I was recently helping my daughter with her Math homework.  She’s in the third grade and currently learning multiplication tables.  I was pretty good in Math though I remember how difficult multiplication tables were for me initially.  She was getting a little frustrated as the goal was to finish a timed test filled with questions.  To build her confidence I revealed I was the first person in my class to pass all those timed tests (it was true) and told her I could share some secrets with her so she could do the same.  Her eyes sparkled with excitement and that frustration was replaced with her beautiful smile.  We started by practicing doing the actual timed test while I watched her to see what she was doing.  Instantly I noticed she was glancing back at questions she’d already answered searching for the answer to her current problem so she wouldn’t have to figure it out again.  Once she failed to finish the test again I began telling her what I noticed.  She admitted to doing it.  I explained, “Baby, that’s slowing you down.  You have to quit looking back at what you’ve already done and concentrate on what’s right in front of you. You already know the answers.  Just answer it and move on.”  We chatted a few minutes longer about it and then she took the test again.  Not only did she pass the test the next go round but she passed it with a full minute to spare– and has passed two others since then.

Life is full of questions.  Situations come at us from all sides.  Things we don’t understand.  Things we don’t have answers to.  Things that seem beyond our control.  How should we react?  What should we do?  James 1:2-4 reminds us, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  Faith will never be produced by trials, but it will be tested by the trials we’re made to endure.  Romans 10:17 tells us where faith is produced as it states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  The more we study and know God’s word, the stronger our faith becomes and the more solid our (what I call) “faith foundation” becomes.  The more we pray and spend intimate moments with Him, the better we know the heart of God and how to react when those situations come along.  If we’ve hidden the word of God in our hearts, we won’t have to keep looking back for the answers.  We will already know the answers and can react when the issue presents itself.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  It all boils down to our relationship with the Father.  Patience to wait on God for the answers is produced in greater fashion when we learn how to receive those trials in faith knowing that He is already at work in our favor.  Learning how to “Consider it all joy…” must become the response of our faith in the moment of the trial.  Patience doesn’t come quickly.  It’s like a flower that has to bloom.  But eventually, it will reveal itself and become a thing of beauty.  Chances are, in most situations, we already know the answers.  Quit looking back.  Just answer it and move on.  And if we don’t know the answers, that’s a sure sign we need to be studying more.

Be encouraged today, my friends!  I hope you all have a blessed week!

While visiting the East campus of our new church a few weeks ago I met a sweet lady named Vickie.  As we were introducing ourselves it came up in conversation that she was once a personnel manager at a particular business establishment.  We began discussing her past responsibilities as she began reciting a long list of things and eventually ended with…… “basically any and everything,” to which we both laughed.  One of the things we discussed was the end-of-the-year inventory that was inevitably looming over their heads.  Every company must undergo this process in some way.  The end or beginning of every year leaves most businesses reconciling the products they have left on hand and comparing it to current sales records.  These records reveal gains or losses.  To someone who has made a good projection, this is a rewarding experience.  To someone who haphazardly planned, this can be a grueling process.  It’s at that moment you are forced to stand accountable for purchases made and an inability to move the product.  By this point, you have probably lost money and you’re forced to sell the leftover product at a fraction of the price to get rid of it—if you can move it at all.  Just as in life, to every action there is a reaction.  Every movement will knock the metaphorical domino in one direction or another thus causing a chain reaction.  For every decision, there are consequences-good or bad.  What does your personal inventory of 2017 reveal to you?

Jonah 1 finds none other than Jonah himself running from what God had instructed him to do.  God’s intentions were for Jonah to go to Nineveh and announce His pending judgment on the people of that great city.  Rather than doing so, Jonah threw on his running shoes and went in the (literal) opposite direction of what he had been told.  His blatant disobedience led him aboard a ship that ended up in the middle of the storm that threatened the lives of all onboard.  Knowing his presence was the reason for the storm, he encouraged the men to throw him overboard, which they eventually did.  Verse 17 reveals, “Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”  Not my idea of an enjoyable spa visit with, no doubt, a seaweed wrap included free of charge.  Jonah’s bad decisions left him suffering consequences that could have been avoided had he followed God’s directives.  Some things happen to us in life that are beyond our control.  I believe it’s a safe assumption that much of the outcome of our lives is based on our decisions and choices, good or bad.  We stand at the brink of a fresh start.  Your habits and decisions will have a direct impact on the outcome of this year.  What could you do to ensure 2018 will be different and better than what you’ve experienced in the past?

Closing remarks and encouragement:  New Year’s Resolutions don’t work well for most people as we place high and unreachable expectations on ourselves and then fail miserably.  I want to encourage you to take an inventory of the outcome of 2017 then purpose to create better habits for yourself.  Things such as reading the word of God, praying daily, as well as cultivating your relationship with your Father above through purposeful times of intimacy with Him.  The lives we live as believers should be less about fulfilling fleshly desires and more about leading others to the saving knowledge of a loving Savior.  Purpose to do better…….to be better in 2018.  The power to change is in your hands.  What will you do with your power?

“Please just listen to me and do what I asked!!!”  I raised my voice in frustration.  I had tried to speak calmly and extend an above-average amount of patience but the constant “why” and “why not” was becoming a bit frustrating.  My daughter is 9 years old now and has been attempting to stretch her “teenager legs” as I like to refer to them.  In other words, she’s getting older and is beginning to think she can now make her own decisions about most issues.  We are quick to usher either of our children (gently or not) back in line if they are, as my grandmother use to say, “getting too big for their britches.”  While we want to encourage independence and confidence in their decisions, we also endeavor to teach them submission to authority and other lessons that will serve them well in life.  It’s a tight-rope walk that constantly threatens to throw you off balance and send you plummeting to the ground.  The response I long to hear is, “Sure, Dad.  I trust your judgement and know you want what is best for me.”  The response I receive is more along the lines of how I use to respond to my own parents—yeah, I know…you reap what you sow.  This fact gives me hope my daughter and son will come to this realization at some point, as well.

In the past few weeks I’ve been studying the stories surrounding the birth of Christ.  I was struck by Mary’s instant submissiveness to the angel’s message to his informing her she would carry the son of God.  Luke 1:28-38 states, “Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. [you would have freaked out if you’d been visited by an angel, too!]  “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.  What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”  Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”  The angel, Gabriel, didn’t rebuke her when she asked her question signifying to us her response wasn’t spoken from lack of faith but of genuine intrigue (those angels could be a tough bunch and had no problem putting people in their place but that wasn’t so in this particular moment).

Here are a few valuable lessons (though there are many more) to be learned from Mary’s story. 

• To experience the promise, you must be fully submissive to the will of God. That doesn’t mean the road to your promise will be easy or will even make sense to your human mind but submissiveness is key.
• When God instructs you to do something, He will confirm it. If you continued reading you found that Elizabeth was, indeed, pregnant (which was a miracle as she was well past child-bearing age).  The spirit in Elizabeth bore witness and stated Mary was carrying the Son of God before Mary had the chance to utter anything more than a simple greeting upon arrival.  God’s instructions to us may seem odd.  Be assured, if it’s God, He will confirm it to you.  It’s important we keep our eyes and ears open to His leading.  The Holy Spirit is always speaking to us.  But the question remains, what voice are we actually listening to?
• Your response should always be, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”  Blind faith isn’t always comfortable or predictable but, stepping out of your comfort zone lends to a miraculous experience that could only be created by the hands of Almighty God.

Becoming a believer doesn’t ensure life will be an easy journey.  In most cases, it’s quite the opposite.  But we should always have a different outlook from the world.  We’ve been give hope.  He is our hope!

Merry Christmas, my friends!  I pray the coming year will find you blessed beyond measure by the Lord as you work for His kingdom.

Side note:  This will be my last submission for 2017.   I will be focusing on my family and celebrating our Lord for the next few weeks!

From an early age it was very apparent to me, my family wasn’t rich.  We weren’t the type of folks that could walk in a store and decide on a whim we would make a purchase based off our personal desires.  My Dad worked hard for years in the textile mill setting and then later in the harsh temperatures of a freezer filled with raw meats and poultry.  Though they didn’t have much, my parents were faithful with everything God blessed them with.  We bought what was needed and indulged in the [very] occasional splurge.  As a teen, I remember my overwhelming desire for a new car, brand-named clothing, and more.  Truthfully, I didn’t need it.  It was just a selfish desire.  It’s easy to be egomaniacal and want everything we see but, if we’re honest with ourselves, rarely do we come across anything that is an actual need outside of food and shelter.  I could have chosen in those moments to concentrate on what I didn’t have, but it wouldn’t accomplish anything.

1 Kings 17 finds Elijah in need of food and drink as the country he’s in is suffering from a long-term drought.  At one point, he moves from where he’d been to a new area.  He comes across a widow who he requests to bring him drink and bread.  She informs him that, when he found her, she was gathering sticks to build a fire to cook the last meal for she and her son before they died.  [Vs. 13-14] “And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.  For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”  She did as she was instructed and, the Bible informs us, she and her household ate for many days.  She could have continued her dialogue with Elijah and, in the kindest terms possible, informed him her family was more important and he would need to fend for himself.  Instead, her submission and simple act of faith towards the man of God led to long term [and daily] miracles for her and her family.  You may not have much but, I assure you, your meager offerings/abilities paired with the Father’s miracle working power are a formula for great and unexplainable successes.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  As we walk through our lives, we can decide to look at what we don’t have and convince ourselves we can’t accomplish a certain task for the kingdom because of our limitations.  Be reminded today, if God will’s it, the burden of accomplishing that particular task falls to His shoulders.  You are simply the vessel being used.  Your miracles aren’t necessarily found in what you don’t have or what you’ve lost.  The miracle can be found in what you have left.  What will you do with what you have left?

Have a blessed week, my friends!

I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was 16 years old and had the whole world in front of me….and no way to get out there. I had just gotten my license and I was overly ready to be on the open road.  I begged for my own car for months and submitted quite a few suggestions while informing my parents how it would benefit them as well.  I had dreams of a Camaro, Ferrari, Mustang, or some other sporty vehicle that I would look cool in.  I had these grandiose ideas of riding around, windows down, with the wind attempting to blow through my hair that I had sprayed with half a gallon of White Rain Hairspray (true story).  I still remember my Dad coming home and giving me the keys to my first vehicle.  My dreams were momentarily crushed as I realized it wasn’t the sports car I had hoped for.  What I had was a 1986 Buick Regal that needed a paint job and someone to reupholster the headliner as it was beginning to separate from its original glue job.  My disappointment only lasted for a few minutes until I realized it had wheels, it cranked, and had the ability to get me where I needed to go.  I drove that car like there was no tomorrow and had the speeding tickets and wrecks to prove it.  I could have handed the keys back to my Dad with a, “No, thank you,” response as the car didn’t live up to my desires.  Regardless of my original expectations, it still fulfilled the purpose for which it was intended.

Throughout the Bible we come across quite a few interesting stories.  For example, Moses and his encounter with the burning bush in the desert as expressed in Exodus 3.  A burning bush in the desert wasn’t an oddity as much as realizing the bush wasn’t being consumed.  Matthew 14 reminds us of the disciple’s moment of mistaken identity when they assume Jesus is Casper the friendly (or not-so-friendly) ghost walking on the water.  On many occasions we assume because God doesn’t come in the form or the way we expect, His presence isn’t as valid or important.  Humans attempt put things in a box.  We want to explain and quantify everything so it makes sense those around us [and to ourselves].  We serve a limitless God that can’t be bound by space and time.  If we’re looking for him to show up or move in only certain ways we will be highly disappointed and quite possibly miss out on the biggest blessing of our lives.  1 Kings 19 finds a weary Elijah running from Jezebel and dealing with what many today would term as a depression of sorts no doubt asking himself, “Where is God?”  He felt alone and needed reassurance that God was still with him.  Verses 11-13 states, “And he [God] said, go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle…”  God doesn’t always manifest His presence in obvious ways.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  What does your current situation look like?  I’m sure we all have desires to see things turn out a specific way.  I encourage us all today not to get so caught up in our preconceived expectations we miss the miracle of His appearance in even the smallest of ways.  If you’re expecting fanfare, you won’t get it.  If you’re expecting an audible announcement, you won’t get it.  Whether you see Him or not, I assure you He’s there and He’s working on your behalf.

Recently, we were spending an evening at home while my wife was out of town. Being the helpful child he is, my son asked to assist me in the chores I was doing around the house. I agreed but limited his interaction with the cleaning supplies while promising he could do more in the future. After we finished I went to rest in my recliner while (I thought) the kids played. The moment I considered the need to check in on little man (because he was a little too quiet), I heard him cry out as if he’d been hurt. I ran towards the sound of his voice coming from our downstairs bathroom. I opened the door where he stood sobbing while frozen in an inch of free standing water. There was definitive evidence of an over usage of soap that left copies amounts of bubbles in the sink, the commode was still overflowing with water, and wet toilet paper was all over the floor. Aside from the apparent mess, everything looked clean (if you catch my drift). My helpful child decided he would re-clean the bathroom.  After using an entire roll of toilet paper wiping things down, logic dictated he flush the evidence. His well-meaning actions left him in a mess with the need to be rescued. His impatience simply got the best of him. As I dried him off and calmed him I said, “Baby, if you would have waited I would have allowed you to do more next time like I promised. But now you’re in a mess.”

I couldn’t be mad at him because I began reflecting on my own behavior in regards to my walk with Christ. Isn’t that how we all are from time to time? And we’re not alone. I’ve been reading in Genesis this week about Abram (Abraham before the name change). I read four separate occasions where God promised him something of great value to the men of that time– a family and, ultimately, a lineage. In Genesis 12:2 God tells him, “…I will make you a great nation…” In Genesis 13:16, “…I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth…” In a separate conversation God makes the promise again (Genesis 15:4). By this time, Abram is in his mid-eighties and he’s heard it all before. Respectfully, He calls God on His promise by referencing his heir, Eliezer of Damascus (his right-hand man) since he has no legitimate heir. God tells him, “This one shall not be your heir (Eliezer), but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” (now we’re getting a little more specific) Sometime later, he and Sarai (his wife) attempt to help God fulfill this promise by offering her maidservant to him. Abram’s firstborn son, Ishmael, eventually comes into the picture but not without his fair share of baby-momma drama. No doubt Abram was excited by his new bundle of joy as he assumed the promise has been fulfilled via Ishmael. God makes the promise again but with specificity in Genesis 17 to Abraham and Sarah (who have both now undergone a name change) stating Abraham will be the “…father of many nations..” and Sarah will birth the child that will be fulfillment of that promise. They both view it as somewhat comical as her age has rendered it a biological impossibility. We all know how the story ends. Though he had to wait 100 years to receive his promise (and fourteen years after his ignorant attempt at doing things his way – Ishmael), but Isaac was finally born.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  We go to the Father about certain aspects of our lives and, being the wonderful Daddy He is, He promises and assure us He will see us through our struggles, hurts, and more. We get so excited about the promise but frustrated with the waiting period. Our ignorant and mildly manipulative intentions prove we assume He needs our help. There’s a big difference in believing in God and actually believing God will do what He said He would do. Even the demons of hell believe in God — so we shouldn’t get too impressed with ourselves.  If you haven’t noticed, God likes to orchestrate the seemingly impossible so that only He can receive the glory. Sometimes we may misunderstand or misinterpret God’s meaning on certain issues but, make no mistake, He is true to His promises. Sometimes the best things to do is nothing at all. You’ll want to side-step or help Him along, but just wait.  Otherwise, you’ll make a big mess of things.

Have a blessed week, my friends!

This past week, our church had our annual fall outreach activity. It is a three-night ordeal where we bless the children with copious amounts of candy but, to get it, they must go through an interactive journey through the Bible. Over the course of 45 minutes they walk from room to room. While there they hear stories from biblical characters such as Noah, Jonah, Moses, Queen Esther, and finally. I was a part of the last group on the first night of our presentation. At the end there is a crucifixion scene that leads into a tomb scene and, eventually, Jesus being raised from the dead. The scene starts with a clip of the crucifixion from The Passion of the Christ. After two minutes it leads to an actual scene being portrayed right in front of their eyes as someone from our church hangs on the cross. I sat there that night and watched through tearful eyes as he was beaten, mistreated, and abused on screen then died in front of my eyes on the stage of our sanctuary. The soldiers removed him from the cross, moved him to the tomb scene, and I continued to sit there being reminded of the sacrifice that was made that day. Those few minutes helped me realize my relationship with God has become a little routine and challenged me to do better. When I came in for church on Sunday and was preparing for the service I noticed some leftover blood stains on the carpet. My initial thought was that I needed to clean the floor and remove the stain. Just as quickly as that thought came, it was replaced with another. Instantly, I changed my mind and decided to leave it.

I grew up in church. I was inadvertently involved in ministry before I was ever born as my mom was the church pianist. Church is all I’ve ever known. It would be easy for me to become bored with it all. I dare say there’s not a story from the Bible I haven’t read, preached, or have preached myself over my lifetime. That blood stain on the floor of our stage was a reminder of the sacrifice that was made for the remission of my sins. I’ve heard it a million times but I was reminded in that moment, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16] It’s not some story put in a book to provide entertainment and a climactic moment in a story. IT REALLY HAPPENED! Believers-we can’t afford to allow His sacrifice to become just another story we remember like The Three Little Pigs or Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We can’t allow our relationship to become stale and mundane. If we genuinely considered the sacrifice that was made for us we would be so overcome with thanksgiving it would change the way we lived our lives. I pray I never forget. But if I do, I pray God leads me back to that stain in the carpet.

Closing remarks and encouragement: If I fail to spend time with my wife, our relationship will fail to function on that intimate level. Spending time with her is the only way to maintain that closeness we share. When was the last time you purposed to spend intimate moments with your Heavenly Father? Maybe you need to have your own “back to that stain in the carpet,” moment.

Have a blessed week, my friends!

I recently made a quick morning trip to pick up a few dozen sweet treats to share with those volunteering for one of our church activities. As I approached the strip of stores I was forced to stop short of being able to enter the parking lot. Getting frustrated by the wait, I carefully pulled off to the left to go around and enter on the other side of the lot. The traffic was caused by cars waiting in the drive-thru line of the Dunkin Donut. When I entered I made mention of the line of traffic waiting for service. The lady at the counter said, “Yeah, honey. It’s like that every day. All those coffee drinkers gotta have their fix.” I laughed knowingly as I’m accustomed to seeing those same lines at Starbucks and other establishments that offer thousands of people their daily “fix” of caffeine. There have been many over the years I’ve known (many in my own family) that seem to have addiction to that hot bitter liquid. I’m not a coffee drinker so seeing others sitting in those long lines seems comical to me.

When I realized what was going on, I was struck with an interesting thought. What would it be like if cars were lined up for church every time the doors were open? What would it be like if people were so hungry for God they arrived early and left late because they couldn’t get enough of the presence of God? Many search this world over for something that will fill the void they feel in their hearts and lives. Society caters daily to this mindset. The world works hard to appeal to the fleshly desires of those looking for something to bring them happiness. John 4 reveals Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman coming to draw water in the heat of the day. Life had not been kind to her and she was coming at a time she thought no one would be there (no doubt, the last thing she needed was someone else to judge her for her failed life choices). Her void had led her to marry five different men and, at the time she met Jesus, she was living with a man that wasn’t even her husband. “Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again [he’s referring to the water from the well]. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” [vs. 13-14] It may seem odd but, you’re a barista in God’s coffee house. This world is looking for something you have–and it’s not more caffeine, ha! They need that Living Water.  That is the only thing that will quench their “thirst.”  What cup are you serving to those around you?

Closing remarks and encouragement: Our lives are filled with choices that appeal to our flesh. The last thing any of us need is another new car, a boat, a camper, more jewelry, or any number of things that have no eternal value. Take one sip of that cup and, I assure you, you’ll never thirst again. And don’t forget to share that cup with those around you!

I have friends and family who have chosen to serve our country in many different branches of the military. While I have never enlisted and don’t have actual experiences in this area I’ll admit, I’ve always been fascinated by the actual process of becoming a soldier. There are many hours of preparation and training that are required. Basic training has many facets. First, one must learn discipline. This includes physical and psychological discipline. Soldiers have to learn how to obey exact instructions and react without thinking in certain situations.  Your actions must become second nature, almost a reflex.  Soldiers are taught lessons in respect of the chain of command, staying calm in emergency situations, and more. This process also requires soldiers to go through a certain amount of weapons training. It’s more than simply shooting a gun. You must know the proper technique in how to hold and aim the gun, how to clean and maintain it, as well as learning how to use other weapons such as grenades. A soldier learns lessons in communication using hand signals, radios, and how to interact with their team quickly and concisely. There are lessons in surviving living conditions that range from imprisonment to extreme environmental conditions (staying warm in cold conditions/stay cool in hot conditions). As a soldier, one is trained how to attack and protect themselves from attack. Following basic training, most will go on to learn specific skills in a particular area (military police, medical work, driving tanks, and more). Becoming a solider in the US military is more than simply making a decision to be involved. It requires preparation and hard work to be prepared for battle.

The same can be said of Christians. Becoming a believer is more than simply deciding to enlist. Being a Christian is going to require preparation, training, and hard work to prepare for the wars we will fight. Becoming a Christian is, in fact, becoming a solider in the kingdom of God. Many join the ranks but never move beyond their initial commitment. Those soldiers are of no use to the kingdom. One of the most important parts of our fight will be our attire. The word of God instructs us in Ephesians 6, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.…Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” [vs 13-17] As I was reading over this portion of scripture recently I realized there was nothing to protect the persons backside. In that same moment I felt the Holy Spirit say, “That’s because you were never meant to run away from a fight!” Soldiers are trained for battle, not for retreating. Too many times we get tired of fighting and we’re happy to settle for half of our blessing. We stop at half-best because we’re not willing to put in the time and effort to fight the enemy for what God has promised. Today I encourage all of us (myself included)…..STOP RUNNING AND FIGHT!

Closing remarks and encouragement: The word of God reminds us, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [James 4:7] We would like to think that process would be a quick and easy….but it never is. Unfortunately, God didn’t give us a time table revealing how long we would have to resist the devil. The only way to deal with a bully is to fight back. Eventually, the devil and his minions are going to get tired and leave us alone….at least for a little while. Don’t grow weary! Whether you’re at the beginning, middle, or approaching the end of a battle make sure you’re suited up, stay strong, and fight back!

Have a blessed week, my friends!

Weeks, months and (eventually) years passed as we waited for the moment. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s that moment you realize your hopes and desires have been fulfilled and you are now expecting a bundle of joy. Countless doctors visits, medicines, embarrassing procedures and….nothing. “Wait, God! You promised me a family.” Nothing. It wasn’t until seven years later that God blessed us with our first child via private adoption. I remember those 7 years of mental pain, agony, the embarrassment I felt every time one of our family members or friends became pregnant while our arms remained empty. My wife and I were modern day Hannah’s from the Bible crying out to God for our greatest desires. This past week I was reminiscing how far God has brought our family. In that moment I was struck with a thought that left me questioning my life and motives in regards to our ministry work. I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit and was forced to ask myself when have I ever desired God or the things of God as much as I desired a child during those years? When has my desire of salvation for those who are lost as strong as my desire for a family so many years ago?  I felt ashamed in that moment as I admitted the answer. I love God—I genuinely do. I love Him so much I’ve given my life for kingdom purposes and have become a minister. But I haven’t always been as committed to the cause of Christ as I should have been. There have been times my fleshly desires have taken center stage in my life. Rather than focus on God and trusting He would take care of me, I would sit for hours crying about what I wanted. Rather than thank God for what I had already been blessed with, I could be found complaining about what I didn’t have.

As Christians, we like to tout the word of God as a remedy for what ails us. It’s a genuine source of encouragement and gives us strength to get through the hard times. While this is a good habit, we’ve also formed some rather bad habits. Many tend to manipulate the Bible to sound the way we want it to. NEWS FLASH: God’s word stands on its own! I have blatantly heard others proudly proclaim, “God said He’d give me the desires of my heart.” Actually the word of God says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” [Ps 37:4] Furthermore, it also says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” [Matt 6:33] In school math class we were taught the order of operations. When you are presented with a math problem that requires multiple operations to solve a particular problem (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.) there is a specific order of operations you have to use to get the correct answer. It’s the same with God. Rather than focus on our fleshly desires, we’re instructed to delight ourselves in the Lord. Rather than concentrate on what we don’t have, we’re instructed to seek first the kingdom of God. How’s your order of operations?

Closing remarks and encouragement: We have a tendency to put the cart before the horse sometimes. We focus on our problems/frustrations rather than focus on the one who has the ability to fix them. Our flesh encourages us to do things one way while the spirit encourages us to do another. Be assured, if your order of operations isn’t done in the correct order, your answer/outcome will be wrong every time. You don’t have to be a math genius to get the answer right.  Just follow the order.

Have a blessed week, my friends!