I-Heart.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. – 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Take a look around you right now. If you are reading this, you are probably on something like a computer or a phone that you can access the internet with. Think about this, though. You probably already realize that there are billions of people without these kinds of amenities. But do you realize on what scale? There are kids dying every few seconds of starvation, disease, and things of that nature. And yes, I know what you are thinking. This is mainly in other countries nowhere near me. Well as stated above in 1 John 3:16, love is Jesus giving us His life. Him dying on the cross for us. And what did he ask in return? That we do the same for everyone. How do we do this? Through love. We always aknowledge that these things are going on, but we either learn to stop thinking about it and shut it out, or we just feel apethetic towards it. Apathy does not help out these people. It does not give the homeless a home. It does not give the hungry food. It does not give the thirsty a drink. It does not give God to those who who do not know Him. Our love, determination, and action does though. We, as a unified church, should help out our brothers and sisters have what they need to survive. Do you think if Jesus was here today, He would be sitting around in his nice home like that? No. He would be out serving this people, helping them. And when I use the word “Church”, I don’t mean your church, or denomination, or anything like that. Church is not a building, not a denomination, not music, or anything like that. We are the Church. People are the Church.

The church doesn’t exist to meet our needs. Rather we exist as the Church, to meet the needs of others. -Joel Houston

The I-Heart movie was amazing. Those are just some of my thoughts for now. More to come for sure.

Light.

Last night as I was trying to go to bed, every light I had on in my room just seemed too bright. So, I turned off the stereo. I covered the alarm clock, and I turned off my printer. But regardless of my efforts, there was still light on in there. I couldnt get rid of the power strips or various chargers… People try to do this in life too. They try to shut out everything good and just focus on bad. But the main point I want to focus on is that it can also be related toward God.  Genisis 1:3-5 says

^3-5 God spoke: “Light!”
And light appeared.
God saw that light was good
and separated light from dark.
God named the light Day,
he named the dark Night.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day One.

So figuratively speaking, we can call God light. God is the light of our world. (Some people, when going to Heaven, say they see the light!) So why do I try to get rid of all the light? Because it was bothering me? But the thing is, I was never fully able to get rid of all of the light that was in my room. No matter what, it would never go away. The light in my room is the same as God’s unfailing love for us. It will never go away. No matter what we do, God will always love us, be there for us, be there to guide us. Darkness will always be there to try and overtake us, to make us turn away from the light. But light always comes. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

God is Light.

God, Please forgive me…

Forgive us O Lord: A Prayer for American Politics

 

Forgive us O Lord, for being divisive rather than working to build unity.

Forgive us O Lord, for striving to be right more than striving to be kind.

Forgive us O Lord, when we desire to be understood more than to understand.

Forgive us O Lord, for placing our hope in a person, a system, a government – rather than in you alone.

Forgive us O Lord, for complaining about politics rather than thanking you for our freedom.

Forgive us O Lord, when we use our mouths – and our email forwards – to tear down “the other.”

Forgive us O Lord, for spending more time and energy thinking about the Empire than the kingdom.

Forgive us O Lord for speaking poorly and wishing ill will on another candidate.

Forgive us O Lord, when we are known more for following a party than for following the Risen Christ.

Forgive us O Lord, for claiming that God is only on “our side.”

Forgive us O Lord, for claiming and proclaiming that one political party completely and accurately represents the politics of Jesus.

Forgive us O Lord, when we forget that the heart of the king is in your hands.

Forgive us O Lord, for being more excited to speak to others about our candidate than about our Savior.

Forgive us O Lord, when we think this prayer is for someone else we know and not for ourselves.

Give us grace to treat others with dignity and respect, even in the midst of our differences.

Give us wisdom – not just with what we say and do, but how we say them and do them – so that we may not represent our political party, but that we may represent the one who has given us True Life.

Amen.

Source: Broken Stained Glass

 

Thank You Dave Brower and John Duvall.

 

Anyone I may have debated with or said anything to, I apologize. It’s quite amazing how much we get astrayed from our faith at certain times. But theres always going to be that forgiveness there. That forgiveness that never fails, never leaves, always there. Its so amazing what God tells us sometimes. Sometimes it comes directly, sometimes indirectly, but in the end it doesnt matter where it came from. No matter what happens, i will still continue to thank God for what he gives and has given me.

Thank You God.