I’ve always held a deep-rooted disdain for the name Harry. (My apologies if you are reading this and your name is Harry). I’m not sure where this disdain came from or when it showed up, all I know is that it’s there… and it’s been there for awhile.

Growing up with the name Harrison, it of course, didn’t take long for other kids to begin to shorten my name to the dreaded “Harry.” In all honesty, I should have probably seen it coming. Harry was the obvious choice.

I guess the thing that bugged/bugs me the most about being called Harry, is simply that it’s not my name.  Sometimes, when I was younger and was called Harry, I would scream back at the person, “That’s not me! Don’t call me that!” I had resolved that I would not be defined by that name.

As I read the Gospels and their accounts of Jesus, I am consistently struck by the story found in Mark 10. There we are introduced to a man named Bartimaeus… He, too, has an awful nickname; but his is not Bart (or Harry), it’s Blind. Bartimaeus is officially and affectionately known to all of Jericho as “Blind Bartimaeus.” (When I read this, it tends to put things in perspective for me).  Blind Bart has things rough.  It certainly doesn’t help that he was born into the culture/context of the day… At that time in history, he would have undoubtedly been the outcast and scorned of society. He wouldn’t have had many friends (if any) to help with even the most basic of daily needs… like crossing the street or cooking dinner.

It’s of no wonder the resolve we see in Bartimaeus as he cries out for help when he hears that Jesus is in town and walking down his street.  “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” I can hear Bartimaeus shouting it now… “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”  At this point, the crowd tells him to be quiet, but this is Blind Bart’s moment.  It’s his moment to shake off all that had come to define him, and he wasn’t about to miss it.

His cries grow louder and louder to the point where Jesus stops the procession in order to accommodate this poor, blind beggar, Bartimaeus.

Verse 50, “and throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus…”  Did you see it?? What a powerful statement! If you missed it, don’t worry, I missed it for a long time. Here it is again, “and THROWING ASIDE HIS GARMENT, he rose and came to Jesus…”

That garment that he tossed aside was actually and in fact his begging permit. You see, being blind, begging was Bart’s only way to earn/make a living. And in order to beg, Bart (sorry I keep shortening his name), would have had to stand in front of Jericho’s city council and petition to have the right to panhandle. Once they agreed, the city council would have issued Bart a “begging garment” and a street corner from which he could petition people for money. This was his life. His title (blind) and his garment (beggar) defined who he was.

But then suddenly Jesus shows up and everything begins to change.

Jesus calls for Bartimaeus to come, “and throwing aside his garment” he went to Jesus.

I believe it was Blind Bartimaeus’ way of saying, “I refuse to be defined by this title any longer. This garment is not who I am!” and he goes to Jesus and receives his sight. From that day on everything changed for the better.

What are those garments that we have in our lives? What are those defining things that we continue to hold on to? Is it the garment of the past? Past mistakes… Past hurts… Past offenses? Is it the garment of the present? Present hurts… Present habits… Present hang ups??

Whatever your garments are, can I remind you- You are not, nor do you have to be defined by them. “Oh, but Harrison, I’m a product of my environment… You don’t know where I’ve been or what I’ve seen… You don’t know!” You’re right, maybe I don’t know where you’ve been or what you’ve done, but I DO KNOW that if you can get to Jesus, everything can change.

He’s changed my life for the better. My sins, disappointments, and titles no longer define me.

I have found new definition and I have found it in him. I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the apostle Paul: “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed, everything has become new.”

Let Christ provide you with a new definition.

I’ll never forget the first time my dad told me the story of Uncle Jerry and the knotted trees. For those of you not familiar with the story, my dad’s uncle Jerry would take little saplings, tie their trunks into a knot & allow them to mature/grow into full adult trees, all whilst allowing that knot to grow with the tree.

First of all, who has the patience/foresight/idea to tie a little sapling of a tree into a knot, so that years later that little sapling would grow into a full grown, knotted tree?

It’s a story & an image that has forever been with me. Of course at the time, I had no idea of the spiritual significance and/or the lesson it would hold for me years later.

As I look at my life, I am constantly reminded that my human nature is to live in conflict. At all times I find a battle raging on the inside of me… Should I forgive OR should I stay bitter? Should I take that thought captive OR should I allow it to fester & produce in my life?

You would think that those are easy choices… Of course you should forgive.. Of course you should get your mind right… Easy enough, right?? Sometimes it is, but sometimes it’s not.

I think most of the time, the easy choice is to just let our issues sit & not deal with them. I have found that it’s always easier to plow around the stumps/issues in our lives; but what I am beginning to learn in life is that boys plow around stumps… Men DIG them out.

Maybe as you examine your life & some of the issues you find yourself struggling with, you are reminded of Uncle Jerry’s trees… Maybe you feel like your life is all tied up in knots? And make no mistake, knots come in all different shapes, sizes, & are called by all different names… Some knots go by the name of “Bitterness,” others go by names like “Addiction” & “Anger.”

Whatever “knots” you find ingrained in your life, as irreversible as they may seem, let me leave you with some hope… Through another tree (see 1Peter 2:24) Jesus Christ & his grace, even the most stubborn of knots can be untied. The grace of God can take our knotted, issue filled lives and lead us gently through the “untying” process.

What are the knots in your life?? What are the issues that instead of being dealt with, we have either hidden or run away from?? Time to deal with it!

One of the most I exciting things I personally learned while preparing for this past weekend’s message was the definition of the word “built” that Jesus used in Matthew 7:24,26. When studying I love to look up words from the original language in which they were written in order to gain a better understanding, but I was honestly not expecting the definition I found for this word. ”Built” from the Greek language means ‘developing another person’s life through acts and words of love an encouragement.’  Awesome!

You can read this definition and think, ”sounds good, but I don’t see this happening in my family!” All of our hearts long for these two things and when we don’t receive them, or, receive very little of them it can be frustrating. So now we have a choice; which builder in the story that Jesus taught will you be? We can continue to be angry and lament over the fact of what we’re not receiving in our families, or, we can make the choice today that with God’s help I’m going to begin to develop others in my family through acts and words of love and encouragement. If you can shift your paradigm on this, then the seeds you sow will indeed create a harvest.

So, what are you going to build today in your family? Take time and share your thoughts as to how you’re going to begin. Your decision will no doubt encourage others who want to experience the love and encouragement God intends for each member of your family.

In the message this past weekend, I taught on seven different building blocks that we can apply in both our marriages and families. The seven building blocks were given in an acrostic format to spell the word ETERNAL.  Here they are:

1. Exercise God’s Word

2. Talk to Each Other

3. Earnest Prayer

4. Respect

5. Nurture

6. Accountability

7. Love

Although these were given in a particular order, they may need to be applied to your marriage and family in a different order, but how do you know what that order is? Where do you begin? I want to give you some basic considerations so you can apply these truths and trust God’s Word for long lasting transformation.

First, start with you. It is always the easiest thing to do to hear some great points in a message and think, “Oh, I wish so and so were here to hear this. He/she really needs it!” I think we have all been there and done that, yet wishing that does not bring change to that individual nor to us. The bible tells us in several places the need to be self-introspective first (I Cor.11:31, II Cor. 13:5, Matt. 7:5). This is the right starting place.

Second, consider which building block ‘REALLY’ stood out to you; which one spoke your heart? Was it showing respect to your parents? Being accountable to your spouse and children? Talking to each other as opposed to going silent for long periods of time? Whichever building block seemed to be head and shoulders above the rest is the one God was speaking to you. Therefore, attention should be given to what God spoke to you about through meditating on the verses that were given, re-listening to that point in the message and taking notes and just simply asking God for His help in that specific area (Matthew 7:7). He spoke to you because He loves you and wants to bless you in your marriage and family.

Lastly, develop an action plan of change based on what God spoke to your heart. For example, if you have not been praying for your family and God spoke to about engaging in earnest prayer for them, you can plan on praying 15 minutes every night for your family. If the building block of accountability is what truly spoke to you, perhaps you decide to live in the open, answer questions with a right attitude and be willing to change if necessary. I hope these few examples are helpful to you in your pursuit of building a lasting marriage and family.

We would love to hear your thoughts regarding the message and how you are walking through what God spoke to you. You can leave your comments here or on Facebook. Blessings!

Ephesians 5:33  Let the husband so love his own wife as himself . . .

When we genuinely love, we put the needs of the other first.  In marriage, when we put the needs of our spouse first, most generally, we will find our needs are met as well. The husband’s love encourages the wife’s respect, and her respect encourages the husband’s love, and on and on it goes.

So what are some ways a husband can show love to his wife?  How does a wife want to be loved?

She wants CLOSENESS.  A wife has a need to feel close and connected in a way that a husband doesn’t.  She wants to stay up-to-date  with you, because you matter to her.  Hold her hand, hug her, tell her how pretty she is, kiss her, initiate going for a walk, set up a date night, share your day with her, ask her about hers.

She wants TO BE UNDERSTOOD.  Live with your wife in an understanding way.
If you just listen to your wife, rather than trying to find a solution, she’ll most likely feel understood.   Talking helps a woman process her feelings and clarifies things for her, and then she feels better and she feels understood.

She wants TO BE PRIZED.  She wants to be cherished.  She wants to know she’s the one and only.  Do everything you can to let her know that you are committed to her for as long as you both live.  Speak highly of her in front of others.  Open her car door.  Remember birthdays and anniversaries.  She wants to feel treasured, as if she’s the most loved woman on earth!

We would love to hear from you!  Tell us about a time where either you gave or received unconditional love or unconditional respect, and it was memorable to you.

Ephesians 5:33 declares, “let the wife see that she respects her husband.” This is not just a good thought or a suggestion that a wife might try if she feels like it. It is a command from God to be obeyed. More than anything else, men need respect. The wife is in the most significant role in a man’s life to give that respect to him.

Most women want to be loved by their husbands above all other things, hence, the first part of Ephesians 5:33 commands the husband to love his wife. Just like men are starving to be honored and respected by their wives, wives are longing to be adored and loved by their husbands.

Unfortunately, many women have taken the posture of “when he starts showing more love I will start showing more respect,” and many men (whether consciously or unconsciously) have said, “I might show more love and affection if she showed more respect.”

Here is something you can count on…you will never get what you need and desire from your marriage partner by withholding what they need and desire, never! Begin giving them what God has commanded you to give them and you will find them naturally responding by giving you what you need. You be the one to initiate things. Amazing things happen when we practice God’s Word!

Can you think of some creative ways a wife might show respect towards her husband? How might a husband creatively demonstrate love for his wife? We would love to hear your suggestions.

Thank you so much for taking part in our church wide fast; it was tremendous! There was such a synergy amongst us all. I would talk with people on staff and from our church and questions regarding the fast would inevitably come up. I was touched and inspired at how focused and committed people were to the this biblical exercise. You might be thinking, “Now what do I do, since the fast is over?” Here are some things to consider.

First, rehearse the verses and impressions that came to you during this week. Spend some quiet time to think and re-think about what God imparted to you, so the seed can go deeper in your heart and mind. The Lord sends His Word to us for a purpose (i.e healing, restoration, provision, etc.) and His Word shall not return to Him void!

Cultivate a thankful heart. Some of you may have experienced breakthrough, miracles, or answered prayers during this past week. If so, be like the one leper who came back to give Jesus thanks once he realized he had been healed.  I believe God expects us to thank Him for what He has done (Luke 17:17). Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, none of my prayers have been answered yet. What do I do?” Thank and praise God as if the miracle has already occurred – that’s called faith! Abraham had a long gap in between the promise of a son and the presence of a son. Romans 4:20 from the amplified tells us what he did; “…but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.” Let’s follow in his steps.

Lastly, consider when you will fast again. We do not have another church wide fast planned for this year, but that does not mean that you (and your family) cannot fast and spend more time seeking God. Although there were some hunger pangs along the way, the benefits and results of God’s work in us and for us far outweighs the physical pull of not eating. Remember the words of Ezra “So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and HE ANSWERED OUR PRAYER.” The fruit of your time alone with God will be rewarded.

Do you have other thoughts to add to the ones above? We would love to hear them. And, don’t forget to share your personal and family experiences during our week of fasting!

As a family of seven (mom, dad, and five girls), we decided to do a five-day “homemade” juice fast for all of our meals.  The youngest two fasted for two days, while the older three committed to the five-day journey with us.  However, prior to making the commitment, their father (me) didn’t realize it was finals week for the three older girls, with the oldest having tests in four AP classes, and the 2nd having to run a mile for her PE final, as well as class parties (with food) to celebrate the end of the semester.

“Should I tell them to do a partial fast?”  “Perhaps they should cut down the days.”  “She’ll faint halfway through the mile.”  “What if my 11th grader bombs her tests, will that directly impact college opportunities and scholarship money?”  In a matter of a few seconds, these were some of the thoughts that flashed through my mind.

Then I remembered Daniel and his friends, four young kids in Babylon, who also decided to fast just before the biggest test they had ever taken (Daniel 1).  On the day of the test, the king interviewed them and these four boys were found to be the wisest, in fact, ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in the land.

With finals and fasting behind us, and the results of the tests unknown, we live life full of hope knowing that God always rewards trust and obedience. Are you facing a test?  Will you trust and obey whatever God is telling you to do?  You won’t regret it!

It’s interesting to notice that most commercials on TV are related to food, and no time is this more prominent than while fasting.  Generally, you can smell an In & Out from a block away, but during a fast they seem to be on every corner. And why is it, that during a fast, time seems to slow way down?

Fasting reminds us that food and eating is an important part of our daily routine and when the cycle of eating is broken, the voice of our empty stomach is louder than the gentle voice of the Lord.  If you have experienced this in any way during your fast, don’t be discouraged.  You have taken the first step in hungering after God.

In that moment of intense craving, know that God is saying to you “My son or daughter, with the same intensity you want to eat, will you seek after me?”  Moses, in Exodus 33:13 (AMP) said, “That I may know you (progressively become more intimately acquainted with you).”

As you enter the final days of your fast, keeping in mind the hunger you experienced, will you earnestly seek God as Moses did and say, “Lord I want to know you?”

As you have been fasting this week, I just wanted you to know that you are in the company of, I believe, thousands of other brothers and sisters at Cottonwood all seeking the Lord on behalf of the Church as well as seeking His help in areas of their own lives.  We are also in good company with people in the Bible who fasted and sought the Lord.  Let me list some of the company from the Bible we are keeping this week.  “Fellow Fasters” include Moses (Ex. 34:27-28), the Israelites (Judges 20:26; Lev. 16:29), Samuel (1 Samuel 7:5-6), David (2 Samuel 1:11-12), Elijah (1 Kings 19:2, 8), Nehemiah (Neh. 1:4), Daniel (Daniel 9:3-4), Anna (Luke 2:36-37), the Disciples (Matthew 6:16; Matthew 9:14-15), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), Paul (Acts 14:23), the Ninevites (Jonah 3:5), Cornelius (Acts 10:30), and sailors (Acts 27:33).  Pretty amazing company to be keeping!  And what were some of the circumstances that prompted fasting? I want to list just a few so you will be ready, in the midst of them, to fast and pray.  Throughout the Bible, we find God’s people fasting:

In Times of Defeat (Judges 20:26)

In Times of Repentance (1 Samuel 7:6)

In Times of Discerning God’s Will (Acts 13:2-3)

In Times of Sorrow (1 Samuel 31:13)

In Times of Sickness (2 Samuel 12:21-22)

In Times of Death (2 Samuel 1:12)

In Times of Temptation (Matthew 4:1-4)

May God bless you and strengthen you as you go into this week-end and wrap up this time of fasting.  Will you be open to God’s leading you into His “Chosen Fast” in future circumstances?