Hellums Family Update

The boys are growing way to fast, so fast that when sitting in front of the screen I can't think of all the things that are happening in our house.

Landon is talking all the time. Some of his words include: milk, golf cart, boom (which means pound it), dadamomma (now sometimes one word), and many many more. His latest toy that he loves is a football. We get in the yard and toss the football to one another and he just can't get enough of playing ball. Landon made a football connect recently while holding the ball when I turned the TV on to a game. He pointed and said, "ball!"

There has been a resurgence in his love for the swing, so much that today we had to go swing outside in the cold air. Tonight will be a first attempt in Landon sleeping in a big boy bed. Today Kari converted his bed and we'll see how he does tonight. He will be 17 months on Saturday. Landon is now enjoying scrambled eggs, asparagus and loves pasta. It is amazing how often he smiles; maybe all babies smile, but both Landon and Logan smile all the time.

Logan now rolls over from his belly to back every time he wakes up. He is an amazing sleeper. I am pretty sure he could sleep through a hurricane. He typically sleeps from 8pm to 6 or 7am every night. He is now smiling often, following objects including his Momma, who he is always keeping a close eye on.

He has had several laughing fits and one recent memorable laughing fit was when Landon smacked him in the chest. We thought Logan was about to cry, but Logan burst into laughter after Landon smacked him good in the chest. Logan is enjoying eating rice cereal and can put some bottles away. His 4 month checkup is this week, so we will now soon how much he is weighing. He is a TV bug. When the TV is on, Logan is watching it.

Kari and I are doing well. Besides getting older and starting to have aches and pains, we both can say we don't have gray hair yet, but could see how it is possible. We have our home decorated for Christmas and Landon hasn't torn down the tree...yet.

I hope that everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving and that you and your families are doing well. God Bless.

Shawn McDonald Here I Am

Currently, this is my prayer:

I lay myself at Your feet,
Asking You won't You meet,
Won't You meet me,
I cannot do it on my own,
I cannot do it all alone,
Here I am, oh, tonight,
With my arms open wide,
Won't You come inside,
Won't You come inside, God
Come and fill this heart of mine,
I'm in need of You,
Of Your touch, of Your life, of Your love,
I need You,
I need You."

What a powerful prayer.  Join me.

Part One: Thoughts on Philippians 2:1-11

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:1-11

In Philippians 2:1-11, we are encouraged to live differently: humble and with the same mindset of Christ.  This is very counter to our culture; humility is rare.  Read it, read it again and read it a third time.  There is so much in the passage, probably to much to tackle for one post, but here are some thoughts I have gleaned from the passage:

• If you don't have Christ, this is not possible.  We cannot become humble without Christ.  Christ must be in control of your life for humility to rule in your life.  

• We must be focused on Christ.  We cannot be humble with our own operation powers, self will, or legalist training methods.

• As you continue to follow Christ seeking him throughout the day, He will transform you into his likeness; hence the words "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."

• A few things we should be avoiding:  do nothing out of selfish ambition- Don't look after yourself first, but others.  Being selfish with your time and resources is the fast track to not being humble.  vain conceit- Pride.  Nothing else needs to be said.  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others- Matthew 7:12 says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you..."

If we are focused on Christ, following his teaching than we will not fall into these areas. Romans 2:8 says that that "who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."

Here is plenty to chew on in Part One: Thoughts on Philippians 2:1-11.  I pray that we stay focused on Christ and chase after Him with wreckless abandonment.

God Bless.

Boy's & Girl's Camp @ Highland Lakes Camp

Sanctus Real Lead Me

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying:

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying:

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone.

Thoughts on Luke 18: Part Three

"People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:15-17

This is the third part of six I will be writing and posting. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts as well.

Do you have a childlike faith?  Can we have this type of trust in the Lord?  Christ calls you and I to have this type of faith!  Anyone who doesn't, Christ says, will never enter the kingdom of God.  Today this passage is more real to me than it has ever been.

Recently Landon took interest in my bible sitting on my nightstand.  Frankly, he is interested in anything on my nightstand, but is currently fascinated with books.  My first instinct was to snatch it from his hands and tell him no, but than I remembered this passage.  I stopped myself before I could react and instead said, "Landon, there is a story in here for you.  Let me show you."  I read aloud Luke 18:15-17 and told him that I desired to have childlike faith as he does.

When I arrive home from work, Landon runs down the hall to greet me by jumping into my arms.  He knows and trusts I will catch and pick him up.  This picture is a type of faith Christ wants us to have in Him.  Babies trust we will take care of them, nurture them, love them and wipe their bottoms.

Christ wants us to run, headlong, after Him.  Are you running headlong after Christ?

I love the first part of the passage as well.  Jesus wasn't afraid to make friends, even with the youngest.  The disciples thought maybe Jesus was to busy or didn't have time for the children, but Jesus rebuked them.  Jesus desires for us to be friends with people of all kinds; as the song now goes red, yellow, brown, black and white and age shouldn't be a factor.  Jesus wants us to love everyone of all kinds.

Christ followers:  put a smile on your face.  Say hello to a child.  Love your neighbor.  And run after Christ, jump into His arms and bask in His freedom.

God Bless.

The Day My Dell Died

It is official, my Dell Laptop died the summer of 2010 (2005-2010).  My Dell Laptop is survived by my tower PC built by Will and Kari's HP Tower.

My laptop will be remembered for watching movies, downloading music, editing photos, editing video footage and much much more.  I didn't have many problem with her, just a bad battery, but is that really the laptops fault.

If I were to buy a computer today, I would not consider Dell though.  I am not knocking Dell because my preferences changed.  Today I would buy a MacBook Pro, but right now this is only a dream.

Till than, I will mourn the death of my Dell Laptop.  Tear.

Things God Has Been Teaching Me

I have been chewing on a few passages of scripture lately and I feel led to share what God is teaching me.  I pray that anyone who reads, take it as encouragement, because that is the intent.

In an society where using words like honor is fading, Exodus 20:12 tells us we should, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

What does that mean to adult child? It means we honor our father and mother in their decisions, even if we disagree with them (not saying you have to agree, but acceptance is what I am talking about). Consider our lifespan, I potentially have 30 years left to spend with my parents. I don't have time to waste on being mad, angry, offended or whatever other selfish feeling you can think of towards my parents, there is just not enough time.

I can't imagine one day Landon or Logan choosing not to speak to me.  Could it happen, yes, I would be broken hearted to tears.  I can't repay my parents in such a way, I love them too much.

In keeping with this commandment, God is going to bless you.

Lamentations 3:38-41 says, "Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven..." 

God is in control of everything.  Good or bad, God is on His throne and His ways are higher than we can fathom.

We have no right to complain.  I have been challenged to examine my ways and return to the Lord in many areas of my life.  When return to the Lord, there is blessing.  Are you missing out on blessing today?  We are encouraged to lift up our hearts and hands to God; what an amazing picture of submission to our Lord.

I heard in a sermon recently the pastor reference Genesis 16:9-10, "Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her."  The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."

God is talking to Hagar, Sarai's Egyptian maidservant, after she found out she was pregnant with Abram's son.  God is telling us to go back, submit and He will bless us.  It is so easy to run away, but God is directing us to go back, deal with it, forgive and forget, insert your cliche, but go back and submit.

God wants to bless you and I, we just need to listen to His words.  God will bless us if we follow and obey His instructions.  Didn't God bless Hagar?  Or course he did; it is believed that Ishmael is the father of the Arabs.

One final passage of scripture that God has shown me recently is, Matthew 7:12.  "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." 

God is going to bless us kindly.  The illustration my friend uses is as follows:  We ask God for a moldy strawberry and He says, "No, you don't want that, here take this fresh strawberry."  Would you give your child a moldy strawberry, by no means.  God wants the best for us.  He wants us to receive blessing and in order to receive it we have to look at verse 12:

"...do to others what you would have them do to you..."

We are called to love one another and treat others as we want to be treated.  I don't want to be treated with disrespect and neither do you.  How do we want to be treated in our mistakes?  We want to be let off the hook.  God wants the best for us; not mediocre. We should treat one another with love; unconditional love and even if it is not returned to us, love them anyway.

Jesus says, "...the greatest commandment in the Law [is] 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:36-38).

I pray that I continue to dive into God's word and glean from it what He'd have me learn. God Bless.