Mud

Where has God brought me in the past year?

My current life cannot be more of a blessing. I praise God for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There is no reason I deserve the friends who pick me up when I am lost, beaten, and buried.

As I sit here, less than seven days away from graduation, I still feel like a freshman about to walk in the door of an unknown college campus, but this time I do not know where I will be spending the next four years of my life. All I have on my back are some clothes, shoes, and a bible. Tonight my prayer goes out to faith in Jesus Christ my Lord.

The hardest decision in man's life has to be the act of becoming emptied for a higher gain. Do you ever feel like you are waiting on God to "shake you out and be empty" before you move into the next phase of your life? You trudge along in path of mud only waiting to become stripped clean and back on the sidewalk again.
In the midst of indecision and confusion we must know God. He made us for today. The past week of "rough" spiritual journey doesn't compare to a life full of grace and growth in Him. God has made us for a moment such as this. We are prepared. We are ready to attack the battle with our weapons held high. In the middle of our "mud" God has already prepared us for this moment, and we must remember our weapons are bigger than only a few days of preparation. God has sharpened our sword for a lifetime. We have our weapons in holster and ready to attack. Mark. Lean. Go fight the good fight.

Action

I fail so many times to go beyond.

Tonight a thought finally crossed my mind that sums up some of my most recent thoughts. I've attended a ministry recently that is good, but I feel like I'm missing something. Now I know that I've been missing action.

Action builds community. I love the community. So I want more action.

Action means more than the normal. Action includes going beyond the weekly study, meeting, lecture, and doing something different. Actions can be outward or inward. Action can involve specific abnormal events for the group to attend, or action can involve an outward focus to talk to people outside of the normal group.

My favorite action is outward. With any of my past experiences with a regular group of people, we have grown together the most when we reach out to others and meet knew people as a group. I love community and desire for it. Nothing is more dead than a group of people (calling themselves a community) that do not create action.

Reach. Grow. Gain.

Does it bug you when it seems as though a body of believers are acting out a story straight from the Old Testament about not following God's command. You can see in the eyes a mind that has been attracted to a path far away. Tears drip from their guitars and curses stir among the people.

God's people have been told what needs to happen, yet they continue to walk in the opposite direction. People are dying. Souls are hurting. Now I wonder what servant will attract the people back to the destination molded in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't that how the story reads?

We must FIGHT

By looking back over the story of David and Goliath, the story of David has a whole new meaning. Since when in our hearts do we have a heart like David's?

David's story of Goliath takes off during a rough time for Saul. God is beginning to take his royalty away, and Samuel is quickly becoming one of Saul's broken friendships. Then all of a sudden the son of Jesse comes into the scene. David is with his herd of sheep, when he is ordered to bring bread to the front lines between the Israelites and the Philistines. Once a few conversations pass, David becomes the man to take on Goliath. Although this isn't just the fact that David steps up to take on Goliath, a 9 foot giant, but it is the story of David's passion for God's people. As soon as he understands this uncircumcised Philistine has defied the armies of the living God he knows he will fight. David tells of his experience of protect his flocks by killing off bears and lions, and he knows Goliath "will be like one of them."

All because of one mans attitude for God's kingdom does Goliath die.

By reading this passage out of 1 Samuel 17, I begin to see the real extent that we must believe in God's kingdom. We might be caring weapons that looks small, but, infact, we have the weapons of gold. This is an action to stand. Believe in what God has given to us. Do not fall down to other peoples misunderstandings and ungodly knowledge. Do not become sidetracked by some other thing. Stay focused on fighting for God's kingdom.

We must fight for each other. God has put us on this Earth together to form a community of warriors to fight the good fight. Don't leave a brother behind. Fight for pure hearts and defeat the evil in sin. Fight for joy and faith by defeating evil attractions of porn, selfishness, and poison.

DefineTheRelationship

So tonight I just finished a four week series discussing relationships at The Loop in Memphis.

From before this series started to now, my perspective on relationships has grown very deep. Now I'm left to sitting here trying to digest this whole idea of "relationships." Although there is one thing I need to get off of my chest. Let me discuss DTRs with you....

One of the worst things a person could find themselves in is an undefined relationship. These relationships can become so dirty within a person's soul. God made men and women to get married, but when you "kick around in the dirt" you are not progressing. You are not moving. Although I can understand those couples who do not directly clarify their definition as a couple yet they both know they are heading towards marriage. I'm talking about the undefined relationship which is leading to nothing. "Dude, if you are going to makeout with the girl without setting a definitive relationship which is working towards marriage, then your butt should be back at home holding your mom's hand. You need to learn some more about relationships." God did not put us into this world to make undefined relationships. Whether it's a new freshman on campus, a man/woman, or even a coworker, we are all including an extrovert quality to get to know the person for some reason. You are defining the reason for the relationship. I want to meet incoming freshman so they won't be lost. I want to start relating to "this" professor because I am taking his class. I want relate to this girl because I want to seek out marriage. I want to form this relationship because it will really help us focus spiritually. Do you see it? We are always meeting new people and forming new relationships for some reason. So what does the Bible say?

My bible tells me of very defined relationships. The most important examples come from God himself who developed a unique relation to people like Moses. He related to Moses in a strict definition to help lead the Israelitis out of Egypt and into new land. He related to Paul to help us see today of what Christianity really means. But what does his relationships with us really mean? How many times have you said you are a son/daughter of God? God tells us we are the children of God, but how often are we undefined about our relationship to God. There should never be a somewhat value of "I guess." We should know. "I am a child of God." If you say you are a child of God then seek it out. Do not be swayed! Define your relationship and fight for it. Do not enter into a relationship with God if you think he will give you more blessings. Enter into a daily relationship with Him as a devoted follower who desires to seek and follow Christ. Stand firm.