Priorities

My son really enjoys playing on my phone. He has his own box for his apps and even knows how to unlock the phone. The other day he asked for my phone and proceeded to go through the apps. As he is sliding the apps across the screen going from page to page, he recognizes a picture behind the apps.  It is me holding my nephew. My son looks up at me and says, "That's me daddy!" The two boys look similar but it was definitely not him in the picture. I tell my son that it is his cousin. My son gets quiet for a second then says, "It's supposed to be me."

At first glance, this sounds like a story about being selfish however I saw things differently. 

Exodus 20:5 (NLT)
You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected--even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

Behind all of the things that demand and maintain our attention is a picture of what we love. On the iPhone it allows you to pick your picture and place it on either your lock screen (the beginning screen) or your home screen (the screen behind your apps). The great majority of people with a smartphone tend to place a picture of their priorities on their home screen. In life, behind all the things that pull at your heart, what is the one constant that makes it beat? My son gave me a gentle reminder that behind all of my apps yet steady throughout every page should constantly be him. I had to readjust my constant. 

Our hearts should beat for God first He is the picture on our home screen. Its because of Him that all things are possible - so why don't we give Him more credit? This blog isn't a challenge to make Jesus your cellphone's home screen but it is an admonishment to those who have removed God from His first place position.

Its an easy fix. Even if you have taken 1,000 steps away from God, it only takes one step to get back in His arms. A few simple steps rightfully changed my home screen - are you willing to take the necessary steps to fix your home life. 

How far is it to the moon and back?

How far is it to the moon and back?

Brennan Manning, the celebrated American author wrote, “My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I’m sick or in good health, whether I’m in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am.”

If you were to physically measure love, what tool would you use? What would the total measurement equal and how would you know if your measurement was accurate?

I heard an old preacher say that he asked Jesus, “How much do you love me?” Jesus, instead of speaking, simply hung his head and widely stretched his arms out on a cross.

John 3:16New Living Translation (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life

Romans 5:8New Living Translation (NLT)

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

These two scriptures effectively help me to identify with God’s unyielding and limitless love for us. But still, how would you measure limitless love?

A friend of mine once told me that they loved someone to the moon and back. Being analytical, I decided to Google the distance.

According to Space.com, on average, the distance from the earth to the moon is 238,855 miles. Therefore, the distance to the moon and back is 238,855 X 2 = 477,710 miles.

But wait, there’s more! If you continue reading it says, “However, the moon is moving away from Earth at a rate of about 1.5 inches (4 cm) per year.”

So, what does that mean to you? The love of God that we thought was great and gracious as child is a different understanding of love as a teenager, and even that teenage understanding of love pales in comparison to what we know as an adult. Why? Because as we grow older so does our comprehension of God’s love for us. The mistakes God lovingly forgave you for as a child were great but even now God continues to show us that we cannot quantify, box, contain, measure, limit, or restrict His love. Daily, He loves you more! And, it is that same love that held Jesus to the cross, forgave you for your sin, and continues to hold you as get to know Him better.

We can’t physically measure God’s love but we can enjoy and live right because of it.

We say, “God I love you!” His response, “Love you more!”

PS - EVERYDAY show someone you love them.

Tips for 2015! How powerful is your roar?!?!

What do you want to accomplish this year? Not fix or do better – but what do you want to achieve?

Daily, the gazelle realizes that it must be faster than the fastest lion or its life is over. Just the same, the lion realizes that it must be faster than the slowest gazelle or its life is over. The simple point is that living is based on your determination to move. Although your motivation may be different than the next person, you must move!

This is our tough guy face

Are you passively debating your dreams or actively grabbing your goals?

Nelson Mandela admonished, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Hebrews 4:14-16New Living Translation (NLT)

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

As you move into 2015, don’t allow the days on your clocks and calendars be the only things that move purposefully.

Tomorrow is today so do something now.

Here are THREE steps to beget results!

1. BELIEVE

2. BEGIN

3. BE BOLD

1.  Artificial motivation will produce artificial results. (believe)

Hebrews 4:14 says, “hold firm to what we believe.” Your confidence in trivial matters should be trumped by your belief in the one who not only created the universe but also created you. How can you fight sin but struggle to fight for your dreams? If he can keep the planets and life moving and maintained, won’ t He do the same for you? He knows your struggles but He also knows the source of your pure strength in weakness. When you are motivated by temporary pleasure or obviously uncertain circumstances your results will be synonymous – false and fleeting. Believe in the truth.  The facts are in front of you the Truth is living within you! (John 14:16)

2. Don’t spend more time dreaming than you spend doing! (begin)

Hebrews 4:16 encourages individuals to move with expectancy and fervor. I was told that dreams are for sleep…get up and live! You have to begin sometime. Why not today? Make expectant moves that have a plan behind them.

Habakkuk 2:2New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.

3. Prayer in private produces boldness in public – (be bold)

It is the midnight murmurings and private petitions that get results. The bible teaches the believer that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). He fights on our behalf when we are working His plan and praying. The boldness you seek to move forward in 2015 will come for your prayer/private time with God. He has the word, phrase, note, or spark that you need to speak up and launch out.

Mercy and Grace are waiting on your boldness with God. The bible says that what God has for you is there for you when you need it most – Just ask for it…

Finally, I randomly met a man in a store and we began taking about his multiple businesses and the favor God has shown him. He clearly understood the importance of words and the power behind them. He said, “The Lion is recognized as king. Its not because he is the fastest – that’s the cheetah – its not because he’s the most massive – that’s the elephant – its not because he has the toughest skin – that the hippo. Yet, when a lion announces itself, he stretches his jaws wide and releases a roar that evokes fear and demands attention. Behind that roar is a boldness that demands results because the lion believed in his roar first.” Your life, your roar, and your dreams matter – speak up and live today!