What just happend?!
No clue this interaction was going to go on like this.
Norma and I talked in the rain for about 15-20 minutes until her son came and picked her up.
My heart (while torn at first), decided to do what’s right instead of being selfish.
I came home, laid down for a bit, and woke up to this Facebook message:

When you want to say no – quit being selfish.
When you’ve got some where to be – it can wait.
When you think the world revolves around you – it doesn’t.
When you think someone else will help – you are the someone.
When you think no one is watching – they are. intently.
When you help someone thinking they’ll learn a lesson in love – you’re the one who gets schooled in love.

Norma, you’re a saint. You rocked my world with God’s love/truth today.
I’m glad your car was broke down so God could use you to break me down in the process.

- Jason

So, today was a mix of sermon writing, phone calls, and emails. I wanted to post this morning, but my head wasn’t around it. Tonight my lovely wife, Carrie, is with her discipleship partner, so I have some time to finally write with a clear head. The question that was posed in yesterday’s post:

“What if Marie died? Would God still be good?”
“Would his love, grace, and mercy- still abound as it did the day before?”

The “I went to Bible College, pastored for awhile, and preached this topic before” side of me knows the Biblical answer. But the “Jason who wrestles with his broken past” side of me wrestles with this (if I’m allowed to be honest). There is a truth here that I know, and a human heart side of me that still hurts. My hurt doesn’t change the truth, but I need to be honest with my feelings.

God saved/healed my Aunt Marie. So everyone celebrated and said how great God is. Now, I know if Marie had died, it wouldn’t have been bad for her. She is a Christian, and she is confident of the hope Jesus sealed on the cross. But, does death change the state of God’s divine nature? Not just death, but do the bad, ugly, and awful things in this world mean that God is not as holy/gracious/loving as he claims?

His state of grace and love doesn’t change because my circumstances aren’t the way I want them to be. If I pray and he heals my aunt, he’s good. If I pray and he doesn’t heal my aunt- the world is dark, sinful, bad things happen to good and bad people… and God is still good. Living in a broken world (that we broke in Genesis 3), crap happens (filter helped catch something else). God promises to be our anchor, rock, and foundation in life. That means in the chaos of life, He is good and sustains us. When things are on cloud nine, God is good and we are thankful.

One of the things I’ve realized in difficult times is, I experience God’s love, grace, and mercy in a more profound way when storms are raging. The phrase, “School of hard knocks” rings true in this moment. It’s interesting that Jesus used storms as some of the teaching environments on more than one occasion to bring truth to His disciples. I don’t think it was by accident he chose to capitalize on those instances. I also don’t believe Jesus made the storms rage to make his point. The broken world was set off balance and we see the groans of that (Romans 8). But, when the world gets off kilter, it’s a beautiful portrayal of the work and ministry of Jesus as he steps in to use it for teaching.

The disciples are freaking out at the storm, Jesus wakes up to calm the seas, “Who is this that even the winds and waves obey him?” they ask (Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25, Matthew 8:23-27). They are in awe of Jesus, but they are still freaking out. It’s the same way with our lives when situations, well, they’re just more than we feel we can bare.

We ask, “Where is God’s involvement in all of this?”
“Are you really as good & loving as you say you are?”
“I needed you. Why didn’t you answer the prayer the way I asked?”

It’s okay to question, wrestle, and talk it out with God. He’s way bigger than your questions, so it isn’t going to rock Him. He can handle it. He created the world, people, universe, angels, heaven, etc. I’m pretty certain He’s ready for your talk with Him. I just keep coming back to a simple line in a speech given by Moses to the people of Israel as he’s going to be handing the torch to Joshua,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

God does not specialize in the abandonment game. No matter what example of a father you may have grown up with. God is our example of a perfect Father. A Heavenly Father. He stands by us, through the good and bad. It’s that love, faithfulness, holiness, and consistency that leaves His nature unshaken in the face of our trials and hurts.

I’m glad to have a personal relationship with God.
It’s that very relationship that gives this life purpose.

- brandedwithlove

This is my Aunt Marie.
In the middle of the night on a Thursday she had a stroke.
She was found unresponsive early the next morning.
Straight from a stroke into a coma.
For 4 consecutive days they could not find any brain activity.
None.
They measured through tests, to determine if they should “take her off machines” the doctors noted.

The doctors would make a final decision at 9:00pm Monday night.
At 5:30pm, Marie sat up, asked where she was, and wanted something to eat.

A miracle.

Yes, they really do happen today. I’ve witnessed it.
Our family saw God through air tubes, needles, and iv lines.
Marie is different. Her demeanor has changed.
She is relearning simple motor skills again.
Her short term memory has been altered forever.
Apparently that part of the brain was without oxygen for too long.
But, she’s alive, can function, and knows that God did something miraculous.

It was a heavy week of prayer for our family.
Through Facebook/Twitter, hundreds upon hundreds of you were praying across the country.
The resounding comment we got over and over was, “Man, God is so Good!”

I agree whole-heartedly with that statement.
He saved my aunt from death.
I’m thankful she is left with minimal damage
But…

What if Marie died? Would God still be good?
Would his love, grace, and mercy- still abound as it did the day before?

We’ll talk about that tomorrow.

Ever been called something that hurt you to the core?
A label stamped on you because of something you did?
Well, Jesus came to abolish those labels.
Don’t believe the lies Satan & society have placed on you.
You were bought with a price.
God loves you.
You are special.
Unique.
Loved.
Important.
Needed.
Desired by God.

At Forefront, you’re not a label, number, or statistic.
You’re a person. A soul in need of a savior.
We’ve all messed up and wish we could go back and change things.
We all can use a second chance.

(more about these images here)

In short, lives are being changed.
I don’t know where you’re at, but God is up to something here…
And I’m loving it.
People keep asking:
“What is God all about?”
“Could He really love somebody like me?”
“If I give my life to him and mess up, will He give up on me?”
“Do I have to get everything right before I get baptized?”
“Is there any hope in this life?”

Here’s the great news, people are asking questions and God is providing answers. God is all about love, grace and forgiveness. He absolutely loves someone like you. If you mess up, and you will, God is there to pick up up, dust you off, and walk along this journey with you. You don’t have to have it all together, and it won’t. God is the one who begins and completes the work in you. Best of all, there is a hope that we can experience right now. It’s a hope beyond anything we have ever seen this side of heaven. God gives us a hope when all hope is lost. Man, it’s exciting times here at Forefront!

Take a look a few of the people recently who have given their lives to God. If you’re reading this and check these videos out & go, “I’m not real sure about this, but I have some questions” or “I’ve heard and seen this happening at Forefront, what is this all about?” Please email baptism@forefront.org with your contact info and I will personally give you a call. We can get together and talk about any questions you have.

Forefront Baptisms: Cheyenne from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Forefront Baptisms: Ryan Delacruz from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Forefront Baptisms: Malcolm FinkBeiner from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Forefront Baptisms: Tom & Deanna Cramblette from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Forefront Baptisms: Denielle, Tiffany, and Rickina from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Forefront Baptisms: Shelby Kay from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

I am just in awe at what God has been doing through Forefront. Seriously. Just to be able to see the ways people have been coming to God, sharing their stories, finding healing, becoming whole in who God designed them to be. It’s awesome. But our role as a church is not just to help the immediate community around us. God’s command us to “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28)

So, where do we go from there as a church?

Well, Dan Pollard, one of our pastor’s at Forefront is not only over Global Impact- he’s extremely passionate about it. I love his heart for people far from God and the desire to put down “deep roots” in our efforts globally. Here is a snippet from his blog series he’s doing on Forefront’s global impact:

“During the last dinner before heading home from my first trip to Vietnam I was presented with a bit of food that I will never forget. From what I can tell, it was a radish pickled in something. As my team leader looked on, I stuck the whole thing in my pie hole and crunched away. Did it taste good? Not particularly, but I remembered my training and made it look like it was the best thing I ever ate! It didn’t matter what it was really. We had just finished an amazing week in a place I have since fallen in love with.“

You should keep up with Dan and this series here, and think about attending the meeting on Sunday, November 6, 2012 at Ocean Lakes High School, 8:30am to see how God loved you so much that he wants to include you in his story to reach people on the other side of the world. If you’re interested, send him a quick email.