Falling Short But Being Filled

Last night was prayer meeting and the pastor asked if we would all take some time to make confession to the Lord before we went on with the service.  In my prayer time I confessed to the Lord, "God, I have fallen short in so many ways!"  And His answer to that was breathtaking!  

"But I fill what's lacking, that when people see you they see Me, for I have filled what you've lacked!"  Then it clicked to me, the more we lack the more room there is for God to fill and be seen in our lives!      

Quote

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."   - Mark Batterson

Story Continued

Do we dare utter the words that the prince of the earth sitting right across from us is to have us all killed, destroyed and annihilated, and has destined that since our birth?  But what if we find favor with this Prince from another kingdom, is He the Savior we have been waiting for?  Than who are we to shriek away from this question of opportunity?  Oh Providence come show your hand, Deliverer raise your bow, shoot your arrow, scatter foe.  We asked for someone braver, someone true, we’re not the one, to much at stake, what have we asked for, what have we done?!  But who knows that we are in this place for such a time as this?  Destiny, don’t hurry now, who knows that I am here to prove your presence, give me grace.  We close our eyes and take in a breath, slowly letting it out we begin to tell of the decree that has been sent out for all this people to be “Killed, destroyed and annihilated.”  The Son looks us straight in the eye, “and asks, “Who dare presume such an accusation upon My people!”  Ghostly as the eerie moon hanging above, the enemies glare is interrupted and turned toward the Son in astonishment.  We too are astounded by this news, “His people?!”  “We belong to someone?!”  “The Kings people?!”  The thoughts continue to whirl through our head as the Son asks again who has posed such a threat to Him, His Father and Their people.  Realizing the question is still unanswered we speak up, “The enemy and adversary is this man here, the devil, satan.”  Though the enemy met with such unspeakable odds he dose not flinch, “It’s to late!”  He declares, “The decree has been sent out, and sealed.  They are destined to die!”  The Son reads the decree, He closes His eyes and breaths heavily as if in torment and inflicted with unbearable pain.  He then glances up and looks at us with eyes that of a bridegroom to His bride, eyes filled with warm tears of love and loyalty.  Then He turns and looks at the enemy and stands up in front of us and says, “I will take this decree upon My self, and all that entails for each one of them.”  The enemy grins and orders the guards to take Him to the .  And there He died, for you, for me, for us…    

the simple things of life

I know this isn't very spiritual but I to share my excitement with someone! What is all the excitement? It has been around 80 to 90 this week and humidity suffocates the atmosphere; and then as evening creeps on, bellowing thunder rolls in beckoning the rain to come. The thunder bellows on as the rain trickles down drop by drop. Each drop hits the hot pavement in a stream of steam, an aroma rises from the sizzling streets no words could describe. The very smell of it makes one want to run outside and dance in the downpour and be swept away with the overwhelming of the senses. And just as the dark gray storm clouds have smothered all, light flashes of neon light, filling the sky. As evening peeks, the lightning strikes begin dancing across the backdrop of sea gray and blue. They flash on the sky so fast, its as though a ribbon dance is being performed in the heavenly. Neon streaks of blue, purple and even pink flow across the blackened sky making the streaks that much more intense as though the dance has reached the climax. Just when you think the whole sky will ignite with one final explosion of light, it calms, the wind comes in and sweeps it away as backstage crew would sweep up the confetti of the stage. The show has come to a close and the curtains have been drawn, leaving its audience speechless in awe.

Story Continued

....As the enemy leaves this feast, belly and ego quite filled he realizes that we no longer sit outside the gates mourning and weeping aloud bitterly.  For tonight we are sitting inside the gates, just as before, doing what we have been called to do for it has been made known that a savior has come for us.  The sight of this appalls him to a state of indignation, and with that he goes his way before he is completely drained of his pride.  Now in the safety of his home he summon his soothsayers and evil council to come again and plot with him what may be done for those who dare presume to demote him.  The soothsayers declare, “For someone who has publicly humiliate you, so should be done to him!”  The plan sounds perfect, almost flawless, he smirks with glee as the plan rolls out in his head, he thinks he got us now and hurries to make such arrangements. He sits across from us at every daring circumstance trying to get us to lose our nerve.  He thinks he has won as he slays our minds with tormenting thoughts.  But as we stand firm he sees he hasn’t won.  He schemes more plans among his evil council to trap us but the best laid plans for our ultimate doom are the plans which he shall fall to soon.  He presumes us to honor him but he shall honor us.  As each plan is thwarted and declared aloud useless by our action to them, again retreating to his refuge covering his head.  Once more he calls upon his evil council and soothsayers, telling all of the reversal of destiny on him and with this they all conclude that since the rumor has come true that these peoples cries have reach there King, all plans are meaningless.  Though all declared defeat he wanted one more try that he knew wouldn’t fail so he comes to the table set before us and the Son.  The banquet is coming to an end, the wine glasses have been refilled and all seems as though the banquet has benefitted no one.  We start to take our leave in defeat but as we start to shift towards to leave the Son asks, “With such a wonderful banquet, what is the occasion?”  We glance at the enemy and our eyes are met with the eyes of a lion ready to pounce on his prey.  The Son calls our name in eagerness, motioning us to continue.  Our attention turns to the Son with anxiety gripping our throat as the cold hands of doubt clenches our heart till it feels as if it will beat out of our chest....