How Far Am I Willing To Go?

Original Post- November 2007, moved from my myspace account:

On my heart this week is the big thought of…"what happens next?"  What is the next step in our journey with the King Supreme?  Well, I guess that all depends.  Every step forward in a journey or quest begins with a question looming in our minds.  At least I hope this question is there, because if it isn't then we are walking without aim, knowledge, or faith.  

The question is "how far am I willing to go?"  I know that when it comes to travel, I want to see it all, and when it comes to my family, I want to be there for it all.  But when it comes to our walk with Christ...what is mine and your limit? Is it like that of a martyr to be willing to die?  I think that sounds like the noble and honorable thing to say.  The truth is the our answer to the question of "how far am I willing to go?"...should be something like this (and this is where I hope I am, and if I'm not, I want to be there)...I will live for Jesus, even if it kills me.  That means, we may think death is a noble sacrifice, but life lived for Jesus...that is something very different.  

This is something that  takes limitless devotion.  It takes a person that says i'm willing to give every breath over to my God even if it could be my last.  WOW!  I'm not sure i live that way.  I want to live that way, but i know that i'm not always that person.  What would it look like if this became the cry of a generation?  What if we began to live like this for the one we call our KING...Jesus Christ?  

I think then, people would begin to know...that we really believe He is who He says He is and that He does all that He promises to do.  I also believe that when they see this....they will see the truth,and the truth will se them free.

Honor the Price

Original Post December 2007- moved from my myspace account:

What is your favorite gift?  What is the most hoped for thing on your Christmas list?  What is the fondest Christmas morning you've ever had?  What is that one present that you'll ever throw away because it was so incredibly special?  It is amazing to me how some gifts...we could careless about and yet we somehow needed them.  


There are also those gifts we have received that we don't care to mention because...well, It just wasn't our cup of tea….let's face it...you might as well have gotten a partridge in a pear tree they were so useless. However, there are those gifts we never forget and we try to hold onto forever.  These could be some favorite toy or whatever from our childhood, and it may be something we talk about all the time.  We hold a special place of honor for these gifts. (Meaning they are valued much more than the packs of socks and underwear we got).  


But what about God's gift to us.  Do we honor it?  Do we value it for the price that was paid for it?  How much do we care about the present Jesus offered us?  I think we really need to study what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to see what He says about honoring the price paid.  It will sure keep us out of the refund lines after Christmas, but I hope it reminds us...that we are not our own. We were paid for with a price….that means God considers us valuable to Him.  How do you honor the price?

What it Do?

Original Post Date July, 2009 from my myspace account:

Well, what it do?  

It's a funny statement don't you think... I know I do.  Yet, I ask this question often about things placed in front of me... especially car parts...but I'm learning.  Anyway, many times we have to know what it does before we'll ever trust it.  I can honestly understand this because it is only natural for us to think like this.  And many times, we can figure out exactly what is going to happen or how it is going to function.  

There are only two places in life that I think we can never truly narrow this question down and always know...  I believe that the will of God is so able to be understood... and yet not.  He gives us clear direction and guidance through the Scriptures about His will, and yet, he personally will sometimes do things in our lives or show us things that are beyond comprehension.  

Like in my life, i sometimes understand His grace and forgiveness for the times my integrity has not been as solid as it should be.  It is hard for me to grasp why He would forgive me... but then to bless me more than I can possibly ask or imagine... I know that is Scriptures promise... but it blows my mind and melts my heart and moves my soul.  God is great, but sometimes we lose sight of how great and marvelous He is.  It reminds me of all the things that i have taken for granted.  

So i guess the second place that is unsearchable is the human heart in the hand of an intimate God... you'll never fully know how just a true moment with Jesus can intersect us and move us in ways and to places that just don't seem normal.  So what it do?  sometimes I don't know... but i enjoy the adventure of how He does all these things.  Peace my friends.

The Courage To Dream

This post is from August of 2008...moved from my myspace account which i never use now.

You know, life is pretty funny sometimes. I think that is because our Lord has a sense of humor that boggles our frail minds. What I mean by that, is when I see God, I feel like I am completely unworthy of Him doing anything significant in my life. Then, He ends up doing exceedingly more than i could possibly ask or even imagine. I know that I don't deserve to have the beautiful wife that i do, but Jesus brought her to me. I know that i don't deserve my adorable and hilarious children, but He gave them to us. I certainly know I don't deserve to be forgiven and then to even have the grace (favor) of God placed on me. I mean i keep messing up everyday. 


Then, i get to be a person that is called to be a representative for His name... I mean what is that? Certainly, not worthy...but i think it is very funny. Because He makes me smile... You should think about what God places in your life to make you smile. And one of the many things He places within us... is our dreams. God places our dreams inside of us to accomplish. I don't mean the fleeting fancies of wanted pleasure. I mean the absolutely huge yearning inside that longs to come out and be God sized... yet fear usually keeps them squelched. The kind of dreams that if God doesn't lead you through them, they would fail. And that is what we are so afraid of... failure. 


Sometimes failure is going to happen. Sometimes the obstacles are going to seem big. The children of Israel didn't go first into the promise land because of the fear of defeat (failure). It cost them a generation. Joseph had to go through extreme obstacles which had to feel like failures before the dream inside of him was accomplished. All, i'm going to say is this... the only way to have the courage to dream is not just trust in your dream... but in Christ Jesus that placed it there.

Prayer for the church...

God, I know that your bride, the church, is something you love very much.  Every soul that comes to know salvation in your Son, Jesus Christ is automatically adopted into this graceful family.  It is only by the power, grace, and gift of Jesus on the Cross and being raised from the grave that I or any other person is able to enter in.  I'm thankful that this grace is unlimited to all that call on Your name and believe. (Romans 10:9-10 / Acts 16:31)  And you have set your church up in such a way that the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

But God, I pray for revival of life in Your church.  May people and especially believers be reminded of the refreshing life that only You can give.

God, I pray for truth in Your church.  Remind us that You are Truth and only You provide the truth for the answers our heart is searching for.  Make us hunger and thirst for seeking it.  Help our lives reflect it without deceit.

God, I pray for mercy in Your church.  Let mercy and compassion reign in the life of your people.  May we lift up those who hurt among us and seek to carry love to barren places.

God, I pray for power in Your church.  You have promised power when we are Your witnesses.  May your church be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with and may we move in the Presence of Your Holy Spirit in such a way, that people are reminded of Your power.

God, I pray for Your Glory in Your Church.  Remind us that although we a part of the Kingdom of God...It is still Your Kingdom.  Help us not to neglect this.  The local church is an outpost for Your Kingdom in this world... may the integrity in our lives serve as great ambassadors for your ministry of reconcilliation to others.  And as ambassadors, remind us that we are not competitors, but to like you seek those who were lost...and with You...can & will be found.

God, I pray for sincere worship in Your church.  You are our One and First Love.  Let us live as such.

God, I know that all of this You already know.  I just pray that our heart, our words, and our deeds match what You desire for Your church.

Thank You for grace and for how it leads me to desire more in life for Your Name.  May people see Jesus in my life and in the life of the church.

Iron on Iron

A wise man was inspired by God to write a proverb that says... "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)  When I read this i think about the friction and reaction of the iron on the iron.  It really can't be comfortable for one iron or the other.  But the outcome is that each blade becomes more useful as the tool it was made to be.  It is a beautiful thing how God inspired someone to write this deep and practical truth.  All of us are meant to be instruments of nobility & usefulness (2 Timothy 2:21), righteousness (Romans 6:26), truth (Proverbs 14:25), and grace (Acts 20:24).

But without another iron to sharpen against, we ourselves get really dull (I mean that both in the boring sense and the unable to serve sense).  I really don't want to be dull.  So I'm so very thankful for the people in my life that God uses to sharpen me, and that i hopefully help sharpen in return.  Those that encourage me, that correct me, and that pray for me.  Relationships with others were never meant to be taken for granted.  That is why God gives us Himself, our families, our friends, and His church to nurture us to be all He intended.

Pastors, teachers, leaders, servants, and people of all places...you can't do it alone without getting dull.  Learn to live and love the people that God placed to sharpen you, and return the investment to sharpen them in turn.  And may we all become more like the instruments that give glory to God who loves us.  Thank you, my King, Jesus Christ, for loving me and sending your Holy Spirit to walk with me and sharpen me.

Your Grace Still Amazes Me

I used to sing this song alot by request called "Your Grace Still Amazes Me."  It is a song made popular by Philips, Craig, & Dean.  And the whole of the song is very true...God's grace still amazes me.  It is deeper, high, longer, wider, and stronger than we can ever know.  In fact, without the Spirit of God within you to reveal it to you, you are really actually unable to comprehend it.  That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus (Ephesian 1:17-19 & 3:14-19) about praying for these believers that they would be able to live, love, and see the amazing grace that only God can give.  Now these guys were mostly already saved, believing in Jesus as the Son of God...Christians.  But it just shows that even way back when, people could lose sight of how huge grace really is.

It has been raining every night this week since Sunday in the Arizona high desert.  Even in a place so filled with dryness, God chooses to shower mercy through rain to bring the desert floor to life and revive the creatures here.  But that is just in the matter of His Creation.  I also think about all the hearts that have been stirred beyond themselves to reach out to the people of Haiti.  To love and give to people they do not know and that some will never even meet.  I can't help but think how amazing that grace is and that it normally would not occur.  God has used this tragedy to bring new life to so many.  I pray to be a part of this effort even more in the future.

Maybe, you don't know about God's amazing grace, but this one thing i do know.  It has taken effect on me as it has on so many others.  The Scripture actually speaks about grace being something that changes us.  1 Corinthians 15:10 is where we see this revealed.  Grace that has an effect on life...that is exactly why God's grace is so incredibly, immeasurably, irreplaceably, irresistibly... Amazing.