The Planet of Cham

get overwhelmed from time to time. I may not show it, but I do. I allow things to overwhelm me to the point of frustration, aggravation, and sometimes apathy every so often. It might just be for a a few minutes or a few days, but it happens. It can happen to the best of us. We all process things different, but we all eventually get overwhelmed, burned out, tired, and ready to go run off somewhere or quit. Most of the time it pushes us to go in to a "coasting" mode. We just coast through everything whether it is directly associated with the situation that is overwhelming us or not. We just don't feel like doing anything. I have found out how to battle this. Its find a hiding place.

     I have been locked in to a song called "Hiding Place" by New Life Worship. It is an incredible song. To sum up the song, it pretty much sings about finding a resting place in God. I think that is so key. I am find out that no matter where I am, at what time, or what is happening, I can take a few minutes to get in to my hiding place. This hiding place is the presence of God. The psalmist say, "in your presence there is fulness of joy". That is so true. When I find myself overwhelmed with life's issues, events, or problems, I take a minute to get in to God's presence...even if it's just a few minutes. I makes a world of difference. HE recharges you, and takes away that weight that feels so heavy from the situation that you are in. I am learning more and more that it's God's presence is where we thrive and survive. I leave you with the lyrics of the song...

"Hiding Place" by New Life Worship

Below are some just things that I have learned and picked up over this past year...no specific order. 

1) Friends - You have to have them. They are the ones willing to follow you into the darkness of your life. They wade in the muck with you. They are there to laugh, cry, chill, listen, and to correct you when you get outline. They are there to correct and help.  I am grateful for all my friends.

2) Adventures - These are needed. They keep us in check. The adventure can be anything. Fun, scary, unknowing, life-threatening, humbling...they put things in perspective.

3) Camera - Doesn't matter what type, you just need one and need it with you always. I helps you remember the details of life, of people, and events. You will not be sorry.

4) Pits - They will show up eventually. They have a purpose (ps. 40:1-3). They are dark. They are uncomfortable. They are tough, BUT they do have purpose. The purpose is only revealed when we stop looking down in it, and start looking up to the LIGHT. 

5) A random hobby - Keeps you distracted in times where you over think and get overwhelmed.

6) A blog - You don't need one if you try to make a name for yourself. You do need one to spill things out that are in your head and your heart.

7) God - You can't figure Him out on your own. He makes entirely no sense to our small mind. He ask you to do things that do not make sense, BUT the results are incredible and are full of clarity. He loves us so much that He is not going to lead us into something that will ultimately destroy us. He will walk you through everything, anything, and all things. He is the answer to our lives...dreams...satisfaction...pursuit. 

8) Purpose - Everybody has one, its just most choose not to accept it. We so many times look to the present as our purpose....car...money...comfortability...status...happiness...relationships... Those things fade. If our purpose is based on those...then that "purpose" fades. Real purpose is that in which God has set before us. Uncomfortable? Yeah sometimes. Strange? Possibly. Fulfilling? More than you can imagine. Regret? Only if you don't follow Him til the end.

9) I revolve around the world - The world use to revolve around me...or so I thought. It should be me revolving around it. As a believer, I/we are called to reach the least of these. We are called to move...to act...to impact...and to ultimately Love.

10) God's Presence - Those who seek it, will find it and find true life. Those who avoid it or lacks to pursue it will live a bland Christian life. It will take you to an intimacy that you will never understand until you actually experience personally.

11) Facebook - You need an account. It helps stay connected to those who are friends and that love you.

12) Samaritans - (Jesus's Parable on the Good Samaritan)  - Don't every forget or rule out the Samaritans in your life. God will send them at key times. You will never expect them. You will actually be perplexed that they showed up, but they are a God send. Embrace them, and don't forget them.

13) Mentors - You need one. I recommend one. YOU NEED ONE! They help you work life out. Provide wisdom, an ear, and a shoulder to cry on. 

14) Cooking - You need to learn to cook. Its amazing how conversation, friendships, and encounters happen when you cook meals.

15) Brokenness - If you never experience this, then you refuse to be molded by God. He works in brokenness. Its the condition in your life when you have nothing, and God has everything you need. It is where we say, "Your will and not mine". 

These are a few...im worn out...maybe a pt. 2 may come. Much love - cham.

     God has really been "unlearning" me on some things. They may not make sense, so let me explain. In "learning" 50% of it is "unlearning". That means that you are taking away an old idea or habit, and replacing it with a new one...that is more beneficial. So in saying that, God is unlearning me on some things. As you know (hopefully), I am heading to Seattle on Jan 5, 2009. God has called me out there to serve with a church plant. The crazy thing is that I have to raise my own support to be able to serve out there. I have never done this before. I am a rookie, 1st timer in raising support, helping plant a church, etc. In the midst of this, I would like to share what God is doing with me personally. 

     God is teaching me that "Unknown is the new comfortability". I usually enjoy the adventure of the unknown, it livens things up. This new journey is a little different though. In the past, I always had a "fall back plan" just in case the "unknown" failed or got weird. Well....God has me at this point not having that "plan". In fact, I have been taught that my plan is actually a lack of faith in Him. OUCH! Yes, I have to agree with Him on that. Use to when push came to shove, I would take the wheel if I got uncomfortable or if the risk was too high. Can I just go ahead and say, THIS WAS WRONG! Why? I never gave God an opportunity to show up and show off who He is. Yes, He doesn't need me to "ok" Him to move, but I think a lot of times He chooses not to because we(I) would say that I pulled it out (if not verbally..then in my heart). So...God has been unlearning me on this while I am on this journey to head to Seattle. 

     Since I have started sharing the vision of God's mission for me in Seattle, God has given me some commands to follow. Check it out along with my response:

1) Share the Vision - Plant Seeds with everybody

    My response: No problem

2) Do not take control of this.

    My response: I promise I will not. I know how I use to be, and I don't want to be that now.

3) Do not market, overly advertise, or use smooth slick talking to raise money.

    My response: Uh..so don't function in how I normally communicate a need? What am I      

    suppose to do? Tap dance? (I asked this..God can handle sarcasm). Ok...I promise I won't, but

    how am I suppose to go about this?

4) Spread the word & just ask people to "Pray & Obey"

     My response: Hmmmm....but how am I suppose to explain the details of the needs, how I     

     am going to need certain things to being this ministry...? What if they don't obey...or pray? 

     What if that is to vague and they say "are you kidding?"

5) I told you...share the vision and then tell them "Pray and Obey". Do you trust me?

     My response: Yes, I trust you, but this is way out of my comfort zone. Meeting new people 

     easy. Doing some thing new and in a new area...great! Sitting back, when most people 

     suggest being super active when it comes to raising funds...SO UNCOMFORTABLE! This 

     unknown challenges my comfortability. Did I mention not a huge time frame to get    

     the word out?

6) I gave you a word: Eccl 11:5-6

     My response: Ok..I trust you, but this still freaks me out. I haven't heard much from nobody.

7) Trust me. I want you & others to know and experience ME at work.

     My response: Ok..You know I will struggle with this..but I trust You. I am comfortable in 

     who You are in my life. You are my Provider. You spoke the world and all the laws of nature 

     in to existence, so this is a cakewalk for You.

8) My grace is sufficient. Trust Me, Follow Me, and let Me walk you through.

     My response: Ok Lord...I am comfortable with this unknown..because I am comfortable     

     in You.

I share all this in transparency. This situation will come one day for every believer...probably multiple times in our lifetime. I just want to say that the unknown is comfortable...because God is there. We only get freaked out when we loose sight of how Great and Big He really is. I can't really describe the feeling, but the ones who have walked this situation (speaking about the unknown) know what I am talking about. God is unlearning me. I am confident in my future, because my future is in His hands. He will provide. He will lay out the adventure. I just need to make sure that my comfortability is in Him while I am in the unknown. 

So I Pray & Obey as well. Then I enjoy the journey instead of letting worry and doubt ruin it. 

Trust Him...He has you covered in every situation. 

Much love - Cham

It's late..so this is a rough draft and probably grammatically crazy...oh well.