The Tide is Turning: Part 2

In Wilmington, NC our downtown area is located along the Cape Fear River which is a significant river. The city has put in a nice walking path along the river where people stroll along looking at shops and the many boats that dock. On more than one occasion, I have noticed that the river appears to have come to a stop. It normally is steadily flowing along but at times it looks like the water has stopped flowing. The reason for this is that the tide of the ocean is coming in and the when the ocean tides pushes up the river it looks like the river comes to a stop.

Many times in our life we find ourselves in a season that it appears we are unable to connect with God. Sometimes the difficult situations in our life intensify and we continue to call out to God but we hear, feel and experience nothing. It is as if the water has stopped moving. Has God abandoned us? Is God not concerned about my needs? Will He ever deliver us? Unfortunately many people give up at this moment. They doubt that God is working in their life and they loose their grip on faith.The most heartbreaking thing is that God was actually turning the tide around in their life. They couldn't feel it or see it but God was definitely moving, but because they couldn't see it they gave up.

Galatians 6:9
Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
NLT

Are you growing tired? Don’t give up. You may not be able to see what God is doing and it may even feel like God has forgotten you but He hasn’t. Stay strong, keep praying, and remain faithful! Getin2life with a passion and you will see that God is turning the tide around in your life.

The Tide is Turning

This week I went to the beach and noticed the tide had turned and was coming back in. This morning I felt like God was speaking to me about tides and I wanted share some of these thoughts.

Part 1: When the tide goes out it takes with it debris or trash.

If you feel like the tide is out in your life, meaning you are walking through a challenging situation then gaining an understanding that God is at work in this situation may bring you hope.

John 15:3
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

God will use the situations in our life to prune or wash away the trash in our lives. His purpose isn’t to hurt you but change you from the inside out, which will result in a better you or as in the verse above says, he prunes so you will produce more fruit.

Embrace the season and allow God to let the tide roll out in your life because He is at work in your life.

Don't Act Like a Spoiled Child.

What is your reaction in a situation that doesn’t go the way you want it to go? Life is filled with ups and downs, great moments and not so great moments. Even spiritually we can find ourselves in a dry place or even questioning if God will ever deliver us from a difficult problem. How we react in these moments reflects our faith. Can you still trust God when He appears to not rescue us at the moment that we want? As you probably well know God’s timing is not always our timing. I read this scripture and it shed some perspective on disappointments. I thought this might help some people.

1 Kings 21:1-4
King Ahab had a palace in Jezreel, and near the palace was a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. 2 One day Ahab said to Naboth, "Since your vineyard is so convenient to the palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it."
3 But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors." 4 So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth's answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!

King Ahab had everything at his disposal but acted like a spoiled child when he didn’t get what he wanted. Verse 4 says he, King Ahab went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat. Man, this King focused only on what he didn’t have and forgot all that he did have.

If you are struggling through a situation that you thought God should have answered by now, don’t be like King Ahab and act like a spoiled child. King Ahab refused to eat. Sometimes we do the same thing when we get down… We quit reading our Word or skip church, stop giving our tithes and so on. Basically we are starving ourselves spiritually.

Determine to make today a great day regardless of the situations. Trust God! Get back into your Word, go to Church and worship with a grateful heart for all that God has done in your life. Focus on the good things in your life. Smile and get-back-in2life. King Ahab sulked. What will you do?

God bless your journey.

A New Level Of Faith

I met a young man recently who was raising support for himself in order to go into full time ministry. I left the conversation greatly encouraged from the level of faith he was walking in. He knew God had called him, now he was stepping out into unchartered waters.

In Matthew 8: 26, Jesus asked the disciples a great question that needs to be asked to all of us at different times. He asked, "Why are you afraid?" Then Jesus answered the question on why they were afraid by stating to the disciples, "You have so little faith."

I think there is a stirring from God for us to live at a new level of faith. God is asking us to step out or step up. It is time for many to move beyond casual Christianity and give yourself over completely to His will. Those of you that know me, know that I'm not talking about spooky and kooky living but I am talking about people laying down bad habits, evil attitudes, grudges and anything that compromises your full out devotion to God. It's time to really getin2life! The God life. If you are reading this then possibly God intended for you to stop right now and ask Him to completely fill you with His love and then challenge yourself to fully live for him. So what are you afraid of? Are afraid to give God everything. Don't be afraid, live by faith. Let me know if you are being called at a new level of faith.

Slow Down!

This week, our family took a few days off for a family vacation. I was forced into limited access to all of my gadgets. Getting online was hit and miss without my normal wireless router, my cell phone only worked if I was standing in the back bedroom of the house where we were staying and the TV remote was not working well. Truthfully, I did not go on the trip with a need for the gadgets but I realized after about 2 days how much quieter my life became. Life slowed down. My wife and children and family were the center of each day.

In Matthew 8:23, it tells the story about Jesus when he had fallen asleep in a boat when a large storm had hit. The disciples were basically freaking out and thought they were about to die. They woke up Jesus and and He spoke to the wind and the sea and the Bible says, "there was a great calm." Basically, the disciples turned over their situation to God and He brought a great calm.

It took a few days of being unhooked from my normal routine for me feel the calm. I am thankful to have had the days away. Sometimes in our hectic paced lives we need to experience this great calm. Take one day, Sunday and let life slow down. Give everything over to the Lord and rest. Rest is good! Getin2life by refreshing it with a much needed day off.

Keep On Praying

On Monday’s I enjoy making my request known to God. This helps me to have an excitement about the weekdays ahead. My faith is active with an expectation that something, somehow will be answered, hopefully this week.

Matthew 7:7-8 "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.

Sometimes when I read this it seems too easy. Does God really mean that all I have to do is ask? That’s the way I understand it. I know somebody would like to teach us that we need to make this harder but I like to keep it simple. I dare you. Sit down and make a list of the things you would like to ask God for. Keep it real; don’t ask for a new yacht but start asking.

I’m on vacation this week at Sunset Beach, but I’m still praying. Fortunately prayer doesn’t have to be too hard. I can do it while vacationing. God is good.

Honoring the Grahams

Ruth Bell Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died Thursday at her home at Little Piney Cove in Montreat, North Carolina. She was 87.

The Grahams are special people. Rev. Graham and his wife will be remembered as legends and could easily be included in Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 is a whole chapter dedicated to showing examples of men and women of great faith.

I personally hold a great appreciation for their ministry. I include them both as partners in their ministry. He may have been upfront as the spokesman but she brought great strength to the ministry with him. My appreciation for them began 29 years ago in the Asheville Civic Center. I was 11 years old when I went to hear Rev. Graham speak and then at the end of his message I walked from one end of the auditorium to the front of the stage where I said, “Yes” to becoming a Christian. That day God grabbed my heart. Thank you Lord for using the Grahams to reach me with the good news of salvation.

It is good to honor the people who God has used to touch your life.
Ruth Bell Graham, a life well lived. She knew how to getin2life.