On faith....

As I studied this week, read an email from a friend, faced with the challenges of this week, I ran into a quote that got me thinking... Let me share....
“We turn responsibility for faith over to the religious experts. Result? A public Christian identity dominated by bumper-sticker labels and television celebrities and nurture in people an insatiable appetite for watching religious performance and an indiscriminate eagerness for buying junk religious artifacts."

So, what are you buying??? How are you living out your faith??

Enjoy...

Life

Life,
It has its twists, turns, ups, downs...light and dark, cold and hot days. Funny thing when one gets 365 days removed from a certain point, you look back and go..."wow"

Today, the look back is only in the mirror...no turning back. As the song says, "I'm moving ahead"... If one does not learn from their mistakes, from the good and the bad, then what has this all been for? Learning to focus on my lessons, if those around me have learned, great if not, too bad. Life still teaches, I still am learning.

Today, I am thankful for the road left behind, in spite of the oil slicks in the road, there is new highway ahead. Sitting in the passenger seat, enjoying the view, applying the lessons learned but most of all, thankful for those with me on the ride and grateful for those removed.

Painful, yeah from time to time, face to face with things would be best, but oh well, the wind is blowing, the sun has set on a new day and I'm only looking ahead.

Tomorrow, is only a few hours away and then it will become a NEW TODAY!!!

Still learning, enjoying the journey....

People with the Gift of Mercy

They have the ability to "walk in another's shoes"; feel the pain and burdens they carry. They desire to make a difference in the lives of hurting people without being judgmental. They may have a difficult time evaluating the intentions of others and at times appear naïve.

Too bad that many in the church, we so called christians, do not follow the same. Only in theory, when challenged to put to practice, we seclude, excommunicate, judge and antagonize others to do the same. Maybe we all should pay attention to...

Mercy in Scripture
Jesus taught on mercy (Matt. 5:7; 9:13; 23:23). He is repeatedly described as having compassion (Matt. 9:36; 15:32; 23:37; Luke 7:13) and was so filled with mercy that He sometimes wept (John 11:35). Jesus' mercy included an attentiveness to and concern for children (Matt. 19:14). Dorcas "was always doing good and helping the poor" (Acts 9:36). We find in the story of the good Samaritan the subject of mercy (Luke 10:30-37).

GOD, give me the ability to live, walk and extend Mercy in spite of those who fail daily and we are all amongst your church!!!

365

Numbers...

you find them anywhere....everywhere...

who would have thought that 365 days have passed..

im not there...im here....

what day is today.....3+

4

5

9

good day

Lately

Its been a while since my last post. So many things, so many miles. Some sleepless nights and some starry ones as well. The road to here has not been fun, although discovering some incredible things I though lost. Today I am challenge by the words of a new friend, who challenged us to see inside, "what is your pharaoh", "what are you tied to?"

That is my search these next 6 weeks...
If it is in my mind,
If it is in my heart,
It is in my hands or feet,
Sorry to say.....
YOU MUST GO....I WANT TO LIVE FREE

Thank you GOD for loving me NOW and erasing my past...help others to do the same as I learn to LIVE in the NOW...and not see others past as well...

Windshield time.....here we go!!!!

Living to be FREE in HIM!!!

Its up to us..WAKE UP

Interesting thing after our president talks on national tv, how the response of those in favor...applaud....and then there are those who are totally against...well they just mutter their stuff.

If you yourself a "believer" read Deut 28... details some incredible stuff that is going on in OUR country. Its not just for weddings and blessings but declares what happens to us when we do not keep our word.

Go to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and we will see how its laid out for the responsible parties.

ITS NOT THE PRESIDENTS FAULT (PRIOR OR PRESENT)...BUT OURS. And if you are arrogant enough to say its a Republican or Democratic deal....read your Bible again, and do what is says in the book....

But hey, its just my opinion..... it's time the Church WOKE up.... and took responsibility.

Humbled....being humbled....

Worship and Hairstyles

Got a start on my week with a funny quote in reading one of my weekly blogs on worship.. "Gregg Hampton said... 'i think we should just all do blended worship! its like a mullet, business in the front and party in the back!'"

That is a great quote...if you understand blended worship, have a bit of a sense of humor and definitely watch the trends of hairstyles of worship leaders...etc...

Have a great week....and don't forget to Party..

Freedom Calling

This song has been a constant in my ipod, every night, every morning and now becoming such a reality. A friend shared the name of this worshipper, downloaded his music and only a few songs stuck with me but as my journey unfolded to where i am today, the lyrics of this songs have become a cry of my heart.

So many of us as Christians claim to "speak" or "confess" the positive but live our lives like hell. We gossip, judge, think that our standard of christianity is the standard and miss out on the very target we are claiming to be like....CHRIST...

Think about it...do we really speak, act, believe what HE has left us for an example or do we stand like the pharisees, lifting our hands, shouting back at the preacher, buying the right books, not watching certain movies (come on...) etc but our hearts, our attitudes are ...well....MANURE...(I'm being nice)

Check your heart, your attitude, your living...your confession.....

Thank you DB for this song...i do hope it inspires the lives of many to at least be honest and real in their cry to God.... Psalm 77:1-15

It’s time to let my faith arise
Time heaven heard my cry
It’s time for the blind to see
It’s time for the winds to change
It’s time to live again
It’s time to be free

Miracles are coming
Miracles are coming
Yes I believe

Come and break these chains
I will worship you untamed
When we praise Your freedom falls
When we dance the wall come down
Freedom is falling/Freedom is falling
Freedom is falling all around

Shout Shout Shout for joy
Gonna let my love be heard
Freedom is calling out
Sing Sing Oh my soul
Let the healing flow
Freedom I have found

Empty Me

To stand, recognize that God looks at us in that position. He recognizes, probably has a little smile as we humble ourselves, on our knees, face down or whatever posture you decide to take…but it’s the heart that HE looks at, sees, receives, unlike our fellow man.

The following lyrics are poignant, very real and it is where I find myself as I look at my life, the circumstance that brought me to this place and the knowledge of HIS faithfulness and friendship. It’s a daily process to empty oneself, rid of the poison of not just pride but bitterness, all the things that want to fill you/me and not allow the FULLNESS of HIS love in your life.

Thank you GOD for listening, leaning in, smirking (cause I can tell you do….i would), reaching in, embracing me/us, and LOVING unlike no one else can.

I know today I am not the same I was when it all began…thank you Father for working in me…drawing closer to you!!!

I've had just enough of the spotlight when it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood.
And I've tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough.
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change.

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.

I've had just enough of the quick buys of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away.
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change.

Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you, compared to you.
Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you. So, I surrender all!

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.
Oh, filled with you. Empty me.

Continue to Stand

There is no other way but to stand....Micah wrote it so well in the 7th chapter. Although we have a tendency to look, focus, declare and retain many who "fall" in that same state, HE looks, expects and supports us to STAND once again.

So today, i can say.... I'm STANDING!!!

with every breath.....

What you've called me to

This has been a strange week, a God week although... He is provision in more ways than you can expect.... Finances, a phone call, true friends, his WORD... and so much more.

As i heard this message on Fri night, what a strong word that was given to rattle and stir me up, make me stand and no longer fear.... Be a true friend, as those who call your fall...and focus on your fall....does not matter.... HE says ...Micah 7:8 (Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.) The message version is more powerful... but the lyrics of a song...broke me even further.....

this is going to take all of my life
this is going to take my every breath
but i know its true, there is nothing to fear
in what you've called me to.

To live a life that honors you
humble obedient and true
holy in all i say and do
this is what you've called me to

You are with me in each step that i take
you are closer that you never let me go
i have seen its true, there is nothing to fear
in what you have called me to.

you will be my strength
as i live this life; all for your glory
you will be everything i need

So.... I shall stand.....I AM STANDING.....

Thought Life

For so long we have been taught on the importance of one's personal thought life. The way a person thinks determines character and actions (Prov. 23:7). Faith and belief are ways of thinking. Though faith originates with God, we choose to direct our thoughts toward God or toward the world. That is where the struggle not only begins but remains.

To know that we live in a fallen hedonistic world, sin is all around us. It confronts us first in our thought life. So we must try to be if not always be conscious of our thoughts and where they are leading us. Too bad that most that say “I have this under control” really don’t, those that espouse to preach and live it, don’t and make most feel like you are not really complete because they are better than you…what a crock…

A noted poet once said, "the world is too much with us." I put it this way, the attractions and distractions of everyday life make pure and moral thinking a challenging goal. If you read what Paul writes, he reminds us, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8).

This is a challenge, to safeguard our thoughts, it doesn’t mean we can control all that immediately enters our mind, but it does give us an opportunity to take some kind of action. Those things that are unhealthy will eventually corrupt anyone’s mind. If you are a believer, more so, a Christian, one should allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in making necessary changes in these areas (Gal. 6:7,8).

If we are to eliminate such things, one should replace them with things that are pure and reflect God’s moral standards and truths. Not those set by a person or their thoughts and opinions, but as an individual seek HIS guidance, have good counsel with a mature believer you can be accountable to/with.

One difficult one but huge in our life is that of fasting with prayer, this is to ask God to transform our minds and spirit. As the challenge arises….. Beware of those who say they have it all done…..most likely one will never know….until that day…. But look at their fruits He said………….