Out of Nothing.

Okay, so I'm "totally raving" over my man, Andy Mineo's FIRST ALBUM evaaaa! 

I seriously think it is so awesome... like I don't know, it is really just so good! I don't know if it is because of the season I'm in or what! But this album speaks to me on SOOO many different levels, it kind of blows my mind how God decides to capture my attention! 

He is so transparent, and open and honest with himself in this album and that shows A LOT! A lot of times it is easy for us to be honest with other people, but hard for us to be honest with ourselves! I watched this short documentary Andy made like a couple days before the album dropped and it actually put a lot of things into perspective. When I listen to the track "Superhuman", one of the things I think about, among MANY other things (coming in another blog!) is this video, I feel for him. We (Well, I), mistakenly put so much emphasis on Andy and other Christian rappers in the fact that they are "famous" and the fact that because they are Christian they are also "perfect"... I don't know, it's human nature I think (we do it to everyone lol). We gotta cut them some slack, they are just people, I can not even imagine how difficult and stressful it is to juggle fame, AND being a christian in front of the world. Like for real it blows my mind. ANYWAYS , I am really talking to much, check out this video!!!

For real, if you're reading this, and you haven't already listened to this album, get on YouTube and check it out! Even if it's just a few of the tracks, you WILL NOT be disappointed! THEN, when you fall in love with it, BUY it on iTunes for only 10.99 and support Mr. Mineo!!  (usually albums are like 15.99 lol).  As a matter of fact, I'm gonna give you a head start...

This song, "Ex Nihilo" (Meaning "Out of Nothing" in Latin) is one of my favorites on the album. EVERY TIME it comes on I smile and laugh because I think about how great my God is! He has truly made something out of nothing A.K.A , ME! And He's still in the process of purifying me. It honestly gives me so much hope. This world is beyond crazy, with all the explosions and shootings and violence lately, it has become so scary. But I KNOW my God is bigger. OUR God is bigger. He will make something great out of this disaster. I think about my family and the deceit, the lies and the complacency they are stuck in, it breaks my heart, but I'm working hard to keep up my hope in the Creator to restore what's been "nothing" for so long! Everything looks SO terrible right now, but  soon we'll be able step back and look at it all, it will look so beautiful! You can do this with your own life, I know I can. So many days and nights of just feeling defeated by the devil, I literally lost myself, my true self and I felt sick to my stomach about it. There were times where I literally rather not go on then to live captive under the enemies spell, I felt trapped. I COULD look back at that with my eyes, thinking ugh why did I have to go through that, that was so stupid. OR I could step back and look at it with Jesus' eyes, and look at the whole picture, look at where I am now. He's made me new! He made something out of what seemed like nothing! ...  So anyways without further adieu....  

 

"No, nothing, I want more than to hear those trumpets. My ear lobes jumping, I feel so lovesick!"

That was my last video! Promise! But I hope you guys really do watch & listen to them. I KNOW it will speak to you, no matter what walk of life. I always try and remember this one thing! Ex Nihilo. God has made something out of nothing, whether you look at your own life, or the creation of the universe! He breathes life into everything! He always has and always will! 

God bless y'all!!! <3

Feeding Time.

I am experiencing so much lately about the Holy Spirit, it's kind of crazy.

God is doing some crazy confirmation in my life. This week, I have been really discouraged. Thinking there was something wrong, I didn't feel like I was pushing hard enough or that the spirit was pushing me hard enough. You know how you just don't feel completely there, like you're close but there's like an inch left but it feels like a mile!

I don't know, I was crying out to God asking for help to fight off this flesh and what it wants to do. It's so annoying!! It gets in the way so much (for me at least).

After meditating on Romans 8 and Acts 1 ( for the past 2 days) I've come to some conclusions.

-The spirit is ALWAYS willing, and the flesh is ALWAYS weak.

-But the flesh can grieve (burden,cause suffer, distress) the spirit.

I truly do believe that the flesh can push away the spirit that, if we don't show up and show out, if we don't work hard, if we slack off, our flesh will overtake the work of the spirit.

   I think about it like feeding. You can either feed your "spirit man", or your "worldly man". Either of them can drive the body depending on which one you feed most, and what you feed them. So If I claim to have the Holy Spirit in me, but I do, think, believe things that are feeding the flesh, then I'm letting my worldly man drive my body (or life). Things like, watching pornography, gossiping constantly, cursing, etc. But even things we SEE as harmless like, listening to certain music, watching too much TV, eating too unhealthy, focusing too much on school or vice versa, skipping church every other week along with devotionals, I could go on.  These things may not seem to be that serious or harmful but if were looking at a spiritual level, they are dangerous and destructive. I believe this. I believe that its a fight, it's hard work. I believe it is so important what we feed ourselves and by that I mean our spiritual selves (because that IS what we are). You cannot feed a plant molded milk, and let it sit in a dark closet instead of giving it water and light, expecting it to grow or produce its fruit... the plant will die, no matter how hard it tries to do what is is supposed to do, as it keeps getting fed the wrong things, the things that burdens its growth, that grieves its life support, it will die . You can't expect to "do right" and "live eternally" if you are constantly feeding your spirit the things of this world, the things you KNOW make you stumble, that you know will stunt your growth and grieve your spirit. Eventually it will take a toll on your spirit and it who's going to be driving? The worldly man, the flesh wont just grieve spirit, but you will be completely without it. 

Ive seen this so much in other peoples lives as well as mine. The more days that go by and I do things, watch things, laugh at things, and let things go that I shouldn't, the more I like forget about the Holy Spirits work, I forget the urgency and the importance of it in my life, I "forget" to wake up 2 hours early to spend time with God, I forget to make it to life-group  I forget to bless people at work, I "forget" about the spirit. Why? Because I was feeding my flesh, I was letting it grow and come to the surface more than my spirit. I was letting my flesh grieve the Holy Spirit. I've seen people completely fall off  spiritually because of little acts that feed the flesh. It's is so disastrous.

With all that said, the main point of this whole thing, is that it is hard work. This morning I believe God spoke to me and just told me to keep going, doing what you're doing, pushing toward the spirit, He let me know its not going to come quick and its not going to be simple. We have flesh, it is ALWAYS going to be weak and in that weakness it will grieve the spirit. But like I've said before, we don't have to  be O.K. with that concept. I don't want to! I know everyday is a spiritual battle and everyday is a fight to push through "ourselves", to move the worldly man who wants to drive us, over and to be led by the spirit. I have to work hard at this, and I feel like I have but it's gotten tiring, and I was just ready for it to be time already... But honestly, now, I'm ready to accept that. I'm ready to work hard.

Destroyed!

Lately, well this week (the past 3 days) I have been trying something new.

I felt led on Monday night during quiet time, to read the same, one chapter, everyday!

I have definitely enjoyed it. I am beginning to learn how to intertwine a bible study and quiet time together.

I'm doing this because I am very busy, and it is not always convenient to have two separate times a day to study the word and to meditate on it. I think that this will really help me get through these last couple weeks of school and finals and everything!

   With that being said, I was reading Romans 8, as I have been for the last 3 days and God spoke to me of course!! :)

It's a little tiny part of the scripture.

I felt a little push when I read it, the sweet spirit definitely captured my attention. I was honestly quite surprised, because the verse seemed so irrelevant ( as I had read it like 5 times before!!)

 

It comes from verse 3 reading, "And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins"

 I'm at work so I don't have the bible I read it in this morning (it's huge). But in that bible they used the word destroyed instead of declared. And let me tell you, that hit me!! I stopped and was like hold up, God destroyed what??

Think about this!! God destroyed our sin. It never really occurs to us that God gives us a clear and concise way out, he HELPS us with this whole sin issue.

Yes! Before that sentence in verse 4 it reads: "The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have."

Yes! He did send his Son Jesus to die, and I am so thankful and forever indebted. But I think we as Christians ( and if not, then JUST ME) forget that Jesus is the example! Like Jesus did this so that it could be done, He died on the cross so it could "be finished" But God SENT Jesus, He initiated it all, He planned it, He HELPED US!

I don't know about y'all, but that really makes me so excited and joyful. To know that God is behind it all... Please do not think I am taking the emphasis off Jesus (which technically I am not, because they are the same person in the trinity). I am just in awe of how loving our God is. I've heard it, probably you too, "God sent his one and only son... da da da da". But I guess this morning God showed me the reality of that... like He knew how bad this sin issue was gonna be, He knew we would wrestle with this, and so lovingly helped us, in the most extraordinary way.

I guess I've looked at him sending Jesus as a chore, or a duty, or because He is God.  Even though I've heard John 3:16 a GAGILLION times... It's never set in. That God did this because he wanted to HELP us. It affects me so much because, I love to help. That is my heart. It might sound stupid. But that's who I am, I have a servants heart, yes, for the lost, but literally for anyone. I want to do that for the rest of my life. I want to be a helper. You get the point lol.

It may be that I'm not as mature and that's why this is such a big revelation to me, or it may be that God is going to keep building on this and revealing more... Either way, I'm excited! ahah

Welp, that's all, back to making flashcards -.- .
God bless YOU!

Heart time.

I am beginning to truly believe that the longing of a human heart for anything, its a longing for our creator.
To know him.
To love him.
To be with him eternally.
To have intimacy with him.
& mostly, to have all that given in return.

I was not to sure of this at first. But from experience, first hand, I think I can truly say the aches and pains, longings and needs, ultimately, the beating of the heart, is for the King! For the truest, deepest, most perfect lover of any soul.
Im so overwhelmed with a desire to be wrapped in the arms of Jesus!
To be coated with his love and mercy and grace. And to exchange my earthly, fleshly desires for his!
I just want to sit at his feet, and let him love me!

My heart longs for things! Yes!

But my flesh is weak. It ultimately keeps me from that.

BUT, I dont want to let my flesh be a "but" anymore. I want to rise above that and be led by the spirit.
Im so ready to climb in his arms.

I am praying for all distractions of the flesh, of the world, from the devil, to be sent away from me and back to hell.

I am praying that this life I live and have been blessed with will not be my goal, or the center, or the reason,but that Jesus would be...

If you're reading this, join me in prayer!! Pray for the spirit to push you and to rule you. Pray for me, pray for yourself, and pray for others.

Goodnight. God Bless.