God Is a Pretty Great Artist.

Just beautiful! I love my city... Notice the grandur of Rainer over the city though.. God's creation triumphs over man's any day!

On the Matter of:

On the matter or Temptation: A test of loyalties. That is what it boils down to. Not something to be feared or abhorred, but a gift. We will be tempted many times every day. Some more than others, this fact is scary. However, we have hope in the fact that with every temptation we have the ability to respond rightly with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. At every temptation we hit a fork in the road. We can go left or right, one way is sin and the other is holiness. The first look at a girl places this fork before us, the temptation. At that moment I have a choice: Look again, or set my eyes upon Jesus. To take a second look is to indulge in sin. To divert my eyes is to pursue purity, holiness, and righteousness. In life we are daily tempted with a “second look.” Daily we are presented with this test of loyalties. Are we loyal to Christ? or to our flesh? Every day, multiple times a day I choose the flesh. But every day, multiple times a day I get another chance to be loyal to Christ. That is the gift. It goes all the way back to Adam. He was tested with the tree. He chose the tree over relationship with God, but from that moment and on... every day, multiple times a day he was presented with an opportunity to be loyal to God. This changes everything. With this revelation we are now free to decide against that second look, not because of requirement, but because we have Jesus in us. Every temptation is an opportunity to reflect Him.

On the matter of Holiness and sin: Rather than being the purpose or the aim, overcoming sin is merely the byproduct of the purpose which is relationship with Christ. In this there is freedom.

Living

This poem is called "Living"

To live is Christ, to die is gain
Two worlds apart, the second not the same
Teach me something else.
I know how to die, I know how to die.

If I’m living and breathing, I am sinning and cheating
Why?
Haven’t you seen my heart?
Why, why would you want me set apart?

Who else can reach the lost, but the lost?
The broken and beaten

God chose me, because me is we.
There is power in peers and there’s freedom in tears

I am the image of the unimaginable God.
A broken one at that, but still chosen as His light.
A broken ambassador to a broken world.
A forgiven son reaching out for my forgiving Father.


Tell me this:
What does it mean to run after holiness?
Distinct perfectness?
Impeccable speech?
A downward sullen face?
or blisters on my feet?

I am running.
I am tripping.
I am falling.

But the Lord looks at his son
and I receive grace upon grace upon grace.
What else to do, but get up and run.

What untamable grace; a gift not won.
Freely given to the undeserving son
This gift I have been given is not mine to keep;
I must find a flock and tend His sheep.

Inspired by Phil. 1:21

Mow Unto the Lord.

So, I've been working as a landscaper since I came back to the states. I'm trying to earn some of the funds I need on my own. It is hard work, but I like it. There is something fulfilling about creating those straight lines in the grass and making a dump look like a home... I've learned that there truly IS an art to mowing a law.. I'm also learning the real meaning of "doing you work as if unto the Lord." Sometimes I think "Why am I doing this?" But just the other day I was thinking about it again and I realized... "I am literally doing this for God. So I can go and do what he has called me to do!" I don't know, but that makes exhausting my body every day a lot easier. The motivation that brings is incredible!

Pray that God would show me the next step in raising support!