A Soccerdad’s Love

Sunday, March 2, 2008 A Message from the heart… Hold On

I went to bed last nite with 31 cents in my Paypal account. I do not know what the future holds. I have given Felicia all of my tax info so she could file a joint tax return. The law says the only way folks can get income tax deductions and credits for college tuition paid is if a joint return is filed. For our family that means around $3K for Jonah, Josh & Joel. Yet, as of today, I do not know if Felicia will file jointly.

I am still waiting to hear from my partners at R & M. Jeh Jeh Pruitt shared he could get $2K to last me through March until I got a job. This would enable me to take care of the boys. I woke up this morning to see where my brother Keith had sent $250 to my Paypal account. I am so thankful for the help and I must send an e- card today to say thanks… and of course I thank for God for each heart He has touched to help us.

I am reminded of one of my favorite verses, “The heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord, He turns it wherever He wants”. (Proverbs 23:7). I am thankful for the times He has moved the hearts of others to help.

Saturday, March 1, 2008 God’s Daily Manna and Warm Moments of Sharing

I must give a word of thanks to God and my partners at R & M Enterprises. I had shared for the first time about my personal struggles and need for $2500 to cover a month’s of expenses until I found a job to care for the boys. My income from Freesites has essentially dried up overnite. Rusty & Jeh Jeh were quick to respond. Rusty to provide a place to stay instead of living out of the car. Jeh Jeh offered to secure the $2500. I am hopeful that will happen — and grateful for the response.

I have put in a couple of resumes already. I took a break yesterday to reflect on what I really want at this stage of my life if God were to ‘grant me my druthers’. I would like to join the group of folks who are making money online through blogs, freesites, writing articles, affiliate marketing, virtual administrative assistant positions and taking surveys. My needs at this stage are relatively few.

I had a chance to talk or spend time with each of the boys yesterday. Josh called to check on whether the guys at R & M could help with my income situation. Jonah sat with me at Joel’s soccer game watching him play. Later, Joel asked if I could take him back to the Martins after the game. The moments of conversation with each child is laced with love and support . . . and for that I am eternally grateful.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I have been away from my diary for much too long. I actually have spent the past few weeks working off and on with Wordpress.com. Wordpress closed my blogs because of the referral links.

I spent countless hours on the matter. I had understood, incorrectly, that by getting hosting at Wordpress that the links would be allowed. I eventually moved the hosting to Hostican’s service but it will be awhile before get everything restored correctly. Unfortunately that was time and $ that was lost.

Yet, the one thing I have been able to count on during this struggle is the goodness of God. And, I believe in that goodness and the mystery that ‘all things work together for good for those that love God” even though life may become more difficult.

This morning was time to get back to blogging and sharing the things God places on my heart. Max Lucado’s book, 3:16. The Numbers of Hope has been a godsend in so many ways. He is of course right about John 3:16. So many of us pass on the offer of eternal life and God’s peace until our lives become quite desperate.

One of the biggest joys in my life recently was to learn that Jonah had attended a campus ministry event at UAB. I can recall how God used the ministry, Campus Outreach, at Samford to change my life. My hope is that each of the boys learn the value of living a life consistent with God’s Word and a time of regular prayer for direction from Him.

Mr. Lucado is correct when he discusses the comfort that John 3:16 can bring:

” For God so loved . . .

That He gave . ..

His ONE AND ONLY SON . . .

That whoever believes

Shall Have Eternal life.

That indeed is the eternal life vest of hope.

Monday, January 28, 2007

I had a very nice time this weekend with Joel. He and I went to a movie together on Saturday nite. . . and then had breakfast together Sunday morning. I regret with all of my heart that we are not living together. I miss being in the same room or house with him and Felicia, and just the comfort one’s presence can bring.

I hope we can live together in an apartment or home for his senior year of h.s. I am thankful that we have the opportunity to ride together to school each morning so we have some time to enjoy each other’s company. Listening to the Steve Harvey morning show together has become a special joy and treat.

Joel and I have talked about going to church together on Sunday mornings. The dad of one of his teammates named Jarrod Bookins is pastor of a church in the area. It would be very nice to attend church together for spiritual input a few times a month.

Joel has matured so much as a young man.. and some because of circumstances. I feel badly that he and mom are living with the Martins.. and that within a short span we no longer live under the same roof and both Jonah and Josh are away at college. I hope that he and the boys realize how much I deeply love each of them and want the best for them.

My hope is that Joel can go to a good school. Going to college is the best opportunity for the boys to have a new life and be free the issues we have faced.

Saturday, January 26, 2007 - A Final Word on a Great Inquiry from a Good Man

It has been nice to return to my quiet time this morning. It is funny that sometimes, I feel I do not have ten (10) minutes to spare for a short devotional. And then there are times when I realize how much I missed thinking about spiritual matters; and amazed at how much that feeds the inner soul.

This morning, I read about the initial response of Jesus to the opening statement of Nicodemus to begin, what has turned out to be, one of the great conversations in history. The response of Jesus at John 3:3 is itself filled with meaning: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Yet, as conversations go between people there is often a delay or a pause between one speaker and the next. That is particularly true when men are carefully choosing their words and each thought is an expression of the heart.

Of course, that was true when this Great Conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus began to unfold. When Nicodemus had finished saying, ‘no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:3), there was naturally a pause and a brief moment of silence. To those present in the room that nite, it must have been a moment filled with inner reflection.

Nicodemus was a respected leader. He was a leader in a religious group, the Pharisees. He was known to be a man of character and integrity. In short, he was known to be a man who led a life that tried to mirror what he taught in the synagogues. The role that Nicodemus played in the public life of his day was to teach and lead others in spiritual matters. Nicodemus taught others what the Scriptures said and tried to follow those teachings himself. Nicodemus was a good man.

That fact is what makes the opening words from Nicodemus so meaningful. This good man, who sought to follow the teachings of scripture, had publicly acknowledged before others that God was with this man from Nazareth, one who was born in a manager, and who did not have the formal learning or training in scripture like him and his fellow Pharisees. Nicodemus clearly wanted to know more about Jesus and why God was ‘with him’.

All present in the room that nite understood that Nicodemus was inquiring about this relationship with God that Jesus possessed. This was indeed a great inquiry. Though Nicodemus could stand on his record of being a good man, Nicodemus clearly sensed there was something about the relationship with God that was different with Jesus… and that indeed, God was ‘with him”.

The Great Conversation was now underway. It begins with a inquiry into the relationship that Jesus had with God…. a relationship perhaps that Nicodemus also wanted for his own life. It was in this context that the conversation would end with the now famous words, “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

My hope is that you guys.. Jonah, Josh & Joel.. would be be men of character and integrity. Good men. I also hope that you will make inquiries like Nicodemus into the relationship that Jesus had with God and covet that for your own life as well.

Dad

Thursday, January 24, 2007

The words that Nicodemus initially shared that nite were rather striking. In a moment that was filled with obvious tension and interest, Niocodemus shares comments that tell every person present that his view of Christ was quite different than those held by his fellow Pharisees, the group that would one day recommend and support the crucifixion of Christ.

Nicodemus makes two initial comments, captured by scripture, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2 KJV)

Under the circumstances, the comments of Nicodemus were very profound. He openly put aside the sentiments of his fellow Pharisees. He also openly expressed his heart’s belief that “God was with this man called Jesus”. It is clear that this public figure and ruler of the Pharisees was embracing the concept of a living God, and that this God was working thru this man called Christ.

Nicodemus acknowledged that no one could do the signs that Jesus was doing unless God was with him. Nicodemus clearly wanted to know more, and understand more, about the spiritual dimension of Christ. My hope is that the boys.. Jonah, Josh & Joel… will have similar heart-to-heart conversations with God, and with those people they meet whose lives reflect a genuine commitment to Christ.

This initial sentence from Nicodemus set the tone of the meeting that nite. Every person present now knew that Nicodemus was not there on behalf of his fellow Pharisees to make threats, challenge Jesus or anything along those lines. Nicodemus was there for his own spiritual needs. As a leader in those times, of a group not popular with Christ, Nicodemus was humbly acknowledging that the current sentiment of the day that the Pharisees and religious leaders alone had a special relationship with God simply was not true.

The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus had begun. It would end with a comment from Christ that would mmarize how a man finds God. “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Dad

p.s. p.s. As a reminder, remember to spend 30 min a day at one of the sites in the Marketing Pond reading emails, ads or websites. You will eventually generate $40 or $50 a month in extra spending money. It is a great way to make money online. As you share this with a friend here and a friend there, you will one day have ten (10) or fifteen (15) folks who also like the idea of earning free money as they learn about ways of earning $ online. Hits4Pay is one of the best ‘GPT’ sites in getting started.

Wednesday, January 23, 2007

I have immensely enjoyed driving Joel to school each morning. We have both come to enjoy “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” with comedian Steve Harvey… and particularly the ‘Strawberry Letter’ where folks write in about the personal relationships and both Steve and Shirley Stawberry, a co-anchor, reply to the letter. Shirley’s response is intended to be sound advice from the heart. Steve’s advice is both from the heart with an incredible comedic slant that brings joy to the heart.

That show also features the best R & B music which, as Steve often shares, are love stories with words pregnant with meaning. It has brought back so many old memories. I also find myself identifying and relating to the words shared by the artist as he (or she) pours out her heart in song. I love the “Freedom Friday” show where on Fridays Steven’s nephew, Nephew Tommy, and Shirley, try to outdo each other with memorable love songs from the past.

This morning, I had planned to skip my traditional quiet time but as the morning progressed, I realized that I missed that time of reflection. My quiet time before the Lord provides food for my heart and soul perhaps more than I realize.

One reason that I had considered skipping my quiet time is that I want to address other events of my life and the world around me. In one respect, I want to do this through a separate blog as a vehicle to earn $ from writing and blogging. From this standpoint, I wonder if I should just have a separate blog that can be ‘monetized’. From a different standpoint, I think to myself that regardless of whether I monetize the blog, the overall purpose is to provide a spiritual outlet for myself and for the boys, and Jonah, Josh and Joel to have a permanent record to read about dad and the things that he thought about and were meaningful to him.

Time and awkwardness make it difficult to talk about some issues. Sometimes, a letter or blog can do that for someone. Well, most of all, I hope the boys and Felicia realize how much I deeply love them. I wish I could have been a better dad, and provide them more financially. Yet, I accept the ups and downs that life brings.

One of my hopes for 2008 is to set aside ten (10%) of my earnings on a regular basis for spiritual or charitable purposes. I have started sending my tithe to a Paypal account called “TheStewartTithe@gmail.com. The heading on each message is the same, “A Tithe of Thanks”.

I am so thankful that directly, or through the caring hearts of others, God has met our basic needs. I once recall Max Lucado sharing in his book, 3:16 . . . The Numbers of Hope that we often overlook the manna from heaven where God provides for our basic needs in a manner just as real and just as concrete as when He provided manna for the children of Israel. Yes, there is much in life to be thankful for; I will be forever thankful and grateful for the opportunity to be a dad and the wonderful times I have shared with the boys.

Dad

p.s. As a reminder, remember to spend 30 min a day at one of the sites in the Marketing Pond reading emails, ads or webistes. You will eventually generate $40 or $50 a month in extra spending money.

As you share this with a friend here and a friend there, you will one day have ten (10) or fifteen (15) folks who also like the idea of earning free money as they learn about ways of earning $ online. When that happens, you will find yourself earning a few hundred a month, and you will begin to realize you have a small business started.

These ‘get paid to’ (GPT) sites share the advertising revenue they receive from companies which want to exposes their business to potential customers like you and me. You really do get get paid just to read and review ads and websites.

The GPT sites get paid by these companies simply for making you aware of their opportunity, regardless of whether you join. The advertising company also wins because a customer like you may decide he is interested in using the company’s services. The first site we will work together is called Hits4Pay which deposits $10 into our Paypal account just for getting started.