what just happened....?

Seems somewhere in time life transformed from reading to living.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-7

When just then it all seemed to explain itself. Past, present and future. The passage goes on to explain the Paul, Silas and Timothy lived among the Thessalonians so that they may learn. They imitate what they learn, then carry that which they have learned to be modeled by others. Seems that's how life change happens.

As I prepare my heart to counsel with another brother this evening, I have a confidence in those who have shared and lived beside me. Life change starts by investment in others allowing God's love to speak. What's even better my bride is out with his fiance' tonight too. An awesome feeling to know how God answers prayer.

For way too long I was surrounded by believer's that leaned against the cross, it was hard for me to see His glory as the eyes of judgement were cast upon me. Now I am surrounded by those who kneel before the cross with their eye's of imperfection cast upon the cross. Do not just speak the words, live them.

As I rip off the words of Perry Noble, "keep running up the score God!"

a violinist....

While watching a violinist I was floored by his focus, his whole body seemed to be caught in that moment. While watching his facial expressions, I began thinking about the music he was playing. As if he was the only instrument playing, he was consumed; oblivious to the sounds & world around him. He trusted the training, rehearsal and knowledge to be completely in tune. He was confident in his craft, skills of others and calling that his only focus was in the present moment. He was not lost in the moment he was focused on the moment. So as the violinist's bow draws across the strings, all sacrifice to that point emboldens him to know he has what it takes to make the next note.

A question I hear from men struggling is how do you resist temptation? Fight then resist, know where the enemy lives among you. Scripture says when tempted; not if. To fight temptation, I actively participate in the moment, on my toes not on my heels. If I am not resisting temptation I may be entertaining it. Submitting to Him I will find confidence in His strength, I can identify where temptation enters and prevent desire from becoming sin.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ends the passage with ...he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The gospel as a living ever changing force in my life. I have read the book of James for it's practicality & as my ipod plays podcasts in my ears, I listen to Essential James series over and over. Pastor tagged so many one liners that continue to transform my thoughts. Although the line that kept playing over is from Real Change Campaign, "I would rather change little by little than never having changed at all."

In Essential James, Pastor kicked it square. Revelation & application lead to transformation. So in reading James 3:17, I see how He has worked on me. Once living with wrong motives, closed minded, judgement of others, unanswered prayers...living life in utter disregard for the claims of God on my life. When my eyes are opened to the reality of transformation as these things slowly but surely cease to be a part of me. Just then the answer appears, "If we come near to God, He will come near to us and our lives will change." I have peace.......

Way to go God the score seems to be running up!

hope....or Hope?

After speaking to someone who remarked something to the effect of "I hope I will find peace and freedom from what holds me back." When truly the bottom line is "what holds me back....me" As if to say "one day I hope I can go to Disney World." Certainly not if you do not labor for it!

When I suddenly realized hope has become some misrepresentation of it's meaning. In it's own distorted way it means wishful thinking. If there is one thing that I have come to believe is look back in my life, call on history. When I have let go of what holds me back; faith and hope step in to allow His past performance to prove His future faithfulness. In this conversation hope stepped forward and offered the words "Hope is a confidence that God will do as He has promised."

I prefer to live in the hope of His return rather than "I hope Christ returns?" There is no question in that statement for He has responded every time I moved to Him. Steadfast in Hope, I am changed because of that Hope.

"A memory from my past can be just the encouragement I need in a difficult time. When in doubt, think back." (author unknown by me) "The scars of sin will be gone..." Philippians

independence day....

Been thinking about what freedom is; or what it is not because I have more experience in that category.
Freedom is less me and more Thee.
Freedom is not mine but Thine.
Freedom is more Thy than my.
I was in search of independence when what I was really missing was freedom.
As I begin to think about the grace in His pursuing me, I see freedom was paid by those who came before, who gave for the cost of freedom from the law. Christ sacrificed His freedom so that He could pay for mine. He was and is the only way to find freedom. Bought and paid...through that comes real independence, knowing the Father's love for me. An intimacy with God.

That's freedom to me
Mark 10:45 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

responding....

When you hear that voice inside what do you do? I am beginning to hear things more clearly and it is not the food talking!

Today, I heard this "I have brought people to you, now you need to bring people to me." See the witnessing thing has never been my strong suit. Just let my actions speak. For me it is the easy way, never having to step from my comfort. I know that He has plans for my life, comfort is not what's important. I have a bold confidence, not there before. I have the ability to meet people through compassionate understanding, I have been there & I have been forgiven.

Just the other day I was sitting at God's Nectar House (Starbucks) with a new friend, had to thank God, because as I listened to him, it was clear He is using me. I was where he was just a few years ago. Our prayer has always been that He uses our testimony to serve His Kingdom...He is!

To this point it has only required being willing. He is now requiring more from me. I see how God is using my mistakes for His glory. The things that once separated me from Him are now what draw me closer......

I responded, at the very moment He spoke; the person He needed me to speak to was directly in sight. Can not just let my actions speak, I have to voice my actions. He loves me that much...to surround me with people who need to know!

what counts....

Perspective of judgements....
Galatians 6:15 "....what counts is a new creation."
Shame and guilt have kept my life devoid of His power, freedom and grace.
I could never seem to seperate myself from judgement I placed on myself. I must step out of His way, He has shown me value in the new creation I have become. The Victory is won, He doesn't throw our sin back in our face, that's been ransomed, paid and forgiven. "There is no ressurection without a crucifixion." Let go of my understanding and allow His power in the provisions. I appreciate Perry's practical truth in the week2 message from "God is....."series.

So what counts is a new creation, I must remember actively that I am a new creation. Stop bearing the burdens He has already lifted. Stop holding on to what does not belong to me. Start living for today, start believing God is......

Change...

"The place between hope and change....is pain." Real Change Campaign (week4) The difference today I used to believe a message was all it took, "why does it not root?" Then I hear something that describes the very difference in my life today. I used to think God's transformational power could come from a message...because I just wanted to be fed and changed.

A sermon can offer hope
Hope fosters a decision
Decision ministers change
Change demands that I do something more than just listen.....

Stop waiting for the answer, start moving towards it.

expectations....

Sandra and I have had conversations about expectations, that others place, that we place on any given situation. I was struck by the profound revelation, "having no expectations is even an expectation." Communication is what will bring the greatest opportunity to grace. Sometimes you have to speak to the unspoken.

An example, last night someone told me he would be in early to make up 4 hrs. missed. So at when I arrived to find he was not here, my expectations went unmet. At 7:45 (15 min. early)when he arrived "early" I thought it really would have helped if I had asked "what does early mean?"

Sandra had a conversation with someone about how we didn't meeting her expectations, when they were never spoken; only expected. Fact is we never will live up to the expectations of some, if you answer one there will always be another. I lived my childhood insecure by unmet expectations placed on me. Most of which were never spoken, imprisoned by others self imposed out of fear, insecurity a lack of self esteem.

It is easier and I am better at not speaking what needs to be spoken. It is the same thing spiritually for me, when I articulate to God what I carry, it is the only way I allow Him to take it from me. Often it is what's unsaid that can hurt the deepest, so why not just say it, He is just waiting to exceed my expectations; if I ask. That's Grace!

In me, not on me.....

Visiting Starbucks this morning someone mentioned her daughter that suffers from an eating disorder. I asked more, since she was speaking about it. She said "she is anorexic." Immediately my heart felt burdened, pained for this girl. Immediately my response was "I will pray for her," as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 came to mind "pray without ceasing."

What burdens my heart most is that Satan uses the power of our affliction and sin to bind us in the bondage. The bondage of shame and guilt that holds us back from the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ. We are blinded to receiving the grace He paid in the ultimate sacrifice of death on the cross. The fact is we're wrong in our perspective, pray that we may see through His eyes. "See God in me, not the filth that was on me."

Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace" he sings "My God my Savior has ransomed me." He has paid the price, even if I feel no worth, He knew the cost He would pay. It was never the cost....it was all the value! My commission as a believer and father is to make sure I do not miss the opportunity to share the value. The cost can keep us captive, the value will set us free....