Radical Faith

Jonah33 - Faith Like That

I want a faith that is big enough to trust in God, to be used to change the world. I want to Serve, Know and Follow Radically, The God of the Bible.

You know The One.

The God of:

Daniel- Who knew God and trusted Him enough to continue Praying in His window because He feared the Lord more than man. He trusted God all the way to the Lions den. He accepted: "you throw me in and I die, I'm GOD's. You throw me in I Live - I'm GOD's." When God is the Lord of your life what else is there to fear.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. - Proverbs 1:7

Elijah:  (1 Kings 17), (1 Kings 18), (2 Kings 1)

Who prayed for rain to end - In order to draw the hearts of God's people back to Himself.

Who was used by God to raise the dead.

Who made a fool of the idols God's people were worshipping.

Who called fire down from heaven and consumed a sacrifice and also consumed 100 of King Ahaziah's men.

David: (1 Samuel 17)

Who when everyone else trembled in fear, as a kid  he knew and trusted GOD and was willing to put his life on the line, in order to have the LORD show out! 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego:  (Daniel 3)

Who refused to bow down to this idol everyone was made to worship. Who refused to go along with popular opinion. Who didn't care if they stood out or if they would be shown as foolish. They were going to follow God all the way to the furnace, because to them it was more important to please GOD than it was to follow the crowd or even have their life spared.

Paul and Silas:  (Acts 16:16-40)

Who were seeing miracles in Christ's name. Who were seeing the power of GOD first hand. They had cast out demons, healed the sick and boldly preached the cross. They were beaten, flogged and thrown into prison. Instead of allowing it to make them question GOD they kept praising and worshipping, and the LORD sent a great earthquake, the jail was busted open, but they didn't break free. Instead they were able to minister to the Jailer and all the other prisoners, and their life was spared.  To them it more important to preach the gospel than to live a life of comfort and acceptance.

Gideon:  (Judges 6-7)

In whom I find my hope through this plea. Because I've never known such faith or experienced it. Where do I begin to learn?  I am absolutely ignorant on how to trust God to do the radical. On how to step out of my comfort zone in Faith and watch Him move mountains.

You see, Gideon was a man sought out by God. He was a man from the least of the tribes of Judah, and on top of that He was least in that tribe. Yup, he was less than a nobody.  I see him as the guy in the back of the room that no one else noticed. He was just a surviver. He didn't plan to do anything but live, die and try not to stir up much trouble while he was there.  Sounds like my kinda guy :)

Yet the angel of the Lord approached him and called him a mighty man of valor.  God doesn't need someone cool or someone with a certain set of acquired skills to accomplish something Great. He needs your faith.

Gideon's people were being oppressed by the Midianites.  The Lord had removed His sovereign hand of protection from this people because their hearts had left HIM and began worshipping other gods.  He sent the Midianites to oppress them. Gideon was told to go and tear down the idols of Baal.

If you are being oppressed, if you are in need of deliverance: you must first remove the idols from your life.  If you want to be used Radically by GOD you must first remove the idols from your life!"

Gideon was still so scared (he was scared of his town AND of his own family)  that he took 10 others with him and did it under the cover of night.  The next morning when the town awoke they found out it was him and they went to have Gideon killed. 

Can you imagine the fear that fell on Gideon? When they went to retrieve Gideon, his dad came to his defense and said, "Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down." -Judges 6:31

His dad, of whom Gideon was formly afraid, and who was apparently also a Baal worshipper, came to his sons defense. If you have never read the story of Gideon, oh it gets so much better from there.

But God used someone whose faith was not only weak, it was empty. Because of the oppression of his people Gideon wasn't even sure there was a God. "Please, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian." -Judges 6:13

The GOD of the CROSS! 

Who despite being despised and rejected, Spat on, stripped, beaten and hung on a cross, by the people HE came to save. When at any moment HE could have called multitudes of angels and it would have been over. He endured the cross, for our salvation, and three days later He arose from the grave and conquered our death so that we are no longer under the curse of Hell!

That's my GOD! When there was no other way HE made a way for us through HIS OWN Death!

Therefore, I say my lack of experience or wisdom does NOT limit God, my self doubt does NOT limit God.

It's our lack of faith and surrender that keeps us from being used Radically by GOD. If this is the God I serve, if I serve the GOD of this bible, shouldn't my life, my faith, look more like these men? Shouldn't my life be a witness to this type of radical movement of GOD?

Lord, Throw me out of my comfort zone to where I am fully relying and trusting You to move! Make me ever aware of Your presence. Help me to follow You intently and to fear You more than man! Move radically in our midst. Show Yourself Mighty among Your people, among this generation!. May we seek Your Holiness above our own agenda's and popularity.  May we see lives radically impacted by Your Truth! May we be willing, surrendered vessels ready to jump when You say move!

Your Clay~

   

   

Holy

(As I was praying through this post and writing it out I had to step away for a bit to clear my head, and seek the Lord's direction on it.  As I removed myself from this post I opened up Youtube and stumbled upon this song.  It is says Exactly where my heart is in this post. I encourage you to listen as you read!)

I wouldn't say that I'm a bad person. I know I'm a sinner, but I'm not that bad...right? I mean if I'm bad it's not on purpose. This past week I pleaded for the Lord to reveal any area of my heart that is in sin. I don't want even part of me to do anything other than glorify Him!

Oh my mercy did He ever answer my prayer.  The only thing I can compare it to would be Isaiah 6, It's funny that my heart has been in this chapter for a while.

Isaiah 6:1-7

¹In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. ²Above Him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³And one called to another and said:

    "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

 ⁴And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of Him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

⁵And I said:

"Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

Isaiah didn't necessarily see himself as a bad person, he had just finished several chapters on woe-ing others, but when He was faced with the Glory of GOD there was nothing good within him. All those years of thinking God had to be satisfied with him because at least he wasn't like the others...

This entire week the Lord has brought unknown sins to the surface. It is literally like little snakes (I despise that word, so I apologize for even using it, but I am a visual person and this is how I see it played out within my heart.) I see them crawling up to the surface and if I don't immediately pray, acknowledge them and ask forgiveness it feels like they will consume me.

Sins like: Pride, Jealousy, Envy, Negativity, Bitterness, Regret and Impatience. I had no idea how much I struggled with these sins, until I prayed for the Lord to shine light on them and to remove them, but I had no idea how often they consumed me. 

Negative Thoughts, Bitterness, Jealousy, Judgemental, Regret, Bitterness, Bitterness, Bitterness...Sin, Sin, Sin!!!  I had no idea how un-Holy, these are!  They are an Affront to God and they consume me DAILY and I had no idea that they were there!

Galatians 5:16-21 (ESV)

19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

Oh my goodness I've always known that I was a sinner but until this week I was never truly disgusted (don't take that word lightly, I was Broken and Disgusted over them!) how blatantly much I am a sinner!  I am Guilty! 

It was almost constantly, that the Lord was showing sin creeping up. Oh my Holy!

I couldn't help but think:

"Why on earth do you waste Your time on me, Lord?  If this is where I am and Holiness is where you want me to be. Holy mercy, how have YOU not given up on me? How can YOU possibly use me? Why do YOU still bother with me?

But then there's verses 6&7

PRAISE the LORD for verses 6&7!

Isaiah 6:6-7

 ⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."

Psalms 145:8-9 (NIV)

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
   slow to anger and rich in love.

 ⁹ The LORD is good to all;
   He has compassion on all He has made.

Without YOU I don't like me! Without YOUR transforming power in my life, my life has no meaning. May you take all of me and use it for YOUR Glory alone!  Take this life and make it YOURS. Make this life moldable, usable, may YOU look upon this life and find it as a pleasing sacrifice!

May YOU take this wretched life and make it HOLY!

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,

for

 I have redeemed you.” -Isaiah 44:22

New Territory

Chris Tomlin - God of This City



I am writing today for "Five Minute Friday."  Haven't done this before. I have 5 minutes to write, without editing. Yikes, this may not be pretty.  The topic today is: New.

and Go...

I am new to Kentucky. I am new to this area.  I don't know many people, but God has radically burdened my heart over this place.  I hear missionaries and people talk about how badly they want to go into foreign missions and how they want to do this and that, and you wouldn't believe the people in the foreign countries, and I am SO blessed by these people lives that are called in this direction, but as I look at the faces in Danville, Ky that's what my heart cries out! "Do you see them! I wish I could come back to my church and show the faces of the broken people I've encountered that week!  "Love them like Jesus." "Teach them Jesus," I want them to KNOW Jesus! As I walk through Wal-Mart I pray for each person that I walk past and pray for the Lord to plant a seed in their heart and use me, somehow, just use me!  I want them to experience God in a radical way. I want to be used as a tool of God to reach this area. I would love to visit and minister in Africa, Asia, China, S. America. But this IS my foreign Country.

I love these people! With a ridiculous Love that can Only come from what God's doing in my heart and life, because there is no reason for it other than God has placed it there.

It's hard to get to know people. I sometimes feel like an outcast, not sure if I'm imagining it. Not sure if it's a stumbling block Satan has put there to slow my passion down. Don't know. I really struggle with feelings of rejection. However, I know that GOD is the one who brought us here, GOD is the One Who is cultivating us. He is my keeper and sustainer and in HIM I will put my trust.

Time's Up...

Ready to be a Revolutionary?

God is calling up a Generation of Revolutionaries.

Revolutionary: sudden, complete, or marked change. Radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles.

A Revolutionary is someone who stands up against status-quo, who goes head on against the Tide. Who Leads by following Christ and not necessarily by what they've seen done before. Are you being called to be a Revolutionary?

A Revolutionary doesn't wait for someone else to lead. They follow the Lords leading. No matter what intense Rejection they may face, there response will Always be the response of Isaiah...

Isaiah 6:8

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

A Revolutionary doesn't care what everyone else is doing. Or about what is considered acceptable practices. They see that they serve the Living God, who created All things and in HIM all things are held together and to that GOD impossible doesn't exist. Joshua 10

A Revolutionary knows that just because we haven't seen it done in the past or just because it may not have worked before, doesn't mean that God won't use it now.

A Revolutionary isn't trapped by their experiences or lack there of: a Revolutionary is Radically seeking GOD's will and to see HIM Radically move in lives.

A Revolutionary takes Rejection and doesn't allow it to slow him down. A revolutionary is always on watch, very aware of the different traps that satan will throw in his path to slow him down.

A Revolutionary listens for and Knows the voice of GOD. (John 10:25-30) A Revolutionary doesn't consider quiet-time an obligation but their life source.

A Revolutionary doesn't get discouraged by the apathy that they face, because we are called a people of GOD and if we allow others to pull us back down to status quo, we risk not seeing the hand of GOD at work. 

A Revolutionary's Biggest fear is not rejection of men but being Rejected by God and to not be radically used by HIM!

A Revolutionary is Paul: who being brought up as the "Junk" (who everyone looked up to, wanted to be like him, no one would stand in his way),  Left all of that behind and turned and followed the Christ he formerly rejected adamantly.

Isaiah who thought at one time that he was somebody, until He had a vision of the living LORD and saw just who he really wasn't and said "Here I am LORD, send me." 

David who was the rejected, younger, ruddy brother, who was respected by no one, even his own family thought he was a joke. He took that rejection head on.  He was told he was stupid to try and slay a giant, especially since he was just a kid, just a dirty shepherd boy, but he stood up when everyone else ran away. They laughed and mocked him and instead of allowing that to defeat him, he trusted his GOD. I know I'm not big enough or strong enough, but my GOD is! 

A Revolutionary is Noah: who GOD spoke to and said that he was going to send a mighty flood from rain (which they had never seen before) didn't allow that to deter him but out of faith he spent 75yrs. building an ark. 75 years of rejection, accusations and I'm sure a few "straight jacket jokes," but on faith he said, "Yes LORD!"

The list could go on and on. 

 A Revolutionary doesn't quit as soon as it's hard. A Revolutionary doesn't quit when he faces rejection. A Revolutionary says, "Here I am LORD, Send me! No matter the cost, No matter whats lost, no matter the rejection, no matter my fears. You are my God, I am not and YOU own my tomorrows.  Here I am LORD Send me!

Philippians 3:7-11

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

His Clay~

 

God's Thumbprint

Becoming Who GOD Created Me to Be:

Have you ever moved? I have been blessed to move many times. I hate the act of moving. Not necessarily experiencing different places but packing, moving, unpacking and praying nothing valuable was broken or lost. But I have to say one of the worst parts is when you get to the new house and your opening boxes of stuff and you think to yourself (unless your me and say it out loud to yourself)  :) What is this? Where did this come from? What am I supposed to do with this? Why do I still have this? What does this go with? How am I supposed to use this?

In the same way that I look at the mess of boxes and useless junk, I can see a reflection of myself.  You see, I have this junk in my life, for instance: insecurity, pride, jealousy, an un-Holy temper, sometimes I feel awkward, different. You know, like your thumbprint. It's uniquely different.

Here's what I'm coming to realize. Just like your thumbprint, God created you uniquely. All of the "what on earth am I supposed to do with this" stuff is put there by Him. I am God's thumbprint! He wants to take all of that junk and use it to develop me into what He's wanting me, created me to be. 

I struggle with looking at people who are doing amazing things for God and I think to myself, "Oh how I'd like to be more like them. If only I could speak as eloquently as them or look like them or be used by God in that way."  When that is such an Unholy attitude disguised by innocence. Justifying, since their life is doing great things for God then it's not wrong to strive to be like them.

That's wrong! It completely strips God of His authority over My life. He created us uniquely different. He gave us our "imperfections", along with our unique passions. He wants our full surrender of them so that He can continue to shape and mold them into His likeness. Not that so that we can "One Day" be used. Nope, your meant to be used today, but constantly surrendering and allowing Him to use them to shape you into His reflection.

Your life is not supposed to be modeled after anyone else but HIM!  You are God's Thumb Print. Own up to it and allow Him control of your "imperfections" and "Passions" so that you can be a vessel used to the fullness of it's desired Design!

Phillipians 4:11-13 (ESV)

...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

His Clay~

Foster Care

My heart is so shaky. When Trey and I were first married, I remember having this feeling.  It happened when God radically said Now!  We knew we were called into the ministry, but we were in school and ministering here and there and then He said Now! I remember because we were in church that Sunday morning and I was broken. I went forward because hearing the "Now"! Scared me to death. I knew we were in need of prayer. I wanted to fall on my face and just cry.  Not that I didn't already know it was coming but it was a surrendering of the reigns.  I was not, Trey was not, in control of what was going to happen next. God says I'm in control of this. I've called you, now I'm going to lead you. Not scary in the normal sense of the word.

Kinda like Moses at the burning bush. A crazy Holy encounter with The Living God! All I wanted to do was fall down, weap and worship.

I can look back on my life and see how God has shaped my heart in this direction. Trey can too. Little things here and there that have caused us to desire to do this, shaped us so that we know what to expect -kinda. 

This is not a job choice for us but a devine appointment. We started this process back in December. Ha! We have talked and prayed about it since we were dating, but in December God gave us a little -now. And so we went through the classes and then we were faced with a Ridiculous amount of stalling. Pretty funny how God works, but having been here before we just took care of what we could take care of and have waited for the Lord to open the next door.  I knew that God was going to lead, stall and direct until the child we are supposed to have in our home is needing us.

I remember being pregnant for the first time with Jaxson. When I saw the ultrasound and saw a glimpse of his face, this child I've prayed about my entire life, the child I daydreamed about and knew that God had designed me to be his mother. I was so broken, proud, blessed beyond measure, to see this child's face (even though it was just his profile) for the first time.  That's how I feel about this child(ren) that will come into our home. God has designed us to be their place of refuge, "Parents", if only for a little while. I do not take it lightly at all.

This past week the Lord started reminding me about fostering.  I told them I would call as soon as we were settled and moved in, but like me I forgot. The agency called the very next day and wanted to do a visit.  They wanted to introduce us to our new case worker.

She came by and we took care of a few more items. Paperwork etc. We still have a few more details to take care of, mostly involving money to purchase different things. But this week, I cannot go into detail about what happened, God said clearly it's time to move forward. No more stalling.   I know He's going to clear the debris from our path.

I just think it's so funny how God does that. When He's called you and He puts barriers up, and removes them and along the way He keeps the passion lit. He does ALL of it to keep you moving at His pace, and not on your own.  Right now it looks like we may begin in mid-September.

Please keep us in your prayers as the Lord leads us into this next phase of ministry.

Isaiah 41:9-13(NIV)

 I took you from the ends of the earth,
   from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
   I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 “All who rage against you
   will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
   will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
   you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
   will be as nothing at all.
For I am the LORD your God
   who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
   I will help you.

At War With Myself

Warning The Following Information May be filled with Run-On Sentences and a Bizarre amount of Grammatical Mistakes. Read at your own Risk: :)

(Also this is in no way a reflection of anyone but myself. I am Not preaching at anyone but this is what I've seen in my life and if this is you, too. I pray that this will open your eyes as much as it has mine.)

This is a response to my "Head Knowledge" vs. my "Life Outpour" following the Post "Lord of the Pawn".  

I came to the dramatic reality of how Poisonious Cultural Christianity is to todays American Churches, only a few years ago. My entire life I have been blinded to the reality of the call that Christ has laid on the hearts of His children. 

I have attended church my entire life. For years, because I was so used to sitting in the pew and hearing the word preached, I Knew when I heard a good message, because it was like heart medicine. Even the ones that stepped all over my toes.  It was like finally getting a cold cup of water on a hot Southern day.  It was good!
 But that was as far as it went - HEARING it. 

It's so frustrating to hear a good word but ok what next. How do I Live it out? How do I become Salt and Light?  How do I preach the Gospel to all nations? 

Don't get me wrong, I think the IMB in the beginning was a Great Idea, and it still is. However, I am afraid that too many of us have adopted that as a,
"Well, I'm funding them to go and do what I've been called to do." 

Or even
"Well, don't we pay the pastor and church staff to do that?"


You may not have said these exact words but is "That" what your life is living?

It has been mine. Think about it... You're trusting in these pastors who have also been brought up the same way, alot of words about outreach but very little, if any, out pour.  Alot of conviction but little, to no, Action.

What do we do? How do we do it? How do I become Salt and Light? How do I minister at every oppurtunity I have. And Its not by sneaking Tracks in toilet stalls. Do you think "that's" what Jesus would Do? Run, drop and hide?  Christ wasn't sneaky at all. He was compassionate and His words spoke deep to the heart!

I am not Ashamed of the Gospel because it is the Power of Christ unto Salvation! (Romans 1:16)
Tracks arent all bad, used correctly but have a relationship first. Build a relationship! Even if it is just a 5 min totally out of your comfort zone conversation.

Because frankly "christians" have given "Christianity" a bad name, and most anyone can spot a Fake from a mile away.  And if we're saying one thing and living another, "whats so great about what we're saying?"
Not many in our society are going to respond well to a secret bathroom stall cheesy track that falls out of your toilet paper roll. Because your too scared to open your mouth and talk with them personally.  I have yet to see or hear of a toilet stall convert.

The biggest, scariest, thing about what we're facing in this war with ourselves is - Where Do We Start?  We've not seen it modeled in our churches, or much around us. So we're learning from scratch. It's exciting to see God sparking a light in hearts around the world and friends around the world but you know what.  When you see Truth clearly, and you have no one to follow...it means God's Calling you to be a Leader!

The church has got to quit with the mindset of, "well they'll come to us. maybe if we have a great program, fun games, exciting activities. Ooo, Power Point, no media shout, no a Great worship leader, well it must be, this or that or maybe so and so isn't doing such and such." All of that bogs us down from the truth of the call. Christ called us to be "Fishers of men" What are YOU doing?

Does a fisherman sit on the shore, get a well decorated, state of the art boat, push the boat out and hope that the fish jump in? Heck No!  Go, Tell, Preach! Come on!  If you don't see someone else doing it, you think it needs to be done...it may be God calling You to do it!  Quit waiting for someone else to pick of the reigns of what you've been called to do.  If your scared EVEN Better! If God's calling you to do something and your scared it means, He's ready to rock your socks off! If God's calling you to do something and you think you don't have the time, the skill or it might make you uncomfortable or excuse, excuse, excuse...get ready for God to rock your socks off!
Remain in the word. Learn how to trust Him and Him only! Learn how to hear His Voice, Learn how to notice His hand at work around you.
 It is time we stop waiting for others to fulfill our calling!

Being a Fisher of Men means NOW! Not when it's convenient or during quarterly organized ministry church projects. NOW! Today! 

My biggest struggle right now is figuring out all the little ways God's wanting to use me in my everyday life, with 2 tiny, precious anchors at home.  Anchors: is in no way a derogatory term, it just means that it limits me.  Pulls me back home :) Yes, little things I am cool with, but full-time commitments to different ministries; it is impossible for me to remain consistent in.  Doesn't mean it's stalling me, it means I've got to find out how it all fits together, and I'm about to start stalking some missionaries. 

I've got to get out of this "Church Mindset", quit labeling full-time missionaries as "the Missionaries" and realize "Hi my name is Melissa Bradley, I live in Danville, Ky and I have been Called by God to be a Missionary in this town and everywhere these feet take me!

Lord, Use me however You chose. Move me out of the way. Move my weakness out of the way and fill me with Your strength. May I be Your vessel to be used however You desire!  Clear the path ahead of me. Fill my mouth with Your words. May Your words, Your desires speak Loudly from my life!

Your Clay,
Melissa