Tonight was night one of World Mandate.
It was really great. I have been struggling though with a since of compression....
Does that makes sense?
I feel as though I compress my feelings and emotions, I don't want them to drive me nor do I want them to take control of my life. I feel as if it's a fear brought on by my mother and her emotion driven life that I have seen bring her to a place that I hope to never be. I am often compared to my mom because of our spirit and way that we live and our spontaneity...
I hate being compared to my mother, she does have a compassionate heart, but I don't want to be anything like her. I know that is probably harsh, but it's something that drives me insane. So due to this, I feel as though I compress my feelings and emotions like I stated earlier. I never want to be to happy with something, thus allowing it to base my decisions off of it, nor do I want to become so upset with something, even to the point of making me cry. Crying is dumb to me, and it's a sign to me that I am weak and I am allowing the emotion of sadness to overwhelm me. It is a distinct feeling that I can point out time and time again in my life. I know it's probably not good or healthy, but it is how I feel.
Raw emotion scares me. It scares me to the point that I completely neglect it and over look it. I know it's probably something that I should look into, but it's something that I need to look to the root of the problem first. Which is dealing with my mother and the pain that goes in that general area.
Pain... Ergh, something that I am not too fond of. Tonight the speaker at W. Mandate, talked about the birthing pains of the world, the pains that go along with the arrival of the Lord. He made the metaphor of how natural birthing is typically quicker but more pain, and how if you get an epadoral that it will typically slow down the birthing process due to the fact that the mother doesn't feel the pain so she doesn't feel the urgency nor does she know how to push the infant out. With that being said, in order to solve the problem of me compressing my emotions, I feel as though I need to face the pain, and get it over, "No pain no glory?" I'm not sure, but I suppose I should quit trying to beat around the bush with the situation, but go ahead and face whatever it is that needs to happen to set the relationship straight between my mother and I.
Well I should get to bed, I have an early start in the morning! I will be updating a bit tomorrow most likely.
BTW, the speaker was using that referrence to the pains of the world, and how mothers typically won't push because they won't know how to push because they can't feel anything from the waist down. So they are pushing with there heads and not with there well... 'area'. :)
So the baby isn't coming out as quick, compared to if the mother knew where the pain was and knew the quicker she got the baby out the quicker the pain would stop. So using that as if we will go dive into the area of greatest pain we will be able to see faster solutions due to the fact that we are going where the most pain is at. Something like that I am sure I have missed represented something in there.
Good Night All!
Love You Guys!
Josh
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Love Drives Me Crazy
This is kind of random for me to put up, but the song is good to me! So I think you should go check it out! :)
http://www.myspace.com/joshcartermusic
The Lyrics are below!
And I have been thinking alot about love,
And all I have been dreaming of isn't very clear,
And I have been thinking alot about us,
And all I have been thinking of is this really real?
You and I are going somewhere,
Someone tell me where
And I have tried to figure us out
Nothing's very clear
(chorus)
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
Baby Lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
(Ohhh, Ohhhh, Ohhhhh)
My usual senses in all of my thoughts
All of my wits are gone
Lost up in the air
All of this suspense is all that I have got,
I can't even move at all,
And I can't live in fear, no.
You and I are going somewhere,
Someone tell me where
And I have tried to figure us out but nothing is very clear.
(chorus)
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
Baby Lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
(Love, Love, Love)
Give me a minute to figure this out,
We are up and we are down and we are in and we are out
And all of this thinking is wearing me, again
I can't figure out the place that we are in.
(chorus)
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
Baby Lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
Drives me Crazy
Baby lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
Support is cool! :)
Thanks Guys!
Love Ya
Josh
http://www.myspace.com/joshcartermusic
The Lyrics are below!
And I have been thinking alot about love,
And all I have been dreaming of isn't very clear,
And I have been thinking alot about us,
And all I have been thinking of is this really real?
You and I are going somewhere,
Someone tell me where
And I have tried to figure us out
Nothing's very clear
(chorus)
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
Baby Lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
(Ohhh, Ohhhh, Ohhhhh)
My usual senses in all of my thoughts
All of my wits are gone
Lost up in the air
All of this suspense is all that I have got,
I can't even move at all,
And I can't live in fear, no.
You and I are going somewhere,
Someone tell me where
And I have tried to figure us out but nothing is very clear.
(chorus)
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
Baby Lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
(Love, Love, Love)
Give me a minute to figure this out,
We are up and we are down and we are in and we are out
And all of this thinking is wearing me, again
I can't figure out the place that we are in.
(chorus)
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
Baby Lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
Drives me Crazy
Baby lately you've been so shady
L - O - V - E
Drives Me Crazy
I just can't seem to find it lately
Support is cool! :)
Thanks Guys!
Love Ya
Josh
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Man in the Mirror
I want to be about something different
Something more than the mirror can see
Like joy, peace
Alive in me
When it comes to my identity
I want the love
I want the light
I want the beauty
On the inside
I want the one that you can't see
To be the definition of me
I feel like I am being fake often when I strive to be Christ-like. Like I'm putting up this front of who I REALLY am. I am nasty and disgusting when you look under the surface. I have a heart full of lust, a heart full of lies, and a mind full of gossip and betrayal. I'm a sinner, and really good at it. Yet when I am doing 'my job'. I feel like I put this face on, and I turn into a "Man of God." I try, boy do I try to be transparent, I try to just let myself be as open as possible, but I feel like my motives are so that I can say, "I told you so" when I DO screw up.
I realize we are all sinners, and I realize that I am forgiven. Yet, when I do want Him to define me, and He does in so many ways, He has taken so much from me and replaced it with such good characteristics. He has been totally remodeling me from the ground up, yet I still feel like there are places in my life that I am an ol' run down mill that just should be demolished and rebuilt.
Thinking about it, that is what He has done, and perhaps He just hasn't gotten to those areas yet. He does totally demolish the areas of my life He doesn't like. Then He just rebuilds it. He does make me a Man of God. He makes my identity in Him.
When people see that, Man of God, they are actually seeing Him, in me. They are witnessing the true miracle of salvation, the view of the Son of God, the Lord and Savior of the World, inside me, using me, allowing me to glorify Him with my actions and words. That's encouraging.
Something more than the mirror can see
Like joy, peace
Alive in me
When it comes to my identity
I want the love
I want the light
I want the beauty
On the inside
I want the one that you can't see
To be the definition of me
I feel like I am being fake often when I strive to be Christ-like. Like I'm putting up this front of who I REALLY am. I am nasty and disgusting when you look under the surface. I have a heart full of lust, a heart full of lies, and a mind full of gossip and betrayal. I'm a sinner, and really good at it. Yet when I am doing 'my job'. I feel like I put this face on, and I turn into a "Man of God." I try, boy do I try to be transparent, I try to just let myself be as open as possible, but I feel like my motives are so that I can say, "I told you so" when I DO screw up.
I realize we are all sinners, and I realize that I am forgiven. Yet, when I do want Him to define me, and He does in so many ways, He has taken so much from me and replaced it with such good characteristics. He has been totally remodeling me from the ground up, yet I still feel like there are places in my life that I am an ol' run down mill that just should be demolished and rebuilt.
Thinking about it, that is what He has done, and perhaps He just hasn't gotten to those areas yet. He does totally demolish the areas of my life He doesn't like. Then He just rebuilds it. He does make me a Man of God. He makes my identity in Him.
When people see that, Man of God, they are actually seeing Him, in me. They are witnessing the true miracle of salvation, the view of the Son of God, the Lord and Savior of the World, inside me, using me, allowing me to glorify Him with my actions and words. That's encouraging.
He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still
And your hearts are stone
Crying "God what'd you do that for?"
He is with you
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still
And your hearts are stone
Crying "God what'd you do that for?"
He is with you
He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
And He is with you in the ICU when the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
And He is with you in the ICU when the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you
He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space and you feel alone
And your worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you
When there's too much space and you feel alone
And your worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you
When nothing else is left and you take your final breath
He is with you
He is with you
Mandisa - He is with You
How much you are loved.
Take the depths of the deepest ocean and go deeper
Take the top of the tallest tower and go higher
Take the best day that you've ever had
Try to imagine better than that
And it still don't come close
To how much you are loved
Mandisa - How Much
These are just totally encouraging lyrics to me. Music is phenomenal!
These are just some of the things that were flowing through my mind today!
Have a stinking amazing weekend everyone!
Love You Guys
Josh
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
You Risk Tears if You Let Yourself Be Tamed.
I haven't posted in a while, basically due to the fact that I have pretty busy. Life hasn't been too overwhelming but is has been constant, and constant in the fact that I haven't had much time to myself.
I have though for the past two days been off which has been very nice, I did some reading, which didn't take long. I read a book called "The Little Prince." Very easy and quick read, but so deep. Just opening doors to the reality of many situations we consume ourselves with as 'man.
Lazy: We have become a culture that want's to buy and buy and buy quick fix items so that we save time, and get instant gratification. Is that a good thing? Have we become so accustom to being able to using our money and our selfishness to get what we want, that we won't even spend time make good, valuable, meaningful relationships? I mean I guarantee that if there was a store to buy friends, it would make more money than Apple Inc. and Windows Inc. combined.
Reign: We all desire someone to be over, we want to be important to someone, we have a desire to matter, to have authority, to be in charge. Right or Wrong it is still a fixation that we consume ourselves with at times. If we could just have it our way everything would be ok. Yet, we will never be in a place to have it 'OUR WAY' all the time, unless we exclude ourselves to a place to where we are by ourselves, leaving it pointless to have it our way. What good is it to be in authority, if you are in authority over no one? Leaving us relationship less and alone
Vain: We want anyone and everyone to clap for our accomplishments constantly seeking the approval of others and yearning the glamor of the world. Forgetting the love of the people around you because you are so self-seeking and self proclaimed that no one else even matters. Driving out anyone and everyone may have even once cared about you.
Compulsion:
"What are you doing?"
"Drinking"
"Why are you drinking"
"To forget"
"To forget what?"
"To forget that I am ashamed"
"What are you ashamed of?"
"Drinking"
The sad thing about this is, we do get into these pitiful cycles without even acknowledging the fact that we have a problem. We find whatever we can to go over our problems making the problem bigger by covering up because you soon just cover the original problem with bigger problems.
Busy?: Focusing in on what is important is great, but when you priorities are out of line it can be horrible. We often focus our priorities on being successful, reliable, important to those who don't matter, bosses, co-workers, clients, when your family is laying in the dust. When you put your success in your family and your reliability on your wife/husband and kids, or try to make yourself important to your spouse, or children, that is when your world will have meaning. When you set your priorities on the things your eyes will never see.
Knowledge: The saddest thing I've read was a geographer who spent his lives studying maps of places he would never visit due to the fact that he was too busy filling his head with knowledge of these places, to bring his head out of the book in order to live a little and 'explore.'
Tamed: When will we open our hearts to be tamed to someone. To 'create ties'. When will we be able to feel the pain of missing someone. When will start asking the questions that really matter? When we ask about someone's friend do we not ask:
"How old is he?"
"How many brothers does he have?"
"How much does he weigh?"
"How much money does he make?"
Which are quite ridiculous questions, when in actuality the questions that matter are:
"What does his voice sound like?"
"What game does he like best?"
"Does he have a butterfly collection?"
Forcing us to know someone better on a more intimate level. Our priorities are out of whack because we don't want to use our imaginations and live a bit. We don't want to make ties to someone who may end of being the root of all evil. We don't want to spend time trying to get to know someone who may want nothing to do with you.
No one is ever satisfied where he is.
What makes things beautiful is actually invisible. One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.
I realize that this is alot of random thoughts and it can seem a bit chaotic at times, but please remember, "All grown-ups were children at one time, yet few of them remember it."
Remember
Love You Guys,
Josh
I have though for the past two days been off which has been very nice, I did some reading, which didn't take long. I read a book called "The Little Prince." Very easy and quick read, but so deep. Just opening doors to the reality of many situations we consume ourselves with as 'man.
Lazy: We have become a culture that want's to buy and buy and buy quick fix items so that we save time, and get instant gratification. Is that a good thing? Have we become so accustom to being able to using our money and our selfishness to get what we want, that we won't even spend time make good, valuable, meaningful relationships? I mean I guarantee that if there was a store to buy friends, it would make more money than Apple Inc. and Windows Inc. combined.
Reign: We all desire someone to be over, we want to be important to someone, we have a desire to matter, to have authority, to be in charge. Right or Wrong it is still a fixation that we consume ourselves with at times. If we could just have it our way everything would be ok. Yet, we will never be in a place to have it 'OUR WAY' all the time, unless we exclude ourselves to a place to where we are by ourselves, leaving it pointless to have it our way. What good is it to be in authority, if you are in authority over no one? Leaving us relationship less and alone
Vain: We want anyone and everyone to clap for our accomplishments constantly seeking the approval of others and yearning the glamor of the world. Forgetting the love of the people around you because you are so self-seeking and self proclaimed that no one else even matters. Driving out anyone and everyone may have even once cared about you.
Compulsion:
"What are you doing?"
"Drinking"
"Why are you drinking"
"To forget"
"To forget what?"
"To forget that I am ashamed"
"What are you ashamed of?"
"Drinking"
The sad thing about this is, we do get into these pitiful cycles without even acknowledging the fact that we have a problem. We find whatever we can to go over our problems making the problem bigger by covering up because you soon just cover the original problem with bigger problems.
Busy?: Focusing in on what is important is great, but when you priorities are out of line it can be horrible. We often focus our priorities on being successful, reliable, important to those who don't matter, bosses, co-workers, clients, when your family is laying in the dust. When you put your success in your family and your reliability on your wife/husband and kids, or try to make yourself important to your spouse, or children, that is when your world will have meaning. When you set your priorities on the things your eyes will never see.
Knowledge: The saddest thing I've read was a geographer who spent his lives studying maps of places he would never visit due to the fact that he was too busy filling his head with knowledge of these places, to bring his head out of the book in order to live a little and 'explore.'
Tamed: When will we open our hearts to be tamed to someone. To 'create ties'. When will we be able to feel the pain of missing someone. When will start asking the questions that really matter? When we ask about someone's friend do we not ask:
"How old is he?"
"How many brothers does he have?"
"How much does he weigh?"
"How much money does he make?"
Which are quite ridiculous questions, when in actuality the questions that matter are:
"What does his voice sound like?"
"What game does he like best?"
"Does he have a butterfly collection?"
Forcing us to know someone better on a more intimate level. Our priorities are out of whack because we don't want to use our imaginations and live a bit. We don't want to make ties to someone who may end of being the root of all evil. We don't want to spend time trying to get to know someone who may want nothing to do with you.
No one is ever satisfied where he is.
What makes things beautiful is actually invisible. One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.
I realize that this is alot of random thoughts and it can seem a bit chaotic at times, but please remember, "All grown-ups were children at one time, yet few of them remember it."
Remember
Love You Guys,
Josh
Saturday, January 9, 2010
She's the bee's knees and I am the cat's meow.
You wrote a letter and You signed your name
I read every word of it page by page
You said that You'd be coming, coming for me soon
Oh my God I'll be ready for You
I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song
I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
'Well done my child, enter in and rest'
Tears of joy roll down my cheek
It's beautiful beyond my wildest dreams
I read every word of it page by page
You said that You'd be coming, coming for me soon
Oh my God I'll be ready for You
I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song
I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
'Well done my child, enter in and rest'
Tears of joy roll down my cheek
It's beautiful beyond my wildest dreams
I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing...
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing...
Some of the most beautiful Lyrics I've read in a very long time.
Phil Wickham - Heaven Song
These past few days have been pretty busy, I have been in this lousy funk. I wish I could explain it. It seems as if the more God is there and He is trying to work in me and with me, the more I am like, uhh... Not now God.
How Remarkable... The fact that THE Lord and Savior, wants me! Yet typically, I won't give Him the time of day. Who am I? Why is it that when He is there urging me to come close to Him that I will before seeking Him, go do ANYTHING else. I know how sweet He is, how wonderful it is to be in close unison to Him, yet I consume my time with 'junk'.
"JUNK" - Work, Friends, Family, Texting, Games, BLOGGING, Sleeping, etc. the list can go on endlessly I assure you!
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Phil Wickham - Safe
More true words have never been spoken. Oh how I know that I am safe in His arms, His very presence and words calm my every fear and anxiety. He is so good to me. His love encompasses all fear and pain. His very presence turns evil away. Yet why can't I just hold tight to that? It's like I am constantly trying to get away from that. What is wrong with being protected, and letting Him do it all for me?
it’s time to hold your shield,
it’s time to draw your sword,
let’s lead the resistance,
oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, it’s time.
Yeah it’s time.
The time is now, for lifting souls.
The time is now, for letting go.
From your skin, to your core.
Let light, and love, come rushing through the door.
it’s time to draw your sword,
let’s lead the resistance,
oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, it’s time.
Yeah it’s time.
The time is now, for lifting souls.
The time is now, for letting go.
From your skin, to your core.
Let light, and love, come rushing through the door.
Phil Wickam - The Time is Now
When are we going to get over our own problems and tribulations and start to 'pick up our shields and swords' and start pouring light and love onto this dark world that so desperately desires it? When are we going to lay down ourselves, and start living for the millions of souls that don't know Him? What does it cost us? Our lives? Seriously? We are going to heaven it's not our souls we should be worried about, it's those who we are afraid to speak up to. How real is that?
O God, thou art my God; earnestly will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, In a dry and weary land, where no water is. So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary, To see thy power and thy glory. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee. So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips;
Psalms 63:1-5
My life has been sucking lately, if you find it in your time pray that I will just continue to seek him. In this dry and weary land where there is no water. I know I have seen Him in the sanctuary, I have beheld His power and His Glory. I KNOW His love is better than life, this is why I continue to praise Him with my Entirety. I know He can deliver me, and I know He will deliver me.
Thanks!
Love You Guys!
Josh
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Joy Factor
Saved - Forgiven - Given Grace - Mercy Poured - Love Perfected - Sacrifice Made - Death Conquered - Savior Slain
Our Hearts are so deeply impressionable. The world is constantly telling us, "you're not good enough", "be faster", "be smarter", "be normal" all being followed by the "You can do it" mentality. We are being forced into a generation that follows generations after generations of sinful addictions. Sex, Lust, Porn, Jealousy, Envy, Insecurities, Homosexuality, Drunkenness, Drugs, Lying, Murder, Adultery, the list could actually go on forever. All of these things that have been impressed upon of from Fathers, Mothers, Grandparents, Teachers, Pastors, Mentors, Brothers, Friends, Classmates, Teammates, and even complete strangers. We continue to find ourselves indulging in a world that makes all of this acceptable. Consumed by wanting and desiring more and more of what ever it is we can get our hands on. Focusing ourselves on something that can't be obtained with out sacrificing... something. So we move on to the next thing, until we find ourselves caught up in this place that will chew you up and spit you out in the blink-of-an-eye and leave you in a world of hurt. With pain leaking out of every orphis you have, you can't help but wonder 'how do I fix it'? So you go from one pain to another, until you have given up and settle for something so much less than what is offered.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...
-Matthew 11:28
those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
-Isaiah 40:31
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23
Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
-John 16:24
Today I spent my day just beating myself up once again, because I was consuming myself with the sins that I was committing. The sins that I felt as if I was trapped under. When the reality of the situation was, I trap myself by my pride. My "you can do it" mentality. The idea behind having to come before the Lord to say, "God I can't do this, I do suck, I am sinful piece of material, that you have found in your eyes LOVABLE enough to shine down on in MY deepest darkest times. You Lord find it by YOUR mercy, that I can shine your love to others. That I Lord, may be used by YOU to lift up YOUR name! Father forgive me, my heart desires to disobey you even when you give me EVERY opportunity to step out of sin, and into YOUR light! God here is my life." Loosing all pride, and being humbled by the grace and mercy of the Lord.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
-Titus 3:4-7
NOTHING we do will ever be good enough to save our own souls and bring us from the wandering desires that need to be filled by the Lord. We must recognize it is by Him alone that we will be satisfied, it is by Him alone that we will be saved. It is by Him alone that we will have eternal life.
That is "The Joy Factor"
Love You Guys,
Josh
Our Hearts are so deeply impressionable. The world is constantly telling us, "you're not good enough", "be faster", "be smarter", "be normal" all being followed by the "You can do it" mentality. We are being forced into a generation that follows generations after generations of sinful addictions. Sex, Lust, Porn, Jealousy, Envy, Insecurities, Homosexuality, Drunkenness, Drugs, Lying, Murder, Adultery, the list could actually go on forever. All of these things that have been impressed upon of from Fathers, Mothers, Grandparents, Teachers, Pastors, Mentors, Brothers, Friends, Classmates, Teammates, and even complete strangers. We continue to find ourselves indulging in a world that makes all of this acceptable. Consumed by wanting and desiring more and more of what ever it is we can get our hands on. Focusing ourselves on something that can't be obtained with out sacrificing... something. So we move on to the next thing, until we find ourselves caught up in this place that will chew you up and spit you out in the blink-of-an-eye and leave you in a world of hurt. With pain leaking out of every orphis you have, you can't help but wonder 'how do I fix it'? So you go from one pain to another, until you have given up and settle for something so much less than what is offered.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...
-Matthew 11:28
those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
-Isaiah 40:31
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23
Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
-John 16:24
Today I spent my day just beating myself up once again, because I was consuming myself with the sins that I was committing. The sins that I felt as if I was trapped under. When the reality of the situation was, I trap myself by my pride. My "you can do it" mentality. The idea behind having to come before the Lord to say, "God I can't do this, I do suck, I am sinful piece of material, that you have found in your eyes LOVABLE enough to shine down on in MY deepest darkest times. You Lord find it by YOUR mercy, that I can shine your love to others. That I Lord, may be used by YOU to lift up YOUR name! Father forgive me, my heart desires to disobey you even when you give me EVERY opportunity to step out of sin, and into YOUR light! God here is my life." Loosing all pride, and being humbled by the grace and mercy of the Lord.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
-Titus 3:4-7
NOTHING we do will ever be good enough to save our own souls and bring us from the wandering desires that need to be filled by the Lord. We must recognize it is by Him alone that we will be satisfied, it is by Him alone that we will be saved. It is by Him alone that we will have eternal life.
That is "The Joy Factor"
Love You Guys,
Josh
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