Evil via Subtraction, God via Sanctification

I was listening to John MacArthur this morning, in his sermon about The Origin of Evil, and he said something that really grips what evil is and how it exists...MacArthur states,

"Evil is not the presence of something, evil is the absence of righteousness."

Very interesting...evil is a negative...it results due to a subtraction. MacArthur goes on to say, "God created absolute perfection. Wherever a lack of that exists, sin exists. And that cannot exist in the nature of God or in anything that God makes.

This confirms what my Preacher Bro informed me of the other day...we need a Jesus Culture...A Culture of Christ...if we object to that, it is probably because our idol is standing in the way...you see, if our culture, our lives, our homes, our families, our computers, our iPhones, our video games, our social outings, our thoughts, our actions, our words, etc, were saturated in Jesus, in Prayer, in Praise, then evil would have no place. But what do we do...we push God out of every area of our lives and then we wonder why people are addicted, lost, and messed up.

Joshua 3.5 gives us a great look at ridding ourselves of evil, becoming Sanctified so that God can work miracles into our lives:

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

And then in The New Testament, James 1:21 tells us, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

...sin can not exist in The Presence of God...Fill yourselves with Christ and evil will flee.

Opportunities Of Faith

Hebrews 11.6, which states the following three things, has given me a framework for living...I know that God is always with us, but at times, it will feel like He is not. Why? Because He wants us to trust Him. Note the following three points of Hebrews 11.6:

1. Without faith it is impossible to please God
2. Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists
3. We must believe that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Falling Backwards Leads You Forwards = Knowing and Trusting
You see, even though God is always present and active in our lives, we still must come to embrace the fact that it is impossible to please God without faith...so there is a dynamic juxtaposition of living a life of adventure and opportunity when it comes to following God...a "knowing" and a "trusting."

It's kind of like the "Trust" drill that you play in team building exercises...you fall backwards into your teammates arms...you know they are there to catch you, but it is still scary to fall backwards where you can not see...all you can do is trust they will catch you...sometimes we must fall backwards to move forwards...

God's Control, Our Opportunity
What this means is that while God is in control, He still gives us the opportunity to take responsibility in being major players in His game plan for life. We can't sit around wanting God to do everything...He wants our involvement...I see this as an honor and a blessing.

The drawback is that it can be scary and daunting and fear will creep in...but this is what I love about following God... He is going to lead us to Opportunities of Faith...we will be scared, but at the same time, we will be excited...I like how Mark Batterson puts it:

"Don’t let mental lions keep you from experiencing everything God has to offer. The greatest experiences will often double as the scariest experiences. The defining moments will often double as the scariest decisions."

Batterson also says a great thing about how blessings come to be: "The genealogy of blessing always traces back to God-Ordained Risks."

God Creates So That We Will Conquer
You see, when it comes to God-Ordained opportunity, God will create them, but He then wants us to conquer them...God was with David, Joshua and Caleb, and Jesus, but at the same time, David had to sling the stone, Joshua and Caleb had to conquer the land, and Jesus had to embrace The Cross...

Your Stone, Your Land, Your Cross
What is it for you? Where do you need to Trust God...where do you need to offer up a faith that pleases The Lord?...Just like David, Joshua, Caleb, and Jesus, and a host of other Biblical heroes, It's the same for us...God has a plan and a will for our lives. We can achieve our best for His Glory if we simply stay on task...Here is a good statement from Rick Warren about God's Will in your life...

"God gives you enough time to do His Will. If you can't get it all done, you are doing stuff out of His Will or doing it a wrong way."

Do the impossible and you will find God. If you crave comfort you will miss out. If things are not working, then re-evaluate. It's Time to Trust and Conquer! Soli Deo Glori!

God's Encore Through Your Persistence!

Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.
Psalm 96.7 MSG

Persevering Persistence
According to dictionary.com, the word Persistent is defined as, "persisting, esp. in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering." What is so important about persistence? Well being persistent and persevering through trials leads to blessings. The Bible tells us the following:

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”- James 1:12

In Scripture, (see the parable of the persistent widow), in sports, and in all of life, we see that persevering and persistence can be the determining factor that brings victory.

For example, Thomas Alva Edison put it into perspective when he said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

God's Encore
As Christ Follower's, I believe Persistent Prayer, Persistent believing, and persevering under trial are testimony's of our faith in God's Power. As long as we are living, breathing, and meditating through the filter of scripture, as long as we are in the sweet spot of God's Will, as long as we are delighting ourselves in The Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37.4)

Why or how do we believe with such persistent faith? Because we have seen how God has worked in our life in the past. Psalm 77.11-12 says,

"Once again I'll go over what God has done,

lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished,
and give a long, loving look at your acts."

You see, we believe in God's Encore, that He will do it again! We shout Bravo, God, Bravo!

God's power in the past gives us faith for our future.

Listen, you may be in a situation right now where you feel there is no way out. Maybe God has taken you on a detour, or perhaps you have run from God...maybe circumstances of life have left you feeling out of control. There is no better time than right now to believe in God's Mighty Power and shout Bravo God! ...Plead for God's Encore... Be persistent in your Prayer and persevering in your trials, because God is The One who makes things happen! ...He is The One who pulls us out of the worst kind of trouble! (Psalm 77.13-15 MSG)

I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.
Psalm 27.13-14

God's Quarterback Academy, Part I

Split Right 787 check swing, check V...Right Slot 93...Left Slot 82 and Go...

The above "code" is known as football nomenclature. This code represents information for a play or plays in football that a quarterback tells to his fellow warriors in the huddle as they prepare for glory.

Along with the nomenclature, there are many things a quarterback must learn in order to become a champion. Over the next three post, I will highlight three aspects of what all great QB's understand and see how we can apply them in order to be Champions For Christ!

1. Take What The Defense Gives You
2. The West Coast Offense
3. Road Tested and Battle Ready

Take What The Defense Gives You (Acts 28)
Now I am firm believer in setting the pace and being on the attack. I believe that the best defense is a great offense, but I also know that sometimes we must, as a good football team does, "establish the run in order to utilize the pass."...In essence, sometimes we must take what the defense gives us and use that to our advantage.

In a big defensive battle, a team will pound and pound the defense with a running game, and then when the time is right, they will STRIKE with a HUGE pass play. And even on pass plays, the QB has anywhere between 3 and 5 receivers to throw to. He reads the coverage and takes what the defense gives him.

Where are you in life right now? Do you feel like you are having to establish the run in order to utilize the pass? Perhaps you feel like Paul and it appears that God has possibly led you on a divine detour. God used a shipwreck and a snakebite in Paul's life, took him off his original planned course in order to use him for a specific purpose (Acts 28).

If this is the case in your quarter of life right now, what you need to do is simply "take what the defense is giving you." Read your options...if option is A is covered, throw to option B, etc...But don't stop the path God has led you to...keep picking away at the defense and soon you will score...

...it does not matter how you get to the end zone for the big touchdown...What does matter is that you are following and trusting God to lead you there. What also matters is the person, the "QB" he is making you to be on your path for the "winning touchdown."

If God can use a shipwreck and a snakebite as a Divine detour to fulfill his purposes through Paul, perhaps he is having you "establish the run in order to utilize the pass." Keep gutting it out, persevere, and sooner than later, God is going to show you the path, He will give you the game plan for your success, which will bring Him all The Glory.

Storyboard Your Life

Those of you interested in the Art of Storyboards will find the following link fascinating. They are the storyboards drawn for the cinematography for Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion Of The Christ," via Milesteves.com

I always love the foundation of any Creative project, and the raw storyboards of any piece of cinema always show the pure planning that goes into envisioning each and every shot of the movie!

Click Here for the boards: Passion Of The Christ

By the way, as a creative project for your life, try drawing a storyboard of where you want to be in the next week, month, year etc...really make a mental picture of your life...act like you are the director and writer of the movie of your life...then draw out or at least visualize each and every scene...what does it look like? feel like? Who are you helping, who are you blessing with your blessings?

Go create your Blockbuster for The Glory of God!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1.1)...

O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! (Jer 32.17)

Trust In God To Make Something Of You!

...make something of me. You can do it;
you've got what it takes — but God, don't put it off
(From Psalm 40.16-17 MSG)

The Book of Romans says that "we call Abraham 'father' not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. (Romans 4.17-18, emphasis added)

I don't know where you might be in your life, but if you are ready for God to make something of your life, no matter what the circumstances, take some encouragement from Abraham...

Here is how it happened:
• Abraham and Sarah wanted a family, Abraham was old and Sarah was infertile...no worries though, because they believed and trusted in The Almighty God

• Abraham dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing.

• When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do.

*** We have the choice on what we believe...
we must DECIDE like Abraham
to live on the basis of what God WILL Do!***

• Therefore, God made Abraham father of a multitude of peoples

• Abraham was old and Sarah had decades of infertility...despite this, they never focused on their own impotence and said, "It's hopeless." Instead, God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!"

• Abraham did not tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions.
• Abraham PLUNGED into the PROMISE and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what He said.

• Listen to what The Bible says next: "Abraham was declared fit before god by TRUSTING God to set him right." (From Romans 4.19-25 MSG, emphasis added).

We must go through training in athletics, studies, work, etc in order to be declared fit for those specific endeavors...if we want God to trust us, we must trust Him...allow your current circumstances to put you "in shape" so that you can be declared fit before God, ready to PLUNGE into the PROMISE that God has for your life!

Final note: From this same chapter, The Book of Romans says, "It's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we EMBRACE and BELIEVE The ONE who brought JESUS to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God."

Our salvation is set, Praise Christ!...Jesus has made us fit before God...now, if we want to live the abundant life God called us to, we must trust and believe like never before...Hebrews 11.6 says, without faith it is impossible to please God...

Trust Him, Worship Him, Believe In Him, Praise Him...The same resurrection power of Jesus Christ is available to us today, it's time to resurrect, roll away the stone that has been keeping you locked up, take off the bandages, and become what God has PROMISED for you!

Trust in God, He will make something of you!

Courage

Deuteronomy 20:3-4, 8 (The Message)

^1-4 When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots and soldiers far outnumbering you, do not recoil in fear of them; God, your God, who brought you up out of Egypt is with you. When the battle is about to begin, let the priest come forward and speak to the troops. He'll say, "Attention, Israel. In a few minutes you're going to do battle with your enemies. Don't waver in resolve. Don't fear. Don't hesitate. Don't panic. God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.

⁸ The officers will then continue, "And is there a man here who is wavering in resolve and afraid? Let him go home right now so that he doesn't infect his fellows with his timidity and cowardly spirit."

⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Our Savior Christ is The Ultimate example of True Courage.
One sentence in Isaiah 53.11-12 says it all:

Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch

"Courage is not necessarily possessing boldness in the presence of fear...
True Courage is displaying bravery through the absence of self."

Holy Spirit Prays For Us

Want to start living with Holy Anticipation? All we have to do is realize two facts that blow my mind: The Holy Spirit Prays for us and that our life is God's Prayer! Drink it in!

He Prays for us in accordance to God's Will! Soak that up...what if we really believed what God's Word is telling us??...What would we dare to accomplish for His Glory if we really believed that The Holy Spirit is Praying for us...It's time to start living what we believe!

Christian has even mentioned to me that he has heard one preacher make an interesting point, "that Christians really don't believe the bible. If we did, our lives would look completely different...as would our obedience to God!"

Romans 8.27 says "for the Spirit pleads for us BELIEVERS"...

It does not say "the spirit pleads for us who would like to believe..."

My point is this...I think sometimes we can get 'lost in translation.' We read a powerful scripture, we hear a good sermon, etc, but then fail to connect God's Word to our living...we go back to living the same lives, going through the same routine, wishing that things were different, hoping that somehow things will change without any action on our part...we must translate Gods' Powerful Promises to our Faithful Living...it's not enough to hear a sermon or read Scripture but then never act on it...

It's time to have a whole new perspective on life knowing and BELIEVING that The Holy Spirit is PLEADING for us in accordance to God's Will!

Psalm 42.6-8
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God's prayer.

Romans 8.26-28
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them

He Is Patient With You

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,

as some understand slowness.

He is patient with you,

not wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3.9

I love a good brisket...juicy, tender, mouth watering...in fact, we just had some for Father's Day last weekend! Do you know how The Executive Chef (My Amazing Mother) cooked the brisket? She cooked it with patience. She did not throw it in the microwave. She wanted it to turn out for the best, so she was wise and displayed patience.

God wants us to turn out for the best...He has plans for us...He wants to unleash us for His service. But to do that, we must develop...So when we think God is taking His time to get us to be the people He wants us to be and to take us to the places where we can Serve Him most, we must not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day...

What we think is slow, God views as patience.

In Summary:

Better to be patient than powerful. ~Proverbs 16.32~

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. ~ Habakkuk 2.3 ~

Hear And Believe

"We must "hear The Word of God" and then we must "believe what we hear."

These are two points that Jentezen Franklin makes in his awesome Holy Spirit filled podcast about our 'Destiny.' In response to this, I would like to post Psalm 119.1-8 below in reference to our destiny with God.

Do you feel God pulling you in a certain direction but your mind has not caught up with your soul in order to know exactly what to do? Well stay on The Path God has put you on...be persistent...stay in constant communication with God and follow His directions...do your best to find Him...He will give you the ultimate prescription to life:

Psalm 119.1-8 MSG
1 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

2 You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.

3 That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.

4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.

5 Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;

6 Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.

7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.

8 I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.

Hear what God says, and then believe what you hear.

Humanity As A Crutch

I hear a statement that we all say sometimes, something like, "I am only human, I can't help but sin." I've heard some people describe themselves as "sinners" thinking that it's humble to say so.

It may sound humble, but in all reality, I think it's a dishonor to God, it's a slap in the face to Jesus, and it's an escape from The Holy Spirit to think of ourselves only as sinners.

Jesus tells the woman in John 8.11, "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."

Why would Jesus tell her not to sin, if he thought it would be impossible for her to do so because of her humanity?

I think we use our humanity, our less than perfect mentality, as a crutch in order to avoid being Holy. Or maybe we even use our humanity as a way to rationalize our sin, so that we can do things we know we should not do, and then justify them by saying we are only human...

Look: When Jesus walked on the earth as God incarnate, He was 100% human...And at the same time He was also 100% God. So to say we are in sin is to say that we are less than human and that means we are separated from God.

Now, sin does occur as a result of humanity, and that is why we need Christ as our Savior to purify us of our sins and to make us right with God. But the story does not end there.

I may sin because I am human, but I don't have to sin because I am human...

...to continue to use humanity as a crutch or an excuse to sin must stop.

Think of it in terms of food and exercise. To say we will sin and then all we have to do is confess and repent is like saying you can pig out on junk food and empty calories and then just go run it off...That is living in mediocrity.

So instead of sinning and then having to repent and confess, I would rather spend my energy on begging for The Holy Spirit to consume me...our bodies are The Temple of The Holy Spirit...we should plead and beg for The Holy Spirit to reside in us and to make us holy.

We become what we set our focus on...

The great Michelangelo said it well, The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

Jesus calls us to Be Holy...He did not say, you are human, you will sin, so don't worry about it. (1 Peter 1.15-16)

In leading his people through the Jordan, Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."(Joshua 3.5)

To be 'consecrated' is to Be Holy, to be set apart. He knew if they wanted God to do amazing things, miracles among them, then they must be holy and without sin.

Final thought: Jesus said, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7.14) ...I want to be on the road that leads to life. That will not happen if I only think of my self as a sinner.

Listen, Jesus gave His life for us in ways that the human mind can not fully comprehend. We can understand the torture He went through to a certain degree, but I don't think any of us can actually put a grip on the pain and exhaustion He experienced. But what we can realize is that it was absolutely excruciating. Why? Because He took on the sins of the world so that we would not have to sin!

I will not dishonor The Crucified Christ by only thinking of myself as a sinner. I will thank Him that I am healed through His stripes and then do everything I can to live in His Victory!

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14

God's Masterpiece

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
~ Ephesians 2:10 ~

According to The Oxford American Dictionary, A Masterpiece is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship ; an artist's or craftsman's best piece of work. We are God's best piece of work. And to know that The Carpenter of Creation has created us in Christ Jesus so that we can do good things, things that He has planned long ago, should give us a Holy Anticipation to live our lives with God-Ordained Passion!

The question is, do we "see" it? Do we see the reality that we are God's Masterpiece? Or are we focusing in on cultures perspective more that God's original design.

God's Plan
God had plans for Mary's life. He planned that she, a virgin, would give birth to The Savior of The World. Her response was, "But how?" Are we saying the same thing for God's plan in our lives? But how?

Holy Anticipation
We must believe that God has already planned for us to do good things, that He has a specific purpose for us to UNLEASH His Glory! We must keep our eyes open and "see" with a Holy Anticipation what God is doing and wants to do through us. Mary kept her eyes open and finally came around to "see" what God was up to:

And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say. ~ Luke 1.37-38 ~

Living Wide-Eyed In Wonder And Belief
What it comes down to is whether or not we live our lives in "Wide-Eyed Wonder and Belief" or whether we are living "squinty-eyed" in greed and distrust."

From Luke 11.33-36:
"No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room." (Emphasis added)

How are our eyes? Do we "see" what God has planned for us? Are we living in a Holy Anticipation with Wide-Eyed Wonder and Belief? Let's accept the fact that we are God's Masterpiece, and then say, along with Mary:

Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's...ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say.

Signs:Keep Your Eyes Open

In the last post about signs, we discussed how to go ahead and "jump in" and then signs will follow...now of course we need to make educated decisions and take calculated risks, but we must also understand that we can not always wait to have a sign from God before we take action. As Mark Batterson says, We must embrace "circumstantial uncertainty"...this builds our faith...this builds our relationship and trust in God! Sometimes we will only be 80% sure of anything, maybe only 40-70% certain...but if we wait until 100% certainty, we may miss our opportunity...

I like how Success magazine captures it from an interview with Colin Powell. It reads, "We do not have the luxury of collecting information indefinitely. At some point, before we can have every possible fact in hand, we have to decide," Powell writes, saying that he goes with his gut feeling when he has acquired 40 to 70 percent of the information about a situation."

Great ways to receive God's Confirmation, According to Scripture, will come through the following 3 ways:
1. Take a step
Go forth and seize the day knowing that The Lord is with us, then signs will follow. See Mark 16.20 and Joshua 3.14-17.

2. Keep Our Eyes Open
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence. ~ Ps 105.1-6~ (emphasis added).

3. Record (post) The Signs We See
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner. ~ Ps 119.30 ~

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”– Teddy Roosevelt

Signs

Awesome thought from Mark Batterson... The topic is about signs. We all want signs to help us take action and make decisions. But always having a sign probably means that our faith would not be very strong...there is a circumstantial uncertainty that strengthens our faith...That's what makes life so exciting...remember Hebrews 11:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

So instead of waiting for a sign to help you make a decision, go ahead and jump in. Batterson mentions the importance of signs after we jump instead of waiting on signs before we take action. Take a look at this account from The Gospel of Mark:

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." ~ Mark 16.20 ~ (emphasis added).

Notice when God confirms...He confirms with "signs following."

After we get in the game, the signs will follow. It makes me think of the quote by Wayne Gretzky, which says, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." We must take the shot!

All we need, as Malcolm Gladwell says, is a "Tipping Point." One move in the right direction can make everything come together...small things make a HUGE difference. But we must take that step.

Joshua had to take the step in the water before the Jordan River would dry up (Joshua 3.14-17). But here is the cool thing...as Christian taught me, They had the Ark of The Covenant (Presence of God) with them...Joshua was not alone...God was with him...but God still wanted Joshua to take the step...once he did, the rest was history!

Take your step. Downlaod your application. Write your manuscript. Ace your test. Make the call. Send the letter. Take your step...

Once you do, then God will confirm your moves with Signs Following!

Bleed

Steve Prefontaine is the "Elvis" of the Track and Field world. The guy is a Legend is every respect of the word. One of the main things everyone loved about "Pre" is that he was a creative artist on the track, but even more so, he was a no-holds-barred-WARRIOR on the track!

"Pre's" WARRIOR status began In The 1970 NCAA Track & Field Championships where "Pre" competed as a freshman in the 3 mile. His performance was in doubt because he had cut his foot four days before the race. Six stitches were required to close the cut. "Pre" had to spend four days in bed.

When Race day arrived, Pre's foot was taped and everyone hoped the wound would not reopen. Listen to what Pre said even if it had reopened...

"I will keep going until I finish or until I run out of blood."

Well Pre's wound did reopen. In fact, He ran the majority of the race with a huge gash in his foot...the six stitches were no match for the 3 mile pounding on the pavement. The good thing is Pre did not run out of blood...but He did finish...not only did he finish, but Pre set the meet record in 13 minutes 22 seconds as a FRESHMAN. "Pre" wanted to run and to win so badly that he was willing to BLEED to do it!

One of "Pre's" greatest quotes explains his mindset when it came to Race Day:

"Somebody may beat me,
but they are going to have to bleed to do it."

Is there anything you are willing to BLEED for?

Jesus BLED for us. He was willing to do whatever it took. He sweat drops of blood. He had a crown of thorns that caused blood to drip down His face. He was flogged and beaten and it left a trail of blood when the guards pulled him away. He hung naked on a cross...bleeding. After He was crucified, the guards wanted to make sure he was dead...so they stuck a spear in His side...blood and water came rushing out...

I can imagine Jesus, on The Cross saying:

"I will keep going until I finish or until I run out of blood."

Here is the cool thing...Jesus finished before he ran out of blood! And because He finished, we get to begin...begin a life of ABUNDANCE!

Live As Jesus Died
I want to live my life the way Jesus died. I want to live my life the way "Pre" ran. The time is now. The passion is here....

...It's Time to BLEED...

Run so hard you come in with bloody feet and missing toenails"

-Rob Decestella

No Execuses

After landing his invasion forces on the shores of a particular country, the sixteenth-century Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés would immediately burn his own boats. He was sending his army a message: "We can't turn back. Either we succeed here or we die here."

Burn the boats...throw off everything that hinders...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
~ Hebrews 12.1 ~

So how do we do this...how do we allow for Excuses to not be an option?

Answer: We focus...we fix our eyes on Jesus. Christ focused. Even knowing His death was upon Him, He was able to stay on course for His mission because of His focus:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
~ Hebrews 12.2 ~

Let's go forward today, having no room for excuses. Let's burn our boats, focus, and fix our eyes on Jesus, just as He focused His life on His mission in order to make our lives super abundant...This will open up the ability for us to make the most of every opportunity that God has mercifully granted us!

...make the most of every opportunity.

~ From Colossians 4:2-6 ~

Promise Land Preparation, Part IV

I commanded Joshua at that time, "You've seen with your own two eyes everything God, your God, has done to these two kings. God is going to do the same thing to all the kingdoms over there across the river where you're headed. Don't be afraid of them. God, your God—he's fighting for you."

Deuteronomy 3:21-22 (The Message)

Your Promise Land is in sight and Your spirit is being stirred...you feel a certain God-Ordained tension to take action and head straight towards it....You know you must move forward and take action but you keep wrestling with the decision to take that step of faith. No worries my friend, because God is fighting for you!

As Joshua as his men were preparing to enter their Promise Land, they definitely encountered resistance. However, all they had to do was remember how God had granted them victory in the past. God is not only God of the past, but He is also God of the present and God of the future...

With your own two eyes, I know there has been a time when you have seen what God has done...have faith and courage because He is going to do the same thing to all the "kingdoms" over there across the river where you're headed.

God Is Fighting For You

So what is holding you back from entering your Promise Land? What is holding you back from downloading that application, submitting your resume, turning in your two-week notice, enrolling in that class, calling that friend? Listen, if you are faithfully diving into God's Word and speaking and Praying to Him on a daily basis, if you are seeking counsel, trusting Him and Obeying Him, and being sensitive to The Counsel of The Holy Spirit, then God is going to reveal The Promise Land that He wants you to conquer.

To conquer it may not be easy...but don't quit before you try...allow faith to shape your decision's instead of fear...you need to identify the giants and the "kingdoms" in your life and have no fear from them..... Don't be afraid of them. God, your God—he's fighting for you."

Promise Land Preparation, Part III

Here is the follow up to Deuteronomy 1.19-25. The first part can be found by clicking here. This post focuses on Deuteronomy 1.26-36.


Complaining, Rebellion, and Fear
But then you weren't willing to go up. You rebelled against God, your God's plain word. You complained in your tents: "God hates us...'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their defenses massive—we even saw Anakite giants there!'" (From Deuteronomy 1.26-28 MSG, emphasis added).

I wonder how many times God hears us say, "God, where are you?" It would be great if we had the audio files of God. I believe sometimes He is saying, "Why are you rebelling against me?...Why are you complaining?... Where is your fear coming from?" We must hold ourselves accountable if we want to enter the Promise Land. God is waiting on us to Trust Him.

God, your God, is leading the way
I tried to relieve your fears: "Don't be terrified of them. God, your God, is leading the way; he's fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; you saw what he did in the wilderness, how God, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here. But now that you're here, you won't trust God, your God—this same God who goes ahead of you in your travels to scout out a place to pitch camp, a fire by night and a cloud by day to show you the way to go." (Deuteronomy 1.29-33 MSG, emphasis added)


Need I say more? Remember what God has done for you in the past. Give thanks to Him. Trust Him to lead you into your future!


Following God Heart and Soul
When God heard what you said, he exploded in anger. He swore, "Not a single person of this evil generation is going to get so much as a look at the good land that I promised to give to your parents. Not one—except for Caleb son of Jephunneh. He'll see it. I'll give him and his descendants the land he walked on because he was all for following God, heart and soul." (Deuteronomy 1.34-36 MSG, emphasis added)


I don't know about you, but the last thing I want is for God to explode in anger because of what I say. God gives us life, He expects us to live for His Glory. I want to follow Him with Heart and Soul straight into The Promise Land!


Promise Land Pearls
1. Big or small? Is God bigger than your 'Anakites?' Focus on God, not your challenges.
2. Praise & Thanksgiving. Praise God and Give Him Thanks instead of complaining.
3. Trust & Obey. Take your energy that you put into rebelling against God and use it to Trust Him and to Obey Him
4. God Our Warrior. God Fights for us, leads our way. Meditate on how He has delivered you in your past and know that He is fighting for your future!
5. Are you ALL for following God with Heart and Soul?

Promise Land Preparation, Part II

Welcome back to 'Promise Land Preparation' Series! You can review part one by clicking here: Preparation To Enter The Promise Land, Part 1


The next two posts will be from Deuteronomy 1. Today's focus will be on Deuteronomy 1.19-25. We will nutshell 2 crucial points today of What God teaches us about Entering our Promise Land


God Has Promised Us The Promise Land - Take It!
There I told you, "You've made it to the Amorite hill country that God, our God, is giving us. Look, God, your God, has placed this land as a gift before you. Go ahead and take it now. God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, promised it to you. Don't be afraid. Don't lose heart." (From Deut 1.19-21 MSG, emphasis added)


What more confirmation do we need? Fellow Christ Follower, don't hesitate-Take the land. God is giving it to you! No Fear. Your Fear should only be reserved for God, but you shall fear no one else. You shall fear nothing else.


Scout Out Your Promise Land
But then you all came to me and said, "Let's send some men on ahead to scout out the land for us and bring back a report on the best route to take and the kinds of towns we can expect to find." That seemed like a good idea to me, so I picked twelve men, one from each tribe. They set out, climbing through the hills (From Deuteronomy 1.22-25 MSG, emphasis added).


Scout out your land and by all means do your research and due diligence. However, realize that God did not have them scout out their land in order to determine if they should take it or not. To the contrary, God gave them the land to take, so they only needed to scout it out to determine what it was like once they arrived!


Promise Land Pearls
1. God's Promise: Realize that God has a promise land in store for you. Be ready to Take It!
2. God's Path: Know God's path to your Promise Land and do your research. Scout your land, not to determine if you should take it, but instead, to know about it when you do take it!

Preparation To Enter The Promise Land, Part 1

32 “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

Deuteronomy 5.32-33 (NKJV)

I believe it was Bob Costas who once said, "Champions are not made on the field, they are simply recognized there." Champions must pay a price for glory. They must put in the blood, sweat, and tears in the off-season, in the camps, and in the every day practice in order to enter their promise land of victory. It's the same way for your life and in your walk as a Christ Follower. You must follow certain principles of success.

If you want to enter your promise land, the principles you must follow are God's Commandments. Not that they are a magic formula, but they are definitely a requirment, if you are to be in The Presence of God. He is calling you to be Holy as He is Holy. God will not be in the presence of sin; just as oil does not dissolve in water, God and sin simply don't mix...

Join me in the next few days as we walk through Deuteronomy together to see how God gives us this gameplan for success. He gives us the preparation we need so that we will be ready to enter our promise land. Then we will always remember that it is God Almighty who delivers us from slavery (sin) and gives us the land flowing with milk and honey.

23 Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. 24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.’

Deuteronomy 6.23-25 (New King James Version)