When I read the bible the number one thing on my mind is that there is a reason for every single word in the bible.  As I read it, am I just reading it, or am I understanding why it is there?  Sometimes I will just read a paragraph and I’ll say to myself, “What the heck is the point of that?” and I’ll spend the rest of the evening, or week, figuring out why that is in the bible.  This happened to me today as I read Ezekiel 36.

I opened my bible and God took me to Ezekiel 36.  At first I had a difficult time reading it in practical terms.  I mean, it IS talking an awful lot about Israel and ancestors and ancient times and it keeps going in and out of context of Ezekiel speaking and what God told Ezekiel to say to the people of Israel.

As I read it, I found that it was much easier to follow in how it applies to me by taking all of the narrative contexts out.  Read it multiple times and you should start seeing quite a bit of patterns, and quite a bit of practical points in how it applies to you. In parenthesis after every section I have put footnote thoughts on how this applies to me.

Ezekiel 36:

(1 – 5)

Your enemies have taunted you, saying, ‘Aha! Now the ancient heights belong to us!’.  Your enemies have attacked you from all directions, and now you are possessed by many nations.  You are the object of much mocking and slander.  I speak to the hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and to ruined wastes and long-deserted cities that have been destroyed and mocked by foreign nations everywhere.  My jealous anger is on fire against these nations, especially Edom, because they have shown utter contempt for me by gleefully taking my land for themselves as plunder. (Enslaved to sin and evil)

(6 – 12)

I am full of fury because you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations.  I have raised my hand and sworn an oath that those nations will soon have their turn at suffering shame.  But the mountains of Israel will produce heavy crops of fruit to prepare for my people’s return — and they will be coming home again soon!  I am concerned for you, and I will come to help you.  Your ground will be tilled and your crops planted.  I will greatly increase the population of Israel, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and filled with people.  Not only the people, but your flocks and herds will also greatly multiply.  O mountains of Israel, I will bring people to live on you ounce again.  I will make you even more prosperous than you were before.  Then you will know that I am the Lord.  I will cause my people to walk on you once again, and you will be their inheritance.  You will never again devour their children.  (Freed from sin and evil by God for his purpose for you)

(13 – 15)

Now the other nations taunt you, saying ‘Israel is a land that devours her own people!’  But you will never again devour your people or bereave your nation.  I will not allow those foreign nations to sneer at you, and you will no longer be shamed by them or cause your nation to fall.  (A change in heart)

(16 – 21)

Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their evil deeds.  To me their conduct was as filthy as a bloody rag.  They polluted the land with murder and by worshiping idols, so I poured out my fury on them.  I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived.  But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought dishonor to my holy name.  For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’  Then I was concerned for my holy name, which had been dishonored by my people throughout the world.  (The purpose is all for God’s glory, not yours, everything is for God and only God, he IS GOD)

(22 – 24)

I am bringing you back again but not because you deserve it.  I am doing it to protect my holy name, which you dishonored while you were scattered among the nations.  And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes.  For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.  (God’s promise is to free us)

(25 – 27)

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.  Your filth will be washed away and you will no longer worship idols.  And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command. (God lives within us, with a changed heart, a full spirit and our will aligns to God’s)

(28 – 32)

And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago.  You will be my people, and I will be your God.  I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior.  I will give you good crops, and I will abolish famine in the land.  I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines.  Then you will remember your past sins and hate yourselves for all the evil things you did.  But remember I am not doing this because you deserve it.  O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done! (The threats and comments about us will begin to transform into curiosity and hope)

(33 – 36)

When I cleanse you from your sins, I will bring people to live in your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.  The fields that used to lie empty and desolate — a shock to all who passed by — will again b farmed.  And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This godforsaken land is now like Eden’s garden! The ruined cities now have strong walls, and they are filled with people!’  Then the nations all around — all those still left — will know that I, the Lord, rebuilt the ruins and planted lush crops in the wilderness.  For I, the Lord, have promised this, and I will do it.  (God will restore us)

(37 – 38)

I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers for those blessings, and I am ready to grant them their requests.  I will multiply them like the sacred flocks that fill Jerusalem’s streets at the time of her festivals.  The ruined cities will be crowded with people once more, and everyone will know that I am the Lord.  (God is waiting on you, all you have to do is ask)

Planning allows a destination.  There are many many many roads to walk on and many diversions to take so how do you know where to go?  The way I view planning is: How can you plan a trip or a destination accurately without planning either in the beginning of the trip or along the way?  If you drive through the country with no plan you drive aimlessly with no direction, goal and quite honestly a feeling of empty accomplishment – but that’s an accomplishment right!?!?  It is the same with your very own life!

One thing I’ve been questioning and churning in my head lately is when to plan and when to let God direct me.  I’ve always been a planner, however I have learned to leave space open for spontaneity, otherwise I will grow frustrated and disappointed that I am not able to be involved with certain things.  Also having space for spontaneous events allows time to reflect and experiment with things that are new to you in the now and weren’t ever considered for planning in the past.

All that wasn’t new for me but the big question on my mind was “Is it healthy, spiritually, for me to plan my life with such hope, desire and aspirations?”, because from talking with others I will mention I plan on – and later have the feeling that I NEED to say, “if it’s God’s will”, or “if God directs me to follow that plan”, etc.  When I get that feeling to say that I begin questioning why, naturally.  The question to answer the why is “What kind of planning is healthy?  Can I be at peace of mind and feel like I am allowing God to direct my life if I continue to plan?”.

After searching, I found a lot of scripture to help me figure this out, the main one I appreciated and that helped me answer this particular thought was Proverbs 16.

¹ To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

² All a man’s ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

⁴ The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

⁵ The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

⁷ When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.

⁹ In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.

¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth should not betray justice.

¹¹ Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.

¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will appease it.

¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction. ^[a]

²² Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction. ^[b]

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

²⁶ The laborer’s appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.

²⁷ A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.

²⁹ A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.

³⁰ He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.

³² Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.

Especially verse 9: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”  This made me see more clearly that planning IS good and healthy for you but planning doesn’t mean it’s set in stone and that’s what’s happening, there’s 2 pieces in planning in order to make it practical to your life, there’s planning and the determination of that plan.  The key is allowing God to determine your plans and have sovereignty over your plan.  The best way I understand this is, God doesn’t want to micromanage you and he is the creator of creativity, he wants you to be creative and have desires of your own and to use your creativity to plan ahead.  But just like a great father that he is, he desires to be involved in the decision of your plans, and again like a great father he is, he allows you to invite him into the decisions.  How awesome is it that he loves us so much that not only has he given us an excellent example of the relationship we have with him – father and son – but he allows US to decide.  HE hopes, desires and aspires that we love HIM so much and value HIM so much that we involve HIM.

That is simply amazing.

God is doing some incredible things in and around the city of Saint Louis.  I never thought that I would be living in Saint Louis, a little over a year ago I never would have thought that I would be in the position I am now.  Owning a house, working from home doing something I am totally passionate about, and best of all being a part of a community / family which has exploded at Windsor.

Quarterlife = A ministry at Windsor Crossing for 18 – 20’somethings

Last August of ‘08 I remember very vividly going to the Tuesday night lab (learning and belonging) group which would later become Quarterlife.  We would occasionally meet at a small Chinese restaurant and fit at no more than 2 tables get our food then head over to the church to do our study on the previous weekend service.  There was an average of 6 people who attended and it was a trying and growing experience for us all to stick with it with the hope and trust that God had a plan for our tiny group.

Not more than a year went by and this small group of awesome people turned in to a huge awesome family.  Now, an average of roughly 100 people attend the Tuesday night ‘quarterlife midweek’.  The leaders and core members of this group all have fascinating stories and it is incredibly clear that God has directed each of our lives to meet at this midweek and be a part of this family.  A year ago, I was 98% for sure moving back to Chicago because I had abandoned the hope of establishing a community here, God told me to be patient and WOW does he have a plan in store.

I am very excited about what is to come in the next months and coming year.  Knowing that this family has a passion and heart to make God’s Kingdom expand in ways that we could never imagine and knowing that this could never have become what it is without God simply blows my mind.

Yay God!  I pray that we become a community, a family, not just to build relationships but to do your work wherever you call us, that we get our hands dirty and share the truth of Jesus and restore this city.  I pray you give us the strength, courage, peace and trust to follow your plan and your direction.

Amen, So be it!  For it is Your will, not mine.

Pray for these young people of Quarterlife and that we may do whatever God asks of us.

What is Advent Conspiracy?

Well, you could do a couple things to feed this curiosity i’ve forced you to thirst for…

a. Click here to watch an amazing video (and as a design enthusiest i think it’s an absolutely amazing video).

b. Read (me? i prefer the video because it rocks, and also you can get to more info once on the site with the video.

The concept behind Advent Conspiracy Is:

Worship Fully
Spend Less
Give More
Love All

c. Chat it up with me. And of course if you don’t feel like reading (understandable) and you can’t watch for the video for some unknown reason (not-understandable ) If you don’t have my chat info you best get it.

d. All of the above.

This hit me hard.

just the other day i said to myself ‘it’s time to renew my wardrobe’, then I continued, ‘why stop there, why not renew my living room, get some black 20″ rims on your car, get 2 24″ monitors…’, i went on for quite a while, i even wrote a list! Then i got hit by this message once again, and not just once recently but almost constanly, like God is saying trying to show me how so many people in this world, including myself’ are so selfish. There was this Advent Conspiracy, then one of my friend blogged about selfishness not too long ago and I looked at the list I wrote earlier and was overwhealmed with how blessed my life has been.

Then pops the question, what am I doing with the blessings being given to me?

Phew… been a long time since my last real post! guess life is relentlessly busy.

The last couple of weeks have been quite the crazy, not sure if any of you knew, a college happening is finally starting to take place at my church! and it couldn’t be any better of a time for me. I’ve already decided that I am wanting to give as much time / energy / resources to this ministry as I possibly can, I couldn’t be more excited. How often do you wish that you could be a part of the beginning of something, or wish that you could become a huge part in a community.

That’s the exactly how I have been feeling lately, I remember back in the day when I used to be active in my church, remembered how it felt to always have something to look forward to every week, and how many awesome people I met and shared experiences. And this time I can be the start of a huge thing in this area, give those with no hope, nothing to look forward to, no one exciting to look forward to meet, I realized that I can be a part of the spark in their lives that gives them their life back, the meaning of it and the love of it. I didn’t really realize why I did it back in high school not even sure if I though of it, but now that I’ve grown I can’t help but think, how many people are out there bored with life, bored with who they know, missing that key element of existance, missing God!

So every sunday night after the 5th at 5 (the 5th church service @5 at windsor : church) the college group are hanging out —- somewhere. Doesn’t matter where, and it’s not going to be the same every week. We’re just going to hang out and do life together. I can’t wait! till the next get together (which is my bday), just because not only am I growing with others, but this opens a portal for me to finally meet people my own age (Impossible feet at my situation it often seems).

God Rocks!