This weekend, I went on a camping trip to Fall Creek Falls in Tenn. with, pretty much the core group of Solomon's Porch [a small group of collage and young adults from the West Ga area, whose numbers are growing]. The fellowship with other like-minded Christians was good and the time away in "Gods Country" was even better. I actually had some quiet time with God just sitting on the very edge of a waterfall, dead center of the falls on the rocks, it was amazing. Just listening to the water flowing past, the wind through the trees and the huge hawks that circled overhead was like watching God do His thing and through the water and wind, hear Him speak ever so softly to me.
Sunday morning we had a worship service from a cliff and the view of the cliffs and trees was such an excellent backdrop for a service, because we could all admire the craftsmanship of our God while praising and lift up our praise to Him. Cbass, an awesome guy there, spoke of discipline in our lives and wading through the busyness to get to God. He spoke well and I know exactly what he means when there are 24 hours in a day, and that can be split up into 96 15 minute portions and if we don't have 15 mins in our day to set aside for God, then we have to cut something out. 15-30 mins a day is nothing, and if you can't give that, you need to seriously re-evaluate your relationship with Christ and the time you give to Him.
Towards the end of Cbass' message, I could see where he was leaving off, exactly where so many messages of "you got to get out there and do God's work, this is how it SHOULD be." But for me the firing up of christians only lasts so long after a great church trip, camp or sermon, because we get back to our lives and things and schedules start chipping away at our time with God and also the time we SHOULD be spreading His word. There are a lot of should's in the church today, there are a lot of pep talks that only go so far. Cbass spoke of times when he would return from camps he worked with and would be so worked up to do God's will, but around Tuesday or Wednesday of the week after the camp was over, he felt less pressed and less excited, not as motivated to go out there and do, and there are so many like this. So when he spoke of this, I dared to ask the question, WHY? Why do we get like this? I wasn't trying to knock down anyones hopes, but maybe cause them to think a little more outside of the pep talk and the reality that is facing us. I know the answer to the question, but I just wanted to throw out something that perhaps some of these others could just chew on a little with their minds and with their hearts. Re-evaluate your relationship with God and realize the seriousness of it all.
There are a lot of unexplainable things happening in Christianity, and there is a great need and desire for people to know God. People outside of the church are seeking for a truth, a peace of mind and happiness. A love that can't be explained. Waiting in the wings of our time is another great revival, never in my 30 years on this earth have a seen such a stir within the Christian community, a slow building passion for the Creator of all. There is a great need to spread this Truth, this Peace and this Love / Happiness, and we all have it to give, we have it in the words and promises from God Himself, and in our hearts. We hold within our reach what these people want, need and desire, so ask yourself, what are you doing with this ability? What are you doing with what God has called us to do as followers? The time is upon us all to spark this long needed revival, because for so long we Christians have been silent and holding our heads beneath the sands, allowing our friends and others we are to love, to perish without even knowing or having a relationship with Christ, or even the slightest opportunity to know Him. I encourage my fellow Christians, my loved ones and those that claim to have an undying love for Christ to step out and step up to what He has called us to do. To live for Him daily, to die to ourselves and allow God to use us as vessels to do His will. Just take a moment to think of these words and what they say exactly. To DIE to this world and to ourselves and be what God has called us to be. Think beyond what is before you, think beyond the money, the promotions, but of the Kingdom that is promised to us, and is promised forever. Think outside of this flesh and how it will all come together in the end when we will be with our God in Heaven. I encourage you to do what is called of you, to pray and become attuned to the voice of God and know when He speaks to you. Pray that He will open your eyes to His will and that your will dies away and becomes forgotten and you live so strongly for Him day after day after day. Our time is short here on earth and we have wasted so much time, at least I know that I have. I have this great urgency to do His will, to carry out what HE has planned for me, not what I had planned. I step away from self daily, I have to, because I can't do Gods work, He has to do it through me. I'm not dying enough or fast enough.
Just give some thought to these words because they are inspired from God, I am His vessel and I speak from the heart He gave me, His own. I pray for all of you, those that I know are struggling with issues, know that they are being prayed for. You are not forgotten, you are not shunned. Come forward with your own prayers and ask with the right motives and with the right heart. Not for selfishness desires, but for what God desires. Ask Him to open your eyes and your hearts to what he has in store for you. Ask Him to give you a glimpse of what he has planned for you. I pray for strength in all of you, to walk your walk unwavering and that you honestly seek Him and that an urgency be placed within your hearts. Trust in the Lord your God and may His blessing shower upon all that believe. I love you and will continue to pray for His church.
11:39 AM
Brad G: first off.... should you be an editor/columnist for a christian magazine or newspaper or something!?!? haha
but, yeah, i know what you mean about having that fire at camp and then comin back to the 'real world'... i went to camp glisson, in dahlonega ga for years and years.... Camp Glisson i think that's the address....
and every year that i went i felt soooo uplifted and wanted to never leave and always tell people what happened.... but, after the summer was over, i was over. i stopped talkin to all the people that i met, and stopped bein all happy about God, and stopped singin all the songs that i learned... crazy how that works!
it's funny that you mention this... because i had lunch with kevin raines today, and he said this: brad, you have to completely die, everyday. no matter what. these things that hold you back, you can't let them hold you back. you have to keep pushing forward, and move all the other stuff out of the way.....
so... yeah...
my life's crazy, but i see it slowin down and goin better here soon!
Sunday morning we had a worship service from a cliff and the view of the cliffs and trees was such an excellent backdrop for a service, because we could all admire the craftsmanship of our God while praising and lift up our praise to Him. Cbass, an awesome guy there, spoke of discipline in our lives and wading through the busyness to get to God. He spoke well and I know exactly what he means when there are 24 hours in a day, and that can be split up into 96 15 minute portions and if we don't have 15 mins in our day to set aside for God, then we have to cut something out. 15-30 mins a day is nothing, and if you can't give that, you need to seriously re-evaluate your relationship with Christ and the time you give to Him.
Towards the end of Cbass' message, I could see where he was leaving off, exactly where so many messages of "you got to get out there and do God's work, this is how it SHOULD be." But for me the firing up of christians only lasts so long after a great church trip, camp or sermon, because we get back to our lives and things and schedules start chipping away at our time with God and also the time we SHOULD be spreading His word. There are a lot of should's in the church today, there are a lot of pep talks that only go so far. Cbass spoke of times when he would return from camps he worked with and would be so worked up to do God's will, but around Tuesday or Wednesday of the week after the camp was over, he felt less pressed and less excited, not as motivated to go out there and do, and there are so many like this. So when he spoke of this, I dared to ask the question, WHY? Why do we get like this? I wasn't trying to knock down anyones hopes, but maybe cause them to think a little more outside of the pep talk and the reality that is facing us. I know the answer to the question, but I just wanted to throw out something that perhaps some of these others could just chew on a little with their minds and with their hearts. Re-evaluate your relationship with God and realize the seriousness of it all.
There are a lot of unexplainable things happening in Christianity, and there is a great need and desire for people to know God. People outside of the church are seeking for a truth, a peace of mind and happiness. A love that can't be explained. Waiting in the wings of our time is another great revival, never in my 30 years on this earth have a seen such a stir within the Christian community, a slow building passion for the Creator of all. There is a great need to spread this Truth, this Peace and this Love / Happiness, and we all have it to give, we have it in the words and promises from God Himself, and in our hearts. We hold within our reach what these people want, need and desire, so ask yourself, what are you doing with this ability? What are you doing with what God has called us to do as followers? The time is upon us all to spark this long needed revival, because for so long we Christians have been silent and holding our heads beneath the sands, allowing our friends and others we are to love, to perish without even knowing or having a relationship with Christ, or even the slightest opportunity to know Him. I encourage my fellow Christians, my loved ones and those that claim to have an undying love for Christ to step out and step up to what He has called us to do. To live for Him daily, to die to ourselves and allow God to use us as vessels to do His will. Just take a moment to think of these words and what they say exactly. To DIE to this world and to ourselves and be what God has called us to be. Think beyond what is before you, think beyond the money, the promotions, but of the Kingdom that is promised to us, and is promised forever. Think outside of this flesh and how it will all come together in the end when we will be with our God in Heaven. I encourage you to do what is called of you, to pray and become attuned to the voice of God and know when He speaks to you. Pray that He will open your eyes to His will and that your will dies away and becomes forgotten and you live so strongly for Him day after day after day. Our time is short here on earth and we have wasted so much time, at least I know that I have. I have this great urgency to do His will, to carry out what HE has planned for me, not what I had planned. I step away from self daily, I have to, because I can't do Gods work, He has to do it through me. I'm not dying enough or fast enough.
Just give some thought to these words because they are inspired from God, I am His vessel and I speak from the heart He gave me, His own. I pray for all of you, those that I know are struggling with issues, know that they are being prayed for. You are not forgotten, you are not shunned. Come forward with your own prayers and ask with the right motives and with the right heart. Not for selfishness desires, but for what God desires. Ask Him to open your eyes and your hearts to what he has in store for you. Ask Him to give you a glimpse of what he has planned for you. I pray for strength in all of you, to walk your walk unwavering and that you honestly seek Him and that an urgency be placed within your hearts. Trust in the Lord your God and may His blessing shower upon all that believe. I love you and will continue to pray for His church.
11:39 AM
Brad G: first off.... should you be an editor/columnist for a christian magazine or newspaper or something!?!? haha
but, yeah, i know what you mean about having that fire at camp and then comin back to the 'real world'... i went to camp glisson, in dahlonega ga for years and years.... Camp Glisson i think that's the address....
and every year that i went i felt soooo uplifted and wanted to never leave and always tell people what happened.... but, after the summer was over, i was over. i stopped talkin to all the people that i met, and stopped bein all happy about God, and stopped singin all the songs that i learned... crazy how that works!
it's funny that you mention this... because i had lunch with kevin raines today, and he said this: brad, you have to completely die, everyday. no matter what. these things that hold you back, you can't let them hold you back. you have to keep pushing forward, and move all the other stuff out of the way.....
so... yeah...
my life's crazy, but i see it slowin down and goin better here soon!
