alby: a work in progress

"Things often need to get worse before they get better."

Fri, 25 May 2012 07:13:45 -0700

“Things often need to get worse before they get better.”

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,..."

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:56:03 -0700

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

- Not one physical thing but rather characteristics.

Returning to the Pigpen

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:35:00 -0700

Often times I neglect all the good abundant blessings in my life in exchange for that one thing I can’t have.

I pout.
I manipulate.
I snarl.
I become caustic.

The sinner within me grows stronger and I begin to shift my eyes away from God and good things He has provided and continues to provide for me.

I grow bitter.
I become gollum.
I don’t like being starved of what I want.
I reject all things He gives me because it’s not what it looks like in my head.
I lose faith in His goodness.
I grow destructive.

I break.

Yet when I am weak He is strong.

His calling is stronger than my desire and lust.
His love supersedes my ability to control my emotions.
He prepares me for a greater harvest and allows me not to live in the moment.

So I pray for more of Him and less of me.
Because I can’t tame my flesh.
I will never be able to.

And so it is…

I have to believe He can change me.

And my only hope is in Christ.

God help me live into Your promises and not mine.

Paschal Troparion

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:03:00 -0700

Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing life!

"It’s not about vision, it’s about obeying God in that next step, and the next, and the..."

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:22:11 -0700

“It’s not about vision, it’s about obeying God in that next step, and the next, and the one after that.”

I Shall Believe

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:56:00 -0700

Come to me now
And lay Your hands over me
Will You find me tonight
Say it will be alright
And I will believe

Broken in two
And I know You’re on to me
That I only come home
When I’m so all alone
But I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly You won’t give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe

Open the door
And show me Your face tonight
I know it’s true
No one heals me like You
And You hold the key

Never again
would I turn away from You
I’m so heavy tonight
But Your love is all right
And I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly
You won’t give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe

Vulnerability + Empathy

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:13:10 -0700

Vulnerability is the birthplace of change

Empathy is the antidote for shame

Lausanne!

Sun, 13 May 2012 01:44:27 -0700

Lausanne!

Maturity = Taking Responsibility For My Thoughts and Actions

Sat, 12 May 2012 12:24:32 -0700

Deciphering Me

Tue, 08 May 2012 23:50:00 -0700

It’s love, it’s love that holds us
We will be alright
Its truth, its truth that shows us
If we’ll walk in His light.

Serenity

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:00:49 -0700

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Break me O Lord, For my flesh grows strong. Restore me gently O Lord, The way only You can.

Sat, 05 May 2012 15:24:00 -0700

Break me O Lord,
For my flesh grows strong.
Restore me gently O Lord,
The way only You can.

"Practical works satisfy the body. Celebration satisfies the soul."

Thu, 03 May 2012 19:52:53 -0700

“Practical works satisfy the body. Celebration satisfies the soul.”

- Joel

Impulse Control

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:10:01 -0700

"If you’re thinking about a fix or prescription you’re not really listening."

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:33:51 -0700

“If you’re thinking about a fix or prescription you’re not really listening.”

The Source

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:07:00 -0700

It’s pointless to do anything in ministry unless we keep firmly rooted to the reason why we labor, live, move, and breathe. Jesus.

The one true source of our strength and wisdom.

By following the commandments:
1. Reading His word
2. Praying back to Him
3. Resting and sabbath

We can remain in the right state of mind. Preaching the Gospel to ourselves day by day. Falling in love with Him again and again. Keeping our faith alive and vibrant. Seeing our need for Him and His love for us.

Thanks for the Reminder, Lord.

"It’s ok if you’re a mess because you’re not supposed to have it all together...."

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 01:39:08 -0700

“It’s ok if you’re a mess because you’re not supposed to have it all together. You’re not pointing to yourself as the solution. Indeed You are pointing to Jesus.”

Practice for Marriage

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:37:41 -0700

It seems weird but the best practice for being a husband is to be loving to your guy friends around you. No, not romantic love, but deep rooted commitment and sacrifice, patience, and presence.

Teachability

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:03:04 -0700

… is the most important thing to God.

Am I ready for God to show me a different way at any moment?

Will I humble myself and take it in stride, trusting in His goodness and control?

Guilt

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:24:00 -0700

So often those of privilege use their money to buy off their guilt. Throwing money at a problem until it no longer haunts their conscience until later.

Or fantasy and escape - into TV, pop culture, pornography, staying busy and averting our eyes.

I’m offender #1.

But there is another way. A more difficult way but one that brings more fruit. More lasting effect. More glory to God.

Deep reflection.
Wholehearted repentance.
Intercessionary prayer.

Guilt is ultimately not the point.

Brokenness. Death of self. Resignment… And thus the hope of God’s renewal, is the point.

Another example of the junction of human limits and cosmic potential.

When there are problems that seem beyond hope and our capability, the best thing to do, indeed the only thing to do, is to bring it to God.