Wise men still seek him....

Day 21

All the presents are open.  All the food has been eaten.  All the persistent questions of what presents were purchased are gone.  All the family has been together.  All the money has been handed out.  All the bad presents are already bagged up to take back.  All the laughter has turned to thoughts.  All the toys are being put together.  All the new clothes have been tried on.  All the new shoes are being worn.

It's over.  The wrapping paper  is in trash bags in the garage.  The boxes of the toys are piled by the trash bags of wrapping paper.  I sat and looked at all the presents my kids opened and I saw the look in their eyes as they got what they wished for.  It was great, but it only lasted for a moment and I am glad I was present to be there with them.

This past Sunday, a great friend of mine handed me a present he had brought back from Honduras after a mission trip.  As I opened the gift, it was very evident what he had gotten me.  It was a handmade nativity scene of the birth of Jesus.  I immediately looked at Heather and told her we needed a nativity scene to display for Christmas.  Then I turned it over to look at the bottom and there was the following quote written by Shawn Brassfield,

"Wise men still seek Him!"

I put the nativity back in the bag and all through service I thought about those words.  I thought about how we need to seek Jesus.  I know that several of us think the wise men were there at the birth of Jesus, but some historians believe it was years before they made it to the King of Kings.  They had to search and search for Jesus.  The reason they wanted to find the newborn king was to actually be in His presence.  They just wanted to be in His presence.  They searched for years to just spend a moment with Him and give Him the gifts they felt were worthy of their Savior.

I wonder if we searched to be in the presence of Jesus as much as we searched for the perfect gift for our loved ones what this world would look like to non believers.

I wonder if we searched to be in the presence of Jesus as much as we searched the internet for answers to the questions we have, what our world would look like.

I wonder if we really loved to be in the presence of God, shouldn't we be sharing more of His love with a dying world.

I wonder if we were wise and were seeking Jesus daily how our lives would be changed.

I wonder if we were wise and were seeking Jesus for our direction, where it would lead us.


I bet there were times those wise men were scared as they came from afar to find Jesus.  I wonder if they ever came across some people who tried to tell them how stupid they were for trying to find Him. I am sure their families were very scared for the journey they set out on.  All the wise men had one thing in common.  They wanted to be in the presence of the living God.  How cool is that?

Challenge:

• Remember the Wise Men/Women in your life who have gone on that were seeking Him and thank God for their example....

• Acknowledge the Wise Men/Women in you life right now who are still seeking Him daily and thank God for their example....

• Decide you are going to seek Jesus in your daily walk to always be in His presence....

I think if we do this, then we too will be Wise.....

In the words of my dear friend,

"Wise men still seek Him...."



What are you going to do in the upcoming year?

God is not in school or our lives?

Day 16

I have been listening to people from different media platforms talk about how we need to work on gun control, violent video games, and so many other ways we can fix this problem we have created.  I have saw countless Facebook posts and Twitter tweets about how we need God back in schools.  I didn't know he ever left.  I heard the well written and well scripted video that went viral from Mr. Huckabee about how everyone is wanting us to pray and rely totally on our faith in God to get through this, but since God isn't allowed in school, we don't want to ruffle anyones feathers.

I have to say, it is my fault God isn't in schools all over the country.  I have to say, it is my fault they have taken the ten commandments out of the courthouse.  I will stand and say, it is my fault people don't know God loves them.  I will say it is my fault, my kids have seen violent video games.  I will say it is my fault, I have not taught my children to pray.  I will say it is my fault, I let these things slip right through the cracks.

I think somehow and someway Christians have let this happen.  I feel we have dropped the ball in our homes as parents.  I feel we have allowed the worldly focuses into our relationships with God and they have became mainstream in our home.

I find it amazing that there are millions of people who call themselves Christians, but when it comes time to stand up against taking prayer out of school, we just stand by and let it happen.  I find it amazing when we know people are needing food, we stand by and let them starve.  I find it amazing when we show up to church and raise our hands in praise showing God how awesome he is, but we walk out and say , "boy that was great."  Then we get in our car and go back to "our" lives.

I am talking about myself here as well.  Don't think I am preaching to you.  I am tired of sitting idle in my life and not doing what God has called me to do.  Just think, if all Christians would do what God called them to do, we could make a huge impact in this world.

In a book,"Forgotten God", Francis Chan talks about how we go to church just like a football team to the huddle.  We get the play from our quarterback(preacher) and then we break the huddle and go back to the bench and sit down until its time for the next play.

You want to know why God isn't present in schools?
We allowed His presence to be hidden in our lives for Sundays and Wednesdays only.

You want to know why God isn't at our workplace?
We allowed his presence to be hidden because we didn't want anyone to think we were a holy roller.

You want to know why our kids have no understanding of morals?
They have seen us live our lives without the presence of God 6 days a week.

You want to know why God doesn't show up until something bad happens?
We don't ask Him to help until we realize we can't get through it on our own.

You want to know why we don't do what he tells us too?
Because it is easier to just do what we want.

So, let's not just say we took God out of school.  Let's make it real.  We took God out of our lives and his presence was not there.

So, in all fairness, I took God out of school/life long before anyone else did when I chose not to live for him everyday.  I took God out of school/life when I made fun of people for their differences.  I took God out of school/life when I didn't help the kid who needed it.  I took God our of school/life when I made my desires more important.

Jesus says,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the father, but through me." John 14:6

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit."  Matthew 28:18

"love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
"love your neighbor as yourself."  Matthew 22:37-39

I'm tired of being a casual christian.  I'm tired of living a lie just to be cool.  I'm tired of telling God I will do what he says, but with these conditions.

I want to live out loud that God is amazing.  The more I get to know Him the more I want to share him.......

It is time to stand up for what we believe and put legs and arms to the body of Christ.

What are you going to do?

Finding the answers?

Day 14

For almost 3 days, people have been almost in shock for the tragedy. Today, I heard several conversations that centered around Newtown.  I heard many people discussing all the scenarios.  How can we change this?  How can we make it better?  I have been watching some of the news coverage on the funerals of some of the children.  It breaks my heart to hear some of the things the parents are saying about their children.  I can't help but look at my children with a thankful heart tonight as we gave baths and ate dinner.

I spent 3 hours today on the road driving and listening to a cd of Casting Crowns.  There are several songs that are on the album that speak to us about being courageous and standing up for our families.  Songs that speak about now is the time for us to stand up and get the presence of God back in our homes.  I listened to songs about how God is already there when we finally decide to show up.  Several times I caught myself praying for different people and praying for the families of the young children that lost their lives.  I caught myself trying to figure out ways to help my children know God and not be afraid to stand up for their beliefs.  No matter what comes their way.  I found myself trying to figure out ways I could help people understand how to get through this in a Godly way and feel Gods presence.  Then a song came on as I drove and the answer was being sang to me as I drove down the road....

Leave it all behind, 
Leave it all behind, 
Leave it all behind, 
Leave it all behind, 

I have what you need, 
But you keep on searchin, 
I've done all the work, 
But you keep on workin, 
When you're runnin on empty, 
And you can't find the remedy, 
Just come to the well.

You can spend your whole life, 
Chasin what's missing, 
But that empty inside, 
It just ain't gonna listen.
When nothing can satisfy, 
And the world leaves you high and dry, 
Just come to the well

And all who thirst will thirst no more, 
And all who search will find what their souls long for, 
The world will try, but it can never fill, 
So leave it all behind, and come to the well

So bring me your heart
No matter how broken, 
Just come as you are, 
When your last prayer is spoken, 
Just rest in my arms a while, 
You'll feel the change my child, 
When you come to the well

The world will try, but it can never fill... leave it all behind

And now that you're full, 
Of love beyond measure, 
Your joy's gonna flow, 
Like a stream in the desert, 
Soon all the world will see that living water is found in me, 
Cuz you came to the well

I listened to the song and I realized, I will never have the answers on my own.  And when I need the answers, I just need to go to the well.  I need to go to Jesus and get the answers....

Are you going to the well for your answers?

God was there....is there....will be there....

Day 13

I know it is hard to understand, God was there on Friday as a man entered into a state of evil and chose to change lives forever.  It is hard to understand, God was with each and every person who was shot and killed.  It is hard to understand, God is there in the homes of all the family who lost loved ones right now.  It is hard to understand, the presence of God is everywhere.  He is all present at all times.

Today in church over 35 kids were on stage singing there Christmas songs they had been rehearsing for sometime now.  I could not help but think of the families sitting in churches where there children are  gone, never to come back.  I could not help but watch my children as they sang and feel lucky to be able to hold them and watch them perform.  They sang about a gift named Jesus that came as a child to later be the sacrificial lamb.  They sang about a savior that was born so we may be free.  They sang about a baby that was destined to die on a cross.  His little hands as a baby would one day grow into large hands that would be spread out for spikes to be nailed through.  His little feet would grow to be big enough to handle spikes nailed through them.  His little rounded soft stomach would grow to have his side pierced.  His little perfect head would grow to have a crown of thorns push deep into his brow. He would grow up to only be slain on a cross for our sins.  He went through death for you and me.  You don't think he was scared?  You don't think he was afraid?  He did what he was born to do.

I wonder if we will follow his lead.  I wonder if we will be bold and do what we were born to do.  It is scary to stand up for what God needs us to do, but if we do He will be there.....

Tonight, 27 of us stood up for what God called us to do and went and stood in a circle with candles in hand during a candle light service.  We decided to do what God called each of us to do.  We prayed for the families going through this tragic event.  We prayed for the faculty and staff of all the area schools that they would be able to lead our children in a Godly way.  We prayed for our kids safety as they go to school and we prayed for our kids to be fearful in the eyes of evil.  We prayed for parents to be able to live the faith out loud in their home.  We prayed for people across the country to feel God's hand on their lives.

As we prayed, I looked around the circle and counted the candles.  I counted exactly 27 candles.  I counted again and there were 27 candles.  I counted one more time and there were exactly 27 candles.  Then I looked again and there was one candle not being held, sitting on the ground in the middle of the circle, making the total 28.  The exact number of people who died in the Newtown massacre.  God was there....God was present...He was there when all 27 people died at the hand of the gunman and God was there when the gunman pulled the trigger on himself.

What will you do different today that will affect your life and your children's lives tomorrow?

Here's is the cool thing, God will be there.  When you think about your child during the day, God is there.  When we wonder about the future and our children, understand, our future is God's past and He is already there.....

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do we light a lamp and put in under a bowl, instead we put it on a stand and it gives light unto all the house.  Let your light so shine before men so they may see you good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Let us do what God has called us to do and let us be bold in our faith.....God will be there....I promise....

26 lives lost changed mine...

Day 12

I must say I have been challenged by God more in the last 24 hours than I have been in a long time.  Challenged to love the way God would.  Challenged to pray for people I have never met and never seen.  Challenged to love my kids the way a father should love.  Challenged to love my wife the way a husband should love.  I have seen america rocked to the core by the lives of 12 girls, 8 boys, and 6 adults being taken by an evil act of violence.  I have been wondering what I could do.

As I knelt under the goal to pray before Parkers basketball game, I asked the boys if there was anything we should pray for.  Immediately they all said we should pray for the families of the victims.  They also said we should pray for Noah who was sick.  We prayed a prayer and dedicated our game today to those families and Noah.  We won and the boys played hard.  Then it hit me.

We are forever changed as a country, as a people, and as a person if we really grasp the severity of this situation.

The media will try to help us understand the reasons why.  The different governmental parties will use this event to get us on the side we feel the most safe with.  The movie makers will get us to spend money on future movies based on the story line.  The publishers will develop books from the point of view inside the school and minds of the survivors.  We will listen and we will formulate our own ideas of what happened and we will debate the reason why from now on.  What God keeps on asking me is, What am I willing to do to make sure my kids are ready if this ever happens or they are in the same type of situation some day?

Today at my sister in law's Masters degree party, my brother prayed a prayer before we ate and in his prayer he prayed that God would help us raise our kids to be ready.

As he prayed, I thought about his words.  It thought I want my kids to look death in the face and know they are secure in God.  I want my kids to look fear in the eyes and know God is in control, even if they are scared.  I want my kids to live God out loud in their lives.

How will we do this?  How will we raise our kids to be ready?  How do we equip them to be able to handle this huge responsibility?  How do we teach them the principles of Gods word?  What is it going to take?

I must be a leader in my home.
I must be changed from this day forward to lead my family by example.
I must be ready to look death in the face and know my God is real.
I must learn the principles taught in the word of God.
I must be willing to give it all.
I must be willing to hide his words in my heart.
I must be willing to serve my family and lead my family as a Godly father.
I must be willing to live God out loud in my life.
I must be willing to give my life just as Jesus did.
I must be willing to follow his will for my life.
I must be willing to allow God's presence to lead me.
I must be willing to be present for my family.

It all starts with me.  It all starts with a change in my heart to realize this is real life.  I must be ready to face evil head on and know my God is greater.  My God is better.  My God is the beginning and the end.


I am challenging you to start this journey with me.  We have a responsibility to our families to raise them to be ready....

26 lives...

Day 11

As I set this afternoon and watched the story unfold about the tragedy in another state where 26 people died, I was reminded of how the presence of God is so important.  I had thoughts about how someone could go into a room of grade schoolers and teachers only to end their lives.  I thought about how someone could get to a point in life where they had to prove a point with death.  I thought about the how I would feel if I showed up to a fire station to pick up my child after a tragedy and there were a group of parents standing in a certain corner watching everyone else get their kid knowing there child was laying in a murder scene cold and alone.  I thought about how scared those little boys and girls must of been when they had a gun go off pointed at them.  I wondered what thoughts went through heads when they knew they were going to die.  I wondered about every parent at that school and the thoughts they had when they found out.  I thought about my kids and how would I react.  I cried when I saw the little children being taken out of the school.  I cried when I saw the school busses driving in front of my house as I went to the gym.  I saw all the Facebook messages.  I watched all the media coverage about the investigation.

I dont understand why these things have to happen.  I don't understand why God would let something this tragic become real life.  I don't know what anyone could have done different to keep this from happening.  I would like to know all the answers.  But, I don't.....

I went for a run to wrap my mind around my thoughts and feelings.  As I turned my music on, I heard the following words from a playlist of Casting Crowns....I cried tears of sadness for 20 young lives I never knew as I listened to these words....

we were made to be courageous
we were made to lead the way
we could be the generation that finally breaks the chains

we were made to be courageous
we were made to be courageous

we were warriors on the front lines,
standing unafraid.
but now we're watchers on the side lines,
while our families slip away.
where are you men of courage?
you were made for so much more.
let the pounding of our hearts cry,
we will serve the Lord.

we were made to be courageous,
and were taking back the fight.
we were made to be courageous,
and it starts with us tonight.
the only way we'll ever stand,
is on our knees with lifted hands.
make us courageous,

Lord make us courageous.
this is our resolution, our answer to the call,
we will love our wives and children,
and refuse to let them fall.
we will reignite the passion,
that we buried deep inside.
may the watchers become warriors,
let the men of God arise.

Pray that the presence of God would fill Newtown and our country today.  Pray that the presence of God will fill our lives and help us become courageous through this tragedy.  Pray that the presence of God will help us as Christians be courageous to stand up and show the world our God can heal.

Only God knows why theses events take place and we must put our trust in HIM.....

JP

Missing something?

Day 10

I hope you enjoyed the last 2 days of the blog.....Wait, it wasn't there was it.  I did that on purpose to see if anyone would notice.  I hope you continued finding you own way to make sure the presence of God was with you and your family without the blog for the past 2 days.  I don't know about you, but for me it is easy to forget about God presence in my day to day life.  It is as easy as just that.  Many of you have been reading this everyday and after yesterday, you thought, well I guess it is not going to happen.  I wanted to show everyone how easy it is to just forget.  Having the presence of God in your life is a choice we must take daily.  The bible tells us we cannot serve 2 masters.  We just can't.  It doesn't work that way for God.  He wants all of us and when we can't do that it seems we just go through life and make it day to day.  But there is something missing, and we all know what it is.  There are people we know and maybe even ourselves that are looking for something to fill the void in our life...It is the presence of God almighty.....

I am going to get a little personal right now and just put it all on the table.  I grew up in church and I know right from wrong.  I know the bible fairly well and know when I am not on the straight and narrow path.  There has been more than one occasion I have felt as far from God as I could be.  There have been times in my life I could care less about what God wanted from me and I only wanted to take care of myself and that was it.  I know none of you have ever been there, but I will admit it.

Almost 10 years ago was one of those times in my life.  I had just gotten divorced.  I was an okay looking guy with custody of my son and a god job.  You know what that meant.  There was something special about me when it came to women looking for an opportunity to date.  I am not going to go into details, but this was a time in my life where I gave into the temptations of self and the desires of the flesh so many times it was pathetic.  I was mad at God for me getting divorced.  I was mad at my parents for having such a great relationship in front of me. (I later learned it was not always so happy)  I was mad at my ex wife for many reasons.  I was scared to be a dad of a little boy.  I was mad at the church for telling me I had to go.  I thought they would stand beside me and help me through this.  I was mad because I thought it wasn't my fault, it was everyone else's.  I continued to slip further and further away from God and it didn't matter to me at all.  I was done.  I was throwing in the towel and I was going to do what everyone else was doing and that was take care of me.....

I quit going to church regularly.  I started figuring out ways I could do what I wanted to do.  I fished, I hunted, I partied, I went out with the ladies, I played golf, and I did whatever I wanted to do....

I, like so many other people, started focusing on my desires and not what God desires for me.  I was on a downward spiral into hell and no one was going to stop me.  So I thought....

I remember laying in bed one night with Parker curled up next to me crying because I felt so alone.  I remember praying to God, knowing he wasn't hearing it because of the sin in my life.  I had allowed myself to believe none of this was my fault.  Then it hit me.  It hit me hard.  It was my fault I had allowed God to not be first in my life.  It was my fault I had allowed my selfish desires to come before my relationship with God, Parker, and my family.   I was missing something and it was the presence of God.  I had to get things right.  I had to pray for forgiveness and come to the understanding God never left me, I left God.  I prayed to my Saviour to forgive me.  I confessed my sins.  I got things right.  The presence of God was with me again.  I had everything I needed right in front of me.  I had a son that adored me, family that supported me, and a God that never left me.

A few weeks later I got a call to go try out for a youth pastor position in Seminole and the rest is history...or another story for another day....

Here is the moral to the story:

God never leaves us we leave him.  We can blame whoever or whatever we want, but we are ultimately accountable for our actions...

Proverbs 19:21

"Many are the plans of a mans heart, but God's purpose always prevails..."

Challenge:

Think about the times you were not in the presence of God.

What did it feel like?
What did it look like?
What did you do about it?

Do you want others to feel the same way you did?

We have 15 more days until we get to Christmas day, will you commit to carrying the presence of God with you for 15 days straight?

Justin Presley

HOW MUCH!!!!!!

Day 7

The following was from another blog I did back in October.  As I thought about the presence of God in our lives, I thought about the cost.  I thought about how it costs us pride and selfish desires in order to truly find the presence of God.  I hope you enjoy this...

In the last 7 days, I have gave up a lot of pride and gained a lot of humility by really wanting to be in the presence of GOd and be present for my family....

God bless you and your family....

"how much does it cost?" that is a typical response to the questions we get as parents...  it seems like every time we turn around we are having to pay something else, for new clothes, new shoes, school lunches, ball games, snow cones, Christmas is around the corner, and then you have groceries...  just seems like all we talk about is the cost of what we are trying to buy or what we want...


the cost of serving God doesn't typically come with a price tag...it comes with sacrifice and willingness to give of our hearts.....

i wonder if we could put a price tag on what it would take to carry the presence of God around with us daily.....i wonder if we would be willing to pay it.....i am sure we would be more open to his call when we saw people in need....i am sure we would be more attentive to others needs as we proceeded in our day to day activities....i wonder if people would actually pay for God to be with us daily and never leave our sides....i bet they would....we pay for everything else, no matter what the cost...

i think, as Christians, we can't even fathom the cost of our salvation...if we did, we might take it more seriously...

i would like for you to write the following:

what is it going to cost me to be in the presence of God?
1.
2.
3.
4.

what is it going to COST ME to be a presence for my family?
1.
2.
3.
4.


the presence of God in our lives will cost us something...nothing in life that God calls us to do is easy and without cost...the cool thing about it though, Jesus will not call us to do something he hasn't or won't do himself...everyone knows he died for us...a terrible death at that...

in Luke Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple...

14:28
"suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you."

14:33
"in the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."


Psalm 49:8
"the ransom for life is costly, no payment is ever enough"

Proverbs 4:7
"the beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.  Though it will cost you all you have. Get understanding."


the answer is EVERYTHING....

Comfort or Discomfort?

Day 6

A few months ago I decided to do something I had never done before.  I decided to coach my sons 4th grade basketball team.  I wanted to make sure they had an opportunity to play and I thought I could be an influence of positivity in their lives.  I decided to have practice on Wednesday nights and then just take all the boys to church with me.  I wanted to begin practice with prayer and teach them about how we can always be in the presence of God.  I wanted to create a normalcy of prayer in our practices and make it the new normal for these boys.  The reason for this was not profound or have any hidden agenda.  It was just simply to do what I felt God calling me to do.

The first practice came and it was too uncomfortable for me to do it.  Yes, many of you know me, and you are saying, What he chickened out?.....Yes, I did.  I had the best laid out plans to do what God called me to do, but when it came down to it, I choked....

I didn't have any reason not to other than the fact that their were several other people there than just us.  I was focused on what I needed to teach the boys in order for them to be successful on the court.  I was focused on my agenda for the practice, I forgot the main reason I wanted this opportunity in the first place.

The rest of the practices came and went, still no prayer...I guess I thought since I was taking them to church, that was good enough.  I was doing half of what God called me to do...just not what He wanted me to do...

God used a nervous 10 year old boy to speak to me before the first game on Saturday.  Many of the players really internalize their fears and nervousness.  It was our first game and I was scared too.  Parker wanted to pray before the game.  I heard God loud and clear....

I called my team together under the basket and in front of everyone we all squatted down and prayed for God to take care of our nervousness and calm our fears and to help us do what we had been practicing to do.  It was uncomfortable, but you could see the comfort and peace come over the boys and they took the court.  I guess the prayer made it to heaven because the boys were amazing out there on the court.

How may times have you done something because you felt God's presence involved?

How many times have you not done something because you go in the way and you felt terrible for not stepping up?

How many more times are we going to let an opportunity to share God's presence with others pass us by?

I sat in Sunday school this morning and listened about how God whispers to us and what our action will be.  I thought about this and realized God used my son to whisper to me.  I will tell you right now I was as uncomfortable and a cat on a tin roof yesterday as I knelt with the team and prayed.  It was uncomfortable but afterwards there was a comfort that was amazing.

It was the presence of God.....LOUD AND CLEAR.....

Challenge:

Take the time to pray with your family tonight.  Pray for their week, tomorrow, and just the GOd would put a hedge around them.

It may be uncomfortable, but I promise the next time won't.  I am looking forward to next weeks game, not to play, but to pray....

Justin

You are the LIGHT.....

Day 5

How did your family like the notes you wrote them?  My children are getting theirs this afternoon.  I can't wait for them to read what I have told them.  I have to admit I felt God needed me to change this mornings blog, so I am late getting this out.  I had a cool activity for everyone to do at home for today, but something else is on my heart.

Sometimes in our day to day routine, we forget we are to be present in others lives as well.  I find it amazing how many people are needing someone just to say a kind word or needing someone to be a friend.  It seems everyone has 3 things in common.  We all want to be validated, appreciated, and understood.  You say, why do you say these things?  Let me tell you....

A few months ago Heather and I were faced with the option to be present for someone who needed us. I am not going to lie, with four kids and adding more responsibility to the mix was a crazy thought.  I prayed and went back and forth several times before the decision was made to trust God and be as present as we were allowed to be in this persons life.  Since, we have been trusting God to lead, everything has worked out fine.  It is hard to see the struggles they constantly go through.  It is hard to try and understand what they are feeling because we have never been in the situation they are.  It is hard to see the people who should be the most supportive in their life, try and persuade them to make a decision based on personal bias.  We are called as Christians to be a light in a dark world.  We are called to love without prejudice.  We are called to validate, appreciate, and understand people, no matter what age, and help them be the best they can be by being a stable presence in their lives.

I was talking to some people just the other day about how hard it was when Heather and I got married to love each others kids in the same way.  You know what I mean?  When a child is your flesh and blood, it seems to be easier to love them because they are part of you.  When you have children that are not biologically yours, sometimes those instincts are just not natural?  It is hard until you realize something.  And this is the point of today..........

We are adopted by God through the blood of his son Jesus Christ.  We are here to be the presence of God in a dark world.  There are people all over this town and probably next door to us that need someone to care.  There are people all over this town and probably next door who need someone to listen.  There are people all over this town and probably next door that are needing us to be present in their lives in some form or fashion.

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world,  a city on a hill cannot be hidden, neither do we light a lamp and put in under a bowl, instead we put it on a stand and it gives light unto all the house.  In the same way, let your light so shine before men that they may see you good deeds and praise your father in heaven."

It doesn't matter if you are related or not.  Jesus doesn't say you are the light in your own house, he says, you are the light of the world.

Jesus does not say let you light shine just in your house....here's the challenge.....

Challenge:

Be present in someones life you know needs you.  Make an effort today to reach out to someone who you know needs your presence and God's presence in their lives.


I promise it will be confusing and hard, but in the end it will be rewarding and fulfilling.  It is amazing what happens when we do what God calls us to do.....


Justin Presley

The Note......

Day 4


There is something to be said about the presence of God in our lives.  It is suppose to make us different.  The presence of God in our lives is supposed to make us secure in our faith.  It helps us through the days we have ahead.  It helps us in days of tragedy and in days of joy.  His presence makes us worship him and see his beauty.  I hope you enjoyed the 60 minutes you spent tonight in the presence of your family.  You need to make sure you treasure those moments.

Today for over an hour I was able to be present with my oldest son in a basketball practice.  I am the lucky guy who gets to coach his team.  I was able to set back and see my son and his buddies show me how fast they grow up.  It seems like just yesterday they were walking and running with the ball as they went down the floor.  It was only a few years ago, they could barely even dribble.  It wasn't long ago they could not even set a pick much less understand a full court press.  I stood there today in absolute amazement at how fast time has passed.

I was proud of how my son played today.  I was glad I was present for the moment to see him growing up.

Earlier in the day for over an hour I sat in my office and thought about the presence of God in one of my coworkers life.  It seems like only yesterday we were all sitting around telling funny stories and just hanging out like normal.  A few months ago his medical issues had progressed to a point of utter amazement.  No one could tell him what was wrong.  No one could tell him any answers.  I saw a man literally hanging on to life day by day.  Not knowing any answers or not being able to find out what was causing his issues.  He has been out of the office for sometime now and his presence is missed by several people.  I don't know how many times today someone came by to see if we had any updates on his status.  It was amazing to me to se so many people feel the lack of presence by a person in our office.  You don't really know what you have until its gone.  Right now, my friend, is in ICU with an uphill battle to fight.  I do know one thing.  I asked him about the presence of God in his life and he told me everything was good.

I just wonder if we all asked ourselves the same question, what would the answer be?  I wonder if we can really say the presence of God in our lives is real?

In the bible, Jesus tells a story of a young man who asks what it takes to have the presence of God in his life?  Jesus tells him to sell everything he has and give it to the poor and then come follow Him.  The rich young man walked away because he had great wealth.

What is it going to take for us to feel the presence of God in our life?


Challenge


Take the time to write a letter to each person in your house.  Tell them why you love them.  Tell them what you are proud of them for.  Tell them how important they are to you.  Tell them God loves them.

This may be difficult and hard, but that is kind of the point.

On Tuesday of this week, I walked into the house immediately after the kids got home.  My oldest daughter walked up and handed me a note.  The note read as follows....

Dear dad,

I love you.  You are a good dad.  Thank you for all the things you do for me. I thing I should do sumthing for you.  I love you so so much.

Love,

Faith

A little girl in her class was upset as they worked on Christmas presents because her mother is dead and her dad is no longer in the home.  She was missing her daddy and Faith thought about me and wrote me a note.  She handed it to me and I was proud to read what she had wrote.  Now it's my turn to write her a note and tell her how I feel.

60 minutes of presence....

Day 3

I hope you listed some great ways you can feel the presence of God.  I know it may have been uncomfortable, but that's kind of the point.  If we keep doing what we have been doing, we will keep getting what we have been getting.

I know many of you have been watching the show DUCK DYNASTY.  Our family loves it.  I find it interesting how they are just ordinary people who God has blessed.  Phil Roberson who is the Duck Commander is a preacher and I have met him when he spoke in Duncan one night.  I think it is great to see on TV how a family can be present in each others lives.  I know the show is scripted and edited for TV, but there are several things that really amaze me.

They are a family that works together, plays together, and prays together.  I find it awesome how they end each show with a family sitting at the table and they all pray together.

I heard a speech from Willie Roberson, CEO of Duck Commander, when he was at Harding University and he spoke about how the difference between him and the other people he is around in show business, is Jesus Christ.  He lifted up his bible and said very plainly, God is the difference between him and all his friends.  He told the students how he knows people who have all the money in the world and they are still missing something.  He talked about how they ask him about his faith and how they can have what he has.  He continues to go on about how it all boils down to a relationship with God and a willingness to do what we are supposed too.

Now for the 21 day challenge.  It is day 3....

What better time than now to just get down to business??????

Challenge:  60 minutes of presence

When you get home today, turn off the TV.....Put your cell phones up.....Get rid of all the distractions....Play a game....Talk about the day....Do something.....

Do this for 1 hour...

Get your list from Day 1 and see what you can do.....If they can do it on TV, we can do it in our homes.


You are now thinking this has to be crazy to even think about trying.  Well let me tell you, your kids will love it or your spouse will love the fact that you are just focusing on them and not anything else.  Just a few weeks ago Heather brought home Twister for us to play.  The kids loved it.  We taught the kids a game some of you might remember called "Charades".  They absolutely loved it.  Now keep in mind, our kids are young.  You may have to make more than an effort if your family is older.

The purpose is to just be present with one another.  Nothing more and nothing less.  Let us know what you are going to do and maybe it will inspire others to do the same thing....

HAVE FUN AND BE PRESENT!!!!!!

Your favorite present...

Day 2

I remember very clearly the Christmas of my 5th grade year.  It was a very important time in my life.  I asked for several things, but there was one gift I had to have.  It was an ID bracelet.  You know what I am talking about?  The bracelet that has your first name on the back and your last name on the front.  You would give it to your girlfriend or boyfriend so everyone would know you guys were going steady.  I had to have one.  I put it on my list and checked it twice.  I made sure my mom took me to the jewelry store and I personally showed her which one I wanted.  I told her how I wanted it engraved.  I made for sure it was going to get done.  Or, so I thought......

Christmas day came. My mom did like always and came into my room and informed me that someone had been at our house.  It was the day of presents.  I was ready to get my ID bracelet.  I knew it would be there left by Santa and I couldn't wait.  I busted through the living room expecting to see my bracelet laying there and nothing.  There was a remote control car set out by Santa.  There was a stocking full of the usual gummy strawberries and tooth paste and socks.  I opened present after present expecting that ID bracelet and it never came.  I remember opening clothes.  I think I got a CO2 bb pistol that year.  I opened gift after gift and I never got my bracelet....

Then it happened.  My parents asked the question.  Did you get everything you wanted?  I immediately said NO!!!  I DIDN'T GET MY BRACELET!!!

I remember the feeling I had as I type this.  I was horrified that I had just told my parents they had not given me what I wanted.  I mean, I had gotten more than most people do in a year and the one thing I didn't get was what I wanted most.

My dad said, "what is in that can under the tree?"  It was a can that had a $100 dollar bill wrapping around it.  They then told me to take that can and open it with the can opener.  Guess what was inside?

My ID Bracelet.  I remember feeling like a real butthole.  I mean, I felt like I was the most ungrateful person and my parents loved me enough to get me the one gift I wanted more than anything.


As I thought about the 21 day challenge, I thought about this story.  I thought about the desire I had for that bracelet.  I thought about the lesson I learned that day as I saw that bracelet in the can.  I learned my desires had became more than the reason we celebrate Christmas.  My mom and dad looked at me on the one day we were supposed to be grateful and their faces were not proud of their son's desires.

I wonder if God looks at us like that during this season.  Are we focused on our selfish desires?  Do we feel the presence of God in our lives on a daily basis.  Are we walking with Him daily?

Matthew 6:21 says,

"for where your treasure is, there you heart will be also."


Day 2 - Challenge

List 5 ways you feel the presence of God in your life.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.


We will never truly be present in our families life until God is truly present in our lives.  Some of us may still be looking for Him in a can under the tree.

It's time to make God be our favorite present each and every day of our lives.  His presence in our lives will be evident by our treasures we have.....

21 days of presence challenge....

Day 1


Christmas is just around the corner.  I can't believe it is only 21 days til the big day.  I don't know about you and your family, but we have been struggling to get our kids presents.  If your kids are like many I know, they don't really need anything.  They have clothes and they have the essentials to live day to day.  Anyone who knows our family, knows our kids are spoiled and if you are reading this and you think yours aren't, you are crazy.

Just this last Saturday, we shopped all over Oklahoma City and still came home after several hours with not much to give as presents for our kids.  We have asked them several times what they would like to have from Santa Claus.  The response in the same every time. I DON'T KNOW...

Madison, Parker, and Faith are at the age where they can tell us if they like stuff or not.  Name brands are becoming important.  Being cool and looking good in cool clothes is a must for them.  Well, the girls anyway.  Ethan and Emma don't care, but their momma does.  Emma looks like she walked out of a Carters catalog every morning.  Ethan doesn't care one bit...

As I thought about this Christmas, I wondered how many other parents were in the same place we are.  I wondered how many people are going to buy presents for their kids they may or may not need.  How many of us will spend time worrying about the presents under the tree from Santa?  We will stress ourselves out and stretch our credit cards out in order to see our kids faces light up.

I began thinking about Christmas traditions and Christmas for what it really is.  It is Christ's birthday.  It is the day Jesus came to earth in the form of man to be the sacrificial Lamb for our sins.  What an awesome day!

Then I thought about how I can make sure Christmas becomes a habit everyday during the year.  How can we remember the importance of Christmas all year long?  Studies show it takes 21 days of doing the same thing in order for it to become a habit.

Why not have a 21 day challenge of PRESENCE?

Its funny how we are worrying and stressing over PRESENTS and we should be worrying and stressing over PRESENCE.

Our family needs us to be a presence in their lives on a daily basis.  Our family needs us to have the presence of God in our lives.  Our family needs the presence of God in their lives.

If you are willing to participate in the 21 day challenge, let's get going.

 (just so you all know, I am doing this with you daily too....)

DAY 1

Make a list of how you can be a presence in your family members lives over the next 21 days...

Examples:

• Fun places to go
• Fun games to play
• Angel tree gifts for them to help you buy for others
• Looking at Christmas lights

Once you have the list, don't show your family immediately.  This list will be a valuable document as we move forward with the 21 day challenge.

Please feel free to forward this to your friends and family you may think would like to do this with us.  I think it would be great if we all could hear for one another what we are doing.......

In John 17, Jesus has a prayer for us that believe.....

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity."

Jesus is talking about the presence He has had with his disciples and how the presence they have with Him will be the same presence they share with everyone else.  

Are you ready to be present in your families lives and share the presence of God with them over the next 21 days?

Thats the challenge......