I notice I like to use !! alot. Maybe because I'm loud, or just wanting to stress a point.
But I find that writing/typing has a release in it that I need. So I hope this blog finds a place in your heart and stirs you in some way.
There is so much about Fire that we have going on. The Flame, the Lighter (our Discipleship class), the Torch (our youth group), and our Thread which goes by so many different fire terms.
But what is it about? It's about FIRE! Fire Burns, Fire is hot. Fire purifies. Fire gets rid of the materials that aren't important and leaves that which is True. The Gold and Silver of Life. (A refiner's Fire the bible calls it).
Jeremiah 20:9 says " But if I say, `I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot"
So, this fire is in my Body. It's in my Being. It's in my heart. WOE to me if I do not let it out.
Being that I don't have a place to let it out, except for those that lend me an Ear, or the hour of teaching I get to do on a weekly basis at youth, which only eases the Burn.
My desire is for this fire to be apart of you. Maybe you are Cold and Lonely. Soaking Wet in the Cold Fridged air of this World. Left shivering with no one to hold you. But come to the fire and be warmed. Come to the fire and see the Refiner burn out the junk Leaving pure Gold and Silver.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Art - Is it Done?
So, I have this Art theme that keeps coming up. I wonder if any of this will ever make sense to anyone, besides me.
You ever see an Awesome Car, Work of Art, Play, Movie, House, or what ever you're into, and Just say "WOW!! That's IT!" It's Perfect. It's Beautiful. I wouldn't Change a Thing. And then you talk to the owner, or builder/Maker and they will always point out where the Flaws are.
A Car, "Well it has this scratch right here" and you have to have it pointed out because you can't see it from all the beauty. Or a Mansion, they point out how the Door Hinges don't match or how the water drips in some unknown Room, but you are Lost in the Magnitude of the place to notice it. Or a Movie/Play that is so Moving as to cause Laughter or Tears and you Feel a great Sense of Wonder in what was done, but you ask the Producer, Play write or Director and they do the same thing. "It was good, BUT.."
So it is with us. We are God's Master Piece. Ephesians "2:10 "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good Works, which God has prepared before hand." So we are his Master Piece. A Creation like no Other. BUT!!! We have Flaws. Some are bigger than others. Sometimes instead of Pointing out the Beauty of the Artist, Pointing to the GREAT ARTIST/PRODUCER, we point out our Flaws. We see the Minor Scratches and squeeky hinges, when we should be pointing to the Master who is in the Process up Building, or Painting His Master Piece.
He isn't done yet. Don't stop the Artist while he is working. Don't put down the work before it is finished.
If you judge the Art, you offend the Artist. If you put down the Master Piece you are saying God isn't good enough. 1 Thes 5:24 "Faithful is HE who Calls you, He WILL bring it To Pass."
Philipians 1:6 "Being Confident in this Very Thing, that HE who Began the Good Work in you Will Complete it/Perfect it"
You're not Done. We aren't Finished. He isn't Done! This Master Piece takes a life time. Some are harder projects and more detailed but in the End. It's the Master that Gets the Credit for his Creation.
So, Behold one another. Help the Work of God. Be the Creation he needs you to be and allow him to Form, Shape and Move you in the position he needs.
You ever see an Awesome Car, Work of Art, Play, Movie, House, or what ever you're into, and Just say "WOW!! That's IT!" It's Perfect. It's Beautiful. I wouldn't Change a Thing. And then you talk to the owner, or builder/Maker and they will always point out where the Flaws are.
A Car, "Well it has this scratch right here" and you have to have it pointed out because you can't see it from all the beauty. Or a Mansion, they point out how the Door Hinges don't match or how the water drips in some unknown Room, but you are Lost in the Magnitude of the place to notice it. Or a Movie/Play that is so Moving as to cause Laughter or Tears and you Feel a great Sense of Wonder in what was done, but you ask the Producer, Play write or Director and they do the same thing. "It was good, BUT.."
So it is with us. We are God's Master Piece. Ephesians "2:10 "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good Works, which God has prepared before hand." So we are his Master Piece. A Creation like no Other. BUT!!! We have Flaws. Some are bigger than others. Sometimes instead of Pointing out the Beauty of the Artist, Pointing to the GREAT ARTIST/PRODUCER, we point out our Flaws. We see the Minor Scratches and squeeky hinges, when we should be pointing to the Master who is in the Process up Building, or Painting His Master Piece.
He isn't done yet. Don't stop the Artist while he is working. Don't put down the work before it is finished.
If you judge the Art, you offend the Artist. If you put down the Master Piece you are saying God isn't good enough. 1 Thes 5:24 "Faithful is HE who Calls you, He WILL bring it To Pass."
Philipians 1:6 "Being Confident in this Very Thing, that HE who Began the Good Work in you Will Complete it/Perfect it"
You're not Done. We aren't Finished. He isn't Done! This Master Piece takes a life time. Some are harder projects and more detailed but in the End. It's the Master that Gets the Credit for his Creation.
So, Behold one another. Help the Work of God. Be the Creation he needs you to be and allow him to Form, Shape and Move you in the position he needs.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
MOM!!!
I don't know why, but when I was in High School I had so much fun with my mom. She seemed to always be there for me. Even though she worked 2 jobs, she was at Everyone of my Basketball games, taking me to every Doctor's appointment, and there for all my late night Kidney Stones. So how do you thank someone like this? Here's how.. At bed time I would holler, "MOM!!" and she would come to my room not knowing or questioning anything and I would say, "Just wanted to see if you would come." Each time she would Respond, "You know I would."
So the next time I would holler, "Mom!" and she would come back and I would ask, "Can I have a glass of water?" And she would go get it..
So why do I bring this up? I think God is alot like this. We call out to Him and he is there. Sometimes in the middle of the night, when all is dark, silent, and maybe bleak, we cry out "God!" and he is there. We may be just be checking to see if He will come, and our Father in Heaven says,"I will never leave you nor forsake you." "And Lo I am with you Always."
Or Maybe we need more than just assurance God is there. Maybe there is a Real need, like those late night Kidney Stones, were we cry out in Pain and feel like we are going to die. And God is there, holding our hands thru it all. Sometimes it's thru Healing, sometimes it's thru endurance. But our pain is not the Absent of God, but the Presence of Life and Sin. Knowing that our old body will be done away with and we will receive a New Body. (Which I already have the Design for mine.) There will be no more Pain, No more Suffering, and no more Crying.
But for now, while we are here in our Beds, we can cry out, "God!!" and when he says "Yes, what do you need?" Mabye we just need that Glass of water before bed.
So the next time I would holler, "Mom!" and she would come back and I would ask, "Can I have a glass of water?" And she would go get it..
So why do I bring this up? I think God is alot like this. We call out to Him and he is there. Sometimes in the middle of the night, when all is dark, silent, and maybe bleak, we cry out "God!" and he is there. We may be just be checking to see if He will come, and our Father in Heaven says,"I will never leave you nor forsake you." "And Lo I am with you Always."
Or Maybe we need more than just assurance God is there. Maybe there is a Real need, like those late night Kidney Stones, were we cry out in Pain and feel like we are going to die. And God is there, holding our hands thru it all. Sometimes it's thru Healing, sometimes it's thru endurance. But our pain is not the Absent of God, but the Presence of Life and Sin. Knowing that our old body will be done away with and we will receive a New Body. (Which I already have the Design for mine.) There will be no more Pain, No more Suffering, and no more Crying.
But for now, while we are here in our Beds, we can cry out, "God!!" and when he says "Yes, what do you need?" Mabye we just need that Glass of water before bed.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Art. The Expression of Self
So, if you have ever been in Art Class you have heard the Teacher tell you that Art is An Expression of Self, and Art is the interpretation of Self. So you look at an Artist's painting and you are to interpret what he or she is saying, or conveying. But then the teacher counts off on your grade if your interpretation is different than theirs. (Been there, done that.) Then if you try to argue your point then you're in trouble and disrespectful.
Then you get older and then they want you to Get Crazy with your interpretation. They want you to see how far you can stretch your imagination and it doesn't matter far off base you are from the artists original view.
What does this have to do with Christ or God, and me? Well, you are God's Creation. You are his work. You are the art and He is the Artist. What is he making with you? Ephesian 2:10 " We are His workmanship, Created for Good Works in Christ." What colors is He using? What is he trying to Convey to the onlookers? God is painting a master piece with you for the world to see.
It doesn't matter if you're a Chalk Drawing, Pencil Sketching, or a Picaso. What matters is the Message people are getting from the Artist.
Again, "Let your light shine in such a way men may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven".
Then you get older and then they want you to Get Crazy with your interpretation. They want you to see how far you can stretch your imagination and it doesn't matter far off base you are from the artists original view.
What does this have to do with Christ or God, and me? Well, you are God's Creation. You are his work. You are the art and He is the Artist. What is he making with you? Ephesian 2:10 " We are His workmanship, Created for Good Works in Christ." What colors is He using? What is he trying to Convey to the onlookers? God is painting a master piece with you for the world to see.
It doesn't matter if you're a Chalk Drawing, Pencil Sketching, or a Picaso. What matters is the Message people are getting from the Artist.
Again, "Let your light shine in such a way men may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven".
Monday, July 5, 2010
When in Rome/Dessert is Served
Great Quote and story from the Movie, When in Rome. "You're so Pretty I don't know if to look at you or Myself." or He takes off his shirt in the restraunt and says, "You're Welcome." Later flexing his arm "Dessert is Served." We laugh at his arrogance and over zealousness to impress the star of the movie, and at everyone else who is under the spell of her. We will do extreme things for something we are Passionate about, wither it be a Car, a Girl, a Guy, or sport, ect...
We see Sport Fans dressing up in their outfits, painted faces, and colored wigs to show their devotion and team spirit. Buy Season Tickets, Spend Gas Money going. Parking passes, and even Snacks at the game. $$$$
What about that special someone or someones? We take our showers and put on our make up, (thanks for the shower part and I need the nails done) and get all prettied up to meet that special someone.. But what happens when it comes to God, Church, and Jesus Christ? What do we do? What if we showed up at Church waiving our favorite Scripture, or painting our faces? What if we bought Shirts that support our Church or Youth Group? We bring our Noise makers and horns??? Shoot, if you go to church more than once a Week you're labeled a fanatic. If you read your bible you're a REBEL. If you even confess your beliefs you are Judgemental.
So, what is God wanting us to do in this time? This Place? What does it mean to be a Christian? "You shall love the LORD thy GOD with all your Heart, Mind and Strength." Mark 12:30
Romans 12:1 says, "Present your bodies a LIVING Sacrifice, holy and Acceptable to God."
God wants us to be Passionate about Him. God want us to present our Bodies, our Minds and Our Strength. He wants us to take Risks with Him. Christ has put His spell on you, an called you to come after him. He delights when we Stand up for him, even if its infront of everyone.
When you follow Christ you are standing out saying, "Dessert is Served."
We see Sport Fans dressing up in their outfits, painted faces, and colored wigs to show their devotion and team spirit. Buy Season Tickets, Spend Gas Money going. Parking passes, and even Snacks at the game. $$$$
What about that special someone or someones? We take our showers and put on our make up, (thanks for the shower part and I need the nails done) and get all prettied up to meet that special someone.. But what happens when it comes to God, Church, and Jesus Christ? What do we do? What if we showed up at Church waiving our favorite Scripture, or painting our faces? What if we bought Shirts that support our Church or Youth Group? We bring our Noise makers and horns??? Shoot, if you go to church more than once a Week you're labeled a fanatic. If you read your bible you're a REBEL. If you even confess your beliefs you are Judgemental.
So, what is God wanting us to do in this time? This Place? What does it mean to be a Christian? "You shall love the LORD thy GOD with all your Heart, Mind and Strength." Mark 12:30
Romans 12:1 says, "Present your bodies a LIVING Sacrifice, holy and Acceptable to God."
God wants us to be Passionate about Him. God want us to present our Bodies, our Minds and Our Strength. He wants us to take Risks with Him. Christ has put His spell on you, an called you to come after him. He delights when we Stand up for him, even if its infront of everyone.
When you follow Christ you are standing out saying, "Dessert is Served."
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