Forward...

Time does not stop...no matter how much we wish it did at times. Reality is that we're walking towards our future. The question is, are we walking forward or backwards? Forward with expectancy for what's to come and what God has promised us, or backwards, looking at our past and thinking that our best days are behind us?

"...but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Philippians 3: 13-14

Israel Houghton would put in these words in one of his songs:

You make all things new
Yes, you make all things new
And I will follow you FORWARD

Are you being pruned?

PRUNING

The removal or reduction of parts of a plant, tree, or vine that are not requisite to growth or production, are no longer visually pleasing, or are injurious to the health or development of the plant.

Pruning enhances plant shape and flowering potential; new growth emerges from the bud or buds immediately below the pruning cut.

In our journey, one of the many ways God shows His great love for us is by pruning us. He wants us to grow. He wants us to be healthy and give more fruit to bless others and ultimately bring honor to His name. It takes pain, it takes brokenness, it takes even dying, but it brings strength to our lives, increases our potential and, suddenly, we find ourselves being surprised by our growth...a growth that we experience and others can't help seeing.

Are you being pruned? I know I am. So, I encourage you to endure in His strength. Soon enough those around us will have no other choice but to get closer and smell the aroma of Jesus in us.

I couln't have said it better...

The Real Me

Foolish heart looks like we're here again
Same old game of plastic smile
Don't let anybody in
Hiding my heartache, will this glass house break
How much will they take before I'm empty
Do I let it show, does anybody know?


But you see the real me
Hiding in my skin, broken from within
Unveil me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
There's no need to mask my frailty
Cause you see the real me


Painted on, life is behind a mask
Self-inflicted circus clown
I'm tired of the song and dance
Living a charade, always on parade
What a mess I've made of my existence
But you love me even now
And still I see somehow

Wonderful, beautiful is what you see
When you look at me
You're turning the tattered fabric of my life into
A perfect tapestry
I just wanna be me

But you see the real me
Hiding in my skin, broken from within
Unveil me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
There's no need to mask my frailty
Cause you see the real me
And you love me just as I am
Wonderful, beautiful is what you see
When you look at me

-Natalie Grant

Keep trying...

"But I don't like to loose!"these were the words that my Nephew yelled between tears today after a handball game where he was eliminated. I couldn't help feeling His pain. Truth is, nobody likes to loose, we just learn to handle it better as we grow...or so we should. Winning some and loosing some, that's part of life. And at age 7, like Gabriel, or at age 34, like me, the same advice applies: If you loose, feeling sorry for yourself wont make things better, but trying again will.

God's working...He never stops

God's working! The truth is that He never stops, but He's been working in me more evidently since I moved here...or is it that this time I'm actually letting Him? Hmm....

Anyways, the deal is that He's working. He's working in areas of my life which I wasn't even that aware of. He's showing me things about myself that I never saw before and, in the process, He's loving me and loving me and loving me some more.

I'm excited! I have this sense of expectancy, because I know that He's doing something amazing in my life. Something that might not be obvious to the naked eye, but that is very real, powerful and life changing...I can feel inside of me and I can't wait until it starts to show.

In the meantime, I'll just keep letting Him work, He'll keep on loving me and, with all that I am, I'll keep on loving Him and loving Him and loving Him some more. NOTHING is more fulfilling...

I encourage you to let Him work in every area of your life. His hands of love transform everything they touch. The result will ALWAYS be a better you....guaranteed!

Amen to that!

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

After reading these verses, I have nothing else to add but a big AMEN.

One blessing in common...

Those of us that for one reason or the other no longer call Florida our home have one blessing in common: the FRC Internet Campus. It's not the same when it's just an alternative to driving to Church and getting to seat in the front row. Now, when it's your only option, that's when you really appreciate having the opportunity to be there while not there. The opportunity to worship with familiar faces to familiar songs for our one true God. That was for me today at 4pm Cali time. Thanks to the vision, passion, dedication, willingness and devotion of some, many of us were able to witness the ultimate worship experience at the FRC Easter Rally.

Thank you and your team, P. Brian. Although I live 2000 miles away....I was there.