Be Strong and Very Courageous

It's right in the middle of summer and you guessed it, we're crazy busy. My days normally look like waking up early in the morning to try and squeeze some PT into the day before devotions at 7:00. After devos it's straight into the day where I might be running around taking pictures, helping to guide an event or working in the office helping a newsletter to get out! Be assured though, God is changing lives here. Young adults are being constantly exposed to God's character and the Word and are starting to ask the "right" questions. Please pray for them for energy and safekeeping- several of them are on a five day backpacking trip and I know it will be a challenging time. Pray that they would hear God speaking into their lives. 

Until we talk again, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite verses, one that we happened to review in devos today ;)

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Wherever God is calling you- know that He is with you and that as long as you keep striving after Him, He will give you strength to do it. 

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Via, Veritas, Vita

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life"

Many of us are familiar with this statement - Jesus says it in response to Thomas stating that the disciples don't know where Jesus is going so how can they follow him? Jesus' response is breathtaking and directly applicable to our lives, especially in times of feeling lost, stale or tired.

Now keep in mind, I have only a layman's knowledge but, equipped with the education given us as believers I'd like to see if we can deconstruct this statement a little. In other words, what is Jesus really saying here?
Jesus says three things here, not just useless repetition but surely something much more meaningful. 

First He says "I am the way". To me, the "way" connotates a physical path. I'm reminded of the psalm that says "guide me in the path of your commands for I delight in it" (psalm 119) and "He guides me along the right path" (Psalm 23) and "Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:6). In this context, to walk along a path or way means to follow the commands of the Lord. To me this means that we should follow Gods direction when He gives it. Move here, serve there. Be nice to this person, extend my love to that person. I think many of us could agree that this is a fundamental to being a disciple of Jesus. First, we learn to follow his commands, whether that's getting baptised or further down the road following his commands to give generously.
Secondly Jesus states that He is "the truth". I think one of the most beautiful blessings we get from becoming believers is a knowledge of what really is 'truth '. As non believers we saw this concept as a child in comparison. We said, "it is truth that something hot will burn me ". Those more learned among us may even describe truth in more eloquent truths pertaining to the laws of science or nature. But it is all elementary compared to the education we receive in Christ. When we become believers we get insight to the secrets of the universe. Things like the true definition of love or of grace. We start to understand as truth a statement like 'we are all broken '. And these are simply the things that popped into my head right now, I'm sure more mature disciples could elaborate much further in their understanding of truth.

Thirdly Jesus explains that He is "the life". I believe this means several things. Most plainly this refers to the eternal life we have in heaven once we agree to make Jesus lord of our lives. Deeper, I believe it refers to two facets of the dame point. One that Jesus shows us the life he wants us to have. To follow Christ and be a true disciple of him is much more than just an internal decision. Truly following Jesus is a decision that eventually should permeate our entire lives, driven by a love for him. How can a person claim to be a "Christian " if they don't desire the extreme closeness that results from not just tithing but giving generously those finances that he so generously gave to us? How can a person claim to be a mature believer and not wish their every action to be full of love? It should be noted here that none of us, least of all me, will ever obtain this. But a life filled with love for Jesus will have clearly evident marks about it. Those who truly love God yearn to be close to him, and will do anything to be close to him. Just as a man lost in the desert yearns for simply a drop of water, so we should yearn for just a glimpse more of Him who gives us living water.
Also I believe Jesus finishes this off by explaining that this is the only way to really live.

So, the question left to us is:

"Is Jesus all of these things to you?"

Are you truly letting God take hold of every aspect of your life?

Morning (Mourning?) Views

"We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us."

 - John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra

This is a fun view I was blessed with on a morning after spending the night on this little mountaintop. I woke up intrigued by the thick, milky fog I was engulfed in. I then watched as the clouds closest to heaven started to fade away, letting through the brilliant gold of the rising sun brushing the surrounding hills. It felt like my own little blessing from God, totally unneeded, but just Him reminding me that He delights in me.

Praise In The Storm

I'm inspired here by Jonahs heart! He was in the stomach of a whale, after just being tossed overboard into a violent storm, surely not a very pleasant place. But in the middle of the bile and food digesting around him, he praises God! This reminds me of Job saying “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10)  

Praise to God is always an amazing beautiful thing, but how much more so when its in the midst of the storm! Its like an old sailor caught in a tempest, rising up and steering the boat regardless. But instead of glorifying ourselves like the sailor, when we praise God in the midst of the storm we glorify Him alone. We are saying "yes, this is a storm too great for anyone to get through, but with the strength of the almighty God I will continue". What a show of his strength but also of His goodness! 

What will an outsider think when they see someone going through hell on earth, but in the midst of that never stop praising God? They'll either tthink that we are crazy, or they will be amazed and intrigued at the source of this dedication. What can make a person willingly do this? And what a mystery of love and goodness that a person will praise this source in the midst of terrible calamity. 

So I commit to going forth praising God in the midst of the storm. Whatever storms may come, let's be pointing to Him, doing the most ridiculous thing and praising Him in the midst of the storms of our lives.

"So in times that are good, in times that are bad, For any times that I've had it all I will be glad. And I will boast in the cross. I boast in my pains. I will boast in the sunshine, boast in his reign." - Lecrae, "Boasting "

Click On Me 

Check out this great song about the shadows of life

Take Heart! Jesus Is In Control!

Take Heart, Jesus Is In Control In Every Situation!

*note: These are some sermon notes from a message that my pastor Richie Shaw (who I have a ton of respect for) gave about when Judas and the crowd came to capture Jesus in Gethsemane. They're a little disjointed, but will work best if you open your bible to John 18 and follow along. I know I found the story relatable in a whole new way and I hope you will too.

When the crowd enters the garden, Jesus doesn't step backwards behind his disciples. Instead he steps forward and boldly proclaims who he is. 

Through this he demonstrates his power and his authority. 

Jesus loves and sacrifices himself for his followers. 

THIS is the God who loves us. He WILL take care of us. No one else has ever led like this. 

Jesus has a greater picture in mind. 

Jesus knew everything he was going to go through, and knows everything you will go through. 

In these times it makes the most sense to start hacking with a sword, to go animalistic and rely on instinct. But Jesus calls us to something more. He says to peter, "sheath your sword. Shall I not drink the cup the father had given me?"

Judas represents any pride in your heart, or any person in your life that is diminishing the power and authority of Jesus in your life. 

The more we focus on the judas in our lives, the greater the anxiety becomes. In our hearts. 

We don't need more information about the circumstance we're in. True we need wisdom, but not more information. We need more courage that Jesus really is in control, more heart that he will take care of us. 

Peter represents our attempt to solve the lack of control in our own way. 

Jesus rebukes peter, put the sword away! Stop it! You don't see everything I do, stop trying to fix it. 

Jesus is calling us today to a place of courage. Take heart, I am in control and I love you too much to just let you sit in this spot. I want to lead you to the place where I'm going to shape you. I'm going to lead you to your future. Stop trying to solve it with your own strength and wisdom. What if you spent energy reading my word and praying? Instead of swinging your sword use that energy to pursue a real relationship with me. 

Focus on Jesus. Don't try to be peter. Listen to Jesus and submit to his authority. 

Love Came Down

Praise the Lord for the work that He does through us!

Isn't it amazing that we have the incredible blessing of getting to take part in the work that God is doing? I imagine the work that God is doing as a huge wave sweeping over the earth. It's beautiful in it's intricacy and terrible in its power. That represents God's plan. Now imagine that in that wave there are billions of smaller waves that are still a part of the whole movement flooding over the Earth, but cover a specific area. Imagine getting to nuture that small wave, allowing it to build up and making sure that things don't stand in it's way when it comes. That's what I feel like happened at Real Life Ministries Spokane church last night.
The church had two Good Friday services last night. The services consisted of live readings, lots of worship, a short but powerful message by our lead pastor and all of this was being covered by live video that was projected up on the big screen and to rooms throughout the church building.
In short, a lot was happening and there were many people working together at the top of their game to do their best to share the message of Jesus's sacrifice. And everyone agrees, God worked heavily throughout the evening. Praise God.

Light and Momentary Afflictions - Journal Entry

Light and Momentary Afflictions

*note: This is one post in a series comprising of several of my journal entries from the past months. While most are written to myself, I hope these will give you a better idea of what I'm going through and hopefully glean some lessons from what God is trying to teach me.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

What light and momentary afflictions we face when compared with the thought of dwelling in the house of The Lord forever. 

Throw aside your pain Nate, cling to the hope given in Christ. Do the work set before you, knowing that The Lord promises such greater rewards. 

Just like when your body is in pain and you tell yourself 'my body can handle so much more than this'. Do this same thing with your spirit. 

*note: Some explanation about this; there are times in everyone's life when they're experiencing physical pain. Maybe it's from having a 300lb rock dropped on your knee or maybe it's from a particularly difficult workout. When I'm in these moments I have a little mantra that I say in my head. "Suck it up Nate, your body can handle so much more pain than this physically, the only thing that is stopping you is your psychological blocks and desire for the discomfort to stop". This stems from hearing so many times that Special Forces training is 10% physical and 90% mental. I think this same thing is true when applied to our lives and our spirit.

In times when it feels like your spirit has endured the most pain it can go through, and you have no desire to continue, know that it's The Lords desire that you DO continue, and know that your strength comes from Him, whose strength is infinite.