Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Less is More in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Again, I resound with the heart of my friend Chad whom
is also a spiritual leader in my life, founding Come
and Live and offering the overflow of his heart to me
and many many others. This is an excerpt from his blog,
which you can find on my blogroll, followed by a few
thoughts of my own.

"They should not matter, these small things I crave.
Make me forget them, Father, and be brave!"

- The Transient by Helen Welshimer

I'll pose the question: if the greatest example of generosity
relied fully on His father to provide for his every need (even
when it seems He went without), how dare we expect a life of
comfort & plenty? In a world loaded up with selfishness and greed,
God help us to live generously!


Everyday it seems I'm challenged by God and reminded to live
with less and to expect less and feed on the nourishment of which
only he can provide. I've found, at a young age no less, that
the more we, as a people, begin to take matters into our own hands
it disables us from trusting in the Lord the way we were meant to
all along. You cannot hold when your hands are full, and I would
venture to encourage us to pass the cup as was intended of us; of
our own accord we can do nothing, and a part from Yahweh we are
nothing.
He made him who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf that we might
become the righteousness of God. I suppose my challenge to anyone
reading and myself is that we would break down the walls of our
culture and what we are accustomed to, so that we may see that we
are too comfortable here. Giving of your finances is a tremendous
sacrifice, but are your hands and feet dirty like Jesus? Giving
of your time is a tremendous sacrifice, but have you dedicated your
life to humility as a vessel for Christ? To go wherever he leads
you? We are too comfortable here my friends! Should you think
differently, I would respectfully presume it is obvious where your
treasure lies.

The martyrdom of our Kingdom takes place in this world EVERYDAY!
And we not turn an ear to it! The church of China is raising up
100,000 strong to enter into the most deadly region of this world
to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord to where the gospel
itself originated! What will you give my friends? If your hands
are not dirty, if your feet are not blistered, and if you've not
bled for the work of our God and his Kingdom, then I come to you
in love - give more of yourself.

Let our martyred Iranian brother Mehdi Dibaj, and his confession
at the end of his 10 year death sentence, before an Islamic judge
who called him to renounce Christ
, speak to our hearts and help
put into perspective of what it truly means to sacrifice.

"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

Monday, December 22, 2008

Write The Vision. Make It Clear.

I've recently been reading Timothy and the beauty in the text
of Timothy is outstanding. Its truth has practically left
me on my back rather than my feet at times. However today
I'm brought to Proverbs and verse by verse, it just seems
to fly off the pages and grab at my heart. I've been asking
God for specific things as of late, and one of those things
has been a clear vision for Sons of God. I believe everyday
God is revealing new things for me to explore and he has
been bringing me to specific areas of which he's communicated
to me, in his Word, are his heart.

He's made it clear to me that he wants us to be the voice for
the disenfranchised, impoverished, enslaved, hungry, hurting,
and the persecuted (Proverbs 31:8-9)which I firmly believe
he is about to bring upon us; what more could we do than to
be the voice of those whom not have one?
It is also my/our desire to partner with organizations whose
aim are consistent with the desires placed upon us from our
God. Organizations including The Voice of The Martyrs, The
International Justice Mission, Invisible Children, Compassion
International, The Institute for Christian Resources,
and
Christian Solidarity Worldwide among others.

It's clear to me that in our goal to reach people, with the
exposure we may encounter and in our specific outreach design
(Luke 10:2) as missionaries it would benefit us to have less
and give more(Proverbs 30:8-9)(Deuteronomy 15:11). As Jesus
Followers, Christians, or whatever satisfies the heart that
knows we long to be like Jesus, we are simply obeying his
call and guide to us to go unto all Nations and preach the
gospel. The opportunity before us allows us the reality
to become rich, and also famous; rich in knowledge, love,
strength, wisdom, sacrifice, humility and fame to our King,
Hallalujah!

I long to educate the West about Christianity worldwide, the
witness of our brothers and sisters worldwide could have a
profound effect on the Western church. For example, the church
in China is flourishing now with millions of believers, and
sources estimate that on average 24,000 people accept Jesus
Christ every day! It would do some good to remind you all, this
is a Communist nation where Christianity and our practices are
outlawed; the church is underground, in a house group church
format! China is not resting, sending 100,000 missionaries
to the Middle East. To that I say amen, but I also count and know
the struggle they will undergo. I can only imagine in an area
like the middle east where the gospel is refuted as the ultimate
enemy verses Islam, many people will be entering a situation that
they know will be a one way journey.
My hearts leaps for them, that I may join them in the future and
wash the feet of many who have served this kingdom.

I'm so proud and honored to be a part of such a wonderful
revolution in partnering with Come and Live.
(Hebrews 12:1-3)

"In order to reach those that no one else is reaching, we’ll
have to do things that no one else is doing."

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Rise Up.

Rise up oh men of God, have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of Kings.
Rise up oh men of God, His kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood, and end the night of wrong.
Rise up oh men of God, the church for you doth wait.
Her strength unequal to her task, rise up and make her great.
Lift high the Cross of Christ, tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man, rise up men of God.
- William P. Merrill

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Pardon The Interruption.

I will wake up, with the Grace of God exploited all around
me and within me. My first step is simply one further away
from what I should be seeking. Instead I will begin the
christian compartmentalized path, and I will not seek him
in solitude; rather I will try to find him in the midst of
my busy day where anything but holiness is manifested.
And you expect me to grow!? How dare you! This is apathy,
this is the practice of cheap grace, this is the indulgence
of my self-esteem and far from who I am/should be in Christ.

Pardon The Interruption, when night falls.
"I will exploit you for all that you are, because behind
closed doors you are a worthless sinner," he says to me.
And, I let him win.
It would do some good to remember that, I am a sinner,
beforehand; as if to believe he's throwing a wrench in the
system or something along those lines. So, Pardon The
Interruption as your onslaught of temptation buries me in
my weakness. The beast is out for his prey, and he knows
that deep into the night, I am alone when I have not called
upon my God.

When the word is not fresh on my heart, and prayer is not
fresh from my mind. When I have summoned subconsciously
evil rather than the legions of angels spoken of in
Revelation. How foolish and selfish, you may be provoked
but you are not helpless! Stand firm in who you are in
Christ, and rise up against evil; have you not the boldness
to cast away fear, doubt, and temptation!?
Woe is the man who built his house on sand, for I have
found my house drifting out to sea and far from Galilee.
All the while I've not let down my anchor.
What good is an anchor if it has not left the boat?


God, would you be my anchor?
I am truly nothing without you.
Pardon The Interruption.
"I am God, and you are not."
Come and Live!