doing God's will... what is that?

I had the awesome priviledge to be challenged and to challenge some young folks to DO God's will in a more active way. Obviously it wouldn't be fair to say God has just one thing he wants us to do, unless you were to say as Jesus did to the man who asked him what the greatest commandment is, in which case Jesus replied, "love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself". This is what I was challenged to find the many ways that we can fulfill God's will and to do it in a more agressive and proactive measure.

This page may drastically change because I may use this as a think-tank for ideas to serve our NEIGHBORS and thus demonstrate our love for God - completely.

The young folks at Stuart want to sell some of their possessions and/or sell things they make and give the money to help those less fortunate. My prayer is that YOU will pray that this is successful and impactful. People need hope, it's amazing that our simple acts of kindness opens the door to renew hope in mankind as well as open the door to share with them the powerful, eternal hope offered only in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 15-18

I'll put more on here later. Post your comments on this exciting book. Here's a few questions to generate thought:

1. What is your interpretation of this Revelation?

2. How much of this will happen literally as we read it in Revelation?

Revelation 7-10

How often do you take time out of your day to rest, reflect, and re-charge? God has always taken time out to rest, so it makes sense that we should too.

In Rev 8:1 we read that God wanted to take time out before the final seal was broken, "When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."

God rested after the final day of creation. Jesus took time for himself after his baptism, after John the baptist was killed, and many other times. Even in the garden before his "trial" he took time to be alone with God.

When was the last time that you took some time out to talk to God? Or to simply reflect on a big decision before you make it? Or just simply took some time off to rest? Make it a habit to not be so "busy" that you can't fulfill what Paul challenged us to do in Eph 5:1, "Be imitators of God".

Remember what B.U.S.Y. stands for... Being-Under-Satan's-Yoke. Satan wants us to rush and rush without time to think and reflect. Don't buy into his lies.

Revelation 4-6

Do you look forward to your eternal reward? Do you know where you'll be when you die? All people die, but not everyone has life. It's up to you know how to secure your eternal position. Don't rely on other people to tell you what is acceptable to God and what isn't. Read it for yourself. The key is to ask God to help you understand what you read, then you need to read it several times to make sure you're understanding the context, the language, and anything else that might be a barrier for some people in their study. Finally, use common sense while you're reading. God has made the bible to be much simpler than we've made it to be.

Too many times we want to justify why we can do whatever our impulses direct us to do, instead of focusing our attention on what our Savior directs us to do. The temporary sacrifice is worth the permanent reward.

Share some verses that you know that might encourage someone to stay faithful to the truth.

Revelation 1-3

"Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name."

What kind of power do we have to impact our life? Or someone we care about? Or even an entire nation? I'm reminded of the scripture in Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

How much credit do we give God? Does he really make a difference to us, or is our faith skin deep? Many people long to see some kind of sign that God really is who he says he is. Jesus faced this problem... John 6:30, "You must show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What will you do for us?"

Yet did they get one? Do we get one? Why do we want to see proof? It removes the need to believe, we could just know.

Too many times we've given the work Jesus has done a bad name by relying on science, or money, or other things as the solution to our problems instead of truly trusting in God. He is the one that opens doors. He is the one willing to use your life to demonstrate his love for all humanity, where ever they are.

Does God want to save your life and allow your soul to be lost? Absolutely not! We can't make God's mind up for him on how he answers prayers, but lets make sure that through our actions we leave the doors open that he has opened and help lead as many people through those doors as we are able. Live for God! Die to self! The joy of life lies in that.

2 Thessalonians

How fast can it grow? I've planted some trees recently and was very curious to find out when I should expect to see some blossoms or at least some leaves. Are we as anxious to see ourselves grow as we are to see something like a tree?

2 Thess 3:1-3, "Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."

When we come to Christ we've been given God's holy Spirit to help shape us into something that is ready to grow. He does the biggest part of that process but it's up to us on how fast we decide to grow. Remember as Paul reminds the folks at Thessalonica that when they came to Jesus Christ, they were rescued from perverse and evil people.

We don't have to live to that life anymore, and it's the freedom from that kind of slavery that keeps us from growing like we should.

Try to make some new habits in your life that will help you to grow like never before. The nice thing with God is that you don't have to wait years to become the kind of Christian you'd like to be, it just depends on how bad you want to immitate Jesus.

Pray! Study! Pray! Pray! Study!