Making War

If you’ve been to Fuse* recently, you’re very familiar with the term “Make War”. It’s the title of the series that’s been going on for about 4 weeks now, and it’s what BCoop has been urging us to do since day 1.

Brad’s done an awesome job on explaining exactly how to make war every day, but I want to know what you think.

What does the phrase “Make War” mean to you?

How do you make war in your life?

Let the rest of us know – it may even help us make war in our lives.

–Dani

Why Is Grace Confused With Movement And Ultimate Forgiveness?

When I say Grace what do you think of? You’re probably either thinking of movement, like a ballerina seeming to glide on her toes, or youre thinking of a forgivness beyond which nobody can wrap their minds around. But why those two? Why movement and forgiveness? Is it because of culture’s perspective? Probably, but I believe there is a deeper explaination.

I mean, really. How in the world did our minds manage to get swift, beautiful movement and indescribable forgiveness confused? What about the two did we see that had the same meaning? Here’s what I think.

When I think of Grace as movement, I picture a woman. She’s dancing, she’s carefree, sunlight seems to dance on her smiling face as she twirls her skirt swiftly. Nothing could harm her. BUT- wait. She isnt Xena. Or an Athena spit-image. In fact, she is the total opposite. She’s calm, she’s beautiful, she’s- absolutly stunning. Yet, at the same time, she seems strong. You wouldnt dare harm her. The essence that comes from her seems (and does) protect her. Worries? None. Sorrows? It wouldn’t matter. She’d dance them away.

So, what about all of that compares to forgiveness? Strong, true, beautiful, authentic forgiveness?

True forgiveness comes from a force none could understand. Some, and I hope you do, know this force as “God.” Sound familiar?

Let’s face it. If you could honestly wrap your mind around God, you have made your own idol. Seriously- if you walk with Christ on a day to day basis, you know not all of your questions are answered. In fact, if you have no questions, something is wrong. It’s those very questions that keep us dancing and moving in his Grace.

Now do you see? The dancer I picture answers the question of why she is dancing with a smiling face, and answers with, “God.”

Her dancing is true. Her every movement is authentic. She didnt train for this. It’s from her joy she dances so beautifully. Her sweet essence of strength is- well, strong. You couldn’t wrap your mind around the absolute joy she is feeling. You wouldn’t dare try. She allures you with every Graceful movement she makes. And as she moves, you have a desire to have the joy she has.

Sound Familiar?

I know it does to me. It reminds me of my Father, My God. He’s strong. He’s alluring. He’s true. He’s himself. He is all that he is- authentic. He’s stunning. He allures us to dance with him. He- He is the beauty that’s worth dancing for authentically. Without care. Without shame. He’s the author of

Salvation, Grace-

Something we cannot wrap our minds around.

Something- no. Someone that is all that HE is. All my life is worth DANCING for.

–Ali

Small Recap 6/24

For those of you who weren’t able to be at small group yesterday, here’s some of the highlights:

John 15:  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

Are you abiding in Him day to day?

There’s a part of the maturing process that occurs when we no longer sum up our weeks by all the bad stuff that happened, people who made us mad, or things that didn’t go our way.

God is good every day of every week. If we can’t think of anything good He’s done, it’s not because He didn’t do anything–it’s because we’re so focused on us that we miss the ways He’s at work.

When we are wrapped up in Him, we begin to ask Him for things that aren’t always about us. And He does them. Because when we ask and He does things that we couldn’t have done on our own, only He gets the glory for that.

So, what are you asking for? What are you believing God for? Get the big picture in mind! What is in your heart that you long to see Him do for someone else? He wants to blow your mind with the things He will do when you ask Him for things out of a desire to see His glory.

Yeah, you shoulda been there

–Tiffany

A Passion for the Presence of God

This morning, Lydia turned on a Hillsong United album at a ridiculously loud volume while I was sitting at the computer. I instantly felt the presence of God and had to go get alone with Him. I can’t really explain it, but then, when is God ever easily explainable? I went to my room and began to sing, softly at times and loudly at others. I felt an incredible peace and sensed Him with me. I started writing everything in my heart, telling Him how much I loved being there.

There’s nothing like His presence. Nothing to compare it to. Nothing that can substitute for it.

In that place with Him, there is joy and hope, stillness and loudness, peace and wildness, contentment and longing. His Spirit can make me want to laugh and cry all at the same time, dance and fall to my knees. What else can do that? Who else can be everything my heart longs for all in one moment?

It was unexpected but cherished. I wouldn’t have passed up that time for anything. Be responsive to His presence. If you love it, it will follow you. His Spirit will be in everything you do.

“When you call I won’t refuse,

each new day again I’ll choose.

There is no one else for me,

none but Jesus.

Crucified to set me free,

now I live to bring Him praise.”

(From “None But Jesus” by Brooke Fraser)

–Tiffany

Guest blogger Joel Hobgood on dreams

Tiffany asked me to share with you guys a dream I had last Tuesday.

Check this out: For the past week or so I’ve felt like God wants to show me who He is in ways I have never experienced before. Wednesday night before I went to bed, I was reading through some posts on this blog and the stories got me thinking about how the Holy Spirit works in ways we don’t always understand. In Joel 2, there’s a passage that talks about God pouring His Spirit on all people and His sons and daughters will prophesy and have visions and dream dreams. So I think to myself “Why not?” and began to ask God to speak to me in my dream that night in a way that I could understand.

In my dream that night, I stood in an open field facing Joey West. We were praying for God to speak to Joey and reveal Himself because he’s seeking God desperately for something. As we prayed, I saw clearly in my mind my friend Beth and the number 4 in Roman numerals. Something about the vision told me that the number 4 was significant in her life. Joey and I continued to pray and I reached my right hand out and placed it on Joey’s neck. When my hand made contact with him, Joey lifted his head and said “There it is! I can see it, I can see it!”

Then I woke up.

As I got ready for class that morning, the dream was clear in my mind and I couldn’t help thinking that I needed to talk to Beth and Joey about it so I sent them both texts explaining my dream. Joey replied back saying he had a really weird dream but couldn’t remember the details, so I asked him if there was anything he was really seeking God for (like he was in my dream). He tells me “yeah dude, that’s crazy because I was writing in my journal last night that i was desperate to hear from Him about what to do with my life.” I told him that because he was seeking so hard after God, He was going to show him what that is really soon and recommended he read Psalm 14:2 and Psalm 34.

Meanwhile, Beth replied saying “there are definitely a lot of things in my life that have to do with the number four. that’s crazy!” This was on Thursday (4/2) and on Friday (4/4 – Hmm…That’s interesting…) we had a two hour conversation about discovering God’s purpose for your life. I had basically just met Beth the week before my dream. It is so clear to me that God desires to use us to speak His truth into the lives of others for His glory!

What do you think? Have any stories like mine happened to you before?

–Joel

We already have hearts to follow Him

First let me say that God knows me. He made me, and there is no one who knows me better. In Psalm 139 it says He knows when I sit and rise, when I go out and when I lie down and before I speak He knows what I’m going to say. But sometimes I wonder if I know Him well enough. I always wonder when I hear Him if it’s me or Him thinking in my mind. Anyone else? How can I be discerning?

In John 10 it says that we will know His voice when He speaks to us, how encouraging is that! He came so we could have life, and have it to the full. So how do I ensure that happens? I know three ways for sure: 1) Have a DAILY walk with Him. This means getting up in the morning and making Him my first priority. I make it a point to get up 30 extra minutes early to read, and I have sacrificed my sleep, but it has been SO worth it! If you don’t have time, this could mean a prayer or journal entry or even just open your Bible to the Psalms in the morning and read one. Ask Him to be with you constantly in your day and make Himself known. 2) Righteousness and humility. James 1:22 tells us not to just listen to the word, but to do what it says. 3) A constant prayer life. I could have a whole separate entry on this later. My main principles are to make it conversational and frequent, and remember to thank Him.

Jeremiah 24:7 says “I will give them a heart to follow me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” That verse encourages me so much, the fact that He has already prepared our hearts to follow Him and know Him intimately. I want to know Him! So if you hear Him today, do not harden your hearts.

- Claire