Failure is Ok

Recently, I just started reading a book by an author I have never read from before. The book is Awakening by Stovall Weems. It is about renewing and revolutionizing your relationship with God. A good amount of this book that talks about fasting. This is challenging for me because fasting for me has never been a strong suit for me. The longest fast I have ever done without food was for 5 days, the only reason I was able to do that was because I was fasting with about 60 other students as well and we spent all 5 days of the fast together and food just wasn't available. The obvious pressure of not wanting to look like a failure in front of everyone was what keep me in that particular fast. But as for any fasts that I have done or attempted on my own, I have rarely ever completed one. Just a one day fast without food is difficult for me. When I have attempted these fasts it was a rare occasion. I have always hated the thought of fasting, because I always knew I would end up failing.

As I was thinking about this today, I pondered all the different things that God has been teaching me lately. One thing especially, has been the reality for me that nothing I ever do or don't do will ever qualify me for salvation. My salvation and righteousness before God is only because of what Jesus has done for me. The only reason I am saved is because I chose to identify myself with the death and resurrection of Christ and call upon His name. One particular story in the bible that helped me grasp this was the story of when the Israelites were set free from Egypt. The last of the ten plagues that came upon everyone in Egypt was that the first-born of every household would be killed unless they marked their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb. It wasn't anyones actions that caused them to be saved from this plague, but it was the blood of the sacrifice on their doorposts. This same principal applies to us in salvation. We are only saved by having the blood of Christ marking the doorposts of our hearts. Nothing I do or don't do, can save me but the blood of Christ.

With this reality, God was showing me that it's ok to fail. We will never be perfect on our own. The fact that Jesus died, gives us freedom to fail. We can boldly pursue spiritual things. If we fail at living for God perfectly thats ok, we are still saved. Jesus died so that we don't have to fear of failing anymore. Most often we don't endeavor in pursuing spiritual things is because we know we'll fail. But since Jesus died we have no reason to fear. Because of Jesus we can only grow more in Him. It is better to pursue spiritual things, such as fasting for me, and fail along the way and experience and know God, then to never do those things at all. So lets not put so much pressure on ourselves to perform for God. If we could live pleasing lives for God in our own strength, then how would God ever receive the glory? If it was ever at all possible for us to follow the old covenant of keeping the law, then why did Jesus die? Jesus paid it all for us and our salvation is free, so let us boldly pursue greater things and if we fail along the way, it's ok, lets get back up, that failure has not disqualified us.

Driving Home

Tonight, as I was driving, thoughts were just racing through my brain about all the things that I have to get done. I had just finished attending an all day class for my theology schooling and I was on my way back to Castle Rock. Feeling overwhelmed and drained, I was wondering where my joy had gone.

Right then I felt as if God was asking me where my focus was. "Are you doing this for eternal purposes or are you doing this to make a name for yourself?" At that moment I began to think of what a glorious day it will be when we join all the angels in singing and worshiping God. It will be such a glorious day.

When we look to Jesus and spending eternity with Him, the things we endure here on this earth are become such a light burden. It all becomes so worth it.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Just as Jesus endured the cross because of the coming glory, we too should also endure faithfully to the end in serving Christ Jesus as he served us. Any length of suffering doesn't even compare to eternity in heaven with Him. So let us not become tired in serving Jesus, but let us look to eternity and rejoice that we have an eternal home that we are bound for. May we, for the joy set before us endure our crosses. Oh, it will be such a glorious day!

God Interruptions

This morning I had such neat experience. I had just worked out for the first time at the gym in a long time and was on a great start for the day getting settled in at Starbucks for some time spent with the Lord and reading His word. It was completely packed today and every table was full except the handicap table and I felt bad for taking it but I did anyway. I made sure to keep my eye out for anyone who might need the table more than I.

Then a guy asked me if I was meeting anyone here and if he could share the table with me and I had no problem with it so I let him join me. Right at that moment I really felt like this guy was also in ministry and at least a christian himself and I thought about asking him but I decided against it. I just put my headphones back in to some worship music, while I continued to read my daily reading of the Bible. Just a few minutes later my friend Jon a creative arts pastor from a church in southern Denver walks in and we start a conversation and talk about the books were reading and what theology classes I am taking. This conversation is obviously heard by the guy sitting across from me and he asks me if I am in Seminary.

From this point on I find out that he had just finished Seminary out in Portland and was in the process of possibly becoming a youth pastor at another church in town! The guys name is Brandon and the three of us just ended up talking for at least an hour about ministry and all the stuff that God is doing in our lives. It was such a cool meeting and I really felt that God had orchestrated it all.

I am not sure what this connection holds for the future, but I know that if God put it together then He definitely has some plans in the future and I want to be a part of it. Moral of the story is that, don't be too busy to be interrupted by appointments that God may have planned for you throughout your day. In the long run you'll be better off for it. My day has been so blessed by this interruption from what I had planned and I am so thankful. Ill be praying for Brandon as he finds out so soon if he gets the job as a youth pastor or not.

What's Keeping You?

I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. - Isaiah 44:22 (NLT)

As I came across this verse in today's One Year Bible reading plan, I got a better picture of how much God paid for us by having Jesus die on the cross for our sins. God,..."wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." 1 Tim 2:4 (NLT) So logically He paid a price that would be enough to cover all the sins of all the world through all ages of time. That's a HUGE price! The enemy likes for us to think that our sin is too great for us to ever come back to God. But when you think about this, how could your sin ever be to great for what Christ did on the cross? It is a slap in the face to God saying that He didn't pay enough.

So then we can simply come to God in repentance, which is refocusing our eyes back on Jesus and allowing Him to change us, and know that we are made righteous. It is only through Christ that we have right standing with God in heaven. So what is keeping us from God? Maybe it's because we think we messed up too much in our lives. If that's the reason, then know that it's a lie from the enemy. You have nothing holding you back from God.

Go In His Strength

"Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans, who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets God aside as dead weight. He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie, out of touch with the good earth. He lives rootless and aimless in a land where nothing grows.”

“But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.” - Jeremiah 17:5-8 (MSG)

There is not much else to say after reading these verses, they are so powerful and so opposite of how this world operates. As I am getting involved and invested in working with Summit Church here in Castle Rock, it is my desire to be completely rooted in the strength of God. He must be my source of strength, joy and peace as I begin in this endeavor. I don’t want to be tossed back and forth like tumbleweed responding in panic with every emergency that may come my way.

Like tumbleweed, those who are not rooted in God will be blown back and forth by their circumstances. This world is full of uncertainties and people and our circumstances will disappoint us time and time again. Therefore, we must be rooted in Christ our strength. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and He will never change. His words will never fail.

Those who stay rooted in Christ will not fail in producing fruit. They will be like Jesus sleeping in the boat through the storms, never worrying about anything but continuously trusting in the strong arm of God.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 (NIV)

Dear Lord, help me to continually be rooted in your strength. May my roots go deep in you, so that through every circumstance I may be able to please you and produce much fruit as I am here in the new season of life. Thank you so much that I may come boldly before your throne and receive strength from you. Amen

Cling to Jesus

Recently, I have been diving more into God’s word and just simply spending time in His presence. I have been reading a daily bible reading plan and reading blogs of preachers and teachers and books about Jesus. I have found that it gives me such peace. I have been in a habit before of reading and spending time in God's presence daily but I stopped doing it as frequently, because I let life get busy around me. I let sleep and apathy take over. As I let them enter into my life I became less and less filled with peace and joy and life became more cloudy. I felt like I didn’t know where to navigate my life. Everything was grey and I was never sure what to do. I got along fine. That was the problem, things in my life were just fine, and nothing had life in it like it did before.

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to interview for a position as a youth pastor at a church that has been planted for about 3 years and I got the job!! I thank God for this opportunity and how He has ordained and directed my every single step. The sad thing is that it took this position that I am taking to really make me get serious again about seeking after the Lord daily and gaining my strength from Him. I am now so glad though that I am thriving in the presence of the Lord; there is so much life in His presence.

As I was reading today in John 12, I came across these two verses and they really spoke to me. I have heard this truth before but it really came alive to me today.

Jesus said, "For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You'll be children of light."

- The Message John 12:35-36

In these two verses Jesus tells His disciples to cling to the light, Himself, and they will become children of the light. I believe that to often Christians, don’t walk in the light. We neglect spending time with Jesus, and when we do that deceive ourselves into thinking things are going to be ok if we just plan on doing it later. I once heard a friend say that everyday we go without spending time with Jesus is a boast against God that we don’t need him. We may think we're fine living on old revelation for a few days, weeks, or even months but soon we will find ourselves lost, blind and confused as someone lost in complete darkness. Jesus warned His disciples to walk in the light so that the darkness wouldn't destroy them. We need Jesus!! He is our guiding light, he is the one that puts our feet on solid ground and directs our steps. We must continually cling to the light. When we cling to Jesus he is faithful to lead us through every step of our lives no matter how small or big they are.

As I am preparing to take on this new position, I have felt completely weak and unable for this task at times, But through spending lots of time in the presence of Jesus He has given me courage for this new season. He reminded me of Gideon and how when the Lord called him to action, he told the Lord that his clan was the weakest in Manasseh and that he was the least in his family; He felt totally unqualified and unable, yet the Lord used him mightily. This gave me so much courage, strength and clarity from God, but it only came from spending time with Jesus.

There is no formula for spending time with Jesus. Do whatever it takes to get close to Him. I live at a church right now, but I don’t spend the majority of my times with Jesus there. It’s just a building that I happen to be living in. I go where I can set aside all distractions and read about Jesus and listen to worship. Also I have found that if you find yourself at a complete loss of where to read in the Bible or what book to start reading, don’t let that stop you, just read something about Jesus that will bring you into His light; start in the gospels in Matthew 5-8 or something. Cling to Jesus in anyway that you can. The Gospels in the Bible are a great way to start, they are full of the life of Jesus; it’s the richest text you can find about Jesus. If it’s a book outside of the Bible make sure it lines up with scripture.

Dear Lord, I ask that you would help me to continually see my need for your presence in my life. Help me to become a child of your light. May I never stray from spending time with you, for I know that your arms are always open wide for me to come to you. Thank you Jesus that you paid the ultimate price so that I can boldly enter into the presence of the Father. Amen

Give Generously

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

God has made a promise to us that if we sow generously into His kingdom, He will reward us greatly. The more generously we give to those in need, the more we will receive a generous crop.

Now usually when I think of this verse I think of being rewarded by men. My thoughts are, if I help them in their time of need then someday when they are doing well they will bless me for helping them. As I was thinking about this verse I realized that this wrong thinking. When we give to those in need and to the least of these, we are giving to God and we are serving Him. He is the one who will reward us. We do not receive our reward from man, but from God. God will reward us so much more than man ever can; everything on this earth and in heaven is His.

So let us keep this in mind. Christ will reward those who sow into His kingdom. Let us not bless others so that we may receive the approval of man and their blessing, rather let us bless others in secret so that only God will know and He will reward us.

One more thought to add; Christ's reward to us and answers to prayer are not always what we may think.