108...

Seriously...

It's only June....It's like living under a giant-hot-smothering-blanket.

However,

I went home to blasting A/C.

I was hacked it was hot in my car.

I have a car.

I was hacked I was sweating at lunch.

I had lunch.

I was hacked it was so hot on the way to work this am.

I have a job.

I love it.

Maybe the heat is not so bad after all...

God, thank you for leading me to green pastures. I am sorry I do not always recognize them.

In His Dust,

DCC

Hail Mary...

Hail Mary.

God, Thank you for Your sense of humor.

In His Dust,

DCC

*cartoon by Cuyler Black-

www.inheritthemirth.com

Mikey Rocks...

So, Mikey and I took an afternoon field trip to go see Darrell Smith lead worship for over 3,000 this week.

First thing you should know, is Mikey thinks Darrell is the equivalent of Elvis and The Beatles all rolled into one. So the mere thought of seeing him play for a crowd was....well...highlight of the summer...and possibly 5 years of life.

We arrive and are given "backstage passes."

Mikey of course, is equipped with his red electric guitar, his blankie and a thumb plugged in his mouth. (picture Linus in a rock band)

while practicing, Darrell allows Mikey on to the stage...

Here he is realizing Darrell is on the Jumbo-tron.
However, Mikey is not just an observer...he is a rock star....so he did what rock stars do....

He rocked!

And found himself in the spotlight and up on the jumbotron...of course he was busting out "Rock you Like a Hurricane" (thanks Guitar Hero)

which sounded really pretty, along with Darrell's "Everlasting God"

so, then we head up to the dressing room to get ready for the actual performance...

We pray first...and the little rock star watched one of his heros bow his head...and talk to Jesus.

All of a sudden, the guitar didn't matter...it was a man showing a child what matters.

It was God reminding all of us in the room- He is our audience.

The conversation on the way home went something like this:

M-"Duhhbbi, thankths for taking me to my firtht conthert. Darrell was good."

D-"it was fun wasn't it?"

M-"I liked that he talked to Jesus first."

D- "Me too Mikey."

M-"Do you think he knows KISS?"

God, thank you for eyes that watch us...our every move. May we be ever mindful.

In His Dust,

DCC

Number 5

Commandment Number 5.

"Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you." Exodus 12:16

God, thank you for my Daddy, my grandfathers, Popo, Big Mac and Big Con.

Thank you for the type of father my little brother has turned out to be.

Thank You most of all for being Mine....and allowing me to be Your's.

In His Dust,

DCC

Cinderella....

It's the weekend...take some time to chill out...
kick your shoes off...
watch a little Cinderella...
whatever...

God, thank you for downtime...and for all the blessings that come along with it.

In His Dust,

DCC

Off The Dock...

Ever feel like God is yanking you off the dock...

on two little sticks...

with only a skinny rope to hang on to...
Trusting someone takes guts...

you have to hang on for dear life...

Trust in the driver is crucial...

Once you get out there...you realize...it's all ok.

It is your father is driving...

The view is gorgeous....

the sounds are peaceful...

Your father will make sure you are right where you need to be...

God, thank You for driving the boat....and for the opportunity to follow right behind You.

In His Dust,

DCC

Not About Me....

"The request came when I was twenty. “Can you address our church youth group?” We aren’t talking citywide crusade here. Think more in terms of a dozen kids around a West Texas campfire. I was new to the faith, hence new to the power of the faith. I told my story, and, lo and behold, they listened! One even approached me afterward and said something like, “That moved me, Max.” My chest lifted, and my feet shifted just a step in the direction of the spotlight.

God has been nudging me back ever since.

Some of you don’t relate. The limelight never woos you. You and John the Baptist sing the same tune: “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30 NLT). God bless you. You might pray for the rest of us. We applause-aholics have done it all: dropped names, sung loudly, dressed up to look classy, dressed down to look cool, quoted authors we’ve never read, spouted Greek we’ve never studied. For the life of me, I believe Satan trains battalions of demons to whisper one question in our ears: “What are people thinking of you?”

A deadly query. What they think of us matters not. What they think of God matters all. God will not share his glory with another (Isaiah 42:8). Next time you need a nudge away from the spotlight, remember: You are simply one link in a chain, an unimportant link at that.

Remember the other messengers God has used?

A donkey to speak to Balaam (Numbers 22:28).

(check out "Balaam's Pub" on facebook)

A staff-turned-snake to stir Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10).

He used stubborn oxen to make a point about reverence and a big fish to make a point about reluctant preachers (I Samuel 6:1-12; Jonah 1:1-17)

God doesn’t need you and me to do his work. We are expedient messengers, ambassadors by his kindness, not by our cleverness.

It’s not about us, and it angers him when we think it is.

We who are entrusted with the gospel dare not seek applause but best deflect applause. For our message is about Someone else." -Max Lucado

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God, please help me to remember it is all about YOU...and never about me.

In His Dust,

DCC

Wisdom Without Walls...

Downtown San Antonio a few days ago, a homeless man was heard to say....

"Jesus loves you and there ain't nothing you can do about it!"

Couldn't have been said better by The Pope himself.

God, Thank You for speaking TO each one of us....THROUGH each one of us.

In His Dust,

DCC

Live At The Argyle...

I head to lunch Sunday....we are all in shorts, t-shirts and baseball hats...

all of us, but Big Mike D.

This is what is sitting across from me....

perhaps you notice a suit and tie....

Why?

That is because we are heading to a "fancy party"...at The Argyle.

Ummmm, in 6 hours.

So, when it is 6:00 and time to actually head to dinner...

the outfit is toned down...as well as an added bonus to the party...

A live performance.

Now, at this point, some of you may notice, there is already a band, that seems to be playing...

but that would not suffice

Obviously, what was missing....was 2 midgets....and their "leaf" guitars.

Thank goodness these two were able to see what was needed and take action

Action just happened to be, a "leaf guitar solo" to Van Morrison. and a leaf violin solo....
you are welcome.

After a big show....you gotta sit back
and open a cold one. (Even if it just a root beer)

Watching this reminded me of how I sometimes I think I can "improve" upon God's plan.

I am no more than a kid with an air guitar made out from a leaf.

God, thank you for your patience with me. For listening to my song. May I always be in tune with Your's.

In His Dust,

DCC

Cheering for You...

God is for you. Not “may be,” not “has been,” not “was,” not “would be,” but “God is!” He is for you. Today. At this hour. At this minute. As you read this sentence. No need to wait in line or come back tomorrow. He is with you. He could not be closer than he is at this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are better nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you.

God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps.

Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He’ll carry you.

Too discouraged to fight? He’s picking you up.

God is for you.

If he had he a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be on his bumper. If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark. We know he has a tattoo, and we know what it says.

“I have written your name on my hand,” he declares (Isaiah 49:16).

God thank you for the reminder this morning...

In His Dust,

DCC

*God Is Cheering For You- Max Lucado

Moses' Relatives...

No matter what our names are ....we are all cut from the same cloth.

God, thank you for calling each one of us Your Children.

In His Dust,

DCC

*cartoon by Cuyler Black

www.inheritthemirth.com

Provisions...

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

~Matthew 6:26

Why can't I remember this more often!!!???
He always provides...above and beyond my needs!!

God, I am sorry that I tend to forget Your Provisions for me in the past...I am so appreciative of all of them...and trust you with my future.

In His Dust,
DCC

The Common...

When Moses reached out and took hold of the snake,

it again became a stick in his hand."
~Exodus 4:4

"Just as Moses' hand touched the squirmy scales of the snake, it hardened.
And Moses lifted up the rod....

The same rod he would lift up to divide the water and guide two million people through a desert. The rod that would remind Moses that if God can make a stick become a snake, then become a stick again--then perhaps
he can do something with stubborn hearts and stiff-necked people.

Perhaps he can do something with the common." -Max Lucado

I believe He can and does use common objects....however, I have trouble sometimes remembering He can use common people to help.

God, help me to remember that You can and do, use those around me to help.

In His Dust,

DCC