Worship

There are people in this world that you can watch and SEE with the actions they take, the way that they speak, the love they have for the Father... it comes out in their face... like a glow (reflecting the son), it's awesome. I have never met this man, but he has a passion:

I searched the world for a song that I could sing
Praise to my King A gift that I could bring
But no music I found could compare to you
Not one could do Justice to your glory
What are my songs compared to yours

You speak with thunder and lightning
Your voice shakes the mountains
The foundations of the earth
All I can offer is this fragile breath

With each one I'll praise You
With each one I'll praise You more

I searched the world for a poem I could read
A rhyme that would bring Glory to my King
But no writing I found was worthy of
This God high above All other gods
What are my words compared to yours

If you have a chance to meet Todd Agnew, please take it, settle for a live concert if you have to... The above song is This Fragile Breath.

Big Enough

Ayiesha Woods

I don't wanna box you in
You've been doing big things since the world began
Sometimes I just don't wanna believe
That you're big enough - but you're big enough!

this is a refrain... I think it's great... because I think often of how we try to put God in a nice neat little box... only that means we are constraining him to OUR limitations instead of seeing Him for who is really is...

I am a work-in-progress

My friend Slacker asked for advice on how to be more self-less and less selfish.

Here’s my perspective, for what it’s worth—sometimes the thought of being selfless seems completely contradictory, because how does one really and truly do that? So often other “things” cloud our vision, we see the long-term outcome, thinking of our rewards for being in just the right place at just the right time, doing that showy Pharisaical prayer in front of a crowd, thinking ourselves bigger than we are because we give a tithe/offering above what “most” people give—forgetting completely who blessed us with the job and the ability to do it in the first place, so that we might pay our bills, that we might have a roof over our heads, being prideful instead of humble, acting as if “I am the man!”. As followers of Christ, I’d like to point out, cockiness… not attractive.

Instead of doing whatever it is we are called to do as unto our Lord, instead of listening closely to that still small voice, or that gentle nudge God gives us when he wants us to go in one direction over the other. One example: when you see a distraught person in a public place… stepping outside your comfort zone and asking the question: “are you alright?” or “hey, can I do something for you?” Letting down your guard just long enough to be Christ to this world, to really, I mean really SEE this world for what it is. Dying, suffering, aching to be loved, loved without strings, longing to be treated with compassion.

To be who God asks us to be, selfless… this means, finding those people who will hold you accountable for your actions, more than that—daily asking, ASKING God to reveal himself to you, and on top of that asking, requesting with a sincere heart, the scary-part, “Lord give me the courage to do what you want, let me be more of you and less of me.”

Oh Lord You're Beautiful

Keith Green

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it Lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clean.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with holy fear.

I wanted to emphasize some part of this, but each time I read through it I see that really I want this to be a song from my heart. I appreciate Keith Green tremendously, there is a passion in so many of the songs he wrote, a desire that often surpasses the way I feel personally.

My prayer for each person that takes the time to read this is that you will be someone who is so passionate, so excited about how big God is, how real God is, that you won't be able to contain your enthusiasm. That you'll spend time showing God's love, not just using the church-talk that so often sounds foreign people... that you'll be that person who is willing to have your fire renewed--wanting it to burn bright and knowing it can because you replenish your supply from the one and only place that makes it a fire to begin with--rejoice in the moment, smile in the face of adversity, read your Bible like it will be the last time you'll ever have your hands on it. Spend time praising God for how awesome he is, spend time listening intently in the secret quiet place of your heart.

Make sure you don't get wrapped up in materialism.

Check in on someone who may need encouragement.

Open your eyes to people around you--they live in a world separate from yours, you never know what difficulties they are going through...

Spend time being thankful.

Above all: Don't be self-centered. Focus. Remember what blessings you have because of our Lord.

Negative?

Big Enough

Chris Rice

None of us knows and that makes it a mystery
If life is a comedy, then why all the tragedy
Three-and-a-half pounds of brain try to figure out
What this world is all about
And is there an eternity, is there an eternity?

God if You’re there I wish You’d show me
And God if You care then I need You to know me
I hope You don’t mind me askin’ the questions
But I figure You’re big enoughI figure You’re big enough

When I imagine the size of the universe
And I wonder what’s out past the edges
Then I discover inside me a space as big
And believe that I’m meant to be
Filled up with more than just questions

So, God if You’re there I wish You’d show me
And God if You care then I need You to know me
I hope You don’t mind me askin’ the questions
But I figure You’re big enough
I figure You’re big enough‘Cause I am not big enough