As Paul was on his third missionary journey, the Bible says he had a desire to Asia, but the Holy Spirit had “forbidden” him to go. Again, he attempted to go to another region (Bithinya), but “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” Later on, Paul proceeds to somewhere he wa[...]
Archive for the ‘Encouragement’ Category
Work, Home, Life
Have you noticed the mind-shift between our parents’ generation and ours when it comes to work? There are a few things my dad never has enough of… firewood, tools, and time. I’ve never known my father to not have a project, and he doesn’t suffer from hyperactivity–the [...]
June 17th, 2010 - 11:34 pm § in Encouragement, Leadership
Who Should I Follow?
I was about to perform a wedding ceremony a while ago, and right before the groom and I walked to the front, the groom’s uncle said asked him, “Are you sure you want to do this? Marriage is a long time… It’s not like dating…” Have you ever noticed how many people[...]
April 18th, 2010 - 10:25 am § in Encouragement
Prayer Requests
Lauren and I want to take time each night this week and pray for you. What do you need God’s help with? Please let us know and I promise, we’ll pray for you! The prayer request goes to a private document that only Lauren and I can see. Loading… Share/Save[...]
March 29th, 2010 - 8:49 pm § in Encouragement
The Undeserved Love of the Father
…God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father! (closest translation of ‘Abba’ i[...]
March 16th, 2010 - 7:00 am § in Encouragement, Ministry
Pointless Theology
One of the largest challenges that I’ve faced in life, ministry, and my overall walk with God is striking a balance between passion and deepened theology. It seems to me that there are two sides to the proverbial pendulum–and I’ve been on both. I’ve been filled with zeal, lac[...]
March 15th, 2010 - 6:00 am § in Encouragement, Videos
Swallowed
As Mark Hankins quoted about this story, “What God did in Christ is big enough to swallow who you used to be.” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) In the original Gre[...]
“The Delivery” (Well, not exactly)
On Our Way To The Hospital from ZackBlair on Vimeo. Waiting For Noah from ZackBlair on Vimeo. Our First Moments With Noah from ZackBlair on Vimeo. Share/Save[...]
March 9th, 2010 - 1:00 am § in Encouragement
Mercy
“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. But I received mercy…” (1 Timothy 1:15) I realize that so often, I forgot from where he’s brought me. I remember the emptiness. Being i[...]
March 6th, 2010 - 7:00 am § in Encouragement
A Revelation of Love Sparks A Revolution of Love (Part 5: Humility)
An encounter with God’s love will cause us to live life in humility And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ…I am the voice of one crying out i[...]
March 5th, 2010 - 7:00 am § in Encouragement
A Revelation of Love Sparks A Revolution of Good (Part 4): Give
Nostalgia Moment! Anyone remember Scrooge McDuck? The cartoon that proved that if you had enough money, you could swim in it! Every episode, the Beagle Boys or Magica De Spell would try to steal “Uncle Scrooge’s” fortune. Here’s how an encounter with God’s love would c[...]
March 4th, 2010 - 11:05 am § in Encouragement
Pressure: Hope is Not Lost
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey… As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from [...][...]
March 1st, 2010 - 11:57 pm § in Encouragement
A Revelation of Love Sparks A Revolution of Good (Part 3): Love
An encounter with God’s love will cause us to love those who will never love us back. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you… love your enemies and pray for those [...][...]
March 1st, 2010 - 12:23 am § in Encouragement
A Revelation of Love Sparks A Revolution of Good (Part 2): Serve
An encounter with God’s love will cause us to serve. Picture this, you’re going to dinner with someone you look up to. Tensions are high. They told you it may be the last time you ever see them, and you have no reason why. You ask them where you’re going to go to dinner, and that [...][...]
February 28th, 2010 - 3:05 am § in Encouragement
A Revelation of Love Sparks A Revolution of Good (Part 1): Compassion
When he (Jesus) went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34) Jesus was moved with compassion and did something to help. In this case, “something” was teaching, and later in t[...]
January 29th, 2010 - 1:16 pm § in Encouragement, Ministry
We’re Creating a Movement; Not a Following
It’s so easy to overlook the supernatural because so many times, it feels natural. This past Saturday, what someone once told me was impossible happened. The statement was based on statistics and experience; therefore, it may have seemed true at the time. But experience and statistics can neve[...]
December 17th, 2009 - 5:32 am § in Encouragement
“Is God going to kill me for what I do?”
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid (Proverbs 12:1). But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8) I want to be neither stupid nor illegitimate. How about you? I have to admit[...]
November 5th, 2009 - 6:35 pm § in Encouragement, Videos
Video Favorites: Laminin by Louie Giglio
Please take the time and watch this. God is absolutely huge, yet cares about the most intimate details of your life. Share/Save[...]
November 5th, 2009 - 4:55 am § in Encouragement
Embracing God in Uncertainty
I remember sitting at a conference in which an extremely well-known leader was speaking, and one phrase that he spoke stayed with me more vividly than any other. He said something along the lines of, “One thing is certain, there will always be uncertainty.” As we reflect on the past, we [...]
New Video Post: You’re Not Insane!
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get the same results.” Recently, I’ve had and intense desire to innovate, challenge, think for myself, and learn from my mistakes. The Romans had concrete that would dry under water. Think about that… who w[...]
A Night of Hope
A Night of Hope from ZackBlair on Vimeo. Share/Save[...]
September 28th, 2009 - 3:54 pm § in Encouragement
Fear 3: The Past Taking Over
People may want you to pay for your past, but Christ already did. The past has an uncanny ability to grab you when you’re least expecting. One thought brings many emotions to surface to steal freedom. One memory brings many, and those of us who have found freedom in Christ can also find ours[...]
September 23rd, 2009 - 2:56 am § in Encouragement
My Biggest Fear… (Part 2)
“4 a.m. and I’m wide awake.” It was the third consecutive night of two (or less) hours of sleep. I found myself wide awake with fear that we won’t make it. Fear that we’ll lose our house. Fear that our child will grow up, only knowing a father that says “no,” because of per[...]
September 14th, 2009 - 2:50 am § in Encouragement
My Biggest Fear…
Fear attempts to grip us all, and while this fear may fill our worlds, it doesn’t have to fill our hearts. I’m learning that being a father is revelatory among many levels of both understanding and reality: Lauren told me I was going to be a father (understanding), and then she showed m[...]
September 3rd, 2009 - 6:48 pm § in Encouragement
True Devotion Flows From a Changed Life
As a child, I remember watching the news and seeing Saddam Hussein worshiping and praying. I thought, “Wow! He must be close to God!” A little sketchy for a definition of worship. As a matter of fact, today, when I hear that term, “worship,” I often envision that same picture[...]
August 27th, 2009 - 7:06 am § in Encouragement
Following God’s Plan: Where Pain and Compassion Meet
For some, God speaks much more than perceived; for others, God speaks much less than perceived. When we’re young in faith, God seems to speak to us through a candy wrapper, but as we grow in faith, we realize that God deals with us according to the peace we have in our hearts. In reading throu[...]
August 7th, 2009 - 4:43 am § in Encouragement
Strength (2 of 2)
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10) As I asked previously, where do we find our strength? This term “power” is taken from the term “Kratos” in the original Greek, which wasn’t a power that you just think about, but rather, it’s a[...]
August 4th, 2009 - 1:33 am § in Encouragement
Strength (1 of 2)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10) The term “strong” in the original Greek depicts a power designed to infuse a believer with an excessive dose of strength. “An excessve dose…” Each time we take an “excessiv[...]
July 31st, 2009 - 1:07 am § in Encouragement
Get back…
Get back to the things that God’s placed in your heart, and let nothing get in the way. If I were to ask you to rate your walk with God on a scale from 1 to 10, what would it be? Now, at your greatest moment in your walk with God, where were you on that [...][...]
July 30th, 2009 - 5:17 am § in Encouragement
Remember
Psalm 78:40-42 says, “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power; the day when He redeemed them from the enemy. Contextually, this scripture is talking [...]
