The power of Jesus

In most things in our world, when something dirty comes in contact with something clean, what happens? Does the dirty object over take the clean or vice versa? Obvious answer to most people - the clean object becomes dirty. 

Not so with Jesus. He came into our dirty, sinful world. He came clean and holy into a sinfully, dirty mess. He was unchanged. Instead, He transformed us and conquered sin and death. 

So why do I often give more power to my sin, failures, struggles etc than I do the power of Jesus?? Seems dumb. It is foolish to say the least. 

God is the hero of our redemption stories. 

He is unchanged by us or our mess-ups. 

I am not the villain. Satan is. 

I am a wounded saint who has been given everything in Christ (Ephesians 1).  

God's promises hold true even if I doubt or have unbelief. He is faithful as a covenant-keeping God even when I am unfaithful. 

He loves us and wants to be our God, walking with us each day. 

What a mighty God we serve. Celebrate who He is today. Confess your unbelief. Rejoice in Him. Run to Him. Enjoy Him. Believe Him. Serve Him. Stand in awe of Him. Selah

Still going...

I haven't written much lately. Not sure why, at least not fully. I go through periods of time where I get writer's "block" and don't know what to say. Things are clicking along, though.

• The kids are enjoying home school and their Excelsior group. 
• TOT is back in session, though Amy is hoping for more participants. 
• Amy's Nerium business is growing. 
• I am still a part of Advocare. I live on the products. It's an amazing company and group of leaders and friends. 
• I am counseling one afternoon/evening a week and doing electrical work most days. 
• My emotional and spiritual state has been holding steady. That's a plus. 
• I found out this week I will be teaching as an adjunct in the Spring at a local community college. That's great news. I love teaching and look forward to the opportunity.
• We have amazing friends and are blessed to be still growing as a couple and family. We are very blessed and grateful. 

It's our fourth year since the fall out. I am excited to see what all God does in, through and around us. I want to have the courage to obey and participate in all He is doing and leading us to do. He says He can do "immeasurably more than we think or imagine." May we not stop imagining, hoping, expecting, and pursuing Him fully.

Career and Calling

I don't like the question, "What would you do for work (career) if money was not an issue?" I mean, I like the question because it kicks my brain into creative mode. However, money is a bit of an issue, so I get stuck in two different ways of thinking. With career, I swing between two extremes - Wanting to pursue something I believe would be fun, exciting, challenging, in my gift set, and honors God AND doing work that will help me pay bills that were due "yesterday." I don't want to "live to pay bills," but I also don't want to do work that feels "life less" or isn't at least 80% satisfying, makes a positive difference in the world, etc. I want "work and play" (and good provision) to be one in the same. A both/and sort of deal.

It's a daily battle I face. I am not saying that all of the work I do now is "life less," but I feel a bit scatter brained or pulled in numerous directions. I want to narrow my focus a bit and pick something to pursue. I don't want to do things half way. Sadly, it was a battle I faced BEFORE the fallout of 2011. Granted, it is different in most ways now, but it still often feels similar.

Some people seem to have a very clear direction for a career, pursue it, and thrive in it. Others seem to drift from job to job, career to career, never staying anywhere long. Both have their place. I fit somewhere in between them most days. As someone who has lost his job and career due to sin, I have to consider numerous factors when pursuing a job or career direction. I believe all followers of Christ need to consider many factors as well when choosing a career and/or company to work for. We all need to avoid being in places that dishonor God OR situations that can lead to habitual sin and compromise. Living in the world but not of the world can be a hard balance.  

Some factors I try to consider are:

• Will it be a job that puts me in compromising situations with females on a regular basis?
• Will I have to travel and stay in hotels often, being alone and away from my family regularly?
• Does the type of work trigger fears and concerns for Amy?
• Does the work schedule allow me flexibility, so I can make my marriage and family time a priority? 
• Does it provide well without forcing me to over work and be gone too much?
• Is the company a place of integrity and not hostile toward God or Christianity/Christian principles?

There are other factors to consider, but these are a few that come to mind. As I am praying about God's direction for my career and "calling," I weigh these out, while recognizing that I need to have boundaries and be abiding in Christ daily NO MATTER WHERE I WORK. Every day I wake up, I need to put on the armor of God and abide in His love and grace. I want to fill my mind with truth, stay close to Amy and my children, be transparent and honest with my accountability "brothers," and stay alert to the temptations around me.

My number one "calling" right now is to honor God in my marriage and love and lead my family. At the same time, I want to provide well for them and fully depend on God's leading. I don't feel like I am doing the best job I can at any of these. I desire to improve in all areas of my life, starting with my role as husband and father. The career "issue" comes up daily in my mind and tends to distract me often. I don't want it to stop me from being the best dad and husband I can be, though I have let it quite a bit this summer.

No matter how confused and lost I feel at times, I do know this: God is good and nothing can separate me from His love. He has proven that through all of this "mess." I hit rock bottom and caused an "earthquake," but He met me right there in the middle of it. He is a God who isn't afraid to get a bit "messy" with us. He's that determined to see us run to Him and stop running to the lies of the evil one. How amazing.
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Luke 15:4-7 (The Message) 

^4-7 “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.