Wednesday, October 2, 2013
May My Life Speak Louder Than Words : You Take Brokenness Aside
May My Life Speak Louder Than Words : You Take Brokenness Aside: Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-contro...
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
And This Is Why:
I submitted this essay for a scholarship prompt:
What is the most inspirational clip/video you've seen on the
web and how has it inspired you?
The clip, “Most” The Movie (The Bridge) Music
Trailer Video*, is a condensed version of the Czech film, “Most”, and
beautifully portrays the story of unconditional love. Christian Cinemas summarizes the film as “the
story of the close relationship between a bridge operator and his young son and
the fateful day when they both try to head off an impending rail disaster.
Hundred of passengers on a steam train are unaware of the danger as they head
towards an open drawbridge.”
As
a train of people approaches the drawbridge, the son of the worker attempts
to pull the lever in order to close the bridge. While he is struggling to grasp
the handle, his father watches him fall in beneath the rail, all as the steam
train is quickly coming. Throughout the
clip, these captions fade across the screen: “Once there was a man, who had a son he loved very much. The man worked
as a bridge master for the railroad....His son loved to watch the trains...and
the people who traveled on them...people who were
lonely...angry...selfish...hurting...and addicted....A tragic mistake...leads
to a terrible choice...allow everyone on the train to die...or pull the
lever...and allow his son to be crushed by the bridge...”. A fury of
contemplation is filling up the weary man’s face as he holds the handle, torn
between the decision to save his one and only son, or have mercy on all of the
struggling people; those unaware of his heartbreaking choice. In the
last second, the man snaps the lever and the clip freezes, allowing for the
audience to absorb the sacrifice the father just made. Immediately following,
the man is beside the railroad as the train passes, and he is screaming, stricken
with overwhelming grief. He pulls at the hair on his head with stiff, curling
fingers and paces back and forth, swaying left to right. The windows of unsuspecting
passengers are passing, and the only one to notice the man is the drug addicted
woman. As she is lighting a substance, she meets eyes with the man as he lifts
his head in desperation toward the gray sky. She realizes that she had seen him
with his son as she boarded the train. The woman displays an unspoken ache for
the bridge master, and suddenly drops the drug. The captions continue: “The Salvation of all...Requires the
Sacrifice of One most dear....The Sacrifice of One...Brought hope for the
future....” In the next scene the same woman – now presumably sober and
born again with a new perspective and purpose – carries a small child through a
crowd of people. The man is amidst the crowd and recognizes the woman. His
seemingly unnoticed sacrifice is suddenly fulfilled in that brief moment, knowing
that the woman used the opportunity he provided to turn her life into something
praiseworthy. As the woman walks away
with the small baby, the man clasps his hands to his mouth and smiles. Had he
not made the sacrifice, this woman would have never known her true value. The
man raises his hands in the air, rejoicing. The clip fades to the most glorious
statement: “This is how much God loved
the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no
one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting
life. John 3:16, The Message”.
John
3:16 is illustrated in a way I hadn’t known before in this clip. The common
relationship between a loving single father and his bright-eyed son is forever
changed after the man’s heart-wrenching sacrifice in order to save people that
were undeserving compared to his son. In a way, I think the man sacrificed his
son in order to save me, had I been on the steam train. Distracted by elements
of unworthiness, jealousy, obsession, hate and anger, had my life ended on that
train, I would have never known my true worth and an unconditional love far
beyond my understanding. Then I realize that such a thing has taken place, and
I have been saved by the sacrifice of One’s only Son. By believing in Him – as
this clip has inspired – I can have a whole and lasting life. Sunday, April 14, 2013
For I Will Yet Praise Him
Back in January, Kansas State University hosted a band clinic for high school musicians. This year I took my sister, who is a freshman percussionist. Amidst everything that's different between us, there is a reluctant sense of musicianship that we manage to share. I've begun to recognize her talent and her confidence as she plays. This weekend we participated in the Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival, and her xylophone quintet qualified for state. WOO!
At the band clinic we attended, all of the students were placed in 1 of 5 different bands, and over the weekend we prepared for a concert on Sunday afternoon. Altogether the concert took about 2 1/2 - 3 hours, so a grand variety of literature was performed. Among 2 other songs, my sister's band played a piece called Psalm 42 composed by Samuel Hazo. I've found that this is "about the song that was sung at the funeral of a 5 year old boy who had three brothers that played trumpet in Mr. Hazo's band." and set to the short and simple setting of the folk tune The Water is Wide.
I've found it's interesting where music can take you.
Psalm 42
For the director of music. A maskil* of the Sons of Korah*.
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for You, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Where can I go and meet with God?
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs His love,
at night His song is with me -
a prayer to the God of my life.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
(Psalm 42:1-2, 7-8, 11)
At the band clinic we attended, all of the students were placed in 1 of 5 different bands, and over the weekend we prepared for a concert on Sunday afternoon. Altogether the concert took about 2 1/2 - 3 hours, so a grand variety of literature was performed. Among 2 other songs, my sister's band played a piece called Psalm 42 composed by Samuel Hazo. I've found that this is "about the song that was sung at the funeral of a 5 year old boy who had three brothers that played trumpet in Mr. Hazo's band." and set to the short and simple setting of the folk tune The Water is Wide.
I've found it's interesting where music can take you.
Psalm 42
For the director of music. A maskil* of the Sons of Korah*.
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for You, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Where can I go and meet with God?
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs His love,
at night His song is with me -
a prayer to the God of my life.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
(Psalm 42:1-2, 7-8, 11)
Saturday, March 30, 2013
It is Well, it is Done
Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. They began to state their case: "This Man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming He is the Messiah, a King."
So Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
Jesus replied, "You have said it."
Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this Man!"
Then they became insistent. "But He is causing riots by His teaching wherever He goes-all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"
"Oh, is He a Galilean?" Pilate asked. When they said that He was, Pilate sent His to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about Him and had been hoping for a long time to see Him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. "You brought this man to me, accusing Him of leading a revolt. I have examined Him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent Him back to us. Nothing this Man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have Him flogged, and then I will release Him"
Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill Him, and release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has He committed? I have found no reason to sentence Him to death. So I will have Him flogged, and then I will release Him."
But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene (Cyrene was a city in northern Africa), appeared to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' People will beg the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, 'Bury us' (Hosea 10:9). For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with Him. When they came to a place called The Skull (sometimes rendered Calvary, which comes from the Latin word for "skull"), they nailed Him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified - one on His right and one on His left.
Jesus said "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice (casting lots).
The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let Him save Himself if He is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." the soldiers mocked Him, too, by offering Him a drink of sour wine. They called out to Him, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" A sign was fastened above Him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, "So You're the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself - and us, too, while You're at it!"
But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn't done anything wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."
And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise." (Thief by Third Day)
By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my Spirit into Your Hands! (Psalm 31:5)" And with those words He breathed His last.
When the Roman officer ("centurion") overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, "Surely this Man was innocent." And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow (beating their breast). But Jesus' friends, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then he took the body down from the Cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late of Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.
As His body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where His body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint His body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for Someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man ("Son of Man" is a title Jesus used for Himself) must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day." (Buried in the Grave by All Sons & Daughters)
Then they remembered that He had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell His eleven disciples - and everyone else - what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn't believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing Him.
He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?"
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days."
"What things?" Jesus asked.
The things that happened to Jesus, the Man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a prophet who did powerful miracles and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
"Then some women from our group of His followers were at His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said His body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said."
Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, but they begged Him, "Stay the night with us, since it is getting late." So He went home with them. As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to the,. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment he disappeared!
They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, "The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter."
Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and ow they had recognized His am He was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. "Peace be with you," He said. But the whole group was started and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
"Why are you frightened?" He asked. "Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it's really Me. Touch Me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do." As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet.
Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched.
Then He said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets in the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.' You are witnesses of all these things.
"And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as My Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven."
Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting His hands to heaven, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.
Luke 23-24 NLT
There was a day we held our breath
And felt the sting of bitter death
When all our hopes were buried in the grave
Our eyes awake our hearts were torn
Between our faith and what we knew
Before our King was buried in the grave
And grace was in the tension
Of everything we've lost
Standing empty handed
Shattered by the cross
All we have
All we had
Was a promise like a thread
Holding us keeping us
From fraying at the edge
All we knew
All we knew
Was You said You'd come again
You'd rise up from the dead
There was a day we looked for proof
That You had risen from the tomb
And all our doubts began to roll away
We touched the scars upon Your hands
You kept Your word
Son of Man
You buried death by taking on the grave
You came here to save us
Because everything was lost
No longer empty handed
Clinging to the cross
All we had
All we have
Was a promise like a thread
Holding us
Keeping us
From fraying at the edge
All we knew
All we knew
Was You said You'd come again
You'd rise up from the dead
It is is well
It is done
All we have all we had
Is the promise like a thread
Holding us keeping us
From fraying at the edge
All we know
All we know
Is You said You'd come again
You rose up from the dead
(Buried in the Grave by All Sons & Daughters)
So Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
Jesus replied, "You have said it."
Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this Man!"
Then they became insistent. "But He is causing riots by His teaching wherever He goes-all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"
"Oh, is He a Galilean?" Pilate asked. When they said that He was, Pilate sent His to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about Him and had been hoping for a long time to see Him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. "You brought this man to me, accusing Him of leading a revolt. I have examined Him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent Him back to us. Nothing this Man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have Him flogged, and then I will release Him"
Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill Him, and release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has He committed? I have found no reason to sentence Him to death. So I will have Him flogged, and then I will release Him."
But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene (Cyrene was a city in northern Africa), appeared to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' People will beg the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, 'Bury us' (Hosea 10:9). For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with Him. When they came to a place called The Skull (sometimes rendered Calvary, which comes from the Latin word for "skull"), they nailed Him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified - one on His right and one on His left.
Jesus said "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice (casting lots).
The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let Him save Himself if He is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." the soldiers mocked Him, too, by offering Him a drink of sour wine. They called out to Him, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" A sign was fastened above Him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, "So You're the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself - and us, too, while You're at it!"
But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn't done anything wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."
And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise." (Thief by Third Day)
By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my Spirit into Your Hands! (Psalm 31:5)" And with those words He breathed His last.
When the Roman officer ("centurion") overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, "Surely this Man was innocent." And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow (beating their breast). But Jesus' friends, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then he took the body down from the Cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late of Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.
As His body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where His body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint His body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for Someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man ("Son of Man" is a title Jesus used for Himself) must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day." (Buried in the Grave by All Sons & Daughters)
Then they remembered that He had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell His eleven disciples - and everyone else - what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn't believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing Him.
He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?"
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days."
"What things?" Jesus asked.
The things that happened to Jesus, the Man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a prophet who did powerful miracles and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
"Then some women from our group of His followers were at His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said His body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said."
Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, but they begged Him, "Stay the night with us, since it is getting late." So He went home with them. As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to the,. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment he disappeared!
They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, "The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter."
Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and ow they had recognized His am He was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. "Peace be with you," He said. But the whole group was started and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
"Why are you frightened?" He asked. "Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it's really Me. Touch Me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do." As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet.
Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched.
Then He said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets in the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.' You are witnesses of all these things.
"And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as My Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven."
Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting His hands to heaven, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.
Luke 23-24 NLT
There was a day we held our breath
And felt the sting of bitter death
When all our hopes were buried in the grave
Our eyes awake our hearts were torn
Between our faith and what we knew
Before our King was buried in the grave
And grace was in the tension
Of everything we've lost
Standing empty handed
Shattered by the cross
All we have
All we had
Was a promise like a thread
Holding us keeping us
From fraying at the edge
All we knew
All we knew
Was You said You'd come again
You'd rise up from the dead
There was a day we looked for proof
That You had risen from the tomb
And all our doubts began to roll away
We touched the scars upon Your hands
You kept Your word
Son of Man
You buried death by taking on the grave
You came here to save us
Because everything was lost
No longer empty handed
Clinging to the cross
All we had
All we have
Was a promise like a thread
Holding us
Keeping us
From fraying at the edge
All we knew
All we knew
Was You said You'd come again
You'd rise up from the dead
It is is well
It is done
All we have all we had
Is the promise like a thread
Holding us keeping us
From fraying at the edge
All we know
All we know
Is You said You'd come again
You rose up from the dead
(Buried in the Grave by All Sons & Daughters)
Because He Lives
God sent His Son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My Savior lives
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And then one day
I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I'll see the lights
Of glory and
I'll know He lives
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
(Hymn performed by David Crowder Band)
They called Him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My Savior lives
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And then one day
I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I'll see the lights
Of glory and
I'll know He lives
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
(Hymn performed by David Crowder Band)
Friday, March 22, 2013
Name Above All Names
This year I am enrolled in Advanced Humanities and Composition, and only until recently have I recognized the delicacy of literature and language. My teacher once told us that out of all the literature ever written in the world, roughly only 2% is translated in English. It's increasingly fascinating to discover the beauty of language; I am barely beginning to understand.
This week while I was at the public library, I had just gotten out of an exhausting morning swim practice and had no money to spend and no where to be until the late afternoon. To say the least, at the time nothing withing me wanted to be at the library...and certainly the look on my face proved it. I decided to study spoken poetry on the computer, and while struggling to log onto my account, someone passed by and left me a quarter size sheet of scratch paper with the the words:
"The Messiah name is Yahsua he wants you to know everything will be O.K."
At the moment I didn't understand. Perhaps it was my expression or perhaps it was my attitude, but nevertheless I was grateful. In that moment I paused and recognized that any fear I have is cast out in God's perfect love.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. Though at the moment I wasn't necessarily afraid of anything, it is completely a gracious reminder. Yashua, though. I wasn't familiar using that as the name of the Messiah. On gotquestions.org I studied into the name and came across an article that focused on the correlation between Hebrew and English translations. I am still fairly new to understanding it, but what I found is Yeshua (Yahshua) is the name for the Lord in Hebrew and the Greek transliteration of the name Yeshua is Iesous. The English spelling is then translated to Jesus. Though the language and spelling of the name changes, the nature remains the same. "In any language His name means 'The Lord is Salvation'."
Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32 "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice
Terangnya bersinar
Keglapan t'lah sirna
Sujudlah pada-Nya, sujudlah pada-Nya
Наш Бог так велик
Пой со мной
Наш Бог так велик
Пусть видят все
Наш Бог, наш Бог так велик
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
Los tres en uno son
La santa trinidad
Cordero y el león
Cordero y el león
Cuan grande es Dios
Y todos lo verán
Cuan grande es Dios
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
我神真伟大歌颂你圣名真伟大
全地都看见我神真伟大
(How Great is Our God [World Edition] by Chris Tomlin)
This week while I was at the public library, I had just gotten out of an exhausting morning swim practice and had no money to spend and no where to be until the late afternoon. To say the least, at the time nothing withing me wanted to be at the library...and certainly the look on my face proved it. I decided to study spoken poetry on the computer, and while struggling to log onto my account, someone passed by and left me a quarter size sheet of scratch paper with the the words:
"The Messiah name is Yahsua he wants you to know everything will be O.K."
At the moment I didn't understand. Perhaps it was my expression or perhaps it was my attitude, but nevertheless I was grateful. In that moment I paused and recognized that any fear I have is cast out in God's perfect love.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. Though at the moment I wasn't necessarily afraid of anything, it is completely a gracious reminder. Yashua, though. I wasn't familiar using that as the name of the Messiah. On gotquestions.org I studied into the name and came across an article that focused on the correlation between Hebrew and English translations. I am still fairly new to understanding it, but what I found is Yeshua (Yahshua) is the name for the Lord in Hebrew and the Greek transliteration of the name Yeshua is Iesous. The English spelling is then translated to Jesus. Though the language and spelling of the name changes, the nature remains the same. "In any language His name means 'The Lord is Salvation'."
Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32 "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice
Terangnya bersinar
Keglapan t'lah sirna
Sujudlah pada-Nya, sujudlah pada-Nya
Наш Бог так велик
Пой со мной
Наш Бог так велик
Пусть видят все
Наш Бог, наш Бог так велик
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
Los tres en uno son
La santa trinidad
Cordero y el león
Cordero y el león
Cuan grande es Dios
Y todos lo verán
Cuan grande es Dios
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
我神真伟大歌颂你圣名真伟大
全地都看见我神真伟大
(How Great is Our God [World Edition] by Chris Tomlin)
Great is Our God by Young Oceans
Come let us praise Him
Let us kneel at the throne of our God
Through His Son our salvation was bought
With mercy and grace
Come let us bow down
In His hands are the depths of the earth
With one voice we proclaim His great worth
Lord our God
And we will seek Him
Our Rock of Salvation
Morning by morning
With thanksgiving we come
And we will bow down
With creation we cry out
In daylight and darkness
We sing to the Lord
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Lord of all nations
We will stand at the end of our days
In Your courts and declare Your great ways
In Spirit and Truth
We long for Your Kingdom
Bring Your thunder and gather the earth
All who tremble will tell of Your worth
Lord our God
And we will seek Him
Our Rock of Salvation
Morning by morning
With thanksgiving we come
And we will bow down
With creation we cry out
In daylight and darkness
We sing to the Lord
And we will seek Him
Our Rock of Salvation
Morning by morning
With thanksgiving we come
And we will bow down
With creation we cry out
In daylight and darkness
We sing to the Lord
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is Our God - Young Oceans
Let us kneel at the throne of our God
Through His Son our salvation was bought
With mercy and grace
Come let us bow down
In His hands are the depths of the earth
With one voice we proclaim His great worth
Lord our God
And we will seek Him
Our Rock of Salvation
Morning by morning
With thanksgiving we come
And we will bow down
With creation we cry out
In daylight and darkness
We sing to the Lord
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Lord of all nations
We will stand at the end of our days
In Your courts and declare Your great ways
In Spirit and Truth
We long for Your Kingdom
Bring Your thunder and gather the earth
All who tremble will tell of Your worth
Lord our God
And we will seek Him
Our Rock of Salvation
Morning by morning
With thanksgiving we come
And we will bow down
With creation we cry out
In daylight and darkness
We sing to the Lord
And we will seek Him
Our Rock of Salvation
Morning by morning
With thanksgiving we come
And we will bow down
With creation we cry out
In daylight and darkness
We sing to the Lord
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is our God
Great is Our God - Young Oceans
You Take Brokenness Aside
Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Love
Noun: an affection without limits
1 John 4:13-21 This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us. He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
There's a lot of lovin' going on in those verses.
In verse 4:13 John declares that God has given us of His Spirit, which can go back to Galatians 5:22-26 that lists the fruits given through His Spirit.
Not necessarily like this:
But fruit is good for you, and so is the Spirit.
Fruit of the Spirit refers to the qualities of God. When we truly accept Jesus as the Son of God, the Holy Spirit of the Lord comes to live within us.
Holy Spirit
noun: the third person of the Trinity; also known as the Counselor who is active in the lives of believers
Ephesians 1:13-14 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.
My NLT Study Bible outlines for Ephesians 1:13-14 that God gives us His Holy Spirit for three specific reasons:
1. The Holy Spirit is a promise. Scripture reminds us that God has promised to send the Holy Spirit to all those who have heard the good news of the gospel and trusted Christ as Savior.
2. The Holy Spirit is a seal. The Holy Spirit serves as a mark of ownership, showing that we belong to God.
Not this seal
But seals are good.
3. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee. The Holy Spirit also represents God's pledge to bring us to our final spiritual inheritance. This word could also be translated as a "first installment" or "deposit", signifying that His sealing in our lives is a foretaste of whats to come.
God gives us the Holy Spirit not only to enable us to live out the Christian life but to prove that we are precious in His sight. So God gives His Holy Spirit to those who trust and allow Him to transform us through Jesus because He has paid for our sins. This is known throughout the Bible as the fruits of the flesh.
Wah!
Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (extreme indulgence), idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord (tension or strife between people), jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions (quarrels), factions (conflicting groups) and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Prior to these verses, Paul, the writer of Galatians, compares the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:13-18 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh (the Greek word for flesh is sarx, and refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit); rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev. 19:18) If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The law referred to in Galatians is the Law of Moses given by God as recorded in Exodus 20. They represent "the basics" of morality that God requires. For the Israelites, it was a basis given by God for trust and security as a nation. In Matthew 5, Jesus clarifies His relationship to the Law of Moses.
Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
The laws that the Old Testament are centered around were not scribbled out when Jesus came to earth. Instead, a check mark was added to them. Because of our nature, we are like this:
Because of Jesus, we are like this:
And with Jesus comes the entire law fulfilled in obeying this command:
Love the Lord your God above all else.
And in that, love your neighbor as yourself.
All things fall into place when we love one another as God loves us.
Joy
Peace
Forbearance
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Will Your grace run out
If I let You down
All I know
Is how to run
I am a sinner
If it's not one thing it's another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
You are the Savior and
You take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
(Brokenness Aside by All Sons & Daughters)
Love
Noun: an affection without limits
1 John 4:13-21 This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us. He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
There's a lot of lovin' going on in those verses.
In verse 4:13 John declares that God has given us of His Spirit, which can go back to Galatians 5:22-26 that lists the fruits given through His Spirit.
Not necessarily like this:
Fruit of the Spirit refers to the qualities of God. When we truly accept Jesus as the Son of God, the Holy Spirit of the Lord comes to live within us.
Holy Spirit
noun: the third person of the Trinity; also known as the Counselor who is active in the lives of believers
Ephesians 1:13-14 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.
My NLT Study Bible outlines for Ephesians 1:13-14 that God gives us His Holy Spirit for three specific reasons:
1. The Holy Spirit is a promise. Scripture reminds us that God has promised to send the Holy Spirit to all those who have heard the good news of the gospel and trusted Christ as Savior.
2. The Holy Spirit is a seal. The Holy Spirit serves as a mark of ownership, showing that we belong to God.
Not this seal
But seals are good.
3. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee. The Holy Spirit also represents God's pledge to bring us to our final spiritual inheritance. This word could also be translated as a "first installment" or "deposit", signifying that His sealing in our lives is a foretaste of whats to come.
God gives us the Holy Spirit not only to enable us to live out the Christian life but to prove that we are precious in His sight. So God gives His Holy Spirit to those who trust and allow Him to transform us through Jesus because He has paid for our sins. This is known throughout the Bible as the fruits of the flesh.
Wah!
Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (extreme indulgence), idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord (tension or strife between people), jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions (quarrels), factions (conflicting groups) and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Prior to these verses, Paul, the writer of Galatians, compares the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:13-18 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh (the Greek word for flesh is sarx, and refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit); rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev. 19:18) If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The law referred to in Galatians is the Law of Moses given by God as recorded in Exodus 20. They represent "the basics" of morality that God requires. For the Israelites, it was a basis given by God for trust and security as a nation. In Matthew 5, Jesus clarifies His relationship to the Law of Moses.
Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
The laws that the Old Testament are centered around were not scribbled out when Jesus came to earth. Instead, a check mark was added to them. Because of our nature, we are like this:
Because of Jesus, we are like this:
And with Jesus comes the entire law fulfilled in obeying this command:
Love the Lord your God above all else.
And in that, love your neighbor as yourself.
All things fall into place when we love one another as God loves us.
Joy
Peace
Forbearance
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Will Your grace run out
If I let You down
All I know
Is how to run
I am a sinner
If it's not one thing it's another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
You are the Savior and
You take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
(Brokenness Aside by All Sons & Daughters)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
What I Want by The City Harmonic
May my life speak louder than words
and what I’m saying
is “Jesus, I’m sure You’re what I want”
That's what I want
These words ain’t cheap, they bleed on the page.
I see what I’ve been and that needs to change
and that’s what I want
You’re what I want
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
What I want is You
I want to sing and mean every word
Cause what I’m singing is “Joy to the world”
And that’s what I want
That’s what I want
So go on sing, all of heaven and earth
But don’t just sing – be – and be every word
That’s what I want
That’s what I want
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
What I want is You
and what I’m saying
is “Jesus, I’m sure You’re what I want”
That's what I want
These words ain’t cheap, they bleed on the page.
I see what I’ve been and that needs to change
and that’s what I want
You’re what I want
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
What I want is You
I want to sing and mean every word
Cause what I’m singing is “Joy to the world”
And that’s what I want
That’s what I want
So go on sing, all of heaven and earth
But don’t just sing – be – and be every word
That’s what I want
That’s what I want
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
What I want is You
Less
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:14-16
Fall Afresh On Me
I don't want to be the self-proclaimed judge. And I don't want to be self-righteous.
I don't want to be the plastered smile or the hypersensitive.
I don't want to be the too well behaved.
I don't want to be envious.
Or Unavailing.
Or Corrupt.
Or Impure.
Or Idolatrous.
Or Hateful.
Or Hurtful.
Empty.
I don't want to be empty.
I don't want to be full of myself.
"But pride is full of enmity - it is enmity." (C.S. Lewis)
en-mi-ty
Noun: The state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
Synonyms: hostility - animosity - antagonism - hatred - feud
It's a terrible thing to be hostile towards oneself.
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
The world in this context refers to the values, ideas, practices and relationships of the culture-at-large, especially those that are not God-directed.
1 John 5:4-5 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Some times it's too hard for me to grasp that. To this I understand that being prideful is a fruit of the flesh; which I believe to be synonymous with the world.
Pride creeps over me like this:
It's not good. But it's interesting that when I am filled up with myself how empty I feel. In that case I am led to the example of God's fulfillment in my life, and how I am incomplete without Him.
Some times it's too hard for me to grasp that too.
Awaken my soul, come away
To hunger, to seek, to thirst
Awaken First Love, come away
And do as You did at first
Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me
Come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
Pour in me to overflow,
To overflow
Spirit come and fill this place
Let Your glory now invade
Spirit come and fill this place
Let Your glory now invade
(Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle)
That came on my radio as I was typing. Oh God awake my soul. Even unknowingly I've fallen away from You and fallen into my own hostility. As upsetting it is to admit, I'm wrong in my selfishness and it's turning me to mush. Lord blow through the caverns of my soul.
Pour in me to overflow.
I want to be empty of myself.
I don't want to be the plastered smile or the hypersensitive.
I don't want to be the too well behaved.
I don't want to be envious.
Or Unavailing.
Or Corrupt.
Or Impure.
Or Idolatrous.
Or Hateful.
Or Hurtful.
Empty.
I don't want to be empty.
I don't want to be full of myself.
"But pride is full of enmity - it is enmity." (C.S. Lewis)
en-mi-ty
Noun: The state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
Synonyms: hostility - animosity - antagonism - hatred - feud
It's a terrible thing to be hostile towards oneself.
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
The world in this context refers to the values, ideas, practices and relationships of the culture-at-large, especially those that are not God-directed.
1 John 5:4-5 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Some times it's too hard for me to grasp that. To this I understand that being prideful is a fruit of the flesh; which I believe to be synonymous with the world.
Pride creeps over me like this:
It's not good. But it's interesting that when I am filled up with myself how empty I feel. In that case I am led to the example of God's fulfillment in my life, and how I am incomplete without Him.
Some times it's too hard for me to grasp that too.
Awaken my soul, come away
To hunger, to seek, to thirst
Awaken First Love, come away
And do as You did at first
Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me
Come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
Pour in me to overflow,
To overflow
Spirit come and fill this place
Let Your glory now invade
Spirit come and fill this place
Let Your glory now invade
(Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle)
That came on my radio as I was typing. Oh God awake my soul. Even unknowingly I've fallen away from You and fallen into my own hostility. As upsetting it is to admit, I'm wrong in my selfishness and it's turning me to mush. Lord blow through the caverns of my soul.
Pour in me to overflow.
I want to be empty of myself.
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