Radical Living

Why is it today that radical living is look at so strange. Didn't the apostle drop everything to follow Christ? They didn't catch one more fish when he called they followed. They saw how God provided for them the rest of the lives because they said yes when he held out his hand.
Today if people live radical we mock them or say there nuts. I was listening to a podcast this morning and Francis Chan gave an update of what he and his family is up to. They are heading to Asia for 6 months to serve and grow, so they sold there house. They wanted to be free to go where God lead. If God told them to stay in Asia they can. People thought he was nuts, why it make sense to me. He wants to follow God he can get another house there is a ton for sale in America.
We are so ingrained into the American culture, I think we lose the whole trusting God part. Instead to many times our attitude is look at what I did, how I planned, or what I accomplished. Our view is so man centered. WE NEED A GOD CENTERED VIEW OF LIFE. God is the author and creater of everything. He used Pharaoh and Darius even though they were wicked to carry out his plan. God doesn't need us. We need him. Luke tells us if we do not cry out, then the rocks will.
I think it is time for us to live a radical life. Trust in God. Live for him and stopping putting our faith in the American dream. God's kingdom is the only thing that will last forever.

worship

As I am sitting here listening to the youth worship team, it is amazing. There is nothing I love more than watching teens lead there peers in worship. A better example cannot be set than that. To watch the love of these teens for the Lord make everything we do as youth leaders worth it. The good, bad, and ugly is all worth when just one more students gets it.
As they lovingly embrace and pursue God I get excited. Next step to send them out to love on the world and share their story.

kingdom building

What kind of kingdom are you building? One for your self here on earth or one for the Lord? Take a moment look at your life. Where does all your time and energy go? Ask yourself what kingdom are you working on?
This is something i have to do routinely in my life or i get my blueprints screwed up and focus on myself and not me Maker.

we have a incomprehensible God

Karen and I recently went away together for the first time in ten years of marriage. What a wonderful time we had in Alabama at refuge. We vowed to go away at least once a year together.
Refuge was exactly what I needed' a refuge to be alone with God and be reminded of how incomprehensible He really is. We spent time in Isaiah 6 just exploring His throne room and Isaiah's response to what he saw. We have a HOLY,AMAZING,HUGE,AWESOME GOD. I forget that all the time trying to put him in my little human box.
Last night I spent time in Job 38-42. God answers Job after all the ranting, raving, and questioning. God speaks. I love verse 3 of ch 38 where God tells him to brace himself like a man. Then for the next 3 chapters God ask Job questions. Much like me reading it Job is instantly humbled and realizes how small he really is. God is HOLY, we are not. His plan is PERFECT, ours is not. We need God, HE DOES NOT NEED US.
I encourage you to spend some time in Job and being reminded of how Holy God really is. To move through life we need to have a proper prospective of God. I was reminded of that in Alabama and reminded last night. Thank you Lord for being everything I need, want, desire, and the things I do not even know. May I find true rest in your arms.

Frustration

You know the hardest thing about serving the Lord is the people. I am so sick of the games, lies, deciet, competition, jealousy, and that is just a few things to name. The problem with the church is we the people are in it. The only way to be the church is deny our self and become more like Christ.
I know this is something I try to do daily and fail daily. I don't know how Christ did it; but with the last month I have had I understand why people do not want anything to do with the church. because there has been a few days I have honestly agreed with them. I want everything to do with God, but at times not with the people who call themselves Christians.
Sorry this post is not uplifting or encouraging I am just frustrated.

amazing

It amazes me that people can say there is no God. Look at our body for instance. here are some facts just about our blood.

Two million red blood cells die every second.

There are approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body.

Seven percent of a humans body weight is made up of blood.

In the early nineteenth century some advertisements claimed that riding the carousel was good for the circulation of blood.

Each day 400 gallons of recycled blood are pumped through the kidneys.

By donating just one pint of blood, four lives can be saved.

Blood is such a good stain that Native Americans used it for paint.

The kidneys filter over 400 gallons of blood each day.

The average life span of a single red blood cell is 120 days.

Blood accounts for about 8% of a human's body weight.

A woman has approximately 4.5 liters of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 liters.

Your blood takes a very long trip through your body. If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 60,000 miles long. That's enough to go around the world twice.

Half your body’s red blood cells are replaced every seven days.

If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would reach about 60,000 miles.

This is just a sampling of the facts about our blood, not to mention all the amazing things about the rest of bodies, not to mention the world.

How can this just happen? We have an amazing God. A very creative God. An endless loving God. Have you shared his love with some one you have encountered today? By word or actions?

a thought for the day

The unbreakable one become breakable to save us from ourselves. Have you thanked your heavenly Father for his sacrifice today? Thank you Lord for becoming breakable to save me from my brokenness.