Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. -the book of Acts.
Here we read a quote from the ever-wise Gamaliel, the rabbi in which future apostle Paul came under, in which he states that these men (the disciples) be let go. Gamaliel understood the ways of God and understood that if men were really propogating lies God would deal with them in his manner. Although the council firmly believed everything the disciples said was false, Gamaliel remembered previous events of false prophets and how they were dealt with by God.
Two questions for me that arose from this scripture is:
1. What are YOU purposing in your life.
2. What is GOD purposing in your life.
I believe those are two drastically differently questions, and in these two questions we must search the answer within our souls.
What are the selfish plots/motives/desires of our life that God wants no part of. These selfish things wear us down, are a waste of our energy and ultimately cuase us not be fruitful.We wont be fighting against God.
But if I am doing the thing God is purposing in my life then I will be UNSTOPPABLE, as a wise Gamaliel says. Everything I do is working towards the kingdom that he is building and that is where I want to be.
May i purposes be HIS purposes…
So at the Ricebowl, the Chinese restaurant that I work at, we use plastic bags that say thank you like this.
You have seen them, they are everywhere. They are at the corner stores, dollar stores and mom & pop shops.
I thought to myself as I was watching a customer of ours walk out with a carryout order with Chinese goodness, “Did she feel the thank-you” that was plastered and printed all over the bag. She probably didnt I thought to myself.
Then God spoke to me.
“Are your Thank-You’s genuine?”
My answer: I think sometimes they are and sometimes they arent.
If you work in the service industry (Starbucks, Chilis etc.) its hard to wake up everyday and genuinely appreciate the guests that stroll through your work place and spend money in the business you work in. Some days you wake up and are genuinely excited about saying “Thank-You” with smile ear-to-ear. Some days you wake up and hate each person that walks through those doors, and wonder why they are wasting their money at the place your working at.
But I hate to admit that I am like that with God, its all dependent about how I am feeling. And I dont want it to be, I want to have genuineness with God every time I wake up and speak to him.
And the word that pops up as I write this is: gratefulness
The challenge for me (maybe for you) to really say thank-you to God and really appreciate everything he has done for us, everyday. And I believe as a result I (maybe you) will genuinely say thank-you to everyone that we see and meet and be able to share the genuine love of Christ, this love that has not been withheld from us at all.
BTW: Thanks! for reading my ramblings.
Tonight I was reminded again that doing kingdom work isn’t complex but rather simple. It isn’t a position/ going up the ladder job. Rather it is upside down from the corporate world. As a wise man taught me several times “How low can you go?” I was challenged with alot of situations I face daily here on staff at church.
Its not sitting on the chair in front of masses rather stacking these chairs.
Its not teaching in front of the masses its swishing the toilet wand around the bowl.
Its not standing back like “I have arrived” rather its sitting in on a table conversation saying “I still need God’s grace.”
Its not planning or visioneering the next but being active in the now.
To sum it all up = PRIDE
Where have you gone HUMILITY?
Man it is such an awesome opportunity to be able to be a part of God’s work. Able to be a part of God’s power in changing lives. Many people go through their whole lives wanting to be a part of this, this revolution, this concept that God’s love is REAL. I believe that God’s pure gift of love can change people’s lives, and it has! I hung out with this guy named Kevin here at REAL Church, man God’s love has changed him. He came into this building pursuing worldly love, instead he found the REAL love of Christ. This love that is so amazing, pure with no strings attached. Now he comes to church twice a week not to just hear the word, but also to be a part of the Kingdom work that is happening here in this city, this place we call Hamtramck. God’s love is REAL. Be a part of the Kingdom work that is happening everyday in this city!
Wanted to give some big ups to my pastor: Chilly Chilton
Dude I have learned so much from my pastor over the years, he is so funny, cool and a straight up honest man of God. I am so thankful for this opportunity I have to serve under him in this place we call Hamtramck or the center of the universe. I am so blessed to be able to learn from him now and all the others lessons that I have learned from him in the past. It is unbelievable how much wisdom he has and you can talk to him about any topic from sports to the Holy Spirit and he will profound you with how much information he has. I have had the blessed opportunity to see how REAL he is not just on Sundays but day in and day out. Man he teaches me so much from daily life to prayer. Words cant express how much he has taught me and how much he has prayed for me and loved me and had patience for me. I wanted to give some “e-props”. Dude no one has a better pastor than mine.
And I am definitely thankful for it too.
