Jounaling

I was just thinking about some of the goals I set for this year back in December of 2009, and here we are in October already. One of the goals I set out to accomplish this year was deeper spiritual growth and maturity. Obviously, this doesn’t just happen. One has to work at it… --------> As Paul says to Timothy, “train yourself to be godly.”

So, among a few things I changed or began doing this year is that I began journaling—on a more consistent basis, that is, which (embarrassingly) I had never really done. In the past few years, I had occasionally journaled but not regularly. It has not only given me newer/fresher insights into the Word, but it has provided a much needed avenue to connect with God like never before. It’s hard to believe that I had never ventured into this gateway to connect with God. But I’m so glad I did.

It has also provided a way for me to “hear” God clearer, where my flaws and short-comings have been displayed before me in such a raw manner that there is no doubt that I have been saved BY GRACE! My dependence and need for Jesus are very deep-seated!

Anyway, I’m looking forward to new chapters in my walk with Jesus as I journal my adventure with him. Will have to talk more about this later…

New Seasons

At The Vine, we’re talking about the new seasons to which God calls/brings us. I honestly believe that God calls us into new seasons often, but our paralyzing fears, subtle complacency and/or sin hinder us from entering into that season.

My wife and I are in one of these crucial moments in life right now, and we’re learning as we go. We don’t always have the answer(s), but we’re still pushing forward into that new season. As we enter this new season, the road is “foggy” and filled with uncertainty. But this is where faith comes in and is necessary. It’s so much easier to take the assured road that is filled with certainty and security but if we don’t risk anything, we’ll always have that pestering “what if” question looming over our heads about what could have been. Additionally, taking the safe and conservative route is normally more comfortable and can induce more of the same actions…instead of trail-blazing into the unknown. In other words, the more safe and conservative decisions we make, the less faith-risks we take. At the end of my life, I want to have taken way more faith-risks than comfortable, “easy-way-outs.” Life is too short to live in mediocrity, and mediocrity just sucks.

So, as we enter new seasons in our life’s journey, opportunities for faith-risks are to be expected. What will we do when confronted with such a situation? Whatever it is that we do—even if it’s one time—will be a determining factor of how much life we really lived.

I'm testing this entry from my phone. Man, you can blog from virtually anywhere in the world, even if you don't have a computer. What will 2020 look like??

Dia 8

Hace una semana, una gran parte de The Vine empezamos el Ayuno de Daniel, y hoy estamos en el día 8 del ayuno. Estoy tan orgulloso de aquellos que decidieron empezar. Los días más difíciles fueron los primeros días ya que el cuerpo se tiene que acostumbrar a un ritmo de alimenticio muy distinto al normal. Ahora, creo que la mayoría están alimentándose mucho mejor sin efectos secundarios--como dolores de cabeza, mareos, etc.--y aun hay reportes de tener más energía.

También han habido historias de personas que aciertan que Dios ha estado haciendo cosas en sus vidas: se ha encontrado empleo, se ha recibido aumentos de ingresos, y ha habido sanidad física....y ¡apenas completamos la primera semana!

Estoy ansioso y emocionado por ver lo que Dios hará en las vidas nuestras como en las vidas de aquellos por quienes estamos orando. ¡Me ha encantado el inicio del 2010!