At The Foot of The Cross

This past 2 weeks have been my problem. I've been giving in. Into the world. Into the evilness of this realm. I've been ignoring God, and living my own life. A life that I knew cannot be fulfilled by myself. I've been partying, hanging out with friends, playing football, basketball, all sorts. But throughout the day, I have a whisper in my head telling me to go pray. Telling me to go back. I've been running the other way. I can either love the world, or love God. I cannot choose both. Holidays are a such a temptation in doing my own stuff while it gives me the opportunity to spend more time with Him. I'm finally sick of it. Sick of just the temptations. I am blind. I cannot see. I cannot find this Joy. But I know I can if I be still and know that God is God. That He Is God. I guess, it'd be great if you'd pray for me to keep my daily devotion and walk with Christ throughout my life.


Fearing the battle was over
And I'd already lost the war,
I was tired of trying and failing.
I just couldn't fight anymore.
So, dragging my battle-scarred body,
I crawled to the foot of the cross.
And I sobbed. 'Oh please, Father forgive me.
But I tried...I tried.. and still lost.'
Then the air grew silent around me.
I heard his voice just as clear as the dawn:
'Oh, My child, though you are tired and weary,
You can't stop, you have to go on.'
At the foot of the Cross , where I met Him,
At the foot of the Cross, where He died,
I felt love, as I knelt in His presence .
I felt hope, as I looked in His eyes.
Then He gathered me lovingly to Him,
As around us God's light clearly shone.
And together we walked though my lifetime
To heal every wound I had known.
I found bits of my dreams, long forgotten ,
And pieces of my life on the floor.
But I watched as He tenderly blessed them,
And my life was worth living once more.
I knew then why I had been losing.
I knew why I had not grown.
At the foot of the Cross came the answer:
I'd been fighting the battle alone .
At the foot of the Cross, where I met Him,
At the foot of the Cross, where He died,
Then I knew I could face any challenge
Together--just my Lord and I.


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Influence

Affection. Desires. Love. Happiness. Joy.
We want all these. We search and search and search. Through the relationships we have, through the friendships, and through the sinful acts & deeds we do. We look through the darkest corners of our lives, something that gives us pleasure for our own sake. Not for God.
I've seen some of friends fall away. I've seen some of the people I dislike, become one of my good friends.

People hate getting caught. They hate to admit they are sinning. They hate to say, "I'm wrong". We're too scared to tell them that they are doing something sinful. Too scared to tell them because you feel like you're going to lose them through the process.
But if you don't, they'll just fall. and fall. and fall away from God.


"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
                                                         ~Galations 6:1


We search for joy in the world. Even though we know you can't find it here. We know we can't find love in this world. Because this world is too full of sin. It gives me grief and burden to see my beloved friends just seeking for that joy. Knowing that they helped me grow spiritually. Knowing one of the people I used to look up too, fall. 
Will they accept my humble and gentle acts and bring them back to God? 
What if they ignore you, and you lose your friendship to them, one of your very best friends?
I guess it's time to mature and grow spiritually and grow. Grow into the roots, the very soils of His Word. Even if I lose them, I'll still pray for and love them no matter what.


If you see someone fall away, don't let it slide. I've done that a billion times in my life. And I regret it. Bring them back to God. Pray. Pray for them. 


Influence. Don't be Influenced.

Hush, Be Still.

I'm the book of Ruth now, and I have a long way to go until I finish the Bible. I've read the entire New Testament and I'm trying to finish the Old. Though I run into obstacles and trials of this world, I know that my God is my Healer. For the past week, I've been learning about praying. How praying is so important in our lives. Pray for this. Pray for that. We always praise God, but sometimes we forget to praise the Holy Spirit. God uses the Holy Spirit in us to speak to this world. It's the Holy Spirit He uses, not us. I've learned to pray, to read, to pray again, and read again throughout my day. I've learned that if our God is with us, who can be against us. I've learned that God is Good. And with all these things...
...I've finally found this Joy. I finally found happiness.


I love too pray, I wake up early in the morning with excitement, knowing that my day is going to start with God. Knowing that I can spend the beginning of my days with God.
The very God that split the seas apart. The God who spoke and came to be. The very God who said "Hush, Be still". And the seas and the storms calmed down. Even the rocks cry out to Him.  Who wouldn't want to spend time with this God? 


He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm
                                           ~Mark 4:39
Immanuel - God with us.
God is with us. He roams through this world, everywhere at once, hearing everything, feeling everything, loving everything He made. Because He said "And it was good".


Today in basketball, near the end, I couldn't find my keys. I looked and looked. While people were playing basketball, I was looking for it with some people. Finally, they started asking everyone if they saw a red lanyard with keys on it. To my complete surprise, basically everyone started looking for it. They looked everywhere for it. The restroom. The kitchen. The bags. The tables. Everywhere.
Eventually I found out I left it in my trunk, which was locked.


But that wasn't what it was about. It was about a group of people, who cared for me. Willingly giving up their time of basketball to help me look for it. I felt so loved. Loved by the people of our Church. Even though it was just a simple thing, knowing that these people care, warms my heart. Maybe having brothers and sisters in Christ is all you need. You don't need to hang out with the cool people. Or try to act cool so people will like you. You just need people who know who you are, accept you, and love you no matter what.


So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
                                                ~ Galatians 6:10

Prayer Flares

It's been a week since I last blogged, being so caught up in school, grades, homework, test, I have no time for extracurricular times for myself. 
Having an excessive amount of homework and test, workouts, sleep, my schedule has no time to fit in worship practice. I am leading worship this Friday, but since I've been so busy, I didn't have time to gather my team, my songs, and practice on Sunday. I decided my songs today, and even though everything feels like a rush, I'm not scared for this Friday. This time, I decided to do something different. My perspective on true worship, and why we have the Holy Spirit has changed over the couple of weeks. Realizing that God doesn't just use US, but the Holy Spirit within us, I decided to prepare my time of worship by praying.
Praying. Focused and Humbled. Placing everything I have, my desires, my pride, myself, to God. Asking that He will truly use the Holy Spirit in me, not me.
I have been praying in the mornings, waking up earlier and earlier so I can spend more time with Him. I feel like I'm beginning to find this Joy and Peace God provides. I wake myself up because I want to pray. I'm so eager, so excited to pray, to read His Word. His Holy Word. 
Rejoice through the sufferings. Rejoice through the pain. For I know my God is with me no matter what.



I am, still burdened and weary from school and stress. And I do ask that, you guys pray for me for this Friday, that I am lead with a passionate heart.


Still reading through the book of Judges, I read chapter 18, and this one verse, spoke to me.


The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval."

~Judges 18:6

That made me smile. It gave me hope, that all that I have been praying for, for the past 1/2 year, God is listening. I've been praying about me going into ministry, doing missions, worship, becoming a youth pastor, anything. And even though I feel like my prayers have not been answered, I still continued to pray.
My discipler told me, that you just have to keep praying, and in the end, God will be glorified. Staying faithful when times are meek. Staying strong when hope is all lost. 


Though I have much too learn, much to see. Though I am immature. Though I am a sinner.
I know God awaits. I know God still loves. I know God still pushes me onward, telling me not to look to the left or right, but walk straight. Walking not by sight, but by faith.

Trust

I've been struggling with Trust, thinking I can go through this walk with Christ mostly by myself. But going through the Bible, I found this.

Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Realizing that God gave me brothers and sisters for a reason, I ask, you guys, as a prayer request, that I'd be more open and trusting with my fellow peers.

Encouragram for All

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was leaving the room after paying a visit, and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know?" the man said. 

"You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door, on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining. As he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. 

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear."

"I know little of what is on the other side of death," the doctor continued, "but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through with no fear, but with gladness."

Through the trails and changes, God's love never fails, nor His grace or promises.

So for all you reading this, including me - remember that Joy and Peace can be found through Him. I know I've fallen and strayed away for the past week, but I'm back up, on my feet walking with Christ again. We all fall away, stray away, looking left & right. But don't ever. EVER. forget what Christ has done. How HE became sin who knew NO SIN. How He tore that veil, so that we, us sinners, may live with Him eternally. 

KEEPING THAT PASSION FOR CHRIST.

KEEPING THAT FAITH.

THROUGH THE TRAILS AND CHANGES.

THROUGH THE BUMPS AND OBSTACLES.

KEEP THAT FIRE BURNING.

because in the end,

He will say,

"Well done, Good and Faithful Servant."

Forgive & Forget

Trust.
5 short letters that demands faith, commitment, and love.


I care about what people think, I care what they say about me, I care about all these things. I try not to care, I try to ignore it and live my life as happily as I can. But I can't. There's just some things you can't change. 
Trust is a big issue for me. I trust no one. Expect two.
I've been betrayed, lied too, forsaken, by people who I thought I could trust. But now I try. I try to give them a chance and become transparent again.
We all make mistakes, we all lied, gossiped, sinned against each other.
But if the ones we love, the ones we care for, came to the picture, what happens?
Anger. Rage and sorrow come. But this past day, I've been telling myself.
Forgive and Forget. Forgive the sins that people committed, for I too, am a sinner found by grace. Forget. Forget the sins and keep no record of wrong, for God doesn't judge. He doesn't condemn. He loves.


For He has written in the Holy Bible,
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."
                                   ~ 1 Peter 4:8


Don't care. Don't care what people think. Don't care what people say about you. Who cares if you aren't smart. Who cares if you can't sing well. Who cares if people judge you because of your looks. 


God cares.
God. Cares.


He cares for the weak, the poor, the broken. He cares for the unloved, the lost, the meek.
I'm praying that God will give me, the ability to forgive and forget. And instead, love. Love deep. Love clean. Love unconditionally.
Putting my trust, my life in the hands of God.

"In you, LORD my God,
I put my trust.

I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me."

                ~Psalm 25:1-2