Let's do it right

I originally intended for this to be a longer post, but in the end I decided it would deter from the simplicity of the truth I want to share.

I was talking to a friend a couple of months ago about ministry, discipleship, God's purpose for His children, etc. and he said something I thought it was worth sharing with the world. The context of this particular quote is discipleship, but honestly it is true across the board, for ministry, friendship, and life in general. When I asked him what God had been speaking to him he said:

"stop using people to serve your vision, SERVE THEM."  

Wow!

Can I get an amen?

Let's be shepherds and not hirelings.

Love sacrificially and unconditionally.

Zealous

The only thing the Bible asks us to be temperate about is our flesh; our love for Jesus and our life are supposed to be a blazing fire.

Just some thoughts from my morning devo today...

Answers

So in my last post I spoke about the fact that God speaks.  Hopefully some of you also understood the implication that He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, His children's lives.  Well, only a few days later He gave me a story to share.  I went away for the weekend to the wilderness, and on my way back to the house, while in the car, I sensed something biting my neck and my arms so started to "slap" myself (yeah, you know what I mean. And yeah it was as funny and weird as you are imagine it to be).  I looked in the mirror and at my clothes but I couldn't see what had bit me.  A few hours later I had over 15 bumps on my face and chin (not counting my arms).  It looked crazy!  At first they didn't itch, but later in the night and the next day I thought I was going to loose my mind I itch so bad (and you know how you are not allowed to scratch).  I tried different ointments but nothing worked.  I was driving on my way to work with all the a/c vents on me, totally desperate.  I realized I hadn't prayed, in this desperation I cried out: "God!! You know all things, You know what these bites are and what could make them stop itching.  Please tell me what kind of thing I need to put on!!" Immediately the response came: "baking soda paste." I'm not kidding, that's all He said.  I got home that day, got some baking soda in a bowl, mixed it with a little bit of water, put it on, and immediately the itching ceased.  HOW AWESOME IS GOD??!!

I know.  This is just a little story.  It might seem insignificant to some of you, but to me it is marvelous.  The God that keeps the cosmos in order cares enough about insignificant ol'me to take time and fix my boo-boos.  He really is close at hand.  What could be more Fatherly than this?  And now, how could I not trust Him with my whole life??

Will you?

"Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees..." (Gen 16:13a)

PS- I should also mention that, a few weeks later, He sent me to England for a little while ;)  More on that trip soon too come

Jesus Speaks

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (Jn 10:27)

I am often asked how do I know when God speaks.  It is a very good questions.
I know God's voice like I know my parents'.  Firstly, I am born of Him and as such we share a personal and intimate relationship.  I know His voice from all the time we've spent together. I know His voice because I know His character (clearly stated in the Scriptures).  I know Him because He lives in me.  It is not a magic trick, He is not an eight ball, He is God- the more time you spend with Him, the quicker you will learn to recognize His voice.

Go, be alone with Him, learn to listen and commune with Him....ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit (to baptize you, if you prefer the term), and you too will know Him, His voice.  But know this: once He speaks you must obey.

“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:3-5)

Long Time Coming...

Hello World!!

That's right, I'm back! So I'll skip the ceremoniousness and get to it :)

I started reading Judges today.  I came across a thought provoking passage:

"When all that generation, had been gathered to their fathers, another generation 

arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done 

for Israel.  Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and 

served Baals..." (Jdg 2)

All the people that had come out of Egypt by the hand of the LORD were dead.  All the people that had gone through the wilderness, seen God's mighty works, and been brought into the promise land were dead.  And it says that the next generation did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done....

I found that amazing in a very sad way.  How could they possibly not know?! There is only one answer: People weren't talking about it.  Not only that, it must also mean that they had stopped doing some of the rituals and ceremonies God had commanded them.  How do I know that? Because in the book of Joshua it says several times: "do this and that, so that when your children ask about such and such, they may know that I [God] worked in such and such a way..."

It dawn on me, the children of Israel grew apathetic to the wonders of God, His deliverance, His care for them.  I wondered how could this come about.  Then I remember the verses before it, it is God talking to the generation that went through the wilderness and into the Promise Land: "But you have not obeyed My voice..." (vs 2)  They had become disobedient.  When God confronts them, it says that they lifted up their voices and wept, but it speaks nothing of repentance, it mentions nothing of turning back and doing what they were supposed to.  Their weeping did not go beyond the sting of being reprimanded.  Disobedience will do that to you.  It will make your heart grow cold and distant from God.

Is there compromise in our lives today? Are we doing things that do not please the LORD? Have we forgotten the marvelous works and great mercy that He has shown towards us?  Then make it a point to remember.  Talk about it! Call to mind the sweetness of your Savior.  If there is something to repent about, repent.  

Do it for yourself, to drink from the living water; do it for the next generation, that they may know the living God and walk in His ways.  In a world that is growing darker by the second don't let your light be dimmed out by compromise but sing forth His praise.

Until next time ;)

Yours truly

Right now

Its been so long I wonder if I still know how to do this... LOL. Mostly I want to let you know right here and right now, that I am alive and well, His spirit is within me :)

As I mentioned before I went on a mission trip to NY, and since then I also went on another mission trip in March to Utila, Honduras.  The trip to Utila was to come alongside a new church plant, to love, encourage and help the pastor there in different ways.

It amazes me how much God knows my heart.  He knows how much we can bare, He know what we need so we are well nourished and thrive.  Going on these mission trips was a blessing because it was awesome to see, in a practical way, that His calling and election are irrevocable.  It was such a great comfort that what I do in these mission trips can be done wherever I'm at.  What I mean is, it is not about going places, it is about ministering to people; it is about listening to God's heart and obeying His command.  If God says go somewhere, then you better go.  If He says speak to so and so on such and such, then you better do it.  Why should we do it? Because otherwise we would be denying ourselves the joy of having a relationship with Him.  If we ignore Him and harden our hearts towards Him... If we train ourselves to make our ears deaf to Him and get use to drowning His voice out, then how come we later complain that we feel like we have no life in us? We have cut ourselves off from the Vine and are then grieved or surprised at our lack of fruit.  What can possibly be the antidote for this?  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess 5:16-18)

And so that is where I'm at, trusting in hope, patient in tribulation, rejoicing in the majesty of Him who is called Faithful and True.

New York

Please forgive me, I have gone on a mission trip and forgot to tell you all about it.  In my defense it all came about in less than two weeks so between preparations to get ready and setting things in order I didn't have a chance to let y'all know.

I went to Rockaway, NY, on a disaster relief trip to help the victims of super-storm Sandy.  We left January 28th and came back a week later.  It was amazing!!  God willing, I'll soon have more time to tell you all about it.  For now, know that God is good, awesome, He answers prayer and moves in mysterious ways.... He is all knowing and worthy of all our praises!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support.  God is using you big time :)

God bless you!!!!!!