Searching?...

Hide and Go Seek: A lessons we learn as kids

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2)

Once upon a time (because all good stories start with "once upon a time") growing up one of my favorite games to play with my friends was hide and go seek. Nothing beat spending recess time or a weekend afternoon hiding in the craziest places or finding my friends who thought they could out-smart me by hiding behind a parked car or some other random place. There was something about the thrill of searching after friends in hidden places and being the hidden one - being so still as to not give away my position but ultimately being found because after all... hiding gets boring after a while...

*Fast Forward to Adulthood*

Being at a place in life where you aren't quite sure what the next move in life to make is a lot like playing Hide and Seek with God. God knows all and loves to hide things but He desires us to search out our next steps in life as kings would search for some great thing worthy to be found and revealed. While the search might seem intimidating at times, there are a few things you can be sure of:

His answers are never in a dangerous place. God hates sin. So His answers for your life would never be found chasing those things. Even though His unfailing grace can save us from getting caught up in the wrong things, it's never His desire to seek those things first.

His hiding places are never dangerous but they may be difficult. Sometimes we might have to really really do some searching to find out an answer. This could mean overcoming our own contradictory thoughts, achieving a seemingly impossible goal or obstacle, or even just weathering a storm and giving things time. Like I said before, hiding isn't the funnest thing to do once you've been hiding for a while. Those things that He wants to reveal to you, He really wants you to know!

Finding an answer means seeking in the direction of Him. It's so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of options and microwave-ready quick fixes but God's path requires diligent persistence towards Him.

So with that being said... I hope you find what you are searching for! He already knows where it is but it's in a safe place. If all else fails, peep the bonus coverage and get lost!


Bonus Coverage: Mute Math - Control


Take control of the atmosphere
Take me far away from here
There is no better loss than to lose myself in you
In a parachute to glide, I am captive in your sky
Surrender has somehow become so beautiful

Take control of the atmosphere
Take control of the atmosphere
You can take my world you can fill the air
Take control, take control

Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender

Move me up through the darkest clouds
Till I've lost in the sun every shadow of doubt
There is no better find than to find myself with you
In a fog you are all I see
I'm inviting you closer with each time I breathe
Surrender has somehow become so beautiful

Take control of the atmosphere
Take control of the atmosphere
You can take my world you can fill the air
Take control, take control, take control, take control

Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender

Take control of the atmosphere
Take control of the atmosphere
There is no reason I should breathe unless you're in the air
Take control

Such a beautiful surrender
Such a beautiful surrender
And I'm calling out
Would you take control
And I'm calling out

Bible Talk 101: Peace

Bible Talk 101

From Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology


Peace:


The Meaning of Peace. In English, the word "peace" conjures up a passive picture, one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife. The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root slm, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning—"to be complete or whole" or "to live well." The noun had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: (1) salom [שָׁלֵם] as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); (2) salom [שָׁלֵם] as right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant (see "covenant of peace" inNum 25:12-13; Isa 54:10; Ezek 34:25-26) and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering"; (3) salom [שָׁלֵם] as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9); and (4) salom [שָׁלֵם] as victory over one's enemies or absence of war. Salom [שָׁלֵם] was used in both greetings and farewells. It was meant to act as a blessing on the one to whom it was spoken: "May your life be filled with health, prosperity, and victory." As an adjective, it expressed completeness and safety. In the New Testament, the Greek word eirene [εἰρηνεύω] is the word most often translated by the word "peace." Although there is some overlap in their meanings, the Hebrew word salom[שָׁלֵם] is broader in its usage, and, in fact, has greatly influenced the New Testament's use of eirene [εἰρηνεύω].


Bonus Coverage: Lecrae - New Shalom

Christlikeness

Christlikeness

Tony Evans

In His Presence: If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

Christlikeness is the Spirit of God inspiring the ability to emulate the person of Christ in and through your life. How do you know if you are Christlike? Your conduct will be consistent with the character of the Savior. You constantly grow more into His image, becoming more like Him this year than you were last year, more like Him today than you were yesterday.

The Spirit is so powerful, it liberates the dead body to enjoy the new life that Jesus provided by His death and resurrection.

For more devotionals by Dr. Tony Evans, click here.

Stand Out!

Be You!

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13, NIV 2011 Edition)

I think the "in-crowd" is over rated.

When I think about what those two words mean, it makes me wonder why it would even matter to try so hard to be accepted for something you aren't. It doesn't make sense to me to want to be "crowded in" a group of people all looking for approval of others by conforming to ever-changing standards. What does make sense to me is surrounding yourself around people who appreciate you for consistently being you.

In fact, the Bible teaches us not to be conformed to the ways of the world. We as Christians have been released from the slavery of worldly possessions and desires and called to love others humbly. What does that mean? It means Jesus doesn't need you to change your body, your personality, or whether or not you're a fan of this or that sports team, He just wants your heart. I see the "in-crowd" as this packed box that people try so hard to get selected for but outside is this beautiful scenery and weather. Inside the box it's dark and crowded. Why spend time and agony trying to conform to restriction when God has called you to freedom?

Step outside the box, embrace the "you" that God made, and surround yourself with others who appreciate you being consistently you. The only transformation or conformation that needs to happen is through love.

(Bonus Coverage - Hello Fear by Kirk Franklin)


Hello Fear
Before you sit down there's something I need to explain
Since you're here
I think I should tell you since we last talked things have changed
See I'm tired of being broken-hearted
So I made a list and you're on it
All my hopes and my dreams You took from me
I want those back before you leave

Hello Fear
I knew I would see you, You have a hard time letting go
See these tears,Take a good look cuz, soon they wont fall anymore
God's healing my hurful places
That seat that was yours now is taken
I'm no longer afraid,See I'm better this way
And one more thing before you leave

[Chorus]
Never again will I love you
My heart it refuses to be your home
No longer your prisoner
Today I remember
Apart from you is where I belong

And never again will I trust you
I'm tired of fighting it's been way too long
No longer your prisoner
Today I remember
Who I was and now it's gone
They're gone
Hello Fear
Da da da da da, da da da da da

Farewell Goodbye So long [3X]

Hello Grace
It feels like forever, I thought my chance with you was gone
See your face, it reminds me of mercy
And please let me say I was wrong
Never knew your touch was endless
How you never run dry of forgiveness
Didn't know how bad it was, was afraid just because
Sorry fear, grace took your place

[Chorus]

Farewell Goodbye So long [8X]

Hello Fear
Before you sit down there's something I need to explain 

Faithful Is Our God

 ¹ Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ³ Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. ⁴ Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. ⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ⁶ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” ⁷ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13: 1-7; NIV 2011 Edition)

Not sure if anyone needed to hear this today but I did. Have a great weekend!

Bonus Coverage: Brandon Camphor & One Way - Faithful Is Our God

Unglitching The Matrix

Two Pills: 1 Truth, 1 Lies | Take your pick.

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165, NIV 2011 Edition)

 I wrote a blog earlier this week about color but this one is about matters that are black and white. Or for the purpose of this illustration, red and green. Basically, in life there are some things that are cut and dry, black and white, this or that... you get it. One of those things being God's truth vs. untruth. As we study the scriptures we begin to find out what God says about different things. If we are Christians who try to do right in the different areas of our lives, the Bible is a great resource for understanding what God thinks about stuff. Giving to the church, sexual purity, loving one another, greed, it's all in there and more.

The more we come to know his law, hopefully the more we begin to love it. In the same way that it's good to know that AAA is there for you in the event of an accident or locked keys in the car, David proclaims in Psalm 119 that those who love God's law have great peace and do not stumble. Is this to say that we won't be faced with hard times or difficult situations? Absolutely not! What it means is that we have a reference guide to look at in our daily walk but also in the event of temptation. Knowing God's law and falling in love with it takes the guesswork out of decision making process. Especially when it comes to temptation.

Can you think of a time where you had to make a decision without guidance and proper training? How did it make you feel? Anxious? Fearful? Cautious? Well, in the event that you are faced with a situation in life and God has said something about it, if you've studied and believe and have grown to love and agree with what was said then imagine how simple your response can be.

Bible Talk 101: Grace

Bible Talk: 101

UNDERSTANDING GRACEby Charles R. Swindoll

John 1:14

What exactly is grace? And is it limited to Jesus' life and ministry? You may be surprised to know that Jesus never used the word itself. He just taught it and, equally important, He lived it. Furthermore, the Bible never gives us a one-statement definition, though grace appears throughout its pages . . . not only the word itself but numerous demonstrations of it. Understanding what grace means requires our going back to an old Hebrew term that meant "to bend, to stoop." By and by, it came to include the idea of "condescending favor."

If you have traveled to London, you have perhaps seen royalty. If so, you may have noticed sophistication, aloofness, distance. On occasion, royalty in England will make the news because someone in the ranks of nobility will stop, kneel down, and touch or bless a commoner. That is grace. There is nothing in the commoner that deserves being noticed or touched or blessed by the royal family. But because of grace in the heart of the queen, there is the desire at that moment to pause, to stoop, to touch, even to bless.

The late pastor and Bible scholar Donald Barnhouse perhaps said it best: "Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace."

To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn't deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God's acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.

Enriching The Color of Your Faith

Go beyond the basic color scheme of faith.

² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(Colossians 2:1-3, NIV 2011 Edition)

When I was a kid, I used to draw sketches with my friends and find great pleasure in coloring different shapes and figures. We only had the small 8 count Crayola (or Rose Art - lol!) Colored Pencil kit but we made do with what we had. Of course you'd have your basic black, white, red, purple, brown, blue, green, yellow, and orange, the color scheme that let you color at least distinguish between people of different races but the complexity of the pieces were always limited because brown was brown and not mahogany... red was always red and not crimson... and purple was always purple, never lilac. We were pretty smart kids back then, and so it wasn't so much that we didn't know what we wanted to communicate, we just didn't have the complex tools to sketch and color what was in our minds and communicate it directly onto paper.

As I grew older, I stopped sketching as much but when I went back to the art back in college, I went for the large 50 count box of Crayolas. The greater selection of colors helped to create a picture that was very intentional and showed that I understood the message that I wanted to get across.

Studying God's word works the same way.

8-Count Christianity. When we're fresh in Christ or before we really dig into our word faithfully, we know a few key scriptures here and there to minister to ourselves and to others. We recite the same go-to scriptures that we've heard in church all along because we believe that it's a one sized fits all approach to any situation someone might face. These can get us by to some extent, and no doubt they are good scriptures to hold onto, but the Bible can relate to us - and we to it- in so many more ways.

50-Count Christianity. For the sake of illustration, some of the basic emotions in life are fear (black), anger (purple), peace (blue) and love (red) - among others. When you read the scriptures and read about the different men and women of the Bible, you see that they all experienced different levels of these emotions and communicated it to God and His people in different ways. Love as expressed by Solomon was very different than love as expressed by Jesus Christ. Peace for David looked different compared to the peace that Paul found in troubled times.

The beautiful thing about God's Word is that it is a living word and it was created to relate to YOU! The more you search, you'll find an answer to any problem that you might have. The scriptures go beyond the usual Sunday School verses that you've heard all along and reveal hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Are you living in a 50-count world with an 8-count pencil set?

March Madness

There's only one way to pick a winner.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:6-7, NIV 2011 Edition)

It's that time of year again. Brackets have been filled out and busted up, underdogs are feeling like champions, and college-aged fans from everywhere are trading in trips to the beach to see their teams play on the hard court. Yep, March Madness is in full effect and no team knows whether or not it will live to play another game of basketball or not after each round. We've already seen a few surprising upsets and some incredible games that we'll remember for quite sometime. The madness surrounding it all - the ups and downs, the uncertainty, victory, defeat - reminds me of our daily lives.

Bracketology. Every day we are faced with decisions or situations that have more than one potential outcome yet we either have no control or are unsure of what's best. Some situations seem a bit more predictable like a 1 vs 16 seed match-up but other times we're faced with the sneaky 8 vs 9, where both options look enticing. So what do we do in either of those times? We pray and petition.

Picking a winner. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians that we should not be anxious about anything but, in gladness, we should turn our desires and prayers over to God. With the number of decisions we have to make and situations we're faced with on a daily basis we can't possibly pick the right option each time. Too much - stress, anxiety, hunger, anger, etc. - can throw us off our game. Instead we should just turn the decisions over to Him and seek his answer and response.

Let the games play out. Once we turn over our decisions to God, all we can do is let the games play out. The stronger our faith in Him, the greater level of peace we experience in letting Him choose a winner. Just like in the NCAA tournament, He may pick the option that we really don't want to win but if it's from Him then it's for our best. What we may see as a loss may really be for our gain. Whereas we see one decision at a time, God sees the full bracket - even things that we cannot see. If we peacefully and joyfully turn our decisions over to Him and let things play out, we're sure to be a winner at the end of the tourney.

Bonus Coverage: Israel Houghton ft. Fred Hammond - Surprises

In Christ Alone [Owl City]

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny


No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

...He Knows

Silence can speak louder than words.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27. NIV 2011 Edition)

When I was a kid growing up, one of my most favorite things to do would be to lay on my mother's lap as she peacefully rubbed my back. This was one of the intimate, mother-to-son moments that we shared where neither of us had to say anything at all yet our hearts would talk to one another, letting each other know that we were both in a safe place. Now I can't remember if in these moments I would pray or not but I do remember times when my mother would softly ask "are you hungry?" "How did she know?" I'd often wonder, but I would calmly reply with a "yes." After our moment was over, she'd go downstairs and fix something for me while I eagerly yet peaceably awaited the food. Sure enough, to my delight, she would bring the food upstairs and set it up in front of me and allow me to eat as we sat and watched TV for the rest of the evening until bedtime.

...He Knows.

If we can be honest, sometimes in life we really don't know what to pray for. Sometimes the right thing to do feels like it's behind Door #1, #2, or #3 and we're left guessing which one to pick. Also, sometimes we wind up picking the wrong doors and find ourselves hurt in the process. But even in the midst of our uncertainty, God knows what's on our mind and He knows the best thing for us to do. The bible says that God intercedes on behalf of our moanings and groanings, sort of like how my mom was able to tell that I was hungry and I didn't even have to say a word. Not only does He know what is causing our discomfort and weakness, He knows the right things to cure our voiceless petitions.

How do we get to a place where this silent conversation can occur best? We should offer up our quiet time just like David, and allow God to lead us into his green pastures. This will allow for us to freely express what is on our hearts through prayer and conversation with God. If you get away from the grind and get away from the noise, it doesn't matter if we say anything at all. God knows, and will search our hearts for our petition. And who better to operate on our behalf than the one who writes out our destiny?

Bible Talk 101: Fasting

Bible Talk 101: Defining Key Biblical Words and Phrases

From the ATS Bible Dictionary:


FASTING

In all ages, and among all nations, fasting has been practiced in times of sorrow, and affliction, Jonah 3:5. It may be regarded as a dictate of nature, which under these circumstances refuses nourishment, and suspends the cravings of hunger. In the Bible no example is mentioned of fasting, properly so-called, before Moses. His forty days’ fast, like that of Elijah and of our Lord, was miraculous,Deuteronomy 9:9 1 Kings 19:8 Matthew 4:2. The Jews often had recourse to this practice, when they had occasion to humble themselves before God, to confess their sins and deprecate his displeasure, Judges 20:26 1 Samuel 7:62 Samuel 12:16 Nehemiah 9:1 1 Kings 19:8 Jeremiah 36:9. Especially in times of public calamity, they appointed extraordinary fasts, and made even the children at the breast fast, Joel 2:16 Daniel 10:2-3. They began the observance of their fasts, at sunset, and remained without eating until the same hour the next day. The great day of expiation was probably the only annual and national fast day among them.

It does not appear by his own practice or by his commands, that our Lord instituted any particular fast. On one occasion, he intimated that his disciples would fast after his death,Luke 5:34,35. Accordingly, the life of the apostles and first believers was a life of self-denials, sufferings, and fasting,2 Corinthians 5:7 11:27. Our Savior recognized the custom, and the apostles practiced it as occasion required, Matthew 6:16-18 Acts 13:31 Corinthians 7:5.

Getting From Good to Great

I used to wanna do it big.
when you're only focused on yourself - that's small (Lecrae - Chase That)

“Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? (Deuteronomy 3:24; NIV 2011 Edition)

One of the most popular and best selling business/self-help books on the market is by  Jim Collins and it's called Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make The Leap...and Others Don't. To research for the book, Collins examined over a thousand businesses and found one common denominator between the great companies that the good companies did not have. It wasn't that these companies had a great CEO/leadership or were more technologically advanced than their competitors or even that they had the best staff members on the whole. No, the common denominator was a simple one.

Discipline.

Collins found that the companies that were "Great" were the ones that committed to a culture of discipline both in their actions and in their mindset. This one unifying habit works well in business and its something we can apply to our ambitions and daily walk with Christ. There are really only two options, we're working with (+) Him or against (-) Him.

Synergy (+). One of my favorite words in the English language is the word synergy. Synergy basically means two parts working together in rhythm to achieve something greater than themselves; something greater than the parts could achieve individually. We may be able to accomplish good things in life outside of Christ but in Christ our potential and ability grows leaps and bounds. It becomes great! Being in tune with God and operating in Him is like becoming a growing snowball that accumulates steam and size at a maddening pace. If we can be disciplined in abiding in Him, we can't even begin to imagine the great things that God will have in store for us.

Counter productivity (-). How do we know we're just being good and not great? Our thoughts and actions contradict the promises and abilities of God. Mentally we might psyche ourselves out of opportunities by saying things like "I can't do this" or "That goal is impossible for my life." These mentalities are counter productive to a life in Christ because God wants us to chase our goals and dreams. Counter productive actions include anything that can take us out of fellowship with Christ. We can't expect to butt heads with Christ and still expect the fullness of His abilities for our lives. That's an abuse of grace. We need to have the discipline to align ourselves with Him and not against. It may feel good to "just do me" or "do what I want" but the reality is that nothing good comes from a place of complacency and rejection of growth.

Are you working on going from Good to Great?

(Bonus Coverage: Lecrae's Chase That)

What's In Your Will?

Even in death there is a lesson. Look for it.

This is a post about death. Well...kinda..

Over the weekend I did a bit of social media fasting because I wanted to create an atmosphere where I could tune out the white noise of the day to day and really focus in on what God is saying in different areas of my life. I needed it more than you know. My prayer on Saturday was that during my fast that He be revealed.

And this is what I got:

God's will.  Almost every time we speak of God's will for our lives we are referring to the future. We talk about what is going to come, what's supposed to happen, and what our purpose is in life. This is definitely true but I want to break down what I think can be considered the dual nature of this phrase.

God's will [for our future]. The common version of the meaning of God's will. Everyone knows that God has a plan for our lives and that ultimately they are what God wants to come to pass. Obedience, grace and growth towards Him is what helps us live out the calling He has on our lives.

God's will [for our past]. Among many other definitions for the word, Merriam-Webster defines the word "will" as:

"A legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death; a written instrument legally executed by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death."

Basically, what I got this weekend is that some stuff in our lives is just dead. It was conceived, it was born, it lived... but then it died, and God has no intention of bringing it back in your life. Moreover, he WON'T bring it back because well, that's just not his will. This could be anything, an old relationship (or non-official-but-we're-creeping-and-got-all-tangled-emotionally relationship), an old hobby or skill, a group of friends you were cool with, anything! Once God shuts the door on that thing and buries it, it has no hope for resurrection.

How to tell what's not really dead [yet]. Notice in the last sentence I said that God is the one who shuts the door. Meaning, sometimes there are things that look dead in the natural but not in the spiritual. In the same way that Jesus died only to rise again later, Lazarus was raised from the dead, and God had Ezekiel raise up the dry bones, some things in your life could be on pause or on standby but not exactly dead. Maybe you have a family member that you pray for or a vision that you feel is God-given for your life, these things may look bleak right now but God's not done yet. I think that in order to sift these situations from the dead ones you have to examine how you look at them. These might clue you in on what's not really dead:

• You look back on the thing or person and still see the promise in it's future in your life.
• This thing is a part of your earnest prayer life.
• You notice signs of life/hope, whether brief flashes or blatant moments.
• This thing does not pull you out of alignment with Christian values/your walk if it were to be revived.
• The idea of God raising it from the dead increases your faith and draws you closer to Him.

These are signs that your situation might not be dead. Continue to believe in these things unless God says otherwise!

It's dead, move on. On the other hand there are things that are really, really, really dead. You can't escape these. In fact, sometimes things in our lives have to die so that new things can grow in it's place. The same way we would look foolish trying to revive a dead physical body is the same way we look foolish trying to revive something that's spiritual dead to us. These are signs that I've come across that help determine if something is really dead:

• This thing is not a part of your prayer life, in fact you've pretty much moved on from it.
• On the other hand, you haven't moved on from it but no new life is visible at all.
• Anytime you think back on the situation or person, it's more of a negative reflection than positive.
• You feel uncomfortable giving it over to God because the truth is, you really don't want it to live in you.
• If the thing/person were revived in your life it would draw you outside of your Christian values OR outside of your purpose/will.

That's not a full list and of course God has the power to revive anything, but for our sake it's probably best to turn these things over to God and allow Him to make the decision. Also, I want to note that this can and should refer to the sin in our lives. If we are in Christ, it should be our aim to kill fleshly desires and our sinful nature since there is no life in them.

Understanding God's will [of the dead]. When someone who has a will dies, the people in the will are told just what their inheritance is from the person. God works the same way in dead situations except his inheritance can be physical or spiritual. Perhaps that dead thing made you stronger, perhaps the void left by the dead thing leaves room for something to physically take it's place that God wants to be there. Spiritually, perhaps you've grown to learn a lesson. Whatever it is, do not miss it! Everything happens for a reason and if you don't catch the lesson, you might find yourself chasing down that lesson again the hard way until it sinks. The lessons in God's will for the dead things in our lives are always positive. Remember the lesson.

Bonus Coverage ( A lesson in how to bury the dead things/sin in our lives):

Tye Tribbett ft. Mali - Eulogy

Learning To Breathe

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version, ©2011)¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

When we are new in Christ we are new creatures. Maybe not so much our outer appearance but things within us begin to change. With that being said, we may need to learn to do things a little differently even down to the very fundamental aspects of our lives. What we used to do clearly wasn't good enough. Once we accept the fact that are new, then we realize just how bad things were before. Everything from our walk to our talk, from our sight to our breath has the potential to change in Him. From there, the foundation is set for a great new life in Him. Here's a song by Switchfoot called Learning To Breathe that highlights this process. Happy Friday!

Learning To Breathe - Switchfoot



Hello, good morning, how you do?
What makes your rising sun so new?
I could use a fresh beginning too
All of my regrets are nothing new
So this is the way that I say I need you
This is the way that I'm

Learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

Hello, good morning, how you been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never, never thought that
I would fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad

So this is the way that I say I need you
This is the way that I say I love you
This is the way that I say I'm yours
This is the way, this is the way 

Passing The Test

Grace: This is NOT a test!

I came across this story while in my studies and I thought I'd share it. While it's not the full length of the devotional, it's a great story depicting what grace really is and how it applies to our faith. What are your thoughts?

YOU RELATE TO GOD AND OTHERS GRATEFULLY MATTHEW 20:1-16

 

Denise Banderman left work early so she could have some extra, uninterrupted
study time before her final exam in a youth ministry class at the Christian college
she attended. When she got to class, everybody was doing their last-minute
studying. The teacher, Dr. Tom Hufty, came in and said he would review with
them before the test. Most of his review came right from the study guide, but
there were some things he was reviewing that Denise had never heard. When
questioned about it, he said they were in the book and they were responsible for
everything in the book. They couldn't argue with that. Finally it was time to take
the test. "Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one,” Dr. Hufty
instructed, “and I'll tell you when to start."

When they turned the tests over, the students saw, to their astonishment, that
every answer on the test was filled in. Denise’s name was even written on the
exam in red ink. At the bottom of the last page Dr. Hufty had written these words:
"This is the end of the exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will
receive an A on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the
creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test
did not help you get the A. You have just experienced…grace." Dr. Hufty then
went around the room and asked each student individually, "What is your grade?
Do you deserve the grade you are receiving? How much did all your studying for
this exam help you achieve your final grade?" Then he said, "Some things you
learn from lectures, some things you learn from research, but some things you
can only learn from experience. You've just experienced grace. If you know
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your name is written down in a book, and
you had nothing to do with writing it there. That is the ultimate grace experience."
 

When Jesus is King, you relate to God and others gratefully. You live with God
because of grace. You serve God because of love.

Bible Talk 101: Salvation

Bible Talk 101: Understanding Common Christian Buzz Words and Scriptures to Help Us Understand.

From Easton's Biblical Dictionary
Salvation

This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Exodus 14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, "the great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3)

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General Scriptures Concerning Salvation  Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Reaping God's Harvest vs. Our Own

God's Abundant Harvest Never Runs Out Or Goes Bad

^"19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.   This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

 ^22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." (Galatians 5:19-23, The Message)

The topic I want to discuss today is discerning between the fruit of the flesh vs. God's Harvest. The text here speaks for itself but I want to highlight a few key points that were revealed to me while meditating over this scripture.

Reaping what we sow. No matter how you live life, you are constantly sowing seeds into your life that will one day flourish into visible, inescapable fruit. Without God, we can still do a very good job of sowing seeds but they are seeds of the destructive type and the fruit is just as bitter. Notice in the passage that fruit of the flesh include things like loveless sex [premarital for sure but even in marriages], emotional baggage, a constant rush from one thing to another looking for our next high or shot of happiness, consumption of everything but satisfaction in nothing, and an impotence - or inability - to love or be loved. These fruits do not add to our lives and in fact they weigh us down tremendously.  When we take life on our own shoulders, we find that we get weighed down mightily by not only the sheer burden but the hollow temptations of it all.

The scriptures emphatically tell us that this is not the life that God has willed for His believers. If anything in your life is producing this kind of effect, either the thing itself is bad or our attitude towards it should be renewed with a Christ-like mindset.

God's Harvest. When we live a life for God, we find that it's not so much about the fruit we sow but the fruit God gives as a gift. Notice the difference between the fruit of the flesh where all we pour into it is all we get. God's harvest goes beyond what we pour into it and is more reward than anything. What kind of fruit does God give us for obedient living? Affection for others, being excited about life(!!), peace, faith, loyalty, and the ability to see the good and the God in all others. There really isn't a way to get these things through the fruit of the flesh and pursuing fleshly fruit will leave you empty and depleted. God's harvest is plentiful and unending. The more we follow Him, the more we find that He gives us fruit in ABUNDANCE!

Take some time to develop a mental checklist. If you find that different areas in your life are void of God's fruit then it's a clear sign that He's not being allowed to sow in that area. There is not one circumstance in life where God wants you to reap flesh fruit. Even in our lowest moments, we should be seeking Him so that our obedience is met with His harvest of peace. In times when we would get angry, we should be seeking Him for His abundant compassion and ability to forgive.

Allow Him into even those areas where we revert to our fleshly desires and tendencies, serve Him as He requires, and be ready to reap the abundance!

He Sees The Best

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

 ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:11-15; NIV 2011 Edition)

This passage in Acts is just a snippet of the full account of a man's transformation into his manifest destiny. This man's name is Saul and in his era, the mention of his name would strike fear in the hearts of men who proclaimed to serve God. His reputation proceeded him wherever he went so much so to the point that he hungered greatly for the chance to persecute believers and kill them. Surely there was no God in this man at all.


But everyone was wrong. Including Saul himself. How could a man who once persecuted those of the Christian faith grow to become one of the most influential Biblical authors of all? And what does this say about our God?

God has a divine plan for our lives.  I've grown to believe that nothing in life is a coincidence. So much so to the point that when I think about it, every action of my past impacts the unraveling of my future. Perfect example: choosing a college. The college that I chose had a direct impact on the friendships I've been able to have and the jobs I've been able to have as well. God is so thorough with the big and small details of our lives that he leaves nothing up to chance.  In the life of Paul, his story would not be one of such compelling turn around had he not been such a strong persecutor of the faith. Not only that but God picked this specific chain of events to happen so that everyone can know that it was He who did it and not man. That happens a lot in my life, what about you?

Our faith depends on our relationship with others. Ananias was a vital part of Paul's faith story. Had Ananias been disobedient to God's calling, Saul may not have ever seen again. Sometimes in life, we come in contact with people who activate our faith and act as "checkpoints" in our spiritual faith. Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point would call these Providential Relationships.  In the same way that Saul's conversion required obedience from both Saul AND Ananias, we too have to be obedient to the call that God has on us to act in the lives of others. As tough as it may be to stand in the gap for or even minister to someone whom we feel is a lost cause, still do it. If God is leading you to do something we have to be obedient. Lives depend on it.

God can use anyone. Saul was known as one of the most ruthless antagonist of the Christian faith in his time.  He brought fear, terror, death and destruction to those who believed and showed no remorse about it. Now if God can use a man like this, why can't he use you? Or me? Or the person in our life that we've "written off and just turned over to Jesus?" God has a way of using not only the ordinary, but also the most unlikely of persons to share the Gospel. I think that is the beauty of our faith. God has a way of using people on a daily basis that represent the transformation that only comes in Christ. God uses the drunkard, the heathen, the sin-encourager and more to give Him glory through their transformation.

Isn't it so amazing that God does not discriminate who He uses to carry out the Great Commission? It doesn't matter WHO you are or WHAT you've done or WHERE you've been, God loves you all the more. Even if people have written you off in life, God sees more in you than man could ever see. You are useful to God and He would love to see you make a difference in the lives of others. In Christ, we are never without purpose. Our commandment is to show His love towards one another and share His message. No matter what we have going on in our lives, we are useful, we are loved, we are His.

Have you seen a miraculous transformation in someone in your life? Have you ever been lead by God to activate someones faith? Has God moved in your life in a way similar to Paul's? I'd love to hear your story.


Mount Pilgrim Mime Ministry- "The Best In Me"

Chasing After You

¹ I will extol the LORD at all times;    his praise will always be on my lips. ² I will glory in the LORD;    let the afflicted hear and rejoice. ³ Glorify the LORD with me;    let us exalt his name together. ⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;    he delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;    their faces are never covered with shame. ⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;    he saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,    and he delivers them.Psalm 34:1-7  (NIV 2011 Edition)

Today's post is simply a call to worship God - whether in good or bad times - for all the things He has done for us and a charge to continue to chase after Him. Merriam-Websters dictionary defines the word "chase" as "an earnest or frenzied seeking of something desired."

Today I challenge you to repeat these words and allow them to permeate your heart:

"Lord, I earnestly seek You."




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Bonus Coverage: Tye Tribbett & GA - Chasing After You (Morning Song)





Each and every day
I will seek Your face
my soul is crying out for more
I want more of You
Oh, I won't be satisfied
Nor content
of where I am,woah
So I will apprehend
till I'm captured by what I'm after


And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory (x2)
And I'll forever be chasing after You
I'll be chasing after You (x2)


I will press toward the mark
For the prize
And I won't faint
Theres one thing I desire 
And that's what I'm going for
I can't continue life
Day by day
growing dry
I need to be with You (Jesus)
I'll seek where you are


And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory (x4)
And I'll forever be chasing after You
i'll be chasing after you (x7)
And I will go from faith to faith
from glory to glory (x2)
And I'll forever be chasing after You
I'll be chasing after you