"The more i seek you.
The more i find you.
The more i find you.
The more i LOVE you.
I want to sit at your feet.
Drink from the cup in your hand.
Lean back against you and breath.
Feel your heartbeat.
This love is so deep.
Its more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace.
Its overwhelming."
Music always seems to be something that stirs up, calms, or fuels my soul. Today, i got absolutely rocked by this song. It's one of those songs i have heard a hundred times and always just listened to it without really thinking about the words or inviting the Spirit to speak to me during the song.
It spoke directly to what the Lord has been putting on my heart lately.
I have been blessed in the most amazing ways these past few months. I have seen prayers answered, lives changed, hearts restored to grace, and i have built friendships on the foundation of God's love. If i would have had to guess where i would be 3 months ago, i wouldn't in a million years have guessed where i am. I AM BEYOND BLESSED.
The Lord has graciously blessed me with a girlfriend who challenges me in a way that I have never been challenged before. She is so humble, gracious, loving, and joyful and it's so evident in the way that she loves Jesus wholeheartedly. I am so honored to walk beside her, while together we "Seek God more. Find God more. And love God more." The way that the Spirit works through her daily inspires me to long after the love of God more and more every second of the day. It inspires me to dig into the depths of the Holy Spirit so that I can lead her towards the foot of the cross. It challenges me to be in the Spirit at all times of the day, to pray fervently all day long, to love on those who are different than I, to be gracious to those the world casts out, and so much more. Everyday, I find myself thanking the Lord for what He has blessed me with, and asking "Who am I?" Who am I that you, God, would love me??? and beyond that He graces me with a family, incredible Godly friends, and a girlfriend after the very heart of Jesus.
Working up at Sonlight Christian Camp again this summer has been something that the Lord has used in huge ways in my life as well. Not only have I made life long friendships founded on God Himself, but I have been able to spend so much time with the man of God I call my best friend. Blake and I have been best friends since the 10-11th grade, and I have never been able to spend more than a week straight with him. So lets just say that spending the summer with him has been an absolutely incredible way to strengthen our relationship and uplift each other in our walks with Jesus. It's crazy how the Lord has worked in such similar ways in both of our lives this past year, and has us in almost identical places right now. It's so incredible because we are able to just talk about what God is teaching us daily and it will almost undoubtedly fit in with what the other of us is going through as well.
Other than that there is so much that God has taught me in the past few months. This includes just purely His love for me and how undeserving I am of His consistent and persistent love, the fact that God wants us as His children but He doesn't need us, that without His Spirit ruling our hearts we will do everything but chase after Him, that anything in this world other than God will not satisfy us, that nothing but the blood of Jesus will cover us from our wicked and imperfect lives, that sometimes I'm unfairly judgmental, and that when we ask believing in faith He is faithful to answer our wildest prayers.
His love is one of those things that we will never understand no matter how long we meditate on His word, no matter how long we spend in His presence, and no matter how long we walk the "Christian" walk. Think about it, we are SINNERS and we have sinful hearts. We sin every single day. We say we are followers, but we don't always act like followers. YET, God still loves us every single second of every single day. His love for us reaches to the heavens, His love for us is deeper that the depths of the sea, His love is greater than the east is to the west. We are so undeserving of His love.
Whether you are living in sin and completely denying His presence on the earth or whether you are dedicated to laying your life down to pick up your cross, HE STILL LOVES YOU! I heard this quote a little while ago and it has stuck with me ever since then. Think about it. Meditate on it. Live it!
"There is nothing you have ever done to make Him love you less. And there is nothing you will ever do to make Him love you more."
Incredible right??? i think so.
That is just the smallest of glimpses into what God has done recently in my life and a few of the amazing things that He has taught me. I'm hoping to updated this bad boy a little more often as the summer continues on and the school year begins (scary thought), but then again i always say im going to do that sooooo, we'll see.
Some scripture that has really stood out to me recently is John 10. Especially verses 3-4.
John 10:3-4
"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."
We know His voice. Listen to the Shepard.
You are loved. Be blessed.
Jack.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Pure Joy in Patience....
This past month has been a month of so much wondering, hoping, waiting, joy, suffering, and patience. I have constantly been reminded of James' words when he said "count it all as Joy my brothers, when you meet trails of various kinds' (James 1:2).
I have felt the enemy attacking me from every side at points, but God is faithful and won't allow to you be tested more than you can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He was put people into my life who encourage and uplift me daily, who renounce the lies that I had been believing from the enemy.
After months and months of prayer, seeking counsel, asking the Lord for wisdom and understanding He answered my prayers! I am SO impatient and have such a bad "i want it now" mentality that the world constantly throwing at me! But, the Lord continued to speak to me through the waves of the storm, he continued to let his voice be heard if I was willing to take time and block everything else out and just listen. Just like the Lord spoke to Elijah in a whisper (1 Kings 19) amongst all the other distractions of life, I too was able to focus on His whisper.
I have been so blessed to learn that God not only uses His voice to speak to our hearts and into our lives, but He provides voices through other people who passionately follow after him, to input encouragement and assurance into our decisions. He constantly assures us through other people of the things that we have been praying for, so do not discount other believers speaking wisdom into your life! God uses other people to speak truth into what you have been praying about!
If your are praying about something that you think God has put on your heart, DO NOT GIVE UP IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT LONGER THAN YOU WANT! His Plan is perfect. Your plan is NOT.
Just because you have to wait (which sucks sometimes) the joy that Jesus will bring you after you wait is absolutely incredible, if that's what he has truly called you to! There were some points in my waiting where I just wanted to break down, where I wanted to get mad at God, or where I just wanted to give up. Thankfully he continued to lead me towards what He had called me to! When I was weak or unmotivated to pray or believe, He gave me strength to keep going, to keep believing, to keep me motivated.
I specifically remember me asking God a lot of questions. Real life questions, that I honestly didn't even want to ask Him sometimes. I would ask Him questions like:
-Lord, if these desires that you have put on my heart are of my own flesh, take them away because I don't want them.
-Lord, if you want me to do go this direction, lead me there because I can't do it myself.
-Lord, show yourself to me, I feel so lost right now.
-Lord, test my foundation because I cannot hear your voice right now (that was a hard one to pray). He will put you threw the fire, if you ask Him to do so! 1 Corinthians 3:10-17
-Lord, I need to feel your spirit right now. Show me direction and incline my heart to your way and your will for my life.
A lot of the time I forgot that God's will for my life is this. 1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. If I am doing these two things (more importantly if I am doing #1 always and making sure that's my priority) then I am acting in God's will for my life. If I am loving God first, then everything that I do after that is within God's will for my life. So don't get caught up with always thinking to yourself, "is this God's will for my life?" and instead think to yourself "Am I loving God with everything I am right now while making this decision? Is this decision what He would want for me?".
Jesus wants us to live freely in the freedom and the Joy that He has provided for us! 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Don't be afraid of what is going to happen when we wait, patience is something that Jesus is so faithful through.
A fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is Patience. Be obedient and open to what the Holy Spirit of God has to tell you, and be a piece of clay that is openly molded by the potter! (Isaiah 64:8)
I hope that I allowed God to speak to you in someway through this blog and through what Jesus has taught me in the past few months!
HE adores you! (Psalm 139:1) HE is jealous for YOU! (Exodus 20:4-5) HE LOVES YOU! (1 John 3:1)
Be blessed today!
I have felt the enemy attacking me from every side at points, but God is faithful and won't allow to you be tested more than you can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He was put people into my life who encourage and uplift me daily, who renounce the lies that I had been believing from the enemy.
After months and months of prayer, seeking counsel, asking the Lord for wisdom and understanding He answered my prayers! I am SO impatient and have such a bad "i want it now" mentality that the world constantly throwing at me! But, the Lord continued to speak to me through the waves of the storm, he continued to let his voice be heard if I was willing to take time and block everything else out and just listen. Just like the Lord spoke to Elijah in a whisper (1 Kings 19) amongst all the other distractions of life, I too was able to focus on His whisper.
I have been so blessed to learn that God not only uses His voice to speak to our hearts and into our lives, but He provides voices through other people who passionately follow after him, to input encouragement and assurance into our decisions. He constantly assures us through other people of the things that we have been praying for, so do not discount other believers speaking wisdom into your life! God uses other people to speak truth into what you have been praying about!
If your are praying about something that you think God has put on your heart, DO NOT GIVE UP IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT LONGER THAN YOU WANT! His Plan is perfect. Your plan is NOT.
Just because you have to wait (which sucks sometimes) the joy that Jesus will bring you after you wait is absolutely incredible, if that's what he has truly called you to! There were some points in my waiting where I just wanted to break down, where I wanted to get mad at God, or where I just wanted to give up. Thankfully he continued to lead me towards what He had called me to! When I was weak or unmotivated to pray or believe, He gave me strength to keep going, to keep believing, to keep me motivated.
I specifically remember me asking God a lot of questions. Real life questions, that I honestly didn't even want to ask Him sometimes. I would ask Him questions like:
-Lord, if these desires that you have put on my heart are of my own flesh, take them away because I don't want them.
-Lord, if you want me to do go this direction, lead me there because I can't do it myself.
-Lord, show yourself to me, I feel so lost right now.
-Lord, test my foundation because I cannot hear your voice right now (that was a hard one to pray). He will put you threw the fire, if you ask Him to do so! 1 Corinthians 3:10-17
-Lord, I need to feel your spirit right now. Show me direction and incline my heart to your way and your will for my life.
A lot of the time I forgot that God's will for my life is this. 1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. If I am doing these two things (more importantly if I am doing #1 always and making sure that's my priority) then I am acting in God's will for my life. If I am loving God first, then everything that I do after that is within God's will for my life. So don't get caught up with always thinking to yourself, "is this God's will for my life?" and instead think to yourself "Am I loving God with everything I am right now while making this decision? Is this decision what He would want for me?".
Jesus wants us to live freely in the freedom and the Joy that He has provided for us! 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Don't be afraid of what is going to happen when we wait, patience is something that Jesus is so faithful through.
A fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is Patience. Be obedient and open to what the Holy Spirit of God has to tell you, and be a piece of clay that is openly molded by the potter! (Isaiah 64:8)
I hope that I allowed God to speak to you in someway through this blog and through what Jesus has taught me in the past few months!
HE adores you! (Psalm 139:1) HE is jealous for YOU! (Exodus 20:4-5) HE LOVES YOU! (1 John 3:1)
Be blessed today!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
It Is Finished!
Today was one of those days where you take a step back and realize all the things God has done for you!
Usually it's the little things like answering a prayer about school, letting you have a good day, or keeping you safe on your drive. Today was a day of remembering something much greater than those! It was a day of remembering what Jesus accomplished on the cross!
I was reminded that the place HE was nailed, was where I belong! I should be the one on that cross being beaten, spit on, mocked, and tortured, "but while we were still sinners, Christ died for US!" (Romans 5:8)
I'm thankful today for a God who loves me so much, HE took my sinfulness upon himself and set me free!
HE is worthy of our praise! HE is worthy of our worship! HE is worth living our lives for!
Today remember that Christ didn't die for some insignificant! You are cherished in the eyes of the maker of the heavens and the earth! HE made you with a specific purpose and unique plan for your life!
Usually it's the little things like answering a prayer about school, letting you have a good day, or keeping you safe on your drive. Today was a day of remembering something much greater than those! It was a day of remembering what Jesus accomplished on the cross!
He took ALL SIN upon himself and HE obediently died on the cross!
I was reminded that the place HE was nailed, was where I belong! I should be the one on that cross being beaten, spit on, mocked, and tortured, "but while we were still sinners, Christ died for US!" (Romans 5:8)
I'm thankful today for a God who loves me so much, HE took my sinfulness upon himself and set me free!
HE is worthy of our praise! HE is worthy of our worship! HE is worth living our lives for!
Today remember that Christ didn't die for some insignificant! You are cherished in the eyes of the maker of the heavens and the earth! HE made you with a specific purpose and unique plan for your life!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
In His Presence....
When you experience the presence of God, you are changed. You are changed from the inside out, starting with your heart. Your heart is never the same after the first time you experience His presence. You long for more of Christ with every breath you take, you can never get enough of this great and majestic God. After an encounter with God, you don't want to live a lukewarm life. Living a lukewarm life doesn't make sense when you have truly come to know Christ in His fullness.
After worship last week I started thinking about God...About His attributes and the endless amount of characteristics that He exemplifies.
Our God is a loving God! He wants us to find these things in our relationship with Him.
So take some time and be still (psalm 46:10) in the presence of your maker! Listen to Him instead of talking to Him. Let Him speak truth into your life about who you are as a Man/Woman of God and let Him bring movement into your heart that causes change.
After worship last week I started thinking about God...About His attributes and the endless amount of characteristics that He exemplifies.
In His Presence there is....
Freedom
Love
Mercy
Grace
Hope
Joy
Peace
Safety
Refuge
Comfort
Contentment
Laughter
Mourning
Brokenness
Rebuilding
Rest
Beauty
Movement
Stillness
Reflecting
Awe
Happiness
Song
Prayer
Eternal Life
Faithfulness
Justice
Truth
Holiness
Goodness
Simplicity
Glory
Nearness
Wisdom
Power
Wrath
Healing
Forgiveness
Provision
Direction
All Consuming Fire Our God is a loving God! He wants us to find these things in our relationship with Him.
So take some time and be still (psalm 46:10) in the presence of your maker! Listen to Him instead of talking to Him. Let Him speak truth into your life about who you are as a Man/Woman of God and let Him bring movement into your heart that causes change.
Monday, January 30, 2012
A Learning Process...
Lately, I have been learning A LOT!
I have found myself constantly in prayer the last few days. I mean, i'm always in prayer, but it seems like these last few days I have been asked to pray for soooo many different things! Things that are not easy. Things that are affecting peoples lives. People who are dying or are on the verge of death. People who just plain need God! It's almost like a can feel God's hand upon the person/people I'm praying for, and that comfort is incredible!
That kind of leads into the next segment of what I have been learning in 1 Corinthians 12. It has been unreal the ways in which I have felt hurt for other members of the body. Especially this past week or two with so many people needing God so badly in their trials. My heart breaks for those who are going through the fire, for those who are having the toughest trials they will ever go through, and for those who are simply in desperate need of God yet they have no idea!
I lift those people up to a God who is more powerful that any circumstance. A God who already knows what is going to happen, yet still hears our prayers and takes those to heart! A God who wants to be our best friend in the hardest times in life, and who wants to invade our hearts with an unfailing love! Although we may not see His plan right now, He has proven Himself time and time again over the course of my life and for that reason I will continue to run unashamed to the foot of the cross where I lay my life down to be washed by His blood!
Guarding my heart has also been a difficult yet rewarding process this past month. I am blessed to have people who keep me accountable and who care enough to call out my sin, yet encourage me all in the same sentence! People who see the Spirit's work in my life, even when I cannot see it in myself. The things that I have experienced in the last several days are such a blessing. God has torn down preconceived walls in my heart about marriage, about dating, about life and about friendship! He wants us to be chasing after Him every second of the day, yet we fail to do that and we daily turn our backs on His unfailing love. Still, His forgiveness is real, everlasting, loving, unconditional, and it is ENOUGH!
I have really been praying the last few months about where God wanted me to work this summer. After much prayer, fasting, and listening, I feel called to once again work at Sonlight! A place where I can be myself. A place where God is more present than anywhere else. A place where the Spirit of God is upon you the second you step out of the car. A place built not on the foundation of worldly assets, but a foundation on CHRIST! I feel this bursting joy in my heart that amazing things are going to happen this summer. Things that have never happened at camp will happen this summer, God will open up the floodgates of His grace so that kids may experience the very presence of God here on earth!
Lastly, I have learned that without following Christ we will NEVER be able to lead anyone. If we are trying to lead on our own and we aren't first following the leader, than what good does it do? If we approach our leading with a heart of pride and power, we have no room to love on those who are following us! Without the love of Christ inside of us, leading someone is impossible because we lead imperfect people. People will disappoint you, people will turn on you, people will lie to you, people will turn their backs on you. But if you think about it this is exactly what we do to Christ every single day, yet God still welcomes us with open arms as if we never did any of those things! I have learned that we too need to forgive those who hurt us, so that Christ may shine His light through those situations!
The power of prayer. The meaning of 1 Corinthians 12. The meaning of Proverbs 4:23. Discerning the Spirit. How to love. How to follow in HIS lead.
I have found myself constantly in prayer the last few days. I mean, i'm always in prayer, but it seems like these last few days I have been asked to pray for soooo many different things! Things that are not easy. Things that are affecting peoples lives. People who are dying or are on the verge of death. People who just plain need God! It's almost like a can feel God's hand upon the person/people I'm praying for, and that comfort is incredible!
That kind of leads into the next segment of what I have been learning in 1 Corinthians 12. It has been unreal the ways in which I have felt hurt for other members of the body. Especially this past week or two with so many people needing God so badly in their trials. My heart breaks for those who are going through the fire, for those who are having the toughest trials they will ever go through, and for those who are simply in desperate need of God yet they have no idea!
I lift those people up to a God who is more powerful that any circumstance. A God who already knows what is going to happen, yet still hears our prayers and takes those to heart! A God who wants to be our best friend in the hardest times in life, and who wants to invade our hearts with an unfailing love! Although we may not see His plan right now, He has proven Himself time and time again over the course of my life and for that reason I will continue to run unashamed to the foot of the cross where I lay my life down to be washed by His blood!
Guarding my heart has also been a difficult yet rewarding process this past month. I am blessed to have people who keep me accountable and who care enough to call out my sin, yet encourage me all in the same sentence! People who see the Spirit's work in my life, even when I cannot see it in myself. The things that I have experienced in the last several days are such a blessing. God has torn down preconceived walls in my heart about marriage, about dating, about life and about friendship! He wants us to be chasing after Him every second of the day, yet we fail to do that and we daily turn our backs on His unfailing love. Still, His forgiveness is real, everlasting, loving, unconditional, and it is ENOUGH!
I have really been praying the last few months about where God wanted me to work this summer. After much prayer, fasting, and listening, I feel called to once again work at Sonlight! A place where I can be myself. A place where God is more present than anywhere else. A place where the Spirit of God is upon you the second you step out of the car. A place built not on the foundation of worldly assets, but a foundation on CHRIST! I feel this bursting joy in my heart that amazing things are going to happen this summer. Things that have never happened at camp will happen this summer, God will open up the floodgates of His grace so that kids may experience the very presence of God here on earth!
Lastly, I have learned that without following Christ we will NEVER be able to lead anyone. If we are trying to lead on our own and we aren't first following the leader, than what good does it do? If we approach our leading with a heart of pride and power, we have no room to love on those who are following us! Without the love of Christ inside of us, leading someone is impossible because we lead imperfect people. People will disappoint you, people will turn on you, people will lie to you, people will turn their backs on you. But if you think about it this is exactly what we do to Christ every single day, yet God still welcomes us with open arms as if we never did any of those things! I have learned that we too need to forgive those who hurt us, so that Christ may shine His light through those situations!
If you are reading this, I want you to know today that you are a incredible creation! God looks at you and thinks "my son/daughter I am so proud of the path you are following/creating". He smiles down upon you with a love that moves mountains and makes demons tremble! He finds joy in YOU!!! No matter what you are going through right now, your Father in heaven has His arms open wide waiting for you to run into! He wants to comfort His children! Remember that Jesus didn't die for someone insignificant!
You are His. You are Loved.
-Jack
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