I’m no Conan… (new chat host for lifechurch.tv)

…but I am one of the new Chat Host for LifeChurch.tv for Wednesday 10pm cst sessions!

I received a confirmation email today that I was accepted for this honor to serve. I will be on a trial basis for 30 days and then upon decision by my Captain and my performance I will get my Host tag!

Needless to say I’m very excited to be apart of this team and yet another way to spread His word. I feel the Spirit moving through me and with me in my journey. More and more opportunities keep coming my way and I’m loving it. (now if I could just get that book deal or blog deal, Hah!)

So if you are a Life Church goer or want to come check it out, come by Wednesdays at 10pm cst and I’ll greet you with a smile and open hands.

Jeremiah 29:13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

– This post brought to you by Thinking Godly–  (see how I used it as an action verb?)

-M

A Wasted Life?

Someone once asked me, “What if I lived my entire life for God, spread His word and fashioned my life to suit His teachings, then come to find out there is no God?”  Then the next comment made me feel a bit sad for this person, they said, “Wouldn’t you feel like you had wasted your entire life living for something that isn’t even real?”

My immediate retort was, “So you think that living a clean, healthy, inspiring, real, truthful, helping, unselfish, serving life would be a wasted one?” The conversation continues on and goes quite a bit deeper, but I wanted to spark this Blog off with those comments.

I bet that I could take a poll of any random Christian and they would say they are not living a wasted life.  But the question is, Are you living a FULL life in God’s light? Most would say or think that they are, others would say I try to do what I can, and the rest, well there is always tomorrow. I can and will honestly say I have not been doing so myself up until a few months ago.  Don’t get me wrong I’m still a weak man and far from perfect, but I’m trying to turn everything in my life to God. Everything. For Him

Ephesians 5:15-20 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything , in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons I started this Blog was to keep myself accountable on all measures. I’m literally trying to live the title, “Think Godly”. WWJD to the 24th power is how I see it!  This Blog is only a small part of the plan of how I’m trying to do to live a life worthy of Him. I’ve started volunteering at multiple organizations, going out of my way to facilitate others, narrowing the worldly/material items, and hoping to host a Life Group/Small Group in the near future. (Orientation classes start Sunday! Excited!)

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

These past few months I can honestly say that I have never felt so real and so confident of how I am living my life. I’ve been “blessed” to have ample time for this soul-searching and somewhat of a cushion, at least for a couple more months or so. I’ve been able to spend more focused time with God. I have even considered the Peace Corps. as an option for the future. I want to surround myself with all things Godly: friends, job, hobbies, entertainment, anything  and everything in my life.

2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious  promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you posses these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleanses from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So if a “Wasted Life” means that I can touch others and help my fellow-man all in His name, than count me in.

How about you?

-M

Listen

Sometimes in life you need a hand to lead you, but sometimes you just need to close your eyes and listen.

It’s been longer than usual since you have heard from me and I think this post might explain it. Have I been sitting in the dark all this time just listening for something?  Well yes and no I say! In the Bible it talks often of Jesus going away from his disciples and spending time alone, spending it with the Father, praying and listening. Prayer is a very important part of my spiritual growth, but listening in my time alone has become very important to me as well.

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went up to a solitary place, where he prayed.

It continues in other verses such as: Matthew 14:23, Matthew 26:36-44,  Five different verses in Luke and of course John 16 and 17 before the arrest.

Of course Jesus was praying, but just as important he was listening. Listening to God speak to him.

An age-old discussion is that if people really hear God? Like the scripture say, it’s up to you. He is waiting for you. Sure you can read the Bible with God’s Word directly written in it to absorb it and learn, but you must listen with your heart to know the Lord.

John 10:27 My Sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God has to say. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.

It’s more a question – not of how to hear God’s voice, but will we hear Him? Will we say, “Yes, Lord!” and obey His command? I know I have and I’m a better man for it. A Man of God if you will.

As you might have read in the previous post, I attended WinterJam 2012. The worship I heard in those hours not only from the bands/singers but from those attending was amazing. As I go further in my path to follow Him I’m not only thinking more Godly, I’m also listening to the sound of Him working in all kinds of ways more closely.

Psalm 66:4  All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.

-M

 *Lyrics from Building 429 song Listen to the Sound, suits my journey:

Oh, listen to the sound of hope
That’s rising up
Over your old horizon
Listen to the sound
Listen to the sound
And listen to the sound of a new beginning of
This is where the old is ending
Listen to the sound
Listen to the sound

Take me as I am
I am Yours to use
I am lifting empty hands
‘Cause I was made for You
Made for You

You are God, there is no other
I won’t bow before another
I was made for, I was made for You

 

Winter Jam 2012

GO GO GO if you can!

I’ll be back soon with regularly scheduled programs and posts, but I just had to post about this A-MA-ZING event. I admit this was my first Christian related concert event, but it certainly melted my face off. Everyone sounded incredible and the worship literally blew the roof off, (fireworks and pyrotechnic was out of this atmosphere). Side note: still can’t hear 100%

I’m so glad my good friend invited me to this. (Thanks Crystal!)

My heart broke a million times over feeling the spirit move through the room and everyone there. It was so great to see so many people excited for Jesus. The world and community for Jesus and His worship is most definitely awake and alive!

*Three new posts in the works, hope to get a couple out this week.

Have a blessed day, now go get your faces melted at Winter Jam!

-M

**for info on WJ2012 goto: www.thehousefm.com  or http://www.jamtour.com/

…is in a Relationship with God

How well do you know God?

You can know Scripture better than anyone, go on God Jeopardy even, but how well do you know God or how well does he know you? How intimate is your relationship with Him?

Prayer is very special for everyone and it raises us up and helps our fellow-man.  Talking to God is a totally different thing all together. When I was young and followed my Faith, I prayed, but I don’t think I necessarily knew what it meant to talk with God.

In this transition with my Faith now I really can see the difference and how it affects me. I admit it I’ve never memorized the books of the bible in order. I can’t turn to a certain book or verse at will. I have to look up almost every verse I hear someone say or reference.  Does this make me a bad Christian? Nope.

It’s ok to practice prayer less and talk with God more. I’ve been reading a book called Seeds of Faith – Practices to Grow a Healthy Spiritual Life by Jeremy Langford (thank you Cathy). It’s gives great examples on how to look at things and exercises to help you grow. This post is in reference to a chapter called Where Am I Going, and How Do I Get There? Followed by this quote, “The Christian Life and especially the contemplative life is a continued discovery in Christ in new and unexpected places” -Thomas Merton. What I got from that is I needed to shake things up and change what I’ve been doing.  I’ve certainly done that and have found a new understanding and appreciation for everything, especially God and my relationship with Him.

In this journey I’ve come up with a sort of regiment I try to stick with everyday. I have certain books I read, which I’ll list below, I have my Youversion Bible App Reading plans (youversion.com), I pray and then I also have my conversation and of course this wonderful Blog! Out of all of them the most intimate is of course my talks with God, the others are my road map and inspiration.

From an early age I think we all learn Matthew 6:9-13, which is a great passage and gives us a way to speak with God. I’d like to back up a bit to Matthew 6:5-8 When you pray don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for you Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

I really like to read that and think if God really knows you and you really know him, that IS true, he already knows. It’s like this, God is busy right, but he just wants to know you and take care of you and have a chat. Whoever doesn’t need a friend like that must be lost.

I’m really enjoying my new-found relationship with God, it didn’t cost a thing and I get a few things out of it.  Such as; eternal life in heaven, a good feeling in my soul and peace of mind knowing that I’m living a better life. Not too shabby.

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

-M

Reference I read daily:
- The Bible, duh.
- My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, Great daily devotional reading for a year
- Seeds of Faith by Jeremy Langford
-  Youversion.com Bible App. Great Daily Reading Plans, with tons of plans that you can choose for any   occasion and events going on in your life.