A Christmas/ New Years Wish For You...

This christmas season I wish you joy The wonder In every girl and boy. I wish you gladness To Have good friends And familygathered near
May Children's laughter In falling snow Rekindle Those sweet scenes from long ago. May every carol, each candle bright remind you why angels sang that night.
If trouble finds you this is my prayer:
May peace come into your hearts and make you strong
And i wish you luck the kind to last all year long...

~Michael W. Smith

6 Words to describe your life class assignment

In communications class we were asked to describe our lives in 6 words only. Then we created a video for it. Here is mine. Enjoy!

What Faith Can Do ~Kutless

What Faith Can Do ~Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

Be Honest

This is a fantastic video that a couple of students put together. Make sure you watch it the WHOLE way through...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC1k930APXM

Jesus is life!

My friend just introduced me to the coolest song called Jesus is Life by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Here are some of my favorite lines. Listen to the song!!

Imagine the deepest sea without a drop of water
An infinite galaxy without even one single star
That's how I would be...so absolutely empty
Without Jesus' life in me there'd be no life at all
More than just a part, He's the very heart of everything I am

Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh
The air I'm breathing
Why my heart is beating
Everything I'm needing

This is my position concerning my condition
This is my position my life by definition


I don't know about you, but I want my position of life, living because of Jesus' life, to be my life definition.

Until the Whole World Hears- Casting Crowns

Watch this awesome video of Casting Crowns' newest single release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6BW_5WosgA

Everything has a reason...just a reminder

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)

"As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (Jeremiah 29:11)

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us

Fearless - Max Lucado

"We cannot go where God is not. Look over your shoulder; that's God following you. Look into the storm; that's Christ coming toward you.

Much to Peter's credit, he took Jesus at his word.'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' So, He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus (Matt. 14:28-29).

Peter never would have made this request on a calm sea. Had Christ strolled across a lake that was as smooth as mica, Peter would have applauded, but I doubt he would have stepped out of the boat. Storms prompt us to take unprecedented journeys. For a few historic steps and heart-stilling moments, Peter did the impossible. He defied every law of gravity and nature; "he walked on the water to go to Jesus."

Matthew moves us quickly to the major message of the event: where to star in a storm. " But when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' (v. 30)

A wall of water eclipsed his view. A wind gust snapped the mast with a crack and a slap. A flash of lightning illuminated the lake and the watery Appalachians it had become. peter shifted his attention away from Jesus and toward the squall, and when he did he sank like a brick in a pond.

Give the storm waters more attention than the Storm Walker, and get ready to do the same."

Matthew 15:32-39

It is a familiar story; the feeding of 4,000, which is a separate story than the feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21) shown in Mark 8:19-20.

It starts with the great attribute of Christ: Compassion. After thinking about what compassion really is and wanting to be able to have that same attribute, I have come up with this. To me based on the acts of Jesus, compassion is always prior to a faith filled action. If you have compassion, it seems that you cannot not help somebody or turn the situation around. It would have been much different if Jesus had looked at all of the hungry people and said, "wow, I wish I would be able to feed them. Why is the world so hungry?" and then moved on. That is NOT compassion. Compassion is how Jesus acted instantaneously to the hungry. He had compassion on them; therefore, he HAD to act on their behalf.

Here is the literal definition of Compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Notice, the "accompanied by..." part of the definition. Think about what we can do with our strong desires to alleviate suffering. All it takes is faith. Compassion is always prior to faith filled action. When it comes to serving and helping others you wouldn't have faith filled action without compassion...nor would you have compassion that is not followed by an action of faith. That would just be nonsense.

I just have to wonder what the disciples were thinking when they were passing out the 7 loaves and a few small fish. "Does the bread keep growing?" or " I fed this family and it looks like I hardly took out a chunk!" Perhaps, one of the disciples yelled out, "This is an everlasting loaf of bread!" Then, just maybe, God said..."Yes, they got it! I Am the Everlasting and you have witnessed my Son, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

What faith can do is remarkable because the result isn't in our power but God's.

Mourning Dove

Recently my family and I have become fascinated by birds and the birds have become fascinated with us. We find the most beautiful birds of all different colors in our backyard taking a bath on a daily basis. Last week, I found a mother Dove sitting in our driveway. My first thought was it was hovering over a baby, but it wasn't. It just sat there and looked at me. It wasn't injured or anything. It was just relaxing. I was literally 3 feet from the dove, and she didn't move.
2 days later we found her nest. She has a baby dove now. It has become part of our daily routine now to look for the baby dove and the momma.
Doves can represent the symbol of peace and the presence of God:

Maybe the doves are around us to help us remember the God is always with each of us.

Maybe the doves choose to sit side by side on our front porch steps looking out at the world to remind us as an invitation to go cuddle with our Father and be amazed at Him and what He has done. That is really all the baby dove does besides sing. The dove sits and takes the world in. She looks all around her for at least a half hour just waiting patiently and enjoying what she sees. She takes it in as a child does. I think I have forgotten how amazing and blessed the Earth really is after living here for 17 years. Maybe I should take time to take it all in again.

Maybe the doves sing together because that's all they know how to do to give God glory through their acts of praise.

What if in the midst of my fears or stresses at the completion of each day, I just lay there and fall asleep taking it all in just like a child who is privileged and blessed to live each coming day.

Join your Father, family, and friends today while you take in the newness and grandness of the whole world. It's all around you...peace...love...and I AM (God with us)

A Jesus Manifesto

Snippets from the blog: A Jesus Manifesto. I recommend reading it and forming your own opinions due to the fact it is very deep and intense.

Jesus Christ was not a social activist nor a moral philosopher. To pitch him that way is to drain his glory and dilute his excellence. Justice apart from Christ is a dead thing. The only battering ram that can storm the gates of hell is not the cry of Justice, but the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Justice, Peace, Holiness, Righteousness. He is the sum of all spiritual things, the “strange attractor” of the cosmos. When Jesus becomes an abstraction, faith loses its reproductive power. Jesus did not come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people live.

It is possible to confuse an academic knowledge or theology about Jesus with a personal knowledge of the living Christ himself. These two stand as far apart as do the hundred thousand million galaxies. The fullness of Christ can never be accessed through the frontal lobe alone. Christian faith claims to be rational, but also to reach out to touch ultimate mysteries. The cure for a big head is a big heart.

The meaning of Christianity does not come from allegiance to complex theological doctrines, but a passionate love for a way of living in the world that revolves around following Jesus, who taught that love is what makes life a success . . . not wealth or health or anything else: but love. And God is love.

More @ http://ajesusmanifesto.wordpress.com/

The Lost Get Found

Watch this brand new song by Britt Nicole. It is a really important message that can't be extinguished.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZacdiLazFks&feature=related

Wisdom and Truth

Sunday night I attended this new bible study that is primarily focused for 12th graders and college students. After the 2 hours, I knew why. It was so in depth that I felt in awe of God's intellect because I knew that I couldn't even compare to it. The Bible Study was called the Truth Project. It is a tape of a professor at New Geneva Seminary and the president of Focus on the Family who is teaching his students about this lesson of Truth.

Truth: What is Truth?
Have you ever asked yourself that question? How do we know what truth is? Do we really know what is true when everyone has their own opinion of truth? Dr. Del Tackett, the professor, states that if you ask random population more than half of them will answer "i dunno" to the vital question of truth. I mean really think about truth or at least try and wrap your noggin around it. We know as Christians that Jesus stated "I am the way, the truth, an the life. No one comes to the father except through me." (John 14:6) I believe that completely, but have never thought about it outside of any other context. The Truth is Jesus.

Truth: Why did Jesus come to the world?
Answer found in John 18:37- to testify to the truth. He came not to only save us, but to establish the right way. To establish the Truth so that we don't have to live or suffer with lies. Christians don't belong to lies any longer because He has already established the Truth.

Truth: Where is Truth?
Found in Jesus Christ. Truth is having faith in Jehova Jira, the God who provides. We don't have faith in faith or hope in hope. Have faith in Truth. Have hope in Truth. As Christians do our lives really prove that we believe that our belief is really real?

Wisdom: "Does not widsom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. To fear the Lord is to hate evil. " Proverbs 8

Wisdom: knowing what is true.

"Maybe to fear the Lord is to hate evil" is saying, to follow the Truth is to reject the lies since that is what he has come to testify.

Lord,

I am asking for you to give me your eyes. I want to serve you whole-heartedly for the glory of You.
May you teach, and I learn.
May you show and I'll go.
I am in this for you whether I get to see the results of the impact or not.
Here I am. So, please fill me with that fire that can't be quenched. Fill me with hope to give and love to show. Just so that they will know...
I don't know what is in store, but you always know before.
Send angels that will surround. May I remember that you will be with me at 6 am as soon as I awaken, you will join me in the mud and sweat, and you will certainly be there when I decide to rest my head after each day.
May I hear you whisper softly to my heart throughout the day.
May you show me the way.

Give Me Your Eyes...or maybe a blindfold??

Interesting title, I know. But here is what I was up against today. You know when you get the feeling that the world needs such help that even a rope that could wrap around the Earth wouldn't be long enough? Well, I have adopted this song to my lifestyle: "Give me your eyes for just one second.Give me your eyes so I can see.Everything that I keep missing.Give me your love for humanity.Give me your arms for the broken hearted ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me your heart for the ones forgotten.Give me your eyes so I can see".
This song is what spoke to me to go on an International mission trip. This song got me more involved in my community. It also is the same artist who was sung at church when I was the guest speaker.

Today, this song took a new spin on my life. Let me warn you, if you are asking for the Lord to show you what He sees so that you can better help and communicate from others based on where they are coming from...you better put on the shield of faith and the belt of truth (Ephesians 6) because I realized that over the past few months and especially just recently, we don't want to know how others live. As Christians it can seem scary, unnerving, or uncomfortable. So, I have to clarify what I am actually saying. What I saw in Jamaica was amazing and it blessed me. The love and welcome coming from the Jamaicans taught me a lot. I needed to learn that I don't need my "wants". But since then I have come across people in my path that live desperate lives and because of Christ's compassion I have wanted to help them. They know that Christ is the priority and the purpose in my life. But to be able to understand where someone is coming from when you are feeling great and redeemed through Christ can be difficult and painful. Sometimes you don't want to see what people go through. At one point it bothered me. It made me afraid. I was confused why they had to go through such things ore even why they chose such things.However, I realized they came to me, and I had a responsibility to endure the situation and just listen and show the love of Christ.

Now, I feel I am called to move on. I helped and did what I could with Christ working through me. Now, God has removed that specific responsibility because I already have planted a seed. Now, is the time for the Living Water to rain down.

It's tough. I listened to things I didn't know how to respond. Sometimes it made me hurt that someone could be so empty. Thank God that He gets to see everything and we only see minuscule things because we couldn't handle what goes on daily in 6.8 billion people's lives. That's why He is God. We are his workmanship. He is the Lord.

So I encourage you and warn you at the same time. If you feel called to see the world through His eyes, soften your heart yet also keep that shield up so that you stay strong because that is what the forgotten, lost, and lonely need: someone to look up to and know that there is more to life through Jesus. Sometimes they are just asking for hope. Go tell them there is and overflowing cup of hope waiting for them. If we don't, who will? (Romans 10:14). It's tough, but He will equip you for it.

Everything...I can't even begin to explain

Our God, Almighty, is a God of Everything. He is One of power. A God that chooses to use His power for our good if we believe in Him. A God that never fails in love or His promises.
This week I felt like I was missing something...I couldn't figure it out. I would wake up at the crack of dawn for no apparent reason and start talking to God or reading the Bible. I received amazing blessings each and everyday so much that I started to see a trend. But yet, I was missing a feeling inside. A feeling of unshakable joy. But after today, I think I realized that I was just too busy in my mind to just focus. I wasn't too busy "doing things" but busy "thinking things". I couldn't focus this week and that was my problem. I was thinking about friends and changes in my life and big decisions. I wasn't disconnected with God, but I was disconnected with who I was in God. My friend who lives in Indiana now also felt the same way. After his description of his world spinning, it dawned on me that my world was spinning but not in an uncontrollable way, rather I just wasn't able to focus. I wasn't able to truly take in what God had in store for me because I was focused on earthly things. But I know and have known all along that NOTHING could ever take His place. NOTHING could ever supply me more joy. NOTHING could ever instill dreams and make them come alive, even myself no matter how hard I tried. It is so hard to explain because people say that you don't always get a feeling when you spend time with God or you are doing what He wants you to do, but I do. That is how I know when it is missing.

I encourage you to pay attention to that inner feeling. I encourage you to pursue Him all the more. Find the feeling of contentment, peace, and sometimes a subtle or loud voice from within. It's there. In fact the book I am reading now explains that everyone should be able to hear the voice of God. It should be normal. But, when we aren't focused enough we can miss it.

God never left me this week. That is a thing I was sure about, but I had covered that inner feeling with worldly feelings and I focused too much on a typical teenage life. I am not typical. I am not just ordinary. No teenager has to be ordinary because of this one thing: With a sincere focus, the natural people ( us) + the Super (God) = Supernatural.

Focus. That's what it takes. Focus on the goal.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. " Hebrews 12:1-3

Africa...is but a dream away

What do you think of when someone mentions Africa to you? Sometimes it is so overlooked that it is considered a country. *It has 52 countries to be exact.
I came across the website that I have become very interested in over the last week. It is called www.mochaclub.org. It is similar to Blood: Water Mission; however, it is specifically directed to all of us coffee fans. Instead of spending $7 a week on coffee send it to them and the will supply education and nourishment for these people.

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAB-zJPsJjs

This video explains it all. It explains what we don't see everyday on the news. It explains what we try to put in the back of our minds because it really can't be happening. But, it is. It is happening write now. In fact, if we were to gather a group of 100 people from the world(keep in mind this is 100 out of the world's population, 6.7 Billion!). Then these numbers would follow:
- 16 don't believe in God
- 18 can't read or write their own name
- 50 barely live above the poverty line
- 19 lack basic sanitaition
-16 can't even get a clean glass of water
- And something as light for us as the common cold becomes deadly without any medicine.

I believe that we all have dreams. No matter where we are, whether we can hear it or not. I think we all have dreams. Dreams that may already or not be aligned with the very will of God. I think one of God's dreams for us is to serve humanity rather than a dream of something like skydiving. A dream that is enriched with so much more than a one time rush of energy. A dream of compassion and joy that doesn't come from our circumstances.

Currently, I am trying to find that destined dream within me. The dream where I am so close to God's will that I can't help but say, Here am I. Send me.

If we don't, who will? Find that God destined dream in you to serve humanity in everyway we can from across the world to right where we are now.

1000 Questions

I went to a conference this past weekend. Here is the video that they showed and I have been amazed by it ever since. Watch this and then read what they said afterwords.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk

Your life was meant to make a permanent MARK. Just as though a 3 year old is hyped up on Redbull with sharpies in a white furniture store.Everyday ask yourself as a masterpiece- what do you need to do, and how can you be used to bring Heaven to Earth?
The statistics out there are scary. I don't think I need to share them with you. But I must ask this just as I was asked.

Do you care? The world is waiting. That is all they can do. Now when are you going to act? Tap in to God's Kingdom

I am moved...to be a hero for my Hero

I was moved today. Moved in my mind and heart towards something that I hadn't seen before. I knew of the pain in the world. I know of the struggles that we all have, but what I didn't know was that the pain is in the people all around me. I didn't know that I was just inches from people that are hanging on a cliff for dear life. In fact, the weird thing is is that I don't even know the people, my classmates, as well as I should, yet I know about their hangups, failures, and painful scars.

As I was sitting in my American History class today, I was surrounded by desks, literally. I was in the center and had no where to go as other people crowded around me to work in their groups. Now, granted, I did chose to work by myself, but I didn't think I would be blocked in. This blockade is what started it all. As I was reading about cases in history where citizens weren't given their rights, I started hearing all of these bizarre conversations around me. They were bits and pieces until I finally started listening to the full conversations. The conversations were nerve wracking. One group to my left was literally drug dealing before my eyes with cash under the table. I was shocked, a jock mixing in with a drug addict, now becoming one himself. To my right, I experienced a guy who was talking about the mental hospital he just got out of after several trips being admitted into children's hospital for serious cutting. He got warm in the room and took off his jacket. You could tell he was a little ashamed because the cuts were so deep the scars were permanently there for the rest of his life, and the worst part was that there wasn't a 2inch bare block on the skin without cuts. With him, I brought up a conversation about the greatness of the one day when there will be no more tears or pain in Heaven. He knew what I was talking about. He also knew the difficulty of getting out of that rut.

I then went to study hall and this song played on my iPod. I hadn't listened to it in a long time, but it is a moving song. So, I wanted to post the music video for this song on this blog, but when I started researching it, I came across really violent music videos for this song, sadly because that is what these people are going through. The pain is real. No matter what we decide to do about it there are still people with such a deep pain in side of them that they can't see the light. They are so far from Truth that they don't even know what it is anymore. They are too consumed in the mental and physical pain that they don't know there is so much more...

Watch this... I think it is a call to be a hero...to step up and be hands and feet for our Hero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNlZz3RQxos&feature=related

I don't know how yet, but at least I am heading in the right direction aware of people's circumstances. Even if it is more than I want to know just like the song lyrics say, "Thinking it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that itsn't about me. This is our problem. This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes." We can't save them, but let's at least be a hero to somebody...if we made a choice to be the voice.

That's My King! Do you know Him?

S.M. Lockridge- That's My King

The Bible says
He’s the King of the Jews
He’s the King of Israel
He’s the King of Righteousness
He’s the King of the Ages
He’s the King of Heaven
He’s the King of Glory
He’s the King of Kings
and He is the Lord of Lords

He’s enduringly strong
He’s entirely sincere
He’s eternally steadfast
He’s immortally graceful
He’s imperially powerful
He’s impartially merciful

He’s the loftiest idea in literature
He’s the highest personality in philosophy
He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism
He’s the fundamental doctrine in true theology
He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion

That’s my King!
He’s the miracle of the age
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him

He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously
He supplies strength for the weak
He’s available for the tempted and the tried
He sympathises and He saves
He guards and He guides
He heals the sick
He cleansed the lepers
He forgives sinners
He discharges debtors
He delivers the captives
He defends the feeble
He blesses the young
He serves the unfortunate
He regards the aged
He rewards the diligent
And He beautifies the meek

Do you know Him?
My King is the key of knowledge
He’s the wellspring of wisdom
He’s the doorway of deliverance
He’s the pathway of peace
He’s the roadway of righteousness
He’s the highway of holiness
He’s the gateway of glory
He’s the master of the mighty

His word is enough
His grace is sufficient
His reign is righteous
His yoke is easy
and His burden is light
I wish I could describe Him to you
He’s indescribable
He’s indescribable
He’s incomprehensible
He’s invincible
He’s irresistible
I’m trying to tell you
The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him
Let alone a man explain Him
You can’t get Him out of your mind
You can’t get Him off of your hands
You can’t outlive Him
And you can’t live without Him
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him
but they found out they couldn’t stop Him
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree
And Herod couldn’t kill Him
Death couldn’t handle Him
And the grave couldn’t hold Him

The glory is all His
Thine is the Kingdom
And the power
And the glory
For ever
And ever
And ever
And when you get through with all of the forevers
Then
Amen

Oreos...or something better?

Ha, so here's my story..It's long so brace yourself. Everything that I am about to say is an analogy to what really happened to me yesterday. Yesterday was terrible. I haven't had such a bad day in such a long time. Here it goes:

I desired something so badly that I thought God must have my back. It has to be part of His plan. It would get me farther in life. It will help me in my future. I was expecting a lot. But you know when you put money in a machine and it gets stuck? That was me. Let's say what I wanted so badly was a bag of oreos out of the vending machine. Well, unfortunately, my change got stuck. I never received what I wanted. Instead I was so upset all day. How could this happen? It was suppose to go well. I had such a good feeling about it. I was confident about it.

After a long time of allowing what had happened to soak in and with much guided help, I have come to this conclusion. I didn't get my oreos (the thing I wanted) because a) the change will better somebody more than myself or b) if I wait just long enough, I will get something that is much better than oreos!

Long story short and moral of the lesson: What we think is part of God's plan, may not be. But don't get upset. Remember, "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD"(Psalm 27:14). When things go south instead of north, keep your head pointed towards the north star. Keep listening. Don't shut out the voice of Direction; the Way; the Truth; the Life. Trust. Have faith. A new door will open. I don't know what I will receive instead of oreos...all I can see right now is what would be better than oreos...,but I have faith in the fact that because He knows my best, because He is my God and Savior...a better selection is on the way, and it has already been paid for. He has paved the way.

This song has been playing on the radio non stop...coincidence?...I think not. It's definitely God.

I'm waiting. I'm waiting on You, Lord, and I am hopeful. I'm waiting on You, Lord, though it is painful. But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident takeing every step in obedience.
While I'm waiting, I will serve You. While I'm waiting, I will worship.
While I'm waiting, I will not faint.
I'll be running the race even while I wait

I'm waiting. I'm waiting on You, Lord, and I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord, though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

Lord, I am waiting. Hoping. Praying...faithfully..maybe yesterday turned into something so much more and magnificent than I thought it would.

Covered in the dust of my Rabbi

This was the lesson for the Bible Club at school. I thought it was so powerful, why not spread it to others more so than the people that are in this club.

It is based on the video by Rob Bell- Dust. You must watch it if you have not seen it yet.

Take a look at Mark 8:34. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
We separated this verse into 6 parts and dissected the meaning of the words individually.
For Example:
If anyone would- if is a choice; anyone extends the invitation to all

Think of what each word/section of the verse means to you. The point of this lesson was to realize that we can't pin point what it means to deny ourselves and take up our cross. It isn't a simple act. It isn't waking up for the day saying: "I am going to wash my neighbor's car today" because I think that is taking up my cross. I think that taking up our cross is happening all the time. There is so much that defines taking up our cross that it is even hard for me to understand. Maybe it is biting our tongue instead of saying something we will regret; AND washing our neighbors car out of our love for our neighbor AND our love for God. Maybe it is doing things that we do on a regular basis different because we are following Him.

But first of all one of the students shared a devotion about this saying...it requires us knowing ourselves, knowing where we stand and what our talents are. The funny thing is that this message has been "appearing" in everything this club has been doing lately. So, this past week, we seized this opportunity as if maybe God is speaking to the entire club.

In the video it talked about following our Rabbi (Teacher) so closely that we are covered by whatever he walked in throughout the day. We are covered in his dust because we desire to be like Him. We desire to walk as though He walks. Then one of the students brought up the question: Sometimes, it seems like an obligation to walk so closely rather than a desire. She said it was the fact that we are sinners that unfortunately we cannot feel that constant desire to walk so closely to Him. But then again...isn't that what the cross is for? He took up His cross for us. So that instead of out of obligation to follow Him, we may feel a desire to follow Him.

His Love

His love is wide; His love is long.

His love is hard; His love is strong.

His love has no end; His love I cannot comprehend.

His Agape is Charis and Eirene; His Agape is today.

This Love I cannot see, but I know I have been set free.

For today, tomorrow, and forever, I will stand, for I have seen the love through His hands.

It is something you can't buy; It is something that can't hide.

It is something you can't sell, but surely it is something I can tell.

His love is vast; for it is where my fears have been cast.

His love is courageous as it is outrageous.

He has seen the east and west and because of that I have seen his best, so I can rest.

His love makes me live; His love I want to give.

For you can receive it as I believe it

Or you can ignore it while I explore it.

Today is the day He has made; it is the day we are forever saved.

Do not get discouraged for His love can encourage.

His love is charismatic; His love even creates a static.

His love is not a trickle, nor is is fickle.

His love is steady and fast; it will always last.

His love is pure; it is the cure.

His love...His love...His love...

Just Stop and Think...

This is powerful. It is moving, and it is inspiring. It is about a God who relentlessly pursues us regardless of who we have become or what we have done. It is about a God who doesn't need us to survive, yet desires us passionately as his bride.

Watch this:
http://crazylovebook.com/

*click on videos (left column)
- select: just stop and think

Read the book when you get a chance.

Quote for the day...

"You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are." ~Max Lucado

Crazy Love

My friend pointed out to me today a excerpt from one of her favorite books, Crazy Love. It reads something like this: 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." This is a famous piece of scripture because it defines the very nature of God...Love. It defines who He is and everything He is about. It depicts His perfect love for each of us. So, the book tells the importance of the passage and then asks for the reader to replace Love with the reader's name. This author's point is to say that our attitude should be the very nature of Christ's ( Philippians 2:5 ). We can show the world, Godly love.

Try it:
(Your name) is patient. ( ) is kind. ( ) does not envy...etc.

I understand that we cannot perfect this ideal essence of Love, but we can try. We can try to love the world so much that we recognize the desperate need of God's children just as though He saw the suffering and did something about it all the way back in the book of Exodus. If God's spirit is in our very breath...in our souls...we have the ability to love as He does.

His love is something amazing. It is something that never gets old. It is perfect and all encompassing. It is pure compassion. It is "an ocean wide, even when it is a raging sea. " He's stays right there with us, where He says He belongs. And He says this, " it's okay, you can hold on to me. We are going to make it. Don't worry about the past because Love is an ocean wide enough to forget even when we think we can't. "

*quotes from Ocean Wide- the Afters

So, to the world, let's go show the love through our personal stories of the victory and love of Christ. Let us be patient and kind saying to others, it's okay, you can hold on to me until we pass through this tunnel. Let us continue to encourage and Love as though God does for us.

Now, that's CRAZY Love...

Perfect Love-Hillsong United

The Perfect Love that surrounds us. It casts out all fear. It is always present. Wrap yourself in His Perfect Love for you today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zslw6WulFo

Add some humor to your day today...

Check out this comedian! A favorite of mine.
Michael Jr.

Watch this: LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRkaXQo6-9E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9v2MIZaShk&feature=related

Hope you got some laughs!!!

Grace is Sufficient

His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthinas 12:9). I wish you could know the surplus overflowing grace. It is more than enough. Let your heart be free. I wish your heart was not so heavy. His grace is enough for you. His grace is all you need. His grace is a second chance. Let the past go. Let God handle things. Lift your hands for He holds the key. Be free in Jesus Christ. He loves you becasue He loves you( Isaiah 43:4) . He holds an umbrella of blessings over you. He will protect you. You are a child of the King. Put as smile on for you have everything you ever need and the things that are holding you back from God let go of.

Making a Difference Based on What We are Dealt With

I met with my pastor this past week and he gave this great quote. I do not know who it was written by, but this is what it means to be called to living for more than ourselves. There is more to life than we know it.

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitations of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done."

Lay It Down- Matt Maher

One of my friends had this on his blog, and I thought that it is such an important message for all of us that I should post it on mine too so that it will reach out to even more people.
This is a video by Matt Maher called Lay It Down.
Let the chorus resonate in your heart as I let it do so in mine.

I lay it down
I lay it down
I lay it down
At Your feet

Oh pearl of greatest price
No act of sacrifice
Can match the gift of life I find within Your gaze
Oh, what a sweet exchange
I die to rise again
Lifted up from the grave into Your hands of grace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-qz2ZWcvg4

Sometimes we get caught up in our sins, in our problems, and in our hang ups that we forget that we don't have to go through them alone. We weren't created to struggle, yet we are sinners so we do. But, instead of letting it consume our hearts and our minds could we just stop for a moment and lay it down? Let God capture our hearts saying that He wants us to give Him our problems. He has better things in store for us. Yeah, we may still struggle, but at least we have Him on our side, and if "God is on our side, who can dare be against us?" (Romans 8: 31). "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).

This song written by one of my favorite bands: Tenth Avenue North. It always gets me on my best days and on my worst days. Take it to heart. Just change your perspective because it is not you singing this song.It is all from the unending LOVE....


I hear You say, "My love is over. It's underneath.It's inside. It's in between.The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.The times that you question, 'Is this for real? 'The times you're broken.The times that you mend.The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.Well, My love is over, it's underneath.It's inside, it's in between.These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.The times you're hurting.The times that you heal.The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.I'm there through your heartache.I'm there in the storm.My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.I don't care where you fall, where you have been.I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.It never ends."

Love,
God

The Ultimate Guardian

My dad received this picture the other day from a friend. Imagine this. Remember the miracle that happened not to long ago on the Hudson River? The one where 150 lives were saved by landing safely with calm waters in the midst of a roaring city of New York; the city we will never forget has now shown the Hand of God, the Hope of the Lord. The winds were calm that day...unusual in the winter for New York. Let me just remind you, as a disciple, a eucharist, a follower, a learner, in Christ... there is Hope. There is a refuge. A safe place. A shelter from the storm. When chaos is swarming around you "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) because we aren't the pilots. We aren't behind the steering wheel of our lives. Rick Warren puts it this way: "Put Jesus Christ in the driver's seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Don't be afraid, nothing under His control can ever be out of control". Amen.

Look at this picture and rest assured that He is our Guardian. He will not slumber. He is guarding us now, and He is guarding us always. (Psalm 121 MSG)

Music

As much as this generations music can allow us to believe opposite things than we are intended to, some of it speaks to me as if it is coming from the voice of God. Take a look at some of Nickelback's newest songs: "I'd Come For You" and "Never Gonna Be Alone". The glory of God is always all around us.

"I'd Come For You"
By now you'd know that I'd come for you
No one but you, yes I'd come for you
But only if you told me to
And I'd fight for you
Give my life for you
You know I'd always come for you

I was blindfolded, but now I'm seeing
My mind was closing, now I'm believing
I finally know what just what it means to let someone in
To see the side of me that no one does or ever will
So if your ever lost and find yourself all alone
I'd search forever just to bring you home,
Here and now this I vow

No matter what, remember you know I'll always come for you

Never Gonna Be Alone:
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall...
Never gonna be alone!
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.
And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands,
I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing a word all day.

We all desire these lyrics..all of these emotions. If we could only show the world...of the omnipresent God...of the Abba Father who holds us ever so tightly...

Be Blessed in His arms today!

Pleasing to You

"The Devil has so much to say, but the Lord showed me the way. I pray, I will always know the difference...Life's not one for wasting. It would be better if I know what is trash and what is treasure, what is dirt and what is gold. All the voices they get so loud, but one day I will hear that trumpet sound. I pray, I will always know the difference. I pray, I will always know the difference."

- Jared Anderson (Pleasing to You)

God I pray that I will be strengthened by your word and renewed by your voice and yours alone. Sanctify me. Purify me. Make me pleasing to You. Make that the goal of my life. Wash away everything that is not pleasing to you, so I may be white as snow, pure as gold. Jesus my heart must know I'm pleasing to you...