I think everyone really needs to look around and see everyone that is hurting, lonely, and longing for someone, anyone, to talk to them.
I look back in my years in high school and I can't remember much but I do remember faces of people that I chose not to reach out to.
It hurts because I know I could have made a difference but instead I needed to "look good" in front of my friends.
I think everyone remembers these things because well no one is perfect.
If we as Christians were doing our job and reaching out to the hurting and lonely, many statistics, such as suicide, would decline rapidly.
Many people would not be hurting and would know that others have gone through the exact same thing.
It's crazy that one moment in our lives could change our lives and even the lives of those around us.
All of our decisions affect other people, directly or indirectly.
Think about it.
What decision have you made that changed your life and/or someone else's?

Escaping You.

How can we escape Your beauty?
It surrounds us daily, but we try so hard to get away from You.
But we are foolish in all our ways.
How can we get away from the One who created all from the stars to the ocean to even us as human beings.
I don't see how we can escape ourselves.
But In the end, we all decide which gate to pursue.
Will yours be made of pearl or of condemnation?
For we all have sinned but that is not an excuse.
You see we have a Savior who died to save us from all of our past and present sins.
Only through the blood of Christ will we find His beauty and see worth in ourselves.

Moving.

Man, I really can not wait to get out of this town.
I know that God has something bigger than me planned for me than what is here.
I really hate being patient sometimes.
Especially now.
I could seriously go on to Belmont this fall if money wasn't an issue, but since it is I am here for ONE more year.
That just kills me.
I will be in Boaz, AL another year but I am already getting ready for Nashville, not on my own though.
God is helping me get things situated and helping me meet people before I even get there.
But waiting a year to get to live there is so hard.
Patience is key.
I just need to slow down, take a couple deep breaths, and live my life in His manner where He needs me.
His will is so much greater than mine and we ALL need to accept the cards He deals us.
We then play those cards the way He wants us to, not our way.

"If only, if only the cards were dealt were in our favor.
I can't move, I can't see which play to make.
In the end, it turns out You knew all along.
That I would follow Your game plan for my life.
Who needs a poker face with You by my side?"

Book Review

Thanks to my awesome friends at BookSneeze for providing me with a copy of Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola’s Jesus Manifesto. Man, was it a great read.

I pretty much loved this book because it is bringing the Church back to it's one true love, Christ.
This book really opened my eyes to the things I am suppose to be doing within my own area.
It also left me with the conclusion, why would anyone stray away from their love?
Why would anyone want to leave the presence of Christ in search of something better?
What's better than Christ?
Ideologies of man?
I don't think so.r
This Christ centered book should be a read for any church leaders because we all REALLY need to get back to our love.
Without Him, we are nothing.
With Him, we can do anything.
So, with that in mind, this book really opens your eyes to the beauty of Christ.
Check it out.
:]

Faces.

Twisting, turning, and yearning

For them to figure it out

You try to make do but you can't feel Him like I do

What you have been told is only the beginning

Of a love that is foretold throughout history

But today we have commercialized our Savior

To make us feel better about ourselves

But what have we become?

Is this the face of a Christian?

"FETH"

These are some pretty cool ideas about some of the words in the Old Testament and what they stand for:

"Spaciousness- Christ is limitless and inexhaustible in His riches (Eph. 1:3; 3:8, 17-19)

Good- Christ embodies goodness, pleasantness, and excellence (Phil. 3:8)

Water- Christ is a stream, a fountain, and a spring of living water that is refreshing and quenches our thirst (John 4:10-14; 7:38)

Valleys and hills- Christ is both a valley of suffering and a hill of overcoming (2 Cor. 4:11-12; 6:9-10)

Wheat- Christ is the power to die to self (John 12:24-25; Phil. 3:10)

Barley- Christ is resurrection life, which overcomes death (John 6:9-13; 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:22-23)

Vines- Christ is the real Vine (John 15:1-5). He is also the fruit of the vine-the crushed grape and the new wine that gives joy and gladness to His people (Judg. 9:13; Ps. 104:15)

Figs- Christ is our sweetness and the fruit of the Spirit (Judg. 9:11; Gal. 5:22-23)"

:]

Fallen*

I have fallen again

This pit seems to draw me in

I wish I could see the end

But I know that is that not the truth

This lie that I have been living

Seems to be dying

I feel you coming through me

You draw me out

You pull me through again

Your love is overwhelming

Your love is so much more

Than any I adore

Show me the light

Here I am again

Praying for another plan

I need you to help me through

Have you forgotten me?

This lie that I have been living

Seems to be dying

I feel you coming through me

You draw me out

You pull me through again

Your love is overwhelming

Your love is so much more

Than any I adore

Show me the light

The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you.

(Deut. 7:7-8 NLT)