The Day After

The day after Christmas. I am reminded that when we cherish important things in life it is not just about remembering them after-the-fact. It is being immersed in it during-the-fact. It is being fully present and intentional that this important thing is a blessing from God, something undeserved to begin with, and something so dear that even time will not take away. It is rich in your soul and there is almost an eternal joy that springs forth because it brings life, more than a life here on earth. I am reminded to cherish the small things more. The small amounts of time more. The small gestures more. For these small things swell up into something greater.

Though not every day seems like the next best day, will I remember my purpose and meaning behind it? Will I stride to align my vision and my pursuits with that of God's? Those days seem pretty bleak at times, even in during seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Especially during a year of so many ups and downs.

God, please help me remember. Please help me make conscious decisions daily that are aligned with your goodness. I am truly blessed. Please help me not to forget that. Let it be an empowerment.

Season of Running

It is more than refreshing to reflect on how life has been these past 6 months. In times where I thought I was a failure, a loner, a spiteful companion, I have been overwhelmed with the foundational love and grace of Christ. It has been a miracle for my heart to find peace and yet, I have more than peace. I have found meaning and purpose. To wake up each day and know that I have purpose is one of the greatest gift any man can ever want. I've been given this season of seemingly ample time (and even "boredom") to see that there is a purpose and a plan of action to be had. 6 months really doesn't seem like a long time, yet it has felt like an eternity. I have had some pretty terrible days where my emotions would run well overboard. But through it all, there has been a definitive "you are in good hands" feeling with a God who can't help but pursue me. In His everlasting desire to be long for and glorified, He has blessed me with His pursuit. It is undeserving, but very appreciated. I can only hope to replicate that pursue one day for those God has willed in my life. I have never been more excited for the future. I have never been more amped up to be a man of my words. I have never been ready to fight the good fight and run the race with passion and discipline.

Stride for stride. The finish line is far from sight. Never lose hope. Press onward for the prize. In the words of my middle school football team motto: "Think like a champion. Live like a champion. Look like a champion. Be like a champion."

Repentance

"Repentance is a rich biblical term that signifies an elemental transformation in someone's mind, heart, and life. When people repent, they turn from walking in one direction to running in the opposite direction. From that point forward, they think differently, believe differently, feel differently, love differently, and live differently...Fundamentally, then, repentance involves renouncing a former way of life in favor of a new way of life."

Time to start running.

27

I am reminded of God's goodness yet again. That He is faithful in his promises, but even more generous in his giving. Count the blessings and stop more frequently to enjoy the small things in life. Persevere when times are tough. Endure the times when you feel alone and abandoned. Hope when you feel doubt and struggle to see a brighter future.

Remember these moments make you closer to the Creator of the beginning and end. A God in control and who has a will much more delightful than you can ever fathom. You hold onto the trivial emotions of the now, but be satisfied in the everlasting joy of the forever future.

Do big things this year. Live with joy and share it well with others. Chase hard after the Lord and be true to your commitments and disciplines. Do not settle for the instant gratifications but purify your mind for your lovely bride at the end of the aisle. Cherish your blessings and be fruitful in your ministry. 27. Do it big.

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Tomorrow

The Gospel has been more than real.

There will be bigger and brighter days ahead.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

3 Months

3 months of working out. best results aren't physical. rather, it's knowing that you got more in you to push through the hard times. hard work. a strong work ethic. the results will play out for itself. never forget that getting better is a slow process. have a goal in mind, but don't get lost in it. face each day trying to outdo the last. stay true to yourself. no one else will believe in you like you can.

It's Like That

It's like when you lose the best thing life has to offer and you want it back, but then you realize you don't even deserve it. so you just sit there and wonder what exactly happened. and you can't figure it out. it's like that.


"God is our refuge and strength,


a very present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling."

Forward

And here. We go.

"A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent will go to pieces if he reminds forever in the same place."

Psalm 37:4

may I delight in the Lord and long for His heart's desires.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Good Friday

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know youthe only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed."

How great it is knowing that one man's sacrifice and obedience to the cross changes the course of everything known to man. I count my blessing for being raised in a family that introduced me to church, to Jesus, to purpose. Predestination always trips me up, but questioning and arguing it serves no purpose to me. I have come to know the Father, Son, and Spirit so there's no time to look back. I hope to look forward to the work ahead and continue pursuing God's will. That I still struggle with. As I come to terms with a handful of things in my life and struggle to the meaning behind much of it, I still recognize that all the glory belongs to God. Since the beginning of time, to Jesus' death, and beyond. God is more than deserved of His glory.

God, may I bring you glory. May my joy be complete in you.

Unchanged

In this lifetime, things will change, people will change, circumstances will change. However, one thing will remain and I press onward towards that which is unchanged. I will not beat myself over the things that change, but rather consider what joy I might have for that which is unchanged. I'm tired of fitting this mold that will never be satisfied. It is a puzzle that will never be solved. There's a reason the sun always comes up. It never fails.

Self-Discipline

Lots of goals set in 2012 & 2013. A few achieved. A lot more to add. Time to really put my words into motion. 2014: Self-Discipline

-Subjugating everything for the goal of living a life consistent with your beliefs

-Setting your heart on the prize

"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:23-27

New Leaf

I look back on 2013 and read the fluctuations that my heart has gone through and find myself blessed to have survived and endured the emotional and spiritual turmoil that God has graciously placed in my life. There were a lot of times where I saw God's hands working and even a lot more where I wonder where God was. Hindsight is 20/20 and God was present in all of them. For me to think other wise is foolish. He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end. All things He created. All things He is in control. It's not a question of whether or not He is present, it's a question of whether or not I am seeking Him where He's at. Goodbye 2013. You were kind of good, but mostly bad in my worldly eyes. You were good and undoubtedly necessary in my spiritual eyes.

No more excuses. No more regrets. Jesus lived on neither of these principles.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the one, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be me disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my life. If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoke to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15.1-11