24 Days

Don't look now, but 2013 is almost over.

If you are like me, you've had some amazing moments of victory, breakthrough and joy. If you're also like me, you've had some serious times of trials, disappointments and heartbreak. 

You've probably had weeks where everything seemed to be in rhythm, in sync and on track. You were ready to take on the day and its challenges with a spring in your step. Other weeks, just getting out of bed in time for work was a victory itself. 

I recently took a glance at the goals I had written down for myself just before this year began. Some goals I had accomplished, but many of them are off track or still in progress. I don't know about you, but sometimes looking at all the things we hoped to do or change but didn't can be discouraging. 

But guess what, it's OK. No, really, it is. Not everything we plan works out. We're human. And many times God will take over our to-do lists, our goals and our Google calendars, exchanging them for something else. Something better. 

Instead of taking the highway straight to where we want to be or where we want to go, he'll force us to take the backroads. Sure, it might take longer. Sure, there might be a bunch stoplights along the way. Sure, it might be extremely annoying and inconvenient. 

But those detours are where we learn patience and learn to lean on God's understanding instead of our own. We can't appreciate the sights and sounds of the journey when we're going 80 miles per hour on the highway. Sometimes we have to slow down, pull over on the side of road and take in the view.  

God has given me victories this year that have proven his faithfulness again and again. Years from now I will be able to look back and say "God was faithful in that situation, and I know He will be faithful in this one." In times of uncertainty and heartbreak, His presence has given me direction, strength and comfort. It's in those times where we are molded into the men and women God wants us to become.  

And guess what, 2013 is not over. There are still 24 days left. That's 24 days to get back on track. Twenty-four days to finish strong. Twenty-four days to love God and love people like never before. Twenty-four days to let God have His way in your life and mine. Twenty-four days that can serve as a prelude to 2014.

Write down your dreams. Recommit to your goals. Open up God's word. Write a mission statement for your life. Hit the gym again. Make a budget. Do something.    

Don't wait for January 1 to take a step of faith. Lay down the foundation for next year's journey right now. 

The Things We Find While Cleaning

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me." - Psalm 51:10

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Dust. Clutter. Unopened mail. Overflowing boxes of junk. Out-of-control stacks of books everywhere.

It's been a crazy few weeks and in the midst of it all, I had kind of neglected my living quarters. And this morning I was staring at the outcome of my neglect... and it wasn't pretty.

So I decided enough was enough. I grabbed just about every cleaning product in the house, plugged in some worship music and proceeded to clean just about every square inch of my room (except the closet; that's a battle for another day).

In the midst of this purging I discovered the usual junk... old receipts, mail from nearly every credit card company you could think of and more. But I also found other things...

I found photos of friends who stuck by my side during some of the best times and difficult seasons of my life. The more I dug, the more I found... Notes and words of encouragement from people who have invested in my life and helped me grow, through mistakes and all. Old journals and notebooks chronicling times of victory and moments of sorrow and uncertainty. Photographs of friends and memories of events that have helped shape me into who I am and who I will become.

During trials, it's nice to get some perspective and see all the times that God has come through for me over and over and over again.

Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of how far we have come on our journey through life. We forget about God's faithfulness, love, mercy and grace time and time again. We have to get through the junk to get a clear view of the blessings that have been in our lives all along. We need to get rid of the stuff that ends up getting in the way of focusing on God's love for us and all that we have to be grateful for (I guess cleanliness is next to godliness, after all).

When we don't regularly do some housecleaning, both physically and spiritually, things get cluttered and we begin to lose sight of what's really important. What kind of stuff do you have to clean out in your own life that's preventing you from seeing and enjoying God and what He has blessed us with? 

No Shortcuts To Patience

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord." - Psalm 27:14

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We are always waiting on something.

Whether you're waiting for the results of that make-or-break final exam or waiting in line for a white chocolate mocha at Starbucks, we constantly find ourselves in a position of waiting. When the wait for one thing ends, we seem to quickly move on to something else to wait for. It's part of life. 

Confession: I hate waiting. Always have. But patience, the capacity and willingness to endure all things, can only be built through the waiting process. There are no shortcuts to acquiring patience.

God is asking us to trust Him in whatever situation we might find ourselves in. I feel like Psalm 27:14 was written just for me. David writes "Wait for the Lord" not once, but twice! And in the middle of it all, he encourages us to be strong and courageous.

Patience isn't about what you are waiting for, but how you are waiting for it. 

PRAY

"Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer." - Romans 12:12

Pour out your heart to God. Bring your fears, doubts, uncertainties and frustrations to Him. He can handle it. Then be still and listen. Sometimes we get so eager to make something happen that we forget to listen to God for direction. Spend time with Him in prayer, listening for His instruction and seeking His will in every situation.

PRAISE
"But I will hope continually and will praise You more and more." - Psalm 71:14

Always remember the things God has already pulled you through and give Him all the praise and all the glory for those victories. Recalling those triumphant moments not only renews our faith in who God is, but provides hope and courage in present situations. Stop focusing on what you don't have and give thanks for what you've already been blessed with. 

PREPARE 

"Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.... do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

If you're running in a marathon, hopefully you're not going to just stand there and do nothing in the meantime. If you're smart, you start preparing months in advance. You get up early. You train. You build up strength and endurance and stamina, so that when the day of the race finally arrives, you're ready and you know what you're doing! What can you do right now to prepare for what God has already prepared for you? What is God trying to teach you in this moment? Get into His Word and apply what you've learned to your life.

PROPER PERSPECTIVE 

“For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:9

Many times, our perception of a situation is way off because we're stuck smack dab in the midst of a situation and we can only see the situation from our vantage point in the here and now. But we need to take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture. It's not about what we think will satisfy us now, but what God's will is in the situation at hand. 

PRESS ON
"Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12

Keep moving ahead. There are things to be done right now. Opportunities are always right in front of us, but we can easily miss them if we're constantly looking into tomorrow. Today is all we are guaranteed. How can God use you where you are at right now?

Hold On To The Promises

When we are faced with uncertainty, with doubts, with questions about the future, or really any kind of hardship, it becomes easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. We instinctively get lost in our dark moment, our storm, our circumstance... we become consumed by it. 

It's easy to have faith when things are going well. But how about when things get tough?

I'm a music junkie, I love finding new music, reading the lyrics, dissecting their meaning and trying to apply it to my own life. A song recently made its way onto the radio, a new song by one of my favorite bands Sanctus Real called "Promises". The first time I heard it, it hit me close to home. It was a reminder to hold on to the most important thing we have. To hold on to the hope that never dies, the love that never ends, the grace that never ceases, the One who is always faithful. To hold on to the promises and truth of God's Word.

Sometimes it's hard to keep believing

In what you can't see
That everything happens for a reason
Even the worst life brings 

I don't think there's a person on the planet who hasn't asked "Why?" at some point. Why did something we pray for not come to fruition. Why did someone we love suffer harm. Why we go through difficult trials and stormy seasons of life. I don't think we'll ever truly have an answer to those questions. I know I have questions. I know I have doubts. We won't always know why.

For many of us, are toughest and darkest days lie ahead. There will be tough times. Trying times. It's a scary thought, I know it scares me.

If you're reaching for an answer

And you don't know what to pray
Just open up the pages
Let His word be your strength 

I've been hit with a lot of uncertainty lately, especially with my job situation. I was hit by fear, by doubt, by worry and anxiety. It was a frightening time because I felt like I had just fallen off a cliff, like I was free falling without a parachute not knowing where I was going to land.

But when I opened up God's Word, He led me to Psalm 25... "My eyes are always on the Lord, for He will pull my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone and afflicted. The distresses of my heart increase; bring me out of my sufferings." It was a reminder to hold on the truth of who He is. That He is faithful and trustworthy. What did I have to worry about? What is there to be anxious about? In my life, God had proven to be faithful over and over. Whenever I was in need, He always delivered and always came through. I just had to lift up my eyes and realize where my help and my hope came from.

And hold on to the promises 

Hold on to the promises 
Jesus is alive so hold tight
Hold on to the promises 

It is in those difficult circumstances, those tough times, when we need to hold on to God's promises more than ever. To depend on the Lord, who promises to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11), supply us in our need (Philippians 4:19) life to the full (John 10:10). That doesn't mean that everything in life will go smoothly, but it means He'll be there when things get rough.

All things work for the good

Of those who love God
He holds back nothing that will heal you
Not even His own Son 

We have been given the greatest gift of all: God's One and Only Son. With whom the victory is already won. He is our healer, comforter, counselor, friend and savior. God proved His love and faithfulness by sending us His Son. Why should we doubt that He would not be here with us now?

His love is everlasting

His faithfulness unending
Oh, if God is for us who can be against us
So if you feel weak... Hold on to the promises

I will never fully comprehend God's love. I will never understand God's faithfulness. I will never have a grasp on how good and how great God is. It should give us confidence to know that the God who loves us, the creator of everything, is on our side, fighting on our behalf. No enemy, no circumstance, no trial is bigger than our God. Nothing can stand against His purpose and will. That should give us strength to stand, courage to continue, endurance to press on.

Neither life, nor death

Could separate us

From the eternal love
Of our God who saves us

No matter what happens here, nothing could ever separate us from God's great love. Nothing can happen that would cause God to not be there. He is mighty to save, worthy of our trust in good times and bad. God never changes. He is always faithful. Always loving. Always ready to meet our needs if we would just surrender and depend on Him rather than our own strength and ability.

"Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious  through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life,  angels or rulers,  things present or things to come, ⌊hostile⌋ powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" 

- Romans 8:35-39

A Look Back At 2012

What a year...

If you had told me on January 1, 2012 everything that would unfold and take place in my life over the course of the year, I would have called you crazy! But here I am, a year later, still in awe of all that God has done and all that I've learned. It was a year of crazy changes in my life: college graduation, a move to another state for a job, new friends in a new city, traveling to places I had never been before. I just wanted to take some time to reflect on all that He had done in my life.  

JANUARY: Fresh Start

I knew 2012 was going to be a year of transition. I just had no clue how big those transitions were going to be. God was preparing to clean my slate, to give me a fresh start, and usher me into a new season of life. It was going to be a big year filled with change and I knew it, and I was excited for it. January has always been a month of hope for me; it's a time of the year that constantly reminds of God's love and grace in my life. That my best days are not behind me, but ahead of me. There is hope in January.

I set out to begin the year expecting God to accomplish great things in me and those around me. I was also preparing myself to be ready for whatever God called me to.

FEBRUARY: Renewed Strength and Vision

In early February, ONE Conference in Miami kicked off the month in an extraordinary way. God was getting ready to accomplish some amazing things in Miami and I felt it as I worshiped and learned alongside thousands of people, listening to great men and women of God like Francis Chan, Christine Caine, Greg Laurie, Franklin Graham, Brian Houston and countless others. In a city as culturally and ethnically diverse as Miami, it was a reminder of how important unity is and how we need to stand firm.

Then just days after that conference came to a close, I went out to Dallas, Texas for the C3 Conference. It was the first time I ever really traveled on my own, which was an experience in itself. I made new friends, caught up with some old ones, and learned a boatload from leaders like Steven Furtick, Kevin Gerald, Stovall Weems, Lee Strobel and many others. Between ONE and C3, I had an informational and spiritual overload! I'd never learned so much in such a short period of time and from time to time I still pore over the notes I took that week.

February was a month that drove me deeper and at the same time gave me a focus and a vision to reach up, reach out and reach in; to make an impact for Christ where I was.

MARCH: Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

About a month later, Spring Break was my chance to really get out of my comfort zone and do something I'd never done before. I went with CRU at FIU to Panama City Beach for Spring Break, one of the rowdiest party locations in the country, with the aim of reaching out to people there and engaging in spiritual conversations with people.

In my conversations with people, listening and taking in what people thought, what people believed, what people want in life... it was an eye-opening experience. I was blessed to have conversations with these people, some who were very curious, some who were stand-offish, some who were receptive, some who weren't. It was a reminder that many people have a warped view of who God is, a misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christ follower.

It was a powerful and challenging week, but also a fun and enlightening trip that included some quality time with some of my favorite people in the world!

APRIL: Be Prepared, Be Willing

I was entering my last month as an undergrad, about a month away from graduating... and I had no idea what was ahead for me when April 1 rolled around. I began making plans, backup plans, counter-plans to my back-up plans. I was trying to get everything together, plan ahead. And then God tore it all to pieces and dropped something completely different for me: I got a call out of the blue from my old boss and friend about a job opportunity in San Antonio. Before I knew it, I interviewed for the job and got it. It all happened in a matter of days, and I had a decision to make.

God was calling me out. To go out on my own for the first time in my life. To live 1,400 miles away from the only home I ever knew. I had a choice, but it really wasn't a choice at all: Follow God or ignore Him? This was the biggest step and change I've ever had to make up until that point in my life. I was filled with uncertainty and doubt "Can I do this? Am I qualified to do this?" Then I was reminded that God often doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

So I said "Yes".

MAY: Go

May 3 was moving day. The days leading up to it were the most difficult, filled with good-byes/see-you-laters to the only friends and family I ever knew. The only home I ever knew. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

I didn't know a soul in San Antonio. I barely knew anything about the city other than that the NBA had a franchise there. But I knew God was with me. That first month was incredibly difficult. I was lonely, second-guessing myself, wondering if I had made the right choice. But through it all, God was there. Comforting me, standing with me, giving me the strength and confidence to move forward.  

When the time comes, when a door opens, walk out in faith. God will take care of you.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; 

do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 

- Joshua 1:9

JUNE: Lean On God

Everything was so surreal. A new environment, a new reality, a new everything. My feeling of loneliness hit its peak during this period; I missed my family, my friends back home, I missed the comforts of the life I had left behind. I asked God if I had made the right decision, if I had done the right thing. But even in the midst of this time, I pushed forward, leaning on God, who had proven Himself worthy of my trust. When you remember all the times God has proven himself faithful, when you remember the truth of His promise and His word, peace prevails over fear. Joy prevails over sorrow. Even in the midst of your loneliest moments, the God of the universe is there by your side to pull you through. When the silence is deafening, God is there.

JULY: Work Diligently For the Lord

As I moved into the heart of a blazing San Antonio summer, I begin to get into a rhythm. I was enjoying what I was doing, blessed to be honoring God and others in my workplace with the gifts, talents and abilities He had put into my heart. After a couple months of settling in, getting accustomed to my new surroundings and getting into the swing of my work schedule. Having my family visit and cram into my small apartment was also a lot of fun! It helped having loved ones close, plus I was able to learn a few more tricks for living on my own that I wasn't really aware of before I had left.    

AUGUST: God Provides

It was odd spending my birthday away from home, but at the same time it was a chance to take inventory of all the blessings God had provided in grace. A wonderful new church family at Revolution Church, a job I truly enjoyed, new depths in my relationship with God that came as a result of stepping out in faith. God will honor obedience. He will provide for our needs. He will not abandon you. He will not forsake you. Knowing all this and seeing all of it play out as truth in the short time I had been in San Antonio renewed my strength, my confidence and kept my eyes looking ahead at what was to come instead of back at what was already done.

SEPTEMBER: Dig Deeper

September was an opportunity to really dig deeper, to get more involved. And not only dig deeper, but also build on the foundation that was laid down here in San Antonio. Being involved with a REV Group, our church's community of small groups that meets up once a week, serving on a REV team and greeting, developing personal study habits and truly making an intentional effort to grow and stretch spiritually, physically, and mentally... all of it helped me make a strong push towards the end of the year rather than slow down.

OCTOBER: God Stays The Same

Towards the end of October, after the team that I worked for had its season come to a close in the playoffs, things began to change. Circumstances changed. And with that, uncertainty began to arise. Again. I didn't know if my job was safe. I didn't know what the next step was. I didn't know what steps I should take. All I knew was that even when the circumstances around us change, God does not. When seasons change and new faces show up, God remains true and faithful.

NOVEMBER: We All Fall Down

November reminded me how easy it is to fall down, to make mistakes. That I'm just a man in need of a savior. Like everyone else. I will make missteps. Distractions will come that take our focus and attention off of what really is important. What truly matters. At the same time, forgiveness is there. Grace is there. The consequences are still there, and we can decide how long and how far we drag our missteps for. But when the Holy Spirit is guiding you towards something, you move. You can only try and ignore it, rationalize your actions, deceive yourself for so long before you realize that you are only hurting yourself and those that are around you. Don't waste time chasing things that ultimately distract you from God.

DECEMBER: Focus On God In The Rough Times

When things seem to be falling apart, when circumstances cause frustration and anger, we can choose to focus on the circumstance or on God. To sit there and pout, or pray and move. Tough times will take place no matter who you are. That's just life. How long we're stuck in a bad situation depends on us. As the year ends, I find myself entering yet another transitioning stage. I'm now facing the possibility of moving back home, in the midst of another job search. But while waves of doubt and fear and anxiety try and crawl their way to the surface, I remember all that God has already done. I remember the doors he opened that I never saw coming. I remember Him being there in my loneliness when I was second-guessing myself and doubting the choices I had made.

As I enter 2013, I can say that 2012 was a year of incredible transformation and an experience I will never forget. I learned more in the last 12 months that I ever could have any other way. I can only imagine what the New Year will bring!  

The Fallacy of the Dumb Dichotomy

di·chot·o·my  

[dahy-kot-uh-mee] 

noun, plural -mies.

1. division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.

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This or that. A or B. One or the other. Us or them. Choose.

It seems like every day a new controversy arises that forces us to make a decision, to pick a side on a particular issue.

A dichotomy is an "either... or" mindset. A dumb dichotomy is where one truth is positioned against another truth, causing us to think it’s an "either... or" scenario. A situation where we are made out to think that we have to choose one and give up the other.

We see these dumb dichotomies play out in the Church, in our daily lives, in the political arena, in the workplace... almost any place where we confront decisions, we are approached with dumb dichotomies. 

Make no mistake, there are certain areas that are black and white, where there is no room for debate. But there are so many unnecessary dichotomies that cause unnecessary disputes that end up leading to unnecessary division. And over what?

Especially in the church today, we're seeing a bunch of debates being had that have broken us into different camps; we point and tell the other side why they are wrong. We elevate a preferred truth over another truth and we squabble over it.

When I went to C3 Conference in Dallas earlier this year, one of the speakers, Pastor Kevin Gerald of Champion's Centre in Tacoma, Washington, spoke about these dumb dichotomies and gave a few examples of some that the Apostle Paul faced and a couple others that you've probably heard at one point or another.

1) Should we follow Apollos' example or Paul's? 

BOTH. One plants, another waters, God gives the increase. Each person has a role to play, and in the end it's going to be God that ushers in the results. Whether you sing, greet, work in production, provide the food... you have a role to play! Don't put people down because someone doesn't have a particular set of skills!

"For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere human beings?
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." - 1 Corinthians 3:9

2) Is it about law or grace? 

BOTH. Law was schoolmaster and it’s by grace that we have been saved. Each serves its own purpose, the law acts as a mirror to show us our need for a savior and we are saved not by fulfilling the law, which is impossible, and not by any action of our own, but by God's grace. It's about both.

"Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:23-26

3) Is it by faith or is it by works? 

BOTH. You show me faith without works and I will show you works by my faith. It shouldn't be one or the other; it should be about both. Our works should be evidence of our faith. And what good is faith if it doesn't get you to move?

"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works... For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." - James 2:18-26

4) Should I follow man or should I follow Christ? 

Paul responded by saying to follow him as he followed Christ. Again, it's BOTH! Find people who follow and imitate Christ as you follow and imitate Christ yourself. Will we do so perfectly? Absolutely not. But surrounding yourself with imitators of Christ, people who will be there with you during the good times and the bad, will help you grow.

"Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1

"Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus..." - Philippians 2:5

5) Is our church going to be attractional or missional? 

BOTH. 

Jesus said “Come and see” (John 1:39) and He said “Go and tell” (Matthew 28:19-20). Why does the “go and tell” have to exclude the "come and see"? Churches should be attractive to people. People should be able to come and see what God's love is, investigate Christianity and ask questions, and do so in a safe and friendly environment. Churches should be the most creative and engaging places on the planet! Why shouldn't we want people to see what the local church is all about? 

Simultaneously, we should be going out into the surrounding community, and even around the world, to make an impact and spread God's love to a world that is in desperate . My awesome pastor Zak White dubs it as making a "Glocal" (Global + Local) impact. Why do we have to choose one or the other?

6) Are we going to preach the sovereignty of God or the free will of man? Which one? 

Pastor Gerald nailed it on the head:

"God has decided in His sovereignty, to a great extent, to limit His involvement in this world to the willingness of human beings. So think about this way: God willed that we would will that His will would be done in our lives. We cannot without God and God will not without us. So I’m gonna tell people that God is sovereign and that our greatest power is our power to choose. God doesn’t make our choices; we do. There’s a power of choice that God has given to man and that doesn’t mean that God is not sovereign. The purpose of the Lord stands firm; the purpose of the Lord is already predetermined; His purpose will prevail. Why do we think we have to get hung up on a dumb dichotomy. Why one or another; why not BOTH?" - Pastor Kevin Gerald

When Pastor Gerald spoke about this at C3 Conference 2012 this past February and the message stuck with me for a long time since hearing it in Dallas. 

It's a big problem the church, and really our society in general, faces today. We have become addicted to division. To choosing sides. Even I've been guilty of that. We need to know when we need to stand up for the truth and when to realize we're dealing with a dumb dichotomy. Why elevate one truth over another? Why not both?

Below is a clip of Gerald's message in February (Click HERE for the entire message, well worth the half hour):

The Reaction

I had a rough week.

We've all had them. A week when it feels like the ground under our feet is beginning to shake. When people you thought you could trust end up turning a blind eye. When feelings of loneliness, isolation and frustration return to the forefront of our minds, battling for our attention.

It's alright. It happens. It happened to me last week.

Difficult circumstances are a part of life. They will show up. But most of the time, these circumstances are completely and utterly out of our control. We can't control what goes on at school or at the office. We can't control what other people are going to say. We can't predict changes in the status quo.

We might not be able to control circumstances, but we can control how we react. We can choose to believe the lies and worry relentlessly over a situation, or we can rest in God's truth. We can keep our head high and keep pressing on towards the goal, or we can dwell and stress. The reaction belongs to us. The reaction often reveals a lot about us. The reaction reveals our need for a savior.

I confess: Last week, there were moments where I began to fear and worry. And then I remembered: God has a plan for my future (Jeremiah 29:11). Will worry add one day to my life? Will it solve anything or bring God glory in any way? Absolutely not (Matthew 6:25-34)! I also remember that in my deepest moments of doubt and fear, God always made a way. He always opened a door. He always gave me hope and held me up whenever I was dismayed (Isaiah 41:10). That isn't changing now. I just need to be prudent and keep moving. God will take care of the rest.

I confess: Last week, there were moments when I was bitter, angry, hurt and disappointed. There were moments I wanted to lash out. To hold a grudge. To be bitter and fight back. And then I remembered: There is only one opinion that really matters. Only one person I aim to please: Jesus Christ. He knows my heart. He knows me more than anyone ever will. He died so that I could live again. I don't have to please anybody. He knows my intentions and where my heart is (1 Thessalonians 2:4). So why am I angry? Why am I bitter? What can man do to me (Psalm 118:6)? Jesus forgave me for all the junk in my life, so who am I to reject that same forgiveness to anyone who has wronged me in my own life (Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32)? Do as Christ commanded: Forgive others (Matthew 6:14). Pray for them (Luke 6:28). Love them (John 15:12). And, so, I shall do the same.

I confess: Last week there were moments where I felt completely and utterly alone. And then I remembered: I am not alone. The Holy Spirit is within me (Ephesians 1:13-14). God placed me here in San Antonio to show me that He was all I ever needed and all I would ever need. That no matter where I am, that this world is not my home; that my real home lies ahead of me. My treasure is not stored up here in the present or in earthly things, but in heaven and in what lies ahead (Matthew 6:19-21). And when I was feeling the loneliest I've ever been, God brought a new group of friends into my life, a new church family, to do life with. They share in my struggles and pray on my behalf. And at the same time, my friends and family back home are doing the same. I am not alone.

So what's it going to be? Life is too short to allow circumstances to knock us down for extended periods of time. There are things to be done. People to serve and love. Faith that needs to be put into action. Are we going to allow circumstances and events determine our attitude and outlook or we going to remember the truth that our God is good and our God is great? With Him, all things are possible. Through Him, we are able.

When our eyes are fixed on the Lord, there is peace. There is joy. There is hope. Even when it seems like things are falling apart, we are reminded that this, too, shall pass. That the pain, loneliness and chaos is all temporary. But our God is eternal. He is our fortress. He is our rock. And if He is for us, then who can possibly be against us?