“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”
Proverbs 23:12
Practice?
I come here entering my last semester of my undergrad. I honestly can’t wait until that day where I take my very last final, but at the same time… it’s a scary bittersweet feeling. For my entire life, I’ve known that I’d have school as something to look forward to or at the very least rely on to be there. Now? Not so much.
The one thing I have truly been learning the past year is that change is inevitable, but growth is extremely intentional.
As the theme of this year is “Grow. Exemplify. Testify.” Some questions we may have to ask ourselves include
- What are we growing in?
- What are we exemplifying?
- What are we testifying to?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
This verse alone leads to the above questions and allows one to really think…
- Do we believe that growth in Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness? What does this mean?
- How can one exemplify to what one believes?
- Isn’t God so much more than a Facebook profile in which the “About Me” says LOVE? To testify means to understand more than the public profile view right?
It’s a pretty unusual thing to hear someone, specifically a believer, that says they DON’T want to grow. 2012 isn’t simply a year to change, but to ultimately grow. The thing is, what do you want? Are we to say we want to Grow. Exemplify. Testify. or simply say that? Since I know basketball season is now here and the tournament is in the minds of many… can one expect to simply go into the tournament without practicing at all? To simply go into a game and expect to have amazing results? The same thing goes with our very own faith walk, can we expect to grow, exemplify, and testify without Scripture that is ultimately useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness?
I tell and ask others these things not because I’m any better, but because I too want to grow, exemplify, and testify along with fellow believers. The heart is what matters most of all. May we truly ask ourselves… where is our heart, our hope?
1 love
what’s your story?
Something that God keeps reminding me of this year is outreach, and even deeper than that, building relationships with people that don’t know Jesus the same way I do. In doing so, I hope that I can be a light to my friends - planting seeds of desire to know our Savior.
I’ve talked to some of you about reaching out, and I know that we all have friends that we truly care about that may not be saved. I had this dream once where one of my friends was crying and looking at me asking, “Why didn’t you tell me?” and I just felt so terrible for not saying anything at all about Jesus to her.
Sometimes I can’t help but think, am I doing enough? When is the right time to bring Jesus into conversation without it getting weird? What if they’re not receptive? and I know that it’s nothing that depends on US, it’s how God wants to work through us and in His timing.. we just have to be ready when He calls!
Something that was laid on my heart last week was to start asking people, “So what’s your story?” We all come from different backgrounds, and underneath all the smiles, there is pain..in anyone. It’s been really cool cause over this week - God has placed 3 different stories in my life. One of my friends is going through a transition from hurt through relationships and an irresponsible roommate, another has found the Bible and Christianity to be false, and my other friend shared with me about how her past relationship affected her.
I wanted to do something about these stories, like to write them down and be praying for them. As well as opportunities to love on them and be able to tell my story of God’s faithfulness.. and I wanted to challenge AACF to do the same. To really be intentional about listening to stories that we didn’t even know were occurring.. and to simply listen, God will do His work whenever the time is right, but first I really think we need to listen and love.
Through Prayer
This past summer presented challenges that I thought I couldn’t face. I was expected to do things that were impossible. I was expected to fail and learn from it.
Being here in a military institute, I did not know how to be with God. I was afraid to be open, thinking that others would judge me. There was no worship, no small groups, only service on Sundays. Even then, I still did not feel like I was reaching out to him. One day I realized that all of the things that I wanted to feel his majesty were not needed. During my time of struggle and adversity, I just needed to pray.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7
I started to learn the importance of prayer and how strong it can be. Prayer cannot be a thing we take for granted and wish for things to go right. Through prayer we must be whole-hearted and beg to the Lord that we need his help. Every night before I went to bed, I thanked the Lord for helping me survive the day and asked again for guidance when I would awake for the next day. Even throughout the day, I prayed during tough times for peace. I was not hoping for the struggle to end, but I just wanted God to be beside me as I needed to accomplish the task. To do this, I had to let go and trust that he will take care of me.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:6
We need to learn to let go and constantly pray. This is a relationship that I use to take for granted and would open myself every once in a while. This summer has thought me that prayer needs to be constant so I can keep my spiritual relationship going. My faith has grown stronger because I trust him through prayer. I know that through prayer I am safe and that he is control.
What Kind of Race?
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Have you ever run a race? Prepared for one?
Competitions. Commitments. End Goals.
Earlier this year I signed up for the Long Beach half-marathon that was ultimately scheduled for this past Sunday the 9th. At that time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into or what I should even do after that. I had so many questions and didn’t really know where to begin or how to start. When do I start training? What should I be eating? How can I prepare myself? Will others be running this race too? What if I get injured? After signing up, I was thinking to myself how biblical running a marathon actually was and how I would be in the best shape in my life if I could follow through. Insert strict training. Insert strict diet. Insert making slave to my body. In all honesty, the training and the goal of completing this marathon took over my life. It was a top priority in such fashion where I wouldn’t do other things until I trained for the day. I looked at what I ate and went away from things that were in the “bad” food area. My body was a temple. Physically, this is an amazing mindset to have, but little did I know…
To keep things shorter, I did in fact get injured. To an extent where once I did it, I knew my hopes and dreams of running the marathon was out of the question. Again, little did I know. Now if you go ahead and re-read the verse above, but instead of looking at it physically, look at it figuratively. The greatest thing is about the race isn’t about how one starts, but about how one finishes.
So often do we come to terms with how Scripture is confusing, boring, or better yet, not one’s “spiritual gift”. Trust me. I’ve been there. I understand running aimlessly in serving God in various ways, but without the God’s Word embedded in my heart. Sometimes I’d go days or weeks without opening my Bible and justify that I was serving, but then in many cases not understand why I’m not growing spiritually. Singing praise songs that I don’t even understand the meaning to… I can go on and on, but if you get one thing out of what I’m trying to say here, get this: God’s Word = LIFE
As the theme of this year is GROW. EXEMPLIFY. TESTIFY. All signs point to God’s Word. Increasing one’s knowledge in TRUTH is sure to increase one’s faith. Truly, it’s not about what I think, not about what your pastor thinks, not about whatever podcast you may listen to thinks. It’s about what God has created and recorded in the Word. What God has promised. What God has fulfilled and will fulfill.
The question again is, have you ever run a race? And are you preparing yourself? Just like a physical workout, one must be consistent and ever persevering in terms of one’s faith and relationship with God. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it. The prize isn’t some medal that will eventually rust, it’s life. Forever. Eternity. Breathe that in and ask yourself… what kind of race are you running?
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Hebrews 20:24
In my case, I physically failed to run the marathon this past Sunday, but by God’s grace, I continue on my journey running the race for Him alone.
1love
He is.
…. so good.
For a while now, I have been trying to figure out where God is leading me. If only I could distinctly hear His voice. For a while now, I have been reflecting on my earlier years in college and comparing my faith to what it is today. God has done ridiculously crazy things in these few years. Why have things been so calm and steady for quite a while now? Why do I not expect God to move in the same crazy way anymore? Am I growing up and being more realistic, practical, or even cynical?
Through unexpected and seemingly insignificant events in just one day, I received my answer. Clearly.
Complacency.
There are few people I can actually feel completely vulnerable and transparent with. These people just so happen to be people that I do not see very often either. Today, I just so happen to cover a friend’s shift that just so happen to be with a co-worker that is one of the few people I earlier described. Throughout the hectic work day, we were able to squeeze in some girl talk and catching up. Skipping over lots of details, she went to a retreat where many of the attendees grew up in the church, yadidadida. Much of the struggles that were expressed and then interceded (through prayer) for were struggles of complacency. She told me that when she was praying over that particular topic, she thought of me.
The rest of the evening, I dwelt on that instance—her words, my shock, and how I knew she was so right. It is a problem that many Christians who have grown up in the church and have been running the race for a good amount of time face constantly… and sadly become okay with it.
I have such a firm foundation in my faith. I’ve already tasted the good food, I can’t go back to the garbage the world has to offer. But why can I not hear God speak to me or feel Him move me as easily as He does to my friend. Hearing about all her extraordinary experiences with Him and how it has created such a passionate faith in her really made me jealous. I want that too.
Not long ago, I stopped everything I was doing and just prayed a short prayer. I asked God for what my friend had. I know that I have become complacent, I don’t like it, and I know He doesn’t like it either. I asked for Him to speak to me. I told Him that I wanted to hear his voice and see Him move as easily as she does. I asked Him to show me what I need to be doing.
I don’t know why, but I decided to open up my iTunes after praying that brief prayer. It was not on shuffle and I usually play a playlist, but I decided to put it on shuffle on my entire library. Then I thought in my head, “Choose a song God… haha.” Why the haha? Lack of faith, and feeling silly for just asking that probably. Then I clicked the play button.
Forward Motion - Relient K
After Your Heart - Phil Wickham
Really? First two songs. Out of the all the Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, John Mayer, etc?
The lyrics hit hard. I was reminded to live like God is listening… because He is and to live like God is speaking… because He is. I should not expect anything less from an amazing, sovereign, all powerful, all knowing Lord.
God and Today’s Technology
Today i came across this video on youtube. It is David Crowder using an iPhone app called the TPain app in one of his songs during a concert. Thought it was cool because its….AWESOME! Being a worship leader (drummer) at my home church as well as aacf it was great to see worship continue to reinvent itself. In today’s society, we think technology is a distraction and that it takes us away from spending time with God or even worship is boring….it all sounds the same. However, using today’s technology to glorify God in a new and fresh way allows us to connect with God in a new way that is relevant to us. All in all….it is a true blessing to know that as worship continues to change….GOD IS UNCHANGING!
Back to Basics
Above the heading are links that are as follows: “HOME ABOUT THEME…. blah blah”.
Simply click “SUBMIT” to submit a post.
Don’t be shy. Who knows—you might brighten someone’s day. =]
Blessings
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done
Makes me wonder what this world would be like if God hadn’t given such a burden to someone like MLK Jr.? to those that serve our country? to Moses? It’s crazy to think about. The next question is.. do you have a burden that God has placed on your heart? Maybe it’s easier to sweep it under the rug, or MAYBE, just maybe God has placed it there specifically to make a change, to cause a stir, to ultimately glorify the Kingdom… are WE part of something so revolutionary that we don’t even realize it?
May our eyes be opened to go beyond simply seeing and hearing, but instead may we dig deeper and truly understand and perceive what God has for our lives. The Word of God is ALIVE!
AACF Long Beach 2011. What a year!
John 17:20-26
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made youknown to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
