So I went to see my first Spring Training game EVER and it was so much fun!! I was right by where the players entered and exited the field and gor pictures of a few of them. It was SOOO cool!!
Well, the weekend started off to a rocky start as I was stupid enought to look her up on myspace and saw her new music web site in which I saw a picture of her and Eli and a song that she had written and dedicated to him called "For You Eli". So, I called my best friend in the whole world, Tristan, and poured my hurting heart out to him. He was such an encouragement!! He stopped me in my tracks and made me promise him to not ever look her up on myspace again; so I won't. He also spoke truth into my life and reminded me, well he actually revealed to me, that the promise of Jenny in my life was confirmed by two witnesses and that that is how God works. I didn't ever think of it that way. That is so cool!! That thet LORD would speak to me through His voice, His word, and through friends that woudl confirm things that He had been telling me. Well, that obviously made me feel better. I left work early that Friday because there was NOTHING to do and went to hang out with Anna which I told of the situation and she was also encouraging as she reminded me of my stupidity in my actions... lol... my friends are great! lol...
Well, Anna and I went to go get gas and when we returned, Emily was already there and B came soon after. We got on our way around 5:30 and had a pretty good, but slow, ride to Phoenix; we got there at 0130!!
Saturday morning we got up and Anna's parents made us breakfast and we sat around and t talked until B and I went outside to start to get our baseball on and play catch. Soon after that, all us youngsters got into Anna's jeep while the old folks went in their BW Bug. We got to the game, saw a few players, took a few pictures and left to go to church. Here is the most important part of the the weekend!!!
Well, we got there and it was a mega-church with over 4,000 attenders. We sat in the left side of the church near the front part and got ready for worship. Worship was good but too spread out. That made me feel like I couldn't get into a flow, ut I definitely flet the presence of God pretty much immediately. The sermon was really good; it was about fasting and the importance of it as a spiritual discipline. I felt conviceted, but no word from the LORD. However, I did remember how I learned that it was supposed to be a regular thing in our lives. Jesus said "when" you fast, not "if" you fast. So, the sermon ended and we were asked to stand and THAT'S when the magic happened! *big smile* I felt that the LORD started to want to speak to me because I felt HIS presence so heavy on me that I could barely stand. The first thing that happened was that I had a vision of the LORD Himself coming down and facing me. He then got closer and closer and closer until his chest began to touch my own and His heart replaced mine (I almost fell when this happened, I was overwhelmed). I just enjoyed His presence and the meaning of the vision which was that the LORD was replacing my heart with Him. So I said what was on my (HIS) heart, "LORD when am I going to stop suffering?" and HE responded by saying, "Trust Me." It seems that He always tells me just enough to grown my faith. If He would actually tell me when I would stop suffering, then I wouldn't have to depend on Him since I would have a date of deliverace and I would start looking to that day instead of concentrating on today. Then, before I even finished asking or maybe even started to ask the LORD why she is with him, He reminded me of what He had told me in that she is going through things that she needs to go through to learn to depend only in HIM. Obviously tears ran down my face as I received His words to me. Then my heart shifted to the conviction of fasting in my life. I asked the LORD "if" He wanted me to fast (haha, like He would actually say no!) and He obviously saud "yes." Then I asked Him, "How long, 3 consecutive days per month?" (Like the guy had commented earlier). And the LORD replied, "Four." *I smiled* Now, my commitment is to fast the first four days of every month. That's going to be really hard, but I want to do EXACTLY what He tells me to do. So, the next part I don't remember if it happened before the fasting thing or after, but it happened. I had a vision of Jenny sitting on a platform with dark brown pants that had a sort of pin stripe that I don't exactly remember right now and she was sitting cross-legged with her right leg on top og her left. She looked beautiful and happy. I got the feeling that I was next to her, but I didn't know that for sure since I didn't see anything. This vision made me feel really good, because I felt as if I was looking at my wife and not anything else. I know that that was a prophetic vision and I receive it in Christ.
After church we went to go eat at Anna's restaurant: Fajitas Restaurant. The food was SOOO good! Her parents paid for the bill and we loved it. We also talked about the fasting sermon and we all gave our opinions. Then, we met up with Sam, Anna's friend, and we listened and danced to some jazz/blues. We got home late and went to sleep so that we could have her mom's great coffee cake then enxt morning. sunday morning we had breakfast and talked about online dating web sites and started talking about my whole view on that too... that took a while. We left at 1 pm and I got home home at 2230 after dorpping people off at Anna's.
It was a graet weekend that I really needed. We are now Jazz fans and want to seek out more Jazz music, thanks Sam...
Monday, March 26, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A Privilidge
Suffering for Christ really is a privilidge... Let me rephrase that, suffering really is a privilidge...
What I mean is that sometimes you get so into being self-righteous because you think that something that is currently going on in your life is not your fault, but that 'something' is happening for some reason. That 'something' was allowed to happen by the LORD for some reason. Suffering is a privilisge because by getting a chance to love a real enemy changes your heart to be more like that of Christ's. I can get a little glimpse of what Jesus really felt like when He said, "Father, forgive them for the do not know what they do." He loved, He really loved those that put Him through the horrifiying and shaming process of crucification. Of all people in all of history is all the world Jesus was the one that was least deserving of crucification! He was sinless. And here I sit thinking that I have the right to be mad and not thinking about why this is happening. This is a privilidge for so many reasons, but the biggest is because I get a chance to experience more of Christ through all of this. How wonderfully heartbreaking is it that I get to pray for my enemy; that I actually get to love the unlovable. Man! THANK YOU LORD!!
Also, while I am suffering for something that is not directly my fault, like Jesus did, I know that the LORD could have stopped this from happening, and since HE didn't, then HE felt it necessary for this to happen. Why? Man I asked myself that not really wanting to hear the answer even though I have heard the answer. He said "if you want to be a man after my own heart then you have to love the way I love" Also I would not have learned otherwise...
There are so many other things that are happening and have happened, but now I don't really remember them all, I need to do a better job of writing these things down within a couple days of them happening!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
HOMOSEXUALITY - NATURE, NURTURE... OR BOTH??
THE IMAGE OF GOD EXPANDED:
So there is this article (http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/furor-over-baptists-gay-baby-article/20070315023809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001 [15mar07]) that talks about how a leading Baptist clergyman talks about how the Christian church has to, “brace [themselves] for the possibility that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven.”
Now brace yourselves… I AGREE…
Now before you get all your wires crossed as to what I am saying… Read ahead…
Here’s one thing I know for sure: There have been people, some that I know personally, that have said that they were homosexuals, and then, they later admitted realizing that they were homosexuals not because of birth or choice, but because of past traumatic experiences (i.e. child molestation).
Here’s another thing I know for sure: There are people that are homosexuals, heterosexuals, and bisexuals. And, no matter what the reason is that people fall into these categories, the truth is that these categories exist.
This takes me to stating that there have been national tests that have been implemented that confirm the statements in the previous paragraph. One such test and scale is called the Kinsey Scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_scale). This scale speaks of people that feel anywhere from really really straight, all the way to the other side of the spectrum to where people feel really really homosexual. Ask yourself a deep question that only you can answer: have you ever, even for an instance, wondered what it would be like to kiss someone of the same sex? Well, going on. This test shows that human sexuality is fluid and not so legalistic as to have to say what previous generations were ‘so sure’ of in splitting sexuality into very distinct sections.
That being said, I want to propose this: Since sexuality seems to be fluid, I would like to state that I believe that there are people that have been traumatized into thinking that they are somewhere on the homosexual or bisexual end of the spectrum, AND that the sinful nature that we inherit from Adam (of the biblical Adam & Eve) might be able to affect genetics in sexual orientation in the same way that it affects genetics in aging.
WAIT WAIT WAIT…
Please keep reading…
God says in His Word (The Bible) that He created us and we would never die. We seemed to have had no age limits, no sin, no death. But then Adam and Even both sinned and since then, humankind has had a limited life. Aging and dieing is a genetic trait. So, something happened that caused this genetic change, thus, sin and our sinful nature. The Bible says that at some point we are created in God’s mind before we are “knit in our mother’s womb,” (Psalm 139:13). But, God does not implant our sinful nature into us; rather, we inherit that from Adam (Psalm 51:5). I don’t know, nor do I think that we will ever find out, when and where exactly this point of inheritance is, but the fact that it is there seems obvious. Since we have been affected by our inherited sinful nature genetically as shown by our aging process, I also believe that it is possible that our inherited sinful nature may also be able to affect our sexual orientation. No matter what, whether or not sexual orientation can be traced back to one or multiple genes, the possibility is there and we do not have an answer either way right now. Therefore, as the Universal Church, I feel that we cannot say that being homosexual is wrong, rather, we must only repeat what the Bible says in that the act of homosexuality is wrong. Never in the whole Bible does God say that being a homosexual is wrong, instead, states that a man that lies with another man is committing an act that is an abomination to God, (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13). We can look at it this way; the LORD says that we are to fight against lust and fornication and adultery; therefore, people that have homosexual desires need to fight against that as well.
I also want to state that this does not mean that I believe that God creates people that are homosexual. Rather, that God, knowing that they will be affected by our sinful nature in that manner, probably creates that specific person in such a way as to be able to live a life that is pleasing to God. The LORD know what our weaknesses will be due to our sinful nature, and I believe that He, in His infinite timeless wisdom, creates us with strengths that will balance those though Jesus.
This takes me to the marriage versus singleness debate. Wur ma peeps at that God has called to be single their whole lives? Anyone? In my experience, people tend to place the gift or marriage above the gift of singleness. I believe that the gift of marriage truly is a gift when we were designed to be married; when we were made in such a way as to be able to glorify God the most through our marriage. Likewise, the gift of singleness is truly a gift that can only be fully received by the person that God intended to stay single. I can see that maybe I lost you if you are a teenager or a young unmarried adult. But, the truth is that there are people that were meant to be single; that were prepared to be single by God because that is the way that He knew that He could be glorified the most. Maybe people that might have been born with their genetic makeup influencing them to have homosexual desires were created by God in such a way that He knew that they would be able to remain single. Now remember, I don’t believe that God creates people to be homosexuals, rather that He, knowing that sinful nature will have that affect, created them in such a way as to be able to abstain from their homosexual desires. Can you imagine how much more of the image of God we would be able to see if we fully add to the body of Christ those that are called to be single while homosexual? Or, how much more of God we could experience if those that are oppressed by the pain in their past and therefore have ‘chosen’ to live a homosexual lifestyle are not confused from who they really are anymore and can live in the freedom of being the people that God meant them to be. Also, can you imagine how oppressive the church is being to those people that might have no choice in their sexual orientation? Can you imagine wanting to fit in and not being able to because who you are as far as your sexual orientation is attacked by saying that YOU (not your actions but YOU) are detestable to God? I feel that the church is missing out on seeing more of God and that God’s heart is troubled and terribly saddened by the lack of open-mindedness from His Church about this issue.
To recap, I feel that we truly do not know if homosexuality can be based on genetics or not, but since the possibility is there, we cannot turn our back on that possibility because of the immense suffering that we might be causing people in them not feeling like they can be themselves to be accepted by the Church, and, therefore, by God… at least in their minds. All I want to do is glorify God and love people, and I believe that the way that I put things here make my heart transparent. Please let me know what you think on this. I could be totally wrong, I could be totally right, and I could be somewhere in the middle. Again we see fluidity J.
PS – This is still a work in progress…
So there is this article (http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/furor-over-baptists-gay-baby-article/20070315023809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001 [15mar07]) that talks about how a leading Baptist clergyman talks about how the Christian church has to, “brace [themselves] for the possibility that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven.”
Now brace yourselves… I AGREE…
Now before you get all your wires crossed as to what I am saying… Read ahead…
Here’s one thing I know for sure: There have been people, some that I know personally, that have said that they were homosexuals, and then, they later admitted realizing that they were homosexuals not because of birth or choice, but because of past traumatic experiences (i.e. child molestation).
Here’s another thing I know for sure: There are people that are homosexuals, heterosexuals, and bisexuals. And, no matter what the reason is that people fall into these categories, the truth is that these categories exist.
This takes me to stating that there have been national tests that have been implemented that confirm the statements in the previous paragraph. One such test and scale is called the Kinsey Scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_scale). This scale speaks of people that feel anywhere from really really straight, all the way to the other side of the spectrum to where people feel really really homosexual. Ask yourself a deep question that only you can answer: have you ever, even for an instance, wondered what it would be like to kiss someone of the same sex? Well, going on. This test shows that human sexuality is fluid and not so legalistic as to have to say what previous generations were ‘so sure’ of in splitting sexuality into very distinct sections.
That being said, I want to propose this: Since sexuality seems to be fluid, I would like to state that I believe that there are people that have been traumatized into thinking that they are somewhere on the homosexual or bisexual end of the spectrum, AND that the sinful nature that we inherit from Adam (of the biblical Adam & Eve) might be able to affect genetics in sexual orientation in the same way that it affects genetics in aging.
WAIT WAIT WAIT…
Please keep reading…
God says in His Word (The Bible) that He created us and we would never die. We seemed to have had no age limits, no sin, no death. But then Adam and Even both sinned and since then, humankind has had a limited life. Aging and dieing is a genetic trait. So, something happened that caused this genetic change, thus, sin and our sinful nature. The Bible says that at some point we are created in God’s mind before we are “knit in our mother’s womb,” (Psalm 139:13). But, God does not implant our sinful nature into us; rather, we inherit that from Adam (Psalm 51:5). I don’t know, nor do I think that we will ever find out, when and where exactly this point of inheritance is, but the fact that it is there seems obvious. Since we have been affected by our inherited sinful nature genetically as shown by our aging process, I also believe that it is possible that our inherited sinful nature may also be able to affect our sexual orientation. No matter what, whether or not sexual orientation can be traced back to one or multiple genes, the possibility is there and we do not have an answer either way right now. Therefore, as the Universal Church, I feel that we cannot say that being homosexual is wrong, rather, we must only repeat what the Bible says in that the act of homosexuality is wrong. Never in the whole Bible does God say that being a homosexual is wrong, instead, states that a man that lies with another man is committing an act that is an abomination to God, (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13). We can look at it this way; the LORD says that we are to fight against lust and fornication and adultery; therefore, people that have homosexual desires need to fight against that as well.
I also want to state that this does not mean that I believe that God creates people that are homosexual. Rather, that God, knowing that they will be affected by our sinful nature in that manner, probably creates that specific person in such a way as to be able to live a life that is pleasing to God. The LORD know what our weaknesses will be due to our sinful nature, and I believe that He, in His infinite timeless wisdom, creates us with strengths that will balance those though Jesus.
This takes me to the marriage versus singleness debate. Wur ma peeps at that God has called to be single their whole lives? Anyone? In my experience, people tend to place the gift or marriage above the gift of singleness. I believe that the gift of marriage truly is a gift when we were designed to be married; when we were made in such a way as to be able to glorify God the most through our marriage. Likewise, the gift of singleness is truly a gift that can only be fully received by the person that God intended to stay single. I can see that maybe I lost you if you are a teenager or a young unmarried adult. But, the truth is that there are people that were meant to be single; that were prepared to be single by God because that is the way that He knew that He could be glorified the most. Maybe people that might have been born with their genetic makeup influencing them to have homosexual desires were created by God in such a way that He knew that they would be able to remain single. Now remember, I don’t believe that God creates people to be homosexuals, rather that He, knowing that sinful nature will have that affect, created them in such a way as to be able to abstain from their homosexual desires. Can you imagine how much more of the image of God we would be able to see if we fully add to the body of Christ those that are called to be single while homosexual? Or, how much more of God we could experience if those that are oppressed by the pain in their past and therefore have ‘chosen’ to live a homosexual lifestyle are not confused from who they really are anymore and can live in the freedom of being the people that God meant them to be. Also, can you imagine how oppressive the church is being to those people that might have no choice in their sexual orientation? Can you imagine wanting to fit in and not being able to because who you are as far as your sexual orientation is attacked by saying that YOU (not your actions but YOU) are detestable to God? I feel that the church is missing out on seeing more of God and that God’s heart is troubled and terribly saddened by the lack of open-mindedness from His Church about this issue.
To recap, I feel that we truly do not know if homosexuality can be based on genetics or not, but since the possibility is there, we cannot turn our back on that possibility because of the immense suffering that we might be causing people in them not feeling like they can be themselves to be accepted by the Church, and, therefore, by God… at least in their minds. All I want to do is glorify God and love people, and I believe that the way that I put things here make my heart transparent. Please let me know what you think on this. I could be totally wrong, I could be totally right, and I could be somewhere in the middle. Again we see fluidity J.
PS – This is still a work in progress…
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
PSALM 3-5
Thank you LORD for blessing me with you WORD in times like these!!!
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah [a]
3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift [b] up my head.
4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.
7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah
Psalm 4
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [c] ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods [d] ? Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 5
For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.
5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.
6 You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.
7 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make straight your way before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.
10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah [a]
3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift [b] up my head.
4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.
7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah
Psalm 4
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [c] ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods [d] ? Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 5
For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.
5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.
6 You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.
7 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make straight your way before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.
10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Friday, March 9, 2007
DANCING WITH GOD
Dancing With God When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
I Hope You Dance....
Dream
Satan can so attack us through peaceful dreams. Today I had a dream that I was driving in the passanger seat of a car, my mom, was driving and nicky, jenny and eli in the back seat of the car. I got a sense that Jenny was happy with Eli and that I had to deal with it. I woke up to my alarm and remember being scared and sad. I fought against it and prayed it against it realizing that that goes against the promist of God. Then, the LORD reminded me of something that my mom said. She was warning me not to talk to Jenny or receive any phone calls or anything because anything that would be negative (as in me hearing about her and Eli or us getting in a fight) would be devastating right now and I realized that the LORD would NOT tell me that right now. So I was able to pray with more vigor as I also remembered that the enemy comes dressed as a harmless sheep as well as a hungry wolf.
THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU ARE ABOVE ALL THINGS AND WISER THAN ALL THINGS AND THAT YOU FULFILL YOUR PROMISES!!! PREPARE MY WIFE JENNY, PREPARE ME... HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS... MAKE THAT VISION THAT YOU GAVE ME THAT AS WE WALK TOWARDS YOU, WE ARE ALSO WALKING TOWARDS EACH OTHER TRUE!! YOU ARE AN AMAZING GOD THAT DOES ALL THINGS FOR YOUR GLORY... ALLOW MY LIFE TO GLORIFY YOU!!!!!
THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU ARE ABOVE ALL THINGS AND WISER THAN ALL THINGS AND THAT YOU FULFILL YOUR PROMISES!!! PREPARE MY WIFE JENNY, PREPARE ME... HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS... MAKE THAT VISION THAT YOU GAVE ME THAT AS WE WALK TOWARDS YOU, WE ARE ALSO WALKING TOWARDS EACH OTHER TRUE!! YOU ARE AN AMAZING GOD THAT DOES ALL THINGS FOR YOUR GLORY... ALLOW MY LIFE TO GLORIFY YOU!!!!!
2 Cor. 1:10 and Phil. 3:13-14
2 Corinthians 1:10
10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
Philippians 3:13-14
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
THESE WERE GIVEN TO ME BY MY DAD...
10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
Philippians 3:13-14
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
THESE WERE GIVEN TO ME BY MY DAD...
Deuteronomy 30
Prosperity After Turning to the LORD
1 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes [a] and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. 5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. 7 The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. 8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Offer of Life or Death 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
YES LORD YES LORD YES YES LORD!!!!!
Psalm 143-145
Given to me by Anna :) Thank You LORD for how You work through ALL of my closest friends!!!!!!
Psalm 143
A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Psalm 144
Of David.
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples [a] under me.
3 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
5 Part your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
6 Send forth lightning and scatter {the enemies}; shoot your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners
8 whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David from the deadly sword.
11 Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
12 Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen will draw heavy loads. [b] There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets.
15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 145
A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 [c] I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [d]
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. [e]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Psalm 143
A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Psalm 144
Of David.
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples [a] under me.
3 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
5 Part your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
6 Send forth lightning and scatter {the enemies}; shoot your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners
8 whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David from the deadly sword.
11 Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
12 Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen will draw heavy loads. [b] There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets.
15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 145
A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 [c] I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [d]
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. [e]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Psalm 141
A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. (so that I pray your heart and not my flesh)
4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.
5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
6 their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave. [b] "
8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
YES LORD, deliver me and keep me away from sin!!!
1 O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. (so that I pray your heart and not my flesh)
4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.
5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
6 their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave. [b] "
8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
YES LORD, deliver me and keep me away from sin!!!
Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, [a] when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [b] face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
I LOVE YOU LORD because of YOUR Word and because you have allowed me to identify with your son David!!! His psalms reflect my heart and I rejoice in know that you have called me!! You have destined me for Yourself and NOTHING can get in the way of that! Nothing can depart me from your LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, [a] when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [b] face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
I LOVE YOU LORD because of YOUR Word and because you have allowed me to identify with your son David!!! His psalms reflect my heart and I rejoice in know that you have called me!! You have destined me for Yourself and NOTHING can get in the way of that! Nothing can depart me from your LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!
Restoration - Psalm 31
Psalm 31
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, [a] and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave. [b]
18 Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.
22 In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, [a] and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave. [b]
18 Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.
22 In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
First Day of SB News Press
I did nothing basically...
LOL
I really didn't except just meet people and barely start to put things together. But I REALLY DID NOTHING!!!
LOL
I really didn't except just meet people and barely start to put things together. But I REALLY DID NOTHING!!!
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