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The Prodigal God series part 1 (STELLAR sermons btw)

So I've been listening to the Prodigal God sermon series by Tim Keller. Amazing. It's absolutely incredible. I could listen to them over and over. In fact, my sister has. haha... It doesn't matter what stage of life you're in, this series is for you. Here's something that I wrote down because it was so profound to me.

"Repentance is an experience of LIBERATION. A repentant person is someone who is FINALLY free from the pretense and evasion. Free from the need to win every argument, free from the need to defend yourself. Free from the need to expose others ans say, "You're not so great." A repentant person who is vulnerable and happy to do it and says, "Yes, I was wrong, I was absolutely wrong. I shouldn't have done that. Let's make it right." Quick to repent, joyful to repent. It's liberation. I don't have to spin everything, I don't have to have control what everybody thinks."
-Tim Keller

Keller talks about 2 kinds of repentance:

1-The kind that leads to salvation and no regret.
2-The kind that leads to regret and devastation.

The first kind of repentance is one that is focused on how the sin that has been done effects the heart of the One that matters. It focuses on the hurt, grief, and pain that the sin has caused the lover of souls and how time does not heal hurt, but a repentant heart and love, grace, mercy, and joy.
The second kind is one that is more self centered. Focused on the sinner and what the sinner did. The sinner might think that if they feel bad enough about what they did and people see that they feel badly then, they've suffered enough of the guilt and everything can be okay again.

The rain is my gift and the thunder, music to my ears.

I've come to the realization that this day, my 22nd birthday, is not about me. Today I am proud of myself for being who I am, yes. BUT- without the gospel, without love, compassionate grace, mercy, redemption, sacrifice, zeal... etc. Where would I be? This is not MY day. This is the Lord's day for me. I'm so thankful and blessed to be a proclaimed daughter of the high King of Zion, the almighty, the most high God. I'm honored that He would think of me. His greatness humbles me. The lord my God is on my side. He has called me to Him an d today He blessed me the minute I woke up. He knows my heart loves to wake up to the rain. This morning, I woke up to thunder and within minutes it began to pour. I immediately opened all my windows and went outside and started my day with my Abba, my Lord.

How great is our God? :)

Each day the Lord gives us is a gift. It is also a responsibility. What we do with His gifts is very important. We are image bearers of the King. You and I represent an idea, a faith, a love, the truth, the gospel, the only wise God. How will you bear the image so graciously bestowed upon you? You are a masterpiece.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I say again, Rejoice!"

"And I will fear not evil, for my God is with me. And if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear? WHOM THEN SHALL I FEAR?"

You're Beautiful

'You're Beautiful'
by Phil Wickham


I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

This is one of my favorite worship songs. Phil Wickham is probably my favorite christian artists.
This morning I was sitting out on the screened in porch listening to the sounds that come with a new day. I made a list of things I'm thankful for... This list is SO short compared to the one that is actually all the things that my savior has given me. But these are the ones that came to mind first.

This is what I wrote in my journal this morning:

-My wonderful family-I'm so blessed by just being with them and knowing that I matter to them. Always.
-Lady-she's really affectionate and rubbing her face all over me cuz she wants me to pet her. (She's pregnant) I also love that I love cats. My mother loved cats. It's kinda of like a piece of her that I have...
-The outside-I don't have words to express the JOY I receive from just being in awe of your creation. It brings so much glory to you and such joy to me. Your works are indescribable! You know my heart and pursue me with love. You are the lover of my soul. You are the author of my heart, mind, soul, and story. You're the bridegroom of my heart. Yet you are my Father, whom I revere. You are the creator of all things. You show me you love me.
-When the sun hits me just right.
-When a song comes on the radio and my heart jumps
-When there's a breeze
-The sound of the wind making the trees dance.
-The morning birds that sing their songs for you.
-The shadows and lights that make the leaves look dynamic.
-Animals
-Coffee- the smell of coffee.
-Shade
-Playing sports with friends
-Being a kid
-Music- God, music is so wonderful. I want to sing to you everyday.


Micah 7:18
"Who is a God like You, who pardons sins and forgives the transgression of the remnant of inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."

Be at peace my children... but get excited about all the action!

These days I'm extremely content with where I am in life. I'm so blown away by the oppotunities God has lain at my feet this summer. I'm certain that He is using them all in ways that I am not aware right now. I'm so thankful for the blessings that He's bestowed upon me with so much Grace, when I don't deserve it. I'm thankful that He's brought me to a place where I am at peace and despite the battle between my head and my heart every-so-often, I am confident in who I am without the shallow acceptance of others. Now, I do value my friends and family and how much they love and encourage me, but I'm finding MY value in my Lord.

Reading in Jeremiah, I found this passage. This is just a piece of the action that is going on, but oh what a battle scene! I know it's a lot to read, but Oh so worth it. We are part of a great adventure, a love story, an action/"shoot-em-up movie" (as my dad calls them). All the different genres of stories that people prefer are included in one story. The Gospel. Below is an action/thriller... i think... BUT the story of Christ, his life, death, resurrection, love for his people, relationship with The Father, everything... it's every genre all in one. Who wouldn't love OUR story. The story of God's people. :) This makes me excited. :) OK OK, read... and imagine youself preparing for battle... this is great imagery for Spiritual Warfare as well.

Jeremiah 51:10-23

10 The Lord has brought about our vindication;come, let us declare in Zionthe work of the Lord our God.
11 “Sharpen the arrows!Take up the shields!
The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance for his temple.
12 “Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;make the watch strong;set up watchmen;prepare the ambushes;for the Lord has both planned and donewhat he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.13 O you who dwell by many waters,rich in treasures,your end has come;the thread of your life is cut.14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself:Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts,and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15 “It is he who made the earth by his power,who established the world by his wisdom,and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.16 When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.He makes lightning for the rain,and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.17 Every man is stupid and without knowledge;every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,for his images are false,and there is no breath in them.18 They are worthless, a work of delusion;at the time of their punishment they shall perish.19 Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,for he is the one who formed all things,and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;the Lord of hosts is his name.
20 “You are my hammer and weapon of war:with you I break nations in pieces;with you I destroy kingdoms;21 with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;22 with you I break in pieces man and woman;with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;23 with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.

Free Time that isn't Free...

Do you ever wonder why some days you just want to do nothing? Whether it's lack of motivation, depression, laziness, the need to decompress, or addiction to slothfulness, we all need downtime. But we can have too much down time. Sometimes I feel that because I live alone, I have less motivation to get things done because there's no one here to ask me why i haven't gotten my rear off the couch all day... but then other times, I'm more motivated than normal to get things done, be productive and create a space for myself that reflects me and then use it for more productiveness. Sometimes I have a lot of time on my hands and because I have so much to do, I avoid doing it... i avoid being stressed out by it. But then at the last minute, I get it all done. I work well under pressure. Time constraints push me to my limits and force my to spit out quality work in a short amount of time. I really have to monitor how much time I give myself to relax. I have enough things to do to keep me busy all day, but I put things off to relax when I need to. Sometimes I do it more than I need to. I don't know if any of this makes sense, or if anyone else does this. This is something I struggle with. I "relax" a lot. It gives me time to think... or not think... whether it's pondering some important issue in my life, or watching mind numbing television for hours fall asleep here and there, too much "relaxing" time is not good.

Here's my disclaimer:
I do do things that I need to do. I get my work done, I get my homework for school done, and I get some reading done. Oh, and I workout everyday. I just don't always spend my free time wisely. I could get all my work done earlier in the day and then have the evening free for whatever else I'd like to do and then get to bed at a reasonable time. Most days I manage my time fairly well. It's just once in a while, there's a couple days where I don't. Is that bad? Am I allowed a couple days of nothing? ... as long as it's not often?

If you use your time wisely, then you shouldn't have too much to worry about in that arena... But if you don't and you spend the majority of your free time doing nothing, is it really free time? Does free time spent foolishly come at a cost? Could we come up with a name for time that we spend doing nothing productive?

A Fight to the Finish

It is cold out, although, I am kept warm, actually sweating with what protects me. I can feel drops of sweat inside my helmet running down my temples to my neck. I feel each rapid breath against my face as my helmet guards even my mouth. It is dark outside and I can barely see. Only a faint light from the moon behind the clouds aids in sight. It will be difficult to see the enemy coming. My breastplate is heavy and thick. I can feel my heart pounding against the metal. It beats almost simultaneously with the sound of our feet against the hard earth. My sword clangs as I run with the others. At least I am not alone.

I want to stop and rest, but I can hear them coming. They each run at their own pace. A mass of noise and clanging heading our way. I can make out large dark figures, sweeping over the land as they move silently, almost gliding on the edges of the mass. I'm trembling as they move towards us and we towards them. We will meet just over the hill. Am I ready? Will I be injured? I'm sure. They are vast in number and tower over the trees in the distance. How can we defeat them? We are protected with our armor. We have our swords and faith that we will defeat them, although I cannot deny the slight doubt in the back of my mind that I will fail, fall, be defeated, injured, or even killed. I begin to pray. So do the others.

We are all muttering prayers of desperation, hope, and in need of rescue. Suddenly, the winds begin to blow and I'm cooled in my armor, I feel lighter. This is no wind. This is our help. Our aid. Our army. Above us, among us, around us, and in front of us, they glide higher and taller. At first I was frightened. These creatures are not human. They are not like anything I've ever seen. They are many and they are mighty. Their stature and strength surpasses that of the dark gliding figures in the distance. They are grimacing, frightening, and fearless. They move at a pace that I struggle to keep up with. Battle is approaching, but I feel more prepared. We all continue to pray. As we near the others, the moon is no match to the light that fills the sky from the flaming arrows headed our way. Off to our left and right, small but quick creatures run at us. We ready ourselves to be attacked.

.... To be continued...

The below text was Taken from:

http://www.wcg.org/lit/spiritual/warfare.htm

Spiritual Warfare Put on the full armor of God,” Paul writes in Ephesians 6:11, “so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Spiritual warfare is important, because we do not struggle “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (v. 12). Since spiritual warfare is important, it is also important that we understand what it is, and stay away from any nonbiblical ideas that sometimes go under the name “spiritual warfare.” Because of various excesses and abuses, some people stay away from all forms of “spiritual warfare.” But as Paul said, we have spiritual enemies, and it will be helpful for us to discuss how we fight them. The armor of God Paul mentions the “armor of God”: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the strong boots of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which Paul says is the word of God, and prayer in the Spirit (verses 14-18). We can draw interesting analogies for each of these, but I think some of the popular expositions stretch the analogies further than Paul intended. The main point is that we need spiritual attributes for a spiritual battle. We need truth, because the truth sets us free. We need righteousness, the gift of righteousness that God gives us through faith in Christ, which leads us to live righteously in him. Faith in God helps us endure with God’s peace the accusations of Satan, for we know that no matter what he accuses us of, we have been forgiven; we need not be burdened by guilt or be afraid of failure. In addition, faith gives us endurance and peace in the face of life’s tragedies, injustices and trials. When our feet are protected by the gospel of peace, we are ready to go wherever we have to in the peaceful assurance of God’s faithful word. When God is for us, who can be against us? When Jesus was tempted by Satan, he resisted by quoting the word of God. We are stronger spiritually when we know and trust what God has said. Paul ends his list of spiritual armor by reminding us that spiritual strength comes from God alone, so we need to pray—“on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests…. Always keep praying for all the saints” (verse 18). The battle depends on the Lord, and since we never know in advance when the enemy will attack, prayer needs to characterize our lives. Paul gives a complementary list of spiritual armor in 1 Thessalonians 5:8: “faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Here he uses the trio of faith, hope and love. The point is that we will be spiritually stronger, less likely to stumble or fall, if these qualities are at work in our lives.