We're really enjoying our time in Japan. And I feel God speaking to me so much. There is a huge world out there with so many people. 12 million in Tokyo alone. So many lives. I begin to think of all the moments that can be wasted.
How do you waste your life?
I believe that any minute not lived unto God is for naught. Evaporated time. This isn't legalism, it's just an awareness that the only life worth living is one that is bathed in God's spirit. When I iron my shirt I want to worship. When I'm pumping gas, when I sing a song, holding my wife's hand, flying in a plane, preaching, writing, laughing with my family, changing a diaper. I believe it's possible for all of this to be wrapped in the simplicity of God's presence.
Jesus did it. He was normal and not normal all at once. He had sweat glands and a belly button just like you and me. He was tempted and attacked. He had to do things that required money and lived in a material society. There was major potential for stress in His life. All of these things were just opportunities for Him to surrender more and more to His Father.
Why don't you try giving every moment as an offering to God? Don't make it another law to live by... just realize that it can become like breathing. I breathe naturally because it's second nature. This is where grace comes in. It has changed our nature. Adam excluded God in the small things, but through the life of Jesus we can now live to INCLUDE God in everything. We can make every moment an offering.
-jack
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21 comments:
Wow that's just what I needed to hear today!!! Thanks jack!
So good!! Thanks for the amazing reminder and charge! My wife and I are having our third child tomorrow, and we are so excited to worship God through the experience of Him giving us life!
It's too easy to get caught up in the daily routine of life. You are right in saying we waste our moments. It's our nature to compartmentalize things in life. Mundane tasks such as pumping gas, changing diapers, or worshiping God. People don't usually think of those going together.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Candace
Blessings to you Jack. I love your blog, very insightful and inspirational. You have a gift with words.
Becky
WOW! thank you so much for this post, I was just thinking about living every part of my life for God.
It's really hard, I get distracted by friends, school, daydreams, plans,... I need to just keep submitting my life to God.
This blog kinda reminds me of the Phil Joel song "Don't Waste Your Life. I couldn't find the lyrics so here is a link to him singing this song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_gQO-oPwX8
We talked about this at my youth group a while back. A guy said he gave up his old life (that included giving up some friends and other things) and because he was willing to give all of that up for God, God changed his whole live in a very good way and he also said that when you are willing to that, that it just becomes automatic to think about God with everything. For instance: When it's really great weather he would be like: "Wow, God created the world so beautifully!" and he was talking about other things like that.
Someone else said that you could start of with something and then keep taking small steps and then eventually it'll become automatic. And he said: "you could start with trying to think of God at least once an hour. And when you keep doing that it becomes something automatic".
A week ago I was at a Hillsong London/Israel Houghton concert and Peter Willson was talking about worship. And he said: "Worship isn't just here tonight, but it's the way you live. So I wanna challenge you to, when you go home and to work or school, worship God with everything you do". I think that's so true, but it also seems to be one of the hardest things to do.. you know those daily things always seem the hardest.. I don't know if you know Peter, but he is also very inspiring! Hillsong London does Summer Worship every year in my town in Holland. It's really good! And he always takes the time to talk, not just to sing songs.
Hehe.. long comment xD
God bless,
Rafaëla
Easier said than done.. or so it seems. Lots of times you here a word from someone, or a sermon or even read a word of scripture. They all say that you need to do something, but often times i miss the HOW. You say that it's important to make God part of every second or every minute of every day. Don't get me wrong.. I would love to be able to do that. I just don't know where to start.
Thanks Jack.
Hey leeland! i LOVE your music and now your blog and i no that God is going to do somthing BIG in all your lives:) God bless you
-MARY
Thank you son once again for your words of encouragement!! I truly want to live as if each moment could be my last. Life is simply a vapor in comparison to eternity! We must make each moment count to the glory of God!
love you so very much and I'm so proud of the man you have become!
Mama
Thank you so much for your post. I sometimes forget that my eternal life with God started the moment I was saved, but experiencing Him is my greatest desire. Let those Christians at your concerts know were praying for them was well as you guys. I live in the South, and I can't imagine living in a place where there's not a church on every other street.
Great post! It really spoke to me. wow, if I shared every moment with GOD... I would grow so much and be an even better witness to those observing me.Thanks for the post, I'm praying that GOD'll use this in big ways, both for me and everyone else who reads this :) Amen!
Yeah, I guess life throws so many things at you that your mind goes off in so many different directions that you pretty much forget about God. I think that's why spending time with God is so important to help keep you grounded, so at the end of the day, you realize that He's still around. Thanks for the blogs of encouragement; we appreciate them!
hey guys... where else in Asia you guys travelling to? by any chance passing thru South East Asia??
this is crazy insightful. I needed to hear this. you are right on=even the mundane tasks can glorify Christ or pull us away from Him depending on how we carry them out. everything is an opportunity to choose Jesus' way of life. if only we would choose it more often..
YES! this also brings in the factor of if we are including God into every part of our life in every aspect making him the center and us striving to be like him then we need to make sure our lives our pure. We need to make sure that we are setting an example for the people around us and through the attacks the devil throw against us christians we need to respond full of Grace and dignity defending our faith yet not getting angry in the process
you bring up great points jack because if we claim to be walking in his presence all the time yet never act like we are then what makes us different
This is truly inspiring. You are a very eloquent writer! Very cool as I was just thinking about this...I really want to bring God into every detail of my life. I want to think about Him when I am cleaning, working, hanging with friends...all the time, everywhere. That is the best life one can live! You are so right. :)
While people may have different views still good things should always be appreciated. Yours is a nice blog. Liked it!!!
I chanced upon to view your blog and found it very interesting. Great ... Keep it up!
Great thoughts Jack!
It's really wonderful to have bands in the Christian world that not only can play music but they are in love with Jesus! They might even have some good lyrics, but their focus isn't to serve and glorify God. God bless you and may you guys keep up the good work!
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