Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#HumilityAlwaysWin

Former President Bush signed, The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (“NCLB”) into law on January 8, 2002 with overwhelming bipartisan support. In a nutshell, NCLB was the product of a collaboration between civil rights and business groups, as well as both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill and the Bush administration, which sought to advance American competitiveness and close the achievement gap between poor and minority students and their more advantaged peers.

I’m not going to delve into the various pros and cons of this piece of legislation because in 2015 the NCLB act was succeeded by a new law called Every Student Succeeds Act (“ESSA”).

I believe the principles of both of these acts were grounded in the foundation that Jesus built nearly 2,000 years ago.

In Luke 15:3-7, Jesus shared the parable of the lost sheep. He said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

I believe this fable helped to influence both the former NCLB and the now current ESSA! God doesn’t want anyone of His children to be left behind. 2 Peter 3:9 confirms, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep to show that the Kingdom of God is accessible to all, even those who were sinners or strayed from God’s path. Jesus stresses that when the shepherd finds the lost sheep He rejoices over it more than the 99 who did not go astray.

The reason why we are here on this planet in a time such as this is to do our part fulfilling the great commission (Matt 28:20). No ONE should be left behind and this declaratory statement is what fuels my purpose to make it to heaven and to take as many “ONES” with me!

Will you join me?

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#NoOneLeftBehind

The words written in the meme below is on point on so
many levels! Too often, we forget that faith is more than words; it words and works combined. Mistakenly, James 2:14–26 is sometimes taken out of context in an attempt to create a works-based system of righteousness, but that is contrary to many other passages of Scripture. James is not saying that our works make us righteous before God but that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. Faith in Christ always results in good works.

We must hold strong to our faith because it is the very thing that leads us towards the things we hope for. It’s the thing that keeps us moving forward, even if that movement seems slow and uneventful. It’s of no coincidence that faith is designed to always spur us on to obedience in Christ and to become more like Him. Essentially, this is the “evidence of things that we do not see,” (Hebrews 11:1).

In most cases, God will never do what we can do, but He will always do what we can’t do! Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that, “it’s impossible for us to please God without faith” and pleasing God happens when we have faith and apply it with action. Our walk of faith is a lifelong journey, and there’s two things that I know about it without a shadow of a doubt. The first is that no one else can run our personal race of faith. The second is that truly walking by faith and not by sight produces present and eternal fruit, all of which pleases God and brings him glory.

Brothers and sisters, it’s now time to dig that hole!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#FaithAndWorks

God wants to use you for greater works!! It doesn’t matter if your 12 or 99 years old. God designed, purposed and equipped you to help build His kingdom here on earth!

With that said, why do so many people think that God can’t or won’t use them? There are a plethora of reasons people is to justify being an inactive Christian, but I believe the number one reason is that most people think God don’t wants to use them because of their imperfections.

Most of us have seen the meme where it lists a few imperfect people God used to do great things: “Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Samson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David was an adulterer and a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once), Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer, Lazarus was dead!”

I could in my message right there but, I personally submit to you that my own past and present failures have caused me to shrink back from doing anything significant. Much less acting on a bold plan God assigned to me for His glory.

However, the Bible reminds me, the righteous can be as bold as lions (Proverbs 28:1). If you’re a believer, you’ve been made righteous. It’s not from your own works; it’s a gift of God (Eph 2:8). The good news is that you too can be bold because of Jesus’ righteousness!

My suggestion for anyone struggling with their kingdom calling is to accept their kingdom boldness in spite of any earthly shame. The shame can be replaced with a bold fire to be used by God.

Again, the good news is that God wants to use you! He wants to manifest His magnificent glory in and through your life to a hurting and dying world. You just have to remond yourself that your imperfections don’t disqualify your, rather they propel you to do greater works!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#GodWantsToUseYou

#IWantToBeUsedByGod

The caption in the meme below describes in a nutshell what Jesus sacrificed for us on the cross. Romans 5:8 reminds us that, “God demonstrated His [endless] love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Imagine for a moment; what if God did to us what we do to Him on a daily basis? I can assure you that it wouldn’t be pleasant. I believe this was one of the reasons Peter penned these words in I Peter 3:9, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing [humility, forgiveness and grace]. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you His blessing.”

I don’t know about you, but for me personally, learning to extend grace toward others and forgive unconditionally has been one of the most important lessons for me to consistently embrace.

I will submit to you that God is still teaching me this lesson. I often fall short in my relationships and responsibilities with my family or co-workers. However, the Spirit of conviction quickly comes in and reminds me to humbly ask for their forgiveness.

Likewise I must be forgiving to my wife, children and fellow staff when they fail. In the role of a leader I have endured some very difficult experiences that could have led to holding a grudge or developing a root of bitterness. These truths of showing humility and extending forgiveness and grace to others and not harboring a root of bitterness have preserved and protected me.

So for me, the choice is transparently clear, and extremely serious. I am determined not to fall short of extending the same grace God shows me to others and as for you reading this message today; I invite you to never forget that Christ forgave you far beyond what you deserve, and He also forgive others in the same way.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#WhileWeWereYetSinners

God uses your broken pieces and turns them into His masterpiece. God is the one who created you, therefore no matter how you feel or what you’ve been through, God can mold you back to your best piece. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

I am learning to embrace that brokenness is a blessing because it puts me back on the road breakthrough. Scripture promises that God remains with those who are broken and makes them stronger than before. In Isaiah 61:3, God promises to give those who mourn and are broken “a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair and in their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.”

So my beloved masterpieces, remember you’re not too __ (fill in your own blank) for God to love. Therefore, focus on the Artist and not the canvas! We were created in God’s image and we are indeed a piece of the Master!!

Father God, thank You for creating us in Your wonderful image and calling us Your masterpiece. Holy Spirit, please help us to live humbly, confidently, and boldly like the masterpieces You created us to be. Thank You for using all of our broken pieces and turning them into something beautiful! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#ShatterButNotBroken

#HisMasterpiece

Thank you God for never leaving us stranded, abandoned, or alone. I love how David described God’s commitment to His people in his hindsight reflection scribed in Psalm37:25. He said, “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”

I’m going to keep this message short and invite you to read the caption in the picture below. My brothers and sisters, I beseech you to remember that today is the day the Lord has made (118:24), the Lord will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), and He will always have your back even when don’t feel His presence (John 20:28)!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#GodGotYourBack

In John 16:33 Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart [Be Strong]! I have overcome the world.”

Undoubtedly, Jesus is the only person to walk the face of the earth and not sin. He is the truest example of an overcomer. The Greek word most often translated “overcomer” stems from the word nike which, according to Strong’s Concordance, means “to carry off the victory. The verb implies a battle” and Ephesians 6:12 confirms this battle is not against flesh and blood [people], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

The good news is that we can rejoice because Jesus defeated Satan in the garden of Gethsemane and He sealed the deal on the cross at Calvary! Therefore, despite the trouble we experience in this world , we can be confident and courageous based on the knowledge that Jesus Christ has overcome the world. As Christians, our lives are “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). We are born of God (1 John 5:1), and “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4; see also 1 John 2:13–14).

True peace is ours in Jesus (John 14:27) and this peace is what enables us to be of good cheer because we’ve learned or we’re presently learning how to trust the Father in every situation (Romans 8:28). We don’t have to live in fear because we are secure in His love (1 John 4:18). We know that, if God is on our side, no one can stand against us (Romans 8:31). And nothing can separate us from His love—no trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, poverty, danger, or conflict (Romans 8:35–39).

Hallelujah, nothing in this world can harm us because we will always triumph through our Lord Jesus Christ (Overcomer) in the end!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#BeOfGoodCheer

I have been stuck before and one of the most difficulty things to do when your stuck is to get unstuck. The apostle Paul offers an amicable and viable solution for getting unstuck in Philippians 3:13-14. He said, “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and pressing toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

The word forgetting in this passage of text means “no longer caring for, neglecting, refusing to focus on.” As you most likely know, our memories store millions of pieces of information gained through our senses since birth. Some experiences are impossible to forget, and any effort to forget them only makes them more prominent. Paul is not advising a total memory wipe; he is telling us to focus on what the present and the future has to offer, rather than what the past has taken or stolen.

Some of you reading this message know that nothing hinders present service quite like being mired in another time. When we model Paul’s forgetfulness we literally count the past as nothing. We get unstuck and we cut the chord(s) that tie us to that bygone moments. We refuse to allow past successes to inflate our pride and we refuse to allow past failures to deflate our self-worth. We leave it behind and instead adopt our new identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Here’s a bit of good news and confirmation for you to ponder; if God chooses not to remember your past sins (Hebrews 8:12), you too can choose to set them aside as well and focus on the present and embrace the future He promises to those who love Him (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 2:10).

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#Unstuck

#YourLatterWillBeGreater