I got to go back to the youth group today. That, in itself, made today totally worth getting up for. Not the Rangers winning, (WOO!), not Fuzzy's for lunch, going back into the youth group. Going back to the friends I missed, and the lessons I REALLY missed. And, getting to meet some new friends!
Tonight is short. I had to finish writing an English paper and my brain is fried. So, here's a video of a song we played tonight, that has a simply powerful meaning.
Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 117 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wash.
So, in light of today and the theme, I wanna talk about servanthood.
Today was One Day Without Shoes. I walked around barefoot for 90 percent of my day, and my feet got filthy. When it finally came time to get ready for bed, I sat on the edge of my bathtub and washed my feet. Which got me thinking. It reminded me of something pretty awesome.
The first summer I met one of my best friends, he washed my feet. One of the things he talked about was how Jesus, as awesome and powerful as He is, always considered Himself a servant. And likewise, so should we. As he told us about it, my friend washed my feet. My gross, stinky feet. But, to this day, it was one of the first real memories I have of one of my best friends. Odds are, he may or may not read this.
But it makes you think. Jesus, in all of His might, still washed feet. Now, back in the day, you walked wherever you went. Some people had sandals, and some just barefooted it. And it wasn't asphalt roads, they were dirt. And sand, and dry. Your feet got filthy. So, when you went to a friend's house, they usually had someone there to wash your feet for you when you entered. This servant was the lowest on the ladder. His entire job involved just, washing feet. Stinky, dirty feet.
Jesus gathered His disciples together one night for dinner. At dinner, He stood up and began go around the table, washing feet. When He gets to Simon Peter, Peter gets kinda angry, feeling that Jesus is too good to wash his feet. If Jesus was to wash his feet, Peter asks him to was his hands and head. Jesus responds with "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean."
Later, Jesus sits back down at the table with them and explains why He did that. "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him' "
Imagine that. A servant is no greater than his master. Despite Jesus being the Son of God, He still recognized that He was just a servant. A humble servant in the Father's hands.
It's pretty amazing. We serve an amazing God. That's just it. We SERVE Him. We are the ones who should be washing His "feet," and yet He sent His Son to wash ours.
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
(Psalm 84:10 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Today was One Day Without Shoes. I walked around barefoot for 90 percent of my day, and my feet got filthy. When it finally came time to get ready for bed, I sat on the edge of my bathtub and washed my feet. Which got me thinking. It reminded me of something pretty awesome.
The first summer I met one of my best friends, he washed my feet. One of the things he talked about was how Jesus, as awesome and powerful as He is, always considered Himself a servant. And likewise, so should we. As he told us about it, my friend washed my feet. My gross, stinky feet. But, to this day, it was one of the first real memories I have of one of my best friends. Odds are, he may or may not read this.
But it makes you think. Jesus, in all of His might, still washed feet. Now, back in the day, you walked wherever you went. Some people had sandals, and some just barefooted it. And it wasn't asphalt roads, they were dirt. And sand, and dry. Your feet got filthy. So, when you went to a friend's house, they usually had someone there to wash your feet for you when you entered. This servant was the lowest on the ladder. His entire job involved just, washing feet. Stinky, dirty feet.
Jesus gathered His disciples together one night for dinner. At dinner, He stood up and began go around the table, washing feet. When He gets to Simon Peter, Peter gets kinda angry, feeling that Jesus is too good to wash his feet. If Jesus was to wash his feet, Peter asks him to was his hands and head. Jesus responds with "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean."
Later, Jesus sits back down at the table with them and explains why He did that. "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him' "
Imagine that. A servant is no greater than his master. Despite Jesus being the Son of God, He still recognized that He was just a servant. A humble servant in the Father's hands.
It's pretty amazing. We serve an amazing God. That's just it. We SERVE Him. We are the ones who should be washing His "feet," and yet He sent His Son to wash ours.
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
(Psalm 84:10 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Monday, April 4, 2011
One Day Without Shoes
I'm so excited! Tomorrow, April 5, is TOMS One Day Without Shoes! In case you weren't aware from all of my ramblings and excitedness, I am so pumped!
A brief explanation. TOMS is a shoe company that was founded on one belief. Every child deserves a pair of shoes. So, they have a One For One Program, and for every pair of shoes you buy, they will give a pair of shoes to a kid somewhere in the world that does not have them.
Every April 5th, they encourage One Day Without Shoes. This day, TOMS asks that people go for 24 hours, or whatever part of their day that they can, without shoes to show what it is like for these kids that have none. I'm so pumped! And, I like being barefoot.. I have a ODWS tee shirt to wear too. :D I'm just trying to figure out if and how I am going to the Y to run. I guess I need to go, maybe run on the outside track. The weather should be pretty alright for it.
So, that's all I got for tonight.
That and a video. Because I like videos.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)
Philos, Justin
A brief explanation. TOMS is a shoe company that was founded on one belief. Every child deserves a pair of shoes. So, they have a One For One Program, and for every pair of shoes you buy, they will give a pair of shoes to a kid somewhere in the world that does not have them.
Every April 5th, they encourage One Day Without Shoes. This day, TOMS asks that people go for 24 hours, or whatever part of their day that they can, without shoes to show what it is like for these kids that have none. I'm so pumped! And, I like being barefoot.. I have a ODWS tee shirt to wear too. :D I'm just trying to figure out if and how I am going to the Y to run. I guess I need to go, maybe run on the outside track. The weather should be pretty alright for it.
So, that's all I got for tonight.
That and a video. Because I like videos.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Sunday, April 3, 2011
If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So, some interesting stuff. It's now after the fact, so I can talk about it.
Our church is in a time of transition. Our former pastor and Music Minister, Donnie and Damon Foster, have resigned for personal reasons. So, if you read this and are the praying type. be in prayer for Grace Baptist Church. This time is tough and we could sure use the prayer.
We played How He Loves today at church. Just, something about that song. I wanna blog about it.
Watch the vid. There's a music video by David Crowder, but you need to read the lyrics.
He is jealous for me. God is a jealous God, who desires all of our love in return for all of His. Love's like a hurricane and I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great Your affections are for me. When we fully see God's glory and how truly amazing He is, and His love for us is, it makes us completely aware of how unworthy we are of Him.
Oh, how he loves us all.
We are His portion and He is our prize. I wrestled with this verse for a while. And with the help of a friend, finally got it kinda figured out. We are His portion. Because we have been bought with a price, the death and finished work of Jesus on the cross, we are now a portion of God. He effectively owns us. And He is our prize. He is the treasure above all treasures, the prize and priceless gift we are not worthy of.
Drawn to redemption by the Grace in His Eyes. If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. The grace that God has, once shown to us, is so...irresistable. We have seen just how amazing His grace is, and the taste we have gotten makes us want it even more. If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. Think of the Ocean. The Lorentian Abyss is the deepest part of the Atlantic, and the grace of God is so deep that we can't help but just sink into it.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us. The collision of God's mercy with our sinful ways is like that of a surprise kiss. It takes your breath away like nothing else could. My heart turns violently inside of my chest. The emotions that surround us when we have our "ah-ha" moment are incredibly overwhelming. Or at least, they've always been for me. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us. When all you can focus on is the love Jesus has for you, there's no room for anything else.
Oh, how He loves us all.
Anyway, that was on my mind today.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Our church is in a time of transition. Our former pastor and Music Minister, Donnie and Damon Foster, have resigned for personal reasons. So, if you read this and are the praying type. be in prayer for Grace Baptist Church. This time is tough and we could sure use the prayer.
We played How He Loves today at church. Just, something about that song. I wanna blog about it.
Watch the vid. There's a music video by David Crowder, but you need to read the lyrics.
He is jealous for me. God is a jealous God, who desires all of our love in return for all of His. Love's like a hurricane and I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great Your affections are for me. When we fully see God's glory and how truly amazing He is, and His love for us is, it makes us completely aware of how unworthy we are of Him.
Oh, how he loves us all.
We are His portion and He is our prize. I wrestled with this verse for a while. And with the help of a friend, finally got it kinda figured out. We are His portion. Because we have been bought with a price, the death and finished work of Jesus on the cross, we are now a portion of God. He effectively owns us. And He is our prize. He is the treasure above all treasures, the prize and priceless gift we are not worthy of.
Drawn to redemption by the Grace in His Eyes. If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. The grace that God has, once shown to us, is so...irresistable. We have seen just how amazing His grace is, and the taste we have gotten makes us want it even more. If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. Think of the Ocean. The Lorentian Abyss is the deepest part of the Atlantic, and the grace of God is so deep that we can't help but just sink into it.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us. The collision of God's mercy with our sinful ways is like that of a surprise kiss. It takes your breath away like nothing else could. My heart turns violently inside of my chest. The emotions that surround us when we have our "ah-ha" moment are incredibly overwhelming. Or at least, they've always been for me. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us. When all you can focus on is the love Jesus has for you, there's no room for anything else.
Oh, how He loves us all.
Anyway, that was on my mind today.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Thursday, March 31, 2011
A song.
Tonight, I wanna do one of these like, song-to-sermon kind of deals. I had a couple of songs in mind, but one that we just kinda played around with tonight at practice was Blessed Be Your Name. A lot of artists have done this song, I just picked a version I liked. Watch the vid, then ponder what I have to say about it.
I picked Blessed Be Your Name because it's one song I know that is taken almost directly from a book of the Bible. Some history on the story it tells. Job (J-ohb) was a man of God. He had it made too. Land, cattle, livestock, family, house, money, everything the American dream in Bible times was equal to.
One day, Satan came before God and God asked what he had been doing. Satan claimed to be strolling the Earth. God asked Satan if he had considered His servant, Job. A "blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" Satan remarked that God had put a protective hedge around Job. God said He would remove the hedge so Satan could test Job. The only rule was, Satan was not allowed to touch Job's physical body.
So, Satan tests Job. He kills all of Job's cattle, takes his land, kills his servants, and kills all of his children. At the news of this, Job tears his clothes and shaved his head. He then falls to the ground and worships God. "'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Satan tests Job again, after getting the ok from God. This time he takes Job's health. Job grows these gross lesions on his body, so bad that he takes pieces of terra cotta and cuts his skin, to ease the pain of the boils. Job's wife turns to him in disgrace and says that he needs to end this nonsense. She tells him to simply curse God and die. But, remarkably, "In all this, Job did not sin with his lips."
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. The entire book of Job is pretty ridiculous. At the very end, because of his faithfulness to God, Job is given so much more than he already had. And his friends get rebuked. Because they weren't that great of friends.
But it's just an amazing thought. In all that he suffered, Job never turned to God and said that it was His fault. Job never ceased worshiping his creator. I can speak personally and say that I don't think I could do that. But that is a statement against a lot of people. Especially in America. We are so prone to take everything we have for granted, and when something is taken from us, we more often than not blame God.
But I ask you this. If God does this to us, and takes things from us, do you not think He has something better to fill that hole?
Just saying. Tonight's practice was pretty stinking awesome, given the circumstances.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36 ESV)
Philos, Justin
I picked Blessed Be Your Name because it's one song I know that is taken almost directly from a book of the Bible. Some history on the story it tells. Job (J-ohb) was a man of God. He had it made too. Land, cattle, livestock, family, house, money, everything the American dream in Bible times was equal to.
One day, Satan came before God and God asked what he had been doing. Satan claimed to be strolling the Earth. God asked Satan if he had considered His servant, Job. A "blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" Satan remarked that God had put a protective hedge around Job. God said He would remove the hedge so Satan could test Job. The only rule was, Satan was not allowed to touch Job's physical body.
So, Satan tests Job. He kills all of Job's cattle, takes his land, kills his servants, and kills all of his children. At the news of this, Job tears his clothes and shaved his head. He then falls to the ground and worships God. "'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Satan tests Job again, after getting the ok from God. This time he takes Job's health. Job grows these gross lesions on his body, so bad that he takes pieces of terra cotta and cuts his skin, to ease the pain of the boils. Job's wife turns to him in disgrace and says that he needs to end this nonsense. She tells him to simply curse God and die. But, remarkably, "In all this, Job did not sin with his lips."
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. The entire book of Job is pretty ridiculous. At the very end, because of his faithfulness to God, Job is given so much more than he already had. And his friends get rebuked. Because they weren't that great of friends.
But it's just an amazing thought. In all that he suffered, Job never turned to God and said that it was His fault. Job never ceased worshiping his creator. I can speak personally and say that I don't think I could do that. But that is a statement against a lot of people. Especially in America. We are so prone to take everything we have for granted, and when something is taken from us, we more often than not blame God.
But I ask you this. If God does this to us, and takes things from us, do you not think He has something better to fill that hole?
Just saying. Tonight's practice was pretty stinking awesome, given the circumstances.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My 50th post.
Wow. Can't believe it's been 50 posts. This thing is fun.
I just want to briefly talk. I'm reading through a book right now called "Desiring God." It's taken me forever to finally read this book, and I am so glad I am. It's a deep look at what it truly means to desire God and to be one of His disciples.
That being said, my brain is fried. Lol. So, I wanted to post a video of an amazing song or two.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:17 ESV)
Philos, Justin
I just want to briefly talk. I'm reading through a book right now called "Desiring God." It's taken me forever to finally read this book, and I am so glad I am. It's a deep look at what it truly means to desire God and to be one of His disciples.
That being said, my brain is fried. Lol. So, I wanted to post a video of an amazing song or two.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:17 ESV)
Philos, Justin
Monday, March 28, 2011
A prayer.
Just, what I'm feeling right now as I am supposed to be writing my English paper, but this needs to be said.
God, you truly are amazing. I lay in my bed here, and have one of those "ah-ha" moments. You made me so intricately and planned out my life before I was even a thought. I just want to apologize. God, I know I have fallen short of Your perfect glory. I ask for Your forgiveness. I know that I need you and that You desire to be glorified in my life. And truth be told God, I'm doing a terrible job of it. So please, change me. Create in me a new heart. I know You know what I am going to do with my life. I just pray that it is a life that honors You and gives You the most glory possible, because You deserve the most glory. I thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank you for sending Your perfect and spotless Son to live a sinless life and die a death that I deserve so that I can believe in You and live for you, despite failing miserably. Thank You for all You have blessed me with, because it is more than I deserve. Waaay more. God, I know that this prayer seems self-centered. I can only hope that Your Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf and prays what I need prayer for. Because if left up to my own devices, I would condemn myself to death apart from You.
Thank you Lord, for everything you do for me. I pray all of these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Philos, Justin
God, you truly are amazing. I lay in my bed here, and have one of those "ah-ha" moments. You made me so intricately and planned out my life before I was even a thought. I just want to apologize. God, I know I have fallen short of Your perfect glory. I ask for Your forgiveness. I know that I need you and that You desire to be glorified in my life. And truth be told God, I'm doing a terrible job of it. So please, change me. Create in me a new heart. I know You know what I am going to do with my life. I just pray that it is a life that honors You and gives You the most glory possible, because You deserve the most glory. I thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank you for sending Your perfect and spotless Son to live a sinless life and die a death that I deserve so that I can believe in You and live for you, despite failing miserably. Thank You for all You have blessed me with, because it is more than I deserve. Waaay more. God, I know that this prayer seems self-centered. I can only hope that Your Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf and prays what I need prayer for. Because if left up to my own devices, I would condemn myself to death apart from You.
Thank you Lord, for everything you do for me. I pray all of these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Philos, Justin
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