The Parable of the Prodigal Son is so inspiring to me.
I think about it quite often.
Because the Lord has been showing me so much about having that beautiful relationship between a Father and His Daughter...I often think about this.
-
Luke 15:11-32
-
It's not the fact of course, that the son left his father and job to venture out into the "real" world.
But it's that the dad never gave up on his son.
-
Verse 20 always pops out in my mind.
Ok. So This guy has two sons and one decided to take his share of the estate and go out into the "real" world. The Bible says that not long after he got his share he left.
-Wait.
-He left? Just like that?
-This takes some time to think about.
-He had been planning this for a while.
--This takes time to plan, and pack.
-You don't just get your share and leave.
-(And you don't pack your bags that fast.)
He spent everything he had and became so poor and desperate for food he ate from the troughs that the pigs ate from. He was so ashamed and so badly wanted to go back.
-He "hit rock bottom" and wanted to go back to his father.
-He felt so ashamed that he settled for begging to be a servent.
-He didn't feel worthy to be called "son."
--
So now on to verse 20.
And seriously. When I sit down and think about it, it hits me again as much as the first time. Like a belt to my face.
"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him." -The Message.
Wait a second.
When he was still a long way off?
When his father saw him?
From far away?
-
His dad didn't just see him, he's been waiting for him.
-
I don't doubt for a second that his dad was hurt and disappointed.
That the life he gave his son was not "exciting" or "fulfilling" enough for him.
But that didn't stop him once his son left;
His dad knew in his heart; he hoped with all his heart that his son would come back and return home.
He watched day and night, never giving up on his son.
Many people would be so mad and disown or have a hard time forgiving their kid for doing this action.
But all this dad wanted was his son.
-To be able to hold him, and tell him how much he loves him.
-To be able to say "Welcome Home Son. I love You."
--
Does this remind you of anyone?
Maybe our Dad?
Our loving, star-breathing Dad?
If you are a Christian, think about how many years it took you to truly have a relationship with your Father.
Do you think Jesus gave up on you?
Do you think He hung up His hat and called it quits?
-
Or do you think that Jesus has been watching for you;
Day
and
Night.
?
If you are struggling, Jesus is not going to give up on you.
He is watching the field, waiting for you to come home.
-So He can hold you and tell you how much He loves you.
-So He can be your Dad.
-He wants to tell you "Welcome home, Child. I've prepared a place for you."
Simple as that.
If you don't know Jesus, I don't care how old you are.
He is out there, watching the field; waiting for you.
He is waiting for His lost child.-Just as the father was waiting for his son.
Jesus Loves You.
Forever.
-
Monday, November 28, 2011
Honor You, Forever.
I don't have a huge amount of things to say. Just a couple of quick thoughts.
So I was on the Worship Team last night at my church.
And We did this song that changed my life.
The lyrics are so powerful, and Wow.
Wow.
Sometimes, that's all I can say to describe it.
Certain lyrics stood out to me.
"The Great Exchange of Love and Grace, came down to give us life."
Wow.
We always talk about how great His Love is.
We sing about it all the time.
-We talk about how it changed us.
-We talk about how because of His Love, His amazing Love, we are able to be born again.
Kim Walker sings this song entitled "How He Loves."
In the middle of the song, the Lord prompts her to say something that has been on His mind.
----
So I was on the Worship Team last night at my church.
And We did this song that changed my life.
The lyrics are so powerful, and Wow.
Wow.
Sometimes, that's all I can say to describe it.
Certain lyrics stood out to me.
"The Great Exchange of Love and Grace, came down to give us life."
Wow.
We always talk about how great His Love is.
We sing about it all the time.
-We talk about how it changed us.
-We talk about how because of His Love, His amazing Love, we are able to be born again.
Kim Walker sings this song entitled "How He Loves."
In the middle of the song, the Lord prompts her to say something that has been on His mind.
----
"His presence, his love is so thick and tangable in this room tonight
And there are some of you in here that have not encountered the love of God
And tonight God wants to encounter you and wants you to feel his love
His amazing love, without it these are just songs, these are just words, these are just instruments
Without the love of God, its, it's just like we're just up here just making noise
But the love of God changes us, and we're never the same
We're never the same after we encounter the love of God
We're never the same after we encounter the love of God
And right now if you haven't encountered the love of God
And you would know because you wouldn't be the same
You would never be the same again
And if you, if you want to encounter the love of God right now
You better just brace yourself, because he's about to just blow in this place
And we're gonna encounter the love of God right now
So God I speak to all the hearts and I ask God that every heart be open right now, every heart be open, every spirit be opened up to you God
To you and love encounter, a love encounter from you tonight
A love encounter from you tonight God!"
-Kim Walker
-------
It says it all right there.
Encountering the Love of God changes you. You will never be the same.
His Love...is so big and beautiful.
His Grace; It's because of His forgiveness and Grace that
-We Live.
-We Serve.
-We are able to Love.
Lord. Your Presence showed up last night.
We were singing:
-
Forever.
Forever.
We'll Honor You, Forever."
-
Dad. Thanks for Your Grace and for Your Love.
Because of You and what You did,
I pray that we will honor You, Forever.
I love you, Dad.
--
For those of you who are interested,
"For the Honor."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiI0xHAonxY
"How He Loves"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps
Friday, November 18, 2011
Beautiful
"I look up to the sky, and say....You're beautiful."
First of all, I love Phil Wickham's music. It's so good and true.
One of my favorite songs is by him, it's called "Beautiful."
Not only is the melody absolutely genius, but the words have such deep, spiritual meaning.
Second of all, I listened to this song as I was walking in the snow on campus. I love the snow...
(Call me crazy, but winter rocks my socks)
But yes. I don't know so much what it is, but i love the snow.
I was walking in the snow, it was snowing, and I was listening to this song.
I know this sounds slightly cheesy, but I looked up to the sky of falling snow, and said "Wow. It's so beautiful."
My Dad created that.
How my Dad created something so beautiful...it amazes me. It just once again shows me how incredible Jesus is.
--
On another note...
The other day the Lord gave me a vision. He gave me the sight of a foot/ankle.
There was a shackle around it.
The thing is though, the shackle was broken and on the floor.
The shackle was around the foot, but it didn't have any grip/touching it,
--
It was just surrounding it.
--
Broken.
--
On the floor.
--
And the foot?
Just standing there.
It could walk out, be free, but it didn't.
Stood there. Waiting.
(I then remembered that someone had a similar vision this summer in Chicago)
-
--
---
And then I started thinking about the Treasure Hunters at my church.
(Treasure Hunting is where we get together and pray. The Lord gives us clues on who to talk to, where to go, etc. And then we follow those clues and pray for those people.)
I went a couple of weeks ago, and wow.
The Lord tells commands us in Mark 16:15: "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Students as young as middle school brave enough to pray in public.
--In public.
--Where everyone can see.
--Where sometimes peer pressure can be the worst.
--
Never doing this before, some (not picking anyone out, my first time I was just the same) were nervous. They had never done something like this before, (I had not either until my first time as a Senior in High School) and through the Lord, they built the courage do this.
--They didn't care about the judgement.
--The Lord became their focus.
--And it was like taking a dog off it's leash.
They were unstoppable; they became desperate for the Lord and broken for the Lost.
--
They stepped out of their broken shackle.
They started to run into the Marvelous Light, and straight into the Definition of Love's Arms.
--
If this isn't enough, after we all parted for the day, encouragement stuck with them.
Things started happening on their own.
--When they didn't have a group to support them.
--They didn't have the numbers for someone to say "Group of People. Makes Sense."
--They stepped out on their own.
--And the Lord did even more.
*Praying for someone while bystanders watched: Smirking, laughing, and making fun of.
*Praying for someone that they saw.
*Praying for teachers at school.
*Healing.
They ran into their Dad's arms, and forgot about the worldly influence.
--
There's an Army rising up.
To Break every chain,
Break every chain,
Break every chain.
--
The Lord gave me a chorus one day while I was writing.
He not only gave me part of a song, but He gave me instruction.
He said.
"I gave you My Hands.
I gave you My Feet.
I'm daring you to move, go ahead, and Glorify Me.
I'm testing your heart, where nobody sees,
Go and Love the Un-Loved,
A Love that is Me."
That's what Mark 16:15 says.
Go out into all the World...
Go and love them.
Give them a Love that is Me.
---
Tomorrow, a group of Treasure Hunters are going out.
Please pray for them.
P.S.
If you would like to hear the song I previously mentioned, (Phil Wickham's)
Here's the YouTube link.
Enjoy! :)
Be Blessed! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg4cYdP1ngw
First of all, I love Phil Wickham's music. It's so good and true.
One of my favorite songs is by him, it's called "Beautiful."
Not only is the melody absolutely genius, but the words have such deep, spiritual meaning.
Second of all, I listened to this song as I was walking in the snow on campus. I love the snow...
(Call me crazy, but winter rocks my socks)
But yes. I don't know so much what it is, but i love the snow.
I was walking in the snow, it was snowing, and I was listening to this song.
I know this sounds slightly cheesy, but I looked up to the sky of falling snow, and said "Wow. It's so beautiful."
My Dad created that.
How my Dad created something so beautiful...it amazes me. It just once again shows me how incredible Jesus is.
--
On another note...
The other day the Lord gave me a vision. He gave me the sight of a foot/ankle.
There was a shackle around it.
The thing is though, the shackle was broken and on the floor.
The shackle was around the foot, but it didn't have any grip/touching it,
--
It was just surrounding it.
--
Broken.
--
On the floor.
--
And the foot?
Just standing there.
It could walk out, be free, but it didn't.
Stood there. Waiting.
(I then remembered that someone had a similar vision this summer in Chicago)
-
--
---
And then I started thinking about the Treasure Hunters at my church.
(Treasure Hunting is where we get together and pray. The Lord gives us clues on who to talk to, where to go, etc. And then we follow those clues and pray for those people.)
I went a couple of weeks ago, and wow.
The Lord tells commands us in Mark 16:15: "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Students as young as middle school brave enough to pray in public.
--In public.
--Where everyone can see.
--Where sometimes peer pressure can be the worst.
--
Never doing this before, some (not picking anyone out, my first time I was just the same) were nervous. They had never done something like this before, (I had not either until my first time as a Senior in High School) and through the Lord, they built the courage do this.
--They didn't care about the judgement.
--The Lord became their focus.
--And it was like taking a dog off it's leash.
They were unstoppable; they became desperate for the Lord and broken for the Lost.
--
They stepped out of their broken shackle.
They started to run into the Marvelous Light, and straight into the Definition of Love's Arms.
--
If this isn't enough, after we all parted for the day, encouragement stuck with them.
Things started happening on their own.
--When they didn't have a group to support them.
--They didn't have the numbers for someone to say "Group of People. Makes Sense."
--They stepped out on their own.
--And the Lord did even more.
*Praying for someone while bystanders watched: Smirking, laughing, and making fun of.
*Praying for someone that they saw.
*Praying for teachers at school.
*Healing.
They ran into their Dad's arms, and forgot about the worldly influence.
--
There's an Army rising up.
To Break every chain,
Break every chain,
Break every chain.
--
The Lord gave me a chorus one day while I was writing.
He not only gave me part of a song, but He gave me instruction.
He said.
"I gave you My Hands.
I gave you My Feet.
I'm daring you to move, go ahead, and Glorify Me.
I'm testing your heart, where nobody sees,
Go and Love the Un-Loved,
A Love that is Me."
That's what Mark 16:15 says.
Go out into all the World...
Go and love them.
Give them a Love that is Me.
---
Tomorrow, a group of Treasure Hunters are going out.
Please pray for them.
P.S.
If you would like to hear the song I previously mentioned, (Phil Wickham's)
Here's the YouTube link.
Enjoy! :)
Be Blessed! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg4cYdP1ngw
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Forever
I don't know...
I just started laughing.
A sweet joy just came over me.
It's beautiful.
I am able to sit in the Lord's presence.
Relief. Of so many things.
Just started thinking about my Dad, and His creation.
The snow, so white, so beautiful, so pure.
How I enjoy looking at it, and walking in it.
The day is winding down, and it's time to get some sleep.
But for a few minutes, I sit in His presence; in His Love.
And a sweet joy came over me.
Today was blessed on so many levels.
I got to see an old friend, make plans with a new one.
And ultimately, just sit and dwell with my Dad.
Just sit down...
And spend time with my Dad.
The verses that come with that?
Psalm 23
There is a song that comes out of this scripture.
And the sweet sound of it's melody has drifted through my mind, and one line is consitantly repeated.
"And I will dwell in the House of the Lord.
Close by Your side, I will abide.
In His Loving Kindness.
Forever."
(I guess that's the chorus, not just a line)
"Surely. Goodness and Mercy will follow me."
"Forever."
Just to think. Forever.
Forever, we will spend with our Creator.
Our Father.
Our Dad.
The One who Defined Love.
--Created the relationship between a Father and His Child.
"I will dwell in the House of the Lord,
Forever."
--
Forever.
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4SFIwKbG_4
I just started laughing.
A sweet joy just came over me.
It's beautiful.
I am able to sit in the Lord's presence.
Relief. Of so many things.
Just started thinking about my Dad, and His creation.
The snow, so white, so beautiful, so pure.
How I enjoy looking at it, and walking in it.
The day is winding down, and it's time to get some sleep.
But for a few minutes, I sit in His presence; in His Love.
And a sweet joy came over me.
Today was blessed on so many levels.
I got to see an old friend, make plans with a new one.
And ultimately, just sit and dwell with my Dad.
Just sit down...
And spend time with my Dad.
The verses that come with that?
Psalm 23
There is a song that comes out of this scripture.
And the sweet sound of it's melody has drifted through my mind, and one line is consitantly repeated.
"And I will dwell in the House of the Lord.
Close by Your side, I will abide.
In His Loving Kindness.
Forever."
(I guess that's the chorus, not just a line)
"Surely. Goodness and Mercy will follow me."
"Forever."
Just to think. Forever.
Forever, we will spend with our Creator.
Our Father.
Our Dad.
The One who Defined Love.
--Created the relationship between a Father and His Child.
"I will dwell in the House of the Lord,
Forever."
--
Forever.
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4SFIwKbG_4
Monday, November 14, 2011
Everything
There's this video out there.
Evey time I've watched this video I've gotten the chills.
I'll never forget the first time I saw it at camp. I was at the edge of my seat and I had chills running down my spine. I was a changed person...and then, I did not understand the true meaning of this video.
The Lord told me to watch it yesterday, and this time, I was in tears.
Have you guys ever seen the Life House Everything Skit?
Yup. It's an incredibly moving, powerful, never-failling to move skit.
Now, You have to understand.
My emotions have been running around crazy the last couple of weeks. The Lord has been teaching me something beyond incredible.
What I've learned from the Lord is, when He wants you to learn something and pull you closer to Him, He will break you and re-form you/adjust you, and through that adjustment, you will have a new and adjusted mindset to draw closer to Him. He constantly will adjust you to be more like Him.
The Lord has been teaching me about being His daughter. He has been giving me a vision of the relationship between a father and his daughter. The Lord is my dad.
--
Dad.
--
It sounds so personal and beautiful to be able to call our Definition of Love; our Creator, Dad.
He's been showing me that He is my Super Dad. He's all I need. He's my dad.
So back to the video. When I watched it yesterday, I expected the chills down my spine. But something more happened. Tears rolled down my cheeks, smearing my make-up.
I broke.
I have not cried-I have not broken sense the Lord started this process.
The Lord showed me the meaning of this video. For the first time, I understood.
For the last few weeks, I have been torn apart, and last night, I started the healing process.
The video starts with this girl. She's wearing a black shirt. Jesus awakens her, and together Jesus teaches her how to walk, talk, feeds her, etc.
And then a boyfriend comes in the picture. The boyfriend pushes Jesus aside.
After a few seconds, the boyfriend stands in front of Jesus.
--
The Boyfriend stands in front of Jesus.
The boyfriend stands between Jesus and the girl.
Just like in our daily lives, where we let things get in between us and Jesus.
Between us and our Father.
Between us and our Dad.
--
Then someone with money comes along. She is chasing the money; can't get her eyes off it.
I believe this symbolizing money and worldly things.
--
We let worldly things become our idols; become our fathers.
--
The money person stands in front of the boyfriend, and they start a synchronized movement.
Not only do you have boyfriends and money/worldly things standing between you and Jesus,
but they are doing a synchronized movement, which to me shows that the worldly things are going through the motions. They are worldly things that rip you from your faith.
----->Which the worst part is, they stand between you and your Dad.
--
The next person to come along is a girl who has a bear bottle. The way she walks and her balance symbolizing that she got in with the wrong group of friends. The heavy parties and drinkers symbolize that the character is struggling with her identity. This character once again stands in front of the money person and joins the movement adding just one more thing/person that is standing between her and Jesus.
The next person to come along is a tall, and thin person. She is in a dress, which she is playing the roll of a fashion model. Girls nationwide are really struggling with being thin and having "the image." It's another worldly thing that with Christ, we don't need to worry about. The super model stands in front of the friend (the alcoholic) and once again, it's just one more worldly thing that separates us from Jesus, and the same synchronized movement continues, symbolizing the motions.
--
I just need to say,
YOU are the Lord's child.
He created you PERFECT in His image.
With Christ, you don't need to worry about that stuff.
Your inner beauty and your heart is what matters,
Seriously. God is good.
Our Dad, is perfect.
And that perfection, created YOU!
--
Lastly, a person with all black comes to the girl. He shows her how to cut her arms, and hands her a gun for her to commit suicide. Then this character goes to join the rest of the group that stands between her and Jesus. As she holds the gun to her head, the song builds.
It goes to "Your all I want" and she throws the gun and starts to fight to be with Jesus.
--
Please remember, that during this entire process, Jesus is standing there jumping up and down, waving, trying to get her attention. When you drift from the Lord, He never forgets you. He is always fighting for you, trying to get your attention. He never fails to have you cross His mind.
--
The rest of this video is her running toward Jesus. The people that were standing in between are fighting and pushing her back. They don't want her to go back to Jesus. The sin is tempting and fighting. Meanwhile, she keeps fighting to be with Jesus.Her black shirt rips off and her white shirt is now visible. Jesus is motioning like a rope, pulling her in. He is pulling her toward Him, and NEVER stops fighting. The "sin" pushes her down and starts surrounding her. Jesus steps in and stands between her and the sin. Jesus keeps them back and they can NO LONGER TOUCH HER! Jesus then pushes them back and they fall to the floor! She is able to worship Jesus and Jesus helps her up! They they hug (and seriously guys, just got the chills) and Jesus walks her off stage, "guiding her."
--
The lyrics always stand out to me.
"How can I stand here with You, and not be moved by You?"
Think about those lyrics for a second.
What do they mean to you?
"Dad. Thanks for Your love and Your grace.
Thanks for defining Love.
Thanks for being my everything. Thanks for breaking me to bring me to You.
I love you Dad."
Amen
P.S. If you would like to see this video:
Prepare your heart. It's so powerful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
Evey time I've watched this video I've gotten the chills.
I'll never forget the first time I saw it at camp. I was at the edge of my seat and I had chills running down my spine. I was a changed person...and then, I did not understand the true meaning of this video.
The Lord told me to watch it yesterday, and this time, I was in tears.
Have you guys ever seen the Life House Everything Skit?
Yup. It's an incredibly moving, powerful, never-failling to move skit.
Now, You have to understand.
My emotions have been running around crazy the last couple of weeks. The Lord has been teaching me something beyond incredible.
What I've learned from the Lord is, when He wants you to learn something and pull you closer to Him, He will break you and re-form you/adjust you, and through that adjustment, you will have a new and adjusted mindset to draw closer to Him. He constantly will adjust you to be more like Him.
The Lord has been teaching me about being His daughter. He has been giving me a vision of the relationship between a father and his daughter. The Lord is my dad.
--
Dad.
--
It sounds so personal and beautiful to be able to call our Definition of Love; our Creator, Dad.
He's been showing me that He is my Super Dad. He's all I need. He's my dad.
So back to the video. When I watched it yesterday, I expected the chills down my spine. But something more happened. Tears rolled down my cheeks, smearing my make-up.
I broke.
I have not cried-I have not broken sense the Lord started this process.
The Lord showed me the meaning of this video. For the first time, I understood.
For the last few weeks, I have been torn apart, and last night, I started the healing process.
The video starts with this girl. She's wearing a black shirt. Jesus awakens her, and together Jesus teaches her how to walk, talk, feeds her, etc.
And then a boyfriend comes in the picture. The boyfriend pushes Jesus aside.
After a few seconds, the boyfriend stands in front of Jesus.
--
The Boyfriend stands in front of Jesus.
The boyfriend stands between Jesus and the girl.
Just like in our daily lives, where we let things get in between us and Jesus.
Between us and our Father.
Between us and our Dad.
--
Then someone with money comes along. She is chasing the money; can't get her eyes off it.
I believe this symbolizing money and worldly things.
--
We let worldly things become our idols; become our fathers.
--
The money person stands in front of the boyfriend, and they start a synchronized movement.
Not only do you have boyfriends and money/worldly things standing between you and Jesus,
but they are doing a synchronized movement, which to me shows that the worldly things are going through the motions. They are worldly things that rip you from your faith.
----->Which the worst part is, they stand between you and your Dad.
--
The next person to come along is a girl who has a bear bottle. The way she walks and her balance symbolizing that she got in with the wrong group of friends. The heavy parties and drinkers symbolize that the character is struggling with her identity. This character once again stands in front of the money person and joins the movement adding just one more thing/person that is standing between her and Jesus.
The next person to come along is a tall, and thin person. She is in a dress, which she is playing the roll of a fashion model. Girls nationwide are really struggling with being thin and having "the image." It's another worldly thing that with Christ, we don't need to worry about. The super model stands in front of the friend (the alcoholic) and once again, it's just one more worldly thing that separates us from Jesus, and the same synchronized movement continues, symbolizing the motions.
--
I just need to say,
YOU are the Lord's child.
He created you PERFECT in His image.
With Christ, you don't need to worry about that stuff.
Your inner beauty and your heart is what matters,
Seriously. God is good.
Our Dad, is perfect.
And that perfection, created YOU!
--
Lastly, a person with all black comes to the girl. He shows her how to cut her arms, and hands her a gun for her to commit suicide. Then this character goes to join the rest of the group that stands between her and Jesus. As she holds the gun to her head, the song builds.
It goes to "Your all I want" and she throws the gun and starts to fight to be with Jesus.
--
Please remember, that during this entire process, Jesus is standing there jumping up and down, waving, trying to get her attention. When you drift from the Lord, He never forgets you. He is always fighting for you, trying to get your attention. He never fails to have you cross His mind.
--
The rest of this video is her running toward Jesus. The people that were standing in between are fighting and pushing her back. They don't want her to go back to Jesus. The sin is tempting and fighting. Meanwhile, she keeps fighting to be with Jesus.Her black shirt rips off and her white shirt is now visible. Jesus is motioning like a rope, pulling her in. He is pulling her toward Him, and NEVER stops fighting. The "sin" pushes her down and starts surrounding her. Jesus steps in and stands between her and the sin. Jesus keeps them back and they can NO LONGER TOUCH HER! Jesus then pushes them back and they fall to the floor! She is able to worship Jesus and Jesus helps her up! They they hug (and seriously guys, just got the chills) and Jesus walks her off stage, "guiding her."
--
The lyrics always stand out to me.
"How can I stand here with You, and not be moved by You?"
Think about those lyrics for a second.
What do they mean to you?
"Dad. Thanks for Your love and Your grace.
Thanks for defining Love.
Thanks for being my everything. Thanks for breaking me to bring me to You.
I love you Dad."
Amen
P.S. If you would like to see this video:
Prepare your heart. It's so powerful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
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