Perspective

"But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and cause him grief... He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels."  (Isaiah 53:10, 12)

Nothing puts Christmas in perspective like Isaiah 53. I'm more aware of his awesome sacrifice this Christmas than ever before.

Thank You, Jesus, for saving a rebel like me.

Little Boy... Big God

 A three-year-old boy opened my eyes to the sovereignty of God yesterday. As a minister who wears more than one hat, worship leader being one of them, I wonder sometimes if what I do makes any impact at all. It is tempting to equate my effort with the degree to which God works. I was reminded yesterday that God is much bigger than that.

At the last minute before the worship service I decided to sing a song by Travis Cottrell called "Jesus Saves." I didn't think my singing was all that great, and actually said to myself as I sat down on the pew, "Maybe I shouldn't have done that one."

Fast-forward to later that night. A woman comes up to me to tell me that her three-year-old son asked her that afternoon, "Can God save us?"

"You bet He can," she replied.

"Where did you hear that?" she asked him.

"Mr. Gunter said it."

That little boy heard a simple song in church and something stuck with him. To me, this was a living example of a seed being planted in a soul.

God has given us an amazing super computer in our heads called a brain. Everything we see, hear, smell, taste or touch is filed away in our minds. Every experience is stored away somewhere in that gray matter. Every once in awhile a smell or a sound will take me back to events in my childhood that I had completely forgotten. Our minds are amazing.

What's even more amazing is that our Maker uses the very brain He created in us to reveal Himself to us. From the moment we come into this world God is calling us to Himself. God uses seemingly insignificant events to reveal Himself to us one piece at a time. God might even use a song to help a little boy grow up to understand that Jesus really does save!

Seeds can lay dormant for years until they sprout up with life. So, don't be discouraged when you think you're not "getting through" to those you love and minister to. God can.

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)

Keep planting seeds!

I'm not a morning person.

It's not that I'm a total grouch in the mornings. It just takes me awhile to wake up fully. I can't even function until well into the morning, and even then everything's still a little fuzzy. You're probably thinking, "Has homeboy ever heard of coffee?!" 
At this point in my life I could describe my spiritual journey as "waking up" slowly. But then, isn't the normal Christian life all about drawing closer to God and becoming more aware of His will and presence?

Recently while reading through Luke's gospel I took a break in chapter nine. The account detailed here is commonly referred to as the "transfiguration." Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on the mountain and begins to pray. At some point the three disciples get sleepy while praying. (None of us are guilty of that now are we?) Meanwhile something was happening with Jesus. The Scripture says that His face was altered and His clothes became dazzling white. For one glorious moment in time the Son of God pulled back the curtain of humanity and was literally shining in the light of His divine glory! And what were the disciples doing? Sleeping. Well, maybe not completely asleep but sleepy enough to be clueless about what was taking place. But look what happens in verse 32. It reads, "When they became fully awake, they saw His glory."

I long to see my Savior's face. As long as I am on this earth I want to know Him as much as possible. But it seems that seeking His face is like waking up from a nap for me. I love becoming more and more aware of who He really is. I just need a nudge every once in awhile.

This blog is sort of a chronicle of my journey in seeking God's face. I just want to share what God is doing in my life in hopes that it might encourage you and cause you to long for Jesus as I do. Let's wake up and see His glory!