Let's Talk Kayne West .... and Jesus

I was recently made aware of the new Kayne West album Jesus Is King.
I will admit I have not really ever been a fan of his, mostly because I don't really care for rap music all that much. I can listen to it in small amounts, but my young adults really seem to gravitate to this genre of music so I try to learn the artists they are listening to so, if nothing else I can rap along with them ... I probably can rap like maybe.... two three words and then my appreciation for this genre of music expands greatly because it is NOT easy to do. Needless to say,  I really like rap songs that have singing at the chorus, because then I can really participate in the song.  All that to say I know nothing about Kayne West except that he's married to Kim Kardashian(which I'm embarrassed to admit that's all I know), AND about 5 months ago I watched an interview with him and David Letterman. In this interview my radar for him went up because at the end of the interview he starts talking about this new music project he's doing AND that he is having CHURCH services on SUNDAYS!! (Insert wide eyed emoticon here) I went on the inter webs and tried to find every link, every  YOU- tube, every amount of info there was about what this man Kayne was up to, and my heart got all kinds of excited that he might be a brother now in the faith walk called Christianity.  Then this album came out and that excitement turned into full blown chills of Holy Spirit confirmation that this is a brother from another motha! 
Now, this is what I want to talk about in one of his songs he says about the Christians being the ones to judge him for this brand new insight and public display of praise and adoration for Jesus. It makes my heart so sad that the people group that should be the MOST supportive, the MOST encouraging, the MOST welcoming is often times found on the other side of that fence.  WHY is that? THIS SHOULD NOT BE.
I want to scream ... but of course I don't .... but I really want to scream out WHO MADE YOU THE JUDGE, THE JURY, and THE END ALL BE ALL for who is a Christian who isn't ?  What a pompous and un-Christ-like position to be found in. When you think you have it all figured out, and you get to say who is in or who is out... God forgive you for trying to take a seat in the THRONE of THRONES.  Only ONE gets that honor, privilege, and role and that is the DIVINE creator of all. This is why I love Jesus because all that I can see in the gospels is love. He had nothing but LOVE for all people except the religious hypocrisy that he saw in people. He still loved those who were judgmental hypocrites, but boy oh boy did he speak out against them. 
In the gospel of Mark 9:38-41 Jesus disciples come to him and say basically we are noticing these people coming out and doing work in your name, but they aren't one of us .. and Jesus probably with a wide eyed emoticon look on his face tells his friends, and followers, "Whoever is not against us, is for us!" I love this about Jesus because his main mission in walking among us was to welcome and save ALL people! You don't have to be anything but human, you don't have do anything but believe, and if you happen to express your love and adoration for Jesus in a rap song you better believe he's up there jamming with you!
Now, if you happen to read this and haven't yet listened to this new album go now and get your jam on. My favorite song is God Is. 
That's all for now ... happy listening and rapping along. 

Hope Part 3

“ But this I recall and therefore I have HOPE and expectation;

It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His tender compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion or share says my living being (inner self); therefore I will hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him, inquire of Him, and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation, the safety and ease, of the Lord."
Lamentations 3:21-26

This would be the portion of these past 3 blogs where I would like to take the right to use a little thing called a soap box. If you would be so kind as to let me get up on it for a minute, I promise not to stay there for very long.

In the above scripture the writer says that "It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness" that he has HOPE , expectations, and is not consumed. I too, would like to shout out a HUGE; AMEN,or here, here !, or YES !, or I agree wholeheartedly with that!! There were so many, many things this past year that tried to consume me and yet, I had HOPE. There are so many things these days that come to rob, kill, and destroy the life that God has given us... but IF we hope in Him we won't be consumed.

I would like to say that the above scripture is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites because it talks about not only HOPE, but also the reward for those that HOPE in Christ Jesus, "Safety, Ease, Peace, Salvation" these are all the rewards of hoping in God. He is the only one worth hoping in, because He never fails.

I could easily look back on this past year and think, "How could you have failed me God? Where are you in all of this wreckage that is now my financial situation?" But, I don't see it like that. I choose NOT to see it like that. I SEE that God was there all along. That HE was the one that kept my children from harm these past 2 years when we didn't have health insurance for them. That he kept food on our table, warmth in our cabin, and people around us for support. That he kept Mo and my hearts intertwined, in love, and gave us strength in character when the times got really tough. That HE changed our hearts and minds, and healed our internal emotional wounds, like no Doctor ever could. That HE is still healing, still moving, still alive, and still worth hoping in.

This is the God I serve.

This is why I HOPE in Him.

This is why I wait, expectantly for Him to turn ALL things to GOOD.

After all, isn't He the one that calls a thing "GOOD" - Genesis 1:31

I don't think I could explain better than what this says for the reason of my HOPE. And so that being said, I am getting off my box now. Hope is a powerful God given tool to keep us out of the "depths of despair" . To quote from Anne of Green Gables "to be in the depths of despair means you have turned your back on God". Friends, don't turn your back on God.

You can bank on Him, truly like no other.

HE IS FAITHFUL and so full of HOPE!

Sabbath

"We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring." Oswald Chambers
This quote really sums up for me what the time of Sabbath has produced in my heart. This break from routine has really once again reinterated the importance of the process and everyday living. I have realized about myself that events (places to go , people to see) have become somewhat of an idol for me. Not having that to rely upon to define my life has been interesting to say the least. I am thankful for my faithful Lord, Savoir, and Friend because He has taught me that in the commonplace is where it is at. In the humble moments of life where we realize the preciousness of people and each persons unique giftings and talents as well as thier weaknesses and failures and then take it a step further to realize we are just like them, no better and no worse, we begin to see a very big picture. An event begins to take place in our hearts that changes us and those around us. I am thankful that God knows ME even though there are so many others just like ME there is only one ME and He knows this girl inside and out and STILL He never leaves ME.

My thoughts for today

My oldest sister Jenny left for Budapest on Monday and naturally I have been thinking about her a lot. I have been wondering what she has been experiencing on the first few days of her arrival. Today she emailed everyone in the family to say that she arrived safely but that she was having some issues with her internet access and a few other glitches. Before she left we were trying to think of all the things that she might miss the most about the U.S. She is definitely a planner and she tried to think of every possible thing that she might want but wouldn't be able to get while over there. She plans on being there for a year or more so you can imagine all the things that we were talking about.
Anyway, even with all that planning and thinking, here she is her first days and she is already experiencing some "technical difficulties" of a sort. This got me thinking down the path of what an adjustment it must have been for Jesus to come here to planet earth. He left His heavenly home where there was no hurt ,pain or sorrow, no hunger, time differences, etc... to arrive here as not a fully functioning adult but a baby completely dependent on His creation to care and comfort Him. This still trips me out. I don't know that once I get to heaven I would ever leave for anything but then I begin to think of people and I think would I leave all the comforts for people that I love?? The answer for this selfish , imperfect human being is YES, a resounding YES. This gives me some insight into the heart of my beautiful Savior who chose to leave heaven's home and make the journey here to experience every pain, every sorrow, more hurt then imaginable, and all the other discomforts of this human plight because of love.
He still amazes me. He still woos me with His love. I am thankful today for that love . I am grateful today for the breath that is within me and the opportunity to love Him back. To thank Him with my life.
My sister is learning what it is like to live in a foreign country , Jesus did the same but so much more. He did it all for love. He left heaven for not only the people that would love Him back but also for those who would never love Him, for those who spit on him, beat him, and even those who killed Him. He is so beyond my grasp of understanding. What little I do understand I love so much and for the rest I will spend my life trying to understand.

Jesus you are more than a friend

Your mercy and grace overwhelm me
You bring joy to my soul.
Your love and your grace never fail me.
Your merciful touch always heals me.
You bring joy to my soul.
Joy to my soul.

I love my life teacher

Jesus requires that we take of Him and let Him teach us. He asks that we let Him be our teacher. There are alot of people in life who want to take that role as teacher in our lives but Jesus asks for it and not because He's coming from a place of pride like, I know it all(even though He does) but because He says "I'm a humble and gentle teacher" He asks to be our teacher not for His own benefit like these mega-millionares who have all the answers for your life's problems but it comes in the form of a book they wrote, or a pill they perscribe, or just yet another counseling session. NO, He asks to be our teacher for our own benefit that we might "find rest for our souls"
He says that if you LET Him be your life teacher that you "WILL find rest"
I know that in my own life lessons when Jesus became my teacher, He has always come to me in gentleness and humility. None of that , "I told you so" or "See, why didn't you just listen to me" but rather " I think this might help Noel" or "How can I help you Noel to have this really turn out for the best" He always reminds me " I am here, to walk with you through this hurt, pain, loss, or confusion , You are not alone, I have felt that too"
I love my Life Teacher so much. My Jesus knows just how to teach me the things that I need to learn so that my life can be better, fuller, richer with hope, peace, and true joy. I love the way He teaches me. His yoke fits perfectly to me. It is custom-designed to fit !! His burdens are oh so light because they are my own given back to Him and turned into blessings.
Matthew 11:28-30 " Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you . Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls" For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light."

Jesus Prayer For Me

" Sanctify them by the truth; your word is the truth" John 17:17
(sanctify to set apart for a sacred use or make holy)
" In the begining was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" John 1:1
When I first read this scripture I was thinking about God's word being the bible but then reading it again I am thinking of how Jesus is the word.
I think both would apply because the word of God does a work of sanctification in my life on a daily basis. When my heart and attitude are not holy all I need to do is look to the word the bible for an adjustment.
I am so thankful for Jesus being the living translation of the Father's heart for His children.
The scripture in John 17:17 was actually Jesus prayer for me. How amazing is that. I love to read his prayers for me. They are so powerful.
Thank you Jesus for praying for me.

Reasons why I love Jesus #2 , His Extravagant Love

His love is extravagant. It is more than any words could ever describe and to even try to describe in words the way that Jesus loves is almost futile,weak at best. There truly are no words that do it justice but one that comes a lil close to me and also a word that seems to keep being highlighted in life right now is extravagant.
Websters describes extravagant like this-
Exceeding reasonable bounds
Extremely abundant
Straying beyond limits or bounds
These descriptions begin to describe another reason why I love Jesus. That He FIRST loved me, while I was not nearly as in love with Him as I am now is extravagant. That He never stops loving me even when my actions don't show my love for Him is extravagant. That in every detail of this life, behind every corner He is revealing His love to me is extravagant.
The song from Darrell Evans "Your love is extravagant"is one that has become a new favorite.
"Your love is extravagant
Your friendship intamate
I find myself moving to the rhythms of your grace
Your love is extravagant"
I love Jesus because of the way He loves me. I want to love the way He loves. I want to love the unlovely, the ones who don't love me, the ones who don't love me first, the ones who may never love me or YOU Jesus . I want to love them the way you do and by doing so I want to show my love. My love for you Jesus can never compare but all the days of my life I want to spend every ounce of who I am, who you created me to be, to love you and others in only the ways that I can.
Thank you Jesus for your extravagant love.

Reasons why I LOVE JESUS

#1 He understands me even when I don't understand myself.

Reading in My Utmost for His Highest today it described the act of Marywho poured fragrant perfume all over Jesus feet as "an extravagant act of devotion"
Mark 14:3-4
This got me thinkin if I have ever shown Jesus in an extravagant way my devotion to him. I really couldn't think of any.
I struggle with issues of Lordship in even the simplest things let alone extravagantly loving Him. This brought me to the number one reason I love Jesus, because He understands. He knows all things even when I don't, when I can't, or even when I choose that I won't ,He is still understanding of me. It comforts me to know that I don't have to understand myself or others or even Him, just continually look to the author and finisher of my faith and then I can breathe easier. He's ok with the fact that I don't often understand the way that He works or how things play out in my life . He is ok with my honesty and He knows me better than I know myself.
I am constantly frustrated by the parallel between the apostle Pauls dilema in his life with Christ and my own,where he states "the things I want to do, I don't,and the things I don't want to do , I do" Romans 7:19 Why is that??
This is so true of my life. When I am truly at my end with me I look to Jesus and
He understands and that is so so so amazing.
His love is amazing(Darrell Evans song) I can't remember all the words but I think this songs describes His love being extravagant, amazing,...
Extravagance in love for Jesus. How does that work? Can I love Him extravagantly like He loves me? Am I capable of this love?
I am glad that He understands . I want to love Him this way. Holy Spirit help me love Jesus the way He deserves to be loved.