Depraved Indifference
Intercession
If you have some time, please listen to both these links. They are INCREDIBLY amazing and mind blowing. They asked a lot of hard quesitons and produced a bunch of thought provoking ideas. Check em out...each one is no longer than 8 minutes.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
{lukewarm}
Revelation 3:15-16 (New International Version, ©2011)
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:15-16 (The Message)
"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit."
Apocalipsis 3:15-16 (Nueva Versión Internacional)
"Conozco tus obras; sé que no eres ni frío ni caliente. ¡Ojalá fueras lo uno o lo otro! Por tanto, como no eres ni frío ni caliente, sino tibio, estoy por vomitarte de mi boca."
Robs and Kiki and I were talking about lukewarm vs. hot/cold this morning and what it looks like. This theme has really been put on my heart lately. What does it look like to be sold out for Christ? to be hot all the way? to not sit on the fence? to be willing to give everything that you have and are for the glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ?
There are so many lukewarm Christians today. There are. The people that go to church on Sunday, then act however the rest of the week because then they'll just repent at church again on Sunday. That's not what Christ calls for. It shows plainly in this verse that you either fully chose Him, or you don't chose Him at all. He will spit out the people who sit on the fence. The people who chose Him, but only certain parts of Him or only at certain times or only when it feels good. What does a faith look like to choose Him, all of Him, every day of the week, whether it feels good or not? Now that is an all consuming fire. That is a lifestyle that is demonstrated by Christ. To have every moment, every second, every thought, every action, every event, every word, every emotion, every tear, every smile, every hug completely and totally enveloped and saturated with the love of Christ and with the purpose of glorifying Him. Are you willing to give up everything that YOU are to recieve everything that HE is? are you willing to take a leap of faith off the fence?
Loves!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
{Thy will be done}
My God, my Father, while I stray
far from my home, on life's rough way,
O teach me from my heart to say,
Thy will be done!
Though dark my path, and sad my lot,
let me be still and murmur not,
or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
Thy will be done!
But if my fainting heart be blest
with the Holy Spirit for its guest,
my God, to thee I leave the rest;
Thy will be done!
If Thou shall call me to resign
what most I prize, it never was mine:
I only yield thee what is thine;
Thy will be done!
Thy will be done!
Renew my will from day to day;
blend it with thine, and take away
all that now makes it hard to say,
Thy will be done!
Then when on earth I breathe no more
the prayer oft mixed with tears before,
I'll sing upon that joyful shore,
Thy will be done!
Thy will be done!
My God My Father (click here to hear the song)
We sang this song last night at group...and it gripped me. Especially the refrain:
Renew my will from day to day. Blend it with thine and take away all that now makes it hard to say "Thy will be done!"
It reminded me alot of "It is Well" and just learning to say "God, even though this feels impossible and I don't like my life situation right now, and even if you ask me to give up all I have ever wanted, I choose to say Thy will be done!" I encourage you to listen to this song and just think about what your faith in God looks like. If He asked you to give up your life (which...He sorta does), are you willing to give it ALL up?
far from my home, on life's rough way,
O teach me from my heart to say,
Thy will be done!
Though dark my path, and sad my lot,
let me be still and murmur not,
or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
Thy will be done!
But if my fainting heart be blest
with the Holy Spirit for its guest,
my God, to thee I leave the rest;
Thy will be done!
If Thou shall call me to resign
what most I prize, it never was mine:
I only yield thee what is thine;
Thy will be done!
Thy will be done!
Renew my will from day to day;
blend it with thine, and take away
all that now makes it hard to say,
Thy will be done!
Then when on earth I breathe no more
the prayer oft mixed with tears before,
I'll sing upon that joyful shore,
Thy will be done!
Thy will be done!
My God My Father (click here to hear the song)
We sang this song last night at group...and it gripped me. Especially the refrain:
Renew my will from day to day. Blend it with thine and take away all that now makes it hard to say "Thy will be done!"
It reminded me alot of "It is Well" and just learning to say "God, even though this feels impossible and I don't like my life situation right now, and even if you ask me to give up all I have ever wanted, I choose to say Thy will be done!" I encourage you to listen to this song and just think about what your faith in God looks like. If He asked you to give up your life (which...He sorta does), are you willing to give it ALL up?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
{ephesians 2:8-9}
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
[New International Version]
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
[New Living Translation]
I've really really been stressed out over the past like 4 weeks. I mean really. You can ask anyone who's been around me that I wouldn't have classified myself as doing well over the past 4 weeks. And one of the BIGGEST reasons that I've been down is that I felt like I can't ever get this 'living-as-a-Christ follower' thing down. I mean every time I try I fail. Every time. I just felt like I was a horrible Christ-follower and I couldn't do anything right, which then led to me comparing myself to other Christ-followers and how they were doing everything right and I couldn't do anything right. It was just a bad situation. And I was really really down about it. Then this morning I sat down and had a long talk with God. I explained how I felt, and why I felt that way, and I asked Him for His help (which I've done many times in the past few weeks). But today was different. I was sitting there thinking and praying, and then all of a sudden had this realization. You know how we've been told from like the dawn of time that we weren't saved by works? I mean thats what the Christian belief is...that we aren't saved by what we do. Now we also know that faith without deeds is dead...but our deeds aren't what saves us. It is our FAITH! It is our choice to believe in what can sometimes be hard to believe. Our choice to believe in Someone that is greater than ourselves. And thats what hit me today. As I was praying, God just started saying "hey tay...you aren't saved by what you do. It isn't your works that gets you saved or brings you salvation. It is your faith in me!! And so while I know that you need to follow up your decision by striving to do whats right, your deeds don't determine whether or not you are saved. I love you because you chose to believe in me! And btws, I hate to break it to you but you won't ever get everything right so I would suggest you just get used to that now. You are going to fail...you are human. But the important part is that you get back up and you still trust in me either way. So for now, just choose to rest in the grace and mercy I am giving you!!" After thinking for a bit, I realized "yeah duh...i've been told my entire life that i'm not saved by what i do." So that would make sense huh? All of a sudden I was going "lightbulb!"
Hope this encourages you. Now, off to kick some Colonization =) loves!
tay
[New International Version]
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
[New Living Translation]
I've really really been stressed out over the past like 4 weeks. I mean really. You can ask anyone who's been around me that I wouldn't have classified myself as doing well over the past 4 weeks. And one of the BIGGEST reasons that I've been down is that I felt like I can't ever get this 'living-as-a-Christ follower' thing down. I mean every time I try I fail. Every time. I just felt like I was a horrible Christ-follower and I couldn't do anything right, which then led to me comparing myself to other Christ-followers and how they were doing everything right and I couldn't do anything right. It was just a bad situation. And I was really really down about it. Then this morning I sat down and had a long talk with God. I explained how I felt, and why I felt that way, and I asked Him for His help (which I've done many times in the past few weeks). But today was different. I was sitting there thinking and praying, and then all of a sudden had this realization. You know how we've been told from like the dawn of time that we weren't saved by works? I mean thats what the Christian belief is...that we aren't saved by what we do. Now we also know that faith without deeds is dead...but our deeds aren't what saves us. It is our FAITH! It is our choice to believe in what can sometimes be hard to believe. Our choice to believe in Someone that is greater than ourselves. And thats what hit me today. As I was praying, God just started saying "hey tay...you aren't saved by what you do. It isn't your works that gets you saved or brings you salvation. It is your faith in me!! And so while I know that you need to follow up your decision by striving to do whats right, your deeds don't determine whether or not you are saved. I love you because you chose to believe in me! And btws, I hate to break it to you but you won't ever get everything right so I would suggest you just get used to that now. You are going to fail...you are human. But the important part is that you get back up and you still trust in me either way. So for now, just choose to rest in the grace and mercy I am giving you!!" After thinking for a bit, I realized "yeah duh...i've been told my entire life that i'm not saved by what i do." So that would make sense huh? All of a sudden I was going "lightbulb!"
Hope this encourages you. Now, off to kick some Colonization =) loves!
tay
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Psalm 34:17-18
Psalm 34:17-18 (The Message)
"Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.
If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath."
Psalm 34:17-18 (Contemporary English Version)
"When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them
from their troubles.
The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged
and have given up hope."
Psalm 34:17-18 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:17-18 (New American Standard Bible)
"The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Salmos 34:17-18 (Nueva Versión Internacional)
"Los justos claman, y el Señor los oye;
los libra de todas sus angustias.
El Señor está cerca de los quebrantados de corazón,
y salva a los de espíritu abatido."
This verse was shown to me on Sunday night and it really spoke to my heart! God is always there no matter how alone we feel...and He's always there to help us get back up. Hope you enjoy it!!
"Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.
If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath."
Psalm 34:17-18 (Contemporary English Version)
"When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them
from their troubles.
The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged
and have given up hope."
Psalm 34:17-18 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:17-18 (New American Standard Bible)
"The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Salmos 34:17-18 (Nueva Versión Internacional)
"Los justos claman, y el Señor los oye;
los libra de todas sus angustias.
El Señor está cerca de los quebrantados de corazón,
y salva a los de espíritu abatido."
This verse was shown to me on Sunday night and it really spoke to my heart! God is always there no matter how alone we feel...and He's always there to help us get back up. Hope you enjoy it!!
Monday, January 24, 2011
{twenty eleven}
Okkkaayy...So sadly I haven't posted in a while =( I've been incredibly busy up here at school, but I shall try to change my posting habits! At least attempt to =p
Hm. Well I'm now three weeks into my second quarter here at SPU! First quarter was great! lots of down time as my classes were a breeze. However I'm recieving a very rude whack in the face this quarter as my classes are proving to be very difficult. Humph. Oh well, such is the life of a college student. However I am learning quite alot! One of the classes that I am taking this quarter is called UCOR (University Core) and its basically the history of the west and the world. An aspect of this class is geography (which happens not to be my best subject) and we have a test on a continent every week. The first week we memorized all of africa and its capitals. There are 56ish countries in Africa! I didn't even know half the countries existed, let alone their capitals. Oh well cause now if I'm ever asked in the "Cash Cab" what the capital of Angola is, I can proudly respond Luanda!!! lol. So that would be my academic report. As far as social life...i heard someone in my dorm describe SPU as the most expensive social club you ever are going to be a part of. And its true. SPU is like a party 24/7...which can be good and bad. I've spent a ton of time with friends just hanging out, doing homework, watching movies, and being silly college students and its been a lot of fun! I'm gonna post some pictures below of whats been going on.
So thats my life =) As far as God, He has been my one saving grace through all of this. Even though the past 15 weeks have been crazy fun and busy, they have also been crazy hard and I've been learning lots of lessons. One that hit me particularly hard this week was the concept of the cross. In reality, we all deserve death. I know I wrote something earlier about having a hard time moving past my mistakes. And the fact is, as a result of those mistakes, I deserve death. There is no doubt about it. HOWEVER, God sent His son to die so that I didn't have to!! I know I've been told this since I was like in the 3rd grade, but its true! That blew my mind this week. I should be dead. But I'm not because of Jesus and the price He paid for me on the cross! What an incredible thing!! I'm alive because of Him! Wow praise Jesus =)
Well, I should get started on that homework. I'll try to be on here a bit more. Loves!
Hm. Well I'm now three weeks into my second quarter here at SPU! First quarter was great! lots of down time as my classes were a breeze. However I'm recieving a very rude whack in the face this quarter as my classes are proving to be very difficult. Humph. Oh well, such is the life of a college student. However I am learning quite alot! One of the classes that I am taking this quarter is called UCOR (University Core) and its basically the history of the west and the world. An aspect of this class is geography (which happens not to be my best subject) and we have a test on a continent every week. The first week we memorized all of africa and its capitals. There are 56ish countries in Africa! I didn't even know half the countries existed, let alone their capitals. Oh well cause now if I'm ever asked in the "Cash Cab" what the capital of Angola is, I can proudly respond Luanda!!! lol. So that would be my academic report. As far as social life...i heard someone in my dorm describe SPU as the most expensive social club you ever are going to be a part of. And its true. SPU is like a party 24/7...which can be good and bad. I've spent a ton of time with friends just hanging out, doing homework, watching movies, and being silly college students and its been a lot of fun! I'm gonna post some pictures below of whats been going on.
 |
| Homecoming!!! |
 |
| For my floors first Roomies, we went ice skating!! This is one of my good friends - Luke |
 |
| In November, me and 12 other people from SPU took a trip down to my house...and we bussed it all the way!! |
 |
| Heather, Cole and I went to Canadia early january |
 |
| College students - yes we must have a snowball fight!! |
 |
| Elise came up and visited the weekend of halloween |
 |
| Some of the girls on my floor and I had an amazing photo shoot |
 |
| Mi amiga que se llama Heather!! |
 |
| Our Dorm retreat |
 |
| Our Choir sang at a church the first morning of snow =) |
Well, I should get started on that homework. I'll try to be on here a bit more. Loves!
Friday, October 15, 2010
A New Creation
So I've been struggling a lot lately with feeling overwhelmed by things that I have done in the past, by sins that I have committed. I keep getting this feeling that God will never forgive me or love me again, that I've done way to much and He will just give up on me. I know that that is not Biblically sound, but its how I feel a lot of the time. And especially since I moved to school. I want everything that SEEMED good last year to come back, I'm having a hard time moving on. But I also feel like I'm carrying around a huge backpack of my bad decisions that won't leave me no matter where I go. So I've been pretty stressed out at school to say the least. BUT! I went to group on wednesday (which is the youth group at SPU) and the first song we sang was called "Beautiful Things". These are the lyrics:
"All this pain
I wonder if I’ll even find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us"
Beautiful Things - Youtube
The emphasis at group was on how God created us, and He makes us new. Yes we sin, and sin is a horrible thing. But we are not perfect and therefore we will sin. We will make mistakes! It will happen!! and when we do, God is always there to forgive us and love us even more. The rest of the songs following this first one at group all talked about God forgiving us and making us new.
THEN!
I went to gospel choir last night, for which I was very excited. And we showed up and they normally give a small message before we begin choir because the emphasis in choir is to honor and glorify God with it all! And the message was on this verse:
"See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland."
-Isaiah 43:19
And the person who was giving it was talking about how we have a new year ahead of us and we should focus on what God is going to do this year, not what He did last year or in years prior to that.
Coincidence? Nope.
So I was getting the feeling God was telling me something.
1. That He is making me new. Its not Him thats making me carry around all of my past decisions, its me. He has already forgiven and forgotten them, yet for some reason I still chose to carry them with me. Silly girl. He has forgiven me and He is making me new daily!
2. He has given me a totally new environment to have new experiences. Not that I should completely forgive the old ones, but when I continually look back at what happened last year and not look ahead to what is going to happen this year, I miss the new and exciting things that are going to happen because I'm too focused on the good times of last year. Its like Lot's wife who looked back at the city she was leaving. She turned into salt. God told her not to look back but to embrace what was ahead! And that is what He is calling me to. I know He has crazy awesome plans for me this year at SPU, and I just need to learn to be excited for what He is going to do THIS year!
So that's my story. Hope it encouraged you in some way.
Oh and by the way, college is amazing. just sayin =)
loves!
Tay
"All this pain
I wonder if I’ll even find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us"
Beautiful Things - Youtube
The emphasis at group was on how God created us, and He makes us new. Yes we sin, and sin is a horrible thing. But we are not perfect and therefore we will sin. We will make mistakes! It will happen!! and when we do, God is always there to forgive us and love us even more. The rest of the songs following this first one at group all talked about God forgiving us and making us new.
THEN!
I went to gospel choir last night, for which I was very excited. And we showed up and they normally give a small message before we begin choir because the emphasis in choir is to honor and glorify God with it all! And the message was on this verse:
"See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland."
-Isaiah 43:19
And the person who was giving it was talking about how we have a new year ahead of us and we should focus on what God is going to do this year, not what He did last year or in years prior to that.
Coincidence? Nope.
So I was getting the feeling God was telling me something.
1. That He is making me new. Its not Him thats making me carry around all of my past decisions, its me. He has already forgiven and forgotten them, yet for some reason I still chose to carry them with me. Silly girl. He has forgiven me and He is making me new daily!
2. He has given me a totally new environment to have new experiences. Not that I should completely forgive the old ones, but when I continually look back at what happened last year and not look ahead to what is going to happen this year, I miss the new and exciting things that are going to happen because I'm too focused on the good times of last year. Its like Lot's wife who looked back at the city she was leaving. She turned into salt. God told her not to look back but to embrace what was ahead! And that is what He is calling me to. I know He has crazy awesome plans for me this year at SPU, and I just need to learn to be excited for what He is going to do THIS year!
So that's my story. Hope it encouraged you in some way.
Oh and by the way, college is amazing. just sayin =)
loves!
Tay
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