Sweetly Broken

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing
For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified
You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

Chorus

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

(2x’s) Chorus

I cannot tell you how much He means to me...
How is it that He takes the time to simply bring me to my knees?
He cares enough draw me closer to Him, to sweetly break me...
How is it that He continues to care?

Not only did He selflessly give of Himself for me, but He continues to do so...
He draws me
He wants me
He wants me more than He wants my effort
He wants me more than He wants me to fulfill big plans
He wants me more than He wants me to do anything
He wants me to be His

to be wholly surrendered

Lord I want You
I need You
Come near

I give it up, I leave it behind
I want You

I've tried other ways
and all leave me empty
with questions
with needs

Yet when I am faithless,
You remain faithfull
When I let go
You hold on

Your love is here

Magnetic Poetry... in class

Here is a poem (aka Yrteop- poetry backwards) that was created out of the magnetic poetry words in 5th and 6th grade class today

I cried out in the storm
Truth came like light
warm sun
Takes away mad wind

Always believe whispers of the King

hmmm... I thought it was amazing with the words given

Voting... Part 1 From a friend

Recently a friend of mine on Facebook posted a note about his feelings toward voting and how it may be contrary to what the Jesus Christ would have us do as Christians. After much prayer and thought I have concluded the following. As you read, I would suggest that you pray about what the Lord would have you do concerning issues like this and any other. The following is just what I have seen the Lord lead me to believe and do personally- if you feel the Lord is leading you in any other direction- by all means OBEY HIM! Here is his note, the next post was my response.

...Ok i now there gonna be peeps who really disagree with me on this and am happy you hold your beliefs passionately. i would hope and pray that you would confront me on any of this so we may talk about it and i could led you through why i have come to this conclusion and on what biblical stance this is coming from. Thanks you for your time.You cannot serve two masters at the same time. If you do you will wind up serving one and hating another. When we vote we must ask ourselve this question, why are we indorsing and supporting someone who is in fact not Jesus Christ. It would seem to me that in the bible jesus takes a clear path in this, not to be of this world. We are set apart from it, we live in it yet we are not of it. The voting process has become infatuated with big spending, lies and corruption. Why would we support these thing when we are told that all these are sins. When Obama or McCain could be using the millions apon millions to feed the poor and help the homeless they spend it on hateful and illworded campaign slogans and Ads.Lets take it back to the part where the bible says you cant serve two masters. I see a exact political parallel in this. We support these people and put their names on our cars. We put that fish and Religious bumperstickers on the back of of our cars and on the other side we put i support the war. May i remind you jesus was very clear on killing and loving our enemies.Its seems we brand ourselves with the names with what this world has to offer... we are set apart from this world. I see where people could get excited over this election. I mean whoever wins has the power to change history right? Wrong!!! it is the church, the body of christ who has the power to change history we just have forgotten that the power that is given to us is higher and more powerful than the worldly power that is given to a worldly man. Jesus, when he was being tempted in the desert by satan had the choice to have power over all, all he needed to do was to bow down and worship satan. Jesus refused tha power because he knew the corruption that came along with it. I would go so far to say that he knew that, that kind of power was weak and the only power on earth that could change history is the power of love.So which master will i boast in? which master will i lift up? I will lift up the master who says love your enemy, not bomb them. I will lift the master who says give to the needy and homeless, not take from the needy and homeless. I will lift up the master who claims he is the Son Of GOD and who has the true power to move the earth! The church has the power to move the nations we just have to remember where we come from and what true power is. true power is not bending over to the laws that go against everything that jesus stands for. Remember it says "we must obey god rather that human beings" (acts 5:29), maybe this is what st. augustine was getting at when he said, " an unjust law is no law at all." But the attitude of jesus ran deeper than the usual christian politics-that you obey the authorities when they are doing good, and you disobey authorities when they are doing bad. Getting back to the issue... True power is not voting for the person who you think has power. true power is not letting someone make choices for you. But true Power is us standing together as the body of christ, not to change the Government or to make a revolution but to show the world there is a better way. To show the world the love at which christ has shown us, and that jesus' way of economics and ruling is better. here an example of what god economy was getting at. every 7 years there would be something called the jubilee and this is when the isrealites would destroy all dept, would redistribute land, would set slaves free, to allow aliens into the land freely with love, and to give lovingly to the homeless and poor. You see god has the blueprints for a perfect way of life all we have to do is live by it and to follow it to the very depths of our hearts and souls. During the exile in the desert when the jewish people came out of Egypt, God had a plan for the people to be no ruler but God. Of course the people threw that away once they got into the promissed land and demanded from God a king to rule the land, a king that is able to be corrupted and decieved. But people there in the bible in dueteronomy are is the blue print for a wonderful kingdom, a wonderful nation. all it takes is the followers of christ to follow it and to live the christ lived with everything we have.I choose not to vote because i choose not to serve two masters. I follow christ. I have a few quotes from people who where of the early church..actually one was a roman scribe who was looking in on this group of christ followers. He called Abraham and commanded him to go out from the country where he was living. With this call God has aroused us all, and now we have left the state. we have renounced all the things the world has to offer.- Justin(origen, quoting celsus) " if everyone were to act the same as you christians, the national government would soon be left utterly derserted and without any help, and affairs on earth would soon be passedinto the hands of the most savage and wretched barbarians." [origen] celsus exhorts us to help the Emperor and be his fellow soldiers, to this we reply, " you cannot demand military service of christians any more you can of (roman)priests." We do not go forth as soldiers with the Emperor even if he damands this.[Origen goes on further to say that if the romans followed the teachings of jesus, there would be no barbarians.]-OrigenWe ourselves were well conversant with war, murder, and everything evil, but all of us throughout the whole wide earth have traded in out weapons of war. we have exchanged our swords for plowshares, our spears for farm tools...now we cultivate the fear of god, justice, kindness, faith, and the expectation of the future given us through the crucified one...the more we are persecuted and martyred, the more do others in ever increasing numbers become believers.-justin, martyred in 165 ADYou who are God's sevants are living in a foreign country, for your own city-state is far away from this city-state. Knowing which is yours, why do you acquire feilds, costly furnishings, buildings and frail dwellings here?Anyone who aquires things for himself in this city cannot expect to find the way home to his own city. Do you not realize that all these things here do not belong to you, that they are under a power of alien nature? The ruler will say you do not obey my laws, either observe my laws or get out of my country. Aquire no more here than what is absolutely necessary. Instead of feilds buy for yourselves people in distress with your means.-Hermas, 140 ADI do not strive to be a rulre. I do not strive for wealth. I refuse offices connected with military command. I dispise death.-TatianWe may live in the best babylon in the world(america)...but its still Babylon, and we are called to come out of her.--Tony Campolo(recent history)I RECOGNIZE NO EMPIRE OF THIS PRESENT AGE.-Speratus, Acts of the MartyrsHere is something shane claiborne wrote when he was in an interview with CBS when they asked him what he thinks of the war in Iraq and of America. They basically called him a traitor.i believe these words that he says and push it towards you.Traitor?If this bloody, counterfeit liberation is American...I am proud to be called un-AmericanIf depleted uranium is American...i am proud to be un-Americanif US sanctions are American...I am proud to be un-AmericanIf the imposed "peace" of Pax Americana is American...I am proud to be un-AmericanBut If grace, humility and nonviolence are American..I am proud to be AmericanIf sharing to create a safe, sustainable world is american...I am proud to be called americanIf loving our enemies is American...I am proud to called American.Regardless, I would die for the people of New York, but i will not kill for them...my kingdom is not of this worldI would die for the people of Baghdad, but i will not kill for them... my kingdom is not of this world. I will stand in the way of terror and war... my kingdom is not of this world.I will pledge an allegiance deeper than nationalism, to my GOD and to my family... my kingdom is not of this world. I will use my life to shout, " ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE" ...for my kingdom is from another place. "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight... but now my kingdom is from another place"[ Jesus;John 18:36](shane Claiborne)I RECOGNIZE NO EMPIRE OF THIS PRESENT AGE.

Response to Voting... part 1

Lars, you are absolutely right. God has chosen to use the church, the body of Christ. Does He need us, no, but He has chosen to use us and from the day of Pentecost on- He chose the body and bride of Christ to be His hands and feet on this earth. In John 16:7 Jesus spoke to the disciples saying that “Nevertheless I tell the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart I will send Him to you.” The Holy Spirit is now living inside each believer on this earth and moving and working in ways that are far above anything we can imagine. God alone has power and He is supreme in His power.

You referenced Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will love one and hate the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” This is absolutely one of the best ways in which I see the life of a Christ follower shown through the words of Jesus. If you look into the Greek meanings of the words, in this passage, it makes it come to life so much more. The word serve here in this passage is douleuo (strong’s# G1398) which is a derivative of the Greek root doulos (G1401), this word would literally mean slave in its original context. Specifically defined as: One who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, whose will is completely subject to the will of another. And then again looking up master and finding Kurios (strong’s# G2962) meaning: controller or one in supreme authority. Through this scripture it is such an amazing reminder that as we have declared Jesus Christ, Lord of our lives, we have now chosen that He is our supreme ruler and we have forfeited our own will and have become subject to His! Desiring not only to obey Him, but to trust Him and walk in the Spirit, keeping in line a moment by moment relationship with Him. Being how this is what I personally desire to do, to continue daily living in submission to the King and Kings, I find it hard to understand how you connect voting to it all. How can you reference my action of going to a voting booth and acting upon my God given right… or what you would reference as my “privelage” to vote as an act of serving, or in Greek enslaving, myself to another master, or supreme authority. It doesn’t quite work for me.

I will continue to choose to live for Him, and as I daily ask Him to guide my every thought, word, and action, this may lead me to the voting booth. Now, who I am going to vote for should not be an issue here, but there are certain said policies that will also be chosen with the candidate that I choose on the ballot. If so lead, I know there is always the final option on the ballot… “NONE OF THE ABOVE.”

This is now my question for you, friend: “How will not voting make a difference?”

I agree in that God alone has power, and He has said that we have power to do NOTHING (John 15:5), BUT if we abide in Him we have the true power to effect change in this world. Now, I don’t believe this power is being used fully in any tangible form or way through most of what I have seen, especially of the Body of Christ in this country. However, I choose to believe it can and I desire as you, to see a change made through the body. As I take a stand and begin to go out in obedience to what Christ calls me to do- I know His hand will be seen and His power will change things. As far as voting and making a difference goes though, I don’t see them as mutually exclusive. I humbly propose, that we can do both (if the Lord so calls). I think going to hang out with poor people in Reno, could very well be a way in which Christ wants to be seen through us, so perhaps after I cast my ballot I’ll drive my car an hour away to do just that. On the other hand, I may just be lead instead to walk down the street and spend time in the word with some ageing children of God in convalescent home down the street (this would even preserve some of the non-renewable resources we know as gas, in my car). Either way, when I go cast my vote, it is nice to remember that I have already chosen who is President or I mean supreme authority of my life, and that this is not the question that will be on the ballot, but rather as an informed citizen and power filled Christian I will walk in the will of my God and do what He asks of me.

As for me, I choose to be an extremist for love, which also leads me exercise my right to vote. As Shane Claiborne says, “There are times when injustice will take us to the streets and might land us in jail, but it is our love for God and our neighbor—not our rage or our arrogance—that counts.” I would however, encourage you to continue to walk in His ways and to be challenged by the complacency that it seems we, as a body and bride or Christ, have found ourselves in. Frankly, I’m sick of it too. I would love change the way things are, and will demonstrate His love in all I can, but instead of merely continuing in my apathetic ways and discussing my ideals, I’d prefer to put some action behind all of the talk… so let’s make a difference (and perhaps not so proudly and loudly…).

As you referenced:Giving to the Needy 1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Wishes...

The saddest thing is you could be anything
That you could want
We could have done everything
But now we can't
Now it's not anything at all
The hardest part was getting this close to you
And giving up this dream of being friends with you
A story that isn't coming true
You've got some growing up to do
I wish we could have worked it out
I wish i didn't have these doubts
I wish i didn't have to wonder just what you are doing now
I wish i didn't know inside
That it won't work out for you and i
I wish that i could stop this wishing and just say my last goodbye
After all the things you put me through
Tell me why i'm still wanting to hang with you
And why am i, why am i still waiting for your call
You broke my heart
I'm taking it back from you
And taking back the life i gave to youLife goes on before and after you
I've got some growing up to do
I wish we could have worked it out
I wish i didn't have these doubts
I wish i didn't have to wonder just what you are doing now
I wish i didn't know inside
That it won't work out for you and i
I wish that i could stop this wishing and just say my last goodbye
It's time i said my last goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
It's time i said my last goodbye
I wish we could have worked it out
I wish i didn't have these doubts
I wish i didn't have to wonder just what you are doing now
I wish i didn't know inside
That it won't work out for you and i
I wish that i could stop this wishing and just say my last goodbye
It's time i said my last goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
It's time i said my last goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
It's time i said my last goodbye

to be a slave...

what would it mean to truly follow Him
to make Him the master of my life?

I long for a greater power to rule over me
one that loves me

Being a slave to a Master who loves me
who is love

yet at times it seems that I am a slave to the very thing I despise

those little thoughts
little things
that I don't want to do...
and yet I do

How do I surrender to the Greater Master
How do I flee from the prison of sin

to come to Him...
to love Him...
not for freedom
not for heaven
not for blessings
but for Him... simply because I love
and I want Him

I want to stop hurting Him
I want to stop running from Him
I want to stop allowing our relationship to become cluttered
I want it to be pure again
I want to be in love with Him
I want Him

I can't do this...


oh, but you're right
we can

Owe- not there

I'm so not there... wow, how amazing it will be when I am close to the Lord like this! Lord, I really do want you!

The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.

The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, "Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will," then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— ". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . ." ( John 17:22 ). Think of the last thing you prayed about-were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? "For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" ( Matthew 6:8 ). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" ( Psalm 37:4 ). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.

When it comes to making decisions do you think God is there telling us exactly what to do? Step by step what the best thing to do is, or do you think he is just to urge us not to make the bad decisions but leaves it up to us to choose from the others... this would definitely support the non-robot analogy... it wouldn't be until we stopped just following the instruction manual and actually began using the brain and heart and spirit that He gave us, but at the same time I wonder if as a Father and best friend who sees far more than we do, does He lead us and tell us which way is the BEST. Any way could be okay, but is there a way better than the others. Yeah, so I feel like I have been so much in asking the Lord where to go and not received any lead or answer-- I know He has spoken to me before and told me where to go, kind of like school. I didn't come here because everyone told me to-- I actually went against common guidance from family and friends, but I heard the Lord... and I don't know what He has told me to do now. I can give you a million reasons why I should stay here and why I should go home and why I should go to Morocco... so what should I do? And why is there always a deadline? Man, can't the Father just tell me where to go?

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it...
Prone to leave the One I love...
Here's my heart Lord, take and heal it...
heal it for thy work above!"

Surrender...

So yeah, why does this devotional always say the right thing at the right time?

So, two weeks ago if you asked me I would have said I was teaching in Morocco next year. Yesterday if you asked me I would have said I was going home next year... and today well... well today I am going into the elevator. I decided instead of trying to figure out which "floor" or path of this life I am going to choose, I am going to stop running up and down the stairwell to see which door is open I am going to just walk into the Elevator and hang out with Jesus, and when He decides which floor to go to-- He'll let me know and I'll go. I've said I'm an all or nothing person before, and I was reminded by the Lord today that I have been putting my all into nothing lately-- I've been concerned about myself... my future... my plans... me... when in reality my only focus should be HIM!!! Oh, to be in love with Him more!

Peter began to say to Him, ’See, we have left all and followed You’ —Mark 10:28

Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is "for My sake and the gospel’s" (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, "I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy." Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, "No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ " Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.

Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—"Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further" (see Luke 9:57-62 ). "Then," Jesus says, "you ’cannot be My disciple’ " (see Luke 14:26-33 ).

True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.

Surrender...

So yeah, why does this devotional always say the right thing at the right time?

So, two weeks ago if you asked me I would have said I was teaching in Morocco next year. Yesterday if you asked me I would have said I was going home next year... and today well... well today I am going into the elevator. I decided instead of trying to figure out which "floor" or path of this life I am going to choose, I am going to stop running up and down the stairwell to see which door is open I am going to just walk into the Elevator and hang out with Jesus, and when He decides which floor to go to-- He'll let me know and I'll go. I've said I'm an all or nothing person before, and I was reminded by the Lord today that I have been putting my all into nothing lately-- I've been concerned about myself... my future... my plans... me... when in reality my only focus should be HIM!!! Oh, to be in love with Him more!

Peter began to say to Him, ’See, we have left all and followed You’ —Mark 10:28

Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is "for My sake and the gospel’s" (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, "I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy." Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, "No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ " Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.

Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—"Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further" (see Luke 9:57-62 ). "Then," Jesus says, "you ’cannot be My disciple’ " (see Luke 14:26-33 ).

True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.

Today's Upmost for His Highest

This devotional this morning was convicting and true.

As long as I am not trying to plant myself and I allow Him to plant me-- I wont loose the vision-- I won't be on my own-- though it tarries, I will wait for it. So this is what I am doing. I am waiting for it... I am clasping on to the hand of the Lord and I am not letting go-- I want nothing but to be walking with my Lord-- wherever that may be! I also recognize that I can't get so caught up in waiting and focusing on the practical things that I do not live my Upmost for His Highest in all things- here and now- making my e-folio- writing lesson plans- etc. So here I go...

I will live and walk in the light of God's vision!

March 11, 2007

Obedience to the "Heavenly Vision"

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision —Acts 26:19

If we lose "the heavenly vision" God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to "the heavenly vision" is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.

"Though it tarries, wait for it . . ." ( Habakkuk 2:3 ). We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work, and once the vision was fulfilled we could no longer even see it. Waiting for a vision that "tarries" is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.

Watch for the storms of God. The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms. Will you be proven to be an empty pod with no seed inside? That will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of the vision you have seen. Let God send you out through His storm, and don’t go until He does. If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be an unproductive, empty pod. However, if you allow God to plant you, you will "bear much fruit" ( John 15:8 ).

It is essential that we live and "walk in the light" of God’s vision for us ( 1 John 1:7 ).

Post from a friends bog...

Here is a post from a friends blog... Wow... I feel like this

I have often envied the prophets. Most people look at their lives and see how difficult it must have been for them. How difficult it must have been to preach with no fruit. To live friendless, without family, without material things, without a comfort in the world. They seem like very unenviable people. But I envy them. You know what I envy? The certainty of their call. Moses heard the voice of God from a burning bush. Elijah had fire fall from heaven to confirm his ministry. The Apostles looked at the Son of God in the face and heard his commands directly. There was no doubt. Even walking through the valley of the shadow of death there was that one thing they could still bank on: God told me to walk here.

So I envy them at times. I certainly don’t suffer like them, but at times I think I would be willing to if only I could have their certainty. It’s the scariest thing in the world to lie awake at night and wonder if I’m on the right path. I don’t mean the right path as in following Jesus; I’m not haunted by those doubts anymore. I mean if the path I’m on, or the path I’m shooting for, the path that Jesus is on? Am I actually following him or did I jump on this train as a result of my own ambitions or desires to look radical and nuts? I never had a burning bush experience. God didn’t speak to me one night from a whirlwind and tell me to kick it off to the Sindh, but here I am anyway. Why? How have I been called to this work? Have I been called?

But whenever these doubts come up I remember what I have heard. How hundreds of tiny circumstances in my life (each one meaningless on its own) have worked together to bring me here. Coincidences that just cannot be coincidence. The people and events that God called into my life have practically driven me here without my help. Has God sent me here? Sure as hell (or heaven, for that matter). And I think of the general call of Christ. Remember his last words in Matthew? Most preachers focus on the part that says ‘into all the world’ or ‘make disciples’. You know what part I like the best? “All authority has been given to me. Go, therefore…” I am the king of the world. So go. The highest authority has told me to go. So I must go.

But this call business is pretty tricky, isn’t it? I’ve lay awake many a night before coming here trying so hard to figure out what I was supposed to do with my life. All the while scared to death that I might pick the wrong path and be screwed for the rest of my life. The path didn’t really show up until I stopped trying to hard. That’s the thing with a call, you can’t figure it out until the call actually comes, then you just have to answer. But how on earth do we know if we are called? I thought of a few ideas:

First, realize that you are called. Whether you live in Canada, India or Saudi, if you are sealed by the Spirit of Holiness you have been called. God doesn’t divide his people into levels with missionaries and monks on the top and normal folks somewhere near the bottom. Whether you are preaching in a desert tent or fixing a leak in your home in Niagara Falls, God has called you to display the riches of his glory. There is a general call for all children of God to live radical lives of obedience that show people around that Christ is our treasure and only him. In this way you have been called. But what about a special call? Like a call to a ministry or crazy-go-nuts place?

That brings us to an inner witness. Jeremiah said that the Word of God was like a fire in his bones, he was weary of holding it in. That’s an inner witness to a different type of life. Some of us simply feel (perhaps subjectively, perhaps fallibly) that they should be somewhere doing something different.

There’s the witness of circumstance. When everything in your life seems to be pointing towards that one thing that keeps coming back to your mind. God is in control of every atom in the universe, it makes sense that he would use the events of our lives to point us in the way we should go.

There’s the witness of joy. Joy is very important in the Christian life. If you truly are aching to see what God’s will is for your life, follow the joy. If your heart is close to his your joy will be what honors him. And what honors him cannot be bad.

There’s the witness of Scripture. When a part of the Bible speaks to you about something specific in a new way.

Can we ever figure out what the will of God really is for our lives? Of course! In fact, you should know it already! The Bible says that God’s will for our lives is our sanctification. God’s will for every single believer is to see them sanctified. We talk about calls to go and calls to stay, in the end they are all just ways that God uses to get us (and others) sanctified, made holy.

So I would offer this 1.5 cents worth of advice to those of you who are wondering what the heck God wants with them: Look at your life. Look at where you have been and where you are now. Look at the people who are in your life and the options around you. Look at your heart. Where does the joy lie? Where does the chance for sanctification lie? I bet none of you will have rock-solid answers for those. I’ve been here for almost two years and I still don’t know what’s going to happen down the road, but I’ve thrown my chips in here. I’ve bet everything on this single hand. The comforting thing about working for the Kingdom is this: When you’ve bet everything, there is nothing to lose. And Jesus promises to pay me back. I guess if all you want to do is make Jesus look glorious, get yourself sanctified and love every human you come in contact with, it doesn’t matter much where you go.

From Today's Upmost for His Highest

Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, "Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard— just do what needs to be done!" That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, "Arise from the dead . . . ." When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to "arise from the dead" and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as weovercome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, "Arise from the dead . . . ," we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matthew 12:13 ). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...

If I only knew where to place my faith...

God speak to me, show me Your ways...

Acts 20:22-24

For now the verse... later I will discuss more!

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there... I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace!" -Acts 20:22...24

abandon.

Nothing

So did you know that you can do nothing.
yeah, it sounds pretty pessimistic
I know, and I'm not normally that way
but- its true
it is so true that it is found in the Bible!

So, taking scripture out of context isn't right, so here it is:

I am the vine
You are the branches
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit
for without me
you can do nothing.


If anyone does not abide in Me
he is cast out as a branch and is withered
and they gather them and throw them into the fire
and they are burned


If you abide in Me
and My words abide in you
you ask what you desire
and it shall be done for you.

By this my Father is glorifies
that you bear fruit
So you will be My disciples.

John 15:5-9

So yeah, in case you were planning on doing something today
don't do it

Just abide in Him
then you will bear good fruit

everything else will just fail

URBANA

Wow, I am now back in my townhouse preparing to start student teaching... but the impact that Urbana 2006 had on my life is something I cannot explain. It was amazing! I have never seen the body of Christ so unified and beautiful as ever. I must go and prepare for the week now, but I will post more as I realize what exactly I learned from this past amazing week.

What is Urbana?
Over 20,000 students form over 140 countries
together
seeking God and seraching for what He wants for their future
diversity
love
talent
like never seen before

i wish everyone could have experienced it...

worship in more then 7 languages... wow... it was awesome

Holiday Survey

Here is a fun holiday survey, with my results and Jeni's (my roomate) both!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate- egg nog can't keep warm
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sets them under the tree
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? colored
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Of Course- especially when the boys are around (jk)
5. When do you put your decorations up? The day after Thanksgiving When I go home
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Stuffing
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
My brothers and sister and I fell asleep in our new house down by the tree and in the morning we were surrounded with Christmas presents, I think I even got an Easy bake Oven.
One time I remember asking for a Beauty and the Beast Sleeping Bag and I was aooo amazed because somehoe Santa had put me inside the sleeping bag in the middle of the night.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
My parents told me when I was little, they said Santa is fake, but Jesus is real- just don't tell your cousins.
My Mom had always told me that Saint Nick was a real man, but Santa is more of an idea, like a giving Spirit.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No- it breaks the rules, unless are given by people outside the family.
Yes- one, its tradition. They are only specific gifts and usually "PJ's" to wear on Christmas day.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Family decorations, complete with childhood ornaments and lots of lights and garland.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it! I have an amazing urge to go skiing!
12. Can you ice skate? have you ever fallen on the ice? Yes, and yes- too many times
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
The Barbie Ice Cream Maker, Easy Bake Oven, and Wood Burner Kit
The Beauty and the Beast Sleeping Bag, Season Ski Pass, and coming home!
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
The Presents... Just Joking- the hot chocolate
Pranking people and buying anonymous gifts
Spending time with friends and family and ... celebrating the birth of Christ
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My Mom's T-ring My Mom's Monkey Bread
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Watching White Christmas- and since college started hanging out in my PJ's
Waking up from 4-6 in the morning to go and open stockings w/ the kids
17. What tops your tree? Angel
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
RECEIVING... Just kidding...Jeni and I specialize in "special giving"
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I won't forget the Christmas by Plus One
Any Christmas song my Michael Buble
We Three Kings
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
YUM- I love peppermint, I just wish they were soft sometimes

O-Zone - Dragostea Din Tei

This is a hilarious Romanian video... very enjoyable! Not Christian... but hilarious!

proclamation

I am a bondslave of the most high God,
whose agenda is to redeem a lost world.

I recognize a battle for souls is raging and
that I have an important part to play in it.

I embrace my calling as a minister of reconcilition, an ambassador, and a warrior.

I recognize my call to be bold in spirit yet tender in manner.

I will not rest in building my Lord's Kingdom.

I will use the gifts He has given me.

I will remain in His service all of the days of my life.



and then words from the experienced came...

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”-Jim Elliot