Go Big, Then Go Home

Here we are... 366 days have gone by, and everything is different now. 2012 was the biggest year of my life thus far. I made a lot of bad choices, but I also made a lot of good choices.

Up until May, I wasn't walking with God anymore. Right before the summer, Jesus broke down the walls I had built up inside, and radically changed my life.

In July, He called me to be a missionary before I go to college.

In August, He called me to make the hardest decision I've ever made. Letting go of your own life to live for God is painful.

In September, He opened the door for me to go to India as a missionary for 6 months in the fall of 2013.

In October, He gave me the opportunity to record my second studio EP.

In November, He confirmed to me that music is what He has made me to do. He also began to bless me with spiritual gifts I never thought I would or could have.

In December, He kept filling me with His overwhelming joy, peace, and wisdom.

In 2012, God did. He kept pushing, even when I walked away. He didn't relent until He had it all. He found a kid who was so far off the path, and had no hope, and went big. He didn't just do a little. He did a lot. He changed lives. He saved lives. He came through. He never gave up. He was faithful. He was patient. He was good. My oh my, He was good.

Over this year, I have learned thousands and thousands of lessons, but the biggest one of all is to go do. No matter the calling, go do. I never wanted to be a missionary. The thought of it scared me. But when you are willing to follow any calling He puts in your heart, and do it, the outcome will be incredible.

Now my challenge to all of you is to do something even more in 2013. Go big.

God has called us to do everything to the best of our abilities. Give your all this year. That's what worship is. Giving everything. Going big.

How do you start? Go. Once you go, God will guide you. At that point, it's up to you whether or not you do it, and do it big.

2013 is the beginning of something new, and the end of something old. 2013 is a white canvas God has placed in front of you, and He's handing you a brush. 2013 is a chance to shine so brightly for the Lord that people don't even see you anymore, but all they see is the light. 2013 is the year to heal. 2013 is the year to make a fresh start. 2013 is the year to keep pressing forward. It is the year to go, to do, to worship, to give, to be, to rise, to love, and to live.

This world is not our home. Our home is in the Kingdom of God. Our time is short, and 2013 is only 365 days. We don't know how many days God has given us, so don't let a single one of them pass you by. Give all that you have here, because one day this will all be gone. You have to be the change you want to see in the world.

Go big.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:13-14

"Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary."

Forcefully Advancing

Hey, everybody! I wanted to start a new blog that I can occasionally post in, and talk about what is going on in my life, and what the Lord is teaching me. First off, I want to explain the name of the blog, "A Branch".

In John 15:5-8, Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."

Now that you've read that, I don't have much explaining to do. As a follower of Christ, the Lord is our source of life. He is our Vine, and we are His branches; reaching out to do His work.

I, Dylan Black, am one of many branches. The Church, every other follower besides me, is a branch. We work together, as brothers and sisters, to spread the love of God to every person we meet.

Branches. That's what we are.

What I want to talk about in this blog is something simple, yet so powerful, that the Lord showed me recently.

In Matthew 11, Jesus has just finished sending out the twelve apostles when He gets word of John the Baptist's imprisonment. John sees that Jesus is doing nothing to bust him out of prison, and doubt begins to creep in. John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” I feel like Jesus probably sighed for a second. But, then He replies with, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’”

I'm sure that wasn't the comforting reply that John had hoped for. He already knew all of the stuff that Jesus just said. He probably wanted Him to say something more along the lines of, "Yeah, man. I'm your guy. I'll get you out in a couple of days." But, that isn't what Jesus wanted to tell him. I think that Erwin McManus sums up what Jesus was saying perfectly in his book, The Barbarian Way:

"Jesus was saying to him, 'John, I'm not coming through for you. I'm not getting you out of prison. I'm not sparing your life. Yes, I have done all this and more for others, but the path I choose for you is different from theirs. You'll be blessed, John, if this does not cause you to fall away.'"

Sometimes the Lord has a plan for you that you don't expect. You think life sucks, and you start whining about your misfortune when everybody else has it "easy". But, really, the Lord has a plan. And if you keep pressing forward, even when it hurts, you will be amazed at the radical things the Lord will do in, and through, you.

Later on in Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to a crowd about John the Baptist. After talking about how plain awesome he is, He says, "And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it."

Man... I thought that was awesome!

Forcefully advancing.

Guys, it's the truth that we all get lazy sometimes. We have jobs, school, families, etc., and things get so busy that we quit focusing on the Lord. It's understandable. But this verse says perfectly how we need to live our lives. This wasn't some Average Joe talking about John. This was Jesus saying that, because of him, "the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing".

It is our purpose in life to be disciples of Jesus; His branches. Our purpose is to reach out to the world, live in the way that Jesus did, and forcefully advance the Kingdom of Heaven with every step we take.

That verse says that "violent people are attacking it". The Kingdom of God is under attack by the Devil and the world, and we are being called to march into battle. We are being called to advance the Kingdom of Heaven, no matter the cost, and no matter the pain.

Walk in the Lord's steps, and He will lead you where you were made to be.

Have a good day!

- Dylan Black