Been feeling like becoming Conan (in the Spirit) is the only way I’m gunna get this thing done. Only one way to find out, train for it.

For the first few hours of each day God gives large amounts of grace to those who will seek His face. He does this in His mercy and love for us.

If we choose to exalt another god during that time and shun Him, He lets us bear that fruit. Because He is just and because he cares so deeply for our well being, He will allow us to be troubled when we are without Him.

He does this to teach us that walking with Him is the most enjoyable way to live.

He’s not self-centered in the arrogant since of the word. He is merciful and just, loving us enough to do draw us to the best thing in all existence, Himself.

Ever see a parent trying too hard to protect a kid? Maybe an overprotective dad holding on to the back of a bike with training wheels? Ever seen a parent let a small kid have a little freedom to see what they will do?

As a toddler I focused on an impossible mission of looking for my stuffed animal named “fishy” at the beach. My dad says that I just said that “I want my fishy.”, and then started walking down the beach away from my family. To you guys who know my personality, it would not surprise you that I kept walking in a determined fashion for miles until my dad who was following from a distance finally picked me up.

Psalm 139 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. This means to me that we have amazing potential. Potential to do great things and potential to really screw things up. I see the Father God looking upon us with that same scared look as He lets us try new things. He knows that what you could do is immeasurable.

You my friend are fearfully and wonderfully made. The potential you have to change the world is limitless.

My worst enemy has the same name as me. He likes to be mentioned and recognized. I despise it. Every time some well intentioned friend sings his praises a proverbial axe chops away at the many months progress that had been made.

Pride is my worst enemy, I hate him. He makes my life a living hell. If I stay off of his shoulders and quit punching him in the face it’s only a matter of days before he shows up in a three piece suit to try and sing his gospel.

As of late I’ve recognized that one of the fruits of his labor is comparison to others. This my friends is the poisoned dart in the neck that slurs the speech and  stutters the step. That’s where his presence really hurts because it’s the culmination of occurrences that leads to an overarching weak me.

So I fight, I cuss, I run from any hint of pride. I hear my name pronounced in praise and he gets all puffed up, I on the other hand can’t wait to throw a crow-hopping haymaker to his chin. What a strange battle I have… not with the demonic or with the devil. Just with me. Within me.

What was that you were saying? I don’t know how to take a compliment? Oh, I know how to take it. Take it out to the woodshed.

Rant Ends Here. Thanks for listening.

Always looking around for somewhere to be “fed” ?

This can be a poor and rewardless life.

Turn your focus to discipling others and in a unified front change the world.

Quit just doing you.

“He had broken through a great deal of his own struggles with the emotional demands of life with God. And he knew himself, I think, very concretely as a result of the various demands that the life of prayer made on his humanity.”          ~Abbot John Bamberger on Thomas Merton

The question that plagues seekers is one easily answered by looking at culture. Who is the one that constantly gets cussed, rejected, blasphemed, and pushed to the sidelines? Who is always getting blasted in the media? Who is the one that intellects argue against?

If you have questions about who God is. Look across the landscape and look for the many traces of rejection and you will get an outline of who is God.

Isaiah 52:5-6 “All day long my name is constantly blasphemed. Therefore my people know my name;…”

For further reference to this God look at Isaiah 53

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

My friend Mike has a little girl, Alaina. Now Alaina is only two years old but she is very self sufficient. She plays in her room by herself and even will go to bed without anyone knowing.

Imagine Alaina taking her daddy by the hand and leading him into her bedroom to play. She could take him to wonderful spots where her favorite toys are. She could have as much fun as she knew how to. But, let’s imagine that her daddy, Mike, wanted to take her somewhere special. Alaina might be uncomfortable with that. She might even pitch a fit. But unknown to Alaina her daddy can take her to many amazing places like the park, or the local pool, or even to the beach.

This is what happens when we choose to lead our own time with our Father God. He will go with us to familiar places and entertain our simpleness. But, He longs to take us to bigger more glorious places.

Why do we resist? Scripture tells us that those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength. Why not get in the presence of the Father and let Him lead us where He wants. We can do what ever He wants. His ways are better, His thoughts are higher; the conversations he leads are harder to understand but they teach us Godly things.

So may we let Him be God so He can train us in His ways. And may our lives become more like His as a result.

Friends,

Woke up this morning and emotions flooded my mind.

I began to think about what I value and what I will miss most about _______... I figured out that I won't necessarily miss ______ the corporation (although it is by far the best company I've worked for), I really won't miss the kind of work that I did (although I found it to be fun), I won't miss my heavy shoes, or my strange fitting pants, ect.

But I will miss you.

The relationships we've had have been life changing and that has been and is my joy. I say this because it's so much clearer now that I won't get to see you under these circumstances any longer.

So I encourage you to make a small change in your life today.

Realize that if you were gone tomorrow _______ would still go on. But, the relationships you have with all those around you is what matters most. The memories and the influence you have on others will always last.

Don't miss out on the best part of life!

Friendships.

I will miss you guys and will do my best to stay in touch.

Carrying you in my memories and prayers,

ME

“What you know can keep you from what you need to know, if you don’t remain a novice; The revelation you have can keep you from the revelation you need, if you don’t maintain a child’s heart.”      ~Bill Johnson