Yep. I've been slacking. I've still been in God's word, but when I think about blogging...I'm immediately filled with anxiety. Things like...what will I write, it has to be perfect, I need lots of scripture, if it doesn't sound deep people won't want to hear it, it has to flow, has to sound like it came from God's mouth....and then it hit me. I'M NOT GOD.
Yes, whatever I post on here will be something that the Holy Spirit has shown me in my studying..but it doesn't need to be perfect, super theological, or sound exactly right. It just has to be an honest proclamation of what my Jesus is speaking to my heart.
So honestly? Jesus has been telling me to step up.
That's probably a lot of the reason I haven't blogged....and like I said before, I've been in the word..but sporadically not daily. When God calls you out, it's scary. And no as Christians we have no reason to be afriad, and to say that we can't help it is bogus...but sometimes it happens.
God has called me to something big. I don't even know what it is, or where it is, or with who it will be with. All I know is that it's big. Now the 'bigness' behind the word big could vary. What seems big to me, may seem small to you. We're all built differently. The point is that whatever we see as "big" is just another thing in God's eyes. A thing that if he calls you to, he will equip you to follow through. I don't have to be able I just have to be willing. You don't have to be able you just have to be willing.
Truthfully I don't know that I'm willing...or at least I haven't been. Which is why I've been avoiding blogging... I've been avoiding God. As silly as that sounds, because duh, it's not possible.
In all reality, God has called us all to something Greater. Something beyond ourselves that seems impossible but something that God wants to use us in to change us and the people that we interact with.
It's time to step up.
It's time to stop being a coward and to be a sold-out lover of my Savior.
_______________________________________
Father,
I come to you now with a heavy heart. A sorry heart. A heart that wants more than anything for you to be the number one priority in my life. I know that you've called me to something far greater than myself, and I'm scared that I won't live up to the expectations you or other people have for me. God I cast out that spirit of fear in Jesus name, and ask that you would replace it with a spirit of confidence and diligence to seek you and your will out. God that you would make clear the path you've laid out for my life. Father I pray for anyone reading this who is dealing with the same bout of fear or insecurity. God I cast out those feelings and pray forward confidence and a boldness to step up. Father thank you for a love that knows no boundaries or conditions...thank you for having a plan, and going before me, after me, and all around me. I love you.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day Two & Three: 2 Peter 1:3-11
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises.
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance in to the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
_________________________________________
With this challenge, my ultimate goal is to grow. I want to deepen my relationship with my Jesus. God has given me everything I need to walk with him, to strive for holy life. There is no way to live this out perfectly because I am sinful, but I have the power to overcome. Walking with me daily the Holy Spirit supplies me with consistent power to make right decisions, cast out the enemy, and remind me of God's present and future promises.
"And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises"
God is. God was. God will always be. He doesn't have a birthday, he doesn't have limitations, he isn't human. God is everything that is good, holy, powerful, etc. This God, the creator that intricately knit you together has promises for you, great and precious promises. If you submit, and choose him. These promises include wiping your slate clean. Clear of every indiscretion, stronghold, sin pattern, and filth that fills our lives. Gone. (Now this comes with work and continuos seeking, it isn't easy but remember, we have power in the Holy Spirit.) He sent his son to die for you. God promises life. And not just life on Earth, but eternal life with him forever. 1 Peter 1:23 says "For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God."
Accepting Jesus' sacrifice and knowing these great and precious promises, there should be a spark in us to live as God asks us too. It's the least we can do in return for the grace he shows us by his own accord. Faith isn't enough. Faith is extremely important, but it can't be all we have/do. Faith must be more than belief in certain facts, it must result in action. There must be growth in our character and moral discipline.
As listed above, faith's actions include seeking to know God better, developing discipline and perseverance, following God's will, and loving the people around you. Not all of these things come automatically, and you can't have one without the other. They all work together, and should grow together as we continue in our walks with Jesus. Something some commentary in my bible said, that I really liked was this, "God empowers and enables us, but he also gives us the responsibility to learn and to grow." You can't expect all these things to just happen. You have to seek God, seek truth, strive to put your faith into action, and work hard to deepen your love.
If you fail to grow or seek, it's like forgetting the cleansing you received because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Almost like saying it didn't happen. When I think of all the times that I was complacent, going through the "Christian motions", and living a less than mediocre Christian life, it hurts to think that I basically told Jesus what he did for me didn't matter to me enough to strive for a Holy existence. Ouch.
The passage ends with a charge to those who claim Christ. "Work hard to prove that you are among God's called and chosen...." With a creator who sent his son to atone for our filth, the least we can do is aim to live by his word.
I'll end with another passage and a quote from the commentary in the NLT Life application study bible:
James 2:14-17---14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup-where does that get you?17 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
"Our faith must go beyond what we believe; it must become a dynamic part of all we do. Our salvation isn't dependent on good deeds, but it results in good deeds."
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises.
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance in to the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
_________________________________________
With this challenge, my ultimate goal is to grow. I want to deepen my relationship with my Jesus. God has given me everything I need to walk with him, to strive for holy life. There is no way to live this out perfectly because I am sinful, but I have the power to overcome. Walking with me daily the Holy Spirit supplies me with consistent power to make right decisions, cast out the enemy, and remind me of God's present and future promises.
"And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises"
God is. God was. God will always be. He doesn't have a birthday, he doesn't have limitations, he isn't human. God is everything that is good, holy, powerful, etc. This God, the creator that intricately knit you together has promises for you, great and precious promises. If you submit, and choose him. These promises include wiping your slate clean. Clear of every indiscretion, stronghold, sin pattern, and filth that fills our lives. Gone. (Now this comes with work and continuos seeking, it isn't easy but remember, we have power in the Holy Spirit.) He sent his son to die for you. God promises life. And not just life on Earth, but eternal life with him forever. 1 Peter 1:23 says "For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God."
Accepting Jesus' sacrifice and knowing these great and precious promises, there should be a spark in us to live as God asks us too. It's the least we can do in return for the grace he shows us by his own accord. Faith isn't enough. Faith is extremely important, but it can't be all we have/do. Faith must be more than belief in certain facts, it must result in action. There must be growth in our character and moral discipline.
As listed above, faith's actions include seeking to know God better, developing discipline and perseverance, following God's will, and loving the people around you. Not all of these things come automatically, and you can't have one without the other. They all work together, and should grow together as we continue in our walks with Jesus. Something some commentary in my bible said, that I really liked was this, "God empowers and enables us, but he also gives us the responsibility to learn and to grow." You can't expect all these things to just happen. You have to seek God, seek truth, strive to put your faith into action, and work hard to deepen your love.
If you fail to grow or seek, it's like forgetting the cleansing you received because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Almost like saying it didn't happen. When I think of all the times that I was complacent, going through the "Christian motions", and living a less than mediocre Christian life, it hurts to think that I basically told Jesus what he did for me didn't matter to me enough to strive for a Holy existence. Ouch.
The passage ends with a charge to those who claim Christ. "Work hard to prove that you are among God's called and chosen...." With a creator who sent his son to atone for our filth, the least we can do is aim to live by his word.
I'll end with another passage and a quote from the commentary in the NLT Life application study bible:
James 2:14-17---14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup-where does that get you?17 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
"Our faith must go beyond what we believe; it must become a dynamic part of all we do. Our salvation isn't dependent on good deeds, but it results in good deeds."
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Day One: Joshua 5:13-15
Joshua 5:13-15
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, "Are you friend or foe?"
"Neither one," he replied, "I am the commander of the Lord's army."
At this Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.
"I am at your command," Joshua said, "What do you want our servant to do?"
The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy."
And Joshua did as he was told.
____________________________________
Ok so this is something that was talked about in church this morning by Pastor Mike at the Gathering. What's amazing is that he also talked about Joshua 1:8...the verse that sparked this whole challenge. God is good, he consistently confirms what he asks of us if we're aware enough to see it.
Anyways, so maybe this is cheating because this is something that Pastor Mike pointed out, but it really resinated with me and when I got home tonight I read it a few more times and this is what God showed me.
When Joshua went to the city, he saw a man with a sword. Of course is first thought was "Hey! Are you for me or against me?!" The man replied, "Neither! I'm the commander of the Lord's army!" -- And it hit me...We are always told that 'God is on our side...' and he is, because he loves us. BUT really, he's truly on our side when we CHOOSE him and join his side. Yes it sounds like I'm talking in circles, but really, think about it. You're a soldier, you're either in the Lord's army or the world's army. We shouldn't be asking God to get behind us as we battle, in all reality we should get behind God and ask him to LEAD us. When we come under God's authority and follow him, we're walking in his will and his plan...and therefore we'll be victorious! Doesn't mean it will be easy, but it will be right.
"At this Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence."
As soon as Joshua recognized the man as the leader of God's army he fell to his face in reverence. (Now this could have been a guest appearance by Jesus, but I'm not too sure, and there really isn't a way to know for sure...so keeping that in mind, we'll move on) DUH this was the leader of the guy that created everything's army! Do we show that much reverence to God? I don't. And for me to sit and say that I want to do things God's way, I want him to lead, but then I continue to try and control situations and live by my own ideas, I'm basically looking at God and saying "You can step aside, I'm going to lead now." How is that reverence? How is that walking in his will? It isn't.
Joshua asked as God's servant, what should he do. He was willing and ready to do whatever God asked of him. Not trying to lead but asking to follow. The commander asked Joshua to remove his sandals for the ground he was on was holy. Just as Joshua recognized the commander's authority and power, and removed his sandals, we should recognize God's power, authority, and deep love. Our actions should model absolute reverence for God. It's a form of showing respect, and though taking off our sandals may not be culturally the way we show it now days, recognizing the respect he deserves is just as important today as it was in Joshua's time.
When we recognize God's power, we're reminded of his ability to do all things. All we have to do is submit to him and he will trudge ahead of us in battle.
One last thing that Pastor said this morning, made a lot of sense. When we decide to walk with Jesus all of our problems don't just go away, and our battles don't just disappear. What happens is we gain a commander to go ahead of us and walk us through our battles, leading every step of the way. All we have to do is humble ourselves enough to submit.
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, "Are you friend or foe?"
"Neither one," he replied, "I am the commander of the Lord's army."
At this Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.
"I am at your command," Joshua said, "What do you want our servant to do?"
The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy."
And Joshua did as he was told.
____________________________________
Ok so this is something that was talked about in church this morning by Pastor Mike at the Gathering. What's amazing is that he also talked about Joshua 1:8...the verse that sparked this whole challenge. God is good, he consistently confirms what he asks of us if we're aware enough to see it.
Anyways, so maybe this is cheating because this is something that Pastor Mike pointed out, but it really resinated with me and when I got home tonight I read it a few more times and this is what God showed me.
When Joshua went to the city, he saw a man with a sword. Of course is first thought was "Hey! Are you for me or against me?!" The man replied, "Neither! I'm the commander of the Lord's army!" -- And it hit me...We are always told that 'God is on our side...' and he is, because he loves us. BUT really, he's truly on our side when we CHOOSE him and join his side. Yes it sounds like I'm talking in circles, but really, think about it. You're a soldier, you're either in the Lord's army or the world's army. We shouldn't be asking God to get behind us as we battle, in all reality we should get behind God and ask him to LEAD us. When we come under God's authority and follow him, we're walking in his will and his plan...and therefore we'll be victorious! Doesn't mean it will be easy, but it will be right.
"At this Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence."
As soon as Joshua recognized the man as the leader of God's army he fell to his face in reverence. (Now this could have been a guest appearance by Jesus, but I'm not too sure, and there really isn't a way to know for sure...so keeping that in mind, we'll move on) DUH this was the leader of the guy that created everything's army! Do we show that much reverence to God? I don't. And for me to sit and say that I want to do things God's way, I want him to lead, but then I continue to try and control situations and live by my own ideas, I'm basically looking at God and saying "You can step aside, I'm going to lead now." How is that reverence? How is that walking in his will? It isn't.
Joshua asked as God's servant, what should he do. He was willing and ready to do whatever God asked of him. Not trying to lead but asking to follow. The commander asked Joshua to remove his sandals for the ground he was on was holy. Just as Joshua recognized the commander's authority and power, and removed his sandals, we should recognize God's power, authority, and deep love. Our actions should model absolute reverence for God. It's a form of showing respect, and though taking off our sandals may not be culturally the way we show it now days, recognizing the respect he deserves is just as important today as it was in Joshua's time.
When we recognize God's power, we're reminded of his ability to do all things. All we have to do is submit to him and he will trudge ahead of us in battle.
One last thing that Pastor said this morning, made a lot of sense. When we decide to walk with Jesus all of our problems don't just go away, and our battles don't just disappear. What happens is we gain a commander to go ahead of us and walk us through our battles, leading every step of the way. All we have to do is humble ourselves enough to submit.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
A challenge.
Satan sucks. Plain and simple.
My earlier post "Content", I wrote a few days ago but didn't post it. I guess I thought I wanted to add more to it, but after rereading it I realized I didn't have much more to say.
Since writing about being content...Satan has blasted me with feelings of discontentment, foolishness, and just flat out yuck. It amazes me how closesly the enemy watches our lives, every little thing to find a weakness to attack. A hole to sneak in and destroy.
As Christians, we HAVE to be concious of the enemy and all his ploys. We need to meditate on God's word and use it as a sword of protection. The words in that book aren't mearly letters on paper, but the words of our Creator and our Saviour. When we meditate on the word and fill our mind with God's thoughts, and God's words, we literally CUT out the enemy and his negativity.
The enemy has been working on me. Filling my head with ideas of being unworthy, ugly, and defeated. I REFUSE to let Satan continue to get the best of me when my Jesus tells me I AM worthy, I AM beautiful, and that I have overcome!
Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." I've not done a good job lately of guarding my heart. I've let time become an excuse for not having time with Jesus. I've let Sunday service replace one on one time with my Saviour. And I've let the opinions of my peers become more important than the opinion of my Master.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ" (The Message) The NIV version says it this way "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."
------The Key in that verse is about taking captive every thought, impulse, and emotion that isn't Christ like and change it to fit a life shaped by Christ. A dear friend once said to me "If you were in bed and a snake crawled up in bed with you, would you let if lie with you? No! You would take captive of it and get rid of it!" That's exactly what we are to do when the enemy presents ideas or emotions that do not match up to God's truth. Take HOLD of it and CAST IT OUT.
Joshua 1:8 says "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." Success isn't a husband. Success isn't children. Success isn't a career. Success is living out God's will for my life and striving to be the person he asks me to be.
2 Peter 1:10-11 says "So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." -- I've not done a good job of proving that I am among God's called and chosen. But I'm changing that.
This is where the title of this post "A Challenge" comes into play.
I am going to make a point of being in God's word daily. It's something that is critical to a Christian's well-being, and something I have been truly lacking in. To hold myself accountable to this I will blog every day about something God has shown me.
Isaiah 55:11 says "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." -- I've been reminded that I will get out of God what I put into him...his word will not return void.
Please pray for me, Satan doesn't like when we seek truth, he'd rather us be complacent. But that's not what God has called me to be...pray that I would seek even when it seems difficult. And I'll pray the same for you.
I'll end with this...
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget about what's happened, don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present! I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it?"
He's going to do something new, and I'm WAY excited to see it.
My earlier post "Content", I wrote a few days ago but didn't post it. I guess I thought I wanted to add more to it, but after rereading it I realized I didn't have much more to say.
Since writing about being content...Satan has blasted me with feelings of discontentment, foolishness, and just flat out yuck. It amazes me how closesly the enemy watches our lives, every little thing to find a weakness to attack. A hole to sneak in and destroy.
As Christians, we HAVE to be concious of the enemy and all his ploys. We need to meditate on God's word and use it as a sword of protection. The words in that book aren't mearly letters on paper, but the words of our Creator and our Saviour. When we meditate on the word and fill our mind with God's thoughts, and God's words, we literally CUT out the enemy and his negativity.
The enemy has been working on me. Filling my head with ideas of being unworthy, ugly, and defeated. I REFUSE to let Satan continue to get the best of me when my Jesus tells me I AM worthy, I AM beautiful, and that I have overcome!
Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." I've not done a good job lately of guarding my heart. I've let time become an excuse for not having time with Jesus. I've let Sunday service replace one on one time with my Saviour. And I've let the opinions of my peers become more important than the opinion of my Master.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ" (The Message) The NIV version says it this way "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."
------The Key in that verse is about taking captive every thought, impulse, and emotion that isn't Christ like and change it to fit a life shaped by Christ. A dear friend once said to me "If you were in bed and a snake crawled up in bed with you, would you let if lie with you? No! You would take captive of it and get rid of it!" That's exactly what we are to do when the enemy presents ideas or emotions that do not match up to God's truth. Take HOLD of it and CAST IT OUT.
Joshua 1:8 says "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." Success isn't a husband. Success isn't children. Success isn't a career. Success is living out God's will for my life and striving to be the person he asks me to be.
2 Peter 1:10-11 says "So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." -- I've not done a good job of proving that I am among God's called and chosen. But I'm changing that.
This is where the title of this post "A Challenge" comes into play.
I am going to make a point of being in God's word daily. It's something that is critical to a Christian's well-being, and something I have been truly lacking in. To hold myself accountable to this I will blog every day about something God has shown me.
Isaiah 55:11 says "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." -- I've been reminded that I will get out of God what I put into him...his word will not return void.
Please pray for me, Satan doesn't like when we seek truth, he'd rather us be complacent. But that's not what God has called me to be...pray that I would seek even when it seems difficult. And I'll pray the same for you.
I'll end with this...
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget about what's happened, don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present! I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it?"
He's going to do something new, and I'm WAY excited to see it.
Content.
I finally feel like I'm at a place where I'm content.
I'm ok, right here. Right where God has me, as he has me.
NEVER have I been able to say that and actually mean it.
There is a key in the line above..."AS he has me.." Many times I feel like we feel okay about where God has placed us, but we feel as if we should have more, whether it be certain relationships, certain careers, etc. So many times I find myself seeking seeking seeking something more more more...when really what I need to do is simply Stop. Look around. And be thankful for where God has me and how he has me there.
I encourage you to BE content. Not to just say you are, but actually BE it. Don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has worries of its own. Don't plan your entire life when God had it written before he created Earth....let him Lead. Let him be God.
When you let God be God....he surprises you.
I'm ok, right here. Right where God has me, as he has me.
NEVER have I been able to say that and actually mean it.
There is a key in the line above..."AS he has me.." Many times I feel like we feel okay about where God has placed us, but we feel as if we should have more, whether it be certain relationships, certain careers, etc. So many times I find myself seeking seeking seeking something more more more...when really what I need to do is simply Stop. Look around. And be thankful for where God has me and how he has me there.
I encourage you to BE content. Not to just say you are, but actually BE it. Don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has worries of its own. Don't plan your entire life when God had it written before he created Earth....let him Lead. Let him be God.
When you let God be God....he surprises you.
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