Chris Burkmenn's Blog

So often we go through life and have ourselves almost convinced that God has somehow forgotten about us. We confuse our finances with the notion that God is neglecting us. As if we had done something wrong to deserve a setback. I was at McDonalds this evening drinking a Diet Dr. Pepper and watching the people around me. I saw this woman sobbing and apologizing to her husband for how sorry she was. How she wished she could have changed their current situation. She had major dental work done today and was still in shock with the bill. She was standing at the Coke station and telling her husband that this was not what she had wanted, and that she would have rather gone on a trip. She seemed so convinced that this situation was bigger than God and that he had forgotten about her. That she was alone with no one looking out for her. I wanted to touch her hand and let her know that God had not forgotten about her. I overheard her apologizing to the cashier saying, "I am sorry I am so...

It's amazing to think that the problems of the world effect us so much. We often cannot see anything past our current situation. It sometimes it can take over every good thing that we have. No matter what we have we focus more on what we lack. Today I want to encourage you that God says you are capable and that he has placed you where you are. So when the enemy says to you about your weakness. God says that we are powerful truth in Ephesians 1 and so many other places in the Bible. Say to the enemy "my father thinks I am amazing, my father loves me." The enemy may say: Do you really think you're capable of fulfilling what God has call you to do? "My Father says I am. I don't know how I'm going to do it but the power if the Resurrection is in me. I don't feel capable. But my Father says I am." Do you really think you're going to make it through this trail? "My Father says I am." God has great plans for you, It...

These next couple days are the last days of my current season. I will be entering a new season. Something that could go two ways, one could be an amazing success and the other could be the opposite. My faith tells me that my God will not leave whichever of the two it may be.  On friday, I leave my full-time position for a road with no limits and no structure. Chasing my dreams full force walking on the promises of the Lord, and no leaning on my own strength but His. I read a quote a few days ago, "I never regretted the things I did, but always the things I didn't do." That's the kind of life that I want, living the fullness in all that I should be striving for. I moved to Nashville on a promise from God not with specific instructions, but the command "Come" from the Lord. Similar to what Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 14:29. I feel sometimes I should have more answers, but then it wouldn't really allow God to be God. I want the kind of faith th...

How many of us tend to not be grateful what we have been blessed with? How about take for granted what we have been given? Today we have been given one of the greatest gifts of all, another day. For in a day the world can change. We often rush through not life and do not even realize how blessed we are. Passing through life without taking a moment to pause and be grateful for the life that we have. The family that we love, the friends that are ride or die, and the ability to be free. If we pass by life and don't take a moment to smell the roses we are not living for the moment. I know that I rush, rush, rush and don't ever really just take the day as it is and soak up God. For He created everything, and we are all living on his clock not our own. If we spend our whole life working what are really accomplishing, but work. We get so caught up in doing we often forget about being. Look at Martha and Mary: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a vil...

photo courtesy of www.brainsonfire.com Welcome back for another Encouragement Wednesday today I hope you enjoy what I feel will help you be encouraged! When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. -Exodus 17:12

Allan Fonseca an employee in a mall at Clackamas Town Center malll in Oregon saved lives on Decemeber 12, 2012.  Fonseca was familiar with his place of employment and used it for good. After the mall was taken over by a gun man, he was waiting on his mother Jocelyn Lay. Fonseca employed at Lancome in Macy's, hide his mother behind the counter. "We both just looked at each other and knew that this was a serious situation and it was a gunman and we both just dove down below the Lancome counter there for a little protection," Lay told "Good Morning America." "And the gunfire just kept going off." Lay began praying for that the Lord protect her and the others that were in danger in the mall. She gave credit to her son for being an employee and knowing exactly how to navigate the situation. She says he is her hero. "He said that we needed to evacuate, and he took me by the hand and took me down the escalator and out to safety," she said. ...

The vision of this website. Thank you all for your support! Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law. -Proverbs 29:18

We often underestimate where we are, and think of where we should be. I am often guilty of that. I think to myself I should be here, but when all actuality I am exactly where God wants me. My steps are ordered by the Lord it says in: Psalm 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.  God has rescued both you and I from so many trouble of this world. All we have to do is have faith that he will deliver us from so much more! As we reflect on the Christmas Holiday, I encourage you to remember where God has saved you from. @chrisburkmenn

We often underestimate the need for a hero. One person impacting the world. Jesus was our hero. He saved us for more than we can ever know or comprehend.  We read in John 3:16 For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Today the world is crying for boldness, heroes. The truth is that we can help rescue those in bondage we can help break the chains of addiction.  Love conquers all.  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;  but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13 Today I wanted to find a hero that I could honor. Someone that impacted lives beyond themselves. Selflessly and something could have not been done in their own strength, but in the duty to love others. I want to honor Doreen Winkler, she saved two men who were in their own minds on, deaths fingers. They were on the brink of getting hit by a subwa...

The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. -Nahum 1:5 We must remember that nothing is to big for Him. He is the great I am! Today whatever you are facing know that he can and will make you the victor!! God is good, He is good all the time! @chrisburkmenn

She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:21 I love this verse, I love that the woman's faith led her to be obedient and touch Jesus' clothing. To the world around her it was a crazy thought. Why would you want to touch Jesus' clothing?  If we read the whole story we see that she had been bleeding for 12 years. Now that is a lot of pain, 12 years of bleeding. I know that in my own life 1 day of feeling under the weather is enough for me, but to even imagine being sick for 12 years is beyond anything I can comprehend.  The woman was desperate, she was seeking the only thing that could make her better and that was Jesus. In our lives for things to get better it often takes Boldness, and Obedience in our faith. Think of how much guts it took for that woman to have touched this Man.  Jesus, who she had heard so much about and all of these miracles being performed. At the sight every knee shall bow and here this woman wants...

When I was young my mom and dad use to say, Christopher you are in such a rush to grow up. To be honest I was. I felt I was missing out on the action. I wanted the independence because I thought I knew it all. At a young age knowing it all is so far from the truth, if anything I knew nothing. Mom and Dad would always try and help and I would blow them off and shake it off as if I knew the answer. I would argue until I was blue in the face.  Today I stand here and fully admitt that I wish I would have savored more. Cherished the days of my youth because those care free days are over and grown up life has hit me. I have bills, a job, and adult responsibilities. I firmly believe that all of our decisions effect our reality. We cannot change the past all we can do is learn from our previous decisions. I am very thankful for where I am today and know that God's grace covers my life. The responsibilities of life can try and consume you. They can try and take over the freedom th...

How powerful something is when you believe. The miracles that are produced by Faith. The passion inside yourself when you strive to achieve great things!  I watched October Sky yesterday, and I must say it so much inspired me about dreaming. The story is about a boy that faced so many obstacles in his path towards a dream that he had. He grew up in a coal mining town where almost everyone stayed except for the Football jocks because they were given scholarships. His journey starts with one woman who believed in him more than he believed in himself, his teacher. His friends thought he was crazy, and his family did not give him much support with his fascination for rockets. Except for his mother, she believed and supported him in anything he did, much like our mothers do. His father was scared because he wanted him to take over the family legacy in the coal mining field. His dreams were put to a halt when the police said he started a fire and told him that he could no longe...

What a year this has been, and what an amazing journey every step has been. I turned 24 this year, and as I reflected on the last year I realized how truly blessed that I am. I have such a loving family back home that is growing daily. I get to hear amazing testimonies from them which is so awesome and encouraging. It makes me smile. I Love that God has moved in so many amazing ways, and even though I am not there I know that the bond of family can never be broken. I have such amazing friends here in Nashville, God provided me some pretty incredible people. I had always prayed for a brother and feel that God has really provided there. I have been made feel like family at my church, and in our youth. The Oasis Church has truly given me so many things, and I am so thankful to God for providing that! I had learned so truly amazing things this year as I grow in the word and in the body. God has been with me every step of the way, and I think it's important to remember that becau...