Tag Archives: God

Hold Out Your Hands

Posted on February 18, 2025 | 1 comment

Over the past several days, I’ve had the opportunity to encourage people to turn to God amid their situations and circumstances. I love these moments to encourage others to consider God.

In our conversations, I challenged them to imagine holding their situation in their hands, feeling the weight, and then simply saying, “God, I don’t know what to do with this. Will you help me? Will you help them? Would you increase my belief in you?”

Often, we come to God with seemingly unreasonable requests and then feel disappointed when He doesn’t fulfill our desires. Demanding, “God, do this or else I won’t believe,” seems unreasonable to me. What if we approached God with open hands and minds, willing to let God be God? Maybe His ways are not our ways. Maybe God isn’t orchestrating every event. But perhaps, just maybe, He is open to interacting in response to our belief—that He can move mountains, change hearts, and be with us in the valley of the shadow of death.

Hold out open hands, and let’s see what God might do!

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What a Declaration

Posted on January 21, 2025 | Leave a comment

For some yesterday was a good day to be an American. For others it was filled with sadness and unbelief. America has an officially Declared our 47th President and although for many there is hope, for others there is heartbreak. This is the reality of an earthly kingship/Government. We will be disappointed. It is impossible to please everyone. Trump may accomplish some of the things he declares to do, but other agendas will fall short.

So this morning, I woke and read Psalm 145. This is a declaration about who God is and let me tell you this DECLARATION is something to get excited about.

Psalm 145

You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him…

My hope is built on who God is, nothing more, nothing less. The Circumstances on life will always disappoint, but God is faithful. Call on Him, He hears you. Call on Him, He can save you. Call on Him for He DECLARES you are loved!

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Responding to Rapid Cultural Changes

Posted on January 12, 2025 | Leave a comment

Our world is changing at an unprecedented pace, fueled by the rapid dissemination of ideas and trends through social media. This leaves us questioning: who sets our cultural trends and beliefs? How do we respond to a culture that swings from one extreme to another so quickly?

As a follower of Jesus, I’m reminded of my father-in-law’s wisdom. In his latest book he says, “We must intentionally make ourselves culture-shapers even when it would be far more comfortable to turn our backs and associate only with our fellow like-minded exiles.” (Peter Teague “Jesus Leader”). His words emphasize the importance of actively engaging with the world around us rather than retreating into comfortable circles of like-minded individuals.

As culture-shapers, it’s crucial to understand that we don’t have to embrace every new trend or thought that arises. Nor do we need to withdraw from society and only associate with those who share our views. We can stay true to our core values and beliefs while positively influencing the culture around us. The scriptures provide us with a solid foundation, offering timeless truths that go beyond fleeting trends and passing waves of thought.

The Bible allows us to build our lives on principles that will stand the test of time. These truths guide us toward a lifestyle of consistency and integrity, regardless of the changing cultural landscape.

I encourage you to pick up a Bible and read it. Attend a Bible study or church service and engage in Christian thought. Let’s start a trend of truth and a lifestyle of consistency together.

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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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It is what it is, so embrace it, and allow God to use it!

Posted on September 21, 2016 | Leave a comment

Today I had the privilege to connect with my Spiritual Director at the Kavanna House. As we talked about my faith and life something occurred to me. I’m learning to BE who God has created me to be.  I’m learning to BE ok with life as it happens.

A common phrase I hear in my construction world is “it is what it is.”  At first I wasn’t a fan of this phrase, but I have learned to embrace it. The world of construction is tough. Every day there are challenges to overcome. I used to get so frustrated at mistakes and challenges, but I am slowly learning to accept them-  “it is what it is-” I can’t change my current reality but I can decide where to go from here.

With that said I am learning to embrace what is. Embrace the moment. Embrace the opportunity. Embrace reality. Embrace the feelings present in that reality. More importantly I am learning that God is with us in the midst of what is. As a follower of Jesus I am never alone. I never have to worry or fear. I can trust that my God can give me wisdom and direction no matter what I am facing. He can bring peace in the midst of the storms of life. He can take broken things and make them beautiful. He is a craftsman and He is always working. The crazy, amazing thing is I can join God in midst of each and every circumstance.

As I learn to BE who He has created me to BE I am set free to live. I am free to live life moment by moment, circumstance by circumstance, and in the midst of it all I can embrace what He wants to do. I can trust Him to lead, guide and direct me. I have the opportunity to be like Christ.

So may tomorrow be a day that I face each and every circumstance fully aware of who I am. May tomorrow be a day that I embrace each circumstance  and surrender it to God. May I notice what He is guiding and directing me to do. May tomorrow be a day that I chose to follow Christ. “It is what it is” and I will embrace what it is and allow God to use me in the midst of it!

Prayer … is waking up to the presence of God no matter where I am or what I am doing. When I am fully alert to whatever or whoever is right in front of me; when I am electrically aware of the tremendous gift of being alive; when I am able to give myself wholly to the moment I am in, then I am in prayer. Prayer is happening, and it is not necessarily something that I am doing. God is happening, and I am lucky enough to know that I am in The Midst.

Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World

 

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And he said “Contemplating My Existence”

Posted on August 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

Last week I went from Jury Duty on Monday and Tuesday to restoration of a fire-damaged McDonalds on Wednesday. Pretty much since then it has been non-stop lets get this thing opened. In a week I have met some new people who I look forward to getting know more. In a week I have learned a lot about running a fast paced job for GCM.

But today, I was reminded how God is working. Sitting at a front counter waiting for some material I needed for my project, I apologized to the man next to me for taking so long. He said no worries, I’ve got time, I’m just sitting here contemplating my existence. My response “wow that is deep.” He said, “yeah I am sorry man.” I said “no problem, just got to be careful what you say out loud, I’m a Pastor and love those kind of conversations.”  He responded with “yeah I know where I am spending Eternity.”

After a bit of silence I said, “glad you got eternity figured out, for me the hardest part is walking the unknown day to day journey.” To which he replied, “yeah that seems to be the hardest part.”  This lead me to talking about why “sharing faith and life” with a community of faith believers is so important. I shared my thoughts on church and he was interested. He said, “I don’t like ‘traditional Churches’.”

The guy next to me then said “so you must not like mega/large churches.” I said, “I simply don’t think there is one model for everyone anymore. We need different types of churches for different stages/seasons of life people are in.” He said, “yeah I’m a pastor too, and I’m out here working like you. I’ve been doing bi-vocational ministry for 10 years. The church I’m a part of has around 100 people and everyone ministers to each other.”  We chatted and the “Contemplating my Existence” guy listened in and said “thanks for conversation”.

Seriously, two Pastors, who are living out their faith and life a bit different in the same store with a man who is Contemplating his Existence. God is working wherever our lives are stationed. He is drawing men and women unto Himself.

Lord help my eyes and ears be open to what you are doing. Help me to be like Christ to those I come in contact with. May the way I live, think, and act be used as seeds of hope and faith in the lives of those I come in contact with in the places I live, work, learn, and play!

 

 

 

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Facebook Message Reminded Me- UnKnowing Impact

Posted on July 10, 2016 | Leave a comment

This week I received one of the most impactful FaceBook messages I have ever received.  Someone who I had brief interaction with several years ago sent me a message simply to let me know how his life has changed. I had no IDEA the impact my life had on him.

My desire is to encourage followers of Jesus to declare a different way to live life where ever our lives are stationed. To believe this God has asked me to step out of my comfort-zone. I am in the most challenging season of my life and sometimes I wonder how does one really make a difference for God.

The FaceBook Message I got came at the right time. See, in my heart I believe that no matter where our lives are stationed, we can have an impact for God, but often I hear a different message. Despite having moved away from full-time paid ministry over a year and a half ago, sometimes I still hear voices from my past that basically say, “to really make a difference for God you have to be a pastor or missionary.” There are days when I feel like this. There are days when I wrestle and say is this statement right? Maybe full time ministry is the only way to have an impact.

But this Facebook Message reminded me that often followers of Jesus can unknowingly have impact on the lives of others. I was reminded that 6 years ago I simply went out and spent some time with a young man. I don’t remember much about that day. I remember basketball and then going back to drop him off at his house. His parents where home so I went in to introduce myself. And this is where the impact happened.

The Facebook Message states that as I entered his home the dynamics of his household changed. The brief time we spent together was the start of transformation in his family. …”our faith has been spreading. And the wake up call all began that day when you took me out and came in to meet my family. You personally have been an extreme blessing to my family, with your presence alone you changed the dynamics of it for the better.”

I write this for one purpose. I write this because this helps me to continue to believe that no matter where our lives are stationed we can declare a different way to live life. As we share our faith and lives with others, “our presence alone can bring about change.”

It is the desire of our hearts that is key. My prayer is that we would be able to trust God with the impact our lives make. We don’t need to compare. We don’t need to have a list of people we have brought to church. It doesn’t even matter how many people you have “saved.”  What matters is the desire of your heart. Because maybe, you’re unknowingly having an impact.

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A Balanced Pursuit

Posted on April 24, 2016 | Leave a comment

I am learning a lot these days. Life outside of full-time paid ministry has not been easy. Over the past year we added a fourth child and entered the world of Construction. Our family has been in a very different season.

In the midst of this season, God has been faithful. God is using me and our family for His glory, but very different ways. Our time commitment to our Church and Community has been very different. After a long days work I get home and my wife needs a break. Because of my experience, I’ve realized that some of the expectations that I place on others, especially in my faith community, is unrealistic. Sharing faith and life is not easy. People go through different seasons where commitment levels vary. Our commitment level to our church and community has not been as high as it has been in the past, but God has still used us in both our church and community.

As I say this, God has been challenging me to think beyond this season. Our kids are getting older and we are starting to adjust to my new job and its commitments. My wife and I are closer than ever. My appreciation for all that she does has increased. My kids are becoming more involved in the community as they develop friendships and participate in activities. Naturally, our community involvement is increasing.

So what specifically is God challenging me with?  Although we have different seasons, I need to have a balanced pursuit of God. Because of my calling and spiritual gifts, there are certain things that I need to be doing to BE healthy. For the past 5 years I have been discovering more and more about myself. The Kavanna House and their Spiritual Practices class heightened my understanding of this. During the Spiritual Practices classes we developed a Rule of Life, which I am still learning to apply today.  This Rule of Life, is the Balanced Pursuit of God that I am desiring. I am still not sure what it looks like, and I believe it will shift a bit with different seasons, but this is the way I desire to live my life.  This Diagram depicts my Rule of Life and a Balanced Pursuit of God.

 

Screen Shot 2016-04-24 at 4.43.38 PM

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God in my Workplace- Leaving the 99

Posted on February 14, 2015 | Leave a comment

One of the biggest wrestles I continue to have as I step away from paid “full time” ministry is feeling that I what I am doing is not enough. I mean I went from focusing on the things of God most of my day to spending most of my day thinking about construction.

Even in my time as a Hospice Chaplain (which in more ways then one was a perfect fit for me, my family, and who I believe God is calling me to be) was filled with appointments and conversations about God. In many ways being a Chaplain was safe. My confidence and trust was still in what I was doing for God. It was obvious that God was using me as a chaplain.

In many ways I still want to put a number or measure the impact my faith is having. I want to be able to say today “I” did this for God. Here is the interesting thing. God is working in my workplace. No I don’t have daily stories to tell. I can’t say this person prayed or trusted in Christ. BUT GOD IS WORKING!

As I hear the stories of others and have a chance to speak the truth in love, I see God in my workplace. God is moving.  Yes it looks a lot different then what I am used to, but I can still see God at work in the lives of others. And yes, God is using me.

Who am I to say where I have the biggest impact? I serve a God who tells us He is willing to leave the 99 to search for the 1. I don’t know what God is doing. I don’t know what the future holds. But I know that God is in my workplace and I am so thankful that He is allowing me to see that He is there with me. I am not alone in my Workplace. God is there. God cares about my coworkers. God cares about my customers. God cares about me!  He is proud of me and my willingness to leave the 99 to spend time searching for the 1….2….3….or however many people He wants to use me to impact.

God I thank you for Your presence in my workplace. God help me to continue to believe that Your Light can shine in the midst of the darkness. Help me to believe that this community that I am now apart of can change. God help me to be faithful despite how I feel!

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If Jesus is Lord, why am I not more relaxed?

Posted on October 3, 2014 | 1 comment

As a Church planter I often find myself wrestling with so many different thoughts. Many days I find myself thinking that I am not doing enough. On the flipside of things I look and am so excited about what God seems to be doing among us and in the places we live, work and play.

There are days when quite honestly I want to quite. Days when I don’t want to think about “planting a church” and what it takes to be successful.  Over the course of the past 5 years I have gone through many different stages of reacting to what I see in the Church.

Slowly, very slowly I feel like I am learning to trust Jesus as Lord. Slowly, very slowly I am starting to relax. I am starting to participate in what God is doing and it is beautiful. At the same time I wrestle because I do not want to neglect who God has called me to be. I don’t want to become to passive and miss what God is inviting me into.

To be honest this has been such a freeing season in my life, yet it has come with great cost. I have had to let go of a lot. I have had to become less judgmental and more loving. I have had to learn to trust Jesus as Lord and relax.

This Interview by David Fitch is so encouraging to me. If you have been observing my life from a distance this interview might help you to understand more of what I have been going through the past 5 years plus.

Thanks David Fitch…. ON THE MISSIONAL

……..It’s fascinating to me how nervous we get. It’s like, I have to speak for God but if I can’t find the way to articulate everything convincingly enough, then somehow the church fails. And we have this defensiveness that is a bit perplexing, almost as if we’re trying to convince the world and ourselves at the same time.

That is the great missional insight. So often we must not be truly convinced if we have to go out and try to convince everybody else in order to feel better about ourselves. Read the rest here.

 

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