How to Have Faith to Move Mountains

Hebrew 11:1 (HCSB) - "Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen."

This verse is at the beginning of what is commonly referred to as the Hall of Faith Chapter in Scripture.  As I read names like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and so many others, I can't help but compare myself to them.  If I'm honest, there's no way I match up.  It would be easy for me to be discouraged and think that I'll just never live up to that kind of faithfulness.  However, discouragement and self-loathing are not "gifts" that are given by my Heavenly Father.  These are distractions and tactics used by my enemy to keep my focus off of the One where faith is derived.

The Greek word that we translate as faith is pistis.  The root word pistis is derived from is peitho which means to persuade or be persuaded.  Another way of translating it is to come to trust or faith.  In essence, the word pistis means to be divinely persuaded.  Faith (pistis) is always received from God and never generated by our own efforts.  In other words, I can't make myself have any more faith.  This truth is evident in Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB) where Paul writes, "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift, not from works, so that no one can boast." (emphasis is my own)  In other words, our saving grace is from the faith that God instilled and gifted to us.  So, after studying the background of this word, here's how I apply it today.

First of all, Abraham, Moses, and those others that we read about in Scripture didn't become such strong men of faith overnight.  Let's remember a few of their journeys.  Moses told God, when he was called, that He wasn't a good speaker.  Gideon kept throwing the fleece out due to uncertainty of what God told him to do.  Joseph spent his developmental years as a slave and a prisoner.  There are many other stories about how faithfulness was built in each of those listed in the Hall of Faith.  For me, that gives me hope!  God can still use me to impact people in a way these men in the Hall of Faith did, but I have to realize that it doesn't happen overnight!  Faith is God's gift to me, and my job to seek this gift on a daily basis.

Secondly, I have to be faithful in the little things.  Let's look at Joseph again...he could have easily turned his back on God when he was sold into slavery by his brothers.  He could have turned his back again after finding himself in prison.  However, Joseph chose to be faithful with where God had him.  The lesson I learn from this is that I have to be faithful with where God has planted me.  It's easy for me to dream about all the "BIG" things I hope to do for God and in His name, but, when I do that, I am susceptible to discontentment and discouragement because I tend to feel like God isn't using me in the best way I think that He can.  In other words, I want to play God for my life, which is pride...plain and simple.  I have to be faithful in the context that God has me in.  I have to minister to those that He puts in my path, and, if I'm faithful in that, then God is using me in a way that He desires.  If God's desire is to use me in small ways for the rest of my life, then it's my job to be faithful to that calling.  God calls some to do the small things and others to do bigger things.  The small, country church pastor with an attendance of 40 people is just as important as the mega-church pastor who has 5,000 people in his congregation.  Bloom where you are planted. 

Finally, I have to continually put myself in situations where faith is required.  If there is ever a time where I feel comfortable and relaxed, with regards to my faith, then I'm not in a good place spiritually.  I struggle with this one sometime.  As I look at my life, I have a great job which allows me the luxury of not worrying about how I'm going to put food on the table or worry about supplying for the needs of my family.  I have also surrounded myself with wonderful, supportive Christian friends.  I thank God everyday for what He has provided for me and my family.  However, it would be easy for me to put my life on cruise control and coast into retirement.  As I look objectively at my life, there are many areas in which faith isn't required on a daily basis.  I would argue that this isn't a good place to be in spiritually.  If my faith isn't constantly tested, then how can it grow.  It's easy for faith to grow in trying times, in times of struggle or trial, but when things are going well, how do I grow my faith?  My only response to that is prayer and reading Scripture.  I read about these men of faith in the Bible who were kings and leaders of nations, who were financially secure and had all the comforts of life, but their faith was continually tested and continually grown.  Then, I read Scriptures like Matthew 7:7-8 (HCSB), "Keep asking, and it will be given to you.  Keep searching, and you will find.  Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searched finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."  My conclusion upon studying this and reading what God says in His Scripture is this, my faith can only be improved by God giving it to me.  In order for God to gift this to me, I have to ask and be receptive to the parameters by which He chooses to give it to me.  I can't ask for faith and have guidelines by which I'm willing to receive it.  I have to ask God for it and prepare myself for the journey that He will set before me.

Put simply...the key to long term faithfulness (the kind of faith to move mountains) is to be faithful today with the tasks God has set before you.  For some that might be turning the TV off early and having a conversation with your spouse.  For someone else, that might be giving more than you've ever given.  For others, it might be moving your family to another country to serve as missionaries.  In each of these instances, the faith that is required is the same...you have to say yes to what God is calling you to do today.  Then, perhaps, one day God will use each of us to move mountains.

You Give and Take Away

Job 1:21 (NLT) - He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and i will be naked when I leave.  The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away.  Praise the name of the LORD!"

As I sit here and think about the whirlwind weekend my wife and I have had, it would be easy for me to get angry and frustrated with God.  Why is it that our initial reaction to us not getting our way is to blame God for not being fair or just?  Why is it that pride hangs on with such a tight grasp that the only way we can view things that happen in our lives is through pride's lens?  I have been reminded over and over again about how our enemy doesn't fight fair.  He studies us...he knows our weaknesses...and he knows when and where is the best opportunity to attack.  I don't know why I'm so surprised each time he rears his ugly head.  It's probably because it's when I'm least expecting it.  My defenses are down...I miss the warning signs...I get lazy...it could be any of a number of things.  However, I have discovered that my response time is getting better.  It's in those moments of attack that I realize two things.  1 - How I respond in this situation gives me a good idea of where I'm at spiritually.  2 - I must be doing something right, because the enemy looks at me as a threat and wants to knock me down a notch or two.  One of the hardest things to deal with, though, is your emotional response to it.  When your heart becomes attached to something, when it's taken away, it's heart-wrenching.  Now, not only do you have to deal with the attack, but you're fighting with your emotions, too.

It's interesting to see life's ebbs and flows.  It's interesting to see what walls God helps you break through and what walls pop up next.  We had broken through one of those walls right before this weekend and were celebrating a momentary victory in our lives.  Isn't it interesting how quickly the enemy wants you to forget a battle that you've won over him?  It's no coincidence how quickly the onslaught can come as soon as you are proclaiming God's glory through a victory.  It's in those moments that I remember the Hebrew word Selah.  In Psalms, we see this word 71 times.  It means to pause and reflect on what has just been said.  I think that in our momentary victories we need to have selah moments to reflect on what God has brought us through and prepare ourselves for what might be ahead.  We are always going to have walls that we need to break through.  As long as we are following after God with our arms high and heart abandoned (as Hillsong would sing), we are going to be in the enemy's crosshairs.  As I think through that statement, I realize that I better be ready to fight.  As a man, I love movies like Braveheart, Kingdom of Heaven, and the Last Samurai where you have one man willing himself to make a difference and fight for his beliefs.  The difference for me is that I have an advocate that can help me fight.  Not only that, I know the outcome of the battle!!  So, when the battle presents itself, I have to remind myself of a few things.  1 - I need to put on my armor (Eph. 6); 2 - I need to be encouraged that the enemy thinks that I'm a threat; 3 - I need to fight well; 4 - When the victory comes (and it will come even though it might take time and perseverance), I need to give God the praise, glory, and credit for the victory.  I think where it all breaks down for me is usually step 3.  I don't always fight well.  As I said before, this is where pride rears its ugly head.  I start complaining about all these walls I have to break through and focus on my circumstances and not my Provider and Sustainer.  Will the fight be easy...no!  Will the victory be quick...not usually!  Will there be wounds and pain...absolutely!  Is it worth it...without a shadow of a doubt.  I have realized that the toughest battles produce such a deep dependence and reliance on God that it widens your view of Him.  When victory is finally yours, God becomes bigger in your mind that He ever was before.  The thing I always have to remember is that you have to fight for it.  Many times, I just want deliverance from the situation or attack, but God is teaching me to fight for what I want.  The only way to deepen my relationship with Him is to fight for it!  I can't manipulate God to get what I want!  He's the potter, and I'm the clay.  It's not the other way around.

My prayer has changed.  I pray that God gives me the ability and endurance to fight well.  I am not the star of this movie (as Frances Chan would say).  God is the thread that runs through history.  My only hope is that He uses me to help stitch together other people with Him through my struggle and pain.  God uses every victory, every struggle, every pain to bring glory to Himself through encouraging others in similar situations.  Help me have the discipline to endure, the courage to fight, and the love to help others along the way.

My prayer is that I can always sing these words and mean them:

"Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt and Beth Redman

Blessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name, when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be, blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name

You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name

36 Thoughts for My 36th Birthday (Part 2)

As I reflect back on 36 years of my life, I came up with 36 thoughts.  Some of these are serious...some are fun...my hope is that you find encouragement and joy in my musings.  So, here they are...in no particular order (except for the first few):

19.   God continues to teach me how to have peace during uncertainty, trials, and suffering.  Could I teach someone how to have peace?  Probably not, because peace doesn’t come from an individual, it comes from our Creator.  Each situation is different, but I know that until you allow God to give you perspective on your situation, you will never have peace.  You will have to rely on something other than yourself.  That’s what I’ve learned about it.

20.   I love teaching.  I love having the opportunity to teach a class of fellow believers and hearing God tell what to say.  When I see people connecting to God, or having those “aha” moments, it is so exciting.  A lot of times, we don’t spend enough time trying to understand God’s written word to us.  So, whenever I have the opportunity to help people dig deeper into God’s Word, I jump at the opportunity.  It’s not that I’m smarter or have some special understanding that others don’t, it’s just that I can feel God giving me the words to say in certain situations.  It’s a matter of being open to being used by God.

21.   I also love preaching.  When I was in my early 20s, I was a youth minister.  I was given the opportunity to preach on several occasions.  More recently, I have the opportunity to speak to our youth on occasion, and I was given the opportunity to preach at my church while our pastor was on a mission trip.  It is so exciting when God gives you a clear word to tell His people.  It’s similar to teaching.  When you have people engaging with the Almighty God, and He speaks to them, you can see it on their faces, and that is what it’s all about…connecting with our Heavenly Father.  I am actually more comfortable in front of a bunch of people than one on one…I guess I’m weird like that.

22.   The mystery of God never ceases to amaze me.  The more I learn about Him, the more I realize I don’t know.  I have learned this trait from my father.  The more I study God’s Word, the more mystery there is that I want to solve.  As my former Greek professor used to say, “There’s gold in there folks (speaking of the Bible), we just have to mine for it sometimes!” 

23.   I still struggle with the approval of others.  God continues to work on me in this area.  I have the tendency to seek the approval of others as opposed to seeking to honor God.  I want everyone to like me.  The problem with that is that my closest relationships suffer sometimes because I won’t tell someone, “No.”  I still have work to do.

24.   You have to create memorable moments with the ones you love.  Take your daughters on dates, men.  Take your sons on dates, ladies.  Men, take your sons out and teach them about manhood and what it means to be a Godly man.  Women, show your girls what being a Godly woman looks like.  Some of the greatest memories I have of childhood are trips I took with my dad or family.  We only have our kids for a short period before they are off to college.  Make it count.

25.   I desire to be the kind of friend that you can call at 3 a.m. if you need something.  I try and instill that in my kids.  I want to be reliable, faithful, and trustworthy.  I hope that my friends see those traits in my life.

26.   You need to know your spiritual gifts.  If you don’t know what they are, take a spiritual gifts inventory online.  Each one of us has gifts that God has entrusted us with.  It is our job to use those gifts in the Church to build up the body.  Our gifts can change over time, so take an inventory every year to see what your strongest gifts are.  I feel like if everyone in the church understood what they were gifted at doing, then the church would function at its highest capability.

27.   I wouldn’t be who I am today without my accountability partner, Jason.  I now have a better understanding of the passage in Scripture that talks about iron sharpening iron.  We started meeting about 8 years ago, and he has encouraged me, set me straight, listened, encouraged, prayed for me, loved me, and accepted me faults and all.  There is nothing more encouraging than having someone that knows the skeletons in your closet and accepts you anyway.  I pray that you all have the opportunity to experience this kind of freedom.

28.   We all need to detach more and more from society.  The junk that society fills our mind with is ridiculous.  When I say this, I mean we need to stop watching trashy movies, tacky sitcoms, and tasteless commercials that encourage men to be unfaithful and women to never be pleased with the body God gave them.  When people look at me and how I live my life, I want people to notice a difference between what the world tells me I should be and who I really am.  10 years ago I would spend the majority of my time in front of a TV.  Today, I rarely turn the TV on.  It’s amazing what you can spend that time doing…connecting with your kids, connecting with your spouse, connect with your Heavenly Father.  What is more important?

29.   Music can change my mood and my thoughts in an instant.  Music is a vital part of who I am.  Whenever I am down or discouraged, I listen to praise and worship music.  It’s amazing how it will change your perspective.  Sometimes we get so caught up in ourselves that we need to have our perspectives changed.  Praise and worship music does that for me.  It reminds me that it’s not all about me…actually, it’s not about me at all!  We have music playing at our house nonstop, and I can tell how it changes everyone’s mood.

30.   Date your wife and protect your marriage!  I have learned this the hard way.  My wife stuck with me through many of the first years of our marriage when I was just a bonehead.  Scripture tells us that we should love our wives as Christ loved the church.  Many times in marriage we placed unreasonable expectations on our spouse (learned that from a bible study I did).  When expectations are met, we have a bad attitude towards them.  However, if we turn our expectations into desires, we have a totally different attitude!  When someone meets one of our desires, it’s much more enjoyable.  My thought every morning, when I wake up, is, “how can I make my wife feel loved today?”  I don’t always succeed at meeting that goal, but it’s a great perspective to have.  Men, we need to protect our marriage like our life depends on it.  We also need to treat our wives in a way that makes them think that they are the most special person on the planet.  We all have work to do.

31.   God speaks to me in many different ways…I just have to make sure that I’m listening.  He speaks to me through music, movies, other people, His Word, and many other avenues.  The key is that I have to be attuned and open to what He has to say.  God is not trying to hide from us.  He tells us if we seek after Him, we will find Him.  We just have to be open to what He has to say, because sometimes it may not be what we want to hear.

32.   I am a giver.  One of my spiritual gifts is giving.  I think that if more people had the attitude that all my money is God’s to begin with, then we would have a different perspective on giving.  God has entrusted us with the money we have, and we will have to give an account of what we did with it.  My hope is that God will see that I was a good steward.

33.   I have a desire to see the “culture” of Christianity in the South to be completely changed.  Here in the South, we go to church because it’s expected.  I have a feeling that there will be a lot of church goers that will hear God say depart from me, I never knew you.  I think Satan is deceiving a lot of people into believing that they are going to heaven because they go to church every Sunday and even be serving at church.  The Bible tells us that we will be known by our fruit.  It’s time for the Southern Church to take a spiritual inventory and start asking hard questions.  Are you seeing the fruit of the Spirit evident in your life?  Are you seeing people’s lives changed because of what God is doing in and through you?  If not, it’s time to reevaluate. 

34.   I understand more and more every day how powerful prayer is.  Prayer gives us the opportunity to commune with the Living God.  Prayer is the avenue by which God shifts our desires to His desires.  He changes our focus from ourselves to His divine, redemptive plan.  The key to prayer is giving yourself time to listen, which I am still learning.  Many times I start praying for what I desire, then God changes my prayer to what He desires.  It’s a matter of us dying to our will and desires and praying about His will and desires for us.  It’s definitely not easy!

35.   I used to think 36 was really old…now…not so much!

36.   I can’t wait to see Jesus face to face!  Paul closes his first letter to the Corinthians by saying Maranatha, which is translated as “Lord, come.”  I can’t think of a better way to end a list like this.

36 Thoughts for My 36th Birthday (Part 1)

As I reflect back on 36 years of my life, I came up with 36 thoughts.  Some of these are serious...some are fun...my hope is that you find encouragement and joy in my musings.  So, here they are...in no particular order (except for the first few):

1. I truly don't deserve to have the amazing wife that God gave me.  My wife has stuck by my side for the last 14 years, and our marriage has never been better.  We've been through tough times, struggles, pain, illness, near death experiences, and a boatload of other things.  Through the grace of God, the patience of Job (which she has!), and perseverance, we have come out on the other side with a love that has been refined through fire.  I thank God everyday that she is my partner for life!  I love you G!
2. I love my kids!  It is so fun watching kids grow up.  While parenting has its many challenges, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  My kids teach me so much every single day.  Usually, they show me areas I need to improve upon (patience, wisdom, etc.), but I also get to see childlike wonder and awe!  I often forget what that is like.  They bring me so much joy and happiness that I can't put it into words.  
3. I have the best parents in the world.  Growing up, I had great examples of what thirst and hunger for God's Word looked like on a daily basis.  Having that instilled in you throughout childhood is priceless!  As I grew up, I felt loved and supported in everything I did.  I know that my parents would drop everything to come help me with whatever need I have (which they have done numerous times).  I hope that I can be that for my kids!
4. I also have some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for.  You know that God has brought the right people in your life when their first response to anything is to pray for you.  I have never felt more supported by a group of people in my life.  As I always try to tell my kids, be the kind of friend you want to have.  I hope that all my friends feel the same support, love, encouragement, and prayer support that I feel on a daily basis.
5. God has led us to one of the best (if not THE best) churches I have ever been a part of.  My church family at Meadow Grove has been unbelievably amazing.  It all starts with the pastor, Brother Steve.  He is one of the most genuine, servant-hearted, compassionate, truth-preaching pastors I have come across.  The rest of the staff follows right along with an attitude of service and love for everyone in the congregation.  I've never felt more at home in a church!
6. I have the privilege of serving under one of the best youth ministers I have ever met!  Jamie tells his students week after week that they are part of a student ministry, not a youth group.  Let me tell you, I have never seen a group of students serve as much and give of themselves more than this group does.  They don't have big events and games, they serve others with the love of Christ.  I think other youth pastors could learn a lot from Jamie.  These students take years off my life every time I am around them.  It is such an honor to be a part of each one of their lives.
7. God continues to amaze me.  I hope that my awe and wonder of God never ceases.  He continues to blow my thoughts and preconceived ideas about Him out of the water.  My journey to understand Him has never been more exciting!
8. Samford University is a majestic place!  I just returned from chaperoning a youth camp there, and it still feels like home.  I received my education there, I met my wife there, and each time I return, I can't help but smile.  This time, I got to share my University with a group of students (one of which is my son, who has already said that he's going there).  I am proud to be a Bulldog!
9. I love mission trips!  Each time i go on a mission trip, I feel like a piece of my heart stays there.  My most recent trips have been to Wales and South Africa.  Let me just say that I would go back to both of those places in a heartbeat.  If you haven't been on a mission trip, I would challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and see what God has in store for you.  You will never be the same again.  The connections I made with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in those countries are still priceless.  I miss my family in Wales (the Bowkett's and Williams'), and my South African family (too many to name).
10. I have this insatiable desire to drive a muscle car or sports car.  I still haven't had the joy of experiencing yet, but I'm still young!  To clarify, I want to drive something with a ridiculous amount of horsepower...I can't help it...I'm a man!
11. Golf is one of my outlets to clear my head.  I have this dream that one day I will have the opportunity to play one or all (since I'm dreaming) of the following courses: Augusta National, St. Andrews & Pebble Beach.  Who knows...maybe one day.
12.  One day I hope to learn how to play the hammered dulcimer like Rich Mullins did.  
13. 13 will always be a special number to me...my favorite actually.  I started dating my wife on the 13th of November, and we got married on the 13th of June.  Enough said.
14. Leading worship is food for my soul.  I started playing guitar in college (taught myself in my dorm room).  Since then, I have had the opportunity to lead worship in many different places (including Wales and South Africa).  Understanding what worship is has been, and continues to be, a lifelong journey.  It is one avenue of bridging the gap between us and our Creator.  Worship is my response to what God is doing in my life.  It could be praise and thankfulness, or it could be desperation and desire.  Either way, God deserves to be glorified in all situations.  
15. My dream guitar is a McPherson 4.5 MG made out of Brazilian Rosewood.  It is one amazing guitar.  The only problem is that you could but a car with what it would cost to buy one...I can always dream though!
16. My life verse is Nahum 1:7 - "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble, He cares for those who trust in Him."  He gave me that verse when I was 17 years old, and I have leaned on that verse many times throughout the 19 years since He gave it to me.
17. The Color Green by Rich Mullins has to be one of my favorite songs ever!  Whenever I need to relieve some stress or allow my mind to rest, that is the song I listen to.  Rich Mullins is, by far, my favorite musician of all time.  He was an amazing lyricist and musician.  He is truly missed.
18. I love encouraging people!  It is such a privilege to be a part of so many people's lives.  I always look for opportunities to build up one of my brothers and sisters.  Life is hard enough as it is...we need to look for opportunities to carry one another burdens and lighten the load.