A Deep Dark Place

We’re in a deep dark place in life when we can trample under foot the truths, the values, and the love we were raised with. Whether out of defiance, or desperation, we sink to a place of becoming someone we’re not. We no longer recognize that man or woman in the mirror. We lash out in anger because of our own inner unresolved pain. We isolate ourselves from those that love us, and believe in us, and close doors it took years to open, and open doors it will take years to close.

Word to the wise: Don’t wait until it’s gotten to the point you’re so caught up in your downward spiral, that your children will be caught up in a cyclone of pain and despair. It won’t be the same as yours; it will be far worse. It will have built on the negative energy of your despair, and intensified to a hellish fury in the precious lives of your sons and daughters. We may have sown the wind, but our children will reap the whirlwind.

I plead with you to end the vicious cycle. Your Savior died to spare you from the cyclone of sin and spiritual death. Get the help you need. Spare the next generation of having to contend with the ill effects of your pain compounded with their own.

Too Frozen to be Chosen

What a scripture: Psalm 65:4, Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

If you feel that strong compulsion and are drawn in by God’s Spirit to intercede and pray, this scripture says you’re blessed. God chooses and causes us to approach Him. This is a great truth.

“Many are called” Jesus said, “but few are chosen.” If you’re chosen, do not hesitate to answer His call. I believe many have been called, but so few have qualified themselves to be chosen because they have not answered that call. They’re too frozen to be chosen!

The Fear Factor

What keeps us frozen? More often than not, fear keeps us frozen from being chosen. Like a proverbial “deer in the headlights” we’re paralyzed by fear. But what kind of fear? For some it’s rejection. They fear that when they launch out, they’ll get rejected by their peers, by the popular crowd, or even the world. Jesus said, “if you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you.”

The Great Unknown

Another fear is the unknown. We have no idea sometimes what to expect. When we’re given a vision, or receive a call on our lives, that may be all we know. God doesn’t very often provide us with in depth details of our calling. More often than not, this is a walk by faith and not by sight. If you’re waiting until you have all the answers, you’ll remain frozen by that fear and never become the difference maker God called you to become.

Going All IN

There are many forms of fear, and this post by no means will cover them all, but the last one I want to expose is the fear of commitment. We think this only exists when it comes to personal relationships, but we fear this spiritually as well. A calling on our lives takes sacrifice. It will require a death to self, and a call to become more like Christ and less like the world; a call to go ALL IN!

John the Baptist described it this way; He (Christ) must increase, and I must decrease. Powerful words from a man who knew all to well what it meant to step aside and let Jesus have his ministry. Literally, some of John’s disciples left him and followed after Christ. OUCH!  John knew this wasn’t about his kingdom, but about the Kingdom of God. In fact, his favorite sermon was called, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!”

In Closing

Of course there are a variety of other factors that may have you frozen; a comfortable life, a cozy career, a love for worldly pleasures, you’re too busy with your own agenda, or the opposite, you’re just too lazy.

Listen, we have work to do and time is short! If God has in fact called you, take that next step and avail yourself to become chosen. And, when you’ve been chosen to approach His Throne! GO BOLDLY! – RDM

At the Mercy of the “Whether”

Whenever there’s a threat of a snowstorm school kids wait with baited breath as to whether the weather will give them the highly anticipated “Snow Day!”

Every hurricane and typhoon season, extremely vulnerable places like the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. brace themselves for catastrophic and costly damage left in the wakes of these destructive weather patterns. Of course, these destructive weather patterns are not unique to the U.S. Their impacts can be felt on a global scale.

Despite man’s best advancements in science, technology, and mobility, we’re still at the mercy of the weather.

There is another destructive pattern I’ve seen over the years and even experienced myself. It’s not a weather pattern, it’s more like a “whether” pattern. I know, the grammar police are already seething right now, and probably have even passed up reading this blog post altogether because of my seeming misuse of “whether” vs. “weather.” But, rest assured this is intentional.

Living at the mercy of the “whether” is much like living at the mercy of the “weather.” The weather determines whether (there it is again) we’re going to have a picnic, parade, or other enjoyable outdoor activity. Sure, contingency plans can be made, but trying to have a barbecue or pitch horseshoes indoors just doesn’t have the same effect. Weather can either make or break an outdoor event.

But, what bearing does “whether” have, if any, on our life’s events? I’m glad you asked! As a formally diagnosed perfectionist, I find I can be at the mercy of the “whether.” Whether or not I can do a thing perfectly has hindered me in countless areas of my life. I often have to have “all my ducks in a row” to the point of almost OCD before I feel confident enough to pull the trigger on a project, or even make a blog post (ouch!). I’ve often been the victim of paralysis by analysis. I’m a great planner, but there are just times you have to gather whatever information you can, experts say 80% is a good number, and execute the plan!

Here is some more “whether” patterns for you…

Whether or not I can do it perfectly…

Whether I have perfect conditions for producing…

Whether or not someone else does their part, or lives up to their end of the deal…

Whether I have someone else’s approval…

Whether I “feel” like it or not….

Whether, whether, whether. This is just a  very small sampling. You may have a list of your own.

Being at the mercy of the whether can sabotage your future. Placing unreasonable conditions for our success based on whether someone else thinks we’re capable or not, worthy or not, or good enough or not, is no way to live your life. Be whom God called you to be in spite of the whether! God has uniquely gifted and qualified you with talents and abilities, whether others agree or not. Do not let their whether hold you hostage from the Divine plan God has wonderfully and masterfully orchestrated just for you.

There’s a term meteorologists use called “weather maker.” It’s a term used loosely to describe weather conditions or patterns that are ripe for the creation of rain, sleet, snow, or ice. These patterns are so powerful they have the potential to cause disruptions to our daily lives. On the flipside, what if you became your own “whether maker?” What if you created your own climate and allowed the atmosphere of your own life to be filled with faith, hope, strength, and courage?

I’m a believer in climate change. The Apostle Paul was too. He challenged us to create a powerful and positive climate of thought in our minds.

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

What if we started to intentionally stage our lives, even strategically position our lives, for the potential for success in whatever God has called us to do, and just as importantly…be?

We must pray, seek God, seek wise counsel, study, and prepare for success in our godly endeavors a.k.a. be “whether” makers!” Be a champion for climate change in your life and the lives of those you influence.

Don’t let the whether of others cloud your vision. If there are clouds, see them as ripe with rain and ready to pour out their abundance in your life. Weather may stall some of our plans, but whether or not you’re child of God is not up for debate if He has called you and sanctified you!

Like weatherman “wannabe’s” some may point their proverbial wetted finger in the air and say, “Nope, not today buddy! The whether isn’t looking promising for your future success.” You just look ’em in the eye and say, “You know what, it doesn’t matter what your whether says. I believe in climate change!”

Remember this verse as I close, Matthew 5:45, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

When it comes to living out your purpose God wants to rain on your parade in a good way. He wants to rain (and reign) in your life. He wants to allow the showers of blessings to be poured out in great abundance!

Never listen to the “whether makers,” listen to the original “Weather Maker!” As the old song says, “I know the Master of the wind and Maker of the rain.”

The Art of Adding by Subtracting


I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! ~ Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:31 ESV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Apostle Paul (Galatians 2:20 ESV)

What was Paul’s seeming obsession with death? “Dying daily” and “Crucified with Christ” are very descriptive, and honestly, a little depressing if read out of context. But Paul discovered an important principle of growth and advancement of God’s divine purpose in our lives; in order to bring certain things to life, one must allow a part of themselves to die.

Think about what Christ’s death on Calvary provided the world. Jesus came to “bring life more abundantly” (John 10:10). The only way for this abundant life to come to pass was through His death. We can look at this from a variety of angles, but for the purpose of this post, when we’re willing to let something die, it makes room for God to bring something to life. Jesus vividly illustrated this point when he taught His disciples:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24 KJV)

I don’t pretend to understand exactly how this works, but I know about the law of saturation. Our lives can only handle so much. We juggle priorities, or what we think are priorities, we shift responsibilities, and we struggle to keep up. We lack margin in our lives but margin is where we get rest. Margin is where we create. Margin is where we can add new habits, new discoveries, new insight, and even new relationships. One such relationship that continuously requires cultivating is our relationship with God. But God is not content to dwell in just the margins of our lives.

God refuses to compete with any-ONE or any-THING. This means something has to give; something must die. If you re-read Paul’s first quote above, you’ll find he made this a daily discipline. He “died daily.” Something must be sacrificed daily. It was true in Old Testament days, and still rings true in our personal devotions to God. A part of ourselves must die daily that more of God can be revealed. This is a discipline devoted and devout followers of Christ know well. Like John the Baptist said, “I must decrease, and He must increase.”

So, my question is, what are you willing to allow to die in order to give life to a fresh relationship with God? What part of yourself are you willing to crucify to allow the reality of Christ’s love to flourish and abound in your life? What will you sacrifice daily to make room for more of God in your life?

The beauty of this is, when we allow something to die, God brings something more meaningful and powerful to life in us. And, this my friend, is the art of adding by subtracting. 

Is Your Prayer Life Worth Dying For?

prayer-poseNow when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel 6:10

Prayer. One of the most underestimated and undervalued sources of Christian influence and godly persuasion. Sadly, it’s treated more like an obligation and duty, rather than a privilege and honor. For Daniel, prayer was worth dying for. Communication with his Creator was his lifeline. How big of a threat Daniel’s prayer life must have been for the political zealots to single him out by criminalizing his open and obvious daily habit?

This brings to mind a couple of challenging questions in our own lives regarding the prominence of and proclivity toward prayer.

  1. Is your prayer life powerful enough to make a statement both before God and man? As a rule, it’s not our desire to have our prayer life viewed as a threat, but to the enemy of our souls, our prayer life is DEFCON LEVEL 1! Is our prayer life a threat or a mere of an annoyance?
  2. If by chance the powers-that-be would endeavor to legislate against prayer, would it even matter to you? Would it leave such a void that the absence of prayer in your life would be catastrophic and cripple you spiritually?
  3. Is prayer so essential and so vital to your existence that you would be willing to risk your life to continue praying in spite of the dire consequences Daniel faced?
  4. Lastly, and more painfully, if there was ever a law decreed against prayer, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

If you view prayer as an annoyance and disruption to your life, that’s all the enemy needs to exterminate your prayer life altogether.

Ironically, the very law that made Daniel’s prayer life criminal, was the same one that galvanized his resolve to pray even MORE! And, his opponents were destroyed by the same form of punishment that was created for him. Talk about turning the holy tables on the enemy!

Never underestimate the power your prayer can have. The Words of Jesus shed further insight on the impact a prayer life full of faith can have when He said, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23

Now a prayer life that can accomplish such a monumental feat as this, to me is worth dying for!