Revived Hearts

The following is a prayer that seeks corporate revival. It can also be personalized.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us:

Reader: To always remember you loved us first, always, and unconditionally

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To love you with our entire being as you commanded and fully deserve

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To love our neighbors as we love ourselves

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To surrender every area of our lives to you

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To lay down our rights for the sake of yours

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To deny ourselves and daily take up our cross

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To sing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and make melody to you

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To pray and make supplications with thanksgiving in everything

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To witness in words and actions your truths to others

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To take heart knowing that you have overcome the world and in you we have peace

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To hunger and thirst for your righteousness

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To find joy in the things in which you delight

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To love the things you love and hate the things you hate

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To be numb to this world but to be sensitive to your Spirit

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To see ourselves and others in the way you see us

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To proclaim your truths in love and without fear and comprise at all times

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To carry out the great commission as you commanded

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To always pray and to not faint

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To feel what you feel and make it ours

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To live awake and to no longer slumber or sleep

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To live attached to the true vine so that we bear more fruits

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To live out the hope, love, and peace by the grace you have given us

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To put on your whole armor every day

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Reader: To be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in your work

Responders: Revive our hearts dear God

Dear Father, we thank you for reviving our hearts, Amen.

A bunch of nonsense

I used to be a poster boy until the posters were taken down.

I am trying to imagine what it would be like for my imagination to go on vacation.

My dreams got tired so they went to sleep.

Do not fall on the job whilst asleep or is it the other way (I wrote this whilst asleep).

My supervisor called me in for my misuse of the break room. Turns out the room was not for me to break stuff (how about that?).

My shadow is calling me a racist. Says I don't want to hold its hand or interact with it because of its color.

I have filed a restraining order against my shadow. It gets too close. Kinda stalker-ish.

My psychiatrist says there are too many voices in my head so I stopped being his client. One voice less.

My teeth and my lawn are on the same care schedule.

I have hearing aids - my friends.

The only time I read is when I play cards.

To show my friend what I thought of him I got him a deck of cards. Well, sort of, I replaced the normal deck with 52 joker cards. He laughed. Turns out I was the bigger joker for buying all those decks of cards in order to get 52 joker cards.

I was told to stand down but could not figure out the right posture.

I was also told to get over myself but give up after a year of trying to do so literally.

If the sun darkens a person's complexion, shouldn't the moon lighten it?

Considerations

We don't need to be preoccupied with performing. Jesus did everything to God's pleasure so that we could live without the pressure to perform. 


If we do know and understand what holiness really means we would always reverence God.


Many people walk away from or reject God's authority because He "failed" to please them. Don't make the same mistake.


God did not make the world evil, we did through our disobedience. Yet, in spite of this truth, God extends His mercy and grace to us until the appointed time. 


Have you ever considered God's plans for us? Check them out and you'll be amazed!!!


God's love for us is more than we can fully understand. As we learn to gratefully accept it, we grasp more of it and are transformed by it.


Jesus lived a sinless life so that we who are sinful can be in and enjoy an intimate relationship with a Holy God.


God gave His best for us even though we did not deserve or could ever earn it. Yet we fail to give Him our best even though He truly and infinitely deserves it. How dare we?!


God answers our prayers not because of us but because of Jesus. Knowing this should keep us humble, grateful, and dependent on Jesus.


God does not want us to live in fear of Him but to love Him as He commanded. 


When love is perfected fear is removed (1 John 4:18). God loves us perfectly so we don't need to live in fear but to love Him perfectly.


God cannot lie and that's no lie!


God did not happen. Neither did we. God always existed and he chose to bring us into existence for His purposes.


If we truly believe God is eternal then we would not live in worry. Nor would we question His sovereignty.

Teach us how to love

Teach us how to love you as you deserve
Teach us how to hold nothing in reserve
Teach us how to receive the love you give
Teach us how to freely in your love daily live


Teach us how to want you as we really ought
Teach us how to love you first not an after thought
Teach us how to adore you deep within 
Teach us how to hold it never trade it in


Teach us how to need you even more than daily bread
Teach us how to embrace you fully not just in the head
Teach us how to spend it daily as you truly desire
Teach us how to pray that it sets our hearts on fire


Teach us how to love you with our entire being
Teach us how to let go for your love is freeing
Teach us how to bask in your love every day and night
Teach us how to love your love so we will live right

Fans of Jesus

Fans worship at the church but leave it there,
Fans give an appearance that seems to be sincere.
Fans have a head knowledge and do try to impress,
Fans give an appearance to seem what they profess.
Fans create a personalized idol of who God should be,
Fans give an appearance to seem in love with Him who's holy.
Fans may be outspoken the desire to be heard,
Fans give an appearance to seem truly anchored.
Fans attend most church activities and even participate,
Fans give an appearance to be about the gospel mandate.
Fans focus on rules to gain others' approval,
Fans give an appearance to seem sacrificial.
Fans may speak truth but it is not lived out,
Fans give an appearance to seem devout.
Fans find it easy to follow in the day but then comes night,
Fans give an appearance to seem faithful to the Son's light.
Fans do pray but it's routine not as the scripture pleads,
Fans give an appearance to digest what scripture feeds.
Fans may hear but do not make sense of it all,
Fans give an appearance to be standing tall.
Fans want knowledge but not the intimacy,
Fans give an appearance to seem worthy.
Fans are not what we were called to be,
Fans ultimately don't bring Him the glory.

Matthew 16:24; Mark 8: 34; Luke 9:23
"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Why Do We?

as Jesus' bride we have access to His power,
in full, in everything, in every way, for every hour.
so why do we live as a defeated and lonely bride,
whose lover is weak and seldom by her side?

as Jesus' bride we have access to His power,
in full, in everything, every way, He's our savior.
so why do we live as a bride to sin enslave?
isn't our lover the one who's mighty to save?!

as Jesus' bride we have access to His power,
in full, in everything, every way, He's our anchor.
so why do we live in fear of the storms daily?
isn't our lover the one who has all authority?

as Jesus' bride we have access to His power,
in full, in everything, every way, He doesn't falter.
so why do we live as a bride unsure and mope?
hasn't our lover not given us an assured hope?

as Jesus' bride we have access to His power,
in full, in everything, every way, He's our lover.
so why do we put ourselves in the way of harm,
instead of snuggling and staying in our lover's arm?

as Jesus' bride we have access to His power,
in full, in everything, every way, for every hour.
now is the time to stand and wholly decide,
to surrender all so we can live as His bride.

More Thoughts

If God has provided abundantly for the salvation of our souls. Will he not also provide for our day-to-day needs? Be encouraged.

How the kingdom of God is built: God over us + God in us + God through us.

The kind of relationship we have with God determines the kind of fruits we produce.

To love God as he commanded leads us in the right way to serve Him.

The devil lies to us but he speaks the truth before God. He knows that God cannot lie and as such lies are exposed in his presence.

As Christians, because we major on minors and minor on majors it dulls our witness to and our impact in the world.

It is sad that we often live out our Christianity similar to a job we consider average and not as a privilege. Is it any wonder that we take regular "sick", "no-pay" and "vacation" days or just show up?

Whether we love or hate or don't believe in God we cannot escape him.

It is baffling how we as intelligent people could believe in an unintelligent creation of life and the universe.

Jesus did not die to bargain with death, hell, and the grave but to demonstrate His authority over them.

The best we can do in our own strength and skill is infinitely less than what God can do through us.

Hard work and proper teaching are necessary to learn and master a skill, but wisdom is necessary for its proper application.

A hatred of the dark makes us hungry for the light.

God wants us to be full of Him not of ourselves.

Instead of focusing on asking God: "Why did this or that happened?" Let us ask instead: "God, what are you saying to me or what are you teaching me about you?"

To take a step of faith as God asks impacts our fate as God purposed.

Sin and Salvation

The smile was slowly erased from my face
my tear-stained pillow was my only embrace
I was being cut to pieces without a chase
heading to a disastrous end in disgrace


The breath was slowly fading from my nose
my collapsed lung was my only enclose
Suffocating to death and unable to disclose 
the deathblows I'd receive from sin's arrows


The spirit was slowly leaving my soul
my weakened body was my only console
I was trapped and dying without parole 
void of hope, abandoned in a hellhole


The hope was slowly going out of me
my life was already running on empty
in a downward spiral without remedy
a life once bright was about to end darkly


To turn this around I could not do
tried as I did sin I fell further into
sin was sweet but it turned bitter
then realized I was feasting on litter


The stench of sin was destroying me
even with eyes open I could not see
my ears were plugged my heart infected
my mind polluted strongholds erected


Sin's destructive influence kept me buried
under its weight with no hope to be freed
but I heard the news that Jesus can save
and through him God my sins forgave


God opened my eyes my ears he unplugged
my heart now revived no longer drugged
my mind renew in His word alone
his Spirit in me my heart his throne.


Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Jericho

Jericho was shut up inside and out
no one entered none came out.
Jericho became filled with fear
as the children of God drew near.
Jericho heard stories of Israel's God
his fame was already spread abroad.
Jericho heard about His powerful hand
nothing & no one against him could stand.

Joshua was told to be bold & courageous
to trust in God and he will be victorious.
Joshua was given an unlikely plan
that would not be approved by man.
Joshua knew enemies God had previously stayed
and so he did not question he just promptly obeyed.
Joshua was assured that God would do the combat
and with their obedience the walls would fall flat.

In our lives, we will face a "Jericho" once or twice,
and when we do, where would we go for advice?
will we trust in Joshua's God, whom we say believe?
or will we live in despair and then choose to grieve?
will we take him at his word that we need not fear?
or will we perceive this challenge as too severe?
Just as for Joshua and Israel Jericho did fall,
ours will too, for God is the greatest above all.

Joshua 1: 9
"For this is my command to you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed. For I the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

To Trust

You call us to trust you and we often say we do,
but when you asks us to we make excuses not to.
Sometimes your requests seem ridiculous,
irrational, and to be honest, outrageous.
How could you seriously ask us to do this or that
when there is no proof that it won't fall flat?
You are asking us to take a leap without a safety net,
if you don't catch us we're the ones to live with regret.

In the smaller tests we kinda trust in you,
because in those we have some control too.
We have a backup plan so we won't fail,
in case there is a need to get out of "jail".
Your word says you are trustworthy,
and we will quickly say that we agree.
However, to trust in you alone is weird,
if you don't come through we'll be jeered.

But we want to trust you,
so please show us how to.
Our pride continues to get in the way,
so teach us how to surrender everyday.
Moment by moment help us to trust,
there is no other, so in you we must.
As you asks us to trust you more,
help us to, for you are our Savior.

A video, a thought, and a prayer

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F9E0JJNU&utm_source=GodTube%20Must-See%20Video&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=08/08/2011

A Thought
This video is accurate for most of us. It easy to say we trust Jesus but hard to actually trust him. When we are required to trust Jesus we try to bargain, we question, we rationalize etc, and then we may do as he required. We allow ourselves to fall and then he catches us. "Level 1".

Then we get excited and think we really trust Jesus but then comes another test. At the first level even though we had questions etc we know there was a chance he would catch us. After all he is standing behind us. However, now we are facing him and he tells us to fall backwards. He is no longer behind us. "Level 2".

Our rationalizing kicks into another gear. Fear floods our minds. Our heart rate increases dramatically. We may insist for Jesus to stand behind us. We may insist that he change his mind and tell us to fall forward instead. We may get mad that he does not change his mind. We may get angry that he is asking us to do something we consider ridiculous, stupid, irrational, and unsafe. We may do as the lady did and just say, "I won't!" Then we walk away.

Prayer
Dear Jesus,

all through out your word you asks us to trust you. King Solomon admonished us in Proverbs 3:5-6 to "trust in you with all of our heart and not to lean on our own understanding. To acknowledge you in all our ways and you will make our paths straight." Jesus we need your help to trust you wholeheartedly even more so as the tests get harder. As you require more of our trusts help us to give it. Even if we argue, question, sulk, etc may we not walk away. If we walk away bring us back to that exact place of trust. In all these case when we don't want or fail to trust you move us to try. Move us to trust in you a little more as the tests increase and become more difficult. Bring us back to your word and show us the many who also had to trust you and how you proved yourself trustworthy.

Jesus, you won't leave us hanging. Your word says that are faithful and cannot deny yourself. Help us to move past how foolish your requests seem and how foolish we will look. Help us to move past our pride and stubbornness to be in control. Help us to trust you and to learn how to do so daily.

Amen!

Sharing

      I had a cool experience yesterday after church that involved two toddlers. We usually talk about toddlers and their tendency to hold onto things. Simply, their unwillingness to share. However, they can also teach us how to share. 
      After church yesterday I joined a few of the kids on the playground. One toddler was at the top of a slide with a car that he sent down the slide after which he followed. There was another toddler in a sandbox close to the slide who grabbed the car after it came down the slide. The car had enough motion to take it close (about 3 feet) to the sandbox so this toddler got out and took hold of the car. He began playing with it in the sandbox. The other toddler, after he came down the slide, saw the other toddler playing with the car and walked over to get the car back. The other toddler continued to play with the car, which brought the first toddler to tears. 
     I walked over to them to help them address the situation. The toddler who was crying said that he had the car first and wanted it back. I told them that they should both share the car. The solution was for each to take a few moments playing with the car and then hand  it over to the other. They agreed and so the toddler who was currently playing with the car played some more then took it to the other who was waiting for it at the foot of the slide. The toddler who had it first then took it up the slide and do as he did before. Then he give it to the other toddler to play with for a while. They did this for a while before the second toddler went off to play other games. It was cool to see how they honored the agreement and had fun in the process. 
     Sometimes as adults we also cling to things and are unwilling to share or surrender. We feel a level of entitlement for different reasons. Sometimes the things we hold onto are meant to be shared. Sometimes there are things both good and bad that we should surrender. Sometimes the things we cling to are trivial and should not be held with a "clenched fist". If toddlers, whom we say have a hard time sharing, can share something important to them and their enjoyment, can't we as adults also share? Can't we be more intentional to share the things we ought to? 
    The health of a church and any relationship needs sharing. The growth and development of others and our communities requires sharing. The prosperity of businesses is facilitated by sharing. The success of students is helped by sharing. The salvation of our lives and all the blessings we enjoy and are promised are as a result of God sharing himself with us. 
    What are we holding on to today that should be shared? What are we holding on to today that we ought to surrender? Let us ask God to reveal to us those things that we need to share and surrender. Then, trust him to direct how we surrender and share those things. 

Repetition

Repetition is very important to bring about learning. Another result is that it usually forms a habit. Whatever we repeat, we learn, which then becomes a habit. The devil knows that as fallen, disobedient, and rebellious people we are easy prey. He goes about his work with skillful deception that not even the most intelligent human being can outsmart him.

Sin, we must remember, is first conceived in our minds before we put it into action. The devil is very happy to put this knowledge to satisfy his own end, which is to destroy us. During sin's incubation stage we, unintentionally and intentionally, continue to feed those thoughts until they are birthed. We may try to distance ourselves from what we gave birth to but the truth never lies. It is we who have helped the incubation stage by repetition.

How is the incubation stage helped by repetition? It is helped when we invest time in a sinful train of thought. We then test it by acting with a little caution, similar to what we do before we cross a busy street where there isn't a pedestrian crossing. We are quick to make excuses and rationalizations if someone catches us in the act of saying or doing or not doing. We shrug it off and move on instead of honestly dealing with it then and there. Instead of letting the light of God's grace and truth address the sin, we cover it. Repetition that produces a habit is a result of time investment. Foolish time investment results in destructive patterns of attitudes and behaviors. Then we face another situation. What is this situation?.

It is this: the devil amps up his deceptions by having us think we can be free by our own efforts. We may then make popular rationalizations and excuses to justify or appease ourselves. If we continue this way over time we will eventually end up being enslaved. If as Christians we are enslaved to sinful habits we are living in contradiction to our identity. We are free but in our enslavement we are not accessing the power available. It is like sitting in the dark knowing there is a light switch and where it is but refusing to get up and switch it on.

Don't be fooled, the devil knows how to keep us deceived. He targets certain emotions and/or thoughts that encourages us to indulge in a particular sin or sins and to indulge therein repeatedly. There is hope and it comes through the renewing of our mind (i.e., transformation). Renewal is aided by repetition. By repetition I do not mean mindless chanting or anything of that nature. What it is is the habit of spending time with God in prayer and in meditating upon his word. It is not just memorization, which is also important, but the commitment to knowing and understanding God. It calls for time investment in those things which are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise worthy (Phil 4:8). Repeatedly spending time meditating on God's words helps us to know and understand God. In the process we experience transformation. We need to, however, repeatedly receive God's grace, accept his truth, and depend on him to help us live in the light of his grace and truth. Then the victories promised and that are ours will be experienced repeatedly. Then transformation that comes by his grace and truth will result.

So today, what are we repeating? If what we are repeating is sinful then watch out! We will be plagued by the guilt and shame. We will live defeated lives and, if not treated, will be destroyed by what it produces. If our repetitions are filled with God's grace and truth then our lives will produce good fruits. We will live victoriously as God purposed and it will draw others to him. Let us therefore be mindful of the things we are repeating.

Grace in the struggles (part 4)

                A Blessed Man

Grace Speaks:
No! It wont! And you will soon find out,
try all you want but you will still be empty.
God wants you to discover him,
to search for his heart so you'll find ours,
in his presence, on this planet, with his breath,
all, everything is his, that includes you,
He sees your pain, He knows life can sometimes be hard,
but it does not change that He is still God.
In your struggles you'll find it is true,
that there's no limit to what God can do.
So before and if you cry foul,
do not throw in the towel.
Search for God's heart to discover your own,
You'll find out He has not vacated the throne.
In your struggles and failings He offers grace,
abundant and free for you to embrace.
The struggles are real, and the doubts may persist
but even then God offers His grace, do not resist.
In the good and bad God is drawing you close,
so you'll feel His heartbeat and experience repose.
In your hardships and joys you'll find out He remains true,
your tears, your laughter, in everything He is with you.
Try God, prove that He is faithful and always the same,
so never stop calling on and rejoicing in His name.
You'll experience regardless of life's situation,
without fail and without caution,
the Abundance of God's Grace that is AWESOME!!!

Grace in the struggles (part 3)

                A Bullheaded Man

God's love is real but so is his anger,
it seems sometimes he forgets that sin is stronger.
It is much stronger than us, we are surrounded and captive to it,
humanly speaking, try as hard as you will you just cannot quit.
Looking to God for help but none seems forthcoming,
captured by and addicted to sin, slowly drowning.
If God chooses not to come it won't make a difference,
life's designed to fail anyway, just keep going the distance.
Love others for they are in the same boat too,
and take heart knowing you did all you can do.
It may change a life, touch someone's heart,
a spark ignited, a candle that lights up the dark.
But always seek God's help and direction as things get tough,
and if he doesn't show up, do your best and that will be enough.

Grace in the struggles (part 2)

               A Besieged Man

Strive do good and respect each other,
help all you can, do all in your power.
Lift up the fallen, encourage each other,
you'll need that same help when you're in the gutter.
Success will come but it won't stay long,
for in time you will be trampled on.
That's not being negative, look around you'll see,
how many lives are being destroyed without mercy.
Solomon said it (a time for everything) and indeed he was wise,
for at some point you too will be made to realize,
the truth of life and its mission,
even if you've experienced redemption.
The consequences of sins you won't escape,
bad choices will haunt you, make no mistake.
Not saying that life should be easy cause that would be lame,
there are many things in life that's worth the pain.
It is just disheartening how life seems to be designed,
to never for long allow you peace of mind.

Grace in the struggles (part 1)

Written a few months ago during a time of intense struggles.

               A Broken Man

I used to be God's friend, but not anymore,
like a fish out of water, I've been washed ashore.
God's never failed me, but I've often failed him,
I tried not to but my life is full of sin.
Many bad choices in life I have made,
now I can clearly see the failed sign on my grave.
Many times to God I did pray,
but disobedience stopped some of his blessings from coming my way.
A broken man, distraught, despair is all I can find,
it feels much easier to be done with this climb.
Life seems designed for mankind to fail,
even as a Christian, life seems to be pale.
The devil's not a friend or someone to trust,
his goal is to destroy, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
So, what's life for if in the end you can't win it?
Why even be a Christian if even then you are a misfit?

First

What does it mean for God to be first place in our lives?

There are many things competing for our attention. Many distractions and attractions that tug at us from different angles. We need to be intentional about the things we treat as urgent and important. That said, however, we can sometimes rushed through those things that are urgent and important. In this way they are not given the time and attention necessary. When we go about things in haste we miss wonderful opportunities to learn and enjoy the experience. Our focus thus becomes mainly to accomplish what is on the checklist.

Sometimes God is added to our checklist. If we have the mindset of God being urgent and important then He will be high on this checklist. We may put Him first and as such strive to ensure that our first act or one of our first acts of the day is to the things we consider as godly, e.g., to pray and have devotions. We do these first because we think it will satisfy God and score some points, so to speak. When we are done with these things we check it off and then we "leave" God there. Phew! Now that's over we can finally begin our day and move on to the real stuff. Right?

We may not say this out loud or even think this way but it demonstrated in our actions. To have God as first place means he is before everything that is competing for that position. To have God as first place means he is the center of our lives, i.e., everything is focused on, dependent on, and submitted to him.

It is urgent and important for us to become intentional about God being first in our lives. It begs of us to seek his kingdom and his righteousness first. It calls for us to ask God to help us make Him first place in our lives. It requires our act of daily surrender to God. It means that we center our everything and details of our lives on and around him. When we do, we will be rewarded with the overwhelming presence of God in our daily lives. Ultimately, when God is first in our lives, He is glorified!