The Crocodile Hunter- By Ray Comfort
It's not often that someone from down-under is the lead story on primetime TV. The fact that presidents from other countries die is a big deal, but they don't get to head the news. Some don't even get the tail. But when Stephen Robert Irwin was suddenly killed on September 4th, 2006, he was number one.
Steve Irwin was an Australian naturalist, wildlife expert, a well-known and colorful personality, and was best known for the television program "The Crocodile Hunter."
But his death didn't come as a shock to most who knew of him. How he died, did. Like many others who had watched him get up close and personal with dangerous animals, I thought it was just a matter of time until he would be mortally attacked by a crocodile or bitten by a poisonous snake. But that didn't happen. Instead, he was tragically stabbed through the heart by a stingray that was apparently only trying to defend itself. His distraught manager and close friend said that he "lived beyond the edge but seemed invincible." But none of us are invincible. Time will prove that to be true.
I become frustrated when I hear of the sudden unexpected death of any famous person. I want to grab this blind and unthinking world by the ear and shout "Hey, wake up. Death is a reality. It will come to you. You are not invincible. Please open your heart to the gospel." I want to seize the moment before the shock of another celebrity death wears off.
The Crocodile Hunter was passionate about the preservation of any endangered species--even if they were snakes and crocodiles. Perhaps you are a compassionate person and also have a deep concern about preserving animals. Then may I encourage you to do your part to preserve a forgotten endangered species--the dying human race. Doing this will not only make your life count for something in eternity, but it will also cater to you, if you are one who likes to live on the edge.
There is a forgotten and effective way to do this. It is something that Jesus did. It's also something the Apostle Paul, Peter, Stephen and John did. It's something that was done by Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield and John Wesley. It's arguably scarier than jumping headlong out of a plane or messing with snakes and crocodiles. It's called "open air preaching."
Open air preaching is where you stand up in front of a God-hating world and preach His message of everlasting life. There's no applause. There's no pat on the back from an appreciative world. You probably won't make the lead on primetime news. Not even if you die doing it.
Steve Irwin left a huge and lasting legacy, and now that he's gone his words have become even more meaningful. Death tends to do that. He said, "I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message." This is true. Of all the things a Christian should be passionate about, saving sinners from Hell has to be high on the priority list. So educate yourself on how to reach them, and then educate the world on how and why they need to be saved.
When Steve died he was described by the CEO of Queensland's Royal Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals as a "modern-day Noah." We tend to forget that Noah was more than passionate about preserving endangered species. He did something about which the world rarely hears. Scripture calls him a "preacher of righteousness." He was an open air preacher. He faithfully pleaded with a sinful and violent world to get right with a just and holy God, and warned them that God was going to judge them in righteousness. They laughed at Noah and his ark then, and they laugh at Noah and his ark now. Despite the mountain of evidence, most deny that there was even a world-wide flood.
We are living in the days that Jesus called "the days of Noah," and as in the days of Noah there is violence throughout the earth and the imagination of men's hearts is continually evil. These are dark times, but like Noah, we must be faithful preachers of righteousness, and if demons hiss and sinners snarl--if the endangered species fights against us, we have a strong consolation. Jesus said, "Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
So while you are still in the land of the living, live on the edge of eternity. Don't listen to your fears. Listen to your faith. Be passionate about reaching the lost. Learn how to show this world that they are in mortal danger. Convince them that they are not in a place to argue with God--that a drowning man should keep his mouth closed. And follow the footsteps of those who through faith "stopped the mouths of lions," and never forget that "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."
http://www.livingwaters.com/columns_ray/
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
being an example...
As I write, I am sitting here listening to a new (as in the last couple of months...) band called Pink House. They're playing "Blessed Be Your Name" at the moment, practicing right behind me. Okay, so they are only ages 10, 12, and 13.... but they're really great. I am going to be making a website for them for my final project for my internet development class this semester, so the link will be going up on here when I get to that point.
Anyway, I love their joy. The joy in their music.. It is so great. So fun. So... yeah, they are a good new band. You'd not guess their ages just from hearing them! :)
They are, at this point, doing a lot of covering of songs. They're doing "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman, some Todd Proctor songs, "Big House" by Audio Adrenaline (only... they changed it. They made their own version of it called "Pink, Pink House").... and they are also actually writing some of their own songs. There's one in particular that I love. It has some of the best lyrics, and it is just really good. And "Blessed Be Your Name"... well, that is their classic song. The one they started with, practicing while I was in Nicaragua. I never heard them until Awana camp. Then they played it in church too.
So... watch for Pink House.... :) You know, they remind me of this verse that says not to let anyone ever look down on you because you're young, but to instead be an example to the world in how you live and talk... in your purity and in your love. (1 Timothy 4:12) I love that verse. So many people think that kids can't live up to their expectations. But they don't have to. They need to be an example. Be a good role model. Live so that people can look up to you ~ whether they are older or younger than you. That is my goal. I want my life to be worth looking up to.
Anyway, I love their joy. The joy in their music.. It is so great. So fun. So... yeah, they are a good new band. You'd not guess their ages just from hearing them! :)
They are, at this point, doing a lot of covering of songs. They're doing "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman, some Todd Proctor songs, "Big House" by Audio Adrenaline (only... they changed it. They made their own version of it called "Pink, Pink House").... and they are also actually writing some of their own songs. There's one in particular that I love. It has some of the best lyrics, and it is just really good. And "Blessed Be Your Name"... well, that is their classic song. The one they started with, practicing while I was in Nicaragua. I never heard them until Awana camp. Then they played it in church too.
So... watch for Pink House.... :) You know, they remind me of this verse that says not to let anyone ever look down on you because you're young, but to instead be an example to the world in how you live and talk... in your purity and in your love. (1 Timothy 4:12) I love that verse. So many people think that kids can't live up to their expectations. But they don't have to. They need to be an example. Be a good role model. Live so that people can look up to you ~ whether they are older or younger than you. That is my goal. I want my life to be worth looking up to.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
being effective and productive...
I came across this passage the other day in reading my Bible...
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." ~ 2 Peter 1:3-9
I know I'd read these verses before... but something about them struck me in a new way this time around....
See... God has given us everything we need to live for Him and to escape the corruption of the world. Because of this, we are told here that we need to "make every effort" to add goodness to our faith. Add knowledge to that goodness, self-control to knowledge, perseverance to our self-control. We need to add godliness to perseverance, brotherly kindness to godliness... and to brotherly kindness, we need to add love. Wow, that's a lot of characteristics, but... they all fit together. You cannot have love without all the other qualities. Love binds it all together. (Colossians 3:14) They overlap; we need to add ALL of them to our lives. Not just pick and choose what looks good for the moment or what fits into our plans.
We are to "possess these qualitites in increasing measure." So... we are supposed to grow in them. Keep growing in them, keep adding them to our lives. If we do this, they will keep us from "being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." I love that. I don't want to be ineffective or unproductive. I want my life to make a difference. Our lives will be effective and productive when we are living as Christ lived. When we are growing in Him, growing in these characteristics, that is when we will be productive and effective for Him.
And if we don't have these qualities in our lives... if we are not growing in them constantly... then we are blind to the truth that we have been forgiven. I thought of the verse where Jesus said that those who have been forgiven of much love much, and those who haven't don't love much. When we forget that we've been forgiven... we are so blind.
If we are going to claim to belong to Jesus, then we need to live like it. (Philippians 2) We need to walk as Jesus walked... live as He lived. (1 John 2:5-6) When we are living like Him, we will be contagious...
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." ~ 2 Peter 1:3-9
I know I'd read these verses before... but something about them struck me in a new way this time around....
See... God has given us everything we need to live for Him and to escape the corruption of the world. Because of this, we are told here that we need to "make every effort" to add goodness to our faith. Add knowledge to that goodness, self-control to knowledge, perseverance to our self-control. We need to add godliness to perseverance, brotherly kindness to godliness... and to brotherly kindness, we need to add love. Wow, that's a lot of characteristics, but... they all fit together. You cannot have love without all the other qualities. Love binds it all together. (Colossians 3:14) They overlap; we need to add ALL of them to our lives. Not just pick and choose what looks good for the moment or what fits into our plans.
We are to "possess these qualitites in increasing measure." So... we are supposed to grow in them. Keep growing in them, keep adding them to our lives. If we do this, they will keep us from "being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." I love that. I don't want to be ineffective or unproductive. I want my life to make a difference. Our lives will be effective and productive when we are living as Christ lived. When we are growing in Him, growing in these characteristics, that is when we will be productive and effective for Him.
And if we don't have these qualities in our lives... if we are not growing in them constantly... then we are blind to the truth that we have been forgiven. I thought of the verse where Jesus said that those who have been forgiven of much love much, and those who haven't don't love much. When we forget that we've been forgiven... we are so blind.
If we are going to claim to belong to Jesus, then we need to live like it. (Philippians 2) We need to walk as Jesus walked... live as He lived. (1 John 2:5-6) When we are living like Him, we will be contagious...
"... maybe a greater thing will happen ~
maybe all will see
maybe our Love will catch like fire
as it burns through me..."
~ from "beautiful love"... the afters
Sunday, September 10, 2006
this is where i see You...
"in an airplane
i take the window seat
a thousand feet,
and all i know shrinks in minutes
when the sky is gray i want to believe
that when the sun is hiding it still exists
in an airplane
are kings and common men
at the window side by side,
their view is now the same
some relax and rest their eyes
some sit on the edge
as we all break through the clouds, into the light of day
mountain tops peak through
this is where i see You
i've never seen a clearer blue
this is where i see You
leave behind your busy life
all you have is who you are
space like this is hard to find, so breathe it in
someone will say, 'where are you heading?'
and it might be the first time you ever thought about it
a baby's talking two rows behind me
the sun just set for the second time today
You seem to use the smallest things around me
to get me to this place"
~ "airplane"... bethany dillon
This is where I see You. Yeah... I've had some of those experiences this summer on planes. It always amazes me the ways in which God chooses to show us Himself. I don't want to ever let it stop amazing me. I want to always be in awe of who He is.
Have you ever stopped to think about where you see Him? Like Bethany says in this song, He seems to use the smallest things around us to get us to this place. At lunch today (which happened to be a picnic at church after the service...), Lydia was sitting to my left, and Eli was sitting just across the aisle on my right. They are both three years old, and I've had them both in my MOPS class, as well as in Sunday school, and besides that, I babysit Eli and his siblings. So they both know me pretty well. Anyway, as I was eating, something made me look over to where Lydia was sitting, and she had her hands up to her eyes, making a sort of binoculars with her fingers, and she was looking at me through them. Then a little while later, I looked up at Eli, and he was sneaking glances in my direction. Then he'd wave to me, and I'd wave to him, and we went back and forth for probably a full minute or two, one of us waving, and then the other. Lydia poked me with her snow cone straw, and Eli squinted through his eyes at me... I had such a fun lunch time. :) I love these kids.
Where have you seen God lately? In June, I saw Him every day in the eyes of the Nica children. I saw Him in the beauty of the palm trees and everything tropical. I saw God in the lovely clouds above the garbage dump where thousands of people live, digging for food and things to sell. It was as if He was saying to me that even in the midst of the garbage dump, even in the midst of the homeless people there, He is still God, and there is still beauty. I saw Him there. I saw Him as I watched the ground from the windows of ten different planes this summer, and as I watched the clouds move under and around us. I saw Him in the smile of my friend in May, when we had the opportunity to get together after six years, and again a couple of days ago in talking with him on the phone.
You know, I think sometimes we miss seeing God because we don't expect Him to turn up in certain places. I know I have been so surprised at some of the places where I have seen Him. A garbage dump where people live does not really seem like a very likely place to find God. But when we are listening to Him, when we are walking in step with Him (Galatians 5:25)... we're going to be more in tune with Him and see Him. He so loves to show us Himself, and He so often loves to use some crazy ways to show us and teach us about Him, and about who He really is.
This is where I see You...
i take the window seat
a thousand feet,
and all i know shrinks in minutes
when the sky is gray i want to believe
that when the sun is hiding it still exists
in an airplane
are kings and common men
at the window side by side,
their view is now the same
some relax and rest their eyes
some sit on the edge
as we all break through the clouds, into the light of day
mountain tops peak through
this is where i see You
i've never seen a clearer blue
this is where i see You
leave behind your busy life
all you have is who you are
space like this is hard to find, so breathe it in
someone will say, 'where are you heading?'
and it might be the first time you ever thought about it
a baby's talking two rows behind me
the sun just set for the second time today
You seem to use the smallest things around me
to get me to this place"
~ "airplane"... bethany dillon
This is where I see You. Yeah... I've had some of those experiences this summer on planes. It always amazes me the ways in which God chooses to show us Himself. I don't want to ever let it stop amazing me. I want to always be in awe of who He is.
Have you ever stopped to think about where you see Him? Like Bethany says in this song, He seems to use the smallest things around us to get us to this place. At lunch today (which happened to be a picnic at church after the service...), Lydia was sitting to my left, and Eli was sitting just across the aisle on my right. They are both three years old, and I've had them both in my MOPS class, as well as in Sunday school, and besides that, I babysit Eli and his siblings. So they both know me pretty well. Anyway, as I was eating, something made me look over to where Lydia was sitting, and she had her hands up to her eyes, making a sort of binoculars with her fingers, and she was looking at me through them. Then a little while later, I looked up at Eli, and he was sneaking glances in my direction. Then he'd wave to me, and I'd wave to him, and we went back and forth for probably a full minute or two, one of us waving, and then the other. Lydia poked me with her snow cone straw, and Eli squinted through his eyes at me... I had such a fun lunch time. :) I love these kids.
Where have you seen God lately? In June, I saw Him every day in the eyes of the Nica children. I saw Him in the beauty of the palm trees and everything tropical. I saw God in the lovely clouds above the garbage dump where thousands of people live, digging for food and things to sell. It was as if He was saying to me that even in the midst of the garbage dump, even in the midst of the homeless people there, He is still God, and there is still beauty. I saw Him there. I saw Him as I watched the ground from the windows of ten different planes this summer, and as I watched the clouds move under and around us. I saw Him in the smile of my friend in May, when we had the opportunity to get together after six years, and again a couple of days ago in talking with him on the phone.
You know, I think sometimes we miss seeing God because we don't expect Him to turn up in certain places. I know I have been so surprised at some of the places where I have seen Him. A garbage dump where people live does not really seem like a very likely place to find God. But when we are listening to Him, when we are walking in step with Him (Galatians 5:25)... we're going to be more in tune with Him and see Him. He so loves to show us Himself, and He so often loves to use some crazy ways to show us and teach us about Him, and about who He really is.
This is where I see You...
Friday, September 08, 2006
the blessing of joy..
At work today, I was working with this lady who's in an algebra class. We were working on inequalities and all that fun stuff (do you sense the sarcasm? the "fun" stuff... haha. but I really don't mind helping with it) but in working with this lady, I noticed something. No matter what I tried to tell her or help her see and understand, she had an excuse. It was just like she was determined to complain and have a bad attitude about her homework. Yes, it is some really time-consuming and frustrating stuff. But... why not make the best of it? I fail to see the point of having a negative attitude... So maybe you don't enjoy math. I don't. It's just not my thing. I'd so much rather have my nose in a good book or have my fingers on the piano keys. That is just me. But even when we don't enjoy something, we can still have joy throughout it. When we have a negative attitude and just complain about everything we can dream of, it makes us so hard to get along with. People have an incredibly difficult time working with us, because we make it difficult.
My point here is not to criticize this lady who I was tutoring, but rather to find some good from the situation I had today. I had to find a way to still have a good attitude and be joyful and smile, even when she was so discouraging me. Just before working with her, I'd worked with a young guy, and he made every effort to listen and understand what I told him about the various kinds of problems. His whole mindset was completely opposite of the mindset the lady I was helping out had. When he didn't understand something... he would talk through it with me until he did understand, and he read each problem carefully. I enjoyed working with him, because he appreciated the help. They both technically came into the Learning Center for help with their math, but in reality, only the guy really wanted help.
After I got off of work, I got to talk for a few minutes with one of my dear friends... That would encourage me anytime, but since I knew that phone call was coming, it gave me something to really look forward to as I sat there trying to work with the difficult student. So anyway, I guess my point is... make the effort to have joy. Find a way to be a blessing to others. Who wants to be a discouragement for others? It is so much more fun to be a blessing, to be joyful.
Joy to you all.
My point here is not to criticize this lady who I was tutoring, but rather to find some good from the situation I had today. I had to find a way to still have a good attitude and be joyful and smile, even when she was so discouraging me. Just before working with her, I'd worked with a young guy, and he made every effort to listen and understand what I told him about the various kinds of problems. His whole mindset was completely opposite of the mindset the lady I was helping out had. When he didn't understand something... he would talk through it with me until he did understand, and he read each problem carefully. I enjoyed working with him, because he appreciated the help. They both technically came into the Learning Center for help with their math, but in reality, only the guy really wanted help.
After I got off of work, I got to talk for a few minutes with one of my dear friends... That would encourage me anytime, but since I knew that phone call was coming, it gave me something to really look forward to as I sat there trying to work with the difficult student. So anyway, I guess my point is... make the effort to have joy. Find a way to be a blessing to others. Who wants to be a discouragement for others? It is so much more fun to be a blessing, to be joyful.
Joy to you all.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
i wish...
"for just a moment
i wish i could have been there
to see Your first step, hear Your very first word
tell me, did You ever fall and scrape Your knee?
did You know Your wounds would one day heal the world?
for just one moment
i wish i could have seen You growing
learning the ways of a carpenter's son
just a little boy gazing at the stars --
did You remember creating every one?
if You passed by, would i have seen a child or a King?
or would i have known?
i wish i could have been there
my only wish is to see You face to face
i wish i could have been there
just to see You, Jesus, face to face
for just a moment
i wish i could have been there
when You left Your footprints upon the waves
to walk along beside You, never look away
just Your whisper and the wind and sea obey
to see You feed the people
to feel the healing in Your touch
to hear You pray in the garden alone
laying down Your will with each tear
to see You walk that lonely road
willing to die for me
and in that moment
i know i should have been there
You took my cross and gave Your life
but You live again!
i wish is could have been there
i wish that i could have seen You rise again
i wish i could have been there
my only wish is to see You face to face
someday i'll be there, i'm gonna be there
i'll see Your face, Your mercy and grace
someday, someday
i'm gonna see You, Jesus
face to face"
~ "wish"... joy williams
How desperately do we wish that we could have been there? I love thinking about if I had had the opportunity to be there and watch as Jesus grew up. Wouldn't it have been the most incredible thing to be childhood friends with Him? This song has such beautiful poetry, yet such real instances. It takes what, for some, is far out of reach, or so we think, and brings it into what we can understand. Jesus put on the skin of a human so He could reach out to us. He wanted to show us His love... how much He loves us.
"[He], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)
He had everything, but He wanted to show us love, so He made Himself nothing... that is so humbling to me. And it makes me want even more to obey: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5) No, it doesn't mean I'm going to be called to die for someone as He died for us. But it does mean that I need to make every effort to put others above myself. To put the interests of others ahead of my own. To be humble, and to be patient. To love others as Jesus loves them. (John 13:34) "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
i wish i could have been there
to see Your first step, hear Your very first word
tell me, did You ever fall and scrape Your knee?
did You know Your wounds would one day heal the world?
for just one moment
i wish i could have seen You growing
learning the ways of a carpenter's son
just a little boy gazing at the stars --
did You remember creating every one?
if You passed by, would i have seen a child or a King?
or would i have known?
i wish i could have been there
my only wish is to see You face to face
i wish i could have been there
just to see You, Jesus, face to face
for just a moment
i wish i could have been there
when You left Your footprints upon the waves
to walk along beside You, never look away
just Your whisper and the wind and sea obey
to see You feed the people
to feel the healing in Your touch
to hear You pray in the garden alone
laying down Your will with each tear
to see You walk that lonely road
willing to die for me
and in that moment
i know i should have been there
You took my cross and gave Your life
but You live again!
i wish is could have been there
i wish that i could have seen You rise again
i wish i could have been there
my only wish is to see You face to face
someday i'll be there, i'm gonna be there
i'll see Your face, Your mercy and grace
someday, someday
i'm gonna see You, Jesus
face to face"
~ "wish"... joy williams
How desperately do we wish that we could have been there? I love thinking about if I had had the opportunity to be there and watch as Jesus grew up. Wouldn't it have been the most incredible thing to be childhood friends with Him? This song has such beautiful poetry, yet such real instances. It takes what, for some, is far out of reach, or so we think, and brings it into what we can understand. Jesus put on the skin of a human so He could reach out to us. He wanted to show us His love... how much He loves us.
"[He], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)
He had everything, but He wanted to show us love, so He made Himself nothing... that is so humbling to me. And it makes me want even more to obey: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5) No, it doesn't mean I'm going to be called to die for someone as He died for us. But it does mean that I need to make every effort to put others above myself. To put the interests of others ahead of my own. To be humble, and to be patient. To love others as Jesus loves them. (John 13:34) "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Monday, September 04, 2006
"Love's done something"...
"life was a roller coaster ride
pushin' me up, down, side to side
i could barely hold on, spinnin' out of control
i was lost, lost like a ship in the deep blue sea
like an angel of light You came to rescue me
You must have found something special in me
Your love's done something to me
changed my life completely
You're everything
the one and only thing that i need
every day i'm walking on sunshine
i am Yours and You're mine
tonight i feel like i'm on top of the world
as i soar through the starry sky across the galaxy
on the wings of Your love forever carrying me
i've only begun, there's so much more to see
lock me up, throw away the key
i'm a prisoner of love, but i never felt so free
You've given me more than i ever dreamed
i've always felt there had to be something more
worth livin' and dying for
now i know that something is You
this is how life was meant to be
just having You here with me
with You, just You, together forevermore
life was a roller coaster ride
pushin' me up, down, side to side
i could barely hold on spinnin' out of control"
~ "Love's done something"... casting pearls
I so love this song. It is so fun and bouncy, yet more than that, it has this great meaning... God's love has done something in my life, and yeah, there are some hard times. There are some really, incredibly hard times, but that does not mean that He is not here with me. He is always with me. His love won't leave me. I love the joy found in this song. His love has done something to me, changed my life so completely, turned it upside down. God's love is like that. It won't take away our hard times, but it will give us joy throughout the hard times. God's love gives me something to smile about when I don't have anything at all to smile about. He gives me the joy that is in my heart. This song says, "every day I'm walking on sunshine..." that is joy.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again ~ Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Be glad. Find joy in today. God made today.
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)
He wants us to be glad and find joy in His creation. That is what I want to do... I want to be full of joy. Always. And really, I have every reason to be. God's love has done something in my life; it has given me joy. It's given me life... it's given me love.
pushin' me up, down, side to side
i could barely hold on, spinnin' out of control
i was lost, lost like a ship in the deep blue sea
like an angel of light You came to rescue me
You must have found something special in me
Your love's done something to me
changed my life completely
You're everything
the one and only thing that i need
every day i'm walking on sunshine
i am Yours and You're mine
tonight i feel like i'm on top of the world
as i soar through the starry sky across the galaxy
on the wings of Your love forever carrying me
i've only begun, there's so much more to see
lock me up, throw away the key
i'm a prisoner of love, but i never felt so free
You've given me more than i ever dreamed
i've always felt there had to be something more
worth livin' and dying for
now i know that something is You
this is how life was meant to be
just having You here with me
with You, just You, together forevermore
life was a roller coaster ride
pushin' me up, down, side to side
i could barely hold on spinnin' out of control"
~ "Love's done something"... casting pearls
I so love this song. It is so fun and bouncy, yet more than that, it has this great meaning... God's love has done something in my life, and yeah, there are some hard times. There are some really, incredibly hard times, but that does not mean that He is not here with me. He is always with me. His love won't leave me. I love the joy found in this song. His love has done something to me, changed my life so completely, turned it upside down. God's love is like that. It won't take away our hard times, but it will give us joy throughout the hard times. God's love gives me something to smile about when I don't have anything at all to smile about. He gives me the joy that is in my heart. This song says, "every day I'm walking on sunshine..." that is joy.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again ~ Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Be glad. Find joy in today. God made today.
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)
He wants us to be glad and find joy in His creation. That is what I want to do... I want to be full of joy. Always. And really, I have every reason to be. God's love has done something in my life; it has given me joy. It's given me life... it's given me love.
Friday, September 01, 2006
what kind of faith...
In reading about Elijah recently, I was thinking about how much faith he must have had. To go in front of a huge crowd of people, dump tons of water on an altar, and then ask God to burn the offering... he had to really have faith that God would do it. I believe God could do it, but... I am disappointed to have to say that somehow I think I would not have been able to do what Elijah did. I so want to be able to do that though. I want to have that kind of faith. To stand up in front of those people like he did... they must have thought he was crazy. Not that I care what people think of me... because I really couldn't care less, but just to believe like that. That is what I want.
In James chapter 5, it tells about how Elijah prayed for it to not rain, and it didn't rain. Then it tells us that he prayed for God to send rain after three and a half years, and it rained.... "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." (James 5:17-18) Every time I read these verses, I am reminded of our missions trip to Canada. One day when we were going to our park program, it was supposed to storm, and you could tell by looking at the sky that it could really start at any minute. We could not have our program if it stormed, so we prayed about it. We prayed that it would not rain. Well, all but one of us on my park program team prayed for it to not rain. One guy, Phil, prayed specifically for "sprinkles"... It did not storm on our program. It sprinkled though. And as our program was drawing to a close that afternoon, we could see the lightning starting in the distance and working its way toward us. We started to hear the thunder, and then... it began to rain. Not just sprinkle, but really rain hard, just as we finished up our program for the day and packed our stuff into the van.
That day has stuck with me for the four years since then... I always remember how we all prayed for it not to rain, but Phil prayed for sprinkles... and he got his sprinkles. God answers prayer. That was a direct answer. He doesn't always give us what we want in the way that we want it, but He always gives us what is best for us to have. He works everything together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) So then... why can we not just trust Him? Why don't we have faith like Elijah? It doesn't take a lot... Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20) I guess faith as small as a mustard seed is more than so many of us today have. I want some mustard seed faith. I want faith like Elijah.
In James chapter 5, it tells about how Elijah prayed for it to not rain, and it didn't rain. Then it tells us that he prayed for God to send rain after three and a half years, and it rained.... "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." (James 5:17-18) Every time I read these verses, I am reminded of our missions trip to Canada. One day when we were going to our park program, it was supposed to storm, and you could tell by looking at the sky that it could really start at any minute. We could not have our program if it stormed, so we prayed about it. We prayed that it would not rain. Well, all but one of us on my park program team prayed for it to not rain. One guy, Phil, prayed specifically for "sprinkles"... It did not storm on our program. It sprinkled though. And as our program was drawing to a close that afternoon, we could see the lightning starting in the distance and working its way toward us. We started to hear the thunder, and then... it began to rain. Not just sprinkle, but really rain hard, just as we finished up our program for the day and packed our stuff into the van.
That day has stuck with me for the four years since then... I always remember how we all prayed for it not to rain, but Phil prayed for sprinkles... and he got his sprinkles. God answers prayer. That was a direct answer. He doesn't always give us what we want in the way that we want it, but He always gives us what is best for us to have. He works everything together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) So then... why can we not just trust Him? Why don't we have faith like Elijah? It doesn't take a lot... Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20) I guess faith as small as a mustard seed is more than so many of us today have. I want some mustard seed faith. I want faith like Elijah.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
back to school and making it count...
Tomorrow marks the end of my first week back to school... It seems so strange to be back in school again already, as if last semester had just ended. But my summer was packed full of trips and activities, and now it is time for school again.
I got a job in the Learning Center at school, and I get to tutor people who come in for help with their classes. I love to interact with others, and I love to be able to be an encouragement and a help, so I am really excited about it.
As for my classes, I only have one friend in one class who I already knew (I know her from church and from babysitting her kids), but I've gotten to talk with several others and am making some more new friends. That's always cool. I've made some friends with my job too... some of them are way different from me, and others aren't so different. There are a couple of people in particular who I'm working with who I think will be so encouraging and fun to work with. That is a really great thing to be able to tell on your first few days.
Awana starts back up next week, as well as my piano lessons. We're having our big-deal Awana bonfire this coming Sunday, where a lot of the kids come and register. And then, probably like next Friday, I am going to be starting teaching piano to a girl from church. The following Tuesday morning, our new MOPS-like program is starting. I am excited about that too, because I love my 2-year-olds and miss them when I'm not teaching them.
You know, I remember when I was really little, everybody would tell me that the older you get, the faster time flies by. It was one of those things that I heard all the time but never really believed simply because time seemed so abundant at that point. But... as I have grown up, I've learned the truth of what I was told then... time really does fly right past you, and... we've got to make the most of it. Our lives will be gone before we know it. They could end tomorrow, for all we know. I want mine to count, I want to make a difference for God. I want to have that abundant life that Jesus talks about in John 10:10. So... I cannot waste one minute. I want every minute, every second... I want all my life to be productive for Him. I want Him to tell me that I did a good job with what He gave me to do. Because... you know, He has things planned out that He wants me specifically to do. I want to obey Him with my life.
I got a job in the Learning Center at school, and I get to tutor people who come in for help with their classes. I love to interact with others, and I love to be able to be an encouragement and a help, so I am really excited about it.
As for my classes, I only have one friend in one class who I already knew (I know her from church and from babysitting her kids), but I've gotten to talk with several others and am making some more new friends. That's always cool. I've made some friends with my job too... some of them are way different from me, and others aren't so different. There are a couple of people in particular who I'm working with who I think will be so encouraging and fun to work with. That is a really great thing to be able to tell on your first few days.
Awana starts back up next week, as well as my piano lessons. We're having our big-deal Awana bonfire this coming Sunday, where a lot of the kids come and register. And then, probably like next Friday, I am going to be starting teaching piano to a girl from church. The following Tuesday morning, our new MOPS-like program is starting. I am excited about that too, because I love my 2-year-olds and miss them when I'm not teaching them.
You know, I remember when I was really little, everybody would tell me that the older you get, the faster time flies by. It was one of those things that I heard all the time but never really believed simply because time seemed so abundant at that point. But... as I have grown up, I've learned the truth of what I was told then... time really does fly right past you, and... we've got to make the most of it. Our lives will be gone before we know it. They could end tomorrow, for all we know. I want mine to count, I want to make a difference for God. I want to have that abundant life that Jesus talks about in John 10:10. So... I cannot waste one minute. I want every minute, every second... I want all my life to be productive for Him. I want Him to tell me that I did a good job with what He gave me to do. Because... you know, He has things planned out that He wants me specifically to do. I want to obey Him with my life.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
"like the sun swallowed up by the earth..."
"until You came
i was just the same
as everybody else
whoever saw the light and turned away
You love me now
You loved me then
and every now and again
You show me how it would be if i'd gone the other way
after all this time i've come to find my soul's fragility
but You've rectified my frailty by Your strength
it's like the sun swallowed up by the earth
like atomic bombs in reverse
as if a glass could contain the sea
that's the way You are in me
that's the way You are
now here i stand looking back
to the way things used to be
but i will never be alone again
You're with me
and now i see
what it means to me
to be a part of such a mystery
after all this time i've come to find my soul's fragility
but You've rectified my frailty by Your strength
it's like the sun swallowed up by the earth
like atomic bombs in reverse
as if a glass could contain the sea
that's the way You are to me
that's the way You are..."
~ "the way You are"... the afters
I so love this song... it describes so well the way God is and how He is so big. It tells about how He changes us and how He fills us... School's starting on Monday, and this semester is no different from any other, in that I want to have an impact. I want to not just leave an impression on the people there for a little while, but I want to really make an impact on the lives of the people I come in contact with. I want, when I walk into the school, for it to be like this song... just like God is for me... I want Him to be that through me too. Like the sun swallowed up by the earth. Like atomic bombs in reverse. As if a glass could contain the sea. I want what He is to me to be something uncontainable. I want to be the one that holds Him high, even when nobody else does. Throughout my last semester there, I had the opportunity to get to know a lot of the Campus Crusade students, and a lot of them were great, but at the same time... a lot did not live out what they claimed with their mouths. Actions speak louder than words. If we don't live what we say, then it is not real. See James 2; he has a lot to say about dead faith. I want to hold Him high and give Him praise, even when it might not be the popular thing to do. That is what I'm choosing to do. It's been my goal of each semester that I've been in school... but somehow it's a renewed goal this time. My goal is to not just share with my life and my actions and by what I do & don't say, but to go and initiate conversations in which I can share. I've gotten a lot out of the Way of the Master dvds, and in California a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to put some feet to what I'd been hearing over and over and learning. The opportunities I had didn't really go as I'd planned, but it was still so great to go and share like that. That is a goal I have for this semester... hold me to it... please. Accountability is such a blessing.
"i want to be the one that holds You high
i want to be the one that gives You glory – only
i want to be the one that holds You high
i want to be the one that brings You praise"
~ "hold You high"... by the tree
i was just the same
as everybody else
whoever saw the light and turned away
You love me now
You loved me then
and every now and again
You show me how it would be if i'd gone the other way
after all this time i've come to find my soul's fragility
but You've rectified my frailty by Your strength
it's like the sun swallowed up by the earth
like atomic bombs in reverse
as if a glass could contain the sea
that's the way You are in me
that's the way You are
now here i stand looking back
to the way things used to be
but i will never be alone again
You're with me
and now i see
what it means to me
to be a part of such a mystery
after all this time i've come to find my soul's fragility
but You've rectified my frailty by Your strength
it's like the sun swallowed up by the earth
like atomic bombs in reverse
as if a glass could contain the sea
that's the way You are to me
that's the way You are..."
~ "the way You are"... the afters
I so love this song... it describes so well the way God is and how He is so big. It tells about how He changes us and how He fills us... School's starting on Monday, and this semester is no different from any other, in that I want to have an impact. I want to not just leave an impression on the people there for a little while, but I want to really make an impact on the lives of the people I come in contact with. I want, when I walk into the school, for it to be like this song... just like God is for me... I want Him to be that through me too. Like the sun swallowed up by the earth. Like atomic bombs in reverse. As if a glass could contain the sea. I want what He is to me to be something uncontainable. I want to be the one that holds Him high, even when nobody else does. Throughout my last semester there, I had the opportunity to get to know a lot of the Campus Crusade students, and a lot of them were great, but at the same time... a lot did not live out what they claimed with their mouths. Actions speak louder than words. If we don't live what we say, then it is not real. See James 2; he has a lot to say about dead faith. I want to hold Him high and give Him praise, even when it might not be the popular thing to do. That is what I'm choosing to do. It's been my goal of each semester that I've been in school... but somehow it's a renewed goal this time. My goal is to not just share with my life and my actions and by what I do & don't say, but to go and initiate conversations in which I can share. I've gotten a lot out of the Way of the Master dvds, and in California a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to put some feet to what I'd been hearing over and over and learning. The opportunities I had didn't really go as I'd planned, but it was still so great to go and share like that. That is a goal I have for this semester... hold me to it... please. Accountability is such a blessing.
"i want to be the one that holds You high
i want to be the one that gives You glory – only
i want to be the one that holds You high
i want to be the one that brings You praise"
~ "hold You high"... by the tree
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
"mercy in me"... todd agnew
"a poor man on the corner
i could give to You by buying him lunch
but i rarely think about it
‘cause i got a little but it’s not that much
and i pray 'Lord won’t You help me
give me a little bit more for myself'
and You say 'child won’t you let me
take all that you got and give you a little real wealth'
and i don’t know what You want
what You see in my life
and i don’t know what You mean
how You could be glorified
and i’m not too sure about this idea of sacrifice
what You mean by mercy, mercy in me
Your mercy in me
a young girl in an old house
three kids and another on the way
she’s in desperate need of some new clothes
but i keep my old ones and tell her i’ll pray for her
but Your heart breaks for those kids
and that child of a mom who’s one of Your own
when a few gifts and a little time is another crown
i could lay at the feet of Your throne"
i could give to You by buying him lunch
but i rarely think about it
‘cause i got a little but it’s not that much
and i pray 'Lord won’t You help me
give me a little bit more for myself'
and You say 'child won’t you let me
take all that you got and give you a little real wealth'
and i don’t know what You want
what You see in my life
and i don’t know what You mean
how You could be glorified
and i’m not too sure about this idea of sacrifice
what You mean by mercy, mercy in me
Your mercy in me
a young girl in an old house
three kids and another on the way
she’s in desperate need of some new clothes
but i keep my old ones and tell her i’ll pray for her
but Your heart breaks for those kids
and that child of a mom who’s one of Your own
when a few gifts and a little time is another crown
i could lay at the feet of Your throne"
"broken and beautiful"... mark schultz
"there’s a businessman, there’s a widowed wife
a smiling face with a shattered life
a teenage girl with a choice to make
it’s crowded here in church today
and the preacher says as the sermon ends
'please close your eyes, bow your heads
is there anyone in need of prayer,
oh Jesus wants to meet you here”
cause we all fall short, and we all have sinned
but when you let, God’s grace break in
it’s beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
well he’d never been to church before
but he came today as a last resort
his world was crashing in
and he was suffocating in his sin
but tears rolled down as hope rushed in
he closed his eyes, raised his hands
worshipping the God who can
bring him back to life again
and it’s beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
cause there’s nothing more beautiful at all
than when His sons and daughters call, broken
hallelujah, hallelujah
come as you are hallelujah, hallelujah
come as you are
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
come as you are
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
broken and beautiful
broken and beautiful
beautiful"
I was listening to this song the other day, and as I took in the words, I realized how much it fits the church today. Every situation mentioned in this song... there are those same people in my church. There's businessmen, there are widowed wives, there's a teenage girl with a choice to make.... It makes the song so personal. I hear God saying through it, "No matter what you've done, just come to Me as you are. A surrendered heart is all I want from you. I will take it and make you new and bring you back to life again." A surrendered heart, really, in all its brokenness, is so very beautiful.
a smiling face with a shattered life
a teenage girl with a choice to make
it’s crowded here in church today
and the preacher says as the sermon ends
'please close your eyes, bow your heads
is there anyone in need of prayer,
oh Jesus wants to meet you here”
cause we all fall short, and we all have sinned
but when you let, God’s grace break in
it’s beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
well he’d never been to church before
but he came today as a last resort
his world was crashing in
and he was suffocating in his sin
but tears rolled down as hope rushed in
he closed his eyes, raised his hands
worshipping the God who can
bring him back to life again
and it’s beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
cause there’s nothing more beautiful at all
than when His sons and daughters call, broken
hallelujah, hallelujah
come as you are hallelujah, hallelujah
come as you are
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
come as you are
broken and beautiful, beautiful
come as you are
surrender your heart
broken and beautiful
broken and beautiful
broken and beautiful
beautiful"
I was listening to this song the other day, and as I took in the words, I realized how much it fits the church today. Every situation mentioned in this song... there are those same people in my church. There's businessmen, there are widowed wives, there's a teenage girl with a choice to make.... It makes the song so personal. I hear God saying through it, "No matter what you've done, just come to Me as you are. A surrendered heart is all I want from you. I will take it and make you new and bring you back to life again." A surrendered heart, really, in all its brokenness, is so very beautiful.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
when i fell in love...
I don't have a traditional "love story" like so many do... In 2002, I went on a missions trip to Mississauga, Canada (Toronto area) with our missions team from church. Shortly before leaving for Canada, I'd read this quote, "You can never, ever love too much." I thought it was a great quote, but I didn't realize just how true it was.
Throughout our week in Canada, we put on a "park program" (as we called it) each afternoon, telling Bible stories, doing little skits, making balloon animals, and just having fun with the kids there. Before our program started one day, this little boy named Shafka (it was a really culturally diverse neighborhood...) who was about 4, maybe 5, asked me if I'd play on the playground with him. I so considered answering him, "not right now." I mean, it was like 104 degrees out there, and SO humid! Who in their right mind would want to run around on the playground, playing with this little boy in this kind of weather?... Right? No. I discovered the error in the mindset and attitude I had at that moment. I had read that quote... "You can never, ever love too much." And even that week, I'd been reading in the Bible all about love. How we are supposed to love God and others... And then at that moment, with my answer of "maybe later, when it's cooler" on the tip of my tongue, everything I'd been reading came to my mind. I didn't think through it a lot, or stand and ponder the hypocrisy of the attitude I had had, but I instead I made a choice. I made this very deliberate choice to love. Because, you can never, ever love too much. So I played with Shafka. In the humid heat of that afternoon in late June/early July of 2002. We ran up and down the playground, and I pushed him on the swings... He told me he wanted to swing to the moon. I don't remember a whole lot about that day, but I do remember the joy and love of that afternoon.
I remember a little girl from our park program too... She was 3 1/2, and her name was Monika (sp?)... Her grandpa brought her to our program, and I remember that she knew only a few English words. She sat right beside me during the story and leaned over to me at different times during the afternoon, whispering in her language.
I remember another little girl... this one was a little older, maybe 5 or 6 years old. Her name was Ria. We had these gel pens that were for face/hand "painting" and when I asked Ria what she wanted on her hand, she told me "a Barbie doll." So... I drew her a Barbie doll. It didn't particularly look like one to me, but she was happy. On the way back to the college where we were staying, I told my team about it, and they were all like "wow, I would have just said, 'uh... can you pick something else?'"...
These stories stick in my memory, and when I think of that trip, they are what I remember most. I tell these stories now, not to praise myself for choosing to love and just go for it, regardless of how hot and humid it was out there, but I tell them because I love to remember, and because I want to encourage others to love. Love no matter what it means. Whatever form that love takes on. Maybe it is drawing a Barbie doll for a little girl, or pushing a young boy on the swing so he can reach for the moon. Maybe it is being a friend to someone who doesn't have one, maybe it is holding the door open for someone. Whatever it is... just love. The Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself. My youth pastor said once that your neighbor is anyone who is in need. That, really, is everybody. They might be in need of something as simple as a smile. Just love them. Whatever it takes and whatever it means. That is what I learned in Canada. To just let go and love. Through loving these kids, I learned what it really means to fall in love with Jesus, and I have thought so many times of how I left a part of my heart up in Mississauga. I had to learn to give my heart away. Because... you really can never, ever love too much.
Throughout our week in Canada, we put on a "park program" (as we called it) each afternoon, telling Bible stories, doing little skits, making balloon animals, and just having fun with the kids there. Before our program started one day, this little boy named Shafka (it was a really culturally diverse neighborhood...) who was about 4, maybe 5, asked me if I'd play on the playground with him. I so considered answering him, "not right now." I mean, it was like 104 degrees out there, and SO humid! Who in their right mind would want to run around on the playground, playing with this little boy in this kind of weather?... Right? No. I discovered the error in the mindset and attitude I had at that moment. I had read that quote... "You can never, ever love too much." And even that week, I'd been reading in the Bible all about love. How we are supposed to love God and others... And then at that moment, with my answer of "maybe later, when it's cooler" on the tip of my tongue, everything I'd been reading came to my mind. I didn't think through it a lot, or stand and ponder the hypocrisy of the attitude I had had, but I instead I made a choice. I made this very deliberate choice to love. Because, you can never, ever love too much. So I played with Shafka. In the humid heat of that afternoon in late June/early July of 2002. We ran up and down the playground, and I pushed him on the swings... He told me he wanted to swing to the moon. I don't remember a whole lot about that day, but I do remember the joy and love of that afternoon.
I remember a little girl from our park program too... She was 3 1/2, and her name was Monika (sp?)... Her grandpa brought her to our program, and I remember that she knew only a few English words. She sat right beside me during the story and leaned over to me at different times during the afternoon, whispering in her language.
I remember another little girl... this one was a little older, maybe 5 or 6 years old. Her name was Ria. We had these gel pens that were for face/hand "painting" and when I asked Ria what she wanted on her hand, she told me "a Barbie doll." So... I drew her a Barbie doll. It didn't particularly look like one to me, but she was happy. On the way back to the college where we were staying, I told my team about it, and they were all like "wow, I would have just said, 'uh... can you pick something else?'"...
These stories stick in my memory, and when I think of that trip, they are what I remember most. I tell these stories now, not to praise myself for choosing to love and just go for it, regardless of how hot and humid it was out there, but I tell them because I love to remember, and because I want to encourage others to love. Love no matter what it means. Whatever form that love takes on. Maybe it is drawing a Barbie doll for a little girl, or pushing a young boy on the swing so he can reach for the moon. Maybe it is being a friend to someone who doesn't have one, maybe it is holding the door open for someone. Whatever it is... just love. The Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself. My youth pastor said once that your neighbor is anyone who is in need. That, really, is everybody. They might be in need of something as simple as a smile. Just love them. Whatever it takes and whatever it means. That is what I learned in Canada. To just let go and love. Through loving these kids, I learned what it really means to fall in love with Jesus, and I have thought so many times of how I left a part of my heart up in Mississauga. I had to learn to give my heart away. Because... you really can never, ever love too much.
be beautiful
The president of mtv was recently quote as saying "We don't entertain your children. We OWN your children." There's something so wrong with the world we're living in... It is so heartbreaking. Kids ~ and adults, too, for that matter ~ will listen to anybody... just to have something to believe in. A girl who's waited all her life just wanting somebody to tell her she is beautiful. Anybody just wanting to hear that they are good enough. They'll go to such great lengths to be a people-pleaser, tearing up their bodies or giving themselves away or doing anything they think will fulfill what they need.
You don't need to please others though. God loves you just the way you are. He made you beautiful, He made you good enough, He made you exactly the way He wants you.
It is a popular thought that to come to God you've got to change whatever you're doing, make yourself clean... but that is wrong. God wants us all to just come as we are. He wants to make a miracle of your life, He will change you from the inside out. It is so beautiful what He loves to do with our lives when we just come to Him and give our hearts to Him.
We can't listen to what the media tries to convince the world of. We need to just listen to God and choose to believe Him. Listen and believe as He says to you, "You are beautiful."
Be broken and surrendered to Him. That is more beautiful than anything else we can ever do.
You don't need to please others though. God loves you just the way you are. He made you beautiful, He made you good enough, He made you exactly the way He wants you.
It is a popular thought that to come to God you've got to change whatever you're doing, make yourself clean... but that is wrong. God wants us all to just come as we are. He wants to make a miracle of your life, He will change you from the inside out. It is so beautiful what He loves to do with our lives when we just come to Him and give our hearts to Him.
We can't listen to what the media tries to convince the world of. We need to just listen to God and choose to believe Him. Listen and believe as He says to you, "You are beautiful."
Be broken and surrendered to Him. That is more beautiful than anything else we can ever do.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
"this day"... todd proctor
"this day is the day You have given
this day is the day i embrace
this moment awaits to be lived in
for moments too quickly will fade
never again will there be now
never a better time to say
i want to please You, show me how
i want to serve You with this day
this heart is a heart that is beating
to walk, to delight in Your ways
for passions of earth, they are fleeting
so i reach for the prize that remains
never again will there be now
never a better time to say
i want to please You, show me how
i want to serve You with this day
right here, right now i seek You
right here, right now receive You
right here, right now i bring You all of me..."
We have got to live our lives in the time we've been given. We have not been promised tomorrow... make the most of today. Make sure you're right with God and others, and seek His face always. Live your life to the fullest.
this day is the day i embrace
this moment awaits to be lived in
for moments too quickly will fade
never again will there be now
never a better time to say
i want to please You, show me how
i want to serve You with this day
this heart is a heart that is beating
to walk, to delight in Your ways
for passions of earth, they are fleeting
so i reach for the prize that remains
never again will there be now
never a better time to say
i want to please You, show me how
i want to serve You with this day
right here, right now i seek You
right here, right now receive You
right here, right now i bring You all of me..."
We have got to live our lives in the time we've been given. We have not been promised tomorrow... make the most of today. Make sure you're right with God and others, and seek His face always. Live your life to the fullest.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
cars and contentment...
"Cars" was the movie I waited all summer long to see... last night I finally had the chance to go and see it, and I have to say that (aside from a few lines, etc. that should have been left out...) it is my favorite of all the movies I've seen this summer. Yes, it did have some stuff in it that really isn't typical of Pixar, which surprised me, although I'd read a review in World Magazine along those lines. But as a whole, I really enjoyed the movie.
The message of the movie, about taking the time to slow down and enjoy life, was great. And another major theme of it was that winning is not everything... living in the "fast lane" leaves you empty and thirsty for something more. I think there are so many people out there who could stand to learn the lessons that the little red racecar, Lightning McQueen, learned in this movie. I think it is something we could all stand to learn and relearn at some point in our lives. It is so easy to get caught up in living your life, and then realize that you're too busy for everything and everyone you truly enjoy.
I love the small-town feel found in Radiator Springs too. Where everybody knows everybody else, and where they will go out of their way to help each other out and try to be an encouragement. Maybe loving that small-town feel comes from growing up just outside of a small-town myself ever since I was about 9 1/2... But whatever the reason for my love of the country and small towns... sure, places like New York City and Chicago are fun to go and visit, just to get to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I love historical stuff like that... I had such a fun day learning about the immigrants who came through Ellis Island and getting to sit on the benches where they sat, and searching through records from the ships for my great-grandpa's name... But as far as living there, that is just not me. Not really. Not at this point in time, at least. I don't know where God will take me in my future... maybe even to a different country that I've never even been to yet. Maybe some place like China or Cambodia, for all I know. Maybe to a big city in Brazil. Maybe Chicago or New York. Only God knows. But I'm content with where He's placed me, with where He wants me at this point in my life. I'm finishing up school and have a job there, and I get to be involved with my church in so many ways, mostly with the kids there... because kids are my life. I am so content with them... Not content with where I am with God, because I want to be constantly growing more and more into who He wants me to be, but I'm content with what He gives me in my life. My family, my friends, my church, my home,... my God.
Why should I go looking all over the place, searching high and low for my heart's desire, when it's either in my own backyard or I never really lost it in the first place?
So anyway, I really, really loved the message of contentment that was portrayed in "Cars." I guess I got off on a little rabbit trail there for a minute... When I began writing, I wasn't quite sure where I was going with it all. I just sort of start writing and let it go... I like to just listen to whatever God puts in my heart that I need to write out.
The message of the movie, about taking the time to slow down and enjoy life, was great. And another major theme of it was that winning is not everything... living in the "fast lane" leaves you empty and thirsty for something more. I think there are so many people out there who could stand to learn the lessons that the little red racecar, Lightning McQueen, learned in this movie. I think it is something we could all stand to learn and relearn at some point in our lives. It is so easy to get caught up in living your life, and then realize that you're too busy for everything and everyone you truly enjoy.
I love the small-town feel found in Radiator Springs too. Where everybody knows everybody else, and where they will go out of their way to help each other out and try to be an encouragement. Maybe loving that small-town feel comes from growing up just outside of a small-town myself ever since I was about 9 1/2... But whatever the reason for my love of the country and small towns... sure, places like New York City and Chicago are fun to go and visit, just to get to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I love historical stuff like that... I had such a fun day learning about the immigrants who came through Ellis Island and getting to sit on the benches where they sat, and searching through records from the ships for my great-grandpa's name... But as far as living there, that is just not me. Not really. Not at this point in time, at least. I don't know where God will take me in my future... maybe even to a different country that I've never even been to yet. Maybe some place like China or Cambodia, for all I know. Maybe to a big city in Brazil. Maybe Chicago or New York. Only God knows. But I'm content with where He's placed me, with where He wants me at this point in my life. I'm finishing up school and have a job there, and I get to be involved with my church in so many ways, mostly with the kids there... because kids are my life. I am so content with them... Not content with where I am with God, because I want to be constantly growing more and more into who He wants me to be, but I'm content with what He gives me in my life. My family, my friends, my church, my home,... my God.
Why should I go looking all over the place, searching high and low for my heart's desire, when it's either in my own backyard or I never really lost it in the first place?
So anyway, I really, really loved the message of contentment that was portrayed in "Cars." I guess I got off on a little rabbit trail there for a minute... When I began writing, I wasn't quite sure where I was going with it all. I just sort of start writing and let it go... I like to just listen to whatever God puts in my heart that I need to write out.
Monday, August 14, 2006
"all that i can do"... by bethany dillon
"i ran around the room again
i ran outside, then i ran back in
and i just couldn’t get away from myself
i don’t care what tomorrow brings
i won’t back down from anything
i want to think that I was made for something else
i can’t wait anymore
i’m ready to reach
so i’m closing the door
behind me
all that i can do
is hold onto You
and to follow where You lead
where You’re leading me
all that i can do
is hold onto You
and let You bring me through
it’s all that i can do
there are days i think i don’t need You
there are days when i can’t see the truth
i need You to save me from the lies
because every thought that’s in my head
and even when i draw my next breath
You knew it all before there was time
i can’t wait anymore
i’m ready to reach
so i’m closing the door
behind me
when the waves begin to rise
and all my hope fails
in confidence i’ll close my eyes
trusting You’ll be there"
i ran outside, then i ran back in
and i just couldn’t get away from myself
i don’t care what tomorrow brings
i won’t back down from anything
i want to think that I was made for something else
i can’t wait anymore
i’m ready to reach
so i’m closing the door
behind me
all that i can do
is hold onto You
and to follow where You lead
where You’re leading me
all that i can do
is hold onto You
and let You bring me through
it’s all that i can do
there are days i think i don’t need You
there are days when i can’t see the truth
i need You to save me from the lies
because every thought that’s in my head
and even when i draw my next breath
You knew it all before there was time
i can’t wait anymore
i’m ready to reach
so i’m closing the door
behind me
when the waves begin to rise
and all my hope fails
in confidence i’ll close my eyes
trusting You’ll be there"
Sunday, August 13, 2006
enjoy life... session with francis
*Logan Hall... boldness, willingness of babysitter... the big picture
*don't miss God's creation and how amazing it is
*trust God ~ He knows.
*God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." ~ John Piper
*love God's laws ~ Psalm 119
*His laws lead to life
*stop making His laws look like something that is a pain ~ show the joy of following His laws
*cookie... eating to the glory of God
*laughter
*look at what God made & how fun it is to follow Him
*that same God is in love with us
*love to talk about Him
*enjoy Him
*Luke 10:... 17-20... came back filled with joy
*the joy of knowing your name's in the Book of Life
*Ephesians 2:8-9
*we should have joy more than anyone on earth because our names are there
*imagine the impact of everyone living joy
*whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God
... those are my notes from Monday night, during our session with Francis Chan.
Francis came in that night and he immediately began to tell the story of this girl from his church who began babysitting for a family... I don't remember exactly how it all fit together, all the details, but he told about how this young girl knew that this family didn't go to church and didn't know Jesus. So she began inviting them to church. They eventually came and then pretty soon were inviting their friends too. Both families all became followers of Christ. Then one day (the day of this session), the little boy in the second family fell off his bike and ended up having to go to the hospital. He was hurt pretty badly, and as he was in a coma, the doctors said that there was something else wrong that had been hidden in his brain before that, and the fall from his bike wasn't the only cause of it all. Throughout the next couple of days, Francis would give us updates on this little boy, Logan Hall, and by his last session with us, Logan was still living, but the doctors had said that even if he did wake up, he would never be like he had been before. His family was having a hard time with the whole thing, as is to be expected, but they were so full of joy and peace at the same time. At one point, his sister whispered in his ear that either way, if he lived or died, it was a win-win situation, because if he lived, he'd have more life to live, and if he died... he'd be with Jesus. That is a huge thing. I think that so often we tend to forget what it's all about.
The reason that little girl could say that was because of the boldness and willingness of the girl who was babysitting for their friends' family, because she invited them to church and the Hall family consequently got invited afterwards. She could never have known the impact she would make through being willing to let God work through her. She didn't know what the big picture was, and we still don't know what the true big picture is... it is even bigger than the whole thing with Logan.
Francis took a package of cookies, opened it, and began to eat one. With his mouth completely full, he described to us how it tasted and just how much he enjoyed eating it... he commented on how amazing God is... He could have made us to soak up our food out of the ground like a plant, but He chose to make us to eat, and to enjoy it. He commented the same way on laughing. He was like "What is a laugh??" He laughed in several different ways, and commented that it is really fun to laugh.
Living for God is fun. What ever made us stop seeing the fun in it?! What makes us look at God's laws as something we have to follow instead of a joy? We focus so much on what we cannot do, instead of what we can and get to do, and on the blessings God has given us... why complain? The world is so full of complaining, instead of joy, and if we just learned to live in His joy... look at how different life would be! We'd see that abundant life, life to the full, is right here in front of us, and we're just too busy complaining to see it. Who really wants to go through life always searching for something to complain about? Not me! I'm too busy having fun with the blessings of God... make the most of it. God wants us to enjoy life. That's why He's given us all the senses we have. It is why He made us like He did. Enjoy it.
*don't miss God's creation and how amazing it is
*trust God ~ He knows.
*God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." ~ John Piper
*love God's laws ~ Psalm 119
*His laws lead to life
*stop making His laws look like something that is a pain ~ show the joy of following His laws
*cookie... eating to the glory of God
*laughter
*look at what God made & how fun it is to follow Him
*that same God is in love with us
*love to talk about Him
*enjoy Him
*Luke 10:... 17-20... came back filled with joy
*the joy of knowing your name's in the Book of Life
*Ephesians 2:8-9
*we should have joy more than anyone on earth because our names are there
*imagine the impact of everyone living joy
*whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God
... those are my notes from Monday night, during our session with Francis Chan.
Francis came in that night and he immediately began to tell the story of this girl from his church who began babysitting for a family... I don't remember exactly how it all fit together, all the details, but he told about how this young girl knew that this family didn't go to church and didn't know Jesus. So she began inviting them to church. They eventually came and then pretty soon were inviting their friends too. Both families all became followers of Christ. Then one day (the day of this session), the little boy in the second family fell off his bike and ended up having to go to the hospital. He was hurt pretty badly, and as he was in a coma, the doctors said that there was something else wrong that had been hidden in his brain before that, and the fall from his bike wasn't the only cause of it all. Throughout the next couple of days, Francis would give us updates on this little boy, Logan Hall, and by his last session with us, Logan was still living, but the doctors had said that even if he did wake up, he would never be like he had been before. His family was having a hard time with the whole thing, as is to be expected, but they were so full of joy and peace at the same time. At one point, his sister whispered in his ear that either way, if he lived or died, it was a win-win situation, because if he lived, he'd have more life to live, and if he died... he'd be with Jesus. That is a huge thing. I think that so often we tend to forget what it's all about.
The reason that little girl could say that was because of the boldness and willingness of the girl who was babysitting for their friends' family, because she invited them to church and the Hall family consequently got invited afterwards. She could never have known the impact she would make through being willing to let God work through her. She didn't know what the big picture was, and we still don't know what the true big picture is... it is even bigger than the whole thing with Logan.
Francis took a package of cookies, opened it, and began to eat one. With his mouth completely full, he described to us how it tasted and just how much he enjoyed eating it... he commented on how amazing God is... He could have made us to soak up our food out of the ground like a plant, but He chose to make us to eat, and to enjoy it. He commented the same way on laughing. He was like "What is a laugh??" He laughed in several different ways, and commented that it is really fun to laugh.
Living for God is fun. What ever made us stop seeing the fun in it?! What makes us look at God's laws as something we have to follow instead of a joy? We focus so much on what we cannot do, instead of what we can and get to do, and on the blessings God has given us... why complain? The world is so full of complaining, instead of joy, and if we just learned to live in His joy... look at how different life would be! We'd see that abundant life, life to the full, is right here in front of us, and we're just too busy complaining to see it. Who really wants to go through life always searching for something to complain about? Not me! I'm too busy having fun with the blessings of God... make the most of it. God wants us to enjoy life. That's why He's given us all the senses we have. It is why He made us like He did. Enjoy it.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
duct tape... session five, shawn mcbride
*Genesis 3
*Satan wanted to get Eve to doubt God, then deny what God said, then disobey and do it her way
*She focused on what she couldn't do
*cake & duct tape
*Romans 8
*ladder
... My notes from Shawn McBride's session, Monday morning.
Shawn McBride always has some great illustrations to help get his point across.. this time he used the illustration of duct tape. When you first stick it to something, the tape is really sticky, but the more you peel is off and stick it on something else, the less sticky it becomes and it starts to not stick to anything as well. It gets dirt and stuff on it from everything you have stuck it to. It is the same way with ourselves. If you just go around and have 5 million boyfriends, you are going to have junk sticking to you, just like the tape. He was making a point about the fact that you should not get on the ladder (another illustration) that leads to more and more and compromises you. But I personally want to take it further than that...
There is nothing wrong with having a boyfriend or girlfriend, and I don't want to be misunderstood as saying that there is. But even if you keep your relationship completely God-honoring, if you have a boyfriend and then break up, then get another one and keep on with this cycle... sure, maybe you have still kept your life pure, but your heart is still getting torn up. I have personally never had a boyfriend, and I'm alright with that. I am alright with it because I know that God has something great planned for me, something that is better than anything I could ever dream up myself. When I someday do have one (provided God has that for me...), I really just want to only ever have one "boyfriend"... I wouldn't want to be that close to more than one guy. Maybe I'm weird... but that's okay. I'd rather be weird and know that I am following what God wants me to do. I cannot understand why people want to be that close to so many others... Lisa Velthouse commented that so many today are asking the wrong question.. they are asking "How far can I go?" when the question should really be "How much can I save?" That is the question I'm asking. How much do you want your future husband or wife to save for you?? Don't they deserve the same from you?
As Shawn said, so many are focusing on what they can't do, rather than what they can do. Focus on learning your heart, so that you can in turn eventually share your heart and learn to share somebody else's. Don't rush through your life. Take your time and make the most of every second. Learn to really love others deeply, from your heart. (1 Peter 1:22)
*Satan wanted to get Eve to doubt God, then deny what God said, then disobey and do it her way
*She focused on what she couldn't do
*cake & duct tape
*Romans 8
*ladder
... My notes from Shawn McBride's session, Monday morning.
Shawn McBride always has some great illustrations to help get his point across.. this time he used the illustration of duct tape. When you first stick it to something, the tape is really sticky, but the more you peel is off and stick it on something else, the less sticky it becomes and it starts to not stick to anything as well. It gets dirt and stuff on it from everything you have stuck it to. It is the same way with ourselves. If you just go around and have 5 million boyfriends, you are going to have junk sticking to you, just like the tape. He was making a point about the fact that you should not get on the ladder (another illustration) that leads to more and more and compromises you. But I personally want to take it further than that...
There is nothing wrong with having a boyfriend or girlfriend, and I don't want to be misunderstood as saying that there is. But even if you keep your relationship completely God-honoring, if you have a boyfriend and then break up, then get another one and keep on with this cycle... sure, maybe you have still kept your life pure, but your heart is still getting torn up. I have personally never had a boyfriend, and I'm alright with that. I am alright with it because I know that God has something great planned for me, something that is better than anything I could ever dream up myself. When I someday do have one (provided God has that for me...), I really just want to only ever have one "boyfriend"... I wouldn't want to be that close to more than one guy. Maybe I'm weird... but that's okay. I'd rather be weird and know that I am following what God wants me to do. I cannot understand why people want to be that close to so many others... Lisa Velthouse commented that so many today are asking the wrong question.. they are asking "How far can I go?" when the question should really be "How much can I save?" That is the question I'm asking. How much do you want your future husband or wife to save for you?? Don't they deserve the same from you?
As Shawn said, so many are focusing on what they can't do, rather than what they can do. Focus on learning your heart, so that you can in turn eventually share your heart and learn to share somebody else's. Don't rush through your life. Take your time and make the most of every second. Learn to really love others deeply, from your heart. (1 Peter 1:22)
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
smell the flowers...
Unless it's storming really bad, if I have the choice between stopping in the car to get the mail or walking down our driveway to get it, I nearly always will choose to walk. I love walking down the driveway to get the mail. I love walking out there when it's the first day I can go without a jacket each spring, and I love it when it's the first day that I actually need one again in the fall. It is so beautiful to walk along the driveway and smell the rose of sharon bushes on either side as I walk to the road and back. It is just something nice and relaxing... don't rush it, just take your time. Enjoy the beauty of God's creation all around. I love to see the butterflies and the leaves... tomatoes and strawberries in the garden, a wildflower along the road... I love it when you can feel the breeze... Take the time to enjoy what God has given us. He's chosen to bless us with it. Let Him know that you love and enjoy it.
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