God Right Now!

Over the last 9 months, God has done some amazing things in my life. Obviously the greatest, in my view, was His calling me to ministry on January 14, 2009. Since then He has clearly defined the path that will get me where He wants me. It hasn't always been straight, but it has been very visible. God hasn't stopped doing those amazing things for me and I have faith that He'll continue to do so. Goes back to that whole obedience thing (I have a two part blog post on it, HERE & HERE). Long as you're obedient, God is faithful and generous with His blessings (may not always be what you want, but it will always be what you need). Anyway, I intend to actually keep this shorter than normal (maybe), so here it is.

I've actually spoke with a friend about this topic a number of times and I actually talked about it the one opportunity I had to preach, but it keeps coming back around. Specifically having to do with the plans that God reveals for our future. I have NO doubt that God routinely shows us what He has for our future (not always, but He has for me quite a bit over the last 9 month). Probably more often than not, He won't show you. That way there isn't this “shiny” object off in the distance that can side-track you from what He is trying to teach you and develop in you. But whether He shows us or not, how often do we find ourselves trying to serve a God of our future or our past? With that said, I'm not talking about hope for the future. On the contrary hope is essential to our faith. Ephesians 4:4 says, “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” We have been called to hope for the future and I can't wait for it. On the other hand, we can also get hung up on the God of our past. We look back and see all the stuff He has done for us. When a time comes that we don't perceive the future to be as promising as what He has done for us already, we long for the “good times”. Again, not talking about detaching from past blessings. His sacrifice on the cross was the most amazing thing He has ever given us. And, all of how God moved in our past (long as we were obedient) shaped who we are today, God is good that way. What I am talking about is when we live so much for the future or hold so tight to the past, being so focused on what He might have for us or what He's already done for us, that we forget what He is giving us right now.

God is a God of right now moments. He wants us to appreciate and remember what He did for us. He wants us to look ahead and hope for the future. But more than anything, He wants to affect us right now. He wants to be with us today. To pour out His love and favor in this moment and every moment. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says, “1As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.” Paul is quoting what God said in Isaiah 49:8. NOW is the part of your life that God wants you to see Him working in. NOW is when God wants to be with you.

So, do you serve a God that is only concerned about your future? Or a God that you can only look back and see what He’s done in your past? Or do you serve a God that is right here, right now; a God that is present and fully concerned with you walking the path He has currently laid out for you? I can tell you this, we serve an ALWAYS present God, that wants our obedience and wants to impact us right now. Not just a God that has impacted us or will impact us. Our relationship with him is and always should be active and dynamic. He is constantly moving in and trough our lives, we just have to open our eyes and see Him.

I know God has marvelous things for my future, but He also has marvelous things for my right now. I'm loving what He has done, is doing and will do.

Living in God Right Now,
Bruce

Varsity Fusion – My First Sermon (April 14, 2009)

On April 14, 2009 I was blessed to be able to deliver my first sermon to the youth of Element Church Varsity Fusion (website located on the right panel of this page). Andy Hazlet, Element Youth Pastor (blog HERE) and his wife attended a retreat this last week and he asked if I would talk on Tuesday. I was just as excited as I was nervous.

So, Tuesday night was phenomenal. I felt like there were a lot more kids there than normal (although there may not have been, but it sure looked like it). I also felt like I was able to connect with the students more than I have in the past, which was super cool in its self. As far as the sermon goes, like I said I was super nervous, but I did a lot of praying and although I am a bit critical of how I did, I think I spoke the words that God needed me to.

I shared my testimony about how God called me to ministry in the midst of all the tragedy that my boys and I faced in the last 7 months (can be read HERE and HERE). However it wasn’t just story time. I connected it to the guidance God has given us to move on from our failed plans and get on the road to accomplishing his plan for our lives. I centered the sermon around Philippians 3:13 & 14, which says,

“13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

In case you’re interested click on the below main point and you can view the three steps I spoke on:

Main Point: God wants us to move on!

Here's how I put it into perspective at the end:

I truly believe, if I had not gone through all that crap I had in the months leading up to January 14, 2009, I would not have developed the heart, faith, and character God needed me to have on that day. If I didn’t have that heart and faith, I may have missed his calling, his plan on that day. I might have heard it, but most likely I would have continued to dismiss it like I had previously, because it didn’t make sense. Four years ago, if I tried to answer his call, I might have accepted it in my head, but I wouldn’t have been capable of accepting it in my heart. Still doesn’t make complete sense sometimes, but because God has changed my heart, I KNOW its right.

God has something planned for every one of us. No matter what that looks like for you, if you focus on becoming the person Christ is leading you to be, next to the relationship you build with Him, whatever God has for you will be the greatest thing you’ll ever do, no matter what that is.

So plans will fail, but when they do, if you Forget the Past (really let go of it), Look to the future (have faith that God has something better for you) and Press on to the End (persevere through those trials and let God use them to develop your character and heart), then God will change you into the person you never thought you could be, but he always knew you would be.

The sermon wasn't anything huge. It definitely was not a new idea, but I tried to get the point across that nothing is ever completely lost. There is a way to move on and God wants us to. Is it easy? No. Everyone has to go through that grieving process. Sadness, confusion, anger, asking why, all of it. The point is, when you start wondering “Now what?” more than you’re wondering “Why did this happen?” God has the answer to the “Now what?” If you don’t go to God for the answer, you may be able to squash the hurt down. You may be able to move on and pretend it never happened, but you’ll never be whole again. You have to be able to acknowledge it happened, grieve over it and let God heal that wound. He wants to give you something better. All you have to do is accept it.

Forgetting, Looking and Pressing,
Bruce