anniversary

it blows my mind that it has been two years this weekend.

two years of freedom for me.

and of course God in his perfect timing brought about several stories this weekend of people who weren't so lucky. people who didn't make it. sad, horrible stories of families struggling to see God in the midst of their pain.

every time i heard one of these stories i felt like a bus hit me. my breath was taken away... to be reminded once more of God's kindness and grace and gentleness toward me. i know God is sovereign, but i still wonder sometimes why his hand of mercy was upon me.

me, instead of someone else.

maybe its God's way of reminding me of salvation. that although i (we) deserve to die, he lovingly chooses to save us.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for..."

-Isaiah 40:1-2

"In my anguish I cried to the Lord,

and he answered by setting me free."

Psalm 118:5

william fitzsimmons

I should not have hid where my heart can't follow,
'cause this grace gets so far and too hard to swallow.
I've been running from Saul, he's been giving chase;
when I look in his eyes, all I see is my face.

You're still on my back after all these years,
chasing me out of hell and my nice veneers.
I don't know how you stand when you've got no floor,
or how you can breathe with your hands on boards.

I just want to be not what I am today,
I just want to be better than my friends might say,
I just want a small part in your passion's play.

Do you hear when I call in the midst of wrong?
Do you hear these here words while I sing this song?
Are you caught up in me like I heard you say,
or just some big cashier that I'll have to pay?

Just want to be not what I am today,
I just want to be better than my friends might say,
I just want a small part in your passion's play.

-Passion Play

been finding a lot of good music lately.

encouraged to love

in honor of "valentimes" (that is for wimbo).....what does it look like to truly love someone in an unselfish way? encouragement can certainly play a part.

the book of acts talks about a guy named joseph who was incredibly encouraging to those around him. so much so that everyone started calling him barnabus (which means son of encouragement).

so barnabus encouraged people in a couple of different ways.

-he saw needs and met them:
"All the believers were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales to the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Joseph...whom the apostles called Barnabus, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles." -Acts 4:32-37

-he saw potential in someone and developed it
"But Barnabus took him [Paul] and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord has spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." Acts 9:27

-he saw faith and encouraged/nurtured it
"...they sent Barnabus to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." -Acts 11:23

whatever it looks like for you,
today i encourage you to love someone well.

song by sojourn...look them up.

Falling down upon our knees,
Sharing now in common shame,
We have sought security,
Not the cross that bears Your name.
Fences guard our hearts and homes
Comfort sings a siren tune.
We're a valley of dry bones;
Lead us back to life in You.

Lord we fall upon our knees,
We have shunned the weak and poor,
Worshipped beauty, courted kings
And the things their gold affords,
Prayed for those we'd like to know --
Favor sings a siren tune.
We've become a talent show;
Lead us back to life in You.

You have caused the blind to see,
We have blinded him again
With our man-made laws and creeds,
Eager, ready to condemn.
Now we plead before Your throne --
Power sings a siren tune.
We've been throwing heavy stones;
Lead us back to life in You.

We're a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in You.
We've become a talent show
Lead us back to life in You.
We've been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in You.