source of hope

The tougher the times, the greater the need to live a life of love for others.

Nearness. This is what I have felt today. This is what has been encouraging me deep, deep down. Nearness to the the source of real hope. Following an emotionally taxing night at the hospital, I was eager to be around the family of God in hopes of restoration. A time gap allowed for 1 Peter and a great cup of coffee to begin to warm my body and soul before heading to Karis. Hat on, hood up, focused eyes, open heart. There are times when I am aware of my need for something outside of myself to make it through each moment. This is always the reality, but I am only really aware of this at certain times. This morning I felt it in the fibers of my being. I could feel that by the end of my shift I was not loving my patients well, and I was going through motions. This realization is defeating. I know that there is no slacking when it comes to our call to live like Jesus, especially when life is really tough. Peter doesn't ease our burden by saying we don't have to live like Jesus during difficult times. Instead he writes something to equip us with the power to love.

He begins his letter saying: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1:3). The power of hope. If we are to love like Jesus loved, even in times of great stress and worry, then we must be filled with "living hope."

There are some things going on in life, that when I hear this kind of encouragement it provokes a resounding "Amen!" because this is what I've been looking for and needing to hold onto. This "living hope" is fertile, fruitful, and productive. It has power. It gives rise to change.

I needed this. I need this. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! There is great cause for celebration.

communion wine

My parents and I were having a glass of wine after a lovely dinner a few nights ago. Dad had taught a study about the last supper as it relates to communion the night prior. Proud as I was to see my dad leading at church, I couldn't help but get lost in the text. I've been reading in Isaiah and that night I began to see connections between Jesus' last supper and the feast foretold in Isaiah 25 and the wedding feast in Revelation 19...

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken.

(Isaiah 25:6-8 ESV)

[9] And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

(Revelation 19:9 ESV)

While enjoying the cup with my parents, I was reminded that Jesus said that he would not drink wine again until he drinks it new, when we are new, together in his kingdom. I long for that day. To be welcomed into the presence of my maker and savior is sobering. Though I am parched, I lap my tongue at the sour wine of lesser lovers. Yet by grace Jesus welcomes me to taste the aged wine that knows no time.

[29] I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

(Matthew 26:29 ESV)

I must quote Waterdeep, from their song Both Of Us'll Feel The Blast, a song that presents as vivid an image of this as I've come across

...dying's underrated, it's a ticket to the feast-
The one we're all invited to, from the greatest to the least

I hope we sit together when Jesus serves the wine
So I can look into your eyes when I taste it the first time
And I know there's no secrets when you're sitting at that table
But I believe we'll smile real knowingly when we read the label
And it says "passion sacrificed to keep from going crazy."
We'll tip our glasses to the Host who used to look so hazy
And drink it down all sweet and slow and slip inside His mind
And realize as it goes down- this is communion wine

I love the chill and goosebumps the Spirit so lovingly supplies when connections are made, and when I'm graced with the ability to understand a little bit about God and who he is. Love wells from within and I feel giddy about what I've just read from the Bible. Jesus, teach me that this is really what it looks like to be a man. A man in your eyes.

opportunities

This photo might look familiar. His name is Cauan and he and I became fast friends in Brazil.

Well, this little guy has the chance to have this photo in Dave Barnes' music video for "God Gave Me You." It would bring me much joy to be able to show Cauan his face in the music video for a song that gives thanks to God for the relationships he has placed us in. If you would like to help make this happen you can "like" the photo on facebook here: http://bit.ly/cUZO1h

Thank you friends! Now, back to studying the liver. yipee!

Oh, that reminds me, please, please pray for my friend Ellen (also in Brazil). I was chatting with her boyfriend Marccus today on fb and learned that she has had major liver complications that were life threatening. Through the language barrier, I believe that she has had one surgery already, but it went poorly, and she will have another to correct the mistake from her first.

I often ignore the blessing I have in being a part of such a rich network of prayer warriors. Thank you for lifting her up in this moment. Please continue to pray alongside me for Cauan, that God would show himself clearly to him, and that Cauan would respond in faith.

I appreciate you all. Boa noite.

seraphs and superlatives

Holiness, holiness is what I long for. Holiness is what I need. Holiness is what you want from me. So, take my heart and form it; take my mind, transform it; take my will, conform it to yours, to yours, oh Lord.

Faithfulness, faithfulness...

Righteousness, righteousness...

to yours, to yours, oh Lord.

I have been thinking and praying about holiness after encountering, and seeing with fresh eyes, my sin juxtaposed with a perfect God. I have grown comfortable with my flesh, and blinded to truths that were so evident not long ago. I have allowed my own heart, my own mind, and my body to become corrupted. Tonight, my brokenness was met with open arms.

Lord, you used Revelation 4 and 5 to show me that you are worthy of worship, and you used it to awe and flatten me, just as the twenty-four elders and four living creatures fell down before the Lamb. And we began to sing a new song.

You are sorting out my imperfections. Lord, you really are taking away what pollutes me. Even though I so often feel lost and am frustrated by that, Lord I can feel that things are changing, and that things are changed. You are restoring clarity to a very clouded heart, mind, and body.

You are growing my confidence in you, that you really do have the ability to take away the cancerous things that seem to have metastasized, by bringing purity.

Turn my deserts into gardens. You are, you have, and you will continue.

Because of having met you, and because of knowing you, there are things I could not see that I can see now; that I did not know that I know now, because you taught me, because you have done work to mend what once was broken.

Lord, give us the ability to see you and hear you and follow you. Keep us trusting in you, that you are the one doing the work, and that you are the one who is faithful.

Transform our hearts that we may be a people who bring transformation.

You do really good work Lord, you really do.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Isaiah 6:3

(adapted from the prayer of a dear friend)

mint julep, plantations, and oaks a'plenty

Tour of the Oak Valley Plantation just outside New Orleans during the heat wave that was early August. We had a chance to visit Lauren and help her get moved into her house and classroom. What a beautiful visit filled with loving people and memories made.

New Chapters

7/29 (from a bit ago)

Today started before the sun, but it was well worth the sleepy eyes. I was able to make breakfast for my good friend Jason before his last day of nursing school. Look forward to that coming day myself, but today I was proud to see him finish. It doesn't seem real that he moved into our house only a year ago. God has done much through him in that short time to bless me and the other men in the house. I will truly miss, and cherish, the fun and impactful times that we have shared, from launching things from atop our roof, blasting our pecs at the gym ;), talking girls, to challenging each other to pursue God with fervor, praying together, and memorizing verses...glimpses into a blessed friendship.

Last night several of the guys in our house went out to eat to have a last hurrah with Jason, and then had a great time acting a fool on the roof. But afterwords, when things settled down, we were all able to pray together and God's presence was clearly present. Burrito fajitas, hanging out on the roof, prayer, and tears...good night.

...But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

These words seemed to frame the night and preceded the following verse, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Jason and several others are moving from Columbia and anxiety can be easy to come by when unknowns are in the picture. God provides. Two words, often hard to believe, but continually true. Jason just received word today that he is being hired for a job in Hawaii as a videographer for a marine park, and is leaving on Tuesday, trusting in the God's providence.

I'm encouraged by those who continue to trust when details are fuzzy. Keep the faith.

la musica

I've been trying to pick up the guitar for years now. Well, halfheartedly putting forth effort to learn guitar. I thought I'd share with you the first, and only song so far, in which my right and left hands don't become bipolar when I try to throw in the element of vocals. This is very rough, as I have yet to really learn to play the guitar, or sing for that matter, but hey, you get some fun falsetto too. I wanted to share a song that has been running through my head lately. Not solely because it's the only song I can play/sing, but because it has such a great message that I need to hear over and over. Lift up and praise the Son, and don't worry about gaining anything else but him. Ben and Robin Pasley rock this on Enter the Worship Circle, Circle 4, if you're interested in hearing it in its original state. Check them out, they have been instrumental, no pun intended, in my faith and its growth by allowing me to worship God through their music.

Higher and Higher
Ben and Robin Pasley

V.1 Why would the people of the earth, sell their soul for a feeling
Soon to fade, soon to fade, soon to fade away
Why would the kings of the earth, dare to build a kingdom
Soon to fade, soon to fade, soon to fade away

TIE: But here we come, and we bow down, Watch us kiss the Son

CH. We kiss the Son, we come undone
We lift him higher and higher
We kiss the King, he means everything
We lift him higher and higher

V.2 Why would the nations of the earth, make war for a power
Soon to fade, soon to fade, soon to fade away
Why would the ruler of the earth, try to own everything
Soon to fade, soon to fade, soon to fade away