Point made from Francis Chan n Ch 8 of Crazy Love

In a part in chapter 8, Francis shared a story about when his family had gone to see a play and his discussion with his wife's Grandma Clara during intermission. She shared that she wasn't sure if she wanted to at the play when Christ returns instead of being found in prayer of in service helping another. I applaud Francis' candidness in sharing that his initial thought which was his thinking it was strange to see someone try to literally live out the Bible and its commands. Through his maturity, he then realized it was more a situation of feeling convicted in the situation.

Had Francis not had the maturity, it is very possible and extremely likely this underlying feeling of conviction would have caused this initial reaction of finding it strange to develop into something else, something resentful or even demeaning of Grandma Clara.

For our sake and more importantly, the sake of Christ's kingdom, Francis did have the maturity to realize what was going on and the true motivation for his reaction and thoughts. Had he not, those feelings of conviction could have been hidden under bitterness towards Grandma Clara and a break in their relationship.

It's easy to be upset with Grandma Clara. Grandma Clara will not be sitting in judgement of him one day. After all, Grandma Clara is a little strange, or self-righteous, so what she says and does somehow has less status than everyone else. At best, she is annoying. At worst, she needs to be told to shut up.

It's hard to admit that what really was happening was Francis was being convicted by the Holy Spirit. It's not easy to get mad and try to take it out on the Holy Spirit or God and much easier to make Grandma Clara his target.

As we continue to read through this book and explore these principles together, I am humbled by the choices I have made and the compromises I have chosen to accept in my walk. I know I alone have to answer for my actions and choices going forward, now that I know. I do not need to please man but do the will of the One who has paid the price for me. All that is between God and me alone.

For anyone, no matter where you are in your walk and where God is working in you, I pray that you are able to take the steps you feel God is calling specifically for you at this time and for His purpose.

She's Not Even in this Study!

I wanted to share a post from our daughter Alicia's blog. Yes, it's written in all lower case and uses some abbreviations such as idk (which translates into I don't know for those of you without a texting teenager) but I thought it really applied to what we've been learning which is basically becoming less so He can become more. I sure wish I knew what she knows already at 19 when I was that young. Thank you Lord for giving me a child that pursues You!

Here you go....

so...lately, God has been continuing to be near to my heart. i have found such a blessing and excitement from telling people what He has done for me lately and the many ways that i have grown. many people check in on and me and see how i am really doing and it is the perfect opportunity to share that in the midst of heartbreak i feel closest to the Lord, ironic huh? not so much, at all. it is the moments when we are truly broken we experience Him all the more. makes me want to be broken a lot more often...was reminded yesterday what john piper told us at passion. when we feel most insiginifcant, we have the most joy. also that the Lord wants us to worship Him and give Him glory not for His selfishness, but out of His love for us. what i mean to say is...God knows we can only experience complete joy when we are completely focused on Him; therefore, He desires our worship and praise because that is when we are tuly complete. idk if that makes any sense or not. still grasping God's greatness. will be forever, actually. okay-now to school

Oh, Praise Him!

This is an inspiring video down to David Crowder Band's, "Oh, Praise Him!"

Prayer

I've been wanting to share this prayer that I had written since the Uprising (DNow) weekend with Matt Papa:

Dear God,

It is my desire to follow you. I desire to deny myself completely and to take up my cross daily and follow you. It is not my deepest desire and I pray that you will help that to become my deepest desire. You have done so much with me in mind. I only am aware of a fraction of what You have done and what You do and my response is weak at best. Forgive me for the way I have responded to You in this lukewarm manor, when I have responded at all. Forgive me for so much that I do with myself in mind and not You and Your desires. Although it is a battle I give into more often than not, I pray You will bring me victory in this battle over my selfish wants and self-centered actions. I pray to love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, and all of my mind. I pray that You fill me with the desire to seek Your kingdom first because You only are worthy and not out of wanting all to be given to me as a result. I give up my hopes, my dreams, my plans, and my life to You, my Creator, my Sustainer, my Savior, the love of my soul, the only source of peace, strength and life, my only true Hope. Amen.

Blessed Be Your Name Video by CCC

a conversation with Bill

I can remember when I was a work-study working at the Corporate America credit card bank just a few minutes from my parents home. I was 17 and had been supporting the same team for about a year. I remember this time specifically because it was shortly after a youth camp revival for leaders and I was back on fire with my faith in God. Things had changed in me and the folks at work could see a difference. So one man asked me what was up and the conversation went a little like this...

Bill: Why are you so happy today?
Ryan: Today, aren’t I happy everyday...
Bill: You seem a little more happy than normal.
Ryan: Well this weekend I went on a leadership retreat with my school and it really helped me remember what’s important in my life.
Bill: Oh yeah what’s that?
Ryan: My relationship with Jesus.
Bill: Oh you believe that do you?
Ryan: Yeah with all that I am
Bill: I have a hard time believing something I can’t see, and I find it even harder to believe something because someone told me too.
Ryan: I can understand that, but I see Him all of the time in so many ways. What do you believe in?
Bill: I have faith/believe in my family, in my job, in more tangible things I can see and touch.
Ryan: but what about after those things go away? I mean how do you explain your being here? Do you think a big rock exploded and poof there is Bill?
Bill: Not sure, I don’t really think about that stuff, it doesnt really matter now does it, I am here.
Ryan: What do you think is going to happen when we die?
Bill: Doesnt matter to me, I will be dead.
Ryan: It matters to me, I believe that if I die today and I have not accepted Christ as my savior I will spend eternity in hell.
Bill: You believe in that Heaven and Hell too?
Ryan: Yeah, I sure do.
Bill: How about you get those copies over to Ted’s office he is waiting for the presentation.
Ryan: All over it... have faith that God will allow me to get there...
Bill: :)

Now a similar conversation happened between Bill and me a few times a month until I moved under new management. Still to this day I don't know where Bill's faith resides. I hope that he has accepted Christ and has not put his Faith in things that are of this earth.

It’s hard talking to a Bill when your 17 and still unsure of what God is telling you to do with your life, but one thing that amazed me about Bill was his faith in nothing. I just don't understand how you can have faith in so little when God is so big. It has been said that it takes more faith to not believe in God then it does to believe in God. When you see all that has been "made" in this earth how can you question a creator...a more pressing question that I was given about that time in my life was "but what if you’re wrong about all of this stuff you are doing here to worship God and you could have been having fun?" My first response was, are you kidding me, I am having the best time of my life putting my faith in a God who knows my beginning and my end. The more important question is what if we (Christains) are right? This life of fun vs. eternal life in hell with no fun... makes you think...

Faith Is Not Wavering In Unbelief

My mom tells me I came home from preschool with a note attached to my shirt that said "Beth accepted Jesus as her Savior today." Of course I don't remember this since I was 3 or 4 years old. I spent a lifetime doubting my salvation. Asking Jesus into my heart every time there was an invitation. I remember fear overtaking me as a child when we would sing a song that required you to stand on the day of the week you got saved. "It was on a Monday that Jesus set me free." I had no clue what day of the week I asked Jesus into my heart.
When people would talk about giving your testimony, I again would sense fear. I wasn't set free from a life of serious addictions or childhood pain. Later in life, God showed me that Him keeping me from a life like that IS my testimony. It takes a mighty work of God either way. My testimony is still powerful because I was going to hell.
I still have to be aware of when the enemy tries to lead me into doubt in this area. I'm not trusting in anything I have done for salvation. I put my trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone to save me.
Romans 4: 20 changed my life. It says, "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." This verse is talking about Abraham believing God would give him a son. The words lept off the page to me one day. "YET HE DID NOT WAVER THROUGH UNBELIEF." God spoke to me. That's what I had been doing my whole life... wavering in unbelief. I never realized it was an action I was doing. I can't imagine how easy it would have been for Abraham to go down that road in his thought process (the what if thoughts.) But he chose not too. Faith is not wavering in unbelief.

Offer of a Rock

Some of you may know that Chris B.C. (before Christ) was quite a lost guy and into quite unusual stuff (New Age, psychic kind of things). With that was the belief that certain crystals possessed or amplified traits or abilities. I know, I know, but that's kind of the point of this.
So when Jamie and I were dating, one of her friends was killed in a car accident. Being the kind, caring, compassionate boyfriend that I was, I wanted to be able to offer her comfort in the situation. I wanted to be able to give her something that I felt would help her get through the situation. So I gave her a piece of turquoise that I had to help her have strength through that time in her life. Not knowing any better, she had accepted it and was grateful. Of course, we look back at that and can't help but look at the absurdity of it. When her friend died, I offered her a rock to help her get through it all.
Really? A rock?
It was a pretty rock. And it was a gesture from the heart. But in the end, what is a rock going to do for her and that situation? It's dead, lifeless. There is nothing outside of its GOD GIVEN beauty that it can really do in of itself. Sure, it can symbolize other things, but it can't do anything.
And if we are not offering Jesus to people, isn't that all we are doing? Just offering them a dead rock? Seriously, it is just another thing that sits in their pocket and actually adds weight to that person's life. It is a hindrance and takes away from someone's ability to have something that truly matters and can make a difference.
There is nothing this world or anything in it has to offer that provide lasting peace and comfort like Jesus. He is THE rock that we do have to offer. And there are people who don't know any better and are clinging onto any bit of hope they can find. They place their faith in idols and worthless things where there is a God who loves them beyond compare and is calling to them.

Not coincidental

This is too awesome....had to share with you all. The other night Bob was doing a devotion with the kids. The devotion was on Genesis 7 and how Noah obeyed God's directions to build the ark. Noah had FAITH that God had big plans for him and his family. Anyway, Stephen asks. "How long did it take Noah to build the ark?". Well, Bob and I looked at each other and neither one of us knew. So, Bob told him he would find out and let him know. Well, the next morning we get up and Bob is already gone to work. However, he left us a note that said, "It took Noah 120 yrs to build the ark." Stephen is wondering how Bob found out and I told him he probably looked it up in his Bible this morning during his quiet time. Nothing else was said about it. Well, this morning I am reading the chapter for lifegroup and there it is...the second page in the chapter...bottom of page 114...."Noah spent 120 yrs building an ark and warning others of the impending judgment". I talked to Bob and he was waiting for me to read the chapter before he said anything. You cannot tell me that this is coincidental. This is God telling us...."I HAVE YOUR BACK". Yes, Bob and I are not the most educated when it comes to the Bible...where to find certain things...having the scriptures memorized...etc. However,God is telling us...don't worry. Keep teaching your kids about Me and I will help you. How Awesome is this. I love it. What a confidence booster.

Proud

Just got back from Lunch with the Family Kimberly, Stephen and Hailey. We went to Steak n Shake. I just had a very proud moment with my Son and family. Stephen pulled out a 20.00 bill and said Dad I am buying lunch today. I said no I got it, he said Dad I am buying lunch. I looked in his wallet as he handed me the 20.00 bill, this is all he had not a penny more. He said thats ok i dont need anything. I really cant put into words how I feel, but to know where his heart is makes me a very very proud parent. Flashes of parenting, Love, Godliness, selflishness... this is one of those moments you never forget as a parent to see how your son is growing up into a man not just any man but a Christian Man I can only say WOW and God Bless... Let our children humble us and remind us to give caringly and not just the leftovers but everything we have....my son just did.

Where's My Faith?

We just returned from the first night of worship for the youth Uprising event...and let's just say it wasn't much like church as we're used to it. Not because the music was loud and the lyrics were different but rather because it was truly worship. Kids were jumping up and down, singing loud and proud, and raising their hands in sold out worship. They were worshipping with faith. They worshiped in a way that declared their belief that God is exactly who He says He is...a Holy God who is worthy of our praise and adoration. He is worthy to be shouted for, He is worthy to have our hands lifted high in surrender to. He is GOD and these teenagers have the faith to just take Him at His word, however....and this is a big however.....some of these same teens will come to church with us the following Sunday and keep their hands at their side as they sing quietly un-engaged. Tonight I asked my self why that is? God didn't change, He remains the same for the following Sunday, they likely will not change by then either. So what is it? Ya know what?It's us! I am the reason they worship differently. I am the one who slowly hinders their faith. These teens who one night before were boldly praising their God are now sitting in a room full of adults who have found more important things to worship...their jobs, their materials, their money, themselves. I am one of those adults who hinders the faith of our youth and it is sad. So, tonight I find myself asking "where did my faith go?" How have I let Satan enter in and steal it away? I don't even know when it happened because Satan is really good with a slow fade and before you know it I'm sitting in a room full of faith filled people and I see the contrast. So, this afternoon I would have told you I was passionately following the Lord but after seeing the contrast, tonight I would have a different answer. Where's my faith...not sure, but I'm going to find it again!

are you known for your power?

As i read about the power of the spirit and how its been given to the children of God, I am now asking myself if I am known for my power...

2 Tim 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

God, my prayer today is to embrace the power you have given me through the Holy Spirit.

Please be in prayer for the Uprising this weekend... The teens are in store for an awesome and POWERFUL weekend...

RD

I did it! I made it to our "blob" as Kimberly says! Can't wait to see everyone tonight.
Thought for my day today is that I am so grateful that I have our God Almighty to put my trust, hope and faith in. I pray for God's peace to cover those suffering in Haiti. God is so good!