So in the morning we are heading off to Leavenworth for the weekend! We are staying at "The River Spot." We look forward to getting away from all the craziness of this world. No computers, no cellphones, just the wife, child, and myself. Families that pray & grow together, stay together. Sometimes when I find myself weak, I look to the Lord to refresh me and my family. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 40:31 (NASB).
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
I find comfort in my God. I so thankful for Jesus going to the cross and dying for the sins of those who believe! Salvation is only possible in Jesus! For those that are for God, who can be against them? That gives me the drive to keep pressing in! Not to back down!
So, please pray for our safety while away! Pray for us as a family that we would truly connect with God in a deeper way. That we will trust God more each day we live. That we as a family would become dependant upon His strength, His wisdom, His understanding! That we would lay down the desires of our flesh, and pursue the desires of His Kingdom! I'm ready for a family revival!
Always remember, you are loved!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Recommended Read - So, You want to be like Christ? - Charles R. Swindoll
I must say out of all the books that I have read so far (outside the Bible), this book has truly changed me for the better! God put this book in my life just at the right time. My desire is to be more like Christ, and less like this world. I long to reflect and see what true change this book brings into my life. I know this, I have already started to see real fruit coming out of my life from the pages of this book. Being a Christian I understand what Jesus demands of me. Being a true follower of Christ is hard, but also a very joyful experience. Walking with Christ is a delight to my heart, a comfort this world will never bring me. I agree with the book, He patiently waits for you to sacrifice yourself in small amounts, one decision at a time, one day at a time, so that you might enjoy an ever-increasing intimacy with Him. And this deepening intimacy with Him will inevitable make you more like Christ.I wanted to also share a portion of the book with you that truly spoke to my heart. It comes from page 152.
If you truly are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the Spirit of God dwelling within you. Yet believers also have an old nature - a habitual, sinful way of thinking - that Paul called "the flesh." Let me put it straight. The flesh is a self-serving, nonbelieving, godless mind-set that live by animal instinct. Its nature stance is facing away from God. Its innate priority is self-preservation. The lens through which the flesh sees the world is "eat or be eaten." It's the pattern of living that you inherited when you were born, that the world taught you as you matured. To make matters worse, it comes as natural to you as breathing. The Holy Spirit notwithstanding, the flesh remains within us, never improving, always ready to be satisfied.
So are you satisfying your flesh with the life you are living, or are you satisfying God? Living your life as a sacrifice to God as we are called to do in Romans 12:1-2? Lets be real for a minute, who do you serve?
But all in all, this is a book that I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone that desires to truly be like Christ! No pretenders allowed in this book. Through this book, God is moving in my life like never before. Its like the first time God's word came into my life....Sharp like a double edge knife...cutting right down to the point of conviction.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Rightly | Dividing aims to move believers beyond personal Bible reading to Bible study. There are many useful Bible reading plans, and for that matter, much excellent material is available from good Bible teachers. But this seminar hopes to train people how to understand and depend on the Book, not only on teachers of the Book.
Sean Higgins will be teaching this seminar on Saturday, October 11 at Grace Bible Church. It will include over six hours of teaching, covering topics like how to prepare for study, basic principles (hermeneutics) for Bible study, how to find the point of a paragraph, and recommended tools.
Anyone in the area is welcome to attend. If you’re interested, jump over to the Rightly | Dividing website for more details and online registration.
Also included:
continental breakfast and catered lunch
a book on Bible study
other gifts
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Demand #3
Started reading "What Jesus Demands from the World" by John Piper before I go to bed. He writes 50 demands in the book. So for the next 50 nights the wife and I are reading it together to learn what Jesus demands from us. I'm looking forward to see how this book helps us grow together with the Lord! Tonight I want to share part of demand #3. Throughout the book I will touch on some from time to time. Keep pressing Church!
You refuse to come to me that you may have life. - John 5:40
"You Refuse To Come To Me That You May Have Life"
Why don't people come to Jesus? At one level the answer is because they "refuse to come." In other words, people do not want to come. Some call this the choice of free will. Jesus would probably say it is the choice of a will enslaved to sin. "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). Jesus would say that people do not come to him because they are enslaved to their supreme preference for other things. "The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light...everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light" (John 3:19-20).
How then has anyone ever come, since we are all enslaved to sin and spiritually dead (see Demand #1)? Jesus' answer was that God, in his great mercy, overcomes are resistance and draws us: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). "No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father" (John 6:65). God grants the gift of new birth and repentance, which opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to the truth and beauty of Jesus. When this happens, all suicidal objections fall. We are finally free. And, finally free from slavery, we come.*
*What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper (pg.46,47)
You refuse to come to me that you may have life. - John 5:40
"You Refuse To Come To Me That You May Have Life"
Why don't people come to Jesus? At one level the answer is because they "refuse to come." In other words, people do not want to come. Some call this the choice of free will. Jesus would probably say it is the choice of a will enslaved to sin. "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). Jesus would say that people do not come to him because they are enslaved to their supreme preference for other things. "The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light...everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light" (John 3:19-20).
How then has anyone ever come, since we are all enslaved to sin and spiritually dead (see Demand #1)? Jesus' answer was that God, in his great mercy, overcomes are resistance and draws us: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). "No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father" (John 6:65). God grants the gift of new birth and repentance, which opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to the truth and beauty of Jesus. When this happens, all suicidal objections fall. We are finally free. And, finally free from slavery, we come.*
*What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper (pg.46,47)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hard to Believe
What's wrong with making unbelievers feel comfortable in Church?
On the surface, it makes sense. The Christian's mandate is to make disciples, so why not make church more attractive to unbelievers? Spice up the presentation. Tone down the preaching. Tell everyone that Jesus will meet their felt needs.
But is making unbelievers comfortable truly the way to make disciples? Does promising the lost that Jesus can fix their lives bring them any closer to salvation or are we selling them a synthetic gospel that cannot save? For the sake of bigger congregations, are churches today diluting or even neglecting the gospel?
John MacArthur answers those questions and more in Hard to Believe. In this series you'll learn:
- Why is making unbelievers feel comfortable in church so dangerous?
- What gives the gospel its power and why are so many of today's churches failing to tap into it?
- What did God truly promise to those who embrace the gospel?
- What did Jesus mean when He said "follow Me?"
On the surface, it makes sense. The Christian's mandate is to make disciples, so why not make church more attractive to unbelievers? Spice up the presentation. Tone down the preaching. Tell everyone that Jesus will meet their felt needs.
But is making unbelievers comfortable truly the way to make disciples? Does promising the lost that Jesus can fix their lives bring them any closer to salvation or are we selling them a synthetic gospel that cannot save? For the sake of bigger congregations, are churches today diluting or even neglecting the gospel?
John MacArthur answers those questions and more in Hard to Believe. In this series you'll learn:
- Why is making unbelievers feel comfortable in church so dangerous?
- What gives the gospel its power and why are so many of today's churches failing to tap into it?
- What did God truly promise to those who embrace the gospel?
- What did Jesus mean when He said "follow Me?"
Jesus "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped."
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)
Jesus "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." Through Jesus deserved all the respect, all the worship, all the adoration, all the fear due Him as God, He let it all go. He released His grip on all of it.
Further, "He emptied Himself." While retaining every aspect of His deity, Jesus relinquished the independent use of His divine attributes during His earthly sojourn. Before the Son became a flesh-and-blood man, He had absolute autonomy as God, being coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father. When He became a man, He voluntarily gave up the independent use of His divine attributes; and while on earth, He submitted to the Father. He waited on the Father for His will, for His timing. He followed the Father's guidance as to where He would go and what He would do and what He would say and when He would do those things. He relinquished the voluntary use of His divine prerogatives. He gave up what was rightfully His for the sake of others -- including you and me.*
*So, You want to be like Christ? By Charles R. Swindoll (Pg.89)
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)
Jesus "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." Through Jesus deserved all the respect, all the worship, all the adoration, all the fear due Him as God, He let it all go. He released His grip on all of it.
Further, "He emptied Himself." While retaining every aspect of His deity, Jesus relinquished the independent use of His divine attributes during His earthly sojourn. Before the Son became a flesh-and-blood man, He had absolute autonomy as God, being coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father. When He became a man, He voluntarily gave up the independent use of His divine attributes; and while on earth, He submitted to the Father. He waited on the Father for His will, for His timing. He followed the Father's guidance as to where He would go and what He would do and what He would say and when He would do those things. He relinquished the voluntary use of His divine prerogatives. He gave up what was rightfully His for the sake of others -- including you and me.*
*So, You want to be like Christ? By Charles R. Swindoll (Pg.89)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Puritan Prayer - "Man a Nothing"
When thou wouldst guide me I control myself, When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself. When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself. When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself, When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will,
When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;
I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself, Instead of thee I look to man's approbation, and am by nature an idolater.
Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee. Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy,
nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me. Help me to see that grace does this by providential affliction, for when my credit is god thou dost wing them away,
when pleasure is my all thou dost turn it into bitterness. Take away my roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart;
Show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience,
or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit.
Then take me to the cross and leave me there.*
*Arthur Bennett, ed., The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (Carlisle, Penn.:The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 91.
When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;
I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself, Instead of thee I look to man's approbation, and am by nature an idolater.
Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee. Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy,
nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me. Help me to see that grace does this by providential affliction, for when my credit is god thou dost wing them away,
when pleasure is my all thou dost turn it into bitterness. Take away my roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart;
Show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience,
or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit.
Then take me to the cross and leave me there.*
*Arthur Bennett, ed., The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (Carlisle, Penn.:The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 91.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Proverbs 2:1-5
Today was a great day! The Lord has been good today, even when the news of the world seems to be the opposite. I've been reading the book "So, you want to be like Christ?" and I must say this has been a book that is filled with jems. I'm always amazed how God puts things in my life, at the right time when they are needed. This book could not have come at a better time. The book today took me to the 2nd chapter of Proverbs, verses 1-5.
Proverbs 2
The Value of Wisdom
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
I learned today that a lot of my growth in the Lord comes from a response of myself. As I seek more of the Lord, He in returns blesses me with more of Him! Just look at it....
"My son, if..."(v.1)
"For if..."(v.3)
"If..."(v.4)
All the "If's" point to our responsibility. Just as the book says "If we do our part in obedience to the command, God will be faithful to respond."
When we dig into God's word, when we store God's word into our hearts, God gives us His understanding, His discernment to distinguish between what is good and evil. Then and only when we give that of ourselves to God, we discover the knowledge of God. Wow. That is some deep truth! Church let's press into Christ with all our hearts!
Proverbs 2
The Value of Wisdom
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
I learned today that a lot of my growth in the Lord comes from a response of myself. As I seek more of the Lord, He in returns blesses me with more of Him! Just look at it....
"My son, if..."(v.1)
"For if..."(v.3)
"If..."(v.4)
All the "If's" point to our responsibility. Just as the book says "If we do our part in obedience to the command, God will be faithful to respond."
When we dig into God's word, when we store God's word into our hearts, God gives us His understanding, His discernment to distinguish between what is good and evil. Then and only when we give that of ourselves to God, we discover the knowledge of God. Wow. That is some deep truth! Church let's press into Christ with all our hearts!
What kind of Christian are we?
My brother posted this on his blog and I thought I would share it. Just click the link and enjoy! Keep Pressing! Let's be radical 4 Christ!
What kind of Christian are we?
What kind of Christian are we?
Reflection of Change, do you see it?
As I look back over that last 8 years I see areas where I experienced more change then in others. I don't think I changed at all when I first got back into Church. I still drank the same, said the same off colored jokes, all the things that would seem normal to this life, I did it.
Real Christlikeness change started happening when I took my relationship with Him much more seriously. When I realized how important Christ was, and how His precious words did not match up to my lifestyle, I knew the only thing I had been doing was running His name through the mud. At the same time looking like a fool.
This morning I find myself reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Everything about me is different. My thinking, my responses, even my walk with the Lord is different. I find my delight in the law of the Lord, and on His law I meditate day and night. God is my fortress. In Him is where I find my strength, my wisdom, the courage to stand firm in His ways. My old way of living was only leading me to death.
We can also read in Ephesians 4:17-32 about what this new life looks like.
So is your life becoming more and more like Christ?
Could you write down 3 things that the Lord is working in you right now?
Would your friends notice a change in you since you came to know the Lord?
Are you one that only looks to Christ for your "free ticket" to heaven? Is sanctification a process that is evident in your life?
Has anyone arrived yet? I haven't!
Are you enjoying the process of life? Are you preparing for that day when Christ will be revealed?
Are you ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of the life you lived or wasted?
Romans 12:1-2 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Are we really worshipping Christ with our hearts, or just our lips?
Would you act differently in a situation if your pastor showed up? If you answered yes, then brothers and sisters in Christ, It's time to change your lives, your thinking, your purpose. Live your life in a way that glorifies God.
Meditate on 1 Corinthians 10:31. Is this evident in your life?
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Real Christlikeness change started happening when I took my relationship with Him much more seriously. When I realized how important Christ was, and how His precious words did not match up to my lifestyle, I knew the only thing I had been doing was running His name through the mud. At the same time looking like a fool.
This morning I find myself reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Everything about me is different. My thinking, my responses, even my walk with the Lord is different. I find my delight in the law of the Lord, and on His law I meditate day and night. God is my fortress. In Him is where I find my strength, my wisdom, the courage to stand firm in His ways. My old way of living was only leading me to death.
We can also read in Ephesians 4:17-32 about what this new life looks like.
So is your life becoming more and more like Christ?
Could you write down 3 things that the Lord is working in you right now?
Would your friends notice a change in you since you came to know the Lord?
Are you one that only looks to Christ for your "free ticket" to heaven? Is sanctification a process that is evident in your life?
Has anyone arrived yet? I haven't!
Are you enjoying the process of life? Are you preparing for that day when Christ will be revealed?
Are you ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of the life you lived or wasted?
Romans 12:1-2 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Are we really worshipping Christ with our hearts, or just our lips?
Would you act differently in a situation if your pastor showed up? If you answered yes, then brothers and sisters in Christ, It's time to change your lives, your thinking, your purpose. Live your life in a way that glorifies God.
Meditate on 1 Corinthians 10:31. Is this evident in your life?
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Is Christ enough?
Another clip from Simply Singular: Is Christ Prominent or Preeminent? Keep pressing in!
De we worship, love, and serve God for nothing? Do we worship God simply for Who He is or for what we will get from Him that we cannot obtain through our own efforts? Do we love God because He is God or for that which He gives me and does for me that no one else can or will? I did not marry my wife because of what I thought she could do for me or give me, but who she is! If we love the Lord only for what He has done for me, it is initiated by man and motivated my the flesh. Periodically, the statement heard, "Jesus did that for you [gave you salvation], now you need to do this for Him." Christ never said or even implied that! The Savior did not save us for what He could get out of us; He saved us for what He could give us - Himself!
Do we serve God expecting something in return - special blessings, particular fringe benefits, specific rewards, or certain compensation? Do we bargain with God: "Lord if you answer this then, Lord, I will do this for You!" Is the Christian life a "contract" with God - if He treats me well, then I will worship and serve Him? But, if God disrupts my life, precludes my plans, thwarts my ambitions, hinders my success, or prevents my happiness then He can forget about my love and devotion to Him! The common attitude toward a relationship with God is, "What's in it for ME!"
There is comfort when there are no answers, reasons, or explanations as to why God let it happen. For the greatest comfort a person will ever experience is not attached to answers, explanations, or reasons, but to the Person of God Himself - the One Who is the Comforter.
How do you find comfort in God through your hard times?
Do you draw closer or further away when times get tough?
De we worship, love, and serve God for nothing? Do we worship God simply for Who He is or for what we will get from Him that we cannot obtain through our own efforts? Do we love God because He is God or for that which He gives me and does for me that no one else can or will? I did not marry my wife because of what I thought she could do for me or give me, but who she is! If we love the Lord only for what He has done for me, it is initiated by man and motivated my the flesh. Periodically, the statement heard, "Jesus did that for you [gave you salvation], now you need to do this for Him." Christ never said or even implied that! The Savior did not save us for what He could get out of us; He saved us for what He could give us - Himself!
Do we serve God expecting something in return - special blessings, particular fringe benefits, specific rewards, or certain compensation? Do we bargain with God: "Lord if you answer this then, Lord, I will do this for You!" Is the Christian life a "contract" with God - if He treats me well, then I will worship and serve Him? But, if God disrupts my life, precludes my plans, thwarts my ambitions, hinders my success, or prevents my happiness then He can forget about my love and devotion to Him! The common attitude toward a relationship with God is, "What's in it for ME!"
There is comfort when there are no answers, reasons, or explanations as to why God let it happen. For the greatest comfort a person will ever experience is not attached to answers, explanations, or reasons, but to the Person of God Himself - the One Who is the Comforter.
How do you find comfort in God through your hard times?
Do you draw closer or further away when times get tough?
The Shack
Thinking about reading this book?
Over the last year I have come to love reading, just not fiction. If you did see me reading fiction it would probably be a C.S. Lewis book, but outside of that it's not for me. I love books that either challenge me, make me think, or grow in my walk with Christ.
I have not read this book, but after buying it for my wife, the following day I received an email in my inbox about the book. It was not a pleasant email. After reading the email I continued to research the book and came across a broadcast of "The Albert Mohler Radio Program" which he goes in depth about the book and where it is misleading. Just click the link and listen in. It's about 10 minutes into the program.
You can also read the email that was sent to me. The email was titled - The Seductive and Subversive ''Shack''.
So if your planning on reading this, or giving it to someone to read you might want to rethink that. My Grandma tells me, just because you see it in the Christian bookstore does not always mean it is a good book.
Keep pressing, keep praying Church.
Over the last year I have come to love reading, just not fiction. If you did see me reading fiction it would probably be a C.S. Lewis book, but outside of that it's not for me. I love books that either challenge me, make me think, or grow in my walk with Christ.
I have not read this book, but after buying it for my wife, the following day I received an email in my inbox about the book. It was not a pleasant email. After reading the email I continued to research the book and came across a broadcast of "The Albert Mohler Radio Program" which he goes in depth about the book and where it is misleading. Just click the link and listen in. It's about 10 minutes into the program.
You can also read the email that was sent to me. The email was titled - The Seductive and Subversive ''Shack''.
So if your planning on reading this, or giving it to someone to read you might want to rethink that. My Grandma tells me, just because you see it in the Christian bookstore does not always mean it is a good book.
Keep pressing, keep praying Church.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Pictures from Mexico
Taking a bus into town to preach the gospel
A standard view in Mexico (The real thing)
Team Hall getting R done 4 Jesus
Giving my testimony
Where did all the faith necklaces go?
Hanging at la roca
Rashelle & I hanging with Katie
Team Fire (fuego del equipo)
Rashelle & I above Tijuana
Taking a break for a cold Coke
Mexico was good, God was GREAT!
So we made it down into Mexico by Monday afternoon on the 7th of July. The weather was hot, but not humid. Got a glance of the bathrooms, by the end of the trip, most of the females would have those listed as the low of the trip.
That first night we did the evangelism trailer. We headed into a near by town and started going door to door, to hand out invites to the trailer. We met lots of people. That night I was able to share my testimony along with a few other people. It didn't take long to notice God was moving and moving BIG. After everyone had shared a word they had invited people up to be prayed for. I'll be honest, up until this night I had never felt the presence of God this powerful, it was almost to overwhelming. Many of us had tears in our eyes.
People where giving testimonies of how God had healed them. From what I could observe, people in Mexico have nothing in worldly things. Except, that is a good thing, because faith is was connects you to God. Here in America we are so consumed with all the things that demand our time, weather that be our homes, ipods, TVs, computers, magazines, families, lets just say everything. I would think having no distractions would make it easier to draw into the presence of God. It's very easy for me to be in Church during prayer and my mind start to wonder. Not here though. The richest people in the world live in Mexico! They have the faith to move mountains, literally.
Over all the trip was good, but God was GREAT! Part of my heart is still in Mexico. Hopefully soon I will be back. I learned a lot about myself on this trip. When you have left most of your luxuries back home, you pretty much will have a good amount of time to reflect. I came home with 6 things I need to work on through those reflections with God.
1. My alone time with God
2. Loving & serving my family
3. Patience
4. Gentleness
5. Self-Control
6. Building each other up, not down
If you have never been on a missions trip, you need to Go! Don't worry about your age, weight, circumstances, give those over to God. Allow God to use you, just trust in Him. Rashelle had prayed and prayed for peace with leaving our son at home. God did not deliver on that prayer until we where heading down to the airport to fly out. Just a day or two before that she had said "I don't thing I can do this", I had just encouraged her to press into God and He will come through. Praise the Lord that He did. With us everything at times seems impossible, but with God there is no limits to Him, for all things through Him are possible.
On our way back to the border our van shared our lows and highs for the trip. My low was not handing out more gospel tracks. My high was the food at the orphanage. I'm thankful for the experience, and also that I could share it with my lovely wife and sister-in-law!
I'll post some pictures as well. Keep pressing, keep praying, keep enjoying this ride we call sanctification.
That first night we did the evangelism trailer. We headed into a near by town and started going door to door, to hand out invites to the trailer. We met lots of people. That night I was able to share my testimony along with a few other people. It didn't take long to notice God was moving and moving BIG. After everyone had shared a word they had invited people up to be prayed for. I'll be honest, up until this night I had never felt the presence of God this powerful, it was almost to overwhelming. Many of us had tears in our eyes.
People where giving testimonies of how God had healed them. From what I could observe, people in Mexico have nothing in worldly things. Except, that is a good thing, because faith is was connects you to God. Here in America we are so consumed with all the things that demand our time, weather that be our homes, ipods, TVs, computers, magazines, families, lets just say everything. I would think having no distractions would make it easier to draw into the presence of God. It's very easy for me to be in Church during prayer and my mind start to wonder. Not here though. The richest people in the world live in Mexico! They have the faith to move mountains, literally.
Over all the trip was good, but God was GREAT! Part of my heart is still in Mexico. Hopefully soon I will be back. I learned a lot about myself on this trip. When you have left most of your luxuries back home, you pretty much will have a good amount of time to reflect. I came home with 6 things I need to work on through those reflections with God.
1. My alone time with God
2. Loving & serving my family
3. Patience
4. Gentleness
5. Self-Control
6. Building each other up, not down
If you have never been on a missions trip, you need to Go! Don't worry about your age, weight, circumstances, give those over to God. Allow God to use you, just trust in Him. Rashelle had prayed and prayed for peace with leaving our son at home. God did not deliver on that prayer until we where heading down to the airport to fly out. Just a day or two before that she had said "I don't thing I can do this", I had just encouraged her to press into God and He will come through. Praise the Lord that He did. With us everything at times seems impossible, but with God there is no limits to Him, for all things through Him are possible.
On our way back to the border our van shared our lows and highs for the trip. My low was not handing out more gospel tracks. My high was the food at the orphanage. I'm thankful for the experience, and also that I could share it with my lovely wife and sister-in-law!
I'll post some pictures as well. Keep pressing, keep praying, keep enjoying this ride we call sanctification.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Recommended Read - Power Through Prayer - E.M. Bounds
I've been taking the time in my walk with God to learn more in experience with Him, not just about Him. My focus has turned to living in the power of the Holy Spirit and praying more to God. I think I'm heading in the right direction! God has been so good, even when I fail at times to give Him my first fruits of the day.For any Christian that wants to learn more about the importance of prayer and how effective prayer is then this book is for you. It seemed to me at times that this read was more for the pastor how preaches behind the pulpit. I wanted to share a clip from the book below. Keep pressing, Keep praying, Keep seeking His face!
Pg.13
The pulpit of this day is weak in praying. The pride of learning is in opposition to the dependent humility of prayer. In the pulpit, prayer is all too often only official - a performance for the routine of service. In the modern pulpit, prayer is no the mighty force it was in Paul's life or ministry. Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God's work, and is powerless to advance God's cause in this world.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Who is Jesus Christ to you?
A clip taken from the little nugget series "Is Christ Prominent or Preeminent?"
Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is He only your savior from sin - the One Who is providing a "free ticket" to heaven so that you can escape the Lake of Fire? Is He merely the One Who is preparing a mansion for you in His Father's house? Is Jesus Christ nothing more than the One Who provides for all your needs? We enjoy His provisions, but do we love the Provider? We desire the gifts that He bestows, but do we adore the Giver of the gifts? We beseech the hand of Christ - what He will do for us, but do we seek His very face - Who He is?
So ask yourself is Christ Prominent or Preeminent in your life?
Keep Pressing, Keep Praying!
Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is He only your savior from sin - the One Who is providing a "free ticket" to heaven so that you can escape the Lake of Fire? Is He merely the One Who is preparing a mansion for you in His Father's house? Is Jesus Christ nothing more than the One Who provides for all your needs? We enjoy His provisions, but do we love the Provider? We desire the gifts that He bestows, but do we adore the Giver of the gifts? We beseech the hand of Christ - what He will do for us, but do we seek His very face - Who He is?
So ask yourself is Christ Prominent or Preeminent in your life?
Keep Pressing, Keep Praying!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
My Testimony for Mexico
Hello my name is Seann.
It's been about 4 years since Jesus Christ came into my heart. The life I was living until that day was not pleasing to God; His grace and patience continued to call to my heart in spite of my lifestyle. I had failed God in many ways. I was lost in a world of my own pain, hurt, and anger. I found my comforts in joys of the flesh, not in my patient, loving, God. It was my normal response to lie, cheat, and steal in the life I was living. I did not see my sin; a worldly lifestyle was the only thing I knew. I was blinded to the truth by Satin.
After I started participating in Church, I soon figured out Church and occasionally reading my Bible was not what it meant to be a Christian. I learned that being a Christian was a personal relationship with one person and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. My eyes were opened to the truth that is in Jesus Christ. My life started showing the fruit of a growing Christian. I started having a love for God's Word, not being a hearer of the Word, but a doer as well. I started communicating more with God through prayer; I began to share my faith with others, telling them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The foul language I spoke was turning into words of truth. I started to understand I could not serve God and my flesh.
My life is a testimony to God and I'm thankful for the saving grace of His Son Jesus Christ; if not for Jesus, I would never have had victory over my addictions, victory over broken relationships, and washed clean of my sins, restored in relationship to my God. That is the power from the cross; Jesus went willfully to the cross; there, he died, paying the penalty for our sins. On the third day He rose, defeating death and the penalty for sin, revealing He was God.
At some point this life of mine on earth will end, either by death or the return of Jesus Christ, when that day comes I want to embrace eternity with Jesus forever.
So I ask everyone here, are you ready for Jesus' return? If you where to die tonight would you be in heaven, or would hell be your final destination? Where would you rest for eternity? Those are only questions you can answer. Maybe you feel you don't deserve God's love, but the truth is we find God's love in Christ. Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Mankind has a problem with God, it's our sin. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Church, brothers and sisters, are you hurting tonight? Do you feel lost, separated, and lonely? Does your heart ache for companionship, does your spirit long to return in relationship to its maker? Our Lord is but a decision away, waiting with open arms for you…
It's never too late to turn from your sin and start embracing Christ. It's only too late once you die. Hebrews 9:27-28 says: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Turning to Christ starts by asking for forgiveness of your sins. God's forgiveness for us is found in Christ and Christ alone. Forgiveness through Jesus Christ has value for one reason; it brings us home to God. And with forgiveness comes the gift of salvation, you are saved by grace through faith.
Remember brothers and a sister, Jesus is the only way. John 14:6 Jesus says I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me the son. Some people believe you can work your way into heaven, but the truth is nothing we do can make us right in the sight of God, not our good works, not even our Church affiliation. Our salvation is God's gift to us: Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Salvation is by faith and faith alone through grace in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is preceded by repentance. A turning away from sin or, going in the opposite direction of your previous behavior. This is an act of your will empowered by the Holy Spirit... A growing in holiness so your life will reflect Jesus Christ and not this world.
Today is your day of salvation. Remember eternity is forever, make a good decision.
Keep Pressing, Keep Praying
I look forward to bringing back a good report, Lord willing!
It's been about 4 years since Jesus Christ came into my heart. The life I was living until that day was not pleasing to God; His grace and patience continued to call to my heart in spite of my lifestyle. I had failed God in many ways. I was lost in a world of my own pain, hurt, and anger. I found my comforts in joys of the flesh, not in my patient, loving, God. It was my normal response to lie, cheat, and steal in the life I was living. I did not see my sin; a worldly lifestyle was the only thing I knew. I was blinded to the truth by Satin.
After I started participating in Church, I soon figured out Church and occasionally reading my Bible was not what it meant to be a Christian. I learned that being a Christian was a personal relationship with one person and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. My eyes were opened to the truth that is in Jesus Christ. My life started showing the fruit of a growing Christian. I started having a love for God's Word, not being a hearer of the Word, but a doer as well. I started communicating more with God through prayer; I began to share my faith with others, telling them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The foul language I spoke was turning into words of truth. I started to understand I could not serve God and my flesh.
My life is a testimony to God and I'm thankful for the saving grace of His Son Jesus Christ; if not for Jesus, I would never have had victory over my addictions, victory over broken relationships, and washed clean of my sins, restored in relationship to my God. That is the power from the cross; Jesus went willfully to the cross; there, he died, paying the penalty for our sins. On the third day He rose, defeating death and the penalty for sin, revealing He was God.
At some point this life of mine on earth will end, either by death or the return of Jesus Christ, when that day comes I want to embrace eternity with Jesus forever.
So I ask everyone here, are you ready for Jesus' return? If you where to die tonight would you be in heaven, or would hell be your final destination? Where would you rest for eternity? Those are only questions you can answer. Maybe you feel you don't deserve God's love, but the truth is we find God's love in Christ. Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Mankind has a problem with God, it's our sin. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Church, brothers and sisters, are you hurting tonight? Do you feel lost, separated, and lonely? Does your heart ache for companionship, does your spirit long to return in relationship to its maker? Our Lord is but a decision away, waiting with open arms for you…
It's never too late to turn from your sin and start embracing Christ. It's only too late once you die. Hebrews 9:27-28 says: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Turning to Christ starts by asking for forgiveness of your sins. God's forgiveness for us is found in Christ and Christ alone. Forgiveness through Jesus Christ has value for one reason; it brings us home to God. And with forgiveness comes the gift of salvation, you are saved by grace through faith.
Remember brothers and a sister, Jesus is the only way. John 14:6 Jesus says I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me the son. Some people believe you can work your way into heaven, but the truth is nothing we do can make us right in the sight of God, not our good works, not even our Church affiliation. Our salvation is God's gift to us: Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Salvation is by faith and faith alone through grace in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is preceded by repentance. A turning away from sin or, going in the opposite direction of your previous behavior. This is an act of your will empowered by the Holy Spirit... A growing in holiness so your life will reflect Jesus Christ and not this world.
Today is your day of salvation. Remember eternity is forever, make a good decision.
Keep Pressing, Keep Praying
I look forward to bringing back a good report, Lord willing!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Packing for Mexico
Wow. July is already here. I've been looking forward to this trip for sometime. This is my first missions trip, and I believe God is going to move through a lot of people on this trip. I serve a BIG God, so the results will also be BIG. I look forward to sharing the Gospel of Jesus, and loving people as the body of Christ! I look forward to sharing a good report once I get back.
Please continue to pray for the team of 35 that will be going down. Pray for our safety, strong health, and just the strength of the Lord to pull us through as we aim to glorify God. Keep pressing, keep praying, keep living life as a missions field!
Love,
Seann
Please continue to pray for the team of 35 that will be going down. Pray for our safety, strong health, and just the strength of the Lord to pull us through as we aim to glorify God. Keep pressing, keep praying, keep living life as a missions field!
Love,
Seann
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Let's get fired UP 4 Christ!
What in life fires you up!
Are you a vessel for Christ or a vessel for destruction? You can't be both!
What does the cross of Christ mean to you?
Are you a vessel for Christ or a vessel for destruction? You can't be both!
What does the cross of Christ mean to you?
Recommended Read - How to be filled with the Holy Spirit - A.W. Tozer
Great read! I'm challenged by Tozer to live the Spirit filled life!
Noted from page 48, Tozer says that you may not be ready for this message because you are more influenced by the world than you are by the New Testament...
I also like the 2nd half of the book titled "Filled with the Spirit...Then What? Which really gives a good account of what the Spirit filled life looks like as well as how one might responed to the Holy Spirit.
This is a must read for Christians that desire more of the Holy Spirit and understanding of it!
Keep pressing, keep praying, keep seeking The Holy Spirit...
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