"Before the Throne . . ."

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest, whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself, I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

"Face Down . . ."

Back on the Blogging train. . . This time I'm stealing this whole post from the wisest woman that I know. I actually meant to post this about 4 months ago, but Im glad I didn't. . .I needed to read this again.

As far as the fireworks and lightning.....you absolutely would not want that. When God gave that to the children of Israel...they begged Moses to talk to God on their behalf, just as long as they didn't have to hear and see Him! 

We look for a still small voice. That only comes through falling on your face faithfully and purposefully.

Let me just share something that I have learned about our God. 

When you pray.........Regardless if you hear His actual voice, physically feel His gentle hand upon your shoulders when you pray or even actually smell a heavenly aroma.........

(that's usually something else!)   Seek Him. Even if you sit in a room week after week and feel like you're speaking to concrete walls. You might feel that, but you are not.You are not for sure.

It could be a number of reasons why you don't "feel" His presence. You might not be giving Him you undivided attention....all kinds of thoughts swirling around in your mind.....He wants your thoughts. Maybe your thoughts aren't presentable to Him...He is holy. He desires your all to be holy too. Not just your thoughts....your eyes, what you hear, what and how you speak, the condition of your heart, what you let your hands do and where you guide you feet to go. He desires holiness in all of you. You are the temple that He resides in.

So how do you practically do that? Let me show you...... Purpose to go into His presence. I know you have a life. And right now, something else choses your schedule. But you must accommodate God first.  I'm not talking about spending 5 hours in silent prayer and deep Bible study on Ecclesiastes!......I'm saying this....and what I'm going to tell you, you need to be careful....because God will take you up on it! 

One thing you can do is to ask the Holy Spirit to wake you up at night for a prayer date.  Even if it's 3:00a.m.

 A date is a specific time to spend with a great friend. On this date with God, your purpose is just to praise Him....it's not a time to hunker down and do a Beth Moore Bible Study! It's a time, chosen by the Holy Spirit, to love on Him. It might only be for a very few minutes, and then crawl back into bed and go to sleep. Why? Because He is worthy of it. 

How would you like it, if you had a friend that ALWAYS and only asked you for things. You never had any other aspect or dimension of this relationship. It was only that he asked and you gave. God is not a Jeannie in a Bible! He longs to hear you praise Him......especially in the lonely, fearful, draining times in your life. Cuz what you're saying to Him is, God I know I don't "feel" you, or even understand who I am.... and don't even need to right now......but I know who you are and I trust you. This will be the foundation of your relationship....Praise!

Read His word in your quiet time and let the word speak to you. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open up the understanding of your heart. Great things to read in preparing your heart are:

Psalms 51 A prayer of repentance

Psalms 139 God's knowledge of man

Psalms 15 The character of those who may dwell with the Lord

Psalms 24 The King of Glory ( you know this one!!)

Psalms 27 Declaring your faith in Him

Psalms 25 Deliverance and Forgiveness

Psalms 119 David shows you how to purpose to do the things of God and shows His faithfulness!

Next:

Be still. I know you'll hate the next thing I tell you....but it's truth. Get up early, when no one is there. When you don't hear cars or birds outside. It will almost be like God is sitting downstairs on the couch waiting just for you. Get down on the floor and be still. Wait on Him. Just say, "I'm here Lord"  

Silly? It may be for a bit. But Oh how you will move the heart of God.....and stir and shake up the pit of hell. Oh trust me on this one. It is your obedience that will move the heart God. Not your words. Not your talent. Your greatest gift is your obedience and humility. If you feel led to speak.....do. But make sure your doing most of the listening. Then go back to bed. But in those moments......make sure it's His time. Make sure that your heart is like the heart of little Samuel who said, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening"

Next:

Just read His word. This is sometimes so hard for believers....because they'll say, what should I read? What if I'm supposed to read one verse and I read the wrong one.... foooie! Study His word period! Read John, Matthew, 1,2Peter,1,2,3John.....just choose one....and truly rest in it and study it! Rest. Make a claim. Put your stakes down in it and study! Believe me......all the word is the tenderloin of the meat! You just can't lose!

 It's an easy start to spend time with Him.....and I know you know it all...but just like Peter said in 1 Peter 1:12 "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you."

"All We Know is Falling . . ."

Why is change such a huge part of life?  I look around, and I see the way things are now.  They're so different to how life was in days gone by.  Society changes, people change, ideas conform and mold to the times. Things that I took as solid, that I always "knew" would stay the same, have faded.  People that I looked to as a guide or encouragement, have fallen or compromised.  I know that God is the rock that never changes. . . but even He seems so distant at times. . . . especially times like these.  What is there to hold on to, and in reality. . . am I as solid as I think I am? Or have I fallen as well. If you really think about it . . . Jesus said its a narrow road, and only a few find it. If only a few people can find this narrow road, that tells me that its a VERY narrow road . . . almost like a deer path kind of road. Something off the  beaten path, twisting and winding away from the rest of the noise and traffic.  The thing about those kind of trails though, is that they're easy to lose. Its easy to get distracted. To stop concentrating on tracking the prize. Is that the story of my life? Am I fooling myself sometimes? Have I really been chasing my tail, and getting nowhere? Have I simply let myself become a plaything of circumstance, to be tossed around with no rhyme or reason? Its often on nights like these that I get a serious reality check.  No its true, I'm not where I used to be, and Im not where I want to be. But I must always take account of where I am in the moment . . . cause its so easy to be pulled away and not even realize it.

"Dare You to Move . . ."

Life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass. . . sometimes its about just being able to step outside, stare up at the sky, and in spite of all your frustrations and fears . . . just start walking. ''Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." But, what I do all night long, while Im weeping and wondering why, just might change everything. Is it wrong to be confused? to wonder why? to question God? to sometimes just break down and lose it? Not at all. God is a big God. I know that sounds so cliche, but it that statement is more true than truth itself. We serve a God that can take all of our troubled, unanswered, cynical questions. . . and not only answer them, but in doing so, draw us closer to Him. . .the very one we were questioning to begin with. So is it wrong to feel like the world is crashing down? Not at all. . . .But keep walking. Nothing is easier to hit than a stationary target. So, while I am waiting for the joy to come, if I stay sitting where I am, Satan will have the time of his life making me miserable. 


Sometimes life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to get up, and push through all the doubts and fears that are clouding your mind, and just start walking. Sure, you'll get drenched and soaked through to the bone with all the things facing you. . . but thats the point. Now move forward, push through, press on. Look up at the sky and scream at the storm, let your voice be drowned out by the sound of the thunder, and the crash of lightning.. . . but at the same time remember that the storm your walking through is just a breath away from being drowned out by a whisper of Him that created it. Sometimes, life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to get up in the middle of it. . . . and just start walking.

"A Beautiful Collision . . . "

Why is this so foreign to us? What is it about the majesty and power of the very God we were created to worship, that makes us feel so estranged sometimes? Is it that perhaps in my worship to the King of Kings, I forget that He became a man, and lived among us. Is it that in the adoration of my heavenly father, I fail to remember the supreme power of the God that whispered the stars into existence. Or is it that I'm so caught between the two? Caught in the beautiful dichotomy that our God is. On the one side, He creates and destroys with a brush of His finger. Yet at the same time, when I am hurting, He reaches down and holds me in the center or that very same hand. I don't understand that. How could something so powerful be so gentle? And how could something so comforting, be so awesome? I don't know how to approach such a perfect contradiction. I feel like if I approach Him with the caution and reverence that is due to a King, I am throwing off the very son ship that Christ died to give us. But if I come at Him like I often come to my dad, I feel like I'm flying in the face of the sovereign  God and King that He is. Maybe the beauty of this contradiction comes from His willingness to receive us as both son and subject. His sacrifice didn't end with His son on the cross... It continues through the righteous humility He continues to show us. He doesn't have to take us as we are, He chooses to. His ways really aren't ours. I still don't completely understand it, but maybe that's the miracle of it all . . . I don't have to. . . . 

"Oh Lord, You're Beautiful . . ."

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me just to live it Lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with Holy fear.

"Nothing But The Blood . . ."

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow.”  I’ve never really thought about the actual depth of meaning that even just that phrase has. “Oh precious is the flow” . . . Precious means so much. It’s a word that holds such value.  I mean, if something is precious,  you would do just about anything to keep it safe and guarded.  It has value to you . . . maybe not to the rest of the world, but to you it is worth the world.  Something precious, is that thing that brings a sparkle to your eye, but so often brings pain to your heart.  Something that costs you nothing is cheap and expendable, but if that something cost you dearly. . .its value increases immeasurably.  How often have I just passed over that phrase.  Just skipping on by totally forgetting how precious the blood of Christ really is. The blood of Christ saved me. . . is saving me . . . from having to try and earn my way to God.  Once I realize its true value, I want to guard it. . . but once I realize its true essence, I begin to understand that it is guarding me.  The rest of the world looks at His blood as a strange thing, to be discarded.  We however, understand that the rest of the world pales in comparison to the amazing love, and unmerited grace that His blood represents.  Yes, the gift of God is salvation, and it is free. . . and at the same time, it costs us so dearly.  How can something that is free, cost so much? Because when you accept that gift, it changes everything about you. Who you are, where you're heading, and what you're living for.  

I wonder if we, as the church, have it backwards? We tell ourselves that salvation is God's free gift - emphasis on free. We leave out the part where the Bible talks about counting the cost (Luke 14).  We so often forget that there is a price to be paid. Just like the old hymn says, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe." In the end, it is the blood of Christ that is of sole importance. . . something so precious and worth so much.  Let us never forget the value and the price. . . 

"God Bless the Broken Road. . ."

Man, I really need to keep up writing on here, and stop taking two months in between posts, so you'll have to forgive me if my writing is a little rusty.... Well, its June 30th here in Sydney, and I have two days of calm before the utter chaos of Hillsong Conference totally breaks free. (total UNITED reference there.)  Anyway, so I was thinking over the last few days, what to do when the situation you're in, is less than perfect . . . quite a bit less than perfect sometimes. . . but you know that where you are is right where you need to be.  Here's what I came up with. You can sit there, wallowing in the problems and frustrations that seem to be swirling all around you.  You can take it all in and complain, saying what you would change, and blame everyone else for doing a horrible job and making your life miserable.  Or. . . and this is a big "or."  Or, you can rise above the storm, looking down into the swirling chaos, and see the big picture. Yup, you'll see problems and things being done wrong, but there will be something good in there. . . there almost always is.  Its not your job to fly in and save the day. To be the superhero that the world needs.  My dad used to tell me every once in a while, when I'd try to correct his parenting (yeah right. . .) "Dont you try and change me and how I do things.  You just make a note of it and do it better when you're a dad."  That used to frustrate the mess out of me.  I would look back at him, and think  . . . not say, cause that wouldn't have been smart. . . but think, "how can you sit there and ignore this brilliant parenting advice that Im giving you right now?  I mean someone should come talk to me and write a book about these genius ideas, and you're totally ignoring them. . ." Yet, here I am looking back 17 years later (cause I only thought that when I was REALLY young and stupid. . . yeaaaa....) realizing that, whether he meant to or not, he was teaching me one of the most valuable parenting lessons ever.  The lesson that its not always your responsibility to change whats going on around you. That most times, even though you have the most brilliant ideas in the world, you just need to accept whats happening. You can change things when you're in charge. . . but just remember that the view from the hotseat isn't the same as the view from the outside.  So, when you're walking down the road, just remember that it is going to be a broken road. Its not going to be perfect, and things along the way will trip you up. But God blessed the broken road . . . and it will lead you straight to Him.

"The Long and Winding Road". . .

Well, its been a freakishly long time since I've written on here. Sorry about that! Anyway, God is so good! Yeah I know thats kinda random to say as the first sentence in a way overdue post. . .  but oh well. So here's the back story to that.  When God spoke to Abraham and said, "Go to a land I will show you", God wasn't too specific.  He just said, "Hey Abraham, I got something I want you to do, but you gotta move, and ya gotta go now. I wont tell you where you're going just yet. . . but I wont leave you" God tends to operate through acts of blind faith.
That brings me to this week.  Saturday of last week I was riding home from what was supposed to be a short trip to the store. . . when I felt like something was telling me to keep driving down this road. What?? That cant be for real. 1. Why would God tell me to do something as stupid as keep driving. and 2. What the world is the reason to do that. . . it makes no sense. For some reason though, I did. I kept driving. . . with no idea where I was going. Ten min. later another small voice in the back of my head . . .  " Turn here" This went on for about an hour when I finally got back home.  I was honestly expecting something epic to happen. Or at least to find a good music store, but none of that happened. So I went on with the rest of the week feeling pretty stupid and ignorant. (Sorry, by the way, if this is slightly incoherent. I may or may not have just woken up)
That was last week. Yesterday, I had to take my scooter in to the shop for a tune up and minor repairs.  Now the place that I take it to, it very close to downtown Sydney, but from my place it only like 3 turns and alot of driving. So I got there with no problems, and had the work done. By the time I left, it was about 8:30 PM and pretty dark. . . but thats no big deal. So I start off on the return journey, and right soon after I start, the road splits and I got channeled down the wrong fork. Oh well I thought, Ill use this as an excuse for exploring Sydney. It was actually pretty cool. I went over the Harbor Bridge, and past the Opera House. OK, adventure over. . . time to get home. . . .Where the heck is that?! Not cool. Anyway, to make a long and slightly confusing story short, I got directions and started heading back at 80kph in very cold wether wearing only a light jacket. Needless to say, I was cold and tired and didnt have a great idea of exactly where I was. . . .Until I got halfway home. Things started to look familiar. I know this road! From where though? Haha. . . that random roadtrip that I felt like I was supposed to take . . . . This was the exact road I came down! I finally knew where I was. It turns out that the seemingly random leading of God that left me feeling so stupid, was what actually guided me home. Kinda funny how God works things out huh?

"Aftermath. . ." - Part 2

Friday...

In the midst of the chaos.... In the din of the surrounding darkness. The piercing screams of everyone around. How  could this happen. The one on whom we've pinned our hopes. Jesus Christ . . . The God-man, hanging on the tree, crucified. . . Dying on the cross. How can this happen? 

The darkness envelops me. . . The sinking feeling that comes with knowing that everything that you've hoped for, everything you've counted on. . . Has just failed. They take Him down off the cross and wrap His body, preparing it for burial.  As He is lowered into the tomb, those standing nearby, scream curses and laugh. Laugh! How has the son of God become the laughing stock of the entire world.  How can we pick up the pieces, and recover from the aftermath of His failure? 

Sunday...

The guards stand before their commander, shaken and horrified. No one seems to be able to explain what happened. One second everything was normal. . . The next they woke up in a stunned stupor to find the body they were guarding. . . Was gone. Vanished. Dead people just don't get up and leave. It just doesn't happen! 

Those Christ was closest to have gathered in a room, scared, confused, and unsure of anything. All of a sudden, He appears,   making sense of all their questions. . . Calming all their fears.  Finally, I understand that it is through the aftermath of His death, that He can pick up the aftermath of my life. . . .