Big Storms

Big storms rolled through our area last night and early this morning.
At least they sounded big. The lightening was bright and the thunder was loud.
I woke up when my six year old came and crawled in bed with me. As the Thunder continued my daughter soon began to holler for "mom"! As the third round of storms rolled through, I noticed it was just me and Andrew in the bed, Jennifer had to get in Bonnie's bed!
As the thunder boomed loudly I could tell Andrew was awake and scared. I reached over and pulled him close and assured him everything was alright.

As I lay there with my arm around my son, comforting him during a storm, I couldn't help but think again about my heavenly Father. I'm so thankful for the times when He has pulled me close and assured me everything is going to be alright.

Wouldn't it be nice if we never had to face storms and hard times in our lives. But storms come, sometimes often, into each of our lives. I think God wouldn't trade our storm moments for anything. Because during the storms of life many of us have a tendency to move in close to Him. The stormy times of life produce some very intimate moments with our heavenly Father.

Maybe your in a storm now. Move closer to your heavenly Father. He's waiting to comfort you and to assure you everything will be alright. During storms I often think of a song I heard that said, "Sometimes He calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child." Either way we know God is in control!

Storms are coming, it's alright He's waiting for you to move in closer to Him.

Are you connected?

What a great time we live in. You can always be connected to everyone all the time!
We have internet, cell phones, ipods, text messaging, instant messaging, facebook and for the cool people myspace (I am not cool enough for myspace!) and now twitter.

I am not using twitter. Not sure why though. I mean does anyone really care what I am doing every moment of every day? It's fun learning something new though.

Twitter got me thinking about my relationship with God (it's what pastor's do you know!).
Anyway, imagine if we stayed as connected to God as we do with each other. I remember one time Jeanne Mayo made a statement, she said, "Short prayers are adequate when you're close to the Throne." What a great statement. When we stay close and connected to God we are in the right place.

Are you connected? Can you hear Him when he whispers your name?
Take some time toady and disconnect from your world and connect with God, you'll be glad you did!

Father's Heart

Right now I'm sitting in my office at home working. Can't help but overhear my 4 year old daughter as she is in the next room listening and singing along to a kids worship CD. She is having her very own little worship service!
As her father, my heart is encouraged to hear my child worshipping God.

I was just thinking, "what must our heavenly Father's heart feel like when we take time to worship Him?" Does His heart leap for joy because His children are calling out to Him and loving Him? Or does His heart ache because He longs for us to spend intimate time with Him?

Take a minute today and acknowledge God in your life. He created you, He formed you. Not because He had to, but He chose to create you as an expression of love.

"God my I continue to live a life that brings honor to You. May my children continue to learn how to worship You, how to honor You, how to love You as they see me doing these things. Let Your love live through me today. Thank You for Your amazing love, grace, and mercy. Thank You for calling me Your child."

Let Love Live.
Love Wins.

Great Day!

What a great day.

Got to have lunch at my favorite place (Chipotle) with a good friend I haven't seen in a while. He was such an encouragement. I'm glad we were able to meet and catch up! Thanks RbJ!

Tonight I had the privilege to speak in our youth service. I was blown away by the response of our teens tonight. We have some students who have a passion for God!
We are blessed with awesome youth pastors (easy to say since they are also related to me!)
I am so blessed to get to pastor an amazing church and work with a first class team.

Just wanted to brag on my church for a minute!

And yes I still believe "Greater Things are Yet to Come!"

Greater Things?

Whew! What an amazing weekend. We have just finished celebrating our Risen Savior.
Easter weekend 2009 has been totally amazing.

On Saturday, we hosted the 4th annual Christian Center A/G Easter Eggstravaganza. This year was definitely the best yet! We had a record attendance on Saturday. I'm told we had around 700 people in attendance. Close to 8000 Easter eggs, we cooked 700 hot dogs, gave away hundreds of drinks, chips, cotton candy and snow cones. Plus there were so many prizes and give-a-ways that it's hard to count! Watching the kids faces who won bicycles was a priceless moment.
Thank you to all my Christian Center friends who gave of themselves to serve our community. Thanks to Kelli, Amie, Tanya, Tina and all the others who helped make this years eggstravaganza a huge success. I believe Greater Things are yet to come!

Now let me reflect on Easter Sunday!
God is so great and amazing!
We had a record attendance! We broke a number barrier that has never been broken in the history of CCAG! But the greatest moment today was praying with individuals who came forward to receive Christ. I'm so excited to see how God is changing lives!
Greater Things are yet to come!

For the Love of the Game

What a great day today. Beautiful weather and baseball.
Today was opening day for Krum Little League Baseball. I am coaching an 8 and under team that one of my sons plays on.
Baseball is such a fun game. I love being outside throwing a ball around or watching two teams square up and play hard!

I was thinking about a Pillar song that I heard on the radio recently called "For the Love of the Game". Can't remember all the lyrics but what stands out in my mind is "We live our life for the love of the game."

That's how Christ wants us to live. Not boring, stale lives. But lives with passion for the Love of the Game! Remember what Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy. But I have come that you may have life more abundantly."

That abundant life Jesus was talking about is life to the fullest. Living life with passion, pursuing the dream and the destiny God has for you. Finding His purpose for your life, and then living out that purpose. That is living life "For the Love of the Game!"

Just a little something to think about!
Let's Play Ball!

Convoy of Hope

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted here since January.
I wish I had a good reason. The best I can come up with is I've been busy!

Last weekend our church participated in Convoy of Hope in Denton. What a great experience. It was a cold March morning, but I was so proud to see over 570 volunteers come out and serve the community of Denton.

I know that Convoy of Hope has made a lasting impression on many in the Denton area, volunteers and guests who enjoyed everything that was offered.

If you served at Convoy. Thank you. We appreciate your willingness to "let love live" in our community.