darren ervin's blog

Standing and walking... "What if i stumble, what if i fall...what if i lose my step, and i make fools of us all?" I stumble every day..i think things that aren't the best; i sometimes resent people's opinions or their expectations of me; i find myself focusing on things other than God; i sin every day, whether its the monumental thing we most often bring to mind, or the subtle (and just as deadly) things that are part of our periphery.. There was a time when i used to see nothing wrong in the mundane flaws(sins) of my being, that the words i used and the actions i performed and the thoughts i pondered were all just...fine. Normal. Whether i would or could justify them in my heart and mind to deal with their presence in my life and the consequences of each one and its impact, or whether i didn't...my heart never used to ache the way it does now when i know i've grieved the Holy Spirit. However, i no longer am able to be content with what i used to find acceptable. I have to begin in my own life, listening for His voice among all of the voices that penetrate my mind sometimes..and doing what He asks. I can't expect others to follow, let alone understand what I feel He has placed on my heart. Scripture after scripture continue to reveal something greater in store; they all point to having a confidence and trust in God that goes beyond what most would find reasonable or possible.. Mark 10:26-28 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." 28Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" At this crossroads i find myself at in my life, there is every opportunity that God can bless me with to move where He asks me, to follow where He leads..if He were to physically pass through this town I'm staying in today and asked me to follow Him, i'd leave this all behind.. In the same sense, He has asked me to follow what He has laid on my heart..and in doing such, it takes full trust and confidence in who He is as my Lord to know that He has plans to prosper me...not in the traditional monetary way, but in a spiritual manner.. Jeremiah 29:11 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. I hear my friends making plans for their futures; i see them cry out in frustration and despair when things don't go the way they'd planned, feeling that God has forgotten them yet they continue to live against His will; i see things of a spiritual nature that have wrapped themselves around some of us that have whispered in our ears that the way in which we're living our lives is alright..it's fine..it's normal. It's wrong. But, Lord..let it begin with me.. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Speaking for myself, i know the time is now to make the stand for Him..to be what He asks of me; to truly be a man of God, that others may come to know Him, and to see His grace and mercy (for all sinners) by what He has done in my life..this isn't said with pride, but with humility and conviction.. Speaking for myself, i know its time to walk with Him..to follow His lead; to truly be a servant and disciple of Christ, that others may come to know the freedom of salvation and the truth that is only found in Him..this isn't said in self-righteousness, but with a sincere heart and a desire to see others saved.. Mark 13:13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Romans 5:1-3 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance