#11 - I CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH!

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

I am tired! There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. I feel like I am constantly running around. My "things to do" list never seems to be completely checked off. I've got work tasks, business meetings, family issues, errands to run, and exercise?!? And when it's time to go to bed, I'm up for hours thinking about tomorrow and all the things that I must get done. Will I ever get some rest?

I CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH!

Faith in Jesus Christ who promises: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-30

I want more! I want a better life for myself and my wife. I want to provide for others those things that they cannot provide for themselves. I want to inspire individuals to achieve their full potential in every area of their life. I want to be financially independent. I know there is so much more for my life. Is God sensitive to my heart's true desires? 

I CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH!  

Faith in the Psalm of David which reads: "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:4-5

I'm incomplete! I haven't become the person I know I could be. I haven't accomplished all that God has put on my heart to accomplish. I keep making the same mistakes. People don't see me how I want them to see me. The picture of who I could be is so clear, but it just doesn't match up with who I am today. Will I ever become the person that God originally intended for me to become?

I CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH!

Faith in the very same words of encouragement that Paul spoke to the church in Philippi: "I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3 

I'm worried! The numbers just aren't adding up. The expenses exceed the income. The late fees are accumulating. I'm having to avoid calls from the creditors. At this point, I just want to be sure that my wife and I will have warm meals, gas for the cars, and a roof over our heads because "on paper" I don't see it getting better any time soon. Will my needs continue to be met? 

I CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH!

Faith in my Savior who declares: "So don't worry about these things saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:31

I don't see any results! I'm putting in the work. I'm taking the classes. I'm reading the books. I'm serving others. I'm giving of myself. I'm giving my gifts. I'm giving my tithes and offerings! Will I ever see the "harvest?"

I CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH!

Faith in the Kingdom Principle of sowing and reaping: "Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to how for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit." Galatians 6:7-9

MY DAILY STATEMENT OF FAITH

Today I choose to live by faith.
I have faith in the promises of God.
I have faith in the truths of His Word.
I have faith in the principles of His Kingdom.
One day lived with faith far exceeds
the security of 10,000 days lived by sight. 

TODAY I CHOOSE TO LIVE BY FAITH!

#10 - THE 4TH QUARTER (2007)

"So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it." 2 Corinthians 8:10-11

We have arrived. October 1st. With 9 months behind us, the final quarter of the year is here!

It all has gone by so fast! Our New Year's Resolutions have long been thrown out the window. Our "spring cleaning" has turn into "fall piles of mess." And our summer vacation was anything but!

But, with the close of every season comes...OPPORTUNITY!

You have the choice. You can "coast" until the new year. Or, you can decide to make the next 3 months, the best 3 months of your life! You have the choice. You can start the new year at a standstill, or, you can decide to enter the upcoming year with MOMENTUM!

Today begins a brand new day! Today begins a brand new week! Today begins a brand new month! Today begins the 4th Quarter!

The 4th Quarter is when the biggest plays are made! The 4th Quarter is when individuals either rise to the occasion or reveal to the world their lack of preparation! The 4th Quarter gives opportunity to redeem yourself for previous poor performance! Regardless of the score, you can make a comeback in the 4th Quarter! The 4th Quarter provides a stage for you to show to the world, once and for all, what you are capable of!

I encourage you to finish strong! I encourage you to write out your goals in the major areas of your life, and design the next 3 months exactly how you would like them to play out. Have a purpose. Set a goal. Write out a plan. And take action daily to make it happen. It really can be that simple.

But the choice is ultimately yours. You have the tools. You have the support. You have the ability. Only one question remains, "Will you decide to give it your very best in the 4th Quarter?"

#9 - DESTINY

There is a specific reason and purpose why you were created.
There is a work to be done in your lifetime that you and only you were created to do.
There is an impact that has yet to be made and there is a legacy that you have yet to leave.

For those reasons, there are tensions that we live with daily.

What we do today and what we were ultimately created to do.
Who we serve today and who we were ultimately created to serve.
Where we work today and where we were ultimately created to work.

At the end of the day, we all struggle with the tension between:
Who we are today and who we were ultimately created to be.

I must respond to the tension. We must respond to the tension.

We Must Wake Up!

We must take action TODAY to become the people we were created to be.
We must take action TODAY to move ourselves in the direction of our destiny.
We must take action TODAY to fulfill every purpose for which we were created.

The alternative is emptiness.
The alternative is death on the inside.
The alternative is a life of “quiet desperation.”
The alternative is a life filled with unaccomplished dreams and goals.
The alternative is a life spent expending our energies to put our destiny on the back burner.

Therefore our full potential is a must!

There is a lack of motivation everywhere.
There is a crying, dying world out there that needs our example.
There is a disease called mediocrity and it is spreading across our country.

And whether you believe it to be true or not,
the cure to this disease is the fulfillment of your destiny.

#8 - A LOVE LETTER FROM YOUR SAVIOR

"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love." John 15:9

Dearly Beloved...

In the midst of your many responsibilities, busy schedule, bills to pay, and troubles that may be occupying your mind at this time...

Please pause for a moment and quiet your spirit.

I want to share my heart with you.

From the beginning, I have loved you with an unfailing love. My desire for your life has been that you and I would develop a love relationship that would fulfill all of your needs.

I understand that there have been many times when you have felt frustrated, confused, and alone. But I want to remind you that I love you and I will never forsake you. I long to be in fellowship with you.

I love you. Unconditionally.

In spite of your past...I love you still. Your heart may be very far from me. You may even resent me. I love you still.

And I will never stop loving you. Like the Father anticipating the return of his prodigal son, My arms are open wide ready to enter into a deeper love relationship with you. I desire to provide for you the peace, joy, and abundance of life that I fashioned you to experience. 

And when this life is over, I desire to spend eternity with you.

But the choice is ultimately yours,

What will you do with my love today?

Sincerely,

Your Savior 

#7 - YOUR DREAM

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

From the day you were conceived in your mother’s womb
I was planted as a seed in your heart.

I have since grown and whether you are aware of me or not
I am alive inside of you.

Do you know who I am?

You and only you were designed to make me a reality.
Your talents, character traits, and skills point you in my direction.
I am your “Sweet Spot.”

Have you forgotten about me?

I have often times been neglected and ignored but…
I will not leave you!

Do not believe the lie that I am impossible.
Ignore those who say I am not worth the sacrifice.

You are not too old.
You are not too young.
It is not too early.
It is never too late.

Put behind the reasons why you can’t
And believe without a doubt that you can!

My Ultimate Purposes are to
Fulfill a Need, Solve a Problem and Serve People.
I am your Calling.

I am a mixture of your love and your anger.
I am your Passion.

I am your gift to the world.
I am longing to be given.

Who am I?

I am…

YOUR DREAM

#6 - HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GOD?

"The question is not how should you feel about God, but how do you feel about God?...It's all right with me if you believe there is no God, or that there is a God but you don't wish to have a relationship with Him. But I have found that the majority of people duck this question altogether...you may be able to run from your true feelings about God or non-God but it is difficult to hide from them in the long term...it is to your advantage to confront these feelings sooner than later."

A few weeks prior to reading the above paragraph in Don't Throw Away Tomorrow, by Robert Schuller, my faith in God was questioned by my co-worker. He had made the point that if I was not raised in a Christian household, I would not have the faith in God and his Son, Jesus Christ, that I do. Whether if what he said was true or not, really did not matter. I felt it necessary, especially after reading the lives of Schuller's book, to take the time to think about and put words into exactly how I feel about God...

GOD IS...

MY FRIEND
When mom and dad dare not around...When my wife is out of the house...When no one wants to pick up their cell phone...He is there. Wrapping His arms around me and loving me more than anyone else possibly could. Jesus is there. He is right by my side, giving me strength for the day, encouragement on the job, and peace before I lay my head down to rest at night. God is...my Friend.

MY PROVIDER
Too much month at the end of the money. Rent is due. I refuse to touch my savings account. He CAN! The Saab must be fixed. Total due...$957. With the added expense it would be convenient not to tithe to the church this week, but I must remain faithful. He CAN! I am not my provider. God is...my Provider.

MY DREAMGIVER
To live life with a clear vision, knowing that I must impact the world in a "pazitive" way, is a gift from God. From day one he has birthed within me dreams, goals, and a sense of destiny that I cannot ignore. He is the giver of all good things. It is all for His glory. God is...my Dreamgiver.

MY FIRM FOUNDATION
To desire to live in a world without absolute truth is a sad excuse for not wanting to take responsibility for your actions. God's Word is absolute truth. I choose to live my life in surrender to His Word so that I am free to experience every good thing and perfect thing that God has created for me to enjoy. If you do not stand for something...you will fall for anything! God is...my Firm Foundation.

MY HOPE AND MY FUTURE
My belief in Jesus Christ provides for me a hope and a future that far exceeds anything that this world can offer me. Money, success, recognition, houses, cars, promotions - they will all come to pass. When all is said and done, this world and everything in it will fade away. But, my faith in Jesus Christ gives me the opportunity to, upon leaving this earth, live eternally and do what I was ultimately created to do...worship my Creator! God is...my Hope and my Future.

Take the time to be real with yourself and ask, "How do I feel about God? Who is God to me? At the end of the day, what impact, if any, do my feelings about God have on my life?" I truly believe that answering these questions will mean more for your future and your quality of life than any other questions that you ever decide to answer. 

#5 - TODAY I CAN!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Today is a gift from God!

I choose to begin this day with an attitude of gratitude.
I am thankful for family, friends and health
But more importantly,
I am thankful for LIFE and the many opportunities it brings.
Today I Can!

Today is a brand new day!

What a blessing it is to awake
once again, with the opportunity to work towards
fulfilling each and every dream God has birthed within me!
Today I Can!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life!

My past does not equal my future.
I will begin the miracle process in my life by sowing seeds of
Hard Work, Discipline and Commitment.
Today I Can!

Today I will face many choices.

To DO…or to delay.
To ACT…or to procrastinate.
To be COURAGEOUS…or to be fearful.
To STAND…or to fall.
To COMMIT…or to quit.
I choose the simple disciplines over the slight errors in judgement.
Today I Can!

Today determines tomorrow.

Faith, Hope and Belief
combined with a willingness to be faithful to the process
will yield a harvest that is beyond what I could imagine.
Today I Can…and I Will!

#4 - DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Dear Family and Friends,

My purpose in writing to you today is to offer you encouragement that will help you through your present "situation." (Yes, I know you have a situation.)

Presently you are dissatisfied with the progress you have made in a certain area of life. Whether it concerns your relationship with God, family or friends, finances, career, health, education, emotions, or any combination of these, each of us are pained by areas that are lacking.

Although we try to ignore it, each of us is a sincere, burning desire to reach our full potential in everything we do. To the degree that we are not moving in the direction of our full potential in a certain area, we are frustrated and discouraged.

But over the last few months, God has graciously revealed to me several simple truths, allowing me to see my "situations" in a different light and press forward with an unwavering confidence and excitement towards the future.

TRUTH #1 - "Don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you." 1 Peter 4:12 (NLT)

There is a process we must experience and endure to achieve every good thing that we desire for our lives. We will undoubtedly face pain that may seem unbearable, but like a mother during childbirth, new life is not possible without pain and a commitment to the process. 

TRUTH #2 - "Be cheerful no matter what...thank God no matter what happens." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)

Instead of wanting to get through the pain, ask yourself, "What can I get from the pain?" What lessons can be learned, and who can I share these lessons with?

TRUTH #3 - "We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next." Romans 5:8 (MSG)

Every situation we face is a necessary experience to build character traits that otherwise would not be developed. Before gold can be sold at its highest value, it must be placed under extreme temperatures to be purified. Similarly, we cannot achieve our highest value without difficult circumstances. These circumstances develop in us priceless character traits such as integrity, honesty, perseverance, and faith. Without the test, there is no testimony!!!

I am confident that God will never give us more than we can bear. We must persevere. A life of joy and fullness awaits us as we allow the pain and failure we experience to strengthen and transform the very core of who we are. 

THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Love,
Edward Paz

#3 - A REMINDER FROM ABOVE

One day, not long ago, 
I gave you a dream.
I revealed to you a glimpse of your future,
a vision of all that was possible when you put your trust in me.
Do you remember?

You were excited. You had faith. You believed.
You fearlessly took action.
Your zeal pleased me.

But lately, it has not been the same.
Your faith has dwindled.
Family trouble, lack of finances, results unseen,
these twists and turns of your journey
have you doubting yourself. 
You have even doubted Me.
Why?

Let me remind you...
I never said it was going to be easy.
I never said you would not feel pain.
I never said you would have all of the answers.

But...
I did leave you with these truths:

I WILL NEVER GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE.
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG)

TRUST ME AND I WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)

NEVER QUIT!
Strip down, start running-and never quit! Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG)

#2 - AUTHENTIC FELLOWSHIP

"You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone...If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble." Ephesians 4:9-10

Does anyone in your life really know who you are? Do you have family or friends that know the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to your life and how you live it on a day to day basis? Are there people you can talk to you about your pains and struggles? Would you say you have true friends?!?

Life is difficult. Everyday, I face circumstances that discourage me, test my patience, challenge my comfort zone, and cause me to ask myself, "How will I get through all of this?" At times, all I want to do is call my boss, tell him I'm "slick," sleep in for an extra 4 hours, wake up, watch movies all day long, and not spend a second thinking about life and the many "problems" that come along with it. 

But regardless of circumstances, I have realized that I cannot live a life of victory over the many obstacles and challenges I face, alone. I need people. But I don't need just anybody. I don't need people to chit-chat or "shoot the breeze" with. I don't need someone who is going to nod and agree with everything I say. There are enough of those people in my life. I need people who are willing to speak truth into my life regardless of how I might receive what they have to say. I need someone to care. I need accountability. Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, describes what I'm looking for:

"The simplest levels of fellowship are the fellowship of sharing and the fellowship of studying...A deeper level is the fellowship of serving...The deepest, most intense level is the fellowship of suffering, when we enter into each other's pain and grief and carry each other's burdens."

Currently, I am struggling with procrastination and laziness. Basically, if you want something done by a specific date, DON'T give it to me to do! I joke about it now, but is is an issue that is affecting my life quite negatively. I am not being a good steward of my time and it is starting to catch up to me in the form of unnecessary stress, frustration, and late fees! I clearly will not be able to overcome this on my own. I need people to hold me accountable to my goals and what I say I am going to do. 

Now let's talk about you. I am pretty sure that I am not the only one being weighed down by my shortcomings. Where does your greatest struggle lie? Rick Warren asks, "What are you pretending isn't a problem in your life?" After identifying your "issue," the next question I would ask you is, "Who knows?" Who can encourage you and ask you the tough questions that will lead you to victory over this area of your life?

The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed." Wouldn't it be nice to live whole and healed?!? And if you are up to it, the last question I would challenge you with is, "Who do you care enough about to encourage and strengthen through a battle that he/she might be fighting?" Who will you give of yourself to, unconditionally, so that they might live a more victorious life? Who will you invest your life into this week?

I am convinced that the life we live is a difficult one. But more importantly, I truly believe that the love we have for one another, especially when expressed through the "fellowship of suffering," can conquer all things. Together, let's overcome our addictions, bad habits, struggles, and faults. Together, let's live the life of joy, peace, and fullness that we were called to live. Together, let's live a life of victory!

"If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other...If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves." - 1 John 1:7-8

#1 - A GRATEFUL HEART

Holy smokes. It is almost April and most, if not all of my "New Year's Resolutions" have been thrown out the window. First of all, I am not exercising 3 times a week like I said I would. Actually, I am not exercising at all! I'm eating out, when I said I would do more grocery shopping. I "resolved" to cut down on my spending and save money, but I find myself anxiously awaiting my next paycheck to get "caught up." Didn't I tell myself that this year would be different? This was also supposed to be the year that I would read the Bible and pray everyday. Is 10 minutes a day really that hard to find or am I, once again, struggling with keeping my priorities straight? My wife is upset with me, my parents don't understand me, the kids don't listen to me anymore, the house is a mess, I hate my job, I need a new car, and...is it already time to file my taxes?!?

Hopefully I'm not the only one, but this is a conversation very similar to the one I have had with myself, more than once, over the last couple of weeks. To think about how "far behind" I am in certain areas of my life and how I am "falling short" in others can be very discouraging. With bills piling up, the "To Do" list getting longer and longer, and the feeling of there never being enough time, how easy it is to spend a large part of my day thinking about the things I do not have.

But all that being said, if there is one thing I do know, regardless of present circumstances, I AM BLESSED. YOU ARE BLESSED. There is so much more to be thankful for than there is to complain and worry about. Personally, I want a change of heart. My desire is that my heart would be consumed with gratitude and thankfulness for all of God's blessings. To name a few:

1. I am thankful that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He loved me so much that he died on the cross for my sins so that I do not have to live with the guilt and shame of my sinful nature. 
    

2. I am thankful for my beautiful wife who loves me unconditionally.
    

3. I am thankful for struggle. I understand that it is through obstacles and being "without," that character, strength, and integrity is built. There is no other way.

Just writing the above list is encouraging to me. It is obvious that my blessings far outweigh my circumstances, My prayer is that after reading this article, you would take the time to write a short list of the things that you are thankful for. Do you desire to have more of an attitude of gratitude? Do you find yourself more often than not complaining and being anxious for the things that you do not have? Write your list right now. The choice is yours. You can either finish this article and push it aside, along with the 17 other things you are neglecting right now, or you can pull out a sheet of paper and write down 3 things you are thankful for RIGHT NOW. Today, let's make the decision to change our hearts. I am looking forward to the breakthrough that will occur in our lives as we dedicate ourselves to having a grateful hearts.

Now, if I could just find my W-2's...