Jesus Came to Our Chaos

Luke 2:4-12
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I drove by a live manger scene yesterday and it looked so tranquil and pleasant. As if Joseph and Mary were so happy to be placed in a barn to have their child that was supposed to be a blessing from God. The animals were there (gross, dirty, stinky animals) and the shepherds giving their praise (gross, dirty, stinky, shepherds). I have a feeling that the scene that we have painted is missing a few important key elements that might help us understand what was really happening on the evening our Lord and Savior was born. Elements like a king who was searching for and trying to kill the child, questions from Joseph-- such as, why is it that his wife has to give birth to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in a stable? Is this Jesus really all that He has been promised to be? Then there is Mary who is very excited about following the Lord and when she looks up to see who is knocking on the door to visit this wonderful, miraculous conception. Mary, like any of us, would be looking for a confirmation that she really did hear from the Lord and this miracle would bring her to a better place in life. As she looked up she did not see Kings or wealth (that did not come until Jesus was around 2 years old), she saw dirty, possibly toothless, shepherds and animals. This great promise that was given her did not necessarily change their world in a positive way. Instead, they were on the run from an army that was bent on killing her new born, Joseph had lost his job, their new friends were peasants and barn animals, and their future was as uncertain as it had ever been.

This is the world that the Lord chose to enter into. It was a world full of chaos and unknown factors. So, does this encourage you? Does this help you feel better about Christmas, now that you see a new perspective?

It helps me. Let me explain. Jesus came to bring peace into a broken world. He did not come into a perfect world and try to make a difference. When Jesus takes part in our lives it is the same. He is not coming into a perfect life and asking the person if they are interested in help. Just today, I asked the Lord to come and touch my heart and make His dwelling more significant than it was yesterday. I would like to say that Jesus is getting a good deal. But the truth is He is getting a man who walks in fear every day of his life. He is getting a person who has questions about the promises that have been told to him and why does it seem those promises are not on the horizon. He is making his dwelling in a heart that has expectations of a life that is supposed to look a certain way and on a daily basis has to surrender those emotions and feelings so they don’t overtake his will and lead him to destruction. He is receiving a man that has been blessed on a constant basis from the Lord with favor and has been provided for every step of the way, but still questions and doubts if God is big enough to keep His end of the bargain going. When Jesus agreed to dwell in my heart this morning he received a human; that at his best is still doubtful, fearful, and broken.

I am not proud of any of this, but find myself thankful for the manger scene. The scene is a child of peace that entered the world of broken people and gave His very life to see them find hope and peace.


Lord,

I accept your peace and hope and pray that you mix those two miracles and create a joy in my heart that makes me a better human. Forgive me for my doubt and fear. I wish that there were a way to kill that part of my heart and mind. Possibly, you placed it there to assure that I would run to you every day. Thank you for stepping into our chaos and bringing life where there was once death and dismay. Thank you for my marriage, for my children, for my family, and for my friends. You have truly blessed my life and I ask that you help me look around the stable of my life and be thankful.

I love you Lord. Kristopher

New Mercies I See

I awoke at 5:00 AM this morning. Usually, when I wake up early it is due to bad dreams, hard thoughts, or me being worried about someone. This morning, as I sit here, I do not feel any of those negative fears or tumultuousness. There is a peace in my life right now. A peace that has nothing to do with circumstances and yet everything to do with circumstances. Let me explain. My wife and I have been on an amazing journey this last two years. Throughout this journey excesses in our lives have been stripped of us. This has not been an easy road to travel, however, the Lord has walked every step with us. We are now in the part of the journey where we begin to rebuild. As I look at relationships, finances, living quarters, forms of transportation, a place to serve the Lord and teach others about Christ, and a church family for my kids and marriage to grow with, it seems the Lord has put everything we need in place. There are many days that we are tempted to look back into the past and allow what I call spiritual vertigo to set in. (When the whole world starts spinning and you feel like getting into the fetal position.) Yet, those days seem to be farther and farther away and what is in place today is beginning to speak louder than the difficult steps of the past.

As we begin to rebuild our lives the most important thing that I have learned is to simply surrender to the Lord and allow Him to piece it together in His time. You see-- it is not my job to build anything or to hold it together. That job description belongs to the Lord and He knows exactly what He is doing. So, on this fine morning I sit and watch my darling wife sleep, I ponder on my meetings of the day and wonder who I might meet or encourage, and I smile knowing that I am not in control.

Lamentations 3:22-26
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for touching my heart and teaching me to trust you. Thank you for each blessing in my life. Please use me today and allow what you have done and who you are in my life shine through me. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning.

Your son,

Kristopher

Overflowing Thankfulness

The traditional time of Thanksgiving has arrived. Families will be gathering and giving an extra little smile, bellies will be full from eating too much food, and hopefully there will be a pause in the rat race of life and joy can be found in what blessings we do have instead of things we do not. For this weeks devotional entry I took a few of the main points out of a recent teaching the Lord prompted me to give to our new church family at Hillside. I hope you are encouraged and challenged in your reading. My prayer is that God blesses you and that your heart will overflow with thankfulness during this holiday.

Before we come to our scripture it is important that we all arrive on the same page and discuss what the word thanksgiving means.

Main Entry: thanks·giv·ing
Function: noun
1 : the act of giving thanks
2 : a prayer expressing gratitude
3 a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

The meaning of this word falls apart if we leave it as a noun and do not make it a verb in our lives.

Today, we are going to begin in Colossians 2 and then focus on tangible goals that we can set in acting out thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-8
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

For a moment let’s talk about what it means to overflow...

To be thankful gives the connotation that we simply fill a glass to the top and if someone happens to bump into it then maybe they will get wet and experience what is inside, but then scripture takes it a step further- we must be overflowing with thankfulness.

What does this mean?

How does this work in our society?

How do we do this in a world that seems to be pointing the other direction?

Let’s take our scripture and turn it upside down

• If you want to overflow with thankfulness…
• Be strengthened in your faith as you were taught…
• Continue to live in him…
• Be rooted and built up in him…
• Receive Christ Jesus as Lord!

Being thankful is that warmness and the overflowing is that warmness touching others if they are around you!

Different ways that this can be played out…
1. Using my actions
• How we react
• Who we help
• Who we don’t help
• What we give to
• What we don’t

2. Using my words
• What we say
• What we don’t say

3. Using my attitudes
• How we say it
• How we allow our feelings to affect our demeanor

4. Using my decisions
• Every day we have decisions to turn left or right that can potentially shift our lives forever
Marriage
Jobs
Kids
Relationships

5. Using my time
• People fill their day with all types of things
• Christmas Outreach
• Doing the dishes
• Giving a back massage
• Listening instead of talking



Max Lucado devotional - Saying “Thank You”

Thank the Lord because He is good. His love continues forever. Psalm 106:1

Worship is when you’re aware that what you have been given is far greater than what you can give. Worship is the awareness that were it not for his touch, you’d still be hobbling and hurting, bitter and broken. Worship is the half-glazed expression on the parched face of a desert pilgrim as he discovers that the oasis is not a mirage.

Worship is the “thank you” that refuses to be silenced. We have tried to make a science out of worship. We can’t do that. We can’t do that any more than we can sell “love” or “negotiate peace.” Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the Healer, and by the delivered to the Deliverer.

Looking Into the Eyes of Your Blessing

Why is it so easy to rejoice one day about the situation that is unfolding before you and then find that the next day the joy is not as easy to find and has been replaced by anxiety and fear? Maybe I am the only one who walks in this schizophrenia, but I have a feeling that if we were each evaluated for this diagnoses that there would not be enough white rooms available to hold us. I must say that at this moment we have seen more love and care then we have ever expected from those who have linked arms with in Reno, NV. The feelings that flow through me of fear and anxiety stream directly from my inability to keep focused and to trust in the Lord and His plans. I hope that as we look at God’s word together and find some answers for our humanity that not only I can refocus, but also that it will help you the next time you feel that blood pressure raising and your mind start wandering.

I entitled this devotional “Looking into the Eyes of Your Blessing”, because the feeling in my stomach reminds me of a feeling that I had when I was younger and was talked into walking a tight rope that was about 50 feet high. I was in high school and when I first looked at the challenge I was not worried at all. That was until I actually was standing up on the rope. They had me strapped in and there was no way that I could get hurt, however, that did not change all of the imaginary ways that I was about to die. I walked about half way out and then made the biggest mistake and looked down. All of a sudden many parts of my physical body began to shut down (some of them should not be written down). The person on the other side of the tight rope kept yelling at me to not look down, but that I should look them in the eye and they would help me make it to the end. It seemed to take a lifetime for me to convince myself to take my eyes off of the ground below. As I changed my focus from the ground to the person standing at the end of the obstacle, I was able to put one foot in front of the other and complete what seemed to be impossible. We have the option today to look at the difficulties before us and allow them to freeze our faith or we can look at the Lord and the many blessings that He has provided and allow them to give us hope to make to the end.

Here are some thoughts from some of Bible heroes when they faced their own tight ropes and needed to find creative ways to stay focused.

Joseph
Genesis 39:2
The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

Joseph had every reason to become bitter and focus on fear instead of His God. The Bible tells us that wherever Joseph found himself that the Lord was with him and gave him favor. For a good portion of his life he played the role of a slave and a prisoner. This is strange to focus on God’s favor while we look at a man who has been stripped of so much, but it was through those years that the Lord prepared him for a much larger task. Joseph focused on the blessing of God being by his side instead of the fear of his surroundings.

David
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

David is our classic schizophrenic. He goes from trusting the Lord with everything he is to asking the Lord why He has left him. In the end of his songs and conversations with the Lord he always runs back to the Lord and resubmits to believing and following in his God. This particular scripture is placed between some of David’s own life difficulties.

Verse 3 speaks of an army attacking him and war coming against him and verse 5 speaks about when the day of trouble coming. David focused on God’s beauty instead of the circumstances surrounding him.
Apostle Paul
Philippians 3:13-15
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. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

Each time I read about Paul and his focus on the Lord and the task and purpose that the Lord has given him, I find myself inspired to follow in his shoes. One of the most difficult tight ropes that we face is not our future but our past. Paul chose to focus on God and the prize of eternal salvation instead of being frozen with fear over his past.


Dear Lord,

Help my life be a testimony of a man who was able to keep his gaze on you during each season of life that unfolds before him. I would ask that you cure me of my schizophrenia, but I am learning that it is this very problem that keeps me running to you. So I accept the condition as a part of my personal war and as the reminder of how badly I must run to you on a daily basis to surrender. Thank you for walking with me each step of my tight rope and I commit to keeping my eyes focused on you.

Amen

Masks

Today is Halloween! Children are getting excited about candy and what costume they will wear and parents are getting ready to brave the cold as they walk their children around to go trick-or-treating, or maybe the family is going to a harvest party. There are also those who will shut themselves away because a belief that Halloween is not a place for those who love Jesus.

Just a quick side note before we dive into our weekly devotional. This night that some avoid and others embrace will be full of your neighbors coming to your door giving you an opportunity to show a love and compassion that they may not see anywhere else. If we shut our doors and turn off our lights to boycott this evening are we missing an opportunity to show our world a truth that will change their forever?

Whether you choose to participate or not, this evening you will see people walking around with all kinds of masks. I was walking through Savers looking for a costume for my children and my son walks up to me with the craziest mask on. I remember asking myself, “Why in the world would anyone choose to wear a mask like that?” That is when the Lord began asking me questions about my own masks that I wear at times even on days when it is not a Holiday or costume party. There are times that I take my true self and feelings and hide it behind this false wall so people won’t be disappointed in me and in order to fulfill what it seems they are expecting. As I have gotten older, the Lord has challenged me to peel away these masks and for the most part I have learned how to be real in each situation that He has placed me in. Yet, even still there are times I am tempted to hide my feelings and thoughts instead of being honest with those around me. Why do we do this? What is in us that is so scared of being ourselves? Here are a few thoughts that might go through your mind that has kept you fearful of taking of the masks.

• If they only new who I really was!

• Nobody really cares to know the truth anyway!

• It won’t hurt anyone!

• Why disappoint?

• I don’t even like myself- How will they like me?

I am sure there are more thoughts that you can think of as to why you wear the masks that you do or are tempted to. Part of maturity in Christ is being able to take of the masks and stand in a crowded room simply being you. Here are some beginning steps that will help you peel away the false self and introduce to everyone who you really are. It might be scary to take these steps. Be brave and courageous! God did not create you to be hidden away.

1. Start by being honest with God.
This may be the hardest step of the journey, but it is the most important. The Lord already Loves you and has accepted you for who you are. As you wear these masks it breaks His heart because He has created you to be so much more brilliant and amazing than that mask you are wearing. I find that it is through worship that the Lord is able to strengthen and encourage who Kristopher is and who God has made me to be.

2. Then be honest with yourself
Look at what you are doing and how you are acting. Is this really you? Is this who God made you to be? It is always nice to think everyone in church really are as happy as they look on Sunday, but some of the loneliest people are sitting next to you on a Sunday morning. Take some time to dream and ask the Lord to show you how to be real. There maybe some that are reading this that have worn their mask for so long that they would not recognize themselves if the mask was taken off. Trust me! You can only begin growing in your walk with the Lord when you face the real you. Taking off the mask is step #1 in maturity.

3. Find one person that you love and trust and be honest with them
Choose wisely who this might be. If you do not have that type of friend then go to your pastor or a counselor. However, being honest in front of other people will allow you to feel better about yourself. Having integrity always will have a better result than lying. It may be difficult at first, but it will get easier. When I am struggling I go to my wife. She helps remind me that all I have to be is what God has made me to be.

4. Begin living this daily in front of others
There may be some of you who try to say that this is not a problem or it isn’t a temptation for those in the church. Even Peter, who was to be the rock that the church was built upon, dealt with this issue. As Jesus was being beaten, the Bible tells us that Peter was watching from the courtyard and three different people came and asked him if he was a follower of Jesus. Peter at that point pulled his mask on tighter and tighter and emphatically denied Christ. There is a cost to walking in this type of integrity, and yet I believe the cost of keeping our masks on is far greater and much more damaging.

Psalm 139
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

If this scripture is true and I believe it is! There is no reason to hide. Make a decision today to take off the mask and be who God created you to be. Whether you choose to take part in this Holiday or not, today is the day that the Lord has made and I encourage you to rejoice in it.

Joyful Attitudes?!?!?

“So how am I supposed to respond when you tell me something that I do not like? Do you want me to act like I am happy?” Noah Dahir

This was a conversation that spawned over some very important decisions that were made in the life of an 11 year old. It was late and we were coming home from football practice and I told him the week before that if he did good at his football game that I would buy him a large slurpy. (Yes, we do bribe our kids sometimes.) Like I said, it was late and I didn’t want him to get sick off of too much sugar. I told him that he could have a slurpy now, but it would have to be a medium or he can wait and we will get him a large one. All of a sudden he went from being my happy go lucky child and began turning into an 11 year old who did not get what he wanted. I told him that I did not like his attitude and then he asked me the profound question that began our devotional for the week.

You may ask, “What does this story have to do with you and I?” Think for a moment to the last time that you did not get what you wanted. Maybe it was a situation at home, at work, with a friend, or even a decision that it seems the God of this universe has made. The large slurpy represents how you think things should be or what you feel you deserve. It is crucial that we do understand that it does not mean that the large slurpy image is actually better. It simply represents what we think would make sense. The medium slurpy represents the door b and what could be the Lord’s plan from the beginning of time.

Here was my advice to my son and what I am trying to learn for my own life.
1. Don’t let an unwelcome answer or unmet expectation poison the possibilities that are available.

2. It is important to express your disappointment, but make sure it is the right time, right place, and to the right person

3. If you find yourself getting a bad attitude, fight it and be in control of your actions. You can never control what someone else says or does, but you can control yourself; or at least you should control yourself.

4. Trust that somehow, someway the Lord will fulfill all of His promises. Usually the worst will come out of us when we begin to think that we cannot trust the Lord with our personal needs and dreams.


In conclusion:

You can either look at your life and focus on all of the things you did not get, that have hurt you, or areas that were unfair, and let that set the tone for the day or situation you are about to face or you can learn from those things and decide to enjoy the good that is placed in front of you. I personally believe that even the simplest things can be turned to gold when touched with a heart that is joyful and knows how to trust in the Lord.

Romans 12:11-13
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

This devotional was used with permission of my son Noah. Thank you Noah for allowing us all to learn along side you. You are a wonderful young man and I love you very much. He did want you all to know that this story has been copy written and can not be used again without Noah Kristopher Dahir’s personal written permission.

Pleasing the Lord

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”- Psalm 19:14

This is my goal. To simply speak good wholesome and encouraging words, that the things that I ponder upon, put my brain juice and personal emotions towards, would please my Lord. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Did someone who affects your world wake up on the wrong side of the bed? This morning I was helping babysit my nephew and niece and watched how one of them wanted nothing more but to hang out and enjoy a day of toys. He had no regard for what happened yesterday, definitely was not thinking about tomorrow, and was just enjoying the moment he was in. That is until my niece decided to share some of her little grumpiness with her brother. It was funny because I sat here and watched her decide that if she was going to be a grump then for sure others should join her. I would like to say that this is a child-like behavior and that we grow out of these actions and habits; but we don’t. I might even be brave enough to say that our children learn some of these behaviors from us.

Whichever position you find yourself in today, our application to this weeks devotion is very simple- refocus on things that are pleasing to the Lord. He has taken care of the details of our day that bring life. All of the other sources we run to for hope will ultimately bring confusion.

Take the time to stop and write down the top ten things that bring joy to your heart and then thank the Lord for them.

Here are mine…

1. A secure place to find hope. Running to the Lord has always brought me back to my feet and gave me the strength longer than I thought possible.

2. My Melissa, I love waking up and having her in my arms.

3. Watching my oldest son take each step of life and becoming such a wonderful young man.

4. Standing with my son Noah as he dreams about his future with sports, friends, and life.

5. Being able to see and be with my family here in Reno. The kids are loud at times but we sure do love being around to see them grow.

6. Knowing that I have friends who pray for, believe in, and want the best for me and my family.

7. Being a part of helping other learn how to take steps towards the Lord and find the same hope and peace that I get to walk in.

8. I get to take my wife out tonight. Yay for dates!

9. Taking classes in school and doing well. It makes me feel like my life is moving forward to accomplish something that is bigger than myself.

10. Having a Guinness!

Walking Miracles

Isaiah 11:1-5

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

It is now time to step into a world that most people avoid. It is the world of Godly judgment and righteousness. Most of society love to hear about how God loves them no matter what and that God’s arms are open so wide, how He has closed His eyes to their short comings, and how He doesn’t even smell the stench that has entangled their lives. All of these things bring a great smile to my face and they are even fun to preach about. However, we must remember that the God of this universe, as laid out in scripture, is also a just God and is full of righteousness and truth. God has not closed His eyes to your sin and yes, his olfactory (the smelling part of a nose) is not broken. He sees it all and smells it all, but has chosen to not make you pay the consequences by allowing Jesus Christ to die for our short comings and take on the punishment for our depravity. Sin is not to be looked at lightly and the fact that we are human does not give us a get out of jail free card whenever we choose to jump into the deep end of the world and its muck and mire. God has made a way to continue relationship and yet, we will always suffer the consequences for our sin.

I saw this article that made me laugh, as the person writing it was a bit extreme and possibly is the type of person who has painted his car and his house with messages of God’s destruction. But this title was so true and it brings into the light the balance of how the Lord’s forgiveness and love is applied.

What Happens In Vegas
… Is RECORDED In Heaven!

Being from Vegas myself and watching the gaming business exploit people and find ways to tempt its visitors and residence with destruction has been very sad and heart breaking. While I was a pastor in Las Vegas, there were many prayers sent out asking the Lord for direction of how to make a difference in a place that is trying to drag everyone to the pit. I do believe that God is doing wonderful things in Las Vegas and some of the most wonderful people I have ever met have been placed there to help keep the Lord’s name shining bright.

The point of this man’s article is based out of the book of Revelations.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” -Revelation 20:12

I cannot even begin to explain to you what this will look like or mean to each of us. However, I do know that there will be a time to give an account for every word that has been spoken, attitude formed and action agreed to. This scripture is not one that has a lot of popularity today and I would be shocked to see it placed in a church growth book of messages to get more people in your church. And yet, the fact that the God of scripture is loving and righteous at the same time must be up held for all to see. He does care about the sin in your life. He does want you to be a good husband, wife, father, mother, child, friend, neighbor, employee, boss, and stranger. Choosing to follow the Lord in these areas does not earn your way into heaven. He has already taken care of that part of the equation.

Ultimately, the goal is not based upon anything we have or experience here on this earth. It is based upon that future time in heaven with our maker. There are many horrible decisions that I have made in my past and will have to stand before my God and face those head on. But starting today, right now, right here, I can make decisions to be able to stand in front of the creator of the universe and hear the words spoken in Matthew 25:21.

“Well done, good and faithful servant!”

And so can you!

God does love you and has a great plan for you. Even if yesterday was full of great shame and self-disappointment. Today is a new day; full of new opportunities to honor the Lord and be an example for others to see what kind of miracles our God is capable of. Your life is that walking miracle!

What Do We Fear?

The next portion of our study, out of Isaiah 11, brings us to a subject that seems to only bring confusion for the Christian of the 20th century. People are taught about a loving God that is only full of good and promises. If this is all that is to our God then why do we need to fear Him? Why did Jesus delight in the fear of the Lord? There are many religions out there that take pieces of scripture they like and create the God that makes sense to them and that is comfortable. As Christian men and women, we do not believe that is an accurate action to take. We believe that we take scripture and apply it to our daily life- even if it causes us to be uncomfortable. I believe that part of the problem in the church and with those who call themselves children of God is the casualness by which God is approached and revered. Yes, God is called many things in scripture and longs to have an intimate relationship with each of us. His hope is that His children will feel comfortable to rest in His mighty arms to find the rest and healing needed. But He is also our Almighty God, who deserves the respect and honor that brings a natural fear and awe upon approaching His very presence.

After people watching for the last 37 years and evaluating my own heart, I have learned that people worship what they fear. This may sound strange, but take a moment and see if it applies. When someone learns that they have a debilitating disease or find themselves in a relationship or financial crisis, a fear begins to set in of the future. If they try to carry it on their own then this fear begins to consume their time. That which we give our heart, mind, and time to is where our worship is given. However, if those same people believed that the Lord was more powerful than the financial crisis, health issue, or relationship turmoil, then they would keep their focus on the Lord and not spend their days reeling and tormented by the circumstances in place. Over the years, I have lost my focus many times and have begun to be consumed by the disappointments of the day instead of being faithful to trusting the Lord. I thank the Lord for His guidance and for staying faithful to me, even when my eyes become blinded to His amazing power and love.

Isaiah 11:1-5

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt

I challenge you to stop and evaluate what gets your worship.

Are you more afraid of your present circumstance than you are of a life absent of the presence of God?

If it has been some time since you have spent time with the Lord, He does not have a whipping stick that is prepared for you. He is waiting for you to choose Him once more and He has nothing but good, honest, fulfilling love in store for you. Be careful. Approach the Lord with the understanding that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but also as His son or daughter. When you begin to step into His presence you may feel out of place or as if you do not deserve to be in that place and will be tempted to run. These feelings are fully understood and should be followed; that is if the Lord had not paid the price for all of our shortcomings. Spend some time with your Jesus today. He has given His very life to be able to have that personal time with you. You do not need to run and hide anymore...

Why the Holy Spirit?

Isaiah 11:1-5

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

This scripture tells us about our Saviour who came to this earth to bring us life and be an example for those who choose to follow. The key elements that I see in this prophecy about the coming Messiah are the Holy Spirit and His affect, the fear of the Lord that He not only walked in but he delighted in, righteousness that affected every decision made, and a faithfulness that was always present. This prophecy, that was just read, has been fulfilled in every way by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I hope to take the next few weeks to focus in on these qualities of Christ and help make sense how we can apply them to our daily decisions.

This week I will focus on verse 2.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD –

What does it mean to have the Spirit of the Lord rest upon Him? Is this some type of strange ethereal concept or is this a practical possibility for you and me?

To answer this question let’s look at more scripture and the words of Jesus himself.

Acts 1:4-5
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Jesus himself came to this earth and showed us how to be led, filled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Then made it very clear that His disciples should not even think about being a part of any ministry until the Holy Spirit does His work. This is the same mandate for us today. Jesus didn’t function without the Holy Spirit guiding Him and so what makes us think that we should be making any decisions that are not first submitted through the filter of our Counselor, the Holy Spirit?

Isaiah 11:2, tells us that Jesus walked in the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and fear of the Lord. This all came through the fact that the Holy Spirit rested on Him. At this moment, I am praying for the Holy Spirit to fill me, rest on me, guide me, and if necessary, hog tie me- so I can walk in that same wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear.

How about you? I encourage you to look at each of these results and that were evident in our Lord’s life and see if you need to press in a little more and ask the Holy Spirit to guide more of your life than you are letting Him. Take a moment and pray over each of these areas. i would love to hear what the Lord is saying to you. He will guide you and encourage you if you ask Him.

Wisdom

Understanding

Counsel

Power

Knowledge

Fear of the Lord

Stop Trusting in man

“Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” Isaiah 2:22

This is the message that the Lord is screaming at me today. I say screaming because I think it is the only way He has found to get through my thick skull. This week’s devotional has nothing to do with anyone, but me and my walk with the Lord. I blame no one for the way I act or for the attitudes that are created inside of my heart. They are all just a rotten overflow of a heart that must learn how to yield and trust His creator. I know that I need to quit looking around and comparing my life to others. I know that God has placed so many blessings in my lap and that I should be thankful and show gratitude and joy for His continued healing and support for the battles this life has brought, but instead I get angry and want to shutdown. I feel like the Lord is telling me to grow up. Remember when you were a child and when things did not go correctly in your world and the other children were being nasty. It was then as a child we would just simply run and tell on them. I currently live with my sister and her family, which we are so grateful for. In this home, including my two boys, there are 7 children-- 5 of them being under the age of 11 years old. Let’s just say that there is a lot of tattling going on. I find myself saying on a regular basis. “Go away and worry about yourself. If you keep spending all of your time worried about them your life is going to be very sad.” What a great quote to live by! Quit worrying about other people and what they have and what they do or don’t do. Most of what you think you see is a façade and should not be trusted anyway. Worry about what is front of you and live for the Lord. Last night, I found myself wanting to shutdown and run to God to tell on everybody for the things that I think are not happening or at least when I want them to happen. I believe that He tried to talk to me last night, but I was not in the mood and so I went to bed with all of these swirling emotions- hoping that when I awoke that the Lord would be paying attention this time. Well, I was right. He was paying attention and He told me pretty clear. .

“Worry about yourself! If you keep spending all of your time worried about them your life is going to be very sad. Stop putting your trust in man and put it in me.”

Dear Lord,
Today, right here, and right now, I repent. Please Lord, forgive me, help me keep my eyes focused on you and be grateful for who you are in my life. Help me see those people and situations that you want me to step into and be an example for you. I know that when I am looking at everyone else and allowing attitudes to form that I become blind to the real purpose that you have placed me where I am. I love you and apologize for acting so childish at times. Please help my faith and trust grow.
Love your broken child

Meekness

“But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.”

What does it mean to be meek? Usually this word reminds me of a little mouse that scurries by and just tries to not get stepped on. He doesn’t make much noise or have much influence on people. He is simply little, cute, and uninspiring.

Let me paint a different picture for you- a Biblical view of meekness.

Greek word for meek is praus
a. Used to describe a soothing medicine.
b. Used by sailors to describe a gentle breeze.
c. Used by farmers to describe a broken colt.

What do all these definitions have in common?
They all describe great power under control.

Imagine a ferocious lion that is sitting and waiting in place. The many different animals of the jungle may perceive him as week because the birds are landing on his head and even some of the small rodents get brave and begin to build there nest underneath his paw. There are even a few vultures that have stopped by and have begun to circle because what a meal this large lion would make and just think of the bragging rights of eating the king of the jungle alive. Most spectators would quickly come to the conclusion that this lion must be a coward or broken in some way. However, this lion is not broken as some may think. He is submitted. Meekness and humbleness have everything to do with power reserved. One command from his master and that lion would make ground meat out of these animals that would dare mock such a mighty creation.

You and I are this mighty creation. Like this lion we have been called to submit our own comfort and instincts to our master. We sit and wait for our Lord to tell us when to react and how to react. There are times in this life that you will feel that the vultures have shown up and have began eating you alive. You may feel like you have been stripped of your self-respect, but let me encourage you. There is no greater place to be waiting than in the presence of the Lord and no better voice to be waiting for, but the voice of your creator. As you wait for His guidance, let your life be one of meekness and humility. Reserved for the moment that the master gives direction. Then in that moment be ready to express the full power that God has placed inside of you, as it is in that moment that the Lord will get all the glory.

Don’t be confused. Personally, I rarely have ever felt like that great lion that I just spoke about. However, scripture is very clear that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that God Himself lives with us and in us, as does the power that He wields.

The quote at the beginning of this devotional comes from Psalm 37:11. It is placed directly after we learn that David was walking through a season of his life where he was being hurt and he felt that there were some unfair situations surrounding him. He took it all and left it at the feet of the Lord. He trusted that God was bigger than the giant of confusion that he was facing.

Psalm 37:1-8
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

The Lord does have great plans for you! Simply trust in Him…

Lord,

I pray that you help each of us to keep our eyes focused on you and our hearts and minds submitted to your orders and not those actions that seem so natural to our own personalities. Like the ferocious lion that I spoke about earlier, help us submit to whatever you are asking of us. It is in that submission that we carry our cross and begin to look more and more like you.

Amen

Perseverance

What does this word "perseverance" mean? Does it mean that you run until you get tired? That you stand only until your feet hurt? That you hold up that responsibility only long enough to outlast the guy next to you?

Let me introduce you to Scrat, a fictional, saber toothed squirrel, who finds his life purpose in chasing after this nut. No matter what problems come his way and want to eat him, mame him or chase him, he does not lose his desire or hope in attaining the goal of capturing and eating the nut. Scrat is a wonderful picture of perseverance.



per⋅se⋅ver⋅ance  [pur-suh-veer-uhns]
steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Perseverance does not even begin until your feet are sore, your back is hurting, the rope is cutting through your hand, and the load just seems impossible to carry. I think the closest understanding I have ever seen to what true perseverance looks like was found in watching one of my friends walk through a debilitating disease. Even though it was full of pain and promises of death, she stepped out of bed each day and played the role of wife and mother. Yes, there were some days where getting out of bed for took a little longer than the day before. But she pushed through, lifted her face to God for strength, and persevered through her day. I have always liked the verse out of Ephesians 6 that tells us to stand firm, and when you have done all that you can do to stand and are getting tired of standing, then stand some more. Jesus gave us a great example to follow. No matter what he faced while on this earth He would go to his Father, our God, for strength, wisdom and perspective. When He was about to face His most difficult challenge, the cross, He submitted His life to the will of the Father and asked for strength.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

So many times I get to the place where I want to panic due to my weakness and lack of faith. It is like holding your breath under water. At first you feel confident and everything seems easy. But as time passes and it doesn’t seem that a breath of fresh air is on its way, our minds try to take over and tell us to panic. It is in these moments that I challenge you and encourage you to close your eyes and allow your faith in the promises of God to take over rather than the emotions that are telling you to be afraid and freak out.

This scripture also helps us answer what I have found to be the toughest questions. The questions of “Why me?”, and “Why did God allow this to happen?”. We are made complete by being broken and reassembled. It is a difficult process to fully grasp and or appreciate, but in all of my reading of scripture, experiences in life, and time spent with the Lord, I have found that perseverance is the equation to completeness. This does not mean that we have a God that is sitting there watching us, just dreaming up ways to sabotage our plans so we can learn to push through. It means that we live in a broken world and the Lord will use everything that comes your way to break you down and teach you how to trust in Him. For it is in that trust that completeness and godly maturity is found.

Dear Lord, please give us the strength to be strong and courageous as we face each obstacle that this life throws our way. Like the definition of perseverance states, please help us not quit when we are discouraged, but to take that time to dig deep and submit our lives once again to you. In that hour where we want to run and hide, please help us run and hide in your arms, as it is the only place we will find hope, acceptance, and strength. Amen

Remember that God Loves You Anyway

“All of those reasons that pop into your head of why God could not possibly love you are valid. We do not deserve the love that He is offering. However, He is still offering it! He loves you anyway. He is looking beyond what you look like right now. He doesn’t just see you as something broken, tarnished, and falling apart. He sees what you will look like once he is able to piece you back together and fill you with His love and purpose.” (Step by Step, June 19, 2009)

When all else fails and the question that is stuck in your head is, “How can anyone love me?”, be reminded that God does. He doesn’t love you because you are perfect, or said the right thing, or did the right thing, or finished that project, or got an A+, or have somehow conquered your most recent vice. He loves you simply because you are His. He chose you and gave His life to assure that nothing could steal you away. The only way that He will lose that which He has purchased at such a great cost is due to the freedom that has been granted to that which has been purchased. You have the freedom to walk away. For me personally, I think this is the worst part of the deal-- and yet, the most important. At times I wish the Lord would allow me to sign my life over to give up my will and my freedom of choice. Then I could serve Him and not get lost in temptations, fear and selfishness.

This is also important to remember as you walk through this life
There are people out there that will let you down and hurt you. At times the wounds that are created can be so painful that even breathing is difficult. However, just like God loves you in spite of yourself, He also loves that person that has done a terrible thing in hurting you. To be completely honest, I am very excited to know that God loves me no matter what I do, but I do not always like that God loves others in the same way. I am embarrassed to share this hidden and selfish part of me. There are times that I would like to see the Lord bring retribution on those who have let me down or wounded me. These thoughts immediately cause me to realize that there is so much more that God has to do in my life. I need to get out of the way of myself and my own wounds and pray that the Lord will show His love and forgiveness to each of His children- even the ones that have not always acted like I think they should.

I am so grateful that the Lord loves me in my broken state and it should bring a smile to your face that He loves you just the same. Run to the Lord and allow Him to guide, shape and transform your life. He has a great plan for you.

These lyrics are a wonderful reminder that God’s love is not based up on what we have done but what he has done. Thank God for what He has done!

What If --Jadon Lavik
What if I climbed that mountain, what if I swam to that shore
What if every battle was victorious then would you love me more
Would you love me more
What if I were everyone’s first choice, what if I went farther than before
What if I stood high above the rest than would you love me more
Would you love me more

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I’m in awe of why you do
Why you do, why you do, I’m in awe of you, ooh

What if I ignored the hand that fed me, what if I forgot to confess
What if I stumbled down that mountain then would you love me less
Lord would you love me less

What if I were everyones last choice what if I mixed in with the rest
What if I failed what I passed before then would you love me less

Lord would you would you love me less, oh no oh no oh no

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I’m in awe of why you do
You do you do you do

What have I done to deserve your son sent to die for me
What can I give I want to live give me eyes to see
In a world that keeps changin’ there’s one thing that I know is true
Your love is stayin’ there’s nothing else I’ll hold onto

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I’m in awe of why you do
Why you do

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I’m in awe of why you do
I’m in awe of you I’m in awe of you

The way you love me, the way you do
The way you do , the way you love me, you love me , you love me
The way you do the way you do the way you love me,
the way you love you love you love

Remember that God Paid Your Ransom

"There will be many moments along the journey where you will be tempted to stop and look at all the reasons that you are not worthy of allowing God to bring great blessings. It is one of the wages of war from the enemy of your soul to remind you of your failures and shortcomings. It is essential that each and every time you begin to feel that you are out of place and should be rummaging through the junk yard instead of enjoying God’s “five star service,” that you remember how Jesus came to this earth and paid your debt. You can raise your head high and look people in the eye with confidence. This is not because you have found a way [on your own] to overcome. The freedom and purpose that people will read in your eyes is a direct result of the price that Jesus paid for each and every one of us." (Step by Step 6/19/09)


Imagine that you live back in 50 AD. You were once a free man, but through a few bad decisions and some unexpected life turns, you are now a slave. You wear chains on your wrists, ankles, and one attached to a ring around your neck. Every day of your life is spent remembering the bad decisions and dreaming about what would had happened if you had opened “Door B” instead of “Door A” and made better decisions. Though the chains are heavy and painful, you wear them as if they are a part of who you are, as it is your belief that you have somehow earned them through the mistakes of the past. That is, until today. Today, your life has been interrupted with the chance to be challenged and changed forever. A new master has shown up and has paid for your debt; however, this master is different. This Master wants to take the chains off of your neck, arms, and feet and set you free. This Master has only one job for you. Instead of slave labor, this new Master requires that you show the same love you have been shown to those who surround you and for you to tell others about this new Master.

So, now you have a choice... What will you do? Will you live like a free man? Will you show others the love that was shown you? Or will you take the chains that have been removed from around your neck, arms and feet and put them back on?

I know that it sounds crazy to think that anyone would even entertain the idea of re-chaining themselves to a life of slavery. And yet, this is what happens to Christian men and women on a daily basis. Jesus has set them free and they no longer have to carry their past debts, but like an earned trophy, they take their freedom and set it aside to wear the familiar bonds of slavery.

Listen! Jesus came to this earth and died to set you free. All of the mistakes of your past, from the smallest of missteps to the most gruesome atrocities, have been paid for. QUIT WEARING YOUR CHAINS!

Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them,
"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Remember that God Has A Great Plan

"Trusting is so much easier if you

will just close your eyes!"

"To be honest, it is the thought of the future that has been the source of much of my turmoil. There are things of the past that have pain and hurt, but most of those wounds are healing quite well. There are situations I face daily that have the potential to create some difficult moments, and yet, the Lord seems to continually guide me through and equip me to handle those obstacles. But looking down the unknown hallway sometimes feels like I am in a scary movie and I just don’t know what is going to happen. Why is it that my mind always wants to revert to the memory of a scary movie where there is something dark and terrible wanting to eat my flesh instead of the idea that God has such a great plan? The end of the hallway is a definite unknown but the character and heart of God for is unchanging and is full of goodness. There is no need to fear!" (Step by Step 6/19/09)

Here is what I do on those days when my eyes become transfixed on the worries of tomorrow instead of God’s faithful promises.

1. Read His Word

It is sad that so few people lean on God’s handbook for this life. People feel comfortable running to so many different sources to try and attain wisdom for tomorrow and find every excuse in the book as to the reason they do not read God’s book. I personally believe that most people don’t run to the Word of God as often as they should is that it requires something of them instead of allowing them to feel sorry for ourselves. You see, scripture does not try to make sense of our problems. Scripture works on our heart and helps us look at our lives differently. It causes us to change, then, because we have changed we look at life’s issues differently.

2. Begin to Worship

This may sound like a strange thing to do and yet it is where I go when life is too heavy for me to carry. I wish that I could compare myself to Paul when he rejoices about his suffering, but I cannot. Usually when life is difficult, I run to the Lord to worship Him. Many times it is with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. He then finds a way to calm my heart and helps me to begin to trust in Him and His plan once more.

3. Surrender My Feelings and Fears Through Prayer

Not only does God want to hear from you, but when you take the time to have relationship with your maker you will find personal wholeness. The more time you spend with the Lord, the more you will trust Him and understand His role in your life. To love the Lord means to daily lay down your feelings, your rights, your ambitions, your goals, your everything. The laying down of these things will help you remember who is the Master and who is the child. The most confusing times in my life have come from me forgetting that the Lord is the one in charge and I am not.

4. Speak Out Loud My Fears

It is very important that you find someone to talk to. I have found that I confide in my best friend, my wife. She gets to hear of my sadness, my jealousies, my anger issues, and my disappointments. She gets to hear about my fears. There are times that this is difficult for me to do, but I thank the Lord to have a trusted friend for me to share with. If I try to keep my fears inside, they seem to mix with my imagination and grow into a beast that haunts my present day life. Usually after I speak my fears out loud and shed light on them, they shrink and lose the power to control me.

5. Find Something Positive to Do

This final step is very important. You must not sit around and focus on fears. Take that energy and find something positive to do. No matter what has happened or is happening in your life, we still have a responsibility to show the love of Christ to a broken and hurting world. Get out there and love someone for Jesus. I know it is the last thing you want to do when life is in turmoil. It feels much better to curl up in a fetal position and suck your thumb than to go and help anyone or care about someone else. Scripture commands us to love those around us. It does not say to love those around you only when your life is going perfect and you are happy with all of the circumstances of relationships, finances, and emotions. We love others simply because Christ loved us first.

I hope these practical steps out of my own life help you. The Lord is not waiting to find a reason to smite you. He has a great plan and has already put many of the pieces together to bring His blessings into your life. So close your eyes. Quit looking around and making decisions about God and His strength based upon what you see. Trust God with your life based upon His promises and unchanging love.

Remember that God Is Always With You

“There are days that go by where it seems God is hiding from me or has possibly left the planet. Then I press in and play the spiritual game of hide and seek and begin to see that God’s fingerprints are on everything and that He has been with me everywhere I have gone. He has been there the whole time-- loving me, holding me, strengthening me, caring for me. I am never alone!” (Step by Step 6/19/09)

This week I have began to walk through a study of the life of Joshua. Moses is dead and now Joshua is left to lead God’s people into the Promised Land.

Joshua 1:1-5

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

After the Lord tells Joshua what He expects of him, He then gives Joshua the formula to complete what has been asked. I am sure that with Moses’ death that Joshua had many feelings of fear and confusion, and more questions than answers to be found. For example: After all of the miracles that took place why did you let Moses die? Did Moses mess up and now, if I mess up, are you going to replace me? Who am I to lead these people? Has someone made a mistake? Have you made a mistake?

OK. There is no guarantee that Joshua had any of these questions. But I am 100% sure that these would be the type of thoughts that were flying through my mind and causing me to doubt and question God, His ways, and if He really understood what was going on.

In this next part of the dialogue from the Lord to Joshua it almost seems that the Lord is answering Joshua’s questions before they are spoken. If Joshua was not going to deal with doubt, fear, discouragement, and insecurity, then this portion of the conversation would had been unnecessary.

Joshua 1:6-9

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Word’s to live by in order to succeed and be prosperous…
1. Be Strong

2. Be Courageous

3. Be Careful to Obey

4. Meditate on God’s Word

5. Do Not Be Terrified

6. Do Not Be Discouraged

7. GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO!!!

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your promise to always be there no matter what I am facing. I ask for you to fill me with a faith and determination to not only read of your provision but to live it. Help me be strong and courageous. Please forgive me for my doubts and fears and allow me to be an example of a mighty warrior for you.

I love you- AMEN

Forget About Chasing the Perishable

"I want it all, Daddy and I want it now!"

“It is crazy to watch our society try to function in a world where they can’t just go and buy everything their hearts desire. If you take a moment to look around you will see fathers who rationalize working too much to provide their child with unneeded toys and a house that is too large to keep clean without a maid. You will see mothers talk themselves into giving away precious memories that will never be able to return again in order to have the newest items. Marriages that can’t grow because no one is taking the time needed to invest intimately, and a world that is crumbling around us as they look for something that will last. Everything this world offers is temporary and it is high time we start putting our energy and precious commodities into things that are eternal.” (Step by Step 6/19/09)

2 Corinthians 4:18

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This is not a very easy scripture to follow when it seems every commercial, billboard ad and store we drive by is telling us to give our lives in able to have as many possessions as possible. Please hear me! Most possessions that people buy are not the problem. There is nothing inherently evil about your big screen TV. However, there is something quite sinful about what we are willing to sacrifice to get these things that we “need” and allowing our possessions to distract us from the Lord and His kingdom. The next time you are about to make that purchase or decide that you really have a “need," stop and take a look at what it is going to really cost. I am not referring to the money. I am referring to the time spent away from those we say we love to pay for this purchase, the faith problems that arrive when we take our eyes off of Christ, and the energy spent keeping up with the rat race of new technology, bigger homes, and items to entertain our brains.

Last month, the boys and I had a garage sale where we were able to sell, and pretty much give away, ¼ of our belongings. We then took the rest of our worldly belongings and placed them in a trailer that is being driven across the country to our new residence in Reno, NV. There are a few nice pieces of furniture on board, a wonderfully huge BBQ, clothing, a couple of televisions and then boxes full of the most important items we have. The contents of these boxes are truly the only things that we care about. They are the pictures of our families and friends, love notes from when Melissa and I first started dating, home videos of our boys from when they first began walking and talking, and pictures drawn by our children that say “I love u momi and dadi”. As Melissa and I locked the trailer and drove away, knowing that we would not see our accumulation of stuff for a week, our biggest concern was for our precious memories.

This world is in one of the strangest financial crunches of our lifetime and there are many people looking for hope and searching for answers. Let’s be a witness for our surrounding spectators of godly wisdom and an eternal perspective. This would mean that we invest most of our time and energy into the more important things in this life, such as a daily walk with our Lord and Savior, building strong marriages that will survive the storms that may come, growing children who replicate this style of living and know the God we profess to serve, developing genuine friendships that are built on honesty and trust, and being available to serve the Lord and His purposes when He brings a person or a need across your path.

Forget Titles That Define You

"This has been one of the biggest lessons that I am learning during this season of life. Since I was a child, there have been many titles given to me, and adjectives used to describe what other people see in me--some of them positive and some of them negative, some of them unfair and some of them earned, some that are honoring and some that are embarrassing. I am learning that no matter what titles are wrapped around my neck, the only voice that I need to listen to, when it is time to begin defining who I am, is the voice of the Lord. He has called me precious and more importantly, He has called me His own." (Step by Step 6/19/09)


If I were to ask you who you were and what are you made of, the first thing you would probably do is start telling me things you have done in the past, habits you partake in on a regular basis, and probably a few titles that you wear like a badge to proclaim to the world around you just who you are. I am writing this to tell you that none of those things tell me who you are. Who you are has to do with the thing inside of you that makes you tick. That secret that was spoken between God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit about the purpose they created you for, and what special features they would give to you.

WHO AM I???

When you slow down enough to ponder about this all delicate question, "Who am I?", do you think of God and what He has made you to be? Or do you think only of your failures and your achievements, allowing the world to create a name, rank and serial number that was never yours to carry? This world has no way to look into the depths of your heart and see what is waiting to bloom; and so it truly has no authority to name and label you. But God looks beyond your crap, beyond your personal achievements, beyond what you see in the mirror, and looks into the seeds that He knows are waiting to grow. He knows they are there because He placed them there. He created you with that purpose in mind.

Imagine making bread. If we stopped in the middle of making bread and truly thought that the process was finished, we would most likely decide to throw it out and title it a waste because it is messy, gooey and has no real use. That is until you let it rise and fall and then place it in the oven. Then when that is all done and it is finished… mmmmm good! Fresh bread that not only smells great, but brings a comforting smile to my face with each bite I take. I love fresh bread and have to say compliments to the chef for not stopping in the middle of the process to name and judge the food that was being prepared.

We are all still in the process of becoming that which God has planned from the beginning of time. The next time you are asked who you are, or are looking in the mirror and deciding what label you are going to place around your neck, ask the Lord what He sees. You will find that He sees a child who has been fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. He loves you and simply wants you to know that you are His.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."