If we are blessed, then what?

I always seem to hear the phrase, "God has blessed America so much", or "We are so blessed in America". If this is true, and God has actually given us wealth and possessions, then why do you think that is?

If this quote is correct by David Platt, it is pretty astonishing, in 2009 America spent $10 billion on church buildings and total structures owned by churches in America come to $250 billion + . I can't even imagine what the stats would be for how much christians spent last year on unnecessary items or upgrades to what they already had. Would our giving outweigh our spending? I doubt it. What does this show the unbelieving world?

Jesus said in Matt 6:21, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where are we showing the world that our heart, treasure is?

I need to be reminded of this because it is hard not to get caught up in wanting more stuff. We are even called "consumers" , that doesn't even sound good. I know this is a heart issue and it NEEDS to be dealt with. God forgive us and me, how long before His patience runs out for us? When will he shake the nations, or has this already begun? To shake off false gods, false dependence, half hearted worship, and direct disobedience to his Word.

Ps 82:5, They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Matt 24:29, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Heb 12:27-28, This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

2 Chron 7:14, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Oh Jesus, how we need our land healed and sins forgiven, and we don't even think we do! Have mercy on us..... again! !

If God has blessed us with wealth and possessions, it certainly IS NOT for us to build ourselves a (treasure on earth) comfortable lifestyle, secure financial future, secure retirement plan, and an easy life. That doesn't look like loving our neighbor as our-self, only the loving our-self part.

David Platt also says this, God gives wealth and possessions to build a people who take His glory to the nations.

Now I'm not saying we don't do this at all, because obviously we do. There are many good organizations that are built on serving those in need and going to the nations with the Gospel and urgent need, Faith with Works. I'm just saying as a whole the American evangelical church is not living this way. The way Jesus asks us to live. How are YOU doing?

I'm asking myself these same questions.

Lord, do you want me to go serve in a less fortunate nation? To live out James 1:27, you know my heart, Just show me the way.

Roger

The Cost of following Christ

You don't hear much about the Cost of following Christ these days. What you will hear is, come to Jesus so He can save you, forgive your sins, heal you, prosper you, give you a better, more comfortable, easier life. While some things are biblical of what He will do for you, I think He is asking what will you DO or give up for Him?

I am going to be looking at some of the verses that Jesus taught about being worthy of being His disciple, and what that may mean for me today.

The first one is in Matthew 19:21-23. Now is this a teaching for those who are held in bondage to money and possessions or for everyone? If everyone that is wealthy is commanded to sell all that they have and give to the poor, didn't all of the wealthy now become poor? Is this what Jesus wants?

I will be seeking the Lord on these verses and seeing what they mean for ME, so I'm not saying what they should mean for you. If you want, you can look them up and do the same, but that is up to you. I am just going to write out my part of the journey.

Matthew 9:37-38, Then Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Ok Lord, so are you calling me to be a laborer? I thought you were calling me to Romania but I felt you said no. I'm still seeking Lord, where would I best be used?

Blessings, R.B.

Can you hear me?

I guess it's been some time since I have written, but I didn't plan on making this a regular part of my routine. There are many other things to do and I have been reading some good books. I'm still focusing on hearing God's voice and what He has planned for me.

I have heard this before and I need to keep reminding myself that it's not so much about where I go or what I do, but about the WHO I know. God wants me to know Him better through this journey, I just want to be in His Will.

I have to keep trusting in His ability to lead, rather than my ability to hear, I think. God is a great leader and He wants me to do His will more than I want to do it.

He is still breaking my heart for orphans and the least of these. I just went to another orphan conference and I'm not sure why, but He is leading me closer to His heart, I'm just not sure where that is going to lead.
Also, something in my past was laid to rest on Sat 20th, regarding my former spouse and any hopes of reconciliation. Our paths were going in two different directions, so now what does that mean for me?

Is there someone for me out there that shares the same convictions, burdens, and call to a simple and radical lifestyle? Am I to journey on the path alone? Either way, I already gave God my YES before I knew the question.

So Lord, what is the question?

R.B.