Pastor Dan’s Blog

Beyond The Now

The now sucks. I have faced my share of now’s. The struggles of the now can blind you to the promises of the next. Joseph’s ability to press on beyond the now and push toward the next was a daily struggle and daily commitment to the promises of God.

 

How did he do it?

 

Here are a couple thoughts that keep me pressing on:

 

1.      He Believed For The Next, Lived In The Now

Hope is powerful thing. Hope is the fuel that powers us beyond what we see and helps us believe that better days lay ahead. When we lose our hope, we lose our desire for tomorrow.

 

Joseph believed in tomorrow yet understood his responsibility to live in the now. What we do today will affect our tomorrow. We can hope all we want but we cannot ignore the problems of today. We must face them. We must deal with them. We must actively work through them. Faith without works is dead.

 

2.      He Developed His Gift While Forming His Character

Throughout the struggles in Joseph’s life, each trial or place he landed, he utilized the situation to develop his giftings while forming his character. Each problem became a unique opportunity to use practice his gifts and develop his character.

 

In the pit, he learned how to deal with rejection & the jealousy of others. In Potiphar’s home he learned how to manage a home & administrate. Falsely accused he learned how not to become bitter by circumstances beyond his control. In prison, he learned how to deal with difficult and conniving people. Forgotten, he learned how to deal with disappointment. Each set back was actually a set up by God for the next step on his way toward destiny.

 

3.      Lastly, He Realized His Destiny Was Bigger Than His Dream

Joseph dream set his destiny into motion but his dream was actually a small part of his destiny. The dream was about his brothers bowing but his destiny was so much bigger. His dream had brothers bowing. His destiny had a nation bowing while he saved them and surround countries.

 

As big as your dreams may be God’s destiny for your life is so much bigger. The dream is about you, the destiny is about others. The dream might cause jealousy but destiny creates hope. Your dream just helps you step through the doors of destiny.

 

The “now’s” of life will not stand compared to God’s “next” for your life! Hang in there your now will soon give way to your next.

Tags: Character, faith, gift, hope, next, now

One More Round

Back in 2006, one of the best rounds in boxing was fought by two warriors Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. These two had faced each other in other epic battles. This fight however would be the most memorable. In the tenth round Corrales is knocked down twice by Castillo and seeming on the verge of defeat. After two brutal knockdowns it would seem wiser to say down. Bloodied, bruised, with a point being deducted for spiting his mouth piece for the second time, Corrales does the impossible. He gets up then he knocks Castillo out and wins by knock out.

Check out the video. (Thanks, Pastor Anthony!)

Breakthroughs are not given to the talented but to the tenacious. You never know what the next moment holds for you if you give up and throw in the towel in life. Each swing in life could be the knockout we are hoping for but we cannot throw a knockout punch lying on the canvas. We all need a little get up in life.

The Bible says in Proverbs 24:16, “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”

It is amazing that God’s view of righteousness is so much different than that of the religious folks. Many religious people would call a man that fell seven times a sinner not a saint. It seems that even in the Old Testament during the dispensation of the law that true righteousness was based the ability to get up and believe, even in the midst of failure. Abraham was considered righteous based on his faith not his failures.

You may have fallen or been tripped up several times by the same opponent in life but keep getting up. You are only a failure if you fail to get back up. You are not what you have done or what has been done to you. Get back up again, you never know if you have one more round left in you.

Get up, One More Round!

Tags: failure, faith, fall, get up, one more round, righteous, saint, sinner, stand

A New Year

Okay, so I got a late start on the 2010 blogging (What else is new!) I was freezing in -22 below weather in Minnesota and I am just thawing out now . . .

 

This year is already so much different than last year. At this time last year I was already experiencing burnout. I was emotionally & physically drained. The New Year did not bring hope rather it brought an overwhelming feeling of “here we go again.”

 

It was during that time I did what I knew was right, what I had learned over the years. At times I felt as if I was living by fake not faith. It was then I truly understood what faith is all about. You see folks, it was not a trial I was enduring nor a battle I was fighting. My family was fine, my marriage was great and the ministry was doing well.

 

Stay The Course

Like a GPS that will only give direction when other options are coming up in the road otherwise it will say nothing. It will just say “stay on I-5 south” only when another highway is coming up.

 

At that moment in my life I truly come to appreciate the value of faith. My faith was not in faith but in the Lord of my faith. I had to do the things I knew how to do even when I felt nothing in the process. I read, prayed, preached and counseled even when I was in a time of emptiness. I worshipped and gave thanks even though there was an emotional disconnect.

 

Be Transparent

I was very transparent with my church during those times. It was risky because minister’s at times don’t want to reveal their weaknesses for fear of losing the respect of those they minister to. That thinking keeps us lock away into solitary confinement, where hope is lost. This why we see so many spiritual hero’s fall over the years because we have failed to provide the one thing Jesus said we would be known by, LOVE.

 

Jesus went through all the ranges of human emotions as well. In his last hours on earth, He surrounded Himself with His disciples. The worse thing you can do during those times is to isolate yourself. We need each other. If you are facing a rough time and are struggling between faith & fake, confide in an spiritually mature accountability partner. They might not provide answers but they can lend support.

 

Don’t Make Any Major Decisions

When you are in that down time do not make any major decisions. It is at this time that many of us make decisions to leave a spouse, quit a job, leave a church or walk out on a family. Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary circumstance.

 

You will weather this storm. We all go through these times and not all these experiences are spiritually connected at times could be a physiological issue. You see we all have waves in our emotional make up. Like it or not we are emotional beings and our emotions can affect us at times.

 

Know You Are Not Alone

These times tend to make you think that no one understands what you are going. You feel as if you are the only one going through this struggle. It can develop a sense of embarrassment.

 

I wondered out loud in my prayer time, how can I be going through this . . . I am the pastor! It was then I read a story of a well known pastor who on a jog found himself sitting on a street corner weeping uncontrollably. He was having a breakdown. This actual brought relief to my soul, that I was not alone. Others are facing the same struggle. I am not crazy! (Although some would argue that point)

 

If you are facing this please know you are not a bad person, you are just going through a tough time. We all do. Hang in there. You will come out of this and be able to celebrate the New Year as I have this year!

 

The best is yet to come!

Tags: Alone, course, decisions, faith, fake, overwhelmed, transparent

Ability To Believe

Once Joseph released his dream it seemed as if all the forces of nature fought against his dream. His own family hated him, they plot to kill him, sell him into slavery, he is falsely accused, thrown into prison, forgotten by people he helped and his once vivid dream is now a fading memory.

 

Joseph had to have experienced all the gamut’s of human emotions; anger, disappointment, abandonment, fear, bitterness, revenge, loneliness and even regret. Each one of these emotions was threatening to choking off the oxygen to his dreams in life. How do we go on when all our dreams seemed to have been crushed by the trials of life?

 

Joseph showed his ability to believe and exercised his faith when all his eyes saw discounted the dream in his heart. How can we continue to believe when everything we see screams that the dream is dead?

 

Like Joseph, we must:

     1.      Realize that faith is created in the heart not the mind.

That is why it is called faith. It is the evidence of things not seen. Our brains cannot reason what it cannot handle. Faith is not a reasoning agent. It transcends our ability to understand what is visible & tangible and causes us to believe what our eyes cannot see but our hearts believe. Faith is not blind trust in the unseen, it is firm belief in a relational God and His character.

 

2.      Never allow what your eyes see to determine what your heart believes.

Joseph’s eyes told him his vision was dead but his heart kept him holding on when all seemed lost. In every situation Joseph excelled and advance. He would not allow what his eyes saw to determine what his heart believed. The delay of his dream did not mean denial.

 

3.      Recognize that circumstances do not void the promise; they are the process to the promise.

Problems have a way of causing us to doubt that we are heading in the right direction. We reason that if it was truly God’s will, that the road we travel would be must easier, without resistance. In football the closer you get to the goal line, the harder it is to advance the ball. If you run the ball the wrong way you will find not resistance! The fact you have resistance proves you are heading in the right direction.

 

4.      Allow the vision of your heart must be greater than your sight.

To many times we allow our sight to control our vision. The vision of your heart must be greater than your sight. Our sight allows us to see what is but our vision gives us the capacity to see what could be & what should be. Vision allows us to see our marriage whole when our eyes see it is a mess. Vision grants us a peek into God’s original purpose for our life and our family.

 

Proverbs states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” The word ascribes reasoning to our hearts not our minds. Your heart has the ability to believe. That belief can keep you moving in the right direction even when your eyes tell you to give up.

Tags: believe, dead, dream, emotions, faith, sight, vision

When The Brook Dries Up

In 1 Kings Elijah declares a drought that produces a famine. In the midst of the drought God supplies Elijah’s needs by sending a raven to bring him a steak sandwich every morning and evening and provided a brook by which he was to drink. Some biblical scholars suggest that Elijah drinks from the brook daily and is fed by the raven for two whole years.

 

That is until the brook dries up.

 

God sends Elijah to a widow named Zarephath (name means ‘refinery’, another message in itself) and her son. She has already experienced loss, her husband has died maybe as a result of the famine. She has given up all hope and has resolved that her and her son will die. Her and Elijah both are facing the harsh realities of the famine. Little does she know today is not the end, it is merely the beginning.

 

What do you do when your brook, your place of resource dries up? What do you do when your raven stops his delivery service?

 

1.       Don’t Mistake Your Resource As Your Source

You may work for a company but that company is not your source they are your resource. Never confuse your resource as your source. You see, IBM, Cisco Systems, the NFL, School District, City of San Jose or even the State of California may employ you but they are merely your brook in the time of famine, a raven of support. They are just a tool God uses in the midst of famine to supply your need.

 

Those jobs are your resource, your brook & raven. God is your Source. Don’t get it twisted; God is your Source of provision. If you’re hungry He can send bread from heaven. When you’re thirsty He can bring water from a rock … God’s resources never run dry.

 

2.       God Has A Plan

You must realize that God does not get caught off guard, He has a plan. Nothing shocks God. He knows all things. He is not blindsided by the events here on earth. Your lay off may have blindsided you but it didn’t blindside God. Remember, God may have created time but He is not subject to it. God is eternal, He already knows the ending. Your current calamity doesn’t have God in a panic. He already has a plan.

 

The book of Exodus records twelve wells in the middle of desert that provide water to the twelve tribes of Israel on their flight from Egypt. God knew they would travel that path before the foundations of the world so He prepared these wells in the middle of nowhere to show favor in the midst of famine. If He can do that for Israel, what do you think He has prepared for you? Rest assured, He has no plan B, just a plan.

 

3.       Put God First

Elijah asks the woman for a drink, then has the nerve to ask for bread as well. Imagine if CNN or CNBC got a hold of this story, “Evangelist takes Last Piece of Bread From A Widow & Dying Child”. The world cannot & will not understand this dynamic because the spiritually dead cannot comprehend that this was not a financial issue but a spiritual one.

 

Elijah’s request came with a promise. You give to me; God will take care of you. You see God is not into leftovers. He has always asked for the first fruits of our time, treasure & talents. When you put Him first, God in turn will put you first. Only if the widow put the Man of God first would her needs be met.

 

Upon making Elijah something first an incredible thing happened; there was still enough to make something for her & her son. Yet it is interesting to note, the oil jar never appeared full and the jar of flour never overflowed. Everyday was a step of faith by making something for Elijah first. Everyday meal time was a act of trust to prepare something for Elijah.

 

We must make a choice daily to put God first. No leftovers. Give God your best daily and you will see that His supernatural provision will never run dry. Remember, there is no famine or recession in my Father’s House.

Tags: drought, Elijah, faith, famine, loss, plan, priority, provision, resource, source

Restoring Vision - Part Three

Thirdly, In Times Of Darkness, Rely On Jesus

 

23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town.

 

Notice the first thing that Jesus does is take him by the hand. Taking someone’s hand is a sign of unity and agreement. You see before we can over come our disabilities, we must come into agreement with God’s ability. The blind man places his faith in where Jesus when he takes Jesus’ hand. He was paralyzed by the pain. So Jesus takes his hand.

 

As I mentioned previously the worse thing you can do to a blind man is remove him from his place of comfort or familiarity. No sooner than Jesus takes his hand does He lead him out side his realm of comfort. He leads him to an unfamiliar territory outside the walls of the city of contentment and county of status quo. Here the blind man has no other alternative but to rely on Jesus. He no longer can get by on his own memory or merit. He is in the place of the unknown & unfamiliar. The farther they journeyed, the harder the blind man clutched to Jesus’ hand. He is a place of alone . . . alone with Jesus.

 

We have all been in this place called alone. Fearfully clinging to the hand that leads us, unsure of the terrain by which we now tread. It is exciting and new, yet part of us cries out for the friendly & familiar confines of our road side seat of life. We can stay comfortable & die or we can take the hand of Jesus and live again. We were not created to be spectators but participators in the promises & purposes of our Father in heaven.

 

Take His hand now. Let God lead you. Be willing to rely on Him to take you to the place where your vision can be restored. You know how to do life but do you know how to live life? I would rather be blind holding Jesus hand than see and wander with out Him.

 

Jesus then does the unimaginable.

 

Tomorrow . . . In Times Of Darkness, Refuse To Be Offended

Tags: agreement, comfort zone, faith, hand of God, trust