Posts tagged growth
Forgiven in the Tune of Coldplay
Feb 16th
(PHOTO from Shannon’s Rocket Photography)
I don’t listen to K-LOVE, but every time I pass by lately, they seem to be playing “Forgiven” by Sanctus Real…
The song, overall, is great. Although I think there was just a little too much influence from Coldplay. But that’s just my opinion. I’m a Coldplay fan, I’m just saying, come on Sanctus Real that sounds just like… But the lyrics are incredible. And I probably wouldn’t have stopped and listened if it weren’t for, dare I say, the influence of Coldplay.
I’m forgiven, nothing more and nothing less. There is not a more appropriate term to describe me than, forgiven. At one point in my life, I was less than forgiven and now I have freedom to serve a faithful God. But I can never be more than forgiven, so I need to stop trying.
It’s very easy to rely on the “forgiven” part, as opposed to relying on the one who did the forgiving. Instantly when we sin, we are so quick to say, God will forgive. Or even, God has forgiven. Maybe it’s just me that does this, but I see that when I focus on being forgiven, that I tend to justify myself and my actions. For instance, I’m giving Sanctus Real a hard time for creating a song that sounds a lot like Coldplay, and this is just my opinion. If I’m wrong, it’s ok, I’m forgiven.
But instead, I believe this forgiveness should cause a relentless “Thank You” and that should then be followed with sharing the capability of this amazing forgiveness with others.
Yes I’m forgiven, but I should never see forgiveness as a “Get out of jail for free” card.
I know I’ve been hard on you, but great song Sanctus Real!
OMNI
Jul 2nd
If I was a pastor I would do a series called “OMNI”. This series probably would have worked better during the height of the “all that and a bag of chips” era. Omni is just a fancy word for all. And since we all think we are all that and a bag of chips, if the year was currently something B.C. we would be building our own little idols. Maybe we already are with things like twitter.com/knutsoncody, codyknutson.com, and for those of you who are on the book of faces, facebook.com/allthatandabagofchips. As I think about sin, mine in particular, it always comes down to selfishness. Said bluntly, I desire to be like God. Meaning I want to do whatever in the hell or heaven that I want to. That’s how it started with Adam and Eve, right?
Week 1: Omniscience – actually knowing everything that can be known. God knows all. We have a fascination to know all. The biggest names in the internet game attempt to provide us with knowledge instantly. I learned of MJ’s death through Twitter and I imagine it was way before CNN could/would confirm the details. Of course there is nothing wrong with knowledge but I believe we focus too much on insignificant knowledge.
Week 2: Omnipotence – having unlimited power or authority. God has all power. Why do we try to rob him of this? It’s a bleak attempt at best, yet we continue to try. Of course we try to be all powerful. Tell me you never try to control everything. I mean everything. We even try with our wannabe omniscient powers to come up with answers for why things happen. The old cliché of letting go and letting God is a lot easier said than done.
Week 3: Omnipresence – the property of being present everywhere. God is like Santa Claus, he is everywhere at all times. I ain’t gonna lie, if I could jump into a Delorian and go back to 1985 I would. We’ll maybe not 1985 but I would love to be able to travel the world. This attribute of God alone, should help us realize that we ought to quit attempting to be all knowing and all powerful.
Excuses Created By Thoughts
Jun 3rd
If you know me, you know I’m a thinker. I think about things that I assume most people do not. Not that I believe that sets me above others or that I’m above average on the smart scale. I think because I am not a genius. If I knew a bunch of answers and how to solve difficult problems, I probably wouldn’t think as much. I would just make things happen.
Why am I about to turn 30 and just now lining myself up with God’s plan? I thought about it and answered my own thoughts today. The answer is as follows- I thought too much. These thoughts turned into questioning all my insecurities and allowed doubts to penetrate what God had already answered.
God has one purpose and one will for my life. God has one purpose and one will for YOUR life. Love the Lord your God will all your heart and all your mind. Serve Him by serving others. That’s absolutely it. Why do we over analyze this? Why do we try to add and take away from this? Every example we have in the Bible proves that we can’t control anything. These examples show that even the most taught and preached characters in the Bible didn’t know what God’s will was for their life. What these men and women did know was that putting God first created peace. This lifestyle doesn’t offer answers. This approach only gives hope. This makes one realize that the only one who actually controls anything is God. We are just along for the ride.
I am realizing that I have been thinking and asking for answers that only slow down my purpose. I was created to put God first and to do this I must put every other person first. Every other person. This can be done in middle America or it can be done in Burma.
God’s will. Think about God’s will. Don’t think about “God’s will for your life” or “God’s will belonging to someone else.” Just think about God’s will in light of the entire world and it’s entire existence. Ok have you done that? Now, try and be so clever as to attempt to even understand that. If you can do that, you need to write a book because you are about to be a millionaire.
I believe the church culture has done an injustice to its people. We have been taught to seek God’s will. God’s will is happening and has already happened. The only thing we can control is whether or not we put Him first.
So, my decision to leave the supposed “comforts” of America to serve in another country is comforting. Why? Because, for the rest of my life Iam going to attempt to not ask, “is this God’s will?” I know God’s will. God’s will is for me to put Him first. I am going to change my questions to, “Will this option allow me to continue to put Him first?” “Will this adventure take my relationship into uncharted territory with my creator?” “Will plan A allow me to increase the Kingdom more effectively than plan B?”
Yes we are out. We are moving. When? I don’t know. Sooner than later. The next step is getting to Jacksonville to meet with the board of 6:8 ministries. In the meantime we have to set a budget. Just off the top of my head I think we can survive off of no more than $3000 a month. I’m hoping we can live off of less. If you have any questions about this aspect, ask Stephanie.
My advice…not that it’s worth anything. I just don’t want you to waste part of your life like I feel I have. Quit searching for God’s “will.” You are only going to come up with excuses!
By the way, I was inspired by a book titled, Just Do Something. Read it.
Live Your Life
Mar 19th
It amazes me that when anyone hits rock bottom, only good is staring down to help pull them up. Even those far from the G word, realize good trumps evil. I ripped these lyrics off T.I.’s “Live Your Life.” I don’t know about you, but I can see the reflection of Christ’ light beneath the words. What I take from these words, is that I need to make One person famous and forget about absolutely everything else. Check out The Road to Redemption. Just as every follower has hit rock bottom, our debt to Christ for finding that beautiful knowledge, should be to repay Him by loving and serving others.
(T.I.):
Never mind what haters say, ignore them ’til they fade away.
Amazing they ungrateful after all the game I gave away.
Safe to say I paved the way, for you cats to get paid today.
You still be wasting days away now had I never saved the day.
Consider them my protégé, homage I think they should pay.
Instead of being gracious, they violate in a major way.
I never been a hater still I love them, in a crazy way.
Some say they so yay and no they couldn’t get work on Labor day.
It aint that they black or white, their hands a area the shade of grey.
I’m West side anyway, even if I left the day it stayed away.
Some move away to make a way not move away cause they afraid.
I’ll go back to the hood and all you ever did was take away.
I pray for patience but they make me want to melt they face away.
Like I once made them scream, now I could make them plead their case away.
Been thuggin’ all my life, can’t say I don’t deserve to take a break.
You’d rather see me catch a case, and watch my future fade away.
(T.I.):
I’m the opposite of moderate, immaculately polished with the spirit of a hustler and the swagger of a college kid.
Allergic to the counterfeit, impartial to the politics.
Articulate but still would grab a nigga by the collar quick.
Whoever havin problems, with they record sale just holla TIP.
If that don’t work and all else fails, then turn around and follow TIP.
I got love for the game but ay I’m not in love with all of it.
I do without the fame and the rappers nowadays are comedy.
The hootin’ and the hollerin’, back and forth with the arguing.
Where you from, who you know, what you make and what kind of car you in.
Seems as though you lost sight of what’s important with the positive.
And checks until your bank account, and you’re about poverted.
Your values is a disarrayed, prioritizing horribly.
Unhappy with the riches cause you miss-poor morally.
Ignoring all prior advice and fore warning.
And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden aren’t we?
Jump
Mar 16th
I have been nudged. Nudged to take my family and jump. I am scared. I am not emotional. But yesterday I was broken. I felt a huge shoving from God. It’s hard to explain through words what I feel deep in my gut, heart, and mind. Have you ever been in a church service and felt as if you are the only one in the audience. Well, I have felt this way for the last few months.
I know God wants not just me but my family as well, to be serving Him within the capacity of missions. I have ran from this guidance for a long long time. I have tried to hide behind other good works. I even started a pursuit at a masters degree in theology to buy more time. Nope, that didn’t help either. Yesterday, I drove to a remote area to try and hear God. Know what I felt Him trying to tell me? “I have nothing else to say until you go.” You see, I know what He wants from me. Heck, He has even given me a dream that excites me. And I still question.
Here is what I am afraid of. I am afraid that I am not good enough. Because I have ran for so long, why would He want to still use me? Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. I am afraid to ask for help as well.
And now, I have this incredible opportunity that has only risen due to God. This opportunity would allow us to minister to a local people and inspire others to do the same. And the people that are knee deep within the ministry are totally rad. I was really fearful that if I became a missionary, I would have to get a new wardrobe, part my hair, grow a mustache, burn my iPod, start collecting white button up shirts and ties. But the people of 6:8 are so genuine, funny, and normal. I could be myself. If you know me, you know that I ain’t changing my personality to please anyone.
So what does this mean? What am I trying to say? I am asking for prayer. I believe God has given us the opportunity to partner with 6:8 Ministries. You’re right, I could be wrong about this whole thing. After a conversation I had with the leadership of the ministry, I don’t think I will ever be 100% sure that this is part of God’s plan. I want this to happen. I believe it can happen. And for crying out loud, What is the worst that could happen!?
I am asking for prayer. If I could take it one step further, may I ask you to pray for my feet. I have heard his voice but I haven’t done anything yet. All I have done is recognized His call. I still have to jump.
