The father of lies
Coming to steal
Kill and destroy
All my hopes of being good enough
I hear him saying cursed are the ones
Who can’t abide
He’s right
Alleluia he’s right!
The devil is preaching
The song of the redeemed
That I am cursed and gone astray
I cannot gain salvation
Embracing accusation
Could the father of lies
Be telling the truth
Of God to me tonight?
If the penalty of sin is death
Then death is mine
I hear him saying cursed are the ones
Who can’t abide
He’s right
Alleluia he’s right!
Oh the devil’s singing over me
An age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently
He’s forgotten the refrain
Jesus saves!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Swine Flu
Is something not to joke with! I am finally feeling better, but still had a fever this morning. I had a 103 fever for most of the weekend! Now i have to write this paper..
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
2 Chronicles 16:9
Has anyone seen a scaffolding support a statue? Think of a scaffolding supporting the Statue of Liberty. I am sure you have,I see them all over the place. This represents how my life used to be and how a lot of peoples lives are. Ill explain the meaning behind this in just a second. I sometimes and I sometimes still catch myself practicing my faith heartlessly. Our mindset if we are not careful can be God loves me no matter what I do/or am doing,say,or thinking so I can go do whatever I want,say whatever I want, and think whatever I want to think. He does love me no matter what I do, but that is not the point that I am trying to bring up.
The scaffolding supporting the Statue of Liberty and practicing our Christian faith with no heart both support the shape of a person, but it disguises a hollow, dead interrior.
Its not about the outside that counts. Gods not after that. God is after the condition of our hearts. Our walk with God begins in the heart. God is looking for a certain kind of heart. I am going to be straight forward with this. He is looking for a 2 Chronicles 16:9 type of heart. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." That is what God is looking and searching for. He wants your heart,your passion,and your desire. He has got to have it all. He wants all of it. He is not looking for 75%,90%, or even 99%..He is looking for all of it!
The first thing God looks for is for loyalty to him.
He tests me all the time to see if I am..will be loyal to him. I often don't put things in God's hands, but rather my own. I worry about what job I will have out of college,will i get a job,will i get married, and on and on...when I should put everything in God's hands. In the long run is this really going to matter waht I am worrying about? 150 years down the road will it really matter to me? I find myself not being loyal to God, but caught up in my selfishness and stubborn ways of wanting to be in control of my life. He tests us to see where we are in our walk with Him.
The second thing God looks for is where we place our treasures.
Matthew 6:19-21..."Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal, for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
Loyalty and where we place our treasures really go together. Don't get caught up in the things that don't matter. Seek the Kingdom of God first and put Him in control of your life. Place your treasures in heaven
The third thing God looks for is where our thoughts are. Matthew 9:4 says, "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,"why are you thinking evil in your hearts.""
Where are your thoughts towards all the time? Why are you thinking evil thoughts. My mind often wonders and I will catch myself and Ill be thinking what in the heck was I just thinking and why was I even thinking that?!
The fourth thing God looks for is our words. Matthew 12:34 "You brood of vipers how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart."
I find myself catching my tongue all the time,its not easy being in college with this situation. Words fly off peoples tongues here without even thinking of what they are even saying and what the words really truly mean. How can you witness and how is someone going to see something different about you and in you when out of our mouths comes words we used to not believe what our ears were once hearing. It hurt our soul the first time we heard those words. Where did that feeling of the Holy Spirit go when it comes to hearing those terrible words or saying those things.
The fifth thing God looks for is our response to His Word.
Luke 8:15 says "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Do you apply what you read in the Bible to your life? How do you respond to God's word? Are you living out what you are reading and believing?
The final thing God looks at is worship. Matthew 15:8 says This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me." Its easy to say that we are Christians and that we love God. We honor God with our lips, but deny Him with our lifestyles.
I think its easy for people to leave an impression of being impressive by using their lips, but its all for show and their heart is far from God. I have been there before and I am sure we all have. They talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. Its easy to go down a wrong path when we are like this.
We deceive ourselves with appearance. Appearances are not even close to the the conditions of our hearts. Its not about our appearance that God cares or looks at. It is all about our condition of our heart.
God has gotta have it all.Matthew 8:34" If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." He wants to see how much you have got. He wants your whole heart, not just pieces. He wants it all. Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ He wants all your desire and all your passion. 100%. He wants you to come after Him full speed. Give Him all you got.
Psalm 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?"
Is your heart fully ready?
Psalm 139:23-24 says,"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."
I'll end on the verse below, but God knows where are hearts are. Seek God's kingdom first...pursue Him.I'll say what 2 Chronicles 3:19 says again...it says "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." Is your heart completely His? Have you ever felt what its like when it is? Words can't describe the feeling!It makes me speechless and sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit that it is hard to breathe! Its the most amazing feeling you can ever feel in your life! The Holy Spirit working and moving in your life! Check out the last verse I am going to end on.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10
Ill leave you with the question...where is the condition of your heart right now?
The scaffolding supporting the Statue of Liberty and practicing our Christian faith with no heart both support the shape of a person, but it disguises a hollow, dead interrior.
Its not about the outside that counts. Gods not after that. God is after the condition of our hearts. Our walk with God begins in the heart. God is looking for a certain kind of heart. I am going to be straight forward with this. He is looking for a 2 Chronicles 16:9 type of heart. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." That is what God is looking and searching for. He wants your heart,your passion,and your desire. He has got to have it all. He wants all of it. He is not looking for 75%,90%, or even 99%..He is looking for all of it!
The first thing God looks for is for loyalty to him.
He tests me all the time to see if I am..will be loyal to him. I often don't put things in God's hands, but rather my own. I worry about what job I will have out of college,will i get a job,will i get married, and on and on...when I should put everything in God's hands. In the long run is this really going to matter waht I am worrying about? 150 years down the road will it really matter to me? I find myself not being loyal to God, but caught up in my selfishness and stubborn ways of wanting to be in control of my life. He tests us to see where we are in our walk with Him.
The second thing God looks for is where we place our treasures.
Matthew 6:19-21..."Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal, for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
Loyalty and where we place our treasures really go together. Don't get caught up in the things that don't matter. Seek the Kingdom of God first and put Him in control of your life. Place your treasures in heaven
The third thing God looks for is where our thoughts are. Matthew 9:4 says, "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,"why are you thinking evil in your hearts.""
Where are your thoughts towards all the time? Why are you thinking evil thoughts. My mind often wonders and I will catch myself and Ill be thinking what in the heck was I just thinking and why was I even thinking that?!
The fourth thing God looks for is our words. Matthew 12:34 "You brood of vipers how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart."
I find myself catching my tongue all the time,its not easy being in college with this situation. Words fly off peoples tongues here without even thinking of what they are even saying and what the words really truly mean. How can you witness and how is someone going to see something different about you and in you when out of our mouths comes words we used to not believe what our ears were once hearing. It hurt our soul the first time we heard those words. Where did that feeling of the Holy Spirit go when it comes to hearing those terrible words or saying those things.
The fifth thing God looks for is our response to His Word.
Luke 8:15 says "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Do you apply what you read in the Bible to your life? How do you respond to God's word? Are you living out what you are reading and believing?
The final thing God looks at is worship. Matthew 15:8 says This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me." Its easy to say that we are Christians and that we love God. We honor God with our lips, but deny Him with our lifestyles.
I think its easy for people to leave an impression of being impressive by using their lips, but its all for show and their heart is far from God. I have been there before and I am sure we all have. They talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. Its easy to go down a wrong path when we are like this.
We deceive ourselves with appearance. Appearances are not even close to the the conditions of our hearts. Its not about our appearance that God cares or looks at. It is all about our condition of our heart.
God has gotta have it all.Matthew 8:34" If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." He wants to see how much you have got. He wants your whole heart, not just pieces. He wants it all. Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ He wants all your desire and all your passion. 100%. He wants you to come after Him full speed. Give Him all you got.
Psalm 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?"
Is your heart fully ready?
Psalm 139:23-24 says,"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."
I'll end on the verse below, but God knows where are hearts are. Seek God's kingdom first...pursue Him.I'll say what 2 Chronicles 3:19 says again...it says "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." Is your heart completely His? Have you ever felt what its like when it is? Words can't describe the feeling!It makes me speechless and sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit that it is hard to breathe! Its the most amazing feeling you can ever feel in your life! The Holy Spirit working and moving in your life! Check out the last verse I am going to end on.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10
Ill leave you with the question...where is the condition of your heart right now?
Senior Year observations
So I am writing out everything that has really changed my life throughout my life in my journal. Boy, the Lord has been watching over me! Ever since my car accident things haven't been the same. I am kind of repeating what I said in my note about God's grace, but God has blessed me in so many ways and he continues to bless me. I think I should praise God and give him more thanks than I have been giving. Countless blessings...for such an undeserving person.
Ever since my car accident I knew my life wasn't going to be the same, but its time to get serious. God has been knocking on my heart ever since that day and its time to get up and open the door. I knew God had something still required of me or else there is no way I would still be here today. It is time to get serious and give back to the Lord.
I like to worry a lot about ridiculous things...having one year left of college scares me in a way, but it also excites me. College is ridiculous...unbelievable that it is almost over....I need to make most of my opportunities next year. God has set up some great opportunities for me at Ole Miss and its time to take advantage of it. Its not too late. Great things are going to happen on this campus next year and I can't wait to see what is in store for my senior year. God will give me the desires of my heart so take comfort in that.
1. Its time to avoid the safe roads. I need to take risks and walk in faith. Don't be a mediocre Christian."Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he is good"-C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia)
2. Don't freeze and say I don't know what I want to do..bc that is coming from the great deceiver. I know what I want to do and its time to stop procrastinating and answer God's calling for my life.
3. I know what I am good and I know my desires. I love people and I have a heart for the lost. Don't be ashamed of your desires.
4. I have a purpose, Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Submit to the Lord,learn from your mistakes, evaluate and know your interests.
The Christian life is the most satisfying, but only when I actually go all out for the Lord and go out all the way. I hate being the Christian that tries to compromise with God...thats when I find myself having all the problems without the fellowship that comes through surrender. Every test and trial Christ always supplies an abundance of grace in which I can bear it and in my weakness I am made stronger.I hope I never take the easy way again because the Lord gave me everything just for me...thats amazing!
Here are verses that are on my heart right now
We will come to you, for you are the Lord our God-Jeremiah 3:22
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.-Matthew 11:28
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me-Luke 9:23
Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted-2 Timothy 3:12
Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.-Ephesians 6:16
You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my Spirit-Job 10:22
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.- Colossians 1:28-29
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Phillipians-2:1-11
Ill end here...I have been trying to unscramble God's plans for my life...It was like the Burger King saying....Have it your way...I wanted it my way. God's been knocking hard on the door and its time to answer it. Its time to trust in the Lord with all of my heart,with all of my soul, with all my strength, and with all my mind. All of Psalms sums up what I am feeling...but I will leave it at this...Psalm 25:4-5 Make me know Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou are the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day.
Revelation 3:20....Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Its time to stop ignoring the knock
Its time to open the door
Listen and follow God's will
Obey
Unbelievable that I keep Christ outside sometimes and how gracious that He seeks entrance! We serve an awesome,gracious,wonderful God! Words aren't enough. My life reminds me of Jonah...I am thankful that I serve a God of second and unending chances. He never gives up on me. Jonah 3:1,"Now the word of the lord came to Jonah a second time. . ." How awesome is that
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God..."
Micah 6:8 He has shown you O man what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to act justly love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."-Isaiah 41:10
No more excuses,time to not be afraid,time to take risks and not the safe road,time to obey,time to listen,time to trust,time to open the door,...its time for the great commission
"Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”-Jim Elliot
Ever since my car accident I knew my life wasn't going to be the same, but its time to get serious. God has been knocking on my heart ever since that day and its time to get up and open the door. I knew God had something still required of me or else there is no way I would still be here today. It is time to get serious and give back to the Lord.
I like to worry a lot about ridiculous things...having one year left of college scares me in a way, but it also excites me. College is ridiculous...unbelievable that it is almost over....I need to make most of my opportunities next year. God has set up some great opportunities for me at Ole Miss and its time to take advantage of it. Its not too late. Great things are going to happen on this campus next year and I can't wait to see what is in store for my senior year. God will give me the desires of my heart so take comfort in that.
1. Its time to avoid the safe roads. I need to take risks and walk in faith. Don't be a mediocre Christian."Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he is good"-C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia)
2. Don't freeze and say I don't know what I want to do..bc that is coming from the great deceiver. I know what I want to do and its time to stop procrastinating and answer God's calling for my life.
3. I know what I am good and I know my desires. I love people and I have a heart for the lost. Don't be ashamed of your desires.
4. I have a purpose, Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Submit to the Lord,learn from your mistakes, evaluate and know your interests.
The Christian life is the most satisfying, but only when I actually go all out for the Lord and go out all the way. I hate being the Christian that tries to compromise with God...thats when I find myself having all the problems without the fellowship that comes through surrender. Every test and trial Christ always supplies an abundance of grace in which I can bear it and in my weakness I am made stronger.I hope I never take the easy way again because the Lord gave me everything just for me...thats amazing!
Here are verses that are on my heart right now
We will come to you, for you are the Lord our God-Jeremiah 3:22
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.-Matthew 11:28
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me-Luke 9:23
Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted-2 Timothy 3:12
Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.-Ephesians 6:16
You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my Spirit-Job 10:22
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.- Colossians 1:28-29
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Phillipians-2:1-11
Ill end here...I have been trying to unscramble God's plans for my life...It was like the Burger King saying....Have it your way...I wanted it my way. God's been knocking hard on the door and its time to answer it. Its time to trust in the Lord with all of my heart,with all of my soul, with all my strength, and with all my mind. All of Psalms sums up what I am feeling...but I will leave it at this...Psalm 25:4-5 Make me know Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou are the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day.
Revelation 3:20....Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Its time to stop ignoring the knock
Its time to open the door
Listen and follow God's will
Obey
Unbelievable that I keep Christ outside sometimes and how gracious that He seeks entrance! We serve an awesome,gracious,wonderful God! Words aren't enough. My life reminds me of Jonah...I am thankful that I serve a God of second and unending chances. He never gives up on me. Jonah 3:1,"Now the word of the lord came to Jonah a second time. . ." How awesome is that
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God..."
Micah 6:8 He has shown you O man what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to act justly love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."-Isaiah 41:10
No more excuses,time to not be afraid,time to take risks and not the safe road,time to obey,time to listen,time to trust,time to open the door,...its time for the great commission
"Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”-Jim Elliot
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