There is never a better time than right now.
Do you ever go to the beach for a week long vacation and the entire time you've been thinking about this vacation, there is one thing you want and that is a perfect sunny day with no wind? (maybe that's just me) But I often feel whenever I have been on vacation, most days are windy, there might be a couple rain showers thrown in there and next thing you know it's time to fly home and you didn't get that perfect sunny day that you wanted to so bad.
I believe that a lot of the time, we wait for the perfect time to really commit to Christ. Or we might try and wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading. When it comes to our relationship with Christ if we wait for the perfect time, we will never begin anything. If we wait for the perfect church, we will never join. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. If we wait for the perfect small group, we will never find it.
Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
(Ecclesiastes 11:4)
Think about the beach vacation example for a second here...If you never got the dream beach day you wanted did that affect your trip? Or did you still make the most of it? You probably made the most of it! You most likely still got burnt, still got to swim in the ocean, still made memories, etc. If you would've sat inside and waited you would've missed out on memories that could last a life time.
Too often we make the most of every situation besides our relationship with God. If you guys keep waiting for the perfect time to really get things going it's never going to happen...It's time to start today. Having a relationship with Christ and believing that Jesus died for our sins is the only way you are going to live for all of entreaty with God in heaven.
Please stop waiting for perfection, there is no better time than now.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
offenses to rest
When you argue with someone, or see others arguing - what is usually the one thing that just fires both people up?
Oftentimes it's because someone says something they probably shouldn't. Sometimes we just let our feelings get too hurt and then we usually say something stupid. We let a few words trigger emotion that we often can't control.
How do you react when someone rises against you? Fight back? Curse them? Let it go?
If a ruler's anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
(Ecclesiastes 10:4)
My encouragement for you is to stand your ground with calmness. If your boss gets on your about something at work, take that discipline and accept what your boss is telling you. If a friend upsets you, or a family member, just stay calm.
I've been on both sides of the emotional reaction.
One side being me not staying calm. Whenever I don't stay calm - I don't like the version of myself and it usually makes things worse before it gets better.
The other side, I stay calm. Sure it's hard in the moment, but you feel better about yourself and the entire situation seems to be resolved.
Honestly, this post isn't one of my best. I feel like I was all over the place with my words. So I apologize if it wasn't very good. My hope for you and the goal with this post I wrote this morning is that you all remain calm when someone tries to tear you down. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it.
When I think about what I just wrote it reminds me of the movie World War Z with Brad Pitt. The secret to fighting off the zombies wasn't fighting back. What saved and protected the people was their calmness.
Calmness is something that is attractive and can be very encouraging to more people than you could ever imagine.
Oftentimes it's because someone says something they probably shouldn't. Sometimes we just let our feelings get too hurt and then we usually say something stupid. We let a few words trigger emotion that we often can't control.
How do you react when someone rises against you? Fight back? Curse them? Let it go?
If a ruler's anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
(Ecclesiastes 10:4)
My encouragement for you is to stand your ground with calmness. If your boss gets on your about something at work, take that discipline and accept what your boss is telling you. If a friend upsets you, or a family member, just stay calm.
I've been on both sides of the emotional reaction.
One side being me not staying calm. Whenever I don't stay calm - I don't like the version of myself and it usually makes things worse before it gets better.
The other side, I stay calm. Sure it's hard in the moment, but you feel better about yourself and the entire situation seems to be resolved.
Honestly, this post isn't one of my best. I feel like I was all over the place with my words. So I apologize if it wasn't very good. My hope for you and the goal with this post I wrote this morning is that you all remain calm when someone tries to tear you down. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it.
When I think about what I just wrote it reminds me of the movie World War Z with Brad Pitt. The secret to fighting off the zombies wasn't fighting back. What saved and protected the people was their calmness.
Calmness is something that is attractive and can be very encouraging to more people than you could ever imagine.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
A Common Destiny for All
We all share a common destiny. Good people, bad people, good cops, and bad cops. We all share a common destiny.
All share a common destiny - the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good,
so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
(Ecclesiastes 9:2-3)
Having a dad who has been a police officer for 26 years now, and experiencing the hatred that goes on when it comes to police is something that is always tough for me and my family. What happened recently was absolutely horrible and completely wrong. It should have never gone as far as it did.
I don't want to make this political, I just want to challenge your perspectives.
There is an overwhelming majority of police officers across the country who risk their lives everyday who are good people doing the right thing. Unfortunately there are also hundreds if not thousands who have made some serious mistakes.
We all have the same destiny though right? The righteous and the wicked. The good people and the bad. The good cops and the bad cops.
Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them.
(Ecclesiastes 9:12)
Trust me, I am not saying what happened this past week was okay because we all have the same destiny. The reason I am writing this post is that I want to challenge you. How are you spending your days? We don't know when our time will come for us to pass away.
Are you going to spend your last days forgetting all of the good that there is in life? Complaining about how things aren't perfect? Well, if you haven't figured it out yet. Our lives are not perfect and never will be. But we can make a choice and a decision to commit our lives to Christ and believing that Jesus died for our sins. When we make that commitment, we are destined to have a perfect life in eternity. So I believe that we need to be focused on perfection in heaven right now, rather than perfection in a corrupt and imperfect world.
Fight for what you believe in, but remember who the one true King is. It's King Jesus.
I only ask of one thing from you all..find something to celebrate and commit yourself to living a life where you never run out of things to celebrate. Be a light in the midst of the darkness. We can mourn, and still celebrate. Solomon wrote that there is a time for everything under the sun..
All share a common destiny - the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good,
so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
(Ecclesiastes 9:2-3)
Having a dad who has been a police officer for 26 years now, and experiencing the hatred that goes on when it comes to police is something that is always tough for me and my family. What happened recently was absolutely horrible and completely wrong. It should have never gone as far as it did.
I don't want to make this political, I just want to challenge your perspectives.
There is an overwhelming majority of police officers across the country who risk their lives everyday who are good people doing the right thing. Unfortunately there are also hundreds if not thousands who have made some serious mistakes.
We all have the same destiny though right? The righteous and the wicked. The good people and the bad. The good cops and the bad cops.
Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them.
(Ecclesiastes 9:12)
Trust me, I am not saying what happened this past week was okay because we all have the same destiny. The reason I am writing this post is that I want to challenge you. How are you spending your days? We don't know when our time will come for us to pass away.
Are you going to spend your last days forgetting all of the good that there is in life? Complaining about how things aren't perfect? Well, if you haven't figured it out yet. Our lives are not perfect and never will be. But we can make a choice and a decision to commit our lives to Christ and believing that Jesus died for our sins. When we make that commitment, we are destined to have a perfect life in eternity. So I believe that we need to be focused on perfection in heaven right now, rather than perfection in a corrupt and imperfect world.
Fight for what you believe in, but remember who the one true King is. It's King Jesus.
I only ask of one thing from you all..find something to celebrate and commit yourself to living a life where you never run out of things to celebrate. Be a light in the midst of the darkness. We can mourn, and still celebrate. Solomon wrote that there is a time for everything under the sun..
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Non-Verbal Q's
Did you know that non-verbal q's are one of the most impact ways to communicate with someone? Even more than the words we say, your non-verbals have great impact. I mean, think of the people you communicate with on a daily basis...who gets your attention more? The one who looks down in the dumps, bad posture, no eye contact but actually has some good things to say? Or the person with a smile and great body language who has good things to say?
I know for me I am choosing the person who actually looks happy.
Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person's wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance.
(Ecclesiastes 8:1)
"A person's wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance." I think that verse gives us a good explanation about who is wise. It's often the person you can see it in by just looking at them.
My one thing for you today is to really watch your non-verbal q's. Those are everything! Plus I challenge you to really observe the people that you think about a lot of wisdom and then be like them. Because often we can take a good look at someone who is wise and we can just tell.
Remember, wisdom is the ability to see life from God's perspective and then to know the best course of action to take. Wisdom comes from knowing and trusting God; it is not merely the way to find God. Knowing God will lead to understanding and then to sharing this knowledge with others.
I know for me I am choosing the person who actually looks happy.
Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person's wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance.
(Ecclesiastes 8:1)
"A person's wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance." I think that verse gives us a good explanation about who is wise. It's often the person you can see it in by just looking at them.
My one thing for you today is to really watch your non-verbal q's. Those are everything! Plus I challenge you to really observe the people that you think about a lot of wisdom and then be like them. Because often we can take a good look at someone who is wise and we can just tell.
Remember, wisdom is the ability to see life from God's perspective and then to know the best course of action to take. Wisdom comes from knowing and trusting God; it is not merely the way to find God. Knowing God will lead to understanding and then to sharing this knowledge with others.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Stop living in la la land
There are often two ways to think about death...clearly and unclearly.
It's sunny and 70, it's a long weekend and yes I am writing this morning about how we should think about death. By no means am I intending to scare people with this thought. I am writing this post this morning to think of death in a new way.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feating,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
(Ecclesiastes 7:2)
What? (that's exactly what I thought when I read this verse the first time a few years back)
That absolutely makes no sense. But it does. How often do we avoid thinking about death or choose not to. Life is good! Why ruin a day thinking about dying someday. We get caught up in our unrealistic and unclear minds that death is just going to happen and we really don't need to think about it. We live in our own la la lands because death just isn't our number one priority.
But here is why it should be something that we should think about:
Solomon isn't encouraging us to think morbidly, but he knows it is helpful to think clearly about death. When we think about death it reminds us that we will have time to change, time to examine the direction of our lives, and time to confess our sins and find forgiveness from God.
Because everyone will eventually die, it makes sense to plan ahead to experience God's mercy rather than justice.
Think about those who haven't planned ahead. Those who were unclear. They couldn't control when their time came, but they might have been able to control how clear it could've been for them.
I just want you guys to prepared, that's all. We are going to pass someday. There is no changing that.
I am going to end with a question for you all and I really want you to think about it.
Are you at peace right now with where you would go if you died yesterday?
...and if you aren't. Talk to someone about it. Message me, talk to some friends. Ask questions! Because there is no greater peace than knowing that without a doubt I will go to heaven when I die and I want you to feel that too!
It's sunny and 70, it's a long weekend and yes I am writing this morning about how we should think about death. By no means am I intending to scare people with this thought. I am writing this post this morning to think of death in a new way.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feating,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
(Ecclesiastes 7:2)
What? (that's exactly what I thought when I read this verse the first time a few years back)
That absolutely makes no sense. But it does. How often do we avoid thinking about death or choose not to. Life is good! Why ruin a day thinking about dying someday. We get caught up in our unrealistic and unclear minds that death is just going to happen and we really don't need to think about it. We live in our own la la lands because death just isn't our number one priority.
But here is why it should be something that we should think about:
Solomon isn't encouraging us to think morbidly, but he knows it is helpful to think clearly about death. When we think about death it reminds us that we will have time to change, time to examine the direction of our lives, and time to confess our sins and find forgiveness from God.
Because everyone will eventually die, it makes sense to plan ahead to experience God's mercy rather than justice.
Think about those who haven't planned ahead. Those who were unclear. They couldn't control when their time came, but they might have been able to control how clear it could've been for them.
I just want you guys to prepared, that's all. We are going to pass someday. There is no changing that.
I am going to end with a question for you all and I really want you to think about it.
Are you at peace right now with where you would go if you died yesterday?
...and if you aren't. Talk to someone about it. Message me, talk to some friends. Ask questions! Because there is no greater peace than knowing that without a doubt I will go to heaven when I die and I want you to feel that too!
Saturday, May 23, 2020
God knows everything
Have you ever had the thought you might know more than God? Don't lie - I know y'all have at least once. I know that for me - this hasn't happened in a long time. The only time that I did think I knew more was when I would try to hide things from him. That was before I knew that God was omnipresent - meaning that he is present everywhere always.
I believe that trying to think that we know more than God is just wasted energy. It's impossible to know more! Why waste energy on the impossible? We need to save our energy to give God glory in all that we do. When we waste our time and energy on trying to out do God we will miss out on figuring out what we could do for God.
Whatever exists has already been names,
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
(Ecclesiastes 6:10)
I am a big component of using your time in a valuable and efficient way. Honestly, anything that doesn't fall under those categories is a waste. But it's all based on your mindset. You have to tell yourself that what you are doing is valuable and when you tell yourself something you begin to believe it.
You have to ask yourself the questions: Is what I am doing beneficial for others around me? Is what I am doing bringing be closer to Christ? Are thing decisions I am making on a daily basis helping me achieve the things I want to achieve?
Listen - God knows and directs everything that happens, and he is in complete control of our lives, even though at times it may not seem that way. How foolish is it for us to contend with our creator, who knows us completely and can see the future?
My challenge for you is to take a step back...understand that Christ is in complete control...and live your life in such a way that is glorifying and honoring to him from the moment you wake up until the second you put your head on your pillow to go to sleep. Because I will tell you this - there is no better life to live than one that is 100% for Christ in a humble fashion. You are not your own. You are God's perfect creation that was made to honor and love him in all that you do for all the years of your life.
I believe that trying to think that we know more than God is just wasted energy. It's impossible to know more! Why waste energy on the impossible? We need to save our energy to give God glory in all that we do. When we waste our time and energy on trying to out do God we will miss out on figuring out what we could do for God.
Whatever exists has already been names,
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
(Ecclesiastes 6:10)
I am a big component of using your time in a valuable and efficient way. Honestly, anything that doesn't fall under those categories is a waste. But it's all based on your mindset. You have to tell yourself that what you are doing is valuable and when you tell yourself something you begin to believe it.
You have to ask yourself the questions: Is what I am doing beneficial for others around me? Is what I am doing bringing be closer to Christ? Are thing decisions I am making on a daily basis helping me achieve the things I want to achieve?
Listen - God knows and directs everything that happens, and he is in complete control of our lives, even though at times it may not seem that way. How foolish is it for us to contend with our creator, who knows us completely and can see the future?
My challenge for you is to take a step back...understand that Christ is in complete control...and live your life in such a way that is glorifying and honoring to him from the moment you wake up until the second you put your head on your pillow to go to sleep. Because I will tell you this - there is no better life to live than one that is 100% for Christ in a humble fashion. You are not your own. You are God's perfect creation that was made to honor and love him in all that you do for all the years of your life.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
giver > gift
I remember a specific Christmas a few years back where I didn't seem to get anything that I wanted. I am not really into getting all these extravagant presents or anything like that but I usually get c vat least one of the things I wanted and that Christmas was different. I remember that I was solely focused on the gifts and not the people who gave them. My parents spent their hard earned money on gifts and I wasn't even thankful for that.
If my perspective would've been more focused on the fact that they were giving gifts, I would've been happy with every little thing I got.
Why am I talking about this?
I believe that we have this same attitude when it comes to the things that God has given us. How easy is it to complain about what we have? We complain about our jobs, the things we have, the food we eat, etc. I believe it's time to stop.
That is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them - for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and to be happy in their toil - this is a gift from God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)
God wants us to view what we have with the right perspective - our possessions are a gift from God. Although they are not our source of joy, they are a reason to rejoice because every good thing comes from God.
Don't play devils advocate and say that there aren't good things in your life. No matter what you are facing right now - I can assure you that when you start to view what we have in the right perspective - you will find joy.
We should focus more on the giver than the gift. God didn't have to give you anything. But he did. Each and every person he has given something to and it's time to have that perspective.
We can be content with what we have when we realize that with God we have everything we need.
When we do this and when we find enjoyment in all things, we will have less time to reflect on our lives. Often times - when we don't enjoy things we tend to get in a cycle of self-doubt, anger, and unpleasant thoughts. That is often when we are tempted and give into sin.
There isn't time to sit back and reflect on what we think we should have-when we are busy-enjoy what we do have. That is my one thing for you today. Be more focused on the giver than the gift. God has done more in each of our lives that we could ever imagine. Let's start to enjoy that and I promise others will be encouraged by you and they will see something different about you!
If my perspective would've been more focused on the fact that they were giving gifts, I would've been happy with every little thing I got.
Why am I talking about this?
I believe that we have this same attitude when it comes to the things that God has given us. How easy is it to complain about what we have? We complain about our jobs, the things we have, the food we eat, etc. I believe it's time to stop.
That is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them - for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and to be happy in their toil - this is a gift from God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)
God wants us to view what we have with the right perspective - our possessions are a gift from God. Although they are not our source of joy, they are a reason to rejoice because every good thing comes from God.
Don't play devils advocate and say that there aren't good things in your life. No matter what you are facing right now - I can assure you that when you start to view what we have in the right perspective - you will find joy.
We should focus more on the giver than the gift. God didn't have to give you anything. But he did. Each and every person he has given something to and it's time to have that perspective.
We can be content with what we have when we realize that with God we have everything we need.
When we do this and when we find enjoyment in all things, we will have less time to reflect on our lives. Often times - when we don't enjoy things we tend to get in a cycle of self-doubt, anger, and unpleasant thoughts. That is often when we are tempted and give into sin.
There isn't time to sit back and reflect on what we think we should have-when we are busy-enjoy what we do have. That is my one thing for you today. Be more focused on the giver than the gift. God has done more in each of our lives that we could ever imagine. Let's start to enjoy that and I promise others will be encouraged by you and they will see something different about you!
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