It might be a trip somewhere, a party or a celebration of some kind.  He’ll have some say in that.

Our code of honor is this:  A real man is #1  Aggressive At Purity; #2 Leads Courageously; #3 Takes Responsibility; #4 Lives For Eternity

I’ll do something similar for the girls, and am already praying through what that will look like.  I can’t wait to see what God does, not only in my son, but in ME, God’s Son!

Taking responsibility,

Jeff





65 years ago today…

16 11 2009

…my Grandpa, Ola D Campbell, flew his last WWII mission as a bomber pilot.  The reason it was his last?   While flying on this particular mission their plane was shot and my Grandpa was wounded in the process.  Because he continued to fly the plane, even after being shot, he was awarded the flying silver cross and the purple heart.

Last week, as our country celebrated veterans day, it was because of men like my Grandpa that we even have the freedom to celebrate.  It’s hard to believe that the course of MY history could have been eliminated but for the matter of a few inches.  If a bullet or shrapnel hits differently, my life and family may not exist.

As proud as I am of my Grandpa for serving our country like that, there is something else that I look up to even more.  Ola D Campbell wasn’t allegiant only to his country.  He has followed the call of God in ministry since LONG before I ever called him “Grandpa”.  I know that there were sacrifices, decisions and stands my Grandpa had to make in the spiritual world, that affected my life and family just as much as the war did.  The spiritual implications of my Grandpas life are FAR MORE valuable than any military heroics.

There are VERY few men in my life that I can truly say “If I end up like them, I’ll be a success.”  Ola D Campbell…Grandpa Campbell is one of them.

Thanks mom for the reminder of Grandpas story.  Thank you Grandpa, for not only serving our great country…but for diligently serving our GREAT GOD!

Till the end,

Jeff





Jaydah’s Costume

24 10 2009

This has gotta be one of the cutest kids who will be at a church Halloween (Harvest) party this year.  Jaydah’s costume is a chicken.  Her legs are actually in the chicken legs but it looks like she is riding on top of it.  Check it out below.  So cute!

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Sometimes to go up…

24 07 2009

IMG00850…you have to go down.  Sure seems like that is true in life a lot doesn’t it?  Today we took the fam out to Vedauwoo (prounounced vedavoo) and had a picnic, climbed rocks and went hiking.  It was a blast to be out in God’s creation with Sab and all the kids.  Jonah, who is ALL boy, LOVED climbing the rocks, exploring the crevices and seeing how high he could go.  I let him loose to lead the way.  At one point he wanted to go higher and “thought” he had found a way.  He was DETERMINED to get higher, and was frustrated that his way wasn’t quite passable for an 8 year old.  What he didn’t realize that if he would have just gone DOWN a little bit, there was a better way to get higher.  It reminded me of the Israelites and their passage to the Promise Land.

Exodus 13:17-18 says “17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land.  God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

Now the Bible doesn’t record this, but I’m SURE someone realized this was NOT the shortest way.  I’m sure someone was frustrated, complained and even pointed this out to Moses.  What they didn’t realize was that this was a BETTER IMG00845way.  It was sparing them MORE danger than was necessary.  Difficult battles.  Loss, pain, even tragedy.

Often in my life, I wonder why it seems God is taking me DOWN instead of up.  “Why are we not moving forward?”  I ask.  Cause sometimes to go up…you have to go down.

What are you going through in your life that seems as if God is taking you backwards?  Making you go down?  Keeping you from the direction YOU think you should go?  Remember, the way He has you on IS the BEST way.  It may not be the shortest, or even the most visible, but it IS the BEST!

Following Christ,

Jeff





Vacation Update and Pictures

24 04 2009

My wife and I got back from our vacation on Tuesday evening.  We had an AWESOME time flying to Miami and hopping a cruise ship to the Bahamas.  Sabrina earned the all expense paid trip through her home based business Tastefully Simple.  She had to sell a certain amount of product and recruit a certain number of consultants.  She met her quota and off we went to the Bahamas.  We got to spend a couple of days in Miami as well due to flight scheduling.  All in all we got to spend 6 days together on vacation, and 3 days prior to that we were together at our denominational pastors and wives retreat.  It was a great way to relax following Easter weekend.  Sabrina’s dad and step mom, Mike and Elaine, graciously came up to Cheyenne to watch the kids during this time.  Most of it was covered by just her step-mom since her dad had to head back to OK for work.  (THANK YOU Mike and Elaine for your help!)  Below is a link to some pictures of our trip.  We were able to do a cool excursion in the Bahamas on Saturday.  We went to a private island where we were able to swim with stingrays and actually fed them out of our hands.  It was amazing to be snorklin in the water and watch a stingray swim within arms reach right underneath you.  So cool!  There were about 700 Tastefully Simple consultants on the boat and many of them earned the trip for their spouses or a friend as well.  Sabrina is well on her way to earning a trip to Cancun next year.  I’ll get back in the blog swing next week.  Trying to get caught up from being gone so long.  Finding the groove is difficult after vacation.

PICTURES HERE

Rested,

Jeff





Family Moments

7 03 2009

Friday I had the priveledge of serving with Makalah at the Soup Kitchen.  She LOVES it and was a challenge to me with her great attitude about it.  Here are a couple pics of her serving.  img00176

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Friday afternoon we went to a class play put on by Mariah’s Kindergarten class.  They celebrated Dr. Suess week by acting out Horton Hears A Who.  Mariah was a Who.

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Today, Jonah and I tore up the slopes at Snowy Range Ski Area.  We had a BLAST!  It won’t be long and he’ll be skiing circles around me.  We pretty much took blue runs the whole day (intermediate).  Jonah will be ready to shred some black diamonds (expert) next year.  He was absolutely tuckered out by the end.  The weather and snow conditions were superb.  Here are some pictures.  Click HERE to view all the pictures.

Dad and Jonah on the lift:

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Jonah shredding it up:

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Jonah in the “conquer” pose after taking the blue run behind him:

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Love my family,

Jeff





Family Night

27 02 2009

We’ve been observing Wednesday nights as our family night since January 1st.  One of our goals for the new year was to protect Wednesday evenings, and do something special with the kids.  We’ve done games, movie nights, swimming, arcade and other stuff.  I wanted to do something different so when the opportunity came to take our kids into an air traffic control tower I jumped at the chance.  Wednesday night after dinner we headed to the tower where one of our Elementers works.  It was VERY cool to go up inside and we even got to see a plane land from there.  The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. Here are a couple of pics.  Mariah wouldn’t let me take a picture and Makalah’s didn’t turn out.

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