Transformed Mind

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.  4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.   David knew conflict/adversity since a boy. At the taunts of Goliath the Philistine he courageously said, "let no man's heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And from that day on he was a fierce man of battle, brutal hand to hand combat where your opponents blood was ever in your presence, think Game of Thrones or Braveheart, it was as intimate as one could get in the taking...

"It is not the thing we spend the most time on that moulds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts most power." - Oswald Chambers Chambers here is talking about the Atonement of Christ. That what Jesus did on the cross is the single most powerful thing in the history of humanity and that event should be the driving force in our lives.   I think of St. Paul who spent a great portion of his life studying, learning, and growing to become this great Jewish teacher, to be the absolute best. As he says, "If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." All of this time and energy trying to prove himself, trying to be someone, something. His passion was there, his dedication was there, but as Thomas Merton state...

Father God, it just amazes me how truly creative You are. While sitting in a hotel in Frankfurt doing homework the song “Red is the Rose,” by The Chieftains comes on, an Irish diddy with life, vibrancy, and spirit. In but a few moments it picks me up out of my chair and brings me to my knees. It’s not necessarily the music, but what that music represents, an imaginative, creative, and awesome God that provides beauty and joy for all through His creation. It’s the small things that we take for granted in life that when we stop and look, really proclaim Your genius, Your splendor, Your awareness. Father, why do You give us such extravagant gifts to enjoy and share when we so often turn away from You? I thank You for loving me in my brokenness. That when I attribute inspiration and ingenuity to others, that it is really You behind it all. I read Revelation and picture the multitudes, every creature on earth, under it, and in the sea singing praises to You in every type of music...

I’m tired. There has to be more to life than sleep, waking, going to work, eating, laughing at coworkers jokes that aren’t even funny because it takes more energy to answer why I feel lethargic than to give a little chuckle. What’s going on? Is this the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10)? Why does everyday feel like getting teeth pulled? Where is the joy? Where is the kingdom life? Do you ever get the feeling that maybe you were made for something greater? Every now and then you have those moments, I know you do, of clarity where everything is, well, clear. When your perspective on life and everything around you for a moment takes on deep and glorious meaning. It’s like Bradley Cooper’s character in Limitless when he takes a pill that allows his brain to work at full capacity and everything just aligns perfectly. Those moments for me are what keep me going, keep me striving. It’s no pill though, but God’s hand upon my life, showing me in a small window glimpse what I ...

Jesus’ birth, celebrated every 25 th of December, was the culminating event in God’s salvific historical plan as it stands today. It changed the history of humanity for eternity and with it, has brought freedom to those that choose to accept it. Before Jesus however, there were 613 commandments that were given by God to Moses as stated throughout the Torah. As the chosen people of God, the Israelites needed to have a distinct character and identity as His children. Therefore, after God rescued Israel from Egypt through his power and sovereign action, he gave the law as a covenant that revealed his standard of righteousness and holiness for scripture states, “For I (God) am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45). This was not a list of suggestions, but a divine mandate that required strict observance. These laws that the Jews followed, were followed by Jesus as well.   He was circumcised ...

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24) What is Jesus saying here? Are we sure of our salvation? Is not the gift of grace from God free? What must we do to be saved if not simply believe that Jesus is the Christ? It’s all in the text my friends, it’s all in His words. Yes, we are justified through the cross of Christ, but that’s just the beginning. Free does not mean apathy. We do not receive Jesus then rest on his laurels, no, that is what we call cheap grace. The grace of God is oh so costly; it takes what can be summed up in one word, discipleship. This is why Jesus tells us that many will perish and not enter his Kingdom, that many will, “Knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’” but he will answer saying to them, “I do not know where you come from…Depart from me, all you workers of evil.” (Luke 13:25, 27). No, we must not simply seek Jesus, but strive ! It takes a lifetim...

“My Thoughts are completely different than yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 “I’ve got this.” A statement I often catch myself uttering both audibly and under my breath. And why not, I’ve made it this far on my own already.  I moved from MN to the big NYC when I was 19, served a year in Iraq, and have continued to thrive since, right?  Well, not exactly, I did not have a relationship with Jesus then, so when I got back from Iraq, these were my thoughts… “Contemplation, my only solace to the lonesome crippling world I live in.  I must now adapt to the things around me.  Everything has changed so drastically from the comfortable life I once knew, a simple life of waking, school, and friends.  No longer am I a spectator watching the worlds events unfold on...