Thoughts For The Walk

Faith in Motion!

2009-05-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

James 2:17So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).James 2:16-18 (in Context) James 2 (Whole Chapter)

So a lot of people / Christians that are close to me have started talking about the idea that the church (the body of Christ, IE....us as Christians) have gotten lax, lazy, complacent, in a rut, or my favorite phrase "Going through the motions".

It really has me thinking that maybe God is ready for us to take our country back, by that I mean back to the reason our country was founded for. To seek God and FREELY Worship him in spirit and in truth. I mean come on guys lets face it....do we try to tell someone about Jesus....everyday? each time God places someone in your path? each time you get that feeling that you should say something to someone about a situation or circumstance? Make it known publicly that we do not agree with things that are anti - christian? Pray in public? Wholly pray not just "thank you God for our food, amen"? Are we living it out in our own home? For our children to see, to learn from (they will either learn from their parents or from the world, which one do you want them learning from)? Like a statement from pastors sermon on Sunday said "If your faith doesn't work at home, it doesn't work!. My friends it is far past the time for all of us as Christians to take a stand and actually live a true christian life. Now don't get me wrong in this, I am not pointing fingers cause Lord knows I am just as guilty at times, I have just had such conviction about this lately. If anyone has heard the words from the song " The Motions" then you can kinda get an idea of what has been going through my mind. Some of the people I am close to have had this same vision and we are ready to live this out. As far as our country goes, cause I know I mentioned it earlier, it is supposed to be for the people, by the people and of the people. Well, with money and greed blinding our government officials eyes to what the heck is going on here, our country is in process of turning into another Sodom and Gomorrah, and we all know what happened to those cities. If we stand we may still have a chance to save our country from falling into a country where we cannot freely worship God. We need to fervently pray for mercy for our country and for the strength to stand up for what is right and against what is wrong. The word of God says

Ephesians 3:10[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.Ephesians 3:9-11 (in Context) Ephesians 3 (Whole Chapter)

In temporary conclusion ( I will be back to add) I would like to paste here the lyrics to " The Motions" So all will have a view. Forget the music and read the words and let it sink in...
God bless you all and my prayers are with you.

"The Motions" by Matthew West

This might hurt It’s not safe But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care If I break At least I’ll be feeling something‘
Cause just ok, is not enough Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets Not this time I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love Make me whole I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way Take me all the way Take me all the way

Visions and The Call

2009-03-06T22:59:00.000-08:00

Habakkuk 2 (Amplified Bible)

3For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.

Just wanted to throw this out there. I don't know what if any visions that God has granted you, but I have had a dream recently and to the ones of you who have heard it are the ones I had confirmation to share with and for those of you who don't just know that it was a serious eye opener. We all know that the return of Christ is near and although we don't know when that day will be we need to know that there are still ALOT of people out there who don't know even who he is. Some of those people won't ever know if we ( yes us, you and I everyday normal people, yes preachers are great at what they do but they can only reach the ones who come to where they preach.) simply share our life experiences with them and what God has done.

John 3 (Amplified Bible)
16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

We need to live an example and not try to beat people over the head with God or the thought of God. If we take into consideration the fact that God speaks to us in a still small voice and remember that we are created in his likeness then maybe we should try the still small voice thing with others and see how that works. Maybe it's just me, but I am getting tired of hearing from some unbelievers that " I am sick of having God shoved down my thought". My friends, that is not what God wants. Yes, we do need to earnestly try to win the lost, however we do still need to think about how we go about it. Most importantly we need to do it.

Revelation 22 (Amplified Bible)

7And behold, I am coming speedily. Blessed (happy and [a]to be envied) is he who observes and lays to heart and keeps the truths of the prophecy (the predictions, consolations, and warnings) contained in this [little] book.

Luke 10:2And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [ there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Just remember to show them Love and Light. Speak truth to them and in there lives. Remind them that Christians are just as messed up as everyone else and that we have a very gracious God that loves us and wants us for the relationship he created us for. So show love and they will know.

Oh hey yeah.....PS.......your box is getting a little crowded ( even if it is just you in there)

Marriage and Covenant

2009-03-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

So My wife and I are in this new class about marriage which is called 2 = 1 and our first lesson was on covenant. This lesson really got my wife and I thinking about our wedding vows and what our inner thoughts were about them. I was relieved to find that we shared the same thought that our marriage was not just a contract that could be broken at any time. We both believe that when we entered into our marriage it was nothing less than a "Death till you part" relationship.
Somehow the world has gone to this idea that a marriage is just another piece of paper, that if it is not working out just tear it up and move on. Well that is totally wrong! A marriage is a covenant that is not only between man and wife, but with God as well. I really enjoyed the example they used showing us how in bible times men didn't make a contract with one another the made a covenant. To show reverence to that covenant they would carry a bag of salt on their side and when they entered into that covenant, each man would take some of his salt and put it in the other's bag. Then they would shake the bag to mix the grains together and the idea behind it was that if and when you could separate the grains, or fulfil you end of the covenant, then the covenant would end. The same goes with the marriage. When we enter in to that covenant the salt grains are only separated by death or the Lord's return. Therefore lets take time to remember that our spouse is not the only one we made a covenant , not just a commitment, to and remember to put him center in that relationship.

Any comments, ideas, or questions are very welcome. Heck that's why I made this thing LOL. I can't promise an answer to you question, but I should be able to point you in the right direction.
Take care and God Bless

2009-02-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

It seems lately that the topic of marriage dos and don't seem to be very popular right now. unfortunely its the don'ts that you here the most of. Sadly its seems to be the norm to be proud of those don'ts. Between the TV, radio, people, and basicly any broadcasting method you hear about what people proudly state is reason for there infidelitys. Truthfully there is no reason you can give to justifly any infidelity. I was reading a blog from Mark Gungor's facebook page and I really think he puts it into prescpective
Mark Gungor's Notes

Is an Affair Really Love?

Mon 4:21pm
Infidelity is rampant in this country and unfortunately, all too common in the church as well. People claim to “fall in love” when they didn’t “mean to,” saying that it “just happened.” I point out that people fall in toilets, off of bikes, in holes, off of chairs, etc… but they don’t “fall” in love. Men and women who get involved in extramarital affairs think that it’s love; they feel this huge rush of emotion, passion, and desire and think, “Surely, this has to be love.” But to answer the question posed by Tina Turner, “What’s love got to do with it?” My answer: nothing!
Let’s look and see if an affair actually fits into the description of what love is:
• Love endures long… NOPE - most affairs are short lived, when the heat gets too much or the feelings wear off, it’s over.
• Love is patient… NOPE - an affair is all about impatience.
• Love is kind… NOPE - what is kind about stringing someone on, not being devoted to them, and two-timing them?
• Love is never envious or jealous… NOPE - an affair is filled with lots of envy and jealousy.
• Love is not proud… NOPE - an affair is nothing but a pit of pride that both people are swimming in.
• Love does not rejoice over evil but rejoices over truth… NOPE - adultery is sin, sin is evil. It’s built on layers and layers of lies and deceit, not truth.
• Love does not seek its own way… NOPE - an affair is extremely selfish.
An extramarital affair is not about love. It is about pure selfishness… period. Nothing about an affair is love. Real love sacrifices and puts the other person’s interest first. Putting another person’s marriage, family, life, and their very well being in jeopardy just for your own satisfaction and selfish needs is not love.
Don’t deceive yourself: an affair is never about love. Self-serving lust? YES! Love? NOPE.

I hope that all takes this to heart. I pray that if your heart has been here that you realize that it is wrong and ask Gods help to fix it. I pray that if you have thoughts of affairs you will realize its just as wrong and ask Gods help to stop you. I pray that you ask for the forgiveness that God gives us, for will all have sin and fallen short of the glory of God. ( romans 3:23)None are perfect except him and we all need God.

Just a really cool Vid.

2009-02-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

So I was forwarded this by my wife and I watched it and just knew that everyone should see it. Then when you see it, E-Mail it to everyone including the non believiers.
http://www.creativepastors.com/product_1764?stream=Upside_Down_MPEG1

PS

2009-02-09T22:29:00.000-08:00

Just a little info, Iam new o this blogging stuff so please bear with me. Also I take no credit for this as I felt this was something that God was telling me to do so here it is. Also keep my wife and I in your prayers as we are trying to decide on how we will be furthering our education and what courses to take. It would be wrong of me to start this for God and not ask his blessing over it so "God may you have mercy on us all for our short comings and watch over us all. Use this as a tool for you Glory and help us to grow closer to you. May you bless every reader and responder with encouragement and direction as we share our thoughts for the walk. It's in your name I pray, Amen."

God Bless you all,
Drew

Taking Inventory

2009-02-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

I was sitting here tonight trying to get an idea for setting up an inventory for our churches paintball ministry when I went to our churches web site looking for the propper spelling of "compass" lol :can't believe I even had to: when I stumbled upon a link that led me to an interview with or pastor about the "Nothings to Hard For God" series. Near the end of it they were talking about Mrs. Tania and how he encountered (fitting word since his new series is Encounter) the very issuses that that series covered and the great faith he has, it got me thinking. Then I felt compelled to start this blog so my family and friends could share with each other thoughts for our walk in christ together, hince the name. Anyhow, that interview I watched combined with memories from that very memorable time and the task I was at before hand got me thinking, just how serious to we take the life and oppertunities that God allows us from day to day. Not to mention jsut how usefull are we in those oppertunities. I mean really people, lets be real here, how well do we intend on impacting the world for Jesus if the main people we talk to about him are our friends, clicks, groups, " fellow Christians" , ect.... Now I am not pointing fingers at my friends cause there would deffinatly be those other 4 pointed back at myself, cause I am just as guilty, but I think if we take a few minutes and take inventory not just of ourselves but also of what we are called to do we may find ourselves taking a few minutes to share our Lord's love with a complete stranger. I don't know about the rest of you but I sure know areas in my life that need a set of jummper cables hooked to them cause the key has been left on but the vehicle wasn't moved. So let this be a thought to ponder on, "Our cardboard box might be a nice place to hang out for now, but if God rains down on it (like we should let Him) that box won't be so nice to be in"

In Christ,
Drew