Just thinking (about the comings of Christ)

The 'pastors' of the day in Biblical times were so excited about the Christ' soon-coming. They expected Christ to be, as was told by the Old Testament, a war-Lord, a conqueror of nations, a victor in battle, etc.. Jesus was all of these things, but each in a way that the leaders were not expecting. For, our battle is not one of flesh and blood, but of the Spirit.

Thinking about Christ' second coming, we usually are told in church that it will be magnificent, unforgettable, marvelous! All of these things, it couldn't help but be. However, do not keep your eyes looking for a flash of light! Do not keep your ears intently listening for a loud trumpet blast! The religious leaders held expectations for the day Christ would come to save them of sin. Little did they know that their imagination was not nearly in line with the ways of God, let alone know that they were the perpetrators who would execute the very Son of the Living God, who came to save them, that they've been waiting for since the fall of man.

When reading the Scriptures, it's easy to take away our own image of what an event will look like. Especially with events like the second coming of Christ (trumpet blast - the opening of the heavens - the multitudes of angels). Make no assumptions, however; especially audible and visual assumptions! Have little expectation other than for the Almighty God to be glorified. Ask for His wisdom and insight when concerning the Scriptures; lest we have the very Word of God in our worldly minds, like the pastors and religious leaders of Biblical times, and fail to receive the heart-translation.

Just Thinking (about prayer)

Conversation with myself today:

You’re a Christian, right?
How do you spend your time?
How do you use your energy?
What do you think about most?
An idol is something that takes up your time, energy, and thought.
Ouch.
Is God your idol?
Where is your loyalty?
Have you lied to yourself all along, believing that you are living for God when you are really devoted to yourself?

You profess to be for Him, in Him, and of Him.
I wonder if you know Him.
I wonder if you love Him.

Today, I recognize:
God's infinite wisdom - about everything!
His ultimate power - to do anything!
His transformation - so we can do something!
I recognize the desire of God’s heart - to be being loved by His creation.

I proclaim that God is calling every person to play a considerably small and eternally significant role in His grand story.

Nobody can fill your shoes. God only called one person to build the ark, to deliver the Israelites, to draw water from a well. You are called to do something(s) especially, things which nobody else ‘will do.’

Instead of focusing on the sea of regrets and unholy routines that are in your life currently and need to be replaced, just follow the streams flowing into that sea (sea = your life). Construct a single stream to overcome all others, a stream of prayer! Let His love be flowing from His heart into your life, that you may truly be of Him, for Him, in Him, and truly devoted to Him. (Romans 12!)

I agree with Phillip Yancey who said, “Prayer, and only prayer, restores my vision to one that more resembles God’s.” When you pray, you will be given insight from the mind of God as to what you are called to do. Whatever you decide to do with the wisdom you are given determines who/what you are serving.

As for now, pray. For me, prayer is a matter far greater than life or death. William Booth once said something like this: “Work as if everything depended on your work. Pray as if everything depended on your prayer.” Yet another person, I’m still unsure who – I believe he is from Akron Citadel Corps – once said,

“The greatest regret Christians will have when they get to Heaven will be when they realize how powerful prayer really is and how lightly they regarded it while here on earth. They will realize how much more of a difference they could have made, but it will be too late.”

Praise God for the power and wisdom and guidance He gives us through the gift of prayer. I praise Him too, now, for the realization of my slack of a prayer life. I’ve said a prayer for you today, who read this. May you feel the Lord’s tug, call on Him, and reap the tools and peace and guidance He has in store for you by it.

(Stream/Sea illustration was the idea of Phillip Yancey, used in his book "Prayer")

Just thinking (about consistency in its relation to exclusivity/having a focused concentration)

What am I trying to say?
1) We will be very effective in prayer if we pray throughout the day - if we pray with consistency.
2) Our prayer life will be more effective, still, if we set aside time to pray with no distractions.

Here's how I understand it...
When I am in the process of trying to memorize lines for drama, sometimes I try and memorize them while I am on the go. When I'm driving, for instance, I will try and recite my lines and remember them. In memorizing my lines, this kind of consistency is very important. BUT when I set aside the time to memorize and practice my lines in my room with no distractions, I get it done so much quicker and I even begin to act out my role, not just know the lines. It is so helpful to be reciting my lines throughout the day, but setting aside time to memorize lines is so much more effective, and it makes the times I recite in the car to be much more effective as well.

Now here's the kick to my stomache that got me today:
When I'm driving, I pray alot. And when I'm on facebook, sometimes I will pray. I am pretty consistent in praying throughout my day, and I'm sure that is a great thing and all, but how more effective could my prayer life be if I would simply set aside time to pray without distractions? Only when you seclude yourself from the world and come before God with NOTHING ELSE on your schedule for that particular moment will you find the necessity of focused and concentrated prayer. You will also find the uncomfortable convictions of the heart and challenging of the Spirit.

Remind me, if you know, the man who once said "I begin my day in prayer for TWO hours except for the days that I am extremely busy, in that case, I begin my day in prayer for THREE hours."

I do not feel that any more needs to be said. Be challenged today. Pray to the Lord with me.

Don't forget...
1) We will be very effective in prayer if we pray throughout the day - if we pray with consistency.
2) Our prayer life will be more effective, still, if we set aside time to pray with no distractions.

Digging deeper
I'm being redundant in this statement on purpose: "having a focused cocentration." There's a difference (in my mind) between having a focus and having a focused concentration.

Having a focus: I find to be setting aside the time to pray, focusing your time to pray and not to be distracted while you are praying.
Having a focused concentration: This means, to me, to focus on more than just being in 'prayer mode.' It means to focus (1) on your prayer and (2) on the intentions of your heart in praying.

(For instance: When you ask God to give you a good day, what is your intent? What do you expect? Do you assume that God will answer your prayer by making your day comfortable for you? Do you assume that God would answer your prayer by helping His will to be done in you - no matter how painful it is for you? In having a focused concentration, you will acknowledge the actual prayer that you pray, and the intentions of your heart in praying it.)

Just thinking (about revolution)

Revolution is the talk of the day.
Let me give you a word of encouragement and inspiration about it.

REVOLUTION is not the 'product' of believers becoming Christ-Like; it is the 'process' of believers becoming Christ like.

For example...
The 'great awakening' was not a product of a multitude of people who came to an active framework in their lives that fit the description of what they perceived to be Biblical or upright living. In fact, the 'great awakening' was not a change in the hearts of Christians at all...

...sin was the change in the hearts of Christians. The great awakening was when their hearts returned to the UNchanging gospel. The love, acceptance and convictions of God.

REVOLUTION is not when our hearts will change. Rather, SIN is when our hearts change.
REVOLUTION is the turning back of our lives to Christ.

What have we been doing all this time?
What, still, are we waiting for?

Awake! whoever you are! today!
Read the Word - pray sincerely!
Awake! Awake! Awake!

Just thinking (about living as God desires us to live)

What am I trying to say?

• Our efforts are equally important to the Holy Spirit's efforts in our living as God desires us to live: totally for the will of God.
  
• The way in which we ought to be living for God is to be in a mutual relationship with God where-in our efforts are put forth and God, through the Holy Spirit, makes something great of them.

Here's how I understand it...
Firstly, let me say that it is God's power through Jesus Christ which has made the connection between man and God possible. I affirm that nothing but the power of God in the life of Christ Jesus makes true salvation an option for us. Now that the foundation is laid – now that salvation is something to be grasped (because of Christ) - my question becomes: What, if anything, is primary to God's will being done in our lives? What needs to happen for Him to be pleased with us? Is this a possible feat?

God is able to cause us to do His will, but He decides to let us choose Him instead. Since God's desire for our lives is not forced upon us, two things are absolutely essential in order for you and me to be so transformed as to live as God desires us to live (in order for His will to be done in our lives): 1. We need to do our part. 2. God needs to do His part in us through the Holy Spirit.

(1) ‘Our part’ is to KNOW the ways in which God wants us to live and to DISCIPLINE ourselves to live in those ways.
(2) ‘God's part’, through the Holy Spirit, is to help us to live in such a way so as for His will to be done in our lives.

Some people focus primarily on our actions and disciplines and devotion to Christ and His way of life. They find that God will not let us ‘be tempted beyond what we can bear.’ This kind of thinker is stricter about the everyday decisions and actions, saying that these things are too easily ‘overlooked’ and taken too lightly. They are often misunderstood to be heavily judgmental of Christians and non-Christians because their primary belief is to become like Christ, not letting anything to get in the way or become a hindrance to them in this vision.

Some people focus primarily on how God should be helping us to do His will. They see that God promises to help us become and remain righteous and they hold Him somewhat responsible for our lifestyles. This kind of thinker is seen as more easy-going and welcoming of all people from all different lifestyles. They are very active in sharing the love of Christ and claiming it for their own lives. They openly admit their imperfection and claim that they will probably never be perfect while on Earth. They are often misunderstood as rebellious and anti-church.

I’m sure you can imagine the conflict these two kinds of people have. Let me explain how both of these viewpoints hold truth in them, but are, perhaps, missing out on the whole truth. Our part (as explained by #1) is just as important as God's part (as explained by #2).

If I had a broken chair, I would use tools to fix that chair. The tools and I are equally important. The tools aren't as smart as me, or as powerful as I am, but without the tools, I am unable to fix my chair. Similarly, God's will is for the world to be rid of evil, or ‘fixed’. As we give our lives to Him, we become what He uses for His will to be accomplished on the Earth. We aren’t as powerful as God, as wise as God, or as big as God . . . but His will cannot be accomplished without us. Again, He could always cause us to accept Him, but that is not within His will. He wants us to choose Him.

The first step toward living totally for God’s will is to claim the grace of God which is only by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. It is important to realize that eternal life starts when you begin to live for God, not when you die. Step two is for us to live in such a way as God desires us to. How is this done? What does this look like? For the will of God to be done in our lives, effort is needed from the Holy Spirit and from us. It is humanly impossible to live a life of holiness, and that is why our and the Holy Spirit’s activity are equally important.

Don't Forget...
Our efforts are equally important to the Holy Spirit's efforts in our living as God desires us to live: totally for the will of God.

The way in which we ought to be living for God is to be in a mutual relationship with God where-in our efforts are put forth and God, through the Holy Spirit, makes something great of them.

Weather - Seasons - Action!?

How's the weather been for you all?

No idea why my mind has been wondering all around the place lately.

The Spring brings me peace. I think I understand what it is. Life will bring about change. Some will experience change more often than others. Being in The Salvation Army, change is bound to occur. Big change.

We've moved from Sandusky to Salem to Painesville to Canton. We've been so blessed! Especially blessed to stay in NEOSA. Going back to visit Salem and Painesville is nice to do. I really enjoy it. It just is not the same now, however. God has called me elsewhere, and I went. I enjoy going back to visit, but it will never be the same. Life, for me, has changed. And with it, so have I.

The spring, however, is the same. The first rain with semi-warm weather - the snow melting everywhere - the smell of winter's departure!! FINALLY!! It's all so familiar. The scent, the rain, everything.

God loves to give us new life! He loves to be our redeemer! As the trees go in season, so do we. Spring - God gives us new life, restoring the joy of His salvation. Summer - our faith and trust in the LORD flourish and shine brightly. FALL - we begin to come down off of our mountain top experience, and begin to face hard times. Winter - our endurance is totally tested, and trials and temptations weigh heavy on us. We may feel alone, we may feel like God has deserted us. But sure enough, the LORD is faithful to His promises - and the Spring is here in no time.

Praise God, you people who read my blog. :)
Praise Him! Dude, worship the LORD our God with your life.
He has plans for your future. That is, He has plans for you for when that time comes. Right now, however, this time has come. He has called you to something today. I can only encourage you to seek first the LORD. I have no idea what you are to be doing.

Sick of 'the church' being shallow?
Do you have questions as to why God isn't found in 'Christians' today?

Do something about it in your life. If you can live in the way God wants you to, He will surely use you to inspire the rest.

I used to love talking about revolution. Let me tell you - revolution is something that every church wants, it is something that every individual Christ Follower needs! Holiness is a huge aspect of revolution happening. Becoming selfless servants, wanting no recognition. This is where revolution is begun.

Instead of anticipating a change in the church, if you are one who would be excited about it, let me be the one to challenge you not to wait until your pastor or parent does something about it - do something about it, yourself!

Colossians 1:28-29: "We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy which so powerfully works in me."

James 1:5, 22:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should as God, who gives generously to all without finding fault(HE WILL NOT RESENT YOUR ASKING) , and it will be given to him."
"Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves, but do what it says."

Galaxies to Nanometers - Wrap Your Brain Around This!

The Earth’s circumference at the equator is 24,901.55 miles (the red line on the map)
From Portland Maine, Los Angeles California is 2,644 MILES away (the red line beyond the map)

About Nanometers: A week or two ago I shared some insights on Nanometers. I described them as microscopically microscopic. That is, when you zoom into something microscopic, a nanometer is still too small to be seen. The only way I can put it concisely, for those who may not stick around for this whole post, a Nanometer is microscopic – even at the microscopic level.

I want to share more research I did on Nanometers. First, I wonder if you have heard Louie Giglio’s speeches about the universe. I like comparisons. Louie Giglio got me hooked on comparisons when I first heard his speech about the size of other planets in comparison to the earth. To give a very general overview of what Giglio said:

There are planets so huge that if the Earth were the size of a golf-ball, in comparison, there is a planet with the width of two golden-gate bridges. Another planet is so big that, if the Earth were the size of a golf ball, this planet’s width is the length of something like two Eiffel Towers on top of each other! The last planet that Giglio spoke of utterly amazed me. If the Earth were represented as a golf ball, and that golf ball was placed beside this last planet, than it would be like a golf ball next to Mount Everest! So, climb to the top of Mount Everest, place a golf ball on a tee at the top, climb down and then look up at that golf ball – and that is the size of the Earth in comparison to this star/planet.It is difficult to wrap my mind around the vastness of these planets. This information, as intense and unbelievable as it is, isn’t the beginning of the measurement or understanding of the universe, or the God who created it.

Nanometers . . . I don’t have a clue where to begin! Okay, so I mentioned before that a Nanometer was so tiny that 750 million of them can fit across the width of a strand of human hair. I did some figuring, and found other interesting ways to think about the Nanometer. Instead of a golf ball, I thought a pea would be more fitting for this task.

I found that, if a Nanometer were the size of a pea, the width of a strand of human hair would be 26,600 miles long! To help you understand this, look at that photo. These lines put together equal about 27,545 miles long. Imagine, now, a giant strand of hair. These lines put together represent the approximate width of that piece of hair. Long-ways, the hair is laying North/South – and you are merely looking at how thick the piece of hair is. That is how wide one piece of hair would be in comparison to a nanometer, if a nanometer were only the size of a pea.

The smallest of things can crush us, be careful of what you are getting yourself into!
The greatest of things can humble us, be careful of where your mind is when pride becomes an
issue!

Our God is so BIG that He created the many stars within countless galaxies - the whole universe that is still expanding! Yet, He paid attention to each detail. Nanometers - even atoms! And to think that all of it was created through Christ Jesus for Christ Jesus. Knowing this, it is amazing to think that He still became one of us because of His unfathomable love for us, and held it all together even as a man. (Colossians 1:15-23)

I'm amazed at the wonder in creation. I'm sure there is much more to learn! And I'm sure when my time of learning it comes, I will share it with you. I hope you have better understood and seen the greatness of God by the examples used in this post and my humble attesting to it in my own life.