Proverbs 27:17: Lift Each Other Up

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." -- Proverbs 27:17

It is so easy for us to joke with our friends, and put each other down. Many times we may be teasing, and although the others might know that it still puts them down. Think about it; what if you actually hurt someone with your words? Yes, you may be completely kidding, but maybe that person just won't speak up. Maybe they are afraid as being classified as "over-sensitive." It is so easy to get around your friends and joke with each other, but ultimately we truly need to lift each other up. We are children of God! We must strengthen one another, sharpen one another.

We cut each other down like logs being cut by saws.
Instead of picking out flaws and joking about our downfalls,
Why don't we lift each other up like we are called
To do in the name of Jesus Christ?
Can we please be nice, and sharpen our brothers and sisters.
Our words can cut like knives,
But lets use the Word that is like a sword,
Double piercing, for
Us to lift each other up.
Lets fill each others cup!
Instead of being so bent
On focusing on what those hurtful words meant,
Lets lift each other up with words of encouragement!
Ultimately we are no better than anyone else
Pastor, minister, even myself.
I am just as guilty of clowning around,
Putting people down for no apparent reason,
But in every season, we should praise
God for the endless days
He gives us to spend with one another.
Our sisters and brothers, lets lift each other up
Lets fill each others cup!

God's Plan vs. My Plan

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." -- Proverbs 19:21

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11

Many times I want control. I tell myself that I have to have control of the situation, and if I can, I can fix it! False! I have steadily started to figure that out, and it is still something that I will always continue to grasp at. My plan isn't God's plan at all! I am pretty sure I have said this before, but here it is again: "This life isn't ours to live! It is given to us, by God, to do HIS works." Not our works, not our plans, we are not glorified at all! I have to constantly remind myself of this daily. I may have these constant plans for my life, but ultimately the LORD's purpose will prevail!

I have constantly had these plans for my life, plans that are not mine. Ever since I was little I always wanted to be a lawyer just like my dad. Up until my junior year of high school I still believed that, but I was called to youth ministry and missions! It was hard at first to accept that, what does that look like? I look up to and admire my dad, why can't I be a lawyer? "Your plans are not My plans" I heard. Well what about my father, and mother? I don't think they will like this, how do I tell them? "They will understand and support you. Trust Me!" Trust is what I did. My parents have supported my call to ministry since day one!

This one is for my mother and father!

The ones who raised me to LOVE! LOVE with all my heart, without question, no matter what. Thank you for compassion, thank you for constantly being there for me no matter what I was going through. I thank God for blessing me with you as parents. You taught me what a true Godly relationship is! You gave me everything I ever wanted, without spoiling me. Taught me to be humble and not to take anything for granted. I am honored to have you as parents. I thank you for the unconditional LOVE that you have given me. God definitely had a plan in making me, and giving me two wonderful parents! I am abundantly blessed just by being able to call you mom and dad! Thank you God!

You Are An Original Masterpiece

Not really much of a post tonight! I feel like this video in and of itself speaks volumes. This is something we all need to hear, receive, and live out! Enjoy God's TRUTH!

Do Not Deny ME: Endure!

So I went running, and spent some quiet time with God tonight! At first I had my iPod in, but it died. "Great, there goes my motivation, and now I am going to just constantly think of how long I have to run" I said to myself. So I decided I was going to pray instead. I ran to Trinity and prayed the entire time I was running. I just prayed for everything that came to mind: my mission trip, my relationship with Cassie, my relationship with my mom and dad, my community at wesley, my sins, my struggles, my fears, everything. For the first time in a long time I was in constant prayer to God thinking of nothing else but just Him and me. It has been a long time since I have gone running just to run. I ran cross country back in high school, but I haven't really ran since then, unless I was playing ultimate frisbee or some other sport. Needless to say I thought I was going to stop a couple of times along the way, but when I was praying all pain left me. It was not a struggle to run, but a joy. My thoughts were in constant prayer.

As I reached Trinity, I stopped at the labyrinth! I decided since I had prayed the whole way, I was going to walk the labyrinth and listen to God. As I started walking, it slowly started to rain. As I was listening for God, I heard Him speak (not audibly), but by thoughts through my head. As I listened I heard "I love you my son!" Just thought after thought continued to pour into my head. "Do not deny Me!" Okay Lord, what do you mean by that, I don't deny You. Then I heard it: "To deny Me in someone else, is to deny Me! Just as you are My son, they too are my sons and daughters!" I started to think of the people who annoy me, the people who frustrate me, the people who anger me. They are children of God, and to deny that God is in them or to even look at them in a negative light, is denying God! I continued to hear "You are going to struggle, there will be temptation, but I will be there to lift you up!" Then I heard: "You are forgiven. Chase I have forgiven you, I love you, I have restored your purity. Do you feel the rain? I have washed you clean!" Woah!

I then started to run back to my apartment. As I did I just continued to listen to the voice of God through my thoughts! "Do not deny Me!" Okay God, I heard you. "No Chase, do NOT deny Me! Listen to your mother. You are not always right. Honor her, respect her. She can teach you just as you can teach her. Just because she may not understand do not get frustrated! It is not your job to make her understand. I will control that!" Immediately I was humbled. "Do not be discouraged son, you will face hardships. I am here, ENDURE" Then I heard: "In the darkness do not be afraid, I am the light! Light dispels all darkness! There will be hardships and times of darkness, ENDURE!" Yes Father, I will! "I will give you strength, continue to walk this path I have laid for you, ENDURE! Thank you Father, was all I could muster. "Thank you son, for giving Me this time!" I love You Father. "I love you son! ENDURE!"

Romans 12:10

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." -- Romans 12:10

When I first read this, I just confined it to the community that I am in. Okay I am to be devoted to my community, understandable. I am to honor them above myself. Challenging. Then I took it out of the context of community and applied it to everyone. The one word that I can think of right now is "selfless." That is one thing I am definitely going to have to be on this mission trip. Not only do I have to honor my team members above myself, but just as important, the people of Cambodia we are ministering to! I am called to be devoted to every single on of my team members. Yes, we will have disagreements, but if we are truly being selfless, then those will be worked out! I must be selfless in every single step of this trip.

Then I looked at the verse right before it: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." -- Romans 12:9. Love MUST be sincere. Wow! These two verses should literally be the theme for our trip! What does sincere love look like? I definitely think honoring others above yourself, and being selfless is sincere Love! This isn't just a something I should do just because of my mission trip, this should be done with everyone! It is extremely hard for me to do this, and for anyone to say it is not I would challenge you to sincerely reconsider. Reading these two verses really opened my eyes and made me think. I must honor others above myself, no matter what. I must truly die to myself!

Father give me the strength to wake every morning and die to myself. Help me to not only put others before me, but to honor them above myself! Father, I take credit for nothing. Without you God, I would be lost and hopeless! Thank you for the unconditional love you continue to pour out! Help me to truly be devoted to my team, my family, my community, and others in brotherly love. Continue to constantly humble me day in and out! I love you Father.

-- Your Son

Acts 2:42

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." -- Acts 2:42

This is true community! Ahhh I love seeing God move in every way. I had a really goo discussion with a great friend of mine Kevin today. I say great friend, and even though I am just now getting to know Kevin Perkins, I still consider him that! God is just good like that! We talked today about how we have seen God move in others and throughout each other this year! I just loved seeing the way God has moved in Kevin, and so many others in this Wesley Foundation. I really didn't involve myself, last year and part of this year, at the Wesley like God had called me to! Since December I have constantly been pushed, given the strength, excitement, and joy to reach out and share with this community! To reciprocate what has been given to me over the past year and a half! I must say that every day I am overjoyed at how much God moves in and through this community.

I am so blessed to have them, to be placed in this community! Many people may shrug that off to coincidence, but I say NO! How can this not be God? How can anyone other than God pull me out of the depression, the hate and scorn I had for myself, the fact that I thought I could never be loved or forgiven? Only God! A year ago, I would have never hung out with these people. Now I find myself surrounded with them, and I can not help but be overjoyed! Eating together, that is us breaking bread. Fellowship, that can be a random open mic night, or just watching a movie. Scripture and prayer are evident as well. When we are hurting, when we are full of joy we are there! Rejoicing with each other, or weeping with one another. How can I not look at where I am right now and give that to anyone, but God? I am beyond blessed in every way! Yes are community is different, but whose isn't? Why would I want a community where every single person acts the same? I want diversity, nay I long for it, and God has definitely given me that through the Louisiana Tech Wesley Foundation. I can't wait to spend thirty days with some of them! I definitely can't wait to spend the next year with all of them!

Hurt

I can't be here again. I refuse to go back! Today was just an all around bad day. I am feeling it from all sides. I can't talk to my parents anymore without getting upset. Why can't they see? God I just need to be real with you right now. I am feeling so worthless right now. I feel like I can't please my parents, and I know I can't make them see. I can't make them understand. Only you can show them why I am going on this mission trip, why I am involved in Wesley, why I want to do youth ministry. Father help me to remember and understand that ultimately my self worth is in you! I already have your approval, the approval of the world and anyone else doesn't matter! God, continue to show me that. Father give me hope, give me patience with my parents. Father, even when I hurt You are there! Father constantly remind me that I can accept Your love, because it is unconditional! I don't have to do anything! Father continue to give me the strength in times of trouble, temptation or sorrow. God I refuse to go back to that place of being comfortable sitting in my pity and sorrow.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

I AM SO FORGETFUL, BUT YOU ALWAYS REMIND ME! YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT BRINGS ME PEACE!
I feel you right now Father. Thank you God, you are my refuge and strength! I love you Father.

-- Your Ever Humbled Son