If you wanna go big here’s what you must do when you wake up. Regardless of yesterday and how awful it was or today and how great it will be there’s one key. It’s in Psalm 17:15. This is David’s prayer and I think it’s safe to say he was having a rough go-round. His conclusion:

¹⁵ As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Vindicated in its simplest form means to be justified, to regain your honor that you think was gone. For a Psalm that starts with “Hear my cry” I think ending with “When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness” is the key. When you wake up tomorrow, breath stinkin’, coffee pot broken, the dog and your kid pooped on the floor, and your husband is laying on the floor because he fell out of the bed again you must realize that God is still God, He is our King and a Great King, He’s all-powerful, He’s holy, He’s legit, He doesn’t lie, cheat, or steal, and never, ever, under any circumstance does He or will He ever lose. Today will pass but tomorrow wake up and be satisfied with seeing Him. That is all you need.

I don’t know where you are at today but you have to know that God favors you. God doesn’t discipline you by making you miserable, God isn’t mad at you so therefore you go through tough times. God doesn’t capitalize on your mistakes by putting you through garbage. No, God loves you, wants you, and can’t stop thinking about you. There’s a story in 2 Samuel 16 that is of King David fleeing from his son Absalom who had conspired to kill him. Imagine David, he fled for years as a teenager and young twenty something from King Saul and all of his army only to continuously prove successful in his ability to not be captured…by anyone. David was a stud, he was elusive, smart, and a tactical genius.

However, late into his life when he should’ve had the Mercedes hooked up to the back of the RV he’s running from his son so that the crown won’t be stolen from him. David’s prayer to God in Psalm 3 is what you need to know, what David knew in his heart, and what God promises to all who believe and trust in Him.

Psalm 3

¹ LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
² Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”

³ But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
⁴ I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.

⁵ I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
⁶ I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.

⁷ Arise, LORD!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.

There’s something about the Lord breaking the teeth of the wicked that makes me want to put on a kilt, grab a flint knife, and go to war!  If that has to be your mindset to get through whatever it is you’re going through, then let it be. Through the Lord comes deliverance, not liquor, not dope, not sex, not friends, not family, not music, not superstars, and not politics. God is your deliver. It doesn’t matter if it’s one, ten, ten-thousand or millions of problems that you’re facing. God’s not surprised, scared, or hesitant to help you take care of it. Keep going, I love you all.

I wonder what Joseph felt when God showed him that he would rule over his brothers only to sit in a prison for more than 13 years? I wonder how Moses felt when he was marching in circles for 40 years with the Israelites who were headed to the promised land? I often wonder what crossed the mind of David after God told him that he would be king only to run from people trying to kill him for more than the next 8 years?

I travel full-time but to supplement my income and provide for my family God has opened a door for me to work construction with one of my buddies who owns a company. Two weeks ago we were installing installation and drywall in a house and for any of you who have ever done it you know that installation is hated by just about every builder. I was throwing a spiritual “hissy fit” in my heart. My thoughts were, “God I’ve been faithful, I’d rather be in an office somewhere, I have a college degree, I shouldn’t have to work like this.” Everything prideful came spewing ever so quickly from the core of who I am. God said something very simple, “Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years, no one knew who He was and He had the most powerful ministry ever known to man.”

I don’t say that because I will have the most powerful ministry or effect on people, or in reference to me being something I’m not. I say that because what you’re doing isn’t useless. You may think it’s not leading anywhere and that you’re dreams are dying with it. Dreams die many times before they’re ever accomplished! If you are at where God has got you and in what God has provided, I promise you that it’s not useless. Remain faithful, He knows where you’re at and what you’re doing. Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years. He wasn’t leading worship at a church, serving as a pastor, working where He could communicate with people at Wal-Mart, AT&T or your local Exxon. He was in a back room building furniture.

¹ Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. ² And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
³ Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

God was the one who pointed out Job. We are so quick to give Satan credit…for everything. Satan is not omnipresent or omniscient. He is not all knowing or all powerful. He only has the power given to Him by God. God saw a man that would be better because of a trial and allowed Satan to attack Him. It wasn’t a sick ego game or a selfish venture on behalf of God. It was God loving His child and knowing that He could give Job more than he had in the beginning and a life blessed even greater. Some of you may think, “It’s not worth it!”

Don’t believe the lie, God wanted to instill some things into Job that only a trial and tough circumstance was capable of doing. As much as we think we’ve got it together, God KNOWS what we need. Only God Knows. Casey and I were out with my parents last night and my mom was sharing how it took them 7 years to have my sister who is 2 years older than me. They tried everything to get pregnant and were run through every test at the time to try and find out. There was no luck and all systems were a go, however 7 years later they “randomly” got pregnant and “randomly” had 2 children in a little over 2 years.

I thought, “How much would my life have changed if I was 7 years older?” The answer: Everything would be different. I have a purpose as does my sister for why I exist right now and was born in 1982. Sure God used that trial to grow my parents but He also used that time to perfectly place my sister and I where He wanted us. It’s not about us, It’s about an Almighty God who knows everything, sees everything, loves everyone and pursues us. Your trial isn’t because God’s lazy, some of the trials we deserve the credit for because we brought them on through sin. Such as you are sick because you’re an alcoholic, you’re paying child support and are strapped for money because you chose to have sex outside of marriage or you made some bad financial decisions that you’re now paying for!

If God is your King and you live for Him rest in the peace of Romans 8:28,

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Wake up daily and quote Proverbs 3:5-6,

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

God didn’t create you to fail, give-up, hate, envy, be jealous, a drunk, a drug-addict, a sexaholic, struggle with depression, hate your marriage, despise your children, etc. He made us to be in intimate, passionate relationship with Him. That’s what we’re created for, unfortunately we have to fight to keep that and grow in it. The worst feeling would be to go through the depths of hell on earth, look back and realize you were bitter, angry, resentful and harsh and when it’s over see that you moved backwards. God’s not a punk, He owns this place. You be you, allow Him to be your God.

Casey and I live with my in-laws as we are transitioning back to Washington, D.C. from Springfield, Missouri. We moved in late June and God has provided and multiplied in so many ways already. However, I find myself in all of my ungratefulness and pride saying, “This is it? This is the provision and hand on our life?” Not that what He has provided isn’t wonderful, it’s just not ideal. It’s not what I would have wanted, when I would have wanted it. Casey’s parents are wonderful, giving, loving, respectful people. One could not draw up a better set of in-laws, I mean that sincerely not just because my father-in-law has tour2911.com as his homepage, is our biggest fan and I know will be reading this within hours of me posting. Casey and I are grateful for their above and beyond financial and physical investment into our lives. The people aren’t the problem, it’s my idea of ideal that’s the problem.

I have begged God to provide differently than He has or in the way that I want it. He brought me to Numbers 11 to gain some perspective. This passage deals with a group of people (Israelites) who were slaves, God freed them, protected them and provided manna for them (bread on the ground every morning). If you woke up with bread on the ground that was better for you than anything in the pantry or organic market you would be thankful? Probably not. Their only instruction was to take what they needed every morning for the day. No more and no less because the next day fresh manna would be available. Numbers 11:6 shows the depth of their faith and gratitude.

⁶ but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”

Their complaint was…there is nothing except what God has provided! The end result you are aiming towards, the dream or the finish line will be incredible…but without a trip saturated in faith, perseverance, thankfulness and gratitude you may never see it. God calls us to be servants, not masters. Although often times this concept is hard to understand, He knows what we need and how to get us where we’re going so that we’ll be better for it. Don’t hate on the road trip, enjoy it, that’s where memories are made.

I immediately thought of a little boy with squinted eyes from the light, standing up in his crib with his two front teeth shining brightly as his smile over takes his face and his knuckles are white from squeezing the crib so tightly in anticipation. I love it! It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say Casey and I are in a fast paced walk to his bedroom anytime we know he has awakened in anticipation of seeing Him.

God didn’t say anything else but I get it. Having a son of my own has shed light on what God feels for me in a way I can’t describe, if you’re a parent you get it. If you’re not, you will. If you haven’t ever had kids or maybe never will just imagine your heart being on the outside of your body and that’s what having a kid is like. Something that you love with an emotion, passion and gratitude that can’t be matched. Here is a Psalm that God spoke to me two nights ago, I had a dream that I was at an event but didn’t have anything to speak on (every evangelist’s worst nightmare) and God told me to speak Psalm 63. So, here it is.

Psalm 63

¹ O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
⁴ Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

⁶ When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
⁷ Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
⁸ My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.

⁹ But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
¹⁰ They shall fall by the sword;
They shall be a portion for jackals.

¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

However, because no one was killed, no significant damage was done and no state fell into the Atlantic ocean many are mocking it. I have seen numerous pictures, tweets, facebook posts and “clever sayings” poking fun at the earthquake. When people die by the masses we send emails, letters, money and help. When people live we laugh at the natural disaster as if people have over-reacted and it was “nothing.”

Unfortunately that’s the ignorance we are surrounded by. Ignorance as in people mocking and laughing in the face of a potentially catastrophic event. Instead of thanking God for protection, His guidance, His favor, His love, etc., etc., etc. we post pictures of lawn chairs that tipped over as a result of the earthquake. The world is scared, people are terrified and the majority of my family and close friends were a part of what took place on the east coast today. Did anyone die? No. Was a city destroyed? No.

The Bible is clear these are warning signs. That isn’t sensationalism, that’s fact. As Christians we need to stop yelling at people to live for God and live so that our life looks like Him. People mocked Noah until He got into the ark and the waters started rising. It took Noah 100 years to build that ark, people had 100 years to get it right but they still died because they chose stupidity over common sense. Thank God no one died today, that no we’re not removing rubble to find people and that Washington, D.C. didn’t fall into a crater. Praise God that thousands aren’t holding vigils and mourning the losses of the masses. Thank God that tonight everyone is safe and free from danger…as of now.

Don’t be stupid, don’t mock Him, don’t mock an earthquake that didn’t take any lives and don’t think for a minute that God’s a punk. He protected us, for that we should be extravagantly thankful. I always read about how ignorant and ungrateful the Israelites were when God continued to provide, how the people of Noah’s time were so arrogant and self-saturated and how evil the Pharisees were that sent Jesus to the cross. I just never thought I would share a world with people like that. I never thought in my life the world would get to this. Don’t allow it to anger you, ask God for a burden because these are His people that He wants, that He loves and that He sent Jesus Christ to the cross for. I’m thankful I am living in this world because I see what God can do with garbage, He did it with me.

As of now it is my wife and I (and Cayden), Adam (dancer extraordinaire) and our newest member arriving next week Elise, on the road. None of us are taking full-time salaries and we all are believing God to provide. We have positioned ourselves to where we have minimal debt but we have an outstanding need that is beyond what we’re capable of fulfilling. We are believing and praying for an rv/motorhome. We have searched for years in preparation for that “one fine day” that we would be able to purchase one. We have one that will fit our needs at the price of $65,000, sixty-five thousand dollars. We have had some offers from banks to finance the vehicle but I don’t feel comfortable taking out a loan and do not feel that is the direction that would be best suited for the ministry. We don’t want debt because that is less money that can be used for ministry, for other people.

We don’t want to be a burden to the churches, we want to be self-sufficient. Our yearly hotel, food and flight cost are well beyond what the cost of maintenance and food with an rv/motorhome will be. Having this vehicle will save more than the vehicle’s value, most likely in 12-18 months. If any of you have further questions about the details of the rv/motorhome please email us.

It will be between you and God…and our business manager. I thank you in advance for being a part of what we do and for helping us take the Gospel anywhere and everywhere. I am looking forward to writing you shortly with praise and thankfulness to God for what He will supply.

If you would like to give you can do it online by clicking here or to send something you can use, Tour 29:11 Ministries: Po Box 4447, Midlothian, VA 23112. God provides and He is faithful, this is His ministry and His dream. I love you guys.