Necessary: Absolutely essential; indispensable; required by obligation, compulsion or convention.
Unceasing: never stopping.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray continually... NIV
Never stop praying... NLT
Pray without ceasing... NASB
Keep on with your prayers...BIB
Pray unceasingly... DBT
I remember one summer when I was reading God's words and talking to Him very near constantly, reading about Jesus and talking to Him became necessary for normal daily living. Needless to say, I had been separated from the outside world in a sense, working out of state, in the mountains, at a camp which resolved to instill a pure love of Jesus in it's employees. I miss it... I miss the dependency I had on talking to Jesus. I miss the devotion I had to reading and desiring.. really desiring to read His written word. It was more than desire... it was as if my life depended on Him. (Which it always does whether I am always considering the fact or not.) Breathing was maybe the only other thing I did so naturally. Maybe eating and other natural habits as well.... I want even eating to take a backseat to the Bible on my journey back to the heart of Jesus.
I feel like this is less like my previous blogs for you, its more of me writing down my personal thoughts and desires in hopes that I might hold myself accountable but also that you might see my heart for what it is. Maybe see you're not alone in your search for truth and devotion to something bigger than yourself... or maybe even to reveal that your perception of Jesus and what He really does is tainted. I want myself to really get this.. really understand.. so badly that Im afraid to come off too determined to you! Half of the things I write about i'm really just trying to learn it and engrave it in myself.
But back to unceasing prayer!
Its so much more than a chore! so so much more! There is a heart in Jesus and talking to Him reveals it to you... (If I knew how that worked, well I guess I would know i'm not really sure what it would do haha)
Jesus' heart.. oh Jesus heart! Heart of my own heart! I can hardly believe He lives in me!
My own love! My savior! My confidant! My companion! My GOD! My King.... my KING!
I can not even stay on the topic of prayer haha.. prayers will come unceasingly when we realize it is the maker of heaven and earth.. the Designer of souls.. the Constant.. the Healer... who is in control! It is only when we yield ourselves willfully (not just willingly.. but a purposeful act.. honestly it may not even be completely willingly) to the Lords ultimate design, to His master plan, to His own heart, that we really grasp prayer is just as important as each breath we take. Prayer is our channel to the Lord of ALL!
Look I know the idea of God can be crazy.. that we can talk to a King who lives in the Heavens and on Earth and in His people... but it is a choice to believe! And Jesus is real! Youre reading about His work now!
If you want to pray with me you can now...
Oh Jesus! My precious Jesus! That you call me yours is no mistake... you chose me to proclaim your name and as your servant I will try! I will dutifully accept your command and desires for my life. God I fall so short.. so short. I can remember sins in the past week, thoughts, actions, even things I did not do which You willed me to do. Oh Jesus, Your cross carries my sin! I am so... just so in debt to you. Help me not give you an IOU but instead give you my everything, even though it will never be enough. Your grace made it possible for me to know you personally... I can't believe it sometimes but God I want to believe it with so much faith that literal mountains could be moved! My Lord... let not this blog be anything but for your Glory. Let it not be about me and let it posses no worldly wisdom. Jesus, be with my readers! I don't know who they all are, if they think I am a fool, or agree with the thoughts You have allowed me to have. Doctor, heal our hearts! Bring us to a place of redemption! Bring us to a place where You are everything and we cease to exist... Bring us to understanding that Your ways are not the ways of a man. Your ways are much higher! I pray you will stir so much passion in their hearts for You and only You! Over sports teams! Over school! Over dreams! Over lovers! Over ourselves!!!!! Let nothing be more lovely than YOU! Jesus, savior of the humble, do Your work here in our hearts. Jesus when I do say foolish things, when I misrepresent You, teach me and mold me. Just do Your WORK! Through Your word and Your people. Whether we love you like we should or not Jesus, because it is possible to be in right heart and mind, whether we acknowledge You are the Christ, oh Jesus there is none like you and none greater. Bring us to You. On our knees weak or hands held high let it all be about you! In hopes of knowing You more and more and more!
Considered Yours...
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Running
If we only ran when we felt like it, we would never get in shape.
If we only witnessed when we felt like it, too many people would never hear the gospel.
And note that sharing our faith is not just about getting people saved, that is a very beautiful by product; it is about showing God we are devoted and thereby showing people it is of great importance.
If we only witnessed when we felt like it, too many people would never hear the gospel.
And note that sharing our faith is not just about getting people saved, that is a very beautiful by product; it is about showing God we are devoted and thereby showing people it is of great importance.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
BE.
My hearts desires have changed so much since ... well as I grow up. As a little girl I dreamed.. just dreamed of being anything, I never really new what, I just knew I would BE. In middle school I was so wrapped up in natures beauty and beautiful things (even though I did not live it or really seek a relationship with Jesus). I wanted to claim myself to something HUGE, something meaningful and full of life. I had two dreams, being a missionary and being an astronaut. Im still going to be a missionary, which is not so much a placement on earth, although it may be, but mostly just making sure I act on God's whims and talk to His people.
I had other dreams too, being a teacher probably the most lingering. Not just any teacher, I wanted to be there for students.. not just see them and joke with them but reach out and really BE there. There is so much power in BEING.... we take being where we are, being with whoever we are, doing whatever we are doing for such granted!
One thing I know for sure though, all my life.. ALL of my life.. during every minute there has always been an underlying tone of waiting for something else to happen.
I remember being in 5th grade telling a friend how it would be forever till I made it to high school, or dare I even think... College!
The boyfriends I had, always hoping for an engagement, marriage, sex, babies..
As a lover of Jesus! Hoping for a future with HIM in heaven and to be made perfect!
Im not saying its not healthy to desire these things, these are beautiful and wonderful things! It can even be fun and God glorifying to anticipate gifts from Him and heavenly things! but it is NOT healthy to miss out on what we already live in! Over the past year I have really learned to live in the moment. Well.. I mean I still have a long way to go for sure! But Im able to drink in the times I'm reading Jesus' word.. licking the deliciousness off of my fingers when I spend time with people I love and care about!
And I know it is cheesy to say it like that... licking the deliciousness off my fingers... I just mean to say there is so much pleasure in knowing the people I do! It IS comparable to digging into a chocolate cake with 5 different kinds of chocolate... sometimes it's messy but its always just so good! And its not that chocolate is even comparable to the people I cherish, however good food is symbolic to great pleasure so I figured it would work! (Because good food can definitely be overrated..)
Just imaging being parched, reaching for life and life to the full! The only way to know this life is to know Jesus.. not just believe. Heck... everyone believes in Him. There are more credible documents ( by atheists even) pointing to Jesus' existence and miracles than there are about Tiberious Cesar or Plato.. If anyone doesn't believe in Jesus they are a fool! The key to being a lover of Jesus, a disciple of Jesus, is not just believing in Him.. duh..!
and all this comes from me knowing that all I have is right now! I'm learning to just BE.
"My greatest regret is believing so much in the future..."
Tomorrow is not promised to you, do yourself a favor and do not worry about what it could bring... sip on the joys of today like you would a good hot chocolate. YUM!
I had other dreams too, being a teacher probably the most lingering. Not just any teacher, I wanted to be there for students.. not just see them and joke with them but reach out and really BE there. There is so much power in BEING.... we take being where we are, being with whoever we are, doing whatever we are doing for such granted!
One thing I know for sure though, all my life.. ALL of my life.. during every minute there has always been an underlying tone of waiting for something else to happen.
I remember being in 5th grade telling a friend how it would be forever till I made it to high school, or dare I even think... College!
The boyfriends I had, always hoping for an engagement, marriage, sex, babies..
As a lover of Jesus! Hoping for a future with HIM in heaven and to be made perfect!
Im not saying its not healthy to desire these things, these are beautiful and wonderful things! It can even be fun and God glorifying to anticipate gifts from Him and heavenly things! but it is NOT healthy to miss out on what we already live in! Over the past year I have really learned to live in the moment. Well.. I mean I still have a long way to go for sure! But Im able to drink in the times I'm reading Jesus' word.. licking the deliciousness off of my fingers when I spend time with people I love and care about!
And I know it is cheesy to say it like that... licking the deliciousness off my fingers... I just mean to say there is so much pleasure in knowing the people I do! It IS comparable to digging into a chocolate cake with 5 different kinds of chocolate... sometimes it's messy but its always just so good! And its not that chocolate is even comparable to the people I cherish, however good food is symbolic to great pleasure so I figured it would work! (Because good food can definitely be overrated..)
Just imaging being parched, reaching for life and life to the full! The only way to know this life is to know Jesus.. not just believe. Heck... everyone believes in Him. There are more credible documents ( by atheists even) pointing to Jesus' existence and miracles than there are about Tiberious Cesar or Plato.. If anyone doesn't believe in Jesus they are a fool! The key to being a lover of Jesus, a disciple of Jesus, is not just believing in Him.. duh..!
and all this comes from me knowing that all I have is right now! I'm learning to just BE.
"My greatest regret is believing so much in the future..."
Tomorrow is not promised to you, do yourself a favor and do not worry about what it could bring... sip on the joys of today like you would a good hot chocolate. YUM!
Monday, September 20, 2010
THE WIDOW WITH TWO MITES
This is an excerpt from my Bible.
Jesus was teaching the people about the hypocrisy of the scribes. He described them as lusting for recognition, seeking the best positions, stealing from the helpless, yet making a pretense of being religious (Mark 12:38-40). Sitting in the women's court where the offering receptacles were located, Jesus used the woman as an example. The comparison is spectacular.
Widowhood was one of the most vulnerable positions of the time. A widow had less capacity for earning than slaves; and unless she had family or friends to protect and help her she was most likely destitute and perhaps even homeless.
This particular widow was down on her last two mites (worth a fraction of a penny). Jesus drew the attention of the disciples to this woman, who brought delight to His heart. The sound of her tiny offering as it dropped into the metal receptacle must have been pitiful compared with the rattling of the many coins from the rich.
This was the last event of Jesus' public teaching. The act of this humble, needy widow seems to summarize all His teaching. She was not meeting a great need (ultimately God's recourses are unlimited), but rather she was recognizing that everything belongs to God. Because she was in His hands, she could willingly and joyously offer all she had to Him.
*If we would recognize all we have is not ours, we would bear fruit, we would put honor where it's due. God would surely be shown unto this nation of affluence and greed, and to this world who needs. No doubt that the Holy Spirit would move dramatically throughout all peoples...
Jesus was teaching the people about the hypocrisy of the scribes. He described them as lusting for recognition, seeking the best positions, stealing from the helpless, yet making a pretense of being religious (Mark 12:38-40). Sitting in the women's court where the offering receptacles were located, Jesus used the woman as an example. The comparison is spectacular.
Widowhood was one of the most vulnerable positions of the time. A widow had less capacity for earning than slaves; and unless she had family or friends to protect and help her she was most likely destitute and perhaps even homeless.
This particular widow was down on her last two mites (worth a fraction of a penny). Jesus drew the attention of the disciples to this woman, who brought delight to His heart. The sound of her tiny offering as it dropped into the metal receptacle must have been pitiful compared with the rattling of the many coins from the rich.
This was the last event of Jesus' public teaching. The act of this humble, needy widow seems to summarize all His teaching. She was not meeting a great need (ultimately God's recourses are unlimited), but rather she was recognizing that everything belongs to God. Because she was in His hands, she could willingly and joyously offer all she had to Him.
*If we would recognize all we have is not ours, we would bear fruit, we would put honor where it's due. God would surely be shown unto this nation of affluence and greed, and to this world who needs. No doubt that the Holy Spirit would move dramatically throughout all peoples...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
"Kids in Africa don't get to eat, finish!"
We've all heard this at the dinner table. For One... i would like to note the idea of leftovers..mom...
Secondly, did we ever think that maybe more edibles which are untouched by consumers get wasted more?
More than 96 billion pounds of edible "surplus" food is thrown away in the U.S. Each year. It is estimated that almost 27% of our food supply is wasted.
Let's examine Walmart/publix/kroger/....
They over stock in everything, milk gets thrown out once it's reached expiration date (even though we all (should) know the milk is good for a while after the exp. date...) just like other foods. If walmart really supports their communities like they brag about then they could give away the foods to homeless shelters, charities, ext.
Expiration dates are a bunch of bull honkey if we are just being honest... if it's in a can.. it is going to last. (Not that it's the healthiest..)
We could stop producing so much as a solution.---> Nipping the surplus food and packaging required for the food would also decrease the amount of trash we dump in landfills.
If big corporations refuse to lessen amount produced (money money money...) the middle man companies (grocery stores) could at least donate the profitless edibles...
sheesh... Big Corps (who are idiots) really strike a cord with me.....it's not even all about money even in the pagan world!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Psalm 63
David was a lot of things... murderer, adulteress, liar... but he sure did seek after our Father...
Psalm 63 (My paraphrase)
Joy in the Fellowship of God
O God, You are my God;
Early in the morning I will seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You;
Because nothing this world offers satisfies me.
So I have sought you in the place where Your people gather,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will obediently lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with honey and tender kisses,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You,
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will surely rejoice!
My soul clings as a child to You;
Your steady hand lifts me up.
But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall not find peace.
They shall fall by the sword;
Their flesh devoured by wild animals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
Psalm 63 (My paraphrase)
Joy in the Fellowship of God
O God, You are my God;
Early in the morning I will seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You;
Because nothing this world offers satisfies me.
So I have sought you in the place where Your people gather,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will obediently lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with honey and tender kisses,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You,
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will surely rejoice!
My soul clings as a child to You;
Your steady hand lifts me up.
But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall not find peace.
They shall fall by the sword;
Their flesh devoured by wild animals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Time Efficiency
Check it out... everyone has 24 hours each day.
We are supposed to manage that time efficiently. (This..i'm not so good at.)
Right now I have laundry to fold and put away, a floor to sweep, always a need for studying, gotta shower and get ready, gotta clean up from dinner...CCF...maybe visit cousin...sleep...take trash out...
Okay I started writing this last night and I had to go and finish everything I needed to. So...
The point is i completely forgot what my point was. hahaha awesome. I think maybe God just wanted me to realize I shouldnt be blogging, stumbling, or booking as much as I do...
We are supposed to manage that time efficiently. (This..i'm not so good at.)
Right now I have laundry to fold and put away, a floor to sweep, always a need for studying, gotta shower and get ready, gotta clean up from dinner...CCF...maybe visit cousin...sleep...take trash out...
Okay I started writing this last night and I had to go and finish everything I needed to. So...
The point is i completely forgot what my point was. hahaha awesome. I think maybe God just wanted me to realize I shouldnt be blogging, stumbling, or booking as much as I do...
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