what it is to know his supremacy...

Let us press on to know the supremacy of Christ. In the midst of all hurt, all pain, all struggle... let us know his supremacy.

"There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, 'This is mine! This belongs to me.'" Abraham Kuyper

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Lesson for Today: Don't ever count anything out. People will surprise you.

We're in a war, ya'll...

So many thoughts today. All trying to converge into one post...

Last night, I had a really low tire. So we went and filled it up. Today, I was going to the Falls to run some errands. I got on the 190, and as I was getting up to speed, I found myself being very cautious and in tune with how my car was driving. I still wasn't sure if my tire had a significant leak in it, or if it just needed some extra air. With all the tire problems I've had with this car, I had no confidence in it. Hence, the slow driving. I thought about the times when I have confidence in my car. I get on the 190 and get up to speed as fast as possible. I hit the speed limit and keep going. But not today. Because I lacked confidence.

It was a simple moment, nothing the average car driver hasnt experienced. But in that thought, God revealed a truth to my heart. How often do you approach life timidly and at a slow pace because you have no confidence in Me? It hit me like a ton of bricks. Things I am facing in my life right now, I find myself walking cautiously and fearfully because I dont want to dive in until I know that its safe. But if I had confidence in the God of the Universe, what would stop me from going ahead, full speed? I thought of Perry Noble's message on the victory we have in Christ. Once Jesus rose again, God did not call us to go win the war. He already won. He simply called us to RUN UP THE SCORE. We've won. What's keeping us from running a risky play when were up 100 to none? 

As I came home and thought about it, I put on Tye Tribbet's song, "Stand Out." Listen to it, and read the lyrics. Let it raise up the warrior in you. We've won. Go after every opportunity and every situation with a confidence that shows your side has got the victory.

Sound the alarm!!

When the enemy comes in like a flood

The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him.

I see the enemy coming in like a flood

in our houses, in our churches, in our families.

But what I dont see is the standard. People of God,

where's the standard at?

We in a war ya'll. Its time to stand Out!

Its about to go down. The battle has begun.

Its time for you to choose, whose side you gonna be on.

The devil is recruiting, temptin every man.

But he's already defeated, all we have to do is stand.

No time for mixing light with the darkness.

Be black or be white, no more shades of grey.

Be separated, be holy, no matter what you do, dont bow.

And even if you stand alone, stand anyhow.

Rise up!

Rise up people, put on your strength.

There's a war going on and we will win.

Stand up and fight, let the kingdom prevail.

With power and might, we will stand out.

Stand out! Be not conformed to this world.

Stand out! Be transformed, renew your mind.

Stand out! Just like the three Hebrew boys.

Stand out!

God is playin it cool, dont wanna rub nobody the wrong way.

Almost like were trying to fit in. Acting like we dont know the name.

Its time for us to stand out and go against the grain.

Forget tryin to be down, let the world know youve been changed.

How you gonna be the praise leader? But you listen to R & B?

And hip hop is on your ringtone? Im trynna tell you God aint pleased.

And since when did it become cool for you to live together unmarried?

Men with men?

Women with women?

Im tellin you God aint gon have it.

Its time to recognize.

The war its in disguise.

No time for compromise.

Wake up, open your eyes.

The devil is a lie.

You must be hot or cold.

You cant blend in the crowd.

Its time for God's people to 

Stand Out!

LET ME HEAR YOUR WAR CRY!

LET ME HEAR YOUR WAR CRY!

Little bit louder.

One more time!

We in a war people of God.

You don't have to fight, all you gotta do is stand.

Make some noise.

Having done all to stand...

Now stand people of God!

The way we approach life is directly correlated with our confidence in our Maker and Saviour. 

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Lesson for Today: A reminder today that the small fact of living in a country where I speak the language is an incredible blessing.

Everyone has a Story...

"On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God: 'Why did you permit this? Why don't you do something about it?' For a while God said nothing. That night he replied, quite suddenly: 'I certainly did something about it. I made you.'"

I once heard a story about a homeless man on Hollywood Blvd who really thought he was invisible. But one day a kid handed the man a Christian pamphlet. The homeless guy was shocked and amazed, “what! You can see me? How can you see me? I’m invisible!”

It isn’t hard to comprehend this man’s slow spiral into invisibility. Once on the street, people started to walk past him, ignoring him as if he didn’t exist… much like they do a piece of trash on the sidewalk. It’s not that people are bad, but if we make eye contact, or engage in conversation, then we have to admit they exist and that we might have a basic human need to care. But it’s so much easier to simply close our eyes and shield our hearts to their existence.

I not only feel their pain, I truly know their pain. I lived their pain. You’d never know it now but I was a homeless person. Fourteen years ago, I lived on Hollywood Blvd. But today, I find myself looking away, ignoring the faces, avoiding their eyes — and I’m ashamed when I realize I’m doing it. But I really can feel their pain, and it is almost unbearable, but it’s just under the surface of my professional exterior.

The invisible guy didn’t intend to become homeless. I didn’t plan on living on the street. Everyone on the streets has their own story, some made bad decisions, others were victims, but none of them deserve what they have been left with, and it is a reflection of our own society that we just leave them there.

Mark Horvath is a man on a mission. He came from a place of homelessness and then went back to document the stories of homeless men, women and children all around the country. The stories he has found break my heart. 

I wonder, if it weren't for him, would these people have had the opportunity to ever tell their story? Would the cold of the coming December nights or the burn of a hungry stomach take them before they could ever share? Some are homeless because of something they did. Many are homeless because of something that happened to them. Do we care? Or do we treat them like they are invisible?

If we truly serve a God of mercy and forgiveness, then may our hearts begin to break in a new way for those who need someone to come along and be their miracle.

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Lesson for Today: Old friends, new joys.