How’s your view?

I was driving to my friend’s salon and started to talk with the Holy Spirit.  I said “Lord if we are bogged down, frustrated, in a bad mood–can you get all the glory like it says in the scriptures?” NASB 1 Cor. 10:31

I looked over to my right and there was a sign on the side of a truck that said “How’s your view?” The Lord asked me how my view was. I said my view is great, I see you, I love you, and I would do anything for you. Lord said “Really?” I said yep. God said “how come when things go wrong, stresses, you sin, or others things happen, you don’t look at me?” “You focus on the other things instead of me.”

I didn’t have an answer and repented on the spot.

The Lord reminded me of Col. 3:2. ESV Col 3:2 states “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.“ I almost take this as a commandment but sometimes it’s so hard to do.

I started to think of people in the bible that have faced the same issues. The first person I thought of was Peter. Take a  look at the stories of Peter ESV Matt 14:28-32 and ESV Mark 14:66-72. How many of us are like him?  The first story of Peter getting out of the boat and the second one of Peter denying Christ three times.

How many of us have been in either similar situation? How many times have we taken our eyes off of Him?

No matter how many times we screw up, we can be rest assured that he will still love us and be near us. ESV John 21: 15-19

I leave you with this one question, “How’s your View?”

In a time of Shaking…

We are in a time of shaking and God is moving. The economy is bad, and it seems the world is going down the tubes. This is the perfect time to be a Christian!

Why do you believe in Jesus?

This question has been on my heart for awhile.

I first started wrestling with this question while my wife and I were attending a marriage conference. Of all the places, why wrestle with it at a marriage conference? Well the speaker, Jimmy Evans, simply mentioned something about why he believed in Jesus. And it got my heart stirring. I didn’t hear anything else he said for a good 10 minutes or so. I kept replaying in my mind: “why do I believe?” The first thought was, “So I don’t go to Hell.” But the more I thought about it, that couldn’t be the only reason—or even the main reason. Being saved from Hell is a great benefit—but I believe that living for God is the ultimate reason

Why? Because…

• My life was meaningless–God gave me a reason to live
• I was garbage–He made me whole
• I was not worthy–His son made me worthy
• I did not deserve Him–He decided to love me and set me free anyway
• I felt dirty–He made me clean
• I thought I was nothing–He made me feel like I was everything
• I couldn’t do anything without Him–Through Him I can do anything

You see I don’t want to waste my life anymore. For 27 years I did my own thing—lived by my own rules. Then Jesus came along and turned everything around inside.

Before I met Jesus, I thought I had all the answers to life. I was wrong.

God shows me everyday how to act, how to think, how to be a man, and a warrior, and a good husband. Without Him I would totally fail. My life is for God. I believe in Jesus because I want to live my life no longer for me, but totally for Him.

Gal 2:20 (MSG) Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I share this because I want it to be an encouragement to you. Believe me I am not perfect and struggle everyday. I am nothing. He is everything.

I leave you with the same question, “Why do you believe in Jesus?”

Who is Jesus to you?

I love the above picture. I was so intrigued by this artist’s rendition of Jesus.

Do you ever think about Christ hanging out with inmates, gang-bangers, prostitutes, or drug addicts?

This picture, to me, shows the forgotten people. People that normal society rejects, pushes aside, scoffs at, or forgets about.

What are your thoughts? Who is Jesus to you?

Examine your burdens….

Matthew 11:29-30 (NLT)

Last night, I had an amazing conversation with my wife after Bible study. We got home and sat outside in the car for about an hour. I felt this heavy burden on me and just started to tell Erin everything I was feeling about my frustrations with Christians. It went something like this: “Erin, I feel like Christians should be doing more and spending less time sitting on their butts. I’m tired of Christians trying to be comfortable. They should be out preaching the gospel, talking about Jesus, and just doing more.”

Now, I said a lot more than that, but I just wanted to give a brief synopsis of the conversation.

Erin, being the loving, comforting, passionate, listening wife that she is (and I’m not just saying that because she writes on here) looked into her husband’s eyes and said, “Why are you so angry and frustrated with Christians and Christianity? Who or what is it that is making you feel this way? Do you think it’s because you aren’t doing anything? Do you feel this way because you think you should be doing more?”

I started to contemplate what the issue really was. Did I have a real problem with Christians and American Christianity? Was it a true burden from the Lord? Or was it that the feelings I shared with Erin were actually what I thought about myself? In that moment, God revealed to me that I condemn myself a lot. I think that if I don’t mention the name of Jesus when I talk to someone that I have failed. These are self-condemning thoughts of not being good enough or doing enough for God. But just because I don’t see something happen, doesn’t mean Papa can’t use it. That goes for you as well.

As Erin and I talked and prayed, I realized that the huge weight on my shoulders–heavy as can be and hunching over me was removed. I felt so much lighter!

I have shared this in my previous post, but I have been battling the fact that I have trouble talking about Jesus sometimes. Other times, I have no problem sharing what’s on my heart. I really don’t know why I’m sharing all this. There is no real point to my blog, except that sometimes when you have feelings, thoughts, and ideas–share them with someone. It may actually cause you to sit back, examine your heart, and go to the Father and ask, “why am I feeling this?”

I always want to be real with you all and transparent with my life. My life is an open book. I am not ashamed of my past nor do I regret anything I have ever done. The enemy can use secrets as playing cards in the game called life. And I don’t want to have any secret for him to use against me.

Blessings

Thought for the day….Blinking Lights, Empty Streets, and Puffy Eyes

Why is there a school zone on the road between two grocery stores, a Blockbuster and a dry cleaner? I don’t even recall where a school could possibly be in this “school zone.” Maybe it’s a secret school that meets at the car wash-or in the abandoned shopping center?

I’ve never cried while receiving a traffic citation (aka a ticket) before. Yes, afterwards, sure-but never in front of a police officer! Not until today.

Apparently, I was going 35 in this particular “school zone.”

I had to blink back the tears and choke back the swelling lump in my throat as I answered, “I didn’t know it was a school zone there, Sir. I slowed down as soon as I saw the blinking school zone lights.”

The officer was kind enough to inform me that I’d passed two sets of blinking lights before slowing down at the third blinking light. Bummer.

Oh, that’s why everyone was driving so slowly. Why did I decide to take different route to work this morning?

“It’s for the children’s sake, you know.” The officer kindly reminded after handing me the citation. Children? Where? I thought. I glanced both ways (in my minds’ eye of course) and the streets were empty. Sure, Mr. Officer was sitting in the parking lot of the dry cleaners clocking cars at 7:30 in the morning for the sake of “the children.” These children apparently haven’t gotten the memo that there is a school zone there and that they should make use of it.

Honestly, by the end of the dialogue with the officer I was practically sobbing. Not that he was rude; in fact, I think he started to feel bad for me (though not bad enough to give me a warning).

This ticket was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. I know that the reason the tears came so easily was because of multiple other situations going on in my life right now. And finally all my stresses, all my worries, all my frustrations just spilled out in front of the poor, unsuspecting officer.

This? On top of everything else going on?? A ticket and the ensuing fines are the last thing I need.

I cried the whole way to work. My eyes were puffy and my makeup was hopeless. Life isn’t going the way I’d planned right now. And everything seemed to hit the fan all at once.

It’s easy for me to be happy and grateful when things are going my way. I’ll gladly thank God for His blessing and favor if Michael and I get a little more money than expected, or if my bosses notice something they like about what I’m doing and reward me for it, or when gifts just drop out of the sky into our laps.

But how about when there isn’t much money there… when each day brings another uncertainty… when I get a ticket… when there are deadlines we’re only going to make with a hope and a prayer… when major decisions hang in the balance…  Can I still thank God for His goodness, for his blessing? Do I still trust Him?

I had better! I mean, isn’t that when it really counts? Isn’t that what really makes up the whole TRUST part of TRUST. If I thank God only when something that I define as good happens… then really, aren’t I actually just praising the good thing itself? God forbid that I love the gift more than I love Him-the giver of all good things.

So, I praise God. Yes, I praise Him even on this day when I got a ticket and even though I don’t hold all the answers to my life in the palm of my hand. I praise Him for no other reason than He is good and worthy of my praise. I belong to Him and I am loved by Him. And I trust that He will continue to be faithful ALWAYS because that is who He is.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:16 (NLT).

Around this time of year.

Man this has been a crazy time of month for me! I hope and pray your month is blessed and full of joy!

As you all know, or may be experiencing, life seems to be hitting rocks right now.  The economy is in a recession, unemployment has gone up, people are struggling in different areas of their life, and according to statistics, depression is high during Christmas.  I wasn’t even going to write about this topic, but God is really laying this on my heart.

The enemy (Satan) is as real as the day is long. If you know Christ, consider yourself a target. (Surprise! Welcome to life as a Christian.) Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame everything that happens on Satan–it’s just Christmas seems to be the most trying time of year.

Check this out: The bible says in John 10:10 (NLT) that the enemy is a punk and wants to take everything away from us. Now look at the rest of the verse and you’ll see Jesus wants to give us everything back. You see, God is our provider. He is the One who has to worry, not us. Believe me this is something I am battling right now. I have been chewing on, sweating over, perplexed at, and getting frustrated with this notion.

There is so much that I want to do, that I want to provide, that I want to see happen. The reality is, I can’t do anything without Him–its about Jesus. So no matter if you have lost your job, lost money in the stock market, someone’s ill, or something else in your life–remember it’s about Him. Col 3:2 (NLT) says to keep your mind on things above and not worry about anything else. This might be hard to do but I want to encourage you and leave you with this poem:

Whose Hands

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Dirk Nowitzki’s hands is worth millions of dollars.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.

A baseball in Alex Rodriguez’s hands is worth millions of dollars.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.

A tennis racket in Venus William’s hands is a Championship Trophy.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.

a rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid’s toy.

A slingshot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed five thousand.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

As you see it depends whose hands it’s in.

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your challenges, your futures,

your obstacles, your hopes, your dreams , your families and your relationships

in God’s hands because…..

It depends whose hands it’s in.

-Author Unknown

What’s your story…..?

I love the fact that God has given us stories. What we do with our story is up to us. Do we share our stories or do we hold on to our treasure? I know it may sound weird to call our life stories “treasure,” but think about it. The experiences you have gone through, the struggles you have warred against, and the blessings you have received are your treasure. Don’t bury them!! Share your treasure and don’t ever hold back or be ashamed of it. Below is my story, whats yours?

I was born March 29th, 1979 to a life of hard times and pathways of destruction. As a child, I was very angry, alone, lost, and jealous. You see, I knew about Jesus my whole life but everything from my parents fighting, to their constant screaming, physical, mental, and emotional abuse turned my heart against Him. I figured if God acts the way my family does….why do I need Him?

My father and I weren’t very close growing up. He was there in my life, but at the same time he wasn’t. This always drove me crazy. For so many years I yearned and pleaded for my father’s approval. As the anger, hatred, and bitterness increased, my heart decreased. It was as hard and black as you could ever imagine.

Even though I was a loner and outcast, I still had two friends: Anger and Hate. They would follow me wherever I went. I always had thoughts in my head that everyone was out to get me and the world owed me for what it had done. Puhleeeassseee! To think that world, God or anyone owed me anything is ridiculous!

As I said, my life was on a pathway of destruction. I remember as clear as day, I told God “I hate you and want nothing to do with you. I prayed to you for years and you never answered my prayers.” That’s when my life changed for the worse. My life headed toward drugs, sex, violence, gangs, and partying all the time. I lived the life you see in rap videos but didn’t have the money or expensive cars. As I’m typing this I realize how much of a fool I was but how God’s grace stepped in. I shouldn’t be here. God should have wiped me off the face of the earth. I have come face to face with death a few times but God always rescued me.

In 2003, I started to attend Gateway church. That’s where I heard a message entitled “Forgiveness of your father.” It broke me down inside. The Holy Spirit came in and knocked the snot out of me. I fell to my knees hard that day. I was crying, sobbing, cursing, and boogers were flying! It was a glorious day because I felt some freedom. Now during that time, I was still doing my own thing. I knew God had gotten a hold of my heart, but I still wasn’t fully submitted to Him.

In 2006, my world had taken another tumble. My first wife wanted a divorce. That changed my course again and brought back my friends (Hate and Anger) plus some others. I fell back into alcohol hardcore. In the mornings I’d have a drink before work, then when I got home, I’d have a few more. To top that off, I would drink and drive while on my way to the bar in the evenings. Everyday this happened. It was the same routine.

I felt I was another statistic and begged for God to take me home. Then in January of 2007, I heard God as clear as day. He said “Boy” (Yes, God gets crunk with me.) “I’m tired of watching you do to this to yourself. You either follow me or continue down your path and end up dead.” He told me He was tired of watching me hurt myself.

So, on July 13th, 2007 at 2:30pm I rededicated my whole life totally to God. Wiithout Jesus Christ I am nothing nor will ever be anything. He is my  all in all, my Lord, my Savior, my Life. God also promises he will give back what the enemy has taken Joel 2:25 (NASB).

He brought a woman into my life who is everything I have ever wanted. She is now my wife and she is the most amazing woman!!  My father and I are now best friends and have come closer together then we ever were before. I couldn’t have done this on my own–only God could.

Below is a video I wanted to share of some people I personally know, and some that I don’t. I believe you will be touched by this video. I beg you to share your story and never be ashamed of the “treasure” God has given you.

~blessings

Still Might Be Crazy

God has placed eternity into your heart and soul so that you will know that only God can fill your heart:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV) He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Jesus is the bread of life so you will hunger no more:

Psalm 34:10 (ESV) The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Jesus is the living water:

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV) for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.

... what are you going to get by drinking the water that comes from the world:

Jeremiah 2:18 (ESV) And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

Check out the model prayer:

Matthew 6:11 (ESV) Give us this day our daily bread.

God provides on a daily basis:

Exodus 16:13-15 (ESV) In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Even His mercies are new every morning:

Lamentations 3:22-25 (ESV) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.

I could go on and on and on. The point of it is that God mentions this way too many times for us not to take it to heart.

A Little Bit Crazy

I have been accused of being crazy mostly because I take God’s Word literally.

For example, I don’t worry because Christ told me not to.  Don’t believe me? Take a look:

Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

and…

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

futhermore…

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

I know we are commanded to love God with all of our heart, mind, spirit and strength and love your neighbors as well as your enemies.  But if there isn’t a higher recommendation for a “commendment” for Christians, I don’t know what is.

So because I don’t worry (again because Christ told me to), some people think I am crazy.

Then I ran into the following (verse 13 highlighted):

2 Corinthians 5:11-15 (ESV) Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Some translations read: So if we were crazy, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you.

I guess that solves it.