This is How I Fight my Battle. Lessons learned from Joshua at Jericho. 1. Spy out your land. Envision where you are going. Know your purpose. 2. Find your Rahab. Align yourself with people who are where you are trying to go. 3. Don’t be intimidated by walled cities or glass ceilings. Engage in the battle from the perspective the victory has already been won. 4. Get your marching orders...
Fighting for Family
What an awesome problem to have: Too prosperous. Yet, that is the problem Abram and his nephew, Lot faced. So they decided to separate. Abram graciously gave Lot his choice. Lot chose that which pleased the eye. The land appeared well watered but the land had one small problem. It’s inhabitants sinned immensely. As I read this story this morning, I thought about this generation, our children. So many choices...
The Struggle
The struggle is real. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV The struggle to discern the spirit and attack it not the person. The struggle to not be offended by the person. The struggle to love, to bless, to wish well those...
Nobody Said It Would Be Easy
My life is not always easy. There are promises I have been waiting over 20 years to see fulfilled. Even today, I’m dealing with rejection. I’ve had my share of disappointments and epic fails. I have doubted, cried, and wanted to give up. I have had to fight fear, anxiousness, and hopelessness. I’m not sharing this because I want your pity or your prayers. I just want you to know...
This is How We Fight
At this moment, I have been hurt by someone. I have been praying, avoiding, and maybe a little sulking. In a month I will be speaking at the Belonging Conference in Apex (ironic right?). Yesterday, as I I was driving to church, I was preaching to myself. God was giving me my sermon for the conference. I love it when God does that! He was showing me connections in the...
What Were You Thinking
I awoke this morning and the enemy was trying to convince me that people were against me. How was he doing that? Thoughts. How do I know my thoughts were not the Holy Spirit? The thoughts were accusatory and made me feel rejected, defeated, and guarded. The Holy Spirit always leads us to hope. How do I know the thoughts were not mine? I have the mind of Christ. My...
I Quit…Not
“I quit!” Have you ever told this to God? I have. Never in the sense I quit believing in Him. But I have said, I quit believing for this promise I quit loving and honoring people who don’t reciprocate I quit showing grace when I just want to slap somebody upside their head. I quit extending forgiveness to people only to have them do it again. I quit dreaming big...
We Win!
The King of Assyria was a bully. His army had invaded nations. Like locust, his army had decimated kingdoms, plundering their goods and killing thousands. And now, this vast army was threatening King Hezekiah and the nation of Judah. They sent messages bragging how they were going to destroy Judah. They mocked King Hezekiah’s reliance and trust in God. “What makes you think your God can save you. No other...
The Fight is Rigged
How to Win an Impossible Battle Jehoshaphat was a good king. But that did not stop three powerful nations from banding together and declaring war against him. Their armies were vast. Powerful. Skilled in war. Jehoshaphat was the underdog….but God specializes in turning underdogs to Top Dogs. What can we learn from Jehoshaphat this morning? 1. Inquire of the Lord. When news came of the impending danger, Jehoshaphat’s first response...
The Book of Job
Be honest. When you saw the title of this blog, did it make you cringe? Personally, I think Job is one of the most misunderstood books of the bible. It has been used to teach us suffering should be expected and welcomed, that God “allows” Satan to ravage us, or that suffering is God’s will for our lives. I by no means consider myself an expert but this is what...