Author: Jody Abar

Have you ever been eavesdropped on?  Have you ever been trying to have a conversation and you could tell that someone nearby was trying to listen in?  In those instances you can maybe turn your back politely away or bring your volume level down.  But what happens when you are talking about something and the whole world is listening….you just don’t have any idea that they are?

As Christians, we are always being watched.  Everything we do is under a microscope.  Especially in today’s age of camera phones and social media, everyone is always on the lookout for the next viral post.  And, as unfair as that may seem, we, as Christ followers, should be setting the example of how to live, how to speak, how to love, and how to serve.  Be assured that you are always being watched and listened to.  Even when you have no idea that it is taking place….it most likely is.  So, it comes without saying, that we must always be careful of how we conduct ourselves.

This morning I definitely experienced a situation like that first hand.  I won’t go in to any of the details to keep the identities of those involved a secret……

As an usher team leader I get to wear a headset…..the cool kind that you might see the secret service wearing.  The purpose is to communicate with those staff members around the building if I need anything, or for them to get my attention if they need me for something.  Most of the time all I can ever hear is the parking team outside….which can be nice since that alerts me to the next rush of church goers as they arrive in the parking lot.  I can’t ever seem to get my headset to work.  I’m never on the right channel, or I don’t hold the button down long enough when I need to talk.  Either way, the headset tends to be more of a fashion accessory to go along with my name tag and volunteer shirt.  In fact, last week when my mom showed up at church and was looking for me, was the first time anyone had ever even talked to me over the radio.

This morning, due to a conflict is my scheduling for the day, I had to have a conversation with someone about when and where I should be after the second service.  Near the end of our conversation someone came into the office telling me to turn my mic off.  I looked around confused.  Then I looked down and the clipboard I had been holding had been pressing the button that allows me to transmit……..during my whole conversation.  Everything that had been talked about for no telling how long had been transmitted to everyone wearing a headset in the entire church.

And in that split second all I thought was, “What have I been saying?”  Luckily it wasn’t anything bad, but it really made me think about not only that specific incident with the mic, but how I am living outside of the church building.  Am I setting the example I am supposed to?

“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3, NASB). In other words, watch how you speak.  Our words and our actions reveal our true character.  When others watch us, what are they truly seeing?  I make a conscious effort daily to project righteousness.  None of this would be possible without God, because it is He that strengthens me.  How can I say I am for Christ if someone who is watching and listening from afar may see and hear otherwise, based on my true character.

Jesus once said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good?  For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:33-34).  Back in my Marine Corps days no telling what someone would have thought by watching me from a distance.  I’m sure it wouldn’t have been good.  That was also a time way before God brought me back to Him.

Although embarrassing, the hot mic conversation this morning didn’t end badly.  Nobody said anything they shouldn’t have.  No one got into any trouble.  Although I wouldn’t be surprised if they take my mic next week…..at least until I figure out how to use the thing. You would think someone who tests radio systems and works electronics on a daily basis would understand how to use a simple headset.

“Hot mic” situations can happen to anyone at any given time. It may be a boss overhearing you at work or a friend overhearing you at a gathering. At some point in our lives we have all regretted something we said or something we have done….that we didn’t realize someone else had seen or overheard.

But alas, my point of all this is that if we are acting the way we are supposed to, saying the things that we are supposed to be saying, putting our faith in God to direct our steps and to help keep us clean, we have no worries as to what others around us may think by our speech and actions.  “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).

 

This week in my Christian Worldview class we are learning the different obstacles that get between us and true Wisdom.  At lunch I began the chapter on emotional obstacles and it didn’t take long before something grabbed on to me that I had never even thought about before.  As I sit in church each week, or in my case, listen to sermons in my car as well, I am always hearing about Jesus’ blood washing away things such as sin, pain, guilt, and shame.  I guess I had gotten so used to hearing it that I never really realized that some things, though they sound similar, have completely different meanings.

I never really thought about it, but did you know there is a difference between guilt and shame?  It really hit me like a ton of bricks when I realized that.  Guilt is feeling bad when you know you have done something wrong.  Shame, on the other hand, is feeling like you are worthless, meaningless, bad, and could do no right even if you tried.

How about this for a little example of guilt: my wife and children are out-of-town on vacation…let’s just say that every night they are gone I go and eat dinner at their favorite restaurants.  I go and get dessert at their favorite ice creams stores.  I’m sure I would feel a little guilty, because I know I shouldn’t be doing all of that without them.

That is just a small example….guilt can go so much deeper.  If you steal something, if you speed through a school zone, if you yell at a friend.  Both of these are instances where you just made a mistake.  Fortunately, guilt gives us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

But this is what got me, when I really understood what shame was.  My youngest son is 7.  He is a pretty good kid.  If you were to read his journal, I’m pretty sure he is writing future sermons.  But sometimes, like kids do, he has tantrums.  He says things like, “Nobody cares about me, nobody loves me.  I’m horrible.”  This may sound extremely insensitive, but after so many times of hearing it, its like, “Come on man, nobody said any of those things to you.”

When I read those two definitions today, I saw in him a feeling of shame…..and it hurt.  I plan on having some good talks with him when he gets back from vacation later this week.  It’s time to dig a little deeper and truly understand what’s going on in his mind and heart.

When it comes to me, I feel guilty all of the time…..”I know I shouldn’t say those kinds of things to my boss.  I know I shouldn’t think those things about that guy who just cut me off in traffic.”  It’s been a long time though since I felt real shame I think.  It had to have been over a year ago, back when I was realizing that I couldn’t control my life the way I thought I could; thinking I couldn’t provide for my family the way I should be able to.  All that changed though that day I left work, came home, and prayed for God to take over again.

It’s hard to believe its been a year now.  At the time I had my Bible, but didn’t know how to use it.  Its back then that I wish I would have had some verses of comfort that I can share now.  I don’t know what any of you out there are going through, but if you feel like your are worthless, you aren’t.  Even Israel’s greatest king prayed to take the shame away.  “O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me”  (Psalm 25:2, NASB)

Jesus endured some of the most shaming circumstances imaginable.  His broken, beaten, bloody body was placed on a cross…..naked….in front of all to see.  Guess what though….He did that for you.  He bore that burden and shame so that you wouldn’t have to….”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV).

He went through every bit of that because of the “joy” that He knew was to come.  So if you are out there feeling down, depressed; maybe you think you are a mistake….know that you aren’t.  Know that Jesus loves you.  Know that Jesus died for you and that His blood washed away all of that guilt and shame.

And as for me, I have learned a valuable lesson as well.  My son’s feelings are important. Even though sometimes He may be acting out and trying to get attention; deep down inside this is all coming from somewhere.  I will definitely be paying a little bit more attention to the little guy in the future.  Because no one is worthless…no matter how bad life gets…no matter how much you may think is up against you.  Jesus took that all away so that you wouldn’t have those feelings anymore.

 

 

Have you ever seen over 50 people baptized in the ocean before?  I hadn’t either…until today that is.  Of course, as awesome as it was to see all of those individuals profess their belief in Jesus Christ, their belief that He died, was buried, and then arose….all for their sins…….their was a particular couple of New Believers that I had particular interest in.

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My family has been looking forward to this day for a few months now. Over the past week I wasn’t even sure it was going to take place.  The weather has been pretty bad recently, with remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto blowing through and our seasonal afternoon thunderstorms.  Planning an outdoor activity for June can be difficult.  Luckily God made this day as perfect as could be.

We had family members come in to town starting last Wednesday to be a witness to this event as well.  Grandparents and parents, from Mississippi and Ohio.  Some drove, some flew, all made their way here to show their support of the decisions that had been made.

It all started this morning with another amazing church service from the book of Haggai. The message was about putting God first in our lives.  Twice God tells the Israelites to “Consider your ways.” God was not happy that the rebuilding of the Temple had been put on hold….because other important things were going on in the lives of the Israelites.

Over 50 people today decided at some point recently to put God first.  These people not only decided to put God first, but step out on a public beach and show the world.

I can’t imagine what those tourists and locals thought as a huge crowd came up over the dunes….gathered….and began singing.  As the second song started another group of people, all in purple shirts made their way into the water.  Then as the third song was over, lines began to form in front of those who were about 30 yards out into the sea.

And at the back of the “pink” line was my wife and oldest son.  My wife had made her decision to follow Christ just before Christmas….6 months ago to the day.  My son made his decision for Christ the night before Easter Sunday, at a special Saturday New night service we had.  Before heading down to the beach they had to choose a word to write on their shirts for what Jesus meant to them.  What’s crazy is, that without even talking to each other, they both ended up writing “Found” on their shirts.

As they splashed out into the water, together, I was surrounded by family and Staff members that have grown to love my family like their own.  They were just as excited to see my wife and son get baptized today as I and my other family members present were.  My son’s best friend even showed up and he and his family were cheering my son on as well.

Baptism is the outward showing of what we have accepted on the inside.  As Paul says in Romans, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:3-4, NASB).

I’ll be honest with you, I never saw this day ever happening for anyone in my family.  I was not the good Christian father that I should have been.  But you see, God had a plan that was far greater than anything I could ever have imagined.  You see, if I would have, on my own, lead my wife and child to where they were today, then I would have thought it was me that did it.  However, God made it happen, in His time, in His way, so that He received the glory.  I could have never done any of this by myself.  But God placed many special people in our lives at the right times for the right words to be said…..and all of this lead to the decisions that were made, to the joyous occasion of today.

God is amazing.  When you place Him at the center of your life, the blessings will come.  I know they will.  I’ve seen them first hand.  I pray that each of us can continue to stay focused on God and the things that truly matter.

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I couldn’t end this blog without a quick story of what happened after their baptisms.  As my oldest son, youngest son, and their friends headed out into the water to play, my youngest started screaming.  Come to find out that a crab about the size of a quarter attached himself to my youngest son’s toe.  After said crab was pulled off, my son said he never wanted to play in “that” spot of water again.  He said, however, he would go play by where they were doing the baptisms because that area was okay.

I’m currently in week 3 of what I call the first of my core classes towards my degree in Christian Arts with an emphasis in Philosophy.  It’s not actually a core class, it’s more of a university requirement, since I am attending a Christian based school.  Nonetheless, I consider it a part of my degree program due to its content.  The class is Christian Worldview and by far this is the most interesting class I have ever taken.  I already know my worldview, that is a given, but hearing the worldviews of other students and how they see things is quite eye-opening.

This weeks topic is on “The Fall.”  Adam had been created, he was instructed to work the garden, and he got to hang out with God all the time.  How cool is that?  But God knew there was something missing, that all was not good, so he put Adam to sleep and created Eve from one of his ribs.  Now, all was grand.  Adam and Eve.  God.  A perfect paradise.  What could go wrong?

Oh, there was that issue with the snake and that one tree God had told them to not eat from.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had        made.  And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?  The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”                                                                                                                                                    Genesis 3:1-4, NASB

And that’s where things went terribly wrong. What made Eve listen to the snake above what God had told her and Adam?  I know that snake was a slippery, slimy, scheming creature, but what weight did he hold in the garden?  How did he even get in there?

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A simple enough answer is that God gave us free will.  He gave us the ability to choose our actions, and unfortunately with this grand idea, it also gave Adam and Eve the ability to disobey Him.  God didn’t want to force himself upon us.  He wanted a relationship that was built on love, trust, a two-way street kind of thing.  But like most things in life, we had to mess it up.

Have you ever had an option between two things….One you knew was right and the other, well, you knew it wasn’t such a good idea?  Which did you choose?  Do you always make the right call?  I for one have been known to make the wrong choice from time to time…..and the crazy thing is I know it’s the bad choice when I make it.

No, I don’t make the choice to rear-end the guy in traffic who cuts me off or the choice to punch the girl in the face who gets my order wrong when I go out to dinner, but I do make the choice to let my anger get the best of me when the planes just don’t cooperate at work.  And a sin is a sin right?  There is no scale…….and one sin is just as bad as another.

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Back to our “First” family.  God went looking for them in the garden.  They had gone to hide.  God asked, “Where are you?,” like He didn’t know where they were.  But like any parent searching for a child who knows they are in trouble, he gives them the chance to show themselves and fess up.

The ultimate result….Adam and Eve are evicted.  Their relationship with God, as they knew it, was over.  They now knew the evils of the world.  And now we are all sinners.  We are born separate from God.

There is good news though….and that’s the coolest part of this story.  God had a backup plan.  But wait, God knew all and knows all, so was it really a backup plan…..for he knew that once he gave us the gift of “choice,” the backup was now the primary.

So we come to the first prophecy of the Bible…….also known as the (my first big theological word I’ve learned) protoevangelion.  Don’t worry…..all it means is the first gospel.  For God said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the women, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15, NASB).

God told satan, “Yes, you will wreak havoc on the humans for their entire lives, but I will win in the end…..My Son will ultimately defeat you.”

That’s where our time in the garden ends.  We had it all, but we blew it.  But God provided a way for us to return.  So yes, we all sin, we all make mistakes, but those mistakes are washed away when we accept His Son into our lives.

The Genesis account is almost a story from a fairytale that is too good to be true; but it’s not.  From the very beginning God wanted a right relationship with us.  God created us in His image.  God placed us in paradise.  And even when we threw an apple in his plan, He went to extreme measures to make that relationship available anyway.

We haven’t had family movie night in quite some time, but it used to be an every Saturday night tradition.  As we were scanning through Netflix last night we came across a movie that fit right in with our family……Pele: Birth of a Legend.  It was too late last night, but we all decided that we would watch it tonight…….and I’ll tell you…..soccer fan or not, it’s a great movie.

As the boys watched, they asked how Pele and his friends were so good at such a young age.  I told them the same thing their coaches tell them…..”Kids in other parts of the world have the ball on their feet 24 hours a day…..they don’t have phones and Xboxes…..soccer is what they do.”

Without getting too deep into the history of Brazilian soccer, their defeat in the 1950 World Cup was blamed on their unorthodox playing style. The coaches began forcing their teams to play more like the teams from Europe….because that would be the only way to win against those teams.

As a young boy, Pele’s father taught him the old style of play.  He taught him to master his craft.  Becoming the best was a process, not something that would happen overnight.  He would eventually play for professional teams where they wouldn’t let him use those skills that he had learned.

What struck me was that when Pele began playing the way he knew how, and not imitating someone else, he excelled.  I believe that is so true in all our lives.  God has a plan for each and every one of us.  If we don’t listen to God….if we watch and imitate someone else….we won’t succeed.  Yes, God has a plan for that other person as well…..but it’s not our plan.  We are who God made us to be….not who we want God to have made us to be.  

Times will get hard, but you have to fight through the adversity.  Things aren’t always going to be easy.  Don’t listen to the naysayers.  They may think they know you, but they definitely don’t know the plans God has for you.

This movie, in a small way, was similar to what Pastor Jeff was speaking on this morning. Be relentless in your commitment to God.  His passage from scripture today came from Luke 9:57-62.  The gist of the passage is this, “When Jesus says follow, you go.  No excuses.  No wait a minutes.  Just go.”  Pastor Jeff posed a question to us, “Are you involved or are you committed?”  There is a clear difference.

My oldest wrapped up his league play this weekend.  In the second game he was involved in a throw in situation directly in front of the parents on the sidelines.  As I watched, he scooted right up behind an opposing player and began eyeing him up and down.  I looked down at another parent and asked if he saw him.  About that time the ref blew his whistle and called both kids over.  He looked at the opposing player, pointed at the ground and said, “This is your dirtpiece, sir.”  He looked at my son, again pointing at the ground and said, “This is your dirtpiece, sir.  Until the ball is thrown in, neither one of you have a right to the other’s dirtpiece.”  The ref sent them back to their spots and blew the whistle for play to begin.  The next moment was priceless.

…..The ball is thrown on to the field.  My son bumps the other kid out of his way to get the ball and looks at the other kid and says, “Get off my dirtpiece.”

My son was committed to getting that ball…..he had no intention of losing that spot on the field.

How committed are you in listening for God’s plan in your life?  How committed are you in following that plan when you hear it?  I tell myself everyday that I’m ready to burn the plow, like Elijah did in 1 Kings 19:21, at the first sign of God’s call.  But then there are times that I believe I have already made that leap of faith……and that every situation, whether at home, at work, in school, or at church is just another chance for me to learn a lesson I will need for when I finally step through that door that God has opened.

The Brazilian team went back to the World Cup Finals in 1958….and they played their way.  They played the way they knew how….and not try to imitate someone else.  And they won in grand fashion.  The ironic thing is, ever since, the world has tried to imitate their style of play.  My kids are learning the same skills, the same ball movements, the same ball control that the Brazilians have always had.  But as I watched that movie, and as I thought back to that sermon this morning, if we aren’t willing to give it our all…..not just a few practices a week…..not just coming to church for an hour on Sunday…..we are not going to end up where God wants us to be.  We will never step into the greatness that He has planned for us.

I’m ready.  I’m not sure for what exactly, but I know I will see it, hear it, feel it when it arrives.  But until then, I will continue to grow along the way.  I think its kind of like looking down a long hallway and seeing an open door.  We know it’s there, we can see the light coming through…..but we must make it down the hall first.  Pele’s door opened very early on in his life…..but it took practice, work, pain, struggle, success, and commitment for him to step through that door and into that stadium in the 1958 World Cup when his number was called.  We all have the ability to do the same thing.  We just have to listen for God so we know when to move.

I’m not going to lie….sometimes having to go to soccer practice 3 times a week and games on the weekends can get a little much. But it’s times like these, in these moments that I can really just sit back and observe…..and if you pay close enough attention….it’s in these times that the kids can teach us old people a lesson.

I am completely amazed at how my oldest son’s team has progressed over the past 2 years. Of course their skills have improved, but its their teamwork and how they really know each other and how each member of the team plays is what impresses me the most.

It is that way with just about every relationship we have in our lives though. The more you hang out with someone, the more you know them. It gets to a point where you can tell when they are having a great day or not so good of a day.

These boys are all young and aren’t all professionals by any means, but when they are working together, when they are inside each other’s heads, they look like a well-oiled machine out there. They can move down the field making passes that are well beyond their age…..putting the ball in the position to score…..and when they play like that, most of the time they do score.

At other times they look completely lost…..there is no connection…..they seem to be all alone out there and trying to do it on their own. It is in those times that the ending score is not in their favor. But in those moments, there is opportunity for growth and learning as well.

I guess the point to my story is this…..who is in your crew? Who knows you the best? Who is there for you when you are down….when you are up? Who is there to receive your pass and at the same time pass the ball to you when they are surrounded by defenders?

As I think about my “crew,” I definitely have one. I probably couldn’t say that a few months ago. Of course I have my family….they have always been there….but now I have friends at work….friends at church…..people I can go to if I need advice or just someone to talk to.

As is says in Proverbs 27:17, ” Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” It is so important for us to have others to encourage us in times of despair….to challenge us in faith….to help keep us on the straight path….to help push us towards our goals.

I recently finished reading the book of Acts. I found it amazing the way those early followers of Christ came together as a team…..with the sole purpose of spreading the love of Christ to others. I don’t believe there was anything that those early Christians wouldn’t have done for each other.

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

I’m not comparing my son’s soccer team to the early Christ followers….but at the same time…..they spend hours a week together. They know each other inside and out. They help encourage each other when one may be down (for the most part…they are still young boys.). And I’m pretty sure at least half of the team spend their Sunday mornings together at the same kid’s church.

It’s cool how much we can learn from our kids. It’s cool to see that they know at such an early age that they can’t do everything alone. When do we lose that I wonder? When do we decide we don’t need to depend on others?

Either way, I have learned that I can’t make it through life without the help and encouragement from close friends and family. I’m glad I have found those that support me in my endeavors and those that I can help out if the call ever comes. We all need to stick together. Jesus didn’t have just Peter…..Jesus had a group of like minded individuals with Him. And that group of like minded individuals continued to go, and reach out, and grow their ranks even after Jesus had ascended back to heaven.

These times we live in can be tough….if you believe everything you see and hear on the news there is very little to celebrate. But you know what……as I sit here watching 100 children work together as multiple teams, for a common goal, I have hope in our future. I know it is only soccer….but it all has to start somewhere right?

These kids are learning that it isn’t always about winning, but supporting their teammates, to encourage, to work together for a common goal (no pun intended.)

I pray that we can all find a “crew”……a group of people we can gather with and break bread, pray, spread the love of Christ. A group of people who can encourage, and not tear down. A group of people who can pass and receive depending on the circumstances around us. I pray you can find that group similar to the group I have found. And better yet, if you need another crew member, let me know. I’m always here if you need me.

We are home from the beach.  It was the best family vacation I can ever remember with my wife’s family.  I had very little stress this year.  The boys behaved, for the most part, better than they have in a while.  My wife even behaved for a change….haha, just kidding.  She is always on her best behavior.

What changed from past years?  Why was this year different?  Why didn’t I start planning on how to get back to work by day 3 like I normally do?

The answer is very simple.  God had us in the palm of His hands.

2 days ago I was walking around on the beach.  It had finally warmed up enough for us to all get outside.  The boys and their cousins were playing in the water, my brother-in-law was scavenging the beach for sea creatures…..which he always seems to find.  I was looking down at all the shells….and thinking about years past.

This year my whole family has changed.  We are now aware of God’s awesome presence and power.  I believe He has always been there, but until this year we weren’t in tune with His plan…..with the peace that He offers once we turn our lives truly over to Him.

I started looking at the shells……they were all broken…..shattered…..there were no complete, perfect shells anywhere on the beach.  Like our lives, the shells have been broken by the forces of nature.  They have been smashed into the shore by powerful waves.  In fact, the sand I walked on used to be made of beautiful shells, but after so much of life’s circumstances they have been crushed into fine particles.  I thought, “Wow….that is so much similar to our lives.”  But then I thought, “That’s what the cross is for.  Jesus came down, took away all our shame….all of our pain…..picked up all of our broken pieces and put them back together again.  We are all made whole again by the Grace of Jesus Christ.

As The Message Bible so plainly states, “God, pick up the pieces.  Put me back together again.  You are my praise! (Jeremiah 17:14.)”

So I began picking up these shells; broken shells, small shells, big shells, shells that were almost perfect.  I wanted a way to commemorate the changes that my family has gone through in the last year.  I already was beginning to form in my mind a project I wanted to attempt……but I needed some wood.  I tried to find driftwood, but there really wasn’t any on this beach.  As I was walking back to the house and had about given up for the day I stumbled across and old dried up, hardened palm frond.  And with that, I knew I had all the material I needed.

After we got home today, unpacked, picked the dogs up from the puppy hotel I went out to my shop and began my project.  And the picture above is the result of my work.  I’m not very crafty, not very creative when it comes to projects like these, but I pieced together something that will definitely remind me of my family’s journey.

That palm frond I found, which so ironically was what was laid in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, now holds all of those shells I found.  All of those broken shells on that cross symbolize the false “control” I had over my life, the pain, the emptiness, the confusion……all of those things we were going through last year.  And Jesus, on that cross, took all of those things away.

God’s Grace is so amazing.  I know I have said it so many times before, and I’m sure I will continue to say it, but once you let go and let God take control…..your life will change.  Doors will open, you will end up in places you never dreamed could happen.  This time last year we hadn’t even thought about moving, we hadn’t even thought about changing schools for the boys, we hadn’t even thought about this new church we attend now.  Me, a theology major, haha.  A mission trip in the near future.  My wife and son Saved?  Our lives were heading down a completely different road.  But clearly, we were on the wrong road.  We had taken a wrong turn.

While at the beach, I snuck out one afternoon and saw Paul the Apostle.  I won’t spoil it for those who have yet to see it….but I will say one thing.  I have never seen a truer illustration of God’s Grace until that day.  I know what the cross means.  I know what Jesus’ death made possible.  But I had never seen what it actually all really meant……until that afternoon in that theater.

We are all a broken shell.  We are not perfect….nowhere near.  And we sure don’t deserve what God did for us…….but He did it anyway.  Grace.  It’s an amazing thing.  And my project I have been working on over the past few days will now be a reminder when times may get tough, when things may not go our way, that God is always there.  God has already saved us, made us whole, and we have nothing else to worry about.

Thanks to God, I look forward to going on vacation with my family again.  In fact, I already miss all of them and wish we had more time together.  Until next year…….

Spring break has begun.  I have finally made it to the beach.  And just like last year, it was a ride to remember.

On the way to the beach last year was the day I really noticed that God had started working in my life.  As I approached Charleston, Hillary Scott’s “Thy Will Be Done” came on the radio.  At that time in my life I was broken, beaten down, at the end of my rope.  The illusion of control I had on my life was finally crumbling.  I lost it, and cried all the way into Myrtle Beach.  It began a very emotional, not so good family vacation.  And it eventually lead me to turn everything over to God, just a few weeks later.

This year was a quite a different story.  It all started while listening to my second Louie Giglio sermon of the night.  When it started, I wasn’t thinking that it would affect me.  It was about how this year we should try to be all we could be in our professional lives.  The thing is, the last few weeks I have been feeling that once again I wanted to move on from my current job….that I wanted to pursue something in the mission field.  So I’m driving down the road with my Bible opened in my lap….my phone open to the notepad and a Lowcountry Community Church pen in my hand (probably not the safest way to drive…….But a complete 180 from where I was last year.)

Louie had 4 points that we should do this year when it comes to our professional lives….

1. Be the best where you are.  “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness (Psalm 37:3.)  In other words, like they used to tell us in the Marine Corps, “Grow where you are planted.”  This point hit home…and from this point on, I knew that this sermon was meant for me…..at this moment in my life. You will never be the best at the next thing until you are the best at what you are doing now.  In that moment, God said….master where you are, and I will move you on to your next step.
2. Embrace and celebrate the grind.  There is no elevator to the top.  You gotta take the stairs.  It’s a process, its one step at a time that will get you to the top….or where God has planned for you to be.
3. Raise others.  (And when its time to move on to your next assignment from God you can tell your boss, “Thank you for this opportunity.  I’m taking another position, but don’t worry, “Janice” is ready to take my place.)  And that’s when I lost it.  Remember the guy from work, whom I invited to church?  He has two weeks left before his final review.  If he has no progress, he most likely won’t be continuing with us.  What I heard in that moment in my heart from God was, “Listen carefully.  Until you have trained your replacement, you won’t be moving on to bigger things.  This is about more than just you.”
4. Grow you.

The sermon finished up…..I heard what God wanted me to hear….I still have an assignment that isn’t complete.  I immediately texted my co-worker.  I told him that I had just listened to an eye-opening sermon.  God wasn’t done with him.  I wasn’t done with him.  Hang in there and I will be back in a week to secure him his job.

About this time I was rolling into the outer limits of Myrtle beach.  And unlike last year when I was broken…..this year I was jamming to Worthy is Your Name and Reckless Love.

Just like it says in Reckless Love….God will search you out when you are lost.  God will bring you back.  And God will celebrate with you when you arrive.  Jesus tells the following parable that the song Reckless Love comes from.

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’  I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”                                            Luke 15:4-7

When I was lost…..when I was broken….when I had lost my way…..God came and got me. All God wants to do is walk with us….hang out with us….live life with us.  I know this to be true….because I have sensed Him there almost everyday since our last family vacation at the beach.

I will enjoy my week here.  I’m in a different place this year.  I really can’t wait to get up in the morning and see what God has in store.  But as for next week when I get back to work….God has already let me know what He has in store for me……We’ve got a lost sheep to find and bring home.

51 weeks ago today, I sat in an Easter service, while on our annual family spring break trip to Myrtle Beach.  I remember that day very well.  As I sat in church that morning, I felt an unease come over me.  As I watched the events that took place I began questioning, “Do these people even know what they are doing?  Are they just repeating what they have been told throughout their whole lives?”  The sermon that day was on basketball……all 15 minutes of it.  This was Easter Sunday…..and all I remember was something about sports.

It’s crazy how you can look back on events in your life and know the exact moment God began working on a specific issue.  When it comes to me, he began working, from all I can tell, months before.  But that day…..he began working on my family.  I can now look back…..and that uneasiness, that anxiety…………I believe God was telling me, “Man up.  It’s time for you to lead your family to Me.”

Up until that time, I have to admit, we didn’t go to church.  God was not a priority.  Yes I believed, but you never would have known.  But on that day God started my family down the path we are on today, 1 week less than a year later.

I mentioned in my last post that my oldest son raised his hand last Saturday night and prayed with Pastor Jeff.  This week we talked to him, off and on, and I believed he understood everything we talked about.  Today, we went to a class called “We Believe” designed for kids who are interested in beginning their relationship with Jesus Christ.  The kids were sent away to make a picture frame, the parents stayed back as Pastor Vinnie prepared us for what was going to happen.  We learned how to share our story, very quickly, about what Christ has done for us.  Then the children were brought back in and Pastor Vinnie shared the Gospel with the children.

When he was finished, it was our turn.  I shared my quick story as to how I came to Christ.  Then I sat and watched my wife, through tears, share her story…..that only began a few short months ago.  After we were finished, we walked him through some questions, with him knowing exactly what it all meant.  Now it came to the most important part….”Are you ready to join God’s family today?”  He said yes…..and what happened next…..

I turned to my wife….”Do you want to do this?”  I could have done it, but I knew how important a moment this could be for her.  She looked at my son and she began a short prayer.  He repeated after her……I watched as tears streamed down her face.  Because this wasn’t just about him, but about her journey as well.  So today, even though it really happened last week, my son has found eternal life with Jesus Christ.

We took a picture to go in that frame that he made.  So now he has a date and a story to share with others.

I never lead my wife in a prayer for her salvation.  But with God by my side, I got her to where she needed to be for Pastor Jeff to take over.  And then Pastor Jeff got her to where she needed to be, for Jesus Himself, to take over.

Isn’t it awesome how God takes us from our lowest places….our moments of anxiety, and delivers us to where He wants us to be?  I would have told you that you were absolutely crazy, if a year ago, after that Easter service, that I almost couldn’t even sit through, that today…….my wife would pray with my son to receive Christ.

Receiving Christ as your Savior isn’t about never sinning again……about being perfect all the time.  If it was about being perfect, we wouldn’t really need a Savior would we?  Christ came to take that sin from us….so God can see us as perfect…even though we aren’t.

Today’s sermon was about Love.  Pastor Jeff said, “Love is more of an action than an emotion.  Without love, I say nothing, I gain nothing, I am nothing.  Love is expressed by supernatural responses.”

The love that Jesus has poured over this family in the last year is beyond words.  No we aren’t perfect.  Yes, we still have our day-to-day issues.  Yes, my oldest still kicks his brother and yes, my youngest still spends his days trying to annoy his oldest.

But you know what……at the end of the day, love, is what it is all about.  And we all love each other more than words can say.

It’s been almost a year.  I’m sitting at home alone.  The family is on their way to our annual family spring break in Myrtle Beach.  I will join them in a few days.  My wife is saved.  My son is saved.  We have a new church.  We have a new house.  We have the boys in a school that has done nothing but encourage their potential.  We have been blessed financially, which has allowed us to tithe the way we always should have been.  I am in school for theology…..and within the last month I believe I am being nudged more and more towards the mission field.  None of these things would have happened if I would have ignored God.  None of these things would have happened if my family before me would have ignored God.

I urge you, open your hearts, open your minds, ask for guidance.  These things that you hear and feel are not mere coincidence, but God placing you on your path.  Follow Him.  I can’t even imagine what the next year holds for my family, but if it is anything like the last…..its time to buckle up……because its going to be one heck of a ride.