More Than Words

It took saying goodbye.

Some of you don’t know but my wife Amber and I decided to take a huge leap of faith in December and move to Vancouver, WA. Who knew a move only a few hours away would be so stretching. From small things like downsizing our living space and having to say goodbye to some furniture, to big things like saying goodbye to friends and family that we have grown up around. Needless to say any sot of move is hard, but this one seemed harder than the other 3 moves we had previously done. Granted those other moves were in the same county. 

It took faith.

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. When we decided to move we left our secure jobs, low rent, and good friends, to the unknown of where to live, no jobs, and friends to be found. All we could do is trust God through the midst of several cry sessions and frustration, and let Him be the one to have control.

It took hospitable hearts.

During the month of January, we had a few times where we needed a place to rest our head day after day of searching for a job and a place. Having friends who were willing to open their doors and let us sleep was one of the best blessings throughout the entire process.

We got breakthrough.

At the end of January, after longs weeks of searching and trusting, God opened the doors for a place to live and work here in Vancouver. We were able to find a nice, affordable apartment in a less noisy part of town, which is what were praying for! We were both offered full time jobs at our home church of Crossroads. I am working with The Responding Ministry, and Amber became the Crossroads Women’s Ministry Assistant.

We were blessed with amazing friendships.

One of the biggest prayers was that we would find Godly, fun, compatable friendships that would encourage us in our walk with Jesus. We thank the Lord so much because that is what he gave us. Friends that we can do life with and sharpen us to live a full life through Jesus.

Thank you for everyone who prayed and encouraged us through this time. We honestly could not have done it without you.

Passion. Passion is a word that embodies a lot and can be used in a lot of different circumstances. When I hear passion one of the first things I think to pair it with is love. I am passionately in love with my wife. I can tangibly feel that and explain that to someone.It’s fairly easy to understand why I am passionately in love with her, but can I take that concept and try to imagine and accept that there is a God who loves me deeper and more passionately than I love my wife.

That’s a hard one for me sometimes.

The thought creeps in that there is no way the God of all the universe actually sees through my mess of sin and failures. That he would choose me, and say He loves me, even when I don’t love him back sometimes. When those thoughts creep in,  then my passion for serving Him begins to dwindle and lose focus.

When I wrote the song “Burn For Me”, it was a cry that came out of me for a revival of my heart and the hearts of those who hear this song. That we would remember that we aren’t doing this on our own, but that we have a God who is here to be our strength when we lose it,  he is our light in the darkness when our mustered up light starts to fade. That he is the deep unfailing love that we all desire and for some reason strive to find in this natural world.

The Way, The Truth, and The Life. This is what a man 2000+ years ago named Jesus called himself. What do those statements even mean for us today? There are so many avenues out there to walk towards "spirituality" that sometimes it's hard to keep it all straight sometimes. All of them say kind of the same things like loving others, and doing good for the world.

Yet none of them actually have a God willing to become flesh, die for His people, and then raise from the dead. Except Christianity.

None.

Jesus said that He is the only way to Father.

Are you putting things in front of Jesus maybe as alternatives to getting into heaven?

We can try to serve in so many ministries, give to the poor, raise our hands during worship, and even give the communion lesson to the congregation on Sunday mornings. If however those things we are doing for His kingdom so passionately somehow step in front of our main purpose, serving Jesus, then we have already begun to search for a different way to heaven.

Thankfully we have a God that continually pulls us back into focus. A lover that continually calls our name until we turn to face him again.

Romans 5:8 speaks of this:

"...But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

Christ didn't just die for you for your salvation. He died so that the beauty of the cross would continue to attract you, and call on you to come to Him and worship. 

The Way is calling you to serve Him and only him. Everything else comes second. I encourage you that if you are spending more time doing ministry then spending time with Jesus, then something needs to be given up.

It can be as simple as sleep, which is what I had to give up in order to spend more time in the bible and praying. I am not great at doing that everyday, but starting my day off in communion with Christ sets a tone for my day. Maybe that is one way you can begin to change the priorities in your life.

What are somethings you have had to give up for a season in order to refocus?

   Have you ever thought about how tiring it is fighting against your struggles? How no matter the many victories you seem to have, there is always another wall you have to overcome right around the corner. It's like they say, "there is no rest for the weary"...right? Or is that thinking wrong.

   I mean if God's word is true then why are we still fighting our battles on our own. In fact, why are we still fighting at all? Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Rest, not a time to regroup in order to get up and fight again, but a rest that is everlasting. One that settles all of your fears, and allows you to know deep in your heart that even when we feel storms coming...that He already has calmed them.

How far can we go? What is the limit to what He has for us? Is there one? I love the description of what it take to go into the Holy of Holies. In the old testament it describes what it takes to go into the inner courts where God's presence resided before we had the Holy Spirit. There was sacrifices and lots of cleansing that had to take place before the high priest,(the only person who was allowed), could even place a foot into the inner court where the ark of the covenant was. There was a huge veil covering the entrance into the tabernacle that these priests would enter, and chains were tied to these priests so that if they died, others could pull him out. All of this to say, it was very difficult to enter into God's holy presence, but many years later a man named Jesus, the son of God, died and tore that veil from top to bottom that covered the entrance allowing us to enter the presence of God whenever we want!

This is incredible news! For us as believers it means all access to the King of Kings, and complete access to the Holy of Holies. So now the question is, if we now have complete access to the inner courts where God dwells, then what are the limits to where we can go with God. Do you dare to ask Him to take you to places that are uncomfortable? What about places that cause you to give away everything? Are you willing have Him lead you into the deepness of His calling for you, and let Him have every part of you? Let God cleanse you, wash you from your brokenness and make you whole. Let Him grow you and change you by His presence.  It's not easy, and in fact sometimes scary to our flesh, but His faithfulness to bring you closer to His Spirit is sure! Press into His mercy, seek His presence, and ask today for Him to take you to places you have never been.

What are some stories of God's faithfulness to take you deeper and show you things you haven't before? Tell your story  below or on my facebook wall, www.facebook.com/mikeymooreband. Love you guys.

"Further into Your presence,

 Take my heart it's Yours,

 Pressing into Your mercy,

What does it mean to let go? What is on your mind that is constantly wearing you down? We were not meant for worry, stress, or anxiety, and yet we take these on everyday hoping that we can conquer them on our own. We pack these anxieties up like rocks in a backpack and haul them around because we feel we need to carry these burdens. I am excited to tell you something...You can put them down. You are able to be released of these rocks. These situations that we feel we need to fix, or we need to hold on to, we don't and aren't suppose to. This is what the bible says, " Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you,"- 1 Peter 5:7. God desires to take your worry. "For my yoke is easy, and burden is light,"- Matthew 11:30. Today let God take on your burdens and let His peace fill you, for He cares for you. Don't grasp onto things thinking only you can take care of them. Release them to the Lord.

"Give It away, Give it away,

 Let Him take your worries, let Him take your fears,

 Give it away, give it away,