bible

You are here: Home / Posts Tagged "bible"

Tag: bible

Standard

Let Freedom Ring

 

Let Freedom Ring!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Happy Freedom day! I love the fourth of July for all the same reasons most of you do… grilling out and chilling out with your family and friends, watching the glow of fireworks, enjoying some time in the pool with the kids… and most of all that we get to live in America. It’s a blessing to live in this country and I for one am proud. I couldn’t help but think about the term the “American Dream” though. The American Dream is this perfect little picture that society puts on us in order to be good and productive people. Nothing wrong with being good or productive but this “dream” we are pushing so hard for might be the very thing that is keeping us bound. If all we do is work then when do we live? If our only pursuit is money, then when do pursue Jesus? Let’s even dig a little deeper… Are you truly free?

Well as a country we are free, but as individuals we could be as captive as a death row inmate. What I mean is in our hearts and our spirits… are you free? I recently had someone ask me that question and I was glad to share with them how God had restored me and how He set me free. It was a lively conversation because the path that God had set them on was different than the path God had set me on. For some people God does instantaneous and miraculous deliverance from something that has kept them down for years. Then on the other hand, for people like myself, it has taken a process of years of discipleship, growth and transforming my mind to experience true deliverance and more importantly, to be more like Jesus.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  -Romans 12:2 NIV

This process of transformation isn’t something that is going to come easy. No matter how you became free, it’s even more important to maintain that freedom. Regardless of what type of freedom we’ve experienced in the past, freedom isn’t a one time event. Freedom in our minds and hearts is a daily battle because the enemy doesn’t respect your freedom. When you are on purpose and on target, the enemy is going to attack your freedom with every opportunity and temptation possible!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  -Galatians 5:1 NKJV

So freedom is a daily fight. It’s worth it. Stay free and don’t give up any ground today!

Oh…. and eat a burger and light a sparkler 😉

 

Standard

Transitions

 

Change is good.

 

Transitions is a great word. No matter where you are in life you will experience change. Change is good. We have been told that all of our lives. Change happens regardless of whether it’s welcome or not. It just does. Things change. God has incorporated that into the DNA of creation. Seasons, sunny days, rainy ones… regardless of what the yard looks like now or how old your neighborhood is, it always changes. Change isn’t always good but it is necessary for growth. One thing I’ve learned over my 42 years is that change is inevitable but progress is optional.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.

 

The bible is clear about timing. They say the key to comedy is… timing. I’d say that one of the keys to life and relationships is timing as well. I’ve spoke to so many people who are going through transition and I’ve even experienced many myself. Whether it’s a geographical move or a new career choice or anything that would cause change… one thing that is true… you take you everywhere you go. You have to be willing to grow through the transition. No matter how much exterior transition is happening there must be an internal peace that is maintained through the fruit of the Spirit. This is when we don’t have all the answers but we know the One who does. Jesus is the Master of your transition just like He is mine. I have never seen God let me down… and if you were honest, I’d assume the same thing is true for you. Transitions can be scary and uncertain but that is why God requires and responds to faith! Don’t allow fear to rule your decisions. Faith always gets God’s attention.

In conclusion, I want you to experience God’s blessing in a new and a fresh way. When we trust God in the transitions, we can rest in His provision. God is good and He has nothing but good things for you. Trust Him… it is all going to work out!

Standard

In Light of Eternity

 

In light of eternity, does it really matter?

 

I’ve said this phrase many times in the past to myself and those closest to me. Recently I’ve just kinda started thinking and saying it again. Last month I was able to head back to my hometown and see family but it was extremely sad because my stepmom had past from this life to the next. Attending the memorial service and just kinda being back home reminded me of this phrase.

In light of eternity, does it really matter?

Think about how powerful that question is. I mean it really is a sobering thought. ETERNITY. Sometimes we get all caught up in stuff that is so petty and small in our minds and our relationships. Our focus becomes so microscopic in comparison to the way God wants us to look at our world.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 2:6 NIV

Our position is way bigger than our problem! God has positioned us but it seems we like to sink down and look at everything at a lower level of living. We get caught up in what she said on Facebook or what that guy said to us at work or confronting that person because they needed to be checked or whatever. We seem to talk about people and situations with no regard to the consequences of our words. Jesus wants us to get out of the low level of living and sit in the position he paid so dearly for us. So… let me ask… In light of eternity, does it really matter?

When we live with a larger perspective in mind it helps us rediscover or discover our values, which then help us establish our priorities.

I know it’s a bit of a short post this week but it’s just because I have had a ton of irons in the fire. One of which is design… if you need a creative project, well… I know a guy. 😉 But seriously, click this link and let’s chat about your creative upgrade for 2017!

Standard

7 Pointers for a Freaking Fantastic 2017

 

2017! Woo-freaking-hoo!!!

I don’t know about you but I am in eager anticipation and expectation for 2017. I am believing for some huge things this year!

So let’s talk about some great pointers to make it a freaking fantastic 2017!

1. Make a Vision Board
Last month I created a Vision Board for 2017. If you’ve never created one of these, it’s a brilliant exercise to stimulate vision and faith for the new year. Basically I took all of the ideas, goals, and even the way-out-there-what-if-God-factor possibilities and put it all on a board that hangs where I can see it everyday. This helps me stay focused. If it doesn’t fit in this vision board then I don’t do it! I’d post a pic but some of those things are private, they are BIG things between me and God! I challenge you to do the same!

2. Sleep Better
So many people operate under the phrase, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” Well folks, if you don’t sleep, you’ll be dead sooner. It’s just a fact that God created in us a time to sleep. Sleep is when our body is restored. Many people don’t feel well because they don’t sleep well. Make it a priority to get more and better sleep. This year will be better with more sleep!

3. Eat Better
Again this seems so simple but often not practiced. What we eat affects how we feel. Trust me, I love food. I can pack on the pounds like nobody’s business! I have learned that “over 40” metabolism sucks. So that means I have to make different choices about how I eat, when I eat, and of course, what I eat. Eating better has to be a priority if you want to feel great and have an awesome 2017!

4. Workout… for reals this time.
Working out 3 times a week is something anybody can do. You may have a goal to look all ripped by summer… well great… but let’s just work on being healthy. Getting in some good cardio on a treadmill or lifting a few times a week will do wonders to elevate your endorphins and our mood.

5. Stop Chasing “Happy”
It seems like we focus on being happy and we do all kinds of crazy things to get it. Stop chasing happy. Happiness is an emotion not a life goal! Let’s work on our passion, love those around us, and we’ll find ourselves pretty dang happy. Developing joy and contentment should be our life goal, these are virtues on which to build a great life and have a freaking fantastic 2017.

6. Quit Whining
We are so blessed. Look around at your life, chances are if you are reading this you have sight! LOL! 🙂 Be thankful. No complaining, no whining, no belly-aching! When we thank God verbally, we grow emotionally. Take a moment to Thank God for what you have!

7. Take Walks
Do this daily or multiple times a day but regardless, getting out for a walk will help clear your mind a bit. You can pray or whatever but when we stand up and take a step outside, it removes us from our current environment. I do this often when I’m writing or designing because it just helps kinda keep the flow going.

 

If you’re like me… you are pretty glad to 2016 go away. It was a year of healing and transition for me. I am excited for 2017 and look forward to what God is going to do this year!

 

Standard

You’re Next!

 

I love the concept of being “next” for something. No matter where I have been in life, I’ve always had to wait in line and wait for my turn. I’ve found it doesn’t matter how old you get, this never goes away. Being “next” for something is exciting. Being next in line for a promotion, next in your family to get married, being next in line at Dairy Queen, being the next in line for something awesome is an exhilarating feeling. Being next implies that your time is coming. Your time of waiting is over. We all hate waiting… well read this post and this one too… they might help 🙂 …but yeah, we all hate waiting so when it is our turn we get excited, we get all pumped up!

We all seem to struggle with feeling left out from time to time but the fact is God is the Father of all. He has blessings reserved just for you. I think maybe we struggle with a spiritual form of FOMO. That’s right… FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out. We look at social media and Instagram and see how God is blessing someone or a certain family or whatever and we seem to think that God has forgotten about us but let me tell you! God has not forgotten about you! You are not missing out! God doesn’t just have one blessing for someone and nothing for another! He is an infinite God with infinite blessing, possibility, and opportunity that He can open up just for you!

You have not missed out, your time has not passed, and God has not forgotten about you! I’m going to be crazy enough to proclaim that, “YOU’RE NEXT!” Your time is coming. Keep yourself and your heart right before God. Not in a self-righteous-rule-following kind of way but in a I’m-trusting-God-with-everything kind of way. You can’t earn God’s blessing but you can experience it by walking in the fruit of the Spirit. When we produce the fruit of the Spirit, God’s blessing just chases us down. You won’t be able to get away from God’s blessing when you walk in the fruit of the Spirit!

This week, I want you to say this over yourself and your life…

“I am not forgotten. God has specific blessings just for me this week. This is my time. I’m next!”

I’m believing and trusting God with you that your best days are ahead of you and your time is now!

 

Standard

The God of the Process

 

So this past weekend I had the opportunity to speak at my buddy Jeff’s church over in Durham, NC. What a great church with some great people! I admit this next scenario happens quite often, I have a set of sermon notes and I just can’t seem to preach the same message twice in a row. There’s always something new I’m saying or that God has dropped into my heart. So this particular message I was talking about the process of a dream and it seems there is so much that goes into it. I wanted to unpack a little bit here in this post because I think there’s more to it than just what I said in the message.

As I’m preaching away, God reminded me of a message I heard from a friend a few years ago. A couple little thoughts were dropped into my heart. The first was, “God is a God of process.” The next was, “Time doesn’t matter to God.” and the last one was “God works by process not time.”

It’s interesting that when God is preparing us for His great dream for our lives, He doesn’t view it in how much time has been spent preparing, He views it from how much growth and fruit has been produced. Time is something man made up. So God doesn’t look at the process through time, HE looks at it through development and growth, in my opinion. How have we grown in character, love, and relationship with Him? These are what God is looking for. Sometimes we like to get upset with people or situations but in actuality the process God has us on, is His doing! If you want to get upset with someone, get upset with God! God is sovereign, He has a plan for your life and every dream has levels, every level requires change and transformation. This is where the God of the process has to be acknowledged and we acquiesce and allow God to have His way, not ours. This isn’t always easy because we like our way, we like how we do things even if it’s not beneficial! We have been trained in society to get everything right now. We live in a microwave society but serve a crockpot God!

There’s something about the process of God that helps us get to know the God of the process. That’s the point right? To love God meaning to know Him and have relationship with Him. So if you find yourself in a tough spot and you are questioning God, I encourage you to pray and ask God what in us needs to change? What can I do to go to the next level? Usually the process is spurred on by changing not by complaining.

 

 

Standard

Grace for Today

 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
-2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Have you ever felt like you just can’t go on and you manage to go on anyway? Have you ever wondered how people make it through life’s worst situations? I do. I wonder about it all the time. What is it in a person, who loves God but seems to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, that continues to move forward in life? There are days when I feel like Cameron in Ferris Buller’s Day Off. Days I just want Ferris to not call me and I’d like to pull the covers over my head and shut out the entire world! But then it happens. I place one foot on the ground then the other foot follows. For me I wrestle with a lot of things; my past, insecurities, selfish ambition. I think about the future, and things could be worrisome at times, but then I think about the present. What is happening in me right now? Well right now I have no complaints, I have everything in the world to be grateful for. The Holy Spirit reminds me that all I need for today is His grace. Sometimes we want grace for tomorrow but tomorrow isn’t promised to us.

Then I broaden my horizons, get my eyes off of myself and think about others. The world we live in is a pretty remarkable place with some pretty remarkable people in it. I think about the single mom who has a disabled child, I think about a son who sits by the bedside of a parent who has cancer, I think about parents who lose a child too soon, I think about some of these impossible situations and wonder how they get through it. How do they do it? Grace. God’s grace carries them through these dark places. You don’t really know what God has done in you until it’s time to use it, then all of a sudden you realize God has been preparing us our whole life for this moment! When you are in a tough situation you must realize that God has prepared you for it. He piles on grace upon grace for when we need most.

I’m writing this to someone who wants to give up. Don’t do it. Your destiny is worth the fight! Don’t you dare give up and don’t you dare doubt God! He is with you, fighting for you and He will give you the grace to make it… even if just for today.

 

Standard

Fruitful – Self-Control

 

This week I’m continuing a blog series on the fruit of the Spirit. I’m excited about this series and I’m believing God that we continue to be FRUITFUL! So this week let’s talk about The Fruit of the Spirit – Self-Control.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
-Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

Have you ever seen something or someone completely out of control? In racing, you might hear half the people go for the race and half go for the crash. It’s the idea of seeing something out of control. Something bigger than ourselves that could spell the ultimate victory or a painful defeat that goes down in a huge crash; completely out of control. Have you ever been out of control? I mean after it’s all over you look back and think, “How did I let that happen or how could I have gotten so out of control of myself?” I’ve been there more times than I’m proud of that’s for sure. Whether it’s anger, addiction, lust, or anything else that the human condition can produce, it’s not a good feeling being out of control. Prisons are filled with people who couldn’t control themselves but so are office buildings. It seems we live in an out-of-control society. As a matter of fact, our entire reality TV addiction in this country is built on getting people who can’t control themselves then filming and editing it for us all to see!

Having self-control is probably one of the most beneficial fruits of the Spirit. This is the fruit that will keep us out of harm’s way in our walk with God and our relationship with others. Just like all the other fruits though, it is grown in situations that require it. When we use it we don’t lose it! You’ll be presented plenty of situations where you can lose it and blow up on everybody or you can blow it big-time with your family but regardless of the situation how we grow the fruit is applying it.

When we want to respond angry we use have self-control. When we want to make a bad decision because we “deserve it”, use have self-control. When we want to take something that isn’t ours because “we’ve earned it”, use self-control. Sometimes taking a deep breath and “playing out the tape” is how I avoid bad decisions. Like I said, I’ve made quite a few bad decisions and so have you, but I’ve also made quite a few good ones and it’s usually because I “play the tape out”. This is a saying I picked up in recovery. It helps overcome impulsive thinking.

Before you make a decision, do these 3 things:

  1. Ask, “Is this what God’s will is for your life?”  This is pretty straight-forward. Is this what God would want me to do?
  2. Play the tape all the way out and just envision the future and the impact your decision will have on it.
  3. What’s the wise thing to do? One of the most powerful questions you could ask!

If you have an affirmative on all these points, then you can be pretty sure you are making a good decision.

Making good decisions isn’t something people are born with, it’s a skill that can be developed. So let’s make some good ones this week!

Standard

Fruitful – Gentleness

 

This week I’m continuing a blog series on the fruit of the Spirit. I’m excited about this series and I’m believing God that we continue to be FRUITFUL! So this week let’s talk about The Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
-Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

I was raised in a way to open doors for others, to say, “Yes ma’am” and ” No sir” to my elders, basically with the overall sense of being a gentleman. Now gentleness isn’t being feminine or soft but it has way more to do with being strong than anything else. Gentleness is very similar to goodness. The goodness that the Holy Spirit plants in us and it grows as a fruit is then expressed through gentleness. Gentleness is the action of goodness. Being gentle has more of a correlation with meekness. My youth pastor taught me way back in the day that “meekness isn’t weakness”. Meekness is strength under control. It’s having the power to crush something or somebody but instead you strengthen them through love and encouragement.

Being a gentle person might have the picture of someone skipping through the dandelions whistling along without a care in the world. Maybe, but true gentleness and true spiritual fruit is when someone has wronged you and you have the ability to speak harshly ABOUT them but you don’t. Instead you speak to them and love them in order that God may be glorified and their purpose may be fulfilled. This is meekness, this is true spiritual fruit! I long for the day when Christians stop hurting other Christians and actually do what the bible says!

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. -Galatians 6:1 NIV

The scripture uses the word “gently” on purpose. It’s the same word that correlates to “meekness” so it means that even those who have screwed up do not get slammed! The bible is written for us to understand that God has a path and plan to restoration and complete fullness but it comes through the fruit of the Spirit, more specifically through being a gentle person. Gentleness is such an underestimated source of power that can overcome almost any bad situation. The reason we don’t operate in gentleness is because it takes humility. Being humble and gentle go hand in hand. I’ve never seen a gentle person with a big ego.

This week you will be presented with the opportunity to lash out and crush someone. But take a moment, take a deep breath, and be gentle. This is having your strength under control.

 

Standard

Fruitful – Faithfulness

 

This week I’m continuing a blog series on the fruit of the Spirit. I’m excited about this series and I’m believing God that we continue to be FRUITFUL! So this week let’s talk about The Fruit of the Spirit – Faithfulness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
-Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

Being faithful. Everyone wants faithful, but what is faithful? Does it mean dependable? Does it mean on-time? Does it mean good attendance? Someone who has your back? That’s faithful right? Well maybe in some opinions and cultures those are what people mean by being faithful, but the fruit of the Spirit has a different meaning when it comes to faithful. In the Greek, it translates right back to the root for faith (pistis) so when we call someone “faithful” or say they have “faithfulness”, you are really saying, “They are FULL of Faith!” It means they have a full faith in God according to the fruit of the Spirit. So while being on-time and dependable are important, what’s more important is a faith in a strong God!

So how do we get more faith? This fruit is GROWN in our lives right in the middle of when we think we need it most! Right in the middle of a problem that we need to believe God for is right when this fruit is grown on our life. When we are facing something that we don’t have the money for or the strength for or the heart for… that’s right when we need faith. This God-infused fruit called faith is grown in our lives. It’s the God-kind-of-faith. This is the faith that pleases God. It’s when we throw our hands up in surrender, not out of frustration or weariness, but in surrender, so we are believing God for His best when we don’t know what to do. I’m there right now! I have a couple personal situations and relationships that I’ve done all I can do and I am believing the Holy Spirit will do the rest!

Faith is the cornerstone to our walk with God. It takes faith to believe in a God we can’t see. Faith is what pleases God.

This week, don’t allow situations and relationships to drain your faith. Guard your faith and keep speaking and declaring what the bible has said about your situation!

 

1 2