I am fully convinced that unless we come to understand and see the weight of our sins (which we'll never fully grasp) more...we won't fall as helplessly in love with God as we can. I'm not saying I've got this all figured out by any means. I'd be a fool to attempt to claim such a thing. But, I am saying that we too often forget that we've not only been saved FROM something, but that we've been saved FOR something greater.

Revelation 2:4-5 says "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

Jesus was writing a letter to the church in Ephesus. As members of the Church of Christ...we need to be aware of forgetting where we've come from. We've been made worthy of God's grace through Christ and Christ alone. No matter how mature we think we are, let's not forget we've all fallen short of God's glory.

Romans 3: 22-24 "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

As Matt Chandler (my favorite speaker...oh man...) simply stated "If you throw a glass of clean water into the ocean and then scoop up water from the ocean, it's not going to be clean is it? You can't just throw one glass of clean water into an ocean of salt water and expect it to be clean." That's not verbatim, by the way. Haha.But all he's saying is...we can't save ourselves and we need Jesus every day because otherwise it's the same as trying to clean up the ocean with one 8oz glass of clean water.

But it's true. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do a transforming work in us and renew our hearts.

As my other favorite speaker, Francis Chan said in his book "Crazy Love"...we need God's help to love God. And we need God's help to know God.

Yep. Just some thoughts.

In Christ,

Alex

Oh yeah...and if anything I ever say is Scripturally unsound...let me know, please. I'd really appreciate it.

Well, to say the least...it's been a shocking year. How has everyone else's 2009 been so far? 2008-2009...God moves incredibly even when we're not looking. For anyone who responded to any of my blogs about that boy Bobby and offered prayer, I want to thank you. God changed my heart and He has been faithful always, as He promised. God is good.

Here's a song that I think everyone should hear at least once...if you're not an alternative rock person...then maybe not. Haha. The band is called Nevertheless. Gorgeous singing voice this guy has...not to mention a love for Jesus that's evident in his music. Song is called, "Oh Child".

"I want to come closer but you're so distant, lately your thoughts are so far. I want to show you all that you're missing, I'll meet you right where you are...
    Oh love, I've always known you and oh love, you've always been Mine. Oh love, I'm only asking you for your life...
Say that you need Me, I know what you're feeling, you cannot do this alone. I gave you My Word and I gave you My life so you'll never be on your own...
    Oh love, I've always known you and oh love, you've always been Mine. Oh love, I'm only asking you for your life...
    Is this what you wanted???
    Is this what you needed???
(You're waiting for this life to be what you've been waiting for...)"

anyway, God bless all.

Dios Te Bendiga or is it Dios Tes Bendiga??? lol

-Mei Li

Wow...yesterday...

I got home from my dear friend's about...an hour ago. Walking around the lake, buying gelatto (probably butchered that spelling) and watching a scary movie with he and a girlfriend was surprisingly relaxing. At 6:30pm yesterday, I was part of an X-Treme worship service that rocked my world. Two or three times the CD we were using died and we sang without it. God's awesome. We were depending on that CD to help us get through the night and have perfect singing and dancing...did that happen? NO WAY! When I was leading two songs, I forgot some words...and it was wonderful.

The summer seems to keep going and I keep thinking that the plans I'm making will eventually...make sense. Or work out, but they don't. I love that too. I made plans to break up with someone and forget about everything, I made plans to push my emotions away and move on. I made plans to visit colleges and go straight back to working every day of the week. I made plans to sleep early. HAHAHAHA. Right. I made plans to write a story for my friend, a book. I made plans to get up at 7 or 8 every morning and pray right on time. I made plans to pray every night at a specific time and to not bother with worship. (by the worship I mean, I never planned on leading any worship or being on a stage. Last night changed that. =D) Just about the only plan I had that has come through is listening to God and following Him despite any cost it might bring. God's crazy. In a good way.

I make plans to eat dinner at a specific time...let me tell you, I don't bother anymore. hehe. it doesn't matter.

God says in the Bible that we should lay our plans down before Him.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

i'm thinkin that's a good plan. =D

G'night...or...G'day, I suppose. Heh.