Wednesday, July 21, 2010

....i

is exhausted but totally and completely IN LOVE WITH JESUS TODAY. its a good feeling to have.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Surrender

Psalm 51


For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.*
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,*
teaching me wisdom even there.

7 Purify me from my sins,* and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don't keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don't take your Holy Spirit* from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.



I love this psalm. In the past I tried to read it every morning in an attempt to start my days the rigth way. I'm trying to get back into that, and yesterday was my first day begining again. Something cooly happened yesterday and so I just wanted to share it with you.

Lately I've been thinking about the direction are lives take. The way societally they are meant to take, the way God wants them to go, and our own selfish desires. Over the last couple of weeks some people that I admire spiritually have had their lives put on hold because of a God prompting. I'm ashamed to say that that kind of scared me. I reverted back to the myself that was blinded by the words "missions", and "serving God", believing that that would mean I would have to go to some obscure part of the world and sacrifice the things that I value. I started praying the same way I always had, but God saw the doubt and fear that I tried to hide from Him. After reading, God prompted me to go to Jeremiah 10:22. The actual verse He wanted me to see was Jeremiah 10:23. and it said,"I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. 24 So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle..."
This verse made me realize two things.
First, that God is God. Meaning are lives are His to begin with and there really isn't to much we can do about it and that that isn't scary just ...life in the most wonderful way possible.
Second, that where our lives are not our own God has told us to talk to Him. To tell Him if something scares us, or ask for gentleness when directing our lives. His love for us is boundless and we shouldn't be afraid to talk to Him like a friend or father.
Our God is good and faithful. Thx for that JC :)

Friday, July 9, 2010

Lectures about Lectures

lec·ture   /ˈlɛktʃər/ Show Spelled [lek-cher] Show IPA noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing.


–noun

1. a speech read or delivered before an audience or class, esp. for instruction or to set forth some subject: a lecture on Picasso's paintings.

2. a speech of warning or reproof as to conduct; a long, tedious reprimand.
 
I'm kind of curious as to how lecturing someone works. What are the requirements to be able to lecture another individual? What is an appropriate length? What does your relationship have to be with the other person? ect.
I've been raised by a compulsive lecturer. One who lectures everyone and anyone. Friends and family, the like. Strangers.
It irritates me. A lot. Not the lecturing of me, but rather of others.
Is it all right to lecture others with whom you are not willing to put in the time and effort to help fix their "conduct".
To me it seems that lecturing is only alright if you not only do it out of love but provide support, love, and compassion. Why would someone listen if you have no stock in their life? Why would they listen to someone else's condescencion?
In fact, wouldn't it have the oppositve effect? Wouldn't simply lecturing someone put them into a defensive stance for their conduct, and thus throw them deeper into it?
But, then that begs the question of; what if it isn't possible for you to put that sort of time and energy? Perhaps, your stretched thin with your other commitments, or your separated by distance, or ect.
What do you do? Permitting that your thinking of the other person's well being rather than your own superiority, how would you bring to light a hinderance that without it they would be able to breathe freer and live happier.
For right now my only answer is prayer. Pray for the specific individual. Pour love, compassion, and resolution into their spirits without their knowledge and invite God to work in and through them.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

BFFLs

I would just like to take the time and thank God for the BFFLs that He's provided for me. I'm still groggy and sleepy at this point so eloquence will most definitely be the last thing you see in this post (or really any post of mine) but these people in my life, particularily one, are so inspiring and lovely that its a must. God has really blessed and favoured me in this area.
He's sent the right people for the right time in the right moments to inspire, and guide me. To love and to hold me.
Different people for different times depending on my needs. He's awesome that way.
One particular individual has been my rock, through the thick and thin, and even through our own rough patches we've stuck through it and I'm so thankful that we have.
They're perfect for me; constantly supporting, beautiful, talented in their own ways, sincere and kind, with just enough in common that we have that bond, but not enough that either would get bored. Their my soul mate, and I look forward to continuing life with them as a Godly inspiration.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Inspiration

As the body, we often refer to darkness, to evil, as "of this world". It seems that we have forgotten that this world is entirely OF GOD. It was created by God, nurtured by Him, and loved by Him. 
The darkness is not "of this world" but more accurately the ABSENCE of GOD. It does not come from the flesh which God created for us, or the desires we were born with, but rather the use of them in the absence of God. When we move and work in, and for Christ, the desires of our heart become whole and, therefore, produce in us the fruits of the spirit. A satisfaction for the completed and a desire for more is the result. 

If we do all things through and with God, our hearts will begin to "synchronize to God's heartbeat." (Anna D, 1993ad.blogspot.com) Our God's perfection and excellence will be reflected in us, opening opportunities for humanity to witness the glory of God, and giving us opportunities to glorify Him.
It begins with choosing Him, and then allowing Him to mold us into who He created us to be.