Jesus. Rock it. Life change.

I don't live here anymore

2010-03-25T10:03:00.002-04:00

That's not nearly as emo as it sounds.

I've changed where I'm going to write out stuff (aka blog).

check: sethguthrie.tumblr.com

Photos after 3m27d

2010-01-06T07:27:00.009-05:00

London at night.

Big Ben & Parliament.

a blurry close up

again

Big Ben at sunset

A lion w/ Big Ben (my favorite)

Hyde Park.

A path in Hyde Park

Beautiful sky over Hyde Park

Hyde Park once again.

Sunrise over Kensington Church St. in Notting Hill

A Cohesive Day

2010-01-04T13:04:00.005-05:00

Today I met a friend in Trafalgar Square for coffee. While I was there I hit up the National Portrait Gallery. Being a fan of art and all things cool, I wanted to check out some Van Gogh & Monet -- you know, being more into "modern art." However, I was enthralled when I saw the above painting entitled Christ Before the High Priest by Gerrit Van Honthorst. It's a depiction of Jesus Christ before Caiaphas, the high priest in Jerusalem, who conspired & longed to have Christ crucified.

Incredible painting. Painting made cooler by what I read this morning during my time with the Lord.

"Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.' " And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, 'He deserves death.' " (Matthew 26:57-68)

I sat in front of this painting thinking and praying about what this scene spoke. I feel like it's an awesome look at the intensity between Caiaphas and Jesus while the high priest is questioning the Son of God. I love how Van Honthorst locked Jesus' and Caiaphas' eyes -- eye's peering straight into the high priest's. A guilty man, wouldn't have done such a thing. The candle on the table too, is specially symbolic with Jesus being the Light of the world. I absolutely love how the light is used to make the scene dramatic, though I doubt the actual occurrence needed anymore help in that department.

For me, Christ Before the High Priest is a depiction of Caiaphas just as he finishes saying: "'Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?'" and as "Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

The Lord rocked me through this Scripture and painting today, though the later isn't completely accurate. It's cool how all of life has God's hand in it...

"Come to Me, & I Will Give You Rest"

2010-01-02T14:30:00.002-05:00

In Matthew 11 verse 28 Jesus speaks "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)

Beautiful words. A beautiful promise.

The message is the same: Jew, Christian, Atheist, Hindu, Muslim, New Ager -- place your faith in Jesus' hands. Give all of your life over to the Savior, the redeemer, and find rest. Allow the Prince of Peace to comfort your weary & burdened soul. Invite His Holy Spirit to counsel and lead you through both, the Word and life.

Atheist, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, New Ager, (sinners) come to Jesus Christ, embrace the love of the Savior who desperately wants you to be free of the decay of sin, and receive the abundant life He freely gives. Run to the Lord who died so that you may have eternal life. Run to the King of Kings who gave Himself so that you could have rest, comfort, and peace for your soul; the only part of you that last for eternity. Take your focus off of the material, the things seen that lead to more worry, pain, sorrow, and death. Place your faith, your heavy burden, and your life (the good, the bad, & the ugly) in Jesus.

Christians (sinners) come to Jesus Christ. We need Christ daily. We need to lay down our pride, our fleshly burdens, the lies and grief from the enemy, and in our sorrow put on Christ Jesus. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14). Christ follower put on Christ and His comfort, His rest, and His will for you life.

Come to Him for He is gentle. Come to Him for He wants the best for us -- Himself. Come to Him, Christ Jesus, for He's paid the ransom of our sin to set us free from death's sting. He's given Himself up so that we can have intimacy with God and call Him Father.

You who are hurt.
You who feel empty and fake.
Come to Him.
You who are battered and bruised.
You who are overwhelmed with anxiety.
Come to Him, for He is gentle.
You who swim in stress.
You who are tormented by your past mistake; both intentional and unavoidable.
Come to Jesus, He will make you anew.
You who are walking sin's death march and are spiraling out of control.
You who are desperate and ready to end it.

Come to Jesus, and you will find rest for your souls. His yoke is easy, and His burden light.

2010

2010-01-01T11:10:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it's January. Even more, I can't believe we're in the 2nd decade of this the 2nd millennia. That fact alone makes my brain hurt, but lets be real, it doesn't take much to make my brain hurt. I digress.

Like most people, I've made a New Year resolution, but it's a bit different. What do you expect; I'm weird. It starts with today. Today I started reading the Word through a guideline that Elevation Church is starting next weekend. It's geared to read through the New Testament in 30 days -- New Thru 30. They start next week, but I felt God leading to start today. So, I did. And the Holy Spirit provided me with a "New Year resolution."

"Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentile (the non-Jewish; those far from God during this time) seek after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:32-34

My one and only resolution this year is to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." To seek God with everything I am, for the sole purpose of knowing Him more. Seek Jesus first and He'll take care of me; no matter what. It may look different then I want or expect, but He's got my back. The Lord's been teaching me to seek Him, His Kingdom, His heart, and His will over my own; seek and cling to Jesus Christ. Far too often I seek Him for His blessings and mentally bypass the Creator. That's not acceptable. That simply is not cool (by His and my standards).

The passage above tells us plainly to seek first God and His Kingdom -- HIM -- above all. Above where nourishment is going to come from. Over what I'm going to where (which is quite limited anyway). Seek Him above what others think of me. Seeking to please only God Almighty whom I serve - and to actually walk that out, instead of talking it. This year I want to make more of an effort to place Jesus at the center of my life and my heart, and Him as the filter. If its not of Him or does not bring Glory to Him, then I don't want it.

This year it's time to put up or shut up.

This year the Lord is pursuing me to be more aggressive in my relationship with Him.

This year it's time to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Me: Inside Out

2009-12-23T10:46:00.002-05:00

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind of the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:1-8

These are comforting verses for me. They are especially comforting during this season of life. More particularly, the Holy Spirit brings me peace through these 8 verses as I write and as I confess. As I confess sin, but more then that, as I confess that Jesus is my Lord and Savior delivering me.

The Lord has been leading me through a time of brokenness and humility. In this season, God has been showing me and convicting me of much. He’s been revealing to me my religiosity and my striving to seem perfect on the outside. How I’m not transparent with sin. Sin that I’ve repented of and deeds I have been forgiven. Sin that Jesus Christ died for and washed me clean of, but I’m too interested in my image to allow the work of Christ to be seen in me.

To be completely upfront, that sin is lust, pornography, and getting as close to the line of sex as possible without crossing it. Lust was my idol – along with pride, my athletic ability, and anything else temporal that I could worship. From a young age, my folly has been sexual desire. A spiral of sin that takes control of most men, me being no different, though just a boy when I chose to give it control. The pornography started upon entering college while I was in full-fledged rebellion from Jesus Christ. I began my rebellion from the Church and a relationship with Christ because the lure of sexual sin grabbed my attention, and I consciously chose it, though the Holy Spirit within me convicted against my actions. Sadly, I ignored Him and gave into my flesh; in fact, chose it over Jesus. However, on the outside I tried to act like I had it all together – played the Christian part and played it half-heartedly, but years of habitual sexual sin kept me of all Christ reflecting fruit. But my Savior didn’t give up, the faint voice of the Holy Spirit, always spoke, but I frequently ignored Him.

That was the case until about two years ago when the Lord grabbed me, shook me, and welcomed me back like the prodigal son I was. Though the pornography didn’t immediately cease, it did begin to fade through the power of Jesus Christ and my wanting to adhere to His Spirit. The Lord began to unfold Scripture to me and to make me anew. His voice in my life began to speak at a louder volume and more frequently. He was no longer faint, no long ignored, but treasured and worshiped for whom He is. My desire transformed from self to God, which is done only by the power and council of the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. Life-change took place through the forgiveness and power of the blood of Christ accessible through repentance of sin. Jesus’ death on the Cross for my sin -- a death I deserve, a punishment fit to my lust, the Savior hung on my behalf -- is what freed me, forgave me, and made me right with God. His constant pursuit of me and unconditional love is what rocked me at my soul. He called me back, welcomed me with open arms, never letting me go too far, and allowed me to receive His gift of forgiveness. He took me from a life headed down a path that could have resembled Tiger Woods’ and freed me of my chains that I placed upon myself. I was able to follow Christ only because He prompted me and paid my ransom by dying my death on the Cross, which allows my sins to be repented of.

Truly, I have nothing but the Cross to boast in, where complete forgiveness and freedom are found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

My confession here is done because the Lord has called me to carry my cross, as He did, and confessing sin is a part of that command. Plus, the Holy Spirit has instructed me to confess in this manner. Not so that pity or praise is thrown my way, but that you may see the work of Christ in my life, in my heart, soul, and mind. I write this that you may see Christ in my weakness, relying on His strength, grace, and redemption in your own lives. I say this because by God’s beautiful grace I am able to have a deeper relationship with Christ, free of the weight of sin, righteous in the sight of Him through repentance. I truly am amazed and thankful for the Gospel of Jesus for grabbing me, turning me around, and saving me from myself; from my fleshly desires that drove me from Him; God who is love.

I’m thankful to stand under the grace, love, & forgiveness that is Jesus Christ, the Savior of history. Striving to serve, worship, and love Him alone. I’m a work in progress, free from porn and sexual sin, with the Holy Spirit living in me. I’m thankful for my Savior who became the embodiment of the lust and sexual sin that riddled my flesh – to Him be all Glory and worship.

Some help:
1. http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/
2. http://relit.org/deathbylove/

My prayer: Psalm 86:1-13

“Incline your ear, O Lord, and
answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in
you—you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
For to you, O Lord do I lift up my soul.
for you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who
call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

There is none like you amoung the gods,
O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous
things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God,
with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love
toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the
depths of Sheol.”

†

Christmas Decorations

2009-12-07T06:44:00.003-05:00

I saw this picture today and it made me laugh really hard.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season so far.

"Perfect" Christians Stop Frontin.

2009-12-03T08:15:00.006-05:00

"...a Christian is not a man (person) who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble--because the Christ-life (Holy Spirit) is inside him, repairing him all the time, enabling him to repeat (in some degree) the kind of voluntary death which Christ Himself carried out."
- Clive (C.S. Lewis), Mere Christianity

This passage from Mere Christianity got me thinking and then repenting.

Why?

Because to many of us -- Christians -- have bought into the lie that we have to be perfect. We have to seem "all put together." That since Christ redeemed our souls we are perfect, without sin, and thus we have to give off the fake perception that everything is peachy in life. (Don't take this wrong: we are redeemed, but after salvation we are still sinners, so lets not sweep that fact under the rug. cool?)

Upon receiving Christ as Lord and Savior we aren't handed a card reading, "you are now perfect so go and tell all about your perfection, acting like you don't need Jesus any more." In fact, its the opposite. We're handed an eternity with Christ, under His grace, love and forgiveness. We are handed the gift of repentance of sin; a gift healing us of our sin.

As Christians we aren't called to have all the answers. We aren't called to put on perfection or the persona that all is good all the time. We are sinners just like the rest of the world, but our huge difference is Jesus Christ in us. Instead of acting like we don't sin, lets confess it, repent of it, and allow Jesus to do what He did upon our salvation -- wipe us clean.

Let's change the Christianese attitude of today. One that we have to clean ourselves up before we go into Church. One where we have to make ourselves right before we cry out to the Lord. One where we can do no wrong because we have Jesus. Let's stop acting like we can do anything to "clean" ourselves up, or even, that we don't need to be cleaned at all.

Instead, lets be the people that Jesus has made us to be. People constantly pointing to His redemption and love poured out upon the Cross for all sinners; Christian & all. A people quick to repent, quick to confess, and quick to cry out to the Lord -- cry out in happiness, sorrow, joy, defeat, confusion, & pain. Let's be a people who allow Jesus to work in us, showing those who don't know Him that we are nothing but a sinful generation being cleaned, pruned, and sanctified by the good work of Jesus Christ. All by His grace & nothing of ourselves.

Can we stop faking it? All faking it does is turn the sinners without Christ away. It's not a representation of Jesus at all. In fact, its robbing Him of Glory and people their Savior.

Can we just be raw, be real, and have Jesus use our transparency to receive more Glory for Himself, redeeming sinners through the healing He does in us?

Can we be the people He's called us to be? People who make less of themselves and more of Jesus. Meaning: People who aren't afraid to express their imperfection and point to Christ as their own sin is redeemed through repentance.

Just a thought that the Lord rocked me with these past few weeks. Let's be real. Let's allow Christ's work in us to be seen.

Thankful For His Steadfast Love

2009-11-26T06:12:00.010-05:00

My prayer today, a day of Thanks:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, He is God!
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of
His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless His name!

For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
and faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

Lord, please help me to hold on to this truth.
To cling to you, forever.

Jesus, Thank you for offering yourself -- the greatest act of love -- for me, so that I can know and live in you.

Thank you for the freedom your love provides & the joy that overflows.

Support

2009-11-24T11:44:00.007-05:00

"And He said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" Luke 9:23

For me, taking up my cross and following Jesus has led me to London, England; a journey unlike any other. It's taken faith in things unseen with trust in the God who sent me, and who came before me. Both faith and trust coming from Jesus Himself. Coming over to London with a one-way ticket and a bag wasn't an easy venture. Coming to a land that rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- while my sole purpose of being here is to speak His truth with grace & love -- isn't easy either. But, (and that's big but) the Lord has shown me how sweet it is to walk with Him when I depend upon Him for everything. I have never experienced the Lord like I have since being in London. He has revealed and unfolded Himself more and more everyday, and I love it.

But honestly, I haven't a clue what I'm doing. I can't save a city or persuade them to become followers of Christ. Only the Lord can and does that. What do I do then? I beg the Lord to act, to soften the hearts of the city, to bring repentance and revival to her streets, and to fill the same streets with people worshiping the One True God again. I don't have a routine. I just go and move as the Holy Spirit leads on a daily basis. I literally don't know what I'm doing tomorrow, let alone when I'm coming back to the states. All I do is go where the Lord leads and daily take up the cross He's strengthening me to carry.

At the moment, and the foreseeable future, I am living in a hostel on the edge of Soho. Why Soho? Basic answer: the Lord told me to live here. It's an area in the center of London that has every sinful desire one could dream of. A dark place where the people are far from the Lord, but He's placed hope inside my heart that He's going to redeem here. At the moment, every Sunday afternoon I go and speak the Truth of the Gospel at Speaker's Corner; another place the Lord has called me to act. The Lord has led me to Reality London where I help in anyway I can. My weeks fill up though I can't tell you how I'm going to spend them before hand. What I do isn't a job. Its life. By the grace of God I get to talk to people about the Lord and learn more about Him; a focus on Heaven, and not on earth.

Where is this going? Right here: the great commission, where Jesus instructs His followers to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. Simply, Jesus tells us all to make disciples through Him. But there are those who He commands to "go" and those people He instructs to send. Jesus has clearly called me to go -- to come to London and make disciples through His powerful name.

Will you prayerfully ask the Lord if you are to send me?

What does sending me look like (Send-a-Seth): Prayer is absolutely huge -- Not just for me, but for the city, for Reality London, and for protection. Join the prayer email that I send out, so that you can lift up London in detail. Encouragement -- Send a brother some encouragement. I'm human and the enemy is real, so encouragement is cool. Real talk, I miss you guys. Accountability -- Keep me accountable to what the Lord has called me to do here. (Preaching & teaching the Gospel, loving the homeless, helping Reality London, being a light in Soho) Financially -- I'm an American in England who doesn't have an income, but needs to eat and have shelter (preferably). Honestly, I give more money away buying food for the homeless and addicts, then I myself consume. Its an easy way to express the love Christ and I get to know them over food or coffee. And, I honestly have the weight of college loans needing to be paid, but the Lord knew this before He sent me to London. I have no doubt that He's faithful. Workers -- Whether its for a week or 8 months, the harvest in London is plentiful but the workers are few (Matt. 9:35-38). I would love to have some folks come alongside me to serve the Lord & the people of London. In fact, I'd love for you to pray and ask God if He wants you to come over and serve here. If honest, this is the area of most need. For people who love Jesus Christ and love telling others about Him, to come to London and do just that.

Please, don't feel like you have to support me in any way. Don't do it out of obligation or guilt, because that motivation is all wrong. Please pray and ask the Lord if He would like you to support me, to support what He's doing in London. And then ask Him in what way to serve. Pray and then take whatever action He leads you to take.

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." Acts 4:32-34

One heart and one soul -- that's the Body of Christ.

seth.guthrie@gmail.com
†

Salvation

2009-11-22T12:52:00.004-05:00

Two Sundays ago, the Lord moved in a miraculous and amazing way. I tell you a little of the story here.

Redemption is a beautiful aspect to life--as well as the most important--and I pray we all experience this through Jesus Christ.

†

A Week & 1/2 ago

2009-11-21T16:15:00.002-05:00

A week and 1/2 ago, Wednesday, November 11th marked my two month stay in LondonTown. I celebrated in a unique way. Let me unfold it for you.

The Lord has provided for me financially for the past few months and He's done it in absolutely astonishing ways. Someone would email me or get in contact with me, telling me that the Lord told them to send me some cash. This happened every time my funds grew low. And without me ever mentioning it to anyone. I would simply pray for my needs to be met.

Fast-Forward.

Wednesday morning I woke up with my reservations at the hostel expiring and £15 to my name. I prayed like crazy. Yeah you know the kind, the selfish prayer. I was hoping and pleading for God to provide me money so that I could stay in my comfortable, well acquainted room that I shared with 7 other dudes. I prayed a selfish and comfortable prayer even though the Lord had already spoken that I'd be leaving the hostel that morning. (The Lord spoke clearly two days before that I was at that hostel for the sole purpose of meeting Blake, who you'll learn more about tomorrow). I was fleshing out like crazy (Translation: sinning).

I had a unique feeling. I was confident the Lord would provide, but I wanted Him to provide in a certain way. A way that would keep me where I was. Well, I packed my things into my backpack and headed up to a cafe to read/pray/see what the Lord had in store for the day. The more the day went by, the more I felt peaceful and calm about being homeless. I've gotten to know the homeless people in the area, so I had the lowdown on where I could sleep and stay dry. But, the Holy Spirit gave me a peace that went past the thoughts of being homeless. The day past quickly and by 7pm I walked to our Prayer Meeting that we have here at Reality London (http://www.realitylondon.co.uk/blog/) on Wednesday nights. (yes, that was an unashamed plug...) Everyone looked at me all crazy like because I had all my stuff with me, including a pillowcase over my shoulder... I told them my situation and Christian, a Londoner who attends Reality, offered me to stay with him for as long as I needed. As long as I didn't mind living about 20 minutes outside the center of London. Of course, I went home with Christian that night.

I traveled back to his flat where I have been sleeping in a room by myself, with my own bathroom, and relaxing. Thanks to Christians generosity, I have been able to eat for free and eat well. I've had duck, ribs, chicken, and full out breakfasts... food I wasn't able to afford before. I've been able to recharge and relax for a week -- where I feel rested and ready to get back on the streets.

My point? To express how God moves and works. I fought leaving my comfortable and familiar hostel, not because I loved it (well I did in a weird way), but because I knew it; familiar. I was fearful of what was next. Fearful that what was next could be the streets, homeless, and cold. But God had better in store for me. Actually, I haven't stayed in a bed or room or apartment or ate food this nice in about 4 months. But to get to it, the Lord had to remove me from what I knew and what felt comfortable to me. He was leading me to the best but I was settling for comfortable and familiarity. To put it bluntly, I didn't trust Him.

My question is, where is God leading you, but you're dragging your feet in refusal? Some advice -- just go. Take the leap. Jesus will provide for you. His provision might not be the way you want or the way you think it should be done, but it's always the best way. Do what we're called to do, and follow Jesus. What will happen if you don't? I don't know, but I do you know you'll be robbing God of Glory He deserves, robbing someone else a chance to show generosity, and robbing yourself the chance to express Jesus' love to others (which leads back to robbing Him of Glory...).

He's faithful and He'll lead you. It's how He rolls.

A little bit about Soho

2009-11-12T09:59:00.004-05:00

Tonight, at 6:30p (1:30p EST) Reality London will be doing a prayer tour of a square mile area in London called Soho. Soho is London's red-light district, meaning an area overgrown with prostitution, sex shops, strip clubs, homosexuality, and drugs. The Lord has placed this area of town on my heart and brought me here a few times to see what goes down at night -- it resembles Sodom & Gomorrah all too well.

So, I've been doing the only thing that I could do for Soho and that's prayer. I want to invite you to join us in prayer for this sin riddled part of town and for Jesus Christ to be Glorified here, redeeming and healing those He draws close.

Here's some history of Soho:

Farmland until 1536 when Henry the VIII turned the land into a royal park.
The name Soho, a former hunting cry of the Anglo-French people, came about in 1636 being used to describe a group of houses in the area. It is also said to be used as a rally cry by the Duke of Monmouth in the Battle of Sedgemoor.
In 1667 the Crown allowed Richard Frith to begin development of the area.
Soho was (and is) known for its tolerance and cheap living so many immigrants made it their home causing most aristocrats to peace out. The French, Germans, Italians, Russians, Polish, Jews, Swiss, Greeks, and the Chinese all have immigrated to Soho over the years.
Prostitution became vibrant in Soho in the mid to late 17th C, running rampant for 200 years.
By the mid 1800s music halls and small theatres moved into the Square mile.
Early 1900s cheaper eateries opened by the multiple nationalities came about attracting writers, musicians, and artists to the area.
1959 the Street Offenses Act came into play pushing the prostitution in doors where stores and night clubs would run as fronts for the services. By the '60s nearly 100 strip clubs could be found in Soho.
In the mid '70s sex shops thrived into business littering the area.
1980s brought the police closing in on the clubs, brothels, and sex shops, and a reduction, or at least restricting occurred.
And by 2000 the red-light area had been reduced to areas surrounding Brewer Street and Berwick Street, but sex shops and prostitution are still widely popular, with tons of shops around the area and prostitution being a huge force at night.

Needless to say, Soho needs our prayer for the Holy Spirit to reveal and draw people to Jesus Christ.

" And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us with him and seated us with him in the heavenly place in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not at result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:1-10

Pray that God, just as He did for us, shows His love, mercy, and grace to the people of Soho, redeeming them into His Kingdom. Pray for the people to receive the gift that He's offering.

Speaker's Corner

2009-11-11T10:47:00.004-05:00

Every Sunday, all day Sunday, you can find a crowd at a corner in London’s Hyde Park. Speaker's Corner is a place full of history where the likes of Karl Marx, George Orwell, & Vladimir Lenin came to both listen and speak their views. This corner is a place where men (seldom women) come to speak their minds and lavish the crowd's ears with persuasive arguments about the man’s religion, political view, and/or nonsensical tales. However, most men come out to debate against Jesus Christ. Why? Because most men who currently come to Speaker's Corner practice Islam.

Now I have zero speaking cred, but Speaker's Corner is no doubt one of the toughest places to speak about Christ (not including countries that persecute Christian men and women). The main reason that Speaker’s Corner is so difficult to profess Christ and speak His Truth is because the Muslims out number everyone by about 200-250 people. That fact alone would be difficult, but these guys know their stuff. Well, at first it seems so, but what most men do to discredit the Bible and Jesus Christ is misinterpret, and cherry-pick verses. So this can be a massacre (and has been for me a few times) to a Christian who doesn’t know why they believe in Jesus Christ, or how to communicate it.

The beauty of Speaker's Corner is that it makes me think. There have been countless times that the Holy Spirit has spoken through me while being there, but there have also been those times where I've been stumped. It's those times of ignorance that the Lord speaks the loudest to me. He speaks every Monday morning, or fairly often all day Monday, as I search through Scripture to find the answers to questions that a Muslim or I think of while debating. The Lord has led me to the answer and unfolded my questioning every time -- absolutely every time -- my knowledge has failed. That's how awesome God is. He wants us to search Him and ask when we have questions -- He always holds up to my pondering and leads me multiple steps forward into His goodness.

I want to share with you what the Lord has led me to. Maybe you'll find it helpful. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will empower you through the Truth He leads me to, so if you are placed in the same situation(s) you can accurately represent the Truth of Jesus Christ. I will be posting a series of questions/answers that have been thrown my way and that God has shown Himself through.

Please pray that Speaker's Corner be transformed to a place where Jesus Christ is worshiped and where God receives Glory.

to be continued...

A Word on Prayer & a Video

2009-10-17T06:58:00.004-04:00

Jesus said to His disciples (and to us):

“Truly, Truly I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it!”
John 14:12-14

The Lord has been stretching me lately with how much I pray to Him. That no matter how much I do go to Him in prayer, I could and should be striving for more. That He doesn't limit things; I do. That I've taken for granted what communicating with the Savior means and how awesome it is to speak with El-Shaddai.

The Lord called me to London. Simply, I want and need the Holy Spirit to guide me, to soften hearts, to flow through the streets of London, and to do what Jesus does - save. I can't save. You can't save. Only Jesus redeems souls and places His Holy Spirit in us to dwell.

This amazing truth should have us desperate for His action, desperate to be in His presence, and desperate to follow Him. Desperate to speak with Jesus.

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and Heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
James 5:17 & 18

Elijah was prophet from the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit, who desired to Glorify the Lord. He was a man, human, an average dude. But, the Lord worked incredibly through him because Elijah followed the Lord, was lead by the Spirit, and prayed fervently for the will of God to be done - for God to reveal himself to idol worshiping people.

Elijah's prayer on Mount Carmel when the prophets of baal tested God: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." (1 Kings 18 - read it) Elijah prayed fervently and communicated constantly with God, and huge, "impossible" things happened. A water soaked altar was engulfed by a pillar of fire sent down from Heaven and the people cried "The Lord, He is God; The Lord, He is God."

The Lord desires for London to echo "The Lord, He is God; The Lord, He is God."

Fight with me in prayer, for the Lord to redeem, and turn London from a rebellious nation to a nation worshiping Jesus once again.

†

So this happened 2 days ago

2009-10-14T18:15:00.003-04:00

The air in London is turning cool and crisp, even in midday. Quite pleasant to sit in the coolness allowing the rays of sunlight to warm me. The leaves have begun to show it. They’ve turned to bright yellows and deep oranges. Trees turning from top down, the color filtering through the green. The flowers around them are striving to their final vibrant kick of color before they pass away.

It’s everywhere.

In the fantastic blue sky, the clouds as they travel on by. In the ancient brick on which the museums, flats, and churches sit. Yes, churches sit. In the latte in which I sip. In the pigeons who collectively fly away to swoop around a tree only to land right where they took off, twice.

This autumn day is full of it. Echoes of children playing in the fields. Murmurs from the people resting on the wood surrounding. It’s around them. Some share in it, but most of London have no idea it’s here.

That He’s here.

Like the autumn leaves and flowers, their own glory will shortly last and quickly fade. Death swoops in as a black-feathered crow, starting with one, but then swiftly overruns. Death’s swoop came long ago, lasting through the ages. For how long, I don’t know. But, sin’s sting, it breaks and rages.

His beauty out lasts death’s fatal swoop, in fact, He stands having conquered it. He’s here, even as death takes, showing Himself to London town. His grace and love is all around. Everywhere I look His Glory found. His Light, the sound, even the yellowy-orange falling to the ground.

But they miss Him.

Glory so easily seen, yet, so easily missed. So simple, also complex. Darkness constantly creeping, always deceiving, until the day Light puts him away. The crow will sound as darkness cries; his reign in this town finally dies. For winter is about to begin, ice and short days do invade. Not before His Spirit dwells within, redeeming souls before they fade.

Some have found, God’s Glory around.

The Lord reviving London town, calling warriors to proclaim in Jesus name, to be witnesses of His love profound, the whisper of salvation turned into a trumpeting fame.

Worship. Yes Church, worship His Glorious Name.

Forgiveness, peace, and grace He provides, for all these broken and tormented lives. His Spirit overwhelms inside, as He starts to rise. Filling up and overflowing. Rushing out as a spring, a miraculous stream, bursting at my seams. The Truth, the Truth of Jesus, changing everything.

London 3 1/2 weeks In

2009-10-13T12:52:00.002-04:00

So this video took foreverrrrrrr to load -- a week to be precise.

Click it.

†

A Night in London (vidddgeeoooo)

2009-09-30T06:07:00.002-04:00

This is a quick video of what the Lord allowed me to be apart of last Thursday, September 24th, 2009. It was an incredible, action packed few hours, in which this video hardly does justice.

Simply and magnificently, God is Good, and God is Great.

And I had fun.

†

The Free Gift

2009-09-24T12:47:00.006-04:00

I’ve been here, in London, for almost two weeks now. Time has flown by and the Lord has worked magnitudes in that short time. The Lord has spoken, largely through His Word, where He has lead me to both Ezekiel and to Romans. It is Romans that I feel He wants me to press on this afternoon. Ezekiel will come later, when the time is right.

The Holy Spirit led me to Romans right before I arrived in London. I have continued to read through the heavy and dense material as I sit in these cultural London cafés.

The Spirit has continued to press on me that we – human, man, flesh – live in sin. We are surrounded by sin. We are consumed by sin; habits, addictions, small & large. We are sin, plain and simple. Since the Fall, humankind has been riddled by sin.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners… (Romans 5:12a & 19a).

How many of us today told a lie? How many of us cheated on a test? How many stole some money, a song off the Internet, or some food from your roommate? Men, how many of us lustfully looked at a woman? Women, how many of you gossiped or “told a friend about another friend’s problem?”

Men, we sin. Women, you sin. We all sin. Whether we like it or not, mankind are slaves to sin, to our selfishness. At times we can’t help it, and at other times, we choose to sin. We are not “good people” and believing such is a lie straight from the slippery lips of satan. Of course we all are capable of doing good, but that doesn’t make us good at our core. We, as humans, choose to do the selfish, the prideful, and let jealousy, and let anger take control. We let sin take control.

But there is freedom from sin. There is freedom from ourselves. There is freedom, period.

The freedom is found in Jesus Christ. My friends, that sin that we all do, that sin that we all are, it keeps us from being united with God. (God, the creator of the Universe we live in, that we study trying to find Him in – which, isn’t going to happen. You can’t define the creator by His creation. You can see Him in it, but not entirely.) The sin we are, keeps us from being united with God. He doesn’t want to be separated from us. He wants us. He wants us to want Him, and more so, God wants a relationship with us; much like a friendship but much sweeter.

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24&25).

You see, God wants us so bad that He sent His Son. Himself in the flesh, Himself in man form, so that Jesus could choose to sacrifice Himself on the cross for us, for our sin. For the very thing that we are, that we do. Sin, being a wedge between man and God, has now been lifted because of Christ. Because He - being sinless - loves you (and me) so much that He died a brutal death for the crap that we choose to do, the sin we choose to do. He died for, and to that sin, but He then rose from the clutches of death, taking power over sin and over death. He wants to give that power, through the Holy Spirit, to you! He wants freedom for you!

The bottom line is this: “For when you were slaves of sin… what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death” (Romans 6:20&21). Friends, some of you are still slaves to sin, to yourselves, doing your will in life. Yeah, it seems harmless but take a second, look, and stop faking to yourselves. This is real life and there are real choices to make. Build your own kingdom – meaning, go to X college, study Y amount, get Z as a job, and make tones of money with which you can make the earth a better place. The earth, just like you and I, the money we make, and all in this world, will one day perish; one day be no more. Can’t you feel that there is something larger then you beckoning for you? That something is more like a someone, and He is the Almighty God.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God loves you. He wants, He’s jealous for a relationship with you, and He wants to show you a life that is abundant in Him. Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (sounds like sin…). I came that they (those who receive Him) may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). God wants the best for you, and that’s Himself in your life as intimate as humanly possible.

All of you reading, that don’t know Jesus, know that I’ve prayed for you to receive His love, not just a title or a lifestyle, but Him, completely. And that His Holy Spirit would fill you, fill that void you feel, the depression you feel, and the brokenness you feel. That you would surrender to Him, and experience the passion and completeness of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ve prayed this for you: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22). That you would be set free from the strangle hold of sin and its death grip. Freedom only comes through Jesus, through confession that we are sinners, and genuinely praying to receive the Holy Spirit, making Jesus Lord of our lives. Let Him in. Allow the Savior and God of the universe to flood your soul; to heal you, to breathe a breath of fresh air into your dying body. Let Him take your hopes, your worries, your life, and let Him be what you’ve been longing for, a Savior.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Receive the gift freely given — but cost Jesus sweat, shame, blood, pain, and death — done out of His love for all of us.

Thankful for the Risk OR Just Plain Terrified?

2009-09-19T13:06:00.004-04:00

It’s been a week since I flew out of the airport in HotLanta (Atlanta) and landed in Heathrow International Airport; here in my new home of London. You see, before I departed, I was terrified of what London held for me – what and why the Lord wanted me here. The Lord gave me pieces of what and why, but not details. Details that would have disabled my fear, but also left me acting, and not depending on His guidance. Fear still overran my mind and body while I sat in Heathrow Airport trying to pray through what and where to go in the big unknown that was London.

Finally, after an hour or so, the Lord gave me courage and the sense of freedom that London offered me outside the retractable doors of Heathrow. All I had to do was allow Him to lead me and the doors would open, automatically.

Jesus wants that for you, for all of us. He wants to guide you, to lead you, to be active in your life. Let Him. Let Him lead you into the unknown so that He can show you His hand. He’s God, and He’ll show you a glimpse of His power and provision. The doors will open, like they’re automatic. Jesus commands us constantly in His Gospel to not be afraid. Fear is of man and of satan. Allow the Lord to dispel all fear and follow Him wherever it is He’s leading you. His purpose and His will are worth the unknowns He’ll have you face.

Jesus is begging you to take Him seriously and live like He did. He’s jealous for a relationship or if you are Born Again, a deeper one. He’s begging for us to take Him seriously and not just receive Him, but live under His guidance. I think it angers Him to have consumeristic Christians who simply attend a church or place God in a 15-minute time span during their day. Jesus went to the cross, died, and rose again, not just to have us be comfortable, and live faithless lives (a life so comfortable we need not have faith to walk through the day). He gave His all for us so that we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). The Spirit, that power, that miraculous and overwhelming awesome, lives in all who proclaim Him as Lord and Savior. Its time we acted on faith and followed His Holy Spirit’s voice, and Jesus’ example. Its time we placed Him as our lives, the definition, and not just a piece in the mornings so that we can feel good and get our jollies later. He demands us—all of us. He paid for us. He deserves, and commands respect. Jesus is jealous for us and wants to show you more of Himself. He wants us to be examples of His love, His sacrifice, and His forgiveness. He wants to work so brilliantly in our lives that people can’t explain what’s happened, but give responsibility and Glory to God.

My friends, a “London” awaits you. He may have you on a cliff, had you there for weeks, calling you to jump into the unknown. Jump. He wants to show you more of His love and He can only do that if we follow where He leads. The unknown we jump into is only unknown to us, to our human, restricted minds. The Lord knows exactly why, and where He’s calling our actions. We need to trust Him. We need to remember that He is faithful—that Moses and the Exodus were real. The Lord provides. He guides with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud of smoke by day.

He’s guided that way in London. Within 24hours of arriving, He connected me with a Church-plant here in London with an awesome group of people and men on fire for Jesus. The Lord has provided for my needs like never before. His hand has been in everything. I’ve been blessed and so thankful for the sharpening fellowship Reality London provides, and the way the Lord has called people who don’t know Him to me while sitting in Starbucks. There are lost and confused people in London, and who want the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m so thankful He’s allowed me to take part, a small part, yet a part. Jesus wants us to take Him seriously. To live a life desperate for His action – I finally did – but will you?

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ (More than comforts, more than your life itself, more than all materials you have)
He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’
He said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’
He said to him ‘Tend to my sheep.’
He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’…

When Peter saw him (John, following Peter and Jesus), he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’
Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’
You follow me!’”

John 21:15-17 & 21&22.

Let Him lead. Trust in Jesus. Trust Him with your life. Let His heart become your heart and your desires will become His desires. If we love Him, then that love will show through our obedience to His call. Follow Him. There will be blood, sweat, pain, uncomfortable nights (days too), and tears. But there will be love, joy, comfort in the uncomfortable, and Jesus. Follow Him and Jesus will open the doors automatically (working by itself with little or no direct human control).

Keep Beating

2009-09-15T07:02:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, a dear friend wrote me an email. An email that was full of encouragement and challenges. The email was full of Jesus. In the email, my friend wrote a phrase and this morning the Lord and I tweaked it a bit. I was praying through it, praying for it, and desiring to be it.

The prayer being: “Lord, prepare me to usher You (the Messiah, Jesus Christ) into London—keep me beating in Your heart of light in this decaying body of darkness; draw them to You.”

This reminds me of Psalms where constantly we are reminded of how short our lives are. How short life itself is. This also reminds me of how many people don’t know Jesus, not just in London, but also in the States, and the World. That should bother every Christ follower. He demands that we spread His love and His message of Truth to everyone. He calls us to be a beat in His heart for the world.

“A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass, and all it’s beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:6-8

We are of grass and flowers. Our lives will last but a second; but only a beat in the time Jesus created. We must beat for Him – for His glory, His Son who will last forever.

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ who you have sent. I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.” John 17:1b-5

With His life, Jesus beat to the heart of the LORD because the Lord’s heart was Jesus’ heart. Jesus and God were one. Only Jesus can revive the decaying body that we – His Light – live amongst.

Jesus continues to pray, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” John 17:10&11

We don’t last forever, but Jesus does. Since before the world existed, He was. We are simply a beat, just as Jesus was with His earthly life. Lets have our lives beat to His heart, as one, to glorify the one True God. We do that, and London, Anderson, Clemson, -- the world – can’t help but experience Jesus.

The world would beat as one. Beg Jesus to revive the body, the city, the home, the family that are all in decay. Let His light shine through us to the cracks and deepest depths of darkness.

So I beg you, be the heart beat of Jesus in your city, at your job, in your school, in your home, at your parties, and glorify Jesus in you.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast Spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Keep beating & beg Him to revive.

Blessings from Jesus

2009-09-14T14:09:00.005-04:00

I woke up this morning at Noon - blessing number one. Yeah, I said noon, 12:00p, you know, when the sun is directly above your head... I also spent last night in bed for the first time since Kenya a few weeks ago, so I'm not surprised I slept for so long, and Jesus provided such rest. I'm also thankful that I got to wake up and take a shower (blessing number 2)... something I hadn't done yet in London.

This morning, er... afternoon I woke and went outside into the park that surrounds the hostel I'm staying in - blessing number 3. The hostel is beautiful and the park that surrounds it is called Holland Park - breathtaking in Autumn (#4). After some time on a bench in the Park, I walked to a Costa Cafe for some coffee.

In the Cafe I got to spend 4 or 5 hours reading and writing/praying. The Lord placed a few people in my path and challenged me a bit, but all in all a beautiful day, full of rest, full of Him. Rest that I haven't really had recently. My body was tired. I love being free to study and spend that much time in Jesus (#5). Feels good.

Here's something the Lord hit me with today:

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." John 20:19&20 (#6).

The disciples were riddled with fear for they suspected the Jews were about to do the same to them, that they did to Jesus. I can only imagine what my heart would feel and all the scenarios that my mind would be tormenting me with while locked up in a room, hiding. Then Jesus busts in from who knows where, and who knows how, but He does -- He enters a locked room. As He appears, He says, "Peace be with you." And He does so, not as a greeting. (Side note: we've perverted that into a greeting/farewell - we can't give peace, we can just beg God for it.) Jesus busts all up in that room and delivers just what the disciples need. He spoke directly to their heart. And the best thing is He'll do that for us, today. The disciples were overwhelmed with an earthly fear and Jesus gives them peace. In fear, Jesus dispels it and brings His peace to our soul. In return, while carrying His peace with us, carrying Him with us, He demands that we go out and speak to others; to be His light in the uncomfortable, and dark situation. He gave us faith (#7). He gave us Truth (#8). He gave us His Love (#9). He gives us the understanding of life and who life is made for (JESUS). How can we not tell everyone? How could we not want to be the Son of Man's light into a barren world?

I needed to hear that from Him today.

Blessings from Jesus = His peace, His eyes, and His heart -- Him -- while I'm in a city that desperately needs Him. I pray His blessings upon us and that we strive to bring Him glory.

God’s Provision in London

2009-09-13T17:55:00.002-04:00

Let me tell you a little story that could peak your interest. That, if believed, could change your outlook on situations. On one side of the story we have God – the magnificent, the omnipotent, the never failing, and the ever faithful; while on the other side weighing in at 130lbs, we have me – the doubter, the weak of mind and all too seldom, heart, and the king of frustration.

There have been times that I’ve grown frustrated since arriving in London. The first night, Friday, was obviously a smack in the face. I had no idea what to do once I got off of the Tube on Covenant Garden. I just wanted to explore and sleep; which are quite the opposite feelings. Instead, I just walked down the street to and found the Temple of London. Here I am thinking this is a Jewish or Hindu or some other religions’ shindig. I poked my head in and lost interest because there was noting around. I got as far as the steps, when I sat distraught about what to do and not hearing straight from the Lord where I should go. I began to beg God for guidance and the Holy Spirit told me to go back in the Temple. Now that was the last thing I wanted to do, but I obeyed and found a prayer room. It ended up, that this wasn’t a Temple, but a Church that preached the Truth of Jesus Christ. A French woman sat beside me in the room and began to talk to me, to open up about life, and gave me some advice about London. Now hear me, I understood everything and all, but the best advice she told me was the all McDonald’s have free wifi. In fact I think they are the only place to give free wifi. (you can tell be/c all the American’s are in there.)

Saturday, I wake up at 5am and go to McDonald’s for some time with Jesus and to check the interwebs. I met some awesome people while I was there. One young lady, Nadene sat and talked to me about Jesus and how it was refreshing to see someone read the Bible. She actually gave me some money to help with everything. The next guys that I met, were Jay and Dusty who are traveling all over Europe with their school. The two guys sat and talked for some time, and told me about a Church plant, Reality London that started a few weeks ago. I checked the Church out on the interwebs and felt like the Holy Spirit was drawing me to attend there Sunday (today). So, on Sunday I woke up and walked the two miles to Reality London where I met the Pastor, Mark, his wife Lizzy, and Christian the worship leader. That is the core of the church – these two families. I helped them set some stuff up and told them all about how Jesus has been pursing me lately (ie coming to London and what He spoke to get me here.) We then had church, in a movie theater, in London – well more specifically, Notting Hill. The sermon was on John 1:1-18, which 1, is my favorite scripture in the Bible; and 2, what Jesus used to soften my heart on the day I decided to obey Him and dropout of school. Even cooler, I just taught a Bible study on the scripture because the Lord rocked my face with it, again. Want more? The worship set, at times, were identical to prayers that I’ve written in my journal these past two days of being a Londoner. Aaaand just to add to it, Mark used other scripture that I’ve been praying these past two day, including the passage from John 17 I posted yesterday. As if it wasn’t obvious that this was one of God’s divine appointments, Mark was cool, paid for my lunch, and helped me find and pay for a hostel. The hostel is in the middle of Holland Park and reminds me of a dream I once had.

You see, Jesus is a God of taking the obscure details that make us feel like we arn't in His will, details when we’re pissed or frustrated, and then He reveals His will and show’s us feeble minded fools that He is God. Showing us that He’s got us in His clinched, yet soothing fist, protected.

Separated, they’re just awesome little connections made and sweet gestures. But put them together, and we see a glimpse of God’s provision. No there are no coincidences. None.

My question is what aren’t we doing because we think God can’t provide. We all have something He’s commanded us to do that we would do, if Jesus could get our back. Guess what? He’s the flyest cat of all time—actually He created time—so I’m going to push the chips all in, and say He’s got our back. Sadly, we all shortchange the power that took the Messiah from death and back to life, and fold on His calling in our lives. We make grave mistakes out of fear, and we rob the most High God of the Glory only He deserves.

We should all stop the nonsense, ok. He went all in. He calls us to do the same. He will provide.

So take the leap. He won't catch you. He'll do better. He'll give you wings to fly.

When in London...

2009-09-12T09:49:00.005-04:00

After fourteen hours of flying, 4 hours of layovers, and hours of delays, I've arrived in the center of the city of London. It is incredible. Hands down way more busy then I expected and the people are way cool. Its taken less then a day for me to realize that there are Brits here, but there are just as many foreigners in London, if not more.

I experienced a few snags in getting here and arriving in the city, but only things that make my feeble mind worry. Such as a border patrol lady who was determined to keep me from entering the UK after she heard that Jesus told me to come, but the Lord is faithful. Aaand the crazy eyed border lady was defeated. I also met a French woman in a church prayer room who gave me her life story and her worries about life. A very sobering conversation where the Lord showed me how much favor He's placed on me with arriving here in London. Later in the evening, I ended up sleeping in St Andrews Catholic Church's garden, which again was a sobering experience. I enjoyed a brisk night sleeping under the few stars that I could see and praying to the Lord--out of fear for comfort, at one point, and out of thanksgiving and peace the next-- but the stars weren't nearly as cool as they were in Kenya. I woke up at 5am to this man vomiting in a bush beside me, which scared the hotmess out of me, but nothing serious happened. Plus, I can't help but laugh every time I've looked back and told people about this morning. This is my life... better yet, this is Jesus' life that He's graciously let me experience.

The Lord has rocked me since I left Atlanta at 5:55pm on September 10th. I've hit very high highs and the low of lows; all in about 24 hours. I miss y'all (and the fact that people understand the word "y'all"). The Lord has lead me to Ezekiel since leaving and He has greatness in store for London - for His people to turn back to His ever-burning love. He is jealous and eager to rekindle the fire in London. Please pray for the city, the people (those living, entering, & leaving her), and for myself.

Y'all should read Ezekiel. I'll be writing on what the Lord spoke.

Jesus prays about His disciples, about us: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; you word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."
John 17:15-19

Jesus is power and in Him we are shown truth. Be His truth.

Praise the LORD O my Soul

2009-07-07T20:49:00.007-04:00

I woke up one morning super early, and I felt down and out. Ever feel like that? Wake up in a bad mood for no reason at all? It's lame. The feeling puts a damper on our morning, then that damper can creep in and dominate our day if we let it.

Thankfully, the LORD pulled me out of the damper and depressive state. An emotional state that was caused by worry and trying to do life on my own (all that and it was only 6am). The LORD lead me to Psalm 103 and scissor kicked me in the gut. You know, a loving scissor kick.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy
name."

Done. Stop at verse one. Praise the LORD. Those words are repeated through out the Psalm and then the Psalmist expresses why we should Praise the LORD...

"Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits--

who forgives all your sins
and heals all you diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and
compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good
things
so that your youth is renewed like
the eagle's."

We are commanded to praise the LORD. Better yet, the Holy Spirit in me (and you) craves to give God all the glory and praise, and to worship Him constantly. It's my (and your) flesh, my (your) sin that gets in the way of that constant praise. now that's lame.

Fast-forward a few hours and BAAM, I'm at my desk eating some Dove chocolate. In the wrapper of the chocolate reads a message: "Count your blessings, not your worries." The message hits home...

Immediately the Holy Spirit rolls my thoughts to Psalm 103. Praise the LORD with all my soul for all the blessings He's poured out on me. Because Jesus saved me. Because the LORD heals my hurts, my pains. And because the LORD loves me and wants to renew me. He wants us to worship Him not only because He deserves it, but because its then that we find the true love and joy the LORD is offering us. To praise the LORD is to tap into a fountain of goodness, that once jumped into, reveals how small our problems are, and how huge, compassionate, and gracious our God is.

Praising God takes us out of our small world and into his loving hands. Praising God takes our lives off of ourselves and on Him -- where they need to be. Praising God lets us experience His joy -- a pure joy that He desperately wants us to tap into and live in.

This praise is not just singing worship songs... Praising Jesus is a lifestyle. Praising Jesus is making our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions bow down to Him. Praising Him is walking with Him daily. Its serving others so that they may meet Him and start a relationship of praise. Praising Jesus is being obedient to His call, to His conviction, and to His purpose for our lives.

Our praise matters to the LORD. It is the reason that He has created us! He has crafted praise so perfectly. Let me explain: when we praise the LORD, we are aware of His active hand in our lives. Praise places our focus upon the gifts and blessings the LORD has provided. Our souls are refined more and more by Jesus when we praise Him. The creation of praise is incredible because the more we do it, the more thankful we become, and the more we want to be thankful. The LORD demands our praise -- not just because He is worthy of it, but because He wants the best for us. He wants us to experience the Joy that He'll pour over us when we praise Him. He wants to break us of all the other idols in our lives that steal His glory, that we place our comfort and faith in. He alone demands praise because He created the Heavens and Earth to bring Him glory.

So next time your down and out, don't sulk in it like I did. That reaction gets us no where. But go & "praise the LORD, all His works everywhere in His dominion.

Praise the LORD, O my soul."

Majestic in Holiness

2009-06-17T15:22:00.014-04:00

I've been kind of frustrated lately. You know how it goes sometimes... we get stuck, placed in frustrating times where life begins to get a bit hectic and nothing seems to go the 'easy way.' Money runs low, houses get flees, motorcycles don't work, and relationships get tough. You know the saying, "When it rains, it pours." The question we need to ask ourselves is, what are we built on when the rain comes. Since April, my world has been rocked. Since April, my world has completely changed. In April, the LORD called me to leave school without revealing why. All I got was Him telling me, "its not called faith if you see the next step." Now, the LORD doesn't always work this way. Each of us are different people, for He's made us all different, and made us for a different calling in life. Since the school decision I've been praying for next steps, the reason to drop out. The LORD has revealed said step, but now its time for me to man up and do it. For me to be patient and allow Him to speak clearly to me the detailed actions I am now to follow.

The problem: I'm not patient. Doubt creeps into my mind. Negative feelings seep out of me. I get tired and weary. Satan attacks, and attacks hard.

Solution: I dive head first into the Bible and beg Jesus to consume me. Two days ago, I asked the LORD to speak to me, to encourage me. aaaaand no surprise, He did.

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
Exodus 14:10-12

The Israelites have left Egypt traveling through the desert toward the Red Sea. They reach the Sea and look back to see the Egyptian army chasing after them. They panic. They allow the situation to overwhelm them, and honestly, who could blame them. Fear struck them at their core. The Israelites began to doubt the LORD and Moses like never before. They question everything; the LORD's mercy to get them out of slavery and they even suggest that life was better in Egypt - stagnant, typical, risk free, but safe. The Israelites even consider that serving the Egyptians, instead of the LORD our God, is better off for their future. Why? Because it was safe, it was conceivable, but not fruitful. The Israelites lose focus of God's power and guiding hand as they face the fierce Egyptian Army. They let fear override their faith in God. They let finite sin skew their perception of an infinite God. A God who has already provided and shown His miraculous power. Fear, doubt, panic, and faithlessness latch on to their minds, and take control of their consciousness.

Let this marinade. Have you done that? Have you been where the Israelite nation was? Have you ever been in a situation where the LORD has lead you, but Satan uses the good, perverts it, and attacks you constantly trying to divert your eyes from Jesus? I have. Hands down. Recently, those feelings have hit me daily.

Check it: "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:13 & 14

Baam! The LORD spoke immeasurably to me through these two verses. Just as Moses spoke to the Israelites, the LORD spoke to me: "Do not be afraid. Your fear is pointless. Do you not understand that I am the LORD who created the Heavens and the Earth? Do you not remember that I will blaze a path for you and be the Light for you to follow? Stand firm. Stand firm in the position of life I've placed you in. I'm teaching you here. Stand firm. It won't be easy. Don't bend, don't break, don't try to do it on your own - remember, Seth, 'I am who I am.' I am what you need. Lean on Me for I will help you stand firm. I will deliver you. Deliverance will come. I am faithful. Again, I will deliver you from this feeling of doubt, this feeling of aimlessness, and I will show you whats next. Just. be. patient. I will deliver you. Your problems that are causing you to doubt and fear will one day cease to exist. I am God and I am beside you. I will fight for you during this. I will protect you from this and more; from things you can't even imagine yet. Have faith for I will fight for you, all you need to do is be still - be calm. Seth, stay calm. Stand firm in Me, in Jesus, for I will fight, guide, and deliver you to My next step I have for you. You only need Me. Only I'll bring you true Joy. Be still and trust me."

I didn't read any further. I didn't need to. The LORD spoke loud and clear. I want you to hear this too. Don't be afraid. Don't worry. We need to stand firm for the LORD our God will provide for us. He will deliver. He will. He's faithful and true. He rules whatever worry or doubt or fear or struggle we may have. He is LORD of all - not just the good, but everything bows to Him. We can't fight, but He can. We don't have strength, but He is strength. He will fight for us. We must be still. This doesn't mean stagnant, not fruitful, but at peace in His presence. We need to be calm and seek His restful presence constantly. Only He can fight, only Jesus can sustain, only His Holy Spirit can calm our nerves.

Its difficult to be patient, but let Him fight and be still in His presence. Have faith in Jesus and stand firm in where He has called you. His deliverance will come because He is faithful.

He will not guide you and then not provide for you. Jesus expresses His faithfulness and love for us.

So go to Him. Place your trust in Him. And do it daily.

Thursday Night Bible Study (3): Acts 13

2009-06-14T13:55:00.007-04:00

Acts 13

13:1-3 - Here we see how the leaders of the Church of Antioch seek Jesus. The Church at Antioch has been established, the Holy Spirit is using Her to bring people to know Jesus, and make those believers into disciples of Christ. But a Church alive, like the one in Antioch, is always seeking the LORD for next steps. Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul seek the LORD's guiding hand by fasting, worshiping, and praying to Him. What some, mainly me, call the trifecta. Jesus calls us to do all three and we see these 5 men completely seek the LORD through the ways He commands. V2 expresses that while these men were fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to both Barnabas and Saul to start their mission work, first separately and then to the Church leaders. By fasting and praying to the LORD, Saul and Barnabas heard what the LORD called them to do for His glory. I want to challenge you - maybe you're in a spiritual rut, need God's guidance, plead with God for a friend, need to repent of sin - to do as Jesus and the leaders at Antioch did, and fast. Today, Christians pray and worship on a daily, or at least a weekly basis, but we often neglect to fast as Jesus instructs us. Fasting is a powerful tool that will open our minds and hearts to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly.

13:4 - Don't miss this - Saul and Barnabas go, they do what the LORD commands. The two of them don't just hear the instructions, but they listen, they follow. I'm sure it was difficult. I'm sure it was uneasy. I would even bet that doubt, placed in their minds by the cunning deceiver, Satan, caused them to second guess they even heard the voice of God. But Saul and Barnabas ignore those thoughts from their sinful nature and follow Christ's command.

13:5 - As soon as Saul and Barnabas arrive in Salamis, they start to proclaim the word of God. They go straight to the Jewish synagogues and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. They waist no time telling people about Jesus.

13:6-12 - Saul, now called Paul (v9) while filled with the Holy Spirit, lays the smack down on the false prophet named Elymas. Paul proclaims that the Holy Spirit will cause Elymas to go blind because his false teachings have placed him as an adversary of the LORD. Immediately the man becomes blind. Now, that's miraculous and awesome, but what happens next is even better. Because of Paul's teachings of Jesus Christ and the miracle the Holy Spirit did through Paul, the heart of the proconsul was transformed. The proconsul believed in Jesus. Verse 12 explains he saw and heard - it was the Holy Spirit's one-two punch to reveal the Truth of Jesus to this man.

13:13-15 - Once Paul and Barnabas arrived in Pisidian Antioch and on the Sabbath they go to the synagogue. Again, they go to the synagogue to preach about Jesus. After reading from the Old Testament, the leaders ask Paul to speak to the people and to encourage them.

13:16-41 - Paul stands up and begins to preach to the Jews. Paul unpacks for the people how God has orchestrated His actions from the beginning to the coming of Jesus Christ, and how Christ fulfills history perfectly. How history and time and creation were born for Him.

13:16-20 - Paul doesn't just physically stand up, but his speech stands up against the Jews. Paul is preaching a radical message. Paul's first few verses depict how God provided for the Israelites from the onset. He provided for them in slavery, provided a way for them to get out of slavery, and provided them a homeland. God provided as He showed His people His power with getting them out of Egypt and God showed the Israelites His mercy as they complained during the Exodus. God shows His mercy to us as He endures our conduct, our sin, and saves us anyway. God knew every one of our sins, small and large, before He sent His son Jesus, and He sent Him anyway - and Jesus freely gave Himself anyway. That's true love.

13:20-22 - Paul explains that the LORD provided Israel with judges, their first king Saul, and then David. The LORD will provide. When He calls us to do something, He will provide a way. The LORD provides leadership for His people. Saul didn't lean upon the LORD like the LORD demanded a leader to, so the LORD ousted him. The LORD will protect His people, especially from poor leadership.

13:23-25 - Paul expresses that everything that has happened in the world, has happened for the coming, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul goes in deeper with the mentioning of John the Baptist who gave his life to the service of God and to the proclamations that the Christ was near, thus the need for repentance. He believed in God and His son so much, that he lived in a desert wearing animal fur, drinking honey, and eating bugs. That's devotion. That's a faith that more people should live by.

13:26-31 - "it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent." Paul nails it. It's for the world that Jesus was sent - to save us all. What I can't understand is the complexity behind the Jews not recognizing Jesus for what He was, the Messiah, and by belittling Him to a shameful death, they fulfill God's promises. The detail and complexity behind such an event, that's without saying the awe of Jesus' resurrection, baffles me. Thankfully, He's God and we don't have to worry about such 'over-our-head' details. Jesus is the LORD fulfilling His promises to His people. Jesus and the message of salvation are for the people, even those who persecuted Him. His. mercy. blows. my. mind.

13:32-35 - Jesus fulfills the promises of God to the Israelites. Jesus' resurrection and conquering of death is the point of history.

13:36 & 37 - Like King David, God will put an end to our lives. But until the LORD does, we are to serve God's purpose for our lives. If you haven't dropped dead, then God isn't finished with you. He wants to know you more, wants you to know Him more, and wants to do work in you/us. Live for Him, serve Him, and do His will for your life. God's purpose never stopped for Jesus - He still saves people 2000 years after He conquered death!

13:38-40 - The kicker. Paul drops the bomb that Jesus died the horrible death to save humanity from our sins and to forgive us. That through the acceptance of Jesus Christ, we are justified from our sins. Paul continues that Jesus justifies us from sin, something that following the Law of Moses could never do. Basically, with that statement Paul does three things: 1) He speaks Truth. 2) His message, during this place and time, takes a quicker turn down radical road. 3) Paul is stating that good works, following the Law, will not get anyone anywhere. Only Jesus Christ saves and forgives of sins - not the Law. That is an extremely bold statement, a true statement, but radically bold.

13:41 - absolutely amazing. Most of the time, actions of the LORD are unexplainable, that's why they are of the LORD. He does the impossible. He is the unexplainable. Paul is pleading with the Jews to accept the Truth and to not be like their fathers who put the Messiah to death. Paul's recitation of Hab. 1:5 is extremely accurate. He is begging the Jews to accept Jesus, that they not doubt, scorn, or make a mockery of Him. Paul doesn't want them to fall in the same trap as their fathers. How many of us have fallen in that trap? How many of you don't believe? Make a mockery? The coolest thing is that Jesus died for us, even though we mock Him, lie to Him, and at times, doubt Him.

13:42 & 43 - The Jewish people were moved by Paul's preaching in the synagogue. So much so that they ask him to speak again next week and even follow him around town. Two things here grabbed my attention. 1) The congregation want Paul to speak again. They want to hear more about Jesus. They realize that God fulfills His promises and that they are missing something; that they are missing Jesus and His Holy Spirit. 2) Paul and Barnabas walk and talk with the congregation. They encourage and urge the people to continue in their walks with God. Paul isn't too good, isn't too tired, and isn't too prideful, to speak and encourage the people. As a leader, Paul gives himself for the glory of God. We could all learn from him.

13:44-48 - Fast-forward to the next Sabbath and almost the entire city came together to hear Paul speak. Paul doesn't disappoint. He preaches the message of Jesus and in return, some of the Jews in the area began to bash him. Filled with jealousy, which is sin, the Jews begin to slander Paul and Barnabas, and their teaching of Jesus. But Paul wasn't having any of it - he answers his opposition boldly and speaks truth to their hearts. Truth they don't want to hear and truth they don't accept. So Paul transitions his focus to the Gentiles because the Jews "do not consider themselves worthy of eternal life." We aren't worthy but there in lies the beauty of Christ's love. Paul continued to preach Jesus and those Gentiles whom the LORD appointed to eternal life believed in Him. Now, "appointed to eternal life?" It means, those people whom God had chosen and opened their hearts to receive Jesus on that day. God is omnipotent. He knows who and when and where we will accept Jesus. He knew when before the earth was spoken into existence. The Gentiles believed in Jesus and began their relationships with Him, forever saved, forever to be with Him.

13:49-52 - The Hand of the LORD was with Paul and his preaching so that the word of God spread throughout the area Paul was staying. With all standing up for Jesus and preaching His Good News, there will be opposition. There will be opposition every time we stand up for Jesus, spread His love, and His awesomeness. We need to continue to rest in Jesus when this persecution, because of being His disciples, arises in our lives. Paul and Barnabas kick the dust from their feet as the Jews booted them from Dodge, just as Jesus commands the His disciples. Its an act of shrugging off the persecution, keeping one's eyes on the future, JESUS, and not the past. Paul and Barnabas leave Pisidian Antioch because of the Jews, but simultaneously, because its God's will for them to preach Jesus' name to Iconium. God will receive glory from every situation - good and bad, joyous and sorrowful - He demands praise.

Chapter 13, like the entire Bible, unfolds God's plan to receive glory no matter what position His disciples are in. In what seems like a 'spiritual funk' or hardship, God will unfold His plan and guide us to give Him all glory.

From Everlasting to Everlasting He is God

2009-06-11T13:21:00.005-04:00

God has revealed to me His power, faithfulness, and grace this week. I pray that He has done the same for you and rocked your world! Something He has taught me this week, and I've slowly grabbed a hold of, is that God is holding us in His palms. He is so large, so all knowing, so faithful. I loose track of His power. When times are tough and life gets a little more difficult, I place an Almighty God into a confining box. When the truth is, He made "the box" I'm trying to place Him in. The Holy Spirit nailed me with this thought: The LORD places us in difficult situations where we can't see a way out, so that we lean on Jesus, and for God to reveal His power in our lives. He told me to embrace my position in life - that He'll show me His hand. Shown me He has.

Here are the random verses that the LORD has lead me to this week and began to teach me through.

"Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God"
Psalm 90:2

I mean seriously, why do I worry about anything? Why do I fear anything? He is God - 'nough said. He gave birth to the mountains and before that the universe. I can't even fathom what "from everlasting to everlasting" means - I just know it's overwhelming my mind to try. I think it means Jesus is with us through every step, the ugly and the beautiful. That is so much easier to say, but He's so awe-inspiring when His action and truth takes place. He is God. Our problems are incredibly small to Him, but huge to us. He's faithful. God will provide for us because He always has. Rest in the fact that He's here, beside you, from everlasting to everlasting.

The past few months the LORD has been teaching me that all I need is Him. I wish I could say its been an easy and simple process. It hasn't been. However, through it He's made it clear He will provide if we follow Him and do what He commands. Its as "simple" as following His voice. He nailed me with this: "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19. Dang that's truth. He'll provide for our needs, but we need to realize that we only need Him. Everything else He blesses us with is just that, a blessing.

"May the favor (beauty) of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands"
Psalm 90:17.

When we follow the Lord and allow His hands to work in us, then through us, we find favor. We will not necessarily be blessed with riches and possessions. More like the favor (or blessing) in the act - we would receive favor in advancing Jesus' name, His Kingdom. The blessing is in someone receiving Jesus, eternity changed, or someone growing closer to Jesus - blessings being based upon the spiritual/supernatural, and not of this world. Favor in our position in life, knowing Jesus is with us, leading us, and teaching us. It's an inward change that takes place through the Holy Spirit sharpening us and shining through us.

It's a process. A process of loosing ourselves and receiving more Jesus.

The Vintage of Jesus (Fourth installment)

2009-06-02T23:17:00.005-04:00

A good dose of Matthew chapter 10:

"Whatever town or village you enter search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
Matthew 10:11-16

The LORD has seriously used these few verses to smack me around and keep me focused.

Let me explain: Life is going to be full of times when people, close to us or strangers, who do not accept Jesus and Him speaking through us. Jesus instructs His disciples to travel to places and stay where the Holy Spirit leads. To find friends, brothers and sisters, who will accept and believe their message of Christ Jesus.For the Twelve not to hop from house to house, but stay with that "worthy person." Stay with the person who will accept their teachings, who befriends them, because it is there they will find comfort; a safe haven. It is also with that person that Jesus commands the disciples to leave their greeting and peace. He commands the disciples to not only sleep, eat, and drink, but to give back to the people of the household. To overflow with the good news that Jesus is the Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Jesus commands the disciples to serve the household and to be transparent so the household can see the work of Jesus in, and through them. Jesus commands that the Twelve be worth their keep and that's done by serving as Jesus served - for the Twelve that is speaking His Truth.

"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words..." Jesus gives real talk to His disciples, of today and yesteray. There will be times when people do not receive Jesus' teachings through us. There will be times when people will ignore us and bash us for speaking what Jesus wishes us to speak. There will even be times when people hate us for speaking about Jesus.

But, He gives us advice in what to do next.

"...shake the dust off you feet when you leave that home or village." Literally, dust ourselves off. Don't focus upon the critic, the skeptic, or the one whom you've shared the news of Jesus with, but who doesn't receive. Pray for them, but do not let them deter us. Instead, go to the next town, village, or person and share Jesus with them. Jesus promises in verse 15 that it will be worse then Sodom and Gomorrah for the people who don't receive Him. Last time I checked, they all died...minus three. What's worse then fire from the sky? Eternity in the never ending consumption of a fiery Hell. We shouldn't let the naysayers get us downtrodden, but we should focus our attention on those who are lost and who are willing to be radically changed by Jesus. Ultimately we can't control who receives the gift of eternal life. Only Jesus has that power. He grants us the honor of being His living examples so others may see the life change Jesus creates, and long to be like Him.

We have no control over people's decision to receive the gift of Jesus - there inlies the beauty and frustration. It'd be easier to force feed people, but it wouldn't be genuine or real. Jesus desires our realness. This expresses the true power of the Holy Spirit and the convicting Truth of Jesus Christ. Not to mention the complete mercy and grace of God. Because seriously, if salvation were up to us we would leave people off the list. We're human. We continue to sin even though Jesus has shown us His mercy. Unfortunately that's how we roll.

The world, however, lives to different standards, which Jesus has already discussed in His instructions to the Twelve (and us.) Jesus unpacks our mission as disciples. "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." That doesn't sound promising does it? Sheep usually get eaten by wolves, right? I don't want to be eaten. I don't want to suffer like that, but Jesus proclaims that He is our Shepherd. He will fight off the wolves and protect us. But when wolves do overpower our bodies, He will heal us, strengthen us, and reward us in Heaven, bringing glory to Himself on earth. Jesus also commands us to be "shrewd as snakes," meaning we are to show sharp powers of judgment; being able to accurately assess a situation, or person and turn it into an advantage. We are called to use discernment. Jesus also commands for us to be "as innocent as doves." We are to do right, to do what the Holy Spirit leads us to do, no matter how hard or convicting. There is no morality, just the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon our lives.

Jesus clearly explains to the Twelve that life preaching for and following Him will be uncomfortable, but worth every bit of it. Sometime people will accept us with open arms and other times people will shun us, turning their backs on us even when we do the will of the LORD. Jesus proclaims that we should shrug it off, keep our eyes on Him, His calling for our lives, and preach. The only true comfort in the world is Jesus Christ.

Through thick and thin, always preach Jesus. Don't forget, be shrewd and innocent as you go where the Spirit leads you.

"Where, O Death, is Your Victory?"

2009-05-31T16:16:00.005-04:00

Through the past few weeks, death has been on my mind, on my heart, and in my walk with Jesus. Honestly, it's been all around me. It's hard for it not to be, seeing how I was in a hospital full of death's decay and I've attended two funerals in the past week. The LORD has taught me and stretched me during this time of loss - in ways only this time of loss could. It's not my lose that He's taught me through, but the lose that friends have experienced and how He's lead them during this time.

First, the LORD has taught me through these funerals that life is short, life is sweet, and I should glorify Him through every breath.

"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath."
Psalm 39:4&5

The LORD has blessed me in life. He has surrounded me with a loving family, both legitimate kin of mine & the family I serve with at NewSpring . Through this time of death, the LORD has shown me how a church should love and care for one another - celebrate, cry, grieve, and hurt - together. He has shown me how much I truly love my parents, my sister, and close friends. I, like most of you, have taken for granted the simple and constants of my daily life. The passage from Psalm is my prayer. Through it I feel the LORD will protect me from laziness, apathy, and pride.

Second, the LORD has taught me that I serve beside true disciples of Jesus . A couple I serve with, recently lost their child while only a few months pregnant. What a loss. I cannot fathom the amount of pain a mother and father would experience at such a time. My mind cannot comprehend the feelings I would harbor toward God, toward the doctors, and honestly, any person wanting to communicate with me during this time. However, though in pain, hurt, and sorrow, my friends worshiped God, giving Him every ounce of glory they could muster. They don't understand why their daughter was taken from them, but they don't need to. I went to the funeral to show them that I loved them, but God used their daughter to express His love, His power, His faithfulness, and His strength. I know that God will send them His peace and express (through time) His reasoning for taking their daughter. God has shown me through this situation that we can only rely on Him for true love and strength. All the things of this world are temporary - its time to start living like I know that truth and help build His Kingdom, the only everlasting Truth. It's time to step up, live giving Him praise through every breath I breathe, and live in awe of His glory.

Fast forward a week.

The second funeral where God rocked my small world. This funeral was for a man, Mike Hunt, whom the LORD took home after cancer overwhelmed his body; but not his spirit. Mr. Hunt's funeral was a celebration of his life. A life that he lived completely glorifying God. This disciple of Jesus, found out that he had brain cancer on a Wednesday, and the next Sunday, he was at NewSpring Church serving God. The God who most people would have been upset with because of the circumstance, but not Mike. He praised Him, served Him, and told everyone he could about how good God is. Mike was bold in his faith. Actually, he was straight up bold in life. The LORD used this man and his funeral to nail home to me that I need to be bold. I need to live as Mike did - giving all the glory to the LORD - no matter what the circumstance, hurt or joy. Again, that this world is temporary and the only Truth is Jesus. That this life can easily change, be taken away, but that I should live each day for Him.

This sums up what the LORD taught me through Mike: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

The LORD has blessed me. He has placed His disciples strategically in my life so that He may further sanctify me. With the sanctification, I have grown to know Him and love Him more. God has taught me that He always gives in time of lose. He gives us life so that we can join the rest of creation in praising Him. He sustains our life because He wants to know us and work through us so others may know Him. He concludes life so that we, His sons and daughters, may go home to Him, becoming truly alive. Also, for us to realize that we are small and He is infinite - that He will always be able to strengthen and soothe us.

Third, the LORD has taught me this:

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the Church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

I feel the LORD will receive the most glory when we can say verse eleven with every word and action.

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

And that is why all glory and honor and praise go to Him, Christ Jesus.

Thursday Night Bible Study (2): Acts 12

2009-05-30T09:19:00.004-04:00

Acts 12

Acts 12: 1-4 - starts out the same way that chapter 11:1-3 began. Peter and the Church face persecution. There will be times in our lives that the LORD asks us to stand up, be bold, and do something that causes, both Christian brothers/sisters and the world to think critically of us. In my mind, I would think that the criticism from the church would have hurt Peter on a deeper level, then that of Herod arresting him. Why? Because Peter expects the persecution from Herod, the rest of the world, since they don't accept Jesus Christ as their King. They beat to a different drum. Herod beats to the drum of society, to the likes and dislikes of the Jews. Along the same thought process, the Holy Spirit explained to me that James died for Christ and Peter was arrested for preaching Jesus. That's bold and very uncomfortable. That's also how it could end for some of us. When we accept Jesus and begin to live like examples for Him, we aren't given an all access pass to beach front property in Malibu. We are called to go where He calls us because "Where He guides, He provides."

12:4 - Peter is arrested and placed in prison where he is watched over by 16 men. Don't miss the seriousness and the impossibility of this scenario. Check it: 16 incredibly trained soldiers guarding Peter in a prison made of stone and iron. If that wasn't bad enough, I'm sure there was a door on the prison cell and that door was locked. Now, Peter couldn't escape that prison even if he had someone deliver a cake with TNT and a saw placed in the center. What also struck me about this verse is that Peter was held over night because of the Passover, so he had time to dwell on the fact that he could be put to death the next day.

12:5 - Once the Church heard about Peter's arrest, which I bet was pretty soon after it happened, they began to pray to the LORD. This isn't one of those wimpy prayers where the Church doesn't believe that God will act, but they sat "earnestly praying!" The word earnestly is defined as showing sincere and intense conviction. This should define our prayer lives. The early Church sought after Jesus with earnest. Keep that thought on the forefront of your mind - we'll visit it again.

12:6 - Here is Peter in an extremely impossible situation where he could lose his life the next day and the playa falls asleep. He doesn't fall asleep because there is nothing else to do or because he's narcoleptic. Peter falls asleep because he trusts that the LORD will provide, whether it be freeing him or saving him in Heaven. Peter's faith in the LORD gives him the peace of the LORD so that he can sleep in a very troubling situation. Do we have that faith? Could we find His peace in that troubling of a circumstance? We could learn from Peter's faith in the LORD.

12:7-10 - Peter is miraculously rescued by an angel and the prayers of the Church are answered. This situation is incredible - God is in the business of doing the impossible. Matthew 19:26 sums up the event. God does the impossible for Peter. Again, if the LORD calls us to do something, He will provide the way. He shows that once more to Peter (and us.)

12:11 - Here is a man, Peter, who has seen truly breath taking events occur at the hands of Jesus Christ and His Father, but Peter still found it difficult (at first) to believe his own eyes. Peter truly thought that he was experiencing a vision of what, in all actuality, was his reality. The lesson I learned from this: God is beyond all I can comprehend and can do absolutely anything He wishes for those He finds favor upon. Blows my mind.

12:12 - Remember the thought you left on the forefront of your mind? Open the trunk and grab said thought. It's important to notice that the Church began praying for Peter when Herod arrested him and they did not stop until they saw an action take place from the LORD. They wouldn't stop until the LORD provided - let it be Peter's demise or his freedom. We need that prayer life. We need to stay faithful with who or what the LORD has called for us to pray. We don't always know why He commands for us to act but He knows, and more often then not, He will make it evident in His perfect timing.

12:13-15 - Peter comes to the house of Mary, the mother of John, and Rhoda (awesome name) comes to answer the door. When Rhoda hears that it's Peter at the door, she runs back to the others in such an excitement that she forgets to let Peter in. I want that excitement. The others who are praying respond with, "You're out of you mind." I want people to think that we are crazy, out of our minds with what Jesus asks us to do. I want us to be considered crazy for serving Jesus - doing what others and the world find ridiculous. It's then that the LORD has us in His palms, that we find comfort only in Him, and then that we are dangerous. We as Christians today care too much about what society thinks of us and not what Jesus thinks of us. When in reality, its only Jesus' thoughts that count and matter. I guarantee you, He will never find you crazy, but He will ask you to do the world's idea of ridiculous. But, then its a question of who we serve - the world or the Almighty God. (This passage has helped me when ppl call me crazy when it comes to what Jesus has called me to do - not with the craziness that actually is me.)

12:16 & 17 - The Church who had been praying for God's deliverance for Peter, were astonished. They had no idea how God would act. Verse 17 expresses that Peter didn't need the LORD to tell him to get out of Dodge, he just got out of Dodge. Sometimes we don't need the LORD to tell us His will for us. Sometimes it's obvious.

12:18 & 19 - Herod cross examines the guards that were holding Peter. I'm sure their interviews went like this: "Dude, I have no idea what happened. There was a light and then he was gone. The door unlocked on its own and Peter was gone..." Sound crazy, huh? Acts of God often cannot be explained and thus, sound crazy. But Herod wanted none of it, so he executed the soldiers. Herod was lost. He had miracles of God's Son all around him and never accepted Him. The story of Herod is sad, but what's even more depressing is that there are people just like him today. They're our roommates, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. Reach them.

12:19-23 - Herod is struck dead for allowing the people to call him a god. The LORD killed not only the men holding Peter in prison, but the man who had the power to send Peter there. The LORD guided and provided for Peter; also for anyone else Herod planned on persecuting. God is a jealous God. He will not accept anyone proclaiming falsities about Him or anyone persecuting His people. If we are His, He will shepherd us. A struggle I have dealt with before and some of you may go through, is that of being a false prophet. It's a tool of Satan to use against us. Know this, the LORD doesn't take false teachings lightly. Meaning, He would deal with us if we were falsely teaching about His word and His Son, Christ Jesus.

12:24 & 25 - Herod died. All through history the people, or groups who oppose Jesus Christ have all died, or been destroyed. BUT the Truth and the Way and the Life has continued to grow and get stronger, even today! The Church, Christ's Bride, hasn't ended, hasn't died, hasn't gone anywhere, and by the Grace of God it will never cease. That's the power of Christ and the Truth He is. Enough said.

Next week will be Acts 13 & 14! Great stuff.

Thursday Night Bible Study (1): Acts 11

2009-05-29T08:36:00.004-04:00

Here’s the deal, about a month ago on a Thursday morning the Holy Spirit commanded me to read the first two chapters of Acts. I listened to the Spirit. Straight up, Jesus rocked my world through the beginning of Acts – rocked me steady. Late that same Thursday night the Lord told me to start a Bible Study. In the past, I immediately said no, but this time I finally let Him lead me, so that I could lead others. So I began a Bible Study in Clemson, SC (where I live) at my home and we dived head first into the Book of Acts. I’m writing all of this because school let out and everyone went home, thus those who went home can receive what the Holy Spirit has laid upon me to speak (& now write).

(Last week we hit Acts 9&10 where Saul is converted on the road to Damascus and immediately begins to boldly preach about Jesus Christ. Peter heals the crippled Aeneas and brings Dorcas back to life. Peter later receives a vision from the Lord and then travels to Cornelius’, who is a Gentile, to spread the life change – the miracle – that is Jesus Christ. These chapters show that miracles are done only to bring Glory to God and to draw people closer to Jesus. Jesus is made famous in anyway God wishes.)

Acts 11

11:1-3 – Here Peter has come home, back to Jerusalem, and the news traveled quickly that he spent time with Gentiles. These brothers in Christ criticize Peter, one of their leaders, for doing something different and bold. Doing something the LORD commanded him. We will sometimes have fellow Christ followers, ones we trust and respect, criticize us for doing what the LORD has called us to do.

Yet, Peter explains the truth: 11:4-17. Peter explains his vision and his travels to Caesarea. Some thoughts that grabbed my attention during Peter’s retelling was that Peter was praying, talking with God, seeking His guidance and then God spoke to him through a vision. Simultaneously the Lord spoke to Cornelius in Caesarea to send men for Peter, to bring him back with them, and that Peter would preach news that would save them. Cornelius immediately sent the men. When the men arrive, the Spirit tells Peter to go with them - without hesitation. What is impressive, and what I seek for my life, is how quickly Peter goes – he immediately obeys even though these men were Gentiles. Both Cornelius and Peter hear the word of God, His commands, and they immediately do what He demands. They simply say "yes" to God. That's all we have to do - obey!

11:17 – Peter's argument in his defense of his actions is simple. God told him to do go, so he went. God sent His Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, the same gift He gave the circumcised believers, and the Gentiles received and believed. Peter’s response “who was I to think that I could oppose God,” is huge. Peter learned this the hard way through his time walking with Jesus, but the lesson stuck. Peter is humble and understands that God is bigger then himself, that God knows what is better, that God is God. Peter trusts the Lord. I love this about Peter and pray that for myself and for you; that we’ll always keep in mind how great God is, that He is Lord, and that He is All Knowing.

11:18 – The disciples received Peter’s words with grace and excitement because the same Holy Spirit that told Peter to act, lives inside them, and the Spirit in them celebrated. They stop rejecting and start rejoicing! God gives them a slight view of His mercy and grace. He does not judge, He does not care about race, skin color, or their past. He explains that all are equal and all can receive His gift – Jesus. God reveals that anyone has the chance to receive a forgiven life through Jesus Christ - the only action needed is surrender.

11:19-21 – Now the disciples that had fled Jerusalem after Stephen’s death had began to speak only to Jews, but there were some who were in Antioch whom began to preach to the Gentiles. This passage doesn’t say that Peter instructed the disciples that the LORD said to preach to the Gentiles. I think that the Lord came, or spoke to these disciples and told them to preach the news of Jesus to the Gentiles – just as He did to Peter. That is strictly my opinion. But the Lord was with them in Antioch and many people came to know Jesus. That leads me to believe that the LORD had nudged His disciples to speak to the Greeks as well as the Jews; to speak to all people.

11:22-24 – Once Barnabas arrived in Antioch, it was obvious to him that the LORD’s grace was on the place. I want that for every church in the world. Why shouldn’t every church be that way? Why shouldn’t God’s hand be evident over all churches? But when Barnabas experienced the LORD’s presence there, he encouraged the people to remain true to the LORD. Barnabas understood that the new believers had just begun their journey with Jesus. He knew there would be many battles, trials, and tribulations along their way, but he also knew that trust in Jesus would get them through the tough times. The church of Antioch grew even more in numbers after Barnabas arrived and the LORD did great work through him, for more people received Jesus.

11:25&26 – After some time, Barnabas went to Tarsus for Saul. The same Saul who Barnabas befriended when Saul came to Jerusalem and preached boldly for Jesus. Barnabas brings Saul back to Antioch where they bring the message of Jesus and build disciples through the church. That is how disciples are made – through Christ, through the church, through more knowledgeable teachers with individuals seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. All out of love for and from Jesus. Its interesting that v26 calls them disciples and not just believers. That simple distinction expresses the vast transformation and growth taking place after the people of Antioch received Jesus.

11:27-30 – Other disciples came to Antioch and one of them, Agabus, had the Spirit speak through him predicting famine to come on the land. Prophesy is an amazing spiritual gift that still occurs to this day, but people become uncomfortable hearing. However, famine did come over Judea and the disciples at Antioch helped in everyway the LORD gifted them. The church took care of the people – all people. We need that today. We need the church to take care of believers and non-believers alike. We need to be Jesus and serve everyone.

Acts 12 will be posted tomorrow morning! I pray that the Holy Spirit has used Acts 11 to speak to us and that we allow Christ to be bold in us as we act - as we live this out today.

The Vintage of Jesus (3rd time around)

2009-05-25T13:13:00.005-04:00

Let’s do this.

“These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
Matthew 10: 5-10

The Twelve Disciples were sent out by Jesus with instructions. Don't miss that. Jesus instructed His disciples on how to carry themselves and what to say. Jesus told his disciples to go out through Israel serving Him and making His name famous.

Why Israel? Let's be real... this is definitely a Sunday school answer, but it holds truth: Israel is God's chosen people. The Old Testament expresses this many times through God's many covenants with the Israelites. It is no coincidence, well nothing is, but in this situation I mean that Jesus has come to fulfill the prophecy spoken in the Old Testament. Basically, the entire OT was written in preparation for Him. And it bothered Jesus that God's Chosen People had lost souls - wayward sons and daughters. Thus it makes sense for Jesus to send His disciples first through Israel, and later all nations (check it).

Instructing the disciples to go along preaching that Heaven is near while performing miracles is intense. I mean, who wouldn't believe I guy when he heals you of some horrible STD or the Whooping Cough, and then proclaimed Heaven was near. Never been there, but I've heard they suck, which I'm (accurately) guessing this would be an incredibly powerful experience. In all seriousness, I can't get over how awesome it is that the disciples were able to drive out demons, heal sickness, and raise people from the flippin' dead by the power of Jesus' name. However, don't get lost in the miraculous, get lost in the Man, Christ Jesus who provides power and where the miracles point. It fires me up because I believe that can happen today. I believe Jesus would do anything to make His name famous. That God would move mountains to save one soul. I also believe that a lot of us are too small minded for such awe-inspiring miracles to take place in our lives. Jesus is clear in verse 8, He will do anything to reach the lost. That's bold, but that's Jesus.

"Freely you have received, freely give!"

These 6 words blow me away. We should serve Jesus and others, especially non-Christians, with this attitude. Freely do whatever it takes to make Jesus real and famous to everyone, and anyone. For we have done nothing to deserve the gift of Jesus being tortured and dying on a cross for our sins - He did it freely. We are to speak of Him and His gift as we received it - freely.

Which leads me to verses 9 & 10.

Jesus commanding the disciples to go out to preach His Name with nothing but themselves and His name, is perfect; hence, why its from Jesus. By taking nothing, the disciples had to rely completely on God for whatever they were given. The Twelve had to rely on Jesus and the Father for the simplicities of life. The disciples grew closer to God while preaching about His Son. That, by leading, they grew closer to the Father. There is no doubt that their faith in Christ and the Father grew tenfold, for they were taken care of while they traveled speaking truth and working His miracles!

However, I feel Jesus had something completely different in mind - you know, a 1 2 punch.

Jesus commands the disciples to travel Israel preaching, healing, and performing miracles in His name without any possessions. The Israelites whom the Twelve would heal, cast out demons, or simply speak to, would have to notice that these men had no belongings. They had to notice that these men were relying completely on God and His son, Jesus, to supply their needs. You know the saying, "Actions speak louder then words?" I have no doubt that some of the Israelites would have missed the Truth of Jesus preached by the Twelve, some would even miss the Truth in the miracles done by the simple uttering of Jesus' name, but to look at the actions, lives of the Twelve, to see the work of God through them, and to see how God provided for their needs, would be a greater testimony. There is no doubt that those three characteristics of the Twelve's journey through Israel brought the Truth that is Jesus to many Israelites. No doubt that Jesus knew the Twelve would not only speak and do His will, but also be a living testimony for the people of Israel. That's rockin'. I mean, that is perfection. What knocks my socks off is that's only a glimpse of Jesus' perfection.

The Lord has challenged me with this and I want to make the same challenge to you: Be that. Be the living example. Be the living light of Jesus to the world - no matter how hard, difficult, & impossible it may be. There's no doubt He will work through you! That work may be miracles, healings, or speaking to someone about His Son Christ Jesus. Nevertheless, it's all work for Christ Jesus, no matter how big or small we think the task may be.

Jesus says in verse 10 "for the worker is worth his keep." Be worth the keep.

As Rob & Big say, "Do work," but make it the work of the Lord.

Guess Who's Back...

2009-05-05T19:36:00.002-04:00

"So its been a long time... since I left you, without a dope beat to step to, step to...." ok, I'm not thug, so I'll stop 'rapping.'

I've been slack. I stopped posting just as I started the blog series, Matthew 10: The Vintage of Jesus. (which I will be starting again soon)

I will dive into the reason causing my absence within the next week or so. Along with being busy with school and my internship, God called me to do something incredible - in awe of Him and in great difficulty. Like I said, more detail are to follow shortly.

But, I'm back. I'm back with more stories on how Jesus has rocked me. I'll be more frequent, so stop by, dibble or dabble, leave your story, express your thoughts, tell your tale. More importantly, its my prayer that you experience Jesus and be Him to other people.

Peace out, A town down.

The Vintage of Jesus (kickin' it a 2nd time)

2009-03-05T21:59:00.002-05:00

Matthew 10, verses 2 - 4 are more then a basic list of Jesus' disciples. We can find comfort and encouragement here as well.

Check it:

"These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."

Matthew 10: 2-4

These men that Jesus has chosen aren't remarkable. The disciples aren't superstars. They are simple, normal, and average men. But, what people miss all too often is this, that the disciples had one thing going for them. They had faith, they sought after Jesus, and they were willing to follow Him. They were indeed men, so their faith would hinder, their seeking Jesus would fade, and their willingness would transform into weariness and denial. However, by God's grace they would follow Jesus until their death and into eternity with Him.

We all have these faults. We all doubt from time to time if we are truly doing what the Holy Spirit asks of us. We all will loose faith in Him at least once. We can't help it - we are mere humans.

But God knows that already, just as Jesus knew the disciples and their faults. Jesus knew Peter would deny Him three times the night of His arrest, but He also knew that Peter would be the ROCK of Jesus' Church. Jesus knew Thomas would have a strong faith, but would first doubt His resurrection. Jesus knew that Matthew was a tax collector. He knew that Matthew cheated people like most tax collectors did, and knew his love of money. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him to His death. He knew Judas would love Him, follow Him, but that one day, Satan would wrap Judas in greed and jealousy causing him to betray Jesus to His death. Jesus knew these men had faults - He knew they were sinners.

But, Jesus chose them anyway.

Jesus doesn't call for us to be perfect, pure, or unblemished because He was for us.

Jesus calls for us to come and follow Him. He knows we will stumble. He knows at times we will fade. But He'll be there to lift us and to be our light.

We just need to be willing to follow Him.

Matthew 10: The Vintage of Jesus

2009-03-04T17:14:00.008-05:00

This is the beginning of my first blog series. A series entitled, The Vintage of Jesus. Simply meaning, in Matthew 10, we find vintage Jesus. We witness how select, superior, timeless, ageless, and pure Jesus is. We witness Jesus selecting and guiding His disciples, and hopefully ourselves. Vintage, for this is the first time Jesus sends out His disciples and instructs them accordingly - they are His vintage. Vintage of Jesus - He speaks pure and timeless commands.

Simply put, its how the Holy Spirit has spoken to me recently and asked me to share.

Earlier this week I read Matthew 10 and I haven't stopped since. Its so rich. I've read it multiple times and the Holy Spirit has rocked me ten fold. I plan on covering a few verses at a time; basically, where and what the Holy Spirit has spoken to me.

So lets go.

"He (Jesus) called his Twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."

Matthew 10: 1-4

Let me tackle this verse, first and foremost, as a whole.

The fact that Jesus gave His disciples the power to drive out demons, disease, and sickness- in His name - is incredible. I feel people today loose grip with the heart of this verse. Jesus gave ordinary people the power, but only through Himself, to cast away supernatural and physical evil. We should never get tired of hearing that, nor should we think that it could only happen during Jesus' time. The Bible is God's living Word - its not dead, so we shouldn't treat it that way.

Moving on to the details that are just straight mind blowing.

"He called his twelve disciples to him..."
The twelve had to come to Jesus before they did anything. The twelve had to walk in a relationship with Him before they saw the blessings from Jesus, or before they could do His work. Today, that's reading His Word; that's praying and talking with Him; that's serving His Bride, the church; that's seeking Jesus. Its not just coming to church on Sunday or praying selfish prayers or only walking with Him while the walk is calm, but truly seeking Him. Its extremely tough, but so was Him dieing on the cross for us. I struggled with this for years, but by His grace and power I don't any longer. Its gut-check time. Don't be a pansy. Pansies are a waste of precious life.

"and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."
There are two things that hit me with part B of verse 1.

Jesus gave the men who followed Him authority to cast out evil, to cast out disease, and to cast out sickness. That's nuts. When this stuff is on t.v. today, we just chop it up as nonsense, but its real. Jesus can give us the power to do such acts, but only to glorify His name. So that leads back to part A, where our hearts have to be right and on Him; or in Him.

2. The words authority, drive, heal, and every really grabbed my attention.

2a. The word authority is awesome and inspiring. Authority to do Jesus' work. Authority over evil. Authority over the natural and supernatural.

2b. Drive and Heal express proaction. Jesus commands us to not sit in idle, but to act. How important. Honestly, drive is the expression of something being removed by force, and that simply shows the power of Jesus in us. This shows that our capabilities in seeking to make His Kingdom famous are unparallel because of Jesus.

2c. Also, every, is quite remarkable. It still baffles me that Jesus has the control of everything. I'm not sure why, but my mind just doesn't comprehend it - my mind accepts it, but comprehension is lacking. I guess the word awe better describes my lack of comprehension, or, maybe a blend of the two. Nonetheless every disease, every illness would, and will tremble to His very name. That is remarkable. That is awe-inspiring.

Matthew 10:1 is Jesus. Its Jesus through and through. We first need, or should want, should love, and be thankful for the opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus. A relationship with Him is a gift from God so we may know Him better. God does not push Him upon us, but we should rip open the gift and enjoy Him continuously. With that continuous praise and walk, He can and will do the impossible through us.

How incredible is that? yes, that's rhetorical. The possibilities with Jesus are endless. Lets seek Him. Lets tap into that live wire that is Jesus, so He can grow His Kingdom and bless us with His presence.

That Dead Dog

2009-02-28T21:34:00.007-05:00

A few weeks ago, I did something I had never done.

I killed a dog.

I was driving to class from Anderson and for once I was driving the speed limit. That is simply because I had a test waiting for me when I arrived to campus and I hadn't studied much. There's this stretch of road on the way back to Clemson that has three quick blind turns. I, still driving the speed limit, make it through the first two turns, but on the third I nail this poor dog. You see, the owner of the dog had brought the dog to the dump, like she had many other times, but this time was different, obviously. This time, the adventure seeking pup had jumped out of the owner's car, leaping and bonding for fun across the highway.

The little dude didn't even see me coming.

I couldn't steer the car out of the way, and the little guy couldn't make up his mind which side of the road he wanted to lift his back leg on. The end result was me plowing into this poor little dog while his owner just watched in disbelief. I immediately pulled over and rushed back to the poor animal. But he was dead upon impact.

Now, I realize this is a dog. A small animal. Pointless really, in the grand scheme of life. But, I felt horrible about killing him. What bothered me wasn't the fact that I had never killed an animal or seen blood that deep shade of red before, nor in that quantity. What bothered me was picking up this lifeless animal, who seconds prior had been filled with life, and having to place him in his owner's car. What bothered me was the owner telling me she had to go home and tell her three young children that their first pet had been hit by a car. What bothered me, were her tears, her grief, and the hurt her children would feel later that evening with their first experience of death. What bothered me was life being taken.

The dog owner was very kind and understanding. She didn't blame me. She didn't utter one harsh word to me. She and I both knew that it wasn't my fault. That the dog made a few bad decisions, jumped out of a moving car into traffic, and couldn't decide what side of the street he wanted to be on.

Jesus spoke to me as soon as I got back into my car.

How many of us are like this dog? How many of us can't figure out what side of Jesus Street to play on - with Him or without Him?

The Holy Spirit moved me quickly to the thought of how precious life is. Yes, it was just a dog, but are we not like him? We act without thinking and we do so in much more serious situations. We think of life as a constant - a continuum that will be there tomorrow. We honestly take life for granted. We could easily be living life one moment and suddenly, in a split second's time, be lifeless, dead, gone. If that were you, if you were suddenly struck down and death took hold of you, what would happen? Would your soul do whatever souls do when they lift to Heaven, or would it dive down to Hell? Do you even believe in a Heaven or Hell? Do you place your trust in God, His Son, His mercy, forgiveness, and freedom?

Or do you believe all to be zealotry acts? That life is meaningless. That life, though precious, has no purpose, nothing at the end of the tunnel. Simply, that the life you live is as good as it gets and that you are in complete control.

We could agree on one thing, that people are bad, do horrible deeds, make harmful decisions, and are selfish. Some people call this sin, but others may call it human nature. I would call it both.

Something we need to realize about sin and imperfection in our lives is that Sin must be paid for. Either we accept God and His son's gift, that Jesus has already died for our imperfection - for our lies, our gossip, our porn addictions, our lustful thoughts, our murderous deeds, our thievery, our unbelief our deceit. OR we deny Jesus, we ignore Him beating at our hearts, and we pay for our own sin by going to Hell, for eternity.

Its that simple. Its that cut-n-dry.

I read these verses a few hours before I struck the small naive dog.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18

We are always going to be like that dog. We are always going to make stupid and harmful decisions. We are always going to sin. We will always have naivety, while under the misconception that we know everything. Again, we are always going to sin, it's our nature. However, the one decision and confession that we can make is that of Jesus being the ruler of life. But not just life as a whole, but our individual lives. Accepting that He died for us; that He died for our - for my, for your - sins. But Jesus didn't just die for us. Three days later He rose, conquering death, and He now reigns continuously.

At one point or another, we are going to be that dog. We are going to die. It may come slowly with age or disease, giving us plenty of time to allow a patiently waiting Jesus into our lives. Or death may come suddenly quick with no hint or expectation. Either way sin is paid for.

Do you know what will happen to you when death arrives at your side and creeps in to your body?

Don't be that dead dog. Allow the patient and all-knowing Jesus in. He's ready, He's waiting, and He's willing.

Are you? Are you willing?

Are you willing to open up and receive the best gift available to you. It's honestly difficult to express the weight and power of living life with Jesus, and that's because life with Him is ever changing. Its an experience that can't be put into words. It's just that, an experience. An experience one would feel if we could be a sunrise. Bright and dark colors alike, faded together to make a completely beautiful experience that everyone can see. The light overpowering the dark in an astonishing way.

Life and death are universal. Both are going to take place. We can't control life any better then we can control death. We can, however, control some actions, some decisions. We can choose to let Jesus, the ruler over life and death, into our lives where He can mold us and shape us into our greatest potential.

Or, we could choose to be that dead dog, wondering aimlessly after every emotional whim.

1 Timothy 4 = Ministry 101

2009-02-06T14:55:00.003-05:00

Like I've stated a few times, I've been reading the New Testament. Well, what I do, is as I read, I take notes on how the Holy Spirit speaks to me. This morning I woke up and began to look back through some of my notes. I hit 1st Timothy chapter 4 and stopped. Beside it, I wrote Ministry 101. I had made plans to write a mini blog series on chapter four and how the Holy Spirit moved me through it.

But I can't.

You see, yesterday, a good friend of mine told me to go to www.desiringgod.com and look up Matt Chandler's sermon video entitled "A Shepherd and His Unregenerate Sheep." So this morning, after reading in Hebrews, I did just that. I watched the video. I didn't just watch it, but I studied it. I paused it and wrote 9 pages of notes while going through it. Chandler's message is geared toward pastors, but every God seeking man and woman can be stretched through his words. Chandler's message is on the exact passage I was going to write about, but I can't. He does it better then I could dream.

So here it is. Watch it. Take notes on it. Let the words sink to your soul. Let the Holy Spirit do work in you while you watch and listen. I can't even begin to tell you how meaningful this message is to me. The Holy Spirit gave it to me right when I needed it and for that I am so thankful.

And here's the video notes to go along with it.
"A Shepherd and His Unregenerate Sheep" Notes

Pain & Loss

2009-02-03T20:38:00.005-05:00

Pain.
We all feel it at one point or another.
We see it in others.
We hear about others experiencing it.
The Holy Spirit speaks to us and tells us about people dealing with it.
We even cause it in others.

Loss.
Can be caused by pain & it can cause pain.
We can lose a friend over an argument.
We can lose a family member to death.
We can lose faith, lose a job, lose a competition, lose love.
We can lose anything and everything.

The bottom line is that Pain and Loss go hand in hand.

What do we do with pain? How do we cope with loss? How can we deal with such strong emotions? Why does God allow such hurtful circumstances to consume us and cripple us to our knees?

I honestly never had an answer to this question until a few weeks ago. I never really comprehended why God allows pain and loss in our lives until I saw it first hand from a friend. A friend who God is healing from pain. A situation that is horrible, but a person that Jesus is healing and using to spread His own name to others. Lives of others are being changed and relationships with Jesus are made stronger through my friend's situation. Jesus is being glorified through my friends pain and healing. The Holy Spirit brought this to my attention through my friend last month and on the same day I read Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 starting with verse 12 (yes click there) is about Paul being in prison for preaching the word of Christ Jesus. That Paul was in chains, in pain, and lost his freedom. Paul could be in a dark place spiritually, blaming God and Jesus for his pain and loss. But he doesn't. Paul realizes and teaches us that Jesus has put him in chains for a reason.

Jesus has put us in pain and put us through loss for a specific reason.

That reason is to spread and proclaim the name of Jesus. To trust him completely. I learned through Philippians 1:12-30 that Jesus places us in every situation to mold us into Godly people. Jesus allows pain and lose to enter our lives so that people around us can see Him at his core - healing us while in pain. Pain and loss are allowed into our lives so that we can glorify Jesus through every situation. This passage helped me to realize that Hell is worse than whatever pain and loss we experience in life. And as long as we aren't in Hell, we are shown the grace and glory of Jesus Christ.

Now, for me, knowing that I can glorify Jesus in my pain and loss doesn't simply make me feel better, or cause the pain to cease. The Holy Spirit explained to me that the Lord has placed us in every situation so that He may mold us into the Godly individuals He knows we'll become, so that Jesus will be proclaimed and glorified, and that we will trust Him each step (big, small, hard, easy) of the way.

Pain is hard. Pain is dark and hurtful. Pain can lead to loss. Loss can cause doubt, fear, and anger.

Jesus is bigger then pain. Jesus is the regain to our loss - He will seize our loss and blossom it into His glory. We've got to have faith in Him. We've got to trust in Him. We've got to seek Him.

Trust Him. Let Jesus do what we can't see. Explain the loss and pain to Him - talk to Him like a friend.

Let Him heal you.

A Plastic Bag & 65 mph Car

2009-02-02T21:41:00.004-05:00

Have you ever hit something, not someone, but an object with your car?

About two weeks ago I was driving home from Anderson on a wonderful sunset lit evening. Of course, me being me, I was speeding home. On this particular evening the wind was howling and blowing heavily against my car. I sped down the winding road and then quickly climbed the paved countryside. As I drove, my eye caught a white object flying through the wind - a white grocery bag. The plastic bag landed directly in the path of my car, and I pressed harshly on the gas to accelerate into it. The plastic bag disappeared under my car as I raced over it. Milliseconds later the plastic bag shot out from under my car and I watched through my rear-view mirror as the bag stayed in the cars slipstream. The bag delayed there for a moment, hovering, safe from the wind. But suddenly the wind grasped the bag from it's momentary haven and rushed it off in every other direction.

The Holy Spirit touched my heart as I continued home.

I am that bag. You are that bag. Jesus Christ is that car.

It's a weird thought at first - welcome to my mind - but let's unpack it a bit. We are individuals who without focusing on Jesus are wandering through life catching the hippest (or easiest) wind. By not living for Jesus we are simply chasing selfish desires that change more frequent then the directions of the wind - a wind that momentarily pleases us, but we grow tired of the flow, so we jump ship to another. We grow restless and become controlled by the wind itself.

That is until Jesus comes speeding down the road at us and rocks our world. Where He crashes into us, giving us a safe haven - guiding us from the wind, from ourselves. While under the car driven by Jesus we get charged, gain momentum, and find safety in His slipstream which prepares us to take on the wind that we are later thrown into. We carry His force with us as we travel through the wind, changed by the velocity and power He transferred to us.

Its this momentary hit by Jesus that gives a safe haven. This hit that we should seek after daily. Not because it makes us safe, but because the force that Jesus produces carries us and works through us, spreading to other "plastic bags." This force that we spread is Jesus Himself and His love and His sacrifice for our sin.

The spreading of Jesus Christ is alive in America today. Maybe not completely, but it's my prayer that one day it will be. That one day America as a whole will realize we are all just simple plastic bags floating in the wind, but only Jesus can steady us, prepare us, and guide us to live. Its already started here in Anderson. On January 11th (yes that exact day, I won't ever forget it) NewSpring Church had 258 people sitting in it's lobby for church. It was a packed house with literally no open seat - believe me I looked for all of them. Jesus blew me away on January 11th - He hit me with His force. The best thing is, a packed out church only occurs by the hands, feet, and mouths of the Body. The members tell others - their friends, their coworkers. Volunteers use their skills to serve the church and most importantly, Jesus.

Jesus can use the hands and feet of a "plastic bag" willing to get hit. A person willing to give their life to Christ, allowing His force to power through and overflow out of themselves.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you."
2 Corinthians 9:12-14

Let Him hit you. Let Him guide you. Serve others for that is how we serve Him. Spread the force in your life that is Jesus Christ. Seek and pray that its not a momentary hit from Jesus, but an empowering overflow of the Holy Spirit into us.

A Humbled Servant

2009-01-21T20:52:00.002-05:00

I was sitting in my Philosophy of Art class last week and this thought struck me in mid day-dream.

What makes God happy?

I think I found one of many answers to my pondering day-dream.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a
man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death -
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the
highest place
and gave him the name that is above
every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow,
in heave and on earth and under
the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."

To pursue our lives to be as Jesus lived is to make God happy. To become a humbled servant to Him, through pain, happiness, even death. He is over joyed when we give praise and seek a relationship with Him.

Live as Jesus did. Humble ourselves to be servants for the Lord. For when we serve, He blesses us through our service.

Man vs. Spirit

2009-01-16T09:40:00.002-05:00

I hit this passage at the most optimal time. The Holy Spirit really gave me comfort through this passage and I feel I should share it.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

While running from God (beginning with a slow jog my sophomore year in high school, building up to a sprint through my sophomore/junior years here at Clemson, until my dead stop and 180 degree turn this past summer) I felt an intense spiritual battle going on around me. I have been saved since I was eight years old, but hardly ever had I pursued the Lord with passion and love. During my "run" from God I began to doubt. I began to doubt that He cared about me.

Why?

Because I could never hear His voice. I was so jealous of Moses, for God came to him so many times, in so many awe inspiring, and tangible ways. I wanted that. I wanted to know God that well - to see His greatness. For Him to speak to me.

But I never took the time to truly and passionately seek Jesus.

I never desired to read His Word - I just did it on a whim or when it felt right. I would read the Bible for a month straight, but then not touch it for three - except on Sundays.

I would put all these earthly and pointless obsessions in front of a Jealous God. That is, until He started to slowly strip them away from me, causing me to almost hit rock bottom. And as He stripped me away of talents and worldly joys, Satan planted seeds of doubt in my mind. Seeds of doubt that blossomed into more sin and more spiritual warfare. Causing me to stir, run cowardly from God's calling, and distrust God who I thought stopped talking to me. Who I thought left me. But, oddly enough, at the same time, I felt Him in me. Him trying to pull me out of the darkness that Satan and I brought myself into, and toward the light that was (and is) Jesus. Nevertheless, His longing felt faint and I interpreted that as Him not caring, or not trying to communicate with me.

When the truth is I stopped seeking Him. I stopped wanting a deep and meaningful relationship with Him. Why? Because it was easier to run then it was to follow Him. Because I could make my own rules, full well knowing that I was disobeying Him. Because following God is hard, it's not just a one day thing but a lifestyle, it's frightening, and straight up overwhelming. Following God is a daily commitment and a daily giving of your life to Him. That was something I just couldn't do. I couldn't daily live my life for God because I thought He had disappeared, moved on to someone else, & I thought that I wasn't important enough to hear the Lord.

How screwed up was I?

Let me be real. I have learned since June 3rd that if you want a relationship with God, you have to seek Him. It's a two way street just like every relationship we have. God always speaks to us, through the good and bad - through the running and the praising. The problem is, when we run, specifically, when I ran from God, He was speaking -I just couldn't hear Him. My eyes and ears where on the world around me - seldom on Him. I would justify my waywardness by using His gifts, but I was never passionate about spreading Jesus.

I was a selfish Christian. Jesus was for me. He saved me. I accepted that but never wanted to give back. I thought "people will see by my example," which was my dumb excuse for being lazy toward the Kingdom of God, my way of hiding from tough talks about Jesus, and my way of hiding from God. People do learn by example, but that example must have a right heart. My heart wasn't right. My heart wasn't on Jesus, but serving the world around me.

Now earlier when I said spiritual warfare, I spoke of this battle between Satan - his demons, all of Hell - and Jesus - his angels, all of Heaven. Now that's on a grand scale, and I'm sure individuals see and struggle in that spiritual war. The battle that took place in and around me is that of the man, Seth vs. the Holy Spirit. As I said, I didn't want to die daily of the man, the dreams, the worldly gifts and pleasures. There was this inner battle between me and the Holy Spirit, and the man was winning. It was sad. It felt wrong. But it was easy.

Seeking Jesus and a relationship is daily dieing to ourselves. Winning this spiritual battle within ourselves so that we may charge Hell with a Super Soaker SC (that's the one with the water pack on the back!). Daily laying down our lives for Christ so that He could use us to expand His Kingdom. Waking up, winning the battle, and praying "Yes Lord" before we even know the question.

This is something we all struggle with - I do daily. Some of us admit it. Some of us don't. Some don't feel it because the Deceiver either already has you where I was or you aren't doing anything to grow the Kingdom of God, so why should he bother. But the battle is there, its real, and its dangerous.

Who do you die for? Yourself, your dreams, the world, OR Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Truth?

* I wrote this on Sunday, but didn't feel right publishing it. Last night in my time with God, I realized why He didn't want me too. Check it:

"So, I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desire what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law."
Galatians 5: 16-18

Check the rest of chapter 5 to see what the "acts of the sinful nature are" and the "fruits of the Spirit."

Me: More Money, More Problems. GOD: Problems?

2009-01-13T17:02:00.006-05:00

As I've said before, I am a college student at Clemson University. Actually a financially poor college student. I pay for my lovely schooling partially through scholarships, but mainly through student loans. Student loans that I used to freak out about. I mean, these loans never come in on time. I could apply for the loan two months in advance of due payment and the loan would always get here late - causing me a headache(s) and more trouble.

Well, this semester was different. It was worse then ever before. I applied for my private loan in plenty of time to receive it before the payment deadline, but the downward spiral we call this economic recession posed a problem. Instead of the money coming straight to me and my bank account. The money was going straight to Clemson University. Simple enough right? wrong. This meant that Chase (the loan provider) had to get in contact with Clemson's financial aid office - which seemed to never be open - and they had to verify that I needed the money. Then Clemson had to send some documents back to Chase saying I could stand on my head and pat my stomach, or saying some kind of information that the financial aid office wouldn't disclose to me. Needless to say, January 7th was approaching fast and I had no money for tuition, books, rent, etc.

Actually, January 6th came charging and I couldn't track down where this said documentation was. For all I know it was stuck either in the US Postal Service or cyberspace. I called constantly, to the point where the financial aid office had my number on speed dial, but nothing. They had no idea what was going on with my loan documents, but they did know that if I didn't pay them by January 8th, I would be unregistered from all my classes - meaning I wouldn't be a Clemson student. This is a very hard thing for a first semester senior to hear (I lost about two handfuls of credits when I transferred to Tigertown).

Normally, all this frantic chaos with my loan would drive me certifiably insane for a week or two. In the past, it actually had. I would be a nervous wreck trying to control the uncontrollable. I would let the money take hold. I would stress out, get grumpy, and throw ridiculous (selfish) prayers at God for help.

However, this time was different.

For the first time in my entire life I put God to the test with my finances. I actually trusted Him with my money. You might be saying that is super easy since I didn't have the money yet. Good point, but let me explain a little further.

Coming back from Christmas break I had $132. Now I had bills, gas (which I go through a tank a week at $30 a pop), food (now I can eat!), tuition, books, and what if something breaks? Point is this money is supposed to last for a month or a month & half. Upon coming back to Clemson and NewSpring Church on Sunday January 4th I felt God pull at my heart to tithe fifteen percent of the $145 I received for Christmas. I was reluctant, but folded, finally putting God in my wallet.

In return, GOD has rocked my wallet.

My loan documents were snatched out of cyberspace and placed in Clemson's Financial Aid office. By January 6th at 4:30pm, not only was school paid for, four hundred dollars was placed on my student ID to buy books and groceries since the local BI-LO lets us use the ID like a debit card (its some deal through CU). The rest of my loan money will be sent to me through a check from Clemson University, enabling me to pay rent and utilities. The Lord also paved a way for $180 to come into my hands within the next few days, meaning gas and other expenses can be paid until my first paycheck comes. My mom even emailed me telling me that she got a notice in the mail from Chase saying that my loan wouldn't be dispersed until January 26th, but by the grace of God I've already received it. Now, all this is more then enough - more then I prayed for.
In the past I have given 10 % of my paychecks and other money that I've earned. But it wasn't until January 4th that I gave tithe on gifts and when money was super tight. It was the first time I gave to God when I would feel the pinch - when I would miss the money. In return, He rocked me. He gave me more than I expected, more then I need, and more then I asked Him for.

I love that.
I love when God shows His power.
He is so good to me and I am so thankful.

I can't help but wonder what else I keep from God's power - where else in my life can He rock me, but I get in the way?

My Date

2009-01-09T12:14:00.003-05:00

So, I have been single for about a year now after being in a long relationship. Family and Friends constantly ask the infamous question single people get, "Is there anyone special in your life?" or "Are you seriously dating anyone?" Either these questions are asked or some type of hybrid. These questions are quite harmless really, but can be troublesome when asked weekly.

I've got a solution.

The Holy Spirit gave me His solution while I was driving - ok, probably speeding - the 20 minute drive to NewSpring's Anderson campus. The drive usually consists of me jamming to some music from my ipod or radio, and talking with the Lord. This particular morning I was jamming to some Lenny Kravitz from my ipod and talking to the Lord about whatever came to mind. What came to mind was the question of dating. Am I weird for not having a serious relationship? No. Should I seek out trying to date seriously? Not right now. Do I get lonely sometimes from not having someone I can always call who knows what I like and dislike? Yes. As I was driving and pondering these questions with the Lord, the song " I Belong to You" (by Kravitz) came through the speakers.

Here's a taste of it:

"You are the flame in my heart
You light my way in the dark
You are the ultimate star

You lift me from up above
Your unconditional love
Takes me to paradise

I belong to you
And you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet

You make me feel so divine
Your soul and mind are entwined
Before you I was blind

But since I've opened my eyes
And with you there's no disguise
So I could open up my mind

I always loved you from the start
But I could not figure out
That I had to do it everyday

So I put away the fight
Now I'm gonna live my life
Giving you the most in every way

I belong to you
And you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet"

Whether Lenny Kravitz meant it or not, this song screams Jesus to me. The Holy Spirit opened my mind to these lyrics, what they were saying, and spoke to me through them. As I was singing them (badly, mind you) the Holy Spirit said,

"This is me and you. This is what we should have. This is your story. Know me like a lover. You should sing this to me, then a woman."

So I sang it to Him.

I had always been uncomfortable with that, knowing the Lord like a lover. Anytime someone said it, it made me feel funny. BUT my eyes have been opened. After starting "The Shack" (its a book, you should read it.) my mind has been opened to what Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are, and the different relationship it is to have with Him. At first - when I became saved - I was the kid who had a descent relationship with Jesus. Then I was the kid who spiritually ran from God, all along knowing Jesus was the Messiah, but wanting nothing to do with reading the Bible, and everything to do with arguing with Him. Now I'm seeking Jesus. Seeking a deeper relationship. Seeking intimacy with Him. Daily giving myself to Him, putting down the fight, and living for Him. I don't have it anywhere near right, that's why the Holy Spirit spoke to me in my car, and with "I Belong to You."

Fast Forward my day and press stop on me reading 1 Corinthians 13 late that night. This is icing on the cake that only Jesus and the Holy Spirit could do. If you are not aware, 1 Corinthians 13 speaks about Love. How Paul says to do anything without love is pointless. But not a love that this world would mistakenly define as love. Here's what he says:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a

Love never fails only when it has Jesus in it. I'm not saying all relationship that aren't soley with Jesus fail. For example, I can't have a girlfriend because it will fail because she's not Jesus. No, what I am saying is that I must first have an intimate relationship with Jesus, continually seeking Him, and then I would be able to date in the way God means for us to. With dating, the guy and the young lady should see and experience Jesus from the other. How could we do that without seeking Jesus and an intimate relationship with Him?

Let me make this plain and simple.

You can't.

Rock Your God Given Gift(s)

2009-01-07T08:51:00.000-05:00

I have been reading through the New Testament, you know, starting at the beginning and have currently landed in 1 Corinthians. This morning the Holy Spirit really hit me with this:

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same SPIRIT. There are different kinds of service, but the same LORD. There are different kinds of working, but the same GOD works all of them in all men (& women).

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as HE wanted them to be."

1 Corinthians 12: 18

Chapter 12 in its entirety really spoke to me today. How the Lord has placed in us our own gifts. Gifts that make us who we are. Gifts that will glorify Him. Gifts that will grow us closer to Him and what He has planned for our lives. Gifts that make us all unique. Gifts that He works through us.

That said,

Why be afraid to be different? Why try and conform to the norm? Verses 4-6 & 18 nail home the fact that Jesus, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit have it going on. God knows what He's doing. He gave each and everyone of us our own gifts so that the body (His Church, His congregation, His children) could better spread the joyous news of Jesus Christ. Thus, spreading Life Change.

His challenge for myself and for you is to not fear being different. But to have (or find) comfort and confidence in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit that lives in you.

Run toward Jesus. If you don't know already, seek, ask, beg Him to reveal your spiritual gifts. He has blessed everyone of us.

And

Don't be afraid to rock it. Rock the gift. Rock being different. Find confidence in the fact that Jesus gave you the gift full well knowing what He and you would do through it. That He is orchestrating the different gifts He's blessed us with to play some awesome symphony that we can't even begin to fathom. We only hear a portion - the baseline, rhythm, melody, or guitar riff.

He who gives the gift also holds the confidence we need to use it.

Through Jesus we can rock it.

So what are we waiting for?

Virgin Blogger

2009-01-05T17:24:00.000-05:00

The purpose of this blog is to share how Jesus works in my life, through my life, and the lives around me. Sometimes my posts will be tales of Jesus' work, others will be ideas I have, and honestly, some posts will be pointless tidbits I find hilarious. Basically, this blog will be me, how the Holy Spirit moves me, the weirdness that I am, and hopefully, over time, helpful. I will try and share the life change that Jesus has done in me through the Holy Spirit and through the people he has placed in my life.

This year is going to be big. I feel something is going to go down and I can't wait. This place will be where I (and others) can see the actions that I am anticipating the Holy Spirit to work. It will be ridiculous and weird - I can promise both.

feel free to stop by anytime. make a comment, good or bad.

wordtoyourmama.

Seth