Ramblings of a Mission-Minded manifestor of Truth

2010-09-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

who knows the hunger of the world?

a world starved in media expectation...
with an intense craving for love and acceptance
but all there is, is a constant contradiction of what they feel is right and what is "right".

who knows the hunger of the world?

a world where a child's mind is no longer marveled at...but mocked
imagination is a fleeting idea
where you can never achieve your worth
because you have none

who knows the hunger of the world?

a world where the only way you can make it is by mocking your Creator and being what someone says you need to be.
to paint yourself,
deny yourself,
hide yourself behind a misanthropic testosterone wall

who knows the hunger of the world?

a world that is emaciated of justice
crying for someone to stand and fight for what is truly right
to fight for the underdog
to fight for the hungry
to fight for the judgment
the bigotry
the violence
the narrow-minded ideas of a scorned society

who knows the hunger of the world?

simple.
us.

who knows the hunger of the world?

simple.
Him.

"Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:16-17

Everybody's working for the weekend...

2010-09-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

Genesis 3: ¹⁷ To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

Work defined in the dictionary as a verb, noun and an adjective, with well over 40 definitions in each category from the mechanical and physics application; to the use of it as a fermentation term. The first definition is however the most apt definition to the term. Work- to exert effort to accomplish something; labor; toil.

Lately, I've been working a lot. Honestly, it is for the money. As a student with a mass of student loans under my belt, I need to learn how to be a good steward of my time and money. With that, I am trying to pay off my debt and get back into school to continue furthering my mind and my education. Both of which are "fantastical" things.

While doing so I've found myself caught into the tedious act of work and doing what I must to get by. By doing that, I am doing exactly what satan want me to do. God created work as a toil as punishment for the fall of man, in hopes that through it He could redeem us back to him. To toil, to labor, to sweat, all are things that do not sound pleasant to us and because of that we find ourselves in constant battle with the "ground", meaning whatever we are working through.

Philippians 2: ¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. ¹⁴Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

If we begin to look at work as a true redemption to God then we may look at it differently, in fact maybe we will see that Christ calls us to do it differently then the world. Do everything with out complaining or arguing. Then, is Paul saying that we are supposed to suffer, with a smile on our face and joy in our hearts???? YEP!

I truly believe that is what he is saying. When you get to that point at work where you can snap at a co-worker or clientele, or gossip about a situation you have no right taking part in, or being in-subordinate to your supervisor; maybe we should remember that God has given this to show our true heart to him. Can we worship and love God while being in "punishment and suffering for him". I mean Paul preached the Gospel for Christ for his job and I'm pretty sure his suffering was far more worse than a couple extra hours and an annoying co-worker. Why don't we as a community of believers change the way we work and look at work...I bet through that a lot of people will see God (maybe that is exactly how he intended it!).

Waiting for my Edward...

2010-09-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

Ok so you're probably wondering why my first blog back to the blogspot in almost a year in a half is titled this...you also probably assume this is about Edward Cullen...THINK AGAIN...this is about love...this is about true companionship but this Edward isn't a vampire and his bride isn't named Bella. This Edward is a father, a leader, a preacher; and his wife Tammy is a mother, a teacher, and a mentor and role model. I'm talking about my second parents Tammy and Ed Glover. Tammy and Ed have been a part of my life for 2 years and they have been the greatest 2 years of my life. They together run Urban Impact Foundation on the Northside of Pittsburgh. (check out their site...let me tell you some great kingdom work) I have learned many things from Mama and Papa but one thing I can tell you has been the most impacting thing they have taught me is how to love. The fact that Ed still dates Tammy and in return Tammy is so saturated with respect for her groom. The most important thing is that God is the center of their relationship, always and forever. Mama tells me stories about them dating, trials they have gone through in their marriage and what it is like doing ministry together. One thing is clear, they still are more in love than ever and that is because they are even more in love with God separately. Mama said to me once, God wants you to have amazing and satan shows you good...at the time we think good is good enough when really amazing is on the way (this is a paraphrase i honestly dont remember the exact words but you get the picture). And for a girl who has tried to take life into her hands many times and has failed miserably has decided to give most of it to God...but this part...nope its up to me. Always. Now this isn't a passive, "I'm waiting for the perfect guy to fall into my lap and I'm not doing anything about it.", but rather a conscience decision to give this up to God and to leave the idiots alone. To surround myself with only Godly men who hold me to accountable and Godly standards. And through that discipline I believe God will find me my Edward...find me the man that challenges me, that courts me, that does ministry with me, that prays with me, that is not only the most amazing father to my children but the children that I decide to just randomly adopt one day (i love you guys and thank you!!!), who isn't afraid to be passionate about God and his calling on our lives, and to lead me truly lead me as a real man of God. Watching my "parents" these past two years I think God finally has shown me...I deserve nothing less than amazing...and he's out there...why allow these only mediocre dudes have a piece of my heart they don't deserve. I'M DONE WITH IT. Girls...who's with me...and guys, who's ready to step up and show us that loving God is sexy (lol yes i said it...ostracize me if you want!).

I think we are bordering clinically insane...

2009-02-13T01:27:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I went to Texas for Relevant weekend. Unbeknown to me, Francis Chan spoke at the conference. The theme for the weekend was Live Love. He touched a little bit on his book, Crazy Love. It was amazing!...Chan talked about the holiness of God, how to pray to God, God as a father...and heart breaking love for others....I know what youre thinking..."WHOA that is a little too much to handle..." and I would agree that you are right. But you wouldn't believe how the students really grasped the concept. WOW...it was beautiful. My favorite part of all was how Chan lead us into reverent prayer to a HOLY God...If youre reading this...stop what youre doing and try it...even if you dont believe...just close your eyes for a second and calm your heart...then...read this...
Revelation 4: 2-11
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. ⁴Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^a]">[a] of God. ⁶Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." ⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

A God that big...that Holy...that mighty...allows us to come to him...let us remember this when we pray to him...that everything in heaven bows down to him in worship and even the highest angels, which are creatures with 6 wings covered in eyes (scary huh) never cease to praise... We should be more fervant in our prayer life. I think if we stopped praying really...and just fell in awe of God's Holiness and just praised in all ways...we would be begining to show God the love he deserves...

I LOVE THIS MAN!

2009-02-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2oi6y292kE&eurl=http://francischansblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.crazylovebook.com/

Slow Fade

2009-01-20T18:05:00.000-08:00

This week at church we talked about Slow Fading. Based off of Ephesians 5:1-7...

I love this video...I love the lyrics, People never crumble in a day...Daddies never crumble in a day...Families never crumble in a day. It is so true. The things that happen to you don't happen over night...they happen because of the decisions you make...conscientiously...maybe it is the people you have come to associate with...maybe its that one drink too much that ruined a friendship or the idea to find yourself slipping into a slope of lust and pornography. I dont know what it is that you are slow fading with...but I do know for me every decision I make will effect me...however small it is...maybe its that one IM I decide to return to someone who may only use me for something in the end, or it could be masking my femininity with coarse words and joking so that I do not give my heart a chance, but I end up giving it away...Slow Fading is dangerous...black and white will end up fading to grey....and you will give yourself away...and your heart that is set upon God will be nothing left but a battered idolizer...

Christianity the "other" path...

2009-01-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
- Jesus (Matthew 7:13-14)

Robert Frost made it simple, there are two roads. The first one, the one that everyone takes; the one that is worn and tattered and walked upon daily. Then there is the second one. The one that needed wear. It was beautiful just the same, but people would not walk it. Could it be they were afraid of what was ahead? Could it be because there were very few footprints they could see? Maybe it could be that their friends took the other path, and said how much fun it was and since it was worn it was easier to tread. But Frost knew the other path would bring great joy, excitement and beauty! He says that at the end of his poem, because he traveled this way, he is now a different person. Jesus says that we have two paths as well. The one that is worn and comfortable and vast. And the other is hidden in the woods and when it is found it is a beautiful path full of joy, excitement and beauty. The awful thing is, how do we know what path we are on. One day could we be on the beautiful path making FOOTPRINTS , we could then be diverged and end up on the path that is broad and worn. I think it is a conscience decision everyday to make sure that we end on that path! I have found myself these past few weeks struggling to stay on the narrow path. The broad path has enticed me, with it's comfortability and it's false hope. But I know that if I take the road less traveled, the road of life, then that will make all the difference in me, my family and the world. I just have to make sure I have the things I need to help me make it through, just like a good trip outdoors (which I love!!!) My map (The Bible), my compass (accountablilty) and good shoes to press on (my faith in the Joy that only Christ can give). Getting back on the path is going to be hard, I will need to cut away weeds and walk through brush, but once I get back on the path...I can not wait to say with a sigh..."I took the road less traveled by and that has made all the difference!"

The New Year

2009-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

Next year, things are gonna change
Gonna drink less beer, and start all over again
Gonna read more books, gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook, spend less money on shoes
I’ll pay my bills on time,and file my mail away, everyday
Only drink the finest wine,and call my Gran every Sunday

Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answers probably no
~ Jamie Cullum

Why do we always set lofty aspirations for us to acheive on our own every year. Last night my childhood friend Niki said that she was going to give up swearing. I love my Kiyaboo but lets be honest, if you knew Kiya you know thats gonna be a tough one. Every year we say that we are going to change something about ourselves to better fit this mold of who we want to be. I say this year my new years resolution isn't surface...its simple. Live each day a little better, a little wiser with a lot of love. I can't do it alone, which is why I am reminded of Hab. 3:19...with God's strength I just want to live a little better each day for him...in worship...simply and candidly...

let everything that...let everything that...let everything that...

2008-11-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Worship...as defined by Jeff Colleen...God initiates worship...and we respond...by remembering WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE...

We feel like when we worship we are putting in all the work...that we are calling on God. Have you ever noticed that God is the one who calls on us...its up to us to find him. God has to initiate us to worship him, why else would He be a jealous God. Jealousy only happens when what you feel and give is not reciprocated to you, but given to another. We cheat on God...and he becomes jealous...and if you think God's love is great...imagine his jealousy....

We cheat on God...DAILY...we take the beauty of what God has made worship and we give it to another. We allow money, sex, the world initiate our heart...then we respond...by remembering what IT is and what IT has done for US!

I remember an amazing sermon I once heard by Chuck Sackett. He said he even finds himself cheating on God during corporate worship. He finds himself with his hands in his pockets holding his money clip. His vulnerability and honestly made me think...what false idols do I hold onto when I worship...it doesn't have to be physically...it could be emotionally or spiritually...

I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!

God wants to be our only love...He wants to be our companion. He is initiating our heart and loving us...are we continually loving him like He asks...or are we blatantly cheating on him...

"Father will You come and open up our eyes....fill us with Your heart, renew us with Your life...consume us with Your majesty, consume us with your majesty..."
--Unhindered

Are we willing to respond that openly???

general revelation with a special message...

2008-11-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

"...we are not only to renounce evil, but to manifest the truth. Bring it to the front; speak the Truth; live the Truth. We tell this people the world is vain; let our lives manifest that it is so. Does our dwelling look like it? Oh to live consistent lives!"
-Hudson Taylor

I am working on my paper for my Life of Christ class and I had everything planned out, down to a detailed outline. But, God didn't like that idea I guess. I read that quote and it made me think.

What is truth??

John 14:6-7
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

John 17:16-18
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

3 John 1:2-4
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

To manifest truth is to cause something...to verb. Jesus is truth, the noun...we are "truthing"...the verb... Jesus is the cause, we are the effect. Truth is work. To work is toil. If it isn't hard for us to "truth" are we doing it right? What are we doing to "truth?" Are we pursuing Truth (Christ himself [John 14:8]) are we unveiling Truth (the word of God [John 17:17])?? To pursue truth and to walk in the truth brings Joy to others...when we begin to "truth"..."truthing" becomes contagious...begin to "truth" and maybe, just maybe, we can make "Truth" manifest in our lives. We can live a consistent life. A life that brings joy! A life that MAKES HIM FAMOUS!!!

[James Hudson Taylor was one of the greatest missionaries during the Student Volunteer Movement. was a British Protestant Missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission. Taylor spent 51 years in China. China Inland Mission was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country and baptized over 18,000 Chinese People!]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Talk about making God famous in your life!!! WOW!

Getting Dirrty...

2008-11-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

Getting your hands dirty; What does that mean to you?
When you were a kid, were you the kid that loved mud pies??

This week is the National Missionary Convention. The convention center in Tulsa, OK will be filled with people who took this idea seriously, and are making their lives a direct portrait of Christ's love made action.

Mark 8:22-24a
22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" 24He looked up and said, "I see people.."

When Christ takes you outside of the world and walks with you by hand...and touches your eyes...Do you see people???? Do you get dirty???