Divinity Detectives....07.28.07
Saturday, July 28, 2007

Have you ever met someone, or maybe it was you, that really started walking with Christ? You know the kind of thing where all of sudden things click and they/we become passionately involved in growing with Christ and following Him. If you ever have experienced this, or seen this in someone, you probably have not forgot it. It is amazing during those initial few weeks, months, years of following Christ how we are able to see and hear God at work in our life on what seems to be a minute by minute basis. I can recall in my life, and in the life of others, how throughout the day there were moments where you just knew God has said something to you...even if it came through a sign on the road or song on the radio...you knew it was just for you.

I have always wondered what changes for us as we continue to live and follow Jesus? Why does it seem that we don't see or hear God at work as much? Has God changed or has His work in our life changed? Of course not. I think there are many reasons for why our relationship with God changes (some good, some not so good), but could one of them be that we just forget to keep looking for His activity and work around us? Could it be that we fail to see, or fail to give Him the credit, for what He is so clearly doing in and around us?

The term divinity according to Webster's means, "1 a : of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God or a god". You see "divinity" simply means that it has come directly from God. As we know God is still ALIVE and ACTIVE in our world today and I believe as a result we can see his "divinity" in those things that come from and relate to Him. In order to do so, though, we have to be on the lookout, we need to act like "Divinity Detectives".

Divinity detectives are constantly on the lookout for where God is at work in the world, in communities, and in individuals. It is a posture of seeking to see the fingerprints of God on all of creation, saved and unsaved, realizing that all have been created by Him and for Him. As I interact with people, I am looking for God’s work in their lives and attempting to see both their potential and how God might be leading them into relationship and service with Him. As Brother Lawrence, a monk from centuries ago, said, "God alone is capable of making Himself known as He really is. We search in reasoning and in sciences, as in a poor copy. What we neglect to see is God's painting Himself in the depth of our soul."

So how is God working in your soul and in the world around you today? I have seen so much in me changing lately, things that needed to be removed, and things that needed to be added. May we all open ourselves up to God in this process and begin to act as a "Divinity Detectives" looking for His work in us and in others.

Look for the next Bently to be posted and sent soon and to include many updates on how God has been at work already with Overflow Church. Thank you for continuing to share in this journey with us and know that God is at work in you and in our world as these scriptures remind us...


Psalm 19:1-5-
"1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. [a]

4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course."


1 Chronicles 16:31-- "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"



In Pursuit,

Brian

posted by Brian @ 10:22 AM, ,




Overflow Videos
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Fall 2008 Update


Summer 2007 Vision

posted by Brian @ 12:19 PM, ,




Who is writing your story? (7/17/07)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007

So I had one of those days today that was pretty typical in most ways until this evening. You see, tonight a skunk and a rabbit visited our family in our back yard. Yes, a skunk and a rabbit decided to descend on our back yard to play what appeared to be a game of tag for 15 minutes as they slowly chased each other around Hannah’s small kiddy pool. Finally, after the skunk had enough, it sprayed the rabbit. The party ended as they both fled our yard, leaving behind the wonderful aroma of a night we won’t soon forget.

So what does that have to do with my post tonight? Honestly, not a whole lot other than I thought that was a really cool and unique story to share. And that is precisely the thought that has led to this blog tonight. You see, shortly before our fun with the skunk and the rabbit, I had become pretty frustrated with our house having not sold yet and was asking God “what is going on?” Right at that moment I had one of those thoughts that I knew was not my own and it was simply this…”will you let me write your story?”

The question has been with me all night and has continued to remind me that too often we tend to take control of our story and to do what makes sense, seems easier, or keeps things within our ability to control it. There are so many times I have done this in my life that I cannot even begin to tell you, but there have been a few times where I have given God the space to speak and lead the story that He had chosen for myself and my family. Tonight is one of those nights. You see, as weird as tonight was with our little visitors, it is a night that we could not have created or controlled and in the same way I believe God wants us to live our lives in a way that we could not have created or controlled. That instead, we live in such a way that God writes our story and our life unfolds in such a unique and creative way that people take notice and are able to say…”that had to be God that did that”.

This reminds me of Christ’s teaching and His life. Remember, Jesus was the one who said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). After teaching this to His disciples, He then went on to the garden of Gethsemane and saw these words lived out as He faced the unfolding of God’s story in His earthly life “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

So tonight I have decided once again to turn over my story to God and to remember that He is the one that is orchestrating His plan and purpose in our lives (Romans 8:28).

So who is writing your story as you read this? May we all continue in each and every area to say, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” As we do that, I pray that God blesses each of us with unique experiences (hopefully yours doesn’t involve a skunk, though) and opportunities to see His kingdom expand.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support…we are so thankful for each of you.

In Pursuit,

Brian

posted by Brian @ 11:56 PM, ,




God's Designing of Overflow...07.12.07
Thursday, July 12, 2007

As I write this I am currently still in awe of God and the week I have had both with Him and with Overflow. Personally, I have had one of those weeks where you just sense that God is right there beside you, guiding your steps and pointing you in His direction. I intentionally set aside time this week to really seek God in solitude and found, as Scripture states, that when we seek Him we will find Him. As I spent time in Benton Harbor & St. Joseph I was seeking God in regards to His heart, mission, and plan for Overflow.

It was during this time that I read through Isaiah 41:17-20 which says, ""The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.

19 I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,

20 so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Here is how this spoke to me in regards to Overflow:
*Verse 17: God will hear the cry of the poor and oppressed and will meet them in their need. As we look at the poverty level in Benton Harbor we trust and pray that God will poor out His blessing and meet the needs of those that are without.
*Verse 18: God causes water to FLOW where there is none and will do the same with Overflow as He pours out His spirit and blessing on this region.
*Verse 19: The Overflow of water that God created led to the planting of many diverse trees that were placed TOGETHER. Our prayer is that God uses Overflow to bring various people groups together in this area and establishes His peace.
*Verse 20: My favorite verse because the work that God is doing will bring Him and Him alone glory, because it will be so apparent that His hand created and accomplished it. May God get all the glory for Overflow and the movement that is being birthed.


I hope this encourages you as much as it did me and that you too will continue to ask God the same question, "What is your heart, mission, and plan for my life?".

Have a great weekend and thank you for your continued support and prayers!

In Pursuit,

Brian
Phil 1:21

posted by Brian @ 11:10 PM, ,