I Am

In Exodus chapter 3 we see the call of Moses through the burning bush. And in the past month I have heard two sermons that have talked about this. More specifically, Exodus 3:14 which says, "God said to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you.'" For years I have heard this. The list of names for God is huge. But here is one that is so simple but yet unfathomable at the same time.

I was listening to the radio and heard someone talking about having a relationship with God. He made a point that made me think of Exodus 3:14. He said that we sometimes make having a relationship with God more stressful and complicated than we should. It is simple but challenging. God does not change for us. He Is. In this relationship that we have with Him we are the ones that need to change. And in thinking of that verse I was overwhelmed with joy. Not because I can't fathom Him and his love, but because He doesn't change. He has always been, always is, and will always be who He is. I can't comprehend the "why" or "how" to that statement. But I will say I feel secure and relieved by it.

It is due to the changing of people, such as their goals, positions, income, possessions, opinions, relationships, health, and experiences, that this world is lost. We change. Everyone changes. Some for good and some for bad. But it is when we finally open our eyes and see that no matter what we have done, what we are doing or what we will do, God will still be the same and always be there.

This past Sunday our pastor talked about building our foundations on the rock. The passage was Matthew 7:24-27. Being raised in church all my life I have heard this parable before. But as I ofter do, I was able to learn something new about this verse. Seeing it in a clearer view to help me understand it more. In trying to absorb God's word to the fullest I have noticed that I need to look at verses in multiple ways. This story isn't just about the foundation. If we read this story and then ask "why" at the end, it sheds more light on life. Why are to build a foundation? For what purpose do we need a foundation? And this is the point that will stick with me forever, its because the storms will always come. Life will be hard. Things will happen that will test your foundation, stuff that will stress it. Think about a house with a foundation on the rock. God being the rock and you are the house. When the rains and the floods and the winds come, there maybe damage to the house but the foundation will still be strong. And to go even further, as Christians we are told to rejoice and give God glory in everything. EVERYTHING! When there is a storm and when there isn't. Don't push God aside when the storms come. We can't go through life without Him. Sing praises to Him when the storms are all around. Thank God for keeping the foundation strong. If we do as we are told we will be rewarded. Let us build our houses upon the rock and rejoice when the storms come.

Our God is an awesome God. He is who He is. He is bigger than anything and can handle everything. It is our position in this relationship to change, not Him.

An Answered Prayer We Miss

So many times in my life I have prayed for opportunities to witness to others. Every Mission trip or camp that I have been to I can clearly remember asking God to allow me to be the light of the world. Asking for Him to set me up and prepare me to share His word. But how many times have I truly taken full advantage of the opportunities to do what I have prayed about? The first missed opportunities that I think of are the ones that come to us, Jehovah's Witnesses. Christians and non-Christians alike know who they are and what they want to do. Almost everyone I know has had a couple of people ring the doorbell on a Saturday and want to talk about God and pass out information. But how are we not ashamed when we see them coming and we shut off lights, close blinds, turn down the volume of the TV and sit quietly until they go away? How can we do that but yet during the summer on a mission trip we are fired up and want to tell everyone why we are there and what God can do for them? Have we just become lazy? Or are we just so habitually judgmental that we want to pick and choose who we talk to?

The last time some Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door I had desire to know what they were teaching others and they thought about God. And after referencing the bible with the notes I took and the handouts they gave me I was shocked in many ways. A lot of things were the same. But mostly, I felt like they had twisted words around and just not getting what the bible is saying. After that I studied, I went online, I spoke to some of the pastoral staff of my church. I wanted to be prepared for the next time I got to talk to them.

It wasn't until today that I opened up my old bible and found the notes I had made about witnessing to a Jehovah's Witness. I yearned for another opportunity to speak to them. I want to show them the truth. I started researching again and came across a video on Youtube where three men had about a 30 minute long conversation with a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was shocked again. There were 3 men showing the Jehovah's Witnesses passages from the bible and asking them what they thought it meant. And the answers they gave were so askew from what the meaning was that it broke my heart. And what is really sad is these people are out in the neighborhoods and streets sharing what they think is the truth while we are inside hiding. They are doing what we are called, by God, to do, but they don't have the truth, we do. By us hiding and not going out to share the good news we have, we are letting false teachings be spread even more!

Think about how many people we come in contact with on a daily basis. At work or school. When we go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. When we go shopping, to a movie, to the park, to the beach. We pass by people everyday that need to hear the word of God. So remember, the next time you pray for a chance to share the love of God, ask God to open your eyes as well. Don't look for someone that "looks" like they need God. We shouldn't try to dictate who gets to hear about Jesus and what he did. Go with a pure heart and strong mind. Pray that God will fill you with the passion to share what He has done for everyone.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

Brief Recap

The last few years of my life have been...hectic, to say the least. Many thoughts, theories, knowledge and morals have changed, been added, been deleted and suffered. I lived a life far from God. Blinded by the temptations of the world. I lived to serve me. I was the center of all I did. It was always about me.

I grew up in a good christian home. I was always in church. I knew a lot about the bible and the stories about God and Jesus. I memorized bible verses, participated in church activities and went on trips. I wasn't a bad kid. Sure, I messed up every now and then, but we are not perfect. I obtained good christian morals growing up due to a great, committed and loving family. Most of my friends were kids from my church and most of them were like me. Looking back on it now, I can't say it was because I was serving God. I knew the stories and knew right from wrong, but it was more about just following the rules than serving my God. This sounds bad, but it's true. I had the knowledge but not the faith. Just as I knew 2+2=4. I could tell you but couldn't explain how or why.

As I grew up things started to change. I met people that weren't like me. They didn't go to church, know the stories and have the loving family and friends to help and guide them into making the right choices in their lives. They were lost. Some of them were good people. Some still had good morals. As times changed and the years went by more and more people entered my life, I started to see the extremes of both ends. I knew people that wanted to praise God and share what they knew. I also knew people that just wanted to do wrong all the time.

God works in mysterious ways. I heard that a lot. Of course, having no idea the power behind those words, I accepted that phrase. Just as 2+2=4. When I finally gave my life to Christ in high school, I was at a camp with my church. As most Christians know, when you go on a trip, be it a camp or a mission trip, you get pumped up and make commitments and feel on fire for God. You come home expecting to keep the fire going. But, like myself, we find that the world is the same when we return and our non-christian friends, and sometimes even our christian friends, help us slide back in to the same motions of sin and disobedience.

The past three years of my life have not been a Christ-like time. I knew it at the time and I saw myself slipping away from my relationship with Christ, but did nothing about it. I jumped on the bus and told the driver to floor it. The convictions I had became more frequent. I was loosing control of my life. I used every excuse I could to manipulate my mind into thinking all was well. This became a profession and a skill. I went to the parties, surrounded myself with those that would keep my mind off of my failing life for God and I did things I thought I would never do. During that time I had some very deep and wise conversations. I shared what I believed about God to a few people. I told others that I was a christian and I told them about Jesus. But with the life I was living and the empty words coming out of my mouth I knew that the conversation wasn't about me sharing God. It was about God trying to show me that I was messing up and He wanted me back. But with the sounds of the world that I surrounded myself with, I couldn't hear God calling to me. I was lost.

I hit a wall in my life that eventually put me on my knees, looking up and calling for God. So many times I wanted to think about the "what if" scenarios. What if I would have listened sooner? Why didn't I? I knew God could take away anything and everything. At first, I didn't know what to do. Before I fell on my face and cried out to God, I was in shock. I had nowhere to go and nobody to talk to. Humbleness, fear, humility, patience and love instantly became my life. It took a lot more than it should have to get me back on track. But looking back on everything all I see is a loving God bringing back his lost son. A shepherd leaving the flock to save the one lost sheep as it is mentioned in Matthew 18 and Luke 15.

God does work in mysterious ways. I can't fathom his love and his mercy. But I can put my faith in him. I can put my life in his hands. Though I am climbing the wall from the lowest of lows, I know my God will help me up. It won't be easy and it won't always be fun. But nobody said it would be. I am moving forward. I am letting God be the guide again.

The World Race

After talking a little bit with my mom she told me about a mission trip call The World Race. After a while I decided to look it up. I went to The World Race website and saw "11 countries | 11 months" and my jaw dropped. I have always loved doing mission trips. I have only been out of the states once for a mission trip when we went to Montreal, Canada. I thought to myself, "This would be an amazing adventure. I want to learn more."

The past 6 or 7 months I have felt an urge to just get out of this town. I was born and raised here and want to go. With the situations going on in my life, refer to last post called Brief Recap, I wanted to go away. I started getting a feeling to join the military. Why not? Job, money, free college and travel. Sounds great. Due to being overweight I couldn't join. So I started working out and running. More and more I felt the urge to go. When I hit rock bottom and finally started getting my life back to where God wanted it, I started questioning my future. The military fits the description of this feeling or urge I have had for a while.

After looking into The World Race a little more I could fell a tug, a passion and a heart for going out, not to increase my desires and wants, but to go and share my story and tell others about my God. I have been praying for God to reveal has plan for me and I will continue to do so. I would love the opportunity to go on this trip.

Due to my current situation, there is a lot I have to do first. Of course money is an issue. But I have heard stories and testimonies of amazing things. I think this is going to be rough ride, but eventually God's plan will shine through and great things will happen. This will be a time where faith is going to have to be truly exercised.

Keep me in your prayers. Pray that I can stay focused on God's will for my life and that He will open doors for me. Pray that I can make a difference for Him. Pray that, if I am to go on The World Race, He will provide and bless me. Also pray for the current missionaries on the trip. Pray.