Category Archives: Family

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What are You Saying Daily?

There is power in our words and we can never be reminded of this enough! Scripture says in Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” This is just one of many truths about the power that is in our words (life and death)! Just think about what our words can do:

-We can build others up or we can tear them down

-We can comfort others or we can hurt them

-We can cripple or we can encourage

-We can discourage or we can share hope

-We can pass judgement or we can love

-We can criticize or we can praise

-We can complain or we can give thanks

And the list goes on! Today I challenge you to think of the words that you allow to come out of your mouth. Guard from allowing anything negative to come from your mouth today and be generous in giving thanks, praising God and encouraging others.

Here is my prayer for us today: God help us to tame our tongues! Help us to not allow any negative speech to come from our mouths but rather words filled with life that will bless and encourage all who hear. Use our words to build others up today in Jesus name, amen.

Blessings my friends, I’ll end this today by saying what my middle son always says to those he loves, “You’re the best!”

~John

PS If you want to hear more on the power of the tongue here is a 5 minute video that expounds more:  Change Your Words, Change Your Future

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My Cup is Full

This past week I had the chance to get away with my family and enjoy a nice vacation. It was my first time back to Ohio since we moved (almost one year ago – it’s hard to believe it’s been that long). We hit the road with three kids five and under and had plenty of ‘potty beaks’ along the way. After two days of driving we made it! We had a blast with both Emily’s family and mine as well. It was so refreshing to see some of our good friends and make new memories with our families.

As we were driving back yesterday I couldn’t help but think, “My cup is full.” There is something powerful about being around people who KNOW you and LOVE you! Besides God there is no one who knows you better than family and being loved by people who truly know you is a beautiful thing. I believe it’s a reflection of God’s love. He know’s us well (not only everything that we’ve ever done but every thought that we’ve ever had) and he loves us unconditionally.

This kind of love fills my heart and makes me glad. We are all blessed and loved by God and there is no greater love than his! Many times he will use people to love on us, encourage us and bless us. And many times he will use us to love, encourage and bless others. Today I encourage you to let God love on you today, enjoy time with loved ones and be a blessing to those around you.

Blessings,

John

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12

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Breakthrough is Coming!

A little over a year ago we were visiting Florida looking into the position at Heritage and vacationing with my parents in Orlando and Sebastian. While we were all in their pool Josiah slipped off the bottom step in the pool and went under! We didn’t see it and it was so silent that we didn’t hear it either. We were all talking in the pool when my mom pointed in terror towards his direction and screamed. I turned and froze, for a moment it was as if I was paralyzed in fear and disbelief. I saw my son underwater motionless!

I broke free and ran to him immediately picking him up, I was so relieved to hear him cough and never so happy to hear him cry. It scared us all that in just 20-30 seconds something so scary could happen and someone so special to us could have been gone! Well, ever since this event Josiah has been terrified of water (and I can understand why).

Shortly after this happened we took him to swim lessons and let’s just say those lessons took a year off my life (not really but I think you get my drift). He screamed and cried everyday for the entire 30 minutes of the lesson – it was exhausting! Time to time Emily and I would try to encourage him to practice with us or move past his fear and try to swim over this past year but with no success. He would only go waist deep into the ocean and cling to us or the walls of the pool.

Well, this week we tried again (this time without us being around). We put both Josiah and Micah in swim lessons dropping them off in the water with their instructors. As we walked out of sight we continued to hear Josiah scream and cry. We could hear and see him but he couldn’t hear or see us. We heard him cry for 30 minutes straight but then something amazing happened…he stopped!

We listened and heard nothing we looked and we saw something simply beautiful, Josiah was learning how to swim in his instructors arms smiling and laughing! I was almost in disbelief! Yes, I had been praying for a long time that God would break the spirit of fear over my son. Yes, I was believing he would learn how to swim and have fun doing it! But it happened at an unexpected moment and brought my wife and I so much joy, comfort and peace! Josiah had a blast all week and was sad for his swim lessons to end. This my friends was a BREAKTHROUGH!

I say all that to say this: Keep praying, keep persisting and keep believing! Your breakthrough is closer than you think and may just happen at a moment you don’t expect!

Blessings,

John

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

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3 Things Jesus Always Did and Why You Should Too (Not What You Might Think)

Habits You'll Want To Implement

3 things Jesus always did & why you should too (Not what you might think).

As you read through the gospels you notice many things that Jesus did regularly. He loved people, healed the sick, taught in the synagogs and preached to huge crowds. He traveled often and performed miracles everywhere he went. However, if you look a little deeper you will notice that he almost always did three things. So…what are those three things? I’m glad you asked!

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A Key to Successful Relationships

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Relationships are the most important things in our lives so why don’t we act like they are?!  At the end of your life you will not wish you made more money, or had nicer things, you will wish you had more time with those whom you love.

This week John encourages us to prioritize our relationships and shares a KEY to successful relationships.  This key is so simple but very thought provoking!  I guarantee that this message will richly bless you and help you if you apply it, you will see the benefits!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW!