ywam Archives - YWAM Chico https://ywamchico.org/tag/ywam/ We are a Missional Community dedicated to Experiencing God, Expanding our Capacity and extending God's Kingdom. Tue, 14 Jun 2022 22:44:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://ywamchico.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/yoman-150x150.png ywam Archives - YWAM Chico https://ywamchico.org/tag/ywam/ 32 32 AWE & WONDER https://ywamchico.org/awe-wonder/ Tue, 03 Nov 2020 22:20:51 +0000 http://ywamchico.org/?p=2364 Just outside of our front porch stands a majestic redwood tree. It rises into the sky like Jack’s beanstalk, above the oaks and pines that dot the landscape. It is weathered and a little scraggly but shoots straight up in the gorgeous July sky. Everything around it pales in comparison and the hummingbirds dance through […]

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Just outside of our front porch stands a majestic redwood tree. It rises into the sky like Jack’s beanstalk, above the oaks and pines that dot the landscape. It is weathered and a little scraggly but shoots straight up in the gorgeous July sky. Everything around it pales in comparison and the hummingbirds dance through the needles and branches of the tree with joy and gusto. There is a natural spring next to us that the big tree has tapped into and has dug it’s roots deep. Psalm 1:1,2 says ” His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on it he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of living water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does, prospers.” 

God often uses examples in nature to give us a spiritual lesson. Every time I see that tree and the spring, I am reminded of His promise. We can be outwardly prosperous with material possessions, a good job, fancy vacations but to truly prosper on the inside where it matters the most, we must tap into the source of life. John Steinbeck wrote about the redwood, “The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It’s not only their unbelievable stature, nor their color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.”

Steinbeck is a great writer and these words are breathtaking and romantic but I would rather focus on the One who created the tree rather than the tree itself. The creator is often overshadowed by the creation. That which is beautiful, whether it be a radiant sunset, a multi colored tropical bird or a gigantic redwood tree inspire awe and wonder in us. We were made that way, eternity is in our hearts and we long for it. I completely enjoy those things but understand the magnificence of He who called it into being is much greater. When we behold Him in His creation then awe and wonder can live in our hearts peacefully, purely and with true pleasure. Let us tap into that well that never runs dry and we truly will prosper, in ways that we never imagined. 

by Lon Kuykendall

 

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]]> Jesus is worthy https://ywamchico.org/jesus-is-worthy/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 23:20:57 +0000 http://ywamchico.org/?p=2292 Relationship with God is no different to relationship with a friend – in order to develop and maintain that relationship it requires time and conversation which are two things I was not giving God. These first two weeks of DTS have revealed God’s longing for intimacy with me and as I begin to understand this desire, it is increasing my hunger for more of Him.

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Jesus is worthy of our hearts.

In the beginning of time God created a paradise that He entrusted man with to be in communion with Him forever. We imperfect people were chosen to be loved by a perfect creator of life. We had one thing to steer clear from, sin. Sin is always a choice, it is never something that “just happens” to someone. In the middle of the paradise there was a jealous bitter being that wanted nothing but to kill, steal, and destroy. That bitter being lied to us, told us that our perfect God was hiding something from us. We believed the liar. Lies are always what separate us from God. In that moment we handed over the authority on Earth to the liar. God was so upset that His creation He loved so much had been tricked. God could have left us there in our mess but instead He wanted to get us back. God sent His one and only Son to redeem us. Jesus came down as a man, lived a perfect life, died the death we deserved, AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD WITH THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. Then Jesus didn’t stop there. Jesus offered us the keys AGAIN. The author of life gives us the choice to step into our inheritance or not. God’s love for us is ever flowing and never ceasing BUT not forced. There is no mistake that is big enough that our God will leave us. He will never stop loving us and that is just one of the reasons Jesus is worthy of our hearts.

 
 

 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

                       -Deuteronomy 31:6

 

Jesus is worthy of our yes.

When we become aware of the relentless pursuit of Christ it makes us WANT to love and serve God. When our soul is met by the creator of Love it drives us to want to share it with others. When Jesus walked this earth He did not ask people “what can you give me?” Jesus was always giving. Jesus was fully deserving of worship and praise yet He was out healing, delivering, and setting people free who were not deserving. If the King can give freely to an undeserving people then surely we can love and serve the most worthy in the universe. Also following Jesus gives us so much more than we leave behind. It may sound hard or intimidating to give your life to something, but the only thing that Jesus is interested in “taking” from us is the lies and bondage of the enemy. 

 

Matthew 6:31-34

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

It can be easy to just love God comfortably with our lives which generally means living your life and “adding” God to it. If you want to watch your life be dramatically changed for the better give your full “yes” to Jesus with your life. You will see God move in your family, your work, your health, your emotions, and so much more. God will start to use you to bring others to Him. There is nothing more fulfilling than letting your soul be led by the One who created it. If you find yourself waking up and saying “there has be something more than this” I can promise you that there is, and His name is King Jesus. Jesus desires a relationship with you and loves you more than you can even know.

 

 Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

By Alyia M.

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