2 blogs in 1 day .... a record?? perhaps....
SO, i was at youth tonight and it was the last one of the year. kinda the last one for me period. we had it at the park in this covered area and sang worship songs....it was so beautiful.
there were people walking around outside, cuz it's a public park, and something inside of me just kind of broke. now, i'm gonna be honest, i can't hide my emotions very well. they live in this cute little corner of my sleeve, and kind of, well, do whatever they want. :-)
anyways, something inside me broke, and it was like, God gave me His eyes.... i saw the people as He sees them.... people He created, He loves.... i began to wonder about their lives, if they knew this Love, if they had this hope that consumes me.... tears welled and trickled down my face as i just got this deep burden for the people, all the people, who are in such desperate need for hope, for true, abundant, and eternal life.... and then i turned around and looked at the buttload of students and leaders worshipping Jesus and declaring that our God is mighty to save to this broken, hurting, and love-starved world.... and i just got this revelation that THIS IS IT. this is what it is ALL about. not our cute little churches. not the 4 walls that contain us. we ARE the Church and we are NEEDED.
and then i just got this burning, persistent sense in my spirit.... like, i needed to share something. i was like, "oh well, maybe it'll pass, whatever" and kind of dismissed it, but it just grew and grew into, like, a fire in my bones.... i had a message i couldn't contain. i actually got physically jittery and i just HAD to share! and, of course, i bawled my eyes out. i wish i could control my crying, REALLY!! i'm an ESFP (personality type - google it) and i feel things very deeply. i frequently cry during worship, i'm not gonna lie.... His presence just captures me in a very deep way and that's how i respond i guess.... LOL
anyways, eventually God gave me an opportunity to speak, and i hope someone got what i was trying to say.... i care so much about that group of people, and KNOW that God's got a MOVEMENT that's going to come from them.... i love and believe in them so much and mean every word that i said tonight.... there's a world that needs the Solution we have.... let's live this thing out and run this race....
i'll leave you with hebrews 6:10-12 in "the message":
"God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown Him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them."
Who Am I?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Mark 7
for some reason, i really like mark 7. i'd encourage you to read it sometime. basically, the first part of the chapter is Jesus talking with the pharisees about how they claim to be so spiritual when they fail to fulfill the commandments. they dishonor their parents by claiming they gave their gifts to God instead, and Jesus calls them on it. the bottom line of this section is that it's not what we take in, or eat, that pollutes our lives, it's what comes out of us. the disciples don't get what He's saying, so He lays it out plain for them. by saying that what we eat doesn't contaminate us or our hearts, He's making it clear that all foods are fit to eat. this is contrary to jewish law because they had many dietary restrictions. Jesus is saying that food shouldn't be our main source of arguments. it shouldn't be what trips us up, keeps us repentant before God, and causes resentment amongst our brothers and sisters. it shouldn't be our main concern. rather, we should be paying the acutest attention to what is coming OUT of our mouths, for that is what contaminates our hearts and lives. in "the message," verses 20-23 read like this, [Jesus speaking] "It's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness - all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution."
the rest of the chapter is about Jesus healing two people: a Greek woman's demon-posessed daughter, and a man who was deaf and mute. what particularly struck me was the story about the woman. she comes to Jesus and begs Him to heal her daughter, and this is His reply (verse 27, NIV): "First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." - WOW! sounds pretty harsh, Jesus....calling her a dog because she's a gentile.... but this woman was bold, and replied, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Jesus was impressed with her reply and told her to go - "the demon has left your daughter." and when the woman returned home, that's exactly what she found. i always thought that was a rather harsh way to deal with a woman who wanted healing for her daughter, but Jesus never sinned. period. and i guess perhaps he knew what her reply would be. maybe she needed to step out in boldness and faith, and his curt response gave her that opportunity when i'd imagine many others would be offended, give up, and turn away.... i don't know.... just thoughts to think about. :-)
the rest of the chapter is about Jesus healing two people: a Greek woman's demon-posessed daughter, and a man who was deaf and mute. what particularly struck me was the story about the woman. she comes to Jesus and begs Him to heal her daughter, and this is His reply (verse 27, NIV): "First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." - WOW! sounds pretty harsh, Jesus....calling her a dog because she's a gentile.... but this woman was bold, and replied, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Jesus was impressed with her reply and told her to go - "the demon has left your daughter." and when the woman returned home, that's exactly what she found. i always thought that was a rather harsh way to deal with a woman who wanted healing for her daughter, but Jesus never sinned. period. and i guess perhaps he knew what her reply would be. maybe she needed to step out in boldness and faith, and his curt response gave her that opportunity when i'd imagine many others would be offended, give up, and turn away.... i don't know.... just thoughts to think about. :-)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Well, ok then....
Yesterday at church (KMC), we had some guest speakers that are missionaries to India, Dr. David and Dr. Lynn Willis. What a dynamic couple!
It was my week to lead worship and my team introduced "Revelation Song" by Jennie Lee Riddle. It went well and the congregation really liked the song, but sometimes it's hard to tell from the stage. But the music set was really good in my opinion, and God showed up, which is the best thing ever....it's the only thing that matters! I worshiped, I cried, it was great. Haha!
Anyways, Dr. David gave a great word on the Issachar anointing and knowing the times and seasons of God, he and Dr. Lynn prayed for everybody while we led them in worship.
After the service was over, my mom wanted Dr. Lynn to pray for me, and we all talked for a little bit about my internship, etc., and she began to pray.
It was incredible to me because she basically prayed my entire life - all my hopes and fears, and we'd only met that day. She mentioned things like leadership (that was a big one), prophecy, discernment, worship leading, protection, having a worshiper's heart, relationships, provision, etc. I was blown away at how God knows it all.... Like, yes, He knows because He knows everything, but He also cares. It's so encouraging to know that He's marked me.... that He's guiding me.... I just can't wait to see what He's going to do! :-)
It was my week to lead worship and my team introduced "Revelation Song" by Jennie Lee Riddle. It went well and the congregation really liked the song, but sometimes it's hard to tell from the stage. But the music set was really good in my opinion, and God showed up, which is the best thing ever....it's the only thing that matters! I worshiped, I cried, it was great. Haha!
Anyways, Dr. David gave a great word on the Issachar anointing and knowing the times and seasons of God, he and Dr. Lynn prayed for everybody while we led them in worship.
After the service was over, my mom wanted Dr. Lynn to pray for me, and we all talked for a little bit about my internship, etc., and she began to pray.
It was incredible to me because she basically prayed my entire life - all my hopes and fears, and we'd only met that day. She mentioned things like leadership (that was a big one), prophecy, discernment, worship leading, protection, having a worshiper's heart, relationships, provision, etc. I was blown away at how God knows it all.... Like, yes, He knows because He knows everything, but He also cares. It's so encouraging to know that He's marked me.... that He's guiding me.... I just can't wait to see what He's going to do! :-)
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