I want to be a bond-servant of Christ. I do not want my life to in any way be dear to myself. But I know this can't happen by any will power or even desire alone. Especially as selfish as I am. It will only happen by the spirit. So I ask you to pray for me. I want to be ravaged by Jesus. I want to be consumed by Him. I do not want my life to be dear in any way to me. I want to live loving Jesus, and then loving others. I want that to be the rest of my life. I want to love others more than I love myself.
I want to proclaim the Gospel no matter how offensive it is, and it is offensive. Jesus is not playing around. He has severity on who He wants to have severity, and mercy on who He wants to have mercy. He calls, or He hardens hearts. He is sovereign. He saves some, and He cuts others to pieces. That is hard. It is offensive. It is a solemn truth. And yet it is a humbling, praise giving truth that demands worship. He is Lord and Master of All. I do not want to shrink back from anything that is profitable. I never want to back down from the fullness of the Gospel. I want to tell others how wonderful and amazing he is. I want everyone to know Him, and his mercy. I want everyone to enter into His joy, and His sweet love.
I want to be able to leave this world able to say these words:
"You yourselves know from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Acts 20:18-24 NASB
"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God."
Acts 20:27 NASB
I want to be a bond-servant of Christ Jesus. Please, Father.
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Who?
- Kent
- Flower Mound, Texas, United States
Down The Rabbit Hole
Welcome
Jesus rescued me on September 19, 1995 in Kirbyville, Texas. Since that time, I have made idols in my life that I let take over my mind, passion, and heart. May it never be again! In March of 2006, Miranda Stephenson, a friend from Kirbyville I had not seen since we threw high school graduation caps in the air nearly ten years ago, called me. After catching up for a while, she asked me if I had a church home.
I cannot express how this floored me. For the past month, I had given up on life. Many times, I asked God to let me sleep forever. I was finished, devastated, tired, done, finished. The only prayer I had left was to ask for help. I pleaded with him to give me a church home. But I had no idea where to start. I felt hopeless.
Jesus, through Miranda, answered my prayer by asking a simple question, "Do you have a church home?" I said, "No." Miranda invited me to her church. She described it as, "A small place with a pastor who is passionate about the Lord, and truth. A place where people love the Lord, and love each other."
The moment I walked into the Village Church, in Highland Village, Texas, I felt like I was home. I cannot explain it. The Holy Spirit just spoke to me tenderly. He let me sink into his arms. He let me collapse into healing hands. What absolutely blew me away about the Village was not the pastor, not the music, but the people. They cared about each other. They hugged with an intensity that burst through. They listened to each other with a passion that compelled questions. They cared.
I drove away from my first night thanking God for his faithfulness, for hearing my cry, and for the obedience of his daughter Miranda. That night changed my life in a way that is second only to the night I was saved.
Since that time, I've had the honor and blessing of becoming a covenant member of the Village. My church is truly my family. God has blessed me with an intimate circle of friends, brothers and sisters in Christ that inspire, challenge, and encourage me every day. Leaders that leave me with stupid grins on my face because of their testimonies, honesty, and care.
I could write forever about what God has done in my life, and the beautiful people he lets me know. Some of their stories are links on the Shadow Forest.
But now I want to help others. He has done so much for me, but I want to move forward, and pour out all that he has given me into those who are hurting, lost, and mired in darkness as I was.
I hope and pray this blog will help do that in some way. Even if it is just a little.
Movies
- Braveheart
- City Of Angels
- Crash
- Dead Poets Society
- Finding Neverland
- Gladiator
- Good Will Hunting
- It's A Wonderful Life
- Lord Of The Rings
- Pride And Prejudice
- Rocky
- Star Wars Saga
Books
- A Sacred Journey
- A Severe Mercy
- Pilgrim At Tinker Creek
- Pride And Prejudice
- The Journey Of Desire
- When People Are Big And God Is Small
2 comments:
Those are some great verses to pray through Kent...I've been praying Phil 2:1-18 along the same lines...good thought. =)
You constantly inspire me Mr. Rabalais. I feel very blessed to know you and to be lead by you.
P.S. Tell Geoff he did a great job on Sunday.
P.P.S. Did you ever catch 'Magnolia'?
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