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@jaredbowie-blog
This week, a tornado ravaged through part of my state that I am very familiar with: Moore, OK. The EF-5 rated twister flattened a 1-2 mile strip through the city.
I visited Moore 2 days ago.
I helped clean-up a graveyard so that they could begin funerals. I found everything ranging from...
NEW BLOG!
Hey everybody! It's been a blessing for you to read this blog. However, I'm transitioning to a new blog now and I'd love for you to join me over there!
In fact, come check out my new video blog post on wisdom over at http://ChriStudent.tumblr.com!
Blessed to spend time with you!
In Christ,
Jared
PRESENCE, Part 4: Your Call
Like I said yesterday, it’s often easy to get distracted with thinking that God wants us just to work, work, work.
In fact, Jesus visited the home of two sisters: Martha & Mary. Martha was an amazing servant. In fact, she started freaking out when Jesus walked through her door. This is the King of Kings and the LORD of Lords. She started working crazy-hard, making preparations for Jesus’ arrival. In fact, in my opinion (just being honest here), I truly think she could have won that new Ryan Seacrest-hosted show, “Best Host in the Middle-East During Jesus’ Times”.
But Mary, Martha’s sister, just sat there – at Jesus’ feet. Listening. Thinking, “wow…” Let’s see what Jesus’ thoughts were about what both women were doing:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
- Luke 10:38-42
Only one thing is needed.
Jesus. His Presence. He said Mary had chosen what was better in that moment – listening to Him at His feet.
Now, don’t get me wrong – Jesus didn’t say Mary should always just sit there and never get any work done. But it was the “better” thing in that moment; in the moment of Jesus talking, Mary knew it was better to be sitting & listening.
Yesterday I briefly mentioned the value of listening & working very intensely. What’s special is the wise combination of the two: resting in God’s Presence in those moments and then getting up and serving Him and others. In my opinion, you can’t have the fullness of one without the other.
So, today you have a choice: you can wake up, be still, “sit at the LORD’s feet", and seek God. Seek His Voice. And then you can seek to hear Him lovingly speak throughout the day as you go about doing what He’s called you to do. OR you can rush out of your house and dominate the day’s work, while neglecting to let God’s work take place inside of you.
Your call.
----- Extra Scripture: Be still Salvation?
Presence, Part 3: Shhhhh, listen!
Often in life we can get caught up in the thought that God just wants us to work, work, work, for Him. We start to think, “Now that I’m saved, I must continue to work as hard as I can to lead others to Christ!”
That’s actually not true. The key is not to work as hard as we can, nor is it to work as smart as we can (because we’re actually not that super smart with our simple earth-brains). The key isn’t to work as hard as we can, but to work as He wisely leads us to.
Sometimes that involves working very hard on certain projects, but sometimes it involves sitting still, shutting our mouths, and just enjoying the beauty of His Presence.
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
– Matthew 17:1-5NIV (link)
Q: I'm curious: Do you often find it hard to sit still before God?
------- Salvation?
PRESENCE, Part 2: Can't See Your Hands
Hey friends!
Check out Part 2 of the series PRESENCE. In today's video blog, we'll talk more about how the Israelites may have been a little distracted with work. Watch what God did to regain His People's attention so they could enjoy & experience His Presence.
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How would you say your relationship with God has been lately?
Do you find yourself getting easily distracted by life? If no, great! If so, what does 2 Chronicles 5:14 teach us about God's desire for us?
Are you going to take a step forward? This has to be an intentional decision you make. Are you going to intentionally set aside a time each day (maybe 5 minutes?) to pause in God's Presence, not working or thinking about things to do - but simply resting & enjoying His Presence?
--------- What is salvation and how do you get it?
PRESENCE, Part 1
What is the Presence of God?
It looks like, according to the Bible, that everyone that had experienced the Presence of God...saw that experience as highly valuable.
Obviously, I know.
But what about us? What do we need to do in the Presence of God? There's not a clear-cut formula or answer, but there is one recurring theme I see in Scripture: Be still. This week, we're going to take a walk down that avenue of what we should do in the Presence of God.
First, however, let's take a look at what some prominent people in the Bible said about His Presence:
"Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." - Psalm 51:11
"May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him." - Psalm 61:7
"Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God." - Deuteronomy 27:7
"...'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'" - Exodus 33:14
"Then Moses said to him, 'If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here...'" - Exodus 33:14
The Presence of God was extremely valuable to God himself, Moses, and King David, as we can see above.
King David's Psalm's show that he begged God to never cast him from His presence . David also wished that a certain king would be enthroned with God's presence, forever. He valued it.
Moses showed us that the presence of God is something that we can rejoice in! He also showed us that if God's presence would not go with him as he was moving, that he did not want to leave!
And God, in Exodus 33:14, showed us that He actually does send His presence with people and will give those people rest with it.
The Presence of God.
Do you want to experience the Presence of God? Well, it all starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ (check out more about that here!). With the foundation of Christ in your life, I want to do what I said at the beginning of this post: focus on the avenue of being still in God's presence.
And we're going to talk more about that tomorrow!
The Devil's Lies vs. God's Truth: Identity Theft, Part V (Final)
What God says about me, is my identity.
What God says about you, is true!
WORTH
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." - Psalm 139:13-16NIV
FEAR "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7NLT
BELIEF "He replied, '...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20NIV
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8*9
SELF "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17NIV
GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8NIV
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
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Thoughts?
---------- Salvation?
Satan Attacked Jesus, too (Jesus won): Identity Theft, Part IV
Don't forget to check out! Part I Part II Part III
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What lies has the devil spoken to you?
How does the phrase, "What God says about me, is my identity," change the way you're going to step into the future?
Come back tomorrow for Part V, when we'll talk about common lies & God's TRUTH!
----- Salvation?
The Devil's Lying Nature: Identity Theft, Part III
... [The Devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. - 1 Peter 5:8-9
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10
Thoughts? ------------------ Salvation?
The Leopard Kill: Identity Theft, Part II
If you missed Part I, "Do you know your name? I thought I did, too...", then check it out by clicking here!
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What are your first thoughts after watching this video?
What are some of the lies that the devil has tried to convince you to believe about yourself?
Do you realize the devil tried to do the same thing to Jesus? Come back tomorrow and continue with us for the rest of the series to find out more!
---------- How can you be saved? Not by your acts, but by the grace found in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins. Interested in learning more? Check out this blog post & then FB message me or click “Ask me” above, then write me, and I’d love to talk!
Identity Theft - Part I
Check it out! This week we are starting a series that I am SO passionate and excited about. It is called Identity Theft. Here is the first post (tomorrow we'll have a new post!):
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What are your first thoughts after watching this video?
How hard is it for you to stay strong in who God says you are, when all around there are people telling you what they think about you?
Get excited! This is going to be an exciting series for you! (so come back tomorrow!)
--------- How can you be saved? Not by your acts, but by the grace found in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins. Interested in learning more? Check out this blog post & then FB message me or click “Ask me” above, then write me, and I’d love to talk!
The Venom in our Veins
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How can you take the right & bold step of entering into a personal relationship with God? Not by your acts, but by the grace found in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins. Interested in learning more? Check out this blog post & then FB message me or click “Ask me” above, then write me, and I’d love to talk!
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What are your thoughts regarding this video?
Short Delay
Sorry, have to push it back a day! My new blog video will be released on Wednesday!
New video blog post coming Wednesday!
SWAG Decisions: The DECISION
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What’s something that you've idiotically done boldly?
What's something you've correctly done, but without passion & confidence?
How can you start preparing now to act boldly with the right decisions tomorrow?
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Check out Part 1: Intro Check out Part 2: Right Decisions Check out Part 3: Bold Decisions
————————— How can you take the right & bold step of entering into a personal relationship with God? Not by your acts, but by the grace found in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins. Interested in learning more? Check out this blog post & then FB message me or click “Ask me” above, then write me, and I’d love to talk!
SWAG Decisions: Bold
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What's a time when you knew the right thing to do, but didn't do it boldly?
What held you back from acting boldly? What does how you handled the situation show about your beliefs?
How can you start preparing now to act boldly with the right decisions tomorrow?
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Check out Part 1: Intro Check out Part 2: Right Decisions
------------------ How can you take the bold step of entering into a personal relationship with God? Not by your acts, but by the grace found in Jesus Christ, who payed the price for our sins. Interested in learning more? Check out this blog post & then FB message me or click “Ask me” above, then write me, and I’d love to talk!
SWAG Decisions: Right
