Finally...

I bought a Macbook!!!

This is my first official post from MY Macbook.

I need to name it now...any suggestions?!?

His Strength is Perfect...

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,

But sometimes I wonder what He can do for me, 

No great success to show,

No glory of my own, 

Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone, 

He'll carry us when we can't carry on,

Raised in His power the weak become strong,

His strength is perfect,

His strength is perfect....

We can only know the power that He holds,

When we truly see how deep our weakness goes, 

His strength, it must begin,

When ours comes to an end,

He hears our humble cry and proves again....

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone, 

He'll carry us when we can't carry on,

Raised in His power the weak become strong,

His strength is perfect,

His strength is perfect....

-Cece Winans

Lord, It Hurts...

Lord, what do I do when Your will hurts me?  

Who do I turn to for comfort?

Where do I go for strength?

I can't move on

I can't get over it

Because Your will has bound it to my heart

Did I do something to deserve the pain that I feel?

The release I have prayed for is strangely absent

And I sit here in the darkness waiting for an answer....

Anne of Green Gables

"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with
no mistakes in it yet?"

"I'll warrant you'll make plenty in it," said Marilla. "I never
saw your beat for making mistakes, Anne."

"Yes, and well I know it," admitted Anne mournfully. "But
have you ever noticed one encouraging thing about me, Marilla?
I never make the same mistake twice."

"I don't know as that's much benefit when you're always making new ones."

"Oh, don't you see, Marilla? There must be a limit to the mistakes
one person can make, and when I get to the end of them, then I'll be

through with them. That's a very comforting thought."

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

-Philippians 4:7

True Change

I've discovered that the only person I can really change is me! I can control only my behavior and my attitudes.  My hope is that by accepting responsibility for myself, others may chose to do the same. 

-Lee D. Bason

-

Change isn't something that can be forced upon us...sure we can be plunged into a situation where we are required to change some aspect of something we do, or how we react to something.  But true change comes with a paradigm shift.

A change in our thought process.  

A change in our thinking causes us to change our actions and words drastically.  

-

There is a story that I have heard many times about a young child who was standing up in the backseat of their parent's car.  

When the parent asked the child to sit, the child responded with a resounding "NO!!" 

The parent, as any concerned parent would do, demanded the child sit down.

Again, the child responded with a resounding "NO!!"

So the parent went on to threaten the child with a spanking if they did not sit.

The child sat.

The parent said thanked the child for their obedience.

The child then responded: "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside."

-

The child might have changed what they were doing, but the attitude remained.  

There are times when God chastens us as believers.  

He corrects our thinking, our actions and our words.

Hebrews 12:6 tells us that God corrects those whom He loves...

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

As any loving parent...God corrects us when we do things that are not pleasing to Him.

Our attitude towards this "correction," many times, can determine the change that occurs within us.

If we're like the petulant child in the story above, we probably won't get the point of the chastening...and so many times God will have to put us back through the trial/correction for us to understand.  

I don't know about you, but I hope and pray that I can keep my heart and my attitude where it needs to be so that I don't have to experience the pain and discomfort of correction again.

Safe

You keep trying to get inside my head,

While I keep trying to lose the words you said,

Can't you see I'm hanging by a thread,

To my life what I know, 

Yeah, I'm losing control...

Oh no, my walls are going to break, 

So close, it's more than I can take, 

I'm so tired of turning and running away, 

When love just isn't safe...

I'm strong enough I've always told myself,

I never want to need somebody else,

But I've already fallen from that hill,

So I'm dropping my guard, here's your chance at my heart...

It's everything you want, but it's everything you need,

It's not always happy endings, but it's all the in between,

It's taken so long, so long to finally see, that your love is worth the risk...

Oh no, my walls are going to break....

-Britt Nicole

Not Without Pain...

"God who foresaw your tribulation has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain, but without stain." -C.S. Lewis

The Next Generation

Tonight I went to the Southern California Summit meeting in Rialto. As usual, the music was phenomenal, the worship powerful and the saints were friendly. I love this about the Rialto church! They are so welcoming to any and all who come through their doors. Brother Todd Nance took the floor to begin preaching, and he took his text from Hebrews 11. The "Faith Chapter."

Hebrews 11:21
"By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the son's of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff."

He introduced the sermon by saying that some would call Hebrews 11: "The Faith Chapter," but he believes that Hebrews 11 records the most powerful acts of faith in each one of the individuals lives that are chronicled.

He then went on to reference a quote:

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love,
We will love only what we understand,
And we will understand only that which we are taught."

I blogged about the life of Jacob a few entries ago, and spoke about his desire for the things of God. Brother Nance spoke to another aspect of Jacob during this sermon though, and it resonated with some of my Bible reading from earlier this week.

He said that Jacob had a driving ambition to enable the next generation.

To enable them to have the things that he had to deceive for.

To enable them to have the blessing that he cheated his brother of.

In the end, Jacob's greatest act of faith was to adopt Joseph's two sons and to sever their ties with Egypt.

He was allowing these two boys to have the heritage and the blessing that he was given.

His concern was for the next generation.
-
My reading earlier this week was in Esther 1, when Queen Vashti refused to come before the King.

I noticed something that I have never noticed before in this reading, and that was in verse 17.

"For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not."

Queen Vashti was to be an example to the women in her husband's kingdom, as well as to the girls who were growing up in that kingdom.

Because of her act of rebellion, a portion of the kingdom was at risk of falling into her sin.

How many times does God call us, and we don't answer?

How many times does God ask us to speak to someone about His love, and we ignore that beckoning?

We are not just jeopardizing our OWN salvation, but we are jeopardizing the salvation of those around us. Saved or unsaved.

You may think that no one is watching your life, but they are.

It is so important to remember that if you don't do it, God will raise up an Esther...and you will lose your place in God's Kingdom.

Be an example to those around you...

Keep your concern for the next generation. Whether it be the next generation age wise, or the next generation of new converts in your church.

Vashti learned a valuable lesson, far too late.

Don't learn your lesson when you can't undo the damage that you have already done in your life, and in the lives of those who are watching your life as an example.

The Safety of His Arms

There is a God, who loves me,

Who wraps me in His arms,

And that is the place where I'm changed,

And that's where I belong.

-

So take me to that place Lord, to that secret place where I can be with You,

And You can make me like You

Wrap me in Your arms, wrap me in Your arms, wrap me in Your arms...

-

I'm safe...I'm safe...I'm safe...

-

For some reason lately, the safety of God's arms has been a recurring theme in my prayer, in my music choices and in my studies.

-

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

-

Safety from what? From whom? 

I'm not certain myself.  

I don't know about you, but I am so thankful for the protecting arms of my Savior. 

It feels so wonderful to just rest in His arms...where He can make me like Him and I can learn His ways. 

So today, I'm resting.

I'm resting in the Safety of His Arms,

I'm not only resting though, I'm trusting. 

-

Trusting Him in my relationships.

Trusting Him for my future.  

-

He sees the tapestry of my life before I even know the color of the thread...and I am so thankful that I don't have to make the choices myself.

-

Man's life is laid in the loom of time, to a pattern he does not see,

While the weavers work and the shuttles fly, till the dawn of eternity.

Some shuttles are filled with silver threads, and some with threads of gold,

While often but the darker hues, are all that they may hold.

But the weaver watches with a skillful eye, each shuttle fly to and fro,

And sees the pattern so deftly wrought, as the loom moves sure and slow.

God surely planned the pattern: each thread, the dark and fair,

Is chosen by His master skill, and placed in the web with care.

He only knows its beauty, and guides the shuttles which hold, 

The threads so unattractive, as well as the threads of gold.

Not until each loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God reveal the pattern and explain the reason why.

The dark threads were as needful in the weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver, for the pattern which He planned.

-Author unknown

"Have Your Way"

Feels like I've been here forever,

Why can't you just intervene?

Do you see the tears are falling?

And I'm falling apart at the seams...

-

But you never said the road would be easy,

But you said that you would never leave,

And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,

But you promised you would take care of me.

-

So I'll stop searching for the answers,

I'll stop praying for an escape.

I'll trust you God with where I am,

And believe you will have your way.

Just have your way,

Just have your way...

-

When my friends and family have left me,

I feel so ashamed and so cold.

Remind me you take broken things,

And turn them into beautiful.

-

So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape.
I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe you will have your way.
Just have your way,
Just have your way...

-

Even if my dreams have died,

And even if I don't survive,

I'll still worship you with all my life...

-

Britt Nicole

When God Uses the Word Hate

Romans 9:13

"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

(see Malachi 1 for more on this)

--

Why?

How could God love one brother, yet hate the other?

They were twins.

They had the same lineage.

They were probably more alike than they were different, although the Bible tells us that they had very different pastimes.

Esau was a hunter, Jacob stayed in the tents.

One was favored by Daddy, and one was favored by Mommy.

So why did God love one and hate the other?

The difference was Desire.

Jacob had a desire for the things of God.

Esau couldn't care less.

He sold his birthright.

Proverbs 23:23 says "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding"

Esau was born into privilege. He had the truth. He didn't have to buy it.

It was his.

So many Apostolic young people are born into privilege, but they despise their birthright.

Jacob did everything within his power, yes, even lying, cheating and stealing, to get the blessing that Esau had.

And Esau just handed it over.

Are you more like Esau than Jacob?

Or do you have the desire that Jacob did...that even though sometimes you might be misguided, you have the desire that God loves?

Buy the truth...and sell it not.

Jill's Wedding

Bekki, Haylie, Nicole and Krystina
Mom and Caterina

All of us kids.

Jill and Caterina

James and Jill Kays
Newport Beach
September 12, 2009

Recent Pictures

The lovely, chunky Caterina
Bekki and Dieanna in the fountain at University of Redlands

By and By

Trials dark on ev'ry hand, and we cannot understand

All the way that God will lead us to that blessed promised land;

But He'll guide us with His eye, and we'll follow till we die,

We will understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,

All the saints of God are gathering home.

We will tell the story how we've overcome

We will understand it better by and by.

We are often destitute of the things that life demands,

Want of shelter and of food, thirsty hill and barren land;

But we're trusting in the Lord, and according to His word,

We will understand it better by and by.

Temptations, hidden snares, often take us unawares,

And our hearts are made to bleed, for each thoughtless word or deed;

And we wonder why the test, when we try to do our best,

But we'll understand it better by and by.

--

I don't know about you. But I am a questioner. I want to know:

"Why am I doing this?" "Where is it in the Bible?"

"What Biblical Principal is this based off of?"

In general, I like to ask "Why?"

I want to understand: it's not to be beligerent or disrespectful.

God doesn't answer the question "Why," though.

Unless it's with: "You'll understand it better by and by..."

Which is hard to take sometimes.

Why the trials Lord?

Why the sickness?

Why death as the ultimate healing?

Why the constant conflict and contempt your people have for one another?

Why is it so hard sometimes?

The only answer I get: "By and by daughter, by and by..."

I don't know about you, but I want to sing this song on my way to Heaven, with the expectation that I'll never have to wonder "Why" again.

"We will tell the story how we've overcome
We will understand it better by and by. "

So Tired of Fake

I don't know about you, but I am so tired of fake Christianity.

I am tired of fake people.

I am just tired of fake.

In me.

In you.

In everyone.

It's just so off putting.

If we can't be honest with our brothers and sisters in Christ, if we can't be honest with our Pastors, if we can't be honest with GOD, where does that put us?

Certainly not anywhere I would want to be.


If you have a problem with sin...the Bible says to confess your sins one to another...

If you have an issue with your brother or sister, take it to THEM, and ONLY them.

Only once we forget about ourselves and our petty issues will we be able to focus our energies and attention on winning the lost...

On My Mind...

I have had quite a few things on my mind lately.

Too much to blog about, but too much to not blog.

First of all, I've been thinking about friendship, as you can tell from my poll. What exactly IS friendship?

Yeah, so I have a lot of friends.

But does that really matter? What does a true friendship consist of? Sure, I have a lot of friendly acquaintances, but...that's not the same.

True friendship comes from trust and transparency with one another. If there is no trust in a relationship, there is no relationship. It's just a farce.

So friendship has been on my mind.
--
Another thing that has been on my mind, is submission as a woman in the church.

Submission is not something to take lightly, as God requires it of every saint in the church, no matter if they are male or female. We are all the "Bride of Christ," so the way I see it, is that we all have to submit ourselves to our 'Husband,' or Jesus Christ.

Does submission to God, or submission to the male figure of authority in your life, be it a Pastor, a husband or a father, mean that we have to keep our mouths shut and never disagree or compromise?

Does submission include never speaking our minds?

Does it include making sure that we always outwardly agree with something that we might not agree with?

To me?

None of the above.

Yes, we are to be submitted. Yes, we do need to yield or submit ourselves to the judgements of our Pastors, husbands and fathers.

But in Ephesians 5, when we are being given guidelines for a relationship with God, as well as with a husband or wife, God instructs a husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

Biblically, did mankind always agree with God? Absolutely not. We are imperfect beings that disagree with authority.

But let's go to the story of where Abraham was praying to God about saving Lot and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham and God reasoned together.

God said that he would destroy the cities. That's it, it's done.

But Abraham had influence with God, and prayed. He asked God if there were just a certain number righteous, would He save the cities?

God agreed.

And did not find the required number.

So Abraham went back to God, and they reasoned together again.

Again and again this happened, until God saved only Lot and his family. We all know the ending of this story, but the fact remains that God listened and reasoned with Abraham after already making a decision.

Isaiah 1:18 says: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

God is not a ruthless dictator that is unreasonable.

Neither should those in positions of authority be.

It's important to remember that when we are given a position of authority, with souls under us, submitting to us, we remember to love them as Christ loved the church.

Christ loved us enough to say, "Come now, and let us reason together..."

Do you as a husband reason with your wife?

Do you as a parent reason with your children?

Yes, there are instances where reasoning is not an option. I understand that. But in the issues that reasoning is possible...do you take the authoritative position and just say: "Because I said so!" or do you realize that perhaps God really gave you the woman you have as a "helper," and maybe she knows something you don't...

Like I said, I have a lot on my mind. I may have not articulated myself perfectly...and I hope I didn't offend or anger anyone, I'm just throwing it out there.

And The Results Are...

...Shocking to me.
--
My poll ended today, and I must say that I wasn't expecting the results I got!!

So tell me why you voted the way you did!

I'm curious...

The Tapestry

"Not until each loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

will God unroll the pattern

and explain the reason why,

the dark threads are as needful

in the Weaver's skillful hand,

as the threads of gold and silver

for the pattern which he planned."

-Author Unknown

Isaiah 40

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement is passed over from my God?

Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.