I’m having a beautiful moment with the Lord. I’ve wondered if this is one of those moments I should keep to myself or not. Obviously, I’ve decided to share a bit of it.

I’m worlds apart from the person I am to the person I dream of becoming. I wake everyday hoping that today I become more like the man I have entrusted every bit of hope I have… The man is Jesus Christ.

The lyrics of Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay are more beautiful than anything I could ever write on my own:

I pray… “To rid myself of all but love, to give and die… Take my world apart – I am on my knees – take my world apart – broken on my knees… All I am for all you are because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart.” (Jars of Clay).

I pray God takes my world apart and uses me for His glory. I ask him to use the breath He has given me to glorify Himself however he chooses.

I’m understanding today a little bit about obedience thanks to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I am am rejoicing today with the words of David found in 2 Samuel 22:21-25,

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

God take my world apart and let me change the world for your glory…

At Tapestry Church tonight we finished up Andy Stanley’s series entitled, “text:”  It’s been a great series on the importance of reading God’s Word – the Bible.  It was encouraging to hear it as I trek through the Bible this year. 

Tonight’s message really got me to thinking.  As Stanley talked, he shared a couple of verses that were illustrations to support things he does as he reads the Bible.  But the verses he read had a far different purpose at this time in my own life.  I had intended to stick around and help with the tear down but with my eyes still full of tears and my mind really at work I just left.

After watching Fireproof this weekend I have been feeling a bit beat up.  Not just about how much I need to grow as a husband and the past mistakes I have made as a husband…  In addition, the movie challenged me as a person – a follower of Jesus Christ.  I have had so many opportunities to really grow in Christ and don’t think I’ve really grown to the potential I could have over the years.  I know God is not the source of the condemnation that I feel.  Romans 8:1 is the first verse Stanley read that really ministered to me tonight.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (NIV).

The missed opportunities I had for growth began while I was in college.  As I look back over my life, it seems as though I had been treating my walk with Christ as a weekend hobby.  I want to step it up now more than ever.  I want to launch out into the deep waters of his calling and His dream for my life.

A God-inspired dream isn’t just an opportunity; it is a calling.  Your dreams aren’t simply a source of inspiration but the stewardship of your life. If you choose to dream with your eyes open, you will eventually have to start creating.  Jesus warns us that we don’t want to be found empty handed.  We all have something to bring to the table.  (Erwin McManus, Wide Awake, 161).

I know I have much to bring to the table.  For me right now it’s finding the right table to bring it to.  There is a well of mistakes, hurts, disappointments, and sin that God has been so gracious to forgive and to heal.  I don’t want to waste what He has given.  

Are you being a good steward of your life? 

Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation. (Matthew 24:45-47, The Message).

Do you have something from your past that you can’t seem to get victory over?  Maybe it’s a bad decision that was made you would like to “do-over”.  I think we all have something that we regret.  For some it easier to move on than others.  The rest end up living in despair over past decisions or failures.

I recently talked with someone who was having difficulty overcoming something from their past.  This thing was hindering current relationships.  There was a tremendous amount of despair over this past failure.  I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to let the past go.  I also know the freedom that comes when true forgiveness has taken place. 

Wherever you may find yourself in dealing with your past – God’s grace - given to us through the life of Jesus  – is more giving than we often-times want to accept or believe.  Hear the words of Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest.

But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him. (February 18).

God’s love truly is amazing! 

As I read through Luke, I see how much Jesus loves his people.  I’m so thankful he gave his life for us… I’m thankful for the forgiveness, hope, love, joy he provides.  His love is truly amazing. 

I have been just saying the name – JESUS all week.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…. say his name with me.  He loves like no one else.  In Luke 18the blind man called out, “Son of David have mercy on me!”  I can imagine the depth of his call to the Son of God.  Jesus heard his call and met his need and the blind man received his sight.  I bet Jesus longs for us all to call out to him… seek him… know Him… focus on him like nothing else in this world.

Do you know him?  Do you love him?  Do you put your trust in him?  God’s love is shown to us through his Son – Jesus.  Call his Name!

For God so loved the world…

It seems like for the past 5 years I have been running around in the same circle.  The circle I’ve been running now is well marked.  Kind of like the rut you find on the ground around a merry-go-round at the park.

Faith.  What does it mean to live by faith?  Do you really know what that means? That’s what I ask myself… and anyone else that may be listening.  I have these set of verses that keep coming up as I read the Bible.  It’s the same set over the past 5 years that keep surfacing.  My heart races a bit when I read them.  I remember situations in the past when I read them, prayed, waited, and acted. 

Read Mark 11:22-25 with me,

Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”  (The Message).

“Embrace this God-life.”  I continue to hold on.  I question, “Do I really have faith?”  Mark 9:23-24 is another set of verses that continue to come across my eyes when I read Scripture,

23Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

 24No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

There’s this cry for something from within me… something that reaches out that gives me the assurance of meaning and purpose – which leads to me knowing I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.  This comes so easy for some… and so difficult for me. 

I think a part of the problem for me revolves around one of the words found in the Mark 11 verses listed above.  “Forgiveness”.  If I’m going to really embrace this God-life I’ve got to let some things go… and forgive.

The message of love permeates the world at this time every year.  Can you hear it?  Do you hear the message?  Or are you lost in the packages, parties, and pressures? 

The message is this… God came to this world wrapped up in flesh.  He is Emmanuel “God with us”.  He lived and walked this earth as a man.  Now we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  He came so that we could be made right with God… he came as a Savior to set us free from our sin and death.

In the midst of the Season, do you hear Him calling?  Speaking?  Do you hear Him calling you to Himself? 

I struggle with forgiveness.  I want to be a forgiving person… one that can let the past remain in the past.  Today I want to forgive and let love in.  Whatever you find yourself struggling with – let the love of Jesus Christ in – he will forgive and the Holy Spirit will fill you.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr-Z_bckzYQ]

Hope is the word that lingers in my head these days.  There’s a lot of people in need of hope.  Hope in conquering the past, the present, and the fears of the future.  Hope…

I watched and interview yesterday on CBN.  CBN’s guest was Glenn Beck.  They were talking about his new book, The Christmas Sweater.  It was a very emotional interview… full of redemption and hope.  As I enter into December 2008, I am going to focus on hope.

Romans 5:1-5 in the Message,

1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

 3-5There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-2Elg1fUOY&feature=related]

After reading a passage in Psalms and reflecting on some things in and around my life – I have begun some evaluation.  These are some random questions I began to ask myself:

• Who do I trust?  Why?
• Do I trust anyone with everything about me?  Or do I pick and choose certain people depending on the circumstance?
• How do I know when someone is trustworthy? 
• What are the traits of someone who is trust worthy?
• Once trust has been broken – How does someone regain my trust? Is it possible?

trust [truhst]

reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

God is all strength for his people,
      ample refuge for his chosen leader;
   Save your people
      and bless your heritage.
   Care for them;
      carry them like a good shepherd. (Psalm 28:8-9, The Message).

I know at times in life (family, church, job, and other relationships) it is tough to trust.  To have full confidence in someone else can be a scary thing.  Especially if one of those people or institutions has broken that trust.  I think sometimes I am too trusting of others… almost to the point of being naive.  Although, lately I have been catching myself being very skeptical of putting a lot of trust in others.  I don’t like being like that. 

I had surgery on my arm and back this year.  I had these lypoma’s removed.  All is well with me and the places where they were removed.  The strange thing is that I am very guarded still about those two areas on my body.  There was some damage there in the past.  It has been dealt with… yet I still want to protect them especially when someone touches either area.  I don’t even like to touch those places either.

Being hurt or let down by others will make anyone skeptical of putting total trust on the line once again. Does this keep you from trusting God?

I was reading Psalm 28 and this idea of trust came to my mind.  I thought about a few words in the two verses listed above.  (Strength, refuge, save, care for, and carry.)  I asked myself these questions: 

Do I really rely on His strength?  Do I trust Him to be my refuge or fortress?  Do I trust Him to save me?  Do I have confidence that He cares for me?  When I know I’m at the end of my strength do I trust He will carry me?

Ma`owz - fortress

(As found in Psalm 28:8)

place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold

1. place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold
2. refuge (of God) (Crosswalk.com Bible Study Tools).

When the world all around seems so unstable – Look to God… trust Him with your life!  He loves us both so much!  Run to safety trust the LORD to carry you.

During the lunch break on Thursday I was standing there and Tim said something to me like this, “Are you OK?  You look like you are in deep thought or something is bothering you…” 

I was OK.  I think I was stunned after that first message.  Andy Stanley talked about 3 specific things and how they relate to doing ministry.  They are:  Forgiveness, Family, and Finances.  God really got my attention right off the bat.

Just moments prior to Stanley’s talk I had a conversation about forgivenss.  Then to hear Stanley talk about it I was dumb-founded.  I was in shock… it was as if he had just read my mail… like he had been listening in on my conversation… this was such a God moment for me.  Literally I thought I was the only one in the room.  The element of Finances was the other key point to this power-packed threesome of points. As a family, we have made some decisions on this as well.

The mess was cleaned up with each message I heard afterward. Now that I am home I am trying to figure out what the purpose of all this was.  I think I know.  I am still praying through it.  I want to do what thus says the LORD.  I am making sure I’m not chasing after something Roye wants to do.

So I am back to making another decision.  I know Joel would have you think the decision still centers on whether I should wear Boxers or Briefs.  (If you need more info on this click here… then read the comments).

It’s kind of an exciting moment… not the choice of boxer or briefs.  That decision has been already made.

So, while we are on the subject I think I will try out this new feature here on wordpress…

[polldaddy poll=1000763]

I don’t know what the latest and greatest material is these days… I can recall Gore-Tex being the material to wear when in the great outdoors.

Colossians 3:12-17 tells us what is the best thing to be clothed in.  It’s the one garment that has stood the test of time.  It doesn’t fade or go out of style.

12-14So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

 15-17Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (The Message, Eugene Peterson).