My Newest Song

I don't have a name for it yet, but here are the lyrics to my newest song (if you have any ideas for a title, let me know):

Verse 1
In my weakness He is made strong
The mountains will move
In the darkness He will shine bright
And in that moment prove
All the least of these that have been turned away
Will now be renewed

Chorus
There's gonna be revival in the streets
There will be renewed sense of peace
The Son of Man will open up His arms
And welcome children home again

Verse 2
A selfless kind of love must prevail
A love that knows no end
We need to love the people of the streets
And see the Christ in them
We will look outside the walls of these buildings
Get up and follow Him

Chorus

Bridge
Amen (5X)
Bring about revival in the streets
Bless us with a new sense of peace
Son of God please open up your arms and welcome children home again

Chorus

Just A Thought

If you haven't read Romans 8: 15-17 recently, I would definitely recommend it. I'm sure most people are familiar with Romans 8:15 that says:

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba, Father!"

However if you read on, Paul continues:

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

I am not a theologian and might be interpreting this wrong (please correct me if I am), but the part that really tripped me up was the part that talked about suffering with Christ. Paul doesn't say suffer for Christ (which is something which Christians undoubtedly do) or suffer alone. He says suffer with Christ. That means that if I am suffering for the sake of the Gospel, Christ is suffering with me (it's His Gospel after all, right?)

That is so immensely encouraging to know that I don't ever have to enter into persecution or any kind of suffering for the Gospel alone. Christ will be suffering right along with me. What a privilege it is when God allows Christians to be persecuted, because we are then able to experience a sliver of what Christ went through.

Furthermore, I think a Christian life without any suffering for the sake of the Gospel, should be reexamined...

Just a thought.

Beautiful Flower

I really like this song written by India Arie...

This is a song for every girl who's
Ever been through something she thought she couldn't make it through
I sing these words because
I was that girl too
Wanting something better than this
But who do I turn to

Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

'Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

This is a song for every girl who
Feels like she is not special
'Cause she don't look like a supermodel Coke bottle
The next time the radio tells you to shake your moneymaker
Shake your head and tell them, tell them you're a leader

Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

'Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

Yeah, you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

Yeah, you, this song is for you
Yeah, you, this song is for you
Yeah, you, this song is for you
Yeah, you, yeah, you
You are brilliant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zbn7Khv8zM

Let Them Get Offended

I have become increasingly aware that sometimes the way I say things makes people uncomfortable or even offended. Let's get more specific, the way I talk about the Bible and about Christ makes people uncomfortable. I am aware that I speak firmly and passionately about the truths I find in the Bible. What's funny to me is that it doesn't make non Christians uncomfortable, but rather it makes Christians uncomfortable.

I understand that in 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul talks about the importance of becoming all things to all people, but (please correct me if I am wrong) I am pretty sure he is speaking about non Christians in regards to the presentation of the Gospel. So I have concluded that this does not comply with the above predicament in which I often find myself.

So why are Christians so offended and uncomfortable with the way I talk about the Bible? Maybe people don't want to hear about what the Bible says about some things (i.e. service to the poor and advocacy for injustice) because they might be convicted and their lives might be drastically changed so they better fit the Biblical description of a follower of Christ.

Was it not God, himself, who said in Romans 3:15-16

"'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."'
(pretty offensive verse if I do say so myself)

So I guess all I can say (or think) when Christians are offended by the way I talk about the Bible is, "good!" Let them get offended, maybe it will make shake them up and make them think.

He's Got This

So I graduated college yesterday and I am not quite sure what to think. Of course I am still going back for student teaching and that will last until May, nonetheless I am done with school. Done...Finished. A part of me really is not ready. I keep thinking that I am just learning about myself and I am changing so much right now. I want to be confident in who I am and know what I am like before I "go into" the world to do Christ's work. I suppose this is the way God wants it for now. After all, I know that in my weakness He will be made strong. I suppose I have never really felt that weak before, so as not to have had to practice this. But I must admit that now is a time of weakness for me, and that's okay.

Although I am confused about a lot right now, I still know that I am moving to Watts this summer, to do Christ's work. I say this because I don't exactly know what that work will be yet. Certainly I will be teaching in the area, God willing, but other than that, I don't really know what God wants of me in Watts yet. I don't know where I should be going to church (although I love the church I am at now), I don't know what ministries to start, and I don't even really know how to serve this community I will soon be a part of. But it's okay. I know that He knows "what's up" and will show me when the time is right. I just have to stay in the Word and listen for the call and then run.

I am ready to run. I want to run. I recognize that my life here is so short and while I am camped out in this wretched earth awaiting a lifetime with my King, I want to do God's work. Not MY work...HIS!

So I guess I can conclude that
While I don't know who I am...He does
While I don't know where I'm going...He does
While I don't know what I am supposed to do...He does

And when I feel like hiding in a hole, away from the wickedness of humanity, He tells me that it's okay. He's "got this."

It'll be ok :)