Tonight i am taking off because i am exhausted from today and i have to leave early in the morning to go to the airport and fly to Atlanta for a Leadership workshop for Chick-fil-A. I am really excited and ready to take a couple days off from everything and relax.
Today was a really good day! I was blessed to have the opportunity to play the bass for the Praise Band. Things went really well the message Tom gave was awesome! He talked about the Anchor of our Soul being the Cross. It was a message that showed us that in the midst of our sin that we shouldn't always focus on saying "there is a lot of sin behind this situation", when we should be focused on saying, "God is over this situation"!
Tom had made a picture of a stick figure and kind of painted out a picture that helped me connect even more with the moral of the message. You know it was a good time for me to hear this message because i feel like i am making my way back down the narrow path to Christ after i had fallen (like all Christians" in my walk. It helped me realize that i cannot allow Satan have me focus on all the sin i have committed but just to focus on the Cross.
After the message we ended with a song called "Lead me to the Cross" and that allowed me to just cry out while i was playing to Jesus because that's all i want to do is just glorify him and move forward without any feeling of condemnation(Romans8:1).
Lord that is just my prayer that you would lead me to the cross and help me focus on it above all else. Help me make you and keep you my #1 in my life. I want to glorify you and live for you! I love you so so much Lord and i know even though i have done some things that haven't glorified you that you still loved me then and that you had made it all happen because you have a plan and may have used my past situations to lead me somewhere later on. I wanna be used by you O Lord! I love you so much Lord God!
In Jesus name.....Amen
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Ready to be used!
I took the night off tonight from reading my book because i found out something huge earlier today (Saturday). Randy our drummer at Church had called me and asked me to play the bass for Sunday. I of course was all for it! I have been wanting to join the team for awhile now since i have been playing bass.
Tonight i need to just spend time in prayer so i know that my heart is properly prepared to lead the congregation to God's throne tomorrow morning. Don't get me wrong Shane's book is awesome but i got a phone call from my Youth Pastor Tom and he said make sure you are there for the right reasons. I know i am definitely playing for the right reasons but i want to spend a little more time praying to God tonight before i go to bed so i can prepare my heart tonight and tomorrow morning as well before Church.
If you are reading this before Sunday service please be praying for me as well. I take opportunities like this serious and i want to make sure that i am pure and ready to lead others not just my age but elders as well!
I'm stoked to see what God has planned for tomorrow! Tom will be giving the message and i always love hearing Tom speak he is very passionate and is totally sold out for God!
Well i must go now, i want to be ready for God to use me.
Have a great day/evening/morning!
1 Timothy 4:12
Tonight i need to just spend time in prayer so i know that my heart is properly prepared to lead the congregation to God's throne tomorrow morning. Don't get me wrong Shane's book is awesome but i got a phone call from my Youth Pastor Tom and he said make sure you are there for the right reasons. I know i am definitely playing for the right reasons but i want to spend a little more time praying to God tonight before i go to bed so i can prepare my heart tonight and tomorrow morning as well before Church.
If you are reading this before Sunday service please be praying for me as well. I take opportunities like this serious and i want to make sure that i am pure and ready to lead others not just my age but elders as well!
I'm stoked to see what God has planned for tomorrow! Tom will be giving the message and i always love hearing Tom speak he is very passionate and is totally sold out for God!
Well i must go now, i want to be ready for God to use me.
Have a great day/evening/morning!
1 Timothy 4:12
Friday, July 11, 2008
"The Irresisitible Revolution" Chapter 4
Tonight's chapter was a little different Shane went from talking about what he went out and did to just some scenarios that he had come across when he came back from Calcutta. Shane spoke a little bit about how in Matthew 19:16-30 about how the rich man walks away once Jesus had told him to sell all of his things and give to the poor.
Shane had went into detail about how he believes Jesus didn't actually mean sell EVERYTHING we have but just not to idolize our possessions.
A part i enjoyed in the chapter is when Shane said ," The temptation we face is to compromise the cost of discipleship, and in the process, the Christian identity cam get lost. We don't want folks to walk away. We're driven by a sincere longing for others to know God's love and grace and to experience Christian community. And yet we can end up merely cheapening the very thing we want folks to experience. This is the "cheap grace" that the spiritual writer and fellow revolutionary Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "the most deadly enemy of the Church".
When i read that i was like WOW! once again. I was being snapped out of a little thing i don't even know how to describe when i read that and asked myself, "Am i a victim of "cheap grace" toward non-Christians that i want to experience God's love and grace?"It has really just now motivated me to be extra careful not only when I'm around non-Christians but where ever i am for that sake so i do not continue to fall into the category of showing "cheap grace" towards others. I want to lessen the factor of what Bonhoeffer says is "the most deadly enemy of the church."
Shane also talked about how at one of his Colleges he went to (Willow Creek) they had removed all Crosses from their campus.(Even though it was a Christian college). They had said that it may offend some people and what they call "seeker sensitive" which is just being sensitive to someone who may not be a Christian but is curious or some other scenario like such. I love what Shane says though based on his opinion he says, " True, the cross is not always seeker sensitive. It is not comfortable. But it is the cornerstone of our faith, and i fear that when we remove the cross, we remove the Central symbol of the nonviolence and grace of our Lover. If we remove the cross, we are in danger of promoting a very cheap grace. Perhaps it should make us uncomfortable. After all, it wasn't so comfy to get nailed there.
With that said i want to wrap it up for this chapter because that is what we need to open our eyes to as Christ followers. We don't need to be making or wearing jewelry of a cross that is all "blinged" out because if we ever look back in time i believe for one the cross was made out of wood and it wasn't a symbol people liked to see much. But now that Christ sacrificed his life on it for you and i it has changed the way we look at the Cross. We should all be looking at it in awe of such a sacrifice done for all of us dirty sinners so that we would not perish but have eternal life!!
Praise you Father God for that marvelous declaration of knowing that sin has lost its power!!
Praise you Lord!!
Shane had went into detail about how he believes Jesus didn't actually mean sell EVERYTHING we have but just not to idolize our possessions.
A part i enjoyed in the chapter is when Shane said ," The temptation we face is to compromise the cost of discipleship, and in the process, the Christian identity cam get lost. We don't want folks to walk away. We're driven by a sincere longing for others to know God's love and grace and to experience Christian community. And yet we can end up merely cheapening the very thing we want folks to experience. This is the "cheap grace" that the spiritual writer and fellow revolutionary Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "the most deadly enemy of the Church".
When i read that i was like WOW! once again. I was being snapped out of a little thing i don't even know how to describe when i read that and asked myself, "Am i a victim of "cheap grace" toward non-Christians that i want to experience God's love and grace?"It has really just now motivated me to be extra careful not only when I'm around non-Christians but where ever i am for that sake so i do not continue to fall into the category of showing "cheap grace" towards others. I want to lessen the factor of what Bonhoeffer says is "the most deadly enemy of the church."
Shane also talked about how at one of his Colleges he went to (Willow Creek) they had removed all Crosses from their campus.(Even though it was a Christian college). They had said that it may offend some people and what they call "seeker sensitive" which is just being sensitive to someone who may not be a Christian but is curious or some other scenario like such. I love what Shane says though based on his opinion he says, " True, the cross is not always seeker sensitive. It is not comfortable. But it is the cornerstone of our faith, and i fear that when we remove the cross, we remove the Central symbol of the nonviolence and grace of our Lover. If we remove the cross, we are in danger of promoting a very cheap grace. Perhaps it should make us uncomfortable. After all, it wasn't so comfy to get nailed there.
With that said i want to wrap it up for this chapter because that is what we need to open our eyes to as Christ followers. We don't need to be making or wearing jewelry of a cross that is all "blinged" out because if we ever look back in time i believe for one the cross was made out of wood and it wasn't a symbol people liked to see much. But now that Christ sacrificed his life on it for you and i it has changed the way we look at the Cross. We should all be looking at it in awe of such a sacrifice done for all of us dirty sinners so that we would not perish but have eternal life!!
Praise you Father God for that marvelous declaration of knowing that sin has lost its power!!
Praise you Lord!!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
"The Irresisitable Revolution" Chapter 3
Well today was a pretty good day so far. I woke up early this morning to go to the beach with some friends to have some "God time". It was really good i had started off by reading 1 Samuel chapter 10. Then i had moved on to my book.
In chapter 3 it was cool to read because i pretty much heard Shane's message about the same thing. It started out with one of Shane's friends who went to his Christian College that said " I am not a Christian anymore". At first Shane was puzzled but then his friend said, "I gave up Christianity be a follower of Jesus." Now when i read that i was like, "Wow! are you serious?" But then as Shane explained it and i thought it through it sometimes seems like the whole "I'm a Christian" term doesn't really help unless you truly live it out for Jesus.
The Chapter then went to talk about how Shane tried to get a hold of Mother Teresa in Calcutta to seek for a "follower" of Jesus. After many weeks he had finally got a hold of her and she said he could come for the summer but come now. Shane was like,"but what about food and money?" Mother Teresa replied by saying," God takes care of the lilies and sparrows, and God will take care of you." Now you know when i read that i was like... you know how true is that! We sometimes always get caught up in worrying about things when we shouldn't because of our faith in Jesus we should know that we will be fine in life. Shane then flies out to Calcutta and hangs out with Mother Teresa and just witnesses the Gospel coming to life in his eyes. He had been apart of helping the poor on a sidewalk get a bath and have their clothes sewn and maybe a toy as well. The he had visited a place for people who had diseases and were close to dying.
While he was at both places he really had time to see the true meaning of being a follower. He had met a man who was a wealthy man in Germany who had read the Gospel and then sold all of his possessions and give it to the poor just as it says in Luke12:33. That was another shocker just to read about someone who had actually done that! Shane had also gone to a community where there were only Lepers. (People with Leprosy) He had spent a good amount of time with some Lepers praying talking hugging and crying.
Shane Claiborne had really had an "eye openers" experience and just reading helped me open my eyes to seek things that actually mattered like helping others and putting them before myself.
At the end of the chapter it is titled "Find Your Calcutta" and Shane had said that the United States was his Calcutta which means you don't have to be with Mother Teresa or in Calcutta to be a follower or love on others like it is done there. You can do the same things here!
Its time we step out of our comfort zone and be the change!
Lord, help me and my fellow bloggers who read this just strive to live a life that is Glorifying to you and that your will is being done in. Help us open our eyes to the things unseen such as poor people or anyone in need or what ever you want to lead us to. Lord for those who have a servant's heart please bless them and myself to continue to take HUGE strides out of our comfort zones to serve others! I love you so much Lord God!!
In Jesus name....Amen.
In chapter 3 it was cool to read because i pretty much heard Shane's message about the same thing. It started out with one of Shane's friends who went to his Christian College that said " I am not a Christian anymore". At first Shane was puzzled but then his friend said, "I gave up Christianity be a follower of Jesus." Now when i read that i was like, "Wow! are you serious?" But then as Shane explained it and i thought it through it sometimes seems like the whole "I'm a Christian" term doesn't really help unless you truly live it out for Jesus.
The Chapter then went to talk about how Shane tried to get a hold of Mother Teresa in Calcutta to seek for a "follower" of Jesus. After many weeks he had finally got a hold of her and she said he could come for the summer but come now. Shane was like,"but what about food and money?" Mother Teresa replied by saying," God takes care of the lilies and sparrows, and God will take care of you." Now you know when i read that i was like... you know how true is that! We sometimes always get caught up in worrying about things when we shouldn't because of our faith in Jesus we should know that we will be fine in life. Shane then flies out to Calcutta and hangs out with Mother Teresa and just witnesses the Gospel coming to life in his eyes. He had been apart of helping the poor on a sidewalk get a bath and have their clothes sewn and maybe a toy as well. The he had visited a place for people who had diseases and were close to dying.
While he was at both places he really had time to see the true meaning of being a follower. He had met a man who was a wealthy man in Germany who had read the Gospel and then sold all of his possessions and give it to the poor just as it says in Luke12:33. That was another shocker just to read about someone who had actually done that! Shane had also gone to a community where there were only Lepers. (People with Leprosy) He had spent a good amount of time with some Lepers praying talking hugging and crying.
Shane Claiborne had really had an "eye openers" experience and just reading helped me open my eyes to seek things that actually mattered like helping others and putting them before myself.
At the end of the chapter it is titled "Find Your Calcutta" and Shane had said that the United States was his Calcutta which means you don't have to be with Mother Teresa or in Calcutta to be a follower or love on others like it is done there. You can do the same things here!
Its time we step out of our comfort zone and be the change!
Lord, help me and my fellow bloggers who read this just strive to live a life that is Glorifying to you and that your will is being done in. Help us open our eyes to the things unseen such as poor people or anyone in need or what ever you want to lead us to. Lord for those who have a servant's heart please bless them and myself to continue to take HUGE strides out of our comfort zones to serve others! I love you so much Lord God!!
In Jesus name....Amen.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
"The Irresisitible Revolution" Chapter 2
Chapter 2 of The Irresistible Revolution is pretty Radical..Lets just say a small Christian College helps homeless women and children get saved from being evicted from vacant Cathedrals.Talk about radical!!! Hundreds of students willing to be arrested with the Homeless people just to send a message to the city.Finally the city tried getting Fire Marshalls to inspect the building but the night before two firefighters secretively came over and made sure the place was equipped with exit signs, extinguishers,smoke alarms, you name it!!! The city finally started to donate homes to the homeless families.
You know today as i was leaving work i had a 3 strip and a medium sized fry from Chick-fil-A.I saw a poor man on the median holdinga sign that said "Homeless Hungry God Bless"You know i realized i don't care whether the guy was faking it or not he needed to be loved on so i called him over and gave him my medium fry.It felt so good to see him take them.He had either mumbled or just moved his lips but i didn't hear what he said but i knew he was relieved.I am so glad i had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and give up food to someone who may have not had anything at all that day.I pray he has shelter and is doing well right now as i write this!
Have a good night everyone and remember.........In God's eyes we are all equal so don't ever think because of what you have or "your possessions" you are better because once the world comes to an end we will all be in the same situation....We will have nothing but Jesus!!
Praise God!!!
You know today as i was leaving work i had a 3 strip and a medium sized fry from Chick-fil-A.I saw a poor man on the median holdinga sign that said "Homeless Hungry God Bless"You know i realized i don't care whether the guy was faking it or not he needed to be loved on so i called him over and gave him my medium fry.It felt so good to see him take them.He had either mumbled or just moved his lips but i didn't hear what he said but i knew he was relieved.I am so glad i had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and give up food to someone who may have not had anything at all that day.I pray he has shelter and is doing well right now as i write this!
Have a good night everyone and remember.........In God's eyes we are all equal so don't ever think because of what you have or "your possessions" you are better because once the world comes to an end we will all be in the same situation....We will have nothing but Jesus!!
Praise God!!!
"The Irresisitible Revolution" Chapter 1
Got done reading chapter 1 in this new book im reading called; "The irresistable Revolution" by:Shane Claiborne.So far it is a great inspirational book just from reading the first chapter i can tell it will help me make some changes in my life for the good.
I really hope this book wil help me out. I see how it has for others and hope the same for me!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Follower bible study day 4 and 5
I enjoyed both chapters of Matthew, chapter 4 and 5.
Chapter 4 was cool to see how Jesus was tempted by Satan and every time he had said something to defend himself it came from the Word of God. That's just awesome to see Jesus quoting scripture like most of us do. It was also evidence to the fact that if we defend ourselves from temptation with the Word of God then we will always be protected! The Word is like a sword and it will defend us all from anything the enemy tries to throw our way to make us stumble. Chapter 4 then goes into the beginning of Christ's ministry. From going to Galilee to leading fishermen, Jesus went everywhere to spread the Good News about himself.
Chapter 5 starts out by Jesus taught a crowd and his disciples by quoting scripture. After many examples Jesus talks about the salt and the light and how we are the salt of the earth. Jesus questions us on how we can we become good salt. He then talks about us being the light, a light that shines the good deeds in us from Christ. I love in that little passage verse 15 talking about lighting a candle and then blocking it with a basket and how it would be able to shine if the basket were over it.
Do we sometimes put the basket over our light that we shine onto others who dont know Christ?
How do we fix ourselves to where we dont hide Jesus in us instead of sharing him with the world?
Lord that is my prayer, that we do not hide the light you have called us to be. I pray that we shine our light for you for all to see how great and awesome you really are. I pray for whoever reads this blog that they would recognize some areas where they may have hidden their light and now are ready to go tell the World about Jesus Christ!
Enjoy!
Ryan
Chapter 4 was cool to see how Jesus was tempted by Satan and every time he had said something to defend himself it came from the Word of God. That's just awesome to see Jesus quoting scripture like most of us do. It was also evidence to the fact that if we defend ourselves from temptation with the Word of God then we will always be protected! The Word is like a sword and it will defend us all from anything the enemy tries to throw our way to make us stumble. Chapter 4 then goes into the beginning of Christ's ministry. From going to Galilee to leading fishermen, Jesus went everywhere to spread the Good News about himself.
Chapter 5 starts out by Jesus taught a crowd and his disciples by quoting scripture. After many examples Jesus talks about the salt and the light and how we are the salt of the earth. Jesus questions us on how we can we become good salt. He then talks about us being the light, a light that shines the good deeds in us from Christ. I love in that little passage verse 15 talking about lighting a candle and then blocking it with a basket and how it would be able to shine if the basket were over it.
Do we sometimes put the basket over our light that we shine onto others who dont know Christ?
How do we fix ourselves to where we dont hide Jesus in us instead of sharing him with the world?
Lord that is my prayer, that we do not hide the light you have called us to be. I pray that we shine our light for you for all to see how great and awesome you really are. I pray for whoever reads this blog that they would recognize some areas where they may have hidden their light and now are ready to go tell the World about Jesus Christ!
Enjoy!
Ryan
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