Left behind?

when I say "left behind" what mental picture comes to your mind?  One of the first things that come to my mind, well three words, are legacy, heritage, and inheritance.  With all that is going on in this world, in our families, in our relationships, i have to wonder what kind of legacy we are leaving for those who will follow us.  Take some time and reflect on the legacy, heritage, inheritance you have been left by those who have gone before you.  It could be a spiritual legacy, it could be a less than desireable legacy, but we all leave one in our wake.  One of my desires for the new year is to make sure without a doubt that the legacy i leave behind leads only one place.

a path is the result of repeted actions, a journey often taken.

If you were to look back on your journey so far, where has your path gone, and where is it going?  There is always hope.   Phillips, craig, and dean - table of grace

psalm 147: 3-5

3He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

4He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.

5Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit.

1. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NLT)

2. A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children. (Proverbs 13:22 AMP)

3. We will not keep them from our children; we will tell the next generation about the Lord ‘s power and his great deeds and the wonderful things he has done. (Psalms 78:4 GNB)

4. Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 AMP)

5. It is the living who praise you, As I praise you now. Parents tell their children how faithful you are. (Isaiah 38:19 GNB)

6. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 ESV)

7. But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 AMP)

8. Children are fortunate if they have a father who is honest and does what is right. (Proverbs 20:7 GNB)

9. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. (3 John 1:4 NLT)

10. The Lord knows the days of the upright and blameless, and their heritage will abide forever. (Psalm 37:18 AMP)

Baggage

How much baggage are you carrying? As we travel our paths things happen to us. We tend to internalize the hurt it causes us. Everytime picking up baggage. As we travel unless we surrender the hurt and baggage to jesus, it will eventually get unbearable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlTzgTW3WaE

Tired of carrying around baggage? Tired of carrying a heavy load? Give it to the one who died on calvalry so we wouldnt have to!



https://www.youtube.com/embed/KHPckyV83EA

Father I pray not only for myself, but for all that would read this post. I pray that we would lay down our baggage, I pray we would live as an offering to you. I bow down before you. I pray my life would be an offering and an example for others. I want nothing more than to live in your will. I may not have much to offer...but I offer you all that I am. Here I am father, use me!

In jesus name, amen

are you full?

It seems that a lot of the time we hunger and thirst for things.  It may be different for each of us.  There are so many around this world that would give anything for the scraps of food we throw away.  We are so blessed as a people that most of us really don't see it.  Most are caught up in the turmoil of the way society is.  We are too worried about stuff that doesn't matter.  All i want is for jesus to fill me with his holy spirit.  i want Him to come into this shack, and renovate it.  i want him to so fill me with his spirit and truth that i overflow.

the following are some items i have found on other websites.  The prayer below is my prayer for this new year, for not only me and my family, but everyone i know!  If anyone who reads this wants me to pray for them, leave a comment. 

jesus culture - fill me up

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Luke 11:13

Heavenly Father!You know the thirst in me! Yes! Lord I have come to ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit.Lord! We have come to the last days and You have promised to pour out Your Spirit upon all flesh! I claim in Your promise and plead for Your Holy Spirit Lord! Your Word says whoever asks shall receive! Let Your Holy Spirit step into my heart Lord and let His mighty presence engulf me even now!Lord cleanse me of all my sins and short comings so that Your Holy Spirit can dwell in me. Lord! Unless He comes into my life, I can never lead a flawless life before You! So I need Your Spirit. I open my heart to You, come in and take control of my whole being and quench my thirst Lord!I thank You Lord right now for granting me this precious gift. Let Him be my sweet companion for ever and let Him direct my steps. I know You have answered this prayer because I ask this in the most precious name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen.

darkness part 2

 

1 Thessalonians 5

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ⁶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

Acts 26:14-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Romans 13

New International Version (NIV)

Love Fulfills the Law

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 10} Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.



This world is like living in a bottle of black ink.  People constantly doing evil to one another.  My heart breaks for those who are so rapped up in the darkness that surrounds them that they either can't, won't, or don't want to see the light that Jesus Shines for us all to see.  There are friends of mine who probably get angry that i Post Messages on facebook about my lord and savior...I am not afraid...I will be obedient to what he leads me to say.   I will do and go where he leads...I will not be moved by the darkness of this world.  I will leave a godly legacy for not only my children, but all those who i am around.  Christians can make a difference...only question is will we accept the challenge?  Will we go where he leads no matter the cost?  will we Live in the strength and light he as given us ?  I pray so!  The following song expresses my feelings a little better.




Jesus culture - where you go i go

darkness part 1

Darkness surrounds us, ever present, never stoping, always trying to drown us.  Only one thing, only one person can keep us safe from the slings and arrows this dark world can throw at us.  Only the light of my savior Jesus Christ can be a beacon of light and hope in the other wise inky darkness of this world.

John 1:5-12

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

⁵ The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.^[a]
6 God sent a man named John to be his messenger. ⁷ John came to declare the truth about the light so that everyone would become believers through his message. ⁸ John was not the light, but he came to declare the truth about the light.
⁹ The real light, which shines on everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him. Yet, the world didn’t recognize him. ¹¹ He went to his own people, and his own people didn’t accept him. ¹² However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him. 

Ephesians 5:7-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

gods light shines brightly into all places and things.  with him living in me there is nothing in this dark world for me to fear.  There is nothing  that is hidden, for his light makes all visible.  Are you living in his light?  Are you living in the inky black darkness?  We must all ask ourselves this question.  are we really living in his light?  There are so many in this world that are just waiting for us as christians to just lend them a hand!!!!  and yet we say no not me, or not right now....

Father i want to be a lamp stand for you.  I want to shine your light into the Inky darkness like a lighthouse shines it's light to warn ships of danger.   I want to say this way to help!  I pray that you give me the guidance i need.  I feel there is more to say about the darkness that surrounds us...give me the words to write, and the places to study.

amen

jesus culture - roof tops 

creation

How often do we actually sit and relax?  This past weekend i was enjoying lunch with my family.  The girls went to play on the playground.  I sat at the table staring out the window.  I had gotten to thinking about all the different species of plants, animals, and even how different each one of us people are.  I got to thinking about how complex that even one species is.  Not to mention the thousands of species of plants and animals.  I am in awe that god loves me, even with the complexity of his creation, to not only know the exact number of hairs on my head...but that he would send his only son to earth to be brutally beaten, and ultimately die for me.  When was the last time you really sat and thought about what can i do?  or is it more like what can be done for me?  there are many people who will never have the pleasure of a warm home in the winter, or plenty of food to eat.  There is always something we can do.  The family at the corner is making it on one income...couldn't we take them a meal?  a co worker is having problems at home...they really need to talk about it...but they are scared to say anything...can we lend a ear to them and a prayer?

All of our sins and shortcomings he already nailed to the cross.  We all have our ways that are opposite of what god wants for us...all we need is to make sure they stay nailed to the cross...and that we don't try to rip them down again. 

As a parent our children will follow our example, godly or not.  We can't both be the hand...key is for us to be the glove and allow the holy spirit to be the hand!



jesus you have already taken the punishment for my sin and shortcoming,  i pray that i forever leave my way nailed to your cross, and forever live in your way!  Father this christmas season i pray that i become more like the glove, and less like the hand.  I want you to guide me totally, for i want what you want. 

I surrender
I surrender
I want to know You more
I want to know You more

Like a rushing wind
Jesus breathe within
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me

Like a mighty storm
Stir within my soul
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me

amen

John 3:16-18

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
¹⁸ “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.


hillsong - i surrender

Thirst

About a week ago i was in a restaurant in northern Virginia.  I noticed a family in there at the bar.  The mother and father were at the bar drinking, the mother was tore up, to the point she could hardly stand.  Meanwhile their son was sitting alone in the booth behind them, watching them drink.  There aren't words enough for what i felt.  Most of all i was hurt for their son who had to watch his parents live a poor example.  I could almost see Jesus standing behind them crying.  

John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.


Have  you ever been really thirsty?  So thirsty that you think you could drink a gallon or 2 of water all at once?  we live in a dry and thirsty land.  Some people seem to want to drink the sand.  This kinda confuses me when Jesus came and died on the cross to give us living water.  To give us the kind of water where we would never thirst again.  Father revive us.  reign down your holy presence on us.  I pray for the lost of this world that are drinking the sand.  May I as a beleiver be a light so bright that they would find the living water that Jesus provided for us!  All we need is to as him to fill us with his water, and we will never thirst again!    Revive us oh father!


you revive me - passion 2012

what is your strength?

 ^{Psalm 46}

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
² So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
³ Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

⁴ A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
⁵ God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
⁶ The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
⁷ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel^[b] is our fortress. Interlude

⁸ Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
⁹ He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

¹¹ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

what is your strength based on?  do you base your strength of what you know from the world?  do  you base your strength on what you yourself  can do?  We as humans seem to want to beleive we are self sufficient.  we seem to beleive that we are in control of all around us.  We are not, nor never have been in control!  I for one am glad that jesus assumed control of all in this world.  I can do nothing by myself...but with him in my corner there is nothing i can't do!  I pray that i never start to think that I am in control.  Jesus is in my drivers seat...who is in yours?

white flag - chris tomlin

in his arms

Lyrics from Christy Nockels - Sing Along [Passion 2012]

From the farthest corners of the earth
Still His mercy reaches
Even to the pain we cannot see
And even through the darkness
There's a promise that will keep us
There is One who came to set us free

Great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when You hear our cries
Sing through the night
So we can join in Your song
And sing along
We'll sing along

So let Your song rise
And fill up the earth
Let Your hope ring out
Let Your heart be heard



I've been spending a lot of time out of town in northern Virginia on a construction project here lately.  Being up there in the faster pace of life makes me realize how much the world needs us as Christians to be a Light.  It seems that people don't often enough take the time to just stop and bask in His light!  I pray that I never get too busy and to stressed that i don't stop and just bask in his warm light!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o3bAYhLR0I

White flag

jesus gave it all to us on the cross, when will we wave our white flag and surrender all we have, and all we are to him?  We seem to all have the i can do it myself mentality.  In reality many times we need help.  He is waiting, wanting for us to just ask him, to confess any wrongs we have done. 

Lord you are my refuge and my strength.  I have you in my corner whom shall i be afraid of.  what shall i fear.  all i am is yours! Lord i wave my white flag, I have surrendered, and am surrendering all i am all i have again to you.  I want nothing more than to live minute, by minute in your presence!  I pray that you would break my heart for what breaks yours.  I pray that you would give me the right words to say when confronted by evil.

In jesus holy name, amen

Isaiah 41:10 ESV 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 71:1-24

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 71

¹ In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
² In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear to me and save me.
³ Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
⁴ Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

⁵ For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence since my youth.
⁶ From birth I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
    I will ever praise you.
⁷ I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

⁹ Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰ For my enemies speak against me;
    those who wait to kill me conspire together.
¹¹ They say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue him.”
¹² Do not be far from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help me.
¹³ May my accusers perish in shame;
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.

¹⁴ As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

¹⁹ Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
    you who have done great things.
    Who is like you, God?
²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honor
    and comfort me once more.

²² I will praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion.

chris tomlin - white flag

How lucky!

Most of us take forgrented how good we have it.  We go to work each day, maybe go out to eat at lunch, stop at a store sometimes and buy a drink.  All of which is a luxury!!   In some places in the world you are treated like an animal just because of who your parents are or to what caste you belong to.  It breaks my heart to see others being treated this way.  It breaks my heart even more to know that we sit here and do nothing while this is happening not only in india, but so many other countries.  what will it take for us as christians to drop to our knees and pray for these situations that happen all the time!  what will it take for us as gods hands and feet to rise up and do something?  We have been given much in this country...will we give back to those who so despritly need it?!



The fields are ripe for harvest...but where are the workers?

Matthew 9:35-38

New International Version (NIV)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

treatment of low caste people

treatment of low caste children

Lord i drop to my knees and pray for you to do a mighty thing in india.  i pray for you to do a mighty thing in the middle east.  I pray for your grace and mercy to fall on these people.  I pray that others that would call themselves christians would humble themselves and pray.  i pray that out of our abbundance we have been blessed with, that we would do all we are able to do!  I pray we as christians would be a light to those who only know darkness.

in his holy name i pray,

amen

Legacy

What is a legacy? Legacy is defined in mirriam-Webster as a gift by will especially of money or other personal property. But is legacy just money and property? According to the world yes.

As I sit here typing this there is another legacy. A legacy Jesus left for us. He was beaten, bled and was crucified to leave it for us. He left a path for us to follow. A path of love, mercy and freedom for all those who would take up their cross and follow him.

Lord I gladly follow the path you set out for me! Nothing I am or have is better than the road you would have me travel! I pray that your holy fire would fall on me, so that I may share the message you would have me share

In Jesus name, amen