Opening the Box (Proceed with Caution)

In a time where abortions are an everyday norm and aborted fetuses are picked through and sold for parts, this blog called, Opening the Box (Proceed with Caution) from a dear friend in Colorado is a refreshingly beautiful picture of the sanctity of life, the simple faith of the redeemed, and the loving grace of a God who is sovereign and good.

Read the beautiful words of a heart exposed, which reveals the faithfulness and glory of God in the sufferings and joys of this life.  I pray that you will read this blog and that it will warm, encourage, and remind your heart of steadfast truth.  If this blog blesses you, share it with others who may have experienced loss, need to be reminded of the beauty of life, even in the womb, or need assurances that God is indeed good and working throughout our sufferings and our greatest joys.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah 1:5

Passion

Passion, which finds its origins in the Latin word Pati, meaning to suffer, speaks of an intense uncontrollable urge or desire for something.  The Passion of Christ is, in my opinion, one of the most applicable and relevant historical accounts in human history.  We all will live our life with a passion for something whether it is media, people, history, life, death, love, hate, money, family, and the list can go eternally on. We were built to be passionate beings.  We were built to be consumed in our lives.  If by nothing else, this should be evident in the many religions, political parties, and fanatical associations that exist in our world.

Jesus was passionate about doing His Father's will and making a way for us to be with the Trinity for eternity.  He chose to live a life of meager means where he was hunted, misunderstood, and ultimately preparing humanity for His untimely death and miraculous resurrection.  Jesus understood the dangers of His choice.  He knew exactly what was at stake as He ministered and prepared the world for what He was about to do.  Jesus humbling allowed and even willing allowed humans to take Him when He was judged, beaten, and hung on that cross.  Jesus is passionate for our souls not because He needs our souls for happiness, contentment, or for power as is portrayed in Wrath of the Titans and so many other Hollywood films. He is passionate for our souls because He loves us and knows that when we become passionate for Him our lives will find perfected joy and contentment.

Our world is passionate about so many things.  Many people in this country alone are passionate about mocking God and blaspheming all the Bible teaches.  They believe that the Bible seeks to rob them of life and bind them into a torturous lie that will end in nothing.  This modern world, like most of human history believes that they know better than God and can create a more satisfying life for themselves on their own.  This is not a new lie but in fact the first lie used by the Devil.  Man fell to this lie at the beginning of man's creation and man is still falling to this lie today.

We have got to drop this lie from our hearts.  This world can never satisfy the massive hole in our hearts.  Can the world help to numb the hole in our hearts for a while, sure.  Can we pursue things that bring us happiness, wonder and joy for a while, sure.  Can we feel peace with our life for a time and yet still not know God, sure.  The one thing we can never do without God though is find complete satisfaction, joy, and peace in all areas of our life both now and eternally.  You can not perfectly fit a round peg in a square hole and you can not perfectly fill a God shaped hole with anything else.  Your heart will always come up lacking and wanting.

It is time that we stand up and live passionately for Jesus as He chose to do for us over 2000 years ago.  He deserves our devotion, our passion, and our lives.  We  need to stand up to passionately follow the Holy Spirit's lead for our lives.  That includes leaving all we know to reach the lost in another part of the world if that is what the Spirit is calling us to.  He is definitely calling each of us to stand up for Him in every part of our life including with our non-believing and believing friends, coworkers, and family.  The Holy Spirit calls us to lay down our worldly passions to embark upon His eternal journey.  On this Easter Sunday will you abandon all the world offers to follow Jesus passionately today?

Blessings,

Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist

The Voice

Tonight, we watched The Voice and I have to admit that when i watch programs like that I want to audition to be on the show.  I have sung and played music just about my whole life.  I have dreamed of making it big since I was a little boy.  Unfortunately, I seem to have one big thing in my way.  I am to afraid to tryout for something like The Voice.  I don't know what scares me more, succeeding or failing.  Honestly, part of the reason I would love to do something like that and win is to be validated.  I want to know I exist and that I matter.

In the world we live in, we are told that we must succeed, stand out, or become famous to matter.  If you aren't on TV, a boss, a manager, a politician, or rich, you don't seem to matter in this world.  Much of this world seems to have the perspective that you are only worth something if you have something to offer them.  I know this may be generalizing but at times this feels true.

As a Christian, I know that my validation shouldn't be dependent upon the world's view of me but who I am in Jesus.  I struggle with this at times because I want so much to be accepted by and matter in this world.  Though I know I am making a difference in the kingdom for Jesus, I want worldly gratification too.  I constantly have to give the reigns of my heart over to Jesus because I have a tendency to want to be in the drivers seat.


Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13 is very familiar to most of us but did you know that it is tied to a passage about contentment?  Does knowing this change your perspective of Philippians 4:13?  It does for me.  I find such peace in knowing that through Christ, I can be content in all things.  He is the one that will give me the strength.  


Though I still hope to have the courage to try out for something like The Voice one day, it will be for the right reasons and not my own glory.  I want everything I do to be for Jesus' glory and not my own.  If I were able to get on The Voice, I would be comforted in knowing that his grace gave me the voice to make it.  Perspective truly is everything and you can only have the right perspective in Jesus.  No tv show, news program, competition, raise, job, amount of money, fame, person, book, or movie can give you more contentment than Jesus.  


Blessings,


Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist