{"id":6814,"date":"2025-04-12T14:40:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-12T18:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6814"},"modified":"2025-05-31T14:31:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T18:31:39","slug":"no-lose-situation-even-with-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6814","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) Hey Pop"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0I love exploring the woods behind the house with our grandkids. Though we live close to civilization, our unique neighborhood feels like the mountains of North Carolina. All the lots have at least 2 acres with wells and septic tanks. Quite magical.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, I took our, then two-year-old grandson, Nicholas to the barn to see our baby chicks. On the way down the hill to the barnyard, as I was holding his hand, he looked up, found my face and said, \u201cHey Pop.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This took me a bit by surprise. \u2018Hey\u2019 is what we typically say to someone when we initially see them. But Nicholas was acknowledging our continuing togetherness. In a true childlike moment, he was savoring our nearness.<\/p>\n

Fast forward a few years to a couple of weeks ago. I was with both Nicholas and his brother Zachary (who is two years old and just now finding his words). We were hanging out at their house while their parents were on a date. While reading a book to Zachary, he looked up, found my face and said, \u201cHey Pop.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was such a pleasant surprise. Like Nicholas, he was acknowledging our nearness, as we enjoyed a book about dinosaurs.<\/p>\n

Nearness<\/span><\/h3>\n

A few of us at our church are encouraging each other in practicing the Lord\u2019s nearness throughout the day. We\u2019ve read books like Union with Christ [1] and Practicing His Presence [2]. God indwells His saints by His Holy Spirit. We\u2019ve been raised with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places. [3] The Lord is always closer than breath. Everything exists because of Him. He holds all things together. [4] We\u2019re learning from saints, like Brother Lawrence and Frank Lauchbach, the rhythm of being mindful of the Lord\u2019s near throughout the day, even as we’re engaged in our temporal activities.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m learning to find great joy when He comes to mind. Even after long stretches, when the day\u2019s endeavors have occupied my thinking, I celebrate His nearness and refuse to feel shame for not acknowledging His nearness more often.<\/p>\n

We’re learning to be ever mindful of His presence, thanking Him, depending on Him, and asking for His guidance at every turn.<\/p>\n

Hey Lord<\/span><\/h3>\n

A couple of days after Zachary said, “Hey Pop,” I was at work teaching a class. During a break, heading down the hall for some coffee, I thought, \u201cHey Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

It took me by surprise, like my grandson’s acknowledgment of our togetherness. It was a simple expression of the Lord’s nearness.<\/p>\n

Since then, I\u2019ve frequently thought, \u201cHey Lord\u201d. Sometimes it stops there. Other times the reminder He’s with me leads to prayers of praise and asking for His help with what I’m doing. “Hey Lord” has become a beautifully simple step in acknowledging the Lord’s nearness and practicing His presence.<\/p>\n

Become Like Children<\/span><\/h3>\n

To me, it’s easier to love and appreciate childlikeness as a grandfather. When I’m with my grandkids, I find myself feeling childlike and playful. It takes me back decades to when I was a child and could enjoy the moments of life more fully and took the time to play.<\/p>\n

Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3b<\/strong> NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

But Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cLet the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these\u201d (Matthew 19:14<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

My grandsons are teaching me to pause often and appreciate the relationships the Lord has given me, especially my relationship with Him.<\/p>\n

Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

Where are you spiritually? Even if you don\u2019t consider yourself a spiritual person, you are on a journey. We will all die one day. No one gets out of here alive. As my old pastor said to us, when he found out he had terminal cancer, \u201cI\u2019m a dying man speaking to dying people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As believers, we know that, for us, eternal life has begun. We\u2019re indwelt by the Living God, designed to live through us. Abiding in His nearness, remaining in His love, yielding to His Spirit, is not just a nice way to live, it\u2019s the normal Christian life.<\/p>\n

Celebrate God\u2019s nearness right now and throughout the day. Allow Him to live His life through you. Only as we abide in Him are we able to live lives of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [5].<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hey Lord. Thank You so much for allowing me to learn from my grandson\u2019s childlike hearts. If they are so excited about my nearness, how much more should I be excited about You and Your nearness. You indwell me and empower my every word and need. Please stop me quickly when I go off on my own and don\u2019t wait for You.<\/em><\/p>\n

I want my life to be lived for You and You alone.<\/em><\/p>\n

Amen<\/em><\/p>\n

[1] Union with Christ by Rankin Wilborne, David C Cook publisher 2016<\/p>\n

[2] Practicing His Presence by Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach, SeedSowers Publishing<\/p>\n

[3] Ephesians 2:6<\/p>\n

[4] Colossians 1:17<\/p>\n

[5] Galatians 5:22-23<\/p>\n

Other posts in our series\u00a0In the Moments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet Will I Rejoice<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Exploring Grace and Joy together<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay Present My Friends<\/a><\/p>\n

Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cake Maker\u2019s Blunder<\/a><\/p>\n

God at Work (No Trespassing)<\/a><\/p>\n

Hidden with Christ in God<\/a><\/p>\n

Finding Joy in Love and Relationships<\/a><\/p>\n

Escaping the Rat Race<\/a><\/p>\n

When I don\u2019t Feel God\u2019s Loving Kindness<\/a><\/p>\n

Experiencing Completeness in Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

Overcoming Pain Through Faith<\/a><\/p>\n

Recalibrating Our Hearts<\/a><\/p>\n

The Joy of Waiting<\/a><\/p>\n

On the Fifth Day God Created Dog<\/a><\/p>\n

When Things get Really Hard<\/a><\/p>\n

A No Lose Situation, Even with Cancer<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Robby Buck<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family\u00a0Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The author reflects on the significance of connection with family and God through moments shared with his grandsons, Nicholas and Zachary. Their simple acknowledgment of presence, as they call out “Hey Pop,” highlights the importance of togetherness and childlike faith. This leads to a broader exploration of spiritual nearness to God, encouraging mindfulness of His presence throughout daily activities. The post emphasizes living in joy and gratitude for God\u2019s closeness, urging readers to embrace their spiritual journeys and recognize the ability to cultivate love, joy, and peace by abiding in Him, despite life’s challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2120,3282],"tags":[3395,3406,70,795,3167,668,2321,3404,449,82,3401,748,562,3397,686,1011,3403,1002,1012,1731,3276,2192,3405,3389,3398,18,3387,96,20,510,7,1010,669,662,664,3396,3407,3408,113,254,3402,3392,2012,1009,233,3400,1013,3394,92,3399,1260,3388,3393,3391],"class_list":["post-6814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding","category-practicing-the-presence-of-god","tag-baby-chick","tag-become-like-children","tag-being-with-jesus","tag-brother-lawrence","tag-childlike-faith","tag-christ-our-life","tag-christs-nearness","tag-class","tag-colossians-117","tag-dependence","tag-dinosaurs","tag-ephesians-26","tag-eternal-prespective","tag-face","tag-faith","tag-faithfulness","tag-frank-lauchbach","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-gentleness","tag-goodness","tag-grandkids","tag-guidance","tag-hey-lord","tag-higher-purpose","tag-holding-hands","tag-holy-spirit","tag-holy-spirit-directed","tag-hope","tag-jesus","tag-jesus-christ","tag-joy","tag-kindness","tag-lord-jesus","tag-lords-joy","tag-loving-like-jesus","tag-magical","tag-matthew-183","tag-matthew-1914","tag-mercy","tag-mountains","tag-nearness","tag-north-carolina","tag-our-highest-joy","tag-patience","tag-peace","tag-reading-a-book","tag-self-control","tag-septic-tank","tag-teaching","tag-togetherness","tag-union-with-christ","tag-vessel-of-joy","tag-well","tag-woods"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6814"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7286,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6814\/revisions\/7286"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}