Cleansing:

It is time. It is time to recognize sin as sin. It is time to slam the doors of our hearts on the feet that the enemy has in them. We have allowed way too much, thinking innocently of our pet sins which we cuddle up next to. What is your pet?

I'm not talking like a dog or a cat or a goldfish or crab as pets... I mean what do you play off as innocent that is secretly eating you away inside? What deception are you believing? If you knew that you were living half as effective of a life as you could, would you change it?

What is your pet? Is it worth your soul? Is it worth taking away from the measure of Christ in your life?

Think on this... you would answer no because it's the right thing to do, right? I did. If your actions could answer for you, what would they say?

It is in these moment that our faith is tested. Do we truly believe all of what Jesus said? If so why do we allow ourselves, rather than denying ourselves to be mastered by deceptive sins?

This isn't a fan club. It was never meant to be.

I hope that I am not coming down as judgemental, because this is a work that happened in me today. In the words of David Crowder: "When our depravity meets His divinity it is a beautiful collision."

I had a moment today while in the undeniable presence of God that I was confronted with my own inequitity. In the presence of a holy God, I found myself ruined. How can one be confronted by God and not move? It can happen from years of denial about our own sins. We become callous to the voice of God - and we wonder why He doesn't speak to us. It isn't a matter of Him not speaking, it's us not listening!

So what is your pet sin?

It's time to recognize sin as sin. God wants you to know Him so much more and in such a deeper way. This isn't a time for compromise. Today, more than ever, people need to see Christ-followers actually following, with everything they've got, the One they claim to believe in.

May there be no compromise.

Let us love God with complete abandon.

Fate:

Do you ever wonder how we end up at the right place at the time when we need to be there the most? I truly believe that there are times when God ordains the steps that we take. That doesn't mean that He forces us to walk them, but compels us to go. I had a moment like that today; a moment that by logic should have happened, but by God's design did.

Keep in mind that it is February 17th in New Brunswick, Canada. On a normal February day in New Brunswick, one would anticipate cold, biting weather with accumulations of white powder blanketing the scene.

One could also deduce that at the time of my encounter, I was scheduled to be in class, a ritual that I usually abide by.

Today was not what you would expect for February 17th at Bethany Bible College.

Earlier in the day, I was asked to borrow my resources for an exegesis for the duration of my class. Knowing that I was not going to accomplish anything before that class, I proceeded to bring these books to my friend.

As I ascended the stairs leading to my dormitory, I relished in the beauty of the wind that was blowing. I was not a typical, winter wind, but a wind that was warm. It was the warmth of a different season, like the advent of something close, but still yet to come.

While marveling, another conversation led me to continue basking in the abnormal day.

My footsteps led me to the doorstep of a dear friend and brother. As we sat and talking in the comfort of his living room, with the sun shining in, fires began to rage, and billows blew, heating the kiln as iron began to glow bright. Heavy hammers struck the iron metalwork on a solid anvil as something beautiful was beginning to happen.

It is true that iron sharpens iron and so one man sharpens another. I forget that I become dull on my own and cannot sharpen myself. I need to be plunged into fires and struck against the Craftsman's anvil. I need to come into contact with men of the same metal that we may both be transformed, renewed, and forged as a deadly weapon again the foe.

It was no accident that brought me to the fire today. There are two options that we have when it comes to the fire, either allow ourselves to remain burnt or allow ourselves to be molded.

Praise the Craftsman for His handiwork. Glory to the Lord who is not done with this sword. Hail to the King.