Journal post

Warning. This is not a deep post.

My mom recently picked up a new camera for our family.. ok ok.. primarily her but she is gracious enough to share. It takes some really nice raw pics so I wanted to share them with you! Plus I needed a break from studying for finals. :)

......and you wonder why we are stressed?
 

My mom handles the stress so gracefully though...

The usual, "Jacob what are you doing.. you are driving me crazy" glare.

No! No paparazzi! No pictures allowed!

I wasn't joking!!!! NO PICTURES!

Color filter experiments..

As you can imagine.. that donut must not have been that good... :)

...*yummmmmmm* donut.. drifting.. can't come back to earth... I'm long gone in donut heaven...

"Oh mom.. do you have to wear those "Granny" glasses? Just promise us you will never wear them in public."

smile! :)

"Justin... just leave me alone already.."

Yes sir.. we do have fun here!

Thus.. an usual, and unusual evening. :) 

Rest.

Poll

In doing some research for something I'm mulling around I need your help. Please notice the poll on the side of my blog and vote accordingly.

As a side note.. David.. this is mandatory. Please don't refer me to your voting post. ;) Miss you guys!

Rest.

Standing Strong and Steadfast

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Theme for 2013: Standing Strong and Steadfast in 2013

Have you ever felt like you hit the wall? You've been there done that, and it seems there is nothing new. It seems like things only get hard, without any inspiring moments. You know and believe all the right things but something is still missing. This is how I have felt over this past year.  I've had this mis-understanding throughout my Christian walk and it is one that was difficult to recognize for me.

This mis-understanding is that it doesn't matter what I know, but rather what I do.

S o u n d s  s  o  s i m p l e  d o e s n' t  i t?

I t' s  n o t.

I've known this for a long time.

But I have never done anything about it.

Why?

What causes me to not stand strong? Why do I experiment with just how much sin I can righteously get away with? Why do I do what is either secret, or is "culturally" acceptable to please myself?

Have I really become so comfortable in my sinful lifestyle of apathy that I can't see anything as wrong? Have I really replaced God with myself on my throne?

It needs to stop. Right now. But I feel so trapped. Stuck in a dried glue of wrong choices and hard mistakes.

What can melt this glue? What can set me free? I don't just need a new page to turn over this year, I need a new book.

As this year closes I look back with slight despair. No change. No growth except I might know a whole lot more. But knowing isn't enough. I need to do. So all this leads to next year.

Intentional. That is the word I want to describe next year. So, I have a plan. Every month I want to work on one character/spiritual thing that I already know, but I need to do. I'm going to do a bible study through James. Breaking it up into small, digestible portions I want to "eat" and live God's Word next year.

Now is the time of turning,

Changing,

Becoming,

D o i n g.

Have you ever felt how I feel now? Then I want to invite you to join me as I start. I would love to have others join me in the journey. This journey will not be easy. It will be one that will hurt, reveal, and bring sorrow. However, the joy, light, and freedom that will come will be more than worth it.

Living an intentional life for Christ.

Standing strong and steadfast.

Are you in?

My Worst Enemy

Not crazy about the music to this song but can't get over the words.

My Worst Enemy by Casting Crowns

"God, help me get away

Break the chains and set me free

From the other side of me

I am my own worst enemy

I caught a glimpse in my rearview mirror

Of an old familiar face

Blurry image coming in clearer

Of a past I can’t erase

I could’ve sworn I put him in the ground

But looks like he’s found his way out

God, help me get away

Break the chains and set me free

From the other side of me

I can’t fight this fight alone

I’ll never make it on my own

Lord Jesus, rescue me

From my own worst enemy

I’ll take a step and it’s right behind me

Always fighting for control

There’s a war that’s raging inside me

I feel the battle for my soul

It’s like my shadow is dragging me around

And You are my only way out

God, help me get away

Break the chains and set me free

From the other side of me

I can’t fight this fight alone

I’ll never make it on my own

Lord Jesus, rescue me

From my own worst enemy

Lord, help me feed the life I’m trying to live

And starve the life I’m trying to leave

Help me believe the old is dead and gone

And I am a new creation

God, help me get away

Break the chains and set me free

From the other side of me

I can’t fight this fight alone

I’ll never make it on my own

Lord Jesus, rescue me

From my own worst enemy"

The tug of war..

So I have a really awesome blog post that I'm working on in my head but have no time to work it out on paper. Well.. I think it's pretty good. :)

Sigh.. the joys of college. The point being please don't give up on my blog! I'll be back once final's are done.

To keep something going.. I've been mulling over these lyrics:

From where I'm standing
Lord it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You're leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can't control

Oh, oh

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

Oh, oh, oh, oh

From where You're standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/casting_crowns/already_there.html]
When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
I can't wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit (x2)

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
Cause You're already there
You're already there
When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

You are already there

Rest.

One day

Today at 5:30 AM, a dear saint, and wonderful friend passed on to glory. It's been hard. I found out after I got home from school.. which was for the best I suppose. Been holding on to this passage:

"And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise - they'll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Please pray for the family of Mr. Darrell, and our family as well.

Rest.

Happy Thanksgiving! ( and Black Friday :)

Give thanks to God - he is good and his love never quits! Say, "Save us, Savior God, round us up and get us out of these godless places, So we can give thanks to your holy Name, and bask in your life of praise." Blessed be God, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then everybody said, "Yes! Amen!" and "Praise God!" 1 Chronicles 16:34-36

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Wherever you were, whatever you did, my prayer is the Lord blessed your time with friends and family! I hope you enjoyed good food, laughter, and love; a time of much relaxing and peace. I know we did here at my house. To be away from the stress of school and surrounded by those who truly love you is, needless to say wonderful!

I've heard a lot of Black Friday conversations on controversy.. so, my thoughts:

"Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. " Philippians 4:11

Personally.. I think the good old King James version packs a stronger punch here:

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Guys.. I have a confession to make. I'm not content in, "whatsoever state I am". I think I can say like the Lorax, "I speak for the people". (Ok.. ok.. I know. The Lorax speaks for the trees. Pardon my alteration of an original classic.) When we forget to be content in what God has given us that could be a problem.

So why even talk about Black Friday? Because I find it ironic that we go out, and spend all that money right after we have been thankful, "in everything". Am I against Black Friday shopping? Absolutely not. I love the hustle and bustle and craziness of the day. But I think that we all could use a motive check. Why are we going shopping? Is it for things we already needed; will we be a better steward of God's blessings by going? If we are being a good steward of God's gifts, then I say, go and get 'em ol' boy. I will say though, it is hard to be content with all that advertisement out there!

Will you find me out there in the future years on Black Friday? Yep. I'm not against Black Friday shopping, just the "un-contented" type. :)

So, I leave myself, and hopefully you all with a challenge. Be quite content in whatever state God has you. If you remember our chit-chat on Proverbs 10, you'll recall that His life is indeed better than anything in this world.

Have a wonderful weekend in Christ!

Rest.