What Are We Putting Off?

I had just moved into a new house and have many things that still need to be situated. One of these things is a cumbersome desk I used when recording and writing music. As the story began earlier in the week, it was downstairs, waiting on me to make a decision on where to put it. We then had plans to have people over on Friday night so we had no choice but to move the desk outside. The plan was to move it back the next day... but then I got busy and then lazy about it. Then... I remembered I was going to be in another town watching my parents house for them over the weekend. On Sunday night I was like, 'Ok, I really need to do something about this.' Monday morning I wake up... and it rained.

What this taught me about life: 

Be careful what you leave out in the world... unprotected from the elements.

Sometimes, we put ourselves in unsafe or unhealthy positions or situations because, up to that point, we haven't made a decision where to stand. 

Sometimes we know what we ought to do, but because we have other concerns and such we put off dealing with a certain situation. Then, the rain falls down and we wish we had protected ourselves from the elements of this world/ protected our hearts.

Sometimes it's a struggle. We're dealing with something and we just haven't made the decision to say no yet. Then, days go by and our decision is still unmade. As a consequence, our hearts get pulled in the wrong direction, not necessarily because the struggles are too big, but because we never decided we were going to fight against them in the first place.

He has so much in store for us, but if we continue carelessly going through life we will continue to be at the mercy of the effects of the world.

Something to think about:

What are we leaving unguarded? What decision/s do we need to make? What truths do we need to finally accept?

We are His, created with care and for a purpose. We are Loved and cherished. It's not our past that matters... it's our future with Him - and we can help that by accepting the presents He has for us now: grace, forgiveness, healing, strength, wisdom, guidance, victory.

I pray that now is the moment we make the decision. 

Prayer:

'Lord, guide me through each moment. Search my heart and let me know what needs to be offered up to You that I may be holding back. Help me to understand that I am Yours, that I am precious in Your sight. Help me to recognize the lies that I may be believing. Help me to stand when my own strength tells me it's easier to just buckle. Father, I am Yours. Heal me of the wounds I am carrying. Help me to walk in confidence. Help me to continue nourishing on Your Word, walking in Your presence and living in Your Love. Father, I love You. In  Jesus' precious name, amen.'

The Question Is...

He IS the Rock. The Fortress that cannot be moved, that cannot be shaken. The Shield in which no arrows can pierce. 

The question...is not if He is or not, it is whether we will allow Him to be the Rock we stand on. The Fortress we stand within. The Shield that we hold before us. 

He was and is and always will be. I pray we rest in Him and allow Him to be our Rock, our Fortress, our Shield and our Strength. Our Comforter and Healer. Our Hope and the reason why we sing.

I love you all

The last will be first, the first will be last.

If you're careful, you'll notice life lessons everywhere.

At the grocery store, there was a gentleman in front of me that had a good amount of stuff in his basket. He turns to me and asks, 'Do you want to go ahead?' I replied, 'No, I'm ok, thank you.' Then another guy (who wasn't even in line yet) comes out of nowhere and takes him up on the offer, ignoring the other people behind me. 

What happens after that?

The next register opens and the cashier asks the man who offered his place in line to come so he can get checked out. The one who tried to jump in ahead of everyone else had to wait longer than the one who offered for others to go first.

Now, am I saying that this will always happen? Absolutely not. I am saying though, that thinking of others is better than being selfish. 

'Lord, may Your love guide us to love as You love. You didn't come to be served, but to serve. Your love is unselfish. Your love is beautiful. Help us to grasp a better understanding of this love and may it not just change us, but those we come in contact with. Thank You Father, we love You. In Jesus' name, amen.' 

Phillipians 2:1-8

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

A Lot Can Happen In Two Years

2 Years…

A lot can happen in two years. A lot did happen in two years.

God is real. Jesus is alive. And I am here to say He changed my life.

Two years ago, on August 11, 2011, I was released from prison. It was a day that will always mark a beautiful new chapter, when this prodigal child literally and spiritually came home.

When I was released, I was afraid to tell people where I was for the 2 years I spent inside. Now, I share it proudly. I can do this because I made a choice. I made the choice to allow God to take what the enemy meant for my destruction and use it as a stepping stone to move forward from. He got me to understand that He has a better life for me than what I've had.  

The greatest change has been due to something I never wanted to do before, give Him my all and actually open up that Book I've spent so much of my life avoiding or ignoring, The Bible. Getting into reading it each day prepared me for the day I was about to face. There is life in the Word. May we spend time in it and allow it to breath life into us.

It is amazing what the presence of God does when we just allow Him in. It's beautiful, and I pray that we take a hold of that. I pray that we don't believe the lies that tell us that our past disqualifies us from His love. Nothing you could have ever done could disqualify you from receiving His love. Nothing can separate you from His love. He just wants to give it to you. He just wants to pour it out on you. We just have to accept it. So may we accept it and may our hearts be taught a new way to breath, with His Spirit breathing in us.

You see, I've never been more alive. Each day, He opens my eyes wider. Each day, He opens my heart to breath that much deeper, unrestricted. Of course there are still struggles, but I now know where to turn to when I get lost in the fog.

Am I saying that I'm something special? Yes, I am. I am also saying that YOU are to. We just have to realize it. I'm trying to remind you that we are more than conquerors. We are His. Wholly and dearly loved. Precious in His sight. We are His masterpieces, and His greatest work is still to be done in us.

He is the strength that we need. He holds the peace that we search for. He has the Truth to silence the lies we've been believing. He has the guidance to direct our steps and the love to change our hearts.

I am amazed at what He has done in these last two years of my life and I am excited about what He has in store. Not just for me, but for all of us. He is moving. He is breaking strongholds and setting captives free. I am so thankful for you. I am thankful you are on this journey with me.

Your brother,

Marco Antonio Neaves

Temptation: What Am I Responsible For?

The other day I saw a guy walking his dogs. All was fine until the two dogs spot something... The gentleman is yanked and caught off guard and he loses control. It's very hard to get them to calm down because they are all riled up and they aren't listening to him. His dogs are pulling him this way and that. He...has lost control.

That's how it is sometimes when temptations come along... If we are being careless with our attitudes, not guarding our hearts, eyes, actions...when we see a temptation...our flesh may lose control. Without self-control...we can/will... get caught off guard. 

So...

We need Him as our guide. We need Him to help us learn to deal with the temptations we come across...Taking every thought captive and making the decision: Do I really want to take my eyes off of Him for this distraction, or do I want to continue on the path with my Father?

We're not responsible for feeling temptation. We are responsible...for how we respond to it.

So what do we do?

We allow Him inside the areas we've been keeping Him out of. We ask for His forgiveness. We ask that He renews our heart and searches it...that He reveal what it is that is causing us to veer off the road. 

As they say...

We become like those we spend the most time with. Having said that...it is God who we need to spend more time with. We need Him to heal us, build us up...for Him to write His Word in our hearts so that when we do get tempted, we can stand on The Rock...So that we can get to the point where we can say...

Jesus...Is...Better.

Our prayer:

'Lord, guard our hearts from what may come against us. Change our appetites so that we desire more of You, over more of the things that bring us down. Give us the strength to hold onto You when parts of us want to veer off on our own course. Move in us...and may we see more of the Beauty in having a life with more of You. We love You. In Jesus' name. Amen.'

Imagine

Imagine all the good you could do. Now, understand that, that doesn't come close to what He can do, in and through you, when you let Him.

Understand that our imagination has limits, He doesn't have any. There's no telling what He can and will do in and through those of us who allow Him to use us.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk with Him." Ephesians 2:10

"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, He will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." John 14:12

Imagine...if we were more than conquerors...

Well...we are!!

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

Victory

I just spent the evening sharing with my parents about my past. I never thought I'd be so encouraged going through some of that stuff. Please take a minute to be reminded that victories do happen.

What was:

...Calls in the middle of the night being told their son is in jail... again.

Mother and Father got to the point where they were afraid to answer the phone late at night.

They asked themselves... "Will we ever get our son back?"

It is a shocking feeling when handcuffs are placed around your wrists. It can be very defeating when the life you live reveals a cycle of choices leading to that difficult outcome. 

Losing respect for myself because all I saw was my failures, I drowned myself in things that would prove that that was who I was, a failure.

But God didn't let go. No matter how hard I tried, He wouldn't let go. He finally got my attention. It took a prison cell and a lot of hurt... but He showed me that I was here for more than this.  My heart started to turn.

Now... it takes time for change, but it only takes a moment to make the choice to turn around and stop pushing Him away. Then, we start to grow... turning from wanting to push Him away... to wanting to pull Him closer.

So I started a journey and that journey led me to where I am today. You see, God took an addict who wanted nothing more out of life but a never-ending bottle of pills and gave him Life. 

What is:

Now, as I talk about how I used to be, it doesn't bring me discouragement. It brings me joy because I see how God moved in my life. I see how He changed my desires, my appetites. Now my parents don't share their concerns about whether they will ever have their son back like they used to. Now, they say they are proud of the man I've become/ am becoming.

Now please understand, I am NOT writing these things to boast in myself, because it was not me. Trust me, it was NOT me. I say these things because of what He's done in my Life... what He continues to do. 

What we need to do:

We've all been somewhere, but God takes the things that the world meant for our destruction and turns them into opportunities to show His glory. He takes our past that we were burdened by... and uses it as a stepping stone to rise from... a mark for Him to show us what He can and will deliver us from.

Think about it:

There are victories made every day. Addictions being overcome by those who choose to chase after God harder than chasing a habit. Marriages are being saved by those who decide to lay their weapons down and choose to love and pour out grace instead of dishing out selfishness. Anxious minds are being calmed by those who choose to rest in the Rock as their refuge, shelter and protection. Strongholds are being broken as people stand on the promises that God gives us in His Word: That we are more than conquerors... That we are dearly loved and cherished... That He has plans to prosper and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future... Promises that He will make our paths straight when we don't lean on our own understanding, but trust in Him. 

So...

Don't let the enemy use your struggles against you. Let God have them and allow Him to lift you out of whatever is brining you down. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is hope in the message of the Cross. There is encouragement and strength in the empty tomb. There is life in His Living Water.

In Him, we have victory.

Journey well.

Men: May We Know Our Role

Single men, men:

Know your role. I'm not talking about how much power you may have or how you feel you're owed this or that. Know your role. As a child(hopefully a man) of God, we are called to lead...so lead. Trust me, I'm talking to MYSELF as well. We are to be strong, yes, but loving and respectful...To love as Christ loved the church. We are not to expect adoration, but to give it. We are not to expect to be served, but to serve. We are suppose to love, because He first loved us. 

Men, let's be men. Let's be men of God. There's nothing wrong with a man being loving and respectful towards a woman...and yes...sensitive to her needs. Men, we need to change our image. But in order to do so, we must change ourselves...or better yet...allow Him to change us. Men, we have a great opportunity to make a difference. Lets do it.

Your brother,

Marco

Women: Please Know Your Worth

Single women, women:

Know your worth. I'm not talking about how popular you are. How many guys' numbers you can get. Know your worth. As a child of God, you are set apart. You are to be loved...Not because of what you can give, but because of who you are. You are to be respected...Not because of what you may have done, but because of what was done for you. 

He(God) respects you...so please respect yourselves. Know that you deserve love...respect. You deserve...to be cherished. Ladies, please know your worth. Know your worth to Him.

Your brother,

Marco

Prepare Us

The step you are taking is preparation for the one that is ahead. The situation you're in right now is preparation for what you will be in later. We are either preparing to stumble or preparing to stand strong. 

'God, prepare us through Your Word. Give us wisdom in where to go, and how to do what we have in front of us to do. Light the path so we know where You are leading us. Give us the peace to focus no matter what is going on around us. Give us the strength to stand when the winds threaten our footing. Give us the confidence so that whatever we face, we face it with our heads raised because we know who goes before us, we know who goes with us, we know who works through us. Prepare us, Lord. Prepare us for victory. Victory in You. In Jesus' name. Amen'

God Does Love You

If you ever have the idea that God doesn't love you because of something you did...the fact is...He loves you period. He sent His Son to die for the very sins you're worried about. He doesn't like the sin...because it is sin. It only hurts us. A father will never like something that hurts his children. But He will always love us.

It doesn't matter if it happened last year, over the weekend, last night or 5 minutes ago. May we lay what we've done down, ask for forgiveness...and receive the grace He so freely offers.

May His grace, hope and Love help us to move forward as we take His hand and leave what happened in the past...in the past. Now is what matters...and now...we are walking with Him.

We are new creations. May we Live like it...focused on The Creator.

A few related verses...

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

Isaiah 43:18-19 "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."

2Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

This Is The Opportunity We've Been Waiting For

There's an amazing opportunity right this very moment. Whatever is weighing on your heart. Whatever is causing you stress. Whatever you just don't understand... 

Ask Him to comfort you. Ask Him to help you lay the burdens down. Ask Him for the peace that goes beyond all understanding. Ask Him for the wisdom in how to move forward. Ask Him to strengthen your footing and open the eyes of your heart. Ask Him to see life through His eyes. Ask Him for forgiveness for trying to figure it all out on your own. 

...And receive the peace, comfort, strength, wisdom and healing we're aching for. He holds it all in His hands...we just have to trust and believe. Trust in the faithfulness of a God who Cannot fail. Believe that His Spirit is with us this very moment to comfort, guide, heal, strengthen. His light is here to illumine our path. 

He is here, and this is an incredible opportunity. May we take His hand and allow His Spirit to fall over us. This is a beautiful day. May He open our eyes so that we can see it.

Is He Keeping You From Something?

If you think God is trying to keep you from something...He is, but it's not what you think:

The only thing He is trying to keep you from is a life without His joy, peace, comfort, strength, healing, wisdom, hope. He wants us to experience the abundant life. 'You mean the rich life?' No, the Abundant life. Life with the Holy Spirit as our Companion, Encourager, Healer, Guide, Redeemer, Strengthener, Giver of life and a peace that we cannot even comprehend.

So, you wonder what He's trying to keep you from?

He's trying to keep you from a life without Him.