01.04.10
Luke 5:16 (New International Version)
16But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
What can we gather from this verse and what’s that got to do with your life in 2010?
1. It’s Jesus we’re talking – Son of God, come to earth to model real life to us and rescue us.
2. Often – this is a habit. Something that is natural in the rhythm of His life.
3. Withdrew – Paintings of Jesus walking ever so calmly among his followers only further our thinking that He can’t relate to our busy lives. But this isn’t accurate. Other places we see the crowds, not gingerly listening but violently pressing in on Him. At least one occasion, along the waters edge, they crowd him off land and into the water. At other points we see him unable to stop and eat or even enter towns because of the crowds. So, He intentionally separates from the hectic life to sit with His Father.
4. Lonely Places – It’s hard to listen closely and have conversation in a crowd. So, He purposely isolated Himself in order to have uninterrupted conversation with the Father.
5. And Prayed – It is hyper critical that we not miss the point of it all. It wasn’t for rest that He got away (though there were times that He did this), it wasn’t to get important work done (though we see Him slip away for this as well) – It was because He was so aware of His need for our Father and so in love with our Father that it drove Him to get alone (very much like I find time for date nights with my wife).
In 2010 what role will Prayer play in your life? CSUS is excited about seeking to facilitate more prayer in and for this ministry. In fact, we are calling everyone to commit to daily prayer during the month of February. Please consider taking the challenge.
See why Jesus was born!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Micah Ramsey's Message
12.28.09
Another New Year is around the corner. In 2010 what will be your focus? Where will your priorities lie? Take your lead from 15 year old Micah Ramsey (who takes his lead from Jesus). Micah has been battling Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare and aggressive cancer. His words were published on the front page of his local paper and are repeated here.
“We as Human beings were created by God to worship and glorify HIM. It is what we are designed to do. God also has had a plan for us since before we were born. Apparently one of His plans for my life is that I am to fight cancer. This is so that I can glorify and serve Him in some way. I don’t know what this way is. What He is doing, I’m sure, my simple mind cannot fathom. God is all-knowing and I am not. He is going to be GREATLY glorified through me fighting cancer. Not because I’m some great person, but because He is a great, mighty, and totally awesome God. God has my life in His hands, and He can do whatever He thinks best. I know this sounds like the best “churchy” answer, but I want you to know that this came straight from my heart.
Yes, I am not comfortable, I hurt, I’m not sleeping very well, but God is doing what He needs to do through my life. People are being drawn closer to God through this; His will is being done. That is the most important thing right now. I will endure pain for Him; He has endured the ultimate for me. The Lord is working through all this and HE WILL BE GREATLY GLORIFIED!!!!”
-On Dec 10 Christian Surfers sent an email to Micah to encourage him that his story would be going around the world through CS and that it would bless and challenge many. His Dad said that it put a huge smile on his face and he said, "I told you God was going to use this cancer for His glory." That was the last email he read. On Dec 12 Micah went home to be with his Savior.
-Please consider sending an email to Micah’s family via his Youth Pastor to encourage them.
Make an end of year donation to Christian Surfers US!
Find a new life in the New Year!
Another New Year is around the corner. In 2010 what will be your focus? Where will your priorities lie? Take your lead from 15 year old Micah Ramsey (who takes his lead from Jesus). Micah has been battling Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare and aggressive cancer. His words were published on the front page of his local paper and are repeated here.
“We as Human beings were created by God to worship and glorify HIM. It is what we are designed to do. God also has had a plan for us since before we were born. Apparently one of His plans for my life is that I am to fight cancer. This is so that I can glorify and serve Him in some way. I don’t know what this way is. What He is doing, I’m sure, my simple mind cannot fathom. God is all-knowing and I am not. He is going to be GREATLY glorified through me fighting cancer. Not because I’m some great person, but because He is a great, mighty, and totally awesome God. God has my life in His hands, and He can do whatever He thinks best. I know this sounds like the best “churchy” answer, but I want you to know that this came straight from my heart.
Yes, I am not comfortable, I hurt, I’m not sleeping very well, but God is doing what He needs to do through my life. People are being drawn closer to God through this; His will is being done. That is the most important thing right now. I will endure pain for Him; He has endured the ultimate for me. The Lord is working through all this and HE WILL BE GREATLY GLORIFIED!!!!”
-On Dec 10 Christian Surfers sent an email to Micah to encourage him that his story would be going around the world through CS and that it would bless and challenge many. His Dad said that it put a huge smile on his face and he said, "I told you God was going to use this cancer for His glory." That was the last email he read. On Dec 12 Micah went home to be with his Savior.
-Please consider sending an email to Micah’s family via his Youth Pastor to encourage them.
Make an end of year donation to Christian Surfers US!
Find a new life in the New Year!
Advent Devo Pt. 4 "Re-Capture Christmas!"
12.24.09
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
Surfing is a “soulful” pursuit…or so we surfers claim. We all know the sheer joy of riding waves, so it offends us that people would ever dare to capitalize on the surfing experience: our waves, our offshore days, our naps on a sandy beach after a four hour super session, our fires on the beach after a winter go-out, and riding our bikes on the boardwalk to check the surf. All are acts that are so pure, and so ready to be blown into larger than life posters to be placed in the store windows at the mall or a “Surf and Sport” near you.
Christmas suffers the same in our culture. It’s become commercialized. And because it comes year after year, it’s become common. More “ho-hum” than “ho, ho, ho!” And as we surfers seek to return to our roots and recapture our ‘counter-cultural’ ways, so too, we re-capture Christmas anew. Though the Christmas story is as old and well-known as any, our hearts can follow Mary’s example. On that first Christmas night with all that happened there in Bethlehem—those explosions in the night sky, those unannounced visitors, those waves of contractions that brought Jesus into the world—Mary’s reflections are this: She “kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19).
What greater and better example for us to follow, as we take today to ponder all that Christmas was and is? The birth of our Savior, Messiah, King and Hero may feel different year to year, person to person. Yet Jesus is there in it all, showing his salvation as sufficient for all people, at all times, in all places.”
“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”
--Hebrews 3:1
Jesus has come! Merry Christmas to you!
From all of us at Christian Surfers United States
Make an end of year donation to Christian Surfers US!
Learn the reason behind the season!
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
Surfing is a “soulful” pursuit…or so we surfers claim. We all know the sheer joy of riding waves, so it offends us that people would ever dare to capitalize on the surfing experience: our waves, our offshore days, our naps on a sandy beach after a four hour super session, our fires on the beach after a winter go-out, and riding our bikes on the boardwalk to check the surf. All are acts that are so pure, and so ready to be blown into larger than life posters to be placed in the store windows at the mall or a “Surf and Sport” near you.
Christmas suffers the same in our culture. It’s become commercialized. And because it comes year after year, it’s become common. More “ho-hum” than “ho, ho, ho!” And as we surfers seek to return to our roots and recapture our ‘counter-cultural’ ways, so too, we re-capture Christmas anew. Though the Christmas story is as old and well-known as any, our hearts can follow Mary’s example. On that first Christmas night with all that happened there in Bethlehem—those explosions in the night sky, those unannounced visitors, those waves of contractions that brought Jesus into the world—Mary’s reflections are this: She “kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19).
What greater and better example for us to follow, as we take today to ponder all that Christmas was and is? The birth of our Savior, Messiah, King and Hero may feel different year to year, person to person. Yet Jesus is there in it all, showing his salvation as sufficient for all people, at all times, in all places.”
“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”
--Hebrews 3:1
Jesus has come! Merry Christmas to you!
From all of us at Christian Surfers United States
Make an end of year donation to Christian Surfers US!
Learn the reason behind the season!
Advent Devo Pt. 3 "The Now"
12.21.09
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
A huge part of our surfing experience is awaiting that next good session. Just moments after we exit the water, peel off that suit, load that board back in its bag, and lean over to get the surprise of a “post-nasal gushing”, our thoughts quickly rush to when we can do it all again. When will the next session be? What will the waves be like, and who can we get to join us out there in the line up? Will we catch better waves than this last session? Will we experience some sort of breakthrough in our surfing, increasing our skill-set by performing some yet to be mastered turn or maneuver?
Advent is this worship practice that tunes our heart to the “awaiting” part of our faith. Just as faithful God seekers were on the edge of their seats waiting for God to come to this earth and rescue us, so we also await Jesus. Jesus has come to earth and we say “Merry Christmas!” Jesus is coming again, and we say “Maranatha!” Lord Jesus, come! So we remember the past while we long for the future… and both of them? All about Jesus!
Between past and future, we find ourselves in the Now. This is where we do well to recognize that Jesus is here today. His body is very much around! Yes, the body of Christ—all around the world, everywhere two of three gather and seek Jesus! The now is the perfect time to remember Jesus who came to into our world long ago, and also the time to get really excited about the approaching Jesus, who is one day closer to His return!
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
--Romans 8:22-25
Make an end of year donation to support Christian Surfers US!
Learn the real meaning of Christmas!
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
A huge part of our surfing experience is awaiting that next good session. Just moments after we exit the water, peel off that suit, load that board back in its bag, and lean over to get the surprise of a “post-nasal gushing”, our thoughts quickly rush to when we can do it all again. When will the next session be? What will the waves be like, and who can we get to join us out there in the line up? Will we catch better waves than this last session? Will we experience some sort of breakthrough in our surfing, increasing our skill-set by performing some yet to be mastered turn or maneuver?
Advent is this worship practice that tunes our heart to the “awaiting” part of our faith. Just as faithful God seekers were on the edge of their seats waiting for God to come to this earth and rescue us, so we also await Jesus. Jesus has come to earth and we say “Merry Christmas!” Jesus is coming again, and we say “Maranatha!” Lord Jesus, come! So we remember the past while we long for the future… and both of them? All about Jesus!
Between past and future, we find ourselves in the Now. This is where we do well to recognize that Jesus is here today. His body is very much around! Yes, the body of Christ—all around the world, everywhere two of three gather and seek Jesus! The now is the perfect time to remember Jesus who came to into our world long ago, and also the time to get really excited about the approaching Jesus, who is one day closer to His return!
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
--Romans 8:22-25
Make an end of year donation to support Christian Surfers US!
Learn the real meaning of Christmas!
Advent Devo Pt. 2 "What is His Name?"
12.14.09
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
It would seem that second only to the pleasure of riding waves is the pleasure surfers receive from naming things. We do this with our breaks: indicators, boneyard, bombora, inlet, bay, insides, outsides, leftovers, right-overs, and more. We do this with ourselves: Flea, Buffalo, Rabbit, Midget, Gidget, Simpo, Kong, Twiggy, Dingo, Kanga, Sea Bass, and the list goes on and on.
As we celebrate advent, as we wait for our King and Hero who is coming, who is approaching, at the top of our list of questions is ‘What is his name?” “What do we call him?” The prophet Isaiah informs…
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” --Isaiah 9:6-7
For all who have suffered from bad advice. For all who feel exhausted by the constant demands of life. For all who feel abandoned and unloved, even orphaned. For all who face frustration and turmoil for the better part of their days. For all of us…Christmas is coming! It has come. It is coming. And it is coming again.
Make an end of year donation to support Christian Surfers US!
See why Jesus was born!
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
It would seem that second only to the pleasure of riding waves is the pleasure surfers receive from naming things. We do this with our breaks: indicators, boneyard, bombora, inlet, bay, insides, outsides, leftovers, right-overs, and more. We do this with ourselves: Flea, Buffalo, Rabbit, Midget, Gidget, Simpo, Kong, Twiggy, Dingo, Kanga, Sea Bass, and the list goes on and on.
As we celebrate advent, as we wait for our King and Hero who is coming, who is approaching, at the top of our list of questions is ‘What is his name?” “What do we call him?” The prophet Isaiah informs…
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” --Isaiah 9:6-7
For all who have suffered from bad advice. For all who feel exhausted by the constant demands of life. For all who feel abandoned and unloved, even orphaned. For all who face frustration and turmoil for the better part of their days. For all of us…Christmas is coming! It has come. It is coming. And it is coming again.
Make an end of year donation to support Christian Surfers US!
See why Jesus was born!
Advent Devo Pt. 1 "The Approach"
12.07.09
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
“20 feet from the NW 295 degrees @ 17 second intervals”
In our present surfing era, the above statement pumps blood into a surfer’s veins. Through our high tech storm tracking tools, we’re able to know about storms generated thousands of miles from our home breaks. We can know about these storms speed and intensity, the size of the seas it kicks up, and then we can predict how many days from now that waves will hit our reefs, sandbars, and points. Knowing this, we begin to arrange our life obligations (school, work, family, etc.) not to interfere with the coming swell event. We also prep boards and use surf dvd’s to mentally prepare. In some cases, we’ll book a flight or arrange a road trip to that spot which we know will unfold the swell’s full potential. While all this is going on, we log onto websites that give us buoy readings, telling us of the event that is yet to be. Something is out there. It’s wave energy. And it’s coming.
For centuries (beginning at least by the middle of the sixth century), followers of Jesus have entered into a worship season called Advent. During advent, God’s people are encouraged to go back in time to what it would be like to wait in breathless anticipation for Messiah to finally appear onto the scene, and into our lives.
The word advent is derived for the Latin adventus, which means “the approach.” There’s something coming—rather, someone coming, who will be a mighty force. He is approaching. He is coming. Our King is coming. The one who will rescue us from all that is wrong with this world, and all that is wrong with us. Our Hero is coming--one who would perform the most daring of rescues—snatching us from the hell we deserved. Yes, He is coming! That one! Jesus.
And our hearts can thrill to that in ways that out-strip our thrill of that long awaiting swell. Because something greater that waves is on the approach. The creator of such waves is on the approach. He is master of these natural forces, and therefore more than able to rule over whatever challenge, whatever disappointment, or whatever failure you may face today.
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.”
--Psalm 24:1-2, 7, 10
Guest Author: Lyle Castellaw
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.
“20 feet from the NW 295 degrees @ 17 second intervals”
In our present surfing era, the above statement pumps blood into a surfer’s veins. Through our high tech storm tracking tools, we’re able to know about storms generated thousands of miles from our home breaks. We can know about these storms speed and intensity, the size of the seas it kicks up, and then we can predict how many days from now that waves will hit our reefs, sandbars, and points. Knowing this, we begin to arrange our life obligations (school, work, family, etc.) not to interfere with the coming swell event. We also prep boards and use surf dvd’s to mentally prepare. In some cases, we’ll book a flight or arrange a road trip to that spot which we know will unfold the swell’s full potential. While all this is going on, we log onto websites that give us buoy readings, telling us of the event that is yet to be. Something is out there. It’s wave energy. And it’s coming.
For centuries (beginning at least by the middle of the sixth century), followers of Jesus have entered into a worship season called Advent. During advent, God’s people are encouraged to go back in time to what it would be like to wait in breathless anticipation for Messiah to finally appear onto the scene, and into our lives.
The word advent is derived for the Latin adventus, which means “the approach.” There’s something coming—rather, someone coming, who will be a mighty force. He is approaching. He is coming. Our King is coming. The one who will rescue us from all that is wrong with this world, and all that is wrong with us. Our Hero is coming--one who would perform the most daring of rescues—snatching us from the hell we deserved. Yes, He is coming! That one! Jesus.
And our hearts can thrill to that in ways that out-strip our thrill of that long awaiting swell. Because something greater that waves is on the approach. The creator of such waves is on the approach. He is master of these natural forces, and therefore more than able to rule over whatever challenge, whatever disappointment, or whatever failure you may face today.
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.”
--Psalm 24:1-2, 7, 10
Guest Author: Lyle Castellaw
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
Not About Me, Pt. 4
11.30.09
We’ve learned that my salvation is not solely about me but first about God’s glory and than about fellow believers. So is this week about me? – Nope.
Colossians 4:3 NIV “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” Did you catch that last part – “I am in chains.” Paul is not in a comfortable situation. But, didn’t God save me so I could be comfortable and happy? Are there things more important than my comfort in this world?
What is at the forefront of Paul’s mind in this situation? There are people that are lost and God wants them to be found. Paul doesn’t ask for prayer that his chains be removed but something of greater importance – that the Good News of Jesus as the only Savior of the world be proclaimed.
Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Paul was human and enjoyed comfort just as much as the next guy. But, he realizes that the spreading of the cure for sin is more important than our temporary comfort for two reasons:
1. Because we have a limited amount of time to spread the cure.
2. Because the celebration, in eternity, over the spreading of His cure will be exceedingly greater than any discomfort that we could experience in the spreading of it.
My salvation is so much deeper and richer than just how it affects me. It is about showing God’s majesty to the world. It is about me now being able to love other Christians. It is about awakening to the need for every human on earth to hear the great news that a rescuer has come for them in their disease of sin.
Go into the lineup this week with your eyes up on God and out on others and not simply on self and getting your waves. And pray for me to do the same.
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
We’ve learned that my salvation is not solely about me but first about God’s glory and than about fellow believers. So is this week about me? – Nope.
Colossians 4:3 NIV “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” Did you catch that last part – “I am in chains.” Paul is not in a comfortable situation. But, didn’t God save me so I could be comfortable and happy? Are there things more important than my comfort in this world?
What is at the forefront of Paul’s mind in this situation? There are people that are lost and God wants them to be found. Paul doesn’t ask for prayer that his chains be removed but something of greater importance – that the Good News of Jesus as the only Savior of the world be proclaimed.
Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Paul was human and enjoyed comfort just as much as the next guy. But, he realizes that the spreading of the cure for sin is more important than our temporary comfort for two reasons:
1. Because we have a limited amount of time to spread the cure.
2. Because the celebration, in eternity, over the spreading of His cure will be exceedingly greater than any discomfort that we could experience in the spreading of it.
My salvation is so much deeper and richer than just how it affects me. It is about showing God’s majesty to the world. It is about me now being able to love other Christians. It is about awakening to the need for every human on earth to hear the great news that a rescuer has come for them in their disease of sin.
Go into the lineup this week with your eyes up on God and out on others and not simply on self and getting your waves. And pray for me to do the same.
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
Not About Me? Pt. 3
11.23.09
Not About Me? Pt. 3
Last week we saw that my salvation is not solely about me but is first about God being shown as great. So what else is it about?
Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Often we are concerned about fellow Christians but preoccupied with ourselves. I’d love to sit and listen to you or give you a hand with that problem but the winds are offshore right now.
Paul is consumed with love for brothers and sisters in Christ and quickly sacrifices his own pleasures for their benefit. In Romans 14 and 15 Paul says radical things like if what he is doing causes a Christian to slip into sin he’ll stop, even if it isn’t wrong. In 15:1 he says to bear with others failings “and not to please ourselves.”
So, what does this say about statements like, “got to look out for number one” or “I have to be true to myself”?
Jesus modeled putting other’s needs before His own, loving them more than His own rest or pleasure, sacrificing self for what was best for others. You may be saying, “Wait a second, this is radical stuff. I mean where do you draw the line?” Good! Now you’re getting it.
Your salvation is not solely about you but about God’s glory and loving fellow believers.
Galatians 6:10 NIV “…let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
Not About Me? Pt. 3
Last week we saw that my salvation is not solely about me but is first about God being shown as great. So what else is it about?
Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Often we are concerned about fellow Christians but preoccupied with ourselves. I’d love to sit and listen to you or give you a hand with that problem but the winds are offshore right now.
Paul is consumed with love for brothers and sisters in Christ and quickly sacrifices his own pleasures for their benefit. In Romans 14 and 15 Paul says radical things like if what he is doing causes a Christian to slip into sin he’ll stop, even if it isn’t wrong. In 15:1 he says to bear with others failings “and not to please ourselves.”
So, what does this say about statements like, “got to look out for number one” or “I have to be true to myself”?
Jesus modeled putting other’s needs before His own, loving them more than His own rest or pleasure, sacrificing self for what was best for others. You may be saying, “Wait a second, this is radical stuff. I mean where do you draw the line?” Good! Now you’re getting it.
Your salvation is not solely about you but about God’s glory and loving fellow believers.
Galatians 6:10 NIV “…let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
Not About ME, Pt. 2
11.16.09
Not About Me? Pt. 2
OK, if it’s not about me than what is it about? Let’s take a look at Jesus.
Matthew 26:39 –NIV - “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
This is the evening that Jesus is going to be betrayed. Through His study of the Word Jesus knew what was coming and it wasn’t about HIS earthly desires. He didn’t want to hang on a cross and be beaten. But it’s about God the Father’s will. It’s about God’s greatness being shown in providing salvation for all mankind. It’s about God and HIS Glory.
Isaiah 43:21 – NIV – “I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”
Why were we formed? For HIM in order to proclaim HIS praise. Did people experience joy as God provided their needs? Oh yeah! Because when God is glorified people find joy. So we should pursue our joy in glorifying God. The problem is, we make it about us and pursue our joy in glorifying ourselves and that doesn’t work.
My salvation is not solely about me. It is first about God and Him showing His greatness by saving me from His wrath. To Jesus, God’s glory was more important than His own agenda. How about you?
Who do you surf for?
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
Not About Me? Pt. 2
OK, if it’s not about me than what is it about? Let’s take a look at Jesus.
Matthew 26:39 –NIV - “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
This is the evening that Jesus is going to be betrayed. Through His study of the Word Jesus knew what was coming and it wasn’t about HIS earthly desires. He didn’t want to hang on a cross and be beaten. But it’s about God the Father’s will. It’s about God’s greatness being shown in providing salvation for all mankind. It’s about God and HIS Glory.
Isaiah 43:21 – NIV – “I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”
Why were we formed? For HIM in order to proclaim HIS praise. Did people experience joy as God provided their needs? Oh yeah! Because when God is glorified people find joy. So we should pursue our joy in glorifying God. The problem is, we make it about us and pursue our joy in glorifying ourselves and that doesn’t work.
My salvation is not solely about me. It is first about God and Him showing His greatness by saving me from His wrath. To Jesus, God’s glory was more important than His own agenda. How about you?
Who do you surf for?
See what's new on the CSUS website!
Hear the Good News and share it!
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