The Introverted Evangelist

Live Wisely Live Fearlessly : " Pray that I will proclaim this message clearly and fearlessly as I should. Be wise when you engage with those outside the faith community; make the most of every moment and every encounter. " ( Colossians 4:4-5) Set sail ! Let the refreshing breeze of God's love whisk away every trace of fear. Surrender your ship, and allow your vessel to be wholly His. Let Him splash His grace-rich glory all over you.  Don't drop an anxious anchor and stand still , too afraid to live courageously.  You're not ruled by those fears any longer ! His love has cleared away those tyrannical forces and given you a new name -  called ,  free ,  chosen ,  healed ,  strong , and  cherished . So what are we so scared of?  What can anything in this life take away from us ? Hasn't He promised? Won't He stay true to His Word? Everything we'll ever need and all the dreams planted deep inside our hearts?  Secured . All is safe in the han...

Surrender the Adventure: The week looms mysteriously before me. Adventure awaits, and fear takes his place. The thief wants desperately to take the joy of what's ahead, but God, I know You're there. You're in my future, my past, my here and now. There's nothing I can't do when I go with You. There's not one fear too big that Your love and gracious mercy can't sweep away. So as the week comes, let Your love lead. As my future unfolds, let me live it boldly with fearless faith in Your goodness. Let the winds blow through my hair, the water rush over my toes, and the light glimmer on my face. I know Your Presence is shining upon me. I know You're here with me now, and You're not leaving. So let the week and all its uncharted adventure arrive, for I know You're my strong and generous Guide. I know I will more than survive. I will live and I will thrive. I glow with Your glory and Your grace, for this heart and this soul always seek Your face. I'm...

#JoyfulJune : Goodbye May, hello June! What a marvellous month you've been, but I'm ready for the new to begin. May has been a month best described as the first few miles of a marathon. Starting a new adventure. It's scary at first, but the key is to make sure you don't deviate your focus. Christ within, Heaven ahead, there joy abounds. May was the start of a brand new life for me. The entire month resonated with the sound of chains *smack* crashing down to the ground. Oh what a beautiful sound... He cut those chains off me, and now I'm free. I'm free from everything that once paralyzed me with fear, and it's all because my gracious Saviour heard my cry. He came and He rescued me. When my life had hit a DEAD END, God had a better plan. His BEST plan.  --> Redemption. Renewal. Restoration. <--  There's nothing He can't do. This new life exists to exalt Him. This healed heart beats to bring Him honour. These whole lungs breath to shout His praise...

Losing a Best Friend : " Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. " (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Two years ago this day, I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends. May 31, 2013 Heaven gained the most loyal, loving, and gentle canine. I grew up with Guinness, and didn't know what life would be like without my soft, cuddly best friend. Prayer and puppy loving could fix even the toughest of days. Guinness was an angel of a dog, sent straight from God's heart. Everyone who ever met him will agree, he is unforgettable. Guinness will be in our hearts forever. I'm eternally grateful to have lived so many years of my life with him. I am also grateful we opened our hearts again to expand our family and welcome a new member, Klaus. Klaus, our second schnauzer, was adopted on January 1, 2014. It's so nice to have furry friends who we can hold dear to our hearts. How generous and kind is our God, th...

The Light In My Heart : " But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted ." (1 Peter 2:9-10 MSG) Darkness and despair surrounded me everywhere, but then came grace, my life to spare. He came in like a flood, cleansed me with His blood. He gave me His promise, that I'll never be lifeless. He breathed in my heart, gave me a new start. Now this life, free from strife, forever changed and rearranged, shall always praise His great Name. In His Light I remain, His promises I claim, and shameful sin is slain. A heart this full can't help but extol. My joy overflows, and my spirit glows.  Oh Heavenly Father, thank You for shining in my darkness, and giving me a fresh start again. -The Introverted Evangelist

I Found My Life When I Laid it Down : " So  let God work his will in you . Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious.  Get down on your knees before the Master ; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet ." (James 4:7-10 MSG) Life is tough, and oftentimes we find ourselves in the midst of certain circumstances that are unbearably trying. When times get so hard and hurtful, we tend to question or even doubt God's love and faithfulness. If this is you today, allow me to encourage you -  God has a supreme and sovereign plan for your good and His glory ! ( See Romans  8:28 ). He takes each chapter of our lives, every single little detail, and He binds it all together into the most beautiful book. Every season of our lives has purpose and meaning....

Be Energetic In God: "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP) Keep going. God's plan is worth obeying. There's so much more to this life than struggling through. God doesn't want you to merely survive. He wants you to glow, shine, and radiate His life and energy. He will give you that energy and joy, if you'll simply obey and trust Him. His energy will sustain you. His energy will overflow in you, giving you that "future you hope for" as mentioned in Jeremiah 29:11. Obedience is worth it. That joy will be worth it. Recovering is worth it. His energy will be worth it. Trust, my dear. Trust, and follow His way. He won't leave you. He won't forsake you. He is good, and He is kind. Leave all your fear behind. -The Introverted Evangelist

Hope in Christ - Verse Meditation: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." (Proverbs 13:12) Secure your hope solely in Him, for only He can satisfy out longing hearts. We hunger for a hope that doesn't disappoint, and this pure form of hope is only found in Christ our Lord. Let's pursue Him this day and everyday. Let's run after Him. Let's anchor our hope in Him, and run with endurance the race He's set for each one of us. He is good. He is marvellous. He is glorious. He is our everything. Amen. -The Introverted Evangelist

All Your Ways are Good : " Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert . " (Isaiah 43:19) God is working in our lives each and every moment. We must have faith that  He only has the best planned for us , for He loves us unconditionally.  All He plans for our lives stems from His unfathomably rich love and kindness . Even the dry seasons can and will overflow with abundant riches, because Christ paid the price. " For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His  gracious generosity , His  undeserved favor  and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched ( abundantly supplied ). " (2 Corinthians 8:9 AMP) Thr...

Rest In His Faithfulness: Sick days are a great ("great") reminder that it's OKAY to take a day off. God had been nudging me lately, saying, "I don't expect you to perform for Me. Simply be. Be who I made you to be, and that's Mine. I don't put all these rules and regulations on you. Throw them off, and come to the Waters. Come and drink from the flow of My Living Waters, and I will give you rest and restoration." Lesson learned? Don't drive yourself into the wall with an attitude that screams, "Do! Perform! Earn!" Instead, listen to the gentle voice of the Holy One, whispering, "Be. Rest. Receive." ---> He doesn't drive us like cattle, He leads us like sheep .<--- -The Introverted Evangelist

Celebrate Baptism : " If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins,  He is faithful  and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will  forgive our sins  [dismiss our lawlessness] and [ continuously ]  cleanse  us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action] ." (1 John 1:9 AMP) He is faithful . When we repent, He remakes us. We are new creations ( see  2 Corinthians  5:17 ), and we are created to live in  the current of His unrelenting grace . One such manifestation of this undeniably, overwhelmingly miraculous grace is the  forgiveness  He offers to us through Christ's sacrifice. And baptism? Baptism is like our graduation announcements. We make the public proclamation -  the start of a life of beautiful newness . It's unlike anything we've ever ventured into before, but a completely welcomed and long anticipated  season of renewal and opportuni...

Hallelujah! I'm ALIVE! " I call out at the top of my lungs, “ GOD! Answer! I’ll do whatever You say. ” I called to You, “ Save me so I can carry out all Your instructions. ” I was up before sunrise, crying for help, hoping for a word from You. I stayed awake all night, prayerfully pondering Your promise. In Your love, listen to me; in Your justice, GOD,  keep me alive . As those out to get me come closer and closer, they go farther and farther from the truth You reveal; But  You’re the closest of all  to me, GOD, and all Your judgments true. I’ve known all along from the evidence of Your words that You meant them to  last forever . " (Psalm 119:145-152 MSG) I'll do whatever You say, my God. I'll  leap with faith  into the great unknown, wherever You instruct me to go.  You saved my life from death  - again! You saved me and remade me once more.  You redeemed this dying life for so much more  than merely sitting and waiting to arrive Home...

Christ the Eucharist: "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight." (Luke 24:30-31) When we humble ourselves in thanks, honouring His Sacrifice, His Presence shows up and removes the blinders from our eyes. When we gather under His Name, as the Body of Christ, and glorify Him together, His Spirit envelopes us in God's wonder. His Presence is made manifest among us. And it's in that sacred moment that we all as believers remember that only by grace through faith are we saved. We're reminded of our desperation, our insufficiency... His abounding love, His unending mercy... Christ be glorified! For He has rescued us, redeemed us, and made us new creations by the power of His holy blood! -The Introverted Evangelist

Victorious Love and Saving Grace : " For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal ( everlasting) life . " (John 3:16 AMP) Love , not law, has won.  Grace , not guilt, is the gift of Salvation that saves us all.  Faith , not fear, is what flourishes life everlasting. The immense love of the Father is our  eternal victory . There is hope for all ages, triumph for every nation, and healing for each soul, because in Him we're made whole. Salvation's spelled out in  blood-stained agony  there on the Cross. It seemed like hope was lost, but it's from the darkest grave  He rose again in glorious light . " But God is so  rich in mercy , and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (...

Take Heart : " And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” " (Matthew 9:2) Take heart.  Don't let your past paralyze you . Don't listen to the lies that say your mistakes are who you are. Remember that the Blood of Jesus has made you new ( see 2 Corinthians  5:17 ).  His atoning sacrifice cleanses us  from all unrighteousness. We don't have to live the way we used to. The grace of our generous Lord gives us  inner strength  to break old habits and create a life of newness, rooted and founded in Christ Jesus. His Holy Spirit comes and floods us.  His Presence washes over us like the waves of the ocean's tide ... Washing away the shame of our old self, and  replenishing our strength with His mercy . Take heart, He is for us. Take heart, we are new creations. Take heart, for  He is good and worthy of our trust and prais...

Diligent Dependence : " So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. " (1 Peter 1:14) If I even begin to glance back at the place out of which I've come (that deep, dark detriment), I've already fallen...  The key to decidedly demolishing my destructive addictions is to diligently depend on my divine Saviour . No turning back. This is the new. This is living now.  All for Him . My everything laid down, so I won't turn around.  I'm committed to Christ , and this is my life. This is who I am now -  completely His , and  complete in Him . -The Introverted Evangelist

Release and Receive : " My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. " (Proverbs 4:10-13) Come, dear child, come receive My grace and strength for your every need - your every weakness.  I will carry you to a new beginning . I, your Great Redeemer, can  restore to you the joy of living life  unhindered. No longer will your muscles ache and body cry out - dying and wasting away.  I will prosper you , I promise you. Trust Me. Walk with Me. Come  take hold of My gracious gifts . I withhold no good thing from you. Therefore,  you're free to abandon all that you try to control in your own strength ...  Release and receive ... I have an amazing plan for you. Your  trusting obedience is the key that u...

Rise Up and Pray : " At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” " (Luke 22:45-46) Don't give in to all the grief . Rise up and pray in the power of the Holy Spirit! Don't become so worn and weary from the battles surrounding you that you throw in the towel and call it quits. Instead,  call on God ! Pray relentlessly because He's not left your side. His ear is still tuned to your cry.  He's not going to stop fighting for you . Be still, call upon His Name, then you will receive peace, joy, and a renewed hope once again. This battle may not be over yet, but I can assure you:  the victory is already won and we are triumphant ! -The Introverted Evangelist Photograph Taken By: Julian Brezden  #2112co_freeforall

Jesus - Δουλος - Humble Servant : " You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead,  he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the  humble position of a slave  and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,  he humbled himself in obedience to God  and died a criminal’s death on a cross. " (Philippians 2:5-8) I love how the Holy Spirit kept the theme of Pastor Spurling's message at Gateway Church this weekend. I opened up my MacBook to see this...  Jesus Christ ...  Humble Servant . The Greek word written here is δουλος and it is translated " slave " in the verse above. How marvellous! Jesus took on the humble position of a slave so that we might become free. In fact, right now as I type, I'm wearing my Walk in Love shirt that reads:  I AM SET FREE . Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for Your obedience even to death on the Cross. Because of...

Selah Saturday - Psalms 145 : " For your kingdom is an  everlasting kingdom . You rule throughout all generations.  The LORD always keeps his promises ; he is gracious in all he does. The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand,  you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing . The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.  The LORD is close to all  who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth ." (Psalms 145:13-18) For all You've done this week, my Lord, I will pause and reflect...  Selah ... How gracious You've been. Oh how Your kind Heart has been revealed to me.  Your generous Spirit overwhelms me . I am in awe. You're so good, my God. You're so good, and  I praise You with all that I am . I will worship You for all that You are... You are the merciful, righteous, and gloriou...