Moved In

I'm finally back "home," so I'll be able to update more frequently, since I have a computer all to myself! Woo!

I don't have much time at the moment, but I do want to "jot down" a thought I had the other day:

God never tells me He loves me. He never once says, "I love you". But never once do I doubt that it's true...because God's way of expressing love proves it. We all know some people say those famous three words, but they're easy to say. It's much more of a challenge to show it. And that's exactly what God does. He clothed His son in flesh, and nailed Him to a cross. That SCREAMS "I love you" leaving no room for doubt.

So here's a challenge I'm posing to myself: leave no room for others to doubt my love for them. I'll admit, it seems pretty impossible, but with Christ, I can do all things.

Virtuous Woman

What makes you think that just because I am an attractive woman of Godly intelligence that I’m incomplete without a mate? Who told you that without a man something is missing from my life? And if so, what would that be? Love? I love myself, and more importantly, I love the Lord. He told me that when I delight in Him, He would give me the desires of my heart. Security? I have everything I need according to His riches and glory. Intimacy? How is a man going to get to know me if he doesn’t know who he is in the Lord? See, my Father told me that I’m above a ruby’s worth, and a gem does not seek, it is sought. I’m single and that’s all right with me. It’s not that I oppose relationships, it’s that I detest co-dependency. As a woman I know it is not my role to chase after any man. Esther 2:14 reads that I am to wait on my king, and when he is delighted in me, he will call me by my name. My Lord does not intend for me to be needy or desperate. I am to be cherished, relished, valued, and honored. It’s not my job to convince or convict a man of that. My mate will already know it and consistently show it. So, when you see me by myself, I’m not alone. I’m being romanced by the One who created it. I’m single and saved, and right now, that’s all I need to be.

Strong Enough

As I rest against this cold, hard wall
oh Will you pass me by?
Will you criticize me as I sit and cry?
I had fought so hard and thought that all my battles had been won
Only to find the war has just begun

Is He not strong enough?
Is He not pure enough?
To break me, pour me out, and start again
Is He not brave enough?
To take one chance on me
Please can I have one chance to start again?

Will my weakness for an hour
Make me suffer for a life time
Is there anyway to be made whole again?
If I'm healed, renewed and find forgiveness
Find the strength I've never had
Will my scars forever ruin all God's plan?

Is He not strong enough?
Is He not pure enough?
To break me, pour me out, and start again
Is He not brave enough?
To take one chance on me
Please can I have one chance to start again?

He took my life into his hands and it turned it all around
In my most desperate circumstance
It's there I finally found

That You are strong enough
That You are pure enough
To break me, pour me out and start again
That You are brave enough
To take one chance on me
Oh Thank You for my chance to start again

-Stacie Orrico

Show me

You know what bugs me? Adults...the ones in church who refuse to leave "high school".

As a Christian, regardless of your age, you're a role model. These kids, these youth, they don't wanna hear you preach at them, they don't wanna be told how to have faith, how to "live like a good little Christian." They wanna see it. I wanna see it. Show us your faith...show us how to walk like Jesus, show me what this "call to die" is all about.

I'm convinced that the mediocrity that plagues young Christian's today is a disease inherited by the 'leadership' we're supposed to be following.

Mercy and Grace

A few scholars have put forward the neat and simple proposition that the Old Testament uses mercy while the New Testament speaks of grace.

The truth is more elusive, like the words themselves. Think of it this way: Mercy is God witholding the punishment we rightfully deserve. Grace is God not only withholding that punishment but offering the most precious gifts instead.

Mercy witholds the knife from the heart of Isaac.
Grace provides a ram in the thicket.

Mercy runs to forgive the Prodigal Son.
Grace throws a party with every extravagance.

Mercy bandages the wounds of the man beaten by the robbers.
Grace covers the cost of his full recovery.

Mercy hears the cry of the thief on the cross.
Grace promises paradise that very day.

Mercy pays the penalty for our sin at the cross.
Grace substitutes the righteousness of Christ for our wickedness.

Mercy converts Paul on the road to Damascus.
Grace calls him to be an apostle.

Mercy saves John Newton from a life of rebellion and sin.
Grace makes him a pastor and author of a timeless hymn ("Amazing Grace").

Mercy closes the door to hell.
Grace opens the door to heaven.

Mercy withholds what we have earned.
Grace provides blessings we have not earned.

-David Jeremiah
"Captured by Grace"