Category Archives: Inspiration

Advent Grace

“For it is by GRACE you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

Every other Wednesday morning I lead a Small Group of 8^th grade boys at my kids’ school. We talk about a multitude of topics. Lately we have been discussing God’s grace and what it means for us. We’ve watched the video below three or four times. Check it out.

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God
Really
Always
Can
Endure

Why is it so incredibly hard for us to remember this simple fact?

We spend so much time (wasted time) worrying about what we have done when all we need to remember is God’s incredible GRACE.

In this season of Advent, take some time in your day to ponder the incredible, awesome, wonderful, gift of GRACE.

Realize the incredible act of sacrifice that the Son freely performed when he left his place at the right hand of the Father.

He came to earth as a human baby. Fully human. Fully divine.

He knew the incredible sacrifice that would be necessary in order to grant his Amazing Grace.

And he still came.

God WITH us.

Immanuel.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7: 14 (NIV)

Thanksgiving Perspective

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“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” – Mark 9:37 (NIV)

It is Thanksgiving Week in the United States. Many of us use this week, and Thanksgiving Day, to connect with family and friends to enjoy fellowship and share what we are thankful for in our lives.

I’m not going to spend a lot of words today trying to guilt you into feeling bad about the good and wonderful things God has blessed you with this year. I’m simply going to ask you to click on the links below.

Read the stories.

Investigate the opportunities to share.

Rejoice. Give thanks. Share as you are able.

Opportunity #1 – God’s Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti – November 29 through December 1!
My friend Tom Vanderwell works for GLA. He lives near me in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tom is passionate about his work and the incredible opportunity that is available through a partnership with Family Christian Stores and Best Selling Author, Karen Kingsbury.

Click this link to read about the opportunity to help raise $500,000 to build a new neonatal facility in Haiti: The Haiti Challenge. Three Days, One Orphanage & You.

Opportunity #2 – SafeWorld Medical Clinic in Uganda – NOW through December 12!
My friend Matt Chambers is the Director of SafeWorld projects. He has assembled a team with a dream for Uganda.

The goal is $50,000.

1,000 people $50 each

WHY BUILD A HOSPITAL?
In the United States, we have 1 physician for every 390 people. In Nakaseke District, Uganda (where SafeWorld is based), there is only 1 physician for ever 29,000 people. As we researched the most immediate, effective, community-building ways we could help, this seemed the most crucial need. When we met with all the village, parish, and district leaders, they were unanimous that this should be the first building we construct.
Affordable access to excellent healthcare changes EVERYTHING.

Click this link for more information and to donate: http://hopemob.org/s/1ts-help-us-open-a-medical-clinic-in-uganda

Rejoice. Give thanks. Share as you are able.
Have a great week!

I’M A MAN!

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Man. What is a man? What does God say about me as a man? What does society say I should be? What does my wife/kids/parents/siblings/friends/church say?

Over the next few weeks we’ll take a look at a few of these and try to determine where I am, where you are, and where we should be. Ladies don’t feel like you’re being left out. There will be great information for you too.

God calls me to be courageous, bold, daring and decisive. He made men to lead. Adam failed to lead Eve in the Garden. He didn’t step in when Satan deceived Eve. Men, are you stepping in? Women, are you encouraging your men to step in? Keep in mind that Adam was standing right next to Eve at the moment of The Fall.

Genesis 3:6 – “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (NIV)

I believe God calls me to be a man after His own heart. God wants me to be righteous, pure, full of integrity, bold, courageous, gentle and caring. Teacher. Friend. Lover. Leader. Humble. Patient. Kind. Truthful. Discerning in all areas of life. On fire for the Gospel and willing to share the story of His son Jesus Christ. Provider. Example. Role model.

So I’m called to be all of those things. Can I be all of those things? Is it physically, emotionally, spiritually possible to be “all the things”?

I’m not sure. The positive upbeat “do anything” side of me says “Of course you can!” The other side of me (the realistic side?) says “Impossible. You can’t be perfect.” But, can I be some of these things? Can I be a little bit of ALL of these things?

I think it would be best for me to focus on what God calls me to be. Working toward what God has called me to be should lead me to be the best man possible for all of my roles in life. Thankfully He has already been working on me, molding me, to be the man He desires. He’s also cheering for me. He wants me to be successful! He wants me to become an inspiration for those around me to help them find their personal “awesome”!

I am called to be the team leader for my family. To inspire them, especially my children, to seek out their dream and to do all they can to live that dream.

A few of the steps I need to take to be the man God calls me to be:
1. Pray. Continually. With intent. Name the areas and tasks that need prayer and require growth on my part.

2. Time management. Purposely spend planned time with my wife, with my boys and with my friends. Pour into these people on purpose and with purpose.

3. Filling my own tank. Learning from and being poured into by others. Seek out key people to learn from each day.

Check out this video put out by TheAnimaSeries. And be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss out on what comes next.

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