Sunday, March 27, 2011
Fullness of Joy!
If we truly want to be one with Christ Jesus, we must be consistently renewed with Joy. Jesus is the fullness of Joy, and we can only be one with Him to the extent we are filled of Joy.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Bar
What is the Bar? What is the standard that we must hold ourselves to? Purity, Holiness, Love, Forgiveness, Prophetic, Peace, Evangelism, Community ect.
God is... He is the one who asks the question and holds the answer. There is no other answer. The only way to truly reach the Bar that is set for us as humans is this, meet the God-Man Jesus Christ. I have been working on my own development as a Christian for the last 6 years or so... The closer I get to the Bar, the further away I realize it truly is from me. The times I have felt closest to the Bar were the days of complete loss, and defeat. When I had no one else to turn. Anyone who's been in that place understands this; God is close to the brokenhearted.
I want to be honest, I have struggled in my life as a Christian. I have tried my hardest, and failed miserably. Sometimes, like most people, I feel as if I'm fighting for my life... not the destiny I felt God has me. But do we realize, God allows these issues to surface on purpose. They were there all along... Yes! that's right.
The only way to meet the Bar is to meet God. It's the only way! To pray the prayer, and put a big bull eye on your chest. God, I trust you to do things your way; I'm opening my heart and I'll place myself before the bonfire of your love and believe you to make everything work out.
Repeat this action, till your soul is on fire and the process is complete...
God is... He is the one who asks the question and holds the answer. There is no other answer. The only way to truly reach the Bar that is set for us as humans is this, meet the God-Man Jesus Christ. I have been working on my own development as a Christian for the last 6 years or so... The closer I get to the Bar, the further away I realize it truly is from me. The times I have felt closest to the Bar were the days of complete loss, and defeat. When I had no one else to turn. Anyone who's been in that place understands this; God is close to the brokenhearted.
I want to be honest, I have struggled in my life as a Christian. I have tried my hardest, and failed miserably. Sometimes, like most people, I feel as if I'm fighting for my life... not the destiny I felt God has me. But do we realize, God allows these issues to surface on purpose. They were there all along... Yes! that's right.
The only way to meet the Bar is to meet God. It's the only way! To pray the prayer, and put a big bull eye on your chest. God, I trust you to do things your way; I'm opening my heart and I'll place myself before the bonfire of your love and believe you to make everything work out.
Repeat this action, till your soul is on fire and the process is complete...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
To See God...
How much does it affect people, when we meet with God?
God asks us to, "come to me all ye heavy laden, and I will give you rest". The world is full of cares, worries, sin, and so many other issues. We all have those things that sink our energy quicker than a torpedoed boat, but is that our destiny? How do we enter into the rest that God talks about.
As long as we are on the subject, I will cover another subject that has come up in my life. Have you ever heard of striving? We all know that we should read our bibles, have our prayer time, fast long enough to feel really hungry, and share the Gospel among other Christian virtues. But about striving, some people will tell you that striving is not getting enough rest, or not taking enough time for yourself. Others will use the phrase striving as an excuse to deny the truth of the Gospel, and the actions God expects from maturing Christians. God is the perfect Father, and you do not have to earn his affections or good favor. Striving in it's essence is trying earn approval by actions or accomplishments. As Children of God, we already have His heart... We do the works of Christianity in response to God's love for us.
Back to the original subject, rest. Hebrews 4 covers the heart of this matter. In this chapter, God brings up the time in Jewish history when they entered the promised land. To all onlookers it would appear that this Jewish nation had entered the golden era of its existence. But they did not enter into the rest God has ordained for His people because the deliverance from the law had not occurred yet. But in the present day... this deliverance has already happened. Now the rest is possible... Let me describe the rest that God has planned for us. It's resting from our own works. God has done all the work. Wake up you are royalty!!! You don't have to come up with a plan to "make it" in this world, all you have to do is promote your Daddy's Kingdom. Each of us has access in faith to any resource found in God Kingdom. We are all minister's of the Gospel. It's not rest from the work, it's rest for the work.
God asks us to, "come to me all ye heavy laden, and I will give you rest". The world is full of cares, worries, sin, and so many other issues. We all have those things that sink our energy quicker than a torpedoed boat, but is that our destiny? How do we enter into the rest that God talks about.
As long as we are on the subject, I will cover another subject that has come up in my life. Have you ever heard of striving? We all know that we should read our bibles, have our prayer time, fast long enough to feel really hungry, and share the Gospel among other Christian virtues. But about striving, some people will tell you that striving is not getting enough rest, or not taking enough time for yourself. Others will use the phrase striving as an excuse to deny the truth of the Gospel, and the actions God expects from maturing Christians. God is the perfect Father, and you do not have to earn his affections or good favor. Striving in it's essence is trying earn approval by actions or accomplishments. As Children of God, we already have His heart... We do the works of Christianity in response to God's love for us.
Back to the original subject, rest. Hebrews 4 covers the heart of this matter. In this chapter, God brings up the time in Jewish history when they entered the promised land. To all onlookers it would appear that this Jewish nation had entered the golden era of its existence. But they did not enter into the rest God has ordained for His people because the deliverance from the law had not occurred yet. But in the present day... this deliverance has already happened. Now the rest is possible... Let me describe the rest that God has planned for us. It's resting from our own works. God has done all the work. Wake up you are royalty!!! You don't have to come up with a plan to "make it" in this world, all you have to do is promote your Daddy's Kingdom. Each of us has access in faith to any resource found in God Kingdom. We are all minister's of the Gospel. It's not rest from the work, it's rest for the work.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
What does radical mean?
I have asked myself this question over and over again...
In times of utter failure, in the place called rock bottom... I have also asked myself this question on top of the proverbial mountain... But I'd be amiss if I said that either of those places, with their emotional power, was the place to ask that question; Or better yet, receive an answer. No, it is the place of the mundane... business as usual, for some of us, the 40 hour weeks, and others 15 credit hour semesters. We must ask the question when everything is normal. When I feel comfortable.
what does radical mean?
what was so different about Jesus that made him radical? was it his birth? or what about his death?
what made a generation of "God's people" cry for his death? What made the same generation kill the greatest man born of a woman, John the Baptist?
In my heart, I know that the answer lies solo in this, Jesus challenged the status quo! John the Baptist did as well- So both of them died cruel and painful deaths, alone and forsaken. They chose Kingdom over comfort, and paid the price. In our day and age it is completely counter culture to try and live the Bible. It will challenge Government, economy, industry, music, sports, movies, social groups, friends, family, marriage and parenting among other things... are you willing to take the leap? It may consume your life... and cause a painful death.
In times of utter failure, in the place called rock bottom... I have also asked myself this question on top of the proverbial mountain... But I'd be amiss if I said that either of those places, with their emotional power, was the place to ask that question; Or better yet, receive an answer. No, it is the place of the mundane... business as usual, for some of us, the 40 hour weeks, and others 15 credit hour semesters. We must ask the question when everything is normal. When I feel comfortable.
what does radical mean?
what was so different about Jesus that made him radical? was it his birth? or what about his death?
what made a generation of "God's people" cry for his death? What made the same generation kill the greatest man born of a woman, John the Baptist?
In my heart, I know that the answer lies solo in this, Jesus challenged the status quo! John the Baptist did as well- So both of them died cruel and painful deaths, alone and forsaken. They chose Kingdom over comfort, and paid the price. In our day and age it is completely counter culture to try and live the Bible. It will challenge Government, economy, industry, music, sports, movies, social groups, friends, family, marriage and parenting among other things... are you willing to take the leap? It may consume your life... and cause a painful death.
Friday, January 7, 2011
I am happy to say that I have not stayed in the condition I was when I last posted on the blog.
I am saved! I won't say that I haven't been saved up until that day a couple weeks ago, but I will say that God is leading me though the painful, yet supremely fulfilling process of working out my salvation in fear and trembling. What this means for me, is that I am willing today, tomorrow, and forever to allow my view of myself to be shaken... to the most tender core of my being, and give way to my loving Father the access and authority He needs to gently lead me. It is the same process I use with my own Son. Judah regularly challenges my sanity and His own safety, but my commitment and responsibility to His growth(not to mention how cute he is) demands that I lovingly guide his childlike heart through treacherous life into manhood. But even as it is with the Father God; My love for Judah will trump all sanity and reason, simply because of love. I can describe my earthly love for Judah, and I'll be honest, it's beautiful. Imagine a perfect Father...
I am saved! I won't say that I haven't been saved up until that day a couple weeks ago, but I will say that God is leading me though the painful, yet supremely fulfilling process of working out my salvation in fear and trembling. What this means for me, is that I am willing today, tomorrow, and forever to allow my view of myself to be shaken... to the most tender core of my being, and give way to my loving Father the access and authority He needs to gently lead me. It is the same process I use with my own Son. Judah regularly challenges my sanity and His own safety, but my commitment and responsibility to His growth(not to mention how cute he is) demands that I lovingly guide his childlike heart through treacherous life into manhood. But even as it is with the Father God; My love for Judah will trump all sanity and reason, simply because of love. I can describe my earthly love for Judah, and I'll be honest, it's beautiful. Imagine a perfect Father...
Sunday, December 26, 2010
I think I just got saved... Part 1
Over the last six-eight months I have been reading the book of Romans, and it has gradually begun to work on my heart. I expected to add Romans to a couple of other books I have a decent knowledge of content. What I didn't expect was for the book to challenge and change my idea of God, the bible and myself. I know that was an unrealistic view of reading the most anointed book ever written, but what can I say, I'm human.
I've had to deal with my own issues these months,(just like every other month) but I have dealt with it just like I dealt with every other season of my life. I do my best, I fail, I feel sad, apoligize, I grow then try again. That's not a bad plan, but I'm pretty sure that's not the plan for me. Yesterday I took a second to look at my life and this is what I came up with; I was circumsised when I was eight days old, I grew up in semi/heavy religious culture(that had some sense of a law in rules), and I love God. I think that makes me a Jew, doesn't it?
I've had to deal with my own issues these months,(just like every other month) but I have dealt with it just like I dealt with every other season of my life. I do my best, I fail, I feel sad, apoligize, I grow then try again. That's not a bad plan, but I'm pretty sure that's not the plan for me. Yesterday I took a second to look at my life and this is what I came up with; I was circumsised when I was eight days old, I grew up in semi/heavy religious culture(that had some sense of a law in rules), and I love God. I think that makes me a Jew, doesn't it?
Friday, December 17, 2010
Purity is in the eyes
Purity is in the eyes, it's in every loving glace.
It's in the eyes of a Father looking at His Child; have you ever felt the strong, warm eyes of your Father with all of His protection and and kind strength. Never was such safety, and love felt.
Purity is the true vision that God has called us to; innocence, virtue etc. It is the eye of perfect love and selflessness. Just as every commandment is fulfilled in two commands, love God and your neighbor, so every commandment is broken by selfishly withholding love for God and my neighbor. Envy, lust, covetousness, greed, murder and every other sin starts in the eyes, it is a breakdown of the childlike God asks of His children.
Purity burns in the soul, overflowing from the spirit. When men and women meet Jesus, and look into the his eyes; we become childlike... Because Jesus is childlike. The only way to become pure is spend time with Christ... We look like Christ when we see people like Christ.
It's in the eyes of a Father looking at His Child; have you ever felt the strong, warm eyes of your Father with all of His protection and and kind strength. Never was such safety, and love felt.
Purity is the true vision that God has called us to; innocence, virtue etc. It is the eye of perfect love and selflessness. Just as every commandment is fulfilled in two commands, love God and your neighbor, so every commandment is broken by selfishly withholding love for God and my neighbor. Envy, lust, covetousness, greed, murder and every other sin starts in the eyes, it is a breakdown of the childlike God asks of His children.
Purity burns in the soul, overflowing from the spirit. When men and women meet Jesus, and look into the his eyes; we become childlike... Because Jesus is childlike. The only way to become pure is spend time with Christ... We look like Christ when we see people like Christ.
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