I'm Proud of You

To give what you have is good, but to give what you haven't received is even better. If you were never encouraged growing up, then I believe you should be encouraging everyone that's in your path. If you've never felt love growing up, then I believe you should show some love to someone in need. We can beat the enemy by being practical. This is how we overcome evil with good. This is how we overcome the sins of our fathers and fathers' fathers. This is bondage breaking teaching. There is a blessing inside of you. Would you be that blessing for someone else? Somebody say AMEN! There is a reason you have lived the life you have been given. You have been dealt a specific hand of life for a very important reason. Reach out! Tell somebody you love'em! Tell your kids and your neighbors' kids how proud you are of them. It won't take anything away from you. There is a miracle inside of you.  Are you willing to be that miracle for someone like you? 

A Heart Filled with Heaven

Although our hearts are heavy with loss, we can rest and learn from a man whose heart was filled with heaven. A peculiar sort, an adventurous man. A type to jump off a mountain and fly in the wind. A sincere smile he carried with him. On the drums he would praise the Lord, he had rhythm. A faithful and true husband, a loving dad, he was the brother I wish I had. The time he spent with me was quality time, it meant the world to me. He loved his mama. He loved his dad.  He loved his wife and daughters, brother and sisters. He loved his family. He loved you.  Most importantly he loved Jesus Christ. A heart that longed for the only place with no pain and peace... an eternal home. Behind the veil he would eventually go. Maybe too soon, or was it right on time? Only God knows. I will miss him, but I will never forget him. My uncle Craig had a heart filled with heaven. 

VOTE, God's will be done?

I have faced many crossroads in my short life of 33 years, but I always will remember this one time...

I was in a place of uncertainty, but I felt so certain.  I was only willing to accept what I wanted over what I truly needed.  I remember asking my mom "what should i do?"  She looked at me and said "pray for God's will to be done."  I replied "well, what if I don't want God's will?"  She answered, "You ALWAYS want God's will to be done."

She was right.

I was willing to do wrong in hopes of one day to be doing right.  It wasn't about WHAT I wanted, but what I was willing to do to get it.  The end didn't justify the means.

So, whenever I feel I have a need that hasn't been met, I remind myself of a man I saw walking down the street wearing only 1 shoe.  I yelled out "hey man, you lost your shoe!"  He quickly replied, "no, I didn't. . . I found one!"  

God's will is perfect. It won't always be what you want, but it will always be what you need.

Beware Social Media Encourager

The only relationship that can be maintained without a physical presence is the spiritual relationship we can have with Jesus Christ. Technology has allowed us to communicate more easily but less effectively. How effective is a text response to a hurting soul that has lost a family member? How courageous is an inbox message asking that "special" someone out on a date? I believe some things need a voice and most things need your presence. Showing up in silence would mean more than a thousand words posted. It's all a matter of authenticity. It's about sincerity. Even social media has shaped us to believe that no one cares unless you get multiple likes and comments on your pictures and statuses. We have been fooled to be defined by how much or how little attention we get from the platform social media has so generously provided. 

If we'll just step back from the screen, we'll be able to see how social media has shaped and warped our relationships. We even hide behind our whiteout screens and peek into the lives of those who are simultaneously peeking into OUR lives to see what faults they can find. It waters down everything good and AMPLIFIES that which is bad. True encouragement is lost in the feed, while scandal ignites like wild fire and burns those that is in its path. Encourage and be encouraged. Text, IM, inbox, tweet, instagram and even post on my wall, but don't be limited to these when it's time to get real.  



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Hashtag Winning

It is impossible to roll back the hands of time. Choices are made... some bad, some good. The outcome is being lived out in the here and now. I'm sure some of our choices in life were God's perfect will, and others have fallen under His permissive will. By God permitting me to venture outside His perfect will, and never leave me, is mind boggling. Not to say there's an imperfect will, but knowing His mercy endures forever is very inhuman. 

Just because we have made some not-so-wise decisions in the past, doesn't mean we have to walk with a dark cloud over our heads. What a forgiving and merciful God we serve. God doesn't have to take my life, He could just stop giving it to me. Of course we should aim for the bulls eye of His perfect will, but most importantly know the truth that you can't go wrong with Jesus Christ.  #Winning!!

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Toot Toot

If we played a highlight reel of all the good deeds we have done, they would still be as filthy rags before God. It may get you a high water mark of Facebook likes, or maybe even some record holding retweet status. I'm sure in all of our horn tooting, we would receive loads of praise, but our hearts would have none. There's a difference between testifying of God's goodness and glorifying of our works.  The Scripture says this:

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  Matthew 6:1

So, whether you are giving money, time, or encouragement, make sure you give praise to the One it's ALL about.  Let us not boast about what we have given, but what we have received.

The old life is gone, a new life begins. A fresh start is created new.


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