God's Relentless Pursuit

Wow! I have not been on here since July! Which really isn't too big of deal because their are onky a handful of people who even read these anyways:P

Anywho.....

I have been doing a lot o thinking an praying as of late to How good God really is. I mean I know we sing about it and talk about but do we actually believe it? I mean He has took me from a Drug addicted Loser headed for the grave or prison(whichever would have first) to a trophy in His massive showcase. He made me evrything I am today and for that I can't help but praise him. I don't think the same, look the same, act the same, or talk the same. I am truly a new creation in Christ Jesus(1Cor 5:17)!The same God who painted the skies, carved the canyons, planted the redwood trees, hung the galaxies,shaped the vallies, and turned water into wine longs after me. He is persistent, patient, loving, gentle, perfect, ever-present, soft-spoken, good, Holy, massively BIG,and relentless. He never faints or gets sick of us. He loves us all the same. We cannot earn his love nor escape it. We cannot live outlve Him and we cannot live with out him. No matter how far we run away from Him, we are always within his reach. The Psalmist penned " I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!"(Ps 139:7). We are nothing without Him, yet everything in Him. He is faithful even when were faithless because it is in His nature and he cannot deny Himself(2Tim 2:13). He is God, we are not. His purpose is to help you and give you an eternal Future(Jer 29:11). He will complete what he began in you(Phil 1:6). He is so good. He want's us to become less so he can become more(JN3:30). We can do nothing apart from or without Him knowing(Jn 15:5).
I know I've been rambling but I can't hold my love back from Him any longer! He has been reminding me of How he brough me up out of the muck and mire and set my feet upon a rock! I almost overdosed on drugs on several occasions and He kept me alive. There were nights when I don't even know how I got home and He protected me and everybody else on the road. I used to not be able to tell the truth and now I cannot tell a lie. He delivered me from the drugs,alcohol,lying,stealing,fear,epilepsy,prison,selfish ambition, greed,crime,bad relatonships,disease, and from death. I have truly been crucified with Him, it is no longer Ben Reed but it is His life in me(Gal 2:20). I have tasted and seen how good God truly is and I will never go back.I can't but He can!
Take sometime to reflect on how good God has been to you lately....

A Better Way

He came to show us a better way to live. He took upon Himself all of our garbage and turned it into riches. He left his throne in heaven so that He could come down to this sinful planet and show us another way. Another way to do this thing. A way that is better but that is also the only way. The way of life is narrow and few will find it. But the few that do will realize that it is the only way. The better way. He took our death and gave us life. He washed our feet and cleansed our hearts. He came to show us a better way. When it will hit us? When we finally die to ourselves and do things His way. The better way. The way that leads to the eternal life. The way that leads to the Father's heart. When will we quit turning away from Him? When will we realize that this is the only way. The better way.

I am.

I recently heard a sermon in which the preacher kept referring to Hebrews 13:8-Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Now, I have heard this passage on a number of occasions but never like I did on Sunday July 6, 2008. It was so powerful and timely that I begin to question why. Why are you giving me this now Lord? What are you trying to show me through this nugget of gold? And this is what I heard from the one is, and will always be, perfect.
" Ben, it wasn't the man or the day that made this real to you. It has always been there waiting for you to take hold of it. I am who I am. I am always and I am forever. I am there when you realize that you need me and I am there when you think you can do it on your own. I am there when you wake and when you sleep. I am there through the change of seasons, friendships, and emotions. I am the one who has always been right here waiting, watching,and loving you. I am the one who makes you and the one who breaks you. I am the the whisper in your ear and the beat in your heart. I am the reason you are who you are today. I never change because I am who I am. I am faithful through your doubts. I am loving you for who i made you to be. I am righteous and just. I am there in your problems and I am always the solution. I am slow to anger and quick to forgive. I am who I am can you not tell? I am the one who desires your company more than you desire mine. I am watching over you and your family. I am working out my plans for your life right now. I am who I am. I am in the oceans and in the galaxies. I am God and I am right here."

When God Moves

Is every promotion, gift, and/or oppurtunity from God? Or do we sometimes put God's name on these things to make us feel better about it. For example, lets just say I am a shaky Christain who still deals with some alcohol issues and needs a place to live. A friend of mine, owns an apartment which happens to be located directly above the bar that he also owns.He offers me a deal! He says that he will let me live in the apartment for free in exchange for bussing tables on the weekends. I get all excited, take the offer and thank God for blessing me. Afterall, I needed a place to live and job, and the man upstairs got me both.
Now, was this a gift from above or a lesson to be learned? Beings how, I (back to the example for a second) struggle with alcohol, living and working in a bar is probably not the best idea. God does not position us or set us up for failure, and if I (example again) took that offer I would more than likely fail.
So how do you know when God is truly moving? James says that we are not be deceived and that Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows(Jimmy 1:17)
It isn't just a coincidence that right before he tells us where our gifts come from that he warns us not to be decieved. When you are not close to Father, it is rather easy to mistake the devil's traps for God's treats. When God moves you know it because there is no other possible explantion. If it is good (beneficial to not only yourself but those around you) and perfect (so sweet that you know it had to come from God) and does not contradict anything the Bible says, then God is probably moving! And if your still not sure, than ask a God-fearing man or woman to pray with you on it.
So why am I even writing about this? Because I am sick and tired of seeing my friends walk in this deception and miss God's best for their lives. Just because a door is unlocked doesn't mean we got to walk through it.

I leave you with this short poem:
When God says yes, you will always know!
When God says no, wait for His best!

Personal Prayer (More of you and less of me, more of you, my majesty)

More of you and less of me, more of you, my majesty
Oh God!! I need you more today than I did yesterday and more now than ever before. May you give me the stength to make it all about you today! And may you give me the kind words that you would want me to say. Keep me from evil, lest I turn my back on you and walk the path of the prodigal. Give me a reason to stay Oh god!!! Help me to know your near. Give me a deeper passion and hunger for you because right now there is none!!Stir up a passion and an awe for you within my heart!! May what brings you tears bring me tears as well. May my life be so full of you that there is no trace of me left. More of you and less of me, more of you my majesty!! You never let me go and you never let me down!! You are so awesome and beautiful!! You ahve poured your life into mine in order to make me a vessel. I am a vessel made to hold your glory. I will not go down, I will come up!! I will not fall, I will stand!!! I can do all things in you, and nothing apart from you!! You are so good God!! What can I do to repay you!! Who am I to serve you? The Creator of everything longs for my attention. Now that, is simply amazing in itself!!
I pray that when people see me, that they would see you too. Be exalted over all my accomplishments and failures, above my humor and insensitivities, above my doubts and my fears, and above my ambition and my dreams. Everything I compare and contrast to you, wipe away!! Just give me more of you!! No matter how bad it hurts, just give me more of you!!!
More of you and less of me, more of you, my majesty

Most

Most people don't enjoy each day.
Some people actually try.
Most people just want their own way.
Some people don't and why?
Most people don't really care.
Some people search for it all.
Most people just sit and stare.
Some people strive towards the call.
Most people don't even understand.
Some people actually do.
Most people will live for their own plan.
Some people won't, will you?

Slow Down

It was supposed to be a fun way to burn some calories but instead it turned into a nightmare. I juked myself out so bad playing basketball that I rolled my left ankle. Basketball is definetely not my calling and it seems like everytime I play, I hurt my ankle. Is God trying to tell me not to play basketball or maybe He just wants me to slow down in general.
"Be Still, and know that I am God!!" is what He says in the book of Psalms. I usually and unstill, and try to figure things out without God! But God wants us just to STOP what were doing and aknowledge Him. After all, hasn't He earned it?
"Don't fit God into your schedule, fit your schedule into God!"