The Power of the Gospel

I first want to say this past week has not been easy.  I have been struggling with sin and the desire to find satisfaction in my own self.  I will say that this is normal for all sinners.  I am no different than that person on the streets committing so-called "worse" sins.  The thoughts of sin, grace, and suffering have become a constant topic in my faith.  Philippians and Ephesians have become an eye opener to these topics.  I find it amazing how Paul had such wisdom, yet even he notes it is Christ that is his boast.  As I read "Grace and Grit" I am surprised; yet, even in 1 Peter 4:12, Peter is not surprised by the power of the Gospel and the fact that we should not be surprised by sufferings for we are all crucified in Christ.

I just want to take note to myself that this evening I left church with the intention to spend time with my God.  I went hiking and started to read again the book of Philippians and Hebrews.  I was glad to.
I thought about the messages, since they were about sufferings and how the early Christians were persecuted, yet Acts 1:8 was being fulfilled when Philip went to Sameria.  I then thought about the background of Sameria and the women at the well that Jesus talked to.  I know that even she was considered dirty to the Southern part of Israel, but Christ saw more than a beast, but saw His loving daughter and sister.  Even though she had committed adultery, she was told not to sin no more and to drink from the living water that Christ would give.  I just love that amazing story.  It is one of my favorites.

Then I even thought about my calling.  First message was about Genesis 50 and the death of Joesph.  We know the story of Joesph, but never acknowledge God in the midst of it all and His promised covenant.  I never noticed it, but reading Hebrews 11 in a sense tells the story of God and the building of faith.  Then I decided to go deeper than the message and read the faith of Moses.  I found it crazy that Moses did have a choice of being the ruler he would be with all the world at his hands and note for a short time, or be despised for the sake of the future riches of Christ Jesus.  The calling was clear and the goal was set.  The obstacles are just mere obstacles, yet we can lose focus of the goal.  Jesus is our goal.  Here is a quote to know,

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."- Henry Ford

This is so true.  Lord I hope my eyes are continuously on you.  Tonight you proved your calling while I was at Corner Bakery.  As I was reading you introduced me to Sam.  Nice guy from Pure and hopes to go to a Christian college.  I pray that you do make a way for him to be a minister to your ministry.  Then as I viewed the young man by himself, I could not help but wonder why would he sit by himself.  You know we live in an age that being alone is considered weird.  So I thought and your pressed in my heart to talk to him.  I got up from my chair after 5-10min of thinking and said if I can join him.  From there you introduced me to Xavier.  Young man at the age of 14 and longed to know the Lord.  Like many young men, he was in football and baseball.  Had a girl friend and had so much to deal with.  The youth, man how much I enjoy speaking with them.  Then he was just speaking about how much he wished to go to church, and how his girl friend goes to Bible studies and he would like to.  Then he mentioning that his Bible in on the desk where he does homework.  I wonder how many of the youth are that close from you.  Nevertheless, Lord you deserve all the praise for pressing my heart to speak.  Now i know the story of his uncle who had died for 11 minutes by a gang stabbing in the left chest.  His uncle had seen the Lord and now is serving for your Kingdom.  I hope to remember that story and share your glory in his life and Xavier's.  I hope to meet him again at Etiwanda.

Lord may you lead me to campus ministry.  My I be your instrument.  May your love, grace, and truth abound.