Waking Up Singing

Some Joy won’t go away. Despite all the horrible things in this world, there is a Beauty that transcends the world.  Throughout the mundane drudgery of routine responsibility, a Light never-changing exists.  It is because of this One firm foundation, “it” meaning everything lovely.

Loveliness is a characteristic of the Healing Touch, an embrace so violent it tears the mortal molecules from the everlasting everlasting life.

Someone died for me. I know who He is, too.  He is most incredibly amazing, I must say.  That is why I sing.  He makes for the most excellent songs.

“The revelation of Jesus Christ…”—Revelation 1:1

Coffee in Traffic

I really like coffee, but  I didn’t always.  I had to acquire a taste for it.  One day I just decided, “I’m going to start drinking coffee.”  Now that I think about it, it might not have been the best decision.  Coffee really isn’t all that healthy.  In fact, it’s probably somewhere around the opposite of that.  I like it anyway.

I used to be scared of traffic.  When I have to drive around in it every day, though, it’s really just illogical to be that way.  I’ve saved myself a lot of stress by enjoying it instead.  I pass accidents all the time.  Could that be me at some point?  Well, yeah, but it’s not me today.  Now, I can drift listlessly along, sipping coffee and laughing for no good reason.

Life certainly is bitter.  If we load it up with enough “cream and sugar” until we can stand it, we can get by, maybe even learn to love it.  There are certainly dangers all around us, and some have fallen victim to those very dangers.  Good news is, if we ignore those hard things, those helpless people, isn’t it like they aren’t even there?  Less stress, good for everyone, right?

Although, I can’t help but ask myself, what if I’m not supposed to like coffee?  What if, instead of believing I’m going somewhere, I should be stopping the car and turning off the engine?  Could it be that the simple, quiet place holds the loveliest One of all?

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”–1 John 2:15

Seers

There’s something I’ve been pondering the past week or so, ever since  I started realizing how dirty the windows in my car have gotten.  Whenever I roll them down, the city around me looks so much more real, so much more colorful.  I can see the buildings, the trees, the people, with such a clarity that cannot be taken through my dingy old windows.

Think also about a screened-in porch.  You get a feeling of the outside; you can even feel some of the breeze, soak in some of the sun.  But it’s not the same as walking barefoot in the grass, climbing a tree, smelling a rose.  You can watch thee rain through your bedroom window, but until you get soaked in it, you’ll only have a basic understanding of what it really is.

There are many ways we lose our sight.  Some people are nearsighted.  Everything far away seems nonexistent.  Others are farsighted.  They can’t see what’s right in front of their face.  Some wear sunglasses, maybe even blindfolds, because the reality of life is just too much for them to handle.  In one way or another, we are all blind.

The only way to cure spiritual blindness is a relationship with God.  He is the Truth.  Still, some churches insist on putting on a facade.  We have flashy lights, upbeat music, somber music, catchy slogans, witty billboards, feel-good sermons, guilt-trip sermons(sometimes involving the word “finances”), fellowship meals, conferences and free gifts for first-time visitors.  Sometimes, I get the feeling that we just want people to join the club rather than find the true and living God of the Universe.  In being “seeker-sensitive,” we haven’t left anything for them to see.

Who am I to talk, though?  I’ve been a part of it.  I know that I myself am blinded in too many ways to count.  Maybe we all know this.  Maybe we’re too scared to be anything different.  All I know is one thing for sure: we must follow Jesus with everything we have.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”–John 14:6

Jesus, Reality

I have eternal life.  And so can you.  It’s easy.  Just give everything.

Receive Everything.

Why is there war?  …
Why do we kill each other?  …
What is honor?  …

What is Love?  Jesus.  Know that one… not well enough.

Think for a minute, for a day.  We are here for much, much more than we know.  People are hurting, you know.  We are here, and God is in us.  What does that make us?  Servants.

Let your heart break for this world.  His does.

It’s raining.  When will the sun shine again?

“Jesus wept.”–John 11:35

A Christmas Prayer

It seems strange…
What with all the gifts, music, food and family,
That there’s not as much joy as in years past.
In reality, there may be more than ever.  But it’s like I’m trying to
Get some joy out of the things, the “season.” 

I don’t think it’s working.
The new perspective You’ve given to me lately,
It’s in the back of my mind, lurking there.
Like this isn’t supposed to be… 

Where am I going?  I ask.
Should I blindly revel in the pleasure of today,
The mind-numbing fake happiness we create?
Am I that naive, to not care.

But beneath the surface, even the facade,
Is actually something amazing.
The truth about what you did for us:
It’s still there!  It never left!

There is faith growing bigger and bolder
Where once there was nothing to see.
Because what makes this Christmas special
is what You’re doing inside of me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your indescribable gift.

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”–Luke 2:10-11

November

It’s official!  The best month of the year has finally arrived.  The weather is starting to cool off, and my birthday is coming up soon.  Then comes Thanksgiving, my absolute favorite holiday ever.  I mean, Christmas and Easter are great too, because we can celebrate two specific awesome things Jesus did for us.  But Thanksgiving is a special day for thanking God for EVERYTHING that He has done for us.  Not that we shouldn’t do that every day of the year, but Thanksgiving has amazing food.  Anyway, November dominates every other month, and I’m glad it’s here.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!”–1 Chronicles 16:8

Thankful

God has done so much for each and every one of us.  Now, more than ever, I believe this to be true.  When I look back at my life over the last couple years, I see the hand of God at work.  I see all the junk He’s brought me through, the trials He’s allowed me to pass, the tests I’ve failed only to have Him lift me up again.  Here are just a few things I’m thankful for:

I’m thankful for God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Seriously, where would we be without them?  We would all be dead, forever lost, in 100% justifiable torment for our disobedience to the holy God of Heaven.  If Jesus had never come to redeem us, we would be hopeless.  I have no idea what that kind of despair feels like, and I’m thankful that I never will.

I’m thankful for God’s grace, favor and power to overcome evil.  He blesses us, people; He really does.  I thank Him so much that when He saved us, He didn’t just leave us here on Earth to fend for ourselves.  He sent us the Holy Spirit to give us boldness, the Word to teach us the right way to live, and the name of Jesus to defeat every attack of the enemy.  I’m thankful for the way of escape from every temptation and the love to mend broken hearts.

Take some time out of your day to think about what He’s given you.  What are you thankful for?

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” –2 Corinthians 9:15

Lord Of All Creation

Over my entire time in California, I saw so very many beautiful things.  I saw giant, towering sequoia trees, snow-capped mountains, rolling hills, lush green valleys and incredible rock formations.  One perticular day my brothers and I climbed a hill overlooking the Pacific.  I looked out over the cold blue and green water lapping up on the rocky shore, the small scraggly cliffs to my right and my left, the fresh breeze blowing wispy clouds through the hills behind me, the beautiful beach on the left down below me, beyond that a hill full of gorgeous homes, and in the distance, dark and shrouded in mist, the city of San Francisco.  Everything around me was illuminated by the bright sunshine.  At that moment, all I could do was sit on the ground and soak it all in.  I was amazed as I watched small flocks of white birds soar along the cliffs, and I really did start to wish I could fly.  And then it hit me: “God made all this.”  Over everything in this earth, He is Lord.  And it is good, because He said so.  He truly is an amazing God, to create the entire world, the entire universe, and then love me, a sinner.

Do yourself a favor today and think about something lovely.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” -Psalm 19:1-3

Airplane

I’m writing this from Chicago today.  We’re here on a layover right now, and headed to Oakland in about an hour.

As I was flying over from New Orleans, I was just thinking about the world.  Being up so high and looking down, it gives me a little different perspective on everything.  Every little patch of land down there is a forest, a pasture.  Each one of them is so full of life, so full of potential.  Each house holds people, each one of them has their own life, their own experiences.  I was up in the clouds, away from the earth for a little while.  God transcends the whole universe.  And He chose… me?  That gives me some perspective.

Another cool thing about flying is the turbulence.  We had a whole lot today.  It’s nice to know your life is out of your hands sometimes.  I just need to trust God, the pilots and air traffic controllers to keep me safe.  There’s nothing like the feeling that your life could end at any second.  I have to actively use some faith that God isn’t done with me yet…

“Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.” -Psalm 32:10

With A Smile

I get so frustrated every time I see someone putting another person down, especially when I have no ability to help the situation.  Some people have a tendency to be very condescending, and I suppose I may be one of them.  I don’t think anything could be much more selfish than joking about someone else’s weaknesses and failings.  Saying a very hurtful thing with a smile is, I believe, just another way our own insecurity shows itself.

Is there some predisposition in all of us to want to feel better than someone else?  Well, yeah.  It’s called sin.  And we all struggle with it.  The things I hate about sin are usually the things I struggle with myself, and are the easiest to resent in others.  I think that a condescending attitude comes primarily through our own insecurity with ourselves.

I think I may write another post about this topic in the future.  In closing, here’s a verse:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3