The Now

Revelation 21:1-2 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

John saw the future as God showed him. He described a place full of worship and joy. A place where its God all the time - no wasted time - no broken hearts - no guilt or shame. But before the new church is revealed we have to go through the earth now. And the now will pass away as quickly as it came.

"...Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (22:20)

This year (2008) is the old earth. It was full of pain, suffering, joys, heart break, passion, work, sweat, sin, smiles, depression, and love. But whether good or bad there is one thing that remained: God. Whether i thought He left or took a break, He didn't. Whether i prayed or journaled, He was still there through every happy or sad moment. He met me through the pain and the worship. He knows my heart, He knows whats going on - How I really feel and still wants to be with me.

Lord,
Sometimes I don't understand why you keep hanging on and i may never understand but with your majesty and love keep holding me. You are my Savior and King, my love and Father, my best friend - You are m heart. Keep it beating God through this new year of new revelations and findings. You are peace to this world and the answer to all.

I forever love you
Amen

All For Me

Titus 3:3-7 3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Jesus, since before creation knew what He was going to do for us. He knew that no matter what bad thing we did we could be saved.

I am saved by what Jesus did for me, not for anything I have done. Not the hours of prayer, the tears, the reading, or any nice thing, but its because of Gods mercy upon me. Because He has decided to do that for me. Its because God wants us to have that stuff: the kingdom, His treasures. He is the ultimate Father. The father that has done things i still don't know about because of the mercy and grace He holds with Him.

Lord,
Show me your grace. The mercy you have is indescribable - its untouchable - its impossible in my eyes - but you have made it reachable - tangible and worthy for me to see it. Only you can make grace something i can touch and physically see. Only you God.
I love you Always
Amen

12/6/08 Broken Storm

Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-

Jesus was human yet divine at the same time. He wasn't above God, but is God and equal to Him. Does this make sense? No. Does it have to? No. But when Jesus became human he left his position in power and didn't even use it when he could have. He became the worst to understand our torments as humans.

Jesus is not who we make him out to be. He's not what we say He is because there is so much about him that we don't understand. He's not a huge being tats super far adn too busy. He's approachable and likeable because he's human. He may have been perfect but he also went through the junk we do.

Jesus Loves Me. He really does. He wants me to be happy and to stop torturing myself.

How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
The water's getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you, everything would be alright
If I see you this darkness will turn to light
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be alright
And everything will be alright

I know you didn't bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Cos I'm so used to living under the surface

If I could just see you, everything would be alright
If I see you this darkness will turn to light
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be alright

And I will walk on water
You will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be alright
Now everything is alright
Everything's alright.


Lord,
Get me out of this broken storm. Help me to choose the right path. Make things clear for me. I want to be in your light and shine for you. Grant me peace and mercy with you.
I love you Always
Amen.

For the children

Matthew 19:13-15 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 15. When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

The importance of being like a child was part of Jesus' ministry. Once we become like a child we belong to the kingdom of Heaven because we can truly see the glory of God with pure eyes.

Part of Jesus' frustration was that his disciples didn't catch on quickly. Before Jesus saying that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the children he had specifically told them: "...I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven..." (18:3-4)

As a modern day disciple of Christ I am to study His word and live it. He says to change myself into a child, have a mind like a child, then my thoughts, words, and actions are to change. If a child needs me I am to be there for them; guide them on the right path, listen to them, pray for them. Than...learn from them.

Father,
Your children are the future and I want to be a part of that generation. I want to see them grow up and rule this nation for you. Let me be a part of that, Lord, i want to be a part of your kingdom. As an adult Lord, guide me, help me, use me to better your heaven.
I love you Always
Amen

11/14 Imperfect

1 Corinthians 15:37-38, 43 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 43. it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;


When we naturally live, we are imperfect. We are weak, broken, immature because the world brought us down. The world took our lives and destroyed it. When God created us we were perfect, God planted a perfect seed yet we grew up imperfect. But when we get baptized and give our lives over we can plant a "second chance" seed.

46-48 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
47. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

When i would read or hear about being Christ like I took it as right now. And it is for right now but its also meant in a divine way. Like Jesus was a heavenly man and I am meant to go to heaven. I am meant to end up at the feet of Christ. My goal, just like Jesus, is to be where He is now, in heaven. That is being Christ-like, doing all I can to be with him in heaven.

Lord,
I want to be with you, next to you, around you, loving you, singing to you, worshipping you. And I can do that now. Father, show me how to be heavenly in an earthly world. Help me on the right path, show me what decisions to make and be wise about my life. Only you can show me.
I love you Always
Amen

It's all about Me

Matthew 3:9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Don't believe you are safe from the judgement of God just because you said a prayer. Live a Christian life: Repent, pray, read, spread the Gospel.

My salvation prayer guaranteed me my name in the book of life, but my life guarantees me a spot next to or far away from Jesus. It's who I really am that Christ sees and where I will be after death that counts. I'm not going to rely on my parents to get me into heaven. This life is about me and my choices and my heart.

Father,
Look at my heart for what it really is. Don't see my flesh, my real spirit abides with you. You are my everything, my reason to exist. Keep me close to you so I can forever see you. Forgive me for straying away with my fleshy sins.
I love you Always
Amen

You want some cookies?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Paul knew what it was like to know so much but do nothing with it. He was a scholar who studied with the best. He knew scripture, but never put it into practice. All he did was use it for evil because he forgot that love was the way to success.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12A When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face

As a child, I was innocent. I saw things with a brighter future. My parents were perfect, my family was happy, I was in heaven. But once I hit a certain age my mind began to change and i saw things darker. I became pessimistic and worrisome. I started to fear and doubt the future. My sin made me feel guilty and terrible. My life went downhill once I earned reality.

1 Corinthians 14:12B Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

We try to grow up so fast and become selfish but God wants us to grow up thinking of everyone else besides "me".

1 Corinthians 14:20,23 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

To grow up doesn't mean you have to be above people it just means during certain topics you need to be wise and mature. When it comes to God, He wants me to be like a child, innocent and pure in all ways . I can't just "try my best" to be like a child. I need to transform my thinking from the worlds to Gods. If I am here to gain souls I can't be over them but instead be like a child and love them with my whole heart. Share my cookies with them, be their best friend without knowing their first name, run with them, hold their hand, smile at them.

Father,
Transform my heart. Its too old, make me thoughts into a child's and create in me a new spirit. Help me to think and act like a child while remaining wise to the enemies tactics. You are my God and I am forever your child.
I love you Always
Amen
PS Hi Daddy ;0)