Immeasurably More

As December is rolling on by and the year is coming to an end, I have been reflecting on all that 2013 has held.

It all started on January 1.  New Years Day.

I was taking part in the Passion 2013 conference via live streaming.  In the first session, Louie Giglio kept bringing up the phrase "immeasurably more" from Ephesians 3:10 which says "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us..."

He continued to expand on the verse, and started talking about people who want to believe that God can do immeasurably more, but are struggling because they aren't seeing it in their life.  He then went on to talk about the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 and how Ezekiel responded to God's question by saying "Sovereign Lord, You alone know."

I started out the year being one of those people who wanted desperately to believe that God would do immeasurably more in my life and in situations I was facing, and I had to blindly trust God and say "You alone know."  And only He knew what He had in store for the year.

Fast forward to May.  Life was at it had always been over the past number of years.  Honestly, I had gotten to the point where I was fed up with certain situations and had stopped believing for specific prayers to be answered.  There was one prayer in particular that I had prayed and been trusting God for since I was in grade 7, but after so many years of praying without an answer, I gave up.

In May, I decided to go a Holy Spirit night at my church, which was the first time I had gone in the 2.5 years of living here.  I don't even know why, but I just felt that I had to be there.  Without knowing it, God was about to do immeasurably more in my life.

That night I met someone who was new to my church.  We became fast friends, and God has used her to minister to my life as her encouragement has brought healing to my heart, and I finally have become more connected in my church and have met some amazing friends in the process!

On January 1, I could have never imagined that in hearing the words "immeasurably more" that it would become the core theme of my year.  But they have.  God has done so much more than I could've ever imagined!  In becoming free, God has brought physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in my life.  I am continuously amazed at how a prayer I had given up on believing for was answered.

If there is one thing I learned this year it is to never underestimate what God wants to do in and through a life.  Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged and give up on something, but God is always there and desires to do so much more...immeasurably more.

2013 turned out to be a year that exceeded any expectations I had for it.  God is so good!  I am blessed, and thankful, for all He has done in my life over this past year, and I look forward to what is in store in 2014.  To Him be the glory!

The Most Important Thing (Part 2)

I've finally had time to sit down to finish part 2 of "The Most Important Thing."  If you haven't read part 1 yet, you can find it here.


While on my holiday, God began to speak to me about some of the questions I've recently had.  For the first time it became so clear to me that one of the reasons why people have chosen to go the way of the world, despite knowing the truth of God's word, is because of a lack of relationship.

As I pondered the concept of relationships, I began to think about earthly relationships and compare them with what God desires of us.

I think most would agree with me that in order to build a solid relationship it is necessary to spend time with one another.  It's in times that you talk, hang out, and enjoy one another's company that you really get to know someone.  In my experience, and I'm sure others can relate, I've found that it is difficult to build or grow a friendship by talking to someone once every few months only for a couple minutes.  In those cases, the relationship maintains an 'acquaintance' classification, and rarely will that relationship form into a strong friendship.

If this is the case with earthly relationships, why do we expect our relationship with God to be any different?  Why do we expect to grow in our walk with Him if all we do is go to church once a week, and that's only when we aren't too busy to go.  We may say the odd prayer before our meals so that we feel as though we did our Christian duty.  Why do we focus so much time and attention on getting to know people around us and rarely spend time getting to know the very One who created us?

This is the revelation I began to see as I was seeking God as to why so many people know about Him, but aren't living for Him.

It's like having an acquaintance.  I may know who someone is, and I might know a few details about their personality or character, but when it comes to their heart, I don't really know them.  God used this analogy to show me that in society today so many people have this type of acquaintance relationship with Him.  So many know about Him, but they don't KNOW Him.

I hope my explanation makes sense.  It was a huge revelation to me when this all started coming together for me.

So, if we want to grow in our walk with God we need to spend time with Him, building our relationship with Him.  We need to spend time in prayer, talking to Him.  We need to take time to read our Bible, learning about His character.  We need to spend time listening for His voice.  We need to spend time with other Christians, being encouraged in love.

As we spend time building our relationship with Jesus, and encouraging others to do the same, I believe God will be faithful and we will see a change in the relational apathy I've seen around me.  As each Christian chooses to grow in their relationship with God, the casualties in the church will decrease.

The most important thing on the earth, which is the very purpose we were created for, is to lift up the name of Jesus and see lives transformed by His saving power.  This will only happen as we have relationship with Jesus and then show others how they can as well.

The Most Important Thing (Part 1)

It has been forever since I have written a blog post.  I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past year, but wasn't sure how to put words to what was going on inside of me.  The time has finally come to attempt to release those thoughts.

A couple weeks ago I was at a grad banquet for the Master's Commission program at my church.  At one point in the program the pastor who overseas the program made a statement that gripped my heart.  He said that people are the only things we will be able to take to heaven with us.  When we die, we won't bring any material things with us.  All our "stuff" will be left behind.  The only thing that has any value and significance for eternity is the soul.  Therefore, the most important thing in the world is not what job we have or how well off we are, but rather it is the souls around us...the lives that we touch.

Over the past few years my heart has become so broken for the lost.  I've always had a missions heart, but circumstances in my life has led to an increase in the brokenness and urgency that my heart has for those who don't have a relationship with Jesus.

I took a small vacation over the past weekend to visit some dear friends, and during my drive I heard a song that I've heard many times before, but a line jumped out to me as I listened to it:  "If not us, who will be like Jesus to the least of these?"

When I think about everything that's been going on inside of me over the past number of months and mix that with the two statements I have heard recently, I realized I can no longer be silent in my pondering...because truly, "if not us, who will be like Jesus to the least of these?"

I have a huge passion for my generation.  As I've gone from my high school days, to working, and now going to university, I have seen so many struggle in their faith.  I've seen the ways of society come in and distract people I love from living out their full identity in Christ, and all along the way my heart has cried out why.  Why are so many walking away from living sold out for Jesus?  What causes people to give in to things that they know in their hearts are not the way to true life?  I've asked all the questions, and struggled with knowing why this is such a problem in our society, and have wondered what I can possibly do to stop it.  It's been a journey that I've been struggling on because my heart aches to see my generation...and especially those I know and love...living 100% for Jesus.  That's my heart's cry.

This post is quickly becoming a novel, so I will write part two about what God spoke to me about the questions I've just written.  Stay tuned!