Worship

You know, there is just something about reading the Bible that gives you life more than just about anything else. If you are ever beaten down by life, or are unsure where to turn, there are two things that you can do to remedy the situation. One or the other, and generally both work, worship and the reading of Gods word. They both bring so much edification and life to your spirit that there is nothing that can nullify them.
No matter where you are, or where you have been, as we serve a loving and forgiving God, we can come to Him and ask for forgiveness, we can set our hearts to worship Him, we can learn about Him. Weather you just need a "pick me up" in the morning, or if you have been running down the wrong road, there is always a place for you to find peace. If you have been running down the wrong road you must repent to find it, but it is there all the same.
That being said, we must never forget that we serve a Great, Mighty, and Just God. He is not a "push over" and though He will give forgiveness and grace, if you do not turn from your wicked ways He will give justice. However, I take comfort in that reality. I am glad to know that we serve a just and good God. I am invigorated when I know that evil will not stand, indeed it Cannot stand against the Powerful Light which is our God.
Of the righteous God says. "When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run you will not stumble" Prov 4:12
Of the wicked God says. "The way of the wicked is like darkness, they do not know what makes them stumble." Prov 4:19
Praise be to God, for You alone I will worship, and You alone I will praise. Praise the Lord.

Front Door Opportunities

I have recently been praying for God to give me opportunities to do things for Him. I realize that often this can be a frightening thing as we are never sure what He is going to ask us to do. However, in my case it has been a huge blessing.
I know that part of the calling on my life is to write, and, though I don't see a pulpit in my near future, I have been called to preach (at least some what). Well it occurred to me when I first started this blog that I could write "encouraging messages" but it has once again hit me that this blog is a wonderful platform in which to do what God has asked of me. Amazingly enough, using this blog to write and preach at the same time really works!
It isawe inspiring how when we ask God for something that is in line with what He has asked us to do, He will always give us the exact circumstances to get what we need...what I call "front door opportunities" Because it is right there, at your front door, the only thing you have to do is open it. Why cant I be pursuing what God has for me to do right now? Why cant I be doing what I can to prepare myself for all that He has for me? Why cant you?
Often, however, He must ask us to get up off of the floor in order to answer the door. We must embrace leaving things not of Him in order to become fully His. No relics of Hell in Heaven, so to speak. How much do you want it? You must love Him enough to be willing to do anything. I have said that He leaves things on our doorstep, which is true, but that dose'nt always mean that it is easy. It is however, always good. You know, "in order to become a butterfly, a caterpiller must want it enough to give up being a caterpiller."

Peace and Chaos

You know, there is just something about living alone that makes you very thankful for family. Don't get me wrong, I love the peace and quiet that I get in my apartment, but there are times when I miss the chaos. Thankfully though God has given me A LOT to do these days so I don't get board, but it still makes me happy to think that just two hours away is a place where I can go and watch as everyone freaks out and I can have a wonderful time. (I hope that dosent sound terrible) Sometimes the noise is exactly what I need.
I remember a few years ago when every time that I went into my room to try and get something done, or be by myself, someone would want to come in and talk to me. They never had anything to say, but they wanted to say something. Sometimes I miss that. But, I will be going home at the end of the day, and I cant wait to see everyone.

Sabbath

Sometimes, we get so caught up in "being Christian" that we forget to simply sit down in awe of God. We forget the simple beauty of who He is and what He is doing. Though there are many things going on, and we are all busy, there is a place where we all must go and sit, and rest. This is called the Sabbath. God instituted it into all that He was doing...from the creation on. He commanded us to observe it in the same place that He commanded us not to murder, or steal. Scientifically it is proven that if you take a day off you will be more productive on the other six days. I just want to encourage you to stop what you are doing, all the worry and all the Christian "have too", and just concentrate on Jesus, and why it is that you love Him. It does not have to be an in depth study, but more just an awe and an awareness of His love and life.

Poem

This is just some poetry that I wrote in worship the other day...

Lord,
You are my All,
You are my everything,
Help me through my trial,
Keep me under Your wing.
For my full desire,
Lord my only hope
is to honor and worship You.
God take me, use me
Make me, break me.
For I am yours in all I do
Let my life Lord
Be pleasing unto You.
Lord you are all I want,
You are all I need
Help me now,
To follow Your lead.
I will run after you
all of my days.
God please,
Train me in Your ways.
I look up into the sky
To see Your beauty pass me by,
Do not look away,
Do not leave me alone,
But look on Your servant,
See Your obedient one.
How lovely, how mighty,
Is the Lord?
Who is like Him?
For He is God
King of all
Lord Forevermore.
God of righteousness
And Justice,
Peace and truth shall be His name,
For He makes the blind to see,
and heals the lame.
How wonderful are Your works,
All mighty God!
Blessing and honor is your name,
I will praise you,
Oh Lord my God.
Worship and honor,
Praise and love,
To You forever more.
Until the very end of time
Will the Lord be praised.
For all shall know the Glory,
And the power of the Lord.
Through His overcoming,
Overpowering, captivating,
All consuming Son,
And love of His life,
Jesus Christ
Jehovah Savior,
Forever,
Amen

Excitement

Well, I started my school back up this week, and I don't think that the word excited quite covers it. :) I am absolutely in every way looking forward to this next semester. First of all I am taking The Life and Theology of Paul.....lets just say that this class is going to be a blast! I have been to two classes, and I have already learned a ton! Paul is the most talked about and controversial character in the NT (perhaps even more so than Jesus himself). Just as Moses is the most controversial character in the OT. We have already looked into some of the major arguments, and it is fascinating.

My second class this semester is the Principle Approach Literature. What that means is that we are learning how to teach Literature using the Principle Approach and the 4R method. These two ways of teaching are a lost art in today's world, which is sad because they are some of the most effective ways to teach, and the same curriculum/method works from pre-school to College. I am the most excited about this class, because quite frankly, I LOVE LITERATURE.
The last reason that I am so excited about this semester is that it is my last one. I will still go to school for a while I think, but this is my last one here. I am both excited and sad about this. I have learned and grown so much form my time here that I am quite amazed, and have grown to love the people around me. I have learned more in the two years here than I did in all of high school and grade school, which is fairly remarkable.

I know that God has good things coming my way, and that when I am done with this semester I will have been faithful in what He has asked me to do, and will be ready for the next thing. I will most definitely miss the classes, the teachers, and the other students, but it is my plan to stay in relationship with them, for they are a gift from God, and will not lightly go away.

Selfless

I had an experience this weekend that was in fact very similar to many other experiences I have had in my walk with God, this one however made the point like no other one had done. There had been a lot of talking lately about my grandfather and his new wife. This is a fairly sore subject still, and I was upset. In order to shake the offense and enjoy the rest of my night, I decided to go into the other room and pray...little did I know that God would show up the way that He did.

As I sat there writing in my journal God decided to interrupt my hurt and confusion with one word. Selfless...I realized, that if I was going to be OK, I had to stop thinking about what this whole thing had done to me and forgive to the point that I could be happy to let him be happy. I had to get to the point where I had to be OK if my grandfathers new wife was not only saved, but happy, and prosperous. This does not mean that I have to pretend that everything is fine and dandy, but it does mean that I have to forgive.

Then God decided to keep going with this whole "selfless" theme...I had to not only get to the point where I was OK, but I had to get to the point where it was no longer about me being ok, in fact it wasnt about me, or what I wanted or liked at all. I know that Jesus loves me beyond anything that I could ever realize, and in that knowledge I have to be ok with it being all about Him. In our sociaty today, we often talk abuot how much God loves us and wants us to prosper, and so on and so on...but we have forgotten that HE IS GOD. As such, He has the right to have everything be about Him. It is not about what we want, it is about what we can do for Him and for His kingdom. However, when we really truly begin to love him, then what we want becomes about spreading His kingdom and doing whatever He has asked us to do.

A Good Book

Well, I sincerely hope that everyone had a wonderful New Year, and that no one got hurt driving home. My New Year was good, went to a party with friends, good friends, and laughed and talked and probably ate a little too much, but ended up at home safe by 12:30. I then got very sick, and spent the next two days in bed, and now am back to work. Not quite back to 100% yet, but am on my way and am very thankful that I had the weekend off where I could just rest.

There was however one thing I was able to do besides sleep, and that was read. If you have not read the book Christ of the Indian Road by E Stanly Jones, I suggest you consider it. So far, it is wonderful! Mr Jones is discussing the difference between bringing Western Civilization to India, or bringing Christ to India. Here is the amazing thing, the Indian people Want Christ! They need Him, and they know it. When Christianity is centered on Christ, and we leave all of our traditions and all of the little things that we have to do out of it, Christianity has no problem spreading like wildfire. This all goes back to the very thing that I have been saying from the beginning, All must be centered on Christ.

There was a really good quote in the second chapter of the book that I would like to share with you. "If what we are doing is real, then it will thrive all the more. If it isn't real, the sooner we find out the better." How humble a way to profess your faith? If we would just simply believe in Jesus, and live for Him, often times that is the best witness we can give. I would also call to you attention the word "witness" What does this word mean but that we have "seen something with our eyes, and can testify to its truth." How many people do you know who can say that about their relationship with Jesus? Can you?

On that note, I will leave you to continue on as we burst into the new month, the new year, and the new decade.