HERE WE GO!!!

We are starting 2009.
We are starting our 7 day prayer and fasting in our churches.
We are pumped.

.... I always start my year with faith goals. Spiritual breakthroughs, character breakthroughs, marriage breakthroughs, parenting breakthroughs, ministry breakthroughs,financial breakthroughs, directional breakthroughs and a lot of other breakthroughs. :)

I wont have a lot of time to share all my goals but I do want to share one. It can be found in
1Thessalonians 5:17 , yes... these 2 words have really been the word of the Lord is for me.

PRAY CONTINUALLY!!!

i know its simple but it just pierced my heart like never before. I felt like Dela Hoya tagged by I Pacquio's lefthook. Prayer is something I preach and talk about more than I do. By God's grace 2009 that will change. To pray whether thats my devotional time, riding the car, in prayer meetings, walking, waiting,exercising ( naks) or just about anything I do....

Prayer gets me seeking God's face. As long as im connected to HIm I know all other things will take care of itself. By prayer, i know i will be more like Christ, be a better husband, father, friend, son, pastor etc...

2 simple words..... that i know will change my life forever.

I heard a preacher once asked the question "Is your prayer life, pitiful or powerful?"
how s your prayer life?

WHY IS HARD TO SAY ( PART 3)

Has anyone offended you? It doesn't matter if it was on purpose or not we all have been hurt by someone. If you ever interact with people...I sure hope you do (more than pets or tv). We all get hurt!!! If you were in the wrong.. admit it , repent and apologize!!!

Yet,there are times when you were really the one who got the raw end of the deal, you were in the right, you getting mad was justified, everyone knew it was the other person who made a mistake. What do you do ?

What would Jesus do ? We all have sinned against God. He was clearly in the right.. we were in the wrong. What did he do ?

FORGIVE.. if someone apologizes to you make sure you forgive and never hold a grudge. IF the person never acknowledges his mistake.. still FORGIVE IN YOUR HEART. Never let a root of bitterness set in. Treat the person well. The Bible commanded us to
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you". Colossians 3:13

The last hard thing to say is "I forgive you"

WHY IS SO HARD TO SAY ( PART 2)

STATEMENT # 2

" Sorry I was wrong" millions of heartaches, harsh words and deaths could have been prevented if we learn to say this phrase. Im not taking about saying this the meaningless, get it over with so you can shut up kinda way..( im guilty of this at times).

Im talking about a genuine, sincere heart acknowledgment of ones mistakes and not intending to do it again thing. The Bible calls calls this repentance.

I deperately want to learn this.. I want to stop excuses and finger pointing and really start taking responsibility for my mistakes and short comings. This year I pray for God's grace to help me add this phrase to my vocabulary "SORRY , I WAS WRONG period!!!"

"WHY IS IT SO HARD TO SAY" (PART 1)

Im writing a series entitled "why is it so hard to say" . This 3 part series will talk about statements that are so simple but for some weird reason I find hard to say.

STATEMENT #1 "I DONT KNOW"

I experience this specially when im lost on my way somewhere and my wife Macy asks me if i know where are going. I get irritated,and become extra defensive.( men im sure you know what im talking about) somehow there is something in me that just wont say "I DON'T KNOW"

We would be saving ourselves from a lot of trouble if we just learn to be humble and admit the fact that

1. we dont know everthing ( yup, that can be a revelation for some)
2. we need help from people who know better ( we have blind spots)
me

i have learned to say "I don't know" at certain times( not all the time) when church members ask me for counsel,when a campus minister asks whats the next step for his minstry, when macy and I are lost going somewhere :)

Next time you are caught in a situation wherein you are not sure what to do..throw pride out of your doorstep and learn to say "i don't know the answer, can you help me please"

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1Peter 5:5

VALUE=TIME

Heard this equation years ago "value=time", basically what you value means you will move heaven and earth to make time for it.

That explains

-why people wake up early to play golf but never wake up for church
-why people will take time to watch Twilight but never have time to read the Bible
-why people spend time playing basketball but never spend time with their kids
-why people set aside morning meetings but never date their wives

Jesus had rockstar status during his ministry on earth.. yet he never defocused from his number one value which is God. time with God.

" Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed". Mark 1:35

ASk yourself 2 questions after reading this blog

1. what/who do i value?
2. Do i spend enough time investing in those things I value.

DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN TELL YOU , YOU HAVE BODY ODOR?

Spoke at the the School of Campus Ministry recently about the need for them to look for mentors as they go through my preaching class. Challenged them to look for people who will encourage them, motivate them and sometimes tell them they stink!! haha

This is concept is not only for preaching class,it applicable for life.

Unfortunately, this is kind of mentoring relationship is lacking in a lot of churches. We sometimes limit fellowship into just hanging out, starbucks coffee or watching movies. ( nothing wrong with that , I love movies). but there is more to this...

We need to surround ourselves with people who will tell us WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR, NOT WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR. People who will get in our face and tell us we are wrong.

A PREACHER ONCE ASKED THIS QUESTION ...
DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN TELL YOU, YOUR BREATH STINKS OR YOU HAVE BODY ODOR?

HMMM.. INTERESTING....

SPIRITUALLY, WE NEED THIS IN YOUR FACE APPROACH AT TIMES, WILL YOU ALLOW A MENTOR /FRIEND TO GET IN YOUR FACE EVEN IF ITS UNCOMFORTABLE? Do you have this kind o friend?

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:6