You can be used

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 

My daughters amazed me when they were young. I swear they brought more people to church than anyone else. Several ways she would accomplish it. 

One of the cool ways it would happen started with a single question Saturday afternoon, 

Morgan -“Can (fill in the name) sleep over tonight?”

Dwight- “well we go to church pretty early on Sunday, so either we have to drop off at 7 am or your friend will have to come to church.”

Morgan (without any hesitation)- “Cool, you get to come to church!”

Dwight- “Well hold your horses, we need to get permission from her parents.”

Morgan- “ok can I call?”

Dwight- (I don’t want to ask) “Ummm sure” (Hands her the phone)

Morgan- “Hello….Mr. (insert name)? Can (insert name) come to church with us tomorrow? She can… Cool, thanks, bye”

The friend would come to church with us have a great time. When we would drop the girl off at their house the next day she would tell her parents about the church and next thing you know is that whole family is attending the church. 

I would be in awe how many times that has worked. 

What I learn from this and this bible passage is despite your age, ability, gender, race, political affiliation, nationality, part of country you grew up or anything GOD CAN USE YOU. In fact it is your duty to be used by God. We can take a lot from the children who are bold in standing up for Jesus and not letting their age stifle them.

My prayer is this:

Lord, let me have faith like a child, let me be bold like a child. I am yours God, use me in the unique way you have made me to further your kingdom. Help guide me to set up situations to invite people to church, or at least bring them closer to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

The song below is not sung in English, however the tune and the words are soooo powerful and there are the English words are on the bottom. Please listen.

My new favorite NFL player

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 

I am a football fan, I like football. I love the Seahawks which beat the Packers earlier this year on Monday night (Sorry I had to do that Janet, I know they would have lost if the refs weren't so messed up). 

I have liked several people in the NFL that are not only talented but must have a character that reflects my morals and beliefs. Steve Largent was one of my all-time favorite players, who is talented and also a good Christian man or Reggie White who cared more about your soul than a sack. The list continues. 

Today I have a new favorite.

For those who are not football fans let me give you some background on Adrian Peterson. Adrian Lewis Peterson, nicknamed "A. P.", and "Purple Jesus" (because of his well known faith), is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was runner up for the Heisman Trophy and currently holds 10 NFL rushing records. Last year he tore his ACL and it did not look good for his return. Not only he returned, this 2012-13 season he broke 2000 yards rushing and came up 9 yards short of the NFL record held by Eric Dickerson. 

The day after Adrian Peterson came up 9 yards short from breaking the all-time single season rushing record. He did a phone interview with ESPN Sports Center. His attitude, his tenacity, his strength, and moral character was evident in this interview. Where does he get that? I am sure his upbringing and Faith in God. So many times we have seen players give credit to God when they win. Adrian Peterson who came up short of the rushing record decided to make this a teaching moment and give credit to God and then quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 you know the one with, “Lean not on your own understanding”. Even when he was given the last word at the end of the interview, he reiterated, “with God’s help you can do all things” talking about his comeback. 

Below I am posting two videos. One I made by filming my TV screen with the interview. They are a little long but both of them show you the character that they are. 

My prayer:

Lord first of all thank you for always being there for me when I don’t reach my goals. Thank you for letting me lean on You when I don’t understand why I don’t accomplish the things I set out for. Lord thank you for inspiring Adrian Peterson who is such a good example to all those around him. Praises that during prime time people around this Nation heard your faithful servant quote your word and praise your name. Amen.

Video below is Sports Center Interview.

Another Amazing Video On Adrian's Recovery

Be the Body of Christ

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12: 4-5

God has given us all a specific gift or talent designed to work in conjunction with everyone else to get out there and witness to others in the name of Christ. Our gifts are tailored to our own individual strengths so that we are using our best talent to glorify Him.

Just as each of our body parts has a specific job to do to function as a human and accomplish tasks in our lives, God expects us to use the gifts He gives us to work together as one team or one body as well to get things done for Him. We as believers are “the body of Christ” and it is up to us to allow God to use us to spread His name to others. 

Like our body, the “body of Christ” has similar parts, hands, feet, eyes, ears, mouth, etc… and they are used in the same manner as we use ours. The feet walk and go places, the hands do, the eyes see, the ears hear, the mouths speak, and well you get the picture. We should all strive to be good at all these parts but especially the part God designed for us. He uses the strengths of everyone together to compliment everyone else so we are a stronger unit for Him.

It says in Ephesians 4:11-12, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." These jobs, which are not limited to the ones mentioned, represent another body part to be used in Jesus’ name to enhance the kingdom of God. (See also 1 Corinthians 12 about our spiritual gifts and being the body of Christ.)

What body part are you specifically?

Are you good at getting out there reaching people not in your own element? Then maybe you are the feet. Are you his arms reaching out to hold people and comfort them in their time of need and direct them to the love of Christ? What about the ears? Maybe you the person to listen to others and be a sounding block so that others might feel open enough to let you in so that you may plant that seed of Christ in them. Do you have a way with words? Are you good at speaking and witnessing, or maybe singing and praising Him in worship? Those are examples of his mouth.

The list goes on and on, and if I didn't mention the thing you are good at, don’t be discouraged. Trust me you have a gift and you have a place in the body of Christ. And don’t forget that even though we have a specific gift, we are also every part of the entire body as well. Just because you might not have the gift of doing, doesn't mean you can’t get out there and do things in the name of the Lord. We are all hands, mouths, and ears for God, it is not just the one you are best at. 

So I encourage everyone to start living and being the “body of Christ” you were made to be. We need to be doing God’s work, showing compassion, spreading the Word, helping those in need. And not just in our own little Christian bubble but to the world. We can’t enlarge God’s kingdom if all we don’t reach out to those who do not know Him.

I am sure that many of you have heard the song below, but I hope that you don’t just enjoy it but truly listen to the words. Let’s be the “body of Christ” among the unsaved. Let His arms reach, His hands heal, His words teach and His feet go. It is up to us, God gave us these gifts to use so let’s use them starting now.

Dear Lord, I pray that you be with us today and everyday and that we may open ourselves up so that you many work in us and through us. I pray that we would be your body and play a more active role in sharing your love and promise to those around us. Help us work together to reach others so that they too might join your body and glorify and praise you. I pray we remember that our bodies are not ours but an extension of you, to be used for you. Lord I ask this in your name. Amen. 

Worry = Lack of Faith

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:25-34

I worry; I do not like change; I do not like not knowing; I do not like to give control away. The problem is, life will always throw change at you, there are things you will never know and being a Christian is having the understanding that God is in control not you. 

I am a list follower, I believe in black and white, no shades of grey and rules are rules. When I read the Bible and it tells me to do something and there is no ambiguity to the passage but then I struggle to follow the passage it really tears my heart. This is one of the passages that I struggle with. It tells me not to worry. Really? How do you not worry? 

I like math formulas and I came up with my formula Worry = Lack of Faith. So I see my worry as a tremendous lack of faith and yet God keeps proving Himself. The stories are endless of times when I was worried about something and someone would tell me to pray about it and INSTANTLY God answered it.

I don’t think I am alone with the worry, in fact I know I am not alone in it. So I would like to give you couple of tips that help me with worry, with varying results. 

• Pray a lot – Keep God in your brain and ask him to guide you constantly.
• Put people who are Godly and can help you in your life. Have them hold you accountable. Have people that will love you but also not afraid to tell you what you need to hear.
• Ask yourself the question will this matter in 5 years. If the answer is no then smile and move on.

I am stealing the serenity prayer in closing

God grant me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Amen

He's not finished with us yet!

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11

God amazes me in so many ways when I think of how God has built me, how he built you, and our purpose.  He made us unique in so many ways and to fit into His plan.

Each of us have been given many gifts/blessings and should not only seek them out but then when you identify them, we need to use them for God's glory. Throughout the Bible you see where God has given a blessing and in the very next passage it says that the number of followers multiplied. So if that is the formula, every gift should be used to spread his word and multiply his numbers.

I once heard a story about a salesman with a pearl. This was no ordinary pearl, it was the most beautiful, most valuable, and most treasured pearl in existence. He came upon a man who wanted the pearl badly. The salesman informed him that anyone can have it but it is very expensive. The man agreed to pay whatever the cost and handed over all the contents in his wallet. The salesman laughed and proceeded to tell the man that it wasn't just his money in his wallet, but his entire bank account. The man thought he was done but the cost was still not met. The salesman took his house, his car, all his possessions, but also his wife, his kids and even his own life. The man was shocked at the cost but still wanted this pearl, asking the salesman "How am I supposed to live?" The salesman smiled and said I will give you all of this back and you may still have the pearl, but remember they are gifts now and at any time I may take them back. I am entrusting you to take care of these things and remember that they no longer belong to you. Please reassure me that I made a good investment in you and cherish these gifts I give to you and use them with me in mind. Know that I will never give up on you, but I do hope you make me proud. (FYI... in case you haven't figured this story out yet, the pearl is a representation of our salvation and the salesman is God)  

So what is God's? (Hint- all of it!)
***And by the way anything thing you think is yours, can be taken away***

• Possessions - all cars, clothing, house, everything inside the house
• Relationships - friends and family (This includes your children, I learned the hard way that they do not belong to me they were given to me to be a good steward of)
• Health - it is easy to get down when we are not feeling well, but our attitude should be positive when it isn't going perfect (I struggle with this one). I am amazed every time that I see a person who has some illness and yet has the most positive attitude (which I am sure helps in the healing). It motivates people, inspires people, and really teaches us how to behave when we are down.
• Abilities - These are the things God has blessed us in a unique way that we can help others. Sometimes these can be something God hardwired into you like ability to play music or draw. Sometimes (and this is harder) you are forged by fire (you are the clay and He is the potter). Like for me, the death of my son has given me the ability to connect and be there for others who have lost a child. 

To not use these blessings to help others would almost be like slapping God in the face. He gives us these things so that we may use them for His glory and share what He gives with others so that they may see Him. When you use the gifts He gave to you, most of the time you will be praised for them so let us remember to always give God the credit and the glory. Not that you shouldn't be happy you have them or proud for obeying, but it is ultimately God who gives and takes away and He gave them to us for His purpose. 

If you struggle with using these gifts the way God intended it (like I do) then realize that you are a working progress and thankfully God's love and salvation is not based upon our works. We should continue to strive to serve Him, never give up, never stop trying. He is not finished with us yet!

Lord, I pray that you open our eyes to the many things you have blessed us with. I pray that you help us in coming up with our own ways to help those who need it and to be bold in sharing our faith. In Jesus Name Amen

God's Purpose is in Everything

"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

I had a whole different verse and a whole different write up for today that I wrote last night so I would just tweak and post. But it turns out I didn't use that one...God had a different idea. 

I in so much pain right in my head. I am familiar with the kind of pain and in fact yesterday I suffered from the same thing. It is not a migraine or a normal headache brought on by stress, it is located in the area behind my ears. My head hurts horribly, my ears are ringing and I am dizzy. For those who may not know me, I have been battling two brain tumors for over a year now, one on either side. They have caused significant loss in hearing and effect my stability, balance, dizziness, weakness, fatigue and more. I have had radiation and they hopefully will start to shrink soon. Now it is normal that cause my head to hurt, but not this often lately as it has been two days in a row and not this intense.  

There is a passage in John where the disciples ask Jesus why is a man blinded from birth and He replies "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (John 9:3) I struggle with my situation at times, what I have lost and the hard aches it brings. I find myself in tears, wondering why this has happened, why am I in so much pain and often times sink into depression. But as today's verse as well as the one in John says, I know that these tumors and everything else that happens in my life happen so that God may work in me so that He may be glorified. I know that He has a purpose for this and not just in one area, but many...

I know from James 1:2-3, which says “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" that I should have joy in knowing that God gives me these trials so that He may work in me to give me strength and improve my faith. 

I know that this pain is nothing compared with what Jesus went through and I should be thankful of His sacrifice of love for us. The years of anticipation and persecution then beatings, punches, thorns piercing his brow, staggering under the weight and splinters of carrying the cross, being nailed to the cross, being naked hung up high in the cold wind, suffocating to death, and all the emotional pain of the betrayal, trials, and abuse. No pain we face can even begin to be measured against that pain Jesus suffered willingly out of love so that we might find peace and hope and a way to be with God.  

I know from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ("Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.") that He gives me pain and comforts me so that I may use what I have experienced to comfort others, to share the comfort and hope of Christ with them as a witness. Maybe pain sometimes is a way that we're to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Just like Jesus is our cross carrying a path to joyful intimacy with God and blessings, we can pass knowledge and comfort on to others in His name and for His glory. 

I know that I can have hope that this pain is temporary, even if it lasts my entire lifetime. I know that because in Heaven there will be NO pain. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4) He gives me pain so that I may remember His promise; so that I may praise and thank Him for making a way to be saved and for loving me enough to do so.

Now I am not the only one that suffers from pain, we all do in form or another. Whether it be emotional, spiritual, or physical and God is right there in the midst of us. I pray that we remember that God gives us these trials so that we may become closer to Him; that our faith would be renewed and that we may use what we have gone through to comfort and give hope to others as well. I pray that we are reminded of the excruciating pain Jesus went through Himself, both the emotional and physical pain, all out of love just to bring us a way to salvation. I pray that we are also given hope that one day we will be in Heaven and the pains of this world will be no more. Let us remember that the Lord has a purpose in everything that happens and in the midst of our pain, let us praise Him for the chance to be a part of it; glorifying and praising God in spite of the storm. 

Take Time to Be Holy

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

In my car I carry granola bars, you know those hard crunchy ones that have two in a package. They are there for times when I am on the road and hungry. I can grab one of those to hold me over and give me a boost of energy. But I don't always use them for that. In fact, most of the time they are there when I don't have time to make something to eat. I just unwrap one of those bars and eat it on the way to where I am going. It may not be the most nourishing meal, but it’s convenient, quick and easy. 

It seems everything about our lives is based on convenience these days. Fast-food chains, pay at the pump, grab-and-go food products, DVR, and the list goes on. Smartphones are coming out with new apps daily to offer us a more convenient way to do things and in this busy world we live in, it’s easy to become hooked on the “quick and easy” approach to almost everything. 

When I mentioned above that I didn't have time to make something to eat. That really wasn't the case, I had the time, I just didn't make the time to eat properly. I chose the shortcut and in turn gave my body a meal that was less fulfilling and not as healthy. 

So often we do the same thing with out spiritual bodies. Even this blog can become a snare if we only prepare/read the daily post and forget about reading His word or take time to pray and connect with God personally. We tell ourselves that only reading this is better than nothing at all, which is true but more often than not we start using that as a crutch and excuse not to make more time. I am guilty of this way more than I would like to admit. 

This verse shows us that even in the midst of teaching, healing, traveling, and preaching, Jesus never allowed the pace of life to deter Him from spending time with His heavenly Father. If He had to wake up early to devote alone time with God then He would. 

I pray that today and this year we would resist the lure of convenience and take time to be alone with God. I pray that we would be like Jesus and make time in our busy schedules to focus on what is truly important and that is not what is going on in our lives but the one who gives us our lives...our relationship with our Lord and Savior.