amputated

"it is better to enter into life maimed but lovely in God's sight,
than to appear lovely to man's eyes but lame to God's." - OC
"...There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. When God changes you through regeneration, giving you new life through spiritual rebirth, your life initially has the characteristic of being maimed..." These words really struck me today - to what lengths will we go to maintain a healthy connection with God? Most of us go through life with dead limbs hanging off our spiritual bodies - unwilling to really part with the things that have been put to death or hinder the health of our relationship with our Creator. There is the pride sometimes of possessing the freedom to do all things, but it is a sacrifice of love that will say "You mean more to me than doing this. I choose to cut it from my life so that I can get closer with You."
To the world we will look like an amputee - unable to participate in all the activities they enjoy, but to God we are beloved children that will one day be "perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matt.5:48

what is God's vision and purpose for me?

His purpose is for me to depend on Him and His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish - His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is to see "him walking on the sea" with no shore, no success, no goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea". It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.
God's purpose is to enable us to see that He can walk on the storms of our lives right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.
-Oswald Chambers

hold your horses!

I would have been a perfect Alec Ramsey. I always wondered why Walter Farley had not penned me into his epic story The Black Stallion. Perhaps it was because I had not been born yet...
Since I was a little grommit growing up, I loved horses. I loved everything that had to do with horses. I pretty much loved every book, movie, or farm that had to do with horses. I rode horses. I lost riders off of horses. I drew horses. I wrote about horses. I dreamed about horses... you get my point!
There was something majestic and powerful that exuded from their strong frames each time I saw one go full throttle that left me speechless in wonder. Something sweet in the harmony of pounding hoofs drumming along the ground that made my heart race. Something about the strength and power that was reigned into their regal bodies that commanded my respect.
The Black Stallion was one of my favourite classic movies of all time, and one of the most beautiful horses I had laid eyes on as a child... Here was a tale of two polar opposite creatures forging a remarkable friendship: a young scruff of a boy, and a wild, uncontrollable stallion. Stranded on an island, the boy gently befriends the beast and they become inseperable. Though wild and full of energy, the horse slowly submits its will to the child - to the point of allowing the boy to climb upon his back and ride - without saddle, without bit or bridle. I think it is one of my favourite scenes in the movie when Alec and Black take a run down the beach - in tune with nothing else in the world but their new-found friendship.

God reminded me of this story the other nite at Revoltuion. Apparently I don't make a good Alec Ramsey...but a better horse. Like the stallion, I am full of energy and wildness. I was stranded. I was befriended by a humble child - born in a manger. I forged a friendship that changed my life. And I wanted to submit my energy and passion to the still small voice of the One who loves me, and go racing through life at full throttle, in tune to the promises of the One who is riding me...
"I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control..." - Psalm 32:8-9
You see, sometimes I get a little eager...I get a little out-of-hand, and there are times when I have to be controlled and reigned in by the Father. It's not that I don't want to listen, but, when I allow my steps to be persuaded by an unharnessed passion to just live for God, I can miss the instruction of my Master. Eagerness can cost the race when it is not coupled with obedience. An eager horse that is uncontrollable will always lose, but the horse that has submitted it's will, passion, and energy, and has tuned its eagerness to wait on the direction of its rider will be first out of the blocks and finish with excellence.
God doesn't want to go through life bridling His children...He wants to develop relationship and have you so in tune with Him that you can finish with excellence. He wants you to trust Him with your passion and direction so that you will submit them into His hands. He wants you to quiet down so you can hear Him speaking....And some days, His desire will be to take you to the beaches of life to enjoy the freedom of running full throttle, bareback and unbridled, at One with your Creator.

are we there yet?!!!

This is the classic of all road trip phrases…often said in exasperation and impatient anticipation. Having become a road trip fanatic in the past few years, I have become savvy in the etiquette of long milers and have refrained from uttering such phrases. If only I could be so disciplined in life…
Our anxiety and analytical mindset of having to know EVERYTHNG RIGHT NOW often kills spontaneity and adventures can be missed. We become so focused on the facts, or getting there the fastest way possible that we miss out on the ride or random roadside escapades.
God’s been teaching me heaps about trust lately, and ironically enough He used the example of a road trip. I had the awesome opportunity to take Casper up north a couple weekends ago with some friends. As yacking usually goes, you tend to not be as attentive to road signs, and to make a long story short, we missed our cutoff to the “fastest way”. What a great opportunity to take the scenic route and create adventures of our own. A 3 hour trip turned to 5, and with a plethora of crazy pics and random finds (aka couches) along the way, we finally arrived at the cottage.During our stay, “interesting things” happened (now there’s something new in my life!) that caused me to really question God on His reasoning. What was the purpose? Why did these things happen? What the heck was going on?!!! And for a moment I became the whiny kid in the back seat "Why are we turning here? Why are we going down this road? Are we there yet?!!!"
I could almost hear God’s sigh.
And in my spirit I knew I wasn’t going to get an answer - not the one I was looking for anyways!
“My child…do you not trust me enough to know there are reasons I take certain roads. There is purpose in each stop. But that’s not important for you to worry about…the details are not as exciting as the ride! Enjoy the drive! Enjoy the changing scenery. Trust me enough to know that I am taking you the best way…that the destination will far exceed your expectation.”
And there was peace.
Peace in the fact that I didn’t have to know why He was going down the road. Peace in my knowledge that He is a giver of good gifts - perfect in His timing, and precise in His execution of His plans. It’s not that we cannot question Him on things, but sometimes He just wants us to enjoy the road, find amusement in the quirky adventures we find ourselves in, and trust that He will lead us into something amazing.
So buckle up little buddy…

a new day has come...

I've had this worship song playing in my head for the past 24 hours...there's something stirring in the world. It's exciting to be a part of that...

It's time. Time for the dead and gone
Time for the broken ones to live again
It's time. Time for the dead to rise
Time for the wings to fly to live again

I can hear the calling
I can hear the sound of rain
Over the mountains and over the valleys
I hear the calling it's time

It's time. Time for the dead to sing
Time for the walls to ring
With the songs of freedom
It's time. Time for the numb to feel
Time for the wounds to heal
With the songs of freedom

I can hear the calling
I can hear the sound of rain
Over the mountains and over the valleys
I hear the calling it's time

It's time. Time for the tide to turn
Time for our hearts to burn with a desperation
It's time. Time for a sacrifice
It's time that we paid the price for our generation

Over the mountains and over the valleys
I hear the calling it's time
Over the cities and all through the nations
I hear the Saviour...I know it's time