Yesterday I started back with some quality times with God, in His presence, in His word. I began by reading John 12 to look ahead at what Overflow will cover next semester. As I was reading, this verse jumped out that I had never noticed before
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernal of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world, will keep it for eternal life." John 12:24-25
Jesus isn't talking about crops here, or presenting what seems on the surface to be a hard truth.
Read verse 25, then read 24 again.
Go ahead and read. I want you to hopefully draw the same conclusion, before i tell you what i think.
If we love who we are now, the things we have, then we're only looking an inch in front of our nose. Who we are now is still only a work in progress (though when Christ looks at us, He sees the finished product like any artist would). We cannot settle for this life. We must let go of what we want in this life, letting them take a back seat, until we seek God's kingdom (what is to come) first.
Think of it this way, if the kernal stays a kernal, he is just one. If he gives of himself, and looks to the future (what is to come) he becomes many seeds for what lies ahead.
How are you helping those following just a few pages behind? Are you taking what has been invested in you, and in turn investing it into someone else?
If I were the last seed of watermelon, I would hope I would ensure that generations to come could taste of my fruit. Shouldn't others be blessed by the love God has shown us?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Finally have my bearing...and peace
I've been really distracted lately. Distracted to the point that, it was hard for me to focus on much of anything else. Some of you I told why, others I was probably too distracted to tell you.
Been distracted, stressed, and just plain restless trying to figure out some of the mission trip opportunities God had layed in front of me.
After many prayers, some wrestling with my spirit, I feel that this upcoming trip to Tunisia is not the right time for me. This feeling isn't just from my parents not being ready for me to take such a step, but also I see where God can use me in other areas meanwhile.
I came to this understanding last night. I prayed non stop through the previous few days. The reason for so much indecision was because I do feel that God has layed the Muslim people on my heart and Tunisia. However, as Anna Booth put into words a truth I began to understand last night "A servant must be content to serve wherever he/she is called."
Instead of Tunisia, I will be going on the inner city mission trip over spring break to Philadelphia. I also am looking strongly at returning to Dearborn in May, along with Glen Titus and Jessica Martin from NC.
Now that that is settled, I can refocus on continuing to pursue God's love, and to show it.
Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for peace that is in fact beyond all understanding. You are indeed the beautiful one I love!
Been distracted, stressed, and just plain restless trying to figure out some of the mission trip opportunities God had layed in front of me.
After many prayers, some wrestling with my spirit, I feel that this upcoming trip to Tunisia is not the right time for me. This feeling isn't just from my parents not being ready for me to take such a step, but also I see where God can use me in other areas meanwhile.
I came to this understanding last night. I prayed non stop through the previous few days. The reason for so much indecision was because I do feel that God has layed the Muslim people on my heart and Tunisia. However, as Anna Booth put into words a truth I began to understand last night "A servant must be content to serve wherever he/she is called."
Instead of Tunisia, I will be going on the inner city mission trip over spring break to Philadelphia. I also am looking strongly at returning to Dearborn in May, along with Glen Titus and Jessica Martin from NC.
Now that that is settled, I can refocus on continuing to pursue God's love, and to show it.
Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for peace that is in fact beyond all understanding. You are indeed the beautiful one I love!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Sheep and the Goats
"When the Son of man comes in His flory, and all the angels with him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people, one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats..." Matthew 25:31-32
When Jesus comes, He's going to separate people into two categories based on one condition. Know what that is? Its not confession alone, its not by prayer for forgiveness, its not by baptism, but by how you treated "the least of these." Yes we are reconciled (restored) to God through faith, confession and baptism, but those are lived out every day by following Jesus.
We follow Him best by giving ourselves to the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the blind, the deaf, the wounded, the lost. All of us can say we have fit into one of those categories at one point in our lives whether phycially or even more importantly spiritually.
Are we doing all that we can to give ourselves to them? If not we end up as goats. You can read further in Matthew to see your fate.
Look at the Israelites in the Old Testament. By the arrival of Jesus, they were cut off from God. We read in Romans especially chapters 9-11 how Israel did not believe and thus God's attention turned to the Gentiles. The Israelites not only didn't believe, but also read all of the Old Testament, and show me a consistent pattern if you even find one where the Israelites cared that other nations didn't believe in the one true God. Show me where they said "Oh look, the Amorites don't believe in God. We should take God to them."
Because of their self interest, God turned elsewhere. He leaves the door open for them, but now He is expressly inviting the Gentiles. Check out my next post for more thoughts on that idea of the Gentiles over the Jews, and a deeper look at Romans 9-11.
Are we serving the least of these? Are we living and doing?
We can all pray for God to create in us a more compassionate heart. I have been, and since He's shown me plenty of opportunities of how to show love to people.
Will we be a sheep?
When Jesus comes, He's going to separate people into two categories based on one condition. Know what that is? Its not confession alone, its not by prayer for forgiveness, its not by baptism, but by how you treated "the least of these." Yes we are reconciled (restored) to God through faith, confession and baptism, but those are lived out every day by following Jesus.
We follow Him best by giving ourselves to the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the blind, the deaf, the wounded, the lost. All of us can say we have fit into one of those categories at one point in our lives whether phycially or even more importantly spiritually.
Are we doing all that we can to give ourselves to them? If not we end up as goats. You can read further in Matthew to see your fate.
Look at the Israelites in the Old Testament. By the arrival of Jesus, they were cut off from God. We read in Romans especially chapters 9-11 how Israel did not believe and thus God's attention turned to the Gentiles. The Israelites not only didn't believe, but also read all of the Old Testament, and show me a consistent pattern if you even find one where the Israelites cared that other nations didn't believe in the one true God. Show me where they said "Oh look, the Amorites don't believe in God. We should take God to them."
Because of their self interest, God turned elsewhere. He leaves the door open for them, but now He is expressly inviting the Gentiles. Check out my next post for more thoughts on that idea of the Gentiles over the Jews, and a deeper look at Romans 9-11.
Are we serving the least of these? Are we living and doing?
We can all pray for God to create in us a more compassionate heart. I have been, and since He's shown me plenty of opportunities of how to show love to people.
Will we be a sheep?
Friday, November 7, 2008
Willing to go...
My heart says of you "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, will I seek. Psalm 27:8
This is the first blog post I've done in a while. I took some time off to focus more on doing and living instead of just talking. I had let this become something that came between me and God and to some extent i was no longer truly sharing for the benefit of others and found myself searching for things of interest for people to read as in something funny. And so I return to the reasons I started this blog.
To share my life with you that you might be encouraged.
Over the past year God has opened my eyes to begin to see Him work in ways I would never have imagined. From hearing stories from friends travelling from Ghana to Bulgaria to now even Tibet, and taking part in my first mission trip, God has been speaking to me. Michigan unveiled my eyes to see so much more of what God can do through willing hearts. Acts 29 continues to amaze me at the ways they are impacting Hamtramck, just outside Detroit.
Through those experiences I feel that God is creating in me a heart that is open to His call anywhere. When I first decided to change majors in the summer after my freshman year, I knew in my heart that I wanted to give myself to God, and to ministry. What defines ministry has changed for me over the past year. No longer do I look at it in the confines of being a preacher, or a pastor, but ministry can be so many more things.
The one thing I never thought i would be I am becoming. I feel God is leading me to missions work. Even overseas.
At present, I feel led to Tunisia, a country that is spiritually dry. 99% Muslim. There i would be taking part in a prayer journey through the country. The logistics I am trusting in God for. The $2500 I am at present not concerned about. As with Michigan, God can provide everything I need when I need it.
What concerns me and has been the subject of many prayers is my family understanding.
My parents do not have as much faith in God as I do. Nor do they understand that even though there is a need here, God is guiding me to think globally. My love for God comes into conflict with my love for my parents. Jesus said that He would divide families. While I know this inevitably happens, I can't accept that in choosing this life, I will have to go against my parents wishes.
All I can do is call on God, as I did for Michigan. Because I cannot do this without Him.
This is the first blog post I've done in a while. I took some time off to focus more on doing and living instead of just talking. I had let this become something that came between me and God and to some extent i was no longer truly sharing for the benefit of others and found myself searching for things of interest for people to read as in something funny. And so I return to the reasons I started this blog.
To share my life with you that you might be encouraged.
Over the past year God has opened my eyes to begin to see Him work in ways I would never have imagined. From hearing stories from friends travelling from Ghana to Bulgaria to now even Tibet, and taking part in my first mission trip, God has been speaking to me. Michigan unveiled my eyes to see so much more of what God can do through willing hearts. Acts 29 continues to amaze me at the ways they are impacting Hamtramck, just outside Detroit.
Through those experiences I feel that God is creating in me a heart that is open to His call anywhere. When I first decided to change majors in the summer after my freshman year, I knew in my heart that I wanted to give myself to God, and to ministry. What defines ministry has changed for me over the past year. No longer do I look at it in the confines of being a preacher, or a pastor, but ministry can be so many more things.
The one thing I never thought i would be I am becoming. I feel God is leading me to missions work. Even overseas.
At present, I feel led to Tunisia, a country that is spiritually dry. 99% Muslim. There i would be taking part in a prayer journey through the country. The logistics I am trusting in God for. The $2500 I am at present not concerned about. As with Michigan, God can provide everything I need when I need it.
What concerns me and has been the subject of many prayers is my family understanding.
My parents do not have as much faith in God as I do. Nor do they understand that even though there is a need here, God is guiding me to think globally. My love for God comes into conflict with my love for my parents. Jesus said that He would divide families. While I know this inevitably happens, I can't accept that in choosing this life, I will have to go against my parents wishes.
All I can do is call on God, as I did for Michigan. Because I cannot do this without Him.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
After a long sabatical of sorts
Last night i discovered something. Watching Charlie Brown with a tummy full of ribs and chili is a quick way to get sleepy. As such I went to bed at 9:30 pm last night. Usually I'm just sitting down (if not out with people at this time) about to study and knock out school work.
Sometimes we just need to stop and rest.
After 10 hours of good sleep, I woke up this morning at 7:30, put on some sweats and headed out into the cold, and drove over to the rec center. There I warmed up on a bike for 10 minutes, catching ESPN highlights from the opening of the NBA season last night on a nearby tv. Then i proceeded over to the track.
After some light stretching, i walked onto the track and stared ahead. Nervousness crept up and down my legs and spine. Anticipating.
You see, its been since the beginning of May since I last run. Tearing your ACL will leave you out of commission for a while physical activity wise. During that time, God changed my heart in so many ways...
1)He gave me a heart of patience as I wondered why me, why now.
2) He reminded me of His love, by sending friends and family to check on me after surgery.
3) He taught me above else, that praying is still the most important thing i can do.
4) He showed me that pain is only temporary, that for some things in life I must push through pain to reach higher.
5) He showed me there is allways a way, even when I didn't think i could carry food and walk with crutches
6) He showed me that i need to rest in His presence, instead of flat out speeding through this life. To slow down a bit.
7) And so much more, but more than anything, He showed me how to deny myself, to let go of my selfish desires. To have more of Him and less of me. That i don't need to brag about my basketball prowness, or that sports are even about winning. God gave us sports to build fellowship, trust with one another, not to one up each other.
He even showed me how to truly listen to others.
And so here I stood. Anxious to take off jogging. Worried that my leg may not be healed enough. I wasn't even sure if I remembered how to run. Seriously, I couldn't remember the sensation in my legs of what it felt like.
So I relearned how to run.
Still favoring my right leg out of habit, I started off plodding my feet one after another, pushing off with my toes, landing on my heels in quick succession. I wasn't gliding along as I used to, but i was running again.
No pain came from my knee. Glee perhaps but no pain. My stamina was strong, wasn't breathing hard at all.
Now I know that I can run. Again.
And I have returned from a sabatical of sorts, with a new heart, a humbleness to admit I am nothing without Him.
Abba, that was a storm, the likes of which I havn't been in since senior year of High School. Thank you for bearing with me during my whining, my desperation, the pain. Thank you for getting my attention when I thought i knew it all. More importantly thank you for dying on the cross. I can't imagine the pain you took for me. My body, my new ACL i give back to you. Use it as you desire.
Sometimes we just need to stop and rest.
After 10 hours of good sleep, I woke up this morning at 7:30, put on some sweats and headed out into the cold, and drove over to the rec center. There I warmed up on a bike for 10 minutes, catching ESPN highlights from the opening of the NBA season last night on a nearby tv. Then i proceeded over to the track.
After some light stretching, i walked onto the track and stared ahead. Nervousness crept up and down my legs and spine. Anticipating.
You see, its been since the beginning of May since I last run. Tearing your ACL will leave you out of commission for a while physical activity wise. During that time, God changed my heart in so many ways...
1)He gave me a heart of patience as I wondered why me, why now.
2) He reminded me of His love, by sending friends and family to check on me after surgery.
3) He taught me above else, that praying is still the most important thing i can do.
4) He showed me that pain is only temporary, that for some things in life I must push through pain to reach higher.
5) He showed me there is allways a way, even when I didn't think i could carry food and walk with crutches
6) He showed me that i need to rest in His presence, instead of flat out speeding through this life. To slow down a bit.
7) And so much more, but more than anything, He showed me how to deny myself, to let go of my selfish desires. To have more of Him and less of me. That i don't need to brag about my basketball prowness, or that sports are even about winning. God gave us sports to build fellowship, trust with one another, not to one up each other.
He even showed me how to truly listen to others.
And so here I stood. Anxious to take off jogging. Worried that my leg may not be healed enough. I wasn't even sure if I remembered how to run. Seriously, I couldn't remember the sensation in my legs of what it felt like.
So I relearned how to run.
Still favoring my right leg out of habit, I started off plodding my feet one after another, pushing off with my toes, landing on my heels in quick succession. I wasn't gliding along as I used to, but i was running again.
No pain came from my knee. Glee perhaps but no pain. My stamina was strong, wasn't breathing hard at all.
Now I know that I can run. Again.
And I have returned from a sabatical of sorts, with a new heart, a humbleness to admit I am nothing without Him.
Abba, that was a storm, the likes of which I havn't been in since senior year of High School. Thank you for bearing with me during my whining, my desperation, the pain. Thank you for getting my attention when I thought i knew it all. More importantly thank you for dying on the cross. I can't imagine the pain you took for me. My body, my new ACL i give back to you. Use it as you desire.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Slaves to sin...but slaves to righteousness?
In our 2:42 we've been going through the book of romans, studying God's plan of reconcilation from the law of the Old Testament to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
Romans 6:15-18:
"What they? Shall we sin becuase we are not under the law but under grace? By no means (aka Hell No!) Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obediance which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin, and have become slaves from righteousness"
Many of us are aware that we were once slaves to sin. Unable to break its hold on us. Sin kept us separated from God, unable to come into His presence, to hear and know His voice, to see His glory, to know His mind and heart.
We know that Christ made us free from all that. Free from the bondage of sin so that its hold on us is broken. Now we can overcome sin and triump by the blood that was slain.
But instead of being slaves to sin, we are now slaves to God.
Slavery again? That can't be we say. We right back where we started, bound to something.
Think about it though. As one guy in our 2:42 group said, we are slaves to our bodies. We have to eat, breathe, drink water, and other functions of our body. Try going without them and see how long you live.
I am indeed a slave to Christ, because He bought me at the price of His life. And though I be bound to Him for life...
"I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know His master's business, instead I have called you friends" John 15:15
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry Abba, Father (Daddy)". Romans 8:15
Who knew slavery could be so good!
Romans 6:15-18:
"What they? Shall we sin becuase we are not under the law but under grace? By no means (aka Hell No!) Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obediance which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin, and have become slaves from righteousness"
Many of us are aware that we were once slaves to sin. Unable to break its hold on us. Sin kept us separated from God, unable to come into His presence, to hear and know His voice, to see His glory, to know His mind and heart.
We know that Christ made us free from all that. Free from the bondage of sin so that its hold on us is broken. Now we can overcome sin and triump by the blood that was slain.
But instead of being slaves to sin, we are now slaves to God.
Slavery again? That can't be we say. We right back where we started, bound to something.
Think about it though. As one guy in our 2:42 group said, we are slaves to our bodies. We have to eat, breathe, drink water, and other functions of our body. Try going without them and see how long you live.
I am indeed a slave to Christ, because He bought me at the price of His life. And though I be bound to Him for life...
"I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know His master's business, instead I have called you friends" John 15:15
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry Abba, Father (Daddy)". Romans 8:15
Who knew slavery could be so good!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
One body
Earlier today I started listening to Casting Crowns first cd album again. I rediscovered some really good songs but this verse from the same song really got me thinking...
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them
there is a way
There is a way
Most parts of the body if not all all have a purpose. They say now even ear wax has a purpose in the ear, and I believe if I recall corectly doctors said it should be left alone. I'll believe that one when i see proof.
Think about though seriously. Even toes while small help maintain balance. Within the church (any group of believers) we become the body of Christ. Why are we not reaching out then? Why aren't we doing?
I don't know about you but I'd rather be an arm or part of an arm instead of an appendix whose purpose has yet to be figured out by scientists. I'd rather be valuable instead of dead weight.
What are we doing within the body of Christ?
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