"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, fogiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:29-32
Won't it be a glorious day when the church obeys this word? How often do you read slanderous comments online about a video or an article a Christian has posted about God and another Christian rips them apart and says that they're wrong? Even if the first guy was wrong the second guy is now wrong becuase he has allowed bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander and malice in.
It saddens me that there is such a war between denominations. There is even hate between brothers and sisters in Christ. How is the world going to know us by our love when we can't even love our blood-bought family? We grieve the Holy Spirit when we tear down someone we may not agree with. We open a door to let Satan in. I believe a lot of sickness is due to unforgiveness. When we hold on to bitterness we are not allowing the Sprit of God to inhabit every area of us, therefore, we aren't living in freedom, in joy and peace and health. "Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil, this will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:7-8).
The devourer has infiltrated. He's seperated the church and he's trying to turn us against each other. He can try all he wants, we know that the unity will be restored before Christ comes back, He's not going to come back to a broken and divided to church, He's going to return for his beautiful bride! So next time you don't agree with someone check yourself, address issues in love and peace, follow the steps on how to confront problems that are listed in Matthew 18:15-20.
I know I've been guilty of slandering other churches and I am resolving that I will no longer take part in it. I am no longer "like a Gentile walking in the futility of my mind" as Paul talks about earlier in the verse but I am a new creature! Only edifying words will flow out of me, words that build up the world-wide church instead of tear it down.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Faith
By Andrew Wommack
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Hebrews 11:1 says,
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Faith is substance. This is saying that faith is real. It is the evidence of things not seen. Notice it didn't say "things that don't exist." They do exist. They just aren't seen.
Even in the natural world, we've come to realize that there are things that do exist that we can't see. We can't see television signals, but they do exist. In fact, wherever you are right now, there are television signals right there with you. If you say "No there aren't" just because you can't see or hear them, that doesn't mean they don't exist. It just means you aren't very smart. They do exist, they are just unseen. They are unseen realities.
A television set can make unseen signals visible. When we see the images is not when they became real. They were already there. A television set doesn't generate images. The set just receives the signal and converts it into sights and sounds that we can perceive. But the television signals were already there, before we tuned them in.
Probably every person reading this letter has watched television when suddenly the picture went blank. What did you do? I bet you didn't call the television station and complain about them stopping their broadcast. The first thing you did was check and see if everything was working on your television set. Was the electricity on? Was it plugged in? Did a tube go out or did some circuit melt? You checked your receiver to see what was wrong with it. You trust that the station broadcasts 24/7. You don't question that until you eliminate all the possible problems with your set.
Likewise, God is real and does exist. He just can't be seen. He is broadcasting all His power and blessings 24/7. It's never God's transmitter that is broken. It's always our receiver that is the problem. If we ask God for something and we don't see it manifest instantly, most people question why God hasn't answered that prayer yet. They assume that because they haven't seen or heard anything, nothing has happened. That's all wrong. We need to have more faith in God than we have in a television station.
There is a very good illustration of this truth in 2 Kings 6. Elisha, the prophet of God, was revealing the Syrian's battle plans to the king of Israel. Every time the king of Syria tried to ambush the king of Israel, Elisha would warn the king of Israel, and he would ambush the Syrian's ambush. This happened so often that the king of Syria finally asked his servants to reveal who the traitor was. He knew that the king of Israel could not be maneuvering like he was without inside information.
When one of the king of Syria's servants said that Elisha, the prophet of God, was revealing the words that the king of Syria said in his bed chamber to the king of Israel, the king of Syria sent his armies to capture Elisha.
Second Kings 6:15 says,
"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?"
When Elisha's servant saw the Syrian troops, he panicked. He knew why they were there. They had discovered Elisha was the one telling the king of Syria's battle plans to the king of Israel. They were in big trouble. Look at the response of Elisha to this situation in 2 Kings 6:16: "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.".
People who don't believe anything exists beyond their five senses would say Elisha was lying. He was confessing something was so when it really wasn't so, hoping that it would become so. But that's not the way it was at all. Elisha spoke the truth. There were more with him than was with the Syrian army. It's just that Elisha's forces were in the unseen reality.
The key to understanding this is to recognize there is another realm of reality beyond this physical world. Those who are limited to only their five senses will always struggle with this. They think Elisha was lying, and indeed, he would have been lying if all that exists is this physical world. You could count the Syrian troops by the thousands, and there was only Elisha and his servant. But Elisha wasn't lying because there was another world of reality. If you looked at the whole picture, the physical and spiritual world, then Elisha was right on. In the spiritual realm, there were many more horses and chariots of fire around Elisha than there were Syrian troops.
According to 2 Kings 6:17,
"Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And he LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
Gehazi's physical eyes were already wide open. God was opening his spiritual eyes. He was able to see with his heart into the spiritual world. And when the spiritual world was taken into consideration, then Elisha's statement was perfectly true.
Those who see faith as an attempt to make something real which isn't real will always struggle with those who see faith as simply making what is spiritually true a physical truth. Those who limit truth to only the physical realm would have called Elisha one of those "name it, claim it," "blab it, grab it" cultists. But in saying such things, they condemn themselves. They show they only consider what they can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel to be reality. They are what the Bible calls "carnal."
When Gehazi's eyes were opened, the Syrians didn't disappear. They were still there. The physical truth was still true, but there was a greater spiritual truth that emerged. True faith doesn't deny physical truth; it just refuses to let physical truth dominate spiritual truth. True faith subdues physical truth to the reality of spiritual truth.
Because Elisha believed in the realities of the spiritual world, he raised his hand and smote all the Syrians with blindness. Then he led the whole Syrian army captive to the king of Israel. Praise the Lord! That's not bad for an old prophet whom carnal people would say was all by himself.
Elisha was not just speaking some wishful statement, hoping that it would become a reality. He knew what was real in the spiritual world, and he controlled his emotions and actions accordingly. There is no indication that Elisha saw the horses and chariots of fire around him. He didn't need to. He believed it. Those who operate in true faith don't need to see with their physical eyes. Their faith is evidence enough.
There was a woman at a campmeeting who had a huge goiter on her neck. She went forward for prayer and knew that she knew she was healed. So, she got up in front of the audience and gave a testimony of her goiter being healed. However, the goiter was still visible. But the people praised God, thinking that the healing would manifest itself shortly.
The next year at the same campmeeting, the woman got up again and praised the Lord for her healing, but there still wasn't any visible proof. This concerned a lot of people, but they didn't say anything. Then the next year, the same thing happened. This was too much for most of the people, and it caused the leaders of the meeting to approach this woman and tell her she couldn't testify of this healing again until the goiter was gone.
The woman told the Lord that she knew He had healed her, and she didn't have to see visible results to believe it. But for the sake of the unbelievers, she asked the Lord to physically remove the growth. It disappeared and the woman showed them what she already knew was true. You can get that strong in faith. Your faith is substance and all the evidence you need. Faith is real.
I've experienced this in my own life. When my youngest son, Peter, died on March 4, 2001, my wife and I spoke our faith and said, "The first report is not the last report." We spoke resurrection life back into Peter's body, and then we headed into town. It was one hour and fifteen minutes from the time we got the call until we got to where Peter was. During that time, I was operating in faith. I remembered prophecies that had not yet come to pass in Peter's life, and therefore, I knew it wasn't time for Peter to die. I rejoiced by faith, seeing Peter alive and well.
My oldest son, Joshua, met me at the door and said, "Dad, five or ten minutes after I called you, Peter just sat up." Thank You, Jesus! This is the point: I didn't rejoice more once I saw Peter raised from the dead than I did while I was still driving. During the drive, I knew Peter was alive, and I was rejoicing with all my might. It was actually anticlimactic when I saw in the physical what I had already seen in the spiritual. Don't get me wrong; I was blessed and I rejoiced to see my son raised up after being dead for five hours. But the physical reality wasn't more real to me than the spiritual reality of faith.
This is the way I live. I know it's not "normal," but I'm not getting "normal" results either. I've been believing big, and there have been big results from that believing. When we moved into our new offices, and when we see the warehouse finished, that was, and will be, anticlimactic. I'm seeing all these things in the spirit now. When they manifest physically, others will be impressed, but I'm impressed now.
I'm not believing for something that isn't real to become real. I've seen into the spiritual realm by faith, and I'm simply making what I've seen in the spiritual world manifest in the physical world. All of the things
I'm seeing with my physical eyes now, I have already seen in my heart. I saw it on the inside before I saw it on the outside. This is a wonderful way to live. This is the normal Christian life. This is walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
Thursday, December 8, 2011
How Can You Praise a Stranger?
A big reason why Christians aren't living as the light of the world is because they don't know their source of power.
How can a lamp give light if it's not plugged in, or if there's no oil or flame?
How can you praise a God you don't know?
Many "Christians" don't know the God they claim they love, they don't know the Jesus they claim is their savior.
Many "Christians" lives don't reflect that they have an intimate relationship with their heavenly father.
As I was praising God tonight I realized how much deeper my worship is after revelation.
When God shows you another side of Himself you are forever changed.
When the 4 living creatures give honor to Him who is on the throne and cry out night and day,
"Holy..."
The 24 elders look up at God and fall right back down and throw their crowns at His feet and cry, "Worthy are You...". (Rev. 4:8-11)
They do this eternally.
Why do they fall right back down as soon as they look up? It's because God just showed them another aspect of Himself; they received yet another revelation of the Creator of the World and they can't help but worship Him!
We should be living a life of worship, a life filled with joy and wonder because we are spending time getting to know our God; looking at our God.
Seek and you will find Him! Don't just throw up some prayers here and there throughout the day, set time aside to be with Him.
Jesus is alive and He is living in those who allow Him to.
Jesus is still changing the world and bringing the will of the Father to pass through those who take the time to listen to what He is saying and are obedient to do what He speaks.
Know the God you serve and your times of worship will transform you.
His praise will be on your lips throughout the day and others will want to know who this God is.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The season of JOY unspeakable!!!
...and there you have it!! The cast of glee just preached the gospel!
This is my favorite Christmas song because it is all about good news! Christ has saved us all from Satan's power! We can enter into resting with these tidings of comfort and joy!
When I hear this song I want to dance and shout and laugh because I'm free.
All I can do is worship and praise God for sending His son to earth and restoring us into right relationship with Him. How awesome is it to know God! How awesome to hear from Him and not have to worry about a thing! I am filled with JOY!!
If you've always wondered about the hype of Christmas, this is it! It's not Santa and presents, it's about a miracle birth of God's son, Jesus!
Jesus went on to live a perfect life and died as a sacrifice for the whole world's sin.
God required a perfect sacrifice and He already knew that none of us would ever be perfect so He made the way Himself because He loves us, His creation, SOOO much! He couldn't stand to not have a relationship with us!
When we accept what Jesus did on the cross and confess that he is the Lord, God's Son, we enter back into perfect relationship with our Father, God.
Now when God looks at us He doesn't see sin because when Jesus died, our sin was washed off of us.
It's like we're all red but when we accept Jesus' bath we all turn white and God sees us as white!
We still sin of course but God doesn't keep track of it because what Jesus did lasts for eternity.
We don't have to keep asking God to forgive us, He already did! Jesus isn't going to come back and die again!
We are now F R E E!!!!!
How much more can I enjoy life now than when my conscience was bogged down.
I always knew something wasn't right, I always knew there was more, then I found it when I started having a relationship with God!
So if you've never had that relationship and you want to, go for it!
Ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life and see what God begins to show you!
It's unreal.
He starts to add his super to your natural and the world becomes a different place.
If you have questions, email me @
Josiah_mckenna@yahoo.com
Why not experience this Christmas in its fullness? This will be your best Christmas ever! There will be joy overflowing and a thankfulness that is uncontainable!
Jesus coming to this earth is the best thing that has ever happened to this earth and he's going to come back again to take his brothers and sisters home to be with the Father forever.
If you don't want to know God now, why would you even want to go to heaven and spend eternity with a stranger?
If you don't want to know God at all, there is a place with no presence of God, but that place is described vividly as a horrible place.
He is my best friend, and when I'm crazy about somebody I want everyone to know them so I'm sharing this because He's sooo stinkin good to me!!!:) And I know He'll be good to you!!
19It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
20So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
21For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [[g]endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Madly in Love
As a gentleman
you ask me to dance
I am flattered
and take your hand
I won't take for granted
what a privilege this is
you look into my eyes
and my face erupts in light
Your glory
has made Me beautiful
We begin
casually
I am just learning this song
You lead gently
with each step to each note
no surprise twirls
there's no need for you to show off
this dance floor is yours
and all who are here already know you
I relax in your polite embrace
and you begin to pull me closer
my heart beats faster
as I feel your breath on my cheek
the answers I once sought
are no longer of relevance
you are proving all I need to know
they can't take their eyes off of us
I've never loved like this before
you whisper of my beauty
you quietly express your delight in me
I want to whisper back
but cannot find words
eloquent enough
to tell you how I feel
Pools fill in my eyes
and spill over behind your back
I am so in love.
I know you're smiling,
and I know you feel it too.
Our light shines like diamonds
and my skin like pearls
then the clock strikes
like a knife to my soul
the hour has come and with it
darkness
you hold my face in your scarred hands,
kiss my forehead and whisper,
"I'm coming back."
you ask me to dance
I am flattered
and take your hand
I won't take for granted
what a privilege this is
you look into my eyes
and my face erupts in light
Your glory
has made Me beautiful
We begin
casually
I am just learning this song
You lead gently
with each step to each note
no surprise twirls
there's no need for you to show off
this dance floor is yours
and all who are here already know you
I relax in your polite embrace
and you begin to pull me closer
my heart beats faster
as I feel your breath on my cheek
the answers I once sought
are no longer of relevance
you are proving all I need to know
they can't take their eyes off of us
I've never loved like this before
you whisper of my beauty
you quietly express your delight in me
I want to whisper back
but cannot find words
eloquent enough
to tell you how I feel
Pools fill in my eyes
and spill over behind your back
I am so in love.
I know you're smiling,
and I know you feel it too.
Our light shines like diamonds
and my skin like pearls
then the clock strikes
like a knife to my soul
the hour has come and with it
darkness
you hold my face in your scarred hands,
kiss my forehead and whisper,
"I'm coming back."
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Who Are We Fooling? - Brooke Fraser & Aqualung (Lyrics)
Marriage.
I had no idea.
I didn't know what to expect and even if someone had told me everyday everything to expect I still wouldn't have understood.
It is something you must experience to understand and I have been experiencing it for 2 and a half years now.
To my complete surprise it didn't taste like chocolate and smell like roses.
It was like taffy, kind of sweet but so chewy you couldn't really enjoy it like you wanted to because it was so exhausting!
That's how the first 2 years were for me. I knew it was right and what God had in mind but sometimes I wondered....
This past month my Pastor has been talking about marriage and had a key piece of advice that changed my thinking, marriage isn't supposed to just work, it's supposed to shine
Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.
It is a prophecy for the world to see.
It is a witness for the world to see.
God, in the beginning made man, the species, not just the man.
Adam was male and female within himself until God pulled Eve out of Adam.
God separated them with full anticipation of bringing them back together.
So in marriage you are one with your spouse and the fullness of God is there.
The only way to make marriage work is to not try to fix anything about your spouse. I repeat, anything.
YOU WILL NOT CHANGE THEM.
God can, but you can't!
The only person you can change is yourself and that's hard enough. Try loosing 10 lbs.!
Once you forfeit the game of "Change Your Spouse to be Better" you're on your way to success in marriage.
God calls men to love their woman like Christ loves the church and women to respect and honor their man as unto the Lord.
There is freedom when we focus on our roles. I don't respect my husband because he deserves it, there are a lot of times he doesn't, but I do it because the way to joy and peace is through obedience to the Lord.
I don't deserve his love but he loves me because God told him to.
I used to want to try and manipulate situations to get him to love me more but it always backfired or he'd see right through it so I decided to respect him more instead of manipulate and what do you know, in return he loves me more!
There is only one reason for divorce, selfishness.
That's it.
As Christians we must die to our flesh daily! We take up our cross daily so we should never be living for ourselves but that is quite contrary to what the world teaches us.
Sometimes in the morning I just declare that I am dead. I say it out loud so Satan and I can hear it.
"I, McKenna, am dead to my flesh. I am living today by the Spirit alone."
It's simple but it transforms your mind early on, sometimes I put a finger gun to my head and pull the trigger just to solidify my statement.
Now it doesn't matter how my husband acts towards me because I am living by my spirit and it obeys the Word of God so I choose to respect him and not talk bad about him or joke in a way that is disrespectful.
When I do my part and he does his, not for each other but for God, we s h i n e.
God's glory gets involved in our marriage and it shows the world what love is.
The problem is that even Christians don't know what their marriage is really about. Most people think its about them and their desires but its not.
When the world sees Christians divorce at almost the same rate as unbelievers I'm not surprised that a loving God is a far off fantasy to them.
Marriage is hard if you don't die.
I know that sounds funny but it's true.
The reason married people fight is because they think they deserve what they want.
We don't deserve anything.
God deserves everything.
Most importantly he deserves us to be obedient to Him.
In our obedience He works behind the scenes in our partners and in us so that we become what He has planned for us to become.
So next time you find yourself fighting or wishing your spouse was different get out your finger gun and kill that flesh! Spend time in prayer for them! Spend time in prayer for you!
Respect him!
Love her!
That is what will cause the necessary change in your relationship.
You might be thinking,
"Oh, McKenna that's too simple!"
Well it is simple. Boil every situation down and see that the key to a successful marriage isn't complicated.
I'm so glad that this knowledge has sunk down deep into my "knower" so early in my marriage because now there is no reason I shouldn't have a God-glorifying marriage.
I had no idea.
I didn't know what to expect and even if someone had told me everyday everything to expect I still wouldn't have understood.
It is something you must experience to understand and I have been experiencing it for 2 and a half years now.
To my complete surprise it didn't taste like chocolate and smell like roses.
It was like taffy, kind of sweet but so chewy you couldn't really enjoy it like you wanted to because it was so exhausting!
That's how the first 2 years were for me. I knew it was right and what God had in mind but sometimes I wondered....
This past month my Pastor has been talking about marriage and had a key piece of advice that changed my thinking, marriage isn't supposed to just work, it's supposed to shine
Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.
It is a prophecy for the world to see.
It is a witness for the world to see.
God, in the beginning made man, the species, not just the man.
Adam was male and female within himself until God pulled Eve out of Adam.
God separated them with full anticipation of bringing them back together.
So in marriage you are one with your spouse and the fullness of God is there.
The only way to make marriage work is to not try to fix anything about your spouse. I repeat, anything.
YOU WILL NOT CHANGE THEM.
God can, but you can't!
The only person you can change is yourself and that's hard enough. Try loosing 10 lbs.!
Once you forfeit the game of "Change Your Spouse to be Better" you're on your way to success in marriage.
God calls men to love their woman like Christ loves the church and women to respect and honor their man as unto the Lord.
There is freedom when we focus on our roles. I don't respect my husband because he deserves it, there are a lot of times he doesn't, but I do it because the way to joy and peace is through obedience to the Lord.
I don't deserve his love but he loves me because God told him to.
I used to want to try and manipulate situations to get him to love me more but it always backfired or he'd see right through it so I decided to respect him more instead of manipulate and what do you know, in return he loves me more!
There is only one reason for divorce, selfishness.
That's it.
As Christians we must die to our flesh daily! We take up our cross daily so we should never be living for ourselves but that is quite contrary to what the world teaches us.
Sometimes in the morning I just declare that I am dead. I say it out loud so Satan and I can hear it.
"I, McKenna, am dead to my flesh. I am living today by the Spirit alone."
It's simple but it transforms your mind early on, sometimes I put a finger gun to my head and pull the trigger just to solidify my statement.
Now it doesn't matter how my husband acts towards me because I am living by my spirit and it obeys the Word of God so I choose to respect him and not talk bad about him or joke in a way that is disrespectful.
When I do my part and he does his, not for each other but for God, we s h i n e.
God's glory gets involved in our marriage and it shows the world what love is.
The problem is that even Christians don't know what their marriage is really about. Most people think its about them and their desires but its not.
When the world sees Christians divorce at almost the same rate as unbelievers I'm not surprised that a loving God is a far off fantasy to them.
Marriage is hard if you don't die.
I know that sounds funny but it's true.
The reason married people fight is because they think they deserve what they want.
We don't deserve anything.
God deserves everything.
Most importantly he deserves us to be obedient to Him.
In our obedience He works behind the scenes in our partners and in us so that we become what He has planned for us to become.
So next time you find yourself fighting or wishing your spouse was different get out your finger gun and kill that flesh! Spend time in prayer for them! Spend time in prayer for you!
Respect him!
Love her!
That is what will cause the necessary change in your relationship.
You might be thinking,
"Oh, McKenna that's too simple!"
Well it is simple. Boil every situation down and see that the key to a successful marriage isn't complicated.
I'm so glad that this knowledge has sunk down deep into my "knower" so early in my marriage because now there is no reason I shouldn't have a God-glorifying marriage.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Jotta A Performing Hillsong's Still in Portuguese
Don't stop this. Watch the whole thing. You will get goosebumps, I promise.
Live life to the fullest
"It is much better to try and to fail than never have the courage to go after something. Too many missed opportunities lead us into the valley of shadow, where we are a pale version of what we could have been. Passivity, procrastination and caution are all forms of regret. It is where we look back at our fainthearted approach to life and discover how timid we have become. It is vital that our past does not become our future or regret will shadow us all our lives." Graham Cooke
This says it all. Look at who are you today and see that every choice you have made has lead you to this point. I am too passive and I procrastinate and sometimes use too much caution as an excuse. My future is bright though and there is no excuse any longer. I am going to chose to live with passion, chose to do and not procrastinate, chose to risk everything so I don't regret opportunities left unsiezed.
Note: Unsiezed is not a real word but it describes what I need to say so I'm going to leave it and maybe someday it will be a real word.
I want to live life to the fullest, that used to be my motto when I was young, I scribbled it on everything, I used it as my quote in yearbooks so what happened to me? I choose to live and see all that God has for me because I believe most of us are barely scratching the surface when it comes to doing all God has in mind for us to do.
This says it all. Look at who are you today and see that every choice you have made has lead you to this point. I am too passive and I procrastinate and sometimes use too much caution as an excuse. My future is bright though and there is no excuse any longer. I am going to chose to live with passion, chose to do and not procrastinate, chose to risk everything so I don't regret opportunities left unsiezed.
Note: Unsiezed is not a real word but it describes what I need to say so I'm going to leave it and maybe someday it will be a real word.
I want to live life to the fullest, that used to be my motto when I was young, I scribbled it on everything, I used it as my quote in yearbooks so what happened to me? I choose to live and see all that God has for me because I believe most of us are barely scratching the surface when it comes to doing all God has in mind for us to do.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
You'll Come - Hillsongs This is our God W/Lyrics
I have always loved this song but I heard it again on Sunday and I can't stop listening to it! Especially the part, "Mighty Deliverer, our Triumph and Truth"!! That is our God, that is our Jesus! I love seeing all these people worshipping and praising and I can only imagine what it would be like to be there someday and be a part of it.
On Sunday a guest speaker told us the story of the beginning of Hillsong. She said the week they were supposed to record their first album the music director quit and took all the music with him! The little secretary, who happened to be Darlene Zschech, had written a song, so she brought it to the table and that's how Shout to the Lord became a household worship song!
The message was to be ready for opportunity and to write down your vision so that when the time comes you'll be ready to seize it! Darlene had a song so she wrote it down even though she was just a secretary, and when the time came she brought it up and now look at her! God has used her in so many incredible ways! She has had profound influence on worship music all over the world!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Jason Upton - Lion Of Judah
Oohhh man, this song gives me chills every time!
I love thinking about Jesus as that roaring lion as I think I have previously mentioned. I think of how powerful He is! In the words of Misty Edwards, "He's not a baby in the manger anymore, He's not a broken man on a cross, He didn't stay in the grave and He's not staying in Heaven forever!"
It gets me excited!
I have a hodgepodge of things I want to write about, they don't really go together but I don't mind if you don't mind, I haven't written in a while but I've been learning!!
Isn't it interesting how many Christians are stuck between Calvary and Pentecost? We receive what Christ has done for us by taking our sins upon Himself but we don't live empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus didn't do ANY miracles prior to being baptized in the Jordan by John and then the Spirit resting upon Him like a dove (Mark 1:10). He was still born of the Spirit, he was born of a virgin! But he didn't start living a life of significance until after that day.
Same with the disciples, Peter was a coward! Denying Jesus 3 times! Then After Jesus is resurrected He breathes on the disciples and says to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.."(John 20:22) so they received it then and there but their ministry didn't start until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. All of a sudden Peter is quoting the Old Testament explaining boldly what was going on to the outsiders who had heard the 120 speaking in foreign tongues (they thought the men were drunk) THEN the church begins. Then thousands are being converted by just a few men and miracles are happening and there's a power and boldness in the once scared disciples and there's a power and boldness in the new converts who are being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit. He tells us to be baptized in it, John the Baptist told us that Jesus was going to baptize us in it (Luke 3:16), it is plainly two separate events and the evidence that lives are completely changed by it is undeniable!
So much of the church is trying to live like Jesus lived as a carpenter, a good, quiet life.
What if we started to live like Jesus did during His ministry? This world would be rocked by the church! As I believe was His intention!
People should hate us and others should be indescribably drawn to us. (We should always live in peace with one another but not compromise.)
We've become so grey when it should be so black and white!
I am preaching to myself more than anyone else but its a conviction and vision God has laid on my heart!
I know that when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit I was delivered from alcoholism. The chains just fell off and I was empowered to never drink too much again. To this day I am free! I have barely any desire to drink any kind of alcohol at all anymore when I had built my life around it for a good 6 years! I am free of tobacco as well and its so refreshing to know that I'll never have to be in bondage again!(As long as I keep myself in the love of Christ and keep a renewed mind)
That's my personal testimony of the night and day difference that happened to me when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. I began to prophecy almost immediately. I became bold in my prayers and praying for others. A certain fear and insecurity left me and I was filled to overflowing with more love for people and more desire for Christ! All I want is to know Him better and die to myself each day so He can live through me, its all His power and His strength by His grace! Praise God for the work Jesus completed! Praise God that this life in this world is conquered, I've already won because of Him! Whom have I to fear?(besides man which I still struggle with sometimes)
"It is finished" has such a deeper meaning that what I originally had thought. The law has been fulfilled! Death has been conquered! Sin and disease was taken upon Him and is no longer mine to bear! Hallelujah!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
John Piper - Don't Waste Your Life
Who came up with retirement anyway? Probably some lazy people.
I guess it's not wrong to quit working an American job but our working and contending for the faith should never end!! No matter where you are or what you're doing you should be living as Christ. I hope I'm 80 and preaching somewhere! I would love to go abroad and share the gospel but I'm called to share it here in LA for now and I'll admit I'm not doing it as much as I would like to.
When you put your whole life in perspective of what you're going to give an account for before God it really gets you motivated to go out and truly live.
Not American Dream live but Kingdom live.
Misty Edwards has a song about the "inside, outside, upside down Kingdom where you lose to gain and you die to live" It's against everything of this world but it is the path to satisfaction and to abundant and eternal life.
I pass so many homeless people or people asking for money and I try to give something as much as I can, even if its just a dollar. Then the homeless person says, "God bless you!" which I appreciate and I say, "Yes and God bless you!" But I'm no different from the next girl. I don't give up my time to talk further with them, I don't offer them anything more than the dollar I gave them. I want to be like Peter and John and say, "look, I don't have much money to give you but how 'bout I heal you (and offer you a life-saving relationship)!? Sound good?"
That's what needs to be happening in this town.
I've decided that I'm going to start asking people if they would let me pray for them.
It's not ok with me anymore to just say, "God bless you" or "Jesus loves you" because that has become sadly cliche.
If I can't preach the gospel in my own neighborhood how am I going to do it across the world?
To me missions is selfishly tempting because you go, preach and then come back to a cushy life.
I'm turning in my cushy, comfortable life for Kingdom life.
I'm gunna hug the stinkers and listen to the people who are dying for someone to listen to them.
I'm going to give and pray and spread truth and hope where its lacking.
I don't know who reads these blogs but hold me to it! I'll begin writing my experiences and documenting the work that God is doing through me.
I want to be used by God.
I don't want to waste my life.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Wake Me Up
"We've tolerated Jezebel, we've given in to her seductions, everything is infiltrated with sexual innuendos, targeting to shut our spirits down and to keep us the walking dead, and we don't hear what God is saying to this generation. Sound the alarm." - Corey Russell
I've recently discovered Corey Russell, he is a preacher out of IHOP KC and though some of my favorite messages from him are almost 4 years old they are all relevant to today. He is calling the church to quit getting by, doing "business as usual" and start pressing in to the knowledge of God.
He is calling for Pastors to relay revelation knowledge.
He's tired of the church simply playing church on Sundays.
He also speaks about the 2 biggest problems in the US, abortion and pornography. It boggles my mind that we still say that we are a "Christian nation" We are NOT behaving like a "Christian nation." It makes me sad. We are behaving like murderers and adulterers. I am convicted by this because I'm not doing a thing to change this. I can talk all day and say I don't "agree" with abortion and porn but what am I doing about it? Nothing.
Am I seeking out the hurting girls who are considering abortion and showing them love and telling them truth and praying with them? No.
Am I seeking out those who have been wrecked from getting an abortion and in need of deliverance from shame and praying with them? No.
Am I showing love to porn stars? Yes. That I am doing. They come into my Starbucks everyday. Have I ever offered them a better way? No.
When people joke about sexual things do I laugh to fit in? Yes.
One of my old coworkers knew that porn was "against my religion" and so I didn't watch it. Did I take the time to explain to her that it's so much more than that? No.
I see the effects of porn and sexual immorality around me everyday. EVERYDAY. And I'm taking a backseat to the restoration of people's souls; to offering freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is more a blog to myself to start speaking up and searching out the captives.
We are living "as in the days of Noah" and I know the Lord is coming back soon so why wait?
I've already died to my flesh and as Cheryl Salem always encourages, you can't offend a corpse so who cares what people might say or think about you? I'm immortal now, my spirit is born again and I'm not going to die but there are a lot of people around me who are at this point and its my job to offer them eternal life, not just for the future but abundant life for right now.
God, I know your desire is to use me. As part of the church I am your hands and feet to go to the lost and be a witness of who you are and your love for the world. Empower me with the boldness to speak and not back down. Your love casts out fear so I am declaring that fear of man must go in Jesus' name. My whole life's purpose is to preach the good news and make disciples in the Kingdom, remind me of that everyday, every time I start to feel self-concious remind me that I am yours. You will speak through me and by your spirit convict the world of sin and their need for your grace. All you ask me to do is stay dead to my flesh! So today I chose to die to myself and live for You and by You. That is the only way to be satisfied. I love you, Lord and I thank you that you are completing the work you began in me.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
An Outcome of my Rapper Annointing :)
SO the other night I heard an awesome rap remix of one of my favorite Misty Edwards songs and all of sudden my mind went, "Hey! I can do that!" So I grabbed my pen and let it flow, here is one I'll share, it only took about 3 minutes to write:)
There's no way to explain
the gain
that came
when I chose to refrain
from my own game
and seek His name
and know His ways
and basque in the glory
of His face
His scars erase
every sin and shame
in Him I claim
my victory
He set me free
and now I see
there's no way else to be
but a fisher of men
a repenter of sin
a woman of power
as I await the hour
of His return
my passion burns
every fiber in me yearns
for that glorious day
when He'll look at me and say
"Well done"
There's no way to explain
the gain
that came
when I chose to refrain
from my own game
and seek His name
and know His ways
and basque in the glory
of His face
His scars erase
every sin and shame
in Him I claim
my victory
He set me free
and now I see
there's no way else to be
but a fisher of men
a repenter of sin
a woman of power
as I await the hour
of His return
my passion burns
every fiber in me yearns
for that glorious day
when He'll look at me and say
"Well done"
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
King Of Glory-Jesus Culture
This song inspires an awe in me for the man of Jesus as he is glorified in Heaven. When you think upon him you can't help but get excited and want to tell everyone about him!
I desire his glory to be seen by all and until He comes back all the world can see is us.
Let's do what he told us to do and preach the Kingdom, make disciples, cast out demons, heal the sick and always expect Him.
He is SO powerful!
"We need to win the world with the power of the Spirit, we've been trying to win the world with the fruit of the Spirit. We need faith." Mel Ayres
Laura Hackett - He's Alive - Fascinate 2011 [lyrics]
[INTRO]
Jesus You're alive and if You're alive then sin has been conquered
If You're alive then death has been conquered
The second Adam who came and gave life to men
The first Adam, our father, he led us into sin
But the second Adam he leads un into life, he leads us into life.
Oh Jesus I hear You say: live, live, live I hear Him speaking over you,
Live, live, live
Those places in your heart, when you feel lonely, when you feel confused,
those cycles of sin you slip into, I hear the Lord prophesy over you,
Live -- You will live and not die -- your heart will be alive in Jesus
Can we just say Yes to Jesus -- we say Yes to You
We want to be alive with You
Just speak this together -- I hear the Lord say, live -- He says live, live, live
I hear the Lord say live, live, live -- live, live, live - come alive, come alive, come alive
Prophesy over our own selves -- prophesy over our own hearts
[SONG]
For there is no power in heaven or hell that can keep from the love of the Father on His throne -- The chains of sin can't hold me down -- even death itself can't keep me in the ground
Death where is your sting -- death where is your victory
He's alive, He's alive, He is risen
My God's not dead He's surely alive -- He's living on the inside roaring like a lion
He's alive, now I'm alive (3X) -- I will never die
I just stumbled upon this video and it resonates in my spirit so much! This conference happened less than one month ago and I believe God is encouraging us to LIVE! He's encouraging us to encourage ourselves!
To build ourselves up in our most HOLY faith and pray in the HOLY spirit as we wait for the mercy of our Lord to bring us to eternal life!! Jude1:20
He's alive and He's living on the inside of us, I love when she says, "roaring like a lion!"
These past few days I've been feeling His roar, it's like a fire in my bones and a new passion in my heart.
LIVE and let the world watch us burn!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Holy
"Do not come any closer, take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5
"I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy." Leviticus 11:45
God has established that He is holy and He is calling us be holy as well. We are His children and we are to be set apart in this world.
What are we watching?
What are we listening to?
What are we saying? What are we allowing in our lives that is compromising our holiness?
Don't be foolish and think that you can participate in the world's activities and it won't affect you because it will. Just as you reap what you sow in the positive sense, you reap what you sow in the negative as well.
Be holy.
Tune into God's frequency.
Don't understand why you haven't heard from Him lately? Because He is not found in the world's frequency, he speaks to his people who are tuning their ear to hear and part of tuning your ear is to live a holy life and to know His word and seek out revelation, not just knowledge, about who God is.
We are His ambassadors here on earth. Are we representing a holy God with our lives? When our friends look at us would they recognize that we serve a holy God?
If we were arrested for being Christians would there even be enough proof to convict us?
God desires to sanctify us and He does that with our cooperation and willingness to be set apart for Him and His glory.
(i love this song and i love this video around the 5:00 minute marker when everyone is like, "o crap! we just crucified the Son of God!")
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Toothbrush Revelation
Today as I was brushing my teeth, God gave me a revelation.
I recently had a conversation about cancer. It's incredible how big of a deal cancer has become, especially in America. I know that now more than ever we are stuffing our bodies full of unhealthy chemicals and our diets are more about sugar and more sugar than about the vitamins we need to fight off the evil bugs that get in and try to take over so we are in part responsible for our overall health, but still, healthy people get cancer.
I used to hear that God uses cancer to teach us lessons and I used to think that God was in control of everything that went on in the world, which now I know is not true at all. God never gives anyone a disease, He is their answer to disease but God is good and nothing evil comes from Him. So either we are giving ourselves cancer or the Devil is servin' it up. I think its a combination of the two, the Devil is servin it up and once its served to us we don't actively take authority against it.
Jesus did.
Any and every disease brought to him, he healed.
He never said, "No, this is actually from my Father, and He is trying to teach you a lesson in trust and patience."
He told us how awesome it is for him to go because he's defeating Satan for the last time, taking back all authority, and sending His Spirit and giving us authority to do what he did. (My paraphrase)
Little do we believe Him.
Anyways, this isn't my revelation, onto the toothbrush experience:
How interesting is it that the leading cancer in women is breast cancer and the leading diagnosed cancer in men ages 15-35 is testicular cancer? (though not the deadliest in either case)
Satan's not dumb. He tries to steal the beauty and uniqueness from a woman by stealing the health of her breasts, which are her husband's delight. As women we give life through our breasts and are set apart from men by our breasts. What a precious target Satan has attacked.
And men! Their manhood, their seed! Satan wants to break men down and shatter their confidence and boldness. He wants to disarm them so he goes straight for the goods.
I found it interesting.
And the number one killer in America, heart disease.
What a vital organ, one we've been taught to "above all else, guard!!"
I'm not saying that if we were more spiritual we'd all be fine, I'm saying look at the hard facts of how we're under attack.
This revelation inspired me to
1. Take better care of my body (the Holy Spirit's temple) and
2. Expose satan because he is a liar and he's got the church thinking that maybe God is using sickness and disease to teach them a lesson so they should embrace their diagnosis and pray that His will is done....
I'll let you in on His will, it's that all be healed, so quit praying thinking He's going to say, "Yes I did bestow cancer and heart disease on my people to teach them about how glorious I am" cuz He's not.
He's going to say remember when I died on the cross and took on ALL your sins and diseases and by MY stripes You were healed? It's that way in heaven and I taught you to pray, "your kingdom come (its here), your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
I still get attacked and get sick but I know its not from God and I know that all I have to do is believe what He's said and my body will have no other choice than to be healed. I am healed, he's already done what needs to be done but I have to remind myself when sickness tries to take over. There is so much importance in having a renewed mind! I have to remind it that I am the King's kid and I am seated at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus and there is no sickness there. I have to remind my flesh that it is not first in command, that my life is in the spirit and that in the spirit I have all authority because of my Jesus' sacrifice and victory!
So let's pray for each other and operate as one body with authority. Love those who are suffering, preach the gospel and watch God stretch forth His hand to heal.
These are the sites I got the cancer info from:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/mens-health/top-health-concerns-for-men/cancer.cfm#testicular
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsWomenTop10Cancers/
Here's some scripture I alluded to in this blog:
Song of Solomon 7:7-9
Isaiah 53:5
Proverbs 4:23
1 Peter 2:24
Matthew 12:15
Matthew 28:18
Mark 16:15
Luke 10:19
John 14:12
John 16:7
Acts 4:30
Romans 12:2
I recently had a conversation about cancer. It's incredible how big of a deal cancer has become, especially in America. I know that now more than ever we are stuffing our bodies full of unhealthy chemicals and our diets are more about sugar and more sugar than about the vitamins we need to fight off the evil bugs that get in and try to take over so we are in part responsible for our overall health, but still, healthy people get cancer.
I used to hear that God uses cancer to teach us lessons and I used to think that God was in control of everything that went on in the world, which now I know is not true at all. God never gives anyone a disease, He is their answer to disease but God is good and nothing evil comes from Him. So either we are giving ourselves cancer or the Devil is servin' it up. I think its a combination of the two, the Devil is servin it up and once its served to us we don't actively take authority against it.
Jesus did.
Any and every disease brought to him, he healed.
He never said, "No, this is actually from my Father, and He is trying to teach you a lesson in trust and patience."
He told us how awesome it is for him to go because he's defeating Satan for the last time, taking back all authority, and sending His Spirit and giving us authority to do what he did. (My paraphrase)
Little do we believe Him.
Anyways, this isn't my revelation, onto the toothbrush experience:
How interesting is it that the leading cancer in women is breast cancer and the leading diagnosed cancer in men ages 15-35 is testicular cancer? (though not the deadliest in either case)
Satan's not dumb. He tries to steal the beauty and uniqueness from a woman by stealing the health of her breasts, which are her husband's delight. As women we give life through our breasts and are set apart from men by our breasts. What a precious target Satan has attacked.
And men! Their manhood, their seed! Satan wants to break men down and shatter their confidence and boldness. He wants to disarm them so he goes straight for the goods.
I found it interesting.
And the number one killer in America, heart disease.
What a vital organ, one we've been taught to "above all else, guard!!"
I'm not saying that if we were more spiritual we'd all be fine, I'm saying look at the hard facts of how we're under attack.
This revelation inspired me to
1. Take better care of my body (the Holy Spirit's temple) and
2. Expose satan because he is a liar and he's got the church thinking that maybe God is using sickness and disease to teach them a lesson so they should embrace their diagnosis and pray that His will is done....
I'll let you in on His will, it's that all be healed, so quit praying thinking He's going to say, "Yes I did bestow cancer and heart disease on my people to teach them about how glorious I am" cuz He's not.
He's going to say remember when I died on the cross and took on ALL your sins and diseases and by MY stripes You were healed? It's that way in heaven and I taught you to pray, "your kingdom come (its here), your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
I still get attacked and get sick but I know its not from God and I know that all I have to do is believe what He's said and my body will have no other choice than to be healed. I am healed, he's already done what needs to be done but I have to remind myself when sickness tries to take over. There is so much importance in having a renewed mind! I have to remind it that I am the King's kid and I am seated at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus and there is no sickness there. I have to remind my flesh that it is not first in command, that my life is in the spirit and that in the spirit I have all authority because of my Jesus' sacrifice and victory!
So let's pray for each other and operate as one body with authority. Love those who are suffering, preach the gospel and watch God stretch forth His hand to heal.
These are the sites I got the cancer info from:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/mens-health/top-health-concerns-for-men/cancer.cfm#testicular
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsWomenTop10Cancers/
Here's some scripture I alluded to in this blog:
Song of Solomon 7:7-9
Isaiah 53:5
Proverbs 4:23
1 Peter 2:24
Matthew 12:15
Matthew 28:18
Mark 16:15
Luke 10:19
John 14:12
John 16:7
Acts 4:30
Romans 12:2
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
He is my ROCK
After viewing my last post again and listening to the words at the end I see now why that was my prayer. Recently there was a storm in my life but I wasn't shaken and I was not moved, I was not destroyed. I know my Daddy so well that I can trust him when everything is out of my control. When I don't understand why something is going on I know that He is going to use it for my good. I know that God is a refiner and a cleanser, sometimes it takes fire to burn something to the ground so that God can erect something better on a flat foundation.
My God is my Rock. He sustained me through difficult times, He held me close and gave me vision for what would be the final result of what was taking place. He gave me a new boldness which I have been praying for, He was so present that at times I wanted, and thought that I'd break down, I couldn't I was so at peace with Him.
If His Word wasn't written on my heart I know that it wouldn't have been that easy. If I had no revelation of His love, I would have done something out my flesh that would have caused me damage later.
It's so important to know God, its so important to invest in that relationship because it will govern all of your other relationships.
We sing this song at church and though I haven't heard it in a while I woke up with it in my head:
When the oceans rage and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know (our God is an Awesome God)
I kind of thought going above the storm was too much of an easy way out but now I understand how with Him I soared above. I still knew what was going on and it was still hard but I wasn't caught in it and it didn't soak me. He cares for us. He is a loving Father. My earthly dad wouldn't let me get soaked in a storm he would do all that he could to keep me dry and God has already done everything to get us through hard times, He's given us his Son, He's given us his Word and He's given us his Spirit. All it takes is accepting and believing that what He says is true and that He is who He says He is.
My God is my Rock. He sustained me through difficult times, He held me close and gave me vision for what would be the final result of what was taking place. He gave me a new boldness which I have been praying for, He was so present that at times I wanted, and thought that I'd break down, I couldn't I was so at peace with Him.
If His Word wasn't written on my heart I know that it wouldn't have been that easy. If I had no revelation of His love, I would have done something out my flesh that would have caused me damage later.
It's so important to know God, its so important to invest in that relationship because it will govern all of your other relationships.
We sing this song at church and though I haven't heard it in a while I woke up with it in my head:
When the oceans rage and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know (our God is an Awesome God)
I kind of thought going above the storm was too much of an easy way out but now I understand how with Him I soared above. I still knew what was going on and it was still hard but I wasn't caught in it and it didn't soak me. He cares for us. He is a loving Father. My earthly dad wouldn't let me get soaked in a storm he would do all that he could to keep me dry and God has already done everything to get us through hard times, He's given us his Son, He's given us his Word and He's given us his Spirit. All it takes is accepting and believing that what He says is true and that He is who He says He is.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
"Tree"-Justin Rizzo with lyrics
I woke up this morning at 3 am and couldn't fall asleep until 5 am and this song kept playing over and over in my head.
I asked God if there was something He wanted to tell me, or something I needed to pray for but I didn't get a definite answer so I just let this song become my prayer....
I'm about to be 25 (tomorrow) and I know that this is going to be my best year yet. My foundation is solid, my steps are ordered and I have clear vision for my future.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Dominic Balli - Arise
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
John 5:8
Let's quit living like we're crippled and receive what Christ has done for us.
Let's arise and give God the glory for all He has and will accomplish.
Let's live each day as a witness of his goodness and quit laying with the enemy.
I'm learning to pry my hands off the world and live in fear of God, not man.
This is the cry of my heart for Your children, God!
Let's quit living in fear
Let's quit sleeping
Let's believe You and take You at Your Word
Monday, June 27, 2011
I Put On Christ (The Battle is Raging) - Laura Hackett LYRICS
I just love this song! I had to share it with whoever would listen!
Here are the lyrics:
Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins
That he might deliver us from this present evil age...
For the battle is raging
The devil is raging
And I don't want to be sleeping
While the battle is raging
For my spirit is willing
But my flesh gets tempted
Rise up, my soul, and start praying
'Cause I don't want to be defenseless
I don't fight as one beats the air
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
(repeat 3x)
Oh God
(repeat: For the battle is raging...)
(repeat: I don't fight...)
I put on Christ
Make no provision for my flesh
Put on the whole armor of God
Leave no open door to darkness
And I take the scroll
I eat the scroll
I open up my mouth
And speak forth Your word
And I take the sword of the spirit
(repeat)
Blessed be the Lord my Rock
Who trains my hands for battle
Who trains my hands for war
(repeat 3x)
(sweet guitar solo)
I don't fight as one beats the air
I have eyes to see and ear to hear
(repeat 2x)
It doesn't have to be a blind battle
'Cause I have the mind of Christ
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Flyleaf - Beautiful Bride
I have recently come to admire Lacey of Flyleaf. She is so authentic and cool. Their music is amazing, every musician in the band is extremely talented and they all LOVE God! Reading through her interviews she gets almost confused when people ask what it's like to be known as a "Christian Rock Band" because they have never referred to themselves as that. She replies with the point that everything they do in life is about Jesus and if a plumber is a Christian do you call them a "Christian Plumber"?
Flyleaf is well respected in the secular rock world and for good reason. I love that their lyrics are about Christ and real-life experiences, and that they don't shy away from their first love even though they tour and open for secular bands. Lacey inspires me to ooze the love of Christ no matter where I am or whose company I'm in...She'll bust into worship songs during her concerts and tell people that God loves them...mostly kids who look up to her and need to hear something true. I want to be friends with Lacey someday...She just had a baby with her husband (yeah I stalked her pretty well on-line!) Thank you Lacey for being such a great example and inspiration.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Warning: This May Offend
I feel frustrated and sad with American mainstream Christianity right now. I heard a song on the Christian radio station yesterday as I was driving home and it made me cry....
It made me cry NOT because it was so great and so touching...
It made me cry because the writer doesn't know the God I know.
I watched this artist's video on You Tube about why she wrote the song and what was behind it...
it only reiterated my opinion that she has much to learn.
Now I know that I don't know it all and I have yet to arrive, but when my spirit is uncomfortable listening to "Christian" music that should be holy spirit inspired I have a reason to be concerned.
This song is obviously human inspired.
Her videos have over a million views and all the comments are wonderful and encouraging, saying that this song has really helped the listeners.
I am conflicted by this.
On one hand I am glad that there is good coming from this song but on the other hand it's not what people who are "benefitting" from this song really should be listening to.
I am upset at human weakness being portrayed as humility
I am upset that ignorance and irresponsibility is used as a tool to write things off as "God is just so big, we'll never understand..."
I am upset that Satan has gotten his foot in the very door of the only people that have the authority to keep him out!
It's so subtle! Most Christians see nothing wrong with this "poor me" attitude.
When are we going to ARISE as a whole?
When are we going to put a stop to Satan's nonsense?
When are we going to quit confusing attacks of Satan as God's blessings?
I mean really?!
She believes that God is 100% powerful and 100% loving yet she doesn't understand why HE is "cursing her"?
HE is not cursing you. HE doesn't curse.
Satan is cursing you. Satan curses.
Let's quit blaming God for our tribulations and starting putting the blame where the blame is due and taking our authority IN CHRIST.
Otherwise, why did Christ die for us?
We're living like we're just another person but we're NOT
if you're a Christian you have been BORN AGAIN
the same power that raised Christ from the dead LIVES IN YOU
Want to follow Jesus? Want to be like Jesus? We all say we do... then why don't we start acting like Jesus and following His example
He didn't sit around and complain about how hard he had it
He took our suffering upon himself
Yes we are going to face trials and tribulations
and YES we should count it as joy because we have the victory in Christ
and every time we conquer we are glorifying our God
we are showing the world that Christ is ALIVE
the world should want what we have but it doesn't because we sit back and let the prince of this world take advantage of us.
God has done everything that needs to be done for us to live life abundantly.
We need to start getting to know Him better and let the truth of what Christ did for us sink down deep into our hearts and transform our minds.
God, Thank you that you are all-powerful and full of love and grace and mercy toward us. Thank you that you have made a way for us to approach you through your son, Jesus. Father, show us who You are. Give your church, your bride, a deeper revelation of your heart toward us. I declare clarity over the church in America, in Jesus' name, I bind Satan's lies from our minds in the name of Jesus and I declare the truth of your word that has set us free to sink deep down into our hearts and transform our minds so that we may boldly proclaim your goodness to all. Use us to set captives free and be witnesses of the fact that Jesus is alive! As we preach the gospel, God empower us and stretch forth your hand to heal! Show us who we are, help us understand what it means to be children of the Most High God, don't let us go another day being carnally minded in our attitudes and thoughts, fill us with Heaven and use us to bring Your will here on earth! We love you, Your Church loves YOU! Take us deeper, in Jesus' name.
It made me cry NOT because it was so great and so touching...
It made me cry because the writer doesn't know the God I know.
I watched this artist's video on You Tube about why she wrote the song and what was behind it...
it only reiterated my opinion that she has much to learn.
Now I know that I don't know it all and I have yet to arrive, but when my spirit is uncomfortable listening to "Christian" music that should be holy spirit inspired I have a reason to be concerned.
This song is obviously human inspired.
Her videos have over a million views and all the comments are wonderful and encouraging, saying that this song has really helped the listeners.
I am conflicted by this.
On one hand I am glad that there is good coming from this song but on the other hand it's not what people who are "benefitting" from this song really should be listening to.
I am upset at human weakness being portrayed as humility
I am upset that ignorance and irresponsibility is used as a tool to write things off as "God is just so big, we'll never understand..."
I am upset that Satan has gotten his foot in the very door of the only people that have the authority to keep him out!
It's so subtle! Most Christians see nothing wrong with this "poor me" attitude.
When are we going to ARISE as a whole?
When are we going to put a stop to Satan's nonsense?
When are we going to quit confusing attacks of Satan as God's blessings?
I mean really?!
She believes that God is 100% powerful and 100% loving yet she doesn't understand why HE is "cursing her"?
HE is not cursing you. HE doesn't curse.
Satan is cursing you. Satan curses.
Let's quit blaming God for our tribulations and starting putting the blame where the blame is due and taking our authority IN CHRIST.
Otherwise, why did Christ die for us?
We're living like we're just another person but we're NOT
if you're a Christian you have been BORN AGAIN
the same power that raised Christ from the dead LIVES IN YOU
Want to follow Jesus? Want to be like Jesus? We all say we do... then why don't we start acting like Jesus and following His example
He didn't sit around and complain about how hard he had it
He took our suffering upon himself
Yes we are going to face trials and tribulations
and YES we should count it as joy because we have the victory in Christ
and every time we conquer we are glorifying our God
we are showing the world that Christ is ALIVE
the world should want what we have but it doesn't because we sit back and let the prince of this world take advantage of us.
God has done everything that needs to be done for us to live life abundantly.
We need to start getting to know Him better and let the truth of what Christ did for us sink down deep into our hearts and transform our minds.
God, Thank you that you are all-powerful and full of love and grace and mercy toward us. Thank you that you have made a way for us to approach you through your son, Jesus. Father, show us who You are. Give your church, your bride, a deeper revelation of your heart toward us. I declare clarity over the church in America, in Jesus' name, I bind Satan's lies from our minds in the name of Jesus and I declare the truth of your word that has set us free to sink deep down into our hearts and transform our minds so that we may boldly proclaim your goodness to all. Use us to set captives free and be witnesses of the fact that Jesus is alive! As we preach the gospel, God empower us and stretch forth your hand to heal! Show us who we are, help us understand what it means to be children of the Most High God, don't let us go another day being carnally minded in our attitudes and thoughts, fill us with Heaven and use us to bring Your will here on earth! We love you, Your Church loves YOU! Take us deeper, in Jesus' name.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
I'm Over "Religion"
"I'm longing for deep communion
more than religious activity
only you can satisfy
only you can fill this void in me
no amount of going through the motions
can save me
only you can fill the void..."
These are lyrics to a song I heard yesterday. It rings so true in me. Religion simply cannot satisfy! That is why so many "religious people" are so unhappy and void of joy and peace.
I really don't like it when people refer to me as religious.
I correct them when I can with,
"No, I am in love with God."
Does my life look religious?
The song goes on to say
"It's just a little while longer and I'll see You,
It's just a little while longer and I'll know You,
It's just a little while longer and we'll be together...."
Ohh how I long for Jesus! He'll be back soon and we'll get to be with Him. All the time. Unveiled faces because we'll be able to behold his glory.
Soon life will be what God intended for us.
Knowing Jesus is already "better than
marriage,
children,
and the pleasures of this life..."
I long for my husband when he is gone. But it's not to the degree that I long for my first love, my true love, the church's bridegroom.
If you've had a bad experience with a certain religion I want to apologize but encourage you not to base your view of God off of that experience.
I wish there were no set denominations even in the Evangelical Church
but there are
and everyone thinks that they're right all the time about how they interpret the Bible.
It can be frustrating, but there is never a reason to dwell on that.
How frustrating it must be for Christ to have such a divided church!
Sometimes I think we seem like a schizophrenic bride!
Let's overlook our customs and man-made traditions and return to our first love.
If we did that the world might be less confused by us.
(The song is by Laura Hackett and is titled, "What God has Joined Together")
more than religious activity
only you can satisfy
only you can fill this void in me
no amount of going through the motions
can save me
only you can fill the void..."
These are lyrics to a song I heard yesterday. It rings so true in me. Religion simply cannot satisfy! That is why so many "religious people" are so unhappy and void of joy and peace.
I really don't like it when people refer to me as religious.
I correct them when I can with,
"No, I am in love with God."
Does my life look religious?
The song goes on to say
"It's just a little while longer and I'll see You,
It's just a little while longer and I'll know You,
It's just a little while longer and we'll be together...."
Ohh how I long for Jesus! He'll be back soon and we'll get to be with Him. All the time. Unveiled faces because we'll be able to behold his glory.
Soon life will be what God intended for us.
Knowing Jesus is already "better than
marriage,
children,
and the pleasures of this life..."
I long for my husband when he is gone. But it's not to the degree that I long for my first love, my true love, the church's bridegroom.
If you've had a bad experience with a certain religion I want to apologize but encourage you not to base your view of God off of that experience.
I wish there were no set denominations even in the Evangelical Church
but there are
and everyone thinks that they're right all the time about how they interpret the Bible.
It can be frustrating, but there is never a reason to dwell on that.
How frustrating it must be for Christ to have such a divided church!
Sometimes I think we seem like a schizophrenic bride!
Let's overlook our customs and man-made traditions and return to our first love.
If we did that the world might be less confused by us.
(The song is by Laura Hackett and is titled, "What God has Joined Together")
Thursday, June 2, 2011
I Have Found
I have found a peace that plows through every storm
I have found a joy that jumps over sadness
I have found a love that lights up every room
I have found...I found You
You are all i want, You are all I need
Everything my heart could hope for
We are longing for the glory of the Lord
Cause we know there's so much more
I have found a trust that teaches how to rest
I have found a grace that guides me by the hand
I have found a strength that stands like a mountain
I have found...I found You
I have found a joy that jumps over sadness
I have found a love that lights up every room
I have found...I found You
You are all i want, You are all I need
Everything my heart could hope for
We are longing for the glory of the Lord
Cause we know there's so much more
I have found a trust that teaches how to rest
I have found a grace that guides me by the hand
I have found a strength that stands like a mountain
I have found...I found You
Perspective Brings Perseverance
People (mostly Starbucks customers) ask me almost everyday why I'm so happy, or why I'm always smiling.
To be honest, I've always been very smiley. I don't know why but I've always looked on the bright side, been an optimist, whatever other cliches you can call it.
My resting face is a smile, I feel weird when I'm not smiling or laughing.
I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 4 years old so there's always been a light in me without me really understanding it or crediting the source of it. Who knew that it would be my biggest witness!?
When an older gentleman asked me about it for the second time the other day I told him, "it's the joy of knowing Jesus"
yeah...
he had no idea what I was talking about and promptly left the store.
BUT he was drawn to it and I know he's probably wondering
"what in the world was the girl talking about?"
Now, I'm really good at making fun of Christians and all their little "sayings" and I have best friends who would've made fun of me for saying that but in all truth that is why I'm so happy all the time,
that is why I can let little things go!
It's because I know the Creator of the universe and I'm looking forward to Heaven everyday
every hour
every minute
every second!
I CaNnot WaIt for eternity!
I can't HelP but smile and get excited when my mind goes there even just for a second.
My husband even asked me the other day how in the world I was almost ALWayS in a good mood.
Really?
Well babe, it's because everyday I'm closer to heaven.
it's because everyday God tells me He loves me,
specifically,
right to my heart
because I choose to hear Him
It's because all these people I come in contact with everyday are loved by the same God who loves me so it only makes sense to treat them like my brothers and sisters.
Sure, some are annoying and some are rude but Jesus thought of them while He was on that cross just as much as he was thinking about me.
And hey, sometimes I've been annoying and I've been rude.
Perspective can change you whole life.
It helps you not only to see whats in front of you but gives you vision for what's to come.
If I had no idea why I was here on earth, in 2011, in LA of all places, I probably wouldn't be so happy. I might be a little confused.
But I know why I was created.
and I know its not over til its over
and until its over I have a lot of great things to do
and a lot of great things to look forward to.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (which means I am seated at the right hand of God) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died (when I chose to give my life to Christ) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (holla). When Christ, who IS YOUR LIFE, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (we're gunna be lookin' good church!)"
Colossians 3:1-4
I like to personalize this one:
" Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died and my life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who IS MY LIFE, appears, then I also will appear with him in glory."
Can I get an amen?:)
To be honest, I've always been very smiley. I don't know why but I've always looked on the bright side, been an optimist, whatever other cliches you can call it.
My resting face is a smile, I feel weird when I'm not smiling or laughing.
I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 4 years old so there's always been a light in me without me really understanding it or crediting the source of it. Who knew that it would be my biggest witness!?
When an older gentleman asked me about it for the second time the other day I told him, "it's the joy of knowing Jesus"
yeah...
he had no idea what I was talking about and promptly left the store.
BUT he was drawn to it and I know he's probably wondering
"what in the world was the girl talking about?"
Now, I'm really good at making fun of Christians and all their little "sayings" and I have best friends who would've made fun of me for saying that but in all truth that is why I'm so happy all the time,
that is why I can let little things go!
It's because I know the Creator of the universe and I'm looking forward to Heaven everyday
every hour
every minute
every second!
I CaNnot WaIt for eternity!
I can't HelP but smile and get excited when my mind goes there even just for a second.
My husband even asked me the other day how in the world I was almost ALWayS in a good mood.
Really?
Well babe, it's because everyday I'm closer to heaven.
it's because everyday God tells me He loves me,
specifically,
right to my heart
because I choose to hear Him
It's because all these people I come in contact with everyday are loved by the same God who loves me so it only makes sense to treat them like my brothers and sisters.
Sure, some are annoying and some are rude but Jesus thought of them while He was on that cross just as much as he was thinking about me.
And hey, sometimes I've been annoying and I've been rude.
Perspective can change you whole life.
It helps you not only to see whats in front of you but gives you vision for what's to come.
If I had no idea why I was here on earth, in 2011, in LA of all places, I probably wouldn't be so happy. I might be a little confused.
But I know why I was created.
and I know its not over til its over
and until its over I have a lot of great things to do
and a lot of great things to look forward to.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (which means I am seated at the right hand of God) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died (when I chose to give my life to Christ) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (holla). When Christ, who IS YOUR LIFE, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (we're gunna be lookin' good church!)"
Colossians 3:1-4
I like to personalize this one:
" Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died and my life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who IS MY LIFE, appears, then I also will appear with him in glory."
Can I get an amen?:)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Seek My Face
"My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." Psalm 27:8
We hunger and search to be satisfied because that is how He made us to be. It is for His glory to conceal, it is for our glory to seek Him out.
But the best part is
that when we seek...
He PROMISES to be found!!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Discovering Righteousness
Righteousness is all over the Bible, from beginning to end, so it must be important. In the Old Testament it describes God and the few who took what God said seriously. In the New Testament we are told to pursue it...over and over and over. But what exactly does that mean and how do we do it?
Righteousness simply put means, "adhering to moral principles" and that is simply put.
God wants us to be like him but he knows that we can't so he fixed the problem when Jesus died for us on the cross.
Now the bridge is built and we have full access to God and the things of God, including his characteristics.
When we don't know God we don't want the things of him, usually. Then there's a part of people who are intrigued by God and wonder why Christians seem like they follow a lot of rules.
The rules thing always left a sour taste in my mouth.
I didn't want a religion of rules.
But then I got to know who Jesus was and I fell in love with him.
Then his spirit (which is alive) came into me and changed me.
Now my mind thinks differently
and my motives are different
and my desires are different.
When you fall in love, you want to be pleasing to that person and show how much you love them.
If they say don't make out with other people, you don't.
When you see how much they love you and they care about you and they warn you what will happen if you do what you're thinking about doing, you have the upper hand to make a good decision BUT the decision is still yours.
God and Jesus (one and the same) tell us to be righteous.
He tells us what is pleasing to him and what isn't.
I am in love so I want to please him.
When I decide that on my own free will then the spirit gets involved and empowers me to make righteous choices.
Righteousness is not rooted in rules, it is rooted in love and freedom.
Righteousness always leads to blessing.
God wants us to be righteous and provides a way for us to be righteous because he knows what is best for us AND he wants to reveal himself to the world through us.
It's easy to tell the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous person.
So keep your appetite up for righteousness.
"Flee from evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
2 Timothy 2:22
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (everyday material needs)."
Matthew 6:33
Righteousness simply put means, "adhering to moral principles" and that is simply put.
God wants us to be like him but he knows that we can't so he fixed the problem when Jesus died for us on the cross.
Now the bridge is built and we have full access to God and the things of God, including his characteristics.
When we don't know God we don't want the things of him, usually. Then there's a part of people who are intrigued by God and wonder why Christians seem like they follow a lot of rules.
The rules thing always left a sour taste in my mouth.
I didn't want a religion of rules.
But then I got to know who Jesus was and I fell in love with him.
Then his spirit (which is alive) came into me and changed me.
Now my mind thinks differently
and my motives are different
and my desires are different.
When you fall in love, you want to be pleasing to that person and show how much you love them.
If they say don't make out with other people, you don't.
When you see how much they love you and they care about you and they warn you what will happen if you do what you're thinking about doing, you have the upper hand to make a good decision BUT the decision is still yours.
God and Jesus (one and the same) tell us to be righteous.
He tells us what is pleasing to him and what isn't.
I am in love so I want to please him.
When I decide that on my own free will then the spirit gets involved and empowers me to make righteous choices.
Righteousness is not rooted in rules, it is rooted in love and freedom.
Righteousness always leads to blessing.
God wants us to be righteous and provides a way for us to be righteous because he knows what is best for us AND he wants to reveal himself to the world through us.
It's easy to tell the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous person.
So keep your appetite up for righteousness.
"Flee from evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
2 Timothy 2:22
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (everyday material needs)."
Matthew 6:33
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