Jump

So there I stood like a million different kids had before me.  A stared down to what would surely be my watery death.  I stood looking down from the top of the high dive.  As every eye on the planet started up at me.  Which was really just a few of my friends and of course the kid behind waiting to see my demise.  Then I saw her look my way.  Her name will remain a secret but her glance gave me the courage to simply jump.  

It felt like an eternity as my 3 foot 5 inch 75 lb frame fell from the sky.  I really thought for a minute that I would fall forever.  Then came three crashing impact.  The cold pool water as it ripped the skin from my body.  As I resurfaced I took the gasp of air to bring me back from this watery grave.  I couldn't seem to breath.  So I struggled to get top the side as my "friends" laughed and applauded my perfectly executed (not on purpose) belly flop. 

As I got to the side I looked back up to the point of where I plummeted.  I didn't seem as high from this angle.  I pulled my self out of the pool just in time for this unnamed beauty to walk by and giggle.

My self confidence was shattered.  However my friends thought it was the craziest thing they ever saw.  So even though my pride took a hit my street cred went through the roof that day.

So I said all of that too bring this up.

"Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward."(Hebrews 10:35 AMP)

Every time I read this I think that event in my childhood.  I remember the nervousness, fear and the pain of the fall.  However I also remember the pure victory of having my friends go nuts. 

The same goes for us when we go fearlessly out and do the things that God is asking us.  On top of that I think He is even my pto us when we are afraid and do it anyway.  So let me leave you with this.  If the Holy Spirit is asking you to do something then just jump!!

Oh btw the girl later did tell me she thought it was pretty cool.  

The Process Sucks

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 MSG)

This for a long time was my favorite verse in the Bible.  Until I had to live it out.  I mean the idea of being "mature" and "not deficient" thrilled me.   Then I had to live out the first part of the verse.  The part that gets over looted by the wanting of the result.  The "tests" and "challenges" SUCK!!. The thing is we can just pick and choose the ones we go through.  They have a way of picking us.  And if I was completely honest I haven't faced any of them with the idea of them being a "sheer gift".  In fact I have hated most of them.  Simply because they HURT!!. I have been reminded of the line in the movie of The Princess Bride where Wesley as the dread pirate Roberts barks at her the line.  "Life is pain".  It loses its humour when applied to real life.  At least for me.  

I also don't like the idea of not getting out of it.  I love getting out of painful situations.  Unless I'm getting a tattoo then bring it on.  So as this verse has wrapped itself around me.  I have felt it's grip just envelop me.  Now I understand that it's part of a process.  But it's the process that hurts.  However it's also the part where you gather strength and endurance.  So this verse has a whole new meaning for me.  Yea I love being a more mature person.  But I hate the process.  

Now if you're going through something which I'm sure you are.  I pray that you develop quickly.  

Kicking the door down

So in the past few months I've been on this journey.  I have been on this search for the perfect time, perfect moment, perfect condition to do the things that I feel Good has called me to do.   There have been several "bumps" in the road.  Things that I have taken as "closed doors".  So this is gonna be where the doesn't exactly start but defiantly continues.  So check it!! 

I was sitting in the kitchen of my grandmother-in-laws house at either Thanksgiving or Christmas times a few years back.  When I heard God speak.  He ask me to read the story of David and Goliath.  Which is found in 1Sameul 17:19-54. So I did, like I had a million times before.  When I was finished He asked "What do you think?". I sat kinda puzzled because I really didn't get anything ness out of it.  So He asked me to read it again.  So I did.  This went on for about 3-4 read throughs.  Each time I don't get anything. Then He pointed out a certain verse.  Verse 36 which reads:

"Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17:36 ESV)

I sat there in a moment of clarity figured out what the Holy Spirit was trying to get through to me.  It was the word "uncircumcised".  Now if you're a guy you whence a little. If you're not sure what that word means ask your mom.  Simply because your dad will be in too much pain to explain it.

Anyway you are the importance of that word was vital.  I mean the only people back then that were circumcised were male Isrealites.  It was a mark of the covenant they had with God.  So every time the took a leak they were reminded of their covenant.

It's because of the faith in that covenant and faith in God that David had the courage or should I say the balls to gave Goliath.  The crazy part of the story is that every soldier on that hill side had the same mark.

So what does that have to do with me.

Simply this Jesus extended that covenant to all mankind.  When He died on the cross for our soon to reconnect our covenant.   So since I have the same covenant with the Holy Spirit that David did then I have the same authority that David did. 

So with that being said let's activate that authority that comes with that covenant.

So if you want some prayer leave a prayer request or text me at 309-648-2897 and we will pray and get things done.