There is nothing quite like writing. There is nothing for me in the entire world that feels as meaningful as moving a pen across a page and having an idea spring to life. The whole process screams of beauty and creation and "other-ness," writing something that is incredibly private and deep between you and God.
Writing has fast become a lost art in our culture.
Our culture values speed and quickness in communication rather than slow and thoughtful expression.
Letter-writing has almost vanished, and with it, truly cherishing another individual has almost vanished as well. To write a letter to another person means that we care enough about them to spend time forming and creating complex thoughts and words in order to communicate some truth that God can then use to shape and mold their lives and help them grow more and more into the image of Christ.
In addition, the time it takes to write out your thoughts leads to intense thinking about different ideas. Often, it is only through this "intellectual" or "exploratory" writing that we can ever discover anything. It is this type of writing that helps us create and form new ideas in our minds, bring and draw different ideas together and cement truth into our brains that can be slow to learn.
What I will now attempt is some "exploratory" writing on the subject of: death, life and passion. These are three thoughts that have consumed my mind for many weeks.
The thought in my head consumes many of my thoughts. The idea slowly forming, and becoming clearer with every passing moment. Is this thought really true? Is it something that could truly be the foundation?
Ever since the beginning of the summer, I have been thinking and praying about these three things:
1 - Dying to self
2 - God has given us ALL things pertaining to LIFE
3 - Necessary passion
Is it possible that all three of these things are somehow connected?
Ok, let's back up. To begin with, I started by thinking of these three things as completely disconnected ideas. This should not be a surprise. For our entire education, we have been trained to compartmentalize everything. We go to a History class and learn about history, and then when we walk out of the classroom our minds cease thinking of history. We walk to the next class, Science for example, and instead of integrating History and Science, we think only of Science. This may or may not be acceptable or proper in academia, and I will not argue for or against it. However; could this compartmentalization of things be a major detriment to us spiritually?
I believe that it is.
When we try to teach something such as prayer, it is vital that we do not separate this from other core teachings of the Scriptures such as: the Holiness of God and the reality of sin and the Truth of Jesus.
In order to present a complete teaching of prayer then, we must fully integrate the concept of prayer with the other major ideas presented in Scripture.
Because this is true, it is also vital that anything that God is teaching us cannot be separated from the core ideas of the Bible: namely, Christ and Him crucified, and the glory of God, etc.
When we bring all of this back to the idea of death, life and passion, what do we find?
We find that neither death, nor life, nor passion can be separated from each other. In addition, each cannot possibly be disconnected from the Truth that we find in the person of Jesus Christ.
The idea of dying to self screams of a total surrender of personal goals and wants. It is a submission to the Savior, a complete emptying of self so that the love of Christ can flow through us and into the lives of others. It is only by ourselves dying that we can truly show others real love, and this is the love that Christ has called us to show.
How is this connected to life? Well, it turns out that it is fairly simple. Jesus says that He has given us all things for life. What does this mean? How does this look? Simple, life equals death. Did you catch that? Life equals death.
Real life must be predicated by self-death.
Jesus sums it up when He says that any man that wants to be His disciple must die to himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus.
It is only when we finally die completely to our SELF that we truly find LIFE.
When we die to ourselves we may "lose" by the world's standards, but we find ultimate satisfaction in Christ. We find real joy and we find real life and we live by the Spirit.
How does this tie in with passion?
I have known for a long time that we each need a certain amount of passion in our lives. We can call this "Necessary Passion."
The lives that God has given us are too short to be wasted in fear and doubt and "small" living. God wants us to go all out, to live our lives focused on Him and to live lives that are bent hard to do His will.
Sometimes I ask, where has all the passion gone?
Perhaps the answer is simple.
Perhaps the reason that Christians are lacking in the passion category is simply because they have forgotten to die to themselves. If we never die to ourselves, we can never truly live or experience life, and if we can never experience that because of our pride, how can we ever hope to live with the passion God intends?
There is a song by Tenth Avenue North called: Empty My Hands
It is a song that screams death to me. Death literally to me, and all of my dreams that I have set up. Tonight, I'm willing to give up all of my dreams, all the "big" things I want to do. If Jesus asks for my dreams, I will gladly die to them so that I can truly LIVE.
When I let these dreams die, I will find that the letting go of these dreams makes me COME ALIVE. It all makes sense. The idea is so beautifully brought together.
Thank YOU JESUS for the gift and writing and the intellect that You have given us to think and reason.
Help us to put all of these ideas together so that we can live the way You intend for us to live and so we can show others Your beautiful love.
Empty My Hands - Tenth Avenue North
I've got voices in my head and they are so strong
And I'm getting sick of this, oh Lord, how long
Will I be haunted by the fear that I believe
My hands like locks on cages
Of these dreams I can't set free
But if I let these dreams die
If I lay down all my wounded pride
If I let these dreams die
Will I find that letting go lets me come alive
So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You, with You Lord
These voices in speak instead and what's right is wrong
And I'm giving into them, please Lord, how long
Will I be held captive by the lies that I believe
My heart's in constant chaos and it keeps me so deceived
But if I let these dreams die
If I could just lay down my dark desire
If I let these dreams die
Will I find you brought me back to life
So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh Lord, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Cause my mind is like a building burning down
I need Your grace to keep me, keep me from the ground
And my heart is just a prisoner of war
A slave to what it wants and to what I'm fighting for
So won't you empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
I need you now Lord
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Even if it costs us our dreams
Some of us have huge plans for life.
We want to see the world.
Build companies.
Start incredible ministries.
Touch and impact people's lives all over the world.
All of those ambitions are great!
Many of us lack dreams.
We need dreams.
Dreams bring life and vitality to our lives.
They help us grow as people and spur us on to great accomplishments.
We all need to dream bigger than we do now.
We need to dream big dreams because we serve a BIG GOD!
But today...God has been teaching me something.
He's been teaching me something really simple.
Sometimes in life those big things never work out.
They never materialize like we think they will.
Sometimes it's because we just aren't strong enough.
Sometimes it's because we are afraid of failure.
Sometimes it's because we don't pray enough.
...
But often, "big" things don't happen simply because it is not God's best for us.
The thought is this:
Perhaps the most important thing for some of us to do is to touch everyone we can.
To touch those we interact with on a day to day basis.
When we look at the life of Christ, the majority of His life was poured into His Twelve Disciples.
Perhaps we need to take a lesson here.
Perhaps God is more interested in us making a DEEP impact in the lives of FEW rather than attempting to make a small impact in the life of many.
Perhaps for some of us, our lot in life to simply be teachers and pour ourselves into our students and show them how to live like Christ.
Perhaps for some of us, our lot in life to simply be coaches who teach their athletes the way of the most excellent life, the narrow Calvary road.
Perhaps we've all been thinking upside down.
Perhaps our "big" American thinking needs to be stopped and we need to focus on making meaningful impact in people's lives.
If Jesus spent so much time investing in twelve simple men's lives, perhaps this is something I need to start doing.
Remember: a life lived for people, and a life lived showing people how to live and love like Jesus is never wasted.
This must be our central goal...no matter how "BIG" or how "SMALL" Christ decides to use us.
God's not interested in numbers.
He's interested in our hearts and our message.
The message is always Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the life of love and service.
The Gospel is always the core and the cross is always the center.
And the manger is the beginning of it all.
Tonight, I'm lost in the wonder of Jesus' love.
May we live our lives in such a way that shows EVERYONE that we meet this incredible love.
No matter the cost.
Even if it costs us our dreams.
We want to see the world.
Build companies.
Start incredible ministries.
Touch and impact people's lives all over the world.
All of those ambitions are great!
Many of us lack dreams.
We need dreams.
Dreams bring life and vitality to our lives.
They help us grow as people and spur us on to great accomplishments.
We all need to dream bigger than we do now.
We need to dream big dreams because we serve a BIG GOD!
But today...God has been teaching me something.
He's been teaching me something really simple.
Sometimes in life those big things never work out.
They never materialize like we think they will.
Sometimes it's because we just aren't strong enough.
Sometimes it's because we are afraid of failure.
Sometimes it's because we don't pray enough.
...
But often, "big" things don't happen simply because it is not God's best for us.
The thought is this:
Perhaps the most important thing for some of us to do is to touch everyone we can.
To touch those we interact with on a day to day basis.
When we look at the life of Christ, the majority of His life was poured into His Twelve Disciples.
Perhaps we need to take a lesson here.
Perhaps God is more interested in us making a DEEP impact in the lives of FEW rather than attempting to make a small impact in the life of many.
Perhaps for some of us, our lot in life to simply be teachers and pour ourselves into our students and show them how to live like Christ.
Perhaps for some of us, our lot in life to simply be coaches who teach their athletes the way of the most excellent life, the narrow Calvary road.
Perhaps we've all been thinking upside down.
Perhaps our "big" American thinking needs to be stopped and we need to focus on making meaningful impact in people's lives.
If Jesus spent so much time investing in twelve simple men's lives, perhaps this is something I need to start doing.
Remember: a life lived for people, and a life lived showing people how to live and love like Jesus is never wasted.
This must be our central goal...no matter how "BIG" or how "SMALL" Christ decides to use us.
God's not interested in numbers.
He's interested in our hearts and our message.
The message is always Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the life of love and service.
The Gospel is always the core and the cross is always the center.
And the manger is the beginning of it all.
Tonight, I'm lost in the wonder of Jesus' love.
May we live our lives in such a way that shows EVERYONE that we meet this incredible love.
No matter the cost.
Even if it costs us our dreams.
Marvel
Love brought You here
to the world You created
Love sent His Son
on that first Christmas morn'
Lord, I marvel at Your love
that I cannot fully know
How could You save me,
after all that i've done?
How could the one who made the heavens,
take me as His own?
How could You love,
a sinner like me?
But the wonder of it all,
is that You sent Your Son that Christmas
the wonder of it all,
is that You even came at all.
You could have left us here to wonder
You could have left us on our own.
But You sent Your Son to save us,
and bring redemption for us all.
So in this priceless moment,
I'll fully stand amazed
on this perfect white Christmas,
I simply marvel at Your perfect Love.
-Marvel at Your Love
written 12/25/09
to the world You created
Love sent His Son
on that first Christmas morn'
Lord, I marvel at Your love
that I cannot fully know
How could You save me,
after all that i've done?
How could the one who made the heavens,
take me as His own?
How could You love,
a sinner like me?
But the wonder of it all,
is that You sent Your Son that Christmas
the wonder of it all,
is that You even came at all.
You could have left us here to wonder
You could have left us on our own.
But You sent Your Son to save us,
and bring redemption for us all.
So in this priceless moment,
I'll fully stand amazed
on this perfect white Christmas,
I simply marvel at Your perfect Love.
-Marvel at Your Love
written 12/25/09
Friday, December 24, 2010
Past, Present, Future
After my previous post titled "The Principle of the Path" comes this post titled "Past, Present, Future."
I have been spending a great deal of my Christmas break thinking through things, as well as reading and writing.
This post may be a little choppy because my findings are far from complete.
Here's a few quick thoughts:
1 - Prayer is very very very powerful, and we do not pray enough.
2 - Good things come to those who wait.
3 - C.S. Lewis was a brilliant writer.
4 - Jesus' love is insane. How in the world do we ever take His love for granted?
The KING of the whole universe, made Himself a servant, and came in the likeness of a child. He subjected Himself to this, He emptied Himself, He lived inside of a 13 or 14 year old girl whom He created, and then He was raised by two humans who He created. He had brothers and sisters. He grew up with all of the normal issues facing children. He did all of this when He could have come as a conquering King!
He could have rushed in with a host of angels!
But...as Audrey Assad puts it: "He came like a winter snow...quiet and soft and slow, falling from the sky in the night to the earth below."
He did this to save us all from ourselves.
It's this "foolishness" that saved the world.
The world calls all of this "foolishness," and it is because they cannot comprehend such love.
Wow.
5 - I am in the middle of creating a lot of goals.
I have some really big things I want to do in the future, but I have no idea how to get there.
That's where I'm at now.
I understand everything that God has done for us, and what He does for us every day.
I get life, I get how it's supposed to be lived.
It's so simple: He says to be like Jesus and to love like Jesus.
"His Will" is revealed in His Word.
He has told us how to lived.
We have no excuses.
So: Because of His great love.
I am resolved to live like Jesus today, and every day for the rest of the days that God graciously grants me.
I have been spending a great deal of my Christmas break thinking through things, as well as reading and writing.
This post may be a little choppy because my findings are far from complete.
Here's a few quick thoughts:
1 - Prayer is very very very powerful, and we do not pray enough.
2 - Good things come to those who wait.
3 - C.S. Lewis was a brilliant writer.
4 - Jesus' love is insane. How in the world do we ever take His love for granted?
The KING of the whole universe, made Himself a servant, and came in the likeness of a child. He subjected Himself to this, He emptied Himself, He lived inside of a 13 or 14 year old girl whom He created, and then He was raised by two humans who He created. He had brothers and sisters. He grew up with all of the normal issues facing children. He did all of this when He could have come as a conquering King!
He could have rushed in with a host of angels!
But...as Audrey Assad puts it: "He came like a winter snow...quiet and soft and slow, falling from the sky in the night to the earth below."
He did this to save us all from ourselves.
It's this "foolishness" that saved the world.
The world calls all of this "foolishness," and it is because they cannot comprehend such love.
Wow.
5 - I am in the middle of creating a lot of goals.
I have some really big things I want to do in the future, but I have no idea how to get there.
That's where I'm at now.
I understand everything that God has done for us, and what He does for us every day.
I get life, I get how it's supposed to be lived.
It's so simple: He says to be like Jesus and to love like Jesus.
"His Will" is revealed in His Word.
He has told us how to lived.
We have no excuses.
So: Because of His great love.
I am resolved to live like Jesus today, and every day for the rest of the days that God graciously grants me.
The Principle of the Path
I have really been challenged recently but this quote from the book "The Principle of the Path."
The quote is this: "choices determine direction and direction always determines destination."
While this quote may not seem novel, that is exactly the point!
The Principle of the Path is a principle because it is something that is always true.
If we are on a path from Kansas to Florida, we will NEVER end up in Colorado. We can WANT to go to Colorado all we want, but unless we are on a path that is headed to Colorado, we will never arrive there.
This still probably does not strike you as that important.
You know this principle in your heart, and you understand it in your brain, yet, we really don't live like it.
We want to accomplish certain things, but we are unwilling to put in the work to achieve them. At the end, when we don't achieve them, we ask: why didn't we achieve this? The answer is simple.
Many of us want to become stronger spiritually, but we never really open our Bibles or increase our prayer life. And we wonder why we don't grow closer to God.
Many of us want to improve our friendships, or relationships, or our grades, or our jump-shot, or our finances, or our writing skills, or any host of things...
but the problem is...unless we are intentionally on a path towards those things, we will never arrive at that destination.
We will never have better grades until we put in the necessary work.
Our basketball game will never improve simply because we want it to, work must be put in.
Our finances will never get better because we want them to, they will improve when we budget and plan well and then execute our plan.
Thus, the principle of the path is almost always true.
If we are on a path headed somewhere, that's where we will arrive.
Sure, things happen, the best laid plans sometimes don't work out...that's life, and things happen in this world that is broken down by sin.
But God asks us to be responsible.
He asks us to plan well.
To walk the path towards GOOD destinations.
If we do this...we will be amazed at the results.
The quote is this: "choices determine direction and direction always determines destination."
While this quote may not seem novel, that is exactly the point!
The Principle of the Path is a principle because it is something that is always true.
If we are on a path from Kansas to Florida, we will NEVER end up in Colorado. We can WANT to go to Colorado all we want, but unless we are on a path that is headed to Colorado, we will never arrive there.
This still probably does not strike you as that important.
You know this principle in your heart, and you understand it in your brain, yet, we really don't live like it.
We want to accomplish certain things, but we are unwilling to put in the work to achieve them. At the end, when we don't achieve them, we ask: why didn't we achieve this? The answer is simple.
Many of us want to become stronger spiritually, but we never really open our Bibles or increase our prayer life. And we wonder why we don't grow closer to God.
Many of us want to improve our friendships, or relationships, or our grades, or our jump-shot, or our finances, or our writing skills, or any host of things...
but the problem is...unless we are intentionally on a path towards those things, we will never arrive at that destination.
We will never have better grades until we put in the necessary work.
Our basketball game will never improve simply because we want it to, work must be put in.
Our finances will never get better because we want them to, they will improve when we budget and plan well and then execute our plan.
Thus, the principle of the path is almost always true.
If we are on a path headed somewhere, that's where we will arrive.
Sure, things happen, the best laid plans sometimes don't work out...that's life, and things happen in this world that is broken down by sin.
But God asks us to be responsible.
He asks us to plan well.
To walk the path towards GOOD destinations.
If we do this...we will be amazed at the results.
Friday, December 3, 2010
The "Soccer-Trophy Generation"
One of my teachers used this phrase yesterday in class. It was very interesting to think about, and now I'm going to expand a little bit on what was said in class.
It seems that the "Soccer-Trophy Generation" is a very fitting description of my generation as a whole. We are a generation that expects to get a reward/trophy for just being "on the team." This can have many different applications. We expect to get a bonus for coming to work and finishing our tasks on time, we expect to get an A for showing up in class and not having to study, we expect to be acknowledged and rewarded and put up on a pedastal for just doing what is expected.
And when we are not rewarded....we kick and pout and scream.
Why do we feel so entitled?
Is it because we live in a culture where we seek and obtain instantaneous gratification?
Is it because we have been giving everything we could possibly want or need for all of our childhoods?
Have we been conditioned to receive praise and rewards for simply doing the minimum?
It seems as if the answers to these questions could be Yes.
It seems that the "Soccer-Trophy Generation" is a very fitting description of my generation as a whole. We are a generation that expects to get a reward/trophy for just being "on the team." This can have many different applications. We expect to get a bonus for coming to work and finishing our tasks on time, we expect to get an A for showing up in class and not having to study, we expect to be acknowledged and rewarded and put up on a pedastal for just doing what is expected.
And when we are not rewarded....we kick and pout and scream.
Why do we feel so entitled?
Is it because we live in a culture where we seek and obtain instantaneous gratification?
Is it because we have been giving everything we could possibly want or need for all of our childhoods?
Have we been conditioned to receive praise and rewards for simply doing the minimum?
It seems as if the answers to these questions could be Yes.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Dreams
When did we forget how to dream? Or maybe the question really is: when did we forget to chase our dreams? Why don't we relentlessly chase our dreams until we achieve them? Have we become so cold and passive to everything that we have come to a place where we don't even have any dreams?
What's wrong with us?!
We are the BRIDE of Christ! We are HIS!
We are called by HIS HOLY NAME! And ALL the power of the resurrected Savior is given to us!
If we would but step out and life life the way He desires, we could see His power displayed through us, and it would bring Him MUCH GLORY!
Maybe it's time for us to get over ourselves.
Maybe it's time to attempt some hard things and chase some dreams.
Whatever your dream is, if it's honoring to God, go do it!
Let's start chasing things that are worthwhile and stop chasing things that are worthless. Let's meet some new people, love some people, give until it hurts and then give some more. Let's get out of our comfort zone. Let's write the book we've always wanted to write, and witness to the person we know needs Jesus.
Let's step up and do it!
Let's step up and live life the way we should.
We CANNOT do this without the strength of Jesus every second, but let's step out and do it! Because when we step out, then Jesus can show up and show us just how strong He is.
Let's dare to try hard things and fail and then get back up and do some more hard things.
This world needs more people who are willing to do hard things for the sake of Christ.
It has been a long time since we've seen what God can do through a man whose heart is fully given to Jesus.
I think it's time for us to see that now.
Jesus, please come quickly.
What's wrong with us?!
We are the BRIDE of Christ! We are HIS!
We are called by HIS HOLY NAME! And ALL the power of the resurrected Savior is given to us!
If we would but step out and life life the way He desires, we could see His power displayed through us, and it would bring Him MUCH GLORY!
Maybe it's time for us to get over ourselves.
Maybe it's time to attempt some hard things and chase some dreams.
Whatever your dream is, if it's honoring to God, go do it!
Let's start chasing things that are worthwhile and stop chasing things that are worthless. Let's meet some new people, love some people, give until it hurts and then give some more. Let's get out of our comfort zone. Let's write the book we've always wanted to write, and witness to the person we know needs Jesus.
Let's step up and do it!
Let's step up and live life the way we should.
We CANNOT do this without the strength of Jesus every second, but let's step out and do it! Because when we step out, then Jesus can show up and show us just how strong He is.
Let's dare to try hard things and fail and then get back up and do some more hard things.
This world needs more people who are willing to do hard things for the sake of Christ.
It has been a long time since we've seen what God can do through a man whose heart is fully given to Jesus.
I think it's time for us to see that now.
Jesus, please come quickly.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing
The following is a quote from the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
"Father, I want to know Thee, but my cowardly heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there."
Charles R. Swindoll - "We will never become like Christ as long as possessions mean more to us than they should."
"Father, I want to know Thee, but my cowardly heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there."
Charles R. Swindoll - "We will never become like Christ as long as possessions mean more to us than they should."
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Destiny
William Jennings Bryan. It reads: "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice."
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/09/28/nebraska.asst/1.html#ixzz15Ht3QQVB
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/09/28/nebraska.asst/1.html#ixzz15Ht3QQVB
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Video
I saw this video in one of my classes at school.
It's about a young man with Downs Syndrome and how he touched the people around him. Because I have a brother with Downs, this short video touched me. It also teaches a good lesson about how we can touch the individuals we come into contact with every day.
After all, life really is all about having a servant's heart.
It's about a young man with Downs Syndrome and how he touched the people around him. Because I have a brother with Downs, this short video touched me. It also teaches a good lesson about how we can touch the individuals we come into contact with every day.
After all, life really is all about having a servant's heart.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Oh To Be Like Jesus
Oh to be like David, a man after God's own heart.
Simply the Glory of God, was all he cared about.
Oh to have a story like his,
a story of lions, bears and giants,
all a testimony of the provision of God.
From a small boy he was never expected to do great things,
no, he never measured up in stature,
but that was ok, becasue God looked at his heart,
a heart that was strong, and set on God,
a heart that was simple, steady and sure,
a heart that was God's, that's what made him God's man.
His early days were his proving ground,
the days when God was molding His man,
the victories started small, but then grew larger.
the lion the bear and then Goliath,
all a testimony of the power of God.
Then the king he became, and his victories grew ever larger,
nations fell before him, and he slay his ten thousands,
In the end, he was a man after God's own heart
in the end, he wrote more Psalms than we can ever know,
in the end, he knew what this life was all about,
it is about the glory of God, and a heart that is set on Him.
but mixed in with all of this triumph, is a story of defeat,
a story of times when life wasn't all that great,
yes there were days when God's man walked a dark lonely path,
there were days when David walked far away from God.
How could a man after God's own heart walk really far away?
The answer is easy; sin never rests.
When we are not radically pursuing the glory of God,
when we become passive for just one second,
we start to go backwards and fall on our face,
falling like David is something that many of us could do,
the only thing stopping us, is God's grace.
So let's take a moment, to commmit to pursue His face,
when we are seeking His glory, sin stays a long ways away.
This old sin nature is no fun to fight,
oh Lord come quickly, and end this dark night,
sin is so very messy, and brings You no glory,
rid me of sin until my heart is fully in Your hands.
I want to be like You, and be a man after Your own heart.
But just like David, some days we spend far from Your heart.
So help me to committ, to live each day for Your glory.
Help me to not waste any days and simply strive after You, Jesus.
You're the only thing that matters.
Oh to be like Jesus, that is my hearts plea.
Oh to be like Jesus, and be willing to suffer for my Father's Name.
Oh to be like Jesus, who gave everything.
Oh to be like Jesus, who humbly served friend and foe.
Oh to be like Jesus, a Man after God's own heart.
Oh to be like Jesus, yes Lord, please make me Your man.
------------------------------------
Be always greatly abased for your remaining sin and never think that you lie low enough for it; but yet be not discouraged or disheartened by it; for though we are exceedingly sinful, yet we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, the preciousness of whose blood, the merit of whose righteousness, and the greatness of whose love and faithfulness, infinitely overtops the hightest mountain of our sins.
--Jonathan Edwards
Simply the Glory of God, was all he cared about.
Oh to have a story like his,
a story of lions, bears and giants,
all a testimony of the provision of God.
From a small boy he was never expected to do great things,
no, he never measured up in stature,
but that was ok, becasue God looked at his heart,
a heart that was strong, and set on God,
a heart that was simple, steady and sure,
a heart that was God's, that's what made him God's man.
His early days were his proving ground,
the days when God was molding His man,
the victories started small, but then grew larger.
the lion the bear and then Goliath,
all a testimony of the power of God.
Then the king he became, and his victories grew ever larger,
nations fell before him, and he slay his ten thousands,
In the end, he was a man after God's own heart
in the end, he wrote more Psalms than we can ever know,
in the end, he knew what this life was all about,
it is about the glory of God, and a heart that is set on Him.
but mixed in with all of this triumph, is a story of defeat,
a story of times when life wasn't all that great,
yes there were days when God's man walked a dark lonely path,
there were days when David walked far away from God.
How could a man after God's own heart walk really far away?
The answer is easy; sin never rests.
When we are not radically pursuing the glory of God,
when we become passive for just one second,
we start to go backwards and fall on our face,
falling like David is something that many of us could do,
the only thing stopping us, is God's grace.
So let's take a moment, to commmit to pursue His face,
when we are seeking His glory, sin stays a long ways away.
This old sin nature is no fun to fight,
oh Lord come quickly, and end this dark night,
sin is so very messy, and brings You no glory,
rid me of sin until my heart is fully in Your hands.
I want to be like You, and be a man after Your own heart.
But just like David, some days we spend far from Your heart.
So help me to committ, to live each day for Your glory.
Help me to not waste any days and simply strive after You, Jesus.
You're the only thing that matters.
Oh to be like Jesus, that is my hearts plea.
Oh to be like Jesus, and be willing to suffer for my Father's Name.
Oh to be like Jesus, who gave everything.
Oh to be like Jesus, who humbly served friend and foe.
Oh to be like Jesus, a Man after God's own heart.
Oh to be like Jesus, yes Lord, please make me Your man.
------------------------------------
Be always greatly abased for your remaining sin and never think that you lie low enough for it; but yet be not discouraged or disheartened by it; for though we are exceedingly sinful, yet we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, the preciousness of whose blood, the merit of whose righteousness, and the greatness of whose love and faithfulness, infinitely overtops the hightest mountain of our sins.
--Jonathan Edwards
Monday, October 25, 2010
Thoughts
1 & 2 Samuel and the nature of Love.
Those topics will be topics of future posts and be connected with the over-arching theme of the Gospel.
Those topics will be topics of future posts and be connected with the over-arching theme of the Gospel.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Purpose
For awhile, I have been writing on here without much purpose.
I finally have a direction I want to take this blog for at least the next few posts.
I want to talk about the Gospel, because the Gospel is the heart of everything.
First however, I will talk about purpose.
Purpose after all ties very closely with the Gospel.
From the beginning of time God purposed to rescue humanity by sending His One and only Son. It wasn't an accident, it wasn't an "oops," it wasn't plan B, it was purposeful, intentional, and well designed.
Everything in the Bible points to God obviously, but it all shows His intricate purpose and plan as well.
I love when pastors talk about the phrase "Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem." It's incredible to look at the story of Jesus and see how purposeful and intentional He was about everything. There were no wasted moments for Jesus. He never wasted an opportunity to witness, to share a lesson, to give to someone, to heal, restore or rescue. He never missed a chance to hang out with the orphan or the widow or the homeless. He never failed to confront those who needed to be confronted. Everything Jesus did was intentional. It was all designed to show the world who God really was and to provide a ransom for sinners by His ultimate death on the cross.
If the Ephesians says to imitate Christ, why do we look so much like the world?
Why do we fail to be purposeful like Jesus?
Why do we find ourselves not on the Calvary road, but on our own road of our own choosing.
Instead of walking the road that Jesus walked (the road of purpose, and sacrifice), we far too often walk the road of self-indulgence and pride.
Jesus didn't save us to walk that road.
He saved us to walk the Calvary road, to serve and give and suffer as Jesus and to live every moment with purpose because every moment is a gift from God.
Those who have been forgiven much must remember that we aren't guaranteed another moment.
The Bible tells many stories of people who were flippant in life and ultimately this was a picture of them dealing flippantly with God. These stories don't generally turn out too well for the individual.
Perhaps it is time for us to own up to our mistakes, to admit that we don't live with the urgancy and purpose and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to, and change our direction. We can only do this with Jesus' help, and we will inevitably fail, but we need to die to our pride and beg God for the help to walk the Calvary road in a way that glorifies and honors Jesus.
May we be people that are willing to take the hard and narrow and purposeful path that leads to real joy and brings God glory.
I finally have a direction I want to take this blog for at least the next few posts.
I want to talk about the Gospel, because the Gospel is the heart of everything.
First however, I will talk about purpose.
Purpose after all ties very closely with the Gospel.
From the beginning of time God purposed to rescue humanity by sending His One and only Son. It wasn't an accident, it wasn't an "oops," it wasn't plan B, it was purposeful, intentional, and well designed.
Everything in the Bible points to God obviously, but it all shows His intricate purpose and plan as well.
I love when pastors talk about the phrase "Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem." It's incredible to look at the story of Jesus and see how purposeful and intentional He was about everything. There were no wasted moments for Jesus. He never wasted an opportunity to witness, to share a lesson, to give to someone, to heal, restore or rescue. He never missed a chance to hang out with the orphan or the widow or the homeless. He never failed to confront those who needed to be confronted. Everything Jesus did was intentional. It was all designed to show the world who God really was and to provide a ransom for sinners by His ultimate death on the cross.
If the Ephesians says to imitate Christ, why do we look so much like the world?
Why do we fail to be purposeful like Jesus?
Why do we find ourselves not on the Calvary road, but on our own road of our own choosing.
Instead of walking the road that Jesus walked (the road of purpose, and sacrifice), we far too often walk the road of self-indulgence and pride.
Jesus didn't save us to walk that road.
He saved us to walk the Calvary road, to serve and give and suffer as Jesus and to live every moment with purpose because every moment is a gift from God.
Those who have been forgiven much must remember that we aren't guaranteed another moment.
The Bible tells many stories of people who were flippant in life and ultimately this was a picture of them dealing flippantly with God. These stories don't generally turn out too well for the individual.
Perhaps it is time for us to own up to our mistakes, to admit that we don't live with the urgancy and purpose and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to, and change our direction. We can only do this with Jesus' help, and we will inevitably fail, but we need to die to our pride and beg God for the help to walk the Calvary road in a way that glorifies and honors Jesus.
May we be people that are willing to take the hard and narrow and purposeful path that leads to real joy and brings God glory.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Time
Time is so very very precious.
Time is short.
We must be very careful how we spend our time.
"The way we spend our days is the way we live our lives."
Time is short.
We must be very careful how we spend our time.
"The way we spend our days is the way we live our lives."
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Kansas Morning - A Song from one year ago
6 Am again. Rollin' out of bed. Just another day in the life of me.
Throw open the door, and walk into the wonder of a Kansas morn'
The air is crisp and sweet, the day is dawned and Your morning makes me want to shout for joy.
And it's mornings like these, that make me realize just how You love me.
And it's days like these, that make me realize why I'm home
There's something indescribable, about a perfect Kansas morn'
and now I see what You're wanting from me.
You brought me home to teach me how to love.
You brought me home for love.
I see all the books. All the knowledge and time.
Just what has it accomplished? What has it done?
What is a meaningful life? How do we not waste our days?
With so many superficial, and so much pain behind the walls.
Oh that love would break them down, and wrap them in the arms of Jesus.
Oh that we would dare to change the world, and not succumb and look just like the world.
Oh that we would stop waiting for tomorrow, and oh that we would seize the day.
take the hard and narrow way, and love and live, like God intends...
on days like these...
You say love. You say grace.
You say take the harder way.
You will guide. You will Lead.
You will carry through every day.
You will love on days like these.
As You love me every day.
And when you can't see the road ahead,
Trust My Love, Trust MY Heart...
On days like these.
There's so much I want to do. There's so much I want to know.
But it's all ok. time will play its melody.
and on that day, everything will fall into place.
And we will see just how God wrote, days like these.
oh days like these, perfect in every way.
You say love. You say grace.
You say take the harder way.
You will guide. You will Lead.
You will carry through every day.
You will love on days like these.
As You love me every day.
And when you can't see the road ahead,
Trust My Love, Trust MY Heart...
On days like these.
And it’s days like these…when YOU make things perfect in every way!
And it’s days like these…when all I feel is peace.
Trials will come, and hardships will rise.
But you will lead me through them all…and you will make those days perfect…in Your perfect way.
Throw open the door, and walk into the wonder of a Kansas morn'
The air is crisp and sweet, the day is dawned and Your morning makes me want to shout for joy.
And it's mornings like these, that make me realize just how You love me.
And it's days like these, that make me realize why I'm home
There's something indescribable, about a perfect Kansas morn'
and now I see what You're wanting from me.
You brought me home to teach me how to love.
You brought me home for love.
I see all the books. All the knowledge and time.
Just what has it accomplished? What has it done?
What is a meaningful life? How do we not waste our days?
With so many superficial, and so much pain behind the walls.
Oh that love would break them down, and wrap them in the arms of Jesus.
Oh that we would dare to change the world, and not succumb and look just like the world.
Oh that we would stop waiting for tomorrow, and oh that we would seize the day.
take the hard and narrow way, and love and live, like God intends...
on days like these...
You say love. You say grace.
You say take the harder way.
You will guide. You will Lead.
You will carry through every day.
You will love on days like these.
As You love me every day.
And when you can't see the road ahead,
Trust My Love, Trust MY Heart...
On days like these.
There's so much I want to do. There's so much I want to know.
But it's all ok. time will play its melody.
and on that day, everything will fall into place.
And we will see just how God wrote, days like these.
oh days like these, perfect in every way.
You say love. You say grace.
You say take the harder way.
You will guide. You will Lead.
You will carry through every day.
You will love on days like these.
As You love me every day.
And when you can't see the road ahead,
Trust My Love, Trust MY Heart...
On days like these.
And it’s days like these…when YOU make things perfect in every way!
And it’s days like these…when all I feel is peace.
Trials will come, and hardships will rise.
But you will lead me through them all…and you will make those days perfect…in Your perfect way.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Summer - 2010 - High Point Camp
Summer - 2010 - High Point Camp
After being home for a little over a month, and finally having time to digest all that happened this summer, I decided it was about time to summarize the most unforgettable summer of my life.
The summer of 2010 was spent at High Point Camp in the countryside of Pennsylvania.
Before the summer ever began, I had really big expectations of this summer. I envisioned all the big things that God was going to do, and, because we serve a really big God, He made big things happen this summer.
I'm not sure I could ever fully explain everything, and if I could it would take the pages of 5 books, so I will try to summarize.
1 Corinthians 13, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal...and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
This chapter was the very first chapter listed in the campers books this summer. It was a chapter that I've studied hundreds of times and memorized before, but it was very fitting that God would choose such a chapter to be first in our books. It's the chapter I heard the most from my campers this summer. It's what I heard over and over again in services. It's what I heard from the staff all summer. And it's what I heard from God every day. Over and over and over again, I heard the word, "LOVE."
What is the biggest problem in our day and in our Church? I would argue that it is a lack of Biblical Love. Jesus and the Cross, and ultimately, Love are no longer at the center. We have replaced the most vital of things with facts and knowledge. A vibrant relationship based on love has been somehow replaced by basic facts and knowledge. We have forgotten that Jesus left 2 commands, and those were to love as Jesus loved. We have forgotten the incredible love that Jesus showed while He was on this earth. Even this week I have been struck with the picture of Jesus washing Judas' feet. What would drive the King to do that? Love.
Basically, if there was one really big idea that I learned this summer it was this: Jesus wants me to love and serve like Jesus did every single day. Doing this requires daily dying to myself and dying to my own desires so that I can serve and love like Jesus. Serving and loving like Jesus are the hardest things to do because we are such prideful beings, but doing so actually brings us the greatest measure of joy because it is something totally selfless and something that we do fully for the One in whom we find salvation.
This summer we read a book called "Just Do Something"
I'm going to attempt to summarize what it was about.
Ok.
Basically.
The idea of the book was pretty simple. Alot of us talk about "finding the will of God." We want to "go where He wants us to go." We don't want to "miss" His plan for our lives.
If Jesus wants us to go to Florida we don't want to go to Idaho.
But the book basically claims that this is dumb!
We waste so much time "waiting for the will of God" that we become paralyzed to do anything worthwhile.
Essentially, God has given His will to us in His Word.
Sometimes He does tell us what to do and where to go beforehand, but He is under no obligation to do so and He doesn't do this very often.
He doesn't have to tell us His plans beforehand. We are the creatures, He is the Creator.
We can look back and see His leading, but we usually cannot look forward to see what He wants us to do, unless of course it's something He's already revealed in His Word as His will.
God is most concerned with our sanctification. The question is really not: who should I marry? What job should I get? etc.
the question is....who am I to be? How am I to live? And Jesus tells us all of that in His Word.
The end of the matter is to fear God and keep His commandments...and when we do that...we can do anything we want!
As long as we live for Jesus and love Him with our whole hearts, it doesn't matter what our job is or who we marry or where we live!
We need to stop waiting for the "will of God" and "Just Do something" provided the something lines up with His Word.
So whatever you want to do, if it lines up with Scripture, go do it!
Learning all of that was awesome, and very freeing.
I so often look for perfect fulfillment in EVERY situation that I all too often miss out on so many things.
Ok, here's some quotes from some of the speakers.
"Every problem can be traced back to a poor view of God."
"The most beautiful picture in the Bible is adoption, because that is how we are saved, and it cost so high a price. The same is true in our own lives when we adopt a child."
"The crucifiction literally broke His heart...the blood and water that came pouring out were from His heart..."
"GO HARD."
"Following Christ is death to you and it is pure joy."
"You are God's hero on earth and you are called to storm the gates of hell and take back what is God's."
"and the armor bearer killed them...thousands of grown men fled from 2 small boys."
"Rules stink and relationships rule."
"It's EASY to stand in the middle. The majority lives there and it's not right. It's even easier to stay in the middle and go back to doing whatever you want. It requires NO faith to live in the middle."
"One of your biggest problems is that you live in a ME centered generation. You want EVERYTHING, including religion, to be custom tailored to you."
"It's not by trying to be faithful, but by looking to the Faithful One that I find the victory."
T challenged us every day from Philippians, and that was awesome.
He challenged us to live with the Gospel in focus, to live as one unit. To strive together with one goal and one passion. To live all out for Jesus. To keep giving when it feels like we have nothing left to give. To keep serving when we don't want to. He said that there is NO place for complaining, ever, not even when it's 100 degrees. Complaining is never allowed.
Everything from this summer was a gift from God.
Every victory, every defeat, every hard moment was a gift from the greatest of Givers.
I can never ever say thank You to Jesus enough for this summer.
This summer was something I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world.
The changes in my heart this summer will be with me forever. It's not that I learned anything really new this summer, but it's that God took so much of what I alredy knew and re-enforced it. I saw the Gospel lived out on a day to day basis. For the 7 weeks of camp I saw what it was to live like with Gospel in focus, with Jesus as the center, and that is the way that life is meant to be lived.
Memories of this summer will forever be etched into my brain.
Every crazy meal in the dining hall, every mail call, every service, every cheer, every night in the snack shop, every Friday night basketball game or Kangaroo Court, every game of dodgeball, every walk up the hill to the soccer field or the A-Frames, every morning getting up before campers, begging for the ability to die to myself one more time, every night I had no strength, only to wake up and somehow have energy for another day, every deep conversation, every funny moment, every game, every game of ninja, all the movies we watched, all the drives, all the times getting lost, all of our weekend trips, all the one on one conversations with campers, all of that, will forever be etched in my brain. All of that is what made this summer what it was. I learned that the best days are the days when you spend all of your strength but go to bed content because you are exactly where God wants you.
I learned yet again that my heart is fully set on ministry, and that no matter what I will never be content unless I'm pouring myself into ministry. I also learned that ministry can take many different forms, and ministry is always about people. That's why I can be a missionary in Kansas or Pennsylvania, or Africa, or anywhere, because missions is all about people. The same is true with ministry. You can do ministry wherever God has you.
Everything for the future is coming together just like it should.
My heart is fixed and focused on Jesus.
My passion is ministry and dicipleship.
Love is at the core, love is at the center like it should be.
This summer had alot of hardships, but anything worthwhile is hard. (Out of The Depths by Soverign Grace - Psalm 130) I encountered so many big, difficult problems. There's so much hurt and confusion in the world. But no matter the problem, no matter the size of the wound, no matter how calloused the heart, the solution to everything is the Gospel, the solution is Jesus.
Our goal is counselors and as friends and as brothers and sisters in Christ isn't to try to give a few verses to "fix" a problem, our goal is to share Jesus with people. Our goal is to share the Gospel with people because it is Jesus that changes a persons heart, and that is what changes the external action. You never change the heart by changing the action, you change the heart and the action changes itself.
No matter how much Truth you share with a person, you can never MAKE them believe or change, and that is the HARDEST things in the world. Looking someone in the eyes who KNOWS they need Jesus, but simply won't accept Him is the hardest thing on this earth. So many people want to go to heaven, to avoid hell, but they simply won't give their entire lives to Jesus. They won't give all of their passions and desires to Him. They want a Savior, but that don't want a King to make demands on their life.
This summer was the best summer of my life.
God blessed me so much with this summer.
Every camper, every staff member, every day was a blessing to me.
I failed this summer so many times, but God still used a broken sinner for His glory.
There is no other place I want to spend next summer than High Point.
There is not a day that doesn't go by that I don't think of something from this summer.
My heart is and always will be ministry, and I'm very excited to see where God leads in the days and weeks ahead.
We serve a really big God who deserves all of our lives.
He is not content with half-hearted ministry. He is not content with us giving a little bit of ourselves to Him or with us fitting Him into our lives. He IS our lives. He is to be the center and the core and He is to be the radical focus of our life. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.
No words could ever fully describe this summer.
Basically, God is really really good.
"Oh taste and see that God is good to us!!"
Isaiah 40:18-31
18 To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
To prepare a carved image that will not totter.
21 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.
24 Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.
25 “ To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“ My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
After being home for a little over a month, and finally having time to digest all that happened this summer, I decided it was about time to summarize the most unforgettable summer of my life.
The summer of 2010 was spent at High Point Camp in the countryside of Pennsylvania.
Before the summer ever began, I had really big expectations of this summer. I envisioned all the big things that God was going to do, and, because we serve a really big God, He made big things happen this summer.
I'm not sure I could ever fully explain everything, and if I could it would take the pages of 5 books, so I will try to summarize.
1 Corinthians 13, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal...and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
This chapter was the very first chapter listed in the campers books this summer. It was a chapter that I've studied hundreds of times and memorized before, but it was very fitting that God would choose such a chapter to be first in our books. It's the chapter I heard the most from my campers this summer. It's what I heard over and over again in services. It's what I heard from the staff all summer. And it's what I heard from God every day. Over and over and over again, I heard the word, "LOVE."
What is the biggest problem in our day and in our Church? I would argue that it is a lack of Biblical Love. Jesus and the Cross, and ultimately, Love are no longer at the center. We have replaced the most vital of things with facts and knowledge. A vibrant relationship based on love has been somehow replaced by basic facts and knowledge. We have forgotten that Jesus left 2 commands, and those were to love as Jesus loved. We have forgotten the incredible love that Jesus showed while He was on this earth. Even this week I have been struck with the picture of Jesus washing Judas' feet. What would drive the King to do that? Love.
Basically, if there was one really big idea that I learned this summer it was this: Jesus wants me to love and serve like Jesus did every single day. Doing this requires daily dying to myself and dying to my own desires so that I can serve and love like Jesus. Serving and loving like Jesus are the hardest things to do because we are such prideful beings, but doing so actually brings us the greatest measure of joy because it is something totally selfless and something that we do fully for the One in whom we find salvation.
This summer we read a book called "Just Do Something"
I'm going to attempt to summarize what it was about.
Ok.
Basically.
The idea of the book was pretty simple. Alot of us talk about "finding the will of God." We want to "go where He wants us to go." We don't want to "miss" His plan for our lives.
If Jesus wants us to go to Florida we don't want to go to Idaho.
But the book basically claims that this is dumb!
We waste so much time "waiting for the will of God" that we become paralyzed to do anything worthwhile.
Essentially, God has given His will to us in His Word.
Sometimes He does tell us what to do and where to go beforehand, but He is under no obligation to do so and He doesn't do this very often.
He doesn't have to tell us His plans beforehand. We are the creatures, He is the Creator.
We can look back and see His leading, but we usually cannot look forward to see what He wants us to do, unless of course it's something He's already revealed in His Word as His will.
God is most concerned with our sanctification. The question is really not: who should I marry? What job should I get? etc.
the question is....who am I to be? How am I to live? And Jesus tells us all of that in His Word.
The end of the matter is to fear God and keep His commandments...and when we do that...we can do anything we want!
As long as we live for Jesus and love Him with our whole hearts, it doesn't matter what our job is or who we marry or where we live!
We need to stop waiting for the "will of God" and "Just Do something" provided the something lines up with His Word.
So whatever you want to do, if it lines up with Scripture, go do it!
Learning all of that was awesome, and very freeing.
I so often look for perfect fulfillment in EVERY situation that I all too often miss out on so many things.
Ok, here's some quotes from some of the speakers.
"Every problem can be traced back to a poor view of God."
"The most beautiful picture in the Bible is adoption, because that is how we are saved, and it cost so high a price. The same is true in our own lives when we adopt a child."
"The crucifiction literally broke His heart...the blood and water that came pouring out were from His heart..."
"GO HARD."
"Following Christ is death to you and it is pure joy."
"You are God's hero on earth and you are called to storm the gates of hell and take back what is God's."
"and the armor bearer killed them...thousands of grown men fled from 2 small boys."
"Rules stink and relationships rule."
"It's EASY to stand in the middle. The majority lives there and it's not right. It's even easier to stay in the middle and go back to doing whatever you want. It requires NO faith to live in the middle."
"One of your biggest problems is that you live in a ME centered generation. You want EVERYTHING, including religion, to be custom tailored to you."
"It's not by trying to be faithful, but by looking to the Faithful One that I find the victory."
T challenged us every day from Philippians, and that was awesome.
He challenged us to live with the Gospel in focus, to live as one unit. To strive together with one goal and one passion. To live all out for Jesus. To keep giving when it feels like we have nothing left to give. To keep serving when we don't want to. He said that there is NO place for complaining, ever, not even when it's 100 degrees. Complaining is never allowed.
Everything from this summer was a gift from God.
Every victory, every defeat, every hard moment was a gift from the greatest of Givers.
I can never ever say thank You to Jesus enough for this summer.
This summer was something I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world.
The changes in my heart this summer will be with me forever. It's not that I learned anything really new this summer, but it's that God took so much of what I alredy knew and re-enforced it. I saw the Gospel lived out on a day to day basis. For the 7 weeks of camp I saw what it was to live like with Gospel in focus, with Jesus as the center, and that is the way that life is meant to be lived.
Memories of this summer will forever be etched into my brain.
Every crazy meal in the dining hall, every mail call, every service, every cheer, every night in the snack shop, every Friday night basketball game or Kangaroo Court, every game of dodgeball, every walk up the hill to the soccer field or the A-Frames, every morning getting up before campers, begging for the ability to die to myself one more time, every night I had no strength, only to wake up and somehow have energy for another day, every deep conversation, every funny moment, every game, every game of ninja, all the movies we watched, all the drives, all the times getting lost, all of our weekend trips, all the one on one conversations with campers, all of that, will forever be etched in my brain. All of that is what made this summer what it was. I learned that the best days are the days when you spend all of your strength but go to bed content because you are exactly where God wants you.
I learned yet again that my heart is fully set on ministry, and that no matter what I will never be content unless I'm pouring myself into ministry. I also learned that ministry can take many different forms, and ministry is always about people. That's why I can be a missionary in Kansas or Pennsylvania, or Africa, or anywhere, because missions is all about people. The same is true with ministry. You can do ministry wherever God has you.
Everything for the future is coming together just like it should.
My heart is fixed and focused on Jesus.
My passion is ministry and dicipleship.
Love is at the core, love is at the center like it should be.
This summer had alot of hardships, but anything worthwhile is hard. (Out of The Depths by Soverign Grace - Psalm 130) I encountered so many big, difficult problems. There's so much hurt and confusion in the world. But no matter the problem, no matter the size of the wound, no matter how calloused the heart, the solution to everything is the Gospel, the solution is Jesus.
Our goal is counselors and as friends and as brothers and sisters in Christ isn't to try to give a few verses to "fix" a problem, our goal is to share Jesus with people. Our goal is to share the Gospel with people because it is Jesus that changes a persons heart, and that is what changes the external action. You never change the heart by changing the action, you change the heart and the action changes itself.
No matter how much Truth you share with a person, you can never MAKE them believe or change, and that is the HARDEST things in the world. Looking someone in the eyes who KNOWS they need Jesus, but simply won't accept Him is the hardest thing on this earth. So many people want to go to heaven, to avoid hell, but they simply won't give their entire lives to Jesus. They won't give all of their passions and desires to Him. They want a Savior, but that don't want a King to make demands on their life.
This summer was the best summer of my life.
God blessed me so much with this summer.
Every camper, every staff member, every day was a blessing to me.
I failed this summer so many times, but God still used a broken sinner for His glory.
There is no other place I want to spend next summer than High Point.
There is not a day that doesn't go by that I don't think of something from this summer.
My heart is and always will be ministry, and I'm very excited to see where God leads in the days and weeks ahead.
We serve a really big God who deserves all of our lives.
He is not content with half-hearted ministry. He is not content with us giving a little bit of ourselves to Him or with us fitting Him into our lives. He IS our lives. He is to be the center and the core and He is to be the radical focus of our life. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.
No words could ever fully describe this summer.
Basically, God is really really good.
"Oh taste and see that God is good to us!!"
Isaiah 40:18-31
18 To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
To prepare a carved image that will not totter.
21 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.
24 Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.
25 “ To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“ My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Walk On The Water
Have you ever wondered what the disciples felt that night?
No, I'm not talking about Peter, I'm talking about all the other disciples.
The ones that stayed in the boat.
The ones that didn't get out of the boat and walk on the water.
What were they thinking?
Why didn't they walk out to Jesus?
For some reason, we are quick to condemn Peter for falling. We should really be commending him for his "extreme" and "radical" faith that got him over the edge of the boat and onto the surface of the sea.
All of the disciples SHOULD have gotten out of the boat that night and walked on the water...but Peter was the only one of the twelve that took the leap of faith and got out of the boat.
His faith was considered "radical" because nobody else followed him.
He was the one that "dared to be different."
He "stepped out in faith."
He "took a chance."
He "did what seemed impossible."
He failed yes. He fell when he took his eyes off of Jesus.
But he DID walk on the water.
But he DID fix his eyes on Jesus for at least a little while.
He trusted Jesus so much that he put his beliefs into action.
He had faith.
And I firmly believe that is what Jesus wants from His children!
Even if we fail, which we will time and time again, He wants us to do the right thing and live life His way even if nobody else follows.
"On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time." Jonathan Edwards
The disciples stayed in the boat.
They didn't receive the blessing of Peter.
They didn't get to experience Jesus out on top of the water.
No, they didn't walk on the water with Jesus, but they learned an important lesson.
They stayed in the boat the whole time, and when Jesus came back, they worshipped Him!
The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"
KJV says they responded by saying, "Truly You are the Son of God!"
This was a moment of realization for the disciples!
They had seen one of their own step out and do something "radical" and it brought them to their knees, caused them to worship the Creator, and caused them to learn an important lesson.
Even after the feeding of the five thousand, it took one of them doing something considered "radical" to really truly GET that that Jesus was the Son of God.
May we all be as willing to step out on the water like Peter.
Wherever we find ourselves today, are we willing to step out in faith and be used by God? Or are we scared and timid like the disciples?
We will never feel "good enough" to do something "great" for God.
But God wants to use us where we are at, right here and right now.
All He's looking for is a heart that is set on Him.
His eyes roam to and fro searching for those whose hearts are set upon Him!
He longs to do great things through people that are after His own heart.
We will never be "good enough," we will never have it "all together," and that's ok! Jesus is just looking for a heart completely surrendered to Him.
Too often I come to the brink...
I come to the moment of decision and shrink back.
I hesitate.
I delay.
I refuse to step out in faith.
I'm afraid.
I'm scared of what might happen.
I don't want to fail.
But this is very prideful of me and it reflects the very very poor view of God that I often have.
God is COMPLETELY trustworthy! He will never let us go if we but fix our eyes on Him.
Will you give everything away for Jesus? Will you die to yourself and your own desires? Will you walk in the Spirit? Will you step out on the waters of faith no matter how "ready" you feel?
He is there.
Jesus is still on the water.
And He's waiting.
For me.
And for you.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
~C.S. Lewis from The Weight of Glory
No, I'm not talking about Peter, I'm talking about all the other disciples.
The ones that stayed in the boat.
The ones that didn't get out of the boat and walk on the water.
What were they thinking?
Why didn't they walk out to Jesus?
For some reason, we are quick to condemn Peter for falling. We should really be commending him for his "extreme" and "radical" faith that got him over the edge of the boat and onto the surface of the sea.
All of the disciples SHOULD have gotten out of the boat that night and walked on the water...but Peter was the only one of the twelve that took the leap of faith and got out of the boat.
His faith was considered "radical" because nobody else followed him.
He was the one that "dared to be different."
He "stepped out in faith."
He "took a chance."
He "did what seemed impossible."
He failed yes. He fell when he took his eyes off of Jesus.
But he DID walk on the water.
But he DID fix his eyes on Jesus for at least a little while.
He trusted Jesus so much that he put his beliefs into action.
He had faith.
And I firmly believe that is what Jesus wants from His children!
Even if we fail, which we will time and time again, He wants us to do the right thing and live life His way even if nobody else follows.
"On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time." Jonathan Edwards
The disciples stayed in the boat.
They didn't receive the blessing of Peter.
They didn't get to experience Jesus out on top of the water.
No, they didn't walk on the water with Jesus, but they learned an important lesson.
They stayed in the boat the whole time, and when Jesus came back, they worshipped Him!
The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"
KJV says they responded by saying, "Truly You are the Son of God!"
This was a moment of realization for the disciples!
They had seen one of their own step out and do something "radical" and it brought them to their knees, caused them to worship the Creator, and caused them to learn an important lesson.
Even after the feeding of the five thousand, it took one of them doing something considered "radical" to really truly GET that that Jesus was the Son of God.
May we all be as willing to step out on the water like Peter.
Wherever we find ourselves today, are we willing to step out in faith and be used by God? Or are we scared and timid like the disciples?
We will never feel "good enough" to do something "great" for God.
But God wants to use us where we are at, right here and right now.
All He's looking for is a heart that is set on Him.
His eyes roam to and fro searching for those whose hearts are set upon Him!
He longs to do great things through people that are after His own heart.
We will never be "good enough," we will never have it "all together," and that's ok! Jesus is just looking for a heart completely surrendered to Him.
Too often I come to the brink...
I come to the moment of decision and shrink back.
I hesitate.
I delay.
I refuse to step out in faith.
I'm afraid.
I'm scared of what might happen.
I don't want to fail.
But this is very prideful of me and it reflects the very very poor view of God that I often have.
God is COMPLETELY trustworthy! He will never let us go if we but fix our eyes on Him.
Will you give everything away for Jesus? Will you die to yourself and your own desires? Will you walk in the Spirit? Will you step out on the waters of faith no matter how "ready" you feel?
He is there.
Jesus is still on the water.
And He's waiting.
For me.
And for you.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
~C.S. Lewis from The Weight of Glory
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
High Point
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Out Of The Depths - Sovereign Grace Ministries - Based on Psalm 130
Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You
When I am tempted to despair
Though I might fail to trust Your promises
You never fail to hear my prayer
And if You judged my sin
I’d never stand again
But I see mercy in Your hands
So more than watchmen for the morning
I will wait for You, my God
When my fears come with no warning
In Your Word I’ll put my trust
When the harvest time is over and I still see no fruit
I will wait, I will wait for You
The secret mysteries belong to You
We only know what You reveal
And all my questions that are unresolved
Don’t change the wisdom of Your will
In every trial and loss
My hope is in the cross
Where Your compassions never fail
© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Words
Patience.
Trust.
Waiting.
Surrender.
Abandon.
Self-Control.
Letting Go.
Giving Everything.
Rest.
Real Life.
Real Joy.
Real Peace.
Trust.
Waiting.
Surrender.
Abandon.
Self-Control.
Letting Go.
Giving Everything.
Rest.
Real Life.
Real Joy.
Real Peace.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Overload
My brain is definately on overload tonight.
I have SO much I need to write about just so I can sort out all of my thoughts.
-This summer is coming quickly.
-Christmas is now a distinct possibility.
-I have the best friends in the world.
-I have been reduced to tears because of some old issues that have surfaced.
-I have been discovering, or i guess, realizing, how big of a sinner I am...and how many problems I have. And because of that, there are times when I shy away from relationships and people and depth, and ultimately, I run away from God because of it. (This is part of what I was talking to you about, Dave)
-"If our God is for us, who could ever stop us? If our God is for us, who could stand against us? Our God is greater, our God is higher," Our God, is incredible.
-The heart of the mattter is the matter of the heart.
-Chipotle has really good burrito's, they have very impressive financial statements, but their book value and PE ratio's are slightly worrisome.
1. - Intense, unending, patient, sacrificial, and selfless love for others.
2. - A desire to make disciples and be discipled.
3. - An unwavering commitment to go wherever God leads whenever God says go, and to stay wherever God says to stay for as long as He says to stay there.
-Broken Down House is a really good book, even if it hurts to read sometimes.
-Things are hard, but in the end, they are worth it.
-Take it all Jesus, until only love remains.
-Wherever You lead Father, I will follow all the way.
I have SO much I need to write about just so I can sort out all of my thoughts.
-This summer is coming quickly.
-Christmas is now a distinct possibility.
-I have the best friends in the world.
-I have been reduced to tears because of some old issues that have surfaced.
-I have been discovering, or i guess, realizing, how big of a sinner I am...and how many problems I have. And because of that, there are times when I shy away from relationships and people and depth, and ultimately, I run away from God because of it. (This is part of what I was talking to you about, Dave)
-"If our God is for us, who could ever stop us? If our God is for us, who could stand against us? Our God is greater, our God is higher," Our God, is incredible.
-The heart of the mattter is the matter of the heart.
-Chipotle has really good burrito's, they have very impressive financial statements, but their book value and PE ratio's are slightly worrisome.
1. - Intense, unending, patient, sacrificial, and selfless love for others.
2. - A desire to make disciples and be discipled.
3. - An unwavering commitment to go wherever God leads whenever God says go, and to stay wherever God says to stay for as long as He says to stay there.
-Broken Down House is a really good book, even if it hurts to read sometimes.
-Things are hard, but in the end, they are worth it.
-Take it all Jesus, until only love remains.
-Wherever You lead Father, I will follow all the way.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Beauty In Broken Things
I have this incredibly complex thought in my head, and I just can't quite express it.
Basically, the idea is this: I am beginning to think that one of the most important things in the world is to see the beauty in broken things. We live in a broken world, we live in a world that has been trampled and ravaged by sin. It is a world that can seem very very dark and depressing and just plain nasty at times. But when we slow down a little bit, we will make a unique discovery! Even in the midst of a broken down house, even in the midst of a world totally ravaged by sin, even in the midst of imperfect people living in a world that is vastly different from its original design, we can still find beauty. The reason that we can find beauty is that the True Source of beauty is still active and alive. The True Source of beauty can be seen in the budding leaves of an April tree, in the song of a newborn baby bird, in the crispness of the morning air, or in the wonder of a setting Kansas sun.
Whenever we stop and view the world around us, whenever we stop to smell the roses we can see beauty, and it is a wonderful gift from the hand of God that we can see and experience the beauty that He has created and creates still. For it is not without effort that the leaf unfolds from its winter shelter, it is not without care that a baby bird breaks through the shell, it is not without a whisper that sun drives the dark from the sky, and it is not without intricacy that an Artist paints an evening sky. All of these things are an act of the Living and Creative God of the Universe. When He creates all of these wonders, I dare to say that He is exerting the same creative powers that He did when He fashioned the world. The hands that hold the world, are still creating today. He has yet to give up on His world, He has yet to give up on its restoration, He has yet to give up on you. He will never stop, He will never stop until everything is completely and totally restored. But until that day, He will still continue to give us ever small glimpses of true beauty. He will keep giving us those tiny little reminders that this broken down world will be re-built, that this world that is ravaged by sin will be made new. He continues to give us assurance that He will complete the work that He began in His children. In His own special way He says "Dear child, no matter how hard today may seem, I have a plan. I have a plan for you and it is good. It is good beyond your wildest dreams. And that plan is being carried out and will unfold just as beautifully as a budding May rose."
We must learn to see the beauty in broken things. We must learn to see the beauty that is all around us. For it is these glimpses into the heart of a wonderfully creative God that we find hope and full assurance. It is when we see the good that is still around us that we remember that good will always endure, that love wins in the end.
Never forget.
Never give up.
For there is beauty, in broken things.
Basically, the idea is this: I am beginning to think that one of the most important things in the world is to see the beauty in broken things. We live in a broken world, we live in a world that has been trampled and ravaged by sin. It is a world that can seem very very dark and depressing and just plain nasty at times. But when we slow down a little bit, we will make a unique discovery! Even in the midst of a broken down house, even in the midst of a world totally ravaged by sin, even in the midst of imperfect people living in a world that is vastly different from its original design, we can still find beauty. The reason that we can find beauty is that the True Source of beauty is still active and alive. The True Source of beauty can be seen in the budding leaves of an April tree, in the song of a newborn baby bird, in the crispness of the morning air, or in the wonder of a setting Kansas sun.
Whenever we stop and view the world around us, whenever we stop to smell the roses we can see beauty, and it is a wonderful gift from the hand of God that we can see and experience the beauty that He has created and creates still. For it is not without effort that the leaf unfolds from its winter shelter, it is not without care that a baby bird breaks through the shell, it is not without a whisper that sun drives the dark from the sky, and it is not without intricacy that an Artist paints an evening sky. All of these things are an act of the Living and Creative God of the Universe. When He creates all of these wonders, I dare to say that He is exerting the same creative powers that He did when He fashioned the world. The hands that hold the world, are still creating today. He has yet to give up on His world, He has yet to give up on its restoration, He has yet to give up on you. He will never stop, He will never stop until everything is completely and totally restored. But until that day, He will still continue to give us ever small glimpses of true beauty. He will keep giving us those tiny little reminders that this broken down world will be re-built, that this world that is ravaged by sin will be made new. He continues to give us assurance that He will complete the work that He began in His children. In His own special way He says "Dear child, no matter how hard today may seem, I have a plan. I have a plan for you and it is good. It is good beyond your wildest dreams. And that plan is being carried out and will unfold just as beautifully as a budding May rose."
We must learn to see the beauty in broken things. We must learn to see the beauty that is all around us. For it is these glimpses into the heart of a wonderfully creative God that we find hope and full assurance. It is when we see the good that is still around us that we remember that good will always endure, that love wins in the end.
Never forget.
Never give up.
For there is beauty, in broken things.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thank You
Thank You Lord, for the waves on the ocean.
Thank You Lord, for the thunder crashing.
Thank You Lord, for the valleys deep.
Thank You Lord, for the endless deserts.
Thank You Lord, for the oceans deep.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for tasks beyond our own abilities.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for the mundane.
Thank You Lord, for the sunshine.
Thank You Lord, for the dreary days of spring.
Thank You Lord, for the beautiful days of spring.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for what You take away.
Thank You Lord, for what You just won't give.
Thank You Lord, for what You hide from us.
Thank You Lord, for never giving us more than we can handle.
Thank You Lord, for the things that stretch.
Thank You Lord, for the things that hurt.
Thank You Lord, for the things that bring tears.
Thank You Lord, for the difficult things that bring a smile.
Thank You Lord, for teaching us more about Yourself.
Thank You Lord, for teaching us more about ourselves.
Thank You Lord, that You never give up on Your kids.
Thank You Lord, that You are saving me from myself.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for the fire, for Your refining fire.
Thank You Lord, for it is in the fire that You mold Your men.
Thank You Lord, for the fire purifies our hearts.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, that You don't always let us see the whole picture.
Thank You Lord, that sometimes You must lead us step by step.
Thank You Lord, for the trials that You allow.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for it is only through trials that You perfect our patience.
Thank You Lord, for patience, because patience is essential for our journey.
Thank You Lord, for guiding our every step.
Thank You Lord, for authoring our journey.
Thank You Lord, for winding rivers.
Thank You Lord, for winding roads.
Thank You Lord, that You know the destination.
Thank You Lord, that You will lead and You only want us to follow.
Thank You Lord, that Your way is always good.
Thank You Lord, for making us wait.
Thank You Lord, for teaching us patience.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for valleys deep.
Thakn You Lord, for trials that seem to never end.
Thank You Lord, that You allow the hard stuff.
Thank You Lord, that You never give up on us.
Thank You Lord, for Your love is deeper.
Thank You Lord, for Your love is deeper than our heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for Your love is deeper than our valleys deep.
Thank You Lord, for Your love lifts our heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for Your love that changes everything.
Thank You Lord, for the trials that You lovingly pour out.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord,
Thank You Lord, for the thunder crashing.
Thank You Lord, for the valleys deep.
Thank You Lord, for the endless deserts.
Thank You Lord, for the oceans deep.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for tasks beyond our own abilities.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for the mundane.
Thank You Lord, for the sunshine.
Thank You Lord, for the dreary days of spring.
Thank You Lord, for the beautiful days of spring.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for what You take away.
Thank You Lord, for what You just won't give.
Thank You Lord, for what You hide from us.
Thank You Lord, for never giving us more than we can handle.
Thank You Lord, for the things that stretch.
Thank You Lord, for the things that hurt.
Thank You Lord, for the things that bring tears.
Thank You Lord, for the difficult things that bring a smile.
Thank You Lord, for teaching us more about Yourself.
Thank You Lord, for teaching us more about ourselves.
Thank You Lord, that You never give up on Your kids.
Thank You Lord, that You are saving me from myself.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for the fire, for Your refining fire.
Thank You Lord, for it is in the fire that You mold Your men.
Thank You Lord, for the fire purifies our hearts.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, that You don't always let us see the whole picture.
Thank You Lord, that sometimes You must lead us step by step.
Thank You Lord, for the trials that You allow.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for the hard things.
Thank You Lord, for it is only through trials that You perfect our patience.
Thank You Lord, for patience, because patience is essential for our journey.
Thank You Lord, for guiding our every step.
Thank You Lord, for authoring our journey.
Thank You Lord, for winding rivers.
Thank You Lord, for winding roads.
Thank You Lord, that You know the destination.
Thank You Lord, that You will lead and You only want us to follow.
Thank You Lord, that Your way is always good.
Thank You Lord, for making us wait.
Thank You Lord, for teaching us patience.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for valleys deep.
Thakn You Lord, for trials that seem to never end.
Thank You Lord, that You allow the hard stuff.
Thank You Lord, that You never give up on us.
Thank You Lord, for Your love is deeper.
Thank You Lord, for Your love is deeper than our heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for Your love is deeper than our valleys deep.
Thank You Lord, for Your love lifts our heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord, for Your love that changes everything.
Thank You Lord, for the trials that You lovingly pour out.
Thank You Lord, for heavy burdens.
Thank You Lord,
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Random Musings
Sometimes I feel like God pounds home one thing. Sometimes it seems that every second of every day He is teaching me ONE thing.
But recently, I feel like I have been learning ALOT of different things.
So, in the random way that my mind works, I'm going to attempt to put words to some of those things...or at least, share some of the things with the words of Paul Tripp who says things better than I could ever dream of saying them.
1 - "Remember Israel, on the way to make sacrifice to Jehovah, they stopped and did homage to Baal. Remember Judas, he attended the supper after he sold Jesus for a little Silver. Remember the Pharisees, so publicly committed yet they plotted Jesus' death. What seems so very spiritual on the surface may not be in reality a matter of the heart." - From Broken Down House by Paul Tripp.
We must do whatever is necessary to Resisit Spirituality and embrace a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
2 - Above ALL ELSE...guard your heart...for it is the wellspring of life. Out of your heart flows your passions and your desires and your joy and your tears and your heartache and your pain and your laughter and your worship and your adoration, and maybe most imporantly, out of your heart flows your love...and everything, is always, about love.
Too often we fail to guard the wellspring of life, we fail to guard the most vital thing, and the result, is terribly messy.
3 - Wait Wait Wait Wait.
"I have come to understand that I am not the author of my own story. My narrative is being penned by One who is the definition of all that is wise, loving, pure, true and good. But since I am in the story but not the author of the story I am often called to wait. I wish I could say that I wait well, but I don't. I wish I could say that I never question your wisdom but I do. So, Lord, once more I ask for the grace to wait, not only so I can get what I'm waiting for, but so that I will become what You want me to become as I wait." - Paul Tripp
"Waiting is living through those moments when you do not understand what God is doing and you have no power to change your circumstances for the better." - Paul Tripp
"Waiting will always reveal where you have placed your hope. Your heart is always exposed by the way that you wait." - Paul Tripp
"We must wait because we are not writing our own stories." - Paul Tripp
"This means that in ministry we are called to have the same conversation again and again. We are called to pick that person up after each failure, to be willing to forgive and forbear, to remind him or her once more of God's presence and grace, and to be willing to have our lives slowed down and complicated in the process. People of grace and love are always people who are willing to wait." Paul Tripp
4 - We serve a very passionate and a very jealous Redeemer. He will not rest until things are they way they are supposed to be. He will not rest until sin is completely destroyed and we are made whole.
5 - Life is coming into focus.
5.a. - While sometimes seeming like it is out of control.
5.b. - God never said it would be easy, He only said He would never leave us alone.
6 - Discipleship is huge! Deep relationships are very important. We must choose our focus of ministry very carefully, for it is better to invest in 5 and succeed than to invest in 500 and fail.
7 - We must never stop dreaming.
8 - We must never lose sight of who we are, we must always live the way we were intended to live. God makes each and every one of us for a specific and distinct purpose, He places passions in our lives for a reason.
9 - Wherever you go, create. Never stop creating.
Love.
Relationships.
Beauty.
Joy.
Laughter.
10 - "This is the only moment we can do anything about so breathe it in and breathe it out, I don't want you to miss, the miracle of the moment."
Every moment is a gift, use it well.
But recently, I feel like I have been learning ALOT of different things.
So, in the random way that my mind works, I'm going to attempt to put words to some of those things...or at least, share some of the things with the words of Paul Tripp who says things better than I could ever dream of saying them.
1 - "Remember Israel, on the way to make sacrifice to Jehovah, they stopped and did homage to Baal. Remember Judas, he attended the supper after he sold Jesus for a little Silver. Remember the Pharisees, so publicly committed yet they plotted Jesus' death. What seems so very spiritual on the surface may not be in reality a matter of the heart." - From Broken Down House by Paul Tripp.
We must do whatever is necessary to Resisit Spirituality and embrace a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
2 - Above ALL ELSE...guard your heart...for it is the wellspring of life. Out of your heart flows your passions and your desires and your joy and your tears and your heartache and your pain and your laughter and your worship and your adoration, and maybe most imporantly, out of your heart flows your love...and everything, is always, about love.
Too often we fail to guard the wellspring of life, we fail to guard the most vital thing, and the result, is terribly messy.
3 - Wait Wait Wait Wait.
"I have come to understand that I am not the author of my own story. My narrative is being penned by One who is the definition of all that is wise, loving, pure, true and good. But since I am in the story but not the author of the story I am often called to wait. I wish I could say that I wait well, but I don't. I wish I could say that I never question your wisdom but I do. So, Lord, once more I ask for the grace to wait, not only so I can get what I'm waiting for, but so that I will become what You want me to become as I wait." - Paul Tripp
"Waiting is living through those moments when you do not understand what God is doing and you have no power to change your circumstances for the better." - Paul Tripp
"Waiting will always reveal where you have placed your hope. Your heart is always exposed by the way that you wait." - Paul Tripp
"We must wait because we are not writing our own stories." - Paul Tripp
"This means that in ministry we are called to have the same conversation again and again. We are called to pick that person up after each failure, to be willing to forgive and forbear, to remind him or her once more of God's presence and grace, and to be willing to have our lives slowed down and complicated in the process. People of grace and love are always people who are willing to wait." Paul Tripp
4 - We serve a very passionate and a very jealous Redeemer. He will not rest until things are they way they are supposed to be. He will not rest until sin is completely destroyed and we are made whole.
5 - Life is coming into focus.
5.a. - While sometimes seeming like it is out of control.
5.b. - God never said it would be easy, He only said He would never leave us alone.
6 - Discipleship is huge! Deep relationships are very important. We must choose our focus of ministry very carefully, for it is better to invest in 5 and succeed than to invest in 500 and fail.
7 - We must never stop dreaming.
8 - We must never lose sight of who we are, we must always live the way we were intended to live. God makes each and every one of us for a specific and distinct purpose, He places passions in our lives for a reason.
9 - Wherever you go, create. Never stop creating.
Love.
Relationships.
Beauty.
Joy.
Laughter.
10 - "This is the only moment we can do anything about so breathe it in and breathe it out, I don't want you to miss, the miracle of the moment."
Every moment is a gift, use it well.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Do Nothing
Sometimes, God asks you to do nothing.
That's right, sometimes, God asks you to do absolutely nothing.
Nada. Nothin'. Zilch. Zero. Zip.
Sometimes doing nothing is the hardest thing!
It would be so much easier if simply God said, "Do X."
But sometimes He says, "Wait, trust me on this, wait and see."
We can choose to wait patiently, or we can tap our foot and wait anxiously.
The choice, is ours.
That's right, sometimes, God asks you to do absolutely nothing.
Nada. Nothin'. Zilch. Zero. Zip.
Sometimes doing nothing is the hardest thing!
It would be so much easier if simply God said, "Do X."
But sometimes He says, "Wait, trust me on this, wait and see."
We can choose to wait patiently, or we can tap our foot and wait anxiously.
The choice, is ours.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Heaven Song
When I was far away, Your love went further still.
As long as I have breath, Lord, I will wait for You.
My soul is getting restless for the place where I belong, I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song.
As long as I have breath, Lord, I will wait for You.
My soul is getting restless for the place where I belong, I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Urgency
We live only a few short breaths.
We are here today, and gone tomorrow.
We are but a flower that is quickly fading.
We are but a vapor.
We have very little time.
What are we waiting for?
Why aren't we living for eternity right now?
Where is the urgency?
Where is it?
Where is the urgency?
Some, will wake up every morning and beg for the kingdom...
most will not.
Some will call people crazy who live for this world and not for this world.
There are only two choices in life.
Life is all about Jesus, or it doesn't matter at all.
Which will you choose?
Where is the urgency?
We are here today, and gone tomorrow.
We are but a flower that is quickly fading.
We are but a vapor.
We have very little time.
What are we waiting for?
Why aren't we living for eternity right now?
Where is the urgency?
Where is it?
Where is the urgency?
Some, will wake up every morning and beg for the kingdom...
most will not.
Some will call people crazy who live for this world and not for this world.
There are only two choices in life.
Life is all about Jesus, or it doesn't matter at all.
Which will you choose?
Where is the urgency?
Clarity
I love it when Jesus brings clarity to our lives.
He gives us eyes to see the big picture, to see clearly and beautifully.
This will be sort of a random post, but I need to get some thoughts out.
One - Proverbs 27:6 says "wounds of a friend can be trusted."
Proverbs 27:9 - "The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."
It is such a beautiful thing when your real friends act as God intends for them to act. When they speak truth over your life...even when it's hard to hear!
One of my friends told me the other night, "no matter what God says to do, you have to do it, no matter how much it doesn't make sense."
And that is so very very true!
The book of Deuteronomy is all about total and complete obedience, and God has been showing me alot about that recently.
Two - Old friends bring joy to the heart.
Three - Love is Patient
I'm finally at a place where everything is ok.
I'm totally content with being in this place, this is where God has called me to and I'm going to walk in it.
Being patient contains many immense blessings along the way.
Last year, I didn't know who I was.
Now, I finally know who I am.
Life is real again. Life is fresh. Life is new.
This semester has been one of immense blessing from the Lord.
"Trust in the Lord and He will do this, He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn and your justice like the noonday sun."
God is always at work, He is always doing something new, He is always creating a beautiful painting.
The Master is painting His masterpiece one stroke at a time. Sometimes it seems like the strokes come slowly, but that is only because the painter is making sure every stroke is perfect, timely, and precise.
Psalm 65:11 - You crown the year with Your bounty!
and Your carts overflow with abundance!
The grasslands of the desert overflow!
The hills are clothed with gladness!
The meadows are covered with flocks,
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing."
God truly is crowing this year with His bounty! His blessings are overflowing. Everything is being placed in perfect order, and it is causing me to rejoice and sing and have a heart of joy.
God is so real.
God is alive.
God is at work.
In Him I rest.
In Him I find everything.
In Him I find who I am.
In Jesus, who bore my sin, I find salvation.
In Him, I find my rest.
He gives us eyes to see the big picture, to see clearly and beautifully.
This will be sort of a random post, but I need to get some thoughts out.
One - Proverbs 27:6 says "wounds of a friend can be trusted."
Proverbs 27:9 - "The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."
It is such a beautiful thing when your real friends act as God intends for them to act. When they speak truth over your life...even when it's hard to hear!
One of my friends told me the other night, "no matter what God says to do, you have to do it, no matter how much it doesn't make sense."
And that is so very very true!
The book of Deuteronomy is all about total and complete obedience, and God has been showing me alot about that recently.
Two - Old friends bring joy to the heart.
Three - Love is Patient
I'm finally at a place where everything is ok.
I'm totally content with being in this place, this is where God has called me to and I'm going to walk in it.
Being patient contains many immense blessings along the way.
Last year, I didn't know who I was.
Now, I finally know who I am.
Life is real again. Life is fresh. Life is new.
This semester has been one of immense blessing from the Lord.
"Trust in the Lord and He will do this, He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn and your justice like the noonday sun."
God is always at work, He is always doing something new, He is always creating a beautiful painting.
The Master is painting His masterpiece one stroke at a time. Sometimes it seems like the strokes come slowly, but that is only because the painter is making sure every stroke is perfect, timely, and precise.
Psalm 65:11 - You crown the year with Your bounty!
and Your carts overflow with abundance!
The grasslands of the desert overflow!
The hills are clothed with gladness!
The meadows are covered with flocks,
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing."
God truly is crowing this year with His bounty! His blessings are overflowing. Everything is being placed in perfect order, and it is causing me to rejoice and sing and have a heart of joy.
God is so real.
God is alive.
God is at work.
In Him I rest.
In Him I find everything.
In Him I find who I am.
In Jesus, who bore my sin, I find salvation.
In Him, I find my rest.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Obedience
Man, life can be hard sometimes.
In a million different ways God has continually been showing me how important obedience is. We have to do whatever God asks, whenever God asks, and however God asks no matter what. We have to follow through no matter what God has told us to do. Even if doesn't make ANY LOGICAL sense, we have to do it. It's hard...but it's so so right. In the end, it will be worth it.
It's just, the here and now that is difficult.
"My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him."
It is only in Christ that I can find real rest. It is only in Christ that I can find the strength to be patient, to obey, and to follow through on what He has said.
It doesn't make sense to me right now...but i'm doing it.
And i'm so so excited to see what God has planned.
Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
In a million different ways God has continually been showing me how important obedience is. We have to do whatever God asks, whenever God asks, and however God asks no matter what. We have to follow through no matter what God has told us to do. Even if doesn't make ANY LOGICAL sense, we have to do it. It's hard...but it's so so right. In the end, it will be worth it.
It's just, the here and now that is difficult.
"My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him."
It is only in Christ that I can find real rest. It is only in Christ that I can find the strength to be patient, to obey, and to follow through on what He has said.
It doesn't make sense to me right now...but i'm doing it.
And i'm so so excited to see what God has planned.
Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Life
There are many many times in life, when things just don't go like you planned.
And it is at that moment when things end up differently than we may want, that we are faced with a choice. We can: throw in the towel, or get back up and fight again.
We must never quit, we must keep fighting for things in life that really matter.
We must. We must.
And it is at that moment when things end up differently than we may want, that we are faced with a choice. We can: throw in the towel, or get back up and fight again.
We must never quit, we must keep fighting for things in life that really matter.
We must. We must.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Some new songs I really like
Can Anybody Hear Me?
Merideth Andrews
I’m staring at these empty walls
Wondering when You’ll visit me again
When will You come?
If there is anything at all
Coming in between our love
Please show me, ‘cuz I am barely hanging on
Can anybody hear me?
The silence is deafening
Why do You feel so far away?
When I know You’re here with me
But I just need faith to see
Nothing can separate me from Your love
Believing what I can’t see
Has never come naturally to me
And I’ve got questions
But I am certain of a Love
Strong enough to hold me when I’m doubting You’ll never let go of my hand
I will trust in You, even in the moments I can’t find you, and I will hold on to Your promises of love You’ve never failed before
I know You can hear me
When the silence is deafening
Even though You seem far away
And I know You’re here with me
But I just need faith to see
Nothing can separate me from Your love
-------------------------
Always Enough
Casting Crowns
In the drying weary land
LORD You are the rain
In the sea of shattered ones
Your love comes rushing in
You hold the world within Your hands
And see each tear that falls
Through every fire and every storm
You're Always Enough
Always Enough
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough for me
In the watches of the night
LORD You are my song
Hope is in the morning light
Your love shines like the dawn
You keep my heart in perfect peace
My life is in Your hands
When confusion hides my way
You're Always Enough
Always Enough
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough for me
And rejoice for my for my Saviour reigns reigns
And rejoice for the lives
God on how set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
And rejoice for my Saviour reigns
And rejoice for the lives in me
God on how set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough for me
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough
And rejoice for my Saviour reigns
And rejoice for the lives in me
God on how set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
In the drying weary land
LORD You are the rain
----------------------------
Hold Us Together
by Matt Maher
VERSE ONE:
It don't have a job
Don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home
In Beverly Hills
VERSE TWO:
Won't fix your life
And find easy steps
Ain't the low or the limp
Or the government
PRE CHORUS:
But it's all you need..
CHORUS:
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
VERSE THREE:
It's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door!
Every moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor
PRE CHORUS TWO:
When you're on your knees then...
CHORUS:
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
BRIDGE:
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
CHORUS:
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
--------------------
I'll show you how to live
By Sanctus Real
I heard the sound of your first breath
A brand new life on your mother’s chest
A beating heart, expectant eyes
On the first day of your life
I saw you take your first step
And I watched you run with no regret
To chase your dreams and find true love
And the best is yet to come
So come with Me
I’ll show you life
Even better than this
Come with Me
I’ll show you love
You didn’t know could exist
Better than your first crush
Better than your first kiss
I’ll show you how to live
Remember how you felt from across the room
When you realized someone had eyes for you
And the way your heart sang cuz you believed
You were worth something
So come with me
I’ll show you life
Even better than this
Come with me
I’ll show you love
You didn’t know could exist
Better than your first crush
Better than your first kiss
I’ll show you how to live
Oh, I’ll show you how to live
Cuz I created your heart
That makes you feel
I am the love that makes it real
Oh, I am the One, I’m the One, I’m the One
I am the One, I’m the One, I’m the One
So come with Me
I’ll show you life
Even better than this
Come with Me
I’ll show you love
You didn’t know could exist
Better than your first crush
Better than your first kiss
I’ll show you how to live
Cause I am the One, I’m the One, I’m the One
I am the one, I’m the One, I’m the One
--------------------------------------
Have Your Way
by Britt Nicole
Feels like i`ve been here forever,
Why can`t you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And i`m falling apart at the seams.
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn`t hard,
But you promised you`d take care of me.
So I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And I`ll trust you,God, with where i am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.
When my friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold.
Remind me that you take broken things
And turn them into beautiful.
So I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,
And believe that you`ll have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.
Even if my dreams have died,
And even if i don`t survive,
I`ll still worship you with all my life.
My life.
Whoa-oh..
And I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.
I know you will.
I won`t forget.
Whoa-oh
You love me.
Have your way.
Yeah
-------------------------------
Everything Falls
Fee
You said
You'd never leave or forsake me
When you said,
This life is gonna shake me
You said
This world is gonna bring trouble on my soul
This I know
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find you mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on
When I see
The darkness all around me
When I see
The tragedy has found me
I still believe
Your faithful arms will never let me go
And still I know
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find you mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on
Sorrow may last for the night
But hope is rising with the sun
Its rising with the sun
There will be storms in this life
But I know You will overcome
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find You mighty and strong
You keep holding on
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find You mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on
Merideth Andrews
I’m staring at these empty walls
Wondering when You’ll visit me again
When will You come?
If there is anything at all
Coming in between our love
Please show me, ‘cuz I am barely hanging on
Can anybody hear me?
The silence is deafening
Why do You feel so far away?
When I know You’re here with me
But I just need faith to see
Nothing can separate me from Your love
Believing what I can’t see
Has never come naturally to me
And I’ve got questions
But I am certain of a Love
Strong enough to hold me when I’m doubting You’ll never let go of my hand
I will trust in You, even in the moments I can’t find you, and I will hold on to Your promises of love You’ve never failed before
I know You can hear me
When the silence is deafening
Even though You seem far away
And I know You’re here with me
But I just need faith to see
Nothing can separate me from Your love
-------------------------
Always Enough
Casting Crowns
In the drying weary land
LORD You are the rain
In the sea of shattered ones
Your love comes rushing in
You hold the world within Your hands
And see each tear that falls
Through every fire and every storm
You're Always Enough
Always Enough
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough for me
In the watches of the night
LORD You are my song
Hope is in the morning light
Your love shines like the dawn
You keep my heart in perfect peace
My life is in Your hands
When confusion hides my way
You're Always Enough
Always Enough
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough for me
And rejoice for my for my Saviour reigns reigns
And rejoice for the lives
God on how set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
And rejoice for my Saviour reigns
And rejoice for the lives in me
God on how set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough for me
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Brings out to the ages
And You're Always Enough
And rejoice for my Saviour reigns
And rejoice for the lives in me
God on how set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
In the drying weary land
LORD You are the rain
----------------------------
Hold Us Together
by Matt Maher
VERSE ONE:
It don't have a job
Don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home
In Beverly Hills
VERSE TWO:
Won't fix your life
And find easy steps
Ain't the low or the limp
Or the government
PRE CHORUS:
But it's all you need..
CHORUS:
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
VERSE THREE:
It's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door!
Every moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor
PRE CHORUS TWO:
When you're on your knees then...
CHORUS:
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
BRIDGE:
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
CHORUS:
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
--------------------
I'll show you how to live
By Sanctus Real
I heard the sound of your first breath
A brand new life on your mother’s chest
A beating heart, expectant eyes
On the first day of your life
I saw you take your first step
And I watched you run with no regret
To chase your dreams and find true love
And the best is yet to come
So come with Me
I’ll show you life
Even better than this
Come with Me
I’ll show you love
You didn’t know could exist
Better than your first crush
Better than your first kiss
I’ll show you how to live
Remember how you felt from across the room
When you realized someone had eyes for you
And the way your heart sang cuz you believed
You were worth something
So come with me
I’ll show you life
Even better than this
Come with me
I’ll show you love
You didn’t know could exist
Better than your first crush
Better than your first kiss
I’ll show you how to live
Oh, I’ll show you how to live
Cuz I created your heart
That makes you feel
I am the love that makes it real
Oh, I am the One, I’m the One, I’m the One
I am the One, I’m the One, I’m the One
So come with Me
I’ll show you life
Even better than this
Come with Me
I’ll show you love
You didn’t know could exist
Better than your first crush
Better than your first kiss
I’ll show you how to live
Cause I am the One, I’m the One, I’m the One
I am the one, I’m the One, I’m the One
--------------------------------------
Have Your Way
by Britt Nicole
Feels like i`ve been here forever,
Why can`t you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And i`m falling apart at the seams.
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn`t hard,
But you promised you`d take care of me.
So I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And I`ll trust you,God, with where i am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.
When my friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold.
Remind me that you take broken things
And turn them into beautiful.
So I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,
And believe that you`ll have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.
Even if my dreams have died,
And even if i don`t survive,
I`ll still worship you with all my life.
My life.
Whoa-oh..
And I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.
I know you will.
I won`t forget.
Whoa-oh
You love me.
Have your way.
Yeah
-------------------------------
Everything Falls
Fee
You said
You'd never leave or forsake me
When you said,
This life is gonna shake me
You said
This world is gonna bring trouble on my soul
This I know
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find you mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on
When I see
The darkness all around me
When I see
The tragedy has found me
I still believe
Your faithful arms will never let me go
And still I know
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find you mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on
Sorrow may last for the night
But hope is rising with the sun
Its rising with the sun
There will be storms in this life
But I know You will overcome
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find You mighty and strong
You keep holding on
When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You're the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find You mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on
Friday, March 19, 2010
Caring
Wherever life may lead, you must always care.
You're going to mess up, and fail...but just care, it covers over a lot of problems.
Above all else, Jesus wants us to love, and to love anywhere close to the way we are called to love, we must care.
You're going to mess up, and fail...but just care, it covers over a lot of problems.
Above all else, Jesus wants us to love, and to love anywhere close to the way we are called to love, we must care.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Seize The Day
In life, you only get so many opportunities.
There are only so many chances, before the door is closed forever.
We are all faced with choices and opportunities every moment of every day, but, before we know it, the opportunities and the life will pass us by.
We must be Christians who are characterized by our ability and desire to seize the moment. We must desire to do so, and follow through by seizing every moment, every opportunity and every day. When we fail, which is always inevitable, we must fall on our faces and beg Jesus to give us the strength to seize the next moment.
We live our lives by the breaths we take, we live our lives by the choices we make, we live our lives doing something with every opportunity...seizing the opportunity...or letting it pass us by...
There are only so many chances, before the door is closed forever.
We are all faced with choices and opportunities every moment of every day, but, before we know it, the opportunities and the life will pass us by.
We must be Christians who are characterized by our ability and desire to seize the moment. We must desire to do so, and follow through by seizing every moment, every opportunity and every day. When we fail, which is always inevitable, we must fall on our faces and beg Jesus to give us the strength to seize the next moment.
We live our lives by the breaths we take, we live our lives by the choices we make, we live our lives doing something with every opportunity...seizing the opportunity...or letting it pass us by...
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Beyond Words
Beyond Words by Tenth Avenue North.
Sometimes there are just things in life that are way beyond what words could ever say.
Sometimes there are just things in life that are way beyond what words could ever say.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Everything Comes Down To Love
Everything in the end, always, every time, comes down to love.
Our lives are defined by love.
After all, the only reason that we have a definition as a child of the King is because He loves.
The only reason we can love is because He loves.
But there is much more to love than first meets the eye.
Love is a choice.
Love, true love, is sacrificial.
Love is pure.
Love is new.
And because love is new, Love is something that you can never do the same way twice.
To love at all is to be vulnerable.
To love at all is to admit that we will fail, that we will fall short, and that we will love the wrong things from time to time.
But to love well, we must practice loving, and that means that sometimes we will inevitably fail.
But when we fail, if we are to love as God intended, we must learn from our mistakes.
We must get back up, dust ourselves off, and jump right back into the fight.
Cause loving the way God intended never stops.
It is done moment by moment.
We always choose to love something with every action we make.
Basically, we love self or another by every action we make.
Everything hinges on love.
Everything turns on love.
People are won over by love, not words.
Love talked about…well, that means nothing.
But love demonstrated, oh, that is everything.
The perfect picture of Love demonstrated is Jesus carrying a cross down a street with men that He created hurling insults at Him. It is watching Him take the abuse, seeing the soldiers drive the nails and hang Him on that bloody tree that is the ultimate demonstration of love.
He didn’t have to.
He got to…all because of love.
And we are to love like this? Really?
God really calls us to love like Jesus?
Yes, it says He calls us to love like this.
So why don’t we do it?
Why are we waiting?
Our lives are defined by love.
After all, the only reason that we have a definition as a child of the King is because He loves.
The only reason we can love is because He loves.
But there is much more to love than first meets the eye.
Love is a choice.
Love, true love, is sacrificial.
Love is pure.
Love is new.
And because love is new, Love is something that you can never do the same way twice.
To love at all is to be vulnerable.
To love at all is to admit that we will fail, that we will fall short, and that we will love the wrong things from time to time.
But to love well, we must practice loving, and that means that sometimes we will inevitably fail.
But when we fail, if we are to love as God intended, we must learn from our mistakes.
We must get back up, dust ourselves off, and jump right back into the fight.
Cause loving the way God intended never stops.
It is done moment by moment.
We always choose to love something with every action we make.
Basically, we love self or another by every action we make.
Everything hinges on love.
Everything turns on love.
People are won over by love, not words.
Love talked about…well, that means nothing.
But love demonstrated, oh, that is everything.
The perfect picture of Love demonstrated is Jesus carrying a cross down a street with men that He created hurling insults at Him. It is watching Him take the abuse, seeing the soldiers drive the nails and hang Him on that bloody tree that is the ultimate demonstration of love.
He didn’t have to.
He got to…all because of love.
And we are to love like this? Really?
God really calls us to love like Jesus?
Yes, it says He calls us to love like this.
So why don’t we do it?
Why are we waiting?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Surrounded
Surrounded by the enemy
My friends say run away
They say there's no escape.
Is this the end of the road?
IS there nowhere else to go?
The wicked bend their bow.
Maybe it's time to fly away
What will I choose? Cause after all, it's my choice.
What will I choose? Stay or fly away?
Surrounded, I make my choice.
Surrounded, I hear Your voice.
Surrounded, yet I will not fear.
Surrounded, I will not fly
I'm safe inside, Almighty's arms,
A refuge strong and sure
the Lord is my defender
what can my foes do to me?
Safe inside the Fathers arms
a refuge none can scale
though my foes want to bring me har,
the Lord is my defense.
No matter the circumstance
no matter the time or place
no matter if it's thunderin'
no matter if your hope is gone.
You're surrounded bu the Lord my God
He's a fortress high
no matter what the circumstance, He is Lord over all
You can trust His plan and trust His heart
and all He does is good.
Lord, all You do is good.
Lord, You reign on Your throne.
Lord, You are in control.
When everything falls apart,
I will still be safe inside Your arms.
safe inside Your arms of love.
Surrounded by Your love
Surrounded by Your strength
Surrounded, I will not fear.
Surrounded, cause You are my refuge.
1/24/10
My friends say run away
They say there's no escape.
Is this the end of the road?
IS there nowhere else to go?
The wicked bend their bow.
Maybe it's time to fly away
What will I choose? Cause after all, it's my choice.
What will I choose? Stay or fly away?
Surrounded, I make my choice.
Surrounded, I hear Your voice.
Surrounded, yet I will not fear.
Surrounded, I will not fly
I'm safe inside, Almighty's arms,
A refuge strong and sure
the Lord is my defender
what can my foes do to me?
Safe inside the Fathers arms
a refuge none can scale
though my foes want to bring me har,
the Lord is my defense.
No matter the circumstance
no matter the time or place
no matter if it's thunderin'
no matter if your hope is gone.
You're surrounded bu the Lord my God
He's a fortress high
no matter what the circumstance, He is Lord over all
You can trust His plan and trust His heart
and all He does is good.
Lord, all You do is good.
Lord, You reign on Your throne.
Lord, You are in control.
When everything falls apart,
I will still be safe inside Your arms.
safe inside Your arms of love.
Surrounded by Your love
Surrounded by Your strength
Surrounded, I will not fear.
Surrounded, cause You are my refuge.
1/24/10
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Coming into focus
Tonight...
life began to come into focus
i continued putting away childish things
i finally moved on
and i started something really new
God is good.
God is constant
He never changes
He never lets go, no matter what storms are raging
He is not safe, but He is good.
Good always prevails.
life began to come into focus
i continued putting away childish things
i finally moved on
and i started something really new
God is good.
God is constant
He never changes
He never lets go, no matter what storms are raging
He is not safe, but He is good.
Good always prevails.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Our Place of Refuge
Even when the rain pours down
Even when the waves crash in
We know YOUR love is strong
Your shelture sure
so we will hide in You
our strong and mighty refuge
I find myself
in the shadow of Your wings
Hands so strong
a love so pure
a refuge high
a shelter safe
We will hide in You
Our strong and mighty refuge
no matter if the storm is raging
even if it's all caving in
no matter what i'm going through
no matter how impossible things may seem
I will rest in Your shelter
Jesus, I rest in You
-Our Place of Refuge
01/10/10
Even when the waves crash in
We know YOUR love is strong
Your shelture sure
so we will hide in You
our strong and mighty refuge
I find myself
in the shadow of Your wings
Hands so strong
a love so pure
a refuge high
a shelter safe
We will hide in You
Our strong and mighty refuge
no matter if the storm is raging
even if it's all caving in
no matter what i'm going through
no matter how impossible things may seem
I will rest in Your shelter
Jesus, I rest in You
-Our Place of Refuge
01/10/10
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Waiting
We've all had things that we have had to wait for.
The results to a test, the arrival of a friend, our food to get done cooking.
But there are times in our life when we must wait for something we really really want. There are times when God asks us and even makes us wait for something.
This season of waiting can last a short time, or sometimes it can drag on for months and months.
Frankly, I don't like waiting a whole lot. Also, it's a very anti-American thing to wait. We have been trained as a society to want, expect, and get instant gratification.
But, God's time-table is rarely the same as our time-table.
God's time is perfect...even though it may be insanely hard to wait for it.
When God says to wait, there's a perfect reason for the waiting.
The reason will be found at the end or along the way.
But even during the waiting, there's a wonder in the here and now.
There are things that God wants us to fill the waiting with.
We must walk in those things, and walk worthy.
I know that I don't like waiting for alot of things, and sometimes it really really hurts, but it is good. God sometimes asks me to wait...and so I will simply wait.
Lord, I don't understand
why You've brought me here
but Your love I am sure of
so I will simply wait
wait on You
Lord, I will wait on You
even when it looks uncertain
I will simply wait on You
The results to a test, the arrival of a friend, our food to get done cooking.
But there are times in our life when we must wait for something we really really want. There are times when God asks us and even makes us wait for something.
This season of waiting can last a short time, or sometimes it can drag on for months and months.
Frankly, I don't like waiting a whole lot. Also, it's a very anti-American thing to wait. We have been trained as a society to want, expect, and get instant gratification.
But, God's time-table is rarely the same as our time-table.
God's time is perfect...even though it may be insanely hard to wait for it.
When God says to wait, there's a perfect reason for the waiting.
The reason will be found at the end or along the way.
But even during the waiting, there's a wonder in the here and now.
There are things that God wants us to fill the waiting with.
We must walk in those things, and walk worthy.
I know that I don't like waiting for alot of things, and sometimes it really really hurts, but it is good. God sometimes asks me to wait...and so I will simply wait.
Lord, I don't understand
why You've brought me here
but Your love I am sure of
so I will simply wait
wait on You
Lord, I will wait on You
even when it looks uncertain
I will simply wait on You
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)