Lessons Learned In Dating

I have been thinking a lot about my girlfriend these past few days. I think she is a tremendous woman of God and I am glad that the lord has placed her in my life. She keeps me smiling and she really has a lot of wisdom about her.

One of the things I like most about Andrea, is the fact that her and I try to be on the same page every time. Our communication isn't a 10, but we're working towards perfection. I personally believe that a key to any healthy relationship be it marriage, business or causal, is a (strong communication bond). Without it you're headed for trouble. Open communication helps you see what the other person feels. Whether you agree with their stance or not, you at least know where they are coming from. Another interesting key is that of (honesty). Communication and honesty go hand in hand like: peanut butter and jelly; salt and pepper; Fred and Ginger...If your communication isn't honest with the other person, then are you truly committed to that person at all? Are you willing to grow with that person and strive for a strong and healthy connection?

Over the years, I have learned that I am not the greatest communicator. I am a pretty good listener, but when it comes to actually sharing my feelings, I fail miserably. This is something that I am desiring to work on because I want to be able to share with her how I feel and why. Maybe there is something that is bothering me and yet, how can she know how to help me if I'm not opening up to her? Or place the shoe on the other foot, how can she open up to me if she's not sure how I would react to that particular situation?

Before you ever even think about the possibility of marriage, take into consideration how well you and your significant other communicate about issues; both the normal issues and the touchy ones, those issues that can make or break your life together.

Before I forget to, let's talk about listening...How well do you listen to what your signif other has to say? Would you say that you hear them; or would you say that you really hear them and can understand where they are coming from? So many times, I have seen couples fight and argue over stupid stuff simply because of a misunderstanding. Either the one didn't communicate their point well or the other just didn't properly hear and assimilate what was said. If you don't understand what the other is saying, ask for clarification. Ask them to tell you what they mean and why. Ask them to help you understand their heart and where they are and why.

Am I saying that this is easy? Not in any way, but as you learn to communicate, be honest with one another and hear what they are really saying; you too can have a great life together. These three keys are not the total lessons of what I learned, but they have helped me to become a better listener, hearer and Man.. More importantly they have helped me to love her the way Christ loves me.

Blessings,

Josh

Just a note of encouragement

Have you ever felt like nobody cared or that the things of life are way too hard? Maybe you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and there's no help in sight.

Well, I am facing that reality right now. It's one of those times that I need to tighten my boot straps and start practicing the Word and making it come alive in my heart. Here I am a minister and yet I'm facing discouragement...haha..Not so funny is it?

From my last blog you remember that a lot of doors were shut in my face. I mean one after another, after another..and so on. Today was no different. I called several churches who were looking for a Sr. Pastor to see if I could come and bless them until they found their man. One denomination who I had thought was Pentecostal, told me that they had miss givings about me because I was Charasmatic...That means I Believe the Bible and that I am a Spirit-filled believer.

I understood what they meant and thanked them anyways for their consideration. The fun stuff came when I got off the phone and all these doubts started to flood my mind and and possibly creep into my heart. When you're faced with circumstances that don't stop, it's really easy to give up. So many ministers have quit the ministry because of hard times and other issues. But when the hard times come, don't give up!!! Press in to God and allow His grace, peace and mercy to flood you.

Right now I should be exercising, but I needed to get this out before I put it off and forgot about it. I mean Scripture after Scripture kept rising up from within my heart penetrating my mind into siding with God. I choose to believe God no matter what!! Even though things appear bad and hopeless, I know that my breakthrough is on the horizon. I just need to stay in an attitude of Joy and faith. Joy unspeakable and full of GLORY!! hahaha..hehehe..Heyyyyy!!!

Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM, the help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 34:1 I will BLESS the Lord at all times; His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth.
- Just read this entire Psalm

Psalm 103:1-5 Psalm 118:24

Psalm 112:6-8 Phil 4:4-8

Psalm 126:1-3

Updates and other such fluff

As of late, it seems as if I've fallen off the wagon when it comes to blogging. Could it be that blogging really isn't my thing? Maybe it could be the fact that I have nothing relevant to say or that I just don't care to blog anymore. Well, I think that it may just be a combination of everything.

Blogging really isn't an outlet for me to share my deepest thoughts, ideas and whatnot. Many people have volumes of diaries where they share everything that has happened...Today I had waffles for breakfast.....BIG DEAL!! LOL

But seriously though maybe I should start blogging ones a week or a month just to keep people abreast of what is happening in my world. So much has happened in this first quarter of the year that I'm not sure if I could fit everything in. What do I talk about? What do you want to know or even care to know? Whatever it is then I'll try and summarize my life for you and what makes me tick.

As you all know, I'm a 28 years old traveling evangelist with and unshakable confidence in God. Following Him step by step and obeying His voice is something I take very seriously. Have I been perfect in following His plan for my life? Not really...but I do know that if I do miss it, I can repent and start over at the point where I fouled up and start afresh there.

As I said earlier, this year has been pretty interesting for starters as you very well know, the economy tanked in the Babylonian System. This shouldn't affect the Believer, but it has because people got all freaky over it and fear set in. Giving in most churches has dropped and in some places stopped all together. Churches have closed because they couldn't afford to keep the doors open. This isn't a bad confession, but a statement of fact (which by the way can and will change), opportunities for me in the first quarter have pretty much dried up. I was expecting to preach at least 3-4 times each month and yet so far I only preached 3 times. I preached only a quarter of what I was believing for. Did I miss it somewhere? In some areas yes, but none of those had anything to do with me not preaching. There is a devil out there and he doesn't want the Gospel of the Kingdom to go anywhere....A lot of the places I was supposed to go or called all told me the same thing, "Sorry brother, our economy is bad. We can't afford to have anyone" Oh, really?!!!

In my humblest opinion, you can't afford not to have anyone. During difficult times is when people need to be encouraged the most. When people are at the bottom of the barrel, they need some good news in their lives. I have that Good News because I have Jesus...So anyway, sorry about getting on my soapbox there, if you'd like me to elaborate more, just ask...I'm like Kenneth Copeland when it comes to stuff like this; It makes me so mad that Christians would rather believe the devil's lie, instead of God's Truth, His Word.

Because of this, I've had to fight the Good Fight even harder because with all the negativity that has been surrounding me, finances have been low and I have had to double up on the Word and stay in a positive attitude of faith. Affirmative faith is what I call it..Faith that isn't moved by anything, but God and His Word.

On a brighter note, I have been in an interesting relationship with a Special Someone. I went to Rhema with her back in 2001. She was second year and I was first year. We're about the same age, except I'm a few months older. Our story began several weeks ago when I got a message froom her Pastor to call her. At the time, I wasn't dating anyone or even remotely interested in anyone. I asked him why and told him that I didn't even know her number...Bad move...LOL

He wrote back with a more imperative tone and said, "CALL HER NOW!!" I actually thought that she was in some sort of trouble and I was concerned. I saw her more as a sister and I didn't realize that her Pastor was trying to set us up. So I called and the rest is history. If you want to know more, just ask.....Am I in love? Yessss *blushing and grin* Are there marriage bells in our future? Only time will tell because I do need a helpmate, but I need the one that God has ordained especially for me.

My heart is so full this morning. Full of love for this Special Person in my life, but more importantly that the Lord has been truly good in my life. The Bible says in Proverbs 10:22 that "The Blessing of the Lord it makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." Even when hard ties come, I can still rise up victoriously no matter what. Who cares what people say, what the news media says or even what our government says...MY GOD WILL PUT ME OVER!!!

Lafayette or Bust

Well, it's been a few days since I've been home from my trip to Louisiana and so I think that I should fill you in on what happened during the trip. To be quite honest with you, I was totally psyched about this trip, so much so that it was all I really talked about for days leading up to it.

Gene and I graduated from Rhema together in 2002 and hadn't seen each other or talked to one another in the seven years since graduation. In 2006 I was led by the Holy Spirit to google him. Now I hadn't seen him or even thought of him in all that time; why now? Thank God for the inward witness because after reconnecting with him, we because to just share with one another what was happening in our lives. The good, the bad and even the ugly. One day Gene told me about him and Mary becoming engaged and he asked me to be in his wedding, which I gladly accepted. The story of how Gene and Mary got together is just awesome and if you know Gene, you know that he has a real genuineness about him.

Well, I dislike sap and fluff and so I'll save you that part and just jump into the trip. The trip for me actually began the night before because I had so much trouble sleeping because of the excitement. I finally ended up falling asleep around 1:30 and unfortunately had to get up at 3:30am. That is so depressing having to get up that early. I arrived at Pittsburgh Int'l around 5 to begin my trip my checking in, going through security and the other stuff. This didn't take too long and so I figured that I could have slept in til 4, arrived at the airport at 6 and still had time to spare. After making my connecting flight in Memphis, TN, I arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana around noon. After picking up my car, (Chevy HHR- It was a retro station wagon), I wen to go to my hotel and ended up getting extremely lost and wound up in a bad part of town. After driving around for almost an hour, I found my hotel and checked in.

Lafayette isn't really all that bad as long as your familiar with the main roads. I'm used to the grid system of roads, Lafayette on the other hand, is far from that. The locals told me that a drunk man designed them. This I had to believe. By the end of the trip I knew the roads better than Gene and his family (not really, but I come close to).

I met up with Gene at the Church on Thursday and got to meet his beautiful bride. Mary is just an awesome woman and she'll be a great help to Gene. Really they're a great help to one another. I even got to meet Mary's daughter Liz as well. After hanging at the Church, we wound up at Cracker Barrel for some lunch and to just have some fellowship time. Gene and I had some fun with Liz because she wasn't feeling to hot, she had the sniffles and that just opened the door for us to tease her a little. This was all in good fun.

I do not like to share personal stuff, but I'll just say that my heart really went out to Liz. No in a romantic sort of way, but in a way that she needed someone to just love on her and to just reaffirm her self-worth. I continue to pray for Liz because I know God has some great things in store for her life. I think of Liz as a little sister and really think and speak highly of her. Mary did a great job raising her and her brother Billy.

Friday began like any other day where I went exploring to learn the roads better and to just add miles to the car. I eventually met up with Gene and 2 of his girl's (Misty-16 and Molly-9) to pick up our tuxes and head out to lunch. Gene's girls are just adorable and I count it a huge honor to have met them.

I am skipping around a bit because I want to give each person their own story without making this too long. Tomorrow I will continue to talk about Gene and Mary all they way up until they left Saturday for their honeymoon. Monday I would like to talk about Gene's sister Rachel and her family as well as their parents. I know Rachel will read this and so I'll try and say nice things about her...hahaha..She is a tremendous woman of God and I count it an honor to be a part of her extended family.

My Thoughts On The Economy

As you very well may know, the economists, the government, media and everyone else who is alive and breathing, are talking about the state of our economy and their recession. Notice I said their recession. I for one, am sick and tired of hearing how bad things are because I choose to walk in the BLESSING, instead of the curse.

All you hear is doom and gloom and that things are getting worse. What are they trying to accomplish by putting fear into people. They say, "Get taxes done now and get your return." Once people get their return they don't spend it wisely, but blow it on things that only bring happiness for a short while. I heard one person on the news say that they'll get a big screen tv. Why? How does that help the problem? To me, it adds to it.

Now, I know this country is facing hard times, but the Church shouldn't let itself be dominated by fear and the worlds system. It should be dominated by God's system. God's system always has a good return and its resources never run dry.

As a traveling minister, I have to believe God for every cent that comes in because I don't work a normal job like most people. I travel to churches and minister about the goodness of God. But when the Church is struggling, that limits the opportunities I get to preach. I shouldn't be dependent on churches, but on God. He's El Shaddai, the God who is MORE than enough, He'll get me through.

I guess I'm telling you this because in the past several days, I have either had meetings cancelled or been turned down because, "I'm sorry brother, because of our recession, we can't have anyone." I don't know about you, but that is exactly the time to have someone. Someone who preaches the Word with signs following. Someone who encourages the body so that faith is built in their heart.

All my life, I was raised on the principle, "Even in tough times, sow a seed towards your need." This isn't just a give to get principle; but a seed, time and harvest principle. God said give and expect a return on your giving. I could share story after story about how God supernaturally supplied my every need. It's when our natural, meets His Super that things begin to happen.

The Bible says in Proverbs 10:22 "The BLESSING of the Lord, it maketh rich and He adds no sorrow with it." It's the blessing that will cause us to prosper in hard times. It's the blessing that will cause us to stand when others fall. I choose to stand and walk in the blessing.

Why? Because God will meet me where I'm at and He will see to it that every need is met. Now this doesn't just happen over night. You give in faith and you release your seed to God and stay expecting. Pay day doesn't always come on Friday, but it does come. When it does come, be ready for that net breaking, boat sinking catch.

There's more I could say about the blessing, but I just wanted to wet your appetite a little.

Until next time,

Josh

2009 Goals and Expectations

In the past few weeks, I have read blog after blog from people who have mapped out their goals, aspirations and what not for the new year. Me, well, I've never really had a plan going into a new year and so I thought that maybe I should.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

NKJV: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. (3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

If I every want to accomplish anything for God this year; I need to first and foremost have a plan, His plan. I need to run with that plan because it will bring me success at the appointed time. I may have to stand in faith and not waiver, but that plan will surely come to pass in my life.

Outside of His plan for my life, I too have some goals, expectations, dreams, desires and so forth that I want to accomplish this year. I have had some success in the past without making a plan, but sometimes I experienced failure because I wasn't prepared like I needed to be.

So this time I plan on nothing but success. I plan to come out on top no matter what. Come hell or high water, I will not fail.

What is this glorious plan then, well for starters I would like to get a good nights rest every night. I understand things come up, but in most cases turning off the computer and/or tv is a must and hitting the hay before 11:30.

Secondly, I desire to devote more time in prayer, rather fellowship with my Heavenly Father and just getting to know Him better and learning to become more sensitive to His voice. I might also throw in regular devetion time. Not just doing devotion books, but more time spent in the Word for my own personal growth.

Thirdly, I would like to lose about 30 pounds, it's not that I am super huge, I just want to be healthier. I already exercise, yet I don't do any cardio or abs. This is a must, thus the reason why I have a spare tire..... hmmmmm?

Fourthly, I would like to learn something new everyday. Not just to obtain facts, but to gain knowledge and insite into new things. I enjoy reading, so I may just pick out a subject and read books on it. Literature? History? Biographies?

These are just a few of my goals, mostly dealing on a personal basis. Now ministry wise, that is a whole different ball game because I have goals already established and I am making them off as I complete them.

For example, I plan on preaching more and more every year, maybe increase my schedule by 5 services or 10. I'll do my part by making the phone calls and then I'll rely on the Holy Spirit to send the opportunities my way.

What goals have I completed, you may ask? Well, I 'm preaching more out of state than ever before and I am licensed with Rhema. Another part of my ministry vision is to preach from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from Canada down to the Mexico border. This is just a start, when I complete this then I will believe for opportunities to preach in every inhabited continent and island of the sea.

That's pretty much it when it comes to my goals. I haven't included anything concerning relationships or friendships because that's a little more personal, plus I am in the middle of being molded and shaped into the man God wants me to be, after the molding process is complete and I've been proven by fire, then the relationship aspect will happen.

If I left you hanging in any way, sorry about that. If you want to know more, just ask.

Be blessed,

Josh

Why I Dare To Dream Big

To honestly say that 2008 didn't have any challenges and setbacks, I would be lying. Now I don't want to be all down in the mouth and make it seem as if 2008 was miserable, it's just that I lost some really important battles both in my personal life as well as in my spiritual life(ministry included).

For starters, I didn't get to preach as much as I wanted. Since I began in ministry, my itinerary doubled in size every year. This year however, I faced some pretty lean months. Months where I didn't speak at all. Some because of being cancelled on, others, well, They said, "I'll get back to you." If they had no intentions of having me, then just tell me. By the time I realized they were never going to call, it was too late to schedule anything.

Other than that, I nglected to really buckle down and just have a real personal devotion time. I would read and study, but that was for preaching only. I know, I know...you idiot!!! I realize that and so I have made some adjustments that I have implemented starting today. Now you know why I lost some battles.

My success in life solely depends on my relationship with my Heavenly Father. With out really getting to know Him and His Word, I robbed myself from walking in the blessing. By blessing I mean everything: Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically and Financially.

My one true desire is to see the Manifold Blessing of Almighty God explode in my life. I dare to have clear cut vision of what God has designed for my life. even though He moved step by step. I desire to just trust Him as I walk with Him. I desire to see myself better than where I was a year ago. My dream is to reach more people and accomplish more things for the Kingdom of God.

For starters, I desire to understand His Word in a clearer way. My dream is to have the Word just explode in me and become my way of life. My way of victory. My way of success. To accomplish this I have to lay some things aside and pick some things up.

I have to lay aside those things that would rob me and hinder me from fulfilling my call. My call as a minister, but more importantly, my call as a Believer. A Believer's call is to simply believe and act like the Word is so, no matter what.

I dare to dream big because I serve a big God. I dare to dream big because Greater is He that is in me. I dare to dream big because no weapon formed against me can prosper. I dare to dream big because I have the mind of Christ and I know all things.

In the next few days and even weeks, I would like to share with you what my goals are for the year. Why I set them and what I need to do to accomplish them.

I trust that this has awaken you somewhat into what causes success and failure. It ultimately rests on being a doer of the Word and putting the Word first, no matter what.


Love Ya,

Josh