The world is my stage

My last blog was September 2011. What has happened since then?  Probably too many things than I have time to mention. God has been at work, no doubt. 

I have no idea why i have not blogged in so long. I guess I would say I didn't have anything to say. That would still probably be wrong. So what has prevented me from doing what I loved for a time. God is the only answer I can come up with. 

I have been pretty frustrated in a certain area of my spiritual life. There have been some possibilities that didn't come through. Some feelings and emotions that are on the verge of being unchecked. 

I really feel that I am a minister without a pulpit. An evangelist without a people. What in the world is God trying to show me in this time? 

I've always liked the stories of John the baptist. A voice of one crying in the wilderness. People were going to him to see what was going on.  Maybe that's how I need to view things, again. It's something I already know but, I guess I need reminded. God is sending people to us all the time. The people around you need God or they need more of Him. I know I need more of Him.

God says He will give us the words to speak. He will direct our steps. He has planned great things for His people to do.

The world is our stage.

GLORIFY

Definition of GLORY

1a : praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent : renown b : worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving <giving glory to God>

 

 

Definition of GLORIOUS

1a : possessing or deserving glory : illustrious b : entitling one to glory <a glorious victory>

2: marked by great beauty or splendor : magnificent <a glorious sunset>

 

Definition of GLORIFY

1a : to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration b : to elevate to celestial glory.

 

I think most of us would say that we want to live a life that Glorifies God.  More over a life that Glorifies Him and also points others to do the same. But what does that mean? What does that look like?

 

Matthew Chp 5 says we are the light of the world, let our light shine, others will see and glorify the Father.  I know I for one look at myself and think, "How can I point others to Glorify the Father?" when I look at what all is wrong with me how can God use me.

 

Really the answer is simpler than one might think. God's is bigger than you are. What can you do that God says, "Now what am I going to do?" Nothing. Read through the Psalms, as you see David a man after God's own heart, crying out to Abba, praising Him, searching for Him. 

 

It wasn't that David was perfect, he apparently had a few issues throughout his life. Same as us, but God saw through all of those faults (which God uses to change us) and built a great Kingdom through David. 

 

God is working through you. Take heart. With your Heart seek Him, seek His Love, seek His mercy and grace.  Remember that this is a constant spiritual battle, and wanting to good evil is right there with us. 

 

Please take a minute, follow this link read Psalm 69.   

 

Finally I leave you with a few scriptures.

Psalm 86:12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.Psalm 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.Psalm 34:3
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

I want to thank you so much for reading. My prayer from the beginning was that God be glorified. To spread the Love of Christ. To question religion and find Relationship. To challenge others to realize the leadership potential God has built within them. You are here for battle. We might have varying roles in there, but I feel we are at war.

 

Love in Christ- David

 

 

What's a BIG DEAL!?

Who at this point hasn't had some thing happen that was a really big deal? I think everyone has. Let's  look back in time and I mean, lets go way back. How about High school, far enough?

When I was in High School I was ultra self-conscious, at least till I was a Senior. But I can remember some things that happened that were really a big deal. Like not having enough money to go to the movies with friends or having to take my lunch when I was a freshmen, thought that was a big deal. Basically anything that didn't go MY way was a big deal.

But what is a big deal to God?

I have seen loved ones die after years of illness. Is this not a big deal? I have seen friends lose their children before they take their first breath, is this not a big deal? I have seen my own family struggle through difficulties, is this not a big deal?

One thing I have noticed over the years, is that God has changed my perception of what is a BIG DEAL. Most things that are currently a big deal, focus on me. I'm focused on my problems and I am only looking at them through my perspective.

Nothing has happened or will, that God has not known. My life has one main purpose, to be conformed to the image and likeness of His son.  Through that statement, it is a life of gratefulness, thanksgiving, love, and compassion.

I do not know hardship or suffering compared to what others throughout the world do. Nor does it compare to the Love that God himself showed for me. While I was wrapped up in a BIG DEAL, wrapped up in self, wrapped up with the concerns of this world, wrapped in sin, Christ died for me. 

As I look back on those things that were a big deal at the time. I see God provided and delivered and moreover LOVED me through all these things. Furthermore, I couldn't show the kind of compassion and comfort to others I should, had i not endured and been brought through these things. Since I was comforted, I can better show comfort to others. 

I hope the next BIG DEAL that comes along I will have a better handle on it. That I will have less self in it. That I will immediately turn my face toward Abba, our Father in Heaven, and glorify His name. For nothing is out side of His ability, His Love, His Faithfulness.

What's a big deal to God, You, more than your physical well being, it's your spirit, a Big Deal is your eternity.
May the God of Peace wrap you in His unfailing Love- David



AWAKE

I don't know about you but sometimes it seems like I am on a train that keeps making the same trip over and over. I get used to the bumps, the curves, some unexpected stops to let people on and off. I have even gotten used to the noise. This week I heard on a local radio station, this Hip-hop bible verse thing, really loved it. It was called "Streetlights Project".  It is a free download by the way.

But any way, the verse they played on the radio was Eph 5: 1-21. After I downloaded it, I have listened to that one passage many times. There was just something in it that was entangling my mind. Although that might not take much, it was still happening.  Actually one little part, a couple words, from one verse.

vs. 14

“Wake up, sleeper....

There was something in those word that called out to me. They made me want to listen more and read that passage again.  But I am not a sleep am I? I have accepted Christ, is this for me?

But maybe I have been napping or sleep walking. We had a message at our church months ago that said "just because something isn't bothering you, doesn't mean it shouldn't be."

Maybe that is me. I have lost the seriousness of the situation. That all things are either good or bad. There is not a gray area with God. There is Truth or a lie, Light or darkness, Life or death.  

God this week, I need your help. Eph 5:1-2 - Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Help me to follow your example, help me to be an imitator of your love, compassion, and grace. Give me your thoughts, your insight, let your Spirit flow through me, through all of us.  And God, thanks for the Wake Up call.

Love- David.

YOUR IMPACT: HIGH

One of the things that I sometimes struggle with is where I am in life. I was really bad about this but have slowly been changed over time. I used to say God if I had this Job, this House, this Money, this and that. It was beyond being content. I was happy I just wanted more of God and determined I knew the way to grow that relationship. That my usefulness to God some how related to the circumstances I find my self in.

So in this growth the scripture that God led me to is in Corinthians. Paul is addressing marriage, circumcision, and slavery but it seems to apply.

1 Corinthians 7:24

²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

So now I know it is not where I'm at nor is it what I'm doing. Another verse tells us do everything as unto the Lord. I think God wants people everywhere, almost like we are infiltrating the world. You might think your job is a low position in society. Or maybe that your just a new christian and don't know anything, so God can't use you. As far as I can see, you need to know this. God loves you and everyone else. Jesus died for all of us, and God raised Him from the dead; and acceptance of that is the only way to heaven. Love God and love others. TA DA. Let God do the rest.

That's not to say there won't be other changes in your life, but God is the potter we are the clay. Our church has a thing they call the code, this is one of them.



We will do anything short of sin to reach people who don’t know Christ. To reach people no one is reaching, we’ll have to do things no one is doing.

So today my family, an extension or as ambassadors of God, we are going to a car show.  We'll be handing out "church" invites but more than that we will be showing God's love for all the people of the world.

Good luck and God Speed- David.

Imaginary Friends

My oldest  son asked me this week if I had an imaginary friend.  I of course said yes! Then I said well the older I get the more I seem to talk to myself anyways. I think I scared him a little. But that's good parenting right there!

As I thought about the question he asked I began to recall many people that have crossed my path. Friends seem to change over a life time. Some just because you drift apart, your thinking changes, time restraints, there are many things that move friends around.

I've always thought there were three things that test all your friendships.
1. Get married. 2. Get divorced. 3. Get Jesus.
But as life moves, so do friends. Friends have been there through good times and bad. They've "caused" the good times and the bad. But they have not been imaginary.

I also developed (of course) a different view of what these people are in my life.

Whether Friend or Foe, they are instruments of God. You see in scripture God used non-believers, like Pharaoh, to advance the Gospel through adversity. God also used the death of a best friend and the sorrow of a family to show His power, when Lazarus was raised from the dead. The prophets of God generally didn't show up and just say how awesome people were. They told people where they could improve and where they were doing well.  Consider the new testament Paul where in Ephesians he commends them for their faith, but tells them no unwholesome talk would come from you.

I love my friends past, present, and future. I view them differently because God has placed them close to me. In nearly constant contact with some of them. Some I speak with only on-line, others I see occasionally, and yet some we are intentionally connected friends. God has given us time to see each other every week, to share our struggles and successes. To live life together, our church calls it a Life Group. It is my inner circle, which is a model that Jesus shows. God placed them there, not by accident, but with purpose.

All of you, everyone I would call friend, know you are an extension of God. You are being used to change my life. To those of you God will use through adversity, well your probably not reading this anyways.................but God loves you and I am able to love you through my trust in Him. There it is I'm a hippie, Love for everybody.

A perdetermined choice

Many times I have pondered predestination in years past. Many times did I find myself lacking an adequate answer. But in recent years, I have come up with my own resolve. That is, predestination and free will are both at work. TA DA. Now that I have confused you let me explain.

As you read scriptures it would seem that both principles are at work. We read the terms predestined and choice throughout scripture. So how can this be? One of the best scriptures to sum up this complicated system God has set in to motion is in Isaiah.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.

After visiting with a friend of mine for quite some time, this is the best way to describe it for me. Have you ever rented a movie or recorded a TV show and didn't want anyone to spoil it for you? Some one started talking about it and you were screaming LALALALALA with fingers in your ears. To me that is how predestination works, only God knows the outcome. I like to use a football game as an example.

God has a plan for the game. His plan is actually for both teams, because He owns them both. He already knows the end, But everyone enjoys a good "game". Me- I'm a line backer, left side. I don't want to warm the bench, I want to be a player. However everyone is involved. The only ones who don't know the outcome are..... well no one knows but God. But the stands are full, cheerleaders are in place. Defense is taking the field, God's people are on the continuous offensive.  (we'll have to talk about offense through love at a later time) But it wouldn't be a game without everyone in place.  Even if people weren't watching from home it would affect the game in the long run. Again everyone is involved.

Maybe God has certain predetermined objectives He wants accomplished, but allows us the opportunity to achieve those through time and grace. When talking with my friend about this he offered me this question, "Do you think or feel that God is at work in you or around you?".  My answer, "yes".  He said, "Than what does it matter"

Hmmm. Not really what I was looking for at the time. But I now believe my friend was correct. This argument is just something to slow down the believer. Live the way you believe God is calling you to. Resolve to not talk about it if you must. 2 Timothy chapter 2 has great insight.

Try to keep it simple. Another friend has a saying; Live Loved. so simple, luckily I"m able to complicate that too.  To borrow some Paul

1 Corinthians 10:15 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁵ I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

Love in Christ- David.

OK STOP EVERYTHING!! JUST HAD THIS SENT TO ME. Baron Batch's Blog If you got here please read his blog!! Thanks Gavin!!

Your Honorable Mention

Just a fact about me. When I read the Bible, If I come across a scripture that makes me stop and wonder I won't go on until I "feel" ready to move on. That time maybe a minute, maybe a week  And indeed it takes me forever to read any part of the Bible. But none the less, that's how I roll. This week would be know different.

Acts 18:6-8 (New International Version, ©2011)

⁶ But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

 ⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. ⁸ Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

This was Paul's final attempt at Corinth, to reason with the Jews. Did you see the one that got me?

                     ⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of              Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.

From what I could find on http://www.biblegateway.com/ and the great and powerful Google , this is the only time Titius Justus is mentioned. One time. Is this some sort of an honorable mention, maybe a participant ribbon? I mean how did one get their name in the Bible?  To be mentioned by God for all of man to read and hear about for thousands of years!

Everyone I see in the Bible was really good, really bad, hated God, or desperately Loved Him. There are no ordinary people in the Bible. This guy, Titius, was no exception.  If nothing else the guy seems to have hosted Paul in his home for about one year. Paul would use this mans circle of friends and his influence in the community, to reach out to others.  Was this the first Lifegroup , I think so. No, I'm sure others were meeting in homes as well but what made this man standout?



An open heart, an open mind, and an open door. He loved God, he worshiped Him. His house was said to even have a common wall with the synagogue. HA!  As we pray for God to open our hearts and minds; open doors for us to minister. Keep in mind, that door, may even be your own.

Let God in, Let God out. It's like breathing, only better. Love- David.