morning thoughts

Sitting on the porch this morning, I was thinking about how cool it is that we have an unseen world to look forward to, how great it is that we can have ears to see the unseen, that we have a whole other world that we can be looking to. Father, that we have you behind us, that we have you with us, and that we need to spend time with you in order to be able to see the unseen world, to be able to see the depths of things behind the superficial, behind the first glance. Because the whole earth is FULL of his glory!!  We are concerned with people’s souls, not their clothing, not their homes, their lives, we know that a future kingdom with beauty and splendor is awaiting us. We are concerned with their deep soul hungers, and wanting them to know that Jesus is the answer to those hungers. And we see the world going about its business, day after day, cars going to and fro, people going to work, people being outside, people enjoying the beautiful world the Lord has made. But there is a deeper rhythm to it all, a deeper buzzing beneath all of this. This world is being orchestrated by the hand of it’s master Creator. And in each and every minute, people are either moving towards you or away from you. but you have given us your Spirit, alive in us, so we have the ability to move towards you more and know you more in every minute. I pray that we would have hearts that earnestly ask that of You. and that we would pray for the power of the Holy Spirit as we come in contact with each and every person. Knowing they are thirsty for the living water that you have begun to fill us with. Yet another reason we need your eyes and ears: on the outside, those who do not know Christ are not going to look thirsty. They are not going to look like they need a Savior (well some will, but not all) so we need ears to hear and eyes to see that every person has a chasm in their soul that needs to be filled with the power of the Cross. That everyone needs to be washed by the beautiful blood. And that is why we cannot go off of what we see, because we cannot see need on the outside. We cannot see our needs on the outside, or on other believers, so we will not be able to see it on others. But know that everyone on this earth was made to drink Christ’s living water, and it is their biggest, deepest need. He literally created each and every one of us to be in fellowship with him. So lets be praying for the people in our life that need him, but even those who we don’t even know, that come into our work, that we pass on the street. And we don’t know how God is going to answer the prayers we pray over them, but we know that we are heard, and we know He will answer in some way. And he is wanting everyone to come to them, and wants to ask everyong, are you thirsty? He wants to fill tthem with his living water. He wants to fill every crevice of our souls with the fullness of himself. Knowing that he paid it all, he paid everything needed for everyone to come to him. And we have no idea how he is going to use everyone we see, but we know that if he could change Saul to Paul, and call him his chosen instrument, that he can do powerful things through the people we see in and throughout our everyday lives. So lets proclaim the message that John 17 so boldly talks about when Jesus prays to his father, that our message, through the Holy Spirit would bring a message of unity, with the power of Jesus that the thirsty souls today would see our love,  and believe that God the Father sent Him and loves us, just as God loves Jesus. 

verses to read and meditate on today from these thoughts: 

Psalm 47:5-7 “God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a song of praise. God reigns over the nations, God is seated on his holy throne.”

Isaiah 6:3 “And they were calling to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

1 John 5:14-15
"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which have asked from Him."

2 corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Acts 9:15 “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded yu. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

John 7:37 “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given the, the glory that you gave me that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

some great worship songs for today:
Jealous Kind- Jars of Clay
I Adore You- Phil Wickham
Everything Glorious- David Crowder Band
Our Great God- Mac Powell and Fernando Ortega
Sing Alleluia- Jennifer Knapp and Mac Powell
All I Need is You- Hillsong
Come and Listen- David Crowder Band

enjoy :) hope you can get to know Christ in a new way today. 

learning from our elders

I've been on a big Moses kick for a little while. I think we have so much to learn from him. Not in only what he did, and how he was used, but how God took him as he was to be used. Moses was the person that led God's chosen people to freedom. The Israelites. out of Egypt. by Moses. by Moses, who when God asked him to go talk to Pharaoh, said that he would not be good enough. lets's see:

"Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it." Exodus 4:11-17

Moses was nervous. Moses didnt think he could do it. How many times to do we come to God like that? I think we should take comfort in this, but also find that from Moses' example, we know that God can work huge things through whoever he chooses, however he chooses. Know that Moses didn't think he was the man for the job. he wanted someone else to take the reigns. and God knew him, and God worked with him in his weakness, providing his brother Aaron. are you like that with God? are you even as open with God to tell him you don't think you can do it? are you doubting God? trust that He knows you. and he will provide. but God also shows us through the story of Moses, that when His Spirit is with us, we can do all things through Him. just come to Jesus. give him your heart. know that whatever task, person, or ministry He is leading you to, that He will provide for you.
Long after Moses, we have the ministry and vision of Paul. and a verse I think ties into this perfectly, that we can lean on and find such strength in is 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." made perfect. that is bold. but that is Jesus. come to that grace.

There is a reason that Hebrews 12 starts with encouraging us in the presence of many witnesses, for we are in that presence. If we are in Christ, we have many witnesses that went before us. that we can look to. we can see how God used them, worked in them, molded, and healed them. look at Moses. someone who did not think he could even talk to Pharoah was the man who with the power of God, told this great king to 'let the people go.'
God can do something big through you. just get to know him. be listening for your call, however big or small. He will lead you.

I AM.

"But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"And God said, "I will be with you. ANd this will be the sign sent to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
Moses said to God, Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites. 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:11-14

Louie Giglio- I AM

Do you know this I AM? Has the Lord answered you as I AM? Trust that He will always answer, He will always be constant, and that he wants to answer as I AM. When God says, I AM is with you, no matter what you come to him with, you have the God of the Universe behind you, and know that His strength will guide you and get you through, just as he gave strength to Moses to free the Israelites.