Archive for the ‘Inspirational’ Category

Grace 101

Posted: September 21, 2013 in Inspirational
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
1
12866

As I have gotten older, I have come to like Grace a whole lot. I like to hear the word, I like to see it carried out, but most of all I like to receive it. Usually, when I receive grace it is because I need grace. If I forget to do something on time and I find out I have been extended more time…I like that wonderful feeling of relief…of grace…

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… 2 Corinthians 12:9

I have read these verses many times before but I think right now maybe some of you may need a simple refresh…The verse above are Christ’s words to the Apostle Paul as he wrestled with his “thorn in the flesh” which many scholars believe was poor eyesight. Even though Paul pleaded with God 3 separate times to remove this “thorn” from him, God chose NOT to do so…which is when we see Paul make reference to the verse above…why would God choose to NOT answer Paul’s prayer?

GOD WANTED PAUL TO TRUST HIM…

The “weakness” referred to here are the low points or the difficult times we experience along the paths of our collective lives. I know this isn’t a surprise to you but accepting Christ into your life doesn’t negate hardships…in fact, I believe we are presented with more challenges or “grace opportunities” as Christians simply because God wants us to learn to trust Him during the times we need Him the most. I don’t know about you, but I have a tough time with trusting. How do you handle adversity when it’s thrown your way? If you are like me, I am one of those people who have written about and believe that it is our Lords desire is to surround himself in heaven with people who understand and practice God’s power being made perfect in weakness (see verse above). In other words I believe that in eternity, God wants to hang out with the people who stood toe to toe against Satan during life’s battle and said, “Is that the best you can do?”…

And frankly, I have to admit, so do I…

But back to the beginning; if you recall, the first part of our verse talks about Gods grace being sufficient; sometimes I have struggled to understand what grace really means to me? Is it a “get out of jail free card?” or is it simply just a friend helping me get back up when I fall? Then I read recently an easier way to think of grace. Grace is simply the “presence of God” in our lives. So think of it this way, substitute the phrase “presence of God” for the word “grace” from now on and you will see what I mean. Grace is God’s physical strength from Heaven given to you, and to me, when we call on Him. I like that a lot. When I call on God you can bet I am wrestling with something and need His help. Isn’t it encouraging to understand and recognize that in our weakest points ever, God’s strength is made perfect in us? He is there! We are NOT alone…you are NOT alone. His grace, or His presence, is there to see us through our personal difficult path (whatever that is for you).

Brothers, I hope you can be encouraged by these words but even more important, consider extending some grace in someone’s direction that maybe needs it more than you do…

Until next time guys…

Breakfast for Dinner…

Posted: August 17, 2013 in Inspirational, Just for Fun
Tags: , , , ,
0

I came across this very simple story recently and couldn’t help but think how this could apply to all of us men out there…we all can agree…sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want it to and our reaction may be the key to how the ones we care about think about us…

I have no idea who wrote this and would love to give the credit to who did but we can all still enjoy it just the same…

And so the story goes…

483269_4537104829000_1468935906_nWhen I was a kid, my Mom liked to make “breakfast for dinner” every now and then and we were ok with that for us. I remember one night in particular though when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my Dad and I remember waiting to see if anyone would notice.

Instead of reacting, my Dad simply reached for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit and he ate every bit of that thing…never making a face or uttering a word.

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my Father for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said, “Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.”

Later that night, I went to hug my Dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. I remember him wrapping me in his arms and saying, “Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she’s very tired, and besides…a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone”…

As I’ve grown older, I’ve often thought about that night because I have found that life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I’m not the best at many things; I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else but what I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept one another’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and long-lasting relationship…or family.

That is my prayer for you today…that you will learn to look at life differently by taking the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and laying them at the feet of God. Because frankly, in the end, Jesus is the only one who can give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal-breaker…

“Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket – keep it in your own.”
So, please pass me a biscuit, and yeah, the burned one will be just fine.

Until next time guys…

When will YOU decide to become disciples?

Posted: July 24, 2013 in Heaven Bound, Inspirational
Tags: , , , , , , ,
2

993638_698774176803550_1674023202_n (1)Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured left) transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service….only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food….NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation……..”We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek”….The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation…..

The homeless man sitting in the back stood up…..and started walking down the aisle…..the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him….he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment….then he recited…

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning…many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame…. he then said….

Today I see a gathering of people……not a church of Jesus Christ.

The world has enough people, but not enough disciples…when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week…….

Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It’s something you live by and share with others.

Until next time guys…

Adding some Guardrails in your Life…

Posted: July 20, 2013 in Husband, Inspirational
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

guardrail2

Have you ever listened to a podcast? I discovered podcasts a few months ago when I needed something different to listen to when I was working out. In the process of trying to find a podcast that actually might challenge me, I ran across Andy Stanley from North Point Community Church in Atlanta. After listening to him for a few days, he quickly has become one of my favorite pastors and one of the main reasons are the topics he chooses. For example, recently I stumbled upon one of his series called “Guardrails in your Life” that frankly has changed me and how I think about how close I want to live to the edge in this world.

Andy quickly established what guardrails are…Barriers that protect us from straying off into a danger zone. We see them all the time on the highway. They are strategically placed in center medians to keep us from crossing over into oncoming traffic. They are located on bridges where roads curve to keep us from losing control and falling over the edge. One critical point Andy makes is that guardrails are always located within the safe zone of the road only just a few feet from real danger. Have you ever seen a car that has hit a guardrail? The car is damaged; in some cases, severely, but the occupant is usually ok. The outside of the car takes the brunt of the collision; and there usually is always damage, but survival is the objective. Scrapes and bruises are ok if we live.

Guardrails in your life would function in the same way but the question is, do you have guard rails set up for your self to avoid you swerving over into your personal danger zone? In my own experiences with friends, I have watched them live right on the edge of the sin barrier of immorality. They literally balanced themselves with one foot on the line and the other moving back and forth from faith to folly. I believe all of us know guys who have fallen onto the wrong side when perched on this edge and as a result, lost their spouse and family.

Why is the danger zone so attractive? I will address that in another blog post but for right now lets talk about setting up a literal barrier for yourself so that when you run into it, sirens, alarms and red flags start going off inside you so you know you are close to going over…or at least in a place you shouldn’t be.

Let me give you some armor to put on to help you when you feel yourself swerving off into danger areas. Paul addresses this very issue in his letter to the church of Corinth.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Guys, I believe this is very simple to understand all you need to do is to claim it.

Paul was very clear when he said FLEE, RUN, GET OUT OF THERE…but there is more.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, YOU were purchased from sin…which means SIN no longer has a claim over you.

You have power to resist the dangers in your life.

With this power…

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO WHAT YOUR DESIRES TELL YOU TO DO.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO WHAT YOUR APPETITE TELLS YOU TO DO.

As a Christian, you are the master of your body because your body is under the authority of a greater master.

I challenge you to honor God with your bodies as Paul says, by establishing your own guard rails to help you know when you are in the danger zone

You were bought with a price which gives you power and that power is what will help you overcome the wrong desires we all feel in our lives.

Claim this for you and your family today.

Who knew that guardrails were so important?

Until next time guys…

It takes Guts to say NO…

Posted: June 30, 2013 in Heaven Bound, Inspirational, Tough Times
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0

imagesHave you ever heard the expression “if you give him and inch he will take a mile”? I know we have all heard that one once or twice before. But why does it matter? Here is why…I want to talk briefly about that first inch that you give up, that you concede, that you compromise. You see, the expression “give him an inch” indicates from the very beginning that you gave in…or you gave up…something…that you thought maybe you had to, in order to improve the situation. What you did was compromise. Now, please don’t get me wrong here. Compromise in a relationship is crucial for it to last, Am I right? We do not agree with our spouse’s or our friends all the time. Have you ever “agreed to disagree” and hopefully still maintained the relationship? Good debate is healthy and promotes independent thinking and I think is the key to long-lasting friendships however compromise in other areas of our life is what I am focusing on today.

I am reading a new book by Dr. David Jeremiah called, The Writing on the Wall, and it talks about the prophet Daniel who while captive in Babylon for 70 years, Daniel did not compromise his God ever, no matter what his circumstances, even in the face of death. His consistency is astounding and frankly a model for all of us to follow. But Dr. Jeremiah makes a point here that I want to illustrate with you which is simply that it takes guts…real guts, to say no, even with God on your side. Daniel was resolute in his defiance in Babylon and for you and I, no matter where we are in life, we do not “have to bend the rules to be blessed of God. Success is NOT dependent upon our compromise”. Everywhere a compromise is worked out in the Bible…bad things happen…

From the very beginning, we see compromises;

  • Adam, who fell right in line with Eve’s sin by compromising and eating the forbidden fruit… Well, he lost Eden.
  • Sarah’s lack of faith in God caused her to compromise and send her husband Abraham in with Hagar, who gave birth to Ishmael. As a result, life in the Middle East will never be the same.
  • We all remember Esau who compromised his birthright because he was hungry.
  • King David, who was a man after Gods own heart, compromised Gods morality by sleeping with Bathsheba and then killing her husband Uriah. He lost his son…

The list goes on and on with Solomon, Judas and Ahab. All of them compromised something significant in their lives and it cost them. To think all they would have had to do was to just say NO…I am going to stand on what my God has promised me and take whatever comes my way.

I want to finish with a story Dr. Jeremiah shares in his book about an exchange in a high school class between some students and a godless professor.

In one of his lectures he said, “will all of you who believe the myths of the Bible please stand.” Several stood.

 Then he added, “now this semester I am going to free you from this religious Bible nonsense. I have read the Bible, and it is certainly written by a bunch of mixed up men.”

 One young Daniel stood up and said, “Sir, the Bible is God’s letter to Christians, and if you are confused it’s because you are reading someone else’s mail.”

Guys, I pray that all of us can stand firm and NOT compromise in the face of this kind (or worse) of adversity against your faith or yourself. I will tell you this, this life and its “adversity” will continue to get worse and you are going to be in circumstances where you will be asked to “give an inch”. What’s an inch you say? In our case as Christians, it is truly the difference between a life spent with God in Eternity or the alternative…Hell. It is that simple

You get to make that choice…

My advice, choose Daniel…no compromise…

Until next time Guys…

It is time to take a Stand…

Posted: June 9, 2013 in Father, Husband, Inspirational
Tags: , , , , , ,
1

theBible_poster_joshua

The Ironman Strength blog has always been about being strong in God and taking on the challenges that this life sends our way and this post is no different. Guys, I sense some wavering out there…some doubt in your lives that if left alone, could cause some very serious problems for you and your family down the road. Please read this post with the same urgency that I write it and please take it to heart. I begin with a verse for warriors that I hope you will apply today…

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

This is a great verse because it is clear and to the point. When Joshua wrote this verse, he knew he was going to die. He had fought the good fight for God and now he was old but before God took him into heaven, Joshua spoke to the children of Israel and gave them two options about their spiritual future; either serve God…or don’t serve Him. They had already experienced the power of God throughout their daily journey as they moved through the promised land and continually overcame obstacles that were more than they could have ever withstood on their own…And now, here they stood on the precipice of the most important decision any of them would ever make for their future…and with Joshua gone…would they give in and serve the gods of the existing tribes around them…or…would they take a stand and serve the God who had brought them to where they were now?

What is critical to note here though is Joshua’s final opinion on the two options he gave Israel. He said, “as for me and my household, we will serve The Lord”. As was typical of the rock who Joshua was…He did not waver or falter…he spoke from his heart and it was solid.

Joshua was one of the most powerful warriors in Biblical history who served God with all he had and when the end of his life was near, he took his final stand in front of his nation and announced who he and his house would serve…

My question to you is…which option have you chosen for you and your house?

Have you taken the stand for yourself and firmly planted your feet on the solid ground before God?

I believe that now is time to“man up” in your relationship with God…It is your responsibility to shield both you and your family from the harm that Satan seeks to wreak upon the people you care about. Now is NOT a time for doubt, it is a time for clarity. Otherwise you will be like this;

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6 NIV)

Everyone has seen seaweed being tossed back and forth inside waves with no stability whatsoever. That seaweed could end up anywhere because it has broken away from its stronghold under the sea. Guys, if you doubt, that will be you being thrown around in this world like the seaweed in the waves…with nothing to hold onto…being tossed around with no idea where you will end up…

Trust me here…that is NOT God’s plan for you or your family.

Guys, I challenge you right now to be the warrior God intended you to be by taking a stand inside your house by protecting your wife and kids from what Satan seeks to do them. It starts by clinging onto our God who is a rock and a fortress and will always be there for us…

I challenge you to be like Joshua and declare to the world…

As for me and my house, we will serve The Lord…

 

Until next time guys…

 

 

Shoes in Church…

Posted: May 13, 2013 in Inspirational, Just for Fun
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

Every now and then I run across a poem/ story that really speaks to me. Some of them are kind of old-fashioned, like this one, but others are just good stories told well.  This one is an instant classic to me because it reeks of the cliché:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

All of us, at one time or another, have met someone and came to a conclusion simply based upon the way someone looked. Don’t deny it…because we ALL do this. The question is, when we find out we were wrong in our judgement, what do we do then?  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did…

 

my-old-shoes

I showered and shaved and I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat in a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer as I closed my eyes.

I saw the shoe of the man next to me touching my own and I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side I thought, ‘Why must our soles touch?’

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine. But it sure didn’t bother him much.

A prayer began: ‘Our Father’ I thought, this man with the shoes, has no pride.

They’re dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!

‘Thank You for blessings,’ the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet ‘Amen.’

I tried to focus on the prayer but my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren’t we supposed to look our best when walking through that door?

‘Well, this certainly isn’t it,’ I thought, glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended and the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud-sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters his hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear the shoe man’s voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering and what I threw in was steep.

I watched as the shoe man reached into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out what the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft ‘clink’. As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me to tears, and that’s no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man for tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service as is the custom here.

We must greet new visitors and show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow and wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark and his hair was truly a mess.

But I thanked him for coming and for being our guest.

He said, ‘my names Charlie I’m glad to meet you, my friend.’

There were tears in his eyes but he had a large wide grin.

‘Let me explain,’ he said, still wiping those tears from his eyes.

‘I’ve been coming here for months and you’re the first to say ‘Hi.”

‘I know that my appearance is not like all the rest. ‘But I really do try to always look my best.’ ‘I always polish and clean my shoes before my very long walk’.

‘But by the time I get here, they’re dirty and dusty and just like chalk.’The_old_Man_and_the_Sea

My heart filled with pain and I swallowed my tears as he continued to apologize for daring to sit so near. He said, ‘When I get here I know I must look a sight.’ ‘But I thought if I could touch you then maybe our souls might unite.’

I was silent for a moment knowing whatever was said, would pale in comparison. So I spoke from my heart and not my head.

‘Oh, you’ve touched me,’ I said ‘and taught me in part; ‘that the best of any man is what is found in his heart.’ The rest, I thought, this shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am that his dirty old shoe touched my soul. 

 

Until next time guys…

It happens in a Blink…

Posted: May 11, 2013 in Father, Husband, Inspirational
Tags: , , , , ,
0

it_happens_in_a_blink__by_jsf22x35-d3c4oejYesterday, I attended a memorial service for the wife of a former business owner/ friend of mine who recently passed on and has gone to Heaven. The service was great. I say “great” because it was NOT one of those very dull, dreary experiences where the person who passed had no hope and we will never see them again. Everyone in that service knew where this woman was…Heaven…no doubt about it. But yet at the same time, the service was incredibly sad because my friend’s wife was gone. Physically, she is no longer here anymore to participate in her life doing the she things she loved like running, riding bikes or spending time with her husband and her kids…instead, she went to Heaven and it happened in a blink.

 

This coming June 21st, my own daughter Kylie, will have been in heaven for 9 years but yet it only seems just like yesterday to me when she passed. She was a very happy 12-year-old girl who truly loved her family and her life but yet one day, God decided to take her up to Heaven and live with Him…and that too happened in a blink.

 

Now, I will be honest with you here..I am not one of those guys who believes that Kylie is up there watching over our family.  That has never been one of those things told to me that ever gave me comfort. I will also tell you that this post isn’t about wrestling with God or bitterness or anything like that….It’s about recognizing what is right in front of you and possibly losing your pride and being the man and asking for forgiveness…The people we know and care for can be gone in a blink and then what? Well, the hard truth is you must live without them for the rest of your lives…and for some of you, that may mean living with a mountain of regret. The “I should have talked to him/her sooner” conversation that should have happened…never happened…only now it is too late.

 

I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken to friends who were angry at their kids or their wives or their parents and that anger or pride caused them a broken relationship and then as I have experienced first hand, that special someone is gone in a blink and now they live with this bitter pill regret at never reaching out to them and mending that relationship…

 

Remember: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

 

Guys, if you haven’t picked up on the theme of this post…It happens in a blink…It’s because it does. The unexpected can happen before you blink and I assure you there isn’t anything you can do. One minute, all is well in your world and the next, someone YOU LOVE is gone. No matter how hard we try to hold on to someone, we can’t.

 

What I am saying is simple…don’t wait to save your relationships. Please consider taking the high road and do it now…because truly…life can change in a blink. I encourage you to please don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today…

 

Until next time guys…

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHFfrICljRo

Don’t just lay there…Get up!

Posted: May 4, 2013 in Father, Husband, Inspirational, Tough Times
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0

images-1

As I may have mentioned before, I have a second son who is 10 years old and like many of us, is learning that sometimes life isn’t easy. He is currently learning this valuable lesson through the great sport of Baseball. You see, he was drafted onto his very first Little League majors team and although he started the season with a bang, he has since fallen into one of those slumps we see major leaguers fall into now and then. This slump however, is causing him great distress. The more he tries to shake it off, the worse it gets and this past weekend…well, he just kinda hit the wall…(Anyone ever hit the wall before?…) His “hitting the wall” experience afforded me the opportunity as his father to have one of those conversations about life that I think all young men need to hear sometime as they grow up.

Now I will be honest with you…I have heard and read many of these self-help pontificator’s who put forth things like empowering yourself and “everything you need to be great exists inside you already all you need to do is find it” kind of stuff…and although there may be place for that somewhere…when you are staring into the tearing eyes of a 10-year-old boy who is trying desperately to do his best, and it’s not working…all of those empowerment ideals goes out the window.

Here is the bottom line…and it is NOT Rocket Science; Sometimes…in this life…you will get knocked down…the question is “are you going to get back up, or are you going to just lay there?” As I watched my own son, it was clear to me he had no idea where to start or what to do…and I realized right then that a lot of men in life find themselves in this same situation. We get knocked down in life…maybe at work or at home and we simply lose our direction and we truly…have no idea where to turn next. Just like my son, we have lost our confidence in ourselves and our capabilities. We forget what our strengths are both professionally and personally and this can cause paralysis from taking another step forward. As adults this can be devastating especially to a family where the father has lost his way and mom is trying to hold things together by herself.

So how does one get his confidence back? Here are my 5 steps to confidence:

  1. Get back up on your feet and take that first step forward. I assure you that confidence does NOT come while you are laying on the ground…
  1. Read Hebrews 4:16…Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. It ALL starts with God guys…He tells us to come to Him with CONFIDENCE in order that we can receive what He has for us…
  1. Spend some quality time with God. Doesn’t have to be hours…just get on your knees for a few minutes without distraction. You will be amazed…
  1. Call a buddy. Just because you are a man doesn’t mean you don’t need to talk and maybe get something off your chest. Grab a coffee and spend a minute with a good friend…
  1. Plug into a church. I know you have heard this before but it is true…God didn’t intend His people to walk through “life” alone…he intended them to do “life” as a community and that happens in a church.

 

It’s like I told my son, “I have seen you hit a baseball before and you hit well…you just need to remember that feeling”

Guys, you HAVE done some “thing’s” in your life well. Some things that should make you proud and happy of your accomplishments as a husband and father…do you remember them? You should…and you have no reason to hang your head… Remember this;

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Right now, you are running the race marked out for you…NEWS FLASH! You are going to fall down… It WILL imageshappen. That IS a part of your life…but as I mentioned before…when this happens what are you going to do then? Guys my challenge to you today is simply GET UP! Shake off the dirt and keep moving forward. God NEVER promised that our lives would be easy…He only said “He would never leave us or forsake us” which means during your darkest hour…you are not alone…

So GET UP and LOOK UP to Gods throne with confidence…

You can do this…

Until next time guys…

 

Dont Lose Your Grip…

Posted: April 21, 2013 in Husband, Inspirational, Tough Times
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
2

300px-WristStrap

I have been writing the Ironman Strength blog now for a couple of years and i have found that the blessing of this blog is the time spent preparing what to write and what to share. What I find interesting though is that all the time i work this blog, life is going on for me personally and the same issues you deal with everyday, I deal with as well. The stresses of life can and do take their toll on all of us…myself included…to the point where many times I can go back and read my own words from past blogs and the words seem foreign to me…in other words, on that day…God took me to a place in order for me to write what I wrote for that specific moment…why don’t I feel that now?

Life is just so full of ups and downs that it can wreck the best of us and especially Christians… both men and women.

So what am I saying? Well if you have read Ironman Strength in the past you know i constantly point out that life is a marathon journey we get to face and the point of this blog was our need for encouragement along the way. That reason continues to be the driving force for beginning and continuing to write this blog. However I can honestly tell you that i have been struggling to find my own way in recent days. The words and the inspiration to write, share and encourage just haven’t been there and yet I know there is a direct correlation in the time i spend with God and His subsequent blessings versus being to busy…

So for me, the writer of this blog…it is time I practiced what I always write to you and bear down and focus on the many blessings God has given me rather than dwell on negative things or just things that I think are important…Remember this:

The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile…

Psalms 94:11

I only share this with you for one reason…Satan is alive and well in this earth and he will not rest until he has destroyed you and me…

But I will not end this post with a negative but rather I want to share with you an amazing set of verses that God led me to today that I believe are exactly what the spiritual doctor ordered…they come from Psalm 91…verses 14-16:

“Because he loves me,” says The Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation”.

Guys, if that scripture doesn’t give you a dose of encouragement for the day then I don’t know what will because honestly, God does not speak any clearer than that anywhere in the Bible.

But as you read, the answer starts with your love for Him…if you love Him in your deepest heart, then He promises toimages come to your aid when you need Him the most. That is truly the secret for receiving His protective care…a heart that is intimately attached to Him in both thankfulness and affection. By the way, He knows who you are, and He hears your prayers and will fill your life with His divine presence. Obviously, this means having a relationship with Him…

This is a very simple choice that you and I must make but it will make the difference in how we approach our life, how we deal with adversity and most importantly, how much joy life will bring us.

As I have done before…and will continue to do…I encourage you to take my words to heart by asking God for forgiveness and then asking Him for His help and guidance…He will not fail you…but once you speak to Him…then you need to listen…

Stay grounded in Him…

Until next time guys…

Older Entries
Newer Entries