I'm digging Deep

So, first up the usual. Check out the Facebook page, like it, and so on, just follow this link here! Also, check out around the blog page, vote, you know the drill, check out the song and Bible verse at the bottom aswell! Interact with the page!! If you would be so kind. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, check out my good mates Blog, Valid Opinion Fest. This mans words of.... "alternative" kind of Wisdom may well change the way you view the World! Hope your all well. This weeks about humility, and i have had a little trouble with this lately. I find a lot of what happens with this blog, I do out of my own strength, promoting it on Facebook, getting friends to spread it, and I thought about it this week. This weeks blog is up to God. I'm not going to post this to Facebook, i'm not going to link it, i'll just see how it goes and who God leads to read it. If you are reading this, well done and Thank you. Hope you're blessed by this, and challenged. Dig in. 

*Sidenote; I was challenged by the author of Valid Opinion Fest, the aforementioned blog, to incorporate a Snowboarding Walrus into this.... so don't get a shock.

Sometimes, it's hard to be humble. I mean, If i were a Walrus, capable of Snowboarding, i would be incredibly tempted to go and brag to my friends about it, put them down, and build myself up. I mean, i'm a pretty special Walrus. But thats the sort of Foundation God requires us to break, and change. Pride, is easily the oldest sin in the book. It is pride that caused Satan to fall, and as such, should be concerned with special regard. You may not see it in your life, but, I almost guarantee its there. Even if its just small, an initial reaction to seeing a Homeless person, or someone who annoys you, that disgust, that feeling that just says "Get away from me". It's so wrong. I won't pretend i'm on top of this, usually I avoid writing blogs about something i haven't been working on, but this is honestly something I struggle with. But if God, Lord of all, could humble himself enough to serve the least of these, how much lower should we go! In the end, God doesn't call us to climb mountains with him. He requires us to fall on our knees. Zechariah 4:6- Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit" says the Lord God Almighty. To go SO low with God, to kneel before him, and be so humble, out faith, which moves mountains, moves the mountain straight over our heads. A backwards way for dealing with such an experienced sin, but it seems fitting. A new strategy for an old foe. Don't climb the mountain, you can't. You do what you can out of your own strength, and thats simply to bend those knees before his throne, and watch as he does the bit you can't. Moves Mountains. 

I don't see how going low is going to get God to help out anymore? Like, doesn't God require us to make a Stand for him? 

The truth of it, is yes. He requires you to make a stand. But, that doesn't always mean standing up, and going high. He requires you to take a stand, to be set apart, from society. And sometimes the best way to do that, is to go backwards. In a society that seeks to serve the self, you seek to serve others, and reflect Christ's own heart. As for getting God to help out, yes. He will help. 2 Corinthians 12:10 says this- That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Yeah, it's backwards logic, but God doesn't work in Logic. In our weakness, God will be strong. Why would you dig deep? Why would you find that foundation of humility in your life? Because you need to know where something started to know where it's going. Why does Jesus choose the meek to inherit the Earth? Because they are exactly the people society would least expect. They are the people who are always looked down on. The meek do not look like the people who will inherit the earth, which is precisely why they are overlooked. Following Jesus doesn't mean being ignorant of his strength, or even your own. It's taking that strength, and using it to serve. Its taking your two hands, and lifting them high, a sacrifice to God. Give the Youth of your life to serving, and watch the fruit you produce. How do we beat pride? We serve, not for gain, or profit, or for recognition, but simply because we are called to love others as much, if not more, than ourselves, and to seek God's own heart. When god's heart is to save the lost and broken, that's where we're going. Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Is God your strength, leading your path, or is he the crooked stick you lean on when you need support? Learn to rely on him, always. Be Blessed.  

The Lost get Found- Britt Nicole

Psalm 20:7-8

In the midst of the Horizon

Hey, how is everyone!? Hope your all well! If you guys get the chance, please check out and like the Facebook page for this blog, Finding that Foundation. Loving the views the blogs getting, not so much loving the amount of feedback, so if you do get the chance PLEASE take some time to post it! Its always SO appreciated! As always, be sure to check out the Bible Verse and link at the bottom of the page, both of which are relevant to the Blog entry! This one's a little left of field, but i figure rather than dance around the topic, I’ll just type it, I have hinted towards the idea of Revival in previous blogs (for more information on Revival, click here). I'm just gonna drop my 2 cents in on the whole topic of Revival in this blog. Of course, this is no where near long enough to get the whole point across, but if you're interested in hearing more or sharing you views, contact me via the Facebook page, happy to chat! This Blogs a little more out there than normal, and probably a little uncomfortable. But, I really feel it needs to be said. In all seriousness though, look up the Bible Verse at the bottom of this Blog. It's perfect for this.I didn't stick any verses in the actual Blog, cause that Chapter covers it all, and of course, the song I post a link to! And check out the features on the page, if you would be so kind! Anyway, Dig in.

I take it you have heard the term "Revival" tossed around in the Church lately, especially you fellow New Hopers. Accompanied by the phrase "Revival is coming". Now, bear with me, but, in all honesty, that phrase is so wrong. Revival is here, it's not still coming. It's like when a tree gets planted, but starts as a seed. Many people are too happy to sit back and jump around, pumped that a Tree is coming. There are two things wrong with this picture. Firstly, far too often, people get so excited, they forget to water it. Secondly, is that the Tree isn't actually coming. It's already there, our job is to grow it. We are in the midst of a huge Revival in Australia. I don't know how long you've been aware of it, I'd like to think for quite a while now! The problem the church seems to have though, is they are all too happy to sit back and just Pray for revival, and far too rarely meet God half way with the response that is required. Praying for Revival is like asking for the Seed God has already planted. God won't respond to that kind of foolishness. Our job, isn't to ask God for a seed he has chosen to plant. Our job isn't even to know the seed is there, it's to cultivate the ground, water the seed. shine the light, and expect it to grow. We do the little we are capable of, and God, provides for what we can not. The seed, and the growth. I am SO passionate about this. STOP STARING AT THE GROUND! God never sent us out without a promise. Never, ever does he ask you to just pray for sick people. He tell you to HEAL them! He doesn't ask you to pray Demons leave a person, he COMMANDS YOU TO SEND THEM RUNNING!!! He has sent Revival, in each of our hearts. Revival isn't some abstract concept, it's simply taking the veil off the Lantern, and letting God step in.

Ok, Josh, sheesh I get it... But I don't know if I can step out. I'm scared, and even if I did, how could I do it?
Firstly, you can step out. Stepping out is a step of Faith. You're not always required to know where you're stepping, but when you know God is calling you, you take the step and meet him half way with the Response. He'll do the rest. Pray for the courage to step out and God will provide for you. How, on the other hand, is even easier. Just listen in to what God speaks to you. Sometimes, it's easy. Sometimes, it gets a little lost in translation and you get it wrong. Don't worry though, everyone gets it wrong, you just need to learn from that and keep walking in God. If what you feel you're being called into is a big thing, have a few other people pray about it with you. How does this relate to Finding that Foundation? In the end, you're foundation is Jesus. And Jesus, is Love. And Love, will revive this fading World. That, is my challenge for you. This Week. Stop praying for revival, and start praying for the strength to usher in the Revival. Open the floodgates, in response, meet God half way, and watch as the Holy Spirit does what you can not. Breathes Life into a thirsty earth. Stop looking for the coming Revival as if it's just over the Horizon, and start to see that the answer is in your heart. We are in the midst of what we have convinced ourselves is just over the Horizon. And if we squander our time, praying for something that has been granted, we'll miss the opportunity. I mean this in no way to discourage what’s happening, it's awesome, all I’m saying, is its time to take the Next Step, and start living in the Revival, as oppose to waiting for it to happen. Hope this spoke to you. Well, in truth, I know it did, I just hope you find it in yourself to respond. Be Blessed.

I can feel it- Third Day

Luke 21

All Consuming Healer

First things first, check out the blog's new Facebook page, i figured its an easier way of keeping in contact and getting feedback- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-that-Foundation/234389696575066 - Like the page, comment, post some feedback, I'll also weekly post my blogs there aswell if you want to re read them or anything like that. Please, please leave feedback though, like the page, you know, just spread it. The Blog can only be as good as its fan base!! Also, check out some of the features around the page, i'm working on making it more user friendly. Now, on to the Blog... for those of you that know me well, or, even not at all.... it was this time last year that i caught fire and burnt my leg at State Youth Games, which was followed by a week or two in the Hospital, surgery, the whole sha-bang. I'm not sure what lesson I was meant to learn from that, God heals, or, as the sermon suggested the night before i burnt my leg, to be on Fire for God. I got a feeling they may well go hand in hand. God's cool. Like, seriously cool. Not the average, everyday ohh yeah you can come chill with me cool. He's very, very cool. Funny that a God who's so cool, calls us to catch fire for him. Not literally, please, PLEASE don't catch fire physically. It kinda sucks. Catching fire for God, however, is a whole other thing. But to catch fire, not only for God, but even in the Physical, you need three things. Heat, Air and Fuel. Be sure to check out the link and bible verse at the bottom. Dig in.

Turn up the Heat
First up, you need to be ready to put yourself in a position, where God is the only answer. You need to be able to take situations in your life, and cast them entirely in God's hands. And that, requires trust. The heat component, the crazy miracles and awesome encounters can only be provided for by God, but we need a heart that's willing to meet him half way, trust, and believe, that he will show up. Notice in this verse, the question was never whether or not God can move that mountain, it's whether or not you trust him to. Miracles require a two way relationship with God, because a one man show requires no Faith to witness. Matthew 17:20- He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."


A New Breath of Life
With a steadfast heart, and the heat turned up, we look to seek God's strength. Watch, as God breathes into a new life. This can be as simple as turning your life to Christ, or even just asking God for a new strength, and goes right up to being Baptised into Christ. A second Wind. A new breath of strength in your life. The "Breath of Life", is supposed to revive someone. Let God take you, the person you chose to die to, the old you, and breathe into it, not an old life, but a new breath, for a whole new life. Become dead to your old self, and ask God for a new life. God will revive you. God will bring your revival. Our revival. The world's revial... Notice in this bible verse, for us to witness God's hand, we need to renew our mind, not scrub it clean, but completely renew it. Understand that we know nothing, empty our cup, and let God fill it. Romans 12:2- Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Prepare the Fuel
Ever tried to start a fire with wet wood? Or, have you tried starting with a spark, and just throwing a log on? You notice you need to nurture it, and build it up, from a spark, to tinder, to kindling, and onwards, before God can start chucking the logs on? Don't expect God to suddenly just appear to you. He'll provide a spark, and build you from there. It may be fast, it may be slow. But it will be exactly what you need. He's not going to throw you straight into the deep end- unless, he knows you can swim. Don't get scared that by catching fire for God, you're suddenly going to be walking through the streets praying for people. You may build to that, or you may have a different path, in the end, we're all going to get there, but God won't just set a spark on you and expect a bonfire. Notice too, that because we, our souls, are the fuel, we need to prepare ourselves, dry out the sin in our life and remove the branches, break our life down into smaller parts, and give it to him, piece by piece. God will help you prepare yourself, but ultimately, it's upto you to be ready when he calls you. Your body is a temple of Christ, and Christ lives in you. He'll help you prepare the temple as an Altar, to sacrifice the sin in your life, and set ablaze the building with the fire of God. Not a damaging, painful fire. It's hot, but it won't harm you. Like Moses and the burning bush, a fire that consumes sin, but not soul. Demons, but not Family. A fire, on fire, for your heart. Exodus 15:7- In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.

Be Blessed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so6IQ4GYm2o

Psalm 37:5

Whatever it Takes

Hey, how are you all? I'm really loving how this blogs doing, i'm checking out the Stats every day, getting a growing base of support, just wanted to say Thanks HEAPS guys, it means SO much! After you have read the blog, please feel free to scroll to the bottom of the page, there's a Poll open down there for you guys to leave some feedback on, or leave a comment, inbox me on Facebook, you know, just get into contact with me, I get a lot of positive feedback (which i love don't hold back) hahaha but not too much critical, analytical kind of stuff, so feel free to leave comments, feedback, even if you read this but don't have a way to contact me, catch me in person, add me on Facebook (I understand i have a few viewers in Germany, UK, America, Iran and Malaysia) and let me know what you think of it. I SO, SO appreciate feedback. Even if its not big to you, or you think i won't care, I really would appreciate it. It'd be cool to know what the viewers are thinking! And please, PLEASE spread it! I am trying to break last months record of 375 views!!!!! Go guys GO! As always, be sure to check out the Bible Verse and Youtube song link that both tie in well with this Blog, and when is say look up the verse, go old school and grab a Bible, that way you can quite easily read on! Thanks heaps, and may the Force be with you. Now, dig in! haha


God, will do WHATEVER it takes, to save you. I'm serious. He isn't a God like we see in the modern Religions. You know, the God's who sit back, and never get their hands dirty, the ones that let their followers do all the work, I was speaking to a wise young friend of mine earlier who put it well- "It's not like God's out of the way, we don't need to have ceremonies and go through Rituals to hear from him, it's a Relationship." -This is so true. Our God is a God who became human, like us, stepped down, put aside his infinite power, suffered, and died, for us. And nothing we could have ever done could put us in  a position where we deserved that. Thats huge, right there, Stop and actually consider that, we could never, ever, even if we gave our entire life to God and never held back from him, we would never earn that. We would still fall SO short, but he chose to do it regardless. Put yourself in God's shoes. If you had infinite power and glory, wouldn't it be so tempting to just sit back and do nothing? I mean, who's going to tell you off? Your own creations who you love so much are turning from you, isn't it SO much easier to forsake them and punish them? My heart breaks for God. Its like, he is standing there, his entire self exposed, and its like were just sitting here, even now, shouting Crucify him. But never, ever does he raise a hand back against us. He cops it all, because he loves us that much, knowing, that maybe one day, we'll start to love him too. Now, you, if you're a Christian and reading this, thats awesome, Well, well done. I Commend you for choosing to walk a hard road. But, i'm challenging you today, to make it a little harder. If we want to Love God, and start to reverse that process of pain, we need to tune our heart into God's. We need a servants heart. If he were willing to serve us, we should be at the very least, as willing if not more willing to serve than he was. He served us before we had even earned it, and yet we stand still.


So many people stand and pray, and beg for God to start to work around them in their lives, but when Push comes to Shove, they back off. When God say's, yeah, dude, of course i'll bring Revival, you just have to be ready to be my hands and feet, we often back off and go whoa, God, aren't you going to do it? God's not a one man act. We gotta get down in the ring and work with him. Believe me, he will give you the Strength, Motivation and Tools to do what you need to do. Here's what you need to do- Luke 19:10- "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." That's right. Get out there. Don't just ask God to save the lost, go, you are in a perfect position to go save the lost. Find the lonely kid in your class, and go out of your way to Bless them. Give money to that person who maybe can't afford their bus ticket, little things, and big things, but go out of your way to not only seek the lost, but save them, and intervene in their lives. Luke 11:9 puts it well for us, look it up. Soon as we go seeking, God's going to open the door.


But Josh, it's SO hard, and sometimes I really don't want to. I mean, there's just NO way what I do is going to make a difference. Is everything i do just in vain?
Thats the thing, when you sow a seed, you don't always wait around to see it grow. But, i promise you, it will. If you sow God into someones life, it doesn't always remain your responsibility to watch over. If you can, thats great, but just because you have a random encounter in the street doesn't mean its over. God will cultivate that seed and grow it, whether or not you see it. Like that Parable in Mark, that says- Just because you plant a seed in your backyard, doesn't mean it stops growing at night simply because you can't see it. It's always growing, and God's always providing- New King Josh Version (Haha yeah, that was it put into my own words Incase you can't find those exact words, its in Mark 5 though). 1 Corinthians 15:58 says this- "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."- Notice that last part? ".... your labor is NOT in vain". I like to think whoever wrote this got a little excited when they wrote that. Just because you don't see a purpose, doesn't mean it holds no purpose. I challenge you, this week, to go out of your way to make a change in someones life. Be ready to serve, and have a servants heart for God, Whatever it Takes. Even if its minor, guarantee you'll find that if you do it with the right heart, you'll discover a passion for it. God will enable you too; If you see someone sick, go pray for them. God may not heal them straight away, who knows he may, but your faith, and you stepping out, is meeting God half way. All we have to do is believe, God brings the response, and Healing will come! Believe it! Thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did typing. Be Blessed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiHSDcx_3IE


Luke 14:12-14


(As for the Star Wars reference in the opening paragraph, that was for a mate)