I will love you forever! I probably already do though!
You can find these at www.lids.com
OR click on the pictures above!
Ok thanks! See you 'round Christmas time!
.....But for real!
Any of these will do!
I will love you forever! I probably already do though! You can find these at www.lids.com OR click on the pictures above! Ok thanks! See you 'round Christmas time! .....But for real!
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So often we choose to live a life that isn't very exciting.
We choose to live a boring, momentless life. We choose to sit back and let life just go by. We choose to relax and let other people live their lives, and we complain about ours... So often we choose to miss opportunities that are right in front of us. Life will pass you by. Your moments will soon be the moments of others. Moments are more often received when we commune outside our bubbles. We choose to live in our tidy, little, christian bubbles--- Jesus never called us to that! Your daily life calls you to make moments and live life. Stop settling. Stop being satisfied. We settle for a life that is less of a life than God has for us! Do something for someone. Do something you've always wanted to do. Make someone else's day. Don't wait for something to happen--make it happen. Start that one thing you've been putting off. Give up your time, money and talents to bless someone else! Be creative. Enjoy this life you've been given. Live life and stop letting it live you! It's better that way! Let me hear your thoughts! What ya thinking? Something that always bugs me and even frustrates me sometimes is when someone tells me or someone else around me, “God will never give you more than you can handle.”
I want to scream...“Yes he will!!!” “What? God will give you more than you can handle?” Of course he will. If we could handle everything, why would we need God? What good would God be to us if we could handle every problem that comes our way? He definitely will give us more than we can handle in order to display his power through us. In 2 Chronicles 19, The armies of many nations began to attack Judah and Jerusalem and King Jehosephat. It says in verse 3 that King Jehosephat was “terrified by the news, and begged the Lord for guidance.” He began to pray and fast. These are King Jehosephat’s words in verse 12, “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do but we are looking to you for help.” And then it says that King Jehosephat went to his middle-aged friend and they told him, (in a very southern accent) “Now Joey, God will never give you more than you can handle. You got this!” And Kind Jehosephat went out and killed the army on his own...... NO!!!! That’s not what happened! King Jeshosephat begged God for guidance and wisdom and his power. Because Jehosephat knew he was powerless. He knew he needed God! The story goes on to say that God told King Jehosephat’s army that the battle was not theirs but his. He said that “you will not even need to fight. Take your positions then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you...do not be afraid...” They obeyed and God blessed. He intervened, whooped tail and took names. The armies started attacking each other and ended up killing everyone from all the armies. King Jehosephat and his army went out and plundered everything. They were blessed with equipment, clothing and other valuables...more than they could carry. That place is still, to this day, called the Valley of Blessing, because they had a leader who refused to believe he could handle things on his own. He trusted God and knew he was powerless without him. And he obeyed and watched the power and the blessing of God. What are you trying to handle on your own today? Has someone recently told you that “God won’t give you more than you can handle” in a time where the enemy is attacking? 2 Chron.19:15b “...for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Surrender your power and trust he has everything under control! He will display his power through you! "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." --Col. 1:17 I read this verse this morning. It always brings me back to a Louie Giglio sermon about Laminin. I know you've probably heard this before-- BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T... Take a seat, you gotta hear this! Louie Giglio was talking to this scientist/doctor/whatever guy. He was telling him what he was going to preach on next. He told this scientist/doctor/whatever guy that he was going to preach on the glory of God and science and how God created us, humans, so intricately and complex. The scientist/doctor/whatever guy was like "cool, cool, cool" (in the zombie voice from that Sprint commercial) So the guy asks Louie..."Ok so what's your left hook? What's your 'bring it home' finish?" Louie says that he doesn't really have a finishing left hook yet. The scientist guys about falls over... He says "Louie! Your left hook is Laminin!!" Dumbfounded. "It's a cell adhesive molecule. A protein molecule? You know about proteins?" uhhhhhhh...... Basically, laminin is the rebar of the body! (Now that's speaking my language) Rebar is the steel that they put into the concrete when building foundations of buildings. Buildings are nothing with rebar! Laminin-the cell adhesive protein molecule that holds everything from our skin, our bones, our membranes...everything together! Laminin is the gorilla glue of the human body! So the scientist guy tells Louie to go home and look it up on his computer. Go to google images and look it up. Louie agrees. This is what he finds... How incredible is that? The ONE thing that holds everything together in our bodies...is in the perfect figure of the cross. The rebar that sustains and adheres everything in the human body---Laminin. "...in Him all things hold together." How can we say there is no God? His creation blows my mind. But yeah...it's just by coincidence that the one thing that holds everything together in our intricate and complex bodies is in the perfect figure of the cross. I beg to differ. My God holds it all together! Everything holds together in Jesus Christ and the hope of the cross! We had planned this night for a couple days now.
We were going to get home from work, have dinner (soup and chicken quesadillas) and just hang out... at home. We don't get to do that too much, so we really enjoy it when we can. Cass had already made dinner, got into her sweatshirt and sweatpants, and dinner was on the table when I came in from doing a couple things outside. I get a phone call from my dad. He had shot a deer. Well that's great news. Bad news is, he's gonna have a hard time cleaning it and pulling it out of the woods. My dad about a year ago had hip replacement surgery and is scheduled to have it again in January. My dad also lives about 30 minutes away. And this is how you know you have a fun marriage.... When your wife packs up the chicken quesadillas, pours the hot soup in a cool, old school thermos, blows out the candles, cuts the fire off (gas logs...haha), grabs some hot chocolate and says "let's go." That's it. Taking life as it comes. Making moments with what is given to you. You have to make the best with where you are and what you are given! We had the whole night planned, but life happened and instead of letting life live us--we lived life. It was a fun night. My dad and I cleaned the deer, drug it out of the woods, loaded it in the truck and took it to get processed. We came back to the house and had hot chocolate that my barista wife made, (no really! she is a barista---Coyote Coffee) and had some popcorn! Sounds simple and maybe not that much fun-- But life is often times lived in the simple, seemingly insignificant times. Live life. Don't let it live you! Make memories! Enjoy it! Don't let little things get you down--don't let little things ruin well laid plans. Roll with it! Understanding will never bring you peace.
If anything, it will make your mind more chaotic. That is why God has instructed us to trust in him, not in your own understanding. (Prov. 3: 5-6) You might be thinking today... "If I knew what I should do..." "If I knew what decision to make..." "If God would just reveal to me..." "Why did God let this happen..." "If I just knew..." Whatever the situation you're in today where you might be tempted to want clarity... Clarity isn't always the best option. Trust is. Trust is the best option. Peace is inherent in his presence. Look to him-- He has our best in mind and MY GOD takes care of his own. I don't know... Maybe someone needed to hear that today. 20 seconds of insane courage. In the movie, "We Bought A Zoo"-- in the midst of drastic transition and family struggles, this is the conversation a dad was having with his son. God has instilled in me and I know in a lot of you,
a sense of adventure. He placed a wild heart in me that sometimes produces epic moments but that sometimes can get me in trouble. So many things in our lives take courage. Some insane, "what are you thinking" type courage. But when we are willing to step out on a limb and tap into that God-given courage, GREAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN! Some of that insane courage happens in our daily lives, some of it happens in potentially great, everyone watching moments. No matter the venue or setting, God calls us to "be courageous." I challenge and encourage you, to tap into that God-given courage in you and step out and do something that God has been or is calling you to. Find that 20 seconds of courage! Have a blessed "Nappy" day!
Love yall! WE ARE SO BLESSED. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am. I have a wife and a family that loves me. I have clothes to wear; Shoes on my feet. I had breakfast this morning-I'll have food at lunch-And I'll have dinner tonight. I have a house and a truck. I have a job. I have a cup of coffee on my way to work. I have a coat and extra socks when it gets cold. And a fire place at home. I have luxuries such as a TV, a computer and a iPhone. Why me? Why was I blessed with this? No I don't have everything or all the comforts of life but I have more than I need. I can never become ok with having these things. And I can never become desensitized to those who don't have these things. It's not ok that I can be warm, full and comfortable when I know people just across the street from me are cold, hungry and miserable. If we thought about others half the time we think about ourselves, this world would be a totally different place. Never become ok with the way things are. Stay uncomfortable. Don't become desensitized by the world around you. We have to start seeing people for who they are not where they are. How can you help someone around you? Think about it. I'd love to hear from you. This time of year is really hard for some folks. Some don't have family to spend the holidays with. Some don't have tables full of food to share with others. Some don't have a warm house when its 20 degrees outside; Or an extra coat or warm pair of socks. How will you help? Start something. Do something. Stop sitting in your comfortable life with blinders on. That music that puts those bad thoughts in your head.....Satan in disguise
That guy or girl being super flirtatious trying to get you to do things.....Satan in disguise That little lie you think won't do any harm.....Satan in disguise That extra drink that you know might put you over the edge.....Satan in disguise That one little compromise that no one might see.....Satan in disguise That morning you really don't feel like going to church.....Satan in disguise You just don't feel like reading your Bible.....Satan in disguise Going to that website you know is wrong--"just one more time won't hurt anything".....Satan in disguise Going back for seconds even though you're full.....Satan in disguise That double take at that guy or girl.....Satan in disguise "I'll just take this one picture of me that shows my cleavage...".....Satan in disguise That one pic of you holding up your shirt to show everyone your 'abs'.....Satan in disguise Fishing for that one compliment that will 'make your day'.....Satan in disguise "Did you see what she was wearing today...OMG she is so ugly".....Satan in disguise That text message to that guy or girl that seems real sexual.....Satan in disguise It might look good. It might seem ok. It might seem harmless. It might seem insignificant. But sin doesn't just stay small and seemingly insignificant. It grows. And grows. And grows. And before you know it, it has taken over your life and you can't get it under control. It all starts with something small... Bait is made to look so good that you overlook the trap. Whether you are scratched or scarred, you will always get hurt giving into temptation. Stay faithful. Stay Grateful. Live life and stop letting it live you. It's so much better that way! In honor of Veterans Day.
These 4 prints are for sale for $7 this week. If you are interested, hit me up! OR if you have requests, I will be taking requests all week! Enjoy your freedoms today! Harry Love Dunlap (Navy) John William Pace (Air Force) Robbie Harrison (Army) Mac Gravley (Marines) Carroll Gravley (Air Force) Brantley Lockhart (Army National Guard)-currently serving in Afghanistan John Goss (Air Force)-scheduled to be deployed in January. Jim Wacha (Army National Guard) Cody Wacha (Army) These men are my family who have served in the military. I might have forgotten or not known some down the line. But I want to thank each and every one of you. And many other friends and family friends who serve-Thank you! Thank you to all! This video gets me every time. Take some time today and for the days to come to thank those in your life who serve in the military. Family is everything. Freedom means the world. Live thankful.
Live Grateful. Love your family! Life is better that way! A guy that I follow, Carlos Whittaker posted this in his blog today. (Here is a link to his blog http://ragamuffinsoul.com/2013/11/mushyspeaks/) This is the most important, most influential, most life changing, thing you will see today. Enjoy! And be inspired. I heard a saying one time...
"Two things define you; your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything." I've learned the true essence of that these past couple years-- Well, the first half of it rather than the latter half. When Cassie lost her job and I was working two very under paying jobs, I guess close to two years ago, we had two choices: 1. Full fledge freak out 2. Figure out how to live We've had to give up A LOT of things. We've had to sell a lot of things. We've had to do away with a lot of comforts. We've had to be patient with a lot of things. But... in the end, we never needed those things anyways. God will take care of his own. No matter what. We were always taken care of. We are never in need. It's crazy how much we think we need, yet when stripped away, we figure out what we truly need, and decipher that from the things we want. I never want to have everything. Whatever that means. I never want to have a lot of money or a big house that people are scared to drop food on the floor in. And I never want to have so many clothes that I could clothe the whole state of South Carolina. Or have wall to wall food in my pantry, when others in my county are going hungry. When you sit down and think about things... things will not make you happy, stuff will not make you happy, new clothes, new cars, new furniture, new iPhones, etc... will not make you happy. Be patient. Live thankful. Live grateful. Love life. Live life. Enjoy it. Make memories in your daily life. I just wanted to vent a little this morning.
Maybe a couple soap box messages. Just a simple list of things that have been on my mind and heart lately. My mind works in bullet points. Simple sentences. I hope yours does too. Here we go. -Are our beliefs matching our lifestyles? I said 'our' not 'your'. -Do we enjoy our comforts more than we enjoy Jesus? -People are praying for the things we are taking for grated today. (Let that sink in a bit) -I'd rather forget and not slow down, than to gather regret for the things I can change now. -Hunger and Poverty is a huge issue that the church needs to address. Apparently our government and our nation doesn't want to do much to combat it. Check out my blog about this issue...http://climbingthroughtheaftermath.weebly.com/2/post/2013/10/the-statistics-are-staggeringplease-read.html -Long before there were pews and pulpits, there were dinner tables and chairs. Your house is an open door for those who won't darken the doors of a church. -God created mornings for our eyes to be open and nights for our eyes to be closed. -Having a beer is not a sin (Maybe you eating 10 pieces of fried chicken a week is.) -We were created for a simpler life than we are living. Physically and spiritually! Jesus. Not religion. Not church. Not small groups. Not a building. Just Jesus. (Those things are necessarily bad, but when the focus isn't on Jesus himself-Things can get more focus than deserved) -Creativity is a gift from God. Use it. -Bait is made to look so good that you overlook the trap. Whether scratched or scarred you will always get hurt giving into temptation. Stay faithful. Stay grateful. -Fewer selfies! Could be a deeper issue of self confidence and selfishness. Fewer selfless-More other peoples! -I can't wait for Church Clothes II to come out. Nov. 5th! -I enjoy my wife! She's awesome! -"Local Heart." A project that I will be introducing very soon. Be on the lookout! If you want to know more about it, holla at me! But for real! |
AuthorFollower of Jesus. Husband to Cassie. Volunteer Coordinator at 5 Point Church. Adventurer. Speaker. Angler. Athlete. Artist. Lover of coffee, mountains, beer, duck hunting, pit bulls, flat bills, graffiti, water and the outdoors! Archives
October 2015
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