Steppin Out!

There are some days that I feel like everything is just fine.  Some days that I feel completely overwhelmed.  Some days I even feel discouraged, but today is a little different.

Today I feel victorious….  I feel that no matter how gloomy, or uncertain my future could ever be, I am able to overcome.   Today I realize that I am created for a time and a purpose.  Today I recognize that I am to achieve that purpose.   I am to glorify my creator. 

Today,  I will love others unconditionally,  I will cherish the blessings given to me such as my family and friends.  I will share Gods genuine, unfailling love with those who have no clue what love really is. 

Today I will cause my Father God to smile,  Today I will step out in faith and recognize that I don’t have to be perfect, and I don’t have to have all the answers.  I just have to put my faith in Christ and be me!

Blessings in disguise

This morning Pastor Ron was delivering the message at Rockchurch.  He was talking about angels and demons and just explaining the “Supernatural”.  One comment that resonated with me was that many of us in that room would be dead had it not been for Angelic intervention.  That the angels are not readily seen because they are “ministering spirits.”  Their sole purpose is to glorify God Almighty. 

As I thought of that I began to wonder at the times that I have been rescued from death or great harm by angels.  Sort of like two years ago when a vehicle pulled out in front of me and I t-boned his truck.  The impact was hard enough that the back glass of my pickup shattered, yet I did not have a scratch on me.  The EMT’s were in awe when they arrived and I was walking around. I remember one EMT asking…”Where is the driver of this vehicle???”  You could see the concern in her eyes because of the damage.  Yet when I responded that I was driving, it was though as sigh of relief overcame her.  I can truly look back on this as a blessing. 

Even as stories flow in my mind of how angels do take care of us, I can’t help but wonder…..  If they are stronger, have greater ability, and greater intelligence, what can I learn from them?  If they are so much smarter than humans,  why are they content to “just do their job?”    Then it hit me, that is what I’m supposed to learn from them.  My life is to glorify God!  I am to do the job he sends me to do.  If he sends me, he will equip me.  All I have to do is obey and glorify him through my obedience. 

What have been your blessings in disguise?  Or better yet, are you being a blessing???

Catching a Glimpse!

 

I was just viewing a video by a person who has turned to atheism after a very bad church experience.  It saddened me to view what the person had to say for multiple reasons.  What hit closest to home is that I have had very similar experiences in church.  I am nowhere close to perfect, and I do not speak in judgement, but I would like to shine some light on a couple of things for those of us “Christians” that actually claim to be such. 

It greatly saddens me whenever I find out that a restaurant owner hates Sundays because the “church” people that come to their restaurant are so hateful, disrespectful, ungrateful, and hard to please that ”It will make you cuss”(according to the owner).  It hurts me to see people turn away from Christ because the “Christians” are turning them away by their attitudes, disposition, and condemnation.  I am disturbed by these reports because I can say that I have been there. 

I personally have been beaten so far down by supposed Christians.  I’ve had scripture used against me, been told that I should not be transparent and that I am destroying those around me.  I choose however to check out what God has to say rather than people.  There are 2 thoughts that I would like to leave you with. 

1. If you claim to be a Christian…. are you pleasing to God?
2. If you have been hurt by a “Christian”…  Are you blaming God for the person?

Within the past couple of years I have began to catch a glimpse of what “True” christianity is.  I have been amazed at how much religious garbage I have had deposited in me that has prevented me from having a close relationship with God.  Only in true humility can we come to Christ, but so often we quickly judge others.  The problem is there is no way to judge others when we are genuinely humble.  Humility negates pride!  Love through humility is what Christ wants us to display. 

Get religion out, and let Christ in!!!  If we will catch just a glimpse of that, this world would be radically blessed by Christ!

Loving Life!!!

I serve an amazing God!!!  Sometimes I just want to shout to the top of my lungs how amazing my God is.  Yesterday I met with a gentleman in regard to porn.  My transparency enabled him to take the first step on his journey to freedom.  God has taken the ashes of my life…  The disgusting, rotten filth that was the decay in my heart, and he has transformed it into a reflection of him.    The pain, shame and fear that I dealt with daily has become something that he has chosen to help others with.  

If today you struggle with an addiction…sexual or otherwise, you probably feel the same that I have.  I want to let you know this moment, that God in Heaven loves you…. Jesus Christ has already paid for your forgiveness, and Holy Spirit wants to dwell with you to give you peace, love, and the ability to overcome your greatest weakness!  His desire is to give us all a brand new life….. 

Go for it!!!  Start “Loving Life”!!!

Freedom is worth fighting for!

          Todays culture and society tells us that porn is okay.  The common phrase “look but don’t touch” has become such a lifestyle that even touching is not taboo anymore.    No matter what society says, the Word of God is very clear about the viewing of pornography.   What amazes me is how tight of a grip porn can have on a person.  For years I thought that I could just stop viewing porn whenever I wanted.  That at any point I could make up my mind that it was the last time.  After many attempts of stopping porn, I finally realized an important key.    Freedom is something that I cannot attain on my own.  The only way to obtain true freedom is through Jesus Christ! 

A couple of weeks ago Rachel and I were interviewed for a video at RockChurch.  We opened up for the first time in a public arena about the struggle our marriage went through because of my addiction to pornography.  As difficult as it should have been, the process was easy.  I believe that God’s hand was in it from the very beginning.  Since the Sunday morning that our video aired, I have had the opportunity to help others.  Apparently our transparency is working.

        I say to you with great joy that there have been trials, temptations, and battles…..   In each of them, the victory is greater and greater.  Tomorrow I will embark in a new Bible Study called “Freedom Journey“.  A friend of mine will be starting this with me, and we together will go on an adventure with Christ toward meaningful relationships, mercy, facing our fears, engaging in spiritual warfare and finding ulimate freedom.  I ask that you pray for us as we begin this journey.  If you have struggled with some of these issues, I welcome you to join us.  All of the documentation is online at porn-free.org.

Attacking Porn!

This is my braveheart moment…You guys know what I am talking about.  The time that I have to step up, jump at the forefront even if it means going through the heat of battle.  We can have freedom and today I am proclaiming it.  I may never fight a giant, or kill a bear with my bare hands, but today I am proclaiming war.

“Heavenly father, may this battle bring you glory! On my own I am nothing, but in you, I have strength, authority, and the ability to overcome.  This is the most bold move that I have ever made, but I know that you are with me.  Father, defeat pornography, and sexual addictions through this. Let our lusts and desires be turned into a passion that will proclaim your freedom to everyone that is in bondage. Lord, I am yours, use me!”

Any of you that have read rachel’s blog know that porn has been a struggle for me.  I have had many people close to me question why I opened up about it.  Plain and simple, I had to.  An alcoholic doesn’t have to open up about their addiction, it shows.  A smoker has an obsessive need to smoke and you cant miss that addiction when its time for smoke breaks at work.  Many addictions are visible.  Not porn…..its the dirty little secret that plagues married men everywhere.  I intend in the next few posts to expose porn. Pray for me as I begin this all out attack on porn.

First up…..How does it start???

Just like the saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day, porn starts small.  For many young guys porn begins by either a dirty magazine or media.  It is so difficult to attack porn because it is everywhere.  You cant turn on the tv or go to a grocery store without having images everywhere.  Just walk down the magazine aisle of your grocery store and you will understand what I mean. 

The most common phrase in advertising is that “Sex sells”. With this mentality in our society it is no wonder that porn, affairs, lust, and everything sexual is our strongest battle.  Often times as a christian man, I feel like I’m walking through the everglades with 50 lbs of chicken around my neck…knowing that alligators are all around waiting to attack.  Even though I may not see much of the attacker, I know that the attack is coming.

Just imagine your adolescent in the midst of all this danger, it is waiting, lurking, and ready to make that attack, the only thing that we can do is prepare for it. The picture that came to mind is a scene from an old James Bond movie.  He is put in the middle of lake full of alligators.  James Bond (being “the man” that he is) runs across the tops of those alligators and makes it to safety.   2 Timothy 2:22 says that we are to flee youthful lusts.  After being entangled by pornography it is no surprise to me that the best defense is to turn and run.  The key, is to know what direction to run! If you just run away from lust, you will still be entangled.  The only way to make it safely to dry ground is to run above the trap of sexual sin and run TO JESUS

A day with the kids

I genuinely love my life!  God has blessed me with an amazing family and I love them with everything in me.  These kids are a blast.  But the fun doesn’t stop for a moment.  They have been up two hours, been in three shoving matches, cried over toys and had cracker jacks.  At this moment, Jackson is running around with a sippy cup in each hand swapping between the two as if he’s going to thirst to death…oops spoke too soon, that makes 4 shoving matches. 

Olivia is becoming an artist, she said that this is a turtle that she drew.

Olivia the artist

Jackson had to have his attitude adjusted!

its not fun to stand in the corner

awestruck!

Today I am just amazed.  Words simply cannot express the joy, comfort, peace, blessing and every other thing in my life.  For several months I have been in a season of life that just did not make sense.  Everyone has times that they go through where things are great or difficult or however you may describe it, different.  I believe that this past week has marked me fully stepping into a season of joy.  In the midst of layoff and poor economy, I can say that I am blessed.

My God is so amazing and he has caused me to better understand Isaiah 40:31.  “Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength, They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint” (NLT).  It is not necessarily about the physical act of achieving these things, but it is the spiritual act of achieving them.  I feel as though I have found new strength after a long battle.  I can truly say that I am flying high like an eagle.  The Lord has given me an indescribable peace and comfort in the middle of what many would think to be a difficulty.   I feel as though a season of difficulty is behind me, and my heart rejoices in the faithfulness and word of the Lord God Almighty.  I do serve an amazing God. 

3 things that I recognize today:

1. I am blessed beyond measure.
2. I choose to be responsibly irresponsible
3. I will chase after God Almighty and run to him with all I have, because without Him I am nothing!

May God bless you!

Top ten:Why I love my life…

Here are the top ten reasons that I love my life.

1. I am blessed beyond measure.
2. I have an amazing wife
3. My kids can make me go from upset to laughing in seconds
4. I go to an awesome church
5. I now have a building that I can work in
6. I have the engine/transmission to put in my Jeep
7. I am enjoying School and learning
8. I know that God has been and is preparing me for something amazing
9. My schedule is much more flexible than this time last year
10. I am able to enjoy the greatest years of my life with the ones that I love the most!

“Like a pregnant woman, I’m expecting”

You probably read the title and thought…WHAT???  My dad was telling me about going fishing with a friend of his a couple of years ago.  They had been on the water for a couple of hours and had not had a bite.  As some other fishermen passed by they slowed and asked if my dad and his friend had caught anything. My dads friend (probably about 70 years old) replied….”Nope, but I’m like a pregnant woman, I’m expecting.”  I can’t help but laugh as I think about my dad’s friend Mr. Phillips making that comment.  That is not the typical reply that you would expect to hear.  But it certainly makes sense. 

That phrase has caused me to think.  What am I expecting?  Just in everyday life what do I expect?  Will I just be content to let life pass me by?  Or will I change my approach to achieve the goals that I have set? There are three answers that I can give.

1. I will expect great things in my future.
2. I have to do something in order to see them come to pass.
3. Each day will bring a new challenge and things may be painful and difficult, but the end result is far greater than just letting life slip past me.