Purity of Childlike Faith

Can we ever get tired of God's love?

Or is it infinite?

Can we ever go through something with Him and be permanently hurt by it?

Or does He work all things for the good of those who love Him?

Can we be in the presence of the Lord and not be satisfied?

Or is He everything we were made for?

Can I ever know all of Him?

Or is He endless?

Do I have to strive or work to get more of Him?

Or does He love giving good gifts to His children?

Can I be wanting more when I'm wrapped in His arms?

Nope! :D


I love you Papa.

in my weakness

"In my weakness His stength is made perfect."

In my complete inability, he always comes through.

In my desperate pitiful state, he is faithful to complete that perfect work.

Always.

When I have no control, and fail with everything he has given me, then I see his grace. And it is beautiful. And it is glorious. And it is perfect. And it shows me once again that I don't need to have it figured out, I need to have him fully in control. I can't trust my own ability to stop trusting myself. Its not as much about the dos and don'ts as it is about letting him do his work.

I am very capable of showing that I am incapable. And in that I can be confident. Because his strength is perfectly shown in my lack, in my failure, in my pain, in my weaknessess.

Blessed be the Lord!! For he is good, and his mercy endures forever!!!

What do I have to give?

Lately the Lord has been showing me how much he has been using me as an example to the believers. I don't understand it. Honestly, I'm so much less than I want to be.

But it doesn't matter! I'm not called to look at myself and become the man I want to be, my whole lot in life is to let Him love me. Because we cannot love Him, unless He first loves us. We can only give what we receive.

And when we go and live life, forgetting our first Love, how can we receive? How can we hear his still small voice? How can we touch the world around us without the full empowerment of his love, and the full revelation of his affection?

We can't.

So, if we want to live life to the full, and receive all our Father wants to give us, and see him clearly and love him with everything...

We need to experience the fullness of his love.

Is there anything we can do to make him come and love us like that? Is there something we can give up, or something we can do to experience his heart every single moment of every single day?

One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:13:

"You will seek Me and you will find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Ask... and you WILL receive.
Seek... because He is to be found!
Knock... He will never turn you away!!!

I let go

This is my simple obsession
To love You
To know You
This is my simple devotion
To love You
To know You

Believe the rock, not the sand.

So Papa has begun to tell me how my feelings sometimes are completely false.

Sometimes what I feel comes in contact and alignment with what he says, and what I know to be true. But sometimes they just lie.

Temptation is not a sign of the lack of God. Depression is. Fear is. Hate is. Hopelessness and insecurity, jealousy and self-pity, despising, complaining, these are signs of hunger and lack. But Daddy showed me that what we feel isn't always true.

I was feeling jealousy against a friend of mine for something they had that I didn't. I began to renounce those feelings of jealousy and anger, and pray that God would help me get out of the depression that came with it. He says: whom the Son sets free is free indeed. I said God help. He said "I have set you free."
I didn't feel free. I was being tempted and accused and depressed and angry. Then He showed me the truth. I am free from the hold of hate and jealousy. I am fe ee from sin and death. I am free!!!! But I didn't feel free.

Who cares?

Sinse when did God say: "the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will cause you to feel truth always." No he told us that he will TEACH us. We may not feel happy about it. We may noy understand it. But he says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways know him and let him know us, and he will direct where you are to go." Paraphrased.

So... when we feel everyone hates us, or God is distant, or we will never be healed, or God doesn't want the best for us, just don't believe it. You may FEEL pain, or temptation, or anger, but you are free from thos things.

You might ask: "then why am I not healed? Why do I still have this pain, this problem, this fight?"

I can't answer that for you. I can't even answer it for me. So we better go to the better source. :)

Sometimes we go through hardships to manifest Jesus. Something Todd White says.

Jesus himself wad tempted. Temptation is not a sign of lacking God

Unbelief is

Unbelief, however, is not just not believing, it is believing against. When Jesus couldn't do miracles because of the unbelief of the city, it wasn't because they had never seen a miracle and didn't know it was possible, it was because they didn't want to believe him.

He will help our unnelief if we are willing. Like the man with the demon-possessed son, we say "Lord help my unbelief!"

And he does. And he brings healing. And he brings peace. And he brings light. And he brings joy. And he brings everything we were made for. Everything perfect.

Seasons.

So one day I was looking out my back door at our new apple tree. He said: "You know, to a seed, everything is new."

Then as I began voxing one of my good friends from Brazil, Papa started showing me the significance of all seasons.

To a seed, the ground, the air, the water, the growth, it's all new. Completely unseen before. God showed me that in a season where seeds are planted in our hearts, everything, the Word, the worship, the encounter, the revelations, the feelings, it's all new. It's all beautiful and wonderful.

But then we hit summer.

It's hot. The reality around us doesn't feel nearly as pleasant as it did in the seed season. If we don't go deep in the word and in our identity, we will spread out and whither away to nothing.

Daddy told me that that is why many young Christians grow tired and die out. We don't stay with our first love. We get bored because everything is not new, it's hot and boring and tiring. But if we will continue to go deep in who He is, and we find Him as sufficient for us, and we embrace the season we go through, out of that patience comes forth the blossoms.

The blossoms. Worship in spirit and in truth. The love for God that is uncontainable and contageous. The worship outside that flows from encounter inside.

And when we give ourselves fully to Him, when we worship him with everything, and waste ourselves on Him like Mary of Bethany did, out of that comes fruit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfullness and self control. Look at these fruits. Every single one of them came from a season.

Reminds me of Song of Solomon.

That moment in the story where the Shulamite  has only shown her love and faithfulness to Him, and her sacrifice, and He leaves. He runs away.

He leaves her in a winter season.

Notice in that story, she knows where He is. But she has no proof that He is with her. In the winter season God doesn't leave us. He removes His tangible feely presence so that we can love Him with everything, not just our emotions. It's when there is no growth. There is no fruit. No good smell. Nothing. And we ask God "What do you think you're doing??! Don't you see that I need to grow in my gifts and my fruit and my callings?" And He responds. "The fruit that fell in summer, throughout the winter becomes new seeds for the upcoming spring. You need to embrace the seasons as they come. I am making all things new."

HIS Love changes everything

What Love is this that He would die?
What Love is this that He would bare the stripes so I could be healed?

His Love goes deeper than the pain that I feel. His Love is stronger than depression and fear.-Laura Hackett

His Love brings freedom to the X_treme!!!!!! He enjoys it when we are Joyful. He smiles when we smile. He laughs when we laugh.

When we encounter the Love of God... We cannot stay the same. His Love brings Healing, Freedom, Restoration, Perfection. Just one encounter, and everything changes. EVERYTHING!!! Broken mindsets shift to a HOPE FILLED OUT-LOOK! How awesome is that!!!! =) Haha!

So, I guess what I'm saying is that He rocks and I can't contain it!!!!! =D YESSS!!!!!! GO JESUS!!!!!!!!

Ps.... Why not get excited about such an exciting God?

Take the world, but give me Jesus!

Yes, amazing song!

As I sit in my room and worship the Lord, I begon to sing: take the world... but give me Jesus! Take the world, take the world, take the world...

But then He shows me something. I have been believing a lie. The lie that the key to our walk with Him is all about giving up the world, the things that people idolize,  the things that are good in it of themselves, but when taken too far become a very unhealthy obsession. But no, the power and meaning of that song is not take the world, but the Give me Jesus. Yhe point is not "take everything away", but rather "no matter what I have to give, I WANT JESUS!"

It's the holding on to Him with dogged faith and determination that no matter what life makes for us, we run straight to Him. When the darkness, hights, relationships, family problems, pain, loss, depression, failure, terror, or anything else scares us or causes us to feel hopeless, LOOK STRAIGHT to your     D A D D Y!!! His arms are ALWAYS open wide, His eyes ALWAYS on you, and His heart ever pounding with love for you!!! He is jealous for your heart!

When we become attached to things and beliefs and people and feelings, He doesn't want you to stay stuck! He will do whatever He can to remove the veil between you and His son Jesus! But when we cry out for the separation to be removed, for our eyes to be opened, His heart quakes. He is madly in love with you!!! And when you say with all your heart tjat "ALL I WANT IS YOU!!!" He cries back to us: "ALL I EVER WANTESD IS YOU!!!"

He loves you. He loves you. He doesn't need a reason, He is in love with you!

But true love will not force itself on anyone. It waits. It watches. It serves. He will knock on the door until you open up. He will put His hand on the latch of the door, but never open it. He will even sometimes take the feelings of His presence away. Because He wants us to RUN after Him and not rest until we find Him! To not sit at home and sing "Take the world, but give me Jesus" but to throw open the door, and to run after Him. If the world comes with us we've gained the world for Him. But if it stays behind don't turn back.

"You will seek Me and you will find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
-Jeremiah 29:13

Peace, be still.

CREEEAAKK.

The ship’s hull was aged, strong, and rugged. Dark woods clamped tightly together sealed off the constant grasping of the black waters and secured many hanging bunks beneath the salty deck. The captain’s quarters rested firmly on the stern, dragging splintered oak and dreams of a smooth rudder in the water beneath. A rudder that stayed fast, and brought the sailors back to joyous, angry, and mournful people.

As for officer Charles, however, the sea was everything. The islands were a wasteland where dreams crashed upon the harsh rocks of reality and refused to be moved. Where ice and superiority was carried on the winds of love, and where the waves of hope and good life, simply rose and fell.

The first mate, Charles’ best friend, seemed exceptionally quiet in the bunk below. The whole crew must have felt the change in weather, for there was no snoring, or turning over in sleep, or song or whisper in the ship’s lonesome hull. The careful moaning of the wind seemed, when loudest, at a loss for emotion.

Charles opened his eyes. The cots were empty, the guns strewn about on the floorboards, just as they had been when they left. The choice had been made. Regardless of what the others would say, he and the captain had agreed.

The picture was losing strength, but still carried the sound of creaking oars, and the touch of salt-filled tears on Charles’ face as the portrait of Lily-Anne smiled simply at him. The lifeboats could carry many, but with the loss of one ship and a few crewmen, at least one man had to stay behind.

Sailless, crewless, mapless, the ship was abandoned. Captain Jones had given permission to Charles to use anything and everything to his own desire, but to Charles the cabin above was, and would always be, for the captain. Three barrels of salted herring, four casks of clean water, one cot. This was enough.

Many tearful days of longing had passed Charles by. Every day he opened his eyes, climbed the crows nest, and searched for land. At first, a necessity, an escape from the fear of nothingness down below, but now Charles climbed it patiently, knowing that whatever happened would be for the best. The God he had heard about was now becoming real to him.

He stood, the crisp wind in his face, the sun slowly thrusting forth, piercing the humid breath of the morning. His dark, wavy hair fluttered as a flag, and the ship was rocked by the water alone.

Many good men spoke of peace. They mentioned a calming one could only know in the storms. They had spent lifetimes trying to harness it, or use it for gain, or to push themselves out as bold and courageous.

But peace is sometimes only known for itself in itself. Charles leaned back. There was nothing frightening about this place, this situation. He lifted his water stained book to the sunlight and began to sing in the open. He sang of the future, he sang of his hopes, he sang short, raspy melodies with no rhymes among them. But the words, the words lifted darkness over the horizon and burned it in the sun. They drove arrows through the water and opened up a way to home. They reflected the light of the voice of God, and returned to Charles, peace.

This was peace. This was life. If the sea itself threw mountains of snow and water on him, his heart would never change. If the sun ceased to rise and lie down, if every splinter of wood turned to ash and the sea rise up to meet him, Charles had decided his own fate. He knew beyond farce or fairytale that he was chosen, and that he would answer the call bestowed upon him, regardless of the means to obtain it. If his future had perished in the depths of the sea like the captain’s map, eternity would soon be upon him, and he would be caught into glory like the son of a royal dove. If his dreams had been turned to splinters like the rudder of a great ship, Charles knew he could only be guided by providence, and that if so, he was in good hands. If he grew old, and never saw another human being, he would be content.

He leaned over and closed his eyes. “To know the Man who sees my sin and loves me, is sufficient for all my trials and hardship in this short and vanishing life. For what is life, without peace? And what is peace, without hope? And how can we have hope, but through love?”

Rest Beloved, rest.

"I believe, that You're my healer. I believe, that You are all I need. I believe that You're my portion. I believe You're more than enough for me. Jesus You're all I need!"

This is an outpouring of my heart. This is encounter with Jesus. This is what life really is. Not a sermon, not a song, not a lifestyle, but just... Love.

Jehovah just loves you! He just is so ravished by you!

Abba. I want to share this vulnerability with others. Help me.

*deep breath* Relax. It's gonna be okay. I promise.

I have just been brought through a dark night. And I'm still alright. :) I feel so peaceful right now.

I see a bit more of our Lord right now. It's the part of Him that is just so happy to hold on to us and cry with us, and then laugh and laugh and laugh!

Wow. So beautiful God! Such an amazing friend we have in Jesus!

Just let it go. Whatever is on your mind, even if it's important, just let it go. You don't have to do anything to gain Father's attention, He's SO watching you right now! You don't know how precious you are! But He does!

REST. God is real. :) If He wasn't, we would have to force Him to touch us. But no, He's all so wanting to just prove His love to you again. And again. And again and again and again. Just don't do anything, and let Him do what He does best: fulfill your dreams and establish hope in your life, through love.

Sometimes I try, sometimes I try not trying, sometimes I forget to stop either. It doesn't matter. If I'm striving, God is no less powerful to meet me. If I'm just resting in Him, it's still up to Him. It's always up to Him.

But that's the good thing! =D

Because He is in love with you! He wants you to see His beauty! He wants you to be happy!

Why do I even need to say that?

Okay, to clear something up, your mind cannot grasp His love. Trying to put it in words, or milk a blog post for the encounter of the writer, you're blessed if you get met there.

Here's a simple 3-steps to meet God! Works every time, guaranteed! Now completely free!
1: He loves you.
2: Repeat step 1 until satisfied. At the end of your life move on to step 3.
3: Now that you see Him face-to-face, ask Him.

Just chillax. Put on some Bethel music. Or maybe Ascend the Hill. Their stuff is free! ascendthehill.com

Or maybe you like classical, or rap, or jazz. But to find the best music, refer to step 1 of the "Meeting God" manual above. ;)

He really does. He really does.

Prayer... for realz

We can all agree that the presence of the Holy Spirit is so tangible and glorious that there is nothing better than connecting with Him. Being fully open to Him, simply overcome by His love for us. It's the best place on earth. It's the place where rest really happens. It's the place we experience true joy, and satisfaction.

Oh, so glorious, so glorious! No language on earth can put that into words, but I'm gonna try anyway! English is what I have, so it's what I'm using to lift His name high!

Two nights ago, I sat in the basement all by myself, and reflected upon the yearning feeling in my heart and stomach. I began to pray. God spoke to me, like He always loves to do! (He's so kind to us!! =D) He told me that interceding for people is one of the greatest battles we as believers can fight. It's our decision to take the time and pray, and prayer has so much impact, it's crazy! Why do you think Jesus (in His life before His death) prayed ALL THE TIME? And why, now that He is seated at the right hand of God, does He make intercession for us daily?

Praying for others is one of the greatest ways to bring us closer to His heart, and to more fully understand His will!

Last night, I began interceding for my friend, not even namely, but I didn't know how to pray more powerfully.

So, God being loving and tender as He is, showed me a picture:

I was in a sword fight  and I saw myself using the same attack over and over again, and it was blocked over and over again. It weakened the enemy, but wasn't very successful. He told me that I can pray for my heart to be more receptive, I can pray for His will to be done in my heart, I can pray that He would take down barriers, I can pray that He would show me how He is using the circumstances to make my heart more open to Him! And as He told me this, He showed me that these are different types of "attacks" that are much more successful, BECAUSE it is opening up your ears to more fully understand what He's speaking over that person. (In this example, me.)

Also, when multiple people will get together (virtually or physically) and agree, it is AT LEAST twice as powerful! Imagine trying to fight two people at once! If they both knew even the slightest about the art of the sword, you'd be done for. So, when there is a group of people, all praying individually for the same thing... Watch. Out.

What He's showing me now is that when I do normal things that are time-wasting, even though they are super fun (like... sorry to say, Minecraft ;) it's... like slacking off the attack to take a rest. And sometimes rests are very very necessary. But when there is a battle, you're in it till it's through.

Through my prayers, and God's mercy, my heart had become more open and attentive to what He is saying and doing. When I played Minecraft, I felt... like I was giving up at an important time. He kept nudging me to get off. After about five minutes, I wasn't even having fun. So I got off.

As we continue our lives, I encourage all of us to set apart LOTS of time just to pray for others and ourselves. We fight, wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, right? So as we spend time in His Word, we become more accustomed to it, and are more comfortable using it in battle.

Does this make sense? Prayer is absolutely crucial to the healthy life of a Christian!

So, go for it! You can't fail! =) And God is already pleased with you!!!

Ask to be hungry

So,

Last week was spent in preparation of a tournament in South Dakota, and the rest of the weekend was literally the BEST tournament ever. Hanging out with the best of friends, and listening to the voice of Holy Spirit was just too much fun!

I had such a blast competing, playing ultimate frisbee, and talking/praying with a bunch of people. But then I came back, and the God who was real for me and many others out there in South Dakota is here with me now, teaching me, loving me, and showing me more of Himself that I could never see before.
He has soo many attributes, and sometimes we just get LOST in one or two of them, like the Father's heart or the power of the Holy Spirit.

And that's just where He wants us. Completely captivated by His love. Fully trusting Him to be who He said He is. And longing for more.

I am just like you. I am not more spiritual, more holy, more righteous. In one sense, I may have experienced more than someone else, but that's not because I'm different. It is that experiencing that makes me different.

Ask, and you shall receive. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and the One who lives inside will open the door, and let you in.

Do not stop until you're inside the house, and in the arms of the Almighty!

We know Him as the provider, as the One who fills our hunger, but do we know Him as the one who makes us hungry?

He's not the reason for famine, per se, but hunger was built into the human race for a reason. Even before the fall, Adam and Eve had need of all the trees of the garden. They needed food. Why is that?

Without hunger, one cannot be satisfied when they are filled.

So ask. For hunger. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled"

Seek. A longing for Him only. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"

Knock. On the door of His heart, as He knocks upon yours. "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me."

There's more to be found!

Is this real life?

Don't leave just because of the title. Don't worry, I have a goal in mind... sorta.

I'm sitting in the family room of my house, boxes all around me, some full, some flat and empty. I have Grooveshark running, and I'm working on my book for my novel writing class at Credo. I'm getting into the mind of my characters, and trying to show their emotion, trying to give every scene, every sentence a meaning. Then I hear the lyrics of the song: "And I love you God."

I'm UNDONE. Ahhhh!!! Holy Spirit, my new best friend, He's showing me real life! He's showing me the reality in life, more like. I just realized, this book isn't real. I want to take that person in my story and show them to my Father! I want to open their eyes and ears to see and hear Him, and their heart to love Him! I just can't stand staying here anymore!!!

This past weekend I was at a conference, "Stopping for the One", and I was just sooo touched by Holy Spirit! I NEEEED MORE! More God! I need more of You Father! I am IN LOVE with God!

I can't explain it, so I'm just gonna pray. Digitally. :)

Get alone, or just okay with people seeing you do crazy things for God.

Haha don't get afraid, you are about to see the face of your Lover, who made you and lifts your burdens and holds your hand through trials! He's awesome!

So, now that you are ready for anything to happen, put your hands in front of you, palms up. This isn't something formulaic, it's just helping keep your mind in a place of receiving more of Him! It keeps you focused.

Oh wow. Put on this music. It just came on over here, and it's perfectly beautiful!!!

http://grooveshark.com/s/I+Need+You+More/2Fg46c?src=5

Now, close your eyes and talk to God. You can sing along if you want, or pray in tongues, or whatever. It's all about getting away from the things that are holding you back from Him, but not only that, actually seeking Him.

I put this step here is for those of you who want to know what's going to happen in the future, and what's coming. :) Keep your eyes closed.

When the song is over, comment below and tell me what He said to you. If you cried, that's okay, if you didn't feel anything, don't worry. It's not something you did wrong, because it's not a formula anyway. You can't do wrong when you're seeking Him. If you want more, go find more music that is looong and spontaneous, and just keep seeking. Because those who seek will find. Always.

Love you all! I bless you in Jesus' name with peace and joy in His presence! I bless you with a revelation of who He is, and who you are to Him! Father, share Your love with Your beautiful, wonderful children! Every single human ever! All of them! Touch them again! More, Holy Spirit!! Come! Come and be their love!!! Fill Holy Spirit! Double, Lord, in Jesus' name!

Abandoned

Sinner of sinners. You awful wretch.
Mary's own conscience gouged her almost as painfully as the fear of doom to come. Her knees shaking so fiercely that she could hardly stand. Yet they pushed her on.
Down through the streets she was shoved, sifting past the rude cries and harsh laughter of those who happened to be there when she fell, when her shame was openly exposed.
She glanced aside and saw her best friends turn aside, ashamed to have known her. She cried aloud, mournful wails and heaving sobs silencing the children playing on the streets, caused dogs to bark and howl seemed to still the very air she breathed. Yet they shoved her forward.
"Stone her!" many called to the solemn-faced procession. "Uphold the Law of Moses!" the chant arose, rising higher, growing louder, like a sudden rush of water through a broken dam. "Uphold the Law of Moses! Uphold the Law of Moses!"
Some overly-zealous young men and women joined the march toward the city center. Toward the Man. The Prophet.
The Son.
They threw her down before His feet crying: "This one we found in adultery! The law of Moses said that we should stone her, but what do you say?"
The Man crouched down on His knees to write in the dirt with His finger. Mary saw the writing as the Pharisees waited eagerly. Tears came to her eyes.
They asked again, "Teacher, we caught this woman in the very act of adultery. Should she be stoned, according to the law of Moses?"
Mary watched as the Man stood and looked fearlessly to her captors. "Whoever here is without sin, let him throw the first stone at her."
There was a moment's silence, like the calming of the wind before a storm hits. Then the Man leaned over again, and continued to write.
Mary heard the scuffling of feet, and a distant murmur. Her eyes were locked on the words in the dirt. Her soul groaned and rejoiced as she interpreted the writing. The tears continued flowing freely from her eyes and fell to the dust, just as sunlight falls and is lost in the blades of triumphant grass.
The Man looked up at her then, stripped of jewelry, her hands bleeding and numb, her lip trembling.
He looked around, His mouth still closed in the perfect peaceful arc of a king, joyful, yet sober. "Woman," he said, looking back to her frail face. "where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"
Mary could not look away. His eyes were full of kindness. "N--no one... Lord."
He smiled.
Her breath was sucked away. Her life felt real, yet unreal. Others had gathered all around the Man, watching this incredible scene unfold.
"Neither do I. Go, and sin no more."
Her heart jumped up inside her like a young lamb, prancing and leaping on the sides of the mountains.
In that moment her life changed. She found peace. She found a hurricane of love, unrelenting. She found herself, Abandoned.

"Therefore I say to you, her sins, which [are] many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loves little."

As Mary, I have been forgiven the greatest of sins. I have been reconciled to God, brought back to union and friendship with Him through the sacrifice and love of my Love, Jesus Christ.

You don't need to go and rebel just so you can find God's love and love Him in return. You don't need a "greater sin" to come closer to God. Jesus was the closest man to ever walk with God, and He never sinned once. Yet we as Christians sometimes get a sideways view of what's really happening, and we think that because "he" or "she" lived in such darkness, they have the ability to live in such light. And there is truth in that. However, we love Him... because He first loved us.

Not because we saw the darkness, but because we saw the Light. God is soooo beautiful! We don't need something to contrast with Him to make Him look better! Even if we did, we can contrast our very best deeds and He comes out far above it all. Because, as it says in Isaiah 64:6, our righteousness is as filthy rags. Actually meaning the equivalent of used toilet-paper. Gross.

What's my point? I'm rambling, I know. But I think this is something we need to tap into as if our lives depended on it. And that is the revelation of reality. The revelation of truth. The revelation that we are His children, and no matter what you have come through, He wants YOU to be the one closest to His heart.

Whether you come from a background of grace, peace, forgiveness, sitting at His feet and gleaning from Him, or whether you came from a place of hungering for even the little crumbs that fell from the Master's table, or whether you came from a life of sin and shame and suffering, the message is the same for you as it is with anyone else. When we know how much He loves us, we will WANT to simply waste our lives on Him 24-7. We will break the flasks of our security and success, pour our gifts and savings out on Him, and wipe His feet with the "hair of our head", casting aside all dignity. 

Because He, loves us.

He loves you.

And nothing else in the world matters.

Letter to your Father

To: Daddy

Whatever I have to do,

Whatever I have to give,

Whatever I need to lose,

To draw nearer still,

Whatever I have to do,

Whatever I have to say,

Whatever I have to give to You,

And never reclaim,

It's Yours. I'm Yours.

Take it all!!!

I love You Abba!! 

Guess what? The world lied.

Haha yeah we all know that. The world lies to us all the time. We Christians know that as much as we know we are saved. Yet I find myself sometimes falling into lies that are the most ludicrous, most insanely stupid lies ever, and I believe them because something in my life doesn't make sense.

One I believed for a while was this simple, yet I had never verbalized it before: "God provides for the needs of all His children except your own emotional needs, because you have a special way of distancing yourself unwillingly from God."

Break that down.

Now laugh at it. It's dumb. It has no way of being true at all!

But we still have a way of believing it, even when we know it's wrong. WHY???

Because the human mind works that way. If we tell ourselves there is no solution, we will not be able to understand or accept one when it comes. And the truth is, "There is always a solution".

I am really happy right now.

Because God showed me something! He showed me that He invented success, beauty, all those things everyone seeks to achieve. He then showed me that the world has lied to everyone. It has said that success is doing well, and getting money/fame/dreams-come-true. But no! To be completely true, there is nothing farther than the truth. When people say success, what they are talking about is actually what comes with success. Success, is what we have because of what He paid. Success is what He gave us. It is the victory over sin and death. It is the life we have in Him. And when we believe we have success, we get the things the world calls success. Same with beauty. And life.

That brings me to the idea of faith.

For a long time I thought faith was forcing yourself to believe in something so that it would exist, or work, or whatever. But again, God showed me how the world lied to be about that one. He said that faith is believing in the solution you cannot yet see. It is definitely there, but if we don't actually act upon its existence, we will never see it.

Like success, again, when we believe that success is who we are, not what we do or gain, then we are able to gain what the world thinks is success. Blessing. Favor. Love. Life.

I'm not revising this one, unless someone comments and lets me know of something that needs it. :)

Doing what you were made for

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, everything in them, and us, Mankind. We know this, but what was God's purpose for the beautiful people He created? To tend the garden, or to create an entire race? Well, what is it that they did right from the start? The thing that stopped when they ate the fruit?

They walked with God in the garden.

They talked with God in the garden.

They ate with God, worked with God, loved Him and loved each other.

They lived in close friendship with God Almighty!

So, then they were deceived into thinking that they could become more like God than they already were! How ludicrous! They were created in His image, and in His likeness! But, in the end, they ate the fruit, and saw their shame. They didn't know who the God Judge was, but they knew His glory and holiness apparently, because as soon as they saw their shame, they were afraid of God. Their best Friend, who had made them, loved them, and gave them each other and the entire world for their enjoyment.

But this fruit (and the decision with it) brought sin into the human race. It placed it in his DNA. When you were born, you were a sinner. Your parents (hopefully) didn't have to teach you to be selfish or rude, that was your natural tenancy.

So, when Jesus was crucified, and we were crucified with Him (Gal. 2:20) we are now dead in that sense, so sin has no power over us! This is good news! But wait, if what Jesus did reversed the curse in the sense of us humans, why do we Christians still walk as though sin has power, or that we have to wait till we die to see Him and know Him?

Do we really believe in Jesus? Do we actually expect to see Him how we did in the garden? Do we understand that He is walking with us now, through life, and is able to hear us and to respond to us?

Now, in one sense we walk by faith and not by sight. We will not always just see Jesus from the moment we put our trust in Him to the day we die. In fact, I would say that most people have not seen Jesus at all, let alone more than once.

So, if Jesus' death and resurrection defeated the curse, defeated sin, defeated death, why aren't we back to our state like it was in the garden? What was so important about how we lived then that cause Jesus to die? He didn't restore us to a place without weeds. He hasn't physically walked with us in a way where we can see Him. So what was the most important thing about the garden? What did He restore?

Friendship. Intimacy. Hope. Destiny. Life.

This week, as you go about your lives, when you think about this, just ask Him to show you really what He has done for you. What is different about you before and after you believed? What has He set you free from? Are we still holding on to things in our lives that are hindering us from seeing Him more clearly in our lives? Are we really, truly, completely free from sin?

If He tells you awesome things, feel free to share! You can comment below anytime.

WE LIFT YOU UP!!!!!

Above our feelings. WE LIFT YOU UP!!!! Above our failures, above our victories, above our emotions, above what the world says, above all! WE LIFT YOU UP!!!!!!!

I am different...

Wow... I um... The Holy spirit is soo thick in this room right now. I don't think I am ready for this, but here it goes! I was in the car and God was really speaking to me , about how so many times I feel like hardly anybody understands. They don't know how I feel about Jesus. These post aren't emotion or another one of Tyler's freakish, AHAHAHAAAAHAHHHH!!! JESUS!!!!!! Post. Jesus is doing something guys, He is real! Not just for me... John 17:24 says "Father, I desire that those whom You gave Me will be with where I am, That they may behold my glory, which You have given me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the earth." Thats pretty amazing. I suggest you read verses 20-26, to get a much deeper meaning behind what I am trying to say. Look guys, you are not going to find encounter with God through me, or what I say. It is only through Christ Love!!! If you read those verses, you now know (because of scripture, not what I say) That JESUS LOVES YOU JUST AS MUCH AS GOD LOVED THE SON!!!! His only begotten Son... Aahhh I dont even know where I am going with this. Okay... Ephesians 1:4-5... If you dont have your Bible with you, then you wont get very much out of this, because then its what Tyler says, but what He says!  So, You were chosen... got that straight? Good. He LOVES YOU!!! I cannot stress that enough. BTW! News flash! Please test everything I say against THE BIBLE! ... None of its wrong... Haha! =) So... Ahhh.... I have no I dea what I am saying! Jesus COME!!! Your Life is hidden in Christ. You are set apart! Different... PERFECT! You are pure through the Blood! (1 John) Cool...

         You guys realize, I mess up... a lot... and its ok...

Its all just words unless you know Him... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... So, If I din't have my life completely wrecked by God... This wouldn't mean anything. Yes I would be like cool, yeah, I agree with all that. It wouldn't mean anything... at all...

      HERES MY POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                                            It would just be words, It would just be another song, it would just be another day, it would just be another Bible verse, I would just be another person, He would just be another God... Unless I knew Him. Unless something made me different....

Thats my heart. Thats why I spend the time to type this up. Thats why I say "Weird things" BECAUSE I AM DIFFERENT!!!! His blood makes me different! It makes me CLEAN!! It makes me PURE!!!!!!! It makes me LOVELY!!!! IT MAKES ME HIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (once again Tyler going off on his rants...) This is real....



                                                                   He is real...... 

If you read this whole thing... then I hope you got something out of it. Ask me questions.  Btw, I am not re-reading it, so there could be a few errors. ;)

No shame.

I had a wonderful day, a wonderful week for that matter! Yet here I am, looking over what God has done in me, and this shame begins to rise up. This condemnation telling me I'm really not all that good, and without Him I'd be in a slough. That's right. Without my Daddy I would be in a terrible mess! Thank You Papa for Your love and mercy!!!

Yet, the accusations still come. Accusations that I'm only faking this, or that I really don't have what it takes to be His chosen minister to His lost children, or that my task He's given me to do is less important than someone else's, or that I'm not equipped enough, or I don't know how to listen to Him well enough, the list goes on and on.

But my best friend Jesus is the Word. And the Word says: "(Romans 8:1) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Also, later in the chapter is says: "(Romans 8:31) What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us? 32. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33. Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? [It is] God who justifies. 34. Who [is] he who condemns? [It is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' 37. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39. nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Done. And done. Shame is defeated.

Now, don't go and just hope against hope that it won't come back. It doesn't have the authority to stay in you, because you are dead, and His life is in you! Literally!!! Look up Galatians 2:20 if you don't believe me!

But your feelings are just that. Feelings. They are not reality, they should not be your beliefs, they cannot be the standard by which you live your life! The Spirit of life in Christ has made me FREE from the law of sin and death! I don't have to live out of the pain that I feel! I don't have to live out of the shameful things I did in the past, or even the present and future! I don't have to be a slave! I can have fullness of JOY!!! I can worship Him without fear of dying! I AM worthy to be in His presence!

0_0

I know, right? How can I, a sinner, be worthy to be in His perfect, holy presence?

Well, just look up Collossians 1:21-22.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Col&c=1&v=1&t=NKJV#top

No like, now. Before you read on here.

... (reading Collossians) ...

I'm serious guys, you need to get this message straight from Him, not from a post online. So if you haven't read it yet, do it now.

...

Okay, did you hear that? You are holy before... the Holy One of Israel. Whoa. Jesus' blood must have worked! You are worthy to come into the presence of Almighty, Most Holy, Just, Righteous, God. And He wants you to come into the holiness of His presence! That's why HE TORE THE VEIL! That's why He poured out His wrath on Jesus! Because HE LOVES YOU!!!

If we understand this, by supernatural revelation, shame will not even be something we remember very well. It's hard to be ashamed when you know you're loved!

So, be blessed, be encouraged, be strengthened with boldness and courage to fight this one out for love! And may God bless you with peace that passes ALL understanding, and joy inexplainable in His presence!

Have your way in me!

My Jesus... He has set me on fire, He has wooed me into Love. His name is sweeter then honey! Nothing can separate me from my only Love!

   He Loves me!! And I am soo in love with Him, and thats all there is to it!! NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!! There is such a Peace I have found! His Sholom is my everyday!! I am so thankful that He Loves me!! In return I give Him all my love! All of my affection, All of my devotion is for Jesus!!!!!! Have your way...

You are Enough

There's no place I can go 

that's outside of Your embrace.

There's no pain too cold 

to turn my heart from Your face.

There's no valley too dark 

to blind my eyes from Your hope.

There's no storm too strong 

to steer my gaze from Your throne.
~Ashley