Andrew's posterous

Mar 10

On Being A Full-Time Follower

I was reading a devotional today from My Utmost for His Highest

by Oswald Chambers on the importance of walking daily with Jesus and not just doing for Him. And after reading today's entry, I was again reminded that it's not so much about being a full-time worker, but being a full-time follower of Jesus Christ. His ultimate desire is for me to know and fall deeper in love with Him as I walk with Him on a daily basis. Here's a portion from today's reading:

Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.

It's not about squeezing Jesus-moments into the business of our schedules, nor is it about consuming ourselves for His work. It's allowing the light of Jesus Christ to permeate and penetrate every area of our lives. It's about aligning our lives with His, and it's a choice we make every single day. This is what it means to be a full-time follower of Jesus Christ. And I pray that we would make that choice to follow Him today and in the days to come.

Feb 3

A Visit to The Porch

This past Tuesday, a few of our Pathway (Singles) leadership and I visited The Porch, which a weekly singles gathering that meets at Watermark Community Church in Dallas. I invited them to come with me in order to get some outside exposure on how other churches do their singles ministry, and maybe even help generate some ideas for our own singles ministry as well. And so really, I went with the posture of asking God to give our team greater wisdom and insight in leading our singles ministry, and for our leadership to be blessed and encouraged as they served our singles this year. In other words, I went in praying that this would be more for them, than for me.

However, as I sat and listened to the message, there was one statement that really resonated with me. The message was about Joseph and how God was with him despite all the difficulties he went through from betrayal, to slavery, and even wrongful imprisonment (Genesis 37-39). And as I was listening to the message, this statement grabbed my attention:

Don't let your present circumstances determine the presence of God in your life

. I didn't have anything to write with and so I repeat that line over and over in my head so that I would be able to remember it later on. And as I committed this statement to memory, I felt as if God was speaking directly to me and into my personal circumstances.

It's amazing how God can speak into our lives and the most unexpected moments. I went into that evening, praying and wanting so much for God to bless and encourage and speak into our singles leadership, but came away being encouraged myself. This statement was an incredible reminder of God's continued presence in my life, during the good and the bad, and this statement is true for you as well. Some of you are going through some rough and stormy weather, but don't let your present circumstances determine the presence of God in your life

. Stand firm and trust that God is with you in the midst of your storms.

Dec 2

One Month to Live Challenge

My wife and I started the One Month to Live challenge yesterday. So for the next 30 days we've decided to take this step together, and to see what God is going to do in and through us as we take this challenge. The premise of this book is pretty simple: What if you only had one month to live? What changes would you make in your life?

And to be honest, I have no idea what my life is going to look like after reading this book. I'm not expecting an earth-shattering change in my life, but maybe God wants to do something earth-shattering in me through these next 30 days. It's only been a day, so the novelty and excitement is still fresh, yet I'm hesitant at the same time at the prospect of what God could potentially do in me and my family. Nevertheless, we're diving in and waiting to see what God has in store for us as we take this challenge together. Here we go...