what level, what risk?

Playing solitaire on the computer I have seen my level of comfort. Instead of risking my "statistics" I prefer to play at a level that allows total comfort, a winning record. I know when my hockey team takes the ice we typically play a better game if we play the first place team, instead of the last place team. We stand the chance of a loss or victory, but we play differently. Are you the underdog or heavily favored for victory?

I am finding I want some predictability in the turbulent seas that is my life right now. I am wanting to play at beginner's level. What is that other than yesterday's success? What am I placing on the line? Am I fighting or folding?

In my journey I am facing giants, the unknown, the odds seem stacked against me. So Biblical reference takes more significance in my walk, what have I been learning? God uses the believer, what that looks like - the weak, the broken, the sinner, the underdog.....
Pastor just shared a message on "4 ways to accelerate escape from no man's land..." His first point was "Take a God lead relational risk." 2 Samuel 12:1-14 Nathan leading David to repentance. Another I think of is Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14, he took a risk from the safety of the pomegranate tree and defeated the Philistines. The odds were not in his favor! I have got to stop feeling sorry for myself, stop waiting on Him. I have to move to Him.....no matter what the outcome I need to step into Him. After all the scripture goes on to say "perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf." If I do not even take the step, how can He act on our behalf? Taking the risk of "act on our behalf" is my part here, have faith, God lead risk, not foolish risk. Taking comfortable risk is no risk at all......

Power to or power through.....

"Is it the power to me or is it the power through me?"
Used to be without a doubt, it's me....to me was the answer.

Here is the profound explanation I received today in reading scripture. The Dead Sea, the largest body of water in a dry thirsty land, is exactly that - a dead sea. The water flows to it, there is no outlet so evaporation and stagnation make it polluted and useless. This is a powerful illustration of faith if I allow it to stagnate. We can know all the right things and even say all the right things, but if our faith finds no expression - no outlet - it is dead. One of the ways true faith will manifest itself is in our attitudes and actions towards others.
(John 7:37-38)
His life giving water must flow through us to touch others...I can not miss the key of that thought. It has nothing to do with the words I speak, everything to do with the Spirit in which it's spoken.

Ouch

Saturday, Sandra and I heard a story that brought me to my knees. We had to pray for this couple, a couple we may never meet, yet our testimony may.... I was so burdened by what I heard, I could not stop at hearing, we had to take action.

A wife's encouraging & coaching....

I must remember that when you feel all alone, let it out in order to let Him in. Some words I received from Sandra this morning....funny how simple words can speak such life into your heart. It can be just the catalyst you need to make the next step, take action and do what needs to be done; calling on His strength.


Some thoughts...
I wanted you to know that I am proud of you. I know this time is very difficult. The Lord is pruning and pressing you. He is making you into that new creation and it does not happen without discomfort. I pray that you will keep your eyes fixed on Him. Know without a shadow of doubt that He has a plan for you. Just take one step forward at a time. Try not to focus on the big picture. We have a lot out there that is overwhelming and scary if we look it all at once. Change does not happen overnight. It takes time and effort. I praise Him that He never gives up on us and walks with us wherever we need to go. I praise Him for you. I am with you heart and soul!

With all my love and respect,
San

Your words, how timely and divinely God has used them to speak to me.

A new creation...

Lord, "You've spoken life into my darkness, now may it serve you!"

New Creation Video Content from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

set adrift....

A friend said to me this morning describing my belief in Him and practice there of....."you set sail without the sail being raised, the difference today is your sail has been raised, your bearings are set to the horizon and their is an objective, a destination."
Why does it sound so easy to understand? I was set adrift in the past, trying to head in the right direction, but being tossed about occasionally making progress to the destination, all too often being pushed ashore in the tide. Now I can be more effective, even as the winds change, I come about and I am still heading to the objective. I am allowing Him to fill my sails and push me towards His destination for me. He will fill the sails, I must remain focused on Him continuing to move towards Him.

thanks.....

You ever feel so blown away by His love? All I can say is He provides, Agape Love is so much bigger than any words I would be able to use to express His Grace and our gratitude. So what do you say when His people respond by blessing others?
Let me just try, "Thanks, I am so humbled by His provisions in our life. So humbled I can not sleep, all I can do is lay awake thanking Him for the people in our life. This has been such an incredible journey filled with opportunity to trust in Him. Where I used to simply give up and take my will back because I was so uncomfortable believing I was worthy of His Grace & Love. Now I kneel before Him, all He asks of me is that I believe He died for me. I have to live like I believe, respond to His call & His love fills our life. A peace of life that surpasses all understanding....His love...I believe."

See when I speak of His love, I believe in the significance and value of what He has done for me. I was only able to see what I used to be, now His righteousness has restored me. Amazing Grace....I was blind but now I see. Here's the perfect description of what is happening in my life, thanks Neicy (or have a tissue for this one) for saying exactly what I was thinking, "that people may see God in me, rather than the filth that was on me." Thanks to Him, out of the water I am a new man!

perspective....

Perspective today hits hard as the shop is almost full again with people....work...and fresh reflection. Today's thought while working in the shop 3 radios stations, 1 ipod all programmed to something different. Used to flip me out, yet I never wanted to be the one to let go of what I wanted to hear. Today, it is a symphony of harmonies to my ears, a punch of gratitude and a dose of reality all at the same time.
Just proves how insignificant the issues and how significant the people. Where else can you hear Fleetwood Mac-Breaking Benjamin-Casting Crowns-Latin beats & Pastor preach about Mephibosheth which is almost harder to say than singing along with the Latin hip-hop! Just a little helpful dose of what's good for me....Praising God!

picture this...

Here is an image that I have not been able to let go of....not even sure where or how it landed. The importance is it did.
"Who do you surround yourself with.....those who lean on the cross, our those who kneel before the cross?"
This has proven to be an absolutely powerful image to understand and contemplate. I think I have begun to realize a significant difference as a believer. I have been both, one is proving to be far more powerful in the supernatural transformation of my life and my service to Him. I pray every time I open my eyes it is the foot of the cross that is the first thing I see.

Spare tire...

About 2 years ago I was driving in my truck, I felt a sudden thud then in my rear view I something bounce across the road. It looked like a wheel, it was my spare tire, the mounting had rotted and suddenly let go. I was thinking this was miraculous, it let go from under my truck, bounced across a major roadway and onto the side of the road. Now it took me a little to realize what had happened, and respond to it. When I did respond I can remember that I even said to myself, "well maybe I do not even need it, after all my truck was 13 years old and I had not needed it before, so will I need it in the future?"
I have been thinking about this recently, there is so much to think about.
1. I was willing to risk my safety and not have a spare.
2. No one was injured as it easily could have caused an accident.
3. It was questionable if it was worth my efforts to go after it.
4. Ignore and pretend it never happened.
What has been circulating in my brain is this, God has always been there waiting on me to see Him. I was treating my relationship with Him like a spare tire. Truth is I was waiting for Him to respond to me. He finally said "what do I need to do to get your attention?" Was it not enough He was bouncing in my rear view mirror trying to get my attention. As He bounced, danced across the road not only grabbing my attention, others as well. I turned around and picked it up, threw into the bed...strapped it in and keep it from getting away. I realized, I thought I did not need it, but have realized just how much I need Him.
I have to stop treating my love for Jesus like a spare tire, call on it only when I need it. He wants so much more for me.....

Believe in the value...

Studying Matthew 26, Jesus in Gethsemane as Pastor has shared a message about these passages. I have had a number of conversations with men recently that have drawn me back to this message "The cost of your calling." What has spoken to me most is the burden that Jesus bore for me. In v.38 Jesus was overwhelmed at the cost, yet He focused on the value of what He was doing......for you and for me.

In v.41 Jesus goes on to say "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Be on guard. It's one thing to understand with my brain, until I bear that burden and understanding in my heart I believe it is impossible to see the call. I am sickened to know that I was to keep watch, over my own heart and I fall asleep. I love this sickening feeling "I now have this in my heart." I am believing more than ever in the value of His calling on me. I still must be on guard for the stakes continue to grow. The pressing continues with even more pressure, to extract every drop of oil from the olive.
All that I/we have gone through will serve His "calling." You do not get to turn your calling off. The value is too significant. He went to the Cross for me....He knew the cost and died for me.