Everyone loaded up and headed for Nashville this weekend for The Call. Usually I don’t go to these big conventions because thought I feel they are good and helpful to some, I also want my relationship with God to be founded on reality and not my temporal emotional highs. (I am not saying that anyone who goes to these things gets high!) But I have noticed that many people come back and are all jazzed up for a few weeks only to be right where they were later on. I want to be a person who is characterized by being a steady follower of God. It is not easy to be that way, especially when there are so many natural ups and downs in life.
But over the years I have learned a few things:
Deal with it and move on [Jeremy Fisher]
That was a big one. Stop carrying around all this stuff and letting it bug you. Deal with it, and then keep moving.
Learn to flow [Bob Deering]
Life is going to constantly change, and you need to be able and ready to change when it does. Not your convictions, not the yes in your heart to God, but the way you respond, the way you react.
Natural vs. Eternal Mindsets [Dave Ramer]
How I would react in the natural is not how I should react as a redeemed child of God. Disciplining myself to react with an eternal mindset is so significant.
Don’t hold the things of this world too tightly [Corrie tenBoom]
If you do, they will most often be that which God asks you to lay down. Nothing the world has to offer is really worth it anyway in the light of eternity.
Well those are just a few things as I am sitting here on the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year. I know that this date is significant. I know that what is happening right now in Nashville is significant in the heavenlies. For when 100,000+ people come together and pray for change in America, and if they follow their prayers and repentance with action, today will be a day of impending change for this country. As a nation we are on the brink. We are on the brink of doom, of certain destruction. If you look through history, you will see patterns of great nations who reached points of debauchery and vileness, and who were destroyed. America is no exception to the rule.
We must turn to the Lord and plead for him to spare us as was spoke of in Joel 2: “Blow the ram’s horn trumpet in Zion! Trumpet the alarm on my holy mountain! Shake the country up! God’s Judgment’s on its way – the Day’s almost here!… But there’s also this, it’s not too late – God’s personal Message! – “Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins! Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now, maybe he’ll turn around and show pity. Maybe, when all’s said and done, there’ll be blessings full and robust for your God! Blow the ram’s horn trumpet in Zion! Declare a day of repentance, a holy fast day. Call a public meeting. Get everyone there. Consecrate the congregation. Make sure the elders come, but bring in the children, too, even the nursing babies, Even men and women on their honeymoon – interrupt them and get them there. Between Sanctuary entrance and altar, let the priests, God’s servants, weep tears of repentance. Let them intercede: Have mercy, God, on your people!”
I would totally agree about those emotional highs. I had a campfire the other night with my students and I talked about letting their yes be yes and their no’s be no’s. Anyway, as I continued on, I said this is not to be a lets cry and get all emotional around the camp fire. Its time to buck up and decide am I all for Jesus or am I not. when they were five they could find excuses that could work but now they are old enough to know and stick with what they decide. Anyway….all that to say you are right. You should be able to love taking part in some of those trips and such but if you don’t have a rooted and grounded relationship with Christ it is all based off emotions and will soon leave you alone and dark.
Great post my friend. Hope you have a great evening. Nice chatting with you for a few. 🙂
It was initially going to be a song, but it got so long that I couldn’t pass it for one. I think I’m made to write longer than two verses and a chorus. Thanks for the encouragement!
Excellent. Going on emotional ups and downs is how this life goes. We are designed to be dependant on the eternal God so here we are, in the ebb and flow. Conferences and other gatherings can be as “exciting” as The Meeting Place and encourage you to press in. However, if you have no intent on seeking God and looking for a good rush, then it’s only that — a rush.
So lets fall on the Rock and call on He who is faithful and always consistent to make us like Him.
There are so many ways that I could respond to this. But, in this particular moment, I won’t. I love your translucency Josh. Rock it out.
why thank you eric. i always enjoyed our discussions on the issue of translucency. shower door, baby!
Heh, that was a Meeting Place I’ll never forget — the transparent/translucent “debate”. The round-table of Dave, Liz, Eric, and Josh, if I remember correctly. That was awesome. 🙂
This was an awesome post, Josh. Not saying I entirely agree, but encouraging nonetheless.
Hope you caught that gorgeous sunset yesterday. I volunteer to be your little alert system, since I do so much stinking driving.
gracie – so out of curiosity… which part do you not entirely agree upon?