Have Joy And Hope

Lately, all I see is fear and panic. Toilet paper has become the new security blanket. At the root of it all is still the same problem that’s always been there.

Trusting in ourselves will cause us to fear the unknown. When life all depends on us, we will feel the weight of the world and be riddled with the fear of letting ourselves and others down.

On the other hand, when we are confident in what we are believing in (The One True Living God and His provision), we will be filled with joy and peace.

The Holy Spirit will cause you to abound in hope, not in the work of your hands, but instead His. There are no unknowns for God and therefore no need to fear. Nothing escapes His knowledge.

Faith has carried many a human through the toughest of times and the greatest of life’s challenges. Whether facing life without a spouse or storming the beaches of foreign soil in war, the Holy Spirit has and will continue to deliver hope.

Take time today to thank God for His provision. For He rescued us and it is by His hand that He will finish what He began in us. May we live like He is in control because He is!

#mpwarrior

#noroomforfear

#godisincontrol

Who Has Know His Mind Or Counseled Him?

As Christians, we take great comfort in knowing that God is in control. But what happens when we experience loss or grief that hits home so hard it leaves us breathless?

Where is God during those times? Do we get angry with him? Do we think He has for some reason abandoned us? Or, do we continue to trust that He is carefully working all things together for good?

During these times, we must remember that He is not bound by time. He sees beyond any limitation and is able to make decisions while truly knowing all the facts and their potential outcomes.

Who on earth possesses such great knowledge and wisdom? Certainly not I! For I don’t claim to know the limitless mind of my Father in heaven, nor have I been His counselor.

Instead of trying to make sense of overwhelming grief, I simply cling to the One who spoke the stars into place and He who commands the waves to be still.

I may never understand the grief but I can know more and more the depths of My Savior’s love.

#MPWarrior

#WhenThingsDontMakeSense

#TrustThroughTheGrief

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The Numbers Are His

Sometimes, in ministry circles, people bring a business mindset. This mindset can drowned out the voice of the Holy Spirit.

As a Pastor, I remember feeling the unspoken and constant pressure of “Are your numbers growing quickly?”

Over time, this question began to reshape my mind toward keeping people happy rather than listening to God’s leading.

The reality is, there will be some who listen and embrace the gospel and there will be some who reject it.

The knowledge of when to shake the dust off your feet comes from insight given by the Holy Spirit.

True joy comes from obeying the Holy Spirit and walking in a manner worthy of the calling. The results and numbers are up to God.

Seek God. Listen and obey His leading. He has the power to draw the hearts of His people. Be faithful and obedient in what you have been given.

#MPWarrior

#ListenAndObey

#ShakeTheDustOffWhenNecessary

#FilledWithJoyAndTheHolySpirit

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Faith is a process that requires impossible challenges to stimulate growth.

As I read this section of scripture today, two phrases stood out to me:

“He did not waiver in unbelief”

“But grew strong in faith”

It is possible to trust God with just a little faith. When we do we begin to see more and more of His faithfulness and our faith grows and is strengthened.

It’s must have come as quite a shock to Abraham that the LORD would promise him a child at The age of 99. Yet, Abraham “did not waiver in unbelief”. He knew in his mind that God was faithful and he clung to that truth with all he had.

As a result, his faith grew. If we are never in a position to trust God with the impossible, how strong can our faith really grow?

When we adopted our last sibling group of 9, it certainly challenged me personally with thoughts of impossibility based on my inadequacy Deep down I knew that God was ordaining this and that He can do all things.

As the days, weeks, and months went by, God further demonstrated His faithfulness and my faith was strengthened by leap last and bounds.

By faith, unwavering, trust Him today, with whatever ‘impossible’ things He is asking of you, and watch your faith be strengthened.

#MPWarrior

#UnwaveringFaithWillBeStrengthened

#AllThingsArePossibleWithGod

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I have been asked, “How did you find God?” To that I simply reply, “You have to seek Him like your life depends on it, because it does!”

People often say, “Why can’t I find Him like you?” And “I wish my faith was stronger.” They say these things like they have no choice in the matter.

We choose every day what to seek after and where to place our faith. The problem isn’t our lot in life or our circumstances. It’s our willingness to give up control of our lives and seek after God with our WHOLE heart.

When we trust in Him, God takes us on a journey of building our faith and it only deepens the more we seek to know Him.

The problem isn’t external, you simply need to surrender and seek Him more to experience real relationship and faith.

What does that look like in ‘real life?’

1.) Get a good Study Bible that helps you unpack and understand God’s Word.

2.) Carve time out every day to feast in His word. Dig deep. Look for answers.

3.) Take time with God in prayer throughout the day. Take a walk and talk to Him, talk to Him in a quiet place, or on the ride to work.

4.) Attend a Bible-teaching church. Bring a pen and notebook and take notes.

5.) Apply what you are learning daily and at church to your life.

6.) Spend time with your church family around God’s word.

7.) Keep a journal of How you’re seeing God work and what He is teaching you.

8.) Tell others about what you are learning

9.) Keep seeking until you find what you’re looking for. Don’t give up!

#MPWarrior

#RealFaith

#SeekHimWithYourWholeHeart

Over twenty years ago, Amanda and I began our journey of foster care and adoption. I was an assertive young man seeking to change the world. I thought that would take place through my hard work.

As we know, a man makes his plans but the Lord orders his steps. I desired to be an author and speaker at that time but God had work to do in me first.

There were strongholds of evil that needed to be torn down, lessons of love to learn, and my faith needed to increase as dependence on myself decreased. I needed to learn to surrender.

Some people look at our life and say things like, “The world has enough overachievers.” or What are you trying to prove?” I would answer simply, “All things are possible with God”

We are not equipped in our own strength to raise 22 kids or write a book. We simply placed our faith and trust in God and followed His leading. We now have 17 adults, 5 minors and my Kindle book is available for download today!

I couldn’t see all of this 20 years ago, but I trusted that if I gave the Lord everything, He would give me exactly what I needed, and He has.

I hope this book blesses thousands across the globe to discover their purpose, live for Christ unhindered, and experience the joy God has for them!

Surrender all your dreams and plans to the Lord and let Him lead you by faith, not by sight and you too will see His faithfulness and experience His joy!

#MPWarrior

#ByFaithNotBySight

#AllThingsArePossible

Get your copy here:

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I know the link says pre order but it’s ready

Prior to the healing He was asked who sinned in regard to the blindness, him or his parents. Jesus clearly states it was neither but so that the works of God my be displayed.

The irony in all of this is that the blind man trusted and received sight. No matter how much evidence Jesus shows to the educated religious leaders, they still chose not to see.

They were trained in the Word. No doubt they have seen all the prophecy regarding the coming Messiah. They have seen more then everyone, yet they refused to believe and choose blindness.

We have God’s word freely available to us 24×7. We see the evidence around us every day in the complexity of design in every species that points to a designer. My own eyes have seen the impossible become possible through prayer.

Let us not be lo like the men who saw and heard but choose to be blind and deaf, but instead as those who were blind and now see. Let our mouths not remain silent of what we have seen of Him.

#MPWarrior

#DontBeBlindAndDeafToTheruth

#TheBlindSeeAndTheDeafHearThroughJesus

Two words come to mind as they often do, “But God”. Though man, in his finite wisdom, seeks to play God, he will never be God. Two impossible surgeries have already been completely successfully. The stage is set for God to move. We’re in the final 2 minutes of the fourth quarter. All eyes are watching.

Though it appears that Jesus is sleeping while the storm is raging, He has all of us in His hands and at the perfect time, He will move forward His perfect plan. We need not try to wake him up in a panic. He has this!

At the end of the passage, Jesus asks them “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The end result was still fear but instead of fearing the world they feared the Savior of the world.

Reflection

Read Mark 4:35-42

What storm is is raging for you?

What would it look like if you let Him sleep trusting that His plan was perfect and fearing Him?

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You that You never leave us or forsake us. Thank you we need not panic. For You hold all things in Your hand and You are carrying out Your perfect will. Help us to trust and fear you instead of the raging storms of this life, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#intheeyeofthestormYouremainincontrol

#ourGodhasthis

The cheering and laughter reached its peak at one point, and the gym filled with elated Vikings fans. There was no need to ask what happened as all of them began to tell of the last moments of the game. I heard things like “Never give up”, “You gotta pay attention!”, and “You’ll” have to catch it on replay”.

I began thinking about how watching a game on replay is different since you already know the outcome. My mind then wandered to how the Christian life is kind of like that. We already know the ultimate outcome. During a replay, you are still tempted to ride an emotional rollercoaster, but the knowledge of victory grounds us.

Should this not also be the case in the Christian life? When we see the LORD’s name being profaned? When babies are being slaughtered without regard? When marriage has lost its sacred design? Have we forgotten that Christ’s FINISHED work on the cross has purchased our freedom and guaranteed our victory for all eternity? We need not put our hope in the systems of this world. We are children of the One True Living God who has sealed His promise of victory with the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

While we may be tempted, we must remember we know the ending of this story. We need not get emotionally distraught. We may feel behind “in the game” of life, but the game is not over yet. Hold fast to the One we know has the victory. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we do know that when this life is over, our Victory is sure in Him!

Reflection

Spend some time searching for verses that confirm victory is the LORD’s.

Meditate on what that means for you.

Ask The Holy Spirit to remind you swiftly of Jesus’ victory when you are getting lost in the emotion of the struggle.

Prayer

Father, You are seated on the throne and have the victory! May our minds be grounded in that love-driven Victory, that we may bring You honor and glory in every thought and action. Guard our minds from the temptation to fear the waves. Instead fix our eyes on Jesus, that we may see Your perfect love cast out that fear and lead us on to victory in Him. Amen!

An internal change only with no public confession communicates something other than joy.  How could we receive the marvelous gift of eternal life and not confess, shout and praise the One who gave it to us?  

Not only is it an opportunity to praise Him but it also invites an accountability from others in the body of Christ.  It establishes the seriousness of you presenting your body as a living sacrifice to the LORD.  It confirms you are “All In”.  No flying under the radar, playing Christian, or hanging our in the Christian country club.  You are His!

Reflection

Are you hiding your faith from some who would ridicule you?

In what areas and to whom can you live and speak your faith where God has you right now?

God has given you a spirit of boldness to be a minister of reconciliation.  Walk in that spirit.  

Prayer

LORD, You are worthy to be praised. We rejoice that our hearts know You and Your mercy so much so that we want to scream from the rooftops Your mighty deeds.  Give us a boldness to change the world for You with Your love. In Jesus, Amen!