There are times in life, sweet moments when there are no words. It's in those moments you can do nothing but be still, in those moments nobody else exists, it's just you and Him. It's these moments when Heaven meets the earth. In these tranquil moments we are yet again reminded of just how small we are in the realm of things. Our knees shake, our heart beats with the force of a thousand drums. This is where we meet with Him, in that secret place. This is our blessing, this is our treasure; this is worship.
I am so unworthy of His love, and His majesty and His acknowledgement. Thank you God for meeting with me today, I am lost for words.
3 I will give you hidden treasures,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.- Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)
A Life Not My Of Own
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
"What do we endure for Him?"
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. - Hebrews 12:1 & 2
Imagine being in His shoes. He had wronged no man, or God, yet He endured ridicule and the ultimate shame of crucifixion. I don't think in our day, we regard crucifixion in the same way people did in Jesus day. It was at the bottom of the pit as far as human consequence goes. We are so desensitized to shame or "sin", because now a days, it's everywhere. The crucifixion was the end of a process, which was a very shameful experience not only for the person, but any who associated with them.
So let's start with the process. If you look up the history of crucifixion, one of the first things you'll find is the criminal was first stripped of their clothes. Given little, or no coverings. Being it was a public event, could you imagine how humiliating that would be? To be stripped of everything in front of your mother, father, friends?
We turn away when someone offends us. This is what our Savior endured, for you and me.
Next, the bruising and beating. We're not talking about mere childish fist throwing, and kicking. It says Jesus was marred more than any man. (Isaiah 52:14- "But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man." NLT) His was so badly whipped and battered, that you could not recognize him. His flesh was ripped down to the bone.
And we cry about a paper cut? This is what our Savior endured, for you and me.
He was beaten not only physically, but emotionally too. He was pushed around, called a liar. They laughed at him as they made him a crown of thorns, and forced it onto his already wounded head. He was spit on, and mocked as he was forced to carry the cross and bleed openly through crowds of people.
We give up on something God asked us to do because it's "too hard". This is what our savior endured, for you and me.
Then came the nails, driven through his hands and feet, and set up on the cross, in public display. Naked, deformed, and alone. The weight of the sins of the WHOLE world, were placed upon him. So thick and so heavy that God himself, had to turn His face away. He died in pain... He died in disgrace.. He died alone.
We get upset when someone sits in our usual Sunday seats. This is what our savior endured for you and me.
How dare we even give ourselves the title of a "follower of Christ" and think ourselves worthy to be blessed by Him. What an incredible God we serve, one we're NOT worthy of serving. It is so humbling to think that He WANTS us to worship him... He ASKS us to follow Him. We didn't invite ourselves, He invited us. This living God who walked a road that we couldn't have, a road that He didn't deserve; all because He LOVES us. We complain, we disobey, we are impure in ways and thoughts. We are envious, we are revengeful, we are hurtful to each other. We break His heart over and over again; Yet He pleads for our life, our salvation. This is what our Savior endures for you and me.
We all struggle with pride, we all struggle with hurt and sin. But we are able to lay it all at His feet and worship and serve Him. He thinks us worthy to be His hands and feet, when we're the reason they were pierced.
His Love endures all this for you and me..... but what do we endure for Him?
Imagine being in His shoes. He had wronged no man, or God, yet He endured ridicule and the ultimate shame of crucifixion. I don't think in our day, we regard crucifixion in the same way people did in Jesus day. It was at the bottom of the pit as far as human consequence goes. We are so desensitized to shame or "sin", because now a days, it's everywhere. The crucifixion was the end of a process, which was a very shameful experience not only for the person, but any who associated with them.
So let's start with the process. If you look up the history of crucifixion, one of the first things you'll find is the criminal was first stripped of their clothes. Given little, or no coverings. Being it was a public event, could you imagine how humiliating that would be? To be stripped of everything in front of your mother, father, friends?
We turn away when someone offends us. This is what our Savior endured, for you and me.
Next, the bruising and beating. We're not talking about mere childish fist throwing, and kicking. It says Jesus was marred more than any man. (Isaiah 52:14- "But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man." NLT) His was so badly whipped and battered, that you could not recognize him. His flesh was ripped down to the bone.
And we cry about a paper cut? This is what our Savior endured, for you and me.
He was beaten not only physically, but emotionally too. He was pushed around, called a liar. They laughed at him as they made him a crown of thorns, and forced it onto his already wounded head. He was spit on, and mocked as he was forced to carry the cross and bleed openly through crowds of people.
We give up on something God asked us to do because it's "too hard". This is what our savior endured, for you and me.
Then came the nails, driven through his hands and feet, and set up on the cross, in public display. Naked, deformed, and alone. The weight of the sins of the WHOLE world, were placed upon him. So thick and so heavy that God himself, had to turn His face away. He died in pain... He died in disgrace.. He died alone.
We get upset when someone sits in our usual Sunday seats. This is what our savior endured for you and me.
How dare we even give ourselves the title of a "follower of Christ" and think ourselves worthy to be blessed by Him. What an incredible God we serve, one we're NOT worthy of serving. It is so humbling to think that He WANTS us to worship him... He ASKS us to follow Him. We didn't invite ourselves, He invited us. This living God who walked a road that we couldn't have, a road that He didn't deserve; all because He LOVES us. We complain, we disobey, we are impure in ways and thoughts. We are envious, we are revengeful, we are hurtful to each other. We break His heart over and over again; Yet He pleads for our life, our salvation. This is what our Savior endures for you and me.
We all struggle with pride, we all struggle with hurt and sin. But we are able to lay it all at His feet and worship and serve Him. He thinks us worthy to be His hands and feet, when we're the reason they were pierced.
His Love endures all this for you and me..... but what do we endure for Him?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Proverbs 22:6
"good management doesn't mean perfect outcome. It didn't for God, and it doesn't for us" - John Piper
I read this in a blog today, a very strong and true statement! The truth is, we can either be brought up in the word or brought up in the world. Neither has a definite outcome. Being brought up in the world doesn't guarantee us an eternity apart from God. On the contrary, being brought up in the WORD doesn't guarantee us a sinless life.. Many times I have pondered the passage in Proverbs "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6 NLT) Nowhere in the passage does it claim they will perfectly walk the "straight and narrow". Nobody, I don't care who you are has walked a perfect path, we're all subject to sin. It's whether we choose to repent or not that is important.
As a parent, I sometimes get insecure about my sons' behavior, and his strong will, even at 3. I worry it reflects my parenting skills in some way, that I'm not doing something right. But looking at Proverbs 22:6, I understand more about bringing my child up and guiding him and teaching him about Gods' love. It doesn't dismiss the fact that he's 3, or that he has his own traits. It's doesn't mean when he gets older, that he won't veer to the left, or the right. We were ALL born with our own minds and will. I can only do my best as a parent to express the importance of walking with God, and pray for him to someday become the man God has designed him to be.
More than a few times, I myself have thought or have heard others blame someone's choices in life, on their parents. This is not always the case. I know I have my own views that differ from my parents, I do a lot of things differently. That's because I am an individual. We all are. We can preach to our children till the cows come home, and in the end they still make their own choices. Does that mean we throw in the towel and say "well whatever happens, happens"? Absolutely not. You continue to guide, listen and pray. Being a parent, especially in this sense doesn't end until you leave this earth. I know I will take my guidance from the Lord in raising my son with love, wisdom and discipline. In doing so, I will not pray for a "perfect outcome", but for a "perfect ending".
I read this in a blog today, a very strong and true statement! The truth is, we can either be brought up in the word or brought up in the world. Neither has a definite outcome. Being brought up in the world doesn't guarantee us an eternity apart from God. On the contrary, being brought up in the WORD doesn't guarantee us a sinless life.. Many times I have pondered the passage in Proverbs "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6 NLT) Nowhere in the passage does it claim they will perfectly walk the "straight and narrow". Nobody, I don't care who you are has walked a perfect path, we're all subject to sin. It's whether we choose to repent or not that is important.
As a parent, I sometimes get insecure about my sons' behavior, and his strong will, even at 3. I worry it reflects my parenting skills in some way, that I'm not doing something right. But looking at Proverbs 22:6, I understand more about bringing my child up and guiding him and teaching him about Gods' love. It doesn't dismiss the fact that he's 3, or that he has his own traits. It's doesn't mean when he gets older, that he won't veer to the left, or the right. We were ALL born with our own minds and will. I can only do my best as a parent to express the importance of walking with God, and pray for him to someday become the man God has designed him to be.
More than a few times, I myself have thought or have heard others blame someone's choices in life, on their parents. This is not always the case. I know I have my own views that differ from my parents, I do a lot of things differently. That's because I am an individual. We all are. We can preach to our children till the cows come home, and in the end they still make their own choices. Does that mean we throw in the towel and say "well whatever happens, happens"? Absolutely not. You continue to guide, listen and pray. Being a parent, especially in this sense doesn't end until you leave this earth. I know I will take my guidance from the Lord in raising my son with love, wisdom and discipline. In doing so, I will not pray for a "perfect outcome", but for a "perfect ending".
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!
New Year's Resolutions are kind of bunk in my opinion. They're usually unrealistic or half-hearted goals we give up on by the end of the month. So this year, I'm keeping it simple and staying accountable. This year I'm setting out on a revolution. The difference is a resolution changes your way of DOING, and a revolution changes your way of THINKING.
My revolution? To stop and observe, to stop and listen, to stop judging and making my point of view a wider one. I want to be wiser. I want to be more confident. I want to live my life openly and selflessly. How can I aspire to be all things without changing my mindset?
I know there are greater things to come this year. There will be greater victories, but with those will come greater hardship. There will be greater miracles, but with those come greater sacrifice. There will be greater joys, and also greater sorrows. But I know I am expecting the unexpected, and want to hit the ground running!
I want to make a revolution to be all I was made to be! How about you? Will you set a resolution, or start a revolution?? Take your clean slate and write the best part of your history now, this year, with no regrets.
Happy New Year!
My revolution? To stop and observe, to stop and listen, to stop judging and making my point of view a wider one. I want to be wiser. I want to be more confident. I want to live my life openly and selflessly. How can I aspire to be all things without changing my mindset?
I know there are greater things to come this year. There will be greater victories, but with those will come greater hardship. There will be greater miracles, but with those come greater sacrifice. There will be greater joys, and also greater sorrows. But I know I am expecting the unexpected, and want to hit the ground running!
I want to make a revolution to be all I was made to be! How about you? Will you set a resolution, or start a revolution?? Take your clean slate and write the best part of your history now, this year, with no regrets.
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
It's Coming!
I have an abundance of feelings dancing around inside me. I can't explain it as simply joy, or simply sorrow, or even excitement, for it's all these things. God is knocking me down and building me back up. He's building me up for a calling. It's so amazing.
I don't know what "it" is yet... but it's going to be miraculous! I am so pumped about it, sometimes nervous, but always curious and eager to see it. God is doing a work in me. How do I know? I have an overwhelming desire to know Him more. He consumes my thoughts from the start to the end of my day. I wake up in the night praying for people I love, crying for peoples souls. My heart is going stir crazy, in a sense, to begin embarking on a journey that I feel so unworthy and unable to fulfill. But I know He is calling me, and He will always provide provision for the visions He gives us!
I can't wait for God to reveal His plan...
I don't know what "it" is yet... but it's going to be miraculous! I am so pumped about it, sometimes nervous, but always curious and eager to see it. God is doing a work in me. How do I know? I have an overwhelming desire to know Him more. He consumes my thoughts from the start to the end of my day. I wake up in the night praying for people I love, crying for peoples souls. My heart is going stir crazy, in a sense, to begin embarking on a journey that I feel so unworthy and unable to fulfill. But I know He is calling me, and He will always provide provision for the visions He gives us!
I can't wait for God to reveal His plan...
Monday, December 6, 2010
" 'Tis the Season" as they say. Ok, so I don't really know if they say it; come to think of it, I don't even know who "THEY" are. Anyways, onward!
I love this time of year! I love Christmas lights and decorating. I love Christmas music and watching the eyes of little children light up when they're telling Santa what they want for Christmas. It's just a welcomed change of pace in my life. But for a lot of us, we also get caught up in "gifts". It's a sad time for a lot of people. There are financial problems, people missing loved ones and so many other situations that contribute to people hating Christmas time.
Look around this season at the people around you. If you open your eyes and see past the pretty decorations, you can see that there are people who are grieving, people who are hurting, people who are struggling. Sure little Timmy would LOVE that heavy, itchy red sweater with the Christmas tree and lights sewn in.. but probably not as much as the widow, who just lost her love of 50 years, would enjoy a cup of tea and open ear. Or how about that family down the street who have lost everything because of losing their jobs? What are they in need of? It may be as simple as a good friend to lift them up, or just someone to say "I've been there."
The fact is for every hurting person out there, is someone or maybe even a group of people who have been in that very same spot before. We should be reaching out to one another in times of need... what better time to do that than Christmas? What better way to show His love by giving, because He gave? It's the best gift you can give!
So make sure to take the time to stop and do something for somebody else... do it with a happy heart, not just because it "makes you feel good", or for public recognition, but because " 'Tis the Season", HE is the reason and should be all year long!
Matthew 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Don't Hide
What is our purpose?
Sometimes I feel we as Christians have created a reputation for ourselves that is not appealing to the world. I think we get more caught up in "church" and less caught up in Christ. Now bear with me, this is not knocking a specific place or specific people.. I have visited a few churches and heard stories that are very similar over the years, it's a mere observation. I'm not saying I'm not guilty of anything I write in here either, I fall short more times than not.
How do people see you outside of church? Are you the same person inside and out? I think we have it backwards. Christians don't need to see you living to give Glory to God as much as the world does. Being a Christian just on Sunday isn't living out God's will. Living is God's Will. It's being a light in the darkness. I can't remember who said it, but I heard a great analogy that I will try and paraphrase here:
[Christians are called to be the light of the world, not a light to each other. When you turn a flashlight on during the day, it's on, but doesn't do very much. But turn that very same flashlight on at night and it can light up a room.]
Living in the world as an example will create wonder and curiosity to make people ask "what's different?" and say "I want what you have". I have heard so many times the view about "church people" and how they just do what they want as soon as they step out of the doors. OUCH. It breaks my heart, and makes me think "what am I doing or not doing when I'm outside of those walls? What actions that I myself have taken that would tribute to this mindset?"
It can sometimes take YEARS of being an example and loving on a person to lead them to Christ. What if you turned them away with one action, or one word? All those years of work down the drain in a millisecond. Or worse, what if your action or word turned them away from Christ forever?
Don't allow your down fall to cause someone to fall down. We have a purpose and we need to work together, not for power, not for authority, but to further His Kingdom.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."- Matthew 5:14 NLT
Sometimes I feel we as Christians have created a reputation for ourselves that is not appealing to the world. I think we get more caught up in "church" and less caught up in Christ. Now bear with me, this is not knocking a specific place or specific people.. I have visited a few churches and heard stories that are very similar over the years, it's a mere observation. I'm not saying I'm not guilty of anything I write in here either, I fall short more times than not.
How do people see you outside of church? Are you the same person inside and out? I think we have it backwards. Christians don't need to see you living to give Glory to God as much as the world does. Being a Christian just on Sunday isn't living out God's will. Living is God's Will. It's being a light in the darkness. I can't remember who said it, but I heard a great analogy that I will try and paraphrase here:
[Christians are called to be the light of the world, not a light to each other. When you turn a flashlight on during the day, it's on, but doesn't do very much. But turn that very same flashlight on at night and it can light up a room.]
Living in the world as an example will create wonder and curiosity to make people ask "what's different?" and say "I want what you have". I have heard so many times the view about "church people" and how they just do what they want as soon as they step out of the doors. OUCH. It breaks my heart, and makes me think "what am I doing or not doing when I'm outside of those walls? What actions that I myself have taken that would tribute to this mindset?"
It can sometimes take YEARS of being an example and loving on a person to lead them to Christ. What if you turned them away with one action, or one word? All those years of work down the drain in a millisecond. Or worse, what if your action or word turned them away from Christ forever?
Don't allow your down fall to cause someone to fall down. We have a purpose and we need to work together, not for power, not for authority, but to further His Kingdom.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."- Matthew 5:14 NLT
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