Sweet Little Avery Grace

This little girl is our friends, E.T. and Becky's daughter. She was born with a rare form of dwarfism that didn't allow her to survive more than a few days. I wanted to share their story of hope and faith and pray it impacts you as it has me. E.T. is Josh's friend from high school, where they were on a wrestling team together. We have kept up over the years and were thrilled to hear that they were expecting. A few months after they found out about their baby, the doctors discovered that she would be born with a rare disease, a form of dwarfism. Throughout the pregnancy, they were both so strong and Becky often posted on her facebook page that they were lifting up little Avery in prayer for healing. It seemed they were ready and prepared to handle whatever surgeries that Avery would face and the difficulties of raising a special needs child. There strength and optimism spoke volumes into my own life as they were facing such an uphill battle yet they were able to live in such joy.

Avery Grace Coley was born on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. It became evident that they had a more serious form of dwarfism than the doctors first thought. As time passed, it became clear that Avery wouldn't spend very many days on this earth. On Saturday, February 12 she left this world of pain and suffering and went to dance with her Lord. It is in times like these that it is so hard to understand God's plan, but Eric and Becky have been able to continue to live in joy. As Becky said in a note about Avery's life, she impacted so many in such a short amount of time. God's plans are not ours, his plans are higher than our plans, his thoughts higher than are thoughts. Even though Eric and Becky are living in the love of their Savior, I know they are struggling to make peace with the loss of their little girl. This morning in church, we sang "You're Amazing God," and as I was singing, I began to cry. I began to cry for Eric and Becky and the tremendous grief they must be feeling. This is my prayer for the Coleys and anybody else who encounters tremendous tragedy in this life. Although we suffer tragedy, we can triumph because our God is Amazing and cares about us enough to provide peace through our times of suffering.

You're Amazing God, Your'e Amazing God
You can bear the weight of every heavy heart
You can heal the pain, You can clean the stain
You can turn our tears into songs of praise
You're Amazing God

Easy No More

I have decided I cannot stand the phrase, "It's just easier." The sad thing is all of us (including myself) sometimes choose the easiest route instead of the most effective one. When stuck between doing something hard that could be way more effective and bring God glory in the process or taking the easy way out, we bail! We bail and then wonder why our lives, ministries, and home lives are ineffective.

I admit I have lead out of this philosophy. In fact I did recently. I was staring this exact dilemma in the face when an employee said, "it will just be easier if we do this," and I caved. I could've said, "No, I asked for this to happen and even though it's gonna be harder, I know that it will affect and touch way more lives." I caved and bailed on an awesome idea! I have done this in coaching as well. There were times where it was just easier to let the runner who needed to be disciplined, get away with murder, because we needed his score to count.

Lets be honest, sometimes hearing, "it will be easier" because then we won't have to do this, this, and this is a relief because I know whoever I'm working with is happy and satisfied not having to go the extra mile and sometimes that's just easier to manage. But what if this, this, and this, would have been incredible? I just missed out on some amazing blessings because instead of leading, I just went along with it and said "whatever is going to be easier on you." I hate that mentality and never want to lead or think like that again!

I think God has called us to more than just the "easy thing," especially in ministry! So many churches and pastors just want to get by and take the "easy" route instead of the "harder" one, and look at how many are ineffective because of it. May God forgive me for taking the "easy" route. I don't want to ever say "if it's easier then do it," again! If the easiest route is the best solution, then that's fine. But may we get to a point where when faced to choose between the easy and the hard, even though the hard route may take more time, more energy, bigger resources, or even having to PLAN AHEAD, may we not just toss it aside for something that may work but is ineffective in the touching and reaching lives because we just wanted it to be "easy".

So I'm through with the saying, "It's just easier," and maybe by taking this mentality, I will be a better man. Even it makes life a little harder, I will be a better leader, leading a more effective and satisfied team because we will be able to look back and know we conquered what some never could because they took the "easy way".