Happy 40th Anniversary Mom and Dad Hill

My parents will be celebrating 40 years of marriage this Sunday, May 15th. It's interesting that in the bible the number 40 represents a period of testing, trial, or purification and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal. My parents have been through alot over forty years and it will be great to see what the Lord has in store for them as they enter a new season.
I have four words for the four decades of their marriage that describe them.
1) Perseverance-I have seen them go through financial problems, health problems, and family problems. Regardless of the problem, May 15th, 2011 marks a generational milestone that they endured all trials.
2) Dependence-There is not one time in my lifetime I have not seen them display complete dependence on God to bring them through.
3) Sacrifice-I am a byproduct of their sacrifice. I am fully aware of most of the things my parents have forgone to raise their children and invest in others through ministry.
4) Succession-To watch them raise two of their grandchildren at age 71 and 62 puts action to what they teach. They teach leave a legacy by instilling Biblically rich values into at least two generations behind you.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad Hill. Six children and seventeen grandchildren later and still in love. If you know my parents email me a message I will pass it on to them at a reception we are having in their honor this Sunday. Email: jhill1972@gmail.com

Hidden Idols: Are they really hidden?

Those things in our life that we think are mere small matters to God, actually can cause a breech in our fellowship with God and our effectiveness as a believer. I just want to pass on my devotion from this morning from His Utmost for his Highest titled: Failure to Pay Close Attention (Please click the link to the left). Often when we think of idols we get some image in our mind like this picture of this wood idol I included in this post. We need to be aware that God sees the small hidden things in our lives that we have put in our high places and need to be removed. As I was looking for an image to include in this post, the funny thing was I ran into more images of people than I did of things. Yes, the show American idol has popularized one of the biggest idols we have always had in our culture and that is talent and people. We often put people in places only God should be. When God reveals an idol in your life, no matter how small it seems to you it is a BIG DEAL to God so take proper steps to see to it's removal. I meet christians day in and day out that have the facade and speech of Christianity but no power to live an abundant life. Some really think they are doing God a favor as they succeed in life, all while they are really stroking their pet idol. God is aware of our hidden idols, let's be radical and destroy all of the idols in our life. Take some time and and ask God, "What are some things in my life I have dismissed as no big deal but are really causing a breech in our relationship?" God will answer..will you obey? It could mean losing income or status, but the gain far out ways the losses. It says in Matthew 16:25-27, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done." So what are some of our idols?

Wedding Anniversary Countdown

So thankful that God has blessed us to make it to our 15th year of marriage. Fifteen days before our anniversary, which was Mar. 23rd, I decided to update my Facebook status with a countdown of the 15 reasons I am married to Lisa. Here they are:

#15 She cooks some mean spaghetti
#14 The way she tilts her head and says “I just love you"
#13 She accepted me as I was
#12 The grace-filled, tender tone of her voice
#11 She gives me the privilege to wipe her tears when she cries
#10 the way she walks caught my eye early
#9 The way she snaps her fingers when she is happy
#8 She has helped me reach every goal in my life
#7 She is so genuine and creative, I have never met another woman like her
#6 The way she uninhibitedly yields in worships to God
#5 She has unashamedly embraced motherhood as her career and given herself wholly to it.
#4 She has NEVER offended me without apologizing and reconciling
#3 Her sensitivity to God induces me to draw closer to her and God
#2 She puts the interest of her family above her own
#1 Our love is secure because she loves God more than she loves me

The number one reason mentioned above is what keeps us connected. God is the third chord in our braid of marriage. With him intertwined with us we know that we can overcome and beat the odds. I will never forget, before we got married I called her and she was spending time with God. She asked if I could call her back. I said, "sure" hung up the phone and JUMPED FOR JOY, because I knew I was second and God was first. When we both keep God first in our lives only then do we have the power to love each other without conditions.

If you happen to be going through a Marriage Crisis know that there is hope. God can help you overcome the toughest trials. If you would liked to be a part of a growing group of couples that focus on building Godly marriages. Go to www.eyetoeyecommunity.com also join us on Facebook

Big Day after the Sweetheart Ball

The day after the 2011 Sweetheart Ball, Clarence Hill Jr., the Executive Director of Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community, will be sharing from his heart on the topic of how to beat the odds that are against us in marriage. Clarence's new book "Beating the Odds" is a revelation given to him from God on how marriages can move from surviving to thriving. Purchase the book at: www.beatingtheoddsmarriage.com
Come out and invite your family and friends. Church Ablaze is a church intent on spreading Abroad the Fame of Jesus Christ. We are in the middle of a series on God, Love, and Relationships this month. We are located at 10600 N. Council Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73162. Join us Sunday, Feb. 20th at 11:00am to hear this life changing message on marriage. If you miss this, Clarence is available to speak at your church or organization. Call 405-288-1393

Listen to the past messages in this series below.

1) Is something wrong with you if you are single? Nathan Williams delivered a powerful message to those married or single on what it really means to be single and find your "other half". Listen here

2) What is a God honoring way to pursue dating? Stephan Moore, the Executive Director of Shiloh Summer Camp in Oklahoma City, breaks down some basic principles of how to relate to the opposite sex and stay within God's boundaries. Listen here

Baby Miscarriage

A miscarriage is a heart tugging event. My wife and I have had three, with the most recent last week. I am not writing this to prompt your sympathy cause I know most of you are very sympathetic and would be in prayer for us. I just wanted to put my thoughts out there. Our first miscarriage was back in March of 2007 with a loaded U-haul truck headed south moving from Iowa to Oklahoma. I remember the events play-by-play. They stick in my head so much because my human frailty became so evident during this time.

I have to share a little history, my wife and I had five children at that point practically by rubbing elbows the first 10 years of our marriage. :-) To conceive again and have complications was a shocker. When things were finally confirmed about the miscarriage I think I experienced every emotion known to man in a matter of 5 seconds (Anger, hurt, confusion, frustration, grief, sadness, etc.). This cycle of emotions left me numb and speechless, grasping for some form of context to try and comfort myself and comfort my wife. It was a tough time.

After some praying, tears, and hugs we proceeded back down the highway. My wife and I were in the bucket seats of our Chevy G20 van (named Old Betsy) when our second born son, whose was eight at that time, said, "I know why God allowed that to happen". We both looked at each other in amazement and said, "You do? Why?" Our son said, "Because God wanted to know if something happened that we didn't want to happen if we would still trust Him". As he spoke those words it is as if each word was being etched in my heart with a hot pen.

Lisa and I both looked at each other and at the same time teared up and then began to pray and affirm our trust in God. God just used an eight year old boy to secure our hearts and shore up our faith and put everything back in perspective. Little did we know seven months later we would face our second miscarriage and we didn't conceive again until January 2009. In a nutshell this is what I have learned:

1. That it is easy to trust and have faith when things are going my way, but the true test is when things are not going my way.
2. That control is an illusion. I am dependent. Jesus is not only savior but LORD.
3. Trying to figure out how and why in these situations can take you under real quick unless you truly stop trying to figure it out and cast the care on the LORD.
4. Either I trust God or I don't. Either God is sovereign or He's not.
5. To value the conception of a child at day one, and enjoy each day even as the baby is maturing in the womb.
6. To not allow a miscarriage to alter your plan or desire for more children. God can give you courage to move on. We are so thankful we proceeded forward and God blessed us with number six two years later!
7. This was a friendly reminder that the whole process of conception needs to be done in faith and shouldn't be taken for granted. It taught me to take the season of child bearing years as a gift from God and to be a good steward of this time.
8. That there is a real spiritual peace that God supplies that has this mysterious way of comforting the human heart.
9. That God speaks through my children.
10. That God's ways are higher than my ways and his thoughts are higher than my thoughts. There are some things I may never understand but the lack of understanding does not have to cause me to doubt God's ability or His sovereign will.

Fear can truly attempt to take residence in couples heart after a miscarriage. Moving forward with intimacy and moving forward in procreation has to be done in faith. Personally, I believe the worry and fear associated with a past miscarriage produces stress that hinders the child bearing process. I am no doctor, but I do know that fear is not from God and the atmosphere that fear generates is not productive. I told my wife to not assume and jump to conclusions that something is wrong with her physically. I have seen crack addicts have healthy babies. I have seen women that have intentionally starved themselves and tumble down stairs end up with healthy babies. So it still boils down to the sovereign will of the Lord. No matter how much medical science discovers about hormone levels it still boils down to this. DO WE TRUST HIM EVEN WHEN THINGS HAPPEN WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN.

I thank God for our three miscarriages they have drawn me close to the bosom of my Heavenly Father, closer to my wife and the children I have been blessed with. The picture above was the pregnancy of our 6th baby, which is proof that there is life after miscarriage. I am a gratefully, dependent man that is blessed with a wonderful wife.
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Resurrection of a Blog

You know I was enjoying keeping this blog up to date, but somehow time slipped away. I think I have conditioned myself through my twitter and facebook accounts to update my heart in 140 characters or less and the blog took a back seat. :-) Anyway I just wanted to break the silence.
What am I learning today?
That my life means more to God than it does to me. His investment in me makes Him the majority stake holder. So the more I use the way God designed me the more glory goes to God.
Let me know how you are doing.
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Email me: jhill1972@gmail.com
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Raising a child or a man?-Justus turns 13

Just needed to break the blog silence. My son turned 13 today. What a humbling feeling to think I have raised and trained a living being for 13 years and he has turned out OK so far. I was reminded of the verse in 1 Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
As a dad I have to remind myself that I don't need to treat my 13 year old like a child or he will take childish ways into his adult life. My mentality has to change from Justus my little boy to Justus the young man or else I will become a limiting factor in his development to manhood. Been praying alot lately on specific areas I need help my son on his road to manhood. I want to be strategic and innovative in his development. For me imparting to my son is done best through a close intimate relationship. My son should be able to smell my scent, feel my strength, and know how I think. Manhood is rubbed off through abrasion and contact of working together, praying together, and talking through issues. Justus being our first born has been our experiment. My wife and I cut our teeth on raising him so we have learned from our mistakes. A few mistakes we corrected early on in his development are:

1. Stopped using fear and intimidation as correction
2. When we argue in front of him make up in front of him.
3. When we blow it as parents apologizing to him.
4. Stopped doing everything for him so he can learn responsibility

I always heard you know you are a man when another man tells you you are a man. What I see in my son makes me proud and I think he is getting close. This Friday myself and few other men are going to take Justus out and impart principles of manhood we feel are important. Not sure we will get the tribal paint and ceremonial knives out, but we will make it a memorable time for him. Ultimately, I don't want my child to be like me...I want him to be a reflection of my Heavenly father. I blogged about this a year ago here: Like Father Like Son.