On your Mark

 A few weeks ago my father in-law and I were digging in the backyard installing a drainpipe in the ground. 

 Before we started to dig, he spray-painted a line down the yard to mark the spot where we should place the pipe. 

As we dug, I noticed I would veer off the mark a time or two, having to adjust and readjust my digging; I would look back, find the line and continue.  As time went on it became increasingly harder to stay in a straight line. The more I worked, the more I would trample over the painted line, blending it in with the dirt… And the faster I wanted to go, the less I would look back to ensure I was still on track.

This reminded me of how we approach life sometimes. We seek guidance, get direction, and set goals and then we start to work. As we move along we lose our way or forget what the ultimate goal is for what we are trying to achieve.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  (NIV)

We’ve asked God for guidance, we have received it and started our journey, (life, work, school…etc.)   We start to grow weary, lose focus, or get impatient as we don’t get the results we want. Don’t get discourage, don’t forget to take a minute, refocus, pray, and remind yourself where the mark is and then continue.

“Life’s a ditch… dig it.” Joe Dirt

-adam.

Rock Star

The lights go down, the crowd starts to cheer, you walk out on the stage as the electricity from the instruments and the people start to overwhelm your senses. The lights come on and the music starts... everyone is jumping to the music and singing the words back at you. You are a rock star!

Recently a friend of mine observed that I would never be content unless I was a rock star.  Of course I said, "Not true" and changed the subject as fast as I could. 

Because deep down inside, maybe they weren't all wrong… A lot of us have dreams and aspirations that may not fully have come true. We then find ourselves in a place where we never thought we would be, doing things that we never thought we would do.  

During my morning run I started to think about this more and more. Finally, it hit me... I still can be a rock star!!!!

Colossians 3:23 came into my head… This verse has been appearing around me for about three or four weeks and it has allowed me to look at my approach to certain things in a different light. 

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men..."(English Standard Version (ESV))

BE A ROCK STAR! In whatever I'm doing, I need to do it with the passion of a rock star. A musician on stage or an athlete on the playing field will give it there all, all of the time. 

Work hard with all of your heart, not for men, but for the Lord. Be a rock star employee or boss, be a rock star student, be a rock star parent, be a rock star spouse, and be a rock star friend!

I've always felt like there was a rock star inside just dying to get out and even though its not the stage and lights like it use to be, I'd like to think that the stage just got a little bigger. 

Rock on!

-adam  

To know HIM is to Love HIM

The Teddy Bears Sang a song… “To Know Him is to Love Him.”

It’s a cute little song that I’ve always loved, but be careful… it gets stuck in your head.

A friend of mine messaged me at work the other day and asked if I was out walking the trails. They had seen me from afar and thought it was me by the way I walked… They said I had a distinctive walk.

It’s true, my walk is distinctive.. Half Strut and Half Limp…LOL

I’ve known this person for years and we’ve walked, talked, and spent time together.

So, by knowing my “walk” they could spot me from a mile a way. 

In my studies this week, I have been praying and reading about knowing God and discerning what is of God and what is not.

There are so many theologies, religions, beliefs and dis-beliefs today, that we get bombarded with information and can get confused on what God wants, says, or even where He is.

John 10:3-5

Jesus Said: “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Later on in this chapter he says “I am the Gatekeeper… I am the Good Shepherd.”

There doesn’t have to be confusion when it comes to knowing God. Walk, Talk, and Spend time with Him and you will Know His voice, His ways, His will and His walk.

“… his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger…”

~adam

"I Can’t Find You"

As I listen to my kids play and run around the house, I can’t help but laugh at some of the issues they encounter. One issue that keeps occurring is when they separate and can’t find each other… One will call out for the other over and over, not taking a break in between yelling to hear the other one answer.  Being older and wiser (sarcasm) I try to explain to them to WAIT a second after you yell out to allow the other to answer… Listen.   I know this lesson far to well.

Matthew 7:7,8 teaches us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

So why do we run into the frustrations of asking and searching but not finding or receiving? For me, I’m not sure I take the time to listen.

David tells us “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your hear: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Are you calling out for answers? Searching? Call out! Ask! Search! But then… Wait.

~adam

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1

Good Enough

Matthew 14:28-31²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”²⁹ “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Probably once a month I tune up, turn on my mic, and hit record in my little basement studio in hopes to record my next CD.  At this point in my life I should have 4 full-length records… However, I get started and then talk my self out of finishing. “I’m not good enough,” “no one is listening,” “this is a waste of time,” or the words of past critics come creeping back in my mind.  These are the “Winds” on my sea.

For others it could be just the thoughts of our past: we think about where we’ve been, who we are or what we have done in the past and automatically discount our ability to do good.  In the verse above, Jesus called Peter onto the water (By Peters request) and asked him to come.  Peter did, but then suddenly become overwhelmed with doubt and fear.  In his defense, the wind off the water can be cold and strong and cause any sailor to be concerned.

What’s your wind?

How many times have you started a task that you felt called to take on, only to see the obstacles around you or start to feel like you weren’t good enough to continue?

It happens, but guess what? You are good enough! It is not because of what you have done or haven’t done, but because Jesus has said, “Come…” Ephesians 2:10  “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

So, as the first month of the New Year has come and gone, let’s block out the wind, focus on Jesus and remember that we are HIS handiwork… We are Good Enough.

~adam

Where in the World is Coffee with Crozier?

Hello Hello

I hope all is well!!  

For those who are wondering... The Coffee with Crozier Blog will return in December of 2014.

Tell your friends!!

With Love,
Adam

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Have you ever had a chocolate covered strawberry? Have you ever had 20 of them in one sitting? Lol.  They are so good! And strawberries are a fruit, so eating these are good for you! Right? 

Sometimes we can take something that is good for us and add a little bad to it.  Confusing ourselves to wether it's good or bad

Isaiah gives a friendly "woe" reminder:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

As I read this verse this week, I couldn't help but keep going back to it over and over. He isn't telling us not to eat chocolate covered strawberries of course, but he is giving us a warning on mixing up good and evil. There's a difference and we need to first recognize it and declare it. 

So, in any decisions you may be making, changes or opportunities that are coming your way. Be sure to pray and ask for discernment in determining what's good and evil as many situations in today's world are starting to blend the two. 

Happy August, 

adam