Purpose in the Midst of Redirection

April 20, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

When I was in elementary school, my dream was to become a professional Lego designer. My world revolved around the idea that I would grow up and I would run the Lego Company and get free toys forever. As I got older, this passion kept getting farther away as I became interested in it less and less. My Purpose was beginning to change, and it still is. That’s a simple example of a bigger idea about the dreams that many of us have in life. My elementary world revolved around this, but as I got older my dreams changed. Life brings change whether we are ready for it or not, people around us change and we begin to find love for new things. Sometimes in life we have a dream and pursue it with all of our strength, but the doors shuts, and we are lost. I know many of you have faced this because I face it. There’s a terrible feeling you get when life seems to be aimless and without direction. I know this feeling because all through high school I felt it, I had no purpose that I was trying to pursue. It seemed like every door I would run to would be shut just as I was about to go through. It seems to be a thing that everyone goes through, no matter how old or young you may be. In times like this it’s easy for us to blame God, when in reality, he is moving us toward something better.

I am moving towards a purpose that God has slowly been moving me toward for a long time. The reason it takes long is because I get in the way of what he really wants to move me towards. I focus on what I want and not what he wants. As I have been reading through James, I have been learning what I should be doing when it feels like life keeps blocking my direction. James 1:19-22 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” I love this because it is so honest about what we do as humans and how we should react when life gets tough.

We must listen to what the word says.

All of us want to get our way, which is tough when God’s plan conflicts with our plan. God’s plan can often be harder and tougher to reach, especially when it is a different plan from the one that I want it to be. God wants us to trust in in all things, every aspect of life, we just need to stop trying to do it by ourselves. That part about being slow to speak and slow to become angry means that before we get all defensive when the scripture conflicts with our lifestyle, step back and think about the wise choice. What will happen if I go my way? It’s most likely not going to end well, sorry to break it to you. If we read the word and listen to what it says, receiving council from people we trust, our life will be directed towards our true purpose.

We need to cut out the things that hold us back.

It wouldn’t make sense for me to drive a car blindfolded, yet that’s essentially what we are doing when we cling to our worldly desires. I can listen and read the word, but unless I cut out the junk in my life, I will continue to wander. For me this means, don’t spend hours watching Netflix, instead fill that time with reading and growing spiritually. This looks different for everyone, and no matter what it is, it might be a challenge to get rid of it. Don’t let the junk in your life direct the purpose for your life. Run after God’s purpose, and when life gets hard, turn your trust to him and you will find life.

We need to do.

Take action. Don’t just read the word and think about the things that you should do, actually do it. Change doesn’t just magically happen, it happens with hard work and over time. Is it going to be easy, sadly no. I guarantee that it will be worth it, more than anything else in this world. As you have doors close in front of you, don’t stand passively, move to the next opportunity and give it your all. Even though it may not be the end of your purpose, your testimony will grow and you can lead others using the wisdom you have acquired. Take action and pursue God, that is your purpose.

My journey isn’t over yet, I am still learning and growing. I am not a perfect person, I will stumble and make mistakes, but that’s ok. We all do, and we all learn from them. I will pursue Christ in all I do, in all of my dreams. I will follow my dream of raising up leaders and impacting the next generation, but if God redirects that dream, I will still follow him. I don’t know the end and to be honest I don’t want to know it. All I need to focus on during this long journey is to trust God in all things and he will guide my path. I will listen, I will remove the junk, and I will take action in my pursuit of Christ.

-Joshua Thomas

Finding Joy in All Things

April 13, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

This past weekend was one of the biggest rollercoasters of emotion I have ever been on. I attended a funeral, a wedding, and a going away party in the span of two days. Not a typical weekend for me as I’m sure you can imagine. I went to the funeral of one of my friends who I have known ever since I attended that first small group that changed my life (See previous weeks post). It was unexpected and devastating to hear, the kind of thing you never think would happen to someone close to you. It didn’t feel real when I found out, but it was. On Saturday morning, I went to the church of the funeral with my brother-in-law, and said a final goodbye to a dear friend. About an hour and a half later, I was sitting in my home church for a completely different reason. Two people who are close to myself and my family, Becky and Jeremy who are basically a part of our family, were celebrating their marriage through a beautiful ceremony. Weddings are such a beautiful picture of commitment and how Christ laid down his life for the people he loves. It was such a great time. The next afternoon I went to a surprise going away party for another close friend who I have known ever since I can remember. My friend Ben is going into the Marines and his family set-up this surprise to show how much he is loved and how much his friends and family are supporting him in prayer. Three events, two days, and one big rollercoaster of emotions.

It’s easy to be joyful during the wedding of two of my friends and to be joyful about the places another is headed, but what about the lowest times in our lives? I have been struggling with this idea and wanted to know how I can find joy, no matter how hard the situation is. I began to read James 1:2-4 which says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” A few verses later, James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I think these verses really outline how to possess joy in every situation, good or bad, that we walk in each day.

You will face trials.

Really encouraging statement right? As much as I’d like to believe that everything will be good all the time, the reality of it is, life gets hard. We face addiction, anger, loss, and a multitude of other struggles all the time. This stems from the fact that we live in a fallen world, but there is hope. The first part of the verse in James says to consider it pure joy when we face the hard stuff in life, because it will grow us. That’s my own paraphrase version, and it’s true. The scripture doesn’t try to dance around the truth, it simply says that we will struggle, people will say things to hurt you, you will fight against temptations, but this will lead to perseverance. Essentially, finding joy during the trials that we will all inevitably face, will make you stronger and build your faith even more.

You must be patient in the growth.

Having joy in all things will take time. We can’t speed through the growing process that the persevering brings. I want to have full joy in every situation, but I can’t expect to have this ability in an instant. The second chunk of that verse says that we must let this process finish if we want to be fully mature and not missing anything. I don’t like this concept because I want everything right away all the time, that’s basically how we have all been told to live through society. But in order to grow spiritually and have joy during hardship, we must be patient. The only way we grow, is if we are continually striving for more and spending our time reading and meditating on Christ’s word. Joy takes time because growing our faith takes time, but the reward is so much better than we can imagine.

You will be blessed when you persevere.

As we choose to say I will have joy in this situation, this brings praise to Christ and he blesses our perseverance. We face trials and grow our faith, and Christ gives us so much more than we could have ever imagined. He gives us a testimony to help others. He gives us wisdom to walk through future situations that we find ourselves in. He gives the leadership knowledge to be effective and show others the way. As we follow Christ, we are able to find life and live out its’ full potential. We were made to praise and worship our Savior, and through the perseverance of all trials, we can bring honor to his name. Does this mean life gets easy, no, what it means is that we get stronger and more equipped to take on future trials that will arise.

This past weekend was like being on a Ferris wheel, experiencing the great lows and the great highs that life presents us with. I will take the highs as a blessing and cherish the friends and memories past and present, being joyful in them. I also choose to have joy in the lows, seeing them as a growing part of my life that will give me a strong testimony. I will remember the times spent with my friend and brother Seth seeing them as a blessing, just as I will remember the day Becky and Jeremy became one, and the celebration of Ben pursuing his dreams in life. I choose to find joy in all situations, no matter how high or how low. I choose joy.

The Value of Community

April 6, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

Life is hard. We go through some of the toughest trials imaginable, whether it be a loss of someone close to us, heart ache from the hurt others have done to us, a lack of vision over our lives; we have all been through these. Sometimes it is hard to understand how to get through it all. This caused me to think about one important element in my own life and walk with the Lord, community. As humans, we are built to crave community, without it, we physically and emotionally cannot grow. This then led me to ask myself, why is community such an important element to not only our physical well-being, but also to our spiritual walk? To be honest, I have never really looked at the reasons why it is so beneficial, I only knew that I like to be in community with others. Sounds funny right? How can I enjoy community and not know the reason why we need it. As I was thinking about this, I searched for scripture that deals with this idea. Two verses kept coming back and was a perfect of picture of what community is. Hebrews 10: 24- 25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” As well as Proverbs 27:17, which says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” While praying over these verses, I believe there are three reasons why community is so vital to our journey in Christ.

Community increases our individual growth.

In my walk with Christ, small groups played an enormous role in my life. Back in my ninth grade, I felt outcast. My old church was not a healthy growth place for me, and yet I did not seek to change. When my parents first went to Daystar, I wanted nothing to do with any of it, I was done with youth groups. One day my mom told me that a youth small group was going to be at my house, and that I would be at it. I didn’t want to be there, but I was forced (I know, forced to be at a small group that would change my life, oh woe is me). The first night was incredible, it was the first time I had been able to talk to people that were real in their faith, they didn’t wear masks to save face, they were open and honest about their struggles. I was changed forever. After that evening I kept going, got involved with serving, made friends who I will love for the rest of my life. I now serve with the next generation in elementary and high school, I intern with the youth ministry, and I truly own my faith. I say all of this to show how that community was the catalyst for my spiritual growth, and without it, I don’t even know where I would be. That line in Hebrews says how we spur each other on, I am now able to help others grow in their walks and create life change. I am so thankful for community.

Community increases encouragement.

For myself, and most likely many of you, I need encouragement. As I said earlier, life gets hard, and people say words that can cut us to our core. Whether it is said as a joke, a sarcastic comment, or a purely malice deed, words hurt us. People don’t realize the power of the tongue, and people act carelessly with that power. This is why we need a community that gives encouragement. I am so thankful for my family, they have always supported me through the toughest times in my life. My parents will always listen and speak life giving advice and encouragement that helps me grow and be wise in my walk. I am so thankful for that, I love them for their words. I have been around “friends” that just speak death, and maybe you have these people in your life and are thinking of them now. My advice on that is, get rid of them. Show these people love, but don’t invest in them if all you receive is hurt and pain. Surround yourself with a community that provides support and encouragement. Trust me, you will live with so much more joy. This is the importance of the last line in Hebrews, find people that you can receive encouragement from.

Community gives wisdom that you can give to others.

I want to state the verse in Proverbs again, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” That verse sums up the final aspect of community. As you grow and receive encouragement, which is the sharpening of iron. The second, states that so one person sharpens another. That person is you. That person is me. We aren’t made to just receive and receive over and over, we are to give back to those in community around us! Our human nature is to be selfish, but Christ tells us to live selfless lives. Share with those around you, speak to those you care about. Earlier I talked about how I was in a small group that changed my life forever, and now as time has passed and I have graduated, I lead a small group. I want my students to see how valuable they are in life, how they should run after their dreams, and pursue Christ in everything they do. I do this because I was told these same things, and I am so grateful for that! Speak life to those around you, I always try to encourage my family because they continually encourage me. I want to be careful with my tongue because I know what it feels like to be told by others that you aren’t worth it, or that you will never reach your dreams. Those are lies, the truth is that we are children of the one true God, and we should act like that towards everyone. Sharpen others just as you have been sharpened.

This is the picture of that first small group that I was in, some weren’t in this picture, but these were the people who first taught me about community. I hope you see just how vital community plays a role in our lives. Not only do we need it in order to grow in our own spiritual journey, but we need to be intentional about those who we are in community with. We shouldn’t just receive, but give because we have been poured into so much. A simple conversation could change a person for the rest of their life. That is the value of community, community is the place where people are loved, where people find peace in their trials, and where people find wisdom from the people that care about them. Be intentional about your community, speak life to those around you, encourage one another, and sharpen those around you.

-Joshua Thomas

Taking Hold of the Vision

March 30, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

One of the biggest fears I have, is the question of am I moving to the place that I’m supposed to be. It’s the classic case of a kid wandering around and trying to see what their purpose in life is. I am definitely in that stage, a college kid with big dreams, ones that seem crazy to achieve. So, when I start to get fearful and over-think everything, I have to step back and look at what the vision for my life is. A vision for life is not a road map with a destination, but more like a guideline for the trip. It’s essentially how we are to live as we walk in life. I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of what my vision for life is, and more importantly what does Christ say my vision is. If you’ve read the last few posts of mine, you have most likely seen that I have been reading through Romans. I have loved reading it and thinking about what it has said, but all things end sometime, and I finished reading through it this past week. I say this because the last bit of it deals with what I think is the vision for our lives. Romans 15:5-7 says, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” From this, there are three key elements that show us how to live under the vision of Christ.

We need to own our faith, and live it.

The first part of those verses is Paul telling the Romans that God has given us essentially everything, and that we are to have the same mindset of Christ Jesus. We need to own our faith, meaning we need to not just know what the word says, but we need to live it. It’s easy to have an attitude where we know what it is we should do, but when it comes time to getting a little dirty in order to live our faith, we shrug it off and walk away. That’s not what we are called to do, we are to claim our faith. This means worshipping with all that we are, when no one is around to see. It means we read our bible even when we don’t Instagram it. It means talking to God in the good times and in the bad. Too many Christians make a show out of their faith, we need to make it personal and let our actions lead to the open doors for people around us. In order to live into our vision, we have to own our faith.

We need to come together as the Church.

Community is essential for humans. There is no worse feeling, than being lonely. When we are alone, no matter how solid we are in our relationship with Christ, we will fall, because there is no accountability. This is why it’s so vital to be in a church, serving, and proactively attending a small group. We should surround ourselves with people running after Christ, being open in prayer and helping our brothers and sisters in need. Finding that tribe to stick with will help you in your life tremendously. I’m so thankful for the close friends and mentors that have guided me through life. My family has been a huge part of my growth and I love all of them tremendously. My brother-in-law Tim, has been a great friend in my life, he’s the guy I wanted to take care of my sister. He has been someone that I can talk to, and he can talk to me. We both have struggles, because that’s a whole part about being human, but as we walk in life together, we can step away from our sin and step into our purpose. Tim is my friend and brother, I love him and his heart. People like Tim are the kind of people we need to surround ourselves with, that’s where we will have community.

We need to share our heart.

The final part of the verses in Romans say that we not only live our faith and have community with fellow believers, but we need to share our heart with those who don’t know what God can do for them. It would be crazy for us to keep the joy and the purpose we have found to ourselves, so why wouldn’t we share it? There are different answers to that question, but the main issue for me is fear. I’m afraid of what people will perceive me as or what they might say, but it’s silly to think like that. It doesn’t matter what happens, the best outcome is that they find that relationship and change the world, and the worst is they may just say, “No thanks.” Even then, I have planted a seed for Christ to start moving in their heart. Honestly the fear is a lie from the enemy, the lie may be something different in whatever your situation is, but it is a lie. We can do all things through Christ, we don’t need to be afraid of anything! We should share our heart at every chance we get, and never hide the joy we have found.

To bring this together, our vision is the way to live our life. This doesn’t mean we will figure out exactly what we should do with our lives, it’s simply the way to live as we move forward. Do we feel lost? Sure. Do I feel lost at times in my life? Absolutely. But, I know that God has a plan for me, he takes my crazy dreams and will turn them into even bigger ones. I may not know where I’m headed, but I don’t have to be scared. I am living out my life through this vision, and by doing that, opportunities will show themselves and peace will follow. I hope that you live out this vision in your own life, and remember that you don’t have to fear anymore.

-Joshua Thomas

Being a Sacrificial Leader

March 23, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

As I continue to walk in faith and pursue a deeper relationship with Christ, I am always wanting to learn more so that I can in turn do more for the kingdom. So when I read through Romans 12 this weekend, I was enjoying every part of it. It has a very simple idea, we are to be a living sacrifice. A sacrifice is an offering to Christ, and when Paul says we should be a living sacrifice, he means that we are to offer ourselves up. Pretty simple, but then I started to wonder, what it looks like exactly to put this into practice. The chapter has two main ideas with one overarching theme. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Which immediately targets the first focus that every leader has to have if they want to be a sacrificial one.

A sacrificial leader works on their own heart first.

It’s easy to tell other people what they need to fix before we take an honest look at ourselves. What that first part of chapter 12 shows, is that we need to first work on our own focus and attitudes. The first step that we need to take if we want to lead sacrificially is to transform all of our mind. Not some of it, but all of it. God doesn’t want a leader who is still clinging to something that can only bring death. Now do we all have struggles? Well duh we’re human, but this verse is saying that we need to work towards living a pure life. So if you struggle with anything, don’t feel like you can’t ever be a leader, just don’t let that sin take over your mind. Seek council, listen to wise words from people who have gone before you, take the necessary steps to guard your heart from things that only bring pain. Step into freedom. Earlier I said there was an overarching theme with the two points, and that is the action of love. As you change your mind, practice showing love to others and good leaders that are around you will show you love. Transform your mind, step into freedom, and show love to those who help you get stronger. Then we see the second main way to be a sacrificial leader.

A sacrificial leader works with a team.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from people who have led me, is that we can’t live life alone. Romans 12:3-5 says, “ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” A leader values the people they lead, and a sacrificial leader knows that they need people to carry out the mission. I have never met anyone who was unimportant, all of us have something to contribute to one another. Each week I serve alongside a fantastic team, everyone with a special skillset that makes them a vital member of the team. In Daystar Kids team at the New Garden Campus, Beth leads using this formula, encouraging us all, and empowering us to be the best we can be. Every area of ministry is like this, it’s the reason I love serving. So naturally, as I find myself in leadership positions, I want to do the same. A sacrificial leaders empowers their team to be the best they can be. As I thought more about this a great example came to mind.

The X-men exemplify what it means to be a team of sacrificial leader.

Now before you roll your eyes at me, let me explain. I have always loved the X-men comics because it’s a great example of being a part of a team a leading wherever you are at. The X-men are all mutants with supernatural abilities, who are socially outcast because they aren’t understood by the rest of society. Instead of hurting others, the X-men defend the world from bad guys, each using their special skills to be the most effective as a team. It’s such a great example of how to be an effective sacrificial leader, working together to accomplish a common goal. In the body of Christ, the same is true, we work together using our gifts and talents to build the kingdom.

To bring it together, a sacrificial is one who is pursuing Christ each day, and uses their talents to serve within the body of Christ. A leader is not someone who sits above others and barks orders, they are people who are willing to step into what they know God wants them to do. I want to be a sacrificial leader, I want to step into what God has for me, and I want to do all of it with an attitude of love for those who need it. I hope that this helps you be an effective leader no matter where you are in life because, you are special, and you have so much to offer.

-Joshua Thomas

All Things

March 16, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

Have you ever had a week where you thought nothing else could get worse and then suddenly it got worse? Well I sure do, it was this past week. It started off pretty normal, then out of nowhere a sucker punch knocked me on my feet. I found out something that happened to someone very dear to me and my family, and for that reason I am choosing to not to share the personal details of the situation. When I found out, nothing really set in, like I was numb to what was being said and explained. My mind began to race, not out of anger, but out of confusion and fear. Why is this happening to me? Why does this happen to the people close to me? What good can come from this? I know of several friends that have been dealing with similar situations, situations that shake reality. Things that make ones heart ache like no pain ever before, my heart aches like it never has before. It feels as if nothing can come out of this, but that isn’t true.

There is hope.

During the past few days one verse has helped me to stay above the waves. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I just kept thinking about this verse over and over in my head, even now as I sit here, it keeps me calm. The thing that makes this verse so real to me is the two words, “all things.” It doesn’t say, in the times of really happy fun times, or in times when it feels like God is so close to me. All things. Times when we feel alone, when we feel hurt, in times when we feel like we can’t take it anymore. When I look at it this way, it changes how I read the verse, “I (Joshua) can make it through this pain and hurt through Christ who strengthens me.” It will look different for everyone who reads it and how it applies to your circumstance, but the truth stands firm.

We have a mighty Father.

A good father cares for his child, our God is a father who loves and wants guide us in life. He wants to equip us and lead us through our darkest times, no matter how bad our situation is, He will give us strength. That’s such and encouraging part of that verse, not only is God with us in all things, but he strengthens us. Alone I don’t feel very strong, but when I trust God, I feel like I could fight a thousand armies and never grow weary. I want you to know that I’m not telling you this because I have it all figured out, trust me, I am telling this to you because it is helping me in a time where I feel weak. Our Father wants us to rely on him, not on our own flesh. Our flesh is weak, but in Him, we are strong.

Good will come.

This week has been tough and my heart still aches, but I have also seen the good that our Father can bring. I was able to help on a shoot for a Daystar bumper video, I was able to hang out with the family of a student in my small group, I was able to mentor another student, and I was able to pull off a Vert event with the help of a great team. I am surrounded by people who care, people striving after the kingdom, people who showed me love, even when they didn’t know how crazy my life was becoming. My family is finding healing and hope for the future, and never giving up on each other. I am so overwhelmed by how God is moving all around me, and even when I feel hurt, He brings healing and joy. I say all this to encourage you and to tell you that our God is good, in him I forgive, I find joy, and I find restoration of relationships. I wish it was easy and I wish that I could prevent anyone else from being hurt, but I don’t have that power. Our God has that power and no matter what you’re going through, I say this with tears in my eyes because looking silly in Geeksboro, He will keep you strong in all things.

With a thankful heart,

-Joshua Thomas

My Archenemy

March 9, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

In pretty much every superhero comic that has ever been written, the hero always has an archenemy. Batman had the Joker, Professor X had Magneto, Spider-man had the Green Goblin, and the list goes on and on. All of us deal with things that create conflict in our life, but we typically don’t have an archenemy that we face on a daily basis, or do we? This idea popped into my head as I was reading through Romans chapter 6, I’ve been reading through this book a lot recently because it is filled with tons of wisdom. Paul was writing to the people of Rome about this very topic, well sort of, he was speaking to the people on the fact that they were no longer slaves to sin, but become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:19-23 says, “Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As I read this, I began to see that we do in fact have an archenemy, someone who wants to stop us from stepping into what God has for your life.

The archenemy who was working to stop me from achieving freedom is myself.

Let me explain, the passage above said that we are slaves to our sinful desires. When you are saved however, we become slaves to righteousness. There’s just one problem with that, we have an active enemy who tries to use our weakness against us. Every day we must go to battle with the side of us that wants to give in to the sin that is all around us, keeping us from our purpose. We become trapped in fear and shame, making us slaves to sin. This happens to everyone, Satan just whispers small lies to us, and we turn them into a deadly weapon only created to harm us. We are trapped in this cycle of being a slave, but there is hope.

Although our sin causes death, in Christ we find life.

Paul says that when we offer ourselves as slaves to righteousness, which will lead us to live a life of holiness in Christ. We have hope, we have strength in Christ to fight against these lies that Satan tries to convince us of. You see our enemy is the part of us that feels like it needs to go back to its’ old master, but Paul says that we have a new master, and this master has our best interest in mind. He has a plan in mind for our lives, and he wants us to live in to our full potential. Without him though, it is impossible to fight our dark side, the part of us that wants to be a slave to the world rather than a slave to the God who loves us. God equips us to be able to stand against the fear that tries to hold us back, and the shame that causes us to hide and run away from our problems. I know that life is hard, because I have had to go through the pain that fear and shame bring. It seems like we can’t do it alone, which is true, but in Christ we can do all things.

Alone we are weak, but with God, we are strong.

We can’t fight this alone, we need the strength of God to get through the hardest situations. This means that we will have to face our fears and step out of shame. It’s never easy, but it’s always worth it. I recently listened to an NPR podcast called, Invisibilia, where they were talking about fear and overcoming certain fears. In the episode, a man named Jason was interviewed about how he overcame his crippling fear of being rejected. He did this by facing his problem head on, and every day would try to be rejected at least once. He calls it “rejection therapy,” and each day he forced himself to get free from his fear of rejected by being rejected. It stuck with me because so often we feel like we are powerless from fear and we just want to run away. This man was tired of being crippled and decided to face it head on. I have no idea if he was a believer, but his story was an example for me of how to get free from the enemy that is myself. To fight it head on with the strength of Christ, because when we stand in the freedom that Christ gives us, nothing will be able to stop us.

Every super hero has an archenemy, but the hero always wins.

No matter how hard the fight is, the hero always saves the day in the end. You are set free from the sinful desires of yourself, and will live in Freedom through Christ. I hope this was an encouragement to you, because it was encouraging to me. I’m still learning every day, and I don’t have all the answers, but I do know one thing, that we find strength in the arms of our savior. I’m going to keep fighting, and I hope you will too.

-Joshua Thomas

People are the Purpose

March 2, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

This past Sunday my church called Daystar Church began a new series titled, “Made for This,” which is focusing on our purpose that God has called us for. Dr. Allen Holmes kicked off the series by telling the story of Zacchaeus, who was a hated man that stole and cheated the people, and how Jesus went out of his way to serve and bless him. This story was always very intriguing to me, because it shows Jesus, the son of God and who was without sin, make time for a man who was nowhere close to being like Jesus. The story is a perfect example of how we, as believers, should treat people around us. One specific quote that stood out to me and really caused me to stop and think about my life. Dr. Allen said,

“Jesus always made time for people, because people are the mission.”

This statement really forced me to stop and think introspectively, asking myself, do I make time for people? I try to be effective in the time I have with people that I influence and pour into, people in my small group, the students that I mentor, the people I serve each week. But I have to ask myself, what about other areas of my life, the people I sit in class with, the cashier at the store I’m in, the friends of mine who need help but are afraid to ask. Often I find myself just trying to get in and out of errand runs, or talk to friends about things that may not matter as much. Do I really make time for people? God has a way of taking an expectation and raising the bar when I ask questions like this, and he answered me in Matthew 28. Verse 19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God wants us to be purposeful with everyone we come into contact with. Everyone.

The verse above is known as the great commission, meaning, that thing Jesus tells us to do without exception. I find myself being purposeful to people in some areas, but in others, I stink. I go to class every day and find myself just trying to get through it, and move on. Why? It’s filled with people who could use some life giving words, and I was called to do it. Now before you think I’m going to start getting in someone’s face asking them if they have heard the good news, that’s not the point. Honestly that is an ineffective way to reach people. What I mean is, when talk to anyone, be different in how I act, show them that I actually care. That may lead to a conversation where I invite them to church, or it may not.

My purpose is to plant the seed of truth and life in their life, and let God work the rest.

Looking at the story of Zacchaeus, Jesus didn’t act weird around him, he just said hey you want to grab some food, I’ll buy. While it may have been a little intimidating because Jesus was pretty well known, in my own life, I can be intentional towards others in the simplest ways. Jesus was a man who wasn’t living for what he wanted, he was living for others. The way he spoke to others, the way he put others first, it made him so appealing to everyone around him. It makes me want to be like Him, to treat others with that honor and plant seeds of truth in their lives. We are able to do this because we have been in the shoes of Zacchaeus before.

God used someone in your life who brought you to freedom, now it’s your turn to take part in your purpose.

The story of Zacchaeus shows a man who was a terrible sinner, one who many thought could never amount to anything, yet Jesus made time for one who probably didn’t deserve it. Sound familiar? That’s my story just like yours, yet in our lives someone came along and gave us the time, extended an invitation, or dragged us to a life changing point. So why is it that we don’t always try to do the same? It seems crazy, and trust me, I haven’t mastered it myself, but that’s alright. Nothing is stopping me or you from starting right now, make people a priority at every moment. God’s purpose for our lives was to reach the world and save the lost, don’t walk away from your purpose. Step into what you were made for and make people a priority in your life.

-Joshua Thomas

Want to check out the message that inspired this post? Check out http://daystargso.com/.

Don’t live in Greensboro but want to experience Daystar Church on a weekly basis? We’re live each week at three service times at http://live.daystargso.com/!

Staying Calm through the Frustration

February 23, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

Frustration is simply the worst. Recently I have noticed a trend in my life and those close around me that as soon as one begins to gain ground and start making their way, opposition immediately decides to push back. It’s disheartening, it prevents the momentum that was started, and it leads to frustration. Sometimes I just want to scream because it feels as if everything is trying to stop me from moving forward. As we grow in leadership and stand up for what we know God wants of us, people, work, and self-doubt creeps in. It makes us frustrated.

Frustration disconnects us from what God knows we can do.

This often causes us as people to run away or feel hopeless. I know this, because I deal with this on a regular basis. I get started moving towards what I think God wants me to do, then someone makes a disrespectful comment, or I find myself in a situation where I thought I was prepared but end up falling. Life is never easy, if anyone tells you otherwise, they’re probably crazy. Moments like this make me want to quit, to give in during the battle. Sometimes God feels distant, like he left me on my own or that maybe he doesn’t even care at all.

The biggest lie the enemy tells us is that we are alone, and God has left us.

I was talking to my sister today as I talked about the frustrations that I face in my life, the biggest encouragement, was that she has the same feelings. That may at first seem a bit strange that I was encouraged by the fact that we both struggle, but it showed me that all of us as humans will struggle. We aren’t perfect, that’s pretty much the basis for everything that happens in the bible. We are fallen, and we need a savior to make us whole. The enemy likes to tell us that we are alone in our struggles and that everyone else has it figured out. When in actuality, we need to come alongside one another and encourage our brothers and sisters because we all struggle. After talking to my sister we were able to encourage each other and speak life into each other. I’m so thankful for my sister and my family, and as believers we should encourage those who are in our spiritual family.

God has a purpose in our time of frustration.

As hard as it may sound, God uses our hardship to grow us and help us rely on him for all that we need. How do I know this, well the book of Romans has a clear message about the conflicts and trials we face. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose.” Notice how that verse doesn’t say in some things or in the good times of our lives, it says in all things God works for the good of those who love him. We have been called by God, chosen to accomplish different parts of his vision, and even when we feel alone or like we’re going nowhere, God will use us. When we start looking at hardships through this point of view, it relieves us of frustration and prevents us from sinning in our anger.

When we rely on God for support, encourage fellow believers, and live life viewing hardship as an opportunity, nothing will stop us from building the kingdom of God.

Life will be hard and we may feel like everything is against us, but nothing will get in the way of our relationship with God. The last few verses in Romans 8 capture this idea and set it in stone. Romans 8:37-39 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This verse encouraged me today as I was feeling like I couldn’t make it, like I was failing my vision, yet when we rely on Christ he gives me strength. This verse encouraged me and helped me through my feelings of frustration, giving me peace from my anger, it was what I needed to hear.

I hope that this encourages you, helps you during whatever you may be struggling with. You aren’t alone in this battle, God has put you where you are for a reason. He wants to see you grow and gain wisdom from the hardships you face, nothing will separate you from the love of God.

-Joshua Thomas

Fearing our Dreams

February 16, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

As I was driving to a local coffee shop that I like to work at, I was thinking about what today’s post would be about. This idea popped in, because it is something that I have dealt with and continue to struggle with. Fear, more specifically fear of running after my dreams. One of the scariest questions I’ve ever been asked is, “what do you want to do in life.” I was asked this multiple times in high school and even moving into college. “What are you going to major in, what do you want to do for the rest of your life.” These terrified me, and to some extent still do. Why does is scare me, why does this question affect so many people. From what I’ve found is that when we are asked this question, we immediately think about our hopes and dreams for the future. We get nervous because we think about how difficult it may be to actually reach that dream.

We immediately question ourselves which in turn, makes us believe a lie that we can achieve nothing.

Our dream for our lives is what drives us, this vision that we feel we have been called to. As we think about what it will take to pull off, it becomes this giant mountain that we feel unequipped for. In that statement above, notice how I said it is a lie that we believe, meaning that it isn’t true. God doesn’t give us a vision for something that is impossible, no matter what the odds look like. Nehemiah had a vision from God to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, his dream was to rebuild the city and it became his passion. The road for Nehemiah was not easily laid out, or free from danger. The people that Nehemiah were tired and feared for their lives, and Nehemiah was concerned that his dream was going to fail, that he would never complete what he had set out to do.

Nehemiah came to a point where he could either turn away from his dream, or look to God for his strength and complete what he was called to do.

He chose the right thing to do, trust God and never give up. I think this is true in our lives, we all have dreams, these visions of what we are striving for guide us, drive us, move us towards a higher purpose. There’s nothing more heart wrenching than seeing someone have a vision that God has placed in their life, and walk away from it. We were made to face the fear and attack the lies head on, and learn from the work that it took to persevere.

Perseverance leads to wisdom and strength.

Will it be easy? Nope, as much as I would like to tell you that if you stick with it nothing will drag you down, I would be lying to you. Is it worth it? Absolutely. In my life I have been scared of my dreams, a dream to be in ministry, to prepare the next generation to do even greater things. A dream to do this through me speaking and writing to others, to empower those who feel like giving up. I want to do this because I have wanted to give up, many times I have wanted to take the easy road and walk away from my potential. I still do, but I’m ready to face the hard times. Nehemiah didn’t stand back and take it, he took steps to protect himself and the people he led, and we should do the same.

Protect yourself by living in the word and striving towards a better relationship with Christ.

I’m not perfect at this, but I will fight for the dream that God has given me with all that I’ve got. I encourage you to do the same, even if you feel like your time has passed, I assure you, God will use you no matter what your past is or how old or young you are. I know I won’t stop. I will impact the next generation, I will write books to empower others, and I will speak and teach leaders to be the best they can be.

What will you do?

-Joshua Thomas