Livin' in the desert.

There's this thing many of us Christians don’t like to acknowledge: the desert season. When you can do all the right things. Be in Church, read your bible, raise your hands in worship.. but you feel like God’s not there. You feel like no matter how long and you cry out, God’s not gonna show. You feel almost, abandoned and deserted.

Most people, when this happens, are ashamed or embarrassed in a way. They feel like they can’t let other people know where their spiritual life is, because if they do? They are some how disproving their faith in Christ. 

I don’t think that’s how we were designed react within the body of Christ.

So often the Churches today make these people feel like they’re doing something wrong. Like somehow, they aren’t being “Christian” enough.

That’s such a lie. SUCH a lie.

Why?
The Christian life isn’t about the feelings.
It’s about obedience. (Romans 2:13)
It’s about realizing and accepting the sacrifice and the torture on the Cross for US. (John 3:16)
It’s about chasing after Christ with everything in you, even when you don’t feel it. (1 Peter 1:6-9)
It’s about looking around you and seeing people through the eyes of Christ. (Hebrews 12:12)
It’s about lavishing love on people in the times when we don’t feel loved. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

The Christian life was not about always crying during the time of worship: it’s about the one who is making you cry.

Sometimes, God gives us a season where He doesn’t respond purposefully in order to mature us. To test out faith. To build our spiritual life up to be able to withstand any other conflict. 

Just because we don’t feel Him, doesn’t mean He isn’t there.
Just because we can’t hear Him, doesn’t mean He stopped speaking.

Time’s in the desert are going to result in one of two options.

1. A victory in Christ that has already been one because of your faithfulness in times when faith is all you held on to.
2. A lifetime of chasing after something to take the place of the God who destined us for a life a greatness in Him.

How do you overcome? 
You don’t. Christ already has.
As I’m writing this, there’s a group of guys praying together nearby. One of them just prayed:


“Do not give us any desires, until we give everything up.”

Have you given everything up for the cause of Christ?
Or are you trying to chase down a God while hanging onto your own life?


We have no life apart from life in Christ. 
That is why we go through times of being in a desert.

To realize our life in Christ.

"You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation."

-1 Peter 1:8,9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79055I6o-NQ




See Christ all around you.

A fan or follower?

Have you really ever thought about the difference between a fan or a follower of Jesus? Really though. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with being a fan of Jesus. And a follower? Aren't we all?

I've come to learn there is a huge difference between the two. Huge.

A fan. A fan is when your favorite football team plays. You're front row, spirited and ready to cheer.
A fan is when you start a countdown to go see your favorite artist live. The dictionary definition is:
Fan (noun) -an enthusiastic devotee or admirer of a sport.

A fan of Christianity?
They go to church. They sing the worship songs. They lead a Bible study. They know their facts.
In the big picture, that doesn't mean anything.

Don't let that be deceiving, anyone can go to church and sing.

Jesus doesn't want us to be a fan.
Jesus doesn't want us to be a noun. He want's us to follow.
See, a fan is just a fan for certain times of a day, month, year.. it's not an ongoing life style.
That would mean, we like the things Jesus does sometimes. Every now and then we get excited about it. We worship Him when we feel like it, other wise it's whatever. When we're happy, we love Him. When our life is difficult, we don't really want anything to do with Him.

That's from hell. 
Jesus doesn't want a "fan." A fan of Jesus, bluntly put, has no set eternity in Heaven.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters- yes, even his own life- he cannot (will not) be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26, 27.

Follow me.
Don't cheer me on. 
Don't come see me. 
Follow me. 

We should be so dedicated and ready to follow Jesus.. nothing else could compare.
In fact, He tells us our relationship with everyone and everything here on earth should appear as hatred compared to love we have in Christ. Harsh? No. Some translations say to "love more." Love Christ more than you will ever come close to loving this earth.

How can we sit back, look at the cross and be okay with just clapping?

The Church today misses this. A lot of 'Christians' across the earth are being led on by false hope and false affirmation. We don't need to hear from a preacher as to what this looks like. Jesus makes it plain and clear. Follow Him.

It's sacrifice. It may mean no friends, no family, no job, no money. It may mean losing your life. It's going to mean hard work. Life style changes. Finding the joy of coming in last. But that is what Jesus expects of us. He expects nothing less than the willingness to give everything up.

That's not a fan.
Jesus doesn't want fans.
Jesus doesn't know fans.


Why waste time cheering Him on when we can be there first hand?
Don't just get in the game. Go through what it takes to get in the game. 

"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." -Luke 14:33

start now. 

Go.