Saturday, March 7, 2009

Trusting God in Tough Times, Part 2

Trust God to fight your battles!!!!

I am not going to post the entire passage of scripture, but please read 2 Chronicles 20. This is the story where the nation of Israel is facing a pretty difficult battle. They are going to be going up against 3 other armies at one time. (First of all, it always seems we have to fight more than one thing at a time, doesn't it?)

The Lord spoke that the battle they were getting ready to fight was not their battle but His. Furthermore, they are instructed to STAND STILL! Can you imagine that? We all want to defend ourselves. Stand Still! You have got be kidding me! They were told that if they stood still that they would see the salvation of the Lord take place right before their eyes.

King Jehosaphat obeyed the Lord and then had the Praise Singers to lead the army of Israel the next day. They begin to sing "the mercies of the Lord endures forever". When the singing begin and the praise team, choir, and band struck the chord, great confusion overtook the armies and they destroyed each other.

What can be learned:

1) Listen to God
2) Stand Still and let God fight for you
3) Praise God anyhow!!!!
4) Rejoice in the Lord
5) Live in His victory

DREAM BIG, GOD WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Trusting God in Tough Times, Part 1

Trust God to be on your side!

Psalms 118:


What a thought that is to know that God is on our side. David mentioned in the Psalms about how God was before him, beside him, above him. Can you wrap your mind around that? How encouraging that is to know that no matter where I am or what I am going through, He has my back. That excites me.

So, when you have to cry, He is there. When you are afraid, He is there. When uncertainty is all around, He is there. When you want to quit, He is there. When you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, He is there. When you want to run away, He is there. When you want to crawl in a whole and be left alone, He is there. Isn't that awesome to know?

If you have trusted God with your life, then you have true promise of God keeping you and helping you through the tough times. If you have tried to do it your way and without God, then today is the day to bring Jesus to your side. All you have to do is pray, Jesus, forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart. That is it.

If you prayed that, then He is instantly at your side because you have invited Him to be.

DREAM BIG, GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE!!!!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Trusting God in Tough Times, Intro

Over the next few days, I am going to be sharing on the above topic.

We are living in tough times. We turn on the news or read it in the paper or on the internet and everything is dismal. Economy is in the tank and it is getting worse, many are losing jobs, many are having their jobs shut down for a few weeks at a time. It is definitely tough times.

Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord and lean not in your own understanding"

The key word is TRUST. That is difficult to do for some. Society says to trust no one. God says to trust Me. God gave a word to Jeremiah the prophet in Jer. 29:11 that states that God knows the plans that He has for us and that they are awesome and prosperous. Why would we not want to trust Him? I believe our answer is that we can't see Him or touch Him with our senses. However, we need to know that He is all around us. He is waiting for us to call on Him.

The Bible says that if we ask, it will be given to us according to His will. The Bible also says in Philippians that He will supply all our needs according to His riches. And man, does He have some riches!

I am going to be sharing in the coming days, the following:

1) Trusting God to be on our side
2) Trusting God to fight our battles
3) Trusting God to meet our needs.

I encourage you to say this little pray each day, especially if you are in a tough spot in life:

Heavenly Father, help me to trust You with my life today!

DREAM BIG IN TOUGH TIMES!!!!

Monday, February 16, 2009

My Valentine's



I know that God loves me. But, I believe He really likes me too. Why else would He allow me to share my life with such a wonderful woman? He has to like me.

On Friday and Saturday, Nancy and I had the opportunity to spend some time alone just being about us. I love everyone that is in my life, but none like her. Just a few things about our time away...

- the Turtle Cay was a nice place (a little noisey outside though)
- Rockefellars at Rudee's Inlet was nice
- our evening was wonderful (that is all the details you get)
- we even did a Timeshare thing (hey, it was $100 and Nancy was for it also)
- lunch at a nice pizza parlor down on the oceanfront
- movies and a little shopping
- dinner was Chick-Fil-A in the car outside of Walmart

You see, the best part is just being together. For whatever reason, many people may not get to spend that kind of quality time together. As a result, we get another date in the near future on the oceanfront (because, come to find out, that is the only place to spend the money).

Anyway, thank you Nance for a wonderful weekend and more importantly 11 years. I love you and may God grant us favor to have the best year yet, this year.

Friday, February 13, 2009

When God Revealed Her

Tomorrow, Nancy and I will be celebrating 11 years of marriage. Where has the time gone. I am thankful for every step that we have made. We have two wonderful children, we have owned two homes (not at the same time), we have wonderful in-laws, we both love God first and foremost, and the list could go on. So, with that in mind, I wanted to share our story from my perspective.

First of all, even from a young age, I always imagined a family, beautiful wife. Sometimes, I really struggled with the fact that I was ready for all that to happen, but it wasn't. But, I am so thankful to God that at the beginning of my life, he knew that a few short years later, he would create my soulmate. I was always told by folks that "You will know". I really didn't believe that....but it IS true.

The Reveal

In February 1997, I was chaperoning a group of teenagers to Premier Winterfest in Lancaster, PA. On this particular afternoon, our group decided to have lunch at Bob Evans. When I was seated with some from our group, my attention was immediately caught by this cutie sitting at a table nearby. I didn't think too much about, because I figured with my luck that she was a teenager from Maine or something like that. However, upon check out, I ran into Candie Taylor, whose husband Rob, was a great influence in my teenage years, primarily through youth camps. As we were checking out, I noticed that the "cutie" was with Candie's group. I didn't ask anything then, but I wanted to. I also knew that her church was only about 45 minutes from me.

The Information Gathering

That evening prior to one of the events, I had one mission, find Candie. I had to know first, how old she was. It mattered because this was a teenager event and I wasn't a teenager. Nonetheless, upon on finding Candie, I was pleasantly surprised that the "cutie" was not a teenager. Suddenly, I forgot what I had come there for, to help watch teens. My mission changed. It was now about me finding out more about her.

The "Stalk"

That's right....what was I supposed to do? I was too much of a wimp to approach her, so I followed her in particular from one of the sessions. I just had to look at her. I wasn't going to harm her....but I had to look at her. I really didn't count on her having any interest in me. Also, upon the conclusion of the conference, I was waiting on our charter bus and saw her getting ready to leave, so I made a point that I needed to get off the bus and find someone that I acted like I knew. (Also, I felt sorry for her....I was in a nice big charter bus....she was getting packed into a little grey car....it really looked like sardines packed in a grey can....all they would have to do was peeled back the top....)

The Phone Call

That week, I had finally gotten her phone number....but there was something wrong....I didn't know what to do with it. I had never actually called someone that I had never met or spoke to to go out on a date. Candie assured me that she would say yes....and she did. February 15th, 1997 we were scheduled for a first date.

The First Date

I remember driving "all the way" to Franklin to take her "all the way" back to Chesapeake. We were both scared to death. She tried to get in a truck at her house that did not belong to me, then I couldn't get my key to turn in the ignition. I literally felt as if I was going to throw up. We did manage to get on our way. We were off to Olive Garden. I can remember how self concious she was in eating spaghetti. I can take you almost to that table. We went to a movie and honestly, I don't remember what it was. (I think we went to a movie) I honestly was just mesmerized with this girl. And even the fact that she would go anywhere with me.

It Never Stopped

I immediately knew that she was going to have to run me off before I would ever leave her alone. I was quickly thinking that she was the "one" that I would know was supposed to be my wife. She became what I thought of every second of the day. I actually begin begging God that she was "the one". I am not joking. I begged him.

In May of the year at her twin sisters wedding, I saw Nancy walk down the aisle, and I leaned over to Candie and told her, "I will marry that girl". I already had the date picked out, because it was on a Saturday, February 14, 1998. In July, I finally got the nerve to ask her to marry me. (I had never had done that before, you know). Again, I was ready to throw up....in a good way. I pretty much failed on the Romantic part of asking her to marry me (the park on Clay Street in Franklin). I just had to get it done. (I would have probably asked her at a trash dump if that was where we were.)

February 14th, 1998

Only 364 days from our first date, I was getting ready to realize a dream that I had always had. Other than my Savior saving me, this was the greatest blessing in my life. That special day was somewhat of a "blur". The nerves, the people, so much going on. But I cherish everyday that I am allowed to share with the most beautiful woman in the world. I often say that she really got the short end of the deal. If she did or she didn't, I know that I have blessed much more than I ever deserved.

I Love You

Nancy thank you for a wonderful 11 years (really 12). Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for two beautiful children. Thank you for always standing by me. YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I rejoice in our past years together, but I look forward with great anticipation of what is ahead of us. DREAM BIG!!!!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Gathering Your Sacrifice

This past Sunday, my friend, Paul Hollifield shared an awesome message on Loving God through Worship. One of the things that stood out to me was about "bringing a sacrifice of praise".

You see, before you can bring a sacrifice, you have to gather one. So, to bring a sacrifice of praise on Sunday, we must be about gathering that sacrifice throughout the week. How do you that?

- worship when only He is looking
- loving your spouse
- loving your kids
- going the extra mile at work
- opening the door
- putting the grocery cart in the proper place
- smiling when you shouldn't

That is only a few ways. I want to be about gathering my sacrifice. I hope you do the same.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

My Weekend!!!

First of all, I am making a commitment to keep my blog up to date, promise! (At least every other day)

What a weekend! Before I tell you about it, I seem to do much more during the weekend than during the week, however, it is done in two days instead of five days. But, guess what? I LOVE IT!!!

The Throne Zone

Nancy, Caleb, Gracie, and I attended this awesome worship conference in Va. Beach with some of the wonderful folks of GB West. You can see pictures at Nancy's blog. It was a great time of worship with Eddie James and Lindell Cooley. It was the first time of seeing Eddie James ministry and really the first time I have seen Lindell Cooley as a preacher. Great stuff!!!!

I really appreciate Keith and Michelle Duncan for their vision that they live through the Throne Zone and His Call Ministries. That is what life is about, living out God's purpose for our lives.

GB West Leadership Retreat

On Saturday, we had our very first Leadership Retreat. What a time in the Lord! As I often say, I am truly blessed to be able to serve with such an awesome group of passionate leaders. They are passionate about God, about Great Bridge West, and about their areas of responsibilities. Our time was truly a time to "Come Together".

Sunday @ GB West

Again, thank you Jesus for showing up! What is the point if He doesn't? There isn't. I truly want to thank Paul and Annie Hollifield and their ministry today. I have known each of them for many years, but this is the first time I have heard Paul speak and did he ever. You will have to go to our website (http://www.greatbridgewest.com/) to hear this message on Loving God through Worship. I am not going to get into this tonight about the message, but I will say that God spoke to me if not anyone else. It was truly a revelation Word. I will be sharing more about what I got out of it during this week.

Anyway, that was my weekend. So, keep checking, if you want to read more about Sunday.

Be blessed and DREAM BIG!!!!