My best

I heard a quote this evening that got me good and it was from Jeff Foxworthy...i love it.  He said the secret of his life has been this, "I'm at my best when I am not the most important person."  He was talking about his relationship with Jesus and serving in a ministry in Downtown Atlanta.  Friends, that is the absolute truth.  We are at our best when it isn't about us.  I couldn't help but think of the sinful woman washing the feet of Jesus in Luke 7.  She didn't belong there...she had no right to be touching Jesus at all, especially her hair...it was wrong on so many levels except at that moment, she was making Jesus the most important person in her life and she got it right.  In fact, she couldn't have done any better than what she did in that moment, and sadly we need a lesson in that department, i know I do.  How many times have I held back because I was the most important person at that moment.  How many times have I missed out on giving Jesus my heart is worship because in that moment I was the most important person.  Uggh.  She made Jesus important and He was completely honored by her...it was a beautiful worshipful moment.  Friends, we are at our best when we are not the most important person in our lives.  And more profoundly, our lives our at its best when Jesus is the most important person in our lives.  It is called worship.

Grace

I woke up this morning and all I could think about was GRACE.  My name is grace.  My life is grace.  My story is grace.  And grace is totally 100% connected to Jesus.  From my first day on earth to present moment, I am covered in grace...and will be until the day I am ushered into the Presence of My Jesus.  I clearly understand that I don't deserve it and there is nothing good in me to have received it, it is just a blessing that I am loved by the King of the Universe who just happens to love giving gifts.  And the right thing for me today to do is simply receive it and give Him thanks for it.  That is a life of worship...receiving and thanking Him.  In fact, it is really all I can do.  So how about today, we join forces and embrace His Grace understanding the character of His heart who gives it and spend the day thanking Him for it.  Sounds like a good way to spend the day.

New Journey

I have a unique hero.  His name is Hezekiah and you can find his story in Isaiah 38 and 39.  Most will read his story and then say, why is Hezekiah a hero to JT?  Here's why!  God's greatest desire for us is that we would be fully dependent upon Him...period!  Hezekiah lived his life trusting in the Lord (powerful king, observed Passover, drove out idolatrous worship, led nation in spiritual reform, and a great military leader) and now he is sick and about to die.  In his broken state, he cries out for more years.  Do you ever have those moments when you ask something of the Lord, but not really sure that you should even be asking for that?  I think this is one of the moments, maybe your time on earth is done Hezekiah.  You did great.  You led well.  You worshiped the Lord faithfully.  Be done.  But Hezekiah, for whatever reason, wants to stay and the Lord answers his prayers with giving Hezekiah 15 more years.  Wow.  Pretty cool, right?  Well, let's look at Isaiah 39, it is so tragic.  I'll break it down and then share with you why Hezekiah is my hero.

1.  He received gifts gladly from Babylon (it is like this..oh wow, the king of Babylon has honored me with gifts...you should never form a friendship with the enemy)  Hezekiah should not have received the gifts, but shouldn't have let Babylon in the door.

2.  He showed the enemy the storehouse (everything that is everything is in there and it just wets the appetite of the king of Babylon to want all of it)  At this point, Hezekiah has lost complete sight of the Lord and is prideful about the King of Babylon liking him.  No, no, no.

3.  Isaiah says to Hezekiah, why have you done this?  Now Babylon knows where everything is and they are going to come and take it all away.  And look at Hezekiah's response:  at least I will experience peace and security in my lifetime.  What just happen?  Who is Hezekiah? 

4.  Hezekiah went from a humble person to a very prideful person who has connected with the evil snake.  If your time on earth is done and things are well, you should just say good-bye and GO HOME to JESUS.  There your battle is over with.  Not so with Hezekiah and it literally falls apart.  Becareful what you ask for!

Here is why Hezekiah is my unique hero.  I went through a strange and tough season toward the end of 2016.  I was lost.  I was in a cave.  What was next for me?  What was God teaching me in this dry season?  As I kept pressing in and on, i came across Hezekiah's story in late 2016.  It didn't come to full understanding until early 2017 when God opened the door for me again in ministry and the words I wrote in my journal one specific day in March was these words:  I feel God looked into my Spirit and said, I have given you another 15 years JT, do not waste them like Hezekiah did.  Make the most of every opportunity and trust wholeheartedly in me and allow ME to lead you this time instead of you going and asking me to bless your efforts.  Let me LEAD and I will bless you as you go in my Name.  Hezekiah has taught me the importance of staying humbled in the Hands of My Savior and allowing Him to have my life.  Thanks Hezekiah!

Friends, stay humble!  Trust God!  Enjoy God!  Love God!  Let God have all of you!  He is good and wants the best for you...believe that!  He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Hello Out There

I am getting ready to start up my blog again.  God has been laying on my heart that need to share what I am learning as I grow in Him.  Just wondering if anyone out there can hear me?  I hope your new year is off to a great start and I am praying that we all will make this the best year ever regardless of the obstacles we might face because we know that Our God is bigger than any challenges, in fact, we might even see His Bigness in the midst of the storms.  So let's press in and do this thing together.  I am excited to walk with you all again.  For the Glory of Jesus Christ may our army stand and become a vast army for Jesus!!!