Too Heavy

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she asked: "How heavy is this glass of water?"  Some guessed 8 ounces... others 20 ounces... She replied, "The weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

Stress is the same way.  Hold it for a little while...no problem.  A little while longer...a little more weight.  All day?  A week?  It quickly becomes unbearable.  So how can we control the pressure on our lives?  Take Jesus up on what He offers in 1 Peter chapter 5  verse 7:  “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”  God wants us to turn to Him when times get tough... We weren’t created to carry the weight of the world... so today, let’s choose to trust in His strength and not our own.  

Steering Wheel

It’s a story that has to be true because you couldn’t make it up.  On a dark Friday evening, Prionda Hill made a choice.  She decided that she was going to release the wheel of her car and let God steer.  Literally.  She completely removed her hands from ten and two and told God to guide her vehicle through traffic.  The outcome was less than ideal.   A motorcyclist by the name of Anthony Oliveri was the unfortunate victim of Prionda’s decision.  He later told police that when he saw the car coming directly toward him, the only thing he thought was  “This is the day I die.”   Fortunately, he didn’t.  While his injuries were serious, Anthony survived that crash… and Prionda is now facing several serious charges.  

Is that how God operates?  Does He tell us to completely remove our hands from the wheels of our lives?  Is He apt to recommend that we just “let it go?”  Many would say yes.  We say “Jesus… you do it!”  or “God… he/she’s all yours…”  But is that Biblical?  Does God tell us to release total control and let Him do it?  Is “Let Go and Let God” legit?  

No.  In fact the Bible says just the opposite.   2 Timothy 2:3 tells us to “Endure hardship…”  Ephesians 6:11 tells us to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand…” Finally, 1 Peter 1:7 says that our trials reveal our level of faith.   

Our challenges strengthen us.  They burn away what doesn’t belong and reveal our toughness.  What we see as pain… God is using for our eventual good.  We read many times in scripture that Jesus promises to never leave us in our struggles… that He wants us to persevere through them… and why?  Because they are the very things that will cause us to build faith muscle that we will need later in life.  So the next time you feel like just letting God do it… don’t. Keep both hands on the wheel… and God will put His nail-scarred hands on top of yours… and help guide you through the traffic to your destination.

My Reflection

A recent study from the University of Glasgow revealed something quite surprising.  It seems that when photographed, the human eye reflects the person taking the photo very clearly.   Rob Jenkins from the University of New York says that “the pupil of the eye is like a black mirror” and reveals far more than what was first thought.   What usefulness does this have?  Imagine a hostage situation where the kidnapper takes a photo of the person they are holding… computers can digitally zoom into the eyes of the person being held and see a clear picture of the criminal.  

The pupils reflect an image of what’s in front of them.

Our hearts do the same.  So often we put ourselves around people that we shouldn’t… and their influence is reflected in our lives.  We begin to talk like they do… think like they do… and many times slide backwards… away from the life that God has called us to live.   The Bible warns us about staying amongst those that harm our hearts.  Proverbs 22:24-25 says “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”  1 Corinthians 15:33 echoes this concept with “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.”   Find yourself angry?  Bitter?  Anxious?  Filled with gossip or jealousy?  Check your friends list.   Perhaps it is the reflected influence of a “friend” that is causing you to see the world differently.   Am I saying not to have friends that don’t believe like you do?  No.  You will (and should) hang out with people who are still investigating the claims of Christ.   But if you are a Christ-follower, your closest companions…those that have the greatest influence on your life… should follow and live out the values of Christ as you do.  

No Strings Attached

If you watch those reality TV court shows, you’ve assuredly seen one of the most common lawsuits out there.  One person lends money to another… and fails to be repaid.   The litigants shout at each other… claim it was only a gift… deny any wrongdoing… and in the end it’s up to the judge as to how to financially settle things.  

Money lending can divide.  It can cause lifelong friends to battle like sworn enemies… and allow hearts to become bitter and untrusting.  Why? Because many that lend expect interest… something extra in return.  Throughout the Bible, we are told to lend when necessary to help those in need… but never make money from our act of benevolence.   In fact, a great way to avoid this type of TV courtroom drama is simply to give someone the gift of financial help. Give with no strings attached…sacrifice willingly… and provide resources to those less fortunate.  We should do so knowing ahead of time that they may never be able to repay us.   And when we do…when we give with a heart filled with generosity… God blesses the relationship and allows it to thrive.  

God Still Cares

It may seem hard to believe, but the United States average high-school dropout rate is 25%.  1 in 4 students decide to leave before they finish.   The question is… what is happening to stop this trend?  What are schools doing to pursue those that want to call it quits?

The church faces a similar situation.  People coming to the end of their faith and deciding that they just want to walk away from a God who seemingly doesn’t care.  So what’s being done?  What is the family of God supposed to do when one of their own drifts away?  Pursue.  Lovingly… and with great passion… go after those that have lost their way.  Scripture tells us in Matthew 18:12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?”  We are to go after the lost…the disillusioned…the confused…the broken…and the hurt.  They may be looking to drop out… and it’s that very time that God commands us to step in.  Sometimes all someone needs is the reassurance that things will get better…and that God still cares.  Know someone who’s walked away?  Today…without hesitation…start the process of leading them back.   Both of you will be better for it.  

Sweetness

The other day I read an interesting fact about honey. Did you know that germs cannot live in honey because it’s too sweet? It’s true. The sugar in the honey causes the water part of the bacteria to evaporate… thus killing the bad germ. Similarly, that’s why jellies can be put into jars and kept indefinitely without fear of contamination. It’s the sugar… the sweetness.. that makes all the difference.

As we think about our world today, many would tell you that the way to deal with the corruption and evil is to seek revenge. After all, if we are wronged… they have it coming. We hurt… they should hurt. However, scripture tells us differently. In fact, we are told in Luke 6 that we should “return good for evil” and in Proverbs 16:24… that it is gracious words (like a honeycomb) that brings “healing to the bones”. God says when the world wants to sour us… reply with kindness. Turn the other cheek. Extend the olive branch. Allow God’s sweetness in our heart to drive out the bitterness of what the flesh might want us to do. It may not be our first reaction…. but the more often we choose it… the closer to Christ we will be.

Wait For The Captain

I once read a story about a young naval ensign on his first assignment.   He was given the responsibility of preparing the ship for launch… and he was nervous.  Remembering everything he’d learned in training, the young sailor yelled commands and readied the vessel for the voyage.  He accomplished his tasks in record time… and with a proud voice… gave the order to leave the dock.  Soon after they were out into open water, the ensign received a message.  It was from the captain.  It read “My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. But next time, you might wait until your captain is aboard before setting off.”

Oops… Ever make that mistake?  Have you ever been so anxious and excited that you forgot to put first things first?  Many do… In fact, many take off and do things in their lives without waiting for God to be a part of it.  Isaiah 40:31 says to do otherwise:  “But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.”   Is it ok to be excited?  Ready?  Prepared to set the direction for our lives?  Yes!  However, if we do so without making sure God is onboard first, we will grow tired and quickly drift off course.   Seek God first.  Wait on Him to answer.  And then proceed… and it will be smooth sailing the whole way.  

Live Out Your Learning

I read an ABC news report about a man who has spent his entire 71 years on the planet in school.  Michael Nicholson of Kalamazoo, Michigan has an interesting hobby:  he collects degrees.  So far he has 29 and is on course for his 30^th.  His accomplishments include one doctorate, three specialist degreees, one bachelor’s degree, two associate degrees, and 22 masters.  When asked about it, Michael says that he just loves to learn.   

And while we might at first celebrate his decision… it doesn’t take long before we realize the tragedy in this story.  Mr. Nicholson has spent his entire life learning disciplines without putting any of it to use.   He’s filled his head with knowledge and his walls with paperwork… but his legacy remains locked away in his briefcase.  Learning is important… but without utilizing the knowledge we receive… it’s practically useless.  The same goes for our study of the Bible.  James tells us in chapter 1 and verse 22 that we should not merely listen to the word… but we are to “Do what it says.”  Knowing who God is and doing what God wants are two different things… and one without the other is simply missing our purpose.   While it’s very important to study and memorize scripture… it’s equally as important to take the message out of the confines of the mind and into the world through our hands and heart.   

Learning to Drive

When I was first starting to learn how to drive, I was nervous.  Hands at 10 and 2 o’clock… foot on the brake… mirrors adjusted to the right position.  I studied the handbook and knew the proper following distances and sign shapes.  Yes… I was ready… but one thing kept me uneasy… the speed limit.  After all, how was I supposed to look down at the speedometer and up at the traffic at the same time?  What if I wasn’t looking down and started to go too fast… and got pulled over for speeding… or I was looking down to check my speed and rammed into the car in front of me?  I couldn’t keep my eyes on BOTH places at the same time… so what was I to do?

So many times in our walk with Christ we get nervous for the same reason.  I want to keep my eyes on Him… but what if something needs my attention in life?  What if I’m looking to Him for guidance and bump right into a crisis?  The Bible tells us that our eyes are to be in one position only:  Hebrews 12:2 says, “"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith ..."  Unlike driving,  we only have to look in one place to stay safe… and that’s facing God.   Life swerving?  Look and pray to God.  A bad diagnosis?  High tax bill?  Failing in school?  Look up.  Marriage trouble?  Losing your authority over your kids?  Don’t stare at the dashboard of your life trying to figure out your speed… look to the One that knows how to steer through the danger!   It’s when we take our eyes off of Christ and put them on our troubles… that the real trouble begins.   

Too Much

It’s a sign of the times.  A hospital in Pennsylvania has launched a treatment center for people who have a serious addition to something that they can no longer control.  Only it’s not for what you might think…  This is a clinic for those that suffer from internet addiction!  According to doctors, this is becoming an epidemic in countries like China, Korea, and Taiwan… with the United States coming on strong.  In May of 2013, it was recognized as an official disorder in America… and one that needed to be dealt with through psychiatric counseling and extended medical intervention.

It’s hard to believe that something as seemingly useful as the internet could one day lead to serious and life-changing problems.   But remember, it’s not the occasional user or even the power user that ends up in therapy… it’s the over-the-top…stop at nothing to go online user that needs help.  Same goes for overuse of anything… food, television, the approval of others… anything that we crave incessantly.  The Bible tells us in Philippians 4…  ^“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”   God instructs us to live with boundaries… to maintain control over our behaviors so that we can honor Him with our lives.   The key to happiness isn’t too much of a good thing… it’s moderation… and without it, what God means to be helpful actually harms us mentally, physically, and spiritually.  You were meant for so much more.

Water

“Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Acts 2:38

“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him [the eunuch] the Good News about Jesus.

As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38

If you are a Christ follower and have never been baptized...

It’s time.

Scripture tells us that baptism is the very first thing we are supposed to do after asking Jesus to come into our lives as Lord and Savior. When we don’t do it for some reason (and there are many reasons we try to come up with...), we are being disobedient to God’s plan for our lives. This disobedience puts a cap on our growth as Christ-followers...as leaders...as spouses...as boyfriends/girlfriends...

The very first thing God asks us to do after salvation... and we say no.

Baptism may not solve your marriage problems... it may not reveal the man/woman that you have been searching for...

But it does put you in position for God to bless you.

I want to encourage you to either have or join us at one of our baptism parties this summer. You may not think it will make much difference... that what you’re going through won’t change. I assure you... baptism is so much more than getting wet. It’s telling the world that you belong to Christ... you are following in His example... you are dedicated to what He has asked you to do... and you are walking boldly with Him as the leader of your life.

God wants to bless your life, your relationships, and your family more than you could ever know. What’s holding that back? Perhaps it’s not taking that one simple step into the waters of baptism. I am praying that you would respond to the nudge and join us.

Details can be found here: http://potentialchurch.com/baptism-parties/

Important Decisions

Comedian Fred Allen once quipped: “A celebrity is a person who works all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.”

While we may chuckle at this remark, many of us live our lives the same way.  We work hard to get somewhere…only to realize that it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and try to change it.  Why does this happen?  I contend that the biggest mistakes we make in this area are in the very first steps.  We don’t consult God.  We don’t let Him in on the decision making process or ask Him to point us in the right initial direction.  And when our Creator is left out of the loop… we find ourselves careening off in the wrong direction… all the while thinking we are on our way to the top of the ladder of success.  

We may reach the top of that ladder… only to find that it’s leaning against the wrong wall.  And then what?  Do we blame ourselves for poor choices?  Sadly, many times we blame God.  The only way to correct this is to go to God first in prayer… asking Him what’s best… and then having the maturity and courage to follow His lead.  He will make sure that once we get to where we’re going… we’ll be glad we’re there!

One of the most important decisions you can make after you ask Jesus to be the CEO of your life is baptism.   God asks us to be obedient and show the world outwardly, the decision we’ve made on the inside.  Throughout the summer, Potential Church will be hosting baptism parties… 1 per night from July 14-August 14… all over the communities surrounding our campuses.  If you would like to get baptized in your home… or at one of our party locations… let us know!  Simply send an email to: baptismparty@potentialchurch.com  or check out our website here: http://potentialchurch.com/baptism-parties/

Yes or No?

Biblical scholar Howard Hendricks once told his son Bob, “Be so dependable that if you say you will be somewhere and don’t show up, they send flowers.”

Are you thought of as reliable?  Are the commitments that you make as good as done?  If you don’t fulfill a vow to be somewhere… will those you’ve made a promise to think a bad thing has happened?  If this doesn’t sound like you… I’ve got good news:  today is a new day.  Making our word our bond requires a steadfast commitment.   Scripture echoes the importance of being good on our words in Matthew 5:37.  It says,  “Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”  If you’re given the opportunity to make a commitment…stop and think about it.  Are you really going to honor it?  Will you really show up?  If so, great!  If not, remember, it’s better not to make a vow, than to make one and break it later.  Be a person of integrity… someone that people can trust… and when you say “yes” or “no” in the future, those around you will know exactly where they stand and what’s going to happen as a result of your decision.  

Flying

Then heavyweight champion of the world Mohammed Ali was sitting on a plane getting ready to take off.  The flight attendant recognized him and gently walked over to ask him to put on his seat belt.  His response?  “Superman don’t need no seat belt.”   The attendant stopped a second looked the formidable man squarely in the face and replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either!”

There are many who treat God the same way.  God asks something of them… and they tell Him they don’t need to do it.  He gives them instruction through His word… and they shrug it off.  Pride makes them believe that they are self-sufficient… that they are in complete control of their direction with little need for restraint.  Psalm 10:4 tells us “In his pride, the wicked man does not seek him;  in all his thoughts there is no room for God”

Ali couldn’t fly on his own… and neither can we.  God is in control.  He knows best.  And when He tells us that it’s going to get a little bumpy…we need to put on that seatbelt… sit back… and thank Him for guiding us through the turbulence. 

Far More Valuable

Below the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City sits five stories of priceless gold.  Locked behind a 90 ton steel door… in a maze of over 100 vaults… the precious metal sits protected and safe.  It is said that each vault can house 100,000 bricks of gold… and the total value of the stash?  Tens of billions of dollars per compartment… several hundred billion overall.

It would seem to most people that this gold is very safe.  After all, who could get down there let alone get anything back up.  But no matter how many steel doors you put on a structure, there is still a chance of something turning up missing or stolen.  The Bible talks about our inability to protect our treasure in Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Truth is… no matter how secure, put away, taken care of, or protected our stuff on this planet is… it’s still isn’t 100% theft-proof.  Want to have eternal treasure?  Something that lasts forever?  Start building a stockpile in Heaven!  Talk to others about Jesus… invest your resources in the local church…. spend time serving others and taking care of those in need.  It is then that you are generating eternal wealth.  And while it may not glimmer like gold… it is far more valuable.  

We all hurt

Famed surgeon, Dr. Paul Brand once said, ”In the human body, when an area loses sensory contact with the rest of the body, even when its nourishment system remains intact, that part begins to wither and atrophy. In the vast majority of cases—95 of 100 insensitive [unfeeling] hands I have examined—severe injury or deformation results. The body poorly protects what it does not feel. And in the spiritual Body, also, loss of feeling inevitably leads to atrophy and inner deterioration. So much of the sorrow in the world is due to the selfishness of one living organism that simply does not care when another suffers.”

When a part of the body is neglected… it withers.   That neglect leads to deterioration… collapse… and an utter breakdown in an important part of God’s creation.  

If we’re not careful, we too can become insensitive.  Unfeeling.  Incapable of putting ourselves into the shoes of another.   When we stop feeling the pain of others, our hearts begin to wither.  And that neglect leads to unflinching apathy… and an all out indifference to the plight of those less fortunate.

We can’t forget that Jesus Christ cares about and loves everyone.

Those in your home and those people you don’t think about.  The ones on the streets and the ones in your office.  All matter.  Everyone.  The free man and the prisoner both count under God.

It’s up to us to remember that… and to make sure that no part of the body of Christ falls under neglect.   Why do we conduct services in the prison?  Why do we reach out to those who have made mistakes and are now paying the price behind bars?   Because they matter.  Because their hearts beat and their lungs take in air.  Because in God’s eyes, their sin and our sin is no different.  Because they are a part of the body.

And we won’t let them wither away… 

Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

When one part of the body hurts… we all hurt.  When one is forgotten, it affects us all.  Are you ready to join us as we reach out to those in danger of being neglected?  Will you stand with us as we minister to those in need?  If you are interested in serving on our prison ministry team, let me know in the comments below and we’ll connect you.

Others First

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.  If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.  If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.  If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

If you’ve ever come to the aid of someone in need you know the truth in that statement.  There’s something about being there for a person that gives us a sense of fulfillment… a feeling of greater purpose.  This shouldn’t be surprising if you are a Christ-follower.  Scripture tells us in Acts 20:35 that “It is more blessed to give than to receive”  In Proverbs 11:25 we read “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”  Loving others…serving them… is something that God Himself has instructed us to do.  And when we stay obedient in this, the Bible tells us time and time again that we will be blessed. Want more blessing in your life?  Make the decision to reach out.  The world may try to convince you to look out only for yourself… but the example that Christ left us was quite the opposite.  Serving others is part of our calling…our purpose here on Earth… and there’s nothing that makes us resemble Jesus more than when we are putting others first.  

Did You Hear?

According to Prevention magazine, our ears continue to grow throughout the course of our lifetime. When we are very young, they are proportional to our body size. After age 10, the growth slows down but continues steadily until we die. So using this logic, we should have better hearing as we get older… larger ears means better sound processing right? Not really. In fact, as we age, our hearing ability actually decreases.

Sad but true.

But there is one aspect of our hearing that should improve as we get older… hearing from God. Why? Because if we’re doing it right when we’re young… we should be getting to know Him more and more! Spending time in His word… hearing messages in His church… writing about Him in our journals… telling others about Him when the opportunity comes… We should be growing closer to Him… and His voice should be getting louder as the shadows grow longer. 2 Corinthians 4 tells us that although we are physically failing over time… we are actually being “renewed day by day” by God. Want to know what God sounds like? Spend time with Him. Pray. Ask Him to tell you and teach you what you need to know. And as the years pass… your ability to hear physically may fade… but your capacity to hear from the One that matters will sharpen.

He Already Knows

Do you remember playing hide and go seek?  I do.  My brothers and I would play it when we were little… and I was pretty good.  I remember being hidden and hearing their voices as they’d get closer… the butterflies in my stomach as I got nervous they’d find me… the sound of their feet getting louder against the wood floor… all part of the game.  Sometimes they’d discover me, but many times they wouldn’t.  I was good at hiding from them and enjoyed knowing that I could fool them at will.

Many feel that way about God.  Over time, they become quite good at hiding from Him.  Or, if not physically, they hide things about themselves from Him.  I guess they figure that if they don’t say it out loud.. He doesn’t know.  Maybe if they avoid accountability, God never finds them or discovers what they’ve done.   The Bible sets it straight in Psalm 139.  In it, David says that no matter where he goes… God is there.  He is all-knowing… all-powerful… and everywhere at one time.  It may be tempting to hide… but there are far greater results when we step out into the light and reveal what God already knows.  When we talk to Him and tell Him what’s inside us… He can begin the healing process in our hearts.  Find yourself in the shadows today?  Spend some time talking with the One who already knows what put you there and wants to guide you back into the sunlight.  

Liberty

“...proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” Leviticus 25:10 (as inscribed on the Liberty Bell)

Today Americans celebrate independence. Freedom. 

In the late 1700s, colonists sought release from British control. After bravely battling against incredibly skewed odds... they won that liberty... taking charge and creating a government that allowed choice and protection.

A young nation... experiencing freedom.

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ sought to release the people He created and loves from the eternal punishment for sin. After bravely enduring incomprehensible suffering due to incredibly skewed charges... He won the ultimate victory... stepping boldly from a grave and completing a new covenant with His creation.

A sinful world... experiencing real freedom.

Liberty came long before 1776. It didn’t involve redcoats or revolutionaries... brigades or battlefields. It didn’t come from a pen dipped in ink or proclamations made against a King named George. It was established centuries before the shot heard round the world rang out... or George Washington issued his first command.

It started with a baby... and ended with a betrayal.

It started with water to wine and ended with wine and bread.

It started with three wise men and ended with three crosses on a hillside.

Freedom began when the veil tore. When the ground shook. When the King of Kings hung His beautiful head and declared “It is finished.” When death lost its perfect record for keeping people under. When the stone rolled back... When the tomb stood empty... When the Savior rose again with your name on His mind and heart.

Eternal freedom happened because you matter to God.

Jesus came to earth with a revolutionary way of thinking, a sinless battle plan against the power of death, and marching orders that make it possible for you to spend eternity with Him in victory.

Statesman Patrick Henry declared in 1775, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Jesus’ life declared... I’ll suffer death so you can have liberty.

No matter how trapped, held down, beat up, or oppressed you feel... never forget Jesus’ declaration of your independence...

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36

If you are a Christ-follower, you ARE set free. Believe it and live it out! Let’s take today to celebrate our country... our Creator... and His courageous sacrifice on our behalf.

Love and blessings to you and your family on this Independence Day.

Nothing

Mary Fasano’s parents pulled her out of eighth grade so she could work in a cotton mill in Rhode Island.  Fifty-five years later, she made a major decision.  She decided that she was going to go back to school to complete her education.  At 71, she completed her coursework and received her high school diploma… but she wasn’t done yet!  She signed up for Harvard University’s extension program and took one class at a time.  Week after week, she drove the twenty miles to the school… and did so for seventeen years!  In June of 2003, Mary Fasano graduated from Harvard at the age of 89.

Many called her crazy.

Many would have told her that her dream was impossible.

But what they forgot…?  Something is impossible ONLY until it is accomplished.

Mary lived her life by this truth from Matthew 19:26 “For nothing is impossible with God”

Today you may be facing something that nobody else believes in but you.   It’s a mountain that’s never been climbed… and achievement the world’s never seen… a way of doing something that’s never been done.  Be bold.  Read that verse above over and over until it weaves its way into the fabric of your heart.  You have been created for greatness… and your greatest competition is the status quo.  The odds of success mean nothing when you have God on your side.  He sets the odds.  He gets you through.  And He will equip you with everything you need to push onward.  Seize the day.  Take your dreams back from the critics because someday you will be dancing in victory while the doubters stand silent.  

Making It Right

At the start of the 2012 football season, the league was forced to put replacement referees on the field as a result of a contract dispute with the real crew.  The fill-ins worked throughout the first part of the season… and made many mistakes.  Maybe no bigger than the ending of the Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks game.  In it, the Seattle quarterback threw a desperation pass toward the end zone in the closing seconds of the game.  A Green Bay defensive player intercepted the ball, but the stand-in ref called it a touchdown for Seattle…costing the Packers the game.   When interviewed afterward, the confused referee said that he would not have changed the call even though every replay showed he was clearly in error.

Many of us are just like that referee.  

Sometimes we don’t want to admit when we’ve made a mistake.  Even when it’s obvious.  The crowd points and we turn a blind eye.  The replay shows it… and we turn off the tv.  We blow it… drop it… miscall it… and mess it up.  But why is it so hard to admit our mistakes and make them right?  It’s simple.  Pride.  James 4:6 tells us that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”   Find yourself in a situation where you’ve missed the mark?  Made a mistake?  Humble yourself.  First admit to God how you’ve blown it… then make it right with those you’ve hurt.  God will bless your obedience and you will begin to heal immediately.  Admitting there’s an issue is one thing… making it right, while not always easy, is the always the correct call.