Almighty God, the great I am
immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
victorious Warrior commanding King of Kings, Mighty Conqueror

and the only time, the only time I ever saw Him run

is when He ran to me, took me in His arms
held my head to His chest, said "my son's come home again"
looked at my face, wiped the tears from my eyes

with forgiveness in His voice he said "son, do you know I still love you?"

it caught me by surprise, brought me to my knees when God ran

the day I left home, I knew I had broken His heart
I wondered then if things could ever be the same
then one night, I remembered His love for me
and down that dusty road ahead I could see

I saw Him run to me

it caught me by surprise
brought me to my knees
when God ran

Words and Music by B. Hester

Why do tragedies happen? * why do we sometimes have to endure pain? * why do 'bad things happen to good people'?

Why do we take the normality's of everyday life for granted? * Why do we berate and grumble about our friends and family just as much as we remember to be thankful for them? * why do we hate our job until we don't have work anymore? * Why do hurtful words come easier than those of healing? * why is it easier to judge than forgive? * why do we forget to look up at the sky with white puffy clouds floating by, the sun shining, birds singing, a slight breeze whispering through the trees, and take a breath of fresh air and thank God for the day? * why do we let ourselves get so caught up and stressed about such trivial things that we forget to see the little joys and beauty all around us every day?

Why?

why do we not appreciate our health until we are sick and in pain? * Why do we forget to be thankful for our freedom until we experience persecution? * Why do we see ourselves as better until we are broken? * why do we not say the words of love we feel until it is too late? * why do we not care about what we have until it is taken away? * why do we wait until we are face down before we remember to look up?

... do we really need to ask why?

Is it easier to live or die for Christ?

The last couple months Van has been doing series on "Uncommon Sense" Sunday mornings, from Mathew 5 - the B-attitudes, it has been very good I think :o) Last week was the last and it was on 'blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake for theirs is the kingdom...' while he was talking about how many Christians are killed because of their faith per day (I can't remember how many he said around 300 I think???, over half of them children) ... I was distracted, when he asked if you would die for Christ I was unsettled, because Yea, I honestly think If a gun was held to my head or etc. I still would not deny him... but I still was struggling with guilt from what had happened just a couple days prior..., and then he hit on it (isn't it weird how God does that?) are you living for Him?... many will not deny Christ in death, but do we deny Him by how we live... I can die for Christ... but why is it so hard for me to LIVE for him?I believe in Him , I don't mind telling anyone that, I like going to church, when I am alone or with my christian friends I can stay on track with no problem, but when I'm at work, I feel like my actions and attitude betray that... I struggle with being around friends who are non- christian and still being true to myself and God, I struggle with my attitude because I want to hang out with them and have fun and not stay alone and by myself but I always feel like I am walking such a fine line and tend to compromise my beliefs, whether it is by a slip of the tongue or laughing at something I shouldn't or even just not saying anything and being like 'hey, I'm really not comfortable with this conversation'... what do you say to someone who tells you 'oh I know I'm going to hell so I might as well live it up while I can...' I'm like what? how can you really believe in hell and still say that?How do you apologize to someone for slipping up when they already think that you are a better person than they are to begin with and don't see why you think that what you did was wrong? How do I explain that I hold myself to a higher standard without, well, how do you explain it? my musings for the week...
I am trying to decide what to do, I used to never go out with them, so they never asked, but then I've gone a few times, and they think I'm fun so they keep asking and for the most part I have had guilt free fun but is it worth the chance of tripping up? I mean I want to go to a persons birthday party next week -bowling in pj's ,sounds fun to me :o) (and it's free!)- but should I? I just don't know...

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose:



I CHOOSE LOVE
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.






I CHOOSE JOY
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.




I CHOOSE PEACE
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.




I CHOOSE PATIENCE
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.


I CHOOSE KINDNESS
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.



I CHOOSE GOODNESS
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.


I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My spouse will not question my love.






I CHOOSE GENTLENESS
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.


I CHOOSE SELF CONTROL
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.





Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
max lucado