"God's not dead, He's surely alive,

living on the inside, roaring like a lion!"

it's never a mistake to do something God is calling you to. never. i was reminded of this a couple of times in the past two days, once by a roommate and the other through pretty typical circumstances.

..:: way 1
my roommate, chaz, is probably the most obedient dude i know. the LORD has taught chaz what it means to be both sensitive to His Spirit and to surrender everything chaz wants for kingdom work, for the LORD's work. case in point: chaz went to starbucks the other day and felt like God was asking him to just tell the dude across the room who was doctorin' up his coffee that "God really does love [that dude] and that the LORD sets us free. " so chaz did it. and nothing at all immediately happened. chaz was a little discouraged, but didn't doubt for a second that God was using that somehow. so when chaz felt God urging him to tell some random lady and her kid the same message 2 minutes later in that same starbucks, he did it. willingly and faithfully. and the same reaction occurred - nothing at all immediately happened. so chaz thinks the LORD was just testing chaz's faithfulness and is okay with it...he goes back to drinking down his coffee and just chillin' out. then another lady - whom chaz hadn't talked to at all during this whole time in starbucks - approaches chaz and says this, "God told me to come to starbucks today because i asked him to show me that He was still at work in athens; i heard everything you said to that man, then to that lady and her kid." God used chaz's obedience and faithfulness to encourage His body of believers, that woman in particular. boom-shocka-locka-boom! the LORD is good and we are so ridiculously blessed to be used by Him, to partner with Him in the amazing Truths and Realities that He's unveiling all around us. He's awesome.

..:: way 2
i didn't want to go to wesley tonight because i had a feeling God was gonna move like something fierce. and i needed to write some lesson plans for school tomorrow/had an assignment due at midnight (yes, the same midnight that is quickly approaching as i write..what can i say, i wanna get this stuff down while it's fresh).you know the next part of the story...i went to wesley anyway. because really if there's anything of true worth that i've learned the past few years it's that God is way bigger than any assignment or obligation. that doesn't give us license to use God as a scapegoat for not doing our work or for being irresponsible at all...just means that being with God, in His Presence is more valuable than anything else in the world. period. so how did he unveil the value of faithfulness here?? he shed some ridiculous light on a couple of truths that i needed to hear, and did it while giving me plenty of time to eat & finish my assignment on time. it doesn't matter what my circumstances are - hardship, struggle, & suffering or peace, pleasure, & rest - God is always worthy of my praise and He knows exactly what He's doing (romans 8.28).