After a long leave of absence...

I felt like I was being called to write something of encouragement.  Annnd off we go!!  

Just wanted to kick this one off with a personal thought.  I was walking on the quad today, and it was awesome!!  The Lord just wanted to bless us with some awesome weather I guess.  But anywho, let's dive in shall we?  (hahahaha, "get. in. the Water!!, I'm sorry baby... get in the WATER!!)..... Just felt like I am always needing someone to come up to me and encourage me, ya know?  Everyone has those days when there is just something.... what, off?  out of whack?  The thing I would like to remind everyone about is this, "God the Father..." (i.e., Daddy, Yeshua, Yaweh, The Big G, The One and Only), "chose YOU..." (yes you, and me), "long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy!"- 1 Peter: 2.  What?!?!?!  Seriously? The one who created the universe, who created awesome stuff like fun dip and Disney World!!,.... he wants what?

That's right guys, the one thing the LORD wants for himself is us.  That's it.  Simple request.  And catch this... He doesn't just WANT us, he CRAVES for us, he LONGS for a relationship with us!!  We are his one and only desire!  He could create another perfect being to find companionship, sure... no problem.  But He created us "in His image".  We are his pride and joy and He will NEVER, NEVER give up on us or abandon us!!!  So if that isn't encouraging enough for you, let's pose part dos, yeah?

1 Peter:3- "Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead." v.6- "So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while."

So when you have a rough day, and everything in YOUR plan isn't working out, just step back and look at the big picture.  Check out God's panorama on our life... ready?  Just know that the Lord allows us to go through trials so that or faith will grow.  But, He promises to restore our hearts.  He is always there for you to call upon Him.  And we know that as his children, we have everything to look forward too!!!  

P.S.--Suggested song to listen too-  Zerubbable by Ric Pino  ( I think that is how it's spelt?).... Enjoy!

 

"Daddy, I'm hungry...."

This is gonna be a two part, punch you in the gut post.... here we go.  So last night I'm sitting in church (The Well), and Ed starts talking about his kids.  He gives this real elaborate story about how his daughter wouldn't eat dinner and later complains about being hungry.  What he said made me really start to think....  his daughter looks up at him and says "Daddy, I'm hungry".  I thought, how terribly perfect this statement was.  Got to thinkin about how, (no offense to my friends who are reading this right now), dull and uneventful my life has been lately.  I've been having this craving for something more, as if I knew I was missing something that I used to have, and all of a sudden,.... it was gone.  That line, "Daddy, I'm hungry", it just shouts out what my heart has been screaming for three years!  In that one moment, sitting there in that sanctuary, MY Daddy (as HE always does) opened my eyes, but this time I opened them.  For the first time in a long time, I knew for a fact, for certain, what was missing.  "Daddy, I'm hungry...".   Had to repeat it time and time again because it was so sweet.  So knowing that, I urge you to stop pushing away from what God wants to do with you.  We try everyday to fill our voided hearts with senseless, society-provoked trinklets that we think will satisfy our appetite.  We are HIS creation and He gave us desire for His food, His knowledge, His pure and wholesome, nutritious GOODNESS.  Please, come to the table, eat and drink... then, "if you love Him, feed His sheep"!!

The second topic on my agenda, "Divine Romance-by Phil Wickham" (beautiful song)

This song really inspires me to live my "love life" the way that I do.  When I say that I mean, I don't seek love.... two reasons, heed them if you feel the need: 1) The Lord taught me about a year or so ago, that to love woman the way I am supposed to, I must first learn how to LOVE my Father, 2) When you love the LORD with all that is YOU, then and only then, will you be completely satisfied (in the song).

Now I'm not saying I think that loving the Lord is all that He wants for us.  He designed us to be with each other, and I totally believe that... and I am slightly pumped about the day that he gives me that chance.  Anyway, about the song. The last lines are great.  "A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You".... this line is the TRUTH!!! (I'm reeaaaallll pumped right now!!).  His love can be so encompassing and powerful, that it just takes you like a swift, unseen rip-current.  The only difference, is that it gives you that, adrenaline rush that makes you wanna pee your pants, not the rush that makes you feel like you'll die (but you are in a sense, dang it!  good pun!).  Anyway, I just was thinking about some of these things, thought I'd scribble them down. Enjoy. IN HIM, fo sho... 

 

First post, it's a little rough, pretty drafty.

So I was thinking about starting this blog, finally got around to it.  No bigs, ya know?  Sittin here listening to a lil' pandora and felt inspired to do it, so I'm doing it.  This is kinda a random post I guess.  I went to my 6 o'clock class tonight (kicking and screaming), only to be very surprised how down-to-earth the prof was.  It was actually very relieving to know that he is going to be so cool, makes going to a night class a lot easier.  

I also wanted to kind of leave a thought to those who will actually read this, I think I'll do it every time I Post.  Lately I've been thinking a lot about what exactly I'm going to do with my life and I've been trying to map out the next "x" amount of years... and I got to thinking, this is what life is all about.  If God wanted our lives to be boring and dull, He would have made our decisions for us.  The fact is, He allowed us to make choices for ourselves so that we can have adventure!  How boring would life be if we knew exactly what would happen this time next year... I guess that's kinda like love (which is another thing that I think about a lot, probably more than I should).  It (love), should be something that kind of slaps you in the face I think.  You shouldn't see it coming, 'cause that would ruin the whole excitement of it all....