Finally got some new cd's back at Christmas, and got a copy of Shane & Shane's latest: Everything's Different. In a word, this CD is awesome! One of the songs that has moved me the most in my walk with Christ is the song "For the Good", which is based off the Romans 8:28 passage, which reads:
"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose."
When we read this, we may be led to think that God will only allow good things to happen to us, because we think that God wants us to be happy... not the case at all. He wants us to be blessed. Here's a great post that explains the difference: http://joedingwall.tumblr.com/post/528206606/does-god-promise-happiness#disqus_thread
Any ways, here are the lyrics to the song - absolutely awesome with the music. take some time to read and consider these words. Does this challenge the way you see difficulties in your life?
When darkness is surrounding me
by Your Spirit, Lord help me sing
that You are working all things out
Lord, I really need to hear you speak
Remind me in the waiting
that You are working all things out
For the good of those
who are called by You
for the good of those
who are in Love with You
That's why we sing
Holy God of light
I lay down my life
Holy is the Lord
Even in the storm be glorified
We like to take the blessing from You
Shall we not take the trouble too
You are working all things out
We like to take prosperity
Shall we not take the suffering
You are working all things out
Holy are you Lord
even in the storm
be glorified
Worthy of affection
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
TWITTER!
The gap between my blog posts is getting larger and larger... mostly due to the fact that i really don't have time in my day to sit down and type out the kind of thoughtful post that i usually try to do. The other reason is that most people have the same time constraints that i do and are not spending as much time reading blogs as they are keeping up with their facebook and twitter accounts.
So, if you still want to follow my updates, i encourage you to follow me on twitter - it's where i do the most damage on a regular basis :). If you don't have an account, go ahead and take a step off the deep end and dive into the 21st century - like it or not, twitter and facebook is simply the way people communicate anymore. Look forward to chatting with you - follow me here http://twitter.com/LeavingTheGray
So, if you still want to follow my updates, i encourage you to follow me on twitter - it's where i do the most damage on a regular basis :). If you don't have an account, go ahead and take a step off the deep end and dive into the 21st century - like it or not, twitter and facebook is simply the way people communicate anymore. Look forward to chatting with you - follow me here http://twitter.com/LeavingTheGray
Saturday, March 6, 2010
"let it be said of us"
What a joy it would be if this could be said about the church today... God change us! Exodus 36:3-7 (HCSB)
3 They took from Moses' presence all the contributions that the Israelites had brought for the task of making the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than is needed for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done." 6 After Moses gave an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: "Let no man or woman make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." So the people stopped. 7 The materials were sufficient for them to do all the work. There was more than enough.
Move our hearts once again, Lord. May we bless you Name by returning all that we have, all that we are, for the glory of your Name, for the extension of Your kingdom. May Your church give so generously, that the people must be turned back and told to stop giving because there is so much, that there was more than enough.
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3 They took from Moses' presence all the contributions that the Israelites had brought for the task of making the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than is needed for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done." 6 After Moses gave an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: "Let no man or woman make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." So the people stopped. 7 The materials were sufficient for them to do all the work. There was more than enough.
Move our hearts once again, Lord. May we bless you Name by returning all that we have, all that we are, for the glory of your Name, for the extension of Your kingdom. May Your church give so generously, that the people must be turned back and told to stop giving because there is so much, that there was more than enough.
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Friday, March 5, 2010
breaking the mold
There is only one you.
Let me say it again - never again in all of history will there be another you. You are uniquely gifted by our Creator with God-given talents, passions, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, to be used in this exact moment in all of history. You are not an accident. In Christ, you have purpose; you have significance; you are loved.
You were meant to be you- and you are the only person who can BE you! There will always be expectations put on you by others, about what you should do, who you should be like, and on and on... Just as you can't be in two places at one time, you can't be two different persons at the same time. If you are not you, then who will? Who can?
If you are tired of trying to live up to the expectations of others, then break the mold! There's a reason that shoe doesn't fit - it's because you weren't meant to wear it!
If you find yourself imitating someone else's life, then there's no time to make your own life. Break the mold of being like someone else - there's only one you.
Let me say it again - never again in all of history will there be another you. You are uniquely gifted by our Creator with God-given talents, passions, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, to be used in this exact moment in all of history. You are not an accident. In Christ, you have purpose; you have significance; you are loved.
You were meant to be you- and you are the only person who can BE you! There will always be expectations put on you by others, about what you should do, who you should be like, and on and on... Just as you can't be in two places at one time, you can't be two different persons at the same time. If you are not you, then who will? Who can?
If you are tired of trying to live up to the expectations of others, then break the mold! There's a reason that shoe doesn't fit - it's because you weren't meant to wear it!
If you find yourself imitating someone else's life, then there's no time to make your own life. Break the mold of being like someone else - there's only one you.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
"All over the world"
Haven't read any out of the New Testament in quite a while, and thought i'd start reading in Romans today. The thing i love about reading the New Testament is that you can't read very far without coming across those things that move us, challenge us, or encourage us in our walk to be come fully devoted disciples after our Lord Jesus. My reading today was no different; couldn't even make it past verse 8 of Romans chapter 1:
Hear me clearly: the point is not to make our faith famous, but to make Jesus famous. And the question the world is begging us to answer is this: what difference does Jesus make if he makes no difference in the lives of those that profess to follow him?
Our answer to this question can be nothing short of this: a life fully submitted to the lordship of Jesus through faith (active-trust). People may not beleive what you say, but they will always beleive what you do.
My prayer is that each of you who read this would be stirred by the Holy Spirit to consider the opportunity, our resonable response to the Gosple, to be the salt and light He has called us to be, for His namesake, all over the world.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.As I read this, Matt Redman's song "all over the world" came to mind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGoj0oJGLm4), and made me think: Would Paul say this of us if he were writing to us today? Sure, there are many churches that might have this reputation: HillSong, Lifechurch.tv, etc. But what does YOUR world say about your faith in Jesus Christ? Your neighbors? Your co-workers? Your family and friends?
Hear me clearly: the point is not to make our faith famous, but to make Jesus famous. And the question the world is begging us to answer is this: what difference does Jesus make if he makes no difference in the lives of those that profess to follow him?
Our answer to this question can be nothing short of this: a life fully submitted to the lordship of Jesus through faith (active-trust). People may not beleive what you say, but they will always beleive what you do.
My prayer is that each of you who read this would be stirred by the Holy Spirit to consider the opportunity, our resonable response to the Gosple, to be the salt and light He has called us to be, for His namesake, all over the world.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
One Year Bible, Week 2
This week, the blueletterbible.org chronological reading plan had me reading in Job. So far, I've read thru chapter 31, and looking back, I've found one thing for sure: Job's friends are jerks.
In Christian apologetics, we are taught to always give a reason for the hope that we have, and to do so with gentleness and respect, and that the ultimate goal is to win the person. Unfortunately, well-meaning Christians often will strive to win the argument at all cost, including at the expense of the person who they are trying to win. And this is the script that Job's friends followed.
Often people will jump straight to the end conclusion that Job's friends are jerks and have no sympathy for Job. But I don't think they intended to end up in the conversation they had. After Job lost everything- his wealth, his children, his health- his friends showed an amazing level of compassion towards Job by sitting on the ground with him for SEVEN days and nights in silence! I can't even imagine sitting still with some one for a single day, let alone 7 days!
The text doesn't tell us, but its possible that they were fasting during this time for their tragedy-strucken friend, who they apparently cared for deeply. But somewhere along the way, they forgot their love for Job, and felt like it was their duty to play God in Job's life and tell Job to repent of his many sins. After all, (in their mind) only the rebellious sinner suffers in this life, not the righteous....
There's a lot for us to be learned here. Probably the biggest thing I came away with is that when people are hurting or grieving, they don't need to hear your words as much as they need to feel that you care. Often a friends mere presence in our time of grief speaks volumes about how much they love us.
There is a time to talk through the questions and emotions, and when that time comes, don't follow the lead of Job's friends. If it is more important for you to be right than to grieve with your friend, then you will inevitably accomplish your goal to win the argument, and not the person.
In Christian apologetics, we are taught to always give a reason for the hope that we have, and to do so with gentleness and respect, and that the ultimate goal is to win the person. Unfortunately, well-meaning Christians often will strive to win the argument at all cost, including at the expense of the person who they are trying to win. And this is the script that Job's friends followed.
Often people will jump straight to the end conclusion that Job's friends are jerks and have no sympathy for Job. But I don't think they intended to end up in the conversation they had. After Job lost everything- his wealth, his children, his health- his friends showed an amazing level of compassion towards Job by sitting on the ground with him for SEVEN days and nights in silence! I can't even imagine sitting still with some one for a single day, let alone 7 days!
The text doesn't tell us, but its possible that they were fasting during this time for their tragedy-strucken friend, who they apparently cared for deeply. But somewhere along the way, they forgot their love for Job, and felt like it was their duty to play God in Job's life and tell Job to repent of his many sins. After all, (in their mind) only the rebellious sinner suffers in this life, not the righteous....
There's a lot for us to be learned here. Probably the biggest thing I came away with is that when people are hurting or grieving, they don't need to hear your words as much as they need to feel that you care. Often a friends mere presence in our time of grief speaks volumes about how much they love us.
There is a time to talk through the questions and emotions, and when that time comes, don't follow the lead of Job's friends. If it is more important for you to be right than to grieve with your friend, then you will inevitably accomplish your goal to win the argument, and not the person.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Authentic Christian community requires faith
Acts 4:32-35
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."
I read this passage this morning and couldn't help thinking how awesome it would be to live amongst believers who lived like this. A spoken faith backed up by action. I guess that's the true measure of faith any way. Praying that God would open the eyes of my heart so that I can see where he's calling me, moving me, burdening me for His Church, His Name, and His purposes. Praying also that God would do the same for you.
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."
I read this passage this morning and couldn't help thinking how awesome it would be to live amongst believers who lived like this. A spoken faith backed up by action. I guess that's the true measure of faith any way. Praying that God would open the eyes of my heart so that I can see where he's calling me, moving me, burdening me for His Church, His Name, and His purposes. Praying also that God would do the same for you.
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