Send Your Mind

“The LORD your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver.  He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.”  Zephaniah 3:17

I must admit that I have struggled from writer’s block over the past few weeks.  I can’t pinpoint a specific reason, but can say that I haven’t spent as much time in God’s Word as I should have and for that very reason, I feel that my writing has suffered a bit...

I came across the above verse from Zephaniah in yesterday’s devotional by Sarah Young from “Jesus Calling.”  When I read the verse, a light bulb seemed to have turned on inside of me.  For far too long, I have let my mind get wrapped up in all sorts of thoughts and, sadly, have left God out of much of my ‘world-view’ lately.  This has brought me to a dark place and just hearing the words of comfort from our Loving Father has renewed my spirit.

God takes delight in all of His beloved children.  Even when we veer off-path, as much as he patiently waits to hear us cry for help, He will never step in and violate our freedom.  We must give up trying to ‘fix’ everything in our lives as none of us were ever created to carry our burdens on our own.

Let go and let God!

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  Psalm 34:18

Have you ever struggled for the words to offer a friend or neighbor when tragedy strikes and a loved one is lost?  I know that I certainly have and quite honestly, there is no easy cure for a broken heart, especially one that is in mourning.  There is no prescription you can take to make everything better and the healing process simply takes time.

A broken heart needs a different kind of healing. Generous doses of compassion, comfort, encouragement, love, and listening will eventually restore the joy and hope to a hurting soul.

We must never forget that God is the 'master healer.' As a loving friend, we can offer help, but none like the power that comes from our loving Father. When you are hurt and heartbroken, move closer to God instead of running away from Him. 

He is the greatest source of healing, peace, and joy; there is nothing this world as to offer that even comes close....

Walking In Your Footsteps

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, I trust in You.  Psalm 25:1-2

I am proud to say that both Elliott and Elijah are following in the steps of their old man by embracing the realm of pretty much any and every 80s based cartoon, toy, comic, and movie that I loved growing up: from super-heroes (Marvel and DC) and Star Trek, to Star-Wars, Transformers, Legos, Thundercats, GI Joe, M.A.S.K. and Voltron-the boys are into much of the same things I enjoyed when I was growing up. 

A proud daddy moment occurred a couple of years when I took the boys to their first Comicon in Knoxville...it was a blast from the past for me as there were multiple vendors selling old comics and collectible toys that were popular when I was growing up.   

Regardless of my extensive knowledge about the various characters and story lines that I have enjoyed since my youth, our oldest son, Elliott, sometimes questions me because he has heard something different from one of his buddies at school or in the neighborhood.  Keep in mind, we are talking about 1st Graders now...

We are all called by God to trust Him alone to meet our needs.  God's only requirement is that in addition to trusting Him fully and completely, we are also to obey Him.  We are foolish to ever think that our ways are better than the Good Lord's and I can't possibly recall the many times in my life where I listened to myself and failed to be obedient.

We must trust completely that He is good and His timing is always right and that things will be done according to His will.  It's when we fail to trust Him and do it our way that things fall apart.

Let go and let God!

What's My Name?

God's gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.  Romans 11:29

One of the greatest features in our family mini-van is the built-in DVD player. An even cooler feature is that the van came complete with wireless headphones so the boys can watch their DVDs and I am able to listen to music instead of the audio from movies like ‘The Lego Movie, ‘The Avengers’ or ‘Wreck It Ralph.’ We try not to utilize the DVD feature unless on a longer trip, so our youngest son was mad at me for not letting him watch a movie the other day on our five minute drive over to Turkey Creek.  He was so mad that he demanded that his last name be changed to something else other than 'Fisher.'

It's pretty humorous, but God's call on our lives is much like our family name; even when you feel dishonored by your family, you still keep your family name.

The exact same principle holds true for our spiritual gifts, which are given to all believers upon accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  Because we are children of God, we are given special gifts and are expected to use them to perform certain tasks for Him.  Sometimes, we squander away our time and we don't use our gifts to bring glory to God and expand His kingdom on earth.  Regardless, God does not take the gifts away from us; we just miss out on all of the good and blessings God has in store for us.

Every day that you greet the morning, you are given another opportunity to use your Spiritual gifts to live out God's will for your life-don't waste another day!!

Human Touch

The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me.  He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners.  Isaiah 61:1

As normal, I felt energized after a great morning of worship @ Cokesbury Church on Easter Sunday a couple of weeks ago.  Now with May quickly approaching, the celebration of Jesus' resurrection is a distant memory in many people’s minds and life has returned back to its normal and hectic pace.  In an effort to continue building upon our Savior’s resurrection and what it means to all believers, I began pondering why God chose to come in the form of His Son in human flesh to this earth… 

I am convinced that in addition to showing us His love for us, it was also God's divine way of proving that He is truly concerned about our human needs.  Jesus walked and lived among us, God in flesh form, and experienced the same temptations, struggles, and triumphs we did.  While He never once sinned during His time on this earth, Jesus came to a much greater understanding of the human condition.

No other 'god' offers the same love, understanding, and sacrifice that our loving Father freely gives to each one of us through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

One For The Vine

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me - and I in him - bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing." John 15:5

Being somewhat knowledgeable about the process of how to make wine, I was always amazed at how rapidly the grape vines grow and blossom each spring to produce a fresh harvest. In one of Jesus' most commonly known parables, He taught His disciples that He is the True Vine.

The disciples were made aware of Jesus' departure, so He wanted to instill in His followers that there was much work to do after His going away. If they were to carry on the work of the Lord, they needed to know how to produce that kind of fruit in their lives. The same holds true for each of us today.

We are well over 2000 years removed from the night Jesus taught the parable of the vine, but yet the Lord's work continues on. You see, we must learn that Jesus is the vine, meaning we must submit and abide to His will. Being separated from Him is like telling Him, " Thanks, but NO thanks. I can do this on my own." Try removing a branch from a grape vine. Eventually it will wither and die. Again, the same is true for us.

Jesus desires to live through each of us so that we will bear fruit unto the Heavenly Father...

Good Thing

The communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6

We all have someone in our lives-a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a co-worker, that seems to be down and out and full of negativity.  The truth is that God never intended for His children to act this way.  You see, the communication of our faith is made effectual by acknowledging every good thing that is in you through Christ Jesus, not by rambling on about everything that is wrong with you.

The enemy wants us to spend every waking moment of our lives pondering how awful we are.  He will stop at nothing to direct our focus from who we are in Christ to all of our many shortcomings.  His intentions are for us to believe that because of our faults, we are worthless.

There is a saying that we should “count our blessings.”  We should count our blessings and we also need to remember that we are a new creation in Jesus Christ and an ongoing work in progress.  Start acknowledging the good things that are inside of you because of Jesus Christ.

Simple

You were wearied with the length of your way in trying to find rest and satisfaction in alliance apart from the true God, yet you did not say, there is no result or profit.  Isaiah 57:10

We have a close friend who always seems to complain about not having enough time to do everything they want to do.  Boy, have I used that excuse many times before?!!  It's not that we don't have enough time, it's that our once simple lives have become too complex in doing trivial things that eat away at our schedules.  How/when does life move away from being simple to something so complex?  It is relative to where we are in our journey. 

I recall thinking how stressful college was; having to balance showing up for class in between Phish and Widespread Panic shows, going out four and five nights a week, waiting tables, and working as a disc jockey.  Looking back, I had it made!  I didn't have the pressures of performing in my career and a family to support.  Then again, I wasn't exactly walking the straight and narrow path either, but that's another story for another day.

The above verse from Isaiah states "You are wearied out through the multiplicity of your ways."   It is widely accepted in today's society that more is always better, but at what cost?  Are we truly following God's will for our lives when we are so busy filling our days with our self-centered agendas?  I believe the answer is a resounding "NO."

Instead of making everything difficult and centered around ourselves, we should simplify and enjoy the peace and satisfaction that comes from following God's plan for our lives. 

"Fear, mismanaged, leads to sin.  Sin leads to hiding.  Since we've all sinned, we all hide, not in bushes, but in eighty-hour workweeks, temper tantrums, and religious busyness.  We avoid contact with God." -Max Lucado

Soulshine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Can you name someone you know-a family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker, that just lights up a room with their presence?  That person should actually be you or me.  Let me explain....the life characterized by the fruits of the Spirit cannot help but be noticed.  When we have the Spirit dwelling within our souls, it should shine brightly for all to see.

We live in some dark times and what this world needs desperately is to see men and women living their lives as an example to others, breaking the "norm."

How different a place this world would be if people saw more parents who were lovingly involved with their children, and businessmen and women who valued integrity over self-interests and money?

Let your soul shine!

Hold On

"Not as I will, but as You will." –Jesus Christ,  Matthew 26:39

The above statement was Jesus' final submission to God in the garden of Gethsemane before He was taken captive by a large crowd of armed men who ultimately led Him to His death on the cross after He was brutally beaten, publicly humiliated, and tortured.

I have a bad habit of selfishly asking God to answer my prayers in the way that I would like them to be answered.  Even when He gives me clear direction, I still do not always remain obedient and follow His will.  Regardless, I truly believe that the content of our prayers is less important to Him rather than our willingness to actually obey Him.

I can't begin to imagine what Jesus must have felt that night in Gethsemane.  The fear of knowing that His death was close at hand...seeing one of His Twelve disciples betray Him with a kiss and turn Him over to an armed mob.  Despite all of this, He remained faithful and obedient to God's will...even to the point of death.

We may not ever face a life or death decision, but God wants us to come to a place where we trust Him fully and obey Him, with every aspect of our lives.

On Our Side

If God is for us, who can be against us?  Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?  Romans 8:31

Looking back on my life on this earth, I have wasted a great amount of time and effort being a "people-pleaser" and not necessarily following what God has planned for me.  The most striking difference in being a "God-pleaser" rather than a "people-pleaser," is that we don't have to depend on our own futile human efforts to earn favor with God.

Come to think of it, why does it really matter what people think of us?  (It is easier said than done!) Our weaknesses and inabilities do not matter to God in the least bit.  With God, there is no hidden agenda, no list of talents and abilities that you need, only your availability.  Simply stated, God is looking for people who are willing and able to yield to His lead.

Let God shape who you are, what your perception is and what path you need to take in your relationships and career.  He always keeps His promise and takes care of His people and will never fail to deliver you from adversity!

Slip Sliding Away

I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.  Acts 24:14

Have you ever contemplated just how short our time on this earth really is?  We should make the most of our time here, but all too often, we let time slip away from us and we don't follow the path that God intends us to follow.

To live without regrets, we must choose to live in such a way that we do our very best in every task and with every relationship. We must choose to love and obey God's commands; they weren't written to restrict us, but are there for our protection and to unlock His many blessings.

We must choose to forgive people who have hurt or harmed us freely.  And lastly, we must choose to follow God's will and not our own.

No Reply At All

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.  

2 Thessalonians 3:5

Recently, in seeking God's wisdom and guidance about a situation, I began to grow tired and frustrated because I just couldn't seem to hear an answer.  In fact, I felt like I was hearing other people's insight, but not God's.  It finally dawned on me that I was neglecting an important aspect of my faith walk by not digging deeper into the Word, hence the reason I was not feeling God's nudge either way.

God can and will speak His truths into our lives if we allow Him to.  When seeking Him, He will always move us closer to His will and His never ending love.  He always leads us to what is right, never wrong, and His answers to our prayers are clear cut, definitive, and absolute.

If you think you can truly seek God by only showing up to church on Sundays or just praying your personal wish list, save yourself some time and frustration by incorporating God's Word into your daily routine.

William, It Was Really Nothing

The Lord is my light and my salvation-so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from dangers, so why should I tremble?  Psalm 27:1

Just a few nights ago, it rained in Knoxville, so I did my best to coax our children into watching, E.T., one of my favorite movies of all-time.  I told the boys the story of how E.T. was left behind on earth and a boy named Elliott found him and brought the alien home to live with him.  It was "all systems go" until Elijah asked to see the DVD packaging.  When he saw E.T.'s glowing finger, he became scared for some strange reason. Like his daddy, he is terrified of spiders and I guess a funny looking alien with a glowing finger scares him as well.  (Heck, I can't say anything, I was scared to death during the Super-Bowl when Michael Jackson debuted his classic video for 'Thriller'  back in the 1980’s!)

You see, fear turns our focus away from God and towards the troubles that intimidate us.  We must learn to look at our fears and troubles as opportunities to rely on God for His help, guidance, and all-mighty power.

There is no problem that is too big for our loving Father who promises to save and deliver His people!

The Best of What's Around

I will be filled with joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.  Psalm 9:2

As a Christian, it is easy sometimes to view aspects of life with their appropriate seriousness-sin and its consequences, fighting against evil, loving others into a relationship with Christ, etc., but sometimes we overlook some of the great delights of being a follower of Jesus.

I have enjoyed running for several years now.  With this time of the year being considered "race season" for most runners, I have decided to not push a minor injury I have been suffering from and haven't participated in any races this year so far.  Just over three years ago, I suffered from ITBS, which is very painful and a common ailment for many runners. Four years ago, I developed plantar fasciitis while training for the Half-Marathon. Five years ago, I was sidelined and had to withdraw from the half-marathon due to a stress fracture from wearing 'barefoot' or minimalist shoes.

While I enjoy running the 13.1 miles and have a time that I would eventually like to beat, I have really enjoyed getting back to running for my health and will hopefully plan to get back on the race circuit again soon.

The point I am trying to make is that life sometimes makes an unexpected turn, or things don’t always happen the way we would like for them to.  

God, however, is constant in His love for each of us and regardless of our circumstances, has a plan for us.   He made this wonderful world for us to live in and enjoy and wants us to serve Him enthusiastically and filled with joy.

Let us not lose our perspective on being able to enjoy the journey that God has planned for us, even if it is not the way we would necessarily have it.

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

Beloved, if God loved us so very much, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

As believers in the body of faith, what a blessing it is to be loved by God.  The problem for a lot of Christians is that we tend to hoard our love away rather than follow God’s will for our lives and give it away.  In fact, we are to love others unconditionally just as has He loved us.

There is not one person on this earth that does not desire to be loved and to find acceptance.  God’s love is the most wonderful gift He could possibly give to any of us.  We all have the privilege to share that love by letting it flow through us into the lives of others.

Many people enjoy ‘getting’ but real joy is found by ‘giving.’  Do you remember those Pez candy dispensers?  We all need to be like a Pez dispenser in the sense that people come to us as a dispensary of blessings and love.

It is comforting to know that we are lovable, now it is up to us to share that love with someone else!

You Can't Change That

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  1 John 4:16

Unlike what the world offers us, God does not love us, accept us, or forgive us based upon our performance.  God doesn't play favorites either.  He does not love the more beautiful people more than the plain.  He doesn't favor the rich and famous over the poor and unknown.  He doesn't choose the high achievers over the low achievers.  In fact, there is nothing you can do, regarding status, appearance, or performance, that will possibly elevate you one inch in God’s eyes.

Our loving Father accepts us because we come to Him believing in Jesus Christ as the One who has paid the full price for our sins.  He loves us, because He created each of us, and has chosen to love us from the moment He first though of us and there is nothing you can do to change that!

Could You Be Loved?

That the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  John 17:23

I had a meeting with a potential client last week and felt that I showed poorly.  It was a difficult task, as I went into the meeting with only a small amount of information and still had many more questions that I needed to answer before I could possibly provide firm insurance rates for this organization's group benefit program.  Leaving the meeting I felt like a failure, despite my managing director telling me that I did an outstanding job.  Have you ever felt that way?  How do we know we are valuable?

The answer is found at the cross.  My youngest son, Elijah, was playing with the cross that I wear on my neck and it got me thinking about the reality of what Jesus' death by crucifixion really means.  If we weren't valuable to God, He wouldn't have sent His beloved Son to die on the cross to save us from certain death...

If you are ever feeling down or unloved or that you are not valuable, look no further than the cross and understand that you are worthy and loved!

The Seeker

You will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

Being a creature of habit, I like to keep to my same and familiar routines in the mornings.  Feeling somewhat convicted about not seeking God more by spending time in His Word, I read Luke 11 yesterday morning and, as always, that verse was exactly the one I needed for the day that awaited me.

To seek God means to pursue Him as the only source of definitive truth and wisdom.  Instead of letting our problems pile up and seeking God out of desperation, how different would our lives be if we sought Him first and foremost in all matters?

To seek God and His way puts us on the path of a life that is blessed and pleasing to Him.

Gimmie A Little Sign

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking.  James 1:5

Have you ever asked God for a sign?  Looking back, there have been many instances where I have asked God to perform a miracle so that his guidance was crystal clear.  While God sometimes works that way, many times he does not.

The best road map or guidance for our lives can be found in His Word by reading the Bible.  If you are looking for guidance in any situation, study the Bible.  If you want God to personally guide your steps, study the Bible.  At the expense of sounding cliché, God intended the Bible to serve as our guidebook for getting through life.

God also wants us to have faith in him and trust him every step of the way.  In summary, we are to read the Bible, ask God what to do next, and then take a step of faith each and every day.  God promises to lead us and guide us in the right direction!

Opportunities

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.  You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you.  Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”  Genesis 41: 39-40

Without a doubt, responsibility is one of the keys to opening the doors of opportunity.  In the above passage from Genesis, Joseph was unjustly thrown into prison and could have easily become bitter and done nothing.  Instead, he utilized every opportunity to earn other people’s trust because of his responsibility and eventually rose to great prominence in Egypt.

We must learn to conduct the mundane and minor aspects of our everyday lives in such a manner so that we too will be given greater opportunities. 

Both of our children have the responsibility of doing chores around the house to earn a weekly allowance.  The boys are learning that they will be rewarded for doing simple tasks such as cleaning up their toys and making their beds each day in addition to learning the value of money.

As adults and believers in the body of faith, we must also go about our daily routines with responsibility so that we can expect greater opportunities in the future.

Lunge Forward

…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Today’s Daily DEVO has been several weeks in the making.  I have noticed that when God wants to make a point with me, He repeats Himself quite a bit, just like I sometimes do with parenting my own children. (I guess Fishers are stubborn people?) 

The past few weeks have been crazy busy between work, home, and other various commitments (all is well, of course) but I have lost my focus on Jesus in some ways and have finally answered His calling on my life...

Yesterday’s devotional from the exceptional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, used the analogy of a spinning ballerina keeping her eyes focused on a fixed point to maintain her balance.  We too, must do the same.

Despite our circumstances or hectic schedules, through struggles and sickness, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.  If we focus our gaze on our circumstances for too long, we will become confused and dizzy.

Focus on Jesus and maintain your footing, steady and sure!

Under Pressure

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.  I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.  Matthew 11:28

Many people today are stressed out far beyond anything a human being was ever meant to endure.  Chalk it up to both husbands and wives having to go to work outside of their homes in a an attempt to ‘keep up with the Jones’ in addition to balancing their home lives, families and friends, but many people, including our family, are stressed-out!

We are all created different, uniquely created by God’s design.  What is difficult for me may be simple for someone else, and vice versa.    Unfortunately, if you are like me, it’s hard to resist comparing and contrasting ourselves with other people.

Jesus was not stressed out.  Then again, He was not controlled by His circumstances or the demands of other people, either.  In John 14:6, Jesus simply states, “I am the Way.”  And you know what? He’s right-His way is the way to peace, joy, and righteousness.

The next time you feel like you are under immense pressure, ask yourself how would Jesus have you handle things?  Allow Him to fill your soul and learn to take His approach to life and it’s never-ending challenges!

You Should Be Glad

Who with reason despises the day of small things?  Zechariah 4:10

Let's face it, if you have ever had any experience in sales, some days are better than others.  This is true in any occupation or career, but quite often, the sales cycle in the employee benefits arena is long and taxing.  You can work on an account or case for several months only to find out that you didn't win the business.

From the motion picture Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, Ricky Bobby’s dad said it best, "If you ain't first, you're LAST!" Recently, there have been some small signs of growth that look promising...seeds that were planted over the past few years here in Knoxville are finally starting to sprout opportunities for me and I know just Who to thank.

I believe, wholeheartedly, that God plants these small seeds.  Too often, we want immediate results or whatever it is that we are facing to come to pass too quickly.  When you find evidence of those small seeds that the good Lord has planted, you should rejoice with hope knowing that God has bigger and greater things in store for you.

God never breaks His promises to us and He always finishes what He starts.  Just think about it, be thankful, and hold on with hope!! He is preparing to do something great in your life!