Random Thoughts

Today as I was trying to stay awake after a great Relay for Life night and then heading into work I was thinking and asking God to help me during this time. (I usually am not too nice with less than 8 hours of sleep so after only three last night I was concerned about which way the ole swivel chair was going to focus today.) (Rom 8:6-7). Nobody ever said that it was easy. Far from it. The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Matt 11:12)

The thought that God showed me was from the military days. A popular military train of thought is that a soldier learns more when they are tired. That is why there is an emphasis on the Army's Ranger School as a premier leadership course because you do not sleep in that school for a few months (the ideas is to induce the stress of combat into a training session) and it seems to work pretty well. God was showing me that what I put into my body today would have an impact on my future and that I had a choice.

So with all that being said here are some random thoughts from the men's encounter last week at A Place for the Heart, some things that God is doing in my life, and just other thoughts that right now would not constitute enough info for an individual blog.

With the understanding of what the last 24 hours have been like let's begin with a personal gem that God gave me two years ago. I was struggling at the time with lust and I felt like a teenager with the issues and emotions that I was having. I was praying seeking God, repenting, putting scriptures in place of the lies - all to no avail. That is then when I heard God tell me that "Breakthrough happens when your destiny means more than your circumstances" that still ministers to me to this day because my desire is to become a man of integrity that walks upright with the Lord. (Pro 2:7)

A gem that I picked up from Jonathan Helser last weekend was one that he spoke Friday night. His wife Melissa was pregnant with Cadence at the time. Jonathan didn't know what to do except to sing over Melissa's belly. He did that for nine months. Finally Cadence arrived into the world and Jonathan was walking with him in the hospital around midnight and Jonathan just began to sing over him. He saw in Cadence eyes a brief look of recognition as if to say "Hey your the voice that has been singing over me my whole life". Jonathan went on to say that that is the way that heaven is going to be when we finally come face to face with God and then we are going to recognize that voice that has been singing over us our whole lives.

That really struck a chord with me because there are times that I have to go back to Zep 3:17 which states;
The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Lastly I wanted to speak of being a son/daughter of God. Anybody that has ever sat in on a Rick Sizemore teaching knows that God has really placed this message on his heart to minister to people. I really liked the idea and having sat under Rick for over three years now I "Know" all about being a son and the freedom it entails. Unfortunately it had not made that 18 inch journey (thanks Jonathan) from the mind to the heart. For some reason I feel God wanting me to share my journey in a few short paragraphs. Maybe this will help someone else who is struggling.

For a foundation lets go to Romans 8:14,15,16

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God

Sounds pretty good correct? I mean we are sons and daughters of the Creator of Heaven and Earth who is not a man that He should lie (Num 23:19)

My issue (and I believe that there are precious few that have no issues once so ever in understanding in their minds AND hearts what it means to be a child of God) was I had to earn it. My hang up was look at me God I am spending time praying (distorting 2 Timothy 2:15) and studying and wow look at how I treat other people pretty good, huh? (Is 29:13)

And here is what happened. Two Dwelling Place encounters ago God brought me to a brink and I had a choice to make. Spiritual and physical death was at my door because "mind set on the flesh is death" (Rom 8:6) but God warred for me. I had sown to the flesh and I was reaping corruption (Gal 6:8) but fortunately I saw God fight for me in a very real way. No emotions, no I think that He did nope the Father flat out fought for me when I was dead in my trespasses (I will write about the whole deal later on but holding onto bitterness (Heb 12:15, Eph 4:31) might seem like a good idea to you but let me tell you do not play with bitterness I almost physically died because of it.

Here is what I learned from the whole thing.
1. God does not give up on me. I can quit Him at my own peril but He will not stop loving me
2. when you ask your Father to remove anything that is hindering you from His presence get ready for your life to be flipped upside down (I did learn a little more about His ways are not mine)
3. I do not have to earn this Love. He watches over me to perform His word (Jer 1:12)
4. HE NEVER GIVES UP ON ME

In closing Jonathan Helser summed it up for me when he stated that God sees the mistakes your going to make and He still wrote your name in the palm of His hand.

Think of this Isaiah 49:16
Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before me.

And the best part was His mercy and grace were enough for me and I did not have to do it on my own, could not do it on my own if I tried. How awesome is our God?

And lastly I just want to declare the lyrics of Our God on the Passion 2010 Awakening CD
There is no one like you
None Like you
Our God is stronger
Our God is greater
Our God is higher than any other
Our God is Healer
Awesome in Power

I would just encourage you to take a few moments and reflect on those times that God had to show Himself mighty on your behalf and maybe you have forgotten that time. Take a few moments and just let Him know, "ya know what God I just want to say thank you that you were with me during this time. I am thankful that you never leave me and you never forsake me. Thank you" ((Heb 13:5)

There is power released when you acknowledge God in all of our affairs. I know that I am forever thankful.