how sweet is this Kingdom?

Ever wonder what you must give up to follow Jesus? Maybe it is not the same thing that a person living under religious persecution in Iraq or Bhutan may give up. However, as we are bound by our cultures norms and practices, if we have sacrificied nothing to follow Jesus, we are probably not following Him.

As important as relationships and things are, Jesus said we must leave them. MUST is an important word. Their is no "calling" necessary for a person to have to leave these things. Jesus' words are the "calling"!

I read a book recently that asked the question, "How are you living by faith right now?" I had to ponder this hard because my life is easy. I have a place to live, food to eat, a college education, great family, and everything else this culture wants me to have. But what if I gave it all up to follow Jesus and preach His name everywhere I went?

I think this world would look different if each of us did that. So, I am taking the steps to making His name look great. This is not a "Look at me" moment, but one that is clinging to the words of Scripture to be true. I will prove it to you that my life will not be wasted, as long as it clings to the words that Jesus said, "He who loses his life gains it!"

The gloriuos thing about following Jesus is that you can NEVER give up too much in following Him. We only give up that which we think is worth losing anyways.

Run hard my brothers and sisters in Jesus!

-Michael

conviction

Man, I wish this road were easy. God is putting tremendous conviction on my heart to bear His name. I am reading a book by Piper called "Let the nations be glad" and it is brutal. He gives two reasons why people should pursue missions: 1)For God's name to be glorified and 2) Out of a compassion for the lost.

Isn't this the reason why we ought to live out our days always? As I begin the thought process of leaving this country and enter into the borders of another to proclaim the gospel I am fearful that I do it for the wrong reasons. My heart is burdened and I have no answers other than the Bible.

Maybe that is why the Bible is so utterly important. It's God's 66 book love letter written to mankind. What a treasure we have in being able to know God. Let us rejoice because we are made by Him for His glory.

Rejoicing in the unknown

Well, my week in FL went great. I am approved for going overseas with this organization and will begin the process of making that happen with my local church. I wish that I could say this is easy, but this is the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I am walking blindly through this life with Christ as the bright light shining in front of me.

John 8:12 says this, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life."

I am trusting and leaning on this verse now. I am eager and excited that God would choose me to take a small part in this process, but uncertain what it will look like. If I do not do this out of love for the people there I am a clanging gong and worthless.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for me during this time. I felt the prayers of the saints working, and I am not just saying that.

Now I urge you too to live with the same mindset, pushing on towards being content with God and pushing God's Kingdom to bounds it is not!

love,
michael

thoughts...

I live in a land of ease. A land where we want to test things out before we believe we will be good at them. (I too am the same way.) Where good opportunities abound, and investments bring great return. Where obeying Jesus means consistent church-going. O God, take me out of the land of ease and into your presence. Suffering is joy when you are near.

Giving up your life is not to be done when going to the field, but should be done at the moment you accept Jesus' gospel. Preaching Jesus and Him crucified should be done ALWAYS, not when it is your vocation. Jesus deserves people radically sold out to Him. Why is it easy to excuse obedience because of our vocations?

Just some things I have been pondering...

Day 3

3:39 pm
Florida

Thanks to all of you who prayed for this meeting. Discussing the details of serving long-term overseas has been enlightening. The moment I walked out of the room I felt a peace of confirmation flush over me. God has been working in my heart to refine it to His service to those without the gospel, and that meeting was a blessing to my heart.

Tomorrow around 8 am I will meet with them again to discuss whether or not they are confirming me to serve with them and my local church. This is HUGE! Please pray for that time.

Being here this week has been so fruitful and encouraging to me. I believe God has me going down a path of full commitment to following Jesus. I want all who read this to also consider walking down that path with me, whether or not you leave America.

Following Jesus means losing your life in order to gain a better one!

Love,
Mike

First FULL Day

2:49 pm
Florida

Today has been spent hearing more about the organization. This place is insane! They will send anyone that is fit anywhere the gospel is not. We heard a portion of the places where missionaries are, but because of security issues they are unable to tell of the “hard to reach” areas.

The thoughts that have been washing through my mind have been ones I am sure the disciples first thought. The proper question to ask is: Am I going to make an effort to go down the road to bringing people the gospel? The improper question to ask is: Am I capable of being a missionary? Quite honestly, no one is capable and no one is worthy. The Holy Spirit does a good enough job at qualifying us!

I am meeting in 30 minutes to have a very important meeting here. For those of you that can pray during this time, pray from 3:30-4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time.

I will update later…

Colossians 1:12b “Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”

What does a Jesus Follower Look like?

2:01
Florida

Brief introductions were made with about 15 other candidates here so far. The Lord is clearly working in people’s lives as I have now met people who desire to tell the lost world about Jesus. Many want to go to China, Greece, North Korea, South Africa, and other places to proclaim the gospel to draw others to Christ.

What an honor to be among such people. They are God’s workmen and this is fabulous. I long to be in such relationships with people back home. Why can’t other Christians carry this mindset throughout their lives? Why is it that it is the few in the churches that are like this?

Dear God, raise up more workers everywhere.

Love,
Michael

The Process

4:03 am
Cincinnatti, OH

We just landed here about half an hour ago. I prayed that I would be bold with the person that would sit next to me on the plane. God flipped the situation though, and He placed a couple next to me that were Christians. They even have taken a missions class called Perspectives that I have become so fond of. It was sweet fellowshipping with them until we dozed off to a few hours of uncomfortable sleep.

What has been plunging my mind and rocking my heart is the thoughts of being inadequate for the work I so long to do. As a missionary I plan on changing lives by going overseas. I want to actually play a part in seeing people who were headed for hell to be accepting of my message that God gave me. How insane does that sound?!?!

The reason for my inadequacy however cannot be my downfall. Maybe it should be what I rejoice in? I will rejoice in the fact that God would use such a broken and doubtful person as me.

The last person I was with before leaving the LAX airport was a recent convert that God has brought my way. He is a seed that has sprouted. The gospel watered his hardened soul, and he is a new creation. Perhaps I should dwell on the fact that God is using me in powerful ways. It’s kind of scary to see your prayers answered. The God of this universe hears me, wow!

Love,
Michael

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”