The Bells are Ringing - I'm hungry!!!

Repetition is a powerful teaching tool. Think of all the test questions and song lyrics you have memorized through repetition and repeated hearing.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

My son ran into the kitchen after finishing his dinner and exclaimed, “spoon!” I was confused. He had demolished a bowl of ravioli, some applesauce, and a banana – what more could he want? Again he said, “spoon!” Bewildered but intrigued, I handed him a spoon. He took a few steps back, placed the inside of the spoon on his nose, and then slowly pulled his hands away. He actually hung the spoon from his nose! After applauding and telling him well done, I nearly busted up the kitchen reaching for my phone just to take a picture.

It took a minute, but I realized that he learned this cool trick from repeatedly watching a kid from one of his favorite television shows.

There was an experiment in 1902 by a Russian Scientist named Ivan Pavlov. He concluded through using a bell to cause his dogs to salivate that a behavior could be learned. In the experiment, he would ring the bell every time he fed his dogs. Soon, he discovered that just the sound of the bell would increase salivation in his dogs, even before he handed them food.

The constant and consistent repetition of Pavlov can teach us a life lesson. Everyday we will experience good and bad things. The way we react is solely determined by the solutions we are frequently exposed to.

If we regularly see our leadership breakdown in a crisis – then we will break down in a crisis. If we see faith and trust in God from those we esteem in times of circumstance then our reaction will be the duplication of their actions.

Life will give you several moments to be the teacher or the pupil. In either case, you must be aware of what you are instructing others to do and what lessons you are allowing yourself to learn.

The bells of triumph are ringing. What will your reaction be? The bells of tragedy are ringing? What will your reaction be? Will you wallow in sorrow or salivate for the peace of your savior?

When we earnestly thirst for right living in everything we do and experience – the bible says we will be filled! The dogs had a physical reaction to the bell that ignited their hunger. The bell rang and they were filled with food from their master’s hand.

Like everything else, relying on the master takes practice and repetition.

Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

When you practice trusting God above all else in every circumstance you will strengthen you spiritual muscles. When anything occurs, you will have muscle memory to immediately do what you have trained your body to do.

As the bells of your circumstances ring, will you trust your master to satisfy your needs? Practice pursuing God in everything, because, WITH GOD, all things are possible!

Bruised apples have good seeds!

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

A young boy’s father gave him a bright red apple to take to school with his lunch. The boy placed the apple in his brown lunch sack, threw the sack into his backpack, and ran off to board the school bus.

During the coarse of the day, the apple tumbled around in the lunch sack. When it was time for lunch, the boy pulled the apple eagerly from his bag. When the boy saw the apple, his happy feelings immediately deflated. The apple, once brilliantly red and round, was now misshapen and covered with dark bruises. 

Disappointed, the boy slid the apple back into his lunch sack and tried to forget about it.

When the boy arrived home from school, he carried the bruised apple to his father. With tears in his eyes, the boy lamented over the demise of the apple’s beauty. The father then took the apple, sliced it in half, and handed it back to his son. He said, “ Son, the life of your apple is not over because inside of it are seeds that will make fresh new apples.”

Think about this. People are like the little boy’s apple. Life gives them bumps and bruises over time. Life experiences can make an individual feel worthless. Even worse, other people will cast someone off if they are too battered and misshapen for their liking.

Yet, there is hope! When you accept Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit plants a seed of regeneration inside of you. You will face hard days. Friends and family will turn their back on you. But you will not pass away. 

The Holy Spirit will give you the power to rejuvenate and flourish once more. Bruises will heal, true companions will return, and your God always lives. He gives beauty for ashes and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness! (Isaiah 61:3)

Be encouraged – you may feel down, but the healthy lady at the opera isn’t about to hit her high notes. You have an encore performance coming soon. Plant yourself in Christ and allow him to not only renew you, but also help you encourage others to be renewed.

Jesus is a TEXAN! He does everything Big!

Celebrate the small stuff! Every blessing from God is a big deal!

James 1:17 (NKJV)

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

 

A vibrant “Hallelujah” echoed through the office like a Sunday church bell. I rushed over to my friend to see why he was experiencing such jubilation.

“I found my sunglasses.” He was beaming uncontrollably as he waved the sunglasses in the air.

I was both confused and surprised. “What?! That was it?”

After the initial surprise of the moment had passed, I realized that life was full of fragmented blessings.

Others may view your personal blessings as small, but it is perfectly okay for them to be a big deal for you! On top of that, small blessings often accumulate into bigger ones.  I rarely pass up the chance to pick up fallen change because my grandmother once told me that if you collect enough pennies, eventually you would make a dollar. Many of us are waiting for that one big blessing from God – when, in actuality, every blessing we receive is not only good, but also a part of a giant and perfect plan for our lives. We must learn to celebrate every gift we receive from the Lord.

Take some time today to tell God “Thank you!” You have received some great gifts from the best giver. Everything adds up, so count all of your blessings and be grateful!

The 2nd Strongest Man Ever!

Exodus 20:12 (NKJV)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Standing on the side of a hospital bed comfortably sandwiched between two bunk beds in a second floor apartment, I heard the most profound statement. 

One of my teens from church that is unreservedly fighting for his life, rested under a Spiderman blanket sipping water through a straw and talking after a few swallows. His body is emaciated and each word that loosely falls from his lips is barely over a whisper. Despite his physical condition, his heart and attitude are stronger than Floyd Mayweather in an unfair fight.

The boy’s father and mother are also in the room with me when he asks for us to unite hands in prayer. The teen boy directs his father to hold his hand. As the warmth of his father’s hand pressed into his son’s hand, the boy admits to his dad, “You are the strongest man I know - next to God.”

His dad isn’t a millionaire nor is he the cover model for a muscle magazine. Yet, the fact that he is consistently in his son’s life, taking care of him, praying with him, and loving on him, his strength is beyond measure.

As a parent, I want my son to see me that way. I want to be his picture of strength. I used to hang from my dad’s arm as a child and marvel at his strength but I was more impressed by his love. It doesn’t matter how many hours you spend in the gym, how many supplements you take, or how powerful you are as a business professional. Your strength as a dad, a parent, or caregiver is in your compassion and love.

The young boy’s mom told me something also while I was visiting. She expressed that her son has outlived many other youth who carry her son’s same sickness.  I now believe that that boy’s strength to survive is in God as well as in the way he honors his parents who love God and have given him a reason to live. 

Your love helps your children live!

Coverage for Falling Rocks!!

Psalm 3:3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Recently, there was a story in the news about a group of hikers that were buried under falling rocks. Because of torrential rain, the once stable paths of six hikers became unsure. Boulders tumbled from their broken positions and fell at a rapid pace. There wasn't enough space or time to escape. A father instinctively leapt to cover his daughter as the others attempted to shield themselves. When rescuers arrived at the scene, they were unable to locate five of the hikers. However, they discovered the one young lady whose father shielded her. He was not located.

Although this is a tragic story, there is a message in the mess of those fallen rocks. In life, we could be traveling a familiar path without fear of impending danger. Yet, right when we feel that our steps are secure, the floor could fall out and we can see the proverbial world collapsing upon us. There is hope though!

Just as the father of that young lady instinctively leapt to cover his daughter, our Father in heaven is shielding us with His love! God sent His only son, Jesus, into this world to protect from all hurt, harm, and danger. He is proof that His love is our shield and strength to survive. Be encouraged - YOU ARE COVERED!

Here is the story: http://news.yahoo.com/lone-survivor-colorado-rock-slide-saved-her-dad-190927436.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CVdQ0xSUGsAVAjQtDMD

You Gotta Keep Your Head Up!

When I was younger, I really enjoyed early Saturday morning television shows. One of my favorites was The Adventures of Superman. The show opened with the announcer saying, “Look! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Superman!”

No one  looked for superman to come in on foot, in a car, or on his or her ground level. When people wanted the help of Superman, they had to look up!

The other day, I was working out with a great friend of mine. It was a very difficult workout that physically took our breath away. My workout partner finished strong but felt weak. He was bent over attempting to take deep breaths. Before long, he stood up and said, “When I played football in High School, after a difficult workout my coach would tell us to pick our heads up and lift our hands in order to breathe.” He continued to say, “You can’t breathe while bent over and looking down, there’s no air down there.”

Many of us are seeking some sort of provision from God. However, in our efforts to receive provision, we have become exhausted and are hanging our heads. Keep reading - your provisional relief is coming. Understand that provision is not limited to finances. God provides peace, comfort, love, attention, relief, and more.

Genesis 24:63-67

63 And Isaac went out to meditate and bow down [in prayer] in the open country in the evening; and he looked up and saw that, behold, the camels were coming.

64 And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

65 For she [had] said to the servant, Who is that man walking across the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, He is my master. So she took a veil and concealed herself with it.

66 And the servant told Isaac everything that he had done.

67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Isaac, the son of Abraham was by himself in an open place praying fervently. It wasn’t that Isaac was without resources (his family was rich) however his life was about to experience an area of lack. I can imagine Isaac kneeling down and praying to God, closing his prayer, then looking up. In the distance he saw the camels.

Camels carried provision. Camels carried resources. Camels carried what was needed to survive in a dry and deserted area.

Rebekah is on one of the camels. Isaac doesn’t know that he will need Rebekah, but his earthly father (Abraham) knew what God promised him and Isaac’s heavenly father (God) knew what the future held for Isaac.

Rebekah, away from her family and probably worn by the journey, is looking down as well. But, at the right and divine time, she looks up and at her provision.

Isaac needs Rebekah and Rebekah needs Isaac – God’s provision was presented to  both of them in this Camel moment.

After they meet, Isaac introduces Rebekah to his mother, Sarah and he marries Rebkah. When Sarah dies, Rebekah is the comfort he needs!

Here is the point. In our moments of desperation we tend to look down. Some look down and take a moment to pray. Others look down as if they are too worn to continue. I am challenging you to readjust your focus. LOOK UP! Your provision is on the horizon. Don’t give in – the further you push a spring down – the higher it jumps! If you continue to stay down, you are obstructing your ability to live. You can’t breath if you constrict the breathing process. You have to open up to fully receive what you need. The provision you need is not just for today it is for your future as well. Get to your place, away from the madness, and pray. God is ready to provide what you knowingly and unknowingly need.

Your CAMELS are coming! Look Up! 

If God is counting Hairs - what about the one's I've lost??!!

(Matthew 10:28-30)

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Fear is a prevailing emotion. With earthquakes, escalating gas prices, wars, and lackluster job security, people are just as afraid to live, as they are to die. When I was in junior high, number 72 for the Chicago Bears, William “Refrigerator” Perry was the greatest player alive. He was a big guy and I was a big guy - sort of. He was 6’2” and weighed 382 pounds, I was 4’9” and weighed around 110 pounds. Determined to use my weight to gain popularity and somehow discover my purpose, I joined the football team and made sure the coach gave me the number 72 jersey. My first day on the field, I was shocked to see how hard the other guys were running into each other. 

I thought, how is that fun? I don’t like being hit and I for sure don’t want to hit anybody! Given all of my prior football experience, I was placed on the “B” team as a second string lineman. The day I was told to get in the game, I was elated. I ran to my position, stood with my legs shoulder length apart, bent my knees a little, then put my right hand down balanced on my thumb and fingers. The ball was hiked and this giant man-child ran over me like truck. I walked off the field, removed my pads and exclaimed “this is not for me - use someone better!” My coach came over to me and explained that pain and persistence are apart of the game. He also said that in the game each player is important. 

The other team is going to attack at every opportunity and their goal is to get you to quit but players on and off the field are vital to victory. The coach made me put my pads back on and put me back in again. But, isn’t that what God does for us.

At our moment of desperation, He says just the right thing to remind us that even in our weak points he will provide the words that will give us the strength we need (2 Corinthians 12:9). I completed the game and the season more confident than ever. Although at first I thought my role was seemingly insignificant – I knew that if I didn’t do my part there would be no one to give the first string a break or to step in when needed. 

As Christians, we must grasp the undeniable truth that God passionately cares about us – so much so that he counts every hair on our head – even the ones that won’t grow back. You are important, invaluable, and priceless. Even though people may act like bullies and attack your character to make you feel inferior, your value is not determined by their words. God labeled you with a price that could never be paid by man and your persistence through the pain will give you victory! Remove fear and replace it with the God given confidence that you can do ALL things through Him that gives you strength.