Starving...

Recently while doing some routine chores a thought hit me like a ton of bricks... which is kind of weird because normally taking out the trash doesn't always inspire the most epic thoughts.  So here I am with the trash bags in my hands and I am just enamored with how loving an merciful God is...  What happens when God decides to take out the trash in our lives... to just clear away the clutter, you know the stuff that you cling to and can't let go... I am in that state right at this moment... and as God releases my vice grip from my own wants and desires, those whispers in your head that turn you toward the harmful or at least the not so healthy "choices" in life...

It is really a self imposed starvation of the soul that can't be revived without the love, connection, and direction of Christ.  Have you ever spent a few days, weeks, months, even years without reading the Bible, praying, worshiping, connecting with God through service?  Now I don't know what it feels like to be disconnected and starved for years, but I certainly know what it feels like to be disconnect for days, weeks, even at times months... It really leaves an empty feeling in your heart... Like a walking zombie I relate and build relationships with God's creation... but they are broken relationships, connections that are fueled with me instead of God... and when "me" exists everything is sugary... unhealthy, and often provides sticky situations where hate, malice, discord occur...  It can be exciting and give you a rush in the beginning, but it is really a self imposed starvation of your soul... of your heart... of the life that God has given you. 

So what does a balanced diet of God look like?  How do we clear out the trash?  For me it begins with admitting I have a problem... I see the emaciated soul in the mirror of my heart and I am crushed... So a decision is made, a genuine regimen is crafted and acquired from the only genuine source of health... from God and His word...  One look toward God and I realize what it tastes like to be in the health of Christ... for some it is bitter, for others it is sweet, even others are so numb from starvation that even the smallest morsel would be a feast for them.

God gives us a feast, an endless celebration of who He is and a confident sharing of His love... At the table of Christ starvation is a forgotten memory... Christs' substance and sustenance for me is in worship, prayer, and in some cases reading the Bible... but what really gets me cooking is worshiping Him in the only real context that makes sense... through music and the arts.

That is one of the ways that God has created and crafted me... everyone's unique diet is different, even some of the most healthy practices are toxic to others... and remember that arsenic is poison for everyone...   Allow God to share with you what is perfect for you and then start experimenting ways of how to integrate it in your life... after a while you will be an expert in loving God and others because you have been feeding your soul with real food, the hefty stuff that builds strong muscles and brings vitality to your life...

So as I cast off the trash from my own life choices, I am left clean and new for the foundation of Christs' calling.  

What is your diet? 

Blessings,

Sam

Dreams never die...

You ever get that feeling when you are just compelled to do something memorable... the sort of feeling that isn't fueled by desires for power, fame, wealth, but something more like a hurricane is churning in your soul and you must release it...   it must be sung, written, painted, computed, created, implemented, empowered, taken apart, put together, crafted, attempted, etc... whatever it is and with whoever you do it with... chase after it... release the dream...

Personal dreams are sometimes spoken about like a far distant country... or a forgotten echo from the past... I'm guilty of sharing my dreams to others and the moment I reveal them I am quick to discredit or deny their existence or plausibility... but dreams never die...


Even the silly dreams of childhood, like walking on the moon, flying with make shift wings, conducting a symphony... those dreams stay with us... either we fulfill them, or they are kept in a safe place in our hearts... altered maybe by maturity, practicality, necessity, or they actually come true... either way... they are still there... 

I believe that dreams are empowered by each other and sometimes dreams are shared... even by anonymous people... recently I was viewing some videos of an incredibly talented rising musician... one of those grassroots sort of a phenomenons that just capture your gaze and causes you to pause and ignites your desire to chase after a similar dream... As a musician and aspiring artist this experience broke through a wall (one of many) in my life... you know what this wall looks like, often it has a voice... it says things like "you'll never make it" or "your not talented enough" or "it's too much work" or even "you're too old, wasted, gripped by either responsibilities, debt, mistakes of the past, sins, etc" 

These walls must come down... they must crumble to the ground... as the dust clears you see something beautiful, untouched and waiting for you... the God inspired, God given dreams of your heart...

The best way to enable your dreams is to chase after God first... not like an equation (dream + God first = dream becoming reality) but something genuine... a complete surrender... the enemy can't touch this... you can't mess this up... God always accepts a completely surrendered heart and will guide us even when we don't know how to do it... even in the midst of our darkest sins and most desperate hours...

Dream... dream big, let your dreams resonate in your soul... and allow God to direct and empower them...

Blessings,

Sam

Don't let the love grow cold...

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.  At that time many will  fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.  Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.  Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole  world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
                                                                                                                -Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:9-14)

Man, I can't tell you how powerful the words of Christ is in my life... He always knows how to reveal new amazing ways of how much I don't deserve His forgiveness, yet He gives it freely... so much grace and mercy...  

So I have been going through a slight season of apathy... you know what I mean... when you just don't have any reason to do what is healthy for you... or others... You are more concerned about yourself and what your desires are... those things that are not the best...  when you've let your love grow cold...  

This doesn't mean that you don't have love, but when depression or some realities in life just hit you like a ton of bricks... sometimes you are overwhelmed... then the love just passes through your heart and it is replaced with apathy or worse... hate, anger, despair, hopelessness... 

Now I am not experiencing all of those things... but when the love of Christ is not overflowing out of you... it just leaves room for those things in your heart... Don't let hatred and betrayal fill your heart... let the only lasting unconditional love fill every action you have... I was listening on the radio today and the speaker was saying that we ought to "sweat the small stuff"   In the Kingdom of God there is no small stuff... everything matters... yeah we are probably more concerned about the "big" things in life that most likely occupy our minds and actions, but sometimes it's the really tiny things in life that really steal our love... 

So when we are living life... the day to day, moment by moment sort of life... pray and seek out ways to love in the small and big and everything in between... then when the inevitable small and big things hit us like freight train we will be ready... soak up the love of Christ... ignite it everyday... every moment... 

Let Jesus empower you as you are sent to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations... In His love is the freedom of the world... and His forgiveness breathes life into their hearts... and clears the way for a new ancient eternal fire to burn through the hate and bring real love...

Love today... let it burn in your heart... 


Blessings,


Sam