Great is thy faithfulness

We’ll we’ve been on the road for the past week and a half.

Went from Wilmington to Charlotte where we got snowed in for a day.

Headed to Brimingham and got a much needed hotel for the kids to swim and refresh.

Made it to Mississippi but the transmission on our “dependable” car started giving us trouble.  Transmission guy said it would be from $1,200, – $2,700.   “Whew, I thought it was going to be expensive!”    Anyways, we’re praying it makes it home.

Also been praying against what seems like the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome.  Can’t lift a coffee pot with my right hand.  It didn’t stop me from leading worship last night and had a great time!  It was funny that my hand and wrist didn’t hurt at all during the whole service.  God is good.

While it can seem that circumstances can be overwhelming; I’m coming to see that without circumstances to overcome we couldn’t be overwhelmed by God’s grace (unmerited favor).   God grace is truly enough.  Enter into it today.  His word says that His mer ies are new every morning.  “Great is thy faithfulness”

Let’s start thanking and praising God propheticly for what His word says He’ll do.

Its easy to question His faithfulness despite His faithful track record.  In these times I’m pretty jacked that I’ve started a journal of the times that trials we’re staring and God’s goodness came.   TESTIMONY.   Stories of God’s faithfulness stir up our faith as well as the faith of others.   Time to start reminding ourselves of God’s past victories in our lives.    He is a God who comes to our rescue.

The New Year

Well this new year certainly has had a bit of change in store.

As of 3 weeks ago I resigned from Lifepoint Church as I feel like God had been stirring up change for the past few months.  It has been a privilege to serve and lead at Lifepoint over the last 2 1/2 years.  It has been amazing to see God meet people where they’re at and give them new life and a fresh beginning.

I feel like God has closed one amazing chapter in life and is beginning another.  I’m excited and eager to see what doors God is opening in this new year.

I’m taking the next 2 weeks to travel, visiting friends, family and a few ministries.  It’s important in times of transition to clear your head and not approach things the way you’ve always done.  I want to be sure that I’m approaching God with open hands and an open heart for whatever his will my be.

I sure hope to continue living and doing life in Wilmington NC, but if God leads somewhere else I am open.  The best is yet to come.

Change & Providence

Change can be exciting, intimidating, overwhelming and a whole lot easier if your prepared for it.

Listening to God’s voice is the key to remaining in peace and joy.  The Bible says in His presence is fullness of joy.  Sounds like a great place to be.   The Bible also says “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”.     When seeking God’s will to be done there will be provision.  Learn how to listen to God’s prompting and potential storms will turn into opportunities.

Not that I’m a surfer but when I lived in FL. I surfed a bit.  Florida was so flat that you could really only surf when a storm was coming.  When everyone else was packing up and heading out, certain people  saw opportunity for waves and adventure.

Providence: divine guidance or care

As change is unavoidable in life it is comforting to know that God has His hand on your coming and going.  “go out with joy and be led forth in peace”

Knowing that God is for you and with you is all the assurance we need to walk confidently in our decisions and in our change.

in the hands of love mercy reigns..

“in the hands of love mercy reigns”  are some lyrics from a song I wrote yesterday.

I got a call from my friend Kevin who is out in California visiting his Aunt who is fighting a battle with cancer.   Our conversation was pretty sobering.  He said how his Aunt just wanted to wake up in the morning, come down the stairs and make breakfast for her 2 kids and husband.  The Dr. just gave her 2 days to a week to live.  She’s having a blood transfusion today.

Kevin has been making breakfast for the kids, driving them to school, chopping wood and changing oil in the cars and what not.  Just the things that still go on even in crisis.

Our conversation left me thinking about God and His ability to heal.  As a matter of fact I’ve prayed for my wife’s Aunt to be healed of cancer and it happened!  Amazing, but totally in the realm of God’s goodness and ability.

After our talk I picked up my guitar and began to wrestle some thoughts on the whole situation.  I tracked the song in one take in the restroom this morning on my computer and wanted to send it to Kevin’s Aunt.

(I’ll try and upload the MP3 later)

New/ Old Guitar

I was penny pinch’n for a Gibson J-45
Here’s a way better sounding guitar I found at a small vintage guitar shop in downtown Concord NC.

1973 Gibson J-40

Passion Jump Start

What do you do when you feel your passion is simmering?

Personally I believe if our passions are God’s plans then we can stir up our passion.  Here’s a few ways you can stir it.

1.) Get to the beach.   (or the park or somewhere that Gods creativity is displayed)  This will connect with the fact that we are created by God and have His creativity living inside us.

2.) Worship.  (remove distractions, and loose yourself in lifting God up.)

3.) Listen. (this should be the first thing we do but sometimes we need to slow it on down first)

The Main Thing (push through the noise)

Whats the main thing?  When you wake up, purpose, motivation, reward, fulfillment.

I’m finding when my heart is just to be in flow with Jesus, my day lines up with His will easier.  Sometimes a structured “Quiet Time” gets hijacked by kids gett’n up earlier, changin diapers, watching Elmo as apposed to playing Phil Wickham.

ALL IS NOT LOST…  What is better, having the elements that help propel relationship or focusing through the distractions.

Love cuts through the business where religion will come off the tracks.

Sometimes its cutting of the IPod in the car, (or motorcycle) and just tuning in to God’s heart beat.  How do yo do it?

I have no clue.  But it helps when you determine that your love and converstion with Jesus will push through the noise..

Don’t Forget…

Here’s a though that’s been bruing.  It seems like when trials come up, or even challenges I immediately look at my resources and ability to be a solution.  I look at “what I have as apposed to Who I have”.  (think thats a Jeff Kapusta quote?)

Don’t forget

1.) God is faithful.  He’s prooven it time and time again in your life.  Think back to the times He’s been right on time.

2.) God is trustworthy.  Don’t loose your faith in Him.  It’s easier to do than you think.

3.) The trial your currently in did not come as a supprise to God.  He has a solution.

4.) He knows whats next.  Just put one foot in front of the other.  Its ok.

5.) Without faith it’s impossible to please God.   Thats what we’re created to do… step out in faith.   That is true worship believe it or not.

Marinate… thats right

Marinate…  I think thats when you take a steak and put it in some special sauce or spice and let it chill.  or kinda like why the English don’t just pour hot water on the tea bag and pull it straight out.  You’ve gotta let it “steep” which is like marinating.

Anyways… Here’s the thought.  Some things take time to get best results from.  You’ve heard it said “Timimg is Everything”;

I sure have and I’ve also heard “patience is a virtue”.   Similar but not the same.

We have things that come up in life that we tend to rush through or cut corners to save time.  This is ok sometimes if it’s like cleaning the house.  I tend to straighten up the house as apposed to really cleaning the house. Similar but not the same.

What I’m finding is that it takes time to do things “Right”.  We all can do things, but to truly get something right takes time, effort, thought and patience.   This blog is just mostly for myself, if anyone reads it and can make sense of it that’s an added bonus.  I need strategy in my life, in my work and in my goals.  I get strategy from God, the same place I get inspiration.  Execution and attention to detail are where I need to hone in.      How do I get there???  Eliminate my tasks and stuff floating around in my brain.  It’s been called a “mind dump”.  Sometimes just putting the “To Do List” down on paper and leaving it.

Bottom line is that when God drops off some new inspiration or vision into your life that’s bigger than you are, take some time to make sure it’s done as you dreamed it.

Am I getting old?

Dag, I just realized that my favorite era of music is from the 90’s and that makes me old.  Stink.

Well here’s the facts.  I’ve got 2 frick’n awesome kids.  Eli is 2 1/2 and was singing into my exhaust pipes yesterday.  Aubrey is a month old and as precious as could be.  Sarah, my wife is amazing.  She’s beautiful in every way. Takes amazing care of me, the kids and the house.  Most importantly she loves Jesus and follows Him first.  Her integrity is straigh out of Pro 31.  (Thank You Jesus)

We’ve been married 7 years in July!  I started college 10 years ago!  I’ve got a “Cruiser” motorcycle and just bypassed the Sport Bike phase.  Actually if this is what getting old is all about than I’m not gonna fight it.

Life is better than ever.  It’s more challenging than ever but also more rewarding than ever.   The stakes are high but the rewards are higher.   I’m stoked to say I feel like I have a clear picture of what God’s doing in my life and where He wants it to go.

Here’s a little exerpt that lit me up yesterday morning.  It’s from my Monday devotional from the Christian Surfers Association.  Even though I’m still a poser at surfing they still send me the newsletter and I’ve got the T-Shirt.

Anyways, here’s the quote:  “God’s will is what you would want if you knew what God knew.”

Dag, God really wants the best for me!  As in, what I’d find most enjoyable and most fulfilling.

Prime example of God’s love.  On my Birthday last week I was given a Harley Davidson Road Glide.

Holy crap, I don’t deserve it.  Even if I made $100,000 a year I’m way too much of a cheap skate to buy one.  God knows whats best and will go out of His way to show you His AGAPE love.

It’s always God’s goodness (or kindness) that leads us to repentance.  It’s not God’s judgment that makes us long to be close to Him and please Him.  It’s that Crazy love He shows us that we don’t deserve that we live our lives to please Him.