Passion for what?

I'm sitting in a local cafe at the same table I always get. This place is ideal for studying, writing, etc. Something I've noticed this past week is the same older men here everyday. I feel like I should know all of them by name. I would say these guys are all around 65 or older. Their topics of conversation range anywhere from politics to family and so on. Today's topic is football.

I can't help but overhear their conversation. Some take UT's recent loss better than others. Some, however, want to take action against the entire opposing team. One even said that they should take the player who blocked the field goal attempt and throw him into a raging river. It's only football dude... seriously.

This makes me think. Sitting in this little nook the past week I've gotten to know these guys a little... whether they know it or not. I listen to them and their life stories. The majority have lived in this town since they were born. Some of their parents were pillars in this community. So when their team loses, they get upset, they want to do something. Maybe they can't actually do anything about the loss, but they sure do want to do something!

Initiative. Passion. You want to do something... anything... but you just don't know exactly what to do. Does anyone besides me ever feel that way? Your life doesn't really have anything bad to speak about, but no great good to be proud of either. This takes us beyond having nothing to be ashamed of to being ashamed if we do nothing.

Our lives for God should not just be simply lived. We need to do something... anything! The passion these guys here have for a team or their belief in politics is amazing. They've actually done something to determine their town's Mayor, Governor, etc. It may have been small, but they did something. In I Samuel 14 Jonathan and tells his armor bearer, "Come, let's go over to the Philistines..." A few verses later, the two slaughter about 20 Philistines. It may have been only 20 men, but they did something.

As Christians, we know what the Word of God says. We have the knowledge in our minds but sometimes lack the passion in our hearts. Knowledge isn't power until you act. Even waiting on God is proactive activity. God designed us to move through this life intentionally, to live life on purpose, to make each day count.

Where is your passion? Where is your purpose? What drives you to get up everyday? Are you living or simply existing? I challenge you today to live your life on purpose. God has a plan and a purpose for you. Why settle for less when God has more for you? Even if you think you've messed up or gone too far... what are you doing about it? People's response to having done something wrong is not to do something right, but to do nothing at all.

There's more for you. God has a purpose for you and your life. You are here for a reason. Take action in your life. Do something. Even if it's small at least you'll be doing something. We have put so much emphasis on avoiding the bad that we have become virtually blind to the endless opportunities for doing the good God has for us.

Today, live on purpose, take initiative, and see what God has waiting for you when you actually do His Will. Three words that separate Jonathan from most of us is, "Come, let's go". He simply acted on what needed to be done.

J.H.

BOLO

Sometimes late at night when I can't sleep, I'll turn on my tv and try to find something boring to watch and fall asleep. People tell me to read and I'll fall asleep, but I'm an avid reader and will try and finish the book before sleep hits me. One of those sleep-deprived nights was just a while back. Looking for a boring show I have no interest in, I came across a cop show of the world's most outrageous car chases... or something like that. The police put out a BOLO on a particular suspect. Apparently the man fleeing from police was of great importance for seven sheriff cars to be chasing him.

I got to thinking about what BOLO means. The police put out these BOLO's because they are trying to find someone and want everyone else to be aware of whoever they're looking for. BOLO stands for Be On the Look Out. This intrigued me even more...

The Bible says to, "Watch and pray..." (Mt 26:41) Maybe we should all put out a BOLO on Jesus. Be on the look out for Him and His Will for our lives. If we seek Him we will find Him. If we draw near to Him, He will come near to us (James 4:8)

On my run this morning I was reminded of a place in the Bible I read recently... Psalm 23. A familiar passage. Notice that there is constant movement in this chapter... He leads me beside still waters... He leads me in the paths of righteousness... Walk through the valley of the shadow of death... Goodness and mercy shall follow me... There is constant moving here. So living for God is constant moving... That means God will not let you be comfortable, stale or complacent. He's more interested in your growth than your comfort.

Tying this all together... God speaks in the Old Testament, "For I am the Lord, I change not;" (Mal 3:6) If God is perfect and He never changes, that must mean we need to change. Forget your past and leave it behind. Be on the look out for Him and for His Will. Prepare yourself and get ready. Your destiny awaits you and it's coming. Just follow Him into the future He has for you. Be on the look out and move into His perfect Will in His perfect time.

J.H.

Worthy Or Not, Here He Comes

I've been listening to some good preaching this morning. Turned on the radio and there it was. The man on the radio was talking about the coming of Jesus. I had never heard of this man before, but it intrigued because he was preaching Jesus name and straight up truth. The man (Mike) was talking about the return of Jesus and something he said triggered something in me.

We're all human and we make mistakes. We strive for excellence and struggle to be found good enough in the sight of Almighty God. We often become discouraged and frustrated with ourselves when we try so hard and still fall short. Our desire to overcome is often overtaken by the ever-present law we find within us that takes us into captivity. Paul writes of this in Romans 7:23 - "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Though we battle to put this law of sin away for good, it just seems to pop up somewhere else; but hey, we're human right...?

Sounding familiar to you yet?

In Luke 21:36, Jesus speaks and tells us to, "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." The fact that Jesus advises us to pray that we be counted worthy only suggest that we will not fully succeed in overcoming all the sin we're in by ourselves. His words indicate that if we remain humble, continue to try to grow, improve, and overcome, then our faith in His grace, given through the sacrifice of Christ for each of us, will cause us to be "counted worthy" to be saved.

Jesus is coming soon. His Word is being fulfilled and the stage is being set for the second coming. No matter where you are or what you're doing, when God comes back you will not be excluded from judgement. We have to check ourselves daily. Watch and pray always. There will be no time to pray and get right when Jesus comes back. He will split the sky wide open and ready or not, He will come. Be ready.

J.H.

Take A Walk

Around this time last year, I started going to a local park and walking. I usually start out walking then I run. It clears my head, puts a lot of things in perspective, and just makes me feel better. I like doing this and it really does help me... yes even in the cold temperatures of the early morning that have been here lately.

However, I did not go today. For some reason I was just unmotivated or something... I sat in a local cafe and wondered why I wasn't outside at that particular moment. I thought about why I run. I do it to stay in good health and all those reasons, but I was thinking about where I get at the end of my run. I go down the path, around the bend, and back to the starting point. I have a destination in mind. I have a goal to get to the end of the pathway and back, and I often miss the beautiful scene that surrounds me... I don't really enjoy the things that are around me because I'm focused on simply finishing and that's it.

Often times we take our walk with God this way. We have a destination in mind and are constantly striving just to get there. Yes, heaven is our goal, but that doesn't mean we have to continually struggle for a finish. Instead, why not walk with God in a way that does not consist of simply an end?

I run with a purpose and a destination, but I don't want my walk with God to become such a thing. Instead of striving to just survive and get to our final destination, sit back and enjoy the life God has given you. Instead of a destination, have a relationship. Again, heaven is our goal, but we don't have to rush and miss out on everything that God has in store for us.

Enjoy the life God has given you. Take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself to you. Don't miss out on the things He wants for you because of your tunnel vision. Rather than just, "God save me and get me into heaven" try "God, I love you. Thank you for another day. I'm gonna do all I can for you today and enjoy everything you've given me".

Do you just have a destination, or do you have a relationship?

J.H.

Breaking The Code

Ever watched the show about the magician that shows you how he does all the tricks? I stumbled upon this show the other night. Didn't really mean to, just kinda happened. I was sitting there watching this guy show exactly how a magician does the 'magic'. Someone said that a magician will only let you see what he wants you to see. As a spectator, you don't see what's really going on. Your mind is being tricked to think that what you see happening in front of you is in fact reality.

No surprise here, but it got me thinking of this in depth... The devil is a magician in his own form. He plays tricks on you and me and only shows us what he wants us to see. He shows the parties and how much fun in can be to experience drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. He doesn't show the messed up minds, the diseases, the car wrecks that takes lives, etc. He's trying to fool us into believing that we can live it up with no consequence.

WE MUST BREAK THE CODE!!!!

The devil is a liar and the father of all! We have to see past what he shows us. The enemy would love nothing more than to see us fall into his trap, but knowing that he is out to make us fall and to get us away from God is our advantage. We know what he's up to and we know what we must do.

Break the enemy's code! See through the tricks he is trying to play on you and the trap he wants you in. Look to Jesus, look to His Word. What does He have to say about what's going on in front of you? Trust in the Almighty God! Don't be swayed by the tricks of the devil. Look not to the left or the right and keep your foot from evil (Pro 4:27). Just keep pushing past the enemy and you will overcome! You can do it... Break the code in Jesus name!

J.H.

What A Day That WON'T Be

"What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see..." Every time I hear this song it just makes such an impact on me. Thinking about that day when I see my Saviour face to face. Thinking about being with my God for eternity, walking on streets of gold. The song talks about what a day that will be...

It's a great song with a great message, but I got to thinking about it a little more... What a day that won't be. There won't be anymore hurt, pain, sorrow, tears, dying, etc. In heaven with my sweet Jesus, there will be no more fear of what may happen. There will be no more crying and worrying about situations that cause us so much strife down here. There is not going to be anymore loved ones dying, no more dealing with the troubles and trials of this life, no more temptation, no more sickness, we'll face no more darkness...

Jesus Christ will be the light and we will be with Him for eternity! What a day it will be when we don't have to face the things of this life. Don't get me wrong, it's not so bad down here on earth. God has given us so much, such a life and so many things to be thankful for. We are blessed beyond measure. I'm just saying that it will be so much better when we're with Him.

In the meantime, why not enjoy the life we have? God has given us so much opportunity, yet so little take advantage of it. We have the great opportunity to witness and to show people Jesus everyday. Let your light shine, let your life be a witness to those around you. May people see Him in you and all you do.

He is coming soon and what a day it will be! But as soon as we get to heaven, there will be no more opportunity to share God's Word with this world, no more chances for people to be saved. That's the main point of this blog post... Let's take our God-given opportunity and win this world for Him. Then they too can enjoy that wondrous day of our Lord!

J.H.