Jeremiah 29:11 and beyond

God has a plan. He's always had a plan. Always has and always will.

In fact, even when His plan seemed to be incomprehensible, He spoke with reassurance. 

Not only did He tell Abraham from the beginning the troubles that his descendants would come to groan about years later, but He told His people that were exiled to Babylon that he would, after 70 years, bring them out of captivity.Through all of this He was reassuring them of a plan that was bigger than themselves. Our God is a loving Father that will never let us go. He had a plan for them. He has a plan for us. He has plans to prosper us, plans for our good, and plans of redemption. 

More and more I am realizing His plan for me. Today as I finished praying I heard the word "advocate". Now let me explain a little more with what I was praying about.

I was praying about God's vision and calling for me and asking him to renew the passions He had given me. I prayed saying, " I don't care if they are new or old passions, just stir them up in me... Whether they are passions that I never knew I had or whether they have been there all along..." I stated what I knew: I have been called to make documentaries, I have been called to do work in Africa, I have a heart for child soldiers, and I want to do ministry while I work on documentaries.

Then I thought about what I would be doing there: working with rehabilitated children and soldiers, and raising awareness. I had to get to the heart of it though: what would be the end result? I want to end the wars and these atrocities. I want to rally support for these victims of war. 

And there you have it... my passion.

And if that wasn't enough, I heard the word "advocate".

You know it's from God when you hear a term, know that it's for you but don't fully get the concept until you look it up and everything clicks.

I want to be one who speaks on behalf of those who can't for themselves, who don't have enough of a voice in this world, to publicly support their cause. 

After all, that's what Jesus did for me, why not go to the point of risking my life for these kids when He called us to lay down our lives. It's not just about doing good for others, it's about love and sharing the love that He first showed us.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." - 1 John 3:16-18

♥

At the foundation of things there is love. It started when God created man in the garden and plowed on through the matters of sin and disobedience. Though Adam and Eve chose to go against God, He wasn't through with them.

He had a plan devised for salvation; a perfect plan that would prove His unfailing love. He mirrored His love for His people in fellowship and the unity of marriage.

{All these reminders of His Great love for us.}

Ultimately, He sent His one and only Son to die and then be raised in order to redeem and retrieve His bride.

We love because He first loved us. The love that He showed to us as He led us through the desert, continuously showed us compassion, and in giving us the ability to come to Him. Even after He flooded the Earth, He sent us a rainbow as a promise of His love. The very act of baptism, being like the flood, washing away sin and bringing new life. Yet, if the beautiful display of a band of colors in the sky were not enough,  He sent His Son. And, though the association with the cross, at the time, was no beautiful thing; God took on our sin and shame, conquering death once and for all.

After what should've meant death to all, the sin of one man, came redemption. Through the sacrifice and life of one the sins of many were washed away.

God is love. At the foundation of it all is love. 

Love came for all...

that we may have life.

Just as He is love, we must be love; salt and light to a world that is hungry, lost and broken.

why don't you...?

I try and try to hold on to who I thought you were...
but things keep proving that you're not who you say you are.

I can't understand why you would try and mask all these lies and
I don't know why you won't just say,
"I was wrong."

Maybe if you did
everything would fall back into place
Maybe if you did
life wouldn't be this way.

I'm holding on to memories and times when
innocence was strong
and nothing pointed to anything wrong.

I love you and that's all I have wanted to say.
It hurts me to continue on like this.


Please,
Lord,
Please,
help mend these broken pieces.

[Unfiltered] Faith

At times I hid under the burden of drawn out days

Ready to plunge into slumber, 

there was nothing left of me.

At times I delighted in comparing my good ways

To the lack in my neighbor's deeds.

I was high and mighty, with nothing good in me.

At times I was ready to declare your goodness

Steadfast and faithful,

I was certain You were present and near.

At times I was just scared and felt alone,

There was no way that I could imagine You being by my side….

Let alone know that You were carrying me.

Still everyday,

You choose to love me, though I falter...

Still everyday,

I make the decision to praise Your name…

I realize that I am truly fortunate.

You deserve all the praise!

Dreaming past neverland...

I feel like a kid again,
my head begins to spin
As suddenly the joys of adulthood
become lost in the muffled arguments of my parents.

You can only walk around for so long
Acting as if nothing's wrong
And then you cave in...

When I muster up the strength to pray
My thoughts seem to stray
And I'm left with hopes for better days.
I stand back and wonder as I watch the Potter mold the shapeless clay,
having not one doubt that a masterpiece awaits.

The more I seek You...

"The more I seek You, the more I find You..."

But what happens when I don't seek Him with all of my heart... when I don't put forth that effort.

I'm like a starving man with a steak sitting in front of him that's too lazy to pick up the fork. I could sit and complain about how I am not receiving anything, but I am not willing to do anything to change it.

It's so easy to do nothing or complain, and act like I don't know the source of my dissatisfaction... but how rewarding is it to spend time with the Father.

The truth is: how effortless is it to fall back into the arms of the Savior?

All of my effort seemed to be counterproductive, pushing me away from spending time with Jesus. When all it takes is a cry of His name, an acknowledgement and He'll flood in.

It is comforting to know that I can never go too far from His presence; that when I think that I've given up, He will never let me go.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13

 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. -Deuteronomy 4:29

Let the mountains move...

You are the only one that can help me with any challenge I will ever face
The only one that loves me unconditionally
without restraint,
unrelenting,
Your love is pure.
Your righteousness is what I seek
not to have more of me,
but more of You.
I live in reliance upon You.
All that I am depends on You.
You are the Sovereign way,
Sovereign Lord.
So have this struggle, take every battle,
No challenge stands a chance against my God,
great and mighty Lord.
How I love thee.

Stay

Let me stay in Your Presence
Let me rest in this place
I just want to be
            here
                 with you.
In the
                     silence.
In the stillness
I seek Your face
I lay facedown at Your feet
Too overwhelmed to look up
I imagine you reaching out for me
My eyes shut, face pressed to the ground
I hear you whisper
Lord, this is where I want to be
           Here      with        You.
This is peace
This is where I find sanity
This is where I find release
You are what I hold on to.
I am pleading
Let me stay here with You.

Strength is Found in You

"You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek... You are my all in all"


Lord, You lift me up time and time again. Raising me above the waters and the storm, while You take the hit. I'm not strong enough to handle this on my own and I know it; that's why I need You. You are the hope piercing through this night.


"Seeking you as a precious jewel, Lord, to give up I'd be a fool... You are my all in all"


I seek after You, because You are what brings true joy. Joy everlasting... A gem that will never get dull or fade... I am still discovering new aspects to the beauty of Your mysteries. You are more than I could have ever asked for. Nothing can compare. Though I tend to think that I found You, You were there all along. Not only were You there, but You pursued me. Drawn to this irreplaceable treasure, the allure from Your still voice initiated my response. I dug through the muck of my life, til' I found You waiting there. Your beauty illuminated the dark cavern that I once was and it covered me. I clasped You, my precious jewel to my heart and vowed to never let go.


"Taking my sin, my cross, my shame, rising up again I bless Your name...You are my all in all"


This precious Lamb, deserving a crown of glory, took upon His head a crown of shame. He took all that I should have received and allowed me to have life eternal. 

"When I fall down You pick me up, when I am dry You fill my cup...You are my all in all"



And still, when I fall You are there. Though I sometimes choose other things over you and though, at times, I may ignore what You say; You are still there to pick me up. You take my hand and when I gain support, You hold me steady. You sustain me. And though I should be weak and frail, You keep me strong. You keep me pressing on.

Glorious return

Oh, how beautiful,
this array:
stars speckled across a velvet sky,
a reminder of His awesomeness.

How precious,
this miracle:
the gift of new life,
as He sends His One and Only Son.

So beautiful,
this display:
of love,
arms spread wide on the cross.

How majestic,
a life well-lived:
He breathes His last breath,
it is finished.

So wonderful,
as we await His return:
pushing forward, sharing His love;
we dream of a day with no suffering.

Glorious,
this anticipated day:
The bridegroom comes to retrieve His bride, the whole Earth rejoices;
as He calls us home.

I need not worry

I'd rather not have my heart toyed around with any longer...
I'm past that point and thought that you were, too.
I am longing for something that lasts,
something God-given and that will glorify Him.
I'm tired of thinking that I've found something special and having to find out that I was wrong.
Lord, I need you to keep me strong.
Remembering You are all that matters,
and how You told me not to worry...
It's all in Your hands.