my dad called me today.

My dad and i only talk for about 4 mins per month on a regular. Our conversations usually go, "Hows the car? Did you check the oil? How is school? Hows miss Nicole? and that's it. However, tonight he called and we talked for 66 mins and 11 sec. I'm very happy about that. See, My dad is a Man of God. And today he said that he felt in his spirit i was going through some rough times. It was true. My life right now is sooo hard. Its one thing after another. And he just called to give me some encouragement. To tell me to hold on and not give up. And like the little kid that I am, I begged him to stay on the phone and just kept talking, and talking, and talking. Then i listened and listened and listened. It's an amazing thing to have parents who are alive and who you can talk to even if it's only like once a year you can have a heart to heart. I know families that talk to their parents everyday. I would envy them. I would wish that my parents and I were as close.

But the truth is, more than i want my parents to talk to me every day.. I'm more than satisfied that they PRAY for me everyday, and all day..

Thank you mom and dad.

The grace of God.

This is a song by one of the most forgotten Christian Artists, Keith Green. My brother put me on him when i was like 15 years old. That was 10 years ago. I haven't heard him since then, but this song is so powerful, i thought i would place it on my blog.
Emjoy.

PRIDE

Psalm 10:4 (New International Version)

 4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; 
      
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Pride is considered the ORIGINAL and the most offensive of the Seven Deadly Sins. God completely hates it. I mean if Pride was a dude, then the BIG DUDE would smash that dude and tell that dude to don't ever come around again. Dude, the Bible tells us that it was Pride, which caused Lucifer, a Bright Angel of Light, to transform into the devil (no pun intended) that He is. The crazy thing is that most of us, well, i know i do, think that pride is something that affects you when you get rich or reach some level of success. When the entire world is looking at you as a Hero, or in admiration of some enormous feat. Therefore, I used to think that Pride was as far away from me as the east is to the west. HA!

I'm such a dummy. It just hit me today. 2 points really. Nothing deep, nonetheless this should be offered for consideration.

#1. First of all, I woke up today refusing to have my devotions. Yep, that was the FIRST thing on my agenda. Priority number one, Refuse God. Yep. When I had the Chance for the LORD to tell me something through his word, or a devotional thought, i refused and said, "nope, i'm good. I got plans to play Madden 2009 on my PS3, and then i gotta study. So, holla at me. " I definitely lived the definition of the text at the beginning of this post. I found it more important to follow my own plans than to as the CREATOR what he thought i should do today. I'm such a punk.

#2. Okay, Let's consider this for minute. Before the Devil was a... Devil... he was Closser to God than any other being. He was the Light Bearer. I mean this Dude ate lunch with God on a regular and was his best friend to put it in layman's terms. He KNEW GOD ,LOVED GOD and trusted GOD. So what happenend? Something simple. He took his eyes off the Master and started looking at himself. CRAZY! Then Michael, (Jesus), the BIG DUDE Had to regulate on that dude, and smash that dude and kick him out of heaven. But it wasn't a funny matter. Heaven lost a heavy 1/3 of its population. A 1/3 that will NEVER be able to return again. That sucks.

Ok.. Here's my point. Um.. Lucifer was in HEAVEN surrounded by Holiness day by day. For his whole life. HOW IN THE WORLD DID PRIDE COME INTO HIS HEART??? I may never know the answer to that. But here's something that I know for sure. Lucifer was Chillin with God on a regular and he still fell. There were no demons in heaven tempting him. So, where do I get off, being tempted by demons 24/7 thinking that I don't need to know the Lord anew everyday...?????
think about it.

I got a PRIDE issue.. :(

More on this later.

-jw-

It Has All Been Paid For

"Many times we carry our guilt from one day to the next like a lead ball chained to our ankle. As Christians, we go to sleep reciting the same prayer and ask God to forgive our sins, yet never really believing He has actually done so. Our dreams replay the ill-remembered encounters during those occasions that we should've shown restraint and self-control, and we wake up with the an increased level of guilt and hate for our own lack of temperance. The viscous cycle continues from day to day, making the Christian walk seem troublesome and impossible. Yet, this is not the Way (Christian walk) God has intended for us. If God had only died for your sins up till yesterday there would be no Hope for salvation. Instead, God, in his infinite Mercy has allowed his Blessings to become anew DAY by DAY. Though it is undeniable that we will undoubtably sin today and cause the Master pain, He knows that it has all been paid for. His death on the cross has paid the price and has the power to tear away the grasp of the devil around our ankles and release the chains of depression, guilt, lust, hatred, and envy. When we begin to trust him, in exchange of our sins, the Master gives us wings. Yet, we are unable to fly immediately. We must learn to trust the Teacher, just as the young swallows trust their mother. As we meditate and read in the word, we strengthen our resolve. Our wings become stronger and stronger. We begin to gain confidence, not in ourselves, but the in the Lord. And soon, as we begin to flex our wings that have been strengthened over time, we LIFT OFF! As we soar, with our eyes focused heaven ward, we are amazed that the lead ball held us so long close to the ground. That we accepted the dreaded false reality that we were meant to stay obligated to the ground.

Beloved, let us remember, that though we struggle, our fight has already been won. God our Saviour has released us from bondage yet again today. Let us learn to trust and have faith in him."

Lamentations 3:22-30 (New International Version)
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.