chrislerma

[chrislerma]

Gratitude > Grumbling ...Proper perspective always shapes my praise. Remembering ALL the Lord has done and declaring it helps me in the moments when I currently don't see it. In those moments as we wait for the fulfillment of the promise remember if it isn't good yet He isn't done yet....because He works ALL things for the good. The challenge at times can be to not misinterpret perhaps His momentary silence for continued absence. It could simply be the pause of process in between the promise and the purpose. #Psalms

[chrislerma]

Excited about spending the next few nights here with these peeps! @wlerma @magnolia #Framily #MagnoliaHouse

[chrislerma]

The future we desire is connected to the seed in our hands. Without sowing, our future looks no brighter than our current circumstances. Better tomorrows begin with better seed. Don't grow tired, discouraged, or give up. In due time, there is a harvest on the other side of your sowing. I specifically thought about this for those with children. Keep sowing seeds of Christ's love, faith, and hope. I was reminded of this quote. "Perhaps the greatest impact you have on this world may not be anything you DO but WHO you raise." Moms and dads, it makes a difference and it's worth it. Keep sowing good seed in your kids, don't give up or grow weary...the harvest is coming in due time. Trust me I'm a product of a mom and dad who kept sowing good seed even when it looked like the crops had been poisoned or spoiled. Be encouraged today when you stay the course it makes a difference in "due time." #Faithful #Patience #Harvest #Parenting #Galatians #ThankYouMomAndDad

[chrislerma]

This girl...those eyes. One of my favorite pics of her! Those cute little girls I just posted...yeah thank @wlerma for their cuteness. Happy Valentine to my forever valentine! She truly is the best...and the life of the party! #TrueStory // @wlerma I love you and the life we have built together #LoveBiscuit #RideOrDie #ToTheMoon #InLove #Grateful #ValentinesDay #Valentines2016

[chrislerma]

Each morning offers so much…as the light pushes back darkness, joy pushes back sorrow, purpose pushes back pain…life pushes back death. It is here we see the goodness of God. His promise with each new sunrise, the new things He does IN us not simply FOR us. He is faithful…His mercies new every morning. The beauty of a sunrise the reminder of our promise, that today is the Lord’s…you are the Lord’s and He is doing a NEW thing. Making a way when there seems to be no way, provision when there seems to be none. Be encourage today that in your waiting you aren’t wasting…when we wait we win! God has already torn down the biggest obstacle we will ever face, the sun that separated us from Him. He will in the same way lead us in every challenge we ever face. Our hope is in Him because waiting is hoping. #Psalms 43:19 #Psalms 40:31 #WaitingIsWinning #Advent

[chrislerma]

In the midst of our failure, inadequacies, loneliness and difficulties...He is with us! //Jesus our Savior, our very present help in time of need calls us to be BOLD+COURAGEOUS. Not in our own strength but in the confidence of His presence in the midst of those things! // Paul likewise encourages Timothy, reminding him that God didn't give us a spirit of fear but power+love+self control. // This isn't about living life with NO-Fear but living FEAR-LESS. Each day trusting your Heavenly Father and your wondrous Savior who is right there with you in the midst of the storm. Courage is not the absence of fear but the confidence in who is with you in the midst of that fear. That we might live FEAR-LESS...with just a little less fear than the day before. That we may be all He has called us to be...to stand for what is right and just...to be a light in a dark world! // Today live with a little less fear...be BOLD+COURAGEOUS because He is with you! When we do not only do we experiment e freedom, but so may those around you. You never know what is on the other side of your obedience. #Psalms46:1 #Joshua1:9 #Deuteronomy31:6 #2Timothy1:7 #FearLess #Courage #Bold

[chrislerma]

My #TBT is also my #WCW ...@wlerma is going to be so mad at me for posting this pic but this was post #WOD at @crossfitstlandry yesterday morning. // Not only is she an amazing help mate, my "rib"and my ride or die encouraging me, loving me, and challenging me. She also loving models for our three little arrows what it looks like to be a wife, a mom, but most importantly love Jesus...to live an adventurous life loving Him and loving others. She leads with such creativity and passion, and trust me there is never a dull moment. It took me longer than I would like to admit (mostly because I thought it was all about me) but I married the life of the party. She makes every day exciting and fun and does it with a smile...not pictured here. Everything she does she does with love and grace, and it seems everything she touches turns to gold. All of this while crushing it at the gym 5 days a week...just saying. // She makes me better and I'm so grateful. So my #TBT is more of a #ThankfulThursday that God brought her in my life and that she said yes over 13 yes ago. #SheAGangsta #WestBankForLife #WhatAmIDoingWithMyLife #CrossFit #WifeBrag #MyRideOrDie #TheBestIsYetToCome

[chrislerma]

I've been doing CrossFit movements for over a year, but that's all they were...just movements. Today was the first day I had an opportunity to work in a box and absolutely loved it. Excited that @wlerma and I are on this journey together, pumped for @jordybrennan and the @crossfitstlandry team, grateful for their help, and jazzed to have some friends joining me at 5am tomorrow. #CrossFit #FitFam #WOD #FirstOfThousands

[chrislerma]

Smile, it's going to be a great day!! This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of God is your strength! #Nehemiah‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ #Joy #Strength #SmilesForDays #WillowNoelle

[chrislerma]

What a way to start the day...Christian Leadership and the #CrossfitOpen! One did a number on my soul the other did a number on my body. Each day create margin to GROW! The minute you stop growing is the minute you stop leading. It's not about being perfect it's about making progress. If we will tend to our soul which is of upmost importance...seeking first God and His Kingdom all other things will be added. // This is the first time I've ever done the Open. I had to scale the Rxd weight because I need to work on my form on the snatch. Still a lot of work to do but I gave it a shot. Everything in life that matters takes risk...take a risk today and live the adventure God has for you. #CrossFit #Open15.1 #Leadership #Matthew6:33 #Perspective #Progress

[chrislerma]

Reading List 2015

I had requested some suggestions on books last month as I was compiling my 2015 reading list. You guys gave some great recommendations and after considering my goals for this year I compiled my list below. I also added those that didn't make the list but that others suggested. 

While this is a little ambitious I've found that if I'll set a goal and only hit 50% I will probably accomplish more than if I just simply arbitrarily read at random.  

I used to try and simply read a book a month. What I found is that I would take a little longer on a book because I didn't really have another book to move on to. Or I would find another book and still be in the middle of my previous book and end up half way through two books. 

So I decided that I would create a list of books and audio books, yet give myself freedom to add something should a new book pop up.  I am looking at three types of books..Leadership, Spiritual Maturity/Growth, and an Autobiography or the works of one of the greats like Spurgeon, Moody, or Loyd-Jones. 

As for many of us...time and action steps can be the biggest challenge so this year I am adding audio books to help utilize my time and using Evernote to journal my thoughts and what I may have pulled from each book. 

Love to hear your thoughts on my 2015 list or any other great books that have impacted your life. 

2015 Book Reading List:

January:

“Lead for God’s Sake” — Todd G. Gongwer (Audio)

February:

“The Fortune Cookie Principle” — Bernadette Jiwa (Audio)

“Great Leaders Grow” — Ken Blanchard / Mark Miller

March:

“Talk Like Ted” — Carmine Gallo (Audio)

“In The Name of Jesus” — Henri Nouwen

April:

“The Power of Habit” — Charles Duhigg (Audio/InstaRead version)

"Preaching and Preachers" —> Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

May:

“Simply Good News” — NT Wright (Audio)

“Center Church” - Tim Keller

June:

“What Makes an Effective Executive” - Peter Drucker (Audio/Harvard Business Review version)

“Christ Centered Preaching” — Bryan Chapell

July:

“Turn The Ship Around” — L. David Marquet (Audio)

“Out of Solitude” — Henri Nouwen

August:

“Mere Christianity” — CS Lewis (Audio)

“Desiring God” — John Piper

September:

"The Multipliers" - Liz Wiseman (Audio)

“Leaders Eat Last” — Simon Sinek

October :

“Moxie” — John Baldoni (Audio)

“Home Run” - Kevin Meyers

November:

“Boundaries For Leaders” — Dr. Henry Cloud

December:

“Die Empty” — Todd Henry (Audio)

“Heart, Smart, Guts, and Luck” — Anthony Tjan

Spiritual Development:

Foundations - RC Sproul (Audio)

Romans - John Piper (Audio)

Others That Didn't Make The List:

Supernatural Ways of Royalty —> Kris Vallotton & Bill Johnson

Knowing God —> Packer

Crucial Conversations —> Grenny

Take the Stairs —> Vaden

Made to Stick —> Heath

Miracle Morning —> Hal Elrod

Rhythm of Life —> Mathew Kelly

Simplify —> Bill Hybels

Bloodlines —> John Piper

Don’t Waste Your Life —> John Piper

Crash The Chatter Box —> Steven Furtick

Amusing Ourselves To Death —> Neil Postman

Found: God’s Will —> John McArthur Jr.

Working With Angels: Flowing With God in The Supernatural —> Eugene Peterson

The Prophet —> Kahlil Gibran

Think and Grow Rich —> Napoleon Hill

Character Matter —> Mark Rutland

Bonhoeffer

The Kindness of Strangers…pennies across America —> Mike McIntyre

The Path —> Rick Joyner

Not A Fan —> Kyle Idelman

It’s Worth It —> Pastor Jeff Little

God Smuggler — Brother Andrew (Audio)

The Goal — Eliyahu Goldratt  

Pearls of The King — Lee Domingue

[chrislerma]

When God puts a dream...a burden in your heart it changes everything. The burden to make a difference and be the change...for your family, community, business, the world changes the way you view every situation. You can either stop complaining about it or be some to do something about it. // If you'll get to work and rebuild what once seemed broken, unwanted, desolate, and overlooked...The God of Heaven will make sure you succeed. That's great odds...God+nothing always results in your victory! It doesn't mean there won't be hard work, difficult times or even failures...it simply means the the journey is just as important, if not more important than the destination. It means that what God does IN you is just as important if not He does THROUGH you. // Choose today to embrace the journey, venture to the edge, take a leap of faith and courageously face what it may look like to be the change you long to see! #Perspective #Rebuild #Nehemiah #Journey

[chrislerma]

The answer to many of the needs or conflicts in our families, communities, schools, etc...all begin with a question. Nehemiah stopped and basically ASKED "how are you," but didn't stop there...He then ASKED "what can I do to help?" // Let's be courageous enough to ask "what can I do to help" and not simply settle for saying "let me know if you need anything." Lasting transformation in our families and communities will begin if we will simply ASK..."what can I do to help?" #Rebuild #Restore #TheBestIsYetToCome #Nehemiah #Leadership

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Rave dance party going down at my house....warning lower your volume less your ears bleed. // Kamdyn said this was a surprise party for me to thank me for being such a good daddy...ok I'm done! #Winning #BeYourKidsHero #DaddysGirls

[chrislerma]

Tonight could be a game changer for some one. Get to the Civic Center tonight at 7pm and bring someone. New year...new you through His grace. Let's show love, speak life, give hope, and kindle courage. #NoNightsOff #ChangeTheGame #OTownProud #OTownCrew #OTownLife #ImAboutThatLife #ChangeTheCityChangeTheWorld

[chrislerma]

Every Sunday is a day that could be filled with hope for someone...so we can't afford to take a Sunday off. Make the most of every opportunity to show love, speak life, give hope, and kindle courage. This is the first of 52 of them and even a power outage can stop us in O-Town at the @oscfamily @oscotown campus. See you at 5pm at the Civic Center. #NoSundaysOff #OTownProud #Sundays #Relentless

[chrislerma]

It's never just a normal Sunday at @oscfamily! This weekend we begin a new series called Culture Shift. So...service IS SHIFTING TO 5PM at the Civic Center at @oscotown campus due to a power outage because of a lightning strike. See you then! #OTownProud #CultureShift I repeat 5PM AT THE CIVIC CENTER.