The amazing thing about God is that he does not care what you have done. I wish that I could have that heart I want to see people the way that He see’s people. I am so tired of the usual thing I want to see God move through the America, a happening that has never happened before a real move of God where the people love and we don’t worry about what tomorrow brings. A group of people that are a new creation that people have never seen before, that work in the gifts of the spirit that God is so apparent in people’s lives people see something different about them. A group of people that have the same desire, to grow the kingdom of God and let God do the work. Make God the center of their lives in a total pursuit of holiness. Where miracles happen but people are not freaked out about it a place where people go and are loved no matter where they come from, and when they see things happen they will come to faith in Christ.
The most affective church will be the one that loves God and wants to see him and does something about it. People want to see God move but don’t do anything about it. How are we going to see God move if we just sit around and just pray five minutes a day and then call it good. If we think God is moving now, think about what he would do if we prayed and fasted! We say we are seeing God move but the churches are not growing and America is not changing for the better. If God was moving we would see America changing. People would not be they way they are, gay marriage would not even be an issue maybe a handshake would do for a deal and the divorce rate would go down?
I have always wondered why we call ourselves a Christian nation and nothing like this is happening. The problem in my opinion is the church of today it’s become a shallow place of hangout that just follows the pattern of the world. How is it that we follow the pattern of the world, shouldn’t we be leading the way? I mean he had the creator of the universe on our side. I find the problem is that we are to focused on getting people to come in and have a good experience at church, which is good but too much of a focus on it. I was having a conversation with a friend the other night and the question came to my mind. Why don’t we pray more? Why not have a prayer meeting three days a week just for God to happen. wouldn’t that be better than just sitting around thinking about what to do next to take your church to the “next level” of relevance? To get ahead of the times Is that what its about? Staying ahead of the times?
I love God and relevance is a good thing to have but what if when we were having a prayer meeting he revealed what to do next, How to get ahead of the world. What if he told you what the “next big thing” is? He knows right? I mean he has seen it happen and knows what will work right? I guess the point im trying to make is that God knows everything and the closer we are with him the more u hear his voice. How do you get close with God? Pray! “Dig in” to the word know the truth and pursue God.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
the experence
What is it about god that he would come down into a natural world and explode into a church building? God has always been real to me and I know that he can do all things, or do I? Today I realized that god is so much bigger then we are and that he really can do all things. God was more real to me then ever in march 27 2009.
Today in chapel as I sat there I was expecting another chapel just like we always have, the spirit comes and its awesome and then we go eat lunch….I was so tired of that all I wanted to do is seek after god with all of me but I couldn’t I felt hindered in some way. I have a problem with an emotional high then just forgetting about it and going on with my day like nothing really ever happen, so I hold back from going forward in most chapels but the one we had today was different. I had no idea what god was going to do
When Brother Baker the speaker for the day gave the alter call for healing and the power of the Holy Spirit, I didn’t go. The second alter call, I can’t even remember what it was for but I wanted to experience god in a new way I mean who doesn’t, right? So I went down and well I wasn’t really even at the altar, but who really cares god can do anything. As I stood there I felt it really pressed on my heart to go pray for a good friend of mine that I cared about a lot, but what god wanted me to pray for was not really something I wanted to do. You see the guy has never really been open to the whole “toungs thing” but god wanted me to pray that over him so that he might be baptized by the spirit. Being the stubborn fallen person I am I said no God I can’t.
As I looked at him I saw a professor praying with another student next to him and I told god how about you make the prof. skip him then I will go pray for him (as if he can only be prayed for once). As I stood there watching the prof prayed for him. I thought “oh well there you go I’m ok now” but god still gave me a burden to pray for the student. All the sudden I had a something come over me like I wanted to pray now but for the wrong reasons, because I wanted glory not because God, (messed up I know but that’s the flesh working against you) I told myself there is no way that I can go pray for him with a heart like this. And almost instantly I forgot about it and I felt an even bigger burden to pray. It was like someone lit my heart on fire it hurt. At this point I really had no choice but to go pray for him so I did. Did he get it? I don’t know really, I was just obedient. That was only the beginning though.
As I turned away after praying I could not stop shaking, I felt someone’s hands come over me and start to pray, I heard him speak life into me and a prayer of encouragement, telling me that god has a plan and the passion I have is true. I collapsed in his arms because I could not stand, I could never imagine stuff like this happening to me. I turned back around and fell to my knees and started balling. The presence of God was so thick. I had one other guy pray over me, about I don’t know how long it was but someone spoke to me a prophetic word over my life. Which kept me balling and on my knees for the rest of the service, and I had no idea why I was even crying……crazy ah!
I have never ever experienced anything like that in my life. I will be forever changed by this one moment in my life where god showed up in a totally new way. I cannot even explain the joy that I have in the lord. I know that god has called me here for a purpose. I will not run from that for anything God is keeping me here and I have no idea why.
I pray that people will know my passion that I have for Christ it is totally unexplainable, all I have to say is cry out to him put your trust in him, make him your everything because he is worthy. I pray that you would make him the center of your life; there is nothing better in my eyes then knowing that the god who created everything has a plan for my life and he wants to work it out, which is amazing to me. He is so much greater than anything and he has a specific plan for everyone’s life. I don’t know if you read this whole thing or not but if you didn’t I pray you read this, god is in love with you and he wants you to come to him, through Christ’s death and resurrection you can walk in his plan for you. I love everyone so much and I hope you are not annoyed by the long winded note, but what can you do?
Today in chapel as I sat there I was expecting another chapel just like we always have, the spirit comes and its awesome and then we go eat lunch….I was so tired of that all I wanted to do is seek after god with all of me but I couldn’t I felt hindered in some way. I have a problem with an emotional high then just forgetting about it and going on with my day like nothing really ever happen, so I hold back from going forward in most chapels but the one we had today was different. I had no idea what god was going to do
When Brother Baker the speaker for the day gave the alter call for healing and the power of the Holy Spirit, I didn’t go. The second alter call, I can’t even remember what it was for but I wanted to experience god in a new way I mean who doesn’t, right? So I went down and well I wasn’t really even at the altar, but who really cares god can do anything. As I stood there I felt it really pressed on my heart to go pray for a good friend of mine that I cared about a lot, but what god wanted me to pray for was not really something I wanted to do. You see the guy has never really been open to the whole “toungs thing” but god wanted me to pray that over him so that he might be baptized by the spirit. Being the stubborn fallen person I am I said no God I can’t.
As I looked at him I saw a professor praying with another student next to him and I told god how about you make the prof. skip him then I will go pray for him (as if he can only be prayed for once). As I stood there watching the prof prayed for him. I thought “oh well there you go I’m ok now” but god still gave me a burden to pray for the student. All the sudden I had a something come over me like I wanted to pray now but for the wrong reasons, because I wanted glory not because God, (messed up I know but that’s the flesh working against you) I told myself there is no way that I can go pray for him with a heart like this. And almost instantly I forgot about it and I felt an even bigger burden to pray. It was like someone lit my heart on fire it hurt. At this point I really had no choice but to go pray for him so I did. Did he get it? I don’t know really, I was just obedient. That was only the beginning though.
As I turned away after praying I could not stop shaking, I felt someone’s hands come over me and start to pray, I heard him speak life into me and a prayer of encouragement, telling me that god has a plan and the passion I have is true. I collapsed in his arms because I could not stand, I could never imagine stuff like this happening to me. I turned back around and fell to my knees and started balling. The presence of God was so thick. I had one other guy pray over me, about I don’t know how long it was but someone spoke to me a prophetic word over my life. Which kept me balling and on my knees for the rest of the service, and I had no idea why I was even crying……crazy ah!
I have never ever experienced anything like that in my life. I will be forever changed by this one moment in my life where god showed up in a totally new way. I cannot even explain the joy that I have in the lord. I know that god has called me here for a purpose. I will not run from that for anything God is keeping me here and I have no idea why.
I pray that people will know my passion that I have for Christ it is totally unexplainable, all I have to say is cry out to him put your trust in him, make him your everything because he is worthy. I pray that you would make him the center of your life; there is nothing better in my eyes then knowing that the god who created everything has a plan for my life and he wants to work it out, which is amazing to me. He is so much greater than anything and he has a specific plan for everyone’s life. I don’t know if you read this whole thing or not but if you didn’t I pray you read this, god is in love with you and he wants you to come to him, through Christ’s death and resurrection you can walk in his plan for you. I love everyone so much and I hope you are not annoyed by the long winded note, but what can you do?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
the night
hey everyone its me again, back with something amazing that happened to me the other night that you would not believe. this last Wednesday i went to this church called "central assembly" really big church and i really enjoyed the youth service they had it really reminded me of my church back home, i could just see the same type of kids and the core group of kids loved jesus so much and you could tell just by looking. One of the things that was a lot different about it was they have their own building it was so amazing. i would almost say that it was one of the most inviting places i have been in a long time, just how it was setup just looked inviting.
the thing that really shook was not until after the service when i was sitting in my room, doing a speech that i really had no idea how to do, i started to get really frustrated and thinking "oh man i cant do this and if i cant do this how am i even going to get through college" i have never really been an amazing student but i try my hardest i began to think i was not cut out for this school and god could not use me at all. as i sat at my laptop thinking these things i just put my head down and started to cry my eyes out. no matter what i did i could not get it out of my head. i tried to talk to a friend from back home and he really encouraged me and challenged me at the same time with scripture. it really helped but i still couldn't get over it i had no idea what to do i had never felt this way in my life. i started to compare myself to other people and how other people because im not gonna lie i really don't have a lot of talent in anything, which now im ok with but then it just killed me. i decited to go down to a friends room and talk to him about it and i could hardly talk with out breaking down i didnt understand why i felt this way and what was going on with me, i needed prayer
they prayed for me and it helped and i talked with those guys for a while then finally decited to go to bed. it was still really heavy on my heart and all i could do way pray to god and ask him to take it away
the next day i walked around like i just had a sibling die or something i couldnt help but feel really bummed. but that day at chapel we had one of the most awesone speekers his name was mark batterson and i just remember him talking about feeling like you cant measure up and all this other stuff and i knew it was strait from god. i went to the alter and cried some more. that was pretty much it then i went back to me room and sat there thinking about what was going on.
god was doing something in me i didnt understand. i prayed for him to show me what was going on and he gave me this verse
(Heb 13:6) So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
this verse made me realize that the lord is my only way i can do anything without him i am nothing but rags. i have always agnolged that yeah god will have his way and he can do anything but i never realized what taht really ment i had never had that revalation. rigth then i realized. he saved me, he brought me here, and he will get me through. its the only way
i beleve that god has a clling in my life. i haveno idea how im gonna get there of what he is going to use me for but i do know that without him i can do nothing.
the thing that really shook was not until after the service when i was sitting in my room, doing a speech that i really had no idea how to do, i started to get really frustrated and thinking "oh man i cant do this and if i cant do this how am i even going to get through college" i have never really been an amazing student but i try my hardest i began to think i was not cut out for this school and god could not use me at all. as i sat at my laptop thinking these things i just put my head down and started to cry my eyes out. no matter what i did i could not get it out of my head. i tried to talk to a friend from back home and he really encouraged me and challenged me at the same time with scripture. it really helped but i still couldn't get over it i had no idea what to do i had never felt this way in my life. i started to compare myself to other people and how other people because im not gonna lie i really don't have a lot of talent in anything, which now im ok with but then it just killed me. i decited to go down to a friends room and talk to him about it and i could hardly talk with out breaking down i didnt understand why i felt this way and what was going on with me, i needed prayer
they prayed for me and it helped and i talked with those guys for a while then finally decited to go to bed. it was still really heavy on my heart and all i could do way pray to god and ask him to take it away
the next day i walked around like i just had a sibling die or something i couldnt help but feel really bummed. but that day at chapel we had one of the most awesone speekers his name was mark batterson and i just remember him talking about feeling like you cant measure up and all this other stuff and i knew it was strait from god. i went to the alter and cried some more. that was pretty much it then i went back to me room and sat there thinking about what was going on.
god was doing something in me i didnt understand. i prayed for him to show me what was going on and he gave me this verse
(Heb 13:6) So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
this verse made me realize that the lord is my only way i can do anything without him i am nothing but rags. i have always agnolged that yeah god will have his way and he can do anything but i never realized what taht really ment i had never had that revalation. rigth then i realized. he saved me, he brought me here, and he will get me through. its the only way
i beleve that god has a clling in my life. i haveno idea how im gonna get there of what he is going to use me for but i do know that without him i can do nothing.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
my first week
hey everyone its me. i just wanted to let everyone know how i am doing in school since it is my first week and well i didn't really know what else to blog about because i just started this thing....
anyways i love it its so different from back home, because i am so a custom to being around people that are not saved... i know it sounds weird but its true.
i have never been around so many people that love Jesus and there not just "christian" they actually love the lord at least the people that i have met, i have herd there is people here that dont really follow jesus but whatever i have not met them yet.
the other day i went to a place called andy's and they have this ice cream stuff but its like custard ice cream? i dont know but its awesome and you just order outside and they make you sit in the freezing cold waiting for your ice cream. its cool though i liked it.
last night i went to the mall here and it was twice the size of washington square (which if your reading this and your not from oregon you dont know) its insane there was people everywhere, oh! and i saw dilards that place that pastor ryan worked in high school oh man it was cool, but the sushi was not to good which is to bad because i love sushi, all well.
pretty much my life down here concists of reading book about the new testament, public speaking, missions, and theology. i play super Nintendo from time to time and have been of facebook a little bit.
i am still kinda looking for a church to go to i have been to his one called James river assembly its insane there youth/children building(youth/children not children/youth just for you p ryan) is the size of life church. it is absolutely insane they have their own on ramp to the highway i have never seen anything like it, but i wanna check out the other 50 million churches in the area. alright maybe not 50 million but there it a lot.
all in all its a good time and im reallt excited to be here but miss everyone back home and i hope you are all having a blessed time let me know if you want my address i can give it to you just shoot me an email burris.anthony@gmail.com
later guys
anyways i love it its so different from back home, because i am so a custom to being around people that are not saved... i know it sounds weird but its true.
i have never been around so many people that love Jesus and there not just "christian" they actually love the lord at least the people that i have met, i have herd there is people here that dont really follow jesus but whatever i have not met them yet.
the other day i went to a place called andy's and they have this ice cream stuff but its like custard ice cream? i dont know but its awesome and you just order outside and they make you sit in the freezing cold waiting for your ice cream. its cool though i liked it.
last night i went to the mall here and it was twice the size of washington square (which if your reading this and your not from oregon you dont know) its insane there was people everywhere, oh! and i saw dilards that place that pastor ryan worked in high school oh man it was cool, but the sushi was not to good which is to bad because i love sushi, all well.
pretty much my life down here concists of reading book about the new testament, public speaking, missions, and theology. i play super Nintendo from time to time and have been of facebook a little bit.
i am still kinda looking for a church to go to i have been to his one called James river assembly its insane there youth/children building(youth/children not children/youth just for you p ryan) is the size of life church. it is absolutely insane they have their own on ramp to the highway i have never seen anything like it, but i wanna check out the other 50 million churches in the area. alright maybe not 50 million but there it a lot.
all in all its a good time and im reallt excited to be here but miss everyone back home and i hope you are all having a blessed time let me know if you want my address i can give it to you just shoot me an email burris.anthony@gmail.com
later guys
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