Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Savor the Favor

With me leaving for Israel today (insert loud screaming, dancing, and spinning) I obviously found myself thinking about all of the many things that could go wrong. I quickly had to remind myself that God's hand is over me and I have nothing to fear...which lead me to this train of thought...

How could I have forgotten that integral part of my faith? With everything God has sustained me through, how could I have forgotten that He is always faithful, true to His promises, and WILL continue to protect me because His love and favor are over my life?

As I asked these questions, God lead me to 2 Samuel chapter 23.
The first verse that really stood out to me was verse 5. It says :

“Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success” 

Yes! It is true! God is for you and His desire is toward you! When you entered into a relationship with Him, He made a covenant with you to direct your steps and never forsake you! A covenant that promised His hand will be over you and protect you, ensuring your safety and success...I know this part is a little elementary, but bare with me.

I then found it very interesting, the section of Samuel that follows the aforementioned scripture lists all the many mighty men in David's armies. It is no coincidence that the assurance of being God’s chosen and beloved is found just before a description of warriors. God is saying that we need not be afraid to go to war, because we are God’s favored, and we can trust in Him as we give our all. The following warriors did and they achieved honor for God and victory…so much so that their victories were recorded in the Bible. Do you want to make a difference that is noteworthy? Do you want to impact the Earth for Christ in such a way that people are forced to see the hand of Christ in your life and His mighty working through you? Than you must first come to the realization that HE IS FOR YOU! His desire is to see you grow closer to Him and prosper! It's easy to fight, giving your all, when you know that in the end, victory is yours!

Aren't we the same way? When we know that a situation is going to end in our favor, we are more confident in the steps that lie in between the beginning and the fruiting of that process. But when the ending is uncertain, we often question, doubt, flail, and try to do it on our own strength...which often ends in failure. The things is, with God, we are ALWAYS guaranteed victory! If we could just understand that we have favor with God, that He is for us and will never leave us, that He has ordained a favorable ending for every situation in our lives if we will obey Him, than we could be mighty spiritual warriors like the men mentioned in 2 Samuel 23 were! 

So why do we not walk in that favor? I could say that it's the enemy....that he plants lies in our minds, and causes us to focus on what we can physically see to cause us to doubt that favor...and while that's true, it really isn't the cause I want to share with you today.

It's us.

If it weren't, then when we are confronted with the truth, wouldn't we change our thinking and live in the favor God has given us? When confronted with the truth…when we know His desire is truly toward us…do we deny it and hide behind it, because if we know He “likes us” it’s nolonger as thrilling? Many like to flirt and not date because it’s flattering and the chase is fun, and it requires nothing in return, but God doesn’t want you to flirt with Him…He wants your full committed heart, so He let’s you know “MY desire IS towards YOU…” however, again just like a relationship where a guy or girl reveals their feelings to the other who merely wants to have “flirty fun”, the opposite will often lose interest…not because the person is any less appealing, but when feelings are revealed they then must be acted upon, which requires you to actually do something about them instead of just flighily flirt with them. When God reveals His love toward us, we have the choice, ignore it and pretend like it’s not there so that we can continue to not have to respond to it with action, or respond…enter the relationship…commit ourselves…and become HIS beloved…HIS bride.

Once you’re committed, you can no longer flirt with other lovers. We don’t want to accept God’s love and commit because we like the sin we’re flirting with too much. If we never accept God’s love, we never have to commit, and consequentially we can continue living life as we like it, lukewarm and undisturbed.

Until we choose to stop flirting with God, accept His love and favor toward us, and accept the responsibility of such a revelation we will never see the victory that the soldiers listed in 2 Samuel 23 did…because we do not have their authority….because while committing may require action on our part, it also unlocks a door and gives us access to all that is God’s. When we become one with Him, and commit ourselves to be His bride, all that is His becomes ours, and we can cast out demons! 

However, we will never cast out demons until we have welcomed in God! We will never give sight to the blind until we have given God our full lives! We will never see an outpouring of souls until we have allowed an outpouring of our hearts, having been purged from sin and filled with God. 

No longer allow yourself to make a poor and untruthful excuse, the “poor pitful me…God doesn’t care, I’m all alone, I can’t do it, because He won’t help me do it” kind of attitude and receive the truth…GOD IS FOR US! And if God is for us, who can be against us? If God is for us, we can sacrifice it all and know that He will work it together for our good if we love Him and are His chosen! (does the scripture not say we are?!?)

It is time to realize that you are loved, and that love demands a response. You can continue to flirt with God and sin at the same time if you like, but God will eventually move on to someone who is ready to commit, and then…you’ll just be left with sin.

Today, choose to savor the favor. Stop ignoring the clear love and favor God has over your life. Stop flirting with the sin that you've allowed in your life for too long, and commit to God. 

-Aubrey

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Mary, Did You Know? Nope, She Has No Idea...(Post from 12/25)

"Mary did you know? Nope, she had no idea" 

Before I start: this is not completely my own; me and Aubrey were talking one night: and she actually initiated the conversation idea. So...... It kinda struck a chord in my spirit.... 
...
Ok, Luke 1:26-38: 
(Emma's Paraphrase) 

"Gabriel the angel shows up at Mary's doorstep and tells her that she should rejoice because she will give birth to Christ and she highly favored, she is confused because she is a virgin and cannot give birth without a man: Gabe then tells her that the holy spirit will overshadow her and place the seed in her: then they throw a Jesus party and rejoice" 

Ok.... Sounds awesome! Now, you have probably heard about how this is sometimes a spiritual type and cast of us: the holy spirit overshadows us and places seed that we must carry! (ok, let's not get too deep into this, no: God is not actually making us pregnant, and there is only one Jesus... Ever: now that we've got that settled) We've all heard this preached and it's true: God places seed into us that we have to carry and let mature and eventually birth into the world: something not of our own flesh, but something holy, something that could change the world: 

Alright back to Mary: when Gabe showed up, he told her the great news: that she would birth the Christ: but what he failed to mention was all the other things that came with carrying that seed; such as morning sickness, moodiness, weird cravings, getting sick, etc. All those unpleasant things that come with being pregnant; you guys know what I'm talking about. Yeah, Gabe didn't say anything about that. 

He also failed to mention the other things that went with it; the looks and stares that the other women gave Mary (since she was pregnant and her and Joseph hadn't been together yet) Imagine the gossip! Not too mention that Mary was carrying the savior of the world, don't you think it's possible that Satan would of wanted to stop that? I can only imagine what she endured. Maybe her family deserted her because they were ashamed to be with her, maybe her friends left her: who really knows what she went through: but the fact of the matter was that she went through it: she knew that what she would give birth to would change the world:

Maybe God has placed something in you? Whatever it may be, what if it was destined to change the world? You are going to go through things: spiritual morning sickness, spiritual mood swings :) who knows? Not to mention that some may abandon you, family, friends, etc. 

Your body will change and transform in order to become prepared to give birth to this thing. And, if you are carrying something, it'll be obvious (how obvious is a pregnant lady?) and, satan will try to come against and throw everything he has at you: to try and stop that birth! 

But, you must nuture that seed, bear it, carry it with you, provide it nutrients, let it mature: and when it is mature, you have to let it go: sometimes we give up our seed to early, and it doesnt mature into what it was supposed to. And, sometimes we hold on to it for too long: because we become accustomed to having it, and we are scared to let it go. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT ABORT IT! That is exactly what the devil wants! 

But, you can do this! Keep that seed full term, let it mature, protect it, provide for it: and when it's time; give birth to it!

Who knows? You may be carrying something that could change the world! 

-Emma

A Painful Experience

So a week or so ago, God lead me to read about Jesus’ crucifixion in the book of John. I didn’t understand why, seeing as I have heard the story countless times of his blood being shed, but this time, God gave me a whole new perspective...and a good kick in the rear end.

The first verse I read was: In John 19:26-27, Jesus says to Mary, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And then he said to the follower, “Here is your mother.”

A lot of people tend to look over this verse, and focus on the “It is finished” line. True, it’s ALL important (otherwise it wouldn’t be in there), but verses 26 and 27 stood out to me the most. 

So I did some more reading and came across where Jesus says, “I am thirsty” in John 19:28. This got the gears in my head reeling again…

Which lead me to read in Matthew 27:46 (and in Mark 15:34), where Jesus says, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” [My God, My God, why have you forsaken me...for all of you who live under a rock and/or don’t go to church].

And then Luke 23:43, where Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

And finally, in Luke 23, verse 46, “Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Father, I give you my life.’”

I know the scriptures seem “random” but notice their theme. Jesus said all of this while dying on the cross. That’s right… dying as in pouring all his blood out and enduring excruciating pain. While he was hanging by his hands, this is what he did:

-Gave Mary and new son & the apostle a new mother
-Cried out for a drink
-Asked God why He left him in his time of need
-Saved a man
-Gave God his life.

Ok, I don’t know about you, but if I were at death’s door…in this painful manor…I doubt I’d care about the dude dying next to me or anyone else around me for that matter. But see, this is what makes Jesus…Jesus. He didn’t even let the physical pain of abuse, or the spiritual pain of having all of God’s wrath poured out onto him, or the emotional pain of having God turn his back on him, distract him from fulfilling his purpose. Yet we can’t even go through one trial without thinking our whole world is falling apart. 

Your horse isn’t looking to strong and mighty, now is it?

What stands out to me about this whole thing is when Jesus cries out that he thirsts. Before when I read this verse, I always saw it as a physical thirst, but then I realized it was a spiritual thirst. Jesus had just bore all of our sin…sin is bound to us by chains…which we burn, correct? Well Jesus bore the sins, and then God’s consuming fire destroyed them all. Naturally, fires dry things out…so Jesus was thirsty. He was thirsty for a new life, to be with the Father, and to return home. 

Do you thirst for God after he’s burned everything away, or do you use your own means of hydration and instant gratification?

I noticed after reading where God turns his back on Jesus that Jesus was so close to the Father that the moment he turned his back, Jesus noticed. Thankfully, God will never forsake us (well, the righteous, of course), but do we noticed when we don’t feel him? When we don’t hear his voice? 

If you look at the last verse…where Jesus gives God his life…do you notice a similarity, say, an example? I sure hope so! Dying for sin, only to be given new life…sound familiar? When we are in pain, when we suffer and lose things/people around us, are we willing to give it all to God? Are we willing to give every part, every aspect to God? Do we really though, even if we say we want to? 

This is my challenge to you: Be more like Jesus and less like the world. Hold onto Jesus, and let go of the world. Listen to Jesus, and ignore the world. Love Jesus, and hate the sinful world. 

If you think you’ve given everything, check again. And after you’ve cleared it all out, check again. Check again and again until every tie to this world has been broken. Give it all, no matter the cost. Because when you think about it, there is not cost –it’s already been paid


-Katie

Saturday, December 25, 2010

There's a Place for Us!

There's a place for us

There's a place for all of us, and it's right in Gods lap, right in His Prescence! A place where it's where it's quite, calm, and compelling.

We've turned Christmas into a time when we get to say give me, give me, give me... Instead of God, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Please don't get his prescene and presents twisted! The best presents can not take away the Glory of His prescence. The Father already gave the best present that could be given anyways. Jesus tore the vail, and now we can be in His prescence. Listen, I know as kids we would rush to the Christmas tree to open presents, but now as the Kings kids how many would rush to our knees to get in His prescnce. I mean, who doesn't want a Fathers prescence.

There's a place for us! His prescence, is better than all presents under one tree.

Jesus came as a lamb, but he's coming back as a lion! The King of all kings! 

Some say Jesus is the reason for this season, but I say he's the reason I can go through any season!

The best gift is salvation from the Most High! Have you showed anyone how to recieve it?

Merry CHRISTmas!!! (=

-Jerusalem

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Prayer Status: DELIVERED!

Let me share with you about my day...this won't be a typical devo from me, but hopefully it speaks to you :)

After a long day of hustle and bustle shopping, hectic pizza making, and stressful problem solving...I was more than ready to just sit back and soak. Not feeling like I had to energy to take out my guitar...or even utter a prayer yet, I turned on the International House of Prayer-Kansas City live stream from their prayer room to listen to them as they cry out and just wait for the Lord...hoping that somewhere in the process I could decompress enough to settle into some intimate time with the Father....obviously I was going about this rather wrong, and had the follow smack in the face from God coming lol.

As I'm finishing up some Christmas wrapping before I soak, Laura Hackett begins to sing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"...now I know we're teens, but I'm sure you've heard it. Here are the Lyrics incase you missed this classic hymn:

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there"

That basically hit me in the face in a very sudden way. We always preach "pray pray pray...and when you're done, pray some more", but how often do we let our casual American, pseudo-christian mindset that we're so used to dictate when that's appropriate? Sure, when everything is bad and the sky is falling we crawl to Jesus and beg Him to make it better, but how often do we do this when all is fine, and we're just...well...burnt out?

We assume, "God understands...He wants me to have rest! He wants me to be able to take a break every once in a while...He won't mind if I wait until the morning to spend some time studying and praying..." but that is not right at all. Yes, God wants us to have rest, to take a break, to decompress...but that shouldn't mean taking a break from Him. Since when did God become the first aspect of our lives we cut back on when things get hectic? When did He become the bottom of the "to-do" list? The bottom of the totem pole? The first to get laid off? Hasn't He been with us longer than the sports team? The musical or play? The boyfriend or girlfriend?...won't He stick by us long after?

So why is He the first one we leave?

The reason is, to many, He's no more than another "daily task"...amounting up to about the equivalent of homework in our lives...if this weren't true, than why would we need a break? Spending intimate time with the Lord shouldn't be another job, and therefore should not require added energy or stress! It shouldn't be the last thing we have to squeeze in before we can relax, it should be what allows us to relax...

This, unfortunately is a mindset that is quite difficult to break...the funny part is, that spending time with Him...sitting at His feet and inquiring in His temple...is the very thing that brings us total peace and complete relaxation! It's just like the song says, "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer"! If we would just realize He is the solution to all our stress, fatigue, and worry...that He is the central point of our lives...that we will not have joy and peace until we sit down and talk with Him...we could finally see that spending time with Him is indeed a privilege!...that reading His word is not just "studying" but memorizing an intimate love letter from Abba!...that talking to Him isn't venting and walking away, but sharing and waiting, then listening to the gentle voice-filled with love and beauty...that communing with Him isn't just laying on a floor half asleep, but laying on the floor, face full of tears and sweat, while the peace, joy, love, and beauty of the Lord flows over you as you sit motionless in awe of Him!

So through all of this...i realized that I needed to spend time with the Lord, actively pursuing Him and waiting for Him to reach down from Heaven and meet me! He is my ultimate peace, and regardless of what my day has been, He still has something new to reveal to me, and will renew my strength in the midst of it all....after all isn't He supposed to be our sole strength...our soul's stregnth?

Making God a chore leads to rollarcoastering turmoil, making Him your core brings sustained peace. 

If He's a chore...He'll never be your core. But when He becomes your core every chore of this world will cease to have power over you, and peace that passes all understanding will mark your daily life.


And When we finally deliver our prayers to God, He delivers us from our tumultuous cares and worries!

-Aubrey

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Set Apart

So I just came across this status from the Ramp while stalking the news feed(surprise surprise)...

"What sets us apart is not perfect circumstances or ideal situations. We're set apart by God's presence in our lives."

You know, how often do we think that since we have God, life is just going to be easier? That we'll live on cloud nine, and we won't have any problems? While it is true that with God all things are possible, and He is our strength when we are weak, it doesn't mean our lives transform into a magical land full of rainbows and lollipops or that we no longer confront difficult or trying situations. 

By having God, plowing through homework, recovering from an illness, coping with situations at home, work, and school, all become "easier" in the sense that we know we don't have to worry about the outcome. How glorious it is to walk into a situation, though it may be rough, and say "Even though I have to endure this now, I will overcome this". The sorrow may last for the night, but my friend, the joy comes in the morning.

Remember that we are holy, not because of where we are or what we are able to do, but because of the One who dwells within us. He is the reason we are set apart, different, weird, loud, and all around crazy.

Would you rather be set apart from God, or set apart from the world?

Be set apart from this world, a live a radical life, knowing you give your all, no matter the cost, each and every day to the One who gave it all to you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Seek him in your darkest times, and seek him in your brightest. Even though all may seem lost, He is your guide. Your situation may not seem perfect, but there is always the perfect One helping you along the way. 


-Katie

Monday, December 20, 2010

Think About It...

So, i was watching some Jesus videos on youtube today: and i heard this phrase, and it shot through me like a bullet:

Dictionary Definiton:
To Let Down: To fail to meet the expectations of; disappoint.

Obvious, right? When we say we let someone down, we say that we've dissapointed them; we've done something that wasn't up to standards, we've failed. A lot of times: We cry out to God and tell him that we've "Let him down." Sometimes we even fail to come back to God after a failure, because we feel that because we "let him down" we can't ever make up for that....

BUT, there is another definiton to "Letting Someone Down"
... Dictionary says: To cause to come down gradually; lower:

Actually, the true meaning of this word is to lower something, to make it lose it height. So when we say that we've "Let down God" that implies that we are holding him up! Think about it! To let down means you've been all this time holding it up! UNDERSTAND??? This is why it shot through me:

WE CAN'T LET GOD DOWN!! It's physically and spiritually IMPOSSIBLE!!! We are not the ones holding God up, God is the one holding us up. And he will never, never, EVER let us down. He'll never leave us nor forsake us. ( Hebrews 13:5) ... I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)

SO STOP SAYING YOU'VE LET GOD DOWN! It's almost insulting, because you're saying you hold God up. :) He's got you, and he'll never let you down.

Never.

-Emma

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Who Said that Spring is the Only Season for Cleaning?

Let me start off by saying that God hit me like a truck with this earlier, so all of this is a result of Him wrecking me...no judgement, just thought I would share incase it applied to anyone else :)

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Okay, I know that's a ton of scripture, but I wanted to post the full context of what's going on here, so you all can get the picture.

This is a pretty familiar passage, and we frequently cite it when having the debate over what is lawful to eat, old vs. new testament law, and refraining from sexual immorality...while this does present solutions to all of these arguments, God spoke to me specifically about another topic as well.

This morning, I was laying in bed, arguing with myself on how long I could push staying in bed before getting up and starting my day, when he dropped this old hymn into my spirit:

"Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary,
  pure and holy,
  tried and true.
  with thanksgiving I'll be a living sanctuary for you."

If there was any question left to whether or not I was getting up, needless to say, it ended there. I immediately thought of the aforementioned scripture began to search myself, and question...is my life a living sanctuary for God to dwell in? Is everything I let in my mind, soul, body, and spirit pure and holy? I personally, was not sure...

Now, I know I am not the only one who can question that in their life. While you may or may not be committing the literal act of sexual immorality, that 1 Corinthians 6 specifically points out, are there not plenty of other actions that constitute as sexual immorality to the spirit within you? That make you an adulterer to God?

When you let anything in that penetrates the purity of the one within you, that my friends is sexual immorality, even if it has nothing to do with physical temptations that can penetrate your physical purity.  Be it a TV shows, music, movies, thoughts, words spoken, stories read, or actions committed that you know deep down shouldn't be coming into your spirit, we've all allowed the things of this world to desecrate the temple that God has created within us.

You may be saying to yourself..."The shows I watch aren't THAT bad...and the music I listen to doesn't have any swear words or illicit material...and they didn't actually have sex in that movie..they were just kissing..what does it matter?"...well ultimately friend, you are still giving the things of this world the opportunity to deposit small, harmless seed in your spirit, and give that temptation another opportunity to water, and develop into sin much grander than you had thought it would as you watched your two favorite actors cuddling it up on camera. You give it the opportunity to track mud into your temple, and if you let it sit there, thinking it's no big deal...that mud can engrain itself into the floor, and make it much hard to clean up when the unsightly mess is finally brought to your attention.

We also have to remember what Paul said to the Corinthians in verse 12 "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."...So although that movie, song, or TV show you're allowing in may be okay to watch under the standards of what is acceptable and not acceptable in the church, does that mean it's really helpful? Is it planting good seed into your soil that will germinate and produce kingdom fruit? Because even if something you let in your spirit isn't depreciating your temple, that doesn't mean it isn't taking up space that could be occupied by something better, something from God.

Are the things you allow to enter you cleaning up your inner sanctuary, or cluttering it?

It doesn't end with media...words you allow yourself to read in a Facebook post, email, or text message that aren't speaking life can scuff the floor of your sanctuary...Words that you allow yourself to listen to that bring others down and judge, curse, or ridicule them...words that you eventually end up speaking, desecrate your spirit that God created to speak life, joy, love, and freedom into others...not death; be it emotional, spiritual, or even physical.

So don't allow these things to have power over you and your temple any longer! Allow God to speak to you and reveal what areas need to be cut away. If we are supposed to be members of Christ, we cannot be filled with the disease and malice of this world, because such things cannot dwell in the presence of God. If we continually live in such sin, no matter how small it may seem, we will eventually become diseased and fall away.  Our temple will grow dark and dusty as a result of the absence of the Lord. He'll stay in the little room we've boxed Him into, and until you clean up, no matter how hard you cry for Him to come back, He will not reenter your sanctuary until it is a room fit for a King!

BUT, it's not all fire and brimstone...As you clean up, He'll step further and further in, until you are able to dwell with His full presence within you all the time! How exciting does that sound?!?

Although it may be difficult to prepare your sanctuary, and many changes may have to be made, it is truly an honor that God chose us to be vessels of His presence...to be conduits of His glory.

Wasting that honor is not only a travesty to ourselves, but a travesty to others, because when we are able to make our lives a full sanctuary to Him, God can then use us to pour into others and give them the same opportunity.

And if it ever becomes too difficult...remember "you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (verse 20)

He gave up His life for us, so what are a few idols in comparison?

-Aubrey

Friday, December 17, 2010

Worship; When Exactly Do I Do that Again?

**This may sound crazy but my computer was not cooperating…after praying over it, it is now working just fine!! Thank you God!**

Deuteronomy 12:31
Psalms 29:2
Psalms 95:1-6
Psalms 105:1-4 

Worship- reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God (or a god); to regard with great respect, honor, or devotion
So often we get caught up in “worship”. However, worship is not solely done to music; it is not merely the raising of hands, stomping of feet, dances, or shouts of praise that we often call worship. Worship is constant. It never ends. Even though there are moments where our worship becomes “radical” on the outside because of our “thrashing and crashing”, worship should and MUST be radical on the inside, as well as all the time. It may seem like I am trying to say that you must spin, shake, and cry in line at Wal-Mart, or in the halls at school to be a true worshipper. (If God is moving you to do that- DO IT!) But what I am trying to say is, worship is from the heart. It’s internal. Worship is giving all your devotion, respect, and honor to the Almighty God! To have the outward displays of praise and worship, it must FIRST consume us on the inside. “Be still and know I am God”. Us, as Christians, get so wrapped up on what we believe is worship: singing the loudest, raising our hands the highest, taking the most notes, watching the most Ramp podcasts, dancing the longest. But what we so desperately need to realize is…. If we can stand still, not saying a word, realize that our world is falling apart around us, and still have worship in our hearts, then it will overflow into everything we do. It will be evident in how we treat each other. It will be evident in the effort we put into our school work and jobs. It will be evident when our families begin to turn to God. And yes, it will be evident in how we dance, study, and pray. Just remember, worship never ends, and it is not for us, It is to give glory, honor, and devotion to GOD so that OTHERS will see His glory. 


-Taylor

Thursday, December 16, 2010

"I Will Waste My Life"...Katie Style :)

Tonight, I’m giving a mini-testimony. I’m just encouraging all of you when people try to bring you down, or just don’t understand you. :) 

I encourage you to listen to “I will waste my life” by the fabulous Misty Edwards while reading this. 

So lately, I’ve dealt with a truck load of attack from the dumb-dumb downstairs…Satan. Lol. Ever since I decided to apply for the Ramp’s school of ministry, all I hear people talk about is college. Literally 15 times in 2 days I had people ask me why I wasn’t going to a “real college” and said that it was scary and weird that I wanted to move to a state I’ve never been to. It didn’t bother me that people didn’t approve of my choice, but it just got annoying after awhile. Satan tried to make me doubt God’s plans, but I’m not that stupid, so I just ignored him. (Don’t get me wrong though— I’m fully excited for all my friends that are going to college. I am in no way jealous or bitter towards the people who are going to college…let me explain…lol)

I had my life planned out from A-Z…where I would go to college, what I’d study in, where I’d live, where I’d work after college, what I’d name my 5 kids, etc. Slowly, my college choices took my further and further away from home… but then all of the sudden God was like, “Nope, you’re going to the Ramp”. At first, I was honestly mad. I always wanted to go to a top college and get a degree, then get a high paying job and live happily ever after. I had never even been to the Ramp…or Alabama…or anywhere near this place, yet now I was being called to move there and sacrifice my dream? Needless to say, these thoughts ended 5 minutes later when God said, “You’re mine, remember? I would never let anything bad happen to you”. 

Living a consecrated life doesn’t come without price. I never wanted to leave my family. I’ve always thought they’d starve if I wasn’t here to cook or would get put on a TV show for the messiest house if I weren’t here to clean… But one day God & I were talking and I asked why I wasn’t getting an answer about college (after praying for direction for over 5 years). God told me that I had something blocking my view from the answer. I wasn’t willing at the time to leave my family, and that hindered me from hearing from God. He was answering, but I wasn’t listening because at the time I couldn’t bare the thought of leaving my family. 

[[Side note: Now see, God already told me what I was supposed to do a long time ago…like eight years ago. I’ve known that I’m supposed to go into ministry, but I’ve always thrown it on the back burner. Funny thing was that I wasn’t even saved when I knew this. So I didn’t tell anyone (until now) and just went about my merry way. Over time, I let my plans pile on top of it and hide it, and then God uncovered it once I gave EVERYTHING else up. Weird how that works, huh? ]]

Isn’t this how we are so often in life? We say “God, all I have is yours!” but then we don’t give up one thing, and He goes “That’s mine, too”. We’ve given up everything, so we hold onto that last string that tied us to the world with everything we have. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, but it took a lot of pain and unnecessary events for me to realize I love God more. 

Family is often the last thing we think of when it comes time to sacrifice stuff. We think of “stuff” like TV, movies, music, books, and even friends. But in all honesty, even Christian parents can hinder your walk with God. It’s their every right to protect you, but not control you. When the time comes for you to step out on your own, and God calls you to do something, DO IT. Don’t you dare let anyone, no matter who they are, lead you astray. Delayed obedience is still disobedience…don’t say God wants me to do missions, but then go to college first to please your parents. That’s what I was going to do –get my BA in nursing, then travel the world and help people. God said, “Now’s the time”. So I said “Ok!”

Is your love for God greater than anything else? Are you willing to sacrifice all you have known in order to know Him? Is there really a cost when you’re doing it out of love? I don’t think so. I’ve gained so much since I’ve sacrificed my life. I’m not boasting, I’m simply encouraging you to give up everything you have to serve Him. And to not be scared to serve Him. Don’t doubt who you are. Know who you are. You are a child of God, just like Damon Thompson or Billy Graham or Perry Stone or Ron Phillips. Don’t be afraid of your calling, but embrace it and proclaim it. Don’t let anyone influence your decision to follow God, and stand strong :)


-Katie"

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Stick Out Your Tounge and Go, "AHHHHHHH"

Well guys, I do believe I'll have to pull a "Dustin" on you; God's been speaking to me with LOTS of stuff, but stuff I'm not aloud to share yet..... darn. :)

Anyhoo:

You remember when you were a kid (or now) and you used to stick out your tounge and catch snowflakes on it? Well,

Receiving from God is like catching snowflakes on your tounge, each "snowflake" is unique and special. No two are the same. To catch these "snowflakes" you have to stick out your tounge. Which means you have to risk looking silly, or having your tounge get cold, but you won't catch snowflakes any other way! 

So, this week I encourage you to stick out your tounge and say, AHHHHHHHH!

(I love when God speaks to me through goofy things)

-Emma

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Everything Has a Time

Ecclesiastes 3:all of it...

We all know that there is a season for everything, a time for this and a time for that. But do you recognize what season your even in? 

There are many different seasons, but you have to know which one your even in. I suggest we take a look at the scriptures. Verse 11 states that " He has made everything appropriate in it's time." so no matter what season your in, there is a purpose and something to be learned from it. 

You can't run around in warring mode, when God is saying " no, you need to be at a time of peace." the reason being is because if you continue being in that warring state of mind, and not peace, then your going to wonder why your not feeling His prescence explode like it could, and then your going to start doubting why your not feeling him like you use to, your going to get frustrated, upset, on top of anxiety, and then your going to shut down... And more than likely your going to start blaming God for not showing up, when it's your own fault by being disobiedisnt in the first place!

I'm only speaking the truth... Take this for example... For some time I was having trouble hearing God... I remember when I would hear his voice crystal clear. And eventualty, it was as if He had disappeared. I was so desperate just to hear a word from God. It was driving me insane, and just like I said earlier, I stared doubting, anxiety was everywhere inside of me, I was frustrated with God, asking him " why won't you speak to me " ect... It was as if God was done talking to me forever, and it was killing me inside. Well friend, there was a reason for this season... Well, one random night, just as I crawled into bed, he spoke, and the only thing he said was this... " you seek my voice, when you should be seeking my face...... " man did I feel like and idiot... Lol. (crowd laughs)

But in all seriousness, you wanna know why He said that? It's because I was, and still am in a season of silence. Friend, let me tell you something. There are very, and I mean very intamint moments when Daddy wants to get so close to you, that he just has to whisper it... Don't get me wrong, Abba loves it when we speak to Him, but i think he loves it when your so quit, that before he even whispers that one thing to you, that all you hear is his heart beat... Heart = Love, get it?

My suggestion to you is to read all of Ecclesiastes 3. Find out what types of seasons there even are... But most importantly, let God show you what season your in. 

I know what season I'm in, do you?


-Dustin