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great God greater than us all / forgive us we have made You small / God open our eyes to see / great God greater than us all / let Your people stand in awe / God we will rise up and say great God!
[Daniel Doss Band, Great God]

i’ve caught myself way too many times lately making more of me…and less of God…i lean harder on MY knowledge, on MY skills, on MY desires…striving for what I want…and in the process i find that i’m ignoring what God is doing in and around me and i end up putting Him back in the cool little box i’ve made for Him…no wonder i’ve been so “blah” lately…no wonder i haven’t been able to look up and see the glory of it all and just be struck by awe…

it really frustrates me that i keep telling myself things like, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” [john 3.30, nlt], and reading books like Louie Giglio’s i am not but i know I AM, and C.J. Mahaney’s Humility, and i still miss the point…everyday i miss it. ugh! ha…it’s just so frustrating…i want my life to matter…to mean something…to be bigger than me!

my friend Patrick just got back from Passion where Louie Giglio and many others just straight up brought the truth…you can read in Patrick’s blog where he talks about Louie, saying:

“the 1st night (Friday) Louie talked about each of us leveraging our lives for “the most important thing of everything” = the Name & Fame of Jesus (Revelation 5). We each get a little match that burns (life) for a bunch of years & then it dwindles down & goes out. But, I wanna throw my little match in with the eternal, glorious flame of Jesus & make that flame as bright & famous as I can. Because once my match (life) has burned out, that’s the end. Just a simple talk, but a great reminder that living my life for Jesus’ fame is all that matters.”

what would Christianity look like if we considered ourselves less and less and Christ greater and greater in our lives? what would it look like if we would mean it when we say, “i know i am not, but i know I AM”? what would it look like if we all took our little matches and threw them into Christ’s glorious flame?

God, forgive us for making you so small…for glorifying ourselves when all glory and honor and majesty should be yours…all yours and only yours…let us live our lives in continual awe of you…let us rise up and say great God!

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

[1 john 4.7-21, the message]

An airplane is meant to fly, a car is built to be driven, and clothes are designed to be worn. You would have very little use for a plane that would not fly, a car that would not move, or clothes that can no longer be worn.

Why? Because their purpose is not being realized. It’s a great frustration to have things that are no longer useful. God must feel that way about us sometimes.

You were designed to know Him, not simply to have a comfortable life. You were not created just to get married, have children and a successful career, then grow old and enjoy retirement. These are some of life’s benefits, its side dishes, not its purpose.

The tragedy today is that we have taken life’s benefits and tried to make them our purpose. We’re trying to make the side dishes the main course. The result is that we often find the benefits very unsatisfactory. No wonder.

So if the purpose of life is not marriage, success, happiness, or any of that, what is it? What were we created for? Answer: we were created to know and worship God with an all-consuming passion. That’s it. That’s why Paul tells us to do everything to God’s glory.

Bringing glory to something means to put it on the mantel where it can be admired. A woman seeks glory when she decorates her home in such a way that guests say, “Wow, where did you get that?” She puts a special treasure on display so that when people see it, they are in awe.

That’s what we’re supposed to do for God. We’re supposed to display Him in such a way that people are awed by Him. Glorifying God means to make Him look good, to place Him on display so that when others see our lives, they are in awe of our God.

Even in the everyday stuff, your goal should be to make God look good. But I can tell you, it takes real passion to live like that. To anyone who is trying to know and serve God halfheartedly without passion, I think Paul would say, “Why bother?” If you’re going to seek God, go for it like you mean it!

–Tony Evans

have you been tempted to seek your joy in the “benefits of life”? how have they proved unfulfilling?

why is it important to glorify God?

how can you glorify God in practical ways in your everyday life?

it’s been said that writing something down is the best way to memorize it, so tonight i drove out to Target and bought myself a leather bound journal and some nice pens. once i got home i sat down and wrote out the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.

i’m in desperate need to memorize some scripture. i’m not expecting to be able to memorize all 4 gospels in their entirety but i am hoping to walk away with at least some of the stories and parables in them memorized. i’m not sure how long this will take, and it’s gonna be a journey, but this is a start. and that’s what i need, a start.

i guess that’s all for now, just wanted to post something about this in hopes that it will keep me accountable and dedicated. i’ll try to post a few times throughout this experience to see how it’s shaping me…

grace and peace…later

“When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.”
[ephesians 4.29, ncv]

In his book on Humility, C.J. Mahaney comments on this verse, writing:

Our words are intended to communicate encouragement. Our words are to edify–they should be “good for building up.” And that goes for all our speech. We’re specifically commanded to communicate “only” that which edifies.

What are edifying words?

Here’s what they’re not. They’re not simply polite words. This verse isn’t an exhortation to niceness or social protocol. And it certainly isn’t talking about flattery or about superficial words or about compliments that are man-centered or man-exalting.

Truly edifying words are words that reveal the character and the promises and the activity of God. They’re cross-centered words. They’re words rooted in and derived from Scripture, words taht identify the active presence of God, and words that communicate the evidences of grace that you observe in others. They’re words that flow from a humble heart.

We’re commanded to communicate only words like these that are good for building up another. What a sweet command! What a privilege!

i have to admit, i’ve been doing a really, REALLY bad job of this lately. i’ve been careless and even worse, wreckless with my words. i’ve said things that i haven’t meant and i’ve meant things that i haven’t said. what a fool! what an arrogant fool…i’ve been killing those i love most with my words. i seriously need to refocus and get my priorities straight again because i’ve been failing miserably at this life i’ve been given. we get one life…one shot at this. i need to make the most of it and live it well.

my friend Brian says that i should put this verse to music and make it the theme song of my life because i quote it all the time. here it is, Paul writes, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” [philippians 3.12, the message]. if i’m gonna quote it so much i’d better start living up to it…i need get on my way, “well on my way, reaching out for Christ” and live this life for Him who lived His life for me.

remember, we are called, and commanded, to encourage others all day, every day…our words are powerful…our words matter. “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” [proverbs 18.21, the message].

God doesn’t erase the consequences of our bad decisions, whether they involve a damaged reputation, a ruined friendship, a marital separation (divorce), an addiction, a physical ailment, legal action, bankruptcy or just a whole lot of self-loathing. But He doesn’t abandon us either.

No matter what mistakes you’ve made in your life, God still wants to be in relationship with you. He still wants to use you in His kingdom work. In fact, if you let Him, He’ll use you in powerful ways you never thought possible.

if you could undo three decisions in your life, what would they be? why?

what consequences have you experienced as a result of bad decisions?

do you still experience guilt about past mistakes? read 1 john 1.9. and, when you pray, offer yourself again to be used by God today.

But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.
[1 john 1.9, ncv]

If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? “She has done a good work for Me.”

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. “. . . but perfect love casts out fear . . .” once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking ourselves, “Am I of any use?” and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

 i’m giving You my heart / and all that is within / i lay it all down for the sake / of You my King

i’m giving You my dreams / i’m laying down my rights / i’m giving up my pride / for the promise of new life

and I surrender / all to You all to You / and i surrender / all to You all to You

i’m singing You this song / i’m waiting at the cross / and all the world holds dear / i count it all as loss

for the sake of knowing You / the glory of Your name / to know the lasting joy / even sharing in Your pain

and i surrender / all to You all to You / and i surrender / all to You all to You

[surrender, lincoln brewster]

The day The Dwelling was set up, the Cloud covered The Dwelling of the Tent of Testimony. From sunset until daybreak it was over The Dwelling. It looked like fire. It was like that all the time, the Cloud over The Dwelling and at night looking like fire.

When the Cloud lifted above the Tent, the People of Israel marched out; and when the Cloud descended the people camped. The People of Israel marched at God’s command and they camped at his command. As long as the Cloud was over The Dwelling, they camped. Even when the Cloud hovered over The Dwelling for many days, they honored God’s command and wouldn’t march. They stayed in camp, obedient to God’s command, as long as the Cloud was over The Dwelling, but the moment God issued orders they marched. If the Cloud stayed only from sunset to daybreak and then lifted at daybreak, they marched. Night or day, it made no difference—when the Cloud lifted, they marched. It made no difference whether the Cloud hovered over The Dwelling for two days or a month or a year, as long as the Cloud was there, they were there. And when the Cloud went up, they got up and marched. They camped at God’s command and they marched at God’s command. They lived obediently by God’s orders as delivered by Moses.

[numbers 9.15-23, the message]

Phillips Brooks, a pastor in New England during the late 1800’s, was known as a calm and relaxed man. But one particular evening a friend found him pacing the floor like a caged lion. When the friend asked him what was wrong, Brooks replied, “The trouble is I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”

Can you relate? Sometimes the hardest part of following God is waiting on Him to move. At these times questions come fast and furious. “Why won’t our house sell?” “When will I hear something from the person who interviewed me?” “How long do I have to wait for my friend’s attitude to change?”

The Israelites discovered this truth firsthand. God led them through the wilderness, but not always at the pace they had hoped for. Yet God expected the people to obey regardless of the wait.

It’s not hard to imagine how difficult it must have been for the Israelites to be patient and obedient, because you experience this in your own life. Maybe you’re waiting for an answer to prayer. You know that God’s answer is critical, yet He doesn’t seem to be responding. You’re in a hurry, but God isn’t.

And while the hardest part may be the waiting, learning to trust God in the middle of it all is no picnic either. Yet Proverbs 3.5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Obeying and trusting God often require a measure of patience. “Obedience must be the struggle and desire of our life,” writes Phillip Brooks. “Obedience, not hard and forced, but ready, loving and spontaneous.” So Brooks waiting, in spite of his moments of impatience.

Are you willing to wait for God, trust His timing and answers and obey–regardless of the wait?

Why does God seem to move slowly at times?

About what needs or concerns are you waiting to hear a response from God? Pray for patience as you wait.

What practical steps can you take to trust and obey while waiting for God’s answer?

“I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, o’er mountain or plain or sea. I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what you want me to be.”

-Mary Brown

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is known for its man-made beauty. But the manmoth structure is also infamous for something ugly–lonely and depressed people jumping to their deaths into the churning water and jagged rocks below. One young man who committed suicide left a note on the dresser in his apartment that read, “I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I won’t jump.” Tragically he didn’t find what he was looking for.

Have you ever felt as though no one cares? Like a stranger in a strange land? If so, you’re not alone. God’s people have a history of alienation. Abraham left his home to become a nomad. Jacob and his sons left a familiar land to live in Egypt. The children of Israel left their oppressors in Egypt to become strangers in the promised land. The disciples left their homes in Galilee to take the Good News into the world. The apostle Peter addressed his first letter to the church, “To God’s elect, strangers in the world” [1 Peter 1.1].

Every child of God has been a stranger, a foreigner, an alien. And the truth of the matter is that God designed it that way. The teacher in the book of Ecclesiastes states that God “has also set eternity in the hearts” of people [Ecclesiastes 3.11], so that our souls would always look beyond what we see here and toward a better future. We have this innate sense that what we see is not what we’re going to get–that there’s a spiritual aspect to this life that somehow affects what happens after this life. Those who believe in God recognize this internal dissonance and use it toward God-glorifying ends as they try to make this world a better place so that others will experience hope as well.

Which leads to the next point: You may be a stranger, but you’re not alone, not by a long shot. Take a look around you, and you’ll see strangers everywhere. Some are aware of their status as God’s wayfarers on this earth; others aren’t, and they may be as frustrated and hopeless as the young man described above. God gave us as job to do when it comes to the strangers among us. As He reminded His people not to mistreat them or take advantage of them, so we’re reminded of the same today. But does He leave it at that? No. Because you’ve been a stranger, you are called to love strangers just as you love yourself.

What does it take to feel loved when you’re a stranger? Maybe just a smile will do, or a kind word of encouragement, or a helping hand. Be on the lookout today for strangers in need of love.

When have you felt like a stranger?

What individuals around you today might feel estranged?

What simple thing can you do today to help a lonely individual sense God’s love?

Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”

He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

“Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”

Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”

Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

[luke 10.25-37, the message]

But remember the root command: Love one another.
[john 15.17, the message]

Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, “Feed My sheep,” but He gave him nothing with which to feed them ( John 21:17 ). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. “All my springs are in you” ( Psalm 87:7 ).

The Lord is the everlasting God. . . He never grows weak or weary.
[isaiah 40.28, nlt]