that it may go well with you

praying that things go well for you.
that you might trust Him a little more, then a little more,
opening your hands only a bit further that He might pour into them the blessings that He promises.
that you continue to surround yourself with people who have an extensive root system drawing solely from [the] Living Water.
that you might go to where He walked,
that He might meet you there,
that you might find healing,
that there He might meet you with the greatest depths of His peace.
that you might see Him differently,
understand suffering differently,
and grace,
that you might know grace
and that it might become the very heart that motivates your every step and every word.
that i might rejoice at your testimony
and point to Him as the One who makes all things new.

social gospel

Jesus.
our sin.
our need for His grace.
our joy in this free gift.
our response of worship to Him.
awareness. compassion.
our response of selfless service to others.
this is Gospel.
a capital G.
social gospel is...no Gospel at all. 
He is in all and through all, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [ephesians 3.20-21]

voices

when people see something in need of the influence of another voice
and they stand and speak
rather than retreating
i see humility, wisdom, and love embodied.

when people care enough to ask questions
questions that conceive from Truth itself
even though they might be followed by conflict
i see hope, hope amidst the clouds, wind, and rain.

when people hold to two things-
people and the Gospel-
in reverse order, however,
i see compassion and grace.

and i am thankful to be surrounded by these voices,
these lovingly stubborn servants
to cry and laugh with, to learn and worship with,
thank you for action. thank you for your commitment to Him.

green

 

tomorrow. 

12pm. 

;)

unending

I have been loving this song, as have so many of you.
A beautiful modern hymn, and so simple to play on the piano. 

Download the chords here if you'd like.

And/or you can listen on youtube, 10,000 Reasons.

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) by Matt Redman

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

health tip #12, a summary

basic advice for those of you who have asked:

my top 6 suggestions. 

1. water. avoid sodas, coffees, even fruit juices. drink a glass or two of water first thing every morning, before eating or drinking anything else. your body is still in detox mode in the mornings. help it along by flushing more of the waste out of our body. and if you can, follow up the water with some sort of melon.

2. fiber. i haven't talked a lot about this but is quite essential. high fiber foods are invaluable. some of the best options include: legumes - lentils, black beans, fruit - raspberries, pears, apples, grains - whole wheat spaghetti, bran, oats, vegetables - artichokes, peas, broccoli. to see a larger list, click here.

3. walk. seriously. you don't have to "work out" seven days a week. but walk for 30 minutes 4-5 days/week, even 15 minutes twice a day 4-5 days/week. be active. be intentional. be consistent.
however, a good workout is highly valuable as well.

4. eat more fruits and vegetables. the more you eat of the good stuff, the less you will eat of the other stuff. i suggest: eat 1 fruit with breakfast, 2 vegetables with lunch, fruit and/or a vegetable for a snack, and eat 2 more vegetables with dinner. (and the starchy vegetables don't count. you can eat them, in fact you should eat them, just don't include them in your fruit/vegetable count.)
and eat them raw whenever possible.

5. vitamins. we overlook these because they are expensive and because we often struggle to see any immediate value, but your vitamin levels affect everything. find a good multi-vitamin.
and take lots of vitamin C, especially over the winter. and if you can, get tested to find which vitamins you are deficient.

6. remember that health is holistic. it is not just food. it is not just exercise. it is not measurable by weight or clothing sizes. it depends on every area of your life. do you know Jesus? do you really know Him? do you have healthy relationships with your family? your friends? do you forgive? have you been forgiven? are you faithful to your job and your responsibilities? are you honest? do you exercise and eat well? are you connected with a healthy community that can encourage you and also hold you accountable? do you make wise decisions? are you responsible with you finances? do you make an effort to learn new things? pursue health in all areas as each one greatly impacts the rest.