This morning, me and two of my boys are watching The Empire Strikes Back…
I happened to walk back into the room right as Luke was in the swamp with Yoda. Yoda was moving the x-wing fighter out of the swamp and onto land. After this, Luke looks at Yoda and, surprised that a small creature could move a giant spaceship, says, “I don’t believe it!!” To which Yoda responds, “That is why you fail…”
How many times do we as Christians fail for the same reason? Read the rest of this entry »
I am thankful to God that I have the opportunity to be attending the Global Leadership Summit from the Willow Creek Association via satellite. After day 1, I feel like I was trying to drink water from a fire hose.
There was so much good information that I am still processing it all but here are some of the cool “sound bites” from some of the sessions yesterday. Enjoy and let God use them how He may in your life…
Read the rest of this entry »
Days like today are milestones that I will look back to on my bad days to remember how GREAT God is. God moved and provided for us today in, not one, but three different ways today!
This whole “faith step” thing has been quite a wild ride over the last two months. From moments like today where we see God move in ways only He can to dark days where, if it was not for Kim’s faith, I would have thrown in the towel.
So you’re probably all wondering what happened… Well,
1. God answered a deep concern of mine on the financial front by providing not one but two checks just in time to pay some upcoming bills!
2. For those who don’t know, one of my kids is going on a “trip of a lifetime” as a student ambassador for the United States (contact me for the details – don’t want to put them on a public forum like this). Well this child has been selling Hula Hoops as a fundraiser. It turns out that my wife told her mom, who told her co-workers, and one of her co-workers told a friend who overheard a lady in the nearby store complaining about their cheap hula hoops. So this friend of a co-worker of my wife’s mom told her she would put her in touch with my wife about getting some hula hoops – Turns out she works for a daycare and wants about 20 hula hoops! YEAH BABY! only God could orchestrate that one!
3. While watching Pirates of the Caribbean with one of my kids this evening, I felt this prompting to pray for a friend of mine living in another state. So I did and then text messaged him to let him know…Turns out he’s on a 5 day retreat learning about listening to God (It gets better…) He literally just finished a chapter in the book he’s reading on praying when God prompts you to pray… WOW, God is Amazing – His Timing is perfect.
My faith and trust in God is flying high today. This day will be a “stone marker” like the nation of israel set up after God parted the Jordan River so they could enter the Promised Land of Canaan.
God, please me remind me of today in those dark days when worry and fear creep in, AMEN…
When God calls there is almost always a tough choice that has to be made in the process. One that involves some sort of risk, challenge, or something. It’s at that point that the struggle begins. In my experience, that is where fear creeps into the picture. What if my needs aren’t met? What if my lifestyle has to change? What if we lose the home?
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. – Romans 7:19 NIV
This roadblock of fear can bring Gods incredible plans for your life to a screeching halt. Read the rest of this entry »
Why do I doubt You, oh Lord?
Why do I assume Your “arm is too short?”
I doubt Your ability to provide for me,
but I have no reason to.
You are calling me to a certain path.
God, You have opened so many doors for me.
Father, how can I still think You won’t provide?
That somehow You will let me fall…
Yet, it is You who feeds the sparrow,
it is You, Mighty Creator, who clothes the flowers of the field.
How much more do You love me?
The one You created in Your image for Your purpose.
God, I want to trust when I’m unsure
Father, I know Your provision will come
But, do I really believe?
Mighty Father, help me conquer my disbelief.
Your arm is not too short…
(based off Numbers 11:23 and a sermon from Pastor Jeff Manion, Ada Bible Church, 8/21/10)Penn is an atheist who and an interesting interaction after one of his shows…
Seems like genuine-ness in relationship goes a really long way to making an impact on an atheist – What he had to say was convicting but true. “How much do you have to hate someone not to share with them about eternal life and Heaven vs Hell…” Wow, Ouch… How many times have I not said something because i was too embarrassed – putting my own self interest in front of their eternal destiny… Wow…
I also noticed he reference “He looked me in the eyes…” It seemed that that added to the genuine-ness of his concern for penn… interesting – Do I (we) do that when we talk to people?
One more thing, read this quote a week ago “People don’t care about what you know, until they know how much you care…” – seems to fit here…
