As Lambs Become Lions

The Chronicle of a Man's Heart for Jesus & the Fight to Stay Free

[awarriorsword]

Exploring faith in terms of a closed pool

[aslambsbecomelions]

A blog from a close friend and spiritual brother, awarriorsword:

When we begin to think about what it means to have faith, so many analogies come to mind, but I like to think of a pool - probably because swimming is a hobby of mine.  Picture in you mind a neighborhood pool in a nice suburban setting.  It is a warm summer morning and you can’t wait to get in the water, but there is one problem…the pool is closed.  But why?  There is no inclement weather, no contaminants in the pool; it’s just closed.

When I was a lifeguard in high school, I remember those warm summer mornings when kids would show up to the pool 15 minutes before the pool was supposed to be open.  I would be on the guard stand with a watch waiting to tell them they could get in.  Really I had no problem with them getting in early (I was already on the clock, I was prepared to save them if anything bad happened, etc.), but my boss was strict on open and closing times.  So anxiously, the kids would walk around the edge of the pool as if they would find a blind spot where I couldn’t see and just dip their toes in.  I remember their excitement, but most of all I remember their frustration.  I remember them being upset and wondering, if everything is fine and ready to go, why can’t I get in?

When it comes to the pool of our lives, Jesus wants to jump in, but sometimes the pool is closed.  We have no reason to shut off our lives to him, but we do, and anxiously he stands by the edge of the pool shaking with excitement to jump in and swim.  If we only knew that with Jesus in our pool, our lives would be so much more enjoyable - no more sitting bored on the guard stand baking in the sun, but instead we would be able to watch Jesus play in our lives and see all the things he can do.  We could watch him in amazement, but first we have to open the pool.  We have to let him into our lives, and I don’t mean that old prayer your preacher told you growing up, you know the one: “pray that God will enter your life and give it all to him!”  Those are great words of advice, but they fall on deaf ears when you have no concept of what joy is.  We can’t open the pool until we truly want to, and just like the kids at the pool - as much as they want to get in, they can’t open the pool, only you can.

So the challenge begins.  Start by pinpointing what it is in your life that is keeping the pool closed.  What wounds need to be washed and healed?  What inclement weather do you have circling over your pool?  What has scared you away from Jesus?  Once you begin to realize his love and excitement to be a part of your life, let him and watch what amazing things he can do!

OPEN YOUR POOL!

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[aslambsbecomelions]

Pour In, Pour Out

Personal worship, whether done in a community or alone in private, is the KEY to living in relationship with the Holy Spirit!

This past weekend, one of my best friends and spiritual mentors made a comment that has since continued to shake me. (I will get to his statement in a minute)

Have you ever thought about the role that your hands play throughout our spiritual journey? I know that I hadn't until this weekend. More than likely, no matter what denomination of church you attend, you use your hands spiritually at some point in a service. Think about when you clap during/after a worship song... or maybe when you hold hands in prayer... or even as a child folding your hands to pray before a meal. When I spend time in worship with my guitar, He uses my hands choose the notes and make the sound. And yet, I never considered before this weekend how powerful our hands really were as a tool for worshiping Jesus. 

I know this might sound silly at first but I'll go ahead and get to the point.

What are you pouring into your hands before you use them to pour out your heart to Jesus? 

When I think about a stereotypical man's hands I think strong and callus. Some may be more or less than others, but how does a man's hands get that way? From LIFE. From the constant use of tools or gripping onto anything, whether useful or worthless, that we attempt to use to find fulfillment in life. This same logic applies to our spiritual lives, our hands get the same way from our continual attempts to fulfill the natural desire inside of us that we can't avoid. A desire for a real relationship with Jesus!

Lately, my personal private worship has been overwhelmingly powerful and just tearing up the way that walk with Jesus everyday! This weekend William and I were talking about how it's just been so good to walk in his presence lately and how his goodness just keeps getting better and his presence deeper. Then William made this statement:

Dude, the reason that it just keeps getting better and better, is because you spend all week filling your hands with the tools or grace of the Spirit! So then, when you open your hands, all you have been storing up just comes flowing out of you in the form of worship! He's literally pouring into your hands and then you pour them out (back to him) and just ask for MORE!

This has been so powerful for me this week and has cause me to really think. What garbage am I allowing to come into my hands, the same hands that I lift to Jesus in worship, that is only making my hands weaker and yet more callus? How can I avoid it all together to make room for MORE of His Grace?! What would worship look like if our hands were only filled with the fruits of the Spirit?! 

We were made to worship with all that we have inside of us (his presence!) It's the KEY to the relationship that we all naturally desire from our Father! He made us with his hands!

Your STRONG hands formed me and established me; Give me understanding so I can learn Your commands. - Psalm 119:73

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. - Psalm 62:8

God says, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your young men will dream dreams. - Acts 2:17

I challenge you this week to give it all over to him. Lay everything you're holding onto at his feet and pray: "Jesus, I am standing here with empty hands! All I want is you! I hold onto nothing! I give it all to you God! Fill my hands with your Grace!"

As Lambs Become Lions

[aslambsbecomelions]

Just Ask!

  This past week and weekend was nothing short of epic in my Christian walk as a man! The Holy Spirit has been spending a lot of time with me and I was able to spend more time in The Word than I have in a long time. When I think about it, the reason for this is so simple… I asked for more!

Lately the common theme of my walk has been “What kind of environments am I creating for Jesus to show up in”? This idea of “welcoming Jesus into ALL of my environments” is something new I have been experimenting with. In Ephesians 3, Paul reminds us that we worship a:

20“God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us”.

Imagine how our lives could be changed if we formed environments that are intentionally given to Jesus and dedicated to calling on His presence! So far, it has been the little things that have mattered most. For example, every morning my roommate Kyle and I have the same routine. When we get up to get ready for the day, the FIRST thing we do is turn on my “HE is Love” worship Spotify playlist on my phone, crank it up, and set it on our bathroom sink. As we are passing in and out of the bathroom getting ready, we are refreshed and reminded to be thankful for another day to worship Jesus. We start our day by creating an environment that is centered around the idea “Jesus, thank you for this beautiful day, prepare my heart for the tasks in front of me, and show me what you have for me today”. Now I am not saying you have to necessarily have worship music playing to create an environment centered around Jesus. It’s about where your heart focused! What are you focused on when you wake up or in the middle of the day when you are having your energy slump or even at the end of the day when you are so stressed and tired? His Holy Spirit is everywhere! All you have to do is ask for him to show up. Even in the most places you wouldn’t initially think! Does Jesus really want to show up in the middle of my Board meeting…? YES! Psalms 139 says

7 ”I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!”

He can show up in your car, your closet, at your desk, and even in a meeting at work! 

12 “Even in darkness I cannot hide from you.”

Matthew 7:8 says:

8 ”All who ask receive. Those who seek, find what they seek. And he who knocks, will have the door opened.

 And in Matthew 21:22 Jesus says:

22 If you believe, whatever you ask for in prayer will be granted. 

This week, push yourself! Swim out into the deeper waters with Jesus. Ask for him to send the Holy Spirit’s presence in an environment that you have created just for you and Him to spend time together! I think you may be surprised where he shows up and lets you know he is there! 

As Lambs Become Lions.

P.S. Try this track from Melissa and Jonathan Helser!

“I’m really letting go… cause only you can fill me up!”

[aslambsbecomelions]

Jesus' Blindside

This past weekend was nothing short of amazing for me. It may not even be enough to say that it was the most impact-full weekend of my life. At the Toth Ministries Ranch in Hot Sulfur Springs, Colorado, I watched a total of 15 ATO brothers get baptized by our National CEO and Pastor/Pirate Matt Toth (myself included), watched/prayed as Cindy Toth, Matt's mom, was healed of cancer, AND experienced the Holy Spirit's presence like never before. As I am sitting here, I want to write something profound, but the honest truth is that... He did as he promises throughout the Word; He showed up! I guess it's similar to the burning bush concept I wrote about in one of my first entry's. We dropped every distraction and, as a group of 30 hungry men, turned our undivided attention to Him and prayed "Jesus... All we desire is your presence".

After digesting, I believe that I Jesus revealed 3 major points to me this past weekend up on the mountain.

1. It's OK to be a kid.

2. "I know, and this is only the beginning".

3. "Blindside" is my theme.

  1. Leading up to this retreat, I had been struggling with my Joy. Now I know that may be opposite of what some struggle with (pain, hurt, guilt, etc.) but for me, I have received SO much Joy from the Father that it can overwhelm others or come across as "annoying". I was at a LeaderShape conference the week before and I was actually told by two individuals that "it's impossible to live with the amount of Joy that you do! You are going to get hurt and normal people just don't smile at their problems like that. It doesn't work". Well the Lord was VERY clear this weekend in letting me know, "No, I've got this. The enemy is preparing against you, but your Joy will be the weapon you will use as a "Chief Chucker"." --->(dream I had one night while on the ranch... I'll explain later). I am filled with Joy because I know that the Lord resides within me and I will NOT allow other people or my current situation to dictate the use of my Joy. My Joy is His.

2. The encounter that I had this weekend with Jesus was like no other I've had before. I was walked through the encounter by Brad L. and my spirit followed through it all but instead of my body being of my current self, it was me as a very young boy. At the end, Jesus and I were at a party and he took my hand, walked me outside, and we began to dance hand in hand by ourselves. Then, as I opened my mouth to ask Him for just one word or direction, he stopped me and said "I know (in a huge smile)... this is only the beginning!" Even though this encounter was so simple, it means so much to me. I am comforted in the fact that the Lord encourages me to love with the intentionality of a young boy and I am prepared to "hold onto nothing" and give it all to Him. As it was time for me to leave my encounter with Jesus...instead of being upset that I was leaving him...He turned me around and, with his hands on my back, I skipped away.

3. "Blindsided". One the first full days at the Ranch, Matt Toth approached me and asked if I would be willing to lead a GFB (go for broke) group. Nervous, I knew this was something I had to do and that I had to place my confidence in Jesus leading, not me. This was probably the most epic part of the entire weekend! The Lord totally covered Evan, Jacob, and I's group at "The Bliss Shack". AJ, a Toth community member, told me that he often starts with identifying a theme for his story. This BLEW me away. It was an "ah ha" moment where I was like "of course!" Every story has a theme!" Why have I never attempted to focus on the theme of my life up until this point. It didn't take long for me to realize that the theme of my 21 years on Earth has been "blindsided". Any thing I have set into motion and purposefully planned for my life has either failed or not worked out nearly as I had planned. BUT anytime the Lord has shown up and just wrecked me or put me on an entirely separate path, everything works out perfect. ex. The situation with my dad while I was in high school, Kayla walking into my life, choosing the college I didn't really "want", joining a fraternity, being ask to play alongside influential spiritual leaders at a young age, Jesus coming into/redefining my fraternal experience, ending up at the Toth Ranch 3 years ago, having Levi, Jarrett, Mark, and Wheaties just wrecked with me last year, and now an entire chapter attending Encounter?!? In every situation I look back and go "What?! I just don't know how that happened". I am thankful that this is my theme and although I may not know what is coming around the bend, I am confident that the Lord is leading me/preparing me for my next blindside.

I began by titling this entry "Sick & Tired" because, honestly, that's how I felt at the beginning of this blog. But now instead of being sick and tired physically, I am sick and tired of the enemy and I know that he will stop at nothing to steal or turn the Joy I have found in Jesus against me. I am clothed in the favor of the Lord and worship is my weapon!

As Lambs Become Lions.

[aslambsbecomelions]

"I want to be all in, I want to be ALL in"

I found myself saying this line over and over again yesterday after I had finished an AMAZING book by John Eldredge entitled Beautiful Outlaw. This is a topic that the Lord has been throwing my way for some time and instead of truly listening to what He means by being "all in", I made excuses centered around "life": I am too busy. No one can live like that with real troubles. That's too irrational. I feel like I do a good job of being "all in".... most of the time. I'm a Christian. I love Jesus. Then I realized..... I had been saying these things as a way to convince myself that my relationship with Jesus was authentic instead of truly believing what I was saying! From this, I have come to a conclusion that could not be MORE true for me where I am at in life right now: If your christian walk is "comfortable", then you probably aren't doing something right.

Now I know that is a little rash and will probably make some people a little upset, but for me, it hits really home.

2 Corinthians 5

13. If we seem out of control or act like fanatics, it is for God. But if we act in a coherent and reasonable way, it is for you.

I have read/sang/experience on retreats, that verse before but, if I am honest with myself, it was nothing more than a "spiritual high" until about a year ago. Even though we sometimes try to make him one, Jesus is not an object. We can't put him in our pocket! He belongs inside of us, right in the middle of our belly. He should be in every decision we make, thought we think, and breath we breathe. Now I know I'm starting to sound all "preachy" and stuff but think of this logically. When was the last time we thought about Jesus when deciding what to order at a restaurant or when picking out our clothes in the morning. For me, Jesus was very very rare in these situations. WHY?! I found that I was leaving Jesus at prayer and church. Once I fully focused on what I was doing... I realized, I was the irrational one in the relationship, not Jesus.

I think the area of my life that "being all in" has affected most is my worship time. I was a big believer in "everyone worships differently", "singing isn't the only form of worship", "it's ok if were too uncomfortable to raise our hands". What I didn't realize was that all of these statements center around ME and what I wanted! Worship is supposed to be about Jesus! (I know some people may get a little mad here). I didn't write the book on worship, GOD DID! How selfish are we to think that the experience of worship is however we feel "comfortable" doing it. Jesus didn't say "aww it's ok if you feel a little shy, you don't have to raise your hands or sing if you don't want too...". He said...

Matthew 10

38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me on the narrow road, then you are not worthy of Me. 39 To find your life, you must lose your life—and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

  Throughout Psalms there are MANY verses depicting undignified worship like...

Psalm 63:3-4

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."

King David took this seriously dancing around half naked with all his might shouting praises to Jesus! Even when Michal was totally embarrassed by his behavior, David claimed "I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes." (2 Samuel 6:21-23). When was the last time you became undignified for Jesus? When was the last time you allowed the Holy Spirit to entirely take over you in worship to Jesus? 

 Give the playlist above a try. Find a quiet place, start the playlist at the top,turn on shuffle, and allow yourself BECOME UNDIGNIFIED!

  Trust me... His Joy and personality is overwhelming. 

  As Lambs Become Lions

  *you have to login to your Spotify account on your computer before being able to play the playlist. Once signed in, you can subscribe to the playlist to make it easier to find.

[aslambsbecomelions]

So this morning I woke up and I really was just not feeling it. I was feeling slow, tired, distant, and just really any word used to describe a tough morning. I turned on my music, as I do every morning and forced my way to the shower in an effort to just snap my way out of this tired slumber. As the music starting playing, I starting laughing. I couldn't believe that out of the 26 gigs of music on my phone, the first song my iPhone shuffled to was this EPIC. What was the song? The song that "woke" me up when I felt the lowest, like today was a day I felt like I couldn't help anyone..........

drum roll.........

The Rocky Theme Song!

I know, I know! Out of all of the songs out there, motivational and emotional, this was the song that "woke" me up and reminded me of my purpose? Yes! This song was exactly what I needed!

But it wasn't because of the upbeat tempo, the catchy trumpets in the beginning, or the awesome thought of Rocky practicing his punches as he runs up and down the steps of the capital... It was because I was reminded of why we are here. LOVE.

Philippians 2:3-4 

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

This morning was a "Rocky" morning (A term that I fully intend on coining and saving in my back pocket for mornings like this one). I believe that song was meant for me in that moment. Rocky reminded me that the purpose of life is LOVE and that even on our darkest of days, we must live with that purpose in mind. You never know who you will come into contact with or who will need your smile that day. We hold an incredible power as people to influence others. Both for the positive and negative. I began considering the significant people who impacted my life and made the man I am today. What if they had woken up the morning of the day that they touched my life in a big way and said "blah... I'm just going back to bed". Where would I be? What would I be doing? Would I be making an impact on the lives of these fraternity men across the country, or doing something else?

I firmly believe that it is the people in our lives that shape is into people we are destined to be. I think of people like Greg Singleton, Mark Campbell, Brianna Lombardozzi, Kelvin Rutledge, Wynn Smiley, Megan Mitchell, Amy Deaton, Richard Jackson, Dr. Boggs and many others who at one point, for some reason, believed in me and the person that I could become. Take a moment today to make your list. Who are those people who chose to rise above their bad morning, and because they did, changed your life forever? Then consider who's list you might be on. Decide now whether you will step into your purpose to love and instead of giving into the struggle, declare it a "Rocky" morning!

As Lambs Become Lions.

[aslambsbecomelions]

This weekend I am at a retreat with about 15 fraternity brothers from all across the country. We have come together for one purpose: to drown ourselves in the torrent of HIS pleasure. Matt, one of our leader's from Toth ministries this weekend, showed this clip tonight and it absolutely floored me! We are made to shine as children do! ugh! SO GOOD! 

Daniel 12:3 - Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Isaiah 60:1 - Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

[aslambsbecomelions]

For the past two years especially, as my college experience is winding down, I have been struggling with the concept of "Who am I"? Not like my name and stuff I do but deep down "Who am I"? While on a retreat with Toth Ministries, Matt Toth showed me this exercise that has been a great tool in my fight to stay free. Over the past two years this statement has changed greatly and most recently God has called me "The Fall Tree" (I will explain later!). I invite you to pray about who you are to be. Who are you at your inner most core? What is your heart's passion? Will you be that person?

[aslambsbecomelions]

Holy Ground

So last week I am driving down this highway out in the country near my home in Tennessee. And I am listening to this radio talk show that is analyzing the recent election drawing conclusions about how the losing party will react. At one point, one of the hosts made a comment along the lines of "I feel like something serious is coming, something like a revolution." They continue their conversation and as they go to close the show the same host says that he feels that now, more than ever, there seems to be something missing within the hearts of Americans. This statement hit me like a bag of bricks. Missing? Something deep in the heart of Americans? What could that be....

I found myself days later reading out of the book of Exodus specifically chapter 3. I believe this is a story that almost all are familiar with in which God speaks to Moses through the form of a burning bush and "chooses" him to lead the Israelites out of oppression. As I read these words, which was a random read that day I might add, something struck me. GOD IS USING A BUSH THAT IS ON FIRE TO TALK TO MOSES. Wow! Is that not insane? I mean, talk about an attention getter! 

This led to more thoughts. Why a bush? Why Moses? He tended to sheep/lambs for 40 years. Why now after 400 years of silence from God? And then it hit me. I flipped rapidly through the pages of my bible to Acts chapter 7 where the story is retold by Stephen and found the answer I was looking for. 

Act 7: 30-33 30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

Could it be that we are all Moses's walking around this Earth tending to its lambs as they feed off the fruit of the ground? Could it be that unlike Moses, we have become content? We have fallen into an even longer period of "silence" from God and that we now accept it? Could it be that every single day we walk on "holy ground" passing burning bush after burning bush after burning bush choosing to keep our eyes closed? Ephesians 1:18 says "pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."  When was the last time you prayed for open eyes? Do we as humans even truly want "opened eyes" or have we become afraid of opening them? 

The fact is that You are Holy Ground. Ephesians 3:20 states that we come from the dust and to the dust we shall return. We are his creation, from the ground, the holy ground which Moses, Jesus, and every single creation has walked. We hold the power to have an incredible personal relationship with the Father and he is calling us! He has been calling us, ROARING like a LION more than ever, to open our eyes! To lead his people out of oppression! To be the Moses of our time and respond to the hundreds and thousands of burning bushes across the world...... to fill that hole in every American's heart. We hold the key to do as Moses and "draw near" to our Father and that key is FAITH. Will you be the Holy Ground that he has made you to be and will you choose to hold true to the faith in your heart? As the lambs, become lions......

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.