"Your kingdom come."
Not my kingdom: His. Jesus did not tell us to pray, "God make my plans happen so I can glorify You through them." Nope. He told us to pray for the coming of His Father's kingdom. God's kingdom is already at hand and is here to some extent, but Jesus hasn't come back yet, so we are still to pray for His arrival.
"Your kingdom come."
We also should pray for God's kingdom to continue manifesting here on earth before Jesus comes back. What is true about God's kingdom? There is no sickness, no pain, no oppression, no condemnation, no hatred...the list goes on. Although the fullness of these things won't be experienced until God's kingdom takes over everything and the world is made new, God loves breaking in and revealing bits and pieces of it to the world. Pray for this. Ask God for healing, for justice, for unity, for peace.
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.'"
Come, Lord Jesus.
Peace.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Treasure Hunt!
So, this was an interesting weekend.
First, I have more of an answer to the college ideas I was having earlier this week. I will probably not be pursuing more education just yet, probably not for at least a year. As I researched the colleges I was looking at and tuition fees, I realised I would have to pay a TON more as a non-resident...a status I will not be able to change until I've lived in Colorado for a year. Ick. Even if I was to take community college courses in Colorado Springs instead of going straight to Durango for college, it would still cost me over double the normal cost for residents.
My mom, in her wisdom, also reminded me that after people have finished their first degree and are working full-time jobs (that would be me now...), they have to just take classes when they can and sacrifice their social time after work for study time. I was looking at the situation like I could just go back to school somewhere...but I wouldn't be able to get nearly as much financial aid, and if I'm a full-time student, I just won't be able to pay for college without help or a good job. I still have a lot of growing up to do.
Second, today my roommate Justin took me to something called a "treasure hunt" around MSU campus. Last week, he met a bunch of new people who go to a place called "The Furnace," a little prayer room in a basement on Grand River across from MSU which is dedicated to praying for and evangelising campus, particularly through bringing together the campus ministries and giving them one roof to meet under. Little place with a big mission...I like it.
Anyway, these people are CRAZY about Jesus in a way I haven't seen since I was in Colorado. We met in the prayer room, and the leader(?), Garrett, got things rolling. We asked God to show us what He wanted us to see: names of people, descriptions of people, places, illnesses, and anything else, and wrote everything down that came to mind. Then we compared lists to see if anyone had matching items, separated into two groups, and went to the places we had written down.
Sound silly yet? Well, God did awesome things with this fun little thing.
Among other things, Garrett had written "big wooden doors," I had "across the street," and Justin wrote "MSU Credit Union." Justin was the only one of us who knew that the place he had written down was across the street and had big wooden doors. Ha. The three of us made our own group and went over, looking for people who might match anything on our lists. As we walked around upstairs, Justin approached a fellow who matched a few things he had written, and we followed. He was in a small study group with two others. As it turned out, the guy said he was a Christian, and one of the other students with him was one of the names on Justin's list, as well. We came to find out that this other student was an atheist, and ended up having a really great talk with him about God's love, Christian stewardship, and the Bible. I think all of us (including the atheist) were very surprised to walk away very happy we had talked.
The same student who said he was an atheist also had a problem with his eye which we all prayed for, but didn't see any healing with it at the time. However, Garrett did got a sort of vision from God and saw what it was like to see out of the student's injured eye, and the student confirmed that was indeed what he normally sees. Crazy! I think God is going to move in his heart through all this.
So, with this silly little game we were playing with God (yes, I would call it that; God is our Father, and He does enjoy playing with His children), we got to encourage a few people and even be encouraged by them in return. God was there the whole time, as He always is.
I believe this happens pretty much every Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm. Tomorrow night, they have a big prayer meeting which I'll also be attending. The people I met know God more than I do, and they have joy overflowing, which is pretty hard to find among Christians now. God has already shown a lot to Justin this week when he spent time with them. I think I'll give it a shot and see what God has in store.
Peace.
First, I have more of an answer to the college ideas I was having earlier this week. I will probably not be pursuing more education just yet, probably not for at least a year. As I researched the colleges I was looking at and tuition fees, I realised I would have to pay a TON more as a non-resident...a status I will not be able to change until I've lived in Colorado for a year. Ick. Even if I was to take community college courses in Colorado Springs instead of going straight to Durango for college, it would still cost me over double the normal cost for residents.
My mom, in her wisdom, also reminded me that after people have finished their first degree and are working full-time jobs (that would be me now...), they have to just take classes when they can and sacrifice their social time after work for study time. I was looking at the situation like I could just go back to school somewhere...but I wouldn't be able to get nearly as much financial aid, and if I'm a full-time student, I just won't be able to pay for college without help or a good job. I still have a lot of growing up to do.
Second, today my roommate Justin took me to something called a "treasure hunt" around MSU campus. Last week, he met a bunch of new people who go to a place called "The Furnace," a little prayer room in a basement on Grand River across from MSU which is dedicated to praying for and evangelising campus, particularly through bringing together the campus ministries and giving them one roof to meet under. Little place with a big mission...I like it.
Anyway, these people are CRAZY about Jesus in a way I haven't seen since I was in Colorado. We met in the prayer room, and the leader(?), Garrett, got things rolling. We asked God to show us what He wanted us to see: names of people, descriptions of people, places, illnesses, and anything else, and wrote everything down that came to mind. Then we compared lists to see if anyone had matching items, separated into two groups, and went to the places we had written down.
Sound silly yet? Well, God did awesome things with this fun little thing.
Among other things, Garrett had written "big wooden doors," I had "across the street," and Justin wrote "MSU Credit Union." Justin was the only one of us who knew that the place he had written down was across the street and had big wooden doors. Ha. The three of us made our own group and went over, looking for people who might match anything on our lists. As we walked around upstairs, Justin approached a fellow who matched a few things he had written, and we followed. He was in a small study group with two others. As it turned out, the guy said he was a Christian, and one of the other students with him was one of the names on Justin's list, as well. We came to find out that this other student was an atheist, and ended up having a really great talk with him about God's love, Christian stewardship, and the Bible. I think all of us (including the atheist) were very surprised to walk away very happy we had talked.
The same student who said he was an atheist also had a problem with his eye which we all prayed for, but didn't see any healing with it at the time. However, Garrett did got a sort of vision from God and saw what it was like to see out of the student's injured eye, and the student confirmed that was indeed what he normally sees. Crazy! I think God is going to move in his heart through all this.
So, with this silly little game we were playing with God (yes, I would call it that; God is our Father, and He does enjoy playing with His children), we got to encourage a few people and even be encouraged by them in return. God was there the whole time, as He always is.
I believe this happens pretty much every Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm. Tomorrow night, they have a big prayer meeting which I'll also be attending. The people I met know God more than I do, and they have joy overflowing, which is pretty hard to find among Christians now. God has already shown a lot to Justin this week when he spent time with them. I think I'll give it a shot and see what God has in store.
Peace.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Halloween!
So, I know I'm a little old for trick-or-treating...but I got to go with my pastor and his daughter today for the first time...in a long time.
Besides the obvious joy of collecting candy with a little kid, today has been a great day. I went to an interview for a security company and ended up getting offered a job on the spot! Then, my mom took me out to lunch and bought me a chainsaw...for which I will be paying her back with this job, haha.
I had been getting pretty discouraged about not having a job, but God is good, and He has shown me that this week. Today he showed (reminded, really) me a few things in 1 Corinthians chapter seven. He reminded me that He has been "acting with great boldness toward me," like He told me on the way back from Colorado. It was good to be reminded of that, since I had been losing sight of it. In verse six, God also reminded me that He "comforts the downcast," which is how I've been feeling for a little while now because of my job situation. God has comforted me a lot today. He is so good.
Now, here's a picture of my costume (no beard...gotta shave for job interviews!):
Peace.
Besides the obvious joy of collecting candy with a little kid, today has been a great day. I went to an interview for a security company and ended up getting offered a job on the spot! Then, my mom took me out to lunch and bought me a chainsaw...for which I will be paying her back with this job, haha.
I had been getting pretty discouraged about not having a job, but God is good, and He has shown me that this week. Today he showed (reminded, really) me a few things in 1 Corinthians chapter seven. He reminded me that He has been "acting with great boldness toward me," like He told me on the way back from Colorado. It was good to be reminded of that, since I had been losing sight of it. In verse six, God also reminded me that He "comforts the downcast," which is how I've been feeling for a little while now because of my job situation. God has comforted me a lot today. He is so good.
Now, here's a picture of my costume (no beard...gotta shave for job interviews!):
Peace.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Good health
So, some of you may remember when I gave up Taco Bell in an effort to try to eat healthier (or maybe even when I stopped eating at Denny's because I got food poisoning there during finals week...). Last weekend my good friend Jacob was visiting Spring Arbor from Tennessee, and all of the old metal-heads got together for one more big "Taco Bell Metal Run." Lots of metal blasting in my van, and a bunch of dudes eating Taco Bell in the back (without any seating, of course). We went to Taco Bell and Denny's, and I ended up eating at both places. I felt it was a necessary evil for the sake of camaraderie.
Later when I explained this a couple times to other friends, I was asked why I decided to ditch Taco Bell at all, and told by several people that they didn't really care about how bad it is. I copped a sort of, "I'm better and healthier than you," attitude at them, which I'm only now realising.
Earlier this week I started listening to sermons by Andrew Wommack, the head of Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs (the college I visited because it's where almost all my new friends in Colorado attend school). I decided to do this because there's nowhere else I know of to get really solid charismatic teachings around here in Lansing without going to a different church...and I don't feel like dealing with even more church drama than I already have. Right now I'm in the middle of one titled "The Importance of the Word." As one of his points, Andrew brings up the fact that many Americans now worship good health and tout dieting and exercise as the way to acquire it. He then points out that Scripture states plenty of other ways that our bodies are kept healthy.
Some examples he used:
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Prov. 17:22
"Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." Ex. 20:12
Plus plenty of verses (especially in Psalms and Proverbs) about how the fear of the Lord, wisdom, and obeying the Lord bring long life and health. I've actually been running more since getting back from Colorado, and when I heard Andrew Wommack make his points on this topic, I realised that I was filling myself with pride over not eating at certain places and exercising more. He did say (and I agree with him) that diet and exercise are definitely part of good health...but if you look at people who honor their parents and have cheerful hearts (even among those who don't really exercise and don't eat well), they're the ones generally living longer.
I realise now that my focus lately has not been only on becoming healthier, because I still haven't been eating well. My focus with exercise has become about looking good. The verses about good health and long life in the Bible are not placed there in order for use to find some solution for better health...they point to health as an aftereffect of following God. This should be our primary focus. Becoming healthy to glorify God is great, but I think Jesus' words in Matthew chapter six are useful here:
"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."
If we are seeking God with our whole heart, good health is something we don't need to worry about at all. God knows what we need and will take care of it for us. All we need to worry about is loving and obeying Him.
I like that.
Peace.
Later when I explained this a couple times to other friends, I was asked why I decided to ditch Taco Bell at all, and told by several people that they didn't really care about how bad it is. I copped a sort of, "I'm better and healthier than you," attitude at them, which I'm only now realising.
Earlier this week I started listening to sermons by Andrew Wommack, the head of Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs (the college I visited because it's where almost all my new friends in Colorado attend school). I decided to do this because there's nowhere else I know of to get really solid charismatic teachings around here in Lansing without going to a different church...and I don't feel like dealing with even more church drama than I already have. Right now I'm in the middle of one titled "The Importance of the Word." As one of his points, Andrew brings up the fact that many Americans now worship good health and tout dieting and exercise as the way to acquire it. He then points out that Scripture states plenty of other ways that our bodies are kept healthy.
Some examples he used:
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Prov. 17:22
"Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." Ex. 20:12
Plus plenty of verses (especially in Psalms and Proverbs) about how the fear of the Lord, wisdom, and obeying the Lord bring long life and health. I've actually been running more since getting back from Colorado, and when I heard Andrew Wommack make his points on this topic, I realised that I was filling myself with pride over not eating at certain places and exercising more. He did say (and I agree with him) that diet and exercise are definitely part of good health...but if you look at people who honor their parents and have cheerful hearts (even among those who don't really exercise and don't eat well), they're the ones generally living longer.
I realise now that my focus lately has not been only on becoming healthier, because I still haven't been eating well. My focus with exercise has become about looking good. The verses about good health and long life in the Bible are not placed there in order for use to find some solution for better health...they point to health as an aftereffect of following God. This should be our primary focus. Becoming healthy to glorify God is great, but I think Jesus' words in Matthew chapter six are useful here:
"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."
If we are seeking God with our whole heart, good health is something we don't need to worry about at all. God knows what we need and will take care of it for us. All we need to worry about is loving and obeying Him.
I like that.
Peace.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Westward 2012, debrief
So, this trip to Colorado has officially changed my life. It would take an extremely long post to explain everything and I've already talked about some of it, so I'll briefly go through a few more things God showed me.
Now I know for a fact that God wants me in Colorado, and is going to get me there. All week long, Godly people were approaching me and telling me God has something big in store for me out there. On the last day, one of the teachers at Charis Bible College (someone who I had only just met and did not know my story at all) prayed over me and said, "This week God has given you many divine appointments," and, "God is opening doors for you which no man can shut." Wow...and this at the end of a week full of both of those happening nearly every day.
During the week, God not only encouraged me, but also convicted me. Since last winter I have been getting into drinking despite knowing my bad family history with alcohol. Earlier this summer God let me know it wasn't a good idea and that I shouldn't take part in something that has hurt my family so much already...but I ended up ignoring this after a while. This week God brought back the same point He already made and said it with such force that I've been totally freed from it; not that I was being controlled by it, but rather freed from following that path at all. My roommate Justin's jaw dropped last night when I came home and dumped half a bottle of Jager down the drain. Both of my roommates are excited about it and are very supportive of God doing this in my life, which is great. Today I told my mom about all this so that I wouldn't have to keep it from her anymore. Needless to say, she's also really happy about it, haha.
On the bus coming home, I opened my Bible to the book of II Corinthians. I was looking specifically for the passage about Godly grief in chapter seven, but God took me elsewhere. After I didn't find what I was looking for in those words, I glanced over verse four of chapter seven:
"I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy."
This is Paul talking to the church in Corinth, but when I read it again, God spoke to me:
"Casey, I am acting with great boldness toward you, and I have great pride in you."
I was immediately comforted and started crying (to myself, of course...don't want to embarrass myself on the bus). Those words kept me going the entire trip home, even though I could hardly handle them.
God has definitely renewed me this week. I love what He's doing in me. I have a new desire to search His Word and a newfound trust in the power of the Holy Spirit in me.
Last night when I was thinking about these things, a verse popped into my head which I had heard many times, but which I now think I had gotten all wrong up until now.
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." I Corinthians 10:12-13
I used to think this was saying, "You can fight through every temptation. God gives you some way out in each situation; you just have to buckle down, hand on, and push through it." No. This is all about letting God take control. It doesn't say "a" way of escape, it says "the" way of escape. That way of escape is the Holy Spirit in you. Defeating temptation is not a matter of trying to use God's strength and just getting over it; it's allowing the Holy Spirit to take control and letting the temptation die as you look to Jesus' sacrifice and the freedom God has given you through it.
That seems to be all for now. I'm really excited to see when God will open the door fully so I can take one of the biggest steps of my entire life.
Peace.
Now I know for a fact that God wants me in Colorado, and is going to get me there. All week long, Godly people were approaching me and telling me God has something big in store for me out there. On the last day, one of the teachers at Charis Bible College (someone who I had only just met and did not know my story at all) prayed over me and said, "This week God has given you many divine appointments," and, "God is opening doors for you which no man can shut." Wow...and this at the end of a week full of both of those happening nearly every day.
During the week, God not only encouraged me, but also convicted me. Since last winter I have been getting into drinking despite knowing my bad family history with alcohol. Earlier this summer God let me know it wasn't a good idea and that I shouldn't take part in something that has hurt my family so much already...but I ended up ignoring this after a while. This week God brought back the same point He already made and said it with such force that I've been totally freed from it; not that I was being controlled by it, but rather freed from following that path at all. My roommate Justin's jaw dropped last night when I came home and dumped half a bottle of Jager down the drain. Both of my roommates are excited about it and are very supportive of God doing this in my life, which is great. Today I told my mom about all this so that I wouldn't have to keep it from her anymore. Needless to say, she's also really happy about it, haha.
On the bus coming home, I opened my Bible to the book of II Corinthians. I was looking specifically for the passage about Godly grief in chapter seven, but God took me elsewhere. After I didn't find what I was looking for in those words, I glanced over verse four of chapter seven:
"I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy."
This is Paul talking to the church in Corinth, but when I read it again, God spoke to me:
"Casey, I am acting with great boldness toward you, and I have great pride in you."
I was immediately comforted and started crying (to myself, of course...don't want to embarrass myself on the bus). Those words kept me going the entire trip home, even though I could hardly handle them.
God has definitely renewed me this week. I love what He's doing in me. I have a new desire to search His Word and a newfound trust in the power of the Holy Spirit in me.
Last night when I was thinking about these things, a verse popped into my head which I had heard many times, but which I now think I had gotten all wrong up until now.
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." I Corinthians 10:12-13
I used to think this was saying, "You can fight through every temptation. God gives you some way out in each situation; you just have to buckle down, hand on, and push through it." No. This is all about letting God take control. It doesn't say "a" way of escape, it says "the" way of escape. That way of escape is the Holy Spirit in you. Defeating temptation is not a matter of trying to use God's strength and just getting over it; it's allowing the Holy Spirit to take control and letting the temptation die as you look to Jesus' sacrifice and the freedom God has given you through it.
That seems to be all for now. I'm really excited to see when God will open the door fully so I can take one of the biggest steps of my entire life.
Peace.
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