The River

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

Psalm 46:4

There is something about a river that speaks to me. Its rushing, cold, deep and fierce. It's current is strong and it washes away whatever is in its path.

"Come sweet cleanse my soul, shower me and make me whole. Consume me with Your heal flood. Leave no traces of the man that I was before the river came" - 4Him "Before The River Came"

This photo was taken January '05

Not Really A Writer

I'm not sure why I'm even on here to begin with. Other than, I love writing about Jesus. If there is something heavy on my heart, it seems that the only way to explain it is to either read my mind or read my writing. So, the day I open a blog, I will write in it several times...bare with me...all the tons of people who know about it...(no one)

Violent Christianity

Be Violent In Following Jesus.

You cannot give place to the world, to your passions or your laziness. Words are not enough to claim the kingdom of God. It takes strength and courage and violence. You must violently resist the tides of the world. Violently give up all that holds you back from God. Violently turn your will over to God to do His will alone. This violence is what I pray you will come to know, for how else will you know anything of the life of the Lord Jesus? Fenelon from 100 days in the secret place

The violence that Francis Fenelon is talking about in this above quote is not about arrogant rough hit and punch violence. It is the passionate pursuit of ones goals – in our case – the Kingdom of God. With force and decision and resolve we must resist the desires of the flesh and hold onto the course before us – the narrow path of holiness and surrender. It takes guts to follow Christ. Jesus himself said: Matthew 16:24-25 If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for My sake shall find it. Sometimes following Jesus isn't all happiness and roses… it is loneliness and suffering, discipline and sacrifice. There are times when God works on our character that just aren't pleasant… when we feel like we are walking through the fire and flame, and feel like we are walking those paths alone. God seems distant and prayers unanswered. Take hope in the words of the Bible, that say that God IS with us through the fire and the flame (Isaiah 43) and that He does hear our prayers always. 1Peter 1:6-7 in which you greatly rejoice, yet a little while, if need be, grieving in manifold temptations; so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, Our faith is regarded as being much more precious than gold to God. It does go through the fire of refinement as we are shaped into the character of Jesus. We must be committed to following God, to allowing His way in our lives and to walking one step at a time forward. We must be committed to making God-decisions, not just good ones, and to rejecting the things we must reject. No one ever said it would be easy, just worth it. Eternally.

-Unknown

Choose Life

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him. 

Deuteronomy 30:19 & 20

As deep cries out to deep, so we cry out for You...

Waking at the sound of my cell phone singing "The Stand" by Hillsong United, I rise at five thirty AM. Its still dark and not yet feeling like a new day but more like an unfinished night. Then, at a little before six, I begin to see the haze of light just starting to unveil the world hidden by the night. 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Someone  told me once, that in order to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. And, could it be so that we are waiting on God or waiting for the fear to obey God leave us? Are we afraid to be obedient when it comes to doing something that we know God has called us to do? Not everything that is thrown at us is a pleasant journey, but we are given grace and strength.  Do not be lead by feelings. We are supposed to be lead by the Spirit of the Living God.  Above all else, we are committed to Jesus, no matter the cost. We pursue holiness and obedience to the Lord because its what He commands of us and because we have a heart to follow Him. We deny the world and all that it entails, and we deny ourselves and cling to Jesus all the way home. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8