Knowing by Cards Jenn in Peoria

Lately I've been thinking about what it means to know God. The verb know really sticks out to me. Some of the definitions of the word:

1.                  To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.

2.                  To regard as true beyond doubt.

3.                  To have practical understanding of, as through experience.

4.                  To have fixed in the mind.

5.                  To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct

Do you get it yet?  You may have heard that saying about letting God be in the driver's seat of your life (perhaps you've heard that little song Jesus, Take The Wheel...). As cliche as that is, to consciously choose to let God direct my life each day is a struggle. But that's when I have to check where my faith is. I may say I know that God will work everything out, I know His timing is perfect, I know He will answer my prayers, I know God loves me but am I using the word "know" when I really mean to use the word "think"?

I think God will work everything out

I think His timing is perfect

I think He will answer my prayers

I think He loves me 

The proof that I don't need to doubt these truths is right in the Bible. I should be able to confidently say "I know..." without a tinge of doubt. As I prepare to go to Sydney and minister to Muslims, I was reminded of when I went in 2010 and I had to counteract something that a Muslim believes with the Bible and I didn't know how. It was eye opening for me because I grew up in church, I should know the answers or at least where to look in the Bible. I kept thinking "how can I minister to these people when I still have doubt in my own faith?"

Needless to say, I'm still learning to regard what the Bible says and what I know about God to be true beyond doubt but I'm getting there. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:28 and if you apply the definitions of the word know to this verse, it really makes it all the more powerful...

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those

who love God and are called according to His purpose for them"

"I can talk to God!"

While driving back from Florida I was listening to a podcast of Francis Chan and he was telling about a time when he felt God nudging him to share the gospel with a lady that sat next to him on an airplane.  He chickened out and the next day felt so much shame and disappointment in himself for not having the courage to do what God was asking him to do.  He prayed that God would give him more courage and a second chance.  The very next day he was getting on a plane to come home and guess who walked in and sat right next to him?  The same lady!  Now, if you are a frequent flier you will see this as a modern day miracle.  With all the planes, all the people, and all the seats, it was proof that it had to have been a supernatural intervention of the Lord.  AMAZING!

He also told another story of how he was playing golf with some of his friends and on the way home he was just casually talking to God about how nice it would be to have a better set of golf clubs, and then he realized that it was so silly of him to want or ask God for something like that when there were so many other needs in the world.  But the next day, a church gave him a gift for speaking at their event and guess what it was?  A new golf club!  What I love about both of these real life stories is that they are actual experiences of a human being talking to the God of the Universe.  And the God of the Universe listens, cares, and answers a human being, even when it is just about a golf club!  God takes delight when we talk to him and ask Him for things!  He is real, approachable, and alive.  He is waiting for us to acknowledge His presence and spend time with Him!

After listening to this podcast I was inspired as I drove my family home from Florida at 2AM in the morning. I began talking to God and sharing my heart with him.  I told God that while I was so greatful for a relaxing week with my family in Florida, I was ready to get back to a life of meaning and purpose.  I poured my heart out to God and said that I would love to be the foster mother to a little girl or boy and I would love to mentor their birth mother.   I shared with God how I was tired of waiting.  We have been licensed since December of last year and I was tired of waiting and wondering about the kids that the Lord would place in our home.  I wanted to do this now.  I wanted to start my journey as a foster mother.  We had been able to do some respite, but I was tired of that too.  I wanted an actual placement.  And guess what???????

TEN HOURS LATER....... I got a call from my licensing agency and they told me about a little baby girl and her mother who needed my help!!!  Can you believe it??????  I CAN TALK TO GOD!!!  He answers my prayers!  He is listening my friends and when we have a heart for things that break his, he will move mountains for us!  He will give us everything we need and so much more!  It is my joy to be serving this family and I can not wait to see what God has in store for all of us on this journey!  The sweet little baby arrived at our house on Wednesday of this week, and I got to meet her sweet mother on Thursday and they are both beautiful.  It would make me so happy if you all would "talk to God" on our behalf. Pray for healing, restoration, bonding, the building of trust, and most of all for all of us to know Jesus more! 

Warning Signs

A couple months ago on a Sunday Morning, my wife and our two boys Cooper (4) and Sawyer (2) were on our way to church.  We tend to take the back roads on some hilly terrain.  The boys think its like a roller coaster.  At the end of the "ride" we come to a stop sign.  I proceed as I normally do, slowing down as I approach the stop sign and then come to a mild stop (rolling stop) or as the law calls it, not stopping at all.

This is the Dialog of what took place immediately after:

Cooper: "Dad was that a stop sign back there?"

Me: (feeling like a very proud father) "Yes Cooper that was a stop sign, Good Job!" 

Cooper: "That means you are suppose to stop"

Me: (still feeling proud) "That's right!"

Cooper: "Well why didn't you stop"

Me: (not feeling so proud) "Huh?"

Cooper: "You didn't stop and your suppose to stop"

Me: "Yeah"

Cooper: "Huh?"

Me: "Mind your own business"

Cooper: "huh?"

Me: "Never mind"

As the journey continued and we arrived at church, I couldn't help but think of the event that had taken place.  Cooper, only 4, recognized my error and was merely trying to help me correct my actions.  I, the stubborn mule, responded the way most mules would, stubbornly.

I couldn't help but think of how we as believers hear that voice that is there to guide us and help us take the right path in our lives.  We hear it every day, often hourly and yet, our response is the same as mine was that day to Cooper: "Mind your own business".  Our selfishness and desire to feed our flesh is strong and often out weighs our desire to do what is right  and Glorify Christ.

Coopers point was not to antagonize, belittle or bring me down in any way.  Neither is the Holy Spirit.
Pray today for a humble heart.  One that can listen to the Spirit and heed the call of the warning signs when they are present.  

WHY A CARPENTER?

God is infallible. God is supreme. God has EVERYTHING under His control.  So why choose a carpenter?  Why would you make your Son a carpenter? Many believe that because Jesus’ earthly father was a carpenter; it would just make sense that Jesus would be one also.  But why didn’t God choose a different man to be Jesus’ earthly father and the husband of his mother?  He could have easily had Mary hook up with a tax man, with a priestly man, with a jewel distributor, a king or a million-and-one other occupation.  Why a carpenter?

Knowing that God puts hidden meaning and surprises in everything He does, I knew there had to be a meaning to the occupation.  Then it hit me while meditating on Jesus one afternoon.  A carpenter creates and fixes.  That’s what they do!  They have the ability to create something beautiful and useful with raw material.  If that created unique piece is misused or not taken care of properly, a carpenter has the ability to repair it.  When we sin, it is only Jesus who can repair us and make us new again.Jesus came to earth just like us-his body made with raw materials from the earth. Physically we all start out as raw material from the earth—just as wood has it humbles beginnings from the ground in the form of a seed which grows into a tree.  What a beautifully secret analogy God used for his son—a carpenter who has the ability to make us into a unique finished product if only we allow him to cut and chip our lives into His beautiful creation.  Being pounded and cut, nailed and planed, shellacked and buffed can all be painful; but through enduring the pain we become a masterpiece. In some cases, we are adorned with beautiful jewels from the earth—rubies, diamonds, alabaster, onyx, carnelian; in other cases we are sturdy and plain and enduring.  Either way, we have our own specific design and use and we should never complain or be ungrateful toward the purpose the Carpenter has assigned to us.

Whether you are a King Louis chair, a picnic table in the park, or a workbench in the garage; be the best at what you are because the Carpenter is proud of every one of his unique creations. Your purpose is divine and one-of-a-kind!

Project Sunshine

Project Sunshine

365 Days Under Fire

As I sit here and think what to write about this topic I find myself typing a paragraph and deleting it over and over again.  So now I am just going to type.

I had a conversation with one of my friends the other day who is a non-believer.  He was making comments like "The Bible was written by men" and "Christian's hate gays". 

I have had these conversations with non-believers before and I usually would take one of two roads:
          1. Say nothing at all.
          2. Try to convince him that I was right (As if it was something that "I Alone" could do)

Over the past year I had been dealing with a family member that was adamant about not surrendering her life to Christ and it changed my outlook on how to handle these situations.  That being said I really didn't know what I was going to say.  I did however say a praying while sitting there asking God to direct my thoughts, words, attitude and most of all my tone.  My tone can sometimes come across as arrogant and doesn't get me far.  As the conversation escalated on his side I kept hearing God say "Hold your tongue and just listen".  This is easier said than done when being asked for your personal stance on things while being accused of hating people who disagree with your stance.

This friend is the knowledgeable type who loves to look at the scientific aspect of things and not the spiritual end. 

I had another friend years ago who was the same.  He now has given his life to Christ and I asked him about his past the other day and he said "I just didn't believe.  My life was filled with stuff that I couldn't deal with and I didn't feel God's presence in my life so I committed my time to disproving it.  And I was wrong." 
I asked him how he got to where he was today and he said there were certain people that God put across his path that would engage him in spiritual conversations and challenge him but in a loving way.  He said "I would always get in arguments with people that wanted to prove me wrong but it was the people that wanted to share God's love with me and not the depths of Hell that really opened his eyes to Christ's love"

My conversation that day wasn't great.  My friend still doesn't believe.  But two things happened that I am thankful for. 
1.  I am thankful for letting God control the situation.  Only Good can come from this.
2.  God has really laid it on my heart to commit to praying for this friend everyday for one year.  I have never prayed for anything let alone anyone for more than a couple few weeks so I am a little apprehensive about failing.  However, that fear is not a good enough reason to not try.


365 DAYS UNDER FIRE CHALLENGE
Today I challenge each of you to find someone in your life that you feel needs prayer.....not just today but long term.  Commit a part of your day to them by praying for them everyday for a year.  Make it a part of your everyday life....make it your lifestyle.  Christ will be glorified.


Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!  Psalm 66:20

What Image?

Hello, I'm Sara.  I have to be honest with you, never blogged before.  I always imagined that if I did though, I would just write candidly about the things in life that touch me.  So... here I am writing about a thought that not only touches me but changes me.

  It's the thought or rather the question, do I live in the image of Christ?  Yes, I am made in His image but more than that, do I "put on Jesus" for others to see?  The thought struck me, God is everywhere, we can't literally see him but we can see the effects of Him through the difference we allow Jesus to make in our lives.  So to that clerk at the store and the girl who made my coffee, am I being Jesus?  Am I showing my family and friends the wonderful Jesus I claim to adore?  Does my attitude and words reflect the image of a God who redeemed me?  If we are "being renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator", what does that look like? (Col. 3:10)  Do I live in the image of Christ?  It's a soul searching question that requires us to be honest with ourselves.  As a ponder this over my vanilla tea latte, I send the question out to you, my fellow believers.  What image do we show the world?