[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap1″]A[/bra_dropcaps]few weeks ago, Shanen and I decided to drive to Arizona to attend a leadership conference. (Side note: It is important to attend conferences as pastors and leaders) We were in need of some refreshing and were expecting God connections and a word from the Lord. We got it! 

During one of the sessions, Kent Munsey preached and made a statement that has continued to encourage me and change me.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]1.[/bra_dropcaps]ONE WORD FROM GOD CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING! This is why consistently being in the Word is important and why listening (Faith comes be HEARING) to teaching/preaching is not optional.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]2.[/bra_dropcaps]Here is what he said that has really been helping me. Genesis 48 records the story of Joseph seeing his brothers for the first time since they had sold him into slavery. Verse 9 says something that could be as life changing for you as it was for me, [bra_highlight style=”highlight1″]”He remembered the dreams he had”.[/bra_highlight] He chose not to remember the pain, the frustration, the pit, the prison, the hate or the jealousy. He chose to remember the promise, the dream and the plan of God. He would go on to say in chapter 50, “You meant it for evil, but God has done this for my good.”

I know that what I focus on will directly affect my life. I have to CHOOSE to remember the promises and dreams and CHOOSE to forgive and move on from every hurt or disappointment. I recently sent out a tweet that said, [bra_social_icons]twitter, http://twitter.com/jabinchavez [/bra_social_icons] “Destiny is not always what you thought it was going to be but it is always better than you thought it would be.” 

No matter the disappointment or unanswered question, I have to go back to the prophetic words over my life, the gift He put in me and the original dream I was given. This keeps me faith filled and full of hope. I choose to look beyond my past and hold on to the Word He gave me.

In Jeremiah 20, Jeremiah has a very real talk with God and is at the point of giving up. He is mad at people, mad at God and probably even mad at himself. He tells God he wants to quit the ministry BUT he can’t… Why? Because there is a word in him that feels like fire in his bones and he can not contain it! I believe the original call/dream of Jeremiah was one that kept him through the darkest nights and lowest valleys. The dreams kept Joseph faithful in every situation and I know that Gods word and dream will keep you as well. Keep your eyes on Jesus. The storms will pass, seasons will change, nights will turn to morning and through it all, Jesus will be there.  

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap2″]O[/bra_dropcaps]n August 23rd, 2003 my life changed… I packed up my 1994 Honda Accord drove out of a small town in New Mexico and moved to Las Vegas. I thought I would be here for a few months but nine years later, here I am! As many of you know, I spent my first five and half years working with the worship and creative departments. Three and half years ago I was honored to add to that portfolio and become the Youth Pastor and Intern Director. The last three years have been a dream come true. God has done more then I could have ever imagined and I am so grateful for every opportunity He has given me. We have seen hundreds of youth and young adults come to Jesus, raised up leaders, and helped build ministries that will continue to go further faster. God is good!

I have experienced some major transitions in my life including… meeting Jesus, joining the ministry, moving to Vegas, getting married, becoming a pastor, and buying a house. Now, Shanen and I are entering into another exciting transition. Last September, I had dinner with Dr. Sam Chand that turned my world upside down! Chand shared with me that he felt like my next move was to travel full time. I was shocked! I never saw myself traveling full time. After a few weeks of conversations with my wife, my pastors, and close friends I realized God was up to something. We decided that finishing up the school year was important and that the transition would be best be done in the summer. So here we are! As of July first I will be traveling full time preaching, leading worship, and training worship leaders.

I will never be able to express how grateful I am to my Pastors Benny and Wendy Perez for sending us out into this new season. Pastor Benny has been behind this idea since day one and has given me the confidence to believe I can do this. My pastors have believed in us, trained us, given us every amazing opportunity possible and are now releasing us into this new season. We are beyond blessed.

Shanen and I are excited about our future and are grateful to everyone of you who have been our faithful and faith filled friends over the years.

The best is yet to come!

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap1″]I[/bra_dropcaps]t’s crazy to think I have now been in Vegas for eight years and seven months! No doubt the greatest moments of my life have all happened since God brought me here in August 2003. I wanted to give you three things (I could write down 300) that I have learned from my pastor, Benny Perez…

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]1.[/bra_dropcaps]God works it out. I have seen my Pastor wronged by some crazy people. Some saints, some sinners, some staff! He has always blessed, taken the heat in public, and trusted God. It has always paid off. I have seen so miracles in Pastor Benny’s life and I am convinced there is a connection. God said bless your enemies and I’ll bless you. God has proven that he is NOT a liar.

 [bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]2.[/bra_dropcaps] Personal devotion. If you are around Pastor Benny any amount of time you will hear him refer to his devotion time. “I was reading” “I was praying and…” “This morning I was praying and God spoke to me.” These are all constant phrases from my Pastor. I want them to be true of me too!

 [bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]3.[/bra_dropcaps]He makes altar calls. I know that sinners prayers and altar calls are not “IN” right now but we can’t ignore Romans 10, “Anyone who CALLS on the name of The Lord shall be saved”. Nothing fires up a congregation like seeing people stream to the altar to give their hearts to Jesus. Pastor Benny has never been ashamed and I pray by Gods grace, I wont be either.

Lately I have been thinking about my life and what my “non-negotiables” are. These are those things that I hold dearly and need to practice in my life daily. Some areas I am MUCH stronger in than others but nonetheless these are areas I know I want to get stronger in or stay strong in. I have been asking the Lord to keep the important things, important. I figure if that happens, my life should basically work out! Some of this is ministry related some is personal.

#1: The Baptism of The Holy Spirit. I am more convinced than ever that we need the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will come upon us and give us POWER. Pretty simple… I personally believe that every believer can be baptized in the Spirit and speak in tongues just like the disciples did in Acts two. However, I am not here to debate that in this blog. As leaders and believers our reliance must be in God and not in our abilities. Jesus takes the personal responsibility to baptize YOU in The Holy Spirit! I think it is important to Him and should be to us as well. A great resource on this subject is The Holy Spirit Today by Dick Iverson.

#2: Daily Bible Reading. We must understand that there is a difference between discipline and the law. Many times we read the words of Paul in the epistles and every time we read that “we are no longer under the law” we think spiritual disciplines are no longer needed. We are no longer bound to the 613 Mosaic laws. We are now under the law of love. Love God, love people. EASY! Here is what I have found. When I am daily in the Word, I love God and love people! HELLO! Eat that book every day, it will change you. The word of God is the will of God and the will of God pleases God. So get His word/will IN YOU. 1^st John 5:13-15 in the NLT helps us understand this.

#3: God calls people YOUNG. Jesus called teenage disciples. Jeremiah and Samuel were kids, David, Timothy, Joshua and the list goes on and on! This is a constant haunting reality that I must take seriously! Every time I preach, lead worship, disciple, spend time with a young person I need to believe that it could be the day they hear the call! You never know what God is doing in the hearts of people. Don’t preach to people’s faces, preach to their spirits! Preach to their potential!

#4: Life is Short and Eternity is Long. I read a tweet yesterday that said “The day your life ends and eternity begins you will have a face to face conversation with Jesus”. According to Matthew 25, in the parable of the talents we will either hear Jesus say “Well done” or “depart from me”. I want to hear WELL DONE!!! I want to use every opportunity, talent, resource, and motivation of my heart for the glory of God. Lord, help us all.

#5: My Spirit, Soul and Body are all Connected. Simple huh? Not really… Every level of my life must be a priority TO ME. Recently I heard Wayne Cordeiro say, “that it is God, you, family, church. NOT, God, family church.”  I am taking my health seriously this year. Ill be thirty in 18 months. That freaks me out! Gotta be sharp in every area.