You dwell in the songs that we are singing
Rising to the Heavens, rising to Your heart, Your heart
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between and frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heart
And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
Oh God, I wanna rest in You
Oh, speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me, whisper in the dark
'Cause I know You're more than my salvation
Without You I am hopeless, tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart
You are the keeper of my heart
And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I wanna rest in You
Still my heart hold me close
Let me hear a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry
Still my heart hold me close
Let me hear a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry
And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, let me rest in You
I'm restless, so restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
Oh God, I will rest in You
Friday, August 19, 2011
Bold: Miriam
Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked man flees although no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."
1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
When i asked you which one displayed boldness, a young boy speaking his mind unecesarily, or a dedicated Chrisitan sharing his faith, what would you say? The answer would be both. The young boy displayed what is called immature boldness, speaking before thinking in an outspoken, showy way. The dedicated Christian displayed mature boldness, knowing when to speak and use boldness, not using it unecesarily. In boldness, an action is required, just not required all the time, meaning to be be bold you must act, but a mature boldness doesnt require action all the time. For example, when i was younger, i was a much quieter person (if you can imagine). Talking to people was a scary thing for me. I had to be BOLD in order to reach out and talk to those around me. This doesnt mean i was talking unecesarily and all the time, i just didnt hide in the corner and watch as people walked by. Also, theres an aspect of gentleness in mature boldness. One who uses boldness correctly will use it with gentleness, the least ammount of force necessary.
1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
When i asked you which one displayed boldness, a young boy speaking his mind unecesarily, or a dedicated Chrisitan sharing his faith, what would you say? The answer would be both. The young boy displayed what is called immature boldness, speaking before thinking in an outspoken, showy way. The dedicated Christian displayed mature boldness, knowing when to speak and use boldness, not using it unecesarily. In boldness, an action is required, just not required all the time, meaning to be be bold you must act, but a mature boldness doesnt require action all the time. For example, when i was younger, i was a much quieter person (if you can imagine). Talking to people was a scary thing for me. I had to be BOLD in order to reach out and talk to those around me. This doesnt mean i was talking unecesarily and all the time, i just didnt hide in the corner and watch as people walked by. Also, theres an aspect of gentleness in mature boldness. One who uses boldness correctly will use it with gentleness, the least ammount of force necessary.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Devoted: Mary the Mother of Jesus
"Behold a bondslave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word. My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has regard for the humble state of his bonslave."
What if this was our attitude towards the plan of God? Often times i throw a fit if things dont turn out the way i want them to. When God decides to move me to Tyler, Texas and take me away from all my friends in California. When He decides to take my dear friend Jimmy to be with Him. When He decides that its not yet my time to move off and go to college but that my place is here at home. BUT when these thoughts go through my head, I am reminded of Gods faithfulness and power. God has revealed to me a part of his plan in those times and it causes me to be thankful. I am now blessed with an amazing group of close friends who push me toward truth and who always have my back. I am now blessed with the thought of my dear friend in complete and total joy and satisfaction in the presence of God, worshipping Him face to face, the time he always longed for. I am blessed with another year at home to love on my family and show them how much i care.
This is who we are: bondslaves of the Lord and if we lived our lives reflecting on that, what a difference we would make in this dark world. This humble statement of Mary's reflected the devotion she had to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was devoted, continually pursuing a relationship with Christ. If only that could be said of us. 1 Corinthians 7:34-35 says, "An unmarried woman of virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs, her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. I am saying this to you, for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way, in undivided devotion to the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8-9 says, "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord, so whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him." This is what devotion should look like.
What if this was our attitude towards the plan of God? Often times i throw a fit if things dont turn out the way i want them to. When God decides to move me to Tyler, Texas and take me away from all my friends in California. When He decides to take my dear friend Jimmy to be with Him. When He decides that its not yet my time to move off and go to college but that my place is here at home. BUT when these thoughts go through my head, I am reminded of Gods faithfulness and power. God has revealed to me a part of his plan in those times and it causes me to be thankful. I am now blessed with an amazing group of close friends who push me toward truth and who always have my back. I am now blessed with the thought of my dear friend in complete and total joy and satisfaction in the presence of God, worshipping Him face to face, the time he always longed for. I am blessed with another year at home to love on my family and show them how much i care.
This is who we are: bondslaves of the Lord and if we lived our lives reflecting on that, what a difference we would make in this dark world. This humble statement of Mary's reflected the devotion she had to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was devoted, continually pursuing a relationship with Christ. If only that could be said of us. 1 Corinthians 7:34-35 says, "An unmarried woman of virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs, her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. I am saying this to you, for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way, in undivided devotion to the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8-9 says, "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord, so whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him." This is what devotion should look like.
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Gentle and Quiet Spirit...
Some people would say to be gentle is to be weak, this however is not the case. Lets say you are holding a newborn baby, what would be the gentle way to hold him or her? Would it be up tight and close, squeezing the baby? Would it be limply holding your arms out with barely enough support. The answer is neither. The first would be overpowering, brutal. The second would be weak and careless. The definition of gentle is: using the lease amount of force necessary. You cannot be too gentle or not gentle enough because when that happens, the action becomes something else. Gentleness is a huge strength. It takes alot of strength to know what the right amount of force necesary is and to act upon it. Often gentleness requires being more or less forceful then you normally would be. Therefore gentleness is not natural and takes alot of strength.
Is God Fair?
What does fair mean? A working definition of fair is "equal treatment". Looking at that defintion, does that define God? some wold say yes, that God equally loves us no matter what we do. Altghough I agree that God does love us despite our actions, he does not show that love equally. He loves us each differently. Blowfish gave an example. Lets say there are 18 girls in the room and you have eighteen apples BUT one of the girls hasnt eaten in a long time and needs the food more than the rest of us, what would be the FAIR way to distribute the apples? Some say it would be fairest to give extra to the one girl because she needs it more, but that turns the action into love, not fairness. Fair is giving everyone equal treatment. Love is often in direct opposition to fair, therefore God is not fair because God is love.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Beautiful: Phil Wickham
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful
I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see You there hanging on a tree
You bled and then You died and then You rose again for me
Now You are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful
1 Peter 1:3-9, 13-19
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
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