You only notice it when it hurts!!

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Yesterday was a life lesson. One that makes you realize many things and can be put into many situations. It came with great pain and is still a pain but I have also began to see how this applies to my life.

I went to the gym and it was time to work on legs…. I had already done a set of squats and was going to add 25lbs to each side. I did the first one and then walked over to pull off the other weight when BAM… The 25lb weight went from chest high to landing on my big toe….

First thought…Ive lost the tip of my toe.

Second thought…Im going to puke or pass out.( blood and guts doesnt bother me it was just the pain.)

How can it be that something like a toe can affect your entire body? I mean its small and you rarely notice it and what does it really help?

Many times we don’t notice something until it hurts. For instance my toe, I haven’t stopped noticing it and the same thing happens in our life. There may be something in our life that we need to deal with but we just cover it up until something “hurts” it or it is brought up again somehow. When that happens we know its there and we usually know it in a big way. When we know its there weve got an opportunity to do 2 things.

We can either,

Deal with it- We can do whatever it takes to work through a situation. Could be asking for forgiveness, opening up to someone about something, handling finances better, or even changing jobs.

or we can

Cover it up- Pretend it never happened, cover it up and move on. “Fake it till we make it”, Act like its not really a big deal.

With my toe, I am dealing with it. Ive got to take care of it and clean it so it will heal. If I fake it till I make it my toe can get infected and who knows what it would do.

MY POINT!

Deal with your issues, take care of them. Don’t allow things to rot off or in your life. Don’t let relationships develop gangreen and begin to stink. Don’t cover things up and pretend it didn’t happen. Take care of issues that arise in your life. If you and your spouse always seem to go around the same mtn back to the same issues then work through them. When it comes up take care of it!

WARNING!!! If your easily grossed out dont look at the picture of my toe… Just saying.

J

Image

Are they real?

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Yep ….They are

Do you have friends that believe in you? Do you believe in your friends?

If your friend comes to you and shares their heart do you love them even more or throw them to the curb?

I’m blessed to have friends in my life that believe in me.

Friends that I can share anything to and they wont turn their back.

Friends that are Heart & Soul.

We’ve stuck it out through the good and bad. They’ve seen me at my worst and at my best but they love me for who I am.

SO…

To you all that are my Heart & Soul friends…

I love you and thank you. I wouldn’t be where I am with out you.

To those who pretended to be my friend….. Yea, I’m better off without you.

Heart & Soul

J

 

 

Do what you love.

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

I had the privilege to go to TN this weekend to lead worship and I loved it.

Ben Walker, Josh Walker, Tony Mengacci, Kimberly Lackey and myself joined up with Andrew Gouge to play for their 2 morning services.

I am blessed to be able to sing and play with a team like this.

WHAT I KNOW…

*They are Men and Women of integrity who are willing to go after the presence of God without worrying what anybody even thinks of our “style”.

*Their heart isnt to be a rockstar but see people be touched by God.

*They love what they do so much their willing to sacrifice to be a part of it.

*Its not about them its about you.

HERES THE DEAL

We were doing what we love.

Going after God, being led by the Holy Spirit, and leading people into the presence.

If you dont do what you love then what are you doing?

J

 

Christians Are Lame

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Yes..Its true,

They are…I am…You are. We are lame, somehow, someway and some days.

Were human which means we will do and say dumb things. Were hypocrites in some way or fashion at some point. Some more frequently than others. Some stand out more too.

We act like any other person.

Sometimes we do things in “Jesus’s” name…

Sometimes we say “God told me”…

If were going to say we are followers of Jesus then why don’t we act like it?

When we do things in Jesus’s name is it hurting someone or lifting them up? The Bible isn’t a “Sword” used to destroy fellow brothers and sisters.

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK if you SAY you’re a Christian.

People will never forget what you say. Once it comes out, it can’t go back in.

Be Real…Not lame

Love…Not Hate

We are the church so lets stop giving the church a bad name.

 

J

 

People Matter

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

It’s true! People matter. I’m not even coming from the love people because Jesus would side of things either but, that would be a good point!

How we act, what we say or do or don’t do will be remembered. That’s a guarantee.

We should be known to genuinely care for people. To listen to what people have to say and not always give answers.(We don’t know everything)

People can tell if your really listening and paying attention.
Don’t be the guy or girl that can glaze over and nod while someone is talking to you. Look in their eyes and prove you care! Listen to them, allow them to open up to you and be real. That’s what they want, it’s what you and I want.

Bottom line..
People matter so act like it!
Be real. Cut the crap and be real.

J

Put To Shame

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Last night my kids embarrassed me. Actually they put me to shame. I guess really they put most of you to shame.

We took our kids to a Braves game for Jonah’s Birthday and after the game we were heading to our van and we came across a homeless gentleman.

Now I don’t have a problem giving money to someone on the street so I reached into my pocket and gave him what change I had.

Jonah (who’s 10) asked me for his money and was going through it.

He passed his ones, then his ten and went straight to the twenty-dollar bill. Thats right, he gave the dude TWENTY DOLLARS!! Talk about putting me to shame.

At that same moment I became overwhelmed with how awesome my son is and at the same moment I realized how lame I am.

But It continues…

I took a wrong turn heading out and went into downtown ATL. People were sleeping everywhere. Really, if you haven’t  been out of your small town you have no idea what im talking about.

Next up to the plate….JADA

She looked and looked and asked questions and then just kept saying she couldn’t stop thinking about them.

Here heart was moved with compassion and she just couldn’t understand. She was really worried about them. Brandi’s parents were with us so Pam prayed with Jada and talked to her about it some.

How many of us see those situations and walk by or drive by and judge them or even question what they are going to do with the money we give them?

Jesus said “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:17

THE POINT

Forget all your adult mumbo jumbo junk and have a child like heart.

We have complicated almost everything. Really…We have!

Jesus knew that…thats why he told us to have a childlike heart!!

FINALLY  –   Stop analyzing everything and just love.

J

Make a Cluster!

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

Make a cluster?

Im talking small groups today and here’s the deal…

Small groups of close people mean you’re a family.

Family will support, love, encourage and even be willing to risk their lives for you. It can be hard but in the end you will be thankful.

Small groups of close people have a connection.

You can be real, open, honest, share your struggles and your joys. You have people to celebrate the victories with you and comfort in the losses.

Small groups of close people stay connected.

90% of people in a small group don’t lose touch with the church or become wishy-washy with their faith. Iron sharpens Iron and your small group will sharpen you!

Small groups of close people are real.

They are real with each other, others and themselves. You can’t hide from people who know you. No fake it till you make it because they know who you are!

FIND A GROUP, MAKE A GROUP, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

DONT GO THROUGH LIFE ALONE…..ITS BORING AND PAINFUL!! 

“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.”    Sonia Johnson

J


Dont Be A HERMIT.

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

I am a lousy Bachelor….

Brandi and the kids went out-of-town to go visit her sister for a total of probably 32 hours this weekend and I found out how boring I really am. Really…

I really spent more time thinking about what to do than actually doing anything.

So where am I headed with this?

We were created for fellowship….Thats right, we are supposed to be with people. Some of you may beg to differ here at this point and say you are a good loner but stop trying to fool yourself. Your NOT a hermit!

In Genises 2:18 God said “It is not good for the man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” I know that my wife could say that I can’t be alone because I wouldn’t be able to find anything and this is partially true but not where im going with this!!

We are meant to be in community. We are meant to be in people’s lives and for people to be in ours. How can we grow and learn if were never around people? How can we celebrate the joys, learn about conflict, learn to love, be stretched and to help out in times of need if were never with people?

Brandi and I are blessed to be a part of an amazing Life Group that is more than just a group. They are people who know a lot about us and we know a lot about them!

We eat together, hang out, go places, help each other, pray for each other and just do life together.

Heres my point:

#1 Your not a HERMIT!

#2 You were created for fellowship!

If you’re a part of Life Church or any church join a life group or small group or whatever your church calls them. If your church doesn’t have one start one. DON’T go through life alone!

J

You can go to lifechurchfranklin.com to find a list of times and places.

Whats going on with you?

Posted on by Jason Nicholas

We have been having a nightly devotional with the kids each night and a couple of nights ago it had to do with butterflies.

Now we all know that the caterpillar spins itself into a cocoon(Pupa) and comes out a beautiful butterfly but usually we don’t ever think about the process of its transformation.

Did you know that some species are in their cocoon for several months and some transform in just a few days? How crazy is that?

How about you? Are there some things in your life that may take a few days to work a transformation or will it take months?

2 Corinthians  5:17 says that “If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new!”  There will be things in our lives that seem hard and difficult and we can’t understand or explain them but don’t worry and allow God to transform you! The transformation process may (most likely will) be hard but the outcome will be so much greater.

Just think of the caterpillar. He was crawling on the ground looking up but after the transformation that guy can fly!!

God is taking the “regular you”  and transforming you in tho the “new creation you”!

DON’T FORGET!

What you achieve by reaching your destination is not nearly as important as what you become getting there! (Wickwire)

Allow the  process, as good or as bad as you think it is, to let God transform you!

PS: Never judge your future by your past. Every butterfly was born a worm.

J