Vine and Branches

Let's just say that I asked God to confirm something to me, and He did that today in a pretty cool way. I'm not going to go into more detail. I just wanted to say that God is AWESOME!

I don't know whether or not you agree with Barack Obama and what he stands for (I know I don't), but if you are a Christian, I strongly encourage you to pray for this man. Like it or not, he will be our new president tomorrow. Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to him and that Obama will open his heart to the Lord and lead this nation accordingly.

Also, I strongly encourage you to pray against the FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act). Congress is voting on it this Thursday. If passed, it will legalize practically all forms of abortion in our country. Pray that the congressmen will uphold the Constitution by leaving decisions on abortions to the states.

This week is going to be a huge turning point in our country, for better or for worse. God be with us.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

--Psalm 100:4

So on Fridays we have a class called Power of the Cross. Each week is a different topic about how we can live a Kingdom-minded lifestyle. The topic this week was thanksgiving.

Richee used the tabernacle to illustrate the importance of thanksgiving in the lives of believers. The gate of the tabernacle was called "The Gate of Thanksgiving." The very first step to enter the presence of the Lord was to give thanksgiving. And because thanksgiving was a part of the tabernacle, it is safe to assume that thanksgiving is a form of worship to God.

It's easy to say that you are thankful for something, but have you really walked in a spirit of thanksgiving? I know I haven't been, especially this past week. I have been on night guard this week, and the temperature, with windchill, has gotten as low as -41 degrees. Needless to say, I often found myself in a spirit of complaint. But, given that thanksgiving is a form of worship to God, one might assume that complaining is a form of worship to Satan.

A spirit of complaint is an easy doorway for the enemy to get a foothold in our lives, but a spirit of thanksgiving will send the enemy running. The enemy knows this. So he tries to get us stuck into a rut of complaining.

But we don't have to stay in that rut. I encourage you to sit down and write out all of the blessings the Lord has given you. You think your list won't be long, but once you get started, you'll find that it's hard to stop. After you make the list, take some time to just sit in the Lord's presence and thank Him for those things.

I know I have so much to be thankful for. I have food to eat, a roof over my head, a family who supports me, a girlfriend who encourages and helps me, friends who push me. What are you thankful for?

There's nothing deep about this blog post. I just wanted to let everyone know that, with windchill, it is -36 degrees outside right now.

...yeah...

Don't spend today away, cuz today will soon be gone.

--Switchfoot

One of the biggest issues I seem to struggle with is that of living in the present. I am a thinker, and my thoughts often dwell on what God is holding for my future. But I sometimes analyze it so much that I end up trying to assume God's role and micromanage my life so that I can control my future.

It's very burdensome. Actually, it's downright exhausting. I get so consumed with the future that I become paralyzed in the present. What makes matters worse is that this is a sin. Jesus directly commands against it.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

--Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

"Jesus is like sweet tea. Unsweet tea is disgusting, like sin. But then Jesus comes in as the sugar and it's awesome!"

--Drew Powell

Things in my life are going really well right now. God is showing me some awesome things and doing some amazing things in my life. I have a beautiful girlfriend who rocks my world. School is back in full-swing, and I'm currently in a class with my favorite professor, Tom Shetler.

I've experienced many highs like this in my life. But there is a difference to this one: I'm prepared. I'm prepared for the fact that it is at our high points where Satan likes to take us out. He waits until things are going really well for us and we lower our guards... then he shoots an arrow right at your heart and knocks you to the ground.

It's not paranoia I'm experiencing right now. It's war. Now, more than ever, I need to fast, pray, and dig into the Word. I need to put on the armor of God and go on the offensive against the enemy before he has a chance to surround me. It's a war-zone out there. I have to be prepared. So do you.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

--Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV)

I'm not usually one for doing things like "New Years Resolutions", but I have decided to make a few that will help improve certain aspects of my life. So, aside from the standard "get in shape", here are my resolutions for 2009 and beyond:

1. For at least the year 2009, I am a vegetarian. Yup. I won't be eating meat this year. There are two reasons for this. First, there is a history of gastrointestinal issues on my dad's side of the family. Meat (especially processed meats) tends to be pretty rough on our digestive tracts. Secondly, Holly is also going for this goal. So it gives us something to achieve together. (cue collective "Awwwww's" from the women)

2. I am bent on becoming a more organized person. I have always been a spontaneous, last-minute type of guy, which isn't all that bad. But I've had absolutely no form of time-management in my life. So I'm now using a planner. I'm also going to attempt to keep my room relatively clean. We'll see how well this goes. I'm going to need God's grace on this one.

3. I want to have the entire book of John memorized by the end of this year. This is going to be extremely tough, but I think it is a challenge that I am up to.

4. I want my life to become a life of prayer and fasting. I want to usher in the return of the Lord like John the Baptist ushered in His first coming.

5. I want to love God more at the end of the year than I do now.


So there ya have it. Pray for me!