Tasting death?

The verse comes from Mark Chapter 9; Verse 1

And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

I read this and ask myself many questions.  I'm the type of person that counts everything that he has done in his life, its terrible i know.  I can't help it though it seems to have stuck with me because i dont see myself in the light, let alone in Gods light.  This passage talks about Death, and when a lot of us think about death or at least for myself i think of funerals, people in coffins or the ground.  But as i read this i dont think that is what Jesus talks about.  Death in this context i feel like is the life of sin that once ruled our lives.  The reason i wrote about counting everything that i do is because i see the sin in my life, i repent but true repentence bears fruit of change.  There are certain things in my life that is so difficult for me to let go of, my pride for instance and my selfeshness and my lustful heart are things that before i was born again i had and now i still have.  I look and ask myself whats changed in my life?  Have i died?? have i really, i doubt.  I might just be feeling this way because i am kind of sad right now but its a question i need to ask myself everyday, have i died.  I need a heart that is focused on the Lord, who am i to say that i am anything.

Application; i need to die... everyday to myself.  My application for my life is that i need to pray everymorning asking for strength through persevering through the holy spirit to show me the path that i need to take. Prayer in the morning.  

SEEK and FIND?

THIS VERSE comes from Mark 8;

Verse 11-12

The pharisees came and began to question Jesus.  TO test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.  He sighed deeply and said, "why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign?  I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.

You know i think a lot about the progression of things in this, its so random but its so blessing.  As mark just tells the adventures of him and the other disciples with Jesus its so amazing.  In a lot of ways i see there small beginnings (often times of positions that were tough to be faithful in, like tax collecting) Jesus made them great.  From these verses i feel like this is a lot of what we act upon.  We expect Jesus or even our friends to give us signs so that WE may act.  And a lot of us expect us to get to a certain point to serve but we need to serve in the midst of our lives.  We need to act, because if we stay in the word, which i try to, and really trust in God then the there would be need for signs because we would know the heart of God.

I am still trying to learn about hte heart of God but i know that as i feed and eat the word hes teaching about his hearts longing.

Application; seek and find Him, know and act because of the knowledge He gives me. 

Feeding, and the overflow of the HEART!

Monday Evening; The FEEDING!

"You give them something to eat." Jesus says.

It was after a long days of work, The apostles and Jesus went to a remote place to get some rest but because they were so influential and recognizable the people that saw them made it to the destination before they did.  Jesus finding them before they had landed had compassion on them and began teaching.  Towards the end of the day the disciples came to him and asked if they could send them away but with the command of YOU give them something to eat is something that gives many of us in the future insight on what to do.

A lot of us a lot of the time put our responsibilities, our burdens on others because at least for me I get lazy, bitter, angry at things i shouldnt be.  When Jesus and the disciples had landed they had already done the work they needed to have done for that day but they continued with Jesus leadership and love for the people He came to save.  Having compassion he gave himself as a sacrifice even in this time of teaching.  I need to lay myself down more and more each day.  He then commands the disciples to give them something to eat, with the people coming to listen Jesus tells them to give something to eat.  But i feel  like this command of the disciples giving them something to eat is something physical but also spiritual.  Spiritual food is more of a necessity then food that fills our stomachs.  The food of the heart is more precious then anything else.  I feel like my heart needs to be fed every single minute of every day and it is TRUE.  But seeing the things that goes into my heart is the problem.  My heart is fragile, dark, deep and it needs to be filled with the things that God loves, with the heart of his people.

Application, trust in the WORD more.  It is my food for the heart, because i cannot live on "bread" alone =), pasta. HAHA.  So although i try to do my devotions with the Lord every night im needing a spiritual awakening, a repentant heart with a desire for the word and to live by it and in that way "know" it. 

Tuesday Evening; the OVERflow of my heart.

The pharisees call the people that dont wash their hands unclean as they lived by there traditions, ... ill leave it at that, think about it. 

Verse 20 to 23

He went on: "what comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'  For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean'

When i think of unclean i think of pigs in the mud, sweaty people like myself for WHATEVER reason.   For these instances its a nice hot shower or a walk in the rain (my romanticized life HAHA) to become clean, because we see water as something pure, and clean to rid ourselves of the things we eat and become.  The pharisees were the ones that brought the unclean stuff about, trying to find fault within the disciples and Jesus himself.   The traditions he said, the traditions are the ones that there living up to, the standards of their forefathers and not the father himself he says.  Dont we do that too? we have rules set, WHY? are there reasons, are they valid reasons, and in no way shape or form am i saying that rules are bad =), they are excellent but when we use them and put them inplace of our Lord and make it our idol to make it to that standard every single time is when we become faulty??? (Wrong usage of word).  But the things we intake, i am reminded of the saying "You are what you eat".  In this world i feel like all of us eat something, and im not talking about food.  The things we eat are part of those worldly things, we as christians, i myself as a christian am so enticed by the thigns of this world especially the second one (im trying) which is sexual immorality.  These things i intake are the reflections or overflow of my heart.  And in order for me to glorify the Lord i know that the things that come from my heart need to be clean, my thoughts my life must be for His glory.  

The inside is what counts, because God looks at the heart, Jeremiah chapter 17. 

Application, watch waht i eat, i need to be on a spiritual diet. 

The One that isnt seen,

Two Blind men Receive Sight
Matthew 20; 29-34
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they asnwered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him.



The blind men that wants sight, the "followers" of Jesus not wanting to give there Lord to these "blind men" or the outcasts of the city. I mean they werent exactly the ones that were the most prosperous in the town. While reading this whole chapter i feel like its trying to convey a place for the lost to come. These outcasts that called on the Lord to ask for their sight back was in the right place to ask the Lord. I mean theres other occassions by faith alone people were healed, brought back to life, demons cast but these followers of Christ didnt seem to have the same compassion as He did. He healed them, no questions asked, He did it. I feel like im like that a lot in my life, i overlook a lot of the times the lost and i go RIGHT to the healthy. Its funny because i know im sick but when i become prideful while im living in sin i feel like im on top of the world in a worldly sense. I need to humble myself while i pray, i need the attitude of Paul the Apostle as he runs his life towards the calling of Christ, knowing full well that he himself is the worst sinner of all he was used by the Lord in a tremendous way. I need that attitude. I need to look at every person and know that he or she needs help, not just look at those that alreayd have help because God came for the sick, and yes i am sick.


Application; reach out to those that do not know Christ, be a better light so that people would have that opportunity to be healed by the loving power of Christ.

The Rich and the Poor, and then the Wives.

So first i just want to share a verse about the seriousness of what i have currently been praying about for my future. About my wife, my spouse, the one i am to be one flesh.

Matthew 19; Verse 5-6
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.


I must admit i let my heart and feelings interfere with my life with Christ and i know one important thing in my life will be my wife, haha. Currently i have never had a girlfriend but am excited for what God has in store, i mean i need to trust that im going to get married right. Theres a verse later on in this chapter that talks about and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accepth this should accept it. =), personally i dont think i can accept this, but maybe i will who knows if God presses it upon my heart to just be united with Him all the timmeeee and not with a spouse. BUt my heart does get divided a lot and i know that with women (one of the biggest problem areas in my life, concerning sin) it is something i need to view as sisterly relationship first. One flesh ey, =) im excited for waht God has in store for me, who it is, what shes like. IM trusting in Him, ive been praying for her too, that we would faithfully walk whatever God has called us to. And that she is growing spiritually and growing in her spiritual walk as well so that we can run towards Christ together.



Matthew 21; Jesus awnsered, "if you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.


It talks about later in the chapter that its easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. First i want to say one of the main reasons why i am even contemplating switching my major is for that reason alone. I felt that God gave me the desire to live a froogle??? life. But my divided heart is saying NONONO, i want to be wealthy and be able to provide for my family and my parents and sister. But in reflecting on these types of verses on waht we must give up for the kingdom of God its nice to know that God doesnt look at our monentary value. He truly does look at our hearts, and with these treasures on earth its difficult to see waht God has to offer. A lot like many other things in our life, were so distracted by the things of this world which one of them is certainly money, we need to relinquish the trust that we have in money, our friends, our family and look solely at the Cross. Of THAT PRICE that was paid, of THAT TREASURE that we have been given and take up the calling that God wants for us which is to be followers of His glory and love.

Trust with the Sovereign Lord,

My walk with the Lord is good, He is faithful because thats just what He is no questions asked. I feel like with this journey im taking to once again try to eat up His word He is teaching me a lot that i can and will apply to my life with the desire to glorify His name.


BUT!


although i have been showing you mostly about Matthews i am going to write about Genesis this time, i have been reading the old and new testement simultaneously. So although Matthews is great so is Genesis.

I will share a verse from Matthews that really hits me hard especially as one that leads the people of our Church into worship/the presence of the Lord. it comes from

Matthew Eighteen; 7
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!



Genesis Eighteen; 13-15
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'WIll i really have a child now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

During this time Abram's name was changed to Abraham because God had made a covenant with him that he will be the father of many nations and promising Abraham and his wife Sarah a son this passage revisits that account. It speaks of the promise that God tells to Sarah that she will have a son even when she was in her 90's. Not trusting in God she laughed, and as I imagined it while i was reading i feel like God had one of the two feelings, it was laughter with a hint of sarcasm or He was just mad. I feel like either way is good for God because i mean HES GOD! haha. But i'd like to think of it as sarcasm because she tries to lie to God but he says, Yes, you did laugh. In my life i think i act just like Sarah, and not like Abraham. I mean he trusts in the Lord with whatever, even later on in Genesis he is asked to give up his son that he and Sarah had together, this promised child to see his obedience to the Lord. But unlike him, Sarah was different and i feel like she is what i am. A lot of times i laugh saying God your not able, i trust but i dont think it will happen. And i tell myself look at my heart or the hearts of others; WE WONT LISTEN and those types of thoughts come. But in praying for this church and for fire to come down i feel like i need to trust in the Lord with all that i have and all i know. Trust that he will bring the lampstand to Purdue if we are faithful in prayer. We need to expect the Lord to do the impossible, which is to change hearts. Change hearts to admire and desire the heart of the Lord.


Application; to pray for Cornerstone. If i as a leader am not faithful in praying for this church and its people then theres no point for me to being a leader. I dont fit its qualifications and im only serving to fill my heart to serve and im not really serving other people only myself.

To be SURE!

Matthew Seventeen; Verese 11-12



Jesus replied, "to be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But i tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.


THIS IS SUNDAYS by the way, just to clarify.


In a lot of ways this really speaks to me, as do most of scripture. Recognition is a big thing, even to me (being the sinful person that I am). But this time its towards Jesus, this pasts retreat spoke of treasures, and when you think of the treasures in life I know personally i can recognize them in an instant maybe even faster. The truth be told the word, scripture in many cases is not this treasure. I go through these dry spells and the word becomes dull knowing full well that there are things even in the dullness that the Lord tries to speak to me directly. But recognizing Jesus, as i just reflected on it i am convicted as i was this past winter to get to know the scriptures better. To be DEEPLY ROOTED, which is like a life quote for me. Its scary to think that when Jesus comes, i mean honestly he could come at any moment ... even in our lifetime, i mean its possible and the thought of not being able to distinguish Jesus when He's here is disheartening for me. My life with the Lord i can say hands down is the most important thing in my life, aside from the little tangents i have on a daily basis He brings me back and restores me. And like a baby recognizes His or Her mother its sad to think that i mgiht not be able to recognize the one that loves,feeds, cares, holds, comforts, and forgives. Its that type of love that im truly scared of, although i consider myself this guy that loves to love and is wanting to love its difficult to expect love in the form of a saviour.


Application; Know the word more, like i said DEEPLY ROOTED. Its not just words to me ive even wanted to write it in ink on my body but in the form of a picture. To my heart i want the scripture to be, and i want to live out the things that i learn not just store them in a closet.