Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A simple formula...Right?

I think one of the biggest mistakes we make on a daily basis is trying to accomplish our work apart from God. Even in ministry, it's easy to fall into this trap. We have a lot to do and we're quick to leave God in the dust. I've been meditating on a simple formula lately. I think this is more along the lines of what God intended our work to look like.

1. God gives us an assignment (responsibility).
2. We lean into God to find out the best way to do it.
3. We walk with Jesus closely and allow Him to work through us to complete the vision.
4. God shines the spotlight on us and gives us recognition.
5. We give God the glory and credit.
6. Friendship with God is strengthened.

I think it's a pretty healthy cycle.

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

Monday, August 23, 2010

The grass is not always greener...



...On the other side!


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Isaiah 60:1-3
"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn."

What an awesome promise. God will shine His light upon us and reflect His glory over us. Because of His glory appearing over us, people will be drawn to us. They are the people who are needing the light of the Gospel. The light is designed to reveal the nature of the kingdom of heaven that is within us. The degree to which we allow people to see the kingdom within us is the degree to how brightly the light will shine. People are coming for Him, not to be impressed by us. When our focus is fixed on the glory of the LORD that is over us instead of ourselves, the insecurity will melt and confidence will appear. Soak in His presence and enjoy the blessing of His glory appearing over you. Then, watch Him draw people to you who need His light. It is indeed a great promise.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

First Date!


Avery and I had our first date tonight. I'm committed to winning her heart before the world does, so I decided to start taking her on a date every month. Plus, I know her blue eyes are going to be attracting boys before we know it. I don't have a choice but to set the bar extremely high!


Our first date went great. Although I honestly think she was more interested in the balloons by our table than she was me! We ate, laughed, played, and came home. It was simple but soo good.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

First Birthday...


Avery just turned one last week! Where does time go? She was being too polite as she was eating her cake so I gave her war paint stripes. Can you tell her dad is a football coach?

It was fun to celebrate Avery's birthday. Quite honestly, it's fun to celebrate anything. We were created to celebrate. This is what worship is. Worship is celebrating who God is. I have recently found myself to be so busy with details of different work projects, that I have not been celebrating life. I have been in survival mode going from one thing to the next trying to get things done and stay on top of a long to do list. I have not been truly celebrating God. I have not been celebrating my family. This is not what we were created for. There is something much deeper to be experienced. There is a much grander story being told. The author of the story is worth celebrating. Don't you sense something deeper taking place in your life? Don't you sense a deeper calling to your life? I think we agree that there is more to life than getting things done...When was the last time you truly celebrated life? When was the last time you celebrated the fact that you have a God who is passionate about you? Here's to celebrating life instead of simply surviving...Here's to seeking out the grander story being told in and around you. Cheers.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

A Suprising Find...

Jesus was right when he compared the kingdom of God to a hidden treasure that not everyone finds. I think there are many of us who have a wrong perception of who God truly is. He's better than we've ever imagined. He's better than we can even fathom. We don't even have the mental capacity to wrap our mind around the fullness and depth of His love and goodness. Being that we can't mentally comprehend it, all we're left to do is experience it. Bring it on.

The closer I get to God, the more amazed I am at the level of His goodness. I've also been pleasantly suprised to find out how personal He is. He wants to speak to us in ways that are deeply personal. In the same way that your thumbprint is special and unique to you, God's way of capturing your heart and communicating to you is equally as unique. He knows how he wired you. He knows the best way to communicate to you. Allow Him to speak to you on a deeper level. Allow Him to speak to some of the deeper, hidden issues of your heart. It is sure to bring much needed freedom.

I have spent the past seven months submersed in ministry and coaching. I didn't realize the toll it has taken on me until last week. I was finally honest and admitted that I felt like burnt toast. God is right about the whole Sabbath thing...Wow. I was sitting in a staff meeting this week with my fellow ministry staff members, and the most refreshing thing happened. God began to encourage me through others. Time after time, my friends approached me with encouraging words and verses from Scripture. It was deeply personal. The final thing I saw was a picture of Jesus standing in a wide open field holding a football...He said, "Come on, let's play." The God who created the stars in the sky was inviting me to enjoy Him. It's hard to find words that express my appreciation for a God like that.

Most people will not understand the freedom those simple words brought me. Again, He speaks to us in very unique ways. The common denominator is that His heart is perfectly good, and He is willing to give you a taste of it. Open your hearts and your ears today. Listen for His personal words. They will bring freedom to your heart. He wants to speak to you more than you want to listen. Even if you have never asked Him to personally speak to you, give it a try. You have nothing to lose. Nobody is going to make fun of you. Nobody has to know. Just pause and ask Him if there is anything He wants to tell you. It's a great day to start listening. Enjoy.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

From radio host to pastor....

If you would have seen me 10 years ago, you would never have thought I would end up as a pastor. If you would have asked me 5 years ago, I never would have thought I would end up in full-time ministry. God has a way of suprising us. I don't know if I will always be a pastor (I will always be a minister of the Gospel), but this is where He has me right now. It's been an interesting journey for me to transition from hosting a radio show to becoming a pastor. I can say that I am thankful to now be doing something that is much more fulfilling to me. For some reason, talking about where Terri Clark was going to be on tour next got old! I felt God stirring something new in my heart. I had a strong passion for God rising in my heart. I was, as the whipper-snappers say, "ON FIRE".

Then, I joined the professional ministry ranks and slowly watched my "fire" dwindle. At first, I fell into the trap of performance. I was too immature to realize that it really wasn't about me. I had quickly lost the vision that was once burning within me. Then, it got worse. Not only was I stuck on my own performance as a minister, but I found myself becoming a "professional information sharer." I was simply sharing information about God that I hadn't taken the time to cultivate in my own heart. I felt like a lion that had been declawed, tamed, and domesticated. It was frightening. It was miserable.

Thankfully, I began to snap out of it and realize that God did not call me to become a professional information sharer. Neither did God call me to be the center of the story. God did call me to know Him and enjoy Him. He has chosen me to be His son and His heir. He called me to live out of my relationship with Him and minister to other people out of the overflow of that relationship. This has changed the way I minister to people. The passion for God is back. Ministry is becoming fun again. I'm still amazed that my job is to draw closer to God and help others to do the same. Being a pastor is an honor, a privilege, and pretty amazing when you think about it. I praise God for the story He is telling in each of our lives and for the transformation that accompanies it. It's really a good life.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Ephesians 3:20

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..."

There is nothing better than walking with God. Life would be boring if we served a God who was too busy to be involved in our daily lives. I praise the LORD that God loves us and cares about the details of our lives. I'm working at being more intentional about inviting him into the details of my life...When this happens, life becomes so rich.

Ephesians 3:20 is a verse that God has been highlighting to me lately. We serve an awesome God. I think He likes it when we pray the big prayers and believe that he'll come through for us. Not only will He come through, but he will do immeasurably more than we can even imagine if we'll simply believe! I recently experienced this reality. I have been looking forward to going on vacation and enjoying my beautiful wife and the beautiful beach. Recently, our vacations plans seemed to be slipping away. God reminded me of Ephesians 3:20 and how He can do far more than I was even thinking or planning. He cares about vacation. He cares about rest. He cares about the condition of marriages. The very night I began praying Ephesians 3:20 was the night a friend approached me and handed me an envelope. Inside the envelope was more cash than I had seen in a long time! Attached was a note that said to enjoy a vacation.

Wow, we serve a God who is interested in the details of our lives. I'm going to continue to pray Ephesians 3:20 over the details of my life. Join me...Let's watch God do the unthinkable.