This past weekend I was given the opportunity to speak at Cross Point, while Pete got to take his kids to Disney!! I was given the task to speak on God’s Sovereignty in 30 minutes. 
In my studies and preparation I was often overwhelmed on how to communicate such a massive subject. Now, I know that I’ll spend the rest of my life learning and trying to understand God’s ultimate authority, power, and command, but this was a small window into how I tried to make a very large subject into something small enough to breath!
Please let me know your thoughts…
God’s Sovereignty in 30 minutes…, posted with vodpod
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I was hoping for more use of the air compressor. You know, blowing stuff up.
This was seriously one of my favorite messages from you–even if you tried to take us out in the front row with the gun.
I love how you love the Lord! It shines through your emotions and is contagious.
This week I’ve thought about breath a lot–even speaking Y,H,V,H out loud on my way to work, trying to breathe the name of God. And then thanking Him for the life He breathed into all of us.
It was so powerful to really sit and acknowledge the lack of focus on God throughout my entire journey. It’s so much easier to take a foot off the path, rather than walk a straight line, especially when it feels like one side of that path is going along a cliff. But that’s where trust comes in–that God isn’t going to let you fall.
I was intrigued by the concept of air and breath–especially having shared with you the moment from when I was praying when I felt the whisper in my heart. Whispers are made of air and I have to smile at what was breathed into my heart that day.
I’m so happy God was with you while you climbed that mountain! I’m so proud of you, even if your pee-bag broke.
*hugs*
[...] was interesting to listen to Blake’s extremely powerful message this past Sunday about God’s sovereignty. That His sovereign [...]
By now you are probably tired of hearing my opinion on this message, Blake, (:-)) but this is the first service since I began attending Cross Point in April that has made me hungry to understand what has so desperately been missing from my life. Not only did I attend two services to hear it again, but I have listened to it online several times this week and every time I draw more from it. And the more I hear it it has caused me to think about my life, searching mind and soul, and how it got to this point in time.
The big questions of this series: What do you think of God and what do you think God thinks about you?
Before, I thought: God is all powerful, maybe someone to be afraid of, to put the fear of doing something wrong into me, that is harsh in judgment and eager to punish you for wrong doings. And because of all the wrong choices in my life and the things I did that would not be approved of but I did them anyway, that God could not possibly care anymore whether I did a few good things or not because they were WAY out weighed by the wrong things.
Now: I understand that God is always with me and always has been, but because I didn’t acknowledge Him I didn’t realize it. I believe that God understands how broken I have become, loves me anyway and welcomes me back to Him in spite of my bad choices and is eager to lead my life down a better path.
“Who we are and what we become can not be separated from our perception of God in our life.” I can see this so clearly now in looking back over past times, good and bad, as to whether or not I was paying attention to God’s gentle urgings to listen to what he was trying to tell me.
The summit is a mind set. Wow, this hit me like a ton of bricks. Story of my life! I am very impatient to get to the summit, the end result. Any time I do anything at work or home it has always been about the end result, the great feeling of accomplishment, albeit a fleeting moment, the pats on the back for a job well done, the acknowledgment from others that I did the seemingly impossible with what looked like brilliance. When in fact I HATE the journey required to get the job done! The journey is painful and hard and the fear of failing and not getting the appropriate kudos for a job well done often has stopped me from even trying.
I see now that failing is all part of it and even if I fail God will still love me and be there for me. I am deciding to, for once, enjoy the journey, follow the goodness that Jesus demonstrated to us and live my life trying to demonstrate this goodness to others. Knowing that God is always with me, as close as my breath and leading my life to a better place than it has ever been before.
“God’s power is in his name.” I had never thought of it this way before and it brought many thoughts to mind. In thinking of the many things on my to do list I kept saying to myself “I am going to do this, I am going to do that…” and then it hit me…I AM…God said this was his name, I AM who I AM. So I inserted God into my to do list. “God is going to help me do this, God is going to help me do that…” BRILLIANT!!!
I have also been breathing God’s name. What an awesome way to remember his presence in something we do automatically, without thought, 10-12 times per minute! With every breath I take I feel God’s presence and strength like never before.
Such a powerful message. So thought provoking. In language that I can understand without all the biblical words that have confused me and kept me from understanding how this relates to my circumstances throughout my whole life. I am definitely plugged into the power!
Ok, I’ll shut up now…;-)
Blake – thanks to Jenni Catron for her vulnerability and sharing her “Stop Laughing” moment and her reference to your Pitch Tents blooper – as a result I ended up at your blog. I listened to your message on God’s sovereignty twice (so far). It was “good preaching” – don’t be ashamed. You message was a refreshing drink of water for me. I have “followed” Cross Point from up here in Michigan – it has been a while since I have watched a sermon. God wanted me to receive this message at this time in my life.
I so want my 17-year old son to listen to this – he has been walking down the wrong path and it has been a struggle. Your message follows this message at my home church this week – http://vimeo.com/16703311 – about the “principle of the path”.
God is sovereign – thank you for giving more meaning to the word “breathe”.
God bless you and the ministry of Cross Point!
Paula, please let me know if I could ever meet with your son to help him along in his walk with God. I’d also love it if he could meet our new youth pastor Ketric Newell…there are very few people I know that are as gifted with teenagers!! I am praying for him and your family as you walk through this with him. Thank you for the encouragement.
In case I didn’t say it loud enough, last Sunday, you ROCK (I shouted that in my head)!!
I’ve read the bible many times, many versions and continue to read it (NIV right now) daily. I was just reading Matthew when he was arrested in Gethsemane. I’ve wondered, many times, if Jesus didn’t want to let those soldiers know just who they had their hands on. I would have had to give them a little taste… I know that’s just my pride talking… still…
Even though I’ve read John’s version, you’re interpretation of John’s account helped me see it in a whole new light. In a way that I might/would have reacted. In that one picture, you made Jesus more real to me. Thanks brother!
God’s spirit is not in the storm, or in the fire, but in that still small voice. I’ve been breathing the name of God all week. Y, H, V, H…
Thanks for loving us enough to share your vulnerableness. So that through your weakness, we can see God through our own.
Oh yeah, I want to see that summit video!!!
Dennis…you are always so stinkin encouraging. You are like a breath of fresh air…imagine that…life-giving breath…almost like it’s coming from God!!
Blake I am sorry about your pee bag. I have an extra sleeping bag for you.. Call me soon. You brother is helping me train for a triathalon.
Thanks bro!! It means a ton that you dropped in and watched my sermon.