Sunday, March 22, 2009

My Walk Mondays. Revive Us...............


2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of my favorite verses of all time because it voices my heart's desire and the vision of my life. When I first read this verse, my heart nearly collapsed within me because it voiced the desire of my very being.

I desire to be a person who lives as a vessel for God to use to spill out onto this dying world. I love Jesus so much because He is my everything. He is my hope and nothing else matters! He gives me my every breath and has saved me from this world and from myself. He loves me just because that is who He is! How could I not give my life back to Him as a gift? Why would I not want to lay all that I am before Him in sacrificial reverence in hopes that others will see Him in me?

This verse in 2 Chronicles is beautiful because it is a formula to see God move on behalf of others. It is not an easy task, it takes work, sweat and toil, but the benefits are eternal and the fruits are delicious. In order for God to use me I must be humble, I must be absent because if other people see me, I have failed. The goal of ministry is for others to see Him in me because He is the only person who can save. He is the true life-giver.

When I look around this world, I see brokenness, poverty, death and despair. I see people dying and going to hell without a Savior. I see people who have lost hope and have no direction. I see Christians without victory or joy. This verse is critical because God is looking for anyone to look up to heaven and answer His call and become His tool. His heart is for people, so that must be our heart as well. We need to be revived over and over because God's vessels leak. We need to constantly be filled with more of Him. He is alive and in the miracle business, and He is not in a recession!

Steps for Revival:

1) Humble yourself
2) Pray and seek His face
3) Turn from your wicked ways


"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14


Dear Lord,

I humble myself before you today. You are my Maker and You deserve all my praise. I give you this week and I pray that you would draw me close to you in a new way. I have missed you lately and I am coming back today. Draw me to a deeper walk with you because I need you. Please take my life and show me the areas of my life which are not pleasing to you. Help me to stop wrestling with you and give you full control. Please hear from heaven and heal my land. Make me a blessing to my family and those I come into contact this week.

Amen.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

My Walk Mondays. Hard Lessons.



"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalms 20:7

Lately, I have been realizing that I do not trust in God to the degree that I should. I need to put my complete trust in Him for all things. I need Him to be first in my life above anyone or anything else. This is hard for me because I tend to elevate people and put my trust in them. I can also become self sufficient and put my hope in my own efforts to accomplish a task, or handle a situation. But, I find that these things will always let me down because anyone or anything which takes God's place in my life simply won't do. I find myself helplessly on my knees back in a place of surrender waiting for Him to come rescue me again. I love that He will and does, every time.

I have also been learning another tremendously hard lesson. I know God is teaching me to wait on Him. This is incredibly huge for me because I am an impatient person to say the least. I want everything NOW. I drive fast, I hate waiting in lines, and I like fast progress. I am in a season in my life where God is teaching me to wait on Him for everything, and be entirely dependent on Him. God is not as interested in meeting my needs as He is in my relation to Him. He wants my heart and my worship, even in the little things.


Lord, please help me to trust in You and not in my own efforts, or in people around me. Help me to surrender my will over to you in worship. Teach me to be patient and to wait upon You. Help me to give up my own agenda and timetable in order to seek You. I surrender my entire heart and being over to you and I am thankful that You are on the throne.

Monday, March 2, 2009

My Walk Monday - Life at 16?



My post is a little late this week as I have been extremely busy. :)


This past Sunday I had the privilege to join my hubby for a trip inside the California Youth Authority in Stockton, California. It was my first time in the YA, so I was a bit unsure what to expect. We drove over an hour in the pouring rain to meet the fellow members of the Wildfire Ministries team. We showed our identification and then proceeded in through the guard gate. I was then given a "panic button" which was supposed to be pressed in the state of an emergency. It was more like an outdated pager from the 90's that was not exactly high tech. We then went to the chapel which is where the services are held for all of the kids who wish to attend. The ages of the youth ranged from 14 and can go up to 25 years of age.

Several members of our team got up and shared some encouraging words to the young men. Pastor Matthew also shared a mini sermon on the Beatitudes and the boys seemed to enjoy it. Afterwards, we had ice cream with them and I had the chance to get to know some of the young boys. I started talking with three particular boys who were talking to each other in the corner of the room. They seemed really young and sweet, not very different from my nephews. We immediately started introducing ourselves to one another and two of the boys happened to be 16 and the other 17 years of age. Then they started to tell me how two of them had "life" and the other had "25" years in jail, as if it was part of a normal introduction.

I was not sure what they meant. I thought they were making fun of each other in order to make the other guy look stupid or something. But, after a few moments of silence I realized they were telling the truth. I was unsure what to say since a minute ago we were laughing and talking about the ice cream and all of a sudden I felt like crying for them. I didn't want to show that I was shocked or make them feel as though they were less than. I WAS shocked, but not in a disgusted way. I was shocked in a sad way wondering how they got to this point in their lives and what must have happened to them. I wondered where their parents were and if they came to visit much.

I then proceeded to encourage them the best way I knew how and tell them that God could use their lives inside the jails. They could be missionaries inside the youth authority and start inviting the other boys to the church services. They could grow to disciple the other boys and learn trades to pass the time. God could transform them and give them hope and purpose inside the walls of the youth correctional facility and the prisons they would later be transferred to. I told them to read the book of Psalms and read all about King David who was a murderer and yet loved God with all his heart. Their little faces lit up as they were so eager to hear about any sort of hope. It was obvious they struggled with guilt and shame and my heart went out to them.

Afterwards the chaplain confirmed that most of the boys with life sentences were prosecuted for homicide related crimes. I was shocked at the reality of everything and how the Chaplain talked about these issues as if it was an everyday situation. He explained on a rare occasion they may end up getting paroled if they succeed through the appeal process, but most likely will not. After the service was over I then returned my "panic button" to the guard station and that was that.

Ever since we left I can't help but wonder what must have happened in order for those kids to end up in a situation like that. Sometimes it's a split second decision that can alter your course for ever. I wonder if the crimes they committed were premeditated or if it was merely just a bad decision. I wonder how they could be so deceived into thinking they were on the right track and why they could not choose a better way of life for themselves? Perhaps no one was there to tell them differently, or maybe the lies outweighed the good and so they chose their path. I wonder what type of homes they grew up in and what their influences were.

I could not help but look on these kids with compassion and mercy despite their present set of circumstances.

I am going to be praying for them that God would do a work in their hearts and bless them no matter what things look like as I am unsure what else to think at this point.