I have spent the last few days with the Porter family in Regina. It is always encouraging and refreshing to stay with them. This morning there was a police bust of some kind across the street. I think I counted about 12 officers in total. This lead me to some of the notions of my past.
Obviously I wasn't going to go out and chase down a gang member, but if I had to I wouldn't be afraid. It's like when I was young, I carried myself with the thought that it didn't matter if I got hurt or died, God had my back. Where did I lose my way? There are numerous times when I know I had protection of another kind.
So my challenge to you and to myself is to in faith put yourself in a situation at least out of your comfort zone. Tell someone that Jesus loves them, do a random act of kindness. If you want to be used by God you have to give him something to work with. You'll be amazed how the smallest thing is huge when God's in it.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Engaged!
Sorry for the slowness of posting this momentous occasion. I am engaged to married to Andrea Porter! The date is set at January 31st 2009.
I want to direct all the focus of this event and the glory towards God. If you haven't noticed yet that's the whole reason for this blog. It has definitely been a long distance relationship, with only about 6 of the 20 months together. I'd like to thank everybody who has supported us and I hope that we will have your continuing support.
I want to direct all the focus of this event and the glory towards God. If you haven't noticed yet that's the whole reason for this blog. It has definitely been a long distance relationship, with only about 6 of the 20 months together. I'd like to thank everybody who has supported us and I hope that we will have your continuing support.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Servants
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7: 15-17
At first glance this text seemed overbearing to me. We're going to serve him one day in his temple? Does that seem a little bit oppressive to anyone else?
Then I thought about it a little bit more. We are slaves to something, most likely to this world and the sin in it. To serve God is not just one option among a list of things to serve. To serve God is to break away from the list of worldly options.
Now think about being in the Sanctuary of God, dwell on the comfort that can only come from being in the presence of God. Imagine how wonderful this life would be if all we had to worry about is serving God without the distractions of a job, money or school. God promises this to us in the end, when it's all said and done, all we'll need to do is serve. I love Him.
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7: 15-17
At first glance this text seemed overbearing to me. We're going to serve him one day in his temple? Does that seem a little bit oppressive to anyone else?
Then I thought about it a little bit more. We are slaves to something, most likely to this world and the sin in it. To serve God is not just one option among a list of things to serve. To serve God is to break away from the list of worldly options.
Now think about being in the Sanctuary of God, dwell on the comfort that can only come from being in the presence of God. Imagine how wonderful this life would be if all we had to worry about is serving God without the distractions of a job, money or school. God promises this to us in the end, when it's all said and done, all we'll need to do is serve. I love Him.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I am tired of timidity, I'm tired of caring what others see. Just imagine if you walked talked and lived with the authority of Christ! Yet we do not, for some reason we cannot. Has the old nature not been put off? Am I not a new creation in Christ Jesus? I 'm positive that I am. I cannot ever deny the saving grace of Jesus, I will never turn to unbelief. Still without passion I live! This lament does not bring resolution, but only more longing for change. So I give you this text:
50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[g]
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
Now sit back and read that passage again. Flesh and blood have no inheritance in the Kingdom! The fingers with which I type will be rendered useless. The feet you walk on will be gone. Yet the text says we will all be changed, there's no specification between believers and unbelievers. All will be judged. All should be warned. So what are we holding back for? The death that is brought on by sin has been erased. Jesus took our sins, he forgave them! If we are in him, and he in us then our imperishable spirit is assured a place in eternity. So fear nobody but his majesty!
Now that you can see the end and what it holds, where do you stand? Do not fear the one who destroys the body but fear the one who destroys the soul. Can you walk in the authority of Christ?
50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[g]
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
Now sit back and read that passage again. Flesh and blood have no inheritance in the Kingdom! The fingers with which I type will be rendered useless. The feet you walk on will be gone. Yet the text says we will all be changed, there's no specification between believers and unbelievers. All will be judged. All should be warned. So what are we holding back for? The death that is brought on by sin has been erased. Jesus took our sins, he forgave them! If we are in him, and he in us then our imperishable spirit is assured a place in eternity. So fear nobody but his majesty!
Now that you can see the end and what it holds, where do you stand? Do not fear the one who destroys the body but fear the one who destroys the soul. Can you walk in the authority of Christ?
Friday, April 18, 2008
Drunk
Recently I heard a sermon on this text, 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2
The speaker ended the sermon by telling me to get drunk off of the spiritual milk. Like a newborn baby craves milk, that's how we are supposed to crave the things of God. Then to get drunk off of spiritual things would to have them in excess. This became even more real to me yesterday as I was waiting for the bus. A drunk women came and sat beside me and proceeded to talk to me and I talked back. She then sat beside me on the bus and talked to me until she got off the bus. She was drunk, she was talking. If we are drunk off the spiritual milk we will be talking.
"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Is your hearts desire something other than the cup that Jesus drank? Does your speech edify Christ? I'll pray that it does.
The speaker ended the sermon by telling me to get drunk off of the spiritual milk. Like a newborn baby craves milk, that's how we are supposed to crave the things of God. Then to get drunk off of spiritual things would to have them in excess. This became even more real to me yesterday as I was waiting for the bus. A drunk women came and sat beside me and proceeded to talk to me and I talked back. She then sat beside me on the bus and talked to me until she got off the bus. She was drunk, she was talking. If we are drunk off the spiritual milk we will be talking.
"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Is your hearts desire something other than the cup that Jesus drank? Does your speech edify Christ? I'll pray that it does.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Summer
I had been planning to cook at camp again this summer, I'd even asked for a leave of absence. This did not work out though, so I will be in Winnipeg. It wasn't the way I had worked things out in my head. I had already expected to go to camp because I thought that was where God wanted me. Then again what do I know about the will of God.
At first I took it pretty hard, but I soon found peace in knowing it was above me. Knowing that the things of this life are passing away, to sulk on this would prove my faith shallow. I don't know the plans he holds for me, but I trust and obey.
At first I took it pretty hard, but I soon found peace in knowing it was above me. Knowing that the things of this life are passing away, to sulk on this would prove my faith shallow. I don't know the plans he holds for me, but I trust and obey.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
From one sheep to another
Hello fellow sheep! We are all sheep following one Chief Shepard.
2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-3
We are all sheep, whether we believe or we do not. Some sheep are lost and need to be brought back into the fold. Be examples to the flock because you never know who's watching your every step. Yet do not lord yourself over those entrusted to you. In other words do not see yourself as higher than anyone but see them as equal. And do it all with the hope of eternal glory. It's just a good verse, check it out.
2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-3
We are all sheep, whether we believe or we do not. Some sheep are lost and need to be brought back into the fold. Be examples to the flock because you never know who's watching your every step. Yet do not lord yourself over those entrusted to you. In other words do not see yourself as higher than anyone but see them as equal. And do it all with the hope of eternal glory. It's just a good verse, check it out.
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