Into the dark. Into the light.

Oh how easily we can be tripped up by something so small. Seriously, I can not start to count the many many times that I have been stopped and tripped up by a little pebble or crack on the pavement when cruisin around on my skateboard on campus (kinda my way of pushing my limit with the campus police who have have hand-held citation pads in place of hearts). Such small things can create havoc in the direction that you are called to go. Pretty much it's tactics of the enemy to get you off course when you actually start moving in the direction of your Maker; this is assuming that you are truly moving in the truth and towards righteousness in order to glorify the Lord through it all...
I have noticed that amidst all the blessings, work, and building up that has been placed in my life right now, it's the dark forces opposed to it all that seek to distract and tie down ones' heart to very little things that sprout up; they can be either words, gossip, criticisms, guilt trips, or sacrifices that need to be made because of the change that takes place when seeking righteousness.
Today, I felt guilty because of having to miss certain semester events due to work scheduling and going to service. However it was a wake up call from the Spirit when I stopped focusing upon the the small critical things from others and unforseen circumstances and started seeing the greater work that was all being done and how it was all in order to glorify God to others... too bad encouragement is tough to come by when others don't see the invisible work of God that is taking place and only choose to critically see how you are different than the rest of the pack.

Geez. Idk why I'm being so long winded on these entries but I'm sure it won't be common.
I wanted to share briefly how God works in ALL places, people, things, situations, etc...The Lord will be able to light up the Hearts of the lost in any way; especially when you are allowing Him to fill you and use you as the vessel for something greater than yourself...
Sunday; March 8th, 2009- Standing in line f0r the floor area to see Trivium,Coheed&Cambria,SlipKnot. After seeing how I wasn't able to see friends who has assigned seats in another area, I realized that I'd be going solo throughout this show. It wasn't until I spoke with a guy (having the appearance of a metalhead to the death) also standing alone next to me in line that I realized that this show would be so much more that mere head-banging and moshing to SlipKnot's main tracks.
Somehow a conversation that started out by simply asking 'Have you seen Slipknot live before?' turned out with me offering him to join me in goin to an evening bible study at my church...it was not like I was intentionally trying to make this happen before I uttered words to spark conversation; it was just all natural and informal...So after chatting together through much of the show and enduring the piulse of the pit crowd, we kept in touch and now he is getting to know more about my church and has kept an open mind to the teachings and social interactions that take place through the young adult events...XD!!!
Learning about his past and tough current situation has softened my heart to see the spiritual need that is there...
Seems like God likes placing me where you would least expect someone to find a Christian guy or even learn about Jesus. I definitely did not anticipate to be used this way, but I am all about it...the power of creating relationships (and keeping your integrity in check) smash the impact of any 'perfectly' organized or structured outreach event within a church building.


If you haven't tried- Go out and find those in the dark corners who are simply waiting to hear the message of hope and love- Or stay in your well-treaded zone and try to lure the lost come to you... we all can step out a bit.

We have a perfect example of AGAPE love and who ended up being the perfect sacrifice for all who seek the Supernatural Righteousness that he called us to. Never forget how he sought out those lost, hurting, lonely, and abandoned from the love that we all need.

If you managed to read all of this- you are very special and I respect that. Thanks.

Peace and please pray!

Haters Make Me Famous...

the title: these words were placed into my head, then my mind, then heart after seeing them printed in large bold letters on a tee that a server from Pokez was wearing- the last time I was there earlier this semester.
It wasn't until later that I discovered these words to be actually wise words of the world...kind of a 'sad but true' type of thing.
Lately, I have realized the true application of these words and of criticism from haters in life. Going through the Bible (pretty much every person that God uses) and through simply experiencing daily life, it is very easy to see haters,critics,judgers that got something to say about you. Everyone is a critic- its true...bottom line is that you can NOT make everyone happy. You can't please everyone in this thing that we call LIFE.
The funny thing is when: you actually start following God, start fearing Him, start obeying what He calls you to do (be it a big vision or a small call to not be around a certain person in a certain situation) and realize that it is impossible to please all people- God will be able work in your life in ridiculous ways that allows Him to be better glorified through your life and into the lives of others.
Personally, this year has been crazy and very much not what I expected it to be at all. *Refer to the past entry: 'Got it alone' for a better picture of the start to '09 for me* The changes that I have gone through this year so far have made other people (sadly most of them are people fellow Christians) think of me as being sketchy, less 'holy', and just not being compassionate or caring about about things and relationships that I more involved in in the past semester and year.
The interesting part is that those people, whoever they are, just talked about whatever issues they may have sensed in me and they didn't even confront me about it to my face...cool i guess. haha! However those people that actually cared and that I hold closer than others, they knew full well what God was doing in me and teaching me in those times.
Yet though I was learning lessons from the Almighty, there were those who just criticize and say me on a 'spiritual low'- when was a person's spirituality able to be actually measured and calculated in such a way? idk but i do know that technology is advancing in crazy ways- but um....yeah. Everyone is a critic. The World is going to hate you when you start seek your calling from above.
Through God's word- it's easy to see that we, as his children and creation- are called to be:
God Fearers rather than People Pleasers...
so what are you going to choose? pleasing people and seeking their advice and/or their opinions and still not being able to please everyone? OR are you going to fear the God Almighty and obey what He wants to do through you and still not be able to please everyone?
When I started to listen to His spirit within me and hold that in higher regard rather than the opinion and advice of one of my friends, that is when God was able to freely work and use me for HIS glory and honor. I now find myself being used and moved by God's spirit in awesome ways and I have been blessed with the love and the prayer of those closest to me.

We (christians or non'believers) are all going to be hated, criticized, persecuted. May it be for the righteousness of God and nothing else. Be Hated for Jesus and nothing else.

Lay off the Haterade. Drink water instead.


*** in my upcoming post- How I was able to make an impact for the Lord by seeing Corey Talyor and his 8 other band members play live at Cox Arena***

Last but definitely not least- I love my beautiful and precious girlfriend...even if she's wierd LOL.

May God Bless You All

3/11

We all need God; whether you know it or not. We all need love.
We all need forgiveness. Regardless of the how big the BullShit is that you did in the past...the Almighty erases it all and cleanses us with righteous blood of His son.
We are all called to do the same. To love and forgive each other.
We all need God; whether you know it or not. We all need love.
We all need each other. How can we say that we do not deserve the love of someone? It's the light, the love, the LORD that works in open and willing hearts to love and serve others in ways that surpass our normal understanding and logic.
Remaining confined to the limits of this dusty dying world- then indeed is when (quoting the screams of Corey Taylor) People=Shit...
But that is not it. For God's spirit, grace, and righteousness makes us so much more-
We all need God; whether you know it or not. We all need love
Look up unto the heavens
Realize that what fills the cracks
what is bigger than us all
what is beyond our past, fears, and insecurities
It all comes from there high above.

Why set your worth or think you know what you deserve?- God blesses us with what we do not think we deserve. But we are no better than any other- we are all the same... just believe and accept His blessing.

*I need you. I Love you. And I am Blessed by you*