Our Leader

Isaiah 3: Who will be your leader?

The Lord gives us the gift of choice and when we abuse this privilege,  He gives us over to our sin. But eventually, enough is enough. God righteously corrects us– like a father disciplining his child. He will take away all that is keeping His children from Him to protect them from the evil of sin. When we don’t have God as the leader in our lives, chaos forms and prevails, making us desolate physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Without Him, we will seek to put others things or people as our leaders who are either unwilling or corrupt. Without the Good Leader, we are lead astray and taunt our sin– whether intentionally or intentionally. Because of this, we “have brought disaster upon” ourselves. But the righteous before God have nothing to worry about. If they persevere with God in control, then they will be rewarded. They will be given “the fruit of their deeds.”

When the wrong things or people are the rulers of ours lives, they take us off of the path of righteousness.  And that’s when God has to be our Father of discipline. The rulers of this world will take advantage of the weak and taint His people; they will be held accountable for sin of the people, along with their own. Just look at the kings of Jerusalem and Judah. Because of their lack of godly leadership, the people fell into sin. And therefore, were taken from their land and sent into exile. Although the people were punished, too, the rulers were held accountable for leading the people into sin.

The people of proud will be judged, too, in the form of humility. When we exalt ourselves, God will humble us and make us low. By putting ourselves on a pedestal, we leave no room for Him to work. Making ourselves nothing allows God to be everything in our lives, and allows Him to be our leader. The problem with the kings of Israel is they exalted themselves and did not fear the Lord. They put themselves as their own leaders, which had a trickle-down-effect on the people. After many warnings, He then humbled Israel by sending them into exile.

Without a good leader, we search in other ways to find one. Because of our sinful self, we usually look in all the wrong areas, inviting corruption and hurt into our lives. God didn’t intend for this to happen, but it did. He gave us the choice to decide to keep Him as our leader but we decided to exalt deception and it has ruled over us ever since. But we do have hope, through Jesus, for the restoration of His leadership. The choice is yours.

Daily Devotional Oct. 21

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone,  but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,  who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. -Romans 4:20-25

Faith in God will be “counted” to us as righteousness, but we have to start by trusting in Him. We are to trust in the Lord and believe in Him with everything we have and in all areas of our lives. If we can do this, our faith in Him will not waiver. Giving glory to God, both through thick and thin, will actually help us to grow strong in our faith. In all things and situations, it strengthens our faith because we start to recognize His working hand in our daily lives, and we notice His whispering voice. Trials and the “hush” of God might be defeating, but by being loyal to Him in our faith, we will stand firm in Him. and we will not be swayed when we are attacked by the darkness hiding around every corner. When we pray, be fully convinced by belief in Christ, and He will deliver and we will be made righteous in His eyes. Though, it is not so easy to have this kind of confidence in Him, but it can be achieved through faith in our Deliverer. That kind of faith brings many blessings and growth. And receiving blessings is great, but it should not be the main motivator for being faithful to God; we should be faithful to Him to bring glory to the King. Be convinced with your belief in God and have faith in Him that He will be faithful to you, and you will be made righteous.

Tough Times

Life gets hard for everyone. It might occur less often for some, but it still happens. The true self is revealed when times are bad, and we are faced with a decision; are we going to curse God or glorify God? Too often, Christians expect life to be easy and are shocked when it’s not. And when it’s tough, they get angry and turn their back on God– expecting God to fix everything immediately. We do not get to pick and choose when we glorify and follow God. We either do or we don’t; no in-betweens. In Jesus’ last moments on the cross, He still glorified and praised God without a question. Anyone can praise God through good times. Even nonbelievers “thank God” in good situations. One of the distinguishers between Christians and the lost should be the glorifying of God when times are tough. Glorify God in good times, and bad.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.”

Most people can relate to Psalm 42:5. We question ourselves and ask, “why am I so sad” or “why is life so tough?” This a normal response and has been the response for mankind since the beginning. Why me? Why is God making things so hard for me? What did I do wrong? We ask these questions but we hear no answer. The problem with these questions is that it is directed at ourselves. How can a question directed at our self receive an answer from God? Asking God for our own circumstances to get better isn’t the answer– asking God to be more involved in our lives is the answer. Imagine wanting God more than wanting our circumstances to improve. When times are tough, instead of praying for better circumstances, pray “God, I know times are tough and I’m hurting right now but I want you more. I don’t want my conditions to get better, all I want and need is you. I want to rely on you and fix my eyes on you. I will trust you to help me and comfort me, and you will take care of me. I want you. Amen.”

The mistake many people make is the idea God wants people to suffer, and that He causes bad things to happen. The real truth is God suffers with us, and He mourns with us. He doesn’t smile at our pain, He shares it. God allows bad things to happen to teach us, just as a father would teach his child. A father wouldn’t cause harm to his child, but he knows pain will come. And he will be there for when it occurs. He will embrace and comfort his child, and wipe away the tears. The father feels his child’s pain and his heart aches with sadness. God doesn’t want us to hurt, but He knows it will happen. He is there to comfort us, to guide us, and teach us in the end. Psalm 100:5 states, “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” God is good.

Realizing God’s unfailing and everlasting love for, and His intentions for us will help us to glorify God in every way– through thick and thin. Switching our mentality from “how can I benefit” to “how can He benefit” will cause transformation, and abundant praise. It is not easy, our first human reactions to blame something or someone for the cause. When we lay ourselves aside humbly before God, our eyes are open and we can finally see. Things will get better– for all things are possible through God. We will boast in our weakness so that Christ’s power may rest on us. It is through our weakness that His power is fully known. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

 ^“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

 

 

 

Listen to the Gospel

This last Thursday, April 13, Gary Miller, Gary Wilson, Ken Muncy, and Warren Propst from High Street Baptist Church left for Nicaragua on a mission trip. This isn’t any ordinary missions trip though; the men are driving new motorcycles from Dallas, Texas to Managua, Nicaragua. And when they get there, they are donating the motorcycles to Ride Extreme for Youth Extreme. The whole missions trip is to bring awareness to the children of Nicaragua and provide a safe environment. This will be accomplished by the building of sports complexes. The only catch, it costs $70,000 to build each complex. The men are riding motorcycles not to only donate them at the end, but to also raise money to build a sports complex for the youth in Nicaragua. Prayers go out to all who are involved in the trip!

Now, if you think this post is just a promotion for the mission trip to Nicaragua, think again! Gary Miller happens to my fiancé’s, Madi Miller, father. When I first heard that Gary was going on this trip, I was super excited for him and for what he would be doing. I thought it would just be another missions trip but a lot cooler, and I didn’t have much concern for any danger he could face. After a few months had passed, I began to hear people talk about the dangers of the trip and how him, and the other guys on the trip, could possibly not be coming home. This news put me to worry and I began to fear for the safety of Gary. I was afraid he would not be coming home. As I began asking God how to process this feeling, He started revealing to me that He is in control. I needed to trust and rely on God to protect Gary, I couldn’t do it myself. By putting this feeling into God’s hands, a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I didn’t worry anymore. Of course, I still want Gary to come back safely, but I’m trusting God throughout the whole trip.

As I thought through the whole situation, I realized the power of people’s words and the effect or influence they can have. Before, I didn’t fear for the possibility of Gary not coming home. It wasn’t until other people began to talk about what could happen and what could go wrong. Because of other peoples’ words, I trembled in fear and worry. By turning to God and listening to Him, I was able to get passed it. I began to think about how often I listen to the words of other people and not to God, and how it affects me as a person of Christ. Listening to people brings chaos, while listening to the Gospel brings peace and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Not everything people have to say is wrong; those who listen to God and speak the Gospel are actually the people to listen to. But the key part of that is the Gospel. The majority of people don’t speak the Gospel. In Romans 16: 17-20 it states:

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.  For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”

Some people twist the Gospel to fit and mold it to how it fits best to themselves and these people are the most dangerous. They use the Gospel out of context and use it to deceive people, which ultimately ends in destruction. And some people don’t know the Gospel at all. Therefore, nothing that comes out of their mouth is from the Gospel. We as Christians are to face everything people say with skepticism. Do not assume that what people say is correct, even if they claim to be a Christian themselves. Skepticism doesn’t mean to be ugly to people, it simply means to ask ourselves if what we’re hearing fits the Gospel.

To know if something fits the Gospel, we have to study the Gospel. Studying not only brings knowledge but provides Spiritual discipline, which results in a closer walk with God. Studying also creates wisdom and discernment. This is important because it will make it clear about what is good and what is evil, and the Gospel provides a clear definition of what is good and evil; God is good and everything else that is not of God, is evil. If God talks through people, it is good and they should be listened to. But it is an easy mistake to talk for our own benefit. Do what is good and run from evil through obedience to God.

Find rest in the Gospel and soak in the message of God. Doing this brings Spiritual wisdom for what is right and wrong. Peoples’ words no longer have power; God’s Word was the first and will be the last. The Gospel triumphs over every human word and puts to shame the tongue. Listen to the Gospel.

 

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. (Proverbs 12:20)

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

 

 

 

Public Display

We arrive at church ready for powerful worship and a meaningful message from the pastor. We are moved by songs praising God and we are excited to start the message. After the worship, the pastor comes on stage to deliver his teaching. The pastor speaks an impactful message and as the service comes to a close, he asks everyone to raise their hand if they need to “make a decision this morning.” He then asks everyone who raised their hand to come down to the front to pray with one of the leaders, and then proclaims “If you can’t be bold for Jesus now, then you can’t be bold for Jesus after you make your decision,” or some other wording with the same meaning. Does this sound familiar?

Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Be bold, and come down to the altar right now in front of the whole congregation or you cannot be one of my people.” Doesn’t this sound kind of silly? I believe this one of the greatest mistakes churches are making today. When in reality, it should be the opposite. How can you expect an unbeliever to be bold in Jesus when they don’t have Jesus in their hearts yet? That’s like asking someone to drive their car when they don’t have gas in the tank. The public display of Jesus shouldn’t be raising your hand and walking down to the altar; the public display of Jesus is baptism, and living a life of obedience to God while growing a relationship with him for all to see.

So, what is baptism? Baptism is the “dunking” of a believer in water, signifying the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the public display of one’s own faith and is required by God. It is now possible for people to be bold for Jesus because Jesus lives inside them. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy for people but God gives strength to those who believe in him, and we can do all things through Christ. Sure, some unbelievers can go up to the altar with no problem because they are comfortable being in front of other people, but a majority of people are afraid. They are ashamed, lonely, and feel unworthy to make the trip, especially alone. Even if they feel called to go down to the altar, they won’t because of their guilt and they are scared. And when the pastor demands them to boldly go now or they will never have the confidence for Jesus, they feel defeated. This isn’t what the church is supposed to be about; we are supposed to comfort and accept those who are broken, and that may require people to stay a few minutes after church so that those who are lost and afraid can still have an opportunity to come to Jesus without the whole congregation before them. It may also require taking someone out to lunch or for coffee sometime and talking about Jesus, just so they feel welcomed and comfortable in the church. Churches should rely on baptism as one of the primary ways for people to publicly announce their faith in Jesus.

What does a walk with God, full of obedience look like? Think of the head, heart, and hand model. We need the knowledge of the Bible, we need to genuinely love others and spread this love here and across the world, and actively volunteer in the local church and make everything we do, Godly actions, including helping those in need. Seem simple? On paper, it is but in reality, it’s not. Studying the Bible takes time and intentionality, but this is the first step of the head, heart, and hand model. It is the foundation of our walk with God. Once we know the Bible’s teaching, we building loving and lasting relationships with people, and we can reach the world with this love for one another. This kind of love is not programmed into each of us naturally, it is formed and developed through God and his Word. Once we have started developing genuine love, we start wanting to help others and help the church. Most churches aren’t wealthy and need volunteers to keep the church running and growing. And part of growing the church is reaching out to those who are less fortunate and need the support of people and the church. The head, heart, and hand model builds upon each step to form a relationship with Jesus.

Churches today need more patience with unbelievers. The pastors are called to preach the Word of God honestly, and the time will come when people will be saved. Rushing the process will do nothing but cause more hurt, we are called to comfort and support people through this process. I am not condemning leaders who use this strategy, as it does work for some people. And I’m not even against pastors asking people to raise their hands because it is for the preacher to pray for those who raise their hands. But walking the aisle shouldn’t be the public display of faith in Jesus.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Mathew 28:19-20)

The Mission

Hello! My name is Preston Blake and I am so incredibly excited to be launching Living Life. I’ll let you know a little bit about myself and then I will go on to tell you about Living Life’s mission.

First off, if you hadn’t already figured it out I am the author of this blog! I have felt compelled to bring encouragement to people for some time now and I believe this blog is how I will fulfill part of this calling. I was born and raised in a Christian home all my life and I was saved as a little boy when I was 7 years old. I also grew up in a home full of musicians and Evangelists. My grandparents, Keith and Nancy Blake, traveled with my father and aunt across the country Evangelizing people in churches through preaching and song. Later on, my mother joined them until they started having children. I have one younger brother, one biological older sister, and two older step-sisters. Yes, my family became a statistic when my parents got divorced when I was young. In high school, I was involved in marching band and football. I went to part of my schooling at John Brown University, majoring in music education with an emphasis in percussion. Because of financial difficulties, I later transferred to Ozark Technical Community College. I will soon be married to my beautiful fiancé, Madi Miller, and many blogs involving her are soon to come! Now enough about me, let’s get started with the purpose of Living Life.

The mission of Living Life is to bring encouragement and truth to people of all ages and situations. It will accomplish this goal through scripture and personal stories. A few times a week; a short message will be posted with a certain topic meant to build people up. Everybody goes through trials and the only thing to do is to turn to God for help. We weren’t meant to live this life alone and trying to “do” life by yourself will ultimately end in failure. Living Life will act as support with relatable, up-lifting messages through hard times.

I want this ministry to be more than just a few posts a week; I want Living Life to spread to the world outside of the Internet. There are many ways to spread encouragement to people but the two main ways Living Life will pursue this goal are to feed the homeless on the streets and to start a community worship night every week. Living Life believes it is extremely important to take care of those who are less fortunate and this will be done by directly bringing food to the homeless wherever they are at and starting godly conversations with them. People should not be treated differently just because they are going through a difficult season of life and we are to build people up who need the support. The second part of spreading encouragement to reality is to start a weekly worship night for the community. Once a week during the summer, Living Life will host a worship night, which will be composed of volunteer musicians, and have a guest speaker bring a brief message. The worship night will also provide food to all who come for an affordable price of three dollars per meal. The meals will include a main food like a hamburger or hot dog, a side, and a drink. This ministry will start outside during the summer, or other times that are warm, and as the ministry grows, it will move indoors during the cold seasons. The purpose of the worship night will be to provide a family atmosphere where people can get to know one another and form a community, all while worshipping Jesus. I want to see the community rejoice together when times are prosperous, and encourage each other when times are low.

The draw-backs to providing encouragement and help to the community is it comes with a cost. Feeding the homeless requires money for food and gas to drive to them. When providing this help, it will be composed of a team of God-loving volunteers with a heart for giving. The community worship night will also require money for food… Quite a bit more money. And financial support is needed to rent a trailer for the stage each week, rent a building for rainy or cold days, and for guest speakers. I know it’s a lot to ask for but it’s the only way to make this ministry take flight. I have a donation link in the bio to raise money, and if you feel lead to give, Living Life thanks you!

I can’t wait to see how God will use Living Life to impact people through encouragement. I strive to live my life in obedience to God and this blog is the first step. I pray the words and actions of Living Life would be through God, without human intentions. Thank you in advance for your support!