God's Man

Not Me Monday - God's Man Edition I did not spend an hour at work counseling two husbands to be more patient with their wives and later I snapped at my bride later that night and today I did not write a poem to my wife while sitting in a meeting with executives. I did not get called out by one of my peers during said meeting and then proceeded to read notes that I had prepared in case I got caught. I did not hide in the bathroom and read while my youngest was battling going to sleep and screaming. I did not run around my house being excited about how clean our house was after our first cleaning session. I certainly did not get in an argument with God and embarrass myself when he showed me my error. I did not get jealous when I listened to some of the other husbands here at work. T hey did not laugh at me when I told them that I cooked dinner and gave my little ones baths. I did not stick my tongue out at them when they called me hen-pecked. I d...

Venus and Jupiter, two of the brightest naked-eye planets, join a thin crescent moon to create a brief "happy face" in the sky as seen in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, December 1, 2008. Astronomers and star gazers across the world are keeping watch on Monday night for the rare astronomical phenomenon known as "Planetary Conjunction". [ Source ] If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face , and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

This is what it is like to be in my head sometimes.     First I was all      :-( O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?   - Psalm 6:1-5   Then I was          :,( I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. – Psalm 6:6-7   Then                   :-) Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts...

I was looking outside while the spirit of fear is running rampant through this meeting and point out the attached picture. He reminded me that while we may be blown and tossed by the storm. I have anchored you. I have secured your future. I have you rooted deep and you will weather this. He is Good!

Worry is often borne out of fears that we have.   Whether it is fear of success, failure, or accountability we worry about the consequences of our actions.   I remember telling a superior that it was the fault of a co-worker that I was unable to meet a deadline.   I was worried that I would be reprimanded so I quickly deflected blame elsewhere.   I made no mention of the fact that I had procrastinated in asking for help from this co-worker.   In the parable of the Tenants, which is in Mt 21:33-46, we see an example of this.   "Here's another story. Listen closely. There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits. "The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the t...

A World Full Of Bad News, Crises, Negativity And Stress Have you looked at the new lately?   Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find good news?   Do you ever wonder why that is?   I understand that there is a lot going on, especially now, but come on.   Can I get a break from the doom and gloom? We Are Constantly Being Hit With This Attack The truth is we are under attack.   There is a war going on out there.   And the battleground is your mind.   There is an enemy that wants control of you mind.   He knows that if he has lost, he’s read the back of the book, but if he can delay then we will be rendered ineffective.   I have determined in my life that his favorite weapon is distraction. Financial Crisis, Energy Crisis, War On Terror, Elections My wife calls me a news hole, and she is right.   I love to read the news.   I love the research, separating the truth from the spin, and finding the link between...

I Love Big Challenges... If you could choose only five people in the world to get to know by the end of 2008, who would they be? I found this challenge here I'll post my list later tonight. Who would be on yours and are you willing to make it a reality? ***Update*** Here is my list. 1. T.D. Jakes 2. Glenn Beck 3. Eric Dubbell 4. Tim Ferriss 5. LaShawn Barber I am going to take this list one at a time starting with LaShawn Barber I have a sense of urgency because in the last week or so she announced her intentions to leave the east coast for California. I'll be sending her an email this week.

I took a moment to recollect What I know I shouldn't forget Thoughts of love, t houghts of grace How could I ever hope to save face The times I should have prayed to you The times I should have let you help me through I was too busy and my focus was off As my destination was surely lost I am trying my Lord to find my way Please help me to let you lead the way  

On September 18 , something happened that changed my world forever. At the time I couldn't have known the significance of that day. Life was new and I was trying to find my place in it. Isn't that how it normally works, you are walking along minding your own business when BAM! You never see it coming and you could never have prepared for it. So what was it that happened on September 18? On September 18 my bride was born and I am ever grateful to God for her. I know , for a fact , without her I would be a very different person.  I would appreciate it if you would go over to http://letterstomybride.blogspot.com  and leave a birthday message for her.  Thanks

I have been trying to understand what this means.  Over the last few weeks I have been struggling with the roles in my life.  Have any of your folks experienced this?  Sometimes, it seems, that my roles directly clash with on another.  Where does the role of father end and husband begin?  Where do my needs come into play?  How do I find time for everything I need to do?  How do I love when I am hurt, angry or frustrated?   Whenever I get frustrated I look into the book of Ecclesiastes.  There I find rest for my my busy mind.  Something about this book always grounds me.  Here is what it says in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, verses 1-15 from the Message Paraphrase: "There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:  A right time for birth and another for death,  A right time to plant and another to reap,  A right time to kill and an...

You can learn a lot from your children.  I know most parents would agree with that.  Even if you don't have any kids, you have probably learned something from watching them. Today's lesson came from my youngest daughter, who is 10 months.  I was watching her play in our new basement.  It was just the two of us, as Mommy and Big Sis were out.  As she went from one corner of the room to the other I got a sense that she was on the grandest of adventure.  Now our basement is no toy laden paradise.  We are still unpacking and their are boxes and piles.  None of that mattered.  You could see that she was having the best time.  Around every corner was a new discovery.  Every pile was a mountain and a every box was full of treasure.  And amidst it all was her Dad who was smiling and taking it all in.   She even came over to me a few times. So where am I going with this?  Other than to tell you about the best 10 month old on t...

Turns out that this site has been listed in the Top 100 Christian Relationship Blogs .  We are listed under the section for Men.  Go check out some of the other sites. Blogged with the Flock Browser

I am test posting from my new Samsung Instinct. After years of fighting having a cell phone I am now using one of the most advanced phones on the market. It is pretty sweet. I am able to hold my sleeping daughter and type this out. If only I didn't have such big hands. It works well though. I would recommend this to anyone that likes cool phones.

Whose light are you shining? Matthew 5:14, 16

A Godly Man is a Servant Leader   Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him. The man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth. – Job 29:11-17   Jesus gave us his model for leadership when he spent time washing His disciple’s feet.   He understood that the best way to be a lead people is through serving them.     Jesus also served by taking our place at the cross.   He knew that we would not be able to walk a sinless life so he did it for us.   He went to the cross willingly for all of us so that we could know true fellowship with...

A Godly Man is a Change Agent   "When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square, the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands; the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. – Job 29 7-10   Have you ever walked into a room and had people stop talking?   I used to be extremely self-conscious about that.   I would think that people were talking about me and get very defensive.   I would also spend time second guessing myself.   One of my mentors told me that as you start to grow in God, things around you will begin to change.   A few years ago, I was living in CA and, the young lady across the hall from me was a serious Christian.   She used to invite me over, to her prayer meetings, all time but I always found some excuse.   She kept at it ...

Christian Women the world over have looked to Proverbs 31 as a model for Godly Women.   That has always left me with this question.   What is a Godly Man?   In the book of Job we find a man that God called blameless.   During his lament in chapter 29 Job paints a picture of a Godly Man.   It gives us things to focus on as we strive to be men of God.   A Godly Man needs God’s Provision     Job continued his discourse: "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!   Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams   of olive oil.   – Job 29 1:-6   Even though Job is in the middle of a bitter lament he knows that...

A draft as I finish processing what God showed me...   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   I was walking in a dark place when I heard God speak clearly to me saying, “Whom do you love?”   I thought of my wife, who is the closest to me.   Right before my eyes she appeared with a *Poof*.   Next my children and god-children appeared.   Then my parents and extended family walked into the room.   With each face I felt so loved and secure.   Next I thought of friends both near and far, Christian and not, close and distant.   One by one they showed up and my smile grew larger.     Next God asked me “What is important to you?”   So I started to see visual representations of my desires.   When I thought of my calling to preach a pulpit appeared.   My mind went to providing for my family and I saw invitations to my children’s graduations and to their weddings.   I saw a...

I was searching through biblegateway.com looking up different words when I decided to look up the word focus.  Finding that the NIV did not use the word focus I switched to the Message translation.  I was immediately drawn to a passage of scripture that I have read quite a few times.  But God wanted me to see something different this time.   Matthew 6:5-7 (Msg)    "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God , and you will begin to sense his grace. "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas ...

We are in the middle of a new sermon series called The Wisdom of Oz.  I gave the sermons for the first two sessions.  They were about having a heart and mind like God.  I really enjoyed what God had to say.  I also contributed the devotional for our members this week.  Here it is...   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words From the Yellow Brick Road   Two weeks along the path and God has already done some amazing things in our lives.   During this time I asked you to find God in different places and I wanted to share one of my favorite reminders of God.   When you enter the neighborhood where I live, one of my cousins, has these two trees planted in his front yard.   They are both mature trees, big and strong with deep roots and branches that reach into the sky.   They are the same type of tree.   Every year around this time they get the same pretty flowers along the branches.   Then they ...

Are You Excellent? If you would find happiness and success get in the habit of overcoming your fear everyday. -Ralph Waldo Emerson I have been stuck on this topic in my personal study for the last year. This morning I was listening to Brian Tracy's Success Mastery Academy and he mentioned the quote above. He said that Emerson found this quote on a piece of paper that he found while walking down the street as a child. This quote lead him most of his life. God has really be dealing with me about this. I have felt like Paul many times as I don't do the things I want to do and yet I find myself doing what I don't want to. I understand the frustration that comes for know in your head what must be done and doing many things that are the polar opposite of it. Much of my time has been spent learning the principles of success that I think I should be further along on my own path. My career has included partnering with people in the pursuit of their personal success. As a ministe...

Father, I Thank You for my Wife. She seeks you and so should I. Thank you for a marriage where we do not hold grudges nor do we play games. Help me to always look beyond what she is really telling me. In this case she was telling me that there was something wrong with the car. She was also telling me to listen to her opinion. In my arrogance I thought I knew the situation better. I should have considered her feelings more. I apologize for not using your discernment more because in the end God, she was right! I should remember that you stepped in and told Abraham to listen to his wife. That was Good Advice. I married her so I should at the very least take what she says seriously. You gave me a good one. I would say your best. Keep working on me so I can be the husband that you want me to be. In Jesus Name. Amen

My Co-worker just told me that his Uncle who lives in Rochester, NY has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Please pray for him as well as his family in this time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Prayer For Them Father I ask that you be with my co-worker's uncle today. He needs you more now than he has ever before. Help him to rely on you to be his strength. Help him to put his trust in you. You have a perfect will for him even in this difficult time. Help him to see it. Be with his family as well God. Let them also focus on you. Let them find comfort in your arms and with each other. Help them to provide a loving atmosphere for the uncle. Let them also find your perfect will in this situation. God I also pray that you would raise him up from his bed of illness. That you would give him strength and energy until you are ready to call him home. In Jesus Name Amen -God's Man

Well my partner decided to get up with me tonight so here I am. The last few days I have been reading a book called, The Prayers of David: Becoming a Person after Gods Own Heart . It has been enlightening to look at David in a new way. To walk through the Psalms as a whole and see how they fit together with David's Life. As a story teller I enjoy the way the author highlights the events in David's life that possibly inspired him. He truly was a man after God's Own Heart. Even in times of struggle. That leads us to tonights lesson: Psalm 140: Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Selah Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet. Proud men have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set tr...

It seems that my late night partner has decided that she is ready to sleep all night long. I'm sure that any parents understand the joy of finally returning to a full nights sleep. I have mixed feeling about this as I enjoyed holding the baby, feeling her relax in my arms and watching her fall asleep in my arms. This reminds me of when her sister made the jump to sleeping all night. She and I used to get up and watch concert DVD's. I remember that her favorite was the Kirk Franklin concert from his Rebirth album. He performed this at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. She would always be asleep by the 10th song. It is funny the things you remember. It is so hard to believe that 5 years have passed. This morning God lead me here to Dueteronomy: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”- Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 A...

Do you have a gratitude list 5 Things I am grateful for: 1. My oldest daughter accepting Christ as her Lord and Savior on Sunday 02 March 2008 2. My wife for working with me, not against me. 3. My parents for providing a home with accountability. 4. The creative ministry team at my church for being my spiritual refresher each week. 5. My God-Children for being awesome.

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:11-12 I was in a real funk tonight. I was frustrated with everyone. Nothing seemed to be working the way that I wanted. I felt entitled to be in bad mood because I had done so much for everyone. I want to be taken care of. I wanted to sit back and let others do things for a change. So after I had gotten the kids into bed and my wife off tosleep I sat down to have my pity party. I sat in my chair and surfed the internet with a serious "poor me" attitude. Well as I sat there I heard the words "Be Grateful". I thought to myself what do I have to be grateful for. Next thing I began doing is going through my personal email and delete all the junk. So I started scrolling thourgh all of my emails. As this was happening I kept hearing "Be grateful". We...

Nighttime Musing Happy New Year to everyone who has stuck around during my beginning of the year hiatus. I thank God that in the pruning that has taken place in my life He is still encouraging me to do this. He has even given me things to work on here. This is one of them. I am a night owl. I have been for a long time. I got it from my mother, who for as long as I remember slept very little. It could also be that I come from a family of farmers. Who knows God made me this way and I like it. So since I am up most nights I also get the privilege of taking care of night time feedings for my children. Now for some having your sleep broken every few hours does not sound like fun, and it isn't, however it has given me a lot of opportunities to listen to God. Now that isn't to saw that I always take those opportunities. I am a nerd and the internet can get distracting at time. Stumble, twitter, digg, blogger have sapped some of these times and my love of Video Games can als...