What if I told you that God could be seen in the most ordinary things every day?
What if I told you that every day, ordinary events could teach us extraordinary eternal truths? Would you believe me?
Welcome back to season 6 of the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! My name is BJ Sipe, and I am a Christian, a preacher, a husband, and a father. In our next few moments together, we hope to learn some of the most important lessons from some of the simplest things in life. Thank you for taking this journey with me.
The last month has been a tremendous change for our family, and in a wonderful and positive way. It’s been a big change because my parents – Brian and Kelly Sipe – have made their pilgrimage from Oregon to finally settle down here in Danville, KY! After living in Oregon for the past 34 years, this of course has been no small undertaking. While there will be some challenging elements that come with moving and learning a new routine while they settle into their new life in small town USA, there have already been a plethora of wonderful things. Getting to worship together with my parents like we did so many years ago. Getting to sit down at a dinner table together and pray and share meals. Having them present for birthday parties and gatherings – it has been so special, and we are so thankful for the memories waiting for us to still make Lord willing in the years to come. The kids have been ecstatic as well, having grandpa & grandma living here close is just a dream come true.
Well, today something very special happened for the first time that has not happened in a long time. We had finished our very early study at Dry Stack this morning, and I had settled in for the rest of the morning to finish up some work that needed to be done on the tail end of this week. That’s when I got a text from my dad asking if I was still at the coffee shop. I replied that I was, and he told me he was running some errands and didn’t know if I would have time for him to stop and have a cup of coffee with me. I smiled from ear to ear and told him to get on over here! Up to this point, my folks have been very busy unpacking their house and have had their days filled pretty much each day. But today, for the first time in a long time, I got to just sit down and have a cup of coffee with my dad – just like we used to do so often so many years ago.
He sat down after ordering a cup of black coffee (just like he taught me) and we got to visiting about everything and nothing in particular at the same time. We talked about how they are settling in – the blessings and challenges. We talked about the kids and parenting. We talked about the church, the work here, and all of the efforts Lord willing we are making to continue to grow the kingdom in this area in the years to come. And then, most special of all, right before he needed to leave to run the rest of his errands, he took my hands and said, “Son, would you pray with me?” I would be lying if I said I didn’t have to fight back tears as we bowed our heads together across the table in our coffee shop. What started as just a conversation with my father ended with the two of us going together to our heavenly Father. I’m so thankful for the time we got to spend today, and I cannot wait for many more times like this in the years to come.
Sometimes, life’s most special and spiritual moments happen in the most ordinary of places. Today with my dad was not a planned or scheduled event. It was not an ongoing Bible study. It was simply a father and son sitting down over a cup of coffee together and sharing their hearts and their lives with one another. It was an opportunity for a father to continue to do what he does best: love, instruct, and encourage his son.
When we open up the Scriptures, we would do well to remember that the kind of instruction the Lord calls for parents to have with their children is not always intended to be formal in nature. When we think about teaching our children, we often think about planned Bible studies, worship services, or special spiritual events. And yet, sometimes the most important times to teach the most important lessons and make the deepest spiritual connections are during the most ordinary of things. Consider with me the text of Deuteronomy 6:4-7:
“Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
God never intended for spiritual instruction in the home to only take place in a formal or preplanned setting. The faith that is passed on through example and instruction from one generation to the next takes place in the most ordinary of places and on a daily basis. It comes from a run to the dump with your son. It comes from preparing a meal in the kitchen. It comes from sitting around playing a game of cards at the dining room table. It comes from an impromptu cup of coffee on a Friday morning. My friends, we do not have to wait for a profound or important moment in order to have profound and important conversations.
Perhaps it is merely coincidence, or perhaps it’s providence, but the text we were studying in our very early study this morning before my time with my dad was that of Proverbs 2. It begins with the following exhortation in vv. 1-5:
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.”
The only reason I am the man who I am today is largely in part due to the teaching and example of my father and mother. Together, they not only instructed me to fear the Lord and know him, but they led by example and demonstrated what that looks like. Once again today, I had the opportunity to listen closely to wisdom and direct my heart to understanding. I might be grown and have children of my own now, but even now God is giving me opportunities to reprise my role as a son and glean even more wisdom at the foot of my parents. Today I’m thankful for wisdom. Today I’m thankful for instruction. Today, I’m thankful for an impromptu cup of coffee with my dad. My friends, never overlook these small moments in life – they are in fact some of the most important.
This has been season 6 episode 30 of the Set Your Mind Above Podcast – and I’m so thankful that we had this time to grow together! A new episode is dropped each Friday of the week. If you’re able to, go ahead and like and subscribe to the podcast, give us a good rating, and tune in next week. Even more important, share the spiritual truths that we learned today with someone else. And more than anything my friends, always remember the following: know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.
