TREASURE

Mike Eerie spoke at Mariners Church in Irvine this past weekend. I went to the Saturday night service where the attendance seemed sparse compared to usual, but the Holy Spirit seemed alive. It was a bit ironic in that Mike spoke about treasure.

The irony lies here: I attended the service alone, and showed up to a church far less full than usual, to be told that my prayer should be for me to realize that Jesus is the treasure in this life and I should use all of me to gain all of Him. It doesn't matter who I am there with, or how many seats are taken up, as long as I see Jesus as my treasure, and then, and only then will my heart be full.

A humbling realization, especially since I'm gaining back that sense of independence I've longed to be okay with again. I realize now I must be careful when structuring this independence. I cannot be independent in me, but find my independence by being dependent on God.

This independence will look something like this: I'd much rather sit in an empty church glorifying my treasure, than sit in a room full of people glorifying ourselves.

Through my dark time I've come out on the other side faithfully listening to God telling me to edit my life. Edit #1: Making Him the treasure my heart desires.

PURPOSE

Do me a favor. Close your eyes and picture this. Picture our God creating a purpose, so meticulous and so incredible that only one person could master this purpose. This purpose intended for just one. Now, take this purpose and imagine God creating a special person intended for this particular purpose. A person designed so critically for this purpose. Designed exactly for it.

God creates a purpose, and then designs us for that purpose. It is not the other way around, and it is not a set of "X" purposes for a set of "Y" people. It is God's will for our life to carry out this one purpose.

God creates this purpose to be mastered by each one of us. A purpose we are unable to do alone so that through accomplishing this purpose God's glory shines through. God blesses each of us so He may bless others through us. It is not the individual doing the work, but God using the individual to do His work.

Let Him use you.

CHANGE

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for the Catalyst West conference. The only thing I knew going into that conference was why I was there. I had just come out of a very dark time in my life, one of the most difficult yet. I was there for God. I wanted to hear from Him, to get direction from Him, and to see how He was going to work in my life. That's why I was there. For me.

That's not why God had me there.

Through this conference I realized how disconnected I am in a faith I thought I lived my life for. How far from obedient I truly am, and yet had no idea. There is a purpose for me, designed specifically for me, and I don't have the slightest clue of what it is...yet.

I wanted this conference to enlighten me and give me that "good Sunday church feeling", you know the one I'm talking about. Although it exceeded my expectations in that aspect, more importantly, Catalyst changed my life. Catalyst encouraged me to change how I  am in the world, but also how others in the world view me. I am ever-changing, but more radically, forever changed.

God brought me through my darkest time to see the light so I may be a light to others. If this blog could help at least one person see the light, and see the goodness of God, then it is well worth it.

I am committed to seeking a God-driven life as I yearn to be an obedient follower of Christ.