Ezekiel 15 – short but sweet

This is a short chapter, but it packs a powerful punch.  God simply says that Israel will not escape His wrath.  Too often we foolishly think we can get away with things, but we can’t.  God sees all and knows our hearts.  We need to be honest with God, others, and ourselves.

On another note, I came in second today in a disc golf tournament!  I played in the same tournament last year and did horribly – this year I finished on the top (#2 out of over 60 people!).

I had a thought: maybe I did well because I’ve been investing in God’s Word more!  Do you think God works this way?  Do you think He blesses us when we are obedient to Him?  I’d love to hear your thoughts…

Ezekiel 14 – recapture me!

I grew up on Michael Card, and I greatly enjoyed his music (I still do!).  For my birthday one year, my mom offered to get me a two-disc set of his, but we both thought incorrectly that it was called The Word and I was given the CD to the left…

This must have been God-ordained, for one song on the album stood out to me – Recapture Me.  That phrase “recapture me” is repeated over and over in the song.  Michael Card writes out of Scripture and bases many of his albums on different Biblical passages.  This one is based on the prophets, and I read in the liner notes that this song was pulled out of Ezekiel 14.  I read the chapter and was blown away.  I just read it and was blown away again!

God desires to recapture my heart.  He desires to recapture your heart.  Sure, most of the chapter is about God’s wrath and judgment, but He talks about His desire to recapture the hearts of those that had walked away.

I know He has pursued and recaptured my heart – time after time after time after time.  Has He pursued your heart?  Has He recaptured it?  I’d love to hear how He’s done that for you.  He did it for me in Mexico when I had given up hope in Him.

Ezekiel 12 – a second chance for the few…

God asks Ezekiel to act out a symbolic sketch of what is to come.  He wants Israel to see what is going to happen to them – that they are going to be sent into exile.  He also wants them to know that most will die – only a few will be spared.

“They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.  But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices.  Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (vv. 15-16)

I am one of the few.  I am in a sort of exile, and I am finally acknowledging my detestable practices.

As you can see from the date of my last entry and the date of this one, I haven’t been in God’s Word.  I have been doing the very things I warned against in past posts.

“I know that I will be blessed if I’m obedient… I need to be.”

“Too often I’m quick to shower myself with God’s grace.  When I sin, I tell myself that it’s ok and that God will forgive me.”

“I shouldn’t take my sin so lightly.”

“How much will it take for you to really understand God?  Do you know how serious He is about sin?  Do you know He wants your whole life?  Or are you just playing the game because you know how to act ‘Christian?’”

“How repentant am I over sin?  Do I grieve over my mistakes, or do I simply let them slide?”

“DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S GRACE!”

Through a friend, I’ve been brought back to the place I need to be – repentant and in His Word.  I am thankful that I am one of the spared, and I am praying that I will remain in God’s Word where I so desperately need to be.  I’m a pastor.  An example.  I need to be leading others to Jesus.  How can I do that if I myself am not in tune with Him?

God, forgive me.  I repent.  Continue to bring my repentant heart to You.  Amen.

Ezekiel 11 – an opportunity for redemption

God calls the remnant of Israel on their wickedness and confronts them with their fears in hopes that they change their ways.  Ezekiel asks if any will be saved, and God finally gives a little hope…

“They will return to [Israel] and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.  I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  They will be my people, and I will be their God.” vv. 18-20

If only it ended there.  In my Bible, the next word is “But.”  God says that if they stay tied to their vile images, He will destroy them (summed up).  Ezekiel’s vision (which started in chapter 8) ends, and he shares everything with the remnant of Israel.

Two things jump out – first, Ezekiel is a faithful guy.  He is devoted to Israel, weeping over the lost and begging God to save some.  He is more so devoted to God, being faithful to carry out his job – share the message with the remnant.  Ezekiel is not talked about enough in churches.  He is an excellent role model of faithfulness.

Second, when God gives you a chance, take it!  Yes, He is a gracious God, but He is also a just God.  If you keep turning Him down, He will not take pity on you come judgment day.  DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S GRACE!

Ezekiel 2-3 – God readies Ezekiel for his ministry

Yesterday I was anxious to hear what God was going to say to Ezekiel.  Today I got to read His words, and they were good.

God is preparing Ezekiel for the ministry he is about to do.  He tells Ezekiel a little bit about the people he’s going to be speaking to – they are Israelite exiles that are rebellious and hard-hearted to God.

God clearly knows this is going to be difficult for Ezekiel, so He gives Ezekiel what he’s going to need.  God makes him just as unyielding and hardened as they are, He encourages Ezekiel that his only job is to get God’s word out, He keeps Ezekiel from saying anything but God’s words, and He shows Ezekiel His glory again.

I was struck by two things – how well God prepares Ezekiel for ministry and how obedient Ezekiel is to God’s call on his life.  Whenever God asks Ezekiel to do something, Ezekiel follows, and he is always blessed by being obedient.

I’ve tried to be in tune to God’s call and direction for my life, but I have a hard time listening on a daily basis.  I know that I will be blessed if I’m obedient – I’ve already been blessed by being obedient and reading His word.  But often I’m not obedient in other areas.  I need to be.  I want to be blessed.  Don’t you?

i'm winning bread!

it's official! i have a job! i accepted the offer to be the (ready for my crazy long title?) Associate Pastor to Youth and Families at Neighborhood Bible Church (http://www.nbcsj.org/) in San Jose! woohoo! i get to work with my good buddy dave, my good buddy jeff, and my sister hannah (when she gets back from Denmark)! how cool is that!

more than anything, i'm glad the process is over. it has been a stressful time for laura and i, but we made it. we're packing up our stuff to move in with my parents for a few months while we work on getting enough income to be back on our own (this job is only part time).

thanks for your prayers if you offered them!

don't miss the goodness!

i love playing cards. one of my favorite games is called nerts. it is basically a version of speed solitaire. you have to keep track of many things all at the same time, so it is a very fast-paced game. if you're too focused on playing one card, you could easily miss an opportunity to play another card or cards, and that could mess up your whole game.

i have had a one-track mind this past month. i have been focused on one thing - what i thought God should have been giving me - a job. i have been waiting for that goodness, and i almost missed other good things that God has given me recently. God gave me some opportunities to preach - one coming this Sunday! God gave me safety just yesterday - i was inches from being hit by another car, but God spared me! God gave me work - i have been added to the substitute roster at The King's Academy!

if i had been too focused on the fact that i don't have the job i want, i would have missed those opportunities. i would have turned down those speaking engagements. i wouldn't have seen God's hand in protecting me. i wouldn't have applied for work at King's.

notice the good that God is giving instead of just waiting for the good that you want. you could miss something amazing.

risk... and trusting God

"it all began with a risk / cause Your desire is for this / to be loved and to love is what everything is all about" - ten shekel shirt, risk

God took a risk on us. so we need to be willing to take risks for Him. risks that further His kingdom. risks that follow His purpose for our lives.

i have taken a couple risks for God. i took one recently. i thought God was leading me in a certain direction. it turns out He wasn't. or at least it seems that way. it makes it hard for me to know what to do because the option i thought i had is no longer an option.

i have learned that God is good. He has provided for me in ways i never expected or thought possible. when i get in tough spots like this, i have to trust that God will be good again. i know He will, because He's faithful and He loves me. sometimes it's just hard to trust.

Psalm 13 has been my lifeline this past month. here it is in all its wisdom...

How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

i pray this encourages you just as much as it did me.