Lifehouse's Everything Skit - Upper Room (Updated)

I have been looking for this video ever since I saw it a couple of years ago at an Easter service. It finally surfaced on fb!

So powerful!

Genesis... The Beginning.

Genesis 1 & Psalm 19

  

It is where the foundations are built. It is where we first learn about God- who He is and what He has done. It is where the building blocks to our faith can be found.

How interesting that the author did not see fit to include philosophic arguments for the existence of God or how He created the universe. How interesting that instead, simple truths are found.

It begins with the Creator. I love the picture C.S. Lewis paints of the creation of Narnia in The Magician’s Nephew. The Lion breathes life into His creation; He speaks life into His creation. You can feel the energy and youthful radiance from this newly created world. It comes from a rumbling in the deep places of the earth, and it can’t help but burst forth in the sweet fragrance and colors of new life. All creation sings and dances with radiant energy. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” (Ps 19:1-4)

God speaks Creation. Creation speaks God. (Chiasm... ahem!)

From what we know of studying Hebrew literature… the story finds it’s entire purpose at the first point of dialogue. From there, the entire depiction of a person’s character is determined by what they say. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw the light was good…” (Ge 1:3)

The entire character of God is brought forth in these two sentences. He is the Creator. He speaks and there is light. He is the one who brings light to the darkness. He is the one who determines what is good.

Now, I should know better than to take a historical fact and read more meaning into it than what is there. However, how curious is it that God’s first words would be “Let there be light” when darkness was about to enter into mankind’s hearts?

Granted, Genesis 1 does not deal with Original Sin. However, it does mention the First Dispensation: Innocence. Man, created by God, was entrusted with the stewardship of innocence right from the beginning. Ever since we lost our innocence there has been a fight over the souls of mankind for it. The Psalmist says, “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” (Ps 19:13)

... recognizing that I cannot fully embrace my destiny as a daughter of God Almighty, without fully embracing my spiritual history, what does this mean?

It means that God is God and I am not. 

Easy words are so elementary and basic… but more difficult to comprehend and truly let sink into my soul. It is much easier to think in terms of me, mine, and my. I would be lying if I tried to say that I wasn’t painfully aware of the decisions I make in this self-absorbed mindset. Instead, if I am to fully embrace my destiny, I must realize that in my beginnings there must be a deeply rooted humility and respect, with eyes fixed upon the Creator. I truly desire to know the fullness of His grace, I want to know every aspect of His character that He desires to reveal to me. This means going back to basics... working it out each overly used statement and cliche, and letting it truly sink into my heart and soul. 

Date a Girl Who Reads

"If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She'll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you're better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads."

I don't know if I even want to admit from which celebrity I snatched this quote from, but......well.......      

I read! *grin*

Ulysses-Love and War and the Sea In Between

Hello Loved Ones.
Recently I have been listening to Josh Garrel's latest album Love and War and the Sea In Between. I highly recommend listening to his album from start to finish, as it is beautifully written, and assembled with thoughtfulness and consideration for the story it strives to tell.

One song, Ulysses, stands out to me in particular. Although there are clearly multiple layers of meaning in the lyrics, I would like to mention just one:

Do not lose hope in love.

Hope in love whether you have ever loved before, whether you've had your heart broken, or whether you've never experienced it. It is so easy to lose hope that someday love will bring you home when these things make the journey seem like an eternity.

I love talking about God and how He has revealed Himself to me. I love spending time in His presence and I love sharing this with other people. It has not always been so. There was a season in my life where I was very far from home. A broken heart was what kept me from sailing there. Spiritually, God has carried me home, filled my heart with joy and contentment, and restored what was broken... but there is something less metaphorical in this song that I think many, myself included, can relate to.

I am not talking about sappy romance... I am talking about a longing for the intimacy that comes from knowing someone in and out, loving them, and knowing that they see you the same way. This is something that I hear captured in this song. It is a beautiful description of the voyage of opening one's heart and in making the conscious choice to believe that love does exist... that it is beautiful, and that it is worth the difficulties.

For those of us who have had our hearts broken, this song is a prayer that those bonds of brokenness will not keep us from finding love again. I love how the music crescendos into a striking release of any bitterness, anger, or sadness. It is a stunning demonstration of what needs to happen in order for broken hearts to be carried home. I fully believe that this determination... this outpouring... this releasing... it is in these moments that broken hearts are carried home.

Oh... and I would also like to mention... having had a broken heart at some point in time doesn't make you less lovable or less capable of loving... in fact it is quite the opposite. The heart is truly unique.

This song has quickly become a favorite... one that I can listen to over and over again.

Flight Of The Conchords - Jenny

Telephone - Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce - Classical Cover by Aston

Ummm... YES please!

Faithful One

Hello Loved Ones.

This last month seems like a blur of absolute insanity.

I’m coming to understand the harsh realities that lie in the frailty of my own existence.

I suppose at first glance that may seem like a truly depressing statement, but in actuality the events of the past month have forced me to look to the One who is the Beginning and End. I have been learning a side of my Lord’s character that I did not fully grasp before, and in turn have had a greater sense of joy, peace, and hope than I have ever before.

He is the Faithful One.

My grandmother passed away this last month. This has been a truly difficult and unexpected struggle. After spending the last few days that my grandmother was alive taking care of her in the hospital, I can say for certain that I have come to a new understanding of death. It’s horrid. It’s gruesome, disfiguring, and unforgiving.

And then God’s faithfulness…

He is faithful in the little things. He is faithful in the big things. He has always been faithful and always will be. This solid truth has brought about a subtle transformation in my heart. It allows me to lament, to grieve, but does not leave me in that place. It is the only thing that allows me to face the realities and the frailness of my existence and still know God’s love and grace. This is the hope that I am coming to know…. The faithfulness of God lived out, day to day. Joy overwhelms me in seeing His work on this intimate level.

I wish I could find this song without video… but this is as close as it gets…