For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
-1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)
The only thing we need to do battle for the kingdom is faith.
From faith comes the armour of God and everything else that is good.
Through faith we receive salvation
Through faith we are justified
Through faith we are made righteous
Through faith our prayers are made effective
Through faith we receive the Holy Spirit
Through faith we believe the truths of the scripture
Through faith we are ready deliver the message of the gospel at all times
Through faith we can truly love
All we gotta do is hold on and believe. God does the rest.
Isn't that a relief?
If we only had faith
God could use us to:
destroy armies
save nations
call down fire from heaven
change water to wine
stand strong against a rebellious people
heal the sick
bring the dead to life
part the seas
slay giants
turn the hardest hearts back Him
save the oppressed
lead many people to victory
you fill in the blank.
Its in the times when God feels the farthest that He's actually the closest.
The times when it feels like He isn't working that He is working the most.
What would've of happened if:
Abraham decided to go back to Ur
Moses was to scared to talk to Pharaoh
Joseph gave up on God
Ester didn't have the courage to talk to the King
Peter was too ashamed to follow Jesus after his denial
Jonah still didn't go to Nineveh after being in the whale
Daniel didn't stand up to the king
David didn't believe that God would make Him king.
Keep the faith
Keep the faith.
Keep the faith
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Unexpected
My supervisor's wife started labour the other night. He's having his baby a few weeks early.
So today was pretty much a scramble.
the placement student who works with us, Grace is going to being taking the next 2 weeks off as well.
OK I actually have to start working now. lol........
oemmgeee I love my kids I do but what to do?
So today was pretty much a scramble.
the placement student who works with us, Grace is going to being taking the next 2 weeks off as well.
OK I actually have to start working now. lol........
oemmgeee I love my kids I do but what to do?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Ok I Admit
I lost it today and smacked a kid upside the head....HARD
then he threatened to call the cops.
sigh*
then he threatened to call the cops.
sigh*
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
We getting shot down.
Alright lets cut the "deep thinking" blogs for a change.
Here it is straight up:
Leaders at camp are dropping one by one for various reasons.
Today I found out that of our streetleaders who the youth love so much and look up to was suspended indefinitely. Details are unknown.
Also found out that another streetleader is starting night school so won't be able to work as well.
My supervisor is expecting his first baby so when that happens we'll he's going to be gone for a few weeks.
So I guess that leaves ....me to really have to start stepping up.
Not that I'm worried but more concerned
How are my kids going to feel when they find out someone who's been part of their life for so long suddenly won't be there?
Its hard already to run camp. With so few leaders it makes relationship building and mentoring scare because your trying to make sure everything is ok with everyone else.
There's been a lot of other struggles Urban Promise has been going through as a ministry. They recently had to close down Camp Peace due to financial issues. They camp has been running for over 9 years. I can't even imagine how that feels.
Amidst all of this I know its good cuz God does so much more when we're down so all the glory can go to Him.
Here it is straight up:
Leaders at camp are dropping one by one for various reasons.
Today I found out that of our streetleaders who the youth love so much and look up to was suspended indefinitely. Details are unknown.
Also found out that another streetleader is starting night school so won't be able to work as well.
My supervisor is expecting his first baby so when that happens we'll he's going to be gone for a few weeks.
So I guess that leaves ....me to really have to start stepping up.
Not that I'm worried but more concerned
How are my kids going to feel when they find out someone who's been part of their life for so long suddenly won't be there?
Its hard already to run camp. With so few leaders it makes relationship building and mentoring scare because your trying to make sure everything is ok with everyone else.
There's been a lot of other struggles Urban Promise has been going through as a ministry. They recently had to close down Camp Peace due to financial issues. They camp has been running for over 9 years. I can't even imagine how that feels.
Amidst all of this I know its good cuz God does so much more when we're down so all the glory can go to Him.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Today I...
awoke to the constant buzzing of thoughts in my head.
The familiar voice of worry and fear welcoming me into another day of grace..of life.
I did not desire to get up, but I wanted to.
or I knew that I had to, to please my Father. Thats what I really wanted.
So I asked for the strength to start the day, but it didn't come.
Instead I had to force myself get up, to eat, to go to church..it was hard to focus this morning.
I started to see God everywhere I went.
I couldn't escape Him no matter how hard I tried.
I saw Him in the beauty of the innocence of childhood as I walked my kids home from church.
I saw His presence manifested into the thing we call family as I ate lunch with the family of one of my kids.
I closed my eyes but the thoughts in my head, the breathes that I took, the sounds that I heard...They all gravitated to Him.
Finally I went home drained from the mornings activites.
My soul desperately tired though I had plenty of sleep the night before.
I found rest in the presence of my Father as He showed me the manifestation of His love in my heart.
O how I wished and longed that I could stay in His presence forever not having to go back out into the world that has deprived itself of this necessity.
and He said that I could always enter His rest. The problem was the worry and fear and the endless buzzing of other idols that I let myself indulge in.
Indulge. You may ask Evangel why would anyone want to indulge in such things?
I say because we like to play God. A cheap thrill that feels pleasant but really not for soon we are trapped in a cycle of confusion and frustration as we try to will things that we cannot will into existence.
So on the bus I decided that I would much rather find the rest of my Father.
I thought to myself why don't I thank Him for what He has given to me instead of worrying about what He will give to me.
I thank God for
being able to speak, to think, the breathe that I took, the breathe that I am taking, The bus that I am on, the life that I have, the family that I have, the friends that I have, to be able to hear, smell, touch, see, to create, to have lived for this long, to know God, to walk, to run, to eat, to love, to laugh, to be with these complete strangers....O the list is infinite
I got off the bus and entered into what we would call a time of fellowship.
I saw God in lives of those around me as I talked to them, shared life with them.
I marvelled at the uniqueness of their being.
I saw His joy in the celebration of a sister's birth 16 years, as she enjoyed the presence of those God had gifted her to be with at this point in her life.
I felt His joy emanating directly to each person's heart, connecting them in a mysterious way to Him and to each other.
I decided to visit home today.
I felt my Father's love there too.
Everywhere I go I no longer feel strange but really I feel familiar.
Sometimes I feel like an observer looking in on the outside of humanity to marvel at His glory. Then I am reminded that we are all observers of His glory and that is what makes us human.
The familiar voice of worry and fear welcoming me into another day of grace..of life.
I did not desire to get up, but I wanted to.
or I knew that I had to, to please my Father. Thats what I really wanted.
So I asked for the strength to start the day, but it didn't come.
Instead I had to force myself get up, to eat, to go to church..it was hard to focus this morning.
I started to see God everywhere I went.
I couldn't escape Him no matter how hard I tried.
I saw Him in the beauty of the innocence of childhood as I walked my kids home from church.
I saw His presence manifested into the thing we call family as I ate lunch with the family of one of my kids.
I closed my eyes but the thoughts in my head, the breathes that I took, the sounds that I heard...They all gravitated to Him.
Finally I went home drained from the mornings activites.
My soul desperately tired though I had plenty of sleep the night before.
I found rest in the presence of my Father as He showed me the manifestation of His love in my heart.
O how I wished and longed that I could stay in His presence forever not having to go back out into the world that has deprived itself of this necessity.
and He said that I could always enter His rest. The problem was the worry and fear and the endless buzzing of other idols that I let myself indulge in.
Indulge. You may ask Evangel why would anyone want to indulge in such things?
I say because we like to play God. A cheap thrill that feels pleasant but really not for soon we are trapped in a cycle of confusion and frustration as we try to will things that we cannot will into existence.
So on the bus I decided that I would much rather find the rest of my Father.
I thought to myself why don't I thank Him for what He has given to me instead of worrying about what He will give to me.
I thank God for
being able to speak, to think, the breathe that I took, the breathe that I am taking, The bus that I am on, the life that I have, the family that I have, the friends that I have, to be able to hear, smell, touch, see, to create, to have lived for this long, to know God, to walk, to run, to eat, to love, to laugh, to be with these complete strangers....O the list is infinite
I got off the bus and entered into what we would call a time of fellowship.
I saw God in lives of those around me as I talked to them, shared life with them.
I marvelled at the uniqueness of their being.
I saw His joy in the celebration of a sister's birth 16 years, as she enjoyed the presence of those God had gifted her to be with at this point in her life.
I felt His joy emanating directly to each person's heart, connecting them in a mysterious way to Him and to each other.
I decided to visit home today.
I felt my Father's love there too.
Everywhere I go I no longer feel strange but really I feel familiar.
Sometimes I feel like an observer looking in on the outside of humanity to marvel at His glory. Then I am reminded that we are all observers of His glory and that is what makes us human.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
I Had a Dream
last night.
Where I was able to reconnect with everyone who I cared about the most throughout my short life.
but it turned out to be more of a nightmare.
I woke up sweating, breathing heavily.
People which I thought I had moved on with suddenly coming back cutting me, taunting me. I wanted to cry......but I couldn't.
Some people say time heals.
I guess in someways it does but really I think we just forget.
Too bad I don't have that gift. I remember everything very clearly.
It never fully heals. It comes back in short jabs like these.
To lose someone to death
is easier than to lose them to life.
at least in death you know that the relationship you had with them will still be there in the end.
but in life you become a stranger, an observer, a stalker almost
You still love but you can't express it the way you would like to.
You feel a bittersweet mixure of joy because you know that sommeone you love is happy
and also sadness because you know that you cannot be there to really share it with them.
The human heart is fragile it was never created to experience loss of love but to always be continually filled with it.
the temptation is to hate
but
God calls us to love
and to love in an imperfect world is to hurt.
Where I was able to reconnect with everyone who I cared about the most throughout my short life.
but it turned out to be more of a nightmare.
I woke up sweating, breathing heavily.
People which I thought I had moved on with suddenly coming back cutting me, taunting me. I wanted to cry......but I couldn't.
Some people say time heals.
I guess in someways it does but really I think we just forget.
Too bad I don't have that gift. I remember everything very clearly.
It never fully heals. It comes back in short jabs like these.
To lose someone to death
is easier than to lose them to life.
at least in death you know that the relationship you had with them will still be there in the end.
but in life you become a stranger, an observer, a stalker almost
You still love but you can't express it the way you would like to.
You feel a bittersweet mixure of joy because you know that sommeone you love is happy
and also sadness because you know that you cannot be there to really share it with them.
The human heart is fragile it was never created to experience loss of love but to always be continually filled with it.
the temptation is to hate
but
God calls us to love
and to love in an imperfect world is to hurt.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Peek into my Head
How do I want to feel?
How am I supposed to feel?
What do I really feel?
anger? hatred? bitterness?
I want to but I can't
all I can feel is pain
"the happiness I once felt"
- C.S. Lewis
I asked God when will it be good?
He said "only when you get to heaven"
I say "eff thats a long way away"
He says "its closer than you think, soon all this will seem like so little...."
Life is ruthless. It gives you no time to stop. It keeps moving no matter what happens good, bad it doesn't matter.
"delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"
"In your presence Lord is where I want to stay"
Only in those moments can I rest
I used to think:
"When I grow up things will be better"
but I guess the truth is ...life is hard and challenging no matter where you are.
Sometimes you want to hold on so badly to life in its goodness
but really we have nothing to hold onto in the first place.
people come and go
some stay longer than others
but really at the end
Its just you and God
Nothing we have is ours.
Except maybe our hearts.
The truth is we have no control.
Whether we like it or not
What we can control is our reaction to what does happen
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
But then again maybe we can't
I want to follow God
but I can't follow God no matter how hard I try
So i need to ask God to help me follow Him
because I know that this is the best way for me to live
Despite any outside circumstances.
We praise Him in everything because He has given us
everything we need.
That is His very presence in our hearts
Really life is about realizing that God is all that we need
more and more as we experience Him more and more
and then helping those around us know Him more and more
from the love that overflows within us from the relationship we have with the Creator.
So I feel....
well does it matter?
I want.....
Too many things
God owns my life what can I do but accept it?
I mean its not like its really mine to begin with.
"This is the air I breathe
Your Holy presence living in me"
I think I'm going crazy or I'm already there.
=)
How am I supposed to feel?
What do I really feel?
anger? hatred? bitterness?
I want to but I can't
all I can feel is pain
"the happiness I once felt"
- C.S. Lewis
I asked God when will it be good?
He said "only when you get to heaven"
I say "eff thats a long way away"
He says "its closer than you think, soon all this will seem like so little...."
Life is ruthless. It gives you no time to stop. It keeps moving no matter what happens good, bad it doesn't matter.
"delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"
"In your presence Lord is where I want to stay"
Only in those moments can I rest
I used to think:
"When I grow up things will be better"
but I guess the truth is ...life is hard and challenging no matter where you are.
Sometimes you want to hold on so badly to life in its goodness
but really we have nothing to hold onto in the first place.
people come and go
some stay longer than others
but really at the end
Its just you and God
Nothing we have is ours.
Except maybe our hearts.
The truth is we have no control.
Whether we like it or not
What we can control is our reaction to what does happen
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
But then again maybe we can't
I want to follow God
but I can't follow God no matter how hard I try
So i need to ask God to help me follow Him
because I know that this is the best way for me to live
Despite any outside circumstances.
We praise Him in everything because He has given us
everything we need.
That is His very presence in our hearts
Really life is about realizing that God is all that we need
more and more as we experience Him more and more
and then helping those around us know Him more and more
from the love that overflows within us from the relationship we have with the Creator.
So I feel....
well does it matter?
I want.....
Too many things
God owns my life what can I do but accept it?
I mean its not like its really mine to begin with.
"This is the air I breathe
Your Holy presence living in me"
I think I'm going crazy or I'm already there.
=)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)