[ed. This pen 'n' paper journal entry is dated 27 April 2006.]
Some interesting discussion w/ Brian last night about faith and doing "unknown" things for God.
"...because he considered him faithful who had made the promise..." [Heb. 11.11] - which describes the faith of Abraham and Sarah. They did something that seemed absolutely crazy for God. God said "Go" - and they went - without knowing where to go! But we - we know that God has been faithful - I have seen God work - and we have the completed Word of God! What is our excuse? Should we wait for a specific call from God (i.e. go to Iquitos, Peru) before attempting something daring? Or, since we already have our marching orders (i.e. "go ye therefore...") should we set out on something daring without knowing a specific goal? Abraham just went, without a final destination. He didn't have the luxury of God's Word. We know God's will - maybe not to the level of detail we want right at a particular moment - but let's face it, we will never be surprised - "oh, that's what I was supposed to do?!" Should we hold back until God hits us on the head with a two-by-four?
<><><><><>
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. --Revelation 3.1-3
::choose joy::
Friday, April 28, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Lazy
The book of Jude would never pass as a sermon these days... it is too harsh.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. --Jude 20-21
I never post anything even remotely personal on here anymore... it's just as well. Xanga-stalkers don't learn too much then.
I have four emails that I have put off writing for over a week. And it's bugging me. As much as I love email, I can't write a half-hearted one for the life of me. I haven't had a contiguous block of time to write a proper email, let alone four. Why is life is so crazy? The better question is: Why don't I make writing those emails a higher priority?
To those four people - I'm sorry.
If it makes it any better - prayer has been a much higher priority than email - so that's still happening.
::choose joy::
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. --Jude 20-21
@>~>~~
I never post anything even remotely personal on here anymore... it's just as well. Xanga-stalkers don't learn too much then.
I have four emails that I have put off writing for over a week. And it's bugging me. As much as I love email, I can't write a half-hearted one for the life of me. I haven't had a contiguous block of time to write a proper email, let alone four. Why is life is so crazy? The better question is: Why don't I make writing those emails a higher priority?
To those four people - I'm sorry.
If it makes it any better - prayer has been a much higher priority than email - so that's still happening.
::choose joy::
Monday, April 24, 2006
Agapeland
Today I received all the old Agapeland music in the mail - including "Bullfrogs and Butterflies" (*sniff* - great memories from Canadian Adventure), "Music Machine," "The Birthday Party," and "The Story of Little Tree." Yes, all eleven CDs would be classified as children's music - but the music is catchy and the words are simply outstanding. Many of the short song snippets I spout out on occasion come from Agapeland's music library. I think these CDs a worth-while investment - they are resources not to be lost. Let's just say that I'm collecting for the future. ;-)
What can I give to the King?
Give to the One who has everything?
What can I give?
What gift can I bring?
What can I give to the King?
What can I give to the King?
Give Him a heart that's opened up wide
Give Him a life that's got nothing to hide
Give Him a love that's tender and true
And He'll give it all back to you
Yes, He'll give it all back to you
What can we give to the King?
Give to the One who has everything?
What can we give?
What gift can we bring?
What can we give to the King?
What can we give to the King?
Give Him all glory, His people on earth
Give Him all praises, this day of His birth
Give Him all honor in all that we do
As He's given His life to you
As He's given His life to you
What can we give to the King?
Give to the One who has everything?
What can we give to the King?
What can we give to the King?
Give to the One who has everything?
What can I give?
What gift can I bring?
What can I give to the King?
What can I give to the King?
Give Him a heart that's opened up wide
Give Him a life that's got nothing to hide
Give Him a love that's tender and true
And He'll give it all back to you
Yes, He'll give it all back to you
What can we give to the King?
Give to the One who has everything?
What can we give?
What gift can we bring?
What can we give to the King?
What can we give to the King?
Give Him all glory, His people on earth
Give Him all praises, this day of His birth
Give Him all honor in all that we do
As He's given His life to you
As He's given His life to you
What can we give to the King?
Give to the One who has everything?
What can we give to the King?
What can we give to the King?
::choose joy::
Monday, March 27, 2006
Arise, My Soul, Arise
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne He stands,
Before the throne He stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
Before the throne of grace,
Before the throne of grace,
He gladly takes my sinful place.
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effective prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive, forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive, forgive,” they cry,
“This ransomed sinner must not die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
He sees the priceless blood,
He sees the priceless blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With boldness I draw nigh,
With boldness I draw nigh,
And “Abba, Father, Abba, Father,” I cry.
Arise, my soul, arise; I can no longer fear.
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne He stands,
Before the throne He stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
Before the throne of grace,
Before the throne of grace,
He gladly takes my sinful place.
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effective prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive, forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive, forgive,” they cry,
“This ransomed sinner must not die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
He sees the priceless blood,
He sees the priceless blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With boldness I draw nigh,
With boldness I draw nigh,
And “Abba, Father, Abba, Father,” I cry.
Arise, my soul, arise; I can no longer fear.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Hunger and Thirst
Matthew 5.6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Isaiah 55.1-3
"Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David."
Deuteronomy 8.3
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Psalm 42.1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 63.1
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
John 6.35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 7.37-38
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Revelation 21.6
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Isaiah 55.1-3
"Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David."
Deuteronomy 8.3
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Psalm 42.1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 63.1
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
John 6.35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 7.37-38
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Revelation 21.6
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Philosophy of Blogging
Paper and pen are so much more powerful than ones and zeros. Here's my philosophy of blogging: Blogging is useful for keeping friends generally informed, but that's about it. If you want to tell a specific person something - tell them to their face. Don't drop subtle hints. If you're going to rant and rave about your frustrations, do it on paper... there's no way you can handwrite 80 words per minute. The exercise in patience will do you good. Furthermore, guy/girl relationship discussions should be strictly forbidden. Enough said. Go now and do otherwise.
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