Step by Step

Genesis 12:1
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

At first glance - it is plain to see that Abram had to leave everything behind - but when you look at what each thing he had to leave really meant to him - it becomes so much more. Leaving your country and your people - that means leaving his loved ones, his comfort, everything he knew, his shelter. But you know what else? It is also leaving the opinions of others. Sometimes we need to get away from other's opinions as they are roadblock and stumbling blocks - not encouraging and loving. Sometime we have to get away from those things so that we get fresh air - God's air - man, what is better than breathing in pure, crisp God filled air? Sometimes when I get those breaths, they seem more like gasps - like I hadn't even been breathing before. They restore life.

Abram also had to leave his family - his support system, his encouragement. We all say "I don't know how I would live without my support system!" I'll tell you how. Full reliance on Christ. There is no one else to turn to but Christ and it is the scariest and best feeling. God gives the command, but He also gives us an inward special strengthening grace that gives us the desire and will to obey His call. (Philippians 2:13) God always provides the power for you to respond and obey His call.

When God gives us a command, we don't always fully understand it - we may just know to "Leave" - nothing else. We don't know the trials and struggles or the joys and blessings it will bring. We just know to take the next step. You don't have to take off running - just take the next step. Man, that doesn't sound to hard (I know, easier said than done). So what exactly is this step? It is a radical change - a separation from the world. Most of us plan about this step our whole lives - but merely intending to take the step doesn't require any faith. Intentional faith is not faith at all - it is merely keeping life stagnant - not a real relationship and fellowship with Christ. (Not to say a true Christian doesn't have his times of stagnant) Stepping out in faith is a radical decisive (not intentional) change that will shake your whole life - it's active. But remember that God has blessing, joy, love and fulfillment for those who fully respond to His call. He will exceed our expectations. But in faith - step out and follow where He leads in complete obedience - at any cost. God knows what you need to get rid of so you can take hold of His blessings to come.

Faith

We all know the passage in Hebrews that tells us what faith is. It is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." In my own words, if I may, placing your trust in something you do not see, but that you believe in. Hmm. Seems easy enough.

When people talk about faith, I think sure, I have faith. But by the definition above, do I FULLY TRUST him? Do I COMPLETELY BELIEVE in Him, His power, and His promises? It is easy to just say yes - but we all know actions speak louder than words.

You see, I "have faith" in God, but I am not always faithful. I don't always trust Him with everything I have in me. Lets take Abel for example. He gave his offering with faith (and we all know Cain didn't). He gave God his best. Do you think that he was curious how he was going to nourish his family with the not-so-great rest of the flock? Maybe, I don't know - but He gave his best to God anyway - completely believing that God would provide for his every need.

And me? Do I always give God the best of me? The best of my money, my time, my devotion? Regretfully no. Why? Sure there are many things I could try to blame it on - but I have no excuse. I just have to admit to my sin of faithfulness and stay committed to growing in Christ - that my faith might abound. Because I know that as I grow closer to Christ - the fruit of the spirit will reveal themselves even more - and of those fruit: faith.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter – he causes such controversy – in real life and in the books. But, since I live in the real world, I will think more about that. I have read all the books, watched all the movies, and am going to the midnight showing of The Goblet of Fire tonight (or actually tomorrow morning – but whatever).

Now, the controversy here is this: Is Harry Potter evil, of the devil, a sin? Most people refer to Galatians 5:19-21 to say that we should not have anything to do with Harry Potter. Lets see what Galatians says:

NIV: 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

NAS: Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Message: It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

NLT: 19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

So, looking at the different translations – I would say that practicing, putting your trust in, or worshipping witchcraft/sorcery would be a sin. But reading about it in a fiction book? How about reading about it in a non-fiction book – not wanting to learn how to practice, but maybe you are witnessing to a friend and they are involved in it. Should you know about their religion of magic so as to be able to aid them in understanding the gospel? I mean, we read about other religions like Mormonism, Buddhism, and other eastern religions.

Personally, I think it is all a matter of the heart. I am a Christian and I am going to Heaven. I trust in the God as my Savior and allow Him to be the lord of my life. Does that mean I don’t sin? No! I have a sin nature – we all do – we are born with it! I don’t think my reading Harry Potter or watching the movies makes me less of a Christian – I don’t put my trust in it – it is mere entertainment. Is all entertainment good? Certainly not! But I think on some issues it is a personal decision of what is good and what is not – some things make people stumble and others not.

I don’t know if there is a black and white decision on Harry Potter. There are many grey (or is it spelled gray? Never could figure that out) areas in our lives and I think that this is one of them. Certainly if you believe everything you see in Harry Potter and begin to try to do the things practiced in the movie, or trust in it – that would be a sin.

My Next Door Neighbor

Well, I haven't written anything in a while... and I have determined the reason is my next door neighbor. Let me explain.

In the weeks that I have written for my blog, I have really been in step and in fellowship with the Lord. I allowed Him to reveal Himself and teach me in many different ways - in any way He wanted. But lately, I haven't been that close to Him.

Yes, I have gone to church on Sunday mornings, prayer on Sunday nights, BSF on Tuesday, and Ministry on Wednesday... but I haven't really fellowshiped with God. It's like He was my room-mate before, but lately He has just been my next door neighbor. I see Him in passing, and we say Hello - but I never invite Him in and just get to know Him.

I need God to be my room-mate again. I miss Him. Please pray for me - that I would really get in touch with the Holy Spirit this week.

Application - Step 2

So I usually write up something that God has taught me through events in my life - which is really great that I can see God working in my life. But do the lessons just stop at this blog? Certainly not!! I realized last night that my last two posts on Noah and Zero Gravity have really prepared my heart for a new adventure a few of my friends and I are about to be on.

Byron, Charlie, Jared, David and I (why am I the only girl??) are working on putting together an apartment ministry that will be focused on the Gospel. We are still planning details out and praying about it - but hope to have our first apartment dinner between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our goal is to share the Gospel through fellowhip - and of course food! The plan is to serve dinner at a specific apartment complex once a month and during that time creating and building relationships - which will be able to bring the Good News to the residents.

So that is the plan and we still have a ton of details to work out. While we were praying over the ministry last night, the Lord just laid the Noah and Zero Gravity lessons on my heart. "Yes, there are a lot of details to work out," He said, "but I could fit all the animals on the ark, I will fit all the details together in the small amount of time. Just watch and follow me." And it also occurred to me that this is one of those events/opportunities/callings that the Lord brings that we get so excited about at the beginning and then when the time comes we freak out because we are afraid/nervous/anxious. But the Lord has called us to trust Him and take the leap. So I pray that we don't falter or waver from the goal - Glorifying Him without fear.

Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Noah had it figured out

As I was thinking about what to post today I thought about all the event I have planned for the week (and the last week) and on top of it all I have had to pack and move, and now I have to unpack. Most of my unpacking is complete, just 1.5 boxes left, but I still have to hang all my pictures, and yes, I have a lot of pictures. Anywho, it really frustrates me that I don't have time to just rest. Or just focus on getting my apartment together.

So I went to BSF tonight and this week's lesson was about Noah and the flood. We all know the story - of how God provided the details on how to build the ark - the length, the height, the depth, the type of wood and the process of manufacturing such a beast. And then how Noah was to fill the ark with all the animals. Man, what a set of tasks. I can only imagine how overwhelmed Noah must have felt - and then on top of it, he did he even know what this rain thing God was talking about, and had he ever seen a body of water large enough for a ark?

I thought about looking up just exactly what I could compare the arc to. Turns out, I could compare it to most of today's ocean-liners. I was just on a ship that carried 5,000 people, but I cant imagine around 75,000 animals on it! Even if some are small spiders that can live in a dark corner.

In our discussion group, my friend, Liz, shared with us how she couldn't comprehend such as task, but how God just fit it all together. How God brought the animals so Noah wouldn't have to run his 600 year old self around to gather the frogs and lizards. And how God gave these dimensions for the ark and He knew that all the animals would fit perfectly - with all the food to feed the animals and Noah's family. Who knows, there might have been room to spare. And how true it is in our life today. We have so many things on our plates, some that God has placed there, and we are so overwhelmed, or run down, or stressed on how we can make it all work - yet, while we worry about it or just give it up to God, He just makes it all fit. We don't understand it, it just works. Funny how when we give ourselves over to God and we don't think it will all fit, we sometimes have time left over as a gift from God. (God, You rock!)

And I was thinking about calling Byron to see if I could get out of an obligation tomorrow, but I am going to let God fit it in - it is an event to glorify Him anyways, so I am sure He'll work it out. And thanks Melanie, for pointing out that God did provide me a new apartment close to work where I can have almost a whole hour at lunch to come home and work on my apartment (or just rest!).

So it's your's God - make my life fit it it's ark.