Are You The Same

One of the most astonishing things that I attempt to grasp is the verse, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).” The thought of never-changing is a spectacular feat. We fault people because they are different around different people. Being different in different situations is a by-product of insecurity and a people pleaser. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make others happy however, there is something wrong with sacrificing who you are as an individual to do it. People may like that person that you front or that figure you put out there but what does it matter if that person isn’t you?

I have met a lot of people with a lot of walls up around them. Many times these people have lost someone dear to them, been burnt by good friends or just have trouble trusting. This crushes me because if you have trouble trusting people you will inevitably have trouble trusting God, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What we don’t realize is whatever we struggle with in our relationships with people is what we struggle with in our relationship with God. The healthier your relationship with human beings, the healthier your relationship with God will be. Understand this, if someone doesn’t like you that may be their issue, but if you don’t care for someone else in spite of their issues…it’s your problem.

Every person has a background and a story. There is a reason as to why people are the way they are, it could be divorced parents, sexually abused, always gotten what they wanted, been hurt by the one they loved, etc. Don’t write them off because they say stupid things, are loud and obnoxious or are constantly trying to please other people. These are indeed flaws but we all have them, we need to work together to get to the bottom of them, we aren’t each others enemies. That’s what satan wants, to turn us against each other, it takes focus off of him. Be the same person, if we strive to be more like Christ then we need to be the same yesterday, today, and hopefully forever. It’s a good goal.

Familiarity

This morning Casey and I were talking about where God has taken us, what He has done and is doing, and whether or not we can even hear Him at times. When you get married the spouse serves as a wonderful perspective. The men are generally the strength or the must doers where the women are the intimacy and heart. Often times in our conversations I am speaking of God’s desire and our must do list. Casey always brings it back to God’s emotions, His heart. It really is a crazy collision when God puts a spouse into your life and they have a thriving relationship with Him.

Casey said something profound when I was asking her about listening, the process of hearing God. She said when a dog is small you are constantly telling that dog which rooms he is allowed into, steering that dog into the grass instead of the carpet. I remember when Jericho was small and we just brought him home he was curious about everything. At the time we had a boat and used to take him with us. Actually, I would take him everywhere with me, he was my backseat co-pilot. When we first got to the boat dock I would tell him to come back if he walked too far, tell him not to jump off the boat, tell him to stay in the car, tell him no to poop on the boat dock, tell him not to fall off the boat dock, etc., etc., etc.

I was guiding him the best I knew how but constantly giving him instruction so that he knew in advance that any of those things would bring negative repercussions. As Jericho got older we would be at the dock and he knew what was up. If he started doing anything ranging from an attempt to chase a stranger or jump out of the boat I would simply say, “Jericho.” The minute he heard his name he would refocus his attention. God isn’t available as our daily finger slapper, He is our guidance. When you grow in Him you will not hear Him the way you used to. As you age in your relationship and go through situations you won’t have to have God tell you not to poop on the boat dock, you’ll know and if you’re tempted you won’t get a list of instructions, you may just hear your name and that will be enough. It’s not about the right and wrong, it’s about getting lengthy answers with less words, you begin to understand God better.

Don’t be discouraged if you’re going through it but fail to hear God “like before.” I think “like before” is a curse. God is the same yesterday, today and forever but just like any relationship you will grow. If you are doing the necessary things to pursue God but don’t hear Him the way you used to…good that means you’re growing. In my recent “stuff” I questioned whether or not I can hear God. That’s what spurred our conversation, this blog post and hopefully some peace for you. You know what God’s saying, you just question it because it sounds different than before.

Tiger

It’s no wonder people have trouble accepting Jesus Christ died for them, all they could ever do wrong, He loves them uncontrollably and with a never-ending promise that He will always be there…and it’s all a gift…free. There was a price but He covered it, in all of His humility He’s got us. Take a fresh look at anyone who’s anyone, take a gander at any individual in the spotlight and how harshly they are criticized for doing wrong. I am by no way condoning or glorifying the actions of people who do wrong, I’m just saying cut ‘em some slack…grace.

As anyone living within the walls of earth would know Tiger Woods was in a car wreck, from the wreck news came out and tabloids started rolling concerning Tiger and his marriage, Tiger cheated. If interested you can find his latest statement here. Tiger was doing his best to lie his way out of it but couldn’t…so he confessed. It is horrific, Tiger just had his second child and is now in the middle of a battle and possibility of losing his family, not to mention how his wife must feel at this moment, he’s lucky she didn’t kill him. I understand, he is a public figure, a catastrophically sized celebrity he needs to represent and understand he is living under a microscope. I just wish people would realize these jokers are gonna mess up, is it okay? Not being perfect is fine but affairs aren’t. However, where’s the grace?

We love these celebs, they bring us countless hours of entertainment and enjoyment but as soon as they mess up we throw them under the bus. Christians aren’t the only people that can be accused of being self-righteous. Celebs make millions, live in the lap of luxury but in reality they throw a lot away to be in the spotlight. There are more rehab centers in Hollywood than anywhere else in America, Hollywood is hurting, they are looking for a place. I just wanna know why we pat the mother of three on the back when she cheats on her abusive husband but throw stones at celebrities who have affairs?

It’s called a double standard and all of these people are important, hurt is hurt whether it comes in the form of insecurity as a mother or lack of purpose as an individual. It goes to show us that we don’t have it figured out, far from it. Grace isn’t a license to sin or acceptance of the sin, it’s acceptance of the person. Tiger Woods messed up and messed up badly in the public eye. I pray it turns around for him, that his wife can get some peace and that his kids will suffer minimally from this. My prayer is that Tiger turns to God and allows Him to help.

Like you, I want to see these people suffer consequences for bad decisions but that doesn’t mean they have to sit in a dungeon without food or water for ten years until they are truly repentant. Let’s dig into the lives of the paparazzi who are so good at breaking stories. Don’t allow our media to be your measure of godliness or grace that’s God’s role and He’s good at it. He hates sin, despises it and one day all the people who live in it will see the eternal cost. But that’s why we’re here now, as Christians we show both sides of the road. We don’t accept sin, we help people, love people and at no cost throw them to the wolves for jacking up their life.

It’s That Simple

Following what God has for your life really is easy, the direction isn’t difficult, it’s the obedience to it. You may know and have heard God call you to the Congo, it’s getting off your comfortable couch and out in front of your 56″ plasma tv that makes it difficult. It’s not easy leaving comforts for discomforts but it is that simple. One thing you need to hold onto is that God will make a way for you, you don’t have to push through and carry the burden. If God wants you to be an evangelist, you don’t have to become a salesman, you allow Him to open the doors. If God wants you to pastor a church, you do the necessary…polish up the resume, then leave it alone and allow Him to take care of where.

Daniel is a fella that got where He was going solely because He went where the doors opened, once he got there he lived for God just as before he arrived. In Daniel 1, Daniel was sought out because he was a good-looking young Israelite. Daniel got to the palace and refused to eat the king’s meat, it was the same meat sacrificed to idols. After 10 days Daniel looked healthier than all of the youth eating the meat, God was credited. The king (Nebuchadnezzar) had some dreams that nobody could interpret. Daniel had a gift from God of interpreting dreams. No one could interpret the king’s dreams, Daniel was called in and he did.

The kings response to Daniel is found in Daniel 2:47, “The king answered and said to Daniel, ‘Truly your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief perfect over all the wise men of Babylon.”

Yes, it’s great that Daniel was given authority because of his giftings and obedience…however, the greatest part is that Nebuchadnezzar eventually gave his life to God and his last words recorded are, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel did nothing more than be obedient and passionately pursue God. Daniel made sacrifices and had adjustments to make but he knew that God had his back. This was just the beginning of Daniel and how he was used.

Your gifts can not be silent, people will see them. You can’t hide your gifts. It’s not an equation, a series of books, small-group study or the newest fad in Christianity. God is a simple God with a complex ability, we are complex people that make everything difficult, we must dissect everything. Be you, use your gifts and when given the opportunity use it before a king or two.

Relax

Stress and worry do not come from God. I think of the scripture in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” If God hasn’t given it to us then satan has. If you are worried, stressed out and anxious…you’re allowing evil to mess with you. Today is a monster shopping day for most people, in fact, stress may be an understatement.

If people want to get up and shop at 1:06 in the morning, and they  do, to save some bucks I say “do what you do.” I will pray for your sanity. Stress and worry have become the normal part of everyday life for many. We worry about our kids, finances, our country, security, spouses loyalty, our health and whether or not the neighbor has blown his grass clippings onto our property. Our worrying is out of control, any worry is a clear indicator that your trust and faith is in the wrong place. You can make yourself crazy, there is always and will always be something to worry about. Once the issue you’re worrying about now is over something else will take it’s place.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” If worry isn’t from God then your mind, heart and emotions are opened up to something else. It’s clear what God wants us to do. God is fighting for you, He wants your life to be a life of peace and enjoyment, satan doesn’t. 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your cares on Him, He cares for you.”

He’s got your back, give your issues to Him, trust that He is working on it and move on. We get stuck in our stresses which makes it impossible for us to do what it is we’re supposed to be doing. Stress and worry are blinders, they make it hard to see purpose because everything is focused on the issue you’re stressing over. Give it to God, He knows what He’s doing. You put Him first in your life, passionately pursue Him daily, do whatever it is you are supposed to be doing, trust Him and relax.

Just Pick One…

There is nothing more irritating then bandwagon fans. Does it dawn on anyone the amount of fans the Boston Red Sox or New England Patriots have far surpass 90% of any other pro sports teams. Why is that? Because they are good and have recently won championships. Key word: recently. I remember growing up in the 90’s, those teams were as whack as whack can be, both struggled to fill their stadiums, you couldn’t have given away tickets to those games, now you can’t get tickets…not that I would want them anyway. No one wants to cheer for a loser but if you’re team isn’t doing well, you stick with ‘em. To me, a true sports fan was there before they started winning, not after they proved to be the best.

Unfortunately our bandwagon syndrome is a deep instilled issue within human beings. We want to be on top, most popular, most liked, best looking and always envied. We have preachers preaching, “it’all all be good, just do your best to ask forgiveness” and haters shouting, “Christians are garbage.” Well, we are getting what we have sewn. You’re accountable for what you say and we puff up, pat on the butt and smile at people living in sin as if it’s the flavor of the month. It grieves, frustrates and angers God. Is God a god of grace? Yes. Does He love? You shouldn’t even question it. Will He always be there? He always has.

There are imbalances in everything. Preachers that preach turn or burn, with no compassion….that’s not the heart of God. Men in beards and overalls on street corners preaching on being conservative while holding up signs that are demeaning, harsh and the exact opposite of approaching sin in love. Remember this: Sin is a by-product of evil, homosexuals, alcoholics, prostitutes and jacked up morals are reflections of evil dwelling. We have to start an attack on satan, not people. However, that doesn’t mean we tap sin on the hand and tell it to go back outside and play, no we acknowledge it and confront it.

You wanna know where God stands on sin? Well, from Ezekiel the prophet was talking to a people who had done evil things and were at the point of no remorse. These were the Words of God to them: “I will pour out my indignation on you; I will blow against you with the fire of my wrath, and deliver you in the hands of brutal men who are skillful to destroy. You shall be fuel for the fire; your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall not be remembered, For I the Lord have spoken.” (Ezekiel 21:31-32)

God does love us but we have gotten ourselves into a mess. For any of you who watched the AMA’s last night you see where we’re at. You have entertainers performing homosexual acts on stage, demonically possessed artists on stage and the world watching as the once Christian majority USA shows our best musical entertainment. There may be 86.987% of America that thinks they are Christian but if that was the case we wouldn’t allow abortion, same-sex marriage and false teachers of the Gospel to clog our airwaves and lives with the garbage they spit. No, we would focus on the people getting the abortions and do our best to help, we would find those living in sexual immorality and offer friendship out of love and not duty, we would passionately pursue people with a goal of love and not just conversion.

Yes, following Christ is the most important decision anyone can make for Christ but it’s not the end result or a notch in your belt, it’s the beginning of a turn around. Don’t think you are something because you are a Christian and can “help” someone else. Be thankful that God has allowed you to have influence in the life of individuals both living for and against the Word of God. I’m sparked about the complacency in churches, ministries and our country. Don’t be arrogant enough to think that you’re doing it right because you’re “reaching the lost.” Get off your soap box and stop trying to be trendy, edgy and the coolest thing since home-made root beer ice cubes.

We need to quit focusing on making the church relevant and start working on making God relevant. The only way that happens is through relationship and intimacy with God under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Yes a Spirit, a real, legit Spirit that has power to break your piece. Just like people mess with the ouija board and play on the demonic, we have the ability to live in the Spirit, we choose not to. It’s easy to make a church look like a U2 concert and I have no problems with the ones that look like that, just with churches more interested in their tally sheet than God’s.

In the days of Elijah the big-time idol and false god was Baal. Elijah spoke to the people and said what I feel the people of 2009 need to hear, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) Whatever you want to follow is fine, just don’t half-step and claim something you’re not. The best part of that verse is the response of the people, it says, “But the people answered him not a word.” Just pick a side already, obviously there are a lot of bandwagon fans who have trouble seeing who wins.

Why Is It So Hard To Keep It Clean?

Talk is powerful and your words have power that can cut, scrape and gouge the life out of another person. I had a teacher in elementary school that said, and I am sure you have all heard it, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I understand this was used as a slogan to deter the everyday fuss from one kid to another but for life it couldn’t be further from the truth. I hear people claiming to be passionate and sold out for God harp on cuss words and how they are just words. Well, that’s a cop-out.

What they are telling everyone else is that they lack self-control, purity and discipline. The funny thing is, outside of Christian circles when you are talking like everyone else, your validity is shot…and it should be. James 1:26 is cut and dry, there is no grey area. “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” People got it mixed up, obviously they don’t have the relationship with God that they think they do.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Imagine people wanting to be around you because what comes out of your mouth, a reflection of your life, is so pure that it attracts them. Seems quite the opposite of dropping the f bomb. I hate complacency, we all mess up and will all fight sin until we die. However, you need to see growth. If you have a problem with pornography you should see growth and slowly see you beating it, if you struggle with cussing, your talk should become pure and you should begin seeing progress, if you struggle with gossip you will see yourself doing it less and less. With God there is always progress.

Everyone has sin that they struggle with, if you struggle with lust, you can’t feed it even after you’ve beaten it. If you struggle with alcoholism you can’t be around it because the results could be that you give in, etc., etc., etc. Sin is a battle that we will always fight but with God you will see progress, not compromise. We’ve got the tools, we just gotta use ‘em.

You Are Not Solo

I think it’s easy for us to begin thinking and acting like this world is here for us and we are not here for the world, that philosophy couldn’t be more ingrained in arrogance and further from the truth. As Christians we sometimes feel that the Gospel depends on us, if we don’t do it then it won’t get done. While that raises a good point it still puts too much focus on us and not enough on God. Yes, if we sit around then nothing will get accomplished, however don’t get caught up thinking God is desperate and needs us. God doesn’t need us…He wants us.

God is in control. He isn’t sitting on His throne with angels singing and servants tossing Him grapes, He’s running this show. Hebrews 12:29 says,”He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire! Jesus Doesn’t Change.” -The Message.

God is working and fully aware of the self-destructive state mankind has gotten itself into, it’s happened before. He’s not surprised but He is pro-active. Instead of trying to fix it solo let Him be the mastermind and do what He asks instead. God knows what’s up, He isn’t side-stepping the issues He’s confronting them.

Abortions, rape, murder, incest, drugs, fraud, lying, etc. aren’t surprises, they are a reflection of a people who have no guidance other than human mind and a deceptive evil. We are not capable of fixing this, but we know who is. We need to not be solo but in unison. Obedience isn’t doing what you think to be right, obedience is doing what God asks of you whether or not you want to do it, whether or not you would choose it. Obedience and servant hood puts God’s desires on the forefront. People who do good things aren’t being obedient, people who do what God asks are. Let’s take care of business and get up out of this piece.

Silence Is Golden

Growing up I was constantly in fights, insecurity ran my life and if I had a reason or excuse to fight…I would. Looking back stupidity is a vast understatement, I am disappointed at my approach to life and all the time I wasted “defending myself?”
I was reading in 1 Peter and a novel concept dawned on me. 1 Peter 2:22-23, The Message version,

” 22 He never did one thing wrong.
Not once said anything amiss. 23 They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.”

This excerpt is talking about Jesus and the way He handled His business. It is a valuable expression of the faith that Jesus has in God. If Jesus drank juice He was called a drunkard, if He ate bread He was accused of being a glutton and to this day was the only man in history to have an entourage of religious people follow Him around for the sole purpose of picking apart His life, in hopes of finding Him to be a fraud.

What if people who claim to have faith spent less time trying to set things straight with others who slam them and trusted God to take care of it? What if our faith was so intense that when someone was calling us names, throwing rocks or racial slanders, we just kept stepping towards our destination, not wasting a moment to look back? What if our faith was so passionate that we were more concerned with how others view God then how they view us? God doesn’t need us to defend Him, all He asks is for us to be obedient and represent Him. After all, He’s been around long before time began and He’s still here…and in the center of all controversy, He knows what He’s doing. I’m just sayin’.

Just You

I hate spotlights or a porch light in mid-June. The bugs flock to a human being like mud to a pig. It seems like every time I go to the beach, the first night I wind up getting somewhere around 20 or so mosquito bites. I also know that by being in ministry or doing anything that others can see, you’ll attract bugs along the way. For those willing to do whatever, the stage isn’t their goal, obedience is. Spotlights are dreamed about by self-saturated religionists, not legit followers of Christ.

One of the greatest heroes of all time is Joseph, Jesus’ Dad. In Matthew 1 and 2 Joseph single-handedly saved Jesus’ life and was responsible for allowing Jesus to grow up in a home with 2 parents. Joseph had 3 dreams, the dreams were important because they were his instructions, however his response to them was the purpose. The first dream He had was an angel instructing him to marry his bride-to-be in spite of her pregnancy. Joseph struggled with believing the baby was from the Holy Spirit, he was human. Joseph married Mary and fathered the Son of God.

The second dream Joseph had was an angel telling him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, that there were men coming to kill any male child 2 years and under. Joseph obeyed and Jesus wasn’t sent as the miraculous Son of God killed as a young child, He was able to fulfill His destiny because of an earthly father who obeyed God.

The third dream was an angel who told Joseph to take his family back to the land of Israel because the one’s looking to kill Him were dead. Joseph obeyed and as the prophets sent thousands of year before had prophesied, Jesus moved to Nazareth and was called a Nazarene.

Joseph did what he had to do, he didn’t ask to be the earthly father of Jesus, he didn’t ask for a pregnant wife. Joseph was a simple guy asked to father the Son of God. Joseph was obedient and saved the life of Jesus because he was obedient. Joseph never receives accolades for his success, he isn’t a prophet, teacher or apostle that wrote 3/4 of the New Testament…Joseph was a carpenter that was willing to do whatever God asked of Him. When the test came…he did it. That’s the heart of God.

That Pretty Much Covers It

The more I read the Bible, the more I realize it pretty much covers all of it. I hear so many people say there are “grey” areas in the Bible. I think people make them grey, when you read things in context the Bible is clear about the way people who claim to follow Christ are supposed to live. There is a level of purity, righteousness and holiness that God makes a standard for anyone wanting to represent.

Isaiah 8:19 touches on a concept that points out the deep deception others are living in, it says “And when they say to you ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,’ should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?”

The haters think that Christ died and never resurrected. In my opinion the fact they believe Jesus Christ even lived goes against their philosophy and the fact they have no facts that He didn’t resurrect is even more astounding. They admit Christ was alive and had followers. So…they admit that half of the Bible is correct? People accuse Christians for believing a myth but there is no other religion or belief that compares. The ancient writings and lives of Plato and Caesar pale in comparison with the amount of evidence supporting the Bible, Jesus and the resurrection…but we don’t question them.

A lot of people put a lot of faith into believing a dead or fictitious god can do something of value. Isaiah is telling us that this is clearly not the case. People worship many Gods, they are all dead, however that doesn’t seem to stop them from consulting them on behalf of the living. Jesus Christ isn’t dead, we have more evidence to support that then we have to support any other occurence in history. The Bible has it all, it’s the people who deny the obvious.

Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Walter Payton, Joe Namath

All these names are synonymous with greatness. When you hear the name debate arises…who’s the greatest? The water coolers begin lighting up all over the world with conversations of greatness and who deserves the title. Names mean something, when you do great your name will be remembered. Names also have symbolic meaning, in some cultures names and symbolism are as important as the life itself.

Today I was reading in Isaiah 9, Isaiah was prophesying the coming King. He was telling of the one who would come to save the world, Jesus Christ. In verse 6 he tells us what His name should be called, “and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I would say there was meaning in a name. He lived up to, surpassed and is still crushing expectations.

Keep It Real

The book of Isaiah is comprised of words from the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel. It’s striking the similarities between those jacked up, out of touch, sinful people to the people of today. God makes a striking command to the people of Israel through Isaiah in the first chapter. The Israelites had been wondering around the desert for years and years and years coming back to God and falling away from God, loving God and blaming God. To start off the book of Isaiah chapter 1 verse 13 says, “Bring no more vain offerings.”

Remember this was the time that there were sacrifices such as bulls, rams, etc. The Israelites were giving the sacrifices and to the standard that God commanded but there came a point where God said “stop.” The people were doing the same things without any growth or Godly sorrow. They were playing the game but their lives were no different. God doesn’t want repentance unless it’s real, He won’t settle for passive Christianity. He wants real, He wants genuine and He wants change. Unless one’s life changes drastically after conversion, there was no change. With God just be you, keep it real, that’s all He asks.

You Are Not A Jacked Up Tree

It doesn’t matter where you are in life the Bible has a way of hitting you right there. You can read the same verse 7 different years in a row and it will have 7 different meanings for the 7 different seasons that you read it in. The Bible has everything in it we need for a life of joy, happiness and success, there are no grey areas…we create the grey areas. I don’t know how God does it, did it, do it.

So, I was talking with one of my close friends who recently moved and is now coaching on staff with Florida State Basketball. He is loving his job and the pace at the division 1 level. It’s crazy, he is going to be at Duke, North Carolina, Maryland and the likes! God opened up a door for him to get some experience in arguably the best basketball conference in college basketball.

Yesterday God told me that He doesn’t want me to change anything about how I do the ministry aspect of my life, stuff on the road. God said the season isn’t here yet but to keep growing, loving and doing ministry. I came to a reality last month that my ministry isn’t a reflection of my road schedule, my ministry is a reflection of my life. This concept was the most “freeing” thought that had ever entered my mind. When I am not on the road at times I felt as if my ministry had been suspended or taken from me because I wasn’t out doing my thing. God made it clear that my ministry isn’t given or taken by others but it’s my life lived out. Man doesn’t control, won’t control and never will control your life or ministry, it’s God’s.

Back to my boy who coaches @ FSU. He reiterated what God was speaking to me. We are both in seasons of growth and progress, we love where we are but our dreams and goals are bigger than we can handle. We know our giftings line up with our desires but the time has not yet come for it. He shared with me Psalm 1:3, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, in all that he does, he prospers.”

When you follow God’s wisdom, direction and counsel you will undoubtedly come into a season that his life has prepared ahead of time. A season of growth and fruit. A season where the tree that you planted and faithfully watered (you) will bear fruit, so abundantly that you won’t be able to keep up with it. For my buddy he one day wants to coach at the D-1 level, for me it’s Tour 29:11 Ministries Inc. and the masses that will find God, find healing and restoration, being a ministry of resource to churches, missionaries/evangelists and feeding as many hungry children as we can find.

In Ecclesiastes it tells us that there is a reason for every season. Don’t waste this season, winter…where you need to grow because in the spring you may see signs of life.

Bigger Than Your World

I want to challenge you to do something. I want you to get involved on a one-time or recurring basis with something outside of a church. I think it is incredible that people dedicate time and resources to a church, without them it would be impossible to survive. However, I want to challenge you to do something bigger than your world. Maybe some of you do, I want you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Do something so that when you get there you are completely reliable on God because you know you haven’t got what it takes. With a full-time family, full-time job or full-time ministry I understand this can be difficult. I’m saying one morning, one Saturday morning or random evening. Just one time. For most of you, you participate in something bigger than your world consistently because you are involved with a church or non-profit and that’s wonderful. I’m saying do something out of the ordinary for you. If you’re already doing it, keep going. If you haven’t done it, then do it and post on here what it was. I want others to see what readers are doing.

We are powerful together. I want others to see what they’re capable of, sometimes it takes seeing what others are doing to feel that empowerment. So, post on this blog what you’ve done or are doing that reflects the heart of God outside of a church, something in your community not done with your church but by you. Something that doesn’t have a name on it of an organization, just the heart of God behind it. This isn’t bragging rights, hopefully it’s a reality check. A check that we are doing what God has asked of us but feel empowered to do more.

In 2 weeks I will post the results, give you some time. 2 weeks, step up, one morning. Make it happen.

Your Crew

The most valuable element in any relationship is trust. What happens if you don’t trust your spouse? You’ll end up in divorce. What happens if your co-workers or friends don’t trust you? You won’t have any. What is a life without trust like? Lonely. What I have found out through experience…unfortunately…is that trust is the most important and intimate element in a relationship that shouldn’t be granted to everyone. The problem is when you struggle trusting others it will undoubtedly saturate your relationship with God. If you are going to have a relationship, forget doing anything of significance at this point, I am talking intimacy and relationship with God, you must trust. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

I have always read Jeremiah 17:9 and thought of it as describing the heart as the enemy. It says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” There’s no doubt that the heart will lead you astray, don’t follow it…follow God. Your heart isn’t the Holy Spirit, it’s natural. However, the heart, and the position you give people in it, has the potential to derail you, in most cases it concerns people/relationships. Think about this, Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” A wellspring is an inexhaustible source.

It seems that we have contradicting statements but we don’t. Jeremiah tells us that the heart has the ability to destroy us and Proverbs tells us that the heart is the inexhaustible source, the wellspring. Both of these scriptures tell us that the heart is powerful and we are to protect it at all costs because it is indeed powerful. My suggestion, be careful as to who you share your heart with. If you have a dream, don’t spout it off. Joseph did in Genesis and it got him thrown into a pit by his brothers, David did in 1 Samuel and he spent the next decade running around the country side from a man and army wanting his head. Dreams are powerful especially when others know they are legit.

I had a mentor give me advice 2 years ago that to this day is one of the most valuable things I have ever been told. He is a veteran in ministry and currently leading pastors of over 300 churches. He has experience. He said to keep your inner group tight and keep your dreams to them. I think people dub me as arrogant because I am approachable but guarded. I will share a lot of different things and will get close to others to a great extent but there is an inner part of me, the DNA of my being that is entrusted to a small, close-knit, committed group that I am so thankful for. You don’t have to be sorry for being protected. It’s not a defense mechanism, it’s a learned preference. I love my crew and have an indescribable God-given connection with them that will outlast the worst of tragedies or circumstances.

I trust God with all that I am but it took time to get there. I trust my crew with everything I have, they are the love of my life. You don’t have to apologize for keeping people at a distance. To be honest, it doesn’t hurt less when they slam you or indirectly talk about you but it is reassuring that you haven’t entrusted anything to them. This post isn’t about pushing people away, it’s about getting that group, trusting them wholeheartedly and letting that be enough. Many disagree with this approach but for me it’s not a debate it’s what I have chosen and it’s done well to guard my heart.

Who Are You Willing To Lose

I love my family. When I got married I took another member under my wing and it did indeed feel like a responsibility…a good one! I understand that in God’s eyes Casey and I are a family and I will be held responsible for this family. I also have my parents, sister, nieces, nephews, in-laws and extended family which are all irreplaceable parts of our life. I was reading in Job 19 today and God asked me a question. The question was “Would I be enough?” I of course answered yes but it got me thinking.

A couple of months ago I had a dream. In my dream the people closest to me with the exception of my wife thought that I had gone crazy and they turned their back. This included some family, some friends and the like. I remember God using me in the dream for healing, miracles and surreal things. When this took place the haters rose to the surface, the critics arrived and the skeptic in some that I thought were supporters pushed its way to the forefront. I woke up that morning and immediately called my father. My dad is a rock, the dude just knows God and so I use him as a resource as much as possible. He answered the phone and I just sat on the other end without a noise. My Dad said, “Bud what’s wrong?…Brandon what’s going on?…Brandon talk to me…What’s the matter?…” I broke.

I began sobbing, I had never dreamed anything so real, so vivid, so exact. After a couple of moments and through my sobbing I explained to my pops what I had dreamt. He reassured me that he was in it for the long haul but I know some aren’t. I’m not looking for reassurance because it means nothing to me. Actions speak louder than words, it’s an old saying barring 100% accuracy. I don’t want people around me to make promises, I want to see them when the going gets tough.

So back to Job 19, Job is in struggle mode. He has sores on his body that he is scraping with broken pottery for relief, he has lost all of his wealth and family. The friends and family that are left…well…this is the excerpt from Job 19:13-19:

13 “He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17 My breath is strange to my wife,
and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.

So I ask you, is God enough? If God asks you to build an ark would you build one? Would you endure years of scrutiny for something God asks of you? Three years ago I would have said yes but as an individual I would have caved. Now, I say I am in this thing and my life reflects that. As cliche as it may sound, losing it all pales in comparison to not having God. Don’t allow your critics to dim your future. Anyone critical is miserable. Be passionate about pleasing God.

Continued…

I am kickin’ it with the Psalms right now. In this season of my life they are yelling at me. So what you need to know and have to understand is that God is the same, He never changes and never will. We may have internet, engines, scoreboards and toothpaste but people have always been and will always be the same. Sure there are different personalities and such but we all have a void that is there for only one to fill, we call Him God. No matter how bad it hurts, how frustrating it is or how impossible it seems, someone has already been there, we call Him God. You will never deal with anything harder than what someone else has already experienced and you’ll never deal with anything more difficult than what God did when He sent Jesus to be massacred for you and me.

Now, with that, I want you to read this Psalm and correlate it with what you are going through in life. Your troubles, worries, anxieties, fears, etc. The nights you have cried yourself to sleep, nights when you felt your world was crashing down and not even God could catch it. Read this Psalm and once you’re done I want you to think about one thing…

Psalm 6

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O Lord—how long?

4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

…this Psalm was a desperate prayer to God, it was descriptive of where his life was at the time, hopeless may very well be an understatement. David later became the King of Israel.

Bring It Back

Turmoil has the ability to bring the worst out in us. Tough times, struggles and the super-difficult show your true colors, it’s a reality, for some a sad reality but none the less…a reality. The truth is that you don’t see how much you’ve grown until you’re put into a place where you have to use it. In Psalm 13 David is living in some anguish but he gives us insight as to how to keep going. David is crying out and voicing his frustration with no remorse or regret however, the key is the last line. David ends with praise for His God. After David does what he has to do, gets the garbage off his chest and out of his mind, he praises His God. There is a reaffirming power and peace when you praise God, telling Him what He means to you and the qualities you adore.

Like you and I David was irritated with his circumstance. He is doing what he believes to be right while those doing evil are prospering, he prays and it seems as if God is ignoring his prayers and requests and he lets God know how he feels. Truth is, there’s freedom and value in authentic expression. If you want God don’t fake it, tell Him what you think, it’s what He wants…authentic intimacy. He already knows where you’re at in life but by you voicing it you develop a trust, love and dependency on Him. Cry out…then praise. Better yet, praise…cry out…praise.

Psalm 13:1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

You Can’t See It

So one of my boys who worked closely with me last year for a Tour 29:11 event sent me an email yesterday that was super-encouraging and sparked a deeper drive. When you’re doing what God has called you to do you will question, and at times want to waiver, from what you originally promised God you would do. The thing is, you can’t see faith, you can see others acting out of faith…but it is still unseen, that’s why this concept can be frustrating. You’re working to the bone and nothing is happening or your effect is minimal…so you think. This email was written by David Wilkerson as a blog post. So my advice to you, apply and enjoy.

“We have learned from Isaiah 49 that the Lord knows your battle. He has fought it before you. And it is no sin to endure thoughts that your labor has been in vain, or to be cast down with a sense of failure over shattered expectations. Jesus himself experienced this and was without sin.

It is very dangerous, however, to allow these hellish lies to fester and enflame your soul. Jesus showed us the way out of such despondency with this statement: “I have labored in vain… yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God” (Isaiah 49:4, italics mine). The Hebrew word for judgment here is “verdict,” Christ is saying, in effect, “The final verdict is with my Father. He alone passes judgment on all that I’ve done and how effective I’ve been.”

God is urging us through this verse: “Stop passing a verdict over your work for me. You have no business judging how effective you’ve been. And you have no right to call yourself a failure. You don’t yet know what kind of influence you’ve had. You simply don’t have the vision to know the blessings that are coming to you.” Indeed, we won’t know many such things until we stand before him in eternity.

In Isaiah 49, Jesus heard the Father say in so many words: “So, Israel is not yet gathered. Yes, I called you to bring in the tribes, and that has not happened in the way you imagined it. But that calling was only a little thing compared to what is coming for you. It’s nothing in comparison to what I have in store. I’m going to make you now a light for the whole world. You’re going to bring salvation to the whole earth” (see Isaiah 49:5-6).

While the devil is lying to you, saying that all you’ve done is in vain, that you’ll never see your expectations fulfilled, God in his glory is preparing a greater blessing. He has better things in store, beyond anything you could think or ask.

We’re not to listen to the enemy’s lies any longer. Instead, we’re to rest in the Holy Spirit, believing him to fulfill the work of making us more like Christ. And we are to rise up from our despair and stand on this word: “Be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).”

Good Question…

I am currently reading through the book of Luke and today I ran across a distracting question posed by a man I wholeheartedly respect and admire…Jesus. In Luke 18:8 Jesus asks his listeners this question, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Startling huh? It’s funny because in the chapter before I think Jesus gives us the answer. Luke 17:10, “When you have done all that you were comanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” This verse is saying that you could have built 100 ministries that are effective, fed every homeless individual in the world and even solved world peace but yet your response would be pointing to God and soaked in authentic humility. Your response wouldn’t be “look at me, look at me, how amazing can’t you see?” No, your response would be, “I have only done what was my duty.”

If you can honestly say that with no reservation as to your selfishness, arrogance or pride then yes, Jesus will find faith when He comes back. It’s a scary thought that with all the ministry going on today and churches being planted as frequently as stocks rise and fall on Wall Street that we would even question as to whether or not there is faith on the earth. I think it’s a good question. Don’t base faith on the size of the church building or attendance, faith is substance.

My 2 Cents

I was intrigued by what I was seeing. Today in the midst of watching football there were 3 different shows and one movie premiering this week alone that all contain demon possession or the presence of demons, paranormal activity. These shows and movies make it look entertaining and freightning. The world hates God but is obsessed with the supernatural. It’s not obsessed with the good side but the demonic. I understand this week is Halloween, hence the highlight on the shows, but nevertheless the obesession is running radical. By highlighting the dark side there is a fear/respect that is growing and when you fear one it becomes harder to fear the other.

A Void

I saw something today that I wanted to share with y’all. Some of you may have seen it. The video speaks for itself. People aren’t turning to religion, that’s a cop-out and cover-up. They’re turning to God because they’ve tried everything else and it’s all an imitation, a scam…He’s the only true Savior. Money has little to do with it, our world and the scope of violence, hate, evil, segregation, etc. is the bigger issue. Look at our millionaires and celebs, they are just as miserable and searching just as hard. There is a void in a person’s life until they find what should be there.

Little Poet

I write. I write because I love the art of poetry and writing…I love music which a majority of music is poetry with a beat. So, I have written for some time but I will share randomly on here some of the goods that I have in the goodie bag. The purpose in writing it was to express where I feel we are at as a country, churches, culture, spiritual state, personality and our perspective.

True Colors

But ain’t it true, me and you, look our best like no tomorrow we cover our back and wallow in sorrow?

You look a bit funny…or are convinced your look is their goal, only to see and through discovery that your style is a day too old.

You’ll look to people, look to sex, look to pop culture to see what’s next.

Never satisfied, rolling with the tide, one day that shell, next day you believe you’ve reached hell.

It’s the never ending saga: my life volume 14, chapter 48, page 720, the 8th trilogy.

I can’t get ahead though believe me I fight through all the crowds, all the norms, just tryin’ to make it, though fail I might.

Through my ears I hear many say through thick and thin but my mind tells me those people ain’t had to be where I been.

We the people make up more than a country we make up a people who struggle with diversity, one another, unwed mothers, same-sex lovers.

The problem remains the same and lies within evil like people aborting people, not seeing equal, avoiding steeples.

It’s a sad reality how we claim the evil we see, we’ll sit with our wine, cuss time to time, but throw stones at her she’s living in adultery.

God’s standards are higher than ours, not to be upset, reset, shut off or rewritten by what you think you saw, those cocky enough to believe they’re called, been given permission to re-write the law.

God don’t change says Hebrews 13:8 but by today’s standards people are convinced we handle our fate.

Like Israelites wondering around, shot callin’ bit ballin’ not stallin’ just fallin’ into the bed we’ve made but yellin’ at God, it’s all your fault, get us out release the angel brigade!

There’s a stark realty that all will see when though the clouds Jesus will be.

Really believing that they will make it but that’s their problem a standard butt naked.

No depth, no content, no belief, not make it, they thought, they acted, they played, can’t fake it.

People living a life just to make heaven is a life of selfishness…you first…Him second.

True Love

There’s a fascinating story that I can’t seem to shake. We’ve all heard of God’s love and how it’s never-ending, larger than life and the most extreme. Hearing becomes old and when one doesn’t feel or sense it we then begin to question God’s existence, whether or not He is what He says He is or if this thing is a whole scam. Funny isn’t it? It starts with a rough day, then we don’t sense God because we’re jacked up and the next thing we know we are going through a breakdown, throwing a temper tantrum meanwhile God is just allowing you to be you. God catches heat for everything and gets the credit for very little.

God’s love is beyond comprehension, He sent Jesus Christ, His Son and most prized to die while bearing the sins of the world. But, most likely you’ve heard it and for some it’s real, for others it’s a repeated collage of images that they are beginning to care less and less about. If you’re beginning to care less and less or affected less and less you gotta get it right and get your head out of the grass. Let me share with you a verse that shows me some intimacy and love from God.

In Genesis 2 the fall of man occurs. One of the most tragic events in history takes place and Adam and Eve are devastated, scared and realizing they are butt naked. God could have thrown down, scrapped mankind and started over, threw a fireball or decided now was a good time for armageddon. But He didn’t. In Genesis 2:9 it tells us what God did. It says, “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” God went looking for them. Adam and Eve just labeled all of mankind and became sinners. Instead of throwing the knockout blow, casting them into hell or even taking the rest of the book of Genesis to scold them it says He went looking for them. God cares so much about us that when we do wrong, are ashamed, hurt and broken…He goes looking for us.

It’s not that God didn’t know where they were, it’s that He wanted them to realize He wasn’t forgetting about them. Just like us Adam and Eve were still figuring out God and what He was like. Sin isn’t okay but it is forgiven if you ask. God is looking for you and He loves you so passionately that regardless of circumstances He will search through the trees, in mud, through rain or flood waters to find you. That’s true love.