The temptation is there. I feel it. I sense it. All around me I see success in a way that the world tells me what is success. Looking around I see those who are our age, happy, homeowners, world travelers and lovers. Yet I feel like we are none of those.
Hidden in the darkness of their souls, there is laughter and their is joy. Hidden behind the thick brush that covers their true selves, lies a desire to see things they hope too. Yet being committed to something is difficult. Especially something that you rarely get to see the end too.
How did they do it? Just, drop everything, leave everybody and follow this man? Kierkegaard, reminds us that they did not know what we know. They had no idea that he was God. I mean, yeah he mentioned it but for us to say, "come on Peter, what were you thinking", would be slightly ridiculous.
Yet they showed no hesitation. He loved them and cared for them. He, I assume, got a little frustrated after being with them for so long and teaching them and speaking to them in parables, and they still did not catch on, and yet, he loved them. At least they actually had Him wash their feet and to pray for them. Would that even make a difference, though? I too are like them, I suppose. Yet, they eventually got it. Will I?
My heart is wanting more for myself. But the path I have chosen for me, for us, is one that is not easy. No it is, to be completely honest, one that requires me to be poor and to give lots of time to it. Why was it so simple for them? Or why is it so simple for me and I do not recognize it? I want to do this but I don't for what I am told are all the wrong reasons.
One day we will be rich. One day I will have my feet washed by the Teacher himself. One day I will love life unconditionally. One day I will experience what others my age are experiencing. One day we will escape this foreign land and enter into some sort of lighted place. One day life will enter her again. One day I will be able to lean back after a hard days work, and honestly feel like I have accomplished something. One day she will smile again. One day, we may actually be our true selves.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tiredsome
It has been almost a week. I have grown more tired this week. My routines are not quite what I had expected.
I wake up more tired than when I went to bed. Headaches are more occurring.
Yet I am finding my heart being drawn to Christ. Wanting to rest with him and finding joy in his presence. Coming closer, I hope, with allowing myself to go to the Prince of Peace to cast my burdens on him and to allow him to breath into me the life that he gives, the Holy Spirit. Wanting to look into his eyes and know that he cares for me more so than anyone else I know.
What would he say to me? How would he respond?
Come, Lord Jesus, come. I want to fall at your feet. I want to look you straight in your eyes. I want to love like you love me. I want to love like you loved. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
I wake up more tired than when I went to bed. Headaches are more occurring.
Yet I am finding my heart being drawn to Christ. Wanting to rest with him and finding joy in his presence. Coming closer, I hope, with allowing myself to go to the Prince of Peace to cast my burdens on him and to allow him to breath into me the life that he gives, the Holy Spirit. Wanting to look into his eyes and know that he cares for me more so than anyone else I know.
What would he say to me? How would he respond?
Come, Lord Jesus, come. I want to fall at your feet. I want to look you straight in your eyes. I want to love like you love me. I want to love like you loved. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Friday, July 11, 2008
July 12th on the 11th
Tomorrow is Saturday.
A new day. A fresh day to start anew and over with many things.
So this is what I want to do; I want to begin some new habits. Begin some new disciplines. I want to be me. Do the things that give me, life. I once heard that it takes something like, 28 days of doing something in a row before it becomes a habit. Tomorrow begins a journey towards those 28 days and end to some other journeys.
Getting up early and writing over a cup of coffee, while leaving plenty of room to read. I want to begin to read roughly 50 pages a day. More than what I can probably bite off, ok then, 25 pages to start of with. After writing, reading and coffee drinking, it would nice to take my beautiful Golden on a 10-15 minute walk where we bond and stretch his legs. After that come home, spend time with my bride and shower, then go to work. Where I begin the day with morning prayer.
Prayer, yet another discipline I would like to pick up. Noticing, I would assume, from my other posts, it is pretty obvious I struggle with prayer. Worried too much about what others think and not searching deep within to pray with God. My prayer time then would go into my study where I pray, listening for God's voice. Shaping my day and life around the hours of prayer, praying the liturgy and using other spiritual exercises. My next prayer adventure I want to experience is praying with icons. Thanks to a small book by Nouwen, this will soon be available to me.
I just want to get back to the things that I want to do and stop doing those things that I don't want to do. For when I want to do those things, I often find reasons not to do it but the things I ought not to do I too find reasons why I should do them. Crazy I know. But so is life and Jesus.
My dog makes me laugh! So does my guitar playing!
A new day. A fresh day to start anew and over with many things.
So this is what I want to do; I want to begin some new habits. Begin some new disciplines. I want to be me. Do the things that give me, life. I once heard that it takes something like, 28 days of doing something in a row before it becomes a habit. Tomorrow begins a journey towards those 28 days and end to some other journeys.
Getting up early and writing over a cup of coffee, while leaving plenty of room to read. I want to begin to read roughly 50 pages a day. More than what I can probably bite off, ok then, 25 pages to start of with. After writing, reading and coffee drinking, it would nice to take my beautiful Golden on a 10-15 minute walk where we bond and stretch his legs. After that come home, spend time with my bride and shower, then go to work. Where I begin the day with morning prayer.
Prayer, yet another discipline I would like to pick up. Noticing, I would assume, from my other posts, it is pretty obvious I struggle with prayer. Worried too much about what others think and not searching deep within to pray with God. My prayer time then would go into my study where I pray, listening for God's voice. Shaping my day and life around the hours of prayer, praying the liturgy and using other spiritual exercises. My next prayer adventure I want to experience is praying with icons. Thanks to a small book by Nouwen, this will soon be available to me.
I just want to get back to the things that I want to do and stop doing those things that I don't want to do. For when I want to do those things, I often find reasons not to do it but the things I ought not to do I too find reasons why I should do them. Crazy I know. But so is life and Jesus.
My dog makes me laugh! So does my guitar playing!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Voices
Letting my critic speak first is difficult. It is suppose to be the first thing that I do when I wake up. To get up, sit in front of this here laptop, and begin to allow my critic to speak. So I type, not really suppose to have any set topic to write about, but it always seems to come out a different way. Usually, especially these past few posts, are rantings and ravings about something that has pissed me off. Today, is no exception.
My heart is heavy and my eyes are filling up. I think of a water park back in Peoria where they had this huge bucket that swayed back and forth, swinging left, than right and every time it swayed water would gather in it, tossing it as it got heavier, viciously farther and farther to each side. Finally when there was too much water, it would all pour over. This is exactly what I am sure will happen soon with me.
As I allow room for my critic to speak, I begin to hear other voices within me, yelling and asking for my attention. Not to worry anyone who may happen to find themselves across this blog, I am not hearing those sort of voices. Simply voices that have began to lead me into a contemplative mindset. For instance, there I stood, leading morning prayer, following the flow of prayer the way the PC (USA) prayer book has it laid out for us and I give thanks for something that I lied about. What happens when you pray something but you're not really thankful for what you're praying for? Does God know? I guess this is when the Spirit prays for us, like how Paul touches base on it in Romans. Either way, I was suppose to give thanks for the body of Christ. As I fumbled for the right words to incorporate into my prayer, a sense of guilt came over me. For as I finished offering up this thing I am thankful for, I chuckled knowing that I am not thankful for it all. If anything, I hate it.
Strong words I know but right now I am very bitter towards the body of Christ. It disturbs me how churches pay so much attention to the things we do "right" that we become so mislead that we are too afraid or simply, neglect, to touch base on that which we need to work on. I dislike how only certain people in the church work or do the ministry. It is the same 15 or 20 people while the others participate and not have any desire to step in and help. Maybe they have been scarred or maybe they too have been hurt by the church. Either way, we are so dysfunctional that we leave ourselves with no option but to wear our great, colorful masks. Which, I think I will be adding some blue to mine.
"If I could only see your face, I know everything will be ok." Christ, please forgive us for our often selfish and rugged individualistic approach to your ministry. We just mean to pop our churches collars, so that we can show our community that we have a reputation for a reason. We want to give you the honor but only after I am recognized for the work I have done. I want to come to you Christ, for I am tired, heavy burden and battling open wounds, but I am too ashamed. How can I show my face to you? How can I fall at your feet and have you love me when I don't even love you all the time? I am wanting to be your disciple and I try and tell others about it, but its tough.
My inner critic has had other critics join him. Together they scream louder and louder, becoming angrier and angrier, while leading me into a direction I need to go. May all these voices, teach me to love you, Christ, and those whom I will find on the path I am on.
Shalom.
My heart is heavy and my eyes are filling up. I think of a water park back in Peoria where they had this huge bucket that swayed back and forth, swinging left, than right and every time it swayed water would gather in it, tossing it as it got heavier, viciously farther and farther to each side. Finally when there was too much water, it would all pour over. This is exactly what I am sure will happen soon with me.
As I allow room for my critic to speak, I begin to hear other voices within me, yelling and asking for my attention. Not to worry anyone who may happen to find themselves across this blog, I am not hearing those sort of voices. Simply voices that have began to lead me into a contemplative mindset. For instance, there I stood, leading morning prayer, following the flow of prayer the way the PC (USA) prayer book has it laid out for us and I give thanks for something that I lied about. What happens when you pray something but you're not really thankful for what you're praying for? Does God know? I guess this is when the Spirit prays for us, like how Paul touches base on it in Romans. Either way, I was suppose to give thanks for the body of Christ. As I fumbled for the right words to incorporate into my prayer, a sense of guilt came over me. For as I finished offering up this thing I am thankful for, I chuckled knowing that I am not thankful for it all. If anything, I hate it.
Strong words I know but right now I am very bitter towards the body of Christ. It disturbs me how churches pay so much attention to the things we do "right" that we become so mislead that we are too afraid or simply, neglect, to touch base on that which we need to work on. I dislike how only certain people in the church work or do the ministry. It is the same 15 or 20 people while the others participate and not have any desire to step in and help. Maybe they have been scarred or maybe they too have been hurt by the church. Either way, we are so dysfunctional that we leave ourselves with no option but to wear our great, colorful masks. Which, I think I will be adding some blue to mine.
"If I could only see your face, I know everything will be ok." Christ, please forgive us for our often selfish and rugged individualistic approach to your ministry. We just mean to pop our churches collars, so that we can show our community that we have a reputation for a reason. We want to give you the honor but only after I am recognized for the work I have done. I want to come to you Christ, for I am tired, heavy burden and battling open wounds, but I am too ashamed. How can I show my face to you? How can I fall at your feet and have you love me when I don't even love you all the time? I am wanting to be your disciple and I try and tell others about it, but its tough.
My inner critic has had other critics join him. Together they scream louder and louder, becoming angrier and angrier, while leading me into a direction I need to go. May all these voices, teach me to love you, Christ, and those whom I will find on the path I am on.
Shalom.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
No Kneeling for Me Please, I'm Lazy!
"For this reason I kneel before the Father..."
I wonder if Paul actually knelt before the father or if it was simply a figure of speech? I wonder if Paul had as hard of time praying as I do? I wonder if Paul felt the pressure of using big, fancy words when he prayed to paint pictures for his churches like I do? I wonder if Paul lacked confidence ever in the words that he prayed like I do? I wonder if Paul was ever ridiculed for the way he prayed like I think I do?
I wonder what my sufferings are and whose glories they end up being? I wonder if I will ever be like Paul? My deepest desire is that the youth may indeed one day be overfilled with the love of Christ that they have no idea how to respond except to fall flat to the floor and pray. So I wrestle then if at youth group we the church are allowing the knowledge of God to be made known to the youth? If so, am I know the knowledge and power of God that is supposed to be manifest itself through the church?
Rambling and grumblings this is but confused and at times, not amused, by the way faith and church mirrors themselves in my life. His eternal purpose, which was made known by Christ, is what I live for, I think. At least that is what I tell myself. I also would like to know what it must be like to be rooted so deeply in Christ love that I honestly feel as a child of God. So I pray, along with Paul, that my youth may be deeply rooted and established in love, may have power, with all the saints (something that I am still trying to wrap my mind around, "the communion of saints"), to grasp how deep and wide and tall and round Christ love is, so incomprehensible that is surpasses knowledge.
I don't want a personal Jesus, one that I run to, to try and manipulate God and myself into thinking that I am a good person or that I am so horrible, that I committed such a horrible sin, that I need to feel so ashamed to sit at the feet of this Jesus character who tells me through the saints that his love surpasses all the knowledge I can gain. I want to love the way Christ loved others. I want to be Jesus. I want to be a radical like he was. I want to be a 'Jester for Jesus'. "To be filled with all the fullness of God." Simply, WOW!
Until then I write, at least I attempt to. To allow my inner critic, although I think I am 'breaking the rules' on how this is suppose to work, to speak and to get his voice out so that these questions, these issues, these doubts will no longer be something that hinders me. I don't believe in the devil as a horned being who sends out little fire like demons to trick/tempt me into doing 'bad' things. Rather, I believe is being undisciplined and lazy which results in a life style that is not one that mimics Christ's. This is where I am at I think. All this about church life, trying to live into the fullness of God's love/grace/knowledge, is simply because I want more but am simply LAZY.
So pray dear friends. Pray for me. May you and I together like Paul, fall on our knees and pray to the Father who is what gives us life and hope and love, and pray for each other. Pray on your knees, pray for the love of Christ to consume us!
Shalom.
I wonder if Paul actually knelt before the father or if it was simply a figure of speech? I wonder if Paul had as hard of time praying as I do? I wonder if Paul felt the pressure of using big, fancy words when he prayed to paint pictures for his churches like I do? I wonder if Paul lacked confidence ever in the words that he prayed like I do? I wonder if Paul was ever ridiculed for the way he prayed like I think I do?
I wonder what my sufferings are and whose glories they end up being? I wonder if I will ever be like Paul? My deepest desire is that the youth may indeed one day be overfilled with the love of Christ that they have no idea how to respond except to fall flat to the floor and pray. So I wrestle then if at youth group we the church are allowing the knowledge of God to be made known to the youth? If so, am I know the knowledge and power of God that is supposed to be manifest itself through the church?
Rambling and grumblings this is but confused and at times, not amused, by the way faith and church mirrors themselves in my life. His eternal purpose, which was made known by Christ, is what I live for, I think. At least that is what I tell myself. I also would like to know what it must be like to be rooted so deeply in Christ love that I honestly feel as a child of God. So I pray, along with Paul, that my youth may be deeply rooted and established in love, may have power, with all the saints (something that I am still trying to wrap my mind around, "the communion of saints"), to grasp how deep and wide and tall and round Christ love is, so incomprehensible that is surpasses knowledge.
I don't want a personal Jesus, one that I run to, to try and manipulate God and myself into thinking that I am a good person or that I am so horrible, that I committed such a horrible sin, that I need to feel so ashamed to sit at the feet of this Jesus character who tells me through the saints that his love surpasses all the knowledge I can gain. I want to love the way Christ loved others. I want to be Jesus. I want to be a radical like he was. I want to be a 'Jester for Jesus'. "To be filled with all the fullness of God." Simply, WOW!
Until then I write, at least I attempt to. To allow my inner critic, although I think I am 'breaking the rules' on how this is suppose to work, to speak and to get his voice out so that these questions, these issues, these doubts will no longer be something that hinders me. I don't believe in the devil as a horned being who sends out little fire like demons to trick/tempt me into doing 'bad' things. Rather, I believe is being undisciplined and lazy which results in a life style that is not one that mimics Christ's. This is where I am at I think. All this about church life, trying to live into the fullness of God's love/grace/knowledge, is simply because I want more but am simply LAZY.
So pray dear friends. Pray for me. May you and I together like Paul, fall on our knees and pray to the Father who is what gives us life and hope and love, and pray for each other. Pray on your knees, pray for the love of Christ to consume us!
Shalom.
Friday, July 4, 2008
A Horrible Poem About the church
All are welcomed here, in this place.
Yes, you! Especially you.
If you are tired and weary, you can come.
Our doors are open.
Come all who are heavy burden.
This place is safe for you.
When you come though, you must have one thing.
Your resume.
Explaining to us the people you know and the money you hold.
Bring it to us, so that we may welcome you truly.
Who you know will help you grow here.
What you have, will make us truly glad.
For you the stranger or the poor, you're welcome too.
I guess.
But don't expect the same experience.
We're 'One in Christ' here.
No tears will be shed but your story shall be exploited.
Yeah, I suppose we'll invite you in, too.
But stay towards the back.
We don't want people to see you here.
Oh and put this on.
This mask.
You see, we all do it here.
Its a common task that helps us survive.
We don't really love each other.
We really don't even love you.
God is alright
But our building and the money,
Now that is our light.
So, I guess you can come.
Numbers of all sorts are our welcomed guest.
How we fill the pew and the plates,
Will help us at those pearly gates.
Feeding you, clothing you, replenishing you.
Well, we talk a lot about it.
You're more than welcomed to get your hopes up.
We are no longer foreigners to each other technically.
Yet we're most distant from those who we sit with.
We put on good smiles though.
And our Sunday best will show you holy we are.
Really only 1 of us needs to understand that God stuff.
Not us, not you, just him is enough.
So lies and smirks are welcomed here.
True hurt that consumes us inside are too.
Masks are preferred and embraced the most.
Yeah, if you're tired please come.
If you're rich, we'll greet you first.
We've got tradition and potential, so please, bring your credentials.
Yes, you! Especially you.
If you are tired and weary, you can come.
Our doors are open.
Come all who are heavy burden.
This place is safe for you.
When you come though, you must have one thing.
Your resume.
Explaining to us the people you know and the money you hold.
Bring it to us, so that we may welcome you truly.
Who you know will help you grow here.
What you have, will make us truly glad.
For you the stranger or the poor, you're welcome too.
I guess.
But don't expect the same experience.
We're 'One in Christ' here.
No tears will be shed but your story shall be exploited.
Yeah, I suppose we'll invite you in, too.
But stay towards the back.
We don't want people to see you here.
Oh and put this on.
This mask.
You see, we all do it here.
Its a common task that helps us survive.
We don't really love each other.
We really don't even love you.
God is alright
But our building and the money,
Now that is our light.
So, I guess you can come.
Numbers of all sorts are our welcomed guest.
How we fill the pew and the plates,
Will help us at those pearly gates.
Feeding you, clothing you, replenishing you.
Well, we talk a lot about it.
You're more than welcomed to get your hopes up.
We are no longer foreigners to each other technically.
Yet we're most distant from those who we sit with.
We put on good smiles though.
And our Sunday best will show you holy we are.
Really only 1 of us needs to understand that God stuff.
Not us, not you, just him is enough.
So lies and smirks are welcomed here.
True hurt that consumes us inside are too.
Masks are preferred and embraced the most.
Yeah, if you're tired please come.
If you're rich, we'll greet you first.
We've got tradition and potential, so please, bring your credentials.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Unified Hypocrisy
My heart continues to be heavy. Although the purpose of this blog was to allow the critic inside to get his opinion in early, today is slightly different as I am writing a little later than normal. With this said, surround voices from the life which is Adam, has made a difference and slightly influenced the day already. Yet, God is still there, with a hope of something to come for today.
Today is a day when I will meet with youth to discuss the student leadership responsibility that I have asked them to take on. These particular students have demonstrated what I think it takes to be a leaders amongst their peers. Yet, as I find myself explaining and laying out the blueprints as to what this task is, I feel like a hypocrite. Do I do all that I can to fulfill or follow what it is I have asked our youth to do? I guess then my hope is that through this experience, I begin to lean closer to the bosom of Christ and finding a sense of peace that will still my soul.
Hostility. This is what takes the unification of the body of Christ and flushed right down the potty. Church members arguing over what paint to paint the fellowship hall or what carpet to get, while someone comes to the door with no money, nothing on their back but the clothes they wear. What makes people want to be a part of the church if this is what ministry is based off of? Paul says that once the Gentiles were far away from God but they have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. What about now? Are we so far away from God that we miss Christ on a daily basis? By this I mean that we get so distracted as to what color stole we wear, or again with the paint, or what song we cannot sing because of who and when it was written, that in the everyday happenings of life, we miss the holy. We miss the opportunity to see Christ in those around us because of the inflictions we bring to one another? Oneness and peace of Christ, does the church even know what this is?
Today I still have a fascination with the closed communion policy in the Roman Catholic church. Although I used to get frustrated over this and use to think that they, being my brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic faith, would go to hell because they worship idols and people, now I find it beautiful. Why you ask? Because, if we were all allowed to participate in the holy communion, we would be lied too. Yes the Eucharist is where all are needs are met and it is around the common table that we can encounter the Christ himself, but at the same time, it is also a table where we can come to realize that we have a long way to go. It should be a constant reminder that we are not unified yet, that there is no oneness in Christ and that HOSTILITY is still very much playing like a cancer cell in the life of the church. As Christ death brought the Jews and Gentiles hostility to dissipate, so it is my prayer today that someday, our hostility amongst denominations, other faith traditions, but of most importance, people of the same body, may one day go and never come back. Until then, I live a life of hypocrisy. But my hope lies in Christ, that is what pushes me each day.
Today is a day when I will meet with youth to discuss the student leadership responsibility that I have asked them to take on. These particular students have demonstrated what I think it takes to be a leaders amongst their peers. Yet, as I find myself explaining and laying out the blueprints as to what this task is, I feel like a hypocrite. Do I do all that I can to fulfill or follow what it is I have asked our youth to do? I guess then my hope is that through this experience, I begin to lean closer to the bosom of Christ and finding a sense of peace that will still my soul.
Hostility. This is what takes the unification of the body of Christ and flushed right down the potty. Church members arguing over what paint to paint the fellowship hall or what carpet to get, while someone comes to the door with no money, nothing on their back but the clothes they wear. What makes people want to be a part of the church if this is what ministry is based off of? Paul says that once the Gentiles were far away from God but they have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. What about now? Are we so far away from God that we miss Christ on a daily basis? By this I mean that we get so distracted as to what color stole we wear, or again with the paint, or what song we cannot sing because of who and when it was written, that in the everyday happenings of life, we miss the holy. We miss the opportunity to see Christ in those around us because of the inflictions we bring to one another? Oneness and peace of Christ, does the church even know what this is?
Today I still have a fascination with the closed communion policy in the Roman Catholic church. Although I used to get frustrated over this and use to think that they, being my brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic faith, would go to hell because they worship idols and people, now I find it beautiful. Why you ask? Because, if we were all allowed to participate in the holy communion, we would be lied too. Yes the Eucharist is where all are needs are met and it is around the common table that we can encounter the Christ himself, but at the same time, it is also a table where we can come to realize that we have a long way to go. It should be a constant reminder that we are not unified yet, that there is no oneness in Christ and that HOSTILITY is still very much playing like a cancer cell in the life of the church. As Christ death brought the Jews and Gentiles hostility to dissipate, so it is my prayer today that someday, our hostility amongst denominations, other faith traditions, but of most importance, people of the same body, may one day go and never come back. Until then, I live a life of hypocrisy. But my hope lies in Christ, that is what pushes me each day.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Prayer at Rising--New Day
I was once told that in order to become a good writer, one must allow the critic inside to speak first. Then it shall cease and the writer will be able to write. This is what this blog is for. To allow my thoughts to carry me through the early hours and to aid me with what I am to do for the day.
My prayer is one for my life to walk on the path that is lit for me. As we arise, we are given the opportunity to live into the light. God has blessed us and darkness now no longer exist. Today, how will I take advantage of the opportunity? Today I live because God raised us up with Christ and because of his great love for us, made me alive in Christ. God's grace was shown to us through the kindness of Christ who saved us. This gift of salvation, whatever this means, is not something that we have earned, rather it is a gift, a gift that Christ gave to us. Faith is what they call it. We have faith. Grace then faith, not by works so no one can boast but if we are to boast, we boast in the Lord.
God help me today. May my works be seen good in your sight. Made alive in Christ, that is what I am. Looking around i want to see you in what my life is. Laughing and caring and hoping and dreaming are all things I enjoy to do with my wife. She is very beautiful and smart. My hope is that she will find her way out of the path that is dimly lit and back onto the one that is lit by you. Kindle her flame and may your grace make her come to life again.
Work I want to write more about our transformation that will take place for youth group. The 6 Great Ends of the Church plus that which makes our church breath: Bath, Book, Table and Time. How I will incorporate these things together, I have no idea but this is where I trust my education and critical thinking skills. Basically, I hope you will guide me through it. I like David Crowder and I have this urgency to go out and buy more Christian artist. Not that secular is bad, for I have come to find great peace in some songs, but because I miss the encouraging message of Christ through music.
New light. New day. Same path. Same faith. Fresh breath. Fresh start. Christ made me alive again in his heart.
Praise the Lord!
The name of the Lord be praised.
My prayer is one for my life to walk on the path that is lit for me. As we arise, we are given the opportunity to live into the light. God has blessed us and darkness now no longer exist. Today, how will I take advantage of the opportunity? Today I live because God raised us up with Christ and because of his great love for us, made me alive in Christ. God's grace was shown to us through the kindness of Christ who saved us. This gift of salvation, whatever this means, is not something that we have earned, rather it is a gift, a gift that Christ gave to us. Faith is what they call it. We have faith. Grace then faith, not by works so no one can boast but if we are to boast, we boast in the Lord.
God help me today. May my works be seen good in your sight. Made alive in Christ, that is what I am. Looking around i want to see you in what my life is. Laughing and caring and hoping and dreaming are all things I enjoy to do with my wife. She is very beautiful and smart. My hope is that she will find her way out of the path that is dimly lit and back onto the one that is lit by you. Kindle her flame and may your grace make her come to life again.
Work I want to write more about our transformation that will take place for youth group. The 6 Great Ends of the Church plus that which makes our church breath: Bath, Book, Table and Time. How I will incorporate these things together, I have no idea but this is where I trust my education and critical thinking skills. Basically, I hope you will guide me through it. I like David Crowder and I have this urgency to go out and buy more Christian artist. Not that secular is bad, for I have come to find great peace in some songs, but because I miss the encouraging message of Christ through music.
New light. New day. Same path. Same faith. Fresh breath. Fresh start. Christ made me alive again in his heart.
Praise the Lord!
The name of the Lord be praised.
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