My heart is different.
i could blame it on a lot of different things, but i think the reality is that God is calling me to do something and I can't even pretend to be the same person.

My life has been changed. By Him. Who makes all things whole.
Thank you, Jesus, for not abandoning me in this desperate, broken state!

Here's what I've learned: I never want to get so comfortable in salvation that I forget what its like to be hopeless.. to be desperate.. to be LOST. I've seen time and time again that religion never saved anyone.. it never healed anyone.. it never satisfied anyone.
I remain certain that our God is faithful. And that the Gospel is true.
May my life reflect that! I want to love unreasonably,.. foolishly... recklessly... unto the cross. Because I have been shown love. True love. Real love that rescues.
There's just something about the grace of Yahweh that paralyzes me. It makes me stop dead in my tracks, too terrified to move in the presence of His majesty.

Last week we had fall break. I spent some time preparing for a disciple now coming up this weekend. The theme comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature..." I've read this verse time and time again, but WOW! Talk about being ruined!! If the old is really gone, NEW THINGS ARE HERE!!! What does that look like practically in my life?

Here's what I'm thinking: What if we (those of us who have been 'made new') were a community that was honest and raw instead of plastic and fake? What if our church wasn't a country club for the lukewarm but a group of people who passionately pursued Truth and the lost around us, knowing that discomfort and suffering were part of deal that we signed up for? What if we allowed ourselves to be used in a way that the community where we are RIGHT NOW would actually look different because the people that were apart of our community took the great commission and the Word of God seriously!? WOW!!!
Looks like true beauty to me.

The things of this earth are growing strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Beautiful Bride

Flyleaf is coming out with a new cd in November but they came out with this single yesterday. The lyrics really captured my heart.. especially the first chorus. What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ!! It truly is "incredible"! Enjoy!

Beautified diversity
Functioning as one body
Every part encouraged by the other
No one independent of another
You're irreplaceable, indispensable
You're incredible
You're incredible

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Strengthen your arms now
Train your fingers for battle
Urgency's here now
Train your fingers for battle
Fighting this violence
With your feet wrapped in peace
Sad tears and silence
Now screams of joy
Victory

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying

We're not gonna fall and forget
How far You went to pick us up
If one part's hurt the whole body's sick
If one part mourns we all mourn with Him
Rejoice, we'll sing with you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride