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What Do You Do When You Feel Like You’re Drowning and You’re All Alone?

March 29, 2017 by

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” (Psalm 18:16 NIV)

We have so many friends treading in deep water right now.  Struggling with grief, illness, financial setbacks or family challenges.

I don’t know, is there something cosmic going on?

I’ve swam in some pretty deep waters also a few times as I’m sure you have.  And in addition to the challenge, we can struggle with feeling like God has deserted us and left us all on our own.

Yet, this verse promises something very different.  You may not understand why the struggle but you can find comfort knowing God is with you in it.

And not only is he with you but he will pull you out and set you on dry ground again.

Kind of like Peter, getting out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus.  Bad idea.

Yet, Jesus reached out his hand and lifted him up.  Then they both walked on the water together and climbed in.

I’ve had a few of those Peter moments.   And I’ll tell you when I’ve reached out, Jesus’ hand was always there.

What about you?  Tired of swimming?  Ready to walk back to the boat?

Filed Under: Happiness, Love, Miracles

How to Try Out the Spiritual Adventure

March 27, 2017 by

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV)

In college I lived the party life in a fraternity house.  I’d go to church occasionally to please my mom or meet girls.

The music was boring, the services long and the sermons remote.

Frankly, I couldn’t see the point.

During my senior year in college I came to a place where the partying just wasn’t enough anymore.  I struggled with depression and truly felt lonely even in the midst of the crowd.  I thought there simply had to be more to life than what I was experiencing.

A fraternity brother had gone through a spiritually transforming experience that I grew curious about.  I talked with him one evening about his spiritual journey and how he began.

No walk down a center isle in front of a crowd.  No membership classes.  No pledge forms.  He just tried it out to see if it worked.

Exactly what this verse says.  Take a taste.  Try it out.  See if God isn’t good.

I did and my life changed forever.  I can’t imagine, well actually I can imagine, what my life would have been like otherwise.

And no, I never once wanted to go back.

Filed Under: Heaven, Miracles

How to See God Give You the Desires of Your Heart (Part 2)

March 24, 2017 by

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” (Psalm 37:5 NIV)

We have so many friends right now that could really use a miracle.  I mean they need a full up miracle just to survive.  They pray, we pray and nothing seems to change.

It leaves them and me wondering, “Why Lord?  Why no answers?”

Sometimes, having previously been a professional holy man, people ask me those questions.  Frankly I don’t know.  Sorry to disappoint.

But I’ll tell you what I’ve discovered.

When I’m at the end of trying everything I know and finally in resignation commit it to God.  When I say, “Ok, I give up.  I don’t understand but I trust you have a better plan.  I’m done, it’s your shift.”

Then I see him work.  Often not how I asked but rather in surprising ways.  Then I see his miracle as he fulfills the deepest desires of my heart.

David writes when you trust God enough to commit your desires to him to fulfill as he knows best it opens your eyes to see his real miracles.  And through that trust God’s power is unleashed in mysterious ways.

Are you at the end of your answers?  It’s okay.  God’s shift is starting.

Filed Under: Miracles

How to See God Give You the Desires of Your Heart

March 22, 2017 by

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NIV)

What do you really desire?  What have you prayed for continually that hasn’t been answered?  What do you wish for that just hasn’t come?

And now you’ve grown weary and you’re ready to throw in the towel.  You think, “I guess God really doesn’t want that for me and I’m okay.”  Except you’re not.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve experienced that and then a breakthrough happens.  Occasionally I’ve thought, “So God, you couldn’t give me this a little sooner?”

I won’t pretend to understand the mind of God.  Heck, half the time I don’t understand my own.

Yet, as a father nothing delights me more than seeing my children happy when I give them a gift.  But I also love them enough to want only what I know is best for them and so at times withheld requests.

When my children grew a bit older they could still delight in me as their father because they trusted I loved them and wanted only what was best for them.  Yeah, and then sometimes it didn’t work out exactly like that.

I think it works the same with God.  Only he’s a whole lot smarter.

Filed Under: Miracles

How to Find Confidence When Bombarded by Crises

March 17, 2017 by

Another text message another crisis last night.

I said to Jennifer, “I don’t know if it is our age, but it seems like it’s been non-stop lately.”

From her look, I could tell she didn’t appreciate the age part much.

Friends suddenly losing loved ones, other friends facing health crises, some personal challenges.  It’s been a run lately.

That’s why when I read a promise of Jesus I suddenly stopped and thought, “Yes, that’s it.”

Jesus said, “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End.”

Think about that.  He says, “I’ve completed all my plans since before creation.”

Then he promises, “I am first and last.  I created the beginning and I’ll create the end.”

So no matter what you face Jesus promises he is with you.

He knew you before you were born.  He’ll meet you when you leave this earth.  And he’s with you in the midst of this crazy thing called life bringing his power every day.

Do we question his plans sometimes?  Of course.  Often I’ve wondered, “God, could I vote on this?”

Yet, I’ve also seen God work difficult circumstances into amazing blessings.   And in the midst find comfort knowing he’s with me.

Oh and seriously, I’m not answering my phone right now.

*Revelation 21:6 (NIV)

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven, Miracles

Do You Face the Impossible? Here’s What to Do

March 13, 2017 by

We have so many friends struggling with impossible challenges right now I told Jennifer to quit answering the phone.

Several have health issues that appear out of control.  One is struggling financially because of health issues with no solution in sight.  Some are devastated by loosing loved ones and struggle to find resolution.

It makes me want to hide under our comforter and pretend I’m comatose.

Yet, in the midst of these challenges Jesus promises, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

I love that!  I’ve faced impossible challenges probably like you.  Yet, I’ve also seen God work the impossible on occasion.

I wish I could bottle the recipe that makes that work though because I’d be a billionaire.  Unfortunately, I haven’t.

I can tell you though he works miracles.  And he’ll work his greatest ones when you face the impossible.

He seems to do it most often when you just finally give in to his power and say, “Ok God.  I’m out of ideas.  I need yours.   I’ve finished my shift.  Time for you to take over.”

And then he does.  Maybe not like you expect.  Perhaps not even like you prayed.  But he brings his possible into your impossible.

Hey!  I hear the whistle.  Shift’s over.

*Luke 1:37 (NIV)

Filed Under: Miracles Tagged With:

Do You Want to See a Miracle?

February 24, 2017 by

I’ve seen some genuine miracles.

I’ve prayed for needs that were beyond reason and seen answers beyond explanation.  Yep, I’ve experienced full up, no kidding miracles.

I’ve also prayed for people to be healed and they died.  So no, I wouldn’t call.

I’ve prayed for answers that God in a blink could have provided and he didn’t.  And it left me or others bewildered and frustrated.

So why the difference?

I think there are innumerable answers, most of which comes down to, we really don’t know God’s mind that often.  Heck, if we did he wouldn’t be God would he?

But the one indispensable key is faith.

Jesus promised, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Frankly, I find that promise a bit scary.

I mean, what if God really gives you what you ask?  What if he doesn’t?

Yet, that brings you back to the core of Jesus’ promise.  When you approach God in faith that he loves you and wants to bless you it unleashes amazing power.  And when you pray with that faith you’ll see his miracles in a way you simply never will otherwise.

I think it’s worth the gamble.  What about you?

*Matthew 21:22 (NIV)

Filed Under: Miracles, Success Tagged With:

How to Uncover the Miracle Life

February 8, 2017 by

I’m amazed at the miracle of my life.

I think back to the dead end road I walked in college.  Frustrated, alone, depressed, running chaotically to find elusive happiness.

Yet, out of that confusion to find my wife and be blessed with our children astounds me.  The prosperity we’ve been blessed with even after so many years of financial struggle amazes me.  And to think that after all these years the journey today is the best and keeps growing better.

The miracle began when I stopped running away from God and chose to walk to him.

The Psalmist wrote, “You have made known to me the path of life, you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”*

He offers you a clear path even when life seems confused.  Joy when it makes more sense to feel depressed.  His presence when you feel most alone.  And the comfort that all of this grows better not only now but forever.

*Psalm 16: 11 (NIV)

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven, Love, Miracles, Success Tagged With:

How to Take the Miraculous Life You’ve Been Promised

February 3, 2017 by

Most of us start out with dreams of an extraordinary life.   Unfortunately, those dreams often get squashed by harsh reality.

So it’s easier to give up and simply settle for what’s comfortable.  Yet, I believe for most of us those dreams never really die.  Instead, they lie dormant leaving us feeling unfulfilled.

See God promised you can take on the amazing life he designed for you from the beginning by simply accepting it.

God promised Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.” *

God had already set aside the land for them.   The gift was waiting to be opened.   They simply needed in courage to take it.

It’s like Christmas morning with presents under the tree.  The presents are wrapped and have your name on them.   All you need to do is open them.

Then enjoy the gifts already purchased for you.

*Joshua  1:6 (NLT)

Filed Under: Miracles, Success Tagged With:

Do You Face the Impossible?

January 30, 2017 by

We all face challenges at times that seem impossible don’t we?  We’ve struggled and worried yet the problem persists.

Yet, no challenge is impossible for God.  He created us and everything in our lives.  So if he created all things what challenge in his creation could be greater than his power to solve it?

Jesus responded to a challenge, “With people this is impossible but with God all things are possible.”*

I was struggling with several challenges and frankly by the end of the year just felt spent.  I grew depressed and just wanted to give up, find a cave to crawl into and sleep until it all went away.

Slowly though ideas came about the inherent problems and some possible solutions.  Further clarity continues to light.

I came back to just resting in God for the answers because that’s all I had.  Trusting that he had a plan and he would reveal it to me in time.  Believing he’d guided me this far and wouldn’t let me down now.

What seems impossible to us opens the door to God’s possibilities.

*Matthew 19: 26

Filed Under: Miracles, Success Tagged With:
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