Crossroad

What do you do when you feel like you are at a crossroad?

Life is full of adventures and especially life with God is never predictable. The fact of the matter is that when God has the wheel and driving our life, we go where he wants and not necessarily where we want to go. The biggest enemy in the process is SELF. That is why Jesus told these words to his followers in Luke 9:23; "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up His cross DAILY and follow me.".

I am learning in my life that hearing God's voice and knowing his will is never the end point. However, obeying his instructions and doing them is what the Lord expects of us. Obedience is doing the will of God with or without the flesh's consent. Most of the time, SELF says NO and the SPIRIT says YES. How do we win the battle?

Paul in 1 Cor 9:27 talks about buffeting his body; "I beat/buffet my body and make it my slave/servant".  Self denial comes in process and the Holy Spirit plays a huge role in it. God pours his grace upon his people to teach them how to deny self. If we pay attention closely, every day is an opportunity to buffet our body and continue living under God's will. Painful? YES!

So, are you at a crossroad? Here is my take: Pray and continue praying until you know His will. By the way, prayer is where self dies most. When we pray and ask God to show us His will, that by itself is an act of surrender and self denial. Quiet your soul and mind. Waiting in prayer and worship is instrumental in quieting the many voices that try to catch our attention. Through waiting, his quiet voice becomes prominent and takes over our heart. Now that we know His will, Obedience is the next step. Following Christ is never promised to be an easy thing. Sometimes we have to make tough choices but He is faithful!

“If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.” Job 36:11

Change - Progressive - Not free

Fundamental things that change your life dramatically:

1. Read/Study your Bible regularly
2. Pray to God continuously
3. Follow Christ wholeheartedly
4. Adore your spouse and children lovingly
5. Love on your friends genuinely
6. Give to the needy generously
7. Do your work diligently
8. Expand your knowledge exhaustively
9. Use your God given gift/talent passionately
10. Talk truthfully
11. Think cleanly

May the Lord help us all live a meaningful life this New Year, 2011!

Highlights of the last decade

It has been 10 years since I came to the U.S. Highlights of each year follows in a nutshell:
2000 - Moved from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Hesston, KS for college education. Excited about the new experience and learned a lot about America in one year
2001 - Life became a little challenging. Was working three part time jobs. Asked God to lift off this burden & specifically asked him for a full scholarship which he did.
2002 - Moved to Goshen, IN. Gave most of my time to ministry at Goshen College. Rewarding experience! A lot of spiritual warfare and victory.
2003 - Graduated from Goshen College and started working a temporary full-time job at the Elkhart Clinic. My first test of full-time job, great experience!
2004 - I saw God working in my life so much. He gave me a vision and the strength to serve him in the midwest region with a group of brothers and sisters
2005 - Started my graduate studies at Indiana University. God opened many doors for ministry. Travelled a lot! Amazing year!
2006 - Got married to my wonderful wife, Melat
2007 - Graduated from IUSB, started looking for jobs. Focused more on my pregnant wife. Learned cooking variety of dishes, wify hated the kitchen:)
2008 - God blessed us with a wonderful son, Lewy, and also a full-time job, life started to change dramatically
2009 - Life was very tough with lots of changes in our life. I started to ask lots of questions, really challenged!
2010 - God blessed us with a second son, Lukas. So grateful! Amazing year for me because my eyes/heart got stuck on the King instead of the temporary things of the world. Learned a lot about life. His word really became my guidance and source of life! I found lots of answers from the Bible.
2011 - Kicked off the new decade by faith and not by sight!!
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalms 23:6