spreading seed

I'm in my happy place today, spending time in God's Word on my sunny deck.

Watching birds eat from our feeders, dogs play and just exhaling.  It's a very good place.

The devotional I was reading today reminded me that each of us is gifted exactly as God intended so that we can be used by Him for the purpose of spreading His message.

I Corinthians 3:8-10 says, "He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[a] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

It reminded me that although the Lord is the divine Sower, He places seeds in MY hands!  I don't have to have it all figured out, just be ready to take advantage of opportunities he lays right in front of me every day to sow into someone's life!

I loved this line from the study, " When I'm exhaling and not hyperventilating He uses me to spread seeds."  We are not usable when we're running non-stop and not listening to that quiet voice that allows us to recognize opportunities to spread the seed so the Holy Spirit can do God's work in someone's life.

I had a conversation with someone at Crossroads this weekend who said "as I get older I just look at my life and wonder, what have I done with my life?"  This is the tug at our heart to find our life's work and worth in Jesus alone.  Simply living an 'available' life with a heart surrendered to Him - with time to listen is all He requires.

It's no accident where God has placed you, there are seed to be sown that only your can spread!!

how should we pray

Last week when the Crossroads staff gathered to pray - Darlene read to us before we prayed about the suffering and persecution that we see around the world.

She asked the most challenging thing..."should we stop praying for God to end persecution?  Because persecution comes when God's people are living for Him - when new people are coming to know Him.  If we ask for persecution to stop, then in essence we're asking for God to stop working in the hearts of men." 

I thought about that all week - what a revolutionary way to think about what we see going on.   We watch as men with an evil agenda think THEY are in control when it couldn't be more apparent that they are puppets of evil - playing out exactly what God said would happen when His people rise up and are willing to lay EVERYTHING on the line to lead others to Him.  The persecuted believe with all their hearts that every person they can reach with the message of God is worth any personal risk.  What an amazing testimony this is!

Obviously we still need to ask for God to surround them with His Holy Spirit and presence so even as they face death, they know He is near.

I have been appalled at what has been shown on TV and will not watch any of it.  But, the other thing I can't get out of my mind is what Pastor Dave said in last weekend's message when he reminded us that in the book of Revelation God says in the last days we will be able to see what is happening around the world.  That's amazing that in God's Word He describes our current ability to 'see' with the internet - although He obviously doesn't come out and say 'how' we'll be able to see.

This should be extremely comforting knowing that none of this is a surprise to Almighty God and that He is indeed in control.


The question we must ask ourselves then is - if persecution comes to places where God is moving in people's hearts, is that why America is still going about it's daily business - for the most part blind or unconcerned with what is happening around us as long as we're comfortable? 

Interesting to wrestle with and pray about.

My personal prayer is for God to reveal His Glory through my life - to use me to lead others to Him,  so much so that persecution holds no place of fear within me as I rest in Him.

hard to put into words

I have been busy today trying to write a script for a video shoot we will be doing on Sunday.

I sometimes have a very difficult time putting my ideas into words, words that other people can understand and follow.

I have frustrated people on previous shoots when I haven't clearly spelled out each and every shot we need. When it isn't well thought out and explained it wastes everyone's time and often results in missing important shots creating holes in the final project. And there is nothing I hate worse than wasting peoples' time or leaving holes.

I have given it my best shot and sent it off to the actors. So once again my work will be out there for all to see. It is hard to put into words how it feels to fail despite trying and equally hard to put into words the feeling when you get it right. When an idea becomes words, then actions and then part of the message that penetrates peoples lives ...well, that is not a feeling at all. It is nothing short of the greatest privilege in my life and only possible when the Holy Spirit becomes involved in all those words.

what I learned today

Recently Pastor Tim talked about how the Holy Spirit dwelling in our lives is the one who reveals the truths of scripture. Without His indwelling we cannot understand and apply the Bible to our lives.

I realized today as I sat on my deck - how quickly my soul becomes empty. How I was longing to feel His stirring of my soul.

I was reading through an old prayer about the trinity this morning, here is a couple of the lines:

Three persons and one God, I bless and praise thee,
for love so unmerited, so unspeakable, so wondrous, so mighty to save
the lost and raise them to glory.
O Triune God, who commanded the universe...

I could just feel the gratefulness of this writer from long ago. How overwhelming it is indeed to think that this God created us and calls us to Him for eternity. I cannot imagine even a day outside of His love.

happy at work

I was looking forward to getting into work today. I know there are some of you who may not feel the same way. You probably think working at the church makes it easy to be happy, at least in comparison to your job.

But, consider this. Unless you are living in disobedience to the Lord, you are right where He wants you to be. You are right where He needs you to be. And you are where others need you to be.

I encourage you to go to work today anticipating God meeting you there.

There is nothing magical about a church building, like I work in. It's the Holy Spirit and the people that gather that make it a kingdom building tool and a place of learning and fellowship. Today without the congregation here, it is where I work. I feel privileged to have a job, and to have a position that is not just a job. You can feel the same way if you are willing to treat your job as if you believe that God has placed you there! Try it! May God bless your day!

God's will

All my friends care deeply about God's will for their lives. We all talk about being in His will or our lives would be wasted!

So question...if this is how we are to spend our lives, seeking God's will, then why is it so hard to find? Or is it?

Maybe it is as simple as being in the Bible and in prayer, listening to wise counsel from trusted more mature believers, being willing to walk through doors the Holy Spirit reveals to us, watching for opportunities He provides to use the abilities He has gifted us with. It isn't about us "doing things" to discover God's will, but rather to remain in Him, being content even in times that feel like He is not revealing Himself to us.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6

Being in God's will may be the closest peak at eternity with Him that we get. Worth the pursuit!

what I learned today

"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."

—Romans 8:5–6

I cannot imagine how horrible it would be without the Holy Spirit in our lives. How hopeless to be focused on sinful things, a pointless life really. I started my day, which is a gift from the Lord in itself, asking God to fill my mind with pleasing things, Holy Spirit lead things the entire day. Does this guarantee perfection? Of course not, because somewhere along the way today I'll try to take over and mess something up!!

I cannot control my thoughts and actions without His intervention. I get mad, I get jealous, I spend time worrying about things I have no control over without His help. So today I put on the armor of the Holy Spirit and give Him my day.

Nancy Beach from the WillowCreek church says, "Things we know, doctrines we say we believe are useless and meaningless if they don't affect our daily lives."

I was reading about Art in the Bible recently, in it the author writes about celebrating the 'Lordship of Christ over the whole of man...' Lordship of Christ over man - this is what I am learning, that is what I desire. I was reminded again today how much I need the Holy Spirit in my daily life and how important it is to submit to this daily!

anticipation

There is this sense of anticipation this morning at Crossroads. Holy Spirit stuff.

I felt His presence as soon as I entered. Several new people again at last nights service interested upon first visit to connect.

God created us this way, not to do life alone, but, to connect. I get to watch it happen, nothing is better then this. Being a small part of people connecting to others they will spend eternity with. I watch them being called to the Savior - they can't resist. Many are not yet aware that they are taking steps toward Him. Breathtaking...amazing...