Pray Passionately

This morning at church Dr. Dean reminded us of how much we need to pray fervently and passionately during the dark times of our life.  He used the story from Luke 22:39-46 when Jesus prayed passionately during a dark time in his life.  When he prayed, sweat dropped from his brows.  This showed how passionately he was praying to the Father during this time.   Dr. Dean also reminded us of how Jesus prayed for his companions/disciples during this time.  In our dark times, we are to have prayer partners who are with us during these times in our life.  In this same respect, Dr. Dean painted a picture of how we need to pray with passion, diligence, fervency, and desire during dark times in our life.  All in all, God revealed to me today that I need to have a passionate dependency on him this coming week for him to lead me in some important areas in my life.  I know that he is in control and he is working in my life.  The main thing is that I need to cry out to him more to lead me to the right job for me.  We are desperately dependent on Jesus for everything we need in life and he is all we need.  God reminded me of how much I need to daily depend and abide in him: John 15:5. 

Surrender your plans to : Psalm 37

This next step of prayer that I am discussing today is the surrendering of our plans to God.  When we surrender our plans to God, then he will provide for us in his timing in our life.  Also, we are to wait on God when seeking his leading in our life. 
First, committing our ways and surrendering to God in Psalm 37:5 shows our trust in him.  Our ability to surrender helps God see that we trust him and his ways.  When we surrender all our plans and desires to God, then he will act upon our behalf through Jesus.    Jesus hears our cries and requests when we go to him.  Lastly, in 37:4 when we delight in who God is then he will provide for us in his timing. 
Second, it is important that we wait patient on God for all things in life.  The Psalmist first mentions this important concept in first seven when discussing waiting on God to save the saints from trouble.  The Psalmist also mentions waiting on God in verse 34 when discussing waiting on God to inherit the land. This shows us the when we exalt God and wait on him he will provide for us.  Overall, this theme of waiting on God shows the importance of waiting on God and he will provide and protect us. 
Thirdly, this Psalm shows us that God leads us when we rest in him.  When we are abiding in him daily, God leads us in his will and ways.  God then gives us the ability to surrender our plans to him.  Also, when we abide in God and see his leading in our life, he will protect us.  Lastly,  when God leads and when we rest in him, God reminds of his law and his ways. 

Ask Specifically

Dr. Dean's sermon today reminded me that is important for us to be specific in our asking.  When we ask specifically, God hears our prayers and cries.  Also, it is important that we are bold in our asking.  When we are bold in our asking he hears us through Jesus.   He also helped me see that we are to be confident in our asking in boldness.  In this confidence, we are to be persistent in our prayer to God.  This implies an asking, seeking, knocking, then we will find an answer.
It is also important we pray specifically.  In the verse that are used for this asking in prayer it specified a specific number.  It is important we keep a prayer journal. He reminded us that God never gives us on his children or does anything that is harmful to them.  When we ask specifically God may say yes or no. 
Lastly, we are to ask expectantly of God. In this manner, we are to pray with a hope that God will provide for us.  God knows what we need before we even ask of him.   

Trust God and ask him!

God has been reminding me with today service at Travis Avenue Baptist church that I need to trust God and ask him.  When I trust God and ask him he will lead me in his wisdom.   God reminded me he will guide me to the specific full-time job for me. 
In this trusting and asking, God wants me to commit my plans to him as Dr. Dean said this morning.   It says in Proverbs 16:3, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.  This is a reminder that when we surrender our desires to God he will lead us where he wants us to go.  Also, God will let us know if our will is God's will.  God will give us specific direction and leading where he wants us to go in his timing.
God has also been reminding me that I need to confirm his calling to ministry.  I need to listen to his leading and his voice.  I know God has called me to ministry.  I need to remind me of his presence and power in my life.  Lastly, in this listening it is important that I look to Scripture.
Another part of this trusting/asking his looking to the counsel of others.  When we look to the counsel of others it will be easier to trust God.  Others can lead and guide us back to God.   Looking to others can also keep us focused on God's plans for our life.  Lastly, looking to others can remind us of what is true in our life.
Lastly, taking a step out in faith and listening to the consequences will help give us courage to trust God.  Grit is something God gives us over time.  Our grit and courage increases as we grow and mature in life.  Taking a step out in faith and trusting God grows our courage then we become mature.  In life, it is all about who we are becoming and whose we are in Christ. 
God is using circumstances to grow and mature us in Christ.  Our courage and grit increase with every challenge and trial.  We have to remind ourselves to trust God and trust the process at times.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi's motifs the to rest of Star Wars

There a few motifs in Star Wars: The Last Jedi that pertain to the other movies in the Star Wars universe.  These motifs pervade the whole Star Wars universe.  They are specific themes that go throughout Star Wars as a whole. 
The first important theme is the "rebels" reference that pervades the Star Wars universe as a whole.  It is mentioned by Finn in the mine scene towards the end of the Last Jedi.  Also, "rebels" reference is mentioned at the very end of the film by Rey to Leia to comfort her that she will be able to form a new "rebel alliance."  In the original trilogy Leia forms the original rebel alliance out of a small band of people then Luke ends up joining the alliance at end of the first movie.  The "rebel "alliance morphs and forms into what it is over time. 
Luke's legendary act at the end of the film is a reference to Luke's overall legendary character arc and a theme of be legendary to save others out of darkness.  Luke's legendary act at the end of the film gave hope to others in the galaxy.  When Luke destroyed the Death Star at the end of New Hope he gave hope to others in the galaxy.  When Luke was able to take down Vader and turn him to light through destroying him and the emperor in the process gave hope to the galaxy.  Luke's other amazing legendary acts too much to mention gave hope to the galaxy.  Lastly, Finn's heroic acts that turned into legendary by Rose's point of view.
The last theme/ motif that pervades Star Wars and the Last Jedi is the them of Hope.  These theme is in all the Star Wars movies.  Throughout the movie the Resistance is on the run from the First Order but Luke's legendary act provides hope to the Resistance and others in the galaxy.  This act keeps the Resistance focused on finding a way to escape the mine they are trapped in.  It is a reminder to ask the question what do we put our hope in? or who do we put our hope in?

A Paul like movement in my life

There was a type of Paul like movement in my life after college.   God led me from what I wanted to do in my life after college to where he wanted me in life.  At first when I attended TCU, I wanted to go into the sports Journalism field.  After college,  God closed down the door for the sports Broadcast Journalism jobs and showed me that he was calling me into ministry.  God used seminary to mold me into who he wanted me to be as a person and he showed me his plan for my life is to use me for his glory. 
God will lead me to a ministry job in his timing.  He is calling me to wait on him and his leading me in my life.  God is in control and his is trustworthy.  Philippians 1:6, says "God will continue to use us until the day of Christ Jesus."  This reminds me that God will still move through me and use me, I just have to be patient for the right job. 
God is the same as he was yesterday as he is today.  That is true because he moved through me before in leading me from my desires for my life to what he is calling me to.  God is leading me, I just have to trust in his perfect plans for my life. 

Ephesians 3:20

God has been revealing to that he will use me in abundant power in his timing.  He has been moving through me in teaching in the Travis Avenue Pre-teen ministry.  He has been using me in teaching these kids.  Also, I am having more interest in various churches and camps for Full-time jobs.  God is reminding me he will use me for his glory with his Holy Spirit and his power in his timing.  Philippians 1:6, says "God will continue working in you until the day of Christ Jesus." I will expand more on this post next week.