A Few of My Favorite Words - Part 1

angst
superior
retention
stark
nefarious
torrential
utterly
devoid
emphatic
benevolent
quizzical
eclectic
contentious
derive
crass
unmitigated
exonerated
soquatious
avuncular
decorum
propriety
demographic
coalition
fella
gratuitous
copious
egregious
impervious
ample
precarious
extortion
vigorous
burley
pontificate
query
frivolous

that's it...for now

2 corinthians 4

God's purpose in loving us is to glorify himself. Pastor John's leaving message. Not that i don't believe it, or understand it...but it definitely was perplexing. and moving. leave it to our Lord to clear it up for me.

Today i read 2Corinthians chapter 4. Paul is speaking to the corinthians about or life as lights of christ and throughout the chapter, after being struck and struck again by the words i was reading i came to this conclusion. the reason we shouldn't feel offended by God loving us for his glory, is as easy as, God doesn't need to love us. right out of the gates paul says this
1 "therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God" even our ministry as a church and as christians isn't something we are entitled to. this is Christ's love for His glory.
5 "for what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" here paul is saying that we aren't 'proclaiming ourselves' it's not that i'm good enough to deserve Christ's love, it's not that i have the knowledge to save others. It's that Jesus in his love and grace, showed us undeserving love, and he gave us eternal life and tells us to spread this Love. in loving us He is glorified.
8-10 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." if God did not love us for his glory, then there would be no mercy. which means all of the previously mentioned hardships and Christ helps us endure, would become very real to us. But he does love us, and through that we prevail and spread this love we've received, glorifying Him in the process.
though the entire chapter is packed of evidence, the last verse, to me, sums up the entirety of the message. that is
15 "For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."

the grace we receive and the love we receive is 100% undeserved and meant to be a joy to us. and through that undeserved grace and mercy, we proclaim God's name gratefully and with a blameless heart, and that, is glorifying to Him

my best effort

last night i was talking to a friend, and we were discussing how, for competitive people, it's sometimes easier to not do something at all than to do it decently. and i was thinking, that all originates from our sin and self-righteousness. i'd rather look good than have fun, because i'm trusting in myself to be happy. now in galatians i read chapter 4. in verse 2-3 it said
"but he (a slave/child) is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father/master. in the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to elementary principles of the world.
then in verse 5 it says how God sent His Son to be under the law and redeem those under the law and then...so that we might receive adoption as sons....!
this was incredible to be reminded of. i need to get over my elementary connections to the sin of the world, and start living as a son of God! if He can adopt us and set us up for the ultimate inheritance as heirs of the kingdom (verse 7) than the least i can do is trust in him. and have an awesome time doing my best and not being the best.


gabe

stinging sensation

i keep rubbing dirt in my wounds.

then they get worse.

then...they hurt more.





why do i keep rubbing dirt in my wounds?

you

you are near to me
you are my heart
you are love
you are perfect
you are caring
you are there for me
you are listening
you are answering

you can be close to me
you you can work through me
you can love me
you can fix me
you can take care of me
you can help me
you can hear me
you can answer me

you will draw me close
you will be in me
you will love me
you will fix me
you will protect me
you will be there
you will listen
you will answer

i will run to you
i will hide in your arms
i will feel your love
i will not be harmed
i will call to you
i will hear your reply
i will not be ashamed
i will be filled with joy

i will love you
you will love me
you can heal me

you are mine

provoking provocative thoughts

think about it,

what do YOU do when you're in a group that's praying.
i mean sure, you may be leaned forward, head down, fingers softly intwined in one another...that's not what i'm getting at.

what is your attitude...?
is it "c'mon hurry it up! i got places to be?"
maybe, "well that's dumb...you should've said this..."

but i think...I think, that probably the most common thought/action during prayer is thinking "what will I(me) pray?"

me me me. i i i. it's so selfish.
the last thing you should be doing when someone else is sharing their heart with God and you, is planning out the most impressive huge-word-filled speech you can. this person next to you is being raw. honest. and we can't muster up enough respect to LISTEN!

we're pathetic. I'M pathetic (i'm writing this out of remorse for my own actions)

basically what i'm trying to say is, just listen. pray along with the person. God doesn't want a speech, he wants a conversation.


who are we trying to impress? God? i hope not, man that's embarrassing.

are we trying to impress the guy next to us? why?! he's not gonna judge you for saying "um"

be real, be honest, be selfless and humble. me too

thanks


.gabriel.

pain or gain?

my hands are blistered,
my fingertips are cracking,
but still there seems to be a knack for which i am lacking.

try as i may,
it's all in dismay
yet this desire still will not go away.

why is it, though,
while i try so hard,
that the goal in sight seems still so far.

i can only guess,
why i've been dealt this card.
i still, still, still, still...can't play guitar.



.gabriel.