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June 6th, 2008
June 3rd, 2008
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:12-14
Philippians 3:12-14
June 1st, 2008
You are the God of this City....
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Hebrews 13:14-15
May we just confess your name in this Nation as we look forward to the city that is to come! What a beautiful verse.
There is none like our God :-)
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Hebrews 13:14-15
May we just confess your name in this Nation as we look forward to the city that is to come! What a beautiful verse.
There is none like our God :-)
gratefulMay 27th, 2008
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a
Everything we do has a purpose, every second has a purpose... every second has God.
Times of doubt...
Matthew 16:29-33
Times of brokenness...It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
This is what the Lord says: “At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them. Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again.
Isaiah 49:8
Times of (holy) hate...
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,'but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'Matthew 21:12-13
Times of heartache...The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
Psalm 34:18-19
Times of hurting...
Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
Daniel 6:21-22
Times of hunger....
Psalm 145:15-17
Times of sorrow...
Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11
Times of confusion....
Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm: at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out
1 Corinthians 10:13
Times of chaos...
For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” he says, “and there is no other. times of pain, times of storm."
Isaiah 45:19
It’s over, It’s underneath, it’s inside, it’s inbetween. His Love is everywhere.
May 25th, 2008
Finally relaxing after a long weekend and a Braves game, and I'm physically exhausted. A big week ahead.... two or three days that I haven't experienced in a while.
Excitement. Anticipation. Thrilled. Sounds like life revival? :-)
Excitement. Anticipation. Thrilled. Sounds like life revival? :-)
May 22nd, 2008
Had a craving for worship last night so I went to Soul2Soul and it refreshed me. Paul played this tape on apologetics and it made me think - I could so do apologetics - I am a debater.
Other than that, there's been a song on my heart for the past like 15 hours: Our God is an Awesome God!
Warning - shows some clips that are graphic.
Hm, brings tears to my eyes. Thank you God.
Other than that, there's been a song on my heart for the past like 15 hours: Our God is an Awesome God!
Warning - shows some clips that are graphic.
Hm, brings tears to my eyes. Thank you God.
May 20th, 2008
"Our desire for you, as you listen through tracks 1-11, is that you would not just bob your head and sing along, but that somehow, in some way, amidst all the words, notes and musical mayhem, our is that you would encounter Christ, encounter Him. Not just hear about him, not just sing about him, but truly, sincerely encounter him. "
Encountering God through the CD is inevitable. Every single track has something in that has truly touched my heart - its seriously one of the most powerful CD's I've ever heard.
Track 1 - "Love is Here"
It begins by telling us the status quo. Love is pouring from his hands. It's now our job to recieve this inevitable love. From his wounds, we drink salvation. He is the Lord, he is the Lord!
Track 2- "Lift us up to fall"
After we realize the love that is there - we need to realize that we are so little in comparison to God's goodness. He moves the earth, the stars, sun, the sky.... if he can move all of that -- he definitely can move in us... Hold our hearts, send the rain! Draw us near, and lift us up to fall before everything you are!
Track 3 - "By your side"
One of the most powerful tracks, catches all of us when we are the weakest. This is a song from God. The picture is painted perfectly through the lyrics and God just asking you while you're by yourself alone, "WHy are you trying to earn grace? Why are you looking for love? Why are you still searching? Am I not enough?" Finally God pronounces, I'll be by your side wherever you fall in the dead of night, whenever you call. Please don't fight these hands that are holding you. My hands are holding you!" It ends with the most comforting message... "I love you... and I want you to know...that I'll never let you go." This brings tears to my eyes... I know my God is singing this to me.
Track 4 - "Let it Go"
It's a great track to follow the last because it speaks to those who have heard God's message of love. And it's just us willing to let everything go and it's really a battle song, "You say you will be everything I need, You say if I lose my life, it's then I'll find my sould. You say let it go." Such a tough battle that pretty much everyone deals with in their life... but finally the last lines... "What will it cost, what will it take... for you to save my soul!!!"
Track 5 - "Break Me Down"
Today we have a calling... the calling is probably the strongest it's ever been - every person I've talked to has this renewed passion... and to God be the glory! This song is for the person who is being called, but is stalled. "I'm yours tonight, I'm yours if you can break me down. Break through these walls I hide behind...come and break me down, won't you break me down?" Being desperate for God is a beautiful thing and I pray that God breaks down the walls of this city. (Hm, sounds like a passion song?)
Track 6 - "Hold my Heart"
Waiting is one of the hardest things God puts in our way. Waiting to see his glory on earth, waiting to see the sun on rainy day, waiting to have the answers, waiting to call me. Here I am God, choose me. Run to me, turn to me, Oh God! I' cant see but I'll take my chances in this storm to hear you call my name!
Track 7 - "Times"
The song is a prayer for love. Love during times of brokeness, hate, healing, breaking, falling, pretending, forgiveness, heart ache, storm, sorrow, confusion, chaos, pain, everything.... God says, "I don't care where you've fallen or where you have been. I'll never forsake you. My love never ends... It never ends!" What promise... ah i love it.
Track 8 - "Beloved"
This is truly a love song for the century. "You're my beloved lover, I'm yours. death shall not part us. It's you I died for. for better or worse, forever we'll be. My love-- it unites us and it binds you to me. It's a mystery." Jesus is so personal. He died for my sins. The song is just a promise of his enduring love for me.
Track 9 - "You Are"
A song of complete surrender. Complete surrender to the one who holds the stars, holds the beating of my heart. The one who separates light from night deserves all of me! The track finishes with a strong bridge of "All I am I want to lay down at your feet!" which is my desire!
Track 10 - "Satisfy"
How Beautiful is the love of God! Imagine God's love alone can satisfy our hearts? We should be begging God to satisfy our cities, communities, towns, neighborhoods... every part of oru society longs for satisfication. Your love is all I need to live.
Track 11- "Hallelujah"
What an appropriate word to finish the cd. Hallelujah for the blood of the Lam that was slain! May we enter into life seeking your feace! A God who makes refuge for the weak, blesses the weary, bruised and broken, and allows us to hide away inside your wounds! Wow, its so powerful.
Eleven love songs to God and to us from God. God is love.
Encountering God through the CD is inevitable. Every single track has something in that has truly touched my heart - its seriously one of the most powerful CD's I've ever heard.
Track 1 - "Love is Here"
It begins by telling us the status quo. Love is pouring from his hands. It's now our job to recieve this inevitable love. From his wounds, we drink salvation. He is the Lord, he is the Lord!
Track 2- "Lift us up to fall"
After we realize the love that is there - we need to realize that we are so little in comparison to God's goodness. He moves the earth, the stars, sun, the sky.... if he can move all of that -- he definitely can move in us... Hold our hearts, send the rain! Draw us near, and lift us up to fall before everything you are!
Track 3 - "By your side"
One of the most powerful tracks, catches all of us when we are the weakest. This is a song from God. The picture is painted perfectly through the lyrics and God just asking you while you're by yourself alone, "WHy are you trying to earn grace? Why are you looking for love? Why are you still searching? Am I not enough?" Finally God pronounces, I'll be by your side wherever you fall in the dead of night, whenever you call. Please don't fight these hands that are holding you. My hands are holding you!" It ends with the most comforting message... "I love you... and I want you to know...that I'll never let you go." This brings tears to my eyes... I know my God is singing this to me.
Track 4 - "Let it Go"
It's a great track to follow the last because it speaks to those who have heard God's message of love. And it's just us willing to let everything go and it's really a battle song, "You say you will be everything I need, You say if I lose my life, it's then I'll find my sould. You say let it go." Such a tough battle that pretty much everyone deals with in their life... but finally the last lines... "What will it cost, what will it take... for you to save my soul!!!"
Track 5 - "Break Me Down"
Today we have a calling... the calling is probably the strongest it's ever been - every person I've talked to has this renewed passion... and to God be the glory! This song is for the person who is being called, but is stalled. "I'm yours tonight, I'm yours if you can break me down. Break through these walls I hide behind...come and break me down, won't you break me down?" Being desperate for God is a beautiful thing and I pray that God breaks down the walls of this city. (Hm, sounds like a passion song?)
Track 6 - "Hold my Heart"
Waiting is one of the hardest things God puts in our way. Waiting to see his glory on earth, waiting to see the sun on rainy day, waiting to have the answers, waiting to call me. Here I am God, choose me. Run to me, turn to me, Oh God! I' cant see but I'll take my chances in this storm to hear you call my name!
Track 7 - "Times"
The song is a prayer for love. Love during times of brokeness, hate, healing, breaking, falling, pretending, forgiveness, heart ache, storm, sorrow, confusion, chaos, pain, everything.... God says, "I don't care where you've fallen or where you have been. I'll never forsake you. My love never ends... It never ends!" What promise... ah i love it.
Track 8 - "Beloved"
This is truly a love song for the century. "You're my beloved lover, I'm yours. death shall not part us. It's you I died for. for better or worse, forever we'll be. My love-- it unites us and it binds you to me. It's a mystery." Jesus is so personal. He died for my sins. The song is just a promise of his enduring love for me.
Track 9 - "You Are"
A song of complete surrender. Complete surrender to the one who holds the stars, holds the beating of my heart. The one who separates light from night deserves all of me! The track finishes with a strong bridge of "All I am I want to lay down at your feet!" which is my desire!
Track 10 - "Satisfy"
How Beautiful is the love of God! Imagine God's love alone can satisfy our hearts? We should be begging God to satisfy our cities, communities, towns, neighborhoods... every part of oru society longs for satisfication. Your love is all I need to live.
Track 11- "Hallelujah"
What an appropriate word to finish the cd. Hallelujah for the blood of the Lam that was slain! May we enter into life seeking your feace! A God who makes refuge for the weak, blesses the weary, bruised and broken, and allows us to hide away inside your wounds! Wow, its so powerful.
Eleven love songs to God and to us from God. God is love.
encounteredMay 16th, 2008
Inevitable. It's a word that is so trivialized in the world I live [debate]. Everything seems inevitable. But did you know inevitable comes from the Latin word vitare which means to avoid. We try to avoid the inevitable. You hear it all the time? It's ironic that inevitable means incapable of avoiding. Why do we try to avoid the unavoidable? Why don't we try to find the glory of God in the unavoidable? Matthew 18:7 (in the Message) indicates that hard times are inevitable, but instead of dreading them, instead give them to God!
For the past week, I've been blessed to listen to Tenth Avenue North.. and every time I listen to their songs, I can find something that is relatable. So much of what they sing about is every day struggles, prayers, or any thing I'm going through. Their song, "Beyond Words," has a verse in there where they just describe God's goodness:
in a ball room there is dancing
in a forest there are trees
in a child there's a hope that keeps him in belief
with any star there is a sky
with any beach there is a sea
with every love song there's a lover
in your heart i hope is.... God.
I added the last word. I feel like God's singing this to everyone... He's singing the inevitable. It's inevitable that in every ballroom, dancing will happen... and that in the glorious sky he created, there would be a star. So shouldn't it also be inevitable that in your heart, there God is. This comes back to my interpretation of inevitable -- shouldn't we glorify the inevitable? Isaiah 26:8b says, "our heart’s desire is to glorify your name."
However, you have to look at the definition of inevitable... isn't it so true that we try and avoid God's full usage of our hearts? But once it starts to happen, we desire it more than ever... at least the last couple of months have been that way for me. A song I just heard - Reign in Us by Starfield describes in perfectly in the chorus:
Lord Jesus come lead us
We're desperate for your touch
Oh Great and Mighty One with one desire we come
That you would reign that you would reign in us
We're offering up our lives a living sacrifice
That you would reign that you would reign in us
Thank you God for making your love for us inevitable, now I pray that our love for you is inevitable.
Inevitable"From the Corners of the Earth"
Starfield
From the Corners of the Earth
From every nation, God is calling out His own
A saved generation, that will not be overthrown
And we’re not backing down, no way
We’re finally seeing it clearly
One body, one church one savior,
One call to praise
Hey, from the corners of the earth
We will sing of your great worth
And around the world proclaim
Our God Reigns!
We sing for freedom and the reign of God to come
For His power through us, as the wars we wage are won.
And we’re not backing down, no way
We’re finally seeing it clearly
One body, one church one savior,
One call to praise
From the north to the south to the east to the west we sing
To the one, to the one, to the one who is our King
From the north to the south to the east to the west we sing
To the one, to the one, to the one who is our King
Starfield
From the Corners of the Earth
From every nation, God is calling out His own
A saved generation, that will not be overthrown
And we’re not backing down, no way
We’re finally seeing it clearly
One body, one church one savior,
One call to praise
Hey, from the corners of the earth
We will sing of your great worth
And around the world proclaim
Our God Reigns!
We sing for freedom and the reign of God to come
For His power through us, as the wars we wage are won.
And we’re not backing down, no way
We’re finally seeing it clearly
One body, one church one savior,
One call to praise
From the north to the south to the east to the west we sing
To the one, to the one, to the one who is our King
From the north to the south to the east to the west we sing
To the one, to the one, to the one who is our King
I love this.
Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run
And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go
Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run
And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go
May 15th, 2008
Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord, you who serve in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with music.
Psalm 135:1-3
In just like two sentences or so, the word "praise" was mentioned four times. It's such an important part of living in God is praising his wonderful name. A lot of good music has come out recently or is coming out soon...today I've spent a good part of my time on LimeWire getting some new songs - 29 to be exact-- some Christian, some not... but I'm realizing more and more that God's name is being celebrated in all types of music, not just MercyMe's and Casting Crowns... :-)
The ones I've really liked today:
"Until you" - Dave Barnes
New Death cab CD -- I got this reccomended to me... :-)
"Losing Me" - Diego
"I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz
"Take A Bow" - Rhianna
New Tenth Avenue North CD -- thank you Sirius for introducing us!
Psalm 135:1-3
In just like two sentences or so, the word "praise" was mentioned four times. It's such an important part of living in God is praising his wonderful name. A lot of good music has come out recently or is coming out soon...today I've spent a good part of my time on LimeWire getting some new songs - 29 to be exact-- some Christian, some not... but I'm realizing more and more that God's name is being celebrated in all types of music, not just MercyMe's and Casting Crowns... :-)
The ones I've really liked today:
"Until you" - Dave Barnes
New Death cab CD -- I got this reccomended to me... :-)
"Losing Me" - Diego
"I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz
"Take A Bow" - Rhianna
New Tenth Avenue North CD -- thank you Sirius for introducing us!
mellowJohn Edwards is the man. Thank you for supporting Barack Obama. They've been talking at least once a week since February. They are also planning on campaigning together for the rest of the election season. hmm, does anybody smell an Obama/Edwards ticket like I predicted? :-)
i'm very happy right now.
i'm very happy right now.
May 14th, 2008
As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
2 Thessalonians 2:13
Come into my darkest place,
Stand inside and claim your space,
I give you all of me.
All the secrets of my heart,
Every word and every thought,
I give you all of me.
"Captivate" - Tenth Avenue North
Stand inside and claim your space,
I give you all of me.
All the secrets of my heart,
Every word and every thought,
I give you all of me.
"Captivate" - Tenth Avenue North
hopefulMay 13th, 2008
As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
The darkness cannot hide
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All Power on Heaven and earth belong to me
"Set me Free" - Casting Crowns
He looks straight through my eyes
The darkness cannot hide
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All Power on Heaven and earth belong to me
"Set me Free" - Casting Crowns
Being set free is something everyone wants. Being set free in Christ is something worth striving for. Galatians 5 indicates that as Christians, we have been set from the law to please God. We're free from any frustration of not being able to keep up with certain rules. And that God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us function. But being free in Christ begins with your full faith in Jesus!
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.
2 Samuel 22:7
Being free requires us to cry out to God - just as the lyrics indicate, God asks us, "Do you want to be free..." Yeah he's leaving it up to us as to whether we want it or not. Crying out to God gives you freedom. It reminds me of Jesus telling his disciples in the parable of the persistent widow - to cry out to God when you need to!
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
Then the Lord said,“Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke 18: 1-8
Being free also requires us to confess. Two types of confession are talked about in the Word.
The first is (not necessarily the first in the Word, but the first I'll mention) is confessing that Christ is Lord! The message should always be close at hand, but more importantly ON your lips and IN your heart.
In fact, it says,“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Romans 10:8-10
I think that an important part of the verse is that though the message just should be close to you, your lips and heart should ALWAYS be on guard for God. God is great! :-) He clarifies so much for us, thank you God for making your Word this available to us!
The second type of confession is confessing of our sins. We all sin. For all have sinned... We can't say we don't sin... but what we can do about it is - confess.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
1 John 1:8-10
What I really like about confession in God's word is that they're connected. By confessing our sins to God, it says he will be faithful and cleanse us from it. When this happens, it's just natural that we go out and confess the glory of God and profess how great he is! It's amazing how consistent God is!
Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
1 John 4:14-16
Love is here, Love is now. God's moving like crazy in our towns, churches, communities, everywhere! God is love and simply asks us to commit our lives to him. Commit ourselves to love. Commitment is the third thing to do when desiring to be free in Christ. Proverbs asks us to commit ourselves to his instruction so that we may have wisdom. One thing about the Word that strikes my attention is that the word, "commit" is used soo often in the bible, but its used in the negative sense - committing adultery, murder, etc. God knows that we're more apt to commit these types of things so he keeps reminding us over 100 times to not commit these things. God's persistence on this makes me want to commit my life to him. He's so committed to our lives by trying to just remind us what not to commit. In 1 Timothy, it talks about what the leaders of the church should be like and I believe that although the following verse's context is about deacons, gives a command to all church leaders.
They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
1 Timothy 3:9
God commands all of us to be set free from the pain of this world.
Cry out.
Confess God.
Confess Sins.
Commit to God not to the world.
Set me free, God, For only you have the key to my chains!
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.
2 Samuel 22:7
Being free requires us to cry out to God - just as the lyrics indicate, God asks us, "Do you want to be free..." Yeah he's leaving it up to us as to whether we want it or not. Crying out to God gives you freedom. It reminds me of Jesus telling his disciples in the parable of the persistent widow - to cry out to God when you need to!
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Then the Lord said,
The first is (not necessarily the first in the Word, but the first I'll mention) is confessing that Christ is Lord! The message should always be close at hand, but more importantly ON your lips and IN your heart.
Romans 10:8-10
I think that an important part of the verse is that though the message just should be close to you, your lips and heart should ALWAYS be on guard for God. God is great! :-) He clarifies so much for us, thank you God for making your Word this available to us!
The second type of confession is confessing of our sins. We all sin. For all have sinned... We can't say we don't sin... but what we can do about it is - confess.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
1 John 1:8-10
What I really like about confession in God's word is that they're connected. By confessing our sins to God, it says he will be faithful and cleanse us from it. When this happens, it's just natural that we go out and confess the glory of God and profess how great he is! It's amazing how consistent God is!
Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
1 John 4:14-16
Love is here, Love is now. God's moving like crazy in our towns, churches, communities, everywhere! God is love and simply asks us to commit our lives to him. Commit ourselves to love. Commitment is the third thing to do when desiring to be free in Christ. Proverbs asks us to commit ourselves to his instruction so that we may have wisdom. One thing about the Word that strikes my attention is that the word, "commit" is used soo often in the bible, but its used in the negative sense - committing adultery, murder, etc. God knows that we're more apt to commit these types of things so he keeps reminding us over 100 times to not commit these things. God's persistence on this makes me want to commit my life to him. He's so committed to our lives by trying to just remind us what not to commit. In 1 Timothy, it talks about what the leaders of the church should be like and I believe that although the following verse's context is about deacons, gives a command to all church leaders.
They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
1 Timothy 3:9
God commands all of us to be set free from the pain of this world.
Cry out.
Confess God.
Confess Sins.
Commit to God not to the world.
Set me free, God, For only you have the key to my chains!
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
"My Chains are gone" - Chris Tomlin
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
"My Chains are gone" - Chris Tomlin
God is freaking amazing!For the past couple of months, I've grown exponentially... and I want to thank God for that. I think a part of the reason I've grown was to prepare me for yesterday
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared
Ephesians 3:13-15
God has put his armor on me to prepare for this battle.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.
Psalm 71:19-21
God is so good despite the hard times.
pray for this sore throat to go away.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared
Ephesians 3:13-15
God has put his armor on me to prepare for this battle.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.
Psalm 71:19-21
God is so good despite the hard times.
pray for this sore throat to go away.
May 12th, 2008
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.
May 11th, 2008
i'll still love you
beyond what words can say
i'll take your every suffering moment
and bring a better day
i'll still love you
more than what i hope to be
let me wrap my arms around you
let me wrap my arms around you
let me wrap my arms around you
let me take your breath away
God thank you for being there when I need you most... thank you for wrapping your arms around me... for taking my breath away... for giving me strength through every suffering moment! You know the desires of my heart and will continue to fight for me! For my God is amazing... thank you best friend!
beyond what words can say
i'll take your every suffering moment
and bring a better day
i'll still love you
more than what i hope to be
let me wrap my arms around you
let me wrap my arms around you
let me wrap my arms around you
let me take your breath away
God thank you for being there when I need you most... thank you for wrapping your arms around me... for taking my breath away... for giving me strength through every suffering moment! You know the desires of my heart and will continue to fight for me! For my God is amazing... thank you best friend!
May 10th, 2008
The following message made my evening :-)
___________
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENTRY: Thank You
___________
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENTRY: Thank You
Thank you so much for your work on behalf of the debate community. I am Nick and Olivia's mom, and because of your website, our family was able to follow the TOC action from home. You allowed us to share in the excitement as it infolded last week and saved us from the usual fate of debate parents, which any debater can tell you is total ignorance. Besides being informative, your website is easy to navigate and attractive, so great job!
Charlotte Rogan
So as tomorrow approaches, so does the College mission trip... and I really wanted to go - but was I being called? Not really which I why I didn't go. Here's my confession: I am being called to a mission trip somewhere sometime... and I really wanted to go to this one because I enjoyed my last Gulf mission trip so much. So why didn't I go? In my opinion, the group going on the mission trip needs to be unified... and need to have the unity of Christ before sharing with others.
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Later in this chapter, Paul specifically writes to the church.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Well that's just my opinion on it but with that said, I know God will have his work be done this week and I will pray for God's will to be shown. God is good and God will fire up the gulf!
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Later in this chapter, Paul specifically writes to the church.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Well that's just my opinion on it but with that said, I know God will have his work be done this week and I will pray for God's will to be shown. God is good and God will fire up the gulf!
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