He Is Madly In Love With YOU

Invade by Watermark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fwrRC1KQrU

Desire for fellowship:

  "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us...But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you -- certainly I, Paul, did, again and again -- but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
  So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
  But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
  Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones."          1 Thessalonians 2:8, 2:17-3:13

Bapa,

   I don't understand. How could I have lived my life after salvation and still not known intimacy with You? How do other people? As christians we say the right things, we even want the right things, but...What changed in my life? What made the difference?
   A few weeks ago I was the same christian I had been since I was 14 just with a little bit more biblical knowledge, but now I can feel Your presence and so much more. My heart-knowledge matches my head-knowledge. Even more so, I know You. I'm ready give up my life at a moment's notice because I know You. You are everything to me. I could have said those words a few weeks ago, but they wouldn't have been true. The thing is...I wouldn't have known that they weren't true. What has changed in me? What changed my life? I don't know if it was anything I did. You did it for me, didn't You? I asked and You brought it about.

   "They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." (Acts 5:40b-41)

   " But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him...I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-9a, 10-11)

   I know what these mean in my heart. This isn't just a head-knowledge anymore. A willingness to lose everything and to suffer that Your name may be glorified, that's what I know. Nothing on this earth compares to You!
   Your Holy Spirit is who changed me. I was desperate for something more in life. I saw the life of a friend of mine and I knew he had something that I wanted. At the time I didn't know what that was though. You so encompassed him in Yourself that his very life was sacrificed to You. He wanted You to have control, but he took it one step farther...He gave You that control. My desperation caused me to seek. The yearning for something more caused me to ask. And because that is exactly what You wanted from me and for me, You gave me everything that matters in life. You gave me Yourself. An intimate relationship with the creator of the universe. An intoxicating presence. An indescribable master. You are Lovely. You are Bapa. And You are everything to me.

Listen to Our Hearts

How do you explain?
How do you describe?
A love that goes from East to West
And runs as deep as it is wide?
You know all our hopes.
Lord, You know all our fears
And words cannot express the love we feel
But we long for You to hear.

So listen to our hearts
Hear our spirits sing
A song of praise that flows
For those You have redeemed
And we use the words we know
To tell you what an awesome God You are
But when words are not enough
To tell You of our love
Just listen to our hearts

If words could fall like rain
From these lips of mine
And if I had a thousand years
I would still run out of time
So if You listen to my heart
Every beat will say
Thank you for the Life
Thank you for the Truth
Thank you for the Way

God's Children

There is a promise...

Revelations 21:4
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

We have a job...

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."

Don't give up...

1 John 2:28
"And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming."

Intimacy With the Holy Spirit

Philippians 3:7-11

   "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

1 John 2:27
 
   "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit -- just as it has tought you, remain in him."

1 John 3:1

   "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Scripture says it best because it is God-breathed. This is the intimacy that you can have with God through the Holy Spirit.

Growth

What God has been showing me recently:

(May 24)
When nobody on this earth seems to care, God still loves you. The same God who created you and created the earth loves you. It says in Hebrews 13 that His is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That means that the God who saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire saves you. The one who was with David in the cave is with you when you feel alone. The same God who gave Peter and Paul bold words to say concerning His resurrection speaks to you and through you today.

The Same God - Newsong

Back to the wall scare'd you'll fall. What you gonna do?
Day and night don't know why it's like the world's against you.
You're praying for a breakthrough.
There was a day when your faith couldn't be held down.
God was near enough to hear every word, but somehow you wish He heard you right now.
Dont you know...
CHORUS
The same God with you then is with you now.
The same God who led you in will lead you out.
So take all the fear and doubt, go on and lay them down.
The same God, the same God, is with you now.
(May 29)
If we question God about the great blessings He has given us in our lives, let it only be to ask Him about how we may use them for His glory.

(May 30)
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Bapa,

(4/18/12)

   You are in the wind, Lord. Your creation bends and yields before Your power. It surrenders to Your calling. The grass harmonizes with Your voice as it whistles and the trees add to Your melody as they creak. What beauty to show us, Your childrem. What music You bestow upon our ears.
   "What song could I sing that would move the heart of royalty?" Because that is what You are and more...royalty. No one compares to the glory and honor You possess and no one can truly add to the riches that are in Your keep. What would we bring before You, Lord, that would shine like Your heavenly gold? There is nothing I have that could magnify Your glory more than my life, so please use it. As much as You can...please use me. It is all that I truly have to offer You. Believe me, if I had more I would gladly give it. With joy is Your name upon my lips. With hope is it written upon my heart.


"If our purpose is to know Christ better and exalt Him more, then whatever differences we may have in our understanding of the book [the Bible, specifically Hebrews] will be forgotten in our worship of Him."  ~ Warren Wiersbe

4/19/12

   The heart of a father who loves unconditionally...You cannot be boxed. You are the one and only true God and You have no limits. You are beyond understanding. Our human minds cannot grasp Your glory and our eyes cannot look on Your radiance without blindness. Your creation, the earth, bowes to Your every whim and answers Your every call with rejoicing! Your creation says, "Oh, the great creator spoke to me! His command is upon my heart and His will shall be done without delay!" Your creation knows You. Your sheep do as well. It says in John that they (we) know Your voice. How could hearts be on anyone else when You know each of us by name and how many hairs are upon our head? Why would we ever deny that love? Is it because it is so overwhelming to us? Because it is overwhelming to me. To think that You love me more than anyone on this whole earth ever could and to know that You love perfectly! The one person who has never sinned! Why would You love one so flawed and guilty? You, the Maker and Creator of all things on heaven and earth, the King crowned with glory, the Shepherd...You love me. How could anyone pass up this love? We are people searching for it in this world. It is found but not chosen.
   Walk with me, please. Teach me to love others like You have loved me.

4/3/12

Bapa,

Your "glory" is Your station, Your rank, Your attributes, Your ways: righteousness, might, divinity, strength, grace, honor.
Hebrews 2:9 "...now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death..."
Psalm 22:22-23a "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the lord, praise him!"
My Strong's concordance speaks of the definition of "praise" in these verses to be "to boast" and even the sun and moon are called upon to praise Him! How incredible!
Flabbergasting, Bapa! From Hebrews 3:6 "hope" to Galatians 5:5 "But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope." Strong's concordance puts it just as beautifully: "the believers complete conformity to God's will, at the coming of Christ."  => "the hope of righteousness." Lord, thank You for such confidence, assurance, comfort, and hope. Thank You for putting this so beautifully. The things I've never even thought of before! What did You do to change me so radically? Finally found someone to put into my life to call it as he saw it and to say to me, "focus on the good and not the bad"? How wise and compassionate You are! Bless him, please. I want this yearning for You to continue and deepen. I can so easily feel Your presence in worship right now. Help me to hold onto that. How wonderful it would be to be in  Your presence always!!! And to praise You daily?! What an honor that would be! Help me to show others what an honor and blessing this can be onto their lives. I think now of my mother and brother...if only they knew what I feel and see in You/from You. I want them to know.

~Alexandra

The Resurrection

   It may seem odd that I've entitled this post "The Resurrection" when this post is about my rabbit, Dekker. He passed away today. I had my cousin's dog (Dakota) over at my house and Dakota caught Dekker with her teeth.
   Dekker, just like each person, had his own personality. When I talked to other rabbit owners about their rabbits I noticed that every rabbit was different. Dekker was a house rabbit and was allowed to run around the house pretty much anywhere he wanted. He was territorial, but not as territorial as female rabbits. He was always another presence in a house where it was just my father and myself. He was so adorable when he was laying down on the floor because he seemed much more vulnerable and almost relaxed. He was hard to get a good picture of though.  :)
   You know, it's okay to be sad when our pets die. They act as our companions and our friends. They probably know us better than our best friends do because they see what others do not.
   Just like our marriages here on earth, the relationships with our pets are not meant to go beyond our time here. When we marry, that relationship is meant for earth as well, but not for heaven. We are given a partner in marriage here on earth to demonstrate Christ's love for the church. It's because it is here on earth that it is need, not in heaven where there is no sin. The relationship we have with our pets is similar. It's meant to be a source of comfort, a tool for teaching, and a reflection of the basic love any person can have. If we beat our animals, then we are not saying that we love them.

   Matthew 22:25-30
   "Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her? Jesus replied, 'You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.'"

   I can't be mad at the dog who killed my rabbit. I'm hurt by the way it happened, even that it happened at all, but I'm not mad at Dakota. If I could give advice, then I would say that Dakota needs some actual dog training. I'm not mad at her though.

Experience

What experience can you give when you've live but a short life?
What lessons can you teach?
What advice can you impart?
What hope can you pass on?

Even if you're only a teenager, you have something to give. Even if you're only 15, you have already lived.
Everyone can provide something. And as you live, you learn.
Here's hoping you do something with the knowledge you already have.

By Your Side

To watch you smile is like the gleam of sunlight through falling leaves.
To hold your hand is like the glow of firey coals on a winter's day.
And to look into your eyes is like being caught up in worship.
The indescribable peace of being with you cannot be mirrored by anything here on earth.

To speak with you is like a waterfall; a tumble of emotions that always ends in ease.
To embrace you is like being liberated.
And to walk with you is like the ocean's contact with the sand.
The unforgettable love I feel when I'm with you cannot be copied by anyone's word or deed.

And so I choose...I choose to be by your side.

By: Alexandria Muto

In and Through

It is in dying that we live.
In singing that we praise.
In teaching that we learn.
In seeking that we find. In trusting that we laugh.
And that in believing we receive grace.

It is through experience that we are mindful.
Through living that we journey.
Through talking that we heal.
Through giving that we love.
And it is through loving that we forgive.

by Alexandria Muto