The Iniquity of Us All

I was feeling a bit burdened by my sin as I was reading the Word tonight and thinking of how often I let down my Savior, and every time I feel that way it is quickly the Lord who encourages me through His Word. We truly serve a God who meets us directly where we are at! I love this passage in Isaiah where he writes...

Isaiah 53:5-6 (New International Version)

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

There is so much truth and good stuff in this scripture! It presents the beauty of what Christ did for us in a way that is redeeming!! It just really captures what Christ did for us, HIs children. Think about these words in the way we use them today- first the word pierce: we use that to describe something painful, for example if there was a piercing noise- it is a painfully scratchy or screechy noise! Or we say, "he pierced her ears" which describes the event of puncturing or creating a hole in the flesh which is exactly what happened to Christ! He had painfully taken punishment for our transgressions!! The second word- crushed: we say crushed if someone got dominated in athletics, or crushed if something got trampled on or something...once again the punishment Christ took upon Himself for us was to be crushed for our sin, for our iniquities. WoW.

Then it continues to say the punishment that brought US peace was upon Him, He provided peace for us by taking our punishment that we rightfully deserve and because of HIS wounds, his scars, his bruises....WE ARE HEALED!!!!

Verse 6 is great as well! It reinforces the first part of verse 5, but first it makes it very clear to us that we ALL, like sheep, have gone astray meaning we have strayed from the way of Christ into our own perverse lifestyles...each of us has turned to our own way forgetting Christ, and God says...the Lord has laid upon Him, the iniquity of us all...He has laid upon Himself the punishment we deserve, the sin we commit is deserving of death, but because of Christ, we are forgiven and receive by the Grace of God eternal life!!!

What a great God we serve, what an encouraging verse, what a beautiful picture of Salvation!!! Praise the Lord!!

Be Blessed,
Toes

The Motions...

I do not want to live my life going through the motions wondering what If I had given everything! I want to live everyday, giving everything I have for the Lord. There is a new song out by Matthew West, and it is called "The Motions," and I want to post the lyrics, and challenge you to truly think about them. Enjoy!

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
take me all the way (through the motions)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

Consider Jacob...

God really placed the story of Jacob and Rachel on my heart this morning as I got into my office, and almost felt like burdened today to do work, to love God. I know it is a sinful thought to feel burdened to love God, but sometimes in full time ministry, you get so worked up, it turns into a job, in stead of a passion, and for a few brief moments it was that for me this morning. However, as I opened my devotionals, and my Word, God quickly changed that.

He pointed me to Genesis where it talks about Jacob, and his desperate love for Rachel. He would do anything to have her hand in marriage and he worked for 7 years straight, but the Word tells us to Jacob, those years seemed like a few days. You remember the first time you fell in love with your spouse, it is a joyful time you would do anything for him or her, and it did not matter how long it would take. I would encourage you to consider the attitude of Jacob with your spouse daily, as well as your children!

The most important to love the way Jacob loved Rachel is Jesus!! It is not a burden to do ministry, it is not a burden to love God!! IT is a blessing!!! It is a complete Joy to be in a relationship with the REAL, LOVING GOD who showed His love for us on the cross some 2000 years ago!! Do not treat God as something that takes up your time, ENJOY LOVING THE LORD every second of everyday!!!

His yoke is Easy, and His Burden is light. Take this truth with you today- Love God as Jacob Loved Rachel. Desire God as Jacob Desired Rachel...so much so that He would do anything joyfully for her...go today, and do everything joyfully for Him!!! Praying for you!

Be Blessed,
Toe's

A Truck...

I was sitting in church Saturday night and the preacher began to give the message on this idea of evanglism, and inviting people to know Christ. He showed a video that is the best argument I have ever heard for sharing the Gospel...however there is something extremely ironic about the video.

I am unsure if you have heard of Penn and Tellar, they are illusionists who perform in Vegas nightly. Once you see Penn on the video, I am sure you will know who he is- He is a world reknown ATHEIEST and in this video, he gives the best argument for sharing the Gospel I have ever heard, and it comes from an atheist. Please, before you read anymore, stop, and go watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM

Are you as amazing as I was after watching that video? Now, I know he says he is a professed atheist, and HE KNOWS there is no God, however, I can tell, by watching that video, God is working on his heart. I would encourage you to pray for him daily. However, that is not the best thing about the video- what great points he makes in regards to sharing the Gospel!!

I mean if we are 100% sure that there is a Heaven, and a Hell, yet we do not tell anyone...it doesn't make sense!! I love the quote, "How much do you have to hate someone to know that they are heading to hell, and not tell them about the love of Jesus and eternal live in heaven!!" I mean I love that truck analogy...I mean if a truck is bearing down on a person, and you've been telling them and telling them but they're not listening, it gets to a point when you just TACKLE them so they don't get hit by a truck...and this is wayy more important than that. This is the difference between eternal paradise, and eternal damnation!! What a plea for sharing the Gospel!!

My challenge to you, who do you need to share the Gospel with, or TACKLE? Has it got to that point with someone yet? Pray about it. Love you guys.

Be Blessed,
Toe's

Books...

To be real honest with you, when I started this blog, I had hopes of writing everyday, but when it comes down to it- I just get too busy. Unfortinately that is a trait I would like to work on, and take the time to relax, and process what is in my head. Honestly, I am not sure if anyone ever reads what I write, however I still continue to. Why? Because this is a blessing to me to be able to put my thoughts down on paper, or computer if you will, and pray that it might touch someone's life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I was never much of a reader until about 6 months ago, and I think I've read more books in the last 6 months than I've read in my entire life. I have found a new found love in learning from wise people who have put their thoughts on paper for us! I wanted to share some of the books with you and encourage you to read them!

The first book I read about 6 months ago is a book that confirmed the way God has put it on my heart to do youth ministry- minister to the few in order to reach the masses! The book is "Tally Ho! The Fox" by Herb Hodges and it is all about having a world impacting world visionary view of discipleship!!

The next book I read was by Rob Bell, and it was Jesus Wants to Save the Christians. This is an easy, fast read. I would recommend it just to get some point of where Rob Bell is coming from. I necessarily do not agree with everything he writes, but he does have a lot of solid Biblical theology in this book. It is a great book for a beginning follower trying to learn the importance of conservative theology.

The next book I read was "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This book is one of the best books I've ever read, and based on what I said earlier about how much I read, I'm sure that holds high meaning in your life! ha! This book is all about the overwhelming love that Christ shows us! How eternal and relentless His love truly is! This is a quick read, but it is so challenging, as well as encouraging!! READ IT!

The last book I just finished was Charles Colson's new book, "The Faith." This book was so intellectual and deep, however the theology in this book was unbelievable. It was so good. It was so awesome to read about his experiences through his prison fellowship ministry and how he truly connects people who are at the lowest of lows with the living God! But it is centralled around what we believe, why we believe it and why it matters. Truth matters, Absolute truth matters, doctrine matters, and this book explains why- READ IT!!

The book I am currently reading, and just started is, "Why We're Not Emergent by Two Guys who probably should be!" I just started this book today but have heard excellent things about this book. I will surely inform you more as I read it, and probably end up writing quite a bit about it- I am not emergent. I am young, passionate about Jesus, surrounded by diversity, reared in evangelism, yet I am not emergent,and never desire to be so.

I hope you will read some of these books! I have learned so much from them, and I do intend to write more frequently- sorry for my absence in posting! Praying for you today.

Be Blessed,
MikeD

I See Love

As I sit here and write, I could not help but share with you the lyrics of the song "I See Love." I sit here and pray, not being able to sleep, thinking about the amazing act of Jesus' death on the Cross. The brutality of His death so that we might live amazes me each day, with each breath- I desire to love Him more. Isaiah tells us that "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. Chastisement that brought us peace was upon him, and by HIS stripes we are HEALED. GOD HAS LAID UPON HIM the iniquity of us all." Praise the Lord. I do not know about you, but all I can see is LOVE.

The song is written by Third Day, Mercy Me, and Steven Curtis Chapman.

ome see a teacher
Standing on a hill
Speaking words of wisdom
Some see a healer
Reaching out his hand
To give sight to a blind man
Some see a dreamer
Wasting his life
On what can never be
Some see a fool
Dying for his dreams

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I See Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
I see love

Some see a prisoner
Alone before his judge
With no one to defend him
Some see a victim
Beaten and abused
With all the world against him
Some see a martyr
Carrying his cross
For what he believes
Some see a hero
Who set his people free

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I See Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you


With your last breath
I see love
Through your death
I see love
I see peace in the eyes of the king
I see hope in your suffering (I see love)
I see a calm in the center of the storm
I see a Saviour

I see love
I see love
Light of heaven breaking through (heaven breaking through)
I see grace
I see God's face
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
I see love
When I see you
I see heaven breaking through
See Gods face
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
When I see you
When I see you
I see love
I see love
When I see

Some see Him walking from an empty grave...

I see LOVE, what do you see?

Finding a Church Home

Hello all, sorry it has been forever since I posted- I intend to write more regularly soon!! Here are some thoughts that really helped me when I was searching for a church home as a believer..I believe finding a church home is the most important decision a follower of Jesus will ever make. This is the place where you will weekly encounter the living God in a community of fellow believers who can support, encourage, and challenge you. As a disciple of Christ, I believe there are four essential parts the congregant must engage in and be able to engage in at their current church home!

1. Worship
1. This is the most important!! As a member of a Church, you must be able to freely worship the Lord in the house of the Lord- Through the music, the prayer time, as well as the teaching; you must hear, and see the Lord in all of those areas. You must be encouraged by the music, and connect with the Holy Spirit through it! You must be challenged, convicted, and encouraged by the Word of God; and you must feel the power of prayer through the Lord's revelation!
2. Psalm 95:6, "Come , let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."
2. Discipleship
1. You must be continually fed through your church home in order to fulfill the fourth part of this list. In order to pour out, you must continually be fed. You need to be provided opportunities to be in small group Bible study settings which are intentional in studying the Word of God. You must be provided opportunities to also lead small group Bible studies if you so desire. Church is not on Sunday morning alone, and the place you decide to call home shouldn't think that either!
2. Matthew 28:19, "Go and make DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit teaching them to observe my commands."
3. Fellowship
1. Ahhh, the community of other believers. It is so refreshing to be in the presence of those who have come together for a common purpose: to reach the lost, and build the found. You have to be able to surround yourself with people who can pray for you, encourage you, support you, lead you, and guide you. You must feel comfortable sharing with those in your church home, and allowing them to share with you.
2. Ephesians 2:19, "so you are no longer strangers, but FELLOW CITIZENS IN CHRIST."
4. Evangelism
1. When deciding a church to call home I highly suggest finding a church that values evangelism and has a purpose and a vision to grow. The sole purpose of what you learn in the discipleship process is to share it with those who do not know it, and strive to grow the Church! It is our mission to grow the Church of Jesus, and you will see, day in and day out, the beauty of a Christ in a growing church!
2. Acts 1:8, "For you will receive power when the Holy Spirit is upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!!!"