So I've been planning Global Day of Prayer here in Saskatoon with two friends of mine for this year. It's coming up really fast, in less then a week now. We still seem to have so many details to pull together and as I've called people to be involved and looked for people who are eager to serve I haven't gotten a lot of positive results. It's been frustrating for me, being new at this and really not knowing how to plan such a big event in the first place, the lack of response seems to add to the frustration. I think in some ways I've lost some motivation and also have allowed myself to become lazy.
This morning I was reading from John Eldridge's blog, a well known christian author. I came across this:
“Both the Scriptures and the history of the church teach that if the Holy Spirit is working, the whole man will be involved and there will be much cost to the Christian. The more the Holy Spirit works, the more Christians will be used in battle, and the more they are used, the more there will be personal cost and tiredness. It is quite the opposite of what we might first think. People often cry out for the work of the Holy Spirit and yet forget that when the Holy Spirit works, there is always tremendous cost to the people of God, weariness and tears and battles.”
I asked God to use me and I guess in some ways I figured once the oppertunity came it would be easy. But it's a battle. Inward and outward. Further down in John's blog he wrote something that literally came off the page as though God were speaking those exact words to me, he wrote, "The consolation was also Jesus saying, 'You didn’t blow it; I asked you to do this. I am in this'".
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Just a little thought for the day...
Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit’s vision, Gazing on the Crucified.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Worship and Intercession
Holiness or Hardness Toward God?
He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . . —Isaiah 59:16
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5 ). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, "But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this"? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
If there are two things that I'm most passionate about it's worship and intercession. Those two things are the most important aspects of my relationship with the Lord because it's through worship and intercession that I am changed. As we seek and pursue God in our lives he honors that and begins to change us. And I so want to be changed by Him. Everyday I long to become more and more a reflection of my God. I long to be free from the flesh, the sinful nature that so often controls me. I want so badly for the lost to be found, for the blind to see and for the hurting to find healing in Jesus Christ. I long to go deeper and deeper into the heart of God...as deep as I can possibly go. I want to know every corner and every part. I want to know the heart of God, I want to cry for what He cries for, I want to rejoice in what He rejoices in. I want to be so intimately connected to my God, to the point where I'm undeniably His alone.
He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . . —Isaiah 59:16
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5 ). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, "But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this"? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
If there are two things that I'm most passionate about it's worship and intercession. Those two things are the most important aspects of my relationship with the Lord because it's through worship and intercession that I am changed. As we seek and pursue God in our lives he honors that and begins to change us. And I so want to be changed by Him. Everyday I long to become more and more a reflection of my God. I long to be free from the flesh, the sinful nature that so often controls me. I want so badly for the lost to be found, for the blind to see and for the hurting to find healing in Jesus Christ. I long to go deeper and deeper into the heart of God...as deep as I can possibly go. I want to know every corner and every part. I want to know the heart of God, I want to cry for what He cries for, I want to rejoice in what He rejoices in. I want to be so intimately connected to my God, to the point where I'm undeniably His alone.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Won't you come home?
I'm SO hungry for God. And I want so badly for the church to truly seek and find the Lord. I believe that God is taking the church to a whole new place. A place this generation has not yet seen. God wants to bring us into a place of intimacy with him. A place where he can speak softly to us of his love and beakon the darkness out of us. A place that is so safe, a place that is so sacred. And my whole body craves that...my mind, my heart and my spirit. Hebrews 4: 12 says "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart". God wants to take us to a place where his word speaks to us...and begins to cut away the selfish flesh, and everything that is not of his heart. And I want so badly to go there. Not just me...but along with the whole church. And God, wants it so much more. He keeps beckoning us. He keeps calling out, longing for us to come. He says "won't you come home to me?"
Friday, February 27, 2009
A Thought for Today
"The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him."
...Sometimes I become discouraged when I see how deep the well of my incompleteless runs. When I think of how much work the Lord still needs to do in me. But this encouraged me when I read it. That discouragement does not come from God. That discouragement comes from the enemy. Because as long as he can get us to believe that God is not capable of changing us, we'll stay right where we are, or worse, turn and walk the other way. But God is MORE then capable of changing us. His grace goes beyond anything we can imagine. So when you start to feel discouraged about your incompleteness and begin to think that God is in-capable of saving you from every hurt and every bit of shame and sin, think again. He IS capable. Nothing is impossible for the Almighty God.
...Sometimes I become discouraged when I see how deep the well of my incompleteless runs. When I think of how much work the Lord still needs to do in me. But this encouraged me when I read it. That discouragement does not come from God. That discouragement comes from the enemy. Because as long as he can get us to believe that God is not capable of changing us, we'll stay right where we are, or worse, turn and walk the other way. But God is MORE then capable of changing us. His grace goes beyond anything we can imagine. So when you start to feel discouraged about your incompleteness and begin to think that God is in-capable of saving you from every hurt and every bit of shame and sin, think again. He IS capable. Nothing is impossible for the Almighty God.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Do You Really Love Him?
She has done a good work for Me —Mark 14:6
If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.
Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a good work for Me."
There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. ". . . but perfect love casts out fear . . ." once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.
(written by: Oswald Chambers)
Lately I've been feeling discouraged about how much work God has yet to do in me...and sometimes I feel as though I'm not in a place where I can be used by God until I get to a certain point where I think I'm "good enough" or fianlly "worthy" to be used by Him. What an untrue thought! The truth is...I myself will never be worthy...and it's nothing that I can or will ever do that will make me worthy to be used by God. I can try to change on my own and make that my focus...but that won't truely cause me to change. The only way that I can truely is change is by fully seeking God alone. As we spend time in his word and his prescence through intimate moments of worship and prayer...face down before Him...that's when He will begin to change us. And it's by His Grace that I am worthy. Because without the gift of Jesus Christ and the blood he shed for me...I am not worthy of his love. But by God's Grace we are made worthy! How amazing is our God? Who loves like that? So don't focus on becoming more holy...simply focus on SEEKING GOD...really, truely, completely seeking Him. That's when we will be changed.
If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.
Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a good work for Me."
There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. ". . . but perfect love casts out fear . . ." once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.
(written by: Oswald Chambers)
Lately I've been feeling discouraged about how much work God has yet to do in me...and sometimes I feel as though I'm not in a place where I can be used by God until I get to a certain point where I think I'm "good enough" or fianlly "worthy" to be used by Him. What an untrue thought! The truth is...I myself will never be worthy...and it's nothing that I can or will ever do that will make me worthy to be used by God. I can try to change on my own and make that my focus...but that won't truely cause me to change. The only way that I can truely is change is by fully seeking God alone. As we spend time in his word and his prescence through intimate moments of worship and prayer...face down before Him...that's when He will begin to change us. And it's by His Grace that I am worthy. Because without the gift of Jesus Christ and the blood he shed for me...I am not worthy of his love. But by God's Grace we are made worthy! How amazing is our God? Who loves like that? So don't focus on becoming more holy...simply focus on SEEKING GOD...really, truely, completely seeking Him. That's when we will be changed.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Answers...
Spiritual Dejection by Oswald Chambers
We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened —Luke 24:21
Every fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew from those facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources— I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. Lust means "I must have it at once." Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer. What have I been hoping or trusting God would do? Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
"Whoa" is all I could say after I read this. How often do we sit before God and demand He give us an answer?!? Is it right for me to think that He owes me that, or I deserve that? Everything I attain in life, I have because of Him, physical or not. One thing I have recently been learning, is that the only thing in life that I can be completely certain of is my Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything else in this world will fade or change or grow weary and faint; but the Lord will never fade, he will never change. He is the Alpha, Omega, beginning and the end. He will not grow weary or faint...He is the constant. Everything else is temporary. Even answers. They last for a while...until something else comes along...then we want me. But if we are always seeking God instead, then answers will come without worry or haste. And our peace that is found only in Him will be constant. So from now on...I'm going to seek God...not answers.
We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened —Luke 24:21
Every fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew from those facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources— I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. Lust means "I must have it at once." Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer. What have I been hoping or trusting God would do? Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
"Whoa" is all I could say after I read this. How often do we sit before God and demand He give us an answer?!? Is it right for me to think that He owes me that, or I deserve that? Everything I attain in life, I have because of Him, physical or not. One thing I have recently been learning, is that the only thing in life that I can be completely certain of is my Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything else in this world will fade or change or grow weary and faint; but the Lord will never fade, he will never change. He is the Alpha, Omega, beginning and the end. He will not grow weary or faint...He is the constant. Everything else is temporary. Even answers. They last for a while...until something else comes along...then we want me. But if we are always seeking God instead, then answers will come without worry or haste. And our peace that is found only in Him will be constant. So from now on...I'm going to seek God...not answers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)