still brewing

Hey there I think this post will be whatever comes out. I have had lots on my mind but nothing to write about. Wierd. Anyway here are some of the things my mind is wrapped around.

1. Priorities: It is extremely important to me that I respect Gods design for priorities. 5 years ago I took that for granted. I now try to filter everything through three main priorities.


- Cultivate my relationship with God. (too often we think that this is ministry, service, mission work, etc) This is where I pray daily, read his word daily, listen to his voice (finding the place to listen), and obeying him when he does speak.
- Ministering to my wife. Call out in her the gifts that are in her, intercede for her, serve her, disciple her, teach her the word.
- Love my children. Raise them in the way that God has made them. discipline them, show them unconditional love.

2. Discipleship: I see discipleship as a huge responsibility. It is teaching a person to obey everything that Christ commanded. I also see it as a tool for ministering together. Sunday I had the plesure of ministering to a brother with my two great friends whom I am discipling.

3. Being an overseer: This is a huge desire of my heart. In my relationships I try to see the bigger picture. I love being an older spiritual brother. My pastor is teaching me a lot about that. He is also my spiritual father. He has invested in me in ways that I never thought possible. Through that I have built up more confidence in who I am in Christ.

4. Using teeth: I was challenged a few weeks ago to begin using teeth instead of 'gumming' people. what I mean by that is a dog when he wants to attack, goes for the juggler. I need to go straight to the heart. It is my tendancy to love and gentle my way through things. This doesn't always work. I desire to bring the sword of truth into situations and divide soul from spirit.

There's more, but it's 11:00 pm and I need sleep.

God is good 'all' the time.

Authority vs control

Recieved by Robert Holmes, written by Mario Lui
Storm Harvest Ministries

While at a prayer meeting A person there recieved the following from God in the form of a vision.
She saw a person standing inside of a prison cell looking out, with both hands holding onto the metal bars in front of her. Then another person saw this person standing outside of the prison.
the lord said "This person does not understand the difference between inprisonment and freedom.

Authority vs Control

1. Authority: Raises sons
Control: Raises slaves

2. Authority: Makes us reliant on God
Control: Makes us relient on them


3. Authority: Helps us grow
Control: Makes us weak

4. Authority: Uses our strengths
Control: Takes advantage of our weaknesses

5. Authority: Equips us
Control: Robs us

6. Authority: Widens our horizons
Control: Narrows our experiences

7. Authority: Parent
Control: Master

8. Authority: Chastisement/discipline
Control: Punishment/retribution

9. Authority: Justice (what is wrong)
Control: Judgement (whose wrong)

10. Authority: Teaches how to make decisions.
Control: Simply makes decisions on your behalf.

11. Authority: establishes boundaries
Control: Intrudes boundaries or imposes boundaries

12. Authority: Gives
Control: Takes

13. Authority: David
Control: Saul

14. Authority: Lays down own life
Control: takes others lives

15. Authority: Corrects, adjust's
Control: Rebukes, scolds

16. Authority: Freedom
Control: Bondage

17. Authority: Living in a spirit of love
Control: Living in a spirit of fear

The person that Got this from God also felt that many churches and Christian organizations are operating under 'control' instead of "Godly authority" But the Lord at this moment is training up servants who are willing to die to self and excercise Godly authority with humility, love and meekness.

May we all walk under that authority.

Salt and Light

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven."

This verse is a big key to evangelism that the church has significantly
overlooked. It says, "let your light shine" which tells me that you are to
'model' a righteous and holy lifestyle before people, that they may see your
good deeds. This is a major pivotal point for the church. It does not say
"Go out and tell everyone you know that they need Jesus", it says that they
will 'see' Christ in you. There is a transitional gap between them seeing your
good deeds and praising God that needs to be brought to life. As a person
sees Christ in you it sparks a desire to have him (Christ) as well (inspired by
the Holy Spirit) it is through that revelation that they can have the scales
removed from there eyes and thus enter into eternal glory. It is at this
point that they can see past the "good deeds" and give honor and praise
to the father.

Knowing my history

Today was a special day. My son and I were looking up our families name on the internet and found our family's crest. I have it on my desktop now. Does anyone out there know how I can post it here so that I can show you? Anyway, we started doing searches on my grandfather and great grandfather. We didn't get far on that but found out that there is a museum in Amsterdam that has many historical artifacts from my decendants. This is really encouraging for me because as a man I need to know where I came from. My masculine roots have been harvesting by men for centuries. I desire to find out as much as I can about those fine men that walked before me. There is something in them that I have and I desire to know all I can about who I am. That way too I can bring my children under it and show them where they have come from. I just pray that GOd will give me the deriction I need to find out the propper information. Well I could write more but I am beginning to see double. (it's 1:15 am)

What to write ?

I sit here wanting to write but not sure what to write about. So I think I will write some tid bits.

Tithing.
I have been learning that God desires for us to tithe. Why is it that we believe that many other truths carry over from the old testiment but we cancel out the tithe? Could it be the love of money? God could take as much as he wants from anywhere he wanted but he asks us to give to him. I believe that he is doing this to work on our heart. Will you trust me? Will you obey me? Will you have faith that I will bless your heart? If we will not be faithful to tithe on $1000 will he entrust us to tithe on $2000? If you are faithful in the little things I will give you more.

Ministry of the Holy Spirit
For about a month or two I have been having an increasing desire to pray and ask God to begin to relaese more of his Holy Spirit in my life. Don't get me wrong he is still here, but I choose how much freedom he has in my life. I am beginning to desire for him to consume my house. Use me wherever he wants to.

Evangelism
I have had a greater desire to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. I am reading a great book "getting Evengelicals saved" and it has some meaty things in it. I live in the inner city of my city, and I believe that God has a reason for me to be here.

Discipleship
I have the blessing of discipling two great men. They are teaching me as much as I may be teaching them. We use a biblical foundations tool that expels truth from scripture and help the reader to apply it to their life and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It really challenges me to be an example of Jesus Christ. One of my friends said that 'we need to be samples of Christ' I like that.If my spending time with these guys are walking toward that goal then to God be the glory.

Consistency
I blogged a few weeks ago about a struggle I was having with my eldest son. Well since then my wife and I have come up with some concrete strategies for our children. Since then it seems that things have gotten better. I'm not out of the woods for sure but we have found that being consistent has help our kids.
Hehe my 7 year old had to write out 5 lines for not respecting his brothers space. he was continuing and I told him that I would double up the lines if he didn't stop. Well he said "I want 10" hmmmm We got home and he did 30 lines by his own choice. Some consequences are not as effective I guess.

God is good all the time
In summary my God is a great God and I am eternally greatful for my wife, children, friends, for the things that he has provided for me, for good health, for my job, and most important for his mercy and grace which keeps me going.

If I can Quote Forest Gump....."And that's all I have to say about that"