Anybody got a second for a quick story? First off, I don't believe I need to tell anyone how these are some pretty tough times economically speaking. As I drive down the streets of Los Angeles and surrounding communities I see countless buildings that once occupied business that employed Angelino's no longer open. One can daily find articles on major corporations failing to meet their projected financial goals and shareholder value in on the decline.

I like many of my fellow Americans have began to succumb to the constant pressure of the continually rising cost of fuel, groceries, clothing, home and auto repair to just name a few of those life essentials that often burden and create hardships in our personal worlds. I began tightening our financial belt over two years ago and have come to the last of the holes. I have no debt other that a big box home improvement retailer credit card I use for maintaining our home, my biggest opportunity is the "American Dream" that very home we maintain. Listen, we all have to live somewhere and you can't live for free, RENT or MORTGAGE is a necessary evil, that being the case and the decline in the value of homes and the banks becoming much more cautious in how they invest their monies after the government bailouts and have shut the doors on many of us homeowners that have continued to fulfill our end of the 20 page contracts that outlined the terms and agreements of repayment.

In an effort to forecast my families financial future and attempting to deal with negative cash flow at the end of each month, I have been placed in a position that requires I take immediate action, I trust completely in God and known that HE is in control, however I believe that I also have a human responsibility to get out and attempt to utilize that God given empowerment by way of Holy Spirit given direction and utilize any and all resources placed in my path. I have tried for the last year and a half to refinance with various lenders, even reaching out to the bank that currently holds my mortgage, with no prevail. I was one of those Americans that had continued to place their financial responsibilities as a priority and do whatever it took to meet my obligations, that very consistency in being fiscally sound failed to portray the needed hardship for many lenders to assist me.

Many have said "just walk away", short sale, bankruptcy.... I signed on the dotted line, and I don't believe God placed me here to fail! In faith as a family we continue to persevere, going as far as growing vegetables in the back yard to off set the grocery bill, knowing that this trial is only to refine us for HIS Glory.

The Light at the end of the tunnel: NACA - Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America

By way of my local house of worship an e-mail went out informing us of this organization that assist homeowners by being an advocate on the homeowners behalf with the Financial Institutions. No Way! really? Absolutely! NACA would be in town for 4 days helping homeowners restructure their mortgages. This is the Human Responsibility part, I would have to go and stand in line with thousands of other homeowners in an effort to gain access to this event and quite possibly get in front of a representative from my, yes my financial institution.

Sometimes, you have to put work in, regardless of the results and not knowing what to expect I set out on an inner city urban adventure! My day began at 5am in the morning in line by 6:45am.

The Blessing: What took many of my fellow homeowners months to complete, I completed in one day, by 11:45am I was sitting in front of my financial institution representative! By 4:30pm I was complete, pending a bank funded appraisal of my property. I now await a response as to what, when and how they will assist me.

I am blown away at the Sovereignty of God and how HE desires to meet us in every aspect of our lives by way of the in dwelling Spirit who gives us accordingly to meet the needs of the day!

Now I am not certain that I will receive help from the bank, but I am certain that I have already received much undeserved Grace from my Father in Heaven!

A Special Thank You to all the NACA Family! WOW! Your Impact is HUGE!

I will keep you posted! Be Blessed!

God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede. -- Oswald Chambers

Monday November 22nd concluded our Monday Night FMO Men's Bible Study on Nehemiah. Wow, the things Nehemiah brought to the table for us as men in the way of character & leadership! Nehemiah preceded our last study in the book of Job, and only added to the whole "start strong & finish strong" example of a godly man. Nehemiah in essence received discernment from God for the returning from captivity children of Israel. Nehemiah's initial reaction was that of weeping, immediately followed by prayer and fasting, upwards of forty days, again, WOW! As modern men we often struggle with just one hour of self deprivation, yet ask us not to eat for a day, we loose our minds. This example however is essential to our growth as godly christian men and is a practice we would all benefit from. The bigger take a way was the interceding Nehemiah did on behalf of the children of Israel.

*God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.

-- Oswald Chambers

Which brings me to the title of this Blog (rhymes with flog), Thank You Oswald Chambers! As we wrapped up Nehemiah 13 we see a returning Nehemiah, having departed after completing the rebuilding of the wall, the re organization of the children of Israel the setting up of godly order and re instituting the reading of the Law of God, which brought about revival. Unfortunately, the returning Nehemiah finds the children of Israel in need of some reform. The Bible doesn't say why Nehemiah returned, but I think it is safe to say Nehemiah's heart was with his people and in an effort to follow up on the processes he had initiated, we find him discovering the Nehemiah chapter 10 oath making children of Israel engaged in their old ways.

This is where Nehemiah truly shines as a man of God and leader, without a word of criticism he immediately goes into action as he intercedes for them. Without lengthy, drawn out conversation on WHY or HOW these thing happened, but simply straight forward firm and concise actions, many of which required having to make tough decisions, in an effort to rid them of the compromise that had ever so swiftly seeped in.

This is my prayer, that I might through the empowerment of the Holy Ghost, actively reading, prayer and fasting and some honest accountability from other men who love God and are not afraid to intercede on my behalf as I allow God to mold me into a usable, obedient servant with the ability to repeat the words of Nehemiah "Remember me, O my God, for good!" or of Paul "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Be Blessed!

Nehemiah 7 - What Do You Mean, I am NOT in the Book?

These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.

Nehemiah 7:64

Nehemiah along with the inhabitants of Jerusalem have completed the rebuilding of the walls in just 50 some odd days, The Doors have been hung and now the city is ready for occupation!

In an effort to establish order and assign leadership within the walls Nehemiah in obedience to God given direction registers the Israelites;

Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it

Nehemiah 7:5

Unfortunately, during the period of exile many of Jewish people who where of Holy Lineage had turned their backs on the God of their Fathers and had taken up sinful ways, defiling themselves. As a result they had forgotten their Ancestry!

Wow, the practical application of this for us as western civilization with all our stuff is all so alarming as I consider how easy it is to have our attention drawn away from the Lord and placed upon the non eternal. It is as if we have slowly been lured away into this false sense of placing our security in stuff, allowing it to define us and dictate to us an unrealistic expectation. Often times without even realizing we have become enslaved by the very need of this stuff.

As I consider the definition of stuff, I think about things that often intermingle and entwine with what God intended to be Pure and Holy, however we have attempted to serve both God and man and have lost sight of what truly matters, the preservation of our Spiritual Family Linage.

Having been grafted into the olive branch we are now part of God's family and have our names written in the book of life! This is something far more wonderful than most will ever understand. Something worthy of cherishing like that of a family heirloom, something to pass on to the next generation that it might be looked upon as costly gold!

Let us guard our hearts and pray for the protection of our loved ones in Christ as well the salvation of those who have no idea, that we might all be found worthy of having our names in the book!

Be Blessed!

The Master Weaver

The other day as I conducted my annual re-organization of my personal space, also known as the garage. The place were all things eventually end up in small piles, the likes of gently worn clothing, books and magazines, tools both mechanical and for use in the garden, not to mention the graveyard for all the expired electrical devices big and small and a special corner for an accumulation of HHM aka Hazardous Materials, old cans of half empty paint and thinners and satins.

Now the TV program Hoarders, would probably have me make the tough decision of parting with most if not all my stuff, and whatever was left would end up in multi colored totes all organized on biodegradable re-usable shelves, available at the local big box home improvement center, the orange one not the blue one, wink!

The time I spend with my stuff is like an adventure, as I discover things not seen for years, as if it were the first time! Upon the moving, shifting and re-locating I happened upon a very small piece of paper that had been folded into very small UN-noticeable, worthy of being swept up and thrown out sheet of carefully formated words.

The words were complied into a small paragraph entitled;

The Plan of the Master Weaver

and it read;

Our lives are but fine weavings that God and we prepare.

Each life becomes a fabric, planned and fashioned in His care.

We may not always see just how the weaving intertwines,

but we must trust the Master's hand and follow His design.

For He can view the pattern upon the upper side,

while we must look from underneath and trust in Him to guide.

Sometimes a strand of sorrow is added to His plan,

and though it's difficult for us we still must understand,

that it's He who fills the shuttle, it's He who knows what's best.

So we must weave in patience and leave to Him the rest.

Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttle cease to fly,

shall God unroll the canvass and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needed in the weavers skillful hand,

as the the threads of golden silver in the pattern He has planned.

-author unknown

Needless to say, as I read this beautiful rendition of one who truly understood our position and place in this world, the following scripture came to mind;

Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,

as if something strange were happening to you.

Instead, be very glad,

because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering,

and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of

sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.

1 Peter 4:12-13

It is amazing how a tedious, mundane task of cleaning my garage could turn into an opportunity for God by way of the Holy Ghost ( I so Prefer Ghost over Spirit ) to minister to my heart! Lord, Thank You for daily revealing yourself to me!

I look forward in eager anticipation for the day Your Glory is Displayed to all the world!

Beloved Be Blessed!

Balancing Divine and Human Factors.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Ephesians 3:20-21

FMO Monday Night Nehemiah Study continues, as we begin our second of twelve lessons, I am just blown away at all the usable applications in Nehemiah for our personal, business and spiritual lives.

My Pastor Teacher has always taught that you cannot take worldly business leadership principals and incorporate them into the church, or our development as christian men and women. However, it is just the opposite of those little golden nuggets found in the living and inspired word of GOD.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

that the man/woman of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

So Jeff, what's your point? I honestly don't believe I have made one yet, but if you hang with me I will attempt to?

• OBSERVATION: What does it say?
• INTERPRETATION: What does it mean?
• APPLICATION: How does it apply to me?

The above three bullet point are taken from the Inductive Bible Study Method and for all intent and purpose it has assisted me in better understanding what God has and wants from/for me.

Now to Him (GOD) who is able to do

exceedingly abundantly (unfathomable Feats)

above all (no boundaries)

that we ask or think!

Man, how this principle / promise is played out in the book of Nehemiah. As a result of Nehemiah's obedience and unwavering faith in his God, Nehemiah is given favor and position to accomplish extraordinary task and feats. Thus reading Ephesians 3 is brought to life vividly through the course of Nehemiah's application of God's Sovereignty.

That's great for him! But what about me? Nehemiah gives us an outline of how to be in accordance to God's will;

• Pray and fast
• Repent
• Read the Word
• Await Confirmation
• Proceed forward in faith and boldness

Considering that in the book prior Ezra, the same king had issued a decree to stop any building of the walls that surrounded Jerusalem, now Nehemiah was in faith going to travel down a road that had previously been blocked off. There were a lot of underlying factors that made this request very dangerous and life threatening.

We find that Nehemiah had taken roughly four months of praying, fasting and seeking the Lord for direction, in addition Nehemiah did his homework with regards to the task at hand. This usable information in the hands of the Power that lies within us is in a sense our human responsibility within the supernatural realm. Ephesians 3:21,

"according to the power that works in us"!

APPLICATION:

If truly I desire God's will for my life and ministry, I must do my part in ensuring that I have Prayed, Read, and taken the time to be in submission to those Godly authorities that surround me, that provide wisdom and knowledge for my absorption for later use by the supernatural indwelling POWER of the Holy Spirit!

Be Used and Be Blessed!

"For I was the king's cupbearer".

08-02-2010, tonight at FMO Monday Nights, (For Men Only) a Bible study held every Monday, 7pm at Calvary Chapel Montebello ( have to plug it ) let's try this again, tonight we began a 12 week study on the Book of Nehemiah, it follows Ezra in the Old Testament.

Well, as I pre read the 1st chapter I found that the author re-iterates of Nehemiah "For I was the king's cupbearer".

Many scholars believe that Ezra was the author of Nehemiah, one of the arguments was that Ezra was a Priest and Nehemiah way a layman, so another words he was just a employee in service to a large corporation or the King Artaxerxes.

In an effort to better understand Nehemiah, and find the deep truths that God had for me as well some practical application, I envisioned Nehemiah as myself bound by my service to my employer for the financing of my basic needs, more enslaved because as many Americans, I am just one paycheck away from being homeless, not Hope less. This all takes place in Babylon which very much represents the World and how as Christians we daily go out into the world and work for the King. Nehemiah even in the mist of his stint in captivity managed to maintain his obedience to the commandments of the Lord. This is an encouragement to me as a cupbearer of sorts, that I to can still be diligent to my calling in spite of my geographical location and daily bondage, if you will in Babylon/the greater San Gabriel Valley.

And as we see news of the distress and reproach of the people of Jerusalem, Nehemiah's heart is broken for the condition of Gods people and the temple. But, I have to be to work by 8am that means I have to get to bed early, because I need my beauty sleep, besides what can I do?

Ones rationalization of this scenario is often based on their understanding of who God is in their own lives and social economical status. I must work to live, but I am not defined by my work but more my willingness to submit to power and influence of God by way of the Holy Spirit. Nehemiah is a perfect example for us as laymen, and the ability we all have to be used of God in daily service, often times stretched but not broken, weary but not wiped out! May God grant us the ability to see beyond our needs, may HE break my heart for what breaks HIS.

Nehemiah also gives us an example on the importance of prayer in the life of a believer, any prompting of God should always be followed by prayer to God for direction and guidance. So on that note I would ask you to pray for the lay-men of Montebello that we might be men of Honor, willing to lay-down our lives in service to the King of Kings! Be Blessed!

Vannessa Photo Montage'

Well now that all the Hoopla has subsided and all the Mylar balloons have more that once gotten wrapped up in our ceiling fan, the party is over! However, it is amazing how life's tasks occupy our time and attention, all so often even the tinniest of task seem to be impossible. For example the posting of this photo montage', basic cut and paste stuff, yet appropriating the time seem to elude me.

Well here it is! I just hope looking at pictures of my daughter doesn't feel like watching those old silent movies of distant relatives on family vacation.

Just another life lesson, the take away for those of you who require a moral to the story; Life is TOO SHORT to not take the time to show those you LOVE, how much you love them by making time, finding time to celebrate life!