Tag Archives: 4 Pillars

The Love of God Never Fades

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I’ve written often about the pains and struggles that we all face in this world.  It doesn’t matter who you are, there is not anyone who has not had to face trials and sorrows, pain and suffering, temptation and sin.  It’s a simple fact of our fallen world.  I know there are some of you right now, who are going your own personal hell where it feels like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  You find it difficult to see where God is at work in your life.  You could be someone that has been full of faith, prays, and walks with the Lord, but then something comes along that just knocks the wind out of your sails.  I’ve read the book, “Heaven is For Real” and my family and I sat and watched it yesterday.  The Burpo family was going through some serious struggles of their own.  This was a family where the Dad and Husband is a pastor and they are all about their faith.  Boy does it get tested though, especially when their son falls ill and nears death.

Often times, the more locked into our faith we are, the tougher the struggles are and the harder and faster the arrows come to pierce our hearts.  My pastor, Tim, said in his sermon yesterday, that if you are locked in your faith, the devil is more ticked off now that your heart has turned to God, so he will come at you even harder.  This is so true too.  In my faith walk these last few years, there are times where I just get bombarded with junk, whether it’s how I respond with my attitude, junk from my past trying to creep back, or new struggles and temptations that try to pierce into me.  I have to fight just as much. We all do.

There’s one thing I’ve learned for sure with all of this, however.  The best thing we can ever hope to do, no matter how hard things may get is keep our eyes fixed on God.  David said in Psalm 42, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad? I will put my hope in Go! I will praise Him again – my Savior and my God!”  No matter how much junk tries to eat at us in this life, we have to keep focused on God.  Our hope lies in our faith in Jesus Christ.  Because of the love of God shown by the blood of Christ we have overcome just as Christ overcame.  We are already victorious through Him!  In my church we have been going through the book of 1 John.  1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.”  Our faith gives us victory and sets us free if we can keep our hearts fixed on God.

I ponder on this daily when I sit in my Scripture reading and prayer time or just when I am wandering through the day thinking.  I think just how awesome God’s love is for everyone of us.  I can’t think or fathom anything greater than the love of God.  I used to not ever think about this.  God would cross my mind, but never in such a way that I just sat in awe of His glory and love.

We are in a constant war in this life.  As I’ve said before, God is always pursuing our hearts to turn to Him, but the adversary is trying to use this world and his demons to attack us daily.  Trying to eat at our souls and our hearts to make it impossible to keep our hearts fixed on God.  Know that through Christ you are made victorious.  There’s nothing more freeing than to know that.  Because of our faith, we are born again of God and are His children.  His love will never fail or abandon us.

Romans 8:39 says, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Meditate on that.  How awesome is that to know.  Yes, we will tested and attached constantly in our life.  Sin will always try to win out.  But if you are faithful and in those times of struggle keep your hearts and thoughts fixed on God, know that He is always there to pull you through.  There’s a framed picture in the entry way of my home that says, “The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.”  God will never abandon you to this world.  Even if it feels like all hope is fading, that’s when you need to lock in more.

The Christian life is never rosy and perfect.  John Piper said, “There is a war going on. All talk of a Christian’s right to live luxuriously “as a child of the King” in this atmosphere sounds hollow — especially since the King himself is stripped for battle.”  We are victorious in Christ because of the unfailing love of the Father who has never stopped pursuing us.  He is constantly ready to go to battle for us.

Don’t Lose Precious Time

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I hope everyone is having a great summer so far.  It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of July already.  Time just seems to move faster and faster as the years role on.  With all of the chaos that comes through our lives, often times there is something that gets put on the sideline, whether unintentional or intentional.  This is the time we spend with our loved ones.  Namely our spouses and children but also other family that may be close to us and even friends.  We may get so caught up in the daily grind that we forget that precious time we have.

I just returned from a wonderful 10 days on the Gulf Coast with my wife and kids.  This was a first full vacation away like this where we had nothing going on accept our time together and a big ocean in front of us.  It was a wonderful time for all of us.  We got a chance to unwind and sit on the sand or play in the ocean.  We even went on spontaneous outings to wherever we felt that night, whether out for ice cream, to one of the amusement parks in Panama City or whatever.  It was a great feeling to not worry about anything else and to have that time.  Something I cherish very much.

Often times, vacation may be the only time we get to spend quality time with our loved ones.  Work may get in the way or other calendar filling things that take away from quality time.  So what do you when you get back home and get back to the grind?  Do you go back to business as usual and everyone goes their way?  Everyone has different routines in their lives.

I have made it a point  that I was going to maximize as much time as I could with my family.  I freely and willingly take on the responsibility of providing for my family and raising our kids right and solid character.  I have made it a point, however, that I would never sacrifice my time for them to be so caught-up in work that I lost sight of them.  If my kids wanted me to go out and play with them I made sure I made the time for it.  I have been called a clock-watcher before in my work, but I make no excuses of the fact that I look forward to stepping away and getting back to my family.  Now-a-days I work from my house a great deal.  I have heard many people tell me they could not be home all the time.  I tell you this, I would work hear every day if I could if it meant I could be with my wife and kids every day.  That’s just the way I am.

The same holds true for the time with my wife, Amber.  Some say they could never work with their spouse and need that separation each day.  Granted, we all need our moments of solitude, which I have written about before and will talk about again very soon, but I cherish every day I get to be with my wife.  We were married at 18 and from that time have always wanted to be by each other’s side.  Now 17 years later that just as strong.  I love being in my home office when she is here as well.  Just being close is what matters.  It’s precious time.

Now I don’t say all of this about myself to guilt anyone.  This is the way I am.  I live for my God and for my wife and kids not to be away from any of them.  I cherish every moment of everyday I get to spend with God in His Word, writing, and prayer.  I also cherish every waking moment I am with my wife and kids.

My point is this folks.  We all have very limited time in this life.  We have very limited time with our spouses and even more limited time with our kids before they grow and move on to their new lives.  I know my time with them is running short as I have 2 almost 3 teenagers.  Cherish every moment you have folks.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so we have to make the most of what The Lord blesses us with while we are hear before He calls us Home.

Make sure you don’t take your time with your family for granted and squander those opportunities to be with them no matter what.  Never put insignificant priorities before them.  Never get so caught up in your work that you waste that time.  You don’t want to live with the regret of having lost that time.  Our time is short, our time with those we love is precious and just as short if not shorter.  Make the most of those relationships.

The Lifelong War to Come Alive

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Many of you have heard the quote from Saint Irenaeus that says, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”  I use that quote as the banner on this site and on my Facebook and Twitter pages.  It is a powerful statement that speaks to what it is we are created for in living out God’s purpose of glorifying Him through our own lives.  What does this statement mean to you.  Many will look at it and shrug their shoulders at it thinking it’s just another cliche statement that doesn’t carry much weight.  If God is really about us coming alive, then why do we find so much trial and difficulty in our lives that seem to draw us back into a world of heartache and difficulty.  We get bombarded with so many challenges day and night that it becomes difficult for many to see just where God is working.

What I’ve come to realize is that all of this difficulty and struggle comes about because we are born into a world that constantly at war.  We are faced with a world that is full of struggle and difficulty, anxiety, worry, and pain.  Since the fall of man in Eden, God has been constantly waging war against Satan and his demons that are constantly trying to overtake our lives and turn us away from God.  In Exodus 15:3, the Hebrews proclaimed that “The Lord is a Warrior.”  God has waged a continuing battle to win us back every since the fall.  What is He battling for?  For our hearts and that we can turn to Him and finally achieve the purposeful life we were created for.

Now for many, they may see that our faith in Christ grants us life in Heaven.  They miss a key part of what eternal life is about.  Eternal life begins now.  By our faith in Christ we are open to eternal life and fully our full design.  That does not start after we leave here, but it starts now on this earth.  Eternal life means always living, not living after we die.  Jesus came with the promise of life.  In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  Through Christ we have a chance to defeat the evil in this world and beginning to come alive through Him.

Now back to the war I was talking about.  God has been waging a war for us since the fall.  We face so much difficulty in this world because we face an enemy that is trying to always pull us away from God.  You see it today in the media as people are so bent on being in this progressive society and discounting anything that is spoken from The Word.  That is Satan at work.  Jesus told us that we will continue to have trials and sorrows in the world.  Through our faith in Him, we can overcome all of that because He overcame this world and stole the keys of hell and death and was risen to new life securing our rebirth.

We have to always remember that we are at war and God is at war for us.  Jesus has brought us new life and now we have the opportunity to fully come alive through faith in Christ and what He has secured for us.  In the book, “Waking the Dead,” John Eldredge said, “War is not just one among many themes in the Bible. It is the backdrop for the whole Story, the context for everything else. God is at war. He is trampling out the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored. And what is He fighting for? Our freedom and restoration. The glory of God is man fully alive.”

We are going to be continually at war in this life.  Don’t let struggles that you face pull you away from your faith.  I know that it will be easy to turn away.  We’ve all faced struggles that make it difficult to see where God is at work.  Trust me, He always is at work and will never stop fighting for us and pursuing our hearts.  That’s how much He loves every single one of us.  We can come alive through Christ and start living out exactly what we were created for in the eternal life that begins now through our faith.

There’s Always Hope

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How many of you have had times where you feel like there is just not any hope of positive change coming?  You had circumstances come across your life that make you feel like all hope is lost.  I think it’s safe to say that nearly every one of us had.  I know I have had my moments where I felt like things were just pointless.  I spent a year wondering what actually mattered in life.  This kind of feeling can come when we lose someone in our lives as I did or maybe you’ve hit struggles with your work or family situation and it seems things just won’t get better.

What I can personally testify too, is that no matter what your circumstance is, no matter how difficult things may get in life, we have a hope and light in front of us.  We have a God that we can always lean to for guidance and strength to battle any difficulty we may face.  I read this quote today. “Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called “the rejoicing of hope” (Hebrews 3:6).” – William Gurnall.  Our hope lies in Christ who came by the Father’s Grace to save us and give us hope in the promise of entering God’s Kingdom.  I don’t know about you, but with all the suffering and trials and tribulations that we have coming our way in this life, I take great joy in the hope of the promise of when Christ returns for His Bride.

Now I am sure people may ask, I’m a Christian, why do I have to go through these difficulties in life.  Why did I lose my Dad so suddenly, as was my case?  Why did I lose my job?  Why can’t I get ahead and provide for my family?  Why am I stuck in this world of addiction that just eats at me?  Why do have any struggles at all?  Simple fact is folks, it comes with this world.  Christ told us, that in this life we will have trials and tribulations.  Difficulties will come our way throughout our time in this world.  Due to our fallen state, we will continue to face these struggles.  We have hope however, because we have a Father that from the very beginning has been pursuing us to win us back and now our hope and our place is secure because Christ has overcome this world (John 16:33).  He overcame and now is preparing a place for the faithful at the wedding feast and He will be returning.

What a cool feeling that is.  We may suffer through difficulties.  We may have struggled with our own sins in this life, but we are always being pursued and if we hold t our faith, our place is secured in the Kingdom.  Hebrew 3:6 says, “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.”  Remaining confident in our hope and keeping our courage is holding our to our faith and leaning to Christ through our struggles.

I used to not speak this way.  I went through an entire year, where I tried to keep faith, but I didn’t know God well enough and therefore it made my faith real struggle after I lost my Dad.  I speak to this hope with great confidence now.  We always have hope and light in front of us.  God is always pursuing us and reaching out for us to draw us back to Him.  He will go wherever we are to pursue us.  Think about it.  His love for us is so great that He was willing to let Christ take all of the punishment and judgement for our sins.  He took on himself all that we deserved.  That’s Grace and that’s so awesome to know.

There’s a song I’ve heard lately sang by Danny Gokey called, “Hope In Front of Me.”  Some of you may not know who he is, but I remember him coming on American Idol several years back.  He had gone through the struggle of losing his wife to illness before coming on that show.  Amber and I always remember his story.  He knows what struggle and difficulty is first hand as well.  Anyway, this song, if you haven’t heard it, is very powerful and speaks right to the hope that we still have.  The end chorus goes like this…

You’re my hope
You’re the light, I still see it
Your hands are holding me
Even when I don’t believe it
I’ve got to believe
I still have hope
You are my hope

God is always there folks and we always have a hope in Him.  Even when things may seem so difficult and it gets difficult to hold on to your faith, know that God’s hands are always reaching out for you.  We still have hope and always have hope in the promises of Christ’s return and that the struggles of this world have been overcome and that we will overcome it all too.

Finding Peace For Restoration

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We live in a very noisy society today.  Everyday we get up and go about our business, we are bombarded with a million distractions around us, stuff on radio and tv, social media, daily traffic on our commute, drama in our circles, drama in the workplace, and so much more.  From the time we get up, until the time we go to sleep, we are under constant bombardment which can easily distract and wear us out, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually.  With so much going on, many of us don’t take the time to step away and find time to sit in peace and solitude to restore ourselves.  I was reading an article yesterday about solitude an and the importance we have of finding a place where we can stay away from the distractions of this world and restore ourselves in solitude.

Some where do you go for that peace or do you at all?  For me, there are a few places I find helpful for my restoration.  First for my daily time, it comes in the early morning hours, before the house starts moving.  When I get this time, I dive into God’s Word and meditate and journal on what I’m reading that day and then pray on it.  This is a daily practice that helps really get the day going.  Also during my morning workouts at the gym.  I plug my ears in with Praise and Worship music whenever I workout and stay locked in for the next hour and half.  For my major restoration from the year of craziness that comes from work and family priorities, it comes when I am at the beach.  There is something about getting up in the early morning and walking on the sand before all the other vacationers come out.  I listen to the ocean, feel the breeze, and in that place I feel completely locked in with God.

During any of these times, it’s not about being alone and lonely, it’s about solitude.  As the article I read in And Sons Magazine describes, there is a distinct difference between loneliness and solitude.  The author describes loneliness as “Cold. It haunts us in the quiet hours when we have failed to create enough white noise to drown it out. It is scary. It is deafening.”  Solitude however, “is the quiet of standing in a windless snowfall. The snow acts as a sound dampener—it’s hard to hear a car even if it’s only 20 feet away. It’s more than quiet—it is substantive, as if you could stretch out your hand and push into the silence like a down pillow.”

As the article also points out, there is one who made moments of solitude a regular practice.  That is none other that Jesus Christ.  Many times in the Gospels we read of Jesus stepping away into the wilderness to pray and restore himself.  To connect with The Father.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone….” (Matthew 14:23)

Then of course there was the 40 days in the wilderness which prepared Jesus for what was to come in His ministry and in fulfilling His purpose according Scripture.

These moments of solitude are extremely important parts of our lives and our restoration and preparation for what is still to come in our lives.  In these moments we can connect closer with God.  We can sit still in silence and fill His Spirit fill us and restore us.  It is in these moments where we can fully let go of the stresses this world brings in our daily lives and talk with God and listen to where He leads.  These moments are priceless and really help prepare for the next steps in our journey.

I am going to touch on this more in the coming weeks.  My next video blog will come out in July and will be on this very subject.  I think this is such an important part of our lives in our walk with God and finding where He is leading us, dealing with the spiritual battles and sin that the Adversary throws our way every day, and in restoration our lives and relationships with those around us.  We all need that place and that time to find peace and restoration.

We Need Dad’s In This World

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Yesterday, we celebrated Father’s Day where we show appreciation to Father’s everywhere.  Many of you know my story and know my Dad was lost a few years back.  Father’s Day is a little different for me since then, but I also have the blessing to be a Dad to three awesome kinds.  I am thankful to God that he has blessed me with the responsibility and privilege to be a part of raising these boys and girl along with my wife.

I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me yesterday in worship when I heard the crazy statistics about kids growing up without a father in the home.  This shouldn’t be news to anyone but it’s rather alarming to know how many kids out there grow-up without a father in the home (over a third of kids).  If you dig deeper, you will see a greater number of kids that grow-up without a Dad, whether there is a present father or not.  What really was striking me was how much this issue has become so normal and almost acceptable in our society today.  Guys make it too easy to step away from the responsibility of being a Dad and walk out on their homes or just check-out and refuse to be involved in the lives of their children.

This issue just frustrates, because it’s difficult for me to comprehend the thought of my kids growing up without me in their lives and involved in their lives.  I could have easily taken a different road.  I became a Dad very young.  When we first found out about it, I was scared to death of what kind of Dad I would be.  I knew it was a responsibility I had though and wouldn’t pass-up on it for the world.  Each and every kid we have in this world is a new blessing and God given opportunity that none of us should throw away.

I am not trying to diminish single-moms out their at all.  I applaud each of you for your efforts when left alone to raise children.  This goes to the, so-called men out their who skip on the opportunity and responsibility to raise their children in the way of Lord and be involved in every aspect of growing-up.  Don’t put career or other things of this world ahead of your family.  Keep God first and raise your children as a spiritual leader.  Teach them to seek God in their lives and walk closer with Jesus.

Psalm 127 3-5 says this.  “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are reward from him.  Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.”

They are a gift from God.  Don’t throw away such a precious gift and don’t be just a father.  Be a Dad.  This world needs more Dads in this world and not men who are checked-out of their children’s lives and their spouses as well.  Don’t leave women to raise these children on their own.  Lead your home and lead your children the way you were intended to.  Step-up and be a real man and don’t abandon your children.  Just read the statistics and read the stories of difficulty for people who grew-up with single parents.  That tells you enough.  There are also plenty of stories out there of men who are home, but completely check-out because of career or other issues and the impact it has on their children.

I’m not here to provide some quick fix steps for being a better Dad.  I’ve had to learn myself along the way as we all do.  There is not an easy guide for parenting.  People try to throw these together to sell what they think works, but in reality we all have to learn along the way.  It’s not easy, but step-up and take it head-on.  You won’t regret it if you try.  Anyone can be father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad.  We need more Dad’s in this world.  Don’t check-out and don’t walk-out.

17 Years and Still Going Strong

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On this day, June 14, 1997, my wife, Amber, and I were married.  It’s amazing to think that we have been married for 17 years.  It’s been quite a journey too.  We married when we were both 18 years-old.  While for most, this would spell out potential disaster in marriage these days, I am so thankful that God blessed me with such an awesome women and I have been able to grow with her in my life.  Growing together from such a young age, we’ve had to learn a lot.  We started with nothing and starting a family early during our first year of marriage, we knew we had to work at making the marriage last and raising our children as best we can.

For those that saw “My Faith Testimony” a couple of month’s back, you’ll know that our faith was not always a central part of our marriage.  Our goal was focused on working hard and raising our children right, but not 100% focused on keeping our faith and God as a daily presence.  In recent years that has changed dramatically now and how transformed our home.  I’m grateful to have been able to grow through those struggles with Amber as we worked to figure things out together and draw closer together.  The more our faith has grown, the closer it has drawn us together too.

I’m thankful to God for the woman he chose to be my wife in this world.  She is an amazing woman and I could not be more happy having her in my life.  She has been able to put with me for the last 17 years and I look forward to her putting up with me, Lord willing, for many years to come.  She is the Masterpiece, the final touch, that completes me and our marriage.

Perfection Is Not The Key

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Have you ever faced times were you just filled with guilt over situations in your life where you have fallen to sin?  Have you ever been so caught up in trying to be perfect in your life that it keeps you from being you?  This relates to not just in faith, but in how we interact with people.  Many times people are so worried about the perception they give others when they are in social situations that they put on a “poser” persona and don’t act as themselves.  In faith, often times people are so afraid to sin that it eats at them trying to be perfect and then when they do fall, they get so riddled with guilt.

There is one thing in life that we need to always remember.  We are all sinners.  We live in a fallen world and sin is now a part of our human nature.  None of us are ever perfect.  I’m surely not.  I fight my own battles in life where sin and Satan infiltrate.  It’s a part of our world and something we all have to battle.  I don’t care who you are where you came from in life, it is a part of us.  Perfections is not in the cards in this world.  As you all know, Jesus was the only one to ever be perfect.  He came and showed us the example of what it is God intended man to be.  To always seek God and glorify Him in all we do.

When we all understand that perfection is not the key for each one of us, then we can focus on what is.  That, quite simply, is Jesus!  Jesus is the key, not perfection.  One we realize that, then we can spend our lives drawing closer to Him each day knowing that by God’s grace and love when we do fall to sin in our lives, we are forgiven because of Jesus.  Jesus is the answer.  An excerpt from the book “Becoming Myself” says, “We won’t be perfect on this side of heaven. But Jesus is perfect. Always.  We are becoming more holy and true. Jesus already is.  His name isn’t “Becoming.” It is “I AM.”

Jesus is the answer to it all.  When we surrender and accept in our lives as our Lord and Savior, we can then turn away from sin.  Jesus already to the judgement and punishment for our sin.  We can nail that sin in our lives to the feet of the cross and let Jesus take it from us.  Still going forward, while we strive to not sin, we need to understand that we are still not going to be perfect.  We will all jack it up at some point and many times.  Thanks to God’s love however, we don’t have to bound to that sin any longer.  We have Jesus.  He is the only answer we need and the real key to everything.

This is such a vital area of life for all of us and unfortunately, so many don’t understand or know this.  Seek Jesus.  That is your answer.  He was God’s answer to the sin and corruption of this world and He is the answer to conquering our sin and our salvation.  Seek Jesus through God’s Word.  Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your life.  An posting from Joseph Prince today said, “No Word and all Spirit? You’ll blow up. All Word and no Spirit? You’ll dry up. But have the Word and the Spirit? That’s how you grow up!”  Fill yourself with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit daily.  Draw closer to Him and know that Jesus is the key.  Don’t live a life of perpetual guilt trying to be perfect.  Seek Jesus, Always!

Not For Our Glory But For His

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What does it mean to you to Glorify God?  These words get mentioned often, and for some folks, I am sure it brings some question as to what this really means.  I know when I first heard it, I was unsure what it really meant.  It took time of reading and prayer to really begin to understand this.  We are all created for God’s purpose.  He created each and every one of us in our own unique way in His image.  Through our creation we each make up a unique part of the Body of Christ and bring something special to the kingdom.  What this tells me is that we each have a unique gift and calling to bring, and it all for the purpose of bringing glory to God.  That is our purpose.

God is the source of all.  He is the creator of all things and has been here since before the beginning.  Everything we have in this world and in our lives, all the blessings we have received and the gifts we have all come from Him.  If you read through Scripture, we are reminded of this over and over.  King David was very humbled in the fact that all his victories and delivery from his enemies were from God, not himself.  Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, O Lord, not us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.”  It is because of His love for us that we exist.  It is because of His love and faithfulness that He sent His son to die for us and be poured out for our sins and taking the punishment and judgement that each of us deserve.

Each and every one of us have a unique gift to bring.  How we use that gift is of very significant importance.  There are many in this world that use their talents and gifts and look to only glorify themselves in their successes.  I’ve heard many to continually boast in their own pride and success and never once give the glory and praise to God for all He has provided.  We have to understand the importance of praising God and glorifying Him through humble faith and thankfulness for what He has provided.  He is the one that deserves all the praise and glory, always.

Have you ever watch the movie “Facing the Giants” developed by Sherwood Pictures?  If you have not, check it out.  It is great movie that my family have watched many times.  There is a high school football coach and team that have had some serious struggles.  They are coming to a new year and the coach is facing the threat of losing his job if the team does not turn things around.  This coach has a change of heart.  After a talk with a gentleman who has prayed for revival over the school many times, the coach begins to take on a new philosophy.  This is not about winning, but about glorifying God and playing for him.  He tells the team, “If we win, we praise Him, and if we lose, we praise Him.”  This new philosophy transformed the team, the coach, the school, and the community.

Glorify and praise God.  It sounds so simple doesn’t it.  I mention this movie because it is great example of how completely focusing on God and giving Him the glory and letting Him do the work can transform you and those around you.  Use the gifts God gave you.  He wants all of us to do the best we can with what He’s bless us with.  Do it not for your own glory.  Do so for His.  It all comes from Him anyway.  We have One God and One God alone.  All praise, honor, and glory to Him forever!

God Risked It All To Rescue Us

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In the past week, I finished reading a great book called “The Sacred Romance” written by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge  If you have not picked this book up just yet, I would recommend that you do so.  This book gave a great look at God’s love for us and how He has been pursuing us since the Fall and looks at the worldly temptations and addictions of Satan and how they can keep us from drawing closer to Him. Part of our journey here on earth is to draw us closer to God and to God’s heart.  God knows each one of us very intimately and wants us to know Him as well.  His desire is for us to be drawn close to His heart and to restore his Beloved, that being us to His glory and what we were created for.

As each of us know, we live in a Fallen creation.  God created man in His image gave him dominion over the earth.  The earth was entrusted to man.  As is stated in the book, we were to be God’s regents, entrusted to reign with his authority over the earth.  With the Fall of man, however the earth became corrupted.  It became the domain of the adversary.  Since then, Satan and his demons have worked to fully separate us from God through temptations and sins in this world.

I’ve written a couple times this week about God’s love for us and how through Christ we are free to love as well.  One part of this book really speaks volumes about God’s love for all us.  We all know full well about God coming of flesh through Jesus to save us from our sins and give us a way to eternal life.  Do you realize just how much of a risk this way?  God created us for intimacy with Him, but our Fall created a cosmic crisis.  He then launched what is described as “the greatest campaign in the history of the world to get us back.”  Even when we turned from Him, we are promised that He would still come for us.

He sent messengers and used beauty and affliction to recapture us.  When all of this still did not work to bring us back, He conceived the most daring plan in this battle to win us back from this world and the adversary.  The book states, “Under cover of night he stole into the enemy’s camp incognito, the Ancient of Days disguised as a newborn, in Jesus Christ. The Incarnation, was a daring raid into enemy territory.”  Satan had the world under his power and God risked it all to rescue us from his grip.  God did all of this for a simple reason, to win our hearts back.  To win back every part of us, which is His creation to begin with.  After mankind fell in Eden, God was going to do to whatever lengths to get us back.

Even now, since Christ’s first coming, God is still pursuing us.  He is still after our hearts.  Isaiah 29:13 says, “Their hearts are far from me.”  Many of us still are separated from God’s heart, but because God loves us so much, He came through Jesus Christ to rescue us and overcome this world.  It’s really something awesome to think about.  To God, we are worth pursuing.  We came from Him and He will do whatever is needed to bring us back to Him.

Think about that for a minute.  How cool is it to know that no matter what we have been through, we have a God that loves us so greatly, beyond anything we can comprehend, that He has and will go wherever is needed to win us back.  I take great joy in knowing that my God loves me that much.  In the Gospel of John, John refers to himself as the disciple Jesus loved.  He was not being arrogant.  He was filled with so much joy and delight in having known Jesus personally and knew that Jesus loved him.  Each and everyone of us is loved just as much.  What a great feeling it is to know that love.  I’ve been on a long journey as we all have.  Our lives are filled with so much good and also evil.  This world will do whatever it can to draw you away from God.  We see it all the time.  Know, however that God has been and is willing to go to battle for us, always to win us back.  We are His Beloved.