We were created to adore. We were created to get totally absorbed, fall head over heels, be dazed and confused, go all in...in love with our Savior.
Along the way we sometimes go astray...especially in our culture where the more the better reigns. We adore our families, we adore our friends, we adore our jobs, we adore our hobbies, we adore our free time, we adore our margaritas, we adore chocolate, we adore what we can smoke-snort-shoot up.We adore sexual relationships that were never meant to be.
We adore so many things. So why are there so many who are empty, anxious, depressed, looking up and thinking there has to be more than this?
There is only one thing we can adore...are supposed to adore...that will lead to fullfillment instead of pain. We are to adore Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY thing that ever walked this planet that we can adore and be safe. Jesus does not lie. He does not run. He does not lead us astray. He does not love us for selfish reasons. He does not use us for self-promotion. Jesus loves to love because He is love.
It is O.K. to take the cover off your heart. It is O.K. to be dependent. It is O.K. to trust, to feel, to commit, to surrender, to be saved by the one and only thing that will never hurt you. You may have been hurt by people, but not by the Savior.
Let loose, breathe, have faith, have hope...all for His glory...all for His delight.
We were made to adore Him.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
3D
We look at T.V. screens - flat. We look at cell phone screens - flat. We stare at computer monitors - flat. We do a lot of living in a one dimensional world, and we feel, well - flat.
God created a 3D world. There are galaxies, stars, planets, water, creatures, people. Everything in creation has motion. It moves, connects, flows out, returns. Our lives should look that way. We should be bonding with those around us. Our listening skills should have power and affect. Our love should go out, move, and the blessings return. Our tears need to be wiped. This morning's sirens need prayer. The hungry need fed. The sick need healing. The bored need to be entertained. The heavy in heart need to laugh. Our emotions need to twist, turn, and fold.
You can't be a part of these things if your life is flat because you're only living for yourself. God intended on 3D living: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Your loving God created you and is in control. Jesus Christ came and showed us how to live, laugh, love, weep, and sacrifice. The Holy Spirit indwelled Jesus, and the Holy Spirit lives in us who believe and call on His name. You can put on the glasses of the world and trick your mind into thinking your living, but when you take those glasses off the screen of your life is flat again. Or, you can believe in God, cry out for the salvation of Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit into your heart and soul.
3D
Father, Son, Spirit
Faith, Hope, Charity
Love, Mercy, Grace
Confession,Repentance,Redemption
...
God created a 3D world. There are galaxies, stars, planets, water, creatures, people. Everything in creation has motion. It moves, connects, flows out, returns. Our lives should look that way. We should be bonding with those around us. Our listening skills should have power and affect. Our love should go out, move, and the blessings return. Our tears need to be wiped. This morning's sirens need prayer. The hungry need fed. The sick need healing. The bored need to be entertained. The heavy in heart need to laugh. Our emotions need to twist, turn, and fold.
You can't be a part of these things if your life is flat because you're only living for yourself. God intended on 3D living: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Your loving God created you and is in control. Jesus Christ came and showed us how to live, laugh, love, weep, and sacrifice. The Holy Spirit indwelled Jesus, and the Holy Spirit lives in us who believe and call on His name. You can put on the glasses of the world and trick your mind into thinking your living, but when you take those glasses off the screen of your life is flat again. Or, you can believe in God, cry out for the salvation of Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit into your heart and soul.
3D
Father, Son, Spirit
Faith, Hope, Charity
Love, Mercy, Grace
Confession,Repentance,Redemption
...
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Exciting Times to be a Disciple for Jesus
I don't believe there has been a more exciting time to be a disciple for Jesus Christ than right now. Some look at the world and think things are terrible. I hear comments like, "I wouldn't want to raise a child today." Look around. It is terrible. The Palestinians are STILL trying to take over Jerusalem. The Muslims are trying to worship at Ground Zero. The U.S. Is trying to resist big govt taking over little govt.
BUT here is the Good News: there is hope! It's good that those with only a worldly belief system are getting tired of feeling empty. It is good that people who have been in church all their lives are lookng for relationship rather than religion. It is good that small govt will force charity back into play. I mean...I can pay it forward just fine when the govt doesn't take half and tell me what to do with the second half.
Right now there is world wide tension...the feeling that a shift is taking place. People are wondering how did we get here and how do we get out. People are looking...looking. What better time to find hope in Jesus Christ? What better time to be filled with the Holy Spirit? What better time for revival? What better time for true worship of a Holy God whose great compassion still loves His wayward child? What better time to be a prodigal daughter?
Jesus said...love, forgive, have compassion, take care of those in need. How refreshing in a world that has been ripped off, hacked, molested, robbed, and lied to? These are amazing times because people want to take their masks off and get real. We have every means in the world to communicate who we are, where we've been, and how Jesus changed us...is changing us.
Raise your hands. Raise your voices. There has never been a more exciting time to be a disciple!
BUT here is the Good News: there is hope! It's good that those with only a worldly belief system are getting tired of feeling empty. It is good that people who have been in church all their lives are lookng for relationship rather than religion. It is good that small govt will force charity back into play. I mean...I can pay it forward just fine when the govt doesn't take half and tell me what to do with the second half.
Right now there is world wide tension...the feeling that a shift is taking place. People are wondering how did we get here and how do we get out. People are looking...looking. What better time to find hope in Jesus Christ? What better time to be filled with the Holy Spirit? What better time for revival? What better time for true worship of a Holy God whose great compassion still loves His wayward child? What better time to be a prodigal daughter?
Jesus said...love, forgive, have compassion, take care of those in need. How refreshing in a world that has been ripped off, hacked, molested, robbed, and lied to? These are amazing times because people want to take their masks off and get real. We have every means in the world to communicate who we are, where we've been, and how Jesus changed us...is changing us.
Raise your hands. Raise your voices. There has never been a more exciting time to be a disciple!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Are You Full?
Do you ever get sucked up in the religion game...wondering who is right and who is wrong? Do you wonder if one group has it figured out better than the rest? Do you go through the motions to cover the bases? Do you listen to others talk about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and feel empty - feel like their words are all for show? READ EPHESIANS CH.3! If ever there was a passage to explain what it meant to bring salvation to the world, to live life to the fullest, to be saved...this chapter is it! The Bible is crystal clear on Israel's favor with God. They have been through so much together and every world event, current event, and headline ticker is telling their redemption story. However, in Ephesians Ch.3, Paul beautifully shows us that we also are in God's favor. Jesus came for us. We have our own redemption story in the cross, and not just Jesus' death on the cross, but His life thereafter. His resurrection story is our fullness in Christ. I literally remember what life was like without Jesus - a rat race full of anxiety and disappointments that Paxil only took the edge off of. Everyone's story is different, but my life before Jesus and after is as different as night and day. I have my own personal B.C./A.D. timeline that is the perfect before/after makeover shot.
Jesus not only offers us non-Israeli's eternity, He also brings us fullness in Him right now. Living is being so full you weep or so full you laugh out loud. Being full is going through a crisis and not loosing faith. Being full is loving when the old you wants to hate, and walking away when you know revenge could be yours. Being full is resting in the middle of chaos...being still and knowing He is God.
We are full of His Spirit. We are full of His word. We are full of grace. We are full of His love. I am full of redemption and salvation and a power that is bigger and stronger than anything here on earth. I am full of praise for Him. I am full with a desire to worship.
Jesus longs for you to be in an intimate relationship with Him...to know Him...to never question His presence. You can do a lot of religious stuff, but you can only be full by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your very being.
Has He taken up with You?
Are you full?
Jesus not only offers us non-Israeli's eternity, He also brings us fullness in Him right now. Living is being so full you weep or so full you laugh out loud. Being full is going through a crisis and not loosing faith. Being full is loving when the old you wants to hate, and walking away when you know revenge could be yours. Being full is resting in the middle of chaos...being still and knowing He is God.
We are full of His Spirit. We are full of His word. We are full of grace. We are full of His love. I am full of redemption and salvation and a power that is bigger and stronger than anything here on earth. I am full of praise for Him. I am full with a desire to worship.
Jesus longs for you to be in an intimate relationship with Him...to know Him...to never question His presence. You can do a lot of religious stuff, but you can only be full by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your very being.
Has He taken up with You?
Are you full?
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