Wanting Something More

Sometimes the pull of the world is strong--too strong.
The bright flashes of the world blind you to the steady light of His Holy Word. You are drawn to the heavy beat of this life which drowns out the quiet pulse of His Spirit.
In the light of the day you're all smiles but when the golden beams disappear tears brim brightly in your eyes because you are left wanting something more.
You can't cry out for fear someone might hear but you want to scream until the stark pain inside becomes physical.

Empty, empty, empty--a silent mockery drums into your bleeding heart.

Why are the others satisfied?
How can they be so happy when their soul rings hollow?
Was there none others left hungry?
Were there no others passed by when the food was served?
Does the world satisfy their cravings only?

Still empty, empty, empty...

Your weary arms droop, no more outstretched to the heavens made of brass.
Oh how empty is this world! How shallow are her joys and comforts! How deceitful is the lulling slur of compromise! Oh how deadly is the comatose creeping into the lives of many!

Oh but how difficult is that other path which calls for more!
How blood-soaked are the steps that lead to satisfaction!

And yet praise the Lord, His grace is sufficient!

Each day you rise to fight once again, and each day He comes to join you in the ranks.

"BE YE SEPERATE"(2 cor. 6:17)
"DO NOT BE CONFORMED BUT BE TRANSFORMED"(rom. 12:2)

His battle-cries ring in your ears, urging you on to a life of something more.
A life of battling compromising with sin.
A life on the other path.

Waiting on God

Many can forge ahead in the thick of the battle, sure and confident in the leading of their captain. But few can wait...few can sit and listen intently for the long-awaited voice of their commander. Few can gaze at others making history and be content to await their call, their turn. And yet...Waiting is a major part of the Christian's path. There are times when we must rush ahead with our sword of the Spirit but there are also many moments when we must be content to wait for the voice of our Captain. Many are the moments when all lights are out and silence is the only sound heard. How hard it is to wait then! The world's weight on your shoulder and decisions pressing in and still your Commander is silent! Others battle on, tackling new giants daily and you must simply watch them. How you long to join their ranks and lift up your voice to join in the battle cry! But you must wait. The whisper of complaint pushes up your throat and how you long to set it free! But you cannot, you must simply wait.
These are the moments which test us. All of heaven peers down to watch as your faith stumbles, then slowly beginning to take root. King David cried out "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him." (psalm 62:5) O Christian, wait for Him.. wait on Him! Let not the murmur of complaint escape your lips when you pour out your heart before Him(psalm 62:8). Many will be the moments when you cry out in pain, in confusion, in frustration. In all moments, remember that His ways are above yours and His thoughts above your own(isaiah 55:8-9). He commands for you to wait...therefore wait. He is perfect, He is divine, He is sovereign. Dear Soul, pour out your anguish before His inclined ear but dare not to question. In moments of waiting praise Him. Praise Him for not lowering Himself to your own human comprehension--thank Him for being beyond your finite mind. Fill up the silence with your cry of praise for the Everlasting who is ever worthy. Trust in Him to hear you--trust in Him to answer you. And keep on waiting until His voice comes afresh with your orders in the battle.

contrasting idealogies explained with two cows

humourous, oversimplified explanation of contrasting ideologies..taken from Genesis: First Things (my Bible textbook :)

capitalism: you have to cows. you milk one, sell the other along with some of the mil, and you keep all the money and some milk which you haven't sold for yourself.

socialism: you have two cows. the government takes one of the cows, and part of the milk, allowing you to keep some milk for yourself which you can sell if you want.

communism: you have two cows. government takes both cows, makes you milk both and gives you part of the milk for yourself. if you try to sell the milk to anyone you will spend the rest of your life in prison learning the "errors" you have committed by oppressing others.

Nazism: you have two cows. the government takes both cows, makes you milk both. then shoots you and takes all of the milk.

bureaucracy: you have two cows. the governments fines you in excess of what the cows are worth, because you have the wrong type of feed that you got delivered by mistake because you didn't have the correct form filled out completely. you are called into court for cruelty to animals because you killed a rat that was trying to eat the wrong type of feed, that you cant get rid of now, since the government considers it a potential health hazard. the government subsequently confiscates both cows, shoots one of them, milks the other and pours half of the milk down the drain. you get some of the rest to feed your family as part of a special government welfare program for destitute ex-milk farmers.



-joel vincent

btw as a reminder you are called to obey your government WHATEVER type it is (Romans 13) but you (probably) live in America where you can influence what kind of government you have..so use time wisely and be the salt

Sibling Rivalry

I want to share a video shown to me...a video, which if you have siblings will ring oh so true! I have been so blessed with a large family(nine children). Sometimes though that blessing is a little hard to see...for example, in moments you try to take a family picture. (Our last one was a disaster!) and we have been trying to take another for several months now...But it is a blessing and I am so thankful for God placing me in this wonderful family! It's fun to fight over clothes (afterwards you see it as fun) fun to gather for a birthday time, fun to have a family gathering where we usually team up girls vs. guys... .

And as I read about Jesus' life I can't help but think whether His was the same. Jesus is perfect, and was perfect in His human form so He never lost His temper and said something He knew would wound a loved one. How many words I wish I could take back..words I said in the heat of argument and were regretted after. Jesus never had to regret saying something harsh and untrue out of anger... because He never got angry over silly little things that often set us off.
I share a special status in my family. I know my dad loves me more than my cousin..because I am his daughter. I love my sister more than I love my best friend. After all, they are family and "blood is thicker than water". Friends are temporary but family is forever... Don't you think Jesus' family thought the same thing? In Luke 8:19-21 His family tries to get through the crowd but can't because there are so many people! I can just imagine them saying "I am His BROTHER...hello! His brother--we're united by blood!! You know what..why don't you call Him? Tell Him His BROTHER is here and see what He does to you when He finds out you aren't letting me through!" And then Jesus' answer floats back to them "my mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." Can you imagine their indignation? Their fury at being dismissed in front of so many people? Their hurt at being put at a level equal to all the strangers around them? Yet Jesus was not saying this merely to be harsh, or to get back for that one time that older brother didn't let Him borrow his tunic. He said it to make clear that His family was not to be worshiped or seen as divine. He made all equal at the cross! He died for His mother just as much as He died for me...He didn't pay a lesser punishment for her or a greater one for me. He raised me up to the same status as His brother!! Does this not amaze you? Does not His grace astound you?

I'm sure Jesus holds a special spot for His earthly family..after all He did spend 30 years with them but He sees me no different from His sister or His brother. His family might not have gotten that message that day in that moment. But at least one person did: James. He starts out His epistle with "James a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ..." The literal word there being "slave". He, the brother of Jesus who lived with Him perhaps in the same house, introduced himself as the slave, the lowest class which holds absolutely no esteem. I would have introduced myself as His brother, milking my authority as far as it can get me. Even here we do that..."yeah I'm the daughter of the head pastor...you know the guy who hires and can fire your daddy?" James could have said "James the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ who will judge all creation and at whose name every knee will bow." And yet he chose to introduce himself as a slave, one that has been enslaved for life and holds no redeeming power in the household. THAT's what Calvary produces....


anyways...all that to show a silly video which I think so clearly portrays our sibling rivalry played out day after day.......

How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice

So I finally decided to post something since Yana keeps writing some good stuff!
However, since i have no original thought, i'm quite sure that anyone who reads this might just feel like they have heard it from somewhere else.. but i will spare you the investigation and just tell you I took a few notes while listening to John Piper's sermon How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/2008/2724_How_the_Supremacy_of_Christ_Creates_Radical_Christian_Sacrifice

I cannot begin to tell you how much this sermon has broken me to tears over how badly i need to see this in my life...

¯ the Supremacy of Christ creates radical Christian sacrifice when we treasure our future reward vastly more than we treasure this world and the comforts of life. EVERYTHING. We treasure our future reward a thousand times more than all of our desires that are fleeting passions.
¯ Christ, Glorious and Supreme, is that reward.
¯ Hebrews 10. Hebrews presents Christ as purification for sins and the one who opens the door to the end. He gets us somewhere.
¯ Clearly from this book, Christ and his work are a means to something…eternal life... however!!!
¯ He, at that very moment, became and displayed the supreme beauty of the glory of the grace of God. Which the universe was designed to display for our everlasting enjoyment. Christ becomes the clearest focus of the end for which we were made (Eph. 1:6).
¯ We won't put behind us the event of the Cross.. The worst event of existence will be the thing we will eternally praise about, because it is that very thing that will cause us to not be able to hold back our praise for the rest of eternity!!

so... what do you do??....

Think on Christ!
Do not neglect the whole book of Hebrew's testimony to our great treasure!
• He is God's final revelation
• He is the heir of all things
• He is the creator of the world
• He is the radiance of God's glory
• He is the exact imprint of God's nature
• He upholds the universe by the word of His power
• He made purification for sins
• He sits at the right hand of the majesty
• He is God enthroned forever with the scepter of uprightness
• He is worshiped by angels
• His rule will have no end
• His Joy is above all other things in the universe
• He took on human flesh
• He was crowned in glory and honor because of His suffering
• He was the founder of our salvation
• He was made perfect in all of his obedience by his suffering
• He destroyed the one who has the power of death, the devil
• He delivered us from the bondage of fear
• He is a merciful and faithful high priest
• He made propitiation for sins
• He is sympathetic because of his own trials
• He never sinned
• He offered up loud cries of tears with reverent fear and God heard him
• He became the source of eternal salvation
• He holds his priesthood by virtue of an indestructible life
• He appears in the presence of God on our behalf
• He will come a second time to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him
• He is the same yesterday, today and forever
• And this supremacy of Christ is poured into the little pronoun "Him" (Hebrews 13:13).
• The sweetest fellowship you will ever know is the fellowship of his sufferings. (now this was the whole point of the sermon which is usually always neglected in many christian settings)
• The supremacy of Christ is also present, personal, precious, treasure.
• My desire and prayer for you is that there would be a radical flavor about your life(which is stirred up by the affections of this Supreme Treasure, Christ).
• Here we have no lasting city. We seek a savior in a city who is to Come!
.... sorry for the unorganized style of writing. but the point is clear I Hope... Christ is the very end to which all creation comes to. he is not the means to some end.. it is all about HIM!
Praise God for his mercy upon us through this revelation from His word! praise him that we are yet still living while we fully deserve the cup wrath Christ had to bear!

Three Reasons to Show Hospitality

My dad has turned out front door into a revolving door. In direct obedience to the Bible... Romans 12:13 says to "seek to show hospitality". Hebrews 13:2 reminds us of the same thing, with an incentive"do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares". 1 Peter 4:9 commands us to "show hospitality to one another without grumbling." It's even a requirement for the widows who are to be put on the church paylist(1 Tim. 5:10) and for pastors(1 Tim. 3:2)!

So we all know we should be showing hospitality, and even more to be showing it with gratefulness and without grumbling. Easily said... From experience I can tell you that sometimes you don't always feel like throwing your door wide open to complete strangers. Sometimes you just want to crawl in your bed with a good book and a hot cup of tea. But, at least in my house, we aren't really given a choice. And how grateful I am for this!

It is a blessed gift to be able to open your house to others. First of all, you should do it out of sheer gratitude that you even own a home! There are millions around this world who don't even have a cardboard box to call their own. And you have a house with beds, food, silverware, couches, games, etc. As I have grown older I have wondered how on earth my parents can afford to house and feed so many...whereas certain others refuse to have more than five people because they're counting pennies. One truth I can loudly declare: "cast your breads upon the waters, for you will find it after many days."(ecc. 11:1) Despite having people over every day and especially weekends, we have never gone hungry. There was not a day that I woke up and found nothing in the refrigerator and pantry. You give and more will be given to you...you simply can't outgive God!

Secondly, coming through the revolving door have come many interesting people. I met many new people through my brothers, sisters, father, and mother. Uncountable are the times I have been edified by a conversation over the table. This, mainly, is attributed to my father as he always centers the conversation around the Bible. He often asks questions about Proverbs, or other theological questions. But anyone can start a good and Biblical conversation because it is an indicator of how often and long you read the Bible. The more you read the more you can share. Many friendships have been made because of our open doors, and many have been strengthened. And who knows? Maybe someday an angel will come through...or already has and will let me know in heaven =)

Thirdly, hospitality has been a valuable experience teacher! The many lessons I have learned serving others are priceless! I have learned how to wash dishes with a smile, I have learned how to set a table in such a way it doesn't disrupt the conversation, I have learned how to begin and keep a light conversation going, I have learned how to make a drink just perfect (my sister will disagree). More importantly, I have learned gratitude and service. God taught me how to desire the heavenly award and not look forward to human thanks. There is a lot I have learned through my family's revolving door.

So I would urge you to show hospitality. Do not look for the human praise but do it out of obedience and for the glory of Jesus Christ our glorious Lord. I hope that when I move out and have a house of my own my front door will be a revolving door for all and you never know...maybe some day an angel will drop by!

7 Reasons Why Preaching Is Not Enough

Biblical list which outlines need for small groups necessary for all radical Christians. Taken from Piper's sermon: The Love of Human Praise as the Root of Unbelief(link below).

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/4223_The_Love_of_Human_Praise_as_the_Root_of_Unbelief/

7 Reasons Preaching is Not Enough

1. The impulse avoid painful growth by disappearing safely into the crowd in corporate worship is very strong.
2. The tendency toward passivity in listening to a sermon is part of our human weakness.
3. Listeners in a big group can more easily evade redemptive crises. If tears well up in your eyes in a small group, wise friends will gently find out why. But in a large gathering, you can just walk away from it.
4. Listeners in a large group tend to neglect efforts of personal application. The sermon may touch a nerve of conviction, but without someone to press in, it can easily be avoided.
5. Opportunity for questions leading to growth is missing. Sermons are not dialogue. Nor should they be. But asking questions is a key to understanding and growth. Small groups are great occasions for this.
6. Accountability for follow-through on good resolves is missing. But if someone knows what you intended to do, the resolve is stronger.
7. Prayer support for a specific need or conviction or resolve goes wanting. O how many blessings we do not have because we are not surrounded by a band of friends who pray for us.

You can listen to great sermons your entire life and be full of knowledge but until you start applying and incorporating those Biblical teachings into your life you're nothing but talk. This goes first to me! Small groups are absolutely essential for personal application and accountability.