Check your watch...Your time is coming!

Admittedly, I laugh more than necessary at social media videos that display people using gym equipment inappropriately. Although their intent may be to obtain major gains, their full out effort typically yields futile results. Even with good intentions, doing the wrong thing the wrong way will never get you right.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end."

Every single one of us is born with a desire for accomplishment. The progression of scooting to crawling to walking and onto walking across the stage proves that there is an innate desire to achieve. We must recognize that our greatest desires require our greatest efforts and great success comes with great sacrifice. Moving your “if” goals to “when” goals is detrimental to your success plan. Instead of pacing the floor wringing your hands about how God’s plan will work – praise God that He has the perfect plan for you. Turn to God – Talk to God – and Trust God.

So, let’s go back to my fascination with terrible gym antics. I average five days a week in the gym and I see a lot of entertaining things. Its consistently intriguing to witness impatient people that are determined to lift the most! They typically overload the equipment with ridiculous weight just to say that were able to lift, press, or pull it. Though they are moving the weight, they are only perfuming the move partially and subsequently not achieving the real result of properly doing the exercise.

Do the WORK to get the RESULTS that you want.

If you gotta have the full result then you have to do all the work. Half effort will never produce full results! Total success comes from total effort. Stop playing hokey pokey with your purpose.

Get the right assistance that you need and take the time to actualize what God has already promised you.

He is our creator, He knows what we need, and He has a coming out party prepared for your success.

Your Time is coming! Do the WORK and get the RESULTS.

Just like Him - The Super Mario Brothers

My Father and Me!

My son wanted a game console for his birthday. I was vehemently against it because I believed it would lead him into a world I didn’t understand and away from his father.

Nevertheless, what good father denies his child good things when they have every reason to deserve that and more? Being a barely willing participant, I declined riding in the car when his mom picked up the game console from the store. On his birthday, my son was a rubber ball of excitement. The moment the gift was unveiled he exploded. That game console was the only thing he wanted and like Ralphie from The Christmas Story he nearly put his eye out.

From a distance I watched him connect his remotes, interchange playing the games, and destroy his digital foes. I knew he was happy but a side of me wondered how I would engage in an activity that was completely foreign to me.

In the Gospel of St. John chapter 5 verse 19, it says, “So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (NLT).

In this one verse we get a glimpse into the divine relationship between our God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son. Prior to this, the Jews had not long witnessed Jesus heal an excuse ridden lame man that had suffered for 38 years. The response of the Jews was to label Jesus a Sabbath breaking blasphemer. They missed the miracle because they were maximizing who Jesus was instead of what Jesus had done. Jesus was not operating independently of God because their relationship is without rivalry. It is the power of God at work through the Son. It is not a matter of inferiority or superiority but a combined strength that is able to heal, restore, strengthen, and provide in ways beyond our understanding.

It is like the slogan surrounding the importance of unity for our city - #strong. Admittedly, I was envious of the toy. Yet and still just as we have been brought to understand that our Father in Heaven is not only greater than any object or being, He is also the one that helps us to be great when dealing with any object or being.

When I least expected it, almost a month after my son received his game console, he begged me for batteries. Of course, the batteries were for one of his game remotes. After I put the batteries in, my son sat next to me and said, “Can we play together for a few moments? I need your help to win this game.”

Good Dad to the rescue. A few moments turned into a few swiftly passing hours and I actually got pretty good. Before long I was able to show my son a few tips.

As parents, we need to take advantage of those unique moments God gives us with our children. Their DNA is proof that they are a part of us but their habits, mannerisms, and attitude about life is what we teach them through being an active part of their lives. It’s ok if you don’t get everything that they are into, take the time to learn and you will recognize that it is only a reflection of what you do – just on their level.

His favorite game is about story telling and of course, you know I love a good story!

Get Your Stuff Back!

Get your stuff back

How long does is take for anything to move into the past? It’s not an overly complicated question yet the answer can be convoluted. The moment a second hand clicks, the past is created and what is has become a memory. Unfortunately that’s not everyone’s reality.

Altercations, circumstances, and missed opportunities tend to plague us like a reoccurring cold that zaps our energy and clouds our thoughts. That doesn’t have to be the case. 

It’s time to get your stuff back!

Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” (NIV).

Our past is a platform and not a PRISON…

Catch this! What you have been through has proved you and not paused who you are becoming to be! Instead of standing behind your past stand on top of it or better yet use it as a springboard to jump into your future.

One of the greatest comebacks in NFL history took place February 5^th, 2017 in Houston, TX. The New England Patriots were playing the Atlanta Falcons.

New England trailed through the first two quarters. For all intents and purposes it would have been safe to assume that the Patriots were going to lose. Then came half time. As any storybook football movie would portray it. The assumption was that the third quarter would look better than the previous two quarters. Not in this story. By the 3^rd quarter, New England had a mere 9 points to Atlanta’s 28 points.

But something happened in the 4^th. A combination of energ

y, effort, and faith put 19 points on the board and led New England to a 34/28 win.

Please believe, your come back is coming just don’t wait for your final days to believe it.

New England wasn’t green to the Super bowl environment. In fact, they had won before. Somehow they allowed their responsibility as champions and their authority as winn

ers to be compromised. Mind you, I am a Houston Texans fan but I love a good story.

In football, the players are taught to have a short-term memory. Don’t spend too much time complaining about your past or concentrating on what hasn’t happened - your next down is coming.

In 2 Samuel 6 there is a story of a great leader that let go of his responsibility. King David was charged with maintaining the Ark of God. Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, the Ark was dropped and God struck an individual dead. David was both angry and afraid of God so he allowed his responsibility to be given to a man named Obed-edom.

Big mistake.

For three months while the Ark was in Obed-edom’s possession, his house prospered greatly. The bible doesn’t detail what David’s life was like but I believe it paled in comparison to Obed-edom. David made haste to get the Ark back.

I am challenging you to do the same. Turn this thing around! Whatever obstacle, occurrence, mistake, or circumstance that convinced you to let go of what is rightfully yours has held you up long enough.

• Get back your pride
• Get back your joy
• Get back your peace
• Get back your family
• Get back your responsibility

This year isn’t over – get your stuff back!

The bible says that David took 6 steps with the Ark and immediately began to worship.

Here is my last point. I love that the touchdown celebration is back in the NFL. When you go through enough and when you have been denied enough – it shouldn’t take long for you to celebrate your breakthrough from the past.

The past. It is what it is don’t live there learn from it and celebrate who brought you through.

Breakfast Part 3

John 21:7-17

We have reached the end of our three part series called Breakfast. When we last met, Jesus instructed his despondent disciples to revise their fishing methods. After an evening of unproductive effort they caught nothing but attitudes. It’s rare that professional fishermen could fish all night with no return.

Their backs – sore

Their eyes – strained

Their mind – restless

Their stomach – empty

Their hope – questionable

Jesus, from the shore, then directs them to try again before giving up. But this time, do it differently…

5 more minutes

I believe that it is in the moments beyond our natural ability that we experience the supernatural. There was a gentleman that worked in our office that had a unique screen saver. It slowly bounced “five more minutes” in different fonts and colors all over his screen. I worked up the nerve to ask him about the distinctive screen display. He said it was a personal mantra to give exactly five more minutes of concentrated effort right before he felt like quitting. It was a push to perform and prove that at the point of breakdown a break through could occur.  Jesus operates exceptionally well in this area of human frustration. Jesus will take control when we let go and He will do exceedingly - abundantly - far above what we could ask or think.

Love God – Love You!

In John 21:7 it says, “Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord...” I love this verse for two reasons.

1.     John’s confidence is amazing. I read that if you were to ask a random group of individuals to list their top five loves, it is nearly definite that no one would list himself or herself. There is nothing wrong with having a healthy appreciation for you. If we are to treat others, love others, and appreciate others the way we want it reciprocated, we must first discover how to love us and understand what makes us loveable. Which leads to my second reason for loving this verse.

Dinner in Colombia

2.     The bible teaches, ^“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). Oftentimes our struggle with love and commitment to our loves (family, career, hobbies, etc.) is because we have not worked out our love with God. John knew it was Jesus because He knew Jesus. Not that the other disciples didn’t know Him but at this moment John’s thoughts didn’t cloud the vision of His savior. Jesus is the ultimate example and guide. How many times has he cared for you when you were careless with your love for Him?

Simple Math

The author details that after the fisherman caught 153 large fish (v11), Jesus invited them to breakfast. The immediate assumption is that Jesus is requesting an offering of their catch. Yes but not yet. Breakfast is already prepared when they arrive and there is still more for them to catch/learn.

Just as 5+5=10 so does 6+4. When we invite Jesus to dictate our decisions we do not become mindless robots but informed individuals with the capacity to obtain solutions but in a different and often better way. We must recognize the necessity of His inclusion and be open to Jesus’ teaching.

Give them a fish then teach them to fish…

Lastly, as they are sitting and enjoying breakfast, Jesus asks Peter a direct question. The interesting thing about the exchange between Peter and Jesus goes back to the 3 times Peter denied Jesus followed by a night of fruitless fishing. It is fair to perceive that Peter subsequently felt no longer productive for the advancing of Christ’s kingdom.

I love how Jesus works. Mark 16:7 and John 21:7 are very helpful for the dejected believer. Yes Peter denied Jesus three times and yes Peter had an evening of unproductive effort. However, Jesus is not like us. Instead of rejecting the broken, He builds by knowing how to perfectly reposition even the most messed up parts.

In the book of Mark he specifically calls for Peter’s presence. Then, in the book of John, Jesus asks Peter three specific times if he loved him and upon Peter’s response, Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus gave Peter insight and direction for three years and strategically Jesus asks about Peter’s love the same amount of times that peter denied his love for Jesus. Jesus grabbed Peter’s heart and then had his ear. Jesus is saying I know you love me and now I need you to teach others about the redemptive, restoring, and reviving love that they too can have (the offering).  Don’t allow the fear of mistakes you haven’t made stop you from living the life that was made for you.

You have been given many experiences over the course of your life and I am encouraging you right now to realize that your life’s momentous and messed up moments are tools to teach others about a loving Jesus that saves.

Beyond just being on the water and catching the big fish, the best part of fishing is telling the big fish stories. No one can tell your story better than you. Jesus picked you up when you fell and will continue to lead you when things get dark. – SHARE YOUR FISH…

Breakfast Part 2

Far away but Close enough 

One of my son's favorite activities is swimming. If I didn't know better I would check his neck for gills. He has taken multiple swim lessons and swam in all sorts of pools. While on vacation, I took him to the pool at our resort. Decked in ninja turtle swim gear - he looked like a little sea ninja turtle without fins. 

Because we were on vacation, I had limited packing space so I left his arm floaties in Houston. But, I figured he was a strong enough swimmer to make it without them. At the pool, he swam pretty well. I stood by the pool’s side but let him venture out as far as his confidence would allow him. 

He was far enough to practice what he knew but close enough that he could still hear my voice. 

The Bible describes a moment when a mindful savior was close enough to save but far enough to teach.

“At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.”

John 21:4-6 NLT

Jesus had died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. The disciples were out fishing but their efforts were in vain. At their point of exhaustion, they hear a voice from an unrecoginzable source. Based on research, it cannot accurately be determined how long the figure was there. Yet when day broke - they heard a voice and saw a figure.

Point 1 -  God is here and He cares

There are moments that make us question if God really sees us. Truth is He promised to never leave us (Her 13:5) and He meant it. His silence does not denote His absence. God's voice of guidance and comfort can be masked by our toddler-type attitudes of “I got it” however,  when we get tired of unsuccessful toiling we will hear the help we so desperately need. 

Point 2 - You are closer than you think

Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to change their boat’s location. He instructed them to change the direction of their effort. It’s not that your calling/purpose  is wrong. God is showing you that there is a better way to get results. Small changes in how you work will greatly affect how your results will work out. 

Point 3 - Plan for a harvest

God doesn’t waste blessings. When He gives us a vision, He also gives provision. And, if God is providing He is also making sure that your net can sustain its increase. No one takes a small net for a large harvest. Even in the disciples' night of nothing they still used big nets because they expected a harvest. 

Lean in on this, I heard a seasoned fisherman say that a good angler never reveals his fishing hole. It  is comforting to know that we have a master fisherman who doesn’t keep secrets about our future success!

My son is a good swimmer but not as good as his father. Although he takes great pleasure in swimming, he has not perfected it. As I stood on the side of the pool cautiously watching him work and struggle, I offered a few adjustments to  that helped  him swim better. I believe Jesus stood on the shore not because He couldn’t walk on water and save the day but because he wanted to teach the disciples that abundant possibility was still available in a dry place if they refined their efforts and kept working. Jesus had done His work, it was their time to not only remain diligent but also maintain an open ear to divine instruction.

Are you still listening or have you given up? You can still win where you are!

Breakfast Part 1

#breakfast

A few weeks ago I attended a conference for youth leaders. I was amazed at the music, the graffiti, and the excitement of every individual that was there. Each session was filled with contemporary worship and dynamic teaching that challenged and inspired everyone in the room. 

One particular day, a poet walked on stage and commanded the crowd. With the backdrop of a full band that bounced colorful worship music off the walls of a packed auditorium, the poet stood still and spoke.

This simple yet powerful man spun words into sentences that tickled the ears and excited the conscious. Yet, there was a particular phrase that caught my attention and inspired this message.

With deep bravado, the poet held the mic closely and said, “When you increase your NETWORK, it will make your NETWORK, which will enhance your NETWORTH.

It rang loud and powerfully in my ear like the release of an air horn from a parent at their child’s high school graduation.

This is a message in three parts with a single theme of trusting God always.

Part 1

John 21:1-3

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.[a] This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

Jesus endured an unfair trial, died on a cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and got up from the grave three days later. Yet, it was an additional 40 days before Jesus’ ultimate ascent. 

It was in those 40 days that Jesus made some incredible appearances. The Gospel of John tells of a time when the disciples were distraught over Jesus’ death and despondent over their next move. For three years they walked with Jesus witnessing miracles and loving the lost. Then their leader dies. The disciples disappear into their own seemingly unconquerable maze. The bible says that the disciples broke from their norm of ministry and within their own brokenness, went fishing.

What do you do when you experience a break in your plan? Where do you go when you don’t know where to go?

I met a kid who earned a full scholarship to play football. His tuition, his room and board - everything was covered. All he had to do was play ball when the season started.  In my head, he had arrived and could coast until the school year. Nevertheless, after the season ended and the scholarship papers were signed, he continued to put work in work at the gym. He told me about another guy who received a similar scholarship to a different school. The difference was that his friend took a break as soon as the season was on break. Eventually his friend decided he needed to get ready for college football a short time before for his first college practice. His pre-college workouts were tough, he was sick, and every experience left him sore and uncomfortable. 

Then, a thought hit me. Champions are made in the off season.

What we do when things are great is important however it is what we do and who we are in the lean/off season that will sustain and support us. 

The disciples didn’t go fishing to hide from their problems, they went fishing to stay active until Jesus shared His next move. Jesus loves a moving target and in order for our faith to be fulfilled we must work. I like to put it this way, “When opportunity knocks, it is our responsibility to open the door.” Dreams are great for sleep but the successful ones actualize their dreams by continuously working on them.

Here is the close for part 1. Set backs should not dictate your faith. In your area of uncertainty, the best thing to do is get busy. Occupy your actions with efforts that push you toward your goals. It is a theory I call, “habitual effort.” Practice success. Look for a way to win or learn despite the score board. Your time is coming - will you be ready?