Labor in the Rain

Written By: Kirk Peterson

The lawn was in dire need and it was time to go to work. I had just got back from a good meeting with my Bible study group.  God was close. He had taught me something and when God speaks to you, it is nothing short of awesome.  Just as I was getting to the end of the yard work, a light drizzle started falling.  I looked up to the heavens and was grateful for the light rain to cool me off.

Now that I was done with the yard work, it was a good time to actually fix the lawn.  My wife loves to garden, it is one of her passions in life and we had some soil brought in to help build up our garden.  Though we finally got the rich soil we needed it came with a cost.  The truck tires sunk into our yard and left some mighty fine tire tracks in its wake. That’s a problem to a dude who wants to have a half way decent yard to live in.

There is a tool called a Tamper you can use to pound out the soil.  Not easy work. Just as I was about to start, the light drizzle the Lord had blessed me with became a solid rain--no better time to put in some work right?

God had fanned a flame in my soul. It came with a simple thought, “I like to be close to the ones I love. Not just in conversation and company but close in person. Our God is so big and so powerful He created everything around us.  The galaxies, the stars, the moon, the sun—He is the one who sends the rain. There are millions of people, yet our Father in heaven is close to us, He knows me personally and is near to me. He abides in those who believe and you can’t get any closer than that!”

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist… (Acts 17:24-28 NLT)

So, there I was out in the pouring rain and I couldn’t be any happier. I labored in the rain and my heart was filled with joy. It felt good to push myself, I was out of breath and drenched in sweat.  The funny thing about the rain is nobody is around. It was quiet and nature was all around me.  It was alone time with God. The rain poured down and I looked up to heaven as the water washed down my face, and I told God how happy I was. How having Him close is all I ever wanted. I heard the thunder in the distance and I was reminded of God’s power. I saw how the rain provided for the earth, the clouds were moving alive with activity and I was toiling in the dirt trying to repair what was broken. It was good times.

My friends remember that God is close. God is as close as you allow Him to be, so go ahead and get drenched in the rain just to spend time with Him.  Do something out of character that has your wife look at you like your crazy and say, “What are you doing out there?” Because it doesn’t matter when you get to spend time alone with the One who sends the rain!

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. (John 14:23 NLT)

Come back to Jesus my friends.

See Rhett Walker Band’s “Gonna be Alright” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYANZ0LgTqw

Supernatural

Written By: Kirk Peterson

It was time to test our old tent out for some camping fun with the boys.  Heidi and I hadn’t used the tent from before when our 6 year old son Brody was born.  I asked my wife Heidi where the camping gear was because I couldn’t find it, and as usual it was in the most obvious place possible… “Here it is sweetie,” she said with a smile.

The boys were busy playing as I happily set about getting the tent set up in our backyard.  Both boys were very excited to camp in the backyard together, eating snacks before bedtime and possibly even s’mores from the fire. It all sounded like a mighty fine adventure to them and for us parents too!!!

We had checked the forecast and saw only a small chance of rain. I wanted to include the boys, so I asked them to help me set up the tent and they did a great job of it.  Heidi came in to help me finish, but the boys were very willing to help in any way they could.  As we were unpacking everything, Heidi and I reminisced as we discovered the camping gear still had soot from campfires long gone.  It was crazy, the gear even had a slight hint of campfire smell to them after all these years…  “Can you believe this still has soot from the last time we camped babe?  How long has it been, 8 maybe 10 years?  Do you remember the last time we used this tent, man those were some good times eh?” I asked.

For once the boys were more than willing to go to bed.  They hurried into the tent and dove under their sleeping bags excited to camp for the very first time.  “So boys, we wanted to test out the tent tonight to make sure it doesn’t leak and to make sure it will work for our camping trip in a few weeks. We will get to go fishing, hiking, exploring and just take all of the nature in.  At night, you will get to see stars in the night sky like you have never seen and hopefully get a small taste of some of God’s glory,” I told them.

After the boys got their snacks they had been dreaming of, we took them inside to brush and floss their teeth.  We came back out to finish our evening routine of songs and prayers and with everybody all snuggled in we slowly fell asleep.

That is when the most supernatural experience I have ever had in my life came to me.

I woke up in the middle of the night and was completely paralyzed.  I was wide awake but I couldn’t move anything on my whole body. My strength was gone and I was not even able to open my eyes. I heard audible sounds coming from outside the tent and my mind raced as I heard what sounded like 4-5 people outside.  A strong fear was present

I became very aware of a constant sound in my mind.  It sounded just like two iron swords clashing together over and over with almost no space between the clashing. Also, there was a lower pitch sound…something like a sharpening stone used to sharpen blades that continued throughout the hyper clashing of iron.

I prayed to God. Was this the enemy I thought? I cried out to the Lord for help, I asked Him to send His angels down from heaven to protect my family.  I prayed for God to take me instead of them, if He would only just keep them safe…Then, as if God answered me, I was suddenly able to move. The noises outside disappeared but the wind continued to blow.

I sat awake trying to process all that happened.  After a couple of minutes I woke my wife Heidi up and told her what happened.

A couple of days after, I wanted to pray about what happened.  I wanted to see if God had anything to tell me.  I tried to get quiet and listen.  My impressions were simply this: that it was indeed supernatural what happened to me and that I should trust my initial instincts during the experience.  Because of the sound in my mind, I immediately thought of God’s angels wearing armor and swords.  I asked some of my friends and family about what happened too, but I do not think it was the enemy.

One of my family members told me to read Daniel 10, here is some of what the chapter says:

1In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. 2When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. 4On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. 7Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. (Daniel 10:1-9 NLT)

For now, the rest of the experience is a mystery.  I believe God uses experiences to strengthen our faith. Shortly after this, I felt as close to God as I have in a long time. If I could share anything about that with you now it would be simply this: Pray. 

Pray and speak to God as if he was a close friend, for our God in heaven already knows our heart.

Come back to Jesus my friends!

See Francesca Battistelli’s “Holy Spirt” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS5S8Unvm48

A Worthy Pursuit

Written By: Kirk Peterson

Sadness had found me.  I was lost to one of my most precious treasures.  For once, I had no answer--I couldn’t figure it out.  I had tried so many different things, yet that which I pursued availed me.  I had prayed almost every day and yet my struggle continued.  I had even came to the place of accepting that this was my new life and somehow I would have to find peace.

Then, from out of nowhere God spoke to my heart. He answered my prayer and showed me how to restore that which was broken. My answer was hidden in a mist that nothing could penetrate but Jesus.  It is a simple truth, but one that I have begun to pursue with each and every person I have in my life.

I watched as my relationship with my oldest son Brody took a turn.  Looking back, it is almost hard to put into words.  Where once there was this vibrant, joyful and strong bond between father and son--now had started to wither. It had come to the point, that no matter what I tried to do, somehow I couldn’t get back to that sweet spot of the way things used to be between us.

Then when I was on vacation with my family, God’s Holy Spirit spoke to me.  He guided me and showed me that the abundant life that Jesus promised includes fun, a whole lot of fun!

[Jesus speaking] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV)

There is a balance to everything in life.  I think back to when I was my son Brody’s age and life was all about having fun.  As you grow older you discover that life can’t always be about fun, real life and responsibility all too quickly start to clamp down on our spirit of fun.  But it seems as though I lost that childlike desire of pursing fun somewhere along the way…I still had joy and peace and happiness in my life, but the virtue of fun wasn’t something I was striving for each and every day.

[Jesus speaking] Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4 NLT)

As God’ Spirit spoke to me, I smiled at what He showed me. Could this be the answer to restoring my relationship with my son, one of my most precious treasures?  From that moment on I have begun to pursue having a whole lot of fun with my son.  I don’t know many people who would call having fun a virtue, something worthy of striving for in each and every relationship…but God has showed me that is exactly what I should be doing.

Jesus has redeemed my relationship with my son Brody and I am so grateful!  Joy comes from the Lord and he has given me a new song to sing.  Though the wave can’t last forever, I’m going to ride this one for as long as I can.

See Mercy Me’s music video “Shake” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJFA5Bitv7w

Brevity of Life

Written By: Kirk Peterson

As we arrived at the beach, that feeling of excitement filled my soul.  As we stepped into the sand on our journey, anticipation of fun and adventure filled my mind. I looked up and watched as the ocean came more and more into view over the sand as we drew closer.  Just as we were about to step off the boardwalk onto the beach, a lonely beach ball came rolling by--blowing in the wind.  I ran after it, hoping to catch it for the person who lost it.  The ball was too fast for me, but got caught in the weeds.  There it was, a larger than life baseball textured ball waiting to be rescued. I picked it up and looked around for the person who must have been running after it, but there wasn’t anyone in sight.  I waited and looked further in the direction that the ball had come from, until I realized that it must have come from someone far away. Lost to the wind.

I gave the ball to young Cole to carry for us to the beach.  After all, the rest of us had too much to carry as it was.  The ball was slippery and it didn’t take Cole very long to lose it back into the wind.  I ran as fast as I could after that ball.  I heard my wife Heidi laughing in the background.  Even as fast as I was running, the ball was faster.  Again, it found itself caught in the weeds on the outskirts of the beach.  I picked it up and jogged back to the family.  I fumbled with trying to hold on to the slippery ball and the beach umbrella as we searched for a place to get set up.

As we got set up, it didn’t take very long to see that the beach ball wasn’t going to fit into any bag we brought.  I thought, this is what must have happened to the person who brought it.  I watched as the wind tugged at the ball I had wedged behind our bags. I moved on to setting up the umbrella and I heard my wife say, “There it goes again…”  I watched as the ball went rolling away.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life,

so that we may grow in wisdom. (Psalms 90:12 NLT)

Brevity is an interesting word.  But I think it captures what Moses was trying to teach us.  The truth from God that we need to understand our own mortality. Time is something that never stops moving forward.  It is a river that doesn’t stop flowing.  There are all these moments found in the rushing waters of life and far too often we forget to open our eyes and experience them.  I think the routine of life can dull our experiences.

So here is the principle of why I’m writing this blog, here is what I want you to take to heart from these words: Life is beautiful. Enjoy it! Open your eyes and embrace each moment as they are.

To use a metaphor: If we are trees, then the sap is our lifeblood.  God is the source of life and any truth without God is like bitter fruit. It may look good on the outside and pleasing to the eye, but without the Almighty, you will find that when you bite into the fruit, its inside is bitter and not what it’s supposed to be.

I looked down and found a little hermit crab swimming in the waters.  I pointed it out to the family and to my surprise, my wife Heidi courageously reached down and put the crab in the palm of her hand.  She pulled it up out of the waters with a smile on her face as she saw the wonder in our young boys faces.  Brody and Cole gathered around as Heidi showed off our discovery.  We all touched the crab and watched as its little tentacles and legs came in and out of the shell. Brody kept asking if he could keep the hermit crab as a pet.  That was when Heidi told me the story of her free spirited aunt who kept some hermit crabs as pets.  Yes pets….can you believe it?

As I looked back in the opposite direction from where the ocean was, I looked up to the heavens and got this amazing view of the clouds and sky.  I thought to myself, hunh…here I am turning the wrong way from where I’m supposed to be looking, and yet I still get to see something beautiful.

God remains the strength of my heart, He is mine forever. (Psalms 73:26 NLT)

Come back to Jesus my friends.

See Kari Jobe’s – “Forever” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huFra1mnIVE

Lens of Faith

Written By: Kirk Peterson

Lens of Faith

I want to tell you a story. Recently my wife’s family had a beach house vacation planned.  All of us kids set off from our respective homes out to the promise of adventure together. We did not have a real specific time that we were going to meet at the beach house. One of the groups of kids was setting out from Texas, and had a 26 hour drive ahead of them.  The other two of us groups of kids had a 3.5 hour drive and 7 hour drive respectively.  Yet, somehow we all ended meeting on the trip up to the beach house, man what are the odds of that happening???

The last day of our vacation came and we all planned different times to leave that morning.  “There will be breakfast ready for you to grab on your way out.” Again, we did not plan on all coming together, but that is what happened.  We all sat down to one last meal together before the end of our vacation.  It was a special time of reflection on the memories that we shared and our special time together.  Then, all of the sudden off in the distance I yelled, “Oh my gosh guys look…come see--there are dolphins out there!”  Right outside on this beautiful view of the beach from our beach house, dolphins came to send us off!

Some might say that these events were all random…I believe that God was shining His face down on our family.  He untied us on the way up to vacation, and He sent us off with a special gift of the experience with the dolphins and fellowship together, God loves fellowship!

So I encourage you my friends, start to view your world through the lens of our faith.

Reflection

We studied Deuteronomy this week, wow what a rich book in the Bible!  If you haven’t read Deuteronomy, I strongly encourage you to dig into it because it is amazing. This is the last book that Moses wrote.  The book starts out with God’s special possession the Israelites about to embark into the Promised Land that God had promised them and their ancestors.

7For the LORD your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the LORD your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.”’ (Deuteronomy 2:7 NLT)

It would have been so easy for Moses to tell the people that God is a God of wrath.  That He wiped out an entire generation, and speak to his people about all of the pain and suffering that they had to endure.  Yet Moses didn’t look to the struggle or the pain, rather he spoke of all that God had done for them.  He said that their journey in the desert was to build their faith. In fact we see in the story of the Israelites journey, faith in action in the world. Moses said that God provided all they needed!  He gave them water from a rock when they were thirsty, He gave them manna from heaven to eat—a food that had never been seen in the world, and from all I know that has never been seen since!

We see in this story so many things.  But what I want to speak about is how Moses, one of the greatest leaders in all of history, viewed his world. I see Moses looking through the lens of his faith at everything that God’s people were going through.  Indeed Moses had a very special relationship with God, He saw Him face to face. But he was just a man like the rest of us.

Moses knew that his time was at an end, God had told him that he would die up on the mountain looking out into the Promised Land, never to enter it after leading God’s people so faithfully.  What did this great man of faith do?  What would you do if God told you that you only had 1 week to live?  Moses choose to encourage his people.  He built them up by pouring out all that he had into them to send them off into the Promised Land equipped to handle everything before them by bringing them back to God.

9“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10Never forget the day when you stood before the LORD your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, ‘Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.’ 11“You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. 12And the LORD spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice. 13He proclaimed his covenant—the Ten Commandments—which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets. 14It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. (Deuteronomy 4:9-14 NLT)

Reflection is such an important part of our faith, it is who we are. Remember all that God has done!  Do not only remember what God has done for his people in the Bible, but remember what God has done for you.  What was it like when you came to faith?  Why did you become saved?  What caused you to believe? What emotions did you feel? For you see in reflection we remember the special moments in our life we got to share with God. It forges a fire in our faith and causes us to boldly step forward into God’s ways.

6“So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. (Deuteronomy 8:6 NLT)

As my teaching leader in bible study said, “Loving God with all of your heart means obeying Him with all of your strength.”

The secret of life does not live in what man can do, but only in what God can do. When you rely on God, you will have victory every time!

May God shine his light and love into your heart and draw you into His Kingdom. 

Come back to Jesus my friends.

See Need to Breath’s video for “Brother” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Wm_qlVD4Q

Fellowship

Written By: Kirk Peterson

Lately God has really put on my heart about fellowship.  How can we live in fellowship with God in this earthly body?

God has showed me that everything He has revealed to us and taught us all comes down to this: God wants to live with His people.  Since the beginning of creation until the end of time, that is what it is all about. 

We all have this sense of belonging that is rooted inside of us.  We all want to have friends.  We all want to have family.  I believe that sense of belonging points us all to the eternal truth that our creator, God Almighty, wants nothing more than to live in fellowship with each and every one of us. 

I was speaking with a friend recently about when I have great fellowship in my life.  I described to him what fellowship looks like for me.  A group of my friends or family, laughing and sharing life together--and there is food, somehow there is always food around during great fellowship.

9Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence! (Exodus 24:9-11 NLT)

So I have begun to seek how I can live in fellowship with God.  In this earthly body how can I have fellowship with the One who dwells inside, who has come and made His home in me.

Getting your heart right

The original sin that caused the fall of man was all about pride.  The desire of self.  God has showed me His heart is one of humility.  When you study and hear about the life of Jesus, one of the greatest things I see in the way He lived is His humble heart. 

When I look back to the moment I was saved, I remember how I kept pushing and pushing against believing in Jesus.  I was rebelling against the word of God.  I knew that I had it all figured out.  I knew how the world worked and I didn’t need God.  Then, all at once I was convicted of my sin.  My pride was broken.  Shattered by the truth, the word of God.  In that moment of weakness, the mighty savior of the world came and knocked at my door.  Like the sun breaking free of the clouds, His promise of salvation came washing over me and filled me with hope.  And finally in that moment I let go…I closed my eyes, bowed down my head and surrendered to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Recently a friend and brother in Christ wrote this prayer.  I think that the words are not only beautiful but speak to the point that I’m trying to make about getting our heart right to fellowship with God:

“I pray that God will work in your heart and your eyes will be opened to the truth of God.

You matter so much to God.  The one who spoke the sun ablaze and walked the waves and conquered the grave came just to save you.

May the deep love of Christ reach your heart and draw you into His Kingdom.”

Genuine prayer

There is something special about one-on-one time. 

I’m reminded of this great “date night” I had with my wife.  We went out to a nice restaurant and ate a good meal together.  Just me and her.  After dinner, we went outside and tried to figure out what to do.  Heidi suggested we take a walkabout.  First, we came to a neighborhood park and started climbing and jumping all around--being kids again together. I had my cell phone with me and started taking slow motion video of our antics…it was hilarious!  We laughed together and had fun.  Then we continued on our journey and came to a church.  The architecture was reminiscent to the great cathedrals of the middle ages.  It had these two giant lanterns in front that we took pictures in front of.  Our conversation hovered around God and spiritual things.  Finally we came to a park, out in the middle of nowhere was this beautiful place.  Swans and ducks were swimming in the pond and we got to see some of God’s beauty.

All throughout God’s word He teaches us about prayer.  Jesus spoke of what genuine prayer looks like:

5“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

7“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:5-7 NLT)

So when we pray, may we all pray with authenticity.  Share your heart with God and see how your relationship grows with the Lord of Life.

Bible

Another great way God has showed me how to fellowship with Him is reading His Bible.  When you think about when you read and study the Bible, what is going on?  It is you and God. God’s truth that lives inside the Bible cuts through joint and morrow exposing us before God.  The Bible transforms the way we think, renewing our mind and our soul.  It brings your mind, your body and your soul to the right place before Almighty God. 

2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

12For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

So when we read His Bible, may his Holy Spirit speak truth to us.  May we fellowship with God in spirit and truth.  May we laugh together, may we cry together, may we grow and learn from Him, and may we live life together as we read His holy Bible.

Fellowship with other believers

I was speaking with one of my friends about how we can fellowship with God.  We had been talking about what God has shown us recently. We shared about our struggles and our victories with Christ.  Then, God’s Holy Spirit convicted me of this truth…when two of God’s family come together and share about God, we are not only in fellowship with each other but God is there with us.  God says that as followers of Jesus we all are part of One Church.  One great fellowship of God’s people that will not only come together in this life, but will be together in the next life--forever!

The Believers Form a Community

42All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (Acts 2:42 NLT)

So may we come together in peace as one people.  May we come together and speak of the things of God and find unity and brotherly affection for each other.

Family

If you know me then you probably know how important family is to me.  It is a value that my Dad instilled in me growing up and one I carry with me now.  After God, my family is the most important thing to me.  The awesome truth of God is this: as believers in Jesus, we all are part of God’s family.  No family is perfect in this life, but as believers we all have a perfect family of God in the next life to come.  No matter your story of family, God promises us a family to call our own in this life with all believers and a great family in the life to come...

17He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

19So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-22 NLT)

So let us walk with confidence in this life with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  As part of God’s great family! 

May the deep love of Christ reach your heart and draw you into His Kingdom.

See “No Man is an Island” by Tenth Avenue North here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlw3jG2pE8w

In Christ & Christ In Us

Written By: Kirk Peterson

AWAKENING

I have been telling a lot of people lately about how God is moving throughout His Kingdom.  I picture His Spirit hovering over the waters like in the beginning, weaving throughout the world touching the hearts of all of his people--telling them to LISTEN! 

I believe an awakening is happening in the Church right now, and this is what I believe God is telling His people--being saved is only the first part of the story of what it means to follow Christ.  The celebration of being saved is one of the greatest miracles I’ve seen in this world and what a joy it is to see people come back to God!  But I believe God has more for his children in the life we live here on earth…

The question that God has laid on my heart is this: “Why is it so hard for Christians to live the life God wants for us?” 

KEY TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

I prayed to God and asked Him to show me the answer.  He led me to study the book of Romans and I wrote about it in my last blog “Fight to Follow.”  But it wasn’t until I heard the sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley “The Key to the Christian Life” that God showed me the answer to my question.  I really can’t say it any better than Dr. Stanley, so I strongly encourage each of you reading this to watch his sermon and not only read his sermon notes--but study it like I did!  For I believe this truth is imperative for all Christians.

Sermon Notes: http://www.intouch.org/Content/50431/SN100822.pdf

Sermon: http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/this-week-on-tv

(I don’t know how long the sermon will be up, so take the opportunity my friends!)

20My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NLT)

OPEN YOUR EYES

"I'm a good person, for the most part I do the right thing, and if there is a heaven I'm sure I will get in?"

The world tells us that we all are good people, and that is true. But here is where the truth of what the world tells you stops short! Each and every one of us has evil inside as well. So, why is what the world telling you so dangerous?

It doesn't take very long when you study human history to see what kind of evil lies in the hearts of man.

When you only focus on the good, not accepting the bad, this way of thinking gives power to the enemy of your soul. The worlds way of thinking teaches us that we don't need anyone else, for if we all are good, then there is nothing to be saved from.

But the reality of the human condition is such that when you are truthful about yourself, and reflect on what is really on the inside, your eyes will begin to see and your mind will begin to understand that we ALL NEED TO BE RESCUED!  Jesus saves.

FAITH IS TRUST

5For we live by believing and not by seeing. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT)

Do you remember that trust game we all played as a kid? Where one person would close their eyes, give themselves a hug, and trust that the other people behind them would catch them when they fall.

In the same way, Faith in God is trust. The simple truth is God wants a relationship with us. Just like any other relationship in life, the one with God Almighty takes time to develop as we learn to trust Him.

All the great relationships in life have to have trust and I am confident, though we cannot see God, that if you trust Him--it can be the greatest relationship you will ever have!

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT

So how do we live more like Christ?

LIVING THE “NEW LIFE” IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON OUR OWN STRENGTH, POWER & KNOWLEDGE.  ONLY BY SURRENDERING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS, LETTING HIM LEAD YOUR LIFE, TOGETHER CAN YOU LIVE THE LIFE GOD WANTS FOR YOU.

That is what living by the Spirit means to me. Not that we will not have struggles, heartache, or make mistakes but rather living life in fellowship with our God living inside of us, that is life at its very best! For living In Christ and Christ in us--WE ARE NEVER ALONE!

(Paraphrased from Dr. Stanley’s sermon, “The Key to the Christian Life”)

PARALLELS FROM CHILDHOOD TO OUR CHRISTIAN WALK

My 5 year old son Brody just started kindergarten this week.  It is a very interesting time for a parent.  You have poured out so much to help them grow and now you are sending them out into the world.  You are trusting that they will find their way on the bus, that their teacher and faculty will take good care of them at school, and you are hoping that they will thrive in their new environment.  It is bittersweet, because you are sad at losing the time that you have together, yet at the same time you are excited for them to grow and learn about life.

I looked over to my boy and said, “Brody, I’m so excited for you to start kindergarten son!  You get to have all new experiences with school, you can learn & meet some new friends.  You love to learn and you did so well with preschool, I think you going to thrive in school and I’m very happy for you.”

Brody was excited, smiling and jumping about.  “What does thrive mean daddy?”

I replied, “Thrive means that you are going to live life well.  You are going to grow up and learn some new things.  Dad is sad that I won’t get to spend as much time with you, but I’m happier for you because I think it is going to be a great experience for you.”

Flash forward to our car ride home from his first kindergarten orientation night.

“You got to get a little taste of what kindergarten is going to be like Brody.  It is not all going to be fun and adventure.  Sometimes you will get bored, but school is a great place where you can learn something. So, since you are already going to be there you might as well try to learn something...right?”

CLOSING

I pray that you can take to heart the words written here.  To me, taking something to heart means you pick it up and take it with you in your life--you live it out.  Think on what it means to have fellowship with our God who lives inside & through all of those who are saved. Give up living your life for yourself and start letting Jesus Christ lead your life. 

God tells us in his word that He will never leave us or abandon us.  Jesus said that those who are His can never loose salvation.  Be encouraged my friends, for now is a great time for all of Gods kingdom. God is good! 

[Jesus praying to God the Father] 13“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

20“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. (John 17:13-21 NLT)

See Mercy Me’s “Greater” video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXI0B4iMLuU