Pursuit Week 5

This week we have been talking about living a lifestyle where there is a radical commitment to Christ, one that has overtaken the very parts of us that we try so hard to close our hands around. In my personal study time this week, I have been forced, by the Father, to examine each and every area of my life, I have been faced with the tough questions and wow, has he been gracious in the midst of the pruning process. I have been forced to look at my pride and my ego and how much that steals and derails me from the lifestyle that Christ so desires me to have. He is so good to send us the trials of life, so that we are forced to answer those question, are you taking up your cross, are you enduring shame, rejection, hard times, so that you you may embrace the joy that He has for you. Do you really believe the Scriptures when it say, "all things work together for the GOOD of those that love Him." I pray that we see the lifestyle that Jesus is calling us to is not a hobby, it's not one where we can follow Him when we want. It is a radial, excited, sometimes hard, but always joyous life, that screams HE IS ENOUGH!!!

The song that is playing right how is, "The More I Seek You." And the first verse say, "the more I seek you, the more I find you, the more I find you the more I love you..." That as we seek Him in all things we will be filled up daily with Him overflowing love, and just when we think we could handle anymore, He presses it down, and fills us to the brim again. That is exciting and cannot be duplicated by some study, but only by Him as we deny ourselves and follow Him.

Today my prayer for the church and for you is that we believe this, that He is good, and that He is not far from us. May He take deeper roots in our hearts.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Pursuit Week 4

Well here we are just over half way done with Pursuit. Wow it seems like it hasn't really been that long. The Lord is teaching me so many things, and reminding me more and more of who He is and that He is good. This time has been one of the hardest times of intense study that I have had, Satan has really come against me in several ways. Which as hard as that is and as many nights have been very sleepless maybe, just maybe we are doing something right here. Maybe He is purging us as with fire. 1 Peter 1:6-7-In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith---- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire----may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Is that not encouraging, that the testing of our faith, the various trials that we go through is not the Lord dealing harshly with us but showing us His great mercy, that as we face those areas of life that are hard and those attacks from Satan and as we focus hard on the Father, He will produce in us praise and glory and honor for Him. And that praise will be deeper then when things come easy and without the bumps in the road.

So maybe today you are in that boat, you are striving to be faithful and it seems that every decision you make is the wrong one, take heart HE IS DOING SOMETHING IN YOU !!!! Hold fast to the Word and be faithful in prayer and in the end you will see the revelation of Jesus like you never have before. I love you all more than you know. May God continue to grow us into the image of His Son and may our praise be loud, even if it is in our tears.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Pursuit Week 2

Life sometimes throws you curves, it puts a bad taste in your mouth. Sometimes life is just plain hard. I have had one of those weeks, one where you have 1 victory and what seems to be a thousand defeats. I thank the Lord for this Pursuit study especially the one that we read last night. Psalm 119:103-"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!!" What a great truth to be reminded of in the midst of trials and tests, that His words, the very words of God to man put that sweet taste back into our mouths. Yes we will cry and yes there will be hard times, sorrow and grief are realities in life, but the promise of this verse changes us into those that grieve but not without hope.

When you are having those tough times and discouragement seems to abound, remember that you can view those things through one of two lights, the way the world grieves, without hope, or as those who have a risen, victorious King, who sometimes leads His children into the desert so that they may lean all that more on His strength, and trust deeper in His providence.

Today may you read and taste the words of the Lord and may they put that good, sweet taste back into your mouth, that God is good above and in all.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon