That's not nearly as emo as it sounds.
I've changed where I'm going to write out stuff (aka blog).
check: sethguthrie.tumblr.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Photos after 3m27d
London at night.
Big Ben & Parliament.
a blurry close up
again
Big Ben at sunset
A lion w/ Big Ben (my favorite)
Hyde Park.
A path in Hyde Park
Beautiful sky over Hyde Park
Hyde Park once again.
Sunrise over Kensington Church St. in Notting Hill
Monday, January 4, 2010
A Cohesive Day
Today I met a friend in Trafalgar Square for coffee. While I was there I hit up the National Portrait Gallery. Being a fan of art and all things cool, I wanted to check out some Van Gogh & Monet -- you know, being more into "modern art." However, I was enthralled when I saw the above painting entitled Christ Before the High Priest by Gerrit Van Honthorst. It's a depiction of Jesus Christ before Caiaphas, the high priest in Jerusalem, who conspired & longed to have Christ crucified.
Incredible painting. Painting made cooler by what I read this morning during my time with the Lord.
"Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.' " And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, 'He deserves death.' " (Matthew 26:57-68)
I sat in front of this painting thinking and praying about what this scene spoke. I feel like it's an awesome look at the intensity between Caiaphas and Jesus while the high priest is questioning the Son of God. I love how Van Honthorst locked Jesus' and Caiaphas' eyes -- eye's peering straight into the high priest's. A guilty man, wouldn't have done such a thing. The candle on the table too, is specially symbolic with Jesus being the Light of the world. I absolutely love how the light is used to make the scene dramatic, though I doubt the actual occurrence needed anymore help in that department.
For me, Christ Before the High Priest is a depiction of Caiaphas just as he finishes saying: "'Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?'" and as "Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
The Lord rocked me through this Scripture and painting today, though the later isn't completely accurate. It's cool how all of life has God's hand in it...
Saturday, January 2, 2010
"Come to Me, & I Will Give You Rest"
In Matthew 11 verse 28 Jesus speaks "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
Beautiful words. A beautiful promise.
The message is the same: Jew, Christian, Atheist, Hindu, Muslim, New Ager -- place your faith in Jesus' hands. Give all of your life over to the Savior, the redeemer, and find rest. Allow the Prince of Peace to comfort your weary & burdened soul. Invite His Holy Spirit to counsel and lead you through both, the Word and life.
Atheist, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, New Ager, (sinners) come to Jesus Christ, embrace the love of the Savior who desperately wants you to be free of the decay of sin, and receive the abundant life He freely gives. Run to the Lord who died so that you may have eternal life. Run to the King of Kings who gave Himself so that you could have rest, comfort, and peace for your soul; the only part of you that last for eternity. Take your focus off of the material, the things seen that lead to more worry, pain, sorrow, and death. Place your faith, your heavy burden, and your life (the good, the bad, & the ugly) in Jesus.
Christians (sinners) come to Jesus Christ. We need Christ daily. We need to lay down our pride, our fleshly burdens, the lies and grief from the enemy, and in our sorrow put on Christ Jesus. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14). Christ follower put on Christ and His comfort, His rest, and His will for you life.
Come to Him for He is gentle. Come to Him for He wants the best for us -- Himself. Come to Him, Christ Jesus, for He's paid the ransom of our sin to set us free from death's sting. He's given Himself up so that we can have intimacy with God and call Him Father.
You who are hurt.
You who feel empty and fake.
Come to Him.
You who are battered and bruised.
You who are overwhelmed with anxiety.
Come to Him, for He is gentle.
You who swim in stress.
You who are tormented by your past mistake; both intentional and unavoidable.
Come to Jesus, He will make you anew.
You who are walking sin's death march and are spiraling out of control.
You who are desperate and ready to end it.
Come to Jesus, and you will find rest for your souls. His yoke is easy, and His burden light.
Beautiful words. A beautiful promise.
The message is the same: Jew, Christian, Atheist, Hindu, Muslim, New Ager -- place your faith in Jesus' hands. Give all of your life over to the Savior, the redeemer, and find rest. Allow the Prince of Peace to comfort your weary & burdened soul. Invite His Holy Spirit to counsel and lead you through both, the Word and life.
Atheist, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, New Ager, (sinners) come to Jesus Christ, embrace the love of the Savior who desperately wants you to be free of the decay of sin, and receive the abundant life He freely gives. Run to the Lord who died so that you may have eternal life. Run to the King of Kings who gave Himself so that you could have rest, comfort, and peace for your soul; the only part of you that last for eternity. Take your focus off of the material, the things seen that lead to more worry, pain, sorrow, and death. Place your faith, your heavy burden, and your life (the good, the bad, & the ugly) in Jesus.
Christians (sinners) come to Jesus Christ. We need Christ daily. We need to lay down our pride, our fleshly burdens, the lies and grief from the enemy, and in our sorrow put on Christ Jesus. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14). Christ follower put on Christ and His comfort, His rest, and His will for you life.
Come to Him for He is gentle. Come to Him for He wants the best for us -- Himself. Come to Him, Christ Jesus, for He's paid the ransom of our sin to set us free from death's sting. He's given Himself up so that we can have intimacy with God and call Him Father.
You who are hurt.
You who feel empty and fake.
Come to Him.
You who are battered and bruised.
You who are overwhelmed with anxiety.
Come to Him, for He is gentle.
You who swim in stress.
You who are tormented by your past mistake; both intentional and unavoidable.
Come to Jesus, He will make you anew.
You who are walking sin's death march and are spiraling out of control.
You who are desperate and ready to end it.
Come to Jesus, and you will find rest for your souls. His yoke is easy, and His burden light.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010
I can't believe it's January. Even more, I can't believe we're in the 2nd decade of this the 2nd millennia. That fact alone makes my brain hurt, but lets be real, it doesn't take much to make my brain hurt. I digress.
Like most people, I've made a New Year resolution, but it's a bit different. What do you expect; I'm weird. It starts with today. Today I started reading the Word through a guideline that Elevation Church is starting next weekend. It's geared to read through the New Testament in 30 days -- New Thru 30. They start next week, but I felt God leading to start today. So, I did. And the Holy Spirit provided me with a "New Year resolution."
"Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentile (the non-Jewish; those far from God during this time) seek after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:32-34
My one and only resolution this year is to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." To seek God with everything I am, for the sole purpose of knowing Him more. Seek Jesus first and He'll take care of me; no matter what. It may look different then I want or expect, but He's got my back. The Lord's been teaching me to seek Him, His Kingdom, His heart, and His will over my own; seek and cling to Jesus Christ. Far too often I seek Him for His blessings and mentally bypass the Creator. That's not acceptable. That simply is not cool (by His and my standards).
The passage above tells us plainly to seek first God and His Kingdom -- HIM -- above all. Above where nourishment is going to come from. Over what I'm going to where (which is quite limited anyway). Seek Him above what others think of me. Seeking to please only God Almighty whom I serve - and to actually walk that out, instead of talking it. This year I want to make more of an effort to place Jesus at the center of my life and my heart, and Him as the filter. If its not of Him or does not bring Glory to Him, then I don't want it.
This year it's time to put up or shut up.
This year the Lord is pursuing me to be more aggressive in my relationship with Him.
This year it's time to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Me: Inside Out
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind of the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:1-8
These are comforting verses for me. They are especially comforting during this season of life. More particularly, the Holy Spirit brings me peace through these 8 verses as I write and as I confess. As I confess sin, but more then that, as I confess that Jesus is my Lord and Savior delivering me.
The Lord has been leading me through a time of brokenness and humility. In this season, God has been showing me and convicting me of much. He’s been revealing to me my religiosity and my striving to seem perfect on the outside. How I’m not transparent with sin. Sin that I’ve repented of and deeds I have been forgiven. Sin that Jesus Christ died for and washed me clean of, but I’m too interested in my image to allow the work of Christ to be seen in me.
To be completely upfront, that sin is lust, pornography, and getting as close to the line of sex as possible without crossing it. Lust was my idol – along with pride, my athletic ability, and anything else temporal that I could worship. From a young age, my folly has been sexual desire. A spiral of sin that takes control of most men, me being no different, though just a boy when I chose to give it control. The pornography started upon entering college while I was in full-fledged rebellion from Jesus Christ. I began my rebellion from the Church and a relationship with Christ because the lure of sexual sin grabbed my attention, and I consciously chose it, though the Holy Spirit within me convicted against my actions. Sadly, I ignored Him and gave into my flesh; in fact, chose it over Jesus. However, on the outside I tried to act like I had it all together – played the Christian part and played it half-heartedly, but years of habitual sexual sin kept me of all Christ reflecting fruit. But my Savior didn’t give up, the faint voice of the Holy Spirit, always spoke, but I frequently ignored Him.
That was the case until about two years ago when the Lord grabbed me, shook me, and welcomed me back like the prodigal son I was. Though the pornography didn’t immediately cease, it did begin to fade through the power of Jesus Christ and my wanting to adhere to His Spirit. The Lord began to unfold Scripture to me and to make me anew. His voice in my life began to speak at a louder volume and more frequently. He was no longer faint, no long ignored, but treasured and worshiped for whom He is. My desire transformed from self to God, which is done only by the power and council of the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. Life-change took place through the forgiveness and power of the blood of Christ accessible through repentance of sin. Jesus’ death on the Cross for my sin -- a death I deserve, a punishment fit to my lust, the Savior hung on my behalf -- is what freed me, forgave me, and made me right with God. His constant pursuit of me and unconditional love is what rocked me at my soul. He called me back, welcomed me with open arms, never letting me go too far, and allowed me to receive His gift of forgiveness. He took me from a life headed down a path that could have resembled Tiger Woods’ and freed me of my chains that I placed upon myself. I was able to follow Christ only because He prompted me and paid my ransom by dying my death on the Cross, which allows my sins to be repented of.
Truly, I have nothing but the Cross to boast in, where complete forgiveness and freedom are found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
My confession here is done because the Lord has called me to carry my cross, as He did, and confessing sin is a part of that command. Plus, the Holy Spirit has instructed me to confess in this manner. Not so that pity or praise is thrown my way, but that you may see the work of Christ in my life, in my heart, soul, and mind. I write this that you may see Christ in my weakness, relying on His strength, grace, and redemption in your own lives. I say this because by God’s beautiful grace I am able to have a deeper relationship with Christ, free of the weight of sin, righteous in the sight of Him through repentance. I truly am amazed and thankful for the Gospel of Jesus for grabbing me, turning me around, and saving me from myself; from my fleshly desires that drove me from Him; God who is love.
I’m thankful to stand under the grace, love, & forgiveness that is Jesus Christ, the Savior of history. Striving to serve, worship, and love Him alone. I’m a work in progress, free from porn and sexual sin, with the Holy Spirit living in me. I’m thankful for my Savior who became the embodiment of the lust and sexual sin that riddled my flesh – to Him be all Glory and worship.
Some help:
1. http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/
2. http://relit.org/deathbylove/
My prayer: Psalm 86:1-13
“Incline your ear, O Lord, and
answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in
you—you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
For to you, O Lord do I lift up my soul.
for you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who
call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.
There is none like you amoung the gods,
O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous
things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God,
with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love
toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the
depths of Sheol.”
†
Romans 8:1-8
These are comforting verses for me. They are especially comforting during this season of life. More particularly, the Holy Spirit brings me peace through these 8 verses as I write and as I confess. As I confess sin, but more then that, as I confess that Jesus is my Lord and Savior delivering me.
The Lord has been leading me through a time of brokenness and humility. In this season, God has been showing me and convicting me of much. He’s been revealing to me my religiosity and my striving to seem perfect on the outside. How I’m not transparent with sin. Sin that I’ve repented of and deeds I have been forgiven. Sin that Jesus Christ died for and washed me clean of, but I’m too interested in my image to allow the work of Christ to be seen in me.
To be completely upfront, that sin is lust, pornography, and getting as close to the line of sex as possible without crossing it. Lust was my idol – along with pride, my athletic ability, and anything else temporal that I could worship. From a young age, my folly has been sexual desire. A spiral of sin that takes control of most men, me being no different, though just a boy when I chose to give it control. The pornography started upon entering college while I was in full-fledged rebellion from Jesus Christ. I began my rebellion from the Church and a relationship with Christ because the lure of sexual sin grabbed my attention, and I consciously chose it, though the Holy Spirit within me convicted against my actions. Sadly, I ignored Him and gave into my flesh; in fact, chose it over Jesus. However, on the outside I tried to act like I had it all together – played the Christian part and played it half-heartedly, but years of habitual sexual sin kept me of all Christ reflecting fruit. But my Savior didn’t give up, the faint voice of the Holy Spirit, always spoke, but I frequently ignored Him.
That was the case until about two years ago when the Lord grabbed me, shook me, and welcomed me back like the prodigal son I was. Though the pornography didn’t immediately cease, it did begin to fade through the power of Jesus Christ and my wanting to adhere to His Spirit. The Lord began to unfold Scripture to me and to make me anew. His voice in my life began to speak at a louder volume and more frequently. He was no longer faint, no long ignored, but treasured and worshiped for whom He is. My desire transformed from self to God, which is done only by the power and council of the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. Life-change took place through the forgiveness and power of the blood of Christ accessible through repentance of sin. Jesus’ death on the Cross for my sin -- a death I deserve, a punishment fit to my lust, the Savior hung on my behalf -- is what freed me, forgave me, and made me right with God. His constant pursuit of me and unconditional love is what rocked me at my soul. He called me back, welcomed me with open arms, never letting me go too far, and allowed me to receive His gift of forgiveness. He took me from a life headed down a path that could have resembled Tiger Woods’ and freed me of my chains that I placed upon myself. I was able to follow Christ only because He prompted me and paid my ransom by dying my death on the Cross, which allows my sins to be repented of.
Truly, I have nothing but the Cross to boast in, where complete forgiveness and freedom are found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
My confession here is done because the Lord has called me to carry my cross, as He did, and confessing sin is a part of that command. Plus, the Holy Spirit has instructed me to confess in this manner. Not so that pity or praise is thrown my way, but that you may see the work of Christ in my life, in my heart, soul, and mind. I write this that you may see Christ in my weakness, relying on His strength, grace, and redemption in your own lives. I say this because by God’s beautiful grace I am able to have a deeper relationship with Christ, free of the weight of sin, righteous in the sight of Him through repentance. I truly am amazed and thankful for the Gospel of Jesus for grabbing me, turning me around, and saving me from myself; from my fleshly desires that drove me from Him; God who is love.
I’m thankful to stand under the grace, love, & forgiveness that is Jesus Christ, the Savior of history. Striving to serve, worship, and love Him alone. I’m a work in progress, free from porn and sexual sin, with the Holy Spirit living in me. I’m thankful for my Savior who became the embodiment of the lust and sexual sin that riddled my flesh – to Him be all Glory and worship.
Some help:
1. http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/
2. http://relit.org/deathbylove/
My prayer: Psalm 86:1-13
“Incline your ear, O Lord, and
answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in
you—you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
For to you, O Lord do I lift up my soul.
for you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who
call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.
There is none like you amoung the gods,
O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous
things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God,
with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love
toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the
depths of Sheol.”
†
Monday, December 7, 2009
Christmas Decorations
I saw this picture today and it made me laugh really hard.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season so far.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
"Perfect" Christians Stop Frontin.
"...a Christian is not a man (person) who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble--because the Christ-life (Holy Spirit) is inside him, repairing him all the time, enabling him to repeat (in some degree) the kind of voluntary death which Christ Himself carried out."
- Clive (C.S. Lewis), Mere Christianity
This passage from Mere Christianity got me thinking and then repenting.
Why?
Because to many of us -- Christians -- have bought into the lie that we have to be perfect. We have to seem "all put together." That since Christ redeemed our souls we are perfect, without sin, and thus we have to give off the fake perception that everything is peachy in life. (Don't take this wrong: we are redeemed, but after salvation we are still sinners, so lets not sweep that fact under the rug. cool?)
Upon receiving Christ as Lord and Savior we aren't handed a card reading, "you are now perfect so go and tell all about your perfection, acting like you don't need Jesus any more." In fact, its the opposite. We're handed an eternity with Christ, under His grace, love and forgiveness. We are handed the gift of repentance of sin; a gift healing us of our sin.
As Christians we aren't called to have all the answers. We aren't called to put on perfection or the persona that all is good all the time. We are sinners just like the rest of the world, but our huge difference is Jesus Christ in us. Instead of acting like we don't sin, lets confess it, repent of it, and allow Jesus to do what He did upon our salvation -- wipe us clean.
Let's change the Christianese attitude of today. One that we have to clean ourselves up before we go into Church. One where we have to make ourselves right before we cry out to the Lord. One where we can do no wrong because we have Jesus. Let's stop acting like we can do anything to "clean" ourselves up, or even, that we don't need to be cleaned at all.
Instead, lets be the people that Jesus has made us to be. People constantly pointing to His redemption and love poured out upon the Cross for all sinners; Christian & all. A people quick to repent, quick to confess, and quick to cry out to the Lord -- cry out in happiness, sorrow, joy, defeat, confusion, & pain. Let's be a people who allow Jesus to work in us, showing those who don't know Him that we are nothing but a sinful generation being cleaned, pruned, and sanctified by the good work of Jesus Christ. All by His grace & nothing of ourselves.
Can we stop faking it? All faking it does is turn the sinners without Christ away. It's not a representation of Jesus at all. In fact, its robbing Him of Glory and people their Savior.
Can we just be raw, be real, and have Jesus use our transparency to receive more Glory for Himself, redeeming sinners through the healing He does in us?
Can we be the people He's called us to be? People who make less of themselves and more of Jesus. Meaning: People who aren't afraid to express their imperfection and point to Christ as their own sin is redeemed through repentance.
Just a thought that the Lord rocked me with these past few weeks. Let's be real. Let's allow Christ's work in us to be seen.
- Clive (C.S. Lewis), Mere Christianity
This passage from Mere Christianity got me thinking and then repenting.
Why?
Because to many of us -- Christians -- have bought into the lie that we have to be perfect. We have to seem "all put together." That since Christ redeemed our souls we are perfect, without sin, and thus we have to give off the fake perception that everything is peachy in life. (Don't take this wrong: we are redeemed, but after salvation we are still sinners, so lets not sweep that fact under the rug. cool?)
Upon receiving Christ as Lord and Savior we aren't handed a card reading, "you are now perfect so go and tell all about your perfection, acting like you don't need Jesus any more." In fact, its the opposite. We're handed an eternity with Christ, under His grace, love and forgiveness. We are handed the gift of repentance of sin; a gift healing us of our sin.
As Christians we aren't called to have all the answers. We aren't called to put on perfection or the persona that all is good all the time. We are sinners just like the rest of the world, but our huge difference is Jesus Christ in us. Instead of acting like we don't sin, lets confess it, repent of it, and allow Jesus to do what He did upon our salvation -- wipe us clean.
Let's change the Christianese attitude of today. One that we have to clean ourselves up before we go into Church. One where we have to make ourselves right before we cry out to the Lord. One where we can do no wrong because we have Jesus. Let's stop acting like we can do anything to "clean" ourselves up, or even, that we don't need to be cleaned at all.
Instead, lets be the people that Jesus has made us to be. People constantly pointing to His redemption and love poured out upon the Cross for all sinners; Christian & all. A people quick to repent, quick to confess, and quick to cry out to the Lord -- cry out in happiness, sorrow, joy, defeat, confusion, & pain. Let's be a people who allow Jesus to work in us, showing those who don't know Him that we are nothing but a sinful generation being cleaned, pruned, and sanctified by the good work of Jesus Christ. All by His grace & nothing of ourselves.
Can we stop faking it? All faking it does is turn the sinners without Christ away. It's not a representation of Jesus at all. In fact, its robbing Him of Glory and people their Savior.
Can we just be raw, be real, and have Jesus use our transparency to receive more Glory for Himself, redeeming sinners through the healing He does in us?
Can we be the people He's called us to be? People who make less of themselves and more of Jesus. Meaning: People who aren't afraid to express their imperfection and point to Christ as their own sin is redeemed through repentance.
Just a thought that the Lord rocked me with these past few weeks. Let's be real. Let's allow Christ's work in us to be seen.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful For His Steadfast Love
My prayer today, a day of Thanks:
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, He is God!
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of
His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless His name!
For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
and faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
Lord, please help me to hold on to this truth.
To cling to you, forever.
Jesus, Thank you for offering yourself -- the greatest act of love -- for me, so that I can know and live in you.
Thank you for the freedom your love provides & the joy that overflows.
To cling to you, forever.
Jesus, Thank you for offering yourself -- the greatest act of love -- for me, so that I can know and live in you.
Thank you for the freedom your love provides & the joy that overflows.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Support
"And He said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" Luke 9:23
For me, taking up my cross and following Jesus has led me to London, England; a journey unlike any other. It's taken faith in things unseen with trust in the God who sent me, and who came before me. Both faith and trust coming from Jesus Himself. Coming over to London with a one-way ticket and a bag wasn't an easy venture. Coming to a land that rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- while my sole purpose of being here is to speak His truth with grace & love -- isn't easy either. But, (and that's big but) the Lord has shown me how sweet it is to walk with Him when I depend upon Him for everything. I have never experienced the Lord like I have since being in London. He has revealed and unfolded Himself more and more everyday, and I love it.
But honestly, I haven't a clue what I'm doing. I can't save a city or persuade them to become followers of Christ. Only the Lord can and does that. What do I do then? I beg the Lord to act, to soften the hearts of the city, to bring repentance and revival to her streets, and to fill the same streets with people worshiping the One True God again. I don't have a routine. I just go and move as the Holy Spirit leads on a daily basis. I literally don't know what I'm doing tomorrow, let alone when I'm coming back to the states. All I do is go where the Lord leads and daily take up the cross He's strengthening me to carry.
At the moment, and the foreseeable future, I am living in a hostel on the edge of Soho. Why Soho? Basic answer: the Lord told me to live here. It's an area in the center of London that has every sinful desire one could dream of. A dark place where the people are far from the Lord, but He's placed hope inside my heart that He's going to redeem here. At the moment, every Sunday afternoon I go and speak the Truth of the Gospel at Speaker's Corner; another place the Lord has called me to act. The Lord has led me to Reality London where I help in anyway I can. My weeks fill up though I can't tell you how I'm going to spend them before hand. What I do isn't a job. Its life. By the grace of God I get to talk to people about the Lord and learn more about Him; a focus on Heaven, and not on earth.
Where is this going? Right here: the great commission, where Jesus instructs His followers to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. Simply, Jesus tells us all to make disciples through Him. But there are those who He commands to "go" and those people He instructs to send. Jesus has clearly called me to go -- to come to London and make disciples through His powerful name.
Will you prayerfully ask the Lord if you are to send me?
What does sending me look like (Send-a-Seth): Prayer is absolutely huge -- Not just for me, but for the city, for Reality London, and for protection. Join the prayer email that I send out, so that you can lift up London in detail. Encouragement -- Send a brother some encouragement. I'm human and the enemy is real, so encouragement is cool. Real talk, I miss you guys. Accountability -- Keep me accountable to what the Lord has called me to do here. (Preaching & teaching the Gospel, loving the homeless, helping Reality London, being a light in Soho) Financially -- I'm an American in England who doesn't have an income, but needs to eat and have shelter (preferably). Honestly, I give more money away buying food for the homeless and addicts, then I myself consume. Its an easy way to express the love Christ and I get to know them over food or coffee. And, I honestly have the weight of college loans needing to be paid, but the Lord knew this before He sent me to London. I have no doubt that He's faithful. Workers -- Whether its for a week or 8 months, the harvest in London is plentiful but the workers are few (Matt. 9:35-38). I would love to have some folks come alongside me to serve the Lord & the people of London. In fact, I'd love for you to pray and ask God if He wants you to come over and serve here. If honest, this is the area of most need. For people who love Jesus Christ and love telling others about Him, to come to London and do just that.
Please, don't feel like you have to support me in any way. Don't do it out of obligation or guilt, because that motivation is all wrong. Please pray and ask the Lord if He would like you to support me, to support what He's doing in London. And then ask Him in what way to serve. Pray and then take whatever action He leads you to take.
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." Acts 4:32-34
One heart and one soul -- that's the Body of Christ.
seth.guthrie@gmail.com
†
For me, taking up my cross and following Jesus has led me to London, England; a journey unlike any other. It's taken faith in things unseen with trust in the God who sent me, and who came before me. Both faith and trust coming from Jesus Himself. Coming over to London with a one-way ticket and a bag wasn't an easy venture. Coming to a land that rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- while my sole purpose of being here is to speak His truth with grace & love -- isn't easy either. But, (and that's big but) the Lord has shown me how sweet it is to walk with Him when I depend upon Him for everything. I have never experienced the Lord like I have since being in London. He has revealed and unfolded Himself more and more everyday, and I love it.
But honestly, I haven't a clue what I'm doing. I can't save a city or persuade them to become followers of Christ. Only the Lord can and does that. What do I do then? I beg the Lord to act, to soften the hearts of the city, to bring repentance and revival to her streets, and to fill the same streets with people worshiping the One True God again. I don't have a routine. I just go and move as the Holy Spirit leads on a daily basis. I literally don't know what I'm doing tomorrow, let alone when I'm coming back to the states. All I do is go where the Lord leads and daily take up the cross He's strengthening me to carry.
At the moment, and the foreseeable future, I am living in a hostel on the edge of Soho. Why Soho? Basic answer: the Lord told me to live here. It's an area in the center of London that has every sinful desire one could dream of. A dark place where the people are far from the Lord, but He's placed hope inside my heart that He's going to redeem here. At the moment, every Sunday afternoon I go and speak the Truth of the Gospel at Speaker's Corner; another place the Lord has called me to act. The Lord has led me to Reality London where I help in anyway I can. My weeks fill up though I can't tell you how I'm going to spend them before hand. What I do isn't a job. Its life. By the grace of God I get to talk to people about the Lord and learn more about Him; a focus on Heaven, and not on earth.
Where is this going? Right here: the great commission, where Jesus instructs His followers to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. Simply, Jesus tells us all to make disciples through Him. But there are those who He commands to "go" and those people He instructs to send. Jesus has clearly called me to go -- to come to London and make disciples through His powerful name.
Will you prayerfully ask the Lord if you are to send me?
What does sending me look like (Send-a-Seth): Prayer is absolutely huge -- Not just for me, but for the city, for Reality London, and for protection. Join the prayer email that I send out, so that you can lift up London in detail. Encouragement -- Send a brother some encouragement. I'm human and the enemy is real, so encouragement is cool. Real talk, I miss you guys. Accountability -- Keep me accountable to what the Lord has called me to do here. (Preaching & teaching the Gospel, loving the homeless, helping Reality London, being a light in Soho) Financially -- I'm an American in England who doesn't have an income, but needs to eat and have shelter (preferably). Honestly, I give more money away buying food for the homeless and addicts, then I myself consume. Its an easy way to express the love Christ and I get to know them over food or coffee. And, I honestly have the weight of college loans needing to be paid, but the Lord knew this before He sent me to London. I have no doubt that He's faithful. Workers -- Whether its for a week or 8 months, the harvest in London is plentiful but the workers are few (Matt. 9:35-38). I would love to have some folks come alongside me to serve the Lord & the people of London. In fact, I'd love for you to pray and ask God if He wants you to come over and serve here. If honest, this is the area of most need. For people who love Jesus Christ and love telling others about Him, to come to London and do just that.
Please, don't feel like you have to support me in any way. Don't do it out of obligation or guilt, because that motivation is all wrong. Please pray and ask the Lord if He would like you to support me, to support what He's doing in London. And then ask Him in what way to serve. Pray and then take whatever action He leads you to take.
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." Acts 4:32-34
One heart and one soul -- that's the Body of Christ.
seth.guthrie@gmail.com
†
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Salvation
Redemption is a beautiful aspect to life--as well as the most important--and I pray we all experience this through Jesus Christ.
†
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A Week & 1/2 ago
A week and 1/2 ago, Wednesday, November 11th marked my two month stay in LondonTown. I celebrated in a unique way. Let me unfold it for you.
The Lord has provided for me financially for the past few months and He's done it in absolutely astonishing ways. Someone would email me or get in contact with me, telling me that the Lord told them to send me some cash. This happened every time my funds grew low. And without me ever mentioning it to anyone. I would simply pray for my needs to be met.
Fast-Forward.
Wednesday morning I woke up with my reservations at the hostel expiring and £15 to my name. I prayed like crazy. Yeah you know the kind, the selfish prayer. I was hoping and pleading for God to provide me money so that I could stay in my comfortable, well acquainted room that I shared with 7 other dudes. I prayed a selfish and comfortable prayer even though the Lord had already spoken that I'd be leaving the hostel that morning. (The Lord spoke clearly two days before that I was at that hostel for the sole purpose of meeting Blake, who you'll learn more about tomorrow). I was fleshing out like crazy (Translation: sinning).
I had a unique feeling. I was confident the Lord would provide, but I wanted Him to provide in a certain way. A way that would keep me where I was. Well, I packed my things into my backpack and headed up to a cafe to read/pray/see what the Lord had in store for the day. The more the day went by, the more I felt peaceful and calm about being homeless. I've gotten to know the homeless people in the area, so I had the lowdown on where I could sleep and stay dry. But, the Holy Spirit gave me a peace that went past the thoughts of being homeless. The day past quickly and by 7pm I walked to our Prayer Meeting that we have here at Reality London (http://www.realitylondon.co.uk/blog/) on Wednesday nights. (yes, that was an unashamed plug...) Everyone looked at me all crazy like because I had all my stuff with me, including a pillowcase over my shoulder... I told them my situation and Christian, a Londoner who attends Reality, offered me to stay with him for as long as I needed. As long as I didn't mind living about 20 minutes outside the center of London. Of course, I went home with Christian that night.
I traveled back to his flat where I have been sleeping in a room by myself, with my own bathroom, and relaxing. Thanks to Christians generosity, I have been able to eat for free and eat well. I've had duck, ribs, chicken, and full out breakfasts... food I wasn't able to afford before. I've been able to recharge and relax for a week -- where I feel rested and ready to get back on the streets.
My point? To express how God moves and works. I fought leaving my comfortable and familiar hostel, not because I loved it (well I did in a weird way), but because I knew it; familiar. I was fearful of what was next. Fearful that what was next could be the streets, homeless, and cold. But God had better in store for me. Actually, I haven't stayed in a bed or room or apartment or ate food this nice in about 4 months. But to get to it, the Lord had to remove me from what I knew and what felt comfortable to me. He was leading me to the best but I was settling for comfortable and familiarity. To put it bluntly, I didn't trust Him.
My question is, where is God leading you, but you're dragging your feet in refusal? Some advice -- just go. Take the leap. Jesus will provide for you. His provision might not be the way you want or the way you think it should be done, but it's always the best way. Do what we're called to do, and follow Jesus. What will happen if you don't? I don't know, but I do you know you'll be robbing God of Glory He deserves, robbing someone else a chance to show generosity, and robbing yourself the chance to express Jesus' love to others (which leads back to robbing Him of Glory...).
He's faithful and He'll lead you. It's how He rolls.
The Lord has provided for me financially for the past few months and He's done it in absolutely astonishing ways. Someone would email me or get in contact with me, telling me that the Lord told them to send me some cash. This happened every time my funds grew low. And without me ever mentioning it to anyone. I would simply pray for my needs to be met.
Fast-Forward.
Wednesday morning I woke up with my reservations at the hostel expiring and £15 to my name. I prayed like crazy. Yeah you know the kind, the selfish prayer. I was hoping and pleading for God to provide me money so that I could stay in my comfortable, well acquainted room that I shared with 7 other dudes. I prayed a selfish and comfortable prayer even though the Lord had already spoken that I'd be leaving the hostel that morning. (The Lord spoke clearly two days before that I was at that hostel for the sole purpose of meeting Blake, who you'll learn more about tomorrow). I was fleshing out like crazy (Translation: sinning).
I had a unique feeling. I was confident the Lord would provide, but I wanted Him to provide in a certain way. A way that would keep me where I was. Well, I packed my things into my backpack and headed up to a cafe to read/pray/see what the Lord had in store for the day. The more the day went by, the more I felt peaceful and calm about being homeless. I've gotten to know the homeless people in the area, so I had the lowdown on where I could sleep and stay dry. But, the Holy Spirit gave me a peace that went past the thoughts of being homeless. The day past quickly and by 7pm I walked to our Prayer Meeting that we have here at Reality London (http://www.realitylondon.co.uk/blog/) on Wednesday nights. (yes, that was an unashamed plug...) Everyone looked at me all crazy like because I had all my stuff with me, including a pillowcase over my shoulder... I told them my situation and Christian, a Londoner who attends Reality, offered me to stay with him for as long as I needed. As long as I didn't mind living about 20 minutes outside the center of London. Of course, I went home with Christian that night.
I traveled back to his flat where I have been sleeping in a room by myself, with my own bathroom, and relaxing. Thanks to Christians generosity, I have been able to eat for free and eat well. I've had duck, ribs, chicken, and full out breakfasts... food I wasn't able to afford before. I've been able to recharge and relax for a week -- where I feel rested and ready to get back on the streets.
My point? To express how God moves and works. I fought leaving my comfortable and familiar hostel, not because I loved it (well I did in a weird way), but because I knew it; familiar. I was fearful of what was next. Fearful that what was next could be the streets, homeless, and cold. But God had better in store for me. Actually, I haven't stayed in a bed or room or apartment or ate food this nice in about 4 months. But to get to it, the Lord had to remove me from what I knew and what felt comfortable to me. He was leading me to the best but I was settling for comfortable and familiarity. To put it bluntly, I didn't trust Him.
My question is, where is God leading you, but you're dragging your feet in refusal? Some advice -- just go. Take the leap. Jesus will provide for you. His provision might not be the way you want or the way you think it should be done, but it's always the best way. Do what we're called to do, and follow Jesus. What will happen if you don't? I don't know, but I do you know you'll be robbing God of Glory He deserves, robbing someone else a chance to show generosity, and robbing yourself the chance to express Jesus' love to others (which leads back to robbing Him of Glory...).
He's faithful and He'll lead you. It's how He rolls.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A little bit about Soho
Tonight, at 6:30p (1:30p EST) Reality London will be doing a prayer tour of a square mile area in London called Soho. Soho is London's red-light district, meaning an area overgrown with prostitution, sex shops, strip clubs, homosexuality, and drugs. The Lord has placed this area of town on my heart and brought me here a few times to see what goes down at night -- it resembles Sodom & Gomorrah all too well.
So, I've been doing the only thing that I could do for Soho and that's prayer. I want to invite you to join us in prayer for this sin riddled part of town and for Jesus Christ to be Glorified here, redeeming and healing those He draws close.
Here's some history of Soho:
- Farmland until 1536 when Henry the VIII turned the land into a royal park.
- The name Soho, a former hunting cry of the Anglo-French people, came about in 1636 being used to describe a group of houses in the area. It is also said to be used as a rally cry by the Duke of Monmouth in the Battle of Sedgemoor.
- In 1667 the Crown allowed Richard Frith to begin development of the area.
- Soho was (and is) known for its tolerance and cheap living so many immigrants made it their home causing most aristocrats to peace out. The French, Germans, Italians, Russians, Polish, Jews, Swiss, Greeks, and the Chinese all have immigrated to Soho over the years.
- Prostitution became vibrant in Soho in the mid to late 17th C, running rampant for 200 years.
- By the mid 1800s music halls and small theatres moved into the Square mile.
- Early 1900s cheaper eateries opened by the multiple nationalities came about attracting writers, musicians, and artists to the area.
- 1959 the Street Offenses Act came into play pushing the prostitution in doors where stores and night clubs would run as fronts for the services. By the '60s nearly 100 strip clubs could be found in Soho.
- In the mid '70s sex shops thrived into business littering the area.
- 1980s brought the police closing in on the clubs, brothels, and sex shops, and a reduction, or at least restricting occurred.
- And by 2000 the red-light area had been reduced to areas surrounding Brewer Street and Berwick Street, but sex shops and prostitution are still widely popular, with tons of shops around the area and prostitution being a huge force at night.
" And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us with him and seated us with him in the heavenly place in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not at result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:1-10
Pray that God, just as He did for us, shows His love, mercy, and grace to the people of Soho, redeeming them into His Kingdom. Pray for the people to receive the gift that He's offering.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Speaker's Corner
Every Sunday, all day Sunday, you can find a crowd at a corner in London’s Hyde Park. Speaker's Corner is a place full of history where the likes of Karl Marx, George Orwell, & Vladimir Lenin came to both listen and speak their views. This corner is a place where men (seldom women) come to speak their minds and lavish the crowd's ears with persuasive arguments about the man’s religion, political view, and/or nonsensical tales. However, most men come out to debate against Jesus Christ. Why? Because most men who currently come to Speaker's Corner practice Islam.
Now I have zero speaking cred, but Speaker's Corner is no doubt one of the toughest places to speak about Christ (not including countries that persecute Christian men and women). The main reason that Speaker’s Corner is so difficult to profess Christ and speak His Truth is because the Muslims out number everyone by about 200-250 people. That fact alone would be difficult, but these guys know their stuff. Well, at first it seems so, but what most men do to discredit the Bible and Jesus Christ is misinterpret, and cherry-pick verses. So this can be a massacre (and has been for me a few times) to a Christian who doesn’t know why they believe in Jesus Christ, or how to communicate it.
The beauty of Speaker's Corner is that it makes me think. There have been countless times that the Holy Spirit has spoken through me while being there, but there have also been those times where I've been stumped. It's those times of ignorance that the Lord speaks the loudest to me. He speaks every Monday morning, or fairly often all day Monday, as I search through Scripture to find the answers to questions that a Muslim or I think of while debating. The Lord has led me to the answer and unfolded my questioning every time -- absolutely every time -- my knowledge has failed. That's how awesome God is. He wants us to search Him and ask when we have questions -- He always holds up to my pondering and leads me multiple steps forward into His goodness.
I want to share with you what the Lord has led me to. Maybe you'll find it helpful. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will empower you through the Truth He leads me to, so if you are placed in the same situation(s) you can accurately represent the Truth of Jesus Christ. I will be posting a series of questions/answers that have been thrown my way and that God has shown Himself through.
Please pray that Speaker's Corner be transformed to a place where Jesus Christ is worshiped and where God receives Glory.
to be continued...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A Word on Prayer & a Video
Jesus said to His disciples (and to us):
“Truly, Truly I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it!”
John 14:12-14
The Lord has been stretching me lately with how much I pray to Him. That no matter how much I do go to Him in prayer, I could and should be striving for more. That He doesn't limit things; I do. That I've taken for granted what communicating with the Savior means and how awesome it is to speak with El-Shaddai.
The Lord called me to London. Simply, I want and need the Holy Spirit to guide me, to soften hearts, to flow through the streets of London, and to do what Jesus does - save. I can't save. You can't save. Only Jesus redeems souls and places His Holy Spirit in us to dwell.
This amazing truth should have us desperate for His action, desperate to be in His presence, and desperate to follow Him. Desperate to speak with Jesus.
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and Heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
James 5:17 & 18
Elijah was prophet from the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit, who desired to Glorify the Lord. He was a man, human, an average dude. But, the Lord worked incredibly through him because Elijah followed the Lord, was lead by the Spirit, and prayed fervently for the will of God to be done - for God to reveal himself to idol worshiping people.
Elijah's prayer on Mount Carmel when the prophets of baal tested God: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." (1 Kings 18 - read it) Elijah prayed fervently and communicated constantly with God, and huge, "impossible" things happened. A water soaked altar was engulfed by a pillar of fire sent down from Heaven and the people cried "The Lord, He is God; The Lord, He is God."
The Lord desires for London to echo "The Lord, He is God; The Lord, He is God."
Fight with me in prayer, for the Lord to redeem, and turn London from a rebellious nation to a nation worshiping Jesus once again.
†
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
So this happened 2 days ago
The air in London is turning cool and crisp, even in midday. Quite pleasant to sit in the coolness allowing the rays of sunlight to warm me. The leaves have begun to show it. They’ve turned to bright yellows and deep oranges. Trees turning from top down, the color filtering through the green. The flowers around them are striving to their final vibrant kick of color before they pass away.
It’s everywhere.
In the fantastic blue sky, the clouds as they travel on by. In the ancient brick on which the museums, flats, and churches sit. Yes, churches sit. In the latte in which I sip. In the pigeons who collectively fly away to swoop around a tree only to land right where they took off, twice.
This autumn day is full of it. Echoes of children playing in the fields. Murmurs from the people resting on the wood surrounding. It’s around them. Some share in it, but most of London have no idea it’s here.
That He’s here.
Like the autumn leaves and flowers, their own glory will shortly last and quickly fade. Death swoops in as a black-feathered crow, starting with one, but then swiftly overruns. Death’s swoop came long ago, lasting through the ages. For how long, I don’t know. But, sin’s sting, it breaks and rages.
His beauty out lasts death’s fatal swoop, in fact, He stands having conquered it. He’s here, even as death takes, showing Himself to London town. His grace and love is all around. Everywhere I look His Glory found. His Light, the sound, even the yellowy-orange falling to the ground.
But they miss Him.
Glory so easily seen, yet, so easily missed. So simple, also complex. Darkness constantly creeping, always deceiving, until the day Light puts him away. The crow will sound as darkness cries; his reign in this town finally dies. For winter is about to begin, ice and short days do invade. Not before His Spirit dwells within, redeeming souls before they fade.
Some have found, God’s Glory around.
The Lord reviving London town, calling warriors to proclaim in Jesus name, to be witnesses of His love profound, the whisper of salvation turned into a trumpeting fame.
Worship. Yes Church, worship His Glorious Name.
Forgiveness, peace, and grace He provides, for all these broken and tormented lives. His Spirit overwhelms inside, as He starts to rise. Filling up and overflowing. Rushing out as a spring, a miraculous stream, bursting at my seams. The Truth, the Truth of Jesus, changing everything.
It’s everywhere.
In the fantastic blue sky, the clouds as they travel on by. In the ancient brick on which the museums, flats, and churches sit. Yes, churches sit. In the latte in which I sip. In the pigeons who collectively fly away to swoop around a tree only to land right where they took off, twice.
This autumn day is full of it. Echoes of children playing in the fields. Murmurs from the people resting on the wood surrounding. It’s around them. Some share in it, but most of London have no idea it’s here.
That He’s here.
Like the autumn leaves and flowers, their own glory will shortly last and quickly fade. Death swoops in as a black-feathered crow, starting with one, but then swiftly overruns. Death’s swoop came long ago, lasting through the ages. For how long, I don’t know. But, sin’s sting, it breaks and rages.
His beauty out lasts death’s fatal swoop, in fact, He stands having conquered it. He’s here, even as death takes, showing Himself to London town. His grace and love is all around. Everywhere I look His Glory found. His Light, the sound, even the yellowy-orange falling to the ground.
But they miss Him.
Glory so easily seen, yet, so easily missed. So simple, also complex. Darkness constantly creeping, always deceiving, until the day Light puts him away. The crow will sound as darkness cries; his reign in this town finally dies. For winter is about to begin, ice and short days do invade. Not before His Spirit dwells within, redeeming souls before they fade.
Some have found, God’s Glory around.
The Lord reviving London town, calling warriors to proclaim in Jesus name, to be witnesses of His love profound, the whisper of salvation turned into a trumpeting fame.
Worship. Yes Church, worship His Glorious Name.
Forgiveness, peace, and grace He provides, for all these broken and tormented lives. His Spirit overwhelms inside, as He starts to rise. Filling up and overflowing. Rushing out as a spring, a miraculous stream, bursting at my seams. The Truth, the Truth of Jesus, changing everything.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Night in London (vidddgeeoooo)
This is a quick video of what the Lord allowed me to be apart of last Thursday, September 24th, 2009. It was an incredible, action packed few hours, in which this video hardly does justice.
Simply and magnificently, God is Good, and God is Great.
And I had fun.
†
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Free Gift
I’ve been here, in London, for almost two weeks now. Time has flown by and the Lord has worked magnitudes in that short time. The Lord has spoken, largely through His Word, where He has lead me to both Ezekiel and to Romans. It is Romans that I feel He wants me to press on this afternoon. Ezekiel will come later, when the time is right.
The Holy Spirit led me to Romans right before I arrived in London. I have continued to read through the heavy and dense material as I sit in these cultural London cafés.
The Spirit has continued to press on me that we – human, man, flesh – live in sin. We are surrounded by sin. We are consumed by sin; habits, addictions, small & large. We are sin, plain and simple. Since the Fall, humankind has been riddled by sin.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners… (Romans 5:12a & 19a).
How many of us today told a lie? How many of us cheated on a test? How many stole some money, a song off the Internet, or some food from your roommate? Men, how many of us lustfully looked at a woman? Women, how many of you gossiped or “told a friend about another friend’s problem?”
Men, we sin. Women, you sin. We all sin. Whether we like it or not, mankind are slaves to sin, to our selfishness. At times we can’t help it, and at other times, we choose to sin. We are not “good people” and believing such is a lie straight from the slippery lips of satan. Of course we all are capable of doing good, but that doesn’t make us good at our core. We, as humans, choose to do the selfish, the prideful, and let jealousy, and let anger take control. We let sin take control.
But there is freedom from sin. There is freedom from ourselves. There is freedom, period.
The freedom is found in Jesus Christ. My friends, that sin that we all do, that sin that we all are, it keeps us from being united with God. (God, the creator of the Universe we live in, that we study trying to find Him in – which, isn’t going to happen. You can’t define the creator by His creation. You can see Him in it, but not entirely.) The sin we are, keeps us from being united with God. He doesn’t want to be separated from us. He wants us. He wants us to want Him, and more so, God wants a relationship with us; much like a friendship but much sweeter.
“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24&25).
You see, God wants us so bad that He sent His Son. Himself in the flesh, Himself in man form, so that Jesus could choose to sacrifice Himself on the cross for us, for our sin. For the very thing that we are, that we do. Sin, being a wedge between man and God, has now been lifted because of Christ. Because He - being sinless - loves you (and me) so much that He died a brutal death for the crap that we choose to do, the sin we choose to do. He died for, and to that sin, but He then rose from the clutches of death, taking power over sin and over death. He wants to give that power, through the Holy Spirit, to you! He wants freedom for you!
The bottom line is this: “For when you were slaves of sin… what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death” (Romans 6:20&21). Friends, some of you are still slaves to sin, to yourselves, doing your will in life. Yeah, it seems harmless but take a second, look, and stop faking to yourselves. This is real life and there are real choices to make. Build your own kingdom – meaning, go to X college, study Y amount, get Z as a job, and make tones of money with which you can make the earth a better place. The earth, just like you and I, the money we make, and all in this world, will one day perish; one day be no more. Can’t you feel that there is something larger then you beckoning for you? That something is more like a someone, and He is the Almighty God.
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
God loves you. He wants, He’s jealous for a relationship with you, and He wants to show you a life that is abundant in Him. Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (sounds like sin…). I came that they (those who receive Him) may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). God wants the best for you, and that’s Himself in your life as intimate as humanly possible.
All of you reading, that don’t know Jesus, know that I’ve prayed for you to receive His love, not just a title or a lifestyle, but Him, completely. And that His Holy Spirit would fill you, fill that void you feel, the depression you feel, and the brokenness you feel. That you would surrender to Him, and experience the passion and completeness of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ve prayed this for you: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22). That you would be set free from the strangle hold of sin and its death grip. Freedom only comes through Jesus, through confession that we are sinners, and genuinely praying to receive the Holy Spirit, making Jesus Lord of our lives. Let Him in. Allow the Savior and God of the universe to flood your soul; to heal you, to breathe a breath of fresh air into your dying body. Let Him take your hopes, your worries, your life, and let Him be what you’ve been longing for, a Savior.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Receive the gift freely given — but cost Jesus sweat, shame, blood, pain, and death — done out of His love for all of us.
The Holy Spirit led me to Romans right before I arrived in London. I have continued to read through the heavy and dense material as I sit in these cultural London cafés.
The Spirit has continued to press on me that we – human, man, flesh – live in sin. We are surrounded by sin. We are consumed by sin; habits, addictions, small & large. We are sin, plain and simple. Since the Fall, humankind has been riddled by sin.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners… (Romans 5:12a & 19a).
How many of us today told a lie? How many of us cheated on a test? How many stole some money, a song off the Internet, or some food from your roommate? Men, how many of us lustfully looked at a woman? Women, how many of you gossiped or “told a friend about another friend’s problem?”
Men, we sin. Women, you sin. We all sin. Whether we like it or not, mankind are slaves to sin, to our selfishness. At times we can’t help it, and at other times, we choose to sin. We are not “good people” and believing such is a lie straight from the slippery lips of satan. Of course we all are capable of doing good, but that doesn’t make us good at our core. We, as humans, choose to do the selfish, the prideful, and let jealousy, and let anger take control. We let sin take control.
But there is freedom from sin. There is freedom from ourselves. There is freedom, period.
The freedom is found in Jesus Christ. My friends, that sin that we all do, that sin that we all are, it keeps us from being united with God. (God, the creator of the Universe we live in, that we study trying to find Him in – which, isn’t going to happen. You can’t define the creator by His creation. You can see Him in it, but not entirely.) The sin we are, keeps us from being united with God. He doesn’t want to be separated from us. He wants us. He wants us to want Him, and more so, God wants a relationship with us; much like a friendship but much sweeter.
“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24&25).
You see, God wants us so bad that He sent His Son. Himself in the flesh, Himself in man form, so that Jesus could choose to sacrifice Himself on the cross for us, for our sin. For the very thing that we are, that we do. Sin, being a wedge between man and God, has now been lifted because of Christ. Because He - being sinless - loves you (and me) so much that He died a brutal death for the crap that we choose to do, the sin we choose to do. He died for, and to that sin, but He then rose from the clutches of death, taking power over sin and over death. He wants to give that power, through the Holy Spirit, to you! He wants freedom for you!
The bottom line is this: “For when you were slaves of sin… what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death” (Romans 6:20&21). Friends, some of you are still slaves to sin, to yourselves, doing your will in life. Yeah, it seems harmless but take a second, look, and stop faking to yourselves. This is real life and there are real choices to make. Build your own kingdom – meaning, go to X college, study Y amount, get Z as a job, and make tones of money with which you can make the earth a better place. The earth, just like you and I, the money we make, and all in this world, will one day perish; one day be no more. Can’t you feel that there is something larger then you beckoning for you? That something is more like a someone, and He is the Almighty God.
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
God loves you. He wants, He’s jealous for a relationship with you, and He wants to show you a life that is abundant in Him. Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (sounds like sin…). I came that they (those who receive Him) may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). God wants the best for you, and that’s Himself in your life as intimate as humanly possible.
All of you reading, that don’t know Jesus, know that I’ve prayed for you to receive His love, not just a title or a lifestyle, but Him, completely. And that His Holy Spirit would fill you, fill that void you feel, the depression you feel, and the brokenness you feel. That you would surrender to Him, and experience the passion and completeness of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ve prayed this for you: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22). That you would be set free from the strangle hold of sin and its death grip. Freedom only comes through Jesus, through confession that we are sinners, and genuinely praying to receive the Holy Spirit, making Jesus Lord of our lives. Let Him in. Allow the Savior and God of the universe to flood your soul; to heal you, to breathe a breath of fresh air into your dying body. Let Him take your hopes, your worries, your life, and let Him be what you’ve been longing for, a Savior.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Receive the gift freely given — but cost Jesus sweat, shame, blood, pain, and death — done out of His love for all of us.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thankful for the Risk OR Just Plain Terrified?
It’s been a week since I flew out of the airport in HotLanta (Atlanta) and landed in Heathrow International Airport; here in my new home of London. You see, before I departed, I was terrified of what London held for me – what and why the Lord wanted me here. The Lord gave me pieces of what and why, but not details. Details that would have disabled my fear, but also left me acting, and not depending on His guidance. Fear still overran my mind and body while I sat in Heathrow Airport trying to pray through what and where to go in the big unknown that was London.
Finally, after an hour or so, the Lord gave me courage and the sense of freedom that London offered me outside the retractable doors of Heathrow. All I had to do was allow Him to lead me and the doors would open, automatically.
Jesus wants that for you, for all of us. He wants to guide you, to lead you, to be active in your life. Let Him. Let Him lead you into the unknown so that He can show you His hand. He’s God, and He’ll show you a glimpse of His power and provision. The doors will open, like they’re automatic. Jesus commands us constantly in His Gospel to not be afraid. Fear is of man and of satan. Allow the Lord to dispel all fear and follow Him wherever it is He’s leading you. His purpose and His will are worth the unknowns He’ll have you face.
Jesus is begging you to take Him seriously and live like He did. He’s jealous for a relationship or if you are Born Again, a deeper one. He’s begging for us to take Him seriously and not just receive Him, but live under His guidance. I think it angers Him to have consumeristic Christians who simply attend a church or place God in a 15-minute time span during their day. Jesus went to the cross, died, and rose again, not just to have us be comfortable, and live faithless lives (a life so comfortable we need not have faith to walk through the day). He gave His all for us so that we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). The Spirit, that power, that miraculous and overwhelming awesome, lives in all who proclaim Him as Lord and Savior. Its time we acted on faith and followed His Holy Spirit’s voice, and Jesus’ example. Its time we placed Him as our lives, the definition, and not just a piece in the mornings so that we can feel good and get our jollies later. He demands us—all of us. He paid for us. He deserves, and commands respect. Jesus is jealous for us and wants to show you more of Himself. He wants us to be examples of His love, His sacrifice, and His forgiveness. He wants to work so brilliantly in our lives that people can’t explain what’s happened, but give responsibility and Glory to God.
My friends, a “London” awaits you. He may have you on a cliff, had you there for weeks, calling you to jump into the unknown. Jump. He wants to show you more of His love and He can only do that if we follow where He leads. The unknown we jump into is only unknown to us, to our human, restricted minds. The Lord knows exactly why, and where He’s calling our actions. We need to trust Him. We need to remember that He is faithful—that Moses and the Exodus were real. The Lord provides. He guides with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud of smoke by day.
He’s guided that way in London. Within 24hours of arriving, He connected me with a Church-plant here in London with an awesome group of people and men on fire for Jesus. The Lord has provided for my needs like never before. His hand has been in everything. I’ve been blessed and so thankful for the sharpening fellowship Reality London provides, and the way the Lord has called people who don’t know Him to me while sitting in Starbucks. There are lost and confused people in London, and who want the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m so thankful He’s allowed me to take part, a small part, yet a part. Jesus wants us to take Him seriously. To live a life desperate for His action – I finally did – but will you?
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ (More than comforts, more than your life itself, more than all materials you have)
He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’
He said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’
He said to him ‘Tend to my sheep.’
He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’…
When Peter saw him (John, following Peter and Jesus), he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’
Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’
You follow me!’”
John 21:15-17 & 21&22.
Let Him lead. Trust in Jesus. Trust Him with your life. Let His heart become your heart and your desires will become His desires. If we love Him, then that love will show through our obedience to His call. Follow Him. There will be blood, sweat, pain, uncomfortable nights (days too), and tears. But there will be love, joy, comfort in the uncomfortable, and Jesus. Follow Him and Jesus will open the doors automatically (working by itself with little or no direct human control).
Finally, after an hour or so, the Lord gave me courage and the sense of freedom that London offered me outside the retractable doors of Heathrow. All I had to do was allow Him to lead me and the doors would open, automatically.
Jesus wants that for you, for all of us. He wants to guide you, to lead you, to be active in your life. Let Him. Let Him lead you into the unknown so that He can show you His hand. He’s God, and He’ll show you a glimpse of His power and provision. The doors will open, like they’re automatic. Jesus commands us constantly in His Gospel to not be afraid. Fear is of man and of satan. Allow the Lord to dispel all fear and follow Him wherever it is He’s leading you. His purpose and His will are worth the unknowns He’ll have you face.
Jesus is begging you to take Him seriously and live like He did. He’s jealous for a relationship or if you are Born Again, a deeper one. He’s begging for us to take Him seriously and not just receive Him, but live under His guidance. I think it angers Him to have consumeristic Christians who simply attend a church or place God in a 15-minute time span during their day. Jesus went to the cross, died, and rose again, not just to have us be comfortable, and live faithless lives (a life so comfortable we need not have faith to walk through the day). He gave His all for us so that we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). The Spirit, that power, that miraculous and overwhelming awesome, lives in all who proclaim Him as Lord and Savior. Its time we acted on faith and followed His Holy Spirit’s voice, and Jesus’ example. Its time we placed Him as our lives, the definition, and not just a piece in the mornings so that we can feel good and get our jollies later. He demands us—all of us. He paid for us. He deserves, and commands respect. Jesus is jealous for us and wants to show you more of Himself. He wants us to be examples of His love, His sacrifice, and His forgiveness. He wants to work so brilliantly in our lives that people can’t explain what’s happened, but give responsibility and Glory to God.
My friends, a “London” awaits you. He may have you on a cliff, had you there for weeks, calling you to jump into the unknown. Jump. He wants to show you more of His love and He can only do that if we follow where He leads. The unknown we jump into is only unknown to us, to our human, restricted minds. The Lord knows exactly why, and where He’s calling our actions. We need to trust Him. We need to remember that He is faithful—that Moses and the Exodus were real. The Lord provides. He guides with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud of smoke by day.
He’s guided that way in London. Within 24hours of arriving, He connected me with a Church-plant here in London with an awesome group of people and men on fire for Jesus. The Lord has provided for my needs like never before. His hand has been in everything. I’ve been blessed and so thankful for the sharpening fellowship Reality London provides, and the way the Lord has called people who don’t know Him to me while sitting in Starbucks. There are lost and confused people in London, and who want the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m so thankful He’s allowed me to take part, a small part, yet a part. Jesus wants us to take Him seriously. To live a life desperate for His action – I finally did – but will you?
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ (More than comforts, more than your life itself, more than all materials you have)
He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’
He said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’
He said to him ‘Tend to my sheep.’
He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’…
When Peter saw him (John, following Peter and Jesus), he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’
Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’
You follow me!’”
John 21:15-17 & 21&22.
Let Him lead. Trust in Jesus. Trust Him with your life. Let His heart become your heart and your desires will become His desires. If we love Him, then that love will show through our obedience to His call. Follow Him. There will be blood, sweat, pain, uncomfortable nights (days too), and tears. But there will be love, joy, comfort in the uncomfortable, and Jesus. Follow Him and Jesus will open the doors automatically (working by itself with little or no direct human control).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
