What are you brining?

"'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you . . ."

"'But when you present the blind for a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?' says the LORD of hosts. 'But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?' says the LORD of hosts."

"'But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and My name is feared among the nations.'"

Malachi 1:6, 8-9, 14

What are you bringing before the LORD? Although we may not sacrifice animals anymore, does that make the LORD any less deserving of our best? When you come before the LORD in worship on Sunday mornings, are coming because you "have to", or are you coming with a heart ready to worship Him and praise Him; a heart that yearns and hungers for Him? When you have your personal quiet time with the LORD, do you come tired, barely able to read the Word let alone reflect upon it? As you serve the LORD - whether in your workplace, in a typical ministry position, or as you fellowship with other believers - are you serving Him whole-heartedly? As you give monetarily unto the work of the LORD, is that the first check you write, or the last one, written only out of duty?

May we be found guilty of giving the LORD the best of all that we have - our time, energy, money, love, and service. He is worthy of nothing less.

Brotherhood of Believers

Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: ¹⁰ If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Something that has been on my mind a lot lately is the importance of having a brotherhood of believers that we can depend on surrounding us. This passage shows that God wants us to have fellowship with others who follow him. Not because its fun or because they like the same things as us, but because they hold the same belief in Jesus Christ as our savior. So where there are two who believe there is strength.

So why are we so quick to judge our brothers in Christ? Is it because our human nature desires for us to be better than others around us? I know that recently I've been catching myself thinking negatively about the people around me. I judge them for things that I honestly don't even know much about! Romans 2:1 says this:

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

I think its common for the devil to use our pride and self-worth to cripple us. He tries to tell us that we know everything better than the person next to us. It is SO important for us to dwell on scripture and be reminded day by day that these thoughts are not of God. It is his will for his believers to be united. Jesus says this in Mark 3:24-25:

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

So it is made pretty clear in scripture that keeping our relationships with our fellow believers strong and un-corrupted is important! Don't let gossip or petty arguments get in the way. If you're feeling like you are judging your friends unjustly, pray for God to remove that sinful tendency from you! Your relationships will thrive and God will bless them.

Trials/Temptations

Hey guys

So I was scrounging around for some ideas this week, and I'm kinda going to take a slight spin off of the last couple/few posts. The key verse for this week is 1 Corinthians 10:13, specifically the part "and God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." First off, I like to think of temptations in this verse as more like trials, or hardships. Basically what it is getting at is that regardless of what you are going through, God will get you through it. An example from my own personal experience would be last fall. My Grandpa had died recently, I was working on transferring schools, and I was trying to study for finals; all of this was going on at the same time. Naturally, I was super busy and loaded to the max. Key phrase there: to the max. Not "over the max." Just "to." When I had all this going on, God was faithful to me. He kept my workload at a manageable level and allowed me to just keep trucking along. Whenever it seemed like it might be too much, He'd provide me with an outlet of some sort: a super helpful move from an advisor, or a buddy who'd help out with some physics. An important thing to remember: God doesn't force you through these trials, he provides the way out. It's like that poem about the footsteps in the sand -

http://www.wowzone.com/fprints.htm

There... you can even choose your favorite version of the three...

But anyway, just remember that when things are starting to get rough, always lean on God, or better yet, just give it up to him and let him carry you through it.

Until next week

Matt

hope.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Life isn’t easy. There are times of trial, testing, hardship, destruction, heartbreak…I could go on. But as I was reading through Job this week, I couldn’t over look the fact that even though Job was going through hell on earth, and even though his family and friends were tearing him down even more, he still kept his hope in Christ. That in itself is a great witness.

Place your hope in Christ – nothing else is trustworthy. And let someone know about the hope. Shouldn’t we share something that is so vital to surviving life on this world, and after?

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me!

Job 19:25-27

Spiritual Warfare

"Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  I Peter 5:8

Spiritual warfare.  Is it something that you think about often?  I would say that the Church in America as a whole doesn't really think about it all that much and the results are devastating.  Here's why I think they are devastating:  the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour; it seems like so many are being devoured and not living victoriously over the devil.  Have you ever seen a lion stalk it's prey on Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel?  It's serious business.  They will spend much time stalking their prey, waiting for just the right moment to attack and if the attacked animal is somehow not able to get away the lion will fight with it for as long as it takes to bring it down.  They are relentless and they go for the weak spots on the animal right away.  Sound familiar?

The devil is exactly the same way.  He prowls around stalking his prey, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.  When he strikes, he too, will not give up.  He wants to see his prey go down and he will go directly for the weak spots.  He wants to destroy us.  He wants to see us living in failure, defeat, and sin.  He takes pleasure in seeing us not live in the spiritual victory that Christ won for us on the cross.

Thankfully though Peter gives us two things to do in regards to the devil seeking his prey.  The first thing that he says to do is to be sober-minded.  What does this mean?  Well, I think that the most basic answer to give is that we take this seriously.  That we understand that this battle is real, that we have an adversary, and that he wants to destroy us.  If we do not take it seriously that doesn't mean that the devil won't.  Do you think a lion would let a prey go because it caught it frolicking about the field?  No, I don't think so either.  I think that it would enjoy it's easy prey.  The devil too will not simply let you go because you got caught "frolicking around" in the field; not paying attention; uncncerned that the enemy was approaching.  I think that he would enjoy his prey.

The second thing that Peter tells us to do is made possible only if we are doing the first.  He tells us to be watchful, but if we are not sober-minded or serious about the devil seeking us we will not be watchful.  It's kind of like if you're not serious about other cars on the street while your driving you're not going to be watching out for them.  We need to be careful; we need to keep our senses alert and watching out for the devil to strike.  There are opportune times for a lion to strike at it's prey just like there are opportune times for the devil to strike at us.  I think that it is important for each one of us to know our weakness and to know when we are the most targetable prey; so that the devil is not able to come and grab us by the jugular so to speak and bring us down.

This spiritual warfare is a real thing and it is important that all of us Christian recognize it to be such.  It's not just something that happens to some people.  No, the devil wants to devour us all and he will contnue to until we join in the battle and become sober-minded and watchful.  

Flee!

I am terrified of snakes. Absolutely, completely, ridiculously terrified. Even seeing the word "snake" causes me to tense up. I don't care if the snake is big, little, alive or dead - I'm terrified regardless.

Yesterday afternoon, as the sun shone brilliantly in a bright blue sky, I took off on a run. Less than a quarter of a mile from home, on a seemingly innocent bike path, I saw a snake! I hardly even noticed it, and probably wouldn't have, if it hadn't slithered closer to the grass as I ran past. When I looked down on saw the black, squiggly snake, I propelled myself into the air and down the path with a scream. I probably could have qualified for state track with the height of my jump and the quickness of my sprint down the path . . . Seeing the snake gave me such a spook that I didn't even take the bike path on my return trip; instead, I looped farther around and took the road. There was no way I was going to even chance seeing that sickly thing again.

As I was nearing home, heart still pounding more due to the snake that my cardiovascular activity, I considered my complete avoidance of the snake's sighting spot. What would our lives look like if we avoided sin in that way? In 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Paul writes that we are to "abstain from every form of evil". 'Form' could also mean 'appearance'. Do we do that? Unfortunately, I think we are too easily enticed by what the world has to offer and we come up with excuses on why a certain movie, a certain TV show, certain music, is okay. Shortly before he decided to murder his brother Abel, the LORD told Cain, "'Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.'" (Genesis 4:7) Don't even give Satan an opportunity; don't let sin begin to fester. Let's abstain from even the appearance of evil, walking steadfastly in the footsteps of our sinless Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8)

A time for goodbyes

Honestly, who really likes goodbyes? I've yet to meet someone who doesn't get choked up while saying goodbye to someone dear to them. While thinking about this, I realized that God made us to be relational. But how many times do we take for granted the relationships He has placed in our life until we suddenly realize that they're gone? I've found that the old saying "You don't know what you've got until it's gone" is quite true in this area. As this is a season of goodbyes for many— as graduation pulls students away from friends at school, seminary interns leave for internship (my brother is moving to California!) and life takes a turn for the summer, we are reminded that people don't stay in our lives forever.

There was once a time when I wished people wouldn't leave; instead everything would stay exactly the same. However, I now realize that things cannot stay the same in this life for long. There are two results to this problem, to become cold to the possibility of new friends, in fear that they will leave you as well; or to be open to the reality that things change, and to make the most of the time you're given.


Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Are we really striving to live in unity? Are we appreciating the people God has placed in our lives at the moment for a special purpose? I find that more often than not we take for granted these people. What would our relationships look like if we took the time to tell or show others how much they mean to us?

Who do you appreciate today?
When's the last time you told them that?
  
 
  

"Luck"

Hey guys

Well, I might be a little late on the timeline, but it is Saturday nonetheless and I think that is a step in the right direction for me today. The verse for today is Romans 8:28 ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...") Recently, my brother was in an accident. He was walking back to his dorm after class when a car jumped the curb and hit him. First sign of God taking care of him: most serious injury was to his knee, and after about six MRIs, they determined he wouldn't even need surgery on it. Second sign: a bit before the accident, he scored a job working in the clubhouse at our golfcourse. He sits in a chair behind the desk, and hobbles (sometimes without even a crutch!) when he needs to. This summer, I'm putting in docks. If Aaron and I had gotten the other jobs - and I was offered the golf course job before I pushed it to him - things would not work out. This is just a small example; God works in bigger and better ways, and we don't always know what they are. The important thing is just to put our trust in him and know that everything is planned, and is going to work out.

Until next week,

Matt

run.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Are you RUNNING (not walking) with ENDURANCE? Are your eyes FIXED (not glancing) on JESUS? Is your SOURCE (not select areas) of strength from HIM?

run. don't walk.

God is Omniscient, I have a High School Diploma

Finals week can reek. I didn't shower that much, sat inside when it was sunny, and made smoke come out of my ears. Boy, did I reek. Finals week; a roller coaster of emotion, stress, late nights, coffee, and laughter. I think most of us know the feeling, so tired that you're floating, everything is funny, and you realize you've been staring at a sheet of notes for about 8.7 minutes and there's just no room in your cranium to fit any more information.

This is precisely the feeling I have right now. More than 12 hours have elapsed since I finished my last final at the Association Free Lutheran Bible School. I could talk for hours about the content of the tests, the content I studied that was not on the tests, or the content I saw for the first time on the test ... but I won't. I am tired, so really all I want to do is wine, but I can't digest cheese.

So, I'm taking a break from my normal weekly writing, going to bed "early," giving my mind a rest, and enjoying some fresh air. I have showered, fallen asleep in a 91 year old's yard, and consumed yet another cup of coffee, and unfortunately, at the end of this finals week my breath does reek.

At some point in this college career of mine, I titled a paper - "God is Omniscient, I have a High School Diploma." That's where I'm at right now. My brain hurts, I'm strung out on caffeine, and I am 2 days away from having a high school diploma AND a certificate of general Bible studies from the Association Free Lutheran Bible School. Praise God!

Totally Shameless Plug

Hey Young Adult Friends!

AFLC Youth Ministries would like to invite you to our: AFLC Young Adult Dinner & Forum!

Special Guest Speaker and Director of Youth Ministries Pastor Jason Holt (I know that was a mouth full ;)) will be there to Emcee as we dive into our Young Adult world, connect with one another, eat some awesome food from Sweet Taste of Italy together and have some rockin discussions at our tables.

The Skinny:
When? Friday, June 18th at 6:00 PM

Where? AFLC Seminary Chapel Dining Hall
Why? A connection time for those in the young adult season of life
Who? You!
How Much? $5

RSVP to naomia@aflc.org by NOON June 16, 2010

We would love love love (seriously love) to see you there!

Seriously,
Naomi Andrews
Youth Ministries Associate

p.s. Did I mention we would love to see you there?

Surrender II

Last week I shared a little bit about my story during a time in my life when God had to break me and show me some ways in my life where I needed to surrender to Him.  Basically it was a time where He got me to say, "It's all or nothing." 

This week I would like to continue with the theme of surrender and to begin I would like to quote a short part of a book by one of my favorite authors, Andrew Murray, called "Absolute Surrender."

He says this: "Absolute Surrender - let me tell you where I got those words.  I used them myself often and you have heard them numberless times.  But in Scotland once I was in a company where we were talking about the condition of Christ's Church and what the great need of the Church and of believers is, and there was in our company a godly worker who has much to do in training workers and I asked him what he would say was the great need of the Church and the message that ought to be preached.  He answered very quietly and simply and determinedly: 'ABSOLUTE SURRENDER to God is the one thing.'    The words struck me as never before, and that man began to tell how, in the workers with whom he had to deal, that if they are sound on that point, even though they be backward, they are willing to be taught and helped, and they always improve; whereas others who are not sound there very often go back and leave the work. The condition for obtaining God's full blessing is absolute surrender to Him."

I don't really know how much more one can say after reading something like that but I do know that I believe what he says is true.  Absolute surrender to Christ is what every Christian ought to seek for; what Christ desires of every Christian.  Absolute Surrender to Christ in every area of our lives.  To be honest,  it is sometimes easier for me to say I am surrendered to Christ with the whole big scheme of life instead of saying I am surrendered in day to day living.  It's easier to surrender generalities instead of specifics isn't it.  It's hard to surrender our daily habits or thought patterns to Christ; yet that's what He desires of us.  Absolute surrender.

I want to be absolutely surrendered to Christ but I know from personal experience and from what the Scriptures teach that I can't come to that point on my own.  Instead of striving after it in my own strength I have been encouraged and taught to "get down on my knees" and ask God for the ability to surrender myself completely to Him.

I fear that much of the Christian work today is done in our own strength and with our own wisdom and only as we become absolutely surrendered to Christ will we see God's will accomplished as He intends it to be here in our's and in lifetime's to come. 

"Are you ABSOLUTELY SURRENDERED?"

         

That's not what my planner says!

Summer is (almost) here! (The crowd wildly rejoices with tambourines and maracas!) Can you tell? Final exams are underway or completed for many of us; the summer wedding season has begun in full force; and I even got my first two mosquito bites. Along with the freedom from school, weddings, and mosquito bites come many plans. If you're anything like me, you have made many summer plans. A graduation in Michigan, a trip to the Arizona desert, camps, camps and more camps, family reunions . . . Summer is just plain FUN!

But, again, if you're anything like me, your summer plans may have already been a bit altered. Scheduling conflicts have disrupted some of my pre-existing plans, which has resulted in initial frustration on my part. As always, the Lord knows what's going on better than I do and has worked everything out just fine despite the conflicts. Through this, however, He's taught me a lesson.

James 4:13-15 says: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'"

Hm. How often, when speaking of these exciting, anticipated plans of the summer, do you say, "If the Lord wills, we'll head to _____" I know I haven't; but with the recent upsets in my scheduled activities, the Lord has taught me I need to be in the practice of doing so. So, although it may not come naturally to us right away, I'd like to invite you on a challenge with me. We'll start with our summer plans. When asked "Are you doing anything this summer?" Preface your response, or wrap it up with the phrase: "Lord willing." I think as we realize more and more who is ultimately in control, we'll become even more dependent upon Him.

Sunny Sundays are Scrumptious!

I have a hard time keeping indoors while the sun is out on a warm, lazy afternoon. While enjoying the tenderness of the sun on my face as I read one of my favorite books again, I saw a lovely bird hopping through the fresh, green grass with a juicy worm in it's mouth. This reminded me of something that God has been pulling me through this week.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." ~Matthew 6:25-34

As I think of what occupies the majority of my mind, it’s the future. I’m constantly wondering what will happen, will I have enough money, how am I going to handle everything, etc. I use to blame this on my mom— as you have not met a worrywart if you haven’t met her; however, now I realize that every one of us has a tendency to worry. We like to be in control, especially when it comes to areas in our own life that we assume we ought to have control over. We take things into our own hands and believe we know what’s best.

How different do you think we’d be if we truly sought the kingdom of God first? His will for our lives should be our aim and purpose for living each day, along with giving Him the praise His holiness deserves. How foolish of us to worry about such tedious, trivial things that pass like the flowers of the fields; yet we still worry.

How does this relate to my feathery friend frolicking about, you ask? (I may have adoration for alliterations… J) What are the chances this bird had been worrying about food? The answer is zero. If birds know that God will provide for them, are we really going to question His provision in every area of our lives? I feel hypocritical even writing about this, because I am nobody to preach on the subject, but I think we all need to sit back and relax— God has provided for us in the past, He will remain faithful and provide again. It’s in His nature.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” I don’t know about you, but I’m going back outside!

Encouragement

Hey guys

Not only did I remember this week, but I actually posted early! What a good deal. So I've been working long (11 hour) days for the last couple weeks, and I was thinking about all the golfing I've been missing. This had me discouraged - naturally - so I decided to spin my misfortune into a blog post. Discouragement happens; if you manage to avoid it, you're probably the only person to do so. But the deal with discouragement is that we have a way through it, every time. The way is - you guessed it - God. The Bible is filled with verses of how we can lean on God, and trust him to carry us through the rough spots. A couple verses off the top of my head include Psalm 55:22 (Cast your cares upon the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall) and Psalm 23:4 (Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.). I think my favorite, though is Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. I believe these verses are quite straightforward. When things are getting a little shaky, and you're starting to get down, cast your cares on the Lord (also 1 Peter 5:7) and together you'll be able to get through the rough stuff. The homework assignment for this week: share your favorite verse of the style above with me, and also go play a round of golf and think of me while you do :)

Until next week

Matt

Opposite Way

Many, many times in the Gospels it shows Jesus talking with, healing, eating with, and basically hanging out with “sinners.” His compassion and heart for them to be saved is amazing.

He took time to talk to a Samaritan woman, even though he was weary from his journey, and despite the fact that it was unacceptable culturally for Him to talk to her. And through it, He changed her life and many others. (John 4:5-42)

He called fishermen (who were probably pretty smelly) and tax collectors (who were hated by others) to be His disciples. But wouldn’t that affect His ministry with everyone else, who probably couldn’t stand to be around them, and influencing their view of Jesus negatively?

Jesus went the opposite way of the world. Not only when He was feeling good or joyful, but in times of struggle, pain, and heart-wrenching moments. He thought of the thief on the cross, he thought of you and me when being scourged.

Jesus had a bigger picture in mind, and had Someone greater that He was living for.

Matthew 9:12-13 says “But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Maybe today we need to sit down and learn what it means when Jesus says He desires compassion, not sacrifice. I know I do.

Who Are You?

Fifty high school kids are crammed into a basement designed for a family of five. Couches are squeaking and creaking under the weight of football players, cheerleaders, a couple nervous freshmen, and a kid no one has ever seen. The music gets everyone on their feet, singing at the top of their lungs, dancing like the night will never end. This could be any drunken house party on a Friday night, until the owner of the house steps into the picture.

A former professional basketball player in Australia, standing six feet nine inches tall and pushing three hundred pounds, Dewey Michaels (the home owner) is hard to miss. Standing at least a head taller than every kid in the room, someone asks if he played “Jaws” in that James Bond movie. More noticeable than his stature is the sound of his voice. On this Tuesday night, Dewey is sharing his own experiences from high school, capturing the attention of a very diverse group of kids. The room is silent as Dewey talks about what life has been and can be like – lonely, painful, confusing, boring, and scary. You can almost hear every kid’s heartbeat while Dewey explains that everyone has the opportunity to have a relationship with God. Hearts are stirring while attention spans are shrinking. Dewey ends the night with a simple yet profound question – “Who are you when you are alone in the dark?”

Dewey made a large footprint in my life right about a week after Paul Kneeland (see post on 4/22/10) moved to Sioux Falls, SD. I saw more leg than I really wanted when I noticed Dewey sitting in the sun at Foys Lake. After commenting on the amount of flesh that could be getting a nice sunburn, Dewey turned the conversation toward me. He asked if I was going to come to Young Life at his house on Tuesdays. I had a fun time at Young Life’s Fall Camp the year before, so I quickly agreed. Little did I know, Young Life’s focus was building relationships that encourage a relationship with Christ.

Dewey was good at building relationships with people. Sometimes it means he is pointing out the stupid things you did last weekend. Maybe he’s encouraging you to do your homework so you can graduate from high school. Quite often it includes talking about sports. More times than I can remember it involved laughter. But no matter what, Dewey’s main concern is where you are finding your identity.

In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul says “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 and ask yourself the question –

“Who are you when you are alone in the dark?”


(note - much much more could be said about Dewey Michaels - my sincere apology for trying to contain such a big person into such a short writing, but it is the end of the semester and there is so much work to get done ...)

Consider what would happen...

We are always accessible, always interacting, always turned on.

What would happen if we turned it all off?

Matthew 6:16-18 says, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"

Isn't it time we take our focus off of ourselves and turn it TO God?

Surrender

Surrender is the topic of this post today and I would like to lead into what I would like to write with a little bit of personal history which I hope will, at least to some degree, illustrate this idea of surrender.  I write it simply because our wonderful director of youth ministries, Jason Holt, asked me after my first post to share a little bit more about something that happened in my life and it just happens to fall into this category of surrender which God has led me to write about today.  So, here we go.

(I'm not going to go into super specific detail but I trust you will get the proper idea of what I am saying.)

About five years ago I went through a period in my life that was most trying and difficult for myself, for as far back as I  can remember I have wanted nothing more than to live out God's will for my life and as early ninth grade I had aspirations of becoming a missionary on the foreign field.  I loved reading books and hearing stories about missionaries and wanted to be one of those who would take the Gospel into the jungle and hack through brush like Indiana Jones and build a house that the wind would blow through at night and send the candle light dancing and flickering across the walls.  I had this romantic sense of adventure, still do, and thought that's what God wanted me to do.  So much so that after I went to Bible School I went to MTI and studied missions and then spent a few months in Mexico on the foreign field observing and participating in the very thing I thought God was calling me to do with my life.  It was hear though as I spent hours in the room given to me by a wonderful Mexican family that God began to do something in me.  I didn't understand what it was at the time, but He was asking me to surrender to Him.

I came back from Mexico and spent the summer on Summer Teams traveling around sharing the Gospel.  It was during this time that I began a friendship that God used during the next months and years to bring much encouragement into my life, which suprised me greatly because as God was breaking me it was hard to see that God was still out for my good.  

Following Summer Teams I returned home to Cloquet, MN and spent a year working and trying to figure out what it was that God wanted me to do with my life.  I mentioned earlier that God began this process while I was in Mexico and it continued on through the next several months.  Of course we must always be surrendered to Christ, but this was the breaking point for me.  While living at home I applied to several colleges, each one at a different time, because God kept closing the door to each one that I thought that I ought to go to.  My plan was to study missions and head out onto the foreign field somewhere, even though I had come back from Mexico disillusioned and confused about what God wanted me to do.  Finally, it was May 2005, and I said, "Fine, Lord, you don't want me to be a missionary, then show me what to do."  This came though after the final blow to my stubborn pride and selfishness in not wanting to surrender to what God wanted me to do.  During my time at home I had been dating someone and really thought that we were going to get married, but it turns out that God had other plans.  We broke up in early 2005 and after that happened I went into a state of complete confusion and disarray.  I was angry, I was depressed, I was lonely, and I was lost.  The plans that I thought God had for me had all been completely taken away from me and now what was I going to do?  I felt like a failure.  God was saying no to missions, no to getting married, I had no plans; no hope.  I didn't read my Bible for two months because I thought God would tell me something only to discipline me once again.  As I said though, in May things changed.  God began to break through my stubborn heart and show me what He had been trying to do for so long.  You see, the plans I thought were His were really rooted in selfisness and a desire for adventure above anything else.  I didn't so much care to bring the Gospel to people, I wanted an adventure.  My relationship that got broken up, had been, on my part, very much used to satisfy my own needs and not the needs of the other.  God began to show me these things and it has been from that point on that God has taken my life and began to teach me and show me what it means to live a life completely surrendered to Him.  Yes, I have wanted to do God's will for a very long time but it has taken time and a surrendering of myself, my pride, selfishness, and desires to do what He wants me to do.  Surrender is key to following Christ.

I would like to close with verse, "Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me'"  Matthew 16:24

Are you willing to surrender?

Afterthought: it seems that my whole post was my testimony.  Maybe next week I will continue with this theme of surrender, for it is what we are all called to, and though I shared about God asking me to surrender my life plans to Him that surrender takes place in our hearts and is carried out day by day in all of the thoughts, actions, and words of life.