Stop Settling For Canned Spirituality

Hebrews 6:13-20

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” ¹⁵ And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. ¹⁶ For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷ So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. ¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Promise

Have you ever felt that life is completely underwhelming and hope has gone missing. I have experienced these discouraging days and remember them vividly because it was incredibly difficult to hold fast to the promises I knew God spoke into me. I jumped to quick assumptions that the promise I once heard was but a flash of hope, here one moment and gone the next. It is more difficult when we live in the instantaneous age. We are accustomed to getting what we want the fast way. Thankfully God does not give us canned spirituality. He takes the time to prepare a rich, flavorful, and fulfilling spirituality for each of his children just so long as we are patient enough to receive it.

So Who is God?

This is by no means a question that can be fully answered because He is the “I AM” (Exodus 3:13-14), the beginning and the end. I believe that the premise of this scripture must be founded on reverence for who God is, his character. God IS despite whether you believe him to be so or not. There was no one before him and there is no one after him. He swore to himself, because there is no one greater. He is unchangeable – perfect in all His ways and his word does not return to him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it. (Isaiah 55:11). Matthew Henry describes humans as a “ship at sea, tossed up and down, and in danger of being cast away however the consolations of God are strong enough to support his people under their heaviest trials.”

How Do We Wait Patiently Before God?

I believe it is in communing with him daily. It is recognizing his presence amidst the everyday activities. And most crucial, it is in the waiting where we experience the intimacy of a relationship with our Maker. It is in the waiting that God deepens our communication with him and where He builds upon the foundations of our faith. He becomes not only Father to us he becomes friend. He is the ultimate dealer of hope in this world.

Abraham waited fervently and patiently before God, yet he did not wait alone. So often we isolate ourselves in the waiting – pushing away friends, family, and God as we become bitter for the lack of an instantaneous promise. However, rich joy can just as well be experienced in the anticipation and preparation of the promise ahead.

A Steadfast Anchor to Our Souls

This is a promise in and of itself. Christ not only promises to anchor our souls but also to be “the object and ground of our hope” (Matthew Henry). Anchor ourselves in anything else and we become– as Henry stated– a ship tossed at sea. The point of an anchor is to keep a ship from straying and to keep it from being tossed in a rough storm – it is not to stop a storm, it’s to keep the ship from be desolation. Therefore, Christ went as our predecessor, to prepare the way that we may have a deep and intimate relationship with God and anchored in the unchangeable God.

Transformed

My life has been transformed by experiencing and living in the love of a gracious God. He has received and redeemed me despite my imperfections and has provided me with the Anchor of Hope, Jesus Christ. To detach myself from that Anchor would be foolishness. When it comes to the unchangeable God who stood before all time, who spoke the universe into motion and who continues to breathe life into our body’s everyday, our lives can do nothing more than be transformed. I pray that each of our lives would be a unique testament of His transformative love, that we may be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). 

Being a Good Support in Depression

Broken people, making broken promises, result in broken relationships.  

Who are the broken people? You, me, and the rest of mankind itself. This week I’d like to highlight the brokenness so commonly found in depression.

If you or a friend is experiencing depression, here are a few tips on being a good friend and support. 

 

1. No one story of brokenness is the same. Brokenness manifests itself in countless fashions. Each human is unique from the rest; and so it is with brokenness. If you are a human (or even if you aren't), you have a story and a background that has shaped you into who you are today that is unique to anyone else in the world. Do not assume that you know exactly how they are feeling. Though your experiences may be similar to theirs, validate their feelings. They may be experiencing the same condition but remember they are experiencing it in a very different context.   

2. Be a presence. Not just a presence, a supportive presence. Don't feel like you have to name the elephant in the room by always bringing up their depression. What they need most is a friend and a safe place so that when they are ready to talk about their experience and pain they feel comfortable to do so.  

3. Don't take things personally. Most likely, if your friend is experiencing any range of depression, you will probably feel ignored and could eventually become bitter towards them. Having an internal battle everyday is hard enough with depression, they don't need friends who ignore them. A quick handwritten note expressing your love and support for them could do wonders for those experiencing depression. A lot of the times, it is hard to be around others when your struggling with depression but knowing that others are thinking of you and are there for you speaks loudly to them. 

4. If you are the one depressed, don't ignore your friends. This can be very damaging to relationships. It is important to recognize that depression affects not only yourself but others as well. Do not be shy in being raw with your close friends. If you are not ready to share your life with them yet, a simple word of appreciation will uplift your friends. Never hide your depression from your friends. True friends can tell when you are struggling and it is hurtful when they know something is being purposefully hidden from them.

Limitless

I've started interning for Saddleback Church this summer and though I have lived 15 minutes away from, what is now, my work-place my whole life, I have been immersed into an entirely different pool of people and experiences. As perhaps you have experienced, walking into any new environment can give warrant to some hesitation, timidity, and maybe even fear. For me it was not so much the environment warranting fear and timidity, it was my own self; maybe you have experienced something similar to this. I am remarkably BLESSED to have entered into a warm and joy filled community. 

It is amazing what a change in perspective of yourself and a community of people supporting you could do in order to build up a healthy dose of self-confidence. I have had to learn how to step outside of myself and those lingering thoughts of doubt and timidity and step into a bold confidence in Christ. There is a world of differences between being self confident in your ability and being confident in Christ's ability to do the unimaginable. It is not what we can do but what HE can do in us and through us.

In the words of Christine Caine,

"Jesus came here not to tame us but to make us dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. Don't allow life to keep you in a safe box and to conform. Instead, allow God's active Word to give you the parameters of your life." 

In actuality, if we try to limit God, 

•••   we are truly only limiting ourselves   •••

for God is LIMITLESS.

Radical Lover

Have you ever felt so much love for someone(s), that if it had to come down to it, you would dodge a bullet for or willingly give your life in exchange for the ones you love?

I vividly remember driving in the car with my family one Sunday afternoon. I must have been around nine or ten at the time. We were sitting at a stop light and I was overwhelmed with love for my little sister. I even remember secretly wiping tears from my eyes, I loved her THAT much. (I was a big bad ten year old, I couldn’t be seen weeping!!!!)

My young mind started imagining scenarios and it was right then and there that I knew with my whole being that I would give my life for any of my family members if need be, but especially my little sister. She was young, she still had more life to see and experience, and I had five (FIVE) whole years ahead on her. I’ve already experienced the wonderful feeling of riding my bike with no training wheels…she HAD to experience that. So it was there, at that stop light on that Sunday afternoon that solidified my unconditional, sacrificial love for my family. 

I knew I would do anything for them.

Fast forward about 10.5 years and that same girl is divinely love-struck by the Ultimate Lover, Jesus Christ. He loved so incredibly HARD that he gave up His life because that was the only way to save this dying world. His love was RADICAL, more radical than young Alexis’s love for her family. He didn’t merely die solely for His family, His twelve disciples, or those good people down the road; He died for ALL because He loved ALL. He didn’t die for solely that generation of people but He died for every generation to come, He died for our generation and the generations to come after us. It’s almost impossible to imagine such a divine love but its REAL, friends. His love is more real than anything you can or will ever experience.

••• As Easter approaches •••

May we remember Jesus Christ: Redeemer and Radical Lover.

Will you create the space to fixate not just your heart, but also your mind and your soul on the one who sacrificially laid down His life for you? 

May we actively reflect on the Savior of the world and what the Lord willed all along – to set humans free in order that they may have eternal life which is  “that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).

“O you redeemed ones, on whose behalf this strong resolve was made – you who have been bought by the precious blood of this steadfast, resolute Redeemer – come and think awhile of Him, that your hearts may burn within you and that your face may be set like flints to live and die for Him who lived and died for you!”

C.H. Spurgeon

A BIRTHDAY

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just 

- Genesis 18:19 -

Guillermo Alvarez.

Husband to one

Father of three

Friend to all.

He is the greatest example of a man: he walks humbly before God.

He is gifted with a unique knack for discovering

and then developing things most people would often write off.

He is perceptive and wise in the way he leads his family

through both the practical and the spiritual.

My dad is one that is a direct reflection of what Christ’s love looks like towards me.

His wise direction, comforting words, and the security of a loving father

has been a powerful symbol of Christ’s mighty care for me and for His children.

I am grateful to God for the blessing of being placed under the care of this amazing father.

"Guillermo: Track Star"

 

- FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS -

obedience.

Walking with God

in pursuit of daily obedience 

is the sure means of fulfilling each of His wonderful plans.

 - Beth Moore -

 

That is my prayer for myself and for us as a Body of Christ.

May we practice daily obedience and not get into a the rhythm of delayed obedience. 

Walking with God not on our own // how intimate a relationship God desires for us!

To quote Joni Eareckson Tada, we must practice "long obedience in the same direction."

Long obedience is faithful obedience, it's diligent obedience, it's surrendering obedience, and it's all done because of your love and desire to follow hard (!!!!!!) after Him, though the path of obedience may be trying. 

We, as a Body, must maintain a posture of humility before God as we glory at His many wonders and as God dignifies us as we walk in His ways. 

- Happy Wednesday -

love flood

 

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion...

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;

But how can one be warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

ECCLESIASTES  4 : 9 -1 2 

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THIS.

I love it.

Today, I am grateful for those I LOVE. This verse perfectly embodies why.

Friends, family, Christ – I love them all and without them you and I would probably be very scary beings. We were made to be in community with others – we were designed for relationship.

Contrary to many humans, I actually LOVE valentines day – maybe because I have always been captivated by the idea of love but as I have matured in my walk with Christ and have learned how to receive love from family and friends, love has taken on a new form. This Love I am coming to know is D E E P; not merely scraping the surface of the desires of my soul but instead, filling me with wonder and awe. I don’t even want to attempt to describe it in fear of it being insufficient to the reality of what it is. Love is the greatest mystery to me – I love that it is a mystery because  

when love happens our souls react and that is all the evidence we need – your spirit knows when you are loved and words cannot begin to match the beauty of it.

So, dwell on this verse and then dwell on those people you love and are loved by – and rejoice.  

To be loved is good. 

To give love is good. 

This is why I say speak up & proclaim this love to one another,
but also remember to open your heart to readily receive the "love flood" flowing from friends, family, lovers, and most of all Christ.

Now go have yourself a Grand ole Valentines Day {!!!!!!}