Jeremiah 17:9-10 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Heart: Hebrew: leb 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
Heart: Greek: kardi,a kardia {kar-dee'-ah} that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life 1) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life, 2a) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
Deceitful: Hebrew: {aw-kobe'} 1) deceitful, sly, insidious, slippery
Wicked: Hebrew: {aw-nash'} 1) to be weak, sick, frail, to be incurable
So according to Jeremiah, our heart/inner man, will, is deceitful, sly, insidious, and slippery, the heart is weak, frail and incurable, and who can know it?
I have discovered that a vast majority of issues that many encounter are relational issues. On one hand it is our vertical relationship between us and God, and on the other hand, it is our horizontal relationships with others.
Significant relationships require love, and love requires the involvement of the heart. Therefore if we are to have successful, vibrant, God inspired relationships of any kind, it is incumbent of us to address the heart. The heart is internal, and it is difficult to diagnose the condition of the heart by looking on the outside individual. The Lord told Samuel “... man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” So let’s take an honest in depth at the heart…
What is the condition of my heart?
(normally I would use the pronoun we/our to make it generic, but I will be the guinea pig and put myself out there)
I’ve discovered that my heart is strong for others. I pride myself on being compassionate and a conduit of love that flows from God through me to the world. Personally my heart is damaged and fragile (this blog is becoming way to personal.) not in a victimized sense of the word, where I desire pity but in a realistic sense. Don’t get it twisted my heart is also deceitful. I have a tendency to love in matrix that don’t require me to have the love reciprocated (i.e. ministry and professional life). When people validate me in these scenarios, I immediately give it back to God. Very little risk is required on my end; however, it is deceitful because it isn’t just about giving it to God, it’s about a subtle fear of being vulnerable and exposed to rejection so I share my love in these areas that don’t expose me personally. Ultimately in regards to serving others, I expect nothing in return, and if love is reciprocated, I give it back to God while I remain emotionally distant from the equation.
How did it become this way?
Spiritually speaking my heart became strong from trusting God, and following His word, allowing his love to fill my heart. My heart has also incurred damage through disappointment with God, where I have become bitter and disheartened when my reality doesn’t seem to match my expectations of God and His word. This trend is prevalent personally, from childhood, through adolescence, into adulthood when exposing our hearts to individuals whose words don’t match behaviors, these actions can chip away and slowly erode our heart. As a result trust is broken, confidence is shattered and hearts become critical, cynical, jaded, and fearful. Instead of allowing ourselves to feel, driven by fear we protect our heart in many ways which is dangerous because it interferes with experiencing real God love. For God, fear and love are mutually exclusive. 1 John 4:18 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
How does this impact the way I live my life?
Some respond to the hurt and pain of their past, by switching roles allowing the victim to be the perpetrator. In actuality, the new perpetrator remains a victim, because they are living without the innocence they once had, allowing love to be less than pure and a game based on calculation and manipulation. Therefore this response is not a viable option.
It affects the way I live because, even on a personal level often I love to the extent that doesn’t require me to trust or be affected. The moment I decide to trust I am exposed to another person. To combat this fear, often I would allow a person inside and then reject them when they got close to my comfort zone, not recognize what I was rejecting, was really what I desired. In a weird way, I would sabotage or hurt myself so I didn’t have to experience hurt from the other party. (Craziness! the bible is right the heart is a trip, who could know it?) Don’t get it twisted, I have learned (and continue to learn) to use extreme discretion before giving your heart to an individual. But even after we decide (this is a conscious decision, and remember decisions come with a responsibility and a duty, so make wise decisions) to take the risk, I have learned not to trust the person, but to trust the God that is inside of the person. Which is why it is difficult to have a meaningful relationship with anyone who is not connected to God, and allowing God to shape and mold them in His image. It is imperative that a person loves God more than they love you. Not just in words, but in action. It takes time for actions to manifest themselves. Time provides multiple scenarios and situations to discover who a person is. If you want to know what something is made of, you change the environment. I used to subscribe to the theory, when people tell you about themselves believe them, I would add an addendum to that, when people show you themselves, believe that as well.
So God I need you in essence to choose for me. If my heart according to the word is slippery and deceitful, I do not want to make decisions from this corrupt place. I can’t “follow my heart,” but I desire now to follow your heart. Perhaps my heart needs to be broken so I can have a heart transplant, where your heart beats inside of me. So that is where I have arrived, I am tired of operating on myself alone. I need you to be my cardiologist and Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit. Please schedule my surgery immediately.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
A Thief In the Night
Okay this is getting ridiculous, my third blog this week! I feel like my best friend is becoming this blog page. (pathetic if you ask me lol) So I had a phenomenal Christmas with my family, we prayed and the power of God was in our home, I really felt like the true meaning of Christmas was recognized this morning. In addition to countless texts and phone calls with family and friends, a wonderful dinner, the Lakers won! Okay, that is not what prompted me to write. I was watching television and Direct TV was airing on the God channel “A Thief in the Night” made in 1973 with patty Dunning, Mike Niday, and Colleen Niday. This movie set in Des Moines Iowa so vividly captures the rapture on a level that changed my life as a child like never before. (Here’s the wilkapedia sight on the movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Thief_in_the_Night)
It was a cold Friday Night at the Apostolic Faith Home Assembly, and I was upstairs in a building called Douglas Memorial Hall, and the images from the movie were imbeded in my mind. They took the messages of the bible and captured them in cinematic form. Along with the bible, Fred Hammond Pages of Life chapters 1 and 2, add this movie to your Spiritual Survival kit. This was a powerful evangelism tool. It sparked fear (for real like even the soundtrack evokes great emotion, they have this slow song called You’ve Been Left Behind! Crazy), but this fear drove me to a relationship with God based on love. I am currently watching the scene when the rapture has just occurred and Rev. Turner who didn’t preach the word is talking to Patty after the rapture, he asks himself "How many did I mislead? How many are still here because of me?!" I resolved long ago I would not be Rev. Turner, I would not fail to teach about the rapture, see most recently the message the “The Wedding Planner.” I take it seriously being a watchman on the wall and will do any and everything in my power to share the word of God and prepare all for the return of Jesus Christ. (I am all about total ministry that deals with the total man and life on earth, but if we aren’t preparing people to see Jesus, then what are we doing?)
While I am resolved not to be Rev. Turner, now my prayer is that I will not be Patty, the one who heard the word but did not surrender to the word completely. Each time I watch the movie I can only imagine the anguish I would feel being left behind, knowing what’s to come, and how the media will try to spin the word of God, and the pressure the world government will place on everyone to take the mark of the beast. On this Christmas evening as we are another day closer to your return I want to thank God for sending His son to become my savior so I won't have to experience a world where the presence of God is absent after the rapture! The rapture so places everything into proper perspective, to imagine we are on the brink of God returning for His bride is exciting. God, allow me as your word instructs to occupy until you come but more than anything, I aspire to and will stop at nothing to be ready for your return.
It was a cold Friday Night at the Apostolic Faith Home Assembly, and I was upstairs in a building called Douglas Memorial Hall, and the images from the movie were imbeded in my mind. They took the messages of the bible and captured them in cinematic form. Along with the bible, Fred Hammond Pages of Life chapters 1 and 2, add this movie to your Spiritual Survival kit. This was a powerful evangelism tool. It sparked fear (for real like even the soundtrack evokes great emotion, they have this slow song called You’ve Been Left Behind! Crazy), but this fear drove me to a relationship with God based on love. I am currently watching the scene when the rapture has just occurred and Rev. Turner who didn’t preach the word is talking to Patty after the rapture, he asks himself "How many did I mislead? How many are still here because of me?!" I resolved long ago I would not be Rev. Turner, I would not fail to teach about the rapture, see most recently the message the “The Wedding Planner.” I take it seriously being a watchman on the wall and will do any and everything in my power to share the word of God and prepare all for the return of Jesus Christ. (I am all about total ministry that deals with the total man and life on earth, but if we aren’t preparing people to see Jesus, then what are we doing?)
While I am resolved not to be Rev. Turner, now my prayer is that I will not be Patty, the one who heard the word but did not surrender to the word completely. Each time I watch the movie I can only imagine the anguish I would feel being left behind, knowing what’s to come, and how the media will try to spin the word of God, and the pressure the world government will place on everyone to take the mark of the beast. On this Christmas evening as we are another day closer to your return I want to thank God for sending His son to become my savior so I won't have to experience a world where the presence of God is absent after the rapture! The rapture so places everything into proper perspective, to imagine we are on the brink of God returning for His bride is exciting. God, allow me as your word instructs to occupy until you come but more than anything, I aspire to and will stop at nothing to be ready for your return.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
A Look Inside of Christmas
As a child I loved to be given a maze and a pencil. I readily accepted the task of beginning at the starting point and navigating my way to the finish. I went to a County Fair and my experiences with the mazes on paper prompted me to go through an actual walk through maze that was constructed with tall maniured bushes. This experience was not the same as the one with the pencil. Looking at the maze from above was different from looking at the maze from within. Every dead end caused me to question everything, to reevaluate my decisions, and even question if I would ever make it to the finish line. Through faith and perseverance (and the help of the attendant at the fair lol) I made it through, but the experience was vastly different.
I have discovered often we read the bible from a panoramic perspective, and discover a beginning, middle and end, and expect the same results in our lives without immersing ourselves in the text to discover the type of faith that was necessary to yield these results. So being Christmas Eve, instead of looking at the package from the outside, let’s take a peak inside of the story of Christmas.
1.) Mary and Joseph are living a life devoted to God planning for marriage, and are given something from God that they didn’t plan for, (When these instances occur in our lives, What do we focus on it being from God, or the fact that we didn’t plan for it?) something out of their control. Their immediate response was not an organ playing, tambourines ringing, clapping and shouting, but rather fear…Come on, if you are engaged and your fiancé takes a pregnancy test, and its positive, and when you confront her, she tells you, “The Holy Ghost got me pregnant.” What would be your response? “For real Mary? The Holy Ghost got you pregnant? Right, we will see when we take a paternity test on Maury!” When God impregnates us with His promises that don’t fit our agenda do we deny them, abort them altogether, or embrace them trusting and believing that God’s plans are greater than ours?
2.) Mary and Joseph exhibit unprecedented faith during the pregnancy and birth of Jesus (compare Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy with Zacharias’ response to Elisabeth’s pregnancy Luke 1) Despite the situation they repeatedly obeyed the voice of God on when to flee to Egypt and when to travel to Israel. I desire to have the connection and not only ear to hear but the faith to obey His voice when He speaks. I want to turn down the voices of my situations and thoughts so I can clearly hear the voice of God.
3.) From the moment Jesus was born he was sought after to be worshipped by some and sought after to be destroyed by Herod. Imagine the gravity it takes to be both revered by some and hated by others. You can’t become consumed by either. Can’t get caught up in the hype of those who are for you, or driven by fear of those who are against you, but must remain focused on the purpose God has given you.
Without the faith of Mary and Joseph, the savoir of the world is not born and redemption of mankind does not occur. God in His omniscience knew who he could trust with carrying the savior. My prayer is that God can trust me, that I will handle my pregnancies of purpose and destiny, the same way that Mary and Joseph did, despite any adversity. There are miracles, purpose, and destiny inside of you, and God has trusted you to birth these things, to cultivate and nourish them for the benefit of the world. I want to repeat the words told to Joseph by the angel, Fear not! What is inside of you is conceived of by the Holy Ghost, and if God gave it to you, that is an indication that He trust that you have what it takes to bring it to pass!
I have discovered often we read the bible from a panoramic perspective, and discover a beginning, middle and end, and expect the same results in our lives without immersing ourselves in the text to discover the type of faith that was necessary to yield these results. So being Christmas Eve, instead of looking at the package from the outside, let’s take a peak inside of the story of Christmas.
1.) Mary and Joseph are living a life devoted to God planning for marriage, and are given something from God that they didn’t plan for, (When these instances occur in our lives, What do we focus on it being from God, or the fact that we didn’t plan for it?) something out of their control. Their immediate response was not an organ playing, tambourines ringing, clapping and shouting, but rather fear…Come on, if you are engaged and your fiancé takes a pregnancy test, and its positive, and when you confront her, she tells you, “The Holy Ghost got me pregnant.” What would be your response? “For real Mary? The Holy Ghost got you pregnant? Right, we will see when we take a paternity test on Maury!” When God impregnates us with His promises that don’t fit our agenda do we deny them, abort them altogether, or embrace them trusting and believing that God’s plans are greater than ours?
2.) Mary and Joseph exhibit unprecedented faith during the pregnancy and birth of Jesus (compare Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy with Zacharias’ response to Elisabeth’s pregnancy Luke 1) Despite the situation they repeatedly obeyed the voice of God on when to flee to Egypt and when to travel to Israel. I desire to have the connection and not only ear to hear but the faith to obey His voice when He speaks. I want to turn down the voices of my situations and thoughts so I can clearly hear the voice of God.
3.) From the moment Jesus was born he was sought after to be worshipped by some and sought after to be destroyed by Herod. Imagine the gravity it takes to be both revered by some and hated by others. You can’t become consumed by either. Can’t get caught up in the hype of those who are for you, or driven by fear of those who are against you, but must remain focused on the purpose God has given you.
Without the faith of Mary and Joseph, the savoir of the world is not born and redemption of mankind does not occur. God in His omniscience knew who he could trust with carrying the savior. My prayer is that God can trust me, that I will handle my pregnancies of purpose and destiny, the same way that Mary and Joseph did, despite any adversity. There are miracles, purpose, and destiny inside of you, and God has trusted you to birth these things, to cultivate and nourish them for the benefit of the world. I want to repeat the words told to Joseph by the angel, Fear not! What is inside of you is conceived of by the Holy Ghost, and if God gave it to you, that is an indication that He trust that you have what it takes to bring it to pass!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
I Surrender All
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee my blessed Savior,
I surrender all
-Judson W. Van DeVenter 1896
Psalm 111:10 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:…
This scripture is taking on a new meaning and reminds me that ultimately God is in control and my life is not about me as I would think it is. The sooner I arrive at this conclusion the sooner I will progress towards the plans and thoughts that God has for my life. Pressure falls on those who are in control, when I surrender control of my life to God completely I have also given God the pressure that comes with making the decisions. Many of us desire and seek control of our lives for many reasons. We assume that when we are in control we can determine the outcome and are not subject to the moves of external parties we seek control because it doesn’t stretch us outside of our comfort zone and because it doesn’t require faith and without faith it is possible to please God. I am not against being in control, except when our control replaces our faith in God. Ultimately we can minimize the power of God in our lives. We make decisions and ask God to validate the decisions we have made, when God clearly states, Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Let’s go a little deeper. Some of us learn scriptures and attempt to work the word. I’m totally in agreement with this philosophy, the word will truly work if you work it. With that said, many of attempt to reduce God to a science, when God can’t be contained or captured. Sometimes God will allow you to do it right and it come out wrong, (or what we perceive as wrong at the time) simply to remind us that He is in control. This has been my scripture in 2008: Psalm 127:1 KJV Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. After I do everything in my natural power to create positive results and success in my life, I still need God’s super on my natural to propel me to the supernatural life He desires for me.
God is in control. I believe He knows what is best to me, and my life is in your hands, and I will acquiesce to your will on any and every level. So now I pose the question is God manipulative? Did he love us (notice perhaps in another blog, how love takes you out of your comfort zone, to display agape love, God had to become something he abhors, sin which is outside of His divinity, to gain true love) to make us love Him in return. The fact is, He loved us to give us the choice of reciprocating His love. God’s love never negates our freewill and power to choose. This suggests that we should not attempt to control others through our kindness. Love independently because you want to and allow the other party to choose; this is the definition of true love. Should they choose not to love, don’t allow your love to become contaminated by manipulation because they can’t handle your pure love. Love comes with risk. God loves the world unconditionally, and daily many choose to reciprocate while others reject His love, yet God’s love remains the same.
Tonight I have a little less pressure, a little more freedom and confidence, although I am outside of my comfort zone, I am comfortable being in the center of God’s will. When I am out of control, God can be in control.
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee my blessed Savior,
I surrender all
-Judson W. Van DeVenter 1896
Psalm 111:10 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:…
This scripture is taking on a new meaning and reminds me that ultimately God is in control and my life is not about me as I would think it is. The sooner I arrive at this conclusion the sooner I will progress towards the plans and thoughts that God has for my life. Pressure falls on those who are in control, when I surrender control of my life to God completely I have also given God the pressure that comes with making the decisions. Many of us desire and seek control of our lives for many reasons. We assume that when we are in control we can determine the outcome and are not subject to the moves of external parties we seek control because it doesn’t stretch us outside of our comfort zone and because it doesn’t require faith and without faith it is possible to please God. I am not against being in control, except when our control replaces our faith in God. Ultimately we can minimize the power of God in our lives. We make decisions and ask God to validate the decisions we have made, when God clearly states, Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Let’s go a little deeper. Some of us learn scriptures and attempt to work the word. I’m totally in agreement with this philosophy, the word will truly work if you work it. With that said, many of attempt to reduce God to a science, when God can’t be contained or captured. Sometimes God will allow you to do it right and it come out wrong, (or what we perceive as wrong at the time) simply to remind us that He is in control. This has been my scripture in 2008: Psalm 127:1 KJV Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. After I do everything in my natural power to create positive results and success in my life, I still need God’s super on my natural to propel me to the supernatural life He desires for me.
God is in control. I believe He knows what is best to me, and my life is in your hands, and I will acquiesce to your will on any and every level. So now I pose the question is God manipulative? Did he love us (notice perhaps in another blog, how love takes you out of your comfort zone, to display agape love, God had to become something he abhors, sin which is outside of His divinity, to gain true love) to make us love Him in return. The fact is, He loved us to give us the choice of reciprocating His love. God’s love never negates our freewill and power to choose. This suggests that we should not attempt to control others through our kindness. Love independently because you want to and allow the other party to choose; this is the definition of true love. Should they choose not to love, don’t allow your love to become contaminated by manipulation because they can’t handle your pure love. Love comes with risk. God loves the world unconditionally, and daily many choose to reciprocate while others reject His love, yet God’s love remains the same.
Tonight I have a little less pressure, a little more freedom and confidence, although I am outside of my comfort zone, I am comfortable being in the center of God’s will. When I am out of control, God can be in control.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Do You Wanna Ride?
In so many of my prior blogs my thoughts are sequential, streamlined, organized, deliberate and ultimately arrive at a destination; however anyone who truly knows me, knows that my thoughts are random, haphazard and when truly expressing myself, I can change lanes without giving a signal, so fasten your seatbelt and sit back and come and take a ride with me in my mind…
I recall from a child that in December the major networks would air all of their Year in Review programming where they would recount the major events of the year. Lately this year I have been in a reflective space this year recounting my successes and struggles of the year. I read prior blogs from earlier this year where I asked God specifically for tangible maturation within our youth ministry this year and God as usual has exceeded my expectation. I have listened and watched the spiritual growth and evolution of our young people in countless manifestations. Young people have pursued God this year with reckless abandon and dealt with the realities of being in the presence of God, how no flesh can glory in His presence, and how God’s light reveals areas of us that aren’t like Him in an attempt to shape us and make us in His image, ultimately when God looks at us, He should see a reflection of Himself. I am invigorated by countless conversations, emails and texts from young people sharing their triumphs and adversities. This year has brought for our young people, new educational endeavors, new career moves, relationships that have developed and deteriorated, the development of individual and corporate ministries. (I can’t wait to reinstitute Commissioned, a class where we train youth and young adults for all types of ministry…look out for that in the 09!!!) All of the various mountains and valleys of 2008 have been stretched and strengthened.
Personally, I am so grateful that I get to (not have to) travel the United States and Canada to help young people unlock the greatness that resides within themselves. This year I have been afforded the opportunity to share the word of God at several youth conferences, churches, but ultimately, keep it real, there is no place like home. The hunger from the congregation at the Cov pulls the word out of you, not just on Youth Sundays, but Christian Education, worship and arts workshops, all night prayers, and the list continues. Instead of complaining about what I don’t perceive as right and what I don’t have, I am choosing to be thankful for what I do have.
At the end of the day (I can’t believe I used that phrase I can’t stand it, but at the end of the day, I guess it sums things up) Jesus is it for me; he is the only constant amidst a fluctuating world. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus is the fulcrum of the seesaw we call life.
As I am thinking about Jesus, I had a thought today about relationships, and what I can’t stand are couples that aren’t proud to be with each other, as if they are ashamed of one another. It is a trick of the enemy to constantly make one desire what they don’t have. The person you choose to be with is simply a reflection of you. With that said, I have to ask, how many times have I denied Christ and not claimed Him in my life? How many times have I prayed faster because others were watching in public, not prayed at all in private? Tried to blend so I wouldn’t have to deal with the pressure of standing out, placed God on hold, but never clicked back over? Now I am reaffirming my love for him, not merely with my words, but with my life.
The end of the year always makes come to grips with the fact that we are another year, month, week, day, hour closer to the return of Jesus Christ. It is incumbent upon us that we keep this in the forefront of our minds. It causes or lives to be lived with proper perspective. As I prepare for 2009 I am going to embrace the last few weeks of 2008. I am speaking in Los Angeles and Sacramento on December 28th and I am working on a message that deals with how change is created by a Decision, a Declaration, and A Duty. First we must decide that we desire change. Second we must clearly and identify what path to take to instigate change, and finally a Duty, a responsibility and commitment will bring it to pass.
All right I am rambling, so I will pull over…
I recall from a child that in December the major networks would air all of their Year in Review programming where they would recount the major events of the year. Lately this year I have been in a reflective space this year recounting my successes and struggles of the year. I read prior blogs from earlier this year where I asked God specifically for tangible maturation within our youth ministry this year and God as usual has exceeded my expectation. I have listened and watched the spiritual growth and evolution of our young people in countless manifestations. Young people have pursued God this year with reckless abandon and dealt with the realities of being in the presence of God, how no flesh can glory in His presence, and how God’s light reveals areas of us that aren’t like Him in an attempt to shape us and make us in His image, ultimately when God looks at us, He should see a reflection of Himself. I am invigorated by countless conversations, emails and texts from young people sharing their triumphs and adversities. This year has brought for our young people, new educational endeavors, new career moves, relationships that have developed and deteriorated, the development of individual and corporate ministries. (I can’t wait to reinstitute Commissioned, a class where we train youth and young adults for all types of ministry…look out for that in the 09!!!) All of the various mountains and valleys of 2008 have been stretched and strengthened.
Personally, I am so grateful that I get to (not have to) travel the United States and Canada to help young people unlock the greatness that resides within themselves. This year I have been afforded the opportunity to share the word of God at several youth conferences, churches, but ultimately, keep it real, there is no place like home. The hunger from the congregation at the Cov pulls the word out of you, not just on Youth Sundays, but Christian Education, worship and arts workshops, all night prayers, and the list continues. Instead of complaining about what I don’t perceive as right and what I don’t have, I am choosing to be thankful for what I do have.
At the end of the day (I can’t believe I used that phrase I can’t stand it, but at the end of the day, I guess it sums things up) Jesus is it for me; he is the only constant amidst a fluctuating world. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus is the fulcrum of the seesaw we call life.
As I am thinking about Jesus, I had a thought today about relationships, and what I can’t stand are couples that aren’t proud to be with each other, as if they are ashamed of one another. It is a trick of the enemy to constantly make one desire what they don’t have. The person you choose to be with is simply a reflection of you. With that said, I have to ask, how many times have I denied Christ and not claimed Him in my life? How many times have I prayed faster because others were watching in public, not prayed at all in private? Tried to blend so I wouldn’t have to deal with the pressure of standing out, placed God on hold, but never clicked back over? Now I am reaffirming my love for him, not merely with my words, but with my life.
The end of the year always makes come to grips with the fact that we are another year, month, week, day, hour closer to the return of Jesus Christ. It is incumbent upon us that we keep this in the forefront of our minds. It causes or lives to be lived with proper perspective. As I prepare for 2009 I am going to embrace the last few weeks of 2008. I am speaking in Los Angeles and Sacramento on December 28th and I am working on a message that deals with how change is created by a Decision, a Declaration, and A Duty. First we must decide that we desire change. Second we must clearly and identify what path to take to instigate change, and finally a Duty, a responsibility and commitment will bring it to pass.
All right I am rambling, so I will pull over…
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Past, The Pain, The Power
It is amazing how much time of our life is spent living in the past, both reliving victories and wallowing in losses. If the past isn’t used to affect the future then the past is overrated. Don’t get it twisted, I am not implying in the slightest, to adopt the mentality of, “Oh, well, the past is the past, get the dirt off your shoulders, get over it and move on…” only to later repeat the mistakes of the past again in again. What I am suggesting is that one treats the past as an archaeologist, using the past as a place for discovery, to reconstruct a new you for the future to see. Deal with the consequences of your history so you can embrace the possibilities of your future.
“But time don’t go back, it goes forward can’t run from the pain, go towards it.” –Jay Z Kingdom Come “Lost Ones”
(Did he just quote Jay Z? yes and I totally am willing to discuss the implications of music, how the Lucifer prior to being kicked out of heaven was influential in the arena of music, how masses are hypnotized by a beat, while subliminal sinful, misogynistic messages are woven into the tapestries of their minds, that later effect behavior. The debate of life imitating art vs. art imitating life, how the church can ill afford to reach the world by mimicking it giving them what they already have without any creativity, without any message of Jesus, how if one is going to cross-over, they must carry the cross (the gospel) over literally. With all that said, this quote simply substantiates the point I am attempting to make regarding the past and pain.)
-But time don’t go back it goes forward
No matter how much we live in the past, it is what it is, the past. Only God has the power to effectively and directly address our past. Genuine true repentance that comes from a sincere heart, and turning away from what we are repenting for, and asking God for a clean heart and right spirit, and allowing the blood to cleanse us is how we deal with our past. 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The best tool for me to address the past is the present and the future. Paul a man with a checkered past, flaws and all pre Christ (Acts 9) and Post Christ had the courage and wisdom to declare Philippians 3:13-14 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus told Peter, Satan desires to have you to sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you that your faith fails you not, and when you are converted, strengthen the brethren (I am so doing this text an injustice not mentioning Peter’s impulsive nature, how he constantly gets things 100% right in one instance only to get it 100% wrong the next, how he was a part of Jesus’ inner circle (James and John the sons of Zebedee being the others) yet, he denied Christ 3 times at the time when he needed him most, but later affirmed his love 3 times and preached the inaugural message of the New Testament church) Peter takes the mistakes of his past and uses them as fuel to make him a better Peter in the future.
-Don’t run from the pain run towards it
I had the pleasure of spending time with perhaps the most insightful introspective person I know, my mentee Matthew Mason this weekend. I will tell anyone clearly he is the real mentor in the relationship. We discussed this idea of the past and pain the scripture that clarifies the matter is when Peter after seeking God three times to remove pain, listens to God’s response. 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Many people deny the pain and try to masquerade it. While others fail to acknowledge their weaknesses and some after acknowledging them loathe and wallow in their weaknesses. I ask God intentionally when I experience pain, setback, or heartbreak, allow me to feel the pain completely and so I don’t have a pseudo-healing only to have the pain reemerge later. Satan wants us to run from the pain, because there is power behind the pain. When we identify these areas of pain and surrender to Christ, when we discover our weakness we have just discovered Christ’s strength and it will infuse and empower us to transcend the past, and empower us to accept the future and destiny God desires for us.
“But time don’t go back, it goes forward can’t run from the pain, go towards it.” –Jay Z Kingdom Come “Lost Ones”
(Did he just quote Jay Z? yes and I totally am willing to discuss the implications of music, how the Lucifer prior to being kicked out of heaven was influential in the arena of music, how masses are hypnotized by a beat, while subliminal sinful, misogynistic messages are woven into the tapestries of their minds, that later effect behavior. The debate of life imitating art vs. art imitating life, how the church can ill afford to reach the world by mimicking it giving them what they already have without any creativity, without any message of Jesus, how if one is going to cross-over, they must carry the cross (the gospel) over literally. With all that said, this quote simply substantiates the point I am attempting to make regarding the past and pain.)
-But time don’t go back it goes forward
No matter how much we live in the past, it is what it is, the past. Only God has the power to effectively and directly address our past. Genuine true repentance that comes from a sincere heart, and turning away from what we are repenting for, and asking God for a clean heart and right spirit, and allowing the blood to cleanse us is how we deal with our past. 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The best tool for me to address the past is the present and the future. Paul a man with a checkered past, flaws and all pre Christ (Acts 9) and Post Christ had the courage and wisdom to declare Philippians 3:13-14 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus told Peter, Satan desires to have you to sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you that your faith fails you not, and when you are converted, strengthen the brethren (I am so doing this text an injustice not mentioning Peter’s impulsive nature, how he constantly gets things 100% right in one instance only to get it 100% wrong the next, how he was a part of Jesus’ inner circle (James and John the sons of Zebedee being the others) yet, he denied Christ 3 times at the time when he needed him most, but later affirmed his love 3 times and preached the inaugural message of the New Testament church) Peter takes the mistakes of his past and uses them as fuel to make him a better Peter in the future.
-Don’t run from the pain run towards it
I had the pleasure of spending time with perhaps the most insightful introspective person I know, my mentee Matthew Mason this weekend. I will tell anyone clearly he is the real mentor in the relationship. We discussed this idea of the past and pain the scripture that clarifies the matter is when Peter after seeking God three times to remove pain, listens to God’s response. 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Many people deny the pain and try to masquerade it. While others fail to acknowledge their weaknesses and some after acknowledging them loathe and wallow in their weaknesses. I ask God intentionally when I experience pain, setback, or heartbreak, allow me to feel the pain completely and so I don’t have a pseudo-healing only to have the pain reemerge later. Satan wants us to run from the pain, because there is power behind the pain. When we identify these areas of pain and surrender to Christ, when we discover our weakness we have just discovered Christ’s strength and it will infuse and empower us to transcend the past, and empower us to accept the future and destiny God desires for us.
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