Off me & onto Him....

What do you think about during the day?

Any of these ring a bell?....
-Do I look good today?
-I wonder how I can get him to like me better?
-How can I get what i want when I want it?
-When am I going to get the recognition I deserve?

We are extremely self absorbed people. Always worried about number one. Sometimes consciously, but most the time subconsciously because that's what we have been trained to do by our culture. What we need to realize is that self absorption only leads to two things: Pride and shame. If we think we're doing well, we feel superior to people, but if we feel that we aren't measuring up , then we feel like failures.
The point is to get the attention off of you and onto something that is actually worthy of your attention. When we start to get the slightest clue of what God is like then we quickly realize that we fall way short.
Check it:
In Isaiah 6:1-5 the Cherubs whilst sounding a little peculiar looking, to us small minded earth bound people, are teaching us a valuable lesson. They having six wings. They used two pair of them just to cover their eyes. They did this because God is so holy that his holiness cannot even be looked upon. In doing this they are making a point. His majesty and holiness swamp our petty selfishness and our pride is shattered. We are broken, helpless, and hopeless-unless God himself touches us.
It starts with our view of God. See what we like to do is dumb God down, bring him down to our level. We say things like, "Jesus is my homeboy," and call God things like, "the man upstairs." And yes his word does say that God is our friend, but we must not forget that God came down off his mighty throne to stand beside us. He is your creator, the creator of the universe!!!! He is comparable to NO one!
Once we start understanding who God truly is, then the change in our view really begins to take place when our eyes are opened to who and what we are. See we can't realize how good he is until we become painfully aware of how bad we are. Most of us like to think we're pretty good, and we walk around with that perception. Even if we don't say it, we think it. It shows in our actions. We try to handle things on our own how we would like to see it handled and think is best. Then when we screw things up and it starts to fall out we quickly run to God and ask him to fix it. Here's an idea, what if we finally wrapped our minds around the concept that God's ways are best all the time, every time. What if we finally came to terms with who we are, and that there is no good in us. Our flesh wants to please only itself and that isn't going to get us anywhere expect in big trouble. What if our eyes were finally opened to who God really is and who we really are? What if we stopped trying to control the details of our lives and let God? Here's the tricky part. That realization always brings us face to face with change, and here is where we loose people. All of our self-centered plans and goals will be ruined. Just lost a few more. Relationships, how we spend our time and money, laziness and discipline, how we love, and who we love and obey....everything will be turned upside down. Now we're beginning to weed out those who really believe with those who conveniently believe. See when this happens our lives will be driven by conviction not convenience.
So how do we go about receiving this new perception and outlook of ourselves and our God?
Simple....
God has to reveal himself to you...
We can try to prepare our hearts and put ourselves in a position to be receptive to God's voice, but ultimately the Lord himself must break through our calloused hearts to show us what he is like.
How does God do this?
Sadly, in most of us we become so content and comfortable that God has to use something in our lives to wake us up. Something that makes us feel insecure and that we need and depend on God alone. Maybe like:
-a move/graduation
-a job/ministry change
-a broken relationship
-sickness
-a deep dissapointment
See Stability often produces passivity so he has to use something that breaks our hearts, reveals our needs, and somehow opens us to listen.
Just like with Isaiah...
Isaiah was at an extreme point of insecurity because the King had just died. He was insecure of who the next king would be and what change that would bring upon the nation. That was a very very big and at times a scary change. Because the King could turn the nation in whatever direction he chose.  So Isaiah cried out to the Lord......and what did God do?
He answered.....
He gave Isaiah a gift....
The gift of seeing the reality. The reality of who God was and who he really was. Isaiah quickly realized that he was ruined. That before a holy God his depravity was made well aware. He even cried out, "I am ruined, I am not what I should be!"
Have you ever had that experience? Where you realize you're not all that you thought you were? If not.....it will come sooner or later. How will you respond? Will you see God for who He is? or will you continue fooling yourself into thinking you can do things your way that you've got things under control?
Here's the best part!!!!!
What happened next?
Is. 6:6-7
Isaiah realized exactly who he was and what he lacked before God and God touched him! God healed him. God's grace covered him. God's mercy overcame him!
See here's the real deal. The angel took a coal, a burning coal, and touched it to his mouth. Ouch right? But what did that gain? When a wound is infected, a doctor may stop the infection by cauterizing the wound. He takes a red hot tool and sears it, burning away the rotten flesh and leaving only what can heal. This seems like a drastic method, and yes it may be, but it is also effective. The burning coal touched to Isaiah's lips seared the sin and burned the guilt! Leaving him freedom to heal from his sin and serve the Lord! He was made complete because his eyes were opened and he realized who is was before the Lord. He was given the gift of seeing with his own eyes exactly who God is and who He was before him and it radically changed his life! So here's the question.....
Have I seen God?
Have I been radically changed?
Do I really understand who I am before such a holy God?
Do I place way to much importance on myself and what I think is best?
I dunno just spend some time thinking about it. And if the answer is no and you haven't, my suggestion is hit your knees and ask God to allow you to see him for who is his. When you do, When you truly see God, everything else will quickly follow suit. Especially your wants, needs, and desires.
Love you!
(References From: Isaiah 6, A call to Die, Nasser)
Ran

Like Incsence

Check out this worship song from hillsong: Read the lyrics listen to the song. They're amazing.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SVOBKbWndU


May my prayer like incense rise before You
The lifting of my hands as sacrifice
Oh Lord Jesus turn Your eyes upon me
For I know there is mercy in Your sight

Your statutes are my heritage forever
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
Please still my anxious urge toward rebellion
Let Love keep my will upon its knees

[Chorus]
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You

[Verse 2]
To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your Word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun

All Your ways are loving and are faithful
The road is narrow but Your burden light
Because You gladly lean to lead the humble
I shall gladly kneel to leave my pride

[Chorus]

[Selah]
To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your Word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

purpose driven life

I thought I would share what I have learned over the past couple of days in the purpose driven life.
-Time is the most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it, and you have to value that person enough to give them your most vauleble asset.
-For organs to work they have to connect to the body. (talking about the church)
- This blew my mind that God said this but we just fight over silly stuff and it beaks up a church, "I will build mu church and ALL the powers of hell will not conquor it."
-The world says intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it occurs in the light.
-You will never be asked to forgive someone more then christ has alredy forgiven you.
- Some people are EGR (eatra grace required)
-It doesn't matter if you are the offendor or the offeded God expects you to make the first move to restoring the situation.
-"look out for" (like look out for one another) is the Greek word "Skopos" which means telescope and microscpoe. So pay close attention to other peoples needs.

Hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did!

We want steak. Not cake.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/08/27/almost.christian/index.html


This article is awesome. You should read it. For real.


-bailey

Dating....

hey seusters!!! Okay so this young man that is at Liberty with Tori that I vaguely knew because he worked at Grace last year wrote this and posted it on facebook....and i thought it was incredible and I want to hear what you think about it....

His name is Taylor Knight and he goes to Liberty University.....

For young Men in pursuit of young women.....

When the topic of “dating” according to how God would have us comes up, as we often do, we question where is that in the bible. Gods word never directly speaks into this, but he does paint a clear picture for marriage and what a husband should be for his wife. See that the bible has provided criteria and a plan for this as it is important and necessary. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24...From the beginning God created man and gave man a help mate, later in scripture God charged this to man and women for His glory, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-for we are member of his body.” Ephesians 5:22. With this God has placed a great calling to both man and women toward one another for his glory and for our sanctification.

As the focus of the bible is marriage and all that it entails, so should ours. As we are in pursuit of a young lady we should be on careful lookout for the rare precious lady who is fulfilled by her Father. Dating casually is not acceptable nor is it pure. Proverbs 4:23 says “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” and to take lightly the love, affections, purity, and innocence of our sisters in Christ or our own would be foolish and destructive. Dating or courtship, what have you, was not intended to be a imitation of marriage but a pursuit of marriage. We must recognize the importance of finding the lady that we will literally spend the rest of our lives with, however not dwell or obsess about trying to find “the one for me.”

Live everyday in absolute devoted pursuit of God. Spend your time falling in love with Him, knowing His truth, and seeking His will, His way, and to further His kingdom for His glory. As if this is your priority and hearts desire in good timing God will bring by your side a help-mate suitable and blessed that you both may be one and continue your sanctification and Gods good work together till the end of days. When you do find her be the man God has called you to be and PURSUE her. If we have been given the authority and leadership to move on or end a relationship then we must take the initiative to do so. She won't wait forever and there are plenty of young men to choose from that will meet her needs. At the same time, if at this time in life you aren't ready or in circumstances to really be in a relationship (which is more common than we realize although we don't act on it) then don't stress and worry that she is going to escape you and all is lost. Once again we have fallen for the lie that there is one specific young women that was designed specifically for us and if we don't get her life won't be fulfilling. Jesus Christ is the ONLY thing necessary and ultimately fulfilling in our lives and the moment we choose to take our eyes off of Him in pursuit of anything less than Him we will suffer the consequences.

1 Timothy 4:15-16 “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

This is my pursuit and the truth I will live by...

Hey guys!!!

I just want to update you on what is going on! First of all, I LOVE Tech! I have met so many people!

My dorm is awesome, too! Thank you so much Randi and Kelsey for the pictures! =) They look amazing in my room! I will put pictures on fb up soon!

I am already looking forward to getting involved in Campus Outreach and the BCM! They are all so friendly. =)

Thank you so much for the prayers! Love all you guys!! =)

Not to entertain you.....

John 6

okay so check this out....

This is has really struck me and been on my mind.....

Jesus...

Started His ministry.....

taught for 3 yrs......

that's it....

He had 3 yrs. to say what he wanted to say here on earth....

Soooo....how did he choose to do that?

To great multitudes?

At times....there were great crowds who would gather to hear what this miraculous healer, teacher, miracle performer had to say, but what did Jesus show us?        

               Take the instance where thousands had gathered to watch and listen to Jesus, in fact they had come from so far and had been there so long they had nothing and no way to eat. So what did Jesus do? He feeds them....this is the kind of stuff they had come for right?!!! I bet everyone was so stoked! It probably looked something like our worship services at times. Very entertaining with lights, heart wrenching videos, sweet guitars with maybe an occasional solo, and maybe even a testimony that we know will get peoples emotions stirred just enough so that they will respond to the Holy Spirit. But here's the deal....then what did Jesus do?    He said something tough, something that people didn't want to hear. Something that they didn't know how to handle. He told them without skirting around actually he made sure no one misunderstood that he was God himself. He told them that He was the bread of life( John 6:35), that unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you(John 6:53-56). Now being empathetic, as I try to be in all situations, putting myself in that time and culture on that hillside. I imagine that would be quite a shock to hear. This man that alot of them have watched grow up, knew his parents and where he lived is now claiming to be God himself. And I probably with the crowd, as I often do in my own life, would've begin to question. But see, here's where it gets interesting. Here is where Jesus teaches us something that sadly I feel like we, the American church, have completely missed. See, Jesus wasn't interested in popularity or even numbers. He was interested in making true disciples, and building the church through those disciples. I mean look, as soon as He gave the crowd something tough, something they didn't want to hear, they left. How many times have we seen this in the church. Someone is so dedicated, at every service responding to the "emotion" they're feeling in their soul. Praising with their mouth and hands, but as soon as it's a time of testing or sorrow, they're out. They say, "How could God allow me to go through this?" Just as those weak disciples on that hillside, as soon as we hear or experience something that messes with out comfort, we're gone. WAKE UP! Check it, Jesus didn't come to entertain us. If we come expecting only to be entertained then we will leave Him at the first request for sacrifice or obedience. Can you see what Jesus was doing? What Jesus is trying to show us? He loves His children and does not wish any to perish, but He is interested in making real disciples. Disciples who are grounded in Him, and His word. He could've spent all His time in front of huge crowds, teaching to as many as possible, but see Jesus wasn't initially about numbers. He would even at times turn and hide from the crowds to pray or teach his disciples. When teaching He was about quality over quantity. Because....Jesus knew the way to grow the church was not how we've decided to "do" church here in America. Jesus was showing us we need to build the church through discipleship. Real, true, biblical discipleship. He invested everything He had into those twelve so that they would go out and do the same and invest in the world. Spreading the gospel to the far ends of the earth. Making disciples who would turn around and make more disciples, ect. ect. See, Jesus knew and was trying to show us the way to grow the church was through relationship. Through relationship it becomes, real and challenging. You have accountability and help. So in the end, more would come to know him in an authentic faith than would've had he stood and taught thousands at a time. We wonder why we have so many people in the church that profess with their mouths but are not genuine at their hearts. It's because we have made "church" a very impersonal thing. You come in, sit in a sanctuary, sing, pray, listen, and then leave. Don't get me wrong, I am all for corporate worship and think it's very necessary. However, corporate worship should not be our sustaining factor in our faith. It should not be our main food source of our growth. It should not be the only time in our week in which we are completely focused on our spiritual lives. Sadly, it has become that. We've made it possible in the church to be a Christian and not be a disciple. We have church's full of casual listeners but few who are committed life long learners. Why is that? It's because the "American gospel" that we preach and teach is very selfish at its nature. Our idea of it is Jesus died for me, to save my sins, so that I can have eternal life. And while I am definitely not knocking the truth that lies inside those statements, we do need to evaluate what we're saying we think about what Jesus came to do. He didn't save us for our benefit, he saved us so that we could make His name and glory known!  Isaiah 43:7!  In the new testament you do not see a people who are satisfied to receive forgiveness at Jesus expense and then go on living at a casual acquaintance with Him, it's not biblical. We need to stop making Christianity about us and make it about His glory and other people! I am a huge David Platt fan and one of the things he says is," The greatest need in the church today is for believers to step up and be the disciples they were called to be. I want to be a part of the church that is impacting the world for Christ, for the glory of Christ. I wanna be a part of believers who are not casual in their approach to Jesus, but we are committed followers of Him, and who are embracing and making Him known in all the world!"     So yeah, i know this is getting long, so I will stop this one here(even though I have just as much or more to get out!) haha.....but I am just learning so much and I just want to share it all with you!This was inspired and quoted from a Call to Die by David Nasser and David Platts series, Follow Me.