Twelve

Twelve is significant for me.
At twelve years old I gave my life to Jesus.
I heard God's voice and I was forever changed.
That was twelve years ago.

I've been doing much reflecting and reminiscing.

I've been doing some reading through 1 Timothy, Romans & Psalms-words repeadly telling me "Don't forget what was preached to you, what has been taught, & where you have set your foundation! You know all too well that the world teaches one thing & the Word another. So don't forsake the Truth! Dive deeper & test everything your ears hear! For this is your Hope. In this your feet will never fail."

So here I sit reading John (the same book in the Bible I studied twelve years ago) and read these words today:

"All I have is yours and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them."-John 17:10

These words are coming from Jesus as He is praying for His disciples (both present & future) before He is about to be handed over to die for our sins.

I read these words and am first torn because it feels like this is such a great mystery. Second, I feel excited.

I feel this way because if I am like the rest of the world (which I most certainly am) I know exactly what I need to lay down before God....but I too often forget what it is I need to pick up....or maybe we know both things, but aren't motivated....and thus, we experience more heartache from our brokenness, yes?

So I made a list of twelve things (imagine that) we have in Jesus. A reminder to both you & I:

Power/triumph
Joy
Strength
Peace
Access to the Father
Forgiveness
Confidence
True Life
Satisfaction
Completion
Royal Status
Healing/Restoration

Great things huh?

But thing is you're never going to truly know (aka experience) them until you truly lay down your stuff.

So what's your stuff?

Did you know you had all of this (& much, much more) in Jesus? If you didn't, I recommend reading the book of John...it's a great start.

I look over my twelve years of walking with the Lord & I see all the things I still need to lay down.

I want His glory in my life.

But first I need to want to have ALL of my things to be His & vis versa.

"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken"
- Psalm 55:22

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
-1 Peter 5:7

May this be your prayer today, tomorrow, & everyday. I know it's hard, but we do this together!

"Lord, forgive me. Teach me, guide me-take my hand! Let me not lean on my own understanding. Holy Spirit remind me, correct me, & sustain me. You are worthy of having my life; for you laid down yours for mine. Thank you, Jesus."
❤❤❤

Come Already

My friends, family, and strangers alike this one thing I want you to know and this is the one thing I will forever proclaim from now until I take my last breath-this is the Good News (more than just "good", but great and profound news), that while we were still sinners God came down to rescue us (Romans 5: 6-8). He took the form of a man; the name Jesus was given Him (Matthew 1: 21-23), but He also took upon the names of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus bore all our shame, all our guilt, all of our iniquities upon the cross (Isaiah 53:5). He took the fall that we deserved. He died a criminal's death although He, himself, was spotless (Philippians 2:6-8). He did this with pure joy. He did this with great, unmeasurable love (Ephesians 3: 16-19). Why? Because you are His. His handiwork, His masterpiece; His priceless gem (Ephesians 2:10)! You see what the world and what sin meant to destroy, God has made new. He is making all things new (Revelation 21:5)! He wants to make you new. He wants to redeem you, to free you, to forgive you, and to save you...but much, much more! He wants to walk with you, be with you, discuss with you, teach you, and guide you (2 Peter 3:9)! Why? Well, I've already said but I will say it again-He loves you! He loves you! He loves you! There is no condemnation here (John 3:17). There is no fear here (1 John 4: 16-18). He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. There are no prerequisites; no need to be perfect, just come...come to the Father, your Creator, your Designer. His arms are open wide. They truly, truly are. Don't you know or have you not heard that if you simply call upon the name of Jesus that you will be saved (Jeremiah 29: 11-14)?! How can we put our trust in something we can not see, you ask? How can put so much in faith in something we do not fully understand? Because we have been touched. Something has stirred in our cold, stone hearts that made it break and come alive (Ezekiel 36:26-27)! We who claim to follow Jesus, we were once blind but now we see (John 9)-for He is our reality (Colossians 2:17b)! He is the well that will never run dry (John 4: 1-26)! His words will never end (Matthew 24:35)! And He lives! For death could not hold Him! Do not forget, that He rose again victorious! He conquered over your bondages, over your separation, over what you say was impossible (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)! He made a way for us to come back home! For this world and it's many sorrows is not our home (Hebrews 13:14), it is not our permanent dwelling. We were created to dwell in paradise and harmony with our God. Our God who has given us breath, has given us motion (Ezekiel 37:1-14), has given us true wisdom, and knowledge, but most importantly the option to choose Him. Yes, the option to choose Him. You can turn and do your own thing (Romans 1:21-25). You can run and forget all that I have just said. But the price of your sin is not worth it. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). A death that is forever a separation from your Father...from His presence...from His peace (Matthew 13:1-43). This is the greatest sorrow, that we would make out our God to be a liar and forsake such Truth for our own "truth" (1 John 1-8-10). For Jesus is the only Truth that can set us free (John 8: 31-32). So what holds you back? Is this too much to bare? This pill to hard to swallow? Some even who had walked side by side with Jesus thought so too, so they left (John 6: 61-66). Some however, followed Jesus even to the point of death (Acts 7) and still many do today. For to say that you believe, is to say you will follow, and to follow is to lay down your life in the light that He is greater (Matthew 10: 38-39). So together, let's go. Let's go to the one who calls us by name, calls us out of darkness...out of hiding. Let us throw off everything that hinders (Hebrews 12:1-3), everything that entangles, everything that trips us up from shouting from the top of our lungs: "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, ARE YOU O GOD!!!!!"

Sweet Stabbing Aches

My friend,
why did you have to leave so soon?
My love,
Why did you leave without saying goodbye?
Did I mean so little to you
Or
Was the pain of this world we've created too much to bare?
My friend,
I miss you...More than words can say...
Did you even think what you're decision would do to me?
Did you even think?
I wish I knew your reasons why...

Every crazed song,
mountainous skyline,
& blue screen,
They bring bittersweet tastes.
I wish I could turn back time
And tell you what you mean...
You were my joy,
You were what I inspired to be.
You were my hope,
You were who I always longed to see.

My friend,
Did you leave because of something I said?
Was it something I did?
How can I not turn this back on me...
My love,
Couldn't we have started again?
I'm at a loss.
You're gone. You're gone. You're gone.

I want your touch & laughter back.
Your smile was my warmth;
Your insights were my strengths.
What was it you exactly lacked?
What did I not have that you needed?
My love,
You took a part of me when you departed.

Now that you're gone, how can I go on?
Maybe...just maybe
If I left too we would magically meet again
Somewhere on that shore...
Somewhere under the tracks...
My friend, is that what you wanted?
I wish you could speak to me now,
So this sorrow would be no more...
I have you no more.
No more.
No more.