I just want to say that TCX 05 is going to be AMAZING. God is going to use it in such a huge way- this is going to change so many lives. I cannot wait for this conference. 95 more days until TCX 05!!! :D
This is my name forever ~Exodus 3:15
Monday, September 26, 2005
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
ignorance & knowledge
I don't know as much as I should.
When I began the L-O-N-G journey of finding out who God really is and why Jesus seemed to be so important to everyone, I knew nothing. I thought I was such a hotshot in high school- but college immediately humbled me. Even in my faith in high school I thought I was all 'high and mighty...' until I realized I didn't know jack about Jesus. Talk about ignorance.
Every once in awhile I slip into the habit of thinking I am that ignorant again. I am so thankful that God has met me where I am and has opened my eyes to the Truth. When I think back on the past few years and even just the past year at USD, I have grown imMENSEly. But here comes that thought again that I really don't know that much about Jesus and the Bible. I really felt that attending Hillside's rockin' summer Bible Study- but once I got over it and dug into God's Word my eyes were opened even more. I have learned so much from those long Bible studies. But I can never know everything. There will always be a new topic to learn about, a new Bible verse or story or person that I know very little about.
And that's ok.
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." -John 21:25
When I began the L-O-N-G journey of finding out who God really is and why Jesus seemed to be so important to everyone, I knew nothing. I thought I was such a hotshot in high school- but college immediately humbled me. Even in my faith in high school I thought I was all 'high and mighty...' until I realized I didn't know jack about Jesus. Talk about ignorance.
Every once in awhile I slip into the habit of thinking I am that ignorant again. I am so thankful that God has met me where I am and has opened my eyes to the Truth. When I think back on the past few years and even just the past year at USD, I have grown imMENSEly. But here comes that thought again that I really don't know that much about Jesus and the Bible. I really felt that attending Hillside's rockin' summer Bible Study- but once I got over it and dug into God's Word my eyes were opened even more. I have learned so much from those long Bible studies. But I can never know everything. There will always be a new topic to learn about, a new Bible verse or story or person that I know very little about.
And that's ok.
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." -John 21:25
Saturday, September 17, 2005
listen
sometimes I catch myself looking for 'signs' that I should or should not do something...clues that will help me make decisions. well, one of the best signs we get is from our own bodies. I hate being sick. I really don't like not feeling 'normal.' But I know this is a warning that I need to spend my time wisely and take more time to relax. sometimes the answer comes to us before we know we need to look for one.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
direction
God is sovereign (psalm 68:20 ... one of numerous references). When I pray, I often ask God to reveal His will to me about certain situations. I think it's so ironic that so often I seek to know God's will and I just flat out ask Him. To be honest, many times I don't think about it after I pray it and I seldom think about the answer I hear. why do we pray for His will instead of according to His will? When we pray according to His will, He will honor us and give us what He knows we need right now.
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
-1 John 5:14-15
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
-1 John 5:14-15
Sunday, September 11, 2005
In Me
How crazy would it have been to be alive when Jesus was? To be able to eat with him, talk with him, listen to him preach the Gospel for all to understand and believe? Imagine being on the boat when Jesus calmed the storm, healed a paralyzed man, fed the 5,000 ... and then the 4,000 ... and then walked on water.
I can picture it in my mind, but I can't really know or remotely feel what it would have been like walking side by side with the living Son of God. It was have been truly awesome to be with Jesus while he was here on earth.
But don't be dismayed. He was physically with Peter when they walked on water. But Jesus is even closer to you- if you have received him, he LIVES in you. You can't get much closer than that.
Where were you last night when the party was on?
Where were you when we all went down to the bar?
It seems you have changed from us all. It seems you have changed.
You want to know, the differences between us-
You want to know, why these things have changed?
You've got to know the One who lives in me-He lives in me, in me.
[kutless - in me]
I can picture it in my mind, but I can't really know or remotely feel what it would have been like walking side by side with the living Son of God. It was have been truly awesome to be with Jesus while he was here on earth.
But don't be dismayed. He was physically with Peter when they walked on water. But Jesus is even closer to you- if you have received him, he LIVES in you. You can't get much closer than that.
Where were you last night when the party was on?
Where were you when we all went down to the bar?
It seems you have changed from us all. It seems you have changed.
You want to know, the differences between us-
You want to know, why these things have changed?
You've got to know the One who lives in me-He lives in me, in me.
[kutless - in me]
Monday, September 05, 2005
price already paid
"Imagine that someone purchased an appliance for you and also paid for a warranty to take care of any repairs. Imagine that at some point the appliance breaks down and is in need of repair. You don't know about the warranty, so you forgo the use of your appliance because you can't afford the repair. Then imagine the giver's despair when she discovers that you have not accessed the provision she had already paid for. Think of her sorrow at knowing that you have scraped by when she already paid the price that would guarantee you exactly what you needed."
[excerpt from When You Hurt and When He Heals - thanks melissa :) ]
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" -Romans 8:32
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." -Ephesians 1:13
[excerpt from When You Hurt and When He Heals - thanks melissa :) ]
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" -Romans 8:32
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." -Ephesians 1:13
Thursday, September 01, 2005
how blessed are we
I'm sitting here tonight, watching a dateline special on the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the people that have been affected by it. I'm sure you've seen a lot of news coverage about it, heard the stories, seen the horrible pictures of houses completely under water, people stranded with no home to speak of and no food to eat. A two year old child separated from his mother, and familes who wait hours in line for gas - sometimes having to push their cars to the station. Even college students who moved into their dorms, then were told to go home.
Personally, I will pay $2.75 for a gallon of gas, even 3 bucks if it gets that high. If I have to buy gas, it means I have money to pay for it. It means I have an empty tank because I've driven friends to church and gone home to see family. It means I have friends and family to see and I know where they are. It means I have my own car to drive wherever I want, and that I have somewhere to go.
There is so much to be thankful for, I feel so blessed that I simply have a great family, wonderful friends and a deep faith in a God that I love. A God that I know will stand by those who call on his name. Although this world is so broken, stay rooted in the fact that this world is not what we live for. It my prayer that God will reveal to you all the blessings he has bestowed upon you, and that you may rest in the security he has promised to his children.
Personally, I will pay $2.75 for a gallon of gas, even 3 bucks if it gets that high. If I have to buy gas, it means I have money to pay for it. It means I have an empty tank because I've driven friends to church and gone home to see family. It means I have friends and family to see and I know where they are. It means I have my own car to drive wherever I want, and that I have somewhere to go.
There is so much to be thankful for, I feel so blessed that I simply have a great family, wonderful friends and a deep faith in a God that I love. A God that I know will stand by those who call on his name. Although this world is so broken, stay rooted in the fact that this world is not what we live for. It my prayer that God will reveal to you all the blessings he has bestowed upon you, and that you may rest in the security he has promised to his children.