"The circumstances of life, the events of life,
and the people around me in life,
do not make me the way I am...but reveal the way I am."

~Dr. Sam Peeples

Beatitudes

I've been going through the Beatitudes and today was Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who work for peace.

Well everything drama wise has been cleared up. My friends and I have decided to just have as much fun as possible these next few months. Since I'm leaving! Drama is overrated and not worth it. :)

Flag! Flag! Flag!

"The only difference between a love story movie and a stalker movie is whether the person receiving the attention wants it or not" -Danielle.

Danielle is probably one of my favorite people right now. This past week has been packed full of insane drama and she helped me sort everything out and such. I love IHOP! People there just seem to get it more than everyone else. The sollution is always so clear. Then when I'm there I get it too.

The things I concern myself with now, are not going to matter a year from now. It's so lame to be so distraught over the little things.

Then I got convicted of trying leaps and bounds when I really should taking small steps.

I really just want a do-over. And I know how this story goes. Because it's happened before. But I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. It's hard and it hurts. I've never been 'in' love with anyone. I understand the efforts people make to clear things up and make things right. But I can't be me if I don't know who me is. And until I figure that out things with certain friends seem pretty shattered. All I know is I've never felt more alone.

And I know it sounds depressing but honestly I'm going to make the best of it. This is a season and I'm going to endure it and get through it. It's not about having strength or endurance. I've never been much for sports, just like a daily work out. This is about something so pure and true that it over exceeds all other relationships and other things.
"How you restore my sole, how you make all things new"

Yellow, Aqua Marine with Nikki and Sam (it was the only good part of this weekend), Frequent Flyer Miles, Shark jump.

The ones who know my character know I never meant to hurt anyone or lie or do any back stabbing...

Prom nonsense!

Well, I've been a little green these last few days, no lies.

Most of my friends at home are still in High School and because Prom is coming up it's all there really is to talk about. However, since I am out of High School I will not be attending prom this year unless I am asked. Which is highly unlikely.

Anywho I loved Prom all 3 years I went and had an amazing time. So it's hard hearing about how excited everyone is and their dresses/tuxes etc. Especially since these are all my really good friends.

My prom memories will always be the best but I am a little envious. :)
I'm getting over it.

...and Justice for All.

Arther - You know there are times, when I'm not too sure I like you.
I mean we are so opposite how we feel about things.......
Maybe that's good...

Gail -That's perfect, right?

Arther - right.

Gail - Just keep a little friction between us.

Arther - No problems.

Gail - No problems.

This movie was awesome. Hardcore intense stuff. :) I taped it!

Passion for Jesus Conference Part 2

Jennifer Roberts - Confidence in God
Main Revelation: Our confidence in God is our identity. Fully understanding our calling.

Julie Meyer Break out Session - Encountering the Knowledge of God in every season of out life.
Main Revelation: We need to pursue God. God is looking for: Righteousness
Humility and those Walk out the Sermon on the Mount.

Dwayne Roberts - Humility
Main Revelation: We need to embrace humility. God humbled Himself and became a man. He was not concerned with his reputation or with Himself. Often times we thing of how things impact me and that is warping/altering our ideas of God.

Passion for Jesus Conference!

I have a very high respect for the preachers that have spoken this past weekend at IHOP's annual Passion for Jesus conference. However, I am human. I do not remember every point and biblical reference. So of course I took notes! But even still! My brain is exhausted at all the examination.

In no way I am undermining the principles these speakers have mentioned in their well prepared sermons. But I'm overwhelmed. These subjects we are hearing in the conference have been meditated and studied for extended periods of time! I'm catching the revelation, just not well handling the massive amount of information. I'm gonna take it down a few notches and state the obvious points to each by standards of what I got out of them. Then of course study, meditate and chew on them for myself.

Mike Bickle says: "If you do not see in the scriptures what is said. If you can't find it in the bible, throw it away. Do not accept it. Do not throw your brain away. Be anchored in the word of God."

So that's my reasoning behind simplifying sermons really. It's so later it is easy to look up the scripture references and discern for myself. For it is my desire to go deep into the Word of God. That's the whole purpose.

1. Mike Bickle - The spiritual violence of John the Baptist
Main Revelation: Live with spiritual violence. Blessed are those who are not offended.
Righteous lifestyle of Fasting, Praying, Meditation on the Scripture.

2. Mike Bickle - Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
Main Revelation: Talk to the Holy Spirit! For the Holy Spirit empowers are emotions.

3. Alan Hood - I never caught the title so I'm naming it - Being passionate for Jesus because the story (the bible) empowers us to do so. This was also the revelation I received. Be anchored in the Word of God. God is the greatest story teller.

4. Break Out session! Corey Russel - Reality of the Knowledge of God
Main Revelation: I do not know God. My idea of who God is does not even come close to who He actually is. We must have revelation! The first step to getting revelation is to realize there is none right now. Jesus did not rebuke the blind for being blind. He rebuked them for not understanding that they were blind.

5. John Bevere - Again, I do not know the title...
Main Revelation: Know and Fulfill the purpose the Lord has for you.

More tomorrow I'm sure. :) Then I'm getting on those podcasts!

Webstreaming Tales!

Because I wasn't able to make it down to KC for the Passion for Jesus conference I decided to purchase the webstream!

Yesterday Mike did some awesome preaching! And Misty led a great set.

Today Merchant Band led worship, then Alan Hood preached. The sermon was really good and worship was sweet no doubt.

Well after watching the whole broadcast I minimized my Windows Media player forgetting to turn it off. Sure enough the sound guys had continued to keep the mic's on and I got quite the interesting taste of conversation between the worship team members.

It was interesting to say the least! :-p

Enjoyment of Food

Old Abraham was a poor tailor whose shop was next door to a very upscale French restaurant. Every day at lunch time, Abraham would go out the back of his shop and eat his black bread and herring while smelling the wonderful odors coming from the restaurant's kitchen.

But one day, Abraham was surprised to receive an invoice from the restaurant for 'enjoyment of food'. So he went to the restaurant to point out that he had not bought anything from them. The manager said, "You're enjoying our food, so you should pay us for it." Abraham refused to pay and the restaurant sued him.

At the hearing, the judge asked the restaurant to present their side of the case. The manager said, "Every day, this man comes and sits outside our kitchen and smells our food while eating his. It is clear that we are providing added value to his poor food and we deserve to be compensated for it."

The judge turns to Abraham and said, "What do you have to say to that?" Abraham didn't say anything but stuck his hand in his pocket and rattled the few coins he had inside.

The judge asked him, "What is the meaning of that?" Abraham replied, "I'm paying for the smell of his food with the sound of my money."

Will!

This post goes out to Will, the only person in my class to not be on Sunday School Probation. Why? Because he actually updates his blog! :-p

Spring is only on partial probation because she sometimes comments. :)

The Number 23!

It's a very good movie. I enjoyed it quite a lot even though I think Jim Carry has gone a little crazy after the years. Anywho, I thought you'd enjoy some facts about the enigma 23.

The "23 Enigma" refers to the Discordian belief that all incidents and events are directly connected to the number 23, some permutation of the number 23, or a number related to the number 23, given enough ingenuity on the part of the interpreter.

*The date that the Titanic sank, 4/15/1912, 4+1+5+1+9+1+2=23.

*The date the Twin Towers were hit, 9/11/2001, 9+11+2+1=23.

*It takes 23 seconds for blood to circulate through the human body

*The tilt of Earth’s axis is roughly 23 degrees.

*Some would argue it rotates at 23.5 degrees. But then 5 is just 2+3

*A human baby receives 23 chromosomes from each parent.

*23 is the letter W. On an Qwerty keyboard W lies right beneath 2 & 3

*December 23, 2012 is the day the classic Mayans said the world would end.

*"Psi" is the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet associated with "supposed parasychological faculties, phenomena, etc. regarded collectively"

*Plutarch states that Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by Roman Senators

*The CBS show Ghost Whisperer is filmed in Stage 23, which is alleged to be haunted.

*Dr. Pepper now has an included 23 flavors.


Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

ChrisTopher!

My good friend Chris Cunningham leaves today to go into the Navy. It's pretty exciting stuff. There were a total of 3 parties that I attended for him this past week. Last night was the last one. Chris is only gone for 4 months but it's still really weird. Everyone is leaving. Including me soon enough! :)

OneThing Podcast 1 Dwayne and Jennefer Roberts (Interview with Tim 'Merchant Band singer')

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (satisfied)

We are to hunger for God, but Jesus distinctively says we'll be satisfied through righteousness.

Matthew 7:21-23
21. Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord; shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name?'
23. And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!

The requirement for being satisfied is righteousness where you actually pursue it.

Love righteousness.
Hate wickedness. Obstain from sin.

Actually have emotional hatred toward sin. And have an emotional love for righteous living before God.

John 15:10- If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

Titus 2:11-15
11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live, soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.
13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
14. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us.
15. Speak these things exhort, and rebuke with all authority, Let no one despise you.

Grace is being taught as "I can do what I want and still be alright with God."

Grace should empower us to live righteously. Godliness is the fruit of grace.

Hebrews 12:3. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

We need to deal with the things that cause us to live unrighteously.

Holiness is being taught with an emphasis on the negetive. Obstain from sin, this and that... So the response was Grace. And sin being covered by the blood but because of this righteousness and actually doing/working for righteous living is over looked. The forgiveness, grace, and mercy of God is to create in us a heart desiring to live in a righteous way. There is no real distinction between grace and mercy when it's being taught this way. We need to start having spiritual violence toward purity and living righteously.

Song of Songs 1:15 Catch the little foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.

Little areas of sin or unfaithfulness. The fear of the Lord. These things spoil the ability to abide in Him.

OneThing Podcasts, Blogs and Inspirational heros!

I have decided to go through the OneThing podcasts once again this time with bible, pen and journal at hand.

So much could be said about these podcasts as well as blogs of those at IHOP. Personally being away from the prayer room for so long has played tricks with my heart and my mind this year. However there is a section set up in my favorites as "Encouraging Blogs" that has been a ultimate blessing and self check reliable guideance from my elders. :) I believe it is wise to read what others are experiencing and going through.

Few favorites include:
http://thefightspot.com/ Shawn Blanc
http://www.heisatthedoor.com/blog/ Dave Slicker
http://thefarmerfam.blogspot.com/ Josh Farmer
http://jareddiehl.wordpress.com/ Jared Diehl

I really have nothing against female bloggers. These just happen to be a few of my favorites from IHOP that I find encouraging!