Monday, January 9, 2012

where to begin...

tis 2012... and i haven't updated this thing in eons it seems... but i do want to share what has transpired in my life and the things that i've heard and seen... maybe it will be a help aid to you... or it will just be confirmation to me in my daily walk and journey through life.
here we go! 
i've been in a most random place in my personal trek with the Lord... i've actually thought of leaving my faith, because things were so unclear in my life... from the longest drought season in the word to the death of a friend... my walk has been weary... not to mention rather confusing... i really don't struggle with my singleness or the fact that i'd be satisfied with Christ and Him alone... but more on that later...
to not receive from God in over 3 months... reading and gaining nothing in spiritual stature... it's depressing... thinking that i've messed up, or i've jacked up immensely... it's humiliating... to sit there and think of every circumstance that God can say, "it's for that reason!" or "because you didn't do that!" i felt inadequate for ministry! and rightfully so! no one should enter into or continue to do ministry when they aren't receiving from God. but yet... there i was praying for people, embracing the sinner and putting together schedules for teachings... by no means am i condoning to have filthy hands and raise them to the Lord and watch as He blesses you... but that's what He did... the constant prayer of mine was that of "God let me glorify you... in everything i do"! that was my heart and is my heart. but when it came to the death of my friend, Saskia Burke, i stood there with her father unable to summon the love that I've been known to impart to other believers and non believers alike... all i did was stand and pray... as i heard the story of her life being snatched away and the lives of this family become ravaged and turned upside down... the only comfort i could bring or give was to stand there... and with shut mouth, because i didn't have anything to give... nothing! all i wanted to tell Paul, the father of Saskia, was that Jesus loves him... that this tragedy was borne because of man's fallen state... the evil that destroyed this young life was because of the absence of God in the self... the only way that life could continue and joy to be restored is by having a relationship with God and trust that everything the happens in life is all a part of His ultimate will... we have but to yield to Him! "but how would he receive it?" i thought. "would he listen? or just brush it off as feeble minded?" so my prayers turned to cry's... "Father... what would you have me say? How can i glorify you in this place?" but silence... so i held my tongue... 
it was humbling... it didn't make sense... but i know it was because i haven't spent time trying to know God more... it was better that i didn't say anything... and Praise God because He knows what He's doing... i don't have to try to muster something, because He loves Paul and his family more than i ever will! I could do nothing but rely that God will open the door or that He'll be the one to tell me word for word what i am to say! God knows better than me and i have but to rely on Him and His guidance... so for the time i pray... for the lives that have been shaken... and for the Holy Spirit to impart wisdom and comfort! 
i want to be obedient to God! i don't want to do anything apart from His will or plans... and Woe to me if i do... because then it's because i'm trying to summon something or do ministry of my own resources! that's my place in God right now... my walk is to be obedient to His leading... in everything prayer... and i know that God is going to provide... as His word says, "it rains on the just and unjust..." but "greater is He who is in us, than he who is in this world." God is in control and if we the faith to keep our eyes on God... He'll reveal Himself to us... and my prayer for anyone who reads this and is an unbeliever would be encouraged to give God a try! He is willing to reveal Himself to you because He loves you... and would want nothing more than to give you salvation, that when the day comes to stand before Him in judgment... He will know who you are and embrace you with open arms because of the struggles we have had to endure because of our selfish nature... God is real... Jesus did in fact live on this Earth, taught great moral teachings and ways to live... but more so, took our struggles and heart aches... our failures as human beings... took all the anger and lust, the greed and hard-times and died for them all... even the one's we will make in the future! He loves you past and beyond your most wicked devices and died for them! Jesus loves you brothers and sisters... just know that! Jesus loves you!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

little chewable tablet of vitamins! mmm...

mighty men of valor is a title that was given to the men of Gideon... the mighty men who were reduced to 300... and it ain't about the spartans... but about these Jewish 300 men who desired nothing more than the Lord to be glorified in their lives... and it means that they care not for themselves but of the Lord being magnified in the lives of all men... that is what it means to be a mighty man of valor... virtue and honesty... the truth is Christ and our virtue is the Holy Ghost... mmm...

Monday, January 17, 2011

nuff said...

"do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you in pieces." Mat 7:6

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

danny donnelley...

what can wash away my sin? nothing but the blood of Jesus... i'm sitting in the presence of genius here at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta Hot Springs... Danny Donnelley is here providing some pretty amazing music and some long lost brothers in the faith are encouraging me and Pastor Sam... i am truly blown away with God and His desire to see me alongside Him at all times... i feel rather  inadequate to be in ministry... and i've said this before... but today i know i'm being renewed and molded... i'll describe to you all in my vlog sometime this week... youtube.com/thelotusofbern
i don't know how to play guitar too well... but watching Danny is like watching a John Mayer dvd... so sick... i'll update more later... i'm just really overwhelmed and want to pray about some stuff before i write to you all what is going on... but i'm going to be as transparent as i possibly can be... 

Saturday, January 8, 2011

"bed day"

going with my sub-banner... an "almost" daily account of a Christians life... lemme tell you... i did absolutely nothing today... sang karaoke with my mom for a couple hours... checked my stalkbook... watched "band of brothers"... ate... and watched a "change of pace" with my mother... man... now i'm blogging... waiting for my mind to finally release this ache that has been on my head since this morning...
catching up with the RSS feeds from CES and getting all giddy for Apple's Conference soon thereafter... i'm completely stoked for electronics this near future... but i tire from mustering something that isn't completely formed in my thoughts... good night faithful friends and remember to stay true to yourselves... and take some time in prayer for the world around you... be blessed y'all... grace and peace...

Friday, January 7, 2011

2011 conference

good evening all... i pray the Lord finds you quite restful in His arms and snuggled closely to His promises made to all of His dear friends... me... i'm quite full to capacity with His spirit! but only filling an already poured out vessel is half the struggle... next week i'll have my rest once again... and find myself absolutely full of His presence... which brings me to my blog today... the Youth Workers Conference...
a place where youth leader and ministers all around come together to share stories and be encouraged in God's word... i wasn't able last year to go because of some complications in my position and the rearranging of powers and responsibilities at my job...but this year... i'm fortunate to have time off to enjoy a 3 day vaca to the hot springs resort in Murrieta... and i'm sooo ecstatic... to hear from my brothers about the struggles and to know that i'm not alone in my ventures of faith with my Father... it's all too refreshing... but most importantly to obtain more vision on what the Lord is ministering to my fellow co-laborers... that is what i'm brimming with excitement about... in my studies i've traveled through the gospels more than 3 or 4 times... but this time around... it's quite different... i've seen John the Baptist and knowing his position to the revealing of the Savior... but now the Lord is ministering to me about the disciple's... leaving everything and boldly following a man who claimed to be someone or something else than the monotonus life being lived at that moment... they went... they left their Father's, their families... all in faith knowing God would be the very ground they were going to step out onto... boldness... something i lack... something i can't muster on my own... yet... i find myself stuck in my comfort bubble... wondering why God can't use me... when i'm not open to the full leading of His spirit... but until i can release my hand on the things i consider important... my flesh... i can't be bold... God is more powerful than my flesh... and can certainly give me more than my feeble mind can think... it'll be fun to walk the path of blindness... faith... reaping the benefits of wherever the Lord guides... the Lord provides... i'm ready... this year will be spouting fruit of grand proportions... be willing folks... and be open church to the leading of where God and what God wants to do and go... grace and peace!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

renewal

i'm just finishing the last touches on my Merry Christmas video ... and i cannot believe this year is already up... it truly has gone by rather quickly... and i feel just as tired today as i was throughout this years festivities... but Praise God for a year of provision and wisdom gathering... around this time of year, i feel a sense of renewal... not just because of the cliche "end of year" thought... but an actual excitement to finally put this years mercies aside and completely start afresh and new with my walk with God... not saying i've tarnished or ruined or disqualified myself... but an actual exuberance that should funnel from my already overflowing cup... i can honestly say, i've accomplished things for the Lord this year... but i know He wants to do oh so much more... i cannot wait to venture into new places this year... who but the Lord knows what i will meet this season of my life... i'm excited to see myself grow and be grown... to pour out more than i've ever done... its my 7 year mark with meeting the Lord and growing in Him this February... completion... mmm... i'm ready! i'm set... lets all do work for the Lord together! get excited church... fist pump!!! lets GOOO!!!