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Dirty Diapers and Problem Solving- Hebrews 6:10-12

This morning as I was sitting in my recliner I got a waft of something nasty.  It didn’t take me long to figure out that the little trash can beside my chair had a dirty diaper in it.  I was faced with a dilemma.  I figured out that I had four main options:

1.       I could stay where I am sitting and just get use to the smell.

2.       I could move away from the smell and sit somewhere else.

3.       I could move the trash can away from me and make it smell somewhere else.

4.       I could take out the trash and get rid of the smell.

I’ll be honest, this isn’t the first time this has happened.  There have been many dirty diapers in this little trash can and I have played out each one of the above scenarios.  The only one that has ever had lasting results is number four.

Brad, now where are you going with this?  I don’t have any kids who have diapers, this doesn’t relate to me. Not to mention that what you have said is just common sense.

Maybe that is what you are thinking.

This brings me to a few (well four) points.

Point #1

When something needs done in the Church or in our personal life and we don’t want to do it, we have a tendency as people to just ignore the problem. As time goes on the problem becomes to us less of a problem and more of a small nuisance.   If we continue down this process sooner or later we start to believe there really isn’t a problem at all. Now this may seem like a good thing. After all you can’t see the problem anymore so what does it matter.  Well, it matters because there is still a problem and although you are now unaware, it is evident to everyone else and the effects of that problem are still active and are probably growing worse.  The fact of the matter is: Ignoring a problem rarely makes a problem go away.

Point #2

At other times we decide the solution to the problem is for us to just move away from the problem.  We don’t like what is going on here or we don’t like how it ‘smells’ so we’ll just go somewhere else where this problem doesn’t exist.  We love this solution. If we get frustrated with our Church we just go find another Church.  If we get fed up with our spouse, we just get rid of the one we have and look for another spouse.  We avoid problems instead of trying to solve them.  Somewhere along the way we started believing that God wants us to be happy and that means that we should abandon everything and seek after personal fulfillment.  That’s not the Gospel!  That isn’t even a part of the Gospel! The Gospel tells us to abandon ourselves (that means our goals, dreams, aspirations, oh yeah and even our happiness) to Jesus Christ.  That doesn’t mean that we won’t have these things, it means that we are no longer in control of them.  Better yet, they are no longer in control of us.   Abandoning the problem doesn’t solve the problem.

Point #3

A long time back we came up with another solution to our problems; make them someone else’s problems.  We even have a term for the recipient: A scapegoat.  If we don’t want to solve the problem we’ll make sure that it is someone else’s responsibility.  We love to point out how someone else has this problem or how they have not taken care of the problem.   We can easily go on our way happy if we can focus our energy on what everyone else is or isn’t doing.  If we would take a closer look maybe we would realize that we are the problem, or at least that we could help in solving the problem.  But Brad, it isn’t my duty or my responsibility it is theirs.  Brad they will never learn if I don’t let them do it.   Aren’t you glad that Jesus doesn’t think like we do? After all it wasn’t His sin that was keeping us from being holy before God.   It wasn’t His responsibility to pay the debt we owed.  It wasn’t His problem.   Now Brad that is different!  Is it?  Is it really that different?  God can give us grace, and we are more than happy to keep it to ourselves.  Making a Scapegoat or blaming someone else for the problem won’t solve the problem.

Point #4

Now this is where the rubber meets the road.  This is where the gears start grinding and the work gets started.  When we decide that this problem is my problem, even if I didn’t cause or fuel it.  That I am going to do everything with heaps of Grace, Mercy, and Love so I can help.  (Let me note that I am not encouraging you to go dive into the lives of others and pull out their problems, I promise you have enough to fool with on your own without putting others under the microscope. I am talking more about corporate problems.)   We need to stop being stagnant and apathetic.  We need to stop hopping around looking for a place without problems because it doesn’t exist on this side.  We need to stop blaming and scapegoating others.  It is time for us to be proactive and take out the trash. Now let me stop and elaborate on something, the trash I’m talking about is not a person or a group.  I’m not saying you need to stand up in a meeting and spout your opinion. I’m not saying you need to take over the leadership because you can do it better.  And I am not saying you should run someone off.  If you think that is what I’m getting at then you need to go back and re-read point #3.   When I say get rid of the trash I mean. Stop being apathetic and uncaring. Stop blaming others and pointing fingers.  Stop acting like everything is as good as it should be.  I’m talking about inward trash, trash that you need to get out of your life so you can step up and do what you should have already been doing.  I know someone will read this and think, “You tell them Brad, that is what they need to do!”  Here is your wakeup call, if you are thinking that, you are the number one person I’m talking to!  I’m seeking God’s guidance to get the trash out of my life; will you do the same in yours?  Only when we decide to become part of the solution, will we no longer be part of the problem.

A Closer Look- Philippians 3:7-21

I’m going to be straight with you, that is just who I am. God is stirring something inside my heart and I’m not sure what it means or how far it goes. We just recently passed the one year mark for our ministry here at FBC Perrysburg and I have had to step back and try and take a critical look at the past year. My desire is to see this ministry grow not just in number but in relationships with Christ. To make disciples! Have we been successful in our mission?

Looking at my life I have to ask, am I being the best husband, father, youth pastor, friend, servant of Christ that I can be? These are some of the many questions I have been asking. As I go to the Lord in prayer I have thrown these questions out on the table. Trembling I have asked, “Is there something I am doing/not doing that is hindering this ministry?” God is good, and He is gracious. He has placed us here because this is where we are supposed to be, this much I know for sure.

I know that we can always do better, that is a part of constantly becoming more like Christ, but that is not the main point of my questions. Am I being a stumbling block or a building block? Am I leading others closer to Christ, or keeping them from Him? I know me, inherently I am selfish, and I am a sinner. Even though Christ has changed me and I am a new creature, I still wrestle with this temporary suit of flesh. Why do I pay so much attention to the groans and whims of it? My heart seeks with everything in me to diligently and closely follow Christ, forget self and be used by God in whatever form or fashion that He sees fit. But I am weak, my flesh is weak. This is no excuse.

As I am reading over the past few paragraphs it dawns on me that someone may think I am about to reveal some big secret or some major change; I am not. I just want to say that I am hungry, hungry for His righteousness. Hungry to be more like Christ! I do not want to waste my life with things of this world that have no lasting value, no eternal significance. Yet as I look at the energy and time I devote to these things and their acquisition, I get a little sick. I wonder if I am building up castles of sand in this life, only to see them quickly vanish with the tides.


So what is important now? I’m not saying that you or I should radically abandon everything, and move to India. I’m not even saying that we should radically stop buying a $4 coffee or playing video games. All I’m saying is that we ought to radically abandon our lives to Jesus Christ; every square inch, every crevice, everything that we hold dear. And if you are like me, we should re-do this often. I encourage you to do a self-inventory, and to go before the Lord for an evaluation. So that we can see through His eyes, love through His heart, and touch the nations with His grace.

Step Out the Door - Philippians 3:12-17

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-17

This morning I intended to get up at 6:30 am so I could run.  But 6:30 am came and went and I was still in bed, followed by 7:00 am. Finally at 7:30 am I managed to pull myself out of bed; I felt tired, discouraged, and the last thing that I wanted to do was walk out my front door and run.   As I sat in my chair putting on my socks and running shoes I contemplated several times just staying home and not running today.  After all, let me remind you “I hate to run” and once again my running partner didn’t show up.  So against every ounce of my physical body (around 3520 oz. if I calculate right) I walked out the door, pushed through the dread, the lack of motivation, and pressed on.  

I would like to tell you that what happened next was that I ran 3 or 4 miles at a great pace, but my mom taught me lying is bad.  I jogged along and made it about .6 (6/10ths) of a mile before I had to slow down to a walk and catch my breath, after a few minutes I turned around and ran the .6 mile back home.  I got home out of breath, and covered in sweat! But I had done it; I had overcome another day of running and am one more step toward my goal of being a healthier and better fit example to my children and my youth.

So what does all this running mumbo jumbo have to do with anything?  Well I continue to see week after week people who have the ability to overcome obstacles and do great things for God via their local Church, missions, etc.  Yet they won’t make the commitment to step out of their comfort zone or their own agendas.  They are just too busy and too comfortable to make obedience and service to God and others a priority.  

I can’t run far, or fast, or even well, but I am running.  I’m not a great teacher, great preacher, or great witness, but I think I am getting better as I continue to do those things.  It doesn’t matter whether you are 8 or 80, there is something that you can do to press on and become closer to God.  Today will you step out the door that God has placed in front of you, press on, suffer through and become victorious?    Let me tell you again, “I hate to run, but I love the way running makes me feel!” 

Walk before you run, run before you sprint; no matter the pace, no matter the distance, step out the door and keep moving forward!

“It’s the job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish!” J. R. R. Tolkien

Run Well! - Hebrews 12:1

This morning I got out of bed at 6:20am.  That is a big deal for me because I am not a morning person, I’m not even an afternoon person.  However this morning I got up and went running with a friend.  On top of not being a morning person I’m not a runner. Anyone who has seen me lately can tell that I haven’t been running in a while…a long while.   But I got up this morning and went running, it was horrible; I couldn’t breathe, I felt like I was going to lose the coffee I shouldn’t have had before running and it was altogether miserable.    At least it was for a while.  After I had laid on my couch and recovered, had breakfast and coffee along with a good “Jesus” conversation, followed by a shower, I felt like a million bucks!   It was hard but I had accomplished just a small little victory.  I intend to get up again tomorrow and suffer a little more.

Starting to run when you haven’t in a long time is hard work; you have to press through the pain and the desire to give in and give up.   You have to be committed to work through side pains, lack of breath, shin splints, etc.   It takes time to get in a grove where running is enjoyable (they tell me it gets that way at some point) and what once seemed like an unattainable task is simple.   You have to pay the price to overcome obstacles.

It is not surprising that Paul compares the Christian life to running a race…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Walking with Christ is not always easy, make no mistake it is the best, the most joyful, really the only true way, but it is not always easy.  Sin and guilt creep in and weigh us down, some people step in and try and trip us up (sometimes succeeding).  We fail, we hurt, we cry… but we go on!   The race is already won and like my friend Matt was with me all the way this morning, Jesus is with us all the way. He will direct us, encourage us, chastise us, but never leave us; He loves us!

Start running, keep running, and run well!

Bodily Exercise and Godliness - 1 Timothy 4:7-8

I started thinking a week or so ago about my health and my weight.  I am a youth pastor, so how does the way I take care of my body effect the way people view my ministry? I know that the focus should be on the eternal versus the temporal (1 Tim. 4:7-8) but I believe I should start taking better care of the body (or temple if you will '1 Cor. 6:19') that God has entrusted to me.  I am horrible about eating what I want and trading exercise for slothful, self indulgent behavior; this certainly does not lead to the godliness that Paul was telling Timothy to focus on. What message am I sending my children, my wife, my youth and the families of the Church, or the lost, about the importance of being good stewards of what we have been given? If it isn't important to me, will it be important to them?   It is no secret that not exercising and not eating right leads to bad health, disease and loss of quality of life. I think it is time that I start realizing this now and do my part to be a good steward of my own body so that I may teach others the importance of doing this as well.   If we have to chose between bodily exercise which profits a little 'or' godliness that profits eternal, I will take the godliness every time. But who says we have to chose?  I think Paul was saying that both are good, just don't let the former outweigh or cause you to lose sight of the latter! Now is the time to change!

In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23(NASB)

Throw it out! - Matt. 18:6-9 & Heb. 12:1

Every Christian can get rid of stumbling blocks (traps) in their lives by asking themselves three simple questions.

1. Is a specific thing in my life (thing, action, person) causing me to sin? (Matt. 18:8-9)
2. Is a specific thing in my life causing me to lose focus on God? (Heb. 12:1)
3. Is a specific thing in my life causing others to sin or lose focus on God? (Matt. 18-6-7)

When you get a yes answer to any of these questions…Throw it out! 

Don’t just place it by the door. Don’t hide it under the bed, or in the back of the closet.  Get rid of it and throw it out.  You will be glad you did!  

30 Hour Famine

2012 30 Hour Famine

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PERRYSBURG 104726134

Click Here to Donate!

We are so excited to be doing our Famine this year! During the 30 Hour Famine, our youth group will actually NOT EAT for 30 hours. YES! You read that right. Teenagers? not eating... for 30 hours. Why? Because nearly 8,000 children under age 5 die every day because of hunger-related causes, that's one child every 10 seconds. And we are NOT okay with that, we will NOT stand by while children die from lack of food.

In the time leading up to and during our 30 hours of fasting, the students are going to get a crash course in global hunger and come face to face with the realities of poverty and injustice. We will make a global impact by learning about world hunger and raising money for hungry children around the world through World Vision; a local impact through service projects and raising awareness during our 30 hours; and making an individual impact on us when we will all get a small taste of what it is like for starving kids around the world. 

We will officially begin fundraising  for the event on Jan. 25th.  All the money raised will go to feed our starving neighbors in Africa.  (Rewards will be given based on donations raised).

We will also be starting a food drive on Jan. 25th and all of the food will be donated to the Southside Life Station in Toledo, OH to benefit those in need in our local community.

In our culture today we are pushed toward a me centered mentality. What we need to be happy is to consume, consume, consume.  We as Christian's know that this is not the way, yet we often get sucked into acting this way.   30 Hour Famine is a way that we can separate ourselves (for a time) from both food and technology (that's right cell phones must be checked in at the door).  

It is a time when we can draw closer to God, be good Samaritan's and stewards of His riches and love. 

We have set a group goal, each $30 we raise will help feed and care for a child for a month. Check out our thermometer to see our goal. Will you help us reach our goal this year?  Donate today.

Thanks for sponsoring us to go without-so others can eat.And so our Famine begins.

Want to know where the money raised through the Famine goes?Visit www.30hourfamine.org/about to learn more about 30 Hour Famine and World Vision?s hunger programs.

What I learned from washing dishes (right after use)!

Anyone that has known me for long can confirm that I am a serious procrastinator.  It is a part of me that God has been working on for some time, and has made lots of progress on since my lazed college days.  However, there are still bounds of room for improvement.  Planning ahead has never really been my forte’, especially since well, Jesus may come back before it needs to be done anyway.  Don’t get mad at me I know that is a wrong way of thinking (Paul dealt with it back it 2 Thessalonians chapter 3).  Most recently me and my wife have been diligent to do the dishes right after the meal instead of letting them pile up (like we formerly did).  Here are a few things I have learned.

1.        Dishes are easier to wash when you just get finished dirtying them. Once the gunk has set on and hardened it is a lot more difficult to get off and it takes a lot more work and frustration. 

2.       You don’t have an overload of dishes to do when you “get around” to doing them. 

3.       You never have to worry about people popping in on you and seeing your dirty dishes all piled up and gross.

4.       There is no weird smell coming from the kitchen that you have to go looking for to correct.

5.       You always have clean dishes to use.

6.       You can put your focus on more important things, rather than dwelling on how long it will take you to do the dishes and how much you don’t want to.

Ok I admit it; my reason for writing this blog is not really about washing your dishes.  It is about keeping your life clean!  It is about taking care of those bad choices/sins before they grow to bad habits.  It is about clearing out the old bad habits and not letting them creep back in.   How can I do that?  I know you are thinking what I have thought so often, “I have tried so many times and failed, so there is no use trying!”.  Now that is some destructive thinking and you need to get rid of it!  First off if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ you can do all things through His strength (Philippians 4:13)! If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus then we have identified your biggest problem and we should remedy that first.  

Second, God does not want you bound by your sins and bad habits. He wants you to be FREE from them!  Seek His help and strength, believe you can break these bonds, seek out friends who will be helpful and not judgmental, and start today! 

Oh and don’t forget that if you slip and fall, you are only a failure if you don’t get back up! So, go wash some dishes!

 –  Philippians 2:12-16, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 12:1-

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Winter - Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:28

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, tothose who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB)

When I am looking at a book that I might purchase I have a tendency to turn somewhere in the book and start reading.  If what I read interest me I classify it as a good book and I might purchase it. However, if I am not impressed by what I read I will put the book down and go to the next.  Surely along the way I have misjudged some books that would have been helpful to me simply because I only saw a small part of what the book was about.  I am willing to admit that this is probably not the best way to search for a book; it’s just my way. 

Many of us tend to take the same kind of philosophy when it comes to a ministry.  We want to come in one week or attend one event and judge the effectiveness of the ministry on that event.  Maybe as teachers or preachers we want to look at our last sermon or lesson and diagnose the health of our ministry based on its estimated effectiveness.  When we take a small sample of the life of a ministry or look at one event we are doing that ministry a serious injustice.  For us to understand the effectiveness of a ministry we must look at it over time.  We must not look at sheer numbers but more so we must look at the impact it has in the lives of those who are being ministered to. 

When looking at a ministry’s effectiveness we must also consider that ups and downs are a given.  There will be times when the numbers are down or the message is dry.  Maybe there will be a time of great struggle for the ministry to simply stay alive.  We must not consider this a reason to abandon the ministry or give way to being distraught and disheartened.  We must embrace God’s word and His wisdom and continue on when and where He leads us.  

Think about this every year we go through four seasons: Spring, summer, fall, and winter.  Spring brings us renewal and hope, summer brings us warmth and sunshine, fall brings us change, and winter brings us cold, darkness and ice.  Sometimes we wake up in a ministry and we find ourselves in the midst of a great winter.  The numbers are small, the desire seems low and we think of giving in or giving up.  Winters can be tough; after all not much grows in winter.  We must remind ourselves then, that even the deepest, darkest winter is followed by a beautiful spring of renewal.

If God has brought you to a ministry and you are obedient to Him, He will use you in a mighty way.  Keep pushing on past despair and cling to Him. Do your very best and rely on Him and He will give the increase.  One more thing… Never forget that He is always working, even when we cannot see it or perceive it!  

Are You Facing Jericho? – Joshua 5:13-15

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" 14 So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" 15 Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15

Joshua found himself standing before the great wall of Jericho.  I imagine as he was sizing up the city he began to think, “how can we compass this great wall to destroy our enemy?”.  Maybe he was like me when faced with a large obstacle and he began to get nervous, fearing the task would prove too much. After all, that wall was big and strong and it sure wasn’t going anywhere!

As Joshua stood their in deep thought he noticed a man standing with a drawn sword.  He approached the man, perhaps with his hand on his own sword and asked, “are you on our side, or their side?”.  It was with the man’s reply that Joshua realized who he was talking to, “captain of the Lord of host” none other than the pre-incarnate Christ.  As God had come down and appeared before Moses with a burning bush and given him commands, now Joshua was being commissioned with a task by God Himself.  What great trembling and joy it must be to physically stand before the mighty God of the universe.

Now I want you to take note that the Lord did not say to Josh, “yeah, I’m on your side!”.  Instead with the Lord’s response Joshua realized that He did not come down to play on a side and be a team player; the Lord was the Captain and it was His side that Joshua must be on, not vice verse.  The Lord gave Joshua instructions to defeat Jericho; when the orders where carried out the Lord struck down the wall of Jericho to rubble and Joshua and the army of Israel defeated their enemy.

Have you come up against a large, unmovable wall in your life? Are you standing there thinking about how there is no way to overcome this obstacle?  Look to the Lord!  If you are on His side and obediently walking with Him and seeking His will then He will take down that wall.  Don’t get caught up with how God is going to do it, just be obedient to His direction.  Remember Joshua never touched the wall of Jericho; he didn’t strike it at its foundations nor strategically plan out its fall.  No, Joshua simply was obedient and allowed God to tear down the wall.  Great was the fall of that wall and great will be the fall of any obstacle that stands between you and the will of God!  Expect the miraculous! 

The Value of Good Council – Exodus 18:23-24

If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace." So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Exodus 18:23-24 (NKJV)

I have always been very independent; to a fault.  When I was younger and I was working on a school project I didn’t want any help. I wanted to do things all by myself and figure them out all alone. Otherwise I felt like I was cheating or else proving that I wasn’t good enough to do it on my own.  I have since learned (well to an extent) that it is unwise to try and conquer ever battle alone.  I praise God that in my own life, He has surrounded me by a plethora of mentors and guides to help me along the way.

If you are like me you don’t like to admit you need help or even correction.  It’s a pride issue.  For a long time I based my self worth in what I could do, in how much I could accomplish, and how I didn’t need anyone to help me.  Even after I became a Christian I took on the idea that I was God’s wingman; together we could accomplish any task.  It didn’t take long for me to realize the value behind good advice and council. 

Turns out that God’s, self proclaimed “wingman” is an A+, top notch, protos if you will: screw-up!  The boy who didn’t need any help found himself confused and afraid.  Thankfully to God I had a wonderful father who always took me to God’s word and said, “Let’s see what God has to say about it!”.  He would then discuss with me the issue at hand; I always felt better and more equipped to handle whatever was going on after a good “God Talk” with my dad.   Since I lost my dad, God has placed many other people in my life that have helped me to learn and grow in Him.  I too like Moses have been blessed with a Daddy-in-Law whom is full of Godly wisdom and love for me.  Thanks David!

Do you have mentors who are helping you through the day by day?  If not you need to find some now! Don’t worry the best ones are always willing to be there for you and advise you in Godly wisdom.  Just make sure that you remember this wisdome I picked up from a Biblical Leadership conference in college with Kevin Greer.

A Christian mentor is an older more mature friend, one who is dedicated to God and is growing in their own faith in Jesus Christ.  He or she is an encourager, as well as one who can be trusted.  A good mentor is one who is in love with Jesus and desires to help others to become more like Him.  

A Monster’s Focus! Philippians 3:7-8

I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)

In the movie "Monsters Inc" Sully finds himself in a tough spot.  He and Mike have been banished to the Himalayas.  Sully realizes that the only thing that is important is to save Boo. Everything else they have worked for no longer matters.  Mike however just wants to go back to his life; he wishes they never met Boo.  Sully finds a way down the mountain and Mike tells him he is on his own if he is going that way. Sully makes the hard decision and leaves to save Boo alone.

There will be times in your walk with Christ when the direction God is calling you may seem strange or even foolish to those around you.  Do not be surprised when even some of your closest friends can not understand and will turn away when you follow this path.  Do not let them deter your focus toward God's plan. Remember, everyone else may abandon you but God will always be with you!  I am happy to say that Mike in the movie finally realized Sully was right and got on board. Unfortunately in life this may not always be the case.

Paul came to a revelation much like Sully, that everything that was not beneficial to the cause of Christ was garbage!(Phil. 3:7-8)  He decided that he must lay aside every weight and run furiously in the direction of God's will!  Several of his closest friends begged him not to go to Jerusalem where God was leading. They feared for Paul's life. Paul realized that God was calling him to Jerusalem where he would be turned over to the Romans. He went anyway and was able to spread God's message further. Although it did cost him his physical life, it opened the door for so many to follow Jesus and to find strength in his obedience. (Acts 21:10-14)

Is God calling you to something that is not comfortable? Maybe others doubt your sanity or think you are going way overboard. If God is leading you there, you follow! My dad once told me that God would not lead me out on a limb and then cut off that limb from beneath me. Know that God will always lead you down the best path! Fear not!


Pray

Holy Father I know Your way is best. I trust today in Your will and Your direction. Help me not to be discouraged when my friends do not understand the direction You are calling me to.  Give me the strength to follow You no matter what! I love You Lord and Your perfect will for my life! In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen! 

A Dead End – Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

While driving to my moms to pick up the kids (a road I have traveled many times) I became lost in thought and passed up a turn.  I did not realize I had passed up the turn and kept driving. I then made the wrong turn; thinking I had made the correct one.  I kept driving and anticipating getting to my moms house.  After several minutes I came to a dead end, which in turn brought me out of my delusion. I found myself in the wrong place; having no idea where I was or how I got there.  I did the only sensible thing to do: I turned around.

Saul found himself in a similar situation when he encountered Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He had been going along very fervently believing he was doing God's will. He was doing his best to stomp out this blasphemous Jesus movement. His goal was to serve God and he thought he was doing just that until he came to a dead end; Jesus revealed Himself to Saul (Acts 9:1-6).

Saul could no longer go forward in the belief that he was serving God in the path he was taking. He found himself bewildered and not knowing what to do, so he asked Jesus for direction. He sent him to Damascus and then sent Ananias to give Saul back his sight, and to fill him with the Holy Spirit. God put Saul (whom became the Apostle Paul) on the correct road; only then did he reach his goal of doing God's will (Acts 9:17-20, 2Tim. 4:7-8).

Many times in life we are faced with different paths we can take.  If we lean on our own understanding, on what feels right to us, we will find our self away from our destination; we will be misguided in believing we are heading the correct way (Prov. 14:12).  However if we will seek Him (Prov. 3:6), He will bring our misconceptions to a dead end; He will show us our errors. Then we can turn and follow Him back to the correct path; where He can truly accomplish His purpose in us.

Whose direction are you following? Do you trust in yourself? Do you trust in someone else's words and teachings?  Or do you trust in God to direct your paths?  Fervently seek Him; He might just bring you to a few dead ends!

Pushing a Boulder - Gen. 6:13-22

I once heard a story about a man who prayed to God to give him physical strength.  Upon waking the next day he found a large boulder had rolled off the mountain and landed beside his house.  God spoke to him and told him every morning to get up and with his own strength to move the boulder. The man was obedient and for several hours everyday he pushed the rock and trying diligently to move it.  After a few years of pushing the rock God again spoke to the man and told him to look at himself. His body was physically strong and lean from pushing the rock.

Of course this story is fictional. However the Bible is full of stories in which God tells His servants to do something that may sound useless or even absurd so that He may prepare them for what is up ahead. God is not a teaser of men; His commands always have a purpose. Let us consider Noah for a prime example of being told to push a boulder.

God spoke to Noah and told him to build a giant boat, to house at least two of every animal because He was going to destroy the Earth with a flood.  Sure that was hard to grasp but add the fact that it had never before rained and you have yourself a true boulder. So what did Noah do? Did he fret and try to find another way? Did he tell God it did not make sense so he was not going to do it? No, he built the boat!

Has got placed a boulder in your life that you do not understand? Is it hard to continue pushing day after day? Do you feel like giving up? Just remember that God has a purpose for the boulder in your life. It may not make sense to you, but bear in mind you can not see the whole picture. So whether God has told you to run three miles every morning, study Mandarin Chinese, or physically push a large boulder in your yard; you can rest assured it is all a part of His great plans for you. Just keep pushing!
Pray

Great and omniscient God, I thank you for counting me worthy to be used for Your great purpose.  Help me to be obedient to Your will, even when I do not understand.  I know that Your ways are perfect and I can trust that I am not pushing a boulder for nothing.  I praise You for the things You are preparing me for and the lives that You will touch through my life! In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Pray Together - Acts 21:5

When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. Acts 21:5

I love this verse; it describes such a beautiful picture of Christian love and fellowship.  They all followed them to the shore where they would depart, and they prayed together.  Not because of obligation or an empty “going through the motions”, but a true deep care and concern for one another. What a powerful example of fellowship and prayer.

In life we face many trials and it is easy to become discouraged.  There are few things as encouraging as having a fellow believer pray with you. It can be an overwhelming experience when you know that someone is lifting you up, right then and there to the almighty God of Heaven.  It is an even more moving when several people gather together in love and fellowship to pray for you and your ministry in Christ. 

We know that as believers God hears our prayers and is moved with compassion toward us and our petitions; when we agree in prayer, mountains will be moved and lives changed forever. If we will humble ourselves, lay down our sins and pray, I firmly believe we will see “impossible” prayers answered. Many things are impossible with man, but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). Prayer is simply direct communication with God; just remember it is a conversation, not a monologue: speak and listen!

When is the last time you stopped and prayed with someone?  There are few gifts as great as a personal prayer; you will find it will strengthen both the giver and receiver.  I challenge you to pray with someone today!

Help my unbelief – Mark 9:23-24

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! Mark 9:23-24 (NKJV)

We know that with God all things are possible. We know that God loves us and that He has good plans for us. We know that no matter what happens, surprising us, it never surprises God.  We believe and know that God is in control. However sometimes when times are tough, when things aren’t working out the way we planned, or we are just overwhelmed, we start to doubt.

We start to think that our situation is impossible. We’ve tried everything, exhausted our resources and we look around seeing our hopelessness.  We start to think that either God can’t help us, or else He must not care enough to.  We find our self desperate in the valley of doubt.  At this point we have but two options; we can give up and wallow in our self pity, never seeing things changed, or we can cry out to God like the father in Mark 9, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”. 

God will honor our faith in Him.  Remember, the Bible doesn’t teach that great heaps of faith causes Heaven to be moved and things to be changed. Instead it tells us that it takes just a little faith; mustard seed faith!  Put your belief and faith in God with all you have and He will help your unbelief.  Then one day He will say to you, “Enter in my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over few things, I will make your ruler over many.”.   

Live for today, plan for tomorrow- Matt. 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)

I had a high school teacher of mine say something in class that has stuck with me ever since.  She began talking about how everyone was always looking forward to something; trying to get to that next big event.  When prom gets here, when I graduate, when I’m in college, when I get a job, when I get married, etc then I’ll be happy.  They follow so much after being happy that when they get to that big event it lets them down and they start seeking the next big event.  She then said, “If you can’t sit down and just enjoy a simple cup of coffee, you will never be happy.”  I took that to heart; maybe it is why I love coffee so much. It taught me to take the time on a regular basis to just enjoy the gifts God has given us and “chill out”.

When we are always looking to the future, waiting on that next event or worrying about how things are going to work out it becomes a great burden.  We get so caught up in catching happiness that we fail to realize it is all around us.  Now I’m not saying that we shouldn’t plan for the future, in fact God wants us to seek His will and make plans. We need to be ready for tomorrow, we just don’t need to be worried or overwhelmed by it.  We need to get up in the morning and converse with God; we need to be ready to change any plans we have to be aligned with the plans that He reveals to us.  We need to trust Him to take care and provide for all our needs; He will do just that.

So seek to bite off no more than today. Focus on the things you can accomplish today and put tomorrows cares and worries on the back burner.  Seek opportunities to touch lives for Christ today, and enjoy the chance for happiness today.

Happiness is…

A smiling child

A fresh spring day

A hot cup of coffee

A small victory

A new rain

A goofy laugh

A loving kiss

A __________

Fill in the blank. God desires to give you peace all the time; happiness may come and go, but you will find it a lot more often if you take the time to realize it is found most often in the simple things.

Talking to a Friend- Exodus 33:11a

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11a (NKJV)

Often we treat God as if He is far away.  We feel like when we talk to Him we need to make sure we say the correct words and talk in the right manner.  While it is true we need to show God reverence, we need to remember that we are also to give our earthly fathers similar reverential respect. God does not want us to be cold in our prayers; He wants us to be forthcoming and intimate. We should remember that we are talking to our Father, and He is our friend.

When discussing prayer I often encourage people to talk to God like they would talk to their earthly best friend. Let your guard down, open your heart and be brutally honest.  If you are mad a God you might as well tell Him; He already knows.  Holding that in will only cause you to harbor those feelings in your heart, which can lead to hatred and spite. If you are honest with God, it opens the conversation for Him to be honest with you.  He is always right and you will have to eat some crow, but getting it in the open is the first step to fixing the issue.

God loves you with a fatherly passion that surpasses our capacity to love: unconditionally.  Just like a good earthly father, He desires to hear from you often.  God knows what is going on and He knows the thoughts and dealings of your heart, but He would really like to hear it from you.  He desires a close personal relationship with you, and He cares about you.  So do not be afraid to talk to Him, if you are off key with your conversation I assure you He will let you know. If you try to hide feelings and thoughts from God you will only stop Him from being able to fix the problem and cause your relationship to suffer.  

If you will read in the Bible you will find that the people who were the closest to God, were the ones who were the most honest with Him; if they hurt they told Him, if they did not like His way they told Him, if they thought He was being unfair they told Him, etc. They held nothing back in their relationship with God. 
I urge you to pour out your heart to God today. If you have been holding back hurt, anger, or anything else, get it out in the open with God. Tell Him exactly how you feel; do not be afraid, for He loves you.