happy new year?

wait, it's almost a new year?!

i'm in the middle of my two busiest weeks of the year thus far.

busy times means lack of sleep.

and lack of sleep means blogging is on the back burner.

without the heat on.

many apologies to my (maybe) five blog readers.

sorry to the 200+ unread blog posts.

maybe i'll have better luck in 2012.

christmas encouragement

my friend suggested i read a book during the advent season. it's called, come, thou long expected Jesus. it's been good to be reminded daily about what makes christmas so important. the following was from earlier this month and written by martyn lloyd-jones (emphasis added):

"What God did when he sent his Son into the world is an absolute guarantee that he will do everything he has ever promised to do. Look at it in a personal sense: 'All things work together for good to them that love God'-that is a promise-'to them who are called according to his purpose' (Rom. 8:28, KJV). 'But how can I know that is true for me?' asks someone. The answer is the incarnation. God has given the final proof that all his promises are sure, that he is faithful to everything he has ever said. So that promise is sure for you. Whatever your state or condition may be, whatever may happen to you, he has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee' (Heb. 13:5, KJV)-and he will not. He has said so, and we have absolute proof that he fulfills his promises. He does not always do it immediately in the way that we think. No, no! But he does it! And he will never fail to do it."

re-focus

the things i've found hard about living back at home have not been what i've expected. at all. ever. materialism, complacency, apathy, and lack of focus. i am grateful that the Lord has me reading 1 John right now and the following passage specifically.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

1 John 2:15-17

during this season when materialism is on display instead of Christ, i want to fight to do His will, to fight to abide in Christ. may His glory be known through such a fight.

world AIDS day

today is world AIDS day.

for 16 years we have remembered this day.

and still, i cannot find a prayer guide to share with you.

this is tragic.

so please forgive the rough outline of things to pray for below,

but please, pray with me today.

don't do it simply for emotions sake,

but pray because God is calling people to Himself through this

and because Christ is able to restore both the body and the soul.

pray for those who battle for their lives:

whether they take a strict regimen of medications and have countless doctors appointments, thus altering the normalcy that their life once held.

or whether they have no access to medication, faced with the reality that the diagnosis of AIDS is a physical death sentence and, in many cases, a social death sentence as well.

or whether they live undiagnosed, unaware of the virus reeking havoc within themselves.

or whether life seems normal, with seemingly no battle at all.

for more information about AIDS and its worldwide impact,

kay warren is a good resource. also, check out this site for facts and other info.

christmas music

i'm pretty cynical when it comes to christmas music

(total surprise, huh?)

but i am grateful for bands like this that take something 

that has become so routine and have made it unique.

truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother.

and in His name all oppression shall cease.

sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

let all within us praise His holy name!

 

more stories: taking a break

i'm kind of at a standstill with this series of blogs. 

and blogging in general. 

and i'm waiting for more photos before i can tell more stories

(pun totally intended).

wipe away those tears.

i'll be back.

sooner or later.

the basket

matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

i read this while i was with the church on sunday.

the pastor wasn't preaching through this section,

but the Spirit brought it to my attention.

instant conviction.

i have allowed the light of the Lord that dwells in me

to be put under a basket.

the worst part:

i put the basket there myself.

the hard part:

how do i get the basket off?

Lord, by your pefect grace and power, help me take the basket off this light.