God, your shelter

Overcast, the clouds are grey and the sky is getting darker,
all signs say it's about to rain and you can't find no shelter.
It has been this way for awhile and your faith has been rattled,
sin and selfishness, sacrifice and service, the enemy has you embattled.
You want to pray for shelter but you fear you will get no answer,
so you grit your teeth and make the effort to withstand the weather.
How much more of this can you take? You don't want to think about.
Is God still my friend? You feel unsure and are overcome by doubt.
Why you are in this bad weather may be heavily reasons of your own,
but it does not mean the God you serve has somehow lost his throne.
Surrender all and trust that he is still there, for he has and will not abandon you,
he is your shelter and much more, and in time you'll be amazed at what he can do.
Sing out his praise with conviction because you know your God is omnipotent,
so you can wait and watch, because the Lord, your God is your shelter and strength.

How Long?

How long will I seek forgiveness and then continue to sin?
How long will I cry out to you for help and then still do my own thing?
How long will I say I believe and then still fall into doubt?
How long will I seek to hear you and then still block you out?

How long will I say that I am yours and then still live for me?
How long will I hear your words and then still not trust in thee?
How long will I call on your name and then still choose to swear?
How long will I sing your praise and then still choose to not draw near?

How long will I speak your truth and then still tell so many lies?
How long will I ask for boldness and then still your help I despise?
How long will I seek your counsel and then still wander away?
How long will I say I love you and then still fail to obey?

Lord, you see the inconsistencies, my life is nothing but a mess,
Lord, you see the pain I am causing, I am sorry, all I do confess.
Lord, you see the daily disobedience, you have to do something soon,
Lord, you see the depth of my hypocrisy, I am horribly out of tune.

You can't sit back and let me continue this way, I beseech you Lord to act,
You can't sit back and let me continue to stray, I am totally out of whack.
You can't sit back and let me go further, and on profaning your name,
You can't sit back and let me go further, and on your character to defame.

How long O Lord will you tarry? My foolish ways I need you to overthrow!
How long O Lord will you tarry? I am tired of living as part of the status quo!

How long, O Lord? How long? O Lord, how long?

More Thoughts

The dictionary offers definitions. Where do you go to derive the definition of who and whose you are?

Success should be primarily assessed on the level and kind of impact we made on others' lives.

Consider this, we constantly change/update and introduce new rules to govern behaviors in all sphere of life. On the other hand, the principles of God never changes or need to be updated or have new ones introduced. What does that say to you?

Worship is not just an act that we go to church to do. More importantly, it is a lifestyle we will live on a daily basis whether we realize it or not. 

Worship leaders and teams must realize that they do not just lead worship. Their attitude must be: We have come in worship and obedience before God to lead the congregation into a deeper sense and lifestyle of worship. 

If the apparel of the heart is filthy rags then any apparel we do wear is like the emperor with no clothes.  

If God is not real, then neither is our existence.

I have found that running away from God is not a good thing. It is a run that leads to emptiness, guilt, and condemnation. 

Blessings should not be our primary focus. What we should desire above all else is to know and understand God, so that he can make us into men and women after his heart. 

To try to live without God is like trying to live without air. Sooner or later you either die or accept the air by breathing it in. 

It is good to do things excellently. Then, pass the torch to others and pray they do it more excellently than we did, and pray that the trend continues. 

Success for us should mean living a life that serves God's purpose for us.

Think the devil is not serious about our destruction. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Not just one or two of those, but all three. 

For a Christian to define him or herself by failure is not only a deception, but an offense to our true identity. 

If you want to stay trapped in bad habits believe that you can and/or attempt to change them in your own strength. 

To see failure as part of life is revolutionary. It will transform the way we think and live. 

Christians live in defeat because our outlook is earthly and physical rather than heavenly and spiritual.

The Fight

An uppercut to an unprotected area. Round after round the same thing. The jabs that land. The hooks that unsettle. The combinations that leave you feeling bruised and battered. The breaks in between the rounds, at the moment, seem too short. You don't wonder. You don't have to dream. It is real. You are in it. A fight. Denying it only exposes you to a knock down. Turning your back only exposes you to a rabbit punch. You are being pushed against the ropes. You duck. You weave. You push back. You try to think up some escape tactics. You try to protect yourself. Sometimes you are too slow. A punch lands and it hurts. The last one almost knocked the wind out of you. But amazingly, you are still standing. Just before another punch comes, aimed at your face, you get out of the way. That was close. For a moment, you see the puzzled look in the eyes of the enemy. He thought he had you. He thought that you would surrender. But something keeps you in the fight. You somehow get the strength to do a little fancy footwork after that close call. The enemy steps back, even more puzzled. But a smile comes across his lips. He thinks he sees an opening. You continue your footwork keeping your eye focused on the enemy. He smiles even more, but you don't think about that. You can't be distracted by his smile. You can't be caught up with his smile. You know he is cunning. You have fallen to his schemes before. His feints that you bought. The pain you feel serves as a reminder. Briefly, you remember when he knocked out your mouthpiece. He begins his own footwork. His smile grows broader. Your hands feel heavy and almost too heavy to lift to defend yourself. Almost too heavy to throw a few punches of your own. This round seem a little longer than the previous one. You silently pray for the bell to ring to end the round. At this moment you remember the words of your coach, "I am here with you." You remember your coach is not only in the corner but also in you. You remember he is also your ringside physician. A few rounds ago you had the standing 8 count. Your enemy thought he had you then, but he was wrong. A smile starts on the inside. You get the strength to block just as the enemy throws a combination. Then you throw a counterpunch. The enemy is unsettled. He is surprised. You follow up with a combination. The enemy staggers backwards. He is against the ropes. You do a feint then a combination. Your punches land. He is on his way down when the bell rings. You walk backwards with an eye on the enemy knowing he may attempt a rabbit punch. Something changes in his eyes. He sees that you are believing. He senses that you are not depending on your own strength and skills, but that you are trusting and applying what your coach says. When you get to your corner, you fall into the arms of your coach/ringside physician. You whisper, "Thank you." He lovingly says, "You are mine, and I will never leave you." You are aware that there are more rounds to go, but you are encouraged. Your coach/ringside physician is your strength and encouragement. No matter what happens in the upcoming rounds, you will never be alone.

Through God's Eyes

The devil is scoring some big points. It feels like we are getting our butts kicked. Our foolishness has led us to this point. It's like the devil is running up a big score on us, if we were keeping score. However, because we have been set free. Because we have been given a new life. Because we are now children of God. Because our lives are hidden with Christ in God. We are no longer condemned. No longer guilty. Yes, we still sin. But, we can be confident in God's forgiveness. Confident that who we are in him is more than what we do. He sees the yearnings of our hearts even when we sin. He knows that our first and foremost longing is to live for him. He knows we aspire to be true servants. He fathoms that we desire to know and understand his heart. He hears our prayers for him to keep our hearts and minds in the right place. He placed these desires in our hearts. We ought to pray these for each other and ourselves no matter what we are going through. No matter where we are or how we feel. Let us ask God to help us see clearly the way he sees us. When we get this vision, perspective, and understanding our lives and experiences will be filled with the truth. And that will set us free from everything that hinders, distracts, entangles. It will set us free to enjoy our relationship with God and others. We will begin to truly live out the beauty of God. After all, we are already living in it.

A Story [finished]

Part 4:
Look on all the things
I freed you from and for
you don't have to hide
and perform anymore


I see it all and your 
attempts are insufficient
no matter how brilliant,
noble, commendable, or valiant


You will screw up I know
but that does not change a thing
look at your left hand
you are wearing my ring


I died for you knowing 
you'll still fall short
but I'll carry you to term,
yes until completion, no abort


Your filth, shame, and works
all covered by me
trust me with your life
and in time you will see


What I will bring forth
through the storms and changing tide
give me the oars
and trust me with your life!"

A Story [continued]

Part 3:
Lord, you can sleep if I need to
I will wake you
cause I know you are God
and you can rescue

If you see me crying
don't come close just yet
I'll figure it out
don't worry, I mean no disrespect

If I don't figure it out, I'll get
what I deserve and possibly more
I don't expect to fail and not be punished
that is something of which I am sure

You sit there, you listen
but then you began to plead with me:
"Give me the oars,
I'll take you to my destiny


Look at your hands,
they're calloused, cracked, and bleeding
your eyes are swollen
and me you're not trusting


Your quest to be free
won't suffice, and is redundant,
I've granted freedom to you
unconditional and abundant

p.s. finished in the next post.