tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017416156395927872024-03-13T11:24:14.888-05:00He's calling. Will you answer?"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised." --2 Corinthians 5:14-15Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-79627065206030923472009-10-30T09:32:00.002-05:002009-10-30T09:50:31.575-05:00From 1 John...<span class="verse-num" id="v62001005-1"></span><blockquote><span class="verse-num" id="v62001005-1">1:5 </span>This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is <span style="font-weight: bold;">light</span>, and in him is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> no</span> darkness at all. <span class="verse-num" id="v62001006-1">6 </span>If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we <span style="font-weight: bold;">lie</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">do not practice the truth</span>. <span class="verse-num" id="v62001007-1">7 </span>But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. <span class="verse-num" id="v62001008-1">8 </span>If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> not</span> in us. <span class="verse-num" id="v62001009-1">9 </span>If we <span style="font-weight: bold;">confess </span>our sins, he is faithful and just to <span style="font-weight: bold;">forgive </span>us our sins and to <span style="font-weight: bold;">cleanse us</span> from all unrighteousness. <span class="verse-num" id="v62001010-1">10 </span>If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.</blockquote>God is perfect and He is the light in the darkness. If we <span style="font-weight: bold;">truly</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>believe and have Him in our lives, we too are lights to those around us who are walking in the darkness. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">But </span>if we walk in darkness yet proclaim He is in our hearts, we are <span style="font-weight: bold;">liars </span>and we are making a <span style="font-weight: bold;">fool</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>of God and we do not have Him in our hearts. We need to <span style="font-weight: bold;">confess</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>our sins and with our whole heart we need to let God into our lives and let Him take <span style="font-weight: bold;">complete</span> control. If we try to live on our own, we will continue down the path of darkness and <span style="font-weight: bold;">we will fail</span>. We need to die to ourselves, lose our selfish ways and follow Him wholeheartedly.Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-65224791737568261532009-10-23T11:21:00.002-05:002009-10-23T11:31:13.056-05:00While I'm Waiting...I'm waiting<br />I'm waiting on You, Lord<br />And I am hopeful<br />I'm waiting on You, Lord<br />Though it is painful<br />But patiently, I will wait<br /><br />I will move ahead, bold and confident<br />Taking every step in obedience<br /><br />While I'm waiting<br />I will serve You<br />While I'm waiting<br />I will worship<br />While I'm waiting<br />I will not faint<br />I'll be running the race<br />Even while I wait<br /><br />I'm waiting<br />I'm waiting on You, Lord<br />And I am peaceful<br />I'm waiting on You, Lord<br />Though it's not easy<br />But faithfully, I will wait<br />Yes, I will wait<br /><br />I will serve You while I'm waiting<br />I will worship while I'm waiting<br />I will serve You while I'm waiting<br />I will worship while I'm waiting<br />I will serve you while I'm waiting<br />I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">[lyrics by John Waller]</span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-45549981338084613992009-09-25T13:30:00.002-05:002009-09-25T13:41:53.862-05:00The Fall of Jericho...<p id="p06006001.05-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v06006001-1">6:1 </span>Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006002-1">2 </span>And the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006003-1">3 </span>You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006004-1">4 </span>Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006005-1">5 </span>And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,<span class="footnote"> </span>and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” <span class="verse-num" id="v06006006-1">6 </span>So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>.” <span class="verse-num" id="v06006007-1">7 </span>And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>.”</p> <p id="p06006008.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v06006008-1">8 </span>And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> following them. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006009-1">9 </span>The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006010-1">10 </span>But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” <span class="verse-num" id="v06006011-1">11 </span>So he caused the ark of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.</p> <p id="p06006012.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v06006012-1">12 </span>Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006013-1">13 </span>And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, while the trumpets blew continually. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006014-1">14 </span>And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.</p> <p id="p06006015.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v06006015-1">15 </span>On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006016-1">16 </span>And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> has given you the city. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006017-1">17 </span>And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> for destruction.<span class="footnote"> </span>Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006018-1">18 </span>But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006019-1">19 </span>But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>; they shall go into the treasury of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>.” <span class="verse-num" id="v06006020-1">20 </span>So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006021-1">21 </span>Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.</p> <p id="p06006022.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v06006022-1">22 </span>But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” <span class="verse-num" id="v06006023-1">23 </span>So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006024-1">24 </span>And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>. <span class="verse-num" id="v06006025-1">25 </span>But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.</p> <p id="p06006026.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v06006026-1">26 </span>Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.</p> <div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p06006026.26-1">“At the cost of his firstborn shall he<br /><span class="indent"></span>lay its foundation,<br />and at the cost of his youngest son<br /><span class="indent"></span>shall he set up its gates.”</p> </div> <p id="p06006027.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v06006027-1">27 </span>So the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.<br />_______________________________________________________<br /></p><p id="p06006027.01-1">This story simply amazes me, even though it is one I have heard over and over again since I was a child. Can you just imagine if you were a part of the Israelite army who contiunuously marched in circles around a wall surrounding a city every day for a week? I know that I would begin to doubt and wonder why we were all making fools of ourselves. But Joshua had a huge heart for God and he knew the importance of being 100% obedient to Him. He followed what God asked him to do, and on that final day of marching, and after the seventh lap when the priests blew their trumpets and the people shouted the walls of Jericho came tumbling down just as God had promised. This is definitely one of those stories where I think it would have been simply amazing to witness and be a part of.<br /></p>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-68074606968076582702009-09-23T14:17:00.002-05:002009-09-23T14:20:56.546-05:00Hold My Heart...How long must I pray, must I pray to You?<br />How long must I wait, must I wait for You?<br />How long 'til I see Your face, see You shining through?<br />I'm on my knees, begging You to notice me.<br />I'm on my knees, Father will you turn to me?<br /><br />One tear in the dropping rain,<br />One voice in the sea of pain<br />Could the maker of the stars<br />Hear the sound of my breaking heart?<br />One light, that's all I am<br />Right now I can barely stand<br />If You're everything You say You are<br />Won't You come close and hold my heart<br /><br />I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes<br />So much can slip away before I say goodbye.<br />But if there's no other way, I'm done asking why.<br />Cuz I'm on my knees, begging You to turn to me<br />I'm on my knees, Father will you run to me?<br /><br />One tear in the dropping rain,<br />One voice in the sea of pain<br />Could the maker of the stars<br />Hear the sound of my breaking heart?<br />One light, that's all I am<br />Right now I can barely stand<br />If You're everything You say You are<br />Won't You come close and hold my heart.<br /><br />So many questions without answers, Your promises remain<br />I can't sleep but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name<br />To hear You call my name<br /><br />One tear in the dropping rain,<br />One voice in the sea of pain<br />Could the maker of the stars<br />Hear the sound of my breaking heart?<br />One light, that's all I am<br />Right now I can barely stand<br />If You're everything You say You are<br />Won't You come close and hold my heart.<br /><br />Hold my heart, could you hold my heart?<br />Hold my heart.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">[lyrics by Tenth Avenue North]</span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-32269104677541070082009-09-20T13:47:00.000-05:002009-09-20T13:48:10.695-05:00MfitumukizaMfitumukiza is a 7-year-old boy who needs your help. He lives in the country of Rwanda in Africa and he is living in extreme poverty. He lives with his mother and father who are only sometimes employed as farmers, and there are 6 children in the family.<br /><br />Can you imagine trying to raise your family of 8 and providing for them when only working during the harvesting season? Impoverished families in Rwanda live on less than $1 a day. Less than $1 for a FAMILY, not just ONE person...<br /><br />So what can you do?<br /><br />Sponsor Mfitumukiza through Compassion International. It is only $38 a month. That is only a little more than $1 a day. By sponsoring Mfitumukiza you will give him the opportunity to go to school and get an education so that one day he might have the opportunity to go to college and then get a job. You also provide him with food for each day as well as his regular medical needs. Not only will you be able to provide his physical needs, you have the opportunity to provide for his spiritual needs as well. So often these children living in poverty lack one thing, and that is hope. Be the one to reveal that hope to them, and to tell them that they CAN have hope again, and that hope comes from Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Mfitumukiza has been waiting for a sponsor for over 6 MONTHS.<br /><br />He NEEDS you.<br /><br />Release a child from poverty in Jesus' name.<br /><br />Just imagine the feeling Mfitumukiza will have when he is told that you have decided to sponsor him, and that someone from halfway across the world loves him and is praying for him. It's an indescribable joy.<br /><br />Copy and paste this link to your web browser, and choose to sponsor him today :)<br /><a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/waystosponsor/ChildBio.htm?Child=RW3770063" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span>http://www.compassion.com/</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>sponsor_a_child/waystospon</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>sor/ChildBio.htm?Child=RW3</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span>770063</a>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-33267752818817114192009-09-13T18:12:00.001-05:002009-09-13T18:14:54.516-05:00surrender...Purify this tainted soul<br />I'm tired of living life a fool<br />Soften up this hardened clay<br />To be a servant, this I pray<br />A reflection of You, I long to be<br />So Your kingdom I will seek<br /><br />I surrender to Your throne<br />Oh, I surrender to Your throne<br />I will make my heart Your home<br />Oh, I surrender to Your throne<br /><br />I've taken things I thought my own<br />Only to reap what I've sown<br />You've given back the years I fought<br />An ending love and grace You've brought<br />Eternal hope and peace You bring<br />And forever unto You I will sing<br /><br />I surrender to Your throne<br />Oh, I surrender to Your throne<br />And I will make my heart Your home<br />Oh, I surrender to Your throne<br /><br />Forever unto You I will sing<br />Forever unto You I will sing<br />Forever unto You I will sing<br />Forever unto You I will sing<br /><br />I surrender<br />I surrender<br />I surrender, now<br />Oh, I surrender<br />And I surrender<br />And I surrender, now<br />Oh, I surrender<br />I surrender<br />I surrender<br />Oh, I surrender<br />I surrender<br />I surrender, now<br /><br />Soften Up this hardened clay<br />To be a servant, this I pray.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">[lyrics by Jeremy Camp]</span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-52473537485928168382009-06-29T11:16:00.002-05:002009-06-29T11:33:29.457-05:00by your side...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Why are you striving these days?<br />Why are you trying to earn grace?<br />Why are you crying?<br />Let me lift up your face<br />Just don't turn away<br /><br />Why are you looking for love?<br />Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?<br />To where will you go child?<br />Tell me where will you run?<br />To where will you run?<br /><br />'Cuz I'll be by your side<br />Wherever you fall<br />In the dead of night<br />Whenever you call<br />And please don't fight these hands that are holding you<br />My hands are holding you<br /><br />Look at these hands and my side<br />They swallowed the grave on that night<br />When I drank the world's sin<br />So I could carry you in and give you life<br />I wanna give you life<br /><br />And </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll be by your side<br />Wherever you fall<br />In the dead of night<br />Whenever you call<br />And please don't fight these hands that are holding you<br />My hands are holding you<br /><br />Here at my side<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wherever you fall<br />In the dead of night<br />Whenever you call<br />And please don't fight these hands that are holding you<br />My hands are holding you<br /><br />'Cuz I, I love you<br />I want you to know<br />That I, I love you<br />I'll never let you go<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">And </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll be by your side<br />Wherever you fall<br />In the dead of night<br />Whenever you call<br />And please don't fight these hands that are holding you<br />My hands are holding you<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here at my side<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wherever you fall<br />In the dead of night<br />Whenever you call<br />And please don't fight these hands that are holding you<br />My hands are holding you<br /><br />Here at my side<br />My hands are holding you<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[song by tenth avenue north]</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-11982509332453216192009-05-26T14:10:00.004-05:002009-05-26T14:27:03.546-05:00greatest in the kingdom of heaven...<blockquote>"God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important" -1 Corinthians 1:27-28.</blockquote>The humblest child is the greatest--that little girl in a torn and dirty party dress singing of her joy in God on a trash heap--she's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Those people our world tells us are nothing are great in God's reckoning. And they are the ones who can teach me.<br /><br />It's not that God loves the poor any more than he loves me or anyone else in America--he's not a reverse social snob. He loves the wealthy deeply, as I can see in his interactions with the rich young man in Mark 10, the same man who prompted Jesus to say,<br /><blockquote>"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" -Mark 10:25. </blockquote>Despite this,<br /><blockquote>"Jesus looked at [the rich young man] and loved him" -Mark 10:21.</blockquote><br />I know Jesus looks at me--with <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> my struggles--and loves me. In his compassion he sees what is lacking in my faith and wants to heal my soul. He knows I need the humility and faith of the poor that I can so easily lose in my material abundance. I need to take spiritual lessons from the poor, learning their rich, childlike faith.<br /><br />Downward mobility--becoming like and loving the poor--was at the heart of Christ's ministry: <blockquote>"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" -Philippians 2:6-8. </blockquote>This is the attitude God asks of me--to live not for my own advancement, but for the good of others. When I become like the poor and like a child, God calls me blessed. I will have finally poked my head out of the smog of this world's backward values and peeked into his kingdom.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[taken from "Hope Lives" by Amber Van Schooneveld]</span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-69177330017886757622009-05-18T10:38:00.003-05:002009-05-18T10:53:57.282-05:00throw off uncertainty...[1] Cast your bread upon the waters,<br />for you will find it after many days.<br />[2] Give a portion to seven, or even to<br />eight,<br />for you know not what disaster<br />may happen on earth.<br />[3] If the clouds are full of rain,<br />they empty themselves on the earth,<br />and if a tree falls to the south or to<br />the north,<br />in the place where the tree falls,<br />there it will lie.<br />[4] He who observes the wind will not sow,<br />and he who regards the clouds will<br />not reap.<br /><br />[5] As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.<br />[6] In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[Ecclesiastes 11:1-6]</span><br /><br />Do not let uncertainty become an excuse. Do what needs to be done. You do not know the plan God has in store for you. Why question the outcome? Trust Him and have faith.Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-32924260448475381472009-05-13T15:56:00.002-05:002009-05-13T16:03:34.353-05:00Wrapped In Your Arms...I was driving in my car when this song came on. Because I recognized the song, I was singing my little heart out...but once the chorus hit for the second time, I broke down and I couldn't get the words out anymore no matter how hard I tried.<br /><br />To know that I am wrapped in the arms of God, and that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from Him...it's one of those feelings that I couldn't possibly begin to describe, but it's one of the most amazing feelings I've ever had :)<br /><br />Listen to the lyrics.<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BXbX9wUFxYI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BXbX9wUFxYI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-15858797029314032312009-05-07T13:50:00.002-05:002009-05-07T14:09:43.602-05:00Rest in Peace...<blockquote>Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. -Matthew 11:28-30</blockquote>Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated that "When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die." I know Christ has asked me to give up my very life to serve Him. That could mean any number of things. It might mean I die in the cause of speaking out for the oppressed. It could mean I give up some comforts in order to help others. It might mean I have to make some difficult business decisions. It might mean I give my time to a widow in my neighborhood. I don't know what Christ will ask me to do. But it might not be easy.<br /><br />That's why Christ's promise is so sweet: When I'm weary from serving, He will give me rest. I'm simply His servant, carrying out the good deeds He has for me. He isn't asking me to carry the burden of the whole world or fix the whole world or be in charge of making sure everything turns out just right. <span style="font-style: italic;">He</span> carries that burden. He asked me simply to love Him and love others and act accordingly.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[taken from "Hope Lives" by Amber Van Schooneveld]</span><br /><br />Please watch this video and really take in the lyrics of the song.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CdjRmM0Q0qs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CdjRmM0Q0qs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-53553956046212973882009-05-04T12:28:00.002-05:002009-05-04T12:52:18.162-05:00Do You Shudder?I wonder how many of us are living numb in a state of willing ignorance. We hear so much. So many stories of death. So many statistics of despair. So many pictures of grief. Sometime I wish there were no Internet or long-distance communication so that all I'd have to worry about is my own little town. I'm overwhelmed. I don't think God created me to take in this much despair. My brain just can't keep processing these statistics: 1.2 million children are trafficked each year as slaves; 854 million people are hungry today; more than 1 billion live on less than $1 per day. 1.2 million. 854 million. 1 billion. A blur of numbers. I am numb. The words are meaningless. I've hit capacity for caring.<br /><br />And so I shut down. I've heard one statistic too many, and I just can't take it anymore. I don't know what to do, I can't quite believe in the problems, so I do nothing. I feel myself developing a protective film that covers my eyes and anesthetizes my heart. If I saw the problems in person, if I looked in the children's eyes, I would shudder. But I only see numbers, not faces.<br /><br />And I don't shudder anymore.<br /><br />I stay half ignorant on purpose. I skim the news, not letting myself read too much. I glean enough to seem informed: "Oh, yes, it's just a shame what's going on in Africa." I don't get my heart involved. I stay aloof and in control. Separate.<br /><br />Because if I let go, if I find out, I know what would happen. I would crack. I would break. I'd looking in to the ugly eyes of poverty and grasp my head in my hands and shout, "Why, God, why?" But I can't keep doing that every day. And the bad news just keeps on coming. And I don't know what to do. I can't keep caring and keep being broken.<br /><br />God, I'm just not up to the task.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[taken from "Hope Lives" by Amber Van Schooneveld]</span><br /><br /><blockquote>"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." -James 4:17</blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m212/jakeamo15/Africa_poverty.png?t=1241459198"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 270px;" src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m212/jakeamo15/Africa_poverty.png?t=1241459198" alt="" border="0" /></a>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-29622954267870386112009-03-23T19:53:00.001-05:002009-03-23T19:55:21.623-05:00Into The Day...You could turn a hundred years and never empty all your fears<br />They’re pouring out like broken words and broken bones<br />They could fill a thousand pages, be the cry for all the ages<br />And the song for every soul who stands alone<br /><br />The ache of life is more than you are able<br /><br />Hold on love, don’t give up<br />Don’t close your eyes<br />The light is breaking through the night<br /><br />Step out into the day, all the clouds and all the rain are gone<br />It’s over now<br />Step out into the sun, for you have only begun to know<br />What it’s all about<br />As the hungering dark gives way to the dawn, my love<br />It’s over now<br /><br />Time will let the story told grow and grow ‘til it unfolds<br />In a way that even you cannot ignore<br />You can say the seasons change but never if you just remain<br />In a place where the freeze is at your door<br /><br />What you don’t know is the signs are right for the turning tide<br /><br /> Hold on love, don’t give up<br /> Don’t close your eyes<br /> The light is breaking through the night<br /><br />Step out into the day, all the clouds and all the rain are gone<br /> It’s over now<br /> Step out into the sun, for you have only begun to know<br /> What it’s all about<br /> As the hungering dark gives way to the dawn, my love<br /> It’s over now<br /><br />Hold on, hold on<br />It won’t be long<br />So hold on<br />[<span style="font-style: italic;">song by Bebo Norman</span>]Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-16429898518705598662009-02-25T19:37:00.000-06:002009-02-25T19:38:01.608-06:00King of Wonders...We could try to count the stars,<br />You already know them each by name.<br />Every single galaxy was your design,<br />Your majesty displayed.<br /><br />Your glory shines before our eyes,<br />The more we see, the more we love You.<br /><br />King of wonders, we stand amazed,<br />There’s no other, other than you.<br />King of wonders, you know the way to our hearts and<br />The more we see the more we love you.<br /><br />You reveal and we respond,<br />You have shown there’s no one like you God<br />Your love and mercy welcomes us<br />Into the beauty of this Holiness.<br /><br />Your glory shines before our eyes,<br />The more we see, the more we love You.<br /><br />King of wonders, we stand amazed,<br />There’s no other, other than you.<br />King of wonders, you know the way to our hearts and<br />The more we see the more we love you.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[song by Matt Redman]</span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-55252230131827108772009-02-24T13:43:00.001-06:002009-02-24T13:43:54.190-06:00AIDS...Did You Know?<!-- SpringWidgets | AIDS Timer (#13013) | Blogger | Generated on 02/24/2009 --><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowNetworking="all" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" height="298" width="375" id="springwidgets_13013" align="middle" data="http://downloads.thespringbox.com/web/wrapper.php?file=AIDS Timer.sbw" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://downloads.thespringbox.com/web/wrapper.php?file=AIDS Timer.sbw" /><param name="flashvars" value="" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="bgColor" value="0x000000" /></object><div style="font:11px/12px arial;width:375px;"><a href="http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/13013/?&width=375&height=298" target="_blank" title="Get this widget!">Get this widget!</a></div><div><center><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.compassion.com/default.htm">Compassion</a> – <a href="https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/childvictimsofhiv.htm">Make a Donation</a> – <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm">Sponsor a Child</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></center></div>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-67355282927825200362009-02-24T13:08:00.004-06:002009-02-24T13:31:19.130-06:00Help Save Them...<div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote>Open your mouth for the mute,<br />for the rights of all who are destitute.<br />Open your mouth, judge righteously,<br />defend the rights of the poor and needy.<br />-Proverbs 31:8-9<br /></blockquote></div>>>Do you believe Jesus loves children?<br />>>Do you have a heart that breaks when you think of children in poverty?<br />>>Do you feel joy and satisfaction when you see God working through you?<br /><br />Have you considered sponsoring a child?<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />I sponsor a five-year old little girl in Rwanda. I have been her sponsor for nearly six months, and each day has been so rewarding knowing that I am making a difference in her life. From the money I provide for her to get a Christ-centered education and the appropriate health care she needs, the prayers prayed each and every day, the letters I write and receive back from her mother, the pictures, and the drawings she makes for me, I have not once regretted making the decision to sponsor her.<br /><br />There are more than one million children in twenty-five countries who need a sponsor. Will you step out and make the commitment to help an underprivileged child find love, encouragement, and hope for their future?<br /><br />Think about it.<br /><br />Help save them.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm"><img src="http://images.compassion.com/images/226x135.jpg" border="0" alt="Sponsor a child online through Compassion's Christian child sponsorship ministry. Search for a child by age, gender, country, birthday, special needs and more." /></a>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-33549833000657294512009-02-04T13:35:00.002-06:002009-02-04T13:41:28.753-06:00Don't Ask...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week I lead a Bible study with the Campus Crusade group I am a part of here on campus at Grand View. The study focused on not being a "Lukewarm Christian." I brought up these convicting statements...<br /><br />Don't ask: "How far can I go before it's considered a sin?"<br />Ask: "How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?"<br /><br />Don't ask: "How much do I have to give?"<br />Ask: "How much can I give?"<br /><br />Don't ask: "How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible?"<br />Ask: "Why do I have to go to work? I wish I could sit here and read longer!"<br /><br />Don't ask: "Do I have to tell them I'm a Christian?"<br />State: "I'm not ashamed of what I believe in--I'm a follower of Christ. I am a Christian."<br /></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-6340549645700003112009-01-20T13:41:00.002-06:002009-01-20T13:48:55.058-06:00Love Is Here...<blockquote>He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24</blockquote><br />[song is by Tenth Avenue North]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hGGanAZ2IwM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hGGanAZ2IwM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-26857477764192782582009-01-14T22:25:00.005-06:002009-01-14T22:36:46.235-06:00Encouragement From Joshua...I'm currently working my way through reading through the Bible in a year. Today's passage was Joshua 1-5. There were a few verses that stuck out to me in the way they encourage. So maybe the next time the day isn't going exactly how you'd want it to, you can refer back to these words in the book of Joshua :)<br /><br /><blockquote>Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you. -Joshua 1:3</blockquote><blockquote>I will not leave you or forsake you. -Joshua 1:5</blockquote><blockquote>Only be strong and very courageous. -Joshua 1:7</blockquote><blockquote>Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is wish you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9</blockquote><blockquote>Only be strong and courageous. -Joshua 1:18</blockquote><blockquote>I will be with you. -Joshua 3:7</blockquote><blockquote>The hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever. -Joshua 4:24</blockquote><br />Be strong and courageous. God is with you, and He's never going to leave. His hand is mighty, you have nothing to fear :)Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-84692116961955895922009-01-08T13:26:00.002-06:002009-01-08T13:34:23.970-06:00Encourage One Another...<blockquote>“Brothers, if you have any word of <span class="search-term-1">encourage</span>ment for the people, say it.” -Acts 13:15b</blockquote><br />Share with one another the ways in which God encourages you--whether it's through an answered prayer, a song you hear, words you read, an experience you have, or anything else. Encourage each other through the ways God speaks to you and makes Himself known. You will never be disappointed :)Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-76824791597960447432008-12-18T13:16:00.002-06:002008-12-18T13:25:03.587-06:00You Are Not Immune...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is an epidemic of spiritual amnesia going around, and none of us is immune. No matter how many fascinating details we learn about God's creation, no matter how many pictures we see of His galaxies, and no matter how many sunset we watch, we still forget.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of us know that we are supposed to love and fear God; that we are supposed to read our Bibles and pray so that we can get to know Him better; that we are supposed to worship Him with our lives. But actually living it out is challenging.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It confuses us when loving God is hard. Shouldn't it be easy to love a God so wonderful? When we love God because we feel we </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">should</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> love Him, instead of genuinely loving our of our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is. Our amnesia is flaring up again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It may sound "un-Christian" to say that one some mornings I don't feel like loving God, or I just forget to. But I do. In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We need reminders of God's goodness. We are programmed to focus on what we don't have, bombarded multiple times throughout the day with what we need to buy that will make us feel happier or more at peace. This dissatisfaction transfers over to our thinking about God. We forget that we already have everything we need in Him. Because we don't often think about the reality of who God is, we quickly forget that He is worthy to be worshipped and loved. We are to fear Him.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">[</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">from Crazy Love by Francis Chan</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">]</span><br /></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-66523483538149784102008-12-09T19:18:00.002-06:002008-12-09T19:20:27.660-06:00Give Me Your Eyes...<span style="font-size:85%;">Looked down from a broken sky<br />Traced out by the city lights<br />My world from a mile high<br />Best seat in the house tonight<br />Touched down on the cold black top<br />Hold on for the sudden stop<br />Breath in the familiar shock<br />Of confusion and chaos<br />All those people going somewhere,<br />Why have I never cared?<br /><br />Give me your eyes for just one second<br />Give me your eyes so I can see<br />Everything that I keep missing<br />Give me your love for humanity<br />Give me your arms for the broken hearted<br />Ones that are far beyond my reach.<br />Give me your heart for the ones forgotten<br />Give me your eyes so I can see<br /><br />Step out on a busy street<br />See a girl and our eyes meet<br />Does her best to smile at me<br />To hide what's underneath<br />There's a man just to her right<br />Black suit and a bright red tie<br />Too ashamed to tell his wife<br />He's out of work<br />He's buying time<br />All those people going somewhere<br />Why have I never cared?<br /><br />Give me your eyes for just one second<br /> Give me your eyes so I can see<br /> Everything that I keep missing<br /> Give me your love for humanity<br /> Give me your arms for the broken hearted<br /> Ones that are far beyond my reach.<br /> Give me your heart for the ones forgotten<br /> Give me your eyes so I can see<br /><br />I've Been there a million times<br />A couple of million eyes<br />Just moving past me by<br />I swear I never thought that I was wrong<br />Well I want a second glance<br />So give me a second chance<br />To see the way you see the people all along<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[song by Brandon Heath]</span><br /></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-18294286420931488792008-12-08T20:57:00.000-06:002008-12-08T20:58:11.824-06:00Take You Back...<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4am_XNob174&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4am_XNob174&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-21530303339207353102008-11-21T12:29:00.004-06:002008-11-21T12:38:51.257-06:00He's a God We're Called to Worship...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Did you know that a caterpillar has 228 separate and distinct muscles</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">in its head? That’s quite a few, for a bug. The average elm tree has</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">approximately 6 million leaves on it. And your own heart generates</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">enough pressure as it pumps blood throughout your body that it could</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">squirt blood up to 30 feet. (I’ve never tried this, and I don’t recommend</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">it.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is? He</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">didn’t have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but He did.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He didn’t have to put 3,000 different species of trees within one square</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">mile in the Amazon jungle, but He did. God didn’t have to create so</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">many kinds of laughter. Think about the different sounds of your</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">friends’ laughs—wheezes, snorts, silent, loud, obnoxious.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">How about the way plants defy gravity by drawing water upward</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">from the ground into their stems and veins? Or did you know that spiders</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">produce three kinds of silk?When they build their webs, they create</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">sixty feet of silk in one hour, simultaneously producing special oil on</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">their feet that prevents them from sticking to their own web. (Most of</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">us hate spiders, but sixty feet an hour deserves some respect!) Coral</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">by even one or two degrees.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Did you know that when you get goose bumps, the hair in your follicles</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat? Or</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">what about the simple fact that plants take in carbon dioxide (which is</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">harmful to us) and produce oxygen (which we need to survive)? I’m</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">sure you knew that, but have you ever marveled at it? And these same</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">poison-swallowing, life-giving plants came from tiny seeds that were </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">placed in the dirt. Some were watered, some weren’t; but after a few</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">days they poked through the soil and out into the warm sunlight. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Whatever God’s reasons for such diversity, creativity, and sophistication</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">in the universe, on earth, and in our own bodies, the point of it</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">all is His glory. God’s art speaks of Himself, reflecting who He is and</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">what He is like.</span><br /><br /></span><blockquote style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The heavens declare the glory of God,</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Day to day pours out speech,</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and night to night reveals knowledge.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">There is no speech, nor are there words,</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">whose voice is not heard.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Their voice<span class="footnote"> </span>goes out through all the earth,</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and their words to the end of the world.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">-Psalm 19:1-4</span></div> </blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is why we are called to worship Him. His art, His handiwork,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">and His creation all echo the truth that He is glorious.There is no other</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">like Him. He is the King of Kings, the Beginning and the End, the One</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">who was and is and is to come.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >[from the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan]</span><br /><br /></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001741615639592787.post-258559255195255392008-11-18T13:26:00.002-06:002008-11-18T13:29:47.428-06:00It's Beautiful...<span style="font-size:85%;">I wish that You would tell me how<br />You know me well and want to be together<br />Fallen short and faded out<br />You keep making gardens in this desert<br />Despite the grace that I dismiss<br />Forgiveness was the catalyst<br />To penetrate my heart with what is true<br /><br />It’s Beautiful<br />You could turn mistakes to miracles<br />The way that You still love me after all<br />It’s Beautiful<br /><br />Redeem the years I’ve thrown away<br />I’m ready to make good on what I’ve wasted<br />I’m asking You to shake my heart<br />I want to be Your work of art<br />Cause when You change me<br />And make me more like You<br /><br />It’s Beautiful<br />You could turn mistakes to miracles<br />The way that You still love me after all<br />It’s Beautiful<br /><br />So help me God forbid<br />And never take for granted<br />This endless gift You give<br /><br />It’s Beautiful<br />You could turn mistakes to miracles<br />The way that You still love me after all<br />It’s Beautiful<br />It’s Beautiful<br /><br />It's Beautiful<br /><br />I wish that You would tell me how<br />You know me well and want to be together<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[lyrics by Eleventyseven]</span><br /></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03302307261942196758noreply@blogger.com0