(Below is an excerpt from my prayer journal. The entry is dated January 27, 2009.)
Ah! Father God, already pride is showing its ugly face! The idea was placed in my head that, should I succeed in living a life of love, I would become a joy to be around, a great encouragement and comfort to others, and perhaps even be remembered throughout history (as someone like Brother Lawrence). SIDE-EFFECTS! THESE ARE SIDE-EFFECTS ONLY! Father God, help me! Banish such thoughts and forbid them entrance to my mind. Let the word 'LOVE' toll like the bells of Notre Dame every time such tempting thoughts come my way!
All that I do must be done for your sake, and yours alone, because I love you and for no other reason. I must do these things in the sight of men, yes, but not so that they may see me and admire my piety. No:
"In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"
-Matthew 5:16
You commanded that I shine my light before men; to love you is to obey your commands.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command."
-John 14:16
"This is love for God: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome."
-1 John 5:3
Nothing else matters, save love. This is a hard thing, perhaps the hardest I have ever undertaken, but I must not strive to obey you for difficulty's sake, or to exalt myself in my own eyes, but only because I love you. I must forget myself, while remaining myself always.
I have to walk the razor's edge between every motivation of the world and the pure motivation of love for God. Nothing else must drive me onward. Father, my thoughts are confused; I know I am repeating the same thing over again in a dozen different ways. Let even the ordering of my thoughts be done out of love for you, for when my mind is clear, our communion is sweet.
"The most excellent method of going to God is that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men, and (as far as we are able) purely for the love of God." -Brother Lawrence
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
For the Love of God: Part 1
(Below is an excerpt from my prayer journal. The entry is dated January 27, 2009.)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
-Mark 12:30
Father God,
It is so easy to get caught up in doing 'spiritual' things and so neglect my spiritual life. I've devoted a great deal of time to reading Christian books this past week; I've devoted a great deal of time to considering what to post on my blog and what to send out in the emails to my small group. But I've spent zero time praying and inquiring as to your will for it all. (Much to Satan's delight, I am sure.) Father God, how many times have you shown me that I can do nothing without you? All these works of mine are worthless if they are done for their own sake and not for the love of God.
When I think of my Christian walk, I tend to think of it as a journey leading up to some great thing that you have for me to do. But that cannot be the goal of my faith! You are the beginning of my journey, and so you will be it's end. Some great things may be accomplished along the way, but they must never be confused with the end itself. All I do must be done for the love of God. The whole point of this journey is to bring me perfectly into your presence for all eternity, not for my pleasure or profit, but for your glory.
"To be called to a life of extraordinary quality, to live up to it, and yet to be unconscious of it is indeed a narrow way." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I am not my own; I was bought at a price. You ransomed me from my captor, not because of anything I had done or could do, but because of your unfathomable love for me. Costly grace--bought with the blood of your Son--covers me. And so, again, Father, I am struggling. I want to do great things, but do I really want them done for your sake? Or is pride creeping up on me again? Do I desire to draw the admiration of men? Do I desire a smug sense of self-satisfaction? That cannot be my motivation for doing things in your name.
LOVE.
I let the word pulse in the air for a moment. Love for you is the purpose of each heartbeat, each intake of breath. If I do not love you above all else; if you are not the sole focus of my adoration, then there is no point in my life as a Christian. All that I do will be done emptily. And when I come before the throne of grace on judgment day, I will say, "Lord, Lord, did I not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" (Matthew 7:22) And you will say plainly, "I never knew you." (Matthew 7:23)
The object of Christianity is not to rid mankind of it's irksome habits, or to tame us down, or to bring us into close fellowship and harmony with one another. All these things are mere side-effects of our pursuit of the object of Christianity: the love of God.
So this is my prayer, Father God. Though I am easily distracted and deceived, I pray that you will help me to love you with all my mind and heart. Though I am weak and sinful, God, help me to love you with all my soul and strength. Let me cling to the greatest commandment as my sole object in life... and let all the rest be 'added unto me.' As light is focused through a magnifying glass in order to start a fire, let all my thoughts, words and deeds be filtered through a lens of love, so that all I do may be done for your sake.
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."
-1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
-Mark 12:30
Father God,
It is so easy to get caught up in doing 'spiritual' things and so neglect my spiritual life. I've devoted a great deal of time to reading Christian books this past week; I've devoted a great deal of time to considering what to post on my blog and what to send out in the emails to my small group. But I've spent zero time praying and inquiring as to your will for it all. (Much to Satan's delight, I am sure.) Father God, how many times have you shown me that I can do nothing without you? All these works of mine are worthless if they are done for their own sake and not for the love of God.
When I think of my Christian walk, I tend to think of it as a journey leading up to some great thing that you have for me to do. But that cannot be the goal of my faith! You are the beginning of my journey, and so you will be it's end. Some great things may be accomplished along the way, but they must never be confused with the end itself. All I do must be done for the love of God. The whole point of this journey is to bring me perfectly into your presence for all eternity, not for my pleasure or profit, but for your glory.
"To be called to a life of extraordinary quality, to live up to it, and yet to be unconscious of it is indeed a narrow way." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I am not my own; I was bought at a price. You ransomed me from my captor, not because of anything I had done or could do, but because of your unfathomable love for me. Costly grace--bought with the blood of your Son--covers me. And so, again, Father, I am struggling. I want to do great things, but do I really want them done for your sake? Or is pride creeping up on me again? Do I desire to draw the admiration of men? Do I desire a smug sense of self-satisfaction? That cannot be my motivation for doing things in your name.
LOVE.
I let the word pulse in the air for a moment. Love for you is the purpose of each heartbeat, each intake of breath. If I do not love you above all else; if you are not the sole focus of my adoration, then there is no point in my life as a Christian. All that I do will be done emptily. And when I come before the throne of grace on judgment day, I will say, "Lord, Lord, did I not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" (Matthew 7:22) And you will say plainly, "I never knew you." (Matthew 7:23)
The object of Christianity is not to rid mankind of it's irksome habits, or to tame us down, or to bring us into close fellowship and harmony with one another. All these things are mere side-effects of our pursuit of the object of Christianity: the love of God.
So this is my prayer, Father God. Though I am easily distracted and deceived, I pray that you will help me to love you with all my mind and heart. Though I am weak and sinful, God, help me to love you with all my soul and strength. Let me cling to the greatest commandment as my sole object in life... and let all the rest be 'added unto me.' As light is focused through a magnifying glass in order to start a fire, let all my thoughts, words and deeds be filtered through a lens of love, so that all I do may be done for your sake.
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."
-1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
Monday, January 26, 2009
Week 3: Small Group Emails
(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on January 26, 2009)
"In order to get what you have never had, you must do what you have never done." - Unknown
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.'"
-Matthew 25:23
Hello Everyone!
We had some very productive and thought-provoking discussion on Sunday evening! We talked about a hard standard to live up to. Not so long ago, much more was expected of young people than is expected today. Truth be told, young people expected more of themselves. It occurred to us that there is a vicious cycle of low expectations--No one expects anything of us, so we do nothing. We do nothing, so no one expect anything of us. Well, someone has to break that cycle, and sitting around waiting for 'someone else' to take that first step is the exact opposite of what we are called to do. God expects much more of us.
"'Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the LORD."
-Jeremiah 1:5 & 6
"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
-1 Timothy 4:12
Every great journey starts with one small step. Our journey to adulthood, and to becoming God's agents of change in this world has to start somewhere. And it may have to start very small. In The Fellowship of the Ring, when Frodo and Sam start off together on their quest, they come to a point at the edge of one farmer's land where Sam stops dead in his tracks. Frodo turns to him and asks, "What is it Sam?" Sam answers, "This is it; if I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." Frodo walks back to him, takes him by the arm, and with a small smile says, "Come on." And the journey begins. If you've seen The Return of the King, you know just how essential Sam's single step was to the rest of the story.
It may seem moderately ridiculous to begin living an extraordinary life by doing such ordinary things as making our beds, finishing our homework on time, and obeying/respecting our parents. Those things may seem mundane... boring... unworthy of our time and effort. But that's where it starts, just as a body-builder started with a single push-up and a pop star started with do-re-mi. Perhaps God hasn't revealed to you the purpose of your life just yet, but he has given you a few 'small' things to strive towards while you wait for the big reveal.
I'll be praying for you all, and will see you at small group again in 2 weeks... and maybe at the Super Bowl party this coming Sunday. God bless.
"In order to get what you have never had, you must do what you have never done." - Unknown
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.'"
-Matthew 25:23
Hello Everyone!
We had some very productive and thought-provoking discussion on Sunday evening! We talked about a hard standard to live up to. Not so long ago, much more was expected of young people than is expected today. Truth be told, young people expected more of themselves. It occurred to us that there is a vicious cycle of low expectations--No one expects anything of us, so we do nothing. We do nothing, so no one expect anything of us. Well, someone has to break that cycle, and sitting around waiting for 'someone else' to take that first step is the exact opposite of what we are called to do. God expects much more of us.
"'Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the LORD."
-Jeremiah 1:5 & 6
"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
-1 Timothy 4:12
Every great journey starts with one small step. Our journey to adulthood, and to becoming God's agents of change in this world has to start somewhere. And it may have to start very small. In The Fellowship of the Ring, when Frodo and Sam start off together on their quest, they come to a point at the edge of one farmer's land where Sam stops dead in his tracks. Frodo turns to him and asks, "What is it Sam?" Sam answers, "This is it; if I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." Frodo walks back to him, takes him by the arm, and with a small smile says, "Come on." And the journey begins. If you've seen The Return of the King, you know just how essential Sam's single step was to the rest of the story.
It may seem moderately ridiculous to begin living an extraordinary life by doing such ordinary things as making our beds, finishing our homework on time, and obeying/respecting our parents. Those things may seem mundane... boring... unworthy of our time and effort. But that's where it starts, just as a body-builder started with a single push-up and a pop star started with do-re-mi. Perhaps God hasn't revealed to you the purpose of your life just yet, but he has given you a few 'small' things to strive towards while you wait for the big reveal.
I'll be praying for you all, and will see you at small group again in 2 weeks... and maybe at the Super Bowl party this coming Sunday. God bless.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
My Calling
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to, and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 1:4-10; 17 & 19
I began my walk with God on the night of August 25th, 2005. I knew then that my journey would be a hard one, and that it would not get any easier as the years went by. I knew that I couldn't wait to 'grow up' before I started trying to do great things for God.
Once, in a time of listening prayer, I heard God say to me: You have been consecrated; set apart for a single, holy purpose. Once, someone told me that they could see the anointing of God on my life. Those were difficult times for me. What did that mean? What was I supposed to do? And what if, despite the assurances of God, I fell short?
In the three years and five months of my journey as a Christian, I have been plagued by fears of failure and self-doubt. Satan lies proficiently; he tells me all the time that I haven't got what it takes. He whispers to me about what a loser I am, and how, in the moment of truth, I will turn tail and run like a coward. It's so easy to believe the lies; so easy to duck my head in submission and quietly go on with a monotonous and safe life.
But I'm not called to live a safe life. I am called to uproot and tear down wrong ways of thinking, to destroy and overthrow strongholds of Satan... and in the wake of all this to plant the seeds of the gospel and to rebuild shattered lives and give people hope.
So here I am, in the early morning hours of January 24th, 2009--and I am considering my calling yet again.
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to, and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 1:4-10; 17 & 19
I began my walk with God on the night of August 25th, 2005. I knew then that my journey would be a hard one, and that it would not get any easier as the years went by. I knew that I couldn't wait to 'grow up' before I started trying to do great things for God.
Once, in a time of listening prayer, I heard God say to me: You have been consecrated; set apart for a single, holy purpose. Once, someone told me that they could see the anointing of God on my life. Those were difficult times for me. What did that mean? What was I supposed to do? And what if, despite the assurances of God, I fell short?
In the three years and five months of my journey as a Christian, I have been plagued by fears of failure and self-doubt. Satan lies proficiently; he tells me all the time that I haven't got what it takes. He whispers to me about what a loser I am, and how, in the moment of truth, I will turn tail and run like a coward. It's so easy to believe the lies; so easy to duck my head in submission and quietly go on with a monotonous and safe life.
But I'm not called to live a safe life. I am called to uproot and tear down wrong ways of thinking, to destroy and overthrow strongholds of Satan... and in the wake of all this to plant the seeds of the gospel and to rebuild shattered lives and give people hope.
So here I am, in the early morning hours of January 24th, 2009--and I am considering my calling yet again.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
When Dealing With Other People...
When dealing with Other people…
...the least important word is “I.”
...the most important word is “We.”
...the two most important words are “Thank You.”
...the three most important words are “All is forgiven.”
...the four most important words are “What is your opinion?”
...the five most important words are “You did a good job.”
...the six most important words are “I want to understand you better.”
(From Becoming a Person of Influence, by John C. Maxwell & Jim Dornan)
...the least important word is “I.”
...the most important word is “We.”
...the two most important words are “Thank You.”
...the three most important words are “All is forgiven.”
...the four most important words are “What is your opinion?”
...the five most important words are “You did a good job.”
...the six most important words are “I want to understand you better.”
(From Becoming a Person of Influence, by John C. Maxwell & Jim Dornan)
The Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered—love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives—do good anyway.
If you’re successful, you’ll win false friends and true enemies—succeed anyway.
The good you do today will perhaps be forgotten tomorrow—do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable—be honest and frank anyway.
The big man with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest man with the smallest mind—think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow hot dogs—fight for the few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight—build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them—help them anyway.
Give the world the best that you have and you will get kicked in the teeth—give the world the best you have anyway.
If better is possible, then good is not enough.
(From Becoming a Person of Influence, by John C. Maxwell & Jim Dornan)
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives—do good anyway.
If you’re successful, you’ll win false friends and true enemies—succeed anyway.
The good you do today will perhaps be forgotten tomorrow—do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable—be honest and frank anyway.
The big man with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest man with the smallest mind—think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow hot dogs—fight for the few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight—build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them—help them anyway.
Give the world the best that you have and you will get kicked in the teeth—give the world the best you have anyway.
If better is possible, then good is not enough.
(From Becoming a Person of Influence, by John C. Maxwell & Jim Dornan)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Week 2: Small Group Emails
(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on January 19, 2009)
"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -St. Francis of Assisi
"We may be content to remain what we call 'ordinary people'; but [God] is determined to carry out quite a different plan. To shrink back from that plan is not humility: it is laziness and cowardice. To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience." -C.S. Lewis
"This mediocrity- is it what we have sought, or what we have settled for? Is it the purpose for which we were meant, or is it what we have blindly accepted as a way to survive? God did not intend for man to simply survive in this world- no, he demands much more than this. 'Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.' Christians were not meant to be 'Average Joes.' No matter what our purpose, be it small or great in the world's eyes, we are to do it to our utmost, holding our heads high, because we are commanded to outshine the darkness of the world all around us. I don't care how lowly you believe your position to be- God intends for you to lead; for you to influence someone." -Yours Truly
Hey Everyone!
We discussed some pretty weighty things last night at small group! I think the question of the week, however, is this: What's your motivation? What are you living for? I think that a lot of people go through their day to day lives without giving this much thought. We get up, we get dressed and brush our teeth, maybe we eat something, we go to school (or work, or church, or whatever), we come home, we do some homework, watch some tv, check our Facebook page, take a shower, brush our teeth, and go back to bed... and we get up the next day to do it all again without ever once thinking that there might possibly be something more important that we ought to be concerned about.
It's not that our day to day lives aren't important, but there's something bigger going on here. We're like Briar Rose... before she knew she was Princess Aurora. We're like the Pevensie children from The Chronicles of Narnia... before they knew there was another world just through the wardrobe. We're like Frodo Baggins... before he knew that his uncle's old ring was "The One Ring." There's something big and epic going on here, and we're a part of it... we just don't know it yet. Or maybe we do know it- but knowing something and doing something are two very different things.
As Christians, we are called to new life. But that abundant life we're promised is under attack:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -Jesus of Nazareth (John 10:10)
Jesus didn't say, "I have come so that they can get by without too much difficulty." He didn't say, "I have come so they can be satisfied by the bare minimum." He came to give us life to the full. When I look around at our small group, I see enormous, untapped potential, like all the water contained by the Hoover Dam. Imagine if someone blew up the Hoover Dam--imagine the power of all that water rushing down at once. It would sweep away everything in it's path and leave devastation in it's wake. When we finally wrap our mind around what God is calling us to do, everyone around us is going to be swept up in it too... and we'll leave changed lives behind us.
Ah... but (there's always a 'but') we must not forget the thief. Satan hates you. He has come to steal your potential and destroy your life. He's like Malificent to Briar Rose, The White Witch to the Pevensie children, Sauron to Frodo. And do you know why he hates you? He fears you. Let that sink in for a moment. Satan is afraid of me? What's so special about me? Ah. There's the million-dollar question... that Satan would do anything to keep you from finding out the answer to.
I'm praying for you, my friends. Be on your guard. God bless.
"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -St. Francis of Assisi
"We may be content to remain what we call 'ordinary people'; but [God] is determined to carry out quite a different plan. To shrink back from that plan is not humility: it is laziness and cowardice. To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience." -C.S. Lewis
"This mediocrity- is it what we have sought, or what we have settled for? Is it the purpose for which we were meant, or is it what we have blindly accepted as a way to survive? God did not intend for man to simply survive in this world- no, he demands much more than this. 'Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.' Christians were not meant to be 'Average Joes.' No matter what our purpose, be it small or great in the world's eyes, we are to do it to our utmost, holding our heads high, because we are commanded to outshine the darkness of the world all around us. I don't care how lowly you believe your position to be- God intends for you to lead; for you to influence someone." -Yours Truly
Hey Everyone!
We discussed some pretty weighty things last night at small group! I think the question of the week, however, is this: What's your motivation? What are you living for? I think that a lot of people go through their day to day lives without giving this much thought. We get up, we get dressed and brush our teeth, maybe we eat something, we go to school (or work, or church, or whatever), we come home, we do some homework, watch some tv, check our Facebook page, take a shower, brush our teeth, and go back to bed... and we get up the next day to do it all again without ever once thinking that there might possibly be something more important that we ought to be concerned about.
It's not that our day to day lives aren't important, but there's something bigger going on here. We're like Briar Rose... before she knew she was Princess Aurora. We're like the Pevensie children from The Chronicles of Narnia... before they knew there was another world just through the wardrobe. We're like Frodo Baggins... before he knew that his uncle's old ring was "The One Ring." There's something big and epic going on here, and we're a part of it... we just don't know it yet. Or maybe we do know it- but knowing something and doing something are two very different things.
As Christians, we are called to new life. But that abundant life we're promised is under attack:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -Jesus of Nazareth (John 10:10)
Jesus didn't say, "I have come so that they can get by without too much difficulty." He didn't say, "I have come so they can be satisfied by the bare minimum." He came to give us life to the full. When I look around at our small group, I see enormous, untapped potential, like all the water contained by the Hoover Dam. Imagine if someone blew up the Hoover Dam--imagine the power of all that water rushing down at once. It would sweep away everything in it's path and leave devastation in it's wake. When we finally wrap our mind around what God is calling us to do, everyone around us is going to be swept up in it too... and we'll leave changed lives behind us.
Ah... but (there's always a 'but') we must not forget the thief. Satan hates you. He has come to steal your potential and destroy your life. He's like Malificent to Briar Rose, The White Witch to the Pevensie children, Sauron to Frodo. And do you know why he hates you? He fears you. Let that sink in for a moment. Satan is afraid of me? What's so special about me? Ah. There's the million-dollar question... that Satan would do anything to keep you from finding out the answer to.
I'm praying for you, my friends. Be on your guard. God bless.
Week 1: Small Group Emails
(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on January 12, 2009)
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you might be able to test and approve what God's will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will."
- Romans 12:2
To Everyone in Small Group:
We've made it through the first chapter of Do Hard Things. The chapter is called, Most People Don't. And it's true. Most people don't do anything with their lives. Most people don't think that they can. What we discovered last week is that all of us wish that we could, and we wish that other people believed that we could.
But in order to start doing hard things for God, we first have to experience a change in our hearts and in our minds. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what God wants for our lives--many people have asked, "What is my purpose? Do I even have one?" The answer to that second question is yes, you do. The first one is harder to answer. But as you pray, and as you seek an answer to that question, God will provide one. That's the nice thing about God. He never leaves us hanging. He might ask us to wait, if he sees that waiting would be good for us, but he always answers. So here's my challenge to you this week: Ask.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you."
- Matthew 7:7
Spend some time in prayer this week and ask God some hard questions. Ask him what he wants you to be doing, right now, with what he has given you. Ask him to unveil what he's got for you in the near future. Ask him what "hard things" he wants you to start working on. Ask him what his will for you in small groups is. Ask him to begin to change your thinking; to get out of the "I can't" rut and onto the road that says:
"With God all things are possible."
- Matthew 19:26
See you all next week. I'll be praying for you--be praying for your brothers and sisters as well! Pray for Tim, too, and for the other small groups and their leaders. We've got to be together in this. Remember--this is war.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you might be able to test and approve what God's will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will."
- Romans 12:2
To Everyone in Small Group:
We've made it through the first chapter of Do Hard Things. The chapter is called, Most People Don't. And it's true. Most people don't do anything with their lives. Most people don't think that they can. What we discovered last week is that all of us wish that we could, and we wish that other people believed that we could.
But in order to start doing hard things for God, we first have to experience a change in our hearts and in our minds. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what God wants for our lives--many people have asked, "What is my purpose? Do I even have one?" The answer to that second question is yes, you do. The first one is harder to answer. But as you pray, and as you seek an answer to that question, God will provide one. That's the nice thing about God. He never leaves us hanging. He might ask us to wait, if he sees that waiting would be good for us, but he always answers. So here's my challenge to you this week: Ask.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you."
- Matthew 7:7
Spend some time in prayer this week and ask God some hard questions. Ask him what he wants you to be doing, right now, with what he has given you. Ask him to unveil what he's got for you in the near future. Ask him what "hard things" he wants you to start working on. Ask him what his will for you in small groups is. Ask him to begin to change your thinking; to get out of the "I can't" rut and onto the road that says:
"With God all things are possible."
- Matthew 19:26
See you all next week. I'll be praying for you--be praying for your brothers and sisters as well! Pray for Tim, too, and for the other small groups and their leaders. We've got to be together in this. Remember--this is war.
Every Great Journey Starts With One Small Step
Every great journey starts with one small step... and the step I've taken is the creation of this blog. Putting myself out there and publishing my thoughts is a relatively new concept to me; I'm used to keeping my thoughts to myself, where there is no chance of their being rejected or argued. However, by keeping my thoughts to myself, there is also no chance that they will ever benefit anyone else.
What I hope to accomplish through this blog is to offer a glimpse of the bigger picture--of the epic of life in which all Christians have a crucial role to play. I hope to encourage and edify those who read this blog, and perhaps help my brothers and sisters grow even a little closer to the LORD we know and love.
Let the journey begin.
What I hope to accomplish through this blog is to offer a glimpse of the bigger picture--of the epic of life in which all Christians have a crucial role to play. I hope to encourage and edify those who read this blog, and perhaps help my brothers and sisters grow even a little closer to the LORD we know and love.
Let the journey begin.
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