Season of Sorrow

Maw-maw, my maw-maw, where are you tonight? This is the 4th Christmas I will have to endure without your presence. As the pain sets in I miss you more. Life has not been the same since you left us all those years ago. You kept our family alive. We have slithered to destruction without you as our glue. I never thought we could fall apart so much. I just want to scream and pull my hair out. I know you will never read this or never know how much I miss you.

Unworthy and Worthless

Often times throughout my life I would look in the mirror and simply whisper the word "worthless". This is what I ultimately thought of myself.

What does it mean to be worthless? Being worthless means to have no value, no meaning, no use.

Without value, use or meaning there is no reason to live or even want to live.

Naturally, since I thought myself to be worthless, I also thought myself to be unworthy. What was I unworthy of? Love. Acceptance. Friendship. Life.

Why would anyone ever look at me and love me for me? No one would ever be able to love such an unworthy person.

Unworthy and worthless. Nothing more. At least, that is what I thought. It was a long and lonely trip deep into a dark pit of despair and abandonment of any care before finding out how truly wrong I was.

Imagine the darkest black you have ever seen. Impenetrable by light. Sucking away all life from anything in existence. That was my address. The place I called home. A home in which one could not find enough comfort to sleep, but also no reason to stay awake. Being ripped apart by each demented thought. Being choked by the lies of Satan. No hope and no reason remained.

Then suddenly, blasting away the darkness, came a love unlike any other. Jesus came running for me. Fighting away all the demons I let consume me. He placed me on His shoulders and carried me away from that pit. Taking the jabs for me. Bloody and bruised, he redeemed me. Freed me from my prison.

Jesus gave me a home on His shoulders. I never have to leave. I can rest comfortably on His shoulders as long as I want to. This is my new home.

Jesus let me know that I am worthy. I am worthy of His love, His acceptance, His friendship, and His life. I do have worth. I am worth His blood and His body. He took on flesh and accepted a brutal death so that I don't have to suffer.

Purely by the grace of God I am worthy and I have worth!

If Jesus Returned Tomorrow

When I was a child my family did not regularly attend church. With my two older brothers I often attended various youth groups. We pretty much just went for the fun and games. I remember when I was around 9 or 10 we discussed when we would start living a Christian lifestyle. I stated that when I turned 40 I would probably then be willing and ready to live life as a Christian.

Last night at the Impact bible study one questioned asked was, "Are you anticipating the return of Jesus?" After some discussion, one student boldly declared, "Many people would live differently if they knew Jesus would return tomorrow. I know I would." That just pains my soul so I could only imagine how that makes Jesus feel. Many of us, myself included, aren't living wholly for Jesus and realize there are some things we have to change before His return. The return of the Messiah is near, but there are some things that still have to happen, according to the bible, before it takes place. Knowing this makes it easier for many of us to live in sin. By sin I mean not completely sanctified in His spirit.

What are we waiting for? We may not all live to be 40 so why continue to wait? Jesus here now. Calling to us and asking us to follow him. Giving us many opportunities and reasons to, yet we still hold back? Holding back from the One who came and died and defeated Satan and gives us life. To me it doesn't make any sense.


This leads me to my question. If Jesus returned tomorrow, would you know Him? Matthew 24:24 states "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very Elect" To me that is something that makes me want to know Jesus even more. I don't want to be deceived by a false prophet. The only way I find it possible to not be taken by one of the false prophets is to not depend on Jesus for His miracles, but instead for His love and relationship. If we can get ourselves to develop a relationship with Christ and not what He does for us, we will be ready for His return.

The day Jesus does return will be a beautiful day. For this day I cannot wait. But until that day is upon us I will continue to fashion my life in a way that not only glorifies God, but also brings people to know Him. Praise be to God.

Holy Battle Rage

I am ready for the war of the ages. I stand, sword in hand, behind the only One I ever wish to lead me into battle. Holy battle rage! Holy battle rage!
I seek the leadership of no man. I am already dead to this world and I have nothing left to fear. I've pledged my allegiance to the Lord. Holy battle rage! Holy battle rage!
Protected by the full armor of God, no weapon formed against me will prosper. I have the power to end your existence within me. Holy battle rage! Holy battle rage!
Nothing can stop me at this point. I am storming the gates of hell with zero notion of retreat. The battle is already won, now we must let it rage. Holy battle rage! Holy battle rage!
You fought against my King and now you beg for mercy. I wrap my hands around your throat and choke out your final words. Holy battle rage! Holy battle rage!

We fight this day for the glory of our King!
We fight this day for the glory of our King!
Surrender you fool before the final bells Ring!

--

It's been a long time since I wrote anything of any poetic value to me. I have to be strong in a certain emotion to even get the thought to write. Well, I am currently in battle mode. I am pumped up for any battle against Satan and even more so for that final battle. The day Satan is cast into the lake along with all things evil is a day I long for. But until then, I am donning the Holy Armor to fight all battles in the name of Jesus. I will no longer be beat down by the evil ways of the one who is eternally damned. I have the ability to cast down all evil spirits and to fight away all demons. I will not tremble if Satan himself stands before me ready to fight. I am a soldier in the Army of God! There is great power in proclaiming that. Put on your Armor of God, grab your Sword of the Spirit, stand your ground with faith in God, and let this holy battle rage!

Complaining About a Luxury

This past weekend I got an amazing opportunity to go on a Fall Retreat with a group of college students associated with Impact Campus Ministries. Many things occurred during the retreat and I will post about a majority of it later. However, I really feel God tugging on my heart to first share about one thing in particular that He revealed to me.

 One frigid autumn evening a young man is about to turn-in for the night. He dons his pajamas, lays out his pillow, opens up his sleeping bag and slips inside. Slightly chilled he decides to zip the sleeping bag all the way up and cover his head. The young man tosses and turns a few times and finally drifts off to sleep.
 About a half hour into his sleep, he awakes. Thinking to himself, "This cot is too thin, this bunk is too loud, this bag is too small, and it's just way too hot in this cabin!" After a few adjustments the young man gives it another try. Soon, he is able to nod off yet again. Many times throughout the night a similar scenario takes place. Never completely reaching a comfortable state.
 *Beep Beep* *Beep Beep* *Beep Beep*  It is now 6:35 in the morning. The young man, drenched in sweat and wholly disgusted, reaches over and shuts off the alarm. Excited about what God has in store for him he decides to move past the vexatious evening and hop into the shower.
 Feeling clean and rejuvenated he makes his way down to the fellowship hall. Still a bit sleepy-eyed he chooses to grab a cup of coffee and sit down by the fire. No one else is around. He finds it is a good time to read his bible and journal a bit about the previous evening.
 One after another, people begin to trickle in. Some will gather around various games and others will cozy up near the fire. A hallow hum of conversation occupies the atmosphere. In no time, the inevitable question finds its way to the young man. "How did you sleep last night?" one student inquires. The young man replies, "Not well at all. It was way too hot in the cabin. I was covered in sweat when I woke up." The student agrees it was a bit warmer than he would have preferred. In and out of conversation the palaver finally dies away, leaving the young man, once again, to his own thoughts.
 A few minutes into thought and "BAM!", it hits him, "I just complained about a luxury, a blessing, than many people go without." 

Yea, this is a true story. I caught myself complaining about something God blessed me with. Many people are, right at this very moment, laying on hard ground and shivering. Some may have multiple layers of clothes they found laying around or some old newspapers to lay on, but many of them have not even that. Not a stitch of extra blanket, not a bit of padding to place between their body and the frosty ground. Some people beg for change so they can buy booze in order to gain the false sense of heat hoping to combat against the nippy winds that rips through their dilapidated clothing. While there are people out there freezing to death, I am complaining about being warm.

Previously this year I met nearly 20 different homeless men and women. Some of them are able to find a bed at a local shelter when the temperatures decrease. While others are turned away due to over-crowding. I normally would have expected these people to be faithless. Not so. Even when faced with such hard times, more than a few of these people were completely thankful to God for anything and everything they had. If they were blessed with extra food, they willingly offered it to another person of misfortune that needed it.

My brethren that go without do not complain about having too little, yet I complain about too much?

Talk about God blasting you in the face with a revelation! I am grateful that he did. I hope that I can take this encounter and carry it through life. When I begin to complain about all that I have, I pray that I will be reminded of this moment and instead of complaining shout thanks to the Provider.

Thank you Jesus for the luxury to be too warm.

 

Casting Crowns - Come To The Well

I am absolutely loving this album! I am sure you will too. Enjoy it!

A Letter To My Dad

Tonight I went with a few people to see the movie Courageous. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Also, take lots of tissues. Courageous is about a few fathers who decide "good enough" isn't enough. They sign a covenant between them, God and their families to go that extra mile. Even though I am not a father, this movie hit home really hard. At one point in the movie, the Sheriff reads some statistics to the men about those who grow up without their fathers are several times more likely to commit suicide, or even more so to turn to a life of crime. Even though I knew my father and had a step-dad in the home, I still felt fatherless. I have held much resentment for my birth father for many years. After seeing this movie, I feel I need to write my father a letter and express to him how I feel. These are some things I have held on to for years and it is time I relieve myself of it. I pray that everyone gets to grow up with a father they know loves them. If you are not so lucky, I pray that you are blessed as I am to realize that no matter your relationship your earthly father, you have a father in Heaven that absolutely adores you and laid down his own life so that you may live. I wouldn't normally post something so personal on a blog, but my hope is that this will give you the courage to repair any broken relationship you may have with your parents or children. Feel free to read the letter I am writing to my father.

Dear dad,

  I just finished watching the movie "Courageous" and felt a need to share with you some things I have been carrying for a long time.

As you may know, I just had my 22nd birthday. After 22 years, I don't really know you. Sure, you have been around and you didn't completely abandon me, but you also weren't there when I needed you. I have so few memories with you growing up. What I remember most is any time I was at grandma's I wished that you would show up. When I would hear you were going to come over I would sleep on the front porch because I knew it would make the time between then and when you showed up feel significantly less. Any moment I got to spend with you was something I treasured dearly.

As I grew older I had less of an expectation to see you. As that expectation grew more and more shallow, the need grew deeper. I needed a dad in my life and couldn't look at you as mine. I prayed that you would call and want to see me. I rarely received such call. I started to realize that you had a family that needed you and you had to be there for them. But even though I realized that and lived with my mom and step-dad, I remained broken and alone. I fell deep into depression, not because of you, but you weren't there.

You would sometimes tell me to call if I wanted to spend time with you. I never did. Why? I didn't call because I didn't want to be needy and pull you away from your real family to spend time with your bastard child. I still had a need, however, to want to be wanted by my dad. I wanted a dad that loved me out of choice, not out of necessity.

I have held on to resentment of you for the last few years. I trained myself to not think of you as my father, but as an uncle. I know you are my father, but the connection between a dad and his child was never there. But it is okay. I am writing this letter to you not to make you feel guilty, but to tell you I forgive you. Also, you have three children living with you of whom it is not too late to be a dad to. Don't let work and stress overtake your life and steal away your time to be a dad. Be there for them. Not out of obligation, but out of love. I pray that you choose to be not just their father, but even more so, be their daddy. Be the one they can look to for sound advice, be the one they can learn from, be the one they can lean on when their heart is broken. Don't let them go away feeling resentment.

As I mentioned earlier, my 22nd birthday just passed. This was a day of deep depression for me. It reminded me that the one person I looked up to and actually felt loved by was no longer with us. Usually this is a day of celebration for being alive another year. But instead, for me, it was a day of mourning for the loss of grandma. Even though I had slept most the day away, I was happy when the doorbell rang and Karen woke me up saying you were there. Turns out, it was the pastor and his wife from a church she attended and they drove a car similar to yours.

There is so much I wanted to say in this letter but I just can't think clearly right now. I pray that I will soon have the courage to talk about this with you face to face and that you will be willing to listen. I love you.

Your son,
Greg

I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.

1 Oh, what joy for those

      whose disobedience is forgiven,

      whose sin is put out of sight!

 2 Yes, what joy for those

      whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,

      whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

 3 When I refused to confess my sin,

      my body wasted away,

      and I groaned all day long.

 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

      My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

                         

 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you

      and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

   I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”

      And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Psalm 32: 1-5

Yup, that's right. If we stop trying to cover-up our transgressions from the God that knows all, we can live free of guilt! This is great news. I don't know about you, but I am sure tired of hiding from God and covering up my sins. Verses 3 and 4 are probably some of the hardest words for me to grasp. Really. Think about it. Is it true that we may be causing some of the problems in our own lives? Well that is what it looks like. If we continue to hide our sins from God, how is he supposed to offer us the grace that we long for? When I read verse 5, I get such an amazing revelation. I no longer have to suffer guilt! I confess and I am forgiven and am cleansed of all guilt. Hallelujah! 

Abba, I come to you in complete surrender. I have sinned against you and your Name. I vow to never hide anything from you again. This guilt I have suffered for so long, I lay it at your feet. I am sorry for all the times I have turned away from you and was too ashamed to ask for your forgiveness. Please, Oh Lord, settle into my heart and never let me push you out. Cleanse me, Father, of all the sins I have committed against you. My addictions that get in the way of me loving you wholly, my lack of trust, my stubbornness, my fears, Lord, I lay it all down and pray that you will free me from the shackles of guilt I have put myself in. Amen, and amen.

Are you fired up for Jesus?

Really, are you fired up for Jesus? WAIT! Don't you dare answer that with word! What are you thinking? Show Him! Don't show me. Don't show your pastor. Don't show your congregation. Show Him! Do you want to dance for joy every time you hear the name of Jesus? Why aren't you rejoicing? Did you hear what I just said? J-E-S-U-S! Do you understand what a truly remarkable name that is? Do you understand what He did for you and I? The God of the Universe got up off his throne and became a man. Yea...a man. Would you be willing to leave your throne if you were THE KING? The King over all? Would you sacrifice yourself to become a human being? AH! I just want to leap for joy at the mere utterance of His name! So let me do this again...JESUS! Right now, no matter where you are or who is around, get up and do a little dance of joy for the Lord! I think he deserves it. Don't you? Anyway, back to my original question. Are you truly fired up? We shouldn't have to actually answer that question because it should be shown through or everyday life. Ever single thing we do should be in honor of the greatest love of all, Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Glorify the name of the King with your every action, every word, your every breath! Let's do this together. As the greatest family on the face of the earth. Let us come together and live as one for the joy of the Lord! Let us shout in unison through our hearts the joy we have for Him, Jehovah! Love on your brothers and sisters. Shun no one. Leave no one out. This is the greatest family ever and all are welcome to enter in. The invitation has been extended by the head of the family, and we must welcome everyone as a member. Brothers and Sisters, let us lift up one another unto the Lord. Through this, we will show Him that we truly care for Him! Our actions shall be louder than any words. It's time to live for him fired up! I hope you are now fired up! Let's go heal the world!

Never Forget

Hard to believe 10 years ago to the day this nation was brought under attacks of terrorist in the name of religion. God bless the fallen, those who risked it all, and those who lost someone on that tragic day. I remember that day so clearly and wish I didn't.

It was a normal September day in my sixth grade class with Mr. Diamond. We were taking the ISTEP exam. Mr. Diamond asked me to take a note to Mrs. Fox in the office. When I got in there I looked on the T.V. she was watching and saw the Pentagon aflame. I asked what happened and she said nothing and to go back to class. Nothing? Really? I believe that is anything other than nothing. But, I understand why she would say that. Well, school went on like usual. There was no buzz of what was going on. So after school I went to the football practice field. No one was there. I headed back to the school to see why. Mrs. Fox said that all after school activities had been cancelled so everyone could spend time with their family. I was confused, but I just left it alone. I walked a few blocks to my grandma's house where I usually went after school. My grandpa had surprisingly already been off work and he and she were watching on the T.V. the news and what had all happen. I remember discussing with the family the possibility of war and what all this tragedy would bring about. I am sure many people remember plainly where they were and what they were doing that day. Don't be afraid to tell your story. My thoughts and prayers forever remain with the families of the victims of 9/11 God Bless America.

R.I.P. 343

God is Great!

So the other day I posted a blog expressing some discomfort I had. I was a bit angry at God, yet(what I thought was) understanding. Well, it turns out, I was wrong. I was having a conversation with God at work he informed me why I was feeling so down. It's because I went against him without realizing it. There was something that was going on that was kind of a big deal. He had told me to wait. I was trying to, yet I ended up not. I had let my carnal feelings get above God. With great regret, I went ahead and did what I was supposed to wait on before it was time. And THIS is why I started feeling down. Sorry, to my God, that I went against your very word. You are so amazing. Thank you for giving me this revelation. I love you, Abba! Teach me to be more like you are.

Cry in the night.

Well, it's happened yet again. I've let myself believe I could be happy until the end. I let myself begin to feel. Numbness buried by love. Brokenhearted, but beginning to heal. I laid it all on the line. Excited to be free until the end of time. My brain told me no, but my heart said it was okay. Once again, my heart has led me astray. This time though, I do not take on full responsibility. I am once again finding myself blaming God. I am slightly angry and wholly ruined. I had hope for the future. Hope of which I knew not about for the longest of time. I tore down my walls and exposed my heart. Only to have it torn out once again. My God, you said you would bring me happiness and joy. I trust you know what you are doing, though I do not understand. Maybe I will never understand. I finally started to believe I was no longer destined to be alone on this earth. But in an instance, that has disappeared. Why did I ever, for even a moment, allow myself to believe I didn't have to be like Paul? Why did I dream of wedding bells and a family? Why, oh God, did you allow me to succumb to such treachery? Restore me God to my ways of apathy. Make me stronger. Keep me from allowing myself to love again. I don't want to be fooled anymore. I guess, it is just going to be you and I. Let that be enough for me. God, I know you are enough, but I need to be reminded daily. Take my life and make it yours. Jehovah, keep me from myself. Abba, keep me from getting angry at you. I now realize that I must have misunderstood you someway. I thought you were building me up to be a caring husband and father. Maybe it is true that you have given me too much love to share with just a few, that I must share it with everyone I come in contact with. But why can I not do this with the love of my life by my side? I may never know, but I trust you. I trust in you to shower so much love over me that it will compensate for the love I don't receive from mere mortals. The only thing I have ever asked for was to be loved and be able to love. You have shown me this is possible, yet in a very hurtful manner. If I must disconnect from those around me in order to have the love from you, I will. Let me surrender my all unto the Joy of you, my God. I am sorry for the hurt I have brought to you in my anger. I pray that one day you will open up my eyes and help me understand, Lord Jesus.

Why did you adopt Lydia? To kill her?

Investigative Report: Spare the Rod Spoil the Child? VIA Presstorm

The above is a news article published about the death of a 7 year old formispronouncing a word from the bible. Reading through this article I couldn't help but to have my blood boil. Red in the face and full of rage, I read on about these "Christian" "parents". No true Christian, and no true parent, would EVER succumb to such treachery. This was NOT something God wanted them to do. Jesus came to this earth to spread the message of  LOVE, not murder. To beat a child to death with a piece of PVC pipe is not love. Nor is it love to punish a child, a 7 year old at that, for mispronouncing a word in the Bible! I just can't understand what would ever make a person think that any of this was okay. The "dad" is to receive a mere 22 years in prison? I think he should serve a year for everyone one this child was robbed of. The average life expectancy in America is 78 years. That's 71 years this child has been brutally beggared of. Give the sick man 71 minimum!

Templars of Hip Hop

So during another restless night surfing the net, I finally found another group out there that has a lot of the same views on the work as I do. Not only that, they are also so insightful about things such as New World Order[1][2], The Mark of the Beast[3], and other Revelation Prophesies[4]. Headed by Beast 1333 The Resistance's  music is composed as a way to get through to people who aren't willing to read tons of articles or listen to lengthy speeches. Take note that there are times where he uses explicit lyrics, but if you can get past that and actually pay attention to what the message is, I am sure you will be blown away. Beast 1333 exemplifies what it is to couple gorgeous beats with beautiful poetic and revolutionary lyrics. If you would like to read more about Beat 1333, what he stands for, or his views on NWO - check out his website Beast 1333. I have added the same playlist from above to the side bar so that when this post get buried, you can still listen to the music quick and easy.

The way you love me

My God, my Savior. What an unworthy man I am. Always turning my back on you and working against your will. Never did I think I would be loved in such a way that you have given me. I once believed that love was just a fictional fairy tale. Something only achieved by those who lived in la-la land. Love to me was just a word expressed by man to get what they wanted. Nothing sincere about it at all. No real feelings or compassion. YOU however, have shown me different. Love is having compassion for the undeserving, mercy for the non accepting, passion for the unworthy. You have taken this broken, beat-down, shell of a man, and transformed me into a being of Love! Agape love that is. Without your love, I never would have put down the pills, the alcohol, or the blade that dark night. You shone your light of love in the darkest room of my life. Without your love, those trains wouldn't have stopped and I'd be crushed. Without your love, I'd have no life. Your love is all I will ever need in my life. And when I feel unworthy, you grab me up and remind me of your love. Thank you for showing me what love truly is. Now, let me love you the way you deserve, Jesus. Show me how to live entirely for you and not for myself. I want to give it ALL to you. Not just a portion, but the whole thing. Jesus, take my life. Call me, and I will go. I'm setting it all aside. I am completely yours. Amen. 

Jesus was truly white!

Have you ever looked at a picture or painting of a black Jesus and thought to yourself, “This just doesn’t feel right?” You ask yourself, “Is the painter joking? Is he making fun of Jesus?” The answer is yes, the artist is being sarcastic and that artist is surely burning in hell’s fire as I type this.
Jesus was white. Yes, He was born in the Middle East, but His father was not Middle Eastern, He was God. God is NOT Middle Eastern. When was the last time you saw a painting of God with a Turban wrapped around His head? Never? Exactly.
God is white. God has always been white. Every depiction, every description and every painting I have seen of God has been white. God impregnated Mary, NOT Joseph. Therefor, Jesus is white.
That is what drew people to Him in the first place. A white skinned man in the Middle East 2000 years ago was surely a miracle and Jesus was and is a miracle worker.
Now look at Heaven. Heaven is mostly made of feathery white clouds with rays of light shooting through them, which according to most Christians I know, would make the inhabitants white.
Also, white is amazingly proficient at reflecting light, which is very important when living in Heaven because it’s much closer to the sun than living on the Earth. This white skin prevents you from getting cancer in Heaven and I’m sure stops many other diseases in their tracks.
So, next time you start babbling on about how, “Jesus was Middle Eastern and couldn’t have been white”, save yourself the embarrassment and look at the Facts! 
God Bless!

______________________________

Posted by: Pastor Ezekiel

Post Link: Landover Baptist forums

Affiliation: Landover Baptist Church

______________________________

Okay, so I was originally going to rant about how factually incorrect this post was. Then I did a little research about Landover Baptist Church and discovered that this was not actually a real church. According to the Wikipedia page, Landover "is a fictional baptist church based in the fictional town of Freehold, Iowa. The Landover Baptist web site and its associated Landoverbaptist.net Forum are a satire of fundamentalist Christianity and the Religious Right in the United States."

I browsed the forums for a while, and with each thread I read, got a more and more upset. I had thought these people were completely sincere in their beliefs. But instead, they are actually mocking the dead-set right wing extremist that are pushing people away from Christ instead of drawing them nearer. 

This is a huge problem these days. With "churches" such as the Westboro Baptist Church, it makes those who are without love see God as a hateful angry god. How are we to ever get people saved when we are telling them they are hated by the very one who created them? The answer: We can't. We have to shine the love light of Jesus brighter than ever before. 

It is time to stand up against these iniquities. Reach out to those deepest in need. Why are we focusing all of our love on those who already know God loves them? We need to grab a hold of the ones who don't yet understand. Embrace them with the loving arms of Jesus and do not let go. Encourage them to take steps in the right direction, but do not force. Uplift their spirits with words of edification. 

We are all born into sin and no man is better than the next. If you wish to condemn a person for being a sinner, go ahead and condemn yourself. 1 John 5:17 states "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."

So once again, let us love one another as Jesus loves us. Guide each other into living a life of righteousness, but do not shove.

 

His legs don't work...do yours?

Many of us live our lives afraid to strive for the "impossible". We don't go for that jog to lose weight because it's too difficult and kinda hurts the knees. We sit on our rumps watching television and become jealous of all those people doing something with their lives. How is it that this young guy can have the courage to take on a difficult task such as skateboarding with inadequate leg support, but we can't even be bothered to get up to find the remote? This gif should be an inspiration as well as a wake up call. Get up, people! Run wild! Live free! Most of all, MOVE!

How Great Thou Art

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art! 

Carrie Underwood had me in tears and covered in chills when she did this song. Her powerful vocals had me in a trance. I don't think I've heard a better rendition yet. I have to give her a 5 out of 5 on her performance. It is wonderful to hear great gospel hymns being sang on live television even with all the liberals fighting against it.

''Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.'' 1 Chronicles 16:29

Help others and help yourself.

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."   – Mark Twain


I find this quote by Mark Twain to be extremely veracious. I remember many times in my youth, when I would feel down and outright depressed, helping a peer through their problems helped me out immensely. Many might say that it's because viewing others problems in comparison to yours will give you a better perspective on the reality that your issues have no real value. However, I see it a bit differently. I think the reason many people "cheer up" while "cheering up" others is because we all strive to feel needed. A sense of worthlessness is one of the worst feelings anyone could ever deal with. So when we notice we've done well in helping someone out, we in turn, are helped out by our own doing. 

The beginnings.

From time to time I will be posting what is on my mind. Though it may end up being thought provoking,  it is not meant to discourage, persuade, downgrade, or insult anyone or their own beliefs. Instead, I hope to maybe uplift, encourage, and enlighten. Please feel free to comment on anything you wish. I will try to read all comments and respond.