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Slowly but surely!
15 years ago
Saturday, September 27, 2008
I am learning to answer...
the door when it comes to opportunities. They tend to knock at the weirdest times (well for me at least) and they usually teach me a pretty life changing lesson. These moments are not random or chance, they are God-moments that He puts in my life that meet and teach me when I am ready to sit and listen.
I have been on a journey with God to really understand and live out the life He intended for us to live. Right now, it has sat me down at understanding opportunities. When I was a middle school pastor, I think I missed a bunch of opportunities in my personal life that God was wanting to do. I was about myself to a degree and really was focused more on the convenience of my life than answering to God's lesson. If you interviewed me then, I would have responded with..."I have to focus on middle school. I don't have time for ____________(fill in the blank)." I had the time, but not the heart. When I say heart, I mean the love of Christ to the point of setting my life, time, and everything else to the side to accomplish both big and small for the Kingdom.
This gets me to an encounter I had in Homewood the other day. I was finishing up my day of graphics, job hunting, etc at O'henry's when I decided to walk store to store on the strip. So, I made my way around. If you have never done that in old historic Homewood, then you need too. So, I made my trek around the strip and was 100 yards from my car when a lady stopped me in the middle of the street. "Excuse me sir....", she said. I already knew what she was going to say: "I need something." (Don't be self-righteous it goes through everybody's head) - Well, I of course politely responded, "Yes, ma-am...can I help you?" "Do you have any change or money that I can have for food", she asked. I responded, "no..I never carry cash...just plastic (check card)." So...I apologized and started to make what seemed like the longest turn of my life (think of the movie the Matrix - that kind of slow). I started rambling in my heart and head..check the ramble below:
I would love to help her, but no money.
If I gave her money, would she really use it for food or drugs or something else?
I could buy her food with my check card.
I am only 50 yards away from my car.
Wow, I am Deja Vu - (this was my ADD acting up in the midst of this)
I really want to help her...
God responds quietly: Least of these You help me...
I need to save...there is bound to be someone else..
I am called to live a life that loves and serves...
I need Jesus to be Jesus in the situation....I am doing this.
::Above: I put this here because I wanted to show that we all walk through this process in our mind and heart (at least I think so)::
"You know...let's go get ya something", I said with a smile as I turned back around.
I ended up going to 8 (kid you not) different eateries because she didn't like certain foods. I found out that she was a hurricane refugee. She and her family fled up here from Ike. Most of her family is now back home but her and her little girl still live in a cheap hotel with no job and hardly any money. My heart broke. Her life displaced and she is just trying to survive. I kind of know that feeling in other realms of my life. So, I ended up finding a place that she liked and I bought her food. I wish I could of done more. I wish as a Believer I wish I could have done more. I would have loved to be "Extreme Home makeover" and build her a house, but I think the sandwich and my patient meant more to her.
I would have never had the opportunity to let God not only use me but change me IF I hadn't answered when He knocked in the middle of the street. I walked away from that encounter with a deeper passion for people. I walked away with a deeper passion for helping the body of Christ be the real body of Christ in this world. I think we miss so many God-moments because of our reserves and comfort zones. Whether or not the lady's story was legit, I was called to serve and reach out to her. She knew I was a believer because I talked to her about it. So..I really wrote this to encourage all to take those opportunities when they knock and open the door. It will be uncomfortable, uneasy, and totally against your flesh, BUT when you respond...the experience is unexplainable. much luv~cham
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Today has been incredible day. It started at 6:30am. Don't ask me why, but I wake around that time every morning. This morning was different...this day was different. I woke up and the first thing was "Good morning God". I know that might sound corny or cheesy, but for real. It was like He was the one waiting on me to wake up and I was excited like a child in a candy store to get up at that point. This day was incredible not because something miraculous happen, but just because of God. I was privileged to help some friends out. I was encouraged by others. I saw God's universal church work the way it suppose to be. I laughed at Milo's. I laughed outside of Milo's. I laughed at a text from my conversation at Milo's. I enjoyed a San Marcos brew of coffee at O'Henry's and played the job market all day. It is just a good day. I think the coolest was God just re-energizing me by revealing to me who He is in my life. It is just cool. Through that, He gas'd up my passion for a certain group of people. So much vision and clarity, it makes me smile. I guess I share this because to anyone who reads this I just try to be real. I have good, great, worst, and crazy moments, but its all good. Its my life and I don't intend to hide behind the mask or be cookie cutter. I want realness, so I try to show it. I want people to see a Loving God who interacts with a person who doesn't have it all together. My life is focused and laid back...my God is great and I hope to rep' Him well. much luv~cham
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that really don’t matter…”
-Tim KizziarThis is the quote that hit me deep at Starbucks back in May of this year. My priorities have become totally rearranged since then. I find the things that use to be a big deal in my world to really now be crap. It wasn't like I was leading a different life, I just was being successful in things that really didn't matter. I was successful in pride. I should have recieved a trophy. I was successful in selfishness. I should have made the news. I was successful at being successful. I have been to places, worked at places, and had a pretty good work resume. Life revolved around...me . I was successful at that. Now in every area this didn't apply, but still. I think God used my successfulness in the wrong to carry out His right, I just didn't see it. It wasn't until I read this quote(and book) and God himself penetrated 29 years of independence and self-reliance. I say this because the more I talk to people and the more I watch people, I realize who I use to be and what I was. Again, I wasn't leading a double life, but in my mind it was just as bad. If anything, I just want to say to any and all who read this is to ask yourself what are you successful in? No, I am not trying to do the Southern Style of Convicting, I am not your Holy Spirit. I do have a passion to see people live in freedom and to experience life though, and that is why I ask. So... what are YOU successful? What are you trying to succeed in? I will already give you the spoiler, ANYTHING A PART FROM WALKING IN A LOVE RELATIONSHIP(A TRUE LOVE RELATIONSHIP) WITH GOD WILL END IN EMPTINESS AND UN-FULFILLMENT. I have been fortunate to come to the conclusion that life is not only short, it is delicate. We can parade about living a great life, but if we separate ourselves from the Life-Giver and the destiny that He has for us then will it really be great? I had to ask myself those tough questions. My heart and mind didn't want to answer those questions. They found them disturbing, challenging, and exposing. It just really bums me out to see others miss out on greatness in God because they are successful in crap. That is all it is. It is 12:45am. Again, I am not really sure why I am writing, maybe it was just reading that quote again. I am to tired to check for errors, so please forgive me and don't be successful in the wrong things... with love: cham
is questions. Most of the time, I have way more questions than I have answers. I know with me, answers seem to be the...well answer to all that I need. Some people call it closure or other words, but ultimately an answer brings the unknown...known. We lose sleep, time, life, etc.., over trying to find an answer to a problem a lot of times. It could be personal, scientific, financial, or a life changing question. Still, we are looking for an answer to our question.
I think God loves questions. They keep us needing....Him. Whether or not we go to Him for the answer is upon that individual's choice. When we direct our questions to Him then we are showing our dependency and need for Him. Yeah, it might be a frustrated or bitter question to Him and at Him, but nonetheless it is still showing that we "need". I think God design questions for that reason....to get us to a point of "needing" Him. If we had all the answers right now, how "needy" would we be? We wouldn't. Questions bring that sense of need that should propel us toward seeking the answer in Christ. Ultimately, questions to Him should bring a life change. How? If we are really wanting answers, then we are going to listen to the One that can bring it, enlighten it, and explain it. The question has now laid a stepping stone for us to get closer to God (if we seek to ask God). Wanting to the answer from God will change you. I have been reading through Philippians 4. It says not to worry about everything (needing answers), but go to God with thankfulness, prayer, and supplication. From my own experience, God has changed me through me seeking answers. I haven't even come close to getting all the answers I want, but I really don't care at this point. My questions have led me to get to know God more personable, more intimate. In fact, I am coming to the point of just saying, my answers are pointless compared to hanging out with God. So, questions are helpful. Make sure you seek the answer(s) in Christ and not in anyone else.
Monday, September 22, 2008
ContentmentActually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. ~ Paul (Phil 4 Msg)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
placing different people in my life lately who are walking through their "past" and "forgiveness". It has been has been very cool to see how God uses circumstances in our lives to be able to reach out to others. I do not feel adequate in helping people with there issues, but some how God keeps using me and the dusty trail that I have walked on. Two things that I have learned from these encounters is:
1) Bitterness is a roommate that will stay with you for life until you evict it out.
2) Life is to short to not live in freedom.
I have personally met some people who think they are free, but are not. Why? Because they have fooled themselves or have been fooled by our enemy into thinking that they are free. Some of them are scared to deal with becoming free because they don't know what it looks like. In fact, they rather live in the bondage because they are familiar with the end result (because it cycles every time). Freedom scares them because they are afraid of the vulnerability that it brings. Ultimately to find freedom, we need to forgive those in our past. Check out this quote below:
"Those who have truly helped others experience their freedom in Christ will testify that Unforgiveness forgiveness of others is the primary issue that needs to be resolved. by Christians affords Satan his greatest access to the Church, and many believers are bound to the past because they have failed to forgive others as Christ has forgiven them." ~Neil Anderson
Anderson also said,
"Some people react negatively to the idea of forgiving others, because they see it as another form of victimization."
Life is to short to allow some many things to rob us of the blessings that God has given us and the future that He has prepared for us. Forgiveness is not weakness, IT IS FREEDOM. It is not saying what happen to us was right or ok, on the contrary, it is pouring out the poison from the event and beginning a true healing. Forgiveness is something that you can only give willingly. Are you free?
I am not sure my point in this blog, it is just something that popped in my head today and I needed to jot it down. much love, Cham
Monday, September 15, 2008
Failing Objects...
I am a multitasker. This morning I was sitting in the kitchen editing some video while drinking coffee, reading, and listening to the TV. As I was doing this, I locked in on an interview with Shirley McLane on TV. Now for most of you, she is probably to old of an actor for you to know. Anyway, her spirituality is based on psychic energy, crystals, and UFOs.
During the interview I locked in on, she was explaining to the host how she sees UFOs all the time. She sees them on her ranch, on outings, pretty much everywhere. She claims they are all around. So.., the interesting thing to me was when the host looked to the audience and asked, "how many of you in the audience believe in UFOs?" You here 1 or 2 fearful claps among the mass of people. Most of the their faces (thank God for Tivo for me to rewind this event) were like "girl, what'chu been smokin?" They looked at her as a freak for believing in something that was "off the chart". I thought the same thing.
This got me thinking. We look at people who believe in "things" like that and automatically assume they are "out there". I think the interesting thing is most people on this earth believe in UFOs...Unidentified Failing Objects (not to be corny). Hear me out. As crazy as it seems to believe in little green men, could it be just as crazy for people to revolve their life around "failing objects", "temporal objects"? What do you mean? I walk this world daily and see people who have addictions, who have greed, who have hurt that is filled briefly with things that seem to fix it but doesn't, and those who just fill it with stuff. You ask them "is that what life is about...the stuff?" They probably would say yeah. Shouldn't we look at that as being crazy as we would look at someone who believes in aliens? Shouldn't we feel a deep sense of pity for those filling their hurt and hollowness with "junk"? They are basing their entire life around "things" that will not go beyond 80 years old (if they make it to human life expectancy). They believe that if I gain this or that, or fill my life with that or this, then life will pan out, I will be happy. Failing Objects...so many chase them as passionate as real UFO hunters..and yet we don't find that weird. We don't find that disturbing. It should make one think, why do I chase things? Why was I created with this desire to chase, to fill, to find a permanent fix. I think the answer is to the Heavens, to the One who made them. No matter what you fill your life with (UFOs), you are not going to be content if it doesn't have Jesus Christ in it (in the CENTER). You will just chase and chase things with no ends and no reality unless you lay it down and place your purpose seeking heart into the hands of God. Anyway, this may be out there like UFOs, but it is what happens when you don't proof read, lack in sleep, hyped on caffeine, and editing.
"You can have it all. My empire of dirt." ~ Johnny Cash
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