Desire, the update

What has the past week of prayer lead you to? How is the journey going? I have had a number of realizations and reminders through the week. I thought I would elaborate on a couple.

1) Reading Genesis I was reminded that the Bible says “Let us make them.” We were created by and for relationship both with the Trinity and with each other. I often feel much more at easy behind the scenes, plugging away at the computer. However, I really come alive in discussion with a few close friends around the coffee table. I love to sit and talk with one or two friends over a cup of coffee. We can discuss anything but I love to speak about and debate simple Christianity. In other word, I love to sit and talk, especially about the things God, with my friends in a nice comfortable setting. As Genesis clearly states, I was made for relationship.

2) Often I’m fooled into thinking I’m made to complete a number of tasks. My life feels more like a series of problems that need to be solved or principles that have to be mastered. I think this is true for many men in their Christian walk as well. Sometimes if feels as though we must master a certain number of items before we finally enter into the abundant life promised by Christ. There is a tendency to live out our faith as external activities rather than an internal yearning for God. We sense that something is wrong, and perhaps try to fix it—by tinkering with our public/church going life. We tried the latest spiritual fad (WWJD, think about the fad but also what did Jesus do to spiritual fads during his time on Earth), or a new church, or simply redoubling our commitment to make faith work. This leads to weary, jaded, or simply bored Christian men. The desire we have in our hearts is not a list of tasks. I urge you to take this opportunity to ask yourself where your church and personal activities are leading you. Are you being bored, or pacified? Are you inspired and encouraged? Are you passionate? God gave you a desire that you will be passionate about.

Finally Brothers. I would like to leave you with this question. What do you look forward to in heaven? Heaven is not some unending church service. We won’t just sing for eternity. Heaven is something more than that. We won’t be given the task to sing Amazing Grace, in key, for the next 10,000 years. God made man for relationship with himself. I am looking forward to the day that I can sit at the Father’s table. Look Jesus in the eye and just speak with him as I do my earthly friends. I have so many questions to ask but that isn’t the point. I just want to have a nice intimate conversation with my greatest friend. I believe God wants that for me too. He wouldn’t have given me this desire if He didn’t want to fulfill the desire. So it’s your turn.

What are you looking forward to in heaven?

In Christ,
MT

The Sabbath and the Desires of Your Heart

Happy New Year Chain-Breakers.

Our church has entered into a Sabbath month. For the last few years the month of January has been a Sabbath month for HCC. The ministries stop so that we, as a body, can focus on prayer. I love these Sabbath times. It is a time when I can seek the very face of God, wait on God’s instruction and inspiration. There is no pressure to get a lesson done for Rangers. There is no impetus to practice for choir or attend meetings. There is only God. I love this. But it time is not without its own stresses. Stresses such as not knowing what to pray for, where to start praying or just quieting my mind enough that I can here that still and quiet voice that I long to hear.

I know that I am not alone in feeling this current stress and it does not matter whether you are a new Christian or an seasoned veteran. So to help myself (and hopefully you by posting these thoughts) I am going to back to the beginning. I am going to seek God and ask Him what He wants for me. There is a desire(s), from God, deep down in my new heart, my heart of flesh, and I’m going to find it. Why you ask? Because it is central to God’s plan for my life. I’ve been a Christian since high school and I’ve gone on this journey a few times over the years. Each time God has revealed a slightly different desire and I’ve been richly rewarded by following those desires. Each time my gifts have grown or I’ve discovered new gifts, my service to God’s kingdom has been enhanced and my joy has increased.

So how am I going to do this you ask? Through prayer and fasting. Spending time with God everyday. Quiet-time when I can be alone with God and without the interruptions brought on (accidentally) by family, career and obligation. For me, this means praying early in the morning, during my lunch hour or on a long solitary walk. The good news is that you can do this too. Join me on this journey. I’ll post my thoughts and maybe some of my revelations throughout the month that I hope will help guide you and encourage you on your personal journey this month. Feel free to leaves comments about your journey or encouragement for mine either on the website or to my personal e-mail (biggeeks at gmail dot com) if you don’t want the world to know your thoughts.

Now for the disclaimer. This is a black-op. We are in enemy territory. Finding and unleashing God’s plan for your life is a WMD to the enemy. The enemy will attack you if you attempt this journey. The attack will likely start as confusion and escalate from there. You need not worry, you are more than a conqueror. You have God on your side. If God be for you, who can be against you? Ready to pick a fight?

Where do we begin?
1) Pray to God and ask him to reveal your true desires and your gifts. Ask Him how He would like you to use your gifts. Reflect on what truly makes you happy. What would you do tomorrow if you were independently wealthy, if you were Bill Gates?
2) Keep a journal. I know it sounds a little wimpy. I hate journals too. But an archive of God’s message to you is unbelievably powerful. And you won’t remember every detail of God’s personal message to you without it. Write down scriptures that pop into your mind, voices or images, feelings about those images, everything. You just have to trust me on this, you won’t be sorry.

Well Gentlemen, it is time for me to begin my journey. In the beginning was the Word. I’m going to get my Bible.

Your Brother in Christ,
Media Tsar