Sunday, February 28, 2010

Nobody every reads this anyway...

but since there is a chance that certain people may read this one day, or that people who know people will read this and get back to them- I cannot vent. S0, I shall just tell my Jesus story and my thoughts on Small Group tonight--

My Jesus loves me sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much- that even when I am having a bad day- He still loves me, and shows His love through music and through kind words. Like tonight, I just so happened to have my iTunes playing and Casting Crowns, Praise You in This Storm, came on. What a song at a time like this. A time I was upset, angry, flustered, ready to just quit and go to bed.

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

That is all I can do right now-- just praise Him in this storm! As much as this life is throwing at me, as much chaos and emotions... the "I'm with you" gives me goose bumps! My God, my Savior! He loves me enough to comfort me in times like this- and to love me when times are just as good.

Quote of the day "If you are trying to be more like her, and she is trying to be like Jesus; then why don't you cut out the middle man and just be like Christ?"

That quote was said tonight in Small group- A-MA-zing! How many times in our lives do we try to impersonate people? Especially celebrities we like, or other people in our lives, Moms and Dads, aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers. All these people in our lives aren't perfect (not saying they aren't great people! just not perfect) So why not just cut out that middle man- so to speak- cut it out completely and just be like Jesus- the Todd Agnew song "My Jesus" is playing now on my iTunes- woah- coincidence? egh-- let's see--

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like you Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

That is my prayer--
Dear God,

Thank you for everything. I want to thank you for loving me, for caring for me, for holding me close, for giving me grace and mercy I did not deserve. I pray dear Lord that you hold my heart tonight. It is heavy with the chaos of this world. I pray that you hold it close to your own, that my heart becomes with one beat to yours. I want to be like you- I want to be like my Jesus! I want to be like Him. I want to be good and faithful servant. I want to be persecuted for my faith. I want to be so strong in my faith that the winds and waves that surround me can't touch me because I am so focused on you, Jesus. You are my focus, You are my desire. Though the things of this world try to bring me down, I just need to focus on You- and You will settle the storm. Why will you? Because you promised to, that's why! You promised never to leave me, never to forsake me, never to abandon me. You are my Jesus, my God, My savior- who bled and died for me-- DIED for me!? Gave up His life for me- I owe my life to you for that sole purpose! You love me enough to die for me, so how can I not die to my selfish ambitions daily and simply follow you. God that is my prayer, that you break me- break me, mold me into the person you want me to be on this earth- I pray that you do whatever it takes to make me into that person- that person who is sold out for the cross- I don't know what that looks like yet- I have an idea- but God I pray that you don't use my idea- I pray that you use me- that is all- use me- not my ideas- just me. God you are amazing, incredible, indescribable- I love you.

In Jesus name,
Andy

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine's Day... Hmmm...

Hmmm... The title of the post says it all.

The day celebrating Saint Valentine. Last monday night while I was watching Big Bang Theory- one of the funniest shows on TV- Sheldon made the comment, "I don't understand the concept of Valentine's Day. I think you should take your significant other to a beheading makes more sense than that of the socially accepted sweets and a cuddly teddy bear."

How thoughtful of Sheldon- I mean, Geoffery Chaucer was the first one to actually do "Valentine's Day" as we do it today- with the romantic theme.

One day out of the year- we, as a hopeless romantic society, spend countless hours making home-made Valentine's, writing love notes, or (on the other hand) rush to the store on February 13th to get those last minute sweets and teddy bears.

I have to admit, I do enjoy Valentine's Day... with or without an actual "Valentine." Lots of great songs on the radio, great movies on TV, lots of cheap candy on Monday! (And not to mention the Olympics!!!) And it is interesting to go through one of my few Valentine's Day as a single guy. It's been my first in awhile... and "awhile" = 192046 years. OKAY OKAY, maybe 5 (but who's counting anyway?) Today was amazing none the less--

Sunday School- 4 great senior high guys
Micky D's
Working at the house :) (almost done!!!)
Small group
Cookie Cake
Olympics

All in all- the makings of a great day!

Dear God,
Woah! What a day- You are truly amazing. In everything You do, in my life, around my life, and all things that have nothing to do with my life. There are soooo many things that I have no ability to imagine that You do and have control over. Amazing. Thank you. Thanking you tonight seems like it doesn't even come close to what you deserve. You deserve our every breath, our every thought, prayer, motion... You created us, saved us, loved us! God, You are so good. Perfect! I pray that you open my heart to what You have in store for my life. For whatever is in store, I pray that you open my eyes to see things as You see them.

All these things in Jesus' name,
Amen

Monday, February 8, 2010

"Super" Sunday

Wow! It has been too long since my last blog!! But yesterday was too awesome not to blog about it!

1st off- Sunday School! Record set for the senior high guys, all 11 of them! It was a great lesson. The group really got in-depth talking about Jesus's first miracle-- Water into Wine... Yea, the wine part got them talking about "is it right, is it wrong, what kind of wine, why would Jesus make wine, what would he make today?" Good times

Then, Zach and I went to the driving range... Now, we go to this driving range probably once a month during golf season. It's fairly nice- and cheap! Well today, of all the days I don't have correct change, the man in charge isn't there. There is a "honesty box" where you put your money in there and take the bucked of balls- Zach and I hit 2 $5 buckets- I left a $20. I figure it's better to give the man more than to steal a bucket of golf balls. So- 20 bucks to hit some white little balls- o boy!

PEYTON MANNING AND THE COLTS TIME!!! I was so excited to see Peyton make it back to the Super Bowl, especially after Tony Dungy "retired". I was pulling for them the whole way- the game looked good- we're gonna win---- until that INTERCEPTION!! geez Peyton, even though you're from that area, you could've thrown a little bit more inside! But overall, it was a good game- and the Saints deserve it. As much as I don't want to admit it- they did play really well, and Drew Brees is an awesome QB. Mardi Gras = Super Bowl Party in 2010! There was a bit turn out at the "party." I would say 25ish or so people. I'm still trying to figure out how many people a "ish" is... but when I do- that'll be in a blog I'm sure.

The best part about "Super Sunday" which made it supppppppppppppppppppper- my dad finally got home from Sri Lanka! He had been gone for 10 days on business. Mama was pretty excited to see him back to. She said she could finally go to sleep at night. My dad always brings us back stuff- this time was no different. Zach, Mom, and I all got shirts- lots and lots of "Sri Lanka" shirts! Then my dad got me some of the local news papers! (they're in English!!) Mom got some stones- they're pretty, don't get me wrong, but I'm not much of an "ooo" and "ahhh" -er. I'll give my old man some credit- the stones were HUGE and nice, and of course Mama loved them! It is a great feeling to have Dad back home.

Good phrase of the day- "even after the storm- there is always a rainbow at the end."

Dear God,
Wow, what a weekend, what a day! Thank you for all that you have blessed my life with. You have put certain abilities, people, events, every single detail of my life into order. YOU are in control of each and every part of my life! I pray that I can keep that on my heart as I go through each and every day- honoring you with my actions and thoughts. God, you know my heart. You know what I am struggling with. I know you are there to guide me- each and every step- I just have to listen and GO. Thank you for allowing my dad to return home safely. Thank you for letting him be Your shining light in Sri Lanka. They have no idea who you are over there- they don't know of your goodness, your greatness, your awesomeness, your LOVE! I pray that my dad, as well as some of the people he was with- saw a little bit of you these past 10 days and that my dad was salt and light for You. I pray that you keep a look on my family- especially Grandmother. She is coming to praise you in Heaven soon- She's about to have one HUGEEEEE mansion and lots and lots of crowns :)

All this I ask in Jesus name,
Amen