Backwards

Temptation has been the latest topic we've been discussing in teen world at Mayfair. Our latest series entitled, "Pause: Because Everybody struggles" has been happening for the last month or so. We've gone back to the temptations of Jesus to try to figure a few things out.

I have learned a lot through this series. In particular, I continue to be drawn back to Jesus' second temptation. The temptation to test God. Satan took Jesus to the highest point of the temple & says Jump! The temptation? If Jesus jumps from the temple, angels will come to his rescue. All the priests, high priests, chief priests, religious leaders, the "who's who" of Jesus' day & time will know right then & there that Jesus is who he says he is & that Yahweh has great concern for this One. In fact, the stories might be true that when this man was baptized, a voice from heaven proclaimed, "This is My Son in Whom I AM well pleased!" (my paraphrase.) The temptation? To manipulate God to act on his behalf. To test God. To make plans & take actions & then ask God on the back end to bless those plans & actions.

How often do we do the same thing? Jump into something because it's what we want & then ask God to bless us. Ask God to intervene. If only we would start with God. If only I would start with God, with God's desires, with God's purposes in mind & ask Him what I should do to fulfill His plans. I know I'm so guilty of this. I take my "great" ideas & put them into action & ask God to bless them.

I've got it all backwards. It should all begin with God. He will bless those things He intends to happen. O that His desires would become my desires & His ways my ways. Help me Father to begin with You & let everything else go & evaporate into nothingness. And help me to be ready to go in the direction you point me in, knowing You have gone before me. Thank you, Father.

Pray for Siberia

Just a quick note to ask you to pray for my good friend Jon Owen & his mission team over in Siberia today. Check out his blog to read his updates. They have an amazing opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of some precious children for the name of Christ. As they work this week to share the love of Christ with the needy, the downtrodden, the "least of these," let's join them & encourage them through prayer. As Jon says, "Jesus had a tendency to be drawn to the rejected. Pray this week for the rejected to be drawn to Jesus."


http://jonowen.blogspot.com/

Change

I've ignored this blog for so long, I don't think anyone checks it anymore. That's probably a good thing. In so many things I'm consistent, & in so many other things I'm inconsistent. This is one of those things. And while I doubt that will really change, I know I should be more faithful in putting my thoughts out there. If for no other reason than the simple fact that it forces me to think. So maybe this should change.

I've never been a fan of change for the sake of change. I'm not talking about the coinage rattling around in my pocket. I mean changes in life. Not all changes are good things, but in reality many are. Mostly, I find I'm most concerned with change that affects me. And yet that is such a godless approach to life.

Change should be a God centered event. I've always loved Abraham's story. God called him to a land he did not know. A direction he had never been before. Without reason & without explanation Abraham picked up his family & all his positions & went where God led him. I've always hoped I would have that kind of faith. The faith to make a God change in my life.

This year has been a year of change. The birth of our son has been the biggest change event in our lives this year. His introduction into the world was a God event. It's been a good change.

And more change is coming our way. I hope I can embrace change the way men of faith have always embraced it. With faith & trust in God. Knowing He has something better in mind. Perhaps change is just one more tool in God's box to draw us closer to Himself. I hope so. I look forward to the journey.