The Miserable and the Hopeful

this year, my school is putting on the play "les miserables" (it mean "the miserable" in french). the play is based on a book written by a victor hugo. it's one of my favorites because of the amazing power the story holds.

the work tells the story of a man named jean valjean, a man imprisoned for almost 20 year simply for stealing a loaf of bread. in jail, valjean becomes more of an animal than a man to survive. when he's finally released, he's given a yellow ticket, putting him on life parole and limiting his existence to almost certain poverty. valjean happens upon a bishop's home, and asks for food. the bishop, instead of turning him away like every other family in the town has, lets him in. he allows the convict to eat with him, and to sleep in a bed of his own. valjean, seeing a chance for a quick fix of money he'll never have again, steals all of the silver utensils he can in the night. when he's stopped by the local officers, they become suspicious, and take him back to the bishop's house for questioning. instead of putting him back in jail, the bishop tells the men that the silver was a gift. he then offers valjean more of the silver in his house than he took in the first place. when the stunned valjean asks why, the bishop replies "with this silver, i have bought your soul. i've ransomed you from fear and hatred. and now i give you back to God."

a movie was made of the story. here's the whole clip pf the scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-KRbQFtQ0w

the implications of this scene are limitless, but i want to focus on one point: the bishop knew the value of a soul. as humans, we often judge others based on a physical or shallow basis. we assume that people are "good" or "bad" based on their looks, whether we like their personalities or not, whether they are nice to us or not, or by what our friends tell us about them. however, do these things really tell us all that much about a person?
consider this: if you judged yourself based only on the criteria above, would it still be so easy to justify your actions?
your looks, for the most part, are little of your own doing. you can work out, or eat right, etc., but in the end, your genetics will almost always determine at least half if not more of whether or not you are one way or another physically. so you really can't credit your looks too much to yourself. why judge the value of a person on something they have only so much power to change?
if we judge based on our personalities, what are we judging by? to a person who is naturally calm and reserved, someone who is as hyper as i am will normally seem obnoxious, because they associate a quiet atmosphere with peace, patience, kindness, and goodness, and see someone with my energy as chaotic and destructive. to someone like me, a naturally quiet person normally seems afraid and hurt, because i naturally tend to associate quiet with emptiness, loneliness, and hopelessness. but both of these personality types are actually aiming towards the same goal: love. why would i judge someone because God made them to enjoy His presence in a different way from me? i should instead realize that the fact that He isn't limited to my personality type, but is the God of others different from me, is liberating because it means that i can share something (His love) with these people that seem so different from me.
finally, if we judge someone based on how they treat us or what others tell us of them, what do we accomplish? what do i really know of that person? do i really claim to know all of their struggles, their past, their family? when we value someone based on how they treat us, we make ourselves out to be worthy enough to give value to someone's life. i cannot determined how valuable a person is based on my own limited knowledge of them. the facts are, if i am not God, no matter what i think i know about someone, i can't judge them and be completely correct or unbiased, so i shouldn't judge them at all.

the bishop understands this. he shows valjean love, regardless of every wrong done to him. he sees value in his life because he knows that God sees value in his life, and for this reason, he gives valjean the secret to his hope...

hope is an often used, but rarely thought of word. we often associate hope with our expectations or desires for the future. but is that all hope is?

not at all. hope is, at its core, what you put your faith in. what you pursue, worship, and desire is your hope. this is enormous, because every human being puts their hope in something. all people are inherently empty. in the words of a friend:

"People, I have discovered, are born with a crack. This crack is large and in fact is the heart. People have a tendency to want to fill this crack with things they believe to be comforting. Because of this condition, we have a desire to love and to be loved. Any way we can try to fill this, we do."

just think about it: what do you attempt to fill your heart with? is it people's approval, your own talents, addictions... the list could go on forever. whatever that thing is, it is your hope. is it filling the gap, or does it still leave you wanting more? listen to another quote from the same friend:

"knowing that we are broken people, we want to pretend we are whole. this crack in our heart for Love, we fill with things that don't fit and then put on a front so we are not vulnerable to others. no matter what we attempt to fill this crack with, it doesn't fit and only brings momentary happiness but hurts even more in the long run. we inevitably have to find something else to put in its place. this is a crack in the shape of God, and thus God is the only "slipper that fits." We are the Cinderella for God."

there's also a song by mandisa talking about this called "voice of a savior" (watch it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2IB1InD0rY)

God made you with an amazing purpose in mind. He made you to love and be loved by Him.

"but now you have arrived at your destination: by faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. it also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise." -galations 3:25-27

God's Word says the whole destination for a fulfilled life is a relationship with God, and that that was God's original promise (and plan) for humanity! that's the whole point of it all! and that is the ultimate hope for humanity. fulfillment of that seemingly infinite emptiness doesn't come from any political ideology, technological advancement, physical finesse, intelligence, popularity, substance or wealth. the only real hope for humanity is Jesus Christ and His love for us. this utterly infinite love is what fulfills us.

when the bishop shows valjean hope in God, he gives him the ability to produce faith through that hope, and faith must follow love. the story goes on, and valjean faces poverty, the death of multiple loved ones, having all that he works for dashed to pieces in a moment, and pursuit from the law for the rest of his life till the day he dies. but, throughout his utterly miserable life, he continues on because he has God as his hope for the future.
this is the power of Christ in a life. not that we will have perfect, pain free lives, but that we will have fulfillment through the storms and Heaven for the future.

so, what does this mean for us? it means that we can't choose who we think is or isn't worthy of God's love. He's showered Himself on all of us, so we should follow Him and do the same.

"but God told samuel, 'looks aren't everything. don't be impressed with his looks and stature. i've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." - 1 samuel 16:7

samuel had been a prophet since he was a teenager. he'd talked directly to God, done a multitude of miracles, and seen God's power over and over again in his life. yet even he failed to judge the heart of the men before him. if a prophet of that stature cannot pierce completely through the soul of a person and judge him correctly, how can i? my only option is to share with all God's love for them through my words and actions.

to everyone who's struggling with judging those around you, i encourage you to take Jesus at His word when He says:

" but I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" - matthew 5:44

to those who feel they're hopeless, remember that He valued you enough to go to the cross. don't waste your life feeling guilty when He went through so much to make you blameless in God's eyes!

finally, to those who feel miserable, make Him your hope. place your faith in Him. hold on to His love for you. He'll be your fulfillment.

" and this hope will not lead to disappointment. for we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." -romans 5:5

" Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." - 1 corinthians 13:13

" this is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers." - 1 timothy 4:10

hoping and praying for you guys! God bless!

I'll Rejoice Now

Lately, i've had the amazing pleasure of seeing God's power in the lives of people, including myself. He's been pressing on my heart just how much He can do in us. i've been blessed to be a part of a number of events He's allowed me to participate in. i was given the chance to go up to an fca camp and watch as close friends came closer to Him, and i got to watch His children gather together to worship Him in a real and radical way. i was able to host a fusion with my fca huddle group, and i watched Him speak through one of my brothers (who's biggest fear was public speaking) get up on stage and share his testimony with hundreds of students (he didn't even hesitate for a moment as he was on stage. i had friends tell me afterward he was their favorite part of the entire event). i have seen Him increase and more than double the number of all of our ministries on my school campus in just one semester. He's blessed my father's church ministry in ways i can't even describe. i've been blessed to see a "fifth quarter" fca event me and my friends planned succeed in ways we didn't even imagine it would when it shouldn't have even happened. our principal attended and was so impacted by the event that he approached me and asked if we would make it an annual event. i got the chance to serve at an fca banquet and watched as the body of Christ came together to support each other through tithing, prayer, service and encouragement. i was able to go up to young life camp recently and listen as guys poured out their hearts and came closer to the Lord. i was even blessed there to see old friends of mine growing closer to each other and to their Savior. all this to say, He's AMAZING!

but i've also been going through a rough time in my life. so often, i feel alone, or struggle to see His purpose through seeming tragedies that occur. lately especially, i haven't felt very well at all. i've been exhausted by all of life's troubles, and distracted by my own material temptations. all this to say, i haven't been on a "spiritual high" lately. but it's a great thing, i've discovered, because it has stretched me and forced me to determine just how important He is to me. when you don't "feel like doing it" i've discovered, is precisely when it's needed most. when i don't feel like praying, it probably means i desperately need to call out to my Father. when i don't feel like helping that person out, it's probably when they need to see His Spirit in another the most.

when we don't feel like living for Him, it's because we've taken our eyes off of His prize, His love, and His cross. He's always there, all you have to do is ask. He may answer you in a way you never expect; elijah heard Him speak not in a storm, but a whisper; joseph saw His power in visions that he saw without his consent; the jews thought the Messiah would come to destroy the gentile nations, and instead, He came to save them. but He will always answer. and that is the reason for JOY!

joy isn't happiness. "feeling happy" by definition is when a person is experiencing an emotional or euphoric high because something material is going well in their lives. in other words, how happy you are depends completely on your surroundings; if you're just a "happy" person, your mood and actions are completely defined by other people and events. that means that happiness can't last. for example, there is no way to be happy if someone you love passes away. if someone began to laugh when they heard that someone close to them had died, we would consider them demented, deranged, or insane. suffering cannot bring about an emotional high. happiness is like chaff in the wind: there one second, gone the next. if you place your energy into what makes you "happy" you're placing your entire well-being for the rest of your life on how others or your surroundings treat you. that is not how we are meant to live.

what God gives us is so much more! He gives us joy! according to the Bible, joy isn't just "feeling good" for a day or two until something bad happens. it's the ability God's love gives us to see His goodness through all situations. we are only here for a moment. the Bible compares our lifespans to wisps of smoke in the air. the night can only last for a moment before His light shines through. eternity is ours through His sacrifice on the cross! so what can keep us down?

"Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory" -romans 5:2

there's a song called "flowers for molly" by jason harwell (i'd post a link to the song, but there isn't one. look him up on itunes though, he's AMAZING!). the song talks about a lot of thoughts that were going on through his life at the time he wrote it. one meaning behind the song is one of thanks for his daughter (molly). the second is that he depicts a reflection of the Lord's love for His children. the third, and the most gripping for me personally, is that He speaks about how he'll rejoice in the Lord regardless of the situation. during a part of the song, he repeats the words

"i'll rejoice now, i'll rejoice now, i'll rejoice now!"

as Christians, that's what we should live like! we aren't meant to live downtrodden, depressed, or stressed! we're meant to live! to rejoice for and through any gift, friendship, or happiness, and also, through and for every hardship, rejection, and sorrow. as children of God we have the freedom to say "i'll rejoice now". that's God's free gift to you; nothing can steal it away.

so when you feel beat down, depressed, or worn out, call out to Him. when the apostles were beaten down by the pharisees, the Bible says they rejoiced because they were worthy enough to be tortured for the Name. if His joy has the power to keep men rejoicing after they've been beaten and threatened with death, nothing can kill it. He's always going to see you through the storm.

"Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything." - 2 corinthians 6:10

" But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. " - phillipians 2:17

"But may all who search for You be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!” - psalm 70:4

" You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. " - pslam 92:4

He loves you so much! there is nothing that can compare to it, nothing that can conquer it, and nothing that can change it! so rejoice now!

Forgiven and Free

so lately, i've noticed that people (especially me) get completely wrapped up in things we feel we have to do. in our day and age, there are so many obligations. we have to do this many chores, and this much homework, and go to this many practices a week... the list is endless. not only do we have an limitless amount of work to do, but our lives, we feel, are controlled by the expectations others put on us. we have to act this way to be cool, we have to look this way to be accepted, we have to think this or we're going to be wrong....

we also have this ridiculous idea that we have to do some kind of work for God to accept us. we have to help out this person because they're our friend, we have to donate this amount of money to be a good person, we have to go to church or we're not a Christian, we have to, we have to, we have to....

what i've found out (the hard way) is that no amount of "friendship" based on rules or expectations ever fills. the Bible talks a lot about the law and what it's useful for.

"19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. ²⁰ For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." - romans 3:19-20

that's the full extent of the usefulness of rules. they are there to show us how much we're screwing up. if we were doing everything as we were supposed to, we would need no laws to measure up to. so, if a friendship is based on what you do, or following a certain set of codes, then all your acquaintance is based upon is something that can only show you how horrible you are. you can't be built up by that kind of relationship. it's hollow; it has no power in it; it has no love.

the worst part of this misconception is that we try to apply it to God. we seem to feel that we have to do all of these things to please Him, or He won't forgive us. i so often find myself simply going through the motions. as humans we so often think that if we go to church enough, or only listen to a certain kind of music, or say the right things, or hang around the right crowd, that God is going to think something more of us. but God is so much better than that!

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." - romans 5:8

God loved us, the human race, even when we turned from Him, even when we spurned His love, even when we crucified His son on a cross, and even now. God, the creator of the universe, the holy, unstoppable, perfect, all powerful, untouchable being who has complete and utter control over our finite existence... loves us. not only that, but He forgives us! we are free!

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."- john 8:36

and God has set us all free! if you want it, it's yours completely! you are free to live without rules, without boundaries, without necessities. you are free to love and be loved by the one who made it all! and if you are in love with Him, you can't help but keep the law, because His love is more than our small spirits can hold. it has to pour out on others! and if we are loving God and loving others, then, according to Jesus:

" ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^{[e] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[f] 40} The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”" - matthew 22:37-40

you are obeying the law completely! you don't have to do anything! that's the glory of it all! He's done it all for us! we are forgiven, and free from condemnation!

to everyone who's struggling because you feel inadequate, or because others have condemned you, He loves you. nothing you can or can't do will change that. He has always loved you and He always will. rest in His arms.

to everyone who feels like you have to continue following rules or acting a certain way, He didn't make us to live that way. you're made to be more than that. He loves you. nothing you do can make you more or less forgiven. be free in His Holy Spirit.

here are some songs i love that talk about living free:

the first is "going through the motions" by matthew west
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLJF9vaIJ_0

the second is "amazing love" by candi pearson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dooif2-yAoI

"Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."- 2 corinthians 3:16

"Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you."- galations 5:1

""Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."- (Jesus) matthew 11:28

He loves you no matter what you're going through! God bless!

They Will Know That We Are Christians

a long time ago, in the mid 1960's, a priest wrote a song called "They'll Know That We Are Christians". there's a good chance you've heard the song at church or camp or on the radio. it goes something like this:

"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

They will know we are Christians by our love

Love is patient, love is kind
Never boasts, not full of pride
Always hopes, always trusts
The evidence of Christ in us" - peter scholtes

you can listen to the song at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxWXh_NY8aU&feature=PlayList&p=5CCA738B9DA69828&index=167

this song has been on my heart a lot lately because it speaks about the power of unity.

one thing i have noticed (especially in my own life) is that Christians, especially those in middle and high school, struggle with feelings of isolation. i have felt like the only Christian around so many times. i remember a period in my life when i literally came home broken on a daily basis because i felt so isolated from friends (especially Christian brothers and sisters). i could be surrounded by my entire student body, and still feel completely alone. not only that, but, during this particular time, i felt so unloved by the majority of those around me because no one really made an effort to know me. i spent almost a year's worth of weekends alone (for someone like me, it was like being smothered). with the exception of two godly people from school, i was the only Christian i knew my age. i kept asking the Lord for help, calling on His name for friendship, for fellow Christians who knew His love. and, as always, He followed through. the Lord provided me with friends. but, not from where i expected. He gave me friendship not with those from school, but, it seemed, everywhere else. within a matter of months, i had plenty of friends, but the vast majority of them were from other schools, counties, and churches from all over the athens area. i can't express the amount of praise He deserves for the gift of companionship that He gives to us. but, after a while, i began to ask Him "why are they all so different, and why are they all so spread out?" a couple of months ago, i received my answer. i was listening to a sermon, and the pastor was speaking on life visions. i was reminded of a calling i had felt when i lived in atlanta. i had felt like the Lord had been telling me how the Church in different nations, states, and cities, is utterly connected. if we strengthen one of our brothers or sisters, we help him encourage and strengthen all of those he knows, and the wave keeps spreading until the Church, from America to Asia, has been blessed in some way, shape or form. it matters not how much, for even the littlest acts of brotherhood can make the difference in a person's life, and big actions are only a visible result of all of the small ones. i felt like i was being told about this same theme again. only this time, the Lord reminded me of how i felt when i had been alone. i realize now that's why He allowed for all of that time in isolation to happen; in it, He taught me the power of His love and faithfulness, but also, how, as Christians, we cannot allow our brothers and sisters to stand alone. we must have unity.

the Christian life was not meant to be lived out alone. before the crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples,

"³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - john 13:34-35

Jesus tells His disciples that our love for one another will prove that we are truly His. what would it look like if every Christian in the world had dozens of godly people they could turn to? the girl who's family is going through a divorce would never have to cry alone; the boy who's struggling with addiction could find friends who'd support him through his pain; the list goes on and on. what this goes back to is the idea that, in the end of ends, most people will not draw to or turn away from God because of logical thought, brilliant theology, pretty songs, or catchy bumper stickers. the majority of the people in the world will determine whether or not they want Christ's love by how well of an example we set. in the end, our actions will speak out either for the falsehood of religion, or the passion and truth of His power in a life. and one of the greatest ways in which our example will shine His glory is through our treatment of each other.

if all Christians truly have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside each of us, we have a connection that is greater than any hobby, pastime, job, or culture that normally bring people together. we should all be utterly connected to each other not just in mind or body, but in His Spirit. it should be a passion that goes beyond our backgrounds, worldly pleasures, or cares. that's why we call each other "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ. and that's exactly what it should be. a bond that goes beyond any other. i have heard it said by others when asked to spend time with a brother or a sister "it's not like we could be best friends or something. we have nothing in common." but the beautiful truth of the matter is that, if we are brothers and sisters in Christ, we have everything in common because, God is everything!

one of the coolest things i have found about going on mission trips outside of the country is that you get to find other brothers and sisters, in completely different cultures, with completely different economic, educational, and social backgrounds who share the same God as you. no matter how different we were, i found that if i could speak to them of nothing else, i could always speak to them about the Lord. and we always had the same things to say: "He's been faithful, He's so good, His love is so powerful". and the craziest part was that i felt in so many ways closer to these people, who were, in all ways but One completely unrelated to me, than to almost all of the people i meet on a normal basis who are like me in every way but that One. their spirits were mingled with the same love that mine was, and that broke down any lesser barrier.

one of the names the Hebrews called the Lord by was "Jehovah-Nissi" which means, the "Lord our banner". and that's what He is to His people. He is a banner that we all can rally under. if you have Christians around you that you don't know well, reach out to them regardless of who they are to the world. it is who they are to Christ that matters. don't worry about feeling weird or not knowing what to say, just pray for words to come and God will be faithful. you never know what another person is going through unless they tell you, and you never know what relationships God will choose to grow. if you're going through a time of isolation, remember how much He loves you. He'll bring you through the storms. God bless and i'm praying for you!

"In that day the heir to David’s throne (Jesus) will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where He lives will be a glorious place." - isaiah 11:10

"⁵ But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. ⁶ Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." - 1 john 2: 5-6

"My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!" - 1 john 4:11

"And that's about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. Greet one another with a holy embrace. All the brothers and sisters here say hello. " - 2 corinthians 13:11

To Obey, To Live, To Love, To Worship

worship. how often do we hear this word? i often hear from people, movies, etc. about how movie stars, "popular" kids at school, and famous historical figures are worshiped in our society. but what does it mean? does it just mean that you have a physical or emotional attraction to someone or something? does it mean that you like something a lot?

worship. we often hear the word used at church. we're sometimes told that our singing in church is worship. but what makes singing songs an act of worship? after all, anyone can sing a song... what's so special about it?

here's what the Bible says about worship:

^"1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
² Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation." - psalm 100

what the psalmist describes worship as is not just "liking God a lot" and it's not just "singing nice songs". it's utter servitude to Him in an attempt to be utterly in line with His will and His example through Jesus. to worship God is to, essentially, give everything you are to Him in every way. it's surrendering yourself completely to Him, and loving every minute of it. that's one of the most profound points of worship; the chapter says that worship is not singing to Him "because it's church" or "because i have to". it says to worship Him we must do it with joy and gladness. you can't worship God out of a feeling of "Christian duty" or "tradition" or "because the songs sound nice". that's worthless. the only way that a person can have true joy and gladness in their heart when doing something is because they LOVE doing it. and that's just it! worship needs love, and not just any love, but God's love! the Bible says that

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but don't have love, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." - 1 corinthians 13

our worship must come from the heart. we can't attempt to make ourselves do it. worship that doesn't come from love isn't worship.

another huge point that the psalm talks about is that true worship is obedience. the verse says we are HIS the sheep of HIS pasture. sheep are meant to be obedient to their shepherd. and that's what the Word describes God as being, in fact, it goes so far as to describe Him as the good shepherd. so in order to truly worship, we must first obey. samuel spoke about this worship to king saul in the old testament:

^"22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." - 1 samuel 15:22

God wants us to obey Him and to be His. that means that we don't belong to ourselves any more. the Bible says that when we come into a relationship with the Lord, we become willing slaves to Christ. what samuel is getting at is that God doesn't want tradition, he doesn't even want nice things we normally associate with worship, like singing, or tithing our money. none of our material possessions or physical talents are worth anything to Him. what does matter to Him is our hearts. that's what He wants. He could care less about what we do. what He really cares about is the "why" we are doing it. but, at the same time, we encounter a paradox about His nature. even though what we do doesn't matter to Him as long as our hearts are for Him, wanting to obey Him will result from loving Him, and loving Him will result in loving others. when we love Him, and love others, we will find ourselves being compelled by the Holy Spirit to do things, not because He wants us to do His dirty work. He loves us far too much for that. He will only tell us, truthfully, what He knows will draw us closer to Him and draw others closer to Him. our love inspires obedience, which results in our drawing closer to Him, and our drawing closer to Him, because He is Love, makes us love more. worship is a cycle of relationship between a Holy God and His people who love Him. it can only grow stronger the further it goes.

but that means that it is a cycle, one whose source, God, is limitless. that means that it doesn't just stay in church, or in our hearts. it's a lifestyle!

^"2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." -ephesians 5:2

the action of worship, therefore, isn't just what we do at church on sundays, or our prayer, or our good works. it's an entire lifestyle based completely around God. it's an obssession and obedience that covers our deeds, our thoughts, and our hearts.

in our world, we are taught to think for oursleves when we encounter pain. but this is an enormous danger. if you're struggling with persecution, personal sin, or a feeling of emptiness, just worship. when we scream His praises, shine His light, declare to the world how amazing He is, and obey Him, we draw closer to His will and spirit because it is only through the power and love He gives us that we can perform any such action, and we become more attuned to His Spirit, more dependent on His Word, and closer to Him, and therefore, His love. the only thing, after all, that could keep Him from us is ourselves; He cannot draw any closer to us. He's already everywhere and in everything. He's already given us all of Him.

" Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" -psalm 22:25

" Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. " -psalm 34:9

" Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice. " -psalm 51:16

" I'm ready now to worship, so ready. I thank you, God—you're so good. You got me out of every scrape, and I saw my enemies get it. " -psalm 54:6


God bless you guys and keep worshiping! to Him be the Glory! praying for you!

He's Always Been Faithful

hey guys! hope you're enjoying the blog! so, over Christmas break, God did a lot of amazing things in my life. one amazing thing he did was bring me closer to people. one of my friends shared with me his testimony of God's faithfulness in his life. his story goes something like this:

for a long time now, people have made fun of me. i have been praying for God to handle it for a long time. i've asked Him to take the pain of being bullied away for years. i've prayed for Him to keep them away from me, to stop them from pushing me down, from calling me names. when the bullying didn't stop, i struggled for years. reading the Bible and praying to the Lord kept my faith intact, but my doubts of whether He heard me, or cared, remained. a short time ago, i was overwhelmed. i decided to stop believing in God. the emptiness that followed was horrific, so, after a couple of months, i came back to my Father. but kids at school continued to taunt me, and i continued to tell no one.
then, one night, i had a dream that i was in a roman prison, about to be put on trial for my faith. then, a person i knew, but not very well, came to my cell and gave me what i needed to escape the prison. the next day, that same person i dreamed about contacted me and asked me how i was. i told him, and he encouraged me with the exact words i needed to hear. as the weeks went on, i continued to have the same dream, over and over again. but, every week or so, the person who came to my jail cell was different. the next day, i would meet that very person, and they would give me the exact words i needed. the cycle has continued to this day. God is still faithful.

as humans, we can never see the plan God has for us. but He will always provide. the israelites used to have dozens of names for God. one was "Jehovah Jireh" which means, God our Provider. and that's just what He is. He will provide for you in the storm. it may not be what you want it to be or when, but it will always be what you need. those of you who feel dry and thirsty, you can always trust in His love. there's a song about how His love is everything by Jesus culture callled exactly that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0LsrTGuAE&feature=PlayList&p=5CCA738B9DA69828&index=194

God's love is everything, because He's everything, and He is Love! uncompromising, all-fulfilling, Love! to everyone who feels dry, sapped, and empty, hold on to Him. call out to Him in prayer, listen to what He tells us in His Word, and know that HE LOVES YOU! He went so far for us on the cross, just to prove that He loves us so much! He says it Himself in the book of joel:

"rejoice, you people of jerusalem! rejoice in the Lord your God! for the rain He sends demonstrates His faithfulness. once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring." -joel 2:23

Jehovah Jireh loves us, and will bring the rain we need so desperately. hold on to Him.

there's another amazing song about God's faithfulness by sara groves, called "He's always been faithful"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHFK94QH5sU&feature=PlayList&p=6F08C6B3D7CA2A07&index=22

listening to the words for me is like a breath of fresh air. it's the story of my life. regardless of the situation, He has always, right when i thought i was most hopeless, provided exactly what i needed; He's always been faithful to me.

"For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever,and his faithfulness continues to each generation." -psalm 100:5


"Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning." -lamentations 3:23

let the rain fall

lately i hear a lot of people, including myself, talk about how hard life is. i complain a ton about how challenged my faith is, how stressed i feel, and how little i feel like God is helping. about a week ago, though, i was reading Acts, and a certain passage jumped out at me:

^{17 -20}Provoked mightily by all this, the Chief Priest and those on his side, mainly the sect of Sadducees, went into action, arrested the apostles and put them in the town jail. But during the night an angel of God opened the jailhouse door and led them out. He said, "Go to the Temple and take your stand. Tell the people everything there is to say about this Life."
Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. ^{21 -23}Meanwhile, the Chief Priest and his cronies convened the High Council, Israel's senate, and sent to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. When the police got there, they couldn't find them anywhere in the jail. They went back and reported, "We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn't find a soul."
²⁴The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. "What's going on here anyway?"
^{25 -26}Just then someone showed up and said, "Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?" The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.
^{27 -28}Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, "Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man."
^{29 -32}Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail."
^{33 -37}When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. But one of the council members stood up, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of God's Law who was honored by everyone. He ordered the men taken out of the room for a short time, then said, "Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. Not long ago Theudas made something of a splash, claiming to be somebody, and got about four hundred men to join him. He was killed, his followers dispersed, and nothing came of it. A little later, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and acquired a following. He also fizzled out and the people following him were scattered to the four winds.
^{38 -39}"So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!"
^{40 -42}That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus' name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

there were a lot of great themes in the passage, but a couple totally blew my mind. the first is that the apostles were tortured. when we think of our prisons, we don't get really appealing thoughts do we? ancient prisons were even worse. prisoners were often starved, they were put in rough, rusty shackles, in places with no air conditioning or bathroom. there was no way to pass the time. but when they were told to obey, they did so WITHOUT COMPLAINT! how amazing is that? they had just been through a scaring, degrading experience unlike anything we have in the west today, and when they're let go, they immediately begin proclaiming the Name of Christ PUBLICLY! they are then beaten severely (worse than any punishment we allow in our society) they praise God, and CONTINUE TO PREACH the Name of Jesus! a lot of us are like the apostles. we are insulted, beaten down (mentally or physically), and just don't feel like going on. but we can look to the apostles as examples. they were utterly abused and humiliated, and yet they pressed on.

the second is that they were completely obedient. they didn't just do what they knew they should, though, they also did so IMMEDIATELY. they heard the Lord, and as soon as they were able, followed His command. i know so much of the time i wait until i feel ready to obey the Lord. that, at it's heart, can hardly be called obedience at all. the Lord gives us challenges and tells us to obey Him when He knows it's best, both for us, and for others. if we in any way try to manipulate His plan, we'll only hurt ourselves.
take abraham for instance. he and sarah were supposed to wait for God to make sarah pregnant, yet they attempted to speed the process by having abraham sleep with sarah's servant, hagar. in the end, there was enormous pain, and hagar and ishmael, her son, were forced into exile. and God still accomplished His plan, but there was an enormous amount of pain and agony in the process that never needed to be there. all because abraham and his wife thought God had it wrong. they weren't concerned with obedience, but with self-gratification.
another aspect of their obedience was that it was done against man's judgement. an average sane human being will avoid embarassment and physical pain. how many people do you know who ask to be beaten? yet that is precisely what they did. they knew that Jesus was the Truth, and no amount of peer pressure could convince them otherwise. so much of the time, we give into peer pressure. we all do it in one way or another. whether it's that one beer, that one dare, that one person that everyone rejects, we all do (or don't do) things we should/shouldn't because we worry about what others will think of us. but peter brings up one HUGE point: who's opinion of you matters more, man's, or God's?
God is the Truth, and if the Truth thinks something of you, it's not just an opinion, but a FACT. if flawed man thinks something about you, there's a good chance it's skewed. in the end, all you really have to decide is whether you want to appear good, smart, intelligent, or cool to man, or be something powerful, life-changing, and amazing through God.

the last and most convicting thing (for me) the apostles do is they REJOICE in their suffering. the Bible says they were honored to be punished for the Name. how many people do you know who get happier after they've been beaten up and threatened with violence or death? yet that's what the apostles, our examples, do.
so often we feel so exhausted or beat down or persecuted for the Name of Christ, but what we really should feel is excited, rejuvenated, and in love with Him. when we are truly doing the Lord's work and are persecuted, we have to realize that we bring Truth to a lost world; a world that is completely and utterly terrified of complete and utter love and truth. they fear the change the Holy Spirit inspires, they fear their own sin, and they fear God's judgment. so they lash out against what they see as the agitators.
the next time you are persecuted for being a Christian, resist the temptation to feel abused or hurt or discouraged. if you know that what you are doing is right, and that you're living for Christ, then you are simply "worthy to be persecuted for the Name". there are times in life when the Holy Spirit allows for us to be persecuted, like in the case of Job. it is to bring others and us closer to the Lord. in the words of c.s. lewis, "God whispers when we are doing fine, but he screams to us in our suffering." what lewis was getting at is not that God loves to see us suffer; on the contrary, he feels all of the pain we endure, and more, and relentlessly fights for victory on our behalf. but when we are ripped away from all human security, and when we are left in a state of human helplessness, then we are most in need of Him. we learn to lean on Him for all things. then, in our weakness, God is strong (paul talks about this in 2 corinthians 12:1-10). He gets the chance to prove that He is who He claims to be. He makes Himself even more worthy of all the praise we owe Him. AND God allows us to be persecuted so that others can bear witness to His change in us. if we never back down when persecution, false accusation, or peer pressure from others is forced on us, what does that say? if we do not back down, but instead move forward, and not in bitterness or anger, but in God's pure and perfect Love, what does that say? it declares in the most visible way that God is real, His son is Jesus and He is alive, and the power of His Holy Spirit is tangible, fulfilling, loving, and life-changing.

a song that really stands out about this subject is Jesus bring the rain by casting crowns (you can find it immediately if you go on youtube). it was a real encouragement to me when i struggled with this before. to all my brothers and sisters in Christ struggling, i'm right there with you, and i'm praying for all of you. keep the faith, hold on to His love. He loves you so much!

God bless!