"WAITING, WANTING"

PSALM 130:5
I wait for the Lord to help me, and trust his word

I remember this past summer fishing with Dylan, my 5 year old boy and was thinking about the time and how it relates to this passage. He was telling me over and over that he wasn't getting a single bite and I asked him how long we had been fishing. His reply with a dead serious look " five minutes dad and not even a bite". We've all been there and I bet most of us might be there now with God. We covet God's help, we need God's help, but we want to set the terms. We want to draw up the deal, and want that help NOW. God's word has the answer to any problem we need solved. The biggest problem any human can have is being lost without God, without Jesus. I can guarantee that God can solve the problem and He can absolutely do it NOW.

Seeing it all and all of us

PSALM 14:2
The LORD looked down from the heaven on all people...

It is pretty awesome that God can see us all and yet focus on each of us individually. How would we treat our family, friends, or even perfect strangers if we knew God was there looking over our shoulders. Scary as HE double hockey stick right! Well guess what , HE IS! Keep this in mind today when someone messes up your order at the drive-through, disappoints you, or doesn't quite live up to YOUR expectations. Live today trying to impress God...you just might do it. This is the biggest challenge we as Christians have.

Know your Limit

PSALM 147:5
OUR LORD is great and very powerful. There is no limit to what he knows

Everything in our life is built around limits.Whether we like it or even acknowledge it, God has placed limits on each of. He did this so we can't become God. He is God, I am not! God does have the potential to STRETCH our limits far beyond what we can do alone. And the great thing is that HE wants to! When you feel you have reached your limit in whatever you are trying to accomplish, ask God to move the boundaries, stretch them out a bit. I have seen him do it many times. Only God knows your limits, ask him for clarity.

Gods Power vs our Wisdom

1 CORINTHIANS 2:5
This was so that your faith would be in God's power and not in human wisdom.

I feel led to address my version of our street smarts vs Gods almighty power. We spend our entire lives trying to get smarter, college, research, job skills, in fact the more we know about everything the better person we are right? We rely mostly on our own smarts and as men we are never wrong.But the reality is we often need help. Trying to solve our problems by just being smart is foolish. The fact is, God generally will let us get deeper into trouble until will call on him for help. God requires that we completely trust in him. He allows us to get into dire situations in order to grow our faith. If all went well everyday, we wouldn't need to put our faith in much of anything. Problems grow faith and the smarter we are in learning what Jesus can teach us, the smarter we become when it really matters.

We don't have to be alone

PSALM 25:17
The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish

The Bible shocks us by revealing that reality is totally different to our superficial impressions. It declares that trials , such as battles with loneliness though by their very nature highly unpleasant, are reasons for rejoicing, not sorrow. I used to think the Bible was saying, Rejoice, even though trials are tragedies.Finally, I began taking more notice of the context and discovered that it is actually saying something very different. It is not saying, “Rejoice, despite the trials,” but “Rejoice, because of the trials.” It is saying, “Trials are a spiritual windfall. Throw a party when hard times come because they are like being given an awesome opportunity, only exceedingly better. They increase your spiritual status, your contribution to the Kingdom, and your spiritual life . By developing your character, tough times increase both your eternal reward and your ability to achieve things of lasting significance.” Who are you when times are tough, should we quit and cut and run. That's not what "Men of Honor" do. Put on the armor, fight like you have never fought before. Thanks Men for last night, a very rewarding experience with all of you.

Run the Race Like a Champion

HEBREWS 12:1
So let us run the race before us and never give up

My whole childhood I grew up watching Michael Jordan, he was the fearcest competitor I ever saw. A true champion, I never heard him say he was beaten after a game, even if he lost. Always believing and never stopping was the keys to his success in everything he did...yes even baseball. Life is certain to throw many roadblocks in front of us. Troubles will come, but God is always able to overcome. We just need to hang in there and do our best with whatever God has equipped us. God will always reward our efforts. Will we always succeed, always win. depends on your version of the two. In the short haul, victory is a moving target, but in the long haul, for eternity, Jesus has provided for those who believe in Him the certain of absolute victory. Let us never give up.

How Great are we...really

"God is greater than we are" JOB 33:12
What causes us to believe we are great? Pride, unbelief, the feeling you know more than the other guy does? What if that guy can really help you? How often do we think we know more than God in our daily struggles. I recently have found out that my PTSD is far worse than I imagined and has caused some unwanted stress in me and my families life, and I actually believed that I was doing "Great" trying to fight it myself....not the case. The last time I checked, God is still God and I am not. He is also more powerful than the most awesome thing or event we could ever imagine. Do we really think we could do a better job without him? Try God today. Include him in every aspect of your life today and then survey the results tonight.

NO BLOG TODAY JUST MASSIVE PRAYER

I terrible tragedy happened last night at Fort Hood, Texas, an Army installation. I have several friends training there for upcoming missions in Iraq and need prayers that they were not among the killed or wounded.Please pray for this community and all involved...such a tragedy I am overwhelmed with hurt that this took place.

SATAN IS RINGING THE DOORBELL..DO WE LET HIM IN

1 John 4:4
God's spirit who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world

The Devil is constantly trying to push God out and claim a little territory for himself. I also know I let the devil win some ground at times. The problem is that if we let the devil get his foot in the door, he will try to kick the door down and take over the whole house. Thankfully, we have a weapon. that weapon is God's spirit, and if we use it, it will send Satan running every time. Try to ignore the doorbell and here the knock at the door of God's spirit.

POWER OF PRAYER

James 5:13
Anyone who is having troubles should pray

It is really important to pray in order to flourish in life. God knows what we are going through. He knows all angles on every situation. We are not praying to let God know what troubles we have; rather, we are praying to include God in the problem-solving. God wants to be the solution, not just a part of it. A great deal of the time, I find I have a problem because I left God out in the first place.

WILLPOWER

Hebrews 13:20
I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what HE wants.

Our God has promised to give us EXACTLY what we need to excel in this CRAZY life so we can do his will. Whatever talents, skills, money or time we have are direct gifts from God. He also has given us the choice to use all these gifts for our glory or for his. How can we use the good things today to do what God wants. Simple, have the willpower to go beyond your comfort zone and use what God has given you. He deserves nothing less!

ACTIONS, TAKE CHARGE

Jeremiah 26:13
Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.

How do our actions effect you and those around us when being a "Man of Honor'?
This is one of the most straight forward and convicting versus in the bible. If we don't try to live a holy life with honor and obey the Lord we will surely be punished and disaster will occur.The disaster will be unbearable. Many times people say actions speak louder than words and I believe this to be true. How many times have you seen someone in need, someone hurting, begging inside for someone to take action. Being in the military I have lived by this motto: "Take appropriate action in the absence of orders", with following Christ, he is never absent, always gives us the tools to take action, so why do we stand by and watch the suffering without taking action. We don't need verbal orders to take action, we need CHRIST in our life and witness to the lost, suffering and hurting. Men its time to stand up and "Take appropriate action, because GOD COMMANDS IT"!

DUTY to FEAR

Ecclesiastes
12:13
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

You want to know the first and most important step in being a Man of Honor and fulfilling our DUTY as men. Read the above !God must instruct your heart that you may only know that wisdom is the true happiness and the way to it is to fear God. When we fear God and our truly convicted by our actions, it makes us strive to perform our duty. Do you think soldiers fighting our wars win because they enjoy doing it, no it is because they have fear, fear keeps us ALIVE and motivates us to live life. Take a moment each day to read the 10 commandments and strive to live by them.

COURAGE

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

This is a very simple and not complex to understand at all. As Men of Honor we are to stand firm in our faith; witness to others even when it is uncomfortable, don't miss the opportunity. Be strong; this means be a leader! Be strong in your role as a leader, be a man, set the example, live a life that is strong spiritually, lean on God and have the courage to admit your weakness. Some of our greatest leaders in America were not physically strong or super heros on TV, but had unbelievable courage, the will to fight and win. Be on your guard for evil will surely try to bring your courageand self esteem down , but if we turn to Christ and REMEMBER his courage and willingness to fight and win, we will win and be Men of Honor.

RESPECT

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody

RESPECT, what a powerful word, how do get respect? Do we automatically expect to receive it or do we earn it, well many men claim that they should be respected just because we are men, not so fast. The greatest way to earn respect is to give it, live a life that pleases God, treat people as you want to be treated, work hard at everything you do. Serve the lord, your church, your neighbors and yes even your enemies. Lead by example, respect is not given it is earned. Remember how your actions reflect your life and character.

WISDOM

Are there those men among you who are truly wise and understanding? Show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom. James 3:3

In life , we are supposed to get more wisdom and understanding. Key word "Supposed". What we do with these gifts is up to us. God says we show these gifts by the way we live. We do good for those around us, and we must "mellow" or "chill out" with age. I am a hard-charging guy, but I do want wisdom and understanding. If God grants these requests, I must realize that along with wisdom and understanding comes some pretty huge responsibilities, especially in living right.

DUTY

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man Ecclesiastes 12:13

All men must give an account to God of all their works, and this alone will enable them to do that with joy. Every secret - Not only outward and visible actions, but even inward and secret thoughts.Let us attend to the one thing needful, and now come to him as a merciful Saviour, who will soon come as an almighty Judge, when he will bring to light the things of darkness, and manifest the counsels of all hearts. Why does God record in his word, that ALL IS VANITY, but to keep us from deceiving ourselves to our ruin? He makes our duty to be our interest. May it be graven in all our hearts. God must instruct your heart that you will only know that wisdom is the true happiness and the way to it is to fear God

Loyalty

Whoever tries to live right and be loyal finds life, success and honor.Proverbs 21:21

God sees loyalty as extremely important. It starts with loyalty to HIM and being loyal to our spouse, our kids, our church, our employer, our friends.You get the picture. It might seem better to "cut and run" sometimes, but it is not God's way nor should it be ours. Another example of being a "Man of Honor".By the way the word Honor is used approximately 146 times in the bible.

Holy Fear!

God's Word is at a great discount. Men think of themselves wiser than the Word of the LORD. We accept the inspired Book as infallible and prove our esteem by our obedience. We have no terror of the Word, but we have an awe of it. We are not in fear of its penalties because we have a fear of its commands. This holy fear of the commandment produces the restfulness of humility, which is far sweeter than the recklessness of pride. It becomes a guide to us in our movements: a drag when we are going downhill and a stimulus when we are climbing it. Fear the word of God just as you fear the wickedness of the world.

Integrity, Be the Example

GEN 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Morals and ethics are best learned as it is observed in the life of another. It's best learned in relationship with one who is an impeccable model of morals and ethics.The person who has begun a relationship with Jesus Christ has not only become acquainted with truth; he or she has the truth living inside. It is through this relationship that you are provided with relevant direction and answers to tough choices that you face. He has the power and ability to help shape and mold you into a person of character, making a relationship with Jesus Christ definitely worth pursuing and developing.

Very challenged by this because so often we can tell our children not to do something, but we turn around and do the exact thing we told them not to do. I always tell my children to do what is right when no one is looking, that is more important than doing what is right because someone is looking. Integrity is a vital part of being a "Man of Honor".

Honor is being in Christ Jesus

Humility – seek the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:3-4)
Obedience – if we love Him, we will obey His teaching. (John 14:15)
Nobility – the highest calling, to honor Christ. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Outreach – seek the lost (Matthew 28:19)
Reconciliation – reach beyond our comfort zone. (Romans 15:1-2)

Really Challenged with being a Man of Honor, I feel that God is really working on me and challenging me...I LOVE IT! You see it is easy to do some or few things right, but it always seems hard to do everything right you know when no one is looking. What is right? Well the acronym above is what and where you will find what right looks like. I will always struggle, but if I strive for "HONOR" I will continue the good fight!

Day of Days

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus"

When you have the day of days, the worst, everything seems to be out of control, let us not forget what Christ endured to ensure we can live in peace through him and him alone.