This morning I was doing my normal routine and as I began to tell God how good He is and how much I NEED HIM. I remembered moments in my life that ruined me (in a good way). These moments were those moments where God so radically showed up, touched me, changed me, molded me. Those moments ruined me for any counterfeits.
As a Christian you've had an encounter with the living God. I'm sure if you took a minute you could name off a few defining moments when you ENCOUNTERED God. Those moments will change the whole course of your life. To ramble a few off the top of my head...
1) 15 years old in my bedroom and I heard God speak to me, so loud to me that I set up looking for who was speaking to me... I've never been the same.
2) 16 years old sitting on the alter at North Main baptist church alone in the sanctuary and God told me I would preach... I've never been the same
3) 18 years old in my dorm room when God told me that I would go to Africa... I've never been the same.
These are just 3 huge callings that I heard from God, this doesn't include the countless times when He's talked to me about my life, my future, His love for me, when I've seen God heal someone supernaturally, or demons casted out. All of these encounters were REAL encounters and they've ruined me for any counterfeit god that the world tries to create.
Now pay attention to this next part, because this is what the Lord showed me this morning.
These encounters they put people in what I would call a spiritual high. It takes you up to the mountain in other words. More passionate, more excited, radical.
I asked God how come we see so many Christians who have had these encounters and they're slipping away? I think God wanted me to ask Him the question because the Holy Spirit began to speak immediately.
The problem is that sometimes we get confused. You can have these encounters and then you begin to seek the next encounter. The next big whoa moment instead of seeking God. My pastor once said that an encounter can change you, but it's the Word that will maintain you.
If you've ever been on a mission trip perhaps you've been here before. You go overseas and God just seemed to constantly be tangible and doing amazing things. When you come home, normal life seems mundane and not exciting. You can't lead a "normal" life anymore. You've been ruined for counterfeits.
See the challenge is to be ruined for the counterfeits and realize that you don't have to have a counterfeit no matter where you are. A life of pursuing God is never boring, mundane, or not exciting because the same God who was on your mission trip is in your living room, bedroom, your work place.
Sometimes His magnificent grace comes and He encounters us unexpectedly, but the majority of the time, it will be us, reaching out seeking Him for that encounter during our every day lives.
We can be ruined for what the world has to offer and never have to leave the real thing. The world will offer so many counterfeits for true and perfect love, for peace, for joy, for success... but the truth is there is no counterfeit for a life in a relationship with the Living God.
I pray that we would all be ruined for the counterfeits and pursue the real God like never for. Allow Him to come and impact you and have an encounter with you everyday. Everywhere we go is the mission field, everywhere we go God goes with us, acknowledge His presence.
Be Blessed
J. Tate
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The details
Hey Friends and Family,
Yesterday I realized that in December it will be year since I graduated, in other words I graduated 8 months ago and other than mission trip updates I haven't really talked about what is going on in my life at all.
I'm sure most of you know by now that I have accepted a job teaching/coaching at Liberty Middle School. When I first heard about the job option I pretty much just dismissed it for several reasons that I "thought" were justified. However the Lord did not seem to justify them as much as I did and I truly believe that this is the path that God has led me on for at least this next year.
There are so many things I could say about this new mission field that I'm entering, but i'll keep it short and simple. I've already realized this will probably be the hardest thing I've ever done. Harder than college, harder than missions, just harder, but what I see through the roadblocks, what i see over the mountain, it's worth the hard. If there is one thing I've learned in life it's that I don't need to be afraid of hard, because on the other side of hard is always something great.
I'm back in Liberty Tx. After 4 years of Liberty merely being a vacation place, it's now home again and in thought after being places like Johannesburg South Africa, Amsterdam, Rwanda... etc. You'd think Liberty would be boring and outdated, but there is simply no better place to be than in the center of God's will. I'm surrounded by mentors who love me, teach me, and trust me to do ministry. I'm happier than I've ever been, I'm more hungry for the things of God than ever, and I'm more passionate than ever. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and the more you get to know Jesus, the more His joy and passion and zeal will over take you.
I think I've realized that nothing is impossible at all. There are no limits when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Dream big, extend vision, and trust that God's vision for our life will never be matched, so DREAM HIGHER, VISION DEEPER, and just go. I spent the last year doing what I want to do with the rest of my life. Go overseas, come back, go overseas, come back, go overseas... and I believe I'll get to spend the rest of my life doing this because at the young age of 22 I have found where my passion lies.
I love spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I believe the Lord will give me a husband with the same heart to minister to those in America without ever forgetting the big world out there that still needs the gospel.
So I am excited about life, I'm excited about the future, and I'm just so blessed and so thankful for where I am. Everyday is truly a mission field and when it gets hard I"m surrounded by people who pick me up.
For those that I have lost contact with, gosh I'm sorry. Most of you know how much I need to work on my contact skills. I try to make those few phone calls a week and sometimes it doesn't happen, but I am definitely trying to redefine that as a priority in my life, so that as I move into the future I don't forget those who have helped me to get here.
I love you all!!
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Yesterday I realized that in December it will be year since I graduated, in other words I graduated 8 months ago and other than mission trip updates I haven't really talked about what is going on in my life at all.
I'm sure most of you know by now that I have accepted a job teaching/coaching at Liberty Middle School. When I first heard about the job option I pretty much just dismissed it for several reasons that I "thought" were justified. However the Lord did not seem to justify them as much as I did and I truly believe that this is the path that God has led me on for at least this next year.
There are so many things I could say about this new mission field that I'm entering, but i'll keep it short and simple. I've already realized this will probably be the hardest thing I've ever done. Harder than college, harder than missions, just harder, but what I see through the roadblocks, what i see over the mountain, it's worth the hard. If there is one thing I've learned in life it's that I don't need to be afraid of hard, because on the other side of hard is always something great.
I'm back in Liberty Tx. After 4 years of Liberty merely being a vacation place, it's now home again and in thought after being places like Johannesburg South Africa, Amsterdam, Rwanda... etc. You'd think Liberty would be boring and outdated, but there is simply no better place to be than in the center of God's will. I'm surrounded by mentors who love me, teach me, and trust me to do ministry. I'm happier than I've ever been, I'm more hungry for the things of God than ever, and I'm more passionate than ever. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and the more you get to know Jesus, the more His joy and passion and zeal will over take you.
I think I've realized that nothing is impossible at all. There are no limits when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Dream big, extend vision, and trust that God's vision for our life will never be matched, so DREAM HIGHER, VISION DEEPER, and just go. I spent the last year doing what I want to do with the rest of my life. Go overseas, come back, go overseas, come back, go overseas... and I believe I'll get to spend the rest of my life doing this because at the young age of 22 I have found where my passion lies.
I love spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I believe the Lord will give me a husband with the same heart to minister to those in America without ever forgetting the big world out there that still needs the gospel.
So I am excited about life, I'm excited about the future, and I'm just so blessed and so thankful for where I am. Everyday is truly a mission field and when it gets hard I"m surrounded by people who pick me up.
For those that I have lost contact with, gosh I'm sorry. Most of you know how much I need to work on my contact skills. I try to make those few phone calls a week and sometimes it doesn't happen, but I am definitely trying to redefine that as a priority in my life, so that as I move into the future I don't forget those who have helped me to get here.
I love you all!!
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Taking every thought captive
This morning I had what felt like a block in my prayer time and it got to a point where I was getting frustrated. Finally, I gave in and I just asked God what is this feeling, what is this frustration, what is this WALL!
After a few minutes of practicing the discipline of listening for the voice of the Lord, I was given the answer.
First I was given the scripture 2 Cor. 10:7 then I was given a few thoughts of my own.
2 Cor. 10:7 "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"
It's a verse I preached on often in Rwanda and one that I pray over myself fairly often. I believe in being an active participant in the battle of my mind. There are so many scriptures that speak on our mind and our thoughts. I know in my own mind there is a battle for who the thoughts will glorify. Will my thoughts glorify God or the enemy. Will I think things that line up with "knowledge of God" or knowledge of me, life, society, etc.
I want to be able to say (Philippians 4:8) I think on things noble, pure, things right, honorable, lovely, etc.
This is what I find happens. The enemy speaks a lie into your thoughts and we have the responsibility to "take that thought captive and put it into obedience with Jesus Christ". This is actually exactly what Jesus did when He was tempted. The enemy spoke a lie and Jesus casted that lie down with the Truth of the Word of God.
Thoughts that do not line up with the Word will come, but we must put them into obedience of the Word of God.
The Lord revealed a thought that I had been believing for over a week and I had to take that thought captive and put it into obedience.
Who rules your thought life? The enemy or the Word of God. We have the responsibility to monitor our thoughts and line them up with truth. Believing lies of the enemy will always have negative impact on our walk with God. Sometimes it seems small, but many times these lies will snow ball and cause a lot more strife than we bargained for.
I guess I think of it like I think of a cold. Someone can catch a cold (relatively small and harmless), but if not taken care of it can turn into bronchitis (more pain than the cold, but also treatable). If the bronchitis is not taken care of it can turn into pneumonia (much more painful, but still treatable with a little more effort). Pneumonia can eventually lead to death if not taken care of.
It is the same thing with our thought life. A lie (seems somewhat harmless) if not put into obedience with Christ will breed more lies and as you believe more lies our thoughts will become farther and farther from truth, which may result in our actions straying farther and farther away from truth, which may result in one great heap of backsliding down fall.
Let's take up the battle of our mind and take every thought captive that doesn't line up to the knowledge of God and put it into obedience of Christ.
Don't let the enemy rule your mind.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
After a few minutes of practicing the discipline of listening for the voice of the Lord, I was given the answer.
First I was given the scripture 2 Cor. 10:7 then I was given a few thoughts of my own.
2 Cor. 10:7 "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"
It's a verse I preached on often in Rwanda and one that I pray over myself fairly often. I believe in being an active participant in the battle of my mind. There are so many scriptures that speak on our mind and our thoughts. I know in my own mind there is a battle for who the thoughts will glorify. Will my thoughts glorify God or the enemy. Will I think things that line up with "knowledge of God" or knowledge of me, life, society, etc.
I want to be able to say (Philippians 4:8) I think on things noble, pure, things right, honorable, lovely, etc.
This is what I find happens. The enemy speaks a lie into your thoughts and we have the responsibility to "take that thought captive and put it into obedience with Jesus Christ". This is actually exactly what Jesus did when He was tempted. The enemy spoke a lie and Jesus casted that lie down with the Truth of the Word of God.
Thoughts that do not line up with the Word will come, but we must put them into obedience of the Word of God.
The Lord revealed a thought that I had been believing for over a week and I had to take that thought captive and put it into obedience.
Who rules your thought life? The enemy or the Word of God. We have the responsibility to monitor our thoughts and line them up with truth. Believing lies of the enemy will always have negative impact on our walk with God. Sometimes it seems small, but many times these lies will snow ball and cause a lot more strife than we bargained for.
I guess I think of it like I think of a cold. Someone can catch a cold (relatively small and harmless), but if not taken care of it can turn into bronchitis (more pain than the cold, but also treatable). If the bronchitis is not taken care of it can turn into pneumonia (much more painful, but still treatable with a little more effort). Pneumonia can eventually lead to death if not taken care of.
It is the same thing with our thought life. A lie (seems somewhat harmless) if not put into obedience with Christ will breed more lies and as you believe more lies our thoughts will become farther and farther from truth, which may result in our actions straying farther and farther away from truth, which may result in one great heap of backsliding down fall.
Let's take up the battle of our mind and take every thought captive that doesn't line up to the knowledge of God and put it into obedience of Christ.
Don't let the enemy rule your mind.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Monday, July 12, 2010
Speak Lord
Get in the habit of saying, "Speak Lord", and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press in on you, say, "Speak Lord", and make time to listen. -Oswald Chambers
Yesterday I was at lunch with a couple of people from church and our Pastors Mike and Laurie. I don't really remember what brought it on, but Pastor said something to the effect of... if only Adam and Eve would have talked to God. As soon as the serpent came and began to lie Eve should have said "Adam, we need to talk to God". He mentioned Saul and how under ever temptation Saul never spoke to God.
Imagine if Adam and Eve would have taken the time to speak to their Father. Everyday they spent time with God and one day something CRAZY happens. A serpent comes in saying things they'd never heard before, saying things contrary to what God had spoken to them. They should have stopped and said "Hey God, we need to talk about this".
This morning I was spending some time with the Lord and I thought about the Oswald Chambers quote and what Pastor had said.
How many of us give in to temptation, make a bad decision, go through unnecessary strife, simply because we won't call out to the Lord. Ask Him, He speaks.
If you're anyone who has been close to me for the past 3 years you know that I absolutely LOVE John 10:27 that says that we will hear God's voice. It doesn't say we might hear it, there is a chance maybe one day, it says we KNOW His voice.
When strife comes, when temptation comes, when trial comes, when the mountain is in the way. SPEAK and listen.
God wants His people to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, to ask His opinion, to hear His voice and follow His direction. Never neglect to cry out to God.
Perhaps Adam and Eve had a thought. We'll listen to the serpent now and when the coolness of day comes (when the Bible says God met with them) then we'll discuss this with God. Perhaps people have this same idea. I'll live my life throughout the day and tomorrow morning when i have my quiet time I can discuss this with God. I dare to say you're too late.
Jesus paid for 24/7 available access to the throne room of Father God. Jesus deserves what He paid for. He paid for that access so that no matter where you are, no matter what circumstances you are under, you can cry out to Daddy God and have DIRECT ACCESS TO HIM.
1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing.
Don't neglect to ask God to speak. Use this access. Call out to Him, rely on Him. Listen to Him.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Yesterday I was at lunch with a couple of people from church and our Pastors Mike and Laurie. I don't really remember what brought it on, but Pastor said something to the effect of... if only Adam and Eve would have talked to God. As soon as the serpent came and began to lie Eve should have said "Adam, we need to talk to God". He mentioned Saul and how under ever temptation Saul never spoke to God.
Imagine if Adam and Eve would have taken the time to speak to their Father. Everyday they spent time with God and one day something CRAZY happens. A serpent comes in saying things they'd never heard before, saying things contrary to what God had spoken to them. They should have stopped and said "Hey God, we need to talk about this".
This morning I was spending some time with the Lord and I thought about the Oswald Chambers quote and what Pastor had said.
How many of us give in to temptation, make a bad decision, go through unnecessary strife, simply because we won't call out to the Lord. Ask Him, He speaks.
If you're anyone who has been close to me for the past 3 years you know that I absolutely LOVE John 10:27 that says that we will hear God's voice. It doesn't say we might hear it, there is a chance maybe one day, it says we KNOW His voice.
When strife comes, when temptation comes, when trial comes, when the mountain is in the way. SPEAK and listen.
God wants His people to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, to ask His opinion, to hear His voice and follow His direction. Never neglect to cry out to God.
Perhaps Adam and Eve had a thought. We'll listen to the serpent now and when the coolness of day comes (when the Bible says God met with them) then we'll discuss this with God. Perhaps people have this same idea. I'll live my life throughout the day and tomorrow morning when i have my quiet time I can discuss this with God. I dare to say you're too late.
Jesus paid for 24/7 available access to the throne room of Father God. Jesus deserves what He paid for. He paid for that access so that no matter where you are, no matter what circumstances you are under, you can cry out to Daddy God and have DIRECT ACCESS TO HIM.
1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing.
Don't neglect to ask God to speak. Use this access. Call out to Him, rely on Him. Listen to Him.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
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