CHAD MAST - We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, WE ARE A DIFFERENT GENERATION. COME ON CHURCH!!!

NEXT SEASON

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you plans to give you a hope and a future." Jer 29:11

Ever since coming to know the Lord, I have dreamed about preaching around the world. I have cried out for millions to know Jesus personally and I have told the Lord that I will do anything for him. Would I really do anything for Him?

Over the past 7 months, I have been working for John & Lisa Bevere. This was a dream of mine when I first read John's book Fear of the Lord. I envisioned that I would get the anointing of the fear of the Lord and bring it to a generation. Did I see that my motives were completely selfish and focused on me creating my calling?

I have not regretted one minute of working for John & Lisa Bevere. They are both amazing and have a heart to serve the local church greater than I have seen in a long time. My time and season with Messenger International though has come to an end.

In less than two weeks, Erin, Joshua and I will be moving to Schererville, Indiana, 30 minutes outside of Chicago. I have to be real, I fought moving to Indiana with everything in me. I go back to my first question, would I really do anything for Him?

I have learned something through my walk with the Lord that I believe a generation has to grasp before we get anything that we have cried out for in our hearts. We must be broken for the Lord. There are millions of wild stallions, the best horses know to man waiting to run as fast as they can and as hard as they can. But, I feel God is saying that not even the finest of all the horses in all the world will be used unless they are broken.

I believe that God gives us all dreams deep in our hearts that He promises will come to pass. He gives us dreams so strong that we know they could only come from God yet we have no idea how they will become reality. I believe He then sends tests to prove if we have a yes in our hearts or rebellion, wanting our own way.

The Israelites were rebellious and wandered the desert till their death. God is taking some, even those reading this blog, in a direction that you might not understand. The reason could be to test your obedience. God is asking for a generation to obey His words and prove they have what it takes to follow the King.

I am on one of those journeys, I don't quite understand but I know God has a plan. His ways are higher than my ways and I don't want to fight what He is doing. I truly love my King and I want to follow Him for the rest of my life. I don't just want to say with my mouth I will follow Him. I want my heart to scream, YES, I will do anything' even it is to serve without recognition for the rest of my life. Wow, that is hard to say. Can a generation really do it, can I really do it?

Haiti Adoptions

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I have a friend that is in the process of adopting two very young boys (below) out of Haiti that needs our help. There are many children that are in the very long process of adoption through the system and we are trying to get these kids into the hands of their parents as quick as possible. Please read below and thank you for your help.

Please circulate this petition immediately for "US Should Issue Visas to Bring Already-Adopted Children out of Haiti Now!" to as many people as possible. We are approaching 1000 signatures - the more we gather, the stronger the statement. The signatures are for use with the State Department and US Congresspersons, as a tool to push for action. A pdf of the list of signatures will be made available to any credible organization who requests it for this purpose. Should you need a copy of this petition and signatures, please email me for the latest copy.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/visasforadoptedhaitianchildren/

NEW DESPERATION BAND CD

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I wanted to support a friend of mine not only to promote the new CD but also to share a powerful song that is going to bring heaven to earth. Enjoy!!!

A NEW SEASON IN LIFE

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

About a month ago I was reading a book by a favorite author of mine called Under Cover. It was a Monday morning and I was thinking how my generation doesn't understand what it means to be under authority. Thoughts rolled through my mind as I drew closer to God asking for Him to give me a deeper revelation of what it means to be under authority.

As I read page after page, I recalled that John Bevere lived in Colorado Springs with his family. I looked at the back of the book describing who Mr. Bevere was and I asked God, can I play golf with him?

Three days later I was helping my wife get ready for work when I see that I had a missed call from a friend. It was 8:36 when I saw my phone so I returned his call immediately. When my friend picked up he said to me, "Do you want to play golf with me and John Bevere this morning at 8:53". My stomach dropped because this was the exact prayer that I prayed on Monday morning yet it was in 17 minutes and I was supposed to work at ten. I thought for a second, looked at my wife and just decided to take a leap of faith and commit.

I have no idea how I did it but somehow I got ready, covered my shift and got to the tee box at 8:56am after they had just hit. I ran up to the tee, grabbed a club, asked God to let me hit it down the middle and wham it went straight down the middle.

To make a long story short, God is amazing! The prayer that he answered was the start of a new season of my life. John said that I needed to get in touch with his son Addison who was the manager of his ministry called Messenger International (www.messengerinternational.org). Mr. Bevere said they were hiring someone in their church relations department; I immediately went after the opportunity.

Two interviews later, Erin and I decided to take another leap of faith and accept the position at Messenger International. I will be assigned to a couple thousand churches where I will have the privilege to speak with men of God all day long as well as occasionally travel with Mr. Bevere further down the road.

I am overwhelmed at the Lords blessings in this season of my life and I sit back and question, why do I every doubt? God always comes through, no matter if it is in the beginning or if it is in the 11^th hour. God is amazing and never changing.

A GREAT POST BY SETH BARNES

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The tidal wave of relativism that has swept through our culture has created a lot of victims. It says, "Truth is relative, so don't cram your opinion down my throat."

The problem is, Jesus wasn't a relativist and it is impossible to be his follower and to have this easy-come, easy-go view of truth. When you're on an airplane, it has a flight plan that takes you a certain way into the airport. The pilot doesn't have the luxury of multiple options. And when Jesus said, "No man comes unto the Father but by me," he didn't leave the door open to other options.

Following Jesus isn't for everyone, but if it's a way that you have found hope (and if you haven't, that's fine, please just be honest about it), then passivity and relativism isn't an option for you. Jesus said: "Go into all the world and make disciples." We who follow him need to do what he said.

That's the missionary imperative. Past generations understood it, but it seems that few young Christians today do. They don't have a sense of urgency, they don't seem to grasp the world's pain or it's need for hope. The generational ethos is that everything is optional. And I'm not saying they have to change, I'm just saying, "Don't call yourself a Jesus-follower when you're not at least prepared to do what he asked his disciples to do."

Jesus said, "if you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth." I guess that means you're either in or you're out. I've devoted my life to finding and sending those who are all-in. If you're one, I'll gladly serve you in this way. People around the world are much needier than we here in this rich suburban bubble called America. It's not complicated, we need to go to where they are and speak the language of their heart.

Katie Rowland captured our team's experience in Mozambique living out this imperative in this excellent video.

How Will They Hear? 3 Minute from Discover The Journey on Vimeo.

PLEASE JOIN WITH ME IN PRAYER

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I just got off the phone with my mother and my heart is grieved.

On Friday, Jennifer Stark was brutally murdered by her boyfriend of 3 years. Jennifer was a court reporter in the San Diego Court system with my mother and is survived by two children. I want to save you some of the horrific details but I would like anyone reading this to pray for Sam and Cassi Stark. Sam (15 years old) walked in to find his mother dead on the floor.

Please pray against the spirit of fear for my mother who remembers driving her home from lunch on friday and for these precious little children.

News Story

God Bless!!!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN (PART 2)

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am a man full of passion. It burns within me... to the very core of my being. Those who know me well, know that when I go after something- I go after it with all of my heart.

When I heard about this man trip, something sparked within me and I knew that I had to go. I approached my wife about it and she agreed. Immediately I was in.

There is something unexplainable about being in the wilderness and seeking God with other men. Questions streamed through our minds while we hiked the trails- huge boulders all around, valleys that ran for miles. For some, this trip meant clarity for the future; for some, physical healing; and for others it meant a recharge of the spirit. I have concluded that men of God cannot live without each other; we all go through similar things in life just at different times.

There is something in a man that can only be found with other men. God created men to be warriors, not passive or quiet men, but warriors. Now I know that looks different in the 21^st century and in every man, but that is who we are at the very core. I believe that sometimes men just have to be with other men to recharge that warrior on the inside.

Some may think that it sounds very barbaric, I say look again. Christ called men to love their wives like Christ loved the church. That means I have to give everything to pursue my wife, to make her feel like the queen she is, to sweep her off her feet and to bring the smile to her face that was there when I said, 'I do'.

The answer is Jesus. We all have a common bond- we love Jesus with all of our hearts. We were all broken vessels who have screwed up and have forsaken our first love at times, yet we all want to come back to Him.

Our journey continues!

(More to come)

BEGINNING WITH A MIRACLE

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The trip began with an amazing miracle. One of our guys coming from Boston began to feel weak. Most of us went to bed around one am but Jason couldn't help but fear what he was feeling; altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is something that is very common but can be very dangerous for those that get it. The only cure is to seek lower elevation.

When I woke up, Jason was bundled on the chair and he said that he didn't sleep at all the night before. He had diarrhea and all that was in his mind was going down the mountain because he was sick.

We all new that we were on this trip for a reason so we wouldn't settle for man's cures for altitude sickness; we decided to consult our Heavenly Father who created the forest we were in. As we prayed over Jason with confidence and power, a different presence fell upon him. He shot up after the prayer and said that he was healed. We all agreed with him and our climb began from 8000 feet to 9500 feet.

(More to come)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In three days, I along with 6 other men will embark on a 26 mile journey seeking to find more of our hearts. We plan to be intentional, we plan to challenge and we plan to uncover dreams. The trail is called Lost Creek.

Lost Creek is a fitting name because I believe that the true role of a man has been lost in our society. We as men have been formed by a society that emasculates and doesn't allow men to be men. If boys are to rambunctious in class at a young age it couldn't be because they just want to run, play and be who God created them to be; they must be A.D.D. with something terribly wrong with them.

Does being a man mean that you are a caveman, a dominator, a prideful arrogant man; absolutely not. Do I know all the answers, absolutely not, that is why I am seeking answers.

I believe that every man has a warrior spirit within them. I believe that there is adventure deep in the heart of every man that wants to find the unknown.

I am a married man of over a year, a man expecting child in two months and I ponder in my heart; what does it mean to be a man? The pressures of life say that a man must provide for his family. The Word of God for that matter says that a man must provide for his family. How can you provide for your family and still live out the dreams that are within your heart?

This has been a huge thought on my heart. My heart for evangelism, my heart for lost souls, my heart for a generation? How can I possibly live out the desires of my heart and provide for my family? Am I supposed to just suck it up and go get a nine to five in something that I hate just to put food on the table. I would say that there are seasons of that and sometimes there are sacrifices in life that just have to happen. But how does the warrior spirit of a man not be put out? How does a man stay a man that will love his wife with everything he has, keep adventure on the horizon and life pouring into the family? How does a man stay a man in our society?

God says that the man is the head of the household. Are men in our society that right now? Are we leading our wives and our families in a way worthy of the Lord? So many questions to ponder but are we doing this? I know that I fail all the time. I know that I can feel the pull of society for comfort and security. I know that I can feel the fear that flows from our media and our government. Shouldn't we all just stay in a bubble, buy extra food from the store because the world is coming to an end. When does a man say enough is enough and become to true priest of his home?

In three days I plan to immerse myself in the Rocky Mountains. I plan to seek the Lord in ways that I haven't before. Now I have a wife and a child that are affected by my every action, I plan to seek His ways, not my ways.

What does it mean to be a man?

DO NOT WORRY

Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The world says to fear, the news says be afraid, the economy is horrible. What does God say? Oswald Chambers hits the nail on the head with this devotional!

May 23, 2009

Our Careful Unbelief

. . . do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on -Matthew 6:25

Jesus summed up commonsense carefulness in the life of a disciple as unbelief. If we have received the Spirit of God, He will squeeze right through our lives, as if to ask, "Now where do I come into this relationship, this vacation you have planned, or these new books you want to read?" And He always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion.

". . . do not worry about your life . . . ." Don't take the pressure of your provision upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is unbelief; worrying means we do not believe that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never anything but those details that worry us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the Word He puts in us? Is it the devil? No- "the cares of this world" (MatthewMatthew 13:22 ). It is always our little worries. We say, "I will not trust when I cannot see"- and that is where unbelief begins. The only cure for unbelief is obedience to the Spirit.

The greatest word of Jesus to His disciples is abandon.

THE JOURNEY IS JUST BEGINNING

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What proceeded for the next three months after we found out we were pregnant was anything but predictable for me. I knew that the Lord was doing something but I didn't know that it was going to be this hard for Erin or me.

Erin through the next three months became very sick nearly every single day. She couldn't keep down any vitamins or food at some points. I then began to realize a taste of what it was going to mean to be a parent, dying to self.

Erin was in a struggle for support and it was now my time to serve her in ways that I have never done before. My spirit was willing but my flesh was weak and this was just the beginning of the rest of my life.

As we hit the three month mark something just seemed to switch in Erin's body, no more morning, noon or evening sickness. Praise the Lord! It was a time of rejoicing because Erin could finally enjoy her pregnancy.

Erin thought it was a girl, I was convince that it was a boy, but then I started doubting because of the name for a girl that we had picked. Elliana means God has answered prayer; Erin asked on New Years Eve for a baby. Wow, I really thought that it was going to be a boy, actually I thought we might be having twins even though it was not in the family line.

We went into the doctor for a check up and when he began to examine Erin's stomach he said, "You are larger than normal for this stage of the game, the last time that I said that a woman had twins." I began to rejoice and laugh all at the same time. He then proceeded to tell us that he wanted to take an ultra sound.

We went into the room and something began to alarm him. Erin and I didn't really know how to take the news because we had an extremely healthy baby and something that the doctor didn't quite like. He sent us to another room for a more in-depth ultra sound.

When we went in the room, the nurse began to perform the ultra sound and the pictures were amazing. They were so in depth and the baby was moving around like crazy. I began to cry because it was the first real moment that I knew that I was going to be a dad. The nurse scrolled over an area and I said, is that his winki, IT'S A BOY I yelled as I jumped around the room crying and laughing all at once. I was so pumped!

Erin lay on her back in amazement as the nurse began to show us why the doctor was concerned. Erin had a cyst the size of a softball right next to the uterus. It looked as though we had twins but one chamber twice the size of our child had only fluid.

The doctor gave us the amazing news of us having a boy but the shocking news that he needed to operate as soon as possible. We decided to operate three days from that point.

The morning of the operation Erin and I were covered with the peace of God. I walked her in the room trying to be as strong as possible but on the inside crying out to God to take care of my wife and baby. Erin was amazing. We were able to pray with the doctor and nurses before they took her in and the surgery went as good as it possibly could. The doctor made four small cuts into her stomach and no ovary or tube was touched. Erin and the baby recovered very well!

We have concluded on the name. Joshua was always going to be the first name of our boy but because I felt as though the cyst was Goliath and David conquered Goliath, our baby boy will be named Joshua David Mast.

Hand

Spine and Heart

More to come later!

UN-EXPECTED YET A DREAM COME TRUE!!!

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It was the night of New Years Eve and Erin and I were spending the evening with Kyle and Hailey Crimi. We ate dinner, played board games and did the count down all together; it was a great night. At the end of the evening I felt as though I should ask what everyone's New Years resolution was. We went around the table and the last person to go was Erin. She looked at me and said, "I would like a baby". Kyle and Hailey chuckled as I smiled back and said, "Honey you know that we agreed on two years and nine months". It had only been six months at that point.

Flash forward a month and a half; Erin wakes up and says that she is not feeling good. It had been over a month since her last menstrual cycle and in my mind I began to say oh darn in nice Christian language, I got her pregnant. Erin and I decided that I should go get some pregnancy tests to just confirm that she was not pregnant.

I left the house with a smile on my face because thoughts about occurrences the prior month began to run through my mind. Peace flooded my being as I drove down the road. We had a scare four months earlier but something was different, I felt the peace of God on this. I thought to myself, I can fight this or I can just rest in it.

As I came up to Walgreen's, the big sign as you drive into the parking lot said, Huggies $14.99. I said, Lord you have got to be kidding me, I am not ready for this, we are not ready for this but yet again peace flooded my being.

I came to the pregnancy tests and got the most accurate one that I could find. I got back into the car and I thought about a gift that I had just received from my good friend Chris Telfer; a gift card to Boarders that said Happy Birthday Dad! I thought about the numerous amount of fathers that would come up to the kiosk in the mall and ask me if I was a father yet. They said that I would be a great dad. I thought about the babies that were all over and that I was noticing them so much more. Was this really happening to me? Was a dream of mine coming true way before I had even imagined it?

The last time I drove back from Walgreen's, fear overcame me and my life flashed before my eyes. This time I had the peace of God over me and there was something alright about the thought of becoming a dad.

I ran up stairs as quick as I could and I ripped the package open. I had Erin do her business and then she wanted to lay on the bed because the thought of being parents at this point in our lives was a little overwhelming.

A minute went by and I looked down at the test; DOUBLE BLUE LINES. Oh wow, in nice Christian language again, a big smile on my face, and with the peace of God all over me I said, "We are going to be parents."

More to come later!

ALL ABOUT ME

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is a blog written by Gary Black that needs to get out. My generation and the generations to come have got to see the traps that we are being led into.

The greatest commandment was what? "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The Second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. Their is NO greater commandment". MK 12:30-31

We are to love others and... we are to love ourselves - does this mean we are arrogant, spoiled people that think they are the best? It means that God loves me more then life, so, I can love me: He loves me and He wants everybody else to love me and He wants me to love me, but... the opposite is true when we "Steal the hunt" from our kids and give them anything and everything they ask for! When God said, "Love yourself" He meant respect your body, respect your mind, treat yourself as a temple that honors God and people...

Our children need to know they are amazing and need to know that life comes with a cost - and we must fight sometimes to make it; when we as parents do everything for them, stop disciplining them; we take a valuable thing away - we take away the ability to press in and make it anyway... this is an article my brother sent - when you work with this generation day in and day out; you know this is true.

A new book says we're in a narcissism epidemic. Why you're not so special.

Growing up, my literary heroines were those who, like me, struggled to be good: Jo from "Little Women," Harriet the spy, Laura Ingalls and Pippi Longstocking A strong-willed (and loud) child, I craved examples of unruly knuckleheads tethered to a loving family that encouraged us to be our best selves despite our natural inclinations. Precocious but naive, I thought of myself as an ugly duckling-misunderstood in my youth but destined for a beauty and stature completely impossible for my loved ones to comprehend. I shudder to think what a monster I would have become in the modern child-rearing era. Gorged on a diet of grade inflation, constant praise and materialistic entitlement, I probably would have succumbed to a life of heedless self- indulgence.

Perhaps, one day, we will say that the recession saved us from a parenting ethos that churns out ego-addled spoiled brats. And though it is too soon to tell if our economic free fall will cure America of its sense of economic privilege, it has made it much harder to get the money together to give our kids six-figure sweet-16 parties and plastic surgery for graduation presents, all in the name of "self esteem." And that's a good thing, because as Jean Twenge and W. Keith Campbell point out in their excellent book "The Narcissism Epidemic," released last week, we've built up the confidence of our kids, but in that process, we've created a generation of hot-house flowers puffed with a disproportionate sense of self-worth (the definition of narcissism) and without the resiliency skills they need when Mommy and Daddy can't fix something.

Indeed, when Twenge addressed students at Southern Connecticut State University a couple weeks back, their generation's narcissism was taken as a given by her audience. The fact that nearly 10 percent of 20-somethings have already experienced symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, compared with just over 3 percent of the 65-and-over set? Not surprising. That 30 percent of college students agree with the statement: "If I show up to every class, I deserve at least a B"? Didn't get much of a rise either. When they're faced with the straight-out question-do you agree with this research, that you guys are the most narcissistic generation ever-there are uniform head nods and knowing grins to each other. "At the end of the day I love me and I don't think that's wrong," says Sharise Tucker, a 21-year-old senior at Southern Connecticut State, a self-professed narcissist. "I don't think it's a problem, having most people love themselves. I love me."

But as Twenge goes on to illustrate, all that narcissism is a problem that can range from the discourteous-residential advisers at Southern lament students disregarding curfews, playing dance music until 3 a.m., demanding new room assignments at a moment's notice and failing to understand why professors won't let them make up an exam they were too hung over to take-to the disastrous-failed marriages, abusive working environments and billion-dollar Ponzi schemes. Seems that the flip side of all that confidence isn't prodigious success but antisocial behavior.

Armed with a steady influx of trophies just for showing up, "I Am Special" coloring books and princess parties, it is hard for kids to understand why an abundance of ego might be bad for them. Hot off their own rebellions in the late '60s, my parents struggled to give me the freedom to be me while also teaching me generosity, compassion and humility. I didn't make it easy on them. I was the kind of kid who threatened to drink Drano if asked to load the dishwasher. "Don't get cocky, kid," was the response from my dad when I declared my grades too good for my behavior to be monitored. "Pretty girls are a dime a dozen," my mother would remind me when I came up with the brilliant idea that school was getting in the way of my social life. My mom would also trot out fables to keep me in check. Ever read the original ending to Cinderella? The evil stepsisters get their eyes plucked out by pigeons and end up beggars. But it worked, mostly, and "Don't believe your own bulls--t" became my mantra. Of course, I still hate to be told what to do, dislike following rules and will waste hours trying to get out of the simplest household task; but hey, I'm a work in progress.

But no matter how you were raised, the handiest cure for narcissism used to be life. Whether through fate, circumstances or moral imperative, our culture kept hubris in check. Now, we encourage it. Pastors preach of a Jesus that wants us to be rich. The famously egocentric wide receiver Terrell Owens declares at a press conference that being labeled selfish is fine with him. Donald Trump names everything he owns after himself and calls his detractors "losers." We live in a world where everyone can be a star-if only on YouTube. The general sense among students on that New Haven campus is that with the world being such a competitive, cutthroat place, they have to be narcissists. Well, you may need a supersize ego to win "America's Next Top Model" or to justify your multimillion dollar bonus. But last I checked, most of our lives don't require all that attitude. Treating the whole world as if it works for you doesn't suggest you're special, it means you're an ass. As an antidote to a skyrocketing self-worth, Twenge recommends humility, evaluating yourself more accurately, mindfulness and putting others first. Such values may seem quaint, maybe even self-defeating, to those of us who think we're special, but trust me: it gets easier with practice.

WHO ARE YOUR MIRRORS?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22

I am going to say something bold here and say that the fruits of the Spirit only grow in bad soil. God has been teaching me lately that I have to walk and act in the opposite spirit. How am I going to do that? I have to be put in situations that cause me to make a choice.

If someone comes against me with rejection, I have to come at them with acceptance. If someone comes at me with anger, I have to come at them with peace. If someone comes with depression, I have to come with joy and happiness. If someone is being controlling or domineering, I have to come with gentleness.

God answers our prayers by putting us in circumstances where we can be proven with the prayers we ask. If men are being tempted with lust, then they have to choose faithfulness to their future wives or their queens that sit next to them. God will always allow us to rise or fall to the challenge but He will never leave us nor forsake us.

I am learning that you can either become better in life or become bitter. God really is in control and the prayers that we ask almost always come in different ways then we think. God is challenging me to look at someone and find the good qualities about them and always bring them out. So often I become judgmental about a person and prideful in how discerning I am about their problems yet have such a hard time in always pulling out the good.

I have seen that if you have given your heart to Jesus and want to become more like him, everywhere you walk will be mirrors. Those mirrors can be in the form of your wife that sees all your crap, your best friends that know who you really are, or grace growers that God puts in your life for a reason.

No matter whom those mirrors are, God will always pull you out of yourself to become more like him.

Lord please help us to see the good in others and not the bad. Lord help us to uplift, encourage and walk in the opposite spirit no matter what.

GENERATION 42 SPAIN

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Please take a look at this video about our leadership training school in Spain. This is a dream come true for a mentor of mine Andrew Shearman, who married Erin and I.

THE MOST AMAZING WOMAN IN THE WORLD!!!

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To my bride, my best friend, my lover and my queen:

Not only are you my queen and my wife but you are God's daughter. You have a compassionate heart that awakens the smiles of the less fortunate. You bring a presence of hope to those who haven't had a chance. You are a world changer in the day to day.

You lay awake at night as a kid wondering where God would take you, wondering who that man God would give you. That man is me and I honor you on this glorious 25^th birthday of yours. You are a light to the world; you bring God's presence and joy wherever you go.

The very name Erin means woman of peace. Wherever your feet are planted, peace follows you. You are Gods chosen daughter, He loves you more than anything in the world. Believe in who has created you to be. Deep within your heart are dreams that He has placed within. He has given you those to believe in faith that He will bring them into existence.

You are a woman that can move mountains with the faith he has placed within you. You can give to everyone around you because you know who you are as a daughter of God. Through Gods love and the love that I have for you we will go to the ends of the earth together and live the mystery fully alive.

I love you Erin Ellen Mast. Happy 25^th Birthday my Queen!!!

JESUS WILL OFFEND YOU

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 9:33

David was a man after God's own heart; he would do anything for God. David cheated on his wife, killed men, sinned, ran away but in the end David always gave God his true heart.

One of the mysteries that I have been pondering over the past week or so is this; why would God put David under the authority of Saul; a controlling man that was trying to kill him?

I believe the answer completely sits in how David reacted in his heart. When Saul came to kill David he went into the cave to relieve himself. David was waiting in that very cave and had the perfect opportunity to kill him. David did not because he new that God puts people in leadership and takes them down. David would not touch Gods anointed and in his heart he submitted even to a controlling and overpowering leadership.

I have seen so many people that are wounded; wounded by the church, rejected by their parents, controlled by leadership and spit on by those that love them. Why would God allow this?

I believe that God takes us through situations in life to see if we really do love. Do we love enough to give grace to those who wrong us? Will we overlook the faults in those that are put over us and see the good in them?

I personally believe that if you have problems with rejection, God will put you in circumstances to be rejected. I personally believe that if you have problems with authority, God will put you in circumstances where you will have to salute to authority. I believe the Lord is the author of all.

Jesus is the true rock of offense. Jesus is the one that allowed your church/pastor to wrong you to see if you would adapt a spirit of divorce and move from one church to the next. Jesus is the author of allowing you to be rejected by another mentor. The truth is God is the author of it all. He has allowed it. God is waiting for us to get it, to not be rejected by man because we are always accepted by Him. He is waiting for a generation to submit in their hearts and not take offense in what has happened in life.

Man will always fail us but that does not give us the right to close up our hearts and never trust again. We are called to go deep with each other, to expose the hurts in life and to love each other through it. It is time to move past the hurts and offenses that have happened in life and realize that God is the rock of offense and if you are being offended, yes it is directly from the throne of God because He has allowed it.

Don't take the bait of satan and allow him the win. Are you offended or hurt, allow God into that secret place to heal.

DENYING JESUS

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." John 13:38

The scripture above is the prophetic word that Jesus gave to Peter. Peter was a wild man; he was a man after Gods own heart. Peter was bold enough to jump out of the boat and walk on water. Peter defended Jesus with a sword by cutting the ear off of a soldier. He was wild, daring and completely unpredictable.

What I love about Peter is that he had the faith of a child. So if Peter would get out of the boat and walk on water, defend to the death with a sword, why would Peter deny Jesus when asked if he was His disciple?

How many of us can say that we have denied Jesus? How many of us can remember a time when we know that the Holy Spirit wanted us to do something and we didn't? How many of us wish that we could just get it?

The reality is that the past is the past and we will never get it back. If we wished that we would have done something differently, the only thing we can do is learn from it, release ourselves from the mistake and move forward.

I consider myself a Peter. I am a wild man, someone that is unpredictable, someone that is willing to do anything for the Lord. I have made mistakes in life and have known that I was supposed to do something yet I decided to run away from the very thing that I loved, Jesus.

I believe that the Lord will continue to put us through tests that will prove who we are. Will we answer Jesus and not only say yes in our hearts but will we actually do it in the physical? Will we listen to the still small voice and walk in the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Some right now have one foot out of the boat and don't know whether to walk on water or stay in the boat. Some are completely on the water right now walking by faith, believing the words of the Lord, come vs. the world's distraction of fear.

God is gentle, He is a gentleman. He will never force us to do anything, it is our choice. Do we want to be a part of what He is doing or run because of fear? No matter what is going on in our lives, we must choose obedience.

Peter screwed up and he new it. Peter wished that he could have those moments back when he denied and cursed the King. God forgave him and gave him the keys to the Kingdom anyways.

Rest assured, no matter how much we screw up, God loves us the same on our worst and best days. He really is in controlJ.

HOPE

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is something to give you a smile on your heart and face.

SWAZILAND NEEDS YOUR HELP

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is a blog from Seth Barnes today; our staff, friends and family are about to feel the affects of living in a forgotten world in a greater way... the funding for our "Children's Village" that is just getting major momentum is being axed in two weeks if something doesn't change.

From Seth:

I just had an experience I found humorous. This past month, Swaziland has been front and center for me. We just returned from there last week. Because its AIDS rate is the highest in the world and because hungry, parentless children dressed in rags roam the streets looking for food, I've responded and asked my friends to respond. I'm not World Vision or UNICEF, but I can do what is mine to do. Yesterday as I considered its pain, I posted this to Twitter: "I'm meditating on Swaziland's pain this morning. When you know the people, it is overwhelming. I need help."

Quickly there was a response in my email. Someone had understood my plea for aid! Somehow, through the magic of the internet, a spiritual connection had been formed. I opened it and read this from Twitter, "You have asked for help on Twitter. A lot of persons are. Follow @911 and help them out!"

*Sigh*

Well, the sad reality is that, Twitter aside, we've taken on too much in Swaziland. We feed 2700 orphans (largely because of our partnership with CHC and my friend Tom Davis), but we need more money and people. Our staff are burning out and in two weeks, if circumstances don't change, I'm taking an axe to the budget. That said, the progress there has been remarkable and has been a faith venture - God always shows up with what we need. Check out the video of our Nsoko base below.

Nsoko, Swaziland - AIM Mission Base from s barnes on Vimeo.

DO WE REALLY TRUST GOD

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am reminded of the Story of Abraham and Isaac when Abraham had to sacrifice his son on the altar. Why would God tell a man to kill his son? Why?

In today's age, we can't comprehend that kind of faith. We can't understand why God would do such a thing because we can't wrap our minds around it. The answer is obedience.

Abraham was a man of God who trusted that his Father in heaven only does what is best for his family. How could killing your son be doing what is best for your family we ask? I believe that Abraham was so convinced that God new what He was doing.

I believe that God is talking to people right now. I believe that He is asking people to walk things out in life and to trust him in everything that He is doing. How can we do that Father, this economy is so bad, how will we pay for it, my family won't understand, how could I possibly do that?

God wants our hearts; He wants the yes in our hearts so He can move the mountains. I try to put myself in Abraham's place as he takes the one thing that he loves the most in life; the promise of his lineage; his son. As his son is screaming, what must Abraham be thinking? Abraham raised the knife high in the air and God knew that this was a man of obedience and He stopped him from killing his son.

I believe that this is a symbol for our circumstances in life. Abraham was obedient to what God was calling him to do. No matter what fear came at him, he faced them and walked into what God was calling him to do.

What is God calling you to do? Is it to take a year off and travel around the world, is it to rise up and be the man of your family, is it to trust God with your future and the future of our economy? If Abraham would have allowed the fears of the unseen control him, then the generations after him might not have received the blessings for his obedience.

God is calling a generation to stare fear in the eyes and choose faith. Faith is what Abraham used to overcome fear. Faith is what a generation needs to grab and never let go. Faith and obedience are one in the same. Faith and obedience are the only road that God is calling us to.

as small as a mustard seed.

We are faced with some pretty scary times these days. How are we going to react, how are we going to be proven as we walk towards the altar. The choice is ours, look around, it is just us and Jesus, and Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us.

It really isn't as scary as we make it out to be!

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE BURDEN?

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

--Martin Luther King Jr.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DAVID: HUMILITY & NOBLE LEADERSHIP

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Life of David - Passion, Broken, Unashamed, Humility, Noble Leadership.

The fourth and fifth Characteristics of David's life was Humility and Noble Leadership:

The opposite of humility is of course pride. Pride is demanding honor, not volunteering to serve in front of people or in the secret place.

"He wears his power so lightly"

David, after being anointed and considered a war hero, served the menial tasks for the King in the palace. Then, he went back to watching his father's sheep on the hillside. He served his father and brothers by becoming a bus boy with food for his brothers.

1Sam 24:8-15 David could have killed Saul many times; as Saul was pursuing him with 3000 men and trying to take his life - (which, by the way, the "Cave" season of David's life is a must study)! - While Saul is chasing David, David humbly bows to the ground and appeals to Saul.

David - Contrite and Repentant - it was "Who" he was... I am the will of God, I am prayer, I am a contrite and a repentant man.

Humility;

The place of entire dependence on God (David didn't seek promotion or admiration from men)
The sense of entire nothingness, which comes when we see how truly God is all, and in which we make God to be all.
Is Simply acknowledging the truth of our position as men and yielding to God His place.

Why we would we be prideful?

When I feel pride creeping up in my life, it's because I think I have rights - I think I deserve something and I should be able to have it!

Self actually has nothing good in it except as an empty vessel which God must fill.

The final Characteristic of David's life we must model is Nobel Leadership:

David had a contrite heart - he was crushed - and he always ran to repentance...

A man of "Noble Leadership" always;
1. Carries the rod of God, (Authority) with meekness.
2. Has or shows qualities of high moral standards.

David's life was a series of choices. Choices of how he would respond to all the testing, promotions, desert, and fleshly desires. Consistently, David chose God's highest instead of his personal highest.

He wasn't great because of his choices, but because his heart always came back to wanting God more then himself... David's qualities of Character weakened as the character of God became strong.

Thank you for taking the time to read these; I trust they helped... to take it much deeper please get books below.

Books that are a must for this study; Andrew Murray, Humility - Gene Edwards Tale Of Three Kings, (I try and read it every year) and of course Mike Bickle's on Life of David. All very easy reads...

CHARACTERISTICS OF DAVID: UNASHAMED

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The next Characteristic of David's life is Unashamed.

Psalms 34:4, 5 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those that look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Shame tells us that at the bottom of my identity, I'm no good. If they find out who I really am, they will reject me. Bottom line - I am not acceptable.

Shame comes two ways;

Adam and Eve - Gen 2:25 naked and unashamed - by Gen 3:10 naked and full of shame! We are born into shame... God wants us to look in His face with freedom, unashamed.
Choices - the choices we make in the midst of our pain drive us to shame. We chose shame.

2Cor 3 - the only place of true liberty is in the presence of the Lord.

Look at my blogs from Gary Weins on Shame. While Saul's life was marked by choosing shame, David's life was marked by running back to the Father's face... the way we end shame is by coming face-to-face with the Father.

David's face was radiant because he was looking to the father, thus his face was radiant and he didn't need titles. "I know where God is and that's where I want to be" - I don't care about the external stuff. We have clung to the external stuff because we don't believe God is crazy about us!

Remember from 1Sam 9:19 - Samuel told Saul "All that was in his heart" yet, Saul was so full of Shame he said, "I am the youngest from the smallest tribe"

How many times have you had a dream in your heart and you, or someone you respect shoots it down? That can't be God; it's to big a dream! God comes to us in that place and says, "Believe" it is me; I put that dream there, in the depths of your heart"!

God has placed in your heart what you are to be, but shame keeps us from believing we can reach that place...

The calling is clear - "Be holy as I am Holy", "Love me", "Obey Me", "Love one another" - do you believe that He loves you? Makes all this come together...

Marks of Shame;

Being a victim - the result of shame and fear of whole hearted devotion to Christ. Admit our sin or confess our sin in the presence of the King.
We've inherited and chosen shame

David came into the presence of God and confessed and was intimate and became unashamed. Saul died full of Shame, anger, jealousy, because he couldn't enter into the presence of God face-to-face and be real.

Because of Shame - Saul could only see David as a threat... David chose to be unashamed and look Jesus in the face...

Characteristics of David: Brokenness

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is the continued study on the characteristics of David by Gary Black. Great Stuff, come on church lets grab ahold of it!

David's Character continued...

The second Characteristic that we get to model from David's life is Brokenness.

David's day of anointing was followed by more faithfulness and desert. The anointing did not lead to the throne, but into a decade of hellish agony and suffering. On that day, David was enrolled, not into the lineage of royalty, but into the school of brokenness...

David was the only son that was not invited when Samuel came to his father Jesse. God told Samuel to go anoint one of Jesse's boys, and all the boys were in the room, but one.

It's a possibility; not a scriptural fact, (can't prove it in the bible), but, it could be that David was a son of a concubine; not one of Jesse's sons from his wife; again, he was the only "son" not invited to party when Samuel came to town; 7 of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel - David wasn't there... David understood that God wanted men who would live in pain, he wanted broken vessels.

God has a school of brokenness because he does not have many broken men.

God took David to the palace to enter school. There, King Saul threw spears at him. David's been a war hero for Saul's kingdom, he's left the desired hillside singing worship songs to come sing lullabies to Saul - all for Saul, but Saul is throwing spears at him!

Brokenness.

David could have easily been a Saul if he hadn't chosen to be put to death. David embraced cruel circumstances, over and over.

- he lifted no hand, nor offered resistance

- he didn't announce his piety - (Devotion and Reverence to God)

- he quietly bore the crucibles and was deeply wounded

David's inner being was mutilated, his personality changed. When it was all over you could barley recognize he was the original David.

Every one of us starts this "Christian" journey with a lot of promises, with a lot of hope - and then we enter the "School of brokenness" and then... what do we do with our pain? What do we do with the spears that are thrown at us - some times, most of the time by the Church?!

Can the people that new you when you started this journey still recognize you? I hope not!

By earthly measures David was a shattered man; by heavens measure, a broken one.

Is 42:3 "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out" the very picture of restoration of brokenness.

Saul's spears were not only for David's sake, but for the sake of Israel...

Continued...

MARRIAGE

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Mathew 12:25

I do not claim to be an expert in this area, I do not claim to have all the answers, but I do have the word of the Lord. The area that I am talking about is marriage.

In the beginning man walked with God, he/she communed with God, there was peace, no death and everything was perfect. While Adam was sleeping, the devil came to Eve and lied to her. Eve believed the lie and decided to take action. Somewhere in there Adam woke up and had to have a conversation with Eve and decided not to take any action.

I want to focus on that point. Adam knew what God said to him and as the head of the household decided to do nothing. He didn't stop eve and pray about it, He didn't love her and say that our house will follow the Lord, he was silent. Eve took the reigns of the family and led the family and the human race to destruction. Was it Eve's fault?

I am going to be bold and call out every man reading this post and say that it wasn't eve's fault at all; it was Adams fault for being a coward. Adam didn't stop her; he didn't stand up as the authority of the house and do what was right for them. Because of that move I believe that not only sin entered into the world but families were shifted and the attack on marriage commenced.

The Lord says in scripture that when two or more are gathered, He will answer their prayers. The enemy knows this precisely. Why do you think there are so many church splits, divorces, etc. The enemy has turned us against ourselves and none of us will die to our rights. When covenants are made the kingdom of hell is threatened. What that means is when hearts come into accordance they have power that they don't even understand.

Scripture states that Jesus knew that there would be divorce (Math 12:25). He stated that when a house is divided against itself it will fall. Currently right now the national statistic of divorce is over 50% and it is not slowing down.

My answer to this problem is hidden within spirit, soul and body. I will go into this discussion further in the future but if God really is sanctifying our spirit, soul and body (1^st Thes 5:23) that means that they are three separate things. I believe every problem of divorce is in the soul and the body. The soul (mind, will & emotions) and the body (flesh) are so controlling that when exalted above the spirit they will win and God will allow it.

Divorce happens because people will not change. They throw expectations on the other person to change when God is saying I want you to change. Currently my house is divided because of a discussion that turned to argument. Immediately when two people go to argument they are fighting to be right and for their voices to be heard. Everyone reading this blog understands that, if you don't your lying to yourself. We want to be heard, we want to be right. But what does God want?

I believe God doesn't care who is right or wrong. I believe that God just wants us to allow Him to come in and change our hearts to love. I believe that He wants us to actually be wrong even when we are right just to see if we will die to our pride. But why God we scream at Him?

The answer, the kingdom of heaven is not about right and wrong but life and death. When a house is divided amongst itself it is the closest thing to hell because the two that became one are trying to be two again and ripping themselves apart. Divorce comes when the two just give up trying to be one.

Again, I am not an expert in this area, actually I am just a baby and a rookie in this area. What I do know is that it is time for men to stand up and be men. It is time for us men to lead our families. It is time for us not to control our wives but to love them by allowing God to kill our egos, our pride and our desires. It is time for us to serve our wives through power under not power over.

Lord help us understand these truths and show the world what marriage is all about!

SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept Blameless at the time of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1^st Thessalonians 5:23

Are we triune beings? God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is three persons in one. Just as the sun shines in the day it brings heat and light. Heat comes from the sun, light comes from the sun, yet they are all three from the same source. In the same way, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One. This is a metaphor of the Father being the sun, Jesus Christ the light and the Holy Spirit the heat and they are all One.

In a similar way, our bodies are created as triune beings. In the beginning these triune beings were perfect, blameless before God. We were spirit, soul and body in that order before God. When man decided to take matters in his own hands, two things were thrown out of order. First, man fell asleep and allowed his wife to lead the household. You read in scripture that Adam was right there next to the tree with Eve while she decided to go against God. Adam was not man enough to stand up and lead the family. The second was that mans will (soul) decided to take the helm over the spirit.

Spirit, soul and body talk can be one of the deepest truths of the bible. I believe that this concept is a key to a generation becoming fully submitted to the work of the Holy Spirit.

What happened from the beginning was spirit, soul and body were taken out of the order that God created them to be in. The spirit; the heart that is joined with Christ, the soul; which is the mind will and emotions and the body; which is the flesh.

When Adam fell, his spirit became corrupted with sin and cut off from God. That is why God sent Jesus Christ to die for all. When we come to Christ, we are joined with Christ. The Holy Spirit comes and lives within our hearts and we become perfect in Christ. Our sins are forgiven in the past present and future. There is nothing that we can do to become perfect, we are made perfect in Christ because He died as a sin offering for us.

So why do I share this? I believe that we the church have to see that the soul is warring to take control. When the soul is submitted to the spirit, we are walking in the will of God and are the will of God. When our mind will and emotions take the throne, we are carnally minded to use the Apostle Paul's words.

Are we the church ready to allow the soul to be put on the cross? Are we willing to go through the pain that it is going to require to die to our desires, our plans, our direction and our purpose?

Are you?

CHARACTERISTICS OF DAVID

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A mighty man of God by the name of Gary Black (spiritual mentor) is starting a series that I think is powerful. Enjoy!

As promised we will start our journey of getting to know the Characteristics of David's life.

Passion - Brokenness - Unashamed - Humility - Noble Leadership

The first time God mentioned David in the bible he called him "A man after God's own heart" and the last time God mentions David in Acts he says the same thing... "David is a man after my own heart"!

I know when I get to heaven, or even today, I want to hear those words over my life - "You are a man after my own heart"

The first Characteristic of David's life that we need, or get to model, is Passion. Intimacy with our Father in heaven and a radical worshiper of God!

David wrote some of the hottest worship songs ever recorded on the back side of the desert - as a boy he began to get the idea of a father in heaven that is a daddy - a lover - a friend.

Passion is a powerful emotion - passion drove Christ to the cross - His passion for you and me...

Psalms 84 - meditate on the whole thing - "my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" - even when we are in the "Valley of Baca" (place of tears) we go from "Strength to Strength"! If you have "Set your heart on a pilgrimage" no matter what season of life you are in, you are strengthened; That's passion - that was David!

Have you ever studied the different seasons of David's life? The desert, the palace, the cave, the kingdom... worth your time.

David was passionate after God. Passion is a pre-requisite to: Intimacy and becoming a worshiper... one of my buddies, Rich Manley said it well - "Intimacy is a place we reach, not an emotion. To reach that place of intimacy, you need a powerful emotion."

Passion filled David on the hillside during the quiet place - his own intimacy with dad.

Bethlehem was a small beginning - born in a manger, in a barn; it was a "season" of small beginnings... The significance is not the birth of passion, but how it matures. David began not only a journey of seasons, but a journey of learning the key heart values.

It all started with a passion to know His father in heaven...

WE ARE ALL PHARISEES BEING HEALED

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17

Once again I was listening to a series by Graham Cooke and he said a statement, "We are all Pharisees being healed." Wow, try to just rest on that for a second and see if your pride allows it in. Pharisees were Jewish priests who knew the Word of God. They were those that saw the Son of God right before there very eyes, yet were so cloaked in religion that they put Him on the Cross. They outwardly looked perfect yet on the inside were corrupt and evil.

So am I really a Pharisee being healed? Part of me wants to buck it and say no, but when I sit back and expose the deep secrets of my heart, I am indeed. How many times are you feeling like crap on the inside, crushed about something, angry at someone and then you see a friend and they ask how your doing? What do we all say? Unless we are with someone that we really trust we cover up like a Pharisee and tell them what they want to hear.

Why am I even talking about this? Transparency! Transparency is the beginning of humility. If we will not let people into our hurts, our pains, our mistakes, our problems, we are Pharisees stuck in pride. I know that I am going through this lesson right now and I am seeing the joy that the Father wants to give me.

I honestly believe that until we as the church can be transparent, broken and walk in humility and love, God will not pour out the blessings that we are all crying for. The real reason is that we could never handle it. The Spirit of God would not come down to bless, He would come down to kill everything that we are not giving Him. Our pride, our dishonesty, our covets, our jealousy and our sin would be the first thing that He would go after.

Every time that I listen to Graham Cooke I get fired up because the Spirit takes me so deep into how much I need to put God on the throne and take myself off. I am a servant of the Most High God. If you look at how Paul, Peter, Timothy and all the other Apostles addressed people was first a servant called to be an apostle. A servant has no rights and if we get really honest with ourselves, we have no rights. Our rights are in Jesus.

I propose a challenge today and a warning for those that do it. Ask God to reveal our hearts and to heal us in our downfalls. I don't know why I pray these prayers but hey, let's keep moving forward. Have a glorious day.

IF YOU SAY SO LORD

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"A mans heart plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

I was listening to Graham Cooke this morning and something hit me with one of his statements. He said, "There is no security in what God is doing, there is only security in who God is." That statement hit me because at first it sounded a little blasphemous, but then I looked into the meaning. Is God predictable?

God is the most predictable because of His Word but He is also the most unpredictable because we never know what He is doing; making Him a paradox. As soon as we think we figure God out, He throws a curve ball at us.

I am in a season of humility right now. I have tried to make things happen through business and other ventures but nothing broke free. I came to the end of myself and what did God do. He opened up a door to work in the mall at a kiosk selling cell phones at Diamond Wireless, a preferred retailer of Verizon Wireless.

I see it as a blessing from the Lord to provide for my family, I see it as a test of my pride, and I see it as a place of preparation. There is a part of me that wants to rise up and say that I am better than this, I should be out in the world preaching the gospel, and I should be leading the charge in my generation. Again I see that God and the devil have one thing in common, they both want us dead.

God wants to kill the pride that in my own strength I can actually make a difference. Chad as a son of the living God can make a difference because I am submitted to the will of Christ. Chad as an individual cannot do a thing. I am seeing how much pride I do have within me. Asking God for humility is a crazy prayer, one again that I have prayed.

So why did that statement above hit me so hard? When I think that I have control of my life I see that I never had a clue. Living in the will of God can sometimes be the most un-secure place in the whole world. Look at Gideon, he had over 30,000 troops and he was out numbered 4 to 1. God knew that if they beat the apposing army that the pride that was within them might rise up and show them that they were in control. So what did God do, he stripped them down to 300 men vs. 120,000 and He defeated the army.

So what does this mean to me? I rest and pray that I learn the lessons that are before me with joy. My pride wants to strike back but I know God is killing the pride within me. There are billions that need to hear about the saving grace of Jesus but if it is done out of His protection and blessing, it is being done out of my own will and not His. I choose joy and praise God that He continually showers me with His blessings and direction. God really is in control.