“Three Arrows”…

SCRIPTURE: “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

OBSERVATION: Rebellion and Redemption. That is what Zephaniah’s letter reads. Jerusalem is likened to wicked wolves who seek to devour the innocent from morning until night. Heaven watches, waits and warns. Giving every opportunity for hearts to turn, humble themselves and course correct.

How is Zephaniah’s letter reading you today?

APPLICATION: Last week, I took my Son & Daughter to the Elevation Worship Concert here in Seattle.  It was a fun time hanging out together. I’ve been purposeful over years to book worship nights like this with my kids so we can share experiences together, giving us shared memories of when Heaven changes the atmosphere. Sometimes, bringing a personal message to our hearts. Priceless…

I’ve led my family to worship experiences like Kari Jobe, Bethel Music, Hillsong Worship and more. Elevation did not disappoint! Yes, it was a concert and they killed it as live performers. But it was much more than that. The presence of God was tangible.  Hearts responded, including my own family.

As a Dad, I’ve led my kids through 22 years of following Jesus together.
I’m blessed with Three Arrows of Legacy in my quiver; 22, 20 & 16.
Life is Good! (Psalm 127:4)

And yet, this side of Heaven, life isn’t good all the time. Six years ago, began a new chapter of following Jesus Off the Map together in faith. Life had thrown us a Suddenly that changed everything… and yet, Jesus never changed. His heart for us and Heaven’s ability to reach down and bring beauty from ashes is showcased within my family. Grateful.

Out of all of these concerts, this last one was the most rewarding for me. Why? Well, even though I have kept a freedom within to worship freely in public settings.. my kids have not. They shut down pretty hard for a while. I don’t blame them.

So, during the concert I was lost in my own moment honoring my King for what He has done in and through my life up to this point… and to my surprise, when I opened my eyes, I saw what completely cracked my heart open on a different level.

My daughter was standing beside me with both hands raised, singing with all her heart, eyes wide open and tears streaming down both cheeks in a heart cry, declaring her absolute surrender and identity as a Daughter of the King of Kings… Jesus Christ.

This wasn’t a soft, weak nor meek stance. My daughter chose to make a stand as a young woman, who has been through more than most at her age, who trusts Jesus to make it all count for the Kingdom. My little girl, in a blink of an eye, had transformed into a formidable weapon of righteousness. I was awestruck by who my daughter has become.

She knows who she is. She is a Girl. An instrument of God’s Love and Purity. Jesus gave me this word for her before she was born. In fact, before the doctor told us she would be a girl, her Heavenly Father shared exactly who she was created to be. This is why I named her “Kaitlyn”… which means “Purity”. Have I mentioned how much I love my daughter? Hehe, just sayin’ 🙂

We never talked about that moment… don’t need to. I know exactly what was going on. Jesus was being honored. The Heavenly Father was declaring my daughter’s identity over her. And the Holy Spirit was confirming all of this by the manifest presence being experienced in that moment. She was simply responding to how good God is. Specifically to how good God has been writing her own life story.

My daughter has a song and a story!

So, this morning… sitting in yet another PNW coffee shop, I’m writing what’s on my heart and taking inventory from where I’ve come so I may stay the course for my future. Such gratefulness for how Jesus has led us through those Suddenlies to this side of the promise. But the journey is not over yet…

Many have come and gone in my life over the past 6 years because of my story and even those closest to me seem to not stay. Paths converge for a time, but when they hear chapters of my life story, most don’t know how to handle it and predictably make a course correction putting distance between us. Although sad to experience, I understand and don’t blame them. I still choose to run my race and follow Jesus Off the Map.

Although lonely at times, I take great comfort in my Three Arrows. They have been the focus and the fruit of my life’s work up to this moment. I have legacy! This morning, I… as my daughter before me, take great comfort in the Song and Story Heaven is singing over me.

There’s nowhere I’d rather be
When You’re singing over me
I just wanna be here with You
I’m lost in Your mystery
I’m found in Your love for me
I just wanna be here with You

Here in the waiting
I won’t worry about tomorrow
No need to focus
On the things I can’t control
All my attention
On the wonder of this moment
Jesus, Your presence
Is the comfort of my soul

PRAYER: I love you Jesus. Thank you for making it count. I believe the fruit of a man’s life will make a place for him. My kids’ lives echo who I am and whose I am!  Grateful to be a son. Grateful to be loved by You. I trust You. And for what You have promised… I choose to let go and simply be with You. Nowhere I’d rather be.

“Find Me”…

SCRIPTURE: “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” ”  (Luke 23:46-47)

OBSERVATION:  Jesus gave His life that we may have life.  History is marked with the Love that none of us deserve and yet His nail-scarred hands, feet and side… remain pierced in Heaven as a reminder of the price He willingly paid.  Find me Grateful,  Find me Thankful, Find me on my knees…

APPLICATION:  I choose to be thankful, grateful for the song and the story God has given me.

I’m choosing to remember well the people and seasons of life I’ve had up to this point.  The more I walk with Jesus this side of Heaven, the more I see His will in all things.  Every chapter of life can and will be used to glorify Jesus if we are willing to simply trust Him at His word and… Follow Him!

Sounds easy doesn’t it?  It’s not.  But it’s so worth it.  Every step of the journey.

Why?  Because lives depend on it.

I’m grateful today with a healed heart because of who Jesus is.  He has never, nor will He ever leave me. In every season, He is faithful and more than enough.

Today, I choose to lift Jesus up higher in my life.  I am nothing without Him.  He is my King, Savior and Best Friend.  He has walked with me through every step of life and will continue to do so throughout eternity.  Jesus’ love changes everything.

I am a blessed man regardless of the scars I carry.  They pale in comparison to Jesus’.  And like my King before me, mine represent my choices to give my life for the ones I love.  It’s ok.  It’s all worth it.  He knows.

PRAYER:  Jesus, I love You.  Thank You for leading me and loving me through every step of the journey. Because of who You are, my heart is healed, I run with renewed strength and I’m more than enough.  You are faithful.  My past, present and future are Yours.  I anticipate how you will write the 2nd half of my life in such a way that will save many lives.  I still choose to live this life of Suddenlies following You Off The Map.  I trust You.

Find me Grateful, Find me Thankful, Find me on my knees.  Find me dreaming,  Find me singing, Find me lost in Your grace.  Find me Grateful,  Find me Thankful, Find me on my knees.

“Where Do We Go?…”

 

SCRIPTURE: “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12-13)

OBSERVATION:   God has always allowed room for free will, consequences and grace.  We will always receive grace.  It’s up to us to decide how soon.

APPLICATION:  Free will can be a beautiful or bitter part of life.  When we take our gaze off of others and what they do/say and take full inventory within our own heart… this is when we come to the end of ourselves.  We realize that we want to be so much more.  In that moment, we have the choice to fall towards God or away from Him.  I choose to fall towards God.  Grace is mine early.  I will not waste time anymore.

Where Do We Go From Here?  Where Do We Go?…

The Author of Hebrews is helping us today take inventory within our own hearts when these crossroads in life force us to make a decision.  We must choose one way or the other.  There is no compromise in those moments of decision.

Whatever you are facing today or in this season, may I encourage you to remember why you started down this path following Jesus.  No, it’s not the easiest path.  Sometimes it’s the most difficult.  And yet in the difficulty of life, if we don’t give up, we find ourselves leveling-up!  God gives us more when we are faced with the reality that we aren’t enough.  Every time.

Last week, a friend texted me asking if my son and I wanted the entrances to the Seattle to Portland (STP) 206 mile bike ride since he and his daughter couldn’t go with their busy schedules.  I laughed at first and told him no.  I am an endurance athlete.  Have been since I was 14 years old.  I understand the training it takes to pull something like that off.  And the pain it would cause if we did so without training.

After a day thinking about this opportunity and all the memories I could make with my son, my answer was held in the balance.  Do I say no and play it safe?  Or do I say yes and have an amazing adventure?  If you have been following my story at all, by now you know it’s full of suddenlies.  Yeah, I said yes and took him up on the offer and lost sleep for an entire week as I prepared logistically for the STP.  That’s right, we had exactly one week to prepare… Crazy! 😉

It was like Jesus was simply looking down from heaven pointing at me and holding back his laughter while whispering to the Father that I would say yes to represent God the Father to my son.  Leading him to a victory he would never forget by following my lead every step/mile until we reached the finish line together.

My son was so excited all week!  I haven’t seen him that confident and excited about something for a long time.  He was begging to be proven worthy and to stand with me as an endurance athlete.  No turning back!

I have so much to say about our adventure.  But the long story short, is that we finished!  206 miles without cramping, crashing or walking our bikes up any hills.  We took our time, paced ourselves, hydrated and fueled regularly.  The goal for me was to make this an epic memory for my son Kaleb.  I wanted to make this a ‘win’ for him since so much has been unfairly dealt against him during the past 2 years.  To say the least… this was a great memory for both of us!

Yesterday Was Hard On All of Us, On All of Us...

And at times of decision, I’ve had to ask the question, “Where do we go from here?”  Every time, I chose to remember why I started on this path of marriage and family.  Although I am no longer married, I still have my family.  I have legacy.  As a man, it’s up to me to lead.  Even when fighting the ‘not enough’ wound at times… I alone can make the decision where to go from here.  I choose to follow Jesus. Even when following Him makes absolutely no sense at all!  It’s worth it.

Who Can We Trust From Here, Who Can We Trust?… 

I wanted my son to have one more experience where he can look back and remember how he followed my example of followership.  Following Jesus and following after my Dad’s footsteps as he taught me all of the endurance sports lessons that we needed to get to the finish line together.  My son was given a wonderful memory filled with many life lessons.  Too many to write about here.  But the most important is that Kaleb has learned how he can trust his Dad and most of all, the God we follow together… Jesus.

What Kaleb experienced was the blessing of choosing to follow his Dad.  This was beautiful to witness.  I know it’s not a manly word.  But it was… He followed my every lead, in every way.  I even heard from behind me his bike shift every time mine went in and out of gear.  With every lean, push, pass, brake and more… my son chose to follow me 100%.  And because of his choices over 206 miles, he was able to cross that finish line!

My friend who blessed us with the entrances, texted me throughout the STP asking for updates and encouraging us all the way. Afterwards, I sent him some pics of us as finishers.  This is what he wrote back:

“That’s the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. Best of all you are still smiling. Well done!  I’m so proud of you Eric. You’ve overcome so much and have left an indelible mark on Kaleb’s life”

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank You for being so good to us.  Thank You for Your leadership and love in my life and my family.  Thank You for such a good memory for my son.  Thank You for our friends’ generosity.  And thank You for teaching me over the years that I can trust You.  May my kids choose You first when paths cross and the question arises again within their hearts, “Where Do We Go From Here?  Where Do We Go?…”

 

 

“Grave Chapters”…

SCRIPTURE: “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:8-10) 

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was murdered on the cross.  Professional soldiers pronounced His death and gave permission for family and friends to bury him in a borrowed tomb.  Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead!

When Mary and Mary approached the tomb in the morning, they were greeted by an angel who freaked them out saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7)

As you can imagine, they were emotional!  Joy, Fear & Shock were alive as they turned running with adrenalin pumping through their veins.  But only a few paces on their path home, Jesus suddenly showed up and appeared to them both!  Jesus decides to appear from the grave to these two women.  Why?  I believe He had a purpose.  I believe He has a purpose for me and you today too.

APPLICATION:  Today, I’m in awe of how Jesus can turn a tomb into a turning point of hope.  Death into life.  Mourning into joy.  Hopelessness into hope.  What are you facing today that would fit into this picture of a grave?  Whatever it is, God is greater!  If you know me, you can hold in with me as I say this.  I don’t speak lightly here.  I have experienced the dying of hopes… And yet, here I am with hope.  Old is passed away, yes.  But it will not be the end of me.  It won’t be the end of you either.  I believe Jesus has a purpose for me and you today.

Jesus is a God of His word.  He will do what He says.  He is able to do the same in your life today.  Even when there is no possible way to get there.  Jesus is able.  I’ve experienced these moments of mourning changed suddenly when Jesus showed up in my life.  He will do the same for you too.

Often times, these breakthroughs come when we’ve exhausted all possibilities of hope.  We give up.  We move on.  We bury a dream.  And in that season, God suddenly shows up!  Every time, He says to not be afraid.  Then he gives us next steps.  Every time.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day.  My kids’ are doing so very well, but the pain of not having a Mom in their life still stings.  I felt I was to spend extra time with my daughter before church.  My boys had already left early to serve on team.  So when my daughter came down the stairs looking pretty as she always does, it broke my heart to see her look up at me and instantly break into tears while running to me with open arms.  As her perfectly arranged hair hit my chest, we just hugged for a long…long time.

Time was spent.  Tears were shared.  Truths were told.

I opened up to my daughter some things that God had shared with me from last February about her, her brothers, me, their mom and more.  Now it was my time to pull myself together enough to read my journal to her.  I saw my little girl go from being sad, to giggle.  I saw my little girl’s eyes light up with hope from promises spoken over us by the Holy Spirit, confirmed by His word.  I saw my little girl laugh and ask me point blank, “Did He really say that?!”… “Ha!  Yes.  Yes He did Sweetie.”

A few sentences later, my little girl wiped her tears from her eyes and said with a smile, “I didn’t know Jesus is so funny!” Mission accomplished!  My little girl heard how my Heavenly Father was Fathering me when I needed it most.  She saw her Dad take courage from God’s word leading me through a difficult season.  She realized that some things spoken over me a year ago have already happened just as God said they would.  This is living out of the prophetic.  This is prophetic leadership.

There are promises yet fulfilled.  There are hopes and dreams.  There is also a season for praying & preparing for such blessings.  I saw my daughter’s heart turn from a sealed tomb of sadness, to an open place of possibilites within minutes.  Only Jesus can do that.

We had a great morning with friends, went shopping, had ice cream and more.  We had a great day!  I am understanding that my kids have a story to tell.  Their lives have not been without difficulty.  And yet, in and through those seasons, Jesus suddenly showed up and changed everything.  He has, is and will do the same for us as we follow Jesus together.  He will do the same for you.

My challenge for you today is to face those grave chapters head on.  Visit the grave… whatever it may be in your life.  God is in the business of suddenlies.  I know that’s not a word, but I’m making it my word.  I have had a life of suddenlies.  I will have a life of suddenlies.  Only they will be blessings from now on.  God’s promises are true.  I take Him at His word.

PRAYER:  I love You Jesus.  Make it count.  Thank you for helping me face my grave chapters.  Thank you for suddenly showing up and changing everything.  Only You can turn a tomb into a turning point of hope!

“Stand”…

SCRIPTURE: “And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!” (Luke 24:36-37)

OBSERVATION:  Jesus had been crucified, burried and rose again.  But the guys are just now hearing the news that Jesus has appeared to a few of them.  Suddenly Jesus shows up among them when they were talking about Him.  That would be enough to freak anybody out!

APPLICATION:  Jesus is so good at ‘Suddenlies’… I’m wondering what my life would look like today if I purposed to live like Jesus is here, with skin on, 24/7.  I’m a Christ Follower.  But I mean, what if I believed Jesus was truly with and in me every day all day for the rest of my life?  I think I would change a few things as I go about my day.

Even more important for me is to remember as a Dad, I’m leading my kids to understand who Jesus is in their lives.  I want my kids to live like Jesus is here with us 24/7.  Leadership is influence.  Am I doing my very best for my kids?  The answer is 100% yes.  But as I let scripture look into my heart, that is the wrong question to ask.  The question this morning is, “Am I being my best for my kids?”… I have to say no.  And that bothers me.  As it should.

You see, life brings quitting points for all of us.  I’m beyond those points in my life story.  Now is the season that I simply stand.  Ya, I know.  Too simplistic.  Too broad of a term to leave hanging like that.  What do I mean?  Well, sometimes there is a time to go to war, and sometimes there is a time to stand your ground.  There is a difference.

How do you know when to pick up the sword and when to stand.  Ephesians 6 says to put on the full armor of God, to swing the sword against our enemy with God’s truth.  It also says to pray without ceasing.  And after these things… STAND. When the battle is won and authority has been given to you.  The enemy will still come stalking around the corner trying to bring intimidation through lies, manipulation and sometimes the most strategic propoganda that is meant to wear you down. These strategies work on the weak and the novice in the Kingdom.  But as we grow in the Lord and life… we learn to trust Jesus for who He says He is.  Our God is Greater!

• In the middle of the night when worry finds me – I will stand.
• In the middle of the fight when strength is gone – I will stand.
• In the middle of the fire when fear is closing in – I will stand.

So in this stage of my life, I have been through many war campaigns in the Kingdom.  I have seen God come through when all hope seemed lost.  Jesus is so good at ‘Suddenlies’… He loves us and will never leave us.  So when these battle lines are drawn and victory is ours.  Boundaries are made.  The enemy knows defeat and hates it.  What we sometimes forget is that these lines are dependent upon us.  If we relent and give in to intimidation, worry, doubt and fear and do something stupid taking things into our own hands in retaliation… these boundaries are moved and we lose what we faught so hard for. This should not be!

So I’ve made up my mind in this season of my life to be completely OK with the fact that some people will oppose me because I am a man who stands for the truth.  I will not compromise when it comes to my inheritance.  People and circumstances have challenged my authority and destiny.  That’s all part of life.  I understand this.  What they don’t realize is they are not fighting with me.  They are fighting my God, who has planned my legacy before I was born.  They will fail.

And because of the truth that Jesus is in me, and all believers, I will stand and face my enemies eye to eye.  The war is over.  The boundaries are set.  And when the enemy comes knocking at my door trying to get me to disqualify myself from my destiny through Fear and it’s thugs… they will be sorely mistaken of what they thought was Weakness is truly Meekness.  This is the Great Power and Presence of Jesus Christ within me.

So just as Jesus showed up in the midst of the guys when they were so confused and feeling lost since Jesus was murdered. They needed to be reminded that Jesus in the business of ‘Suddenlies’… He can, in an instant, bring hope where there is none.  And when we begin to understand that He is truly with us and in us, we should rise up and stand in authority knowing that our God is Greater!  He can do the impossible.  And when the wars are over… STAND!  The enemy will come in to try to get you to give ground back.  Do not believe the lies for an instant.  As Ephesians 6 says… after all these things…STAND!  And watch the enemy flee.

PRAYER:  Thanks for the reminder Jesus that You are with and in us.  I love You and thank You that we can come to You anytime with any need.  You meet us where we are.  So grateful.  Because of You, I will STAND.

“A Joseph Calling”…

SCRIPTURE: “During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.  Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” (Genesis 41:50-52)

 

OBSERVATION:  Joseph’s life was riddled with God’s promises of blessings and the curses of consiquences from others’ decisions.  His life for nearly 30 years wasn’t quite the victorious chapters we remember Joseph for.  He was betrayed, , falsely accused, forgotten and more. And yet his heart had not succombed to bitterness.  In fact, in every season of his life he did the best with what he had.  In the end, Joseph was blessed beyond what he expected.  What was made to break him was used by God as the very thing that blessed him.  But the choice was up to him to follow his God instead of his emotions.

APPLICATION:  I look up to Joseph.  I have a Joseph calling on my life.  This is a good and bad thing.  With that said, I’m just beginning the good season of life seeing God’s promises beginning to come together in an unpredictable manner.  I live with expectation of what will be in a very short time from now.  It’s exciting!

But it took a while to get here.  No, I wasn’t sold into slavery nor in prison as Joseph did.  But I am a man who has and is living a life of suddenlies.  I know that isn’t a word, but I’m making it a word.  It’s my word.  “Suddenlies”… this has been my life.  In every life chapter I’ve done my very best to keep my focus on Jesus and what He has for me in the midst of the good and the bad times.  Easier said than done.  But I can say that when I look at the man in the mirror every night, I like who I see.  I have my integrity and character after so many unfortunate life events that are part of my story.  Not my fault. Never wanted any of it.  But I had to decide what I was to do with what was brought upon me.  Bottom line, I chose and choose Jesus.

So when I read this scripture about Joseph.  He gets called out of prison and immediately is blessed with a wife and kids and is put in charge of all Egypt.  He is the 2nd most powerful person in the known world, immediately out of prison!  This isn’t normal.  Dreams that must have been projected on those dark prison cell walls night after night after night, until all hope must have seemed lost.  Until God showed up and glorified His name through Joseph.

I believe I am at an important time in my life where I too will have a ‘Suddenly’ moment and moments that will make all the events in the past line up perfectly to God’s blessing.  I have dreams.  God knows them.  And I believe it won’t be long from now that God will begin to bring me to a new place of influence and blessing.  This has been in the making my entire life.  I believe in the God of Joseph.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  If He can bless Joseph, He can bless me.

But this blessing isn’t just for me alone.  It is for me, my kids, my future wife, family and the many people that will be influenced by my life story.  Jesus isn’t finished with my life story.  In fact, it’s only just beginning to get good.  And for another 40 years, I’m looking forward to seeing how He will unfold it in such a way that it will save lives.

I have an idea of how God may do this.  But it’s only a dream right now.  But isn’t that how Joseph started?  It’s good to dream.  It’s good to have goals.  It’s good to be passionate about life.  Especially if you are someone who life hasn’t necessarily been fair to.

If you feel lost, forgotten and maybe overlooked by God and man… be encouraged.  I know many people, including myself at times, who feel that life could have gone a lot better up to now.  Or hearts that don’t quite fit the mold of career paths, education, children by a certain age, simply keeping up with consumerism traps around us or simply feeling like you’re not enough…  Regardless of what you may be feeling lacking in, it could be that your best days are still in front of you!  God still is looking for men and women who He may bless in order to be a blessing to others.  He will work all of the unfortunate chapters into those of life & love… if you let Him.  The choice is yours to make.

So today, I’m so thankful that I follow a God who never changes.  He came through for Joseph and he will come through for me and you if you we let him.  Let me say that again… Your best days in your life are ahead of you.  Don’t get side tracked into replaying regrets over and over again.  Focus on what lies ahead, pray and prepare for those days.  Before you know it, you will get there.  And it will all be worth it.

One of my most recent favorite books and now movies is, “Unbroken”  It’s the life of Louis Zamperini.  He was an Olympic runner, survived a plane crash in the pacific, over 40 days adrift until ‘Rescued by Japanes’ and spent years in prison camps.  His life was riddled with unfair chapters.  But in the middle of the ocean in that raft, he cried out to Jesus and declared that he would give his life to God if he survived.  It took years after WWII was over to give his heart to Christ, but when he did, all of the bad was turned to good.  His story was and is saving lives.  Louis had a Joseph calling on his life.  And so do I.  And so do you.  If we let Him….

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank You for being real in my life today.  You will make it count.  I’m excited about what you are doing in my present as I pray and prepare for my future.  You will in an instant turn life chapters into inspiration for others to know You.  Until then, I pray that You continue to lead me into Your very best.  I’m praying and preparing today for the blessings of Suddenlies coming my way very soon.  Grateful!