Let me get you the link in case you haven’t heard it yet.  Please go listen:  Never Once

Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we’ve come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

 

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You’ve done

Knowing every victory

Is Your power in us

 

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say

 

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

 

Carried by Your constant grace

Held within Your perfect peace

Never once, no, we never walk alone

 

Every step we are breathing in Your grace

Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Jesus makes a promise to His disciples, “I am always with you” (Matthew 28:20), and God says to His people “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).  These are not just words written on the pages of a really old book.  No, these are promises to YOU from the Creator of everything you see and everything you cannot see.  This Creator God who designed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), who made you perfectly without mistakes, has been with you from the time you were born even until now, and isn’t going anywhere.

I sat by my bed 30 minutes ago with tears in my eyes trying to figure out why these words were penetrating my heart so much tonight.  Here’s what I came up with:

I know you’ve been hurt deeply.

I’m here to tell you that the God of the Bible cares for you.  He knows how you feel and He hurts when you hurt.  He’s never left you, and He was with you when you were going through the most difficult times of your life.  It may be hard to see Him or feel Him sometimes, but He is good on His promises.  He is not like us.  Earthly fathers, boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends all leave us.  And the enemy makes us believe that God our perfect Father leaves us to.  But he is a LIAR and knows NO truth.

Who are you going to believe?

If you haven’t given your Heavenly Father a chance to prove His faithfulness, I want to challenge you to put Him to the test.  Yes, that’s right, I said test God.  I am so confident in my Father’s faithfulness.

He wants you.  He loves you.  He cares for you.  He misses you.  Turn around…He’s right behind you.

Here inside Your presence
Taken by the wonder of You
Here inside Your glory
We give our lives fully to You

We cry Holy, Holy are You
We cry Holy, Holy are You

Your love it burns inside
Our hearts are satisfied by You
Your love is our reward
It’s why we ask for more of You

We cry Holy, Holy are You
Our hearts are burning, burning for You
We cry Holy, Holy are You
Our hearts are burning, burning for You

We are Your burning ones
We are consumed by You
We set our lives apart
We are consumed by You

So let this love be like a fire
Let our life be like a flame
Fill our souls with Your desire
Let our passion bring You fame

Oh!  How I want this for my life!  To have a life CONSUMED by the Father.

Every thought.  Every action.  Every  word.  Every thing.

 

A trail of fire set ablaze by love, engulfing anyone that encounters one that has encountered the living God.

God has given each of you a passion for something.  It is good, and it is from Him.  What are we doing with what God has given us?

If your heart breaks for injustice…what are you doing about it?

If you have a passion for food…how are you using it to bring God fame?

If your heart breaks the Hispanic community…how are you engaging them?

He has created you skillfully and perfectly unique.  Your passion will bring him fame in a way that no on else’s can…but only when you act.  Our passions are no good all bottled up.

So:  pray, listen and go.

• He served them. [John13:2-17]
• He taught them. [John 15:15]
• He challenged them. [John 6:35-68]
• He trusted them. [Matthew 28:18-20]

What are some other ways Jesus loved the disciples?

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

So…the question is:  How did Jesus love his disciples?  Because if we figure out the answer/s to that question, we can live a life that shows all men that we are his disciples.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?  The WORDS that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His WORKS.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.  John 14:10, 11

Jesus claimed oneness with the Father.  Which, let’s be honest, was a pretty bold claim.  It was one of the reasons the Jews and Pharisees hated him so much, and many times threatened to stone Him (John 8:59; 10:31).  The words he spoke set him apart from any man that had come before Him. 

But Jesus gave plenty of proof to the ones who wanted it.  We could make an extensive list of miracles, which backed up visually what Jesus was claiming with His words.  He brought a dead man back to life (John 11), gave sight to a man blind from birth (John 9), walked on water (Mark 6), and fed thousands of people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish (John 6), just to name a few.  The works he did testified that there was something different about this man. 

As I thought about this verse, I couldn’t help but wonder how it applies to me…now.  It reminds how much power my words and actions have.  When people watch our lives they:

1. Listen to what we say. 
2. Watch what we do.

If our actions and our words don’t line up, then it does more confusing than confirming.

Jesus’ words and works confirmed who He was.  Our words and works can also confirm who He is, if we allow the Father to speak freely through our lives. 

Let us let our lives point to our Father.

Well, here it is.  I have officially existed on this small planet, in the Milky Way Galaxy for 30 years.  When you look at all that God has made, you cannot doubt why David said this in Psalm 8:3, 4:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

I allowed myself a little time this evening to do a little reflecting, a little reminiscing, if you will.  My 30 year journey has been very good and I have been very blessed.  My Father has blessed me with an incredible family that has loved and invested in me year after year without exception.  I cannot thank Him enough for them.  He has also blessed me [through many phases of my life] with a beautiful group of friends.  Particularly now more than ever, I am learning how the body of Christ is supposed to function, and it is because of this amazing community that the Lord has placed around me that I am able to learn that.  I also have to thank God for the ministries that He has entrusted me with through the years.  From New Philadelphia, to Cincinnati, to Atlanta, to Ocala, to Atlanta again, He has been faithful to give me opportunities to share the best news that exists with hurting people.

I simply cannot and will not take credit for anything He has done in and through my life, or for any life that was touched…it was always, and will always be HIM in me.

So, why that amazing picture up there?  Ha, because God is so ridiculously personal.  He can speak incredible galaxies into existence, and yet he took the time to knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I look back at these last 30 years with joy.  I do not dread this day, instead I welcome it.  Why?  Because I believe life is only getting better.  I am asking the Lord to reveal more of Himself to me.  I am seeking His face and His will over my own.  I am beyond excited to see what my good Father has in store.  I know they are good things.  I know they are big things.

I trust Him completely with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Thank you for being you.  If you’re reading this, most likely you have played a part in my story.  Thank you for investing in me, and believing in me.  May the Lord bless you and keep you.  I love you all.

I am a sinner: but lovingly forgiven. [Colossian 1:13-14] nkjv

I am not perfect: but completely accepted. [Ephesians 1:3-6] nkjv

I am a work in progress: that He is faithful to complete. [Philippians 1:6]

I have been challenged the last few days.  I feel like someone took one of those huge spotlights [the ones they shine in the night sky when something cool's happening] and pointed right at me.  And honestly, it’s come out of nowhere.  Here I’ve been, following where I believe the Lord is leading me, trying to be responsible with the things he has placed on my plate, the whole time not knowing I’ve got a huge plank in my eye.

…and I thought my vision was pretty good.

I guess if you don’t know you’re only seeing with one eye, you don’t know what you’re missing.

I’m evaluating what has been brought into the light and resting on the Lord’s promises.  Everything within me wants to become more like Jesus, and yet time and time again I fail to live up.

I want to lead well.

But I have so much to learn.

“Lord, make me teachable and humble.”

[look at this for the possibility of a laugh: How to Drive in the Snow

Amazing.  I know. 

So, that’s what I’ve been doing.  The guys who were already in a program took to me fairly quickly, but it seemed to take a little longer with the guys staying in the overnight shelter.  But God has slowly granted me favor with them, and I am seeing them warm up to the idea of having me around. 

One of the ways I have gotten to know the guys is by starting that Bible study I mentioned in a previous post.  I have anywhere from 10-25 guys coming Monday-Thursday for about an hour.  We go book by book through the Bible, reading it, studying it, questioning it, and praying over the truths He reveals.  We talk about how we want to be continually challenged to become more like Jesus in the way we live our lives. I know the Lord is using this time to mold these men and encourage them in their pursuit of Him. 

I’ve had some great support from quite a few guys that were interested in helping out with the Bible study.  I would estimate I’ve had about 15-20 volunteers that have come to be a part.  I have anywhere from 4-6 that come once a week and have commited to it.  I love having these guys there, and my hope and goal is to have them leading the studies on their own so we can facilitate more groups like it in the future. 

We just finished reading John 3, and we really focussed on the impact it has on our lives.  We spent quite a bit of time on 3:16 and stressed the importance, that even though it is one of the most quoteable verses in the Bible, we cannot lose the depth and truth in that one little verse.  I’ve heard it said that the whole Bible could be summed up with that one verse.  It all centers around the man of Jesus…the One who changed it all.  I challenged them to see if they have surrendered their life to Him, and if so, to make sure He is the focus of everything they do. 

For those of you who have, thank you for your prayers.  God is choosing to use me, and give me incredible opportunities at this time in my life. 

I covet your prayers.

And have confidence that they having an eternal impact.

Thank you for supporting me.  I love you all.  If we haven’t talked for a while and it is physically possible, let’s hang soon.  I’m sure I miss you. 

As I was studying the other day, the very beginning of the 1st chapter records Paul’s prayers for the church at Colosse.  I was challenged by the way he prayed for his brothers and sisters. 

The depth.

The love.

The passion.

His prayers are so focussed on the Kingdom.  The prayers are so encouraging to his brothers and sisters.  They are so intentional. 

I am praying for my friends and my community like this.  I’m not saying this is the only way to pray, but it’s a good model.  

This is what he prays for the church at Colosse:

• That they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 
• That they would walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.
• That they would bear fruit in EVERY good work.
• That they would increase in the knowledge of God.
• That they would be strengthened with all power according to His might.
• That they would have all endurance and patience with joy.

So powerful!  And not only does he ask God for these things, but he starts and finishes this “prayer” by thanking the Father for them and their testimony.

We have to pray for each other.  When we do, we will naturally love each other.  We will focus on the good things we see rather than the negative… 

And the world will wonder where this love comes from.

1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in the church. – First Cause

Just for the heck of it I googled “burnt out ministry”, and I wasn’t surprised to find that there were plenty articles and resources for pastors and leaders who felt that way.

Since I’ve been back in Atlanta, I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities to share the Love the Christ with others.

God has blessed me with an INCREDIBLE job at Atlanta Mission working with homeless men, and everyday I get to encourage them and share the truths of who God really is with them.  As of this week, the guys have asked me to lead a Bible study every night.  They’re challenging me, and we’re all growing because of it.

I’ve also been asked to be a part of leading a house church of about 30 in East Atlanta through Grace Midtown.  We’re learning about, and practicing, what it looks like to have true community.  I’ve been spending my time getting to know the people in our group and learning to love their strengths.  We have such an incredible group of people that desperately long to LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE.  I’ve been so blessed by their hearts.

I tell you all that, not to focus on all that I’M doing…because it’s not about me.  I tell you, because I’ve been reminded in the last couple weeks, that we simply cannot do ministry out of our own strength.  When we shift from relying on God, to relying on ourselves, I believe that is when the “moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in the church” happens.

So…what do we do?

The Lord gave me a phrase last week and it’s stuck in my head.  It’s also the title to this post.  We are to do “ministry out of the overflow” of what God is doing in our lives.  Jesus claimed in John 12 that “whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say”.  He was relying of His Father on a daily basis to guide Him and give Him wisdom throughout His day.  And when He spoke, He spoke what God told Him to.

You see, if I do not spend time with God daily, I will end up speaking of my own “wisdom”.  I will end up trying to find words of encouragement.  I will end up trying to think of that one verse.  I…I…I…

But when we spend time with our Creator, He fills us with His Spirit, and all throughout the day we are just speaking out of the overflow of what He has taught us.  It’s so much better and easier to rely on Him than to rely on us.

Apart from HIM, we can do nothing.

Seek Him.

Enjoy the overflow.