When it seems God is missing

When it seems God is missing
08.13.08

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it
an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your
faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will
be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
- James 1:2-4

Earlier this evening, as I was thinking about my current life status – no, not the single, or “in a relationship” status; I could not help but wonder where God is in the events that surround my life at the moment. I thought to myself “where is God?” I know that he’s here, I know that his word says that he loves me and that he has a good plan for my life, but there is this undeniable absence that has been troubling me greatly.

Relentlessly pursuing God through doing my devotions, God has been leading me, guiding me through questions and answers, and, in a way, keeping me reaching after him. Even though frustrating defiant feelings of abandonment sweep through my heart, filling my thoughts with anger and certain disappointment, I calm myself. I lay down and I begin to pray. A book of my favorite author slapped across my face, dimming the light of the lamp above me, I speak out to God in my head – most of which is silence followed by subtle sighs.

As the silence between us grows, I decided to open the book and begin to read the first chapter. I’ve read it at least four times by now, but I read it again. “Listen” it says, and goes on speaking about learning the first lesson of success, using Martha and Mary from the book of Luke as it’s opening and primary example. Unadmittingly, I was looking to just get through the chapter and move on to play “Army of Two.” But since I was already reading it, I decided to slow down and attempt to take in what was being taught through its message.

It’s a good thing that I did, because God began to speak to me through Pastor Wayne Cordeiro’s book – The Seven Rules of Success. He quotes an excerpt from John Ortberg’s book titled Love Beyond Reason:

“An unweaned child is a noisy child. The unweaned child has learned that eventually noise leads to the satisfying of his desires. And even if it doesn’t right away, the noise itself seems to bring him some type of relief. At least it makes others as miserable.
The weaned child, on the other hand, has learned that the presence of his mother is more than just gaining immediate gratification. This child has become capable of stillness and can have a whole new communication with his mother because now the mother is more than simply someone who exists to satisfy his needs or take away his hunger...Weaning means learning to live in stillness with unfulfilled desires for a while, but it is a mark of maturity, isn't it?”

A chord in my heart is struck, this is the answer; God has answered me. To be honest, the feelings of abandonment, and months of unanswered prayers I’ve been enduring, sure does not feel good. Moments of panic and disheartenment are not something that I treasure or look forward to, especially when this is “real-life.” But God is God, who can tell him what to do and be more right, or more loving in their answer or motive, than God?

You can be sure that I’ve complained more than once to God, said things that I won’t repeat here, and even tried to “pick a fight” with God. I’m not perfect, and believe it or not, frustration is frustrating. But I did not stop seeking after God, nor did I stop praying. I’ve learned to seek God with more intensity, and even worship God when so much stress and painful events surround me. It is hard to sing “You alone are God, I am yours and you are mine, and I know the heavens will call out your name if I don’t,” when you don’t even know where God is. There was, and still is, difficulty giving God praise and thanking him when there are “big pieces” of the puzzle to my life missing.

Then I remembered that God has already paid the price for my mistakes by coming down in human form, allowed his son Jesus to die in my place; I do have much to be thankful for, God has given me much already.

Is it right for God to wean us like he does at times?

I remember when I used to take swimming lessons when I first began to learn. The swimming instructor would back away a foot or two and then call out for me to swim to him. Trusting him, I would swim, and he would then help me back to the wall. This continued till I was proficient at that distance. One day, seeing him back out to the same distance, he called out to me to swim towards him again. Thinking, “I got this,” I begin to swim. One foot...two feet, no instructor, where did the bugga go? I look up, he’s right there. “I guess he slipped a little,” I thought, and got back to swimming. Another foot goes by – one foot is plenty for a small Filipino/ Hawaiian boy, so no laugh! – And I look up again, “What’s going on? My arms are getting tired!”

This time I don’t put my head down and begin to give the instructor “stink-eye” mixed with a look of panic, which should be sign to him that says “move again and I’m going to whack you.” By now I’m not really swimming anymore. I’m partly yelling, partly drowning, and am doing my new move the “claw-stroke” – where I’m going to try to claw your eyes out if I don’t drown first.

What seemed like forever, the instructor came and brought me back to safety. Just like a child being weaned to be more mature, my instructor was trying to get me to become more mature in my swimming. God does the same for us. Not to hurt us, or to cause pain, but so that we would mature in our faith and draw closer to him.

This past Sunday my pastor, Pastor Jim, asked a question that made me think. He asked, “Why do you think that the persecuted church grows, where as others don’t?” He did not give an answer, but I have one. It is because they have to rely on God more. Their maturity, faith, and beliefs are stretched, pruned, and are optimized to see the miraculous. Here, where there is virtually no persecution, and where everything you need is in a grocery store, we don’t rely on God as much. Yes, the miraculous does happen here and yes the church does grow here, but the difference between the persecuted church and the non-persecuted church are significant.

When we learn to rely on God more, when we seek him with all of our hearts for his will to be done, then it will be easier for God to move and we will see more of “God’s will being done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Seek God through every season,

Ikaika Mossman

Listening

Listening
08.10.08

“Listen, all the earth!
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
They have rejected my word.”
- Jeremiah 6:19

When we were young, our parents would always tell us to look both ways before crossing a street. There are those of us who have listened, and there are those of us who haven’t listened. Now our listening can become conditional, which is why we’ve gotten many constant reminders growing up. At the intermediate school I attended there was a boy who left home that day one reminder short. After school was over, walking towards the bus stop across the street, he was hit by a car. Luckily he only had a few broken bones, but perhaps if had listened to his parents, the entire situation could have been avoided.

Personally, being hit by a car has not been written on my list of “Oh Wows!” At least not yet it hasn’t. However, there have been other mishaps that, if I had only but listened, would have saved me from both physical and emotional pain. Listening is most certainly an acquired skill, it takes effort, and for some, a certain amount of skill. Jeremiah, a prophet for God, continually warned the Israelites of the destruction and agony that was going to hit their nation. They didn’t listen and only got angry with Jeremiah. Sadly enough, the reason why God was angry towards the Israelites was because they didn’t listen to Him; they followed their own cravings and ideas. God warned them to change their ways, they didn’t listen, and here God is warning them again that disaster will strike, once more they didn’t listen.

Stubborn hearts and stubborn minds got this nation in its bind (lol...it rhymes). When we become stubborn and choose not to listen, whether to our parents, the government, or most importantly God, we put ourselves at risk – of getting into trouble with the law, with the landlord, and with God. Now I enjoy certain risks of smaller magnitudes, like certain investments, racing a car on a track, or even asking the cute girl next door on a date. However, getting in trouble with the law, or worse yet, getting into trouble with God, to me, does not sound like a well thought out plan.

We all need our listening skills to improve and jump the next “leap and bound” to the next level. It will require wise decisions, focus, and being conscientious of what we are doing and saying. It also requires knowledge and being close to the Holy Spirit if we are to be like Jesus – who did all that God asked him to do. For this I strongly recommend reading God’s word daily for the purpose of knowing what God asks us to do. And just as Jesus was constantly praying to God, for His will to be done, as followers of Christ, it too would be wise to keep in constant consistent communication with the God who loves us and gives us purpose.

It is my prayer that both you and I, will be motivated to listen well, being obedient. For if we do, the time we save ourselves from hospital visits, and the agonies of backsliding will tremendously shrink. We will grow closer to God and in turn will allow ourselves to be used by God more frequently – our purpose.

Seek God with all of your heart,

Ikaika Mossman

A Hard Humbling Lesson

A Hard Humbling Lesson
08.06 - 07.2008

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

- Habakkuk 3:17-19

I’m no farmer that has fields of fig trees, grape vines, or olive crops that has gone barren and empty. Nor do I have empty pens of cattle and empty stalls of sheep. But I do know what it’s like to have much taken away, to have an empty fridge, and to have lost people I loved – to both death and unwise decisions. Even more so, I know what it’s like to be without a job and to have no family, or old friends, around to comfort and pick me up when I am down, out, and depressed.

I have lived on both sides of this spectrum, having before had so much to having so very, very little.

"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. (Luke 19:26)

I used to think to myself, what the heck does that mean, “for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.” How do you take away something from nothing, right? Being Humbled by God like this, I finally understand. I had everything I needed – friends, church, money, cars, a wonderful girlfriend – all right there for me. God even blessed me with leadership, allowing me to lead a men’s devotional group, as well as a mini-church. I saw prayers answered like I never seen before. This was me, being given more by God.

Then came the last two years of my life, where I gradually fell into drinking excessively; where I acquired alcoholism – stage 4 (if you’ve been to an alcohol class, like I have, then you would understand). I tried to kill all the pain in my life with alcohol, but it only made things worse. I began to blackout, have uncontrollable fits of anger, and depression. During this period I started cutting and burning myself with knives, lighters and cigarettes when I was drinking, and when I wasn’t. This terror in my life devoured me, my relationship with friends, the love of my life, my relationship with God, church, and work.

If you were to tell me, years before, that this would happen, I would have never of believed it.

Through this season and up until this very day, God began to take things away from me. My leadership, friendships, jobs, integrity, and even family were now significantly gone. My decisions lead to these things, and God allowed these things to be taken away so that I would be humbled and once again turn back to who should have remained the foundation of my life – Jesus Christ.

I was left with nothing, and what God took away from nothing was the God sent gifts, talents, responsibilities, and even answered prayers.

Now here I am in my own dark world, cut off from everything and everyone I had known. But instead of getting angry and furthering myself from God, I turn to him once again. I seek him more diligently then before, I slowly change my ways as God gives me strength. Even being jobless, not having very much, I give God praise as Habakkuk once did. My actions are not because God is being favorable to me, but because he deserves my worship to him, because my hope is in Him who both gives and takes away.

From having much, to having little, I will give God praise. Whether I get a job, and through whatever hardships come my way, as hard and as hurting as it feels and seems, I will continue to believe, trust, and worship my maker.

A hard humbling lesson indeed...

Living day to day, give God praise,

Ikaika Mossman

Source of Life

Source of Life
08.05.08

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
- John 7:37-38

Jesus, even though he was speaking to the Jews, is calling out to “Anyone” who desires true life, a life with purpose, meaning, and pure joy. Are you thirsty for more than what you already have, or don’t have? Not physical possessions, the luxuries in life, or anything else but what your life was made for, this is what Jesus was talking about. Are you thirsty? Does routine and the ever seemingly mundane, or even exciting and wild life, you live feel empty – like your missing something vital? When you hit your “means to an end” in the many activities and side adventures of this life, what’s next?

If you are thirsty for life, true life, with a purpose that will quench and dissolve that feeling of emptiness, then Jesus promises that if you come to him and drink, you will have true life. Be sure to take him in, accept him as your savior for your sins, because he sacrificed himself for all of us. Some people will come, but as quickly as they come, they will go. Others will come and drink, be satisfied for a little while, but then leave him, forgetting where the source of pure life comes from. But still others will come, drink and be satisfied, then in turn be an extension of that living water from Jesus to others who are thirsty.

This is similar to the parable of the seeds, or the story of the olive tree and the branches – that we have been grafted to the source of life. Jesus was telling them, and he tells us today through his word, through the Holy Spirit, and through others, that we need a source of life. Just like the branches attached to the olive tree; as long as we stay attached, God will prune us and enable us to produce fruit – life to others.

Don’t wait to the end to realize this, come to Jesus and have life abundantly! Even if you don’t completely understand now, when you see what God will do in your life and in the lives of those that you share this living water with, you will.

Come to Jesus, receive life and purpose, and share this life with those around you – let “rivers of living water...flow from your heart” from the source – Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the source of life.

Drink well,

Ikaika Mossman

Never Rejecting

Never Rejecting

08.04.08

”However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

- John 6:37-40

I believe that being humans, we have a natural tendency to fall away from God, do our own thing, and flow to the beat of the crowd. It is for this reason that God required the kings of Israel to study his law everyday, that they would consistently be refreshing their minds and souls to be aligned with his will, not their own. The whole reasoning behind this is because God knows better than us, and will never lead us astray.

But as many followers of Christ know, we all fall short from time to time; there are even times when we forget to come back to our first love. Even so, there is still hope, there is good news that Christ will never reject any of us from coming to him when we go back. He loves us and desires for our salvation, our success, and our lives to be lived to the fullest of our potential. He made each and everyone of us, there would be no you without him, and with each life comes a plan that extracts our abilities, talents, and even pure longings.

God does not want any of us to ever feel rejected by him, but desires to be the foundation of each and every one of our lives. Listen, “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up...” This is God’s will, that we would all be a part of God’s family – O’hana.

When these times happen, when we fall away from God because of bad choices, or because of the distance we have allowed to grow between us, God is searching for us. If he came for us through his son Jesus Christ to save us from the affects of sin, then certainly he will continue to search for us now, presently, during times when we fall.

It is my hope that we will take a pro-active stance on this and seek after God daily, speak with him and pray that his will be done on earth as it is in heaven (just as our example Jesus did).

Before We Even Ask

Before We Even Ask

08.02.08

“I will answer them before they even call to me.
While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers!”
- Isaiah 65:24

God’s love and care for his people is greater than we know, I believe. His patience and mercy is beyond compare, that he would answer and meet the needs of those who choose to follow after him. It’s hard to understand or even believe that God will answer our prayers and meet our needs when there is so much pain, poverty, and senselessness in this world we live in. I could easily say that God does not answer prayers and that he doesn’t seem to care about this world, or us, the people, living in it.

It’s too easy to see and view only the bad, I think that it is our view and understanding of the world we live in that blinds us to the truth – a higher and better perspective on life. God created us in his own image. He knew before we were even born that our ability to choose could lead us into a life that was separated from him. Even so, God still created us and loved us with his entire being. Eventually our free choices got us into trouble, our relationship with God was severely severed, but we were not completely lost. God had a plan.

As lost as we were, God, worried about us, chose to come to earth in human form to find us, to save us. Love drove him to take every wrong we’ve ever done, place it on his self, and willingly paid the price – death; He was our sacrifice. For those who would choose to follow him, he willingly died, for those who would deny him, scorn him, and hurt him, he died. God made the way for our return into his Kingdom, and into a wonderful relationship with him, even before we asked, before we knew we’re in need of a savior.

What could show that God would answer our prayers, even before we asked, better than this? Still it is hard to comprehend why so many evils in this world exists, and why it seems like God does not answer prayers and meets needs like for those who are homeless, poverty stricken, and addicted to drugs. Personally I pray every day for God to help me get a job, I’ve applied at over twenty different companies and at one employment services agency. I’ve gone to my church for help, talked to my pastor and have asked numerous friends and family to pray that God blesses me with a job. Still, nothing seems to be happening. What do I do from here?

The only thing that I can do - cling to God! As down as I may get at times, I seek God and choose to continue to trust him. Believe me; I’m not always happy and cheery when I pray to him. I get angry too, I get frustrated. But if I don’t turn to God, who do I turn to. If God chooses not to answer my prayers, who can I complain to, or who has authority and power equal to his that I can turn to. No one and nobody is equal to God, so when I complain, I complain to God

Active Expectant Anticipation

Active Expectant Anticipation
07.24.08

“But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”
- Isaiah 40:31

If to wait on the Lord means to literally wait, then I have certainly been waiting for awhile now. I’m waiting for a job, a miracle really, to get me through and above the bad choices I’ve made, as well as the current situations that I come to find myself in. But I get the impression that this “waiting” is not a pacifistic waiting, like someone in the “waiting” area to see a doctor, or something as mundane as waiting for the water to boil. Even a chef has to turn the knob or press a button in order to get the heat going, the process started, in order for the water to boil. So what is God asking when he instructs us to wait on him?

I will suggest that waiting on the Lord could be described in several ways. The basis for me and my understanding is that waiting on the Lord is an active expectant anticipation of the Lord’s coming – both in our struggles and the future when God judges the world. To wait on God is more than just passively sitting in a chair expecting to be swooshed up into blessings, because you just prayed to the Holy One. Instead it is an active role where we participate in following God’s commandments, teachings, and life lessons.

Trusting God and waiting on him will include being patient through trying times, times of despair, and times of utter frustration. I’ve gone through a lot of frustration; in fact I am still going through a lot during this season of my life. However, though I may vent my anger and discontent at God, I have never ceased to, though I may have “slowed” down on, seeking God. Trust God throughout all of life’s circumstances – both good and bad, for it says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge him in all you do, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6) And in Romans 8:28, it says that God works all things together for good to those who love God and have been called according to His purpose (I would add that it’s more like those who have accepted the “call”).

When we are able to wait on God, he promises to renew our strength...a new hope, or renewing our hope, I believe, is also an accurate description too. So do not be afraid to come to God in whatever state you may be in, just do not give up, but continually seek after him, following his word and instructions for a fruitful life the best you can, for God loves us and cares for us even more than the best of friends, family, or partner.

God bless you as you wait on the Lord,

Ikaika Mossman

Preparing to Further Hope

Preparing to Further Hope

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy”
- 1 Peter 1:13-16

Faith - my beliefs and choices put into action, executed by self-control, founded in my hope that is being fully placed in Jesus Christ (in what he has done, and in the promises that the Lord has made to those who seek him and follow after him).

Trying to daily remind myself of what I am living for, what my actions are telling the world of what I stand for, has taken on a new form and definition for me. Perhaps it is more than just that, but that perhaps what I think I know is actually growing and becoming more complete in what the truth really is regarding what Jesus said about “counting the cost” – am I willing to put the effort required for following Christ?

“Prepare” - what God is trying to get our eyes to open up to and minds to wrap it’s understanding around, is what Peter says. There really is a preparation for moving the thoughts of our faith into action, it takes time, and it takes our willingness to use our self-control. So what does this “preparing” look like?

It’s quite simple; it means that we need to choose our choices before the opportunity to make them comes. Did you catch that? For instance, if there was a test and the only way to pass was to study for it, you would need to prepare by studying. In the same way, we need to study God’s word to help prepare our minds for the decisions that will come and test our faith. In Hosea 4:6 it says that God’s “people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge.” (emphasis added)

In the Old Testament, after Moses had passed away, the Lord commanded Joshua to lead his people to cross the Jordan River into the promise land. God had previously given them instructions to follow out as well as his commandments that they were to follow. The Lord continued to speak to Joshua saying “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8)

Even Kings in the Old Testament were required to have a copy of the lord’s instructions and commandments as it says, “He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way...” (Deuteronomy 17:19-20)

Meditating on God’s word, day and night, and daily reading to learn to fear the Lord, keeping us from turning away, is what we must do to prepare our minds to action (just as Joshua and the Kings of Israel had to do). This is the best way, if not the only way, to be ready for the tests that come in our lives. God does not want us to be caught off guard or unprepared, and this is the reason why God graciously guided the completion of the Bible for us.

Do not forget to prepare, to study God’s word, allowing it to penetrate, pierce and transform our thoughts as well as our hearts. Our faith lived out is the most important thing we can do after choosing to follow our Lord and savior; living consciously of our thoughts and actions to live with self-control. All of this for the hope we have in Christ, living without regret, knowing that our actions are furthering not only God’s Kingdom, but stretching out the hope we carry inside to those who are hurting, in need of, and searching for the one true God.

Seek God and live out your faith full heartedly,

Ikaika Mossman

More than words, but actions

More than words, but actions

"Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory."

-2 Kings 18:5-8

Time and time again I’ve read feats and characteristics of men such as David, Hezekiah, and Abraham. These were men who sought after God’s own heart, men who were called friends of God, and who held fast to their faith and belief in God and what he said. Last night a friend of mine, the beautiful Jen, took me to New Hope in Hawaii. It had been at least six months since I’ve been there because of my circumstances at the moment. To my surprise neither Pastor Wayne, nor Pastor Elywn were to speak, but a Pastor from New Hope Tokyo – Pastor Talo.

He gave a message entitled “Make Us Evangelistic.” It was really inspiring and reminded me of the importance of living out your faith, doing more than just believing alone. It was simple, but powerful. A wake-up call if you will that ideas and beliefs alone will not get the job done, but the deeds and actions behind driving that faith forward into reality. It is like there is a void between what we believe and what actually takes place in each of our individual lives. This emptiness between can only be crossed when we make the effort and take the initiative to bridge that gap with the choices we make and actions that we take.

A part of me used to think that it may be enough to just believe it, and when it suited me I would bridge that gap, or when there would be no cost and chance of embarrassment. However this is not what it means to be like Hezekiah who “held fast to the Lord,” or David who “was a man after God’s own heart.” Being a Christian is not about what is convenient or easy for me, having a relationship with God is not about him just benefiting us with “blessings” of money, some hot chick or that hunk of a man, or even a job. Our relationship with God most not just be in our heads, but our hearts through actions and deeds. Knowing God’s word and seeking after God as followers did before us will be a part of our guidance, and the other will be God’s Holy Spirit that has been promised to us.

Hezekiah was not noted for holding fast to God because he picked and chose what commands to follow and which to ignore. His success did not come from doing whatever he wanted, or even what he may have “thought” God wanted him to do. Hezekiah loved God to the extent of not just putting his own life on the line, but the risk of his entire kingdom – which was being threatened by the king of Assyria at that time. It is his actions that pleased God; he would not follow certain kings before him who worshiped and burned incense to other gods. By tearing down and destroying objects, and practices that God had commanded his people not to do, he chose his love for God over his love for man and his approval.

Choices, our world, our life are filled with them. We can either choose what we believe, or what is popular. We can choose our friends, or we can choose God. Not everything is always so cut and dry, or black and white, but this is why there is also the option of seeking God.

There was a time in my life where I forgot these things and let down a lot of people – best friends, family, and others that I failed to love properly. My choices were poor and did not match up to the beliefs and values that I held, I suppressed them in bitterness and anger. Obviously that was not the right choice, instead of the bitterness and anger I should have chosen to hold fast to God.

The past is done and over with, but with the present I have the choice to change my future. Even though it will not be easy to move forward fast with ease, my hope is in the Lord and choosing to take actions on my faith, I know now, is worth more than all the money, or even beautiful women, in the world. I choose Christ Jesus. It is my hope and prayer that those who read this will look at their lives and make the same choice to follow after our Lord. Don’t just think about following, but do it, make your next choice one which you will never regret; choose to follow Christ.

God bless and choose well,

Ikaika Mossman

Two Parts to Faith

Two parts to Faith

“If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead... You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” - James 2:16-17, 22

Faith, what is it really? Is it just hoping, or wishful thinking, or an out-dated belief in some “god” or “higher power”? Normally when someone says faith, it is to be taken as that they believe in...whatever it is they have faith in. For example: I have faith that the U.S will come home with 20 gold medals from this year’s Olympics, or I have faith that I will get a job. Believing that something will happen or come to pass even without really knowing is faith, but it is just the first half of it.

The Bible puts it this way, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Is it enough to just believe? It is not enough to just believe, but to act on those beliefs as well. Putting action behind what we believe is true faith, a faith made whole really. Believing is good, but to just believe, what would be the point?

So right now I need a job. I could sit at home and do nothing and say to myself, “Ikaika, I believe you need a job!” And then I’ll reply to myself, because that’s what crazy people do, “Yes, you are right I do, need a job. I hope I get one.” Well, I believe, and do add to it, I’m hoping. Unfortunately sitting down is not going to help my belief at all. But if I believe and then get off my boney butt and apply for a job, that is when I truly believe it. To truly believe something, you must do something that supports your belief, because if not it is just an idea, an unconvincing thought.

Laughing to myself, this seems so very commonsense, like we should all slap our foreheads and say “duh” in a very dramatic fashion. I suppose though that commonsense really is not all that common, and the reason for that is because often we are too close to a problem or situation to see the answer clearly. In other words, commonsense is so common that it is too close for us to see it.

However, more than just applying it to our daily mundane ventures, I believe that this needs to be applied to our spiritual lives, because a lot of good can come from doing just that. A lot of us are trying to live a “good” life, trying to say the “right” things, praying at every meal, but other than things that just seem so ritualistic and repetitive – which there is nothing bad about, wouldn’t it be more potent as Christians to do more of what we say we believe?

Without dragging this on any further, I would like to challenge you, as well as myself, to look at what you believe from the Bible and find just one thing that you could put action behind to make it a true, whole, and complete faith. Find just one thing that you can identify with, that you believe and have faith in, but have taken little or no action behind and take action on it. It could be something simple as honoring your mother and father, visiting a friend or family member in prison, helping a friend that is in need that you are able to help, or even something as big as buying me “Star Wars: Unleashed” for my Xbox 360 (that was a joke by the way).

Find something to challenge your spiritual growth, even if it’s the same challenge for several days. Your spiritual growth will mature you and grow you in ways that going to school, having a full-time job, or parenting alone won’t do. This will ultimately draw you nearer to God, and like Abraham and Kind David, you will be considered a friend of God and A man, or woman, after God’s own heart.

God bless and grow well,

Ikaika Mossman

To Christ Encouraging Hearts

To Christ Encouraging Hearts

“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

- Hebrews 3:12-14

No words could be truer for someone whose eyes had been opened to the truth. Whether it is someone who just understood for the first time or someone whose heart had been hardened after first believing and whose hard-shell over the heart had finally been cracked open – like the cracking of a window, enjoying a fresh breeze of air, in a hot and humid house.

Everyone has fallen away from God; you fell away when Adam and Eve brought sin into the world. Even after believing for the first time, after first realizing - that this world is more than what it seems, that there is a spiritual reality, a God, a savior, and true life – many fall right back into the life they first knew, they fall back into a “default” way of living. Just as a dog will return to its vomit, we will often return to old ways, the ways before we entered into the reality of the spiritual pulls and throws of deceivers – the prince of darkness and things which follow him.

Whether you have fallen away or not, it is having Him as the source that is important. Coming to God, “clinging” to him and seeking him, this will have to happen and have to be if any of us are to be called “friends of God,” and to really be a believer.

Sin has a way of distancing us from God, the counter-action of our steps of faith and pushing off the path of purpose that God has planned for us – plans he devised even before we were born, before we gave up our stubborn ways and opened our hearts to the living God. And this is why Hebrews says that we must encourage one another daily, as long as we are alive and breathing – this is our “Today.” This is because sin really does harden us if left unchecked. When we allow sin to linger in our hearts, our hearts will become calloused due to the simple fact that we did not correct it. Sin has the power to destroy even the closest of relationships to God, to anyone really, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Encourage each other to be strong in Christ, because when our own strength withers and gives out from exhaustion and confusion, it will be the strength of God through fellow believers – our family in Christ – that will help us to withstand whatever the enemy throws at us. Do not give in to the lies of the enemy; do not believe the doubts in your own head, just because you think it does not mean it’s true. Our best source of truth comes from God; it comes from his word – The Bible.

Remember that sins deceitfulness is that when we fall, or give in to temptation, we think that we should give up and roll over, perhaps even to crawl into a hole and die. This is not true, it is not God’s truth, and his truth and what he says and thinks should matter above all else, even above our own thoughts and disabling inner babblings.

Can you recollect your mind set, thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the time when you first believed? Do you recall your confidence in Christ, even though you were just saved, the zeal and joy you experienced diving into God’s word, attending church, and speaking to friends and loved ones of your new found faith? Bring back that freshness and newness into your life, take confidence in Christ just as David did as he faced Goliath. Encourage each other and remind each other of what God has done, and what he will do, everyday.

Be blessed and encouraged through whatever trials and hardships you may be facing. You are not alone, for at the least God is there and his Holy Spirit dwells in all who believe and acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

with much Encouragement,

Ikaika Mossman

Pray at all times

"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be
persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."
- Ephesians 6:18

The power of prayer. Prayer is real, I've seen the results of prayer, how it can change, influence, and impact the world around you. Don't be mistaken, it's not like I can pray and have the entire world at peace the next day. And there is certainly more to prayer than I know, but just because I don't understand it doesn't mean that I doubt it...even during the times when my prayers are not being answered.

Most of us pray, whether it's for our food, for a dying family member, injured friend, or broken relationship; we pray. But what I'm speaking on today is that God desires for us to come to him even when we don't have a dire need. To come for even smaller things, to come even just to chat about life - how you feel about it, the thankful times too, God likes this and so will you.

"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion" means to be not praying every second of every day, but to be alert to what God may be asking you to pray for and for things that you may see happening around you that could use a touch of God. If you are a believer then you should know that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12

Our prayers affect the our world around us, not because we are powerful, but because God is.

I'm going to make this short, because I'm currently in the market for a job. So let me finish my saying that God does not always say "OK" to our prayers. There are a couple of things that I want you to have in mind about prayer. The first thing is that we must pray according to the will of God. If you are wondering what that is, it is best found in the Bible - this shows us God's will in general. Second thing is that prayer can be a powerful spiritual weapon/tool. It has the power to bring people from the dead and it has the power to help others get a job - hopefully like myself, I'll let you know. The point is that your faith, maturity level, righteousness - being in good standing before God, all are taken into account when you pray for something. Now by this all I'm trying to say that the closer you are to God the more in tune with God's will you will be, this will result in seeing more prayers answered.

Think of it this way, a child says she wants to be a police officer to her father, should he give her a gun? Of course not, he'll start her off with a water gun if anything. She'll only get the gun after growing up and getting the proper training. Prayer can be likened to a gun in this sense.

Pray, seek God, and if all your prayers are not answered right now, or right away, don't beat up yourself or God about it. Talk to Him about it, continue to seek God, you will see God more and more. You will see your prayers becoming more and more effective. God is real, he's alive, and he desires for all of us to be close to him. Take care,

Seeking God and praying,

Ikaika Mossman

God's plan His truth

“The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

- Proverbs 33:10-11

It’s amazing, the thought of the things I’ve gone through and things that have at one point made me such a strong believer, truly it is amazing. To have had so much in terms of faith, leadership abilities, and friends, then lose it because of a pain that felt as if it had ripped my insides to shreds. Certainly I am not blaming anyone; truly it was my fault on the way I had dealt with it. I just reacted and only cared about destroying my memories and numbing my pain. That was foolish and I wasted so much time cleaning up the mess I had created.

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...” In Jeremiah God speaks of plans he has for not just him, but for all of us. He knows us and he has given each of us enough faith to at least come and seek him out, to prime the “pump” to a deep well of faith. God’s plans will stand forever, and no one can truly thwart them. And if God’s plans will stand forever, even if I mess up and stumble down the cliff I had climbed up over the years, I can still get back up and past the highest point as long as I’m still alive and still breathing. There’s still a chance to reach the highest goals and dreams I know that God has placed in my heart.

All it took was for me to have heard the truth once again to be reminded of who I was and where I was going, where God was taking me to more specific. It’s amazing what the truth can do when you recognize it, how it can affect the way you see and perceive life. It can be likened to a lei – a flower wreath that goes around your neck, wherever you go, the world around you will smell just like that lei you are wearing. If you have a fresh flower lei of plumerias, life will smell ever so beautiful. However, if you are wearing a lei of dead fish then life will smell...”fishy.” That lei we wear is the “tool” we use to perceive life.

There’s a story about this student who had to take a final the up-coming day. He hadn’t studied very much and needed to achieve a high score to pass the class. He snuck into the teacher’s office and copied the answer booklet with his camera phone. He studied the answers all night and was confident he would do well. The next morning he walks into class ready for the test, completely concentrating on the answers in his head and nothing else. The finals are passed out and he begins...after answering a few questions he pauses, realizing he had made a grave error. He had studied for the wrong final, the wrong answer booklet. He had gotten the two final days mixed up.

If our “answer booklet” is wrong, we will perceive life wrong, just like the student who studied the wrong “answer booklet.” But if our “answer booklet” is correct, if we have the right truths to open our eyes, then life is even bigger than it had once seemed – this is because truth will often broaden the horizons and give definition and true depth.

God’s plans are God’s plans, you cannot change them in the broad sense, but you can for your own personal life if you really choose to – both for good and for bad, it is what you decide. I hope that you want the best for your life, and for your future, because God wants that for you too. It’s up to us though to follow him as he leads us down this path. What will you choose? How do you wish to see yourself when the end comes and all is said and done?

May you follow God and learn of his wonderful plans for your life.

God bless,

Ikaika Mossman

Get rich quick quickly disappears

"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
wealth from hard work grows over time."

- Proverbs 13:11

For a person who leaves home and goes off somewhere with nothing, but the clothes on his back, it is hard to to make their "claim" on their dreams. But at the same time it forces you to do what you must to survive and to eventually see your dreams come to fruitfulness. Certainly I have felt this way when I first got here, and continually feel this way. Perhaps I came with more than just the clothes on my back, but truly I have been put in a position where I must push forward and work hard to see my dreams come true.

I've tried several "get-rich-quick" schemes and have just waisted money and time. From things such as ways to get free money from the government and other organizations, to those "type from home" gimmicks, and to other things that involves "clicking" and buying "clickers" to "click" to make money.

I was too naive and believed them without thinking. How very unwise of me. Get-rich-quick schemes don't work, unless you are the guy who's selling the product. He is certainly getting rich quick. Everyone else who joins in or buys the product will never be as rich as the one who started it, especially for product sellers. As if they will tell you all their secrets that have made them rich, if they did then they wouldn't be rich anymore.

Do not be foolish and fall for such things. It truly is hard work that will give you the good results you need, and perhaps even a bit of "luck." I have two online endeavors going on right now, both have just begun for me. Everyday I do something that will help my company and endeavors get noticed by the online community and by people I meet here where I live. It is hard work, building it up, the hours of typing and thinking, studying, reading, and learning how to run and expand my business is hard. But I know that God will bless my efforts. I know he'll give me success as I put him first and work hard on my legitimate endeavors. Not like those who sell "get rich quick" schemes and products.

There is no room for laziness, for just talking about the fortune I want to make, or my dreams that I want to achieve. To make it a reality, to see it come to pass, I must work towards them. And that is what I am going to do, as hard as it may be for me right now, as tired as my eyes get from staring at my computer, as broke as I feel at the moment; I will achieve the best of what God has for my life.

The best part is that I know that anyone can do the same. God promises us all that he has a good and wonderful plan for us, that will bring prosperity and hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.)

One last thing I want to leave you with is this from Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Like me, most of us have probably rebelled against God plenty. I've only begun to get to know God since my senior year in high school, and have made plenty of mistakes - things I am ashamed of. But I know these words to be true, because there was also a time when I was so close, where I saw prayers answered so quickly, so reassuringly and gently. I have no doubt in God's words...

And that is why I've started this blog, to draw closer to God once again, to share what I am learning in hopes to help those when they up against similar situations and circumstances, and to show in time how true God's words are.

God bless,

Ikaika Mossman

Where is God through life’s pains?

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.”
- Psalms 136:1

Being thankful to God is not always the easiest thing to be, especially when you are down and out. Can you imagine how hard it is to be thankful when you are living from paycheck to paycheck, barely making ends meet? Or perhaps it is even more difficult for you, and you are not meeting ends meet, you’re borrowing money, gaining more debt. Is it still fathomable to give thanks to God and call him good? It is hard to be in that place and answer “YES.” But there are those who really can, why is it that in the midst of such pain – someone in the family accidently dies, like the recent tragedy of Mr. Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter – Maria Sue, who was accidently killed.

(I can only imagine the pain, hurt, and wonder of “where was God” going through their thoughts and minds of others who have heard and read the news. Where is God when life’s pain sticks us like a spear through our hearts? My heart and prayers go out to this wonderful family who has helped millions through their God given gifts.)

God is good, or there would be no good in this world at all. People would not dedicate their entire lives to helping those who struggle, who lay dying in the gutters of Calcutta, who build schools, houses, and hospitals for those who have none in the Dominican Republic and many other places around the world, including right here at home. God is still good when we take our eyes off of the pain and back on God.

This does not mean that we ignore the pain, or pretend that it had never happened. God does not ignore our pain, and neither should we. Instead we focus on God, because that will begin to help heal the pain and hurt we have gone through, it helps us to move forward in a healthy way. Staring at and focusing only on what has happened will often disable us from moving forward, being able to trust that God will bring a measure of good out of something so wrong and heart wrenching.

David had gone through such pain and trials in the process of becoming the King of Israel. King Saul was bent on having him killed, he was jealous of David with such a fierce desire. Several times he tried to kill David by hurling a javelin at him. Finally David had to flee the city. Instead of cursing God and trying to get revenge, David cried out to God. He knew that God was still good; he knew that if there were to be a turn of events, God was going to be the one to do it. And in time, David was freed from the pursuit of King Saul.

Later, after David had become King, he lost a son. In fact, I believe that he lost two sons at different periods. Even with the pain, the mourning of his heart, he chose to trust God. He found God to be true, to be faithful, and good.

God is good, he is faithful and loving. Perhaps humbling our selves, even during the worst of times - the hardest of times, through the pain, we will allow God to work out good through the bad.

today's Daily Devotions,

-istyles

Wisdom Before Riches

Daily Devotions:

“Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.”

- Proverbs 8:10-11

No amount of money or jewels is more valuable than a strong character, integrity, or sound wisdom. Making a wise decision brings about many good things. Choosing to stay faithful to your wife builds integrity, as well as building your love for your wife (like reinforcing a steel door). Every action taken in wisdom is can be either compared to well maintenance of an engine, or the “upgrading” of one. This allows the person to continue on, doing well, for a very long time. Just like a well kept car. But a decision or action taken on just a feeling alone, without wisdoms guidance, is compared to a person who never lifts a finger to make sure his car is in at least operational condition. This will eventually lead to many car failures, and possibly even to the driver’s death, or someone else’s.

Wisdom – good judgment, insight, and understanding, should come before money, fame or popularity, and pleasure. It leads to a healthy and purposeful long life. The pleasures from a life lived wisely is better than living a life filled with luxuries. For the value is great.

I need to live a life that is wise. I must seek for the understanding of God and his insights into my life and the decisions that I’ll have to make in the future, as well as the present. Money, social status, and pleasure should not ever come before being wise. God says that if we need wisdom, if we need to know what to do, that all we need to do is ask him and expect an answer. Trust God. How? By just doing what He says. This alone shows God that you trust him, and will allow your relationship with him to grow as well.

Thanks for reading todays “Daily Devotion.” I hope that it was of some help, though it was pretty short today.

- istyles

Daily Devotion: Fairness and giving

Fairness and Giving

“David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.”

- 1 Samuel 30:23-25


One reason why David was a good King and blessed by God is because he shared. He was not greedy in his dealings with treasure and plunder. Even when a part of his army was too exhausted to go and fight – taking back their belongings, wives, and children that were plundered by another nation, David made it a rule that all the “extra’s” that were plundered needed to be shared equally among all the men…I believe that it created the feeling of equality among his men. David, however, probably had a larger portion because he was their leader. But just because he was the leader didn't mean that he kept all for himself. He then gave to the elders and friends in different cities who have helped him and his men in the past. (1 Sam 30:26-31)

On my road to not just becoming a “better” person, living actively in service to God, I need to learn to be more giving. I need to give to God my tithes and offerings, to those who are my friends and are in need. But also to those who are needy, like the Egyptian that David and his army came across while looking for the Amalekites. This is just a small part, but good part, that’ll help me to become all that God has created me to be.

In my devotions on this day, I leaned that giving and being fair in the sight of God is more important than in the sight of men. Giving of my time, my finances, my love, friendship, to both God and people are important. It is because this life is situated around relationships. Whether it is looked upon something that is seen as shallow - for money only, or sex only, or something more meaningful (like doing devotions: making the time with God, or marriage - intimacy at it's deepest level. Perhaps there were even tactical and military advantages to not bringing the tired men along as well. Giving gave David favor with both God and man; I believe that it also taught him, or trained him, to not be greedy or quick for gain during that time.

Thank you for reading my devotions for today. I hope to do this daily for myself and to encourage others who are curious, or are seasoned warriors, and want to press into knowing this awesome God.

Daily seeking our God,

istyles

Daily Devotions

Welcome to Daily Devotions. I created this blog in the hopes of to inspire, motivate, and give insight to those who are in a growing relationship with God, or have the desire to learn about who he is. I am not a scholar or a professional in the ministry; I am just a college student making his way through this journey called life. I hope that you will enjoy daily devotions.