1.Seek sincerely for God to show you His ways.
2.Listen intently somewhere where you can connect with God.
3.Praise God for His goodness when He does respond to you.
Be blessed today!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Got Questions?
Habakkuk is so cool. I love his questions of what God was doing, makes me feel like I'm not the only one! Questioning what God is up to isn't wrong, God can handle it. Make sure however to do it with sincerity, that's the key. Habakkuk had questions and wasn't afraid to ask God. As a matter of fact he went up to a watchtower to listen intently for God's response. He didn't necessarily get the answer he thought he would get but God did show him what he was up to and for Habakkuk it was cause to sing praise to God. The next time you seek answers of what God is up to, make sure to:
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Wrestling Match
A friend of mine recently posted a status on Facebook talking about wrestling with God. The question he was asking was what would it look like for him to wrestle with God for what he wants most. Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32:23-34 and would not stop until he was blessed. I think we all want to be blessed by God, and rightly so. I think one of the biggest problems facing us today is the wrestling match of wills that we have with God.
In this corner, weighing in at 170#(give or take a few pounds) is the contender, Clint Reeves. In this corner, weighing in at 0#(remember, God is a spirit) is the creator of the universe, the big El Elyon, the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, none other than GOD! To say it that way may sound a bit funny, but it's true, we do battle wills with Him. We go back and forth, yell, scream, cry, beg, plead and so on...you get the picture. Then we just make the decision and move on as if we are capable of making our own life decisions. Of course, we are not able to make these decisions ourselves. God is always leading us. We can wrestle with Him all we want, but in the end if it's the battle of the wills, He will win. It isn't until we turn our trust over to Him and wrestle with Him for the right reason, to receive His blessing, that He will indeed bless us.
I read this tonight in my time of wrestling that really forced me to see that I was wrestling wills with God. It is found in Hosea. It made me ponder my wrestling with God and ask myself if I was righteous, wise or discerning. It is this:
Hosea 14:9
"Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But sinners stumble and fall along the way."
Live by walking in His ways.
Be blessed today!
In this corner, weighing in at 170#(give or take a few pounds) is the contender, Clint Reeves. In this corner, weighing in at 0#(remember, God is a spirit) is the creator of the universe, the big El Elyon, the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, none other than GOD! To say it that way may sound a bit funny, but it's true, we do battle wills with Him. We go back and forth, yell, scream, cry, beg, plead and so on...you get the picture. Then we just make the decision and move on as if we are capable of making our own life decisions. Of course, we are not able to make these decisions ourselves. God is always leading us. We can wrestle with Him all we want, but in the end if it's the battle of the wills, He will win. It isn't until we turn our trust over to Him and wrestle with Him for the right reason, to receive His blessing, that He will indeed bless us.
I read this tonight in my time of wrestling that really forced me to see that I was wrestling wills with God. It is found in Hosea. It made me ponder my wrestling with God and ask myself if I was righteous, wise or discerning. It is this:
Hosea 14:9
"Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But sinners stumble and fall along the way."
Live by walking in His ways.
Be blessed today!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Seasons of Life
There are more "sure things" in life than just death and taxes. Those things are sure even if we choose to not pay the taxes for a time and then they come back to haunt us in a bad way! We cannot get away from them. Death will inevitably come for us all one day or another too. There are other things in life that are "sure things" as well, like seasons of life. One thing I have found in my own life in looking back on the journey we have come through is seasons.
In 1992 I was leaving High School and had no idea what I would do. I remember doing the only thing that was available to me at the time and got a job at the place where my father had worked for many years, Pacific Metal Co. I remember so many highs and lows and times I thought I would work there for the rest of my life, but ultimately found it was only a season of life. God placed in our lives a wonderful couple who saw so much more in us than we saw in ourselves and they began to challenge us in our life. Little by little God began to build confidence in us and the desire to serve Him deeper. Southside Christian Center was a great season for Kim and I, but still only a season. As we were encouraged and grew in the Lord, we took a great step of faith to move from Portland to Eugene and go to school. Kim worked full time as I went to school and worked in the evenings. We were only there about a year, but it seemed like the longest year of our lives. We were broke during that year, and it was hard for our kids but again, it was only a season. From there we went back to Portland to take a job working for a rock crushing company taking parts calls from all over the country. It was there that God gave me a friend who other than my wife is one of the greatest people in my life. After five months of being back in the Portland area, God called it a season and opened the door for a new one. Leaving behind friends and family again, God opened the door to a ministry position in southern Oregon. It was there that God gave us the opportunity to serve Him vocationally in ministry. The town was small and the people were a bit closed from us but over time God opened their hearts to us and ours to them. Two and a half years later God again laid it on our hearts that it was the end of a season and He would lead us into what He had ahead. After two months now, God has again opened the door to a new season in our life. We are on the brink of a move to central Washington that is another step of faith for sure. I don't know exactly what all lies ahead but I do know this, that when God closes the door to one season, He opens the door to a new season. Kim and I know that sense and try never to quench the new season that the Lord wants us to walk through.
I have been a warehouse worker, a student, a janitor, a parts representitive, an associate pastor, a worship leader, a youth pastor, and for the past two months a jobless & homeless guy! But I will tell you what I have learned. God has seasons that are set in His timing and if you surrender to Him enough you get pretty good at sensing His timing. It requires taking yourself out of the situation and serving Him and His people wherever that may be. Whatever season you are in right now know this, it's not forever. Serve Him with all you are and be open to serving His people anywhere at anytime. Don't worry, He will lead the way.
Be blessed today!
In 1992 I was leaving High School and had no idea what I would do. I remember doing the only thing that was available to me at the time and got a job at the place where my father had worked for many years, Pacific Metal Co. I remember so many highs and lows and times I thought I would work there for the rest of my life, but ultimately found it was only a season of life. God placed in our lives a wonderful couple who saw so much more in us than we saw in ourselves and they began to challenge us in our life. Little by little God began to build confidence in us and the desire to serve Him deeper. Southside Christian Center was a great season for Kim and I, but still only a season. As we were encouraged and grew in the Lord, we took a great step of faith to move from Portland to Eugene and go to school. Kim worked full time as I went to school and worked in the evenings. We were only there about a year, but it seemed like the longest year of our lives. We were broke during that year, and it was hard for our kids but again, it was only a season. From there we went back to Portland to take a job working for a rock crushing company taking parts calls from all over the country. It was there that God gave me a friend who other than my wife is one of the greatest people in my life. After five months of being back in the Portland area, God called it a season and opened the door for a new one. Leaving behind friends and family again, God opened the door to a ministry position in southern Oregon. It was there that God gave us the opportunity to serve Him vocationally in ministry. The town was small and the people were a bit closed from us but over time God opened their hearts to us and ours to them. Two and a half years later God again laid it on our hearts that it was the end of a season and He would lead us into what He had ahead. After two months now, God has again opened the door to a new season in our life. We are on the brink of a move to central Washington that is another step of faith for sure. I don't know exactly what all lies ahead but I do know this, that when God closes the door to one season, He opens the door to a new season. Kim and I know that sense and try never to quench the new season that the Lord wants us to walk through.
I have been a warehouse worker, a student, a janitor, a parts representitive, an associate pastor, a worship leader, a youth pastor, and for the past two months a jobless & homeless guy! But I will tell you what I have learned. God has seasons that are set in His timing and if you surrender to Him enough you get pretty good at sensing His timing. It requires taking yourself out of the situation and serving Him and His people wherever that may be. Whatever season you are in right now know this, it's not forever. Serve Him with all you are and be open to serving His people anywhere at anytime. Don't worry, He will lead the way.
Be blessed today!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Daniel's Favor
I was reading in Daniel this morning when all of the sudden four words stood out to me. These words were as follows:
1.Resolved
2.Defile
3.Favor
4.Compassion
These four words are very important words in this portion of scripture. Daniel and his companions, as well as many others, were to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar after their three years of training in knowledge and strength. Then scripture tells us that...
Daniel 1:8-9... "Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the kings food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave him favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs."
Daniel committed himself to what he knew would be right in the sight of the Lord and God gave him favor and compassion with the leaders. Daniel was completely able to try to gain favor himself by doing everything that he thought would win points with the eunuchs, but made the choice to do what was right in the Lords sight. What do we choose today? We don't live by a set of rules or a to do list, but we all have to seek the to do what the will of God would be. Living to foolishly try to gain favor in our own strength leads to failure. The only way we gain true favor with others is through doing the will of God and He will work in their hearts. God always honors those who do His will without seeking the approval of others, always. That is not to say life will be peaches and cream, but with our resolve to not defile, He will always show himself true...it's who He is...it is His nature. What a great God we serve.
Be blessed today!
1.Resolved
2.Defile
3.Favor
4.Compassion
These four words are very important words in this portion of scripture. Daniel and his companions, as well as many others, were to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar after their three years of training in knowledge and strength. Then scripture tells us that...
Daniel 1:8-9... "Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the kings food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave him favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs."
Daniel committed himself to what he knew would be right in the sight of the Lord and God gave him favor and compassion with the leaders. Daniel was completely able to try to gain favor himself by doing everything that he thought would win points with the eunuchs, but made the choice to do what was right in the Lords sight. What do we choose today? We don't live by a set of rules or a to do list, but we all have to seek the to do what the will of God would be. Living to foolishly try to gain favor in our own strength leads to failure. The only way we gain true favor with others is through doing the will of God and He will work in their hearts. God always honors those who do His will without seeking the approval of others, always. That is not to say life will be peaches and cream, but with our resolve to not defile, He will always show himself true...it's who He is...it is His nature. What a great God we serve.
Be blessed today!
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