These entries over the next 30 days are going to be open, honest and could be potentially brutal. I am going through the Live Dead 30 day Journal with Stacy (my wife), Jeff (close friend), and 3 of our students who shall remain unnamed unless they decide to announce themselves.
What is Live Dead you ask? Here is the description as it is on the book cover
“To live dead is to live life wholly for Jesus. To die to self, knowing God will do a greater work through you. To announce the life of God among those who are unreached.”
It’s a journal of 30 days of meditation and a story of a unreached people group. I will be entering my own personal thoughts and response to each day as I complete them, feel free to share your own thoughts as well.
If we wish to bring change into our lives we have to be honest with ourselves and God (not like He already knows anyway, right?) So here it is, day one…
Abiding: Extravagant Time with Jesus
John 15:4-5Ā (ESV)
AbideĀ in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.Ā I am the vine;you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is thatĀ bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
This is my second time through the Live Dead journal. Is my life really different? Do I want it to be? No and yes. I want more time with God, more time basking in His presence, more of His power in my life. Today I told our Jr. High class that if we expect to be more like Jesus we must spend more time with Him. That means more time in prayer, more time in scripture, and more time praising His name. More, more, more… more. But what am I willing to give up to get more God in my life? All relationships require sacrifice, what am I willing to sacrifice for God? Honestly speaking, I can live on 4 hours of sleep, why waste those extra few hours on myself when I could be holding conversation with my Father. 4 am sounds really early, but I know that my time with God is far more refreshing and invigorating than any amount of time I could spend with my head on a pillow. I always have said I want a heart like God’s. A heart for the lost, and the hurting. If I want a heart like God’s, than I must know God’s heart. And the only way to do that is to spend time with Him, talking, listening, worshipping and devouring His Word. I know what I have to do, what can you do?
Resonant Love 