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PASSIONA passionate person steps outside their comfort zone and relies on God to help him/her make a difference in the world.
Mt 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” Mt 3:4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Mt 3:5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Mt 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Mathew 3:1-6
Many biblical characters come to mind when I think about passion. One of the most passionate people in the Bible was John the Baptist. Obedient to God, John the Baptist preached the gospel. His platform was not an air-conditioned room, but a harsh desert. He preached the message of the coming Christ during the heat of the day. He wore simple clothes and had a desert-based diet; John the Baptist forewent a life of comfort to do the will of God. Many people went to the desert to hear his preaching, and repented and turned to God. I wondered how many of us would be willing to serve like John the Baptist. How long would be able to endure such a situation? I believe God placed John the Baptist in the Bible to inspire us to move out of our comfort zones. I do not think John the Baptist was able to live and serve in the desert by his own strength. God gave John the Baptist the grace and power to survive and preach in such harsh conditions. John the Baptism was relying on God in the desert for his provision, such as locusts and wild honey.
What if we decided to get out of our comfort zones and rely on God like John the Baptist? What if we learn to trust in God more for our provision? What if we give our lives fully to serve God and try to make a difference in our world? I believe we could make a huge impact in our world. God used one man in the desert to impact many people in his generation. God can use you and me to make a great impact in our society.
If we are to obey Jesus’ Great Commission and preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, we may need to be willing to forgo our comfort zones like John the Baptist.
NEW FRONTIERS
God is looking for people who are willing to go to new frontiers.
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1: 1-7
In the Bible, a generation of Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years because of their disobedience. Now God was raising up a new generation to advance into a new frontier: the Promised Land. God called Joshua to lead this new generation into the Promised Land. Their predecessors disobeyed God because they saw challenges which were greater than their God. When they spied the Promised Land and saw its giant walls and inhabitants, their hearts melted because of their unbelief. The majority of the spies spread a negative report throughout the whole Israelite camp, causing everyone to doubt God’s ability to help them claim the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb, having faith in God and not their own abilities, believed they could possess the Promised Land. After the death of Moses, the Lord called Joshua to march into the land with the Israelites and possess the land. God promised to be with Joshua and give him victory over the giants in the land. God was taking Joshua and the Israelites into a new frontier.
New frontiers are for those who trust in God to help them cross over their limitations and barriers.
I took some photos of a nice restaurant in Chiang Rai, Thailand 
CALL ON THE LORD God wants us to CALL upon Him for new revelations of His love, grace, plan and power.
Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand). Jeremiah 33:3 (Amplified Version) Every time I read Jeremiah 33:3, my spirit is overwhelmed with excitement, knowing that God wants us to call on HIM and He will answer our prayers. God wants to show us great and mighty things. God has so much more in store for you and me. God desires for us to seek HIM earnestly to know His plans and purposes. Let us pursue God’s will for our lives in 2011. God wants to do great things in and through us so we can be a blessing to our community and the nations. Call upon God for new anointing, blessing and provision upon our family, business and ministry. God is waiting to hear the voices of His people so He can unleash His love, grace and power.
On Sunday, we prayed for a lady who was wearing a hearing aid for over one year and God healed her ear. This lady was so happy that she could hear without her hearing aid. God is good!
