Step into God

Have you ever taken a wrong step? Maybe in a puddle, gum, a ditch, slipped on ice? I think most of us have taken a step into something that we regret. Things happen and sometimes we step into thing that damage us and slow us down. I recall today in my devotion time the story of Jonah. Now we all know the story of Jonah and the Whale(fish). As I reflected on Jonah's choices, to run or be obedient, I must say I had to stop and do some personal reflection as well.

Jonah was a person, just like you an me. 

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

(Jonah 1:1-3 ESV)

Jonah had a choice. Just like you and me. He clearly heard God telling him to do something, and freaked out! Sometimes, the things we do not do, are just as critical as the things we do. Jonah had decided that he did not want to do what God told him to do so he ran. He chose to step onto the boat, and NOT into God's plan. Many problems came from Jonah's decision but that does not stop God from doing what He does best. Protect and Secure!


Unfortunately, there will always be consequences for our actions. Jonah fled a plan God wanted him to fulfill and in this disobedience we see God's re-directive power. God's compassion in this story stems from His pure heart for His people. AS you read Jonah, you will see many things happened because of the actions of single man. It is amazing that God is always in control? Even when the storms come we are still protected. If you look deeper in the heart of God and the story of the story of Jonah we see not only, security in disobedience, we see redirection after a heart of compassion.

Have you ever taken steps onto something to escape. Maybe you are like Jonah, or you moved, fled a situation, backed down from confrontation, or hid because you knew you were wrong? I know i have done all of these things. Its our weakness to trust God that really disables us. Fear creeps in! Lies begin to grow and become louder! Jonah, told those on his boat, that He feared the lord. This fear is different than what Paul discusses and actually refers to being afraid of God. Similar to how things frighten us! Jonah, was tossed over the very boat he climbed onto to escape and God had so much compassion on him, that he still kept him safe.

 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

(Jonah 1:17 ESV)

Moments like that for me are never easy. Its like keeping a secret, it eventually will eat at you from the inside. Jonah's response to a sovereign and compassionate God truly is remarkable. Knowing he failed and fled, he cries out to God,

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,

and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

and you heard my voice.

For you cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me;

all your waves and your billows

passed over me.

Then I said, ‘I am driven away

from your sight;

yet I shall again look

upon your holy temple.’

The waters closed in over me to take my life;

the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped about my head

at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land

whose bars closed upon me forever;

yet you brought up my life from the pit,

O LORD my God.

When my life was fainting away,

I remembered the LORD,

and my prayer came to you,

into your holy temple.

Those who pay regard to vain idols

forsake their hope of steadfast love.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving

will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

(Jonah 2 ESV)

Jonah is then led by God, and his own desire to be obedient to Ninevah, to express concern to God's people. I want to remind you all today, as the Lord has reminded me, God never gives up! God never leaves us. I find it fascinating that as Jonah flees, God pursues him still. It is an awesome thing to see, that God's compassion for Jonah, and for the people of Ninevah could not go unnoticed. 

Now I am sure you are wondering about the whole step thing! Well, today my life is reflective of the steps i take, as well as yours is defined by your steps. Steps onto something that we desires, or steps into Gods plan for our lives. Today, I am sure we will all take steps in one direction or the other. How comforting is it, in knowing that even if we take the wrong ones, through fear, selfishness, or just uncertainty, that God will still be working to get us back on track with us stepping to His plan. Our steps are very significant. As Jonah stepped away from God's plan for him, It took not only God to protect him, but ultimately Jonah's surrender to what God wanted of him.

Deep down inside each of us, there is a driving desire pushing us where to go and what to do. A child stealing cookies, a teen staying out too late, a college student partying all night, or even an adult committing adultery are all steps or choices people make. God knows our steps and will do whatever it takes to bring us back into his plan. For us today, it may not be about knowing what His plan or purpose is for us, but to "STEP INTO" only his desires, and not into something that will lead us away from Him. 

 

Sometimes the steps we take WILL leave imprints forever. What do your steps say about you and the direction your going?

Peace in the Storms of Life

Psalm 4:8

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Wow, What a God we have! One that is willing to do all the hard work for us! Even before the Son of God(Jesus) was hung on the cross for you and I, He had already done amazing things. Ever in need of God to just come in and make everything just go away. As you continue to read, I am convinced that we all struggle with this, YET even in our weakness, I can assure you God does not and will not abandon you! 

When is that last time you felt like you were up against the wall. Everything you seemed to be doing was wrong or failed, and you could never seem to overcome life itself. Whether it was work, a friendship, a project, or even a feeling of regret, depression, or anger, it consumed you. I know we have all been there! I myself have had the internal battles of hurt, regret, guilt, shame, confusion, anger, and anxiety take over my life and just bring me down to my knees. Nothing seems to go right and when you think it is over, something else happens. You get tired of fighting, trying, exerting any energy or whatever you have left, and failing. A sin that you cannot shake! A thought you cannot break! A choice your regretting you make! It all seems pointless and troublesome.  The mountains are too big, the issues keep coming back up, and you can not seem to win. You have lost! You give up! 

Have you been there? I think it is fair to say we all have. So what do we do? Try harder? Keep your head up? Push through? I am sure we all have heard something like this, and I am just as guilty in saying it to others in an effort to help. Reality sinks in when you do those things and nothing helps. Something the Lord has been teaching me, is that it cannot come from my own strength. When I do it alone, most of the time i fail. I would venture to say the same thing for you!

So then what? Over the last week God has shown me more and more that when these storms come up against us, or we get ourselves into a difficult, anxious, ugly mess, that everything will be ok! Think of is this way, if Jesus was willing to go to the ends of the Earth for you and I, how much more would He be willing to come into your situation now, and provide for you. In those times do you want an answer? Do you want him to show you a miracle? Do you want the victory? I tell you this today, in hope that you will reflect in your own time and evaluate it for yourself, but was the cross not enough? 

Whether it be, sin, shame, guilt, hurt, bitterness, stress, anger, anxiety, depression, a hard week, a trial... God wants to be allowed into your circumstances. I know our storms seem to be way bigger than anything we could ever overcome. In Mark, we find the disciples in a similar situation as im sure we all have been before. The storms are too much, God is with us and yet we do not feel him. We doubt that He can be bigger than our external or internal storms and we doubt him. Listen to Jesus' response to those who are so close to Him, even they are doubting.

Mark 4:37-41

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”^[a] 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

So you see, even in chaos, Christ still calms the storm. Lets not lose hope, heart, or Peace in our lives, because of the surrounding winds and waves are too big. If he calmed the storms then, i promise He will calm the storms now. May our faith arise, stand in awe of the cross, and receive the peace that Christ came to bring us, so we can always look forward, not back!

Romans 15:13 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Surrendered

Last month I started following a new television show called Prison Break. I had seen a few episodes before and really interested in seeing how it all worked out. I am into the second season of the show and I have seen people escape prison, run for their lives, be caught, get hurt, and die. Families and friends have been harmed and plans have fallen through. Each episode is left with a vital cliffhanger that pushes you to want to know what happens. The escaped cons have lied, cheated, and hurt those they love and care for all because of a huge conspiracy to cover something bigger than these men. In the initial plans to escape, the brains of the operation only intended for three people to be involved. Needless to say, after all was said and done, eight men we now placed in the plot of escaping a federal prison. If this show was any closer to the life of our own, some of us would be the main character. 

How many times do you find yourself trapped in a system or plot that you do not want to be a part of? Stumbling on something that you do not want to know yet, in that, you see hope and a way out. As intriguing as it is to watch a television show that depicts the life of fictional characters, i see myself far to easily in the story. Working with others to escape a place that i do not deserve to be in, running for my life, hiding out to avoid detection and seeking to know the truth behind something bigger than myself. 

Now in no way am i a prisoner of a jail, prison, or penitentiary, But I can see the world being a place of bondage, regret, and sin. You see, we are all born into a world full of corruption, fowl play, and sin. We run into things, fight for things, and change things, so that we blend in with those around us. The world says everything will be OK and that is is all about us. We want to fit into a society that accepts us! We poke, prod, push, and rise up in our own power, to be above everything and everyone. 

... back to the show! There have been moments throughout when the cons have planned and foreshadowed their future freedom once they arrive at a certain place. Catching a ride, a plane, meeting a person, grabbing money or a car. They inch closer through each episode and the phrase, "Soon we can all stop running, and it will all be over soon" echos countless number of times. I laugh every time because I know there are still more seasons of the show and if that were the case, the show would be over. So I sit and watch these men run for their lives, their plans fail, and problems and people come against them. .....

Just like us, we run, we disguise, we fit in, we plan around, and we fail. Yet, today, as the word surrendered takes center stage, we as people have a choice. Everyday, we live in this world, we wake up, plan, put on some sort of outfit, and attempt to live out our lives. The challenge i believe, I personally am being led to take on is this surrendered lifestyle. Giving it all up, waiting to see what God does, and most importantly stop running. The word itself implies a willingness to give up and let go. A caught robber or fugitive, must at some point choose to surrender, fight, or die. Surrender to authority, fight to escape, or die. Sound vaguely familiar? Do you ever get tired of running? Many times we fight for escape and freedom in our own way, when Jesus tells those who are following him, in Luke chapter 9, that those who wish to seek Christ, they must deny themselves and pick up their cross and follow him. The truth about that statement is that in order to seek God, We must be surrendered to Him. Yes, there is an evil authority in this world, but upon surrendering to God we gain protection and life through the blood of Jesus.

Our pursuit of freedom should not and does not rest in how we can outwit and outlast the evil who chases us. It simply resides in the faith that the one we surrender to, has taken care of everything for us. Our plans, our fights, our freedoms. That in him we would no longer need to disguise ourselves to fit in or live in fear of outwitting the enemy who seeks to bring us down. Our pursuit of freedom, is and only can be through the cross of Jesus. It is only by him that we are set free, given hope, and no longer have to worry about the future not working out. We are then, saved and eternally rescued, able to live in freedom, and changed forever, by Gods grace and love for us.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV)

Potential

Potential! 

What is it? Is is a lifestyle? Is it a perspective? Is it something we can ever achieve? The word itself discusses the possibility of something more. It brings into conversation, the simple fact that their could be more out there "potentially," than we cant see. Phrases like, "You have potential" "Well this is potentially possible" In fact the very definition of the word is, possible. So what does all this mean? Does it mean I can do whatever I want or desire? Can I live the life that I want? Do I have potential? We throw around the word or phrase that in all honesty, brings some sort of the word "Hope" into the picture., People say it about relationships or they use it as an outlook gauge to see future success. Potentially, it also brings in another word as well. IF! 

IF this all works the way I want it to, "Potentially" I will do this or that. That is a hard word to throw around. I truly believe that as we even acknowledge the word, IF, a simple transition word, doubt and disorder begins to enter into our thought process for all situations  Instantly, the potential we felt we had, is now hinging on the IF factor that everything will work out. What happens IF it doesn't? Where are you then? Does your potential increase or decrease even when the IF fails to happen your way?

The problem that many people, myself included, run into, is that we take our circumstances and put value and worth on them working out. We negate Hope, because of potential, and we doubt even more, because the IF did or did not come true! Thus, this process of thinking tends to take us on a path of confusion and hurt. If only it had gone this way. What IF this didn't happen or maybe I could have done it differently. It simply becomes, all about us and how we abuse, misuse, and confuse, not only our potential that we create and see, but the very potential God has for us as well. Feelings get hurt, emotions run high, all because we believe that we could have done something different. Would you agree with that? Sometimes we should do something different than what we think we should do. 

When we fail, and we always fail at somethings, we begin to doubt the possibility of us ever succeeding in anything. I have seen this play out in not only in my family, but my friends as well. Doubt and hurt has become visibly seen by the failed potential and the IF that did not work. Isn't it crazy the people place so much Hope in potential that we create or design because of our own desires and selfishness?

The potential of our lives fails to ever exist when we fail to see our hope and purpose through HIS eyes. Do you know that God loves you? Do you know that He has a desire for you that only You can do.We as people should be striving and pushing to a place where we are seeking out God's potential for our lives. I believe that, when our thoughts shift from, "This could possibly work or has potential" to "God sees potential in me and I choose to draw closer to Him, so that He can use me," the IF becomes less of a life altering moment when it fails to fall our way.

Its not about US and what We see or hope we can do. It is about placing all of our potential, our life, in the hands of the master craftsmen named God Almighty, and allowing him to use Us how he desires. A rubber band has potential to be stretch and pulled to hold things together! A balloon has potential to expand and get bigger! A camera has the potential to take amazing pictures! The out come of any of those examples does not rest on the objects themselves, it rest in the hands of the one desiring to use them. 

God wants to use us, to our full potential. He designed us! He crafted us! We cannot allow our misuse of our  lives, effect or play apart in how God wants to use US in His kingdom. May God remind you today that He desires to USE YOU! He has a purpose FOR YOU! He sees potential IN YOU! 

Ephesians 2:10

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Time to Listen

Here I am Lord, you have something to say

You have waited a while, but today is the day,

Can you let me in, to the plans you made

For me to glorify your precious name

My heart has been thinking, of something to write

Yet I never gave you time, please God give me sight

First forgive me, I just have been waiting

Like setting up the mood, for just the right placement

God I know, your always around,

I hear your words and don’t make a sound

I put it off, yet I am dying to know,

What can it be, what will you show.

I close my eyes to begin to write

Nervous a little, not sure why

Speak truth to me, I open the door

Fill me Father, like waves on the shore.

My son, my friend, why have you ran

Is it not true, you’re afraid of my plan

Let me shine, be bold and brave,

It’s me that does the work, remember I save

Just slow down and make sure you’re near

To my words of truth I’ve spoken so clear,

My dear son I know you’re nervous

You have avoided my words, deliberate and on purpose.

Well Chris its time, to hear

Thank you for drawing and coming so near

The last few weeks I’ve watched you my child

I’ve seen you teach, and grow, and smile

It’s real as can be, your gift I’ve given,

To lead, the ones who don’t always listen

Encouragement came, and you accepted my grace

Do not doubt Me or your place,

Your calling is real and I can see the change

Of those lives you touched and rearranged

That day I saw you, shaken and scared

Laying on your bed, tears because you cared

I moved in you to act not just sit

You took on the guilt, and sought forgiveness in it

That night I did some things and truth was spoken

Your heart awakened, changed, your life a token

A piece of my plan, a purpose to live out

You’ve taken on the calling, to live and not doubt

You have taken the steps, to lead and grow,

I know your sick now, but in it, who knows what I’ll show

It could be faith, it could be care,

Maybe rest and love, nothing can compare,

To sit with me, right here and now,

As I speak to you, about the life you live out

Yes you have been wrong, and hurt those you know

Yet my truth still engraved in your heart, it shows

You know my ways and over the last few weeks

I have seen you grow, mature, and think

The hurt you have caused, will someday fade,

Stay true to my word, and know me by name

I have shown you in time, that prayers are heard

I just takes you, to believe and read my words

Through the psalms of my child David, and the life of the wise

Truth cannot be hidden, nor can any lies

Stand firm on the rock when things start to move

The stability of me, is sometimes never used

You run Chris, you collapse in fear

Just look at what I have done in just this year.

A friend to love, and freedom from shame,

You know I redeem, by the power of my name,

Don’t fret or worry, I have fought for you,

Bought with a price, my promise so true.

Continue to live out, the faith of me

Overtime keep trusting, so they can see

My light and my power, the things I can do,

Remember the past, yes I saved even you.

My child don’t wait, when I tell you to slow down

I don’t want you to miss, the importance of now.

Your busy, yes, and I love your heart,

After all I knew it, from the start.

The waves of mercy and the waves of grace,

Who knows what will happen, just continue to pray

Im true to my word, hold fast to me,

Look at your past, and just believe.

Wait one second, just one more moment,

I cannot leave you before this is spoken

Search and know, fast and pray,

For the joy that I bring, each and every day,

Hold fast to my words, my truth so clear

Reflect on what ive done, in just one year.

See my son, I have waited for time

To share my thoughts, and speak to your mind,

Be lifted up, today shine bright

As time goes on, carry out my light,

Don’t wait so long, don’t ever be afraid

If I say something again, its because ive called you by name

Stand firm, hold tight, my promise is true

My glory will shine, in everything you do.