07/14/12

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
-John 3:17

Sitting alone on the branch of a tree at the park reading the book of Ruth as drops of rain weave through green leaves above finding their way onto the pages of Your word I breath You in deep on this Sabbath.

Freedom, pure and simple
It is for freedom that Christ set us free
-Galatians 5:1
Freedom from addictions, freedom from chemicals, freedom from slavery, I am set free by Your blood so that I may have no other gods before You. So that I am free to worship You completely without chains to anything of this world. So that You may possess my entire heart.

As I read Your word squirrels and birds give me strange looks and double takes unsure how to react. I admire Your craftsmanship in Your creation: The rich soil in which the tree digs it's roots. The strong branches extending from the trunk strong enough to support me. The bright green countless leaves shielding me from both the sun and the rain. The rain trickling down to the soil so that the tree may drink. The birds in the tree from their tiny respiratory systems to their beautiful colors. The squirrel with it's agile balance and body and humorous tail. To say You are a brilliant artist would be to understate You infinitely. While we create art out of the world You've given us inspired by all that You created, You create out of love Your creations aren't based off of someone's ideas or inspired by another work. Each and everyone of Your marvelous masterpieces are originals in it's purest definition.

This universe, Your art, flows perfectly harmoniously together. Yet as humans we pave over it, we build through it, we push against Your will and Your way. Each day we discover new consequences of our rebellion against nature. The same can be said for sin. As I push against Your law and Your will I find pollution in my soul. I find distance from Your presence. As humans sew into the earth liter and pollution we reap the harvest of a messed up world. The same goes as I sew sin into my life I reap pain and separation.

But You came to our world not to judge us, to save us. To set us free from our harvest. To lift our yoke. Thank You for this freedom. Thank You for this world. Thank You for this heart. Thank You for today.

Ulysses - Josh Garrels

07/12/12

5 days away.

I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. That is the way Jesus came to reveal God’s love. The great message that we have to carry, as ministers of God’s Word and followers of Jesus, is that God loves us not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love and has chosen to proclaim that love as the true source of all human life.
-Henri Nouwen

All I can control and all I have is myself. Time is life's only currency.

Life isn't about telling stones to become loaves of bread.
Life isn't about doing incredible feats to amaze people.
Life isn't about obtaining power and stuff.

Life is about living like You, Jesus. To stand in this world with nothing to offer but my vulnerable self. I can't solve anything, I can't change anything all I can control is myself and all I have is You, Jesus.

Whether I am traveling to Africa or 5th avenue Columbus all I can give to people is my time and attention. Exactly the way You loved people when You walked the Earth and exactly the way You love me.

Abba You love us because You created and redeemed us in love.

Why do I worry? Why do I try to solve things or fix things or try to be things.

I'm not a mighty leader, I'm not a magnificent man, I'm a sinner, I'm no different than the worst man alive today. You are good God. You make me beautiful. It isn't because of what I do or accomplish that merits Your love and forgiveness. It's Your goodness, it's Your love, it's Your character.

What can I do God but point to You? Become the servant of all and love each and every brother and sister of mine on this earth exactly as You first loved me.

Power In The Name Of Jesus - Ascend The Hill

07/08/12

If you go to the gutter, you have to be willing to stay in the gutter. Our Christian mentality is to visit the gutter over spring break or during a summer missions trip. But to live there and hang out there, to hang around people who live in the gutter...YES
-Craig Gross

Abba what am I doing? What do you want my life to look like?

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
-1 John 3

How can Your love be in me?

Why don't You talk to me? Why don't You tell me what to do?

Should I own a cell phone?
Should I live in an apartment?
Should I own a car?
How many hours should I work?
How many outfits should I own?
Where should my money be going?
Should I stay in America?

It isn't right how the world works.

There ain't no reasons things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it everyday
-Brett Dennen

Sometimes I just want to give up. Sometimes I want to make as much money as possible pad my saving account and live comfortably. I could justify it too by being able to give more to the church more to the poor more to charities but is that really what You want? Do You just want me to make as much money as I can and to give as much money as I can?

How do You want me to live?

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
-Matthew 4

Why didn't You end world hungry Jesus? Why didn't You turn every stone to bread? I don't understand. It's scary to think Satan can tempt by asking me to do things that seem good. What's the harm in turning stones to bread? What's the harm in earning a lot of money and giving it all away?

What's the goal of life?

I have nothing to offer You. I have nothing to offer the world.

Abba help me love You more than money. Help me believe
people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
-Deuteronomy 8:3

Jesus as I begin the count down for Africa I ask that everyday of my life You would speak to me and show me this life is a vapor. This life is to be poured out as a drink offering. That I shouldn't store my treasures in this life. Help me to always stay thankful for running water, for food and the variety that I have.

“Don’t be afraid, Take courage. I am here!”
-Jesus

Jesus help me to step out of the boat of comfort and into the strong wind and waves of Your way.

“You have so little faith, Why did you doubt me?”
-Jesus

Help me keep my eyes on You. Not what the world thinks of me. I don't want to stay in the boat of fear and I don't want to worry about the strong wind and waves of this life. I want to take courage and have faith.

All I Have - Vineyard Music

07/05/12

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever Amen.
-Jesus

What's the goal of prayer?

As I look at how You taught me to pray I see a void between what my prayers look like and how You taught.

Ask for the Kingdom to come, for the Father's will to be done. Ask only for Today's bread. Ask for forgiveness of my sins as I forgive my brothers and sisters. Don't lead me into temptation and save me from sin. Yours is the Kingdom, power, glory forever.

That's it? What about change?

A farmer named Sai Weng owned a beautiful mare which was praised far and wide. One day this beautiful horse disappeared. The people of his village offered sympathy to Sai Weng for his great misfortune. Sai Weng said simply, "Who can say what is good or bad?"

A few days later the lost mare returned, followed by a beautiful wild stallion. The village congratulated Sai Weng for his good fortune. He said, "Who can say what is good or bad?"

Some time later, Sai Weng's only son, while breaking in the stallion, fell off and broke his leg. The village people once again expressed their sympathy at Sai Weng's misfortune. Sai Weng again said, "Who can say what is good or bad?"

Soon thereafter, war broke out and all the young men of the village except Sai Weng's lame son were drafted and were killed in battle. The village people were amazed as Sai Weng's good luck. His son was the only young man left alive in the village. But Sai Weng kept his same attitude: despite all the turmoil, gains and losses, he gave the same reply, "Who can say what is good or bad?"

This may be a Taoist story but I still find truth in it. How ignorant of me to pray for something other than
Your will,
daily bread,
forgiveness,
and praise to You?
I have such a limited perspective. How could I possibly ask for some sort of change without knowing how far the ripples of that change will go.

It seems all of my prays have the word safe in them at some point. Keep my friends safe, keep my family safe, please let these people have a safe trip...

Safe and Christianity don't mix they are complete opposites. I don't know Your will. I might ask for safety on my trip to Africa but what if Your will is for me to die while there? Am I to say I know better than You?

You aren't a genie, You aren't my slave, This isn't my life. If Your will is for me to be murdered on the streets of Columbus who can say what is good or bad? If Your will is for the plane to Africa to go down who can say what is good or bad? If Your will is for me to contract HIV while in Africa who can say what is good or bad?

What's the goal of prayer? I guess it's just to share my heart with my Father. It isn't about asking for stuff because I wouldn't know what to ask. It's about thanking You for this moments breath, for this moments heart beat, for today's food, and for more of Your presence in my life.

This life is a vapor. I want Your will I don't want my life and my plans. You bought me at the highest price. My life is Yours spend it however You please. I trust You Abba I put my faith in Your will.

Wake Me Up - The City Harmonic

07/02/12

"Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time? If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
“All right, go!”
-Matthew 8:28-32

Who is like the Lord?
Who the heck are You?
Jesus You even show mercy to demons?

Abba I need mercy and grace. I am a sinner. I am selfish. This isn't that sort of self righteous Christian humility. I am seriously in need of the Savior. Jesus if this breath was my last I would approach Your throne filthy and unworthy.

Why do I betray You? Why do I turn from You? Would You create in me a clean heart oh God? Show me Your mercy the same mercy You show to jews, gentiles, sinners, saints, even demons.

Why do I forget You on the mountain top? I miss those mornings with You this past winter. even though I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, couldn't stop crying, in the valley, in the desert, in the wilderness, in pain is where Your presence is felt the most.

I believe that is why the meek and mourning are blessed because they have a dependency and a relationship with You that is sincere and pleasing to You Father.

I want to choose You over this world. I want to choose You over the stew from Jacob. I want to choose You over the beauty of Delilah, I want to choose You over the wealthy of the rich young ruler. You are the pearl of great price. You are worth this life. Today, this minute, help me choose You.

Jesus I love who You are and I will sing praises because of Your mercy, because of Your sacrifice! You are worthy Lord. Who is like the Lord?

Cannot Keep You - Gungor