something cool i read....

So Forgotten God by Francis Chan is one of the few books I'm reading now. If you don't know who Francis Chan is you should; he's the author of Forgotten God and Crazy Love and the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA.

Here is a quote from the book I thought was really good.

"Let's focus on believing the promises given to us by God, on submitting to Him the fears that we have, and on surrendering ourselves fully to the work and will of God, the Holy Spirit."

There's a couple things that stand out to me in this:

First, focusing on the promises of God, I feel like way to often I just want to know the "put offs and the put ons." I feel like we has humans just want the list of to dos. Too often we read or hear the "rules of being a christian" and forget about all the promises we have. We go through life trying to be 'better'. Trying so hard to be good enough when God says we're all evil and all righteous acts are like filthy rags.

So if that's the case what should we do? If we can't be good enough what should we do? Should we just give up? NO! Christ died for us, He knows we weren't good enough!! And what should we do....? Christ says sell everything and follow me. All He wants is us, He doesn't want our boasting in the law, He wants us.

In the first chapter of Ephesians He tells us we are adopted, He tells us we are blessed, He tells us we have redemption, He even makes His will known to us, He has given us an inheritance, and in v.13 He says "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit."

THE HOLY SPIRIT!!! In John 16 Christ tells us it is to our advantage that He leaves so His Spirit can come!(did you read that!!! read it again, its better for us to have the Spirit in us then Christ next to us!) That is the same Spirit that Christ had!!! The same Spirit that brought 3000 people to knowing Him on the day the disciples received the Holy Spirit!

Second, 'Submitting to Him the fears we have, surrendering ourselves fully to the work and will of God, the Holy Spirit'

When I think of submitting to Him, I think I have to be more real with God. I'm also reading a book called Papa Prayer by Larry Crabb and its all about being relational with God, and by selling everything and following Him I feel like He's saying He wants only a relationship with me... 'Let go of everything besides Me.'

What if my fear is surrendering everything to You?

Well then I forgot the first part about the promises!!! God will provide!!!

Oh Lord, help me let go of my fears, help me focus on your promises, all I want is You!