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"The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14
When I saw this verse for the first time, which was just recently a few days ago while I was at home for thanksgiving. It took me by surprise it was a huge shock actually. I was in my basement, just recently have made the decision to pick up my life at the University of Montana where I have attended college for 4 years, leave all my friends, leave my community of friends that are passionately following Christ, and go to Las Vegas, NV to live with my twin brother who just recently got back from Baghdad (he is in the Air Force) that I do not have the greatest relationship with as it is. Its scary, i am scared, i am worried, i am sad. But look at that verse, this is the verse the Lord gave me when I was in my basement crying out to Him asking Him why God why do i have to leave everything. And God said he will fight for me if I am still, If I just listen to Him everything will be alright. Trust, the Lord has promises for us all to have a hope and a future and he will never give us anything we can't handle. This is my time, God is calling em to go to Las Vegas whether I want to or not, it doesn't really matter what I want I am a follower of Christ and I will "GO" wherever he sends me. No matter how hard it is, no matter the situation, the consequences, the persecution I may face. God is calling us to live a life that is glorifying to Him. So I am listening and answering the call and going to Las Vegas to live with my brother, no friends, no community, a new start. God will take care of me. He promises me he will!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Cross
My endless efforts
They will never be enough
To impress you and earn your love
There's only one way
It wasn't possible for me
Till you spent your blood on me
So take me to the cross again
Remind me where I should have been
And where I belong now where I belong now
Take me to the cross again
Remind me where I should have been
And where I belong now
Where I belong now
My deepest longing
Is to join you where you are
To behold you and never part
There's just one way
It wasn't possible for me
Till you spent your blood on me
Cause I've been crucified
But I'm alive because you died
I've been crucified
But I'm alive because you lived
I've been crucified
But you live
I'm Alive
I'm Alive
I'm Alive
I'm Alive
Where I belong with you
I belong with you
-David Lubben
They will never be enough
To impress you and earn your love
There's only one way
It wasn't possible for me
Till you spent your blood on me
So take me to the cross again
Remind me where I should have been
And where I belong now where I belong now
Take me to the cross again
Remind me where I should have been
And where I belong now
Where I belong now
My deepest longing
Is to join you where you are
To behold you and never part
There's just one way
It wasn't possible for me
Till you spent your blood on me
Cause I've been crucified
But I'm alive because you died
I've been crucified
But I'm alive because you lived
I've been crucified
But you live
I'm Alive
I'm Alive
I'm Alive
I'm Alive
Where I belong with you
I belong with you
-David Lubben
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Remain
"The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you were more numerous than other peoples., for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to his forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands." Deuteronomy 7:7-9
We ought to fear the Lord, what are we living for in this life? Fear the Lord, seek the Lord, search him with all your heart, the Lord is everlasting, his love is unconditional. The Lord never changes. Through the highs and lows the Lord never fades. He is faithful till the end, his love always remains. You are God with us your victorious, you are strong and mighty to save, for your word stands true there is none like you, and when all else fades you REMAIN! The Lord is always faithful to those who love him. Day after day his love remains, day after day you are the same, day after day the Lord remains
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2
We ought to fear the Lord, what are we living for in this life? Fear the Lord, seek the Lord, search him with all your heart, the Lord is everlasting, his love is unconditional. The Lord never changes. Through the highs and lows the Lord never fades. He is faithful till the end, his love always remains. You are God with us your victorious, you are strong and mighty to save, for your word stands true there is none like you, and when all else fades you REMAIN! The Lord is always faithful to those who love him. Day after day his love remains, day after day you are the same, day after day the Lord remains
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Desire
"Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city." (God of this city-Chris Tomlin)
My deepest longing is to join you where you are, to behold you and never part. So take me to the cross again remind me where I should have been, where I belong now. Ive been crucified and I am alive, because Christ died. Ive been crucified and I am alive, because Christ lived. Christ chose the road of pain for us, he walked the hill for our shame, how can we forget the price he payed for us. Christ took our punishment alone, ALL ALONE. In the shadow of the cross we will live for all your days.
Our addictions are our own worst enemies. They enslave us with chains that are of our own making and yet that, paradoxically, are virtually beyond our control. Addiction also makes idolaters of us all, because it forces us to worship these objects of attachment, thereby preventing us from truly, freely loving God and one another (Addiction and Grace).
All men seek happiness this is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end... This is the motive of every action of every man. But example teaches us little. No resemblance is ever so perfect that there is not some slight difference, and hence we expect that our hope will not be deceived on this occasion as before. And thus, while the present never satisfies us, experience dupes us and from misfortune to misfortune leads us to death. (Pensees).
It can't be done! No matter how hard we try, no matter how clever our plan, we cannot arrange for the life we desire. God promises every man futility and failure. We spend most of our waking hours attempting to end-run the curse. We will fight this truth with all we got. Sure, other people suffer defeat. Other people face loneliness. Will life ever be what I so deeply want it to be, in a way that cannot be lost? Probably not is my answer, probably not. We must learn to accept this even though its hard. We must have life; we cannot arrange for it.
" You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, It is hopeless. You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint." (Isaiah 57:10).
In this world you will have trouble. Jesus, the master of understatement, captures in one sentence the story of our lives He adds, "BUT TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Why aren't we more encouraged??? I think its because we are still committed to arranging for life now. We use the word yet, like for instance in the passage above it sounds AMAZING right? But our response is NOT YET God NOT YET! And that yet makes all the difference in the world because desire cannot live without hope. But hope in what? For what?
"Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13). Desire cannot live without hope. Yet we can only hope for what we desire. There simply must be something more, something out there on the road ahead of us, that offers the life we prize. To sustain the life of the heart, the life of deep desire, we desperately need to possess a clearer picture of the life that lies before us.
In closing, I leave with a verse from the book of Philippians. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14)
My deepest longing is to join you where you are, to behold you and never part. So take me to the cross again remind me where I should have been, where I belong now. Ive been crucified and I am alive, because Christ died. Ive been crucified and I am alive, because Christ lived. Christ chose the road of pain for us, he walked the hill for our shame, how can we forget the price he payed for us. Christ took our punishment alone, ALL ALONE. In the shadow of the cross we will live for all your days.
Our addictions are our own worst enemies. They enslave us with chains that are of our own making and yet that, paradoxically, are virtually beyond our control. Addiction also makes idolaters of us all, because it forces us to worship these objects of attachment, thereby preventing us from truly, freely loving God and one another (Addiction and Grace).
All men seek happiness this is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end... This is the motive of every action of every man. But example teaches us little. No resemblance is ever so perfect that there is not some slight difference, and hence we expect that our hope will not be deceived on this occasion as before. And thus, while the present never satisfies us, experience dupes us and from misfortune to misfortune leads us to death. (Pensees).
It can't be done! No matter how hard we try, no matter how clever our plan, we cannot arrange for the life we desire. God promises every man futility and failure. We spend most of our waking hours attempting to end-run the curse. We will fight this truth with all we got. Sure, other people suffer defeat. Other people face loneliness. Will life ever be what I so deeply want it to be, in a way that cannot be lost? Probably not is my answer, probably not. We must learn to accept this even though its hard. We must have life; we cannot arrange for it.
" You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, It is hopeless. You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint." (Isaiah 57:10).
In this world you will have trouble. Jesus, the master of understatement, captures in one sentence the story of our lives He adds, "BUT TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Why aren't we more encouraged??? I think its because we are still committed to arranging for life now. We use the word yet, like for instance in the passage above it sounds AMAZING right? But our response is NOT YET God NOT YET! And that yet makes all the difference in the world because desire cannot live without hope. But hope in what? For what?
"Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13). Desire cannot live without hope. Yet we can only hope for what we desire. There simply must be something more, something out there on the road ahead of us, that offers the life we prize. To sustain the life of the heart, the life of deep desire, we desperately need to possess a clearer picture of the life that lies before us.
In closing, I leave with a verse from the book of Philippians. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Guilt, Shame, and Confession
"Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds--they haunt me day and night." Psalm 51:2-3
Not everyone who is guilty feels shame. It is possible to chloroform the conscience, so false innocence is not uncommon. Still, not everyone who feels shame is guilty- false guilt can be imposed by the ignorant or the abuser. But when we do what God forbids and are guilty before God, feeling guilty and ashamed is an appropriate response. When a man has done wrong he should never be ashamed of being ashamed. The real shame is shamelessness that denies wrong doing and thus never seeks nor receives forgiveness.
King David had done what God forbids. For many months after Davids adultery, his complicity in murder, and his constant efforts to hide the truth and dodge responsibility, David did nothing to set matters right with his Lord ( 2 Sam. 11). Than Nathan came on the scene and confronted him (2 Sam. 12:1-14). David must have fondly imagined that the things he had done were lost in the mists of time, forgotten by God and unknown to man. But they weren't! The things he had done were written in bold, red ink on an open page in God's book, which God read aloud to Nathan, his prophet. But, David when confronted, bravely and humbly faced up to what he had done. Then he pleaded with the Lord, "Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds-- they haunt me day and night" (Psalm 51:2-3). Once David faced his guilt the appropriate vocabulary flowed from his lips. Guilt, evil, sin, shame. David called on the Lord's mercy, love, and compassion. There was not a word of excuse, not a suggestion of alibi.
David was guilty, ashamed, miserable, but he wanted a fresh start. And he got it! The broken bones of his shattered life were healed, his willing spirit was reestablished, the old vigor was restored, the joy came surging back, and the forgiven man went on his way rejoicing and serving. (But still faced the consequences, he didn't escape them 2 Sam. 12:10).
Men should never be ashamed to admit there guilt, and they should never be guilty of denying their shameful actions. Men have difficulty saying, "I was wrong and I am sorry. Please help me." Perhaps it has to do with the male ego. We apparently have a deep need to project an image of confidence, competence, and control. But we need to realize that real men don't hide behind fragile egos- they come clean about their shortcomings, and they grow strong through admitting their failures.
I get it, i know who I am now in this life, and that God has a plan for my life not to harm me, but for me to have a hope and a future. I am ready now, I am ready now for the journey that Christ is going to put me on. My soul has been restored, because of what Christ has done. I have felt the guilt, the shame, and am dealing with the consequences everday, but its never to late to start new. Today is a new day a new beginning. I am scared to death, but I want to live for the Lord.
Not everyone who is guilty feels shame. It is possible to chloroform the conscience, so false innocence is not uncommon. Still, not everyone who feels shame is guilty- false guilt can be imposed by the ignorant or the abuser. But when we do what God forbids and are guilty before God, feeling guilty and ashamed is an appropriate response. When a man has done wrong he should never be ashamed of being ashamed. The real shame is shamelessness that denies wrong doing and thus never seeks nor receives forgiveness.
King David had done what God forbids. For many months after Davids adultery, his complicity in murder, and his constant efforts to hide the truth and dodge responsibility, David did nothing to set matters right with his Lord ( 2 Sam. 11). Than Nathan came on the scene and confronted him (2 Sam. 12:1-14). David must have fondly imagined that the things he had done were lost in the mists of time, forgotten by God and unknown to man. But they weren't! The things he had done were written in bold, red ink on an open page in God's book, which God read aloud to Nathan, his prophet. But, David when confronted, bravely and humbly faced up to what he had done. Then he pleaded with the Lord, "Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds-- they haunt me day and night" (Psalm 51:2-3). Once David faced his guilt the appropriate vocabulary flowed from his lips. Guilt, evil, sin, shame. David called on the Lord's mercy, love, and compassion. There was not a word of excuse, not a suggestion of alibi.
David was guilty, ashamed, miserable, but he wanted a fresh start. And he got it! The broken bones of his shattered life were healed, his willing spirit was reestablished, the old vigor was restored, the joy came surging back, and the forgiven man went on his way rejoicing and serving. (But still faced the consequences, he didn't escape them 2 Sam. 12:10).
Men should never be ashamed to admit there guilt, and they should never be guilty of denying their shameful actions. Men have difficulty saying, "I was wrong and I am sorry. Please help me." Perhaps it has to do with the male ego. We apparently have a deep need to project an image of confidence, competence, and control. But we need to realize that real men don't hide behind fragile egos- they come clean about their shortcomings, and they grow strong through admitting their failures.
I get it, i know who I am now in this life, and that God has a plan for my life not to harm me, but for me to have a hope and a future. I am ready now, I am ready now for the journey that Christ is going to put me on. My soul has been restored, because of what Christ has done. I have felt the guilt, the shame, and am dealing with the consequences everday, but its never to late to start new. Today is a new day a new beginning. I am scared to death, but I want to live for the Lord.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Restored
The same power that has conquered the grave lives in me, it lives in me... The ultimate question is are we ready to live for the truth, are we ready to live for the only HOPE we have in this world, are we ready to lay down our lives for one another? God makes it clear in Matthew 22-37 that we ought to love the Lord with all our heart, first and foremost, but secondly love your neighbors as yourself! What are you being called to? What is God calling you to do? Are you listening to Christ? I feel like a lot of times people kind of put God on this backburner and live for what they want to live for and not what Christ is calling them to do, we need to open up our hearts and our ears and listen to God and ask him where he wants us to go in life where he wants to use us. I am guilty, I am the worst of sinners. My hope is in Christ though and my hope is to see Christ Glorified to the ends of the earth, of course I fail of course I do wrong things, but its never to late to start living for the Lord and allowing Christ to work in your life, it all comes down to WANTING. It all comes down to WANTING. It all comes down to WANTING. I want it to be true in my life, I want to people to look at me and say that I am a man after Gods heart, not my own, not my friends, not any relationship, but after Gods heart. Its the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance, the Lords favor is our desire, the Lords beauty makes us stand in silence. Christs love is better than life!
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51-10-12
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51-10-12
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
New Beginning
Today is the beginning of a new life for me to start passionately walking with the Lord and doing what is right, doing what Christ would do! Today is a new day that will worry about itself, and for me to live my life to the fullest doing good in every situation and being led by the Holy Spirit to do Gods will in my life! Allowing Christ to intervene in me and use me for His Kingdom. Today is a new start to life of passionately following Christ, doing and wanting to fully die to myself and live for Christ! Today is the beginning of holding nothing back for the glory of the Lord! He died for me, and for this I am thankful, the Lord has blessed me with a community of great friends with the same common interests, with the same goal in life, and that is to see Christ GLORIFIED in all and in every situation! Today is the day the Lord has made, so let us all be glad and rejoice in it!
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