Mosquito Bites
A few weeks ago we had some couples over to our house to cookout and roast marshmallows—we love our friends!! We have a “fire pit” on our back patio that we use and I had to clean it out before everyone came over because it was full of water from the rain and old burnt wood. When I went out to clean it I noticed it was a cesspool of mosquitoes and swimming creatures I’ve never seen before. While cleaning it out I was viciously attacked by mosquitoes in the worst place for bites (in my opinion)….all over my ankles. Seriously between my two ankles I had 12-15 bites….ahhhhhhh!!!!
The thing about the bites is during the day they didn’t bother me as much—it was when I tried to sleep. I tried the craziest things to get the itch to go away—if you google “how to stop the itch from mosquito bites,” you’ll get some crazy results. Anyways, I couldn’t handle it—it ruined my sleep for about 3-4 nights. It was miserable.
So I’m running the other day thinking about these mosquito bites, questioning God’s intelligence for making such an annoying, evil creature, and it hit me. I need those bites in my life. Seriously, we all need them. Those bites wouldn’t let me sleep—they agitated me to action! I put toothpaste all over my feet because a website told me to!!!!! (It actually works, by the way.) I started thinking about this, and my prayer started to become, “God, let my dreams, the plans You have for my life, and my desires be like those mosquito bites: never let them go away, let them always push me to action, and let them agitate me out of my comfort zone!!”
So today, get bit and let it annoy the crap out of you! May it push you to start doing things you’ve always wanted to do but you’ve been too passive and too non-aggressive… ITCH THOSE SUCKERS!!!!!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Grace
We've been doing a series on Grace in youth and every week we start out with reading this "overview of grace" in the bible- since i read fast and not everyone can write this down- we'll post it for your reading enjoyment (as promised Mr. Keys :) )
Grace
The lord is gracious- he is the giver of grace and is the God of all grace-his throne is a throne of grace- the prophets of old prophesied of the grace that should come to us -this grace came by Jesus- He was full of grace and it is from his fullness that we receive one grace after another- the grace of God was upon him- gracious words preceded out of his mouth- it was by grace that he tasted death for every man- the holy spirit is called the spirit of grace- our message is called the gospel of the grace of God-and the word of his grace. Grace can be seen and perceived , grace brings salvation to us- it is through the grace of God we believe- we are saved by grace. We are justified freely by his grace; we are called by grace into grace. It is grace we are under and it is grace in which we stand. We are partakers of grace, grace teaches us to resist ungodliness and to live righteously. Grace establishes our hearts, grace builds us up and gives us an inheritance- graces gives us everlasting consolation and good hope- grace helps in the time of need- His grace is sufficient to cause us to rise above all difficulties and to reign in life. Grace enables us to serve God acceptably and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Our words can give grace to others, we can sing with grace in our hearts- and our words are to be seasoned with grace. Grace makes us what we are as it works in us and through us – it is the Grace of God that makes us rich and meets our needs- Grace is given to every believer- grace causes us to be enriched by him in all utterance and knowledge- we are told to grow in grace, be strong in grace, to continue in grace, and abound in grace. The word speaks of great grace, the abundance of grace, the grace of life, the dispensation of grace, his exceeding grace, the glory of his grace, the riches of his grace, the gift of grace, the true grace of God and the election of grace. An individual can come short of grace, receive grace in vain, fall from grace, and frustrate the grace of God. Grace can be abused as a tool for immorality- God gives more grace to the humble and to the sincere- grace is multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God and Jesus our lord and is obtained by coming boldly to his throne, a throne of grace.
Grace
The lord is gracious- he is the giver of grace and is the God of all grace-his throne is a throne of grace- the prophets of old prophesied of the grace that should come to us -this grace came by Jesus- He was full of grace and it is from his fullness that we receive one grace after another- the grace of God was upon him- gracious words preceded out of his mouth- it was by grace that he tasted death for every man- the holy spirit is called the spirit of grace- our message is called the gospel of the grace of God-and the word of his grace. Grace can be seen and perceived , grace brings salvation to us- it is through the grace of God we believe- we are saved by grace. We are justified freely by his grace; we are called by grace into grace. It is grace we are under and it is grace in which we stand. We are partakers of grace, grace teaches us to resist ungodliness and to live righteously. Grace establishes our hearts, grace builds us up and gives us an inheritance- graces gives us everlasting consolation and good hope- grace helps in the time of need- His grace is sufficient to cause us to rise above all difficulties and to reign in life. Grace enables us to serve God acceptably and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Our words can give grace to others, we can sing with grace in our hearts- and our words are to be seasoned with grace. Grace makes us what we are as it works in us and through us – it is the Grace of God that makes us rich and meets our needs- Grace is given to every believer- grace causes us to be enriched by him in all utterance and knowledge- we are told to grow in grace, be strong in grace, to continue in grace, and abound in grace. The word speaks of great grace, the abundance of grace, the grace of life, the dispensation of grace, his exceeding grace, the glory of his grace, the riches of his grace, the gift of grace, the true grace of God and the election of grace. An individual can come short of grace, receive grace in vain, fall from grace, and frustrate the grace of God. Grace can be abused as a tool for immorality- God gives more grace to the humble and to the sincere- grace is multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God and Jesus our lord and is obtained by coming boldly to his throne, a throne of grace.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Waiting
I'm writing this while I wait in the doctor’s office waiting for our routine baby visit… and waiting, and waiting...
This is a reoccurrence for us—we wait a good 25 to 45 minutes before they actually get to us. (We're at 40 minutes right now.)
Sometimes waiting is a necessity in life—it teaches you things—but in this case, it's bad business. I want you to look at your life as the owner. Are you committed to consistency? Are you a person of your word? Are you dependable?
Faithfulness and consistency are the beginning steps to living a dream God can trust you with. Don't leave your commitments in the waiting room.
(45 min right now… might be a new record!)
This is a reoccurrence for us—we wait a good 25 to 45 minutes before they actually get to us. (We're at 40 minutes right now.)
Sometimes waiting is a necessity in life—it teaches you things—but in this case, it's bad business. I want you to look at your life as the owner. Are you committed to consistency? Are you a person of your word? Are you dependable?
Faithfulness and consistency are the beginning steps to living a dream God can trust you with. Don't leave your commitments in the waiting room.
(45 min right now… might be a new record!)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Image- anation
“So I had this wild dream last night…”, “I was thinking of this crazy idea…”, “So I had this thought-it’s pretty weird…”
What’s the purpose of our minds? Why do we think in images? Why do we randomly have “crazy,weird,wild” thoughts?
I’m convinced God is a smart God- he’s purposeful and very systematic. I think this brain we have with this thing called an “imagination” is necessary to us fulfilling a life he’s called us to. You don’t just think random thoughts ALL THE TIME- I mean granted- there’s those dreams you don’t want to tell anyone about, and I’m sure there’s thoughts of you transforming into a 6’3” 190lb softball playing machine- that are just crazy thoughts (maybe that’s just mine). But there’s got to be a purpose to some of the dreams and thoughts we come up with. And I think they’re summed up in this statement by an individual who’s book I’m reading- it hit me pretty strong today….think about it…..
“Your life will never become what you do not dare to imagine.”
What’s the purpose of our minds? Why do we think in images? Why do we randomly have “crazy,weird,wild” thoughts?
I’m convinced God is a smart God- he’s purposeful and very systematic. I think this brain we have with this thing called an “imagination” is necessary to us fulfilling a life he’s called us to. You don’t just think random thoughts ALL THE TIME- I mean granted- there’s those dreams you don’t want to tell anyone about, and I’m sure there’s thoughts of you transforming into a 6’3” 190lb softball playing machine- that are just crazy thoughts (maybe that’s just mine). But there’s got to be a purpose to some of the dreams and thoughts we come up with. And I think they’re summed up in this statement by an individual who’s book I’m reading- it hit me pretty strong today….think about it…..
“Your life will never become what you do not dare to imagine.”
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