It Wasn't Me

The number one question I get from being in Seminary is "What do you want to do when you get out?"  It's a very good question and I tend to ask people the same thing.  Now I know have certain gifts and know certain things I'm good at.  Yet, sometimes it's hard to practically place these things to form a career.  I don't feel like I'm a very dynamic speaker, so I question whether or not preaching is what I'm called to do.  I am currently planning a ministry that is so far over my head I have no business talking about.  Yet, deep down I expect greatness.  I expect to make a difference in this world.  So how do I feel so inadequate to serve, yet have so much confidence in the future.  It is because my God and Holy Spirit is so much greater than anything I could provide.  I do have strengths, but they are given by God.  Let me give you some examples of how this message sparked and I gained a lot more trust in the Holy Spirit the last few weeks.

Many of you know I like writing letters of encouragement to people.  About two weeks ago I had it on my heart to communicate some things to a few people, but they weren't necessarily like my normal messages.  One was to a person I've never written too before.  It was encouraging, but I wasn't sure how they would accept this message.  A second letter basically was written to bring comfort to a struggle that I wasn't even sure was occurring.  I told this person to follow God and seek His guidance in something I merely assumed they were dealing with.  I later thought to myself, Alex you're an idiot.  You don't know what's going on in their life.  The other I just had a overwhelming desire to show my appreciation to one of my friends.  We don't share our feelings much, so I wasn't exactly sure how he would respond.  I say this to illustrate that after I sent these messages I had doubt and even regret to some extent to sending them.  I just wasn't sure how they would respond.  Then their responses came. 

The first person told me that they hadn't had their usual joy at work and had even been snappy with a couple of people.  They said they went to the break room and read my e-mail and were reminded of who they were in Christ.  They told me that their students noticed a difference in their demeanor immediately when they got back to the classroom.  They even asked where all the joy came from.

The second person confessed to me that they had been struggling with exactly what I had assumed.  They said they needed encouragement and it just really motivated them to know someone was identifying with them and praying for them. 

The third person said that they were getting so caught up in their studies they began to lose sight of their purpose.  They said my e-mail helped him realize his purpose in their hard work.  He said it was exactly what he needed to joyfully press on.

All three made a statement that they knew my message was from God.  I have preached a couple of sermons and some more messages in small groups and always received great feedback.  I watch my videos and am almost embarrassed about my nervousness and how I stumble through messages.  It isn't good.  But God works through them.  The Holy Spirit is in my conversations, guiding my heart, and letting the Words of God transform lives.

So I say all this for a couple of reasons.  First, if you think you are weak and only capable of simple things and that you can't impact the kingdom, then I praise God for your humility.  But never doubt that God created you for a purpose and will use you to glorify His name.  If you have identified you're strengths and are using them, I pray that you always remember they are from God.  Keep giving thanks and using what you've been given to win souls for Christ.  Thirdly, recognize that the Holy Spirit is using mundane tasks to reveal God to people.  Recognize what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life.  If you are obedient to the word of God you will know how to wisely approach the world and to live.  If you are desperately praying for God  you will form an adoration for Him and a humility about yourself.  By seeking after God, He will delight in sending His Spirit to work through you.  Take confidence in this because He can do mightier things through you than you could ever do for yourself.  I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but I know it's going to be great and God will use it somehow.  I am just going to closely listen for His direction.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31  "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not may were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

If all you know is Jesus Christ and Him crucified then that is more than enough.  For our wisdom comes from Him.  So boast about His name because though we are weak we will shame the strong.  I pray that each accomplishment we have we will recognize how God simply used us to bring glory to Himself. 

I have a few things on my mind right now so expect some more posts in the next couple of days.  Love you guys!

I Can Relate

Sorry I have been a slacker, but I'm going to get my blog rolling again.  In Mark 2:17 Jesus tells the Pharisees that, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."  This was His response after the Pharisees were questioning why He was eating with Levi and the other tax collectors.

First a couple of observations.  Only sick people need a doctor.  People are not stated as righteous, they only think that they are righteous.  And Jesus came to call sinners.

You know what unbelievers can't stand the most within the church?  Hypocrites.  You know what Jesus couldn't stand the most? Hypocrites.  Jesus wants to transform us from the inside out, not look pretty on the outside and be empty on the inside. 

I personally want to live above reproach, as the Bible tells me too, and I strive to do so.  I want to be a strong leader that is building up the body of Christ.  Yet, if I put off the impression that I have it all figured out I apologize.  I struggle daily with trying to discern what God wants for my life, if I'm living for myself or glorifying God, or just what is the right thing to do in daily situations.  Praise God for that.  This forces me to go to the Bible for answers.  This forces me to cry out to God because I have no idea of where to go.  All I know is that I want to glorify God and I have to trust that He will lead me there.  I didn't come to Seminary and get all the answers.  I live my life trying to love God and love people and trusting that He will be faithful in that.  That's all I really know to do.

So don't let Satan defeat you in your struggle.  STAND firm until the end knowing that you serve a Lord who loves sinners and will gladly come to you when your broken.  We are only strangers in a foreign land.  So like the Israelites wondering in the wilderness, we are merely living here temporarily until we are called to our permanent home in heaven.

We all have a purpose in our life.  We don't always know the clear cut way to do everything, but God is beckoning for us to come into relationship with Him.  Questions are okay, but always remain faithful knowing God hears your cries.  Sit down and find your rest in Him.  God holds everything together and you can find all the comfort you need in that.  Struggling is normal and will continue to happen, simply realize we are sick and need a doctor.

And those of you who think you are righteous and have it all together, I would check yourself.  I'm just saying that there are a lot of uncertainties in life and we need God.  Realizing that we are sinners in need of God is humbling, and by doing so we can truly consider others better than ourselves and genuinely love God's people.  God is good and will help us in our time of need.

Love you guys.  Keep praying that God would use us to do incredible things for His glory.  Keep in mind the price Jesus paid for the penalty of our sins, and if that doesn't humble you than nothing will.  Have a great week!  And pray that Hud and Constance have a beautiful wedding and marriage.

Love Conquers All

I went to church tonight and the guy told a story on the power of love.  He said during the Roman Empire when Marcus Aurelius was in power, Rome experienced many plagues.  Upon many people being deathly ill, many of the pagan people fled and tossed their sick ones out on the street to die.  However, many Christians stayed and took care of the sick and ministered to them about Christ.  Almost all of them took on the disease themselves because they were around the sick people, but they died serenely happy because they were serving and offering love to others.  Because of this sacrificial love people were blown away.  The culture completely changed in Rome and a reformation started.

Everyone in the world is seeking love and everyone in this world has hurt and pain that we don't know about.  Pray daily for a love for people.  Pour out everything you have in loving others and see how God provides for you in the process.  In order to share the Gospel or disciple others or anything else, your heart has to be overflowing with love.  I just want to share how thankful I am for the love shown to me in my life.  I don't know who all reads this thing, but from my family to my friends to my church to the people in Dallas I feel more loved than anyone else in the world.  There is no greater encouragement and it is so powerful.  So take this as an encouragement to you.  I could individually name everyone, but it would take me forever.  But at the same time I don't want you to take this as a generalization and take it lightly.  The love I have received from my family, friends, and church has spurred me on so much in my faith and molded me into the person I am.  I know what it is to love others, because I have received so much love.  So I genuinely thank God for all of you that He put in my life.

Keep on demonstrating that love to others and see how present the Holy Spirit is in your life.  See what God does through your community if you are giving your life to loving Him and His people.  Love is more powerful than you could ever imagine and people need it so much.  They want it so much.  So take a good look at your relationships and see if you are pouring love into them.  If not, ask God for help.  I guarantee He will change your heart and change lives.  Love you guys and I'll try to start posting more frequently.