Presence vs. Presents

Have you ever been to the beach? Have you ever seen the ocean? Have you stood waste deep in the seemingly endless waters of the ocean?

Water is an incredibly mysterious force of nature. I can swim in it. I can dive into it. I can walk in it, but not on it. I can splash it around. I can even drink it. I can freeze it. I can evaporate it. I can barely hold it in my hand. YET, if I hit it at a high enough velocity, it would be like crashing into a brick wall. It wears away rock, creating valleys and canyons. It destroys entire cities and islands. There’s nothing like it.

If you have spent time in ocean waters chances are you’ve also probably experienced the not so gentle force of the ocean’s waves. There are small waves you hardly notice. Then there are waves that topple ocean liners. As a child swimming in the ocean waters of Mazatlán I found myself toppling head over heels under water, eating a great deal of sand in the process, struggling to resurface, as the result of being overwhelmed by a LARGE wave. I was helpless. The waters were unpredictable. There’s no telling which way a wave will travel or how big it’ll get or how strong the current will be that pulls you under it.

THERE’S NO CONSISTENCY.

I was reminded this morning while reading, while reading James, that I too (and you as well) can be like these ocean waters. We can be unpredictable. We can be simultaneously pushed and pulled in different directions. Our hearts can be divided. Our minds preoccupied. Our bodies weary. Here’s what James says…

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:5-8 NLT

#1 Do not WAVER – Be SURE of where your faith is, where your heart is, where your mind is.

#2 Division equals INSTABILITY – If your, if my, if our faith is divided there’s no stability, there’s no consistency. You’re torn, broken, fractured. Let’s not even get started on division within the church.

#3 Waves are controlled by an OUTSIDE force – Who or what is speaking into your life at the moment? Where are you choosing to find truth? Are you being tossed around by the wind? Are you being led by the enemy?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be like the water that causes destruction, the water that pulls you under and makes you fear for your life, the water that feels as if I’ve crashed into a brick wall. I want to be like the water that GIVES LIFE! To be this water, to be like Jesus (living water), I’ve gotta make sure my focus is on the cross and the freedom I’ve experienced as the result of HIS SACRIFICE.

This year for Christmas focus on His PRESENCE and not my presents.

Your Time is Valuable, Our Time Together is Optimal

One of the highlights of my week is brief 20-30 minute visit to a local school simply to read. I’m surrounded by about fifteen children, all around the age of 5, and allowed to share a story with them. They join me as we travel through lands where WILD THINGS roam and CATEPILLARS eat everything in sight and SANTA nearly wakes up the children. They ask questions and offer their thoughts, sometimes unsolicited…mostly unsolicited, but it’s awesome nonetheless. For 30 minutes I’m allowed to speak into the lives of the future. Now, I know, it’s a world of fantasy and make-believe, I’m not communicating biblical truths and trying to introduce them to Jesus…we simply share some time with each other.

They willingly give me their time.

They eagerly give me their attention.

They allow me to share a moment in their lives.

Getting around children is probably some of the BEST medicine I can get in this world. I LOVE the absolute raw honesty of a child. They aren’t held by the possibility of offending. They don’t comprehend the concept of inappropriate.

When they laugh, it’s because something is funny.

When they cry, it’s because their feelings are hurt.

When they hug, it’s because they LOVE you.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul speaks a good bit on the subject of love. Here’s some of what he had to say:

Love is patient.

Love is kind.

Love is not jealous.

Love is not boastful.

Love is not proud.

Love is not rude.

Love does not demand its own way.

Love is not irritable.

Love keeps no record of being wronged.

Love does not rejoice about injustice.

Love rejoices whenever truth wins out.

Love never gives up.

Love never loses faith.

Love is always hopeful.

Love endures through every circumstance.

Love will last forever.

Love is the greatest of these.

30 minutes out of my week is set aside to be love to those who may not FEEL loved. For 30 minutes out of my week I’m able to connect with the very people whom Jesus said my faith should model: children.

God give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that is open to what these children are to TEACH ME.

How are you spending your time this week?

6 Things I Want To Share With You

Here are 6 things I want to share with you today:

1. The veil’s been torn, you can ROLL RIGHT IN. See Hebrews 10:19-20. I don’t think we understand just how GOOD we have it! I have three kids. I will do just about ANYTHING to ensure they get to have and experience the VERY BEST! I don’t care what it is, I’ll fight for it. This is what God did for us the moment He put on an earth suit and lived among us. He forever changed the course of history. Freaking calendars are based on his presence here on earth, HELLO! When Jesus died on the cross the veil was torn. The barrier, the obstacle that separated us from the presence of God, that kept us out of the holy of holies (Scripture or Pulp Fiction…hmmm?), was made obsolete. Because of God’s gift, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now go straight to the man. It’s the same as if we could simply roll into the White House to see the president or any Fortune 500 company to see the CEO…only is exponentially BETTER!

2. The stain of Christ’s blood is one you can’t wash out…it washes YOU. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a blood stain, but they are one tough mess to clean up. Living in West Virginia these past few years I’ve seen my share of mangled deer spread across the roads. It’s gross. It’s disgusting. The stain remains for days, weeks, months. I’d mention the smell, but I’m failing to find a connection. Here’s the thing, our sin, the very nature of our being, is messier, more disgusting, and IMPOSSIBLE to clean out…on our own. Please read Hebrews 10:22. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross blots out the stain of our sin, replacing it with HIS MARK, his blood. His death, his sacrifice, was essential for our forgiveness. This is why in Christ we are made NEW.

3. Hold TIGHT. Life sucks sometimes. Seriously! Let’s name some of the things we are currently facing: joblessness, homelessness, abuse, addiction, cancer, AIDS, war, death. We ALL have a sob story to tell. We ALL have a struggle to share. We CANNOT allow the suckiness of life determine WHO we are and HOW we live. Read Hebrews 10:23. Where’s your trust today?

4. Nobody walks away from the Church, away from the Body of Christ, and grows CLOSER TO HIM. It’s possible to walk away from the Church, from your faith in Jesus, and have a decent life. You might make some money. You might get the stuff, the material possessions, you’ve always wanted. You might have kids that grow up and seem to do well. You might even have a marriage that appears to be healthy. In the end, what’s it all matter when you wake up in hell? Did you ever really know Jesus to begin with? I cannot answer this for you.

5. Community is ESSENTIAL. Read Hebrews 10:24-25. It’s when we step away, it’s when we try to simply live life by our own standards, it’s when we try and wrestle back control that we find ourselves simply doing the same ol’thing. Do you have someone that’s willing to not only encourage you, but speak truth into your life? A REAL friend doesn’t tell you what you want to hear, but what you NEED to hear.

6. Accountability is a NO-BRAINER. This brings us to the last and final thought today. Check out 2 Timothy 4:3, it’s good. Without community, accountability remains elusive. You find yourself drinking again, looking at pornography, sleeping with a co-worker, gossiping, beating your kids…and you JUSTIFY it! Who’s speaking into your life right now? Are you surrounded by enablers or friends? If you’re going to grow, if we as a church are going to grow and make a difference in this world, we’ve gotta invest in deep, meaningful relationships with one another.

A Word of Encouragement During This Christmas Season

Hey New Life! Christmas is just around the corner! As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Granted, that’s a rather broad statement to make. It sorta places us all in the same category. Makes us all out to be a people full of Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, this isn’t true for ALL of us. In fact, the holiday seasons can be rather difficult for some.

I have many fond memories of Christmas. I remember BIG Thanksgiving dinners. I remember playing board games. I remember opening presents. I remember the joy of eating with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents…the ENTIRE family. I also remember the first Thanksgiving and Christmas spent as little family cell groups, no longer gathering together, but divided because grandma died. I also remember receiving the news that my dad had died just weeks before Christmas.

Good.
Bad.
Life.

We are shaped by our experiences. Memories of the past guard our actions in the present and typically determine our future. We hesitate to trust. We shy away from opening our hearts. We pray for the seasons to pass quickly. We dare not stir up old memories. We dare not rekindle the pain. We refuse to let go. We wonder why nobody cares, why nobody calls…yet we isolate and dare not answer the phone.

This WAS me. I remember saying things like “I hate Christmas” or “I don’t care about the holidays.” I was cold. I had turned my back on any remote sense of joy or cheer. I allowed my past hurts to undermine any possibly of future happiness. I CHOSE to clothe myself in depression.

I had no hope.

Therein lays the key to the holidays: HOPE. I lacked any sense of hope. I was surrounded by family. I had the opportunity to experience all the joy of big meals and presents, but I chose to wallow in my hurts. It sucked! But here’s the deal, that all changed for me when I realized what the seasons were all about. When I realized what THANKSGIVING actually was! When I realized what CHRISTMAS was all about!

The memories that once brought darkness, depression, and tears now brought joy because I was reminded of the GOOD times and no longer focused on the pain of the bad. I learned to be THANKFUL for the time I had with my grandma, with my dad. I learned that true story of Christmas is a story of redemption and reconciliation. It’s about HOPE and LOVE. It’s about GRACE and MERCY.

I’ve learned to find joy.

Granted, I still struggle from time to time with the holidays. I still cry when I think about my grandma, my dad…even how little time I’m afforded to spend with my brother, my sister, my LIVING family. The difference now is that I don’t STAY there. I no longer dwell in the dark, but run to the light. I remember that I have EVERYTHING I could ever want or need in Jesus. I have PEACE.

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled
everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 NLT

If you struggle with the holiday seasons, if Thanksgiving and Christmas are merely triggers for painful memories, know that my prayer is that too will find PEACE.

Stop Scrambling for Control

Bah! New Life I am NOT one who likes, enjoys, or even remotely considers being sick as something I’d like to try. With that being said, “Thank you Jesus!” that I’m better. The past few days were difficult for me as I was very intentional about resting and medicating. I like to get up and go, to DO stuff. I have a tendency to run full speed ALL the time and this typically leads to my body breaking down, which includes my immune system, and I become ill. Instead of having this stretch out for a week or two…I’m better after TWO days!

God is good.

Do you read the Bible, do you engage in God’s word to actually HEAR from Him? Are you actually interested in what He has to say about your life? The way you are living? The things you keep doing? The way you manage your finances? Is there a desire within you to KNOW Him more?

I’d like to be able to write that I ALWAYS read to hear FROM Him, but sometimes I simply read out of habit or some sort of perceived obligation. If we’re honest I’m pretty sure most people would say the same. The crazy thing is that I KNOW He’s always got something new for me. He’s always got a blessing waiting for me. God knows we need guidance and direction…why else would He call us to meet with Him?

So, as I sat down this morning I was pumped to be feeling better, but also very intent upon hearing FROM God. After praying I opened his word to the book of Romans and started reading. Granted there’s a LOT of good stuff in the book of Romans, but what stood out the most, what seemed to leap from the page (or rather SCREEN of my iPhone; thanks YouVersion!) was Romans 8:28:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 NLT

Here’s the deal, you can read and read and read and read the same verse a million times in your life and it could mean something different each and every time. I was overwhelmed with a sense that God was saying, “See what happens when you let go and trust in Me?”

Something as simple as allowing my body to rest while sick, at least for me, is a BIG deal. I was determined to NOT control the situation, but allow God to do HIS THING. Is this you today?

What is going on in your life that you just need to release to His care and control? What is situation has you living in stress? What circumstance is holding you down? Who around you is being hurt as a result?

Stop trying to control it. You can’t. It’ll only get worse.
Allow God to intervene. He CAN. He’ll make it work for the GOOD.

STOP! Joy Is On The Way!

I’ve had such an AWESOME week! I’ve been afforded opportunity after opportunity to just be WITH people. Laugh. Cry. Hug. Encourage. Be encouraged. More laughing. More crying. I think my iPhone is currently looking for an open-share group to deal with some abandonment issues…

Ok. You ever have those moments, those days, those weeks, maybe even months or years when it seems like nothing goes right? It’s crazy right?!? I mean how much can REALLY go wrong? But for some reason it seems like snowball method, you at least SAID you intended to use to get out of debt, transferred to your life and all the small troubles have grown into MASSIVE ones!

What? Did you think you were immune to trouble? Did you think you were going to somehow escape tough times? Am I stupid? No. Well, at least I’m not ALL the time…I’ve learned recently that troubles are always somewhere in my life.

I’m either IN trouble, LEAVING trouble, or HEADING TOWARD trouble.
Here’s the deal. How will I, how will YOU, respond when these times of trouble surface and resurface? I know how I WANT to respond. I want to scream. I want to yell. I want to throw a fit (Yes, I totally understand the behavior of my little children now). I want to get all defensive. I want to fight. I want to CONTROL…

I’m not stupid; I just lack TRUST.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
James 1:2 NLT

God says to consider troubles an opportunity for great joy. Now THAT sounds stupid! There isn’t even a tiny fraction of my brain that says this verse makes ANY sense. My brain says consider troubles to be, well, trouble. Read a bit further…

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:3-4 NLT

It’s not about ME! I want to CONTROL. I want to MANIPULATE. I want to GUIDE and MOVE the pieces. I want to FIX. I’m pretty sure that I can list a multitude of “I want” statements here (much like a multitude of sins…just sayin’). I can try and try and try and try all I want, but the only thing I’m going to do is merely add to the mess. Because of me, it’ll actually INCREASE. That is not how I would define JOY.

No. Instead I must learn to trust in God and in God ALONE during these situations. The circumstances ALWAYS seem insurmountable when you’re stuck in the middle. The disciples freaked out on the boat because they realized they couldn’t control the storm. They were in the MIDDLE of what they perceived to be a life-threatening situation, a test. Job went through 41 chapters of test! When it was all said and done, all Jesus had to say was, “Where is your faith?”

So, what’s up?!? Are you going to keep trying to CONTROL the situation or are you going to HAND IT OVER? Are you going to remain STUCK in the situation or are you going to GROW?

Jesus is asking, “Where is your faith?”

How will you answer?

FOLLOW-UP: 12 Steps

No Turning Back

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Mark 8:34 NIV

What does it mean to FOLLOW Jesus? This is a question that has been plaguing me for a few weeks now. Can we ever truly know what it means? Are we to DO the things he did? Are we to SAY the things he said? Is following him synonymous with being LIKE him? OR is it a continual process of renewing and refreshing, revealing his ways and his will? Is it a process of listening to his word and obeying his direction?

All these questions, my desire to KNOW, has been the driving force behind studying, planning, and preparing for December’s First Wednesday (Wednesday, December 7 at 6:30pm).

He’s called me to follow him…he’s called you. I want to FOLLOW him. I want to KNOW him. Do you? Let’s light up this city, this county, this state.

Be there. Be here.

There’s no turning back.

4 Things I Want To Share With You

Here are 4 things I want to share with you today:

1. God wants you to SEE His miracles. The master of the feast had no clue where the BEST wine came from. He shared in the blessing, but missed out on the MIRACLE. The servants, on the other hand, saw the miracle and shared in the blessing because they worked directly WITH Jesus. (John 2:6-10).

2. God wants to work THROUGH you. As His people, as His church, we are commissioned to work for Him, alongside Him, and He through us. We do this through SERVING. The Bible is filled with a ridiculous amount of God’s miraculous signs and wonders AND each one typically appeared as the result of our obedience to FOLLOW His direction and He working through our actions. Moses stretched his hand out over the sea….God parted it (Exodus 14:1-31). Joshua and the children of Israel marched around Jericho, blew trumpets, and shouted…God brought the walls down (Joshua 6:1-27). The servants filled the jars with water…Jesus turned it into wine (John 2:5-9). Peter preached…God saved 3,000 people (Acts 2:14-47). You are no different! There’s a miracle on the horizon! You act, God will show up!

3. The BEST is YET TO COME! I spent numerous years of my life chasing after illusions of grandeur…lies depicting what I THOUGHT would bring happiness and joy. It wasn’t until I surrendered my life, surrendered my heart, surrendered my everything to Jesus (who, just in case you were wondering gave HIS ALL!) that I realized I already had everything I needed IN Christ! I could stop running, stop chasing after stuff, and simply stand and meet with my Savior face to face. Since that time he has blessed me in MORE WAYS THAN I CAN COUNT! I thought I spoil my kids!?! He saves the BEST FOR LAST. He did it for Job and He’ll do it for you, for me, for all of us He calls sons and daughters (Job 42:12; John 2:10).

4. You CAN'T, God CAN! God loves you. He's here for you. He's BIGGER and GREATER than whatever circumstance or situation you're facing right now. Stop TRYING and start TRUSTING!

I Want To Follow Jesus

New Life, I can’t…I don’t know where to begin or even HOW to express how freakin’ EXCITED I am about our upcoming First Wednesday (December 7th, 6:30pm). It’s partly selfish: I’m teaching. It’s partly others-focused: it’s for you, for me, for us. Most importantly, it’s ENTIRELY JESUS!

I’m going to be tackling the topic of what it means to follow Jesus. We say that we’re FOLLOWERS of Christ, but what the heck does that mean? Can you explain it to me? Can you put it into words? Is it more than just a feeling? Is it more than raising a hand or checking a box? Is it more than making your parents happy? Is it more than a family tradition?

I’m going to be covering a LOT of Bible—so bring one if you got one. I’ll be sure there are some on hand. Listen, it’s not about what I think or I say…it’s ALL ABOUT JESUS!

Here’s the deal. Grab your friends. Grab your family. Grab your neighbors. Grab your co-workers. Grab EVERY stinkin’ person you know and bring them with you. I’m expecting God to radically change the face of New Life. I’m expecting God to shake the very ground. I’m anticipating life change, or rather, life to be FOUND in obedience to Jesus.

If you’ve ever questioned WHAT it means to FOLLOW Jesus, WHO Jesus IS, WHY we get BAPTIZED, or HOW to do it…be there. Show up with a desire to learn, a desire to know him, a willingness to hear him.

I’m going to offend some people and I KNOW this is true because I’m getting offended in my prayer and study. I’m tired of settling for table scraps when I’ve got a lifetime pass to ___________ (insert your favorite place to eat).

What’s up New Life? Don’t just say, “I’ll pray about who to invite” or “I’ll pray about whether or not to attend”…how about the next time you’re at Outback and you start choking on your steak, I pray whether or not the give you medical assistance...ACT!

Let’s fill this place up. Let’s make a difference.

FOLLOW-UP: Give

I Once Was Blind, Right?

Ever get the sense that we, as church people, are critical at times? Think about it. It’s sad to say, but we expect the unchurched to act like they know Jesus, BUT who’s pointing the finger at us? We want the world to conform to the church, yet we don’t even act or live like we know Christ. That’s INSANE!

Quite frankly, I’m learning that it’s pretty stupid to set expectations on so-called followers of Christ, let alone the L-O-S-T. This includes ME! I’m incredibly hard on myself. I see my faults. I see my failures. I see needed improvements…

So blind…

I use the word ‘blind’ because I don’t see ALL that God is DOING in and around me. I ignore the good, the blessings, the favor, and focus on what’s NOT. NOT here. NOT happening. NOT right. NOT now. NOT yet. I’m not like the blind man healed by Jesus. More often than not, I tend to be like the Pharisees OR, better yet, I’m like the guy that gouged his own eyes out and sits around crying that he’s blind.

And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see. Therefore your sin remains.
John 9:39-41 NKJV

Here’s what I’m trying to say, we spend entirely too much time pointing our fingers, gossiping, blaming, backbiting (I just like that phrase and WILL use it whenever the opportunity presents itself)…fighting. We claim to follow Christ. We profess faith in God’s word. We smile. But where’s the fruit? Aren’t you tired of swatting away the flies?

I struggle to live as a follower of Christ. It sucks to write this, but it’s true. BUT here’s the deal, I WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST! I’m LEARNING what it means. I’m GROWING. He's at work within me. He's opening my eyes. I don’t want to live blindly! I don’t want to miss out on His power, His promises, His presence. I don’t want to claim I SEE and have my sin remain. I want eyes that SEE. I want eyes that see His GLORY. I want eyes that see my SINS and a mouth that confesses them…I want FREEDOM! I don’t just want this for myself, but pray we, as a church, experience this TOGETHER.

Let’s clean up His house. Let’s get dirty, well actually, let’s get CLEAN! Let’s come together, united, as one, and pursue a lifestyle worthy of existing within the pages of Scripture. When Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin it was EVIDENT they had been WITH Jesus (Acts 4:13). What if our community saw this in the local church?

It’s time to stop criticizing others. It’s time to stop pointing out those specks and start removing those logs. Why can’t we SEE them? Blindness. It’s time for a paradigm shift—it’s time to change our perspective and actually WANT to change. It’s not easy. It sucks. But it’s the first step in seeing the surplus of POTENTIAL in the local church be UNLEASHED!

Are you ready? Are you willing? Are you in?

Believing That I Belong

What’s up New Life? Here are THREE things I wanted to share with you today:

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26 NLT

1. He loves you as HIS CHILD…in case you were wondering, that’s a love that will NEVER fail, NEVER give up, NEVER walk out on you. You are HIS! The crazy part is that it is UNCONDITIONAL! There’s no fear of abandonment or rejection. Talk about BEST intentions! He wants to see you succeed in EVERY endeavor, in EVERY aspect of your life! He wants to BLESS you! Because of your faith in Jesus, God looks down upon as His son, as His daughter. THAT’S encouraging!

2. Have FAITH in He who will NEVER fail…Scripture tells us that it is because of our FAITH, because we BELIEVE that God raised Jesus from the dead (coupled with confessing that he is Lord) that we are SAVED. Salvation is not the result of ANYTHING you DO. It’s not a matter of works. Salvation, your entryway into heaven, your ticket to an eternity in the presence of God, is based on your FAITH and faith ALONE! Life is gonna suck sometimes, but TRUST that God will help you see it through to the VERY END…and then BLESS you beyond your wildest imagination (if you don’t believe me, read the book of Job)!

3. It’s ALL ABOUT JESUS!...do I really need to say more? I don’t have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way He loves us (thank you, John Mark McMillan)! How can I possibly hold on to bitterness and resentment while covered by the shadow of a blood-stained cross? I just don’t have it in me; at least not anymore. I had to realize it wasn’t about me! It’s not about ME! IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! He didn’t tear the veil in two so it could blind us…he did it so we could experience FREEDOM!

Take my life take all that I am. With all that am I will love you.
Take my heart take all that I have. Jesus how I adore you.
Like An Avalanche:Hillsong United

Breaking Free From the Curse

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
Time 6:53 PF

Ok. I know. New Life, I can sorta guess what you’re thinking, “Why is Nick quoting lyrics from a Pink Floyd song?” This CAN be a touchy subject, but I think that’s only the case if you’re what people would consider uptight. You see, I serve the Creator of ALL things. He is the OWNER of all that I know. We are all merely STEWARDS of what He’s given us. We either use it for HIM or ourselves. And with this said, I believe there is music out there, I believe there are songs that have within them redeeming qualities. Resurrection. Anyways, enough chasing that one…

So, for whatever reason, well I believe the reason was God trying to speak to me; this song came to mind this morning. It just sorta popped in my head. For the first time I heard the lyrics; for up to this point I had only ever meditated on the music. If you’ve never listened to Pink Floyd before, they’re AWESOME. Their music tells a story. Their music paints a picture. But this morning was different. I heard the lyrics.

Think about it. These lyrics sum up about 90% of the stories I hear from people who are stuck in a season of discontent.

• I feel like I’m not doing ANYTHING of importance.
• All I do is WASTE time.
• I like it here because it’s COMFORTABLE.
• I’m WAITING for the right moment.
• I’m sick and tired of doing the SAME OL’THING.
• Where’d my life GO?

Seriously!?! Where DID my life go? What have I DONE with my life? If my life matters, when will I start living like I believe it? Have you been there before? Are you here now?

All I can tell you is this: put God first. Put God first in EVERY aspect of your life and just WATCH what He does! He’s going to bless your socks off! Until He is first, whatever you’re doing, whatever you’re struggling in, whatever IT is, it will be cursed. Like Pastor Brandan said yesterday, “If He ain’t first, it’s cursed.”

"Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?'
"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.
Malachi 3:8-9 NIV

If we don’t place God in His rightful place, if don’t worship Him FIRST, above ALL OTHER THINGS, we’ll never know what it means to be blessed. The good news is that this curse can be BROKEN. Put Him first.

Put God first and discover what is important.
Put God first and learn to manage your time.
Put God first and get uncomfortable—in other words…GROW.
Put God first and find out the right moment is right NOW.
Put God first and do His thing.
Put God first and realize you HAVE life.

So what’ll it be New Life? Your way or His way? Curse or freedom?

Put Him first.

I'm so grateful, BUT...

Ok. Thanksgiving has come and gone. The ONE day out of the year, yes, ONE day out of 365 that we finally look around at all we have, fighting the temptation to see all we DO NOT have, and give THANKS for food, shelter, and family. We eat. And we eat. And we eat some more. It’s a great day! There’s no arguing that. I love it. I’m a fan of food. I enjoy family. Yes, so back to this notion, this concept of thanksgiving or GRATITUDE.

Ever get around people that just can’t seem to find ANYTHING to ignite even a tiny spark of gratitude? These people feel as if the entire world is against them. These people are somehow always the victim of SOMETHING. Nothing goes their way. It’s just tragedy after tragedy after tragedy. Still not ringing a bell? Allow me to paint a picture on the canvas…

This person, should they fall down and scrape their knee, screams and cries because for SURE the world is ending. It hurt. There’s no denying that. There’s even a hint of red where blood might be trying to work its way through a barrier of skin. They want a band aid. A band aid would go a LONG way to help the situation. Knowing this, you run into the house, grab a band aid from the cabinet and run back outside like you’re passing a baton in the summer Olympics. WHAT!?! A HELLO KITTY BAND AID! What am I supposed to do with that? I’ll be FINE!

Sound familiar now?

Chances are YOU have scraped your knee.
Chances are YOU spit on the help because it wasn’t on your terms.
I have.

It’s tough to be grateful when everything must be on our terms, your terms, my terms. When we establish OUR terms we also set OUR expectations. When our expectations aren’t met, instead of being filled with gratitude or speaking words like thank you, we get angry and frustrated and go on the attack. We put on our Godzilla suit and run around stomping on cars and buildings.

We’re not alone. Check out this story from Mark. Jesus heals a dude and instead of being met with thanks, instead of the townspeople finding hope in a miracle…

The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
Mark 5:14-17 NLT

…they asked him to leave. Can you believe that? Here’s this crazy guy, you probably have one in your development, you probably have one in your family, you might even BE that person, but the crazy dude is healed. Think about it! They never had to worry about him running through the fields and hills, their backyards, their schools, whatever, wherever. Yet, they didn’t see this. They just saw the pigs. They saw dust.

Don’t miss out on God’s blessings. Don’t miss out on what He’s trying to do in your life simply because it doesn’t meet your expectations, because it’s not on your terms. Try words like thank you. Be consumed by gratitude. You can’t say Jesus is your EVERYTHING or that he has ALL OF YOU if you struggle to find gratitude. Something ELSE stands between you two. I know I’ve been there.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”
Mark 5:18-19 NLT

Again, it’s not up to us. He determines the path. He lights the way. The man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus had OTHER plans for him. The man didn’t respond by screaming and crying and cussing and fighting. He didn’t throw a fit. He OBEYED.

The question today is, are you still trying to do your OWN thing or are you surrendering to do HIS thing? Are you flipping him the bird or FOLLOWING his lead?

FOLLOW-UP: Write Your Testimony

What's it take to get you EXCITED?

New Life, I am so PUMPED for what God is doing IN me, THROUGH me, and AROUND me. I have actually reached a point in my life right now, my DAILY walk with Him, that I can FEEL Him near. I can’t tell you what’s changed in my life. I don’t think I’ve changed anything in my routine. I’m not sure what’s changed…

that is…

I have performed an extreme makeover, yes, one worthy of its own reality show, on my daily quiet time. I no longer wake up trying to juggle exercise, breakfast, school buses, signing papers, brushing hairs, putting on socks, etc. etc. etc. OH AND reading what little of God’s word I can sneak in amidst the commotion and chaos.

I pray.
I read.
I write (respond).

Granted I still prepare the kids’ breakfast. I still get clothes ready for school. I still ensure papers are signed and bags are put together. I still walk them to the bus stop and wave as the wheels on the bus go round and round. What’s changed? I set myself aside. I severed MY desires and now focus on those that matter the MOST: Jesus + my kids.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 NLT

I want to FOLLOW Jesus. Let me say that again, I want to FOLLOW Jesus. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines. I don’t want to be a bystander. I don’t want to be someone that catches a glimpse of his glory. I don’t want to be someone that WISHES they had done SOMETHING. I don’t want to become so preoccupied with what I want to do that I miss what He wants to do through me or BETTER YET, through my family. I get so dang EXCITED when I think about my family, my wife, my children. They could be the most AWESOME people I know!

So, if I want to follow Jesus, here’s what he said I gotta do:

1. TURN FROM my selfish ways
2. TAKE UP my cross

Two things! Two freakin’ things! The problem is that these are two of the HARDEST things to do in this world! GREAT to read about; stressful to implement. But here’s the deal, Jesus didn’t say it would be easy, he said we’d be persecuted. He said the world would hate me…because it hated him. Who wants that? Who wants persecution? All I know is that if Jesus said to do it, if Jesus said it would be the natural result of following HIM, then I’m all in. I’ll take it.

God help me find joy.

In the end I guess I do know what’s changed—I have. As I have decreased, he has had more and more room to increase. As I have set aside my selfish desires, he has had more room to make his known.

I guess the question today is what are you holding on to that’s holding you back? What do you continue doing that’s got you locked in bondage? You need to find freedom from something, don’t deny it, don’t brush it aside, don’t ignore it…

Today, will you turn away from your selfish ways?

I Will Pursue the One Who Pursues Me

What have I achieved? What have I done? What have I created? What can I claim as my own? Who am I and, in the grand scheme of things, amongst the seemingly endless pages of history, does my life matter? Have I made a difference? Will I make a difference?

These are GREAT questions to ask. I believe as husbands, as wives, as parents, as leaders, as pastors, as volunteers…as followers of Christ, we need to be willing to ask ourselves the DIFFICULT questions. We must be willing to critically evaluate every aspect of our lives. I must be willing to admit my FAULTS. I must be willing to acknowledge my WEAKNESSES. I must be willing to accept HELP.

You see, I AM the creator of something; that something just happens to be CRAP! Allow me to list a few synonyms for crap (in alphabetical order). Abandonment. Anxiety. Division. Doubt. Fear. Heartache. Pain. Self-pity. Suffering. Tears. I could sit here ALL DAY LONG listing failure after failure, after all, on my own that is what I create—failures.

Great way to start your day, right? Well New Life, here’s the deal, let’s be honest, let’s say what NEEDS to be said not what we WANT to hear: on my own, on your own, we are like a pig wallowing in its own filth. Watch a pig. It doesn’t seem to mind it. It’s not bothered by the stench of its own crap. We’ll even have kids and raise them in our crap so they can grow up believe there’s nothing better. Life is crap so LIVE IN IT!

Here’s the crazy part, I’ve escaped the pigpen. I, by the grace of God, have been RESCUED from my mess. I’ve been REDEEMED. I’ve been RANSOMED. My eyes have seen the fulfillment of His promises. My mouth has tasted the sweetness of His breath. My heart has been filled with an overwhelming joy. YET! Amidst all this goodness, amidst all this grandeur, amidst His presence and power…I STILL try to scurry back to my own filth…

I need help…
You need help…
God SAVE us…

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:12-14 NLT

Regardless of who you are, regardless of your age, your gender, your ethnicity, your cultural background…regardless of the length of time you’ve known Jesus as your Savior…you’ll NEVER get it. You’ll never ARRIVE. The ONLY thing you and I can comprehend, the ONLY thing we can grasp, the ONLY arrival we’ll experience is when we arrive at the conclusion that we NEED a Savior.

This happens when we realize that we cannot do it on our own.

Here’s what Paul said:

1. I have NOT achieved perfection
2. I PRESS ON toward perfection
3. Perfection is FOUND IN Jesus.

Paul was ACTIVELY pursuing Jesus. It takes WORK! It takes EFFORT! It’s HARD! It’s FOR everyone, but the majority will choose the broad road because it is EASY.

Which road will you walk today? Will you continue believing the LIE that you’ve somehow got it all figured out or will you PURSUE the Savior of the world?

Today, will you climb out of the pigpen?

It's Not Over! He's Not Done!

SOMEBODY today is having an out-of-body experience. SOMEBODY today feels as if they’re on the outside looking IN. SOMEBODY today is feeling anxious, critical, and self-defeating. Chances are that somebody is YOU. I write this without any sense of conviction, as far as writing the TRUTH goes, because this is often me.

I get stuck in that “I’m not good enough” place; you know, that dark and dirty place where you step out of yourself, at least in Christ, and look at your life through your OWN eyes. I forget to see myself in Jesus and instead see my weaknesses, my failures, my fears, my worries. I forget that I serve a God who IS working in me. I forget that I serve a God who IS near me. I forget that I serve a God who IS in love with me.

The word ‘is’ IS crucial. It communicates the fact that He IS…here, present, everywhere. It pierces the darkness of my self-inflicted depression; it illuminates those dark areas with the idea that my God is ACTIVE. He IS. In His words, “I am.”

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6 NLT

Check it out…Paul said he was CERTAIN. That means he understood it to be a FACT. It’s the TRUTH. Certainty means you can be assured that it has happened, will happen, and will continue to happen. God’s NOT DONE WITH YOU. Maybe you need to hear that today: God’s not done with you. I need to hear that.

You don’t understand Nick, I’ve relapsed. He can HEAL you.
You don’t understand Nick, I’ve stumbled. He can HELP you.
You don’t understand Nick, I’ve reached the end. He can REVIVE you.
You don’t understand Nick, I’ve walked out on my marriage and my kids. He can RESTORE that which was lost.

There’s NOTHING He CAN’T do! It’s all His! I don’t know about you, but I take great comfort in knowing that. I find assurance in knowing that the Creator of the universe, the One who made everything I see with mere words, is in charge. If He can do that, I can only imagine what He can and will do in me.

Remember this:

1. It’s HIS work.
2. He’s working WITHIN you.
3. He will FINISH what He started.

It’s not a matter of you being good enough, it’s not a matter of me being good enough…we’ll NEVER be good enough. JESUS is good enough. Jesus is MORE than enough. His goodness dwelling within you IS GOOD ENOUGH!

So, what will it be? Will you dwell on what you’re NOT or who you are IN CHRIST!

A Life Without Prayer is No Life at All

What do you EXPECT from God? Do you expect ANYTHING? Yes, I’m talking about praying, asking, requesting, petitioning God for SOMETHING. As children we create lists for Santa. We take the time to write out our heart’s desires. I’m serious! Think back to when you were a kid. Did you hold back on that list? Did you think to yourself, “Nah…that’s too BIG, too GREAT, too MUCH.” I wasn’t afraid. I didn’t hold back. I BELIEVED Santa would and could deliver ANYTHING and EVERTHING I could think of.

My God is GREATER!

Santa is a dude that I rarely saw. If I think back throughout my childhood, I caught momentary glimpses of the white beard and red suit at best. Christmas would roll around and Santa would appear on a giant chair at Nordstrom. He smiled. He was jovial. He was an ILLUSION. Here today, gone tomorrow. Yet, as a child, I was moved by those brief moments, the fading memories, and held on to a hope that he would DELIVER each and every year.

My God is PRESENT!

New Life, you don’t have to cling to momentary glimpses of God. He is HERE! He is NOW! He is ALWAYS! Santa wants to help you encounter a moment of happiness; God wants to redeem you for an ETERNITY. There’s no need to wait. There’s no line to stand in. There’s no fee to pay. He’s here. He’s there. He’s ready. He’s waiting. Check this out:

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT

This verse, by itself, is GREAT, but yet remains somehow incomplete. I say ‘great’ because it communicates the spiritual principle of cleansing our bodies, our SELF, from all the junk that we put IN it and do TO it. But here’s where I believe it’s ‘incomplete’—what the heck are “these promises”? Well, if you read the end of the previous chapter Paul shares God’s words:

I will live IN them
I will walk AMONG them
I will be THEIR God
They will be MY people
I will be your FATHER
You will be my SONS and DAUGHTERS

THAT’S encouraging! I read this and I hear a God speak to me personally. I hear Him say, “Nick, I LOVE you. You are my SON. I’m here WITH you. I will provide for your EVERY need. ASK.”

He’s more than an illusion. He’s more than a seasonal glimpse of happiness. He is GOD. He’s always here. He deserves your list. He will deliver. You don’t have to wait until the end of the year to share your heart’s desire; His ear is tuned to your voice at ALL TIMES.

Will you TRUST Him? Ask.

Combating Surface Level Preferences

Ever felt as if God was speaking to your through a song? Like, it’s as if the words you’re hearing, the very words you’re SINGING, are words that He fully intended for you to hear. Just as God once inspired the human hand to pen His word, I believe He continues to whisper in our ears, to fill our hearts, to guide our hands. I believe He’s still here. I believe He’s still moving us and shaking us and inspiring us to communicate HIS message of hope, His message of grace.

HIS message.

There was a time when I paid little attention to the lyrics of a song. I didn’t care WHAT the artist had to say. I just liked the music. I liked the sound. I liked how it made me want to move. I liked how it made me feel. I liked it at a surface level. I was NEVER prompted to go any deeper. I didn’t care about the artist. I didn’t want to know if there was a story behind the song. I didn’t care.

I look back now at some of the songs I used to sing around the house and I’m like, “What was I thinking?” The problem was, and I believe STILL IS for many of us, I DIDN’T CARE. It was just another mindless activity. Like holding your arm in the air while lying down on the couch. Or bouncing your leg while sitting in a chair. Or chewing the skin around your fingernail. I do it without THINKING about it. Seriously! Who wants their 6th grader singing about “O.P.P.”? Yeah, not good…

At first, I was highly resistant to Christian music. I thought it was LAME at best. It all sounded the same. I imagined each artist singing with a smile and an arm raised and it just turned me off. Change the radio station. Turn on talk radio. Listen to classic rock. ANYTHING but this (or country)! Then I attended a “contemporary” church and for the first time I SAW the lyrics to the songs. I stopped listening to the MUSIC and started to hear the WORDS.

I realized the power of music wasn’t found in MY preferences, but in the words. What about the songs without words? What about those instrumentals? Again, the power wasn’t found in MY preferences, but in the story the artist was trying to tell, the picture that was being painted. The mood. The ambience.

I was reminded of this last night, when I purchased the album “Aftermath” by Hillsong United. The first time I listened to it, which was a few months back, I didn’t “like” it. I had become so accustomed to their LIVE sound that I was unwilling to listen to a studio mix. LAME, right? I was an idiot. Again, MY preferences got in the way.

It’s not about me.
It’s not about what I like.
It’s ALL about Jesus and HIS story.

He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:3 NLT

1. He GIVES us the song.
2. The song is to PRAISE God.
3. The song TELLS what God’s done and LEADS people to trust in Him.

Music is POWERFUL. Music is HIS. I don't care what genre, how explicit the lyrics, how it sounds, nothing, it’s ALL HIS! I’d argue that His influence varies from song to song, but regardless, it’s all His. I missed out on this principle for a LONG time. It’s His.

What have you been listening to lately? Whose influence is evident in the music you listen to? Who’s leading and guiding your day?

If Martin Luther Could Do It...

Have you ever felt unsettled? Have you ever felt as if there was SOMETHING that needed to be done about something and honestly believed you had an idea that might work or an urge to help in some way? Has there been a time like this in your life, maybe it’s happening RIGHT NOW, and for some reason, a reason you can’t quite grasp, a reason that remains just out of reach, you decided to choose silence or let it go?

What stopped you?

What kept you from sharing your idea?

What held you back from taking action?

I believe that many of us, no, MOST of us, don’t want to stir the pot. We don’t want to be the one to shake things up. We don’t want to be THAT person. So, what do we do? We choose sit idly by and allowing the same old thing to happen over and over and over again. This is not how God created us. This is not who He called us to be.

Too often we view each other in light of competition instead of COOPERATION. We choose to undermine, go behind, and talk about one another instead of join forces and tackle this thing UNIFIED, TOGETHER, as ONE. God says we are ONE body. Check this out:

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Colossians 3:15-16 NLT

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, we ALL want peace. If you say you don’t, you’re lying. Straight up lying. It’s here, in these words, that Paul gives us some GREAT principles to apply to our marriages, our workplaces, our parenting, our EVERYTHING:

1. SURRENDER your heart to Christ.
2. Peace is the byproduct of UNITY.
3. Good or bad, high or low, be THANKFUL.
4. Live the GOSPEL.
5. Unity grows out of ACCOUNTABILITY.

So easy to read. So difficult to implement. Think about this though: what is the result of turning these ideas, these concepts, these principles, into a reality? What’s the alternative? The more I read God’s word the more it just MAKES SENSE. Had I known there was this much truth dwelling within the pages of Scripture I woulda read it, memorized it, and lived it out a LONG time ago.

If I choose to remain silent, if I choose to remain still, if I choose to walk away, to let go, to not get involved, I’m choosing the OPPOSITE of what God intends for us as the body of Christ.

I’m choosing control over SURRENDER.

I’m choosing chaos over PEACE.

I’m choosing division over UNITY.

I’m choosing bitterness over THANKFULness.

I’m choosing my will over the GOSPEL.

I’m choosing enabling over ACCOUNTABILITY.

You might feel as if you are asked to do EVERYTHING, but empowered to do NOTHING; however, nothing will change until you step up and speak out. Be empowered. Be courageous. Be who God wants you to be, not who you believe you are. Remember this, He’s alive within you. Live as if you believe it.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17 NLT

Do you believe it?

Gene Wilder is My Hero

Are you familiar with the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? It is arguably the BEST movie EVER created! It’s quite possible that this is merely the opinion of the author; however, do not be deceived, it is a FACT. I have zero knowledge regarding his faith, or lack thereof; BUT, I would stand before God and petition that he be allowed in regardless simply for his honest, loving, humble, sincere portrayal of Willy Wonka and how I believe it may have planted the seed that eventually grew into my own faith in Christ…but enough about that…

So, back to the movie—there’s a character in the movie that goes by the name of Veruca Salt. She’s a bit of an unsavory character, salt that has lost its saltiness? Possibly. She has one of the most annoying and yet profoundly poetic songs in the movie. She SCREAMS the line, “Don’t care how, I WANT IT NOW!” Assertive? Yes. Veruca knew what she wanted and she was willing to beg for it, not so much FIGHT for it. She was a bad egg.

I am a bad egg.

I sometimes have patience for NOTHING and yet a desire to have EVERYTHING. I want it NOW! I want it MY WAY! I want! I want! I WANT! I find myself lost in a watered-down illusion of gratitude. I live a lie. I’m not grateful for what I HAVE, but what I WANT. That’s freakin’ ridiculous!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:6 NKJV

I think it just might be possible that my blood-type is ANXIOUS. That’s definitely a NEGATIVE blood-type. I see what someone else is doing and I WANT it. I see the success that someone else is finding and I WANT it. I see how God is blessing someone else and I WANT it. I could just hear God now, “Are you KIDDING ME?!? Look at ALL I’ve given you! Open your eyes before I TAKE IT ALL AWAY!” This is how I know there’s still a work taking place within me. If God didn’t have to lean over and scream in my face every once in a while I’d either be dead or far from Him.

In this verse God gives us a bit of knowledge, something to walk away with…

1. DON’T be anxious for anything. Relax.
2. DO ask God for everything. Pray.
3. BE consumed by gratitude. Thanks.

The crazy part is this isn’t even the BEST part of what God wants us to know. This is merely the beginning. This is only half the statement. He’s only illustrating what He WANTS us to do, but then He says why:

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NKJV

Patience leads to peace. My life seems chaotic at times. I’m tugged and pulled and torn in a hundred different directions. I get tired. I get cranky. I offer a fraction of my best. I WANT PEACE! Who doesn’t? Do you want to experience peace? If you just answered no, you’re lying. When you put these two verses together the picture becomes clear. I can SEE what God wants me to SEE.

Chaos is the product of an anxious heart.
Peace is the result of trust and reliance in the Lord.

I don’t know what you want today. I can’t speak for you. I can only tell you that I want peace. I want rest. I want to KNOW Him. I want to live FOR Him. I want to trust IN Him.

What will you choose?

Smokin' What I'm Sellin'

I recently read a tweet by Perry Noble that, at first, I thought was amusing, I found it to be funny, but it caused me to think and think HARD. After the laughter dissipated I was left with many questions. Here, let me quote the tweet before continuing any further: 

A leader who isn't "smokin' what he's sellin'" will not be a leader worth following! Before THEY can believe it YOU must believe it! 

He tweeted this on October 31st. Here I am 11 days later and it’s STILL spinning around in my head. I can’t let them go. It’s not a matter of catch and release, but catch and dissect. Sometimes God speaks to you in the wildest ways! I’m learning to keep my eyes and ears open at ALL times. So, back to this idea, this concept of being your own best customer…

Do I BELIEVE what I’m reading?
Do I BELIEVE what I’m teaching?
Do I BELIEVE what I’m singing?
Do I BELIEVE what I’m writing?

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, you can’t take someone where you’re not. What I mean is you can only fake it for so long before it’s all uncovered, before the truth comes out. If you’re unhappy, your smile will lose its shine. If you’re stuck, your trail ends. If you’re neglecting the #1 relationship in your life (the VERTICAL, i.e. with God), the radiant glow of your face dies out.

I’m still new to this game. I’m still learning and growing. Yes, I refer to it as a game because there are winners and losers and, ultimately, there is a score kept between heaven and hell. I believe my job, that is, as a player in the game, is to RUN THE SCORE UP on hell. To do this, to keep my head in the game, I gotta first BELIEVE there is even a game being played! I gotta believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are here, WITH ME, and they are SENDING me plays, HELPING me make them happen, GUIDING my every move!

This isn’t anything new. You’ve probably thought this to yourself before, but maybe you just didn’t say it or write it down or share it with someone else. I didn’t come up with this idea. Perry Noble didn’t either (he just contextualized it to our culture, which WORKS!). Grab your Bible and read 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses this very issue. 

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV 

If you don’t believe what you’re preaching, SHUT UP! The world is full of hypocrites. Christians have been labeled as hypocrites for years because we TALK A LOT OF TALK, but refuse to LIVE IT OUT. We judge. We chastise. We throw stones (some throw boulders). Stop looking around the room at others and look in the mirror. God’s work in this world starts with YOU. 

Leaders you gotta buy into your OWN vision before anyone else will. Paul uses the word disqualified—meaning you’re done, you’re out, you don’t belong, your ability to participate has been revoked.

Leaders, are you IN or OUT?
Parents, are you IN or OUT?
Teachers, are you IN or OUT?
Pastors, are you IN or OUT?
Nick, are you IN or OUT?

I’m in.

Banging Your Head Against the Wall

God has been doing a work in me that I simply CANNOT and know that I SHOULD NOT keep to myself. I don’t believe God EVER does a work in us that He intends for us to horde, to keep to ourselves. I don’t want to have a house that is full of old newspapers, dirty dishes, clothes, and dead cats…I want a house that is clean because I’ve kept NOTHING.

On the way to my office this morning, walking down the hall, lost in thought as I usually am, I noticed a dead fly on the windowsill. Well, it was NEARLY dead. It was DYING. I stopped. I watched it lying there on its back. Helpless. Hopeless. And God grabbed a hold of me, and it wasn’t audible, but God simply said, “Nick, that’s you.”

“WHAT?!?” was my response. Let’s get this straight; if you feel like you can’t question God or even get mad at Him you’re wrong. He WANTS to hear from you. He WANTS to know you’re ALIVE. So, with this in mind, I yelled, “WHAT?!?”

Here’s what He told me…

You’re just like that fly. You have a big vision. You can see GREAT and WONDERFUL things right in front of you. You can see what lies ahead. Everything seems within reach. You can see out that window, but you can’t figure out how to get THROUGH it. You’re going to die lying on your back in front of that window, along with the vision I’VE given you, because you won’t ask me to break it down…to knock it out…to make a way.

Needless to say I spent the next 15 minutes crushed. Weeping. Sobbing.

I’m tired of trying to break through the window. I’ve grown weary of SEEING what’s in store, but not being able to REACH it. I can’t do it alone. Think of it this way, living FOR Jesus means allowing him to live THROUGH you.

Paul had Timothy remain in Ephesus due to a growing concern that people trusted more in themselves than in God. More flies.

When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.
1 Timothy 1:3-6 NLT

Paul identifies 3 keys to living as a healthy Christian:

1. PURE heart
2. CLEAR conscious
3. GENUINE faith

Here’s where Scripture can seem to smack you in the face. It’s so clear. It’s so convicting. Paul says that if you’re not, if I’M not making these things a priority then I am just wasting my time in meaningless discussions…that I’ve MISSED THE WHOLE POINT. Get out of here! He actually says that the OTHER stuff we get focused on doesn’t help. It’s a distraction.

God says, focus on me and you’ll actually SEE the window. You’ll SEE the obstacle. You’ll SEE you need Me.

Are you going to keep banging your head against the window or are you going to DECLARE that today, I will TRUST GOD!

FOLLOW-UP: Relapse

His Promises Are REAL

Life is NOT easy. Staples can't possibly make a button that's big enough. Burger King can't possibly make everything MY way right away. My E-ZPass only applies to the toll road.

I'm going to face obstacles. I'm going to stumble and fall. I'm going to be hurt, betrayed, criticized, talked about, and so much more. It'll feel like life's not fair. I'll be tempted to give up. There will be an overwhelming desire inside of me to throw my hands in the air and walk away. Sometimes life just SUCKS! 

Interestingly enough, it's during these times that I often find myself encouraged. I'm encouraged because I know that it's not the end. I'm encouraged because I know that my story doesn't end here. I know there is something GREATER that I've yet to experience. I face moments of struggle and strife, but they are fleeting moments. Here and gone. Oh my goodness though, just because I know they are brief, it doesn't make them any easier. I cry. I get frustrated. I'm reminded of my desperate need to TRUST in the Lord.

Check out what the Israelites went through:

The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.

Isaiah 51:3 NLT

WOW! I'm ENCOURAGED by this passage of Scripture. Let's see what we can learn from it.

1. He'll transform the bleakest darkest moment into the radiance of hope.
2. Trusting in the Lord leads to JOY and GLADNESS.
3. God's work is so AWESOME you can't help but CELEBRATE.

You might feel like you've been handed a bad deal. You might feel as if right, in this moment, life just isn't fair. You might be ready to quick, to walk away. HEAR ME, your story doesn't end here! His promises are REAL! In the midst of all the crap that life seems to throw at you, He's there reaching out to you.

Will you reach out to him?