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Sunday, 18 October 2009
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Currently
The Funeral of God
By Zao
Truly Truly This Is The End
see relatedA Joyful Thought
May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord
and praise his holy name!
Psalm 97:12
"Happiness comes from what happens, but joy comes from the Lord."
So how can this actually be applied without just putting on a fake front?
How can we have joy, even when we are in pain because of something that has happened?
It can be easy to say to someone else, "just trust in the Lord", but how many of us fail at doing this when we are the ones in pain? But this is exactly it. We MUST trust in the Lord to be our source of joy. Not only that, but we must grow in our trust in the Lord.
Grow in trust? Yes. How? Spend more time, or even for many of us, just simply really spend time praying and reading and applying the Bible.
As we spend time with God, he teaches us to be like him. As we learn and apply being like Christ, our trust in him will also increase, which in turn increases our joy.
But what exactly is our trust in? Obviously it is in God, but specifically what? It is in the hope we have. Not just any hope, but confident hope that there is so much more than only pain and painful situations. This is of course at the extreme when it seems you only see pain.
So we put our trust in hope. Grow that trust by getting to know Christ more. Through growing to know Christ and being made like him, we have joy because the godly have joy.
Ultimately, our joy should be coming from the fact that our names are written in the Book of Life in Heaven! And when we live a life where material possession only have a surface value to us, only then can what happens to those things not effect out joy.
(These were some thoughts I had after hearing Shiny Happy People, by Pastor Chilly Chilton)
Living more joyful
Dom
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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Currently
Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest
By Zao
Ravage Ritual
see relatedAMAZING WEEK!!!!
Its been awhile. Sorry, for those of you who read my blog. I have been making up excuses, but it essentially boils down to laziness, and an unwillingness to be open with my life. Im sorry.
Such an amazing week. Bible read through rocked my world, revealed some junk in my life, and broke my heart. Saturday and Sunday were amazing. Worshiping the One True God, with people who love him and live for him. And seeing multiple people starting that journey of following Christ that we are on. Then, sharing a meal together, and sharing with friends about whats going on in our lives; what God is doing in our lives.
I want to talk about the Bible read through.
I love the bible read through. If you dont know what it is, we start reading in Genesis Wednesday morning. Then take half hour shifts around the clock, until we finish early Saturday morning.
I have to be perfectly honest and open. This year, at the start, I was off track and unfocused on what was really going on.
I let myself become more focused with seeing how fast we could get through it, rather than letting it rock my world. All day Friday when I was at work, I felt conviction and couldn't figure out why.
So I went away by myself later that night and prayed for awhile, that's when God showed me my heart attitude towards the Bible read through. I repented and changed.
From that point forward, I would be sitting there listening to the words being spoken, not just the speed they were being read at, or how passionately they were being said.
At times tears began streaming down my face, as I sat in awe of the Greatness and profoundness, yet simplicity of God and his love. He rescued us, and spelled out how to have true life for us. Yet I so often become lazy in taking hold of that life that he offers.
When we hit Revelation, it was amazing to hear the great things that are promised to those who know Christ, it filled me with great awe and joy and excitement.
But my heart broke into pieces as I heard judgment after judgment being proclaimed toward those who do not accept Christ. The brokenness and conviction overtook my excitement, because I saw peoples faces as I heard judgments being read.
And the knowledge that up until now, I have been playing a part in them experiencing those judgments. I was once one of those people! Who am I to hold back what will save them?!
I havent been able to shake seeing specific peoples faces, nor do I want to. It doesnt rob me of joy, it keeps me from selfishly focusing on me.
When we hit the end of Revelation, God was there! His presence so thick and real. As i laid out on the floor, he began to reconfirm things in my life, as well as bring some much need conviction into areas that I often let go lax. I need to step it up!!!
God cant fix you unless you are broken. You wont reach out for fixing, unless you too see yourself as broken.
My head is still buzzing with a lot of stuff from this past week.
Looking forward to further changes that are going to come out of this.
Broken for those who need Christ
Adam
Saturday, 22 August 2009
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Currently
Legendary
By Zao
The Ghost Psalm
see relatedBye Mom
HAHAHAHA! I recieved this forward quite awhile ago, and it just came back across my path. Some of you may have read it already, but I still think its funny. Enjoy.
A young man shopping in a supermarket
Noticed a little old lady following him around.
If he stopped, she stopped.
Furthermore she kept staring at him.
She finally overtook him at the checkout,
And she turned to him and said,
"I hope I haven't made you feel ill at ease;
it's just that you look so much like my late son."
He answered, "That's okay."
"I know it's silly, but if you'd call out
"Good bye, Mom" as I leave the store,
It would make me feel so happy."
She then went through the checkout,
And as she was on her way out of the store,
The man called out,
"Goodbye, Mom."
The little old lady waved, and smiled
Back at him
Pleased that he had brought a little sunshine
Into someone's day, he went to pay for his
Groceries.
"That comes to $121.85," said the clerk.
"How come so much ...
I only bought 5 items.."
The clerk replied,
"Yeah, but your Mother said
You'd be paying for her things, too."
Don't trust little Old Ladies!!!
Friday, 21 August 2009
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Currently
Suspension Of Disbelief
By AP2
The Pact
see relatedBirthday Thoughts
So today I have a lot of things running through my head. Well, actually thats not so different from any other day, but I took the day off from work today since its my birthday, so I took some time just to write out stuff bouncing around inside my skull. so I thought I would share some with you.
I have a lot of things that I would like to do. One thing that I think would be a lot of fun is backpacking around the U.S.. It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time, but dont know that it's one of those things that will ever get done.
What do I measure a life lived by? Is it by accomplishments, or by submission?
God re-confirmed to me today through the Bible that I have been called to the Detroit area, and am supposed to stay here.
My ideal prayer time is in the morning, in a room with all the lights off, lit by multiple candles, with some good metal or hardcore playing loud.
I need to let go of some of the simple aspirations that I have and take God's aspirations on as my own.
I like coffee with a little half and half, and sugar in the raw.
Living where God has called you to live requires to also live HOW he has instructed you to live. to do otherwise is very dangerous. This means you dont pick your convictions, you let God pick them for you.
I like black, and things that are dark.
Twitter and Facebook, usefull as they can be, are over used and abused. They create false relationships, and are substitutes for impersonal communication. You can know a lot about someone without ever talking to them. I want to be personal and deliberate about my relationships.
Being 20 makes me feel old. Ugh. Im not a teen anymore.
I love music, but dont like certain genres of music. What I like in music is passion. The voice and instruments dont always matter (unless of course they just completely suck). What matters to me is being able to hear conviction and passion in their sound.
Regrets are a funny thing. Some people people say they dont have any regrets. I think they are liars, and have a wrong view of the purpose of regrets. With something you regret, you have the opportunity to make an educated choice to act differently next time a similar situation comes up.
Jesus said he would protect those who follow and believe in him against snakes, and poison. That they would cast out demons, and heal the sick. But what is most Christians (American Christians) greatest fear? Not being killed for their faith, thats for sure. Nope, in my opinion, its rejection. It's pretty sick that we seek peoples approval when we know their lives are at stake.
Talk is cheap and solves nothing.
Even though the coffee isnt always better (or even as good) I like local coffee shops better than places like Starbucks. To me, a local coffee shop says, "were here for you.", Chain coffee houses say, "were here for your money."
This blog seems long.
I like steak a lot.
Whats floating around in your head?
Leave a comment if you want. Or dont. But you should cuz it's my birthday. HA
I love you
Adam
"Pray that the Lord will tell us where we should go and what we should do." Jeremiah 42:3
Wednesday, 05 August 2009
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Currently
To Hell with the Devil
By Stryper
More Than A Man
see relatedI was.... I am
I was a self-loathing, self-inflicting addict. A hater and a hypocrite. A slave to the chains I chose to be bound in. Self-motivated and self-devoted. But then, something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born. What undeserved mercy! Now that old me is a thing of the past.
I AM saved and set free by the grace of God. I am no good on my own, but must trust in Christ to lead me. I must admit, I am still an addict. But not to self, pain, or any form of drug. I am addicted to Christ, my life is devoted to him and his mission.
For to me, living is for Christ, and to die is even better. For my life is worth nothing unless I use it for the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus. The work of telling others the Good News of God's wonderful kindness and love.
Alive and LIVING
Dom
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
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Currently
Messengers
By August Burns Red
Redemption
see relatedWorth Nothing... Unless
But my life is worth nothing unless I use it work the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others the Good News of God's wonderful kindness and love. Acts 20:24
In order for us to consider our lives to be worth nothing unless we are doing this task, we must first become as if this task was spoken to us by the person of Jesus.
When the task grips us, nothing else in life matters. in fact it goes beyond that to consider your very existence to be a waste of space, if you are not doing the work.
It is true that we each have our own specific jobs to do, but this assignment is universal. It is all of our task to tell others about God's wonderful kindness and love.
When you do this task, not as a job, but because this is where your heart is, the value of your life then comes, not from what you have done, but from Christ; he gives you value.
Is your life worth anything if you just exist?
"If you're not living on the edge for Christ, your taking up too much space" -Chilly Chilton
Dom
Wednesday, 08 July 2009
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Currently
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing Nothing Is Dead and Nothing Is Bleeding
By The Chariot
If Wishes Were Horses, More Beggars Would Ride Them
see relatedWords, Thoughts, and Twitter
Earlier, I was using twitter from my phone and accidentally said "Are not in love with the Word of God?"
This obviously makes no sense at all, and could even look as if I were saying I was not in love with the Word of God. This was not my intention. what I meant to write was "Are you in love with the Word of God?" All that happened is I miss hit a key on my phone and it spelled "not" instead of "you". This got me thinking about a couple of things.
How careful are you with what you say?
Yesterday, Pastor Chilly sent a tweet inspired by Matthew 12:36,
36 Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously.
The tweet said, "...what IF our thoughts & secrets were twittered w/o our control? would others be shocked or encouraged? ... God knows:"
What kind of thoughts go through your head?
So yeah, be careful with what you say... and think.
Dont just talk to make noise, but speak to be listened to. Because people are listening.
Be deliberate with what you say.
I love you
Dom
Tuesday, 07 July 2009
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Currently
Catch for Us the Foxes
By mewithoutYou
Seven Sisters
see relatedThe Value of a Testimony
What kind of value does a testimony have? I am not only talking about in a spiritual sense, but as a general term, a testimony is probably the biggest selling point in anything. Testimony floods our media with different commercials of how a product helped someone, how well something worked, ect.
So why is it that as Christians it can seem uncomfortable to share our testimony of how Christ has changed our life? This is really on my heart and mind mainly because I have had many opportunities lately to share my testimony with others.
Here's the thing about a testimony of a changed life in Christ. That's pretty much all the early church had. Today, I think we have to a degree become shrouded in not sharing our experiences with others.
When the early church met together, they prayed, ate, and encouraged each other. How do you think they were encouraging? By saying, "keep up the good work."? Not at all. They were sharing about what God was actively doing in, and through them.
People are encouraged by a testimony, some people will be shocked that you are able to be so open. If you want to share Christ with others, where better to start than with a testimony of how your own life has changed?
Do you share your story with people?
Do people look at your life and want to know whats different about you?
Does the joy of Christ overflow from your life because Christ has changed your life?
Tryin my best to live real
Dom
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
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Currently
The Anti Mother
By Norma Jean
Robots 3 Humans 0
see relatedHmmm Some Stuff
Wow I havent been keeping up on my blog at all. And for that I am sorry.
So what has been going on with me?
Well for starters God has been showing me some pretty cool stuff lately. One of those things starts with my devotional time switching... again.
My devotional time has been in the morning for the majority of the time I've been actually spending time in the Word. But I have, at times, fallen into routine with this, and let it become just that; routine. When this happened I had such a hard time waking up in the morning, and a hard time falling asleep at night.
I would still try to keep mornings because that was "my time" in the word. But it had become just that, "MY time" instead of God's.
I felt like any time I was spending in the Word, he wasnt speaking to me. Then I realized that God was speaking to me. What he was doing was showing me that I wasnt in step with him. I didnt actually even realize this until I switched the time I spent in the Word to nights. If you're ordering your time with God around, are you actually spending time with him?
Last week some amazing students, and their youth pastors came out to Hamtramck to do essentially what takes place at War Week, only a lot more interpersonal.
They served their hearts out doing street clean up, and door-to-door ministry. They woke up every morning and fought for people and situations in prayer, they broke fears, had their eyes opened to a lot of things, and they heard God speak to them.
Unfortunately I had to work most of last week, so I barely got to spend time in ministry with them. But I did get to spend quite a bit of time talking, and praying with them. Each of them has the heart of a warrior, and God has some amazing plans for each of them.
My prayer for them now is this:
To keep the disciplines instilled this past week of deliberate set apart time in prayer, and in the Word.
To never stop serving those around you, doing so with a Christ like attitude.
To pray "impossible" prayers; things that are only possible through God's intervention.
To keep seeking out God's will, and the next step for their lives.
To hold each other accountable to holiness and specifically to things that God spoke to you this past week, even when it's uncomfortable.
That they would learn all they can from Pastor Vic. and Carole, and serve them.
I love you all
Dom
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
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Thanks Gary and Debbie
I know that I have thanked Gary and Debbie Auger on my blog before. But I have been once again reminded of how thankful I am for them.
For those of you who dont know, Debbie was one of my youth leaders, and her husband Gary had a mechanics business. I was out of work, Gary needed some help, Debbie knew I needed work and he needed help, so thus began my training in working on cars.
So, why am I reminded of why I am so thankful for Debbie connecting me and Gary, and for the time Gary invested in training me?
Well on Friday one of my friends told me that one of their shocks broke. And they were supposed to be leaving for a trip the next day. She couldve had a garage fix it, but that wouldve cost her about $600, maybe even more because of parts mark-up and labor.
I told her not to go to a garage and that I would be able to fix the car. Well long story short, I was able to fix the car for around $200.
Had it not been for Gary teaching/showing me how to work on cars, I would have had no idea how to do anything with cars.
Now the work on my friends car that I did, I had never done before, though I had done similar work. So working for Gary didnt only give me some knowledge and experience, it also gave me confidence to know that I am doing it the right way. Essentially, cars are simple; you take it apart and put it back together.
One of the benefits of learning mechanics from Gary was that not only did I not have to pay to be educated, but I was getting paid and an education and learning things I didnt know that I loved doing.
So yeah. Thanks again Gary and Debbie, and thanks Anthony for your help and use of space and tools.
Love you guys
Dom
p.s. anyone need work done on their car?
realadam085
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- Name: Adam
- Birthday: 8/21/1989
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 9/26/2007
Pulse
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is finishing out 2008 deliberately.
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my pulse is growing weaker.
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my pulse is growing weak. It hadnt gone off in over a month
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