God Come by Shane & Shane

Come meet us
King Jesus
Oh wind of change
Blow through the temple

Sweet Spirit of God
Come mend our hearts
For all we have are songs
Unless You come

Awaken what's inside of me
Tune my heart to all You are in me
Even though You're here
God come

May the vision of You be the death of me
And even though You've given everything
Jesus come

Here we are, Lord
In this place
Crying out for
Your embrace

To hear Your voice, God
More than songs
Please come...

The Reality is Found in Christ

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
col. 2.21-23

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
col. 2.17

last weekend i attended a training for The Truth Project. click on the link for more info. the teacher, Del Tackett, has amazing ability to communicate. since the training, different thoughts/ideas have come to mind regarding this training. it's the universal issue of good versus evil: to know the difference, we need to find what the Truth is. where is the Truth found? why is it important to know the Truth? does everyone question the Truth? how does knowing the Truth help to communicate Christ to the nations? how does knowing the Truth affect us on an everday basis? does it affect our views on sociology, theology, economics, community, etc.? i'm learning that knowing the Truth, God's Truth, does affect every area of our lives because it transforms the way we think. (rom. 12:2)

because of the training, i'm more apt to look for Truth in scripture. i realize that what Paul was referring to when he said, 'do not handle, taste or touch' were 'what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.' (col. 2.16) what in my life do i continue to obey which is the old law instead of the Spirit of Truth? what have i learned along the way that is law-abiding instead of Spirit-inspired? what do i hold onto that has an appearance of wisdom, with its self-imposed worship, its false humility and its harsh treatment of the body, but it lacks any value in restraining sensual indulenge? what has power to restrain sensual indulenge?

man, i wish i could think deeper than my carnal self. i know that i have answers to these questions...

i'm really trying to give time for these questions to set it. starting with the last question, about 'restraining sensual indulence'. my thoughts go two ways: the first, 'when i'm tempted, what do i do?', and secondly, 'is the church equipping me to restrain sensual indulence?'
*what do i do: after thinking for too long about the temptation, my spirit kicks in and pushes me to pray or read some verses - trying to get my focus from me to Christ. i seldom (if ever) tell my friends what i'm struggling with. i have great friends who would do whatever they could to help, but i don't depend on them for this type of support. (not sure why i added that, but it just kinda typed itself.)
is the church equipping its members to restrain sensual indulgence: somewhere along the way, i had to learn that when tempted i needed to shift my focus from me to Christ. (my initial answer was 'no', but the more i thought about it, my answer changed.) what am i, a member of the church, doing to equip others to restrain sensual indulgence... that's a tough question. know the Truth and it will set you free, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

somewhere along my journey, Christ revealed Himself to me. He's used people to teach me how to seek Him, who is the answer to every question. He equips, He sustains, He never lets go or leaves us. He sent His Spirit to lead us deeper into 'reality', and away from the virtual. i'm learning that because i think or feel something, that is may not be the Truth. the Truth is Jesus, and that reality is found in Christ. I'm learning that the more i study the Bible, the more knowledge i have on people's natures, community, the reason so many people are broken and in need of the Truth. we, as a people, have been lied to from birth. we are not unworthy, useless, unloved. the Truth is we are loved, worthy, and a people of purpose.

i'm praying for an opportunity to lead/be a participant in this Truth Project. it's a study that begins and ends in the Truth.

Jesus,
You are the Truth. sometimes is building within me to know more and more Truth. i pray for You to give it to me, and not just me, but give it to the all the people. we all need to know this Truth. so much of the teaching i hear today involves emotions and feelings, but i know there is so much more to You. i'm rejoicing that this Truth has come into my life. my reality is found in You - guide me deeper into You to know reality. don't let me be deceived any longer. Spirit of Truth, let me see where i've follow the customs of this age, instead of following Your teaching. if i'm pursuing anything that holds an appearance of wisdom with its self-imposed worship, please reveal this to me. i've died with Jesus to the basic principles of this world. remind me of this when i return to them - that they are not part of who i am any longer. they've been dealt with on the cross and have no power over me. You made a public spectacle of them. You give new meaning to "let Truth reign". i'm letting Your reign in my life. i'm surrendering toYou. again, i'm humbled and amazed at how You bring to light and expose the lies. i'm praying for You to prepare others to be involved in this Truth project. may You open my eyes to see whom You are drawing to this study. i'm praying for 8 people, tho i don't know who You are going to choose. You chose me before i chose You, that's what i know. that's my reality. thanks for choosing me.
in Christ's Name ~ amen
*Tricia *Darcy *Jon

Discipline and Punishment

Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
deut. 24.16

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Ex. 34.6-8

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Heb. 12.11

i can't help but have interest in the battle in darfur. children soldiers, holy war, rebellion, separation from Christ. people are dying for a cause that most of can't comprehend. what are these rebels trying to prove? why are they fighting? why are they killing children and raping women? what causes a group of rebels to do these things? are they fighting for peace? I don't know exactly, but i'm saddened by the events which have taken place.

'each is to die for his own sin.' there seems to be some accountability in that statement. but what about these families near darfur who have become fatherless and widowed? i bet they feel like a piece of them have died because of this war. are they feeling disciplined - certainly it doesn't seem pleasant, but painful. i can only imagine the depth of their pain. it breaks my heart to think of how terribly they feel - to live in those conditions. but then this new testament verse goes on to say, 'later on it produces a harvest of righteouness and peace for those who have been trained by it.' this isn't for those who harbor the bitterness and revenge, but for those who have been trained by grace and forgiveness. those who know that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness. just think about how difficult it would be to forgive the rebels how raped you and your daughters, killed your husband and forced your sons to become slave-militants. is there such a forgiveness? does it exist? who's bold enough to preach this type of God? who is taking the good news to those who need it most? he who has been forgiven much, loves much. that's Jesus' lesson. ask the woman caught in adultery. ask paul. if someone were to ask me what has been forgiven in my life and how has it affected who i am, what would i answer? how am i being trained to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace? how abundant is my harvest - is it a bumper crop? what proof is there that i am being trained?

gracious God,
i trust that You are disciplining me from my flesh. continue to separate/divide me from who i was. there is a change in my life that i can't explain. i'm learning who i am, as oppose to who i was before i surrendered my life to You. have You way in me. Holy Spirit, i lay down my will and offer it to You; be glorified in me. let this year produce a bumper crop - only thru You am i capable of remaining faithful and able to produce anything good. let Your peace dwell in me that it may overflow and produce praise and good fruit.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Amanda *Melissa *Laura

Unfolding Grace

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
jonah 2.8

The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
rom. 5:20-21

play song. it's called 'unfolding grace' by lili haydn. looks like she's into new age theology which i don't agree with (just to clarify), but the chorus to this particular song makes me think deeply about what grace is and how it affects me every moment of every day. these are some lyrics:
pouring down like the hands of a weeping willow tree....
are we unfolding grace with every breath that we take? are we unfolding grace with every step that we take? if we are not unfolding grace, what are we doing?
there is truth to be found in those simple words. (if anyone can find all the lyrics to this song, please shoot me an email or post them as a comment.)

i can tell this post is gonna be: 'tanya: wide open". perhaps i should change the title.... (already looking forward to the comments which will follow.)

so i freely admit that i struggle with the thin line between being legalistic and being spirited. (not sure that's the exact way to word it, but i'm going with it for now.) last week during youth group, i saw a kid (i say "kid", but what i really mean, is young man) getting a skateboard out of his vehicle. and knowing church policy, which states there shall be no skateboarding on church ground due to insurance issues (all that technicality stuff; blah, blah, blah), i went outside to say something. but there was already another youth leader outside. and since there were other kids out there riding their skateboards, i didn't really feel right about saying something to them (meaning the youth), since the other leader was allowing this to take place. (i'm normally the one who tells the youth to put their skateboards away - every week.) so i told the youth minister (the one in charge :-) <-just for you denise!) that i was having this crisis/dilemma about wanting to uphold the policy, while other adult leaders don't seem to care.

for me it's a spiritual issue. it's not necessarily about the kids breaking the rules or the adults not upholding the rules. it's about my role as a leader and my commitment to do what i'm expected to do. (i feel honored to be on church council, to be a volunteer youth leader, to be a member of JUMC - all of which i take seriously.) these verses are my reason for why i do what i do:
[Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 peter 2:13-14]

[Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. romans 13:1-3

[Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. hebrews 13.17]

cue: psycho-Christian babble [thanks, kimberly, for dubbing those words for me. i really appreciate it! wink wink]

so with all that being said, when i entered one of the youth rooms last night, and saw 'tanya is a skater hater' written on a wall, a great many thoughts came rushing into my mind. (as you can tell from the length of this post!)

then i said something to one of the senoir high girls who we've not seen in a few weeks. it was along the same lines - about trying to get her to do what was asked of her when she didn't want to. (the grammar in that last sentence was terrible, but try to keep up.) pretty typical, i'm-too-cool-to-be-here syndrome. then i noticed one of the middle school boys had a golf tee in his mouth, which i told him to remove. then a young man was drawing on the wall with a marker, which i told him to stop. it seemed like one thing after another. then i got home and read a few pages from 'Out of the Saltshaker' by rebecca manley pippert. my mom sent that book to me for my birthday. with my mom, one never knows what type of books they will be. but so far this one is pretty decent. the part i read about was dropping our guard and getting to know people. don't assume they know you or you know them. expect God to move in them - that's it. and often that means being real about our faults and weaknesses. it also spoke of what they think is their reality, and what we think is our reality.

kinda like the skateboard issue. for me, i'm trying to do what i think is right. they see that as being a skater hater. i see it as a teenage girl who isn't doing what is asked of her. she sees me as an adult who doesn't understand her or cares for her. i see a young man vandalizing church property. i don't know what he sees me as.

oh, i forgot something. after reading about how to get out of a salt shaker, i pulled out an old journal from about 8 years ago. (the question was asked during 7.22 last week, 'how have you changed in the last 10 years?') my first entry was a list of questions. many of the question made me realize that i still don't know the answers. like, 'what satisfies?' or, 'who's opinion matters to me?' these are the question of a young person, trying to learn who they are. i bet the same questions are asked by the teenages in the youth group. and somehow God still answers. i marvel at this.

being a martha in a mary world? or being mary in a martha world? which do i fall under? am i connecting with Christ? -that is the question of my heart. (that wasn't one of the questions written in my journal 8 years ago, but i guarantee that was the deep answer and question at the time. i'm still seeking.

Mind-opener. that is how i would describe You today, Jesus. You are delving into my heart. this is unfolding grace in my life. i trust these question and thoughts are coming from You. i trust that tho i fall, You'll be with me. perhaps you didn't realize who asked the question yesterday during shottie and my walk. it was her saying, 'give me something to think about, a question or thought or scripture'. that wasn't me. but i guess You had another thing in mind. perhaps it was me asking for something to think about. and You answered the unspoken prayer. in piggly wiggly yesterday - the gift bag, You again reminded me that You'll lead me in the way i should go, You'll watch over me and direct me. that was You on the bag. that was You during the hike, saying 'follow me, I'll show You the waterfall.' You are the giver of clean, refreshing water. You are the one who takes the rough edges off the hard rocks. You are the one who breathes life into legalism. You are the one who is teaching me to be softer, get to know those to whom i give instruction, not to lord my authority over others. You are the one who give grace to the sinner and binds up the broken hearted. that's You. my heart rejoices as it is filled with this new mystery. You've changed me in 10 years - from someone who justified her drinking to someone who justifies upholding the law. good thing You aren't through with me yet.
thru Jesus my Savior ~ Amen
3 unspokens

Women: Support and Power

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Luke 8.1-3

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4.12-14

Habari za asubuhi.(good morning.) slowly but surely some swahili words and phrases are sinking into my thinking. (i absolutely love it!) it's like waking in the early morning, going outside and breathing in a huge breath of cool, refreshing, clean air. like the rush you get after stretching first thing after climbing out of bed. like opening your eyes to see someone who you've not seen in a long time. like hearing the voice of a friend from your past. like experiencing your first kiss. like discovering you didn't wet yourself during your first rollercoaster ride. like the first time you rode your bike without help. like trusting your dad to catch you when you jump into his arms. like someone pushing you higher and higher as you swing. it feels kinda like that.

so these ladies are following Jesus because He has done something great for them. so why do they continue to follow Him? what draws these ladies to this man? we know a couple things: mary was cured of demons, and joanna was married and had money. but that's not it. we also know that these ladies helped support Jesus and the disciples out of their own means. that the catch. they used their money and resources to support Jesus and his friends. that amazes me, especially joanna. i wonder what her husband thought? i can only imagine how joanna and her husband discussed what she was doing with her time and their money. i'm reminded that people want to give their time and resources to support people and organizations which offer something in return. Jesus had/has a way of moving people to give. i'm relying on that realization as i think of the next year ahead.

let's not forget the famous queen ester. mordecai and the jews were in dire need of a miracle. long story short: some unbelieving official decreed that all jews should dies, and esther was the last ray of hope to overturn to ruling. she was afraid to approach the king with this major request, so mordecai had to send her an 'encouragement' note. the note: you and your family will die if you don't do something. so she rallied the prayer warriors, fasted, and presented her request before the king. he granted her request, allowing the Jews to exist. so i question, what am i to do? what challenges lie ahead, and what type of risk will be involved? who will i need to request help from? who can i call on for prayer support? who will rise up and present a 'encouragement note' to me? am i willing to die if the King doesn't answer my request?

not sure why these two stories keep rolling thru my mind or how they are connected, but they do.

Aba, Baba, mambo yote yawezekana kwako. Tafadhali niondolee kikombe hiki cha mateso. Lakini si kama nitakavyo mimi, bali mapenzi yako yatimizwe. (Marko 14.36) i surrender to You. i will live my life as a child in awe of You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen
*Cheryl *Earl *Denise

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
ps. 121:1-2

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
ps 107.29

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
ps 147.3

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
heb. 13.8

I Will Lift My Eyes
Written by Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now

shottie introduced me to this song yesterday. it's pretty much rocking my world.

this verse sums up how i feel today:
"I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me." [job 30.20] it feels like i've made myself vulnerable before God, and all He is doing is standing there - staring at me. i'm uncomforable, trembling... but at least He hasn't looked away. our eyes are searing each other's souls and we both refuse to relinguish our gaze. neither of us are blinking. my eyes are burning from being dried out so long. how long will this last, my God?

Each Day's Need

"May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication for the Temple [1 Kings 8.58-61]

where to begin? where to begin? solomon, king of israel who was preceded by david - the man after God's heart... he was the chosen one to build the table, a place for God's name to be revered. tho it was a building, solomon knew that God could not be contained within its walls. (The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! 1 kings 8.27) yet it was built for the people to remember how important God must be to each of them. He was to be the center of their community. He was to be the reason why people lived upright lives and brought sacrifices to this temple.

within the words of solomon's prayer, i can hear the heart of a man who knows his weaknesses. he pray again and again for the people to turn their hearts to the Lord, to be fully committed to Him, to live by His decrees and obey His commands. solomon knew the word of God; God spoke directly to him 2 times already. solomon grew up seeing his father run after God. he wasn't without an example of how to live by the commands of God.

so who has been my example? who has taught me to live by the commands of God? who currently holds me accountable to those lofty standards? where do i get my instruction or discipline? i grew up in a small church in south dakota where people learned to seek the truth thru the word. my youth leader (aka the pastor's wife) took me under her wing and mentored me. she was and remains to be a godly woman, someone i look up to and respect. she helped shape who am i and what i stand for. and my grandma tieman taught me the importance of blessing the food, interceding for the needs of others, and attending services. kimberly was and remains to be my nathan, my discipler. she has a way of knowing when i'm tempted and reprimands me for wandering from the chosen path. denise is a constant reminder that i'm beloved, chosen and worthy of the love of Christ. shottie encouranges me to dig deeper, to express my faith in words and be steadfast. juanita's gives grace and understanding. for these women, i'm eternally grateful.

gracious daddy,
thanks for the friends You've given me. i know each of these women has a vital role in Your kingdom and i'm grateful for what they've given to me. thanks for surrounding me with many people who challenge me to seek You deeper, harder, longer, wider. may You continue to turn my heart toward You. may i continue to learn how to obey your decree and commands and love Your word with all my heart.

'Lord, i am willing
-to receive what You give
-to lack what You withhold
-to reliquish what You take
-to suffer what You inflict
-to be what You require'
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*denise, juanita, deena, shottie, kimberly

Idolatrous Commotion

"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." "Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God. Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

idolatrous commotion. that's how i would describe much of what i see in the world.
idolatrous: the worship of a physical object as a god
commotion: a condition of civil unrest or confusion
we are all searching for satisfaction. we are born with unrest and a desire to have our longings fulfilled. we can thank eve and adam for that one. and we search high and low to find what gives us the most satisfaction.

so what satisfies me? where do i look to be fulfilled? what have i sought after which left me empty and worse off than when i began my search? who do i expect to fulfill my wants? what do i expect of people? where am i most satisfied in my life? what kind of activities bring me the most joy? i realize these are pretty selfish questions, but without asking, how can i know how to help others find what satisfies their needs? what brings the most joy to people? the commotion from the world is deception. surely the Lord, Yahweh, is our salvation - our hope - our satisfaction. and without Him, we are seeking more commotion instead of peace and satisfaction.

Jesus, You are my hope. as i draw close to You, i know You draw close to me. help me to find what satisfies. open my eyes to know what satisfies You the most.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.

*Courtney * Shottie *Jennifer

Do Not Think...

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
rom. 13.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
psalm 119.9-11

it's a foreign thought to me that paul had to tell the roman church to refrain from sexual immorality, drunkenness, etc.? i can only imagine what we americans would call that roman church... we think the problems in our churches are bad? i can only imagine my pastor preaching from the pulpit: "people, you need to stop having drunken parties where you end up having sex with one another." that would be the day.

so am i saying that this type of sinful behavior doesn't happen in the church? no, i'm not saying that. i know people who attend church services every sunday, people who struggle with low self-esteem and those who give into peer pressure. sometimes i fall into the catergory. perhaps we need to hear the bold words of paul, 'put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light, and this is what we as the church are going to do to help you along the journey...' i'm guilty of forgetting that last part, "and this is what i'm going to do to help you..." followed up by, 'i'm not going to leave you in the midst of this struggle. together we are going to make it thru."

so what can the church do to better help us along our journey Home? how can the church nuture it's people? (that's been the question on my heart lately.) what can the church do better to get people discussing their daily struggles, instead of feeling guilty of concealing their sin? we all sin - there are none who don't, even tho the people in the church often come across as being 'perfect'. God knows the condition of each of our hearts; we can't conceal our sin from Him.

i'm as guilty as they come about confess my sin to others. (confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. james 5.16) so since paul said to do it, and i'm not doing it, am i sinning by keeping my mouth shut? are we as the church sinning by not offering an environment where people feel comfortable to express their struggles and sins? are we aleinating those who need Jesus?

the psalmist asked a spiritual question, and came up with a 'practical' answer. i'm praying for the same to happen for our church.

Loving Father,
how can we keep our lives pure? only by living according to Your word. let us seek You with all our hearts; don't let us stray from Your commands. let us hide Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against You. let Your words resound thru our minds throughout the day, beckoning us to be pure. just as You calmed the storm for Your disciples, may You calm the storm raging in our hearts. may You transform Your church to be a place for sinners and the sick. may Your healing flood Your church with abundance. may Your Spirit dwell in our hearts as we go to meet Your children. may You teach us to invest in the lives of others. help us to love our neighbors the way You love us. and help us to love You with a steadfast love. break us of the sin of concealing our sin. bring something into Your church to break us from our arrogance. we are not perfect, not put together. sometimes we are lonely. let us be able to express that to one another. help us to confess our sin to You and to others. teach us how to be listeners and communicators of Your truth. teach me to be able to ask questions which enable others to speak their heart openly and honestly. teach me ways to encourage others to open up with me. shine Your truth thru me.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.
*Courtney *landra *karensa

wrestling and mercy

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?"
1 chron. 13:9-12

so what's been going on with me? let's see. i've been to vegas and the grand canyon. cue photos guess i've not uploaded too many photos. it was good for my soul to get to spend some time with kimberly. we had some intriguing talks during our 8 hour drive to and fro the 'big hole'. it's good to re-connect with friends, and to spend time in their presence. it's important to see their facial expressions and to hear their voice. since kimberly lives in las vegas, we don't get to spend much time together. about once or twice a year we get to spend a few hours together because of vacation or Stone Mountain Highland Games.

many of our conversations revolved around God, and what He's doing.
+ Kimberly's church has already out-grown their new facility.
- Kimberly feels more disconnected
+ kimberly has a great small group
- kimberly fears being open and honest in small group about what is deeply going on within her - the wrestling with God.

wrestling with God... seems like David had some moments of wrestling when Uzzah was killed because he was attempting to keep the ark from falling off the wagon. 'david was angry.' that's a very bold statement. things didn't go the way that david had intended - he wasn't getting his way. was david out of line to have these feelings? i don't think so. i think it shows the humanness of david, the man after God's own heart. did david sin because of the anger - david decided to drop the ark off at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite instead of taken it to the City of David? did he miss God's mark? was God upset with David for doing this?

i've been doing some of my own wrestling lately. and tho it feels heavy and exhausting, i know i'm not alone in the fight. i'm not an island, tho the journey is my own.

from 'this journey is my own,' by sara groves:
When I stand before the Lord, I'll be standing alone. This journey is my own. Still I want man's advice, and I need man's approval, but this journey is my own. : Chorus: Why would I want to live for man and pay the highest price? What would it mean to gain the world, only to lose my life? . So much of what I do is to make a good impression. This journey is my own. So much of what I say is to make myself look better. This journey is my own. . Chorus . I have never felt relief like I feel it right now. This journey is my own. 'Cause trying to please the world it was breaking me down, it was breaking me down. . Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one, now I live and I breath for an audience of one. Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one, 'cause I know this journey is my own. . Chorus . You can live for someone else, and it will only bring you pain. I can't even judge myself. Only the Lord can say, "Well done."

Jesus,
tho my heart feels heavy and tired, and my words don't seem to flow gracefully, i'm crying out to You. some of my words to You are weighted and strong. sometimes the road doesn't feel fair or kind. but i'm learning to praise You with gratitude even if You chose not to answer my call today. help me to see Your mercies which come in various ways. thanks for my daily bread, and for friends who are willing to stand in the gap. thanks for grace that falls on weary lands. leed me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. i'm cling onto this verse, "A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil." (prov. 13.19) i'm clinging to the hope of my longing to be fulfilled. i desire to please You, my God and my King.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Mike *Patsy *Patsy

listening

Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention.
job 10-12a

'To relate effectively with a wife, a husband, children, friends, or work associates, we must learn to listen. And this requires emotional strength. Listening involves patience, openness, and the desire to understand - highly developed qualities of character. It's so much easier to operate from a low emotional level and to give high-level advice.' -Stephen Covey from 'the 7 habits of highly effective people'

sometime it seems God speaks in a whisper, sometimes He has to use force; in both instances, God speaks with purpose. this quote from stephen covey speak so loudly to me that i can't help but notice. it's nearly as tho Jesus is sitting across my desk in my folding chair, and saying that statement to me. after i read that statement, i set the book down, and continued in conversation with Jesus, since He was already speaking to me.

so what has God spoken to you lately? what have you heard Him say? have you responded to Him with patience, openness, and a desire to understand?

(and for denise, i know what you are going to say. 'nobody thinks like you, tanya. maybe the Lord Jesus Christ can figure you out.') or in the lyrics to 'you get me' by zoegirl,
No more tears,
It's a silent ride.
You've broken down all fears,
Cuz you have made an all of me.
You know me better,
Than I know myself.
The key to my security,
Cuz there is no one else,
Who gets me.

Jesus,
Your word has refreshed my soul. tho it's painful to hear the words, i know You're calling me to a deeper understanding of listening. thanks for speaking truth to me. i can't change on my own, Jesus; i need Your help. i need You to teach me how to be open, patient and have a desire to understand what's being communicated. open my heart to hear. and about this low emotional level while offering high-level advice... well, i'm so guilty of this. may Your grace cover me. teach me, Father, how to effectively communicate truth with love. only thru You...
amen
*the miller family *skylar *the buffintons *derrick

go and love and touch in the name of Jesus

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
heb. 13.15-16

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 john 4.16

i feel like the rain is falling on me. like the way the earth must feel after a drought. there are so many people in my life who need the rain which i'm basking in. and i'm trying to give them rain, but some people refuse to accept the gift. they'd rather remain in the sun-scorched land, like the plants that wither because they have no root. (matt. 13.6) perhaps my presentation of the rain isn't very appealing, or maybe my motives are divided. deep within me i wish that these people would accept this rain and be refreshed, as i am.

this tatto series that louie has presented throughout the summer was rain for my soul. he said, 'just GO and LOVE and TOUCH in the name of Jesus Christ.' he was referring to the way we are to be the body of Christ to those who need to be touched the most. Jesus made constant examples of the untouchables - to the blind, Jesus smeared mud on their eyes; to the man leprosy, He touched him; to the prostitute, He touched her; to the man with questions, He touched him. how do you fire God up? do this: sing God a song of praise while pouring out your life into those who most need to be touched. in the midst of the pain and hurting, sing Your song to Christ. get over Your own wants, and care for the needs of others - all while singing a song of praise to God. don't grumble when things don't go your way - sing and pray all the more. build others up instead of tearing them down.let others know that we are the Body of Christ thru our unity and love. find what breaks the heart of Christ and do something about it. 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.' james 1.27

something in last night's message gripped my heart and it hasn't let me go. i'm drawn to the hope in the words. i.m convinced more than ever before that i want to go to africa; i've been called from darkness into light. (1 peter. 2.9) my prayers are moving from 'God, i really want to go' to 'God, don't let me stay here any longer.'

Jesus,
what an incredible name. You've conquered death and You hold life in Your hands. Your power and might are great. and Your name can fell the enemy. be praised for choosing me to sing a song of praise to You. my heart rejoices that You've rained down upon me with light and hope, love and compassion. as i abide in You, You come and make this heart Your home. it's a joy to know and be known by You. teach me to represent You well. let me offer others some rain in a way which will be pleasing and acceptable. let them see and desire to have what i'm offering. use me as a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. (mother teresa)
in Jesus Name ~ Amen.
*Leslie *kimberly * Derrick

Honoring God and Wisdom

'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.'
exodus 20.24

All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"— but this was beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound— who can discover it? So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
eccl. 7.23-25

this has been a busy week for me. work has be exceptionally busy, and after work i'm staying with a friend of mine who recently had hip replacement surgery. oh and somehow in the midst of all that, i lost my cell phone for 3 days. last night was a much needed let down - it was game night with some friends; it was a wonderful comic relief to the busyness of life. certainly good for the soul!

so last saturday i was reading exodus 20, the big 10, and stumbled across this verse tacked on the end. Yahweh says, "wherever i cause My Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you." where has God caused His Name to be honored in my life? what points can i identify as movements of God? what have i done to honor Him - what altars have i constructed for others to see that i worship the Living God? am i looking for Him to make His Name honored in my life? am i giving Him sufficient time? this week i haven't giving Him my time. last week, i was intentionly giving him time everyday... oh to be able to set aside time daily to surrender my life will to His...

(with all those questions in the previous paragraph, i feel like i'm writing a bible study!!!!)

oh the importance of 'selah' - pause and calmly consider.

and last night before my head hit the pillow at midnight... my eyes fell upon these verses about wisdom. when i was younger, mostly in middle school when my faith was developing in leaps in bounds, i remember earnestly praying for wisdom. i remember reading verses in Proverbs about how important it is to have wisdom. i would get on my knees next to my bed and meditate and pray for God to bestow wisdom upon me. i still find myself praying for wisdom often, perhaps not quite as earnestly, (the old age symptoms of knowing wisdom comes with time and age are setting in.) this verse about desiring to 'turn my mind to understand, to investiage and to search out wisdom,' still grabs my attention.

if i had wisdom when i was given my first credit card, i would not be in this debt now. if i had demonstrated wisdom with my sexuality, i would not have had to confess as often as i did... and still do. but i don't feel God let me down or didn't answer my prayers for wisdom. He answered in more ways that i could have asked. when i asked for wisdom, He strengthened my faith, gave me 'proof' that He exists, opened doors for me to experience the work of the gospel. also, my grades in elementary school were average, in middle school and high school they were above average, and some how i managed to graduate with honors. that has to be some form of wisdom...

so what can i do to pursue wisdom? what can i do t oturn my mind to understand and investigate wisdom?

Jesus,
may You in Your abundant grace give me wisdom. if it pleases You, give me ears and eyes to recognize where You are causing Your Name to be honored. may i have all that is needed to build an altar where my humble sacrifice may be may given unto You. and may this humble sacrifice be pleasing in Your sight, worthy of Your Name and honor.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Melody *Cathy *Glenn

Waiting in Expectation

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

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.
psalm 37.7

If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
john 15.7

i want some answers. i want to see some things change. i want some direction. i want to know this "energy, which so powerfully works in me" (col. 1:29). i want to see people come to know Jesus as their savior, life coach, redeemer, and friend. i want children in foreign countries to have enough food and water to sustain them. i want our ad council to be on fire for Jesus, and to take risks - to move from worrying about if we have enough money to challenging God to move on behalf of the poor and needy in pickens county. i want many things.

so what sacrifice am i willing to make in order for these things to come to pass? that is the question in my heart these days. what am i willing to do in order for others to know Jesus? when will i tell others of the life God has breathed into me? am i willing to give up food? am i willing to reach out to the needy, offering my time, talents and money? am i willing to find someone who needs to be loved? am i willing to speak up in a crowd? am i giving all i have to give on behalf of others? am i storing up things for myself on earth or in heaven? am i still enough to hear Jesus calling me from ordinary living into a life which takes risks? are my requests to God self-centered? am i living out purpose or lacking purpose? how is it that a precious flower can give me so much joy and a heart filled with gratitude?

Father,
i'm seeking You. You hold time in Your hand. You allow flowers to spring from the earth to give You glory and praise. let me do the same; let my heart resound with 'amens' and 'hallelujahs'. for my brother, i ask for redemption. for my parents, i request peace. for denise, humility. for shottie, wisdom. for brandon, compassion. for steven, self-control. for jerry, strenght. for tricia, truth. for juanita, patience. for patsy, gentleness. for amanda, hope. for kevin, perseverance. for cindy, love. for becca, knowledge. for glenn, will-power. for valerie, kindness.
Thru Jesus my requests are made known ~ Amen.
*Derrick *Marcus *Derek

where's hope?

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
lam. 3.21-26

last sunday's message was about hope. what i got from it was about how our hope lies in Jesus Christ, and that hope gives us strength to persevere. and this perseverance isn't only for our benefit, but for the benefit of others who should to know Hope. last night i attended 7:22. (go there and watch it!) the message was about being light to the world which will cause others to desire to know the Light. seems to be a connection: to know this Hope and Light.

Louie Giglio is a gifted, godly speaker. it's amazing how God uses Louie to speak truth into a thristy generation. and it's even more amazing how those who are thristy are filled when God moves. last night was a perfect example. louie began with the scripture, lev. 19.1-2, "The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." somehow from there he launched into eph. 5:8-9, "Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)." from an illustration of being whole to a lamp shining in the darkness, God moved thru the Church last night.

after the service, shottie and i had a good conversation. it was refreshing to re-connnect with her. i chalk the credit to Jesus for this refreshment. it's good to have friends, especially those who can relay their thoughts of what God is doing in their lives. that encourages my heart, along with my drive to shine more light.

Jesus
my thought are all over this place today. thanks for giving me these few minutes to focus on You. You are holy, and i desire that holiness. show me where i'm messing up. guide me into a deeper whole-ness. let my life be light in the darkness, just like the lamp on the stand. help me to get away from the bowl. You are the hope of glory and the light that shines in the darkness. in You there is no darkness, for darkness is as light to You. expose the deeds of darkness in my life - help me to confess to my friends for support. as i wait for Your salvation, have me always remember that You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.
in Jesus' holy Name ~ Amen
*Philip *Donna *Louie

Letter to Tim

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
1 tim. 5:21

The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
1 tim. 5:24-25

i wonder what type of person timothy was. when paul wrote him this letter, he must have been under some pretty stong pressure to change the ways of those around him. these commands from paul drive a nail directly into the heart.

if someone were to say, 'i charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism,' i think i may feel pretty intimidated. that type of confrontation normally doesn't sit well with me. there's just something about someone commanding me to do something. i'm ok when asked to do something, but when someone commands me to do something - normally my defenses go up and i'm up for a fight. i suppose that's a confession about failing to be submissive and to keep quiet (as also commanded in the book of first timothy.)

to do nothing out of favoritism... what does that mean? we all have favorite friends and we treat them differently than we do strangers. before this passage paul was referring to young widows who should be encouraged to marry should they feel the impulse. after this the passage speaks about drinking wine, instead of plain water. so this verse about partiality and favoritism sort of seems out of place. but it is out of place enough that it caught my attention. and made me think about how i treat certain people, and how i don't treat certain people whom i don't know as well. 'be fair' may be a way a saying what paul is trying to relay.

then comes this verse about sins and good and bad deeds. when i see this verse played out in my minds eye, i envision people either pushing or pulling a large, black box. their sins are either in front of them or behind them. either way, every person has sin - not one person is without his or her box.

denise and i had the priviledge of moving some furniture this morning. sometimes i was leading backwards, sometimes i was on the backside. one particular upright closet was difficult to move because of the height. so as we moved this large closet, we would only go as far as my legs could extent. without me pushing, denise couldn't pull it. also, without her pulling it, i could barely move it an inch. together we could move the closet, but apart we couldn't succeed. sometimes we push; sometimes we pull.

so which way do you see yourself right now? the one who has their sin ahead of them, or the type who carry their sin behind? and what can we do for others to help them to move their sin? perhaps that could be a good question to ask someone who desires to mentor someone. it's not just a matter of bringing to light the sin, it's a matter of guiding that person along the journey, away from the sin. and how many of us are willing to take the time to do that?

Jesus,
this post went in a completely different direction than i first intended. guess You had a different plan for me. so as i think about the illustration of pushing or pulling my sin, which way do i come across to others? do i have a good front, but the darkness eventually shows it's ugly face? Your word says that we should confess our sin to one another and pray together. that's the kicker. finding that someone willing to guide us away from the sin which entangles our souls. may You help me to be trusting of the friends You've given me - those who would be willing to guide me and stand by my side thru good, the bad, and the ugly of life. may You receive the praise for the friends whom You've blessed upon me. may Your truth expel the darkness, my black box. help me to be open with You about what's going on within me. forgive me for having a quick tongue and an anal retentive, critical spirit at times. may You open my eyes to see when this sin is shining thru so we can deal with it. with Your help, i know the box will move.
in Jesus Name ~ amen.
*mom *kimberly *robin

Holy Living

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 thes. 4:3-7

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.
lev. 11:44

during my lunch hour today i began to think about holiness. and how if we truly realized how holy we are expected to be, we would probably take more effort to clean up our thoughts lives, mouths, and the way our body language speaks volumes of what's going on within our souls. holy from webster.com has some pretty standard definitions. strong's #38 speaks of consecration, purification, and sanctification of heart and life. so now we all know what is involved in being holy.

but to dig deeper, sanctification of heart and life seems like a might extensive overhaul. seems like that reaches the depths of who we are, or perhaps maybe even deeper than who we are. perhaps it reaches to who we are in Christ and where we are going. that's the part i'm looking forward to, because getting there is often painful, annoying, and exhausting.

Jesus,
in my limited understanding, i believe that You've called me to live a holy life. and only thru Your Holy Spirit am i capable of calling myself holy and worthy to enter into Your presence. thanks for rescuing me from the darkness and unrighteousness. You are the source of my strength and holiness. so i fall before You and beg to be filled with Your Presence. i want to live a holy life. i want to be transformed from my ordinary thinking, into thoughts which glorify You. cleanse me with hyssop, and i will be clean. do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. You do not delight in sacrifice, or i would bring it. i am all i have to offer. i am the sacrifice, a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. thanks for accepting me just the way i am. and thanks for not allowing me to remain the same.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Gail *Mike *Flora

Binding the Word

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
deut. 11.18-19

back on the bandwagon... of memorizing the Word. this is one of those disciplines which comes and goes for me. for awhile, i'll be very disciplined and memorize each day. but then something comes along which looks more entertaining, perhaps less challenging and i'll fall away. and then like an alarm clock, i'll be reminded of how i miss it, and how i love it when my thoughts focus on the words of life. so i'm currently at the point where my heart is longing to memorize again. so i'm going to begin by refreshing the verses and chapters which are already in my mind and heart: Psalm 139, 19, and 51. then i'll move on. i would really like to one day memorize colossians, but that's a ways down the trail.

Jesus,
again my heart is missing something; missing the closeness of having Your truth run thru my mind. i confess that i've fallen from this discipline. thanks for drawing this to my attention, and for giving me the perseverance to open my mind and heart to listen intently to Your Word. i can hear my professor from college say there are ways get into Your Word: hear, read, study, memorize, meditate. forgive me for falling away. i long to be near again. i trust that Your grace is sufficient, and You'll be my stamina to draw from the well, even when my feelings do not desire it. Your death on the cross made a way for us to connect intimately, and i want to be close with You. thanks for loving me enough to take my place.
thru Jesus'
*Denise *kevin *Philip

God, Our Sanctuary

Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.'
ezek. 11.16

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.
ezek. 44.9

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
1 cor. 7.19

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

gal 5.6

sometimes the Bible confuses me. more specifically, Jesus confuses me. He changed things up, but did not do away with the old. He fulfilled the Law, but did not abolish it. (matt. 5.17) so that means the old law is still in effect, along with the new transformation thru the Spirit. sometimes that feels like a war in my soul.

i love reading and studying the bible. it amazes me how Jesus came to rescue us from the rule of satan. and Jesus's life is proof of God's immense love for us. and i believe that Jesus was all God and all man. and He changed up the thinking of the disciples and some of the rulers of the temple and government. and He still changes the thinking of those who seek Him.

the mental picture of God being our sanctuary comforts me. but my definition of sanctuary is probably different than the israelites definition. so these foreigners who were living within the community of the chosen people could not enter into the sacred temple. but then Jesus comes - and states the He is the new high priest. so does that eliminate the heirachy of the church. over and over we read about the different members having equally important positions. and several times in the new testament, we can find verses referring to circumcision having no meaning, except for circumcision of heart. and even in the old testament, some verses comment about that. again, it's coming back to the condition of our hearts.

i've been calling myself a Christian for 18 years. some of those early years tested my faith in pretty strong ways. along the journey, i've fallen into some pretty serious sin. and today i still deal with those actions. my mind often refers back to that life. and growing up in the household which i grew up wasn't always the easiest life. perhaps from an outside view it looked like the good life, but within the walls our our house was some tremendous dissension. through all those struggles, God had a way of offering His hand of grace. i've learned first hand that His grace is sufficient for all sin: past, present and future.

Amazing God,
tho my understanding is limited, i know You are great. i'm not sure if you are changing, but i do know that You have been the same yesterday, today and forever. and tho i don't understand the culture of the israelites and their understanding of 'sanctuary', i grasp the concept of You being my sanctuary. and i understand why it matters most to express ourselves by loving You and others. help me to love the way You love - and to be rid of this critical spirit. help me to pray for those who are different than me. give me a heart of compassion to see past their petty facade, and see their hearts. may You, Holy Spirit, open a way for me to speak Your love at my workplace.
in Jesus' Holy Name ~ Amen
*mom + dad *sam *emma

Sorting out the Thoughts

"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."
Matt. 15.16-19

You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God.'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.' 'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.'
Lev. 18.3-4, 22, 24

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Rom. 14.1-4

this is a difficult post to begin. on one of the blogs which i frequently visit, there has been an heated discussion about intolerance or acceptance of homosexuality. and my little mind has been rolling around what i believe about it, not what i've read or seen or experienced. admittedly, i'm not close friends with anyone who lives a homosexual lifestyle. i have some acquaintances, but none who i would consider a close, intimate friend. with that being said, i find myself drawn to homosexuals. perhaps it's because i want to know what originally drew them into that lifestyle. perhaps because God has given me a compassionate heart for them. perhaps it's because i want to see God's amazing transformation in their lives. or maybe it's a tactic of satan to try to get me involved. in any case, i'm drawn like a bug to a zapper.

i'll never forget hearing tony campolo speak about loving others, especially anyone living as a homosexual. with tears in his eyes and a broken heart, he spoke of his relationship with a good friend who is a homosexual. that's the kind of humility and love we are to have for all of God's people, no matter what type of lifestyle they are pursuing.

in my pursuit to find what i believe, i've become increasingly annoyed by people who use the verse, "judge not, or you also will be judged," (matt. 7.1) as a cop-out. that's using scripture as a knife to kill, instead of a tool to transform lives into obedient disciples of Christ. which leads me to what i believe. i believe that each of us was born with a sinful nature. and this sinful nature manifests itself in each of us different. for some, we struggle with arrogance, some have a wicked tongue, some have murderous thoughts, some have a need for sex, some have lust for humankind. some people struggle from abuse at a young age which leads to different sins. each of us carry this sinful nature like a heavy coat. and i believe with all my heart that anyone can be set free from any sin which leads us away from being obedience to the scripture. i think that if we fail to do what the Bible asks of us, we sin. James of the bible says, 'Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.' (4.17) being aware of what sin is seems to make the difference.

so you could say i'm being intolerant. but i know i'm a sinner. and i have to repent of my sin every day. but i'm trying with all my heart to allow the Spirit of God to cleanse me from the wickedness from which i was born. i try to give up my heavy coat on a daily basis. i know my sin is great, but i also know that the grace of my Father is enough for all the wrong i've done or will do. that's what it means to be free. and for this freedom i am forever grateful.

God,
i lay down my beliefs before You. i want to be righteous and holy - being right in word and deed before and at the same time being set apart of your purpose. break me of the sin which entangles me. if i'm wrong, show me where i've sinned. He have a way of turning things upside down. what i nature would do, is often the opposite of how You expect me to react. teach me to be more like You. help to be love those who cross my path. let me to friends with sinners, so they can see You in me. let my heart radiate with Your love so that others can bask in your warmth. let me love - even if it is tough love - those whom You would set before me. Father, i am not enough without You. You've changed this sinner's heart to sing Your praises. You've given me new passion, new reason to uphold what is right. and You provide the strength to flee from temptation. thanks for the reassurance that Your grace is enough, even for the worse of the sinners. thanks for transforming lives with Your Holy Spirit. thanks for still moving in the midst of the darkness. give me compassion for those who need to be loved. help me to love without judgment.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen.
*adam *cat *robin

Blogs

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
isaiah 43.19

so what is it that draws readers towards blogs? what blogs do you find yourself returning to, day after day in hopes that the writer will update?

for me, its constantly getting into the lives of people. finding out what makes them tick. (perhaps i should've pursued sociology or psychology!) i love reading life happenings, which seem ordinary to them, but to me they seem extraordinary. like the little things - those people who can constantly see God moving in their lives - drawing them from regular life to do amazing feats. those who hear God's voice, recognize His promptings, and respond with abandon. and they update nearly everyday. that's amazing to me.

i also tend to read people's blog who are struggling w/ life. not sure if that's a woman thing, or if i'm naturally drawn to the downtrodden. looking back, most of my friends from high school needed help - and that's how i became their friends. i responded. curious to know what that says about me?

the sinful side of me falls into the temptation of reading blogs which tell of a wild child's life. some people are just a mess and they love it. some are bi-sexual and tell freely of their desires. some are married and tell of their messy families. many are non-Christian and freely proclaim that.

so i guess that blogs that draw me the most are people who share life with the world. they are the ones who update consistantly about the ridiculous things of life. the ones who can express themselves via a keyboard. the ones who look deeper than surface level - to find who they are and how they are most satisfied with their lives. for me, i find who am i thru the words of Christ. tho my blog is lame with devotions, that's who i am - or who i aspire to be - or where i find i'm most satisfied. since i don't have a husband or kids - or am sexually active - or jobless - or in a band - or cuss - or an alcoholic... all that doesn't matter. i'm me. and other bloggers are themselves, too.

so thanks to readers who link to this site from yours. thanks for being real.

jesus,
what a strange time - when people connect more thru the net than in real person. God, you know my heart - and you know there are times when i desire to have more friends to hang out with. but then there are times, when i'm reminded that You've blessed me with some pretty incredible friends. i chalk up to You my praise for my friends. tho i may struggle at times to be single, i trust that You are my Friend in all situations. You know when i sit and when i rise - when i go out and when i lay down. You're familiar with all my ways. that's inspiring! tho my heart may not always be content to be single, i lay down these feelings to you. thanks for reminding me this morning that Your unfailing love will sustain me. and that Your plans are best for me. so if you have a spouse for me, help me seek You for patience and wisdom. and if not, i will always trust You as my Husband - the one who purchased me at a price, but not one that money could afford. thanks for my 'net friends who don't even know that i read their blog, but still i talk with You about them all the same. may You fill the brokenness some of my close friends are feeling. may Your unfailing love embrace them - and quench the desires of their hearts. may they seek Truth, instead of instant gratification. may their hearts blaze when they enter Your presence. may You awaken our passion to find You, our first love. tho my words fail, i trust that You hear my heart's cry.
thru Jesus ~ Amen
*misty *susan *kevin

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
isaiah 50:4

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
psalm 119:34

this verse in isaiah beholds much wisdom. first it speaks of God giving me an 'instructed tongue' - a tongue that knows the words which sustain the weary. that's a big responsibility - speak to the weary and give them words which will encourage them and lead them to satisfaction. we've all been there before: when we know one of our friends is down, and we feel it's our responsibility to cheer them up. and we try to give them a shoulder to cry upon or a listening ear so they can get rid of whatever is weighing them down. but sometimes we are expected to tell them of the love which Christ has for them - and that is the word which will sustain them.

secondly, this verse speaks of God wakening us on a daily basis with ears that listen for His voice. seems to me this part of the verse should have preceded the other part of the verse. first we need to listen for God's voice - teaching us how to give the words which sustain the weary. without His word of instruction, His promptings, His leading, His guidance . . . we are lost and purposeless.

i have many friends right now who are going thru hard times. i'm not going to name them, but i can sense them becoming weary. their faith once blazed the way - taking on challenges much larger than they could conquer, but they faithfully went thru the unknown with help of the Known. now the One whom they knew so well in the past, has become commonplace. . . and this saddens me. one of my friends who is struggling with temptation said, 'it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission'. it breaks my heart that we've cheapened grace. oh the wise words of bonhoeffer. so i ask myself, in what ways am i cheapening grace? where in my life have i given into temptations - or where have i been numb to the Spirit's leading? what in my life is unholy? what white lies have my lips spoken - what exaggerations have i said? where have i been a hypocrit? is there someone whom i should ask for forgiveness? what in my past is causing fear or discouragement? where have i withheld my love for Jesus or others? when have i shown a 'don't care attitude'? have i said i'll do something and didn't do it? how's my daily pursuit of Jesus - am i digging into His word and truly listening for His voice? do i hear Him speak and forget? am i who i think i am? what things in my life cause dissatisfaction and what am i doing about them? am i pursuing righteousness? is my money being spent on things which will have a lasting effect on others - or am i being selfish in my spending?

dearest Friend
i ask these questions in Your presence. help me to find the true answers. give me understanding and i will keep Your law and obey with my whole heart. Jesus, forgive me for not being real with You. too often i try to cover my struggles from You - help me to get them out in the open so that You can cleanse me for falling into sin. use Your hyssop to cleanse - wash me, then i'll be whiter than snow. when i wake in the morning, let my first thoughts be of You - speak to servant for she is listening. may i be silent long enough to hear the words which satisfy and give rest to the weary. i'm not an island.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Kimberly *Maverick *Lexi

Combining Worship

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."
Isaiah 19.23-25

so i'm working my way thru isaiah. man, i love that book! the Jesus story, the fall of satan, the history of our Christian faith all rests in it. good stuff.

so this verse - about egypt, assyria and israel all being part of God's amazing plan - brings so much history together. normally i'm not a history buff, but to hear that egypt - the land where moses was enslaved by pharoah will be a blessing is beyond me. and to hear that assyria which includes nineveh (the terrible people from whom jonah was running) will be included in being a blessing - that's beyond me too. and not just that - but that israel will be third in line. israel, the gaza strip, and all the fighting going on there will be a blessing? that is beyond me.

the more i think about it... the more it concerns me. because these verses speak of egypt (in africa) and assyria (syria/iraq/turkey) will have a highway connecting them. well, israel seems to be in the middle. no wonder there is much fighting going on there.

religion stats for israel: Jewish 76.5%, Muslim 15.9%.
for syria: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%
for egypt: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%

Most Gracious God,
You are the original blesser. and even today You are the One who pours out so much blessing that we don't have room enough for it. Your word has many mysteries to me. i see in part - but someday i will see full, even as i am fully know by You. and this road that leads from egypt to syria will be one of worship - that will be an amazing day. so i think about the roads i travel on to work, to play, to south dakota . . . are they roads of blessing or curses. i pray that where i travel i may be a blessing to those whom You place in my path. may You use me as an instrument of Your love. may these roads before me lead me deeper into our relationship. i seek to know You more.
by Jesus ~ amen.
*kerri *President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak *philip

Become a slave

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6.18

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Lev. 26.13

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8.17

yesterday in sunday school our class went thru Romans 5. romans just gets me right there! tho i may have a shallow understanding of the book because of this culture and current traditions, it still remains relevant. if i could choose one main theme which draws me to Christianity, it would be the theme of having to become a slave. slaves don't have rights - or a vote - or say-so in any matters. they are expected to do what they are commanded without pay. they can be abused or honored, depending on their master. they are to be obedient and submissive.

ephesians 6.6, speaking to slaves about their masters, goes on to say, 'Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.' so being a slave of Christ is to draw new joy and strength from the depths of their hearts.... and our hearts, too. we are not excluded from being slaves to Christ. too often serving and submitting does not draw joy and strength from my heart... usually it tends to draw out the heathen in me.

o merciful master,
you've ask of me to give everything i have ever possessed, including my very soul. when my focus is so shallow - when my eyes fall upon how hard i have it, show me that You've already called me into priesthood. tho You've given me the status of kingship, help to remember that You've equipped me to perform the duties of a slave. i want to be obedient to You. i want to submit with a grateful heart. break me when my ego arises. o Lord, it's hard to be humble... in You i am made whole. as i abide in You, i see how surrendering to Your commands is not a burden, but a joy. my heart rejoices that i can abide in You, even when i fall hard.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen

*lexi *juanita *cynthia

Continuously Evoking a Response

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8

sometimes during my personal study times, i grab my dictionary (the big, thick book with all the pronounciations and origins) and search the simple words to find greater meaning. perhaps it's a way of enlarging my vocabulary, but every time i use the dictionary, some deep understanding hits me. tonight is no different.

before i opened my Bible, i asked Jesus to show me what He wanted me to hear. the song, 'draw me close to you' popped into my mind. so i thot, hmm... where's that verse about 'draw near to God and He draw near to you'? james is quite the straight shooter - no beating around the bush with him. so i read the verse a couple times, and thought of some other verses which could relate. like isaiah 33.3 - written the same way - 1st, i have to do something, then Jesus will do something. both have a promise. 1st i need to move, then He will move.

and then i grabbed my hefty dictionary and scrutinized the word, 'draw'. there are about 20 definitions, but 4 of them jumped out at me.
A.) to cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag
B.) to suck or take in
C.) to evoke to response
D.) to receive at a regular time

...continuous force. what else am i to do continously? PRAY!!! what an amazing connection. draw near to Jesus by praying constantly. and what a great image: to suck in God and He will suck me in. i love that. i desire that. to be sucked in by God.

and the next one i absolute was blown away with. (it's probably my dippiness shining thru, but, hey!) what can i do which will cause Jesus to evoke a response, which in turn will cause Him to evoke a response to me? i've mused that question over and over tonight. and again i'm draw to prayer, but a specific type. (guess i'm dividing prayer into different types!) supplication or intercession. listening is part of prayer, but i don't believe that listening is all that prayer is. sometimes we need to get in the trenches and pray until God is evoked to a response. that is the discipline of prayer... praying continuously when no response is evoked. and i'm confessing that this area of my life has been void lately. i've failed to dig in and get dirty in the trenches. i've backed away - ran AWOL.

Jesus has used a couple people in my life lately to challenge me - to search out my priorities - and to seek what has been lacking. He even used this incredible couple whom i met at a garage sale. this couple reminded me that God doesn't keep secrets, but instead He waits for us to trust in Him to reveal the next move. and sometimes that next move isn't known until we are falling thru the air.

Hey Jesus,
it seems so bold for me to evoke You to a response so that You can respond to me. and honestly, i'm not sure that i could ever evoke You to respond, but You do tell us to ask. and You give us the story about the widow and the judge - and her consistency gained a way to her heart's desire. i don't want to run anymore. i know the difficulty of spending time and energy and effort on my knees. and i'm again at a place where i desires that. i've missed it... honestly i've missed that time with You. so, i humbly ask You to train me how to apply a continuous force which will evoke a response from You. Holy Spirit, have Your way within me. if lacking sleep is what You desire, then i'm ready. if fasting, then let's go! i'm trusting You to reveal what is next. i'm claiming ps. 33:20-22 as my means to stand upon. i wait in hope for You; my heart rejoices, for i trust in Your Holy Name. May Your unfailing love rest upon me, even as i learn to put my trust in You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen
*Tatia *Valerie *Laura

Distinguishing the Holy from the Common

You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.
Lev. 10.10-11

Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Ezek. 22.26

in reading about the acts of the priests near the beginning of leviticus, i've been reminded of a few things:
~ the priests had a messy job
~ they knew specifically what their tasks were

about the priests having a messy job - one of their tasks was to kill the sacrificial animal and throw its blood against the altar. can you say, "slaughter house"? but thru this sacrifice, people were made right with God. and the priests knew better than anyone how this occured. it amazes me how one Sacrifice, a human being, could make restitution for all of us. Jesus, the perfect One, restored us to God so that our sacrifices are no longer needed. no wonder it was so difficult for the priests and teachers of the law to understand Jesus. He transformed the need for church.

the priests didn't wonder what they were expected to do: it was written out for them. the law taught them everything needed to perform their jobs to the fullest. they knew specifically how to sacrifice different offerings. and then comes along this verse: 'YOU must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and YOU must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.' it had to start with their hearts. they needed to know the law and teach others to obey it.

sara groves has a lyric in the song 'just showed up' that catches my attention often. this is what it says, 'I'm going to live my life inspired, look for the holy in the common place, open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed'. i wonder if this is how the priests lived their lives, or if they were de-sensitized to the holy. i wonder where in my life, i've become de-sensitized to the holy. where have i've lost my sense of wonder and inspiration?

my High Priest,
may You help me to live this life inspired. help me to see the holy in the common place. sensitize me to distinguish between the holy and the common. i open the windows on my heart to feel all that's honest and real until You amaze me. show me ways that i can choose to bring the holy into the common place. may You create holy moments during my job, my resting, my playing, my praying, my times of laundry and ironing. let Your holy rain down from on high, filling my heart with wonder. please don't let me loose this sense of awe.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

*Lee Ann Womack *Sara Groves *Kelsey

The hard things in life

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. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke 9.23-26

there are stages in life - phrases thru which we all pass. i go thru stages of reading. there are times when i desire to read absolutely everything in front of me, and then there are times when i dread reading a chapter. currently i'm in the 'read-anything-i-can-get-my-eyes-upon' stage. so next to my bed right now are these books: The Message Bible, Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, The Sacred Way, The Sacred Romance, Prayers That Avail Much, Revolution in World Missions, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Utmost for His Highest, Simplify Your Life, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Book of Sudoku, The Practice of Godliness, The Power of Prayer and Fasting, Enjoy the Silence, Heaven, my prayer journal, Diary of Daily Prayer, Thunder of Heaven, Love and Respect, Red Moon Rising, Thr3E, SpiritLed Woman magazine, and The Secret of Victorious Living. Those are all the books stacked up next to my bed. (it's pretty pathetic, but i've read parts of each of them within the last 3 weeks.)

so i was reading The Secret of Victorious Living and came across this passage which jumped out at me. this is a fictional statement as to what our forefathers may tell us today. (and keep in mind, this book was written before 1934 (which is the copyright date.):
"...We were not so tempted as you are to forget that the destinies of the race are within the soul. It is easier to build a skyscraper than to build great caracter. It is easier to erect your modern apartment houses than to achieve the peace that passeth all understanding, when you are in them. It is easier to amass physical power than it is to achieve spiritual life which knows how to use it. It is easier to harness the forces of the external universe than to release the inner powers of the divine world by which man lives indeed. And when you do this easier thing and omit the deeper matter, where does it bring you save to catastrophe? Lift up your eyes and see. One civilization after another has fallen, fooled by its illusions. What profit without the soul?"

i love how our forefathers would tell us about character, spiritual life, peace that passeth understanding, and innner powers of the divine world. i long for those things, those things which satisfy the soul. and it is so easy to get lazy and not pursue them. i'm learning that it's very difficult to quiet the soul and listen for what my Savior desires to say to me. it is easier to skip on building character... oh but the profit which will come should one put in the time and energy to raise one. and about this peace that passeth understanding - in this crazy world which forces us to be constantly busy and moving, it is so tough find peace. but Jesus proclaimed that He came to bring peace. and so spending time with Him has to be fulfilling, and it builds character.

Oh Jesus,
thru Your Word i read how my forefathers struggled to pursue You. they stumbled and fell, gained strength and rose again just to stumble more. i see the same pattern or stage in my own life. but thru the trials and errors, the strength to persevere continues to pour into my soul. as i try to hold fast to you, my mind is filled with thoughts of who You are creating me to be. You've changed me - You placed within me desires that this world could never offer. i want to know this peace, and to be able to release the divine powers into a lost and hurting world, and have Your characteristics, and be compelled to live out what my Spiritual life manifests. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
thru Your Name, Jesus, i humbly pray ~ Amen.

*Tricia *GNC Event across the nation *Prom go-ers

His Song

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
psalm 42.8

saturday night i stayed up way too late to finish a book. it was an excellent book - part of a series called the Martyr's Song series which i highly recommend by Ted Dekker. so after finishing the book i laid in bed for a few minutes trying to fall asleep, but plagued by all the action-packed adventures from the book. so, i turned on the light, grabbed my Bible and felt compelled to turn to psalm 42. after reading about the thristy deer, panting souls, downcast souls, and deep calling to deep, i ran across this verse about God directing His love by day and His song being with me at night. i could tell it was one of those verses that would roll around my head for a few days, and then something would tie it to my heart. well, i've found what it is: Invisible Children i've read articles and books about these chidren soldiers. these kids are abducted in the dark of night and forced into becoming soldiers. some kids walk 10+ miles a night and sleep in towns, so they won't be quite as scared to sleep in the bush. i can imagine how they fear the dark of night... and how this verse ties right in - "at night His song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life." can you hear their broken hearts praying to the God of their lives? and to have His song be a comfort in the thick blackness at night. that moves my heart... to tears.

this weekend there are events thru out the nation - rallying people to make a stand for these kids. i realize it's a problem on foreign soil, but our God is there, too. and that transcends my pride as an american. these are people need help - they are oppressed and in slavery. Isaiah, a great prophet, wrote: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?"
Isaiah 58:6

this is a chance to make a difference, even if it means i loose some sleep.

All-Powerful God,
i fall before You; i stumble and fall at Your greatness. You are omnipotent, and that makes You worthy of praise. You use Your power for good. You have the power to break free those bound in slavery. i lift up this event for these invisible kids to You and set it upon Your altar. may it be an offering which pleases You. use this event to move people to see beyond the walls of our nation, and do something good. you know each of the kids and families affected by these wars. make Your presence known among this country of uganda. reign down, Holy Spirit, and let these people soak You up. let their weary souls find rest in You. Jesus, baptize these broken souls with Your blood, the blood that cleanses all sin and shame.
in Jesus's Powerful Name and by His Blood ~ Amen

*GNC *World Vision Uganda *Andy

Oh so many lessons to learn in one parable

Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
proverbs 25.6-7

"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
luke 14.8-11

i read the proverbs often, and some how these few verses slipped past me. i've heard this parable spoken by Jesus many times, and yet i didn't realize He was expounding on the wise words of solomon. Jesus simply added some 'life application' to the story which solomon spoke nearly 2000 years earlier. i love it when the old and new testaments connect. that fires me up!

there's something amazing in the words which the king and the wedding host say, "come up here," and "friend, move up to a better place." i've been rolling those phrases around my mind for about 2 hours now, since my lunch break. to hear a king say to me, 'come up here'... has to be such a great honor. but before this person hears those words, he needed to take a back seat. he had to decide to be humble - to give up what would would have been a good seat.

a friend and i have a phrase for the seats near the rear of an airplane... we call them 'dumpster' class, as opposed to first class. as someone who worked for an airline, i flew in dumpster class often. but then there were times... oh the good times, when i would be sitting in dumpster, and the flight attendant would come to me and say, 'your seat assignment has changed.' and that is the key to move to first class... to the good seats! oh what joy to sit in first class as opposed to those cramped seats. and the warm towelettes... and the food and drinks for free! it's a real treat!

there's something amazing when someone invites you to come... like when Jesus says, 'come to me, all of you who are struggling right now, and i will give you rest.' (loose translation of matt. 11.28) there's power in an invitation. and there is power in being willing to give up what may be entitled to us - in being humble enough to hold open a door for someone - in giving up our hard earned money for someone in need - in opening our homes to a homeless person - in losing sleep to pray for someone.

King of kings...
it is by Your great invitation to join You on this journey called life. thanks for calling out to me when i needed You most. Your timing is excellent. thanks for giving us this example to be humble and how to give of ourselves. Your life is an example of humility; let me follow hard after You. guide me in ways which i can be willing to give up for Your sake. let Your light shine thru me. be glorified thru my actions and thru times of seeking Your wisdom and truth.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*valerie *valerie *Allison

Untamed Animals

"Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance."

So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. They placed the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
1 sam 6.7-12

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
mark 21.1-7

so as a reader you probably skipped over the verses. but can i recommend going back and reading them? go back and catch how the two stories resemble each other. see how the ark and Jesus both had a mission which included wild animals. see the animals overcame their natural instincts.

not sure if you've ever experienced the wrath of a bucking bronco or a cow without her calf, but it's pretty intense. my grandfather was trampled once by a cow when she felt threatened for the safety of her calf. and i've been bucked off a horse... (there's a funny story in that somewhere!) but some how God ordained for these animals to behave and do exact what they needed to do. not only did the cows abandon their calves, but they were under control even after being yoked and pulling a cart. critters feel very threatened when something is following them! so it's really not a normal behavior for these cows. and this colt knew how to behave with a rider on it's back. (again, that's not normal!) i've been part of training horses, and it's not easy. horses have a mind of their own.

time after time in the Bible, God uses object lessons to get people's attention. i can only imagine how these philistines marveled at these cows, and how the disciples must have thought Jesus was insane for attempting to sit on a wild colt. but the miracles happened. and they still happen today.

Amazing Father,
You have a way of taming the wild, from jonah's experience in the belly of the fish to calming the raging sea. what in me needs to be tamed? what object lesson do you have for me today? open my eyes so i can see great and marvelous things You create and say. let me hear Your voice, and not miss what it is that You desire for me to understand. (that was the long version, "let me hear what You are saying.") as the trees lift up their arms in praise, let me rejoice even more, for You are good and Your love endures forever.
*Derrick *Landra *Misty