Blog friends

i admit that i enjoy reading other people's blogs. i find myself looking at the "recently published blogs" just to discover new people. call it an addiction, i suppose. anyway, since i've had this blog i've made 2 friends. one happens to be a pastor on an island and another one is in high school in the midwest. all three of us are believers in Christ at very different points on our faith journey. it encourages my heart to know that others struggle, others flourish, but all are able to share their feelings via an online journal.

my pastor friend chooses to lead others to a deeper understanding of Jesus as a career. he committed his life to full-time service to Christ. my high school friend tries to lead others to Christ through her actions and her witness at high school. how do i try to lead others to Christ? i work for a Christian boss, and try to display my faith thru actions when my other workmates are near - but they aren't around me very often. i attend a church and lead a few Bible studies. but what more? how do these people whom i minister Christ's love see that i need Him? why should they believe in the God whom i confess as my Lover, my Strength, my Joy, my Savior, my Life? how do i display my passion for number One? i'm still try to figure that out. but i do know that i need Him to breath, when i'm feeling down, when i have questions, when i just needs someone to share something with. i know why i need Him. i know why i believe. He's proven Himself to me time and time again. His faithfulness and love endure forever.

You are my passion, Jesus. i desire more of You to shine through me so that others will see You. they'll desire to turn from doing things their way to allow You to guide them into all Truth. Father, i bow to You. You are the one who opens the eyes of the blind, heals the sick and gives hope to the hopeless. let Your ways be my ways. use me, guide me, lead me, form me, mold me, make me into something worthy of Your crown.
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen

Be Still

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
{Ps. 37:7}

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
{ps. 46:10}

i can't count how many times some one has commented to me, "Can't you just be still?" well, i can't! i always need to be doing something - fidgeting w/ my hands, moving my feet, reading, scrapbooking, laundry, fill-in puzzles, etc. it's just so BORING to be still. it's nearly irritating sometimes.

and those are just the outward effects to what my mind is thinking about. one of my biggest pet peaves is when the question is asked, "what are you thinking about?", and the answer is "nothing". i don't get it. how can you not think. i always have something going on in my mind. there's never a moment when my thoughts are not being formed, calculated, sharpened, piqued.

so, needless-to-say, i struggle with psalm 37:7 and 46:10. in order for me to be still, i need have my mind focused on some thing. this involves effort - to quiet myself before the Lord, and to wait. the waiting part is my real struggle. during the time i'm waiting, i can do whatever, right? i don't know the right or wrong answer, but i know where my struggle lies.

Wonderful Maker, You know how i was created. You know my inmost being; every part of me was woven together by You. I come before You humbled, knowing You are God and i am not. Knowing that when i wait on You, i gain trust. Spirit, please help me to be still in the midst of this chaotic world. Let my thoughts focus completely on You. and let my stillness be for Your glory - that i may know You, the One and Only {John 17:3}.
In Christ's Name - Amen

Proverbs

Every now and then i just enjoy reading some of the Proverbs. the book of Proverbs was written by a guy named Solomon. he was David's son; you know the David who slept with Bathsheba and the same guy who wrote the book of psalms? solomon is the son of a guy who is said to be "a man after God's heart".

solomon was given an option in 1 Kings 3:5-9 Check it Out! and God granted Solomon's requests. why? because God was pleased with his answer. when God asks me to do something, i want Him to be pleased with my answer.

only recently have i discovered a desire to read and understand the Old Testament. i used to think it was boring, full of laws that were not relavant for today's culture, but i've come to a deeper understanding. guess you could say i've gotten a little wiser.

so, getting back to proverbs... solomon was the wisest man to ever live the earth. see! guess i'm just learning about wisdom.

Forget Not All His Benefits

"Praise the LORD , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
{Psalm 103:2-5}

how often do i recount the things God has done? not often enough. if i were to ponder more of the benefits of believing in Christ, my heart would focus more on the positive things, instead of becoming distracted with the world.

the author of this psalm makes a list:

• God forgives all our sin
• God heals all our ailments
• God redeems our lives from the pits of hell
• God crowns us with love and compassion
• God satisfies our desires with good things so that we are renewed

how many of these acts have you experienced? what else has Christ done for you? what should my response be? the author begins by praising God. i, too, should give thanks to the One who deserves it for the good He has done for me.

Luke 17:11-18 describes 10 guys whom Jesus healed from the sickness. Jesus told the 10 men to go, and show themselves to the priest. only one of the men returns to thanks Him for the healing. this is Jesus response, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" let us respond to our Father, for He is good and His love endures forever. {Ps. 100:5}

Amazing Father, oh what joy divine to have Your blessings bestowed upon us. hear our hearts sing of Your goodness, Your mercy, Your compassion, and so much more. be praised for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness. You are worthy of our praise, glory, and honor.
By the Name of Jesus, Amen

God's Work

"When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God's work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight."
Richard J. Foster

this quote comes from a book called, Celebration of Discipline. i've read the book several times, mostly just a chapter of two at a time. it's one of those types of books which isn't meant for reading through and letting it rest. the book motivates me to do something about it. last night i read the chapter on study. it discussed 4 steps which i've found helpful for getting back on track - repetition, concentration, comprehension, and reflection.

repetition gets the Word of God implanted into my mind so that i can begin to transform my habits of thought. concentration allows me to center my mind on the material being discussed. comprehension allows me to understand what i'm reading in order to get something out of it. and reflection takes my learning a step further. this is where i begin to see the significance to what i'm studying. "reflection brings us to see things from God's perspective."

so, how does understanding that God is completely in charge of all inner transformations and learning about God through His word have in common?

through my obedience to study i pray that God can use His grace to transform my inner life, especially within my mind. i desire holiness, but unless Christ does this amazing work within me, i am nothing.

If i speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. if i have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if i have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, i am nothing. if i give all i possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, i gain nothing. {1Cor. 13:1-3}

Humility and Forgiveness

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."
Phil. 2:3-5

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'."
1 Peter 5:5

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
James 5:16

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Col. 3:13

last night a friend of mine confessed his testimony of how Christ has been working in his life. it was powerful, captivating, and heart-felt. before he spoke he was nervous, but was well prepared. he knew his past and how God had been moving to draw him closer. his fears were calmed once he began to express the grace and compassion God has on him.

what's your testimony?

we all have a story, a testimony of what God is doing in our lives. none of our stories are identical. i'm sure we all would be nervous about telling it to others, but i believe that each of us needs to be prepared to tell others about the love and forgiveness we've experienced thru Christ. {1 Pet. 3:15}

So, what's my story? where is my hope? why do i need Christ in my life?

my hope is in Christ, everything else will let me down. {Ps. 25} my strive is for holiness, but my stuggle is for coming across "holier than thou". daily i struggle w/ allowing others to see my short-comings, my less-than-perfect life-style. i cover better than most, tho my closest friends know where i stray from being an imitator of Christ. {Eph. 5:1} i desire to be humble, bending low to confess my sin.

last night while i was working on a Bible study, i came across some verses about malice. i've never really known what malice was. i thought it was something similar to slander or gossip. here's what malice is: intention to do evil. my thought life is not so plesant. it is not honorable in God's sight. this is where i fall on my knees and beg for grace and mercy.

so this is my story: i am a sinner, caused by the way i think. i harbor too many thoughts of lust, evil desires, malice, greed, anger, etc. out of the overflow of my heart, my mouth speaks {Matt. 12:34}, and too often these words are not wholesome or useful for building up others. {Eph. 4:29} i know the good i ought to do and i often don't do it. {James 4:17}

this is why i need Jesus. i fall short of the glory of God. {Rom 6:23} nothing i can do can make me holy enough to be acceptable to Him. Christ came so that He may be my Righteouness, my Holiness, and my Redemption {1 Cor. 1:30} so that i am worthy to enter into His presence. only thru Christ Jesus am i fully alive. i was dead, but now i am alive in Christ! Praise be to Jesus, the Lover of my soul.

Holy Father, thank You for loving me enough to give Your only Son in order to make me holy. You're the reason i live. let all i am and all i do be an honor to You.
thru the Redemption of Christ, i humbly pray - Amen.

Shame

I saw Pillar yesterday. they're a heavy metal Christian band. normally i'm not much into this type of music, but a lyric from one of their songs got me thinking. "It's a shame to be ashamed of whom we are to give glory."

what's shame? mr. webster's definition: a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety , and a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute. so the questions arise...

have i felt guilty of denying Christ?
yes. i feel this applies to each time i don't stand up for what i believe is the Truth. when i become aware of attempting to hide that i'm a Christian in order for others to like me.

have i felt humiliating disgrace?
when i think about my wretchedness and the penalty Christ paid for me, i sometimes feel this way. but then i praise my Father in heaven for loving me so much that He'd be willing to do it for me. His grace is sufficient for me - this is my Truth on which i stand for encouragement.

when have i let Him down?
when i take my gaze off Him and onto the happenings of this world. things here look pretty tempting sometimes, but in the end all that matters is faith expressing itself through love. {Gal. 5:6}

how have i learned from these experiences?
sometimes i've learned to keep my mouth shut....sometimes....

why and how am i to give glory to Him?
"...everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." {Is. 43:7} "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." {2 Pet. 3:9} " Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. {Eccl. 12:13}

how does persecution fit into all this?
in 1 tim 3:16 we all can read, "in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." i can only image the martyrs who were not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. right now they are rejoicing that they didn't feel humiliating disgrace b/c they refused to back down from the Truth they professed.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Rom 1:16

Precious Jesus, i deeply want my heart's desire to be aligned with Yours. i want to honestly say to You, "it's my joy to honor You with everything about me...nothing less will be acceptable." please help me for i am weak and am not capable of accomplishing this with Your touch.
For Your Name's Sake ~ Amen.


Holiness, the song

Unhindered

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
~Gal. 5:1

So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
{John 8:36>

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
~Heb 12:2

Yesterday i was attending Atlantafest - a Christian music festival near Atlanta, GA. a young man had on a shirt which simply stated "unhindered" across the chest. i want to be unhindered, but...

...life happens. i slip and fall. i allow the sin which so easily entangles to hinder my walk. my focus drops from Christ to ME and i'm torn asunder by the prince of this world. and yet, no matter what i do, i have been set free from the bondage of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.

in john 8:1-11 there's an awesome example of this exact thing. the pharisees (the religious teachers) caught a woman in the act of adultery. they were all convinced that this woman should be killed for her unlawfulness. Jesus takes a minute to collect his thoughts (unlike me who immediately attempts to defend myself), and says, "if any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." first the older men left, then the younger ones. Jesus then looks into the eyes of this "sinful" woman and says, "woman, where are you from? has no one condemned you?" and she answers, " no one, Sir." and Jesus response? "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

nothing like shaking in your shoes. she knew that she deserved death, but Jesus pardoned her. He can pardon us also. this is the reason we call Him, "The God of Second Chances".

Amazing Jesus, let my sin be revealed to me. let me no longer live a life of sin. i need pardoning, and only You are capable of it. build within me a desire to loath sin so that i may not be tempted to fall into it. yet have me be sensitive to gently draw others who have stumbled back to You.
In Christ's Holy Name - Amen

Bodily Temple

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
1 Cor. 6:19-20

Last night i was reading my Bible and came across these verses. I've heard them a million times before but only recently began to scrutinize their meaning. This is a myriad of my thoughts.

Since my body is a temple, it's just not right to attempt to tear it down thru sexual immorality. this would be like me going to Solomon's temple in all its splendor and attempting to destroy it by using a sledge hammer. Solomon's temple was made of gold, fine wood, gems and other expensive and magnificent material. i would be insane to attempt to destroy it.

The Holy Spirit is in me. Acts 1:8 says that i will receive power when He is upon me. 2 Tim. 1:7 says that God did not give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. so, since i am equipped w/ power, why would i dabble in this temptation which so strongly entangles me? why i am so weak; why do i not depend on this power which is alive in me?

I received the Spirit of God from God, the maker of heaven and earth. This Spirit was with God thru all times. He enabled Moses to part the Red Sea, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to dance in the fire without being scorched, Jesus and the apostles to raise the dead, heal the sick and lame, and preach the message to many nations. And i, too, have this same Spirit of power and might. In Zech. 4:6, God says, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit."

If i'm not my own, then who's am i? I have become a slave to the Most High God. This slavery is easy, not a burdensome. {Matt 11:30} i willing take up the cross of Christ daily in order to have an abundant life. altogether that seems like a oxy-moron, but in reality it's all very real and true.

Christ paid the price from me on the cross. He loved me so much that he was willing to give up everything for my sake. His pain for my gain. I've done nothing to deserve this wonderful gift of grace. i was dead in my transgressions, and dead is dead.... Christ gave me a new life and for this i offer my everthing to Him. This is how i honor Him with my body: by keeping it pure and holy for His purpose.

Forfeiting My Rights

Yesterday's blogspot was about living as a slave to Christ. As a slave i've given up my rights to do as i choose, exchanging my will for God's will. Jesus also had to do this before His crucifixion. You can read it in Matt. 26:36-42. Jesus goes to pray by Himself, because he mentions His soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He knew that He needed some alone time with the Father, One-on-One. First, Jesus prayed, "My Father, if it IS posible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." {v. 39} Secondly, He prays this prayer, "My Father, if it IS NOT possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done." {v. 42}

I can nearly hear these heart-felt prayers being lifted to heaven. I've been there, done that. Not to the extent of Jesus' life or death situation, but serious situations none-the-less. Jesus knew what was ahead: torture, mocking, shame, pain, suffering, disrespect, etc. Yet, he prayed that God's will be done, even tho He had to give up His rights; surrender His entire being to the Father.

"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." {Luke 9:23}

Father, i surrender my will to Yours. I come before You this morning asking this question: 'what do You want me to do now?' Holy Spirit, please direct me and guide me, cleanse my heart from false motives which are not Christ-like. Supply me with replacements which are holy.
In Christ's Precious Name ~ Amen

Godly Servant

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. " ~Gal. 1:10

"I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever­increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. " ~Rom. 6:19

All my life I've been amazed at the way Paul insists on being a slave. He makes a conscious decision to become a slave of Christ. In 2 Peter 2:19 it says that a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. When i look back on my life, i see so many "masters" of my life which weren't Christ, but now my heart is set on seeking God and serving Him only. {Deut 6:13}

2 Tim. 1:6 reminds us to "fan the flame" of Christ. This is something which takes a conscious effort. It's something which takes strength and motivation, dedication and devotion.

Father, please forgive me for allowing these other gods to master me. You are the only One to be worshipped. I set my heart on seeking and serving You with all my heart. Please help me to do this. Draw me close to You. Amen.

Festooned the Temple

"On the walls around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he (Solomon) carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. {1 Kings 6:29}

How cool! a few things about me.
my favorite type of tree: palm tree
my favorite plant: flowers

since these were the items which were carved on the walls of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place of the Temple dedicated to the Lord, then i suppose it's a good thing to like them. ok, so it just really made my day to read this verse.

Less me, More Him

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."
Phil. 2:3-5

A group of our youth and conselors are going on a mission trip in week, leaving Wednesday and returning on Sunday. In preparation, i'm trying to set my heart on Christ and my thoughts on things more lofty than the physical preparation.

These verses spoke to my heart. I've read them many times before, but the Word of God is living and active, able to set my wayward heart on a path to righteouness. I'm so quick to be selfish. My tongue is evil, setting my forests on fire. Too many times i'm slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry, just the opposite of what James instructs me. {James 1:19}

Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to your unfailing love. {Ps. 51:1} Fix my thoughts on Jesus, the high priest whom i confess. {Heb. 3:1} Please give me, Your servant, a discerning heart so i can minister to those whom You place in my path, and to distinguish between right and wrong. {1 Kings 3:9} Amen.

Opinions

Wouldn't life be pathetic if our opinions never mattered? it's bad enough when our opinions are shoved aside, but it's an entire different topic when our opinions are never even thought to have mattered. my house reminds me of 3's a crowd sometimes. Steven, Denise and I all have opinions and often they don't jive. it's something when we all choose to do something different, and yet want to do something with the others. lately i've wanted to play dominoes at every given opportunity and Denise wants to read of play a computer game. Steven has wanted to ebay, as usual, but sometimes he decides to read or clean... (LOL) anyway, i don't know how the early church did it when there were hundreds of Christians contributing to the same cause: the Gospel being preached.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." {Acts 2:44-47}

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. {Acts 4:32-34}

Strong Men

"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house." {Matt. 12:29}

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." {Matt. 16:19}

Last night i had a terrible dream about someone robbing my family of their possessions and their lives. I awoke about the time i, too, was about to die. My thoughts quickly turned from me to praying for persons in the world who are currently experiencing this situation, especially missionaries who are being persecuted. These two verse sprung to mind as i prayed.

Then i began thinking about how i fall into the same temptation over and over again. I often feel powerless to resist this temptation. I know the strong man, satan, enters my house and binds me to my fear. He then steals my confidence to stand up for what i believe. He achieves his goal while i am left with shame and disgrace.

Jesus tells me that i have the power to resist satan by binding him on earth and heaven. All i need to do is use that God-given ability to for His good.

Stand and Be Still

"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." {Ecc. 5:7}

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." {Ps. 37:7}

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." {Ps. 46:10}

My roommate often comments that I don't know how to be still, not in motion or doing something. And i admit that i don't enjoy being still; I have to be doing something with my hands and mind at all times. Even in my quiet time i sometimes struggle to remain silent, thoughtless in order for the Prince of Peace to invade my private life. When i zip my mouth shut and settle my brain into complete listening mode, then my spirit reaches the heart of Christianity.

Career of Prayer

Many of us have heard it said, "Where God is at work, satan is working just as hard." I often forget this when things are going well. My tendencies are to rejoice over the wonderful happenings of God's might right hand, but forget to pray over the situation for protection from the evil one.

These are some verses i've discovered about this topic.

• "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. {James 4:7}
• "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." {1 Peter 5:9-10}
• "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. {1 Cor. 16:13}
• "Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name - the name You gave Me - so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave Me. {John 17:11-12}
• "'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'" {Nehemiah 4:14}

How, then, does all this relate to prayer? I adore the Nehemiah passage. My fight may not be with weapons fashioned for this world, but i do have power to demolish the strong holds of satan. {2 Cor. 10:3-5} And i know this power is not of myself, but through the Holy Spirit. The battles of my life need to be met on the battlefield of prayer. Only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ am I able to succeed, not standing on my own strength. And i'm only a novice at this concept, hoping one day i'll fight like a fierce warrior.

Pour of the Spirit

The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest." Isaiah 32:14-15

Interesting comparison: wasteland or forest. Well, yesterday was definitely the forest. We've been noticing some changes happening in our church lately. A group of faithful pray-ers have begun meeting on Sunday mornings at 8:45 am. A women's Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit is starting this Friday. Our church is receiving a new pastor. An outreach ministry called LRE is connecting to our surrounding community. Youth are committing their lives to Christ. A new contemporary worship service gathers Saturday evenings. And so much more.

And to top it off, yesterday we had 9 visitors who all commented about enjoying the service and desiring to return. The Spirit of our Lord is igniting something within the walls of St. Paul which is transforming us for the inside out. We can barely take it all in, but what a joy divine to see this all unraveling. I am rejoicing like David - but with clothes on.

My prayer: Father, be glorified for beginning to pour Your Spirit into us. Let the river flow! 'You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteouness grow with it; You, the Lord, created it' {Is. 45:8} Amen.