Ready for a blessing?!?!?!?!

Hungry?

Isaiah 43:16-21 (MSG)

16-21This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, 
 who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies — 
 they lie down and then can't get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: 
"Forget about what's happened; don’t keep going over old history.
 Bealert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out!Don't you see it? 
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers inthe badlands. Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' 
— the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
   rivers through the sun-baked earth,
 Drinking water for thepeople I chose, the people I made especially for myself,
 a people custom-made to praise me.

One of the first things people say when they meet my son is,“Wow he’s big, what are you feeding him!?”

Even though it sounds like they are sneakily calling my son chunky, I know they are really just wondering how he got so…“healthy”.

My son is no stranger to table food. In fact he has preferred the well-seasoned delicacy of a grilled pork chop to a blended jar of bland meats and veggies from the moment he discovered his teeth.

The other night, he ate out of everyone’s plate, polished off an 8oz bottle and pompously topped it all with a deep belch!

The following morning, he sat at the same table prepared to eat again and expecting something equally as great!

In his mind, whenever he sits in his high chair, or seessomeone eating, it is time for him to eat. Despite how good the previous meal was or how much he ate – he is always prepared to eat again.

In Isaiah 43, God is saying, don’t get so caught up on your previous blessings that you fail to be prepared for the impending ones. Many people have gotten so consumed in what God has told or done for them before that they are not listening out for what He is telling them to do right now.

God is consistently feeding you with blessings in some way form or fashion. His mercies are renewed daily. (Lamentations 3:23) He delightsin rewarding you!

Don’t Just GET PREPARED FOR TODAY – BE PREPARED EVERYDAY!

God has done some amazing things in your life. Although God brought the children of Israel through the red sea and closed it on their enemies, He didn’t stop blessing or performing miracles.

God is doing a NEW thing everyday for you. It’s great to be excited about what God has done for you but be ready, open your mind, heart, hands, and more – HE IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING EVEN GREATER THAN THE LAST TIME!!!!!

Those traverse areas are about to be cleared and your doors of opportunity are here. IT IS GAME TIME - STAY READY!

“It’s not going to be easy – but it’s going to be awesome!” –Steve Gleason

Laughter is Comming!!

Laughter is "Comming"

Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a] But a broken spirit dries the bones.

While visiting a daycare, I happened to glance into one of the classrooms. At first sight, it looked like a typical nursery. Baby cribs lined the walls, a large and colorful ABC mat lay on the floor, and a wooden table with blue chairs in small openings to feed multiple children was in the middle of the room.

The walls displayed children’s pictures and vibrant designs to signify the upcoming season.

Upon closer look, I noticed a yellow bulletin board decorated by giant orange, brown, and green leaves and a green border. Among the leaves were die cut letters that spelled out “Fall is Comming.” 

I immediately grabbed my phone and opened my dictionary app. Maybe I was wrong! Nope!

Then I took a picture of the bulletin board and sent it to my mom. I had to have a second opinion. Yep! They misspelled “Coming”.

That was just the little smile I needed to let me know that life is full of little mistakes worth laughing about.

It is interesting to note that negativity can feel like a rolling snowball. One unfortunate occurrence compounded by several other occurrences can build into a massive hellacious day/week/month or season.

In the midst of that snowstorm it could be difficult to find any joy.

I challenge you to look for the little laughs in life.

Just as little annoyances can build into big bothers, little laughs can lead to great joy!

Take time to laugh – It may be the medicine you need to signify the end of winter and the “comming” of spring!

Growing Pains :-/

Growing Pains

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

One evening, while I was babysitting my Goddaughter, she walked into the living room with Texas size tears falling from her eyes. With a calm and steady voice, I questioned her sorrowful demeanor.

She climbed into my lap and started rubbing her legs. I wiped her face and again questioned her about her tears. She managed to stammer out, “My legs are hurting – I think I’m growing!”

How often in life do we experience tear-inducing pains that seem to stifle our very existence?

Anyone that works out or has ever worked out is familiar with the old adage - “No pain, no gain!”

God never promised us that pain or discomfort would be foreign. In fact, it is through our pain that we discover where our real strength derives.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

“… “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

The next time you experience a level of discomfort – talk to God – that pain that you are experiencing could be Him healing you and challenging you to grow up! Work through your pain, remember your goals and know that the end result will be a bigger, stronger and more confident you!

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” – Seven time Tour de France Champion

Breakfast For Dinner?! My Favorite!!!

Breakfast for Dinner

“Working with the pieces”

Inspired by Pastor Remus E. Wright

When I was younger, my mother’s greatest culinary creation was breakfast. I especially enjoyed when she made it for dinner. Now this was not your typical dinner. It was an outrageously delicious blend of whatever was left in the refrigerator with a side of scrambled eggs.

Somehow she made pieces of other meals create one complete meal. And it was delicious!

Jesus feeding the multitude is one of the few miracles recorded in all four of the gospels.  Therefore, that moment’s impact on the writers must have been immense!

People regularly encounter broken, partial, and fragmented conditions.

But just because the situation seems broken doesn’t mean that it is destroyed.

Jesus’ whole and complete body was broken for you! (1 Corinthians 11:24) And just when his accusers assumed His death was permanent, Jesus came back!

In the miracle of the multitude, Jesus took the pieces of a child’s lunch to make thousands of empty individual’s bellies full – then He gathered the pieces that were left over for future use.

I challenge you to give God your broken pieces. In His hands, there is wholeness and overflow. In the right hands, even leftovers - cold and broken portions of what was once great - can be gourmet. You were great the moment God made you and even if you feel broken – He can restore you and make you better than you were before!

John 6:12-13 (AMP)

12 When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, Gather up now the fragments (the broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted.

13 So accordingly they gathered them up, and they filled twelve [[b]small hand] baskets with fragments left over by those who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

Decisions in Darkness!

Decisions in Darkness!

Acts 16:27-29 (AMP)

27 When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!

29 Then [the jailer] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling and terrified he fell down before Paul and Silas.

Have you ever had one of those intense days that drained every ounce of energy from you? That was yesterday for me. I was busy from 6am until 11pm. By the time I arrived home and had dinner, all I wanted to do was crawl under my covers and lay my head on the cool side of the pillow.

After a few hours of deep sleep, my son decided it was time for everyone to wake up and join his personal party! It was my night to take care of him. So…grudgingly I slinked out of bed and plodded down the hallway to his room.

There he was, standing in the crib crying for attention with his hands stretched out. After 30 minutes and three attempts of holding him until I thought he was asleep, I decided to prepare him a night-night bottle. 

I know the layout of my living room and my kitchen. Therefore I felt no need to turn on any lights. Some of us have been in difficult or tricky situations so many times that we feel like we do not need assistance.

Successfully I navigated my way carrying my son. We passed all of our furniture and eased into the kitchen. Just when I thought I was doing well making his bottle in the dark, I misjudged pouring the water and adding his formula. Pow! The bottle slipped from my hand and slammed to the floor spilling all of my hard work. A little frustrated but determined to finish – I made another one. This time we were good!

The new bottle was in his mouth, but we were still in the dark. Now we were headed to prayerfully fall asleep on the couch. Once again I misjudged and wow that was my knee!

I couldn’t help but think that all of that could have been avoided if I had just turned on a light.

I believe we commonly lose sight of how we get our guidance. Whether we have become so comfortable doing things the way we have always done them or we have put our thinking skills to sleep. We are not actively pursuing better solutions instead we are coasting. However, life sends us sudden earthquakes that can destroy our comfort. It is at that point that we are faced with a decision. Do we quit, continue coasting, or seek the light.

God is our light source and the one we should always turn to whether our day is well lit or dark as night.

Some of our worst decisions are made in the dark. Darkness can be a bad day, a tough break-up, a life-altering transition, or anything that places a haze on our reality.

The Jailer was prepared to make a decision in darkness that would have freed him from his circumstance but would have had a dangerous ripple affect on his family and friends.

It was when he called for light that his whole life changed. He was saved and it created a chain reaction that swelled throughout his entire family.

I challenge you to not allow your dark days to determine your destination or decisions. Seek God always and continue to pursue a light that only He can provide. After all, He already knows the plan for your life, why don’t you just turn on the light and ask for directions?

The Clowns are Coming!

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

The circus is one of the most exciting live shows that anyone can witness. Elephants and horses dancing, Big cats roaring and jumping across obstacles, trapeze artists, vibrant lights, whimsical music, and of course - the clowns!

Whether they are squirting water out of a flower on their lapel or reminding us to laugh at life’s uncomfortable moments, a clown’s basic purpose is to entertain.

I find it intriguing that people find fear in some of the same things that were created to bring joy - such as open spaces, chewy food, and even clowns!

When the circus recently came to Houston, I was hesitant to take my ten-month-old son. I assumed that the loud sounds, pungent smells, and of course the clowns were going to be too much for him to manage.

My family arrived to the circus early because we were told that there was a children’s pre-show on the floor of the arena.  There were costumes to dress in, animals doing tricks, crafts, and of course – the clowns! Expecting the most, I tightly held my son with my right arm as my wife and I cautiously walked to the crowded arena floor.

A clown caught our eye and started making his way toward us. Then - it happened! Instead of screaming or clawing up my shirt like a spooked cat, my son threw his arm on the clown’s shoulder and posed as if to say, “Sure! You can take a picture with me”. My son somehow became the fearless celebrity in the picture and was prepared for anything! Fear is a learned emotion. He embraced the clown but never left the strong arms of his father.

“Great”, by definition is better than average or above normal. The Bible teaches us that true greatness resides within those who are connected to Christ. We also learn from the Bible that although frightful circumstances will take place, our confidence and comfort are in Christ. So, the next time you are out, have a celebrity take a picture with you – the great one! And when you incur a frightening situation, rest in Christ – the one who has been holding you tight the entire time (even when the clowns were prepared to scare and intimidate you)!