Here some family fun for Black Friday! Christmas will be here before you know it!!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (NLT)
Well here it is, in less than 5 hours Stephanie and I will have eaten our first home made (our home, by us) turkey and shared a meal together as a family with my Dad joining us. This year is different for us in many ways. Typically we are in MO seeing my side of the family and then traveling to see Stephs side of the family. It typically includes a lot of food, a visit to the farm for a tractor rides, and yes, the forced family picture that no-one really wants to take. But this year we are home in Texas because we will travel to MO in December for Stephs brothers College Graduation.
But being away from the norm or tradition sometimes helps put life in perspective. We have all heard it said that we take things for-granted. Many times we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone or we miss out on something we are use to doing. So today, make sure you tell the people closes to you how thankful you are for them. As they say in the UFC be first, don’t wait for someone else to say something before you.
Today, let’s not just eat a bunch of food and gather as family and friends without letting the people in our lives know how thankful we are for them. They may never know how you really feel, and you may never have the opportunity to share how special they are to you again. So be thankful!
“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”John 3:30 (NLT)
It’s not about me! It never has been about me and it never will be about me.
I have to be honest, this is something that is easy for me to read, and even say, but in the depths of my heart, I am still very selfish! It’s easy for me to say, “It wasn’t me!” or “It wasn’t my fault!” when things go bad, but when things go good, something changes. All of a sudden I want the recognition, the praise, the hi fives, and what ever-else you want to give me … I want it all.
But this word surrender is so deep, honestly way to deep to write about in a blog, but if God is stirring on the inside of me, there has to be an act of surrender that happens also, and it has to happen in these 4 areas for sure:
This is the first step. Without a surrendered heart you will remain focused on yourself and miss out on the things that have Eternal value. If you have never trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you have never really surrendered your heart. A surrendered heart breaks for the things that break the heart of God, and stirs within us the desire to be transformed and used by God for His Kingdom.
This is the outward expression of a surrendered heart. This is where our actions meet up with our beliefs and our words. I believe this is what James is going after when he says,
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 (NLT)
Jesus knew this well also. We see this in the garden when he is talking with God asking if there is any other way to redeem man from sin. Look at what he prays,
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42 (NLT)
A surrendered will is where follow-through happens. It’s what allows others to see Christ in us.
It’s easy for us to claim this verse in Jeremiah,
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”’ Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
We like this verse because it makes us feel good to know that we have a purpose. But it says that God knows the plan for us … what if His plan is different than the plan we thought it would be? What if his plan is different than the plan we have seen in some of our mentors? This is where I have to remember, that God made me to be me, not a carbon copy of someone else. Therefore, God’s plan for me may be different than the plan He has for someone else.
Please don’t hear what I am not saying, I feel many times we do something, believe something, and act a certain way based on what we have seen and learned from someone else. We look at what God is doing in them, how he is using them, and think to ourselves, I have to believe, say, or do, this or that, to have God use me effectively. Don’t get me wrong, you need Mentors and Godly role models, but remember, God uses these people to help point you to what HE wants to do in you, and through you, not for you to be a mini me of them. God’s plan may be radically different than the plan that he has/had for the influences in your life. This doesn’t mean that there is a conflict or contradiction. It simply means that God has used someone to influence and encourage you to be who God created you to be and now its time to step up and surrender to the plan God has for YOU! God may be doing something different in you, don’t be afraid of that, but seek the Lord in that. Remember what He says in Isaiah,
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
This is the ultimate goal, that every aspect of our life is surrendered to God. I believe we live out Romans 12 1-2 when we surrender to these 4 areas. Let this be our goal today,
“And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
Today, who will you surrender to? The fact is you will surrender to something or someone. For me, I am working on these 4 things, will you join me?
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
Let’s face it, life is busy. But I will never forget the words my Youth Pastor told me when I was 18 and giving him the excuse that I was too busy to read my Bible and spend time with God. He simply looked me in the eye and said, “If you are too busy for God then you are too busy.” Ouch, I’ll never forget that statement.
Let’s be honest, it’s not that we are to busy, it’s simply we haven’t made that time with God a priority. I still find this a challenge today. The older I get the more demands on my time I seem to have. If I don’t prioritize my time with God, sadly it will be overlooked. But that’s true for you also.
Here is the Bottom Line, if we are going to get to know God, be transformed by His love, and impact others for His kingdom, we are going to have to begin to prioritize time with Him to listen, pray, and meditate on Him.
Here is what it looks like for me in the morning, a cup of coffee (i am getting older), my Bible with 2 highlighters, my laptop and headphones for music. This has been my routine for sometime now. It has become a priority and a habit. However, it doesn’t stop in the morning. All day long I listen for God’s voice. Sometimes it’s loud and obvious and other times it’s a whisper. But I am learning to listen with my heart, ears and eyes. I have come to the understanding that God is speaking, but sadly, many times I don’t hear Him because I’m not really listening.
If God is going to use us as an influence, we have to learn to be still so we can hear Him. We have to prioritize this time with God because if we don’t, our time will be taken by other things. These could even be good things, but our time with God is where we get strength, clarity, and confidence. Jesus knew this well! Many times he left crowds and sent disciples ahead so he could spend time with God. He knew His time was short, He was busy and always had a crowd, but He knew His greatest impact would only come out of his time of fellowship with God.
We see this in a big way in his last hours. Jesus could have spent time with others, He could have held a healing service, or taught large groups of people. But in His last hours as a free man, Jesus spent time with God praying and listening.
Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” Matthew 26:36 (NLT)
You see God was preparing Him for his greatest impact, his greatest rejection, and his greatest beating which ultimately lead to His greatest act of kindness and greatest miracle … His Death and Resurrection.
Jesus knew how important it was to spend time with God! He knew that without this time his impact and influence could be jeopardized. He knew how to listen with his ears, eyes, and heart and set an example for us to follow. The question is, do we hear God when He is trying to speak to us? Have we prioritized our time with Him so we can hear and recognize His voice when He speaks? Do we really believe that it makes a difference?
Today, let’s ask God to give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that is open and soft for the things He wants to say.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Have you ever had this feeling that God was about to blow you away? I’m not talking about striking you down or writing you off. I’m talking about blowing you away by something He does in you, around you, and possibly even through you. Has it happened before? Could it happen again?
Every time I see this verse I am blown away by Gods ability to use a person like me to advance His Kingdom. I mean, he knows all my failures, the things I wrestle with, and despite all these things, he uses me. This in itself is a miracle. However, I believe it is the desire of Gods heart to move through his people and do what we think is impossible.
Luckily for me I have had some great people in my life that have challenged me, loved me, encouraged me, and held me accountable. God has used these people in huge ways. But just like God has used these people in my life, He wants to use me in another persons life. This is where the stirring begins to happen.
Being aware that the creator of the universe, loves me, has a purpose for me, and desires to use me, is the stating point for you and I to see God do the impossible. It’s the starting point to see Him do infinitely more than we might ask or think. Have you come to this awareness? If so, how are you responding?
I feel that God is on the verge of doing something big in my life, I have no idea what that might be, I just know that He is stirring my heart and my thoughts. Yes there are times it’s scary. Sometimes it’s going to be scary because I (we) have to rely on His voice, His power, His wisdom, and His provision. Peter was scared to step out of the boat, but when he did, he walked on water. Here’s the lesson, if I (we) want to see God sized results, it must not be about me (us) it has to be about Him, and I (we) must keep my (our) eyes on Jesus.
Over the next couple of days I want to break down some of my thoughts and desires on what God is stirring on the inside of me. If it can be an encouragement to you, great! But to be honest, this may be more for me than for you, but you are welcome to join me in this journey … who knows, maybe God is stirring you in the same way He is stirring me. If that’s the case lets take serious this verse and ask God to prepare us for to be blown away by what He Chooses to do!
Today, lets ask God to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
As I posted earlier on twitter I have been thinking about starting the blog again. It’s been awhile and FB and Twitter have become so easy to post to on the go. However, it is challenging to post quality content in 140 characters. So starting this week, look for daily devotionals (not deep but about the journey), family happenings, and miscellaneous posts on other leanings as they happen. Feel free to contribute to the dialogue and be a part of this journey called life!
Saw this awhile ago but saw it on a friends twitter and it’s relevant to what we are talking about this weekend in Fusion. Enjoy!!
“Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.” Hebrews 6:12 (NLT)
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” Collosians 3:23-24 (NLT)
What a day!!!! The Construction Team finished the fence, and stayed late to remove an old door and replaced it with a piece of plywood.
VBS Team saw 1 kid accept Christ and then did demolition work in the afternoon. There is a story behind this that includes a stolen phone, and a talk about forgiveness!
The Facilities team, cleaned the showers and bathrooms then were sent to Demolish a house.
Every Student worked hard yesterday. The group really enjoyed tearing stuff up!!!!
Last night seemed to be cry night in our Worship Time. These times have been amazing with leaders sharing a word of the day and then a time singing to the Lord.
Here are some pics from Todays’ Construction Team:
“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Luke 16:9 (NLT)
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
We have had a great week with a lot of sun and great worship times at night. Today we had our teams in three locations, here at Alamo, VBS, and Construction.
At the construction site we got all of our supplies after Lowes made us wait for 4 hours because of lack of communication. This caused us to only get half of the fence done. But the good news is we should have it completed on Thursday. Just a note, almost every girl that has come to the construction site, has worked harder than most of the boys!!!
At VBS we had a low number again and have learned a lot. Trying to use this as a teaching tool for the adults and students there and relating how you have great plans and to see great things happen and when they don’t happen that way how to not give up and persevere through the challenge.
At Alamo, some of our students cleaned toilets for the first time. Their objective was to work on the needs here that sometimes get overlooked because all of the construction guys/gals go to work sites. They were also supposed to help unload all the new supplies that have been ordered but not yet arrive.
It’s been a good week. We topped off the midway with a meal at a local food place called The Spot! Great food, lots of it! Here are some of the pics from today:
“I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[e] that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world,[f] to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[g]17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’” Romans 12:13-16 (NLT)
Today we took most of the group to the construction site and sent the rest to VBS. At the site, half of the group worked on painting the house while the other half worked on the fence. However, we didn’t get the all clear for digging until late afternoon. We took a volunteer team and worked until 8:45 to dig holes and set post so we could finish the fence Wednesday and Thursday.
At VBS they doubled their number of kids, which created some excitement. After VBS that crew worked with the University Baptist Church and cleaned a yard in the community.
Here are some pictures from the Construction site:
Dan Gould 