God's Already in Motion Plans

The year is quickly coming to an end, Christmas is just a couple of days away now. Over the past few weeks I have been challenging my small groups to be sure to take some time and reminisce on the past year and then begin to dream for the next year.

As i look back on this past year it was a very good year, it had some moments that I wasn't sure I would make it through along with other moments that were so special I hoped that they would never end. One constant that remained throughout the year and that is very evident in the lead-up to the new year is the sovereignty of God. God has opened up some very cool doors for the first part of next year and the coolest part about it is they are doors that myself and couple of friends have been earnestly praying to see opened. I look forward to getting to be with a great community of believers in Pittsburg TX in January for a weekend. It is my prayer that God uses me, Kyle Shovan and his band very powerfully to communicate the truths of his word and the longings of our hearts to see the Church do incredibly powerful things in the communities that they are in. That is just the beginning of the year. There are already glimpses of even bigger things that God is up to that I can’t wait to be a part of.

There are things that I know God is moving me towards that look incredible but i am already seeing that the road may have a few  bumps and it may not just all fall into place perfectly as much i want it to be smooth but i know my God and i know that he works in ways i will never understand to advance his kingdom. The one thing God continually moves my life towards however is Sabbath and its importance. Sounds easy i can sit and physically rest with the best of them but slowing my mind down is another story it is always moving and trying to plan out how i need to execute Gods plan. In my experience that is tiring and futile. Below is a quote from a blog i read occasionally. It is powerful and very rest giving to me to think about and then truly live this way. 

We Are Called Into God’s “Already In Motion” Plans

Sabbath rest is remembering that God calls us into His plans, He doesn’t call us to create the plans and make them happen.

Be still and know that I AM God. Psalms 46:10

My last post said it had been a really long time since my last post, but this time I can say that with much more confidence, it has been 1786 days since I last posted. Wow almost 1800 days, think about that, that’s almost 5 years. 5 years of life, of joy, of pain, good days, and dark days. I look back on this time and see many things that God has done in those years and it excites me for the future that he has, for the promise of his grace and his promise to finish a good work.

The last post in 2010 talked about direction and purpose, the pursuing of God’s plan for life. There are days that I feel not much has happened or that God has not done much to help me clarify His direction and purpose for my life.  Over the past few months I have with a greater purpose made myself take and make opportunities to slow down and think about a simpler life, not a life that is not filled with purpose but a simpler life where my relationship with God and the pursuing of his calling on my life are a singular focus. One that doesn’t think of all the ways doing this could derail the “normal comfortable life” but how it could make “normal life” so much more fulfilling.  It is amazing what happens when you just sit on the porch and watch the trains go by and think about the big dreams that God has filled your soul with. 

The crazy thing about God is he hasn’t changed a single dream that he has given me since high school. He has however refined the dreams and definitely refined me. The thing about time is that you learn a lot as time passes, you realize how inadequate you are, yet how adequate you are with God. I think it is the inadequacy that I feel that slows me down some days. I become so consumed in how I will accomplish something that I forget that God is at work to move my life towards the things he has called me to be. For me 5 years sounds like an eternity but as I look back it has been a blink. I have learned and experienced more than I could have imagined in this time and the whole time God has been at work moving towards where he has me today for a very specific purpose.

There are some big things in the works for the next year that I am beyond excited about. There will definitely be more about this in future ramblings. As a follower of Christ not everything we are called to do makes sense and even a small change in the normal of life can feel like a huge leap. I plan on writing a lot more in the coming months for a couple of reasons. 1. I enjoy it. 2. Accountability, when I write things down it not only makes me say “I wrote it down I have to do it”, it also lets those reading it keep me focused on the things I say I will do.  Actually I think there are 3 reasons, I want to be able to look back and read the struggles and the good times so that in the end I can see that it all had a purpose. Even if things fail from my perspective I know that in the end, I will see where God has worked and how he has redeemed.

Gods plan for us is usually where our passions, our purpose, and our capabilities intersect. Bob Goff