Chris Burkmenn's Blog

When I think of life and I think of the struggles that each of face everyday, I often feel discouraged. I am not sure why but lately has been more tough than ever before. I’ve had multiple conversations with my friends and they are full of encouragement, and there advice truly hold weight in my heart and in my mind. There is one place however that I need to address more attention and focus to and that it my spirit. What excites me, what motivates me, and what drives me? Much of my focus can tend to be on myself and I work really hard at putting it on others. In life I am learning that it is such a balance. We must commit energy to others, but we must also make time for ourselves. I often burn myself before I realize this notion and every time I do I think next time it will be different I will catch myself before I burn. I am still working on it, but I believe I am learning through it all. What has been inspiring me as of late is the story of Joseph and also the story of Peter ...

Welcome to another Encouragement Wednesday! God is so amazing, the way he tests our faith. They are often a setup to something great! God is testing our faith constantly. He wants to grow our faith so that we can endure long. Whatever attack comes against us from the enemy God wants us to lean on him and trust him. Not all the time can we accuse the enemy often God is wanting to use the struggle for his glory.  Today I want to focus on Jesus sending his disciples out into the storm in Matthew 14. He sent them out knowing that there was a storm coming. Funny that God would send them out into a storm, it says in scripture that Jesus made them get in the boat. Today I want to focus on Peter's faith in that story. We often look at Peter with the attitude that he had no faith. We must think about this though, he had to have some kind of faith for him to have gotten out of the boat. He was the only disciple to step out of the boat. All the other disciples sat in the boat and watche...