Dear God,
You are absolutely blowing my mind. Please don't stop. Keep my eyes on You and off of me.
Love, Adam
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Road, Narrow. The Way, Hard.
At the exact moment, I have this inkling inside that is just telling me to write. I have no idea what to write, but I just have this strong urge to do so. So that is what I am going to do. I am new to this feeling.
There is a gang of things going through my head right now, shocker I know. So I think I could do myself a courtesy by getting at least one of them down on paper. Lately I've been scared. Scared for the people around me. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I've been worried about the people who don't know Him. Worried for the one's who have heard of Him, heard His story, but want nothing to do with Him. But only recently has the Lord given me a strong desire to reach so many of those who think that they are saved, but are deceived. They are all around us. I am friends with many, others are distant acquaintances. Some faces immediately come to mind and am more worried about than others, some show life ever so frequently, and it's hard to distinguish if their motives are genuine or self motivated. Regardless, I almost feel that there's an equal urgency within the church than there is outside of it. So many have grown up within the church walls that they have become numb to the message of Jesus, and have accustomed to religious duty. And that is scary.
I often feel the need to humble myself before I get to talking about Jesus, so again that is what I'll do. I don't want anyone to think that I am even close to "having it together", or that I'm somehow exempt from the topics that I write about. Today, I've probably gone to Jesus for forgiveness more times than you can count on both hands. Anyone who knows me well, knows that my favorite church hymn is "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing". There is a reason for that. I am just as prone to wander from my God as anybody else, and it is by His grace only that I am right here by His side.
A few verses have laid heavy on my heart lately. But one particular set of verses have been etched in my mind more than others over the past two weeks or so. And most professing believers have read them time and again. "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few"(Matthew 7:14). I always used read those verses and just assume that I was on that narrow path. I called myself a Christian, therefore I must be walking along the narrow. That's what I told myself. So I would go to church on Sunday, smile at a few people, hear a convicting message, maybe think about it for the day, and then go back to my comfortable way of living on Monday morning. Hang out at youth/college group during the week, maybe even go to Bible Study. But if I were to really stop and truly ask myself why I was going to so many church oriented events, my honest answer would be because they were fun, and I met some cool people and pretty Christian girls. The added bonus was that God's Word was spoken there, but that wasn't my reason for going. If someone were to ask me why I went, I would give them the "Christian" answer, and maybe even convince myself that I had the right motives. Again, I would feel convicted, but walk away with my lifestyle unchanged.
Even after accepting Jesus as my Saviour, I always had this tendency to test God. At least I feel that way. I never did it knowingly, but I just feel like I would go through so many dry spells that would lead me to doubt Him. Doubted His power, doubted His presence, sometimes even His existence. I just rarely felt Him so I was just left unsure if He was really there. God's way of responding to my lack of faith usually resulted in a drastic experience for me, but in the end each event has only brought me closer to Him and I praise Him for every trial that He's pulled me through. That is weird actually seeing those words typed out. But it's the truth, I am a hard headed idiot at times. And without question, if it wasn't for Him shaking up my life the way that He has, I wouldn't be where I am right now--hands wide open, fully submitted to His will, and more in love with Him than I ever have been. If it was up to me, I'd be out living my life, doing my thing, following my plans, living my idea of a comfortable, casual life. And then when He comes back in all of His glory, expect Him to look at me and tell me that I had walked the narrow path? Not a chance.
The reason I give you a little mini-testimony on my life is because I am scared. Worried for so many people in the church who think they are saved but are living a lie. I see that old me in so many professing believers, people who say that they love Jesus but don't show it by a genuine lifestyle change. Their lives look NO different than the world around us. They blend right in. In them I see that guy in me who attended church activities for selfish reasons, to get the pat on the back, and make myself believe that I was really saved.
The road is narrow and the way is hard. And few find it. That's what scares me.
Jesus never implied following Him to be easy. We're not only called but commanded to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. The road narrow, the way hard. Genuine salvation is truly by faith and faith alone. But just as His word says, that faith is not saving faith is it doesn't display itself in works (James 2:17). We are not saved because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has already done. We won't have to consciously remind ourselves to do a bunch of deeds on some kind of Christian checklist. We will just do them naturally, because God's greatest act of love has transformed the way that we think.
Just some "food for thought", I guess. I honestly don't know very much. But I'm trying with each passing day to learn more and more about this amazing God. And I believe this truth with all of my heart. I don't want anyone to be deceived. I want to spend eternity with all of my friends and family. If any part of this rant stirs in your heart in the least, please just go to Jesus with it. Call on Him, I promise you He will listen. Or come talk to me about it. Again, I'm just a 22 year old kid and I don't know much, but I can tell you how I changed. How Jesus changed me. Love you all.
-Adam
"We are surrounded by unconverted people who think they do believe in Jesus. Drunks on the street say they believe. Unmarried couples sleeping together say they believe. Elderly people who haven't sought worship or fellowship in forty years say they believe. All kinds of lukewarm, world-loving church attenders say they believe. The world abounds with millions of unconverted people who say they believe in Jesus." - John Piper
"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:15-16
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." -Philippians 3:8
There is a gang of things going through my head right now, shocker I know. So I think I could do myself a courtesy by getting at least one of them down on paper. Lately I've been scared. Scared for the people around me. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I've been worried about the people who don't know Him. Worried for the one's who have heard of Him, heard His story, but want nothing to do with Him. But only recently has the Lord given me a strong desire to reach so many of those who think that they are saved, but are deceived. They are all around us. I am friends with many, others are distant acquaintances. Some faces immediately come to mind and am more worried about than others, some show life ever so frequently, and it's hard to distinguish if their motives are genuine or self motivated. Regardless, I almost feel that there's an equal urgency within the church than there is outside of it. So many have grown up within the church walls that they have become numb to the message of Jesus, and have accustomed to religious duty. And that is scary.
I often feel the need to humble myself before I get to talking about Jesus, so again that is what I'll do. I don't want anyone to think that I am even close to "having it together", or that I'm somehow exempt from the topics that I write about. Today, I've probably gone to Jesus for forgiveness more times than you can count on both hands. Anyone who knows me well, knows that my favorite church hymn is "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing". There is a reason for that. I am just as prone to wander from my God as anybody else, and it is by His grace only that I am right here by His side.
A few verses have laid heavy on my heart lately. But one particular set of verses have been etched in my mind more than others over the past two weeks or so. And most professing believers have read them time and again. "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few"(Matthew 7:14). I always used read those verses and just assume that I was on that narrow path. I called myself a Christian, therefore I must be walking along the narrow. That's what I told myself. So I would go to church on Sunday, smile at a few people, hear a convicting message, maybe think about it for the day, and then go back to my comfortable way of living on Monday morning. Hang out at youth/college group during the week, maybe even go to Bible Study. But if I were to really stop and truly ask myself why I was going to so many church oriented events, my honest answer would be because they were fun, and I met some cool people and pretty Christian girls. The added bonus was that God's Word was spoken there, but that wasn't my reason for going. If someone were to ask me why I went, I would give them the "Christian" answer, and maybe even convince myself that I had the right motives. Again, I would feel convicted, but walk away with my lifestyle unchanged.
Even after accepting Jesus as my Saviour, I always had this tendency to test God. At least I feel that way. I never did it knowingly, but I just feel like I would go through so many dry spells that would lead me to doubt Him. Doubted His power, doubted His presence, sometimes even His existence. I just rarely felt Him so I was just left unsure if He was really there. God's way of responding to my lack of faith usually resulted in a drastic experience for me, but in the end each event has only brought me closer to Him and I praise Him for every trial that He's pulled me through. That is weird actually seeing those words typed out. But it's the truth, I am a hard headed idiot at times. And without question, if it wasn't for Him shaking up my life the way that He has, I wouldn't be where I am right now--hands wide open, fully submitted to His will, and more in love with Him than I ever have been. If it was up to me, I'd be out living my life, doing my thing, following my plans, living my idea of a comfortable, casual life. And then when He comes back in all of His glory, expect Him to look at me and tell me that I had walked the narrow path? Not a chance.
The reason I give you a little mini-testimony on my life is because I am scared. Worried for so many people in the church who think they are saved but are living a lie. I see that old me in so many professing believers, people who say that they love Jesus but don't show it by a genuine lifestyle change. Their lives look NO different than the world around us. They blend right in. In them I see that guy in me who attended church activities for selfish reasons, to get the pat on the back, and make myself believe that I was really saved.
The road is narrow and the way is hard. And few find it. That's what scares me.
Jesus never implied following Him to be easy. We're not only called but commanded to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. The road narrow, the way hard. Genuine salvation is truly by faith and faith alone. But just as His word says, that faith is not saving faith is it doesn't display itself in works (James 2:17). We are not saved because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has already done. We won't have to consciously remind ourselves to do a bunch of deeds on some kind of Christian checklist. We will just do them naturally, because God's greatest act of love has transformed the way that we think.
Just some "food for thought", I guess. I honestly don't know very much. But I'm trying with each passing day to learn more and more about this amazing God. And I believe this truth with all of my heart. I don't want anyone to be deceived. I want to spend eternity with all of my friends and family. If any part of this rant stirs in your heart in the least, please just go to Jesus with it. Call on Him, I promise you He will listen. Or come talk to me about it. Again, I'm just a 22 year old kid and I don't know much, but I can tell you how I changed. How Jesus changed me. Love you all.
-Adam
"We are surrounded by unconverted people who think they do believe in Jesus. Drunks on the street say they believe. Unmarried couples sleeping together say they believe. Elderly people who haven't sought worship or fellowship in forty years say they believe. All kinds of lukewarm, world-loving church attenders say they believe. The world abounds with millions of unconverted people who say they believe in Jesus." - John Piper
"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:15-16
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." -Philippians 3:8
Monday, January 4, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Why I Write
I write a lot. A lot more than what I write on here. I write because I think all the time, and I've come to the sorry realization that as a human being I can only remember so much in my lifetime.
The majority of my life I won't even remember. That's a pretty sad reality if you think about it. I only came to the realization myself because I read it in a book. "The saddest thing about life is you don't remember half of it. You don't even remember half of half of it. Not even a tiny percentage, if you want to know the truth. Life isn't memorable enough to remember everything. It's not like there are explosions happening all the time or dogs smoking cigarettes." The first time I read that, I wasn't sure if I agreed. But after thinking about it, and reminiscing back on my own life, I think for the most part it's a pretty true statement. And that's sad to me. The only things we really remember are the major events and genuine people that impact us along the way. You remember the one that you fall in love with, and the one that breaks your heart. Sometimes the one you love is the one that breaks your heart. Life-threatening experiences, and when life is taken away from somebody that you love. Your first kiss, the day you lose your virginity, your first fight. Basically your "first" anything. But in perspective, outside of a few other random experiences, most is forgotten.
That is why I write. I don't write for any other reason than to remember my life, remember the sweet, genuine people that I meet, and to grow from past experiences. I write because I'm hyper critical of myself. Not in the emo, self-pity sort of way, but in the fact that I often see error in my life that does not line up with the Jesus that I claim to follow. And I cannot be content with that. If I am than I have an even greater problem. I've counted the cost and made the choice to try every single day to mirror the life that He lived. It's the same choice that every true follower of Jesus Christ has made. I will fail every single day in trying. But it's only when I stop recognizing that I'm messed up and stop asking for His help in trying to change, that is when I have real issues. I don't write because I think I'm better than anyone else. I write because I know I'm just as much a sinner as the next person is.
This is me. I have nothing to hide. Help me remember, I want to help you remember too. We are here for Him.
The majority of my life I won't even remember. That's a pretty sad reality if you think about it. I only came to the realization myself because I read it in a book. "The saddest thing about life is you don't remember half of it. You don't even remember half of half of it. Not even a tiny percentage, if you want to know the truth. Life isn't memorable enough to remember everything. It's not like there are explosions happening all the time or dogs smoking cigarettes." The first time I read that, I wasn't sure if I agreed. But after thinking about it, and reminiscing back on my own life, I think for the most part it's a pretty true statement. And that's sad to me. The only things we really remember are the major events and genuine people that impact us along the way. You remember the one that you fall in love with, and the one that breaks your heart. Sometimes the one you love is the one that breaks your heart. Life-threatening experiences, and when life is taken away from somebody that you love. Your first kiss, the day you lose your virginity, your first fight. Basically your "first" anything. But in perspective, outside of a few other random experiences, most is forgotten.
That is why I write. I don't write for any other reason than to remember my life, remember the sweet, genuine people that I meet, and to grow from past experiences. I write because I'm hyper critical of myself. Not in the emo, self-pity sort of way, but in the fact that I often see error in my life that does not line up with the Jesus that I claim to follow. And I cannot be content with that. If I am than I have an even greater problem. I've counted the cost and made the choice to try every single day to mirror the life that He lived. It's the same choice that every true follower of Jesus Christ has made. I will fail every single day in trying. But it's only when I stop recognizing that I'm messed up and stop asking for His help in trying to change, that is when I have real issues. I don't write because I think I'm better than anyone else. I write because I know I'm just as much a sinner as the next person is.
This is me. I have nothing to hide. Help me remember, I want to help you remember too. We are here for Him.
It's Not Worth Your Time
"The tv's blaring, the radio is turned up loud.
Maybe then I'll sleep well, maybe then I'll drown you out.
Don't want to think much, I don' t want to reminisce.
Cuz love songs and poems have all led, they've all led me to this.
It's dangerous, to be sleepin alone.
And it's way way way, it's way to cold
to be at home.
I've locked up tightly, I must say I've had my doubts.
Cuz they will kick and they will scream, but there's no way they're ever getting out.
They breathed fresh air once, a long time a long time ago.
And now stuck up inside my head, how they ever gonna grow?
It's dangerous, to be sleepin alone.
And it's way way way, it's way to cold
to be at home.
And I am what I am, yes I am what I am.
It ain't that bad.
What I'm tryin to say here is not worth, it's not worth your time.
I'm just a lonely, a lonely love sick boy with my rhyme.
It's dangerous, to be sleepin alone.
And it's way way way, it's way to cold
To be at home.
And I am what I am, yes I am what I am.
It ain't that bad.
And even the toughest white boy, yes even the baddest white boy,
he still gets sad. "
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Santa Monica Blvd.
It's been 4 days and the fire hasn't dwindled. And so I'll write in hopes that it continues to burn more and more each and every day. Then when I get caught up with myself, my problems, and other distractions, I will look here to remember where my heart is, where my heart needs to be. Where everyone's heart who carries the name of Jesus needs to be.
Three weeks ago I went to a show in Hollywood. It was one of those nights that dropped into the mid twenties. Beyond cold. As I was sprinting out of the Troubador and down Santa Monica Blvd to get back into my car and turn on the heater, I looked to my right to see a homeless man bundled up the best that he possibly could be in the doorway of a local shop. His sleeping bag too small for his body, and his feet hanging out of the end. My heart sank into my chest like it hadn't in months. There was nothing that I could do, I felt at the time, and I didn't have a dime on me. So I shook the thought from my head and continued jogging to my car. After resting my hands up against the vents of the heater and gaining feeling back into my own hands, I put on some music and started home. My heart rose back into its normal position until my head hit the pillow that night.
I laid there for a good 30 minutes just thinking about how blessed I really am. I have a warm bed to come home to every night. I have a roof over my head. I have a kitchen full of food less than 20 feet from where I type these words. I have an amazing family that I love and can always count on. The man on Santa Monica Blvd and the thousands of other homeless people that sleep the city streets less than 45 miles from my house have none of that. I'm not trying to make this sound any more dramatic than it needs to be, but it really made me think, and I won't dumb down how desperate these people really are.
A few days went by and I started to get back into the routine of my comfortable life. I had a gang of thoughts running through my head and just about the last thing that I was thinking about were people who were literally dying for something to eat. A few hours later I received a text from a friend saying she was trying to get some people together to drive down to Santa Monica to feed the homeless Christmas Eve dinner. I committed and didn't think twice about it. I had spent a few nights on skid row in the past, but apparently had forgotten what an experience it is to just forget about my own desires, my own selfish wants, and to love the unloved. Still, I didn't expect much more than a few shy smiles as I passed out dinner to the people who would spend Christmas morning alone. Regardless, I was stoked for the opportunity and of the selflessness of the other 5 people that were going, and I didn't want to underestimate what God was and is capable of doing.
I would love to write down every little intricate detail of what happened, but for times sake, I'll condense. It's amazing to look back at the situation, see how many things could have went wrong, and then see how God protected and provided in every situation. I think every person that we talked with impacted each of us in a different way. For me personally, one particular man impacted me the most. His name was Richard. He didn't look much older than 30 and was the one of the sweetest, happiest guys that I've met in a very long time. Homeless and happy? Sounds like an oxymoron. Not only that, but he seemed content. Let me clarify. There is a big difference between a homeless person and a bum. A bum will always be a bum, they're content being a bum because it's the only life they know and they've learned to like it. They have no intentions of getting off of the streets. Richard was the furthest thing from a bum. But he was content in the fact that he realized his homelessness was from God. God has placed him in his current situation for reasons unknown to me, and I'm sure unknown to Richard, but he is content in that and seems to be trusting God with the situation. It blew my mind to see that kind of trust come from a man who has nothing. I met him with nothing more than a coat on his back and I didn't hear him complain one time. It really made me look at myself and the stupid things that I want, that I think I need. He has to worry about what he is going to eat tomorrow. He has to worry about staying warm tonight. He woke up on Christmas morning with no one to even smile at him. And yet I sit here and complain that I don't have enough money in my accounts. That I'm hungry. It makes me sick to think about how many stupid things I worry about.
I could write paragraph after paragraph about the time that I shared with Richard, even though we only talked for 45 minutes. For any one who was there and spoke to him, I'm sure you feel the same. All I ask is that you pray for him. Everyone, please just pray for him.
I wrote this extensive post for a few reasons. I don't want to forget the experience. I don't want this to be something that I do when 'I feel like it'. It needs to be a regular thing. As Christians, we are commanded to love these people. Jesus says repeatedly all through scripture that if we truly love him, we will follow his commandments. He also commands that we remain in His love, and that the only way to remain in His love is to keep His commandments (John 15). I don't understand how people who claim to love Jesus and to love people, can sit back, pursue what they want to pursue, enjoy what they want to enjoy, and turn a blind eye to the people that we are commanded to love. I was that person, I still am that person, but I'm trying every single day to change from that person. Because I believe with my whole heart that I can't just believe and follow some of the Word. It's all or none. I think any professing believer would agree with that statement. For your own sakes, read 1 John 3:16-17. Let God's Word speak to you in itself. If you are turning a blind eye to these people desperately in need of your love, then God's love is not within you. Blunt, yes. But I'd rather be blunt then let a brother or sister continue living a lie.
It's just something that has really laid heavy on my heart lately, and I wanted to share it in hopes of challenging others to consider the way that they are living their life, and the things that they are consuming their time with--as well as asking that fellow believers do the same for me. That they might hold me accountable in reminding me to keep my heart where it needs to be, where it is commanded to be. These people need our love.
"For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?" Then He will answer them saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:42-46
"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion, how can God's love be in that person?" 1 John 3:16-17
Three weeks ago I went to a show in Hollywood. It was one of those nights that dropped into the mid twenties. Beyond cold. As I was sprinting out of the Troubador and down Santa Monica Blvd to get back into my car and turn on the heater, I looked to my right to see a homeless man bundled up the best that he possibly could be in the doorway of a local shop. His sleeping bag too small for his body, and his feet hanging out of the end. My heart sank into my chest like it hadn't in months. There was nothing that I could do, I felt at the time, and I didn't have a dime on me. So I shook the thought from my head and continued jogging to my car. After resting my hands up against the vents of the heater and gaining feeling back into my own hands, I put on some music and started home. My heart rose back into its normal position until my head hit the pillow that night.
I laid there for a good 30 minutes just thinking about how blessed I really am. I have a warm bed to come home to every night. I have a roof over my head. I have a kitchen full of food less than 20 feet from where I type these words. I have an amazing family that I love and can always count on. The man on Santa Monica Blvd and the thousands of other homeless people that sleep the city streets less than 45 miles from my house have none of that. I'm not trying to make this sound any more dramatic than it needs to be, but it really made me think, and I won't dumb down how desperate these people really are.
A few days went by and I started to get back into the routine of my comfortable life. I had a gang of thoughts running through my head and just about the last thing that I was thinking about were people who were literally dying for something to eat. A few hours later I received a text from a friend saying she was trying to get some people together to drive down to Santa Monica to feed the homeless Christmas Eve dinner. I committed and didn't think twice about it. I had spent a few nights on skid row in the past, but apparently had forgotten what an experience it is to just forget about my own desires, my own selfish wants, and to love the unloved. Still, I didn't expect much more than a few shy smiles as I passed out dinner to the people who would spend Christmas morning alone. Regardless, I was stoked for the opportunity and of the selflessness of the other 5 people that were going, and I didn't want to underestimate what God was and is capable of doing.
I would love to write down every little intricate detail of what happened, but for times sake, I'll condense. It's amazing to look back at the situation, see how many things could have went wrong, and then see how God protected and provided in every situation. I think every person that we talked with impacted each of us in a different way. For me personally, one particular man impacted me the most. His name was Richard. He didn't look much older than 30 and was the one of the sweetest, happiest guys that I've met in a very long time. Homeless and happy? Sounds like an oxymoron. Not only that, but he seemed content. Let me clarify. There is a big difference between a homeless person and a bum. A bum will always be a bum, they're content being a bum because it's the only life they know and they've learned to like it. They have no intentions of getting off of the streets. Richard was the furthest thing from a bum. But he was content in the fact that he realized his homelessness was from God. God has placed him in his current situation for reasons unknown to me, and I'm sure unknown to Richard, but he is content in that and seems to be trusting God with the situation. It blew my mind to see that kind of trust come from a man who has nothing. I met him with nothing more than a coat on his back and I didn't hear him complain one time. It really made me look at myself and the stupid things that I want, that I think I need. He has to worry about what he is going to eat tomorrow. He has to worry about staying warm tonight. He woke up on Christmas morning with no one to even smile at him. And yet I sit here and complain that I don't have enough money in my accounts. That I'm hungry. It makes me sick to think about how many stupid things I worry about.
I could write paragraph after paragraph about the time that I shared with Richard, even though we only talked for 45 minutes. For any one who was there and spoke to him, I'm sure you feel the same. All I ask is that you pray for him. Everyone, please just pray for him.
I wrote this extensive post for a few reasons. I don't want to forget the experience. I don't want this to be something that I do when 'I feel like it'. It needs to be a regular thing. As Christians, we are commanded to love these people. Jesus says repeatedly all through scripture that if we truly love him, we will follow his commandments. He also commands that we remain in His love, and that the only way to remain in His love is to keep His commandments (John 15). I don't understand how people who claim to love Jesus and to love people, can sit back, pursue what they want to pursue, enjoy what they want to enjoy, and turn a blind eye to the people that we are commanded to love. I was that person, I still am that person, but I'm trying every single day to change from that person. Because I believe with my whole heart that I can't just believe and follow some of the Word. It's all or none. I think any professing believer would agree with that statement. For your own sakes, read 1 John 3:16-17. Let God's Word speak to you in itself. If you are turning a blind eye to these people desperately in need of your love, then God's love is not within you. Blunt, yes. But I'd rather be blunt then let a brother or sister continue living a lie.
It's just something that has really laid heavy on my heart lately, and I wanted to share it in hopes of challenging others to consider the way that they are living their life, and the things that they are consuming their time with--as well as asking that fellow believers do the same for me. That they might hold me accountable in reminding me to keep my heart where it needs to be, where it is commanded to be. These people need our love.
"For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?" Then He will answer them saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:42-46
"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion, how can God's love be in that person?" 1 John 3:16-17
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Profit Motive
"You gave your life away in hopes for something more.
Did you think you would find the answer to questions centuries old by sitting on your hands? You wont find your answer.
Say what you came here to say. All eyes are fixed on ruins.
If there's a hope for change to be made, then now is your time to deliver.
Rise above. The calm is wearing thin.
Rise above.
I feel this growing.
This is love.
It's what we're made for.
This, this is love.
We're never backing down.
This time I am so sincere.
You blot out the sun with your mouth open wide, and built a spiritless empire to reach your heaven.
You're stumbling.
You're tripping now.
How worthless this all seems.
And your time is running out.
How worthless this all seems.
Take an axe to the root.
Cut out your eye.
The towers crumble.
The lowly sing. We all sing.
This is me. I know it's not what you wanted.
This is me. My heart is so sincere."
Did you think you would find the answer to questions centuries old by sitting on your hands? You wont find your answer.
Say what you came here to say. All eyes are fixed on ruins.
If there's a hope for change to be made, then now is your time to deliver.
Rise above. The calm is wearing thin.
Rise above.
I feel this growing.
This is love.
It's what we're made for.
This, this is love.
We're never backing down.
This time I am so sincere.
You blot out the sun with your mouth open wide, and built a spiritless empire to reach your heaven.
You're stumbling.
You're tripping now.
How worthless this all seems.
And your time is running out.
How worthless this all seems.
Take an axe to the root.
Cut out your eye.
The towers crumble.
The lowly sing. We all sing.
This is me. I know it's not what you wanted.
This is me. My heart is so sincere."
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