I am one who does not always outwardly express the loss of my temper; although it does happen. More often than not, I tend to keep my temper tantrums in check, but when I blow my top and my blood pressure rises and the skin color of my forehead turns red it is often difficult to hide and I must run to the place where I can find my temper and regain my composure.
That place would be in my car, where I can play a soothing CD of instrumental worship on and just cry out to my Heavenly Father and ask for his peace to cover me and take any anger built up inside of me away.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Less is More
After two years off and on again employment I thought my big break had come. After six interviews and an all expense paid trip to Washington state, I was sure I would get the position. So when the recruiter called me the following day I was expecting to hear, 'we cannot wait for you to come be part of our team' instead the words 'we are moving forward with other candidates' shot my confidence full of holes. My heart sank. Anger smouldered and I started to feel God betrayed me...until I remembered my Bible reading two weeks ago.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” Exodus 16:4-5 NLT
The people of Israel were in the wilderness and constantly complaining. They felt betrayed by God and instead of having a positive attitude, they chose to bicker and dwell on the past. Ultimately, their pessimistic attitudes prevented them from reaching the Promised Land in a timely manner. Much like the Israelites, I have displayed my own displeasures and disobedience and through selfish actions have put myself first and often times have closed doors that God had opened for me. And even after putting myself first and getting in the way, He has still poured out blessings upon my family. The Lord has truly shown me patience and humility during this season and while it is not the most exciting time, I am learning a lot and am eternally grateful for His provision and protection.
We are truly blessed and have learned to live on less. Going from a job making more than $70,000 a year to living on an unemployment income of $435 a week has definitely taught us to be faithful with less. We have had to learn to stretch our money and live on less. While this definitely limits your extracurricular activities and eating out it teaches self-discipline and creativity. One of the most important lessons I have learned during this season is that in order to truly see the hand of provision from God you must truly allow Him to have full control. You cannot lie down and quit and just expect God to give you something because you are one of His children. He expects us to put forth an effort. When you are out of work, you have to look for work and be willing to put away your pride and find employment. We must take care of our families and provide for them; especially if there is no money coming in.
When I finally received that call from the recruiter, even though it crushed me and left a sour taste of disappointment in my mouth, I quickly was reminded that when one door closes another will open. This closed door was an answered prayer and God reminded me that He had something else in mind for me. I remembered something that God had spoken to me over 2 weeks ago and He said that I had to quit trying to do it myself and let Him take control. I had spent countless hours trying to get the job through my works and had drained myself to a point of complete frustration and doubt. I finally surrendered all of my efforts to God and told Him I was done and He was going to have to take over.
It came down to either finding employment or ultimately suffer even more difficult times with no income. Last Thursday I walked into a local restaurant and after meeting with the General Manager, I was offered a position on the spot. Finally, an opportunity for employment. While it is not the ideal position, pay or hours that I would want, it is no longer what I want, but where God wants me. I am truly blessed to have employment. God knows what we need and is providing the avenues for this to happen. He is still teaching me to trust in Him and to let Him line things up. I know that greater things are yet to come and I am excited to see what He has in store for us next. If we truly trust Him, He will see us through these times of wilderness and guide us to the promised land.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” Exodus 16:4-5 NLT
The people of Israel were in the wilderness and constantly complaining. They felt betrayed by God and instead of having a positive attitude, they chose to bicker and dwell on the past. Ultimately, their pessimistic attitudes prevented them from reaching the Promised Land in a timely manner. Much like the Israelites, I have displayed my own displeasures and disobedience and through selfish actions have put myself first and often times have closed doors that God had opened for me. And even after putting myself first and getting in the way, He has still poured out blessings upon my family. The Lord has truly shown me patience and humility during this season and while it is not the most exciting time, I am learning a lot and am eternally grateful for His provision and protection.
We are truly blessed and have learned to live on less. Going from a job making more than $70,000 a year to living on an unemployment income of $435 a week has definitely taught us to be faithful with less. We have had to learn to stretch our money and live on less. While this definitely limits your extracurricular activities and eating out it teaches self-discipline and creativity. One of the most important lessons I have learned during this season is that in order to truly see the hand of provision from God you must truly allow Him to have full control. You cannot lie down and quit and just expect God to give you something because you are one of His children. He expects us to put forth an effort. When you are out of work, you have to look for work and be willing to put away your pride and find employment. We must take care of our families and provide for them; especially if there is no money coming in.
When I finally received that call from the recruiter, even though it crushed me and left a sour taste of disappointment in my mouth, I quickly was reminded that when one door closes another will open. This closed door was an answered prayer and God reminded me that He had something else in mind for me. I remembered something that God had spoken to me over 2 weeks ago and He said that I had to quit trying to do it myself and let Him take control. I had spent countless hours trying to get the job through my works and had drained myself to a point of complete frustration and doubt. I finally surrendered all of my efforts to God and told Him I was done and He was going to have to take over.
It came down to either finding employment or ultimately suffer even more difficult times with no income. Last Thursday I walked into a local restaurant and after meeting with the General Manager, I was offered a position on the spot. Finally, an opportunity for employment. While it is not the ideal position, pay or hours that I would want, it is no longer what I want, but where God wants me. I am truly blessed to have employment. God knows what we need and is providing the avenues for this to happen. He is still teaching me to trust in Him and to let Him line things up. I know that greater things are yet to come and I am excited to see what He has in store for us next. If we truly trust Him, He will see us through these times of wilderness and guide us to the promised land.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
New Beginning
I am starting fresh with this blog. Going forward this blog will be focused on things that God is giving to me through the eyes of a father, husband, priest of God. The blogs I write here will be a collaboration of sports, career advice, family activities, handyman projects and anything else I am inspired to elaborate on through the keystrokes of my digits.
Stay tuned for more from....
The Family Man
Stay tuned for more from....
The Family Man
Monday, May 25, 2009
Trust in the Lord
This past week has been a very interesting one. Last Monday, I was called by my HR Manager and my new boss, the new VP and was "let go". While it was a bit of a slap in the face, it wasn't completely unexpected. The Lord has been preparing me for this day for the last year and so I have been putting my trust in Him, but not enough. The Lord has been hammering me the last several months and has been confirming and re-confirming that He is our source, not Obama, not corporations, not the world and not big salaries. If we put our focus on these things, we will fail.
The Lord is refocusing my priorities and asking me to put my eyes back on Him. He is desiring me to not look at the desires of my heart, but to look at Him and just worship. He put those desires in my heart and will grant them when I choose to look to Him rather than what He will provide. The Lord is reconfirming the calling He has on my heart. That calling is a calling to be a minister of the gospel. I have received certain confirmations in the past as to what I am supposed to do and they have varied between music ministry and youth ministry.
This past year I begun to follow what the Lord called me to do. I began to work at the Christian school where Alexis attends. Junior High and High School kids is a big time youth ministry. I am entrusted to impart things into these young souls and to train them up in the ways of the Lord. I have felt a peace ever since I went there and started teaching and coaching. God has confirmed that in my heart and only He knows what else will come of it this next year. There are some big opportunities that lie before me, but God spoke to me yesterday and said to be patient. I dont want to rush anything and I want to wait upon the Lord. He will renew my strength. I want to not lean on my own understanding, but to completely trust in the Lord. He is my only source, He is my strength. He is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
While I am at a crossroads, I am at such peace. I know I have a family to take care of, but i also know that I have a God who is bigger than any circumstance or issue that I face. My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory. I know that He will provide all that we need. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Nothing will I fear!
I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do in the next couple of weeks and months. I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength and I will pull from that as often as I need to. I am not going to just sit on my hands and do nothing, but I am going to sit, listen and wait upon the Lord.
Jobs will come and jobs will go, as will the things of this earth, but nothing shall seperate me from the love of Christ. His love endures forever!
The Lord is refocusing my priorities and asking me to put my eyes back on Him. He is desiring me to not look at the desires of my heart, but to look at Him and just worship. He put those desires in my heart and will grant them when I choose to look to Him rather than what He will provide. The Lord is reconfirming the calling He has on my heart. That calling is a calling to be a minister of the gospel. I have received certain confirmations in the past as to what I am supposed to do and they have varied between music ministry and youth ministry.
This past year I begun to follow what the Lord called me to do. I began to work at the Christian school where Alexis attends. Junior High and High School kids is a big time youth ministry. I am entrusted to impart things into these young souls and to train them up in the ways of the Lord. I have felt a peace ever since I went there and started teaching and coaching. God has confirmed that in my heart and only He knows what else will come of it this next year. There are some big opportunities that lie before me, but God spoke to me yesterday and said to be patient. I dont want to rush anything and I want to wait upon the Lord. He will renew my strength. I want to not lean on my own understanding, but to completely trust in the Lord. He is my only source, He is my strength. He is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
While I am at a crossroads, I am at such peace. I know I have a family to take care of, but i also know that I have a God who is bigger than any circumstance or issue that I face. My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory. I know that He will provide all that we need. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Nothing will I fear!
I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do in the next couple of weeks and months. I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength and I will pull from that as often as I need to. I am not going to just sit on my hands and do nothing, but I am going to sit, listen and wait upon the Lord.
Jobs will come and jobs will go, as will the things of this earth, but nothing shall seperate me from the love of Christ. His love endures forever!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Out of the mouth of babes
After I brought my daughter home from school yesterday, we were sitting in the living room talking and she shared something with me that I thought was very awesome. It isn't the first time that she has shared something with me like this before, but this time it seemed more "truthful" and "realistic". You want to know what she told me? "i met a boy and i'm gonna get married." No, not really, not that yet, I just had to put that in there to throw you off. :)
What she told me was that God spoke to her during chapel yesterday morning. From what I have heard of the service yesterday morning it was very powerful and so I have no doubt in my mind what she is saying is the truth. While I do believe my daughter tends to exaggerate the truth at times, I know that her heart is pure and she means well.
So I asked her what He said and she told me that He said to "Go and preach the gospel to all the world." I am thinking, AMEN! That is awesome..and then she added this part..."Then He said to go to Colorado." I was like wow, where did that come from? She knows nothing about Colorado, but okay, I am going to take it as gospel truth. Then she proceeded to say that He also said Texas and Mexico. While I am a bit skeptical about the additional "states", I do not doubt that He spoke to her and she heard the voice of our Creator. Children are so pure and so innocent and not influenced by all the things us adults have been that they can hear more clearly.
I continued to ask her questions because I wanted to hear what she had to say. So I asked her what His voice sounded like and she said that it was full of power and then described it as a deep voice and that was it.
It just blows me away what my children will say to me, but here is the important part....I got quiet and listened. Just as the word says, "Be still and know that I am God." You better believe it that I am going to listen to my daughter and hear what she has to say. I know that God can use anyone at any time regardless of the age or situation. It just goes to show you that we need to lean our ears closer to our "little" people because we just may hear something that will change our lives. Jesus loved children and still does and He knows they will listen to anything He says. The more we listen to our children the more we will learn.
Thank you Lord for speaking to our children and revealing your power to them so that we may believe.
Be blessed!
What she told me was that God spoke to her during chapel yesterday morning. From what I have heard of the service yesterday morning it was very powerful and so I have no doubt in my mind what she is saying is the truth. While I do believe my daughter tends to exaggerate the truth at times, I know that her heart is pure and she means well.
So I asked her what He said and she told me that He said to "Go and preach the gospel to all the world." I am thinking, AMEN! That is awesome..and then she added this part..."Then He said to go to Colorado." I was like wow, where did that come from? She knows nothing about Colorado, but okay, I am going to take it as gospel truth. Then she proceeded to say that He also said Texas and Mexico. While I am a bit skeptical about the additional "states", I do not doubt that He spoke to her and she heard the voice of our Creator. Children are so pure and so innocent and not influenced by all the things us adults have been that they can hear more clearly.
I continued to ask her questions because I wanted to hear what she had to say. So I asked her what His voice sounded like and she said that it was full of power and then described it as a deep voice and that was it.
It just blows me away what my children will say to me, but here is the important part....I got quiet and listened. Just as the word says, "Be still and know that I am God." You better believe it that I am going to listen to my daughter and hear what she has to say. I know that God can use anyone at any time regardless of the age or situation. It just goes to show you that we need to lean our ears closer to our "little" people because we just may hear something that will change our lives. Jesus loved children and still does and He knows they will listen to anything He says. The more we listen to our children the more we will learn.
Thank you Lord for speaking to our children and revealing your power to them so that we may believe.
Be blessed!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
When you least expect it
I have learned a lot in my walk with God and it is this....when you least expect something, God delivers. When we begin to quit looking for something, He blesses us in a big way. Why? Well when our focus is on other things then it is hard for God to speak to us and for us to hear Him. Our focus and priorities must be right. Last night I was at The Burn in Shawnee, Oklahoma and was worshipping my Lord and Saviour. In the past I haven't come to the Burn's like I should and came away disappointed. Why? Well my focus and my desires were not what they should be. The Burn isn't something that you go to expecting to receive something, it is where we are to go and give back to God. It is a time of intercession and worship. In the past I have gone with the attitude that I wanted to get something out of it and I have never gotten what I was looking for because it was all about me. You will never get anything from God if you are seeking personal gain.
As I was worshipping last night I began to intercede for others. We were having the Burn at the Salvation Army, so I was calling in the hurting, bruised, broken, lost and homeless. I wanted them to come and be ministered to. I want them to realize that God is bigger than the circumstances they are facing. My God is bigger than anything we face. As I was interceding I felt someone lay hands on me and they began praying for me. As soon as I took the focus off myself, God laid it on the heart of someone else to begin praying for me. See how easy that is?
This person began to prophesy things over me and speak things over me and then moved to my feet. I wasn't focusing on what was being said as I was continuing to pray as well. At first I didn't know who this person was, but later I discovered it was someone from my church that I have a lot of respect for and I know that they are not one to just speak something out to just be speaking something. This person allows God to speak through them and waits upon the Lord to speak and is careful when doing so.
They later wrote down what they had prayed and prophesied over me and you know what? It wasn't just words this person wanted to say to sound good. The words that were spoken confirmed many things that I am going through and what God is doing in my life. God is so awesome and answers us. His word states, "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things that you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3. I often call out to God and ask Him to speak to me and He is always faithful in doing this. He will either speak something to my spirit or He will speak to me through someone I know. Nonetheless...God speaks and we must be willing and able to listen and receive.
While I was writing this I had intended on writing what was spoken over me, but the Holy Spirit told me, "No." It is not meant to be shared with anyone else. Some things are better left unsaid. I will just say again that when we change our focus from ourselves and point them to God, things happen. When we least expect something, God delivers.
Amen!
Be blessed.
Coach
As I was worshipping last night I began to intercede for others. We were having the Burn at the Salvation Army, so I was calling in the hurting, bruised, broken, lost and homeless. I wanted them to come and be ministered to. I want them to realize that God is bigger than the circumstances they are facing. My God is bigger than anything we face. As I was interceding I felt someone lay hands on me and they began praying for me. As soon as I took the focus off myself, God laid it on the heart of someone else to begin praying for me. See how easy that is?
This person began to prophesy things over me and speak things over me and then moved to my feet. I wasn't focusing on what was being said as I was continuing to pray as well. At first I didn't know who this person was, but later I discovered it was someone from my church that I have a lot of respect for and I know that they are not one to just speak something out to just be speaking something. This person allows God to speak through them and waits upon the Lord to speak and is careful when doing so.
They later wrote down what they had prayed and prophesied over me and you know what? It wasn't just words this person wanted to say to sound good. The words that were spoken confirmed many things that I am going through and what God is doing in my life. God is so awesome and answers us. His word states, "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things that you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3. I often call out to God and ask Him to speak to me and He is always faithful in doing this. He will either speak something to my spirit or He will speak to me through someone I know. Nonetheless...God speaks and we must be willing and able to listen and receive.
While I was writing this I had intended on writing what was spoken over me, but the Holy Spirit told me, "No." It is not meant to be shared with anyone else. Some things are better left unsaid. I will just say again that when we change our focus from ourselves and point them to God, things happen. When we least expect something, God delivers.
Amen!
Be blessed.
Coach
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Love still abounds
This world has become such a bitter place: Divorce, Unemployment, Violence and Abuse, Murder and the list goes on and on. I have to ask God to forgive me when I begin to give up on the world around me and why shouldn't I? It sure seems hopeless. It is a world full of anger and violence. It is a lost world. Yet, God still has a heart for this battered world. He still loves the people that make up this country. He still offers hope and love. He still offers his forgiveness and grace.
While I am one who will not accept the world or its views any longer, I will continue to pray for our country and know that God can still do a work in this nation; regardless of what the past has been or what continues to be spoken over our country. I will not be one who accepts what people say about this country or their lack of hope. I will not be one who allows others to dictate how I live. I will live my life for Christ and I will continue to offer Him praise and glory. I am the head and not the tail....I am above and not beneath. I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus!
Suprising to some....Love still abounds in this world around us. Seriously, it does. Even though this world has a lot of angry people, a lot of people who have hurts and pains, there are a lot of people who still have love inside of them. Many of these people have buried their "love" deep within their hearts only to be covered up by life in general. When we see these people we begin to judge on the outward appearance; however, we are not looking at their heart. God looks at the heart and therefore so should we. The old cliche says to not judge a book by its cover and that is so true. We just need to have a heart like the Father and look deeper than what the outer layers show. People have love deep inside, but they have forgotten how to access it and have become so calloused to the situations they are apart of. Even though many people are hurting and have forgotten how to love there are many that do love and are happy to show it....so when someone does show an act of love it often times shocks us.
During my travels through the many airports I venture through I come across a lot of people who are very hateful and definately seem to not have any love in their hearts and then there are some who just don't know how to express themselves any longer and then their are those whose simple acts of kindness speak volumes. Just yesterday in the Detroit airport my laptop bag bumped into a woman and she gave me a hateful look and mumbled something to me under her breathe. All of this even after looking her in the eyes and saying excuse me and I'm sorry. Lord, help her. While I was getting a refill on my drink during lunch, I took the lid off my cup and ended up dropping my straw on the floor. The gentleman who was right next to me reached over and grabbed a new straw and handed it to me. I did not hesitate to say thank you. That simple act of kindness spoke volumes to me and was the catalyst for this blog. That guy did not have to get me a new straw. He could have just looked at me and walked on, but because he decided to show a simple act of kindness it sparked something in my heart. It reminds me of the television commercial where someone does an act kindness for someone and then the recipient of the kind act returns the favor to someone else and it continues to spread like wild fire.
So when you are out in this crazy world doing whatever you may be doing, remember, not everyone is full of hate and anger. There are actually people out there who know how to love and if they have forgotten it is up to us to help them remember.
Be blessed this weekend.
Coach
While I am one who will not accept the world or its views any longer, I will continue to pray for our country and know that God can still do a work in this nation; regardless of what the past has been or what continues to be spoken over our country. I will not be one who accepts what people say about this country or their lack of hope. I will not be one who allows others to dictate how I live. I will live my life for Christ and I will continue to offer Him praise and glory. I am the head and not the tail....I am above and not beneath. I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus!
Suprising to some....Love still abounds in this world around us. Seriously, it does. Even though this world has a lot of angry people, a lot of people who have hurts and pains, there are a lot of people who still have love inside of them. Many of these people have buried their "love" deep within their hearts only to be covered up by life in general. When we see these people we begin to judge on the outward appearance; however, we are not looking at their heart. God looks at the heart and therefore so should we. The old cliche says to not judge a book by its cover and that is so true. We just need to have a heart like the Father and look deeper than what the outer layers show. People have love deep inside, but they have forgotten how to access it and have become so calloused to the situations they are apart of. Even though many people are hurting and have forgotten how to love there are many that do love and are happy to show it....so when someone does show an act of love it often times shocks us.
During my travels through the many airports I venture through I come across a lot of people who are very hateful and definately seem to not have any love in their hearts and then there are some who just don't know how to express themselves any longer and then their are those whose simple acts of kindness speak volumes. Just yesterday in the Detroit airport my laptop bag bumped into a woman and she gave me a hateful look and mumbled something to me under her breathe. All of this even after looking her in the eyes and saying excuse me and I'm sorry. Lord, help her. While I was getting a refill on my drink during lunch, I took the lid off my cup and ended up dropping my straw on the floor. The gentleman who was right next to me reached over and grabbed a new straw and handed it to me. I did not hesitate to say thank you. That simple act of kindness spoke volumes to me and was the catalyst for this blog. That guy did not have to get me a new straw. He could have just looked at me and walked on, but because he decided to show a simple act of kindness it sparked something in my heart. It reminds me of the television commercial where someone does an act kindness for someone and then the recipient of the kind act returns the favor to someone else and it continues to spread like wild fire.
So when you are out in this crazy world doing whatever you may be doing, remember, not everyone is full of hate and anger. There are actually people out there who know how to love and if they have forgotten it is up to us to help them remember.
Be blessed this weekend.
Coach
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