Thursday Thought-We are Not our Own

A couple of weeks ago one of my heros in the faith celebrated his 500th birthday.  Yeah I know, he's not alive how can he be celebrating his birthday?  It was his desire for more of the Lord, his tireless work to breakdown the Scriptures, and leave this earth working out his salvation with fear and trembling that still lives on, and still convicts me, and is there to show us the example of a man consumed by the Father.  John Calvin is a fascinating figure, whose life was lived not for his own gain, but for the glory of God and the good of those around him.  Last week as I was reading a book I came across this quote from Calvin, that stuck with me, I mentioned it in staff meeting last week, and I think we would all do well to read and examine our hearts in light of this statement:

"If we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19), but the Lord's, it is clear what error we must flee, and whither we must direct all the acts of our life.  We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds.  We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh.  We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours.   Conversely we are GOD's, let us therefore live for Him and die for Him.  We are God's: let His wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions.  We are God's: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward Him as our only lawful goal(Rom. 14:8).  O, how much has that man profited who, having been taught that he is not his own, has taken away dominion and rule from his own reason that he may yield it to God!!  For, as consulting our self- interests is the pestilence that most effectively leads to our destruction, so the sole haven for salvation is to be wise in nothing through ourselves but to follow the leading of the Lord alone.

So today may we ponder, this thought deeply and live to show that we are all His.  If you get a chance this week check out Ps. 51, it's a great one.  Have a great week and see you Sunday!!!

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

Thursday Thoughts: May the Vision Of Him

There are certain songs, that when I sing them, I find myself falling on my knees before my God.  As we were in the mountains this weekend I heard one of those songs, Shane and Shane's Vision of You.  Now I have heard this song a countless number of times but for some reason this time was different, I actually heard the words and saw the mountains and the creation and it made sense to me.  The chorus goes like this:

Awaken what's inside of me, Tune my heart to all You are in me, Even though You're here God come.  And MAY THE VISION OF YOU BE THE DEATH OF ME, and even though you've given everything Jesus come.

It is that line, "may the vision of you be the death of me" that hit me so hard this time.  It was seeing Him in His creation that let me realize, for a moment, how big my great God is.  And at seeing that came the desire to lay my life, my thoughts, my will, my desires at His feet that He may be glorified in me in some small way.  

My prayer for us this week is that we are a church that feels the weight of those beautiful words and strives, oh how we will not do this perfectly, but may we strive to live a life humbled before a huge loving and just God.  Imagine if the world around us saw a church in love with a real and powerful Jesus that changed everything about us.  May we continue to strive after this and may we look to each other for encouragement.  I love you guys and can't wait to see you Sunday!!!! Have a great end to your week.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon

P.S. here is a link to the song above if you have never heard it before: (simply copy and paste into your browser).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_uNCEhmN4

Thursday Thoughts Week of July 9-16- Lifestyle

This week we want to look at the 4th and final installment of our blog-based core values, over the last few weeks we have looked at each core value and how they build on each other, and how they are not meant to dwell apart from each other, but to compliment each other to grow us into disciples hungry and desperate for Jesus.  Today we want to look at the final one that ties all the rest of these together, LIFESTYLE.

Life is meant to be lived in the truth setting freedom of Jesus Christ and as we see His life we are called to follow and do likewise.  We believe that the two most important lifestyle characteristics that can become part of our lives are two of the most important to the early church, PRAYER AND FASTING, Acts 2:43.  

Prayer as we understand it is not just mere words but rather something that transcends our everyday life and bleeds over into everything that we do.  It is constant communion with the Father, it is about laying all that I am, have, and desire at His feet.  Prayer is about focusing on the holiness of the Father, it is about coming into His presence with a Christ-centered mindset that He is all we need.  Prayer is about living a life that is constantly on our knees, humbling our hearts, where we say "amen" but it doesn't end there.  Prayer moves us from a casual knowing about God into a deeper heart understanding of our great Father, Matt. 6:5-13.

Fasting is not merely the absence of food, but rather to abstain from anything that distracts me from experiencing the revelation knowledge of God to its fullness.  It is the simple act of us saying that nothing here on this earth is more important than my pursuit of Jesus, and it becomes our way of mourning for the return of the King of Kings, Mark 2:19-20.  

I pray that you are having a great summer, but no matter where you are or what you are doing, my prayer is that you are seeking and striving to live a lifestyle that seeks to serve, and love our great Lord and Savior.  

See you in a couple of weeks 

Brandon