You can't change what you've done but you can change what you do.

Phillippians 3:13-14 

13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. 14. I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

The past is the past, what has happened has happened. We can't (try as we might) go back in time and fix all the mistakes we've made. Now, if we've hurt someone we can go back to them and ask for forgiveness. But, we can not take back what we've said or what we've done. 

You can't change what you've done but you can change what you do. 

Paul had an interesting past to say the least. At least in this time in his life as he writes this letter to Phillippi, he has made amazing progress in the Christian walk. He had done things no one had ever done before. But, no doubt, he still carried a little bit of the baggage from his life before he met Christ. But in chapter 3 in verse 13 of the book of Phillippians Paul comes to the point where he says; hey I don't know everything, I don't understand why everything has happened but, I'm choosing to forget what has happened and move on. He chose to forget, forgive himself and press on. 

But if you read verse 13 you must notice the tense he uses. Take a look at the word "forgetting". He didn't say he just one day woke up and forgot all that he had done and was able to easily press on and press towards the mark/goal. Rather, he woke up every day and chose to forget and he chose to press on. It has to be a daily effort! Just like the Christian life is a DAILY battle! I'm sure that Paul was consistently reminded of all the things he did but he chose to keep forgetting and forgiving himself and press on!! 

We should do the same. I know I'm constantly reminded of the wrong I've done and the people I've hurt. I'm sure you've been reminded as well. 

But our first step should choosing daily to forget what we've done and to forgive ourselves. Our second step is to press towards the mark, the high calling of God. 

God can use anybody who has a willing heart! It doesn't matter what you've done, where you've been or where you are at right now. God has a purpose and a plan for you. 

You can't change what you've done, but you can change what you do. 

A New Beginning. (Being Content)

It certainly has been a MASSIVELY long time since I've posted anything on this blog, but I'd say that now would be a good time to start again. Considering that major changes have been made and yet again major changes will come. A few months ago I made the trip from Florida to Georgia and then from Georgia to Kansas. Sure, it has had it's ups and downs and good times and bad times, but I haven't really made it all that it could be.

Eleanor Roosevelt Once said, "Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be."

In other words life can be absolutely miserable or life can be really, really good. Either way it is all up to you.

In the past I hadn't thought much of that little statement until today. People would always say, and still do say, "Oh life is what you make it." Those seven words became white noise to me. It would go in one ear and out the other.

Now it has never been more clear to me that there is a lot of truth to that statement.

So lets look at two different scenarios

Lets take two groups of people stuck in the same situation, where all the power is out and all they have is a two flashlights and some water given to them by the people who owned the building.

One group decided to that'd they would play a game and have some fun with it, while the other group sat around and griped about how miserable their situation was.

Who do you think had more fun?

You know Paul talks about something similar to this in Philippians Chapter 4.

Paul mentions in verse 12 that he knows how to be abased and he know how to abound.

Philippians 4:12
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

So all that to say that I/we need to learn to do the same. We need to learn to be content in the situation God has put us in. God won't always give us a reason for putting us into the situation but there always is one. Whether you find out right away or ten years down the road there is ALWAYS a reason. So you can chose to be bitter or you can chose to be joyful. You can chose to chase after God or you can chose to sit still and do nothing. The choice is yours. Being content is not always is easy but it can be done through a little help from God. God offers us a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and all we have to do is ask. That peace is literally right at the tips of our fingers.

Not only should we be content, we can make the most of the time that God has given us. Like I said before people say it all the time "Life is what you make it." So instead of griping about the situation your in be determined to make that situation a good time. There is always a brighter side to things weather we see it or not.

So I pray that all of us learn, in any situation to be content. I pray we learn to be Abased and to abound. I pray that we can learn trust in God no matter where we are and what we are doing.

Chose wisely.

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I have to admit, sometimes the ways of the world look enticing. All there rewards wrapped in beautiful packages, the gate keeper welcoming all who into. Shoot even the gate in the beginning, looks beautiful. While a lot of us see the gate that leads on the road to Jesus. It's dull, some would even go so far as saying that it's boring. Little do they know, the wide gate leads to emptiness, hopelessness. The narrow gate leads to life; everlasting life with Jesus.

So no matter how great the ways of the world, we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus. 

App: make sure my focus stays on Jesus, and I'm not distracted by the world.

2 Masters 1 Servant?

Mathew 6:24

No man can serve to masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

At least once in our lives I'm sure most people can attest to the fact, if we sincerely think about it, have served two masters. While we claim to be servants of God only serving the Lord Jesus Christ, there is something taking hold of us in our lives. Whether its a daily task, daily hobby or even time. Let's think about it for a moment, what's more important in your life? Is it serving the Lord, or is it serving the your self? Have you become the master you serve.

Even the calling on your life can become the master. You know your in trouble when the task GOD has given you becomes more important then God Himself. We all should check our hearts, for we may not know we serve two masters. Like I've said, even doing a good thing can become your master. So some master's are subtle. Never lose heart and keep fighting.

App: do at least one thing out of my way to help someone else, keeping my eyes off myself.

To whom ever reads this

Sometimes when people see my hands they say, you have large hands/

and they go on about how I have piano fingers/

but now I'm wishin that my hands were bigger/

because they'll never be big enough to catch every tear that falls/

Sometimes when people see my eyes that say, you have small eyes/

it's true I do, and I don't have very good visions/

and now I'm wishin that I could see better/

Because I wasn't able to see everything that had happened/

nor do I see what's going on right now/

Sometimes when people see my ears they say, you have small ears/

and they go on by trying to size their ears up to mine/

but now I'm wishing they were better/

so I can hear your heartbeat when your scared/

So I can hear your footsteps when your coming/

So I can hear your thoughts when your thinking/

but all of this wishing, isn't really doing much/

in fact it's wasting the time I have to be praying/

So I'll begin to finish this poem by telling you the reason I wrote it/

I wrote it to remind you that I love you/

cause even though my lips might not speak those words often/

I want my actions to show it/

Cause it's really easy to say it and never mean it/

and I wrote this poem to tell you that I'm praying for you/

daily, and I'm not saying it and not actually doing it/

I'm praying for you cause I've been there/

I've been in the same boat but I had on different shoes/

I've been to the  point of feeling lost and confuse/

and I've been to the point where I thought my life had no use/

but God stepped in and stopped me before I did anything foolish/

He grabbed my hand and told me He's giving me another chance/

He'll do the same to you, Call out to Him He will pull you out of that boat/

Your worth more then what the media says your worth/

He has a purpose for you and your more then beautiful to God/

Don't give up now it's never too late/

I know I can't always be there for you/

And I can't stop every tear/

And there will always be something your not telling me/

But Christ, knows all, sees all and hears all/

And I know He'll never leave/

So please, accept Christ as Savior and don't throw away your life. 

The Street Light.

1 Corinthians 4:9

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

I know where you live/

but not in a creepy way/

 you live in house somewhere between/

slow falling tears, and heart break/

and the houses around you are the street names testimony/

cause the Father who lives to your right, just lost his job/

and the teenage girl that lives to your left just lost her boyfriend/

and they both meet in the middle

 Cause they know that the you know Jesus/

your life shows it, you've been a spectacle to them/

They know through you/

that Jesus heals the broken hearts/

Jesus heals the the wounds/

and that He can fix what was broken/

so they meet in the middle/

and I sit back and watch you become the light you were meant to be/

you see, this is the reason why/

I, know where you live/

Now I know that in 1 Corinthians 4:9 Paul was talking about the Apostles/

but today, we as Christian have become a spectacle unto the world, and to angles and men/

so I pray/

that our light never burns out even our lives end.

App: posting this on Facebook hopefully being a light to my Facebook friends, and pray that God allows me to be light here in Costa Rica how ever He see's fit and that I wouldn't be afraid to step out and be that light. 

I Want To be With You God.

Can I walk on On Your shore/

With both feet in the sand/ 

Can  I sing a little more/

With an open heart, and open hands/

But more then anything/

I want to be with You God/

But more then anything/

I want to be with You God/

Can I rest in Your arms/

And stay with You forever/ 

I wanna be where You are/

There's no where else I'd rather be/

But more then anything/

I want to be with You God/bm

Oh more then anything/

I want to be with You God

Carry me

Carry me

Your there when I need You/

God, Your there when I think I don't/

Your there when I hold on/

And Your there when I let go.

I do know why I fear/

When Your right by my side/

God remind me that Your near/

Cause the fog has blurred my sight 

God I need you/

To carry me through/

The smoke and what I can not see/ 

Cause I'm afraid/

Of what's beyond the grey/

And what I'll be/

My hands are shakin/

I don't know what to say/

But God You know my heart/

And You listen while I silently pray/ 

I don't know why I fear/

When Your right by my side/

God remind me that Your near/

cause the fog has blurred my sight. 

A White Washed Tomb

1 Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own. 

1 Corinthians 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The first thing I thought of when i read this verse was a temple. Then I began to think of what the inside of a temple would like it. It was difficult for me to imagine what a temple might look so I just swapped the word temple with church. So, the journey in my head through the church I've been working in for the last few months began. I imagined arriving at the two front gates that lead to the actual entrance of the building. Their black and the bars are somewhat dirty, but thankfully it was all ready open and I didn't need the key. The first thing I see is what looks like a front porch that is almost always dirty no matter how many times we clean it. It gets consistently beat up by the wind. Then I walk in a little further and there's the hand marked sliding glass door. This door is also wide open so I'm able to walk right in, and the first thing I notice is the kitchen. The counter is spotless, the pots and pans are organized. The sink is a sparkling silver, and the floor looks like its been recently mopped. I take in a deep breath and I can snell a little bit of the cleaning stuff we use to clean the floor. As I slide across the room  I am distracted by the office door being wide open, so out of curiosity I check it out. Nobody seems to be present but what I see takes me back a few steps. The piano hasn't been properly put way the speakers are upside down. All of the music has been taken out of each folder and thrown in the ground. Basically it's a disaster, it's like a tornado came and blew this place up. Im so shocked I have to look away so I turned around, but what I saw next was even worst. The kids room was well, I'm not even gonna describe it. It's that bad. Then I turn towards the bathroom and the bathroom is spotless. Why? I don't know but I'm glad it was. 

I make my way outside where service is held and it looked like a masterpiece. Chairs were a glowing white and aligned perfectly. The platform had been swept and the weren't any kids toys on the platform. But before I was able to make it all the way I felt like God was telling me to close the door to the office and the door to the kids room. At first I questioned and He said just do and tell me what you see. So I closed both doors. I stepped back and it took me a second before I realized what He was saying. From this point of view this church looks spotless, people might actually want to come. But the only thing they have to do is open two doors to see what a mess it really is. 

So here is my point we are the church or the temple as this verse mentions, we are the temple of the holy ghost, which is in you. Which ye have of God and ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price and therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit which are Gods. 

How can I fully glorify God if there are things that are holding me back from allowing the holy spirit to freely work through me. I know I've had this as my application but it's been on my heart and so I find myself writing about this topic again. 

App: pray through out the day that God would travel things to me that I may not see that need to change. 

Correction?

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth 

There's two ways to correct someone. You can correct them in anger , or you can go to them in love. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "I'm only telling you this because I love you but you need to. " or, "I'm only telling you this as a brother." As soon as they start with that I know im being corrected. But at least there not using their knowledge to puff themselves up. They weren't using my mistakes to make themselves feel better. They came to me in love and said hey you need to do this better. 

I don't think you can properly edify someone in anger, without love. If you do it in anger it's possible that you can cause the person your talking to become angry. They might say something like, "Well what do you know." or something a long those lines and never actually being corrected. 

There's deffinitely a good reason why Paul writes charity edifieth instead of anger edifieth. Because its very hard to properly correct someone with out love

App: if I come to a point today where I need to correct someone, I'm going to ask God to help me Do it in love.  

One God.

1corinthians 8:6 But to us their is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.

So the church of Corinth is being reminded that truly is only one God. It's crazy to think that a church got to the point where probably many people needed to be reminded. But, I can't help thinking about how many times I've needed to be reminded of the very same thing. I may not offer anything to idols but I'm very capable of making things my idols, there offering time to them. I've heard said so many times before, an idol is anything you put above God. So an idol could be anything like Music, Guitar or writing etc.. So yes i do need to be reminded that there is only one God, I need to be reminded that there should only be one person that deserves everything.

App: spend more time with God then I do practicing music or on Facebook.

Press On

This is for the beginning poet/ who, stayed up all night attempting to write a poem/ but when the night was done, the piece of white paper in front of  wasn't  even touched/ This is for the, attempting author/ who, has so many ideas locked away in their head/ They just doesn't know how to start it, it's seems like there is no where to begin/ I know it's difficult, I've been there before/ but, Press on/ This is for the,  inspiring painters/ Who's paintbrush flows against the canvas/ but the ending masterpiece is not what he or she thought it'd be/ this is for the learning artist/ who's callouses have not yet formed/ and the sheet music on the staff paper,  is more like learning a different language/ Press on/ This is for the, newly born again Christian/ who keeps trying, but keeps falling/ who keeps crying, but keeps calling/ who keeps walking, and keeps trying to fly/ who constantly seems to be running low on strength/ Press on/ this is for the Christian/ who, hasn't been learning for years but isn't a new born/ and he or she has  been through the bible, the pages are worn/ who's clothes are old, battered and torn/ who walks to the sound of the warriors horn/ and beats their own drum, for the Lord/ When the sun beats down own on your  back. and the heat seems too hot/ press on/ This is for the, Christian who's been at it for years/ who's back has been beaten, and mind has been tampered with/ who's fought the battles, and fought in the trenches/ and who's strength is little, and the urge to get back is little to none/ press on/ keep your eyes on the prize, keep moving/ all zeal, all heart keep doing/ God want's to use you, please be willing/ I know it get's tough and sometimes life gets hard/ but there's a saying in football that my coach said when the fourth quarter came/ from this moment on, it's all heart.  Press on! 

A simple reminder

1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; I often wonder why I hold on to things that aren't even mine/ things that most of us find important but won't ever satisfy/ I buy things, gain things, get things and break things/ I spend so much time putting time and effort into the things of this world/ but when it comes time to spending that time with God/ I come empty handed, saying I don't have any left/ So God sits at the table, and I know He's wanting to spend time with me/ and I know it kills Him to know that I can,  but I am un willing/ But He won't force me, It's not really in His nature too/ He sits and waits and stays faithful/ While I use the time in my life that  He has given me, to collect dust/ but then I came to a verse in 1 Corinthians chapter three/ and it was pretty clear that God was talkin to me/ reminding me that everything is His/ No matter what or who it doesn't matter, it's all His/ That's how it is and always has been/ and my Gods isn't the type to change so I don't believe it will change/ app: Spend in extra hour having just me and God time.

End results are up to God

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. When God leads us to witness and we don't see fruit from that particular labour, we can be assured that we at least planted a seed. Later on, we might not even be the first one that sees the fruit from the witness. God could have sent someone in the persons life to water and nurture that seed that may have been impossible to see. Either way the end result is up to God, because at the end of this verse it says but God gave the increase. This is the perfect picture of the first part of verse 9 in this chapter. It says for are laborers together with God. In verse 6 we see Paul planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase. Both those things had to happen before any fruit was produced.  App: Today I will send an email to a friend back home and pray that whatever I say either plants a seed or waters a seed.

Double gift

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. The Spirit searcheth ALL things, yea, the deep things of God. The spirit searcheth ALL. He not only knows the deep things of God but I'd bet you my bottom dollar that He knows even the deep things about us. Nothing that we do is hidden from the omnipresent God. He's seen all the little things you've kept from our  parents when we were little to things we will hide even now. He knows all of the secrets we have kept over the years locked in our minds He knows every single one of them. praise God we have grace though right? Cause even though He does know everything about us, if we ask Him He is faithful and just to forgives of even our deepest, darkest sin.  But that's not all I'd like to take from this verse. I love that Paul says but God hath revealed it to us by His Spirit. It's almost like somebody has bought a really nice gift for someone and is trying to keep it a surprise, but they get so excited that they let them know what the gift is but they still have to wait till a specific date to open it. God may reveal us A plan through the Holy Spirit but we might not be able to see completion of it right away. As we follow God, He may reveal parts of the plan for Our lives, so let's  keep our focus on God and our hearts fixed in Him so we can be in tune with Fathers voice. App: praise God for His grace and I will spend an extra hour in the word as apart of the way I will keep my focus in God.

In Rememberance

1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Way too often I forget what You've done for me. Way too often I forget about the cross, the body that was broken and the blood that was shed for me.Way too often I forget the day You took my punishment, the day that You tore the veil, the day that You said it is finish. Way to often I forget. but when I remember three days later, I am filled with joy. when I remember the day You rose from the grave victoriously, I am filled with unexplainable joy. Because this was the day that You made it possible for You to confirm us to the end and so that we may be blameless in the day the Lord. Blameless, because of You. I am a spotted-spotless sheep, a sinner saved, a Leaper healed and it's all thanks to YOU.  I can be blameless because of YOU! application: I will memorize 1 corinthians 11:24-29

1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ... I am very comforted to be reminded of the fact that God gives peace like nobody else can...  I know as for me this past weekend I needed some comfort and peace and sunday night I had received both at the exact same time, it was an amazing feeling. Saturday night, I had the worst headache, I was feeling, drowsy and yes, I missed home. To top that all off my neck hurt like crazy and I felt like Satan was trying to drown me in doubt. I had thoughts of is this really where God wants me, am I gonna make it to the other side. last night I started working on a song and the first part of the chorus became part of my prayer. God, help me/ Lord, I'm askin You please/ to send me a star. then I added to show me that this really is Your will and You will get me through this...  Then Sunday came, the day was kinda rough, my neck made some things a bit difficult but it was easier then saturday.  Made it through the morning service but my neck started hurting a little bit more so I stayed back at the apartments not wanting be any kind of burden during the sunday night service,  and as the sun was starting to go down I noticed that it was getting a little bit cloudy. But, I sat out side and started listening to music and then I felt as though God was telling me to look up, so I did.  I lifted my head about as far as I could lift it and sure enough there was a star, not just one star but two stars. One was shinning brighter then the other and then I remembered my prayer. It was an amazing Me and God moment. I was filled with peace and comfort and now I know with out a shadow of a doubt that God has sent me here and He will get me to the other side. Application: Write a message on Matthew 14:22-36 by Friday so in the future when I start to do doubt I have one more thing to remind me that God will get me through it.

The road has been set before me/ the dusty path,that so far has been worth taking/ embracing culture, and befriending all along the way/ worship, praying, laughing, working/ hand in hand even though we don't speak the same language/ God is amazing, ( with a lack of words to describe and say)/ one step at a time, walking with God/ this journey with out Him would be impossible/ not in Flesh but rather in the Spirit, Keeping my eyes on the Cross and staying under the shadowa of His wings/ In constant communion/ always in rememberance/ Of what God has done for me/ I hope to never forget/ so I don't live my life in regrets/ but I prosper in the name of Christ/ for the rest of my life....

Unfocused and Preconcieved thoughts!

Acts 1:6
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?


    So Jesus umm. you know that thing your talking about? Is that the day You take Your place as King and restore the Kingdom?
    I had to think if I were there in that scene. Would I have asked the same question? Honestly, i probably would have. My thoughts would have been a few days a head instead of focusing on the very moment I was in.
    The question they asked almost makes it seem like they weren't paying attention. But maybe that wasn't the case. They've might have been intensely paying attention and maybe they had a preconceived conclusion.
    Either way you look at this verse there's a couple thing that you can take from it. The first thing I took from it is, be focused on the task at hand and pay attention to the words of God. So many times my mind is off somewhere else, in some kind of candy land or I'm writing a song. I wonder how much more i acould get out of something if I'm completely focused on the task at hand.
   Next thing is that I  shouldn't have any preconceived conclusions. So many times I will go into a situation and have a million different conclusions to how I think it's going to go.


App: today I will focus on the task at hand and I will not have any preconceived conclusions in any situation

Waiting for the Call.

Acts 1:4

And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of me.

I found myself back in my football pads, and cleats standing on a 120 yard field and not so freshly cut grass. We had just finished one of the last plays, the whistle blew and we were all huddled up or in other words we were assembled together, the clock was running. We had the ball on the 20 yard line just about to score the last touchdown of the game. We were winning and the game was almost over so, one of the things coach wanted us to do is slow down the clock. So, we stayed huddled up and waited for the quarterback to get our next play to win the game. I don’t know why but it always seems like the last minute of the game is the longest minuet of your life. I couldn’t wait to celebrate, get in those locker rooms and head home. I was exhausted and all I really wanted to do is sleep.

                Patience in general is not my strong suit. With certain things and certain people yes I will have patience, but most of the time I don’t. Unfortunately, I can be impatient with God. Sometimes I’ll find myself assuming that God is going to answer my prayers right away. That’s not always the case, sure He will answer them, but sometimes that answer is going to be “wait.”

App: today I will wait till I am the last one in line for waiting for meals, and I will ask God that He gives me patience.