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.