Monthly Archives: March 2014

Are you too busy?
Acts 20:24  None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself
There are so many paths one can go down with this scripture and with this devotional below. I have this devotional in a journal style book, and I have written in it three out of the last four years; it continues to speak to me. It is so easy to feel good about ourselves in any and every thing we “do” for God. We get so wrapped up in any and every work that we do for Him, we may miss what and where he truly wants us. We become comfortable in our service, and feel good about our service. God never calls us or keeps us where we are comfortable. Comfort brings pride, and comfort bring complacency. Both of these are grievous sins before the Lord for they promote self.
The prayer and heart of the brave; and with that bravery woven great humility, is the plea for God to “use me.” One’s heart must be prepared and obedient to what God reveals.

This is a copy of My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Could this be true of me?
It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.
What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.

Because I didn’t have breakfast

Romans 7:15-20    For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

I have wondered about, and I have been criticized for, sharing too much of my personal life. The goal of this ministry is to show you Christ through all the highs and lows of my life. I am a walking and talking example of the grace of God. There is nothing lofty about me, and I seek no attention drawn to anything I say or do. I only seek to be transparent. My goal is to show you I am no different from you; I share many of the same struggles, and I have been delivered from many of the same struggles through Christ. I am a “work in progress”; that process is called Sanctification. That process is God transforming you into the image of His Son; it is never ending, and many times very painful, but it is the goal of God for your life.

I am spiritually tired. I just returned from vacation with my family where we made many great memories that will last a lifetime, but in the midst of a great vacation was an incredible inner struggle in me. I was surrounded (very closely) all day every day with lust, gluttony, extravagance, idolization, selfishness, and a long list of everything the world offers. As a man, I struggled deeply with all that was on “display.” Many women see these opportunities as a chance to stand out from the crowd with their “displays.” I struggled for days in the battle of my mind that Paul describes above. Paul had just spoken of the sin of covetousness; 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. Paul had spoken of how his mind wanted so badly to do good, yet in his flesh he failed due to sin. This battle of good and evil that lies within us.

Do you know why I believe that the level of intensity increased all week? I could not get any alone time with God, to put on the armor of God, through his Word and prayer. Privacy is next to impossible at Disney, and Satan seized that opportunity of weakened defenses. This daily world we live in is no different from Disney. You must seek God out alone each day with no distractions to put on the armor of God to protect you from all the sin the world puts on display before you each day. It gave peace to my soul to be at home, alone, with God this morning. Have you sought Him today as in the first commandment? Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. I will always try to encourage you to spend daily time with God. Your time cultivated with Him each day is where you will see true change in your life. The only way I can face this sin-filled world that tries to knock me down every, single, day; is to start my every, single, day with God in his Word and Prayer.