Tuned In....

Hearing God, how do you do it? I believe it is like my satelite dish, you have to be tuned into the right signal. How do you tune in? I believe, among other things, a community with believers, (small groups, church, etc.) studying God's Word, you have to emerse yourself in this life. Just like in anything you do, to do it well, you have to study and learn about it. For example if you like cars. You would want to know everything about them, so you would talk about them, be around them, you would emerse yourself so that it would become 2nd nature. To get a glimpse of understanding of God and His ways we have to do the same thing, emerse ourselves in Him.

However, sometimes our tuners get knocked out of place by things of this world, life in general, or by Satan himself trying to block the signal between us and God. 1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Sometimes we can put the tuner back to the right signal ourselves. But there are other times, we (myself included) need somebody else to help us tune back in. This is okay if we need help. We were not ment to walk this life alone. Ecclesiastes 4:10 "If one falls down, his friend can help him up."

My challenge to you: where are you tuned in today? Is it to the world, or to God's goodness? Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

Commitment....

What are you commited too? Is it your job? Your family? Your friends? A diet?  Whatever it is, it will take sacrifice and work to keep that commitment.  You can't say, I want my marriage to be strong and then do nothing to keep it that way. Nobody says, I want to lose weight and then not excercise or change the way they are eating.

For me, last week I made the biggest commitment I have made to date (see pic below).

This tattoo represents my commitments to my job in the medical field as a Paramedic and ER Nurse. It also shows my commitment to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. The red color in the RN letters signify the sacrifice, the shedding of His blood, He made on the cross so that one day I could live with Him in Heaven. 

So, what are you commited to right now?

Stepping Out...

The last few posts have been about fear and where God is leading.  It maybe something big like going overseas for an amount of time. Or maybe little like going up to a stranger and telling them something, or a person comes to mind to call them.  Whatever it is, trust is an essential part of doing what God asks. Trust that He know what He is doing, where He is leading and that He has your best in mind.

From past experience I can say that God always has your best in mind. Thus, this semester I am stepping out and co-leading a small group study reading Walking with God by John Eldridge. I have never lead a group before and so will be leaning on Him for wisdom and where He is leading within the group. The closer it gets the more excited I am becoming because I know where God has lead me He will show up.

I leave you with this verse from Exodus 23:20 "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared."

Got Fear?

This was a note I wrote last year prior to going to Uganda on a Medical mission trip....Enjoy :)

Over the past month since deciding to go to Uganda God has continually been bringing 2 Timothy 1:7 to mind, " For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." Even today, at my brother's church in Mountain home, this verse was part of the pastor's sermon. I am not afraid to go on this trip but have not really shared the gospel before. I think deep down I might be slightly afraid to do this. However, tonight in prayer time with my friend David, God showed me a verse and a passage to mediate on.


Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Acts 9:10-18 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Behold, [here am] I, Lord." 11. And the Lord [said] to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12. and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." 13. But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; 14. and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name." 15. But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16. for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." 17. And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18. And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized

This passage reminded me that sometimes we maybe afraid like Ananias. Knowing that God has called us to something but fear keeps us from accomplishing it. However, ultimately, I believe that Ananias knew that God was in control, that as Joshua 1:9 says He will always be with us and for us; and that God would not be asking him to do this if not for the greater good of His kingdom.

So this is just my encouragement to you all. Whatever fear is trying to invade your life wether it be tests, school, future plans, work, etc. We have no reason to fear for God is always with us and we have the Holy Spirit to lead us in spirit and truth.

Specific Plans

I have been reading through the book of Exodus in the Bible. Yesterday I began to read about the instructions for the making of the Tabernacle and everything associated with it. At first glance it is a list of building instructions. To be honest I was a little bored at first. I am thinking, why is this in the BIBLE? Couldn't God have taken this part out and put something else in its place?


But God showed me why He has this section of passage in the Bible. Just as God was very specific in the building of His Holy of Holy place, He has a specific and wonderful set of instructions for my life as well. If we allow Him to be the Architect of our lives, He will build an amazing and wonderful life for us.

Beauty

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder...Isn't that how the saying goes?  But who is the beholder?  I believe most people would say that it is another human being. However, I believe the Beholder should be God himself and you looking inward at yourself.

In this day in age, beauty most of the time is about the outside appearance. But that can be deceptive because photos are always "touched up" and that beautiful person in the photo is not that way in real life. We often compare ourselves with these people and other people we deem more beautiful than ourselves.

However, in 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, " Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." To me, this the heart of the matter. No matter what anybody else says about you, You are beautiful in God's eyes because he created you.

Change...

Change...No one really likes it, however it is an inevitable part of life. I have been attending New Life Church in Maumelle, AR for close to a year now. It feels like a lot of change has occured in the singles group I am a part of. Multiple friends getting married, friends depoyed to Iraq, God leading other friends into other parts of ministry.

In Exodus, the last chapter lets me know that God was over the Tent of Meeting day and night. The Israelites did not go anywhere until God's Spirit led them there first . So while things may change around me, Jesus will never change, nor forsake me. What He is doing today, His promises will stay the same...