Living Sacrificially

I will be putting my inputs on this devotional book called “Don’t Follow Your Heart” by John Bloom.

Don’t Follow Your Heart!

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Follow your heart is a creed embraced by billions of people, it’s a statement of faith in one of the great pop-cultural myths of the Western world, their gospel proclaimed in many of our stories, movies, and songs.

It’s a belief that your heart is a compass inside of you that will direct your own true north if you just have the courage to follow it. It says that your heart is a true guide that will lead you to true happiness if you just have the courage to listen to it. The creed says that you are lost and your heart will save you.

Is this the Leader you want to follow?

Now we all know what our hearts are full of, our heart tend to absorb our thoughts and emotions and then we speak from our hearts. That’s why in Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

“We should constantly be checking our hearts during the day and what our hearts are absorbing!”

I remember I was following my heart and ended one of my friendships. I just didn’t like taking risks and going beyond what I had planned. So my heart was full of fear and insecurities which developed lack of trust. I made my decisions based on my emotions rather then bringing it up to Jesus and let him lead the way. One thing I learned about in this situation is that the enemy is willing to do anything to cause division. I didn’t discern the problem so I wanted to just run away from it. I felt no approval at all so I felt like I had no place to be involved. I followed what I felt in my heart. Now i have to pay the price of losing one of my best friends.

“Sometimes the mistakes you make isn’t about losing but about gaining!”

Your failures are not failures but a masterpiece that is being created to glorify God! God loves to use broken vessels  Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A lot of people tend to run away from God and find something that copes with the pain. The void that is deep in your heart can only be filled with God’s unconditional love.

You may get satisfaction from the things of this world but they all expire, so why not retire and go get that void filled with God’s unconditional love!

Now my final thoughts I would like to explain would be who will be your Shepherd? Your heart or Jesus?

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

This should be our cry to God, that He would create a pure/clean heart. Our hearts could fool us and cannot be trusted. David a man after God’s own heart needed to renew his heart.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Our heart may tell us that: “This is where i’m supposed to be” “This is who i’m supposed to date” “This is the opportunity that I have been waiting for!”

Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

I’m thankful for amazing churches that are passionate to see God move in our church, city, and country.

Whenever I meet someone new that goes to church or a conference. I ask this simple question, “What is God currently doing in your life” of course I don’t start off like that but eventually I want to know how God is using them in their walk. Maybe even share a testimony or a current trail they have gone through.

“One of the biggest trails I have gone through was making sure I am called for Youth Ministry.”

I was uncertain back 2 months ago. I remember everyone was telling me to go to college and get a degree for a backup just in case this call wasn't for me. Trust me there is nothing wrong with going to college and getting a degree, what would be wrong for me is that God gave me certain directions to follow, at that moment He may not confirmed it yet But he was planning out the structure when I am ready to be prepared and to be send out for my calling.

I asked God for a word for this year (2016). The word was Preparation, this year is the year that I should focus on my growth and to focus on Him.

If I’m not prepared and rooted in Him now, storms will come rushing through and blow my foundation away.

This year I believe it’s the time to abide in Him like never before, being rooted deep that no storm will never take me backwards but will let me focus forward!

I was made aware of my calling last month. I remember after Corporate Prayer, God wanted me to spend more time with Him. So after seeking His face and giving Him my concerns and just abiding to His Will. He confirmed it. No matter what I do, my heart will keep whispering to me to stay in ministry. There is really no where I could go to find complete satisfaction than to build up the Body of Christ and to equip those to reach for the lost and to advance the kingdom.

Now what is the current thing that God is working in my life?

It would be preparation, by supporting my local church and to learn from my amazing church family.

Putting people needs before my own.

Now when I ask “What is God doing in your life” I pray that God will be a daily pursuit in your life. God isn't just a Sunday moment or a Wednesday moment. But an everyday encounter.

I would first like to thank my sister for transportation to go to this conference. Without her I wouldn't have experience the power of God and to be empowered to change this generation. Now i’m just going to give you the overview of what I got out of this conference. 

Session 1: MICAH BERTEAU: The main idea that I got out of this is what God isn’t done with those who stop living their full potential for His kingdom. He took Scriptures from Esther and spoke about how while Esther was in the kingdom with the King she has hidden her identity to know God. Eventually God called her back to save the Jews from persecution that was going to happen to them. They had the Jews be prepared for the battle, Just like we need to be prepared for the enemies attacks against us. 

Session 2: JEREMY JOHSNON: Truth overrides facts, people’s labels don’t identity you. Hello my name is revival! Spoke the verses from the paralyzed man at the pool waiting for his miracle but Jesus was willing to go through all these people and the crowd who were also waiting for a miracle to reach this one man *He was at the mountain watching him* Later on in the passages Jesus healed the Paralyzed, The Lame, and the Blind. Paralyzed = Those who are scared to move, The Lame = *I forgot oops*, The Blind = Those who lack vision. We talked about those who were scared to jump into the pool, those who are scared to be all in and how we could try to do anything to have them jump but they just don’t. They run off when their are problems are get offended. 

Session 3: DAVID HALL: The Theme is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We learned about having our own personal revival, and how we always pray for revival in other areas but not our own hearts. Ephesians 5:14 were the verses he illustrated that we should be filled in the Spirit and to be continue that process to be filled. When we have contact with the power of God we won’t leave the same. Eventually while living this Spirit-filled life we should expect Signs and Wonders to be alive in our lives. 

Session 4: CHAD VEACH During this session my phone was dying so I couldn't take deep notes, So let me just go back to my memory bank and see what I could remember. Now the verse that was illustrated was Judges 16:18-21 We talked about Samson story and how He was called by God ever since birth, but soon was distracted by His weakness, Then he is now messing with the enemy by marrying the tribe that he was suppose to destroy. Eventually Samson was filled with regret when his first wife married his best man. During those painful moments and regret you can’t really think straight so he goes back to play with fire again. But this time the enemy was able to pay his new wife to tell them his secret for his strength. Eventually the truth went out and now Samson went to prison, but God wasn't finished with him. God eventually used him to finish the purpose that he design in His life.

I was able to take a picture with Derek Minor since he performed at the Conference! 

I got a picture with KB and now Derek Minor, next will be Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Tedashii! 

 Worship was amazing I felt God’s presence and felt kids lives changed during this conference.

I look at all these mirrors on the wall’s that I started/ Yet I forgot who I am, through these mirrors they stay stallin/ You saw it, Yet I see a different view, I promise/ I’m not who I was when I ended up being dishonest/ Now I’m leading those who didnt have an option/ They never underestimated my knowledge, why do I underestmate my callin/ Now its been truth, 2 weeks ago I never noticed you/ Yet I noticed where I’m suppose to be, noticed what I’m suppose to do/ I always had encounters, daily I try to reach em/ Daily I want Your vision before I accept another system/ So crackin this code, sin you can’t deceive us/ Jesus paid the price through His blood I found freedom/ Whenever I feel worthless, and lost my purpose/ I go back to the cross to revive what has been stolen/

We tend to always look at others and see where they are heading and the success they are receiving, then we forget who we are and also become ungrateful at the process we are currently at. Lately I have been feeling discouraged due to the fact that I tend to compare my lifestyle with others. I have friends heading to college, shooting for big dreams. Here I am still stuck with my parents, wondering what I am going to do in my life. I missed my deadline to receive my credentials to become a minister. I sadly don’t have my license yet, nor do I have a fantastic looking car waiting. My life is still a mess and I know I have tons of things I need to work on. During these moments where I’m stuck in my room brain-storming, I need to realize that God has put me in this position to get deeper in Him and to give broken dreams to Him in order for Him to give me His desires for my life. I do believe I’m called to the ministry but my calling to be a Youth Pastor from my stand point, no its really not possible. Why is that? Because I’m young, don’t drive, not well equipped to lead a service. Trust me I had opportunities to preach and lead projects but they all tend to fail due to bad leadership in the past. But I’m grateful that I’m surrounded with people that have it all together. That should be my motivation, instead of making me feel discouraged.