December 2011
1 post
David Platt.
“Every year in the United States, we spend more than $10 billion on church buildings. In America alone, the amount of real estate owned by institutional churches is worth over $230 billion. We have money and possessions, and we are building temples everywhere. Empires, really. Kingdoms. We call them houses of worship. But at the core, aren’t they too often outdated models of religion...
November 2011
3 posts
we exist to worship.
Instead of dwelling on our inability to not sin, our inability to not have idols, our inability to not struggle with sin, let us WORSHIP God. We all know we have sin, we all know we have idols. After you have confessed that and repented of that-worship the one who actually deserves our worship. Turn away and just be with Him. Worship and be satisfied in Him and in His presence-then you will see...
in our fleeting days.: i am what i am. {by His... →
suzyhumanity:
“the way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. the deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us. get into the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how…
If you think you don't have idols, you're in for a...
“When a finite value [becomes a center of value by which other values are judges and] has been elevated to centrality and imagined as a final source of meaning, then one has chosen what Jews and Christians call a god…To be worshipped as a god, something must be sufficiently good to be plausibly regarded as the rightful center of one’s valuing…One has a god when a finite value is worshipped...
October 2011
2 posts
R-e-s-p-e-c-t for Muslim women.
I am reading a great book right now and in it has a Muslim woman’s testimony of why she wears the hijab. It speaks for itself and I greatly admire those women.
Here is what she said…
“A few years ago, I also decided to start wearing the hijab. The hijab is a head cover for women that covers the hair but does not cover the face. When some of my friends at the university saw me...
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God… behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 6:2
August 2011
1 post
Calling all dissatisfied Christians.
I have revelations sometimes…not often so when it happens I feel like I have to share.
I was just sitting in my room thinking, praying. I was thinking about my life and what it has been like the past couple of months since I have been home from Lebanon. When I returned I was so eager to find a job and start working. I was ok without a job for a while because I had all the time to catch up...
June 2011
2 posts
Dear to whom this may apply.
I know this applies to a lot of people. I am not aiming this at anyone specific because I know a lot of you who need to hear this. You are not alone. I also need to hear this.
First of all, if you don’t know Jesus, let me tell you that He loves you and you need Him. (Romans 5:8; Psalm 139:13-16) You and I, we are sinful people. (Romans 10:23; Psalm 53:3).When you look around and see that...
word. No literally the Word.
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel.”
Colossians 1:21-23
April 2011
1 post
Thank you Mark Driscoll.
Imagine me in the gym biking…listening to my ipod.
Some random Lebanese chick is on the bike next to me. I burst out laughing [seemingly] out of nowhere. How embarrassing. I was listening to Mark Driscoll’s sermon about Jesus healing on the Sabbath. He was talking about the Pharisees and how they interacted with Jesus. They tested Him and tried to make Him look bad. Driscoll goes,...
March 2011
1 post
Just Do Something. By Kevin DeYoung
“The will of God isn’t a special direction here or a bit of secret knowledge there. God doesn’t put us in a maze, turn out the lights, and tells us, “Get out and good luck.” In one sense, we trust in the will of God as His sovereign plan for our future. In another sense, we obey the will of God as His good word for our lives. In no sense should we be scrambling around...
February 2011
1 post
January 2011
2 posts
Acts 17:24-28
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands and He is not served by human hands as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every Nation of men, that they may inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact...
oh oh oh oh thankGodImFree
So I have this friend. Her name is Molly. She isn’t just my friend, she is my neighbor. She literally lives in the room across from mine. When we have our doors open we can talk to each other its pretty awesome.
The reason why I am telling you about Molly is because I want you to check out her blog. She is a funny chick and I think you would like it. She is also a celebrity in Beirut now...
December 2010
1 post
biggest pet peeve.
Here it is- I strongly dislike/disagree with/despise/loathe/abhor/detest/etc.etc. this quote…
“Share the Gospel, and if necessary, use words.”
There could not be more of an unBiblical quote, in my opinion. Sorry to complain, but seriously? If you believe in this quote, you might want to re-read Scripture. So many people use this as a cop out when prompted to share the Good...
November 2010
1 post
Dear Habibis.
Dear family and friends,
God told me to tell you to sell your houses, pack your bags, and move to Lebanon. See ya soon then! ;)
Tonight was ladies night. So of course we went out for dessert for dinner, a regular occurance. But probably won’t be any longer because I am feeling quite sick now. haha somewhere between our 3 hour conversation and taxi ride home I had some thoughts…...
October 2010
2 posts
My ugliness I trade for Your Glory.
The more I grow and the closer I get to God, the more I see my ugliness. And with this, the more I see my absolute and increased NEED for Him.
The beauty of the Gospel continues to increase as I see my ugliness. Why Jesus wanted to die to have a relationship with me is beyond what I can understand. How does He delight in me? His LOVE is something I cannot fathom, especially when I see my filth.
...
Never been this proud to be an American.
Since I have arrived in Lebanon, I have found myself time and again ashamed to call myself an American. Everyone here thinks that all Americans are automatically Christians. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “You’re American, so you’re Christian, right?” Well… I am a Christian yes, but I am a Christian because I do follow Jesus Christ. I do not mean...
September 2010
1 post
“Abortion- the silent holocaust.”
August 2010
3 posts
never been more ready.
Lets go.
May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.
“We were made to be enchanted, enamored, and engrossed with God; enthralled,...”
– Dr. Sam Storms
Gary Jo
My 8 year old brother donated all the money he had for Lebanon. That 5 dollars is the most valuable gift I’ve recieved. Talk about making me cry! Beautiful.
July 2010
4 posts
“The greatest among you will be your servant.”
– Jesus
Great book: Boy Meets Girl By Joshua Harris
Seriously, try to picture this...
The face that Moses had begged to see-was forbidden to see-was slapped bloody(Exodus 33:19-20). The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth’s rebellion now twisted around His own brow….
“On your back with you!” One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier’s heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner’s wrist. Someone must sustain the...
The biggest lie Satan will tell you...
“You are alone.”
June 2010
2 posts
Is Life Really About Jesus? →
who do you say I am?
“He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plently of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“If you fully obey the LORD your God...
May 2010
4 posts
Temporary Love...Any takers?
It breaks my heart to watch my brothers and sisters selling themselves into temporary happiness, temporary love. Relationships. ah where to begin. Most everyone has a desire to find that one person that will completely accept you for who you are and love everything about you. We desire someone that will be smitten with us and madly in love with us regardless of our flaws, til death do us part....
question.
With the amount of faith it takes, can we literally walk on water?
before you answer this ‘silly’ question I’d like to direct you to Matthew 19:26, Jesus says this, “With man this is impossible, But with God all things are possible.”
Okay so ALL things are possible with God. Do you believe this? Do I believe this? Do we enough faith? As my older brother Tyler would...
Oh ya I almost forgot..
About Lebanon..
I also expect to see my family and friends’ faith increased through this journey. This is not just about me and my faith, its about them and theirs’ as well. I expect my ministry partners to be encouraged but also an encouragement to me. ok AMEN!
Who will tell them?
I am going on Stint to Lebanon.
I leave Sept 1 and will be gone until summer of 2011. A lot of people have asked the question, “What do you expect God to do while you are there?” Allow me to answer…
First of all I expect to be completely rocked and transformed by Him. One way God confirmed His calling for me to go to Lebanon through the Word was in Hosea 2:14-16 which says...
April 2010
5 posts
JennyRay McGee, you've changed my life. →
I am who I say I am.
Okay everyone. you should know something…
I am officially going on STINT to the Middle East. I leave roughly around the end of August and will be gone for about 11 months. I will let you know more specific information at the end of the month after I have an orientation type weekend. Please be praying for me as I trust in the Lord to take me wherever He wants me and to use me for His glory....
Buy this book & read it
http://thedivinematchmaker.com/about_us.php
The Divine Matchmaker by Joel and Casey Johnson
Jimmy Needham- Hurricane
I have built a city here Half with pride and half with fear Just wanted a safer place to hide I don’t want to be safe tonight I need You like a hurricane Thunder crashing, wind and rain To tear my walls down I’m only Yours now I need you like a burning flame A wild fire untamed To burn these walls down I’m only Yours now I’m only Yours now I am Yours and You are mine You know far better than I...
God should be enough.
the ancient Dayeinu Liturgy recited at Jewish Seder…
If He had rescued us from Egypt,
but not punished the Egyptians,
it would have been enough!
If He had punished the Egyptians,
but not defeated their gods,
it would have been enough!
If He had given us the Sabbath,
but not led us to Mount Sinai,
it would have been enough!
If He had led us to Mount Sinai,
but not given us the...
March 2010
5 posts
“Refuse self pity. Refuse it absolutely. It is a deadly thing with power to...”
– Elisabeth Elliot
Fruit
I have always wanted to know what it means to die to self. You always hear people say that … “To follow Christ you must die to self daily.” or “To follow Christ you must take up your cross daily.” I think they are right, but I want to know what that means. The past week I have been praying that God would show me what that would look like in my own life.
He said,...
excuse me...
The Invention of Lying. This is a movie. Someone will be held accountable for the creation of this movie before the Lord. That is all I have to say
Phenomenal →
Inheritance
Two things I have to say.
1. I had a revelation about Jesus. God revealed an angle to me I had not recognized until it really hit me. Why did Jesus have to die? There are many answers. My revelation was this: Inheritance. You cannot inherit lets sayy money from your parents unless they what…die. We could not receive the gift of eternal life unless Jesus died. God’s inheritance for us....
February 2010
2 posts
The enemy will tell you to look out for #1- it's...
I finally took a step back and realized this is exactly what was happening.
God’s voice was loud for a good two days straight until I decided to open my eyes and then agree with Him. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. Thats right Lord, it’s not about me, not at all.
The thing about this conviction of mine that is surprising is how freeing it was to admit to myself; that this life and this...
my brothers and sisters in maryville:
I just got back from Maryville. Tyler and I went up for the night to go to Cru- to see all my loves in the Ville. I can’t tell you how blessed I was to be there. It was so encouraging to be in a community of Believers. First because the love that binds us together is by the truest love-Christ. And also because of the work God is doing in and through them. Leaving, I felt like Paul in his...
January 2010
8 posts
...
one of those days.
I’m getting anxious.
do you ever just have those days when your expectations are shot and are probably the reason why your day went so wrong?
I wish I knew how to not have expectations. maybe this is the definition of faith. How to trust God. I have much to learn and much more trust to have.
I’m tired and drained …this is what I said was desirable. ha this...
something beautiful →
Nesteia
The Geek word for fasting, Nesteia means to abstain. The Hebrew word for fasting means “to cover the mouth.”
If you are struggling in your relationship with God, in prayer, in a certain situation, just with life in general, I want to encourage you to fast.
Matthew 6:16-18 says this, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show...
so here's the deal...
I’m tired Lord.
but i also don’t want to leave this earth with a un-tired looking body. i want to be so tired every night when I lay in bed because I’ll know I worked hard for You. To be drained and lifeless at the end of the day is desirable. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today is only another day because He told the sun to rise. He...
I want to be able to say this someday...
“I attend a church that throws birthday parties for hookers at 3:30 in the morning.”
Imagine your name being exchanged for a number. your identity is encompassed by the number on your chest.
people around you stare as they contemplate the idea of you entertaining their lustful, twisted, sexual desires.
you are a sex slave. not by choice. no one would choose this.
your humanity has been completely striped before your eyes.
this could happen at your age of 3 or 8 or 14. maybe 17...