Eyes fixed upon Jesus

Hello all,

This past Monday God began to pour forth into me through a passage in Matthew and I felt compelled to share it with anyone who might be reading my blog.

Last week for my Intro to Proclamation class we were supposed to take a narrative within scripture and tell it more in story form. I picked Matthew 14:24-33 and as I set out to read it and live into the passage so that I might tell this familiar narrative of Jesus and Peter walking on water I was coming up with nothing. In fact I stared at a word document with the passage all day Saturday and Sunday coming up with nothing. I felt empty, like I was drained and had nothing left in me to give, but God showed up on Monday evening. God not only revealed much about this passage to me, but poured out into my life in a powerful way. I encourage you before reading what is below to go read the passage in Matthew 14:24-33.

As Christians, God doesn't promise us a "comfortable" life. In fact, He calls us out of comforts that we tend to cling to. NT Wright made the statement that in Jesus's call to follow him, He "didn't say, as do some modern evangelists, 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.' Nor did he say, 'I accept you as you are, so you can now happily do whatever comes naturally.' He said, 'If you want to become my followers, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me' (Mark 8:34). He spoke of losing one's life in order to gain it, as opposed to clinging to it and so losing it"

With a great amount of faith, Peter made the decision to leave the safety and comfort of the boat and step out onto the water. As he took those first steps, he must have been aware of the danger and trouble all around him, for the wind and the waves were crashing all around him, probably soaking him. Yet in his faith, with his eyes fixed upon Christ he walked forward in confidence. It was in the moment that he began to pull his focus away from Christ, letting his fear become greater than his faith, that he began to sink. In the same way, God calls each of us to something greater. He says to us as he said to Peter, "come," calling us out of the boat, out of the safety and comforts we are clinging to. He asks us to trust him as we take our first steps into the unknown, knowing that it won't be easy. As we faithfully step out as Peter did, in our brokenness, there will be times that we begin to lose focus as Peter did.

As we begin to sink and the waters of doubt and fear are welling up around us; we must simply look up. We must look up and cry out to out Abba Father crying out “Lord save me!” For it is in this moment we recognize that Jesus has been standing there all along. He is standing in front of us with His hand extended out, waiting for us to acknowledge His presence. It is in the moment that we reach out and take hold of His hand that we begin to feel the strength in His hand, the life giving power that exudes forth. It is in that moment of faith that we are reminded of just who it is that we have fighting for us, along side of us; the majestic, all-powerful Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, YAHWEH. It is then and only then that we can overcome the waters that once appeared great, fearlessly facing the trials before us. It is then that our faith and boldness will not lead us into the desire to become great or do great things, but instead will humble us, bringing us to our knees, falling face down in worship before our Father in heaven. It is then that our eyes become fixed upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and we simply proclaim in confidence, “truly you are the Son of God.”

I challenge each one of you...When was the last time you have cried out to God? When was the last time that you reached out in desperation, desiring to trust every part of your being, to Christ? Reach out, take Hold of His hand; feel the might and power of life that floods forth out of His very being. Put your full faith and focus upon Him, falling face down before Him in worship and adoration.

In Christ with love,

Jordan Scoby McFall

A glimpse of God's love

Today, I was sitting in Main and Maple, a local coffee shop in Nicholasville doing some reading for class, and was blessed to be able to witness something that was filled with great sadness, and yet great joy. A mother brought in her little baby in order to give her up for adoption. Although I do not know the whole situation of what was happening, I was listening in to the conversation a little bit. It was with a great amount of sadness and tears, from both sides, that the mother gave her baby to the new parents, and said goodbye….possibly forever. After the mother left, the couple who now has the baby, stayed here for a little while. Despite the sadness and tears, to see the great amount of joy and happiness that came from these two embracing their new little girl into their arms was amazing. Despite the fact that this little girl was not their own, I could see the enormous amount of love they already had for her through the joy in their eyes, and their interaction with her. I know this little girl will grow up to be so blessed with the amount of love this couple already has for her.

As I was witnessing this event which was filled with great sadness and great joy, I was reminded of God’s great love for us. Because of the brokenness of this world, the brokenness in each of our lives, it can be hard to fully understand or even receive true love from others, which in turn can make it difficult to receive that love from God. The brokenness in our lives can bring around great sadness, which can separate us from those around us, and God. Yet, even in the sadness there is cause for great joy. In Ephesians 1:4b-5 it says, “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself…” Today, through the love this couple showed towards their new little girl they held in their arms, God reminded me of something. He reminded me that I am His son, through adoption in Jesus Christ, and that His love and joy for me is so much greater than even their love towards their new little girl. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” I am reminded that God’s love and joy is so great that it can overcome any amount of brokenness and sadness that may be present, and because of that I also have a reason to rejoice and be glad. It is because of His love and joy for me that I am compelled to share that same love with my brothers and sisters in Christ and everyone else around me.

My prayer for each of you is that no matter what brokenness you are working through, no matter how much sadness it may bring, that you may see that there is reason to rejoice. God is right there holding you in His arms, saying “I love you son” or “I love you daughter.” God is holding you in His arms right now, exulting and shouting over you with joy, yet He is quiet in His great love for you. I pray that His great love will break down any barriers that you have put up to those around you, so that you may not only be able to fully receive the love that others are trying to give you, but also will be compelled to share that love with everyone around you.

I want to leave you with this verse,

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” I John 3:1

In Christ with love,

Jordan

"Nothing Without You"

Hello all,

I am now a week into the new semester, and God has already been teaching me so much! I am excited for all that God will continue to teach me both in knowledge and in my walk with Him. It will be a challenging and stretching time for me, but I know it will be so worth it! I managed to survive through my Greek class, and am excited to put it to use in my Exegesis of Johannine literature course this semester. I also just got a job at Starbucks in Lexington, and am excited to start training tomorrow. I know I will be crazy between classes and work, but it will be good!

Lately, I have been listening to this song over and over again by Bebo Norman, called “Nothing Without You.” It has been my ongoing prayer and heart cry this past month. That God would shape and mold me so that this will be true. My prayer is that I may truly live a life that reflects the words in this song. To come to the point where I realize and live my life according to the fact that without Him, I have, and am nothing; but it is in Him and only Him that I can have strength and love in my brokenness and begin to share that strength and love with others around me. That the world may look at my life and see that apart from God, I am nothing. That God will “Take my time here on this earth and let it glorify all that (He is) worth.”

I have posted the lyrics below so that you all may read them, and ask yourself if you have this same heart cry in your own lives. If you have not heard or own this song, I encourage you to download it on Itunes by the artist “Jordan Howerton Band.” I hope you all have blessed week.

In Christ with love,

Jordan

“Take these hands and lift them up
For I have not the strength to praise You near enough
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing
But I love You

With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
With all the strength that I can find

Take my time here on this earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing,
I am nothing without You”

Worship God

Hello all,

Be proud, this is my second blog update within a month’s time! :) Like I said, I am going to try and keep this updated much more often that I did last semester. I am officially half way done with my month long intensive course of Greek! I was honestly a little nervous going into this class, it has been a ton of information to soak up, and at times has been overwhelming, but I have actually really liked it! We will see if I say the same thing after these next two weeks….

I have been reading a book over Revelation by Eugene Peterson, and there was one part that really stuck out to me that I want to share with you all. Twice, in Revelation 19:10 and 22:8-9, it is seen that John falls down at the feet of the Angel who revealed things about the Lord to him. Who can blame him? The angel probably came in great splendor and glory, with all of this knowledge, with a Word from the Lord. Yet, both times the angel rebukes John and refocuses his worship, telling him “Do not do that…worship God.” Eugene Peterson puts it in his book in this way, “get up. Get on your feet. Worship God, and only God. Angels, prophets, and fellow Christians stand on the same level and kneel together on the same ground-as worshipers.” As John bowed down in worship before the angels they were quick to correct his misplaced devotion.

I made me examine my own life and begin to ask this question. Do I have a misplaced devotion in areas of my life? Do I bow down in worship before things that aren’t God? They could be great things, for studies, church, etc….yet, even if they are good, we are not to turn them into idols. As the body of Christ, we are all equals….we “all kneel together on the same ground-as worshipers.” I challenge you to ask yourself these same questions. Are there any areas in your life that you put in a place of worship….placing it (or them) before God? I challenge you to pray about it, and leave you with these words, “Do not do that” “get up on your feet. Worship God and only God.” This is my prayer…..

Lord,

I want undistracted devotion to You. I want to worship You and You alone, nothing or no one else. I want to worship You with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul! You are my King, You are my God, and I love You so much! I want to give You all that I have, all that I am. Create in me a clean heart, one with undistracted devotion and worship towards You! It is in Your amazing, wonderful, and pleasing name that I pray, Amen

I hope that this was as challenging and encouraging to you as much as it was to me.

In Christ with love,

Jordan