Tag Archives: Faith and Life

My Faith Requires me to HOPE

Posted on October 11, 2023 | Leave a comment

Wow has the world ever changed since I left full time ministry. I have to admit I have been struggling to be hopeful lately. Between open borders, and the US economy and how it is impacting people at a local level, and now the Crisis in Israel, in many ways I’m thinking we are done. As I am discouraged I find myself shifting my mentality from a hopeful, peaceful attitude to one of self preservation. How do I protect myself and my family from what I believe seems to be coming?

Then yesterday as I engage in a LifeStation Discovery Bible Discussion with a few friends I am challenge to think differently. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”. “God is reconciling the world to Himself”. Followers of Jesus are his ministers, they are His ambassadors….ok I can’t give up, I can’t lose hope. My faith requires me to lean in and hope in the midst of the most hopeless situations.

Today I read Psalms 119:49-56. “The promises of God have given me Hope”. “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promises preserve my life.” “I remember your ancient laws and I find comfort in them”. “Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I make my home….This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

Today, with all that is going on in the world I am choosing to allow the Hope and Peace of God to guide me. I am choosing to continue to practice the ways of Jesus as I desire to be an ambassador of Christ to those around me. God may this start in my home and then go with me wherever my life is stationed today!

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Weekends make so much more sense…how do you get through the week?

Posted on August 10, 2019 | Leave a comment

The past few weeks have been busy. Coming back from vacation, attending weddings and trying to play catch-up /get a head at work have kept me moving and ready for another vacation/extended weekend.

Ever feel like that?

In my life as a full time Pastor I could not understand why everyone looked forward to the weekends and hated Monday. Four and a half years into the “real world” and I think I get it. For many of us weekends are a chance for a different pace than Monday through Friday. Often I work on the weekends, but it is different.

On the weekends I am more intentional with my family. I am more intentional with a slower pace. I do many things that being me life. Even on a busy weekend, I seem to find more joy.

But my weekends fly by and before I know it here comes the dreaded Monday routine.

So what do I/we do? Is there away to find the same joy Monday through Friday?

I am trying to figure out and implement rhythms or routines that allow me to thrive. For me, daily I need time to read, journal, and be with God. This happens best for me in the mornings. The hard part is getting out of bed.

Weekly, I feel best if I can hit the gym. I have not done this consistently for years, but I know I need it. Late nights seem like they might work best as I have done this several times over the last few months.

Also, I am learning that I need to schedule spiritual conversations with people. Once a week I should be meeting with someone to talk about faith and life. These conversation bring me great joy and encourage me to keep at it. These conversations give me something to look forward to during the weekday stress.

I believe these rhythms will help me make it from one weekend to the next with a little more joy.

What do you do to get through the work week?

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Posted in Faith & Life, Work

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So, I Preached Last Weekend

Posted on July 14, 2019 | Leave a comment

A few Months ago the lead Pastor (Josh) at StillMeadow Church, the Church our family has been attending, asked if I would preach. I didn’t have to think about it much, as I love talking about Jesus.

But this was a little bit different for me. Over the last few years I have lead several weddings, which I really enjoy, but preaching from an assigned scripture, on a stage, it’s been five plus years. And over these years I believe I have changed significantly.

The last time I was on a stage talking it is what I was paid to do full time. At some points, I was working on one of two messages a week. I was able to be well prepared and comfortable. But this time was different. I have been working construction full time for 4+ years. My schedule is dominated by work and showing up for kids sports practices and games. So, preparing was so different.

The highlight of preaching this past weekend was the response of my oldest son Jacob. For some reason Jacob was drawn my preaching. He requested not to go to kids ministry.  He wanted to hear his dad. After I spoke he come up and said dad that was awesome. We went out for dinner, and while their the host said how is your day, he responded, awesome my dad preached at our Church. On Memorial Day I was asked to pray and Jake said “dad pray like you preached.”  Not sure what is going on in my sons heart but I loved it.

Several of my friends and family have requested to listen to the message. For some reason the normal Youtube feed did not work so I recorded it late Sunday night for my Grandparents. Since many have requested it I have decided to share it here.  Much different then Sunday morning live, as I was pretty exhausted, but hopefully you can still capture the point that was on my heart.

DOWNLOAD MESSAGE

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Posted in Church, Faith & Life, Work

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The joy of discouragement

Posted on May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment

I am learning that when I get discouraged I need to as quickly as possible make time to sit down and quite my heart before God. The perspective of my circumstances can very quickly go down hill. But as I sit quietly, some times this takes awhile, I can see a bigger picture. I can celebrate the faithfulness of God and the hope I have in Him.

Yesterday had those moments where I became discouraged. There was no particular reason, nor did I have a bad morning, but thoughts had gone to a place of discouragement. So I carved out a few moments to sit with God. Once I was quite God brought joy to my heart.

That morning I had sat with a young 25 year old who many in a specific neighborhood are having issues with. Surprisingly he had opened up to tell me his hopes and dreams. I had been praying for this opportunity.

Following this time of silently sitting with God I received a phone call from an community advocate that I have been wanting to meet with. This women’s excitement for the neighborhood and community is contagious and I have been wanting to learn from her. She does not share my faith perspective.

To end my day I had the opportunity to sit with other followers of Jesus and a agnostic and discuss faith and life. We had some great conversations and my agnostic friend had some great thoughts to share about our faith as followers of Jesus. He said something profound like “ones belief in Jesus determines how important He is”.

All this to say that I took time to sit with God in the midst of my discouragement and great joy emerged from it. I didn’t even mention how the Scripture I read brought tremendous joy and comfort.

If you are discouraged I encourage you to make time to quietly sit before God!

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