Struggling with Sin

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:4

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Luke 22:39-44

after experiencing the Passion of the Christ movie, my scripture memory is becoming so much more interesting. i'm in the process of memorizing Hebrews chapter 12, and verse 4 is today's verse.

i don't know if the write of Hebrews had Jesus praying on the Mount Olives in mind when he wrote this verse, but putting the two of them together is pretty incredible. just think of a human praying so earnestly that their sweat becomes blood is amazing. Jesus was fighting temptation thru prayer. i was going to write "on His knees" instead of thru prayer, but how do i know if He was kneeling or standing or pacing?

so here are my questions:
am i so against sin that my heart is filled with anguish?
do i even know what temptations is seeking to devour me?
do i cry out of God's power in other's lives?
am i willing to truly surrender my 'cup' for His?
do i have any clue about this battle that is raging around me?
am i equipped with weapons which will protect me from the flaming arrows of satan?
when is the last time i truly "fought" temptation for myself of others?
why am i so weak?

Jesus,
You endured so much. Your sweat became blood for me, in more ways than one. You knew temptation and how to fight it. Jesus, i admit that often i'm oblivious to the temptations which surround me. i confess that i don't fight thru prayer. Jesus of nazereth, please help me. i want to be strong in You. i need You to teach me to pray. i need You to teach me how to use these weapons. i trust You, my Teacher. lead me to the Truth. i love You. thanks for enduring the cross. in You i place my hope.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Summer *Oliver *Chuck

Moved By Compassion

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matt. 9:36

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 Pet. 3:8

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15

one way i want to be more like Jesus: His Compassion. His heart of compassion leads Him to help the helpless and harassed, heal the sick, satisfy the hungry, discern their needs even when they are not vocalized, etc. Jesus looks to the heart, not at the words spoken or the actions made. He has an incredible way of making people feel welcome in His presence. He draws in every kind of people - addicts, rich, poor, illegal citizens, retarded, sexual abusers, people with disfunctional families, every kind of people. i want to be more like that.

as some of you already know i went to see the Passion of the Christ movie last night. it's great! go see it.

Jesus,
i praise You for being filled with compassion. You've drawn me into Your presence with Your compassion and loving kindness. Your heart knows me. You get me. i love You for what You've done for me. You are amazing and wonderful. Jesus, i want to be more like You. i saw the agony You've chosen so that we could be friends. i couldn't have done it. i confess my lack of compassion for others to You. i need You, Jesus, to teach me how to be more like You. i want to be able to discern what others are going thru, where they've been and what's going on in the worlds - without hearing it from their lips. let me have compassion on those who are hurting and sick, helpless and harassed. may Your love flow from my heart to others. i want to be like You, Jesus. thanks for taking on the cross for me. i love You even more today than yesterday.

"strong covenant God, save me from being self-centered in my prayers, and teach me to remember to pray for others. may i be so bound up in love with those for whom i pray that i may feel their needs as acutely as my own, and interced for them with sensitiveness, with understanding and with imagination. in Christ's name, amen."

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*Derrick * Summer *Karla

Prevention for Growing Weary and Losing Heart

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:3

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:8-10

when i take time to consider Jesus, the Creator of the world - infinite Lord, and the pain and suffering He went thru so that He and i could be family, i'm blown away. the Creator became created and made His dwelling among us. how amazing is that? He could have called down all those angels to rescue him, but instead He completed the good works which His Father in heaven called Him to complete. He kept focus on the eternal while trudging thru the reality. and He chose the endure the heinous opposition for my sake. if that thought doesn't invoke some deep, emotional understanding, then you better check into the morgue.

today is ash wednesday. i've honestly not thought about what i would like to fast from during this lenten season, so today i'm focusing on that. focusing on what Christ would like me to give up in order to strengthen our relationship. i'll update you tomorrow (maybe) about this.

as all of us already know, the opening of the Passion of Christ movie is today. i'm going to see the movie tonight with a group from church. i'm really excited about it.

Father,
i don't know how You endured the cross and the opposition from those men, but i am grateful that You did it. thanks. i would not be the same person today if it weren't for You. You've changed my life and have given me new meaning and purpose. You empowered me with passion and desire to see Your will accomplished. You opened my heart to be soft and my mind to be sharp. You've promised me so many wonderful things. i stand amazed at Your amazing love for me. may You use this lenten season to draw me closer to You. i lay down my agenda and plans, and pray for You to be make clear to me what You'd have me surrender to You. what am i dependent upon which is not You? open my eyes and heart to see, Jesus, so that i can be fully dependant upon You. only in You i find my strength and hope for tomorrow. i move and breathe in You. my heart rejoices that You've given me this life. You are my life. i love You so much. thanks for creating a way for me to join You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Mark *Mechele *Brook

Pre-Meditated Agenda

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:11

But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Luke 21:14-15

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3

my life has been going so smoothly lately that i've been expecting something to happen. do you know how that is? there are mountains, plateaus and valleys. so last night i hit a little downhill slope.

i just read thru my entry from yesterday. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus." (Heb. 12:2) again i'm drawn into His loving arms where i can open my can of fear, worry, doubt and insecurity. He promised to take care of me. He promised that when i ask in His name, He will supply my requests. He promised to care for my protection. He promised to give me words to say, instead of me playing the 'worse-case senario' over in my mind. He promised that when i am broken, He will mend my heart. (Psalm 147:3) He gave me this promise to stand on, "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Cor. 12:9) and i have been told that if i don't forgive those who treat me wrongly, then i won't be forgiven. (Mark 11:25)

Friend of sinners,
to You, o Lord, i lift up my soul; in You i trust, o my God. do not let me be put to shame. (Psalm 25:1-2) i lay my life on Your altar and pray for You to manifest Yourself thru me. i lay my emotions, all of them, on your altar, and pray for Your blood to flood over them. let me be filled with Your love, instead of all these other feelings. with Your help i am not going to pick them up again. please help me to trust in You for this. i pray over the other who are involved in this situation. i pray that You'd reveal Yourself in a great way. let us all be filled with You, Holy Spirit. may You help each of us to forgive each others grievances, just as You forgave us. help us to stand for what is right and just, not on our feelings. may You come and bestow restoration upon each of the people involved. don't let us harbor feelings of dislike, mistrust or hatred against our brothers and sister in You. may You be brought the glory for healing our brokenness. we love You, and we all want to see how You are going to move thru this situation. Jesus, i am expecting You to move in amazing ways. i've seen You power before and i plead, beg and cry for You to move this mountain.

i praise You for being my Rock and my Deliverer. You are the One whom i run to when the battles of the world rage. i know that this is a battle in the heavenlies. may You, Father, send forth Your power to bind the forces of evil which are so prevalent. may Your blood, Jesus, flow on the hearts of those involved. Holy Spirit, may You receive praise for sending the Father's love upon us. i love You so much and desire for You to be glorified. thanks for Your mercy and love.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen

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*Stacy *Jason *Zach

Seeing Beyond the Hardship

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
heb. 12:2

i'm amazed that Jesus, my Jesus, saw beyond the pain of the cross. He wasn't focused on the present but on the future joy which He knew would be more than abundant for Him. oh to be like Jesus...

one of my friends asked me the other day what i wanted to be when i grew up. you know, i don't have any answer except 'like Jesus'. i want to be like Jesus. that's really what i want to be when i grow up. but then i'm reminded that i am like Jesus now, so what is the point of growing up? this verse helps me to remember that Jesus had focus, which i often lack. He had perseverance, which is another quality that i want. He realize that the end joy was worth the pain and shame. i begin to complain when the therostat is set a little too low or when someone gets on my nerves. and yet i know that even tho i don't acheive the standard which i think Jesus has set for me, i know that He has covered me in His grace and sees me as perfect. His sacrificial blood cleansed me from all those insufficiencies. by His suffering i was made whole. that is the grace i know.

Jesus,
i praise You for enduring the cross. thanks for never losing sight of the joy which would follow the hardship. thanks for continuing to the end, so that we could communicate with one another. i love You, Jesus. thanks for shedding Your blood for me so that i could be in a right relationship with You. may You help me to focus on You and on the joy of knowing You. may i trust in Your sufficiency instead of my inadequacy. You are my transformer. i surrender my all to You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Josh *Trevor *Flora

Living Stones

As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
2 peter 2:4, 5, 9

the mental picture given by these verses of the people of God is one of my favorites. "living stones" - i suppose in some ways we are like pet rocks, because everyone knows that pet rocks are living. and are pet rocks not chosen by the owners and precious in their site? ok, maybe i am stretching some. oh well, need to use my imagination for something constructive. when i think of this illustration i think of something strong and secure, yet growing and filled with life. is that how i perceive myself? have i accepted God's description of who i am as strong and secure and filled with life? some days i don't feel it, but i know my heart knows this to be true.

so i guess i'm really just a chip off the old block.

incredible Creator,
thanks for calling me out of darkness into Your wonderful light. thanks for building me into a spiritual house who brings acceptable sacrifices to You. Jesus, i want to be strong and secure, and filled with abundant life. i trust thru Your word that i am becoming a living stone. thanks for allowing me to be part of Your royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to You. that amazes me. You chose us to be Your people. thanks.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Paul *Ashton *Ruth

Finally Getting Around to Updating

i'm just trying to finish the last entry which i began on the 17th. thru Christ i have been equipped with everything i need for life and godliness...translated: i have everything i need for my physical and spiritual lives. so why do i doubt this fact so often? why don't i feel it? thru my belief in Christ i can fully participate in His divine nature and escape the temptation of the world. whoa! that is a giant thought. so only thru Christ am i capable of not being corrupted.

this list which is given in these verses is still bouncing around in my mind.
faith
goodness
knowledge
self-control
perseverance
godliness
brotherly kindness
love
which of these qualities am i actively seeking to increase in my life? what steps am i taking to increase in their measure? what is holding me back from being more proactive in this pursuit? which of these qualities is Christ manifesting in my life right now? do i see my ministry being effictive and productive? if not, do i see a lack of ambition in pursuit of these qualities?

and i find it very interesting that peter wraps it up by saying, if we are not pursuing these qualities, than we have forgotten what Christ has done of us. Christ is the reason why i am to pursue these qualities. He has created a way for my life to be an active participate in His nature. that is amazing! me - carnal : Christ - incarnate : has made a way for Himself to be active in my nature, and I in his nature. it is for the sake of Christ that i am too increase in godliness, faith, knowledge, brotherly kindness, self-control, perseverance, and love...not for my benefit but His. why i began to think selfishly of why i must do this or do that...than i've have already begun to forget what He has done for me. this is not an easy thing for me to get into my nature. i should pursue this qualities with ever-increasing passion, but too often i don't.

Christ,
i know that You went thru more than i could ever go thru. You endured the cross and resurrection so that i could participate i Your nature and so that we could have fellowship with one another. i am part of You. help to get this in thick skull. i don't want to be unproductive and ineffective any longer. i am confessing my unambition, my selfishness and my rebellion to not do the things which i know You called me to do. i lay these qualities down in hopes that You'll equip me with those qualities which will produce holiness. let my thoughts and actions be worship to You. i claim You, Holy Spirit, as my nature, whom i desire to follow. please help me to be more like Jesus.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Geoff *Steven *Sharon

Effective and Productive in Ministry

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
2 peter 1:3-9

i'll have to update later because i ran out of time to finish. sorry.

Wanting a Guitar

You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
james 4:2-4

i can't help but laugh after reading this passage. i'm trying to learn how to play the guitar. (the key word is "trying".) anyway, my friend Denise has offered me her guitar to use. well, selfish me keeps wanting my own guitar. i just don't feel right taking her guitar as my own. so i've been searching for prices of guitars, trying to find one which i can afford and appreciate as my own.

denise and i have gone round and round about me getting my own guitar. i don't know why i have been so eager to get one for myself. i think part of the reason is because then if i should break it, i won't feel so guilty. and there is just some pride involved in owning your own things, instead of borrowing from others. (that is a whole different topic: pride.) so, i am without a guitar of my own, and now i have conviction because the Word of my God speaks loudly to my prideful and selfish heart. guess i just need to get over myself.

Father
i come walking back to You with my head held low and my heart heavy with burden. i surrender my desire to own a guitar to You. i don't want to pick up this burden again. please come and change my heart. let me be grateful for denise who is graciously offering me her guitar. thanks for humbling me to see how selfish and prideful my heart is. i trust that You are drawing me closer to Yourself thru this experience. thanks for supplying all my needs (and some of my wants) by Your gracious hands. You take care of me perfectly. thanks for helping me to live like You. and thanks for giving me a great friend who is willing to love me with Your love. denise rocks!
thru Jesus' Name, i pray ~ Amen

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*audrey *kimberly *kimberly

Remain in Love

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."
John 15:9

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor. 13:13

i've been challenged to begin memorizing again. for a long time i was faithful about memorizing God's Word, but then i got lazy and wandered from it. so now i am again reinstating my commitment to allow God's Word to penetrate my heart thru memorization... hear, read, study, memorize, meditate - 5 ways to know God's word and put it into practice. so my verse for today is John 15:9.

webster's definitions of remain: 1) to be a part not destroyed, taken, or used up. 2) to stay in the same place or with the same person or group. 3) to continue unchanged. we are not to be taken away or destroyed from His love. we are to stay in the mist of His love, His presence at all times. we are to not be changed by the world's seductions, but continue faithful in His love.

gracious Father,
thank You for allowing me to remain in You. You are in me, and i desire to always be in You. may You draw me closer to Your arms, protecting me from the terror of night. i want to be unchanged by what the world offers, so that i can be faithful and holy to You. let me love with the same love You've shown to me. thanks for embracing me with Your love. You still remain faithful.
thru Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Summer *Derrick *Denise

A Holy Calling

Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
lev. 20:8

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 thess. 4:7

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
heb. 10:11-14

i'm continuing in my trek to complete the entire straight thru in one year. i've gotten to leviticus, chapter 25. so far so good. i've gotten thru most of the parts about the temple and how it was to be built with all its utensils and coverings. i've moved on to the rules of how to live. "don't have sex with..." has been mostly what i've been reading. (lev. 20) guess it is important to my Dad that i don't sleep with my brother or my uncle or any animals. just one way to be holy, just like Dad. (lev. 19:2)

i'm beginning to learn that Dad expects me to live a life of high expectations. He doesn't want me to settle for mediocrity, but to live a holy life. that's tough. being holy can seems like an impossible mission at times. but then i'm reminded that it is Dad who makes me holy. i can't do it on my own. i fail miserable when i try to be self-reliant. He desires for me to live a life which is controlled by my Spirit nature, not my fleshly one. He wants me to be in tune with the happening of His heart, so that i won't wonder from His plan. He doens't want me to be holy so i can show off, but so that He can get the honor and praise out of it. i suppose it is selfish on His part, but He is my Creator and i live for Him to get all my glory. and i am only beginning to learn that He is jealous when i give my attentions to other gods. He wants to capture my heart and behold all of it, not most of it.

Dad loved me so much that He sacrificed His only Son on my behalf. He took my place for the death penalty. He didn't deserve it; i did. He gave up His most prize possession. Dad loves me with everything He has and all that He had to offer. that is an amazing love. and because of that act of love on the cross, i am driven by love to return my gratitude by offering my life as a living sacrifice. and in offering my life, i give my rights - i become His slave. but He treats me like an heir instead. He made a way for me to become His child, a holy priesthood. i have entered into this Sanctuary where only those who have been made ceremonial clean could enter. get this: a slave entering the Most Holy Place! and it wasn't anything i did. He made the way open for me the enter without being condemned or killed. His blood perfected my impurties. He made me holy... and continues to pour out his sacrificial blood on anyone who is willing to accept His offer. have You accepted it? have You become an heir to God? just open Your lips and confess that You've tried to make Yourself holy, but have failed miserably. He won't let You remain outside the camp when You humble Yourself. He hears Your heart and knows that You want to be part of His holiness. come into the Sanctuary - it's the most amazing place You'll ever visit!

Dad,
i can't make myself clean. i need You to cleanse me from the inside out. i need You; i am desperate for You. let me come into Your sanctuary, where it is safe and warm. may my old garments of lust, rage, gossip, and unforgiveness all be washed clean in the blood. let me be holy. i praise You for pouring Your Spirit over me, cleansing me from all this muck, dirt and stench. i'm leave wearing with new clothes, and singing a different song - Your song. amen.

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*ryan *kimberly and crew *skylar

Generosity to Poor

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Deut. 15:7-11

it is quite something being american. we seem to have the most wealth, and yet often we are the most stingy. we ponder having enough in our retirement fund, when others in the Body of Christ are starving to death. we harbor wicked thoughts like, "they are poor because they choose to be. they can get a job it they tried." how incredibly selfish is that? are we so shallow to think that God won't supply for our needs when we get older? are we trying to create our own security?
ok, so i guess i stepped up upon my soapbox. in the community i live there are many homeless people. i don't know exactly where they live, but i know that i gave a wondering soul a ride one time and dropped him off near a grove of trees. he said, 'my place is just on the other side of these trees.' my heart broke, knowing that i have so much and he has so little. i'm a sucker for stopping when someone's car is broke down near the side of the road, or giving ride to hitchhikers. just ask Denise. call me stupid, but i don't want to be judged at the pearly gates for not helping those in need.

Good Lord,
Father, i don't know where so many people are homeless, but i know that Your example for me is to clothes the naked, care for widows and children, feed the hungry, etc. You always seem to have exactly what the needy, even when they were coming to You for earthyly wealth and food. You offered them the food of heaven, the gift of salvation. Jesus, i know that You've moved in my heart to be compassionate toward others. i pray for opportunity to share this compassion with someone. i don't want to be hard-hearted or tight-fisted. let the gifts You've given me be used for the growth of others. don't let me rely on my self-security, because i know that is worthless. i am bankrupt without You. may You open my eyes and heart to help those who need help. let my hands be used for Your service, my finances for You use. open my eyes to see the need, and equip my heart to do the work; don't let me coward. all i have is Yours anyway, so what right do i have to withhold it from You? i've had this thought lately, "if i own anything i am not willing to give up, than i am not worthy of having it in the first place." let that be my heart's call. i want to give all for Your sake.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Shannon *Brandon *Allison