The only way to travel
Pajama TimeFriday, April 10, 2009
Love through our mistakes-By Pastor Jer
So Graydon loves to stand when he takes a bath even after Mommy and Daddy tell him not to and we sometimes have to force him to sit on his bottom. The other week while giving Graydon a bath, he stood up waving his wet washcloth around making water fly everywhere. He had gotten water in my eye and when I went to wipe it I heard a loud thud. As I turned I saw Graydon practically flat on his back in the water screaming. He had slipped and smacked his eye on the side of the tub and then fell back into the water. I immediately picked his wet little body up and just held him as he was in hysterics, you know...one of those hard cries where your child practically stops breathing. Needless to say Graydon's bath time was done for the night and he had gotten his first little shiner. Momma put some frozen corn on it before he went to bed that night which helped. The first shiner can be hard for a first time parent especially if you think your somewhat at fault. I woke up a couple of times that night feeling guilty, but knew the little guy would be ok.
God gave me some teaching points through this experience as I thought about how many times God has told us not to do something for our own good. We often don't listen and end up hurting ourselves and we think God is disappointed and angry with us. Yet, did I let Graydon sit in that water and just scream? No, I picked my son up with loving arms of compassion. I believe that is how God is with us. Even in the midst of our mistakes, God is not saying, "I told you so", but holds us in His loving arms. Maybe you have messed up and have a black eye over something you did. Remember, it's going to be ok as our dad picks us up and holds us until we stop crying, ices the bruse, and bring healing so we will get back in the tub. By the way, Graydon doesn't stand in the tub anymore:)
God gave me some teaching points through this experience as I thought about how many times God has told us not to do something for our own good. We often don't listen and end up hurting ourselves and we think God is disappointed and angry with us. Yet, did I let Graydon sit in that water and just scream? No, I picked my son up with loving arms of compassion. I believe that is how God is with us. Even in the midst of our mistakes, God is not saying, "I told you so", but holds us in His loving arms. Maybe you have messed up and have a black eye over something you did. Remember, it's going to be ok as our dad picks us up and holds us until we stop crying, ices the bruse, and bring healing so we will get back in the tub. By the way, Graydon doesn't stand in the tub anymore:)
Monday, March 23, 2009
My newest little niece London Grace Platek! Born on March 20th @ 10:30am. She was pretty tiny at 9.07 lbs and 21 inches long:) My sister even did it without an epidural, you tha woman!
Sienna, my sister Chrissy and London Grace. That makes 7 grandkids for my parents in less than 5 years. We have been busy and fruitful!
Happy St. Patrick's DaySummer, Sienna and Georgie
Sienna Lauren White, my brother George's new little girl. Born December 19th at 4:48pm weighing 8lbs. 3 oz and 20.5 inches longSunday, March 22, 2009
Dallas Journey...
Since this blog goes out to nearly 500 people on a regular basis, I thought this was the best way to inform everyone that may not know. I will be stepping down as the Youth and Associate Pastor at New Life Bible Fellowship here in Dallas at the end of the school year, with my last official Sunday being June 14th. I feel like my gifts, calling and passions do not fit the role I am currently in. NLBF needs a Youth Pastor and I do not feel like I am it for this next season. My wife and I do believe that God did call us here for the last almost 3 ½ years, but our time here is coming to an end. We will probably be in the area till at least August unless something else comes along before that. My wife, Senior Pastor and I are all in agreement with this decision and have a peace about it. I wanted to be here for at least 5 years and see the youth I came in with graduate, but sometimes our time is not God's time.
I really feel this time here has helped equip, grow and mature me a lot and touch lives, which I feel was all accomplished. One of the biggest lives touched was mine, by the loving and caring hearts of the people here. We have built many wonderful relationships and we do not think there was a better place to start our new life and family together than here in South Dallas and at NLBF. We were given a wonderful opportunity to minister to people in Texas and were also ministered to. Sabrina and I desire to live closer to our families, mine being in Ohio and hers in North Carolina . We would love to be somewhere in between, but are also open to whatever God has in store as I have not been offered a new job anywhere, it is just time for this journey to come to an end. I do still feel called to ministry, but not sure in what capacity yet. I would appreciate your prayers that my wife and I would be surrendered to the Lord and obedient. That I would be the spiritual leader of my family and that we would draw closer to the Lord and each other. Also pray for the people of NLBF especially the youth. I told them all a couple of Sundays and many tears were shed by me and others.
We have received an overwhelming amount of support from everyone, which means so much. Some of my friends I have told, think I'm nuts for stepping down without anything lined up, especially in this economy, but I just want to be obedient and follow the Lord's leading wherever that is. My God has provided for me for nearly 31 years and isn't going to leave me hanging now! I remember Sabrina and I found out that I got the Dallas job 2 weeks before we were married 3 1/2 years ago and what a wonderful opportunity God has given us again to trust Him. I will be keeping everyone updated on what the Lord is teaching me and my family in the following months.
I really feel this time here has helped equip, grow and mature me a lot and touch lives, which I feel was all accomplished. One of the biggest lives touched was mine, by the loving and caring hearts of the people here. We have built many wonderful relationships and we do not think there was a better place to start our new life and family together than here in South Dallas and at NLBF. We were given a wonderful opportunity to minister to people in Texas and were also ministered to. Sabrina and I desire to live closer to our families, mine being in Ohio and hers in North Carolina . We would love to be somewhere in between, but are also open to whatever God has in store as I have not been offered a new job anywhere, it is just time for this journey to come to an end. I do still feel called to ministry, but not sure in what capacity yet. I would appreciate your prayers that my wife and I would be surrendered to the Lord and obedient. That I would be the spiritual leader of my family and that we would draw closer to the Lord and each other. Also pray for the people of NLBF especially the youth. I told them all a couple of Sundays and many tears were shed by me and others.
We have received an overwhelming amount of support from everyone, which means so much. Some of my friends I have told, think I'm nuts for stepping down without anything lined up, especially in this economy, but I just want to be obedient and follow the Lord's leading wherever that is. My God has provided for me for nearly 31 years and isn't going to leave me hanging now! I remember Sabrina and I found out that I got the Dallas job 2 weeks before we were married 3 1/2 years ago and what a wonderful opportunity God has given us again to trust Him. I will be keeping everyone updated on what the Lord is teaching me and my family in the following months.
Who's gotten into the oatmeal?
Mommy looked away for 1 minute and Graydon figured out how to take the oatmeal lid off
Uh oh, I've been caught :)
Taking a nap with dad on the couch watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Don't know what it is about the fridge, but if Graydon is around when it's opened, he loves to stand right in front of it. He's recently started standing in it and our electric bill has gone up recently, don't know why?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Graydon giving mommy some of his cake that she made for him
Grampy and Grammy White came from Ohio for Graydon's 1st Birthday. Thanks for coming, we loved having you both.
O my goodness, I got a red wagon for my birthday from Grampy and Grammy!
Graydon opening his Bible From Grandpa and Grandma Rousay
I like car rides up to a certain point:(
Friday, February 13, 2009
God Loves to Forgive
"God searches our hearts very directly concerning sin, because once the Holy Spirit reveals our disobedience, He will bring cleansing and strength to our hearts. He will cause us to see His promises and His love in a new, clear light. One of the primary names for the Holy Spirit is comforter and one of the primary names of the devil is accuser. The comforter encourages us and builds us up. The accuser is in the business of tearing us down." -Jim Cymbala
Are you being comforted or accused right now in this time of your life? Many believe God searches and reveals sins in our lives and leaves us hanging from there. God searches and reveals in order to cleanse, comfort, love, strengthen, and reminds us of His promises. God loves to forgive and restore His people back to Him. God does not grudgingly forgive like we try and do with each other sometimes. Run back into the loving arms of the one who created you. There is no better place to be!-Jeremy
Are you being comforted or accused right now in this time of your life? Many believe God searches and reveals sins in our lives and leaves us hanging from there. God searches and reveals in order to cleanse, comfort, love, strengthen, and reminds us of His promises. God loves to forgive and restore His people back to Him. God does not grudgingly forgive like we try and do with each other sometimes. Run back into the loving arms of the one who created you. There is no better place to be!-Jeremy
Friday, January 16, 2009
Laws of the Lighthouse -From Max Lucado's book "In the Eye of the Storm"
What a great reminder as the New Year has begun. Read these a couple of times and let them speak to your heart.
– Love God more than you fear hell.
– Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
– Make major decisions in a cemetery.
– When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
– Succeed at home first.
– Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.
– Pray twice as much as you fret.
– Listen twice as much as you speak.
– Only harbor a grudge when God does.
– Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
– Treat people like angels; you will meet some and help make some.
– ‘Tis wiser to err on the side of generosity than on the side of scrutiny.
– God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same.
– When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust his heart.
– Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
– Don’t feel guilty for God’s goodness.
– The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
– Never let the important be the victim of the trivial.
– Live your liturgy.
– Love God more than you fear hell.
– Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
– Make major decisions in a cemetery.
– When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
– Succeed at home first.
– Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.
– Pray twice as much as you fret.
– Listen twice as much as you speak.
– Only harbor a grudge when God does.
– Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
– Treat people like angels; you will meet some and help make some.
– ‘Tis wiser to err on the side of generosity than on the side of scrutiny.
– God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same.
– When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust his heart.
– Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
– Don’t feel guilty for God’s goodness.
– The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
– Never let the important be the victim of the trivial.
– Live your liturgy.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Give More Presence
By Jeremy White
The Christmas season has come again and time to get frustrated because you don’t know what to buy for others. Time to receive gifts that you probably don’t want or need and will re-wrap them for next yearJ Americans spend 450 Billion on Christmas when 10 Billion would solve the World’s drinking problem. 5 million people die every year due to starvation, that’s about 30,273 per day! And yet, we are more concerned that we get that present this year we wanted. I remember when I was in my older teens and the morning of Christmas Day I read the Christmas story before we opened presents and then when I realized I didn’t get some of the things I wanted it put me in a bad mood. I was ungrateful for all the things that my parents had already done for me and was letting my selfishness get in the way.
If this season is all about Jesus then who cares about the presents. It has taken me 30 years to finally believe and live this. I am the most blessed man in the world as I have a relationship with my savior, a loving wife, a beautiful healthy baby, a roof over my head, family and friends to celebrate life with and a job I’m honored to have. What if you told your loved ones that you don’t want to receive anything for Christmas this year or just one less gift? What if you asked them to put that money to help build a water well in a third world country, to buy blankets for the homeless, to help a family in need with bare essentials or to buy Bibles for missionaries to give to those that have never had one before? To be able to give we can’t be so concerned about receiving. I don’t want to make people feel guilty, I just want us to take inventory of where our heart is. The greatest gift we can give anyone is our presence, not presents.
Check the websites below to see how you can give back:
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
http://gfa.org/
The Christmas season has come again and time to get frustrated because you don’t know what to buy for others. Time to receive gifts that you probably don’t want or need and will re-wrap them for next yearJ Americans spend 450 Billion on Christmas when 10 Billion would solve the World’s drinking problem. 5 million people die every year due to starvation, that’s about 30,273 per day! And yet, we are more concerned that we get that present this year we wanted. I remember when I was in my older teens and the morning of Christmas Day I read the Christmas story before we opened presents and then when I realized I didn’t get some of the things I wanted it put me in a bad mood. I was ungrateful for all the things that my parents had already done for me and was letting my selfishness get in the way.
If this season is all about Jesus then who cares about the presents. It has taken me 30 years to finally believe and live this. I am the most blessed man in the world as I have a relationship with my savior, a loving wife, a beautiful healthy baby, a roof over my head, family and friends to celebrate life with and a job I’m honored to have. What if you told your loved ones that you don’t want to receive anything for Christmas this year or just one less gift? What if you asked them to put that money to help build a water well in a third world country, to buy blankets for the homeless, to help a family in need with bare essentials or to buy Bibles for missionaries to give to those that have never had one before? To be able to give we can’t be so concerned about receiving. I don’t want to make people feel guilty, I just want us to take inventory of where our heart is. The greatest gift we can give anyone is our presence, not presents.
Check the websites below to see how you can give back:
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
http://gfa.org/
Decorating for Christmas
Graydon was a big help decorating the tree for Christmas this year. He LOVED the lights and could not stop staring at them and saying "oooOOooohhh"!
This expression cracks me up every time!
This was just after a bath...love the mohawk!
This expression cracks me up every time!
This was just after a bath...love the mohawk!
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