"All the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'" (HCSB)
What Satan intends for bad, God will use for good.
His people were begging for His covering..
God, WE were begging for Your covering. We knew we could no longer stand alone. We needed to be washed in Your blood - covered with Your blood...and somewhere deep inside we knew that. It was brutal, but we called out for You...and You answered.
Proof that our hearts long for You.
Proof that You use all things for Your glory.
Proof that Your sheep know Your voice.
What kind of love..
Showing posts with label Yeshua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yeshua. Show all posts
17 September 2011
31 August 2010
Up 'Til Dawn
Okay, before bed I've got to show you guys this video and tell you a little bit about life.
For quite a few years now I've had this huge tug on my heart to work with St. Jude's Children's Hospital. I don't know how or when or really anything, but God has that place and those sweet children on my heart so much. When I think I've forgotten, He sends something else to remind me.
Just now I stumbled upon this website: Up Til Dawn
and this video:
Talk about tears. I can't help but feel that I'll be doing something with St Jude's or Egleston after college. The funny thing is..those kids don't need encouragement. They're probably the happiest, most content kids ever...because, though they've seen some of the hardest times and watched their parents cry out to God asking WHY it had to be their baby, their faith is stronger. They don't doubt that God exists and that He, as Jehovah Rophi (the God who heals) and Moshia (our Savior), is alive and active today.
What faith. What boundless, mindblowing faith.
Abba, make me as a child with unending faith in You.
For quite a few years now I've had this huge tug on my heart to work with St. Jude's Children's Hospital. I don't know how or when or really anything, but God has that place and those sweet children on my heart so much. When I think I've forgotten, He sends something else to remind me.
Just now I stumbled upon this website: Up Til Dawn
and this video:
Talk about tears. I can't help but feel that I'll be doing something with St Jude's or Egleston after college. The funny thing is..those kids don't need encouragement. They're probably the happiest, most content kids ever...because, though they've seen some of the hardest times and watched their parents cry out to God asking WHY it had to be their baby, their faith is stronger. They don't doubt that God exists and that He, as Jehovah Rophi (the God who heals) and Moshia (our Savior), is alive and active today.
What faith. What boundless, mindblowing faith.
Abba, make me as a child with unending faith in You.
02 June 2010
Proverbs and a verse for yesterday
First of all, in Isaiah 32...there's such a great image in the second verse of four things:
1. shelter from the wind
2. refuge from the rain
3. streams of water in a dry land
4. shade of a massive rock in an arid land
What an incredible picture of what God is to us....to put it simply - he saves us from certain death. Riley's dad, Mr. Scott, recently returned from a year in Iraq. He said sometimes the sandstorms would get so bad that they would last for over a day and going outside was impossible. The wind stirred the sand up so much that it would surely blind you if you were in it without protection. Protection, for us, is Adonai. He is our shelter from the wind. Mr. Scott also talked about how the rain would come through the sandstorm, slapping red stains on everything it could reach. The Israelites/Hebrews/God's chosen people lived in this desert...amidst the sandstorms and torrential rains. He was their shelter and refuge.
Another thing that is cool is...He is our refuge from rain, yet the provider of water in dry land. He gives us just enough - not too little or too much because we can't handle either of those. He gives us enough. Number 4 reminds me so much of Moses in Exodus 33...His light is so bright that He has to provide for us a shelter...Adonai hid Moses in the rock because Moses couldn't see Adonai's full glory and still live...how wonderful. How incredible to know that He's looking out on both sides - the 'too much' and the 'not enough' side..how incredible to know that He is just enough.
In a similar way, Isaiah 32 speaks against the overconfident and the complacent - there's a 'happy medium.' The middle of the chapter tells of destruction and mourning...then vs 15 says "until the Spirit from heaven is poured out upon us." I'm not sure if I'm right, but this seems to be a picture of Yeshua...He brought the outpouring of the Spirit ... to dwell within us forever, right? "The desert will become an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest."
Verse 17 says "The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever." - this reminds me so much of yesterday: Isaiah 30:15 & 18. Deliverance/strength/patience all tie in with quiet confidence. How incredible.
Chapter 2 of Proverbs is full of pictures and contrasts between the wise and the foolish - I challenge you to write it down - in your own words what the scriptures say - in a chart and keep track of it as you read through Proverbs. The pictures are striking and very humbling. Specifically, verse 17 tied in with a few other things I've learned recently. It says, "...who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;" - it's discussing a 'forbidden woman' - a married woman, I would presume.
WOW.
She has divorced her first love and has forgotten the covenant of her God. Think back to Moses and the Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. Moses met on the mountain with Adonai.. when the cloud was on the mountain and Moses was receiving the Word, God makes a covenant with the Israelites. The image of that is where the chuppah comes from...it is a covering. The chuppah is used in wedding ceremonies, but holds the most meaning in Jewish weddings where it symbolizes this covering as the Israelites received the Torah among other things. But seriously, the fact that Proverbs discusses this woman, obviously previously married, forgetting the covenant of her God, is such an incredible picture of how we should not forget His covenant, but also should not enter into marriage, or abandon it, with any sort of nonchalance. It's a HUGE deal!! Such a big deal that God entered into a covenant with the Israelites, His chosen people, in the same sense that we enter into a marriage - it is a covenant that should not be broken!
1. shelter from the wind
2. refuge from the rain
3. streams of water in a dry land
4. shade of a massive rock in an arid land
What an incredible picture of what God is to us....to put it simply - he saves us from certain death. Riley's dad, Mr. Scott, recently returned from a year in Iraq. He said sometimes the sandstorms would get so bad that they would last for over a day and going outside was impossible. The wind stirred the sand up so much that it would surely blind you if you were in it without protection. Protection, for us, is Adonai. He is our shelter from the wind. Mr. Scott also talked about how the rain would come through the sandstorm, slapping red stains on everything it could reach. The Israelites/Hebrews/God's chosen people lived in this desert...amidst the sandstorms and torrential rains. He was their shelter and refuge.
Another thing that is cool is...He is our refuge from rain, yet the provider of water in dry land. He gives us just enough - not too little or too much because we can't handle either of those. He gives us enough. Number 4 reminds me so much of Moses in Exodus 33...His light is so bright that He has to provide for us a shelter...Adonai hid Moses in the rock because Moses couldn't see Adonai's full glory and still live...how wonderful. How incredible to know that He's looking out on both sides - the 'too much' and the 'not enough' side..how incredible to know that He is just enough.
In a similar way, Isaiah 32 speaks against the overconfident and the complacent - there's a 'happy medium.' The middle of the chapter tells of destruction and mourning...then vs 15 says "until the Spirit from heaven is poured out upon us." I'm not sure if I'm right, but this seems to be a picture of Yeshua...He brought the outpouring of the Spirit ... to dwell within us forever, right? "The desert will become an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest."
Verse 17 says "The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever." - this reminds me so much of yesterday: Isaiah 30:15 & 18. Deliverance/strength/patience all tie in with quiet confidence. How incredible.
Chapter 2 of Proverbs is full of pictures and contrasts between the wise and the foolish - I challenge you to write it down - in your own words what the scriptures say - in a chart and keep track of it as you read through Proverbs. The pictures are striking and very humbling. Specifically, verse 17 tied in with a few other things I've learned recently. It says, "...who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;" - it's discussing a 'forbidden woman' - a married woman, I would presume.
WOW.
She has divorced her first love and has forgotten the covenant of her God. Think back to Moses and the Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. Moses met on the mountain with Adonai.. when the cloud was on the mountain and Moses was receiving the Word, God makes a covenant with the Israelites. The image of that is where the chuppah comes from...it is a covering. The chuppah is used in wedding ceremonies, but holds the most meaning in Jewish weddings where it symbolizes this covering as the Israelites received the Torah among other things. But seriously, the fact that Proverbs discusses this woman, obviously previously married, forgetting the covenant of her God, is such an incredible picture of how we should not forget His covenant, but also should not enter into marriage, or abandon it, with any sort of nonchalance. It's a HUGE deal!! Such a big deal that God entered into a covenant with the Israelites, His chosen people, in the same sense that we enter into a marriage - it is a covenant that should not be broken!
19 May 2010
Nightlights
(This is from Jimmy Needham's new album Nightlights which can be found here.)
be Thou exalted over my reputation
because applause is a poor form of soul medication
and I've tried it for years but my symptoms remain-
still fretting the day that they'll misplace my name,
still selling my soul for American fame,
treating the promotion of Jesus like a well oiled machine,
advancing His kingdom just to snag some acclaim.
now I'm both comforted and haunted that it isn't just me, though.
I see a nation of people needing to feed their own egos,
parading status like steeples.
do we not know it's evil to love ourselves more than both God and His people?
but see here's where you turn this poem on its head,
because the greatest among us came as servant instead.
and You humbled Yourself to the point of Your death.
Apparently love for the Father's glory runs red.
so, friends, will we point to the Son until our own flames grow dim?
will our bright lights become merely nightlights near Him?
words echoed once, let them echo again:
be Thou exalted over my reputation.
be Thou exalted over my reputation
because applause is a poor form of soul medication
and I've tried it for years but my symptoms remain-
still fretting the day that they'll misplace my name,
still selling my soul for American fame,
treating the promotion of Jesus like a well oiled machine,
advancing His kingdom just to snag some acclaim.
now I'm both comforted and haunted that it isn't just me, though.
I see a nation of people needing to feed their own egos,
parading status like steeples.
do we not know it's evil to love ourselves more than both God and His people?
but see here's where you turn this poem on its head,
because the greatest among us came as servant instead.
and You humbled Yourself to the point of Your death.
Apparently love for the Father's glory runs red.
so, friends, will we point to the Son until our own flames grow dim?
will our bright lights become merely nightlights near Him?
words echoed once, let them echo again:
be Thou exalted over my reputation.
19 April 2010
12:30
it's morning again in the middle of the night and I'm two paragraphs into this fight.
My body is screaming that it's too late; I can only collapse now.
I'm tired of being tired and sick of being sick, a downward spiral of self-destruction.
I've lost myself, so where are you? Aren't you coming soon to save me?
Is there a place for me in all of this? Surely you haven't gone.
At every turn, I fall -- I can't get this right. You've called me and I know it...somewhere.
Do the leaves have this much trouble living and praising?
The pictures my words paint die like the desert, but you created life there between two rivers.
Where are they? Surely you are here.
In my tears I gasp your name. Do you hear me now?
Can you be enough to make up for what I'm not?
I have nothing left to offer, nothing to offer.
Will you be everything?
My body is screaming that it's too late; I can only collapse now.
I'm tired of being tired and sick of being sick, a downward spiral of self-destruction.
I've lost myself, so where are you? Aren't you coming soon to save me?
Is there a place for me in all of this? Surely you haven't gone.
At every turn, I fall -- I can't get this right. You've called me and I know it...somewhere.
Do the leaves have this much trouble living and praising?
The pictures my words paint die like the desert, but you created life there between two rivers.
Where are they? Surely you are here.
In my tears I gasp your name. Do you hear me now?
Can you be enough to make up for what I'm not?
I have nothing left to offer, nothing to offer.
Will you be everything?
07 April 2010
Jacob's dream
After Jacob's dream, he 'continues on his journey'....somehow I imagine that he was ecstatic, probably walking with a spring in his step and even dancing at times!
He'd had an encounter with God. He had this dream to remember and strengthen his faith.
What more do we have?! We have Emmanuel - God WITH us. IN us. We have the very Word of Adonai with us all the time.
Every morning I see the sunrise, or simply the sun high with the backdrop of a beautiful sky.
I should be skipping to class and work, not walking begrudgingly.
wow.
He'd had an encounter with God. He had this dream to remember and strengthen his faith.
What more do we have?! We have Emmanuel - God WITH us. IN us. We have the very Word of Adonai with us all the time.
Every morning I see the sunrise, or simply the sun high with the backdrop of a beautiful sky.
I should be skipping to class and work, not walking begrudgingly.
wow.
30 March 2010
repost, redefine
A dear friend of mine asked me to write a poem on veils during the fall and I did. I posted it on here and found it again today. The image of rage, power, sacrifice and pure love that tore the curtain separating us from the Holiest of Holies runs through my head often - constantly in the past few days.
The curtain wasn't just torn. We were ruined by ourselves and Adonai wasn't willing to live without us forever.
Does your love fight like that? For friends, for family?
If you are arguing with your friends, are you willing to live without them forever? If you know your family members don't know the love of God, are you willing to live without them?
Or will you fight for them..?
This whole idea reminds me of another poem I wrote called "what kind of love.."
I will post both of them below:
Veils
Solomon created a temple
extravagant and dedicated to the One above
Inside was a veil
of purples, blues, golds, and riches
This curtain of time separated
the presence of the Holiest
from the bloodstained lives of those who worshiped.
Jesus came speaking peace, changing pagan rules.
He crossed the great divide
and conquered it all.
He taught intimacy and encouraged love.
When the last breath escaped
the battered body of an innocent lamb
all limitations were lost.
His body is our bridge
over an ancient chasm.
The veil was torn as He won the battle
and we were set free..
who am I to be scared or fear?
He gave me all of Him
I will give Him all of me.
What could separate us, the psalmist says,
What veil have I hung
to remove Him and bring distance once again?
I am unworthy, but He said He loved enough
to want all or nothing
What is this veil that withholds me
from the flood of His grace and mercy,
from the full divine presence of my Lord?!
[He asked for all or nothing
but what am I willing to give?
which parts will I hoard?
and what reason have I not to trust?]
--
What Kind of Love
The curtain wasn't just torn. We were ruined by ourselves and Adonai wasn't willing to live without us forever.
Does your love fight like that? For friends, for family?
If you are arguing with your friends, are you willing to live without them forever? If you know your family members don't know the love of God, are you willing to live without them?
Or will you fight for them..?
This whole idea reminds me of another poem I wrote called "what kind of love.."
I will post both of them below:
Veils
Solomon created a temple
extravagant and dedicated to the One above
Inside was a veil
of purples, blues, golds, and riches
This curtain of time separated
the presence of the Holiest
from the bloodstained lives of those who worshiped.
Jesus came speaking peace, changing pagan rules.
He crossed the great divide
and conquered it all.
He taught intimacy and encouraged love.
When the last breath escaped
the battered body of an innocent lamb
all limitations were lost.
His body is our bridge
over an ancient chasm.
The veil was torn as He won the battle
and we were set free..
who am I to be scared or fear?
He gave me all of Him
I will give Him all of me.
What could separate us, the psalmist says,
What veil have I hung
to remove Him and bring distance once again?
I am unworthy, but He said He loved enough
to want all or nothing
What is this veil that withholds me
from the flood of His grace and mercy,
from the full divine presence of my Lord?!
[He asked for all or nothing
but what am I willing to give?
which parts will I hoard?
and what reason have I not to trust?]
--
What Kind of Love
that associates with
the filth on your shoe
that loves the dirt you tirelessly
try to rend from your body
that speaks into motion the very heart
you call your own
that watches painfully as you tear yourself away,
rejecting...
that asks little of you and yet you give
deceit, distrust, abandonment
to what you've only ever known
to follow your own mental lusts and desires.
He said He'd walk through fire
would your love?
--------
edit...30 minutes later
And wow - God just brought it full circle.
I don't know how many of you have heard the podcast by Louie Giglio from the release of Awakening in early March. If you haven't - please listen...I am going to do a poor, poor job of summing it up...but it involves veils...and that torn curtain...at least it did when I was emailing Josh about it a few moments ago.
Louie Giglio spoke that night and really hit home a lot of what was said at Passion about trading in something small - our lives - for something huge - God's will. period. Not simply for our lives, but His will overall. In everything. He also talked about how we love to be in the presence of God in situations like Passion - to just stay there. Not that being in God's presence is bad, but it's like they hoard it. Stay there until they suffocate. Other people are so against the idea of 'religion' that they don't see the 'relationship' and they just run wild. Some people who have experience the glory of God
--------
edit...30 minutes later
And wow - God just brought it full circle.
I don't know how many of you have heard the podcast by Louie Giglio from the release of Awakening in early March. If you haven't - please listen...I am going to do a poor, poor job of summing it up...but it involves veils...and that torn curtain...at least it did when I was emailing Josh about it a few moments ago.
Louie Giglio spoke that night and really hit home a lot of what was said at Passion about trading in something small - our lives - for something huge - God's will. period. Not simply for our lives, but His will overall. In everything. He also talked about how we love to be in the presence of God in situations like Passion - to just stay there. Not that being in God's presence is bad, but it's like they hoard it. Stay there until they suffocate. Other people are so against the idea of 'religion' that they don't see the 'relationship' and they just run wild. Some people who have experience the glory of God
- who've been inside the Holiest of Holies past the torn curtain that separated us for so long - run back into the world wanting to show others, but end up being OF the world again...they aren't changed. So those around them say, "well, you went in there. you didn't change. so there's no reason for me to go in there."
But there's a third set of people...They are called doorholders. They have been behind that curtain and have experienced the true presence of the Holy Spirit, but they choose to hold the door open - to hold back the curtain - so that other people can come in and experience. They are inviting. They are smiling, welcoming, and not judgmental when people approach the door. They greet them, smile, and say, "come on in."
Dooholders hold back that curtain of time that separates us...they get rid of obstructions, obstacles, discriminations, and distractions....to allow others into the presence of Adonai.
wow.
22 March 2010
snow what?!
Saturday: sunshine, flip-flops, no jacket whatsoever.
Monday: snow in Rome.
what IS this?! It's supposed to be warm again by Wednesday. I can't wait.
The real reason for this post has nothing to do with snow or sunshine, though.
I was listening to the radio on the way to Kroger after my Relay for Life meeting around 6:30. The song was "Grace Flows Down" by Christy Nockels - not one you hear on the radio every day to say the least. It's short so here are the lyrics:
Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing Love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As Grace flows down and covers me
It covers me
It covers me
It covers me
And covers me
The part about the tree caught my attention. I'm sure this doesn't surprise you.
I was floored.
Think about this:
Yeshua died on a cross. This cross was created from a tree...a tree that was once alive but was killed. Yeshua was stretched across it - arms raised high, feet straight down - covering this tree.
Throughout the scriptures Israel, Adonai's people, are referred to as trees - references including but not limited to Mark 8:24, Isaiah 55:12, and most notably Psalm 1:3. If you think about trees, there are so many symbols of US that they represent. I think I've explained some of what I've come to realize about that already. (It may be on Facebook. I will find it and attach it). [Edit: tree note on facebook]
Do you see how this ties in, though?
Yeshua died on a tree...He died COVERING a tree. He is OUR covering...He was the spotless sacrifice for our sin. The wages of sin is death. We, being dead, were covered by His grace...from fingertip to fingertip...from head to bloody toe. He stretched out Himself to cover us...to protect us...to save us.
wow.
Monday: snow in Rome.
what IS this?! It's supposed to be warm again by Wednesday. I can't wait.
The real reason for this post has nothing to do with snow or sunshine, though.
I was listening to the radio on the way to Kroger after my Relay for Life meeting around 6:30. The song was "Grace Flows Down" by Christy Nockels - not one you hear on the radio every day to say the least. It's short so here are the lyrics:
Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing Love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As Grace flows down and covers me
It covers me
It covers me
It covers me
And covers me
The part about the tree caught my attention. I'm sure this doesn't surprise you.
I was floored.
Think about this:
Yeshua died on a cross. This cross was created from a tree...a tree that was once alive but was killed. Yeshua was stretched across it - arms raised high, feet straight down - covering this tree.
Throughout the scriptures Israel, Adonai's people, are referred to as trees - references including but not limited to Mark 8:24, Isaiah 55:12, and most notably Psalm 1:3. If you think about trees, there are so many symbols of US that they represent. I think I've explained some of what I've come to realize about that already. (It may be on Facebook. I will find it and attach it). [Edit: tree note on facebook]
Do you see how this ties in, though?
Yeshua died on a tree...He died COVERING a tree. He is OUR covering...He was the spotless sacrifice for our sin. The wages of sin is death. We, being dead, were covered by His grace...from fingertip to fingertip...from head to bloody toe. He stretched out Himself to cover us...to protect us...to save us.
wow.
10 March 2010
hopelessness and helplessness
"When believers are totally outnumbered and no one stands with us in godliness, few are strong enough to resist lowering the standard to relativity. Proverbs 21:10 warns us not to 'move an ancient boundary stone.'" - Beth Moore.
keep checking back..this is going to get longer after dinner.
--
Okay.
First of all, I should be writing an essay, but that's beside the point.
I can't explain how many times in the past twenty-four hours that I have simply ran into God's clothes-lining throat karate chop.
Make plans: HIS plan prevails.
Think you've got it all under control..think again. it's not yours to control in the first place.
pretty sure you let go and let God handle all your relationships: might want to take your little white knuckles off of them first.
One cannot stand alone. A friend once told me that you'll see trees thriving together...TOGETHER...and those standing alone are more prone to falling at the mercies of the elements or any number of other things.
This is true in us..we, as followers of Christ, m.u.s.t. stand united. Division...division does nothing but divide.
Now, listen. I know you're thinking that was the dumbest statement you've ever seen or heard, but hear me out. Since when does God divide His people? Yes, there were 12 tribes, but they were united together as the children of Israel. He surely parted the Red Sea AND the Jordan River, but ALL HIS PEOPLE, TOGETHER, walked across on dry land. Amen?
Then why do we stand divided? Oh, that's right - we don't stand! The body has need of its every part - that is why we, together, as individual pieces of the body of Christ with specific duties (let me add - YOU ARE NOT THE SAME!),
MUST
BE
UNITED.
Dividing ourselves only hurts ourselves. One part cannot say to the other that it is better and the other is worthless because with out BOTH, NEITHER would function correctly.
Who are we that we think we can let petty, insignificant, arrogant, prideful lusts of the flesh divide us? WE ARE ALL SPECIAL - I know you heard that in elementary school! So STOP saying to your brothers and sisters that they aren't worth it. If it has been created by God, it has been created WITH SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
Now, stand united.
keep checking back..this is going to get longer after dinner.
--
Okay.
First of all, I should be writing an essay, but that's beside the point.
I can't explain how many times in the past twenty-four hours that I have simply ran into God's clothes-lining throat karate chop.
Make plans: HIS plan prevails.
Think you've got it all under control..think again. it's not yours to control in the first place.
pretty sure you let go and let God handle all your relationships: might want to take your little white knuckles off of them first.
One cannot stand alone. A friend once told me that you'll see trees thriving together...TOGETHER...and those standing alone are more prone to falling at the mercies of the elements or any number of other things.
This is true in us..we, as followers of Christ, m.u.s.t. stand united. Division...division does nothing but divide.
Now, listen. I know you're thinking that was the dumbest statement you've ever seen or heard, but hear me out. Since when does God divide His people? Yes, there were 12 tribes, but they were united together as the children of Israel. He surely parted the Red Sea AND the Jordan River, but ALL HIS PEOPLE, TOGETHER, walked across on dry land. Amen?
Then why do we stand divided? Oh, that's right - we don't stand! The body has need of its every part - that is why we, together, as individual pieces of the body of Christ with specific duties (let me add - YOU ARE NOT THE SAME!),
MUST
BE
UNITED.
Dividing ourselves only hurts ourselves. One part cannot say to the other that it is better and the other is worthless because with out BOTH, NEITHER would function correctly.
Who are we that we think we can let petty, insignificant, arrogant, prideful lusts of the flesh divide us? WE ARE ALL SPECIAL - I know you heard that in elementary school! So STOP saying to your brothers and sisters that they aren't worth it. If it has been created by God, it has been created WITH SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
Now, stand united.
09 March 2010
Doorholder, ninja-in-training
Doorholders or doormen make me think of those guys outside the hotels when Kate Hudson or Julia Roberts come waltzing in, upset from a break up or bad night with a guy. They have a smile on their face and are ready to greet their patrons, inviting them inside. They don't mind dogs, like the guys on that Disney show...you know, with Zach & Cody (the twins) and the Tipton Hotel.
Interjection: The images God brings us in our lives are so incredible. We are so blind to them...I assure you that there are tons if you will only look around you!!
Last night on Passion 2011 Live Link..wow. Louie Giglio spoke on being doorholders..
It's great that we go to events like Passion and even to church/synagogue..but we are so often stingy with that. We want it all...we want to always be in the presence of Adonai...to the point that we can't associate with people "outside."
Yet, isn't "the great commission," as it is referred to, that we go to the nations and preach the gospel....beyond that, aren't we told multiple times in Scripture to help the widows and the poor? Not selfishly or even necessarily with the overall motive of 'converting' them to our beliefs, but to HELP them. (Isaiah 61; Mark 16)
Concurrently (big word: at the same time), we shouldn't live among the world in such a way that says to those around us "well yeah, I've been in the presence of God ... but it didn't change me at all. I still act like you do and do what you do." That's wrong. God uses Isaiah to tell us to "come out of her my people!" (Isaiah 52)
"her" being THE WORLD. We are to be IN the world but not OF the world. (Romans 12:2)
Like Moses and Abraham who BOTH encountered God FACE-TO-FACE, we should return different...with a glow...after we have been in the presence of the glory of Adonai. Our faces should be different. We should be changed. Moses was only able to see the BACK of Adonai because His glory was too great...and yet he STILL came down from the mountain with a face that was changed!!!
We have walked on holy ground with our bare feet and have seen the glory of Adonai...HOW CAN WE RETURN THE SAME?!
We should be EAGER and ANXIOUS even to stand at the door for others to enter in. We should not receive that our worlds will forever be separate. We should stand as intercessors, as those in the middle, for the ones on both sides...to open the door for those who are in the presence of Adonai to RUN to tell others! We should stand and open the door with inviting faces, understanding (and maybe a few hugs) for those who are wondering what this "presence of God" is about. We should stand in the middle. (2 Cor 5:8)
Doesn't this bring new meaning to being CHRISTIANS - CHRIST-LIKE?!... we so often forget the meaning and responsibility behind that word!!!! Yeshua stands as intercessor for us. He is the ULTIMATE doorholder...should we not strive to be like that? To desire only to see the faces of others changed by the glory and power of the LORD MOST HIGH?!
Beth Moore says "Ain't no high like the MOST HIGH!" ... and let me tell you, THERE AIN'T! That high will rock your face - literally!!!
Let's shed this selfish skin and get rid of our stubborn, self-indulgent, VAIN motives!!! Ecclesiastes tells us that EVERYTHING is vain outside of God's glory! We all tend toward selfishness. Outside of God, why shouldn't we?! BUT, if you have encountered the love and mercy of God that BENDS YOU like a tree amidst a hurricane (yes, we even fall in the face of His MERCY - the very thing that is meant to save us!) and you have escaped unchanged, then our God is not who He says He is.
and I can assure you...He is who He says He is. He is unchanging. He is who He was when Abraham encountered Him. He is who He was when Paul was blinded by His majesty. He will be the same beyond the end of time.
Do Not Hoard Your Blessing. GOD BLESSES US SO THAT WE CAN BLESS OTHERS!! (It's amazing how God brings things together from different aspects of your life...found this when doing my homework for Bible Study - Beth Moore's "Patriarchs" study...that she wrote over 5 years ago...)
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the GOD OF ALL COMFORT. He comforts us in ALL our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ."
WOW
Interjection: The images God brings us in our lives are so incredible. We are so blind to them...I assure you that there are tons if you will only look around you!!
Last night on Passion 2011 Live Link..wow. Louie Giglio spoke on being doorholders..
It's great that we go to events like Passion and even to church/synagogue..but we are so often stingy with that. We want it all...we want to always be in the presence of Adonai...to the point that we can't associate with people "outside."
Yet, isn't "the great commission," as it is referred to, that we go to the nations and preach the gospel....beyond that, aren't we told multiple times in Scripture to help the widows and the poor? Not selfishly or even necessarily with the overall motive of 'converting' them to our beliefs, but to HELP them. (Isaiah 61; Mark 16)
Concurrently (big word: at the same time), we shouldn't live among the world in such a way that says to those around us "well yeah, I've been in the presence of God ... but it didn't change me at all. I still act like you do and do what you do." That's wrong. God uses Isaiah to tell us to "come out of her my people!" (Isaiah 52)
"her" being THE WORLD. We are to be IN the world but not OF the world. (Romans 12:2)
Like Moses and Abraham who BOTH encountered God FACE-TO-FACE, we should return different...with a glow...after we have been in the presence of the glory of Adonai. Our faces should be different. We should be changed. Moses was only able to see the BACK of Adonai because His glory was too great...and yet he STILL came down from the mountain with a face that was changed!!!
We have walked on holy ground with our bare feet and have seen the glory of Adonai...HOW CAN WE RETURN THE SAME?!
We should be EAGER and ANXIOUS even to stand at the door for others to enter in. We should not receive that our worlds will forever be separate. We should stand as intercessors, as those in the middle, for the ones on both sides...to open the door for those who are in the presence of Adonai to RUN to tell others! We should stand and open the door with inviting faces, understanding (and maybe a few hugs) for those who are wondering what this "presence of God" is about. We should stand in the middle. (2 Cor 5:8)
Doesn't this bring new meaning to being CHRISTIANS - CHRIST-LIKE?!... we so often forget the meaning and responsibility behind that word!!!! Yeshua stands as intercessor for us. He is the ULTIMATE doorholder...should we not strive to be like that? To desire only to see the faces of others changed by the glory and power of the LORD MOST HIGH?!
Beth Moore says "Ain't no high like the MOST HIGH!" ... and let me tell you, THERE AIN'T! That high will rock your face - literally!!!
Let's shed this selfish skin and get rid of our stubborn, self-indulgent, VAIN motives!!! Ecclesiastes tells us that EVERYTHING is vain outside of God's glory! We all tend toward selfishness. Outside of God, why shouldn't we?! BUT, if you have encountered the love and mercy of God that BENDS YOU like a tree amidst a hurricane (yes, we even fall in the face of His MERCY - the very thing that is meant to save us!) and you have escaped unchanged, then our God is not who He says He is.
and I can assure you...He is who He says He is. He is unchanging. He is who He was when Abraham encountered Him. He is who He was when Paul was blinded by His majesty. He will be the same beyond the end of time.
Do Not Hoard Your Blessing. GOD BLESSES US SO THAT WE CAN BLESS OTHERS!! (It's amazing how God brings things together from different aspects of your life...found this when doing my homework for Bible Study - Beth Moore's "Patriarchs" study...that she wrote over 5 years ago...)
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the GOD OF ALL COMFORT. He comforts us in ALL our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ."
WOW
08 March 2010
I have a feeling
this is going to be one of the hardest weeks of my life.
and none of it has to do with school.
--
on the way home last night I saw this rather amusing RV towing a red trailer with the words "SIN WAGON" written in blue.
how symbolic of our lives.
we pack up on this journey through life - to find ourselves, truth, or whatever it is that we're looking for - and simply carry around our little "sin wagon." It holds all the things we've done wrong...a personal playhouse for Satan, himself. It holds reminders of what we've done wrong, the ways we showed our stubbornness and took over our lives...the things that we're trying to forget.
yet we are the ones holding on to it.
like looking at an old photo album, we want to look at all the things we've done wrong and have satan sit on our shoulder and tell us what horrible people we are.
get.up.
stop wallowing in self pity and unhook that thing! God has thrown our sins as far from us as possible...yet we're still wanting to hold on to them.
what kind of a faith is that?
sounds like a lack of one to me.
--
okay, I really should update for real. I know that was harsh, but sometimes you need it. After crying for a good thirty minutes and finishing well-overdue homework, it is time.
I am brutally honest in my writing - it's easier than talking in person. Not necessarily that I can erase to keep from saying something that will potentially hurt feelings, but because my fingers have a better sense of their purpose than my mouth does when it comes to expressing feelings, ideas, or recapturing events.
This weekend was fantastic and absolutely horrible for many of the same reasons. Contradictory...normal.
The benefit Saturday was great - Citizens of Heaven, MidSouth, Ninja, Hannah, and everyone else involved in putting it together did an absolutely terrific job. I haven't been so proud in so long! The cars were beautiful as well....TO say the ABSOLUTE least. =)
Stress is something that is difficult to deal with under such circumstances, though. One way to know your friends is by seeing who comes out on the other side with you.
Montana's Saturday night was beyond hilarious. For some reason, I could Not stop laughing. Ninja was just cracking me up with his jokes and such.
SPEAKING of Ninja...today is his birthday .. so a big HI-YA to the Ninja man. =)
We missed liturgy Saturday as well, but it was so good to have Shabbat dinner with the Butlers on Friday night. Absolutely fantastic. :)
Sunday I cried a few buckets of tears. Digging in the Word didn't seem to mend the brokenness. From my experience, which may be much to some and much less to others, *is it harder to watch someone close to you hurt than it is to experience that pain yourself.*
I can't quite explain that. I could try...but for time purposes and because I just don't feel led to, I won't.
I'll just leave it at that.
There's one important bit of information I've left out...well, a few, I'm sure, but one in particular i'm thinking about right now.
I was sitting at the Butlers' after Shabbat dinner watching Mrs Cheryl make signs for Saturday's food with her phenomenal new box of Sharpies - they are incredible. I decided to check my mail for a second - I'm sure there was a reason - and had a sweet message from a lady named Heather. She is blessing me in an incredible way. I just want to tell you guys. wow. God is good..and even in the face of trials, He provides. Jehovah Jireh- our provider. His names are each a promise to us and we should hold onto them like that. there is POWER in His name- SPEAK His name and darkness will flee...but we don't do that. We SHOULD - we NEED TO! He put power there for a reason!!!
But...thank you Heather - for being God's hands and feet. :) You are a blessing!1
alright, relay for life team captain's meeting at 6:30...and I haven't made a list of what we're talking about yet. oh boy. p.s. if you'd like to donate...go here: Berry College Relay for Life!
that's actually my personal page. feel free to look around at all our other teams!
-
edit: 11:28pm
this week might be tough, but tonight was sure good. Passion 2011 Live Link..wow. can't wait to get those songs on my ipod. I'll be shouting for all 26,000 acres of this place to hear. :)
Someone told me I was a ninja.
Live Link was so good tonight with my Julifrann! We haven't had any quality franntime in a while. How precious to catch up!! She is such a blessing.
let me tell you a proclamation from tonight...a realization, a declaration if you will..
the sickness, the division.
it ends to night.
and none of it has to do with school.
--
on the way home last night I saw this rather amusing RV towing a red trailer with the words "SIN WAGON" written in blue.
how symbolic of our lives.
we pack up on this journey through life - to find ourselves, truth, or whatever it is that we're looking for - and simply carry around our little "sin wagon." It holds all the things we've done wrong...a personal playhouse for Satan, himself. It holds reminders of what we've done wrong, the ways we showed our stubbornness and took over our lives...the things that we're trying to forget.
yet we are the ones holding on to it.
like looking at an old photo album, we want to look at all the things we've done wrong and have satan sit on our shoulder and tell us what horrible people we are.
get.up.
stop wallowing in self pity and unhook that thing! God has thrown our sins as far from us as possible...yet we're still wanting to hold on to them.
what kind of a faith is that?
sounds like a lack of one to me.
--
okay, I really should update for real. I know that was harsh, but sometimes you need it. After crying for a good thirty minutes and finishing well-overdue homework, it is time.
I am brutally honest in my writing - it's easier than talking in person. Not necessarily that I can erase to keep from saying something that will potentially hurt feelings, but because my fingers have a better sense of their purpose than my mouth does when it comes to expressing feelings, ideas, or recapturing events.
This weekend was fantastic and absolutely horrible for many of the same reasons. Contradictory...normal.
The benefit Saturday was great - Citizens of Heaven, MidSouth, Ninja, Hannah, and everyone else involved in putting it together did an absolutely terrific job. I haven't been so proud in so long! The cars were beautiful as well....TO say the ABSOLUTE least. =)
Stress is something that is difficult to deal with under such circumstances, though. One way to know your friends is by seeing who comes out on the other side with you.
Montana's Saturday night was beyond hilarious. For some reason, I could Not stop laughing. Ninja was just cracking me up with his jokes and such.
SPEAKING of Ninja...today is his birthday .. so a big HI-YA to the Ninja man. =)
We missed liturgy Saturday as well, but it was so good to have Shabbat dinner with the Butlers on Friday night. Absolutely fantastic. :)
Sunday I cried a few buckets of tears. Digging in the Word didn't seem to mend the brokenness. From my experience, which may be much to some and much less to others, *is it harder to watch someone close to you hurt than it is to experience that pain yourself.*
I can't quite explain that. I could try...but for time purposes and because I just don't feel led to, I won't.
I'll just leave it at that.
There's one important bit of information I've left out...well, a few, I'm sure, but one in particular i'm thinking about right now.
I was sitting at the Butlers' after Shabbat dinner watching Mrs Cheryl make signs for Saturday's food with her phenomenal new box of Sharpies - they are incredible. I decided to check my mail for a second - I'm sure there was a reason - and had a sweet message from a lady named Heather. She is blessing me in an incredible way. I just want to tell you guys. wow. God is good..and even in the face of trials, He provides. Jehovah Jireh- our provider. His names are each a promise to us and we should hold onto them like that. there is POWER in His name- SPEAK His name and darkness will flee...but we don't do that. We SHOULD - we NEED TO! He put power there for a reason!!!
But...thank you Heather - for being God's hands and feet. :) You are a blessing!1
alright, relay for life team captain's meeting at 6:30...and I haven't made a list of what we're talking about yet. oh boy. p.s. if you'd like to donate...go here: Berry College Relay for Life!
that's actually my personal page. feel free to look around at all our other teams!
-
edit: 11:28pm
this week might be tough, but tonight was sure good. Passion 2011 Live Link..wow. can't wait to get those songs on my ipod. I'll be shouting for all 26,000 acres of this place to hear. :)
Someone told me I was a ninja.
Live Link was so good tonight with my Julifrann! We haven't had any quality franntime in a while. How precious to catch up!! She is such a blessing.
let me tell you a proclamation from tonight...a realization, a declaration if you will..
the sickness, the division.
it ends to night.
03 March 2010
Hakuna Matata and glow-in-the-dark paint
Today's a normal Tuesday, right? Well, if you leave out the random snow this morning and the ambulance outside my dorm earlier in the evening.
I'm beginning to realize that there is no such thing as a 'normal day' with the Lord. I should've learned that a while back; I know, I know.
While working on an essay rough draft - which I still haven't finished, by the way - I decided to switch up my playlist. I remembered a few key Disney songs that had been given me and I've been in the mood to watch Aladdin for the past few weeks - it all fit perfectly. One of these most important Disney songs was "Hakuna Matata." It means no worries for the rest of your...okay, I'm sure you know it. Anyone in the United States over the age of 4 should have seen that movie. If you know of someone who has not, please get them in touch with me. I will gladly find a copy for them to borrow (I don't own it myself, unfortunately).
Think about that though: Hakuna Matata -- no.worries.
How often does God call us to that? James 1:2 says we should be joyful in our trials and temptations. Isaiah 51 and 52 tell us not to be discouraged by the words others would speak against us. Paul says numerous times that as Christians we WILL be persecuted and Matthew says those who disliked Yeshua would dislike us, surely. David cries out countless times in the Psalms: If God is for us, who can stop us? If God is with us, what can stand against us? What do we have to fear? GREATER is He who is in us that he who is in the world.
Isn't that true?!
In Romans 8, Paul tells us that there is NOTHING that can separate us from God's love - we should be PERSISTENT in prayer and PATIENT in our afflictions..because by Yeshua, enshrouded in the Shekhinah of Adonai, we are MOOOOOORE than conquerors!!
Then why don't we go around shouting, "GLORY TO GOD, HAKUNA MATATA," because our Savior has rescued us from the pits of hell and has risen again....so that we have no more worries for the rest of our days. It IS a problem free philosophy - it is unfailing, unshakable!!
-
I painted a picture for Mr. Keith last week and gave it to him last Saturday after service. It was gray with black and white swirls all over. On top of that in glow in the dark paint were ninjas...fighting ones...and Hebrews 4:12 (modified) :: "God's Word is quick, powerful, and sharper than a (Samari) sword." This is significant to Mr. Keith..because he's a ninja, but that's a different story for a different time - it may already be in one of my Passion2010 posts from January sometime.
There was a big to-do about the glow-in-the-dark paint and how cool it was that Michaels had it and the way it made the ninjas glow - it was just great. I was thinking about it tonight for some reason - there was really no prompting - and realized this:
If the paint is not in the light for a little while to "charge," it will not glow. You have to let it sit in the light or put it close to the light bulb for a few minutes for it to be extra bright as soon as you turn the light off.
The paint glows the brightest immediately after the darkest darkness surrounds it and soon the glow fades.
WE ARE LIKE THAT PAINT!! If we don't spend time in the Word, soaking up the rays of the S-O-N, we fade and our light is no longer able to shine. Matthew 5 tells us we are the light of the world...we are to take the Word to the farthest reaches of this planet and tell everyone, but if we don't spend time walking with Yeshua, just existing in the presence of Adonai, we fade.
After conferences like Passion or camp we are positively glowing - people commented about it when the 10 of us from NA returned from Passion2010. We are excited to share the Word, we are pumped, we are full of energy and the strength of the Lord. But over time - let's say a month or two as it's now been - we lose it. We become weary. I've noticed that it's harder for me to wake up and get in the Word..it's harder for me to set time aside during the day. BUT, it's also harder for me to fight back. it's harder for me to sit in New Testament class with a discerning spirit, knowing that the subjects we are speaking on are imperative - much more so than a literature class or math class, though God has a hand in those as well and can teach you some of the coolest lessons if you'll pay attention in those classes.
Another scientific truth is this: if we don't spend time in the sunshine - the big bright light in the sky - we end up with a vitamin d deficiency and will get sick. Sure, we can take pills for that, but it's not as healthy or as beneficial to us as being in the very presence of the sunshine.
Similarly, if those little ninjas on Sensei Keith's picture don't spend time under a light bulb, but are constantly surrounded by darkness, they will get sick...they will lose their strength to shine.
MUCH the same, as I'm sure you have gathered, WE as Messianic believers, will lose our light if we "put it under a bushel" of darkness and do not spend time in the presence of the Shekhinah. Our witness will be lost, God's strength in us to control our flesh and our tongue will be lost. Everything will fall apart.
And let me tell you, you will see it if you just look.
It is IMPERATIVE that we spend time walking with the Lord EVERYDAY! Not just once or twice a week and service our youth or Bible study.
You have to eat!!! You have to feed on the Word or you starve spiritually!
be a fighting glowing ninja that sings Hakuna Matata! =)
I'm beginning to realize that there is no such thing as a 'normal day' with the Lord. I should've learned that a while back; I know, I know.
While working on an essay rough draft - which I still haven't finished, by the way - I decided to switch up my playlist. I remembered a few key Disney songs that had been given me and I've been in the mood to watch Aladdin for the past few weeks - it all fit perfectly. One of these most important Disney songs was "Hakuna Matata." It means no worries for the rest of your...okay, I'm sure you know it. Anyone in the United States over the age of 4 should have seen that movie. If you know of someone who has not, please get them in touch with me. I will gladly find a copy for them to borrow (I don't own it myself, unfortunately).
Think about that though: Hakuna Matata -- no.worries.
How often does God call us to that? James 1:2 says we should be joyful in our trials and temptations. Isaiah 51 and 52 tell us not to be discouraged by the words others would speak against us. Paul says numerous times that as Christians we WILL be persecuted and Matthew says those who disliked Yeshua would dislike us, surely. David cries out countless times in the Psalms: If God is for us, who can stop us? If God is with us, what can stand against us? What do we have to fear? GREATER is He who is in us that he who is in the world.
Isn't that true?!
In Romans 8, Paul tells us that there is NOTHING that can separate us from God's love - we should be PERSISTENT in prayer and PATIENT in our afflictions..because by Yeshua, enshrouded in the Shekhinah of Adonai, we are MOOOOOORE than conquerors!!
Then why don't we go around shouting, "GLORY TO GOD, HAKUNA MATATA," because our Savior has rescued us from the pits of hell and has risen again....so that we have no more worries for the rest of our days. It IS a problem free philosophy - it is unfailing, unshakable!!
-
I painted a picture for Mr. Keith last week and gave it to him last Saturday after service. It was gray with black and white swirls all over. On top of that in glow in the dark paint were ninjas...fighting ones...and Hebrews 4:12 (modified) :: "God's Word is quick, powerful, and sharper than a (Samari) sword." This is significant to Mr. Keith..because he's a ninja, but that's a different story for a different time - it may already be in one of my Passion2010 posts from January sometime.
There was a big to-do about the glow-in-the-dark paint and how cool it was that Michaels had it and the way it made the ninjas glow - it was just great. I was thinking about it tonight for some reason - there was really no prompting - and realized this:
If the paint is not in the light for a little while to "charge," it will not glow. You have to let it sit in the light or put it close to the light bulb for a few minutes for it to be extra bright as soon as you turn the light off.
The paint glows the brightest immediately after the darkest darkness surrounds it and soon the glow fades.
WE ARE LIKE THAT PAINT!! If we don't spend time in the Word, soaking up the rays of the S-O-N, we fade and our light is no longer able to shine. Matthew 5 tells us we are the light of the world...we are to take the Word to the farthest reaches of this planet and tell everyone, but if we don't spend time walking with Yeshua, just existing in the presence of Adonai, we fade.
After conferences like Passion or camp we are positively glowing - people commented about it when the 10 of us from NA returned from Passion2010. We are excited to share the Word, we are pumped, we are full of energy and the strength of the Lord. But over time - let's say a month or two as it's now been - we lose it. We become weary. I've noticed that it's harder for me to wake up and get in the Word..it's harder for me to set time aside during the day. BUT, it's also harder for me to fight back. it's harder for me to sit in New Testament class with a discerning spirit, knowing that the subjects we are speaking on are imperative - much more so than a literature class or math class, though God has a hand in those as well and can teach you some of the coolest lessons if you'll pay attention in those classes.
Another scientific truth is this: if we don't spend time in the sunshine - the big bright light in the sky - we end up with a vitamin d deficiency and will get sick. Sure, we can take pills for that, but it's not as healthy or as beneficial to us as being in the very presence of the sunshine.
Similarly, if those little ninjas on Sensei Keith's picture don't spend time under a light bulb, but are constantly surrounded by darkness, they will get sick...they will lose their strength to shine.
MUCH the same, as I'm sure you have gathered, WE as Messianic believers, will lose our light if we "put it under a bushel" of darkness and do not spend time in the presence of the Shekhinah. Our witness will be lost, God's strength in us to control our flesh and our tongue will be lost. Everything will fall apart.
And let me tell you, you will see it if you just look.
It is IMPERATIVE that we spend time walking with the Lord EVERYDAY! Not just once or twice a week and service our youth or Bible study.
You have to eat!!! You have to feed on the Word or you starve spiritually!
be a fighting glowing ninja that sings Hakuna Matata! =)
01 March 2010
"And if our God is for us..."
What a weekend.
traffic to Macon was ridiculous - a 2 hour drive took 4. My back was aching, my toes cramping, and my tummy rumbling. After finally dropping Jorg with Sierra and meeting Nan, we shopped for what seemed like an eternity though it wasn't long at all. Food came later as did decorating for Purim with Seth and Zach. My head started to explode so I slept while they figured out the logistics of it all. After lots of "fluffing" from Seth, we left. Bev drove us to Bentley who we dropped off at the Butlers. Then Nan and I were on our way home. Sleep didn't come until around 2 and the sun rose at 6am for us. We were out of the house Saturday morning by 7:30 and had visited two walmarts, target, party city, and mcdonalds by 9:30. The rest of the morning was a tizzy. We were setting up, gathering food, arranging table clothes, and making puppy chow. Ashley was there. The beloved Butlers were also running around with us- how grand to see their faces! We, unfortunately, didn't do Liturgy - basically my favorite thing ever - and the boys did not play because Ted Pearce came to speak/lead worship. He was grand, but not as grand as CoH. It was still a blessing to see God move...to see the joy that He brings. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time! I gave Sensei his picture - "Ninja Convention" - and he loved it. It glows in the dark. my Hannah was the recipient of the rope picture - "A three chorded strand is not easily broken" - because it so very specifically describes our friendship from its very beginning five years ago! The Purim feast for the children was grand. Nan's decorations were fantastic. The food was grand, except for the famine of chicken nuggets due to a slight annoyance. However, my Hannah showed her heart to those people. They cannot question her motives. Seth was even complimented by Scott Bombard for his impeccable fluffing abilities. I shared a few chicken nuggets with him. ZachE and I took turns carrying Hosanna, Hannah's lamb, around. She's a presh lamb.
We finally finished around 3 and went home to nap. Our presence had been requested at the Butlers for a movie night starting at 8. Of course we didn't wake up until after 7. Jonathan was being loud and obnoxious, not heeding cries for a bit of quiet, which only led to my foul mood for part of the evening. When we arrived, I was surprised and incredibly joyful to find that Cheryl had bought me a Bible!! How cool!! I've needed one - the one I've had for five years (the entirety of my friendship with Nan) has been falling apart for some time. It's beautiful and holds so much, but sometimes change is needed. It has the most beautiful cover - brown and maroon with a cool design! Leather, of course, and just grand. My first Bible NOT in KJV. New start? yes. Now, I am the proud owner of a beautiful journal given to me by my beautiful Diana and a Bible from dear Cheryl! I am so blessed. Literally...my heart is gushing.
Saturday night's movie selection included One Night With The King and some pizza - n.o.m. It didn't make me sick. :) I love watching movies with friends. To most it seems like a pointless event where you learn nothing about your friends and aren't able to talk to them, therefore making it the least amount of fun. I disagree. The not talking is only leaving room for your hearts to talk. I'm convinced they do while we are simply sitting. It is good to just be in the presence of such great people - to know that they love you - to sit beside them and close your eyes and still know they are there. Maybe it's just a pat on the back or a smile, but it's more important than the words you could speak. We ended up staying to watch videos Seth had made - hilarious if I do say so myself - and just talking. It was beautiful fun. Quality time at its greatest. "Those Nights" by Skillet does a good job of emphasizing their importance. :) Finally we were on our way home. We slept well into the afternoon - 1pm! Our intentions were to be back in Macon at NA around 5 for the "college & singles" ice cream social. Somehow we ran late. Hannah needed to be there at 4, but I'm sure we didn't leave the house until well after 4. After grabbing my car, topped by Gary (Seth's cat), we booked it to NA and made it in the nick of time where Seth threw erasers at me (that started Friday night). The boys played some pretty incredible worship. Two of my favorite songs - Our God is Greater and How He Loves - were in the mix. What a joy to hear them in person instead of on the phone this time!! We watched Louie Giglio's "Fruitcake and Ice cream" and I just cried. There were so many references to places and people in my life. I was, and still am, struggling with school. I know there is purpose right now, but for how long? Yet to ask God to put a time frame on something is ridiculous. Waiting is key - see John Waller's "While I'm Waiting."
Leaving was hard - it gets harder every time. Thankfully I cried enough during Louie's talk that my tears were gone by the time I left...or at least far enough back in there that I could hold on to them. Mrs Cheryl hugged me tons before I left, which was the perfect medicine for a heart with so many pieces in so many places. She's just beautiful! If you don't know her, you're missing out. I promise. So I hugged all the boys, Laila (new frann!-Hannah has talked so much about her) and my Diana one last time....and jumped in Ben and ran away to Riverside to grab Jorg. It only took us 2 hours to get home- a record considering Friday's trek to Macon took so long.
And here I sit....unable to concentrate on an essay rough draft because thoughts from this weekend are running through my head like three or four different rivers.
Maybe I will do it in the morning.
I will sleep tonight...peacefully. Yeshua and I have so much to talk about - my family is so incredible. What a blessing to finally be part of a family who wants nothing more than to follow hard after the Lord.
What a blessing to have a Diana...MY Diana!
traffic to Macon was ridiculous - a 2 hour drive took 4. My back was aching, my toes cramping, and my tummy rumbling. After finally dropping Jorg with Sierra and meeting Nan, we shopped for what seemed like an eternity though it wasn't long at all. Food came later as did decorating for Purim with Seth and Zach. My head started to explode so I slept while they figured out the logistics of it all. After lots of "fluffing" from Seth, we left. Bev drove us to Bentley who we dropped off at the Butlers. Then Nan and I were on our way home. Sleep didn't come until around 2 and the sun rose at 6am for us. We were out of the house Saturday morning by 7:30 and had visited two walmarts, target, party city, and mcdonalds by 9:30. The rest of the morning was a tizzy. We were setting up, gathering food, arranging table clothes, and making puppy chow. Ashley was there. The beloved Butlers were also running around with us- how grand to see their faces! We, unfortunately, didn't do Liturgy - basically my favorite thing ever - and the boys did not play because Ted Pearce came to speak/lead worship. He was grand, but not as grand as CoH. It was still a blessing to see God move...to see the joy that He brings. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time! I gave Sensei his picture - "Ninja Convention" - and he loved it. It glows in the dark. my Hannah was the recipient of the rope picture - "A three chorded strand is not easily broken" - because it so very specifically describes our friendship from its very beginning five years ago! The Purim feast for the children was grand. Nan's decorations were fantastic. The food was grand, except for the famine of chicken nuggets due to a slight annoyance. However, my Hannah showed her heart to those people. They cannot question her motives. Seth was even complimented by Scott Bombard for his impeccable fluffing abilities. I shared a few chicken nuggets with him. ZachE and I took turns carrying Hosanna, Hannah's lamb, around. She's a presh lamb.
We finally finished around 3 and went home to nap. Our presence had been requested at the Butlers for a movie night starting at 8. Of course we didn't wake up until after 7. Jonathan was being loud and obnoxious, not heeding cries for a bit of quiet, which only led to my foul mood for part of the evening. When we arrived, I was surprised and incredibly joyful to find that Cheryl had bought me a Bible!! How cool!! I've needed one - the one I've had for five years (the entirety of my friendship with Nan) has been falling apart for some time. It's beautiful and holds so much, but sometimes change is needed. It has the most beautiful cover - brown and maroon with a cool design! Leather, of course, and just grand. My first Bible NOT in KJV. New start? yes. Now, I am the proud owner of a beautiful journal given to me by my beautiful Diana and a Bible from dear Cheryl! I am so blessed. Literally...my heart is gushing.
Saturday night's movie selection included One Night With The King and some pizza - n.o.m. It didn't make me sick. :) I love watching movies with friends. To most it seems like a pointless event where you learn nothing about your friends and aren't able to talk to them, therefore making it the least amount of fun. I disagree. The not talking is only leaving room for your hearts to talk. I'm convinced they do while we are simply sitting. It is good to just be in the presence of such great people - to know that they love you - to sit beside them and close your eyes and still know they are there. Maybe it's just a pat on the back or a smile, but it's more important than the words you could speak. We ended up staying to watch videos Seth had made - hilarious if I do say so myself - and just talking. It was beautiful fun. Quality time at its greatest. "Those Nights" by Skillet does a good job of emphasizing their importance. :) Finally we were on our way home. We slept well into the afternoon - 1pm! Our intentions were to be back in Macon at NA around 5 for the "college & singles" ice cream social. Somehow we ran late. Hannah needed to be there at 4, but I'm sure we didn't leave the house until well after 4. After grabbing my car, topped by Gary (Seth's cat), we booked it to NA and made it in the nick of time where Seth threw erasers at me (that started Friday night). The boys played some pretty incredible worship. Two of my favorite songs - Our God is Greater and How He Loves - were in the mix. What a joy to hear them in person instead of on the phone this time!! We watched Louie Giglio's "Fruitcake and Ice cream" and I just cried. There were so many references to places and people in my life. I was, and still am, struggling with school. I know there is purpose right now, but for how long? Yet to ask God to put a time frame on something is ridiculous. Waiting is key - see John Waller's "While I'm Waiting."
Leaving was hard - it gets harder every time. Thankfully I cried enough during Louie's talk that my tears were gone by the time I left...or at least far enough back in there that I could hold on to them. Mrs Cheryl hugged me tons before I left, which was the perfect medicine for a heart with so many pieces in so many places. She's just beautiful! If you don't know her, you're missing out. I promise. So I hugged all the boys, Laila (new frann!-Hannah has talked so much about her) and my Diana one last time....and jumped in Ben and ran away to Riverside to grab Jorg. It only took us 2 hours to get home- a record considering Friday's trek to Macon took so long.
And here I sit....unable to concentrate on an essay rough draft because thoughts from this weekend are running through my head like three or four different rivers.
Maybe I will do it in the morning.
I will sleep tonight...peacefully. Yeshua and I have so much to talk about - my family is so incredible. What a blessing to finally be part of a family who wants nothing more than to follow hard after the Lord.
What a blessing to have a Diana...MY Diana!
17 February 2010
until March 9
Jason Upton's "Freedom Reigns" is just about as good as you can get right now until March 9th when the Passion 2010 CD, Awakening, is released. At that time, you will be so marvelously blessed to know ... well, the whole CD is legit. I recommend it. Those songs are written on my heart now after Passion this year. Three days of singing them....how can they not be?
It can be awkward when you walk into a place of worship and don't know the words to the songs. You end up mumbling and staring at the words on a screen, if there is one, and you don't get much out of the worship. We have a hard time letting go of the words...of the control of how we worship.
Let me tell you, by the time we got to Passion - all of us, 26,000 students, not just our 10 - were ready to let go. We were ready to just let.go. and worship. It didn't matter that we were in a room full of thousands we didn't know. It didn't even matter that we may or may not be sitting in the order on the row that we wanted to sit in or that the people around us were people we knew. We all battled to get there, struggled against principalities and powers, against time and emotions, against mentality and organization, against sickness and "impossible."
To struggle to get somewhere, knowing that satan had a red flag on every single one of our heads, and finally reach the goal, SUCCEED - yet not by our own strength, but HIS - and to find UNITY there!..how incredible.... Better yet, to rest at the feet of Yeshua. wow. To say that He "leads us by the still waters" is an understatement. We had mini lives just trying to get to Passion! Sitting at the feet of Yeshua we sang to Him the songs that are on this "Awakening" album. We worshiped Him. We found sweet peace and mercy at His feet. Grace DID abound, and His love overflowed in us. We would not have made it to Tuesday had we not entered the GWCC and Philips Arena to find such souls as Christy, Chris, Matt, and Kristian to lead us to the throne room.
Adonai gave them a vision, gave them words, and led them there with the talent and sincerity that HE needed to get us to where He wanted us. They served as intercessors, preparers, ushers, servants to the King. For the next three days we were poured into, broken, burned, filled, and restored. The Spirit of the Lord was there; there we found liberty, freedom, reigning...raining.
It can be awkward when you walk into a place of worship and don't know the words to the songs. You end up mumbling and staring at the words on a screen, if there is one, and you don't get much out of the worship. We have a hard time letting go of the words...of the control of how we worship.
Let me tell you, by the time we got to Passion - all of us, 26,000 students, not just our 10 - were ready to let go. We were ready to just let.go. and worship. It didn't matter that we were in a room full of thousands we didn't know. It didn't even matter that we may or may not be sitting in the order on the row that we wanted to sit in or that the people around us were people we knew. We all battled to get there, struggled against principalities and powers, against time and emotions, against mentality and organization, against sickness and "impossible."
To struggle to get somewhere, knowing that satan had a red flag on every single one of our heads, and finally reach the goal, SUCCEED - yet not by our own strength, but HIS - and to find UNITY there!..how incredible.... Better yet, to rest at the feet of Yeshua. wow. To say that He "leads us by the still waters" is an understatement. We had mini lives just trying to get to Passion! Sitting at the feet of Yeshua we sang to Him the songs that are on this "Awakening" album. We worshiped Him. We found sweet peace and mercy at His feet. Grace DID abound, and His love overflowed in us. We would not have made it to Tuesday had we not entered the GWCC and Philips Arena to find such souls as Christy, Chris, Matt, and Kristian to lead us to the throne room.
Adonai gave them a vision, gave them words, and led them there with the talent and sincerity that HE needed to get us to where He wanted us. They served as intercessors, preparers, ushers, servants to the King. For the next three days we were poured into, broken, burned, filled, and restored. The Spirit of the Lord was there; there we found liberty, freedom, reigning...raining.
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