Don't you love a great song? One of those that encourage and pump you up like Eye of the Tiger did for Rocky? I have one of those songs. It speaks my heart and sets fire to my spirit. The song is called Awake and Alive by Skillet. I relate to the second verse the most. The words are as follows:
I'm at war with the world cause I
Ain't never gonna sell my soul.
I've already made up my mind
No matter what I can't be bought or sold.
When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again.
I'm awake, I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now, it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
That's my heart ~ I will never sell my soul and I can't be bought or sold. I'm sold out and in love with my Lord and Savior. I am so excited about Him, His Word, and forever committing my life to Him. And I love when He breathes into me. Don't you? It's the most incredible experience EVER. He's such a mighty and powerful God.
I pray for you that He breathes into you as well. I pray you find the strength in Him to stand your ground and never back down. Never back down to this world and what society says is true and right. Never back down from God's ways and thoughts. Never back down. Stand on God's truth. He's the only One who can make you and keep you awake and alive !
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Passion
As Pastor Miracle was speaking New Year's Eve. about becoming restless in our lives, I began to relate to his message. I, too, was finding myself in a daily battle with self. I was in continual conversation with the Lord asking, pleading, and begging for answers about life and purpose that seemed to never be found. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the greatest, I found myself a 10 on the restless meter. I had lost my focus on the real purpose for my life; the purpose of sharing the love of God. I ultimately had lost my passion for Jesus.
As I went to God with this new revelation, I became aware of these truths:
I can not try to intellectualize who God is. Trying to "figure God out" is futile and I need to stop it. My mind can not comprehend His ways, His wonders, or His mighty acts. I had begun to allow my intellect to hinder my passion for Him. The constant asking of why and how had detoured my focus from others to me. I had become self focused. I allowed my inability to understand my surroundings cause my relationship with Jesus to suffer.
While God was showing this truth to me, I realized that God is a heart doctor. He is the Ultimate Cardiologist as He deals with the matters of the heart. God does heal our minds, He created them, but most of the issues we have that we consider "mental issues," such as stress or depression can be linked to heart issues. We will find when our hearts are whole and healed, we will have fewer mental worries.
I feel like one of the greatest truths God showed me during this time was that people will respond to me when I present the gospel to them with my heart, my heart of passion, rather than my intellect. Passion provokes people. It will provoke them either positively or negatively and I must be prepared for both.
I want passion. Passion for my Jesus and passion for souls. I know as my passion for Christ comes alive so will my passion for His creation.
A heart for Him = His heart. And His heart is my absolute goal.
As I went to God with this new revelation, I became aware of these truths:
I can not try to intellectualize who God is. Trying to "figure God out" is futile and I need to stop it. My mind can not comprehend His ways, His wonders, or His mighty acts. I had begun to allow my intellect to hinder my passion for Him. The constant asking of why and how had detoured my focus from others to me. I had become self focused. I allowed my inability to understand my surroundings cause my relationship with Jesus to suffer.
While God was showing this truth to me, I realized that God is a heart doctor. He is the Ultimate Cardiologist as He deals with the matters of the heart. God does heal our minds, He created them, but most of the issues we have that we consider "mental issues," such as stress or depression can be linked to heart issues. We will find when our hearts are whole and healed, we will have fewer mental worries.
I feel like one of the greatest truths God showed me during this time was that people will respond to me when I present the gospel to them with my heart, my heart of passion, rather than my intellect. Passion provokes people. It will provoke them either positively or negatively and I must be prepared for both.
I want passion. Passion for my Jesus and passion for souls. I know as my passion for Christ comes alive so will my passion for His creation.
A heart for Him = His heart. And His heart is my absolute goal.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2011
After reading the book, Radical, I have come to understand the idea of discipleship a little better. You see, David Platt, the author of Radical explains how in today's Christian culture, we tend to go to church with a mindset of receiving. I know I have for years. But the real need is for us to attend with the motivation to reproduce. Receiving the Word spoken is beneficial to me, but reproducing the Word spoken is beneficial to others and helps promote discipleship. Today, I have chosen to reproduce the Word I received last night at Strong Tower New Year's Eve service.
Pastor Miracle made the following thought provoking points:
1. The secular world doesn't think much about the church and we (the church) have given them every reason to think this way.
Why? you ask. Because we (the church) have been so self consumed that we do not put the needs of others before our own, but are focused every day for ourselves. We have been living day to day in survival mode. We have a spiritual struggle just to get in our Word, to pray, and to reject temptation. The focus on self denotes a problem within - this problem hinders my (and your) ability to disciple others, to share Christ with them, and to be a Light to the hurting in my community. This focus on self moves me into a spiritually dry place in my life because I am neglecting what I am designed to do. I will be complacent, discontent and restless.
2. We the Body of Christ must go back and seek out the old paths.
3. There needs to be a move of God in our individual lives.
I must seek a heart of flesh. My heart must be pliable, soft, and tender. If I do not have compassion and a love for God's creation then I am going to find it difficult to reach out to them. Seeking God's heart must be a priority in my life. I must also understand that revival in my life is something I must overtake. The woman with the issue of blood overcame Jesus and received her healing. She went to Jesus, much like I must go after Him; hungry and thirsty. My passion for Christ must be alive! Without passion, I am just another monotonous voice.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how restless are you? Do you find yourself struggling within, asking God questions, seeking out answers that never seem to be found? Have you forgotten the purpose for which you were saved? If so, seek out the old paths and find rest for your soul.
Pastor Miracle made the following thought provoking points:
1. The secular world doesn't think much about the church and we (the church) have given them every reason to think this way.
Why? you ask. Because we (the church) have been so self consumed that we do not put the needs of others before our own, but are focused every day for ourselves. We have been living day to day in survival mode. We have a spiritual struggle just to get in our Word, to pray, and to reject temptation. The focus on self denotes a problem within - this problem hinders my (and your) ability to disciple others, to share Christ with them, and to be a Light to the hurting in my community. This focus on self moves me into a spiritually dry place in my life because I am neglecting what I am designed to do. I will be complacent, discontent and restless.
2. We the Body of Christ must go back and seek out the old paths.
Jeremiah 6:16 sates:
"This is what the LORD says:
'Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Today's world is full of hopeless, hurting people. Every day people are leaving this Earth without Jesus and we the Body of Christ are designed to do something about it. Jesus left us on Earth to do a work in the world and He left us with the help of the Holy Spirit. I as a Christian am on this planet today to bear witness to the Light of Life. When I seek and fulfill what I am designed to do, I will find rest for my soul. Jesus has commissioned me, as part of His body, to compel others into His Kingdom.ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
3. There needs to be a move of God in our individual lives.
I must seek a heart of flesh. My heart must be pliable, soft, and tender. If I do not have compassion and a love for God's creation then I am going to find it difficult to reach out to them. Seeking God's heart must be a priority in my life. I must also understand that revival in my life is something I must overtake. The woman with the issue of blood overcame Jesus and received her healing. She went to Jesus, much like I must go after Him; hungry and thirsty. My passion for Christ must be alive! Without passion, I am just another monotonous voice.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how restless are you? Do you find yourself struggling within, asking God questions, seeking out answers that never seem to be found? Have you forgotten the purpose for which you were saved? If so, seek out the old paths and find rest for your soul.
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