All or Nothing.

I had the opportunity of serving the Lord at a Junior High Camp held by the youth group at my church. Over 300 students and leaders were there to spend time in the word, in worship, and fellowship with one another. It was an amazing time and I cherished every minute of the four days that we were at NorthBay Camp.

On the last night of programs, one of the teaching pastors told us about an analogy using a chicken drumstick. He compared an uneaten drumstick to our life that should be used as an offering to God, uneaten and untouched. As we was taking bites out of the chicken, he was saying how that is what we offer up to God in regards to our life. It's not pleasant to the eye, and no one wants a half-eaten piece of chicken or even just the bone for that matter.

When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.
[Malachi 1:8]

God wants all of us or nothing at all.
Coming into camp, I was holding onto something that was dear to me. Something that I kept inside myself and only a few others knew about. I held onto it hoping that it would someday happen, but that wasn't healthy in my relationship with Christ. It was getting in the way many, many times and I didn't want to give it up. I was stubborn and I was taking the wheel, not Jesus (ala Carrie Underwood's song and another Mike Reed analogy). I finally found enough strength to let go and let God.

And once more. My verse for the summer:

What is more, I consider EVERYTHING a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
[Philippians 3:8]

What are you holding onto that is keeping you from surrendering fully to the Lord?

You won't relent until You have it all.

Prayer 8.25.10

Father
i come to You with a heavy heart.
i have lots on my mind weighing down on me
but i thank You for giving me peace in Your precious Son
Christ Jesus.
i worry.
i overthink.
i cry.
over material, worldly, and stupid things.
but Your word and Your promises keep me going throughout the day.
i walk by faith, and not by sight
knowing that You are with me always
to the ends of the earth.
day or night
Your light shines ever so brightly.
my dependence on You grows each passing day.
relationships, academics, my life, and my heart
i lay it at Your feet.
i am Yours
let Your will be done.
love.

Father's Day.

While reading my daily chapter of Proverbs, I came across this verse that came from the Almighty Father this Father's Day morning.

Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
[Proverbs 19:26]

I feel like God is not only scolding me, but also encouraging me at the same time to get back on track and get into the word daily because I haven't been using my time wisely these last couple of days.

Awesome.

love.
-------
side notes:
yes it is 4:45am and i have to be at church at 7:45am.
i'm tired, but not sleepy
this fly keeps jumping/flying back onto my arm no matter how many times i flick it
happy father's day to all you dads out there
don't forget our heavenly Father as well :)

Forgiven.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
[Ephesians 4:32]

I read this list online about forgiveness (http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org/?p=4257):
1. I won’t bring the offense up to the person, except for his benefit;
2. I won’t bring the offense up to others; and (hardest of all)
3. I won’t bring the offense up to myself. I will not go over it and think about it and dwell upon it.

When we sin, God forgives us regardless of what we've done. Christ's death on the cross was THE ultimate sacrifice for sins of the past, present, and future.

I choose to forgive because I am forgiven

love.

My Prayer For Tonight.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
[Psalm 139:23-24]

"Our fear is of the Lord Himself and not His laws. Once we step away from the fear of Him, then the Laws become important because of tradition. The Pharisees and Sadducees had this very problem. They got around 'breaking' the Law by careful arguments and procedures. However, if we obey because He is the keeper of the Laws, then we need to be much more careful. He knows when our hearts are not cheerfully doing His laws and cutting corners. Fearing the LORD Himself holds us personally accountable."


love.

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble.

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."
[Exodus 16:6-8]

"My complaining may focus on another person. That may be where my eyes are, but my real complaint is not with people. My complaint is with God and He hears it...When you and I receive painful consequences for our behavior and attitudes, we need to remember that this is not retaliation by God; He "retaliates" with faithfulness and blessings."
-James MacDonald [Our Journey, 6/1/10]

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
[1 Peter 5:7]

An excerpt from the ESV Study Bible:
Worry is a form of pride because it involves taking concerns upon oneself instead of entrusting them to God. Believers can trust God because, as their Father, he cares for them.

This is what I needed to read today. Good thing I found my study Bible on the bookshelf in the guest room. Thank you Lord for showing this to me tonight.

-Ant