crazy love.

it is interesting..

When you think of the word love, what comes to mind? Never wanting to be seperated from your significant other? Holding hands, eating ice cream together? Maybe a romantic walk on the beach.

The definition of love is: "the object of attachment, enthusiasm, or admiration".

What if love was what we felt for God? What if God was the object of our attachment, enthusiasm, and admiration. I think our finances would drastically increase, we would be people who walked in faith. Because when you are wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

I have always asked myself, "if we really love God that much, why is it so hard for some people to obey His commands?"

In the issue of finances, why is it so hard for some people to give their tithes and offerings? When the bills come around, and money is tight, we become selfish and concern ourselves with the now. I know that sounds harsh and I will be the first to admit that I have been in that situation, but in tough situations why do we run from the solution? Because if we really loved God, we wouldn't worry about the circumstances now, because we know, and God has made it very clear in His word that He will provide.

We love a God who loves us back. When you look at the stories of David and of Abraham, their greatest weakness became their greatest strength, because they knew and felt the love of God. Abraham was childless when he was called to become the father of many nations, and David who was the youngest of Jesse's sons, he was called to lead the people of Israel.

I have been reading this book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. The subtitle to this book says "becoming overwhelmed by a relentless God". He has some videos up on the books website and I challenge you to watch them and really think about the questions he asks.

www.crazylovebook.com

to the fullest?

it is interesting..

I have been reading relevant magazine and came across an article by Ed Young; founder of Fellowship church. The article is entitled "Life is Short" and he starts off by using the scripture found in John 10:10.

"The enemy comes to steal and destroy, but I have come to give you life, and life to the fullest." (paraphrased)

He went on to explain about how a young middle aged woman, who attended his church had recently passed away tragically. He described her as being a christian who lived life to the fullest.
Now what exactly does it mean to live life to the fullest? I did some research and I got several different conclusions. Some said it was to get everything you could from the world, and one even said that you should always leave room for more, and never live life as if you were full.

Now I believe that living life to the fullest is not only to exceed at your goals and or desires, but to over-exceed them as well. But I find that sometimes we as christians just live life, and don't over-exceed what we are called to do. We have almost become to practical, and haven't let God work His wonders.

Perry Noble makes an interesting statement in his sermon, "God Make Us Dangerous". He says that the reason God doesn't move in some places is because we don't believe He can do what He says He can do (paraphrased). We lack the faith to exceed.

If the enemy has come to steal and destroy, why do we constantly divulge into what he has to offer, when God has come and given us life and He has brought it to the fullest? We strive for what is empty and leaves us broken and fragile, even though we know that we could have more.
I think if we as a the body of Christ want to see change, we need to let go of what is comfortable and exceed. God hasn't called us to be stagnant, He has called us to live life to the fullest.

prodigal.

It is interesting.

We just finished the series about the prodigal son at EMG and had three different viewpoints. The view of the fallen son, the father and the son whom was faithful to his father.

Now the story is found in Luke, and is probably the most recongnized parable in the bible. For those of us who don't know the story, the youngest son is fed up with working and asks his father for his inheritance, and then goes and squanders it and destroys himself. He then comes back, falls to his knees and begs his father for forgiveness. His father is excited to see him and throw him a party.

God has given us an inheritance; Jesus, and we have squandered what it is to love Jesus. We have taken Jesus for what we want, instead of doing what He wants.

The defintion of prodigal is "characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure". The bible says that because of sin we were useless or a "waste" to God. We were a prodigal son or daughter to God, but then because of the "grace" of God, He sent His most treasured possession; His Son, to die for those of us who were a waste.

The father could have looked at his son and turned his face, but the bible says, that the father did not listen to his sons apologies, and yelled for his servants to throw his fallen son a party.

I find that most people who attend church are more like the older brother. They are so concerned with themselves and there needs, that they don't realize that the Father is throwing a party. We continue to work in the fields instead of coming in the house and experencing the fathers love.

I was listening to a podcast by Newspring church and Perry Noble makes an interesting statement about the story. The older son was angry with the younger son because he was there when his father mourned for his youngest son, he felt his fathers sadness, and cared for his father. If the oldest son really cared for his father, instead of working in the fields, he'd be out in the community looking for the fallen son.

We are so concerned with our own needs, that we lose sight of our Fathers heart. The Father has started a party for the lost, but we are in the fields working for ourselves instead of celebrating with the father.

I pray that we become connected with Gods heart, and become concerned with those who are lost, instead of being selfish.

welcome to my mind.

it is interesting.

Today, the interns got together and we had a great discussion on relationships. Dru introduced us to a book called "the pursuit of God in the company of friends". Now I fully believe that there is nothing more powerful than relationship and connecting with others, but there needs to be a biblical balance. When God isn't the center of our conversation, we will grow relationally, but we will decline spiritually.

just a couple of thoughts on fellowship and relationship.