Oh blogging. Why do I do it anyway? I mean... let's be honest, who am I talking to right now? And why is that I offer advice when I have a total of 4 potential people reading my blog, maybe a few other random people, at any given time? Plus, it's been a common trend amongst friends far away... so why on earth am I following a trend? I hate trends. Though I suppose this particular trend is pretty harmless, minus the fact that it makes me like everyone else. Anyway...
I think that being a 'Christian,' and I use the term loosely, hence the quotations, can be summed up into two words: Love and witness. First and foremost, love of God, then love of others. And then living out the great commission, our call to witness; spread the Word of the Lord throughout all generations.
Why do we make it so complicated? Simplicity is where life abundant blooms.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Deadliest Weapon
What would it look like if every single person on this earth that calls themselves a Christian truly lived out the love to which we were called? Is not this all that we ought to do?
Something I can say with certainty is that this is simply not so. While I have friends and know that there are many others out on the frontlines putting the love of God to the test, still there exists ample amounts of those who simply do not. Some may never even try.
This thought truly disgusts me. And if you think my words are harsh, why not take the Word of the LORD?
'I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were wither one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.' Revelation 3:15,16
I find it rather interesting that the Lord even goes into detail about what he means by being lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold. Why would he add that? Is it perhaps because denial of him (being cold) saddens Him, but following him in a lukewarm fashion repulses Him? Disgusts Him? Makes Him want to 'spit them out of his mouth?'
This is not meant to sound judgemental, this is simply what I see when I look at the church in Western society. Something I want to know is how the church ever got this way in the first place. It holds very little similarity with the first church other than perhaps the aspect of fellowship. One thing I do know is that the enemy is pleased with the church's structure. Ideas based on principles rather than letting the Spirit lead. Schedules. Programs. Oh and a little bit of worship and a nice uplifting message. But is that it? Is Sunday during church our God time for the week? Or maybe we take a step further and say a nice 3 minute prayer right before falling asleep driven by guilt. It's a wonder that that guilt is there in the first place. Could it be because it ought to be there, because it means that we know the LORD deserves more of our attention? Not only more, but all?
Imagine if the LORD said "Ok, you've got a ten minute time slot from 1:00-1:10 p.m. on Wednesdays. That's all the time I have for you."
Ouch. I for one would not want to hear that. In the same way, we ought to be giving the Lord ALL of our attention. Mumford and Sons put it this way:
You desired my attention but denied my affection.
Maybe if we started working on ourselves and actually accepting what the LORD has to offer us if only we seek him, the church would be awakened. His bride would come together in a mighty chorus and proclaim 'Praise be to God!' I see a church where, when a stranger enters in, they will say 'Surely the Holy Spirit is alive and moving in this place!'
How dare we look for churches that fit OUR needs? Or criticize the worship because it's just not OUR favorite? Hence, all the denominations. I wonder... what if, I know it's crazy, we stepped outside of our four walls? Our walls of comfort? Where we feel safe? Do you want safety, or do you want joy everlasting?
How about taking the love of Christ to the streets? Is not this what the church out to look like? Rooted in love instead of doctrine? Love truly is all that we need.
I am tired of church. Especially when radicals like myself are shot down because my ideas are simply too crazy. Too much for God to handle right? Well then tell me, what God is that you're serving? Because it certainly isn't the Almighty Jehovah that is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
LORD, may your bride be awakened to the great danger in dimishing your power. May you make yourself known, in this moment, to those living crippled lives full of religious practice and principles. And may you make your face to shine upon those who are being held captive by the enemy away from your power and your love that is vast beyond all measure. AMEN.
Something I can say with certainty is that this is simply not so. While I have friends and know that there are many others out on the frontlines putting the love of God to the test, still there exists ample amounts of those who simply do not. Some may never even try.
This thought truly disgusts me. And if you think my words are harsh, why not take the Word of the LORD?
'I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were wither one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.' Revelation 3:15,16
I find it rather interesting that the Lord even goes into detail about what he means by being lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold. Why would he add that? Is it perhaps because denial of him (being cold) saddens Him, but following him in a lukewarm fashion repulses Him? Disgusts Him? Makes Him want to 'spit them out of his mouth?'
This is not meant to sound judgemental, this is simply what I see when I look at the church in Western society. Something I want to know is how the church ever got this way in the first place. It holds very little similarity with the first church other than perhaps the aspect of fellowship. One thing I do know is that the enemy is pleased with the church's structure. Ideas based on principles rather than letting the Spirit lead. Schedules. Programs. Oh and a little bit of worship and a nice uplifting message. But is that it? Is Sunday during church our God time for the week? Or maybe we take a step further and say a nice 3 minute prayer right before falling asleep driven by guilt. It's a wonder that that guilt is there in the first place. Could it be because it ought to be there, because it means that we know the LORD deserves more of our attention? Not only more, but all?
Imagine if the LORD said "Ok, you've got a ten minute time slot from 1:00-1:10 p.m. on Wednesdays. That's all the time I have for you."
Ouch. I for one would not want to hear that. In the same way, we ought to be giving the Lord ALL of our attention. Mumford and Sons put it this way:
You desired my attention but denied my affection.
Maybe if we started working on ourselves and actually accepting what the LORD has to offer us if only we seek him, the church would be awakened. His bride would come together in a mighty chorus and proclaim 'Praise be to God!' I see a church where, when a stranger enters in, they will say 'Surely the Holy Spirit is alive and moving in this place!'
How dare we look for churches that fit OUR needs? Or criticize the worship because it's just not OUR favorite? Hence, all the denominations. I wonder... what if, I know it's crazy, we stepped outside of our four walls? Our walls of comfort? Where we feel safe? Do you want safety, or do you want joy everlasting?
How about taking the love of Christ to the streets? Is not this what the church out to look like? Rooted in love instead of doctrine? Love truly is all that we need.
I am tired of church. Especially when radicals like myself are shot down because my ideas are simply too crazy. Too much for God to handle right? Well then tell me, what God is that you're serving? Because it certainly isn't the Almighty Jehovah that is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
LORD, may your bride be awakened to the great danger in dimishing your power. May you make yourself known, in this moment, to those living crippled lives full of religious practice and principles. And may you make your face to shine upon those who are being held captive by the enemy away from your power and your love that is vast beyond all measure. AMEN.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Child-like Faith
It's 2:10 in the morning, and here I sit, not really tired, but totally stoked for my 8:40 class! (she says sarcastically). Anyway... This may come across as unintelligible due to the late hour, but onward I march.
Lately, I've been extremely challenged in my faith and what it ought to look like. In talking with friends recently, I got to thinking about how so often, myself included, in the pursuit of Christ and the paradox of all that He is, often times we lose ourselves even more. I am not saying that we shouldn't engage together in conversation about the Lord and seek to understand Him more (after all, where two or more are gathered, there He is also). What I'm getting at is that maybe there are some questions that we ought waste time worrying about. Even harder still, what if there is an answer, but we've lost touch with who we are; God's children, and therefore are not accepting of the answer? I believe that more often than we realize, the answer is simply this: Because God says so.
We are children of God, and yet we are caught in this mess of theory, philosophy and thought. And in the process of trying to figure out the Almighty, our limited human understanding cripples our ability to experience Him to the fullest. Is it any wonder, then, why we are called to have the faith of a child?
A good point that a friend of mine made was bringing up the classic children's tune...
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so.
That's it. The Bible tells us so. Dare we trust God enough to let that be enough? It's enough for children. And we are children of the Living God.
Thanks!
Lately, I've been extremely challenged in my faith and what it ought to look like. In talking with friends recently, I got to thinking about how so often, myself included, in the pursuit of Christ and the paradox of all that He is, often times we lose ourselves even more. I am not saying that we shouldn't engage together in conversation about the Lord and seek to understand Him more (after all, where two or more are gathered, there He is also). What I'm getting at is that maybe there are some questions that we ought waste time worrying about. Even harder still, what if there is an answer, but we've lost touch with who we are; God's children, and therefore are not accepting of the answer? I believe that more often than we realize, the answer is simply this: Because God says so.
We are children of God, and yet we are caught in this mess of theory, philosophy and thought. And in the process of trying to figure out the Almighty, our limited human understanding cripples our ability to experience Him to the fullest. Is it any wonder, then, why we are called to have the faith of a child?
A good point that a friend of mine made was bringing up the classic children's tune...
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so.
That's it. The Bible tells us so. Dare we trust God enough to let that be enough? It's enough for children. And we are children of the Living God.
Thanks!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thoughts, thoughts, and more thoughts
A man, with glorious riches, selling all his possessions for the Lord.
My prayer: 'Lord, if all that I had was you, that would be enough.'
Things are always more easily said than done, this especially being one of them. We can talk a good game, but when the game begins, do we show up? Can having nothing but the joy of the Lord really sustain us; and to the fullest at that? Well, I've never had the Lord ask me to sell all of my possessions, but I've been challenged lately pertaining to that possiblity, wondering 'What if?'
What if the Lord asks me to sell my car? I NEED to get to work and to school.
My computer? I NEED to be able to keep contact with friends far away.
My clothes? I just won't even go there...
Quit my job? I NEED money.
Are you catching my drift? I need, I need, I need. But what really do we need? Would the Lord really claim that He is all that we need if it weren't true? Can we really experience joy everlasting if we have nothing?
Along with that last statement, we never have nothing. We always have something. And that something is the Spirit of the Living God that dwells within us! I don't know about you, but AMEN!!!
Recently I had $100 dollars stolen from me. Lately I find myself just thpraying for this person, whoever it might be. That the Lord would bless them. That he would reveal himself to them in a mighty way. That he would surround them in his love, as there may be something going in their life that caused them to take the money in the first place. Maybe they felt as though they had no other choice.
I am not telling this story to sound high and mighty. It is through the power of the Lord, not by anything I have done, that I am able to pray this prayer in the first place. If it were me, I'd be condemning them, saying things like 'How dare they steal from me? Lord, make your wrath to shine upon them. May they overwhelmed with guilt and shame.'
My point is this: As I was saying that prayer, I was joyful. Indescribably joyful; in praying for someone who had taken away something of mine. Joyful in knowing I have the privelage to pray blessing upon another of God's children. No way in a million years could I pray this prayer, let alone be joyful in it, if it were from me. But the Spirit of the Living God spoke through me unto the Father, and it was beautiful. $100 dollars less, and yet overflowing joy.
I'm not saying this is easy. It takes a submission to the Lord's heart for people, as well as a great deal of trust in that the Lord truly is all the we need.
Is your home really that important when thinking about the joy of the Lord?
Do you really need your car when the Lord is your direction?
All else pales in comparison to the surpassing and glorious riches of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dios te bendiga!
Courtney
My prayer: 'Lord, if all that I had was you, that would be enough.'
Things are always more easily said than done, this especially being one of them. We can talk a good game, but when the game begins, do we show up? Can having nothing but the joy of the Lord really sustain us; and to the fullest at that? Well, I've never had the Lord ask me to sell all of my possessions, but I've been challenged lately pertaining to that possiblity, wondering 'What if?'
What if the Lord asks me to sell my car? I NEED to get to work and to school.
My computer? I NEED to be able to keep contact with friends far away.
My clothes? I just won't even go there...
Quit my job? I NEED money.
Are you catching my drift? I need, I need, I need. But what really do we need? Would the Lord really claim that He is all that we need if it weren't true? Can we really experience joy everlasting if we have nothing?
Along with that last statement, we never have nothing. We always have something. And that something is the Spirit of the Living God that dwells within us! I don't know about you, but AMEN!!!
Recently I had $100 dollars stolen from me. Lately I find myself just thpraying for this person, whoever it might be. That the Lord would bless them. That he would reveal himself to them in a mighty way. That he would surround them in his love, as there may be something going in their life that caused them to take the money in the first place. Maybe they felt as though they had no other choice.
I am not telling this story to sound high and mighty. It is through the power of the Lord, not by anything I have done, that I am able to pray this prayer in the first place. If it were me, I'd be condemning them, saying things like 'How dare they steal from me? Lord, make your wrath to shine upon them. May they overwhelmed with guilt and shame.'
My point is this: As I was saying that prayer, I was joyful. Indescribably joyful; in praying for someone who had taken away something of mine. Joyful in knowing I have the privelage to pray blessing upon another of God's children. No way in a million years could I pray this prayer, let alone be joyful in it, if it were from me. But the Spirit of the Living God spoke through me unto the Father, and it was beautiful. $100 dollars less, and yet overflowing joy.
I'm not saying this is easy. It takes a submission to the Lord's heart for people, as well as a great deal of trust in that the Lord truly is all the we need.
Is your home really that important when thinking about the joy of the Lord?
Do you really need your car when the Lord is your direction?
All else pales in comparison to the surpassing and glorious riches of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dios te bendiga!
Courtney
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Spiritual Warfare = :(
So, anyone feel like no matter what, it's inevitable that you're going to let the lies of the enemy overpower you? I suppose this happens with everyone at one point or another. I feel like I'm living out with a brand new identity, the real me, and yet? Feelings from before are still creeping in.
I can say with confidence that I've finally learned (as weird as this may sound) to be 100% myself. I'm building amazing friendships and am experiencing the joy of the Lord in fresh and beautiful ways. But I just will not let myself accept that there really might be, actually, that there are people out there that enjoy me for exactly the person that I am.
I'd grown so used to disguising myself for people that weren't accepting of the real me that they defined for me who I was. And even still I struggle to supress the feelings that had crippled the masked version of myself. Maybe it's because the complete opposite is happening in my life, and it just doesn't make sense to me.
Within the past month, in being my complete self, I've had quite a few people tell me that I'm one of the funniest people they've ever met. No doubt I think these friendships in my life are a demonstration of the Lord's heart for me. As if he's saying, through other people:
"There you are Courtney. Look at you. How beautiful you are. Welcome to the person I've created you to be."
As cheesy as that sounds, that's just how I feel. But the problem is that sometimes, though I do not want to in the least, I drown out that voice and let the lies of the enemy penetrate into my soul as I question 'How is it possible that people are so accepting of the real me?' 'Does this person really love me?'
I find myself thanking friends when they tell me I'm funny. I'd grown so accustomed to the usual 'Courtney that was stupid' that I can't help it. All this to say , as I wrestle this spiritual warfare in my life, I can no doubt feel the presence of the Lord more strongly than ever, and can feel that I have almost reached the summit.
thanks!
I can say with confidence that I've finally learned (as weird as this may sound) to be 100% myself. I'm building amazing friendships and am experiencing the joy of the Lord in fresh and beautiful ways. But I just will not let myself accept that there really might be, actually, that there are people out there that enjoy me for exactly the person that I am.
I'd grown so used to disguising myself for people that weren't accepting of the real me that they defined for me who I was. And even still I struggle to supress the feelings that had crippled the masked version of myself. Maybe it's because the complete opposite is happening in my life, and it just doesn't make sense to me.
Within the past month, in being my complete self, I've had quite a few people tell me that I'm one of the funniest people they've ever met. No doubt I think these friendships in my life are a demonstration of the Lord's heart for me. As if he's saying, through other people:
"There you are Courtney. Look at you. How beautiful you are. Welcome to the person I've created you to be."
As cheesy as that sounds, that's just how I feel. But the problem is that sometimes, though I do not want to in the least, I drown out that voice and let the lies of the enemy penetrate into my soul as I question 'How is it possible that people are so accepting of the real me?' 'Does this person really love me?'
I find myself thanking friends when they tell me I'm funny. I'd grown so accustomed to the usual 'Courtney that was stupid' that I can't help it. All this to say , as I wrestle this spiritual warfare in my life, I can no doubt feel the presence of the Lord more strongly than ever, and can feel that I have almost reached the summit.
thanks!
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