Let me love.

1 corinthians 1:26-31 . . . brothers, think of what you were when you were called. not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. it is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. therefore, as it is written: "let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

my weakness is truly becoming my joy. i'm so thankful to be in a place of need. anything i do is by the power of Christ. anything good, noble, right, is of Him. His strength, not my own.

it's apparent that on my own i am nothing. it's apparent that i am not "good." my nature is sin. yet i'm saved. now righteous. BY THE POWER OF CHRIST JESUS!

i'm so thankful for the current opportunity i have to be surrounded by unbelievers. my prayer is that my hear would be this, from 1 corinthians. that i would know what i've been saved from. that i would have no expectations of my peers to be moral, holy, or righteous. it's not in them.

Father, let me be an example. Let me be a light. Let me love.

remove the log in mine.

romans 2:1 . . . you, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

is it funny that being judgmental is a new temptation for me? in the past it's been so easy for me to love others [yet impossible to love myself]. it seems i've had a pendulum swing.

praise the Lord for a new day. for little victories.

Lord, let my heart match Yours. Lord, break me until i'm resting in Your arms. Let my words, thoughts, and actions imitate those of Your Son. humble me for Your glory.

show me Your heart. show me Your ways. show me Your glory.

what does your wake look like?

have you ever entered into a group of Christians, and rather than being encouraged, your broken down? there's something wrong with that picture, but it happens all the time.

in my own heart i'm praying to be broken down. that i would not enter in with a judgmental spirit, or a spirit of self-righteousness. i pray that the Lord uses me as an example, and that i may lead in serving and encouraging.

my heart is braking for the Christians i've been surrounded by. braking for them, and being broken by them.

i heard someone speak the other day on leadership. "it's a leader's responsibility to encourage his followers." that's the line that stuck out to me, and the line that tore at me. when i'm in a leadership position, am i encouraging those under my wing? that's what makes a true leader. like Jesus, we must come as servants. laying ourselves down.

it's sad how pride can destroy so powerfully, even in Christian circles. especially in Christian circle. i know i'm certainly victim, falling into pride and failing to serve and encourage.

paul, even in his place of wisdom beyond years had HUMILITY to match. this morning i'm encouraged by his spirit when longing to meet with fellow believers.

romans 1:11-12 . . . for i long to see you, that i may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

paul's desire matches the Lord's. his desire is to strengthen others, by the power given to him by the Father. he goes in hoping to be encouraged by others as well, not with a prideful spirit thinking only -he- will have an affect. his hope is to be affected.

i've been discouraged and broken down by my current circle. and i've allowed that to keep me from serving and encouraging my fellow believers in truth. in three days i'll be entering back into another circle, and for that, i'm blessed. i'm excited for the opportunity to bask in the Lord's grace and mercy and allow Him to shine through me.

for these last days on tour, it is my prayer than i can humble myself and serve. that i wont allow other's to control the living spirit within me.

i confess a judgmental heart, and i pray for a heart to love. a heart to love like He does. a heart to serve like He did. and wisdom and words to encourage every opportunity i get.

go out in faith!

surrender.

Psalm 25:1-11 . . . to You, o Lord, i lift up my soul. o my God, in You i trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. make me to know Your ways, o Lord; teach me Your paths. lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You i wait all the day long. remember Your mercy, o Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, o Lord! good and upright is the Lord! therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. for Your name’s sake, o Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

--as i wait, You make me strong
as i long, You draw me to Your arms
as i stand and sing Your praise
You come, and You fill this place

job 19:25 . . . i know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.

that's all there is.

my mind has been racing today. so much going on in my head. my favorite place to be is when i can't make sense of anything, and there is nothing sound, but truth.

truth is that my Redeemer lives.
that i am redeemed.
that in the end, HE will stand upon the earth.
again.

i'm so over not loving one another.
how do i change?
Lord, change me.

better than thousands elsewhere...

colossians 1:9-12 . . . for this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. and we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might! have great endurance and patience. joyfully give thanks to the Father.

joyfully giving thanks to my Father. that's where i'm at today. i've been in a hole the past few days. praying without ceasing, but simply because i was not making it on my own. i knew i couldn't. i was failing, falling quickly.

"but joyfully, through prayer and petition, present your requests to the Lord."

"turn Your ear to me, o Lord."

i called, You answered.
You came to my rescue.
i want to be where You are.

my soul longs, even faints for You.
for here my heart is satisfied,
within Your presence.


well, there is nothing better than the power of my Savior.

praise the Lord, for He is faithful.
His love endures forever!

respond to grace.

ephesians 1:5-8 . . . in love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.

the riches of His grace, He has lavished upon us.

"take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
take my love, my Lord i pour
at Your feet its treasure store
take myself and i will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
take myself and i will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

here am i, all of me.
take my life, it's all for Thee."

what's your response?