Messiah Baptist Church, Wake Forest, NC » Jason Hammond

How do we love God?

Jason Hammond — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:15:28 +0000

So…I’ve been thinking. Yesterday, Adam asked us why and how can and do we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. That’s really been on my mind a lot this morning. I’ve really been thinking through the passage in Galatians 2 where Paul says that we are crucified with Christ, and it’s not us who live, but Christ who lives in us. As I think on that, I think about what Alan brought up about the passage in Deuteronomy and how God told Israel that they won’t love Him with everything, and just how I can’t love Him like that. The only way for that to be possible is that I surrender and step back and allow Christ to show that love. That’s really been a humbling and freeing thought to me this morning. On one hand, I’m am just so convicted about how much I get in the way, and though I try to love, so often it’s in vain. On the other hand, what a comfort that I don’t have to. I put it that way only because I know I just can’t sit back and be lazy about it. there is obviously the fact that I have to choose to love, but with that I have to choose to surrender and humble myself and allow the love of Christ work through me. Just some things that I’ve been thinking on this morning and wanted to share.

“I don’t have enough time…”

Jason Hammond — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:04:44 +0000

So…I’m not sure if anyone else struggles with this or if it’s just me, but i was just doing some thinking. This past week and a half I confess that my time with the Lord has been very limited. As I was thinking on that I started to justify in my mind why that has been. The big thing is,” I’m too busy. I have a wedding that I’m planning for, so I just dont’ have…” Can you fill in the blank? Yes, i was going to finish that thought, but then it hit me. “What are you talking about?” I have all the time in the world to spend with my precious Father. I just allow myself to get caught up with busyness and the noise of everyday life. I then realized that it’s these times that i get busy and stressed with so much to do that I need Him all the more. What a reminder it is for me that I need to just take a step back, and not only seek Him for strength, guidance, and wisdom, but also to cultivate that relationship and get to know more of who He is. I’ve definitely found myself more vulnerable without Him this week. So i just confess that I’ve allowed myself to place other things as idols above Him this week, and I repent of my sin. I encourage all of us if we are finding ourselves too busy to spend time with Him, than maybe some of the things that we are doing, can wait until we’ve had some quality and quantity time with our Heavenly Father.

Forgiveness

Jason Hammond — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:42:06 +0000

Yesterday in service, a brother taught out from Matthew 18:21-35, and it dealt with forgiveness; learning to forgive others knowing the forgiveness that we have received from our wonderful Father. Well…it was a very sobering message and the Lord was really breaking me over some things yesterday. One of the things He reminded me of is how subtle bitterness can be in our lives. There has been some tension between myself and another sister and I tried to make it right last week, so I made a call but couldn’t get a hold of this sister. Well I became very prideful thinking that I did my part, which my Father really rebuked me about yesterday. He showed me that I was holding some bitterness towards this person, which I was able to repent of. I decided to give this person a call again to try and make things right, this time the way that the Lord calls us to and not in my own pride. I still wasn’t able to talk much with this sister as of yesterday, but I am hopeful to be able to make things right. I am praying that the Lord would work continue to teach me how to forgive others and continually remind of the great debt that I’ve been forgiven that I might come to know Him more.

So much to think through

Jason Hammond — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:17:49 +0000

So… it always seems that as I am thinking through something in particular, the Lord brings so much more to mind. I’m in the process of thinking through repentance and what true repentance looks like, and it seems that the Lord is constantly showing me areas in my life that I need to repent of. I like how He gives me opportunities to put into practice what I’m thinking about.

For instance, I was talking with a brother the other day about eldership. He went into how one big thing about being an elder is the fact that the elder is an example to the rest of the body, Philippians 3:17 for example, as to what it should look like to follow Christ. He mentioned that I should look at those in the church who set those kinds of examples in many areas in their lives such as serving others.

As I reflect upon that, the Lord is really showing me how selfish I am with my time. I want to do things on my schedule, when they are convinient for me. This is only one area of sin out of many that the Lord is showing me. Lord, I want to repent and turn from this sin, but I know that I can’t do it in my own strength. I desprately need You and Your grace that I might become a servant to others.

Looking Forward to Sharing in the Life!

Jason Hammond — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:02:40 +0000

So I’ve been given the opportunity to do some blogging on our new website! I am definitely looking forward to sharing and allowing others to share in the life through this blog as well as other blogs. So I guess i will start this blog by introducing myself for those that might not know me. My name is Jason Hammond. I have the wonderful pleasure of helping to lead the singing with Messiah. I am also a student at The College at Southeastern. I am wokring on my undergrad in Christian Studies as well as in Church Music. I will, Lord willing be sharing about once a week things that the Lord is teaching me on my walk with the desire to encourage others and to be encouragred myself. Well…i guess that I will end it here. Again, I’m looking forward to using this opportunity to share in the life!