The Forge

UPSHOT: God sustains us throughout our journeys, transforms us through faith, and helps us bring elements of heaven to earth.
Sufficiency of God's grace In all circumstances
We are sustained through Christ and not our own power or might
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
In my weakness, He makes me strong.
God's hand guides and His power sustains me regardless of the challenge.
What circumstances has God used to shape you Into who you are today?
What evidence were you able to see of God's presence throughout the journey?
Our faith makes us well
Transformation through simplification
Mark 5:21-34
To get closer to Him is to be healed!
When I focus more on my relationship with God than my challenges, my challenges seem to disappear.
What's impeding the progression of your faith? What battles do you need to surrender to God so you can focus more on your relationship with Him?
Life through the eyes of God
Bring Heaven to Earth
Mark 8:22-26
Receiving His vision a miraculous sign or gift?
Deepening my relationship with Him allows me to take on His vision/perspective. He has given us a gift that can transform our lives If we allow It.
What situation do you need to apply your God lense to In your life? What's hindering you?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Listening for God
Prayer
Spoken, Audible words
Others speaking life over you.
Music
Visual – Dreams, Art, photos, landscapes, memory
Holy Spirit
Scripture


“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. When you look for me with all your heart you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13


Going back to Pacific Landscape:
A conversation with my wife speaking life over me.
A Visit with Dad:
Holy Spirit – urges a visit.
Chase & 1-11-11:
Prayer & Medical Crisis
“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don’t hear is that you don’t belong to God.” John 8:47
Always remember that the bible is the language of God’s heart. He is wanting a relationship with you and to communicate both ways.

Are you listening?????

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time: it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God as the source of patience because it gives as God’s true and proper inspiration.

“He (Moses) regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value then the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:26-27
Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God.
Note: When submitting to God I become less agitated and anxious… “A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue – he is devoted to God Himself”
My expectation and vision, are they in alignment with God’s or the worlds?

· Success as defined by others
· Career – Pursuing
· Financial
Our personal faith with Him
· Relationship with our Spouse
· Relationship with our family
· Relationship in community / church
· Our Legacy
Our reach must extend beyond ourselves and our grasp
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12
Drudgery is the test of true character in our lives, the greatest hindrance in our spiritual life is that we can only look for big things to do.
Yet Jesus took a towel and washed the disciple’s feet. John 13:3-5
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5
“Faith of a mustard seed” and “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast” Matthew 13:31-32

How am I pursuing God in a biblical way?
Am I submitting to God’s will for my life?
Am I being intentional with my….
Faith, Spouse, Family, Community, Career, Resources and Legacy?

Navigating the imposter
Imposter syndrome:

Isolation is the goal of the enemy. Don't conceal or hide the truth.

"There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs." Luke 12:2-3

Story, Struggle ... to be continued

Gideon story of destiny (Judges 6)

Connecting and concluding the Road Trip

Restoration Project
A bit about me and a short story long…
How the world wants you to travel this road:
vs
How God wants you to travel this road:
Who should you travel this road with? It’s not a solo trip
A Best Friend and the Gambler 500
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
A sideroad
Restoring the Chevelle with dad and the walk with our Father.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17
The Importance of the finished restoration

God is never caught by surprise with the things that happen
He is aware
He has a plan
My attitude/approach in life matters.
The people God puts in my life are never by accident.
I play a purpose in their story as much as they play a purpose in my own.
The places God has me might not be forever but the impact I make can be.
When I am unsure what my next move is, I can always go back to the things that he has called me to.
I wouldn't have my story any other way than His.
“8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Additional Discussion Questions
Who has God called you to be (for yourself, family, friends, community)?
What is your go-to response when unexpected things happen?
How do you actively trust God?
Who is walking out your journey with you?

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus
Christ.” - Philippians 1:6
“But as for you O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold
of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses” - 1 Timothy 6:11-12
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”
Jim Elliot

What things are you currently pursuing?
What things occupy the majority of your time/attention?

Do I focus on the Past?

I have spent too much time trying to figure out how to earn God's favor in spite of past acts rather than focus simply on God's grace!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." -- Eph 2:8-9


"Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing in guilt are nauseating to God and are a flat denial of the gospel of grace" -- Brennan Manning / "The Ragamuffin Gospel"
Do I focus on the Future?

I have spent too much time trying to figure out what my life mission was supposed to be.

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." -- Hebrews 11:8


"I think a lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year." -- Francis Chan / "Forgotten God"
Food for thought

There is a Zen story about a monk being pursued by a ferocious tiger. The monk races to edge of a cliff, glanced back, and saw the growling tiger about to spring. The monk spotted a rope dangling over the edge of the cliff. He grabbed it and began shinnying down the side of the cliff out of the clutches of the tiger. Whew! Narrow escape. The monk then looked down and saw a quarry of jagged rocks five hundred feet below. He looked up and saw the tiger atop the cliff with bared claws. Just then, two mice began to nibble at the rope. What to Do.

The monk saw a strawberry within arm's reach, growing out of the face of the cliff. He plucked it, ate it, and exclaimed, "Yum! That's the best strawberry I've ever tasted in my entire life". If he had been preoccupied with the rock below (the future) or the tiger above (the past), he would have missed the strawberry God was giving him in the present moment.

1. Temptation and the Deschutes River

a. 1 Cor 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

b. Its imperative we know His promises and that we don’t forget them.

c. What temptations do you have and how do you prepare for them and battle against them?


2. Cancer and Bighorn Sheep

a. God uses trials and hard seasons to grow our character.

b. It’s almost as if trials are a necessary step for some of us for our relationship with Him to grow.

c. Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

d. Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces endurance; and endurance produces character, and character produces hope….

e. Are you able to see God in the hard seasons of life? How do you respond when things don’t go as planned? People are watching in how you are responding.

THE BEGINNING
Genesis 2:16-17
Genesis 2:25 “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
Genesis 3:1-6
Genesis 3:10 “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

JESUS LOOKS AT THE HEART AND IS AFTER OUR HEARTS
Matthew 15:8 “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
Matthew 15:18-20
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 18:22-23

THE POWER OF TESTIMONY
John 4:39

ANTIDOTES TO SIN
The Light –
1 John 1:5-7

Being in a Group with Others
James 5:16
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Armor of God –
Ephesians 6:12-17
Discussion Questions
Put yourself in the shoes of the rich young man. If Jesus were here, what would he ask you to give up and follow him? (Luke 18:22-23, Full Story Luke 18:18-27)

Have you ever experienced the power of testimony? Whether it’s from sharing your testimony or from hearing someone else’s testimony? (John 4:39)

Is there anything in your life that needs to come from the darkness into the light? (1 John 1:5-7)