Jesus had a secert ambition, yeah he did. It was to come and obey the will of the Father, set the ultimate example, and eventaully die for you and me. That was not the plan of the jews and even a disciple. It didn't make sense and it was definitly not what the world was doing. Saving lives by dying. In a world where power was determined by domination. Not much has changed 2000 years later, we still live in a world that is dominated be power and money. God is still asking us to die to self, deny the flesh, or pick up our cross and follow him.
Jesus had a secret ambition and I am glad he obeyed it. What is your secret ambition? Do you have one you have admitted to personally? Do you need to reevaluate your secret ambition?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Don't Waste Your Life
Last night in small group we watched a Nooma, it was titled Noise. We had a great conversation about the noise in our life. Our priorities and why we put God last.
We talked about doing a media fast as a group, because most of us struggle with media distractions.
Today I was listen to a podcast by Todd Nighswagner, the pastor at Cornerstone Church. His whole sermon was about not wasting our life on our vain pursuits to please our flesh. He referenced John Piper book Don't Waste Your Life.
I have been putting off reading that book for months now. I think God is trying to tell me something. I know I waste so much time that could go to further the kingdom or my own spirtual maturity. I have decided to make better use of my time.
How about you do you waste your time? Is it time to reflect and make some different choices? Just some food for thought.
We talked about doing a media fast as a group, because most of us struggle with media distractions.
Today I was listen to a podcast by Todd Nighswagner, the pastor at Cornerstone Church. His whole sermon was about not wasting our life on our vain pursuits to please our flesh. He referenced John Piper book Don't Waste Your Life.
I have been putting off reading that book for months now. I think God is trying to tell me something. I know I waste so much time that could go to further the kingdom or my own spirtual maturity. I have decided to make better use of my time.
How about you do you waste your time? Is it time to reflect and make some different choices? Just some food for thought.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
first fruits
I have been reading through 1 Cornithians and this week as I studied chapter 16. I came across a verse that struck me. Maybe because it is summer or our culture, but it hurt me as I thought about God when I read these verses.
vs 2 says on the first day of every week, each one of you shoudl set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up so when i come no collections will need to be made.
God wants our first fruits at the begining of the week, before we know what might happen that week, before we can talk ourself out of it, and before we can say no.
One thing i have learned is God always provides, always. It may not be what I wanted but he alwasy provides, so why do we struggle so much giving him our first.
What is stopping you from giving God your first fruits?
vs 2 says on the first day of every week, each one of you shoudl set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up so when i come no collections will need to be made.
God wants our first fruits at the begining of the week, before we know what might happen that week, before we can talk ourself out of it, and before we can say no.
One thing i have learned is God always provides, always. It may not be what I wanted but he alwasy provides, so why do we struggle so much giving him our first.
What is stopping you from giving God your first fruits?
Monday, June 7, 2010
priorities
Where do yuor prioirties lay?
Where do you spend all your time?
Take a moment this week and reflect on your day, week, month look at where you spend most fo your time. Maybe it is time to say no to a good thing before you burn yourself out. Even Christ took time to go away and recharge, why don't we?
Here are 4 areas to keep balance in your life, i only wish i had learned this at a younger age.
Worship - make time to have a spiritual disciplines as a part og your life.
Work- balance work, do yuo best, but know whwen to say no
Play - don't feel guilty to have fun take a moment and have some fun
Rest- make tiem in your life to rest, recharge
These are 4 areas of your life if you can balance it will save you headaches down the road.
Where do you spend all your time?
Take a moment this week and reflect on your day, week, month look at where you spend most fo your time. Maybe it is time to say no to a good thing before you burn yourself out. Even Christ took time to go away and recharge, why don't we?
Here are 4 areas to keep balance in your life, i only wish i had learned this at a younger age.
Worship - make time to have a spiritual disciplines as a part og your life.
Work- balance work, do yuo best, but know whwen to say no
Play - don't feel guilty to have fun take a moment and have some fun
Rest- make tiem in your life to rest, recharge
These are 4 areas of your life if you can balance it will save you headaches down the road.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
entrenched
I recently starting reading forgotten God by Francis Chan with our guys small group. Wow what a challenging book. it makes Crazy Love seem like baby food.
The more I read this book I am convinced we have so quenched the Spirit in our lives. We have gotten so use to the American way of life comfort and get whatever we want, that why in the world would we need God to provide. Let alone why would the Spirit need to work in our lives, we have all that we want. We have become entrenched into the world ever so slowly, that we did not even realize it was happening.
We justify ever way of life and comfort and neglect the Spirit and will of God.WHY? Because in my opinion we do not want to hear what God has to say, not really. We do not really want to obey him and give him OUR WHOLE LIFE. We are scared to where he might call us, what he might ask us to do, or what we might have to give up.
We have bought into the lie that a good Christians give 10%, goes to church a couple times a week and serves when it suits. In the meantime we pursue the career, house, cars, family, and toys and never ask God what he would have for us.
God wants our whole life and he wants to direct us by the Spirit in what He would have each of us do, but many of us do not want that in return, we want to serve God on our terms. As long as it does not interfere with our lives and hobbies.
I am more convinced today more than ever that the path is narrow and many will miss the point. Do not assume you are the good soil.
What is God asking of you, what is he calling you to. A friend of mine Adam Lehman wrote recently' would we still work for the church if we were not paid? interesting question yet a true one, we should serve God out of love and wanting to disciple not because of a pay check. Our early brothers and sisters did not get paid. they work there jobs and there evening hobbies were being the church not doing church.
So stop asking for God's will or his Spirit to lead you unless you mean it. If you are not willing to let go and do whatever he asks of you. Stop pretending and stop asking please. This is not a game. This is eternity we are talking about and God's plan, so lets stop pretending either we are in or out. God does not want this half sold out Christianity we have been giving him.We will mess up, it will be hard, but he promise to provide for us and help us through it and I promise the reward is better than any toy we can buy on this earth. So lets start living like we actually believe that.
In this together
The more I read this book I am convinced we have so quenched the Spirit in our lives. We have gotten so use to the American way of life comfort and get whatever we want, that why in the world would we need God to provide. Let alone why would the Spirit need to work in our lives, we have all that we want. We have become entrenched into the world ever so slowly, that we did not even realize it was happening.
We justify ever way of life and comfort and neglect the Spirit and will of God.WHY? Because in my opinion we do not want to hear what God has to say, not really. We do not really want to obey him and give him OUR WHOLE LIFE. We are scared to where he might call us, what he might ask us to do, or what we might have to give up.
We have bought into the lie that a good Christians give 10%, goes to church a couple times a week and serves when it suits. In the meantime we pursue the career, house, cars, family, and toys and never ask God what he would have for us.
God wants our whole life and he wants to direct us by the Spirit in what He would have each of us do, but many of us do not want that in return, we want to serve God on our terms. As long as it does not interfere with our lives and hobbies.
I am more convinced today more than ever that the path is narrow and many will miss the point. Do not assume you are the good soil.
What is God asking of you, what is he calling you to. A friend of mine Adam Lehman wrote recently' would we still work for the church if we were not paid? interesting question yet a true one, we should serve God out of love and wanting to disciple not because of a pay check. Our early brothers and sisters did not get paid. they work there jobs and there evening hobbies were being the church not doing church.
So stop asking for God's will or his Spirit to lead you unless you mean it. If you are not willing to let go and do whatever he asks of you. Stop pretending and stop asking please. This is not a game. This is eternity we are talking about and God's plan, so lets stop pretending either we are in or out. God does not want this half sold out Christianity we have been giving him.We will mess up, it will be hard, but he promise to provide for us and help us through it and I promise the reward is better than any toy we can buy on this earth. So lets start living like we actually believe that.
In this together
Monday, May 3, 2010
our purpose
So I have figured out the purpose of life and it is very simple. we send so much time and money in the United states listening to the best leaders and speakers, so we can be the best. Well the purpose of our life is a simple thing we can find in scriptures.
It is found in Matthew 25:23 Jesus is telling the parable of the talents and when the master returns home he tells the servant " well done good and faithful servant". In case you did not know we are the servants and God's is the master who has returned after being away. We have been intrusted with talents and our job is to simply use them to further the kingdom. Our goal in life is to hear God say WELL DONE, that is it that is our goal.
It is so simple yet we let the distractions of the world get us off course all the time.
Our main purpose and goal is to simply here well done good and faithful servant. I told you it was simple, no the simple part is stating our goal. the hard part is living out our life so to obtain that goal. To obtain this goal we have to become people who are obsessed with God. we need to daily eat from his table, what do i mean by table? His spirit, the word, prayer, guidance from those wiser, decernment, and many other ways to deny our earthly fleash and tune into our spirtual needs.
God wants all or nothing he tells in revelations3:15 if we are lukewarm he will spit us out. you know that is the only time in scripture the word spit is used. This is an all or nothing job we have and the goal is to hear well done. I don't know about you , but there is nothing I dream of more than to hear out Maker say well done. Then and only then will my life actually be complete.
It is found in Matthew 25:23 Jesus is telling the parable of the talents and when the master returns home he tells the servant " well done good and faithful servant". In case you did not know we are the servants and God's is the master who has returned after being away. We have been intrusted with talents and our job is to simply use them to further the kingdom. Our goal in life is to hear God say WELL DONE, that is it that is our goal.
It is so simple yet we let the distractions of the world get us off course all the time.
Our main purpose and goal is to simply here well done good and faithful servant. I told you it was simple, no the simple part is stating our goal. the hard part is living out our life so to obtain that goal. To obtain this goal we have to become people who are obsessed with God. we need to daily eat from his table, what do i mean by table? His spirit, the word, prayer, guidance from those wiser, decernment, and many other ways to deny our earthly fleash and tune into our spirtual needs.
God wants all or nothing he tells in revelations3:15 if we are lukewarm he will spit us out. you know that is the only time in scripture the word spit is used. This is an all or nothing job we have and the goal is to hear well done. I don't know about you , but there is nothing I dream of more than to hear out Maker say well done. Then and only then will my life actually be complete.
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