You keep the fire burning with a thankful heart

During this thanksgiving season we all reflect on what we are thankful for. In most cases, I'm just grateful for how the Lord has blessed me. But this year I am reminded of the time when the Lord ignited my heart and the Lion came out on 10/11/2010. That was the night where Bill Johnson said: "God lights the fire on the altar, it's the priests that keep it burning". I've been burning ever since.

So I asked the Lord, "Lord I want to burn for you, but I want to stay thankful for what you have given me. How do I do that?" Immediately he showed me that you stay thankful by recognizing what you have so you can put it on the altar. This really shook my core because he removed a question I had. "How do I keep the altar burning without striving"? Its by staying thankful for what he has already given you. He answered 2 questions I had with one response. That's my papa :)

I can now go back to everything he has given me this last year and put it on the altar so he can burn it with his fire. And like burning coal with heat and pressure, a diamond is formed. A diamond is not meant to be hidden, but its meant to shine its beauty to the world. When you put on the altar what he has given you, he gives it back to you from the altar with a greater value.

If you think about it, it's ironic that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. We give thanks in November and in Christmas people give back. Christmas is about Jesus, but it's also about giving. From God's perspective, He gave himself to us so we could have a lie with Him. That's the best diamond I can ever have in my life.

So this year I am thankful for my wife, kids, parents, brother and sister. I am thankful for my friends and church family. I am thankful for my job and home. But most of all I am thankful for His love.

I will keep dreaming

Today at Bethel Atlanta Scott Thompson touched dreams... He brought such a timely word to the body, but personally he was talking my language. Then tonight while relaxing, I saw a Honda commercial title "Into the Unknown". Its part of the Dream The Impossible Documentary Series. This commercial displays so much kingdom principles.

One key scene in the commercial really stood out to me, is when the the mountain climber says she feels more at home when she is climbing even though there is great danger around her. I feel this is the place we need to be. For some of us to risk your finances to pursue your business, but could loose everything. For others is could be leaving a high paying job, and going to ministry.What ever dream is where your home is.

Each of these explorers, has an attitude to reach for the impossible. And once you reach that place, and new level is created to reach for. This is what pushes great inventors, explorers, and pioneers.

I was born to dream since I can remember, and I will continue to pursue my dreams so that my family and the next generation can go even higher.

To Honor

In the last 8 years I have had the pleasure to serve along side some of the greatest leaders in the church.

What I have found is that it is easy to honor people when you get along with them, agree with them, and admire their character. It is really put to the test though when you are in situations where you disagree with them, when they make mistakes, and when they let you down.

The bible says honor thy father and mother, and you will prolong your life. Why does it say that? Does that mean we have to do everything our parents say? Does that mean we don't have our own opinion? I don't believe that is the case.

I believe that God chose parents to teach us about honor because they are the first leaders of our life. They are the ones closest to us. They were there for you, when you needed them. However, you also knew their mistakes. You knew their dirt. You knew what happened behind closed quarters where no one else could see. As a result of this, the kids can take an attitude of rebellion or dishonor. This reminds me of Genesis 9:20 where Canaan uncovered his fathers sin. When Noah found out he cursed him. Each of us, have a circle of trust. Our first circle is our family, then your friends, and leaders, etc. Each layer has a greater of trust, but it also reveals history, and dirt about that person.

Sometimes when we get to know people very well, we can be ammuned to the grace they carry in thier life. Then when you know their problems we then discredit what they carry. Which leads to dishonor. This is a big test that everyone will go threw. Do you think this is what happened to Jesus? Remember he grew up with the people, and he taught at the synagogues since he was a child. But when he came to show why he was here people thought immediately that he was just Jesus from Nazareth. They only saw him as someone they grew up with. The could not see who he really was.

Now I am not say I have not fallen in this area in my life, but I can honestly say I have constenly stayed preety focused on honoring people. One way I have done is by looking from a heavens perspective. When we look at it from their, I see them a sons and daughters of king. When you see it that way you tend to watch on how you treat people no matter how close you are to them. If someone were to dishonor my kids, you can rest asure I will not let that go. If my kid made a mistake and her best friend emabrased her, I would first question why would you embaresed her instead of lifting her up as a bestfriend would.

So what do we do when we know each others mistakes? The key is confrontation. Confrontation is a big deal in honor. I will blog about this later, but when honoring someone and you need to confront them, the goal for that person is to leave after being confronted empowered instead of being ashamed.

Its easy to honor people we do not know, but there is greater value when we honor the closest people to us.