Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Saturday, April 25, 2009

the proud.


This is a reminder for me and I'm pretty sure for many of you who's weakness is pride.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

This is so true. I have experienced it so many times where God would reveal my pride and I would just choose to ignore it. Then I would fall bad, helping me realize that I truly am nothing. Nothing that I've done or can do has saved me but it was only by the grace of God. So, in conclusion, there is nothing for me to boast about. I have nothing to say to others pointing out that I'm better than them because I'm this way or that way but it was only by God's grace that He's starting to transform me.. Trust me, THERE ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY THINGS THAT I FIND IN MYSELF TO BE SOO WICKED.. But only by God's mercy, he reveals to me so I can repent of it and be right with him. To be honest, pride is still my greatest weakness. HS continues to show and reveal to me that I need to submit when I want to boast. He tells me to be low when someone flicks me off on the freeway. He reminds me to pray for them even more.. and to cry out for their souls. There are many times when I want to lash back at someone after they've hurt me. There are many times when I wanted to inflict pain or even rejoice over another person's misfortune but now that God has been merciful, I need to show mercy also. Just as the Lord had compassion for the world that hates him and finds him offensive, I want to have compassion on those who hate me because I'm a believer in Christ and is found innocent.

Jeremiah 12:5
If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?

This is one of my favorite verses. God spoke to me through this during my sophomore year of College.. even in my religiousness. But it speaks to me even more to this day. If I can't forgive those that have wronged me alittle, HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO'LL HATE ME BECAUSE IM A FIRM BELIEVER OF JESUS CHRIST!? If I can't love those around me that have wronged me, HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO LOVE THOSE WHO WILL BE PISSING ON MY FACE OR CHOPPING MY FINGERS OFF JUST BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST!? If I can't handle this situation, how will I be able to handle the greater things that are to come? This is when I say, "God, i trust you. Even though it's super hard to love this person, I will obey you. Because you have said in your word that If I loved you I will keep your commands, this is why I will choose to love when I don't want to. I am not living to satisfy myself but to satisfy you and be pleasing to you. I will submit. I will humble myself and cry out on behalf of those who hurt me.. so that you can save them. Just as you have saved a wretched sinner like me. If you can save me, You can save anyone...

So Finally to the meat of the entry.

OBADIAH - strong warning to the PROUD.

TO CHRISTIANS TODAY and also to MYSELF: To those that when they hear of the calamity of a brother or sister, applaud and say, "It's about time. He had it coming; she deserved it. This book is a warning to those who think this way, which includes me. Those who possess an attitude of pride and a desire for vengeance will be reduced to nothing. We might feel all high and mighty when we see others cut down, but bible reminds us that God can also cut down down to size. Whenever you take refuge in your temporary limited source of strength, or even your position at work, or even intellectual power.. you're preparing for a fall. Though you feel secure, God can bring you down realllll fast.

So, if we hold grudges or attempt to take revenge, our own failure is certain. God says in Romans 12:19 - " It is mine to avenge, I will repay." He's basically saying," Leave it to me. I know the wrong done to you. I know all the unfair treatment. Let me deal with those who have hurt you. Your role is to forgive. Remember my sovereign power, don't attempt to take vengeance or you will certainly fail.

2. If we are proud and take pleasure in another's calamity, our own success will be diminished. Genuine spirit filled christians will weep with those who are weeping. Genuine spirit filled christians will have compassion, mercy, etc. on those who need it.

3. If we think we are secure in what we have earned and erected, our situation is sure to change. A heart of pride can backfire on us. We can become so arrogant, so convinced of our own invincibility, that we may not realize that we are setting ourselves up for destruction.

Advice from my study bible:

Beware of the attitudes of a prideful heart. Keep in mind these attitudes of self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, and self-centered judgementalism. These are deadly attitudes in the end. They'll lead to a hard heart, a heart of stone, a heart that cannot and will not get along with God, a heart that will not get along with others. Let Obadiah remind you of the consequences of the prideful heart that dwells with vengeance.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009

the passion promise

A fiery and inspiring video compilation put together by Cullen Webb.
It is 12 mins long and features six revivalists, including Leonard
Ravenhill, Paul Washer, Carter Conlon, Paris Reidhead and others.



The 2nd youtube video blew my mind away.. because God just answered why I was being so filled with distress for the condition of the church.  Everytime I heard Paul Washer speak and Leonard Ravenhill, I would start to grieve from the bottom of my heart.  I seriously thought I was just being emotional.. or that I might start my rag.. but now it's clear as day what God has been doing. I would try to explain to my mom and many others.. even people at NLC and Passion Church what's been stirring in my heart for the passed couple of days.. but couldn't fully explain without tears streaming down.  I would think at the back of my head that I'm being too emotional.  Even during passionweek I could not stop.  I could not stop when I was praying for AK after hearing about what was happening.  If Sarah Chang's reading this, maybe she'll know a bit of what was happening in my heart.  What I told her was that I've been having this overwhelming burden that I can't fully explain about the condition of NLC and how much we need to pray.  She probably thought I was just a lunatic and a really emotional person.  ^^ haha. 

God, I pray that you may continue to raise up people that are completely wholeheartedly devoted to you.  A people that will not heed to the traditions of men but submit to your will and what you want carried out in your church.  God, purify us and make us clean.  Continue to stir in us a passion, that unquenchable fire that this world cannot comprehend.  Train us and teach us.  Let your people be like gold refined in the fire. I love you God.  There is no one like you. Thank you for sharing your burden.  I want to go after the things in your heart oh God.  I want to know what you're thinking so I can please you and love you.  Continue to break me and fill me with your anguish so that I may pray desperately for the condition of your church today. 

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

amos: seek the LORD and LIVE.



I've been reading the book of Amos for the past couple of days. My study bible gives a brief description about the book and some historical background. It listed a couple of life lessons from Amos.
1. There is always a place for a dedicated messenger of God.
This means that you don't have to be well-schooled, intelligent, or even go to seminary. You don't have to know Hebrew or Greek to be influential and dedicated to God. key: faithfulness and dedication
2. some of God's choicest instruments emerge from obscure places.
3. God always warns before He judges.
This is a warning for those who have not changed their mind about their religiousness. God is constantly warning you but you decide to ignore his warnings. His warnings always precede judgement. The book of Amos is an example of when God says, "That's enough!" Please obey God.. if you feel as though this might be pertaining to you. Humble yourself before the Lord almighty. Submit to His ways and he will give you Life.
4. one of the greatest privileges on earth is to be fed the good Word of God.

While reading these passages, I asked God to make me an Amos. That I may be fully dedicated and faithful to Him.. even to the grave. That He may give me the strength and will to lay down life everyday so that He can be glorified. To speak on His behalf. To seek His face as my ultimate purpose. To love Him and make his fame known throughout the world.. to awaken those that are dead.

Amos 5:6.
SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE.

This struck out to me. HS showed me that the only way to stay alive and breathing.. being sensitive to the spirit and the father is by remaining in His presence. This world is dead and will pass. The more I partake in the world, will make me more desensitized. Why put on the chains that Christ has freed me of? The chains of the world.. and the bondages of sin. I pray that my flesh will die like the rest of the world. Help me HS to be led fully by you. Burn in me. More. More. and more. I love how that fire that you've placed in my heart.. that seal that you've placed on my heart.. has been growing more and more. God, you are consuming fire. I want to be a woman that burns with passion that this world cannot describe. God I want more of you. There is nothing like this. Use my life to please you Oh God. There is no where else I want to be.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

awaken me.

my prayer.

Whenever we feel as though we have no words to express the condition of our hearts, we can turn to the love letters that David wrote. Emotions of every kind are written in the book of Psalms. Let them become your prayer and worship to God.

Psalms 25: 4-7
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.

Psalm 30:10-12 (New International Version)
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Daniel 2:20-22
20 Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.

GOD'S INNERMOST DESIRE.

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

hillsong

i thought the chords were beautifully composed. God's using HILLSONG so powerfully.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

sermon.

james mcdonald - denied for me. pt1
james mcdonald - denied for me. pt2
james mcdonald - crucified for me. pt1
james mcdonald - crucified for me. pt2
james mcdonald - risen for me. pt1

james mcdonald - what do you do when....

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

James 3:2 says that we all fall in many ways. It's true, isn't it? No one could ever say, "Well, I've never failed the Lord."

But what do you do when you're confronted with your sin? When God uses a messenger, a circumstance or His Word to hold up a mirror to you, what do you do in that critical moment?

Because we all do fail the Lord, the issue then becomes, how do I respond when my sin is revealed to me? That is the great dividing line in all of humanity.

In 1 Samuel 15, the life of King Saul is under the microscope. We meet him at a pivotal moment when he is confronted with his sin. Tragically, rather than admitting what he did was wrong, he attempts a major cover-up. First he blamed it on the people. Then, he rationalized, "Yeah, I did most of that, but then I sacrificed to the Lord."

In essence Saul's strategy was, I'll do what I want and then I'll ask for forgiveness.

But there are some things you can't recover from. We like to kid ourselves by rationalizing, I'll do my thing until I get what I want and then I'll tell God I'm sorry and He'll receive me back. Will God forgive you? Yes, but you will bear the consequences of that decision for the rest of your days on earth. Did God forgive Saul? Yes, but Saul lost his opportunity to be king and nothing would change that. We live with our choices.

You say, "Well, what should I do when I realize I've sinned?" Unlike Saul, when you see your sin, be broken about it. Deal with it God's way. Welcome His deepest work within you. Choose sincerity over religious ritual. Choose repentance over rationalization. Choose brokenness over boasting. Choose a right relationship with Him over your own pride.

God waits for that moment when He sees you turn around. When He sees your repentant heart, He runs to you and loves you.

This could be your moment right now.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

david wilkerson - holy boldness.

HOLY BOLDNESS AND SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY

The more someone is with Jesus, the more that person becomes like Christ, in purity, holiness and love. In turn, his pure walk produces in him a great boldness for God. Scripture says, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). The word for bold in this verse means “secure, confident.” That’s just the kind of boldness the synagogue rulers saw in Peter and John as they ministered (see Acts 4:1–2).
 
In the previous chapter (Acts 3), Peter and John prayed for a crippled beggar and he was instantly healed. The healing caused a great stir around the temple, and in an attempt to stop the disciples from sharing their faith in Christ, the religious leaders had them arrested and put on a public trial.
 
Peter and John met with the synagogue rulers but the Bible doesn’t go into much detail about this scene in Acts 4. Yet I can assure you, the religious leaders orchestrated it to be all pomp and ceremony. First, the dignitaries solemnly took their velvety seats. Then the high priests’ relatives followed. Finally, in a moment of hushed anticipation, the robed high priests strutted in. Everyone bowed as the priests passed by, walking stiffly up the aisle toward the seat of judgment.
 
All of this was meant to intimidate Peter and John. But the disciples were not intimidated at all. They’d been with Jesus for too long. I imagine Peter thinking, “Come on, let’s get this meeting started. Just give me the pulpit and turn me loose. I’ve got a word from God for this gathering. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to preach your name to these Christ-haters.” Acts 4:8 begins with: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost…” and this tells me he wasn’t going to deliver a lecture. It wasn’t going to be quiet or reserved. Peter was a Jesus-possessed man, bursting with the Holy Ghost.
 
God’s servants are secure in their identity in Christ. And they stand confident in Jesus’ righteousness. Therefore, they have nothing to hide; they can stand before anyone with a clear conscience.

i surrender.


wow.. oh wow.. this is the topic God is speaking to his people. Surrender everything. We talked about surrendering yesterday in Passion Church.. meaning surrendering everything. I came across david Wilkerson's blog and read the most recent post. it was called. "The Surrendered Life". OMINAR! I was like dude, God you're crazy. What the heck. This is exactly what He wants me to do everyday.. even with what will come in the future.. chaos, destruction, and God's wrath.. to surrender all that I have. This is what was written.. For those who have ears to hear, listen to the spirit!

THE SURRENDERED LIFE
“Surrender.” What does this word tell you? In literal terms, surrender means “to give up something to another person.” It also means to relinquish something granted to you. This could include your possessions, power, goals, even your life.

Christians today hear much about the surrendered life. But what does it mean, exactly? The surrendered life is the act of giving back to Jesus the life he granted you. It’s relinquishing control, rights, power, direction, all the things you do and say. It’s totally resigning your life over to his hands, to do with as he pleases.

Jesus himself lived a surrendered life: “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). “I seek not mine own glory” (8:50). Christ never did anything on his own. He made no move and spoke no word without being instructed by the Father. “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things…. For I do always those things that please him” (8:28–29).

Jesus’ full surrender to the Father is an example of how we all should live. You may say, “Jesus was God in flesh. His life was surrendered before he even came to earth.” But the surrendered life is not imposed on anyone, including Jesus.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18).

Jesus was telling us, “Make no mistake. The act of self-surrender is totally within my power to do. I’m choosing to lay down my life. And I’m not doing it because some man told me to. Nobody’s taking my life from me. My Father gave me the right and the privilege to lay down my life. He also gave me the choice to pass up this cup and avoid the cross. But I choose to do it, out of love and full surrender to him.”

Our heavenly Father has given all of us this same right: the privilege to choose a surrendered life. No one is forced to yield his life to God. Our Lord doesn’t make us sacrifice our will and give back our lives to him. He freely offers us a Promised Land, full of milk, honey and fruit. But we may choose not to enter that place of fullness.

The truth is, we can have as much of Christ as we want. We can go as deep in him as we choose, living fully by his word and direction.
POSTED BY DAVID WILKERSON



Monday, April 6, 2009

Purity - James Mcdonald

At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
- Ephesians 5:8
When I think of purity, the craziest thing comes to my mind. I think of maple syrup. As teenagers, my brothers and I helped my grandfather collect sap from maple trees. We'd gather all the pails, take them to the sugar shack, and boil the sap down to make hundreds of gallons of pure maple syrup.
Now, you may think you've tasted pure maple syrup before, but just read the label. If it says, "Contains pure maple syrup," it's not the real thing. You can tell I'm a bit fussy about my syrup even today.
Here's the connection. Whether it's maple syrup or the life of a follower of Jesus Christ, if something else is mixed in, it's not pure.
The apostle Paul laid it out clearly in Romans 12:1-2: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world [don't mix in anything worldly], but be transformed by the renewal of your mind."
Our personal habits settle down very quickly into how we live. And believe it, God knows. If your life pleases Him, then you're like a fragrant offering rising up to His nose. He breathes in your sacrifice. He receives your life as pure worship.
So where do you stand on the issue of purity? "Well, I'm kind of new in the Lord, and I have some habits." Well, great! Now you know, and you can break them and continue to get free in Christ. You say, "Well, I used to be there, but I've kind of lowered my guard a little bit." Okay - raise it again! Let's be done with anything not fitting God's called-out ones. Holiness means no more games.
Nothing tastes as sweet or smells as fragrant to God as a pure life. If you are willing for God to change you, then get ready to taste and see His goodness as He directs your life to pure living. Life mixed with any of the world's ingredients will never satisfy again. No matter where you are, start today.

-James Mcdonald

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Thursday, April 2, 2009

awesome night.



wow. last night was awesome. There is a hunger to know our God in the midst of the apathy that fills our lives. Thank you GOD! I was so filled with joy after meeting Charity, Whan, and Stephanie. We're all babies in our walk with the Lord, but I do know that He's faithful. He'll remain faithful to all of us. He'll complete the work started in us... I pray that He'll continue to meet with us in Passion Church and move powerfully in everyone of our lives. The meeting went up til 11:52pm. We started at 8:30! So many things we needed to pray together about, shared, and explained how God was moving the past week or even in the past few months. As believers in Christ, we must continue to meet, to encourage our spiritual sisters and brothers, and help them to move forward toward the goal. I'm so thankful for the members. It doesn't seem like there's an age gap. Weird. Am I acting younger? or do they act older? But What I do know, is that when the holy spirit is flowing, there's just a lot of joy and openness to one another. I feel as though God just added more members into his family! More love. More hope. More building in the character of Christ. Love it! hahahahaha. I'm being overwhelmed right now with joy and peace. whoohooo!

Another thing that God's been pressing on my heart is to be wholly devoted to Him. This means not just when I want to devote myself, but devoting my eyes, my ears, my actions, my mouth, and my heart to Him. The Young Adult ministry has been going out to watch movies every week.. and now what I look at is if it's okay for my spiritual walk with God or not. If it's NC-17 or Rated R, I choose to lay it down. I don't want to be deceived or even grow apathetic toward those kind of contents. That'll make me more numb. I want to be on fire. I want to be passionately in love with Jesus! and because He tells me to give Him everything I will. I know I'll be facing alot of different opinions about this, but for those who think this is weird, and you're a believer please watch the videos below from p4cm. ESPECIALLY the one about spiritual famine and also you just lost one by Blair Wingo. Gets me so pissed at satan whenever I watch those videos. How easy it is for us to fall into temptation and how when we do compromise we are giving into apathy and glorifying ourselves and our flesh. SO, I deleted all my secular music last week. 40 gigs of secular music. No secular music in my ipod. I do not want to glorify my flesh or even myself, but glorify Him because He's redeemed me. No more of the temporary pleasure. No more of idolizing.

There's a part of me, that asked me how I'm going to reach out to the lost then. Yes there needs to be a connection.. in some way or form. I do have an imeem account to know the songs that are becoming popular these days.. to be able to connect with those who love music. That's one way I can actually connect with people.. through the topic of music. Yes, I will go watch some movies so that I can connect with people, but it wouldn't necessarily mean that I'm going there to watch the movie, but to spend time with people. I ask God for wisdom to help me distinguish and discern when he wants me to go and when he doesn't. ^^

How come we can't be wholly devoted to him? Why is it so hard for us to give up our lifestyle for God?! Why do you struggle and compromise and fall into the exact chains that Christ has freed you of? Church, we cannot be like the world because we are not of the world! Light and darkness have nothing in common. Just shine your light, show the love the Christ has for you, and for those who have an ear, listen to what the spirit is saying to you!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

note on homosexuality.

sermon:
homosexuality.

p4cm:

nothing compares to you.


the movement - the dream.

I could search the world, but Ill never find all I have in you.
And I could live for me, but Ill never have the joy I found in you.
What else could I live for? Nothing compares to everything that you are.

Jesus,

Yes, it's he that makes me want to sing.

The reason that I live, to you, I want to give, every part of me,
Cuz you, Lord you saved my life. You gave me breath,
You became my all.

I'm going for you, Jesus.

Yes Lord, even if it means to forsake my life, I want to go after you. You have proven your love to me. Help me stand and continuously run to you. I have tasted the world. I have been drawn to it in the beginning, but now that I realize the pleasure, fame, wealth, success, has no satisfaction, I don't want it. I want nothing that this world offers. Even if it means, I need to let go. I will. Even if it means, not watching things that you hate, even if it means to crucify my flesh everyday, even if it means laying down my life to have you be glorified, I'll do it. Holy Spirit, I ask that you may fill me everyday, to teach me things that this world hates to even hear about.. and that is everything about you, your word, your truth, your beauty, your glory, your righteousness.. etc. I just want to know more about you.

if what you had no more excuses?

satan, you just lost one.