Worship with Song

I've discovered that singing worship is a key part of my relationship with Jesus. It's been hard for me lately because my personal library is a little short in worship music and I used to use spotify for all my worship music but spotify doesn't work here in Guatemala. My wife Ashley recently transferred her music to my iTunes which has been a blessing more than she knows. My wife's music is a little bit more holy than mine and now I'm thankful that together I have a better selection to chose from when I just want to love Jesus in a moment. It's moments like this that I realize why my biblical hero is David. He expressed his love for God in many songs and many other artistic ways. Sometimes I just need to sing my love for Jesus, it's the most emotional and authentic way I know how to approach my savior and Lord. My heart just cries out and I feel his overwhelming presence with me. It brings me to tears and brings me to my knees. No moment is more real to me than when I am with my God in song. In those moments I know my wretchedness, my need for my God, I somehow understand the power of the gospel in these moments. I grow sick of any desire of this world and I just become overwhelmed by the love that indwells me. When I worship, truly worship, in song I hear The Lord so clearly. I hear answers, commands, convictions. I hear all this and when it's all over I walk confidently with The Lord.

Back home in Ohio I was surrounded with friends that helped lead me to these places of worship so often and I never realized how important that was for me until now. Here in Guatemala worshiping in song has been difficult for me. Not really knowing the words I'm singing really makes that difficult. But once in I while I understand a song and get a taste of that wonderful thing that is worship singing again. I get excited and I fill with joy. I have some music now in my iTunes that helps me get to that place of worship and I need to sing with them more often. I need to take the much needed advice of a friend and "just do what makes me love Jesus more." All parts of my life benefit from it, so I just need to be more disciplined and do it. Now that all this has been revealed to me I need to grow and change my life accordingly. So let the music play.

The Lord Will Humble the Proud

In this last week the Lord has made allot clear to me. The Lord has revealed to me many areas where I fall short. He has shown me the pride, the fear, the stress, the frustrations, the burdens, so much that holds me back. He has shown me areas of my heart where I still think as a child, And he has shown me the meaningless passions of my mind. He has shown me that I have still so much to learn about even the basic parts of Himself. And so much to learn about serving others. A king once said, "Those who walk in pride He is able to humble."(Daniel 4:37) The Lord has shown me my self righteous worth (Romans 3:10). The Only worth I get is from the price paid for me at the cross. Jesus's blood, that is my worth. "I was bought with a price"(1st Corinth.6:20, 2nd Corinth.7:23). Every little bit of Christ that I have seen, I have only the knowledge because He revealed it to me. He revealed it through the mouths of His servants, through the truth in His word, and through his amazing creation. But still I only see because His Holy Spirit opened my eyes. I only know by the grace that the Lord has poured over me.

The Lord has blessed me with many things. I have a wonderful wife, great servants of the faith as teachers, loving friends, and a loving mother. I have more blessings than I even try to comprehend. I don't thank the Lord enough for what He has handed me.

So what do I do? I serve. The Lord said to his disciples in Mark 10 what to do with His power, He said to serve. "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant"(Mark10:43). We are told to be like Jesus, so I will serve (Mark10:45).  I going to fight this desire to make a name for myself and replace it with the greatness of my God. The one who brought me to life, the giver of authority, power, and Love. The only power I have comes from the Lord and with that power I will stand firm for His name and His glory. For His will be done, who am I to say "what have you done?"(Daniel 4:35) for He is a just God. I will serve the Lord, the only one worthy of praise. The Lord will humble the proud.

Love For The Lost & The Gospel

I have noticed this year that I just lacked a radical Love for the lost and the Gospel. I have been praying for some time about this, but to be honest, up til now did little more than that to confront it. I have sat with the excuse that right now my ministry is to the believers and helping in the instructing and teaching of fellow believers. As my direction more and more changes from OTW to missions in Guatemala this need to confront this issue became harder and harder to avoid. I'm realizing more and more how many opportunities are in front of me now to not just speak into Christians but to the lost. Now I do believe for a time my efforts were to be more greatly directed toward believers but that is no excuse for slacking in my Love toward the lost. I need to be prepared in and out of season, 2 Timothy 4.

Lately I have been looking at a lot of atheist debates and replies to Christian videos on Youtube. Just curious I guess, but it worked in me more than I intended. At first I was angry seeing all the comments of people just bashing believers, but then after seeing what "believers" were writing, this tension just broke my heart! Seeing arrogance battle arrogance in this stupor the internet calls a debate. I began watching some atheist supporting videos picking apart some Christian videos and I began to think that these people are unreachable... Today as I looked again my heart just began to break- who am I to limit God's reach?! They are not unreachable, that is not for me to decide. The mission, the COMMAND, to me is to be a witness of the Great and Holy Savior, Jesus Christ. I am to preach the gospel to all the nations, I am to Go! Mark 16:15, Mathew 28:19. Now my Love and Passion for the Gospel and the lost is in a renewing stage and is ever increasing.

As well from all this I learned another lesson. I need not prove God or really defend His existence! Now I have been told this many times but I still struggled with it until recently, as I have spent much time and thought on the subject. In this video below there is a small part where he says "Tying to prove God is like defending a lion, it don't need your help..." This quote was really the gateway that led me to confront my long avoided issues, and as well it cemented in me that I don't need to argue with the world. God is a Loin much greater than anything that stands and needs not our feeble attempts to defend. We simply should obey His commands.

The Power of God

Early this spring I went to Niagara Falls with my soon to be wife Ashley, and our good friends Tal and Natasha. It was a much needed trip to just enjoy friends and recharge. I think I needed this trip more that I could have thought at the moment. This trip reawakened something inside me that I really needed back..... adventure!

This all sparked from really one moment in the trip. We had just got done looking at the falls and we were walking upriver to cross to the other side. I looked over at a log sticking out of the rushing water and all I could do was think about siting on that log. I wanted to sit there with my legs in the water just feeling the water rushing over and around me with such beautiful force. I wanted to feel the terrifying power of the falls. Of course Ashley told me no so I stayed on shore haha. But it really made me realize something, I Love to me in the midst of Gods rushing power! Its a terrifying yet peaceful thing. I men lets be honest the power of God is terrifying when you think about it, a God who can stop your existence at any moment if He wills! A God who has risen and destroyed nations! The God who sets mighty storms, the God who can rain fire from the heavens, the great creator! But yet there is a peace, a peace of security. Knowing that I have a inheritance from this God given to me from Jesus. This God is on my side! He is my protector and my provider. His wrath is not pointed at me but at devil and his schemes. The feeling really overwhelms me and fills me with thankfulness, wonder, and Love for my God. I wonder if this is something I may share with my biblical hero David. For constantly he was in the midst of Gods mighty power. As I read his Psalms I see Gods might and power constantly mentioned. I know not all of Davids heard but maybe he shared this feeling I have. I dont know but what I do know is it brings me closer to God.

All of this It revealed to me that adventure shows me something about God that I just love to dwell in, His mighty power. As I look back it seems that its in my time of adventure that I saw this power most. Maybe its time for more adventures 

God sends

You ever heard the term "God send"? you know like when God sends you someone or a group of someones to do something that needed to be done, or to say something we needed to hear? Well we certainly had a group of God sends a few weeks ago!

God sent us a group of three great men and one lovely couple. Even how this group came to us is a miraculous work of God. We planned on the group of three guys coming but they stopped and picked up this couple who's car broke down. They stopped and talked to them figured out that they are working toward being missionaries overseas, so to make a story short they asked them if they would like to come along haha (this is in Caralinia by the way, we are in Ohio.) I would tell you more but that would be a whole other blog in itself! Anyway back to the God send part, this group was exactly what we needed right when we needed it. Our group was in this state of weariness and discouragement and was struggling to find joy. this group came in busting through our door and full of the spirit of God. They were just spitting truth from scripture, screaming and yelling, laughing, crying, hugging, singing, just being a uplifting force of encouragement. It was amazing to this this gift from The Lord before my eyes. The group stayed for a few days and it was nothing but a blessing filled with testimony and lovingly spurring one another on in godliness.

I'm just thankful for that group and how they allowed themselves to be used by God to encourage us. Thank you Lord for the gathering of your brothers and sisters for encouragement and your glory.

Humbleness

This year has been a real punch to any selfish pride I have. Its just a constant reminder that I have nothing to boast for, and that the only one worthy of boasting is Jesus. So lately my prayer has been that I only boast in Jesus and His glory. All of me is worthless without Christ and I owe my Life to Him. I long for the day when I am fully Glorified and Sanctified so that all I do brings Glory to the Father and Jesus Christ. For now I'll just have to strive for it.

Psalm 34:2-"My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

let the humble hear and be glad."

Isaiah 10:15-"Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it,

or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?

As if a rod should wield him who lifts it,

or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!"

1 Corinthians 1:31, 3:21, 4:7, 13:4- 

"so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 

"So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,"

"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant"

2 Corinthians 10:17, 11:30-

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."

Galatians 6:14- "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." 

Just Laugh

Ok you know what just take a moment and watch this and laugh today ok!  Don't take yourself so seriously and laugh.... enjoy

 

Psalm 47:1

Clap your hands, all peoples!

Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Teaching

Mark Driscoll

Francis Chan

I just love these two speakers! Every time I hear them I just get excited because I have found these guys to both be full of truth and love, two things that can only come from having a open heart to God and allowing the Spirit to show them great things. These are bold radical men of faith, I seek to be as useful to God as these men. Now what I wanted to share with you is my observations on the different styles these men present Gods words and instruction. They Give the same message and have the same Love(Love from God) but they show different attributes of God in their speaking.

Mark Driscoll is umm how do i put this best.... BOLD! Mark will speak truth and really wont soften it very much, he puts it all out on the table. He tells you "If you don't know Jesus as your savior your going to Hell!" witch is truth, a truth the bible is clear on, but he also tells you the truth of how to be saved and he tells you why "... I tell you because I Love you and I cant have your blood on my hands." Mark is very abrasive (abrasive defined as something capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding.) but he wants you to understand the seriousness of the situation, its peoples eternity at stake. Now although his words hit you like a punch to the face you find yourself wanting more, why is that? Because there is Love in his words and tone, and throughout his sermons you will continually hear him say "I love you!" because he does and you feel it! He loves you and he loves you because of Jesus Christ and His Love for us. Mark preaches like God speaks in Job 38, read it and you'll understand.

Now Francis Chan speaks with what I call a "verbal hug." He can speak the hardest truths because how he presents it with such compassion. He speaks with extreme softness but never compromises on truth. Francis makes it just as serious as Mark but with a tenderness and sympathy that grips you emotions. Francis Chan speaks to you emotions and the tenderness of your heart. While Mark speaks to more the rational mind. Francis speaks with his hands and with a strain in his voice almost sounding like he's pleading for you to understand. You feel his love from his tenderness, while Mark shows it with his seriousness. He speaks like i feel Jesus spoke to the women at the well (John 4) I encourage you to read that and see what I mean as well. Francis shows the tenderness of God while Mark shows the seriousness. Both showing the same Love but in different ways.  I feel like I could go on and on but I would just encourage you to watch the videos and see for yourself.

Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith."

yup

"But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." Titus 3:9

"Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness." Titus 2:2

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12:15

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:11-15

"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:10

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:11

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"  1Timothy 2:5

 "To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17

" I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service," 1 Timothy 1:12

 "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5

These are the scriptures that have really impacted my thoughts in the past two weeks or so. The Lord and His word have been my encouragement, convection, challenge, and just my stronghold. The past couple of weeks have been interesting with little life hiccups but I have had peace after moments of freaking out and I am just trusting the Lord. I Love Him and I'm learning to trust Him more and to trust Him faster. I am remembering His promises and doing my best to not listen to this flesh and this world, even tho sometimes the darkness slips in the Lord has brought me to a point where the darkness does not dwell long. I'm thanking the Lord more and trusting Him, I challenge you to do the same. See what the Lord has in store for you