Anivus » heart http://anivus.com attempting humility...creating space Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:50:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Life and more abundantly – sort of http://anivus.com/2009/03/12/life-and-more-abundantly-sort-of/ http://anivus.com/2009/03/12/life-and-more-abundantly-sort-of/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:15:07 +0000 Craig http://anivus.com/?p=259 If Christ came to bring us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10)… then why are so many Christians living less then lives. I know that I struggle with living a less-then life all the time. Why do you think so many Christians are not living abundant lives ? Please don’t think I am talking about abundance = money… not even close. But abundance in the way that we are so filled with the love, joy, and peace of Christ we can give it away freely…. because we live in abundance of those things.

I think it has to do with the first half of John 10:10.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy

I used to think that “the thief” was an obvious display of Satan. Something that was blatant and easily seen. But the truth is a thief is usually not seen, comes in the dark… and takes what he wants before you know he was even there. In the book “When Heaven Invades Earth” Bill Johnson talks about the “anti christ” and how one of the greatest tricks of the thief is to trick Christians into accepting a Christianity without power. The thief tricks us into thinking that we can live without the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live this abundant life He spoke of. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can really live a life abundantly. So my question to you is this… how are you going to rely on the Holy Spirit today ? How are you going to connect with Him and live the abundant life with the power that He gives to us ?

]]> http://anivus.com/2009/03/12/life-and-more-abundantly-sort-of/feed/ 0 Please God…does anyone want to anymore ? http://anivus.com/2008/07/31/please-goddoes-anyone-want-to-anymore/ http://anivus.com/2008/07/31/please-goddoes-anyone-want-to-anymore/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:57:54 +0000 anivus http://anivus.com/2008/07/31/please-goddoes-anyone-want-to-anymore/ Maybe I am just sick of hearing about friends and loved ones turning away from God and doing really stupid things, that jack up their lives (and the lives of their kids, spouses and friends). Maybe I am tired of hearing preachers just preach feel good messages. But I want to know… does anyone want to please God anymore ? I don’t remember the last time I even heard that phrase. What happened to holiness ? What happened to faithfulness ? What happened to living to please God.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;  that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,  not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;  that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

I hope as you read this you do not mistake frustration with judgment. Where are the pastors that are preaching about practical holiness ? Where are the people that are willing to lay down their own desires and pick up the cross ?

]]> http://anivus.com/2008/07/31/please-goddoes-anyone-want-to-anymore/feed/ 1 Honor where it is due http://anivus.com/2006/03/29/honor-where-it-is-due/ http://anivus.com/2006/03/29/honor-where-it-is-due/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:31:42 +0000 Craig http://anivus.com/2006/03/29/honor-where-it-is-due/ Last Sunday I had the honor of leading worship, with my wife, at Newheart Foursquare. We were there to honor Pastor Paul for 20 years of marriage, 20 years serving at the same church, and his 40th birthday. It was a very emotional time, got to see alot of old friends and loved ones, Stace grew up at that church…and I was on staff there for a few years as the worship leader. It was great to honor such a Man of God as Paul Kuzma. He has taught me so much over the years, mostly by example.

My favorite thing about Paul is this—what you see is what you get. I have always felt welcome and safe when I am around him. And his heart for worship is deep. As soon as he picks up a guitar and starts to strum you are ushered into the presence of Jesus…and I am thankful that he taught me how to draw close to Jesus during worship.

As for me…leading worship this weekend was alot of fun. It made me miss fulltime ministry alot. Although there is politics behind church doors…I hear a deep calling to deep in my heart. Not sure how this will all play out, but I am definitely open to what Jesus is leading us into in this season.

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/03/29/honor-where-it-is-due/feed/ 0 Jesus is missing… http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing/ http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing/#comments Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:29:07 +0000 Craig http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing/ Honestly it’s been a while since I was madly in love with Jesus. Obviously it’s not His fault, it’s mine. Time, pain, life, stress has allowed me to carry on as though nothing has changed, but is has. And I am sick of it…I sick of saying it will get better, and doing nothing to change it. Yeah I read my Bible, yeah I pray, yeah i worship (partly thanx to the new nano) but the fire is long since gone. The deep desire to grab hold until I get my answer, the constant state of thankfulness for everything He has brought me and my family through. And I am sick of it. I am sick of remembering the times when God would speak so clearly that I had no choice but to obey, the times of worship that I could feel his tangible presence. Well today I am going back to that…I am not sure how or when I will get back to that place of intimacy. But life is just to short to live without the constant awareness of the Creators love.

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing/feed/ 0 Jesus is missing… http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing-2/ http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing-2/#comments Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:29:07 +0000 anivus http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing-2/ Honestly it’s been a while since I was madly in love with Jesus. Obviously it’s not His fault, it’s mine. Time, pain, life, stress has allowed me to carry on as though nothing has changed, but is has. And I am sick of it…I sick of saying it will get better, and doing nothing to change it. Yeah I read my Bible, yeah I pray, yeah i worship (partly thanx to the new nano) but the fire is long since gone. The deep desire to grab hold until I get my answer, the constant state of thankfulness for everything He has brought me and my family through. And I am sick of it. I am sick of remembering the times when God would speak so clearly that I had no choice but to obey, the times of worship that I could feel his tangible presence. Well today I am going back to that…I am not sure how or when I will get back to that place of intimacy. But life is just to short to live without the constant awareness of the Creators love.

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/03/22/jesus-is-missing-2/feed/ 0 My favorite picture http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture/ http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2006 22:21:27 +0000 Craig http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture/

Craigs favorite

A lake, a camera, a wet diaper, and me. This is my favorite picture in the whole world. My dad took it some twenty odd years ago. It was at Cottonwood Cover, on the Colorado river, where we used to go on vacation. I don’t know why I love it so much, but I do. Not sure if its becuase of the innocence I see, or the curiosity. But I feel better about my self, and the world around me, when I look at it. I hope and pray that one day I can do the same for others….(take pictures that reflect something positive and inspiring).

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture/feed/ 0 My favorite picture http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture-2/ http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture-2/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2006 22:21:27 +0000 anivus http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture-2/

Craigs favorite

A lake, a camera, a wet diaper, and me. This is my favorite picture in the whole world. My dad took it some twenty odd years ago. It was at Cottonwood Cover, on the Colorado river, where we used to go on vacation. I don’t know why I love it so much, but I do. Not sure if its becuase of the innocence I see, or the curiosity. But I feel better about my self, and the world around me, when I look at it. I hope and pray that one day I can do the same for others….(take pictures that reflect something positive and inspiring).

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/02/12/my-favorite-picture-2/feed/ 0 good weekend http://anivus.com/2006/02/06/good-weekend/ http://anivus.com/2006/02/06/good-weekend/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2006 19:20:52 +0000 Craig http://anivus.com/2006/02/06/good-weekend/

I had a pretty fun weekend. On saturday cleaned out the garage and had a sale. We only made about $100…but to have the garage all cleaned out, as well as some stuff from the house, made it all worth it. Saturady night was spent cleaning the house and doing landry. Sunday we went to the Bridge , was fully engaged in intimately worshiping our Heavenly Father. Went home, recorded the Big Game (not to watch the game, but rather the comercials…which weren’t that funny this year). Cooked a tri tip perfecto in the after noon and watched “In Her Shoes” with the wifey. I would have to say is was a good weekend.

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/02/06/good-weekend/feed/ 1 http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31/ http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2006 22:43:06 +0000 Craig http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31/

This is how i feel sometimes…..but not today.

]]> http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31/feed/ 0 http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31-2/ http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31-2/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2006 22:43:06 +0000 anivus http://anivus.com/2006/01/27/31-2/

This is how i feel sometimes…..but not today.

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