Convinced

He stretched and pushed himself beyond what he's ever done before in his short eight year life. Through rocky steep terrain, strong chilly wind, and the occasional slip; Isaiah pushed his body 8 miles to an elevation of 2200 feet and reached the summit of Mission Peak in Fremont Ca.

The most memorable moment for me as a Father is when my son became completely convinced the mountain he was climbing was his.

I was reminded of a quote from Mark Batterson's book Primal. "Few things are more thrilling than doing what you didn't think could be done." Hearing my son say "we are not quitting" gave me a glimpse of what God probably feels when He sees us totally convinced of our biggest purpose and most incredible dreams. I was absolutely thrilled seeing my son trust me and believe my words of encouragement every single step of the way to the top.

Can you hear God encouraging you to the top of your biggest dreams? Are you convinced the mountains in your life are yours? "Breaking a sweat for a God-given vision is the key to fulfillment and fruitfulness." Walk, dream, and live completely, wholeheartedly, and undeniably convinced!

Going to the Top

Taking the day off tomorrow but I'm still going to work. See that mountain in the background, my 8 yr old son Isaiah and I are taking the journey to the top (hopefully). Supposed to be an awesome day and I'm sure we are going to have an incredible time. We'll begin our trek at 9am PST, and I'll post updates via twitter along with pictures of our journey. Follow along, shoot us a prayer and we'll see you at the top!

God Bless!

THRIVE

I was reading out of Psalm 69 this morning and it challenged my heart so much that I wanted to share two pieces of scripture.

"...you who seek God, may your hearts live!" Psalm 69:32

When you seek God, your heart will find His heart for your life. When you find the heart of God especially through scripture it's not hard to find strength, relentless love, perfect peace and hope.

"...those who love his name will dwell there." Psalm 69:36

Think about how many names there are for God. Jehovah Jirah: God is our Provider, Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is my peace, Jesus the name above all names! Pick a name, and dwell under it.

Let God's thoughts bring you strength today, allow who God is to bring you hope and assurance. It's God's desire for you to thrive.

Thriving, Green and Growing

I paid a visit to the church I grew up in today, spent about 5 minutes inside the building but left with the most powerful thought. While talking to the receptionist, I noticed how many plants she had in the office. Mary began sharing that one plant was about 7yrs old and another about 10. Both plants were thriving, green and growing. I honestly didn't not know plants lasted that long.

Here's the powerful part of the story. Two of the plants we were talking about were gifts from the former Pastor Dr. Richard K. Tanon. You see, Pastor Tanon went on to be with the Lord as of Feb 7th, 2008, yet in that office that I walked into today, there still remained something growing that he had left behind. I was left with this thought, "Are you living to leave something behind or will your life simply be forgotten?"

I'm not talking about success, I'm talking about significance. Are you living with a sense of destiny about your life? Plants are not the only thing Dr. Tanon has left behind. Templo De La Cruz, is a thriving church 90+ years young now being led by another great man Pastor John Masis. There are many sons and daughters, marriages that are still thriving, ministries that continue till this day because of Dr. Tanon. Pastor Tanon baptized me when I was a kid. My first ministry opportunity came at Templo. I was taught how to preach by Pastor Tanon. I felt a sense of awe and privilege as I left the parking lot earlier.

This Sunday I return to my former church with humbleness and gratitude. I'm returning back to my roots, where it all began, where the dream first burned in my heart. I'm still thriving, still moving forward, and today I'm on the verge of my biggest faith move yet. Thank You God for putting a man in my life like Pastor Tanon, who lives beyond the grave and has paved the way for someone like me. Can't wait to preach on Sunday!

Quick thought on Courage

"Existing is easy, living takes courage"

I don't know who this is going to, maybe it's just me. Maybe your on the verge of stepping into something big, or in the middle of an unknown and crazy storm in life.

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you." Deuteronomy 31:6 The Message Version

Those who live are able to leave their country because of their trust in God like Abraham. Those who live are able to stand where nobody else will stand and take the giant out like David. Those who live understand that with God on your side your the majority like Gideon. Those who live are able to endure hardship and still move forward even when it seems like all hope is gone like Paul. Those who live know that the cross isn't the end like Jesus.

Don't exist, LIVE!

My #1 Goal

I met last night with our church planting team and shared with them my number #1 goal for this year. As much preparation, praying, stretching and meetings we have had to plant a church, my number one goal is not to plant a church this year. My number one goal is to make sure my life, the life of my family and the lives of my team operate whole. To me wholeness looks exactly like the list above. Get the list right, keep it a standard and God will bless your obedience. Get the list wrong and cracks will develop just about everywhere. Believe me, I've worked with my list out of order before and it's the most unfulfilled and most tiring journey. Just like changed people change people, whole people fill people. You can't give what you don't have and if you keep trying you will lose it all. To prove my point even further check out the following twitter post by Rick Warren just 18 hours ago "In Texas for funeral of a pastor who took his life."

Listen Pastor, Ministry Directory, church planter, Christ did not die on the cross for you to do ministry, He died for you to have relationship, He died so you could live Whole. What's your number #1 goal today?

More to Inspiration Pt. 3

If one word from God can change a persons life, it makes you wonder why so many people live with the same problems, hangups, and mistakes for years, sometimes their entire lives.

Everyday we have the opportunity to be the recipients of a life changing, now word from God. Remember the intended target of a word from God is ultimately transformation. Inspiration+Revelation=Transformation

Two Points that have rocked my world recently like never before:

Invest in Listening: Position yourself to hear from God, specifically through God’s word in Prayer. (Podcast, sermons work) God still speaks through His word! Ask God to search your heart through His word.

Invest in Understanding: Take time to allow what God is showing you to transform you through deeper revelation. Ask God to change your heart through his word.

Don't miss out, or take another day for granted, live inspired, live with revelation, be transformed.

Happy 8th Birthday Isaiah

Eight years ago today I experienced one of the most trying and joyful experience of my entire life. Although the circumstances were not ideal and stretched my faith, I would not of changed not one second the day my son Isaiah was born. This morning as I reflect back eight years ago I'm reminded of three very important things that came front face in my life, three things that came to life more than ever. These three things I'm writing to you my son, I hope they will remind you of how incredible you are son and how big God is and lastly that your story touches others who read this.

1) God is Faithful- At one point we didn't know if we would even be able to have you, but God blessed us. The day I found out that I was going to be your dad I knew in my heart I would have a boy. I pictured us doing everything together, still do. I know I haven't always been faithful, gotten busy at times, even messed up saying the wrong things but I'm praying and I'm trying and I will never give up trying to be the best Dad you need me to be. When you were born son, I saw the faithfulness of God at work in your life and mine. I saw that God will never leave us no matter what. You know the way Dad sometimes throws you in the air and you know every single time I'll catch you? Yes, God is the very same way, He will always catch you in life, no matter what!

2) God is our Healer- I would not of changed being separated from you for the first nights of your life, I would not change 5 days of you being in the ICU, would not of changed a collapsed lung because in the end God showed Himself true to His word as our healer. "You'll never know God is your healer till you've been in a place that you needed God to heal" You know how you bring your toys to me son and you ask me to fix them when you've played with them a little too rough. Well life can be rough at times and sometimes you'll need some fix'in. God is your healer, He's done it once in the most incredible way and He will do it again and again and again if needed.

3) God is Love- I walked into a love the day you were born unlike I had ever experienced before in my life. It was then that I was introduced to the Love of God at an entirely new level. I quickly realized that as much as I love you Isaiah, that God loves us even more, God loves us even enough to send his son to die for us. God is the perfect example of a Father because of his incredible love. It's God's love that I'm striving for as I raise you my son. You see Zai, God's love covers faults like I cover you when you go to sleep, God's love encourages us to just like I believe you can do anything in the world, God's love also corrects us to make sure that we stay on the right path. I want you to know that everyday I'm asking God to help me to show you love just like He shows us in the bible. I love you son, you don't have to do anything for it, you can't do anything to stop it, I just love you, your stuck no matter what.

Isaiah you see how special you are? God taught us a lot the day you were born and probably showing others who read this today. You are my son of promise, my son that has brought healing into my own life, helped open my eyes at times, you are the son I've always wanted and more. Thank you for being you "no one is more you'er than you.- Happy Birthday to You.

-Love

Dad

More to Inspiration Pt. 2

INSPIRATION+ REVELATION

Imagine getting ready to jump off a diving board into a swimming pool. You stand at the edge, heart is pumping, your feet and legs are getting ready to work together to build the momentum to spring off the board but then you don't. Imagine just standing on the diving board looking at the water, then 5 seconds turns into 15, 20 turns to 30 and the inspiration that you once had to even climb on the diving board in the first place begins to slowly die. Still standing there or backing down the ladder, either way you haven't lived the full experience yet. This is the perfect example of inspiration without revelation, you haven't experienced everything yet.

Can I challenge you to pursue the depth of what God has been stirring in your heart. Don't take the small impromptu highlights about yourself, God and life for granted. Sometimes it's a single words that seemed to grab your attention when reading the bible, other times those ideas and thoughts that seemingly came from nowhere. Sometimes the inspiration starts through a sermon, a book, a conversation or a song. The life lesson that I'm trying to share with you through the diving board illustration is, inspiration doesn't have longevity. Inspiration will jump start your life but only revelation will keep you going through life. If inspiration is the wow, then revelation is the why. Inspiration will excite you but revelation engulfs you just like the water that surrounds you in a pool. Ask God for understanding, ask God for revelation about what He is stirring your heart about. You haven't seen anything yet until you take the dive.

More to Inspiration Pt1.

I’ve come to the difficult realization that many times when I’ve become inspired by God about life, the inpiration to reprioritize, rethink and change remained at inspiration.

Too many times I’ve allowed a sermon, scripture, rebuke, counsel and encouragement to open my eyes yet my heart remains unchanged. The intended target of a word from God is to be transformed not just to be inspired.

More on this thought to come.

Monday Morning Encouragement

A lot is happening in the world right now, natural disasters, economic woes, wars, and the list could go on and on, the bottom line is people are suffering everywhere. To even try to come to grips with everything that the world is facing, to attempt to reason and understand seems just as discouraging. If your feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, stressed or concern. If you feel like your hands are tied or your at the end of your rope. If hope seems just a little further away today then this scripture is for you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Life Lesson #1 - Everytime I've asked God for help in life, my life changes. I may not have the answers but I have a certainty, problems may not fixed immediately but I have peace and so can you. Ask God for help today!


Pt. 2 of my Encouragement
Life lesson #2 - Help others before yourself and your life changes. Everytime I've given when I was in need, shared encouragement in the middle of needing encouragement, helped others before myself, I've seen immediate results in my own life.

"Most of us let what we cannot do keep us from doing what we can" Mark Batterson. Do what you can today, I challenge you, matter of fact I urge you, people need help right now. Check out this video from my friend Shaun King who has started a project called "A Home in Haiti" Check out this link from Samaritans Purse who was on the ground in Chile the same day they had the 8.8 earthquake. Make a contribution, buy a tent, sow into the kingdom today!