Sheltered in your wings
I can find all my strength
Being hidden in YOU ALONE
And I raise these shackled hands
knowing I am led by YOU ALONE
YOU ALONE are everything I have ever needed
YOU ALONE are the kind that I seek
And YOU ALONE are whom I cling to
In your wings and through your strength I am able to become strong
In YOU ALONE I seek my refuge, in YOU ALONE
With all that you have given for this new day
YOU ALONE have made the greater plan and YOU ALONE have given circumstance
YOU ALONE are the only one I have ever needed
In the second year of my release
love showed to the one which first loved me
to YOU ALONE
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Unwavering devotion
I've heard it said that you don't really know what you have til you lose it. I remember Jesus telling a parable of the lost sheep. That although he had a hundred he would go out searching for the one. I strongly believe in regards to friendship that we are to be like this shepard who goes out searching for that lost sheep. We in unwavering devotion go after those to whom no one else knows is missing because it is alone our responsibility.
Honestly these words are hard to write because that has been what I have been doing for a long time being unwavering in my devotion to people and all the things friendship entails. Showing in a sense love to someone that was never shown love. I did this in high school with my girlfriend of three years giving her all my love and devotion that I could and in the end seeing her realize that the God of the universe was pursuing her and loved her. I did this with a lot of friendhips by simply just listening to them.
There is however none of this for me besides God and Elise.
The Ironic thing I find now is that to the one that cannot hear, she hears me best and listens best. To those who have ears that function properly take a lesson from the deaf who listen better than you. Ask questions and see what people have to offer besides simply letting them listen to you.
I know american culture doesn't lend itself to anything besides self gratification but perhaps things could change if you simply let God do what he does best, change the unchangable. I met one guy who is coming to Cal Poly next quarter that actually knows how to talk to people, listen and ask questions. I wonder what that relationship holds.
As I am finding out about this whole initative thing, God is teaching me that perhaps just getting me to do something was the step I needed to take. I needed to become what I never was: a man of initative. Not listening but letting my frustation build into speech and action .In this initative towards friendship in every form and fashion I am finding that God has infinitley more people for me to in a sense befriend. And honestly with everything that is going on I am no longer waiting for friendships of old to rekindle, I will let them when and if they do, but for once I am not waiting. I am in a sense seeing what God has placed in regard to means to good friendships. Perhaps as was the case last year it can grow and be the friendships that God can do wonderful things and provide in wonderful blessed ways through.We'll see! They will take time to grow but once grown they are truly beautiful things.
JG
Honestly these words are hard to write because that has been what I have been doing for a long time being unwavering in my devotion to people and all the things friendship entails. Showing in a sense love to someone that was never shown love. I did this in high school with my girlfriend of three years giving her all my love and devotion that I could and in the end seeing her realize that the God of the universe was pursuing her and loved her. I did this with a lot of friendhips by simply just listening to them.
There is however none of this for me besides God and Elise.
The Ironic thing I find now is that to the one that cannot hear, she hears me best and listens best. To those who have ears that function properly take a lesson from the deaf who listen better than you. Ask questions and see what people have to offer besides simply letting them listen to you.
I know american culture doesn't lend itself to anything besides self gratification but perhaps things could change if you simply let God do what he does best, change the unchangable. I met one guy who is coming to Cal Poly next quarter that actually knows how to talk to people, listen and ask questions. I wonder what that relationship holds.
As I am finding out about this whole initative thing, God is teaching me that perhaps just getting me to do something was the step I needed to take. I needed to become what I never was: a man of initative. Not listening but letting my frustation build into speech and action .In this initative towards friendship in every form and fashion I am finding that God has infinitley more people for me to in a sense befriend. And honestly with everything that is going on I am no longer waiting for friendships of old to rekindle, I will let them when and if they do, but for once I am not waiting. I am in a sense seeing what God has placed in regard to means to good friendships. Perhaps as was the case last year it can grow and be the friendships that God can do wonderful things and provide in wonderful blessed ways through.We'll see! They will take time to grow but once grown they are truly beautiful things.
JG
Monday, November 27, 2006
Stop saying Christ, Proclaim Jesus
All around us God is always moving, never stopping, never growing tired, pursuing people with a passion uncontained. God is doing this and many refuse to believe, even us as Christians refuse to see this fact. But who could blame the lost when we don't know as christians how to lead them to God, because we don't know who God is ourselves.
I am simply amazed that for so long I thought I knew who God was, but did I know the Jesus that was accurate according to scriptures, i relied on so many others opinions of who He was not truth that He himself spoke. I was listening to a sermon last night that pointed out so many points that we as Christians forget about.
I think it honestly boils down to the American Christian looking beyond himself or herself towards what the world is really like and having enough knowledge to see that there is a lot of truth in the world just not complete truth. The pastor brought up the point that Jesus is the way the truth and the way, and ultimatley He is the only way but to think that out "religion," christianity, is somehow better than all the rest I am coming to believe it is not. The only different thing in most of the main world religions is their perception and belief of who Jesus was. Morals and goodness and all that is generally the same.
Our salvation is based on Jesus and our belief of who He is, accepting the price that he gave for our sin. I firmly believe that He is the Son of God, raised from death, our payment for sin, our death, to those who believe He is who He has said He is, part of the triune Godhead, made a man to die for sin.
The thing I find most fascinating is that in the midst of making toys in my architeture class I am finding that my mind is returning to things I haven't remembered in years about my childhood. For those of you who don't know I spent an extensive amount of time during middle school searching out who exaclty God was, and all those beliefs that different people in the world believe about certain aspects of God etc. I saw this Charcter, Jesus, who made these unique claims" I am God", "I take away sin" etc. as radically different and uinque because unlike cults that have a leader that they believe to be God, this "cult" lasted longer than all the rest and is still going strong, worth and investigation I thought so. This Jesus character resonated the most with me and holy scripture spoke the most to me so I chose to pursue this Jesus character fervently. But I realized after a while of this that perhaps this whole Jesus charter coming to earth was about God wanting so bad to restore the realtionship. It was about accepting the relationship that Jesus made possible and finding myself empty without that.
Years down the road I am finding myself returning to the simple understanding I had back then.I find we as christians have screwed up what we understand and are so easily swayed by a partial truth world. We are too busy, and too lazy. Shouldn't if we are helping and hoping to lead people back to this God that so passionatly pursues us and them don't we have an obligation to know ourselves who this God is and where they can locate this God and how he chooses to show himself.
We need to tell them what we know and not make it comlicated. If Jesus is not mentioned in the worship songs and not mentioned in the sermon, how do we expect the lost to know what we are so excited about. I want Jesus' name proclaimed. We think people will ask the right questions all the time but we need to adapt to our culture: a culture currently that doesn't know how to ask the right questions.
We need to be in the world. That means going to parties( doing those things we never would do) and not sheltering ourselves in Christian bubbles. No one is righteous no not one. Our only spotlessness comes from Jesus and his love shown by the Cross. We need to be Going out and seeking out the lost they can't and don't know how to seek us out as Christians. We need to be different we need to be radical be like the God that presented a message so profound so unique.
I am simply amazed that for so long I thought I knew who God was, but did I know the Jesus that was accurate according to scriptures, i relied on so many others opinions of who He was not truth that He himself spoke. I was listening to a sermon last night that pointed out so many points that we as Christians forget about.
I think it honestly boils down to the American Christian looking beyond himself or herself towards what the world is really like and having enough knowledge to see that there is a lot of truth in the world just not complete truth. The pastor brought up the point that Jesus is the way the truth and the way, and ultimatley He is the only way but to think that out "religion," christianity, is somehow better than all the rest I am coming to believe it is not. The only different thing in most of the main world religions is their perception and belief of who Jesus was. Morals and goodness and all that is generally the same.
Our salvation is based on Jesus and our belief of who He is, accepting the price that he gave for our sin. I firmly believe that He is the Son of God, raised from death, our payment for sin, our death, to those who believe He is who He has said He is, part of the triune Godhead, made a man to die for sin.
The thing I find most fascinating is that in the midst of making toys in my architeture class I am finding that my mind is returning to things I haven't remembered in years about my childhood. For those of you who don't know I spent an extensive amount of time during middle school searching out who exaclty God was, and all those beliefs that different people in the world believe about certain aspects of God etc. I saw this Charcter, Jesus, who made these unique claims" I am God", "I take away sin" etc. as radically different and uinque because unlike cults that have a leader that they believe to be God, this "cult" lasted longer than all the rest and is still going strong, worth and investigation I thought so. This Jesus character resonated the most with me and holy scripture spoke the most to me so I chose to pursue this Jesus character fervently. But I realized after a while of this that perhaps this whole Jesus charter coming to earth was about God wanting so bad to restore the realtionship. It was about accepting the relationship that Jesus made possible and finding myself empty without that.
Years down the road I am finding myself returning to the simple understanding I had back then.I find we as christians have screwed up what we understand and are so easily swayed by a partial truth world. We are too busy, and too lazy. Shouldn't if we are helping and hoping to lead people back to this God that so passionatly pursues us and them don't we have an obligation to know ourselves who this God is and where they can locate this God and how he chooses to show himself.
We need to tell them what we know and not make it comlicated. If Jesus is not mentioned in the worship songs and not mentioned in the sermon, how do we expect the lost to know what we are so excited about. I want Jesus' name proclaimed. We think people will ask the right questions all the time but we need to adapt to our culture: a culture currently that doesn't know how to ask the right questions.
We need to be in the world. That means going to parties( doing those things we never would do) and not sheltering ourselves in Christian bubbles. No one is righteous no not one. Our only spotlessness comes from Jesus and his love shown by the Cross. We need to be Going out and seeking out the lost they can't and don't know how to seek us out as Christians. We need to be different we need to be radical be like the God that presented a message so profound so unique.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
= (pause)
Left here in this stillness
in the midst of a circle of stones
change is on the wind
Right here in this silence
in this moment things have stopped
change is on the wind
Great and mighty wind
Cracking and making the mighty mountains bow
and this great mystery
of what remains and what will be redefined
Left here in this stillness
in the midst
letting me go
letting me grow
evening breeze
Right here in this silence
in this moment
The mountains will bow
the valleys shall grow
meeting the host of heaven
Do what You will
No more change of plan
Do what You will
I can no longer stand
Great and mighty wind
Cracking and making the mighty mountains bow
and this great mystery
of what remains and what will be refined and redefined
There are seldom in life moments where everything seems to stop: all the chaos that seems to be in my head and all noise of any sorts. I can recall only two of these times in my life where I heard God so clearly that everything seemed to fade away and I was simply in His presence. Those are the moments I love.
I happened across one of these moments this weekend in the midst of the ride up. Everything seemed to stop and everything was still and wonderful. The world seemed to be working together in beautiful harmony.This is where in part I penned this song. In that beautiful moment.
I have no divine revelation to share. I am being refined and redifined, it is a beautiful thing... a personal not a public thing...a wonderful thing.
JG
Monday, November 20, 2006
The Pursuit of Woman and the forgetting of other important things
I wonder how often we do forget about those things that did once matter to us beause we are pursuing other things. I know all things in the christian life are a delicate balance and by no means is it an easy balance to keep. Yet I see so many around me forgetting about those things that once mattered to them, they are consumed with a certain signifigant other. They change their character to someone to fit the liking of the other person and leave everything a little more tangled up because of it.
Granted God uses woman to change men and make them better individuals in the cliche saying " you complete me." But to neglect everything else to run towards a woman, there is something wrong with that. God will most certainly use it but we could save ourselves a lot of trouble as men if woman were a +1 to things and not a minus everything plus one thing.
Maybe I believe in the +1 philosophy too much and believe friendship too important to forget about it because of some signifigant other. And granted I have yet to find someone that cares as much about me as I do about them except Elise, I like her a lot "she completes me." But although I am still pouring out in an extent to a lot of people I am not going to abandon it for someone that completes me. Maybe that is stupid but I believe you can't devote yourself soley to something you need to manage a lot of things. That is the way life works, if you set yourself up with only one foundational stone if that should collapse you are left totally ravaged and collapsed.
I am so glad the Jesus Christ is the perfect cornerstone.
As we learn in structures everyday it is okay to put unessecary struts in because it covers up should you have some mistakes. We are so imperfect in every way and need some extra struts in there because of our flaws and mistakes. Christ should be the cornerstone of our lives all the time because he is the perfect foundation, we should rely on that but it is not realistic for most. We need those other foundational stones like good friends, signifigant others, family etc.. To only have one and neglect the others can lead to not good things.
My prayers are with those people that are forgetting. All I know is that should they not have a foundational stone in Jesus Christ things will collapse sooner or later, those other struts may be able to hold them up for a while but it won't last forever.
Sometimes we as christians do need to let go and let the forces fall upon Christ the cornerstone not the other struts. But know there are imperfect motives in the world and sometimes people need us.
It is all about balance and keeping Christ the cornerstone... the perfect one.
JG
Granted God uses woman to change men and make them better individuals in the cliche saying " you complete me." But to neglect everything else to run towards a woman, there is something wrong with that. God will most certainly use it but we could save ourselves a lot of trouble as men if woman were a +1 to things and not a minus everything plus one thing.
Maybe I believe in the +1 philosophy too much and believe friendship too important to forget about it because of some signifigant other. And granted I have yet to find someone that cares as much about me as I do about them except Elise, I like her a lot "she completes me." But although I am still pouring out in an extent to a lot of people I am not going to abandon it for someone that completes me. Maybe that is stupid but I believe you can't devote yourself soley to something you need to manage a lot of things. That is the way life works, if you set yourself up with only one foundational stone if that should collapse you are left totally ravaged and collapsed.
I am so glad the Jesus Christ is the perfect cornerstone.
As we learn in structures everyday it is okay to put unessecary struts in because it covers up should you have some mistakes. We are so imperfect in every way and need some extra struts in there because of our flaws and mistakes. Christ should be the cornerstone of our lives all the time because he is the perfect foundation, we should rely on that but it is not realistic for most. We need those other foundational stones like good friends, signifigant others, family etc.. To only have one and neglect the others can lead to not good things.
My prayers are with those people that are forgetting. All I know is that should they not have a foundational stone in Jesus Christ things will collapse sooner or later, those other struts may be able to hold them up for a while but it won't last forever.
Sometimes we as christians do need to let go and let the forces fall upon Christ the cornerstone not the other struts. But know there are imperfect motives in the world and sometimes people need us.
It is all about balance and keeping Christ the cornerstone... the perfect one.
JG
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Sunlight ascending
As for what the day will bring
As for the dawn breaking
As for this morning soon to begin
Standing in this darkness
clinging to what I cannot see
Sunlight ascending against an ever present darkness
Will I be faithful to an ever faithful God
Will I remain steadfast to difficult calling?
and who is this that I cling
could it not be my everything?
The day has broke
I find myself here
I find I must let go
and every moment
a little easier to see
free to be
unhindered as light
piercing this darkness
Ablaze for God
in devotion that consumes
Love that glows
and joy that radiates
the Son inside of me
free to be
unhindered as light
piercing this darkness
...I am free
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Barefoot
So this whole season is difficult. It is honestly really hard. But tonight writing this I want to thank God for the faithfullness He exibits day in and day out in sustaining me. Although I normally complain about this matter He has blessed me and is stretching me in ways that are wonderful and necessary.
Last night I found myself in tears for the first time in a while. I am simply exhausted with ministry and I am hardly doing anything which daunts me. To think that my independence is being stripped away in this transforming time. It is painful beyond measure. This is a new season for new lessons and it will look different but there is hope that somewhere in the future I will get the hang of it and things will look brighter and be more beautiful because of it...
I awoke this morning only to find that the tears I had fallen asleep to still left their emotional stains in my mind and heart and it was going to be a long day. Yet talking to God this morning and praying that He would use the day for his purpuses made all the difference.
I ended up working in the shop most of the day doing about 100 or so dovetail joints. Needless to say at the end of this mind numbing manufacturing process I wanted to do something fun. So I came home to an empty house and I was kinda bummed. Being carless this year has left me naturally helpless to meet anybody and must therefore rely on their schedule. No schedule aligned with mine this evening so I spent two or three hours at home alone.
Like I said before I am not content in the whole fact that as I have known myself for so long I am independent. Yet, God is calling me to be dependent. This is hard for me. God is changing the very core and being of who I am and I am bitterly resisting. I hate myself for this fact that it wages war inside of me. Thank God, though that through His provision I am able to stand in the midst of this fight and even have good days. He is more than faithful!
So for the first time in my life I actively sought out help from other people. I called literally all those people in my life that I call my trusted friends and one came to my my rescue and we went to go escape. I look at the day, now 1:54 and although it may have been what I would use to consider a bad day, it is exactley what God had planned for the day, and because of that fact it is truley wonderful.
Earlier this evening I found myself up on a huge rock with Colin above the shoreline. I found myself barefoot and simply quiet. It was the first time in a long while that I took my shoes off and went walking without any hinderance between me and the ground. In describing this season I must say that I am most certainly barefoot. I am more prone to be hurt by the rocky ground. Yet I am able to feel more wholly not only seeing and imagineing what it feels like. Without the sense of touch for instance how can you gain knowledge like how does it feel. There is something missing in our definition of life if we forget to simply experience it in its fullness, all five senses.
I must somehow get it through to my head and heart that this season is about gaining knowledge that I never could, if I were simply in the last season. There would be a gap in my being, something missing that is being made complete by this season. We may attempt to not allow ourselves to be hurt, what I did in the previous season of my life, but unless we fully dive into things you cannot learn about them by simply learning about it. We must experience them.
I find myself with this conclusion tonight: don't limit God in his healing abillity to heal the wounds that the rocky jagged slippery terrain can cause. Dive fully into the things God is putting and calling you to in your life. Give yourself wholly to what you are involved in. Embrace the season and worship God with a passion that is undying. All or nothing. Be willing to go barefoot into life willing to know and discern better what is around us..we may be hurt but God can mend the broken heart.JG
Friday, November 17, 2006
Project Toy
So in studio we are designing and building toys for needy kids...this is pretty awesome. This has gotten us back into the mindset of childen. As expected from that we have been having a blast in studio. I thought I would share some of the photos here of what we are doing and because we are having a whole bunch more fun than all the other studios...enjoy...
Instead of doing actual concrete casting why can't we just learn from waffles. It's prettymuch the same...
Like I said back into the mindset of childen. I'm sure there is some elaborate lesson to be learned but I will wait for completemness with this one...
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Oh...Ministry 2
I would like to apologize, foremost for not clarifying myself in my last blog on ministry. I would like to make some clarifications here...
1. God is totally overhauling my view on ministry and by no means is the work complete. Therefore some of my views are not complete yet and I have large gaps and holes in them that don't seem to make sense. There are two apparently different seemingly contradictory things The Spirit is teaching me about that somehow go together and it makes sense in my mind but I cannot clarify it to the degree it need to be at this present time. I will not have a grasp on this stuff for a while. The things I said I hold fast to because that is the path my logic took to get to the end result and conclusion.That are what my blogs are simply the thought processi and thought provoking things. Forgive me while I am prone to jump the gun on revealing things and be in sin and not offer a complete overview. I should be waiting but until this transformation is over within me I will not be able to offer a concrete definition on ministry.
2. I understand fully that last year I thought I was so mature in my faith only to find out now there is still much ground to be taken. I ask myself several times how could I have had such wrong perceptions about some key things, I understand I may be doing the exact same thing here.
3. Take God's word not my words and let them speak to you. I hope my writing only stirs people to question things for themselves and seek out God in their own lives and spur them on to a greater love of Jesus.
4.The path God has me on is a more radical one than I initially thought. Forgive me while I only care about my father's preception of me not those around me.
JG
1. God is totally overhauling my view on ministry and by no means is the work complete. Therefore some of my views are not complete yet and I have large gaps and holes in them that don't seem to make sense. There are two apparently different seemingly contradictory things The Spirit is teaching me about that somehow go together and it makes sense in my mind but I cannot clarify it to the degree it need to be at this present time. I will not have a grasp on this stuff for a while. The things I said I hold fast to because that is the path my logic took to get to the end result and conclusion.That are what my blogs are simply the thought processi and thought provoking things. Forgive me while I am prone to jump the gun on revealing things and be in sin and not offer a complete overview. I should be waiting but until this transformation is over within me I will not be able to offer a concrete definition on ministry.
2. I understand fully that last year I thought I was so mature in my faith only to find out now there is still much ground to be taken. I ask myself several times how could I have had such wrong perceptions about some key things, I understand I may be doing the exact same thing here.
3. Take God's word not my words and let them speak to you. I hope my writing only stirs people to question things for themselves and seek out God in their own lives and spur them on to a greater love of Jesus.
4.The path God has me on is a more radical one than I initially thought. Forgive me while I only care about my father's preception of me not those around me.
JG
Monday, November 13, 2006
Oh...Ministry
It seems the chaos that seems to fill my mind a lot as of late has finally materialized into something. I find myself tonight ready to write...to fill the blank spaces that are all around me with an awakening in a sense within me. I will not forget that God still has much more awakening to do within me, but I will be content on this plateau before the next hill.
There has been something stirring within me as of late...mainly my christian approach to minsitry and my heart condition. In the season I am in God is calling me to a complete redirection within myself: transforming all of who I was and still in part am whether good or bad. He is making all things new. He is calling to me to do all things new.
The biggest lesson has been simply that it was never about the converts it was all about ourselves all along. That will probably seem a paradox to some because we have a tendancy to care so much about people's perceptions of us, we lose sight that perhaps we should be spending less time caring about what people think of us and more on how God views us.
Matt and I have begun talks on the the triune nature of God as of late and he asked a very perplexing question " does every aspect of the trinity love everyone?" After some pondering and some prayer here are my thoughts: God is by nature angry and only loves those who are redeemed those who love Jesus, this is shown by a father loving his kids more than every other kid, Jesus loves everyone regardless of slavation status, he died for everyone. The spirit is the interesting one he doesn't even love christians occasionly. He loves those who are in a process known as sanctification those christians that are growing and moving closer to Jesus.
We need to honestly consider this we are loved by God and we are not loved by God. The only thing that matters in this life is us and the internal revelation that is happening and overflowing out of us as christians.
This is what God has been teaching me about ministry it's not means of doing it, it is about "the mean" by which we can minister.
This way is simply letting the hate and love of God for us compel us. It says in Hebrews 12:14
"...be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. "
It says that unless we are holy we will not see God. We cannot hope to see God work, we cannot expect the spirit to move unless we are being a holy people. We are not called to condemn people but to work on the plank in our eye before we go out and condemn people for the speck in theirs. This is ministry...ministry foremost should be about santification and discipleship spurring each other on to holiness.
15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."[c] 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."[d]
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."[e] 27The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."
That is the beauty of the community we are in here in SLO. It is not about those who are mature, it's not about the weakest . It is about us as a group of believers being in real fellowship and experiencing the life God intended us to experience. Spurring each other on to real holiness and letting that be the water that drives this storm that is coming.
Granted we have some major work to do as a chrisitan community here...but I know once we begin to realize that we are a body not individuals we begin to understand humility and we begin to understand what exactley God is calling us to as a people. He is calling us to the personal relationship not the public. Letting Him dictate and judge us not others.
I love that fact...it's about letting go in order that we might gain more...it is a beatiful and effective surrender.
There has been something stirring within me as of late...mainly my christian approach to minsitry and my heart condition. In the season I am in God is calling me to a complete redirection within myself: transforming all of who I was and still in part am whether good or bad. He is making all things new. He is calling to me to do all things new.
The biggest lesson has been simply that it was never about the converts it was all about ourselves all along. That will probably seem a paradox to some because we have a tendancy to care so much about people's perceptions of us, we lose sight that perhaps we should be spending less time caring about what people think of us and more on how God views us.
Matt and I have begun talks on the the triune nature of God as of late and he asked a very perplexing question " does every aspect of the trinity love everyone?" After some pondering and some prayer here are my thoughts: God is by nature angry and only loves those who are redeemed those who love Jesus, this is shown by a father loving his kids more than every other kid, Jesus loves everyone regardless of slavation status, he died for everyone. The spirit is the interesting one he doesn't even love christians occasionly. He loves those who are in a process known as sanctification those christians that are growing and moving closer to Jesus.
We need to honestly consider this we are loved by God and we are not loved by God. The only thing that matters in this life is us and the internal revelation that is happening and overflowing out of us as christians.
This is what God has been teaching me about ministry it's not means of doing it, it is about "the mean" by which we can minister.
This way is simply letting the hate and love of God for us compel us. It says in Hebrews 12:14
"...be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. "
It says that unless we are holy we will not see God. We cannot hope to see God work, we cannot expect the spirit to move unless we are being a holy people. We are not called to condemn people but to work on the plank in our eye before we go out and condemn people for the speck in theirs. This is ministry...ministry foremost should be about santification and discipleship spurring each other on to holiness.
15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."[c] 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."[d]
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."[e] 27The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."
That is the beauty of the community we are in here in SLO. It is not about those who are mature, it's not about the weakest . It is about us as a group of believers being in real fellowship and experiencing the life God intended us to experience. Spurring each other on to real holiness and letting that be the water that drives this storm that is coming.
Granted we have some major work to do as a chrisitan community here...but I know once we begin to realize that we are a body not individuals we begin to understand humility and we begin to understand what exactley God is calling us to as a people. He is calling us to the personal relationship not the public. Letting Him dictate and judge us not others.
I love that fact...it's about letting go in order that we might gain more...it is a beatiful and effective surrender.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
oh...Pride
This morning I found myself at Motana De Oro, a state park on the central coast of California. It was misting and quite chilly but Elise and I were determined to finally take a day for ourselves and do something fun. Little did we know that God as normal would speak through the rediculous. This is the perspective of a snail...
"Little did I know that I could find myself so lost in the middle of the woods so far away from a source of water.There is nothing but dry dirt surrounding. The storm the night before had blown me here and I find myself disoriented not knowing where I can find myself the essential necessities to live, I am so lost.
It's been hours, I am crippled by the distance, I must return I am determined. I hear the ground rumbling perhaps something is coming to my rescue to return me back to the water. I think it sees me...
I hope it sees me...
The big creature is carrying me in his hands, I am scared that perhaps it may not have my destination in mind. I am willing though, rather than face death to let anything happen to reach the water.
I am still in the strange creature's hands perhaps we will reach the destination soon. Rains pour down. I can hear the sound, on the barren ground. I can hear the waves so close yet so far away...
It seems he is carrying me toward the ocean but why haven't we reached it yet?...
...bloop."
I think all of us can take a lesson from the snail's perspective. The storms of life come and we get so blown off course from where we should be. I would say of these three lessons that I am writing about pride, ministry, and friendship this one has been the hardest. To actually let people teach me and minister to me is a hard thing. To finally let go of my pride and let someone else carry things for a change. Little did I know that by not accepting this I was like the snail so far away from home.
To most of my close friends I have told them that God was calling me to the horizontle plane during this season, an honest first. God was calling me to devote to friendships and people in an intense focus. Little did I know it would entail actual friendship not some arbitrary concept. God answered that prayer by allowing me to realize who my true friends are and that I need to be poured into too. I can't always be an unending source of water for people when my spring has sprung a leak and needs to be shut down.I remember praying a while back that I can't continue pouring out in the same way I have been. I was like the snail so far away from water that I was in a sense slowly dying, hardly functioning because I had no water for myself or in my eyes worse yet, for others.
I was letting pride get in the way. I am a control freak and want everything to be done my way. Who are we to think that we are any better than anybody else enough to dictate things? We all own the same wretched heart redeemed by grace. Like I said in my blog yesterday it has been a lesson in letting go in order that I might grow leaning on Christ alone and his sufficiency in my life, his greater grander plan. It is better yet that way. I am holding together only by his grace and providence in my life.
As for letting go I spent a whole day in a sense doing nothing with Elise.
..It has been one of the best days of my life.
God doesn't call us to a life of sole ministry we get burnt out that way. He calls us to in part enjoy what he has given us. To take delight in his providence and good grace. He is more than worthy because of this fact alone.
JG
Friday, November 10, 2006
Oh...Friendship
These next couple blogs I want to recount to remember what exactley God has taught me during the time in which he took me on an unexpected detour to work some things out within me. I want to focus this blog on friendship but moreso the next couple blogs on three exact issues : friendship, pride, and ministry. This is in a hope of finally coming to terms and realizing the extent of these lessons in my own life.
I must say that the lessons God has taught me about this particular subject about friendship have been incredibly difficult.It is hard to take away all of one's perception about certain subjects and replace that. God did that and it was a ride.
The living situation this year is so good a pure joy, and I honestly have no complaints. I live in an apartment with three awesome guys one kitchen, one living room, two bathrooms, and four bedrooms.
This is Rory he was in my wow group last year and we just clicked although we were totally different people, he is a music major.
This guy's name is Evan I consider him my best friend in the whole wide world, he is a construction managment major.
This is Matt he was my best friend's roomate last year, a computer engineering major. These are who I am living with this year. It isn't anything like a dorm you enjoy each other's company and you see each other and really have to live with each other and are forced to get along or face the consequences. I consider it is a blessing to be living with all these guys.
Evan and I have had a little bit of a culture shock with the circumstance God has placed our way and its been awesome to learn how to work through everything God gives us together. By leaning on each other and the friendship that has given us we are able to make it through. I will note two things though that was preventing us from leaning on each other as brothers in Christ. One we were afraid to bring up issues that we didn't want to talk about, we should only fear God not the response of people. Secondly we were also upset to accept that we can't devote all our time to each other anymore there is responsibility and other things that we do need to focus on.
This girl's name is Elise, she is the love of my life, my other best friend. God has called this to be my other focus. It has been difficult managing all the time that God has given me to do with what I will and delegate and distribute it responisbly. Thanks be to God who through an easier architecture class this quarter I have had more time to devote to people like Elise who are so truly wonderful. I thing the biggest difficulty in friendship this year has been simply having enough time to enjoy eachothers company. In a sense letting go enough so God can do His things and we can find pleasure in His ultimate greatness. It's been difficult to accept that perhaps God wants us to work towards something better and bigger than ourselves but not have the same responsibility because of the way our lives look and the difference between this and last year. We are meant now in this season to be devoted to a few and pour into them and let that pour out to a few. and pour back into us. It isn't about simple nonstop ministry its about simply letting God do what He wants to do letting go to grow closer.
I believe it is in preperation for the real world where you can't have hundreds of friends you have a few. The challenge is making every moment purposeful, making sure that what God wants is being done with the time given us. I still have a lot of work to do with that but I am making things simpler. I am devoting myself to my apartment and Elise and not being upset that God has called me to only four people for the most part. I will enjoy all the other friendship when time dictates and God calls me to but I am letting go of some in order that I might have a stronger bond and better friendships.JG
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Back to Simplicity
So this past week in particular has been one of the most difficult draining/ most emotional weeks I have experienced in a long while. Infact it has been a really draining month and half since I have been back to school and such.That time was characterized by many things I have not been able to find joy in which is rough for one who can't control his smile oftentimes. After some really rough conversations with God and a little bit of spiritual warfare and a lot of honestly just crappy things in my life all happening at once I come today to this computer in a peace and simplicity that I haven't had in a long time,probably since my intial conversion.
I do not feel a need to write long because the words I will write will not change you it will be those times you spend with your Savior and love Jesus Christ. I will say something to you, though and I hope the lack of words will make note of how important this is to me and what God has told me. "Shut up, live simply and love Me. Use the circumstance in your life to point back to Me and who I am." That's the secret to life right there. Love Jesus, and simply believe Him to be who He is and forever will be. That is it. Let simplicity flow back into you.
JG
I do not feel a need to write long because the words I will write will not change you it will be those times you spend with your Savior and love Jesus Christ. I will say something to you, though and I hope the lack of words will make note of how important this is to me and what God has told me. "Shut up, live simply and love Me. Use the circumstance in your life to point back to Me and who I am." That's the secret to life right there. Love Jesus, and simply believe Him to be who He is and forever will be. That is it. Let simplicity flow back into you.
JG
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Waiting Room & This Road
i will run when i cannot walk
i will sing when there is no song
i will pray when there is no prayer
i will listen when i cannot hear
sitting in the waiting room of silence
waiting for that still soft voice i know
offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
trusting that this closet's where You are
Lord i know if i change my mind
You will change my heart in time
Sovereign Lord this time's from You
so i sit in the waiting room of silence
cause its all about You
i will fight when i cannot feel
i will trust when You dont seem real
i will tell when i cannot speak
i will step when i cannot see
sitting in the waiting room of silence
waiting for that still soft voice i know
offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
trusting that this closet's where You are
-Shane & Shane
All heavy laden acquainted with sorrow
May Christ in our marrow, carry us home
From alabaster come blessings of laughter
A fragrance of passion and joy from the truth
Grant the unbroken tears ever flowing
From hearts of contrition only for You
May sin never hold true that love never broke through
For God's mercy holds us and we are His own
This road that we travel, may it be the straight and narrow
God give us peace and grace from You, all the day
Shelter with fire, our voices we raise still higher
God give us peace and grace from You, all the day through
-Jars of Clay
i will sing when there is no song
i will pray when there is no prayer
i will listen when i cannot hear
sitting in the waiting room of silence
waiting for that still soft voice i know
offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
trusting that this closet's where You are
Lord i know if i change my mind
You will change my heart in time
Sovereign Lord this time's from You
so i sit in the waiting room of silence
cause its all about You
i will fight when i cannot feel
i will trust when You dont seem real
i will tell when i cannot speak
i will step when i cannot see
sitting in the waiting room of silence
waiting for that still soft voice i know
offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
trusting that this closet's where You are
-Shane & Shane
All heavy laden acquainted with sorrow
May Christ in our marrow, carry us home
From alabaster come blessings of laughter
A fragrance of passion and joy from the truth
Grant the unbroken tears ever flowing
From hearts of contrition only for You
May sin never hold true that love never broke through
For God's mercy holds us and we are His own
This road that we travel, may it be the straight and narrow
God give us peace and grace from You, all the day
Shelter with fire, our voices we raise still higher
God give us peace and grace from You, all the day through
-Jars of Clay
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
When You are near
There’s no need to say a thing,
When I’m before you in this silence
I feel refreshed with peace
Break this noise that binds the voice
That tries speak open up my eyes to see
Your gracious sovereign reach
It’s hard to talk when I feel that you are near,
When all is quiet it’s the beauty that I hear,
This hidden place where I know that you calm my fears
I know that you’ve washed my tears
The seasons of change I’ve faced
Have never left me wounded
Only scars of hurt
But never deeply rooted
This healing I have felt
No burden can replace
Redemptive hope has been the story of my pain
All is lost without the breath of life you give
And you give so much
I want nothing more than you so here’s my heart
-Jeremy camp
When I’m before you in this silence
I feel refreshed with peace
Break this noise that binds the voice
That tries speak open up my eyes to see
Your gracious sovereign reach
It’s hard to talk when I feel that you are near,
When all is quiet it’s the beauty that I hear,
This hidden place where I know that you calm my fears
I know that you’ve washed my tears
The seasons of change I’ve faced
Have never left me wounded
Only scars of hurt
But never deeply rooted
This healing I have felt
No burden can replace
Redemptive hope has been the story of my pain
All is lost without the breath of life you give
And you give so much
I want nothing more than you so here’s my heart
-Jeremy camp
Monday, November 06, 2006
As Every Tear
As every tear wets this page
and every stormy day joins the larger sorrow
and every raindrop joins the river
flowing indefinitely
As blue sky nests in clear view
like a paintbrush, across the blue sky
seeking the next horizon
going forever on
this dessert pen records
every grain of sand
and every new way
that old is written to say
Oh the landscape that were writ with these tears
and oh the emotions which were once contained
every word meant something
oh the old silent longing
When words no longer needed to be spoken
Oh this night that falls on this wilderness
in the dessert time and lone roads
As the day breaks soon to set away
in beautiful misty light
Oh the echoe of these pines
discussion of matters I hardly knew
to find I am broken needing you
to find I am lost in only you
Words no longer need be spoken
and every stormy day joins the larger sorrow
and every raindrop joins the river
flowing indefinitely
As blue sky nests in clear view
like a paintbrush, across the blue sky
seeking the next horizon
going forever on
this dessert pen records
every grain of sand
and every new way
that old is written to say
Oh the landscape that were writ with these tears
and oh the emotions which were once contained
every word meant something
oh the old silent longing
When words no longer needed to be spoken
Oh this night that falls on this wilderness
in the dessert time and lone roads
As the day breaks soon to set away
in beautiful misty light
Oh the echoe of these pines
discussion of matters I hardly knew
to find I am broken needing you
to find I am lost in only you
Words no longer need be spoken
Something Surrounding Circumstance
I am amazed at the ability my emotions have to wage war against me. I am amazed at how things I thought I never would struggle with have come to cripple me more than any other. I am amazed that God would be able to bend us back even straighter than before.Praise be to the God of restoration. The God of the new birth after the most horrible death.
If you don't know God has put me in unique places all my life. Through God's grace alone have I been able to be adjustable to the divine stretching that God wants to do, and by no means has it been easy. I will repeat again nothing of myself contributes to this I have only prayed and made decisions and the choice to be stretched. Apart from that I have done nothing but simply been available for His use.
Last night was one of the worst and best nights in my recent past. God stretched me in ways I couldn't can't and until heaven will probably never fully begin to comprehend. He bended me back into the shape He wants for me for this time place and season. Now with some realizations that I am very uncomfortable with and some direction that I am also uncomfortable with I have gained an understanding and something to write about.
There is something surrounding circumstance that we don't seem to get as Christians we look to everything except those things that will help. We let circumstane dictate things rather than a steadfast unchanging God. This must stop! We must forever be seeking out the face of Christ. Like Peter I was for so long looking at Jesus literally walking on water having wonders be done around me but then something happened, I got sidetracked by a little thing called circumstance and began to sink. Praise be to Jesus who rescues when we are sinking in deep water.
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy,from my foes, who were too strong for me...the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me...For who is God besides the Lord? and who is the Rock except our God ? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect...You stoop down to make me great...therefore I will praise...I will sing praises to your name...unfailing God."
-psalm 18
Isn't that a God we should desire to whole heartedly pursue!As Evan would say "DUH"! I believe fully we lose sight of that.
"Lord here I am again in a dry and barren hole, a place where nothing can speak to me but this deepness and despair. Yet I can still see the light You so willingly offer and it is the only thing that gets me through. I am parched in desperate need of You. I know this all has purpose and I await what You will do with these circumstances and realizations..."
It is amazing that God could do such a transformational thing over the course of five hours last night bringing me out of darkness into full light. I learned above all else from last night that I give too much of myself. God is teaching me to play the bigger game be a player not an architect. He is teaching me the little leagues before he realeases me on the bigger ones. I guess it is all really about submission, making peace and having enough faith to believe God is who He is... unfailing.
You think I would get that by now but it seems the simplest lessons need to be retaught again and again.
We need to learn to make Jesus Friend foremost, He is always there for us always wanting to talk always willing to listen and wishing us to get better spuring us on to a deeper love and a deeper longing for and possesion of abundance of joy. He is never about all the stuff we as Christians make it about. He is simply about growing together, experiencing abundant life together.
We lost sight of the big picture. Circumstance can get us down. By no means am I saying life won't have its ups and downs yet when you know you have someone there that is the Friend of all Friends you lose sight of everything else. Your desires become His and His become yours. There is a beautiful thing I like to call divine flow. We lose sight that every molecule, every drop is beconing us back to the streams which lead to the river and those rivers which lead to bigger bodies of water.
Everything in the Christian life is simple we make it too complicated. It is all about Jesus. It is all about Him. Having His heart within us and letting that love that burns undying like the radiant sun reach out and warm this cold and dying world. Refall in love with Jesus...He is more than worthy to be called friend.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Strings
strings that play in a different way
improvising and singing with the sway
oh that one should break and cause more need
but soon to follow the sweetest of melody
Like a leaf blown in the wind, not carring about his way
should we learn to move according to this new
and to think that one more should break
and be unwritten more beautiful then before
and with swell and sway, the rise and fall,
moving and dancing, newly contained
could it be that the new page is far better than the old
to adapt and change, to lose and gain
that the season should change and cause us to bring
not something but to lose all we are
Like a leaf blown in the wind, not carring about his way
should we learn to move according to this new
and to think that one more should break
and be unwritten more beautiful then before
...written more beautiful then before
Friday, November 03, 2006
In Context
There is definatley a tendency within the Christian walk to forget certain aspects on very important issues. We forget often times that we need a seed to grow a tree. We expect everything to be done by an instant God, not the God of the whisper as 1 kings 19:12 talks about.We expect out gospel to go out almost instantaneously without any work. I must say tonight I am a little reluctant to write this one in fear of the implications it does mean for my life as well as yours and the fact I might piss people off but I will let the Spirit go before me and convict. It is a step I must take...Christ is calling me ...to be real...to be honest...to know who He has made me to be. I hope Christians everywhere will be able to for once live in context...
I find tonight words in my brain rattling and clanging simply saying "in context". I found myself saying" once again with this God, why?" So here I find myself tonight at the desk where miracles will be and have already been recounted simply trying to understand two simple words" in context."
It is a long held belief and observation of mine It is far easier in the Christian walk to fall into being irrelevant than to be unique. I find myself when I relate to Christian men and women having far more to say than to a dying generation that my words are far more needed by. I find myself desiring to just simply being able to relate. How? As all things in the Christian faith and walk it happens inside of your heart, it has and always will be about the heart condition.
Earlier this week I found myself asking the question on my knees why if this Spirit that You gave us is so majestic, so wonderful, so beautiful, so powerful, than why are we not all Yours why do we seem to be so out of phase with the lost. And I understand spiritual warfare and all that and that we do suck and all that and we are all torn into two the moment of our birth and our new birth. But I find myself simply thinking that Jesus Christ gave all of himself left Earth to give us the very Spirit of God to be within each of us, the very thing angels gaze and wonder about and what have we done with this? Instead of working on the inner temple we built even massiver outer temples in the forms of idols, churches, etc.. We build glorified walls and we have such a propensity as people to focus so much on the outer that we entirely forget the inner! What a wretched thing!
The only reason I believe the church,the relavant transformational community, is growing so heavily in Asia is because they know simply that there is a difference between soul and spirit because of the eastern religion that is native to the region. They understand the spiritual realm because they have seen the manifistation and power of the unseen. They know that is the only way to "enlightenment" they focus on the very subtle yet oh so imprtance difference of soul spirit and body. They take time to focus on the internal. Is this something we could learn from? Maybe spending a little more time on the whole "enlightenment" thing spending alone time with the God who whispers to us?
Our culture doesn't lend itself to knowing yourself until honestly college and we as Christians need to know who we are in the slightest hope of understanding who God is. God is calling us to be relevant to an ever changing culture. Not changing the beautiful Gospel but radically being a unique inspired, surrendered people. We must be in context. We must heavily know that we are three part in beutiful echo of God himself(1 thess 5:23). You are "spirit soul and body"in that order each one needing to be focused on.
We are Spirit.This is the inner court of the temple of who we are(1 cor 3:16) a place beyond understanding. All activities in the temple are directed by this place the revalation which happens in the utter silence and quitness of this place.It is the Holies of Holies where the Spirit of God indwells us. It may seem to us that nothing is done in the Holiest Place becauase it is pitch dark. Yet all thing revolve around this...
We are Soul. This is inbetween the spirit and the body.It must be noted that like God we cannot focus on one aspect of his character or we lose sight. We must foremost focus on the Spirit.
We are lastly Body: It may appear that everything revolves around the outer plane of who we are. But little do we know how the physical plane is influences by the spirit of certain men.
We must realize all this. I found myself a couple months asking myself is there only one way to getting closer to Jesus just as there is only way to salvation? After much thought I believe generally there is only one way. The only place you will change is when you choose not to focus on the outer rather the internal. For those of you who don't journal START. For those of you who don't know your tendencies FIND THEM OUT! We are wretched people covered by beautiful masquerades. There is a value to knowing who you are apart from the mask. Honesty is profitable in all ways and areas. The only reason I believe we find ourself in the prediciment we find ourselves in is because of you and me and are focus on the body rather than the spirit . We don't know who we are and in turn don't know who He is...we must grow in the understanding of who He is...we must in order to reach the lost.
JG
I find tonight words in my brain rattling and clanging simply saying "in context". I found myself saying" once again with this God, why?" So here I find myself tonight at the desk where miracles will be and have already been recounted simply trying to understand two simple words" in context."
It is a long held belief and observation of mine It is far easier in the Christian walk to fall into being irrelevant than to be unique. I find myself when I relate to Christian men and women having far more to say than to a dying generation that my words are far more needed by. I find myself desiring to just simply being able to relate. How? As all things in the Christian faith and walk it happens inside of your heart, it has and always will be about the heart condition.
Earlier this week I found myself asking the question on my knees why if this Spirit that You gave us is so majestic, so wonderful, so beautiful, so powerful, than why are we not all Yours why do we seem to be so out of phase with the lost. And I understand spiritual warfare and all that and that we do suck and all that and we are all torn into two the moment of our birth and our new birth. But I find myself simply thinking that Jesus Christ gave all of himself left Earth to give us the very Spirit of God to be within each of us, the very thing angels gaze and wonder about and what have we done with this? Instead of working on the inner temple we built even massiver outer temples in the forms of idols, churches, etc.. We build glorified walls and we have such a propensity as people to focus so much on the outer that we entirely forget the inner! What a wretched thing!
The only reason I believe the church,the relavant transformational community, is growing so heavily in Asia is because they know simply that there is a difference between soul and spirit because of the eastern religion that is native to the region. They understand the spiritual realm because they have seen the manifistation and power of the unseen. They know that is the only way to "enlightenment" they focus on the very subtle yet oh so imprtance difference of soul spirit and body. They take time to focus on the internal. Is this something we could learn from? Maybe spending a little more time on the whole "enlightenment" thing spending alone time with the God who whispers to us?
Our culture doesn't lend itself to knowing yourself until honestly college and we as Christians need to know who we are in the slightest hope of understanding who God is. God is calling us to be relevant to an ever changing culture. Not changing the beautiful Gospel but radically being a unique inspired, surrendered people. We must be in context. We must heavily know that we are three part in beutiful echo of God himself(1 thess 5:23). You are "spirit soul and body"in that order each one needing to be focused on.
We are Spirit.This is the inner court of the temple of who we are(1 cor 3:16) a place beyond understanding. All activities in the temple are directed by this place the revalation which happens in the utter silence and quitness of this place.It is the Holies of Holies where the Spirit of God indwells us. It may seem to us that nothing is done in the Holiest Place becauase it is pitch dark. Yet all thing revolve around this...
We are Soul. This is inbetween the spirit and the body.It must be noted that like God we cannot focus on one aspect of his character or we lose sight. We must foremost focus on the Spirit.
We are lastly Body: It may appear that everything revolves around the outer plane of who we are. But little do we know how the physical plane is influences by the spirit of certain men.
We must realize all this. I found myself a couple months asking myself is there only one way to getting closer to Jesus just as there is only way to salvation? After much thought I believe generally there is only one way. The only place you will change is when you choose not to focus on the outer rather the internal. For those of you who don't journal START. For those of you who don't know your tendencies FIND THEM OUT! We are wretched people covered by beautiful masquerades. There is a value to knowing who you are apart from the mask. Honesty is profitable in all ways and areas. The only reason I believe we find ourself in the prediciment we find ourselves in is because of you and me and are focus on the body rather than the spirit . We don't know who we are and in turn don't know who He is...we must grow in the understanding of who He is...we must in order to reach the lost.
JG
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Right that you should fear Me
Tonight I find myself reluctant to check out my sources about what God is doing in the grander scheme. I see what He is doing here and my joy has come unhindered and in fullness. I fear though that this Great God I serve if I were to look into His outpourings gaining a reflection of who He is was and forever will be, getting closer to that True Picture, I would surely die. I am amazed at God who has only begun the miracles I have begun to see here. Giving a voice to the voiceless and healing in miraculous ways for others.
And as I hear my roomate refreshed and renewed from this amazing weekend, singing praises to the king and knowing certain "secrets" I simply want to cry because God is so good and so faithful and I have only begun to see the grander scheme that God will continue to play out and show me throughout my life. And as I find myself finally begining to understand my propensity to praise gains stronger with every moment and I am consumed.
Lord You have only begun. You have granted us Your desire above all else. And You alone are fulfilling it Lord, We praise you Jesus.
JG
And as I hear my roomate refreshed and renewed from this amazing weekend, singing praises to the king and knowing certain "secrets" I simply want to cry because God is so good and so faithful and I have only begun to see the grander scheme that God will continue to play out and show me throughout my life. And as I find myself finally begining to understand my propensity to praise gains stronger with every moment and I am consumed.
Lord You have only begun. You have granted us Your desire above all else. And You alone are fulfilling it Lord, We praise you Jesus.
JG
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