Don't You Want More Out of Life?

No matter where you are in your spiritual walk, there is so much more to learn, to discover, and to experience concerning our Lord. God has so much more of His glory to reveal to you. He has so many more blessings in store for you. He has so much more of His ways for you to experience. We must beware of spiritual complacency.

One passage I find amazing is a prayer Moses prayed toward the end of his life. Do you remember when Moses asked God if he could go over Jordan and enter into the Promised Land? The Lord told Moses that his eyes would see the Promised Land, but Moses would not be permitted to enter that land. Remember that? Well, look at how Moses started that prayer. He said, “O Lord GOD, You have begun to show your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds?” (Deut. 3:24). You have begun?

What? Moses was used by God to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Moses was used by God to usher in the plagues and defeat the Egyptian gods. Moses was used by God to part the Red Sea, to cause water to flow from a rock, to defeat formidable foes like the Amorites, the Midianites, the Amalekites, etc. God placed Moses in the cleft of the rock and Moses was able to see a portion of God’s glory. Moses received the Ten Commandments from God (twice!) after days of fellowshipping with God. Yet, after all those experiences, Moses understood that he had only begun to see God’s greatness and His glory.

Precious friend, no matter how much you believe you know of God, no matter how much you have received and attained from Him, by Him, and through Him, you have only begun to see His glory. There is so much more in God! We spend a lot of time coming to God asking Him to bless us with things -- health, financial increase, safety, etc. Now don't misunderstand me. God wants you blessed, healthy and prosperous. It isn't that these requests are wrong; it is simply that they cannot be the paramount aspect of your relationship with God; they are just not enough. A true God-chaser, a true God-seeker will never be satisfied with receiving creature comforts and tangible items. Within the heart of a true God-seeker is an insatiable quest for more of God. Your heart's desire is to know Him; to dwell with Him; to experience depths and realms of His indescribable love, power and glory.

I encourage you to make it your heart’s cry to desire more of Jesus. Make knowing the Lord your life’s greatest goal. Desire to see and experience more of God’s wonders, His greatness, His mighty hand. Precious friend, the Lord wants you to know there is so much more. You have only begun to see God's greatness and His glory in your life. Do not believe for one nanosecond that what you have experienced to this point in your life is all that God has for you. Precious friend, there is so much more. You have only begun to experience what the Lord has for you. Continue in your quest. Pursue the Lord. Pant after His presence. You have only just begun.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.

If the Lord is leading you to share this blog with someone else, please click on the small envelope below and email this blog to that person.

http://www.jdsministries.org/

Follow Rev. Steele on Twitter

The Heroes Among Us

On June 10, 2009 we stood transfixed, frozen with disbelief, unable to wrap our minds around the depth of depravity, the viciousness, and the perversion, that apparently so consumed an octogenarian that he engaged in a diabolical mission, bent on destroying lives and shattering families. Why would anyone select the Holocaust Memorial Museum -- a place with such piercingly painful memories of man’s inhumanity toward man -- only to inflict more pain, death, and wickedness? How could anyone openly and brazenly brandish such a large firearm in broad daylight on a busy Washington street without being noticed, much less stopped?


Our attempt to try to process and make sense of it all ends in frustration: the demonic neither yields to nor respects the rational.


We thank God for the heroism of Stephen T. Johns, the security officer who selflessly placed himself in harm’s way. Johns’ heroic act in the line of duty foiled what apparently was the gunman’s deranged plot to kill many innocent individuals visiting the Holocaust Museum that day. In one day, worldwide, Johns’ name became synonymous with heroism. We thank God for Harry Weeks and Jason McCuiston, the two other museum security officers who returned fire and injured the assailant, putting a stop to his demonic rampage.


We also thank God for Jacqueline Carter, Johns’ mother. Her response to it all has been extraordinary -- an exemplar of Christ-likeness. In the midst of such heartrending depredation, and with the eyes of the world upon her, this elegant, beautiful, poised Christian has extended unimaginable grace, love, compassion, and forgiveness. She has told all who will listen that her God and her faith will get her through this. She has openly forgiven her son’s assailant, and has openly prayed that the assailant’s son would find it in his heart to forgive his father for his heinous act. This is not some resigned acceptance of the hands of fate. Neither has her response been some artificial gesture meant for public display. One thing we can all attest to is when pressed hard enough, what’s really in you will come out. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Carter, when pressed beyond measure, has exuded what is in her: the love of God.


You see, Carter has drawn upon the wells of salvation within her (Isaiah 12:3). She has drawn upon a reservoir of the Word of God that has been built up over decades of intimacy with the Lord. She has tapped into and received grace to help in time of need. She radiates with what Zechariah 12:10 calls the spirit of grace. It is a picture of triumph over tragedy. It is wondrous to behold.


I have known Jacqueline Carter for more than fifteen years. I have watched her sing praises to the Lord. I have watched her dance before the Lord. I have watched her delve into the Word of God. Her love of God is genuine. Her worship is authentic.


I tell you, it is one thing to preach Matthew 5:44 (“But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you;”) but it is another thing entirely to live it, especially where the rubber meets the road.


The Bible tells us in Philippians 3:17 “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.” Carter is a model of courageous faith in action. She, too, is our hero.


I encourage you to show your love toward this family by giving to one of the three funds that have been established:

• The U.S. Holocaust Museum Memorial -- Checks payable to USHMM Officer Johns Family Fund may be mailed to USHMM, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, Washington D.C. 20024. Contributions can also be made by calling 877-91USHMM (877-918-7466) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or going to the museum's Web site: http://www.ushmm.org/.
  






• Wackenhut, Stephen T. Johns' employer, asks that contributions be made by check or money order payable to Zakia Christina Johns in care of WSI Wachovia, 4440 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 33410.
  






• Checks payable to the American Jewish Committee, with "Holocaust Museum Memorial Fund" on the memo line, should be mailed to: American Jewish Committee Washington Chapter in care of Melanie Maron Pell, 1156 15th St. NW, Suite 1201, Washington D.C. 20005. Donations will also be accepted at the AJC Web site: http://www.ajc.org/c.org/.
  

Rev. Janice Davis Steele

http://www.jdsministries.org/

Follow Rev. Steele on Twitter!

Please comment below. Your opinion matters!