Rough Conditions

Count it all joy because He has given us all we need for life and godliness lacking no good thing! (James 1:2-4, 2 Peter 1:3, and Psalm 34:10) 

When I woke up today and looked outside, I saw rain clouds and heard the wind blowing. Immediately, I knew, today will not be perfect conditions for stand up paddling.  

Please allow me to explain, I really like glassy conditions. Glassy conditions are peaceful. Rough conditions…not so much.

I really wanted to go paddling so I sucked it up and went. As soon as I unloaded my board, a friend and fellow (seasoned) paddler said, "It's rough today, stay close to shore." I listened to him because he has paddled way more than I have. And he had already been out. So he has "been there". 

As I paddled in the rough water, against the wind, I envisioned my heart, lungs, and core getting stronger. I was actually joyful during the "fight". Not exactly the conditions I would've chosen for myself; however, I made a conscious choice to mediate on the advantages instead of meditating on all the disadvantages.

The wind was blowing me around and the water was bumpy but I saw something I had never seen before while on the water. I saw three water spouts. They were very small (Approximately three feet in height and approximately fifteen feet from me.) but big enough to knock me off my board if they got too close. 

I reached for my phone (in it's waterproof case) because I thought, "What a great video!" Then wisdom kicked in and I thought, "Ok, if the turbulence from the water spout knocks me off my board, I most likely need my paddle, not my camera in my hand." And, I really didn't want to see my phone drown.

The first two water spouts went past me from a safe distance.  I looked up and the third water spout was headed straight for me. Wisdom kicked in again and I thought, "I do not want to get caught in that"...although, in hindsight,  it would make for a great story if accompanied by video. Perhaps it's time for me to invest in a Go Pro Cam! 

Back to the waterspout. I didn't want to get beat up today. I just wanted to paddle. So I looked at the spout directly in front of me and I said, "You may NOT come near me in the name of Jesus." 

True story...the water spout immediately changed course and turned away from me, passing me from a safe distance.

I've said it before, I'll say it again…stand up paddling is a lot like every day life. 

• Some days are perfect conditions. 
• Other days are rough conditions. 

Thank God who has given us our friends, and apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who have gone before us. They've "been there" and as we heed their advice, we walk in wisdom and stay "close to shore" not being blown out to sea. (Proverbs 27:9, Ephesians 4:11)

Thank God for spiritual authority and for teaching us to speak to the "mountain" and/or water spouts. (Luke 10:19, Mark 11:23)

Thank God for teaching us to count it all joy when (notice that verse does not say, if) we experience rough times because of His promises to work all things for our good. And since He be for us, who can be against us? (James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:31)

What are your conditions like today?

Struggling to Understand

From time to time, I ask friends and family to write a blog post. Enjoy today's post from my oldest daughter, Cortni Mechaney. As an intercessor, she pours out her heart for hurting people like the people in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. Please join us in praying for these people, our nation, and our nation's leaders. Mahalo


When I heard about what happened in Boston I struggled to understand. Why? Why do people want to hurt other people? This is something I don't understand and probably never will.

Yesterday, I read about the runners going to give blood. I also read about how the medical responders did such an amazing job. I was reminded to be thankful. Thankful to live in America, thankful for selfless people.

This morning as I read more about the bombings and learned we do not know who did it and nothing is being done but an investigation I became angry. This is America the greatest nation, our people have been attacked, so somebody please do something.

I got in my car to drive to work still frustrated but continuously praying. On the radio, they mentioned the deaths and the injuries. As I fought back the tears, I became overwhelmed with grief. God spoke to me and said, "I am hurting too." I had to think about that for a second. These people are not my friends, they are not my family, they are mere strangers that my heart breaks for. These people are God's friends, they are Gods family.

How much more does He love us than any earthly person?

God's simple statement of "I am hurting too" lets me know we are not alone, not now, and not ever. I pray for those affected by this tragedy, and my faith rises up because I am a child of the One True King.

Cortni Mechaney



John 11:35
Deuteronomy 31:6
Romans 12:15
Galatians 3:26
Ephesians 4:30
Revelation 19:16
Matthew 7:11
John 10:10

SUP?

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. (1 Peter 5:8-9, AMP)

This morning I took an amazing opportunity to go Stand Up Paddling; hence, the SUP.

Conditions were perfect: cool tropical breezes, water was smooth like glass, sun was rising up over the Koolau Mountain Range. Ohhh yeaaa, perfect conditions!

As I paddled, I realized, Stand Up Paddling is a lot like every day life.

We've got to stay balanced. If we get scared and look down (look at current circumstance), we lose our balance and fall. We have to look fix our eyes forward (to Jesus and what lies ahead), press onward to our prize! (Hebrews 12:1-2)

This is the deal my friends, the world has a million ways to eat our lunch every single day but as we stay balanced (prayer, staying in His Word, communion with Him) we smoothly paddle on!

What'SUP with you today?

High as a Kite

From time to time, I welcome a guest to contribute a blog post. Today's blog post is written by my nine year old daughter, enjoy!

I was at the beach on the pretty island of Oahu. And as I was flying my kite, it fell in the water (because it was too high). And then I had to get in the water to get my kite.

After that I thought for a second. Then I said, "Mom, I have a new blog!" I said, "You know how I fly my kite? I wanted to fly my kite high. Then once I got it like I thought I wanted it, it fell in the water. When we don't read God's word, we are low like the kite. And when we are too high, we have pride so we go down. But when we are in the middle we are wise in what the Lord says."

So what have we learned in this story? Post your comments on Facebook and Twitter!

Back Online!

We've been offline for several weeks while renovating our apartment in Honolulu but we're back today discussing God's goodness and His perfect plan for our lives. His plan for our lives is perfect because He is perfect!

Please join me as I honor my baby brother in today's blog! Please feel free to share, mahalo!

My Baby Brother is a Cowboy

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." (Mathew 19:26, NLT)

My baby brother is a cowboy. A real cowboy. He walks funny from riding too many bulls. I've only seen him wear something other than Wranglers a handful of times my whole life. Thankfully, he still has all his fingers even though he has "swung a many a rope". When we talk (he lives in Oklahoma), he is always going to pick up a horse, drop off a horse, or check on some cows.

Recently, I was teasing him and told him I was going to take him scuba diving. He said I could take him as soon as I figure out a way for his cowboy hat not to block a scuba mask and regulator and as soon as I figure out a way for his Wranglers not to create too much drag. In other words, he always wears his ten gallon hat and won't exchange his jeans for board shorts and forget the idea of a speedo. Sis won't link up with that!

When I look at him I see no difference in him and the cowboys who lived in the "cowboy era". We could plop him down in that era and no one could pick him out of that crowd.

Today I was walking the beach thinking about him and the cowboy time in history. As a huge jet flew over my head, I thought, I wonder what those cowboys would think today if they could see huge jets fly.

It was once said it was impossible for people to fly. What those people said didn't make today's truth any less true. The ones who didn't believe it, didnt stop the ones who made it a reality. Today hundreds of thousands of people fly all over the globe every day. What once seemed impossible is now taken for granted.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."

Jesus told the dead to raise.
The dead obeyed.

Need your marriage raised from the dead?
Need your health to raised from the dead?
Need you finances to raised from the dead?

Call it forth and give God the glory. Nothing...no thing...is impossible with Him!


Romans 4:17
Ephesians 5:1
Colossians 3:23
1 Corinthians 10:31

Demolition Derby Time!

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, NLT)

I have read and read and read that scripture. I have confessed and confessed and confessed that scripture. But this week, that scripture has come alive to me in a new way!

Our store on Oahu, Central Pacific Rebuilders, has an upstairs living quarters. This week, our friend Joseph has been renovating the living quarters area.

It is our Palace O'Da Key Tov!

The building was built in the sixties. I'm extremely positive it has not been touched since that time. God has given me a wonderful vision for this project! Not a vision in the biblical sense, a vision as in how to renovate it.

The first thing Joe had to do was gut the whole upstairs. There was hammering and sawing and banging. It was like a demolition derby, except with men instead cars! At the end of day one, I looked around and I thought, now THIS is what the Lord intended by demolishing arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God!

Seeing the results of the "gutting" made me want to further my study of the word demolish (mahalo Google) and I found:

Verb

• Pull or knock down (a building).
• Comprehensively refute (an argument or its proponent).

Synonyms

• destroy - wreck - ruin - tear down - pull down

This is my new translation for 2 Corinthians 10:5!

We demolish-pull down-knock down-comprehensibly destroy-wreck-ruin-tear down-refute all arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ!

When we are tempted with thoughts of:

• Anxiety
• Hurt
• Frustration
• Confusion
• Condemnation
• Anger
• Offense

We run to Jesus and demolish 'em!
We don't run to our friends &/or Facebook and amplify 'em!

We replace:

• anxiety with "Lord, I cast all anxieties on You, because You care for Me!" (1 Peter 5:7)
• hurt with "I fear not, for You are with me; I am not dismayed, for You are my God! You strengthen me, Yes, You help me! You uphold me with Your righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
• frustration with "Thank You Jesus for bringing to my remembrance to refuse to grow weary of doing good! Thank You for Your promise I will reap in due season when I refuse to give up!" (Galatians 6:9)
• Confusion with "Father, thank You for Your wonderful Spirit of truth! He guides me into all the truth! (John 16:13)
• Condemnation with "Thank You Jesus there is no place for condemnation in me! You have made me free from the law of sin and death! (Romans 8:1, 2)
• Anger with "Father, You gave me emotions! I handle my emotions in a healthy, godly manner! When I am angry, I refuse to sin! I put my trust in You! (Psalm 4:4-5)
• Offense with "Father, thank You for teaching me to walk in forgiveness which makes me free! Thank You for showing me how to avoid the terrible trap of unforgiveness!" (Mark 11:25)

Friends, it's demolition derby time!