After I caught up on some much needed sleep till about 12:30 or 1, I got myself around, took Matt to the movies, and then cleaned my dad's van. Once it got around time for me to go to Dave church, I got in the shower, and headed off to where I needed to be. There was a big surprise at Dave church a.k.a. Life Light Ministries. Well, when I was ohhh a freshmen or maybe not quite a freshmen, I went on a missions trip to Mexico. The Mexican leader person who helped get things done and took care of a lot of the logistics, well his name was Alberto. In the picture with Dave, the guy sitting to his left is Alberto. It was awesome tonight because I got to hear from Daves heart, as well as Alberto's. I remember Alberto's wife from the trip. She made the most amazing food. Well, I found out tonight that she died of liver cancer in late 2005. I heard Alberto speak over dinner about how it impacted his ministry, and how God used something unexplainably horrible to further the kingdom of Christ.
Tonight was so awesome because we laid hands on each other, and prayed for each individual. God just spoke through the hearts of everyone who was there. I love this life I live. I screw up and I can always do better. But this life I live, even when it is at it's worse, is something I am so happy for. The worst day of my life in Christ, is far better than the best day of my life away from Christ. I am falling on my knees tonight before I go to bed for some specific prayer requests. My friend Britt asked if I would pray for her while she studies for a HUGE test tomorrow. One that will decide if all these years of hard work and what not paid off in nursing school. I guess it is super duper important. She has her test @ 2:15.
I am praying for Alberto as he makes the very long trip back to Mexico.
I am praying for myself, that I may become a better servant for Christ.
I am asking forgiveness for my shortcomings, and asking Christ to show me how I need to improve areas of my life that I still stumble in.
I had a great day today. It was a day where God really revealed himself through people who have been in my life for quite some time. I dunno, the Spirit really spoke through Dave tonight at Dave church. It was really good stuff. Check this out. Dave explained the matter of Love in such a way that he said People, who are void of love, serve simply as the conduit. The example he gave was of the pipes hooked up to your toilet. You do your business on the toilet but never think about the pipe that delivers the 'stuff' to wherever it needs to go (ie. water filtration plant, etc.). I think where he was going with this was that if you didn't have the pipes, which would be the LOVE, the toilet would have no purpose. You would just be sitting in crap. A human loving without Christ being at the center, would only serve to send out love void of meaning and substantialness. It made a lot of sense in my head when he said it, sorry if I didn't explain it too well. If you are a new reader, and don't know what Dave Church is. Well, just search this BLOG. Type in the words, Dave Church, and check out what it is. I think the picture explains it all.... ;-)
The main focus of the message was around Romans 12:9, even more after 9, but mostly in 9. In the Message translation of the BIBLE it says this. --->"Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it." Geeze, this is so friggin true. If you are not loving in a genuine way, what is the point??? The more Jesus you let in, the more capable you are to love EVERYONE in the most impacting and sincere way possible. When I say everyone, I mean the people in your life who you never thought possible to love, EVERYONE! This is a bold statement, but I say it proudly with assurance of it's truth. Humans are not capable of love without Christ. When the center of an individual is all Jesus, love abounds infinitely.Then we got to talking about communion. Wow, some good stuff came out tonight. Communion all too often comes off as this action you take, because...well, everyone else at church does it. When in reality, communion is a sacred and EXTREMELY IMPORTANT act done through Christ, in rememberence of Christ and what he did. For an individual to partake in the act of communion, without any intention of living out those promises and changes that they "feel" need to take place, well, put it down and pray. Communion should be something that signifies a follower in Christ is taking the step in being fully alive in Christ. Death to yourself, life in Christ. Philippians 1:21 NIV says, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Apostle Paul said it quite perfectly, in 1 Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" I friggin love it, I am so at that point. Dang, devotion to something as powerful and mighty as the great Lord Jesus Christ, just brings me to a new level. It just makes me want to change every bit of my being. Not just think about it, but MAKE IT HAPPEN!! I have this verse hanging up in my bathroom. Titus 2:13-14 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. It is so good people. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. Just believe in him, and accept everything he wants for you, and the reward is great. The way God honors obedience is mighty and powerful!!! You just have to take a step out of the normal comfort zone. I write this with a smile on my face.These two pictures show how my evening ended. I took Rachel, Dave's daughter home from her brother Phil's house. Phil is laying down in the top picture with the dog. Twas a good night. Saw the Vikings hose the Bears. And, had some fun with Phil, and his bro John, and their sister Rachel, and phil's wife Julie. Twas a real good night. I have also decided to share something extra tonight. I am going to share a poem I wrote for my English class. I have never shown anyone except my Prof and parents up until this point. I will briefly explain it, then leave the rest up to you. I wrote this poem as though I was my sister Merideth. The first paragraph is how I view my sister thinking about her own life. The second paragraph is how I view my sister views my life. Take what you want, think what you will. It is a lot of bare honesty. Also, my sister is a lesbian.
A letter written in the stance of my sister. My life is her life. Your life is my life.
To my life:
Once long and luscious, my hair exists now, only of short pointed strands. Hateful eyes penetrate the soul; I walk past with my head hung low. I crave acceptance as though it is a necessity of life. How can I be something they tell me I’m not? Your forgotten remarks from high school have hindered my ability to feel anything real. How could a loving God allow me to go through “those things?” Relationships are a painful game of back stabbing and defeat. The acquiescent loss of my sexuality is greatly outweighed by the favor I gain from friends. An understanding of my biological heritage does little to sooth the pain I continually evade. Success is a low rating based on the amount of inner pain I feel on a weekly basis. I can’t understand why sincere love is so accepting of me. I am to be taken advantage of; I question my worth on a daily basis. My merit is a deprecating value compounded by my lack of self understanding. I facilitate the pain in my struggle by not allowing Truth near me. The death I fill my lungs and liver with are a temporary relief at best. Love is a lustful and destructive force that never satisfies.
To your life:
Your genuine smile does much to ease my blighted position. I feel your words are sincere. Your hug gives me strength, unexplainable by words. Your eyes aren’t haughty or demeaning. Your life is an appealing, unattainable frustration. Your Truth is an abstract reality. Your love is impractical. Sincerity and gentleness is what you project to my kind. Your personal stance does little to affect your underlying behavior. You love me, no matter how my actions shame you.
Today was awesome! I promised my Young Life buddy, Vantrell, some time ago that I would come and check out his church. He just recently got involved with the Chior, and is real proud of it. So, this morning I got myself around and drove down town to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. If I could sum the 2 1/2 hour service up, this is what my notes have to say.
Psalms 121:1-2 When times are rough, tough, and seemingly impossible, where do I turn my eyes?
God's plans are bigger than what I can understand, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't keep on looking towards Him always.
People are always looking towards someone when in time of need. I must keep my eyes fixed on Christ, the only one worth looking at.
Isaiah 54:17 doesn't say anything about weapons not being forged, it says they are gonna keep being forged (loss of jobs, money, friends, loved ones, sadness, Flesh rising up) but that they WILL NOT PREVAIL against you. Ohhh boy what words of comfort to keep holding fast to the only Rock worth standing on. LOVE IT!!
I was the only white person in that church today. But let me tell you, I felt right at home because the pastor was preaching the word, and I was loving it. All 2.5 hours of it!! Vantrell was really happy that I came out to experience his church too. I was glad he was glad. :-)
After that, I had an appt at the library with a librarian to help me find some books for my paper.I got some helping on how to search for specific books based on key word searches. She helped me to utilize my search engines. It was good help, and I found two books relevant to the topics I needed. Then......it was off to find them. This was made extra hard because they are moving all the books in the library, all over the place. I found them eventually though.I really am not a huge fan of the dewy decimalsystem, but I suppose it is a good thing it is around. I am just glad there are librarians around to help me when I am unsuccessful, because I only found 1 our of 2 books. :-)
I was so tired, I passed out on the couch when I got home and almost forgot about Dave church. ALMOST, but didn't.
In Dave Church, we talked about how vastly important it is to surrender and praise God when you are being slain. Just like Job said, "even though you slay me, I shall trust you." WOW!! That is what you have to want to attain to, I JUST HAVE TO!!
please say a prayer for my friend Richard. Richard is leaving for an adventure in Christ to go down to Florida tomorrow to get new teeth. It is a long and amazing story, but the fact of the matter is he needs prayer. Please say a prayer for his safety, and that he is able to abound in TRUSTING THE LORD for EVERYTHING!!
I woke up early this morning after a Young Life sleep over/weekend thingy got over. Well, I still had promised my cousin that I would take him to church. SOOOOO, I got my booty home, in the shower, and out to where my cousin is staying. Picked him up, and we went off to church.It was the 11:15AM service, so it was set up a little different than last week's 9AM service. It was a more traditional set up, they still had tables towards the back, which personally I think is awesome. But all the chairs and attention was faced towards the front. This is a church of house churches, which again is great. My cousin is being very interested and I think that is just great.
What I think is even greater is Dave Church. Or the Sunday evening church I have been going to for quite some time now. I made this poem up about it.
Ode to Dave Church Rough week Spirits low Work is constant I need a break
Computer crashing Selfish Sister Urinary problems I need a break
Work imposing Children yelling Car is stalling I need a break
Familiar faces Friendly smiles love prevailing I found a break
Word of God Compassion tugging Man of faith I found a break
Feeling welcome Always gentle Laughs are hearty I found a break
Dave, this may be insignificant, but I promised you I would write you a little something something. Take it for what it is my friend. Love you Dave.
After I caught up on some much needed sleep till about 12:30 or 1, I got myself around, took Matt to the movies, and then cleaned my dad's van. Once it got around time for me to go to Dave church, I got in the shower, and headed off to where I needed to be. There was a big surprise at Dave church a.k.a. Life Light Ministries. Well, when I was ohhh a freshmen or maybe not quite a freshmen, I went on a missions trip to Mexico. The Mexican leader person who helped get things done and took care of a lot of the logistics, well his name was Alberto. In the picture with Dave, the guy sitting to his left is Alberto. It was awesome tonight because I got to hear from Daves heart, as well as Alberto's. I remember Alberto's wife from the trip. She made the most amazing food. Well, I found out tonight that she died of liver cancer in late 2005. I heard Alberto speak over dinner about how it impacted his ministry, and how God used something unexplainably horrible to further the kingdom of Christ.
