John 10:11-16
"I am the good sherpherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd".
4.19.2010
3.23.2010
Condition of my heart...
In a dry land, where there is no water
I have chosen, early will I seek you
My soul thirsts for you
My flesh longs for you
So I have searched for you
So I have called your name
My soul desires to know you
For you to dwell in my heart
All my desires, I give it unto you
I am yours, Lord, Spirit lead my way
My soul thirsts for you
My flesh longs for you
So I have searched for you
So I have called your name
My soul desire to know you
For you to dwell in my heart
I have chosen, early will I seek you
My soul thirsts for you
My flesh longs for you
So I have searched for you
So I have called your name
My soul desires to know you
For you to dwell in my heart
All my desires, I give it unto you
I am yours, Lord, Spirit lead my way
My soul thirsts for you
My flesh longs for you
So I have searched for you
So I have called your name
My soul desire to know you
For you to dwell in my heart
3.19.2010
3.02.2010
I had a talk with my dad, not too long ago, and he shared something so wise with me (as always).
In 1 Peter 4:8 it reads, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." This is actually pretty frightening... the enemy is all around us, seeking to eat someone up. If we're not awake to the life that happens around and INSIDE of us + not in the word of God, we're bound to get devoured in no time.
So, remain in the Lord and His word. Get away from the busyness of life (school, work, relationships, TV, music, computer, etc.) and pray and reflect.
(I don't know if anyone even reads this, but this is just so I don't forget about it. & if anyone else happens to read this, hope it's encouraging+challenging!)
In 1 Peter 4:8 it reads, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." This is actually pretty frightening... the enemy is all around us, seeking to eat someone up. If we're not awake to the life that happens around and INSIDE of us + not in the word of God, we're bound to get devoured in no time.
So, remain in the Lord and His word. Get away from the busyness of life (school, work, relationships, TV, music, computer, etc.) and pray and reflect.
(I don't know if anyone even reads this, but this is just so I don't forget about it. & if anyone else happens to read this, hope it's encouraging+challenging!)
2.21.2010
For the Joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
Chorus:
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning
Trading My Sorrow- Darrell Evans
I listened to this song on the radio on my way to church this morning and I was so encouraged by the message this song carries. I heard/sang/led this song many times but it never occurred to me that this song is more than just a proclamation of the strength and endurance we find in God.
The world talks about karma- if you do/give good, you receive good and vice versa.. but God says we can give him all our junk and in return, we'll get the joy of the Lord. GRACE! GRACE! GRACE!
I don't know where I'm going with this, but JESUS IS GOOD! and he is beautiful.
Seek God. Find your strength, rest, purpose, and the confidence to live this life in Him. He's waiting at the door with grace that exceeds.... anything and everything.
"
8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[a]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:8-18
1.13.2010
Have you been at the feet of Jesus Christ?
Have you been at the feet of Jesus Christ?
I can testify that it's awing, comforting, humbling, loving and everything that is of Jesus Christ + LOTS of weeping.
He's not very far from where you are, so go seek!
I can testify that it's awing, comforting, humbling, loving and everything that is of Jesus Christ + LOTS of weeping.
He's not very far from where you are, so go seek!
11.16.2009
"Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.'" Revelations 14:6
11.12.2009
New Interests
Things that I'm growing interest for these days:
-books
-human justice (mainly focusing on human trafficking at the moment)
-stationaries (well I have a few journals and pens that I want)
-dresses/tunics over leggings (SO COMFORTABLE)
Most of these things tend to rule my mind these days... well everything but dresses/tunics- I just constantly find myself wearing that style. I never had much interest in books or even stationaries; they were merely things that I stumbled upon once in awhile. I never took the initiative to search for books to read for mere pleasure. Books were more burdensome... but now I have this desire to read because.......... I WANT TO GET TO KNOW THIS WORLD. I definitely have more to learn about my own life, and will until the day I die, but I feel the urge to get to know this world, what's happening outside of my life, and how other people view the world. Any book (fiction, nonfiction, biography, philosophy, history, etc.) conveys a message about the world and it's just so darn interesting.
As for stationaries, I've been stopping by the journal sections in bookstores wishing I can buy one of those nice, warm, cozy looking(?) leather journals... and a nice pen to write with!!
After writing a persuasive speech on sex trafficking, I just can't get the issue off of my mind. I can't seem to escape from this topic, either. Everywhere I go, look, listen, etc. there's always something that triggers my mind about human trafficking, the many children who are unable to get educated, starvation, homelessness, and just human justice in general. And I just received a World Vision- Christmas Gift Catalogue in the mail the other day and it's pages and pages of donation gifts like goats, chickens, sheep, donkey, water, education, music and arts& crafts materials, intervention classes for victims of sex trafficking/abuse and some more. Why don't we give to those that really need Christmas gifts this year? www.worldvision.org
Some books that I've read in the past few months are:
-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
-Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels (didn't finish)
-Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
-Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom
& currently reading Say You're One of Them by Uwen Akpan (Oprah's Book Club- 2009 Selection)
Say You're One of Them is a collection of stories of children in Africa, who live through extremely harsh circumstances with wisdom and resilience. This definitely gives you an insight of lives in Africa.
Okay... this entry is so random.
-books
-human justice (mainly focusing on human trafficking at the moment)
-stationaries (well I have a few journals and pens that I want)
-dresses/tunics over leggings (SO COMFORTABLE)
Most of these things tend to rule my mind these days... well everything but dresses/tunics- I just constantly find myself wearing that style. I never had much interest in books or even stationaries; they were merely things that I stumbled upon once in awhile. I never took the initiative to search for books to read for mere pleasure. Books were more burdensome... but now I have this desire to read because.......... I WANT TO GET TO KNOW THIS WORLD. I definitely have more to learn about my own life, and will until the day I die, but I feel the urge to get to know this world, what's happening outside of my life, and how other people view the world. Any book (fiction, nonfiction, biography, philosophy, history, etc.) conveys a message about the world and it's just so darn interesting.
As for stationaries, I've been stopping by the journal sections in bookstores wishing I can buy one of those nice, warm, cozy looking(?) leather journals... and a nice pen to write with!!
After writing a persuasive speech on sex trafficking, I just can't get the issue off of my mind. I can't seem to escape from this topic, either. Everywhere I go, look, listen, etc. there's always something that triggers my mind about human trafficking, the many children who are unable to get educated, starvation, homelessness, and just human justice in general. And I just received a World Vision- Christmas Gift Catalogue in the mail the other day and it's pages and pages of donation gifts like goats, chickens, sheep, donkey, water, education, music and arts& crafts materials, intervention classes for victims of sex trafficking/abuse and some more. Why don't we give to those that really need Christmas gifts this year? www.worldvision.org
Some books that I've read in the past few months are:
-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
-Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels (didn't finish)
-Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
-Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom
& currently reading Say You're One of Them by Uwen Akpan (Oprah's Book Club- 2009 Selection)
Say You're One of Them is a collection of stories of children in Africa, who live through extremely harsh circumstances with wisdom and resilience. This definitely gives you an insight of lives in Africa.
Okay... this entry is so random.
11.04.2009
What in the world.......?
I happen to find myself writing a persuasive speech on the topic of human trafficking, more specifically, sex trafficking. I never understood the underlying issue of it, let alone its existence and how international it is. The only thing I knew about sex trafficking was that young girls were taken away by... basically "pimps" from their homes and sold into prostitution without any will. I would've never known about this very real, gruesome, modern-day slavery if it wasn't for this speech assignment. I absolutely dreaded having to write this speech but now it's become something real and valuable that I feel the need to bring before God.
What is Human Trafficking?
"Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs." -UNODC
27 million people are victims of modern-day slavery across the world.
800,000 people trafficked across international borders every year.
1 million children are exploited by global commercial sex trade, every year.
50% of transnational victims are children.
80% of transnational victims are women and girls.
70% of female victims are trafficked into the commercial sex industry, which means 30% of female victims are victims of forced labor.
161 countries are identified as affected by human trafficking.
32 billion dollars- total yearly profits generated by the human trafficking industry.
What's scary? Not many people are aware of this.
What's scarier? For those of us in the U.S, this is not a foreign issue... it's happening right around our corner.
What's scariest? Many people will hear/watch about this, and sit at home feeling sorry for those that are affected... and they'll get back to their shows, meals, parties, work, etc.
Well the world teaches us that as long as "I" am good, there's no need to worry. But Jesus Christ teaches us something else that is not comprehendible to human nature. Christ didn't look at his own needs, but the needs of others. He made a sacrifice for all the people who breathe/will breathe in this freaking world just because he loved. I'm 5000% sure that God is hurt to see his people doing this to each other.
*wiill come back to this
What is Human Trafficking?
"Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs." -UNODC
27 million people are victims of modern-day slavery across the world.
800,000 people trafficked across international borders every year.
1 million children are exploited by global commercial sex trade, every year.
50% of transnational victims are children.
80% of transnational victims are women and girls.
70% of female victims are trafficked into the commercial sex industry, which means 30% of female victims are victims of forced labor.
161 countries are identified as affected by human trafficking.
32 billion dollars- total yearly profits generated by the human trafficking industry.
What's scary? Not many people are aware of this.
What's scarier? For those of us in the U.S, this is not a foreign issue... it's happening right around our corner.
What's scariest? Many people will hear/watch about this, and sit at home feeling sorry for those that are affected... and they'll get back to their shows, meals, parties, work, etc.
Well the world teaches us that as long as "I" am good, there's no need to worry. But Jesus Christ teaches us something else that is not comprehendible to human nature. Christ didn't look at his own needs, but the needs of others. He made a sacrifice for all the people who breathe/will breathe in this freaking world just because he loved. I'm 5000% sure that God is hurt to see his people doing this to each other.
*wiill come back to this
9.16.2009
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