Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Lust
Well...today (actually yesterday, but not everyone's a night owl like me) I found out that I'm going to be leading a group of Junior High boys at a Disciple Now this weekend. I have never done this, so those of you who pray, be praying for me! I'm going to need it. Satan is telling me that I can't do this, that I am not good enough to be telling these boys to avoid a temptation that I struggle with daily. I need prayer as I seek out God and trust that He will give me the words to say. I pray that they will have the strength to make a promise to God that I could not make at their age. I couldn't deny my flesh. I've struggled with it for 8 years. Even when I accepted my ring at D-Now when I was 19, I could not inwardly mean what my mouth professed. I've made my own commitments to the Father in the past month, but this one has escaped me. However, I've always been the type that I cannot ask someone else to do what I would not. So, I am making my promise to God. I'm not ashamed to admit this and make it public. I hope that those of you who know me will keep me accountable in this and admonish me when I need it. God calls us to be accountable to each other and sharpen each other. This includes letting each other hear what we need to hear, when we need to hear it. The forgiveness and the reprimands. I will keep my ring on, now, as a reminder to me of my commitment - sadly, the commitment it was meant to be from the time I received it. As I hope my young brothers will do this weekend, I promise to devote myself to purity in Christ. I will take whatever measures to run from the temptation of lust. I have made this commitment because of the position God is placing me in this weekend, the bible study I have committed to, and the (very helpful and convicting) autobiography of Clay Crosse. Clay Crosse is a Christian music artist. You might recognize his greatest hit, I Surrender All. He was at the height of his career in the late '90s when it all came crashing down. God had used many people in his life to get his attention, but Clay could not deny his flesh either. Finally, God went to the extreme and took Clay's greatest asset away. In the middle of a concert tour Clay's voice was taken away. Though he can still sing today, he has nothing that resembles the commanding voice God had given him before. It is a reminder that you cannot sit on the fence as a Christian. You cannot lead a double life. Behind the scenes Clay had become addicted to pornography. It was beginning to affect his marriage. His is a story of redeeming and restoring grace that surpasses all imagination. It affects me so much because I also struggle with lust, and I use my voice daily to praise the God who suffered the cross so that I could be forgiven of my secret sin. I pray that He changes me as radically as He changed Clay Crosse, and that verses like Matthew 5:27-30 will be imprinted on my heart. I also ask you to pray for the boys I will be teaching this weekend. Pray that their hearts are opened to a relationship with God that surpasses their knowledge, and that they can make the same commitment that has taken me so long to grasp.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Prayer Request
Hey guys! I have an urgent request. If I have any audience at all, please be praying. My aunt called me a week or so ago to tell me that her friend's 1-year-old daughter had an accident. She choked on some food and was deprived of oxygen for a dangerous amount of time. She's been in the hospital ever since, and we've all been praying for her. Some bad news was received today, though. Even though the little girl had been taken off of the machines, they were keeping her in the hospital to run tests. The test results came back today. Doctors say she is 75% brain dead. I cannot imagine what that news feels like to her parents. I am not fortunate enough to be in that stage of my life. I can't imagine there is anything harder for a parent, though. So I ask you to be praying for the parents. I know that with God we are a majority, and it is in His power to heal her if that be His will. But, we do not know the will of God. It is not for us to know at this time. What we can do is pray for everyone involved, and that this poor little girl is not suffering. We cannot despair, for there is always a purpose in everything God does. Let us consider that if this girl is not healed and God takes her, she will only be beating us to the finish line. It is a blessing to think that this child may see our Father so soon. It is not a hopeless situation, like an unsaved family member. There is at least the assurance that if she doesn't make it, her parents will see her again. So, pray for them. Pray that they rest in God during this, and that they do not despair. Let them seek out God in this most horrific trial. Please be vigilant in this. You would beg others to do the same if you were in their shoes. Thank you for your prayers. That is all.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Passion
Wow. I just got back from an amazing weekend. I went to the Passion Conference in Dallas. If you've never heard of the Passion Conference you should check it out at: www.268generation.com. It was indescribable. Louie Giglio is the speaker with such music artists as Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Kristian Stanfill, etc. It was amazing. I went last year to the one in Atlanta, GA. It was the most amazing 4 days of Christian fellowship I had experienced up to that point. Though they've switched to 2 day conferences so that they can have more in a year, I don't doubt the awesome power of God. They could have them for a month or an hour, God will still work in each person that attends. What's amazing about this conference is that it is for college students. There is a desperate need for our campuses to change. I know this first hand. I believe that God is limitless, and no matter how improbable it may seem that He can come in and change the kind of university I attend, I will not be the one standing in the way when He does. The goal of Passion is that the college students will begin their lives anew once they leave the doors of whatever auditorium they are in. Each one of us desires to be changed and let God shine through us so that everyone around us will see and desire the same. If you would like to know the schedule or listen to a podcast you can look at the website above. There is also a blog by Louie Giglio about Passion. I've added his link to my list of great blogs to the right. Check it out. God bless you all and may we see the change to come in this generation!
Perseverance
"So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharoah and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharoah said to his servants, 'Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?' Then Pharoah said to Joseph, 'Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.' (Genesis 41:37-40)
I found two incredible points in these verses that coincide. One is when Pharoah says of Joseph that he is "...a man in whom is the Spirit of God..." If you are a Christian, what kind of life are you living right now? Can others see Christ in you? Imagine the humility, sincerity, and wisdom of Joseph. Pharoah saw straight through to his heart like an open book. Have you ever even lived a day that you can say you didn't have anything to hide? You were so living for Christ that people could see straight to your soul? This is the kind of life Joseph lived in entirety. That is why he was chosen by God to become so great. The next thing I noticed was that Pharoah set Joseph in charge of the entire kingdom. He would be as powerful as Pharoah, only without the title. Wow. This young man had gone from being betrayed by his brothers and spending years in prison to becoming governor of Egypt. Joseph's story is one of the greatest testaments to God's awesome power that exists in all the bible. He took a young shepherd boy and made him into the ruler of Egypt. It seems pretty clear cut and simple when you say just that, but there was so much more involved in this story. Joseph lived his entire life in pursuit of God. Before even Christ had come to earth, Joseph was in favor in God's eyes. Imagine you were sold by your brothers into slavery. Then you were thrown in jail because you wouldn't succumb to your master's wife's seductions. Would you still be able to trust in God and persevere? I doubt most of us would have lasted beyond the last sight of our brothers. Yet, even in prison, Joseph was a servant for God. Everyone who knew him trusted him so much that they left everything under his authority. That's true perseverance. When everything in your life seems to fall apart again and again, but you still lay it at His feet and trust Him, you can say that you have persevered. It is this perseverance we must strive for in life. It is what we do as we strive to be more like Christ and wait for the coming of our Savior. If you think you've got it rough and you don't feel like God deserves your praise anymore, look at the story of Joseph. Nothing else needs to be said.
I found two incredible points in these verses that coincide. One is when Pharoah says of Joseph that he is "...a man in whom is the Spirit of God..." If you are a Christian, what kind of life are you living right now? Can others see Christ in you? Imagine the humility, sincerity, and wisdom of Joseph. Pharoah saw straight through to his heart like an open book. Have you ever even lived a day that you can say you didn't have anything to hide? You were so living for Christ that people could see straight to your soul? This is the kind of life Joseph lived in entirety. That is why he was chosen by God to become so great. The next thing I noticed was that Pharoah set Joseph in charge of the entire kingdom. He would be as powerful as Pharoah, only without the title. Wow. This young man had gone from being betrayed by his brothers and spending years in prison to becoming governor of Egypt. Joseph's story is one of the greatest testaments to God's awesome power that exists in all the bible. He took a young shepherd boy and made him into the ruler of Egypt. It seems pretty clear cut and simple when you say just that, but there was so much more involved in this story. Joseph lived his entire life in pursuit of God. Before even Christ had come to earth, Joseph was in favor in God's eyes. Imagine you were sold by your brothers into slavery. Then you were thrown in jail because you wouldn't succumb to your master's wife's seductions. Would you still be able to trust in God and persevere? I doubt most of us would have lasted beyond the last sight of our brothers. Yet, even in prison, Joseph was a servant for God. Everyone who knew him trusted him so much that they left everything under his authority. That's true perseverance. When everything in your life seems to fall apart again and again, but you still lay it at His feet and trust Him, you can say that you have persevered. It is this perseverance we must strive for in life. It is what we do as we strive to be more like Christ and wait for the coming of our Savior. If you think you've got it rough and you don't feel like God deserves your praise anymore, look at the story of Joseph. Nothing else needs to be said.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Praise Him In Every Circumstance
I'm reading this book, Lifestories, by Mark Hall, the lead singer of Casting Crowns. In it he relates an email he received from a fan of the Casting Crowns hit, Who Am I. The young man tells an incredible story of loss. Here's the email: (this is long, but trust me you want to read it)
Thursday, October 14, 2004; 8:33 PM
Mark,
I am writing this in the hopes that this note along with my little story will reach you and the rest of the band. My name is Scott Devlin and I am 23 years old, residing in Warsaw, Indiana. I recently had a special young lady in my life by the name of Jessica. Jessica was an absolute example of what it means to be in pursuit of Christ. It is because of this trait that Jessica and I were headed down the road toward marriage. You see, Jessica also loved your album, especially Your Love Is Extravagant. She would play it over and over for me, singing the words every time with such passion. A little over a month ago, I was following Jess to her house on a dark stretch of road in the midst of a thunderstorm. It was only 60 feet in front of me that Jess lost control of her car and rolled top-first into a tree. As I made my way to the car and reached inside the twisted metal, I knew instantly that Jess was already with her Lord. I spent the next 10 minutes covered in mud, in the middle of a pouring rainstorm, complete with crashing thunder and flashing lightning, holding on to the hand of a lifeless and empty body that once contained the soul of a 20-year-old girl I loved. Your Love Is Extravagant was played for 500 people at Jess's funeral, where at least three people came to know Christ the way we do. I still cannot listen to the song without tears welling up in my eyes--not because of a loss, but because I remember the passion with which she sang those words. Your song Who Am I has been the reality of this experience for me. God is still God, and He is in control of His world. He gives and He takes away. I have seen evidence of both. The purpose of this e-mail is not to tell you a story about a car accident--something that happens many times a day. I am writing this e-mail to say thanks. Thank you for sharing your heart through your music, especially through Who Am I and your rendition of Your Love Is Extravagant. Jess could sing your songs and see God through them.... Please continue to share what you have special in your life with those who need to hear it. What you do makes a difference.
Press on and God bless,
Scott Devlin
I think this message speaks for itself. It may seem like everything I'm writing about pertains to Casting Crowns, but it is not my intent to praise them. I am simply sharing what God is doing in my life and others' like Scott Devlin. How truly amazing it is when God lifts us to a point in our relationship with Him that we can sing His praises in any circumstance. You see, the reason this story stuck out to me so much is because I lost a friend in this same way. My friend Danielle was driving home in front of her boyfriend on a rainy day. Less than a mile before her destination she lost control of her car on a 90 degree curve. Her boyfriend watched as a pickup slammed into her little car. Nothing could prepare us for the week-long battle for her life that ensued. Her body fought and fought in a coma until her brain finally gave up. We were devastated. It was the summer before we were to all be freshmen in college. My Christian friends tried to console me and remind me that we are not to mourn the way the world does, but I couldn't see any reason for God to let this happen. That was my unfortunate response. Then God floored me! I was informed that Danielle had accepted Christ in her life just two weeks before her fatal accident. What a miracle! If I couldn't see reason to praise before, I had one now.
The point of this is, no matter what your circumstance, don't despair. God is the Maker of the Universe. We cannot understand why He works the way He does. But, we can always praise him. It should be duly noted that Scott Devlin's band, The Avenue, played two nights after Jessica's death. Her family was in the front row. Scott later said that he "would give her up over and over again if it meant people finding Christ." And, several people did through her story. Like Jeremy Camp, who wrote the song Walk By Faith at his wife's deathbed, we can always praise and not mourn the way the world does.
Thursday, October 14, 2004; 8:33 PM
Mark,
I am writing this in the hopes that this note along with my little story will reach you and the rest of the band. My name is Scott Devlin and I am 23 years old, residing in Warsaw, Indiana. I recently had a special young lady in my life by the name of Jessica. Jessica was an absolute example of what it means to be in pursuit of Christ. It is because of this trait that Jessica and I were headed down the road toward marriage. You see, Jessica also loved your album, especially Your Love Is Extravagant. She would play it over and over for me, singing the words every time with such passion. A little over a month ago, I was following Jess to her house on a dark stretch of road in the midst of a thunderstorm. It was only 60 feet in front of me that Jess lost control of her car and rolled top-first into a tree. As I made my way to the car and reached inside the twisted metal, I knew instantly that Jess was already with her Lord. I spent the next 10 minutes covered in mud, in the middle of a pouring rainstorm, complete with crashing thunder and flashing lightning, holding on to the hand of a lifeless and empty body that once contained the soul of a 20-year-old girl I loved. Your Love Is Extravagant was played for 500 people at Jess's funeral, where at least three people came to know Christ the way we do. I still cannot listen to the song without tears welling up in my eyes--not because of a loss, but because I remember the passion with which she sang those words. Your song Who Am I has been the reality of this experience for me. God is still God, and He is in control of His world. He gives and He takes away. I have seen evidence of both. The purpose of this e-mail is not to tell you a story about a car accident--something that happens many times a day. I am writing this e-mail to say thanks. Thank you for sharing your heart through your music, especially through Who Am I and your rendition of Your Love Is Extravagant. Jess could sing your songs and see God through them.... Please continue to share what you have special in your life with those who need to hear it. What you do makes a difference.
Press on and God bless,
Scott Devlin
I think this message speaks for itself. It may seem like everything I'm writing about pertains to Casting Crowns, but it is not my intent to praise them. I am simply sharing what God is doing in my life and others' like Scott Devlin. How truly amazing it is when God lifts us to a point in our relationship with Him that we can sing His praises in any circumstance. You see, the reason this story stuck out to me so much is because I lost a friend in this same way. My friend Danielle was driving home in front of her boyfriend on a rainy day. Less than a mile before her destination she lost control of her car on a 90 degree curve. Her boyfriend watched as a pickup slammed into her little car. Nothing could prepare us for the week-long battle for her life that ensued. Her body fought and fought in a coma until her brain finally gave up. We were devastated. It was the summer before we were to all be freshmen in college. My Christian friends tried to console me and remind me that we are not to mourn the way the world does, but I couldn't see any reason for God to let this happen. That was my unfortunate response. Then God floored me! I was informed that Danielle had accepted Christ in her life just two weeks before her fatal accident. What a miracle! If I couldn't see reason to praise before, I had one now.
The point of this is, no matter what your circumstance, don't despair. God is the Maker of the Universe. We cannot understand why He works the way He does. But, we can always praise him. It should be duly noted that Scott Devlin's band, The Avenue, played two nights after Jessica's death. Her family was in the front row. Scott later said that he "would give her up over and over again if it meant people finding Christ." And, several people did through her story. Like Jeremy Camp, who wrote the song Walk By Faith at his wife's deathbed, we can always praise and not mourn the way the world does.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Casting Crowns
This is not a normal post. I just wanted to say that if any of you get a chance to go see Casting Crowns in concert, don't miss out on the opportunity. I went to their concert in Fort Worth this weekend, and I can't tell you in even 10 posts how much I got out of it. There's something for everyone, and God will teach you something in it. So, definitely do not pass it up if possible.
True Obedience
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'" --Matthew 1:19,20
There are few people in the bible who are more admirable than Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He is spoken relatively little of. (Matthew 1:16-2:23; Luke 1:26-2:52) I don't think enough emphasis is placed on Joseph when discussing the Gospels. There are few better examples of a more obedient servant of God. Just imagine yourself in his shoes: Your brand new bride reveals that she is pregnant by someone else. Not only is it revealed to you, but made public to your friends, family, and pretty much everyone you know. Wouldn't you feel embarrassed, shamed, and angry? In today's world, it would be a matter of hours until the divorce was finalized, everyone sympathized with you, and you moved on with your life; all the while disgracing your wife and making a public spectacle of her. We are so far removed from the chivalry and integrity presented by Joseph. Even when he at first considers leaving her, he plans to do it in a secretive way that preserves Mary's honor. He still loves her and does not wish to inflate his pride by putting her down. How admirable! Though we cannot know what was in Joseph's heart, or exactly what kind of man he was, he must have been great for God to choose him as Jesus' earthly father. Imagine the weight of that, being so obedient to God that you put aside your image and go wherever he guides you. If only we could live like that today, instead of worrying about what other people think of us. Especially our generation! We have grown up online, displayed for all to see. Our concern for our own public image is disdainful. It's petty and ridiculous. We worry about what a simple human thinks of us instead of fearing the One who has the power to send us to Hell or usher us into the Pearly Gates. Maybe we should start considering the awesome power of our God instead of the opinion of some person who, like us, has no right to judge.
There are few people in the bible who are more admirable than Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He is spoken relatively little of. (Matthew 1:16-2:23; Luke 1:26-2:52) I don't think enough emphasis is placed on Joseph when discussing the Gospels. There are few better examples of a more obedient servant of God. Just imagine yourself in his shoes: Your brand new bride reveals that she is pregnant by someone else. Not only is it revealed to you, but made public to your friends, family, and pretty much everyone you know. Wouldn't you feel embarrassed, shamed, and angry? In today's world, it would be a matter of hours until the divorce was finalized, everyone sympathized with you, and you moved on with your life; all the while disgracing your wife and making a public spectacle of her. We are so far removed from the chivalry and integrity presented by Joseph. Even when he at first considers leaving her, he plans to do it in a secretive way that preserves Mary's honor. He still loves her and does not wish to inflate his pride by putting her down. How admirable! Though we cannot know what was in Joseph's heart, or exactly what kind of man he was, he must have been great for God to choose him as Jesus' earthly father. Imagine the weight of that, being so obedient to God that you put aside your image and go wherever he guides you. If only we could live like that today, instead of worrying about what other people think of us. Especially our generation! We have grown up online, displayed for all to see. Our concern for our own public image is disdainful. It's petty and ridiculous. We worry about what a simple human thinks of us instead of fearing the One who has the power to send us to Hell or usher us into the Pearly Gates. Maybe we should start considering the awesome power of our God instead of the opinion of some person who, like us, has no right to judge.
Friday, February 1, 2008
East To West
I know I haven't actually commented on a bible verse yet, but I'm also going to use songs. This particular one is very important to me. The song is by Casting Crowns (whose concert I'm going to tomorrow). The chorus of the song is:
I first heard this song over Christmas break. It stopped me in my tracks. One of the hardest things to do, as a Christian, is to get back up when we have fallen. There is so much guilt and shame to bear when we choose to go against the will of God. It's almost debilitating sometimes. What's important though is that we do get back up, we repent, and fall on His grace again and again. Many who aren't Christians see the way many of us live our lives, and though it's not always a beacon of righteousness, we try to remain repentant. There is no excuse for it, and it's hardly fair for us to be forgiven, but the ways of God don't always make sense to us. When Christ died for our sins, he paid for all past, present, and future sins. If we just accept the gift, and the truth of it, he will save us from our self-destruction. It is this promise that is so hard to accept sometimes. When we have done something awful and completely against God, it usually is a while, for most of us, before we can humble ourselves to the point of laying it at His feet. I know I often, mistakenly, feel that I have to let His anger abate. This is not so. We must humble ourselves immediately and not go one minute more with a wall of sin between us and our Maker. Even when I am doing fairly well in my life (though, we should never become complacent) I look at the past with dread that I might return to that state which God had saved me from. It is a weakness of mine. I'm not trusting God to be my foundation, and help me move beyond the past so that I might grown in Him. That is why this song struck me the way it did. God says that he has removed our sin as far as the East is from the West. But, we always live with the memory. I can't bear the thought that the person I became my Freshman year of college, will arise in me again. This fear often keeps me from living a life. The second verse of the song starts out: "I start the day, the war begins; endless reminding of my sin!" This is why we must have a constant prayer life. We must have communication with Christ. When we don't speak to Him, we are allowing Satan to have a foothold in our lives. The fight is the Lord's, but we must arm ourselves against His enemy. We do that through prayer. We put on the Armor of God. By doing this, we can concentrate on the here and now. When we can do that, we will grow and become stronger in Him. Just remember that the next time you feel burdened with guilt from your past. Remember that God can remove your sin as far as the East is from the West.
Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
I can't bear to see the man I've been
Arising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
'Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other
Just how far the East is from the West
I can't bear to see the man I've been
Arising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
'Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other
I first heard this song over Christmas break. It stopped me in my tracks. One of the hardest things to do, as a Christian, is to get back up when we have fallen. There is so much guilt and shame to bear when we choose to go against the will of God. It's almost debilitating sometimes. What's important though is that we do get back up, we repent, and fall on His grace again and again. Many who aren't Christians see the way many of us live our lives, and though it's not always a beacon of righteousness, we try to remain repentant. There is no excuse for it, and it's hardly fair for us to be forgiven, but the ways of God don't always make sense to us. When Christ died for our sins, he paid for all past, present, and future sins. If we just accept the gift, and the truth of it, he will save us from our self-destruction. It is this promise that is so hard to accept sometimes. When we have done something awful and completely against God, it usually is a while, for most of us, before we can humble ourselves to the point of laying it at His feet. I know I often, mistakenly, feel that I have to let His anger abate. This is not so. We must humble ourselves immediately and not go one minute more with a wall of sin between us and our Maker. Even when I am doing fairly well in my life (though, we should never become complacent) I look at the past with dread that I might return to that state which God had saved me from. It is a weakness of mine. I'm not trusting God to be my foundation, and help me move beyond the past so that I might grown in Him. That is why this song struck me the way it did. God says that he has removed our sin as far as the East is from the West. But, we always live with the memory. I can't bear the thought that the person I became my Freshman year of college, will arise in me again. This fear often keeps me from living a life. The second verse of the song starts out: "I start the day, the war begins; endless reminding of my sin!" This is why we must have a constant prayer life. We must have communication with Christ. When we don't speak to Him, we are allowing Satan to have a foothold in our lives. The fight is the Lord's, but we must arm ourselves against His enemy. We do that through prayer. We put on the Armor of God. By doing this, we can concentrate on the here and now. When we can do that, we will grow and become stronger in Him. Just remember that the next time you feel burdened with guilt from your past. Remember that God can remove your sin as far as the East is from the West.
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