I was writing this particular blog and it deleted itself. This happens a lot when I'm speaking on revelation from the word of God. I'll begin.
Lately I've been asking for intimacy with God. I've been surprised lately, that when I allow myself. I become romanced by Him. He relentlessly pursues me. Fervently. He desires me with an unparalleled passion. His love for me is intense- More abundantly than I could ever begin to understand. His love for me is "stronger than death" and He is jealous for me. Jealousy beyond anything I've ever seen. HE wants ME more than anything. His jealousy is "more cruel than the grave" (Song of Songs).
Sometimes I think about what it will be like when God reveals His perfect love for me; I blush.
I imagine myself pulling out the moon, symbolic of my intense love for Him, luminous and visible by all- big by comparison to other worldly things. Then He pulls out the sun, and my love is eclipsed by the glory of His love. Its amazing.
This brings me to yesterday and today.
I was spending time with Him and asking for intimacy with Him, He brought me to Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah. I spent time asking Him for intimacy, for a great love for Him. I want more and more of Him and He said two words I wasn't expecting: Fear Me.
I said that sounded odd; He showed me Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
this made me think, but I was still confused and I asked Him what it meant. He goes on to speak of wisdom as a woman. We're supposed to pursue her. Love her. Seek her. Call for her. Ask for her. When we do, we find it, and therefore, understand the fear of God.
When we relentlessly pursue the truth and wisdom of the scriptures, we're faced with amazing and unbelievable things. We're called to believe Gods word. When we believe whatever the Bible teaches, no matter how crazy it is, THAT is the fear of the lord.
It goes on to say that the Lord grants wisdom to those who seek it, and from His mouth comes wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 2). When we pursue wisdom, we are blessed by understanding of righteousness and justice and every good path. This sounds like a rabbit-trail but it’s not.
When we are shown wisdom, our previously held knowledge is shattered. Rendering us humbled. When we are humbled, we open ourselves up for God to dwell in us.
The word states this: (Isaiah 57:15)
for thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Then God showed me this in Proverbs 3:11-12:
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
From these verses, we can underline the main message of what I’ve been looking for.
Ultimate intimacy with the Lord comes when we humble ourselves and allow ourselves the High and Lofty One to dwell in us; can you get much closer to someone apart from having them dwell inside of you? Hardly.
When we seek wisdom and allow it to change us, God delights in us more (Proverbs 3:11-12). This is seen by God as us drawing near to Him. If we love God we will keep His commands (John). When we keep His commands, we draw near to Him. Because He is delighting in us drawing near to Him, HE draws near to US! (James).
THIS IS INTIMACY! (HA, I’m preaching myself happy).
To sum up (and repeat).
When we seek for wisdom, fervently, and when we gain a healthy fear of the Lord, we allow for change- we then want to draw near to God from that which calls for humility. Upon seeing a humble spirit, the Lord will dwell in us. All of these steps lead to the final stage of what we’ve been looking for: intimacy.
Seek for Wisdom; understand the fear of God
Fear of God; beginning of knowledge
Knowledge; leads to change and correction
Correction and Change; humility
Humility; God dwelling in us
God dwelling in us; Intimacy
Thank you, Lord, for revealing this to me. I hope this blesses you all.
I’m blushing because I know God is happy. I feel Him here with me. He loves me lots you know.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Water and Wine
The first miracle that Jesus did was turn water into wine. To describe this event Alexander Pope wrote: “The conscious water, saw its Master, and blushed."
The love of the Lord is so overwhelming--so fierce and so strong, sometimes I can barely handle it. Today I stopped in the middle of my tracks and realized that God is crazy in love with me. I think I blushed, but I am not sure...
I read this on someones blog; all I can think to say is "perfect description".
This is how I feel right now.
I love God lots too, I just wish I could love Him more. It hurts sometimes. I still love Him though, more than anything.
I hope my love keeps on growing, I hope I start to blush more often.
The love of the Lord is so overwhelming--so fierce and so strong, sometimes I can barely handle it. Today I stopped in the middle of my tracks and realized that God is crazy in love with me. I think I blushed, but I am not sure...
I read this on someones blog; all I can think to say is "perfect description".
This is how I feel right now.
I love God lots too, I just wish I could love Him more. It hurts sometimes. I still love Him though, more than anything.
I hope my love keeps on growing, I hope I start to blush more often.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Scissor Theory
I was reading Mere Christianity today and spending time in Gods word when something popped into my head; it was a question from Ravi Zacharias: "where does the sovereignty of God end and the responsibility of man begin"?
C.S Lewis talks about faith and morals in the household and how talking about one over the other is almost as pointless as asking which blade on a pair of scissors is more vital.
To a certain degree, I believe this is a similar example of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.
The scriptures say "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (responsibility of man), for it is God who works in you (sovereignty of God)"; does this not illustrate an image of two blades working together in harmony with each other? I found this interesting and came to this revelation: when we understand we're allowing God to use us to do His work, we're using our gifts responsibly.
Today, I also found out that I want to be a pair of scissors when I grow up.
C.S Lewis talks about faith and morals in the household and how talking about one over the other is almost as pointless as asking which blade on a pair of scissors is more vital.
To a certain degree, I believe this is a similar example of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.
The scriptures say "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (responsibility of man), for it is God who works in you (sovereignty of God)"; does this not illustrate an image of two blades working together in harmony with each other? I found this interesting and came to this revelation: when we understand we're allowing God to use us to do His work, we're using our gifts responsibly.
Today, I also found out that I want to be a pair of scissors when I grow up.
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Creed of the Existential
This is a Creed from the satirical writings of Steve Turner in Ravi Zacharias' book "Can Man Live Without God?".
That same question has been burning in my mind as of late.
Turner responds with a "no" but states that man tries anyway; I have to say, I agree. Man CANNOT live without God.
Ravi Zacharias believes, as I have come to believe as well, that man has cut himself off from Christ. Man is lost; in mans lost-ness, he has made himself into his own god.
As I see it: Man further exalts himself above God. This further perpetuates the problem of man running away from God. Ultimately all of this leads to a fruitless attempt to understand moral law without the moral law giver, trying to understand reason without insight from the omnipotent, and trying to understand science without the input from the one who laid the foundations of the earth and laid the laws of physics by which the universe is put together.
I feel these words that follow are an adequate reflection of the current state of a society who has amputated himself from Christ; the only way to change said current state is to bring the only reason for our existence back into light, the love of God. We, as the body of Christ need to effectively communicate why Jesus died for us, why we are here, and what we are made for. To show the world that there is meaning in life. Otherwise, we'll continue to, as Ravi Zacharias puts it: "hear with our eyes and think with our feelings".
"Creed"
by Steve Turner
We believe in Marx Freud and Darwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before, during, and
after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy is OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes
UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha,
Mohamed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.
We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens
they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all
excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Khan
We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and
bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors .
And the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that
is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust.
History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth
that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be
the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky
and when you hear:
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Youths go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man
worshiping his maker.
That same question has been burning in my mind as of late.
Turner responds with a "no" but states that man tries anyway; I have to say, I agree. Man CANNOT live without God.
Ravi Zacharias believes, as I have come to believe as well, that man has cut himself off from Christ. Man is lost; in mans lost-ness, he has made himself into his own god.
As I see it: Man further exalts himself above God. This further perpetuates the problem of man running away from God. Ultimately all of this leads to a fruitless attempt to understand moral law without the moral law giver, trying to understand reason without insight from the omnipotent, and trying to understand science without the input from the one who laid the foundations of the earth and laid the laws of physics by which the universe is put together.
I feel these words that follow are an adequate reflection of the current state of a society who has amputated himself from Christ; the only way to change said current state is to bring the only reason for our existence back into light, the love of God. We, as the body of Christ need to effectively communicate why Jesus died for us, why we are here, and what we are made for. To show the world that there is meaning in life. Otherwise, we'll continue to, as Ravi Zacharias puts it: "hear with our eyes and think with our feelings".
"Creed"
by Steve Turner
We believe in Marx Freud and Darwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before, during, and
after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy is OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes
UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha,
Mohamed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.
We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens
they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all
excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Khan
We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and
bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors .
And the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that
is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust.
History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth
that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be
the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky
and when you hear:
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Youths go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man
worshiping his maker.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Top 10 Things to Do Before I Die (or get married which is essentially the same thing unless my wife wants to do these things too; then she's awesome)
I was going over a list of things I wanted/needed to do before I die; I figured I should share them with you so it doesn't surprise you when you see me on the news for something odd.
1. Epic light saber fight: Jedi vs. Sith; this will take place in a public area and include about 100 people.
2. Large scale water balloon fight in a large park.
3. Tour the USA in a rock band.
4. Dress up in a dinosaur outfit and fight the guy who acts like Mega-tron on Hollywood and Highland.
5. Throw an orange at a random person on a mountain bike.
6. Fight a zombie
7. Play a large scale game of Zombie Infestation in some public area (park, mall, downtown, etc.)
8. Have an Australian accent.
9. Grow a mustache of respectable size.
10. Make a slap bet.
Hope you are inspired to write your own list.
1. Epic light saber fight: Jedi vs. Sith; this will take place in a public area and include about 100 people.
2. Large scale water balloon fight in a large park.
3. Tour the USA in a rock band.
4. Dress up in a dinosaur outfit and fight the guy who acts like Mega-tron on Hollywood and Highland.
5. Throw an orange at a random person on a mountain bike.
6. Fight a zombie
7. Play a large scale game of Zombie Infestation in some public area (park, mall, downtown, etc.)
8. Have an Australian accent.
9. Grow a mustache of respectable size.
10. Make a slap bet.
Hope you are inspired to write your own list.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Y/y:ours (When God Wants a Man) new song
Its been my prayer for a while to have a greater capacity to love; today I fell upon the same subject in prayer again with God, and I was more fervent this time. I asked Him to just wreck my heart. Rip it open and love like He loved.
The title has different meanings. Its meant to reach a different number of people. Upper case "Y" meaning God. Lower case meaning a second party. "Ours" meaning this ours to share.
There opening statement is a spin off of the quote from G.K. Chesterton "In response to the question: "What is wrong with the world; I am. Yours truly, G.K. Chesterton".
The phrase "we need a savior" is from a sermon by Ravi Zacharias on the "Lostness of Man"
The phrase "Be ruthless and cruel" is from a poem called "When God wants a man"
namely this part of it:
When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man...
When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall praise...
Watch His methods;
Watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects...
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into frail shapes of clay that only God understands. How his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands...
How he bends but never breaks when His good he undertakes.
How He uses whom He chooses...with every purpose fuses him;
By every art induces him to try His splendor out...
God knows what He's about!
This is the song that came out of it; thanks to Collin and Lauren Froese for the help.
Y/y:ours
I am whats wrong with everyone
all of the problems point to me
what is missing in the world?
someone to save, we need a savior.
I need a savior.
Fix me
I need to be able to love
open wide my heart, its made for bigger things
I was made to love the broken
heal the hurting, light the lost
open wide my heart
Deny myself
everything I have, I am, I'm Y/y:ours
one in myself my heart is small
but when I love for something bigger than myself
I become undone
Fix me
I need to be able to love
open wide my heart, its made for bigger things
I was made to love the broken
heal the hurting, light the lost
open wide my heart
Be ruthless and cruel in my transition
use me to reflect Your love
not out of habit, but because you've freed me-
freed me to love, continue to
Fix me
I need to be able to love
open wide my heart, its made for bigger things
I was made to love the broken
heal the hurting, light the lost
open wide my heart
*I hope this blessed you in some way :)
The title has different meanings. Its meant to reach a different number of people. Upper case "Y" meaning God. Lower case meaning a second party. "Ours" meaning this ours to share.
There opening statement is a spin off of the quote from G.K. Chesterton "In response to the question: "What is wrong with the world; I am. Yours truly, G.K. Chesterton".
The phrase "we need a savior" is from a sermon by Ravi Zacharias on the "Lostness of Man"
The phrase "Be ruthless and cruel" is from a poem called "When God wants a man"
namely this part of it:
When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man...
When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall praise...
Watch His methods;
Watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects...
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into frail shapes of clay that only God understands. How his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands...
How he bends but never breaks when His good he undertakes.
How He uses whom He chooses...with every purpose fuses him;
By every art induces him to try His splendor out...
God knows what He's about!
This is the song that came out of it; thanks to Collin and Lauren Froese for the help.
Y/y:ours
I am whats wrong with everyone
all of the problems point to me
what is missing in the world?
someone to save, we need a savior.
I need a savior.
Fix me
I need to be able to love
open wide my heart, its made for bigger things
I was made to love the broken
heal the hurting, light the lost
open wide my heart
Deny myself
everything I have, I am, I'm Y/y:ours
one in myself my heart is small
but when I love for something bigger than myself
I become undone
Fix me
I need to be able to love
open wide my heart, its made for bigger things
I was made to love the broken
heal the hurting, light the lost
open wide my heart
Be ruthless and cruel in my transition
use me to reflect Your love
not out of habit, but because you've freed me-
freed me to love, continue to
Fix me
I need to be able to love
open wide my heart, its made for bigger things
I was made to love the broken
heal the hurting, light the lost
open wide my heart
*I hope this blessed you in some way :)
Palm Village Sermon Outline *rough*
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
-John 1:16
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Today I'll be talking about where the Roots College group is going and how these two verses apply to it.
So, the first verse talks about Gods fullness being used in context of grace. The term grace for grace in the Greek is translated directly to basically doubling. Increasing. So, in context of this verse it speaks of grace being the vessel of Gods FULLNESS.
The next verse we see is Grace being used interchangeably with power. We see Gods grace giving us power.
Now the power and fullness we see, is necessary to live an extraordinary life. We're called to be Christ-like. 1 John 4:17 states that "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. "
We are described as BEING just like Christ. It is also stated in Genesis 1:27 that God created man/women, in His own image. In His very likeness. Now we all know, God isn't ordinary :)
Where does this all fit in with Roots?
Roots College group is on the journey right now, to be strengthened by Gods empowering grace. The same grace that empowers us to live EXTRAORDINARY lives, that Christ demands of us. The same crazy life that Jesus lead. We believe that is our calling to be Jesus to the world. Our foundation lies in these verses. In the fact that we are covered by grace that washes our sin, that we are empowered by that grace to live extraordinary lives for Christs sake, to be that salt, so when we enter into the world, it wont taste or be the same. That when we understand that we are just as Christ was, we can change this world. When we enter this world, it will never ever be the same.
Ravi Zacharias quotes an allegorical tale of the body of Christ being a container of salt. The salt is comfortable and cozy within the stained glass windows of the container, and once in a while the salt would be shaken into the absurdly large bowl of soup. Some salt would complain to the other salt. This Christian salt, it always complains about how the container loses salt when its shaken up by its maker, and how when the salt is lost into the vastness of the soup, they never hear from the salt again. That its disintegrated. One day, after all this complaining, one grain of salt pipes up against the arguing and fuss and says. You know what? Maybe it is true that one day when we get shaken by our maker, we are lost in the vastness of the world. Maybe it is true its hard down there. Yes, the world may envelope me, just a grain of salt. But do you know what? When I enter that soup, it will NEVER taste the same again.
It is with that same mentality that we as the body of Christ, more specifically, the Roots College group, should be dedicated to. That when we as believers, strong and empowered and potent, enter into the world, that it is changed forever. the world will never taste the same. again.
-John 1:16
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Today I'll be talking about where the Roots College group is going and how these two verses apply to it.
So, the first verse talks about Gods fullness being used in context of grace. The term grace for grace in the Greek is translated directly to basically doubling. Increasing. So, in context of this verse it speaks of grace being the vessel of Gods FULLNESS.
The next verse we see is Grace being used interchangeably with power. We see Gods grace giving us power.
Now the power and fullness we see, is necessary to live an extraordinary life. We're called to be Christ-like. 1 John 4:17 states that "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. "
We are described as BEING just like Christ. It is also stated in Genesis 1:27 that God created man/women, in His own image. In His very likeness. Now we all know, God isn't ordinary :)
Where does this all fit in with Roots?
Roots College group is on the journey right now, to be strengthened by Gods empowering grace. The same grace that empowers us to live EXTRAORDINARY lives, that Christ demands of us. The same crazy life that Jesus lead. We believe that is our calling to be Jesus to the world. Our foundation lies in these verses. In the fact that we are covered by grace that washes our sin, that we are empowered by that grace to live extraordinary lives for Christs sake, to be that salt, so when we enter into the world, it wont taste or be the same. That when we understand that we are just as Christ was, we can change this world. When we enter this world, it will never ever be the same.
Ravi Zacharias quotes an allegorical tale of the body of Christ being a container of salt. The salt is comfortable and cozy within the stained glass windows of the container, and once in a while the salt would be shaken into the absurdly large bowl of soup. Some salt would complain to the other salt. This Christian salt, it always complains about how the container loses salt when its shaken up by its maker, and how when the salt is lost into the vastness of the soup, they never hear from the salt again. That its disintegrated. One day, after all this complaining, one grain of salt pipes up against the arguing and fuss and says. You know what? Maybe it is true that one day when we get shaken by our maker, we are lost in the vastness of the world. Maybe it is true its hard down there. Yes, the world may envelope me, just a grain of salt. But do you know what? When I enter that soup, it will NEVER taste the same again.
It is with that same mentality that we as the body of Christ, more specifically, the Roots College group, should be dedicated to. That when we as believers, strong and empowered and potent, enter into the world, that it is changed forever. the world will never taste the same. again.
Lucky, There's a Savior
Jesus Christ wasn't just a moral teacher; Jesus Christ didn't come to make bad people good. Jesus Christ came to make dead people live.
There's nothing we can do about people who say to themselves "I'm guilty" and don't have a desire to change.
But.
When a person comes to you broken and hurting, humbling themselves and saying "I've sinned", you can say with hope, confidence, and joy: "Ah, then I have a Savior for you".
The cross on which Jesus Christ died is absolutely beautiful. It shows the amazingly crazy and jealous love of our God. The God who was willing to sacrifice the thing He loved most in the universe just to have an opportunity so spend the rest of eternity loving and caring and playing with his children.
Today, I'm thankful that the God of the universe, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jealous God, the Providing God, loved me. HE loves ME. Me. He sent the one He loved the most to die on the cross in my place. He did that so I wouldn't have to get hit with the entire truckload of Gods judgment. I'm thankful that You loved me God. I love you so much. Even though I sinned, and am an awful wretched person: You still love me, and esteem me more than Yourself. I love you. You are amazing.
That's what I'm thankful for today.
I love you all, I hope you have a great day.
God, give my friends and family a great day.
Amen.
There's nothing we can do about people who say to themselves "I'm guilty" and don't have a desire to change.
But.
When a person comes to you broken and hurting, humbling themselves and saying "I've sinned", you can say with hope, confidence, and joy: "Ah, then I have a Savior for you".
The cross on which Jesus Christ died is absolutely beautiful. It shows the amazingly crazy and jealous love of our God. The God who was willing to sacrifice the thing He loved most in the universe just to have an opportunity so spend the rest of eternity loving and caring and playing with his children.
Today, I'm thankful that the God of the universe, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jealous God, the Providing God, loved me. HE loves ME. Me. He sent the one He loved the most to die on the cross in my place. He did that so I wouldn't have to get hit with the entire truckload of Gods judgment. I'm thankful that You loved me God. I love you so much. Even though I sinned, and am an awful wretched person: You still love me, and esteem me more than Yourself. I love you. You are amazing.
That's what I'm thankful for today.
I love you all, I hope you have a great day.
God, give my friends and family a great day.
Amen.
Convictions Change the World
When God puts it on your heart to do something, and you avoid doing it, its just as bad as not doing it.
God places convictions in our life for a reason; Its our calling to live out extraordinary lives.
People always ask what "Gods will" for their life is, and I promise you that if you are praying about God using your life, and you feel strongly about a certain issue (human trafficking, drug abuse, child neglect, suicide, etc) its a burden Gods placed in your life, therefore, YOUR responsibility to carry it out with His empowerment. He will bless you with the energy, motivation, and power to do His will in yours and others' lives.
My conviction is to help others who are lost, hurt, neglected, and rejected. My conviction is in the area of ministry. My conviction is with high school and college age people. I love working with them.
I ask that you pray that God empowers me with strength necessary to carry out His will in my life and the vision to see things others don't. I ask that you pray for creativity enough to bring people into the area of college group and to market the group incredibly.
I ask that you SPECIFICALLY pray for the Roots college group at Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church. I ask that you BATHE it in prayer, that God will bless the youth group and that God will give you a burden to pray over it and to see it grow.
There are tons of hurting college age people in this area. Tons are lost. Its NOT Gods will that they suffer eternal separation from Him. Its HIS will that they come to Him, are saved, and have the opportunity to LOVE Him in a personal relationship.
His kingdom come, His will be done. On earth, as it is IN HEAVEN.
Thank you so much for the support.
Love,
-Josh
P.S- Please pray hard about this issue. I don't mean to preach. BUT.
Its absolutely essential that we bathe this in prayer. If we fail to bathe something that is intended for Gods glory in prayer, we miss the point entirely.
God places convictions in our life for a reason; Its our calling to live out extraordinary lives.
People always ask what "Gods will" for their life is, and I promise you that if you are praying about God using your life, and you feel strongly about a certain issue (human trafficking, drug abuse, child neglect, suicide, etc) its a burden Gods placed in your life, therefore, YOUR responsibility to carry it out with His empowerment. He will bless you with the energy, motivation, and power to do His will in yours and others' lives.
My conviction is to help others who are lost, hurt, neglected, and rejected. My conviction is in the area of ministry. My conviction is with high school and college age people. I love working with them.
I ask that you pray that God empowers me with strength necessary to carry out His will in my life and the vision to see things others don't. I ask that you pray for creativity enough to bring people into the area of college group and to market the group incredibly.
I ask that you SPECIFICALLY pray for the Roots college group at Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church. I ask that you BATHE it in prayer, that God will bless the youth group and that God will give you a burden to pray over it and to see it grow.
There are tons of hurting college age people in this area. Tons are lost. Its NOT Gods will that they suffer eternal separation from Him. Its HIS will that they come to Him, are saved, and have the opportunity to LOVE Him in a personal relationship.
His kingdom come, His will be done. On earth, as it is IN HEAVEN.
Thank you so much for the support.
Love,
-Josh
P.S- Please pray hard about this issue. I don't mean to preach. BUT.
Its absolutely essential that we bathe this in prayer. If we fail to bathe something that is intended for Gods glory in prayer, we miss the point entirely.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Esh Oklah, El Kanna (Consuming Fire, Jealous God) New Song :) Share
This weekend, among other amazing things, I wrote a song based on the Hebrew words Esh Oklah and El Kanna (Consuming Fire, Jealous God).
Some text is from Song of Songs, I think it beautifully reflects the loving desire God has for us, the bride, and our desire for our beloved.
Here it is :)
*****************
You call me Your own
Your voice is sweet
You tell me I'm beautiful
To me He brings, His banqueting house
His banner over me, its love
Jealous God consume me with fire
burn me whole
until Your love comes bubbling up
out of my heart
He stands behinds my wall
dying to look through a window
let me see Your glorious face
break through to me
Jealous God consume me with fire
burn me whole
until Your love comes bubbling up
out of my heart
Set me as a seal on Your heart
a seal on Your arm
Your love is stronger than death
Jealousy, more cruel than the grave
*****************
I hope this touches you :)
Some text is from Song of Songs, I think it beautifully reflects the loving desire God has for us, the bride, and our desire for our beloved.
Here it is :)
*****************
You call me Your own
Your voice is sweet
You tell me I'm beautiful
To me He brings, His banqueting house
His banner over me, its love
Jealous God consume me with fire
burn me whole
until Your love comes bubbling up
out of my heart
He stands behinds my wall
dying to look through a window
let me see Your glorious face
break through to me
Jealous God consume me with fire
burn me whole
until Your love comes bubbling up
out of my heart
Set me as a seal on Your heart
a seal on Your arm
Your love is stronger than death
Jealousy, more cruel than the grave
*****************
I hope this touches you :)
Problem three: Man is hostile; Solution.
Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
John 14:6 states
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Man hates one way answers. Man doesn't like to be told the way that he has been going is wrong.
Too many times I've heard Christians water down the word of God to non-believers, preaching things like the "health wealth and prosperity gospel" or the "come as you are gospel" at the expense of other important aspects of the REAL gospel, like the CROSS.
YES! Jesus died on the cross for the sinners, for the wicked, for the lost. God heals! God Saves! God provides and protects! BUT GOD DOESN'T JUST DO THOSE THINGS! God is just. God is jealous. God is loving. God wants whats best for you even if it means completely changing your life PAINFULLY from bad to good.
Man is hostile towards the gospel because we've been decapitated for too long and we forgot what its like to see, hear, taste, and smell. We'd rather crawl around on the floor feeling about, completely oblivious to our surroundings, and oblivious to how much happier we could be if we just screwed our head back on.
AMONG ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, LOST-NESS, DECAPITATION, HOSTILITY, OUR SOLUTION IS THIS!!!
The REALIZATION that we are lost, the REPENTANCE of our sins, and the CONTINUAL walk of righteousness we have with our loving savior Jesus Christ.
This is absolutely essential. Once we realize that we are lost, and that the empty promises of a sinful world hold nothing of eternal value, we can seek the truth that the darkness has been seeking all along in vain. We can cling to the eternal truth that Jesus Christ loves us very deeply and that He died a brutal, bloody, horrible death for all of us, that we may see Him in heaven, and be with Him forever.
The alternative to this is dismal. It is eternal separation from our loving Creator. Ravi Zacharias tells a story of a man by the name of Charlie Pierce. He said if hell is true, he would walk over a nation of broken glass to tell people. This is very serious indeed, and although I did not do the story justice, the point remains the same.
Hell is the choice of man who rejects God; it is not the choice of a God who rejects man.
It is our job as the body of Christ to reattach the head of Jesus Christ, gain our senses, and start to effectively REFLECT the love of God for others, and transform and give vision to a lost and dying world.
I'll leave you with these quotes.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.
That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse... let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
-C.S. Lewis
"Jesus Christ came NOT like most moral teachers. Moral teachers came to make good people bad. Jesus Christ came to make dead people live"
-Ravi Zacharias
I love you all, I hope this moves even one person.
John 14:6 states
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Man hates one way answers. Man doesn't like to be told the way that he has been going is wrong.
Too many times I've heard Christians water down the word of God to non-believers, preaching things like the "health wealth and prosperity gospel" or the "come as you are gospel" at the expense of other important aspects of the REAL gospel, like the CROSS.
YES! Jesus died on the cross for the sinners, for the wicked, for the lost. God heals! God Saves! God provides and protects! BUT GOD DOESN'T JUST DO THOSE THINGS! God is just. God is jealous. God is loving. God wants whats best for you even if it means completely changing your life PAINFULLY from bad to good.
Man is hostile towards the gospel because we've been decapitated for too long and we forgot what its like to see, hear, taste, and smell. We'd rather crawl around on the floor feeling about, completely oblivious to our surroundings, and oblivious to how much happier we could be if we just screwed our head back on.
AMONG ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, LOST-NESS, DECAPITATION, HOSTILITY, OUR SOLUTION IS THIS!!!
The REALIZATION that we are lost, the REPENTANCE of our sins, and the CONTINUAL walk of righteousness we have with our loving savior Jesus Christ.
This is absolutely essential. Once we realize that we are lost, and that the empty promises of a sinful world hold nothing of eternal value, we can seek the truth that the darkness has been seeking all along in vain. We can cling to the eternal truth that Jesus Christ loves us very deeply and that He died a brutal, bloody, horrible death for all of us, that we may see Him in heaven, and be with Him forever.
The alternative to this is dismal. It is eternal separation from our loving Creator. Ravi Zacharias tells a story of a man by the name of Charlie Pierce. He said if hell is true, he would walk over a nation of broken glass to tell people. This is very serious indeed, and although I did not do the story justice, the point remains the same.
Hell is the choice of man who rejects God; it is not the choice of a God who rejects man.
It is our job as the body of Christ to reattach the head of Jesus Christ, gain our senses, and start to effectively REFLECT the love of God for others, and transform and give vision to a lost and dying world.
I'll leave you with these quotes.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.
That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse... let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
-C.S. Lewis
"Jesus Christ came NOT like most moral teachers. Moral teachers came to make good people bad. Jesus Christ came to make dead people live"
-Ravi Zacharias
I love you all, I hope this moves even one person.
Point two: Man is decapitated from Christ
This point to remind you is completely new to me and it is out of the grace of God that I am able to talk about it.
The fundamental problem with humanity is that people are lost. In their lost-ness they have become decapitated from Christ, the head of the church, the head of man; coincidentally, their disconnection from Christ has made them hostile to the gospel, the only TRUE way of gaining insight, wisdom, and direction, and FINALLY their hostility to the gospel is not only because it preaches the truth, but because it is entirely EXCLUSIVE.
The problem in case you didn't catch it is three fold: Problem one: Man is lost. Problem two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ. Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
Point two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ.
To understand why this is so important, we must look at Gods creation, the human being. Out of the 5 bodily senses, 4 of the senses are entirely exclusive to the head: Sight, Smell, Taste, and Hearing. The only sense shared with the others is feeling.
Feeling.
How essential are those other senses just to function as a normal person in society. If we as a people are cut off from our head, Christ, how are we supposed to function normally?
Too often I hear the phrase "I feel like..." and its usually followed by "...this is the right thing to do". Scripturally speaking, did God create man in his image just to hear man say "God I feel like you're good, but I just cant see it yet, or see it. Heck I can't even taste or smell it come to think of it"
That is ridiculous.
If that's the church acting this way, how much worse is this world?
Furthermore, government is a joke because it not only is it UN-biblical, it is a DIRECT representation of who we are as a people.
Our nations government has gone horribly wrong because its representatives are a DIRECT representation of the people who live there.
Man is sinful, lustful. Men are liars, cheats, murderers, burglars, adulterers, hateful and perverted.
Our government it full of people that perfectly represent that.
I'm not hating on the government, we begged God to give us democracy and He allowed it because of our incessant begging.
These are parts of our problem
*Main Points*
Man in its lost-ness has decapitated himself from the head of Christ leaving us blind and deaf; unable to taste or smell.
In addition to the senses being lost, we've lost our brain in Christs' head, leaving us questioning who we are, what we're doing here, what is right, and what is wrong.
Mans decapitation from Christ further harms society and merely gives way to very educated sinners finding innovative ways of harming ourselves even more.
Our nations government has gone horribly wrong because its representatives are a DIRECT representation of the people who live there. Man is sinful, lustful. Men are liars, cheats, murderers, burglars, adulterers, hateful and perverted.
Our government it full of people that perfectly represent that.
More to come.
The fundamental problem with humanity is that people are lost. In their lost-ness they have become decapitated from Christ, the head of the church, the head of man; coincidentally, their disconnection from Christ has made them hostile to the gospel, the only TRUE way of gaining insight, wisdom, and direction, and FINALLY their hostility to the gospel is not only because it preaches the truth, but because it is entirely EXCLUSIVE.
The problem in case you didn't catch it is three fold: Problem one: Man is lost. Problem two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ. Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
Point two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ.
To understand why this is so important, we must look at Gods creation, the human being. Out of the 5 bodily senses, 4 of the senses are entirely exclusive to the head: Sight, Smell, Taste, and Hearing. The only sense shared with the others is feeling.
Feeling.
How essential are those other senses just to function as a normal person in society. If we as a people are cut off from our head, Christ, how are we supposed to function normally?
Too often I hear the phrase "I feel like..." and its usually followed by "...this is the right thing to do". Scripturally speaking, did God create man in his image just to hear man say "God I feel like you're good, but I just cant see it yet, or see it. Heck I can't even taste or smell it come to think of it"
That is ridiculous.
If that's the church acting this way, how much worse is this world?
Furthermore, government is a joke because it not only is it UN-biblical, it is a DIRECT representation of who we are as a people.
Our nations government has gone horribly wrong because its representatives are a DIRECT representation of the people who live there.
Man is sinful, lustful. Men are liars, cheats, murderers, burglars, adulterers, hateful and perverted.
Our government it full of people that perfectly represent that.
I'm not hating on the government, we begged God to give us democracy and He allowed it because of our incessant begging.
These are parts of our problem
*Main Points*
Man in its lost-ness has decapitated himself from the head of Christ leaving us blind and deaf; unable to taste or smell.
In addition to the senses being lost, we've lost our brain in Christs' head, leaving us questioning who we are, what we're doing here, what is right, and what is wrong.
Mans decapitation from Christ further harms society and merely gives way to very educated sinners finding innovative ways of harming ourselves even more.
Our nations government has gone horribly wrong because its representatives are a DIRECT representation of the people who live there. Man is sinful, lustful. Men are liars, cheats, murderers, burglars, adulterers, hateful and perverted.
Our government it full of people that perfectly represent that.
More to come.
Point One: Man is Lost
The fundamental problem with humanity is that people are lost. In their lost-ness they have become decapitated from Christ, the head of the church, the head of man; coincidentally, their disconnection from Christ has made them hostile to the gospel, the only TRUE way of gaining insight, wisdom, and direction, and FINALLY their hostility to the gospel is not only because it preaches the truth, but because it is entirely EXCLUSIVE.
The problem in case you didn't catch it is three fold: Problem one: Man is lost. Problem two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ. Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
There are three points to this statement: Man rejects God, Man is separated from His glory, Man becomes a slave to sin, Man is condemned.
Man rejects God by his promiscuity in desiring the sins of the world. When man rejects God, he is separated from the Glory of God and therefore cast into darkness due to choice. When man is in the dark, he desires to find the light, but goes about the wrong ways making casting himself further into darkness and making himself a slave to sin. In mans attempt to be free from darkness he is ironically made a slave of it. Due to mans choice to reject God, he is condemned. The consequence of mans rejection of God is hell.
*Main Points*
Man rejects God.
Man separates himself from the glory of God.
When he does that, he lives in a shroud of darkness.
Man has made himself a slave in an attempt to be free.
Man is condemned.
Hell is the choice of man who rejects God.
Hell is an unending, physical, real separation from God.
Conclusion
* There is a way out of this darkness.
* Man is not just unethical, but lost and dead.
I hope this is coming together because all the points I'm making are key when I show the solution.
The problem in case you didn't catch it is three fold: Problem one: Man is lost. Problem two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ. Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
There are three points to this statement: Man rejects God, Man is separated from His glory, Man becomes a slave to sin, Man is condemned.
Man rejects God by his promiscuity in desiring the sins of the world. When man rejects God, he is separated from the Glory of God and therefore cast into darkness due to choice. When man is in the dark, he desires to find the light, but goes about the wrong ways making casting himself further into darkness and making himself a slave to sin. In mans attempt to be free from darkness he is ironically made a slave of it. Due to mans choice to reject God, he is condemned. The consequence of mans rejection of God is hell.
*Main Points*
Man rejects God.
Man separates himself from the glory of God.
When he does that, he lives in a shroud of darkness.
Man has made himself a slave in an attempt to be free.
Man is condemned.
Hell is the choice of man who rejects God.
Hell is an unending, physical, real separation from God.
Conclusion
* There is a way out of this darkness.
* Man is not just unethical, but lost and dead.
I hope this is coming together because all the points I'm making are key when I show the solution.
The Lostness of Man (Intro) Part 1 of 4
I'm on an spiritual information overload; even though that is awesome, I still need to get some of these thoughts out onto paper :)
I was listening to Ravi Zacharias for the past few weeks and lets just say God's been using His servant to speak to me via sermons.
Let me preface what I'm saying by first verbalizing my love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. You are a manifestation of Gods love for me and its a blessing.
Now, I can start.
Habakkuk cries out to God in words that very much reflect the current state of the world.
"How, Oh Lord can you explain your sovereignty when there is such violence, injustice and evil?"
In all reverence to the scripture, the answer God gives is strange; He answers Habakkuk by telling him that He will deliver His people into the hands of the evil Babylonians.
If I seem to be hasty its only because I'm trying to move on quickly.
In a similar way, we, the children of God, have given ourselves away time and time again. Our actions reflect that of promiscuity. Our actions have told our Maker time and time again that we want nothing to do with Him. He listened to our incessant begging and allowed us to chose our path. This path which we gave ourselves into is clearly described in Romans, chapter 1, verses 24 through 32.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
I apologize for the length but not for the content of the scripture because this is pivotal in making my point.
That point is this:
The fundamental problem with humanity is that people are lost. In their lost-ness they have become decapitated from Christ, the head of the church, the head of man; coincidentally, their disconnection from Christ has made them hostile to the gospel, the only TRUE way of gaining insight, wisdom, and direction, and FINALLY their hostility to the gospel is not only because it preaches the truth, but because it is entirely EXCLUSIVE.
The problem in case you didn't catch it is three fold: Problem one: Man is lost. Problem two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ. Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
The subsequent blogs will address the above stated problems, but first, a prayer.
Gracious God,
I ask that you fill me up with your word. That you give me wisdom to speak truth to my friends. I ask humbly that use me effectively as a servant. This isn't possible without You.
I love you.
In Jesus' powerful name, AMEN.
Hope you enjoy it.
I was listening to Ravi Zacharias for the past few weeks and lets just say God's been using His servant to speak to me via sermons.
Let me preface what I'm saying by first verbalizing my love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. You are a manifestation of Gods love for me and its a blessing.
Now, I can start.
Habakkuk cries out to God in words that very much reflect the current state of the world.
"How, Oh Lord can you explain your sovereignty when there is such violence, injustice and evil?"
In all reverence to the scripture, the answer God gives is strange; He answers Habakkuk by telling him that He will deliver His people into the hands of the evil Babylonians.
If I seem to be hasty its only because I'm trying to move on quickly.
In a similar way, we, the children of God, have given ourselves away time and time again. Our actions reflect that of promiscuity. Our actions have told our Maker time and time again that we want nothing to do with Him. He listened to our incessant begging and allowed us to chose our path. This path which we gave ourselves into is clearly described in Romans, chapter 1, verses 24 through 32.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
I apologize for the length but not for the content of the scripture because this is pivotal in making my point.
That point is this:
The fundamental problem with humanity is that people are lost. In their lost-ness they have become decapitated from Christ, the head of the church, the head of man; coincidentally, their disconnection from Christ has made them hostile to the gospel, the only TRUE way of gaining insight, wisdom, and direction, and FINALLY their hostility to the gospel is not only because it preaches the truth, but because it is entirely EXCLUSIVE.
The problem in case you didn't catch it is three fold: Problem one: Man is lost. Problem two: Man is cut off from the head, Christ. Problem three: Man is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is exclusive.
The subsequent blogs will address the above stated problems, but first, a prayer.
Gracious God,
I ask that you fill me up with your word. That you give me wisdom to speak truth to my friends. I ask humbly that use me effectively as a servant. This isn't possible without You.
I love you.
In Jesus' powerful name, AMEN.
Hope you enjoy it.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Word Definitions, Lyrics, and Vision
I think its necessary to note the fact that often times as Christians we don't exactly know terms commonly used in church, let alone in speaking with other believers.
Recently I have had a desire to really figure out what words, common at church, really mean. So I looked some up, and here they are.
Hosanna comes from the Hebrew word "Hoshana" which translates, from what I've read, to "save, now". When used in the new testament Greek, we see it used as a word of praise. "Hosanna, great is He who comes in the name of the lord".
Hallelujah comes from the Hebrew form, "Halleluya", meaning "praise". It can also be translated, roughly, into English as "praise the Lord".
Holy comes from the Hebrew word "Kadosh". As my studies have not given a deeper understanding of the original meaning in the Hebrew, John Bevere has defined it from his studies as being "a cut above". God is described as being a cut above everything and everyone else; exclusive. Another definition is to be "set apart". God is "set apart" from the world, on another level; a higher level.
I thought you would like to know :)
Next is just a few lyrics that have been finding their way into my prayers and have been consuming my thoughts.
Hosanna
"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
Hosanna in the highest"
Lead me to the Cross
"Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross"
The Stand
"So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours"
Beautiful
"I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful"
The first three have the message to me of laying down of my self, picking up my cross, and following Him, who loved me so much. Its been my prayer to align my heart with Gods, to break mine of what breaks His, to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates; He has taken me very seriously with those prayers and has shown me what it is to have a burden for those around me hurting.
The last one keeps me motivated and excited. I can't wait till I see my brothers and sisters in Christ, walking into the throne room, Jesus standing before us, the groom, and all of us, the bride, walking up, singing praises to Him. He's tearing up, and smiling, He's so happy. He loves us so much. Its all Joy. All of it. Nothing can take that from me, and its been burning in my mind. I want that so bad.
So this is whats on my heart. I love you all so much. Stay encouraged. Love one another as Christ has loved you, and this world will be a forever changed because you simply remembered that God loves you.
Recently I have had a desire to really figure out what words, common at church, really mean. So I looked some up, and here they are.
Hosanna comes from the Hebrew word "Hoshana" which translates, from what I've read, to "save, now". When used in the new testament Greek, we see it used as a word of praise. "Hosanna, great is He who comes in the name of the lord".
Hallelujah comes from the Hebrew form, "Halleluya", meaning "praise". It can also be translated, roughly, into English as "praise the Lord".
Holy comes from the Hebrew word "Kadosh". As my studies have not given a deeper understanding of the original meaning in the Hebrew, John Bevere has defined it from his studies as being "a cut above". God is described as being a cut above everything and everyone else; exclusive. Another definition is to be "set apart". God is "set apart" from the world, on another level; a higher level.
I thought you would like to know :)
Next is just a few lyrics that have been finding their way into my prayers and have been consuming my thoughts.
Hosanna
"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
Hosanna in the highest"
Lead me to the Cross
"Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross"
The Stand
"So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours"
Beautiful
"I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful"
The first three have the message to me of laying down of my self, picking up my cross, and following Him, who loved me so much. Its been my prayer to align my heart with Gods, to break mine of what breaks His, to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates; He has taken me very seriously with those prayers and has shown me what it is to have a burden for those around me hurting.
The last one keeps me motivated and excited. I can't wait till I see my brothers and sisters in Christ, walking into the throne room, Jesus standing before us, the groom, and all of us, the bride, walking up, singing praises to Him. He's tearing up, and smiling, He's so happy. He loves us so much. Its all Joy. All of it. Nothing can take that from me, and its been burning in my mind. I want that so bad.
So this is whats on my heart. I love you all so much. Stay encouraged. Love one another as Christ has loved you, and this world will be a forever changed because you simply remembered that God loves you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
What you didn't know about grace.
I'd like to start by saying that until two days ago I only had a dim view of what grace is; I'd also like to say that I still have a dim view of what grace really is.
Okay
Sunday and Monday, (November 1st and 2nd), I went to Celebration Church in Fresno to listen to John Bevere speak on a newer study of his: being extraordinary Christians. I'm only going to touch base on a few things he went over in hopes you may catch fire.
He shared a statistic of what 98.1% of American Christians believe about grace: that it covers our sin, washes away our sin, that it is a free gift, and that it cleanses us.
All of these things are true.
BUT, its not what God defines His grace as. John chapter 1 verses 14-16 state:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Two things come to mind: If Jesus was sinless, why did He need grace? and What is His fullness?
The answer to the first question lies in the answer of the second.
John talked about how grace for grace is a phrase used to represent something coming full circle. If something is coming full circle in verse 16, then it MUST be talking about HIS FULLNESS.
Jesus didn't need grace to cover His sin, He needed God's empowering grace to live in the likeness of God seeing as He was human. He was made just like all of us.
Grace isn't only just seen in this light in John tho.
2 Corinthians Chapter 9 verse 12 states that:
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
He just used grace and power interchangeably!
John used two analogies; One was of a tribe in Africa receiving the gift of a Land Rover. People in the states hear about how the tribe has to walk enormous distances to get food and supplies. So the people buy the tribe a SUV. The people giving the Land Rover get over there and tell them about all the great features: side and frontal airbags, power seats, air conditioning, DVD player, GPS, sun roof, all that jazz. They catch word years later that the tribe is still traveling by foot long distances because they haven't driven the vehicle once. The tribe was so stoked about the perks of having a FREE GIFT that they never took it out for a drive. They didn't utilize the power of the gift.
The other analogy is of a farmer. He has access to this canal, full of water, ready to provide fresh nutrients to his crops. He decides to tap into this canal to water his Corn, while neglecting his other crops of peaches, plums, nectarines and what have you. The other crops suffer while he only has one successful crop. Why tap into only one aspect of a free gift when we have ACCESS TO ALL OF IT!
The main point being is that grace in its origin was not just meant to cleanse us from sin, and to cover us and make sure we go to heaven. That's great. But in its creation, grace was meant to EMPOWER us to lead extraordinary lives.
It states in Genesis that God created man (and woman) in His own image. Now, is God ordinary?
NO! haha.
God made us godlike in our creation. We were meant, built, wired to do extraordinary things. We're called to be Holy as He is Holy. To come up to His level, can we do that? Not without Gods EMPOWERING grace in our lives.
I want to challenge you with this. I could go on for a while, but my fingers hurt, I expect God to place this in your heart:
If Jesus stated that we (the body of Christ) are going to do greater things than He did when He was on earth, does that mean we are called to be ordinary?
Does that mean that being a Christian isn't empowering?
Does that mean we shouldn't utilize the free gift of God in other areas of our life? Healing? Finances? Ingenuity? Creativity? Ruling in Life?
How do we tap into this empowering grace though? This is important: through faith.
It is by GRACE you have been saved, THROUGH FAITH!!!!
we have to have faith that God will empower us with His grace.
Lets pray.
Dear God,
I pray that you fill us up with your empowering grace. I come to Your throne of grace, not with a cup, but with my truck backed up wit a bathtub in the back God, fill me up with YOUR GRACE! I ask this in Jesus' name. I want my brothers and sisters to realize that You've called us to greatness. To be HOLY as you are HOLY. I want to be Holy as You are God. I know that without my trusting You, without faith, none of this is possible. So increase my capacity to believe you. Give me child like faith, so I just believe and don't question. Through my faith I will acquire your empowering Grace that will give me the ability to move mountains of doubt, to heal hurting, sick people. I will be able to live as Christ lived. To be HOLY as You are. God I pray that you shake the foundations of this area, and that you give people the ears to hear and a receptive heart, so that you can speak the true meaning of Grace into their lives. Father, its only by your power that I can do what You've called me to do. I ask that you give me the capacity to love dangerously for you. To be innovative, to be creative and to win SOULS to you God. I love You so so so much Father. I ask that you make me a better leader because it is YOUR will to see people fall in love with you, and I wish to do that. Use me. Speak to me and through me and let YOUR kingdom come as it already is. Let YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I declare Your authority over my life. I ask that you rule in my life, that you rule through me, and that you use this life changing experience to win people to you. To show people how BEAUTIFUL You really are.
I love You God, so much.
In Jesus' mighty,holy, gracious, perfect, amazing, loving, affectionate, powerful, majestic, glorious name-
AMEN.
p.s- I hope this ministered to you, truth be told, I didn't really think too much about this I just wanted to shut up and let the Spirit speak. I'm just glad I got to read what the Spirit had me write haha :)
Love,
-Josh
Okay
Sunday and Monday, (November 1st and 2nd), I went to Celebration Church in Fresno to listen to John Bevere speak on a newer study of his: being extraordinary Christians. I'm only going to touch base on a few things he went over in hopes you may catch fire.
He shared a statistic of what 98.1% of American Christians believe about grace: that it covers our sin, washes away our sin, that it is a free gift, and that it cleanses us.
All of these things are true.
BUT, its not what God defines His grace as. John chapter 1 verses 14-16 state:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Two things come to mind: If Jesus was sinless, why did He need grace? and What is His fullness?
The answer to the first question lies in the answer of the second.
John talked about how grace for grace is a phrase used to represent something coming full circle. If something is coming full circle in verse 16, then it MUST be talking about HIS FULLNESS.
Jesus didn't need grace to cover His sin, He needed God's empowering grace to live in the likeness of God seeing as He was human. He was made just like all of us.
Grace isn't only just seen in this light in John tho.
2 Corinthians Chapter 9 verse 12 states that:
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
He just used grace and power interchangeably!
John used two analogies; One was of a tribe in Africa receiving the gift of a Land Rover. People in the states hear about how the tribe has to walk enormous distances to get food and supplies. So the people buy the tribe a SUV. The people giving the Land Rover get over there and tell them about all the great features: side and frontal airbags, power seats, air conditioning, DVD player, GPS, sun roof, all that jazz. They catch word years later that the tribe is still traveling by foot long distances because they haven't driven the vehicle once. The tribe was so stoked about the perks of having a FREE GIFT that they never took it out for a drive. They didn't utilize the power of the gift.
The other analogy is of a farmer. He has access to this canal, full of water, ready to provide fresh nutrients to his crops. He decides to tap into this canal to water his Corn, while neglecting his other crops of peaches, plums, nectarines and what have you. The other crops suffer while he only has one successful crop. Why tap into only one aspect of a free gift when we have ACCESS TO ALL OF IT!
The main point being is that grace in its origin was not just meant to cleanse us from sin, and to cover us and make sure we go to heaven. That's great. But in its creation, grace was meant to EMPOWER us to lead extraordinary lives.
It states in Genesis that God created man (and woman) in His own image. Now, is God ordinary?
NO! haha.
God made us godlike in our creation. We were meant, built, wired to do extraordinary things. We're called to be Holy as He is Holy. To come up to His level, can we do that? Not without Gods EMPOWERING grace in our lives.
I want to challenge you with this. I could go on for a while, but my fingers hurt, I expect God to place this in your heart:
If Jesus stated that we (the body of Christ) are going to do greater things than He did when He was on earth, does that mean we are called to be ordinary?
Does that mean that being a Christian isn't empowering?
Does that mean we shouldn't utilize the free gift of God in other areas of our life? Healing? Finances? Ingenuity? Creativity? Ruling in Life?
How do we tap into this empowering grace though? This is important: through faith.
It is by GRACE you have been saved, THROUGH FAITH!!!!
we have to have faith that God will empower us with His grace.
Lets pray.
Dear God,
I pray that you fill us up with your empowering grace. I come to Your throne of grace, not with a cup, but with my truck backed up wit a bathtub in the back God, fill me up with YOUR GRACE! I ask this in Jesus' name. I want my brothers and sisters to realize that You've called us to greatness. To be HOLY as you are HOLY. I want to be Holy as You are God. I know that without my trusting You, without faith, none of this is possible. So increase my capacity to believe you. Give me child like faith, so I just believe and don't question. Through my faith I will acquire your empowering Grace that will give me the ability to move mountains of doubt, to heal hurting, sick people. I will be able to live as Christ lived. To be HOLY as You are. God I pray that you shake the foundations of this area, and that you give people the ears to hear and a receptive heart, so that you can speak the true meaning of Grace into their lives. Father, its only by your power that I can do what You've called me to do. I ask that you give me the capacity to love dangerously for you. To be innovative, to be creative and to win SOULS to you God. I love You so so so much Father. I ask that you make me a better leader because it is YOUR will to see people fall in love with you, and I wish to do that. Use me. Speak to me and through me and let YOUR kingdom come as it already is. Let YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I declare Your authority over my life. I ask that you rule in my life, that you rule through me, and that you use this life changing experience to win people to you. To show people how BEAUTIFUL You really are.
I love You God, so much.
In Jesus' mighty,holy, gracious, perfect, amazing, loving, affectionate, powerful, majestic, glorious name-
AMEN.
p.s- I hope this ministered to you, truth be told, I didn't really think too much about this I just wanted to shut up and let the Spirit speak. I'm just glad I got to read what the Spirit had me write haha :)
Love,
-Josh
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Holy Discontent
I want to first start by saying that I have known for a while that God has called me to love the broken, hurting and outcast. To love the ones that others pass by and look down on. Not only to love them, but to make myself available to be "interrupted" by them; to talk and converse and befriend them.
I have also known for a while that God has called me into youth ministry. Whether its been involving myself in pastoral leadership or speaking (Gods lately shown me visions of me SPEAKING as a leader of conferences and camps which is awesome).
The two are related because both things are something that I have a heavy heart for. Both of which have been termed "Holy Discontents".
I say all this because today I felt a little bit of how God feels about both of these things in my life; I felt completely broken for them. I love them so much, and God does too. It was like for a moment I caught a glimpse of what God was feeling. My heart, which I've been praying for to be aligned with my Fathers, was actually aligned. My spirit was at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus looking down at the earth and hurting so badly for the ones who are denied love by others. Who are downtrodden and spat on. Who are hurting. Who are naked. Who are homeless. Who are sick. Who are hungry. Who are lonely.
It was like I suddenly realized that I was happy, and everyone was hurting. I wanted so badly to grow extra long arms, or multiply myself, and give everyone a big bear hug and to comfort them, and to tell them that I loved them; even if no one else did and that more importantly GOD their AMAZING CREATOR loves them.
All of this hit me, and I felt so incredibly burdened; in the best way possible.
I know now that I have the capacity to love, that my heart is aligned with God my Father; I'm going to run with this now. I am going to go out and continue to love as only God knows how, because its not going to be me loving, but me just being the vessel for which Christs love will be poured out.
I ask that you pray continually pray for my strength, endurance, and motivation to carry out this "Holy Discontent" like Nehemiah did with the wall, like Noah did with the arc, like Abraham did with Isaac. I know that satan is going to attack me because I have confidence and I am a leader; satan hates leaders with a vision and a love for God. It just means that I'm unstoppable.
Pray that I don't lose motivation.
Pray that I don't fall victim to spiritual amnesia. Because the God who delivered Israel from Egypt, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who flooded the earth, the God who took Enoch, the God who stopped the sun, the God who loves, the God who provides, the God who sent down His only son to die for me, the God who was, is, and will come can do this for me.
Its not too much for a righteous man to ask for help carrying out a task that is too much for him to carry. I need help remembering that.
Know that God will accept your request if you come before His throne humbled; "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16), we are righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior; and if we pray in His name it will be done. Pray with expectancy. Be confident.
I love you all so much and I felt lead to share this with you all.
I hope this excites you as much as it excites me.
that's my time :)
-Josh
I have also known for a while that God has called me into youth ministry. Whether its been involving myself in pastoral leadership or speaking (Gods lately shown me visions of me SPEAKING as a leader of conferences and camps which is awesome).
The two are related because both things are something that I have a heavy heart for. Both of which have been termed "Holy Discontents".
I say all this because today I felt a little bit of how God feels about both of these things in my life; I felt completely broken for them. I love them so much, and God does too. It was like for a moment I caught a glimpse of what God was feeling. My heart, which I've been praying for to be aligned with my Fathers, was actually aligned. My spirit was at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus looking down at the earth and hurting so badly for the ones who are denied love by others. Who are downtrodden and spat on. Who are hurting. Who are naked. Who are homeless. Who are sick. Who are hungry. Who are lonely.
It was like I suddenly realized that I was happy, and everyone was hurting. I wanted so badly to grow extra long arms, or multiply myself, and give everyone a big bear hug and to comfort them, and to tell them that I loved them; even if no one else did and that more importantly GOD their AMAZING CREATOR loves them.
All of this hit me, and I felt so incredibly burdened; in the best way possible.
I know now that I have the capacity to love, that my heart is aligned with God my Father; I'm going to run with this now. I am going to go out and continue to love as only God knows how, because its not going to be me loving, but me just being the vessel for which Christs love will be poured out.
I ask that you pray continually pray for my strength, endurance, and motivation to carry out this "Holy Discontent" like Nehemiah did with the wall, like Noah did with the arc, like Abraham did with Isaac. I know that satan is going to attack me because I have confidence and I am a leader; satan hates leaders with a vision and a love for God. It just means that I'm unstoppable.
Pray that I don't lose motivation.
Pray that I don't fall victim to spiritual amnesia. Because the God who delivered Israel from Egypt, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who flooded the earth, the God who took Enoch, the God who stopped the sun, the God who loves, the God who provides, the God who sent down His only son to die for me, the God who was, is, and will come can do this for me.
Its not too much for a righteous man to ask for help carrying out a task that is too much for him to carry. I need help remembering that.
Know that God will accept your request if you come before His throne humbled; "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16), we are righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior; and if we pray in His name it will be done. Pray with expectancy. Be confident.
I love you all so much and I felt lead to share this with you all.
I hope this excites you as much as it excites me.
that's my time :)
-Josh
Thursday, October 22, 2009
New Things
First, I want to let you ponder two thoughts "Spiritual Bulimia" and "My flesh is an unbroken horse".
Second, read these lyrics.
This song has been ministering to me lately.
Its so beautiful, and it excites me about my Saviors coming.
I can't wait to stand in heaven with my heavenly brothers and sisters as His bride, singing "You are beautiful".
It's going to be beautiful.
FYI my favorite is the last verse and chorus :)
Beautiful-Phil Wickham
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful
I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
Second, read these lyrics.
This song has been ministering to me lately.
Its so beautiful, and it excites me about my Saviors coming.
I can't wait to stand in heaven with my heavenly brothers and sisters as His bride, singing "You are beautiful".
It's going to be beautiful.
FYI my favorite is the last verse and chorus :)
Beautiful-Phil Wickham
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful
I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Joy of the Lord
As of lately, God has been testing me- A lot.
I forget how seriously my heavenly Father takes me when I talk to Him.
I was asking Him for a while to align my heart with His; for me to hate what He hates.
Love what He loves, etc.
When God gives you trials, you're supposed to rejoice in them, because it refines us, and gives us the ability to be molded.
I love the analogy of refiners fire; God heats us up in His fire of affliction (trials) and our imperfections rise to the top (sin). Once we're in the hottest point, (deepest despair or pain/frustration), God gives us the choice to change or to stay the same. Trusting God is the hardest at these points. Any one can praise God in prosperity, but what makes God look amazingly glorious, is praising Him in the midst of deepest pain. When we ask for God to change us, He does; God cleanses us from our sin ("the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man, avails much") and fills up our broken and empty spaces where the sin was trying to fill in with Him. After this process is over, we can really begin to appreciate how beautiful God is.
I know this process seems undesirable, but its really amazing how much it helps your walk.
It is imperative as followers of Jesus Christ to be constantly reminded of Jesus Christ as our savior, redeemer, provider, and one true friend.
From the process mentioned before I've found that I'm able to truly have Joy provided by the my heavenly Father and this is my strength; this is the light that the world see's, shining about the darkness.
So this is whats been going on in my life; I know its not as long as my other ones- But I've been filled with joy, and I had to write about it :)
I love you all, very very much :)
I hope this encouraged one person.
"I have become all things to all men , that I might by all means save some."
1 Corinthians 9:22b
I forget how seriously my heavenly Father takes me when I talk to Him.
I was asking Him for a while to align my heart with His; for me to hate what He hates.
Love what He loves, etc.
When God gives you trials, you're supposed to rejoice in them, because it refines us, and gives us the ability to be molded.
I love the analogy of refiners fire; God heats us up in His fire of affliction (trials) and our imperfections rise to the top (sin). Once we're in the hottest point, (deepest despair or pain/frustration), God gives us the choice to change or to stay the same. Trusting God is the hardest at these points. Any one can praise God in prosperity, but what makes God look amazingly glorious, is praising Him in the midst of deepest pain. When we ask for God to change us, He does; God cleanses us from our sin ("the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man, avails much") and fills up our broken and empty spaces where the sin was trying to fill in with Him. After this process is over, we can really begin to appreciate how beautiful God is.
I know this process seems undesirable, but its really amazing how much it helps your walk.
It is imperative as followers of Jesus Christ to be constantly reminded of Jesus Christ as our savior, redeemer, provider, and one true friend.
From the process mentioned before I've found that I'm able to truly have Joy provided by the my heavenly Father and this is my strength; this is the light that the world see's, shining about the darkness.
So this is whats been going on in my life; I know its not as long as my other ones- But I've been filled with joy, and I had to write about it :)
I love you all, very very much :)
I hope this encouraged one person.
"I have become all things to all men , that I might by all means save some."
1 Corinthians 9:22b
Sunday, September 27, 2009
my weakness does not change His greatness
Today I felt like I had no friends that were nearby;
I felt like I was alone and had nobody there to support me.
I felt like all of my close friends were either 250 miles away, or non existent;
I felt like I lost connection with my current friends in this area.
I sent a text message to several of my friends, letting them know about my brokenness and sadness over this seemingly overwhelming situation.
Many of my friends responded with prayers of love over me and prayers of perseverance.
Two things are ironic about this (as my good friend Lauren pointed out).
1. "I sent a message to several of my (good) friends"
2. "My friends responded.
If I didn't have any friends, I wouldn't have had anyone to text my problems to; consequently, I would not have had anyone to respond to my pleas for prayer.
Granted, some of my closest friends may be far off, but they still help me :)
The season of my soul right now is learning how to persevere through Christs testing over me. Suffering, if you will, for Him; consequently, storing up treasures in heaven. I keep saying, God, test me, so I can grow closer to You. I am drawing near to You, and You will draw near to me (referenced in James 4:8). I also know that my soul CRAVES God so very badly; I love God so much. I have learned that God is sufficient beyond compare. He is "exceedingly abundant" (referenced in Ephesians 3:20).
Now, If He, God, is exceedingly abundant, it poses a question.
Why the heck am I freaking out? And, more importantly, why am I not realizing Gods sufficiency in my life?
If my friends fail, If I fail, He is enough.
I wrote a song stating that He is my portion, He is my prize.
Saying it is one thing, but believing that He is enough for me is so much harder to do.
Right now, I ask for prayer over this part of my life.
I pray that you pray for me :)
I pray that God provides, which, He does.
He has provided people in my life that love God with their entirety, and who fear God.
I ask that you will pray that I will always know of Gods sufficiency in my life.
I ask that you will pray that I will continually love God, and fear Him.
I ask that you will pray for Gods comfort over me.
I ask that you will pray for Gods peace over me.
I ask that you will pray that God will continually reveal new facets of Himself to me, so I can fall even more in love with Him every day.
Thank you so much for your support, my friends.
You are such an encouragement.
I thank God every time I can for you, because you are such a comfort.
I love each and every one of you.
I don't even know how I could be here without you.
God manifests His love for me by providing friends that can share it with me.
And I, in them.
I love you all.
-Josh
I felt like I was alone and had nobody there to support me.
I felt like all of my close friends were either 250 miles away, or non existent;
I felt like I lost connection with my current friends in this area.
I sent a text message to several of my friends, letting them know about my brokenness and sadness over this seemingly overwhelming situation.
Many of my friends responded with prayers of love over me and prayers of perseverance.
Two things are ironic about this (as my good friend Lauren pointed out).
1. "I sent a message to several of my (good) friends"
2. "My friends responded.
If I didn't have any friends, I wouldn't have had anyone to text my problems to; consequently, I would not have had anyone to respond to my pleas for prayer.
Granted, some of my closest friends may be far off, but they still help me :)
The season of my soul right now is learning how to persevere through Christs testing over me. Suffering, if you will, for Him; consequently, storing up treasures in heaven. I keep saying, God, test me, so I can grow closer to You. I am drawing near to You, and You will draw near to me (referenced in James 4:8). I also know that my soul CRAVES God so very badly; I love God so much. I have learned that God is sufficient beyond compare. He is "exceedingly abundant" (referenced in Ephesians 3:20).
Now, If He, God, is exceedingly abundant, it poses a question.
Why the heck am I freaking out? And, more importantly, why am I not realizing Gods sufficiency in my life?
If my friends fail, If I fail, He is enough.
I wrote a song stating that He is my portion, He is my prize.
Saying it is one thing, but believing that He is enough for me is so much harder to do.
Right now, I ask for prayer over this part of my life.
I pray that you pray for me :)
I pray that God provides, which, He does.
He has provided people in my life that love God with their entirety, and who fear God.
I ask that you will pray that I will always know of Gods sufficiency in my life.
I ask that you will pray that I will continually love God, and fear Him.
I ask that you will pray for Gods comfort over me.
I ask that you will pray for Gods peace over me.
I ask that you will pray that God will continually reveal new facets of Himself to me, so I can fall even more in love with Him every day.
Thank you so much for your support, my friends.
You are such an encouragement.
I thank God every time I can for you, because you are such a comfort.
I love each and every one of you.
I don't even know how I could be here without you.
God manifests His love for me by providing friends that can share it with me.
And I, in them.
I love you all.
-Josh
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Portion/Prize
I wrote this song due to the events going on in my life that have caused me emotional struggle.
Nothing terribly bad happened.
-But-
When you surrender yourself to Christ as ask Him to shape you into the person He wants you to be,
just know that He will take you up on it.
You are not going to like it at first; you may hate that He is testing you, but-
He does it because He loves you, and wants to be closer to you.
"Portion/Prize"
Lately all I see around me is brokenness;
but still I know that God, You're good.
Your compassion's are new every morning.
God, You never fail.
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
Great is Your faithfulness;
You provide more that I could ever ask for.
You exceed me
I'll praise You in my suffering because God, You are good.
Even though my heart and flesh may fail, I know you wont.
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
Great is Your faithfulness;
You provide more that I could ever ask for.
You exceed me
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
*In Closing*
I'd like to pray over this.
"God,
I know that I've been struggling to see the good in the work You've been doing in my life.
But I need convincing that You know what You're doing.
If that's childlike of me, I'm sorry. I need You to hold my hand then.
I need You're loving arms around me to comfort me through my trials.
I need You to give me the heart to be joyful in my suffering for You :)
I know that I'm building up rewards in heaven for this.
Thank You Father for everything You're doing and everything You will do.
In Jesus' name,
Amen."
Nothing terribly bad happened.
-But-
When you surrender yourself to Christ as ask Him to shape you into the person He wants you to be,
just know that He will take you up on it.
You are not going to like it at first; you may hate that He is testing you, but-
He does it because He loves you, and wants to be closer to you.
"Portion/Prize"
Lately all I see around me is brokenness;
but still I know that God, You're good.
Your compassion's are new every morning.
God, You never fail.
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
Great is Your faithfulness;
You provide more that I could ever ask for.
You exceed me
I'll praise You in my suffering because God, You are good.
Even though my heart and flesh may fail, I know you wont.
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
Great is Your faithfulness;
You provide more that I could ever ask for.
You exceed me
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
For You are my portion; You are my prize.
*In Closing*
I'd like to pray over this.
"God,
I know that I've been struggling to see the good in the work You've been doing in my life.
But I need convincing that You know what You're doing.
If that's childlike of me, I'm sorry. I need You to hold my hand then.
I need You're loving arms around me to comfort me through my trials.
I need You to give me the heart to be joyful in my suffering for You :)
I know that I'm building up rewards in heaven for this.
Thank You Father for everything You're doing and everything You will do.
In Jesus' name,
Amen."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Submission to Authority
It isn't exactly submission when you agree with your leader; submission is when you follow your leader whole-heartedly because you understand that authority that has been placed over you.
I understand that God placed something of significance in my life that I was supposed to follow because He wanted to see if I would submit myself to His authority and obey.
He gave me trials to see how I would deal with disappointment.
I coped by reaching out to my Father in heaven who blesses me with comfort and love.
My Father is happy with me :)
God is good. All the time; All the time, God is good.
He is my portion, my prize, I love Him dearly-
Even if this love is a roller-coaster ride.
I understand that God placed something of significance in my life that I was supposed to follow because He wanted to see if I would submit myself to His authority and obey.
He gave me trials to see how I would deal with disappointment.
I coped by reaching out to my Father in heaven who blesses me with comfort and love.
My Father is happy with me :)
God is good. All the time; All the time, God is good.
He is my portion, my prize, I love Him dearly-
Even if this love is a roller-coaster ride.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Obedience/Worship; Glory/Us
Following Gods instruction is hard.
Listening, Hearing, Knowing isn't enough; at all.
We have to follow through to completion our obedience.
Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaak to God and Abraham was prepared to do that.
He went out the next day to sacrifice his only true born son and God saw that he feared
Him and stopped Abraham, provided another sacrifice, and blessed him.
A word we see in the aforementioned passage of scripture is "worship"
In Genesis 22:5 Abraham says in justifies the subsequent actions by stating-
"...I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come back".
This is the first time worship is used in the Bible.
This is used in reference to the act of obeying Gods command.
We see Abraham persevere 3 days by walking up a mountain with his son, possibly a test from
God to see if Abraham would turn back.
I don't even know where to start with all of this because honestly, this is still fresh in my brain.
And honestly, God keeps popping it up into my mind; and my spirit is stirred.
God has been testing me to see if I will obey Him.
It is frustrating.
But do you know what? I don't care.
I don't care how frustrating obeying God is.
Because He is enough.
MORE than enough.
What helps me get through tough times of obedience is looking at God and saying:
I STILL LOVE YOU.
YOU ARE STILL GOOD.
YOU WILL HELP ME GET THROUGH THIS.
You will NEVER give me more than I can bear,
because I am with You, God.
I am with You, and if You are for me, who can be against me.
"God,
Please, Continue to test me,
Because the harder things get, the more I hold on to You.
The closer I draw to Your sufficiency and the closer You come to me.
I asked You for a hug the other night and You comforted by.
I told you I loved You and You said.
"I LOVE YOU TOO."
You are enough for me, You are MORE than enough for me.
Continually reveal Yourself to me God-
Continually speak to me.
God, help me to love, as You love.
Help me to begin to understand how beautiful You are.
I love You,
-Amen"
I was listening to John Bevere about obedience, and reward, and then I listened to John Piper preaching about the "prosperity gospel"-
I was torn apart and rocked by what he said makes God look beautiful.
"I'll tell you what makes Jesus look beautiful:
It's when you smash your car, and your little girl goes flying through the windshield, and lands dead on the street. And you say, through the deepest possible pain- 'God is enough. He is good; He will satisfy us; He will get us through this; He is our treasure. Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth there is nothing I desire besides you. My heart and my flesh and my little girl may fail- But you are the strength of my heart; my portion forever'. That makes God look glorious...I pray the church would be marked by suffering for Christ. God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in Him in the midst of loss; not prosperity."
Loving God, worshiping, obedience, is all great in prosperity.
But if we forget to glorify God in the midst of our suffering, our hurt, our pain, our persecution-
We.
Missed.
The.
Point.
"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
-Job 1:21
Listening, Hearing, Knowing isn't enough; at all.
We have to follow through to completion our obedience.
Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaak to God and Abraham was prepared to do that.
He went out the next day to sacrifice his only true born son and God saw that he feared
Him and stopped Abraham, provided another sacrifice, and blessed him.
A word we see in the aforementioned passage of scripture is "worship"
In Genesis 22:5 Abraham says in justifies the subsequent actions by stating-
"...I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come back".
This is the first time worship is used in the Bible.
This is used in reference to the act of obeying Gods command.
We see Abraham persevere 3 days by walking up a mountain with his son, possibly a test from
God to see if Abraham would turn back.
I don't even know where to start with all of this because honestly, this is still fresh in my brain.
And honestly, God keeps popping it up into my mind; and my spirit is stirred.
God has been testing me to see if I will obey Him.
It is frustrating.
But do you know what? I don't care.
I don't care how frustrating obeying God is.
Because He is enough.
MORE than enough.
What helps me get through tough times of obedience is looking at God and saying:
I STILL LOVE YOU.
YOU ARE STILL GOOD.
YOU WILL HELP ME GET THROUGH THIS.
You will NEVER give me more than I can bear,
because I am with You, God.
I am with You, and if You are for me, who can be against me.
"God,
Please, Continue to test me,
Because the harder things get, the more I hold on to You.
The closer I draw to Your sufficiency and the closer You come to me.
I asked You for a hug the other night and You comforted by.
I told you I loved You and You said.
"I LOVE YOU TOO."
You are enough for me, You are MORE than enough for me.
Continually reveal Yourself to me God-
Continually speak to me.
God, help me to love, as You love.
Help me to begin to understand how beautiful You are.
I love You,
-Amen"
I was listening to John Bevere about obedience, and reward, and then I listened to John Piper preaching about the "prosperity gospel"-
I was torn apart and rocked by what he said makes God look beautiful.
"I'll tell you what makes Jesus look beautiful:
It's when you smash your car, and your little girl goes flying through the windshield, and lands dead on the street. And you say, through the deepest possible pain- 'God is enough. He is good; He will satisfy us; He will get us through this; He is our treasure. Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth there is nothing I desire besides you. My heart and my flesh and my little girl may fail- But you are the strength of my heart; my portion forever'. That makes God look glorious...I pray the church would be marked by suffering for Christ. God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in Him in the midst of loss; not prosperity."
Loving God, worshiping, obedience, is all great in prosperity.
But if we forget to glorify God in the midst of our suffering, our hurt, our pain, our persecution-
We.
Missed.
The.
Point.
"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
-Job 1:21
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Fit to Serve
I just listened to a sermon by John Bevere about being fit to serve in the army of Christ.
It was interesting-
He spoke on touchy issues like comfort, money and relationships; the things that distract us from effectively serving in the body of Christ.
I realized that He (God) is completely sufficient, or, rather, more than enough for me.
I realized that I really don't need to be worrying about things that aren't necessary.
Example:
A) conversation that is not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
B) how things are going to turn out.
C) how I may seem to others.
These all seem fairly easy to understand, and possibly easy to execute.
But I really started thinking about this, and why its so hard to be fit for Christ.
I came to the conclusion that it shouldn't be.
If we all honestly gave a crap-
If we honestly and truly were serious about our faith-
If we all truly love Christ, and what He did for us-
(He died for us in the most gruesome way possible)
If we realized the impact we have on people-
If we were hurt by the things that hurts God
If we were sensitive to His spirit
If we were willing to die to ourselves
If we weren't worried about what "the worlds" thought
how amazing would that be.
how much would we impact the places around us.
helping a homeless couple wouldn't be so unusual
helping the elderly would be normal
clothing the naked would be happening more often
all of the ministry opportunities we hear wouldn't be so crazy and more regular
we wouldn't be asking for VOLUNTEERS-
we would be APPOINTING soldiers fit the serve the kingdom.
That is essentially my thought proccess of today as of 1:14pm
Dear God,
I ask that You condition me to serve in Your kingdom's army.
I ask that You test me, push me, and motivate me to do well in Your eyes.
I want to set an example to others of what a Godly man looks like.
I don't want to be prideful God, so humble me.
Let me see myself only through the light of Your grace.
Give me excellence, all the while still holding onto humility.
I pray for the hearts of my friends who aren't saved God, that You chase after them,
shake, crack and break down the walls they have put up in regards to letting You in.
I want them to hurt so bad that they realize that they've needed You all along.
Test my brothers and sisters in You, that they will also strive to serve You more effectively.
I love you,
In Jesus' name-
Amen.
It was interesting-
He spoke on touchy issues like comfort, money and relationships; the things that distract us from effectively serving in the body of Christ.
I realized that He (God) is completely sufficient, or, rather, more than enough for me.
I realized that I really don't need to be worrying about things that aren't necessary.
Example:
A) conversation that is not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
B) how things are going to turn out.
C) how I may seem to others.
These all seem fairly easy to understand, and possibly easy to execute.
But I really started thinking about this, and why its so hard to be fit for Christ.
I came to the conclusion that it shouldn't be.
If we all honestly gave a crap-
If we honestly and truly were serious about our faith-
If we all truly love Christ, and what He did for us-
(He died for us in the most gruesome way possible)
If we realized the impact we have on people-
If we were hurt by the things that hurts God
If we were sensitive to His spirit
If we were willing to die to ourselves
If we weren't worried about what "the worlds" thought
how amazing would that be.
how much would we impact the places around us.
helping a homeless couple wouldn't be so unusual
helping the elderly would be normal
clothing the naked would be happening more often
all of the ministry opportunities we hear wouldn't be so crazy and more regular
we wouldn't be asking for VOLUNTEERS-
we would be APPOINTING soldiers fit the serve the kingdom.
That is essentially my thought proccess of today as of 1:14pm
Dear God,
I ask that You condition me to serve in Your kingdom's army.
I ask that You test me, push me, and motivate me to do well in Your eyes.
I want to set an example to others of what a Godly man looks like.
I don't want to be prideful God, so humble me.
Let me see myself only through the light of Your grace.
Give me excellence, all the while still holding onto humility.
I pray for the hearts of my friends who aren't saved God, that You chase after them,
shake, crack and break down the walls they have put up in regards to letting You in.
I want them to hurt so bad that they realize that they've needed You all along.
Test my brothers and sisters in You, that they will also strive to serve You more effectively.
I love you,
In Jesus' name-
Amen.
Worship on the Mount
so today i was hurting because I hurt the heart of God.
I knew I did because I've been praying for God to align my heart with His.
That I would hurt when He hurts.
That I would love what He loves.
That I would hate what He hates.
Today, this morning my I was hurting because I sinned and hurt the heart of the one who loves me, and whom I love as well.
I wrote this song after I spent an hour of silence-
God showed me once again the Love He has for me, the hope I can have in Him.
He showed me His never ending grace and love.
and then, at the end of all of my breaking, I wrote this-
enjoy :)
Align (Amazed)
Here i am still broken
from the pain i've caused today
how could You still love me even when i turn my head away
then You reveal
that You yearn for me
surrounded by Your love and grace, my sin starts to fade away
Oh God, You fill me with Your love everlasting
Oh God, You fill me up with You-
Align my heart with You, my heart with You
don't let my soul be lost to the cares of this world
God, I'm amazed-
by the winds of change
sparked by the love and grace You have for me
Even though I stumble, even though i still may fall
i know You're there to pick me up and help me carry out Your call
Oh God, You fill me with Your love everlasting
Oh God, You fill me up with You-
Align my heart with You, my heart with You
don't let my soul be lost to the cares of this world
God, I'm amazed-
by the winds of change
sparked by the love and grace You have for me
Oh God, fill me up
fill me up with you
I knew I did because I've been praying for God to align my heart with His.
That I would hurt when He hurts.
That I would love what He loves.
That I would hate what He hates.
Today, this morning my I was hurting because I sinned and hurt the heart of the one who loves me, and whom I love as well.
I wrote this song after I spent an hour of silence-
God showed me once again the Love He has for me, the hope I can have in Him.
He showed me His never ending grace and love.
and then, at the end of all of my breaking, I wrote this-
enjoy :)
Align (Amazed)
Here i am still broken
from the pain i've caused today
how could You still love me even when i turn my head away
then You reveal
that You yearn for me
surrounded by Your love and grace, my sin starts to fade away
Oh God, You fill me with Your love everlasting
Oh God, You fill me up with You-
Align my heart with You, my heart with You
don't let my soul be lost to the cares of this world
God, I'm amazed-
by the winds of change
sparked by the love and grace You have for me
Even though I stumble, even though i still may fall
i know You're there to pick me up and help me carry out Your call
Oh God, You fill me with Your love everlasting
Oh God, You fill me up with You-
Align my heart with You, my heart with You
don't let my soul be lost to the cares of this world
God, I'm amazed-
by the winds of change
sparked by the love and grace You have for me
Oh God, fill me up
fill me up with you
Awesoming, All Over the Place: My Five Year Plan
My dad just asked me where I see myself in five years-
I replied "Awesoming; All over the place".
I know the plans God has for me are to prosper me, and give me hope.
Why not rejoice in that; and why not be optimistic about it?
Honestly, I've been so blessed to have such a strong community of believers supporting me
and encouraging me.
I write this to say thank you; first. Second, to let you guys know some of my goals for the next couple years of my life; so that you can continually encourage me and motivate me to do well.
To strive for excellence.
God calls us to be excellent in all things and I plan on doing so :)
1. I plan on graduating from college with a major in communications.
2. I plan on staying in shape and at least working out 4 times a week
3. I plan on touring in band for at least one summer
4. I plan on recording a cd or at least singing in a band
5. I plan on following Gods calling on my life to minister to the broken (continually since i am doing this now)
6. I plan visiting San Fransisco since I've never done this
7. I plan on growing a mustache that can be respectable in size and thickness
8. I plan on buying at a v neck for any of my friends who have yet to try one on
9. I plan on leading worship at a summer camp at least once
10. I plan on moving away from home and living on my own while going to college
11. I plan on reading The Bible in at least a year
12. I plan on at least getting engaged
13. I plan on never getting comfortable in my walk with Jesus Christ
14. I plan on being involved with a church and being completely sold out to it
15. I plan on loving my neighbor
16. I plan on mentoring others and continually being mentored
17. I plan on writing worship songs that I can use
18. I plan growing in the spiritual gifts God has given me and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape them
19. I plan on being submissive to people God has placed in control over me
20. I plan on learning a new language (whether its french, spanish, greek, latin, or hebrew)
These are some of the plans I have, but I know that God works in CRAZY ways that are not always according to plan.
SO! i ask for prayer that I do not stray from His path, that I grow even more in love with God every day and that I seek Him in everything I do.
God,
I pray that you fill me to capacity with Your love; and when I am filled, extend my capacity so I can be filled more.
I ask that You match my capacity to love, with my capacity to accept Your grace.
I ask that You continually burn me in Your fire, that You test me so I can grow stronger in You.
Interrupt me God, so I can show other people Your crazy awesome love.
Use me.
Align my spirit with Yours: I want to LOVE what You love; HATE what You hate; and forgive others as You have continually forgiven me.
Do not let me stray from Your path, keep me in Your word and fill me with Your divine motivation so that I can continually fight for You, so that I can accomplish the tasks that You have set before me.
When I fail, give me the ability to rest in Your grace.
Let my failures that end with grace motivate me to repent and learn.
Give me wisdom where I am immature.
Give me strength where I am weak.
Give me perseverance when I am going through trials.
Give me motivation when I am lazy.
Give me eyes to see the hurting; and equip me with the tools necessary to help them.
I love you so much God,
All this I ask, in Your name :)
-Amen.
I replied "Awesoming; All over the place".
I know the plans God has for me are to prosper me, and give me hope.
Why not rejoice in that; and why not be optimistic about it?
Honestly, I've been so blessed to have such a strong community of believers supporting me
and encouraging me.
I write this to say thank you; first. Second, to let you guys know some of my goals for the next couple years of my life; so that you can continually encourage me and motivate me to do well.
To strive for excellence.
God calls us to be excellent in all things and I plan on doing so :)
1. I plan on graduating from college with a major in communications.
2. I plan on staying in shape and at least working out 4 times a week
3. I plan on touring in band for at least one summer
4. I plan on recording a cd or at least singing in a band
5. I plan on following Gods calling on my life to minister to the broken (continually since i am doing this now)
6. I plan visiting San Fransisco since I've never done this
7. I plan on growing a mustache that can be respectable in size and thickness
8. I plan on buying at a v neck for any of my friends who have yet to try one on
9. I plan on leading worship at a summer camp at least once
10. I plan on moving away from home and living on my own while going to college
11. I plan on reading The Bible in at least a year
12. I plan on at least getting engaged
13. I plan on never getting comfortable in my walk with Jesus Christ
14. I plan on being involved with a church and being completely sold out to it
15. I plan on loving my neighbor
16. I plan on mentoring others and continually being mentored
17. I plan on writing worship songs that I can use
18. I plan growing in the spiritual gifts God has given me and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape them
19. I plan on being submissive to people God has placed in control over me
20. I plan on learning a new language (whether its french, spanish, greek, latin, or hebrew)
These are some of the plans I have, but I know that God works in CRAZY ways that are not always according to plan.
SO! i ask for prayer that I do not stray from His path, that I grow even more in love with God every day and that I seek Him in everything I do.
God,
I pray that you fill me to capacity with Your love; and when I am filled, extend my capacity so I can be filled more.
I ask that You match my capacity to love, with my capacity to accept Your grace.
I ask that You continually burn me in Your fire, that You test me so I can grow stronger in You.
Interrupt me God, so I can show other people Your crazy awesome love.
Use me.
Align my spirit with Yours: I want to LOVE what You love; HATE what You hate; and forgive others as You have continually forgiven me.
Do not let me stray from Your path, keep me in Your word and fill me with Your divine motivation so that I can continually fight for You, so that I can accomplish the tasks that You have set before me.
When I fail, give me the ability to rest in Your grace.
Let my failures that end with grace motivate me to repent and learn.
Give me wisdom where I am immature.
Give me strength where I am weak.
Give me perseverance when I am going through trials.
Give me motivation when I am lazy.
Give me eyes to see the hurting; and equip me with the tools necessary to help them.
I love you so much God,
All this I ask, in Your name :)
-Amen.
Yeah, He Loves Us :)
i discovered a song this summer that spoke to my heart and rocked me in a huge way.
this summer i didn't expect to do anything special; anything worth mentioning.
but for whatever reason, God felt it was better for me to jump into a job and place where i didn't know anyone or anything.
this summer, God provided in ways i didn't think possible. when i was scared, He comforted me; when i was lonely, He provided a family.
i learned that God is more than enough for me, and that He really does love me, more than I could ever possibly know.
all i know is that I want to love like God does.
i want to love so ridiculously much that it hurts me to see others hurting.
i want Gods love.
this song is about that. Gods love that is so jealous, that is so great, that is so graceful.
this song paints a beautiful picture of His love for us.
i pray you enjoy this song and are affected by it as much as i am.
(if you have any questions, message me)
(if you feel like someone would appreciate this song tag them as well)
How He Loves- John Mark McMillan
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 how beautiful you are
And how great your afflictions for me
Oh how he loves us so
Oh how he loves us
How he loves us so
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 how beautiful you are
And how great your afflictions for me
Oh how he loves us so
Oh how he loves us
How he loves us so
Yea He loves us
Oh how
We are his portion
And he is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meats earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart burns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way
He loves us
Oh how he loves us so
Oh how he loves us
How he loves us so
Yea He loves us
Oh how
I thought about you
The day Stephen died
And you met me between my breaking
I know that I still love you God
Despite the agony
See people they want to tell me your cruel
But if Stephen could sing
He'd say its not true
Cause your good
Yea He loves us
Oh, how He loves
this summer i didn't expect to do anything special; anything worth mentioning.
but for whatever reason, God felt it was better for me to jump into a job and place where i didn't know anyone or anything.
this summer, God provided in ways i didn't think possible. when i was scared, He comforted me; when i was lonely, He provided a family.
i learned that God is more than enough for me, and that He really does love me, more than I could ever possibly know.
all i know is that I want to love like God does.
i want to love so ridiculously much that it hurts me to see others hurting.
i want Gods love.
this song is about that. Gods love that is so jealous, that is so great, that is so graceful.
this song paints a beautiful picture of His love for us.
i pray you enjoy this song and are affected by it as much as i am.
(if you have any questions, message me)
(if you feel like someone would appreciate this song tag them as well)
How He Loves- John Mark McMillan
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 how beautiful you are
And how great your afflictions for me
Oh how he loves us so
Oh how he loves us
How he loves us so
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 how beautiful you are
And how great your afflictions for me
Oh how he loves us so
Oh how he loves us
How he loves us so
Yea He loves us
Oh how
We are his portion
And he is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meats earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart burns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way
He loves us
Oh how he loves us so
Oh how he loves us
How he loves us so
Yea He loves us
Oh how
I thought about you
The day Stephen died
And you met me between my breaking
I know that I still love you God
Despite the agony
See people they want to tell me your cruel
But if Stephen could sing
He'd say its not true
Cause your good
Yea He loves us
Oh, how He loves
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