Give Generously

December 21, 2015December 21, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / 1 Comment

Well, Christmas is this week! Kinda crazy to think about how fast time flies when I look back at the year. Christmas really is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Whether it’s the music, the lights in the neighborhood, or the smell of a good ole pine tree in your house. I love it. I also love this time because we have the chance to give gifts to the people we love in life. Finding the right gift is always fun for me, trying to think about the person and what they would really enjoy. Oh and in case you are a last minute shopper, Amazon Prime is your friend (so you should jump on that!). Also, I’m not sponsored to say that, but if Amazon is listening, hello! Anyways, giving gifts is a great part of the season, and yes, receiving gifts is always great! It is a season filled with joy and reflection for me. I get to be with my family and loved ones and just share time with them, and there is no better feeling than that. Being generous doesn’t have to be the giving of physical gifts either. In Daystar Kids yesterday, I was able to lead the second hour service. The life app we have been looking at is compassion, and yesterday I shared the lesson about how Jesus was the greatest gift any of us have ever received. God sent his son to save humanity, humanity that is corrupt and is a fallen people. Humans that are imperfect, given a savior who was perfect. A savior that came in the humble form of a child. God gave generously.

God wants us to give, but he wants us not to just give a tithe, but he wants us to humble ourselves. We can give our time, abilities, and heart to others. When I think back on the memories of people who gave to me, its’ always been a time spent together, an empowering word, or just a real conversation about how we can change the world. Giving generously is simple, my fourth and fifth graders show me this any time I ask about how they can show love or compassion to people around them. One of the kids has a lot of siblings, so when they say things like, “I can help do the dishes,” you know they are giving generously. Another kid said they love doing art, so they could make cards for people. The best thing about working with kids, is that they are wise beyond their age at times. One of the students said they could sit with people at school who are alone, because they know what it’s like to be bullied and alone. That was a fifth grader. She knows how to give generously. Moments like this are the ones where I get teared up and probably look silly in this coffee shop, but it’s because I see the heart in each of these kids. In moments when we feel alone or that someone doesn’t care about us, we can give generously and change someone’s life. I’m writing with tears in my eyes because someone gave generously to me, and told me I was going to make a difference, that’s why we must give generously.

Give your time.

This is a hard one for most of us. It’s so easy to be self-oriented, that our agenda becomes more important than investing in the lives of others. I think about the times my parents would give up time for me and my sister. Each week we would spend time together, doing things like eating ice-cream and waffles for dinner, or eating under the table. There was one time where my mom and I went to see Star Wars when one of them came out, I love those movies, and my mom went with me even though she was confused about the story. She gave time. She gave generously. It taught me to live like that as well, I give up time to pour into students on my Sundays, and I meet with a couple high schoolers in the week, and I do it because I want to give generously in their lives. Sometimes Netflix binging can wait when those close to us need us. Something that many of us can learn. Give with your time, we aren’t guaranteed it anyways, so use it wisely to impact people in your life.

Give your abilities.

Last week I talked about how unique each of us is. You have been designed with incredible gifts and talents. I love working with the next generation because they see the value in using their gifts to create a better world and spread the name of Jesus. So why is it that when we get older we start to live like we can’t make a difference? That is so not true! Everyone is important, there has never been anyone who wasn’t special. If you are silently judging me and thinking I’m the kind of person that wants everyone to get a medal, you are looking at things all wrong (Yup, I just called you out). Too many people live with a cynical mindset, trust me, I can be very cynical. When we look at life this way, we miss out on the chances to take a leap or help someone chase their wild dream! All too often we tell people they can’t, and rarely tell them they can. I think that’s sad. I think it’s sad because God made us with a purpose, we make larger ripples in the universe than we even can imagine. I have a dream to reach the next generation and help people find their purpose, so I decided to start a blog. I told my sister that when I first started (She is wise beyond her years) and rather than saying that’s silly, she told me to do it. She gave me confidence to put myself out there, and I am so thankful for that. You, my dear reader, have been given gifts. No matter how old or young you may be, you can change the world. If no one has ever told you can do it, know that I believe you can do it. Give generously with your abilities because God will use your effort to change the world.

Give your heart.

No, I don’t mean donate your heart (you can’t live without that, silly!). What I mean, is that before we can truly step into what God has for us, we need to give our life and place our trust in Christ. The first step to opening up a door to the vision of your life. When you do this, your life will change. You will begin to look at the world differently. When you have a relationship with Christ, you begin to treat others the way you want to be treated. You start to speak life giving words over others, and hold back your tongue when someone crosses you. God has much for you, so give your life to him. When you live differently, people notice. You make a bigger impact when you give your heart. I’ll always remember a certain moment in my life where things clicked, where I knew that God had more for me. It was in a passing moment with my middle school pastor who would invite me to serve at a local elementary school in a not so great part of town. My pastor, Marshall Johnson, knew that I felt alone and not worth anything, and he simply said, “Joshua, you are going to do great things one day.” Now I know it may seem like I’m trying to humble brag right now, but far from it. I’m simply sharing a simple memory that altered my life. I’m sharing it, because we have the ability to use our words and change lives of the people around us whom may be struggling. Give your heart, because when we do, we accept the responsibility of changing lives for the better.

Giving generously is so much more than a present on Christmas. Giving generously means looking at the world around you and seeing how you can show love and compassion to another person. It doesn’t have to be a grandiose affair, it could simply be a text to that friend you haven’t seen in a while, laughing with the people you love, or sitting with the person who feels like they are fighting alone. Giving shouldn’t be a Christmas time feeling, it should be an everyday choice. A choice to give your time, abilities, and heart to grow closer to God and follow his vision for your life. You have dreams, and they may seem crazy, but God wants to use your dreams to impact this world. Speak life to the people around you, use your abilities to serve others, and give your heart each day to accept what God has in store for you. Live a generous life. So when you see moments where you can give to someone else, take hold of it. God gave his own son to save you. He gave the ultimate gift. So help your siblings wash dishes, draw a card for your friends, and sit with the person who may feel the same way you did. That is how you can live a life that honors God.

That is how you give generously.

-Joshua Thomas

Meaningful Memories

December 7, 2015April 8, 2020 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

The past few weeks this idea of making memories has been a heavy thing on my heart. It’s an idea I’ve never really thought much about before, but I think it is not only important, but vital to our lives. This past year has been crazy, crazy for my own life, crazy in the life of the world all around us; there has just been a feeling of uncertainty that seems to have clouded the year. For me, the future is always a big mystery, one that I can get so caught up in. So, when the moments of chaos happen, I tend to immediately look ahead, I start to plan on my own strength. I think this is true for all of us, each of us wants to have control over our life and what happens in it. No matter how much planning and stressing over what may or may not happen, we ultimately have no control over what happens tomorrow. This may sound bleak, but this is just the opposite of what God tells us. God doesn’t want us to stress over tomorrow because he will take care of tomorrow and the next day, we should live for what today will bring. James 4:14-15 says, “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” This verse really captured this feeling I have been having about making memories, living for the moments that today will bring you, because we are not promised tomorrow.

I was watching an interview from the band that was playing at the Bataclan, during the Paris attacks recently. The “Eagles of Death Metal,” gave an interview to Vice about what happened during the attacks, what they experienced and how terrifying it was. It is a great interview. (Note: there is explicit language used, not gratuitously, but it is evoking their feelings. Viewer discretion advised.) The main theme that kept coming up was how scary it was and how they were not sure if they would make it through the rest of the night. I reference this because it is a sentiment that we all share, we are not promised tomorrow, but that does not mean that we should live in fear. In thinking and praying about what it means to live in Christ day by day, and how we can take hold of every opportunity and moment we are presented with, I have three simple sentiments that I think God wants us to make memories in our lives.

Life is short, don’t miss out.

This may seem like a cheesy statement, but it is one to be taken seriously. We are not going to live forever, sorry to crush your dreams if you thought otherwise, but we are so fragile. So what is holding us back from making the most of everyday? Each day we are given multiple opportunities, opportunities to speak life over people, opportunities to show the love of God, and opportunities to lead others into the kingdom. I think about the ministry of Jesus, he spent his time with the people who were outcasts and those who were hated, because he had the opportunity to show them the truth and to save them. Each day we come in contact with people from all over, all walks of life, and we have no idea what they might be dealing with. Now this isn’t meaning that life is short, so go cliff jumping or act foolish, this is a call to make memories of impacting others. We are not promised tomorrow, but we can make a memory today that can be carried by others for the rest of their lives. Just like the verse in James talks about, press into what the Lord is leading you to each day, and make memories that impact others.

Live with compassion.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is holding onto grudges. You know, not letting go of something that really doesn’t matter in the big picture. Learning to forgive is a challenge, but it is one that will only help you in the end. This is something I have had to learn to really do, to show forgiveness to those who have hurt me, even if they never apologize for the hurt caused to me. When we hold onto grudges, we feel the hurt that was caused over and over again, and our entire life is affected by it. Our attitude is filled with anger, we lash out at people who only want to help us, and we lose sight of our relationship with God. I’ve never met an angry person who has an intimate relationship with God. You may want to argue with me about that fact, but I think our relationship with God reflects our outward attitude towards others. I can say this, because I am a victim to the power anger can have in our lives. Many people in my early schooling life treated me poorly, bullying me for the person God made me. I still know their names, faces, and what they said; but I forgive them. I choose to not live with chains binding me down, I choose to live with joy and in freedom. When we choose to have compassion and to forgive those that hurt us, our chains fall off and we can continue to walk towards our vision. When we do this, we make new memories, ones with love and joy, memories that have the faces and names of people we deeply care about, and we hold onto the good memories we make. When we live in anger, we miss out on the opportunity to make memories that will impact us, and we lose the wisdom that comes from those opportunities.

Meaningful memories take a chance.

Some of the best memories I have made have been spur of the moment chances. This past summer my dad and I went on a road trip to New York, and all along the way we would stop at random diners, local antique shops, and comic shops from TV. These were simple, not planned weeks in advance, just simple fun moments that we took a chance on. As a family, my parents would do something fun with my sister and I each Friday. We would do goofy things like have ice-cream and waffles for dinner, or eat under the table. Simple moments, but I will never forget them. All of these memories take a chance, they may require you to use some gas, to possibly make a mess, or to lose a little bit of sleep. We can make excuses, but these excuses will make us miss out on some truly joyful moments, moments that God has presented us with. Everything we have can vanish in an instant, so take hold of each day, and take the chance on making a meaningful memory.

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We are never promised tomorrow. Life is chaotic, things can happen in an instant and take us off guard. So many tragedies have happened this year, and even in the recent months. We live in a world that has been separated from God, a world where we are so busy focused on what we want and not what God wants for us. No matter how many laws are passed, or safeguards we put up, we will never be at peace. Our trust needs to be placed in the creator of the universe. Each day we need to know that we have a chance, a chance to impact the people around us, a chance to make a memory that will direct our life. When we live each day listening to what God has for us, no matter what happens to us, we can know we have victory over the enemy. In times of tragedy like the recent attacks in Paris, or the daily struggles of not feeling worth it, or when it feels like the world is crashing down around us; we can use our words to speak life, we can comfort those in need, and we can rally around those who feel like they can’t do it alone. We can make memories that will last forever and impact what we do and how we live forever. So take hold of every opportunity, have compassion to everyone around you, and take a chance on the moments life presents you with.

Make meaningful memories.

-Joshua Thomas

Revealing Your True Identity

October 12, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

People are funny things. We are individuals with unique talents and interests, yet so many times we try to hide our true selves behind a mask. I’m sure you’ve seen what I’m talking about, that friend who will change their whole personality based on who they are around. People that act one way in front of you, then act like they don’t even want to be seen with you. Ouch. Experiences like that never feel good and when it happens to me, I get so frustrated, but the sad thing is, I’m guilty. We are all guilty of pretending to be someone we are not. As I was thinking about the idea of hiding behind a mask, I was reminded of Scooby-Doo. In every episode there is some ghoulish thing creating chaos in an old mine, abandoned mansion, or creepy museum. The gang of teenagers and their dog jump into the mystery machine in order to solve the case, and every time, it is revealed to be just a simple person hiding behind a mask. Usually it’s the keeper of the house trying to protect what they value, a thief who just wants the jewels, or the business man trying to run someone out of their home. They are all looking for what they believe will make them happy, yet they forget that when we hide behind a mask, we lose sight of what is really important. In the process, we end up hurting ourselves more than helping when we hide behind the comfort of a mask.

This month I’ve been doing themed topics around Halloween, and this was one of the biggest topics I wanted to make sure to cover. I love being able to dress up in a costume and have fun with friends. It’s silly and fun, but in life, it is such an easy task to just put on a mask, to be someone God never wanted for us to be. For me, in high school, I hid behind a mask I made. I was afraid to be myself because I thought the person I was wasn’t good enough. So many times people had judged me for what I liked and the way I acted, I was afraid to step into who I really was. For a while I hid, and each day I kept hiding behind this façade, but I never felt complete. I was missing out on what God wanted for me, and the people close to me could tell. I wasn’t connected to the church because I didn’t want it, I had experienced hurt and saw my family struggle with it, and I wanted nothing to do with it. That all changed, when I came to my current church, I met a group of guys who were themselves, people that weren’t afraid to be different and most importantly, they weren’t afraid to be running after God. That’s what I want to talk about today, I want to help you (yeah you!) to learn how to remove your mask, and be the person God made you to be.

Different is good.

You are a unique person, no one else is like you, even if you have a twin, no two people are the exact same. That’s a good thing! Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone were the same? It would be so boring, we would never grow, we would never have fun, and we would just be the same. So why do we want to fit in with everyone? We are afraid to be different. It’s such a foolish idea, if you love something, don’t give it up to fit in. God gave you talents and abilities so you can use them to impact those around you. Just look at the leaders of the church in the bible, each one was different in their own unique ways, and they were used to do extraordinary things! Once you realize that you are different, you can begin to take off the mask. Don’t be afraid to stand out, people will follow someone who chooses not to be of this world, and God wants to move in your uniqueness.

Be in community.

Nothing is more important than surrounding yourself with others that will build you up rather than tear you down. Many of the times we put on a mask is to impress a group of people that doesn’t deserve your time. Every 80’s movie depicts this, the geeky kid wants to fit into the group of cool kids. That was me, the geeky kid, who just wanted to be what I thought was “normal,” but normal isn’t nearly as exciting. Just like every 80’s movie, the kid discovers that being cool isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, and they find a group that they truly fit in with. That is such a good piece of truth, we need a life giving community to help us be accountable and build each other up. We all need community, we all need people around us to walk through life together and look out for one another. You are different, and so are other people, come together and learn from each other. We all have a different story, and your story will help someone more than you can even imagine.

Take chances.

One of the biggest tragedies that happens when we wear a mask, is that we miss out on opportunities to step out in faith and take a chance. I used to be so petrified to stand out and take a chance on something, it made me miss out on opportunities. Now, I go into every situation with a trust on God, because often the worst thing that can happen is I fail, and try it again. We learn through the experiences in our lives, we learn through the key observations we make in every situation. I took a chance in starting this blog, I felt like I had some things to share and didn’t know how to share them. So I started writing, a lot, and made this blog with the purpose of getting my thoughts out there that God had given me. Now, I love writing, I love being able to do this each week, but had I never taken the chance, I would have never cultivated a passion for writing. Think about your own life, what is something you’re afraid to do because it may be a failure? I encourage you to try it (unless it’s to be a shark whisperer that I bet takes a ton of training.), the worst that can happen is that you don’t succeed. So you try something else, all while listening to what God is leading you towards. Take a chance.

Just like in Scooby-Doo, we like to be the person hiding behind a mask because we are so lost. To be honest it’s hard to be your true self, to reveal your identity that Christ gave you to the world, but it is so worth it. We stop being the bad guy, and we become the group that wants to solve the mysteries in the world with others around us. For me it meant that I’m a geeky guy who is passionate about Christ and reaching the next generation. For you it could be standing up for what’s right in your career, or just simply stepping out and encouraging that friend you know is struggling. God made us to be individuals, to not hide behind a mask of doubt and fear, but to step into his presence and follow him. Be yourself, because your true self is more beautiful than you can even imagine. Don’t fake your way through the struggles around you, come into your community that brings life, God wants you to trust him with everything. So be different, stand with fellow believers in community, and don’t be afraid to take a chance. Remove the masks that you hide behind in life.

Reveal your true identity in Christ.

-Joshua Thomas

Killing Can’t

September 28, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / 1 Comment

Ever been told that you aren’t able to do something, or even worse when someone tells us we can’t do something? I’m not referencing a person telling you not to touch a hot oven (seriously, don’t do that!), I mean more on the lines of telling you not to follow after your dreams and aspirations. I think this happens almost on a daily basis for some of us, we run into situations where we have a bold idea or want to get better and take a risk. Then some force says, “You don’t have enough experience,” or, “you’ll never be able to do that.” Nothing will crush you worse than something like that, especially when it’s someone who knows us. I remember being in tenth grade of high school, I wasn’t the best student in the world, but I always tried my best. I was in a class where I was on the edge of failing and I was trying to get help from the teacher, my teacher wanted me and my mom to come in and meet. I felt relieved because I would be able to see how to do better in the class, unfortunately, it didn’t go that way. In the meeting my teacher was very hard on some paper and tests that I had done, I don’t remember all that was said, but there was one thing that I will never forget. She said to me, “If you don’t understand this, you will never be able to understand anything.” I was devastated. My teacher was supposed to help me learn, but she had no faith that I would be able to amount to anything. That took me a long time to move past, and to be completely honest, I still have fears about being a failure and not amounting to anything. The words that were said cut like a sword, and they were the words that said I can’t.

We all have moments in our lives where we remember the words that hurt us, and the people that told us we can’t, but God says we can. For me I clung to this truth, because over and over again we read in the word how God uses the people who feel hopeless. God uses the broken to heel the broken. Don’t believe me that God uses broken people? Read Paul’s story! If you have been keeping up with my blog for the past few months, you know that I have been reading through the life and writings of Paul. The thing that amazes me is how broken Paul was, he was a terrorist and a murderer, but God used him. God stopped him in his tracks and showed him how far he had gone, showing him the damage that he was doing. God used him. God gave him a new name, gave him a new identity. Paul is one of the most well-known leaders of the early church, and he was the most broken. No matter how broken you feel, or hurt others have done to you, there is always hope. That story above, that wasn’t a story of failure. I ended up passing the class, I continued to work hard at everything I did. I was rejected from universities when I applied, so I went to community college. I am now in my third year, and happily at the University of Greensboro. I didn’t do any of that on my own will, I trusted God and chose to not believe the lie that I can’t do something. No matter how many times you may be told you can’t do something, God says you can change the world. I want to share my mindset that God has taught me through my life because I believe that each and every one of us can be used for something bigger and better than we can even imagine.

Trust in God.

When Paul had an encounter with God, he was blinded by a light. This is such a perfect example of all of us, we are blind. Probably not physically, but we are all blind to what happens to us. Problems and struggles come against us all the time, and we can’t see them coming. God wants to guide us through life, he wants to be there with us when the problems arise. Because when the problems come against us, God will lead us through it. In my own life, struggles have come against me and my family a lot, the past year has been some of the hardest challenges we have ever had to face, but we have trusted God through it all. Things are still hard, and life hasn’t become perfect, but God has never left. When we trust God through all things, he shows us the blessings in life. I have seen people come together in the times of loss with my friends, I have seen the beginning of healing for those close, and I have learned to find the simple and beautiful joys all around me. I choose God, no matter what, I will always choose him. I will follow his ways forever, and no matter where life takes me, I know my future is in his hands. As I trust in God, I am secure in my talents and abilities, I will use them for his glory and not my own. When all of us choose to trust in him, the words that people say will never stop us from achieving the path set for our lives.

Work hard.

Throughout the bible, we see the stories of the broken being used to change the world, but it wasn’t easy for them. I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions about our awesome God, things don’t just fall into place, it requires hard work. Paul was a great leader because he chose to do the hard work. He traveled in order to spread the word, he was imprisoned, and he poured into the lives of people he mentored. So what does working hard look like? First we need to get rid of the idea that we are too spiritual to get dirty. That’s such a lie from Satan to hold us back! We need to be willing to let go of pride and serve others. Each week at my church, I see people serve one another and do the hard tasks for the kingdom. From dirty diapers to leading a small group, we need to be willing to do hard work. If you trust God and expect change to happen, have fun waiting, God wants us to do all we can to serve those around us. I sound pretty harsh because I want you to know how vital this part is, if a farmer never tended the fields, there would never be any produce of value! When people say you can’t do something, show them you can by working hard at everything you do. Actions speak louder than words, and in God, we can do all things.

Testimony brings life.

Everyone has a story. Big or small, simple or complex, each of us have a story to tell. Paul’s story is one of brokenness to redemption, and that spoke to countless numbers of people. Imagine the people you could comfort with your story. Think of a few people right now. Do it? Good. Now think about what would happen if you shared your story with them, I guarantee they can relate to it. We all have a story, so why not use it? One of my favorite things about a small group is having a group of people share with one another the things they are going through, as a leader you want to have all the answers and help them, but nine times out of ten, someone else in the group speaks up and is able to comfort that other person. No matter how old or young you are, you have a story that will speak to someone else. Your testimony in an example of how you can make it through, how you can be influential, it kills the can’t we fight in life. Your testimony brings life.

I know it’s hard sometimes. It can feel like people around you just keep telling you no, or that you’ll never be anything. It can feel like it may be true, or that you can’t change now. Worries, fears, and doubts, we all face them. I face them every day. In all of this, know this one truth. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” The truth is that you can. We can because God says we can. Does that mean it will happen now? Probably not. Will it take experience and trial? It will. Is it worth it? Absolutely. God made each of us with purpose, we weren’t made to just exist. We were made to change the world. No matter what you’ve done or if you feel like your age holds you back, know that God will use you where you are to change the world. You are special. You are beautifully made. You can do all things with Christ. So step into the identity God made for you, trust him, work hard, and use your story to show love to everyone around you.

Kill the can’t in your life.

-Joshua Thomas

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!

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

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

Peace in the Chaos

June 8, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

Life is all over the place. One moment we can be swamped with trouble and doubt, and the next, feeling like you need more action in your life. Stress is the infection that everyone feels at some time or another. It consumes our thoughts and distracts us from the joys in our life. Today I want to share a little thought that has been running through my mind of this idea of stress and the times when we feel chaos all around us. It’s something that I deal with on a daily basis, my brain constantly thinking about the next thing I have to do, or reflecting on some issue that is so small in the grand scheme. Since I know my brain works like this, the chances are very high that yours does as well. I want to do a few things today, I want you to know that you don’t have to worry about your problems, I want you to know that you have the ability to be peaceful in stress, and I want you to discover how to find joy each day.

Philippians 4:6-9 is my lifeline when it comes to life berating me with all its’ got. It 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” This verse holds the key to overcoming the chaos in your life.

God is bigger than your problems.

If there is one thing I can tell you from experience and know for a fact, it’s that when I try to solve every problem in my life, I fail. God is all powerful and all knowing, so why would I even try to do things by myself? Seems silly for me to try and do that right, but we all do this. Most of us several times during our day. God wants us to come to him with everything, all our problems and struggles, even our happy memories in life. He loves us and is willing to help us in everything we do. We just need to take the first step, we need to start the conversation. Realize that God can do all things, and that he loves you. Put the two together and he will guide you in the chaos.

Dwell on the blessings.

The middle part of the verse tells us to think about things that are life-giving, this is the key to having peace. I rarely think about the possibility of a silver lining when faced with a problem. My mind thinks about every horrible outcome that could possibly come from it, rather than seeing how that situation might be a learning opportunity, or an opportunity to show Christ to another person. When we redirect our focus on the positives in whatever situation we are in, we begin to look at the world the way Christ wants us to. Will we still have disappointment and experience hurt? Sadly, yes, but there is always hope. That whole part about God being bigger than your problems stays true all throughout your life, but again, we have to take hold of it. Remember the things that God has already done in your life and focus on how he will use every situation you are in, even when you are in darkness.

Choose joy.

The final sentiment of the verse shows us that when we think about Christ’s teaching and the blessings he has shown us, we have to choose to put it into practice. So often we want to abide in our misery while surrounding ourselves with others in the same position. Stop that! Stand up for what you know is true, and that truth is that God has given us so much to enjoy! We have to actively choose to be joyful, it is an action that must be done in all situations. When we actively choose joy, we find peace in our chaos.

When writing this, my thoughts were drawn to the painter Jackson Pollock. He is the man who is known for his modern art that is splatter painted. He encompasses this thought, because in his work it always seems to be chaotic, yet he understands that he has created something beautiful. Now we aren’t here to discuss art, I love this theme that runs through many modern artists. Beauty in the abstract, they find peace in the chaos. So, no matter where you are in life or what circumstance you are going through, remember that the ultimate creator of life is making a masterpiece out of you. Step into your life, and choose joy when life gets tough.

I hope you enjoyed todays post, I am so thankful for the response that I have been getting. Thanks for reading! Feel free to check out other posts and share some that you have enjoyed. You all rock.

-Joshua Thomas

You Are Valued

June 1, 2015 / Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

The past couple of weeks have been tough, I have felt this sense of spiritual drought and I have been questioning what my purpose is. It’s not the first time this has happened, or will it be the last. Whenever I find myself in this situation I am reminded of one simple thing, I am valued. It’s a sentiment that I am able to cling to because it is true. I think this is a sentiment that more people do not know, which is tragic. So often the enemy tries to tell me that I am not capable of accomplishing anything or that I am unworthy to serve my savior. In some way or another the enemy says this to all of us, when we are moving up or in time of darkness. We hear these lies everywhere, whether through entertainment, someone we trust, or from our insecurities. For a long time it was easy for me to believe what people would say about me, causing me to look down upon myself. It’s an awful feeling, but it’s an absolute and total lie. I know this because I began to block out the enemy and focus on the truth.

I want to share some scripture that has helped and continues to help me fight this sense that we are not worth it. I have a passion for others to know they are valued and help them find their true purpose. We have been created for so much more than a simple life, our creator designed us to be people that make a difference. He built us with purpose because he knows we will be able to achieve it.

You are a valued part of the body.

In 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 has Paul describes how the body is made up of a multitude of parts that makes it what it is. Each part is unique and serves a purpose, our body is not made up of one part because if it was, we would not be able to function. What Paul is showing us is that the anatomy of the human body is an allegory for our individual contributions as the church. Each of us have talents and gifts, some big and some small, but each one of us contributes to the world and to the people we are around. I am unique, there is no one else like me out there. You are unique, there is no one out there exactly like you. We work together, we enjoy being in each other’s company, we have the power to build each other up. We need each other because we make up the body, we can’t do it alone.

You have a higher purpose, you just might not see it yet.

To show you what I mean by this statement, we are going to look back in the Old Testament and talk about a time when Solomon built the temple. To make this even more in line with how you may be feeling, we will be looking at a man named Huram Abi, ever heard of him? Most likely not, and that’s because he is only mention in a few verses. In 1 Kings 7:13-14 we see that Solomon sends for one of the most skilled bronze workers, enter Huram. “Huram was highly skilled and experienced in all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and did all the work assigned to him.” What happens next is we see a description of all the ornate work that he achieved. Then that’s it, that’s the last we really hear about Huram, but what he created was renown in many places. He was good at what he did and did it to the best of his ability, and we still know from history the majesty that the temple had in its’ time. Huram didn’t know all the glory that would be given to God in this temple or the lasting effects it would have, but he was used to create something incredible.

You must be in pursuit of God, for his vision to be revealed.

When I discovered that little revelation, I was so encouraged reading that small piece of scripture. I had read that part before and had heard Pastors talk about the temple, but never thought about someone that seemed so small in the large picture. My thoughts then went to the fact that if God can use a simple bronze worker, who had not been able to have the relationship with Jesus like I have found, how can God use me to step into my potential? What I believe is that as we make a daily pursuit to hear what God has to say, read his word, and lay down our selfish nature; we are able to walk into the vision God has set for us. I am a unique being who doesn’t know what the future holds, all I know is that in my pursuit of Christ, he will use me. I believe that he will use you, you just have to run after it.

If you are feeling like you are wandering in the desert without purpose, I understand. I understand because I have been there. I know what it’s like to believe the lies from the enemy, I know that struggle it is to fight against it, but keep fighting. You are unique, you may not see the impact you will have, but as you pursue Christ things will become clear. I say this to encourage you, because I have to tell myself this each day. I am valued by Christ. You are valued by Christ. Believe the truth, seek after your relationship with Christ, and always remember that even deserts experience the beauty of a sunset.

Thanks for reading,

-Joshua Thomas

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