Devotions

Nov 2nd, 2011 5 Comments

“Tebowing”!

Have you heard the new word coined in the sport’s world just last week? Much like “bling bling” became authenticated several years back, the new one brewing is, “Tebowing”.

Tebowing

(vb) to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.

I’m not sure if it’s official yet, but I’m sending my vote in to Mr. Webster.

Tim Tebow is the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He’s frequently ridiculed by most of the media and people who think they know something about football. (You know those Monday morning quarterbacks who know it all but have never played a down in the NFL?) They criticize his mechanics and question whether he should even be a QB in the pros. After leading his team to victory a few Sundays ago, he immediately took a knee and prayed while everyone else around him was going crazy, celebrating the win. Hence the word; “Tebowing”.

I can’t comment on his technique or athletic abilities since I’ve never played a down. (I still have dreams though.) However, may I strongly suggest to the world of sports but especially to those of us who are believers. One thing for sure is that we all could use a lot more “Tebowing” these days. Our families, marriages, schools, churches, communities, work places and entire nation would be much better off if we all stopped “occupying” and started “Tebowing”. (Pun intended.)

We are becoming a nation of “finger pointing” instead of taking responsibility for what we’ve brought upon ourselves. It’s time that we start taking inventory of our own lives, stop blaming everyone else and becoming the change that we want to see. Once we do, we will quickly recognize that most of the healing that needs to take place begins within ourselves.

2 Chronicles 7:14 puts it plainly: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Are you sick? Is your marriage in trouble? Do you need a job? Are you feeling lonely, depressed and don’t know what to do. Are you having problems with your teenager? Maybe your teenager thinks you’re the problem? Perhaps things are exceptional in your life and you just need to “take a knee” to thank God. Whatever your situation may be, take time out and start “Tebowing”.

Nov 2nd, 2010 9 Comments

COLLAGE

We’ve begun working on our new studio project. As we’ve been praying, fasting, writing and planning for this new record to be released in the spring of 2011, we’ve discussed what the title should be. After 21 years of doing this full time, it’s difficult not to be redundant or come up with a “catchy” title just for the sake of marketing.

During one of our brainstorming discussions, Sam suggested, “COLLAGE”. Two weeks later, we agreed that it fit perfectly. One meaning for COLLAGE; an assemblage or occurrence of diverse elements or fragments in unlikely or unexpected juxtaposition. In Katina terms, different experiences, victories and defeats that seem unrelated, yet work together to make a beautiful picture of the overall journey of one’s life. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:11; “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end”.

Your life, no matter what you’ve been through, going through or are about to experience can be a beautiful picture of what God intended for it in the first place. No weapon formed against you will prosper if you continue to trust that in the end, God is in control. The picture of your life is not yet complete. Every day’s challenges, failures, victories and triumphs all play a part in the COLLAGE of your life.

Continue to trust Jesus. He is making things beautiful in His time!

Your fellow canvas,

Joe

Jun 10th, 2010 13 Comments

What are you PURSUING?

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly going and never getting there? Do you tell yourself, “If I could just get that, or finish this, then I can rest”? I’m a “check list” kind of guy. But somehow, the lists never end. The more I accomplish, the more there is to be done. Just when I feel like the task is complete, another assignment pops up. I’m so thankful for my wife. She is constantly balancing me and challenging me to make sure that my “achiever” theme doesn’t keep me from pursuing what really matters.

I know, it’s pretty elementary, but things cannot replace God! They never have, they never will! We live in a world where people are constantly trying to fill a vacuum in their souls that can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ himself. Our careers, relationships, possessions, accomplishments, can be good things. But at the end of the day, they will never complete us. My Pastor Tim Johnson often said, “It’s okay to have things, as long as things don’t have you”!

Psalm 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

The deer isn’t satisfied by a sip or cup of water. No, they’re always looking for “STREAMS”! We must pursue God in that same manner. He wants to quench us with His WORD! He has streams of joy, peace, patience, wisdom, divine direction, power, humility that are waiting for us to drink from. It is a proven physical fact that many of us turn to food to fill a hunger when really we are just dehydrated and need water. Don’t ware your soul out by chasing vanity when what you really need is to drink from God’s word!

Our soul’s thirst for God, the “Living God”! There are many gods. Whatever you think about the most, is your god. Whatever occupies most of your time might be your god. However, there is only one true GOD! His name is Jesus! Seek Him and you will find him. Pursue Him! Run hard after Him! He will satisfy and quench the deep hunger of your soul. He is not hiding from you. He longs to be with you. If you’re a “check list” person, make certain that He is at the top of your list and keep Him there everyday!

Pursuing Him,

Joe

Apr 22nd, 2010 26 Comments

Gone Too Soon?

22 years ago today, my Mom passed away. Yesterday at home alone, I decided to take up my son Josh’s favorite pastime, listening to his Itunes collection on the family computer. The first song that came on was Michael Jackson‘s “Gone too soon”. Believe it or not, I had a spiritual moment right in the middle of the kitchen. Waves of emotion flooded my soul as I reminisced about the lady who taught me to honor God and to love people. I wondered, “What my life would be like if my sweet Mother were still alive?”

As the lyrics of the song continued, “Like a loss of sunlight on a cloudy afternoon, gone too soon. Like a castle built upon a sandy beach, gone too soon. Here one day, gone one night. Like a sunset, dying with the rising of the moon, gone too soon”. It occurred to me that the message of the song, “Gone too soon” depends on one’s perspective. You see, if we live life to the fullest, not begrudging our past or afraid of the future, when our time comes, it won’t be too soon. I guarantee you, Mom doesn’t want to come back. She’s spending eternity where we all hope to be someday. “Gone too soon”? From a selfish perspective, yes. From her’s….absolutely not! Why? Because she made the most of every moment. She engaged the “NOW”! Each day of life was a chance to love God and serve people! Every setback was just another opportunity for a comeback!

-Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

-Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

-I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Our day is coming. Each of us will face eternity sooner or later. But until that day, we must live in the “NOW“! Be in the moment! In the words of Tim Mcgraw, “Live like you were dying”. Because guess what? We all are! Don’t waste another second regretting your past. You can learn from it, but you don’t have to live in it. Plan wisely for the future, but don’t be consumed or worried about it. Remember, yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it “the present”.

Better days are definitely ahead! However, your greatest day is today! Enjoy it. Celebrate it! Give love like you’ve never given it before. Speak words of life to everyone you encounter. Forgive those who’ve done you wrong. Don’t hold back, be your best! It’s who God made you to be!

In the NOW,

Joe

Mar 11th, 2009 17 Comments

The Purpose of a Dream

In New York Times best seller ” Purpose Driven Life”, Rick Warren gives us one of the best insights about purpose. It is this, God created everyone with a purpose, and I believe that in addition to that He created us with a purpose to dream! Here are a few thoughts that we want to leave with you today as you think about the purpose of your dream.

First of all, you must know your dream! The best way to know your dream, is to what the dream giver(God) has purposed for you from the beginning of time. One of my favorite passages is in Jer. 29:11. He knows the plans that he has for us are plans that will prosper us and not harm us. I am so thankful that God has it all mapped out for me as I continue to submit to His plan, and know his purpose for my life.

Secondly, we’ve got to “Walk the Dream”. A dream is only a dream until you grab a hold of God’s promises for your life. We have to walk into our dreams by faith, which absolutely requires us to put forth some action i.e strategic planning, research, developing your strengths etc. When we walk by faith and not by sight, we are saying “God even though I may not see it right now, I know you are able to fulfill everything you want in me”.

Last but not least, we must pass on the legacy of a dream. When I think of words like Legacy & Dream, I am reminded of the memory of my late father in law, Roger Ely, who went home to be with Jesus two weeks ago. Even in the last couple of years of his life, Roger who was 73 yrs. old, pursued every dream and goal that he had. He was a man that believed he could do anything through perseverance, determination, and hard work. My five sons and I are are so blessed to have had a true hero who taught us what it means to be a man of God, dream big, but most importantly live life to the fullest! What a man! What a legacy!

My prayer for all of us today, is that we know the dream, walk the dream, and at the end of the day we can live the reality of our dreams so that a rich legacy will be passed on to future generations. That is the “Purpose of a Dream”.

-John

Feb 25th, 2009 44 Comments

The Dream Series

Are you a dreamer? Do you have a dream? What does your dream house look like? How about your dream car? Do you have a dream vacation spot? Maybe a dream job? In these challenging times, many of those dreams have been dashed, abandoned, fallen between the cracks and instantaneously put on hold. For the next several weeks, we want to take you on a course called “The Dream Series”! More important than any of the dreams mentioned above, we will discuss and discover how to live your “Dream Life”!

Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us life, and that we might have it to the full. In other words, He came to give us “The Dream Life”! Contrary to what many of us have been taught, this life is not only promised to the elite, the rich, the sophisticated or anyone else who the media tells us is deserving of it. It is for anyone who dares to “Dream”!

What about you? Will you dream again? Don’t settle for less! Receive the best of what God has already promised to anyone who will believe. In the words of James Dean; “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today!”

Feb 4th, 2009 38 Comments

On Your Mark

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Philippians 3:12-14: So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Stick with me friend. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. (The Message)

In every race, there is a starting line. It is important for each runner to find their mark. I remember watching a specific race on television and one of the runners mistakenly tried to line up in the wrong lane. Obviously the race didn’t start until he found “his mark”. Have you found “YOUR” mark?

With the world’s population of almost six and a half billion, no two people have the same fingerprints. Not even identical twins. Yet another example of how special we are to God. We are the apple of His eye. He delicately designed each of us in His own image and yet blessed us with unique traits. What an amazing God! There is only one of you! There is nobody else like you! Celebrate your uniqueness. God has a perfect plan….. Just for you! Jeremiah 29:11 tells us of those plans. He wants to give you hope, a future and prosperity. He wants your race to go well! It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done. You can learn from the past but you don’t have to live in it.

I remember hearing at a young age, “You can be anything you want to be”! That is not true. Each of us has individual God-given strengths. We must recognize what those are and allow God to mold us as we serve Him. Still, it is up to you to make the right choices. You have to get on “YOUR” mark. You have to decide if you’ll submit to God and His word. You have to be disciplined to run, to stay in the race and to finish the course. It will not always be easy. Sometimes you’ll have to run uphill. Sometimes the course may seem lonely. At times, you might be running and not see what’s around the corner. There will be hurdles trying to trip you up. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up! God promises us in Hebrews 13:5 that He would never leave us or forsake us.

Our nephew Tavita Pritchard is the quarterback for the University of Stanford. Two years ago he led the Cardinals to a made-for-Hollywood win over then #1 USC Trojans. It was a story for the ages. Some called it the biggest upset in college football history. As I watched Tavita being interviewed shortly after the game, I was so proud of him. Someone from ESPN asked him, “What were you thinking out there?” “What were you doing?” Tavita responded, “We just do what we do?” In essence, that’s what God asks of you and me. You do you! Let me do me!

Find “YOUR” mark! Stay focused on the goal. Run your race with faith and discipline. Encourage those you see running this same course. Remember, God who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

Until next week,
Faith for the Race!