Living Life for Christ Alone

This morning in my time with the Lord, my eye caught a couple of verses that always touch me, I had underlined them, but I knew it was time to return to them again and take up meditating on them again... Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT) "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust in Him."  I had to look at it in KJV too: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust."   I knew it was for me this morning. God wanted to tell me something, so I went to writing in my notebook what He began to show me as I meditated on it:

A timid Christian stays in the shadows. He doesn't know the light, or understand it's beauty. After all, if he goes to it, what will happen? Will he be forced to do the worst possible thing? He's afraid, inching deeper into the shadows. What could possibly be in the light that he wants? The only thing to hope for there is discomfort.  Ah, but he doesn't know! When the light shines on something -brilliant sunshine- it makes it beautiful! It covers up dark shadows, making color appear more brilliant! There is nothing so beautiful as something that is being covered over by sunlight!

There is a mass genocide going on in Sudan, and we, as Christians, need to take action. The government is trying to eliminate these people, because they are Christians and non-Muslims, by means of starvation. They are bombing their crops, which is their only means of sustenance.  Please take the time to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maFbG3niMsI We MUST do something! Please check out their website: www.savethenuba.com and sign the petition.

It is impossible to see what is not shown to you... It is hard to want to live truth if you haven't seen it lived...  Its difficult to want what you don't see others craving... And there are too many people who aren't drawn to Christ because they don't see Him alive and real in the lives of Christians. They look, and the only reflection they see is a reflection of the inner soul of the one before them; a reflection of their dirty, sinful nature. But Christ has called us to much more than that! We are to reflect His character: we are to reflect His love, beauty, kindness, meekness, righteousness, etc.

Imagine a crowd of about 5,000 men, plus women and children milling around. You cannot see the edges of the crowd, and they are pressing in on you.  Then imagine with me the twelve disciples, looking at the sizable crowd, unsure of what to do with them. Lunch is approaching, and stomachs are feeling empty. Hunger is gnawing at them, and then it dawns on them: "we have nothing to feed them!"  A little boy walks up, appearing excited. "I have some food! Would you like to use it?" The disciple looks at it, at first impressed with the gift, and then realizing that it is not nearly enough.  "Lord, there is a boy here with five loaves and two fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then, Jesus tells the crowd to sit down, breaking a loaf in two as He gives thanks, and then giving it to the disciples to pass on to the crowds. Imagine the disciples' surprise as the five little loaves and two fish don't run out after the first couple of people! It is...