Vision

-->

As we start the New Year God is going to show us something different, better, the vision that He has for our lives. And as He does we're going to have to leave our comfort zone, take a step of faith into a place that's not totally known in order to go where God wants us to go. We’re going to have to leave the comfort of the known and take the step of faith. 

Far to many people miss what God has for them because they want step out in faith into the unknown. Let 2013 be the year where you trust God, even when you can't see the next step. Look what Paul has to say in Acts 20:22-24;

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:22-24

Romans 8:28

--> Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

I thank God for this verse. It does not say that all things are good but that God can and will bring good out of our circumstance. As I walk through this difficult time of my life with my parents in their last days I am holding on to this verse. I do know that God is with my family and will bring good out of our situation.

No matter what you’re going through you can know that you are not alone, but that God is with you.

God In A Box

I don’t know about you, but so many times I try and make God fit into my box. God has been showing me over and over that there is no box that can contain Him. So why do I keep trying to make God fit in my box?

As you look through the Bible you will see that God/Jesus will not fit into any box. The people that met Jesus used words like; marveled, amazed and astounded. What words do we use to describe Jesus?

John 20:30-31 says; The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The people that knew Jesus said it was like being plugged into life itself.

Jesus didn’t call people to be religious. He wasn’t against religion. He went to the synagogue until they kicked him out. He went to the temple and cleared it out and went back the next day to teach.

He called people to be holy, to be fully alive in Him. He called people to Himself.

He’s the kind of Messiah that gets you through when your best friend dies.

He’s the kind of Messiah that gets you through when you lose your job.

He’s the kind of Messiah that makes since out of your confusion when your business is failing.

He’s the kind of Messiah that meets your needs when it looks like there’s no way.

He’s the kind of Messiah that’s there when your relationships are in the tank.

He’s the kind of Messiah that will be there when life is falling apart.

He’s the kind of Messiah that’s there when everything is going great.

He’s the kind of Messiah that loved us enough to give His life for us.

He’s the kind of Messiah that doesn’t mind getting messy.

So no matter what kind of mess you’re going through He’s there for you.

The people that Jesus got angry with were not the sinners, but the religious people that thought they had Him all figured out, the ones that had God in their box.

I pray that we can get Jesus our of our boxes, so when people see us they see the Jesus that is in us.

Follow Your Burden

For the past few weeks I have been studying the book of Nehemiah. Here is an ordinary guy that God put a huge burden on his heart. Nehemiah got some bad news from his brother about his homeland and it broke his heart. When he heard the news he sat down to cry, he knelt down to pray then he stood up to act.

There have been times in my life when I believed that God wanted me to do something, times when I had a major burden. The problem was everywhere I turned people said, No! When you have a burden from God, don’t let anyone take it away from you.

Like Nehemiah, take time to pray and then move to action. And remember, God specializes in using ordinary people to His work.

Christmas

As we enter this Christmas season I pray that we’ll keep our eyes on the true meaning of Christmas. It is so easy to get sidetracked and lose focus on what is most important. As you go through this season, remember that God came from heaven to earth in the form of man.

Philippians 2: 6-11  Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The God of the Universe came to earth from heaven through His Son Jesus. For so many the only thing they know about God's name is that you shouldn't use it in vain. But there's so much more to know including the fact that He has many different names.  Here are only fore of His names, what they mean, and how they can be a personal introduction to a more intimate understanding of God's heart and character.

• Jehovah Rohi: “The Lord my Shepherd” - Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1)

• Jehovah Tsidkenu: “The Lord our righteousness” - Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).

• Jehovah Nissi: “The Lord our Banner” - Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).

• Immanuel: “God with us” – Stresses that God is always with us. (Isaiah 7:14).

Who We Are In Christ

I was talking to someone the other day that said that they were a Christian, but didn’t understand what that truly meant. They said, I’ve been a Christian for a long time but who am I in Christ?

When we know who we are, we’ll know what to do.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

In Christ we are a new creation, and we have a new purposes. It also says in
2 Corinthians 5:20, We are therefore Christ's Ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal

 through us.

So, we are a new creation, and an ambassador for Christ. An Ambassador, is the highest ranking diplomat sent as a representative from one country to another. As a Christian, we have been sent by God, as His Ambassador to this earth. We represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. When we know who we are, then we'll know what to do.

You are somebody in Christ!

Thailand Mission Trip June 1-15, 2011

Join us on our Thailand mission trip June 1-15, 2011