Thursday, May 26, 2011
TOO TRUE.
"The culture of Christians never change anything, but radical disciples of Jesus do. Christian culture makes clothes, but Jesus makes disciples"- BF
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
An Excerpt from I Will Wait for You- Janette Ikz
"I will no longer date, socialize or communicate with carbon copies of you
To appease my boredom or to quench my thirstiness I have for attention
And short-lived compliments from ‘sorta kindas’.
You know….
He ‘sort kinda’ right, but ‘sorta kinda’ wrong?
His first name LUKE,
His last name WARM.
I, I won’t settle for false companionship
I won’t lay in the embrace of his arms,
Attempting to find some closeness,
But never feeling so far apart cause, I just wanna be held
Cause ”all I gotta do is Say” No!
No more ‘almost sessions’ of ‘almost coming close’
Passing winks & buying drinks,
I’ma, I’ma, I’ma flirt!
Who flirts with the ideology of,
‘Can you just tell me how much I can get away with & still be saved?’
NO more.
I’ll stay in my bed alone, and write poems, about how I will wait for you.
He won’t even come close,
Our fingers won’t even interlock
We won’t even exchange breath
Cause I have thoughts that I’ve ‘saved as’ in a file that God has only equipped you to open.
I will no longer get weighted down,
From so-called friends & family talks,
About the concern for my biological clock
When I serve the Author of Time.
Who is NOT subject to time,
But I’M subject to Him,
He has the ability to STOP, FAST FORWARD, PAUSE, or REWIND at any given time…
So if we could role play,
You would be Abraham & I would be Sara
Or you can be Isaac & I can be Rebecca – a servant’s answered prayer
I am bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh,
Made up of your rib Adam!
And once we meet, like electrons
I will be bound to your nucleus, completely indivisible atom.
We even speak the same math: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, which really equals 1 if you add Him.
We were all created in His image,
But you have the ability to reflect, project & even detect the Son.
If I were to explain what you looked like,
You would have to look like a star,
A son of the Son..
I would gain energy simply from the light on me.
I would need you , in order to complete my photosynthesis
I await your revelation, but once again from the genesis, I will wait for you.
And I will know you… because when you speak I will be reminded of Solomon’s wisdom,
Your ability to lead will remind me of Moses,
Your faith will remind me of Abraham,
Your confidence in God’s Word will remind me of Daniel,
Your inspiration will remind me of Paul,
Your heart for God will remind me of David,
Your attention to detail will remind me of Noah,
Your integrity will remind me of Joseph,
And your ability to abandon your own will, will remind me of the disciples,
But your ability to love selflessly & unconditionally will remind me of Christ.
But I won’t need to identify you by any special Matthews or any special Marks,
Cause His word will be tatted all over your heart.
And you will know me, and you will find me,
Where… the boldness of Esther meets the warm closeness of Ruth.
Where the hospitality of Lydia is aligned with the submission of Mary,
Which is engulfed in the tears of a praying Hanna.
I will be the one, drenched in Proverbs 31… waiting for you"
Amen.
To appease my boredom or to quench my thirstiness I have for attention
And short-lived compliments from ‘sorta kindas’.
You know….
He ‘sort kinda’ right, but ‘sorta kinda’ wrong?
His first name LUKE,
His last name WARM.
I, I won’t settle for false companionship
I won’t lay in the embrace of his arms,
Attempting to find some closeness,
But never feeling so far apart cause, I just wanna be held
Cause ”all I gotta do is Say” No!
No more ‘almost sessions’ of ‘almost coming close’
Passing winks & buying drinks,
I’ma, I’ma, I’ma flirt!
Who flirts with the ideology of,
‘Can you just tell me how much I can get away with & still be saved?’
NO more.
I’ll stay in my bed alone, and write poems, about how I will wait for you.
He won’t even come close,
Our fingers won’t even interlock
We won’t even exchange breath
Cause I have thoughts that I’ve ‘saved as’ in a file that God has only equipped you to open.
I will no longer get weighted down,
From so-called friends & family talks,
About the concern for my biological clock
When I serve the Author of Time.
Who is NOT subject to time,
But I’M subject to Him,
He has the ability to STOP, FAST FORWARD, PAUSE, or REWIND at any given time…
So if we could role play,
You would be Abraham & I would be Sara
Or you can be Isaac & I can be Rebecca – a servant’s answered prayer
I am bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh,
Made up of your rib Adam!
And once we meet, like electrons
I will be bound to your nucleus, completely indivisible atom.
We even speak the same math: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, which really equals 1 if you add Him.
We were all created in His image,
But you have the ability to reflect, project & even detect the Son.
If I were to explain what you looked like,
You would have to look like a star,
A son of the Son..
I would gain energy simply from the light on me.
I would need you , in order to complete my photosynthesis
I await your revelation, but once again from the genesis, I will wait for you.
And I will know you… because when you speak I will be reminded of Solomon’s wisdom,
Your ability to lead will remind me of Moses,
Your faith will remind me of Abraham,
Your confidence in God’s Word will remind me of Daniel,
Your inspiration will remind me of Paul,
Your heart for God will remind me of David,
Your attention to detail will remind me of Noah,
Your integrity will remind me of Joseph,
And your ability to abandon your own will, will remind me of the disciples,
But your ability to love selflessly & unconditionally will remind me of Christ.
But I won’t need to identify you by any special Matthews or any special Marks,
Cause His word will be tatted all over your heart.
And you will know me, and you will find me,
Where… the boldness of Esther meets the warm closeness of Ruth.
Where the hospitality of Lydia is aligned with the submission of Mary,
Which is engulfed in the tears of a praying Hanna.
I will be the one, drenched in Proverbs 31… waiting for you"
Amen.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Overflowing Passion.
I remember when I was in high school I really was inspired by the Hillsong worship team. They looked so passionate during their worship, there was always this glow about them. They always read Scripture and it had so much power and Holy Spirit BAMNESS to it. And so, out of my admiration for them...I recall me trying to copy what they did in the videos when I had opportunities to lead worship at church. I tried formulating what to say and muster up this passion many times...but there were many instances where it just felt really awkward.I also tried to imitate them by raising up my hands, because I felt it made you so much more godlier and everyone else was doing it in the Hillsong video.
Now I know the reason that it felt so awkward imitating them...was that it was something that cannot be imitated. This is because the love that flows out of their hearts during worship is SO real. When people lifted up their hands in worship...it was because Christ is SO Holy and AMAZING...they cannot HELP but to RAISE THEIR HANDS TO WORSHIP!The passages they are speaking about, the zeal they are worshipping with...is not from themeselves...it's truly from the divine conviction, power, and prompting of the Holy Spirit. It something that when one truly encounters the love of God...they cannot contain. It kind of overtakes your body to the point you feel like OMGOSH what was that..was that me? that felt awesomely weird. Well newsflash it really isn't you..it is Christ in you...it is the best feeling EVER!
yay.
Now I know the reason that it felt so awkward imitating them...was that it was something that cannot be imitated. This is because the love that flows out of their hearts during worship is SO real. When people lifted up their hands in worship...it was because Christ is SO Holy and AMAZING...they cannot HELP but to RAISE THEIR HANDS TO WORSHIP!The passages they are speaking about, the zeal they are worshipping with...is not from themeselves...it's truly from the divine conviction, power, and prompting of the Holy Spirit. It something that when one truly encounters the love of God...they cannot contain. It kind of overtakes your body to the point you feel like OMGOSH what was that..was that me? that felt awesomely weird. Well newsflash it really isn't you..it is Christ in you...it is the best feeling EVER!
yay.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Humbled.
Tonight the Advancement chapel was really humbling.
It was a missions team send off night, and the love of God was just so thick in the room.
I realized something tonight, that isn't really new..but it just dawned on me.
I'm just one little minuscule individual in His big picture.
Sometimes it so easy for us to think we are so hardcore in pursuing Jesus, and that we are probably one of the few that "get" it..but in reality that's so dumb.
The Lord has been working and is working in so many people's hearts and has stirred up in them a deep desire for missions and intimacy with Him.
He has His timing with everyone, and He is just teaching one of us individually and corporately about HIM.
Man I have so much to learn...but I'm so stoked to learn it.
I'm just so blessed...man.
You know those countless fb statuses that I post about how great my school is and how great my friends are? Maybe people wonder why. It all comes down to this really...it really isn't the school or the people...but it's the JESUS in both the school and the people that makes it so attractive..so amazing...so beautiful.
May the Lord continue to work on Biola's campus so that there will be complete exaltation of His name in this place...may the religious spirit be broken on this campus...and may true intimacy/relationship with Him be established in this place!
In His name,
Amen.
It was a missions team send off night, and the love of God was just so thick in the room.
I realized something tonight, that isn't really new..but it just dawned on me.
I'm just one little minuscule individual in His big picture.
Sometimes it so easy for us to think we are so hardcore in pursuing Jesus, and that we are probably one of the few that "get" it..but in reality that's so dumb.
The Lord has been working and is working in so many people's hearts and has stirred up in them a deep desire for missions and intimacy with Him.
He has His timing with everyone, and He is just teaching one of us individually and corporately about HIM.
Man I have so much to learn...but I'm so stoked to learn it.
I'm just so blessed...man.
You know those countless fb statuses that I post about how great my school is and how great my friends are? Maybe people wonder why. It all comes down to this really...it really isn't the school or the people...but it's the JESUS in both the school and the people that makes it so attractive..so amazing...so beautiful.
May the Lord continue to work on Biola's campus so that there will be complete exaltation of His name in this place...may the religious spirit be broken on this campus...and may true intimacy/relationship with Him be established in this place!
In His name,
Amen.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
I'd love to read this book!
So my bday is coming up. If someone could buy this book for me..I'd greatly appreciate it. Haha regardless..I really love this quote from the book...
Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola (Thomas Nelson)
"Christians have made the gospel about so many things—things other than Christ. Religious concepts, ideas, doctrines, strategies, methods, techniques, programs, and formulas have all eclipsed the beauty, the glory, and the reality of the Lord Jesus Himself. On the whole, the Christian family today is starved for a real experience of the living Christ. We know a lot about our Lord, but we don't know Him very well. We know a lot about trying to be like Jesus, but very little about living by His indwelling life. "Jesus Manifesto" presents a fresh unveiling of Jesus as not only Savior and Lord, but as so much more. It is a prophetic call to restore the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ in a world—and a church—that has lost sight of Him. Read this book and see your Lord like you've never seen Him before."
Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola (Thomas Nelson)
"Christians have made the gospel about so many things—things other than Christ. Religious concepts, ideas, doctrines, strategies, methods, techniques, programs, and formulas have all eclipsed the beauty, the glory, and the reality of the Lord Jesus Himself. On the whole, the Christian family today is starved for a real experience of the living Christ. We know a lot about our Lord, but we don't know Him very well. We know a lot about trying to be like Jesus, but very little about living by His indwelling life. "Jesus Manifesto" presents a fresh unveiling of Jesus as not only Savior and Lord, but as so much more. It is a prophetic call to restore the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ in a world—and a church—that has lost sight of Him. Read this book and see your Lord like you've never seen Him before."
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Worship in Spirit and Truth, founded in LOVE
In John 4:23-24 it says
3 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
Thus the authority of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit is exceedingly important. You can't have one without the other. The Holy Scriptures is God's revealed Word to us while the Holy Spirit is the Powerful Living God Himself who is not only constantly convicting us of our sin, but speaking to us and guiding us to act upon certain things in our life. I could write a whole paper about this...and I probably will have to in one of my future classes....but I think Southland's Churches video really sums up what I believe...
Watch before you continue reading!
Great video right? I appreciate it. Thus having stated, a glimpse of my theological view, I think it's still exceedingly important for Christians to be humbled enough to recognize that no matter how "sound" or "complete" or "right" they think their theological views are, we are never going to have perfect theological views, because we are flawed people who know in part....here's a passage that addresses that:
1 Corinthians 13: 9,10,12
"9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears..... 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Having set all this...I think the foundation of everything...should be LOVE..and what exemplifies LOVE? Jesus Christ....if we have claim to have crazy knowledge of Scripture or perhaps on the flip side some crazy radical experience....but we just keep on talking about how much knowledge we have...or what a crazy experience we had...but we forget that knowing/loving JESUS is foundation of all of that...I think we are really missing the point.
That's what Abba has taught me so far, and this little brain has so much more to learn!!! haha...
3 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
Thus the authority of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit is exceedingly important. You can't have one without the other. The Holy Scriptures is God's revealed Word to us while the Holy Spirit is the Powerful Living God Himself who is not only constantly convicting us of our sin, but speaking to us and guiding us to act upon certain things in our life. I could write a whole paper about this...and I probably will have to in one of my future classes....but I think Southland's Churches video really sums up what I believe...
Watch before you continue reading!
Great video right? I appreciate it. Thus having stated, a glimpse of my theological view, I think it's still exceedingly important for Christians to be humbled enough to recognize that no matter how "sound" or "complete" or "right" they think their theological views are, we are never going to have perfect theological views, because we are flawed people who know in part....here's a passage that addresses that:
1 Corinthians 13: 9,10,12
"9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears..... 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Having set all this...I think the foundation of everything...should be LOVE..and what exemplifies LOVE? Jesus Christ....if we have claim to have crazy knowledge of Scripture or perhaps on the flip side some crazy radical experience....but we just keep on talking about how much knowledge we have...or what a crazy experience we had...but we forget that knowing/loving JESUS is foundation of all of that...I think we are really missing the point.
That's what Abba has taught me so far, and this little brain has so much more to learn!!! haha...
Monday, April 18, 2011
Refinement.
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Right now I am physically exhausted, fatigued, and I have a difficult time breathing.
Right now emotionally, I'm all over the place. There's some issues that I don't want to be in the middle of.
Right now spiritually I just want desperately for Abba to fill this whole in my heart.
Right now mentally I just want these dumb thoughts to stop running around in my brain.
Despite these circumstances, I still have so much to be thankful for. In fact, I should be thankful that I'm going through these things because that means I'm being refined and Daddy is doing so much more within in me that I can't even see or comprehend.
There's no one that I would rather live for... I will follow Jesus, and by His grace..He will sustain me until the very end.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Right now I am physically exhausted, fatigued, and I have a difficult time breathing.
Right now emotionally, I'm all over the place. There's some issues that I don't want to be in the middle of.
Right now spiritually I just want desperately for Abba to fill this whole in my heart.
Right now mentally I just want these dumb thoughts to stop running around in my brain.
Despite these circumstances, I still have so much to be thankful for. In fact, I should be thankful that I'm going through these things because that means I'm being refined and Daddy is doing so much more within in me that I can't even see or comprehend.
There's no one that I would rather live for... I will follow Jesus, and by His grace..He will sustain me until the very end.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Note to Self.
"Any 'passion' not completely anchored in the Lord's identity will be fleeting zeal and hollow sentiment." - Stephen Venable
Sanctify me Yeshua.
Sanctify me Yeshua.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Boasting.
Galatians 6:14 says
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
I realize how often I boast in my flesh. I boast in the people I know, I boast in the theology I know, I boast in the ministries I am involved with, I boast in the friends that I have, I boast in the gifts Abba gave me, I boast about that my sin is not as bad compared to (insert name here) ________...(which by the way is a totally ridiculous thought because there's no scale of sin, sin is sin in God's eyes), I boast because I think I'm so mature, there's so much more bleeeeh.... But what's the point of saying all this???? The point isn't to dwell on how ugly our hearts are....but the point is boast in how beautiful Jesus is!!!
My brothers and sisters....God desires us to boast in nothing else except CHRIST!!! Just knowing CHRIST! Now now I know, what many of you are probably thinking..."I'm far from that being my sole confidence"...hahha well then my friend you are probably in the same boat as everyone else. What our role is to do is to continuing to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and let HIM be the sanctifier and HE will teach us how to keep fixing our gaze on the cross, allowing our hearts to be purified, and making Jesus exalted in our lives.
It's a process...but there's so much GRACE for all of us!!!
I love how this old hymn sums it up...this is my prayer... "I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ...His death and resurrection!!".
Amen.
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
I realize how often I boast in my flesh. I boast in the people I know, I boast in the theology I know, I boast in the ministries I am involved with, I boast in the friends that I have, I boast in the gifts Abba gave me, I boast about that my sin is not as bad compared to (insert name here) ________...(which by the way is a totally ridiculous thought because there's no scale of sin, sin is sin in God's eyes), I boast because I think I'm so mature, there's so much more bleeeeh.... But what's the point of saying all this???? The point isn't to dwell on how ugly our hearts are....but the point is boast in how beautiful Jesus is!!!
My brothers and sisters....God desires us to boast in nothing else except CHRIST!!! Just knowing CHRIST! Now now I know, what many of you are probably thinking..."I'm far from that being my sole confidence"...hahha well then my friend you are probably in the same boat as everyone else. What our role is to do is to continuing to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and let HIM be the sanctifier and HE will teach us how to keep fixing our gaze on the cross, allowing our hearts to be purified, and making Jesus exalted in our lives.
It's a process...but there's so much GRACE for all of us!!!
I love how this old hymn sums it up...this is my prayer... "I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ...His death and resurrection!!".
Amen.
Monday, March 7, 2011
He's so much bigger
He's so much bigger than our doubts, fears, insecurities. He's so much bigger than my comprehension. He's so much bigger than even what He reveals of Himself through the Bible. He's so much bigger than any depiction of Him. He's so much bigger than a song can convey. He's sooooo much bigger than the media's stupid and skewed perception and distortion of Him. He's so much bigger than our finite wisdom. He's so much bigger than my wavering faith. He's so much bigger than I can ever imagine.
That little tune I heard 10 years ago finally is beginning to really hit home. "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do"
....all of my life...I cannot deny Your love....Everything comes alive in my life as I lift you higher....
That little tune I heard 10 years ago finally is beginning to really hit home. "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do"
....all of my life...I cannot deny Your love....Everything comes alive in my life as I lift you higher....
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Clarification.
The Gospel is not a list of do's and don'ts.
The Gospel is not about being religious.
The Gospel is not measure of whether you're a good person or not.
The Gospel is not whether you do right stuff or wrong stuff.
The Gospel is not how much you know about the Bible.
The Gospel is not about how much good works you do.
The Gospel is not about how little you cuss.
The Gospel is not about what you wear on Sundays.
The Gospel is not about how many praise songs you know how to sing.
The Gospel is not about how great of a prayer you can pray.
The Gospel is not about how many Bible studies, church services, or small groups you attend.
The Gospel is not about how many missions trips you've been on.
The Gospel is not about how great of a leader you are.
The Gospel is not about how inadequate you are.
The Gospel is not about you wearing a crucifix.
The Gospel is not about how comfortable or uncomfortable you are.
The Gospel is not about how much of the Christianese language you know, how many Hallelujahs you can say during church service, or how nice you appear on the surface level.
News Flash: The Gospel is not about any of your power at all!
Than what's the Gospel about??
The Gospel is about a message of POWER and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
The Gospel is that everyone is filthy and messed up, and that's why Christ needed to die for our sins.
The Gospel is about Christ accepting EVERYONE just as they are.
The Gospel is about self-sacrifice.
The Gospel is about Him transforming you from the inside out.
The Gospel is about you not being able to earn His love by ANY means of your own effort.
The Gospel is about laying down your crowns, SURRENDERING your life, so that HE may begin to work in you.
The Gospel is about HIS KINGDOM COME.
The Gospel is about HIS GRACE, despite your circumstances.
The Gospel is about no matter how many times you mess up, He will welcome you with open arms, so long as you repent and are willing to surrender your heart.
The Gospel is about Him being faithful, even when you're not.
The Gospel is about Jesus being the same, yesterday, TODAY, and TOMORROW!!! Like meaning everything He said His followers could do in the Bible, we can still do.
The Gospel is about OTHERS before yourself.
The Gospel is about HIS GLORY being displayed.
The Gospel is about how much we long to be like Jesus and with Jesus, because nothing else matters more than Him.
Guys. I'm writing this because I use to think that Christianity was what I mentioned in the first part of my blog. But Christ changed my life, and my heart...I just plead that you will open up your heart to let Him do the same.
Christ isn't a joke, He isn't your crutch, He isn't your therapist.
He is the KING OF KINGS. LORD OF LORDS. who deserves all the PRAISE. and our LIVES for that matter.
It's not about us. It's about Him.
:)
The Gospel is not about being religious.
The Gospel is not measure of whether you're a good person or not.
The Gospel is not whether you do right stuff or wrong stuff.
The Gospel is not how much you know about the Bible.
The Gospel is not about how much good works you do.
The Gospel is not about how little you cuss.
The Gospel is not about what you wear on Sundays.
The Gospel is not about how many praise songs you know how to sing.
The Gospel is not about how great of a prayer you can pray.
The Gospel is not about how many Bible studies, church services, or small groups you attend.
The Gospel is not about how many missions trips you've been on.
The Gospel is not about how great of a leader you are.
The Gospel is not about how inadequate you are.
The Gospel is not about you wearing a crucifix.
The Gospel is not about how comfortable or uncomfortable you are.
The Gospel is not about how much of the Christianese language you know, how many Hallelujahs you can say during church service, or how nice you appear on the surface level.
News Flash: The Gospel is not about any of your power at all!
Than what's the Gospel about??
The Gospel is about a message of POWER and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
The Gospel is that everyone is filthy and messed up, and that's why Christ needed to die for our sins.
The Gospel is about Christ accepting EVERYONE just as they are.
The Gospel is about self-sacrifice.
The Gospel is about Him transforming you from the inside out.
The Gospel is about you not being able to earn His love by ANY means of your own effort.
The Gospel is about laying down your crowns, SURRENDERING your life, so that HE may begin to work in you.
The Gospel is about HIS KINGDOM COME.
The Gospel is about HIS GRACE, despite your circumstances.
The Gospel is about no matter how many times you mess up, He will welcome you with open arms, so long as you repent and are willing to surrender your heart.
The Gospel is about Him being faithful, even when you're not.
The Gospel is about Jesus being the same, yesterday, TODAY, and TOMORROW!!! Like meaning everything He said His followers could do in the Bible, we can still do.
The Gospel is about OTHERS before yourself.
The Gospel is about HIS GLORY being displayed.
The Gospel is about how much we long to be like Jesus and with Jesus, because nothing else matters more than Him.
Guys. I'm writing this because I use to think that Christianity was what I mentioned in the first part of my blog. But Christ changed my life, and my heart...I just plead that you will open up your heart to let Him do the same.
Christ isn't a joke, He isn't your crutch, He isn't your therapist.
He is the KING OF KINGS. LORD OF LORDS. who deserves all the PRAISE. and our LIVES for that matter.
It's not about us. It's about Him.
:)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
What a King.
As if His eternal sacrifice wasn't enough, He chooses to bless me even when I wander from Him...
He gives me such encouraging brothers and sisters...and people that constantly speak truth to me
He gives me His Holy Word.
I understand to some I'm crazy, but you have to understand this crazy love.
It's a kind of love that truly satisfies.
It's a kind of love that grasps me with overwhelming peace even when I weep.
It's a kind of love that gives me divine appointments.
It's a kind of love that gives me the next breath.
It's a kind of love that changes lives.
I would be crazier if I didn't respond to this love. THAT'S WHAT IS CRAZY.
The more I grow in Him, the more I realize there is truly nothing pretty in my fleshly heart. Any good fruit produced in my life is not even from me...it's the King in me. It is Christ through me. The only good thing about me is Jesus Christ in my heart. My life is worthless, pointless, and hopeless without Him.
I pray you can receive and pursue this kind of love.
Ephesians 3:16-19
"16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
He gives me such encouraging brothers and sisters...and people that constantly speak truth to me
He gives me His Holy Word.
I understand to some I'm crazy, but you have to understand this crazy love.
It's a kind of love that truly satisfies.
It's a kind of love that grasps me with overwhelming peace even when I weep.
It's a kind of love that gives me divine appointments.
It's a kind of love that gives me the next breath.
It's a kind of love that changes lives.
I would be crazier if I didn't respond to this love. THAT'S WHAT IS CRAZY.
The more I grow in Him, the more I realize there is truly nothing pretty in my fleshly heart. Any good fruit produced in my life is not even from me...it's the King in me. It is Christ through me. The only good thing about me is Jesus Christ in my heart. My life is worthless, pointless, and hopeless without Him.
I pray you can receive and pursue this kind of love.
Ephesians 3:16-19
"16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Perhaps you've never heard it like this before...and if you have I hope it serves as a great reminder!!
I mean I'm sure many of us have heard it all our lives right? The gospel I mean. Man separated from God. Man needs to be made right with God through burnt offerings. God sends Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins, to die for our sins and get the wrath of God... in order that we can have relationship with the Father and have everlasting life..and for the time being we need to make disciples for His kingdom. Sounds familiar? To most of you at least.
But hold on.
I think we take it too lightly.
The wrath of God is a BIG DEAL! it's some scary stuff. read this.
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every man’s heart will melt. 8 And they will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, They will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, And the moon will not shed its light. 11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud, and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. 12 I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, And mankind than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I shall make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of the Lord of hosts In the day of His burning anger. 14 And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, Or like sheep with none to gather them, they will each turn to his own people, And each one flee to his own land. 15 Anyone who is found will be thrust through, and anyone who is captured will fall by the sword. 16 Their little ones also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished (Isaiah 13:6-16).
That's how powerful Yahweh is. I think we diminish His glory and power way too often in this individualistic, self-directed generation. We forget that the Creator of the universe has this authority over our lives. Even though God may seem a wrathful God in the Old Testament..and which He is. He is also very gracious as well..because time and time again the Israelites disobeyed Him..and He could have zapped them so He pleased..but He showed soooooooo much grace as well.
Here's where the gospel comes in then it gets crazy nuts for the New Covenant believers.
JESUS becomes the ATONING SACRIFICE for our sins. He's betrayed. He's humiliated. He's mocked. He's scorned. He is abandoned. He is tempted. He is in pain from all the floggings and physical abuse. I mean I can go on and on...and those who have seen Passion of the Christ might be able to visualize more details as well. And then he was nailed on the cross for our sins, but get this..that was NOT the end of it. He had to endure the full wrath of God ...which the verse in Isaiah above can maybe just a little glimpse to what that might means. Why? to save US? us messed up, filthy, human beings?? who tend to intentionally choose to disobey? and this is a gift?? man oh man.
What's nuts is that 2000 years later...lives still literally transform by Him. by the power of His Holy Spirit..and he gives gifts to His children and manifests Himself in their lives and answers their prayers..and gives them community.
Whoa take a breath.
I hope this convicts you, to fall deeply in love with Him if you have not already made the decision to accept Him in your life. Because it's really nuts. and Oh man...He's so jealous and affectionate for us..how can we not help but cry sometimes at this love story!
But hold on.
I think we take it too lightly.
The wrath of God is a BIG DEAL! it's some scary stuff. read this.
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every man’s heart will melt. 8 And they will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, They will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, And the moon will not shed its light. 11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud, and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. 12 I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, And mankind than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I shall make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of the Lord of hosts In the day of His burning anger. 14 And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, Or like sheep with none to gather them, they will each turn to his own people, And each one flee to his own land. 15 Anyone who is found will be thrust through, and anyone who is captured will fall by the sword. 16 Their little ones also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished (Isaiah 13:6-16).
That's how powerful Yahweh is. I think we diminish His glory and power way too often in this individualistic, self-directed generation. We forget that the Creator of the universe has this authority over our lives. Even though God may seem a wrathful God in the Old Testament..and which He is. He is also very gracious as well..because time and time again the Israelites disobeyed Him..and He could have zapped them so He pleased..but He showed soooooooo much grace as well.
Here's where the gospel comes in then it gets crazy nuts for the New Covenant believers.
JESUS becomes the ATONING SACRIFICE for our sins. He's betrayed. He's humiliated. He's mocked. He's scorned. He is abandoned. He is tempted. He is in pain from all the floggings and physical abuse. I mean I can go on and on...and those who have seen Passion of the Christ might be able to visualize more details as well. And then he was nailed on the cross for our sins, but get this..that was NOT the end of it. He had to endure the full wrath of God ...which the verse in Isaiah above can maybe just a little glimpse to what that might means. Why? to save US? us messed up, filthy, human beings?? who tend to intentionally choose to disobey? and this is a gift?? man oh man.
What's nuts is that 2000 years later...lives still literally transform by Him. by the power of His Holy Spirit..and he gives gifts to His children and manifests Himself in their lives and answers their prayers..and gives them community.
Whoa take a breath.
I hope this convicts you, to fall deeply in love with Him if you have not already made the decision to accept Him in your life. Because it's really nuts. and Oh man...He's so jealous and affectionate for us..how can we not help but cry sometimes at this love story!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Transparency
Recently I've been learning a lot about transparency. During the last 6 weeks (as stated in my previous blog) I dealt with a lot of weakness and confusion internally. What I realized during this season is that without the body of Christ, I would have crumbled. I believe the Lord put me in this state to make me learn to be dependent on Him and on others as well. So often we always try to do this alone. When people ask us how we are, we too often respond "Good", without thinking twice about it. Truth is, we aren't always "good" 24/7. I'm sure not. As people we always tend to conform and portray a certain image of ourselves so that people might perceive us a certain way. It's part of the fleshly nature. However, I believe God is really teaching me to be honest. To be honest with others when I'm completely broken, completely frustrated, completely desperate for help. Granted, you take a risk there when you become vulnerable..however the feeling of being truthful and knowing that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8)is so freeing.
We are all essentially the same inside. We are all longing for acceptance, security, and happiness. We are always looking for the next thing that can fulfill and satisfy us. Only Jesus Christ can give us full acceptance, security, joy (which is a thankful heart in happy and even in sad times, fulfillment and satisfaction. Because of this truth, I am able to be free and share with you all that I am still at times very broken, I don't have it all figured it out, I do care how you think sometimes, but it's so reassuring that I have no ability to change any of these things about me..but that it's only through the dependence on my Savior and the power of the Holy Spirit, that God can make me more into the likeness of His son.
So brothers and sisters, may I encourage you to embark on this journey with me of being honest with one another, so that we can continue to grow individually and as a body, so we can be used by Him even more.
I really enjoy this next passage in Ephesians which summarizes and conveys better the point I'm trying to aim at. That if we as the body speaks the truth in love and continue to be honest with one another, we can grow more in unity and become mature together. I'm so glad Scripture OWNS! hahah
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
We are all essentially the same inside. We are all longing for acceptance, security, and happiness. We are always looking for the next thing that can fulfill and satisfy us. Only Jesus Christ can give us full acceptance, security, joy (which is a thankful heart in happy and even in sad times, fulfillment and satisfaction. Because of this truth, I am able to be free and share with you all that I am still at times very broken, I don't have it all figured it out, I do care how you think sometimes, but it's so reassuring that I have no ability to change any of these things about me..but that it's only through the dependence on my Savior and the power of the Holy Spirit, that God can make me more into the likeness of His son.
So brothers and sisters, may I encourage you to embark on this journey with me of being honest with one another, so that we can continue to grow individually and as a body, so we can be used by Him even more.
I really enjoy this next passage in Ephesians which summarizes and conveys better the point I'm trying to aim at. That if we as the body speaks the truth in love and continue to be honest with one another, we can grow more in unity and become mature together. I'm so glad Scripture OWNS! hahah
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Friday, January 28, 2011
I'm weak, but He's strong.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". This passage encompasses my experience throughout the whole CSP Hometown Bakersfield trip. Prior to coming to coming on the CSP trip, during my winter break, I encountered some of the heaviest warfare I've ever experienced as a Christian. Everything thing from doubt, to fear, to insecurity, had seemingly crept back up in my life, which were things I really struggled with before I seriously gave my life to Christ 2 and a half years ago. Feelings that felt foreign to me, suddenly plagued my thoughts and emotions constantly. However, despite the state of my spiritual walk, God gave me the strength to persevere. Not only did He encourage me greatly through my brothers and sisters in Christ and through reading Scripture, but He even used my greatly for His kingdom even when I felt so weak. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I was able to lead two young girls to Christ this week. I was so astonished that even in the state of my weakness, God used my story to lead Savanna Garcia from Shafter High and Beatriz Quintero from Bakersfield High to Him. The experience was so touching; I asked them if a relationship with Christ was something they desired to have in their life, they just looked so ready. I remember just feeling so joyful when they nodded to receive Him and when we prayed the sinner's prayer together, it just made me so joyful. I'm so awestruck at the fact that not only God uses us in spite of our weakness, but I think the crazier thing is that, broken and weak people are exactly the ones God calls and uses for His glory. The reality is, that we are all just broken people who've found Truth and strength through Him, and I'm so glad that all it takes is for us to accept and commit our lives to Him, and He fills in the blanks for everything else!!! Although, I'm still enduring struggle right now, I know it is for the greater purpose for His kingdom, as He continues to mold me into His likeness and make Him the only thing I boast about. I still have a long way to go, and much more to learn and experience through Him, but my prayer is that my life can encompass this song lyric one day, because in the end it is He who deserves all the glory: "I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ; his death and resurrection."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Grace Amazing.
I just don't understand.
The magnitude of it is so great.
That Almighty God? My Creator? My Savior? loves me radically? He wants to satisfy my deepest desires?
Sounds crazy huh? I haven't seen this man, I've only heard stories about Him. I only hear about Him when people preach about HIm from this book called the Bible.
He wants me to long, to love, and to completely satisfied by the One who I haven't met yet.
You know what the crazier thing I've experienced how that FEELS.
1 Peter 1:8
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." Sounds like wtheck right? but yeah WTHECK that's how crazy this IS!
Man, it sounds crazy right? or just like it doesn't make sense right? yeah sometimes it even confuses me. That a God loves me so much? That He has all these answer for His people in this thing called the Holy Bible. What's even more ridic is that people have actually found proof to biblical stories too. And what's crazier is that I've seen lives transformed, because of hearing this TRUTH?
So guys. If this is true...shouldn't it change our lives? shouldn't we give ALL of our beings because we KNOW the POWER of the gospel. yet I often fail ...I doubt. I hurt HIm. I question Him. I sin. I complain. I wander. I want to please PEOPLE. I'm arrogant.
yet He still loves me. yet He still shows grace and provides me with everything and more. that's some GRACE amazing.
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
To be honest, I'm still wrapping my head around that. Maybe I'll never get it. I always try to think and understand YAHWEH, but HAHAH it's been pretty much been unsuccessful, because I'm a finite being trying to understand something infinite.
All i know is, how ever much it won't ever make sense in my head, I long to chase after it with my heart...
Cause He has my heart. My heart is His.
Oh Please Father, let my have undying faith in you like in the past. Make me into Your likeness. Cause I'm sick of this "religion" stuff. I just want truth.
The magnitude of it is so great.
That Almighty God? My Creator? My Savior? loves me radically? He wants to satisfy my deepest desires?
Sounds crazy huh? I haven't seen this man, I've only heard stories about Him. I only hear about Him when people preach about HIm from this book called the Bible.
He wants me to long, to love, and to completely satisfied by the One who I haven't met yet.
You know what the crazier thing I've experienced how that FEELS.
1 Peter 1:8
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." Sounds like wtheck right? but yeah WTHECK that's how crazy this IS!
Man, it sounds crazy right? or just like it doesn't make sense right? yeah sometimes it even confuses me. That a God loves me so much? That He has all these answer for His people in this thing called the Holy Bible. What's even more ridic is that people have actually found proof to biblical stories too. And what's crazier is that I've seen lives transformed, because of hearing this TRUTH?
So guys. If this is true...shouldn't it change our lives? shouldn't we give ALL of our beings because we KNOW the POWER of the gospel. yet I often fail ...I doubt. I hurt HIm. I question Him. I sin. I complain. I wander. I want to please PEOPLE. I'm arrogant.
yet He still loves me. yet He still shows grace and provides me with everything and more. that's some GRACE amazing.
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
To be honest, I'm still wrapping my head around that. Maybe I'll never get it. I always try to think and understand YAHWEH, but HAHAH it's been pretty much been unsuccessful, because I'm a finite being trying to understand something infinite.
All i know is, how ever much it won't ever make sense in my head, I long to chase after it with my heart...
Cause He has my heart. My heart is His.
Oh Please Father, let my have undying faith in you like in the past. Make me into Your likeness. Cause I'm sick of this "religion" stuff. I just want truth.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
SongsforHim
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
So for a long time I contemplated whether to share my songs or not. "Oh, but what if people don't like it? Oh, what if I sound bad? Oh, what if I look funny?" Yup those were the thoughts that kept me from sharing my gift of music to the world.
To be honest those thoughts still run in my brain. I am human. I do fear judgment at times. But nonetheless..God is molding me into His likeness day by day. And ultimately He didn't give me musical ability to glorify myself through it, but to glorify Him.
So I do wish more than anything that these songs over the years blesses you in some way, and leads you closer to Him if you are a believer...and for those who don't know Christ I hope these songs give you a glimpse of just who my Savior is.
2008- More of You
2009- My Faithful Apology
2010- Sufficient Love (Co-Written with Melissa Lee)
2010- All We Want
Cover of Flags Brooke Fraser
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
So for a long time I contemplated whether to share my songs or not. "Oh, but what if people don't like it? Oh, what if I sound bad? Oh, what if I look funny?" Yup those were the thoughts that kept me from sharing my gift of music to the world.
To be honest those thoughts still run in my brain. I am human. I do fear judgment at times. But nonetheless..God is molding me into His likeness day by day. And ultimately He didn't give me musical ability to glorify myself through it, but to glorify Him.
So I do wish more than anything that these songs over the years blesses you in some way, and leads you closer to Him if you are a believer...and for those who don't know Christ I hope these songs give you a glimpse of just who my Savior is.
2008- More of You
2009- My Faithful Apology
2010- Sufficient Love (Co-Written with Melissa Lee)
2010- All We Want
Cover of Flags Brooke Fraser
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