Greg Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California explains that we, even as Christians lie and are tempted to do things that we know are not right (imagine that … Gasp). We make up excuses in our mind make it alright but in reality it’s not and that’s just one of the tricks of the enemy.

This book really opened my eyes up a lot to temptation and how we are tempted. Pastor Greg really explains not only the tactics of the enemy but also how to overcome the enemy by the example of Jesus Christ.

The book is awesome in the fact that it’s a simple read but yet it goes into a lot of detail. Pastor Greg goes through the three noted temptations of Jesus in detail and explains the significance of each temptation. One personal thing I found out is that while the Bible only goes into detail about those three (3) temptations of Jesus, we can assume He was tempted more than that based on Luke 4:13 (msg) which reads “That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.” This to me says, the devil was defeated but wasn’t giving up. He was just going to stay in the bushes and wait for another opportunity. This blew my mind away.

Bottomline – temptation will always be there waiting … it’s what you do when you are faced with it that matters.

Like I said, this book is a very simple read. Someone who normally doesn’t read can finish this book in an hour or less and be blessed beyond measure. Pastor Greg has a great way of getting the point across and helping you learn and grow from what He has said.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Even Pastors … it’s a small 120 page book that will change the way you see things forever!

Pub. Date: October 2006
Publisher: Gospel Light Publications
Format: Paperback, 128pp
ISBN-13: 9780830742752
ISBN: 0830742751

Order your copy of “Lies We Tell Ourselves” by clicking here!

With that being said, some of the awesome people I follow closely on Twitter have posted some awesome Tweets and I really want to share them with you. So please … enjoy!

A mantra I try to live by: “If I told you I would, I will.” Keep your word-even when it hurts. (Ps. 15:4)” via @StevenFurtick

“I CAN’T always choose what confronts me in life, but I CAN choose what will follow me. Goodness and mercy will follow me.” via @BrianCHouston

“Jump and God will catch you. (This is not a suicide message but a FAITH message).” via @RandyMB

“Leaders Goal: For my loyalty to the future, to out-weigh my sentiment about the past. GREAT days are past – BETTER days ahead!” via @BrianCHouston

“The more you refuse to be offended, the less power you give to the wrong people. Forgiveness is strength! Prov 19:11” via @StevenFurtick

“If you never ever GO, you will never, ever KNOW!” via @BrianCHouston

“The eyes of mercy see quicker than the eyes of repentance. God sees us long before we see Him” via @KeithCraft

“Prayer is not a ritual, it’s a way of life. It’s power is not in it’s volume, but in it’s earnestness.“ via @BrianCHouston

“To seek God’s voice without being in His Word is asking for error. God’s Will never contradicts His Word. Mark 12:24” via @RickWarren

This past week I have really spent a lot of time thinking about love. Not the romantic love but agape love. Now don’t tune me out. Hear me out. PLEASE!!

We live in culture in which we value ourselves more than anything. We think that we are the most important. Is that the way Christ lived? Aren’t we to be Christ followers (Christ Like)? STAY WITH ME.

In January I was put on meds for my blood pressure. (should have been on them 6 yrs ago but I had to much pride). Anyways, when I was put on blood pressure meds I made the decision to change my life. Change what I eat and how I live. I watch my sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats now like never before. Literally, everything I eat has been “researched” by me. LOL I made that change after 29 years of eating anything and everything. It was killing me. I had to change and to be honest … it wasn’t hard because it was important to me. It should be just as important to walk in love with those around us every day. It may not be easy to change and to treat everyone with love (including our enemies) but we should do it no matter the cost.

The Word of God says

Mark 12:28-31 (The Message)
One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.“

I am not telling you love everyone just because it’s a command from God (although that is huge) … I am wanting you to love everyone because it’s your ID … it’s what defines you as a Christian (Christ-like).

John 13:34-35 (The Message)
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

I want to encourage you this week to take love to the next level. Go beyond … stretch further. I really believe that Matthew 5:43-48 sums up exactly what I am trying to say so I will end with it.

Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

I hope this post encourages you to take that next step. I believe that if you start showing love to everyone … including your enemies you will see and abundance of blessing come your way.

In regards to all the health stuff. I am so much better now. Everything is getting better. I have a test next week to check my liver again and I believe that that is going to come back awesome!! I really do believe that God is working a miracle in me.

I have officially broken my plateau as well. I am now down 26 pounds. Only about 65 more pounds to go and I will be to hot to handle. LOL

I have a bunch to write and tons of photos to share so watch out for all the new posts!! Im excited … although disappointed I am not heading to Las Vegas this week for the Napkin Conference but … a friend and I are working on getting to Australia later this year. ROCK IT!!

Anyways … hope all is well!! If not, please email me “imaworldchanger@yahoo.com” and let me know what I can pray about and do to help!!

BP still high … working on getting down
Liver enzymes high … could be caused by medication though.
Lost 19 pounds in like 3 weeks which is awesome.
All other labs and tests are good. Cardiograph was excellent!

Although all is well … I have had to “rethink” my daily way of living. I am not 15 anymore. I have a small oral surgery on Friday and then my life is going back into full gear (well … after the swelling and the pain goes away). Its interesting how satan throws so much “negativity” into our minds and to be honest sometimes makes it sound like “it’s over” when it’s far from over.

One thing I know … my life is a HUGE testimony and I am so excited that He called and chose me.

One other note, due to these unforeseen circumstances I will not be able to attend the Napkin Conference later this month. I apologize … I am sooooo going to miss it. I was really looking forward to chilling with my peeps from Hillsong Kids especially. Hopefully I will get to Australia later this year.

Love you all in Christ,
Nate

This morning I had to get up and go look at myself in the mirror for motivation. I had to picture myself as a healthy fit guy. This made me happy because I could see it. It also gave me motivation to walk to the treadmill and run like crazy. Had I not seen myself as a healthy fit guy in the mirror I wouldn’t have had the motivation to give it my all. It would have just been one of those days where I run/walk on the treadmill and go on with my day.

To many times in ministry we lose the vision. We work ministry but we don’t see it and if we do see it … we don’t see it like God see’s it. What we need to understand is that what we keep in front of us (in our vision) affects us. We can be sitting down watching a movie and here comes a Dairy Queen commercial showing a awesome banana split and the next thing I know … I and everyone else that watched the commercial is planning a trip across town to the Dairy Queen.

In ministry we need to always have our vision at the forefront of our lives. As I have told you all many times before, God has given me visions that blow my mind away (Eph 3:20). One particular vision, of which He has shown me over and over again, is where I am standing ministering to kids on a stage and I am looking out over hundreds and thousands of kids. Their hands lifted high in worship, tears running down their faces, and the Holy Spirit moving through the auditorium in waves. This is the vision God has given me and I know that someday I will see that vision come to pass. I look at my life right now and wonder how God is going to do that through me but I believe He will as long as I keep the vision and am obedient to His voice.

We have to start living our lives in faith. We have to start believing that through God NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. NOTHING!!!

God said in Isaiah 43:19 “I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?”. God is about to do something brand new in you and me. Do you see it?

The “Lean” Bachelors Freezer

I had to post this picture of my freezer. It’s just funny to me. I got my Lean Cuisine meals, my hotdogs and my freezer pops!! LOVE IT!!

If you could caption this picture … what would you put as the caption?

Leadership Goal: To be slower to JUDGE motives, but quicker to DISCERN hearts! Heart issues can MAKE or BREAK a team!

Leadership Goal: Not a culture of OPINION which we FORCE on others, but a culture of COUNSEL which is INVITED by others!

Leadership Goal: Surrounded by leaders who are WISE enough to say NO, but COURAGEOUS enough when they need to say YES.

Leadership Goal: To inspire a crowd with MANY interests, giftings & loves.. to forcefully unite around a SINGLE cause!

Leadership Goal: To enter 2010 with a FRESH approach to pursuing the SAME vision, filled with FAITH for radical progress!

Leadership Goal: A spirit, un-tainted by offense, bitterness, hurt, or regret. A life-long commitment to a FREE spirit!

Leadership Goal: To have a team who say NO to gifts, contacts & favours that have strings attached, & NO to borrowing!

Leadership Goal: Remember that the greatest heights of leadership wisdom are entirely inferior to the power of prayer!

Leadership Goal: To bring CLARITY, not confusion, DIRECTION where there is distraction & FOCUS when things are fogged!

Leadership Goal: FOR our focus, direction & purpose to be clearer to every person in a room, than it was when I walked in.

Leadership Goal: To be a leader who can admit mistakes, show vulnerability, be self-effacing, yet be quietly confident!

If you are a leader you should be following Pastor Brian on Twitter. Click here to find his page and then select “Follow”. Also, if you aren’t following me … well … do the same “here“.