abundant, compassionate love

(forgot to click the send button yesterday)

Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

I love that verse.  While he was still a long way off...  God's love for us is far-reaching.  But while we were still sinnners, Christ died for us.

Yesterday, we found out that we won second place in the Desal Prize competition, and now we get to advance to an international demonstration.  I believe that the Lord is continuing to unfold and fulfill the global solar desalination dream that He gave me about 15 years ago!  And I believe that the Lord is lining up our next phase by allowing us to work with one of my Brothers from grad school.

Last night, Geovanni made it into El Paso, and Marcelo will arrive around noon.  I am so excited to host our Brothers from Ecuador and discuss long-term partnership for advancing His Kingdom!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your far-reaching love.  Thank you for watching us and reaching out to us with your abundant, compassionate love.  Lord Jesus, thank you for the opportunity to serve in your Kingdom.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.

accolades

Another week flown by.

Last night, I was on a solo mission to Wal-Mart, and I was singing the hymn, Old Rugged Cross.  I think the Lord brought to awareness my fleshly desire to receive recognition and honor in this life, but my spirit wants to serve the Lord so that He will be pleased with me from an eternal perspective:

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

As I was walking through the parking lot back to my car, I told the Lord that I want to work for His Kingdom, and I want to change my focus from accolades here on earth to a crown in eternity.

Heavenly Father, deliver me from pride and worldly distractions.  Lord, may I serve you faithfully.  Thank you for your grace.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.

significant moments

Over the past couple of days, I have had a chance to have a few minutes of spiritual conversation with one of the guys who works at the facility where we are testing this week.  A couple of days ago, he told me that their Bible study group is studying through the Bible, chronologically, and now they are in 2 Samuel.  The next morning, when I woke up, the Lord gave me a little thought about how King Saul lived his whole life controlled by fear.  Later that day, I had a chance to share that with my Brother here.  Last night, he told me that the Lord used that to encourage him and give him boldness to pray with a couple of the other guys who were really worn out from working so hard to prepare everything for this competition.  I think it is amazing how, if we stay focused on the Lord, especially in the midst of stressful situations, the Lord will use us to mutually bless others.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness.  Thank you for the opportunity to be used by you.  Thank you for speaking to me, and thank you for encouraging me with fellowship with this Brother.  May our lives continue to reveal your goodness and love.  Holy Spirit, please anoint me with your presence and power, and continue to speak through me.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.

more

Getting ready for the first official competition day in the Desal Prize.  Listening to Jeff Berry's album, Journey to the Well.  The Lord really stirred my heart with the first few lines of the song "More":

More than the water, I love the Fountain.
More than the warmth, I love the Flame.
More than green pastures, I love the Shepherd.
More than my life, I love your Name.

So, here I am.  Take my life, and glorify your Name.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this competition. I really am grateful for the ways that you have provided for us to be here.  I need to believe that you will bring us through this.  But more than the water, I love the Fountain.  May my heart always be true to you and your love.  You have forgiven my sins, you have given me your Spirit, and you are using me to advance your Kingdom.  I love you, and I want to walk with you.  Please use me to accomplish the good that you have destined me for.  I ask in the name of Jesus, Fountain of Living Water.

Dream-giver, dream-fulfiller

When we lived in Austin, Bruce Wilkinson spoke to our church about his book, Dreamgiver.  His basic point was that God gives people dreams, leads them through the desert of humility, and ultimately fulfills those dreams for His glory.

When I was working at a water treatment plant in high school or early college, I believe the Lord gave me a dream of developing solar-powered desalination.  I didn't even know what that really meant at the time.  I woke up restless at 3:45 this morning, and an hour later, I realized that the Lord was trying to get me to see that He is carrying on to completion the dream that He gave me years ago.  

This week, I am in Alamogordo, NM, participating in the Desal Prize competition, which includes five teams from all over the world who are demonstrating desalination processes, all powered by renewable energy.  This competition is sponsored by US AID, and the goal is to help provide drinking water and irrigation water to alleviate food scarcity around the world.  I do not think it is coincidence that I grew up on a farm.  I believe that the Lord is guiding my life and dreams, and while I do feel like I have been in the desert of humility, I know that He will defeat the giants of pride and arrogance in my heart, and He will use me to help people receive clean water and Living water around the world.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your kindness and compassion to give me a dream that is personal to me.  Thank you for your faithfulness and patience in unfolding and accomplishing your good plan in me.  Lord, though the road ahead is unclear, may I be joyful and content in knowing that you see my path, you will lead me along your path of righteousness.  Lord, may I be satisfied in knowing you and walking with you along this road.  Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice to redeem me from death and destruction.  Heavenly Father, thank you for seating me as a prince in your Kingdom.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence and power.  May I be sensitive to you today.  May the words of my mouth and the attitude of my heart be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Please use me to help others experience your goodness.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.

competition

Competition always exposes my pride.  Yesterday, I realized that I am anxious and frustrated about the desal prize competition this week, and I am pretty sure that the cause of my worry is pride.

I realized that I need to be grateful for the opportunity to compete, and I need to be humble and ready to learn from others.  In stead of focusing on winning, which is what my prideful flesh wants, I need to focus on demonstrating the character of Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to grow and reveal the fruit of the spirit in my life.

May the Lord be honored by my submission to Him and focus on Him, not on worldly accolades.

Heavenly Father, I love you.  You are kind and gracious.  Thank you for the opportunities that you have given me.  May I be faithful to accomplish your will, not mine.  In the words of Tozer, I want to want you; you have made me thirsty, make me more thirsty still.  Recently, I find myself to busy to be thirsty.  Please help me.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus.

Miracles versus conversations

Brandi and I have discussed how we think our faith would be so much stronger if we could see God work a miracle.  (I think Jesus validated the fact that observing miracles can increase your faith when He said that if the miracles that He had performed in Judea had been done in Tyre, they would have repented.)

But was thinking last night that perhaps having a conversation with God would be even more substantial for me than observing a miracle.  If I knew that I had two-way dialogue with God, I would have a better understanding of His personal character, which would change the quality of my belief from simply believing that He exists to believing that He is personable and good.  Of course, my conversation with God would not be direct evidence for anyone else's faith, but perhaps, indirectly, my confidence in knowing the Lord would dynamically affect the faith of others.

Heavenly Father, I want to know you.  I want to converse with you.  Lord, please speak to me, and help me listen.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.