Living in the Dip

In recent weeks I have been doing a series on Habakkuk and what you do when God seems to be unfair. Habakkuk is one of 12 minor prophets in the Bible and though all give the people God's response only Habakkuk responses to God on behalf of the people. In chapter 1 Habakkuk cries "foul" when God informs him that He is going to use the more wicked Babylonians to bring judgment on Israel for their wickness. Habakkuk knows that the people should be judged but he believes that it is unfair that God is using Babylon who is evil to bring said judgment. In chapter two Habakkuk listens to God and writes down what God shares with Him and decides to trust in God. This is what we refer to as the dip, living in a place where you trust God but you just don't understand what He is doing. I mean you pray but rather than the answer coming it seems that things get worse. Living in the Dip.
How do you survive living in the dip? That is where chapter 3 comes in. In chapter 3 Habakkuk begins to praise God even though he can see any change. He says "though the fig tree is bare, and the stables are empty, I will rejoice in the Lord". The attitude of praise even in the mist of struggle is what brings Habakkuk through the dip. I have found this true in my own life. As I look back over 20 years of serving God I realize that He has brought me through enough of my yesterdays, for me to trust Him completly for my tommorrows.

How do you let her go?

Saturday June 7th at 3pm I had to do one of the hardest things I guess any father hasever had to do. I walked my little girl (now 21) up the aisle and gave her to another man. The truth is, he is a good young man, a hard worker, loves Jesus and loves Ashley. But to be honest as a dad that really doesn't make it any easier when you walk her up the aisle and give her away, and Oh yea did I mention that I had to do the ceremony as well. When I watched her that day I kept thinking where has time gone. I mean just yesterday I was taking her to school for the very first time, and now I am walking up the aisle about to turn her over to another man. Where did all that time go? How did the little girl who had defined my life for two decades, all of the sudden grow up? How does a father turn over all that he has done for twenty years over to someone else? I mean when she is scared it is not me that she is going to come to. When she needs a strong shoulder to cry on, mine will not be the first that she looks for. When it comes to taking care of her I'm not the one responsible anymore. I know that her time has come and that she is ready for this new life. My prayer is that God will bless them in ways that they never imagined, but it still leads me to wonder, how does a father let her go? Stay tuned because I am about to find out.