The shade though!

Dark enough to see…

February 26, 2015 one picture nearly broke the Internet. The picture went from one person’s social media site to over ten million tweets worldwide. It wasn’t the most picturesque but it grabbed enough attention to make it a common household conversation. The picture asked a simple question, “What color is this dress?” Some people said black and blue others said white and gold.

There were as many opinions as there were shares of the dress on social media.

The reason everyone’s opinion differed on the same dress was because of lighting.  The light that was used when the picture was taken gave a varying hue to the dress and depending on the condition of the viewer’s eyes and exposure to light, opinions changed. The funny part of the whole ordeal is how long it took for someone to ask the dressmaker about the actual color. (It was blue and black)

I believe the same is true when you consider the way individuals create opinions without seeking the facts. It is often because the circumstance is displayed in the wrong “light”. When Jesus asked his disciples how others perceived Him, they gave answers depending on the light in which He was seen. Peter gave the correct answer because He sought the creator. (Matthew 16:13-20)

Ellen DeGeneres is quoted, “In the beginning there was nothing. God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better. ”

Light can reveal a lot when used properly.

When I was in High School my mom gave me a super fancy watch. It had a genuine leather band; at least that is what was engraved in it. It also had a gold face, notches on the bezel for the hours, and glow in the dark hands. I loved the watch and only wore it on special occasions. One evening we went to a play. I looked at my watch during the production and realized I couldn’t see the hands. I was annoyed! After reading the manual, I learned that the hands needed to be exposed to light for an extended amount of time in order for them to glow in dark places.

Have you allowed limited exposure or completely avoided the light you need to shine appropriately in a dark place?

Matthew 5:14-16(NLT)

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Knowing Jesus ignites a light that makes you glow. The amazing light of Jesus Christ that is living in you is very accessible but it can seem dim if it is hidden by distractions. If it looks fun but fades the light that helps you be the person God created you to be, it isn’t for you. Change locations, remove the shield, and glow the way you were intended.

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

In our DARKEST moments we realize our need for the LIGHT…

His light can not only give light to you but also give directions to those near you.

 While taking a photography class, I learned that the negative makes creative pictures based on the shutter speed. The longer that the shutter is open greater amounts of light are exposed to the negative. Light objects blur across the print and dark spots disappear.

If things seem negative for you – open your heart to The Light. Prolonged exposure will spread His Light throughout your outcome and will fade your dark spots.

Get to know The Light (Jesus Christ)

Spend more time in His Light 

Reveal His light in you to others

The Elephant MUST retire...

The elephant must retire…

The elephant in the room is a frequently used idiom for an obvious issue that no one wants to address. That problem or issue is often obtuse and difficult to overlook. Yet, people typically find ways to creatively ignore the obvious in an attempt to avoid what must be discussed.

When I was a kid I loved the circus. The vibrant colors mixed with the synchronization of laughter and the awe of excitement painted lasting memories. Today, new acrobats flipping, clowns performing, lions roaring, and massive elephants marching still entice people to the Greatest Show on Earth. Above it all, I am most impressed by the elephants. How do they get these weighty pounds of flesh to dance, do head stands, and bow with grace and ease? There is even a Disney movie about a silly but aerobatic circus elephant with a tragic and triumphant story. How could you not love the circus elephants?

Soon, kids will no longer make a circus elephant memory. Can you imagine my shock when I read that The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus announced that they were phasing out their elephant attraction? As fun as it is to see them perform, the negativity they received from being a traveling attraction was surmounting.

But, just like the Disney movie, this thought starts tragic yet it will end in triumph.

Mark 11:23-25 (ESV)

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received[c] it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Many people refer to their life as their own private circus. It is a cornucopia of joy, pain, mishaps, circumstances, successes, and spectators. The private circus has performers and spectators. The performers are the people trying to keep it all together and the spectators are some people enjoying the show and some people hoping for failure. Don’t forget the elephant of the show. That is our big attraction that everyone can see but needs to retire.

I believe that we all have elephants in our circus that have gained great attention but need to be let go. What is your elephant? Have you developed a personality or character trait that no longer defines you? Maybe you have allowed an old circumstance great dominance in your life. Maybe you carry an addiction that everyone is aware of but no one will address.

The fear that exists with letting go of the elephant rests in wondering if the show will continue.

In the Gospel of Mark we are taught through the metaphor of moving mountains that even the most substantial and resistant objects can be moved. Not only can they move but we also can move on with our lives.

With unwavering confidence you must retire your elephant. This isn’t magic, it's faith. Your Father in Heaven, who moved matter to make you cares deeply about what matters to you. He can remove your giant circus attraction but you must diligently believe and speak to Him about it through prayer.

The show will go on! I am not sure what the circus will use to replace the elephant attraction. What I do know is that it is trademarked The Greatest Show on Earth and you don’t take away a big attraction without having a better plan in mind. God never digs out holes without planting something great. It’s ok to retire your elephant and keep the lights on - the Creator of the Universe has something greater behind the curtain.

BONUS:

Verse 25 says stand and pray then it says you must forgive others so that your Heavenly Father can forgive you. If your elephant is forgiveness, don’t allow that big beast to stink up your show with droppings of bitterness and anger. Forgive and get forgiven!

What is your elephant?

When will you let it retire?

How to Fight a Frown!

“You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down.” – Charles "Charlie" Chaplin

I wonder if the thorn in the Apostle Paul’s side was a demon called allergies. With prayers, medicine, shots, and more those pesky allergies get beaten but relentlessly return. If you suffer from this same thorn, you know about the constant nasal drip, coughing, sneezing, puffy eyes and more. And, like clockwork, allergies flaunt their ugly head at the most inopportune time.  My son, unfortunately, suffers from allergies. He’s not allergic to a type of food or beverage, however his body has the most adverse affects to major climate changes and invisible floating particles that appear during the change in seasons.

As we were making our morning commute to school, I heard a loud and moist sneeze. I turned around and saw two globs of snot similar to a blonde Pipi Longstocking’s braids hanging below his nostrils.  DISGUSTING!

He let out a boisterous laugh then said, “Daddy, look at my moustache!”

I couldn’t help but laugh with him. (And wipe his nose)

Life is full of embarrassing moments that make us want to cower and disappear. Yet, its how we handle mistakes and unfortunate moments that make a difference. We cannot effectively predict every circumstance or their frequency but we can choose how we respond.

Proverbs 15:13-15 (NASB)

13 A joyful heart makes a [a]cheerful face, But [b]when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. 14 The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,

But a [c]cheerful heart has a continual feast.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

― Oscar Wilde

Here are three ways to fight a frown!

1. Feed your heart with good things

The bible teaches that we speak what is on our hearts and that our face is a mirror to our heart as well. There are a lot of people who speak beautifully but look horrendous. In order to keep our face and our mouth in check we need to feast on what makes us smile internally and externally. We have bad days but we have a GREAT GOD that is on our side. As your attitude falls, raise your spirit with the Joy of the Lord. Keep pictures that make you smile in immediate access, put notes of encouragement (in your wallet, on your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator and on your car radio).

2. Feed your mind with good things

Too many things have access to our minds. Turn off what discourages you and seek things that encourage you spiritually, physically, and emotionally. There is a reason I don’t listen to slow jams in the gym – I need upbeat music to keep my pace and rhythm. Listen to spiritually encouraging music and read God’s promises throughout your day. Commit to waking up with a scripture (verse of the day by the Youversion App) and at least listen to something encouraging on your morning commute. In the rhythm of life, feed your mind with what keeps you on pace with positive accomplishment.

3. Stay Hydrated!

The body can survive without food for days but will suffer swiftly without water. John 4:14, (NLT)

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." Water is a great source for cleansing and maintaining good health. Having a real relationship with God and knowing His Son, Jesus, is like carrying a Camelbak backpack that never runs dry. If you are feeling unfulfilled and consistently down it may be your diet. Try removing some foods/habits from your diet through a fast and passionately seek God during that time. Often we will discover during a fast that there are certain things we can completely survive without. After your fast continue your constant consumption of water/God’s word for maintenance and good health.

PROVERBS 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Instead of hiding in the shadow of your failures – stand on the victory that your mistakes and embarrassing moments have taught you, seek the best responses, and laugh.

Laugh at your self.

Laugh with others not at others.

Laugh out loud often.

Even the toughest seasons have an expiration date.

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!