GOD IS A HIPSTER

Lets read...

Genesis 32:22-32New International Version (NIV)

Jacob(insert your name) Wrestles With God

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a]because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[b] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[c] and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 32:28 Israel probably means he struggles with God.
2. Genesis 32:30 Peniel means face of God

Take time to also watch Pastor Brad Powell speak on this verse CLICK HERE
#Northridgechurch, Plymouth Mi

 Though God could obviously defeat Jacob at any time, the extended battle was somehow important to Jacob's spiritual development.

God is HIP with our lives!

 He is always Happening In the Present! Even if we feel like we're in a wrestling match with Him. God uses all things to teach us and draw us closer to Him!

 That is so HIP! 

When at daybreak the "man" is ready to discontinue the wrestling match, he simply touches Jacob's hip and it is over.

 How often are we in the midst of a struggle and praying for God to end it, (with "one touch"), only to find that He allows the struggle to continue?

 If you've been in this kind of a battle, you know that it is in the trenches or standing up against your wall that the greatest growth occurs and the most fruit is borne.

I was thinking that was honestly very HIP of God! 
So I am going to call God a HIPSTER, if  I may. 

HIP= Adjective
Having or showing awareness or involvement in the newest developments! 
Aware or appreciative of something

God was aware of Jacobs whole life story and stirred up His HIP with just one touch to define his calling or his style! 


 This is why God allowed Jacob to wrestle all night and why He leaves us in our trials, often far beyond what we think we can tolerate. But in His mercy, he does eventually reach down, and with "one touch" end the struggle.

 The fact that we may bear a scar, as Jacob did in his resulting limp, serves to remind us of His rescue and provision.

When at last the wrestling has subsided, the "man" asks Jacob what his name is. Of course He knew what Jacob's name was, but Jacob needed to come to terms with what his name meant. 
When he states his name, which means "the grasper" or "the deceiver", he is admitting who he is.

 His name is then changed to Israel, which means "he struggles with God" or "God prevails".

 He has had a fundamental shift in his relationship with God and in his concept of himself. 

A fundamental shift, or possibly a style change! 
So HIP! 

He is ready to move into the Promised Land and into his role as the father of God's holy people.

Do you have dreams and goals you’re reaching for? 

How do you feel about your life?

 Are you happy?

Everyone faces problems in their life. We all have disappointments, shattered dreams, people who don’t like us, and people who even come against us. 

And the devil wants to use these things to discourage us and keep us from moving forward with our lives and the plans God has for us. 

He’s a dream thief, and if he can get you to focus on what’s wrong or what you don’t like about your life, he can defeat you.

How you think, the attitude you have, what you say and how you act determines whether you live in your problems or you move forward in the plans God has for you. Because our thoughts prepare us for action, we have to be determined to think like Jesus and agree with God’s truth. This my friend can be your wrestling match. I will be honest and say that I wrestle with God in certain areas but I know that He is HAPPENING IN THE PRESENT situation of every aspect of my life. The good and bad.

HE IS MY HIPSTER and is touching my style daily. 

Yes I feel He dislocates many things but it always works together for the good. He wrestles with my sin and teaches me to become stronger and wiser! 

Romans 8:28

I pray you continue to wrestle with God, listen closely because He will show you things during that tough wrestling match.
 Many times its hard stuff but this is how He blesses us! 

Jacob was blessed even though He forever walked away with a limp! 

What a HIP God! 

Blessings,

A TRUE TREASURE

I LOVE to go to my annual local flea market each spring!

 This morning as I took out my favorite antique crystal bowl that I FOUND at the market a few years back...
an excitement came over me for the upcoming spring event.
I love to go searching for all the hidden treasures!

ITS MY THING

It’s about finding pieces that tell a story!

 Flea markets are fun because they are the ultimate treasure hunt.
 Be open to the fact that you never know what you’ll find. The most beautiful, quirky, funny, scary pieces may not have any value to another yet scream "buy me to you"  whether it’s a wonderful old table that evokes your grandmother’s house, or it makes you smile because it’s your favorite color.
 For me, it’s about looking at a room and wanting to create a comfortable, cozy atmosphere that is stylish but works well for your family and makes you feel happy. Trust me I have interesting pieces.

   The searching for pieces at a flea market reminds me lately of the same search I have seeking God's word to find a promise that I treasure for my story.

Something I can cling to and cherish and make my own.

The DESIRE and hunt  to know God’s ways – which comes from a desire to know His word.

 God first reveals something in the promises of His word to us to allow it to stir our hunger for truth.

If we reach for it and dig like finding treasures  God draws us deeper into His truth.

The one who lifts up his or her voice for understanding is the person crying out in prayer to know God deeper. It’s not merely offering a passing prayer, but praying from the hunger of our hearts to know God deeper.

God stores up wisdom for you in your personal treasure box- the heart.

These TREASURES are buried deep in His word and deep within God’s presence.

 The one who searches and keeps on searching will find it.
This is the secret of intimacy with God. God hides it for the purpose of being found, but only by those who truly desire to know Him.

PROVERBS 2:4
And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure NIV

PSALM 119:11NKJ
 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against Yo

What promise are you holding onto like a  treasure today?

Blessings

CHANGE AHEAD

THE PERSON WITH A PLAN IS THE PERSON WITH POWER

God wants to speak many starting positions to us in 2015

 He has a plan all laid out in exact detail. However, many choose to create their own plans and destiny.

 I find it true that the more you step into Christ the more He takes away and starts over with NEW.

In my beginning walk with Christ I remember Him taking me out of my job that I went to college to become.
 I must confess, not ONCE in college did I ask God to help me in the plans HE had for me.
I was redirected in my early walk with Christ. I am ever grateful for His redirection. My college education was not a waste by no means, it has helped form everybit of who I am today.

When God really got a hold of me, my true priorities and true talents began to rise to the surface.
I would have never dreamed of becoming a public speaker and a writer. This dream is still in process today, He is growing and preparing me daily.

Today I read in Genesis 12:4: "So Abraham departed as the Lord spoke to Him." 

God had another plan for the countryman named Abraham, So Abraham began to trust God for the unknown future He was being called toward.

We need to prepare to meet our future.
When we prepare by paying attention to our relationship with  Christ and allowing Him to drive us toward a goal, a NEW starting position.
The first part of Moving toward a goal is to: DETERMINE WHAT THAT STARTING POSITION LOOKS LIKE.

God has given us all special goods and talents according to our ability and His purpose. He desires to lay opportunities in front of us to develop us into our prepared future.

Life sometimes is not fair, but our STARTING CONDITION is irrelevant to our STARTING POSITION. So if you feel very stuck at this point, DO NOT give up.
I have a great example for you...

I am a runner, however my starting condition may not add up to the other runners I know. Another runner may be fit and in shape with a great runners body. Does that mean I should not pursue the goal of becoming a long distance runner? We both have the same STARTING POSITIONS at each race.

How we train and pursue goals is what determines a runners ability to finish their race.

 I am not a fast runner with a lean and trim body but my condition and shape does not determine my starting position.

 The goals I set help me pursue the ability to complete my personal race and drives me to the Starting position.

God wants to speak little goals into your life this year.

Do not allow FEAR to rob you of your starting position.


If we bury our talent or Gods command to move in a NEW area we push Gods predetermined destiny away from our lives.

 If we do not start at the starting line this year we cannot run the race designed for us.

We need to show up at the STARTING LINE and push past our fears and shortcomings.

This is an example: Have you ever watched the down hill skiers or snowboarders on the X Games?  The hill for their starting position is steep and long, looking rather scary with no sight of the end. However, the individual SHOWED UP to his STARTING POSITION prepared to meet his future.

Do not procrastinate with your life friends, God has given you talents and  goods with an expected future in mind.
God expects us to use what we have been given. If you do not know what God has given to you, I urge you to ask Him to show you the abilities and your starting position. Step up to the plate and watch God work in your life. I tell my kids this on a daily basis.

Abraham went from being a ordinary countryman to becoming a great nation! God called Him to a NEW starting position in Genesis Chapter 12.

Do you already know your abilities/talents and remember the starting position in which God has called you to?

Have you failed to show up due to rebellion, fear, distrust or hurt?

Maybe you never considered asking God to be part of the plans for your life?


Ask God today to give you a push and jump start for 2015. God knows your hearts desire, if you feel bad that you have buried those talents or your relationship with God then I promise grace will dig them up.

 God will show up and help you start again.

My journal entry for today:

PLAN: I am looking for NEW starting positions that God may offer me this year to help me spring more into my already prepared future.
 I will specifically be working on more speaking events and asking God more more divine connections with my calling.

PRAISE: Thanking God that I heard His voice to move in NEW directions in the past.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, Thanks for your Grace. Please move me and any family member to a NEW starting position this year. Help me to stay committed to a relationship with you. I desire to see and hear like Abraham did. Thank you for giving personal blessings to those who follow. I want to follow harder in 2015.

I encourage you to journal to God in a personal book. This will help you see the shape of you personal starting positions

FAITH BUILDER

A FAITH BUILDER...

Consults the drawings and gets busy building.

Hope is the blueprint of the preferred VISION you have for your life in 2015.

Some of the impossible things we're believing God for will never happen if we just stand in the same place only hoping for change.

We need to RUN with that blueprint and PUSH through it.

Push through the marriage
Push through the finances
Push through the unfamiliar
Push through the fear

FAITH is full of action.

The Gap between the conception of completion will test your faith.

Let me share 2 ways to fill the GAPS this year

1. RECONCILE your dreams with Gods desires:

John 5:14-15 "This is the confidence we have approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us."
    
Ask according to His will. God wants our agenda to align with His agenda.

2. REMIND God of what He knows:
Go back to the Word of God, RECALL a promise and then a           pattern from your past.Take the promise and align it with your         present.This is how we change our patterns! 

KEY: Where are you going during the week or weekends to learn promises?

We need to activate or HOPE by RUNNING in faith rather then Just standing in HOPE! 

HOPE WANTS SOMETHING TO HAPPEN

FAITH CAUSES IT TO HAPPEN AND ACTS AS IF ITS ALREADY DONE

Blessings,