Me and my wife where recently talking and I brought up about zero hour. She let me know this would be a great title for a blog. I believe she is right but I'm sort of bias she is a great women and loves me and the Lord dearly :)
Zero hour occurs anywhere from 2 to 20 times a day. It is the time when the pavement hits the road, when your faith is truly tested, when you find yourself reaching for God because there is literally no other way or absolutely no one else to turn too.
As casting crowns put it" It is deep water faith in the shallow end" it is easy to have faith when it is not tested ,I would like to introduce you to someone who had Zero hour faith, all the time the first martyr after Jesus, his name was Stephen. I would like to show you 3 verses from his life. Acts 6:5 A man full of faith and of the holy spirit and Acts 7:59,60 And as they were stoning Stephen he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit and falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Now just the fact that his wording in his exit would take total belief and he would almost utter the same words of his savior is by any account incredible, yet just before this we find that he was "FULL of faith"
The reason he was full of faith was not because he had memorized Bible verses or he went to church every Sunday or he tithed 10% no not at all. The reason was in the short period of time he had spent with Jesus he developed a great relationship with his heavenly Father and embraced what was to be by the sacrifice of the lamb and also his good friend and mentor Jesus.
My friends God does not abandon you even in your Zero Hour( read Hebrews 13: 5,6) Call out to him, he's right there waiting. The times I have found myself distant from God is not because he has left me it is because I have turned my back on him. What a wonderful feeling it is when you turn around and hes right there just longing to hold you in his embrace again he keeps account of no wrongs if you are just willing to ask him for forgiveness.
PS to all YOU CAN NOT EARN GODS LOVE, FOR YOU CAN NOT EARN SOMETHING THAT IS GIVEN
Great love and greatest dreams to be revealed to you as you grow in him Amen
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
After All
After all isn't this the easiest way to describe Gods love for us.
If you look inward it becomes very clear that we would be very easily forgotten and deemed unlovable by the worlds standard. Isn't it great news God doesn't love by the worlds standard just quick reference of what Gods love looks like 1 Corinthians 13:4. If that isn't layed out plain enough I would like to quote one verse that is so quickly over looked. Romans 13:10 " Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
True and even I am guilty of it, all to often we pass judgement on someone on an assumption which I will not even go into what happens when we assume. :) The biggest obstacle I have had to over come on this pursuit toward God is to first Get out of his way and and second leave my pride at the door . IT IS NOT ABOUT ME... When we are so caught up in serving our father everything else falls in to place or falls into the place where it should of been all along. Jesus has a very unique way of straightening out the things that concern our heart.
As well when we become so full of the Lord that we place others above our own selfish desires then God has full reign over our lives and is able to do miracles and wonders for others through us.
I know what your saying that's all fine and all but what about me what do I get out of it?
There I said it you where thinking it and I put it out there. So let me tell you what you get. You get the incredible opportunity to have the living God work through you and fill your days with a love no one on earth can provide. You get the happily ever after, no matter who wrongs you, You get the victory before you ever raised a hand to fight and greatest of all you are never alone .
Wow thank you God not because you need us but because you want us. Amen
If you look inward it becomes very clear that we would be very easily forgotten and deemed unlovable by the worlds standard. Isn't it great news God doesn't love by the worlds standard just quick reference of what Gods love looks like 1 Corinthians 13:4. If that isn't layed out plain enough I would like to quote one verse that is so quickly over looked. Romans 13:10 " Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
True and even I am guilty of it, all to often we pass judgement on someone on an assumption which I will not even go into what happens when we assume. :) The biggest obstacle I have had to over come on this pursuit toward God is to first Get out of his way and and second leave my pride at the door . IT IS NOT ABOUT ME... When we are so caught up in serving our father everything else falls in to place or falls into the place where it should of been all along. Jesus has a very unique way of straightening out the things that concern our heart.
As well when we become so full of the Lord that we place others above our own selfish desires then God has full reign over our lives and is able to do miracles and wonders for others through us.
I know what your saying that's all fine and all but what about me what do I get out of it?
There I said it you where thinking it and I put it out there. So let me tell you what you get. You get the incredible opportunity to have the living God work through you and fill your days with a love no one on earth can provide. You get the happily ever after, no matter who wrongs you, You get the victory before you ever raised a hand to fight and greatest of all you are never alone .
Wow thank you God not because you need us but because you want us. Amen
Friday, February 18, 2011
Relationship
OK this will upset some and will liberate others. To be like Christ is not to blindly follow him like a lost dog. He doesn't need anyone to follow him, the disciples didn't and we should not either. Ok, ok, let me explain before you claim heresy hehehe. Are the hairs on your neck standing up yet? Just set back and listen for a minute please.
Jesus taught the disciples how to develop a relationship with the Father just as he has. The greatest gift Jesus could give the disciples was not another miracle but a deep relationship for the time after he would leave. He knew they would be left with nothing else. Just as to come later Paul would only have this same relationship to grasp a hold of, even in the darkest of times.
Could you imagine if you had such a relationship with Jesus that you died truly of self and walked in the glory of his light? It is very near yet so many times we put Jesus on termed belief. We say that we trust him with all but immediately take control of some areas thinking all the while "I got this part". The biggest area I have seen Christians fall into this trap is in their finances and no before I go any further this is not about tithing that is a blog all by its self and churches cringe at my view on that.
I can tell you the truth knowing the fathers will for my life has changed my life forever. HAHAHHAHAHA got you didn't I, try trusting in the fathers will for my life is more realistic. I don't have to know the end broke or rich what real concern is that over all the lost souls in this world. Jesus walked and loved as a true friend would and was always honest and true. The sad part is if we look deep inside ourselves. I'd say hes a better friend to us than we are to ourselves. We trick ourselves, lie to ourselves, condemn ourselves and make ourselves out to be false prophets just so people will like us or admire us. What a treacherous journey we put ourselves in all for the sake of denying the one who gave his life to save us. Please my dear friends, again I plead with you spend time in conversation with God our heavenly father. You'll be amazed at the journey he has in store for you. Really its the truth Love Always Justin
Jesus taught the disciples how to develop a relationship with the Father just as he has. The greatest gift Jesus could give the disciples was not another miracle but a deep relationship for the time after he would leave. He knew they would be left with nothing else. Just as to come later Paul would only have this same relationship to grasp a hold of, even in the darkest of times.
Could you imagine if you had such a relationship with Jesus that you died truly of self and walked in the glory of his light? It is very near yet so many times we put Jesus on termed belief. We say that we trust him with all but immediately take control of some areas thinking all the while "I got this part". The biggest area I have seen Christians fall into this trap is in their finances and no before I go any further this is not about tithing that is a blog all by its self and churches cringe at my view on that.
I can tell you the truth knowing the fathers will for my life has changed my life forever. HAHAHHAHAHA got you didn't I, try trusting in the fathers will for my life is more realistic. I don't have to know the end broke or rich what real concern is that over all the lost souls in this world. Jesus walked and loved as a true friend would and was always honest and true. The sad part is if we look deep inside ourselves. I'd say hes a better friend to us than we are to ourselves. We trick ourselves, lie to ourselves, condemn ourselves and make ourselves out to be false prophets just so people will like us or admire us. What a treacherous journey we put ourselves in all for the sake of denying the one who gave his life to save us. Please my dear friends, again I plead with you spend time in conversation with God our heavenly father. You'll be amazed at the journey he has in store for you. Really its the truth Love Always Justin
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Journey
We must realize that no matter where you are or what your going through Jesus is forever and is never leaving see (Deuteronomy 31: 8). If a church calls you more to works than to grace maybe you should ask why? God knows that the end goal is the same for everyone. The journey goes at different intervals for each and everyone of us. Just as we are beautifully and wonderfully created in his eyes, so is our journey.
We are not called to just follow our Christ, we are called to develop a true relationship with him. As our love with him grows and his love shines in us. You will find that the things that you cared about for so long mean nothing. Yet you will also discover that even a passing thought of anyone seeing hell drives you to the point of tears. No matter how much suffering you may endure it will become a far cry from the thought of an eternity in hell.
"STOP"
Right now where you are and understand, do not take my word for this if the bible says something different then heaven for bid I might be wrong.
But if I'm right, then our only concern is to share the gospel with everyone. Why is it that Paul would endure so much see (2 corinthians 11:25)while at the same time being in the perfect will of God? Could it be that he realized that truth which I believe is that we are really called to not just for self preservation but self abandonment so he may have more room to work?
Jesus spent his life trying to break us out of a system and into a relationship. Hebrews 8 :10 this is why it is so important to understand that we do not have to have all the answers for in his timing he will reveal that which we need.
If you have made it this far then there is something inside of you that says he may have something here? I pray that you spend the remainder of your evening just in a 1 on 1 conversation with our God he misses hearing from you and really loves the sound of your voice no matter what mood your in always be honest about how you feel your only fooling yourself otherwise he sees your heart act like it. Really the God I have come to know is big enough to handle it trust me.
We are not called to just follow our Christ, we are called to develop a true relationship with him. As our love with him grows and his love shines in us. You will find that the things that you cared about for so long mean nothing. Yet you will also discover that even a passing thought of anyone seeing hell drives you to the point of tears. No matter how much suffering you may endure it will become a far cry from the thought of an eternity in hell.
"STOP"
Right now where you are and understand, do not take my word for this if the bible says something different then heaven for bid I might be wrong.
But if I'm right, then our only concern is to share the gospel with everyone. Why is it that Paul would endure so much see (2 corinthians 11:25)while at the same time being in the perfect will of God? Could it be that he realized that truth which I believe is that we are really called to not just for self preservation but self abandonment so he may have more room to work?
Jesus spent his life trying to break us out of a system and into a relationship. Hebrews 8 :10 this is why it is so important to understand that we do not have to have all the answers for in his timing he will reveal that which we need.
If you have made it this far then there is something inside of you that says he may have something here? I pray that you spend the remainder of your evening just in a 1 on 1 conversation with our God he misses hearing from you and really loves the sound of your voice no matter what mood your in always be honest about how you feel your only fooling yourself otherwise he sees your heart act like it. Really the God I have come to know is big enough to handle it trust me.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Luke 9-23
And he said to all," If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
I am afraid for far to long we have used self preservation for our own humanistic views. Instead of asking God to call us out. We ask God what can he do for us or "well God would never ask me to do that". So many saying I've encountered in this brief journey into the world of God. The truth of the matter is if God would call his own beloved son to the cross why would we expect any less. His son never saw his 33rd birthday yet in his 3 1/2 years that the disciples got to spend with him he spent every moment fully alive and always putting his father first. Now this part is important no matter what the cost he put his father FIRST.
Even at the end of his journey as they staked him to the cross he utters. Father please forgive them for they no not what they do. The truth is they knew exactly what they were doing, yet Jesus could see a much greater picture for the fullness of time was at hand and knew that no one could fully see what was coming to fulfillment in him.
Then Luke 23 (39-43), Jesus even as he was preparing to rest he offers a last chance to the 2 men being crucified with him. The point being it was never about him, Jesus never made it about him it was always to save souls and leading others to the father.
One of the questions I ask believers is what was the greatest pain Jesus suffered at the cross. The sakes being drove through his hands or the fact that no matter how great the sacrifice it would never be enough to stop people his beloved from choosing hell. Jesus Wept. (John 11:35)
I am afraid for far to long we have used self preservation for our own humanistic views. Instead of asking God to call us out. We ask God what can he do for us or "well God would never ask me to do that". So many saying I've encountered in this brief journey into the world of God. The truth of the matter is if God would call his own beloved son to the cross why would we expect any less. His son never saw his 33rd birthday yet in his 3 1/2 years that the disciples got to spend with him he spent every moment fully alive and always putting his father first. Now this part is important no matter what the cost he put his father FIRST.
Even at the end of his journey as they staked him to the cross he utters. Father please forgive them for they no not what they do. The truth is they knew exactly what they were doing, yet Jesus could see a much greater picture for the fullness of time was at hand and knew that no one could fully see what was coming to fulfillment in him.
Then Luke 23 (39-43), Jesus even as he was preparing to rest he offers a last chance to the 2 men being crucified with him. The point being it was never about him, Jesus never made it about him it was always to save souls and leading others to the father.
One of the questions I ask believers is what was the greatest pain Jesus suffered at the cross. The sakes being drove through his hands or the fact that no matter how great the sacrifice it would never be enough to stop people his beloved from choosing hell. Jesus Wept. (John 11:35)
Conviction
Dear friends,
If you are reading this, this is the first blog in an ongoing mission I have taken on purely for the love of Christ and to bring back the nature of the text as how God is revealing it to me. I have a facebook account and twitter both have limitation on there ability to let me say all God is leading me to say. That being said these messages " ARE NOT" for the weak at heart or ones who believe they already have all the answers. I do not. I am simply on a journey with my wife and son into the presents of the almighty God and that is enough for me.
So without further a do lets get started.
If you are reading this, this is the first blog in an ongoing mission I have taken on purely for the love of Christ and to bring back the nature of the text as how God is revealing it to me. I have a facebook account and twitter both have limitation on there ability to let me say all God is leading me to say. That being said these messages " ARE NOT" for the weak at heart or ones who believe they already have all the answers. I do not. I am simply on a journey with my wife and son into the presents of the almighty God and that is enough for me.
So without further a do lets get started.
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