Where Have I Been?

It has been quite a while since I have written anything here. I know that I would have liked to have written more this year but I just didn't. So, since I'm here I'll put something together that may or may not make any sense whatsoever.
Currently I'm reading a book entitled Jesus Brand Spirituality by Ken Wilson. I started reading it about a month ago, but put it on the back burner. This week I was able to get back to it and now I'm almost finished with it. It's not unlike other books I've been reading lately and it has helped in confirming some things that I'm finding myself involved in. It has been refreshing and as I continue to read I feel challenged and humbled at what it means to know Christ and live as a believer today and tomorrow as well. Until then...

They declared God Just!

Wow!!! I was just reading and something wonderful was revealed. As I was reading in Luke tonight I came across the story of where John the Baptist was asking weather or not Jesus was the Christ. Of course Jesus answered in the way only He can. 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” He then goes on and explains about how the least will become greatest. He states; 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (i When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,. Jesus was making it clear what the life of a believer can be. Even the tax collectors recognized how amazing Jesus is and how God is here for us all. When we begin to understand Jesus' mission and how God is reaching out, even today, we can open up and receive His gift of salvation and begin living out the gospel of Christ. 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” God has made the way for us. We need to recognize Him and live out His way.

all scripture from the ESV bible

He's going to be enough!

Sunday evening always seems to be a great time to write and catch up with this thing. I guess I use the evening to think and prepare for what might be ahead. Each week brings its own problems and I know that compared to anyone else my problems are insignificant. Watching and reading what is going on in other parts of the world help you to put perspective back into your easy life. I can only speak from my own life and as little pain and discomfort I have ever felt in my personal life. I do know for a fact that my basic needs are met each and every day. I budget for the needs of my family and come what may. I realize more and more how really rich I am and how amazingly blessed I am. I'm not asking to be Job nor am I looking for prosperity. I simply want to live in the humility of Christ. All I am and all that I have belongs to God. I am supposed to be the steward of what God has allowed me to take care of. Which makes me more aware of the fact that if I have have more than enough then I have to earnestly seek out ways to sacrifice the money, the time, and the talents God has given me to take care of. I remember a conversation I had with someone who I consider to be wise and discerning. This person pointed out that whatever we are doing it's supposed to be to further the Kingdom. If it's not for HIM then why do it? That struck me and still strikes me on a regular basis. Right now this blog is to further the Kingdom. I do this not for myself, but for the simple fact that I want to engage others in a discussion of who God is. I'm not talking about church. I'm not talking about religion. I am talking about life, real life. I would be so bold as to say that if anyone who honestly sought out God they would find Him. I am discovering in my own salvation how much I do not know about God and who He really is. I am finding myself searching Him out and listening. As I read and as I listen I realize my relationship with Christ is a real thing. That may not make since to all, but as a follower of Jesus I sense the presence of the Holy Spirit and His leading in what I do, what I say, and how I live each daily. Now I say all of this and you may think my life is great. We'll honestly as of this moment it's not half bad. Do I stuggle? You better believe it. Do I sin? Sadly, yes! Do I have doubts? Regularly. Then what amazingly happens is God! He shows up in a way that is real. I know He has put things in my path for me to stop and to help me remember He's real and wants me. Loves me. Forgives me. That may sound trite, but isn't that what we all want; love, forgiveness, acceptance. So as this week goes and I try and fight the good fight. I know I'm going to need God to be God and that is going to be enough.

What to Give?

What to give? I wonder how many of us have wondered about this questions much lately. I would like to think it has been a common thought due to the holiday coming up in less than two weeks. I know here at our house the shopping has been finished for awhile and I didn't go into debt doing so either. I still am thinking though, about what else to give. It shouldn't be a surprise this time of year most of us are happy to give and some try to even out give each other. I know for our family we have latched on to the idea of less is more. I'm not sure if you have heard of this thing called the Advent Conspiracy but we have embraced the idea and would hope other believers would check it out and see what it is all about, or should I say what it is not about. I could try to explain but I would rather just send you to their link and you, yes you earnestly check out what they are inspiring us all to consider and possibly do. Now go and see. Then see what you might do! http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

With all that I am

Rambling in the middle of the night is where I find myself. I am listening to the new Derek Webb album and am challenged by the lyrics presented. It's not the first time I have listened to them nor will it be the last time. I am challenged not because they are controversial or they say something new. It's because apparently I needed to hear them and begin thinking again about where I am. I am a fallen man who earnestly want to follow Jesus. When I read the scriptures I am made acutely aware of who I am. I recognize my limits and even know that despite my willingness to be a believer and follow after Christ I will screw up. I think about what Paul says that he does the things he doesn't want to do, yet does them anyway. It cannot excuse me and allow me to continue screwing up so that grace might increase. Then there is another element, more than that, a real message that should be consuming me. It's that blasted commandment that tells me I am to love God with all that I am. Did you hear that. Love God with all that I am! This somehow to me seems pretty important in the life of a believer and follower of the God of the universe. What is even harder is that this commandment is tangible. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment besides the one mentioned above is that I need to LOVE MY NEIGHBOR as myself. This actually means that I need to do something to show love. This is a verb, an action word. To love! So even though I can talk about how I screw up on a daily basis. I need to really focus on what I am to be DOING as a follower. I can honestly say that yesterday I was able to something, nothing world changing but I reached out my hand to show and give love to another human being besides myself. It opened my eyes to see the face of Jesus here on this earth. These actions were simply in love and obedience to the call of Christ. So if you have read this and wonder what the point is I'll tell you. Jesus wants us to live out our lives loving those He loves. That means everyone! He even went further to say that we should love them like ourselves. If we take care of ourselves, guess who else needs to be cared for... everyone. If we are hungry, guess who else needs to be fed...everyone. I could go on and on. Think about someone. Think about their life and their story. It doesn't happen instantly. I'm learning myself how to do this thing I'm talking about. I'm taking each day to try and live the Jesus life. I simply hope that I somehow, someway will point those I encounter to the greatest love of all. If I am an accurate description of what Jesus would say and do then great. That's how they will know we are who we say we are. Showing His love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience, self-control etc... Being what we say we believe.

Do You Get It?

Sometimes I just don't get it. Usually on a daily basis. To me God is real and Jesus Christ is the foundation of my faith. I read, I pray, I go to church, yet sometimes I just don't get it. I honestly can't put my finger on it but I know a couple of things. I know that Jesus Christ has called me to follow Him. I believe this. I cannot see Him, I cannot hear Him, yet I know I am to follow Him. The other thing I know is that Jesus' mission has not changed. He said it clearly. Love one another. We are to love each other and do thing that demonstrate His love in and through our lives. So there it is, follow and love. I guess they sort of go hand in hand. It's what Jesus did. He walked upon this earth and showed us what love looks like. Insomuch that He took the cross meant for me and bore my sins as well as all of those who are guilty of the same. Each day I am to love. In doing so, I live. Tomorrow or I guess later today, I want to love, I mean Live, oh I really mean love. Anyway, do you get it?

Getting to Know Him

1 Peter 1:3 esv Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The idea is simple. You're going to live forever. It's not a question. It's reality. I am going to live forever. I believe with all that I am that I will spend my eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. I figure right now I've got at least as many years left as I've lived thus far. Some may question the statement of living forever. That's Okay, I can understand. I will not, and cannot try to convince anyone of you of anything. I can only tell you what I am believing, thinking, understanding, living etc... I believe simply that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that I have a personal relationship with Him. I know God. Does that make sense to you. My hope is that you know God or that you come to know who He is. My relationship consists of talking to Him and more important listening. Some will think that how is that possible. Well, God has given me a deposit, that is the Holy Spirit. This is God's Spirit that lives in and through me. This also may sound crazy, but this is what I believe. This may sound strange and if you are not a believer I would not expect you to just say, Oh. I get it! There is this element of faith involved. Believing without ever seeing. Yet, I know that God is real. Again, I could never convince anyone that God is real. It's something YOU have to believe. There are various ways that you can learn and experience who and what God is. There are tools i.e. the Bible, the local church, believer's testimony etc.,. Still YOU have to believe without seeing. For me the word of God is real. The Holy Spirit is real and lives within me. I believe that when the time comes I'll be in the presence of Almighty God. Until then I will continue to build relationship with God. I will Listen to the words of Christ Himself through the Holy Scriptures that are the Bible, God's word. I will continue to live my life in such a way that is showing the fruits of the Spirit...love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness & self-control. These things are help me to realize who God is, what His will is, and how I am to live here in this world around me. It is just clear to me who Jesus is and why I follow Him. He said that...“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14: 1-7
I don't know of any other philosophy in history that claims this truth. My prayer is simple. God loves you. He desires to have a relationship with you. He(Jesus) says simply, believe in me and I will give you eternal life. I know that it doesn't sound like much, but it is the truth. Salvation is a gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Believing is more that what you say, or even what you do. Believing means you are now and forever His. Your life is not your own. You are now a disciple of Jesus. You begin a relationship and in doing so you begin to realize who and what Jesus is about. This reality will rock your world and change you forever. So I simply ask, Do you know Jesus, or just about Him. Unfortunately, there will be many, even church members who will just know about Him. You have the opportunity to decide. I pray that these words are a enough to get you, the reader, to think and find out where you fall. There's no maybe here. When I read I am blown away by how Jesus loves and has made a way for me. Taste and see for yourself how good and how great the Lord really is. I know He wants to get to know you.