Communion

This is the Communion Message I shared at Hillsong Burwood Extension this morning...
:-)

One of my favorite things in the entire world is my family, just enjoying each other’s company, sharing thoughts and ideas, laughing and doing life together over food.
This is also something that I believe Jesus enjoyed doing…in the very first Communion he ate and drank with his disciples. Communion was done in community, in fellowship with the people that knew him best, the one’s that he did life with.
I believe for us, as the House of God, through Communion, we not only remember what Christ did for us, but also make a declaration as a family. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua made this public commitment,

“If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

I love that I can come together with people who have the same mind, same love, and same desire to see this world come to know Jesus. It is so beautiful that we are to remember the sacrifice of Jesus with other’s, through taking a drink, and eating bread. Also, in taking Communion together, remembering what Jesus did on the Cross-for us, as a family, let us also publicly declare that this is a House committed to serving the Lord
If it wasn’t for what Christ did for us, not only would we not have relationship with Him, but also we wouldn’t have relationship with each other, our brothers and sisters in Christ. Through the Spirit, Christ is represented in our fellowship with others. Now, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we will come together and share the emblems with one another.

Father, as we take communion we come together, as a family remembering what Christ did for us, we make a declaration that this is a House committed to serving the You.
I pray that we would be one, as you are One, that we would be unified in our remembrance of your sacrifice.
I thank you for the sacrifice you made, for the incredible debt that you paid that we might know you…but not only to know you, but to also be in fellowship with others. Amen.

the barbarian way.

Erwin McManus came to church about two weeks ago.
Amazing, to say the least.
I bought three of his books...seriously amazing investment.
As a young Christian in a post-modern world, I have been so challenged and heartbroken and distraught about the lack of commitment and understanding to this post-modern generation.
I have finished the first book I've read by Erwin,

"The Barbarian Way"

seriously...read it.
Dad, read it, I thought of you...he talks about Braveheart in the first chapter, haha.
After you read it, give it to Judah to read...
This book basically sums up me, and my generation.

"Two thousand years later the call to follow Christ has been repackaged to be smooth and trouble-free, filled with opportunity and promise but lacking risk, passion, and sacrifice. Is this really what Jesus died for? If He chose the way of the cross, where would He hesitate leading us? It is possible that to follow Jesus is to choose the barbarian way? Jesus never made a pristine call to a proper and safe religion. Jesus beckons His followers to a path that is far from the easy road. It is a path filled with adventure, uncertainty, and unlimited possibilities - the only path that can fulfill the deepest longings and desires of your heart. This is the barbarian way: to give your heart to the only One who can make you fully alive. To love Him with simplicity and intensity. To unleash the untamed faith within. To be consumed by the presence of a pasionate and compassionate God. To go where He sends you, no matter the cost."

The is the back of the book...seriously, it's worth the $17 to buy it. It's an easy read, you could finish it in two sittings.

As a big sister, daughter, friend, one day wife and mother...I don't want to hinder people. I don't want to civilize people, to a safe watered-down religion. This book has honestly put into words my thoughts over the past couple of months. I have always been sick and disgusted of domesticated religion...I now choose the barbarian way...It is an unpaved road, an unsafe road, a road that could lead to death...but as long as it also leads to life, I'm on it!!!

I really really hope you guys will take the time to choose the road less-traveled: the dangerous road...

read this book.
it is challenging, scary, but brings a new light to Jesus...His way. It's not civilized.
God forgive us for our domesticated religion...
Heaven forbid if I ever cause people to not take the leap, to not take the dangerous road...


seriously.
read.

"but then the worst thing happened
that could happen to any fighter,
you got civilized."
-mick to rocky, (rocky III)

what i shared with charity.

I wrote this to my cousin Charity, for her 16th birthday...I know it will encourage others, so I have revised it for public reading :-)

What I am going to do is share with you some of the things God has been teaching me, and I believe that they will be keys to helping unlock what God has placed in your heart, and help you on this journey of womanhood [or just journey, for all you men out there], which in itself is an incredible gift that God has given you. Being a woman is one of the most incredible things on this planet, I am sure of that…Like Staci Eldredge says in “Captivating”:

“It is nearing the end of the sixth day, the end of the Creator’s great labor, as Adam steps forth, the image of God, the triumph of His work. He alone is pronounced the son of God. Nothing in creation even comes close. Picture Michelangelo’s David. He is…magnificent. Truly, the masterpiece seems complete. And yet, the Master says that something is not good, not right. Something is missing…and that something is Eve…She is the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God. Woman. In one last flourish creation comes to a finish not with Adam, but with Eve. She is the Master’s finishing touch…Given the way creation unfolds, how it builds to ever higher and higher works of art, can there be any doubt that Eve is the crown of creation? Not an afterthought. Not a nice addition like an ornament on a tree. She is God’s final touch…she fills a place in the world nothing and no one else can fill. Step to the window...better yet; find some place with a view. Look out across the earth and say to yourself, ‘The whole, vast world is incomplete without me. Creation reached it’s zenith [culmination]in me.’”

As a woman, you have the incredible ability to bring change, to ask the hard questions, and to not leave things unnoticed. Use that power with incredible care and honor. You have, inside of you, the power to unlock keys to the Kingdom of God, to usher in a move of His Spirit like never before.
If you, for instance, have the gift of making people laugh, don’t lose it - use it. Use it for God’s purposes. If, as a woman, you are the “icing on the cake” don’t leave a bitter taste in the mouths of those around you. Treat everyone with honor, adoration, and respect.

I was reading in Luke 1 about the birth of Jesus, it starts off with the narrative of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s daddy, who was a priest, and at the time of the announcement of John’s birth, he was to go into the Temple to burn incense to the Lord (there was to always be incense burning in the Holy of Holies). This is where Gabriel appeared to him and told him that his wife would bear a son, what his name was to be, that he would be favored by God, and he would have the power of Elijah on his life (how incredible is THAT!?). After that declaration by Gabriel, Zechariah said, “How can I be sure of this? I am a an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18) Now this is the part I want you to hear…Gabriel said, “And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things (John to be born) takes place, because you did not believe my words.” (Luke 1:20)
In the next scene, where Gabriel comes to Mary, and proclaims the birth of Jesus to her…Mary had every reason to doubt, more than Zechariah did, she was single, and a virgin, yet she believed, and this is what she said, “I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me according to your word.” Like the prophet Isaiah, she said HERE I AM, DO WITH ME AS YOU DESIRE…NOT MY PLANS, BUT YOURS!

Now here is where I get blown away…
Mary goes to visit Elizabeth (Zechariah’s wife, who is pregnant with John), “She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby (John) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, ‘But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!’” (Luke 1:40-45)

I know this is long, but I want you to hear my heart…I write all that out, because I believe it is important for you…don’t miss out on God’s blessing like Zechariah. Because of his unbelief, and lack of faith, he lost his voice. He lost his communication, his opinion, his view, his feeling, his wishes, his desires, his will, his influence, his say, his input, his role, his representation…it cost him a lot to doubt the Creator of the Universe.

Have the heart of Mary. She believed God. She realized her role and destiny was so much bigger than herself, and what she could see. She was willing to lose everything for the sake of being a bondservant of Christ. Because of her willingness to serve God, this is what could she have lost; Her communication, her opinion, her view, her feelings, her wishes, her desires, her will, her influence, her say, her input, her role, her representation - which, as a woman, she didn’t have much of those things anyway. But she believed in God, and laid down her opinion, desires, and wishes…because she knew that God had better things in store for her. And guess what…she got to keep her voice. And through her voice, she released the power of the Holy Spirit into the life of her relative, Elizabeth.
Mary was not made silent, though her being pregnant cost her everything. Through her voice, she commanded a blessing not only from Elizabeth, but also from God Himself. It is interesting that Elizabeth did not know that Mary was pregnant with the Christ, but was taken aback by the fact the “the mother of [her] Lord would come to [her].” There is no denying Christ when He is inside of you.
God found favor in Mary, because she had a pure heart, and an unfailing faith in her Creator. As a child of God, you have the power to release the Holy Spirit in people’s lives, never underestimate the power of your voice (Proverbs 18:21). Make sure you put into your voice the things of God. What goes into your heart will be what comes out of your mouth. So soak up the Word of God, chew on it, talk to God, worship Him, and speak out the things of God over your life, and other’s.
I pray that from this time on this will be a hallmark in your life, the moment you look back, and say, “That’s when it all changed…” Like Elizabeth, there are people in your life speaking out the things they see in you, calling out the things that are already in there. Inside of you God has salvations, books, songs, words, nations, things you have never dreamed of. And remember to dream big, because God starts where your dreams end. Allow what people say [good, edifying], to be the catalyst that brings change in this world. Like Mary, let even your greeting cause people to feel something inside of them shift…

This is your emerging season. This is the time where you are a blossom ready to bloom. You have been chosen; you have been called; now you are being equipped. You are being equipped for something bigger than yourself. The challenge now is are you going to be like Zechariah, and have a faith that silences you, or are you going to be like Mary, believing God and allowing Him to do in her what was needed for change, even though it would cost her everything? Either you miss out on life, or you get to be a part of Jesus. God is presenting you with that choice. You either embrace it or you leave it. It is up to you. What a huge calling…but God will use you, no doubt about it. What will emerge from that bud inside of you is going to be breathtaking…

“Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin

with you.

this is a song i wrote today...totally bluegrassyish, and i LOVE it!!!

with you

you say, "hello, here i am you have one chance
to take my breath away, but if you miss it I say goodbye."
If this moment is my last
i can't miss my chance for forever with you

it's like a sunset on a fall day
all the colors majestically displayed
it's like the ocean calling me in
it's one moment
one minute
with you

i say, "come here, once again you have completely
taken my breath away, if it means my love then i will die."
if this moment is my last
i can't miss my chance for forever with you

it's like a sunset on a fall day
all the colors majestically displayed
it's like the ocean calling me in
it's one moment
one minute
with you

i write just to write.

When is the last time I did something for me? Something I enjoy with everything I am?
Something I know I do that gives God a big toothy smile. Is God waiting for me to change the world with my incredible preaching, or amazing Holy Ghost inspired spontaneous times of worship? Or is he just waiting for me to be me? I love rainy days. I love the moon; I love drinking coffee and solving the world’s problems in one conversation with a girlfriend. I love to laugh. I love to read a sappy love story. I love to cry at movies that a girl should typically cry in. I love the sound of my family’s laughing voices. I love to hear the ring-tone of that special someone on my mobile. Are these just as important as preaching or those Holy Ghost fall on your face in times of worship moments? What if life was simpler than we all make it out to be? What our life’s purpose was not as complicated to find as we all think? If I was born for “such a time as this” what if it’s not to change a nation, but just to change one life through loving the little quirky things that make me who I am?

Eric Liddell said it perfect, in the movie “Chariots of Fire”,

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.”

God made me for a purpose, to that I say a big duh. Every Christian, every person born in any sort of religious household can, at least, have some sore of an understanding that they are on this planet for something. But what does it mean; for a purpose. A purpose…What is my purpose? Is my purpose to type on a computer for the rest of my life, reciting on ink and paper what I hear other people needing me to record? Or is my purpose to write out the allegories of life that I see threaded throughout creation?

Purpose: the reason for which something is done or created for which something exists.

What is my purpose could be said,
“Why do I exist?”

What I love about the quote from chariots is that Eric doesn’t associate his purpose with his gift. His purpose isn’t that God made him fast. God made Eric fast because it brought God pleasure. The reason Eric existed was only to bring glory to God through running.

Do people go too far, too deep, and too wide to figure out their purpose?
Why is our purpose some mystical unreachable unattainable thing that we have to go our whole life looking for? What if our purpose is only to bring glory to God by just doing the very thing that we were gifted or love to do?
I was gifted to sing. I was gifted to write. I was gifted with compassion.
So when I sing I am fulfilling my purpose. When I write I am fulfilling my purpose.
When I show empathy and compassion towards someone of something my purpose is being fulfilled. I don’t exist to sing to gain world recognition or money, to write to change the world, or to save Africa through my broken heart for them. God gave me those gifts to bring him pleasure only. But through my gifts he brings about change. I only have to use those gifts. God’s intent for creation was to bring him glory only. That’s why we are created for worship. If we don’t worship rocks will. Yeah, I don’t know about you…but a rock?! Not only would that be weird, but also be completely embarrassed.

Why do people get so tangled in life trying to find out their destiny when their destiny has been with them all along. One of my sisters loves to paint. Through her painting God gets pleasure; painting is her purpose. My mom enjoys watching her kids grow in the things of God; being a mom is her purpose. My goodness. My purpose is so simple, so unique to me. It’s not limited to one thing. It’s everything. I believe God has nations to be won, and souls to be saved, yes, but if we miss out on bringing him pleasure, then we are missing the whole point. If we are to be worshippers, we are to do what God created us to do.
My sister paints. It’s her purpose; it’s her worship.
My mom is and amazing mom. It’s her purpose; it’s her worship.

It makes me sad to see people waste away their lives and give up things they simply just love to do. They give up things that energize them and make them feel good. Why do people lay aside those good things? Those are the things that being God pleasure! No more of this “I remember when I was younger I used to love to ride my bike…” “I remember when I used to love to take photos…” Can we stop all this “I used to…” crap and just do the things we love?! If I ever stop doing the things I love that I enjoy, the things that are me…what kind of worshiper am I? Could I possibly let life pass me by as I sit back and do the “norm” or could I live life to the fullest and be completely me? I can die with a million stories, or I can die with no stories and only regrets? How much more fun would it be to take the risks and think or all the regrets afterwards? Don’t be stupid; be wise. But be madly in love with the life God has given you.

I absolutely love to read outside, under the sun, in the green grass. I cannot tell you how much love it. I can feel God’s smile and delight in me, taking time to enjoy the little things he created. I feel like God made those sunny lazy days just for me, and in my enjoyment of them, he is getting all the glory and all the worship for them.

You want to make God feel good? Do things you enjoy. Do the things that you would pay other people to do just so you can do it. I would pay people to let me sing. I would pay people to let me write. How dumb is that? But it’s how I know that’s what my purpose is.

I write just to write; no…it’s more than that. I know God made me for a purpose, but he also made me a writer. And when I write I feel his pleasure…

reading.revealing.receiving.revelation.

sometimes things seem so ordinary
so normal and not out of place.
is there such thing as a coincidence?

i received a journal and a pen
from my dad for my birthday.
which is great
because i love to journal.
pretty ordinary, normal, and not out of place.

i received a journal and a pen
from parent's of a good friend for my birthday, too.
pretty ordinary, normal, and not out of place.

coincidence?
i think not.

God is always thinking of new ways to
get me
romance me
pursue me
fall in love with me.

it's also not a coincidence that at college the past couple of weeks
we have been shared with that journaling and reading the Bible in a year
is such a cool and vital thing.

i have always loved to journal,
thus getting a journal and pen nothing out of the ordinary.
but receiving TWO!?
i think that's pretty cool...

so taking the challenge,
i have been reading the Bible in a year.
of course,
it's only been a four day process thus far.
but man the revelation i am receiving.
AMAZING.
just a simple prayer
"Holy Spirit, reveal to me what you want to say to me today."
the end.
i read.
He reveals.
i receive
revelation.

The reading plan is simple,
and cool because you don't get stuck...
Monday: Gen-2Chron (read a portion)
Tuesday: Matthew-John (read portion)
Wednesday: Ezra-Song of Solomon (omit Psalm and read portion)
Friday: Prophets (read portion)
Saturday: Epistles (read a whole letter, you wouldn't start a letter and not finish lol)
Sunday: Psalms (read portion)

then you follow this (for journaling)
Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer

SOAP :)

it has seriously been amazing.

in the journal my dad gave me i do soap,
and in the other journal i expound on any revelations
i have received or want to keep processing.

it has seriously been great.
i love to write,
journal,
what have you,
and this has just been incredible...

the next few days ill share some of the thoughts i have received.

love you guys,
and i encourage you to write!
think of the legacy you will leave behind!!!

oh, that my steps might be steady...

you're blessed when you stay on course
walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD
you're blessed when you follow HIS directions
doing your best to find HIM
that's right - you don't go off on your own
you walk straight along the road HE set.

you, GOD, prescribed the right way to live
now you expect us to live it.

oh, that my steps might be steady
keeping to the course you set...
(psalm 119:1-6 msg)


"you're blessed when you stay on course..."
the going may get tough, hard, weary...
but God blesses His children.
stay on HIS course, not the course designed by man.
God puts people in your life to help guide you,
even to lead you...
but you must be sure that you're in the will of God.
God's plans, dreams, and desires for you
are not the same as what He may have for someone else.

His ways are
HIGHER.

along with staying on course,
you must follow direction.
not just anyone's directions,
but HIS.
don't listen to anyone else's
prescription on how to live,
but seek God, seek His Word,
read how Jesus lived.

Jesus loved & healed,
and He commanded us to do the same.
He also commanded us to
GO OUT
&
MAKE DISCIPLES.

God sees everything from a different perspective
a HIGHER perspective.
everything that seems all mixed up and confusing...
well, He has already put all the pieces together,
He has already connected all the dots (as a friend of mine shared with me).
He has already seen the finished result,
and it works.
So would you rather follow people, or follow the Savior,
the One who has already seen what the end of the path looks like?
Oh and God hasn't just seen the end...He sees the roadblocks, too.

would you put your trust in Him,
or in man.
in the Father,
or in a fallen race?

God places people to be in fellowship with you.
God places guidance through wiser people.
God puts people in your lives...
But when it comes down to it,
it is God who is your judge.
it is God who is your strength & your portion.
it is God who knows the right way to live.

there are so many incredible men and women who know how to live,
sure look to them, and learn from them...but just because it works for them
doesn't mean it is what God has in store for you...
you've heard it said
IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
be you.
be who God made you to be.
follow His path for you...
not some man-made path.
i would rather follow a path where the God of all
knows all,
sees all,
and can tell you everything before it happens
then follow someone who has no idea where the next bend leads,
or if it's even a bend at all.

be encouraged, tho.
let people in your life to speak to you and help you in this journey.
but trust in the Almighty who has "prescribed the right way to live."
we need some good prescriptions.
we need God to direct us.

whatever the cost,
I WILL FOLLOW HIM.


oh, that my steps might be steady...