Looking for Water

33 He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land 35 But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water. Psalm 107:33,35

God is in control of everything the psalmist used weather and conditions of the land as an example of how God is always in control. The principle that I receive from the reading today is that God is in control of our lives and although we would love for their to be pools and springs of refreshment in our lives always, sometimes you have to go through a desert where the rivers are no longer evident, springs of water become dry. Second thing is Bear uses the river or spring for navigation back to society. Whether the river is a raging torrent of water or a dusty dried road where water once was he remains on the path of where there once water.

You have to look for the water. There's a show that I watch from time to time called "Man vs. Wild" In the show an ex millitary guy ("Bear Grylls") is placed in a deserted land of harsh elements where he is trying to find his way back to society. Watching the show I've noticed, Bear always looks for water. You can survive longer without food than you can without water. Water is necessary to survive but you have to know how to find it. Spiritually there are times when we go through life and it feels dry, it feels like a desert. Times of dryness are inevetible these are the times I believe God wants me alone with Him. God is teaching me something, God is revealing something about Himself. Here's what I realized recently. The difference between phsycial thirst and spiritual thirst is when your thirsty physically we look for a drink, but for spiritual thirst it's a different story. When it comes to spiritual thirst we wait it out, we don't always look for the water of God's spirit, His Word and His Presence. "I'll wait till sunday to drink" "I'll journal tomorrow" We allow our spirit's to dwell in a land that is dry and desolate. You can be spiritually thirsty and know what to do but not do it anyway. Ever been there?, I know I have. You get lazy, you keep putting things off, the things you know work, finally you get to a point where it feels like you can't go on anymore. Why wait? Why keep traveling with a thirsty spirit? The bible say's each day a measure of grace is given to us. Look for that grace daily, it's there, whether it comes to you in a raging flood or if it's just a small amount of dew on the pages of His word, it's there. Listen you've heard it before "Life is a marathon not a sprint". God is holding a cup of His presence, His word, His life quenching water for us daily. Look for the water, don't wait, you need it, and you need it daily.

Jesus Fragrance

"A couple of years ago I was at a worship meeting in the Czech Republic. We had just experienced an extraordinary time in God's presence, almost as if a blanket of holiness was pressing in on us... I was leading the worship and had left the stage area to get some water. I walked past a girl who was just resting in God's presence and I smelt a strong smell that was like roses. It caught my attention because I had once smelt something similar at a meeting at my church. After the meeting I asked her: 'Are you wearing perfume?' She must've thought I was a bit odd, but answered that she wasn't. I was sure then that it was the perfume of Christ...

So this is what I want our worship to smell like. Not to reek of death and decay, but to smell of Jesus' after-shave. I want to be so close to Him that I can smell His perfume..."

                                                     - John De Jong, Riding the Storm

This is what I am praying for... for San Jose, Milpitas, Manteca, Hawai'i... I want to experience that kind of worship, so that Jesus' fragrance becomes our air freshener. I don't need Febreeze, I need Jesus.

"Blessed"

Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.

The question that I thought about when I read this scripture is how do people know I am a person who is blessed? Being blessed has nothing to do with what you are going through, has nothing to do with what you have or don't have, it has everything to do with who you are and everything to do with what God has done in your life, for your life and desires to do through your life. Before people will realize that I'm blessed I must realize I'm blessed. I know I've found myself at times complaining to God "God how come I don't have that or how come I have to deal with this" this kind of attitude is not of someone who know's they are blessed. "But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Cor. 10:12

I think I have to reevaluate what being blessed is about more often. I'm blessed because God loves me and I have responded to that love and no other thing in the world can compare. I'm blessed because God has given me a purpose and I have found that out, some people never find their purpose in life at all. I'm blessed because I have an incredible wife, incredible children, incredible relationships with incredible people that God has all placed in my life. Just because I'm not wearing (it), driving (it) in fact my (it) may even be falling apart (hey but it still drives) it has nothing to do with being blessed. When you realize how much you have in Christ the little things don't matter anymore and people around you will realize your blessed. Practically speaking I found these questions today on Lifechurch's swerve blog. These questions really made me think so I wanted to share them, I believe that the questions fit perfectly with this journal entry. If your alive today...your blessed.

If God took away my words would my life keep speaking?
Would simply the way I live lead people to Christ?

Rebuild and Renew

Isaiah 61: 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

God is proclaiming restoration in the land and how he will replace the pain and struggle with joy and praise. This world is in much despair and pain. It is all around. Milpitas has been in a state of brokenness for some time and not just Milpitas but San Jose is going through a time of mourning as well. Personally, I have felt God allowing me to go through a season of brokenness and sadness. How less would I understand restoration if I have never been in ruins? Ant and I have been called to rebuild where satan has devastated people’s lives. It starts in my life, in my home, in my family, in my community. I cannot take a nation if I can’t even rebuild myself.

God has provided:
1. “a crown of beauty”: the crown symbolizes authority, position, and security
2. “oil of gladness”: an anointing of joy that is contagious
3. “garment of praise”: when the people were in mourning they wore sackcloth, rough and ugly, praise is far from ugly. It makes you shine from the inside out.
4. “oak of righteousness”: an oak is a strong tree with large roots, we will be a source of strength and stability to glorify God
5. “rebuild”, “renew”: This is my mission in life to rebuild and renew. It is not an easy assignment, but it is what I live for.

Lord, this has been the hardness year but I realize that the process is just as important and I am honored to go through these trials so that I may be able to rebuild in someone else. I thank you that you do restore. Let my praise be a fountain of life that refreshes all theses around me. Amen

The Four Levels of Competency

I came across this write up on Lifechurch's swerve blog some weeks ago. Originally it was an evaluation of team members but I tailored it towards my own life. As I recapped it today I begin to really think about my life and leadership. Although not officially church planting yet, running a Sattelite campus does not mean I'm not experiencing some of the unknowns of life, leadership, and ministry. I look at Church planters as the pioneers, you don't always know quite what's around the corner. Just when you get to one level and have figured out some things it turns into a whole new level of pioneering where you don't know again. One thing I have figured out though is to slow down when you don't know. There's something about slowing down that the voice of God, His direction, and His will becomes appearent and clear. My pastor used the analogy of a baseball player whose game slows down, he's able to see the pitch that's coming, he can hit the ball more effectively, not only that but he can place the ball wherever he wants when he hits the ball. Strategy and technique in leadership are learned things, learned from the Lord, from His word, and from those who God has placed in your life. It's ok not to know, if your in a place of doing anything big for God, you will often find yourself in that place. So back to the blog. I believe the following questions are important to ask yourself often, in every new season and chapter of our lives. Each question reveals maturity, and it reveals progress. If I am going to get to where God wants me to be I have to be real with where I'm at right now. In order for me to plan a travel route driving I have to know where I'm at first then and only then can I find the best route to take. Detours stink, they delay things, U-Turns are even worst, sometimes it's just part of the territory but if you can limit them there's a lot less frustration. I know in my life and in ministry that I have just come out of a chapter that contained detours and now have entered a new chapter. Looking back it's totally evident now that I just went through the process below. So as I start this new chapter, I'm asking ahead of time to limit the detours, I know where I want to go, but where am I right now? Do you know?

(1) Unknown incompetence: Do I know what I don't know.
(2) Known incompetence: Am I starting to learn what I didn't know.
(3) Unknown competence: I know now what I didn't know before, seeing results and realizing that there's an even bigger picture, and bigger person inside of me.
(4) Known competence: I know and I am aware that God has called me for this specific role.

An Invitation To Live...

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David. Isaiah 55:3

God is giving me an invitation, an invitation daily to live through His word. I believe the word of God is powerful, it's affect on our lives is life altering. "It makes my soul live". So many times we replace the word with something else, that something else yes it can alter your life but it can't bring you power, yes it may seem like it's helping you at first but in the end there's no longevity it does not have the ability to make your soul live. Without God's active, and fresh word in our lives, life get's tired and frustrating, it becomes confusing and chaotic.

It's an incredible feeling when I step out of the airport in Honolulu, instantly the Hawaiian air hits you. The warmth of the tropical weather, sometimes a light drizzle, the smell of the tropical flowers all of it together at the same time does something to my soul. I appreciate God's creation so much, because every time I see it, I see His power and His majesty. It seems like every time I go to the islands the very first night I make sure I catch a sunset. Island sunset's are not normal, the sun looks like it's at the end of the ocean like it's floating, there's this amazing glistening on top of the water. It seems like everything just slows down and just for a minute everything just feel's right, it's like my heart has actually skipped a beat. My soul is alive again and can breath. What if you could feel that every day, what if you could see it? You can, in fact you can experience something much more powerful every single day, it's an invitation to hear God and to rest in His presence. The Lord say's incline your hear, listen for me, I guarantee if you slow down enough, the same way you slow down when your on a vacation or looking at some incredible display of God's creation you will hear God. God offers your soul paradise today, it's in His voice, His presence, His word, would you slow down enough today to hear His daily invitation...

Lord thank you for desiring to spend time with me. Every single time I just relax in you I feel like my soul is alive, I don't want to settle or replace your presence or word in my life for something that does not bring me rest. Help me Lord to stay in pace with you in Jesus Name, amen.

Life is sweet...

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.

I love this scripture because it sums up totally what I feel and have been feeling lately. The scripture say's the Lord wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ears to listen. It seems like very week I just stand in awe of what's going on in my life. God has awakened me, awakened me to His presence. I hear God the word clearly. I feel God throughout the week. I honestly have not felt the "just get me through the week" attitude in over 6 weeks. God has awaken my life, and I know more than ever that I (we) are on the right path.

I can't believe what took place today in church. Every week it builds more and more. I don't feel tired. I have incredible fresh thinking, creativity, vision, reflection time is incredible as well. It just seems like all my spiritual senses have woken up. I have resolved myself to let God run the show from now on and boy has He. Even being the least prepared, incredibly drained, missing our lead musician, even with things going on at home, God took over the service today. In basketball there is a saying when a player is on fire, he can't miss, "he's found his sweet spot" We have totally found a "sweet spot" in ministry, but it's because we found a sweet spot in relationship with God in relationship with each other. I announced to the church today that I have no doubt that we are on the right path, no doubt at all. "We have found heart". The challenge is to continue to remain in that place of sweetness with God, sweetness with the family and sweetness with relationships. Is that not what the bible say's "Taste and see that the Lord is Good" I've been awakened, we're on the right path. Boy life is sweet..

Lord thank you for today. Thank you for giving me the most amazing family. Thank you for giving me the most incredible wife who loves you with all of her heart and loves to dream right with me. Thank You for Santz who so richly has your hand upon Him in favor and grace. Thank You for Amanda who aims to please You no matter what and is no longer afraid to take a risk. Thank you for Troy who is my breaker, when He show's up in worship things happen in the heavenlies. Thank you for Mom and Dad who are getting ready to blow it up, to see what they have never seen and have done what they have never done. I've awaken Lord, I tasted and see that You are good. Take us deeper God. In Jesus Name, amen.

Who's the Boss?

Hey Everyone,

Just want to share something I read today... It was a little long, so I'll paraphrase: 

Matthew 16:22-23

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 

I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I try to tell God what to do. Like He needs my help, right? 

We all tend to do this, when we think we know best how our lives should look. But I've found that God knows what He's doing, far more than I do! (An obvious statement, but hey, I gotta remind myself sometimes.) When my parents split up, it changed my life. Now, their split may not have been the best thing, but it led me to be in Master's Commission, which led me to enter a 2nd year leadership position, where I met Ant & Tara, which led me to be part of the Hawaii team, which led me to CWC Milpitas! I would've never imagined my life this way, but that doesn't really matter. Although I was surprised to find the twists & turns my life was taking, God was never surprised by it, not once. That's because He already knew - that was His plan for me all along! As the paintbrush, how am I supposed to know what the final portrait is supposed to look like? That's the Artist's job.

"Bottom line: It's a bad idea to tell God what to do. He's going to do His thing whether you like it or not. It's better to be a rock that He can build on than a stumbling block that He has to remove." 

Just ask Peter.

"History Makers"

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." Isaiah 42:9

It's incredible the awesome privelege that we have to be able to tap into the voice and heartbeat of God through prayer, journaling and worship. Reading this scripture made me realize how much greater the privelege is. God desires to includes us in his dream, in His plan and before "a new thing" springs into being God announces them to you.

Why would God announce his plan of a new thing to us? I feel God saying today "I'm giving you a chance every day to become part of the greatest story ever told, I'm giving you an opportunity become a part of History." Whether we realize it or not, we stand in the middle of the greatest story ever told. God Loves man, He Loves Him so much He sent His son to die for him. And the story conitnues today, right now in the middle of a busy work week, schedules and agendas, traffic and quick dinners, you are part of the story. You are part of "HIS story" God desires me to be involved in the story of His grace, His unconditional love, and His incredible plan. I've been studying Nehemiah for sometime now and one thing I see that Nehemiah realized is he understood how his life was a bridge from the old to the new. Nehemiah understood that His life stood in the middle of History in the making and that, if he held back, if he ran away, if he thought it was too big, if he did not play his part... so much more was at stake. God announces His new thing to you today. YOU are a History maker. In the middle of everything that goes on in your day there is History in the making and you are a part of it. Can you hear the new thing God is doing every single day? Have you heard God announce His plans? How will you play your part in the story? I heard a quote by Kris Valloton the other day "Your place in eternity is secure, it's your place in History that is in question" You have a chance to be a part of HIStory... live it out.

Lord thank you for speaking to me about the importance of life, my life. Thank you for including me in your story not to stand back and watch but to get involved. I want my life to be a bridge Lord for someone who has no hope to having hope. I want my life to be a bridge for someone with no dream to having a dream. I stand in the middle of something much bigger than I could ever see, let me hear you so that I can play my part. Amen.

The way of the Samurai

12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 1 Peter 2:12

And yet another scripture tying into the changing of culture. Today's verse says that we should live properly among those who are unbelieving, for proper living will allow others to see our lives as honorable and God will be honored by the way we live.

When I think about honor I think about respect, and esteem. But honor goes much deeper than that. Honor is what makes someone or something credible. The Gospel is true nothing can change that, but what makes the Gospel credible to unbelievers is how we live. The question that I'm thinking about right now is, can honor change a culture? You bet it can. One of the most interesting cultures that I admire are the Japanese. Honor is extremely valued. My wife's uncle who lives in Hawaii has a Japanese wife, she has taken one day off of work here whole life, she's not a workaholic she lives with honor. Where did this tradition of honor come from? Honor in the Japanese culture can be traced back to a group of warriors in Japan's history known as the Samurai. The Samurai lived their lives as noble warriors who were committed to living honorable. Centuries later the Japanese culture is forever marked with a tradition of honor. "Honor changes culture." I guess I can take some lessons from the Samurai. In fact I learned today that the name Samurai is a Japanese verb for service, “saburau”. Samurai literally means “one who is a servant." Isn't that what I am, a servant, "one who is a servant of Christ"? Being a servant of Christ how does He get Honor through my life? When people here me talk, watch me react, see how I carry myself does my life make Christ look credible to them? How can I bring Honor to Christ today more so that the culture around me is changed.

Did you hang around Jesus today?

"...live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:17

So I've started reading a new book "Culture Shift" and today's scripture fits perfect with something that God is chipping away at in my own life. But first today's reading. Twice in chapter 1 God's elect, His children, those of Kingdom culture are called "strangers" Strangers don't fit in, they stick out and that's exactly how Christ is calling us to live.

God has been dealing with me on how I have conformed to a culture of busyness, performance driven and anxiousness. It's easy to take on what is around you, but God is calling me to a whole different way of life. God is not calling me to conform to the culture around me but to change the culture around me. "God's kingdom, set's the agenda for my whole life" and I will never know that agenda if I miss my time with Him. I think this is why so many Christians and churches struggle. We are present in the world but the culture of Christ is absent. Why? Because we haven't been culturized by Christ. The team and I were part of an incredible weekend where I believe we received a spiritual u-turn on how we were living life and doing ministry. So last night I sent out a text saying : For the next 21 days we need to keep each other accountable with journaling, we can't make lame excuses anymore. It's not about a performance thing as much as it is a position thing "positioning yourself to hear Jesus daily" When you are culturized by Christ daily you will be a leader, an influencer, and will affect the culture around you. On Monday the team attended a leadership meeting with New Hope, there was so much info that it was difficult to process everything but the question that I asked is "where do we start" We realized where we have been missing things, what needed to be done, but where do we start. The answer was all the same it's starts with yourself. So the question that will be asked for the next 21 days is a question of accountability, of challenge, of expectation, it will be sent in e-mails, text, twitter, verbally, anyway we can get it across and keep each other accountable. "Did you hang around Jesus today?" (this includes, prayer and worship) We are on a hunt, on a mandate, on a mission, to position our lives to hear from God daily, so we can be positioned for a huge dream. To change the culture at church, our jobs, school, anywhere we walk. Let's see what happens in 21 days, what does our life look like, families look like, what does our job, our relationships, what does our ministry, our church look like if we just focus on the agenda of God and kingdom culture. What does my life look like if I just have genuine, whole hearted, authentic pursuit for a relationship with Christ the way I was created to have the way it's supposed to be? Did you hang around Jesus today?

Lord I pray for a radical shift in my life, my family, my team, my ministry, in all of my life prepare me to change the culture around me but start with me first... Amen

"Dream"

Today was an awesome day at church. I spoke about the risk that Vision will require us to take. Later my family, the team and the Contreras all went to see Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Oahu. Little did I know how much today's sermon would fit with exactly what we would all be feeling tonight. I've learned the further away that you know you are from living from a dream the easier it is to dream. The closer you get to a dream the scarier it becomes to dream. You would think that it would be the reverse but that's not always the case especially when it's a God dream. God's dreams for our lives are so huge, they require an incredible amount of faith, it will seem like it's too much, like you can handle it. I have a feeling that myself and my team feel pretty stretched tonight. I think they might even have a hard time sleeping. I know they probably will read this later so for them and for anyone else that's right around the corner from doing anything ridicuoulsy huge for God "your ok." I feel like everything fast forwarded tonight, we saw Vision right before our eyes, we saw what could be, we got a glimpse and a taste of things, right up front, right in front of our face. In the moment you get pumped up, you get excited but when the emotions settle, and you start your drive home, you relax and start to gather your thoughts and an incredible amount of fear begins to set in. You see this is point where you realize what felt like a lifetime to show up is right in front of you, right around the corner. All kinds of emotions affect you, panic, fear, doubt. All of the sudden it feels like it's a scary thing to dream. God put discomfort in the team tonight I know it, it's not that God want's to discourage us from dreaming it's that He doesn't want us dreaming alone. We need God to live out this dream. We need God every single step of the way. If you ever are in a place where your about to do something big for God and your scared, your in the perfect place. Anytime anyone does something for God, something of significance, something of importance, something that leaves legacy, changes lives, and impacts culture it will feel like it's too big. And it's true it is too big for you...but it's not too big for you and God. So if your in that place where your dream is right around the corner, Dream some more. It's ok to have fear, just don't let it stop you. Just Dream!

Downtime...it does a body good

Remember those old milk commercials that used to say "Milk, it does a body good." Till this day there are still milk commercials though the slogan has changed the importance of milk has not and so the commercials continue "got milk". Today was a milk day for me not that I drank a lot of it but it was one of those days I call a "downtime day". I did as minimal as possible today as possible, yet I feel like I accomplished so much. I started my day with my little girl on my chest resting (incredible) My wife cooked breakfast for the whole family (incredible) Then I spent time with my boy wrestling, he always wins because I let him (incredible) Tara and the kids had a play date scheduled with Leia's Godparents and I had the rest of the afternoon to do whatever. I went outside enjoyed the weather, read a little, then listened to a sermon. Later I was watching a documentary on the military. Because today was a downtime day no agenda, no schedule, nothing planned I focused on just hearing from the Lord. It feel like I heard God all day long, I was hearing God speak to me as I read, speak to me as I listened, speak to me as I watched. "Downtime, it does a body good" I noticed a couple of things when I have day's like this, here's what I noticed:

What downtime does for me:

1. Allows me to spend not just time but quality time with those I love

2. I'm better after some downtime, I'm a better husband, father, and leader.

3. My nets get mended, I see loopholes that I've missed, I see where I'm lacking and all of those areas of my life begin to get fixed.
Example: Remember the relay race to fill a pail with water, only thing is that the cup the runners are using has a hole. When I don't have downtime I miss those holes in my life, meanwhile I'm running the race of life trying to figure out what's going on and why I'm not seeing results.

4. I get the details for Vision. "It's not enough to know where your going, you need to know how to get there" Once I get details for one thing I begin to see how it all fits into an even bigger thing. Vision get's defined

5. The most important thing: The voice of God, the Word of God, His presence all of it, I become more aware of. I need to know that God is with me on this journey called life, I need to know that He's with me every single step of the way. I need to hear Him, after all He is the best tour guide in life.

God's Jedi

My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, 3 because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.4 Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need. July 17-08

This scripture today reminds of Star Wars, in one movie Luke Skywalker is in training to become a Jedi with Master Yoda. Yoda knew that Luke had all the fundamentals of a Jedi, Luke knew how to use the Lightsaber, Luke new knew how to use "the force to an extent". In order for Luke's training to be completed there was something deeper than Luke's training that he would have to face, he would have to face his worst fear, he would have to find a deeper confidence, he would have to face his own weakness, Luke would be brought to a point of wanting to quit, to give up. Fortunately Luke did not quit and he became a Jedi, the person inside of him, who he really was. In our times of trials,troubles and pressure there is something deeper that is being built in us, something built to last, God is building in us all that we need to become His Jedi.

As I look back at my life in the last few months I realize I have gone and am going through some intense training. After all, I am chasing after a dream, a Vision, a Mission, a mandate on my life to be the best husband, to be the best father, to be the leader that God wants of me. What I have in my heart to do for the Lord will not be easy, so the training that I have gone through and will continue to face will not be easy. There's no doubt in my mind that the training has intensified, it's rapidly increased since coming to CWC Milpitas. It's in every trouble, every test of my faith, every time that I feel like I can't do it anymore, that in the background God is building everything in me that I need to complete the chapter that I am in. Notice I did not say training will be complete. You just complete chapters. Each chapter presents a new journey, obstacles, trials but in the background growth is taking place, a deeper strength, increased wisdom and a bigger vision then before. I truly believe that in my life, my family and my team that we have just completed a chapter. As we enter into a new chapter we are stronger, we are much wiser, we are growing together. The training you see in one chapter is tougher in the next, the flip side, the victories you saw in one chapter are even bigger in the next. Get ready for a new chapter, a new journey, some tough times, but greater victories...

The things planned long ago...

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1

How many times have I had to go back and redo something over again? Whether it's putting a piece of ready to assemble furniture or driving to a location that I've never before. Life, in the little things and in the big, will require you to go back and do things over at times. I don't have life, have vision, have chasing after a dream all figured it, and so occassionally I get off course without even knowing it. It's usually not a big issue when getting off course in little things like putting a piece of furniture together, but it is a big deal with the big things. We delay God's work in our life, and the work that he wants to do through our lives... the things planned long ago.

Even when I'm not faithful to God's plan, when I lose sight of it, or when I just try to figure out things on my own, God is still faithful to His. Isaiah said that the things contained in God's plan are marvelous. I've marveled at some incredible sights on this earth, snorkeling in Hawaii, the painted skies of New Mexico, the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains all of these sights are marvelous and reflect the creativity and power of God. Ever think what God looks at when He looks at your life? What if God looks at my life the same way I look at creation. What if He marvels, stands back, smiles, and take a deep breath when looking at us live for Him. I believe that's why God created man last, why God shared His breath, why God created man in His image, because of the marvelous things God has planned, the things planned long ago. I feel the Lord telling me today your on a plan today, stick to it, stick close to me, it's a perfect plan and even when your not faithful to it, I am faithful to you. I feel God saying my plan doesn't quit, doesn't lose patience, and doesn't tire. My plan for you is to live a marvelous life. If you would just see the things I have planned for you, the things planned long ago...

Lord guide me today in living your plan for my life... the things you planned with precision with exact detail. Help me to discover daily your blueprint more and more of how I am to live life, chase after a dream, and become all that you have planned of my life and my family. Amen

"Something Caught not Taught"

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

When Moses was in the presence of God through a burning bush he was told remove his sandals because the ground was Holy Ground. When Isaiah saw the Lord High and lifted up he cried holy. The holiness of the Lord was something that was seen. Anytime the presence of God was present in the word so was His Holiness. Now God is perfect and what makes Him Holy is who He is, He is the King, He is all powerful, He is all knowing, He is present at all times, He is the great I Am. So how does a man become holy? For man holiness is not taught, it's caught. It's caught through the presence of God, it's caught through God's spirit, it's caught when Christ is present in my life and it's evident. We are just vessels who are transferring what's inside.

I've witnessed people and even in my own life trying to obtain holiness through what they do, how I carry myself, try to talk holy, wrong effort, that's flesh. "Holiness is a result of being around God constantly." The best analogy that I can give is when someone goes to the gym and works out, eventually you will be able to tell on the outside what has taken place at the gym. My effort must be a pursuit of God's presence. "We wear our pursuit, whether strong or not" When our pursuit is minimal what is seen is us. When my pursuit for Christ and His presence in my life is strong, something remarkable takes place and I catch what I could not obtain by myself and people see the Lord.

"Always something better"

God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40

Today I read about these great people of God who accomplished much for the kingdom and are influential even today because of their faith. Great faith led to victories in war, shut the mouths of lions, quenched fiery flames and even raised the dead. Incredible people lived incredible lives all of them faced great attack and opposition. Some received their promise and others did not but all of them lived with great faith. Then the last part of Hebrews 11 sums up why it's important to have faith because "God always has something better".

I have recently come out of a "heart attack". Not a physical one but a spiritual one, it was an attack on my passion, purpose, priorities, my family, even my faith. This attack was so bad that I felt like a hypocrite preaching about vision when I couldn't see it in my own life. I honestly feel like I have come out of a battle. Yes I am victorious, I always was, even though I didn't see it. Yesterday two ladies who visited the church were so impressed with the service. They said "we could feel the power of God" but not only that we felt the warmth of this church. Wow haven't heard that one yet, it pumped me up. I feel connected with my team again. I feel like we are on the right path. We have found heart again. Yesterday I know we did what God wanted. I feel like we are firing on all cylinders again, our faith, perseverence, and great desire to stay on the wall and to finish this project has pulled us though but still this morning I feel God stretching my faith. Wait a minute this is weird! I thought your faith only get's stretched when times are going bad. I thought it's when your struggling, when there's little hope, when there's little strength that your faith get's stretchec but I feel God still stretching "have I not got it yet God whats up?" I feel the Lord telling me "you haven't seen anything yet". In fact these are the words that I heard yesterday right in the middle of service. I thought I was supposed to speak it out but the Lord didn't let me because it was for me. Now today I feel God saying, expect more, because there's something better yet still. The work of the Lord is not over in us or through us, it's just beginning. It just seems like God has me up throughout the night more and more lately. I know that I'm not getting as much sleep as I am used to but I am not tired. So go ahead God lead us to what's bigger, what's better, what's of You and totally of You, an authentic, genuine, pure & concentrated move of God. Lead me to the BIG, to the BETTER. I will follow.

Thank you for showing me and building expectation. It's time to seize the day, dream big, live big, to live like I've never lived before because there's "still something better"

Incredible Videos

Came across these videos today. They blew me away. Pure, authentic, genuine, down to the core, concentrated worship. Watch and see...

The Story behind the song "Healer" (Watch this one first)


"Healer" Live

"Living Intentionally"

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his. Psalm 100:3

This morning as I walked outside there was an incredible sunrise coming over the hills of Fremont. Todays verse goes perfect with the sight I just witnessed because the same God who created the sun and all of creation is the same God who made me. "It is he who made me, and I am his"

So I come into work today and hop on the computer, I checked twitter and my boy Ulla had posted a message "live intentionally" it spoke to my heart. Live with the intention of living for the God who made you. What does God want you to say today? Who would God like you to encourage? What is it that I can do today that speaks of Christ and this incredible life that He has given to me and has given to others. Live with the intention of bringing Glory to God and transforming lives around you. Practically speaking "change your target", everything that I do is for God, everything. Who I am, what I do, How I speak, How I come across, How I act, What I leave behind is about God, when Christ is my target then I'll find intentional living.

"There's no substitute"

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge... Psalm 73:28

God has been dealing with me about "Living in His Presence" so when I read this scripture the portion that stuck out is "it is good to be near God". Why? It's found in verse 26 My Flesh and my heart fail me but God is the strength of my heart. My heart is only as strong as it is close to God. Living outside of God's presence, living with minimal exposure to God's presence creates a weak heart.

I didn't realize this but I was depending more on my passion in the last few months then God's presence in my life. Passion is contaigous, it's something that inspires. Passion births, it creates, it builds momentum. Without being passionate life seems boring, mundane and average. Passion is an incredible thing to have and live with, but passion will not keep you going, it doesn't have sustaining power when it's all you. The writer said it today "my flesh and my heart fail me" There's no substitute for God's presence. My heart was weak because of the lack of exposure to the presence of God. Even what you love to do, are called to do, and may even do well will lose steam outside of God's presence. Frustrations set in, anxiousness, anxiety, lack of peace meanwhile trying to make up by becoming even more busier. That's not where I want to live, I refuse to live there. The answer, live in His presence, don't visit, don't just drop in real quick to say hello, live in it. My heart is better when I live in His presence, My heart is stronger, the fruit is better, the results are better, life is better when I have made a commitment to make the "Soverign Lord my refuge" and to do that daily. There's no substitute for God's presence, there just isn't.