Being on fire for God - by Izzy Wignall

This one woman was frustrated that she wasn't on-fire for God like she used to be. She prayed and asked, "Jesus, why is the Scripture so boring right now? I used to love reading your Word. Why don't I desire to know You like I used to?"

Jesus replied through the Spirit, "Does a child whose diet consists of sugar and sweets desire good, healthy food?"

Media, entertainment, Netflix, movies, mai...nstream music, etc., are sugary-foods that can consume our spiritual diets. They're ok in small doses...but in large doses, they can kill off our excitement for pursuing Jesus.

Wondering why you don't have a passion for Jesus anymore? Maybe the 15 hours of exciting movies you're watching a week is killing off your spiritual hunger--the overload of cheap-thrills is preventing you from hearing Him.

Think the Word is boring? Maybe if you spent less time on Facebook and more time fellowshipping with Him through the Word, it would become energizing and life-giving again.

Think life is boring? Maybe if you stopped living 20 different lives through various video-game characters and MMO's, you'd see how exciting a life for Jesus really is.

Media is so mesmerizing. I can attest to that because it is one of my biggest struggles. I absolutely love film and video-games. I believe that filmmaking is an art form and watching/critiquing film is one one of my favorite hobbies.

In light of this, constant entertainment dulls me from hearing from the Holy Spirit. It makes the Bible boring and causes a pursuit for Christ strenuous and unexciting. Whenever I step back and stop watching movies and stop playing games, EVERY TIME, The Lord re-captures my heart with wonder. The Word comes to life, I can hear Him more clearly, and the "race" towards Christ becomes exhilarating again. It's almost like media can put you in a "trance." Once you break free from the spell, everything re-aligns in your spiritual life.

So, friends, my encouragement for you is to ask yourself this simple question:

How much sugar is in your diet?

‎#mythoughtstonight

Being a person of "purpose"

 

     I was having a great discussion the other night with a close friend of mine from Texas about my earnest desire to be a man of purpose.  With every fiber of my being I want to spend the rest of my life impacting the lives of the people around me in whatever capacity I’m able.  So many of us (me included) spent a majority of our lives pursuing comfort and security.  We worked so hard to establish our careers so that we can buy that large house, nice car (or two) and build a comfortable living for us and our families.  Then we work the rest of our lives to “maintain” what we have built—never stopping to realize that in a few short years a lot of what we invested our lives into will be forgotten and all the possessions we worked so hard for will wind up going to someone else.  This whole concept became very real to me years ago while working for a local law office.  I was contacted by a trust attorney in the Indianapolis area and on more than a few occasions his law firm hired me to help liquidate the belongings of someone that was deceased --on the behalf of their estate.  On one occasion in particular, I was retained to help a family liquidate all the remaining furniture and belonging left in their mother’s house so that they could sell the property.  I accepted the job prior to even visiting the property.  When I did eventually get to the house however—I was dumbstruck.  This house was huge and it almost looked like a museum with multiple glass displays cabinets containing collectibles throughout.  From Franklin Mint collectible plates and antique china dolls, to Lladro ceramics and Precious Moments figurines it was obvious that the deceased woman had devoted her life and passion to lovingly collecting and displaying all these beautiful pieces.  And yet, here I was on behalf of her family liquidating all of this woman’s prized possessions online.  At the final auction, as people were swooping in like ravenous vultures to get the best deal on the remaining furniture, it was kind of sad.  Although I didn’t know the deceased woman—I wondered how she would have felt to see the precious collection she worked a lifetime to accumulate-- being separated and sold to the highest bidder?  I had the exact same empty feeling in the pit of my stomach while liquidating the remains of our former business, Havilah’s boutique.  As I sold the last remaining articles from the store in an attempt to liquidate a portion of that massive business debt—it was hard seeing the contents of that business that we put so much time and effort in—being sold for pennies on the dollar.  
    It is times like that when we start to see life in perspective.  Life is short and so much of what we spend our energies pursuing is temporal.  I want to invest my life seeking things of eternal significance.  When all is said and done—nobody will remember how big our house was or how cool of a car we drove.  They won’t remember our impressive resume or how much we accomplished in our given career field.  What people will remember is how much we loved those around us.  Live a life of significance and purpose by loving your neighbor, it’s that easy.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”    

WHERE MY HEART IS [NOW]

    While I was getting ready for work a few weeks ago, I started thinking about where my heart is now. I feel like over the last year, God has awakened my previously cold/hard heart and I am experiencing a level of intimacy with God that I had never before experienced.
 For the first time in my adult life I feel like my heart is in a very good place. I’m not shut down any longer and I’m very glad where I’m at with my relationship with God. I started thinking to myself as I got ready for work that morning, “If by dating someone or eventually getting remarried it would in any way dilute what God is doing in my heart right now—would it be worth it?” My conclusion was; “No!” I told God that morning as I stood in front of my bathroom mirror that I would be willing to stay single for the rest of my life if that’s what it took to keep my relationship with Him strong. 
For me to say that (AND believe it) was HUGE! I was always the guy in High School that had to be in a relationship to feel good about myself. When I was single, I would always feel alone and lonely. I would feel like a: “less than.” It was only while in a relationship that I would see myself as complete. I always remember (as a teenager) fearing I would be single and lonely the rest of my life. I got married very young and always found myself mistakenly looking to my spouse for fulfillment much more than I ever looked to God.
 Over the last year though, I have seen my heart change dramatically. And now here I found myself offering that place in my heart that cries out for intimacy to God. I almost felt like Abraham must have felt when he voluntarily offered his precious son, Isaac, not fully certain of the outcome. Abraham was certain however of God’s faithfulness. In my bathroom that morning—while pondering what I was saying, I was also certain that I could trust God and I also knew in the deepest part of my heart that God loves me. This was pretty revolutionary thinking for me. Regardless of what happens in the future, my heart’s intention is to never lose track of my 'First Love’.

Psalm 13:5 " But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."

HEARING JESUS' HEARTBEAT IN OUR LIVES

     I am currently attending a class at the church I attend, that deals with how God wants to walk in intimacy with his children. While at the class a few weeks ago the speaker that evening (Elaine) focused on a portion of a verse from the book of John that I have never noticed before. In John 13:21 it says; “There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He (John), leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

The background for this passage takes place during the last supper (a Jewish Passover Seder in Jerusalem) where Jesus is spending his last hours before his crucifixion. When Elaine (the speaker for the class) read this verse-- it impacted me to think John the disciple was SO physically close to Jesus at the time, he could probably have heard Jesus’ heart beat. I then had an overwhelming desire filling my entire being to experience that kind of relationship with my Savior. It pierced me so deeply that I stayed after class that evening to receive prayer from Elaine and her husband.

The immense desire in my heart currently is to be intimately close in my walk with Jesus that I can (figuratively) hear and feel what’s on His heart. Jesus came so we can experience a relationship with God that is much more intimate than simply attending a church service on Sunday. Jesus demonstrated that same intimacy with His Father in heaven and it was demonstrated in the life he lived. Jesus said in John 5:19, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” Jesus is so close to God’s heart, that He was (and continues to be) able to see what God was doing all around him.

My big struggle had always been the fact that I am not the apostle John, and I’m definitely not the Messiah. I often use to struggle with how I could pursue God’s heart and experience this intimacy with God despite all my brokenness? In 1 Samuel, it refers to King David as a “man after God’s own heart.” Although David was a pretty broken guy with a lot more issues in his life than many of us will ever experience (i.e. he was an adulterer and a liar who after getting someone else’s wife pregnant, had her husband killed). Despite David’s pretty major character flaws and moral defects--he is still referred to as a man after God’s heart. That is because of how David zealously pursued God’s heart. David acknowledged his own complete brokenness and need, then pursued “knowing” God with all his energy and strength. And David, that broken, flawed guy, was still described by his Creator as a “Man after My heart.”

My biggest prayer is that I will be able to pursue God’s heart with all my energy and strength. And that I will get to develop such intimacy with Jesus that I can hear His heart beat in my own life.

OUR IDENTITY

        

Recently, I was able to finally sell my supercharged Z06 corvette. 

Didn't make any money--but I was able to pay off that loan which was awesome. I still have a lot of residual debt from Havilah's Boutique (a business I owned) to pay off. Yet, it feels good that I have started paying down on this massive debt and lowering my overhead. It's kinda weird though that when I was a married guy I drove around in a "torch red" sports car. Now that I'm a single guy; I'm driving an older Civic. It is red though so, so I guess that's a plus?  

I was thinking it was kinda interesting how important that car was to me a few years ago. My identity was almost tied into having that bright red supercharged sports car. Now its not bad to own a cool sports car (considering the fact that my business specializes in modifying and tricking out nice cars). What is out of balance though is when our identity is connected to material possessions  If you find yourself "needing" to get that expensive watch, exotic sports car, name brand clothing, etc, you might be looking to the wrong source for your identity. Our lives are fleeting and it's important to "invest" our lives in things that are eternal, like walking in intimacy with our God AND serving those people around us. Investing in walking with God and serving people leaves a lasting legacy. Nobody will remember that cool car that you owned or that huge house either. what they will remember is that person that helped them or prayed with them when they were in need. I recently read a post by actor Tyler Perry about how someone helped him out years ago when he was homeless and living on the streets. That person 'helped' out of a desire to please God and never expected anything in return. Years later (as a successful actor and producer) Tyler Perry found that person and was able to both thank them for the part they played in helping him years earlier as well as he was able to turn around and help them now at a time when they were in need. That is the way that God designed us to operate. 

The next time you notice when the waitress that is serving you or the cashier at a store you patronize, happens to look downcast; ask them if you can help. It's amazing how disarming it is when a stranger notices their pain and asks if you would like them to pray for you. My pastor (Randy) makes that a regular practice and its amazing how many people respond. The next time you see a neighbor that had their water shut off because they couldn't pay the bill--pay it if you're able. You could permanently impact someones life by something simple like a gift when someone is in need. For those of us that consider ourselves "Christ followers" that is how scripture states we will be known: by our love for one another. Trust me, its much more rewarding than a cool red sports car. 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - (John 13:35)

TRUE DELIGHT!

[Brian’s thoughts of the day: Jan. 21st]

   TRUE DELIGHT!
    A  face book friend recently quoted one of my favorite Bible verses (Psalm 37:4) in his status today.  In that verse it says to, "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."  In that verse, it says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart; but what if you don’t know WHAT the desires of your heart even are?  On the recommendation of another friend, I recently read a book by Christian author Byron Easterling called, 'Dream Big, Dream Often'.  In the book the author talks about the very concept of learning to courageously pursue our dreams while in the process of earnestly seeking God’s heart.  Looking back on myself now, for years I was on autopilot.  I was, according to Byron’s book, what is called a 'repressed dreamer'.  I worked really hard to keep things stable in my life.  I avoided any risk or change out of fear.  I stayed doing the same job because of the fact it was financially secure.  I worked a tremendous number of hours so that I could make my house payments, car payments, pay my bills, and keep things stable at home.  As many of you know, over the last year and a half my “stable existence” had kind of been unexpectedly dumped on its head.  It seems like everything in my life at the present is uncertain, except for one thing:  My relationship with God (and my dependence on Him) is now stronger than it’s ever been.  Additionally, this entire journey has caused me to have deep perception and begin to understand what the desires of my heart truly are.  I almost think that in order to understand our heart desires—we need to learn how to delight ourselves in the Lord- FIRST.  In the past, I always read/interpreted that verse with the second part of the verse (the giving us the “desires of our heart”) being a “reward” for accomplishing the “task” of delighting ourselves in the Lord.  As my perspective and circumstances have radically changed--it’s left me wondering if in order to even discover what the desires of our heart are, we must first learn who God created us to be.  By spending intimate time with God, I’m beginning to understand more deeply who I was created to be and subsequently I am beginning to discover what my true heart desires are.  By getting to know my Creator and the one Who made every part of me—I am beginning to understand myself and my own heart better.  Who better to help you understand the dreams in your heart than the one who placed them there?    

Daneille Snowden [Blog Editor]: Brian and I are friends from our high school youth group and had recently reconnected on facebook. Also, I was there when he first accepted Christ in 1982 at a Keith Green concert. I have been following his Facebook posts on his journey back into intimacy with God and offered to share them on a blog. Check out my blog: http://snowdenwiththefam-daneille.blogspot.com/