June 2008


Random Thoughts30 Jun 2008 11:57 am

I just returned from an amazing camp in Texas. Every night, God’s presence was tangible and the young people were responding to Him. We focused on the cross (”For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the Power of God” I Cor. 1:18).

The highlight for me though came on the 3rd night. During worship Nate and the guys (some of my favorite worship leaders in the world) were finishing up with “Mighty to Save” when I knew it was time. I knew that was the moment of salvation for some of those in that room. So, I quickly shared the gospel message and invited people to trust Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins and begin a relationship with God. Because the lighting was blinding I could not take an accurate count, but many young lives gave themselves over to Jesus that night. It was a powerful moment.

From that moment on, “Mighty to Save” became an anthem, not for the camp alone, but for the people in the world that don’t yet know Christ. Those that are looking for something to bring fulfillment. Those trying to escape their past or break an addiction. As a body hundreds strong, we began to declare over the earth that God is “Mighty to Save”.

I really believe that God did something deep in the young people were at that camp. They are going to live authentically, pray aggressively, and make history. God is in the process of changing them, and through them others will be changed.

My God is mighty to save.

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Random Thoughts12 Jun 2008 11:47 am

Meditate on Proverbs 3:2-3 today.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.”

Can that be said of me? Do I walk in love and faithfulness? Am I faithful to my friends and family? Can they count on me? Can God? What about those people that are difficult to be around? Am I faithfully showing the grace, mercy, forgiveness, and kindness of God to those that I don’t like (you know who you are…j/k).

“Lord, may love and faithfulness never leave me.”.

Random Thoughts09 Jun 2008 11:16 am

This week at my church we began a campaign called “One Prayer”. This is an interesting series because for the next four weeks ours is just one of over 1,300 all around the world that are going to be exploring the concept that Jesus prayed “Make them One” in John 17.

This being the first week, the pastor who originated the series Craig Groeschel out of Oklahoma visited my church via video. As he launched the series there were two things that really stood out to me and I want to share them with you.

In the first statement he said, “Instead of asking God for everything that we want, perhaps we should focus on becoming the answer to HIS prayer.” That really hit me. He prayed for us to walk in love. To be unified. Sounds like a good goal for me today.

The second thing that caught my attention was the concept that for us to really walk in unity, we really need to be focused on One enemy. Instead of fighting each other we need to fight the one who has come to steal, kill, and destroy. The church that has slightly different doctrine is not my enemy. The person I play basketball who hates my faith with is not my enemy. The anti-Christian movement that calls me an infidel is not even my enemy. I have one enemy. He is the one who is bound for hell and is trying to take as many with him as possible. He is the one who steals hope and suggests suicide. He is the one who offers fear and shame. He is the only enemy I have..and the only one we have as Christians. And, if we are ever going to be who God has called us to be and truly impact the world with the truth of the gospel of Christ, he is the one that we must stand against.

He is our enemy, but don’t forget he is defeated. If you resist him he will flee. If you stand in truth his lies are exposed and deemed powerless. He can not stand in the presence of Jesus and if Christ lives in you, greater is He who is in you then he that is in the world.

I was really challenged with those two things yesterday and thought i would share.

Sean

Random Thoughts06 Jun 2008 04:29 pm

For the past couple of weeks God has been stretching my vision. Because I know that He wants all men to come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved (I Timothy 2:4) my heart has been burning. I know that God is on the brink of something big. The urgency of my prayers has increased and today I feel like I hit a pinnacle of expectancy.

There are some things boiling inside of me that I am praying over. Overall, my prayer is that God would be lifted up and exalted. The people would see a true picture of Jesus. That they would respond to His love and grant Him His desire for relationship.

There is more coming…but I can’t share just yet. But, if you are asking the Lord to reach your city, your country, or the world…we are praying similar prayers and I believe will be able to enjoy watching God move together.

Even greater victories are coming. I can’t wait.

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” II Corinthians 5:14-15.