The question that lingers tonight is this: am I willing to trust God with my dreams ?? And I am not talking about the ones that involve sheep and clouds. !
Now, that is a large question. I am not just talking about the dreams that you and I have thought of from time to time and have thought to ourselves, "Oh, now that would be nice." NO, I am talking about those dreams that have been placed deep within you. The dreams that have been written on your heart by the hand of God and you know that His handwriting is there. These are the kind of dreams that you cannot forget. These are the kinds of dreams that no amount of difficulty or circumstance can erase from you mind and memory. In fact, in many instances, the more they are tested, the more they are confirmed.
Maybe for you, you have decided that punting on your dreams is a good thing, maybe the safest thing to do. Maybe you think that by doing this, your heart is safe. No risk of having your heart broken, again. !! But you know that you cannot punt on the very things that the God of the Universe has written deep within you. The question is, will you be willing to allow the dreams that God has placed within you to compel you on in your glorious pursuit of an all-surpassing, all-inspiring, all-dream launching God.
Maybe some others of you cannot quite uniquely define the exact things that God has written in your soul and you find it continually frustrating. I recommend that you begin to have a dialogue with God about what frustrates you. Maybe it is time to tell Him that you think that He maybe holding out on you. Maybe you feel that confusion is the state in life that you will forever live in. Talk to Him about it and see what He has to say. He wants you and I to know those things which He has created us for and He wants us to strive for those dreams. The ones that He and only He can write on our hearts.
I do know this, if the dream I am compelled by or the dream's I wish I could drop every for and pursue with every ounce of my being, are from God, He will accomplish His work in due time. Just trust Him, He knows when the time is right. Maybe you have some self made dreams that are really stumbling blocks for you, trust Him with those to. I can trust God with my dreams and passions. Truth is, am I willing to trust myself with these things more than God ???
God, what is it that you have written on my heart, deep within me that would cause me to glorify you with the most of my being as is possible ??
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Pursuing a Fearful God - Part 1
In this day and age, it is not much of a stretch to say that the idea of "fearing" the Lord is one that is not taught and is an idea that is nearly non-existant in the American Church...It is not merely a matter of why this has happened, it is more a matter of how it has happened. Meaning, the question is not singularly why does the church not fear the Lord as we are commanded and compelled by Scripture to do, but how did we get to the place were "fearing" the Lord has become the taboo topic that it is today.
The simple fact remains that the Bible is explicitly clear on this matter. There are to many references in the Scriptures that render our lack of "fear" as idiotic, ungodly and unbiblical.
Can it be said of the American Church, "there is not fear of God before their eyes" ??? Do we not fear the Lord at all ??? Do we shutter in "fear of God" before we willingly sin ?? Do we not expect that God will/should repay us in the manner that our "inquities" deserve ??? Do we lean to heavily on OUR understanding of God's grace instead of what the Bible teaches about the grace of God ???
Does the American Church ask the same question that Lucy asks in Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" when asking the beavers about the great Lion, Aslan, "is the great lion, safe ? " In other words, is he wild enough to fear ???
I leave the questions to you for now. More to be said later. In the meantime, check out Psalm 103 to refocus your perspective on this God of ours.
The simple fact remains that the Bible is explicitly clear on this matter. There are to many references in the Scriptures that render our lack of "fear" as idiotic, ungodly and unbiblical.
Can it be said of the American Church, "there is not fear of God before their eyes" ??? Do we not fear the Lord at all ??? Do we shutter in "fear of God" before we willingly sin ?? Do we not expect that God will/should repay us in the manner that our "inquities" deserve ??? Do we lean to heavily on OUR understanding of God's grace instead of what the Bible teaches about the grace of God ???
Does the American Church ask the same question that Lucy asks in Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" when asking the beavers about the great Lion, Aslan, "is the great lion, safe ? " In other words, is he wild enough to fear ???
I leave the questions to you for now. More to be said later. In the meantime, check out Psalm 103 to refocus your perspective on this God of ours.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Making Time for Pursuing God
After our first Praise & Prayer night at Markham Street and in the days of reflection following, I am left with a single thought that continues to strike me. Namely, how difficult and uncomfortable it is for most of us to take the time that we know we need/have to take to authentically pursue the Lord of Glory.
It seems that most are willing to make some effort in their pursuit of God so long as it is in a comfortable setting, in a familiar place, with familiar activities and only for a short time...The problem is, can we truly say that we are pursuing God with any effort given all the limitations that we place on our ability to meet with God ???
I am of the opinion that most church-going Christians need to stretched in many different ways, but maybe most of all, we need our appetites for God to be streched and enlarged.
Outside of the power of God compelling us along, I think many like us are asking folks to chase hard after something and someone that they do not highly treasure. So asking folks to pursue the God they save the love above all, even in intentional and structured forms, is asking them to stretch themselves to a point that many do not see worth the effort.
We complain about how the modern day church has put God in a box, but are we willing to pursue God with all that we are if it means breaking out of our comfort zone also ???
Am I willing to give God 5 legit minutes today ??? Am I willing to give God 75 minutes on a Sunday ??? Am I really willing to be still before Him and know that He is God ???
God help my undesires !!!
SDG
JW
It seems that most are willing to make some effort in their pursuit of God so long as it is in a comfortable setting, in a familiar place, with familiar activities and only for a short time...The problem is, can we truly say that we are pursuing God with any effort given all the limitations that we place on our ability to meet with God ???
I am of the opinion that most church-going Christians need to stretched in many different ways, but maybe most of all, we need our appetites for God to be streched and enlarged.
Outside of the power of God compelling us along, I think many like us are asking folks to chase hard after something and someone that they do not highly treasure. So asking folks to pursue the God they save the love above all, even in intentional and structured forms, is asking them to stretch themselves to a point that many do not see worth the effort.
We complain about how the modern day church has put God in a box, but are we willing to pursue God with all that we are if it means breaking out of our comfort zone also ???
Am I willing to give God 5 legit minutes today ??? Am I willing to give God 75 minutes on a Sunday ??? Am I really willing to be still before Him and know that He is God ???
God help my undesires !!!
SDG
JW
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Da-Da, I hun-ga-ry...
Funny name for the title of this post, huh??? Maybe it is. But for me, the words entitled above are words I hear very frequently from my son, Mathis age 3...It seems that no matter how often his tummy says that he is full, before to long he is going to be "hun-ga-ry" again.
I mention this for no other reason than to examine 2 things. First, my response and second, his persistence.
Everytime I hear these words my immediate, initial response to feed the boy so he does not starve to death...I am always inclined to respond to my son's petition that he is hungry and he knows that I can help meet his needs. For short measure, if I do not respond timely enough, he comes back again and again until I either get him something to eat or say no.
Is this not a decent picture of the relationship that I need to have with my Heavenly Father? He tells us in His scriptures that he is inclined to hear us and respond to our petitions for help, so why would He not respond to our petitions for satisfaction of our hunger...Hunger, that is, for Him. Beyond voicing our requests that we are indeed hungry, we need to be persistent with this petition. I think God uniquely rejoices over those of His children that keep coming and coming to Him with a hungry heart.
Father, I am hun-ga-ry for You and You alone.
SDG
JW
I mention this for no other reason than to examine 2 things. First, my response and second, his persistence.
Everytime I hear these words my immediate, initial response to feed the boy so he does not starve to death...I am always inclined to respond to my son's petition that he is hungry and he knows that I can help meet his needs. For short measure, if I do not respond timely enough, he comes back again and again until I either get him something to eat or say no.
Is this not a decent picture of the relationship that I need to have with my Heavenly Father? He tells us in His scriptures that he is inclined to hear us and respond to our petitions for help, so why would He not respond to our petitions for satisfaction of our hunger...Hunger, that is, for Him. Beyond voicing our requests that we are indeed hungry, we need to be persistent with this petition. I think God uniquely rejoices over those of His children that keep coming and coming to Him with a hungry heart.
Father, I am hun-ga-ry for You and You alone.
SDG
JW
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thristy hearts are awakened by God
"Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God in their lives." - A. W. Tozer
If we are willing to study Christian history, we will see that there have been many that have come before us that can be and sought to be defined and remembered by one thing and one thing alone: their hearts were thirsty for God. These men and women are giants in our historical faith and they speak to us with ancient words that are still ever true.
But...have you ever wondered what made these men and women thirst for God in ways that boggle our modern American theological minds. Tozer answers this question: their hearts were awakened by a touch from God. A pure thirst for the eternal was given to them be the only Eternal being that could satisfy their Eternal desires. It should not seem to difficult to comprehend why the Eternal is deeply involved in the initiating of this thirst or desire that only He can fulfill? If He is the only one who can fulfill it is He not the one that would have to give it to us to start with? GRACE.
This is just like our God isn't it? Being gracious enough to us to know that those who thirst for something deeper than themselves are really thirsty for Him, even though they may not know it. So He comes down, touches the hearts of men, gives them thirst for Him and then directs the thirsts He has given to them back toward the source, Him.
Is this not the definition of grace? Getting something that I do not deserve from someone who has the authority to withhold it. For many, it may be enough that they know of a God who is willing to save. But how many are willing to pursue and know a truly gracious God that can satisfy their thirsts and desires to the deepest parts of their being.
In agreement with the ancients, may we have a thirst for more than the man-made stuff of this world. Man-made stuff always sounds good in the theoretical but habitually fails and falls flat on its face in reality. May we thirst for more of the God who provides the very thirst we need in order that we are able to receive the satisfaction that only He can provide and the satisfaction we desperately need.
Piper put it like this: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." He is the source of it all.
SDG,
JW
If we are willing to study Christian history, we will see that there have been many that have come before us that can be and sought to be defined and remembered by one thing and one thing alone: their hearts were thirsty for God. These men and women are giants in our historical faith and they speak to us with ancient words that are still ever true.
But...have you ever wondered what made these men and women thirst for God in ways that boggle our modern American theological minds. Tozer answers this question: their hearts were awakened by a touch from God. A pure thirst for the eternal was given to them be the only Eternal being that could satisfy their Eternal desires. It should not seem to difficult to comprehend why the Eternal is deeply involved in the initiating of this thirst or desire that only He can fulfill? If He is the only one who can fulfill it is He not the one that would have to give it to us to start with? GRACE.
This is just like our God isn't it? Being gracious enough to us to know that those who thirst for something deeper than themselves are really thirsty for Him, even though they may not know it. So He comes down, touches the hearts of men, gives them thirst for Him and then directs the thirsts He has given to them back toward the source, Him.
Is this not the definition of grace? Getting something that I do not deserve from someone who has the authority to withhold it. For many, it may be enough that they know of a God who is willing to save. But how many are willing to pursue and know a truly gracious God that can satisfy their thirsts and desires to the deepest parts of their being.
In agreement with the ancients, may we have a thirst for more than the man-made stuff of this world. Man-made stuff always sounds good in the theoretical but habitually fails and falls flat on its face in reality. May we thirst for more of the God who provides the very thirst we need in order that we are able to receive the satisfaction that only He can provide and the satisfaction we desperately need.
Piper put it like this: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." He is the source of it all.
SDG,
JW
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Lest we forget
As the first post of the new year, a quick thought reminding us that we need to take time to remember...Why do we need to make an effort to "remember"?? Easy, we quickly amd frequently forget...
I once read were Eldredge said that he has thought many times about creating and hanging a sign on the wall in front of this bed that reads "God exists"..Why?? Just in case he needs to be reminded of that foundational fact when he awakes one morning...Just in case he had forgotten all else.
As is seemingly natural for us, we remember all or most of the bad stuff that has occurred over the last 12 months...So as a result, we need to make extra effort to remember all the good that has occurred and thank God for the journey we are on...
Forgetfulness is one of the reasons we need to saturate our hearts and minds with the Word and with solid Biblical authors, writers, musicians or speakers.....David encouraged us to "hide" the Word within us, why? so we will not forget...
So, I encourage you to take some time before the first week of this year gets away to take some deliberate time to remember and thank God for all He has done or is doing in your life...But most of all, thank God and remember that He is with you wherever you go...
SDG
JW
I once read were Eldredge said that he has thought many times about creating and hanging a sign on the wall in front of this bed that reads "God exists"..Why?? Just in case he needs to be reminded of that foundational fact when he awakes one morning...Just in case he had forgotten all else.
As is seemingly natural for us, we remember all or most of the bad stuff that has occurred over the last 12 months...So as a result, we need to make extra effort to remember all the good that has occurred and thank God for the journey we are on...
Forgetfulness is one of the reasons we need to saturate our hearts and minds with the Word and with solid Biblical authors, writers, musicians or speakers.....David encouraged us to "hide" the Word within us, why? so we will not forget...
So, I encourage you to take some time before the first week of this year gets away to take some deliberate time to remember and thank God for all He has done or is doing in your life...But most of all, thank God and remember that He is with you wherever you go...
SDG
JW
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