What are you Driven Towards? – Part 1

1 Cor. 9:24-27

We’re all driven by something—a striving for something that takes the utmost importance in our lives. The question is… what is it? Usually we tend to ignore everything else around us, forgetting the important things we need to be aware of. Being driven is a good thing—it’s what keeps us going—keeps us moving forward. What are we being driven towards and what is it we are wanting to see when we arrive at our destination?

When life takes us down a new road, we tend to follow the curve, and we ought to do so—but we also need to be aware of where God wants to take us. Where is our journey in life headed? This journey is tedious and dangerous—however, with the right reflexes we can learn to navigate the hard turns we might have to take.

DRIVEN TOWARDS GOD:

Life can become taxing and cumbersome—consuming the very core of our being. And when that happens we can easily lose sight of where we are heading in life. We can be certain that our life is being driven towards something—will it have an eternal reward as opposed to an earthly reward?

We’re created in the very image of God Almighty. Gen. 1:26.  We are three in one—as like God the Father.
BODY—SOUL—SPIRIT
GOD IS… FATHER—SON—HOLY SPIRIT

God is unique in that He is a community in of Himself—three persons in one—making up the Holy Trinity. There is a picture in the Catholic Church of God having dinner with other parts of the Trinity. They have the same mind, and make-up; yet each is separate individually—one, yet three.

The very fact that we’re created in His image means that our very existence represents Him. Family is a good representation—family should be a reflection of the community of the Godhead: one family—yet separate individuals. In this, we are to be driven towards God, and how our lives are to resound about Him and His goodness. When people look at us they need to be able to see the Father dwelling within us.

“For me to live is Christ…” Phil 1:21 Our whole world needs to be revolving around our relationship with Christ. “But if I live on in the flesh this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ… is far better.” Phil 1:22-23

If we decide to live our lives outside of being driven towards Christ, our fruit will show. We’ll see lack in our finances, hardships in life, always being angry towards everyone except at ourselves—blaming where we know the blame should be placed upon ourselves—not others. Our fruit is a direct result of how we choose to drive the vehicle called life.

If we want our lives to count—the goal is to live our whole life as Christ. Be like Him; strive to be like Him. Nothing should ignite the passion in our lives except the very fact of being DRIVEN towards God—to a deeper and more intimate life with him.

Writing for Him,

J. B. Sisam

Is That Really You God?

The question, “Is that really you God,” becomes one of the most popular questions to ask ones self? How many times do we ask that in our daily life? The same goes for salvation; we tend to worry if we are or are not saved. My Grandma Sisam’s pastor, Russell Surls wrote a book on “The Essentials of Salvation.” This is what he says, “There are many decisions a person makes in their lifetime. In fact, our life is made up entirely of decisions… There are big decisions to make…. These are decisions… that may have lifelong consequences.”

Jesus stated in John 10:27; “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.” Because we are the Lord’s children we should be continually asking Him, “What are you saying to me?” We can go days, weeks and sometime years without knowing that God has been speaking to us. Many Christians don’t know how to listen for the voice of the Lord. When He speaks, we need to listen; but how do we listen/hear, especially in decision making?

I heard it put this way once. The voice of God is like a feather. His thoughts are different from ours. However, if we’re not paying attention we’ll miss what He has to say, it will float by without our notice. We need to reach up with open ears and pluck that feather from the air. It should be so precious that we care for it as if we’re caring for the world’s most prized treasure.

You say, “That’s fine and all, but you still have not answered the question.” Let me put it this way. When we spend time with someone we love and treasure, we know them and can pick their voice out of crowd. Because life is noisy and can be very distracting, we need to be spending as much time with God as we can. It is a relationship… God desires a relationship and communion with us, just as we need communion with each other. The more we know Him, the easier it will be to hear His voice when He speaks. It takes time, but with time, we learn who He is. This will keep us from asking the question; “Is that really you God?”

This will only happen if we allow the Holy Spirit to come and direct our lives – living, breathing in and through us. Remember, you don’t get to know God over night… but you can through time and commitment. So, when those big decisions arise in your life you’ll know what God is saying, because you’ll be able to hear His voice and pull it out of the crowd noise of life.

Writing for Him,

J. B. Sisam

The Snow Globe: Title Change!

Hey everyone,

I’m glad you are all still following my progress on “The Snow Globe” a novel to be released Christmas 2010. I have spoken with several people who have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this book. I’ve been praying over the past couple weeks, as I work on rewriting my manuscript, in preparation for publishing, I felt the Holy Spirit give me a name for the novel.

I had never been settled on in my spirit with the name… “The Snow Globe.” Therefore, I have changed the name of the novel to “Divine Providence,” as this better suits the vision and message of the story. My goal is to have a rewritten excerpt availible for  you to read within the next couple weeks, so stay tuned.

I also still need help in getting this novel published. If the Lord is leading you to help me in publishing this novel, please visit my donation page and donate towards the cause of getting the Gospel of Jesus out into the world.

You may have noticed the cover that has been designed in preperation to getting this novel published.

Writing for Him,

J. B. Sisam

NEW FLASH FICTION: The Command!

Check it out… a new flash fiction piece I wrote is now up for reading! The question I posed in writing this was… “What would it have been like for Joshua to ask God in how to cross the Jordan River. Now we may have a clear and fun picture to try and answer that question.

Don’t forget to read, “The Trees – Part 1″ if you missed that.

Blessings in Christ,

J. B. Sisam

– here’s an excerpt –

The day came all too soon. No one could have expected the outcome that took place, but yet here it was. The air crisp caused gooseflesh to ripple on the skin. Not one person moved, each soldier stayed in his line. If one man moved before the trumpet sounded, and before those who carried the Ark of God moved, it could spell disaster and the war would be over before it began.
The river raged violently in front of the vast army. Each wave crashed into the rocks causing a giant upheaval of water into the air. Could this really be the beginning of a new future for the people God had so miraculously chosen out of Egypt? Forty years was a long time to wait.
He waited silently. Not one man dared speak until he spoke the command to move forward.
The people stood, each man by his tent door as Joshua moved to the Tabernacle of Meeting. The same tent his mentor, spiritual father, Moses erected to seek God’s face in times of need. This was a time of need. He needed to know how to proceed.
“Cross the river.”
Was that God speaking?

Continue reading…

Hold Nothing Back

Psalm 32:1 – 2, 9 -11 (MSG)

How many times do we hold back in our spiritual life? Sometimes it is personal sin that holds us back; maybe it is a lack of faith that holds us back. But God says to ‘Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be, you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.’ There is nothing that we can do without the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us. He doesn’t want us to hold anything back. We are to move forward in faith, attaining the promises of God for our life.

“Count yourself lucky, God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.” What is it that we desire and do we desire to give God everything? Our desire should be to give into the Kingdom of God, holding nothing back. We are called to stay the course, keep the faith and remain faithful staying on track. “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to stay on track.”

Through our faithful sacrifice, we are to ‘celebrate God, sing together everyone. All you honest hearts, raise the roof’ stay the course, keeping the vision in holding nothing back for the Kingdom of God. In turn, God will not hold anything back from us, so long as we maintain faith.

Writing for Him,

J. B. Sisam

Finding Rest in Obedience

Hebrews 4:1-13 – Click to read

I was listening to a song by  “Evanescence” called, “Bring Me To Life.” The message of the song deals with our immortal soul that has died in its own desires. The chorus of the song cries out for Someone to bring me back to life. “Wake me up, wake me up inside, I can’t wake up, wake me up and save me…” The song ends with a cry, “I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside, so bring me to life!”

This is how many Christians and non-believers live their life. They go through life, living lies of who they are. For the Believer, we say that we follow God, and fear Him. However, we are living contrary to the very Word of God in which we follow. I’ve run into several people who say they cannot find rest and peace. I looked the name of the group “Evanescence” up in the dictionary; it says this, “soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing…”

In other words, everything is seen as temporary, even our very lives. Yet, is this how God has called us to live and think? I don’t believe so. He’s called us to be in constant pursuit of His holiness. He has called us to live lives of fearing Him. Not a fear of terror, but a fear that is of deep reverence and awe of who God is. The more we spend quality time with Him, the more we will enter His rest.

In the moment  we begin to slip in that quality time with God, we are convicted. We cannot enter His rest if we don’t spend time with God. And if we don’t know who He is, why would we listen and obey his voice? In the back of Hebrews in my Bible, it says this, “Faith believes what God says and acts in line with His Word. Faith allows the believer to enter the rest into which God has called all His people…. while faithfully obeying every instruction…. However, enter the rest promised by God. Mix faith with God’s word, do not allow rebellion to harden your heart.” (Taken from Spirit Filled Life Bible, NKJV © 1991 Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Jesus is to be the foundation in which we build our spiritual lives upon. We cannot just cry out for someone to bring us to life, we have to take a step of faith and enter God’s rest through obedience to His voice and Word. This means, we must have a passion to pursue Him lest we fall into disobedience, because that is where we will find our rest.

Writing for Him,

J. B. Sisam

I’ll Follow God if…

Gen. 28:20-21 (NLT) – Click to read passage.

Have you ever wondered where our Christian life is supposed to start, or begin? I have a very simple solution… at the beginning of our relationship with God. When we made the decision to become Christ followers, living lives of pursuit of God, that decision entered us into a relationship with Him. We quickly find that God has His very best in-mind for us. He wants us to succeed and be prosperous in our spiritual life.

I wrote on my Facebook wall the other day, “If we want to succeed in life, we must give up what is most important to in our life to God!” Many people live with the mindset that we’ll only follow God if… he does this, or does that, meets this need or that need. Jacob had the mindset, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me…, then the Lord shall be my God.’ What a weak-minded and selfish idea of our relationship with God. We’re not to be giving God stipulations in our relationship, we’re to live a life in service to Him; and in turn He blesses us.

Being in control is what we do best. We don’t like to give up what is important to us, but, if we want a successful life in Christ we must give our full life over to Him. Jacob wanted God to do something before he would consider Him as God of his life. God will meet our needs and the Bible makes it abundantly clear that God will meet our needs according to His riches in glory that we have in Christ Jesus. He will never let us down!

It is not easy for us to live our lives where we are not in control, because that’s what we do best. When we learn to give up and relinquish control of our lives, and that which is important to us, we will begin the process of becoming Christ-like in thought, deed and action. When we try and grasp the promises of God and allow Him to reveal Himself to us, we’ll have a much better understanding of who God is.

Take this to heart, allow God to reveal Himself to you, find out what it truly means to give up your life and desires to God. When you do that, the blessings of God will be poured out upon your life. You may not see them in the natural, but you’ll definitely see them in the spiritual.

Blessings in  Christ,

J. B. Sisam