Redeemed

Know Thyself:   "Know thyself."--ancient Greek aphorism. Part of this can be 'ignoring the multitude' in what they think about you. Know what God says about you and take it to heart. Only when you know who you truly are will you be able to have real joy, hope, and peace.  Don't strive to be somebody or something else or more. Instead, learn, acknowledge and become who you are. God has placed a special beauty inside of you that shows a part of who He is in a unique way. Learn to recognize this and seek it out. God is using you wherever you are. Questions:  Don't forget to ask those deeper "Why?" questions. ----- "Why are these bad things happening?", "Why is the world so beautiful (nature, etc.)?" "Why are people beautiful?", "What does beauty truly look like?", "Why aren't people enough to fill me?", "Where does music come from, why is it so lovely?" etc.  These types of question...

Poem (from a few days ago): I often feel like I'm not doing enough. I vow to work harder; be better. Then something whispers, "Maybe you are already enough." I think to myself, "I will never be enough. I must work harder, be tougher, no one must know of the tears that I shed." The voice whispers again, "You already are all you were made to be." I answer back, "Oh, no.  I am incomplete there is something terribly wrong and I must fix it. Maybe if I ignore my hurt and pain, it will all go away or at least I won't feel it anymore." "But you are forgetting about me," Jesus says. "You have to let me in to fix it. You have to let me in to heal you. "You are enough when you have me at your side." He tells me. God, I'm afraid to let you in. I'm afraid of what you'll say and see and that your love for me will no longer go on so deeply. I work so hard to defend my heart, but often i...

You give me beauty for ashes, joy for my mourning, and praise for heaviness. In your house, O Lord, I thrive like an olive tree.  In your courts I praise you with a joyful dance. You are kind and merciful God. I wait for your mercies in the presence of your people. You are beautiful to behold, my beloved one. My sword and my shield, my protector come rescue me! Heal my heart and bind up my wounds. Open up the hidden love, trust, and potential I have.  I want to make your name great, O God! I worship you, for you are holy.  Hosannah--come save! My provider; be all I need. My comforter, fill me with peace and hope. Be with me in times of trials and pain. I give my burdens to you, for you are my helper.  You are my redeemer, come free me. You are a strong tower, your voice like rushing waters and thunder, with power mightier than all the sea, and you are for me. Come with your presence God! Come like fire and rain-- consume us...

Here's a poem I wrote about 5 minutes ago: (I love this time of night when all is quiet and it's just me and God). Poem: Father God, heal my heart and save me! Reach out and embrace me. I want your love to chase me. Capture me in your arms. Romance my heart. Draw me away. I long for it to be only you and me. Pull me away from each busy day-- the distractions I have to keep my mind off the pain of feeling a little lost, scared, and unsure of what's to come. All I seek is foolish gain, when it compares to you. Whom do I have in heaven but you? If you are for me, why do I fear mere mortal man? I can't get enough of your presence. I can't get over that you love me. It's shocking to me that I can't live without you. I die a little each day, when I stay away from you. But when I draw near to you, you draw near to me. You refresh my heart more and more each day. My love for you grows. Your love for me is as big and bold as a sunse...

John 10:10  "The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all it's fullness."--Jesus God owns my time.    Wow that's a powerful revelation.  I belong to Him.  Hmmm. My possible core values:    If I ever had a core... call it radiant love?  I just like the sound of that.             steadfast love/faithfulness       faith       joy/radiant       peace/ assurance in Him       reckless abandon ha ha  : )       His wisdom....hmmm One of my favorite songs ever is Divine Romance by Phil Wickham.  I listen to it a lot.  One time I listened to it over and over for like an hour and a half.  It expresses where I want to always be with God.  "I lift my heart and my hands to show my love, to show my love.  Whoooo...." No place I would rather be. There's no place I wo...

Seek His Presence    Search for the Lord and His strength and keep on searching.   --1 Chronicles 16:11  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------           That was a theme for me for a while and will always be. I need to be consecrated and broken before the Lord.  I need to be filled with His love. I need to need you God!  I need to know my need for you really. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength."  --Deuteronomy 6:5 The end is near...end times stuff with International House of Prayer and Mike Bickle.  Omega Series. "Swag!"  --Baja mission trip.  : )  Shout out to Keith Smith.   Seek the fullness and presence of God.    I am nothing without Him.  Life is not full without you God.   Humility.      His justice.       Let grace and favo...

When I went on the mission trip to Baja, Mexico, we got to go to a beach on the ocean in San Diego, California.  I got to swim in a real ocean with waves there for the first time.  It was awesome!  God's work is so amazing.  It showed so much of God's power and beauty.  The stretched out ocean horizon looked like outstretched arms of love.  It was so beautiful.  The waves were like surges of power, strength, and grace.   God's Love is Like the Ocean (poem): God's love is like the ocean; long, wide, deep, and amazing, immeasurable and beautiful. It never changes. You can't resist it. It never ends, but only goes deeper and deeper. You can get lost in it. When you're swimming and jumping in the ocean waves, it's overwhelming, but you can't get enough as they crash over you. If you let go of all control and are in the right place, the currents will pull you away. It is the same with the draw of God's deep and compassionate love....

Things I'm learning/need to remember lately:   Galatians 1:10  "...If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Isaiah 48:17  "I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." I need to remember those verses as I continue on into life.  Lord, please help me to keep my path set on you and  in relationship and in love with you first.  Please keep me in line God.  Thanks.  I know that you love me. He makes a way where there is no way. "No one can give you what I gave you at the cross."  --Jesus speaking assurance to me. 2 Corinthians 4:18  "So we don't look at the troubles we have right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.  For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever." I want to read the Qu'ran so I can say, "Actually the Qu'ran really does say that and that is bad.  I read...

I love and miss my family core from the Honor Academy and the custodial team! "In His unfailing love, my God will come and help me."  --Psalm 59:10 "He's (God is) the treasure you'll never find in the mall."  --Lacrae (Don't Waste Your Life) Here's a poem I wrote a while ago: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, come heal me, save me, meet me where I'm at. I get so broken and lost. I want to be able to follow you at any cost. I'm tired of living my life halfway for you. I let the devil attack me and bring me down. I trust in myself and my own understanding more than you. I'm afraid to cry and break. I'm afraid giving my all would leave me with nothing and be more than I can take. I'm afraid to let go. I listen to the lies in my head instead of focusing on the truth that You love me. I hear your Word, yet I don't obey. I go my own way. Oh what a tormented soul I sometimes choose to be. Why?  Because I often liv...