Today, I had the privilege of being part of the "capital C" CHURCH....It was a very surreal experience. God taught me a lesson that will ever be etched in my heart. As my wife and I headed to a very special place hidden away behind iron bars and doors locked with electronic keys, I prayed God would open my heart to be used the way He would need. I prayed God would help me talk to young people who have been through more in their short lives than most of us will ever go through in a lifetime. I prayed God would use me to reach these young people, to let them know there was a group of men and women who love them, who pray for them, and who will be what the bible says a "Christian should be"....
Little did I know, God had other plans in mind....
As I stood before young men and women, I poured out my heart. I shared why I believe God is the one true God. I told them what Jesus did for us on the cross. I told them about being arrested and how God used that experience to change my life. I showed them tattoos I have to symbolize the experiences I have had. I told them how there were 2 others hanging on crosses beside Jesus.....One of which we assume didn't make it, One we know would be with Jesus in paradise.....I stood before young men and women who are in a different world than most of you reading this could ever imagine. You are probably thinking, "here he goes again....telling me how bad everyone else has it...."
I am glad you are thinking this way....Please continue to read....
As we ended our time together, my prayer over the group was a prayer of heartache and mercy for the kids and staff. It was a prayer for guidance and the mighty hand of God to protect this group. When we finished praying, all of the group said amen together...
I walked over to the administrator in charge and explained how, as a non-profit, we would like to help with shoes and hoodies for each and every child in their care. I told her to forward anyone who wanted to donate moneys to their program our way and we would make sure they got what they needed....
Then it happened....
I was told of a church wanting to help provide items for the young men and women...As we spoke back and forth, God opened my heart by what was said next.....
"We would like to get this group healthy enough to get them all to church."
I felt the Holy Spirit open my heart and mouth at the same time when I replied.....
"We need to get the church healthy enough to come out here."
If you are reading this blog, you may very well be reading it on Easter morning....the very day we as Christians should celebrate our existence.
Why have we allowed ourselves to be programmed into thinking we have to get healthy before we can come to church to hear what God has for us???
Why have we programmed the world we live in, you have to be healthy before they can set foot in our doors???
I have been thinking about this all day long...
Jesus gives us an example of what the Church is supposed to look like...What I read in my bible, shows me Jesus went where the people were....
All of His 12 disciples were chosen....asked personally be Jesus...the records I see show a Savior going out and finding fishers of men...are we doing that?
Look at how Jesus' at the age of 12-13 was in the temple talking to the priests...He went to them...are we doing that?
Look at the Samaritan woman, she was not who he should have been hanging out with all by himself, but he went through Samaria just to have an intentional meeting at the well....are we doing that?
Look at when people were healed of blindness, leprocy, lameness, or death....All show a Savior who went to people who needed what only He has...are we doing that?
Look at when he taught His disciples lessons on the sea, he went to them, walking on the water....Just to save Peter as he sank and teach them lesson after lesson...are we doing that?
He didn't sit in a sanctuary with high tech videography, awesome music, great speakers, and a program taught out of the next best book that some of the worlds best theologian has written(I love it too)....are we doing that?
He went and did what He was called to do....When it was all said and done, He even carried His own cross to His own death...
After he was risen from the grave, He still was on the move...talking and sharing what He had with everyone around Him...
I'm not knocking the church I attend or any other church in general....I am knocking the lack of willingness and the programming we have allowed ourselves to become subjected to...to busy, to hard, need some time to myself, need some time for my family....all excuses I have used too....
It's Easter....What are you going to do about it?
Maybe, as a church, we should get healthy and go find the unhealthy and share what only God has....
I know as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord....
Justin Presley
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Showing posts with label journeys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journeys. Show all posts
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Just the plain simple truth.....
This blog isn't a feel good one, so if you can't handle the truth, stop right now....just a warning...
I am sitting in my living room at 12:02 am in complete darkness listening to the kids tv blaring as they sleep, the wind is whispering outside the windows, a humidifier is buzzing down the hall, and I can't sleep. My mind is racing in several different directions. Occasionally the sound of a car races by my house. I'm wondering why I feel so lost. I have felt like something in my life isn't as it should be. I am not doing anything wrong. I am just so overwhelmed with ideas and strategy I can't move. It is like I am frozen in time and just getting lost in the shuffle and hustle of baseball tournaments, tball games, end of year programs, field trips, business decisions, ministry decisions, working out, and anything else you throw at us on a daily basis. I know none of you reading this feel the same way.
I met with a dear friend of mine this week and we discussed all that was going on with our lives. We talked about all the things interfering with what we should be doing. I began to feel a strong sense of stress and conviction in my heart.
You see, the reason I am so out of sorts, God isn't where he should be in my life. I have allowed time, effort, energy, and desire to get in the way of His place in my life. I haven't been the spiritual leader in my home that I should be. My quiet time has been taken over by sleep and car rides for work. My scriptural desire has been replaced with strategic planning sessions and a desire of success. I have replaced God with DVR recordings and conversations about business decisions. I haven't done it on purpose, but it has happened. My wife and I have replaced good conversation about the direction in our marriage with deciding where the kids are going so we can make all the events we have placed at such a huge priority in life.
Where is God in all this? I think we have just set him on the shelf and forgot Him. I truly believe we have done this without malice towards our beliefs and love for Him. We just have gotten too busy.
Tonight I laid in bed and prayed to God to help me. To guide me. To give me the courage to make the changes necessary in my life to be what I told Him I would be when I answered the call He has on my life. I begged His forgiveness. I asked Him to work in Heather's heart and my heart and bring us closer to Him and each other. I pleaded with Him to help me stand as a man of God in front of my children no matter where we are. I prayed he would give me the courage to leap and become the leader He needs me to be outside of the home. I asked Him to guide me in the decisions I need to make.
Maybe you feel the same way I do....But tonight, God has taken over and I am resting in the shadow of the Almighty...
It is time for us to do what God has called us to do...No matter how crazy it may seem....
and show him my salvation.”
I am sitting in my living room at 12:02 am in complete darkness listening to the kids tv blaring as they sleep, the wind is whispering outside the windows, a humidifier is buzzing down the hall, and I can't sleep. My mind is racing in several different directions. Occasionally the sound of a car races by my house. I'm wondering why I feel so lost. I have felt like something in my life isn't as it should be. I am not doing anything wrong. I am just so overwhelmed with ideas and strategy I can't move. It is like I am frozen in time and just getting lost in the shuffle and hustle of baseball tournaments, tball games, end of year programs, field trips, business decisions, ministry decisions, working out, and anything else you throw at us on a daily basis. I know none of you reading this feel the same way.
I met with a dear friend of mine this week and we discussed all that was going on with our lives. We talked about all the things interfering with what we should be doing. I began to feel a strong sense of stress and conviction in my heart.
You see, the reason I am so out of sorts, God isn't where he should be in my life. I have allowed time, effort, energy, and desire to get in the way of His place in my life. I haven't been the spiritual leader in my home that I should be. My quiet time has been taken over by sleep and car rides for work. My scriptural desire has been replaced with strategic planning sessions and a desire of success. I have replaced God with DVR recordings and conversations about business decisions. I haven't done it on purpose, but it has happened. My wife and I have replaced good conversation about the direction in our marriage with deciding where the kids are going so we can make all the events we have placed at such a huge priority in life.
Where is God in all this? I think we have just set him on the shelf and forgot Him. I truly believe we have done this without malice towards our beliefs and love for Him. We just have gotten too busy.
Tonight I laid in bed and prayed to God to help me. To guide me. To give me the courage to make the changes necessary in my life to be what I told Him I would be when I answered the call He has on my life. I begged His forgiveness. I asked Him to work in Heather's heart and my heart and bring us closer to Him and each other. I pleaded with Him to help me stand as a man of God in front of my children no matter where we are. I prayed he would give me the courage to leap and become the leader He needs me to be outside of the home. I asked Him to guide me in the decisions I need to make.
Maybe you feel the same way I do....But tonight, God has taken over and I am resting in the shadow of the Almighty...
It is time for us to do what God has called us to do...No matter how crazy it may seem....
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
My Shadow….His Lesson…
As I got into the truck with Shawn to head to Dallas, I was nervous as a cat on a tin roof. When we arrived at DFW, I was still nervous about what was going ot happen. What would these people be like? How would the plane ride be? Would it be hot there? Would the people like me? Would I really see what I sought out to see? All these questions were running through my mind and I couldn't help but wonder. Then I started meeting each person I would be sharing this experience with one by one. I worried about being accepted by the group and worried I would be too much for them to handle. Boarding the plane was the final straw. I knew I was going to Honduras. I was going to leave my comfortable life with my beautiful wife and 4 awesome kids to go serve in a foreign country.
Walking off the bus will be a moment I never forget. My eyes gazed at an amazing landscape. One where dogs, cows, vultures, and humans live side by side. I looked at the people who work and live in the dump as they formed 2 lines for the food they were going to receive. I found myself with feelings of anger at the fact they were even there. I found myself with feelings of sadness that we as humans have allowed this to happen.
I held back tears as I saw young children walking to the back of the truck to get a piece of chicken and a fruit drink. I wondered what their story was or if I even wanted to know. As they reached for their chicken, I noticed the dirt and filth on their hands and clothes. I noticed the miss matched shoes falling off their feet because they didn't fit or were just worn out.
I thought about all my family had and I felt guilty. I felt like I had never felt before. I stood in the back of a pickup watching person after person lifted their hands, covered in dirt and grime with finger nails black with filth reaching for some food and I was angry. I was angry that humans had allowed this…We had turned our back and allowed this to be…I was mad the country was allowing people to live like this and not do anything about it…All I could do was watch and pray…As I walked off by myself to wipe the tears I had falling off my cheeks, I noticed my shadow in front of me on the ground of the dump.
I was there. I wasn't sitting in the comfort of my office, home, car, or restaurant. I wasn't talking about what we should buy my kids for Christmas. In that moment, I wasn't worried about what I was going to eat for dinner. I wasn't worried about what pair of shoes I was going to wear. I wasn't thinking about anything except what God needed me to do to change this type of situation….I wasn't thinking about how I could make my life better, I was thinking of how I could make others life better….
If you have read this far, you will probably get mad in the next few sentences….
1. You have more than you need.
2. You have more than you deserve.
3. You need to give more to others.
4. You have a responsibility as a human to help others in need.
5. If you are a "Christian", you have a command from God to treat others better than yourself.
6. Your children have more than they need.
7. If your kids can't tell you what they want for Christmas, think about what that means…
These statements are what went through my mind as I looked at my shadow when I was standing in the dump. Then I looked up and saw the beauty of Gods love. I saw God in the eyes of the people living and working in the dump for less than $1.00 to $4.00 a day. You see, I went to Honduras to do what I thought was mission work for others and in the last day, I finally saw what Gods mission for us really is. He tells us to love others more than we love ourselves. We get hung up on all the details of music or no music, shorts or no shorts, hymnals or no hymnals, names on church buildings and whether or not they are the right church because they believe the right thing, doctrine, family, how much money we have in the bank, and the list goes on….
Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of these, You have done to me…"
What have you done for others…..
When the plane touched down in Tegus, my life would never be the same. I had no idea what would begin to happen in my heart and mind. God was going to make me so uncomfortable in my own skin, it was crazy.
There are so many stories to tell and I will tell them one by one as I learn the lessons God has taught me.
The Dump....
All week long and ever since I decided to go to Honduras, I heard about the dump and how crazy it was. I heard all the stories of despair, grief, challenge, smell, people, children, cows, vultures, gangs, lawlessness, poverty, and hope.
On the last day of our week, we finally worked it out to go to the dump. I was amazed as we begin to drive into the dump. What hits you first is the smell. If you have ever smelled rotten eggs and dirty feet with a little bit of dead fish all mixed up together, you would not even begin to come close to what the dump smells like. Driving in on the bus, we were told to make sure we put all our windows up so no one could reach in and take our valuables. We were then instructed to make sure we didn't leave any of our cameras or phones laying around or they would become property of the dump.
Walking off the bus will be a moment I never forget. My eyes gazed at an amazing landscape. One where dogs, cows, vultures, and humans live side by side. I looked at the people who work and live in the dump as they formed 2 lines for the food they were going to receive. I found myself with feelings of anger at the fact they were even there. I found myself with feelings of sadness that we as humans have allowed this to happen.
I held back tears as I saw young children walking to the back of the truck to get a piece of chicken and a fruit drink. I wondered what their story was or if I even wanted to know. As they reached for their chicken, I noticed the dirt and filth on their hands and clothes. I noticed the miss matched shoes falling off their feet because they didn't fit or were just worn out.
I thought about all my family had and I felt guilty. I felt like I had never felt before. I stood in the back of a pickup watching person after person lifted their hands, covered in dirt and grime with finger nails black with filth reaching for some food and I was angry. I was angry that humans had allowed this…We had turned our back and allowed this to be…I was mad the country was allowing people to live like this and not do anything about it…All I could do was watch and pray…As I walked off by myself to wipe the tears I had falling off my cheeks, I noticed my shadow in front of me on the ground of the dump.
I was there. I wasn't sitting in the comfort of my office, home, car, or restaurant. I wasn't talking about what we should buy my kids for Christmas. In that moment, I wasn't worried about what I was going to eat for dinner. I wasn't worried about what pair of shoes I was going to wear. I wasn't thinking about anything except what God needed me to do to change this type of situation….I wasn't thinking about how I could make my life better, I was thinking of how I could make others life better….
If you have read this far, you will probably get mad in the next few sentences….
1. You have more than you need.
2. You have more than you deserve.
3. You need to give more to others.
4. You have a responsibility as a human to help others in need.
5. If you are a "Christian", you have a command from God to treat others better than yourself.
6. Your children have more than they need.
7. If your kids can't tell you what they want for Christmas, think about what that means…
These statements are what went through my mind as I looked at my shadow when I was standing in the dump. Then I looked up and saw the beauty of Gods love. I saw God in the eyes of the people living and working in the dump for less than $1.00 to $4.00 a day. You see, I went to Honduras to do what I thought was mission work for others and in the last day, I finally saw what Gods mission for us really is. He tells us to love others more than we love ourselves. We get hung up on all the details of music or no music, shorts or no shorts, hymnals or no hymnals, names on church buildings and whether or not they are the right church because they believe the right thing, doctrine, family, how much money we have in the bank, and the list goes on….
Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of these, You have done to me…"
What have you done for others…..
Monday, February 25, 2013
our ways are not His ways....
As I set this morning, I reflect over the past 7 weeks of my life. How much we have been through. I think about the emotional roller coaster we are still on. I remember the initial shock as if it were happening right now. I can still feel the lump in my throat and the nerves in my stomach just bring me to my knees. I can remember the loneliness and isolation I felt. I find myself still dealing with emotions and sometimes wanting to scream out and then immediately turning to tears. I remember how cold and alone I was as I waited to go home. I remember worrying about money, pride, home, reputation, job, career, and a host of other things running through my mind. It was at that very moment I heard God clearer than I have ever heard Him before..."None of that matters..."
Something inside me broke that very instant. God began to speak to me in a way I never knew possible. You see, when He is all you have and all you may end up with, He is more than enough. I laid there secluded from the world not knowing any outcome or what the future held for me. I knew I was innocent, God knew I was innocent, and my family knew I was innocent. What God revealed to me in my darkest hour was, He was enough. I started talking to Him and discussing what did matter. He began to reveal to me what was between me and Him making Him unable to work in my life. He began to reveal to me why He needed to get my attention. It was not pretty. It was not politically correct. It was the cold hard TRUTH. I was a "sinner christian", hypocrite, or just a church goer! I sang the song we know, "I'll go to the darkest places, I'll go to the hurting faces, I'll go to the orphaned children, I'll go to the world they live in..." and then I would GO get in my car and GO eat lunch and GO back to the life I wanted to live and GO back to being a casual christian and GO back to being concerned about my needs and GO back to being what everyone expected me to be...... I had a plan to use God to get what I wanted. He had a plan to use me to get what HE needed. I had allowed so many things to get in between me and God, no wonder he needed to get my attention. The crazy things was, it was every day sin that had become the norm. I was so callused I had become accustomed to allowing sin to be a part of my daily routine. I was broken and spill out before God.
My prayer to Him changed in an instant. I began to pray for my wife. I couldn't imagine what she was going through. I prayed for Parker as he wondered why so many people were at our house and everyone was crying. I prayed for Faith as she had no idea what was going on. I prayed for Ethan and Emma that they would understand someday how powerful God is. I prayed that they would depend on God and I prayed that I had been a good enough example for them to know who to turn too. I began to feel a peace and a presence I have never felt.
My life has been forever changed. It will never be the same. As I set here now, feeling much like Jonah as he was spit up on dry land. I am pretty sure I know where my Ninevah is, but I know where I'll GO as soon as he gives the word...
My first Ninevah was my HOME....
There are 3 things I now strive to be the most important in my life....
1. God
2. Heather
3. Parker, Faith, Ethan, & Emma
Its weird that my name is no longer on top....It's scary to think "I" stood in the way of my family, myself and what God needed of me.....
This is the scripture that got me through the tough times. I read it every day for 7 weeks...I read it this morning...It still rings true and will forever....
Something inside me broke that very instant. God began to speak to me in a way I never knew possible. You see, when He is all you have and all you may end up with, He is more than enough. I laid there secluded from the world not knowing any outcome or what the future held for me. I knew I was innocent, God knew I was innocent, and my family knew I was innocent. What God revealed to me in my darkest hour was, He was enough. I started talking to Him and discussing what did matter. He began to reveal to me what was between me and Him making Him unable to work in my life. He began to reveal to me why He needed to get my attention. It was not pretty. It was not politically correct. It was the cold hard TRUTH. I was a "sinner christian", hypocrite, or just a church goer! I sang the song we know, "I'll go to the darkest places, I'll go to the hurting faces, I'll go to the orphaned children, I'll go to the world they live in..." and then I would GO get in my car and GO eat lunch and GO back to the life I wanted to live and GO back to being a casual christian and GO back to being concerned about my needs and GO back to being what everyone expected me to be...... I had a plan to use God to get what I wanted. He had a plan to use me to get what HE needed. I had allowed so many things to get in between me and God, no wonder he needed to get my attention. The crazy things was, it was every day sin that had become the norm. I was so callused I had become accustomed to allowing sin to be a part of my daily routine. I was broken and spill out before God.
My prayer to Him changed in an instant. I began to pray for my wife. I couldn't imagine what she was going through. I prayed for Parker as he wondered why so many people were at our house and everyone was crying. I prayed for Faith as she had no idea what was going on. I prayed for Ethan and Emma that they would understand someday how powerful God is. I prayed that they would depend on God and I prayed that I had been a good enough example for them to know who to turn too. I began to feel a peace and a presence I have never felt.
My life has been forever changed. It will never be the same. As I set here now, feeling much like Jonah as he was spit up on dry land. I am pretty sure I know where my Ninevah is, but I know where I'll GO as soon as he gives the word...
My first Ninevah was my HOME....
There are 3 things I now strive to be the most important in my life....
1. God
2. Heather
3. Parker, Faith, Ethan, & Emma
Its weird that my name is no longer on top....It's scary to think "I" stood in the way of my family, myself and what God needed of me.....
This is the scripture that got me through the tough times. I read it every day for 7 weeks...I read it this morning...It still rings true and will forever....
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The Beginning or The End - Day 30
Day 30
You are done with your family action plan. You are done and today I just want you to reflect on the past 30 days. I want you to remember the feelings you had as you held your children, you saw your spouse walking down the aisle, any commitments you have made in life, and any brutally honest feelings you have in your heart when it comes to serving God.
I remember the first time I held each of my children. Each one them looked at me and their mother as we held them in our arms and they knew. You could see the peace that would come over them as we picked them up. As they have gotten older, that hasn't changed. They still come to us for comfort. They still need us to pick them up and hold them for a broken arm. They may need to tell us a story for 30 minutes at a time. They may need us to sign their homework or change their diaper. They may need to come over and eat because they don't have enough money to get by until payday. They may need to ask us about our mortgage rate or how to fix a pilot light on the hot water heater that keeps going out. (Yes, I am speaking from experience.)
I remember watching Heather and Faith walk down the aisle as Parker and I were waiting to join them in marriage. I was scared and happy all at the same time. Our lives would forever be different. Going into our relationship, it was evident we would have some obstacles to overcome. We were blending 2 families together. We had our different ways of doing things as single parents and our ways were right. Our kids were accustomed to a specific way of life. It was amazing how God brought us together and when we thought it was too much at times, God held us together. Even when we thought it was all our doing, it was really His.
I remember telling our families Heather and I were having a baby. That would be 3 kids total. Everyone was just as happy as they could be. Ethan would be the final chapter in our relationship before raising our family. Then when the Emma bomb fell, once again, God had different plans. I was scared. I didn't know how. I didn't know why. I didn't know what we would do. God was doing what he does. His choices for us were already made. 4 kids are what He felt we needed. Whether we thought so or not.
Well, God thought 5 kids would be better. In the past few months, God has laid it on our hearts to be parents for someone else when we can. Due to circumstances beyond our control, God has saw us fit to add another child to the mix. If only for a few days a week, we have a responsibility to do what we can to provide stability in this child's life.
I remember 33 days ago when I made the commitment to start a blog over Faith and Family. I didn't know how. I didn't know when. I really didn't even know why. The only thing I did know, God wanted me too. I will be the first to tell you I was scared every time I sat down at my computer. I was also scared when I saw several of you face to face. I didn't know how the blog would be taken or if it would be beneficial to anyone. I felt a sense of accountability from the blog. Things that would be a normal occurrence in my life, have became less important. I understand people are watching me and the way I live my life. Most importantly, I am aware of my kids watching me. They are making their future plans on how we raise them right now. You may think they aren't but they are. I also understand my wife needs me to be the husband and father God has called me to be.
I want to be completely honest with you. I had to make a choice to be a Christian Husband/Father. It wasn't easy. It sucks working to make the right decisions all the time. It is devastating when you fail. It's uncomfortable leading your family the way Jesus would have you to. In no way am I an expert on raising a family or a theologian, I am just doing what I feel God has called me to do. I honestly just want the opportunity to speak about what God is doing in our family and hopefully it will help someone else do what God has called them to do. I want the chance to start a ministry for the family to get information and ideas to put God 1st in their lives and home.
What is the cost of your family? How much would they be worth? Is your family worth seeing when you get to heaven?
Let me tell you what the cost is....It has been paid...Jesus died for you and your family. He paid the price and all we have to do is choose to follow Him....
It's your choice. You are either IN or OUT... It's your choice.
Joshua 24:15
"But if serving the Lord is undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
Last Challenge:
I need your feedback. I need to honestly know what you have thought about this blog and the material and challenges in each day. I don't care if you read one day or all days. I need your feedback.
Please email me @ justinpresley1977@gmail.com and tell me your thoughts or just comment on the blog....
justin presley
You are done with your family action plan. You are done and today I just want you to reflect on the past 30 days. I want you to remember the feelings you had as you held your children, you saw your spouse walking down the aisle, any commitments you have made in life, and any brutally honest feelings you have in your heart when it comes to serving God.
I remember the first time I held each of my children. Each one them looked at me and their mother as we held them in our arms and they knew. You could see the peace that would come over them as we picked them up. As they have gotten older, that hasn't changed. They still come to us for comfort. They still need us to pick them up and hold them for a broken arm. They may need to tell us a story for 30 minutes at a time. They may need us to sign their homework or change their diaper. They may need to come over and eat because they don't have enough money to get by until payday. They may need to ask us about our mortgage rate or how to fix a pilot light on the hot water heater that keeps going out. (Yes, I am speaking from experience.)
I remember watching Heather and Faith walk down the aisle as Parker and I were waiting to join them in marriage. I was scared and happy all at the same time. Our lives would forever be different. Going into our relationship, it was evident we would have some obstacles to overcome. We were blending 2 families together. We had our different ways of doing things as single parents and our ways were right. Our kids were accustomed to a specific way of life. It was amazing how God brought us together and when we thought it was too much at times, God held us together. Even when we thought it was all our doing, it was really His.
I remember telling our families Heather and I were having a baby. That would be 3 kids total. Everyone was just as happy as they could be. Ethan would be the final chapter in our relationship before raising our family. Then when the Emma bomb fell, once again, God had different plans. I was scared. I didn't know how. I didn't know why. I didn't know what we would do. God was doing what he does. His choices for us were already made. 4 kids are what He felt we needed. Whether we thought so or not.
Well, God thought 5 kids would be better. In the past few months, God has laid it on our hearts to be parents for someone else when we can. Due to circumstances beyond our control, God has saw us fit to add another child to the mix. If only for a few days a week, we have a responsibility to do what we can to provide stability in this child's life.
I remember 33 days ago when I made the commitment to start a blog over Faith and Family. I didn't know how. I didn't know when. I really didn't even know why. The only thing I did know, God wanted me too. I will be the first to tell you I was scared every time I sat down at my computer. I was also scared when I saw several of you face to face. I didn't know how the blog would be taken or if it would be beneficial to anyone. I felt a sense of accountability from the blog. Things that would be a normal occurrence in my life, have became less important. I understand people are watching me and the way I live my life. Most importantly, I am aware of my kids watching me. They are making their future plans on how we raise them right now. You may think they aren't but they are. I also understand my wife needs me to be the husband and father God has called me to be.
I want to be completely honest with you. I had to make a choice to be a Christian Husband/Father. It wasn't easy. It sucks working to make the right decisions all the time. It is devastating when you fail. It's uncomfortable leading your family the way Jesus would have you to. In no way am I an expert on raising a family or a theologian, I am just doing what I feel God has called me to do. I honestly just want the opportunity to speak about what God is doing in our family and hopefully it will help someone else do what God has called them to do. I want the chance to start a ministry for the family to get information and ideas to put God 1st in their lives and home.
What is the cost of your family? How much would they be worth? Is your family worth seeing when you get to heaven?
Let me tell you what the cost is....It has been paid...Jesus died for you and your family. He paid the price and all we have to do is choose to follow Him....
It's your choice. You are either IN or OUT... It's your choice.
Joshua 24:15
"But if serving the Lord is undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
Last Challenge:
I need your feedback. I need to honestly know what you have thought about this blog and the material and challenges in each day. I don't care if you read one day or all days. I need your feedback.
Please email me @ justinpresley1977@gmail.com and tell me your thoughts or just comment on the blog....
justin presley
Monday, October 29, 2012
Finishing Touches - Day 29
Day 29
After our family fun day, I am wore out. Somehow we ended up at the Byng Track playing kickball in the grass. I think the kids had some serious fun. Of course, Parker and I just slaughtered the girls. It is funny how God works. It seems like more and more everyday I am learning how to enjoy my family. We laughed and had so much fun today. It didn't cost anything. It was just making the decision to go and do.
Several times I have gotten to this point working with groups and organizations. This is the point where the rubber meets the road. You have worked so hard to get your family action plan set up. Hopefully, you have had input from your family and you are seeing changes start to happen. I am not just talking about changes in your family, but a greater awareness in you.
The changes and awareness you may be experiencing are how we can measure the success of your plan. You see every objective needs to be measured. Some of them can be measured in days. Some of them may be measured indefinitely. Some of them may be measured just by being an ongoing activity your family will continue to do.
To many times, and I have experienced this first hand, we get a plan and work out all the details only to have everything fall through the cracks because we don't have any way of measuring how successful we were as we start working.
So far we have:
Now we are moving on to the final steps. Measures and Time Frame. Everything needs to have some type of time frame for a start and an end. If you have objectives that will be started immediately, use the date you start. Some of your objectives may be ongoing or only for a few months and thats fine, just make sure you give yourself enough time to complete your tasks. I will show you what this looks like with my examples.
As you identify the time frame, you can also set the measurement. Measurement are easy for the most part. The only reason for them is to make sure what we are doing has a positive affect on what we are trying to accomplish. Do not get hung up on the measurements if they throw you for a loop. I will show you what this looks like in my examples.
I hope this is easy enough to understand. It is just going the extra mile to assure success on the objectives you have set.
Once you get all the timeframes and Measurements in place, take the time to go through and make sure it all is going to work. Some of your timeframes may be a little extreme or they may be too lax. You just have to decide how committed you are to the process.
You may be asking yourself why this step is even important. If you really study the word, there are several timeframes and measurements that were made in order for everything to work properly. Ultimately, Christ's measurement of the grave was He would be raised again in 3 days. If this would not have happened, it would not be worth the time we have invested in this program. However, he did do what he said he was going to do. He is alive. He is wanting to be number 1 in your life and your families life.
I hope you choose to do what he has called us to do.......
justinpresley1977@gmail.com
After our family fun day, I am wore out. Somehow we ended up at the Byng Track playing kickball in the grass. I think the kids had some serious fun. Of course, Parker and I just slaughtered the girls. It is funny how God works. It seems like more and more everyday I am learning how to enjoy my family. We laughed and had so much fun today. It didn't cost anything. It was just making the decision to go and do.
Several times I have gotten to this point working with groups and organizations. This is the point where the rubber meets the road. You have worked so hard to get your family action plan set up. Hopefully, you have had input from your family and you are seeing changes start to happen. I am not just talking about changes in your family, but a greater awareness in you.
The changes and awareness you may be experiencing are how we can measure the success of your plan. You see every objective needs to be measured. Some of them can be measured in days. Some of them may be measured indefinitely. Some of them may be measured just by being an ongoing activity your family will continue to do.
To many times, and I have experienced this first hand, we get a plan and work out all the details only to have everything fall through the cracks because we don't have any way of measuring how successful we were as we start working.
So far we have:
- Set the objectives
- Identified the initiatives needed in order to complete the task.
- Combined initiatives that were overlapping.
Now we are moving on to the final steps. Measures and Time Frame. Everything needs to have some type of time frame for a start and an end. If you have objectives that will be started immediately, use the date you start. Some of your objectives may be ongoing or only for a few months and thats fine, just make sure you give yourself enough time to complete your tasks. I will show you what this looks like with my examples.
As you identify the time frame, you can also set the measurement. Measurement are easy for the most part. The only reason for them is to make sure what we are doing has a positive affect on what we are trying to accomplish. Do not get hung up on the measurements if they throw you for a loop. I will show you what this looks like in my examples.
Section 3: Step 1
Take your papers out again. This is for the last time for anything I am guiding you through. Once you are ready you will begin to go through your objectives and initiatives putting a time frame and measurement on them if possible. The time frame could be days, months, and even TBD (to be determined). The measurements could be completion of the task or even it could be ongoing growth.
Here are some examples:
Objective 1: Church member at Trinity Baptist
- Always make time to attend as a family
- Begin 10-28-12 End Indefinitely(Timeframe)
- Attending anytime we are together(Measurement)
- Making sure we are always together on Sunday morning - Sacrifice
- Commit as a family to attending together and teach our children the importance of this. - Commitment
- Mom and Dad - Responsibility
- Continue to help out with the kids activities at church
- Started 8-21-12 Ending 5-29-13(Timeframe)
- Attending church and teaching(measurement)
- Being available with our schedules and possible baby sitting arrangements. - Sacrifice
- Commit to the Youth Minister we are available to help and explain to our kids why we want to be there. - Commitment
- Mom and Dad - Responsibility
What We Need To Do Better:
Objective 1: Family Devotions
- Decide how many days a week we want to do them.
- Begin 10-29-12 End 4-29-13(Timeframe)
- Completing one per week for 6 months(Measurement)
- Identify which day is best for us and the devotion we will use. - Sacrifice
- Find by 11-12(Timeframe)
- Start devotions(Measurement)
- Commit to 1 day a week. - Commitment
- Mom and Dad - Responsibility
I hope this is easy enough to understand. It is just going the extra mile to assure success on the objectives you have set.
Once you get all the timeframes and Measurements in place, take the time to go through and make sure it all is going to work. Some of your timeframes may be a little extreme or they may be too lax. You just have to decide how committed you are to the process.
You may be asking yourself why this step is even important. If you really study the word, there are several timeframes and measurements that were made in order for everything to work properly. Ultimately, Christ's measurement of the grave was He would be raised again in 3 days. If this would not have happened, it would not be worth the time we have invested in this program. However, he did do what he said he was going to do. He is alive. He is wanting to be number 1 in your life and your families life.
I hope you choose to do what he has called us to do.......
justinpresley1977@gmail.com
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Family Fun Day - Day 28
Day 28
My family made a decision last year to go to a specific restaurant every Wednesday after church. My family made Polo's the destination spot for the 6 of us. It is funny how much they look forward to going there every week. When we are making our weekly dinner menu, our kids will be the first ones to say on Wednesday, we don't need to eat at home. I haven't figure out whether they like Polo's that much or do they just like knowing the family will all be together at the same place, at the same time, every week.
Although it happens every week and they are excited, sometimes Heather and I are there, but we are not really there. We may have an overwhelming need to check Facebook or text messages. We have emails still needing to be checked. I know several times my wife has had to remind me to pay attention and listen to the story my kids may have been telling me.
Our kids deserve us to get on their level. I know my youngest daughter loves to crawl all over me when I lay in the floor. I know when I look at life from her level, things are way bigger and totally different than my level. Maybe that's why she loves me to pick her up so she can see what's up here. Then and only then, she can see me face to face. When she's in my arms or I am on my knees, is the only time she sees her daddy face to face. The problem for her is I have to make that choice. She can't. I either have to get down on her level or bring her up to mine.
Challenge:
Today get to their level. Do whatever it takes to make sure you see life from there perspective.....
Challenge 2:
Somehow and in someway, bring them to your level. Teach them something you do or take them somewhere only you go....
Challenge 3:
Tell us about it. There are about 75 - 100 people who are reading this blog daily. We would all like to know what you did today and how your kids responded...
justinpresley1977@gmail.com
Saturday, October 27, 2012
the NITTY GRITTY!!! - Day 27
Day 27
I hope everything is going well for you in this process. We are going to take one more step towards completion. After this, we will take our normal Sunday off. You may even need to take the 2 days to get ready to move forward.
In the career I am in, I speak to people and groups several times a year. We always try and get them to tell us what it physically looks like to accomplish their tasks? What is it going to take? What is the sacrifice? We have to ask the hard questions in order to get the right answers.
Before you move on, you need to ask yourself if you are willing to do this? My hope is you will stay with it and see God move in your home. You never know what will happen when you ask the right questions and get the right answers. I will be the first one to tell you this is hard and sometimes very difficult. If it changes your family, is it worth it? I think we would all say yes!
Next move:
Get your papers out. You should now have Objectives with Initiatives under them. We are now going to ask the questions and put the meat on the bone. Our job now is to really flesh out our goals and make sure they are going to be feasible. We want to make sure we can accomplish our task at hand.
You now have objectives with their initiatives under them. We are now going to make sure of 3 things for each initiative.
1. What will it take? - Sacrifice
2. How will we make sure it happens? - Commitment
3. Who will own this? - Responsibility
Before you go any further, understand, some of your initiatives may or may not be able to answer these questions. If they can't, chances are they could be combined or maybe it is not really an initiative.
I have given you examples of what it should look like. This is the part where most people have several questions. I want you to know, I am available to help at any time and for anything you need.
Remember, if you have written down your answers from the challenges in the previous blogs, you have everything you need to continue to move forward.
Jesus left us here so we can bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ...Glorifying God in all things...fulfilling the Great Commission...Worship him daily...the list goes on and on...
2 Corinthians 5: 20
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God."
anything we come up with for our action plan needs to tie back into Christ's overall objective...us spending an eternity with him...
I hope everything is going well for you in this process. We are going to take one more step towards completion. After this, we will take our normal Sunday off. You may even need to take the 2 days to get ready to move forward.
In the career I am in, I speak to people and groups several times a year. We always try and get them to tell us what it physically looks like to accomplish their tasks? What is it going to take? What is the sacrifice? We have to ask the hard questions in order to get the right answers.
Before you move on, you need to ask yourself if you are willing to do this? My hope is you will stay with it and see God move in your home. You never know what will happen when you ask the right questions and get the right answers. I will be the first one to tell you this is hard and sometimes very difficult. If it changes your family, is it worth it? I think we would all say yes!
Next move:
Get your papers out. You should now have Objectives with Initiatives under them. We are now going to ask the questions and put the meat on the bone. Our job now is to really flesh out our goals and make sure they are going to be feasible. We want to make sure we can accomplish our task at hand.
Section 3: Step 1
1. What will it take? - Sacrifice
2. How will we make sure it happens? - Commitment
3. Who will own this? - Responsibility
Before you go any further, understand, some of your initiatives may or may not be able to answer these questions. If they can't, chances are they could be combined or maybe it is not really an initiative.
I have given you examples of what it should look like. This is the part where most people have several questions. I want you to know, I am available to help at any time and for anything you need.
Remember, if you have written down your answers from the challenges in the previous blogs, you have everything you need to continue to move forward.
Who We Are:
Objective 1: Church member at Trinity Baptist
- Always make time to attend as a family
- Making sure we are always together on Sunday morning - Sacrifice
- Commit as a family to attending together and teach our children the importance of this. - Commitment
- Mom and Dad - Responsibility
- Continue to help out with the kids activities at church
- Being available with our schedules and possible baby sitting arrangements. - Sacrifice
- Commit to the Youth Minister we are available to help and explain to our kids why we want to be there. - Commitment
- Mom and Dad - Responsibility
- Make sure our children know we are always going to church
What We Need To Do Better:
Objective 1: Family Devotions
- Decide how many days a week we want to do them.
- Identify which day is best for us and the devotion we will use. - Sacrifice
- Commit to 1 day a week. - Commitment
- Mom and Dad - Responsibility
- When will we start?
- Where do we find a devotion that will speak to all our children?
*these can be combined with the one above because they are both covered above.
These are just examples to help you figure out how you should start putting action to your plan...
Remember everything we do should always tie back to the following....
whats the mission of Christians?
Jesus left us here so we can bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ...Glorifying God in all things...fulfilling the Great Commission...Worship him daily...the list goes on and on...
2 Corinthians 5: 20
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God."
anything we come up with for our action plan needs to tie back into Christ's overall objective...us spending an eternity with him...
Please take your time with this and make sure you understand what you are doing. If you would like to contact me, please feel free to respond to the blog or email me at justinpresley1977@gmail.com
Friday, October 26, 2012
Time for Action... - Day 26
Day 26
Most families haven't written down any type of plan for their family. More than likely, you haven't thought about it. If you are like we were, you are just making it day to day without a plan. I know in our family, my wife wants a plan for everything. She likes to know exacts about times and dates. I, on the other hand, would rather fly by the seat of my pants and just have fun and play the whole time. There has to be a middle ground. We are all programmed differently. We all have a plan and it is just that. It's "Our" plan. This process you are going through will help you understand in a family, there is more than just your ideas and plans to take into consideration.
I know some of you who are staying with me to the end and completing this process had a very engaging and challenging conversation as you sat down and answered the topics I gave you to brainstorm over. You should have identified the top 3 -5 answers in each of the 3 categories. These answers will now be your Objectives. Objectives are the core of your family action plan. Today, we will set the Objectives for your Family Action Plan. Remember everything we put in our action plan must tie back to the mission for us as Christians.
Jesus left us here so we can bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ...Glorifying God in all things...fulfilling the Great Commission...Worship him daily...the list goes on and on...
2 Corinthians 5: 20
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God."
anything we come up with for our action plan needs to tie back into Christ's overall objective...us spending an eternity with him...
1. Things we do good naturally - Who we are...
2. Things we need to work on - What we need to do better...
3. Things we want to do & already are doing - Where we are headed...
On a piece of paper make 3 category headings. Use the new headings in Section 1. Leave enough room to write underneath each heading. Once you have the headings changed, these will become your 3 areas of focus.
Once you have the headings on the paper, take the top 3-5 top answers you and your family agreed upon and put them under their new headings. Leave room to write under each objective. This will be the next step.
Most families haven't written down any type of plan for their family. More than likely, you haven't thought about it. If you are like we were, you are just making it day to day without a plan. I know in our family, my wife wants a plan for everything. She likes to know exacts about times and dates. I, on the other hand, would rather fly by the seat of my pants and just have fun and play the whole time. There has to be a middle ground. We are all programmed differently. We all have a plan and it is just that. It's "Our" plan. This process you are going through will help you understand in a family, there is more than just your ideas and plans to take into consideration.
I know some of you who are staying with me to the end and completing this process had a very engaging and challenging conversation as you sat down and answered the topics I gave you to brainstorm over. You should have identified the top 3 -5 answers in each of the 3 categories. These answers will now be your Objectives. Objectives are the core of your family action plan. Today, we will set the Objectives for your Family Action Plan. Remember everything we put in our action plan must tie back to the mission for us as Christians.
whats the mission of Christians?
Jesus left us here so we can bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ...Glorifying God in all things...fulfilling the Great Commission...Worship him daily...the list goes on and on...
2 Corinthians 5: 20
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God."
anything we come up with for our action plan needs to tie back into Christ's overall objective...us spending an eternity with him...
Section 1: Step 1 - Brain Storm ideas (no wrong answers)
2. Things we need to work on - What we need to do better...
3. Things we want to do & already are doing - Where we are headed...
Section 2: Step 1
On a piece of paper make 3 category headings. Use the new headings in Section 1. Leave enough room to write underneath each heading. Once you have the headings changed, these will become your 3 areas of focus.
Once you have the headings on the paper, take the top 3-5 top answers you and your family agreed upon and put them under their new headings. Leave room to write under each objective. This will be the next step.
Heading 1: "Who we are":
These objectives should define what you do naturally as a family. These objectives should be a constant in your family at all times. How you act towards one another or maybe a characteristic each of you exhibit in your own special way.
Write your 3- 5 top answers placed under the heading. Give yourself enough room to write your initiatives under each objective.
Heading 2: "What we need to do better":
These objectives should be areas of improvement for us to work on as a family. These objective should make an improvement in getting God in the center of your home. What can you do to make sure God is at the center of your home.
Write your 3- 5 top answers placed under the heading. Give yourself enough room to write your initiatives under each objective.
Heading 3: "Where we are headed":
These objectives should be anything you would like to see in the future for you family. These objectives should be wishes and dreams for our families. Where does your family want to be in the near future and 5 years down the road.
Write your 3-5 top answers place under the heading. Give yourself enough room to write your initiatives under each objective.
Section 2: Step 2
Now you should have 3-5 objectives in 3 different categories. Now the fun begins. You are about %25 of the way done. We will now start to put feet to the legs of our hopes and dreams. We will now start the process of adding initiatives or action items to our objectives.
Remember, as we go through this process, everything must tie back to the overall mission of Christians.
Under each objective, start writing how you will accomplish these objectives. You may want to ask yourself, "how can we do this"..."what is it going to take"..."what will we need in order to do this"...
Heres what it looks like...
Who We Are:
Objective 1:
Church member at Trinity Baptist
- Always make time to attend as a family
- Continue to help out with the kids activities at church
- Make sure our children know we are always going to church
What We Need To Do Better:
Objective 1:
Family Devotions
- Decide how many days a week we want to do them
- When will we start?
- Where do we find a devotion that will speak to all our children?
These are just examples to help you figure out how you should start putting action to your plan...
Continue this for all your objectives. As you move forward, the process will begin to go easier and easier. This is so gratifying when you know how this will change you family's lives forever....
Make sure you always look at what you want to do and make sure it ties back into the mission for us as Christians...
Please take you time on this and make sure you have enough information to work.
The only way you plan will work is if you work your plan.....
if you have any problems or questions, i am here to help...
justinpresley1977@gmail.com
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