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)

Awestruck.

Tonight at Brasher's, John Henderson was the speaker.

As usual we hung out, worshipped, and sat down to listen.

One of his group leaders reminded me so much of myself it is scary.

We went to school together long ago and both had hard times in high school.

We both had went through some of the same the depths of darkness, but we both are now striving towards our calling that God has placed upon us.

As alter call rolled around, I got to thinking about how undeserving I am of God's love because of my past and also the calling he has placed on me.

I just started crying.

Tears of joy rolled off of my face because I know that God is using me and will continue to use me.

I know that I am going down the road I am suppose to and God will provide a way for not only me but also the ones I will come in to contact with.

I am just awestruck how a God as awesome as ours would even want to use me to further His kingdom.

Man, our wonderful God is so amazing.

Remember, no matter what you have been through.

God still wants to use you.

All you have to do is to make your self available to Him.

The rest will be history...

Home.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith-for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. (Heb. 11:8-10 NLT)

How many people do you know that would move to another land because God, the creator of the universe, asked them to?

Or better yet, how many people do you think would hear his voice in today's society?

Food for thought.

:]

Love

I have been reading an amazing book called "From Eternity to Here" by Frank Viola.

It is by far one of the most eye opening books I have read about Christ and how we are intertwined with Him.

I have only finished a third of the book and I have learned so much about how we are the Bride of Christ and we all are apart of Him.

It has also opened my eyes to some things that I have just pushed aside for some time.

We go to church, do mission work all over, and are apart of many different church organizations but does that mean anything if we not fully head over heels in love with the One that created us?

No, it is a good thing to go to church, be apart of drama teams, and whatnot but what can we accomplish if we do not know Him or His will?

Nothing.

Good intentions only go so far without Him.

I believe most people in the Church today just do those things because they have to not because they want to.

I know I have been in that place many times but now that I have gotten to know Him more and more. . .

It has made a radical difference in my life and in working at my church.

I love worshipping the One that not only created me but also decided to save and purify me through the cross.

The One that is marred forever for our transgressions because he loves us so much.

Lost.

Will I be forever lost in your shadow?

Amongst the anguish and pain

In the realm of everything I 'm not

A living demon...

Again I try to lose your grip

But nothing seems to let me go

Your control is to much to ear

These scars are wearing in

Too deep...

A walking demon in living flesh

Scared to death of what will happen

If I leave you and find my own way

Who can I trust, what can I do?

Fighting is not the answer

I must get out and find my own way

Who can I trust, will you help me?

Gain a soul...

Why must you treat me like this

I am human too

Oh God, please help me

Bring me through...

This demon is resolved

You are going don

I am done with this

I am finished with you...

A walking demon in living flesh

Scared to death of what will happen

If I leave you and find my own way

Who can I trust, what can I do?

Fighting is not the answer

I must get out and find my own way

Who can I trust, will you help me?

Gain a soul...

Family.

I learned some awesome stuff about my family today at my aunt's funeral.

I knew my mom's side was very musical inclined but I had no clue that my cousins and my aunt's/uncle's recorded Gospel music on an actual record, which is really cool to me.

They played the record at her funeral and it fit so well.

Makes more sense that I have some musical sense about me now.

I love learning about my family.

Just shows how unique we all are.

:]

Gift.

We, as humans, as suppose to live, learn, love, and forgive.

Live life.

Learn from our mistakes and others.

Love our brother more than we love ourselves.

Forgive.

Forgiveness is necessary in life because everyone makes mistakes, even ourselves.

Without forgiveness, we would be miserable.

We would all be living in lives full of drama and our lives would pretty much be a soap opera.

Remember that because more and more people seem to be forgetting.

Don't waste today, it was a gift from God.

"We live, we love, we forgive, and never give up. Because the days we are given are gifts from above, and today we remember to live and to love."

-Superchick: "We Live"