Have Patience Don't Be In Such a Hurry

    One day I was at school with my students, and we were coming inside after playing outside. I went to work setting up lunch while my co-teacher helped the students wash their hands. After washing their hands, the children sat at the tables to eat lunch.

   I was still working on getting all the lunch items out on their plates. I was going as fast as I could. One child sat down and said, "Ms. Kat, you forgot my vegetables." Another student sat down and said, "why did I only get two crackers?!" I looked at my co-teacher in shock. I was literally in the process of opening more crackers and the students could not wait seconds for me to open the crackers. My co-teacher began to sing a song about patience.

   I looked at the students and said, "do you see that I am working on it? Please be patient!" Then we talked about how sometimes you need to wait for things and people. We also talked about how teachers are not octopi. We can only do so much at once.

   That's not the first time that has happened and I'm sure it will not be the last. But it is a good reminder that we all need to practice patience. Sometimes we want things right away. We want God to give us things. We want God to take trials away, and we want it right away. 

   Romans 12:12 reminds us to "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Sometimes trials come for reasons we cannot know or see. That's when we must trust in the Lord. We must pray and remember his word so we can get through the trial. Easier said than done, but still true.

   So, how are you doing in the patience department? Are you relying on God when trials come? Pray and ask God to give you patience and trust when trials come.

 

Mountains of Bloomsburg Finale: Choices Made

   Ahda and you reach the stone bridge that goes across the lava. You walk across and see Ubel step out. Ubel smiles and looks at Ahda. "Ah, I have waited a long time for you my friend." Then Ubel looks at you, "we had a deal. My servants will help you get home." Little creatures who looked like Ubel came out and led me toward trees on Ubel's side of the lava river. You kept going past trees and suddenly a branch grabs you, then another, and another. You realize you've been tricked. 
   Now you watch helplessly as Ahda is with Ubel. Ahda steps forward, "why did you want me to come here?" "I just wanted to talk with you and see if I could help you out." Ahda raised his eyebrows, "How could you help me? Gottes has given me everything already." "Everything?" Ubel remarked. Ahda sighs, "Well he has not given us your area of the mountain." "That's right, Gottes has given you dominion over all of his creation... except for my area." 
   Ahda glances over at Ubel's area. Right now you see Ubel, his minions, and his dominion for what it really is: a wasteland. You try to scream to Ahda to run but the tree covers your mouth. Ahda looks and sees lush, green trees. He sees golden fruit as well.
   "You do have a very nice area, but Gottes has given us so much." Ubel nods his head,"yes, but he has not given you everything." Ubel pulls a golden fruit out of nowhere and bites into it. Juice dribbles down his mouth and he licks his lips. "Haven't you ever wondered why I am able to do what Gottes can do? Why I am able to grant wishes just like Gottes?" Ahda nods and looks at the fruit in Ubel's hand.
   "I can do that because I have knowledge. Whoever eats fruit from my dominion has knowledge like Gottes. Would you like some fruit?" Ahda grabs the fruit, "Gottes told us not to eat your fruit but it looks good." "Why wouldn't Gottes want you to have what is good? Why wouldn't he want you to have knowledge like him?" Ubel says. 
   You watch in horror as Ahda bites the fruit. The juice dribbles down his face. Suddenly Ubel jumps on Ahda. Ubel's minions race away from you and across the bridge. You realize you've made a horrible mistake. 
   From the sky you see a flash of light then you hear the crack of wood breaking. Jordan, the Engel, has set you free. He takes you to the very top of a mountain. "What has happened?" You ask. Jordan frowns, "Ubel now has dominion over the mountains because Ahda disobeyed Gottes." "What can we do?" Jordan looks down the mountain at the destruction. "We cannot do anything." "Then it is hopeless?" "No, Gottes has a plan" Jordan said has he touches your head.
   Your mind suddenly sees a man who was unlike any other man. This man died to defeat Ubel. You did not understand why another man's death would defeat Ubel but then you see the man raised to life. The man the crushes Ubel. You see many people following this man and being saved from Ubel. You also see Engels and Ubel's minions fighting each other for all eternity. Then Ubel is finally defeated.
   Your mind comes back to Jordan. "What do we do now?" "Choose to follow Gottes and tell others about him." You look down at the village and see a massive dragon like creature destroy the entire village. "Where will we live?" "Wherever Gottes calls you to. He will be with you, if you choose to follow him."
   Would you have chosen to eat the fruit to gain knowledge? Would you have followed God back then though it would be harder now? Will you tell others about what God has done for them?

   Proverbs 14:12, Genesis 3, Galatians 2:20

Mountains of Bloomsburg Part 2: Clakes and Fear

   You walk through the village searching for the man you just met. Suddenly you see Ron and you run up to him. Ron smiles at you, "How are you doing today?" You smile back and say, "I'm doing well but I have a problem. Can you help me navigate my way through the dark side of the mountain? I need to get home." Ron's smile turns into a frown, "no one ever goes into that part of the mountains, it is forbidden." 
   A man who was walking by comes over to you, "hello my name is Ahda. I couldn't help but overhear, I have never been in that part of the mountains but I've studied it. I could help you." You agree to have Ahda help you and some other men, Kaine and Abek, agree to come.
   You walk through the mountains. You turn around and take one last look at the village. Suddenly it gets really dark. Ahda turns around, "it normally is dark in this part of the mountains." He hands you a torch. Kaine and Abek take out torches as well. You take the time to light the torches and continue on. You wonder if you will ever reach Ubel's part of the mountain. 
   Ahda stops, "it is night, we should stop to rest." You look at the sky. It looks the same as it did an hour ago, dark. Ahda smiles, "I kept an eye on the few shadows you can see in the mountains. That's how you know what time it is. Kaine will take the first watch. You should get some rest while you can." 
   You lay down and close your eyes. No sooner do you do that than you hear someone scream. You wake up and see Kaine grabbing his leg. Ahda turns to you, "he was bitten by a Clake." "What is a Clake?" You ask. "It is a creature that crawls on its belly, has 2 legs along each of its sides, has leathery wings, and sharp fangs. When it bites you it makes you see your greatest fears. The only cure is sap from one of the trees on this side of the forest." 
   Ahda put some cloth over Kaine's wound. "I need you and Abek to go look for a tree and bring back a stick with sap in it when you find one."
   You and Abek run off. You hope that Kaine will be alright. All you can think about is the fact that if he dies it will be your fault.
   Would you have agreed to go on a hard journey with strangers? Who do you go through the journey of life with? If the Clake bit you, what would you see? How can you stop having that fear?

   Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 41:10

A Forgiving Death

   We have all had to do it at one point or another in our life: forgive. Maybe a stranger stepped on your foot. Maybe a friend had to cancel on you. Or, maybe a family member betrayed you. Whatever the case, forgiveness is called for. We all expect to be forgiven yet we all know that forgiveness is not an easy thing to do at times.
   Why is it so hard to forgive? Ann Voskamp has an answer in her book The Broken Way. She says: "NO one gets to forgiveness unless something else dies. There always has to be some kind of death for there to be any kind of forgiveness." The ultimate example of forgiveness is Jesus. He had to die in order to forgive our sins.
   Now, you may be asking, “what has to die when I forgive someone?” The answer is typically your pride. Let's say that someone has lied to you, not just once but many times. He promised he would never do it again but he continued to do it. According to the world's standards, you have every right to stop forgiving this person. You could hold a grudge and never speak to him again. But, according to God's standards, do you have a right?
   In Matthew 18:21-35 we read about a forgiving master and an unforgiving servant. The master had a right to throw his servant in jail because the servant would NEVER be able to pay off his debt. It just wasn't plausible that during the servant's life he'd be able to pay 100 bags of gold off. The master was merciful and forgave the debt. The servant went out and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 pieces of silver. The servant threw his fellow servant in jail because he could not pay his debt. All this servant had to do was forgive because he was forgiven. He could've let go of his pride and just said it was "okay, you don't have to pay." But, the servant wanted what he deserved. Then the servant got what he truly did deserve; he was thrown in jail and the key was thrown away.
   We have been forgiven so much. God has every right to say, "you have sinned too many times. You cannot come to heaven." But, he doesn't say that. The creator of the universe has every right to be prideful and give up on us but he doesn't. If he is our ultimate example, then why can't we put away our pride and forgive others just like he does?
   Ann Voskamp goes on to say: it is "Never the cross you carry, but your resistance to the cross, that makes it a burden." We can push back and pull back and choose not to forgive others. But, when we don't forgive, we are only hurting ourselves. We all have a cross to carry. It could be a situation, a problem that keeps happening, a sin, etc. And, if you remember correctly, crosses are heavy. Jesus needed help carrying his cross because he was so beat up. He has experience carrying crosses. It is very difficult for us to carry the cross on our own. We can ask Jesus for help carrying our cross. We can ask him to help us forgive that person who wronged us. Then, our burden becomes lighter.
   So, do you have anyone you need to forgive? Are you going to ask Jesus to help you carry your burdens? Will you choose to die to pride in order to forgive others?
   Image from here.

If You Are Afraid: Soccer Lessons

"If you're afraid you're more likely to get hurt."

   I once had a player who I coached who was afraid every time she went into a tackle. She didn't want to get hurt. That makes sense since soccer is a tough sport. It is full contact. And, depending on the referees, it could be total contact where you are basically tackling each other. Needless to say the amount of injuries has gone up in the past few years.

   Now, as a coach it is my job to make sure the girls are as prepared as they can be for a game. That lessens the chances of them getting injured. However, some girls still have residual fear. Some of them don't feel prepared enough. Others had a previous injury and are afraid of injuring themselves again. Whatever the reason, I have found that if a player is afraid of getting injured then she is more likely to get injured. If a player doesn't go hard into a tackle but the opposing player does go hard into a tackle then the player who didn't go hard will probably get hurt. That's just how the sport seems to work.

   It is the same way in life. Philippians 4:6-7 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." If we are anxious or afraid of life we are expecting to get hurt. That also means we are not trusting God. God doesn't want us to fear. He wants us to have peace. He wants to have a relationship with us that is so good that when we are afraid we go to him. If we go to him, his word says that we will have peace in him.

   So, do you have anxiety problems? What can you do to better trust God today? I challenge you this week that whenever you feel anxious to talk to God and let him give you peace.

   Image from here.

Keep Your Head Up: Soccer Lessons

"Keep your head up."

   Soccer is very trying at times. You are tested physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. It is especially difficult when you keep losing and messing up. That's when it is important to be mentally and emotionally stable. As previously mentioned, soccer is a team sport. If one person is having problems staying strong mentally and emotionally the rest of the team will probably suffer.

   I remember coaching a team that was losing very badly at the beginning of the season. I kept telling them many different things and teaching them things to help them improve. But, I told them "one thing I will not stand for is seeing your heads go down. Body language is a very important thing. As soon at someone puts her head down it's like we have given up. You are saying to your team that you have lost hope in them."

   That team never put their heads down during a game. They kept working hard for each other. They kept hope that they would improve and could still win. By the end of the season we were winning games because we kept our heads up.

   In life we will also have trying times. Romans 8:23-24 says:

"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to son ship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

   We have the greatest and only hope for this lost world: Jesus. We cannot see Jesus now, but we see his work. We know that we are children of God. We will receive his inheritance, which is eternal life with him. All of the trials and problems we go through in life on earth are temporary. If we make a mistake, Jesus washes us clean (that doesn't mean we should continue to sin James.4.7). That's where our hope comes from.

   That's why we don't need to hang our heads. Because, we have a father who sent his son to die for us. When we look down on ourselves we are looking down on what he created. We are looking down on his child. God loves us and finds us worthy through Jesus' work on the cross. We can keep our heads up because of that hope, no matter what trials we go through.

   So, do you have hope in Jesus? Do you beat yourself up too much? What can you do when you go through trials to remember that they are temporary; and that you have a hope in Jesus?
   Image from here.

Keep It Simple: Soccer Lessons

"Play simple, play smart."

   The basic goal of soccer is quite simple: to get the ball in the opposing team's goal. The difficulty in soccer is actually getting the ball up the field and into the goal. The reason that is difficult is because the opposing team has a pesky habit of stealing the ball from you or blocking your shot. It's simple to get the ball in the goal, but it isn't easy.

   Some teams have a problem of making it harder on themselves because certain players hold onto the ball too long, they don't pass at the right time, or they don't shoot at the right time. That's where the saying, "play simple, play smart" came from.

   In soccer, sometimes you end up facing your own net. Some players will try to turn the ball around to go the other way. Sometimes that works, many times it doesn't because the other team won't let you turn. Thus, why I tell my players to play simple. If my players pass the ball back to their teammate, that teammate can then send the ball forward easier. Now, when I finally got my team to understand playing simple, we then had the problem of people passing the ball back when the opposite team was there. Or, we would pass the ball around the same area too much. That didn't really help us get up the field. That's why I added to play simple, play smart.

   In life, we also have a goal. The meaning of life can be found in Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." While we are here on earth, our purpose is simple: we are to reflect the light of God. It seems simple, because it is, but it isn't easy.

   We have trials every day where we have a choice: we can reflect God's glory or follow our own desires. That's where being smart comes in. We know we are to follow Jesus' example by following God's word. We need to be smart because our adversary will try to get us to slip up. We have a big adversary. It is impossible for us to defeat him. It's a good thing we don't have to because Jesus already did defeat him. If we walk with Jesus, spend time with him, pray, etc. It will be easier for us to know what is simple and smart. He will help us in the trials of life.

   So, do you know what your purpose in life is? Are you spending time with Jesus each day? Do you make simple, smart choices when you go through trials?
   Image from here.

How Do You Play After You Lose: Soccer Lessons 13

"Success isn't determined by how many times you win, but by how you play the week after you lose." (Pele)

   Losing isn't easy. When a soccer team loses it is very rare that they are okay with it; and, to a certain extent, they shouldn't be okay with losing. However, winning and losing shouldn't be the measure of that team's success.

   When a team loses they have a choice. They can wallow in that loss. They can think, "we are never going to win so why try?" Or, they can use that lose to push them to be better. They can think, "Yes, we had a setback but I'm going to get better and we will play better next time." To me, as a coach, I would rather see my team lose games and improve over the season than have them blow out teams and win all the time with no improvement. Thus, why I introduced this quote by Pele to my team.

   In life we don't play games where we have wins and losses. We do have obstacles and setbacks though. Hard times are going to come because that's life. Our success in life isn't determined by how many setbacks we have but by how we deal with those setbacks.

   James 1:2-4 says: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." We choose what we are going to do after we face a trial. We can decide to wallow in that trial and let it rule our lives; or, we can choose to use that trial to make us better. We can choose to lean on God through that trial.

   So, what do you do when you face a trial? Are you choosing to use trials to help you grow? Do you lean on God through trials?

   Image from here.

Broken

   Have you ever gone through a time where you just don't think things can get any worse? Maybe multiple things happened to you in the period of a few days that just weren't what you were expecting. Maybe you wondered how God could allow those things to happen to you. That's when you get the typical answer from a Christian friend, "everything happens for a reason." You may not like to hear that answer, I believe it is true and even I don't like hearing it sometimes.

   God does do everything for a reason. To illustrate this let me tell you a story I once heard. Once there was a pastor. The pastor was mentoring a young man who decided he wanted to be a pastor. By meeting together, the pastor had discovered some items that had to be dispelled from this young man if he was going to be a successful pastor. Apparently, the young man was very prideful. He thought he could do it all on his own and that he knew everything. One day the young man got some bad news. His father had just died suddenly of a heart attack. The young man was upset and began to call friends to let them know what happened. When he called his first friend, his friend was already crying. The young man asked if his friend had already heard about his father. His friend said "no." The friend then told him that apparently some of their friends had just gotten into an accident and died. The young man broke down. He wondered why God would let this happen. Then he turned his back on God. He began to drink and separate himself from friends and family. Eventually the young man saw the error of his ways and went back to church. The young man spoke with the pastor and said he realized that he had to be broken in order to grow closer to God. He saw that he was prideful and changed his ways (The Bait of Satan).

   This man could be likened to Peter. Peter was almost always one of the first disciples to speak, and sometimes he spoke without thinking. Peter was one of the disciples who argued about who would be greatest. He thought he could control things that just were not in his control. Peter too, was broken. He denied Jesus 3 times when Jesus needed him most. But, after Peter was broken, he turned to Jesus and was a very influential leader in the beginning of the church. Peter gave up his pride and shined brighter than ever. If Peter hadn't gone through that experience he never would have had that influence on others for Christ.

   As Christians I think we forget that sometimes God brings about bad things for our good, even if Satan caused it to happen. We may not like the things that happen to us but they can help us grow in God, if we let them. Being broken hurts but if we are never broken we cannot grow into something more beautiful. Just think about it, even a glow stick needs to be broken before it can shine (otherwise it is useless).

   So, when bad things happen how will you view them? Will you trust that God can use everything for good? Will you let your light shine no matter what happens?

   Psalm 51:8, Psalm 147:3, Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

   Image from here. 

The Epic Battles Going on Around Us

   Picture this: there is a man named Al in an elevator waiting to reach the ground floor. What he doesn't know is that up above him there is an epic battle going on. Buzz Lightyear is facing off against his father, Zurg. Buzz aims his laser gun at Zurg and misses. Zurg takes a shot back at Buzz, but Buzz does a kick flip to miss the shot. Finally Zurg gets Buzz to fall on his back. Zurg tells Buzz to give up. Buzz says, "I'll never give up you killed my father." Zurg replies "No, Buzz, I am your father." Buzz cries out, "Noooooo!" Thus ends the epic battle (Toy Story 2).
   What I find interesting about that story is that Al did not know that this epic battle was going on above him. You may laugh at that but let me give you another story.
   You and a friend are walking down the street. You have known this friend for a long time and you know that he/she is not a Christian. You have been trying to help this friend out because you know that he/she has gone through some hard times. Suddenly your friend tells you that he/she does not know why life is worth living. Stunned, you are not sure what to say.
   What you don't know is that above you there is an epic battle going on. An angel is locked in battle with a demon. The demon is so close to getting to your friend but the angel swoops in and blocks the demon's blow with a sword. They continue to battle against one another. Suddenly another angel and demon appear above you. Then more angels and demons come locked in heated battle. There are epic battles going on all around you.
   Many times we talk a lot about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Devil; but we don't talk a lot about the angels and demons. If we believe in the Trinity and Satan then we need to believe in the angels and demons as well. Biblically we see both angels and demons. We know that that Bible is true therefore we must believe in both.
   Am I saying that each of us have a guardian angel? No that cannot be proven biblically. But do we have angels looking out for us? One only has to look at Hebrews 1:14 to find the answer: "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" We may not have a guardian angel but we definitely have angels looking out for us. This should bring us comfort because we know that no matter what happens God is looking out for us and he has a plan. We just need to trust him.
   So, do you believe there are epic battles going on around you even if you cannot see them? Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? Will you trust him no matter what happens? 

   Hebrews 1:14, 2 Corinthians 12:4, Ephesians 6:11

Blessed in Persecution: Jesus Series

   "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11

   Don't you just love the word bless? We like that word because it means good things, right? I mean God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob blessings. They had riches, good family, and perfect lives right? If you know the Bible, you know that's not entirely true. God did bless these men even though the men messed up. When these men had problems it was typically because they sinned. But, they still enjoyed the blessings God promised them (other than the Promised Land).

   Now, we look at today's verse and it's all about blessing. It's in the New Testament so it applies to us. This verse is in the Sermon on the Mount and in the beattitudes. Jesus keeps saying things like blessed are the poor in spirit, those who morn, the meek, those who thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. All of those things don't sound like what people were hoping for in a savior. They wanted a savior who would give them power, but what Jesus was saying contradicted that.

   Finally we get to today's verse: we are blessed when we are persecuted because of our belief in Jesus. Wait, why would we want to be persecuted? Many of us don't want to be. When things get rough we run away because we want to be safe. But, that means we are not focused on the right thing.

   Many Christians have asked these questions: "Why did the disciples choose to go through suffering in the name of Jesus? If I was called to go through that kind of suffering would I be able to trust God through it?"

   In America, when we are persecuted we may have someone who makes fun of our faith or argues with us about our faith. But, in other times and places persecution meant being beaten, put in prison, or being killed. We are afraid of that kind of suffering. A few years ago I wrote a fictional blog about a church where some men came in with a gun. They lined everyone up, go down the line, and say to each person "denounce your faith in Jesus Christ today, and you will live." What would you do? How in the world could we be blessed in this instance?

   We need to look at the second half of these verses to find the answer. When these bad things happen or when we are merciful/peaceful ours is the kingdom of heaven, we are comforted, we inherit the earth, we are filled, we are shown mercy, we will see God, we are called children of god, and (from today's verse) we have a great reward in heaven.

   Many times when we are persecuted and go through hard times in life we forget that this isn't the end. If we did here, we have eternal life with our savior in heaven. It doesn’t matter if you lose your house, if you have no food, if you are beaten, or even if you are killed for Christ. You have the greatest gift ever given. This life is temporary. Our persecutions and pain is temporary.

   That's why people think true Christians are crazy. I've heard of stories where a man has murdered a woman's husband and he is later arrested. Then the woman goes to that man in prison and says I forgive you. That man just took the life of the man she loved and she forgave him?! That's what I call turning the other cheek. How could she do that? She knows this life is temporary. She knows that one day she will be with her husband again.

   When bad things happen we need to focus on the next life not this one. If someone falsely accuses you will you fight them, or will you try to peacefully resolve the issue? If someone punches you will you punch back, or will you walk away?

   So, do you focus too much on this life? If you were asked to denounce your faith in Jesus would you do it? Will you follow God no matter the cost?

   Image from here.

Pressing On

   One place that I go every year whether on vacation or to counsel is Camp YoliJwa. This year the camp's theme is Press On. It comes from the verse Philippians 3:14 which says: "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 
   It seems like a fitting theme for what has happened in the world. We all got blindsided by COVID last year. No one, except God, was expecting a virus to shut down the world. Many of us got sick, were stuck at home, lost jobs, lost money, etc. We all had rough years. And, we all have a choice.
   One quote I say to my soccer players a lot is: "when something happens you have a choice: you can let it rule you or fuel you." That is a lot like this verse. When bad things happen, we can dwell on them. We can focus on how bad our lives are. We can complain about how unfair life is. Or we can choose to press on. We can say "this situation will not beat me." We can lean into God or press into him. We can gain strength from going through a difficult situation with the Lord by our side.
   Think about something that has happened in your life that may have been what you consider a bad situation. Did that problem bring you closer to God or did it make you angry with the Lord? Reflection is important in life. It is good to look back and see how much you have changed and grown. However, we cannot continue to be content to just sit by and stay stagnant in our growth. Verse 13 in Philippians 3 says "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." If we dwell on the past, we will not be focused on our goal. It is just like in a race. You can look back for a bit but if you continue to look back you will trip and fall. That's why Paul tells us to press on toward the prize. If we keep our eyes fixed on our goal or heaven, then we will make a difference for the kingdom. We will grow in God. We will, eventually, finish the race and truly abide with Jesus, our savior.
   So, are you focused too much on the past that you are hindering your future? How can you grow in God today? Are you focused on pressing on toward our heavenly goal?

Image from here.

Facing Failure

   I am a failure. Do not misunderstand that sentence. I am not in a low place right now, but I was. For a long period of time I felt like an idiot, misunderstood, not needed, and just not good enough. Have you ever felt that way?

   The funny thing was, before I failed, things were going fantastic (I love that word; people just don’t use it enough). I had gotten a job that I was a great fit for, I had just had a relaxing summer, and I felt God was with me. Then it all came down in an instant.

   Sometimes when we fail it is of our own doing. Other times we fail and it’s just because of circumstances outside our control. Either way you fail it is not fun (unless you are into feeling like a ton of bricks conked you over the head, but most people aren’t that I know of). Now, if you’ve ever failed and I am sure you have, then you know it’s not easy to get over. It’s especially hard when it’s not your fault or not part of your plan. If this is how you are feeling I have good news, you’re not the only one that this has happened to.

   In Joshua 6 we hear about the story of how Joshua defeated the city of Jericho. They defeated Jericho in a really unconventional way, and it was a great victory. After the battle Joshua and the Israelites were to destroy everything in the city, except for Rahab and her family. That is exactly what the Israelites did, or so they thought.

   Joshua sent men to another city called Ai (Joshua 7). They said to send 3,000 men to defeat the city. Those 3,000 men came back defeated. The Israelites had just defeated this huge city of Jericho and they could not beat this small city? Joshua and the elders were crushed and they cried out to God because their reputation as a nation/army was ruined. God told them the reason they were defeated was because someone took something from Jericho and did not destroy it. Long story short they find out who took all the plunder and kill him. Then God tells Joshua to go to Ai again and they crush Ai.

   Joshua was on top of the world, then brought to the deepest valley, and then brought up the hill again. It wasn’t Joshua’s fault someone disobeyed God, yet he paid the price because he was the leader. He failed, but he did not wallow in grief. Joshua cried out to God, obeyed God’s instruction, and made a huge comeback.

   When we fail we can choose to wallow in grief because something bad happened to us; or we can get up and trust in God. Joshua chose to seek God for instruction because he knew God would never leave him. God won’t leave you either.

   So, when you fail will you wallow or walk with God? What can you do to further you’re your walk with God so when hard times come you are ready?

   Joshua 6-7, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Philippians 4:4-7

   Image from here.

Eyes Fixed in the Storm

   Have you ever read the Bible and couldn't believe that one of the people would do something so silly or dumb? I think, at times, we are all tempted to do that.
   In Matthew 14:22-33 we read the story about Jesus walking on water. The disciples saw him and thought he was a ghost. When Peter found out it was Jesus, Peter asked Jesus to tell him to come to him. Peter got out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus. Then Peter looked around and saw the storm. When he took his eyes off of Jesus he started to sink. Jesus saved Peter from the storm.  Then they went into the boat and the storm stopped.
   Now, if you were in Peter's position what would you have done? Would you have had the courage to ask Jesus to tell you to come to him? Let's say that you did do that, would you have been able to keep your eyes on Jesus?
   If you are saying yes, I am going to play Devil's advocate here. Have you ever had a time where you felt everything was crashing down in your life and you had no hope? Have you ever had an idol in some way, shape, or form? Have you ever sinned? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you are just like Peter. You may have been able to keep your eyes on Jesus for a little but then some storm came and you took your eyes off of him.
   You may be saying, "how is it possible to keep your eyes on Jesus all the time?" The answer is its not possible; at least, not by our own strength. If you noticed in the story of Peter and Jesus Peter fell into the water but at the same time he did something else. He called out to Jesus to help him. Peter could've kept his mouth closed and tried to stay afloat on his own, but he didn't. He knew he couldn't do it on his own. If he wouldn't have called out for help he may have drowned.
   See, God is a good father. He wants us to learn lessons and grow but he also wants to help us do that. We have freewill. We can choose to ask God for help or we can try to do it on our own. If we do it on our own, we will probably drown in the storms of life. God wants to walk with us and help us but we have to be willing to walk with him.
   So, will you be like Peter and ask for help from God when you need it? Will you choose to walk with God through the storms of life? 

   Image from here. 

Giving Up Power

   When I was just beginning college I helped with my high school soccer team. I knew many of the girls there. There were a few girls there who used to have a hold on me. There was a lot of drama in high school soccer. A few of the girls on the team thought they were so good. They also used to talk about people behind their backs.

   When I went back to help with my high school team when I was in college, I realized how crazy it was that I let these girls have power over me. These girls couldn't control my actions or my thoughts. They could try but I am the only one who controls me. In trying to please these girls I let go of some of my power. In trying to prove these girls wrong I let go of some of my power.

   Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I was feeling inferior to these girls because they were popular in high school. But, in the end, high school isn't life. In the end these girls wouldn't have power. They would have to work their way back up the food chain.

   When I was helping my high school team in college it opened my eyes. Rather than being self-confident I needed to be God-confident. Yes, I was different in high school, many people were. In college I realized that God made me and loves me no matter what. It didn't matter what these other girls thought about me. When I helped, they had no power over me. That's because I gave God the power, because he technically already has it whether we realize it or not.

   So, is there anyone who has a hold on you who shouldn't? Do you have self-confidence or God confidence? What can you do to gain more God confidence today?

   Proverbs 14:26 and 2 Timothy 1:7

   Image from here.

You Can't Touch This

   One of the things I do with my students is what teachers call brain breaks. Students have a tendency to have issues focusing for long periods of time. Or, they just may need to get some energy out. Thus, we will do some simple dancing for them to get their wiggles out so they can focus again. One of the songs they dance to is "You Can't Touch This." It's a clean version of the song.
   This song brought out a game the kids like to play. It's kind of like tag but the game is always going on. When someone comes up and tries to take their toy or do something mean they say "you can't touch this." It makes me laugh and think about what would happen if we would do this in real life.
   If we have a problem and it makes us stressed, sad, or frustrated we could say to those emotions "you can't touch this." Why could we say this? We can say this for a few reasons. We can say this because we have control of our emotions. We may not be able to control what happens to us but we can control how we react to the problems. We can also say that because no matter what happens to us on earth Jesus has already won.
   John 16:33 says: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." We will have trouble on this earth. But, this earth isn't the end. No matter what happens to us Jesus is with us. Jesus died so that we could have a relationship with him. He also died so that we could be with him forever. That's amazing to think about. And, that's why, when we have problems on this earth, we can say "you can't touch this. Jesus has got my back."
   So, will you trust in God when problems arise? 

Image from here.

God's at Work

   Many of you know I am a preschool teacher. Thus, I work with many different children who come from many different places. One child came to my classroom who was a 5 year old who had never been in childcare before. My co-teacher and I quickly realized that she was used to getting what she wanted.
   For example: one time the children were on their beds after lunch. During this time the children are being called to use the bathroom and working on independent work on their beds. Well, during lunch this child was playing with her food (we could also tell that she was sleepy). My co-teacher and I decided that she would not be allowed to have independent work until she could sit quietly on her bed. When it finally registered with her that she was not allowed to have the toy she wanted she began to cry, scream, and kick her bed.
   Now, for those of you who have not worked with children this age, this is not typical reoccurring behavior for a 5 year old. Yes, children would have temper tantrums every once in a while but this one was the third one that day. My co-teacher went over to the child and told her that she seemed tired and that maybe she should go to sleep. If you guessed that didn't get her to calm down you are right.
   Why was this child crying so hard? She was crying and having a temper tantrum because she wanted what she wanted when she wanted it. In her mind, she should get the toy to play with because she wanted it. She wasn't thinking about the fact that she wasn't using good manners at lunch. She wasn't thinking about the fact that she was tired. She wasn't thinking about the fact that her teachers were trying to prepare her for life; because in life you don't usually get what you want if you throw a temper tantrum.
   Okay, so at this point you may be wondering why I am telling you this. Again, I have a point; and that point isn't how you should care for your kids. My point is that sometimes we act like this child. We may not cry, scream, and kick but we do pout and complain. When something bad happens in your life what do you usually do? Normally, if you are a Christian, you ask God to take the problem away. When you really want something to happen what do you usually do? If you are a Christian, you usually ask God to give it to you.
   When we ask God for something we may get a few different answers: no, yes, or wait. And, there is one outlier that we sometimes get: yes, but not in the way you expect. God is a good Father. He loves us and gives us what we need and not always what we want. However, sometimes we forget this fact and act like this child. We complain about how hard our lives are. We pout when things don't happen the way we expected.
   What happens in these hard times or when we want something is that we forget something very important. We forget that God is a good Father. We forget that God loves us and cares for us. We forget that we are called to be joyful in all circumstances. We forget that God is at work even if it doesn't seem like it. God works all things together for our good. At times, we may wonder what he is doing but we need to have confidence in him and trust in him. We need to remember that in good times and bad times God is at work.
   So, what do you do when things are not going the way you expected? Will you trust that God has a plan for your life? I encourage you to thank God each day for the blessings he has given you and for him loving you.

   Image from here.

Do the Next Right Thing: Frozen 2

   The final song in Frozen 2 is actually what I call the sad song. It's a good song and it is actually very profound. However, it is very melancholy. Anna sings it when she has lost basically everything and everyone she loves. She isn't sure what she should do next.
   The end of the song says this:
   "So I'll walk through this night, Stumbling blindly toward the light, And do the next right thing, And with the dawn, what comes then? When it's clear that everything will never be the same again, Then I'll make the choice, To hear that voice, And do the next right thing"
   Anna is walking through the darkness of loss. But she knows she must go on. She must go toward the light. She must do the next right thing no matter how hard it is.
   Romans 8:18 is a good reminder for those feeling like Anna in this song: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." We are going to suffer while we are on earth. Things are going to be hard and we will lose things and people. That happens because sin is in the world. We will hurt and have problems because of that. It is what we do with those problems that matters.
   When bad things happen we can choose to wallow in grief. We can choose to fall away from God. Or, we can choose to walk with God. We can choose to do the next right thing. If someone hurts you by causing you to lose your job will you try to get revenge; or will you forgive and trust in God's plan. If your significant other leaves you will you get angry at them and maybe give up on life; or will you forgive and trust in God's plan? Forgiveness, trust, and doing the right thing isn't always easy; but it's always the right thing to do.
   So, when hard times come what will you do? Will you wallow in pain and try to get revenge; or will you follow God?

Image from here.

Murphy's Law

   This year in 2020 has been an interesting one. Many people thought 2020 would be a great year. They had goals for 2020. They may have wanted to have a certain amount of churches open by that time. Maybe they wanted to be in a certain job or position. No matter what you were hoping for in 2020, with everything that has gone on, I'm sure it hasn't gone the way you were expecting or planning.

   I know 2020 hasn't gone the way I was expecting. I've semi acquainted this year with the year of Murphy's law for myself (anything that can go wrong will go wrong). I have gotten the flu, gotten strep, lost the ability to coach a Jr. High team and a collegiate team team in the spring, had to learn how to do zoom meetings with students, had to learn how to do looms to present things, been quarantined for 3 months, and had to roll with many changes to my workplace to name a few things. I'm sure you have faced some of the same challenges and probably many others. It seems like 2020 has taken a lot from us. It's taken our health, freedom, loved ones, security, jobs, and much more. Many people probably wonder: where is God in all of this? Why would God allow this to happen?
   It's easy to focus on all the negative things that have happened this year. But, what about the good things that have happened? Look back at this year thus far. I challenge you to really think about positive things that have happened this year. For myself I got closer with my co-workers, got to spend time with my family, was able to create many different activities for students, got to relax, spent more time with God, was able to paint and write, was able to support my family in a time of need, and much more. It's funny how quarantine and the different things that have happened this year have actually helped me slow down and build better relationships with those around me. It's also reminded me that even though "normal" life may be hard at times we should be thankful for what we have. We should be thankful because we never know when those things may be taken away. We should be thankful because when those things happen we have someone to lean on. God promises us that he will never leave us or forsake us.
   So, even though 2020 may seem like Murphy's law thus far, will you choose to look for the positive? Will you trust in God and his plan?
Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:8

Image from here.

Bear Hunts in Life

   Since I am an elementary school teacher, I get to hear many, many children songs. One of the newest songs that all the children are obsessed with is Baby Shark. However, they also enjoy classics like We're Going on a Bear Hunt.
   In the Bear Hunt song it talks about finding different obstacles, like a river. They can't go under it. They can't go around it. They'll just have to go through it. Then they get to the next obstacle and the same thing happens. Each time you have to go through the obstacle.
   It occurred to me the other day as I was singing this song that it is a lot like life. Many times when we have problems that show our weaknesses we don't want to walk through them. We may try to get around them or sneak under them. We may even ask God to take the burden of the problem from us.
   Problems are hard for everyone. Even Paul had problems as we find out in 2 Corinthians 7-8 "I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." He asked God to take away this problem. We don't know what the problem was but it was bad enough that Paul wanted to be rid of it. He wanted to go around it, under it, or have it taken away.
   Instead of taking away the problem, God told Paul: "My grace is sufficient enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor.12.9). God told Paul that he was having this problem for a reason. If Christians never had any problems a few things would happen. 1 We would seem holier than thou. We would not be able to relate to others. 2 We would not grow in God. When we have problems we lean on God because we realize we cannot do it on our own. 3 We would not be fulfilling our purpose on earth, which is to spread the Gospel. If we were not to spread the Gospel then God would have taken us away as soon as we accepted him. We are here because he wants us to be a part of his story.
   Now, Paul could've whined and complained. "God I thought you do all things for my good. This isn't good, this is a big problem. I don't want this problem take it away from me." But, instead, Paul says "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor.12.9-10). This seems counterintuitive but it's not in our faith. Our job is to spread the Gospel. Many times I have been able to help encourage others with stories of my problems. I would never have been able to do that if I didn't have problems.
   One other thing we must remember is God walks with us in these problems of life. He walks with us when we go through the problem of the river. He is also patient with us if we choose to try to go around the river instead (think of Jonah). That's what I call a great Father. Always there for us,  always working things together for our good, always patient, always loving, and always there to pick us up if we fall down. We just have to choose to see him there beside us as we go on our Bear Hunt in life.
   So, what problems are you going through right now? Can you see that God is with you while you are going through these problems? How can you encourage someone who is going through a problem today?

   Image from here.