Laptop induced blog break

Knocked our MacBookPro off the bar yesterday and now the hard drive won't boot (aren't those stinking computers supposed to have a motion sensor that shuts down the hard drive when dropped?). Anyway, with no laptop, the blog will be taking a break until we can figure out our computer situation....

Family Friday (On Saturday)

One day late on my Family Friday, but don't worry there's some good video of Daniel marching and dancing around. I'm sure most anyone who reads this knows that Saturday mornings at the Sigmon household are "Rock N Roll Breakfast" time. That includes pancakes cooked by Chef Daddy and his Sous Chef Jeremy, loud music, and much dancing and "tossing" of all male children onto the couch during the bunny hop song. Anyway, here's the promised video... I'm a lucky Dad!

B90X Post 5: Externalizing God's Commands

Last time we attacked verse 6 in Deuteronomy 6 and now we'll continue on with verses 7-9. As a refresher, here they are again:

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

I love verses 7-9. I think every Christian parent's dream is to impress God's command on their children. The next verses I think give us a blueprint of how to do just that. Talk about them wherever you are. Make them part of your daily life. Let them be the first thing you speak of in the morning and last thing to leave you lips at night. Why is this important? We call our oldest son Jeremy (who is 3) our little parrot. He mimics everything we say and do. If we raise our voice when we don't get our way, he'll raise his voice when he doesn't get his way. If we are polite to one another and compliment each other on things like cooking dinner, then he does the same thing. One example of this is how loud he is. His volume control is always stuck on maximum. He simply does not have an "inside" voice. If you have been around our family for any period of time you know exactly where he got this from... me! Another example is how he absolutely must pray before a meal. He is so used to me blessing a meal then him blessing it that it is a must every time we eat. If you want to impress the commands of God, you must everyday externalize the beliefs that you have. Verses 8 and 9 speak to raising the banner of Jesus high in public places. This means praying over meals unashamedly in public. It means not shying away from conversations that are begging to have Jesus inserted into them. None of this is to say that we should try to appear more spiritual than we are, but we must be willing to share what Jesus has done with us. A quick litmus test, when is the last time you shared with anyone (especially a non-Christian) something specific God has done for you in your life and gave God all the credit for it?

One final thought, there are good and sometimes bad byproducts of broadcasting your faith publicly. The good is that as you go forth with the message of Jesus and his salvation, you are obeying his last commandment (Matt 28:19-20). You will influence those around you (spouse, children, co-workers, etc). The bad is that you will be attacked by the enemy. If you never make your faith public, never make a bold stand for Jesus, why would Satan waste his time on you? However, if you are making bold claims for Christ, odds are you will be attacked with criticism and judgement from those around you. I heard it put best this way, "If you haven't run into the devil lately, you and him are probably walking in the same direction".

B90X Post 4: Internalizing God's Commands

Having two small children and one on the way, I'm always very interested in what the bible has to say about parenting. Deuteronomy 6 was presented to Laurina and I a couple of weekends ago as a chapter to look to for parenting instruction. I think this scripture is applicable to everyone not only parents, however. Beginning in verse 6, it talks about what Israel should do with the law and specifically the command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Here's what is commanded:

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

What does God mean when he says that these commandments are to be upon your heart? The commands of God are to be so important that you internalize them. Memorize and study them until they are second nature and they are what emanates from you. What does that look like practically? It means that you value God's word. Not only do you receive a word from your pastor on Sunday morning, but that you take ownership of your own spiritual development. Why is this important? Because Jesus said that what comes from the mouth comes from the heart (Matt 15:18). What flows forth from you to everyone around you is what is on your heart. Does what flows from your heart make you different, a shining light in the world? The most influential person in my coming to Jesus is a guy I met while in college. He had Jesus bursting forth in his life. He knew how to care about and love people. How many college aged guys do you know that are able to do that? That impacted me and drew me to Christ's love and forgiveness. So what about you? Does your life scream Christ, His love, and His forgiveness? Want to make a difference in the circles of influence God has put you in? Let his commandments be upon your heart. We'll attack the other statements in these verses in future blogs...

Family Friday

Daniel does something now that I think is super cute.  He has certain sounds that mean certain things now, but he still doesn't have many full words.  However, when I whisper to him, he whispers back and I just can't get enough of it.  He doesn't really say anything, but anytime he and I are together without Jeremy or Laurina, I whisper to him just to see if I can get him to do it back.... That story was probably only cute to me, but its so much fun to see kid's unique personalities, you know those things that make them unique are what will help them change the world (no pressure Sigmon kids!)

B90X Post 3: When God says "Go!"

Deuteronomy in the original language means "second law".  It records the teaching of the law of the generation that has risen during the Israelites time in the desert.  God considered many of the principles in this book important enough that they are recorded twice in the first five books of the bible.  One of these principles that hit home with me is the "Go" principle.  In Deuteronomy 1:19-46, Moses recounts what happened when God said Go! and Israel said No!  God told Israel it was time to enter the promised land and an expedition was sent ahead to spy out the land.  They all reported that the land was great, indeed a land flowing with milk and honey.  However, they reported that the inhabitants were too big and the cities too fortified to overtake.  Two men from the entire spying expedition were faithful and reported the contents of the land and noted the strength of the inhabitants, but said, "We should go up and take the land, for we can certainly do it" (Numbers 13:30).  The Israelites were afraid because of the conflicting reports and did not want to fight for the land.  God had already promised to give them this land, but they did not trust in the promise he had made them.  If God has promised you something and requires your action, do not hesitate!  When God tells you Go!, you either grasp hold of the purpose and life God has for you, or you risk forfeiting the plans God has in store in for you.  After the Israelites disobeyed, God told them that none of them (except for the two who remained true to God's promise Joshua and Caleb) would be allowed to live long enough to enter the promised land.  Instead God ordered them to "turn around and set out toward the desert" (Deuteronomy 1:40).  That is the decision we face when God tell us Go!  Will we trust and be led into the promised land of God, or we will hesitate and be pointed toward the desert of our own making?


On a side note, Stuart asked a question to God's Plan, God's Time and I shared my thoughts in the comment section of that post.

Things I learned today

• When you are three and your 16 month-old brother hurts himself, then he needs a flute (I have no idea where that comes from)
• When you are 16 months old, picking up a inflatable bouncy ball and dropping it backwards over your head is HI-LAR-I-OUS
• When you have those two boys in the bathtub and one hands you something and says what's this, you shouldn't just grab it without looking (just ask Laurina, it could be poop!)
• That my wife makes a pretty mean baked whole chicken with rice
• Playing tag with a three year-old while mowing the grass is (a) quite a workout and (b) leaves streaks of unmowed grass in your yard
• And yep you guessed, I learned I can love my family even more each day!

B90X Post 2: God's order

In Genesis 17:1 God communicates to Abraham and says, "walk before me and be blameless."  Keep in mind this is after Abraham and Sarah had tried to take a shortcut to God's blessing with Sarah's maidservant Hagar.  God had delivered them from that situation and now God renews his covenant with Abraham.  If you want to hear from God and realize his plan for your life, God has a simple command.  No matter the baggage in your past, through Christ, you have been delivered and freed from those situations.  Now walk before God and be blameless.  That can only be done in Christ.  The bible says, "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" -1 Corinthians 1:8

B90X Post 1: God's plan God's time

I'm having some issues uploading a video, so this is in place of my "family friday" post.  Our small group has decided to read through the bible in 90 days together.  I'm going to be posting some of my thoughts as we read through the bible.  Here we go...

In Genesis 15:4 God promises Abraham a son.  In Genesis 16, Abraham and his wife Sarah decide to expedite God's plan by using Sarah's maidservant Hagar.  Hagar became pregnant with Abraham's son.  God would later give Abraham a son (Issac) through Sarah.  However, by trying to speed up God's plan discord spread rampantly within their household.  Sarah became very jealous of Hagar and her son Ishmael.  In Genesis 21, Sarah urges Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, distressing Abraham greatly, as he had to send away his own son.

When God makes us a promise, we must continue to live with integrity and patience.  If we try to alter God's timing especially by taking actions outside of his boundaries, destruction will soon follow.  Though Sarah and Abraham agreed that it was a good idea for him to sleep with Hagar to give them an heir, that action was outside of God's good and perfect plan.  Abraham's family was torn apart and he had to exile his own son.  God will fulfill his promises, but we must be obedient to Him.  God is smarter than us and sometimes we need a reminder.  God is never early, God is never late, God is always right on time.