October 20th <> Job 8

That's what happens to all who forget God—
all their hopes come to nothing.
They hang their life from one thin thread!

I don't think people realize the full extent of straying away from God.
This verse reminds me that even though people forget about God they still have dreams and hopes. The difference is that they won't come true.

There is a false sense of hope, but hope only exists with God.

October 19th <> Job 5

I've found your strength to stand to my feet
Eyes high, standing tall
After all this time we finally meet
Now I know I can break through it all

My heart was as empty as the night
Now it has nothing to fear
My knees tremble at your very sight
Now I know my place is right here

Touch,
breathe,
Bring your intimacy

I'm ready, so ready for you
Fearlessly, endlessly, I'm ready
So ready...for you

October 6th <> Luke 19

^1-4Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
²⁶"He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

Zacchaeus was willing to do anything to get the opportunity to see Jesus. He wasn't going to
let the EXCUSE of "the crowd was in his way" stop him from getting to Jesus.

He took a risk, climbed a tree, and reaped the rewards.

How many times do we let excuses stop us from getting to Jesus. There are always going to be things in the way, and there are always going to be excuses.

But it is our choice to not let them ruin our chances and it is our initiative to take a risk and do everything we can to get to Jesus.

And as Jesus promises, if we risk our lives for him we will be rewarded above and beyond!

dance with me

What is this is me?
It's a rhythm of emotions,
A fight to get to you!
Where is the light?
Flashing to the beat of your heart,
Drawing me in!
You are what's real,
In this world of false promises,
Pulling me away!
We are one,
In this moment and forever,
You and me!
Take all of me to love you
You are my reason
Dance with me
Dance with me
Come be the light in me
Set me free
Set me free
Come be the love I need
Lead me through this
Take me beyond myself
Carry me past my thoughts
Dance me to where you are

Day 1 - Mark 5:37-43

Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping." Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn't know what he was talking about.^40-43But when he had sent them all out, he took the child's father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child's room. He clasped the girl's hand and said, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, get up." At that, she was up and walking around!

Is the current youth generation dead?

There is less emotion, less connection...
Many signs point to yes, or at least that they're dying!

But does Jesus have the same point of view?
Of course not...

They're not dead. They're sleeping!

I believe that Jesus knows that the current status of our world and our culture
can cause major damage to developing minds and hearts, and I believe that he is protecting them until
the time is right.

The young girl fell asleep or 'died' while Jesus was taking care of the older woman. He was healing the older generation, which paves the way for the younger generations.

The old woman in the story with her great faith, is someone the 12 yr old girl can look up to, but she had to be healed first before the girl could wake from her slumber. Because if she wakes up before the older woman is healed, she will have no one to look up to, but instead she will have a perfect example of faith to live her life by.

I have great parents, but many young people don't. Many live in divorced families. Many live in hostile environments, and everywhere they turn for someone to look up to, they come up empty.
The key to saving the youth of today, is saving the old of today.

When the time is right, Jesus, and only Jesus, will wake the youth and they will be revived, on fire for Him, and they will have many older people, who are also on fire for God, to look up to, and to learn from.

Until then, we need to speak encouragement to the youth and teach strong foundations in Christ, and let God continue his subtle work in their hearts, but we must not force full fledged revival until they have role models.

It is soon upon us. A great revival. One that unites young and old. I look forward to that day, and pray that I can do everything in my power to prepare my heart and to prepare the hearts of the youth that I have influence on!

It will be a glorious day!!!

But what if the woman never stepped up and got healed? What if the older generations don't respond to Christ?

Does that mean Jesus wouldn't have healed the girl?

Does it mean that Jesus won't raise up the younger generation?

No.

It is simply the perfect situation. If, when Jesus raises the younger generation, they have older mentors, then brilliant.

But if not, its not the end of the world, because

ultimately it is God who moves people, it is God who moves through people, and God will move who he wants when he wants.

Listening to: Signs - Bloc Party

What do you know?!??

He said, "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you'll sit down to God's salvation banquet just because you've been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you're going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you'll find the door locked and the Master saying, 'Sorry, you're not on my guest list.'

26-27"You'll protest, 'But we've known you all our lives!' only to be interrupted with his abrupt, 'Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don't know the first thing about me.'

"Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing, you dont know the first thing about me." is a statement which applies to everyone. God is big and even if we feel we know stuff about him, it is only the beginning.

However, Jesus only says it to the people outside, and not on the inside. Because the differences between the innies and the outies is their attitudes.

The people on the outside assumed they had a place, and that assumption led to complacency and ultimately missing out on grace. One of my favorite quotes is "Assumptions are the mother of all...mess-ups...!" from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

I see the people on the inside being people who are humble and live their lives aware of the meaning of grace, and that is that it is not deserved. So they do their best to live their lives righteously, paying attention to details.

We are all equal. We all are sinners destined for hell, and in dire need of grace. What separates the ones who are saved and those who are not is an attitude of humility .