Captive

Tell me, how can life get better than this?

Sitting here, wondering if there’s something I missed.

Bottled-up scream behind my lips.

No one listening as I burn to a crisp.

Someone, somewhere, rescue me!

I’m chained and bound, can’t be free.

Consumed by complete misery.

On the ground, off my feet.

Happiness turned to rage!

Can’t even turn the page!

Fear my life is a waste!

It’s time I went away!

A slow, soft whisper begins to rumble my core.

Shaking the chains as I lay on the floor.

Pulsing a brightness and prompting something more.

Drawing me to my feet and pushing me forward.

I rise from the ashes, and the chains fall to the ground.

Weight is lifted, and I’m no longer bound.

In a place of solitude I look around.

Is it possible I was lost, but now am found?

Steady, stop, listen, I have something to say.

Stop looking at the past, tomorrow is at bay.

The darkness is gone, light shines a new day.

Move your feet and let’s start this race.

I have the key to the chains you held.

Bondage was a mindset, leading you to Hell.

I gave you life and sight to see.

I broke the mold to set you free.

I filled your heart, know I’m here.

I gave you courage and took the fear.

The chaos is gone from your life.

Leave the darkness, come to the light.

A new beginning starts tonight.

I conquered the battle and won this fight.

Peace, be still, and know that I am Lord.

Now, take my hand and let’s explore…this life together.

 

 

 

God the Tourist

Have you ever been on a guided tour?  Let’s place this scenario at a historic site.  Maybe you did some studying or have an interest in the location you’re visiting.  The guide leads you from one house to a barn to a field where a battle took place.  At each stop they bring history to life with fun facts and interesting tidbits.  Somewhere along the way you decide to speak up about something you learned that the guide didn’t mention.  Maybe the group comes to life with this new information or maybe the guide just ignores you and continues along the way.  Whatever happens, you stay on the tour until it is finished.

 

Life is a long tour.  God sent Jesus to earth and Jesus became the interpreter of how things run down here.  Have you ever stopped to think that maybe Jesus’ time on Earth wasn’t enough?  Times change, societies evolve, and new is always around the corner.

 

God said, “The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.  Deuteronomy 31:8

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. Genesis 26:24

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall

not overflow you. Isaiah 43:2”

 

Some people think that God is distant and never interacts with us.  Others think that God shows up and leads us in our times of need.  But God says that he is with us always; every minute of every day.  That makes God a tourist in the journey of our lives.

 

With that in mind; where are we leading God?  Are we showing Him all the marvelous things we’ve learned or experienced ourselves?  Or are we constantly showing him junk that He’s seen too many times before?  Do we ignore Him when He speaks up to share with us something we didn’t know? Or are we captivated with the new information and share it with others?

 

God created us and He wants to be with us.  He is with us every day.  You take Him to work with you.  You sing along with the radio in your car and He is with you.  Maybe it’s time to stop thinking that we’re just along for the ride.  Life is unfolding before us and we bring God into each new adventure.  He’s like a parent who watches His children’s expressions as they learn to ride a bike or experience something new, or battle with pain.  God created the world and He wants to know how much we appreciate it.  Let’s show Him the marvels of His creation and listen when He has something new to share with us.

Daddy Children's Books

     If you search “Mommy Children’s Books” you will find a list of amazing books for children with respectable themes about childish adventures and outpouring love from Mommy to the child.  If you search “Daddy Children’s Books” you get something completely different.  There’s titles such as “Daddy Needs a Drink”, “When Mommy and Daddy Divorce”, “My Dad is Big and Strong, But”, “When Mom or Dad Dies”, and a list of other mature themed books for children. 

 

     Don’t get me wrong.  There are a few books that compete with “Mommy” books like “I love my daddy because”, “Daddy Kisses”, and “When a Dad Says ‘I Love You’”.  But there seems to be a shortage of children’s books that emphasize the importance of father’s in the lives of children.  I don’t want to sound too negative with this article, but if you want to continue your research and educate yourself on crime statistics based on the absence of a father figure, then you can google away.

 

     Fathers and their children have a special bond and it is often considered dorky or humorous which is why books come out about daddy snoring too loudly or daddy’s bald spot, but where are the stacks and stacks of books that fathers want to see?  Where are the books describing the adventures that children have with their fathers?  Every time I go to the park with my children we tell a story that involves dragons, captive princesses, a hero, and a theme where everyone returns home safely.  Where are the stories that show what fathers do best: picking up children and soaring them through the air, helping build projects, pushing them too high on swings, playing sports, going for a ride in the car to get ice cream, giving a big hug when something is wrong?

 

     I think it’s concerning and the storyteller inside of me is going to do something about it.  On the beach one day I asked little Donnie to draw me in the sand.  He did so and the character he drew inspired me to draw the same thing over and over again for the past two years.  I’ve been telling bedtime adventures for the past five years and it’s time to give fathers around the world books that display the importance of a hero daddy and a daddy whose there for his children.

 

     In January I hope to have my first children’s book available to the public.  It’s titled “The Adventures of Bubba and Sissy; Daddy Does the Same Thing” and follows the adventures that a brother and sister have with or without their daddy present.  Children play at school or in a daycare or at the park before their daddy gets home from work or visits them.  The story displays these adventures and shows that daddy does the same thing when the children are having fun.  When the children come together with their daddy they can continue the adventure.  The important thing is for children to include their fathers in their imagination time, so when he arrives they can establish a deeper bond.

 

     The role of the father will always be important to children.  A boy views his dad as a hero and someone to look up to.  A daughter sees her dad as a knight in shining armor.  Expanding their imaginations to make daddy larger than life will always have a better effect on a child than adult based humor about how out of shape or disgusting daddy can be.  After all it is the father who gives his daughter away on her wedding day and helps his son grow into a man.

Your Breath of Life

     Have you ever felt the effects of adrenaline and what it does to your body?  Your heart begins to pound as you take a seat in the roller coaster.  Your lungs open up and you take in more air.  Suddenly, you’re aware of the people’s conversation three cars back.  Your vision becomes more focused as you see the first hill in the distance the coaster will soon climb.  You began to sweat.  Blood races to your arms and legs and gives you strength.  Fear slowly disappears and you feel like you can conquer anything.  That’s what adrenaline does in a single circumstance.

     Have you ever realized that you’re standing at the fork in the road of your life?  This doesn’t happen as often as adrenaline rushes as hindsight usually plays a role with that moment has passed.  It might be a job choice or something more dramatic, but you know that your choice will influence the rest of your life or until another meeting with destiny arrives in your future.

     Have you ever placed another person above yourself?  Your wife or husband or children need something that everything inside of you screams can’t happen.  You make a decision that is ninety percent out of your control, but you know just part of you has to be willing to give it a shot for something to happen.  The outcome isn’t promised, but courage is needed in the first step.

     Combine all of these and you get a glimpse of the definition of “Breath of Life”.  It’s the past, present, and future all combined into one moment that changes your life.  You will eventually be able to look back at that moment and realize that the path you are on is better because of that choice.  You can then say that you’ve experienced the breath of life.

     I want to hear your story about that moment in your life.  It might have happened decades ago or you could be standing at the fork in the road with a decision already made and the future clear and crisp like adrenaline’s gift to your body.  Visit facebook.com/breathoflifedonaldstidham and tell your story in the comment field below the “Your Breath of Life” post.