There is one place you can go that will always test your patience by making you wait: the DMV. Oh, the dreaded DMV where waits can be measured in hours and tension and anger keeps the necessity of air conditioning a must. It's busier than Starbucks in the morning and the freeway during rush hour. The DMV is full of frustration.
We as a society have become so spoiled with promptness of service and having everything when we want it. I think the DMV is an equalizer to help bring us back down to humility and patience. It teaches us to WAIT. Scripture also calls us to wait. Psalm 27:14 tells us to, "Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." What comes to your mind when you think, wait? Initially one wouldn't be far off to sit still and do nothing. You might also thing just hang out, bum around until what you're waiting for is upon you. However, when we are called to wait upon the Lord, it isn't a command to simply stop doing everything to wait. In fact, its quite opposite.
You see, when one waits on the Lord to deliver, they don't just stand idly by. No, rather we must wait for Him to move but during that time we ourselves must be preparing for the move. So, one could justify replacing the word "wait" with "prepare." We should be prepared for when God does move so that we won't miss an opportunity to catch what He has in store for us. So instead of sitting on the spiritual couch we need to get off our spiritual butts and prepare for God to move.
In the movie, "Faith Like Potatoes," the farmer plants his potatoes having an unshakable faith that God was going to provide the rain. All the local farmers and his friends thought he was crazy but instead of listening to them, he put his faith in that God would move...and He did! He could've "waited" for God to move by just letting his field go unplowed and seeds unplanted but rather he "prepared" by plowing and planting. What would've happened if he did nothing to plant a crop and God sent the rain? He would have been at a huge loss!
I find myself at a point where I find myself constantly waiting on God but am preparing for Him to move so that when He says, "Go," all my bags are packed and I will be prepared to follow at a moments notice. How about you? Are you waiting for God to do something miraculous before you fully follow or are you diligently preparing for Him to move in your life? Proverbs 10:4 says, "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." Would you prefer to be spiritually poor or wealthy? Be diligent in pursuing Him and WAIT on Him to move but preparing your heart and mind while waiting.
When God does move, He will move big. Be ready!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Breathe
Something that I absolutely love to do is breathe. I don't know about you but for me breathing gives me a sense that I am living life how it was meant to be lived....with oxygen! Without oxygen, our bodies will be unable to sustain life for our blood needs oxygen to help our body parts function. One relies on the other...it's a team, a network for life! So, next time you think about breathing, praise God that He has created such intricacies that make life possible and enjoyable.
I love oxygen and all that it entails but I want to talk about breathing something else that provides so much more than physical life.I was thinking the other day about God's breath and I was reminded of the scene in the Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan shows up and breathes onto those who had been turned to stone by the White Witch. These lifeless forms who once were vibrant with life were overtaken by the evil power of the White Witch and had their life taken away until...a single breath brought them back to life.
This breath was no ordinary breath like the ones you and I breathe every second. No, this breath in its very essence was divine. A breath that could bring life to something once stone dead was a breath that brought love, peace, comfort, security, unity, and ultimately presence. To be breathed onto by the Divine means only one thing: the Divine's presence.
The really cool thing about God is that He doesn't just breathe on us but INTO us. He gives us His very essence to have for ourselves. Now think about what would happen if we timed our breathing with God so that when He exhales we inhale and vice versa. Crazy things WILL happen. Things you never noticed before will become so obvious and things you never thought nor dreamed you could do become possible. Here's a warning though. DO NOT breathe in God's breath unless you are ready for something so surreal and unimaginable. When we align our life with God, we become something that only seems possible in fairy tales and achieve things only seen as mere legends of ancient lore. WE BECOME WHAT GOD INTENDED US TO BE!!!
Breathe in God and breathe out evil. God's plan for us isn't a life of mediocrity living but rather one where we are passionate for Him and His ways because His ways bring life, fulfillment, peace, joy, and better yet, ETERNITY!!
My challenge to you is to stop breathing in the crap this world is trying force into your lungs and to go against the mainstream and breathe in the breath of God...the same breath that created the heavens!
I love oxygen and all that it entails but I want to talk about breathing something else that provides so much more than physical life.I was thinking the other day about God's breath and I was reminded of the scene in the Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan shows up and breathes onto those who had been turned to stone by the White Witch. These lifeless forms who once were vibrant with life were overtaken by the evil power of the White Witch and had their life taken away until...a single breath brought them back to life.
This breath was no ordinary breath like the ones you and I breathe every second. No, this breath in its very essence was divine. A breath that could bring life to something once stone dead was a breath that brought love, peace, comfort, security, unity, and ultimately presence. To be breathed onto by the Divine means only one thing: the Divine's presence.
The really cool thing about God is that He doesn't just breathe on us but INTO us. He gives us His very essence to have for ourselves. Now think about what would happen if we timed our breathing with God so that when He exhales we inhale and vice versa. Crazy things WILL happen. Things you never noticed before will become so obvious and things you never thought nor dreamed you could do become possible. Here's a warning though. DO NOT breathe in God's breath unless you are ready for something so surreal and unimaginable. When we align our life with God, we become something that only seems possible in fairy tales and achieve things only seen as mere legends of ancient lore. WE BECOME WHAT GOD INTENDED US TO BE!!!
Breathe in God and breathe out evil. God's plan for us isn't a life of mediocrity living but rather one where we are passionate for Him and His ways because His ways bring life, fulfillment, peace, joy, and better yet, ETERNITY!!
My challenge to you is to stop breathing in the crap this world is trying force into your lungs and to go against the mainstream and breathe in the breath of God...the same breath that created the heavens!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Dreams
There's one place you can go where everything is possible and the imagination rules over reality: dreams. I'm no talking about the visions that fill your mind while you are sleeping but rather the visions that flood your brain and heart when you're wide awake. Look around you and everything you see is there because someone had a dream for it to become a reality. How different would the world be if the Wright brothers decided their dream was too risky and worthless? Or how about if whoever invented the wheel decided not to work hard on improving on what he/she had and decided to just continue living life as usual? Dreams make the world go round and keep innovation alive and thriving!
When I was a kid, I had so many dreams. I wanted to be a superhero, a rodeo cowboy, a fireman, an astronaut, a pro athlete (thanks Tallas for telling me I would never make it in the NBA when that was a dream and being real...but thank you mom for telling me right after his statement that I could make it if I really really wanted to and showing you believed in me, even though I'm sure you truly didn't believe it. You didn't squash that dream but kept it alive. My own ability kind of squashed that dream.)
This begs the question to be asked: have you stopped dreaming? If you have, start now! To live life without dreams is to miss out on all life has to offer us. When we don't dream, we don't aspire to do something that meets a need, a strong desire within us. Sure, some dreams may be very impractical or we even fail when we try to see the dreams realized, but we cannot stop dreaming. What if you were to see your dream come to fruition? Would it be worth the troubles and hard work?
Recent events in my life have been both devastating yet at the same time motivating. I was on a path of complacency. Now, I had dreams and goals and visions but they needed to come secondary to my mediocre relationship with God. Now that I've solidified my relationship with Him, dreams I once had now seem very possible. I find myself at a major crossroads in my life. Everything is going to be different but I'm embracing the change and will make the most of what life throws my way.
As for my dreams, I share them just to share. Will I see them through? Maybe, maybe not. Will I fail? Most definitely I will fail in some areas but I will learn from them and seize golden opportunities as they come. Also, by me sharing it kind of helps me be accountable to them because I don't wanna be the guy who shared his dreams and failed to even follow them. Even though I am currently not working as a pastor I'm still a pastor at heart and want to do ministry however and wherever I can. God's given me a passion to reach out to the lost and hurting and the creativity to make it relevant. So, the plan is that I would like to go back to school and learn about computer design. We're talking website, graphic, multimedia, etc... I want to start a website where people can share what God is speaking to them. I want it to be a place where we can challenge each other to go against the flow of society and walk according to biblical principles that are being tossed around like a ship in the midst of a hurricane. I would also like to start a design business to help churches, youth groups, companies, ministries, etc... brand themselves effectively in an ever progressing digital world. So, that's a dream I have and now I feel capable of finally reaching out and wrangling that dream and making it a reality. It's a big dream but a very attainable one.
What are your dreams? What is holding you back from following and fulfilling them? What can you do immediately to start down the path to making those dreams a reality? Make it happen!
When I was a kid, I had so many dreams. I wanted to be a superhero, a rodeo cowboy, a fireman, an astronaut, a pro athlete (thanks Tallas for telling me I would never make it in the NBA when that was a dream and being real...but thank you mom for telling me right after his statement that I could make it if I really really wanted to and showing you believed in me, even though I'm sure you truly didn't believe it. You didn't squash that dream but kept it alive. My own ability kind of squashed that dream.)
This begs the question to be asked: have you stopped dreaming? If you have, start now! To live life without dreams is to miss out on all life has to offer us. When we don't dream, we don't aspire to do something that meets a need, a strong desire within us. Sure, some dreams may be very impractical or we even fail when we try to see the dreams realized, but we cannot stop dreaming. What if you were to see your dream come to fruition? Would it be worth the troubles and hard work?
Recent events in my life have been both devastating yet at the same time motivating. I was on a path of complacency. Now, I had dreams and goals and visions but they needed to come secondary to my mediocre relationship with God. Now that I've solidified my relationship with Him, dreams I once had now seem very possible. I find myself at a major crossroads in my life. Everything is going to be different but I'm embracing the change and will make the most of what life throws my way.
As for my dreams, I share them just to share. Will I see them through? Maybe, maybe not. Will I fail? Most definitely I will fail in some areas but I will learn from them and seize golden opportunities as they come. Also, by me sharing it kind of helps me be accountable to them because I don't wanna be the guy who shared his dreams and failed to even follow them. Even though I am currently not working as a pastor I'm still a pastor at heart and want to do ministry however and wherever I can. God's given me a passion to reach out to the lost and hurting and the creativity to make it relevant. So, the plan is that I would like to go back to school and learn about computer design. We're talking website, graphic, multimedia, etc... I want to start a website where people can share what God is speaking to them. I want it to be a place where we can challenge each other to go against the flow of society and walk according to biblical principles that are being tossed around like a ship in the midst of a hurricane. I would also like to start a design business to help churches, youth groups, companies, ministries, etc... brand themselves effectively in an ever progressing digital world. So, that's a dream I have and now I feel capable of finally reaching out and wrangling that dream and making it a reality. It's a big dream but a very attainable one.
What are your dreams? What is holding you back from following and fulfilling them? What can you do immediately to start down the path to making those dreams a reality? Make it happen!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Update
Just wanted to write this update because I started a blog and have totally failed in keeping up with it. Once I get internet at home, I'll update more. God is doing a ton in my heart right now and is teaching me a lot. Read 2 Timothy 2:22. Until next time, seek first His Kingdom!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Direction
So I'm at a point in my life right now where basically everything I knew and had is slowly falling apart. However, in the midst of this chaotic turmoil I am finding things that remain constant. First and foremost, God. He has given me strength to not just "be" another day but to actually "live" another day. He's pulled me through some really painful experiences and times. And people say there is no God!?! I don't know how some get through life without the hope only He provides. Also, family and friends. They've all been a HUGE support during this time and I've really been able to see a deeper character than I realized in people I know and am close to. Without God, family, and friends, what do you really have? I would give up everything I had to retain these.
This has also been a time where I've seen the truths of Scripture come alive and into play. I've really tried and succeeded in making a daily quiet time priority and it has been a blessing like none other. If I wasn't in the Word daily, I'd be missing out on SO many lessons that God wants to teach me right now. And the cool thing is that I've been able to put some things I've read into play...especially from Proverbs.
I am at a crossroads in my life...again. But it seems I've been unable to move any direction. That is because there IS NO direction...yet. God is telling me to wait for His guidance and direction. Oh, that's another thing that I've really been able to put into practice...PATIENCE! But I am at a point in my life where I get to practice what I have preached...perseverance through tough times, having utmost faith in God and His leading, waiting for open doors, pursuing Him passionately. Waiting on God...hmmm...it's not necessarily doing nothing but rather preparing for what He has for us and being ready to move when He says, "Go!" It's uncomfortable but where I need to be.
My life journey has taken an unexpected turn but how can life be an adventure when everything you expect comes to fruition?
This has also been a time where I've seen the truths of Scripture come alive and into play. I've really tried and succeeded in making a daily quiet time priority and it has been a blessing like none other. If I wasn't in the Word daily, I'd be missing out on SO many lessons that God wants to teach me right now. And the cool thing is that I've been able to put some things I've read into play...especially from Proverbs.
I am at a crossroads in my life...again. But it seems I've been unable to move any direction. That is because there IS NO direction...yet. God is telling me to wait for His guidance and direction. Oh, that's another thing that I've really been able to put into practice...PATIENCE! But I am at a point in my life where I get to practice what I have preached...perseverance through tough times, having utmost faith in God and His leading, waiting for open doors, pursuing Him passionately. Waiting on God...hmmm...it's not necessarily doing nothing but rather preparing for what He has for us and being ready to move when He says, "Go!" It's uncomfortable but where I need to be.
My life journey has taken an unexpected turn but how can life be an adventure when everything you expect comes to fruition?
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