Jesus Christ Is Stronger!

“Ready for some good news? . . .

Jesus Christ is stronger!

Stronger than my fears about the future or my shame over a past that cannot be altered though I wish so much I could do some things differently.

Stronger than my tired prayers with well-worn phrases and weary pleas.

Stronger than my need to know now, and have the trial terminated.

Stronger than the enemy of my soul who would discourage me with my own failings and disillusion me with the faults of others.

Such a simple truth—Jesus Christ is Stronger. ‘Stronger than what,’ you ask? Stronger than whatever would cause you doubt or discouragement today.”

James McDonald

a prayer

We beg you, Lord, to help and defend us. Deliver the oppressed, pity the insignificant, raise the fallen, show yourself to the needy, heal the sick, bring back those of your people who have gone astray, feed the hungry, lift up the weak, take off the prisoners’ chains. May every nation come to know that you alone are God, that Jesus Christ is your child, that we are your people, the sheep of your pasture.
Clement of Rome

Anywhere is On the Way

I had the opportunity to here my friend Peter, who is a total ROCKSTAR by the way, sing some of his original stuff recently. This song was on my mind for weeks after so I asked if I can share it. It really spoke to me in a time where I was desperately seeking the next thing, the next place. The Lord used it to remind me just to go, the ultimate destination isn't as important as the action itself. I hope it blesses you the way it blesses me.

Check out more of Peter's stuff here.

Virginia I'm leaving
Can't keep it in.
Through oceans filled with tears
I have to swim.

When you walk to the edge of the world
Anywhere is on the way
Anywhere is on the way

Gibralter I need you
Ukraine is cold
I was arrested in China
Escaped to Seoul

When you walk to the edge of the world
Anywhere is on the way
Anywhere is on the way

When you're ready to leave everything
Then anywhere is on the way
Anywhere is on the way

You feel like you can't make it
You're not alone
'cause I've walked to the edge of the world
Now I'm ready to see my Lord

If you're ready to walk by faith
Anywhere is on the way
Anywhere is on the way

Maybe angels, you'll entertain
If anywhere is on the way
Anywhere is on the way

why we do what we do

it's easy to forgot in the monotony of the day to day why you do what you do.
this was a reminder for me, and gets me excited about the part I get to play!



check out STUDENT LIFE for more cool stuff

Give It Away

Blog Action Day 2008
POVERTY

When I learned about this day and started thinking about Poverty-what I've seen, how I feel, what I'm doing in my own life-I was reminded of Africa.

The kids whose parents thought they were fat. But they actually had distended bellies from malnutrition. And whose hair had turned red. Another sign of malnutrition.
The guys on the side of the road whose bodies had been mangled. Some of them as a result of inoculations they received as kids. Some as a result of war. Some born with disabilities.

I have a picture in my head from my time in Nigeria that I promised myself I'd never forget. A picture of young man running as fast as he could down the road to catch up with our van. Only hoping we'd buy a sack of apples. I can't even imagine a need that great.

The Lord has been challenging me lately to "give it away." My money, my time, my resources, my blessings. I'm not sure completely what that means. But as I mentioned in my last post, it's brought someone new into my life through Compassion International.

I was blessed to have the opportunity to meet Michelle Tolentino, a graduate of the Compassion Program. Such a sweet spirit, and amazing story of how the Lord changed her life by removing her from poverty and showing her His love through the program and her relationship with her sponsor. She's a student at Moody Bible Institute and isn't able to work while she's in school. She truly challenged me by sharing with me that she gave up half of her meal plan at the school cafeteria to sponser her second child through the program.

Check out what Compassion does here, and pray about becoming part of a child's life...

catalyst

I got back from a work trip to a conference last night. I have to admit I wasn't stoked about this trip. But, it ended up being a really good time.

1. The Pop n' Lock champion from this years So You Think You Can Dance was there. And I got to see him do his stuff.

2. Dinner at Dante's Down the Hatch. Fondue. Yummm....

3. Dave Ramsey speaking on Leadership.

4. Matt Chandler. Enough said.

5. Working at the Compassion tent and getting to see sooo many kids get sponsors.

6. Sponsoring my first Compassion child. Marashet Simon, a three year old from Ethiopia. So cute I can't handle it.

earth from above

This is sooo cool. Check it out and learn a little about our super cool world.

Speak O Lord

Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

in the vineyard

I've been thinking a lot about Marcy's post...

This past Sunday my Priest (that sounds weird to say, but explanations may come later, anyways...) was preaching on a passage in Matthew. The Parable of Two Sons.

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard. 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Matthew 21.28-32


I've been thinking, a lot. About the reality that if we are His, we'll be in the vineyard working. Sometimes we won't feel like going. After all, it's dirty and exhausting work. But at the end of the day, what we want is to please our Father. So we go...

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
Revelation 2. 4,5a

done living

by Justin McRoberts

Well, I spent the whole night fighting
Fighting with some ghost
And when the break of morning found me
I'd both won and lost

You see the question isn't are you going to suffer any more
But what will it have meant when you are through?
The question isn't are you going to die, you're going to die
But will you be done living when you do?

Yes, I spent the whole day running
Trying to catch the sun
But when the darkness overtook me
All my running had made me strong

So run till you cannot take a single step in strength
Then crawl on your hands and knees, till your hands and knees they ache
And when you cannot crawl
It will be me you call to carry you back home again.

death by love

a new book that looks worth the read...