Couple of scripture points to check out, first John 5. In particular the healing that takes place in verses 1 - 15. Then Matthew 7, and the verse about the Narrow Gate (13-14). I know these seem unrelated right now, but let me explain. So in John 5 we hear about this pool, but its not like what we think of as a pool. This pool is a natural one that developed over a spring, that people built structure around for others to enjoy the pools - it was divided in two. The talk of the town and the paintings on the wall say that every now and then an angel will come to stir the waters, when that happens get in the water and you will be cured of anything wrong with you. 'But what if you are paralyzed and can't get in', glad you asked, well your family or friends would take you down - if you don't have anyone you would pay them.
Here is where things may seem to derail, you see the man that Christ talks to in John 5 had been there for a while and no one ever took him down, by the time he would pull himself there the healing power would be gone. So, he sat there at the entrance to the pool day after day, year after year, a tragedy right? Jesus heals the man and tells him something that He knows will trigger the law keepers, take your mat and walk. See the way the law was originally set up was so people would help their brother, like there should never be a hungry person in Israel if the law was kept. Problem was loop holes. Take for instance laws about the Sabbath, the law says to keep it holy... do no work because that is how God designed us, to take a break. So the day before you prep everything you need for the Sabbath. Now lets say Josephus runs out of oil or wine on the Sabbath what is he to do? Well he can't go buy it because that would mean someone else would have to work, so he goes to old Ben's house down the road. Here he would take what he needs and head home, then the problem came that they can't say 'hey can I borrow this' or 'I will loan this', that meant they would need to make a deal and write it down... which would be more work. So more rules were added to prevent chaos. Another rule is that you cannot come to God's presence if you are unclean, meaning in the last seven days you haven't done anything to defile yourself - one way to do so would be to come in contact with someone who is deformed, diseased, or dead (see where this is going yet). So the reason no one is helping this guy by the pool is because of these laws, which have been twisted from 'lets help each other' to 'lets keep ourselves pure above all'. No one wants to help this guy because then they can not go to church until next week if they do. I can't stop to help because I will be late for practice, the welcome team, Sunday school, or Bible Study. We can't miss one service or event to help someone else. Sure if I miss service this week that means there is one less soul in the building, but if I can help that other soul then the next week service will have one more than usual. Is that not worth it? (Selah- Pause and reflect) Ever wonder why the gate is narrow? I asked God this question and this is the imagery I got. Walking up to this garden or party that is sealed off by this brick and ivy wall, in the middle there is an entrance an old iron gate that you think you could just walk through. On closer inspection you think it might be easier to slide in side ways and suck in your gut. But it isn't so much your body that is the issue but what is around it. Its the really expensive suit you bought to look nice at the party that is just too much to get through. The name tags on your chest that declare who you are outside those walls: world's best boss, prettiest smile, best dressed, 3 time Olympian, most on time, loved by all. Its the medals and rings you have won that just add too much for you to get in - the things that moth, rust, and time destroy. You see the only thing that makes it to that garden party on the other side is the soul that was invited, and the only thing you can take with you are souls who are on the guest list. Being on time every Sunday, or part of the worship team, even being the pastor isn't what you will be known for in heaven. Its what you did for the kingdom and God. That patient you took extra care of and told them about eternity, that client that you shared the gospel with, that kid in lunch who has no friends and you introduced them to Jesus friend of the friendless. Matthew 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. There are only two choices in the end and you make the decision now, be fabulous and go for the wide gate or be Christ like and bring others to paradise even if it means you don't have a "life". Selah.
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Well I am not having a baby so sorry to burst that bubble... But I have been accepted to be Campus Missionary In Training at Oklahoma State! Pretty exciting stuff! Ultimately I want to pioneer Chi Alpha groups at campuses in India.
But for now I get to work with and train under some amazing men and women of God. Also, I get to do this great thing called Support Raising, great for you and humbling for me. Yeah I could just work a normal job and work for a church, however, that is not where I am called. The campus needs full time ministers to pour into the students and that is the rhythm my heart beats to. If you feel led to give click the 'How Can You Help' tab above. If you want to know more about what I am doing please email me at [email protected], text me at 405-812-6669, or shoot me a message on Facebook! John 4 recently has become one, if not the, of my favorite chapters of the Bible. The reason, it is the story of one of my favorite evangelist / missionaries. The Samaritan Woman encounters Jesus, then immediately goes off to tell the town of this guy. She never went to seminary, was not one of Jesus' disciples, did not live the perfect life yet still went and told the market place who changed her life. The best part the disciples who were in the process of getting their lives together, were with Jesus all the time, and were training under God Himself did not get a single person to come back with them. What's the excuse?
I don't necessarily mean for the disciples I mean for us. Too busy? Not qualified? Don't have the Bible memorized? Or, did we never have an encounter with Jesus? I am hoping if you are a Christian that last question stung a little. Why did you get saved? Yes, I know it wasn't to evangelize, but what was the driving force? I hope it was because you encountered the reality of Christ. Next question, how did you get saved? I'll answer that, it is because someone introduced you to the Word of God, or God Himself. Romans 10:13-17 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Look, no one is asking you to know all the answers to every question. But please be aware you have a better chance of spreading the Gospel to your co-workers, clients, bosses, classmates, TA's, and teachers than any other missionary on the planet. Why, because you are with them and have a relationship - better chance of them listening to you than me. I'll leave you with this verse and a thought... John 4:42 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” She told them about Jesus, and they went to Jesus and had their own encounter... Same thing could happen where ever you go. Love y'all! This concept maybe a bit difficult to grasp if you have never owned a "large" animal (20+ lbs), so, I am sorry if this concept flies over your head. Recently, I was asked to check up on a friend's dog, let's call him Dorro. Dorro is about as high-strung a pup as I have ever seen, he is just 3 or 4 years old but still just as excited as when he was a puppy that could fit in my pocket. But Dorro and other animals like him are not just crazy for crazy sake. No, it is their passion for love and being loved that drives these tails to wag uncontrollably.
The driving force of their life is to be with their "Master", a funny term because many of these masters (Dorro's included) do not see the relationship as Master/Slave. Man and Dog is a companionship, the dog relies on man for sustenance and the man on the dog for partnership. More than just a refill of food and water, these pets/family members just want to spend time with us. They love, they get angry, my dog gets offended. If I don't tell Aspen bye and give him a hug he goes on a hunger strike till my parents call me, then when I get home I get an earful still after he just wants to be with me wherever I go. 'Brian we get it you love dogs so what', well how is your relationship with God? Mind you I am not saying God sees you as a pet or a dog, but how do you see your relationship with Him? Is He there for all your needs and nothing more? Or is He everything you live for and you just want to spend every moment with Him? They say a man's best friend is his dog, I see it the other way around a dog's best friend is his human. Undivided, fully attentive devotion to dog's master. Devotion is not just the 15 minutes of your day you spend with God. Devotion is putting aside your wants, your desires, and your life, for something that is so so so much more... a life with God during and before eternity. Psalm 139 Mark 9:33-37
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?” 34 The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. 35 He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.” 36-37 He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.” The servant of a king, a deacon, and a waiter what do these three have in common? Well for one, there is one word in Greek that uses the three as its definition - diakonos. This word is the one used for 'servant' at the end of verse 35. So this isn't just for the servant of all of our peers its also the servant of those we see above us (servant of a king), and a servant of the weak and helpless (a deacon of the church). This is someone who like a great waiter makes it their goal to be the best server a person has ever experienced. A great waiter, in my opinion, isn't just one who does as I request or even one that will get me something for free. No, a great waiter is one who anticipates what is needed or wanted. Just before my glass is empty they ask if I want more, they see that I am almost finished and ask about dessert, plate has barely been touched "is anything wrong?", I seem satisfied but starring at how to finish they bring a to-go box. Before I think of calling them over they see me and take care of me. What if that is what the greatest in heaven is expected to do? Before the thought of needing help crosses the mind, we as Christ Ambassadors step up and help out. While someone is waiting on the side of the road for help we see if we can't help them sooner. Someone who seems to be in financial trouble and holding up the checkout line? How about instead of griping we be a good Samaritan, expecting nothing in return. Easier said than done, yeah I know, I am getting convicted as I type this out - but I do think this is a goal we can set and achieve. One person every day, just one, God help us to not just see people as you do, but feel for them as you do, and beyond that give us the ability and heart to help them as you would. In loving on them let us love you more and more. If you agree say or think amen. So in class this week we had a test and a question on it about unity in the church. The topic was over what the Apostle Paul meant when he said we are all one body. I mean this is a super simple question for any Christian to answer, Paul is saying we are the body of Christ and Christ is our head. But, there is so much more, see Paul also talks about how crazy it would be if your foot said I am not as useful as a hand so I quit (1 Corinthians 12:15-26). First off if my foot started speaking I would probably have it checked and my brain checked. Second, how dumb is that right? The foot may not be able to do all that a hand can but in its own abilities it helps the body function, does it not?
Despite Paul's letter to the Corinthians to this day people still struggle with this concept. Insert title here, in music a chord is a combination of various notes. When played in unison there is a sound, a harmony, and in conjunction with other notes over time a melody. Misplace one note and you no longer get sound but noise. This is the part of a kids piano recital when everyone jerks a little because, 'Ooh that did not sound right'. There is no rectifying this, the show must just go on or end in a kid crying off stage left. Let's say for instance that the sheet music calls for c-major to be played, and let's say this is the wonderful world of Disney where everything has a mind of its own. Now what happens when its time to play that chord, but because C is the "important" key all other keys leave the piano, leaving a scale of C's. What then, or what if all the keys decided they wanted to be the same C key? As I type this I am seeing a connection to the next chapter of 1 Corinthians, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" chapter 13 verse 1. Love is required for unity to be flawless. Every member needs to see their own gifts and talents as something to be used for God and the Church. Each key of the chord needs to understand they have a purpose in making music, that just because the chord is not named after them they make the thing sound good. Not everyone can be a pastor, not everyone an elder, a teacher, or a youth minister, and most definitely not everyone should be in AV. Not everyone can tithe a thousand, not everyone can donate resources, not everyone can make the best ginger pickle (shout out to Omana Varghese). We all need to see each others strengths and weakness, and we also need to know our own. Love the abilities God has placed in you even if they are mediocre to you. Just loosing one digit of your foot can throw you off balance, they can't do much except keep us stable and for that the body loves its toes and you never see a toe complain... if you do have toe that complains please see a licensed medical and mental professional. "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body..." Paul to the Corinthians. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
The thought of baptism or being born again should not surprise you or anyone really. It should almost be an after-thought, and as common place as one of those rules that "just is". Children don't need to understand convection to know the wind blows. They accept that there is wind, and that it blows as it sees fit. This is how we should view those born of Spirit. We should accept the Spirit, but should also accept the way He moves as well. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. Stage two of life. Imagine if the cure to life had two stages, like any multi-part medication or vaccine all parts are needed to work. In this case, stage one is birth - when we are born. For many this is it, just the one birth, however stopping here is like watching the NBA Finals only till half-time with the score tied up at 80. There is so much more that could happen. Stage two of life is death, but not the physical kind Romans 6:1-14 Our second birth comes after our first death, where we die to what makes us sinners, and die to the life that the World Uses Mark 3:11-12
Why is it that Jesus always commanded impure spirits not to tell others about Him? If the supernatural proclaimed who He was, then Christ's purpose would have been defeated. The Pharisee's may have never plotted to kill Him. Which means the sacrifice could have never happened. There is a chance that Paul would have never written his letters. Also the Holy Spirit wouldn't be here to convict the hearts and minds of men to seek the Father. Sacrifice was necessary for Christ to win, as the law and prophets say. "Which is easier to say to the paralytic..."? Healing that comes by forgiveness is by far easier, than, commanding healing to happen by faith. Now you may be thinking well that's great and all but I don't have a healing ministry. Insert Matrix Morpheous meme here, which is a bit difficult to do so you'll just have to imagine it. What if I told you you've had the gift of healing others in you for some time now? Grievances to the heart can be the root of many issues. One of my favorite speakers is Winkie Pratney (check his sermons out on YouTube), Winkie refers to sin as a tree.
You can trim back the tree all you want, but branches will continue to sprout and grow looking like nothing ever happened. Or, you can cut the tree down by the trunk, give it time and branches will grow. The only way to get rid of the tree is finding and killing the root. What was the original sin, what caused the grief between you two? The way to be rid of the sin and grief is through forgiveness of that original cause. Forgiveness may sting like poison, and when sin is uprooted it can break apart the foundation around it, but healing will come. Proverbs 17:22, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but the crushed spirit dries up the bones." 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." We were asked to forgive 490 times, or as often as God forgave Israel. Thoughts to think about, is it coincidental that our sin was nailed to a tree that Christ conquered? Ask God if there's anything someone has against you or you have against someone, ask Him to reveal it, and ask Him to help bring healing to the situation. As I was worshipping God taught me something that a minute after worship was confirmed by my uncle. During worship you should worship. Prayer request are for when you pray, devos are for your devotional time, but during worship just worship. Nothing else is needed, you don't need a band in the background, you don't need Without Words - Bethel playing on a loop. Just creation worshipping its creator. For whatever reason we have become afraid of the silence, yet, even during the silence you can worship Him. Chill in His presence.
Mark 2:22
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins. The New Covenant cannot be poured into an old body. The body that has not been reborn cannot contain the new wine. It is an experience that will overload the mind that isn't ready. new wine is a new mindset for the new body, old wine is the old mindset for an old body. Mark 4:20... 1-19 for context
At least once every year I tell my guys that the Bible isn't just two-dimensional text on a page, but that it is three dimensional - meaning I can read the text, you can read it, the neighbors can read it and we can all come out with different lessons to learn from it. Last year I had the privilege of leading The Forge, one of OSUXA's best guys bible study groups. Last semester we went over the parables of Christ, and probably the most memorable of them to me was the Parable of the Sower. We learned quite a bit from it then, but, I just came across another point. Till now I accepted that the seed and the Word were the same thing, and just left it there. However, this is calling for the Word to multiply. To grow from just a kernel into fruit that can do the same thing. God didn't sow the word just out in some random patch to look nice. No, the Word sown in you is called to grow into a full head of grain that can be planted in other patches of dirt. On top of that you were not designed to produce a kernel, but a full head so that you can spread the word 30, 60, or even a 100 times more! Daunting task, maybe, but so was walking when all you could do was crawl. Read the Scripture here!
Just thought this was interesting, when Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic man's friends He healed the guy. Intercessory prayer is a huge part of the christian walk, because it is part of what bonds us together. Knowing someone is praying for me makes my day, and it also causes the chain of me praying for them in return. I know for many it seems pointless because you don't actually see the work of it. However, in my opinion, prayer partners are just as important to a christian as stage hands are to any performance. Yeah you don't see them (shouldn't see stage hands), and they really do not ever get the credit they deserve, but without them the show could completely flop. Missionaries, Pastors, Sound Guys, Children's Church coordinators, and others like them often forget to pray for themselves; it is up to us their friends to keep them in prayer, tear back the roof, and lower them to Christ. By our faith let others be healed. Mark 1:21-28
Reading my devo and an interesting point comes out from the passage above. Jesus was teaching at the temple, and while there a man who was in the synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cries out. This man wasn't possessed and walked into church to cause chaos, and this wasn't a spirit who came to church to possess someone. No, this person had been at church the whole time. Many times we think of possession as something we see in Supernatural where their eyes go black and they have powers, or we think about Legion super strong crazy man that lives in a graveyard. How often do we think of the average Joe? How many are being oppressed right under our noses? They come to church though, they are in their right mind, they are nice people how could they be under the power of darkness? Well the man in Mark 1:23 was such. How often to we brush aside someone that needs the Power of Christ as just being diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Anxiety, or Depression. Maybe they are just addicted to Alcohol, Substance Abuse, or Pornography. Maybe, just maybe, these people are legitimately struggling to be free from these "symptoms". Perhaps they have tried church, accountability partners, a psychologist, or medication. When what they really need is the power and presence of Christ. You might say well Christ needs to reach down and help them, what if He has been trying to but His hands won't move because they think its is a job for the feet; and the feet are too tired so they think it is a job for the heart. Its time for the church to go mobile and realize we are the body of Christ, we are His hands, His feet, and His heart. We are the ones that need to reach out to those in need, find them in their darkest hour, be the beating heart they can lean on and know it will be alright. Yes it is Christ's job to save, but as His body it is our job to take Him where He is needed so His power and presence can set the captive free! I think it would be perfectly safe to say that the church of Christ was never in all its history so fully, so skillfully, so thoroughly, and so perfectly organized as it is today. Our machinery is wonderful; it is just perfect, but it is machinery without power. When things do not go right, instead of going to the real source of our failure, our neglect to depend on God and look to God for power, we look around to see if there is not some new organization we can get up, some new wheel that we can add to our machinery. We have altogether too many wheels already. What we need is not so much some new organization, some new wheel, but “the Spirit of the living creature in the wheels” we already possess.
I believe that the devil stands and looks at the church today and laughs in his sleeve as he sees how its members depend on their own scheming and powers of organization and skillfully devised machinery. “Ha, ha,” he laughs, “you may have your Boy Scouts, your costly church edifices, your multi-thousand-dollar church organs, your brilliant university-bred preachers, your high-priced choirs, your gifted sopranos and altos and tenors and bases, your wonderful quartets, your immense men's Bible classes, yes, and your Bible conferences, and your Bible institutes, and your special evangelistic services, all you please of them; it does not in the least trouble me, if you will only leave out of them the power of the Lord God Almighty sought and obtained by the earnest, persistent, believing prayer that will not take no for an answer.” But when the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, “he trembles” as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end. I know I may lose friends on Facebook over this, but I feel this needs to be said. Living in America is not like watching Doctor Who. As a whovian I can say Matt Smith, the best of all the doctors, is my Doctor. I can say this because it is a fictional plane that i am voicing my opinion over. America is not a work of fiction. America is real, i was born into Bush Sr. as my president, then Bill Clinton was my president, after that Bush Jr. was my president, and when i was able to vote - even though i didn't vote for him Barack Obama was my president. Now whether i like it or not Donald J. Trump is my president, there is no way around this. Unless God calls one of us home, i leave my citizenship, or he becomes corrupt in office, Trump is my president. Its like any job you may not like your manager but when asked who your boss is y9ur opinion is invalid.You dont like Trump fine but saying he isnt your president doesnt change a thing because unless you leave the countrybhe is your president, he is my president, and God help us he is the president of our home. So do him and us a favor pray for him. Pray God molds him into the president God wants him to be, it's gonna take faith to pray this prayer and believe it will come to pass.
So at every summit one of my favorite places to visit is the store. This time I knew I wanted to get a new devotional book. I had just finished most of Olive Tree's 365 devotional, it is part of the bible app that I use most, which is great because it has a variety of focuses on life and it takes excerpts from a bunch of pastors and evangelists sermons and books, my favorite are usually by Charles Spurgeon and D.L. Moody. Another favorite I used for quite some time and is all over my Instagram is another 365 devotional with sermon portions and stories from Smith Wigglesworth. If you do not know these men, look them up... like now. This blog post can wait. Talk about moving in faith, stories of Wigglesworth just gets you pumped. Where was I? Oh yes TWMS looking for a devotional, and one of the assistants brought out a few for me to look at, one stood out. It is called Fearless: How Jesus Changes Everything by George O. Wood. This is a really great one and I have only been through a few pages of it. Basically Dr. Wood goes through the entire book of Mark, breaking it down in chunks of one to four verses. If you don't have a devotional that you use or a method at all I suggest one of these options, just click on the titles and the link will take you to where you can get them.
But, here's the thing you have to read them. Each one takes around 15 minutes, and I am not the fastest reader. Everyday set a time when you can read at least one (especially if it is a 365 devo, because that is the point of them). Then if you aren't already in a place to talk to God, get to one and talk to Him about it. See what He thinks, find out what point He wants you to dwell on. After all that pray about it, if there is a challenge ask God to help you with the challenge and to keep it at the front of your mind so you won't forget it. Devotional time is something every Christian needs. It builds your faith in God, strengthens your walk with Him, and it helps you become more knowledgeable about His word. When you get to the point where you feel you can just sit and chat with God about anything and everything, start asking Him what He wants you to read then jot down what He says and what comes to mind; let Him become the author of the next devo you get. From February 6th till April 27th, 2017 I will be in North India! No I am not getting married, I am going because it is somewhere God has called me. January of 2014, I was at an alter call at SALT - South Central Chi Alpha Conference in Dallas, Texas. There I broke down asking God what it was that He wanted me to do. Prior to this every time I prayed or asked God about it the answer was always 'Go', and to me 'Go' could have meant anything, I began asking God what He meant it. Time and time again the reply would be 'Go'. Go I did, New Orleans with ICPF, Thailand with OSUXA, and local work in the great state of Oklahoma with my XA family. Past that I helped out with what Chi Alpha was doing at Oklahoma State.
Still the call was to 'Go', me being the stubborn Malayalee that I am kept asking, flash forward to the alter call at SALT. I about gave up and cried and fussed like a child finally God said something different, and I was called to Jaipur! I was just in awe of what just happened, never had I felt God speak the way that he did. After being prayed over by pastor near me I stepped outside the room to google where this was, and messaged my cousin who was a pastor in North India because that was also part of what He said. When I got home my parents were not the most enthused, and for good reason. So I waited, and waited, and waited. Then this past November I contacted another relative who lived in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. He had asked if I wanted to come to Damoh to come work with him at an orphanage there. Well it was not Jaipur, but it was in north India. I made plans to go by after going with the OSUXA Thailand team, however, God had other plans. After sacrificing my 'Isaac' to God in my heart, I suddenly felt different. In a way dead but very much alive. I let go of everything I wanted, hoped for, and dreamed of, which in my 26 years was probably the most difficult thing I have done next to saying goodbye for now to my grandparents. When I got home after the conference my dad had a talk with me where much was spoken, and much more forgiven between the two of us. Then Damoh was brought up and my dad asked why I was waiting for the summer and why I didn't just go now. i was baffled, wait what when who? So many questions, after three years almost to the day my Dad is willing to let me Go. Now here I am weeks from leaving! It isnt the final destination though. The majority of this trip will be with different ministers see what ministry in north India is like, also to go and see what God wants me to do long term there. I have learned that God isn't one to reveal the whole plan. He likes to surprise His kids, from what I have seen. If you have read this far, thank you, now is the hard part. I am asking for your help, the ticket is purchased and I am almost ready - still have to pack. Will you please pray for me? Pray that I follow only after what God wants me to do while I am there and long term. Pray that I have boldness to speak to people when God asks me to. Pray that those around me and myself are drawn closer and closer to God. Also, that the rest of my funding comes in, because I still have food and trains to pay for (if you would like to help fund me check the 'How can I help' tab). Thank you for reading all this you are a trooper. You are quite amazing, Brian J Abraham TLDR: Am go India, God sent, Need Prayer and Finances, You Amazing, Many Thanks!!! 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Everyone has that part of them they are not fans of, physically. That is something we all have to get over, because, it was designed that way for a reason. What we see as a flaw God designed to bring glory through. An older church may not have the greatest tech, but they are some the friendliest people I know. A newer church may not have sage wisdom, still it is filled with people who are all seeking God with each other in fellowship. My eyes may not be the greatest, but I find that I tend to see things in people, places, and in situations others cannot see... Those parts of the body that seem weaker are INDISPENSABLE.
1Peter 1:1 - 2:3 (15-16)What else is there besides the title? BE HOLY, BECAUSE _ __ HOLY. First the rule was obey and listen to what God requested; which was obedience. We couldn't figure that one out so He broke it down into 10 rules. We botched that by over thinking. So He simplified it again by giving us the golden rule, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul ... and love your neighbor as you would yourself. For some reason, this is still to complicated for individuals in a group to understand because of 'what ifs'. So the original rule was simplified into two words. Words we cannot mistake the meaning of. BE HOLY. Exist/Occur/Occupy the position in, dedicated or consecrated to God/devoted to the service of God. So what does that entail? "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart" 1 Peter 1:22. As ambassadors of Christ we should live as such. The father judges all impartially, so Be Holy. "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." ~Mahatma Gandhi5/4/2014 I have met many people who have not yet realized their potential. There is God given talent and leadership placed inside every soul he created. People think they have to be this special something before they can become a great leader or display their talent. When in reality that special something is not unlocked or realized until the person steps out and does the task they think they cannot do. Yes in the grand scheme of things, what you do is tiny, but you not doing it mean someone else cannot do their part. Decomposers (bacteria, insects, etc.) probably have the worst job out there, yet without these tiny guys we could not do our jobs could we? (SELAH)
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important you do it. If you can read this and know someone younger then you, then you are a leader. If you have anything you can do that *someone else cannot then you have a God given talent (*note I did not say everyone ...just someone). Someone who looks up to you whether you are aware of this watches every step you take or not. You and me we are not important, but we affect people who are, every day. You have great potential... Adam and Eve were only the start of this human thing, inside them were you. You were planned, before you knew you were. Descartes had it right... We think therefore we are. You think you are nothing so you are. I think I am a leader so I am. Now if I have an impact on people’s lives, how much more of an impact could you have with the abilities God gave you?!?! There is a reason why Christ said you are going to do bigger and better. Hey, Leader its time for you to do what God needs you to do. It may seem like a small task but if you don’t do your part of changing a life then that life may remained unchanged forever, and the world has one less great. Here is a bit of what we talked about last night... yeah its a bit heavy but yall can handle it...
Numbers 14 (take a quick read...or listen [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+14&version=NIV]) Tell me if this scenario rings a bell... You walk across campus like you do everyday and you see someone that you just got a gut feeling you need to talk to, the closer you get the more the Spirit pushes you to talk to them. What do you do? I wait for that "perfect moment" or I say God please no that is just weird. The moment passes and you turn back out of guilt and try to catch up with them , either you do and its a weird conversation or you don't catch up. Why does that happen, we did what God wanted right? HA absolutely not, God is a god of order not of chaos. You don't do things out of His time because he wont be there with you. This is part of His grace. How? Well He lets you make yourself look dumb so you learn never to do it again (He is a perfect Dad). God told the Israelites, hey I am going to take you to a place flowing with all that you need, people will come up to stop you but I will be with you and carry you in. GOD SAYS THIS IS HIS PLAN AND HE WILL HELP YOU WITH IT! What do the Israelites do? Yeah... they decide not to do it. So God says fine new plan go back, I ain't coming with ya. Then feeling guilt they run back to the promised land to take it, and they die. Anytime we go against what God wants expect pain, Proverbs 13:24 24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. It gets better...or worse... depending on how you look at it. Their disobedience does not just affect them, it hurts their kids to. I am not saying that all sin hurts other people, but there are a lot of instances where it does. What if our conversation with that person walking by us was the point where they decided to follow God? Before I came to OSU I lost one of my friends who was in a lot of my classes from Kindergarten to 12th grade. He got wasted, rolled off the road, and was not able to get out of his car which ignited. You know how in Genesis God says he can hear Able's blood cry out? Well, at Aaron's funeral and still to this day I can hear him screaming wondering why I never told him about Christ, why I just assumed that because we lived in Mustang, Oklahoma that he knew Christ. Yeah I realize others could have done it as well, but thats the thing they did not and I had more chances then they did. I hope yall never hear someone crying from the pit. You can argue with me that he made it to heaven but I knew the guy.... I know that was tough for some of yall because now you are thinking of the missed chances. Don't beat yourself up about it though, learn from the mistake. God loves them more and will give them all the chances they need. Learn from the past and make the future better, don't skip those chances God gives you. You have the gift of eternal life that needs to be shared... New International Version (NIV)
The Day and Hour Unknown 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[a]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Footnotes:
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Brian J AbrahamI am on the leadership team with OSU Chi Alpha...we are not a frat. Check us out on Facebook or on our site. Archives
July 2018
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