7holycrap Love of Jesus

A Few Complicated Steps to Help America

So many people posting on Facebook and other social media sites about the past couple of days and the turmoil in our country. First and foremost, only God can fix what is happening in our country right now but I wanted to throw out a few complicated suggestions for us all. 

1. Smile at a stranger.

This isn’t for some ulterior motive. Just smile. You would be AMAZED how many people smile back! 

2. Look for opportunities to love instead of hate. 

For me, Jesus was ALL about love that was reckless and unconditional and I want to walk in His steps.

3. Stop thinking that anything you do won’t make a difference.

Never forget that we ARE culture. Change ourselves and we change culture. 

I am committed to pray for our country, what seems to be misguided leadership and all the people groups who make up this great country. Have a great weekend and believing that our BEST days are ahead for ALL Americans.

7holycrap Life Lessons

Late Night Post, Just for You!

God is There
I am only sharing this post on the Holy Crap Facebook page because I feel like it is only for a few select people.

You are thinking about giving up. You don’t feel like you have support or that your nightmare will end. I have news for you. God is there. In the darkness and in the pain. You may not feel him or see him or maybe even believe he is there. That’s ok. I will pray maybe prayers you cannot pray for yourself and believe for strength that you may not have right now. This is not to make a book sale or for you to say you “like” this on Facebook or retweet this post on Twitter. It is just for you. Hold on. Don’t quit and I encourage you to just say the name, “Jesus” in the middle of your crap. Take one step today and then another and then another.

Just take it one day at a time and have a peaceful night

7holycrap Holy Crap, Life Lessons

Reach Out to Someone and Do NOTHING!

Nothing
In my book, I talk about the importance of just being there for people instead of trying to give them encouragement, a scripture verse or maybe even my book!! (I bet you have never heard an author trying to sell his book tell you to be careful before you buy and give his book to someone going through pain) I am more concerned about activating people to lift one another up than I am about hawking another book and making another sale.

Sometimes the GREATEST thing you can do is reach out to someone and do NOTHING but just hang out with them. Don’t even bring up what they are going through and even preface the meeting with, “We both know what you are going through, but let’s just hang out and not talk about it.” Basically, the opposite of what you would assume a blog post about helping people in their pain would say.

When people deal with painful situations, they are usually never without thinking about it through the day. When you connect with people and just be with them, it can be like a mental oasis in a desert of despair. I think sometimes we want to ask questions about what people are going through to prove that we care but in reality, we can make it worse.
I am not saying that this is the best EVERY time in connecting with people, but it needs to probably be the first option.

So today, go reach out to someone you know who is in the crap of life and just BE with them. I guarantee, they will KNOW that you care by saying nothing.

7holycrap Holy Crap, Jesus, Life Lessons

Let this be YOUR Independence Day!

Your_4th_Day
Today is the 4th of July and a time that American’s celebrate coming together and deciding to start a new life for themselves from the rule of British government. But today can also be YOUR independence day from fear and things that hold you back from being mentally and emotionally free.

When people are in pain, one of the WORST things that happens is worry. Worry is a very interesting animal in that it can cause a person to stop moving forward in life while causing a fear of the future. I know that with my eye situation I have at times been paralyzed by the fear that comes from the unknown. Today is the day to possibly give God an opportunity to help keep your focus away from the worries of life and on the potential of the GOOD that is around the corner.

I want my life to help people see a different definition of being a follower of Jesus. He has brought a level of freedom to me that I want to share with people and offer it to them. If people don’t feel like a relationship with Jesus is something they want right now that’s ok. Everyone is different and God has a special plan of freedom just for you but you need to be willing and ready to accept it. Don’t let people try and coerce or force your into something you don’t want for yourself. The most powerful changes in life come from discovering the need for change on your own and then deciding to make a change.
The people who created America 240 years ago were only willing to make a change when they saw the need for it. The same is true with each of us and a relationship with Jesus.

Praying for you to see the need for God in your life. He has never let me down and you can have that same assurance in this life that God is in control.

Have a great 4th of July and don’t get meat sweats from all those hamburgers and hotdogs!

7holycrap Holy Crap

My FAVORITE paragraph from Holy Crap!

Running Ch 1 Quote
There are so many sections of the “Holy Crap” book I enjoy, but this paragraph from Chapter one is probably one of my favorites.

From Chapter One: Holy Crap! This Book is for Everyone! (electiopublishing.com)

“I started running a few months ago and had a small “revelation” about people who don’t think they can run extended distances. Someone asked me about being able to run and he said, “I could never run that far and not pass out.” I told him “you will never be able to run as far as you want until you run as far as you can.” It was so weird because it just came out of my mouth and has ended up being an encouragement to myself in all areas of my life, including my relationship with Jesus. Just start with what you can do and don’t stop trying. Eventually you will see yourself “running” with Jesus further than you could have imagined and in better mental and spiritual shape than you could have ever dreamed.”

I love this section so much because it is really the essence of Holy Crap; DON’T EVER GIVE UP. I know it’s not easy to get up one more day when you are going through crap. I understand the thoughts of feeling like you are reliving the same nightmare day after day with no hope or end in site. I am not saying this and thinking that everything will instantly get better but just asking you to do one thing. Do what you can do today and keep going.

Praying for you and cheering you on.

 

7holycrap Holy Crap

Worry Challenge Results!

hope
Welcome back to Holy Crap! If you took my worry challenge from yesterday, I will BET you didn’t have to “set you mind” to worry about your situation and be intentional one bit.
I will venture to guess that it came very easily in the course of the day.

I wanted you to understand that worrying can ONLY make things worse in life and have no real value except to let your mind wander and play out all kinds of terrible scenarios that will probably never happen. I

have a section of the Holy Crap book where I talk about expecting bad things to happen in life. The only way we can break that thinking is to commit our minds and heart to Jesus and His power each day. This does not change the situation or maybe even make it better but what is does is gives us a heart and mind set on things ABOVE and not things on this earth.

Today, expect the best all day, every minute and every hour. I will guarantee your perspective will change and may even find someone ELSE to encourage because you are not busy obsessing about your own crap. Have a GREAT day and know you have a friend who is praying for you to make it.

7holycrap Holy Crap

Take the Worry Challenge!!

worry
Today I have a challenge for you. Think of one thing that is stressing you out. It may be your kids your marriage, money or just the future. Now I want you to set your mind on worrying about it all day. I want you to obsess the CRAP out of it and let it be the first thing you think about today and the last thing you think of before you go to bed tonight.
Then tomorrow, I want you to assess the situation and consider how you made your life better by worrying about your situation. I am not kidding.

Here is what the Bible has to say about worry. Matthew 6:27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The Bible talks about the amount of help worrying can do in a situation but I want you to experience it intentionally for yourself.

You may think I am kidding, but I am totally serious. let’s meet back here tomorrow and see how you improved your situation by worrying. Aaaaand…..GO!!

7holycrap Holy Crap

Don’t Lose Hope

After_Before Pic
The above pic is when I was on Prednisone and then what I look like now. If you are going through something terrible, I understand the hopelessness of thinking that things will never get better and wanting to give up. Don’t. I cannot promise the outcome of your life, but I can promise that reaching out to God is never a bad option. Even when I wanted to give up on God in my crap He would not give up on me.
Maybe you have a friend or family member who is going through a painful situation and needs someone to reach out to them. Be the one who makes that connection and bring encouragement to those you know who are down.
Have a great day and I am praying for you.

7holycrap Holy Crap

The Power of Music in the Crap of Life

music.jpg
There are many things I remember when I went through my eye condition but the one thing that stood out the most was music and especially the worship that I listened to while I was sick. Even though I was furious that God would allow me to go through so much pain, the music I listened to always brought me back and calmed me down.
Below are a couple of lists of artists that I listened to when I was sick and some that I currently enjoy.
I always want my life to be a resource to help people hold on, even if it is for one more day. God loves you so much and wants you to find the “holy” in the “crap of your life.

Music to Get you Through
Fred Hammond (Anything from Fred is amazing but Promise Keeper (Song) was very important to me when I was sick)
CeCe Winans (Waging War – Song & anything else she does)
Casting Crowns (Praise you in This Storm – Song)
Bethel Worship (Through it All – Song)
Jesus Culture (Let it Echo – Album)
Anthony Evans – (Real Life / Real Worship – Album)
Bryan & Katie Torwalt
Crowder – (Lift Your Head Weary Sinner – Song)
Hillsong United (Zion – Album  and Empires – Album)
Lauren Daigle
Lincoln Brewster – (Oxygen Album)

Local Worship Artists
Dave & Tara Powers
Marcus David Ford
Andy Garcia
Tyree Morris