Until Death Do Us Part

Marriage is the God-designed plan for a man and woman to be together as one- complete. Marriage is and always has been God's plan. He created the marriage and its bounds for specific purposes. Marriage first and foremost symbolizes the very relationship, oneness, that we have with Christ. It is the representation of the covenant that cannot be broken between God and mankind. Marriage is also a symbol and a test of faithfulness. God has some guidelines regarding marriage- the roles for both man and woman.

Recently, in a news story, I was privy to some of society's view on marriage: "Domestic relationship are the best partnerships to enter in to. You have the freedom to leave when and if necessary." "Marriage ties you down." "You should explore your sexuality with many people."

Why is it that society is so against God's plan of marriage? Is this a representation of our incapability to remain faithful in order to fulfill the very core of our selfish nature? The attitude of "I can do what I want- when I want to..." is a freedom that carries with it massive weight and sin.

I believe that God set up marriage as a means to glorify Him. Proverbs tells us that a man who finds a good wife- finds a good thing. The Designer knew exactly how His design functioned. The boundaries of marriage help us stay true to who and what God intended us to be since the beginning of time.

Society selfishly examines how she feels about topics such as marriage before considering the intent and purpose behind it from the Creator of all things.

ko

Rest

Rest is something Christians take for granted. Because we live in such a fast paced society, rest is often something we neglect to do, yet it is so very essential to our physical and spiritual health.

Interestingly enough, we read in Genesis that admist the very creation of the world, God saw it fit to rest. As we examine the characteristics of God at the time of creation, we will notice that God is very much the creativity, the laborer, and plays both white-collar and blue-collar roles. In doing so, He ends with the seventh day of rest.

Jesus often took times to retreat away from the crowds to rest.

I contend with everyday battles of trying to be like Jesus to the best of my ability. Yet, one of the easiest commands given is to rest- and I do not follow it.

Rest is important. I want to obey this command, and I want to stop worrying about what others think about it OR what is "not" being done. The work that has to be done will always be there.

Lord,

Help me to find places to rest completely in You. Help me to stop and listen. I want to allow myself time to rejuvenate and slow down, so that I can serve You will everything that I am. I want to be alert and ready.

Amen.
ko

Prepare for Action...

This past month, I laid down my commitments at Springhouse to spend more time with the most important person in my life- Shari. My wife is incredible, and my God is even more so. I have been MIA, but I am soon to be back. This has been a time of refreshing and growing! God is faithful.

I am astonished at the grace and the power of the God I serve. Every single day, He stuns me with another facet of His infinite wisdom and character. It will not be until eternity that I am through learning- if that is even possible.

God has really been doing a great work in me. I have been pondering and my heart has been stirring about 1 Peter 1: 13-16. I am going to take the next few blogs and discuss this verse.

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is Holy, so be Holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be Holy, because I am Holy.'"

Today, I went back and read the beginning of 1 Peter 1. Wow! I love how Peter opens this letter. The text is rich in encouragement, and what I love most is that our entire basis for faith is summed up in the first couple of verses:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

We truly have an amazing gift in Jesus Christ. This gift, while it costs us little, was given from the sovereign God who holds the very essence of creation in His hand. He commands us to "prepare our minds for action." Preparation is essential to the success of any good thing. Lack of preparation typically yields disaster or failure.

We are strangers in this complex world. Those who possess the Light walk freely into dark places without intimidation or fear, and the world is trying its best to put out the Light every chance she gets. Peter tells us that we must "prepare our minds for action."

So, what do we do to prepare for action? Knowing what we were is a great place to start. Each of us know our weaknesses. We know the dark alleys we slept in before we were rescued by the King. With that knowledge, we must actively prepare for the attack.

The swordsman who is not prepared will not have the timing, skill, nor the weapon in the moment of surprised attack to conquer. He must prepare. He must sharpen his sword. He must know where his sword is at all times. He must be alert and looking for the warning signs of approaching adversaries.

Likewise, we must prepare ourselves when things are going OK, so that when the moment of attack comes we play to our strength as opposed to our weakness.

I don't know about you, but even as a Christian, I know that I am weakest in the moment of temptation. Most of the time, I can't say "no" just because "it is the right thing to do." If we had that type of strength and were able to resist every temptation, then we would have no need of a Savior. But, we do fall.

Therefore, we must prepare for those battles BEFORE they happen. Here is what I have resolved to do in preparation:

1. Know the areas of strongest temptation.
2. Pray for strength and wisdom as I contend with the temptation.
3. Look up Scripture and find a solid basis as to why I must resist the temptation.
4. Come up with a strategic plan to fight against the temptation.
5. Share this plan with someone I trust.
6. Execute the plan at the moment of temptation.

Ephesians tells us to "put on the whole armor of God." We are so good at wearing a piece at a time- and only when it looks good. I need to be suited up 24/7.

The battles of temptation are going to come. We must take action in order to conquer temptations. Victory comes from a solid time of preparation.

Lord,

You are most worthy of all praise! Help me to identify dark places in my life, so that my mind is prepared to take action when moments of temptation come. I know that each victory is a beam of light into the chambers of darkness my heart houses. Be glorified in all of my actions. Help me understand Your Word better as it is the only offensive weapon I have been given. I want to be prepared, so that you can be glorified at all times...

Amen.

ko

Sin

God always does things on purpose. One of the best lessons that He has taught me is that He does not "need" me to do or say anything for Him. He chooses to use me because He "wants" to. And, how He typically works in my life is via example. (This is not my preferred method of instruction.)

D180 is heading into a series called, "Trash Talk." This series is going to be about sin and what it does to our lives. And, wouldn't you know that it would be this week that I was tested with some of the most awful fleshly desires I have ever had. Some I was able to conquer; and others I fell.

It is a very scary thing to grow numb to conviction. I am not saying that I have reached that point, but being much more convicted this week about things, I realized how important the Holy Spirit is in convicting us of our sin. I do not want to be complacent. I desire to grow, and I know that God can do a great work as I respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

God is just. Sometimes, we forget that although His mercy and grace is ever-present, He will judge and discipline us as a father would do. God spoke to me about a issue I was struggling with, and He told me that this was my last chance. Some would argue that God's grace will cover me. And, although that is true, I am actually tring to move forward- not continue going around the mountian over and over again. It is OK to accept that fact that God loves you so much that He might actually discipline you when you need it. I am fearful of what He will do should I choose to fall in that area again. But, I am confident that I can conquer this. I can do all things through Him. He is my strength.

This past week has had some major down points. These down points are not all revolving around sin or struggles. I had some obstacles at work to get through, and I was battling a cold at the same time. I am looking forward to a great week ahead, though.

I am taking 150 students on a retreat this weekend. I am not prepared, so the next few days will be slammed with that. My birthday is this week.

Time flies.

I have been reading Proverbs lately, and I am realizing why it is so important to have those Scriptures rooted in my heart. There is so much wisdom in that book!

Lord,

You never cease to amaze me. Your sovereignty is never to be questioned. Illuminate my life so that I may walk in the light. Then, use me as You teach me. I desire to be used of You. I realize that it is You who does the work. I am your vessel.

Relying on Your strength this week,
k

Obedience

Obedience. This is a word that we often shun in our human nature.

Smyrna Assembly was renamed Springhouse Worship and Arts Center three weeks ago, and today was the second official service under the new name. One of the things that I knew the Lord wanted me to do immediately once the church was renamed was to write or blog weekly. This is my first post, and it should be post number three.

I am perplexed as I sit back and wonder how I can absolutley know that God has told me to do something and not do it. As I pray and reflect on this, God brings me back to the fall of man. The entire reason everything is the way it is is because of an act of disobedience. We are so prone to wonder, regardless if everything in us screams to do the right thing (the Holy Spirit).

This transition our church has undergone is exciting, fresh, new, and saturdated with Him. I believe that God has something eternally important for me at Springhouse Worship and Arts Center. And one of the first things that God has done in my life is to establish the matter of authority. God cannot bless, nor will He fulfill what He desires to do in me, without obedience.

Interestingly enough, I start this in the same fashion that Adam did in the garden. Disobedient. Ashamed. Broken. However, I read scripture, it is in these places, that God does His best work.

I will be posting here each week. The point of this is not to teach or instruct, the point is to write what He is showing me on a week to week basis and to reflect on the previous week's happenings. It matters little if no one reads this, what matters most is that I am doing what He told me to do.

So, here I am. After three weeks of not doing what He has told me to do, I am finally acting in obedience. Why? Simply because He told me to.

Lord,

You are magnificent. There is nothing in my life worth doing unless it comes from You. I desire to follow Your will regardless of how I feel. Thank You for the opportunity to serve. I submit myself as a willing vessel to accomplish Your work. Let me be upright and walk in integrity, and I pray that as You work in my life- You will be glorified in ways man cannot fathom. I am Yours.

At Your feet,
-ko

get out of my way...

I want more...

I cannot fathom that this is it. I cannot and will not believe that this day-in and day-out routine that I have fallen into so conveniently is the climax of what I am to learn about Who He is and what He wants to show me.

I refuse to be complacent. I refuse to allow the society in which I live to dictate my thoughts, my behavior, and my actions. I am constantly rubbing elbows with contentment and pleasure- leading me to nothing but the shallow slums of the bawdy, indecent, and contaminated world of darkness the enemy hopes for me to wallow in.

I am annoyed and distressed at the numbness created by my frequent social interactions and flirtation with darkness coupled with the infrequent saturation and submersion of light.

I was created by Him and for Him. When I ponder the phenomenal and ingenious ideas produced within this holding-cell called "earth" I realize that I was created for purposes much higher and beyond anything that can be dreamed here!

As I become wearisome over why I can't seem to be satisfied, and why I am so frustrated at my serene and unconcerned outlook toward Christ at times- I realize that absolutely everything in me that desires change points to my obedience.

If am to graduate from this state of stagnant and lifeless muck to at least something that is mobile and shifting, I have to overcome where I am... and the only way that I can see to do that is through complete obedience to Him. 1 John 5:3-5 states: "This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

I want to step it up. I want to push in. I have to have more of Him. I am not living here for temporary pleasures that lead me astray from my destination. I want to be obedient in everything I do. I choose to abstain from worldly pleasures, even ones that are not considered "sin" because if I go astray- I --have --nothing.

I need more of You, Lord. Let people call me crazy, freak, intense, fanatical, whatever... I want to be sold out for You... Let my life- the masterpiece in me You created- be a reflection of Jesus Christ...

I want more... and so do You...

Words...

Words are so powerful.  

It is interesting how certain words, when spoken, can alter the atmosphere in a room... change the mood of a person instantaneously... and on the spot destroy or resurrect something that has been labored on forever.

Words have the innate ability to spontaneously unlock and activate the joy in one's heart.   Words are also so potent, that they can obliterate the outward appearance and inward feelings of passion and zeal immediately. 

The bible states that "the tongue is as sharp as a double edged sword."  And, because of that, we are encouraged to consider what is being spoken at all times- before we speak.

I often get caught up in busyness that sometimes my words (or lack thereof) are not at all what I intend them to be.  But, even in the hype of life, I have to step back and consider what I am saying and how it is affecting those around me.  

Furthermore, words can be very destructive to self.  I often times will counteract an encouraging word with a negative word- and I am in turn nullifying or bringing discredit to the word that was intended for good.  

Frankly, the world is filled with enough negative and decitful words.  Why as Christians, do we add to the already daunting task of combating a world whose words are truly intended to kill, steal, and destroy.  Instead, let's call each other to task in what we allow ourselves and others to say.  Maintaining "truth" in our spoken words and building each other up by reiterating what God has already said about us will help us go forward boldly with one of the most powerful weapons we have been given- our words.

I have to learn to listen more than I speak, because my words can bring life or death... 

"Lord, let my words be used for the building up and the encouragement of the saints.  I want to glorify you in all I say."