The ups and downs of life!

another few days have passed and can i say, "What just happened?" it seemed like if something happened, it went bad. i know in my last blog post that i was showing praise of my new ministry opportunities. not even the next night, satan was coming for me. he was trying all his tricks he has to tear me apart. i can honestly say, i was getting a little frustrated. i know i had all my faith in Christ, but man i was starting to buckle. ive been through plenty of heartache in my past and i know without a doubt there is more in the future. i know that my struggles these last few days arent the worst. well, my car broke down after work one night. i stalled out in the drive-thru at arby's. tons of fun that was. the night before that, i saw a message on facebook that a family member posted. it didnt name any names but it was meant for me. it hurts to know that family was disappointed in me. i know that i havent been a great son to my parents. not a great sibling for that matter. ive been working two jobs, newborn to take care of, church, ministry start-ups, supporting my family. i cant say that im not trying to be around. i havent had time. but its time to make some more changes. i love my family so much. i wish they could see all the "good" changes and moves i have made to become a better christian. and to top those two things, Working through augusta during the masters. haha. what a joke. i sat in stopped traffic for nearly an hour just to try to go two miles. turning my route into an all day mess. trying to play catch-up isnt fun.
   but throughout all this craziness, i gave all my struggles to God. i really didnt know how to deal with all of them, but i know who does. He gives me all the power in the world to get through anything.

O taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8

     i can put it to you this way, as i put ALL my faith in Christ and do exactly as He tells us, im will win this game called life. but its not about the win, its about the after-party. i cant wait to see streets of gold. let me take that back. i really dont care about all the gold. i cant wait to see my God and worship Him for eternity. 
   so it turns out like always, God takes my struggles into blessings. my car in fact was really broken. i ran out of gas. the gauge was saying i had a full tank. its under warranty so its gonna get fixed for FREE. Thank you God. he is putting people in my past to witness to and im not gonna back down from doing it. 

    i wanted to share Luke 9: 57-62 with you guys. There is definitely a cost for being a follower of Christ. The world is a rough place. you need to fix your gaze upon Christ and follow him. nothing should get in your way of God. He is everything you need to get through absolutely anything. i thank Him daily for giving me the strength to endure this corrupt world. 
off to bed now....night!

comment or message me what thoughts you have on this! thanks

Starting of My Ministries

Well, here i am again with some new stuff. some good stuff. I have a good friend named Clay who i treat like my little brother. We have had a lot of talks over the months about Christ. Throughout our conversations, we came up with some ideas of growing the kingdom. With this idea, alot of prayer, and many emotional times later, our mission is on its way to start. our new ministry is called, "In God we trust" There is about 6 of us total in it so far. our plan is to meet up at least twice a month and bring 10 or 20 dollars a piece. then we will venture out somewhere in the community and spend the money on someone while sharing the love of Christ with them. Nothing better than meeting someone else's needs while teaching them about God and what is in store for them. If its taking homeless people to a restaurant or buying someones groceries, we are willing to do whatever it takes to just have an opportunity to witness. We dont know what this ministry will look like a year from now but all i know that regardless what obstacles we face, OUR GOD will protect us and give us the plan and insight of the coming engagements. This is one of the most exciting times for me as a young believer. We want to impact the world. This is a small way to do so and possibly could turn into something huge.

       And the other ministry that i am part of is called "Celebrate Recovery" more info at celebraterecovery.com CR is a Christ-centered program to help with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. It includes anything from alcohol, drugs, addictions to food, grieving of loss, pornography, enabling, codependency, control issues, and many many more. i know we arent going to "cure" every issue, but are walking beside you through getting better control of the issue. Its amazing to see life change throughout the community of believers. Me and few others from our church went to a one-day seminar last weekend for CR. Man oh man. how touching this program is. during the seminar, a couple that is a part of the the National CR program, came up on stage and gave their testimony. It moved the crowd. it makes me want to do more and more. here is a video that shows what we are about:
http://youtu.be/6Vhyk81ho2o

  I feel like im becoming closer and closer to God everyday. before, i couldnt remember scripture even if i wanted to, now im getting better at spouting off verses at an instance. Im reading more and as always im still listening to sermons every chance i get. one scripture has been standing out a lot lately is John 3:30. "He must increase, but I must decrease." its very simple but a lot of powerful meaning behind it. i thank God daily for the new life He has given me. Easter is this Sunday. One of my favorite days. I cant wait to see what Pastor Bobby has in store for us. See you very soon with more awesome things up the road.

New life verse

            as you already know, life is tough. it can get the best of you. everyday, you have choices to make. some are miniscule like what color shirt to wear. then the tough ones like do i want to spend thousands of dollars on a new car. problems and struggles are in your future. how you deal with the obstacles you face shows your true colors. we are human. we wont always make the right choices. just realize that with Christ, these struggles you face are easier. WAY EASIER!! before making that big purchase, pray about it. get the ok from God before doing it. live out the saying, " tell our problems how big God is."

im not the best christian. my life isnt perfect. i dont always do the right thing. but i know this about myself. im always trying to take the next step in my faith to better myself and those around me. i have a shirt that fits my life perfectly, it says " im not the man i should be, but thank GOD im not the man i used to be." i was definitely a bad person before. i was a drunk. i was a druggie. i was one of the biggest cursers out there. cussed like a sailor. i was a manipulator. always trying to get everything my way. i was a bad husband. i was known for picking fights. i was always trying to start one. i should have been in anger management since i was a kid. i was never wrong in my eyes. i lost a lot of friends during these times in my life. and honestly, the friends i did have then, i really dont know why the stayed friends with me. i was rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. then, my life changed radically. the key word in this paragraph is "WAS." im not the man i once was. God rescued me from the life i was living. He took this misfit and washed my white as snow. do i regret the things i did? no! i wouldnt be man that i am now.
      at church a few months ago, pastor bobby asked the congregation who were the people who have the most influence in our lives. they came pretty quickly to my mind. first, my wife. she has such a strong walk with Christ. she never once wanted to give up on me. she prayed earnestly to get me to come to Christ. always asking me to come to church. i dont thank her enough for being such a perfect wife for me. she held me up everytime i was down. such a beautiful woman inside and out.                  
   secondly, my grandparents. they took me to church when i was younger to every service. they gave me money for tithing. they opened my eyes to what a christian should be. they had an awesome marriage. they lived out there faith completely.
then my parents influenced me. they showed me what hard work and determination would get me. they showed me the love a family should have. they worked hard to give their children what they needed. i look back and remember that i was fortunate to play all the sports i wanted. traveling every weekend playing soccer. man i was an expensive kid. they gave me the best gift as a kid, my first bible.
   then i met pastor bobby. i grew up in a traditional southern baptist church. so the first time i heard bobby, lets just say i didnt know how to react. the preaching style was so different. nothing i ever heard before. his emotional preaching style is amazing. it seemed like every sermon he spoke was just for me. everytime i hear him preach, i know its authentic. straight from the bible. its not water downed. he tells us like it is. God loves us and just as important, He like us too.
      after looking back at all the people that has impacted my life, i wonder if I have any influence in other peoples life. i dont know if i do or dont.
    then i read Colossians 4:5: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. my new life verse. being courteous to people who are not like you is tough. they might not know Christ. they might not believe everything that you believe in. and they might not even like you. but like it says, make the most of every opportunity. take time to break down the barriers you have. stop being judgmental. give everyone a chance. if you talk the talk, in return you have to walk the walk. i know that i fall hard to this sometimes. after reading this one simple verse has opened my eyes to a different light. every person has a past. when you run into someone, you never know what they might have just have happened to them. your actions could be the only positive thing theyve seen all day. you could be their helping hand. walk your faith out all the time. show people that you are there to help not hurt. sometime just a smile speaks volumes to them. 
thanks for reading this. let me know your thoughts
GOD BLESS!!!

WEiRD

I must start by saying A LOT has happened in a very short period of time. I finally came to grips with my "weight issue." Since about a year or two ago, i've gained right around 40 lbs. Wow, that hurts to say. I ate what i wanted and didnt care. Now, I made a big life change. I'm determined to get back in shape and eat healthy for a couple of reasons. First, my body is a temple and needs to be taken care of. I want to see Jordan grow up and i want to be able to throw a ball with him. I saw my grandparents make it past 50 years of marriage and i want to do the same with my wife. that means i have to at least be 74. im going to the gym 5 times a week and being a calorie counting nerd. so far, my plan has been working. if i get past the soreness in my head, i feel awesome. my energy levels increased tremendously.

      So, ive picked up a couple of different pastors podcasts and ive been listening to them. ive listened to all of Journey Community Church podcasts at least ten times each. i can get enough of the passion all our speakers have for spreading the dangerous message of Jesus Christ. i started listening to Steven Furtick from Elevation Church. Amazing practical looks at everyday life. And also, Craig Groeschel from lifechurch.tv He has the 2nd biggest church in the world. Reaching lives in countries around the world. Journey is also doing that. in my eyes, we might not be broadcasting to big audiences like the mega churches, but i personally see life change happening here. We have an authentic, amazing, passionate, LOVING church. the perfect church for imperfect people. how true that is!!!! the first time going here, Bobby got on stage and told the congregation, "YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF SCREW UPS!" my first thought was not a good thought. he went on to explain it and man the tears started rolling. from telling me that suffering will happen and God wanted us to have happiness and joy. I gave my life to Christ that day and my life hasnt been the same since.

        This is my confession time:  i wish i could sit here and tell you that i read my bible everyday and that i pray numerous times a day. i wish i could say that im not judgmental or that i help the less fortunate any chance i get. i could sit here and type hundreds of "i wish" statements. i honestly can say that i have been busy and lost track some. being a christian doesnt mean life gets easier. there are many times looking back in my life and can say that life was kind of easy being a non-christian. but it would get me anywhere. but now, i want to be weird. weird in a God way.

      We started a series at church called WEiRD. its based off the book that Craig Groeschel wrote called Weird: because normal isnt working. ive listened to craig speak about his book and also heard Bobby preach about it. Man.....this book is meant for EVERYONE. normal is half of marriages ending in divorce. Dating has become a Toothbrush mentality. you move in with your girl/boyfriend and bring your toothbrush and put it in his/her toothbrush holder. lets say you get in a argument. you just pack up and take your toothbrush to someone else's toothbrush holder. thats normal. t.v. nowadays is crazy. all the cursing and basically nudity on primetime tv. thats normal. well lets get weird. living out your faith is weird. not being pressured to go see a movie that you know you shouldnt see. thats weird. this series is absolutely amazing. its pretty much has changed my outlook on the way i should live my life. i know im a work in progress, but i will always put one foot in front of the other and keep fighting to make the moves i need to make to better myself as a christian.
     This past week, Andy Stickel spoke on being Weird. First off, Andy is pretty much my go to guy for anything spiritual. anytime i have a question about the bible and that sort of stuff, he always gives me the guidance i need. Andy pulled a verse out that spoke volumes to my heart. the verse was John 15:18. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first." Regardless of how i feel or the way people feel about me, Jesus felt it first. I have the power through Christ. He gives me that strength to get through anything. just knowing that wants me to better my life. THATS WEIRD

The Rush About Christmas

With Christmas coming up so fast. With all the people trying to get last minute gifts, life is crazy. All the memories. Some awesome like drinking egg nog around the fire with you and your closest friends and family. Hanging ornaments on a tree, going on a hay ride and looking at beautiful lights. These are absolutely great memories. But look at the other side of the spectrum. Christmas isnt great at all for some. Something like looking at that empty chair where a loved one once sat. It takes a toll on Christmas for them. I know some people that want nothing to do with Christmas since losing their loved one. What about the people out there rushing to get presents with money that they dont have for people they dont necessarily like. But since they might be at your house over the holidays, you feel obligated to get them something. Through all these examples, I see it from a different light. Some of the poorest people have a great Christmas without spending a dime. I understand that we have taken Christmas away from the true roots of what its all about. Nowadays, its about the expensive gifts, people fighting over anything on Black Friday, wrapping presents, and tinsel EVERYWHERE!! Take a second and realize the true meaning of the holiday "Christmas."

Its all about love. The joyous gift God laid upon the land. He gave us his son, Jesus (Christ Child). What a blessing. Without this piece of history, Christmas wouldnt be here. God love His creation SO MUCH, he provided a way to eternity. He gave us a huge blessing, named Jesus Christ, to take the punishment of our sins. What an amazing Father.

Thats my outlook on it all. Take it or leave it. Leave a Comment, and if you like it, share it with others.

What do you wear?

Today has been such an awesome day. i was listening to podcast from years ago from my pastor and it spoke volumes to my heart. i would love to share. Its about staples of our faith. and the thought of this sermon was what type of christian are you? look in your closet and find something to wear for church.
you see the 7 piece suit: flashy flambouant. ALL ABOUT THE BIG SHOW. the looks and the light shining on you. but there is no substance on the inside. you would be actually trying to "pimp" Jesus out. trying to get gains from Him. yeah, it looks awesome but there is nothing on the inside.

then you see the camo jacket. hiding, nobody knows you know Jesus Christ. so you could go to a bar and hang with negative people and they wont know the difference if you were a christian or not. you can blend in and you can do that "one" thing where no one can see it.

looking even further in the closet and you see the plain blue blazer....you can wear with anything, brown shoes black shoes..green shirt or yellow shirt. nothing to it. you wont take a risk for your faith. if you had the opportunity to witness to someone, you would probably walk away. plain jane christian

then all the way in the back you find a poncho...something you probably wouldnt wear to church. but look at what it does. during some of the biggest storms out there, it protects you from getting wet. God wants us to wear Him as protection. Galatians 3:27 says: Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe-Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise. With Him nothing can overtake you. you arent pimping Jesus, nor hiding. Your light shines to others and if you live life Christ, im can assure you, people will notice.

i know its hard this day and age, but honestly read Revelation 21. about New Jerusalem. Do you see whats in store for us? i couldnt use my wildest imagination to see something so beautiful. I WILL WALK ON STREETS OF GOLD. nothing can better than living with The Master. His lights will illuminate our world. if that isnt icing on the cake right there. i want to be like Christ every second of the day because i know whats in store for me in eternity.


well there will be more later. im going to bed. nite

WHAT A DAY!!!

  So, my day started as normal as any other. i got up and went to work. loaded my truck up and was on my way to Aiken. As i ride to my first location, i have a conversation with God. i thank Him for given me another breath to a brand new day. i give Him all the praise in my life and thanking Him for forgiving me of my sins. after my prayer with the Most High, i feel like the chip is off my shoulder and the monkey is off my back. my day is ready to begin. but today started a little rough. if you dont know much about me, i work in the vending machine business. i havent been giving my all lately. i feel like i can honestly say i havent been proud of my performance the last week and the beginning of this one. now dont get me wrong, ive still been working hard. i have just been missing a few things here and there. like im giving 90% and the 10% is catching up. it takes a toll on me because i strive to be the best and i havent. i have never really had an issue with depression but today i have had my dose of it. the only way to get it off my mind is giving it over to Christ. letting Him know first before trying to figure it out on my own. Pastor Bobby spoke about that this past weekend. let me tell you first hand how true that is. i was letting my problems get the best of me all day. i let God know my issues and about thirty minutes later, i was back to the happy-go-lucky guy that i usually am. i have a talk with my bosses and it was some constructive criticism. nothing i cant take. i told them that will take care of my issues. so after work, my wife and i ate a quick dinner. then it was off to our church's first ever basketball game. actually, my first coaching gig too. a little nervous but confident. we started a bit rough. after ten minutes into the game we were winning 7-2. high scoring game right??? lol. we finished the game by a comfortable margin of 56-25. so proud of my guys. well my day is winding down and i have to be at work in a few hours. gotta give God all my love before laying my head down. thanks for reading.
GOD BLESS!