What I'm about to blog is nothing new nothing if your a christian you haven't heard a million times:
It feels good to do what's right. A sermon I listened to this morning talked about purity in the church. When the Lord comes back He'll be looking for a spotless bride. I believe sometimes we wonder why God isn't moving in our church services, why do we feel dead and empty sometimes? The fact is there is a higher call to purity in our lives, and the thing about it is it's not just specific areas of our lives, its every area. The only one who can do it is Christ, through repentance. If we would do this us ourselves couldn't stop the work God would do in us and through us. Look around at different areas of your life, what needs to be cast out, is it an attitude, a habit, a tv show? If you take a close look and start weeding out the junk and put it before God we will rise up and have "Life and Life to the full". But the desire has to be in our hearts first!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
John
For some reason this morning, I decided to start a journey through the gospel of John.
I started in Chapter One and didn't even make it all the way through the first chapter, not because of lack of interest but because it didn't take long for God to reveal something awesome to me. The particular verse that hit me today was:
John 1:10-13
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
This blew my mind this morning. Especially in verse 12. All who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Look at 13, not of natural, of human decision, but born of God.
I've read this many times but I have never really read it. If you choose God, you have the right to become his Child, you become Born of God. WOW!, goes along with the verse that says we are a royal priesthood, set apart. We bear the name of Jesus if we are His Child. This should not be taken lightly, it's a responsibility, and a blessing we won't ever fully understand!
Praise the Lord that I am a child of God, set apart, let me not take this lightly or take it for granted.
I started in Chapter One and didn't even make it all the way through the first chapter, not because of lack of interest but because it didn't take long for God to reveal something awesome to me. The particular verse that hit me today was:
John 1:10-13
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
This blew my mind this morning. Especially in verse 12. All who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Look at 13, not of natural, of human decision, but born of God.
I've read this many times but I have never really read it. If you choose God, you have the right to become his Child, you become Born of God. WOW!, goes along with the verse that says we are a royal priesthood, set apart. We bear the name of Jesus if we are His Child. This should not be taken lightly, it's a responsibility, and a blessing we won't ever fully understand!
Praise the Lord that I am a child of God, set apart, let me not take this lightly or take it for granted.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A word about healing/filling.
Our church/youth group just came off one of those "Over the Top" weekends. We had a three day impact weekend, with some amazing guest speakers. The first night was composed of a worship service. The next day our group picked up trash in the projects, had small group discussions, and then went to an incredible Saturday night worship services. God was moving in the place from the youngest to the oldest. Students who had been addicted to drugs were being broken before the Lord.
Then Sunday came, we had the great opportunity to have Pastor Wayne at our church Sunday morning and Sunday Night. Both very challenging messages, what hit me the most and most deeply was Sunday Night, I would like to explain why.
First off a team of college students and high school students oh and me, were supposed to lead worship that night. We had been up late and up early all of the days and had played in downtown Georgetown, that afternoon. So we were tired, but I can not tell you how easy it was to play. It was like God took the weariness, and the attitudes and tiredness and threw it out and anointed us. It was a small crowd, but the worship at least from my viewpoint was pure and almost effortless. That's where it started, the freedom started to flow in that place. The pastor had us all get together old school style like a small group, and he began to start teaching on the Holy Spirit and his filling.
It was well presented and very simply presented, very down to earth. Then the part of the service came where you start arguing in your mind whether you need to do something. He called anyone down that wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit or needed a healing. I didn't want to go down, But God pretty much smacked me and said Go! So I went down and started seeking it. I said God make this real to me, take my doubts that I had been having for four years away. And I'm happy to write He did!
I also received prayer for my diabetes, something I've been praying about for a long time. I was not healed but, I heard a sermon this morning via podcast, ( I can listen and work at the same time) that talked about a healing from a lady that had severe food allergies, basically could eat nothing. She talked about a period of six years that she went through the motions of church, served, but had bitterness in her heart. She said she was angry with God for giving her this condition. In 1997 she attended the Brownsville revival, against her will, and God moved in her life. I mean literally shook the sin and bitterness out of her and completely healed her and to this day 12 years later is still healed! This spoke to me in a few ways:
1. As long as I have diabetes, I'm going to take care of myself and not be angry about it. God can work with me and through me with this disease and sustain me.
2. Healing is completely possible and I believe one day in God's timing I'll be healed.
3. We serve a Mighty and Powerful God who loves us at levels so deep that we can not imagine
Then Sunday came, we had the great opportunity to have Pastor Wayne at our church Sunday morning and Sunday Night. Both very challenging messages, what hit me the most and most deeply was Sunday Night, I would like to explain why.
First off a team of college students and high school students oh and me, were supposed to lead worship that night. We had been up late and up early all of the days and had played in downtown Georgetown, that afternoon. So we were tired, but I can not tell you how easy it was to play. It was like God took the weariness, and the attitudes and tiredness and threw it out and anointed us. It was a small crowd, but the worship at least from my viewpoint was pure and almost effortless. That's where it started, the freedom started to flow in that place. The pastor had us all get together old school style like a small group, and he began to start teaching on the Holy Spirit and his filling.
It was well presented and very simply presented, very down to earth. Then the part of the service came where you start arguing in your mind whether you need to do something. He called anyone down that wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit or needed a healing. I didn't want to go down, But God pretty much smacked me and said Go! So I went down and started seeking it. I said God make this real to me, take my doubts that I had been having for four years away. And I'm happy to write He did!
I also received prayer for my diabetes, something I've been praying about for a long time. I was not healed but, I heard a sermon this morning via podcast, ( I can listen and work at the same time) that talked about a healing from a lady that had severe food allergies, basically could eat nothing. She talked about a period of six years that she went through the motions of church, served, but had bitterness in her heart. She said she was angry with God for giving her this condition. In 1997 she attended the Brownsville revival, against her will, and God moved in her life. I mean literally shook the sin and bitterness out of her and completely healed her and to this day 12 years later is still healed! This spoke to me in a few ways:
1. As long as I have diabetes, I'm going to take care of myself and not be angry about it. God can work with me and through me with this disease and sustain me.
2. Healing is completely possible and I believe one day in God's timing I'll be healed.
3. We serve a Mighty and Powerful God who loves us at levels so deep that we can not imagine
Friday, March 6, 2009
Impact Weekend
Here's the low-down for the upcoming weekend:
First it's supposed to be around 70-80 degrees in Georgetown this weekend which is such an incredible blessing from God.
Friday night:
6pm-till? Youth Service, worship, teaching, go back to refinery to hang out and discuss
Saturday
7am I'm going to run 5 miles cause I'm that crazy....
9 am meet back up at refinery and do a service project and some bible study
5pm evening service more worship and teaching....
Sunday
10:30 am Guest speaker from the weekend, speaking at our church
2pm-4pm block party, Where Scott,Derek,Drew,Sara,Lauren,Ashely and I will be playing down on front street
6pm Evening Service, doing worship this night and also same speaker from the morning.
I am anticipating great things this weekend, and for lives to be touched and changed.
I will update on the happenings next week. If you read this be praying for our students as we want to see all the youth grow this weekend!
First it's supposed to be around 70-80 degrees in Georgetown this weekend which is such an incredible blessing from God.
Friday night:
6pm-till? Youth Service, worship, teaching, go back to refinery to hang out and discuss
Saturday
7am I'm going to run 5 miles cause I'm that crazy....
9 am meet back up at refinery and do a service project and some bible study
5pm evening service more worship and teaching....
Sunday
10:30 am Guest speaker from the weekend, speaking at our church
2pm-4pm block party, Where Scott,Derek,Drew,Sara,Lauren,Ashely and I will be playing down on front street
6pm Evening Service, doing worship this night and also same speaker from the morning.
I am anticipating great things this weekend, and for lives to be touched and changed.
I will update on the happenings next week. If you read this be praying for our students as we want to see all the youth grow this weekend!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Ordinary?
Do you struggle with this? The ordinary parts of life. The getting up, going to work, doing what we do parts of life? I go in an out of these spurts where I am completely fired up for God, and other days I sit here and try to just pass the day away, as though there's not a living breathing God watching over me. It could be though, I'm just tired and need some diet pepsi!
What I think gets dangerous about thinking things are ordinary is we can get complacent. Take for granted the fact, we have a job to go to, we have all our limbs working, I had choices when I wanted to eat breakfast today. Truth is, I'm blessed beyond all comprehension each day I wake up and do the "ordinary".
The God I serve is never ever just ordinary! Rejoice and thank God today for his blessings!
What I think gets dangerous about thinking things are ordinary is we can get complacent. Take for granted the fact, we have a job to go to, we have all our limbs working, I had choices when I wanted to eat breakfast today. Truth is, I'm blessed beyond all comprehension each day I wake up and do the "ordinary".
The God I serve is never ever just ordinary! Rejoice and thank God today for his blessings!
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