God's Promises.

Earlier this week I was working on a log cabin I have for sale. As I was driving over to crawl back under the house for the 3rd day this is what I saw - 

That afternoon I would have my inspection and I was praying that everything would go well. A minute later this rainbow was literally right over my property. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It was one of the most vivid rainbows I've ever seen.

“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” – Genesis 9:12-13 NIV

God's specific promise was that He would never again destroy the earth by a flood.  I truly believe that God was saying to me that His plan was to bless me in this season in spite of the Corona virus. We are STILL living in a season of Miracles, Breakthrough and Long-Awaited Harvest. 

“Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you… Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.” - Genesis 26:1-3, 12 NIV

When the Realtor sent over the offer he said it was one of the last houses he showed on the last day before the quarantine shut things down. In a season of famine God blessed Isaac. In a season of famine (worldwide pandemic) God was blessing me. And God wants to bless you! So borrow my rainbow today until God gives you one of your own.

Royal Flush.

As I was cruising down the highway a story came on the radio from across the pond –

MEGXIT.

If you haven't heard Prince Harry and wife Megan Markle have decided to leave the United Kingdom and step down from their royal duties as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Please hang in with me for just a moment even if you’ve let your subscription to the National Enquirer lapse. I don’t follow the royals, or anyone else’s drama for that matter, so I didn’t give it much thought until I felt a little nudge from the Lord.

‘How many of my kids have renounced their royal identities and are choosing to live like commoners?’

If you would indulge me go back and read that question one more time.

It hit me like a ton of bricks. How many of us are living below our promise and our potential because we aren’t embracing the fullness of who we really are? I would dare say all of us in one way or another.

“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

– Revelation 1:5b-6 NKJV

Here’s another one –

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” 

– Romans 8:15-17 NLT

Prince Harry is 6^th in line for the throne. BUT he still wields a huge amount of influence because of his birthright. He could accomplish so much good for so many with his royal identity than he even could as just plain old Harry. And so it is with us. We can accomplish so much more when we choose to live from our heavenly identity and inheritance than anything we could do in our own flesh and effort.

My prayer for you today is to see yourself as God sees you because that is who you really are.

“Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” 

- Philippians 3:16 NIV

Depression and the Bible.

Men and women throughout Scripture dealt with real problems including struggles with mental health. Elijah, king David and Jonah just to name a few. God cares about your emotional well-being. Here the words recorded in just one of the Psalms by the sons of Korah -

"I long to drink of you, O God, drinking deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you! My soul thirsts, pants, and longs for the living God. I want to come and see the face of God. Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help while my enemies mock me over and over, saying, “Where is this God of yours? Why doesn’t he help you?” So I speak over my heartbroken soul, “Take courage. Remember when you used to be right out front leading the procession of praise when the great crowd of worshipers gathered to go into the presence of the Lord? You shouted with joy as the sound of passionate celebration filled the air and the joyous multitude of lovers honored the festival of the Lord!” So then, my soul, why would you be depressed? Why would you sink into despair? Just keep hoping and waiting on God, your Savior. For no matter what, I will still sing with praise, for living before his face is my saving grace! Here I am depressed and downcast. Yet I will still remember you as I ponder the place where your glory streams down from the mighty mountaintops, lofty and majestic—the mountains of your awesome presence. My deep need calls out to the deep kindness of your love. Your waterfall of weeping sent waves of sorrow over my soul, carrying me away, cascading over me like a thundering cataract. Yet all day long God’s promises of love pour over me. Through the night I sing his songs, for my prayer to God has become my life. I will say to God, “You are my mountain of strength; how could you forget me? Why must I suffer this vile oppression of my enemies— these heartless tormentors who are out to kill me?” Their wounding words pierce my heart over and over while they say, “Where is this God of yours?” So I say to my soul, “Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed. For I know my God will break through for me.” Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again. Yes, living before his face is my saving grace!"

- Psalm 42:1-11 TPT

For the one dealing with depression. For the one battling suicidal thoughts. Know that you are not alone. As hard as it may be keep fighting, keep reaching out. Know that God loves you and that He is the light in this darkness. I am praying for you and He is here for you.

Running With Friends.

My Crossfit coach had been bugging me to run the Mountain Heritage Day 5K for a couple of weeks. I finally relented and signed up late last night. So I was up early this morning heading to Western Carolina University where I met up with several of my friends from the gym. I got checked in, safety pinned my bid to my shirt, warmed up and waited to start. I ran with (more like chased behind) these guys for 3.1 miles of up and down (seemed like mostly up). I didn’t finish 1st or 2nd or even 3rd in our group but I did cross the finish line with the best 5K time of my life. I did pass a 9 year old in the last 50 meters so take that!

The point is these people push me to be a better version of myself. When I am ready to give up they are there to encourage and challenge me to keep pressing on. If you are the fastest/smartest/most successful person in your circle you need to make some new friends. God’s Word has a lot to say about our friends -

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” - Proverbs 12:26

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” - Proverbs 27:17

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” - Proverbs 13:20

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.“ - Proverbs 18:24

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” - 1 Corinthians 15:33

In every area of our life the company that we keep will determine the heights to which we rise. That my friend is one of the reasons why we need to be actively engaged in our church. Not as a spectator, or a consumer but as a connected, contributing participant.

Selah.

I remember.

9.11.2001

On the anniversary of the terrorist attacks I pause to reflect on that day and it occurs to me what I remember. As I scroll through the posts on social media with pictures and flags and memorials I remember.

• I remember exactly where I was.

• I remember hearing the news on the radio.

• I remember seeing the images for the first time.

• I remember that people gathered together to pray.

• I remember that people set aside their differences to focus on what unites us as Americans.

Today I remember that time is precious, tomorrow is not promised and we should love the people around us as if it were our last day. Or theirs. I remember that prayer is still important and I believe it makes all the difference in the world.

I also remember that they enemy's ploy is to divide us - racially, economically, politically, generationally and the list goes on and on. From broken families to a broken nation he is sowing his discord every chance he gets. Even in the church.

The Church is God's plan to share His redemption with all of humanity. Let's fight together - against the enemy and for one another. Let's forgive like we've been forgiven and love like we've been loved. Let's live with faith and not fear. Let's give the world a little glimpse of heaven and live like people's eternities hang in the balance. Let's remember that we matter, and remember that what we do matters.

“This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” – Ephesians 5:14-17 NIV

What's Your Worldview?

As a pastor one of the most painful things to watch is when someone begins to struggle with and question their faith. This is especially difficult when it is a young person making the transition into adulthood. As a parent my GREATEST hope for my children isn’t for them to be successful, rich or even happy. My greatest hope is for them to know and love God.

One of the things that I have noticed over the years is that there has been a radical shift in perspective. My generation largely viewed ‘truth’ as something existent outside of self. It was absolute, unchanging and not subject to personal opinion. For instance the ‘truth’ of gravity really doesn’t care if you believe it or not. It just is.

Today many view ‘truth’ as something personal, internal and malleable. What is ‘true’ for one may or may not be ‘true’ for another. What is ‘true’ today may not be tomorrow. Herein lies the million dollar question…

Do we view God through the eyes of our worldview or do we view the world through God’s eyes?

If God must fit within my worldview then he/she/it is really no god at all; no bigger than my understanding or imagination and no more powerful than I am. This was the realization I had at the age of 18. I had an epiphany that if there was truly a God then He was at the center of everything and I was not. He was not subject to the whims of my emotions or limited to the finite capacity of my mind. If there really was an eternal being that held time and space in His hand then He was the author of ‘Truth’. More accurately He is TRUTH.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:9 NIV

I recently met a young man, newly saved, who had attended church as a teen. Since God didn’t fit within his worldview he admittedly embraced a pagan lifestyle to the extent of serving as a pagan priest. In his desire to break with all things Christian he set up a meeting with a pastor to vent and share his ‘truth’. In that meeting he found love, and more importantly found LOVE. When we stop trying to force God into our worldview and make Him Lord of our lives everything else comes into focus.

I am so thankful that it is not my place to judge God, or anyone else for that matter. I am grateful that ‘Truth’ is constant, because He is constant.

“Do not be deceived, my dear friends! Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning. By his own will he brought us into being through the word of truth, so that we should have first place among all his creatures.” – James 1:16-18 GNT

Do the Hustle.

Last year, as a ministry staff, we believed that the Lord was saying that 2019 would begin a season of Miracles, Breakthrough and Long-Awaited Harvest. Praise the Lord we are seeing that come to pass. What many of us failed to realize is that many of answers came with conditions – i.e. hard work. A good friend of mine pointed out that harvest is one of the busiest seasons in the life of a farmer. If the crop isn’t gathered in quickly the harvest can go from ripe to rotten in the blink of an eye.

I guess another way we could say it is that you, ‘got to strike while the iron is hot.’ Another friend of mine is a blacksmith and I've had the opportunity to work with him on a few occasions. You have a limited time to work the metal once it comes out of the fire. Another friend of mine is a successful business owner. He once told me that his success wasn’t because he was the best or brightest in the room, but that he would ‘out hustle 99 out of 100 people.’ I believe it. Someone once said that, ‘good things come to those who wait.’ I agree, but when it’s time for action patience will cause you to miss your opportunity.

“The reason most people do not recognize an opportunity when they meet it is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like Hard Work.” – Anonymous

The apostle Paul understood,

“There’s an amazing door of opportunity standing wide open for me to minister here, even though there are many who oppose and stand against me.” – 1 Corinthians 16:9 TPT

When God provides an opportunity we have to seize the moment. That’s not the time to be patient, that’s when it’s time to hustle.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” – Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV

Every day is a gift from the Lord, what you choose to do with it is your gift to Him. I believe God has GREAT things in store for you!