Tag: broken

Reaching Out

What are you reaching for? We had a backyard combine for the boys at my brother in the laws house this weekend. One of the drills had them doing vertical jumps. The goal was to jump up and reach for a marker. […]

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5 min
4 years ago

March 30, 2020

Tagged Bible, broken, cf, covid-19, cysticfibrosis

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This had me thinking about our current situation. What are you reaching for right now? What are you reaching for to fight fear? Layoffs are real. Food shortages are real. Economic collapse is a real possibility and some serious saying it is happening now. Politicians are fighting and giving mixed messages. Employees are scared. Kids are bored, scared, and depressed. Isolation, anxiety, and loneliness are all beginning to set in.

I can tell you what I’m reaching for. God. I have moments of fear but I’m not letting it drive my spirit. I think about my kids cystic fibrosis and how will this effect them if we get infected. I get nervous when I log in online at work that I will face a lay-off notice. I wonder about my wife’s future as a teacher next year. My parents are states away and if something happened to them there is noting I can do. I want to be my kids hero during the uncertainty. I miss meeting my youth group and worry about them and their safety. I think it’s natural to be fearful. But I’m not reaching for the cup of fear! Fear is natural but I’m reaching for the supernatural!

I’m reaching for God. Those thoughts may enter my mind but I’m not letting them take root in my spirit. God has a plan and this is not the final chapter. It’s a daily battle, but God is winning!

“Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?”

Hebrews 13:5-6 MSG

God hasn’t let us down. He hasn’t walked off. He hasn’t left us. He is here. I repeat for my own spirit to read it…HE IS HERE. That alone should get us excited!

I’ve never paid attention to the last part of the verse before, “Who or what can get me?”. I don’t believe that this refers to the physical, although that would make it easier! But it is referring to our spiritual self. Also it says to be “relaxed”. No matter what’s happening all around us, God wants to give us peace.

So while the social distancing and quarantine sets in…evaluate what you are reaching for to get you through this time period. God is here waiting to help you today despite the infection, material shortages, loneliness, layoffs, and fear. God is in the struggle! Reach out to Him, and let Him drive today.

If you are struggling I want to pray for you. God right now I lift up the reader to you. I pray that you will shout out louder and overtake the enemies whispers of fear. God continue to give us peace and break the strongholds that are holding us back. You are faithful and give new mercies daily. May we all feel your presence today in a way that brings us peace despite the unstableness in our lives. Let this be a time of revival in the midst of chaos. Amen.

Reach out to someone today. Don’t go through this alone!

Remember The Alamo!

We drove through downtown San Antonio, TX this afternoon. I’ve lived here for 14 years and I have never seen anything like it. Maybe a dozen people walking around in a city of over a million. We felt so alone. I took […]

Uncategorized

3 min
4 years ago

March 26, 2020

Tagged Alamo, America, blessings, broken, covid-19

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I took the family to the Alamo. We were able to park beside the road and admire it from the street. I had the kids reflect on what the Alamo meant for the city and the nation back at its time as a fort and mission. I compared it to our family today! The soldiers, families, and volunteers quarantined themselves because the enemy was all around them. They loved hard and defended themselves as best they could.

We have an enemy outside our house today that is circling around us during the quarantine. But we are standing strong. We will fight against fear, anxiety, and sickness. I told them what made the defenders of the Alamo so powerful was the fact that they joined together and really relied on each other to get through it. The kids understood it and even got pumped up a bit.

Chances are, your house is your Alamo today too. Remember as you are hunkering down, that God is there with you as well. John 14:18 says Jesus will not leave you comfortless, bereaved, or helpless. That’s huge. In the morning He is with you and your family. In the afternoon He is with you and your family. In the evening He is with you and your family. He is for You! He is in the battle with us!

So today, remember the Alamo. Remember that God is our general, He is our commander, and He our Daddy. He has not forgotten you. Know this and let it bring peace inside your fort today! The Alamo has a legacy, will yours after the crisis is over?

Jesus, please wake up!

One of my favorite stories in the Bible was when the disciples were in a boat freaking out about the waves crashing over them and Jesus was snoring (Mark 4:35-41). In fact He was at the bottom of the boat with His […]

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4 min
5 years ago

March 11, 2020

Tagged Bible, blessings, broken, covid-19, cysticfibrosis

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Think about it. The majority of the disciples were fishermen. They have had to have gone through storms before. It wasn’t a new thing to be tossed around with waves crashing and winds swirling. But this storm, this was different.

Here’s what’s crazy. They knew Jesus was with them. They had seen the miracles that happened when Jesus was with them. They knew He was up to something bigger than they ever imagined with His ministry…but yet fear gripped them. I think it was their fear that was truly tossing them around to and fro even more than the waves. Granted, physically the sea was insane, but the fear gripped them with insanity.

Back to Jesus snoring. Something clicked in their minds and the disciples went to the bottom of the boat, and woke Jesus up. They were like, don’t you care…how can you be sleeping now?! At a moment like this? Come on Jesus! We need you and we need you now!

Jesus got up, told the waves to chill and instantly it was peaceful. I’m sure Jesus smiled and went back to his pillow after having a talk about faith to his disciples. But get this…this is the part I never picked up on before I heard a podcast from Hope City:

The waves didn’t wake Jesus up. The wind didn’t wake Jesus up. Even the boat cracking against the waves. Jesus was sleeping through all of that. He slept through the outside distractions. The only thing that woke Jesus up was the fearful cries of His people. Then He responded. Immediately!

Whatever it is that you are going through that has you gripped in fear, tell Jesus about it. Maybe it’s the virus happening across the world. Maybe it’s broken relationships. Maybe it’s the grades. Maybe it’s the office. Maybe it’s your 401K. Maybe it’s….whatever it is that is tossing your spirit around and left you feeling like you are about to die in a hurricane gale force wind of fear. Call out to Jesus. Be real and ask Him where He is in all of it. That’s what the disciples did. They didn’t play church, instead they were confused and angry. Then, watch. Simply watch and see how Jesus will calm your fears immediately like He did for them. We will all go through various storms of fear that will try to break us. Jesus never promised life would be easy, but He did promise that He would walk beside us!

Jesus, calm the storms of fear in my life and I pray you would do the same for the readers. Amen.

Be There

Be there. I cannot stress the importance of being there. Tonight some of our teenagers put on a practice performance for their families for an upcoming theater competition. It was amazing. My wife directed it and did an absolutely great job! I […]

Uncategorized

2 min
5 years ago

February 27, 2020

Tagged blessings, broken, daddymoment, dreams, family

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Be there. I cannot stress the importance of being there.

Tonight some of our teenagers put on a practice performance for their families for an upcoming theater competition. It was amazing. My wife directed it and did an absolutely great job!

I was scanning the audience and realized some parents weren’t there. I don’t know their situations and the “why” but that happens a lot. That’s where we come in! My boys and I cheered so loudly for them.

When the curtains closed, the teens that had parents attend, ran up to their parents. The parents gave hugs and encouraged. I ran towards the ones that didn’t have family.

We talked about the make up effects, favorite lines from the theater, and random shout outs with lol moments. I just wanted them to know they weren’t forgotten.

There are so many people that are lonely because they don’t have someone that will go out of their way to be there for them, especially teenagers.

I had someone do that for me starting in 6th grade. It was a game changer. He didn’t have a theology major background, wasnt a successful millionaire, or had years of experience. Instead he was a college kid who had a tyedye shirt, earring, and a massive heart to cheer me on. I am the man I am today because of him!

Be there. Get involved. Make a difference. Stand in the gap! You have potential to be the next game changer!

God and Netflex

Uncategorized

3 min
5 years ago

February 26, 2020

Tagged Bible, blessings, broken, daddymoment, dentist

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I really left youth so pumped and inspired last night. It was one of those lessons where I could see the teens getting it. I stressed that they go home and re-read the chapter and have more conversations with God. To often teenagers will make their only time with God at a youth service. Adults, before you say YES, we do the same thing! Admit it!

It’s like we treat God like we treat Netflix. We find a show, binge watch it and once it’s over, it is over. I did this with the show “Breaking Bad”. Three years ago, I think I watched the entire series in two weeks…wife, full time job, youth ministry, kids, and home repairs…that was dedication. I loved it so much. I had to watch the next episode! I was committed and excited every time I heard the dum-dum sound and when the red “Netflex” popped up on my TV! Unfortunately we do that with God when we go to church, outreach, camp, and retreats. We soak Him in, and then when it’s over it’s over. Back to the grind.

It doesn’t have to be like this friends. In fact Matthew 6:11 captures Jesus’ prayer: Give us TODAY our daily bread. The emphasis “Today” is in the Robbie translation.

Why do we stop binging on Gods voice for a season? Imagine waking up and having coffee with the creator, worship in the car on the way to work, break times is spent listening for his Word, and a fire sat chat with him that evening.

For those who like old school connections, here it is: Exodus 16:11-18. The Israelites were on a journey trying to figure out who they were, what they needed to do next, and living in fear (hmmm…sound familiar?). Moses advised that mana would be provided for the people…daily. They weren’t allowed to take more or less, but just enough for God to sustain them on their journey.

It’s time to take your daily mana. It’s time that you discover how much better He is than just at a service. Let the service be the catalyst, be the launching point for what He wants to share for the rest of the week.

Don’t binge watch God, his seasons are new every morning!

Ripped Tortillas

Uncategorized

3 min
5 years ago

February 25, 2020

Tagged blessings, broken, bullying, community, cystifibrosis

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Scars. We all have them. Some of us grew up in a divorced home. Some lost loved ones. Others got picked on because they looked different. Braces anyone?! Some got laid off instead of promoted. Some have teens in total rebellion. Some don’t have enough income to support their families tonight. Others didn’t get accepted to the university they’ve been dreaming of.

Let’s take it one more level deeper…some are dealing with terminal illnesses or have kids who are. Life isn’t fair at times!

You name it and it’s there. We are bruised and battered by life at times. I spoke to our teenage small group tonight and used tortillas as the illustration. It was an intense 45 minute discussion and it was amazing. I was able to share how God uses people with scars to do amazing things. They have made huge impacts throughout history. Name one hero that doesn’t have a scar at some point? They all do, even the comic book versions!

Know that you aren’t perfect. Know that life will rip at your spirit. Our bodies aren’t the Instagram/Tik Tok filtered versions we display online. Your heart has bruises starting from the classmate that didn’t check the YES box. Your best friend backstopped you. You may have missed that game winning shot, or maybe you didn’t….because you didn’t make the team.

Know this…God is love. He walks with you through all of that. Sure you may not be perfect, but He doesn’t see that. He sees the whole tortilla that He created with no rips, holes, or tears. Let him mend the broken pieces that living life has caused. Let Him put you back in the warmer and be renewed. Skip the temporary bandaids and let Him do open heart surgery. You don’t have to be broken anymore, let Him mend you today.

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