First

First day of school. Again. The wheels are slowly turning and the cogs are barely spinning. I still have Christmas lights in my head. Then again, I'm the type who leaves the decorations up all year long. California livin' has dulled my ability to discern between seasons. I simply categorize my seasons as cold, hot, or awkward... Cowabunga!

The conference this past weekend was much needed. If anything it brought back the reality of the intimate relationship and genuine fellowship with God. In college I used to doodle in class and I would scribble things like "I <3 HS" and people would ask me, "Who is that?" heh. I was crazy. Crazy in love. The late night skate runs in the underground parking structure were always thrilling adventures. Exploring secret corridors on the top floor of the apartment were quite memorable as well. I would say many major decisions in my life were made up there as I trusted in God to determine my footsteps. I don't like the word "less," but I must admit it is different now than before. The constant 24/7 interaction with those who were hungry for and desiring God was the perfect culture for that passion and fervor to grow, multiply, and infect others. The forest was dry and the trees were thirsty.

New setting, new map. The fire is the same, but now I'm in the ocean. I've had my share of Red Seas and Jordan Rivers and it's discouraging at times, but it's also exciting at the same time. "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." It's the kind of wave that kindles the desire to ride it. Impossible? Absolutely. And that is precisely why I press on. "Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God."

The HS conference in one sentence: Be filled to be spilled.

Time

Attack.

Speed is not everything. Speed will often times give the perception of diligence and direction, but it may well be rushed and reckless. "So that you many have great endurance and patience..." Whether it is a decision to make or an action to take, patience never fails. If we are ever wondering about or doubting the reason for a certain difficulty or difficult choice in our lives, we must begin to think about what we would be doing and where we would be without that hindrance or stumbling block. Would we still be seeking God with the same desperation and cry for deliverance? Would we rejoice in God and give thanks to Him if the road was always smooth? No matter the speed, as long as we have a GPS (God's Positioning System) we are always in good hands. Missed exits, traffic jams, and wrong turns give us another opportunity to hear from Him again, to become more intimate with Him so that next time around we could hear more clearly and obey more surely. "He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake." Speed should never be derived out of worry or fear of failure because in the end, He will make sure you get to your destination. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. The place where there is a need for speed is in our turning to Him. How quickly do we turn away from our circumstantial anxiety and turn to Him, the solid Rock of Salvation? That will depend on how well and how readily we remember God's promises in His Word. Godspeed on God's speed.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Heart

Attack.

If we truly knew how deeply we are loved and forgiven, we would be dangerous. We would be a threat to the devil and his demons. We would be at the throat of our circumstances telling them to back off and leave. We would not be phased by the words of man. We would love furiously those who are unlovable. We would admit openly and humbly how even more unlovable we are and yet Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. We would be passionately offensive to apathy and the lack of concern for the lost and the abandoned. We would cause severe discomfort and disturbing awkwardness to our complacency of being satisfied with where we are to the point of being moved to being satisfied in Christ alone. We would pour godly salt on those sensitive wounds of habitual sins and secret shame and pull out the roots before they can bear any more fruit. We would shut up the roaring lion and make the enemy flee as we firmly dig our feet in solid rock and resist. We would ruthlessly beat down, knock out, bind up, and put into submission the useless affections that attempt to steal our first love. We would shoot down and take down whatever clouds our heavenly perspective and eternal values. We would boldly touch heaven and fearlessly change earth by God's dynamite power and fresh anointing. We would use bombs for alarms to wake up from spiritual slumber. We would swiftly and constantly reload and be ready and equipped with the sWORD of the Spirit so as to never grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. We would drop kick, rip out, and shatter our pride and humbly reconcile with our debtors just as He has reconciled us to Himself. We would desperately repent of and turn away from our prostitution with the world, and plead mercy for our whorish, unfaithful ways in our laziness, lust, lies, and love for conformity. We would have fervent, undying hope in the resurrection, in Christ who is our hope of glory. We would have absolutely no agenda or selfishness of our own except to do God's will and follow God's commands knowing that He, who has given us His own Son to be tortured and murdered on our behalf in order to deliver us from that same fate, knows what is best for us.

We would earnestly and diligently seek our Abba Father and spend every hour, every moment in sweet, comforting communion with Him. We would realize He is our breath, our life, our everything.

We would realize that without Him our hearts would stop beating physically and spiritually. We would be in anguish, sorrow, and pain. We would scream. We would panic. We would yell. We would call. We would cry out in desperation.

We would be on the floor.

On our knees.