Walk through any fires lately?

The holidays have come and gone and now the normal routines of life have begun taking their place back in our lives. I noticed during this past holiday season that it is very easy to pass off any troubles or distractions because of all the awesome things that are usually going on, but sooner or later those troubles and snares are going to catch up to us, and no matter how small or big they are, they are no fun.

It's times like these that truly test our faith as Christians, truly walking through fires to refine us into the men and women that God has called us to be. But I have found that it is during the hottest infernos that I feel helpless, useless, and alone. Now I can also say in firm and complete confidence that God has blessed me with an amazing family and true, Godly friends in my life to help those feeling flee quickly. But none the less, no matter how solid of people we have around us or if we are completely alone, we are human and we will feel these feelings of weakness from time to time. It was earlier this week as I sat in a coffee shop doing some reading that I realized how short-sighted and ignorant those feelings truly are. The story in Daniel 3 where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were sentenced to death in a fiery furnace. While reading this passage I was seeing so many parallels to our day to days lives in today's society, whether at work, from other people in our lives that may not know Christ or the everyday media; they call us to worship other things and put God at a distance in our lives rather than putting Him at the right place in our lives and that is nothing short of FIRST. I loved their answer to the king when he condemned them for not following what the other men and women of the day were doing (worshiping the statute that King Nebuchadnezzar had put up for the to worship). They said in verses 16-18: "... "Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up , O king. But even if He doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

Wow! that blew me away, to stand in front of the person who is solely responsible for leading others away from God and telling him that the true God is strong enough to save them from a burning furnace. I started thinking of the my life, what if I took that stance more often in my life, no not more often but in EVERY situation. What would that look like, what kind of fiery furnaces would I be condemned to? Whatever it would be, if I kept my eyes on the Lord and it was His will to make it out of it alive, I trust that He would keep me safe and unharmed just as He did with the three men that the king sentenced to death in Daniel.

But it all came full circle for me this past weekend while I was doing an outreach with my bible study through our church where we went out into Columbus and reached out to the homeless with food, clothes, blankets, etc. Me and my friend realized that there are so many other things to worry about than a rough day at work, or getting in an argument about something trivial with someone in your life when we have bothers and sisters of our, fellow children of God doing all they can to survive on the streets. At one stop we chatted with the gentlemen for a few mins, I feel terrible because I cannot remember his name, but i truly saw the faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must have had in them; he said that even though he lived on the street he knew Christ as his Lord and Savior and that when his time was done, or when Christ comes back, he would be going to heaven. He also said that he knows this is the only hell he will have to encounter. I stood there with what probably looked like a ridiculous smirk/smile on my face thinking to myself: "What the hell am I worried about making this person I work with happy, or making sure I look a certain way or that person may think differently? Here is a fellow brother of Christ living with only the clothes on his back and the items in his bag, and he has a better outlook on life with Christ than I have on some of my best days."

It was just the kick in the butt I needed to open my eyes to the world outside of my comfortable little world. But not just for the people in need for better lives,(that is a very important thing to use our faith for, is showing these men and women with little to nohting that God is still there, walking though their "fire" with them. And on a side note, I encourage all of you to go and serve those who are lesser than you and do it whole heatedly for God and for His renowned), but for everyone single one of us that no matter what your fire may look like keep your eyes on Christ. Whether it is a job, lack of a job, something you don't have that you have wanted for so long, an addition or temptation you feel you cannot escape; whatever that fire may look like, having a never dying focus and always seeking Christ, knowing that He is in control of your life and that He will deliver you out of that fire just as He did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Keep your eyes on Him, for He has always been with you, He has never left you, and He has never forsaken you. In those moments of fear and uncertainty, look to Christ for He NEVER MISSES!

- God Bless
Anthony

Does change have to make sense now?

Isn’t it funny how quickly things can change, and how sometimes even when it doesn’t make sense we come to the point of knowing that whatever this decision is, it’s the Lord telling us, “Trust me, this will be for the best!” It doesn’t matter whether it is a huge decision, like moving or something with work, something as little as a fleeting thought, God wants us to live the life HE has prepared for us. I have heard, and not coincidently a lot recently, that we should stop making our plan fit God’s plan for our lives but live as Christ did and make God’s plan for our life our plan! And don’t think that I’m not speaking to myself in this either. It hit me last night in a bible study that one thing that God asks, no requires and calls us to do is to give control of our lives to Him. Does that mean stop living, of course not, but it does mean looking to Him for all that we need.

“I heard a pastor say once “God never misses.”

Wow did that ever hit home. How often did I, and do I find myself still doing sometimes, question God on why something was/is going on? A lot, and I would go out on a limb and say I’m not the only one. Who am I to think that I know what is best for me and my life, and more importantly, the people around me. Too often we are caught up in the, well its all about me and it only effects me, mentality. But it is quite the contrary, all too often it is our own actions that directly affect other people. There are plenty of examples of it in the bible to back it up as well. For example, look at the book of Joshua, specifically the battle at Ai. They we told by God to not take anything from the camp, but one guy did and because of it, they lost their next battle, lost men in the battle, and he and his family were killed for it. All because of the disobedience that he showed to the commands of God. We all have unfortunately done this though in some way, shape, of form; not completely listening to ALL of that God is telling us to do, because we think we know what is best for us.
One thing I have come to find in my own life, when I think that I knew better than God, is it was some of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever made. Looking back at those times, everything is always clearer in hind-sight, even when I thought I was looking for the long term, it was still a very short term. God reminds us of this in James 4:14: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

That really grabs your attention doesn’t it? I know it did for me. Even when we are thinking we are looking way ahead, it is still such a small amount of time. We all have times that were not sure why they are happening, or why we are lead to do a certain thing. Sometimes we can see the results immediately while other times it may be years until we see the fruition of our obedience come to the light. I know one thing that has always been an encouragement to me in Romans 5:3-5 “3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” And I know that all verses speak differently to all people, but let’s be real, who doesn’t go through suffering in their life? No one, and it is so comforting to those who know the Lord that even in our suffering He is using it to help mold us into the person we have been called to be since before the beginning of time.

So I encourage you that next time you are making a decision, big or small, look to the Lord. He even tells us in James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God is not a distant God, but rather a personal God who wants to help you. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to know the outcome of a situation? Then why not trust the One who not know only knows you inside and out, He made you, and He knows what lays ahead of you for the rest of your life. Trust Him, Trust Christ.

-God Bless,
Anthony

What do you want?

What is that one thing that you have always wanted to experience? Are you someone who has always wanted to take that game winning shot, have everyone watching you in your moment of glory? Have you been the one who has always wanted to do something big, like save peoples lives, or make a big impact in a region or country that needs help? Or are you someone who wants to strive for the best life and try and make the best of every opportunity that the Good Lord had put in your way during your life? The cool part about it is all of those are great things, fun things, events that we will look back on and say, "wow, that was an awesome time!" God has amazing plans for all of us, those "ear mark" days of our lives that we will never forget. Another amazing part about God is he gives us desires, that if we follow him he will give us more than we could have even imagined, even he told us! How sweet is that, even if he told us what he has planned for us, we wouldn't be able to believe him because it is so amazing!

This post is going to be a little different from my others, as im going from more of a personal/vulnerable stand point. Over my whole life time, I have been so pumped to be a dad, to be a husband, to be someone whom God has put me in the role of a head of household, my own household, my own family. If you know me at all, you know how much family, friends, and loved-ones mean to me. To have my own family is something that excites me so much! At the same time it worries me too: Am I ready (when that time comes)? Am I going to be a good dad? Am I going to be able to lead my family in the ways God has panned for me?

I guess its something that I will have to wait and see, but in the mean time i know i need to humble myself before the Lord, and learn how to be the man i need to be when that time comes. Ive been through a lot throughout my life, self-imposed and ridicule/crap from the outside as well (as im sure you have too), but the last thing i want to do it to not be able to lead my family, especially my children and have them go through the same things I have in my life. Its not that I dont wish that I could take some of it back, but if i did i dont know if i would have ended up where I am today? If those tough times i had in my early teen years, would I have ended up in the place, mind-set, and level of my walk with God that i am today? I am not sure, but i can tell you for sure I wouldnt want to find out!

All I can say though is I cant wait for the day I can cheer my kids on in whatever they do. I cant wait for the day that I can tuck them into bed, and pray with them. I cant wait to see them grow up and experience life, knowing they have a mom and dad that will always love them. But most importantly, I cant wait to see what the Lord has, not only in store for me, but for you lives and how they will impact their generation!

Take you spotlight moment and run with it (which is sweet)! Take confidence in your goal to help people in need, and dont let anyone stand in your way (thats also really freaking sweet)! For me, im going to look forward and prepare myself my the family God has in-store for me!

God Bless,

Anthony

Life is so fragile

Proverbs 31:8 - "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,..."


Let these be words that you carry with for the rest of your life. We have an amazing gift of eternal life with our heavenly Father and our Savior! We as the children of God, the chosen ones need to humble ourselves daily to the call that God has placed on our lives, so that we can help those with no voice. Whether that means for those whom are oppressed in foreign countries, or people who feel trapped within their own families. For those who are sick and feel like there is no hope, let Gods light shine through us, so they can see the ultimate hope in Christ!

(I will say from here on out I am not sure where this is going to go, so if you get confused, its ok to stop reading, lol)

It is so easy to get wrapped up in things of this world; be it work, school, people, material possessions, fill in the blank. I have been reminded these past 14 months about how easy it is to get caught up, not only in this world but especially in the negatives of this world. I do it all the time, and its human nature to get caught up. But think about the long run; family, friends, job..... but what happens when things change, what happens when the plan that God has for you doesn't follow the plan you had for yourself? What road are turning down, yours or his?

I heard in a sermon once, and ive made sure to never forget it, that we need to stop trying to make our plans fit Gods plan for our lives, and start living our life according to God's plan for us! If you know me at all you know my drive to help Livestrong and their fight to end cancer, or at least help those who are effected by it. I currently have 2 family friends who are battling their way through cancer, and it sucks. Its really motivated me to not be silent anymore and to speak for those who have no voice, or have no drive for their voice to be heard.

I want to tell people, whether they are in perfect health or have a few days left, or young or old, that there is nothing to fear. No matter how lonely, discouraged, sick, or lost you/they may be the best thing to remember is that if you know Christ you are never alone. In fact you have the best friend you could ever ask for. One that will never leave you, never forget you, and one that truly is always with you!

So I encourage to help those whom are in your life: family, friends, believers, non-believers and everyone inbetween.

God Bless,

Anthony

My How Things Can Change

Boy how things change. I realized that I hadn't written since summer and since then Ive been more busy than I had ever thought I would have been after college, some of my best friends have gotten engaged or married, and I have seen some of my closest friends and family go thought some major changes in their lives.

Christmas has just passed us and I can honestly say it was a good one! It was awesome to get together with family, and I realized how precious these relationships are! I was also able to spend some amazing time with some even more amazing friends. Between my friend Jim and his parents so graciously opening their home and cooking for us, our white elephant gift exchange, and just some amazing good laughs, it was a great way to kick off the Christmas season. Then The week before Christmas I had the opportunity to take a trip to Killington, Vermont with some more of my friends for a ski/snowboard trip. Even though our pastor swears Arizona (where he is from) is God's country, after seeing Vermont in December I would have to beg to differ. None the less it was a great way to start the week of Christmas!

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, one because of the family and friends aspect. But the other, and the most important to me, is the real reason for CHRISTmas, JESUS! The fact we are able to celebrate the fact that grace, mercy, and true love is just amazing for me. I think that its funny when I sit back an think about when I realize how blessed and thankful I am is not at Thanksgiving, its Christmas. It's time like these that make me realize how things truly have changed from when I was a kid.

When we are kids, at least here in the States, Christmas is about what toys, video games, board games, clothes, etc. we got for gifts. Yes we went to church with the family, but we were too excited for Santa! But now as I have gotten older and a little more mature I have been able to see what Christmas really means. It means treating people as we should, and that is how Jesus treated people while he was on Earth. I have noticed over the years that Christmas is limited not only to the season, or the gifts, but the kindness and love... some people only keep that around for the day of Christmas. The story of Christmas is the beginning of how Jesus lived his life and loved other, everyday!

That is what I have come to notice about myself this Christmas season, that is love everyone all the time. Love can sometimes be harsh, think about when your parents grounded you or something for some wrong that you did, loves doesn't always have to be embracing everything that someone does, but it is showing them you care. In that sense, do things out of the blue, pick up a persons tab from across the restaurant or behind you in line, even if you don't know them. It could truly change the way the act towards people, seeing that there are still people who care in this world.

But I think what this Christmas season has taught me the most is that through every circumstance, God is with us every step of the way. We sometimes tend to think that God is only with us when we are going through tough times, but i have learned not only from personal experiences, sermons, and watching loved ones go through some tough and demanding times; that God is right there the whole time. We have to remember that our plan as humans, its very short sighted, even when we think were thinking long-term. If you think im crazy, read for yourself these few sets of verses:

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 19:21

²¹ Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Romans 8:28

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}have been called according to his purpose.

Now I will say that I am not perfect, I am far from it and I will be the first to admit that, but this is something that I am trying my best to get better at. So I encourage you to look past what the surface may look like and realize, as long as you are seeking after the Lord, the situation is for His plan, and he has an amazing future planned for all of us, as long as we die to ourselves and seek after him. So whether it is family issues, relationships, a job, whatever you may be struggling with, have the confidence that God is right there with you. We just need to humble ourselves and remember that God sent his son, Jesus, so that even though were still sinners when he first loved us we can have a opportunity to receive the prize at the end our the road Gos has paved for us!

I know this entry probably jumped around, but I hope what had been put on my heart was able to speak to you in some way!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God Bless!

-Anthony

Fireworks, Lightning Bugs, and Summer Nights

Well here is real life, post graduation life is in full swing here in my life. After a wedding, 4 road trips, and the learning curve at work proving to be steeper than I thought (even though it is very fun) I am realizing that this "real world" life that people told me, and all college students, about is not that much different than college life, well except for the reality of bills. But in all reality there are still the same boring things you do at work instead of sitting in that boring class. There is still the down we had at school, expect for now we try and do "adult" things rather than the things we looked at as "stuff we did in college."

One night I was in my hot tub and realized that this is one of the most exciting times in my life. God has blessed me with an amazing opportunity to do things I've always wanted to do: work and be with my family, see parts of the country that I have never seen before, and all the while be able to keep my friends from school (I think I've been able to grow closer because I saw how much I took my interaction with them for granted), but most of all still grow closer to Him, to God himself while maturing as a "man." Here I am at the ripe age of 22, I still love to be active, am able to be active, and am able to enjoy the things I love with the people I love. I don't know how much more perfect that can be.

On the 4th of July I had the opportunity to be driving I-480 on the South East side of Cleveland. I was not expecting what I saw though...... I was able to see about 5-7 different firework shows at once. This coupled with what had been going through my mind recently on how I had been looking at my life in such a way that made each part of my life seem run-of-the-mill, seeing these beautiful firework shows all at once put into perspective how crazy life looks for our God and how amazing it may seem for him when we trust him and allow him to set his own fireworks off in our lives. Whether it is the size of an entire fireworks show for a big city that turn our lives upside down and we can do nothing but revel in his love, or little flickers of light, like the flashes of light from Lightning Bugs, or ones we take for granted every day, such as the love from the ones around us.

Even though it has only been a few months into this "grown-up life" as society calls is, I can see how it is easy to get lost, or to feel so small that its easy to lose yourself in this crazy, fast-paced society we live in. But all the same I also see why God puts us through the things we have to go through in life. When I look back at some of the toughest times in my life up until this point in my life, and even though during those times I knew it was preparing me for these times, I REALLY know now that I would not change them for the life of me. I know that I am not done with learning either, and I don't know what my future lessons will consist of, but I know that they are preparing me for the amazing things that have been planned for me.

Summer is an amazing time of the year. Its about the only time when people, working or out for summer break, are all in the same state of mind: Its nice out, lets enjoy this and enjoy each other. Whether it is on a vacation or at a wedding, on a beach or just in your backyard, enjoy with gratitude and humbleness the great memories that will carry with you though life. Laugh at the same jokes that you've heard a thousand times, keep up with those friends whom you may have lost touch with, spend that quality time with your family, and most of all be thankful for the time we have been given.

God Bless,

Anthony

Spring time

The first few nice days of spring are amazing anywhere you are, but the first few days of spring in Ohio have to be some of the most special. No more of the gloomy, cold, snowy days but rather we are able to enjoy that thing called the sun, shorts, and flip flops. And talk about people waking up from their winter time hibernation. Over the past week I have seen more smiles and heard more laughs than I think I have all year.

But the greatest part about this time of year is seeing everything else come back to life. Spring is the season of life. No more dreary days, no more boring same old, same old. Rather there is a new pep in your step and there seems to be a drive to go do something, or in other words to go LIVE rather than sit and do nothing except watch the next episode of your favorite TV show on Hulu. But what did we do to deserve such a nice start to spring, or even receive the amazingness that spring brings with it. We don't deserve it, and we know it, so we go about our lives happy, filled with joy and loving those around us.

The funny part of all of this is that this script has already been written (minus classes and watching Hulu) by God when Jesus came to Earth to save us. Listening to two sermons this past week about how we have been given this free gift and that is why Easter is so amazing and so special to all of us that have come to know Jesus, got me thinking. All we are, before Jesus, are people full of sin and no direction in life. I think we can all agree that we see people have a worldly direction all the time, the people with the 30 Million dollar houses, the people that have a different car for everyday of the week. Im not saying all of them don't know Jesus, some do, but for those who don't, what are they doing that is making an impact in eternity?

It hit me on Sunday that I deserve nothing! I don't deserve the love from my friends and family, I do not deserve to be graduating and have a job lined up while there are countless people out there with no job. Heck I didn't deserve the opportunity of attending college, let alone a good one. The list could go on and on for the rest of time of things that I don't/didn't deserve. But the amazing thing is that I have been given these things because of the love that it given to me every day that I wake up by God! But the love that he shows me through all of this doesn't even touch the love that Jesus showed to us by sacrificing himself on the cross, so that we may be able to receive eternal life, the way it should have been, a life with God. But God also knew that unless there was some kind of sacrifice, we would never be right with God, therefore we would never be able to experience him the way he made us to. So he came to Earth, in the form of man, knowing that he would one day take all the punishment from the past, the present, and the future! And at that moment, it was done, the battle had been won and we had been given the best gift of all, LIFE! True life, life that would know no pain, no suffering, no end! I can't imagine the amount of pain that Jesus was feeling walking up that mountain. I think of how badly I feel when I commit one sin, but to take on all the sin, of all time, and take punishment of all sin, after knowing no sin for your entire life had to be some of the worst pain ever. Also to know that he had the power to take himself off of that cross and prove to everyone watching who he really was, but Jesus stayed there and died for us, for you, for me. Thats love.

This past week has really made me think of what I have, what I do, and what I receive that I don't deserve. Realizing that stuff is good, but then using what has been given to us is what really make our lives here on this Earth matter. So what are you going to do? Are you going to realize what you have but continue to live in winter, or are you going to spread the feeling of life to others and make the decision to live in SPRING!

Happy Easter and God Bless,

-Anthony