in the hands of love mercy reigns.. November 5, 2009

“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 July 7, 2009

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 June 30, 2009

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) June 15, 2009

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… June 9, 2009

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 May 19, 2009

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? May 19, 2009

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.

Crazy Love May 18, 2009

Well here’s some Crazy Love I was shown on my 28′th B-Day.

Don’t know what to say.  What a blessing.

Complete… May 14, 2009

(James 1)

“Consider it great joy when you face trials of any many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I don’t know about you but I like the idea of being complete and lacking nothing.  Dag, that’s life to the fullest!  Sign me up.

It’s not the trial itself thats a great joy.  Fact is, in the natural I hate trials.  It’s what the trial produces.    If we look through our own eyes we can face trials and become angry, bitter and fearful.  If we look through God’s eyes we see the opportunity for faith.

I do not have this figured out by any stretch but I’m going to try and see through God’s eyes on this.

Cool stuff from yesterday… May 11, 2009

Here we go.  Yesterday was cool for me for this reason.   My father in law came with his girlfriend and her daughter.  Emily; the daughter, said she would move here to be apart of a church like this.

Man, thats so good to hear.  We do church like we do so the unchurched feel like we thought of them in our enviornment and service flow.  It means the world to me when family come and see what God’s doing here and can get it.

Thank you God for life change.      LOVE   God-Others-World