You know that feeling you get when you're on a sports team... It's right before the big game and you feel that anticipation where you grit your teeth and there is nothing that is going to stop you from hitting your mark, making your goal. It's almost a crazy feeling, perhaps just the competitive among us can relate but the silent Joy of entering the battle empowered and anointed is worth every minute of the preparation.
This is how I feel about 2012 and the Kingdom. I feel like yelling a crazed battle call and rushing the field. God is going to do something great in 2012 and we get to be apart of it. Let me clarify the "we". We, who love the Lord, Love People and love the kingdom. More than anything else. More than money, more than stature, more than titles. We have big business in store for the Lord. A lot of people include themselves as part of the WE but prefer to sit in the stands. The WE suit up and take the field, the we, take the hits, get back up and battle on, the we don't even look at the scoreboard because WE know who wins. WE battle on, WE take ground. Advancing a kingdom and even loving the Lord is not a passive response pattern. It is entirely active.
My greatest fear in life is unknown by most, it's not being lonely, it's not not getting all of my dreams or wishes. My greatest fear is being lukewarm. I call my great friend Caleb every once and a while and I really enjoy talking to him because listening to him talk fans my Jesus flame. And I'm sure I help to sharpen his heart as well. If there is anything I can challenge other believers with for 2012 is to shed your lukewarm.
Every Christian has lukewarm elements.. Don't be ashamed of them... Identify them and shed them off. Every time you release something that makes the world more important than the Lord, put on your equipment and take the field. Don't be so afraid of taking the hit or the outcome of the game that you lukewarm yourselves with busy-ness and worldliness and stay in the stands. WE need you on the field.
That's what I see for 2012. Bring It!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Tree Lot
Last night, we went to the Christmas Tree lot to get a tree. This is the first time I've ever been to a tree lot or gotten a real tree. I have to say, it smells amazing at the tree lot. It was a small lot ran by a family. It was really sweet. There was a little pin where they were selling adorable husky puppies. There were trees of all shapes and sizes. It was so amazing and beautiful. A tiny 5 year old girl who looked 1/2 Mexican absolutely beautiful girl. She comes up and says, do you want to buy a tree and I said, yes, a little one. So she boldly walks to the shortest two trees on the lot and tells us all about them and asked. Do you like this one? Is it too full? You could have a fresh trim? Do you like it? Do you like the smell? She could have sold me the world in the tiny wonderland of beautiful trees and mysteries.
Got the tree picked up and brought back and Kristen and I decorated while Jason made dinner. (great stir fry, tasted a little like plov) the tree is beautiful and smells incredible!! But, it's in a guys house, so I went and got Jason's Donald Trump Doll and we put him as the tree topper. :) and what's Christmas without the nativity... :)
With all that said, I look at this little tree that is an amazingly breath taking creation. It was probably even planted for this very moment. To bring light and joy into a home. It's time came and one day in Oregon, it was cut down and brought to Tucson so at this very moment it could bring joy and warm my heart (yes, God is that detailed). In short time, it will have lived it's life and fulfilled it's purpose. Somehow, for me. It makes the tree even more incredible and amazing. This little tree gave its life for my pleasure. Thanks God. Thanks for this little tree and thank you even more for your son who came and died, not for my enjoyment but for my salvation. And now, I am living my calling that will also someday come to an end. And somehow all of these parallels are so breathtaking to me. It makes me feel so deep like the innocence of that tiny 5 years old sales gal in the tree lot. This tiny tree humbles me and I so easily remember the reason for this season.
Merry Christmas :)
I recommend a real tree. It smells amazing. :)
Got the tree picked up and brought back and Kristen and I decorated while Jason made dinner. (great stir fry, tasted a little like plov) the tree is beautiful and smells incredible!! But, it's in a guys house, so I went and got Jason's Donald Trump Doll and we put him as the tree topper. :) and what's Christmas without the nativity... :)
With all that said, I look at this little tree that is an amazingly breath taking creation. It was probably even planted for this very moment. To bring light and joy into a home. It's time came and one day in Oregon, it was cut down and brought to Tucson so at this very moment it could bring joy and warm my heart (yes, God is that detailed). In short time, it will have lived it's life and fulfilled it's purpose. Somehow, for me. It makes the tree even more incredible and amazing. This little tree gave its life for my pleasure. Thanks God. Thanks for this little tree and thank you even more for your son who came and died, not for my enjoyment but for my salvation. And now, I am living my calling that will also someday come to an end. And somehow all of these parallels are so breathtaking to me. It makes me feel so deep like the innocence of that tiny 5 years old sales gal in the tree lot. This tiny tree humbles me and I so easily remember the reason for this season.
Merry Christmas :)
I recommend a real tree. It smells amazing. :)
Monday, December 5, 2011
Once Upon A Time...
So I'm following this new TV show on ABC called "Once Upon A Time...". It's a good show, it takes our well known fairytales and catapults them into our time where a spell was put on them so they don't know that they are who they are so essentially as the show unravels each week we learn more about the depth of the characters. I am personally hooked on this show, it's both fascinating and entertaining.
But what I want to talk about is the evil characters. Obviously the witch, from the fairytale land, who is the mayor of the current town is being portrayed as the lime light evil character. But the reality is that she had a heart and as the first few episodes unravel we see that she wasn't always unredeemable, she was not the primary evil character. Was she bring controlled by evil, yes. Was she doing horrible things, yes. But she wasn't the root, she was the vessel. But the root character that continues to unravel is Rumplestiltskin
He has his hands meddled in everyone's lives. however, every-time, before someone takes one of his "deals" he clearly tells them that they have a choice and gives them a moment to make their choice. This stuck out to me today as I was watching one of the episodes. He is the Satan character, and how often do we make deals or choices based on the idea that it'll be better this way. And how he so cleverly squirms into lives when people are at their worst and they just aren't sure what to do.
I am aware that this is just a show, but Be aware. Be Awake. Be on watch so that you can see the heart of God over the heart of evil. If you are not paying attention you will not see it.
If you are interested in seeing what I'm talking about there is an ABC player ap that you can download and watch. Currently all of the shows that have aired to date are loaded.
But what I want to talk about is the evil characters. Obviously the witch, from the fairytale land, who is the mayor of the current town is being portrayed as the lime light evil character. But the reality is that she had a heart and as the first few episodes unravel we see that she wasn't always unredeemable, she was not the primary evil character. Was she bring controlled by evil, yes. Was she doing horrible things, yes. But she wasn't the root, she was the vessel. But the root character that continues to unravel is Rumplestiltskin
He has his hands meddled in everyone's lives. however, every-time, before someone takes one of his "deals" he clearly tells them that they have a choice and gives them a moment to make their choice. This stuck out to me today as I was watching one of the episodes. He is the Satan character, and how often do we make deals or choices based on the idea that it'll be better this way. And how he so cleverly squirms into lives when people are at their worst and they just aren't sure what to do.
I am aware that this is just a show, but Be aware. Be Awake. Be on watch so that you can see the heart of God over the heart of evil. If you are not paying attention you will not see it.
If you are interested in seeing what I'm talking about there is an ABC player ap that you can download and watch. Currently all of the shows that have aired to date are loaded.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Believe for More
God is amazing and I am continuously feeling overwhelmed with thoughts, tears, emotions and a list of things that need intercession. Really, I could spend 10 hours in prayer a day with the multitude. Today I found myself overwhelmed with the need for the church to overcome. To stop settling for comfortable and lukewarm. To choose the fire and passion that drove them into the passionate relationship with Jesus in the first place. I am no exception. It's time. I want more. Church it's time to rise up, it's time to desire more. More unknown, more kingdom and less world, more strangers being healed and saved in supermarkets, more people passionately reading the word... And not just reading but choosing to be changed and to make changes in their life that reflect the heart of God. This morning, I was praying with Jason and the only thought that could come to my mind was God, help. I want my/our thoughts to be your thoughts, I want my heart to be your heart, I want to see people,nothings and circumstances how you see people things and circumstances. Fresh fire and desire.
God moves so incredibly in our lives but sometimes others never see it. Perhaps they only see us spiratically or perhaps they just choose to see a past version of us. But in the presence of God we are changed.nevery single time we are in His presence we get changed, stretched, humbled, moved, loved, blessed and at times reprimanded. But when we constantly desire or choose to desire more, we are changed! Be changed today there must be more in this world than this. God has more in store.... Believe!!
God moves so incredibly in our lives but sometimes others never see it. Perhaps they only see us spiratically or perhaps they just choose to see a past version of us. But in the presence of God we are changed.nevery single time we are in His presence we get changed, stretched, humbled, moved, loved, blessed and at times reprimanded. But when we constantly desire or choose to desire more, we are changed! Be changed today there must be more in this world than this. God has more in store.... Believe!!
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