Still, having trouble with the "listening to the Spirit" stuff. .. :/ ... it drags me down badly when I feel like I'm wrestling through stuff with God's Spirit.
I recently basically got saved. ... I got up on April 21st, before heading to morning current events and ACE training, and I prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart. ... Long have I focused on God and on improving and growing.. and in sophomore year of Highschool I got saved or rededicated my life to God, at least I thought so. Still, it wasn't about Jesus and accepting His free gift, it was "God I want to live for you, I'm tired of living for me." .. So, he has indeed used me, and I have done much in His service it would seem, over the last 5 years. .. He has guided and provided for me as he does for His children. However, my esteem, value, and focus/attention to Christ Jesus and his role, which only He could fill, have been so.. so small.
For some time now I have recognized doubts of my salvation and faith, and I realized that the value I placed on Jesus as well as my perception of Him were frighteningly low.
I don't know what all of this necessarily says about my life up to this point. I know this though: God is who He says He is. Jesus Christ is the one and only mediator of the saving covenant that brings me into a relationship with God. I believe and have received Jesus Christ and His Spirit, so I am His and He is mine, and I will live for him and someday live with him in Heaven.
Feel free to ask questions. .. I hope I will have adequate and honest answers for you.
-Stephen
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Relationship
It is certainly comforting to be reminded that I am in a relationship with God. ... It's not just him cracking a whip and standing by ready to crack down on every move I make. ... He wants me to spend time with him, and he wants me to want to spend time with him.
Face2face: Researching the topic of face to face has proven to be a challenge. We spoke at a little school in Valparaiso, IN, Wednesday morning, and we tried to incorporate our summer theme (Face to face) and verse (Psalm 27:8). Studying and trying to think about what it means to seek the face of God is a challenge.
I hope to learn and grow a lot as I seek God and his face, his will and personality.
God is Who he says he is. He is God.
His Son is Christ Jesus, my Savior and best friend.
Face2face: Researching the topic of face to face has proven to be a challenge. We spoke at a little school in Valparaiso, IN, Wednesday morning, and we tried to incorporate our summer theme (Face to face) and verse (Psalm 27:8). Studying and trying to think about what it means to seek the face of God is a challenge.
I hope to learn and grow a lot as I seek God and his face, his will and personality.
God is Who he says he is. He is God.
His Son is Christ Jesus, my Savior and best friend.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Full Journal
The journal I received at the beginning of Outfitters is now full (give or take a few pages that are being reserved for special entries).
I'm glad it's full. It is fun to start in on a new journal and to look back at what I wrote in the now full one.
The very first page in it had notes from our first Apologetics class, with L. T. Jeyachandran. He taught about the importance of the Trinity of God. The fact that God is one God yet three persons is foundational for the rest of our faith. Relationship and holiness go hand in hand because of the relationship of the Three Persons of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God, and He is good.
He is King over everything.
-Stephen B. Mechling
I'm glad it's full. It is fun to start in on a new journal and to look back at what I wrote in the now full one.
The very first page in it had notes from our first Apologetics class, with L. T. Jeyachandran. He taught about the importance of the Trinity of God. The fact that God is one God yet three persons is foundational for the rest of our faith. Relationship and holiness go hand in hand because of the relationship of the Three Persons of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God, and He is good.
He is King over everything.
-Stephen B. Mechling
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thoughts and Lessons
Listening to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of our God. That is one thing I am working on and having difficulty with lately.
How do you listen to or listen for the Holy Spirit? My initial answer would be in quiet and stillness, meditating on God. Does that mean sitting in silence thinking about who God is? Or is that meditating/mulling over passages of scripture and focusing on them, thinking about what they mean, how they apply to me, and leaving room for God to point out in some thought or way how I can apply the truths of scripture to my life?
Lately I've spent not enough time in meditating on scripture while listening for thoughts or ideas or directions that the Spirit might be directing me toward.
I have been cautioned by two men, whom I consider wiser and much older than I, in regards to listening to feelings and acting on feelings that come into my mind/heart. Yet, just as they also advised, if God is saying to do something, I must do it. If it is indeed God urging me through a thought or a person or a circumstance or especially His word, I am obliged to do it.
So, in times of worship and prayer I have wrestled with God and in times where I have fought against His Spirit I have sunk lower in my spirit than I can ever remember. But when I follow and obey the direction in my heart, given by God, I stand tall and am emboldened.
God says not to quench the Holy Spirit. I do hope not to.
1 Timothy 5:2 [Treat]"Older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
God is always right. It goes without saying. So, it makes perfect sense, knowing that He loves us, wants what's best for us, and commands us to do things that are right (and in the end are for our best and His best anyway). It is fitting then, that "treating older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity" turns out to be the most amazing way to treat women.
Truth. Honesty. Impartial Judgment. I've long thought that this was an area I was perfectly fine in. False. I am often tempted to be what we would call a "people pleaser." I like to give people the answers they would like to hear and not make people uncomfortable or upset. ... This is fearing people more than God. God has been working me over with this one. It is sin. It is crippling. It is a deadly trap to fear man.
Jesus Christ. Center and focus. John 15:4 -"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
I'll try to share more soon. Thank you for taking time to read this.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God.
-Stephen Bradshaw Mechling
How do you listen to or listen for the Holy Spirit? My initial answer would be in quiet and stillness, meditating on God. Does that mean sitting in silence thinking about who God is? Or is that meditating/mulling over passages of scripture and focusing on them, thinking about what they mean, how they apply to me, and leaving room for God to point out in some thought or way how I can apply the truths of scripture to my life?
Lately I've spent not enough time in meditating on scripture while listening for thoughts or ideas or directions that the Spirit might be directing me toward.
I have been cautioned by two men, whom I consider wiser and much older than I, in regards to listening to feelings and acting on feelings that come into my mind/heart. Yet, just as they also advised, if God is saying to do something, I must do it. If it is indeed God urging me through a thought or a person or a circumstance or especially His word, I am obliged to do it.
So, in times of worship and prayer I have wrestled with God and in times where I have fought against His Spirit I have sunk lower in my spirit than I can ever remember. But when I follow and obey the direction in my heart, given by God, I stand tall and am emboldened.
God says not to quench the Holy Spirit. I do hope not to.
1 Timothy 5:2 [Treat]"Older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
God is always right. It goes without saying. So, it makes perfect sense, knowing that He loves us, wants what's best for us, and commands us to do things that are right (and in the end are for our best and His best anyway). It is fitting then, that "treating older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity" turns out to be the most amazing way to treat women.
Truth. Honesty. Impartial Judgment. I've long thought that this was an area I was perfectly fine in. False. I am often tempted to be what we would call a "people pleaser." I like to give people the answers they would like to hear and not make people uncomfortable or upset. ... This is fearing people more than God. God has been working me over with this one. It is sin. It is crippling. It is a deadly trap to fear man.
Jesus Christ. Center and focus. John 15:4 -"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
I'll try to share more soon. Thank you for taking time to read this.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God.
-Stephen Bradshaw Mechling
Monday, January 24, 2011
1 Corinthians 13
Love is patient.
Love does not envy.
Love is not proud.
Love always perseveres.
Love always protects.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil.
Love is not easily angered.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Love is kind.
Love always hopes.
Love does not boast.
Love is not rude.
Love always trusts.
Love never fails.
The ones in bold are the ones I think I struggle the most with.
It sure is hard to love. By the strength of the Holy Spirit though, I believe mankind can love.
Love: to me that looks like doing my part despite the effort it takes, putting effort and intention into my work, so that others don't have to pick up my slack. .. I don't mean that I would no longer need other people. .. just that if I'm truly serving others and giving myself sacrificially, others shouldn't have to pick up after me and do my work for me.
Also... killing my pride.. . that's love. Man, it's hard to give up pride.
Love does not envy.
Love is not proud.
Love always perseveres.
Love always protects.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil.
Love is not easily angered.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Love is kind.
Love always hopes.
Love does not boast.
Love is not rude.
Love always trusts.
Love never fails.
The ones in bold are the ones I think I struggle the most with.
It sure is hard to love. By the strength of the Holy Spirit though, I believe mankind can love.
Love: to me that looks like doing my part despite the effort it takes, putting effort and intention into my work, so that others don't have to pick up my slack. .. I don't mean that I would no longer need other people. .. just that if I'm truly serving others and giving myself sacrificially, others shouldn't have to pick up after me and do my work for me.
Also... killing my pride.. . that's love. Man, it's hard to give up pride.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Self - Discipline
My spiritual goal for this upcoming year is Self-Control/Self-Discipline.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."- 2 Timothy 1:7
My physical goal, scheduled to be reached by march, is to be able to do 100 pushups, a couple hundred crunches, and a 3 mile run in one day.
My mental/emotional goal is to be more confident [see 2 Tim. 1:7 again]. Taking on more leadership opportunities will probably be a big part in building toward that. Jesus made me. He made my physique, my strengths and weaknesses, my family, my upbringing, my personality, and He saved me. I want to be confident in Him and who He has formed me into.
My project, which will be primarily complete on January 29th, 2011, will be to help create a refreshing, encouraging, enjoyable evening for the volunteer workers at Community Baptist Church of Edwardsburg. It has been a lot of work so far, and much still needs to be done. Mindy, Carissa, and Elaine have helped me a lot already, and Hannah and a few others are planning to help cover for us at camp while we're gone that evening.
Coming up: Tomorrow evening, after "The Feast" Bible study, Nic, Eric, and us Outfitters are leaving for Program Advance. We return sometime, I believe late afternoon, the next day.
I'm thankful for the many great gifts I have received recently, ranging from the customized cooking apron that Carissa gave me to the work and parts that Dad provided for me in fixing my car up and loaning me the other car in the process.
God takes perfect care of His own. I could not be where I am or who I am without Him.
May God bless you and keep you in His word, growing your faith.
-Stephen
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."- 2 Timothy 1:7
My physical goal, scheduled to be reached by march, is to be able to do 100 pushups, a couple hundred crunches, and a 3 mile run in one day.
My mental/emotional goal is to be more confident [see 2 Tim. 1:7 again]. Taking on more leadership opportunities will probably be a big part in building toward that. Jesus made me. He made my physique, my strengths and weaknesses, my family, my upbringing, my personality, and He saved me. I want to be confident in Him and who He has formed me into.
My project, which will be primarily complete on January 29th, 2011, will be to help create a refreshing, encouraging, enjoyable evening for the volunteer workers at Community Baptist Church of Edwardsburg. It has been a lot of work so far, and much still needs to be done. Mindy, Carissa, and Elaine have helped me a lot already, and Hannah and a few others are planning to help cover for us at camp while we're gone that evening.
Coming up: Tomorrow evening, after "The Feast" Bible study, Nic, Eric, and us Outfitters are leaving for Program Advance. We return sometime, I believe late afternoon, the next day.
I'm thankful for the many great gifts I have received recently, ranging from the customized cooking apron that Carissa gave me to the work and parts that Dad provided for me in fixing my car up and loaning me the other car in the process.
God takes perfect care of His own. I could not be where I am or who I am without Him.
May God bless you and keep you in His word, growing your faith.
-Stephen
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Purity & Holiness (and other updates)
Bair Lake Bible Camp(BLBC) is hosting a Purity and Holiness retreat. I'm scheduled to be leading worship time as well as being a counselor/facilitator this weekend for one of the cabins of junior high boys. Thankfully, I will have another counselor with me who has been a part of P&H before.
This weekend will be quite an experience, I expect. God has used BLBC greatly in many people's lives. So, I am sure this weekend will be a blessing. I will be learning just as much as helping. I need to spend some time in prayer about this weekend and time reading the Bible. I a couple chapters from Ezra today, and tonight's class will conclude our study on forgiveness. Unfortunately, we have only had 3 weeks of class on the subject, but I still have our book of the month to read. It is entitled, not coincidentally, Total Forgiveness.
"One Thousand Thank You's" is another thing we've been assigned to. Our group has been challenged to each, individually, write down one thousand things we are thankful for. This is in light of coming close to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Currently I am feeling rather tired. Elaine and I did a bit of work outside today, since we were posted to work on maintenance. It was fun. I learned it can be very hard to stretch a cold cover over a boat and attempt to button it down. ... it's still not finished. We are trying to get everything "winterized" before the snow really hits. The boats and pontoons are up. Outdoor tables and chairs have been stacked or put away. Heaters and such are being fixed. We gathered and stored paint cans from the buildings that aren't going to be kept heated.
Living arrangements: I have almost entirely moved my possessions and everything from the "chalet," where I was living, up to the "tower," formerly referred to as the "studio." The girls used to live there, but they have moved across the driveway to what was once called "the bungalo." So, sticking with the theme, it is now the "palace," complete with a dungeon. ... I hope I don't get thrown in there... it's full of old toilets... . But yeah, I need to move my mattress and sheets and blankets up there ASAP, because who knows when the camp will need to house people in the chalet. .. and it's not very fun driving back there every night just to sleep there and feed Samuel L. Jackson, .. the goldfish.
So, :) that's the update for now. Hopefully, I will make time to post again after the P&H retreat. Thanks for reading.
-Stephen
This weekend will be quite an experience, I expect. God has used BLBC greatly in many people's lives. So, I am sure this weekend will be a blessing. I will be learning just as much as helping. I need to spend some time in prayer about this weekend and time reading the Bible. I a couple chapters from Ezra today, and tonight's class will conclude our study on forgiveness. Unfortunately, we have only had 3 weeks of class on the subject, but I still have our book of the month to read. It is entitled, not coincidentally, Total Forgiveness.
"One Thousand Thank You's" is another thing we've been assigned to. Our group has been challenged to each, individually, write down one thousand things we are thankful for. This is in light of coming close to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Currently I am feeling rather tired. Elaine and I did a bit of work outside today, since we were posted to work on maintenance. It was fun. I learned it can be very hard to stretch a cold cover over a boat and attempt to button it down. ... it's still not finished. We are trying to get everything "winterized" before the snow really hits. The boats and pontoons are up. Outdoor tables and chairs have been stacked or put away. Heaters and such are being fixed. We gathered and stored paint cans from the buildings that aren't going to be kept heated.
Living arrangements: I have almost entirely moved my possessions and everything from the "chalet," where I was living, up to the "tower," formerly referred to as the "studio." The girls used to live there, but they have moved across the driveway to what was once called "the bungalo." So, sticking with the theme, it is now the "palace," complete with a dungeon. ... I hope I don't get thrown in there... it's full of old toilets... . But yeah, I need to move my mattress and sheets and blankets up there ASAP, because who knows when the camp will need to house people in the chalet. .. and it's not very fun driving back there every night just to sleep there and feed Samuel L. Jackson, .. the goldfish.
So, :) that's the update for now. Hopefully, I will make time to post again after the P&H retreat. Thanks for reading.
-Stephen
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