For Him, above all.

Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I didn’t bible splice to get this passage because I originally saw it on my sister’s wall so I looked it up. This passage especially meant something for me because I’ve noticed I’ve started getting lazy with so many of the things going on in my life. Things like school, prayer, chores, fasting, and service. I definitely felt myself getting weak spiritually. With the camp coming soon, I can feel myself just doing it because I’m supposed to and I’m starting to lose a bit of the passion behind it. So when I saw this verse, it really did make me realize what I’ve been doing and it hit me hard. I should be doing everything out of my love for God. I should allow the fire to light up myself instead of waiting for some type of event, with God always as the constant source of this fire. Seeing this was definitely a jolt for me to get up and going again. To do things with God as my conviction. To go further down the Glory Road.

James 1:2-4

Have Homies

“Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many.” - Proverbs 15:22

Counsel is advice; advice is guidance. What I got from this verse was simple, but it was really significant: Know that any worthwhile plan can succeed with guidance alongside it.

I know it’s pretty common to go “solo” with issues or trials every now and then, and maybe a few of the reasons are because of over-confidence in being able to take care of things alone, or maybe it’s the fear of letting personal things spread to too many people. I found a personal side to this, because I’m usually—or, more accurately, almost always—detached from others when it comes to dealing with my own issues, mainly because I don’t confide serious things often. Sometimes, yes, things work out in the end anyway, but it’s generally nowhere near as much of a triumph over an issue as it would have been had I trusted in other’s counseling.

Always good to remember just how much you can accomplish with guidance, especially when that counseling is always readily available. It’s something to keep in mind, both for myself and for all of you guys.

Be Not Afraid

Hey so… are we even using this anymore? Let’s not forget about this guys. 

2 Timothy 1:8

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

This Bible verse really helped me over the weekend while at my retreat.  I reminded me to never be afraid of my journey with God.  This allowed me to open up to everyone in the retreat more and it really made my experience a million times better.  God works in marvelous ways in our life so don’t hide them from other people.  Go forth and shine his light to all you encounter.

Litany of Humility

But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

- James 4:6

Hey guys! It’s been a while since any of us posted so let’s start back on posting, yeah? So I wanted to share a litany with you all after reading this verse. I prayed this litany continuously during advent season and I’m definitely thinking of incorporating it again into my daily prayers. It’s called the Litany of Humility and this prayer is to really rid yourselves of your self-centeredness and pride, whether it’s that craving to be noticed or admired. It’s meant to allow you to be more humble and see that all that praise and glory goes to God and to set God above all else, especially above ourselves.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt, Amen.

O Jesus meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should,
   Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt, Amen.

Reproach and Promise for Jerusalem

Zephaniah 3:1-20

Zephaniah 3:8-9

“Therefore, wait for me, says the LORD, against the day when I arise as accuser; For it is my decision to gather together the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, In order to pour out upon them my wrath, all my blazing anger; For in the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be consumed. For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, That they all may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one accord.”

Society today has become the city, rebellious and polluted. She hears no voice and accepts no correction. And our God has destroyed nations before and can destroy us with a blink of his eye. But the beauty about our Lord is that He will not destroy us, He will change and purify us so that we all shout his name. He will remove any actions we have done that has gone against him and we will all take refuge in Him. 

The last verse, Zephaniah 3:20, says,

“At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you. For I will give you renown and praise, among all the peoples of the earth. When I bring about your restoration before your very eyes, says the LORD.”

Just like what Wendell said in his worship Home is where it begins and God is home. God is always willing to welcome us back home and he will restore us and his nations back to what it once was. That is the beauty of our Lord, that he is always forgiving and forever merciful. 

I Will Definitely Come Back To This One

Good evening. These Bible verses have gotten me very intrigued for some reason. It is Sirach chapter 41-42. If you can, please take the time to read it. They are both very strong chapters. 

The first part of Sirach 41, 1-4, is about death and how every man before us has experience death and every man after us will experience death as well.  It is very straight forward. 

The second part, 5-13, is about us sinners and what happens to us when we pass away. It says to have care for your name, for it will stand by you longer than any of the thousand possessions you have. And it is your name and what you have done on this Earth that will come with you when you are in Judgement.

The third part is titled “True and False Shames” 14-24. This section talks about things you should be shameful about while living on this Earth like backstabbing, being two-faced, yada yada yada. And it continues to Sirach 42:1-8, where it talks about things that are okay to not be shameful about.

Sirach 42:9-14 is where I am confused. Maybe I am just over analyzing this but hear me out. It is titled “A Father’s Care For His Daughter”. It talks about how a Father’s daughter brings great anxiety to him and what to do to take care of her. What I am confused about is its placement.

Before is about the Joys and Miseries of Life, then True and False Shames, and now how a Father cares for his Daughter, and after is about God’s Works in Nature.  I just feel that this part of the chapter is out of place for some reason and it got me to think about what me and Marion were talking about Saturday night.  Don’t you feel that this years conference theme, “Choose Life”, is off track with the other previous conference themes.  It is like we were following a path and decided to take a detour in the middle.  Don’t get me wrong the reading is great and it reminds of how I treat and how over-protective I am with sisters in this community and my own sister, but it just seems out of place.  And the Bible usually follows a very steady path between chapters.  Just some food for thought.  

I am most likely over analyzing this but tell me what you guys think.

Discpline.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

This verse is all about self-discipline. It’s kind of funny because I haven’t been doing my entries lately and it’s pretty sad. But, I think the larger meaning here, is my life journey. God’s telling me that winning the prize is possible. Living my life such that I can win the prize is possible. Winning heaven is possible. We just have to keep our eyes on God. We have to be strongly rooted in his love.

I can get that feeling of unworthiness and feel like I’m so far behind in the race, what’s the point? But, it doesn’t matter when or how you start, but that you start. God’s so amazing, but you all know that. So, yeah, let us live our lives in such a way that we can all see each other in heaven, yeah?

We Are Called To Lead

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is doing alright. My bible verse tonight is from Acts 13:16-23. 

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arms he led them out of it and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel [the] prophet. Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified. ‘I have found Dave, son of Jess, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this Man’s descendants God, according to this promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.”

This Bible verse speaks volumes to me.  I’ve been praying and asking God what does he desire of me and what is he calling me to be for a very very long time now and this verse, from how I have interpreted, it is telling me the answer.  This is Paul telling the other Israelites about the past leaders of their land starting with Moses and ending with Jesus. And reading about how the upcoming leaders inherit the land of the previous leader it is very similar to the way leaders step down and have their successor in this community.  Jarell for example has inherited Virginia Youth in a way from Marion.  What I am trying to get at is that I have always had this calling and drive to serve and lead.  My counterpart, Messa Pana, God bless her, was telling me before I left for college how South Cluster won’t be the same without me because I am a great leader.  She told me I was born to lead and it shows through my pose and demeanor.  I am not saying this in anyway to boast myself or say that I am better than Jarell at leading because I believe Jarell is and will be a great leader and far better than I can imagine to be.  But I was telling Jarell and Marion this the other night that in Jersey I always felt like I was overlooked because I wasn’t in the in crowd when it came to South Core back then.

There is so much left in store for all of us and I feel that we are all being called to something great.  No matter where we are in our faith we are being called to lead this area and it is truly a privilege and a blessing to be leading this area.  

More to Life

“He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

- 2 Timothy 1:9

I used to say that I didn’t fit into the “requirements” it took to really set me on that path of holiness. But, in actuality, I didn’t want to live a holy life. I wanted to fit in and just have fun. Living holy seemed boring, y’know, it just wasn’t the cool thing to do. But there was always that call telling me that I should live for more than myself, that I’m meant to live more than moment to moment. Whoa, typing this out totally reminded me of that Stacie Orrico song (which led to the title of this post ha ha ha). But what she sings in the song completely relates, it’s that constant search of what’s missing in life. And, for me, no matter how I tried to set myself away from the holy life, I find myself going back to it when I feel empty or when I feel unfulfilled with life. 

It reminds me of what Wendell said during Worship on Saturday. He said something along the lines of, “If you have a desire, a desire that this world doesn’t fulfill, that must mean that you’re meant for another world.” I know I probably butchered that but I’m sure we all knew he meant that desire rests in Christ and it’s in His Kingdom where we belong. & it’s by living by His graces and truly recognizing His presence in our lives do we begin our path in holiness and into Heaven.