No MAS Pantalones- Quiet Time with GOD!

Most of us have seen the insurance commercial regarding the 2 insurance agents and  lier lier pants on fire... it cracks me. What does this have to do with the price of fuel in China?  Nada..

God puts people in our lives for a reason and we may never know fully why. As  new pastor i recently started to wonder why?  Our spouses,  co-worker, a  Neighbors, Friends, Enemies, etc  knowing that i may not ever figure it out i just gave up wondering...LOL...as many of the kids from church have started to say, "GOD's GOT THIS"...and not that i am doubting any of of the people in my life, but it is interesting how lives begin to intertwine and you get to see God at work. sometimes slower than quicker.... NO MAS PANTALONES!!!!  

This Sunday i was teaching the kids at church about praying for our enemies. It was so neat, yet heavy on my heart to hear the kids share who or what bothers them. we talked about how it is easier to want to get back at these type of people or wish them harm.. it is a quick feel good, but not what Jesus wants us to do. I told them that Jesus wants us to pray blessings on our enemies or people that bug us. The kids went wild saying no way, thats too hard, that's crazy! They of course are being honest and real. It is amazing how as adults we forget to be real.  We prayed for our enemies and i also felt that they should know if they are the ones being the bully or mean kid  that we could pray for that as well.  I could see some kids really thinking about. A bit draining but well worth it.. God is good! 

The rest of my  day was spending time with family at birthday/shower for my sister. 

Go home to get ready for a quick trip to Dallas. Winding down for  evening and BAAM! DRAMA...

My daughter was acting a bit out of sorts and i had to get to the bottom of it.  The things running through my head , were things a father of a daughter could process in such a short period of time.  Of course it goes to the really out of this world type of things..

Anyway, i determined what was going on, not a huge deal as i was making up in my little old head, but it was for my baby. after things calmed down,  I was able to talk to her. i was doing all the talking and she listened silently.  I was able to share with her that, she has heard  me talking to the kids at church that we are always going to make mistakes and we either learn from them or continue to make them. I was able to share that a mistake or bad choice, is meant to learn from and use it to become a better person. We can not dwell on the past and need to focus on the future.. if we keep bringing up our mistakes we can never move forward and grow... as i was talking to her and sharing how much she has to be thankful for and to look forward to, the tears ran down my face uncontrollably, as i am now, similar to the women on those spanish soap operas that can cry on the spot!!! LOL I know i  know, i am a SAP..   

Ok back on track.  I told her she is responsible for  choices and decisions, and that NOONE can take who she is, away  from her, only she can.  She did not say a word, except for "don't put anything on the sofa i just cleaned it".  But, i feel she heard me, without saying anything else. 

This morning on my way to the airport i processed the evening event and again the tears poured out as if i was trying to gather water for the up coming drought.  

I got to thinking that God  wants to have those types of conversations with us.Quiet time!  

The problem is as teens and adults we don't sit still and give Him a chance to speak to us.  he has so much  He wants to tell us but we are so busy, with this and that and stressing about this and that, and asking God for help and yet nothing seems to change.   If we take the time to just be still and Listen.. WOW, the things that He would tell us with a soft caring tone. Some of it Would be awesome ,and some of it Would be that tough love kind of talk that fathers have to have with their girls and the boys that want to date them...LOL 

As i sit here typing this on the plane telling people i have allergies, i realize this is one of th  ose moments as a father that i will never forget. My baby is growing up. She is a  teenager, they say these are the tough years.  

I am so proud of her, and that we are able to one of those "weird moments" ... God wants to have these weird moments with Him.. Let Him Speak, Listen, Listen some more. He is so proud of us and loves us unconditionally why would we not want to listen?  

I love being a father!!!! I can only imagine how He feels for us!!! 

Blessings 

Joe

Am I Bragging?

It definitely has been awhile since I posted anything. I apologize for that, but it has been a crazy 5 plus months. But a good Crazy.

 In February I began volunteering at my Church as the Interim Children's Director, to allow the Church to focus on searching for a new Youth Pastor and not have to also focus on searching for a Children's Director. I also graduated Cum Laude (with honors) from Colorado Christian University with my B.S. in Organizational Management in Christian Leadership (Business Administration, with a focus on Non-Profit). I was accepted into Manager in Training Program at my company and am in my final days of completing it. Finally I was offered and accepted the Children's Ministry Director (soon to be Pastor) position at my church.

Again, it has been crazy!

It was tough for me at first to want to even post any of the above information on my wife’s Facebook. Nevertheless, something said I should, and so I did little by little, and at times was uncomfortable about it and reading all the post in response to them. WHY? I can be a very humble person, and those of you that know me, are probably laughing right now, because you know it is true.

This morning I felt strongly and lead to write this short post, not to Brag, but to let everyone know, that I am not perfect, I am not superman! I have made and will continue to make mistakes in life. Yet God continues to bless me.. I can get Biblical here, but will not just to get to the point.

What I am trying to say, is that many people believe that in order to have a relationship or be blessed by God that we have to be perfect! Well, I am here to tell you DO NOT BELIEVE THAT LIE! My family and I are perfect examples of this, yes we may not always see eye to eye, have financial issues, or forget to trust God in many of our situations, but God is always there even when we may not see or feel Him.

Get over the Lies!

Get over the Doubts!

Get over Yourselves!

Leave it to God and See what happens!

Love you all!

Joe

Awesome Video!

This has been passed around on Facebook recently, over 16 million views on YouTube!

AMEN AMEN AMEN

Our Pastor also showed it in Church this weekend, which is the first time i was able to see it..

So True!

Blessings!

3 Times is a Charm?

So, i was accepted into the Manager in Training program at my company for 2012, after a 3rd time trying. i heard a lot of 3rd Time is a Charm.... 

What does that mean? 

• There is superstition that it is unlucky to take a third light, that is, to be the third person to light a cigarette from the same match or lighter. This superstition is sometimes asserted to have originated among soldiers in the trenches of the First World War when a sniper might see the first light, take aim on the second and fire on the third.
• The phrase "Third time's the charm" refers to the superstition that after two failures in any endeavor, a third attempt is more likely to succeed.

Bible Verse

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"

 Philippians 3:14 (New International Version)

.

Press On(1377) GREEK (dioko from dío = pursue, prosecute, persecute) means to follow or press hard after, literally to pursue as one does a fleeing enemy. It means to chase, harass, vex and pressure and was used for chasing down criminals. Dioko speaks of an intensity of effort leading to a pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain. To go after with the desire of obtaining or in some contexts the desire to harm. It gives us the picture of going on the track of something like the hounds on the hunt and pursuing after the fox and implying a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain the goal.

http://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_314.htm

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I press toward the mark - As he who was running a race did. The "mark" means properly the object set up at a distance at which one looks or aims, and hence the goal, or post which was set up at the end of a race-course, and which was to be reached in order that the prize might be won. Here it means that which is at the end of the Christian race - in heaven.

For the prize - The prize of the racer was a crown or garland of olive, laurel, pine, or apple; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:24. The prize of the Christian is the crown that is incorruptible in heaven.

Of the high calling of God - Which is the end or result of that calling. God has called us to great and noble efforts; to a career of true honor and glory; to the obtainment of a bright and imperishable crown. It is a calling which is "high," or "upward" - (ἄνω anō) - that is, which tends to the skies. The calling of the Christian is from heaven, and to heaven; compare Proverbs 15:24. He has been summoned by God through the gospel of the Lord Jesus to secure the crown. It is placed before and above him in heaven. It may be his, if he will not faint or tire or look backward. It demands his highest efforts, and it is worth all the exertions which a mortal can make even in the longest life.

Bible Verse

1 Corinthians 9:24

 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.(NIV)

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally(The Message)

Okay this was the long answer for the Question...LOL  I have worked hard and have been more focused upon my return to the company. My Leaders have helped refine my leadership skills which has helped me become the Leader i am Today... So, is third time a charm? I'll take it!!! LOL but really it is that pursuit of something, pursuit of the Goal, and of course we cannot forget it's God's timing. 

I remember when i was laid off from my full time position at the church, i was so excited, the HR person thought I was nuts,  because i really thought i was going to go out a run or lead a Children’s Program somewhere else, based on prayers and “signs”. I eventually took on a interim Director position as a Church. Whoo Hoo, NOT!! God showed me through the blindness of my excitement, that i was burnt out.  It was a hard lesson because i was sure it was God's Will for me, but what he really wanted was for me to Chill Out.. Rest.. Train or prepare for the next race.. I am still training and leaving it up to GOD as to the track or route that i am to take... 

I Pray that in these tough times that you do not lose sight of that. God has a plan for you! Even though we go through Hell sometimes, we make some good and not so good choices in life, You are still part of His plan! Ask Him what that is, He may not answer right away, or He may be answering you and you are just not wanting to see it.. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10, NIV). Sometime we just need to listen, sit back and see what we are doing, because chance are you are already doing His work.. It may not look like church work, or serving food at a homeless shelter, it may just being you and setting an example of Christ for the people around you. Just listening to someone at work drop their miseries on you, and they see Christ in you and you lift them up just by buying them a cup of coffee…I may be a Customer at work that you just smile or say something nice that makes their day… Making people laugh… Praying for people, making cakes for people, serving in the community, making a difference in someone’s life, your community… yes we need to support our churches, but that is not the only way God uses our gifts and talents! AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!

Facebook Part Duex!

          You just posted something  or sent a private massage to someone specifically and they have not responded as fast as you want, and you tend to get antsy. , wondering why they are not responding right away.. Sound familiar?
If you sit with your phone with you 24/7 or stop what you are doing because your phone beep or computer is alerting you someone responded to back to you or made a comment....  Then you know what i am talking about... LOL

^"When you are tempted, you shouldn't say, "God is tempting me."

 God can't be tempted by evil. And he doesn't tempt anyone.

But your own evil longings tempt you. They lead you on and drag you away.

When they are allowed to grow, they give birth to sin.

When sin has grown up, it gives birth to death "

 (James 1:13-15, NIV). 

"What i have noticed, and we all can speak to this, is that when people are stressed or under pressure or whatever, they start to look for something to get away, or if there is a void they try to fill it. Most people turn to Drinking, smoking, drugs, gambling, etc.. Now we have Facebook. People can connect with people, and do so in a manner without anyone seeing or everyone seeing and knowing their business. It is a quick fix."

Why is this? We can't wait to hear from a certain person or people.  We get impatient waiting to see what people or that specific person has to say to our post or response. 
We sit by our phones or computers just waiting for a response, that Quick hit". 
We are very familiar with it outside of social Media. Just talking to a specific person in person or on the phone or waiting for the phone to ring or email from someone.
It has just become a lot more easier with social Media. 

We have all experienced how the enemy can throw some bait in front of us and tempt us. Whether is it a good friend, old boyfriend or girlfriend, co-workers, etc... does not have to be a sexual thing but, we find ourselves, all of a sudden enjoying someones company more than usual, i am speaking more into the Facebook aspect or online, not in person, though it can be just as harmful.  Though not physically harmful, I have seen where it is mentally harmful or draining.
How people handle themselves is what can get them in trouble.. the temptation is there and they are thriving on it and their filters all of a sudden shut down and they can get sucked into harmful situations..... I would have to say or recommend that if you find yourself in a awkward situation, or you are spending way too much time on there, GET OFF.. don't let Facebook lead you down the path of sin as the Bible Verse stats above..  

Please note that i am not saying everyone that is on Facebook  is stalking someone or secretly has the Hots for someone.. Just like people who like to drink are not all addicts... I challenge you to chop off the amount of time spent on Facebook and see how you do.. Let me know!!!  

Americans Logged 101,000 Years of Facebook Time in Single Month

Natalie Wolchover, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer

Date: 14 September 2011 Time: 12:13 PM ET

A report released Sept. 11 by Nielsen, the media research and ratings company, reveals that Americans are spending more time than ever perusing social networks and blogs. Unsurprisingly, the report found that "Americans spend more time on Facebook than any other site."

In May, the most recent month for which data were collected, Americans spent 53.5 billion total minutes on Facebook — or roughly 101,720 years. As there were 140 million unique visitors to the site that month, the average user spent 382 minutes, or 6.4 hours, browsing Facebook in May.

Wow, that is a lot of Time... this has become the new couch potato....I could come up with a nick name for Facebook, but would probably offend someone!! LOL 

I know i am all over the place on this one... you should have seen the original entry...LOL
Facebook is a great tool to connect with people that we don't get to see on a regular basis.. It should not be a replacement for normal means of communication or therapy!!
 

PRAYER

Lord i pray right now for those having a difficult time right now with it being the holidays.  I ask that you touch their hearts and minds and show them the real reason for the Season...
I pray you bring people into their lives or a church that will make an impact on them.. I lift up those struggling with personal issues that they feel boxed in and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel..  I pray for relationships, finances, families, work, and health for those that are asking and those that are too proud to ask YOU!! I pray for any addictions out there! i pray you STOP them and heal people confined under the enemy!! Break the Chains! Heal the marks! Heal their souls.  Rain down your Glory and Mercy!!!!
In Your Precious name AMEN AMEN AMEN.