Its Time to Change My War and My Wardrobe...

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

God is inviting us to join His war. This battle against the powers of darkness. But what war are we really fighting? I feel that many times I am fighting my own war against what attacks me. Really its probably not suited to be called a war but rather a series of meaningless bar fights against things like anxiety, pressure, insecurity, temptation. But they keep us occupied enough, don't they, that its our whole world.

We all learn to suit up in preparation for these encounters in things like the collared shirt of pleasing others to feel important, the jacket of alcohol to forget worry, the shoes of running away from pressures, etc. I've learned what I think works best for me and wear what I feel best will give me the upper hand in each battle.

But thats not what God calls us to. He has asked us to join a much bigger problem...a full on "war" against all forces evil in this word. This is a much different battle than the ones I face in my life. Its the reality of the world that I am missing while I am busy dealing with my own problems. This war is the real cause of the problems. I need to start fighting for something bigger than myself...why? Cause its my nature. Who doesn't secretly want to be Aragorn or Gandalf and enter into a situation that is bigger than themselves. It makes life worth something.

But this is a different kind of war that requires a different wardrobe. My old clothes won't do any good in a real battle. I need the armor of God. To put on the true uniform of a soldier designed by the mastermind and general himself to defend and conquer in this war.

Its time to change my war, and my wardrobe.

Obey with purpose!

Dueternonmy 6:1 "Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it..." 8:1 "The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may lie and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers."

Over and over again God tells the Israelites to obey His commandments...but why? So that they will go into the lands that he promised them and possess them and it will go well with them. God doesn't call us to obey his commandments just because, but there has always been purpose in them. That we may go into the lands God wants us too. The question I must ask myself is where are the lands that God is calling me to go into and obey His commandments? Are there lands I am to afraid to go into that he is calling me to...are the men of that land too big? Am I obey his commandments in all the lands He is already brought me into? I can't just sit around and obey, God gives us purpose to obey and I think for me, that really makes it easier.

I have purpose today so I shall obey the Lord :)

Look Again And Concentrate

"If God so clothe the grass of the field . . . shall He not much more clothe you?" Matthew 6:30

A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us if we are not simple. How are we going to be simple with the simplicity of Jesus? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, obeying Him as He brings the word of God, and life will become amazingly simple. "Consider," says Jesus, "how much more your Father Who clothes the grass of the field will clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him." Every time we have gone back in spiritual communion it has been because we have impertinently known better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed the cares of the world to come in, and have forgotten the "much more" of our Heavenly Father.

"Behold the fowls of the air" - their main aim is to obey the principle of life that is in them and God looks after them. Jesus says that if you are rightly related to Him and obey His Spirit that is in you, God will look after your 'feathers.'

"Consider the lilies of the field" - they grow where they are put. Many of us refuse to grow where we are put, consequently we take root nowhere. Jesus says that if we obey the life God has given us, He will look after all the other things. Has Jesus Christ told us a lie? If we are not experiencing the "much more," it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us, we are taken up with confusing considerations. How much time have we taken up worrying God with questions when we should have been absolutely free to concentrate on His work? Consecration means the continual separating of myself to one particular thing. We cannot consecrate once and for all. Am I continually separating myself to consider God every day of my life?

-Oswald Chambers (from my utmost for his highest)

Fusion Camp!

I am here at Malenovice for fusion music/arts camp and its been great! The camp focuses on many different kinds of art forms including music, drama, dance, and media arts and its been really cool to see so many students producing so many kinds of art all over camp! It has been a different experience for me personally than my other camps because I am one of only 3 english only speaking people so the camp is entirely in Czech which has made some things challenging (like knowing whats going on) but there are students I can still talk to in my very basic czech as well as some that are very good in english that I have connected with as well. Its cool to see how music can bring people together as well even without any talking nessasary, the choir time here has been really great for that. :) I have been talking to many of the leaders as well and seen and heard that God is doing much work here as well during discussion times where students have been hearing the story of God and talking about what they think and what it means to them. It has been really a great experience so far.
Please be praying for continued work in students lives and wisdom for all the camp leaders and christians to be a great witness to the almost half of students who are non christians. Also please be praying for me as well that I would continue to have energy and passion for my work and place here even though it is sometimes harder to find and know.
3 more days of camp and then a concert....can't wait!