Eliminate the Toxins

September 21, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

I have found myself recently in a bit of a quagmire, or in other words a confusing funk. The past year has been a crazy one, but through it I feel like God is showing me my purpose. He has continually been revealing me skills and providing me with opportunity, even during the hard times. I think the same is true for all of us as we really focus in on what God is trying to tell us, we can learn so much if we just stop to listen. So why is it that we get into a funk? This funk being that we have a vision of what we believe God has for our lives, but we feel held back. There’s nothing worse than knowing what you want and not being able to grasp it. It feels like an invisible force is trying to keep me where I am, but it’s not invisible or unknown. In Daystar Kids, this month has been talking about initiative, seeing what needs to be done and doing it, and is exemplified by Nehemiah. The story of Nehemiah is the perfect example of someone who was given a purpose, and uncovered what these invisible forces that hold each of us back and completed his purpose. Three simple things, that not only helped him fulfill his purpose, but eliminated the toxins from his life. The truths that Nehemiah discovered hundreds of years ago, are still the same truths today that will help us live in confidence and step into the vision for our life.

These are things that I have dealt with and still deal with, that’s why I’m sharing what I’ve learned with you. I think each of us have struggles, let’s face it, if you didn’t you would be a super human. We aren’t perfect super humans, we all want to quit, we all have to face opposition, and we all have to make a choice between what we know is worthy and what we know will ultimately hurt us. I say all this because I’m nowhere near perfect, I just have a vision for how God wants to use all of us for something greater than all of us. So let’s step into something greater.

Combating fear.

Nehemiah was afraid. His people in Jerusalem were unprotected because their great wall had fallen, which left them open for destruction. Nehemiah felt the tug on his heart to do something about it, but what could he do? He was a cupbearer for the king, not of noble descent or of any great political power, but he had a vision. That’s true for all of us. Most of us aren’t bajillionares or celebrities (if you are you should totally promote my blog, yo), we are all simple people with a great vision. The sad truth of it is, most of us would just stop here, have a picture of greater things but be afraid of taking the jump to attain it. Nehemiah was brave, he had favor with the king because of his attitude, and decided to approach the king. Now just in case you don’t know, a cupbearer takes the first sip of the kings drink to make sure it isn’t poisoned, a job very low on the totem pole. Nehemiah trusted God and asked to be brave, and it paid off. Not only did the king support Nehemiah’s wanting to rebuild the wall and lead that mission, he supported him with more than he needed to make this happen. This is so true of our own lives, when we trust God and take a leap of faith, he rewards us even more than we could imagine. When we are brave, we combat fear and cleanse ourselves of the first toxin.

Battle the negative relationships.

Nehemiah was opposed. People didn’t like what Nehemiah was doing, he was standing up for what was right and the people in Jerusalem were so thankful, but others opposed him. I know this is definitely true in my life, whenever I try to follow my vision people around me are so quick to chime in on their “opinions.” We’ve all dealt with this, the comment that gets under your skin, talking behind your back, or the lovely you’re not equipped for this. I say again, Nehemiah was a cupbearer, not an architect, yet God used him. Nehemiah’s opposition was way worse than anything you and I have probably faced, they wanted to kill him and the workers on the wall. That’s pretty serious, and would have been easy for Nehemiah to quit and not complete his vision, but Nehemiah had God and a close community beside him. They stationed soldiers alongside the workers on the wall, so as the wall was completed, the guards protected the mission. So often in my life I want to focus on the negative actions of people and I miss the people that God has placed in my life to walk with me. I listen to the words of the enemy when the life giving people are right next to me. Nehemiah prayed to God and said that any curse spoken against the people of Jerusalem would be turned back on their enemies. Nehemiah knew that he couldn’t stop the voices, but he trusted God to handle it and protected his people. We need to give God control and protect ourselves from the negative words. The negative relationships in your life need to go, trust God and eliminate the toxin of life taking relationships. We were made to be so much more than to be trapped in friendships or romantic relationships that hurt us rather than build up our lives.

Dedicate the wall.

The wall was built and the people were safe, but Nehemiah knew there was one more objective to complete. He had faced all the odds and completed the purpose for his life, and he dedicated his work to the Lord. So often we forget to thank God for the work he has done, we’re quick to pat ourselves on the back and we lose sight of our powerful creator that gave us the passion to begin with. Nehemiah 12:43 says, “and they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy…The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” Our lives should be shouting to everyone around us who gave us the strength to be the best we can be, to say that I am powerless, but he has made me brave. The final part to getting rid of the toxicity that holds us back, is to dedicate our lives to the one who created all things.

In our fear and in the hurt we make excuses as to why we can’t do something, but God says we can. Over and over again we all have a vision of where we want to be and what we want to do, but we are held back by such insignificant things. No matter what you’ve done before, how old or young you are, I think that each of us is made for something so much bigger. We all have a story and we play such a small part in God’s large plan. Even though life may hurt, and believe me it does, there is so much more for each of us. My vision is to help the next generation see that they are so much more valuable than they can even imagine. I want to help you be the best you can be. We all have purpose and we all have to fight daily to be brave and refuse to listen to the toxic lies our enemy uses to stop us. You were made by God to do great things.

Step into your legacy.

-Joshua Thomas

What is your vision? How has God been using you? I’d love to hear from what you guys think. Leave a comment, share the blog, and most importantly, think about it. Thanks for reading!

Destiny Awaits

September 14, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

Everyone has a yearning for something greater, we all have been given a drive to leave our mark on this world. I think about this a lot, like a lot a lot (too many lots?). I know I’m not the only one whose mind is drawn to be something greater, because I know that God made us to be more than where we are. There is a problem that can come up, we look to the wrong things to pursue. Isn’t that the terrible truth, we want to find our passion and purpose, but we lose sight of the path that God has placed us on. While thinking about this, I began to watch one of the greatest movies of all time, Star Wars. The movie is filled with great truths that can be applied many ways, but one theme jumped out to me that had never before. Our main character Luke, in the beginning is a simple farm boy on a distant planet, and later becomes the warrior that he was called to be to bring peace and justice. That’s a pretty great calling, we all want to become great, to save others and bring peace to those around us, but Luke didn’t want to do this. The first time we see Luke, it is apparent to see that he doesn’t want to be a farmer, he wants to be a pilot. Not a bad passion to pursue, but when we see the old Ben Kenobi, he tells Luke that he was made for so much more. Like all of us, Luke is so focused on what he wants, that he almost misses his true purpose. Now I know some of you may have glazed over while I was talking about this amazing movie, but the fact is, the movie reveals something that we all fight.

We all have an enemy actively working against us (See previous post for more on that topic), but we also fight ourselves. So often this thing called pride jumps in our way when we ask God what he wants of us. We begin to idolize our pursuits. This could be the pursuit of a job that may make you more money, but take away your influence and doing what you enjoy. It could also mean pursuing an unhealthy relationship when you really should know better, our idolizing the idea of needing a relationship to be complete. This could be a pursuit of earthly pleasure rather than seeking God for our joy. We begin to believe that our way is better, that maybe this is what God wants me to do. We stop listening to the Ben Kenobi’s in our life that have gone before us and have wisdom we can’t even imagine. Pride makes us want to be a space pilot rather than a hero of the universe. Today I want to talk about some ways that God has taught me to fight against pride, and these are things that I still have to actively press into, because none of us are perfect. I want to help you to find what God has for you rather than your own plans, because God has given me a greater vision for my own life.

It’s not about us.

This is the first thing we need to understand in order to step into purpose. God made you with a specific purpose to be a beautiful man and woman after his image, but you are not the most important person in the world. My mom used to say to my sister and I, “The world doesn’t revolve around you.” Now twelve year old Joshua would get mad, but it’s true, and it’s something the bible says very clearly. Galatians 6:3 says, “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Now don’t feel depressed and think that you don’t have a purpose, that’s another lie. The truth is, in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You play an important role for the kingdom, you were designed from the start for something big. It’s not about us, because it is about Jesus. Once we live into that truth, we are on our way to beating pride.

Humility Brings wisdom.

What we just learned is the basis for living a humble life. Pride hurts us and causes us to be foolish, but when we live in humility, we gain wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble comes wisdom.” Wisdom is such an important virtue to apply to your life. When we are living wisely, each decision we make is looked at through a different lens, we choose what will help and what will hurt. So when we live wisely, we think about how that new career will change us, or that maybe this relationship shouldn’t go any further, wisdom reveals what God wants for us, rather than blindly following what we think we know. We get wisdom from God’s word. That’s the reason we have the bible and the reason why people say you should read it, because it is so important for your life! Wisdom comes from the understanding of what God freely gives. Be humble and let God speak.

Listen to wise people.

This is the last piece of the arsenal to combat pride. God has placed people in your life strategically to help you make the best choices. Even in wisdom and humility, it can get hard to see if what you begin to pursue, really is the place for you. When you find yourself in situations like this, stop, look around you, and ask. Everyone, no matter how perfect they may seem, has someone they go to talk about ideas with and ask for help. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” In Star Wars, Luke chose to follow his true path and he had Ben Kenobi train him. In any movie, book, or important person in life, all of them have a mentor. Finding one may seem daunting, but trust me when I tell you it will be the best thing you could ever do. Over and over again I find myself in situations where I don’t know what to do, or why the world feels like it’s crashing down around me. In those moments I know I can talk to my mentor, and even if they don’t know the answer, they always join me in prayer to fight against the things I am facing. We are warriors, we all need sensei’s.

The world is big and filled with unknowns. We are all made for so much more, God designed each and every one of us to do great things. You may feel like you don’t know where you’re headed or if where you’re going is where you know you should be. Don’t fear the unknown, trust on the one thing you can know is constant through all things. You have a destiny that will play a part in things you can’t even imagine. You will influence people in ways you may have never even fathomed, and you may not see the effect of what you have done. Take heart, God will use you, because he made you to be exactly who you are. I know for me it’s hard to believe that you were made for a purpose, because I have had to face adversity and people telling me I’m not good enough or strong enough to do anything important. This is the biggest lie, and if anyone says something like that to you, know this: You are special, you can do all things, you are important, and you are unique. No matter how many people would say things that cut like a sword, and sometimes still do, my family always reminded me that God made me. When you live into your royalty of Christ, no one can ever stop you from achieving your destiny. So be unique, be different, be who God made you to be.

Your destiny awaits.

-Joshua Thomas

Knowing Is Half the Battle

September 7, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / 1 Comment

In 80’s and 90’s cartoons, the phrase “knowing is half the battle,” was a well-known psa ranging from G.I. Joe to Transformers. It taught kids the dangers of things like not wearing a seatbelt or talking to strangers and would always end in saying, “and knowing is half the battle.” In life this is also true, we have dangers that can come at any moment, and yes wearing a seatbelt is important, but that’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is our enemy, yup that guy, the devil. Contrary to popular Halloween costumes and cartoons, our enemy doesn’t run around with horns and a little red pitchfork, he is much worse than that. He is actively working against you to stop you from reaching your potential, and the rules of war don’t apply to him. Our mutual enemy will stop at nothing to bring us down. How do I know this? Well John 10:10 says, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This is Jesus speaking and he uses “thief” to describe our enemy, because a thief takes without caring. Thankfully, Jesus ends that verse by saying he came to help us live life to our fullest potential, but that won’t prevent you from being attacked again and again by the thief.

So, you may be asking, “What should I do to protect myself?” This is something I have been asking myself for the past year. You see, the past year has felt like an unrelenting attack against myself and my family. I have seen friends walk away, friends pass away, and have to see my brother struggle with heavy oppression from the thief. My family has been hit with a barrage from the thief, trying to do anything to bring us down. Now, this isn’t me fishing to get compliments or asking for special help. This is just me showing you that you’re not the only one, I have never liked feeling alone and isolated, and when the enemy attacks, it can feel like we are the only one. I want to sit here and tell you it’s going to be alright, because we know how the enemy will come at us, and knowing is half the battle.

Over the next few paragraphs, I will break down each of the three steps the thief will try and stop you, and show you how God equips us with all that we need and more.

The thief wants to steal your innocence.

This is such a small step that can hurt us so deeply. This is the first lie that we are told, even from the start of our childhood. You can spot this fairly easily once we start looking for it, the thought of, “it’s not that bad.” I can’t tell you how many times this lie has gone into my head to justify what I’m doing. We live in a fallen world and it can be hard not to be exposed to things we wish we couldn’t have seen or heard, and it starts happening earlier and earlier in age. A banner add on a website pops up with a scantily clad woman advertising some silly game, television gets more comfortable with using adult language and themes, video games meant for older people get played by seven year olds. Now before you think I’m some snob who hates anything not rainbows and gummy bears, on the contrary. I think the internet is incredible for information and communication, television can convey themes and emotions like nothing else, and video games are a beautiful art form. What I’m saying is, the things in this world can turn so quickly if we live with the idea of it’s not that bad. When we see things like this, we get adblockers and accountability software on our computers, we turn the tv off when that show comes on or when that Victoria’s Secret commercial comes on, and we become responsible adults and look at the ratings before we buy games for our kids. We need to guard our minds so the enemy can’t steal our innocence. We do this by filling our minds with things that are good and pleasing. Guard your mind.

The thief wants to kill you.

That’s kind of intense, and yes it is, we have an enemy that doesn’t have your best interest in mind. This is when the thief tries to hurt the things around you. A friend dies, you lose your job, and you feel as if you can’t get anything right. In this moment you have a choice, do you run towards or away from God? This is all on you, this decision I have faced and I have seen friends in the same situation. I have chosen to run away, how an all-powerful God could let this happen is beyond me. I think you have done this as well, all too often, just like me. Nothing good has ever come from this decision. We feel lost, we lose the joys that life once gave, and we feel utterly alone. Don’t choose this, because I have begun to choose the second option, run towards him. It seems foolish, but this is the wisest decision anyone could ever make. You begin to step into your purpose, using your story as a testimony. You gain more joy than you could ever imagine, even when it hurts. You feel surrounded by friends and those you call family. You have chosen to guard your heart. In times when it feels like you are walking through hell and your heart aches, guard it by choosing to run into the Father’s embrace. Guard your heart.

The thief wants to destroy you.

This is the final attack, not only does he want your mind and kill your heart, he wants to utterly destroy you and everything around you. The word destroy means to leave things in rubble. This is the one that hurts me the most. I have seen friends lose their mind and heart, and once they had nothing left, they took their life. This brings me to tears, even now in this coffee shop, because this is the biggest lie of all. Even in your brokenness, God has designed you for a beautiful purpose. Never give up. No matter what happens to you or to those you love, God wants to bring you out of the pit and make you a king and queen, you are royalty. The enemy only wants to decimate you and those around you, but he has no control over you. You make the final choice, so guard your life by choosing it. In Christ we find love and protection over all opposition because he has already won, he beat death so we could have life. Guard your life.

My prayer this year has been that God would take me on an adventure, to face the odds and find the treasure that is held in life. This has definitely been filled and then some. The enemy has tried to steal from me, kill me and destroy me; but God has not left me. He gave me the wisdom to know how the enemy will come at me, and knowing is half the battle. The final half is choosing to guard my mind, heart, and life with everything in me. I urge you, when life throws pain at you and when the enemy tries to decimate all that you are, place your eyes towards heaven and run towards the one who gives you life. We are all on the adventure, we all face harsh weather and mountains to climb, but we are never alone and we are never unprepared. My heart is to help the next generation see that they are valued and to help everyone see that they can do all things through Christ. So guard your mind, guard your heart, and guard your life; because Jesus came that we may have life, and life to the full.

Live life to the fullest.

-Joshua Thomas

The Heart behind Everything

August 31, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

This past weekend I was able to be a part of Daystar Kids’ FX (Family Experience). I love getting to be a part of this event, getting to have fun and see kids and families come together is such an awesome thing to see and be involved in. Each time this event comes up and I have been asked to play a part in it, I get excited. Memorizing lines, helping put together the really cool set, and being able to be around other people that are just as passionate about the next generation as I am. It’s the best, even when technical difficulties happen, the quick speed memorizing of lines before, and any other unexpected issues that happen, I love doing it. The coolest thing to see is everyone else apart of it, people that aren’t doing it for attention or being in front of a crowd, but people who have their hearts in the right place. As I was thinking about this over the weekend it really stuck with me, this idea of where my heart is in all that I do. I know I don’t always put my heart in the right place, pride can creep in, we can start to judge others, and lose sight of the true purpose. This applies to everything we do, whether that’s something you do at your church, how you act in your job, or how you treat the people you call family. Your heart determines the result of everything you do.

In Matthew 6:21 it says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This verse speaks to the point of why our heart behind everything is so important. Whatever it is that you truly treasure, the thing that you need on a daily basis, the thing that you put trust in that is what your heart will be focused on. That could be a career, a relationship, or yourself. I struggle with that last one. It’s so easy for me to want to depend on my own strength and thinking only about what I want. The same is true for many of us. Maybe you are so obsessed with your career that you miss out on time with your family, or that unhealthy relationship you keep going back to. All these things are weak and will only bring pain into our lives. There is hope. Redirecting what you value back to Christ, will allow your heart to be in the best place during all circumstances. So what exactly mean to make Christ the place where I put my value in? Well I’m so glad you asked, faithful reader! I want to share what I have found and what God has taught me on how to have my heart in the right place. My hope is that you leave this blog post with a new desire to have your heart in the right place, no matter what the situation you find yourself in.

Trust in the Lord with your heart.

This is a tough one, saying I give my complete trust to God is not an easy thing to do. So often I find myself trying to fix everything on my own, I try to solve the problems around me that are impossible for me to carry. It causes me to get angry and lose sight of what is important; my heart ends up in the wrong place. Luckily, God knows that I do this and that you do this, Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” What a powerful verse! Not only are we to give complete trust in Christ, but when we do he will direct our every move. When our heart is focused on the one who knows all things and is a sovereign creator, we can walk in confidence knowing that God directs our path.

Guard your heart.

After we begin to put trust in God, the battle isn’t over. This is where pride will start to creep in, we are following what God has for us, but the enemy wants us to fall. We start to get more opportunities to have influence over others as they look to us, and that’s when we need to be careful that we don’t say to ourselves, “Oh yes, hello little peasants, bow before me.” Wait you don’t say that? You get the point that I’m making though, we need to remember that humility speaks louder than your actions. We also have to be careful of the words we say, both verbally and your internet speak (That’s probably the right terminology). Words can cut like a sword, so when you speak to others do it in a way that builds them up, even though you may be judging them for how they act. Online presence is a more recent thing that I have noticed, before sharing that article or composing that tweet, think about how it will make others look at you. This isn’t just a rant, it’s in scripture. Proverbs 4:23-24 says, “Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth from perversity, keep corrupt talk from your lips.” Guard your heart, don’t let pride or foolish talk destroy your ministry.

Even when we screw up, take heart!

You are going to fail, encouraging I know, but we are all humans who suffer from not being perfect. Life will throw storms yours way, trust me I know what that feels like, but the thing we must remember is that our great God doesn’t leave us. Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Everything around us will fail, things will happen that we wish could erase, but even in all of this, God is constant. This part is up to you, will you choose to press into Christ, or will you turn away when struggles arise. Know that no matter how bad it gets and no matter how you screw up, you can be made new again. We just need to rely on the strength of Christ.

Everything we do has an origin, and that origin is from the heart. When we feed our heart with the frail things of this world, we begin to miss out on what life has to offer. God designed each of us with a specific purpose in mind, he gave us gifts and talents to be used for so much more than our personal gain. We don’t have time for pride to get in the way, nor rely on our own strength in life. Trust in Christ, guard your heart, and take heart as we go forward in our lives. When we do this, our ministries, our jobs, and our relationships will be striving after Christ first. No matter what happens, the opportunities that are big or small, everything will be done with a higher purpose. You and I don’t have time to waste our lives on foolish things. Put your heart in Christ and he will drive your walk.

Pursue Christ, and live with his purpose in your life.

-Joshua Thomas

Get Back up and Rise

August 24, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

As summer comes to a close, with classes starting, kids heading off to their first day, and the wonderful cold weather is right around the corner, it’s easy to lose sight of what we gained during the rest. For me, the twenty one days of prayer my church began has now ended and free time has drastically shifted with my classes. I learned so much about myself and where I believe God is calling me, but moments like this are when I can get discouraged. When I am living with freedom and have a purpose, that’s when the enemy begins to pick at my surface and get under my skin. I believe we all have been called to a greater purpose, that’s one of the reasons why I write, I want everyone to know what they have the potential for. But what do we do after we have that purpose in our minds? I start running towards it with all that I’ve got, and I start to hear the lies from the enemy. It takes many forms, the hurtful comment of someone around you, the position you wanted and being overlooked for it, and the dangerous place of our own thoughts telling us that we can’t do it. We fall down. Those moments and situations happen when we begin moving towards our higher purpose. It would be pretty depressing if I left it there right? One thing I am learning is that not only are those lies and attacks on our spirit, but we are called to get back up from the ground and rise up to the calling on our lives.

I am by no means a perfect person, nor do I have all the answers to the big mysteries of life. What I do have is experience and a trust on God’s word. I’m dealing with discouragement in my own life, and I know how it feels to feel worthless. My dream is to be a writer and a next gen pastor, and those are big dreams with a huge risk, so trust me when I say that the enemy is trying to stop me from attaining that goal. You may have a similar calling or a completely different one, but no matter what it is, you are not alone in your pursuit of it. Discouragement wants to isolate you and make you believe that you’re the only one struggling. Discouragement hates community. When we realize that each of us struggles, we can defeat the discouragement and make moves towards our full potential. I want to share what I am learning on how to get back up and rise towards my calling, and I want to help you do the same in your own life.

Life will knock you down.

Now I know this is kind of a melancholy statement, but in order to get up, we must know that things won’t always be easy. I know for me when I really took ownership of my relationship with Christ, I thought things would be easy, I was mistaken. I have been made fun of, I have felt the hurt of addictions from those around me, and I have seen friends get to the lowest depths and pass away. Life is not an easy thing, contrary to those stick figure bumper stickers, life is not always good (Are those even still around?). Once we see where we are being hit from, we can train ourselves to be prepared the next time. Rather than being complacent in our pain, we can choose to get back up and fight. Like a true hero, we know what is right and we know what is better for us, so we fight for what we believe in. I love the character of Spider-Man, and if you want to know a hard life, look at Peter Parker. The identity of this hero went through it all, no parents, his uncle that raised him was shot and killed, he was constantly made fun of in school, has to fight maniacs, and watched his girlfriend die. Talk about a hard life, and the thing is, this fictional character probably has similar struggles as you. Parents not there, loved ones dying, and okay maybe fighting bad guys isn’t a common thing, but we all fight demons that lie to us in our head don’t we? Everyone has battles they face, but Spider-Man never gave up, he saw what he was called to do, and fought for that purpose.

Community will help you get back up.

This is a key element to fighting discouragement. We were not meant to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, that’s never been our job. Building a community of people you trust and people who are wise, will help you grow and step into what God has for you. Spider-Man had Uncle Ben, a man who knew what responsibility was and guided Peter Parker through his walk into being a hero. Want a more real life example? Joshua. Not me, Joshua from the bible. Moses was the leader of the Israelites, and Joshua chose to follow him and learn all that he could from a great leader. Joshua knew that being in the presence of God and having community with people he trusted would benefit his life. Moses chose Joshua to take over leading the people when he was going to die, because he knew that Joshua would be a wise leader. Joshua stepped into his purpose of leading. Find your community, confide in them, and they will help you get back up when you feel down.

Keep the fire burning.

Once we get back up and fight against what brought us down, we cannot stop. The enemy hates wisdom, so when we pursue wisdom, we keep the enemy away. Think about it from our web slinging friend again, do you think Spider-Man stops one villain and says, “New York is safe forever now!” Of course not, he is on guard for what may come next, just like we should be. We are not invincible, so prepare yourself for what comes next. Does your dream require hard work? The answer is always yes because only good things come from hard work, so work hard. Train your skills, take a hold of every opportunity to get better and gain experience that will help you. Know that you may fail and life may throw hardship at you, but remember to keep that fire in your heart burning bright.

I may not know what you’re going through, and it may seem as if you’ll never get back up again. Know that I have been through dark times as well, and I’m still getting through it. I know that it seems like life would be easy if we just quit, I have felt this over and over about my pursuing of being a next generation pastor. I want to quit when it gets hard or when someone tells me what they think of my dream. It’s easy to get angry and depressed, starting to listen to the lie that says maybe I’m not cut out for that dream. No matter how crazy your dream seems or how much discouragement you feel, know that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Our dreams for God’s purpose in our lives should be big, because the enemy we all face is complacency. Instead of being discouraged, be determined. Be determined to run after the vision God has placed in your life, understand that life will knock you down sometimes, so rally around a community, and keep the fire burning in your heart. When we do this, nothing can stop us from rising up to your potential. I plan on being determined to run after my dreams no matter what, what will you do?

Choose to be determined and never discouraged.

-Joshua Thomas

Pausing to Live in the Moment

August 17, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

It’s so easy in life to get caught up in what might come next and prepare for the next big step in our journey. I know for me this can cause huge anxiety and make me fear the next steps or fear starting a new chapter in life. What would happen if we were to stop and live in the moment, taking each step as it comes and not worry about what may come? I have been thinking about this idea a lot over the past few days, especially because many of us will be starting a new chapter and the end of the summer. For me, I am attending a new university after spending time at a community college. To be honest, I am nervous. New situations are always seem to be a giant beast in my life, new faces and places can fill me with anxiety, yet I have nothing to be afraid of. Sure the possibility of something going wrong is present, but I have nothing to be afraid of. I think everyone struggles with this to an extent, we all have fears that can cause us to have a high anxiety about what may come. The funny thing is that what we think may happen often never comes at all! We get trapped in an endless cycle of fear and forget something that might be the most important factor in our life. This one key idea can cause us to move from a state of fear, and into a life of freedom.

As I was reading in my bible this morning I read a verse which instilled in me a sense of peace, not just for moving into a new environment, but standing against the fear that causes us all to hide. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse makes things start to click together. When we trust God, we don’t have to worry about anything. That’s the key, no matter what situation, trusting God will guide you through anything. You might be thinking, “Well that’s great but it’s easier said than done.” Which is a true statement for most things, and that’s why I want to share today how and why this is the best option from my personal experience and what I am currently dealing with. My goal is to help you and me get through any situation that brings us anxiety and come out trusting completely on God.

Talk to God daily.

This is the biggest and easiest advice I have learned. When we focus on talking to God, we open up a conversation with the creator of everything. This begins a relationship, just like any other you have, you build communication and strengthen that relationship each time you come together. Reading the word will help you narrow in on the answers you need for every situation you find yourself in. Surrounding yourself in the wisdom of God will give you courage to take on anything that may come your way. I find this to be true over and over again, when I am reading the word and talking to God each day, my life feels more guided and direct. It gives me a sense of direction and opportunity to grow and help others, but when I am not in the word, an opposite effect occurs. Yes it’s true, sometimes I don’t read my bible and talk to God each day, and it hurts. Whether I think I have a good excuse or not, when I’m not in the word, life stinks. That’s the best way to describe it, I lose opportunity and lose my direction. All that happens then is I try to redirect my thoughts and steer myself in my own strength, causing me to crash. That’s why it is such a crucial part of my journey and yours as well. Even if it has to be quick in your morning, on your drive to work, talk to God and meditate on his word. You will be amazed at how much that will change everything in your life.

Live in the now.

This is the second part of having peace rather than anxiety. I constantly find myself thinking about what’s next, what do I have to have done by tomorrow, next week, in a year. My thoughts escalate so fast and create fear in me about failure to achieve that which I want so dearly. I forget to focus on the day in front of me. I end up missing the conversations with those around me, forget to look at the opportunities in front of me. I lose what could have been. I never want to miss out on the things that are right in front of me, so why would I choose to miss it when I don’t have to! We need to learn to stop dreading the future and live for the now, because the now in here and tomorrow might not be. Nothing in life is guaranteed, so live for today. This doesn’t mean party like it’s the end of the world, it means that we should use today to get wiser, be more intentional, and not miss out on what God wants to show you today. Is it an easy task? Well of course not, but we weren’t mean to do it alone. God wants us to come to him and trust that what he has to show us today is better than anything we could ever want. So live in the now, because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Be thankful for what you have.

This is the final step to having joy in moments where you begin to feel anxious. We have all been given so much, I mean if you can even read this you have some device that gets you on the internet! This is something that I have to remind myself of a lot, especially when it feels like the world around you is crumbling. You have a family, if that’s by blood or your friends, we all have a family. We are a part of something bigger than ourselves, we have been called to do great works for the kingdom of God. We have been blessed with talents that we can use to help others, we have been given a community of believers to rally around when life gets tough. You have so much, I have so much. Most of us aren’t millionaires or highly influential in a political scale, but none of that really matters. We have been put in the situation we are in for a reason, to use our situations to influence and help everyone we meet. You have been blessed by the creator of all things, have your heart be thankful for every blessing that is big or small. You are blessed.

This past week my dad and I went to New York City for a few days and this idea really struck me. My thoughts are always trying to see what is coming next or being anxious of what may happen next. My dad and I both have this similar way of thinking, so when you go to a bustling city like New York that could easily be a bad place for us to be. It had an opposite effect, because we were trusting God, and when we focused on that the trip was great. We relaxed, had an awesome time, and were able to make memories in our time of rest. No matter what might be going on in your life or what kind of stress you’re feeling, give it to God. Trust me when I say this because I do it daily. It’s a necessity for me. Trusting God isn’t a one-time deal, it must be a daily choice to stand in him and not our own strength. One thing that I have learned is that God can do all things, no matter what happens. Everything changes, but the love and presence of God lasts forever. You and I, we don’t have to fear anything. So no matter what situation you face, God will walk beside you and fight for you when you give him control.

Pause from your fear and live into the moment that God has given you.

-Joshua Thomas

What Holds You Back

August 10, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

Life is filled with questions. Questions about the future, questions about what I should do and whom I should spend my time with. The list goes on and on, but when we face those questions, something often holds us back. It looks different for each of us, but one thing keeps us from pressing forward. You may be trying to think about what the one thing that all of us relate to when it comes to being held back, and the answer is simple. You are the one who is holding yourself back. Over the first week of Daystar’s 21 days of prayer and fasting I have been thinking a lot about this idea, what is the thing that holds me back, and my answer was me. I hold myself back from accomplishing what God has for me. It’s so easy for me to find myself in a state of complacency, I don’t push myself because I fear the reaction that may occur. New places and different faces cause me to get anxious, so I decided to ask God why that feeling of anxiety is filling me when I try to move forward. The conclusion that I came to was that I have not been keeping God in the right place. Yes, I know you may think I’m some mysterious perfect person, but that’s not true for me or any of you reading. Yes, you. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We all screw up, we all have the days where we don’t feel like turning to God when life gets tough. What happens then is we start putting things in Gods place, good or bad, we take God out of our thoughts. The thing that holds us back, is the failure to press into an authentic relationship with Christ.

So how do we break out of the trap? Well a few things need to happen. Pray about what you’re placing in front of God, once you figure this out, then you can step into freedom. This can come in any size or shape. It could be a love of money, or it could even be your ministry. That’s mine, I find myself putting the ministry I do above my relationship with God. In my mind, I get worked up into the idea that if I am not directly in ministry, I have accomplished nothing. The enemy steps in and causes me to start believing this lie, so I focus on my ministry more than my God. I forget the reason I love doing ministry in the first place, because God radically changed my life and I want to help others experience that same relationship. It became an idol, so even something that can be used for good, could have been my downfall. Pray and think about what could be preventing you from your relationship with God. No seriously, do it right away, I’ll still be here. Now that you’ve prayed and thought about it, I want to spend the next few paragraphs on how we move from there. There is hope, you and I were made for bigger and better things, so press into your purpose.

Know that you are royalty.

God didn’t create us to be people enslaved to our selfish and worldly desires, he created us to be heirs. This idea comes from Galatians 4:6-7 which says, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” God says that not only are we not slaves, but that you are a child of the highest king. He designed you to be exactly who you are, we are all unique and all have a great purpose for our lives, yet we choose to be slaves of this world. This is such a backwards idea, an heir to an empire would not live in the pit, but would live like royalty. We should live like we are a part of the royal family, because we are! Realize that what you have been making an idol of in your life, is keeping you from living into royalty. Live like an heir to the kingdom.

In our weakness, we are strong.

It’s important to understand that when we choose to put God first and live in royalty, we can’t do that all on our own. I’ve been reading through many of the books in the bible that Paul wrote and I have been amazed at how strong he was, even when he went through the hardest struggles many of us will never experience. One theme that keeps coming up over and over is this, even though we are weak God makes us strong in our weakness. That is an incredible testament to how much we need God. Paul says it best in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” The moments where we find ourselves walking away from what we should do or let our fears hold us back, remember that in any time of weakness, when we rely on God, he makes us strong. Once we start trusting God, not even our human weaknesses can prevent us from achieving the purpose for our lives.

Run after wisdom.

This is the final part to breaking that mental wall that holds you back from your greater purpose. I actually have started memorizing a verse that we are using in Daystar Kids, and it is incredible how applicable it is for every part of my life. Proverbs 8:10-11 says, “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Where does this wisdom come from? Well many places, but the number one is through reading the word. I can’t express enough how important this is, just try it and you’ll be amazed at how your life will radically change. The second is looking towards those who have gone before you, the people that you look up to. Talk with them, learn from them, and most importantly, listen. Wisdom can be found easily as long as you look towards life giving people and scripture. Running after wisdom will cause your fears to fall away and help you live in freedom.

It’s hard coming face to face with what we actually put our trust in, because often we don’t want to lose what’s working. What we forget is while we are just existing, we are holding ourselves back from what could be, and what could be is a bigger purpose for your life that we can’t possibly comprehend. We don’t know the outcomes of life, and often this scares us. It causes us to not step out and take a chance on what God has for you. I don’t know what’s in store for my life, and to be honest, I don’t think I would want to know. All I know is that I am making a commitment to pursue Christ first in every area of my life, recognizing that I am an heir to the kingdom, that in my weakness God makes me strong, and to run after wisdom that gives life. When I step into this way of living, I have become free, I no longer will be held back by my own fears because I know that God holds me in the palms of his hands. We become free in our dependence on Christ. No lie from the enemy can stop me, and no words from those around me will ever make me compromise what the word of God says. We are all unique, we have a greater purpose, and we need to choose to stand with God. When we make this decision, nothing can ever again hold us back.

Choose to trust in Christ alone.

-Joshua Thomas

Starting Over

August 3, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / 2 Comments

The idea of starting over and moving into an unknown is a daunting feeling. Often I find myself moving in one direction that I think is where I should go, but my path is changed. Even when I think I am following God’s path for my life, I can never be sure. Moments like this cause me to face the process of starting over. This has happened in my past, through the process of salvation, and it happens continuously. I’m sure we all face this on a regular basis, and to be completely honest, I don’t always want to change. My human self wants to stay safe, safe in the arms of complacency. Risks are unknowns to all of us, the outcome is often built up drastically in our heads, and we use that as an excuse to not change. Over and over in my life, I see myself taking steps in one way, thinking it is the best way, but it feels like the door that was once open, has now been slammed in my face. This is an awful feeling. Doubts are built up in my head, and I begin to doubt my potential. Whether it’s due to mistakes in our past, or the fear of new things, we refuse the gift of starting over.

Notice how that paragraph ended with the word “gift” used to describe starting over, yeah I did that on purpose. It is a good thing to start over, and I know this is true because I have been reading about one of the strongest leaders in the bible that started over. Paul was an amazing servant of the Lord who wrote most of the New Testament, but before he was Paul, he was a terrorist. His birth name was Saul and he was responsible for the capture and murder of Christians, but when God stops him where he stood, he gave Saul the chance to start over. He really started over, completely changing his career, I guess being a terrorist was his career (A bit creepy if you ask me), and giving him a new name. I hope none of you are in the business of being a killer, but God wants to help you start over. In reading through the ministry of Paul, I think there are three key elements that God has in regards to giving you the gift of starting over.

Your past does not define your future.

One of the biggest lies that Satan or the world may throw at you, is that you can never do anything good because of what you have done. This is so wrong, we all screw up and no one is perfect, so don’t be depressed because you won’t be perfect. God doesn’t use perfect people, he uses the broken. I have to remind myself that no matter how much I’ve screwed up, God wants to use me and elevate me from the dirt. If God can take a murderer and change him to becoming one of the most famous leaders in the bible, he can use you and me. The coolest thing about God is that he gives us another chance, something that I have been witnessing first hand from some of the hardships that I have witnessed and experienced through this past year. I have seen friends find their way back to Gods plan, I have seen the church rally around the family of a friend who passed away, and I have seen the redemptive possibilities that are here for my family. While my stories may seem distant, I know that you have been going through hard times as well. Let me tell you that your past and the struggles you have faced will never define your future. Your future is defined by how you follow Christ.

Trials Produce perseverance.

When we are faced with starting over, it is often the result of a struggle or problem that has risen up in our life. Unless you are an optimist, it’s not easy to see the good in situations like this, situations that test us and cause us to question everything. Paul during his time of ministry, faced many trials. He was imprisoned and faced death over and over, but he saw the purpose that it would be used for. Romans 5:3-5 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” In the midst of the hard times and looking in the face of starting over, we have hope. A hope that is pure and godly, one that will give us a vision for more, rather than a fear of what might happen. The struggles we face guide us to the path we were meant to walk. So what does this mean to start over? Starting over essentially translates to redirecting my vision to where God wants me to be. Our passions may change, our path may have a shut door for us to find a new path, or God may have a sudden direction he takes you. All through the changes, when we keep God first, the rest will fall into place. This may mean changing a profession, not chasing after that one dream but following another, or letting go of things that will hold you back. Remember that in all things, even the trials, God will guide you.

Change is ongoing.

This is the final piece, and it’s the one you may wish I hadn’t revealed. The process of starting over and fully following Christ is continual, meaning that we are never fully finished. We have to constantly be redirecting our minds towards what will give us life. This is why fasting is such an essential part of our walk, taking something that we have elevated to the highest place in our life, and cutting it out for a season in order to focus on what is truly important in life. Currently, Daystar Church is in the time of their twenty one days of prayer and fasting, I am participating because it is such a life giving time to cut something out and grow in Christ. We are praying for a revival to come not only to our church, but to our city. It gets me excited to know that so many are on the same page of craving more of what God has in store for all of us. So ask yourself, what am I holding on to that prevents me from connecting with God? Knowing that the change will be continual and a process that we must strive for.

The hope I have for you and myself is that we would both learn to start over. To hit the reset button for our life and follow God rather than our own desires. This thought of starting over can feel massive, like looking at a mountain and realizing how small we really are in comparison. The thing we forget when gazing upon the mountain is that we follow the God who created all things, put the stars in the sky, and crafted that mountain with his hands. That same God is with you. God may have you change your path, your dreams may radically change, but that same God will never leave you. He has never left me, and trust me when I say this, because I have faced many mountains in my life. God will help us overcome our toughest mountains when we redirect our focus on him alone. Don’t be afraid, God is with you. No matter what you have faced in the past, no matter what trials you face, and no matter how hard the change may seem, God will always be with you.

Start over with Christ.

-Joshua Thomas

Be Effective With Your Talents

July 27, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / 2 Comments

Everyone has a talent. If you’re like me though, your first reaction is, “I don’t think I really have one.” This reaction to me saying that you do have one, is due to the fact that we often look down at ourselves. Now if you don’t, awesome, but if you’re more like me, it’s quite easy to not see the gifts that you hold already. This thought came into my head recently as I was trying to evaluate where I am and if I am being effective with what I have been given. Trust me, I have had plenty of time, especially being a student on summer break with much more time that can go wasted. Recently, I have been feeling like I have not been using my time and talents wisely, basically, I get lazy. The biggest trap to get caught in, whether this is due to boredom and just plain not wanting to face the responsibilities that life has, I’m not sure. That’s the thing about laziness, we can give any excuse in the book to not do something. What I want to do today is share some things I am learning and doing to slay the dragon of laziness (see I made it sound cool so now you want to keep reading).

I’m writing this for you, my super cool reader, and myself (pretty heavy, right?). I think one of the biggest barriers that holds people back is this idea of laziness and being complacent. We get so comfortable with where we are that we forget we were made for such a bigger purpose. I want to see a generation of people stand up and say that we can use our gifts to help change the world, and I sure want to be a part of that. I want you to be able to see that you have a talent and I want to help you move from having one, to using it in order to be effective in every part of your life.

God gave you a specific skillset.

The biggest lie that we hear from Satan is that you are not good enough. This is such a lie because over and over in scripture we hear God speak about how he formed us in his image, to be unique and made for a purpose. Of course the enemy doesn’t want us to believe that, because when we believe the lie, we box ourselves in from what we can really do for this world. Know that God has given you a skillset that is your key to being effective. This can be anything. For me, I am very good at communicating to others and helping them find their potential, as well as, a passion for writing that I hope will one day influence a great many people. Now I know it may sound like I’m being prideful, but when God has given you a talent, he wants you to realize it and take hold of it. So your talents may be similar to my own, or completely different. That’s the beauty of it, you are an individual and you have a talent. Take a moment and think about what you have been gifted at. Maybe you sing like an angel, maybe you love helping the homeless, or maybe you feel a passion for showing love to those who don’t have a lot of love in their life. All of these are examples of talents, you have been given a talent!

Use your talent as much as possible.

This is the first step to killing your lazy spirit, now that you have discovered some of your talents. Start taking steps towards using your talent, start serving in your church, practice your skill in any way that you can. It would be really easy for me to know what I think God has gifted me with and then choose not to do anything with it. That would be such a tragedy for your life. Believe me I know it’s easy to make any excuse for why not to do something, but start pushing yourself out of what you feel comfortable with and step into the unknown. The worst thing that may happen is you find out that maybe this isn’t where I’m the best gifted at, and try again. That’s the great part, the world won’t end if you don’t get it right the first few times! You have nothing to be afraid of, God tells us this. Romans 8:15 says, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Not only has God not given us a spirit of fear, but he calls us his son and daughter, he loves you so much. Live in freedom and choose to take the steps to pursuing Gods purpose for your life.

Be generous and brave.

After you find your talent and begin walking into your purpose, we face the foes that will try to stop us. These enemies are known as pride and complacency. We can get prideful as we master our talents and this can cause our ministry and life to rot away. It makes us look down at the people we should be helping and speaking life to and says that you’re better than them. The second enemy is complacency, this guy tells us that what you’re doing is good and there isn’t a reason to strive for more. This doesn’t ruin your ministry, but it prevents you from listening to new ideas and prevents you from growing things into better skills. So what can we do to fight off these nasty guys? Well, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” This verse is not only talking about our money, but I believe it also refers to what we have to offer with our skills. We kill pride by giving our abilities with a cheerful heart, being respectful of those we serve and those we serve under. We kill complacency by choosing to give more as we are given more, and reaping to rewards from what we learn. Be generous in your talents and be brave to take the next steps that will help you grow continuously, this will make you effective no matter where you are.

You are a child of God, and with that comes great things. You have been given gifts and talents that will help you in all areas of your life. No matter what you may be going through, you have the potential to do something that will change the world. Even when it seems like we are alone or that no one cares, your intentions are speaking to people like no other. You may be told that you aren’t good enough or that you are inexperienced, these are lies from someone who doesn’t want you to step into the purpose that God made you for. It’s okay to try new things, to make mistakes, and to ask questions. We were not made to be complacent and fearful of stepping out. We were meant to be brave and live with complete trust in Christ. We are not made to be prideful and put ourselves on a pedestal, we were created to be generous and care for everyone around us. So at the end of this, you have a choice, I have a choice. We can choose to use our talents and be as effective as possible, or we can live comfortably and accomplish nothing.

What do you choose?

-Joshua Thomas

When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

July 20, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

This past week I was back to full health and was able to go with the Elementary students at Daystar on the trip to Camp Kidjam. I not only was thankful to be healthy again, but I absolutely love being able to go as a leader on this camp. Each Sunday I am able to lead a fourth and fifth grade small group and I love it. The thing about the camp is that, as a small group leader, I have an extended period of time to get to know the kids and speak life to them during this time. I had a blast just being able to have fun, scream at the top of my lungs for our team, and see these kids take hold of their faith. It was so great to look at our leaders and kids during worship go all in and truly worship. I still get chills when I think about it. It was absolutely incredible to be there and have a part in the lives of the kids that will lead the world.

Throughout the week the main message was about the life of Paul. It began from his time as Saul who persecuted Christians and moved to when his name was changed to Paul and he became one of the most influential people in the bible. It was a great reminder to me about how even a man who committed horrible acts, could become a hero to so many. On the second to last night, the camp pastor asked the question, “What do I do when life doesn’t go as I planned?” That’s a powerful question, one that everyone deals with, even an elementary school child. We never plan for heartache, struggle, and pain, yet life often throws these at us. A job loss, parents divorcing, or watching someone struggle with addictions, all of these are big and many times are never seen coming until they hit. The pastor talked about in Pauls’ life, he was faced with prison and death, yet he still stood strong. He answered the question by saying that, “God will use every situation, no matter what it is.” To be honest, I wanted him to tell the secret to not having to face pain and get everything you want fast, but life doesn’t work that way. It struck me because so often I want God to fix my life so it can be the picture perfect life that I see in cheesy movies, but the thing is, when the movie ends, life goes on. After thinking about this answer and listening to my guys small group talk about this idea, I understood the importance of the answer. I’d like to share some thoughts on the question and help you see that there is always a plan.

Run towards God, not away.

If there is one important truth in life, it’s that when life goes crazy, run towards God. This isn’t the first reaction I have, when things go wrong or people close to me fall away, I want to crawl in bed and hide. We can’t do that! No problem was ever solved by running away from the issue, problems are solved when we stand brave in the face of the storm. When Paul was placed in prison, in Acts 16:25 it says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Not only did they praise God in the prison, but they used their situation to share God with others who felt hopeless. Paul didn’t curse God or try to pull off a Shawshank escape, he instead chose to praise and worship. Paul was brave because he put his trust in the one who would never fail him, we need to be brave. My fifth grade guys said that the best way to stand with God is by reading his word and praying in the moments where we are struggling. They get it, and we need to realize that when we face the storm, we need to stand with God.

Realize that God has a bigger plan.

Often in our heads we create a perfect idea of what we want our life to look like. We think about the job we may get, the spouse we may have, our kids and their perfect hipster names, but we forget one thing. None of that is guaranteed. This is something that I dealt with a lot after high school, I chose the perfect college and thought about the best job I could get, then I got a letter saying I had not been accepted, and my life completely changed. I’m so happy it did, I am doing things now that I love, I lead small groups, work with some really cool people, and started this blog! Did I go to the school I wanted? Nope. Do I have a super cool job? Not really. Do I love where I am? Absolutely. Nothing is promised, I may never get married and have a family, or I could have a wonderful family and a wonderful wife. No matter where my life ends up, I know that God will use me in that situation. I don’t understand why bad things happen, all I know is that God has a plan, and it will be incredible.

It starts with you.

We can do all the right things to try and survive the crazy, but until we own our actions, change will not happen. One thing we have to remember is that everyone has the ability to change, you hold that choice. The mistakes in your past have not defined your future. Last night I was Watching X-men Days of Future Past with my sister and there is a scene where Beast is talking to Professor X about how there is a theory that no matter what choice we make, we can’t change the future. The Professor says that he does not believe that theory, he believes that we always have a choice. This is from a movie that has nothing to do really with God, but the truth is still there. We always have a choice, we can choose not to change or we can choose to do better, to be better. Everything starts with you, how you choose to act when you face struggle, how you choose your words when you speak to those who’ve hurt you. There is always a choice, and it starts with you.

This past week was such a great encouragement for me. The past few months have been hard and definitely not what I had planned for my life, but I know that God will use it for good. It’s not ever going to be easy, but I will put my trust in God every time. I will choose to be brave in all situations. The best thing about leading a small group of kids, is being able to see their imaginations at work. They dream big and ask the questions of what if. What if it could be done? What if we could be heroes? What if we could change the world? We need to dream big like a child, to look at what’s happening in our lives and say, how could God use me in this? Know that God has a plan, and make the choice to run towards him. Look at the world around you and see how God has already moved in your life, rest on the fact that God will use you. When life doesn’t go as planned, rise up.

Be brave.

-Joshua Thomas