Flu

I was sick in with the flu last week so that set me back a few days (but i didn't really make that much of an effort after i was a little better...)

I'm a little excited actually because i'm fairly close to finishing my first bible journal (i started it last summer). Just thinking about how much i've grown and how much God has stretched me this year is very interesting. One of these days i'm going to have to read through the whole thing and just see how it has progressed- though it's been more of a list of bible verses and random bits of writings, prayers, sermons or comments. haha, journal-ing has never been a strong point.













































did you know i took pictures? well now you do :P
(p.s. the one up top is an original ^_^)

Verses for Today and Yesterday:

Yesterday-
"you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?"
1 Corinthians 3:3

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow"
1 Corinthians 3:6&7

"the man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor."
1 Corinthians 3:8

"¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
1 Corinthians 3:13-15
~I LOVE this verse sooo much that i bold-ed it :P

" ⁶Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another."
1 Corinthians 4:6

Today-
"Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?"
1 Corinthians 5:6
~Paul is talking about sexual immorality in the church but this can be applied to all evil that is in the church. It doesn't take a lot to contaminate the Church, just one person doing evil can make the whole batch go rotten. The best example (pertaining to the issue Paul is speaking about) is the African American church. There is a coexistence of sexual immorality and Christianity that's more than wrong but has contaminated the batch to the point that sex before marriage becomes widely accepted. I'm not saying, and Paul's not saying, that the Church's job is to throw out anyone who doesn't fit into the perfect cookie cutter christian, he's saying that if a person of the church decides that they are quite content living in their sin and are unwilling to change, for the sake of the Church, he must be treated as an outsider. Of course, putting that in the context of the church today seems terrible but back in those times there was a lot of protection that came with joining a church. However the church did right to love outsiders of the faith as well. The throwing out is almost a rebuke that the Church makes to the individual for the individual's sake as well as for the congregation's sake. God's house can't afford to let sin creep into the building, the individual cannot afford to live in Sin when God freely gives us his forgiveness to wash that away.

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside, 'expel the wicked man from among you'"
1 Corinthians 5:12
~an example of the relationship the the Church and 'outsiders.' we don't Judge people outside because that's not our place but we judge the people in our own Church; not to create distrust or disunity, but out of love. We want to keep each other on the right path.

"¹⁸Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. ¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:18-20


That's it for today,
Peace be with You.

Help me to Stand

I run to you, I seek your face
but without understanding.
because I'm following you hard
I'm a target in Satan's eyes.

Lord how long has he had a finger in my soul?
How long have I been bound in these heavy chains?

I run for you but I'm constricted
I search for you but I'm choking inside
I've been unhappy for so long I'm used to the pain
-but just barely

I'm weak
I'm tired
why don't i feel like anyone's there?
how many years have i felt this lonely?

It's funny how he knows my weakness long before I do.
It's scary that he understands my insecurities before me.

But Lord, you know me
not just my weakness but my strengths.
my heart, my mind
you know all about me
and you know how to help me overcome

Lord Jesus set me free
Break me from the bondage I was too blind to see
I want to live in victory
I want to see your supremacy

Let your majesty wash over me like a flood
So that I may rise again praising you
Hosanna In the Highest
You are able the make me Stand

"He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are. So that no one may boast before him."
1 Corinthians 1:28-29

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Church of Love

Oh dear, it's been almost a month! and i'm on vacation!!! T_T
a mixture of business and nothing to say i guess (but on the bright side, i've been doing the devo's thing fairly regularly these past couple of weeks ^_^)

Right now i kind of feel like God is revealing and telling me all these different things but i don't really know what to take from it just yet, like what he wants to use it all for. I realized that one of my biggest frustrations with the Church (meaning the body of Christ) is the lack of kindness seen- like if you ever just read the opening greetings or final greetings and, a lot of times, the in between's of Paul's letters to Churches, the early church did A LOT to help out their community, and their members. They cared for the poor/unemployed, they took care of the elders who did not have someone to take care of them, made clothes and fed the unfortunate- why don't we do that? why do we just sit on our butts and totally miss that part of scripture. I mean at one point Paul had to tell a church to only help widows who had no family instead of everyone. One of the major works of the church was taking care of their community- not just preaching at them. I think today the church has found itself in a position where it focuses too much on the individual's responsibility and not the group's responsibility. It's always how can You feel God more, You need to pray for people, You should show God's love to others, You, you, you, me, me, me, I, I, I- What about Us?

With that first revelation (the fact that i am very bothered about this topic) has lead me to this new possible vision for my life. I want to see this happen to just one church, see if it can be done with the state of the God's people today- ESPECIALLY in this country- I want to see just one Church able to fulfill the kindness factor in the God equation (pft that was so corny...). And i think that in order to make it legit, it has to start at the very beginning, it needs to be part of that Church's core values, it has to be hammered in from the very beginning not 'worked' in later on.
And i want to be there, i want to see it happen from the beginning and be apart of that ministry in that new church. I want to see God's love pour out of that building so much that it truly becomes a City on a hill (well in this case a Church on a hill) and i think because of that, because we're acting out God's love instead of just talking about it, we will see a revival in whatever town or city we're in. We'll see a plethora of people giving their life to Christ. We don't need, and should never tone down scripture, but that's one major part of God's command for the church that's definitely looked over.

but again, now that i have that, what do i do with it? i have no idea what i'm suppose to do in order to get to that end point- ugh, this always happens to me too. Just the other day actually, i was in church yesterday and the pastor was talking about taking the responsibilities that God has given us and putting it to work (the story of the Talents Matt. 25:14-30). But i don't know what responsibilities He has given me to invest. maybe another lesson in active waiting? *sigh*

ok, devos time- verses that popped out for me this past almost-month :P

21/5/09
^"12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12-14

^"18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Colossians 3:18-21
~man and woman are equal under God, this passage gives the relationship between husband and wife room for change. What's important is the principle of the matter: a wife respects her husband for his sake and a husband respects his wife with love for her sake. Think about it, it does nothing for the family to see you mom always cutting down your father. All you would want to say is man up.

27/5/09
"Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful,"
Colossians 4:2

"Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most out of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,"
Colossians 4:5&6
~this one hit me hard

28/5/09
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands just as we told you, so that your daily life my win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody,"
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

29/5/09
"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are Idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

1/6/09
"for even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'if a man will not work he will not eat.'"
2 Thessalonians 3:10
~Jesus does not support laziness

"¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Timothy 1:15-17
~Paul speaking about himself

2/6/09
"This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the savior of ALL men, and especially of those who believe."
~if God only chose the few to save, why does Paul say that he's the savior of all men? i guess he didn't get the predestination memo...

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set on example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:16

"Watch you life and doctrine closely. persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourselves and your hearers"
1 Timothy 4:16

3/6/09
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
1 Timothy 6:17

4/6/09
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also"
~I've been wondering if maybe it's possible to inherit the same kind of faith that you had in you family. It's no that important but i was curious about it : )

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God."
2 Timothy 1: 8
~Paul speaking again

"that is why I am suffering as I am, yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom i have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day,"
2 Timothy 1:12

" ¹¹Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
¹²if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
¹³if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself."
2 Timothy 2:11-13
~i think what is important here is the difference between disowning and being faithless. It is possible to lose your salvation but that's only if you decide to disown Jesus as your savior. But it is also more than possible to fall back in your faith and be in God's permissible will as well. As it says in Hebrews 6:4-6, it is impossible for a believer who has felt, tasted, and seen God and fallen away to be brought back. It's like Crucifying Jesus all over again.

"avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly,"
2 Timothy 2:16

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels."
2 Timothy 2:23
~how many times do you see a christian argue and argue over theology? yea...

6/6/09
"¹But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ²People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
~sound a lot like today

"In fact, everyone who want to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2 Timothy 3:12

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped from every good work,"
2 Timothy 3:16-17
~don't get me wrong, sometimes you have to take into consideration the time period and culture but all scripture is influenced by God, that means there is always a principle at work with it. example, the scripture about women having to cover their heads and not yelling out in Church is basically getting at women of the church should be seen with respect and modest (not necessarily Mormon modest, but you get it)

8/6/09
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction."
2 Timothy 4:2

"⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
2 Timothy 4:6-8
~ahahah! I LOVE this scripture. This is Paul speaking as he sees the end of his life approaching. I want to be able to say this on my own death bed *goal one* ; )

10/6/09
"¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"
Titus 2:11-12

" ³At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."
Titus 3:3-8
~i know, it's a big one, but something to stress (as it says)

and there's today (which hasn't happened yet :P) so i'll end on a worship song by Hillsong- Your Name High






Peace Be with You.

Just Kidding, Colossians :P

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness for sins."
Colossians 1:13&14

"so then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Colossians 2:6&7

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of his world rather than on Christ."
Colossians 2:8

The Simplicity of God

So these past couple of days I have been, once again, searching for some decent christian music that i can listen to. If you don't know my music taste it does include a lot of secular artists- and that is because i do not believe that secular music is 'evil'. God is my life and my everything but i also have other things going on besides God as well. what about the small things that the bible doesn't touch on?

I think- and i'm thinking and typing here so bare with me- I think that what i'm trying to say is that The bible deals with the big important parts of life, the things that we need to focus on because when everything else fades away, those fundamental parts of life are always going to be standing. However, it does not mean that those smaller details of life are not there- or that we do not spend time being involved in them. we just, as Christians, are not suppose to be obsessed with them.

When an artist, or artists, decide to dedicate their talents to God (not necessarily an artist who is Christian but someone who considers themselves a Christian artist), they make it their duty to produce music that deals with the fundamental ideals of life that is seen through the bible. They do, and personally i think that they should, not waste their time with focusing on the smaller things in life- i mean they can, but not when they made the decision to use their music to honor God, that's their ministry and it should be treated as such. let the secular artists deal with the small things of this world.

I believe that God is a simple God- Jesus even said that we should not pray long and complex prayers like the pagans do. He takes the unappreciated,the unattractive, the overlooked, the unimpressive and makes it into something extraordinary. God uses this pattern all through the bible: Moses, Abraham, the 12 disciples- THE 12 DISCIPLES! they were illiterate fishermen! and they ended up being the foundation of the Church. Jeremiah was a young prophet who could be seen as inexperienced. The burning bush was first, before all else, a bush. People look pass bushes!!!

Knowing how God prefers to move I think it is better to be simple with the medium that we use when we want it to be used by God. A sermon should have as little pomp and circumstance as it can because when God moves through it- you can give Him all the glory. In the same way, when a song is being composed by a Christian artist it should lose the complex and intricate metaphorical stuff because people can't worship to that.For me personally, i first have to sit down and break down all the metaphors and figurative language and imagery then see if the end product matches up with scripture. Then i have re-assemble the song to make sure it makes sense and only then can i even fathom worshiping to that song. It really shouldn't be like that. Poetry is beautiful yes, but i feel like it's place is for personal worship. I can't copy those songs and jam out to them with my youth band. We need simple songs that speak nothing more than God's truths: God is Love. Jesus saves us. I am Alive through his death and resurrection.

Sufjan Stevens is an artist who worships through poetry. However he does not label himself as a 'christian artist.' Therefore i can see that he uses this play on words and his writing as a personal worship to God- i'm fine with that and i wish that many of these poetic 'christian artists' would follow his lead. There's nothing wrong with being a christian playing secular music, take pride in that. Just don't waste my time when i'm trying to find some different kind of worship music and i get this metaphorical stuff...

I'll give you two examples. One is Sufjan Stevens: seven swans


I don't know. Maybe i'm slow but this song, like most of his songs, I only get half of. I'm baffled really at what his point is (no, and i did not enjoy breaking down poems in high school either...) so it's hard for me to see if his understanding of the doctrine is solid as well.

Now here's Tye Tribbett again- Everything (i know. same song. but i'll even use a diff. video :P)


see? simple- they just use words. Master, savior, father, protector, everything, Jesus! I can follow that and so can everyone else. That's a good worship song (lol- and isn't he the craziest? ^_^)

um, that's about it for my rant. Here are my verses. I might stick to Jeremiah but we'll see :)

"But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say "I am only a child." you must got to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them because i am with you and will rescue you,' Declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 1:7&8

"They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 1:19

Peace be with You.

End or Romans

Not like that took FOREVER :P

"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what i have said and done"
Romans 15:18
said by Paul. This shows how careful Paul was with his words and actions, so that God could be seen through him as clear and he could.

"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teachings you have learned. Keep away from them."
Romans 16:17

Recently i've been wrestling with the historical facts of the bible- i must say that it was in lack of faith i always avoided this topic. I was too scared to look at historical proof or documents because i was worried i'd find something that didn't add up. However this past Sunday i asked my father about it and realized that going through the history of the bible and how it has become the book it is today is a natural stage of development in a Christian's life.

i haven't done much research yet (actually i haven't even started researching :P) but I will definitely put up any good stuff i come across on here to share with anyone who wants to see.

From what i got from talking with my Dad, what's wrong about these skeptics of the Bible's authenticity/accuracy is that they focus on the surrounding material that is not in the bible and not on the bible itself. apparently there was a very high pass or fail mark for what got into the bible. If there was any doubt at all about a certain book it was thrown out.

I leave you with Lerae- Go Hard




I have this snobbish attitude about christian rap- it kind of sounds a little crappy to me, but Lecrae has such a great testimony i feel- you can see that he really has a heart for God and it shows in the truth in his lyrics. Check it! : )

Peace be with You.

Romans and Everything

^"9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^a]">[a] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"^b]">[b]says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."^c]">[c] ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Romans 12:9-21

Everything- Tye Tribbett : )