| | "....... I have come that they may have life, and have it more Abundantly" Wow .... where to start !!! this weekend has been a real life changer for me. I encountered God in such a way tonight that it really shook me to the core. As alot of you know I went to Heartfest tonight, which for you who do not know heartfest is a big Christian music festival at our amusement park Worlds of Fun, here in Kansas City. I saw, Tenth Avenue North, Hawk Nelson, David Crowder* Band, Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline, and MercyMe, who infact was the headliner. My world got rocked tonight. God showed up. I really just began to bawl because Mark Stuart gave a message who, I might add is a great speaker ! I am happy that I got to meet him and even hug him it was great ! but no really, God changed my life. There are so many things that have been changed there is no where really to start but here. Mark, has an orphanage in Hati one of the poorest nations on the planet. He began by talking about this pregnant 16 year old girl who had her baby in the latrine. She literally did not want the child and left it there, to die, in human waste. A 14 year old boy sitting on his front porch saw it all happen and went to see if he could help the child and wasnt able on his own. Finally, after a crowd had gathered a UN soldier from India came in and went 30ft into human waste, to save this child. as they pulled the soldier and the baby up suspense filled the air as to the condition of the baby. when they finally reached the top, they looked at the baby and not a scratch or brusie on the child! She Survived !!!! This brought me to tears not only for the fact that that little child had to go through this, but that even out of all the mess and filth of this life, no matter what happens and how deep we are in sin and dirt, God can still use that for His Glory. God can find Glory in all of our struggles and hardships in life. That to me is an Amazing God !!! That was an amazing story but that was only the beginning ! He then began to talk about us and God, and how we as Christians do this, we really want to do the Will of God in our lives and do great things for God, but we want to do them on our own terms. We want to fill out the contract saying " God Ill do this and this and this for you, if you do this and this for me, and want Him to sign on the dotted line. Thats not how Christianity works. Thats not how God works at all !!! In John 10:10 it says this "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." soak that last part in. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Ok alot of us think " more abundantly means that we have all the material things we want and we live in a 300,000 dollar home. This isnt what the word "abudndantly " in the text means at all ! in the Greek, the word "abundantly" means Overflowed. Life like this: if your sitting in a resturant, and a waiter is filling your water glass and hes not paying attention and the glass overflows what happens to you ? besides getting wet. You becomes suprised !!!! You feel shocked and astonished at what just happened, thats the kind of life God wants us to have. God wants us to be suprised, because that leaves us in a state of awe of Him. Most Christians I know say they want to do the Will of God and be at the center of the Will of God in their lives. Mark Stuart talked on this too and it really hit home hard to me. He said alot of Christians want to be at the center of Gods Will where they think they will be safe and sound from anything. but in all honesty being at the center of Gods Will is one of the most dangerous places you can be. God isnt looking for you to be safe, Hes looking for you to be significant. He wants Significance from your life. Not for you to be coddled safely. In the Midst of the Center of Gods Will you will find your true faith and character. How many of you, really, in all honesty, want to go to the most dangerous parts of this earth and preach the most dangerous message in the world to people ? how many really would do it ? not very many I tell you ! but to be significant and ambassador of God we need to let Him write the contract, Give God the pen !!! all you do is sign your name to a blank sheet of paper and say "God I will do whatever you want me to do, heres the pen and paper, you write it up." That made me really think. That made me feel that what I was doing in life, trying to do " Gods Will " for my life, and really all I was doing was drawing up my own contract and making God sign it. I was doing Gods Will, Josh's way, and that isnt how I am going to do things anymore. I have given Him the pen and paper and just signed my name to whatever He wants me to do. I have a new heart for new ministries, and I am definatley going to let Him take the wheel of my life and let him control me. You see He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is The Author, Let Him write your story. He wants to make your life into a beautiful story that will be read for many many years after you leave earth and the one thing that people will get from your story is the name of Jesus. I am not worried about anything ! I am not worried about college or what God has in store for me next, all I am thinking about is the great story that God is writing for me, and how my life resounds as loud as it possibly can be shouted, the name of Jesus ! I am a new man with a new passion, a new vision, a new perpose, a new goal, a new dream, and a new life !!! What an awesome God we serve ! Amen ? God touched me so much tonight that the fire for Him burns so much stronger and hotter than it pretty much ever has. I mean now its just a different relationship. Its like I am back in love with God and myself and cannot wait for what life throws my way ! My relationship is so Intamate and closer now than ever !!! God is going to use me I dont know how or when or even why He wants to use me but I know He will !!!!! Friends, Please walk away from this message with at least this in mind. No matter where your from. how low and dirty and filthy you are, God loves you and has a purpose to your life. He is using all aspects of your life to write a lovely story of His Glory and Magnificant Grace. He uses the weak to lead the strong, He uses your weakness to prove just how strong and powerful He truly is. Friends, wont you give Him the pen today, so that He and not You, can be the one writing your story, because trust me, He is a must better writer !!! " Father God, I praise Your Name !!! Thank You so much for the restoration and the new life that you have given me. I pray that You will eturnally Bless all of my friends and loved ones here on Xanga, and my immedate family here at home. I pray that You will write my story, because God, I give you the pen. I give you the pen in complete surrenderance to Your Will. Lead me O God to the very center of Your Will no matter what it is Lord I pray that You Use me for Your Glory. God I love You so much and pray that You will be Glorified in the Words that You give me and the actions You carry out through me. God I love You so much and I pray that You are Pleased with me. I pray That You are Blessed Lord. I pray this in Your Holy Awesome Wonderful name Jesus, Amen. " Friends, Once again I want to say thanks for the support of this ministry. I pray that you all are Blessed by what you read. Not only Blessed, but challenged as well. I pray that you will continue to support and show all of your friends and loved ones the things that God is doing in the life of this man on the journey for the center of Gods Will for his life. Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters in Christ !!! I love you all !!!! Your Brother in Christ our Lord and King, Pastor Josh ( Galatians 2:20 ) |
