My best Friend

Let me tell you about my best friend. He is kind of different, well, very different. They say a dog is man's best friend, but not in my case. This is a different kind of friend. He does not like to just hang out, He is a very busy person. He is always on the go and sometimes He is hard to keep up with. I really look up to Him though. He just does things that don't make sense to me. For example, He likes to go hang out with the troublemakers and yet He is not influenced in anyway by them. As a matter of fact they tend to like Him, its crazy! They are just kind of drawn to Him when I would think He would get beat up by them, they want to hang with Him. What is really crazy is that it gets on the cool people's nerves. They are the ones who actually wanted to beat Him up. Sometimes He makes me very uncomfortable because He gets me to do things I really don't want to do. He always tells me, "where is your sense of adventure?" don't you want to just see what will happen? Where is your faith? You may have realized by now who I am talking about, my best friend is Jesus. I heard a man quote the scripture the other day and it really spoke to me, 2 Corinthians 5:7 (New International Version)
7We live by faith, not by sight. When I look around me wherever I go, am I looking to please Him? Am I to scared of what other may say about me. When I think of the price that my best friend paid for me I am humbled and ashamed of my weak faith. And yet......He is still my BEST friend, and HE still loves ME!

James 2:23 (New International Version)
23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

James 4:4 (New International Version)
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God

Which of these two scriptures apply to you? Which one do you want to apply to you?

Discouragement

What in the world is going on with people? I am hearing of so many people who are discouraged right now. Pastors, youth pastors, leaders. I can see why, there is just alot of things that aren't exactly encouraging going on around us. Or is there? I think there are those who are fired up and ready, ready to take on hell with squirt guns. I was thinking the other day after talking with a youth pastor friend of mine about Jeremiah. God called him to speak to the nation of Israel and try to bring them back to Him. It was not an easy task. The people were worshipping idols and the priest were as corrupt as any politician we know of. (oops did I say that?) No wonder Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. He loved Israel but they wouldn't listen to him. Sometimes I feel the same way. We must remember God is in control, no matter what. We serve a mighty God!!!

I was sitting here thinking about the 4th of July and what it means to us. I’m not going to write some long history lesson here, schools out right? But, bear with me a second, okay? I wonder what is was like when the first guy stood up in the meeting place and said, “Gentlemen it is time we call for independence!” Think about what that must have felt like to be the man to first say that. He was probably putting his life on the line and everything he had gained in this new country of ours. All could be lost if nobody was willing to stand with him. What a feeling, to stand in face of possible death and declare freedom. I think of this fledgling country of ours at that time called America, going up against one of the most powerful countries of that time. They had more money, they had an actual army which was much more organized, they had ships to carry them, they had leaders in place to oversee a battle, and they of course had battle experience. And we had none of that. We were a group of people who started this country under missionary purposes which grew to provide great wealth for the motherland, England, and we were declaring our freedom from them. This wasn’t the first time this had ever happened. 2000 yrs ago, one man raised up for you. Only He was raised up by soldiers, on a cross, bleeding to death, with nails stuck in Him. And at that moment HE declared independence, for you and for me! The battle didn’t last years but only three days later. And our freedom was won. Freedom from sin, guilt, judgment, disgrace, humiliation, pain, sorrow. He was all of that on the cross, for you and for me. He has freed us! A one man wrecking crew to set us free. Aren’t you glad of that? Is our God amazing or what? Is there any other god that can stand in front of our God? Not even close. So today I am declaring today as de-pendence day, that’s right dependence, on JESUS!!!!!

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Job 33:9 I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt.
Psalm 116:16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; you have freed me from my chains.
Psalm 118:5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
Psalm 146:7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free.

I'm a Transformer

I know you think I'm nuts for saying that, right? Let me explain. Have you ever watched Transformers? You may have seen the cartoon or the movie or just had one of the toys. The transformers are from another planet and have the ability to transform into mechanical objects around them. I was thinking about this the other night since the newest movie has been released(not for kids by the way, don't let them watch it) and was thinking about that statement-Transformer. If you look that up in the dictionary, you will see that it means to change in appearance, form or nature. That's why I say I am a transformer. When I was saved, I transformed. Much like a robot in a movie, my life has changed dramatically. I am not the same person I used to be. It reminds me of the scripture in Romans 12:1-2;

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I love that scripture! The thing about it is this, I am not just transformed when I am was saved, its a continual process that never stops, at least that is what that scripture says. I am and you are, supposed to be continually be transforming our minds which means the way we think, act and treat others. When we do this we are actually worshipping God. So lets do that, lets transform, lets change into a giant spiritual, worshipping, world changing robot for Jesus so that we can do battle against the dark forces that are trying to hold us down, take us out, destroy us.

Lets transform!!!!!

Walking in a graveyard?

Have you ever walked through a graveyard? Most of us have, more like all of us. Have you ever walked through a graveyard at night? Its a little different and pretty scary. I remember as a teenager walking through a graveyard in the country late one night, like about 9 o'clock(i know that's not real late). Anyway, You hear things that just don't sound normal. I am sure there was werewolves, vampires, trolls, zombies and other creatures there, I just know there was. It was like a zombie movie(how many movies can you make about zombies anyway?) Well, it seemed like there was at the time. So where in the world am I going with this?

Last week in VBS we had a lesson which talked about Peter and how he had denied Jesus. One part of the lesson it talked about how afterwards when Jesus rose from the dead. The Angel said,"Why do you seek the living among the dead?". That scripture just will not get out of my head. I know that the angel was referring that Jesus is not in a grave. He was just to strong and powerful. But I keep thinking about how this applies to us as people, not just Christians, but people as a whole. Aren't we doing the same thing these days just like Mary and the others? We are in this world and we are seeking Gods face, but are we seeking Him in dead places. What do I mean? Well look at the verse again, "Why do you seek the LIVING among the DEAD?".

Think about it, we have a living father, that is not Dead!! He is very much alive and well. He is not wounded or hurt, sick or weak. HE is ALIVE!!! HE is Living!!! Right now He is alive and among us. So look at the second part of that verse, "among the DEAD". Think about that, they were in a place where dead people exist(Actually dead people don't exist but you know what I mean). Isn't it the same for us? This world is a dead place, a place built for the dead, a very healthy dead generation is existing and wants us to join in.

The bad part is, Christians sometimes are doing the same thing. we are actually seeking dead things. Can you believe that? Yes you can, because you have done it as well. We seek after things of this world that one day will pass away. We put alot of effort into things that are so momentary, so temporary. And somehow we think that is so important. Those dead things are what we put our hope in for them to satisfy us. But they are dead. The world has deceived us. It wants us to put our trust in money, education, our goodness, our possessions, our hobbies, our coolness, our happiness, our rights, just fill in the blank and its there. And so just like Martha and Mary, we are trying to put value into dead places where Jesus is not there.

Is that you? Have you been putting your time, energy, and focus into dead things? I want to re-phrase that scripture into a question- Why are you seeking dead things when you have a living God?

God is Alive!!!!!!!

Praising God

When it comes to praising God, do we get it? I wonder sometimes if we really do. When it comes to praising Him, we generally associate it with a church service and singing songs, maybe lifting a hand up and things like that. I think there is more to praising God than that. I think we can praise God by our lifestyle. Do you know what I mean? The way we live this life is a way to praise God. Think about it, when people look at you, do they see a life that is focused on God? Do you think about God most of the day? Are you constantly thinking of how you can bring honor and glory to Him and not yourself? Is your life a position of looking towards heaven and not focused on this world? I want to thank the Presto's for sharing this picture with me, check it out. Its like this tree is lifting up its branches in praise to God.

Listen to this scripture found in Luke 19-

39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Isn't that amazing!! The people were praising Jesus and He said that if we don't praise Him He will still be praised! It cant be stopped! I also remember this scripture in Romans 8- 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Nature itself knows its creator! Because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, nature was even affected by it, and it eagerly awaits its redemption.

This is my challenge to you, lets not let nature do the praising and get all the blessings from it. I want my life to be constantly focused Upward in praise to our glorious God!

When just okay is not enough

I'm not talking about school, work or maybe even life itself. I mean your spiritual walk. Do ever feel like that? Like you are just doing the church thing but not growing or feeling spiritual. It's funny how even after a very spiritual high experience we can get into a rut. I really don't know how this happens but it has happened to me more times than I can count. Wouldn't it be nice to be close to God and stay that way? Think back to a time that you just felt so close to God that you never wanted it to end. Maybe you felt like it never would end, but here you are, just doing the church thing, not fired up or motivated to even try. I think that is an honest question that needs an answer. You see I am there right now. I have been in an awesome spiritual high for the last two or three months and after the unforgettable DNOW we had, here I am, fighting to grasp hold of God. I think I am starting to understand why these things happen. Maybe this is just the answer for me, but can I share why I personally think this happens?

First, I think it helps us grow. How, you may ask? I really don't think that our faith grows by staying on the mountain. I really believe spiritual growth happens when we go through some tough stuff. I believe it makes us reach out to God more. It makes us hungry for Him, maybe thirst for Him. There have been times that I even doubted Him(sorry God!), doubted my salvation, and doubted the church. But sometimes it makes me desire a closer walk with Him. That seems to be happening more in my life now, the older, I mean more mature I get. I realize that I am usually the culprit. Which leads me to my second theory about why this happens.

Number two, we get in the way. None of us are like the great Paul. He was a full time missionary, preacher, church starter, witnessing machine. But even Paul had his times of hardship. I think he was no different than any of us as far as our walk goes. Listen to what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12;7-8 (New International Version)
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surprisingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. That's amazing to me, even Paul asked God to take away his problems but He(God) never did! Like I said, I think spiritual growth happens when we go through some hard spiritual times.

Third, when good things happen, there are always those that take notice. What do I mean? I think when God starts working so does someone else. Look at another set of scripture from Paul

Ephesians 6:12 (New International Version)
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. That's right forces of evil will begin to try and distract, tempt, and persuade us away from God. So what do we do? Well, first of all never quit. The worst thing we can do is give up. Are you a fighter? If God is more precious than anything else to you, you will fight through this. I know I am. I'm going to fight harder than I ever have to try and weather this valley that I am going through. I AM TIRED OF GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS!!! I want more!!

Have you noticed the new song I put on this blog at the bottom? It is an awesome song by Matthew West. Listen to it one time and watch the video. He had a major throat surgery which could have been career threatening for a singer. For a year he had to keep silent. After you listen to it once, play it again and close your eyes. Let it be your prayer, right now, just pray that song. Are you tired of going through the motions?