Tag Archives: 4 Pillars

The Central Point of Any Marriage

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For those of you married out there, how many of you have had your marriage tested by worldly things (temptations, worries, anxieties, frustrations, etc)?  If you said you haven’t, then you may want to rethink that.  I believe every marriage can be tested at any point and is tested often.  This goes for people of faith and without faith.  As well know full well, the divorce rate in the United States is ridiculously high.  Why?  Because people lose site of where the strength of their marriage draw and the fail to turn to the one true source of everything when things get difficult.  They easily fall to temptations or they anger easily and snap at their spouses or continually worry about things in this world that quite frankly have no significance in your eternity.

Now, I’m not a marriage counselor, but having been married nearly 17 years and counting with the love of life, I know full well that every marriage can get tested, even mine.  The enemy is in always in this world and will try many tactics to try to tear into the covenant you’ve made with you spouse before God.  As you grow in faith, you can start to see this peak out its ugly head more often than you may expect and in the most simple ways.  It can cause you to lose site of your faith and in turn strain the strength of your marriage if you let it.

We are all called to glorify God in all we do.  This also applies to our marriage.  The bond your marriage is meant to reflect the image of God through the man and woman.  If you hold tight to one another, you glorify Him more.  Keeping Him first make it easier to brush aside the worldly struggles and temptations that can get thrown your way.  Paul said in Ephesians 5:31-32, “As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.”  You are meant to reflect that relations of Christ and the church in your marriage.  Don’t let things that are not significant get in the way.

You may be wondering why I make it sound so simple.  You see, it is that simple.  Keep God first in your marriage and you will glorify Him and make it easier to stand-up to the world of sin.  Pray together and pray for each other.  This will strengthen you both that much more in your daily lives and struggles.  It will make your marriage stronger and healthier and better capable to stand before anything and push away anything the adversary throws your way.  You will be able to manage through adversity together that much better.  Keep God at the center of your Marriage, always.  This is a life lesson I’ve slowly learned over the years and it so real.

We’re All People…We’re All Broken

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I’ve been greatly inspired these last several months, weeks, and days.  My family and I found a new worship home this year, rather found our way back to our worship home.  It’s been an eye opening experience to be able to worship God every week with so many believers.  So many people who have their own story as we all do.  So many people who have had their share of pain, struggle, and brokenness, as well as joy and happiness.  This morning on my way to the office I was listening to the radio and hearing discussion about an article that referenced the fact that throughout the Bible, New and Old Testament, God used people that were broken to advance his Kingdom and Glory.  Only Jesus pleased the Father and did not fall short of His Glory.

With the release of God’s Not Dead this past weekend, I started thinking more how God uses so many different people in so many ways to help advance His Kingdom and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I’ve been connecting with more and more people these past few days on social media, particularly Twitter that are involved in ministry, involved in the movie, and people that are connecting with God’s message.  I realized that we’re all people and we’re all broken.  God is using each and every one of us in a unique way for His Glory.  While we may have different assignments and paths, we all have the purpose of being Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Each and every one of us now and throughout history has a unique story that has brought us through trials and struggles.  My pastor challenged each of to write out our testimony and share that with everyone.  Our story of life through struggle and brokenness and to redemption.  Our personal testimonies are a huge way to bring others in and show just how God is working in our lives and how faith in Christ transformed.  A few years ago, He transformed me big time.  I was lost spiritually for way too long.  I am writing out my story and you will all see it very soon.  I pray that it finds its way to many more as I show what God has done in my life.

We can all do the same.  If your faith has transformed you, share it with others.  Open up about your own brokenness and how Christ redeemed you.  We can all do this.  We all have a story, we all are just people, and we’ve all been broken to some degree.  Pray and figure out where God wants you to work for His Kingdom and use your story to bring others to the Kingdom.  It’s a huge battle that we all as a body must take part in and are purposed to do.

God is Good…All The Time

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Have you ever really stopped to think just how awesome  and good God is. No matterwhat we go through in life, no matter our struggles, joy, good times, or bad times, He is always good and always there. This weekend, my family and I went to see the movie, God’s Not Dead. We have been seeing yhe previews for this movie for months and have very much looked forward to its release. If you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend going to see it. I rarely go to the movies, but I was not missing this one. So amped up to see faith driven movies hit the mainstream box office. Oh, and even on limited release, it came in 4th at the box office, which was awesome to read.

I won’t spoil the movie, but there are two men, pastors in the movie. A line the repeat back and forth throughout the movie, through good and rough times is, “God is good…all the time…and all the time…God is good.” I just thought, how powerful that one simple, yet true statement is.  God is good all the time.  We should never lose site of it, ever.  No matter what may come through our lives.  What troubles we may encounter or what joyous times we may encounter.  Remember that through all of it, God is good.  God is there for us.  God loves us unfailing.   Even when we don’t deserve it, God is there to pull us through.

Think of that today.  In everything you do, think of that statement.  God will never let us down, ever because He is good all the time.  I won’t over analyze it.  It’s simple and I want to keep it that way.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

The Restoration of Spring

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So today, spring arrives.  For many it has been a long and miserable winter.  Even in my neck of the woods in the Georgia, we’e dealt with more winter than we care to.  With that said, while many may still have to deal with winter weather for a while longer, the coming of spring brings new restoration to our world.  We start to hear the birds singing, the trees begin to bud, and we see new life beginning all around us.  It is a fresh start as we look forward to longer days and warmer weather.

In my reading this morning, I was pointed to look closer at God’s creation and how His coming kingdom restores our world.  God gives us a glimpse of this restoration each year as move out of the darkness and cold of winter into spring and summer.  Through Jesus, wherever humanity was broken, He restored it.  Just has the blind man could see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, and the dead returned to life.  Jesus restored and restores all who have faith in Him and seek Him.  My reading this morning was and excerpt from John Eldredge’s book Epic.  John explains that “the restoration of the world played before us each spring and summer is precisely what God is promising us about our lives.  Every miracle Jesus ever did was pointing to this Restoration, the day he makes all things new.

As the warmer days come back upon us, think about this restoration and the promise that God has made to us.  He sent His son Jesus Christ to live among us and be sacrificed so that we could be made new.  So that we could be restored to God once again as we had fallen so far.  No matter how broken our lives may be and we all have that struggle to contend with, Jesus is the answer and restores all.   We get a taste of that restoration every spring with new life.  Jesus brings us new life if we have faith in Him.

I am in the process of producing my first video blog.  As I mentioned in my last post, I will be sharing my personal testimony with you all.  Part of that will show just how much Jesus has restored me.  I’ve gone through my own share of struggles, doubts, and fears.  It was not until I was 33 years old that I realized just how far I had strayed and I found my way back to God and let me tell you, He has restored me so much.    I still struggle with daily troubles that life will bring in this world, but I have new hope and Jesus was and is that answer and He is yours too.

My prayer for everyone that reads my posts and who will watch my videos is that my life and testimony will be a beacon that will be draw others in.  That people who may be struggling and not know who Christ is will find there way to get to know Him.  He is always there and like the prodigal son, will pull you in with open arms when you find your way home.  He will restore you.  Look at His creation and how awesome it is.  He can do so much more within you, no matter where you are in life.

Be Bold and Don’t Sit Back

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Throughout life it can be very easy to get complacent.  To find yourself in a life routine that you just accept and move forward with no matter what.  Many people find themselves that way especially in their careers or the way they live wondering if there is any real meaning and purpose.  We may even question God and wonder why our lives seem to just trudge along without much meaning and/or fulfillment.  I’ve got news for everyone, God did not create us to just sit back in complacency.  He did not create us to just accept the status-quo and trudge through life in miserable complacency.  He called us to be bold.  He called us to not be complacent.  He called us to pursue Him and to bring others to Him through our works by doing works He purposed for us.

Each of us have a God given purpose in life.  Through it all it is to glorify God in all we do.  You can do this in so many ways and so many career paths.  I tell you this though.  If you are in an area that does not provide any fulfillment and does not make you come alive, then you are not where you need to and not where God wants you to be. You cannot glorify Him in pointless misery and complacency.  Pray and walk with Him and He will lead you where you need to be.  I promise you.

Speaking of purpose, get ready.  I’m bringing something different and awesome to 4 Pillars over the next few weeks.  It’s going to be new video-casts or video-blogs, however you want to call it.  You will start to see me online as I begin to speak out what I write out each month.  I’m very excited about where God is leading me with.  This is my next step in being bold and leaving complacency in the dust.  Through this channel, I pray that I will be able to reach many more people in a whole new way.  I will continue to write on a regular basis, but I am now going to expand on it.  I’m nervous in a way being the introvert that I am, but like many introverts, when I speak, it is usually something pretty profound.  I will be speaking on various topics related to the 4 Pillars (Finding Your Calling, Relationships with God, Relationships with Others, and Spiritual Battles).  I will continue sharing my own testimony of what God’s done in my life. He’s brought through very difficult times and was also there for me even when I had strayed away.  I look forward to sharing so much with all of you.  It’s going to be fun and different and I hope you’ll join me.  Each new video will be posted here to this sight as well.

We have to be bold folks.  I am going to be bold.  I proclaim my faith in Jesus Christ who is THE Answer.  I seek to glorify Him in my works and this is where He continues to call me.  Be Contagious in your faith through your boldness and don’t sit back waiting.  You’re called to do and be more.  I hope you’ll join me as I move to grow this calling in my life and help others to seek God and His purpose for their life.  It’s going to be an adventure like no other I’ve been on.

Faith is So Simple

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Do you ever think of faith in God in terms of complexity?  Have you ever felt that having faith and worshiping Him is too complicated and involves too much?  Sometimes it does appear that way.  All too often there are churches that try to over complicate matters of faith with man made ideas and dogmas.  They drive believers to jump through so many hoops that it starts to clutter the real purpose of faith and what it means to be faithful to God.  Truth be told, it’s not that complicated.  What does faith mean to you?  Do you find yourself trying to do a lot to follow someone else’s rules for worship and devotion?

Look back in scripture and think long and hard about moments of faith that shown throughout history and displayed for us in the Word.  Start with Noah.  He was instructed to build an Ark because God planned to destroy a world that had become so evil.  Noah trusted God and did so.  Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac to test his faith.  As much as he did not want to, he trusted God and took him to be sacrificed only for God to stop him right when he raised his blade.  Moses was told to free the Israelites from Egypt and trusted in God’s power to guide him through the task.  David trusted God to help him defeat Goliath.  Then, above all, Jesus showed tremendous faith in God and His mission throughout his life and surrendered His own life so that we might be saved only to be raised again and conquer the grave.

Do you see the idea and simplicity behind it all?  Faith is complete and full trust and devotion in God.  To seek Him in all we do and and seek to glorify Him in our lives.  It’s that simple folks.  Full and complete surrender.  2 Timothy 2 tells us that we should pray.  Pray for everyone and ask for God’s intercession on their behalf.  Give thanks for everyone.  God wants us all to be saved which is why He sent his son to purchase our freedom.

I was thinking about this this morning when reading scripture and it talked about about the Israelites continuous complaining to Moses about being led out of Egypt.  If they would have simply surrendered and trusted where God was leading them, it would have been a different journey.  God would probably not have made it a 40 year journey to ensure that the older generations died before reaching their promised land.

It took me a while to realize this all.  Through my life I’ve been to numerous churches from different denominations.  Each having different rules of worship, different dogmas, and more.  When sitting in church a couple of weeks back.  My pastor talked about just how simple it was to be faithful and pray.  We don’t have to over-complicate folks.  Walk with God each day.  Build your personal relationship with Him.  Accept Christ as your savior.  Show faithfulness each day in your life and glorify God in all you do.  Faith is so simple.

Managing Through Anger Before it Consumes You

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How often have you had those moments where you get so angry that you just want to rage out?  It’s something that, as humans, is a very real and common emotion and reaction to situations particularly when we feel we’ve been wronged or someone we care about has been wronged.  When those moments come, how you handle them?  Do you let fester until you get to the breaking point, do you lash out immediately, or try your best to remove yourself from the situation before it gets too far?  I’m no stranger to anger believe me and I have probably had every one of these reactions at some point.

This came to mind to discuss after an incident occurred a few days back that about drove me to the point where I was going to break.  I won’t get into those details, but it was a situation where I felt some kids were wronged and the longer I saw it occur, the madder I became.  To the point where I finally did burst out more than I should have.  I did not get out of control, but I certainly let my anger be known.  For those that know me personally, they know it takes quite a bit to get me riled up and this situation pushed me there.

15 years ago, I wouldn’t have cared so much.  My wife and I joke about it now, but when I was younger, I was quick to snap if I got even just a look from someone I did not care for.  I’ve sense grown from that, and now it’s something where I stay as calm as I can through it.  Truth be told, I hate conflict.

So, as I reflected on the situation after walking away from it, I realized that maybe I needed to check my reaction.  I knew I was justified in my anger, but I probably did not go about handling it as best I could.  That night and especially the couple days, I went into scripture and prayer.  Just like any battle that comes in life, anger is an emotion that can go too far.  Paul says in Ephesians 4:26-27, “…don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”    Anger can consume you and if you don’t control it, it distorts your thinking and your emotions.  In Daniel 3:19, Nebuchadnezzar became so enraged that his face became distorted.

What I have found is that if you can step away from a situation that does make you angry, you can manage through it before getting to the point where words are said that have longer lasting effects.  Fortunately, I was able to do this the other day.  I knew the best thing was to walk away and I did.  Proverbs 17:14 says, “Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.”

Anger is a spiritual battle we all have to deal with in this world.  While it may be easy to just unleash, the best thing you can do before going to far is to step back and pray and immerse yourself in God’s Word.  There you can find the peace you need to handle the situation.  This does not mean that confronting those that wronged you is not needed, but having the right motives and mindset when confronting will resolve the issues a lot better.

Now, I write this, but this mean I won’t get angry again…of course not.  In this fallen world, it will happen again and again to us all.  I just know the more I grow spiritually, that I need to find a way to manage myself and my anger so I don’t take it to a point that we don’t want it go.  G.M. Trevelyan stated, “Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.”  This is the biggest thing.  Don’t let your anger get the better of you and let the adversary infiltrate you more.  Seek God and you can fight this battle and win.

Having Courage to Pursue

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How often have you ever had an idea or thought come through that you wanted to pursue after, but then decided against it?  It’s in those moments where you know have a great thought or idea and you know it can be powerful, but you hear something discouraging you or you fear what others may say about it.  It could be a simple idea for a new project at work or it could be a life changing move in life such as starting a new business or something.  It could be anything.  Something lights you up and gets you motivated but when crunch time comes, you shy away.

I’ve certainly been there.  I’ve been there a lot in the past year since I started writing to this site and posting to my Facebook page.  I get motivated and then discouraged or just lose motivation due to distractions or wonder if people even care about what I have to say. I wonder if what I am doing here really made any impact.  While I don’t write as much now due to a busy family schedule, I realized that even if only a few people read it makes a difference that can impact more.  I share my thoughts and testimony in hopes that people will be able to find their God given purpose in life and pursue it with no excuses or apologies for it.  Part of my gift and purpose, I’ve realized is writing here and when I hear others mention it knowing they read, it’s encouraging to know that just maybe I’m having an impact even if it is just on a few.  I start with a few in hopes of impacting many more.

Anyway, I digress.  My example is just one, but to my point, if you ever have that idea or passion that you know you are called to pursue in life, that is when courage is needed.  Your faith in God can be a big factor in building that courage.  That naysayer that you hear in your head telling you no or being discouraging is the adversary trying to cloud you thinking.  Don’t listen to that.  Talk to God, get on your knees every day and I promise you, your faith will build your courage and when the time is right, God will tell you when it’s time to move.  Marcus Tullius Cicero said that, “A man of courage is also full of faith.”  Your faith will drive you forward and God will prepare you to battle this world and pursue your purpose.  Don’t let world distractions get in your way and discourage you.  Have faith and courage and you will succeed in achieving what God purposed for you.

Finding Real Happiness and Peace in Life

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What does it mean to you to be happy and have peace in your life?  Do you ever have those days where you just cannot fine peace and happiness and you struggle with why you can’t.  Also have you ever thought if I purchase this or go do that, that it will bring you happiness in your life.  The center point of all of this is do you involve God and do you seek Him in your happiness and peace?  There is a simple fact in life that if you do not walk with Him or seek Him you cannot find real joy, peace, and happiness in life.  We live in a fallen world that is full of turbulence and adversity that the adversary throws at us every single minute of every single day.

How do you contend with this though?  If you don’t seen God then that turbulence and adversity will swallow you up every day.  I have seen far too many people, some very close to me that were overcome by fears, anxiety, and adversity.  The stark difference came with how people dealt with it.  Some were on their face seeking God others just did not know Him or did not want to know Him or seek Him.  While others still, knew he was there, but did not give up their full being to let Him guide and protect them through those times.

This is the boat I was in after I lost my Dad 4 years ago.  I was saved and baptized many years ago, but I got to a point where I did not walk with God regularly and fully.  After I lost my Dad in a car accident, my was in a tail spin.  I was lost and did not know where to go or turn to.  I prayed some, but never fully gave in to my faith to let God take control.  After a couple of years, I finally started to dive into scripture every single day.  You want to talk about life changing.  The Holy Spirit began to speak to me louder and louder to more I dove into the Word.  With my own spiritual growth and maturity, I began to find that searching for peace and happiness was actually very simple.  All I had to do was truly seek and walk with God.  It’s that simple folks.  I can testify today just how powerful his presence is in my life and in my families as my growth has led all of us closer to Him and each other more than ever before.  The feeling is simply out of the world awesome.

Today I ran across a quote from CS Lewis that says, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”  It’s that simple.  Happiness and peace comes from Him.  It does not exist apart of from God.  Seek God and seek a relationship with Jesus and it is so life changing.  Don’t commit half way like I did for so long.  Doing so did not help me with dealing with my own adversities.  Seek Him fully every day with all you are and let His Spirit overtake your entire being.  Your spirit, soul, and body, your heart, mind, and will.  This is the only way to ever find real happiness, peace, and joy in life and be able to overcome any adversity and uncertainty that gets thrown your way.  He is the answer and the only real answer.

According to His Purpose and Not Ours

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Over the last year, I have written a great deal about purpose. Many people to this day striggle with what it is they are here for wonder aimlessly trying to find the answers. Often times, it is related to a career path where we try to find something we are passionate about and gives us fulfillment. The more I wrote, the more I realized that our purpose is much bigger. Our purpose, each one of our purposes, comes from one source…God. The issue we have to contend with is unlocking it. The thing is that it’s right there in front of us already. It is breathed through the Word of God and we just have to take that time to walk with Him and learn it. Yes, God will giveeach of us differing assignments, but it all circles to one single purpose, to honor and glorify God, to worship God, and to Walk with Him, and witness for Him.

Each of use has struggled with this. I most definitely have. Our hearts and minds get in the way and then our direction begins to cloud with worldly distractions. We face problems that we think are too big to handle and even doubt God’s ability to answer and help. There is one truth I know though. God is way bigger than any problem or struggle we face and by living for His purpose we will see that realized always. When I lost my Dad a few years back, I was lost. I struggled and wondered aimlessly for sometime trying to figure out what really mattered. My faith was not a central point as much as I said it was. In essence was not honest about my struggle and continued to wonder if I did have a purpose. God’s purpose was revealed through this struggle though, even though it took a while to see it. The purpose of walking closer with Him and worshipping in prayer and worship.

Two years ago, I recommitted myself to my life missions with my family, when I committed to the Resolution to them. That Resolution hangs as a daily reminder now of where God is leading me. Now in the last year, since starting 4 Pillars, I think God’s next purpose is being realized in working with God through what He gives me and witnessing for Him of just how powerful He is in our lives. So yhis is where I will continue to go. I commit to all of you and before God to continue walking in step with Him daily and to testify to His glory.

We all have our own skills and talents in how we can do this very thing. Please dont’t sit back in life. None of us were meant to be by-standers. Romans 9:11 says that…”God chooses people according to His own purposes.” He is calling on every single of us if we will listen and let His Spirit shine down through us. Let’s answer that call. It’s His purpose and not ours.