Being actively patient

Psalm 37:7- "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him"

Patience seems to be an overlying theme throughout the bible. We are told to be patient through tribulation in Romans 12, Patience is listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and we are taught to act with patience in Ephesians 4. It's vital, however, that we don't get patience confused with being stagnant. We must be patient as our Lord is patient. God patiently waits for us to fall in love with him, to appreciate him, to yearn for him, and yet he is always active. Despite God's ability to do as he chooses, he chooses not to make us obey and love him. Instead God prods us to love and obey, as he reaches out to aid us. Having an appreciation for God's timing requires humility, patience and wisdom. We must be humble enough to allow God to direct our path outside our personal desires, patient in understanding God knows best, and wise in acting as a legitimate servant of the body of Christ as we wait for God to perfect us in his timing through Christ. Love is patient...

Proverbs 19:11- "A man's wisdom gives him patience."

Search me, O God, and know my heart

I write weekly bulletin articles for the church in Laurel, Montana. I've decided to post them on this page for everyone to see and give feedback...

"The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you." -1 Chronicles 28:9

When I was 5 I had a hiding place in our house that I was convinced no one could find me in, not even God. Little did I know. Looking back on those specific thoughts from that time in my life, I feel foolish. But how often is it that I act like God cannot see what I'm doing, hear what I'm saying, or know what I'm thinking? Years after my naive 5 year old thought process, I still find myself acting as if God doesn't understand my every motive, as if he doesn't search my heart. Psalm 139:2 gives us a clear picture of God's knowledge of us, "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." Let us understand how intimately God knows us and how much more he wants to be a part of our lives. If we seek him, he will be found. 

You might wonder, "if God knows me that well, why do I need to pray? Why would I need to praise him or tell him I love him?" Why do you desire to be told that you're loved? Why do you desire attention or praise? We were created in God's image. In the same way we desire things temporarily, God desires us eternally. Our body isn't satisfied with knowing our favorite foods taste good; it's satisfied when we taste them. In the same way we are called to, "taste and see that the Lord is good", and we don't experience that goodness until we act. Let me encourage you to seek God's face with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. He promises to not disappoint.

God's work through me

I have started this blog as a way to communicate to friends and my family in Christ about what God is doing through my ministry. August 17 I will be heading back to Montana from Montgomery, Alabama, where I've been living this summer. The Laurel Church of Christ has allowed me the opportunity to preach for a few weeks before I begin the journey of traveling to Managua, Nicaragua to pursue a ministry that has presented itself in God's perfect timing. I hope to see many of my friends and family in Montana while I'm back from the 20th of August until mid-september, and to be able to encourage them any way I can in their relationship with the Lord. God has blessed me with many friends here in Montgomery and I plan to stay in touch the best I can as I follow the Lord's direction in my life.

In regards to Nicaragua, I will be moving there around September 20 and living with a friend and brother in Christ, Pablo Altimarano. Pablo is a translator, so my lack of Spanish knowledge shouldn't hinder me too much as we get started spreading the gospel and helping people in need. Upon my arrival to Managua, I will be enrolled in a two week Spanish class to refresh my mind of the language and help get things started smoothly. I'm praying and will continue to pray about how long God has planned for me to stay in Nicaragua. I would guess that I will be there anywhere from a few months to a year or two.

45% of the country lives off of $1 or less per day, as Nicaragua struggles greatly with poverty. My goal as a Christian is to provide as many people as I can with both physical and spiritual support. This is obviously not a task I'm capable of doing on my own. God has blessed me throughout my life and I'm confident he will continue to in various ways as we begin spreading his love among the nations. I would ask that you all pray for this ministry, for God's will to be done and for his kingdom to grow. There is an endless need financially if God puts it on your heart to help support in this ministry. I will hopefully have a paypal link up on the blog shortly as an easy way to donate. This way, as I post about different ministries that develop during my time in Nicaragua, you will be able to specify which area of need you would like to help support.

Please feel free to email me any personal thoughts or questions you have at ike2307@hotmail.com. God bless and have a great day!