29 August 2011

Will the Truth please stand up?

"Tell me the truth."
How many times have you said that? And what did you mean? Did you mean "tell me something that seems right to you, just tell me whatever you want." Or did you mean "Please tell me what really happened, no embellishments whatsoever."
 I think that you know, and I know, that you meant the second. But our society tends not to think that truth is that important.
 "Oh, just do whatever feels right to you."
  "You can't impose your standards on anyone else. Whats wrong for you may not be wrong for another person."
  "Truth is relative."
  "There are no absolutes."
 Do you believe that? I don't. I believe that truth, real Truth is absolute. That there is a real right, and a real wrong. It is very dangerous to believe that there are no absolutes. Why? Here, try inserting some different words in the previous statements.
  "Oh, go ahead and do drugs if it feels right for you."
  "While you may believe you cannot commit mass murder, someone else may. You can't say it's wrong."
  It is a example of bad logic to say Truth is relative. You can't say that truth is relative, because that becomes a relative statement. It may or may not be true, because you are assuming Truth is relative. Therefore, that statement isn't necessarily a true statement. Truth may, in fact, be absolute.
  There are absolutes. It is impossible to not have them. It cannot be 70 degrees Fahrenheit and -70 degrees in the same place at the same time. It is either one or the other. You cannot be telling the truth, and be telling a lie at the same time. It is one or the other. Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Math and Science have proven that there are absolutes. Those two fields cannot exist without them.
 Why else is it dangerous? Society must have standards on which to base. If there were no standards, there would be no society
  Where, than, do you find Truth?
 This is a fundamental question that everyone must answer at some point in time.
  I believe that Truth is found in Jesus Christ, Messiah. No one else.  
  He said  I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."( John 14:6)
 This is the basis of all Truth. His word is the Truth. God's word is the baseline measurement in all things.
 What He says goes. No matter what may seem right to you, if it isn't right to God, it's not right.
  But how am I to know what He says is the Truth?
  Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ( John 8:31b-32)
 His word. The word of God. The Bible. This is Truth.
 The Truth shall set you free.
 It will. After all, it is True.

Love:)
R

27 August 2011

Seize the Day by Carolyn Arrends

Well I know a girl who was schooled in Manhattan
She reads dusty books and learns phrases in Latin
She is an author, or maybe a poet
A genius but it's just this world doesn't know it
She works on her novel most every day
If you laugh she will say


Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day



Well I know a doctor, a fine young physician
Left his six-figure job for a mission position
He's healing the sick in an African clinic
He works in the dirt and writes home to the cynics
He says "We work through the night so most every day
As we watch the sun rise we can say



Seize the day, seize whatever you can 'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day



Well I know a man who's been doing some thinking
He's as bitter and cold as the whiskey he's drinking
He's talking 'bout fear, about chances not taken
If you listen to him you can hear his heart breaking
He says "One day you're a boy and the next day you're dead
I wish way back when someone had said



Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day



Well one thing I've noticed, wherever I wander
Everyone's got a dream he can follow or squander
You can do what you will with the days you are given
I'm trying to spend mine on the business of living
So I'm singing my songs off of any old stage
You can laugh if you want, I'll still say



Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day

25 August 2011

Isaiah 26:3-8

You will keep in perfect peace
   him whose mind is steadfast,
   because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
He humbles those who dwell on high,
   he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
   and casts it down to the dust.
Feet trample it down—
   the feet of the oppressed,
   the footsteps of the poor.
 The path of the righteous is level;
   O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.
 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws
   we wait for you;
your name and renown
   are the desire of our hearts.


Peace....perfect peace. O God, Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Love:)
R

24 August 2011

Princess

So you want to be a princess? Maybe not now, but I think every girl has wanted that at one time or another. It's a part of little-girlhood. Remember how you would dress up in your sparkly dress and run into the living room and twirl around for your family to see?
 "See? I'm a princess," you'd say. "Welcome to my castle. Would you like to have tea with me and my prince?"
 Your parents would smile and say they would love to, and the would squeeze into your little chairs and have a conversation over tea with you and your prince.
  As you got older, your tea parties faded away and other things took their place. But you still hold on to that princess, don't you? Your thoughts have turned to a real prince. Perhaps he isn't the heir to a throne, but you remember when guys you know act like they could be. Or maybe that in itself is only a dream. When a guy no matter how old treats you like a princess, like you are valuable and worth something, your heart gives a little leap. I recently had an older gentlemen who must have been close to 75 or 80 hold the door for me. I was reaching to open the door, and he took it and said,
 "here, let me do that."
 I was so pleased! Why? Because it's wonderful when someone treats you with respect and honor. Your self-worth skyrockets!
  As we get older, that's something attractive to us in guys. We want to know that we are honored and worth something. I think that's why many girls are "dating" younger and younger. They still hold that princess mentality. They are searching for that in guys.
  Not that the "princess mentality" is bad! On the contrary.  It is important to believe that you are worthy of respect, because you are! But when you turn to boys too young, or when you turn to boys first, things go wrong.
  "Well, who else is going to treat me that way?" you wonder.
  • God.
  • Your Dad.
  • Your brothers( yes, they are capable of human interaction.)
But what if the second two options aren't an option? That's where God comes in. He comes before your dad, before your brothers, before your future boyfriend or husband.
 The Bible says God is the King of kings. the Bible also says that anyone who accepts Christ becomes a child of God. What is a female child of a King? A Princess.
  If you have accepted Christ's amazing gift than you are a princess. It's better than being an earthly princess! Your Father is the King of an eternal kingdom, one without beginning or end. He is always there for you, always willing to listen. He is never too busy to listen to your fears and your joys, or to simply hold you while you cry. In Isaiah 43 your Father the King says
 "Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
   and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you....."
  See? You are precious to Him. You are honored. More than anything, He loves you.
 Sometimes in the Bible the name used for God is "Abba". This is simply the direct translation of the word "Daddy."
   Your Daddy the King of Kings.
  That is a name I love. Abba. Daddy.
 No matter how you think of yourself, your Abba loves you. Only He can determine your worth. Not others, not you.
  He determined your worth long before you were born. The price? His life. What did He do? He paid it. He loved you so much as His daughter, that, knowing every time you would pull away from Him already, He paid it anyway.
 You are someone worth dying for.
 That is what He wants you to know. You are a beloved, honored daughter of the King of kings.
 A Princess.

Instead of turning others first, turn to the One who values you more than anyone else. There is a time for everything. Your time for fulfillment in boys will come. But Your Abba in Heaven should be the one you come to first.

Love:)
 R


  

22 August 2011

A David Psalm

Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!” In awe before the glory,

in awe before God’s visible power.

Stand at attention!

Dress your best to honor him! God thunders across the waters,

Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—God, across the flood waters. God’s thunder tympanic,

God’s thunder symphonic. God’s thunder smashes cedars,

God topples the northern cedars. The mountain ranges skip like spring colts,

The high ridges jump like wild kid goats. God’s thunder spits fire. God thunders, the wilderness quakes;

He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing

A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.

We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!” Above the floodwaters is God’s throne

from which his power flows,

from which he rules the world. God makes his people strong.

God gives his people peace.

A David psalm (Psalm 29:1-11 MSG)

Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North

How long must I pray, must I pray to You
How long must I wait, must I wait for You
How long 'till I see Your face
See You shining through
 
I'm on my knees
Begging You to notice me
I'm on my knees
Father, will You turn to me, yeah?
 
One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
 
One life is all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?
 
I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye
But if there's no other way
I'm done asking why
 
'Cause I'm on my knees
Begging You to turn to me
I'm on my knees
Father, will You run to me, yeah?
 
One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
 
One life is all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?
 
So many questions without answers
Your promises remain
I can't see but I'll take my chances
To hear You call my name
To hear You call my name
One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
 
One life is all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?
 
Hold my heart
Could You hold my heart?
Hold my heart
 

20 August 2011

How do you run?

If you're in a race and you fall down, do you stay down and cry, get up and run away, or get up and keep running?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 ESV)

Life is the race set before us. We chose our path. Do you run your path complaining all the while of its steepness? Or do you run and lag behind, too caught up in the view of a moment ago? Or, do you run your hardest to the goal in sight, encouraging the faltering runners beside you?
I'd love to say that I run my race the third way. Too often, though, I am more the first or second. I tend to get caught wishing I could spend more time in the past, forgetting my end goal. C.S. Lewis said, " the present is the point where time touches eternity." I love that quote. (actually, I love anything C.S. Lewis) :) But this quote really makes me think. We have trouble comprehending the concept of eternity with our human brains. Time without end. A circle. But that's what this moment is. A point in eternity. So how we run our race becomes even more important. Our time here on earth is short compared to the rest of eternity. Solomon said "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV)
That is the goal of your race. Fear God. Keep his commands. How well are you running towards your goal?

Love :)
R

17 August 2011

Just a thought

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. (Ephesians 1:11, 12 MSG)

15 August 2011

Love song By Third Day

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves.
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain,
But I walked the hill of Calvary.

Just to be with you, I will do anything
There's no price I would not pay no
Just to be with you, I would give everything
I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
All of those dreams are an empty motion.
It can never be done.
I've never swam the deepest ocean,
But I walked upon the raging sea.

Just to be with you, I will do anything
There's no price I would not pay no
Just to be with you, I would give everything
I would give my life away.

I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love.
How I died upon the cross for your sins.
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I give you
But I promise, I would do it all again.

Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay no
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.
Just to be with you.

Love Story....

 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
   and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you.....
(Isaiah 43:4-5)

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Here, I think, God becomes personal. His desperate pursuing of us becomes evident. He, of course, being God, doesn't need us. But He wants us.  He loves us, and wants us to realize that. I think that's where some Christians go wrong. Christianity isn't a list of do's and don'ts. It isn't a fill-in-the-blank, check-all-the-boxes religion. It is a love story. The story of a God making Himself human, and choosing to "humble Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross."
  I watch many girls I know chasing after boys in hope of fulfillment. These girls aren't very old. Somewhere, somehow, they hope to find someone willing to fight for them.
 He's willing. Think about it....

Love :-)
R

Fyi....

So, as you may or may not know, I love quotes and all sorts of other stuff. So don't be surprised if you see some random quote, verse, poem, or song lyrics. Just know that they generally aren't as random as they seem. Go ahead and ask me if you want to know where something came from!

Love:)
R

14 August 2011

Welcome

Hi,
 and welcome to my blog! This is something I've been dreaming of for months now. Thank you to my friends who have encouraged me to go ahead and do this!
  You may wonder the purpose of this blog. Well, this is a place where I can share my thoughts with you. Where I can paint a picture of the dance between me and my Savior. Here I can share with you  things that I find important.
 Why the title Broken? Because this blog will have broken bits and pieces of things on it. Also, though, that's what I am. I am a broken, imperfect vessel, but by the grace of God, He isn't through with me yet!!! The final reason comes from the amazing song by lifehouse, lyrics below. I think this song does a pretty great job of explaining.

           Broken

The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
I am here still waiting though i still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain, there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain (in the pain), is there healing
In your name (in your name) I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin')
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm hangin' on another day
Just to see what you throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will be OK

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain(In the pain) there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'),
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'),
I'm barely holdin' on to you

Hope you enjoy my blog. Feel free to comment!

Love:-)

R