What does love look like? is the question I've been pondering. What does love look like. What does love look like is the question I've been asking you. I once believed that love was romance. Just a chance. I even thought that love was for the lucky, and the beautiful. all you ever want was my attention. all you ever wanted was love from me. all you ever wanted was my affection. to sit here, at you feet. and tell me. what does love look like? is the question i've been pondering. what does love look like? if all of life comes down to love, then tell me. what does love look like? is the question i've been pondering. what does love look like? then i sat down a little frustrated and confused. if all of life comes down to love then love has to be more then sentiment. more than selfishness, and selfish gain. Then I saw Him there hangin on a tree looking at me. I saw Him there hangin on a tree looking at me. He was looking at me, looking at him staring through me. I could not escape. those beautiful eyes. and I began to weep and weep. He had arms wide open, a heart exposed. arms wide open he was bleeding. bleeding. arms wide open, a heart exposed. arms wide open, he was bleeding. bleeding. and love's definition. love's definition was looking at me, looking at him, hanging on a tree. And I began to weep and weep and weep and weep. This is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. this is how I know what love is. and I sat there weeping, crying. those beautiful eyes full of desire and love. and He said unto me: "you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME!" With arms wide open, heart exposed. arms wide open He was bleeding. bleeding. arms wide open, a heart exposed. arms wide open, He was bleeding. bleeding. "you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME!" If any one is looking for love, so long for love, He says: "If you've been searching for love come to Me. come to ME. take up your cross, deny yourself, for at your Fathers house you'll run. Run with me, cause you were made for me, your whole hear for me. you were made for someone greater. someone bigger, so follow me, and you'll come alive, when you learned you died." He said to me "you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME. you shall... love ME! With arms wide open, a heart exposed. arms wide open He was bleeding, sometimes bleeding. arms wide open, a heart exposed. arms wide open, He was bleeding sometimes bleeding. yeah. I'm saying yes to You. I'm saying yes, all across the world we say yes. yes. show us the way oh God, teach us the way of love. We will go any where. We will do anything. I will give everything for the sake of love. I was made for love I'm living for love.
-Misty Edwards
1/23/10
1/4/10
10/1/09
By the way, blog, i am engaged to Danae. it was fast. it was a wild ride, but i know shes the one for me. and sure that sound cheesy and everyone says that, but she really is. and i wouldn't have it any other way. we are getting married on the 26th of June at trollwood park in fargo, and anyone that reads this blog is invited. we haven't made the rsvp site yet but it is in the works. :)
well blog it has been a while. i found a notebook instead that i keep my thoughts in:) but i thought i would come back for a visit. i think the reason that i started you in the first place was because i wanted to attract a danae, which worked:), but actually i have been getting several notices saying that i should continue writing. so i shall. something that has been on my heart lately is the concept of giving people honor. i went to the glory conference a few weeks ago, and paul manwaring did a message on glory and honor, which by the way is the same thing. in fact when you give people honor you give them glory, and you both people increase. for example, if i were to tell you that you make a delightful cherry pie, you would feel affirmed in your cherry pie making abilities, and probably continue to become better and better at making cherry pie, and i would probably get to eat cherry pie more often when i came to your house. both inrease. beautiful. i think tho that it is also important to give honor where honor is due. i happen to disagree with the current president of the united states. most of his social policies are not to my liking,(especially the abortion ones), however i still think that he deserves honor for his efforts. this is a man who has spend his entire life perusing a goal he thought worthwhile. he has achieved this goal, something only 44 men in all of american history have achieved, despite the opposition, despite the color of his skin, because he thought that he could do something to change this nation in a positive way. looking at it from that perspective, you have to give him props, or honor, whatever language you so choose. just think, if we lived in a world where everyone stopped tearing down there friends and family, and the people that they see everyday, and instead gave each person the honor that was due them. "People say i am a dreamer" but just think about that. i would encourage you to give the people around you honor and glory, that they are worthy of. because that is what community really is. that is what love is. 1 Corinthians 13.
5/12/09
Prayer and Fasting
Whoa... so this is a really big topic for me, something that I have been thinking about a lot recently. My pastor was preaching for the last seven weeks, I have been reading about it a lot, and a song led me to The Call Website which was talking about fasting... i wonder if God is trying to get my attention : ).
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. Matthew 9:15
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6
"But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:17,18
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7,8
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:13
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3
I believe that as Lovers of God, WHEN we fast, not if, but WHEN, we fast not to please God with our sacrifice and to show Him how righteous we are, but rather to empty ourselves of distraction, and the addiction of food, and fill ourselves with God. We fast for ourselves, for the body of Christ, and Justice on Earth.
He says there will be reward for you when you fast. That reward is not getting what we want from God, but rather a realignment of ourselves with our maker, which brings out the desires of our heart which He has instilled in us; and when we are completely in the hands of Christ, these are the most natural things for us to do.
Then, throughout history in the Church, Fasting and Prayer has many many times resulted in the kingdom invading earth, God making himself know to the body in a new way, and revival to break forth all over world. The Reformation, The Great Awakening, The Pentecostal Revivals were all the effect of diligent fasting and prayer.
The Lord rewards those who seek Him diligently. Hebrews 4:11
Beloved Church: Seek Him with diligence, and He will meet with you. and You will experience Him in a new way.
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. Matthew 9:15
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6
"But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:17,18
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7,8
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:13
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3
I believe that as Lovers of God, WHEN we fast, not if, but WHEN, we fast not to please God with our sacrifice and to show Him how righteous we are, but rather to empty ourselves of distraction, and the addiction of food, and fill ourselves with God. We fast for ourselves, for the body of Christ, and Justice on Earth.
He says there will be reward for you when you fast. That reward is not getting what we want from God, but rather a realignment of ourselves with our maker, which brings out the desires of our heart which He has instilled in us; and when we are completely in the hands of Christ, these are the most natural things for us to do.
Then, throughout history in the Church, Fasting and Prayer has many many times resulted in the kingdom invading earth, God making himself know to the body in a new way, and revival to break forth all over world. The Reformation, The Great Awakening, The Pentecostal Revivals were all the effect of diligent fasting and prayer.
The Lord rewards those who seek Him diligently. Hebrews 4:11
Beloved Church: Seek Him with diligence, and He will meet with you. and You will experience Him in a new way.
4/21/09
Danae
WeLL I don't normally do this and since there are two people that follow my blog, you being one of them, I have to say that I, Michael am crazy about my.... significant other, Sweetness, Beauty, "Girl Friend". Wehew!! shes Awesome. we have been dating for a month and 2 days now, and I gotta say, she is somethin else.... Inspiring, Compassionate, Loving, Captivating, Witty, Wise, Loyal, Adventuress, Real, GORGEOUS, and you should see how she dresses: ) Danae, I am glad that you are in my life, and I am looking forward to this summer: )
just wanted you to know......
just wanted you to know......
4/9/09
as the Father has Loved Me so I have Loved you. John 15:9
SO as the Father loved Jesus, that is how He loved his apostles, and how He still loves us. God loves us as much as He loves Himself. there is no possible way that He could love anything in the universe more that Himself and in that way, and by that measurement, He loves us. He is perfect, therefore His love is perfect. He Loves us, me, perfectly just the way i am. there is nothing i could do to make Him love me more, there is nothing i could do to make Him love me less.
Whoa.
SO as the Father loved Jesus, that is how He loved his apostles, and how He still loves us. God loves us as much as He loves Himself. there is no possible way that He could love anything in the universe more that Himself and in that way, and by that measurement, He loves us. He is perfect, therefore His love is perfect. He Loves us, me, perfectly just the way i am. there is nothing i could do to make Him love me more, there is nothing i could do to make Him love me less.
Whoa.
3/26/09
Mary of Bethany
"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. The forget they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." -Nate Saint, one of four missionaries killed in Ecuador by the tribe they were witnessing to.
whoa. everyone is wasting their lives on something. whether it be money, or fame, or skill, or vocation, or whatever. i ask my self, what am i wasting my life on? will it resonate in eternity? will what i do with my life, what i spend my gifts and talents on, will it be worth anything when i face Jesus? will i come to him empty handed.
There was once a woman. she was called Mary of Bethany, and she sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to what He was saying. in fact every time that Mary is mentioned in Scripture, she is at the feet of Jesus.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will never be taken away from her." Luke 10:40-42
Never means never. when Jesus says never, that means never in all eternity will this be taken from her. but what is this that she has chosen? Devotion. Devotion to Jesus. Spending her time sitting at his feet learning the heart of the God-Man from His own mouth.
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.35Jesus wept. John11:32-35
Jesus was deeply moved when he saw Mary weeping. It wasn't until he saw that Mary was weeping that He wept. I mean why would he weep over Lazarus when He knew He was going to raise the man from the dead. on the contrary, it is my interpretation that Jesus wept because of the agony that a heart like Mary's was going through. When a heart that is so utterly devoted to Him weeps, He cannot help but weep. Jesus had a real, emotional, response to Mary's tears, and i believe that God does the same with any heart that is so devoted to Him. and he moves. when those wholly devoted to Him cry out for Justice, he will come, and bring it swiftly.
Another testament to the devotion of Mary of Bethany was the fact that Jesus was continually drawn back to Bethany where Mary lived. three times it is recorded in scripture, once six days before his death, Jesus goes back to Bethany, to a heart so utterly devoted to Him. it is my belief that He is, in a way, drawn back to the heart of devotion, and wanted to spend as much time with that heart as he possibly could, even in his human form.
Then Mary does something that blows everyone's mind, and shows her complete devotion to Jesus.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."... ... 7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." John 12:3-8
Mary knew. She understood that Jesus was going to die. No one else understood that Jesus was going to die, but because Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, and listen to what he said, she already knew. and she acted. she gave it all, a years wages, now what would be $45,000. and that was all she had. her dowry. her inheritance. she gave it to Jesus.
Beloved, In no way is any of this required of us. We can get into heaven without spending our lives searching after God. and yet, because of His great Love for us, our Father wishes all of us, to be so devoted to this higher calling. He wants to reveal Himself to us in the same way that He could to Mary of Bethany. He desires to untie our earthly bonds, and break the yokes of oppression in our lives, so that we may waste our life at His feet in devotion to Him, and experience the fullness of God. for that is what we are created to do.
So, Father, give me the heart of Mary of Bethany. let me waste my life to search you out. in devotion, giving it all, in complete obedience to You, Jesus, sitting at Your feet in prayer and fasting. i want my life to be worth something to You. i want that heart.
inspired by Brian Kim "Mary of Bethany"
whoa. everyone is wasting their lives on something. whether it be money, or fame, or skill, or vocation, or whatever. i ask my self, what am i wasting my life on? will it resonate in eternity? will what i do with my life, what i spend my gifts and talents on, will it be worth anything when i face Jesus? will i come to him empty handed.
There was once a woman. she was called Mary of Bethany, and she sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to what He was saying. in fact every time that Mary is mentioned in Scripture, she is at the feet of Jesus.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will never be taken away from her." Luke 10:40-42
Never means never. when Jesus says never, that means never in all eternity will this be taken from her. but what is this that she has chosen? Devotion. Devotion to Jesus. Spending her time sitting at his feet learning the heart of the God-Man from His own mouth.
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.35Jesus wept. John11:32-35
Jesus was deeply moved when he saw Mary weeping. It wasn't until he saw that Mary was weeping that He wept. I mean why would he weep over Lazarus when He knew He was going to raise the man from the dead. on the contrary, it is my interpretation that Jesus wept because of the agony that a heart like Mary's was going through. When a heart that is so utterly devoted to Him weeps, He cannot help but weep. Jesus had a real, emotional, response to Mary's tears, and i believe that God does the same with any heart that is so devoted to Him. and he moves. when those wholly devoted to Him cry out for Justice, he will come, and bring it swiftly.
Another testament to the devotion of Mary of Bethany was the fact that Jesus was continually drawn back to Bethany where Mary lived. three times it is recorded in scripture, once six days before his death, Jesus goes back to Bethany, to a heart so utterly devoted to Him. it is my belief that He is, in a way, drawn back to the heart of devotion, and wanted to spend as much time with that heart as he possibly could, even in his human form.
Then Mary does something that blows everyone's mind, and shows her complete devotion to Jesus.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."... ... 7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." John 12:3-8
Mary knew. She understood that Jesus was going to die. No one else understood that Jesus was going to die, but because Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, and listen to what he said, she already knew. and she acted. she gave it all, a years wages, now what would be $45,000. and that was all she had. her dowry. her inheritance. she gave it to Jesus.
Beloved, In no way is any of this required of us. We can get into heaven without spending our lives searching after God. and yet, because of His great Love for us, our Father wishes all of us, to be so devoted to this higher calling. He wants to reveal Himself to us in the same way that He could to Mary of Bethany. He desires to untie our earthly bonds, and break the yokes of oppression in our lives, so that we may waste our life at His feet in devotion to Him, and experience the fullness of God. for that is what we are created to do.
So, Father, give me the heart of Mary of Bethany. let me waste my life to search you out. in devotion, giving it all, in complete obedience to You, Jesus, sitting at Your feet in prayer and fasting. i want my life to be worth something to You. i want that heart.
inspired by Brian Kim "Mary of Bethany"
Thank You God,
that You are near me. where ever I am You are there. what ever i feel like You are there. when i feel Your presence You are there, and even though i don't feel You where i am, i know, there You are still. when i am alone, in the secret place, there You dwell, and when two or three are gathered in Your name, You are there also. on the farthest horizon, You are there; and beyond the furthest star, You are there still.
You are here inside me, and choose to dwell in the ever essence of my being. in the depths of my heart. and it is known, I am known by You, and You understand me completely. You see the blackness of my flesh and the sin inside my head, and yet, You Love me the same, and You are pleased with ME. nothing could keep me from your love, oh God, and nothing can change how You love me perfectly.
perfectly.
perfectly.
and it is because of this love, that i desire to know you more. it is because of Your love for me that, not only do i exists, but thrive, and search for you. that is what i am designed for isn't it? to glorify You.
Thank You Jesus.
Thank You Jesus.
Thank You Jesus.
that You are near me. where ever I am You are there. what ever i feel like You are there. when i feel Your presence You are there, and even though i don't feel You where i am, i know, there You are still. when i am alone, in the secret place, there You dwell, and when two or three are gathered in Your name, You are there also. on the farthest horizon, You are there; and beyond the furthest star, You are there still.
You are here inside me, and choose to dwell in the ever essence of my being. in the depths of my heart. and it is known, I am known by You, and You understand me completely. You see the blackness of my flesh and the sin inside my head, and yet, You Love me the same, and You are pleased with ME. nothing could keep me from your love, oh God, and nothing can change how You love me perfectly.
perfectly.
perfectly.
and it is because of this love, that i desire to know you more. it is because of Your love for me that, not only do i exists, but thrive, and search for you. that is what i am designed for isn't it? to glorify You.
Thank You Jesus.
Thank You Jesus.
Thank You Jesus.
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