LIVE|DEAD DAY 4: SACRIFICE

From Today's Reading:


"How have you defined sacrifice? Is it always suffering physical death or cultural distance from your family? Where are you getting your love, your respect, your acceptance? Are you willing to give those things to the Master? What is easy for you may be sacrifice for another. Are you measuring your sacrifice by what is hard for someone else? Are you willing to be the sacrifice (as opposed to making it)?"

Yesterday the journal talked about living simply, today it is sacrificially.   What we give up, what we let die, determines what will live in the new us.

I'm currently killing the weeds in my yard, so that I can grow green grass.  Something has to die before I what needs to live can live.  If the weeds don't die first, the grass won't grow.

On this journey - what are you willing give up?  What are you willing to let die?  What are you willing to kill?  What are you wanting to come ALIVE?  If God is speaking to you, and you feel comfortable, please share.

Live|Dependent
Live|Simply
Live|Sacrificially
Live|DEAD

Please pray for the Afar people today.

DAY 3 - SIMPLICITY

He is Risen! Happy Easter! As modern Christians we live as if a tightrope were strung between "the land flowing with milk and honey" and "sell everything you have and give to the poor." We are greedy for more but need to assuage our guilt over what we have. We try to maintain a balance and call it simplicity. We risk falling into the net of idolatry either by embracing materialism and serving possessions, or by renouncing possessions and embracing legalism and asceticism. But true simplicity emanates from meditating on the words of Jesus and then following His commandments and His example. Jesus says, "Fall into freedom; trust me, and stop worrying about what you have or don't have!"   What are you doing to make sure you seek his kingdom first?     It says to trust Jesus and stop worrying. Why do you think sometimes that is so hard?  

DAY 2: PARABLE OF FATHER'S HEART

Rembrandt was one of the greatest painters of all time.  In 1637, he painted this self portrait entitled "The Prodigal at the Tavern."

In it, he depicts himself and wife in a tavern or brothel.

During his life, Rembrandt lived an extravagant lifestyle and despite his popularity he struggled financially and had family struggles.

Compare "The Prodigal at the Tavern" with one of his last paintings below entitled "the Return of the Prodigal Son." 

They are fitting bookends to the life of Rembrandt, the center of one is pleasure.  The center of the other is the Father welcoming the lost son home.

How was the broken heart of God revealed to you today?  Describe your time listening and hearing His heart.  What did He say to you in the Silence?

In the Comments below, write out what God is saying to you about coming home and lostness.  Maybe you would like to share your story of God's power in welcoming you home.

Or, write your prayer for lost people like the Tigre people.

My prayer for you is you learn to weep for His children as He wept for you.

Live|Dead.

DAY 1 ABIDING: EXTRAVAGANT TIME WITH JESUS

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you abide in me, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."  John 15:4-5,16

Jesus is our priceless treasure. Because Jesus is worthy, because Jesus is worth it, "the whole church must take the whole gospel to the whole world" (Lausanne Covenant, 1974). As we fall deeper in love with Jesus, we become like Him. To be like Jesus is to love the nations of the world. To love the nations is to proclaim to them the gospel. The gospel is what God has done for us in Christ.

God has all resources. As we abide in Jesus, He pours Himself into us. When we are full of Jesus--His Spirit, His love-this fullness affects our spirits, it "lifes" us, it keeps us sweet and simple. From there we bless others near us; from there we bless the world. The abiding value simply means we take extravagant time with Jesus daily. While we will all do this differently, the essentials are time in God's word, the Bible, and in God's presence, prayer. The specifics are up to you. There will be many variables. There will be seasons of life. But together we declare that above all else we value Jesus. His person, His presence is everything to us, and we will demonstrate this by giving Him extravagant time daily.

How are you drawing strength from Him? 

Are you falling deeper in love with Jesus?  Are you becoming like Him?


Prayer Focus:  Rashaida People

The video below is off a Rashaida woman singing and dancing to celebrate the birth of a child. 

Pray as you watch that these people who have never heard the name of Jesus will have access to the Gospel. 

Welcome to the Live Dead Challenge!

Everyday you can come to this website and learn more about Live Dead. On the right side you'll see links to several different web pages that will help you in your prayer journey.

We are all looking forward to this journey together! As of today over 650 people have committed to the Live Dead Challenge!

I pray it will be powerful in your life. In the comments section below, would you answer a couple questions:

1) Why are YOU doing this Live Dead Challenge?

2) What do you hope that God does in your heart and life over the next 30 days?

Look forward to seeing what God does in our lives together!