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Proverbs 20:4 Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

Can’t you almost sense the hope turned into disappointment in this #proverb The foolish sluggard is hoping for a miracle, maybe this time God will bless me or I’ll be lucky. And then they get to the field and see nothing and dive into regret and remorse. Blaming everything else.

I believe in miracles. God has gone way above and beyond in my life. I’m glad that I did not get what I deserve. Grace and miracles are real. But so is hard work. And the law of sowing and reaping.

One of my biggest fears is getting to the end of my life knowing I had a lot of great ideas, a lot of could haves that I never executed on.

I don’t like the false pride and cynicism that wells up in my heart when I stay in dream and fantasy mode. Doing is the great equalizer.

I’m so grateful for ALL the blessings from the Lord. Things I had no control over. The grace that fixed the things I mess(ed) up. I wouldn’t be here without it. But I wanna step up my game. Be faithful, prudent and diligent. And partner Gods blessings with human faithfulness and grit to see what we can do as we partner bringing His kingdom to earth.

Don’t give up.

A few people commented on this one line in one of our recent email updates so I thought I’d share it here in graphic form.

Persevere.  People care. You matter. You were created with a purpose that the world NEEDS. Let’s stay after it today.

I don’t know what you’re facing today. But don’t withdraw.

Maybe your adversity today is internal. Maybe you’re struggling to take the next step because you’re feeling hopeless.

Maybe you feel like the people around you don’t care. Or don’t believe in you, or aren’t supporting you.

Get some time to ask God for the truth in the situation, to be able to see it from His view. Even if it is true that no one cares (which I don’t think it is) God cares. And I care.

We need to learn to care for one another. See each other’s value and potential.

I encourage you to be a bold communicator of your needs today. I encourage you take action today. I encourage you to choose to grow today.

Happy Sunday

Eh… we should probably just follow the light.

Saw this coming home from taking our friends Mark and Jeanette around the island. We are so grateful for their friendship and visit.

KoOlina is literally one of my favorite places on earth. 

And God has blessed me with being able to stay there quite a few times.  Which is ridiculous because it’s not somewhere I can afford. 

My second time visiting Oahu was in 2010.  My friend Chris H. came out from the mainland and we spent a couple of nights at the marriot.

I remember one morning going out and sitting on the balcony to have a quiet time. 

I had my Bible and probably a #journal and was ready to dive into the #scripture. 

And then God interrupted me.  I sensed his still small voice asking me to look around. 

I decided not to tell God that he was interrupting my quiet time and obeyed.

I looked around from a top floor of a this resort onto the beautiful manicured property, pools below with the ocean in the background. 

“What do you see?”  He asked me

“Uh, beauty.”  I responded

“No specifically what do you see.”  He insisted

“Uh, I see a palm tree.” 

“What do you notice about that palm tree?” 

“Uh, it’s beautiful.” 

“Why is it beautiful Jim?” 

“Uh… I don’t know?  Cause you made it?”  – Trying to make sure I give my best Christian answer when talking to God

“No it’s beautiful because it’s being what I created it to be.  It’s not trying to be a pine tree, it’s not trying to be an oak tree, it’s being a palm tree, which is what I created it to be.” 

There’s been a quite a few times in my life when God has spoke such profound things to my heart.  I shared this story at a youth group once when I was traveling.  Years later I spoke in that location again and the leader of that group (who was a student when i spoke) came up to me and was like you’re that palm tree guy.  He said that story really stuck with him. 

God wants to speak profound things to our hearts.  We serve a living God, who lovingly speaks to His children.  Let’s position ourselves to hear. 

Comment and let me know one of your hearing God’s voice stories. 

And be beautiful today by being who God created you to be, don’t strive to be anything else. 

Amen. 

I’m sick. Head cold. Sniffling sneezing.

But it’s when we don’t feel on top of our game that we are actually tested and challenged.

Murphy isn’t coming when we are on our A game and feeling it. So we need to prepare to do hard things in not great circumstances if we want to be ready.

Click here to watch the promo video for Jess’ school.

Proud husband moment. 

My wife is a rockstar. She’s teaching this week in Dalton GA traveling alone with our almost 3 month old to teach a week long overview of the prophets (both major and minor, my weakest area of knowledge in the Bible) at The Summit Training Center

She also recently repioneered the Biblical Core Course BCC Honolulu at YWAM Honolulu a three month Bible school where students read through the whole Bible, learn inductive study methods and make interpretations and applications based on the original culture and context the Bible was written in.

A video update  Thank you everyone!

In response to last months update:  CRUCIBLE

February Update Video from Jim and Jess Baker on Vimeo.

This is my favorite photo I’ve ever taken.

Jess and I led a parent student missions trip for @praisefellowship in 2010 when I was an associate pastor there. We partnered with #Okindakids

I recorded a Facebook live this morning and talked about “Empathy before Advice”

Don’t get stuck in #inaction.

I spent over an hour today trying to make a decision on what to do tonight.

I spent way to much #emotionalenergy trying to make the best and right decision.

We have a #choice in the trajectory of our #feelings.

I don’t think I realized until recently. Feelings aren’t as powerful as I thought or felt.

How do you want to feel? Full of joy and full of life and ambition?  That sounds nice.
Do you not feel that way right now? Do you feel the exact opposite?

I woke up this morning tired. I travelled all day yesterday. I was having a bad attitude until about mid way through my facebook live for today.  Maybe the coffee was kicking in or maybe I was reminding myself of truth I needed to hear.

I think my bad attitude stemmed from the fact I felt entitled to more rest. And by rest I really mean I wanted to be #lazy.
I’m not saying don’t rest. I’m saying be real about calling laziness #rest.

A buddy of mine recently shared with me that he has a tendency to withdraw. I think I do too.

If the atmosphere is not just right aka I’m not “feeling” it I would rather go hide than press in.

Do I want to do laundry today when I get home? Nope. Will it make me feel better if I do? You betcha. Weird how temporary discomfort. The first step. When we push through it sets us up for a much better day and launches us into feeling better.

But the opposite is true too. Choose to withdraw and I bet you will feel worse.
I’m being vulnerable in sharing these small daily struggles but maybe it will help someone. I’m afraid that someone is rolling their eyes and thinking I’m weak because I’m learning how to push through simple tasks like laundry. But I’m gonna just be honest in my process.

And if you are judging me that’s fine I suppose, I’m growing, I can’t do anything about where I currently am except be honest about it and choose to move forward and that’s what I’m doing.  So I’m slamming fear this morning too and being #productive

Don’t withdraw today.  Do the things that are gonna make your day, your week, your life better.

Is there one task that keeps nagging on you that you keep ignoring?  Tackle it.  Right now.