“Here’s a test to see if your mission in life is finished, if you’re still alive, it’s not.” – A.W. Tozer

“We’re either transforming or conforming.” – Stephanie Hilbert

There has been a song that has rung true during the current season in my life. It has served as a huge reminder to me as well as comforting my heart. The song is Running in Circles by United Pursuit. Thought I’d share the lyrics to the song, or you could listen to it here.

I’m so forgetful, but You always remind me
You’re the only one who brings me peace
You’re the only one who brings me peace

So I come, Lord I come

I come, Lord I come

To tell you I love you

To tell you I need you

To tell you there’s no better place for me than in your arms
To tell you I’m sorry
For running in circles
For placing my focus on the waves, not on your face

You’re the only one who brings me peace

You’re the only one who brings me peace

In the storm

In the storm

Yep, that pretty much sums it up for me.

I must say, church planting is hard work: leaving everything you know… giving up a nice paycheck… uprooting your little family… facing opposition from the enemy… being unemployed and trying to find a job… living completely by faith that there will be money to provide for the family… all things that have happened thus far in this amazing adventure.

When the church planting books said to ONLY plant a church if you are sure of the calling, they knew what they were talking about.

With getting back out into the “secular” job world (have been full-time in a salaried, church position for 6 years), my eyes have been opened to a lot of things. One in particular being a growing appreciation for those that work hard jobs. For many that may sound silly or obvious, but it is giving me some perspective. It’s not easy working a full-time job, having a family and setting aside time for church/ministry.

I love being a full-time ministry person. I miss it terribly. But while I was in that position, my consideration for people in the church that had regular jobs was not very gracious at times. From my experience, this attitude is common for many pastors. While their hearts and burden are to see their churches grow and thrive, often the schedules and lives of their people are not considered.

Don’t get me wrong… being a part of a local church SHOULD be priority in all of our schedules. We do not attend church just because we’re good Christians. We should have the attitude of WANTING to congregate with other believers throughout the week (not only because it is a scriptural mandate, but because we really do need each other). And the only way the Kingdom of God will be advanced on this earth is through followers of Christ dedicating time in their lives for fellowship, worship and outreach.

With that said… there still needs to be a respect and a bit of consideration given to life. This is my new appreciation and will be something that I will remember as we begin the process of planting Destiny Church.

I appreciate men and women who work their butts off to provide for their families and then faithfully attend and give to a church… and Jesus does too.

“You can only honor God as much as you honor His Word.” – Kevin Gerdon

If you can’t see the video, please click here.

The LORD has been doing a lot in my heart this week concerning fearing Him.

The story of David and Goliath always comes to mind for me whenever fearing the LORD comes up. What an amazing story of how one young man, not caring what man thought, defeated the giant with a stone.

I love the boldness of David when he declares to Goliath:

“You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies–the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head… This is the LORD’s battle, and He will give you to us!” – 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Obviously, Goliath could have easily killed him, but David seemed to care less–because he knew to whom the battle belonged. The only opinion that mattered to David was the LORD’s, and David knew He had his back.

The amazing thing is… the fear of the LORD turned a stone into a giant killer.

Maybe you feel like all you have is a stone (compared to the giant’s sword and javelin). But when you truly fear the LORD, then whatever you have to offer becomes dangerous to the kingdom of darkness… and the enemy knows this. That is why so often we look at who we are or what we have to offer and feelings of inadequacy quickly invade our hearts and minds. Yet the only opinion that matters is the LORD’s, and when He looks at us He sees giant killers.

Go ahead pick up the stone… I just picked one up. Let’s kill some giants.

“With all temporal suffering, the operative word is temporal.” – @rbohlender