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Shawn McDonald



Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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City: SEATTLE
State: Washington
Signup Date: 2/2/2005

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May 11, 2009 - Monday 
I have been taking a journey back to the simples of my faith and trying to just get back at the core of why and what it means to be a Christ follower. Sometimes I believe I get so caught up in the deep that I lose sight of the Simple. I have been reading a Book called “The Spirit of Disciplines- understanding how God changes lives” by Dallas Willard. He is painting the picture of the importance of spiritual disciplines and the growth and power that that has in our daily lives. Sometimes Fundamentals are not given enough weight and value, and the power that they hold. Some how in all this the church has painted the deeds of our lives as not as valuable as the faith that we hold. But I believe that as James has put it so clearly it say this- ‘But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. James 2:18’ the deeds of our lives are not as much about what we do, but they are a reflection of our heart and faith as we choose to follow Christ. We have deeds not because we are trying to earn anything but because our faith in Christ produces Fruit that in turn will be called deeds. There are so many Christians today that have lives that are powerless and really live no different than those who profess no belief in Christ at all. These disciplines have been looked down upon as things you do to earn Salvation, but what I am learning is that these disciplines are the very things that bring us to what I believe Christ came to fulfill and that is “life in abundance”. I think that if we really get a true understanding of lets say, the power of prayer, the reading of gods word, fasting, worship, and things of this nature we will begin to realize that they are more for our good than anything else. God doesn’t need any of things to be God, he just is. These things are what bring us to life and free us from the things that kill our hearts. God is for us and the power of these disciplines, are to bring us to a place of what it means to be apart of the kingdom of God. I believe that if our motives are just one thing and that is to please God then the power of this Gospel will do great things in our lives. So look at it this way, I read my word not because I was told to but because I believe that it pleases my father and that it is by the truth and truth alone that sets are hearts free. I read it because I have put my faith in something that is much great than my self! I pray not because I need something but because it brings me closer to the heart of God, And it is at his heart that we find the answers to all that plague our lives.
7:21 PM
 
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Les Nelson

 
ITS TRUE WE NEED GOD NO MATTER WHAT!
Its like I don't want to hear your a christian I want to feel it see it
I don't want preachers preach and people dont act the way they say they believe.
I want to see Jesus people.
 
Posted by Les Nelson on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:01 PM
[Reply to this] 
KJB

 
:)
 
Posted by KJB on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:06 PM
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†♥†_Kristina Ann_†♥†

 
Thank you for your thought about prayer! I've been trying to explain that to some of the people in my life who are non-believers, but could never find right words. God Bless you and your family. Love in Christ Jesus~ Kristina
 
Posted by †♥†_Kristina Ann_†♥† on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:06 PM
[Reply to this] 
Debbe

 
Amen
 
Posted by Debbe on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:07 PM
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Martin Kasabov
Martin Kasabov

 
true,true :)
 
Posted by Martin Kasabov on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:07 PM
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KevO

 
hey shawn,

I just want to thank you so much for sharing you thoughts and your heart like you do in this blog with us, your supporters, fans, and even friends. I read all of your posts and what you have to say is so refreshing. As far as what you talk about in this post, since I came back to my faith 6 years ago, I was living it simply, as you describe. Yet, this past school year, I got involved with Campus Crusade. I really dove into the Christian faith, and somewhere along the lines, I felt that how i was living for the past 6 years, while at the time i thought it was living my faith, I got it in my head that i was wrong, looking back. during those 6 years, I wasn't feeding myself with God's word or engaging in those spiritual disciplines as much as i am now, but that doesn't mean that the way i was celebrating my faith wasn't any less pleasing to God. I'd listen to songs by you and your contemporaries, and i'd pour my heart into singing along with them. that was the main form of expression of my faith. i still do that now, but yet i do try to get into the word daily and attend worship and pray in fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for helping me realize that i wasn't wrong that i just kept it simple. I will admit that becoming more disciplined in those ways has helped me incredibly and I know it's because God laid it on my heart to do so. I'm more in love with Him than I ever was.

i'm such a huge fan of you and your music. keep honoring God in that way. you have such an amazing gift in your musical abilities and you use them in a way that brings others closer to Christ and to honor His name. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that we need to use our talents, the gifts that God gave us exactly as our Master would use them. I think that's exactly what you're doing. i sense sometimes when i read your posts that you don't see it that way... or maybe that's your incredible humility. either way, i wanted to share all this with you, even if you'd already heard/learned some of it.

peace
 
Posted by KevO on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:08 PM
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Mrs. Croley
Stephanie Croley

 
Well said...
 
Posted by Mrs. Croley on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:09 PM
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Jeffrey
Jeffrey Ballance

 
This is very insightful, and true. I share the same tendancy to get caught up in things that don't matter. It makes a lot of sense just to sometimes step back, and slow down, focusing on the fundamentals.
 
Posted by Jeffrey on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:10 PM
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Marie
Heather McElhinney

 
I struggle with this myself...I have a tendency to complicate all my relationships...until I hear the Lord whisper gently to JUST have faith in Him! That's when, (it it seems like a constant) I lay everything at His feet and truly begin to worship Him and Praise Him for all He is, all that He has carried me through and remember how SIMPLE life is when I recieve the love He has for me and my kids!
Nothing is impossible with God...Matthew 19:26

 
Posted by Marie on May 21, 2009 - Thursday - 8:10 PM
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