A Simple Servant: May 2009

A Quick note for Newcomers

Thanks so much for visiting this blog. I would really encourage you to go in the archives and read my first entry “About me – the Fuller Version.” I am an upfront person, so let me be abundantly clear: I am writing as a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, the second person of the trinity. Further, I believe that the Bible is God’s special, inspired revelation of Himself to us. I believe it is entirely true and completely perfect (2 Tim 3.16). That said, if you are not a Christian or do not believe in the total inspiration of the Bible, please feel free to comment and interact as much as possible. Also, feel free not to use abusive language or harass me or any that may read this blog. If you disagree, that is fine, but let’s all be civil. Abuse will not be tolerated! May the Lord help us to honor Him in all of our thoughts, speech, and actions!!!

Sincerely, the recovering Pharisee,

Aaron Hawk

BTW / FYI

Just fair warning about the way I write... Most of the time, when writing about something serious or meditative, I will write in one of two ways. One way, is to simply and explicitly state my thoughts as best I can, with all out in the open. The other is to use “stories” to “hide” what I’m saying, while “proclaiming” it to all at the same time. Thus, if a post appears to be a story, it probably contains a “hidden” meaning. Just a little teaser to spark the imagination, he he ;-)

Pictures

I’m a picture taking fool and often have my camera with me, though not always. I LOVE taking pictures, especially of God’s created beauty. However, I am no photographer, so please don’t expect professional results. As such, most of the pictures in this blog are ones that I have taken, though if I feel it will add to the point, I will use others.

I currently use a Sony DSC-H5 7.2 MP digital camera. It is a great point and shoot camera with tons of options and controls, but it is notably a step below SLR, which I do not feel skilled enough to use yet.

If you are interested, check out some of my pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/GodsservantJohn330/.

May 25, 2009

Like A Tree Planted By The Water

You know, living life in the Spirit is truly a perplexing thing. I wrote a “short devotion” not long ago that is ringing truer and truer to me lately. I am experiencing another revival in my life and it is very exciting, yet a little fearsome. I know my own wickedness and though this new life in Christ is wonderful, a part of me wonders how long it will be until I stray again, until I trade the treasures of heaven for the fleeting pleasures of this earth, the trinkets that hold no real value but are a mirage of a lie. That’s right, a mirage of a lie. They are not even the lie itself, because the subject of the lie does not exist. Satan loves to whisper in our ears telling us that fulfillment or contentment is found here or there, yet the father seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth. It’s not a matter of here or there, but a matter of Him. Right here, today; today while it is still called today do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. You do not have to seek God in one place or another, nor do you have to seek His promises in one place or another. No, you seek Him and all these things are added unto you. Nevertheless, the devil loves to whisper in our ears that if we look at that or seek after that, or do this in this manner, THEN we will have fulfillment. Yet, what is going on here is that we are grasping for straws, we are trying to take by force what Christ has promised us by Grace. By grasping, we are saying to God that He is not looking out for our good, or that He is not moving quickly enough, and ultimately that He is not good. Does not your heavenly father know that you need these things?! If you as for bread He will not give you a stone, therefore we should stop trying to turn stones into bread seeking to provide for ourselves by our own power, which is literally nothing. We cannot change one hair on our head, we cannot add one measure to our life, we are powerless and can do nothing… except ask and receive!!!

My friends, I have many more things to write, and yet I do not know where to begin or where to stop. My real purpose today is to ask for your prayer. I have had pseudo-revivals in the past where the Spirit wooed me and I followed for a short time, but quickly became distracted by the things of this world and the renewed life the Lord desired to bring to me shriveled and died among the thorns and rocks. I have also had genuine revival in the past, but over time, I forgot the Lord. I forgot the Lord when I sat in a house I didn’t build, ate food I didn’t plant, and drank my fill of the wine of this world. My friends, I want to be completely “sold out” to the Lord, I want to stand in His presence saying “here am I,” “use me Lord.” I don’t want to hold anything back or become complacent once again. I want to stand before Christ at the end of my life saying that I indeed fought the good fight and that I lost none of those who were put into my care. I want to stand firm, not wavering or turning to the right hand or to the left, with fire in my soul, united and in perfect unity with Christ as a wheel within a wheel.

As I lead my new family, I cannot lead if I am not following the Lord. I cannot seek to feed my wife Spiritual food, if I am anemic. How can a man feed a flock if he has no food and no strength to find it?! The job of every truly great leader is to guide those in his care through the treacherous perils of life. He does this by the light of the Word, by the power of Jesus Christ, lighting his paths and guiding him in all righteousness, so that he does not stumble or lead his people to death. The moment a leader loses the glory of the Lord, those following are in danger. This is a powerful meditation for the past, the present, and the future as the Lord has called me to be a shepherd. If I don’t know how to find water, I cannot water His sheep. If I do not know to eat, I cannot feed the sheep, nor can I have the strength to lead them to food. If I don’t stay on the alert, being ever vigilant and watchful, I am like a shepherd without his staff, helpless to defend the flock from ravenous wolves.

This is a constant struggle in my life (and in all of ours if we are honest) and I don’t want to lose the battle any more. My friends, I need your prayers! Below I will share just a few of the things that I jotted down as I was praying this afternoon. Please pray that Lord will protect me from the temptations of the evil one and that this work will not fall void, but will be the catalyst for the rest of my life. Today IS that day!

From the depths of my soul I cry out to you O Lord, let this be the moment that I forever resolve to walk in your Spirit and in you alone. Let me no longer walk in the paths of sin such as laziness, gluttony, and complacency. Search me and know my heart and reveal it unto me so that I may follow you with my whole heart and with all of my strength. Teach me your ways so that I may know what is right, be renewed in my mind and spirit, and follow you in your way. Give me genuine passion, remove the heart of stone and give me the heart of flesh so that your Spirit burns as a fire within me and I’m lead by you rather than by emotion and human determination. Help me no longer stumble about trying to walk as blind in my own power, but bring me to naught so that I may see you in truth.

I shared a note a while back called, “Lord Jesus” that is also quite appropriate and totally in line with my heart right now. I'm placing the link to that note and a picture of a powerful song below that.

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=2892830294

My blog:
http://a-hawk.blogspot.com/2007/07/lord-jesus.html

Prayer Wall

If you have a specific prayer request, please feel free to send it to my email (GodsservantJohn330 at gmail dot com). Just be sure to give me your name and a description of the request. I will do my best to pray for you. All requests will be considered confidential. However, if you would like your request placed on this wall so that others can pray for you too, please indicate that in your message and I will, at my discretion, place it here.

Prayer Requests:

Southern Seminary – For God’s hand to be upon us and for God’s Spirit to be within us

Some of My Favorite Scriptures

Some of my favorite scriptures… (by no means all, but who could possibly pick among them? ;)

(Ruth 2:8-9) 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. 9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw." (Ruth 2:22-23) 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field." 23 So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
(1 Kings 22:14) 14 But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak."
(Psalm 56:3) 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
(Psalm 119:11) 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
(Proverbs 18:14) 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? (I prefer the KJV on this one)
(Proverbs 1:7) 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Proverbs 2:2-5) 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.
(Proverbs 3:13-15) 13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. 14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.
(Proverbs 3:21b-23) Keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. 23 Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble.
(Proverbs 9:10) 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 11:2) 2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.
(Proverbs 15:33) 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.
(Proverbs 21:30) 30 There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the LORD.
(Proverbs 30:2-3) 2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man. 3 Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
(Hosea 10:12) 12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.
(John 3:30) 30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.
(1 Corinthians 10:12) 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
(1 Corinthians 10:31) 31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:18) 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(Colossians 2:6-7) 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
(1 Timothy 4:16) 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

My Favorite Quotes:

I understand that she will have past hurts and be in need of healing, but that is part of the beauty of how God has created us. As a man, I get to help her heal… I look forward to that!
95% of all statistics are made-up. / Really, I heard it was 98%.
You speak in hieroglyphics!!! - Candice Murphy (talking to me)
Somebody slap that boy with a tazer!!! -probably anyone and everyone that has been around me when I’m REALLY hyper and is not “with me” in hyper drive!
AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAA!!!!!!! - me, when I'm trying to make myself go to bed, but don't want to :)
“I’m a fermata, hold me” - unknown
Never enter a battle of wits with an unarmed man! - Meg Hughes
If it ever turns out that you do become a companion, I’m buying a potato and I’m going after somebody! – Ben Ferrar
Posh, name a shrub after me… something prickly and hard to irradiate - Master and Commander
"If you'll just follow me" / "To the ends of the earth" - 7 Brides
I’m just a poor tailor! / Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness! - Fiddler
I always wanted a son… But I wanted one a little younger than myself! - Fiddler
Oh dear, I cannot tease you about that. What a shame for I dearly love to laugh! – Pride and Prejudice
Sin is anything that contradicts the will of God
My heart’s desire is that coming out of this spiritual slumber, the war councils of hell will tremble in fear saying “I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve”
I find that I cannot lead a double life: thus when I am for Christ, I am totally and undividedly for Him. Unfortunately, the obverse is also true: when I am not, I am not!
In our addresses, let our conduct be sincere, and tempers undisguised; let us use no artifices to cover or conceal our natural frailties and imperfections; but be outwardly, what we really are within, and appear such as we design steadfastly to continue – Benjamin Franklin
Doctrine without devotion is dead - Dr Walter Johnson
The time for promises is dead, words are vain, action is truth!
Lord, make me humble, and when I am humble, don't let me know it - Unknown
Aim small, miss small (applied to spiritual warfare, this REALLY works) - The Patriot
There was once one who thought himself above me. And he was above me until he had that thought. – popular saying

A Simple Servant

A Quick note for Newcomers

About Me

BTW / FYI

Pictures

Endorsed / Other Blogs

My "Must Reads" (at least in my opinion)

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May 25, 2009

Like A Tree Planted By The Water

Prayer Wall

Ways you can pray for me:

Some of My Favorite Scriptures

My Favorite Quotes: