3/28/08

Enough?

There is a song called "Enough" and part of it goes "All of you is more than enough for all of me". I've sang it a hundred times in church, but I have never really thought about the words. Saying All of you (God), is more than enough for all of me, means He could take ANYTHING, and He would still be enough. I could lose everything, yet I would still have Him, and that would be enough. That is a very powerful line. Today, two of my friends lost their dads. This really makes me think, what if I lost a parent? Best friend? House? Everything? would God still be enough for me? Would I be ok with that? I think back to Job. He lost pretty much everything, his family, valuables, and health, yet God was still enough for Him. He didn't give up, He didn't turn away, but instead He let God be enough. I once heard a guy say "I want the kind of faith that if Christianity was ever proved wrong (which it never will be he added, but lets just say it all turned out to be a lie), that He would lose everything. He wants everything to be at stake for Christ. That is the kind of faith I strive to have, one where God is all I need, and He is enough.

3/27/08

Could it happen again?

As I sit here in my room contemplating the events of today, I wonder if once again, someone in our theatre circle will loose a parent? I know God is in control, but my heart is still morns for my friend. If God chooses, He can heal her dad, but then He may chose not to. As tears flows from my eyes, every drop full of uncertainty and sadness, my heart crys "Blessed be Your name, you give and take away". As hard as it is for us here on earth to understand why God does the things he does, I know that I know that I know, the God has a plan and a reason for all of this. So even though today the world seems to be coming to an end, I find hope for tomorrow knowing my Dad knows what's best and He does answer prayers.

Job 1:21 the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

3/26/08

Worship

Worship, Webster defines it as "a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual", but I think it's so much for than that. It's not just a ritual of singing songs and maybe lifting up a hand or two, it's your heart crying out praises to your Heavenly Father. It's not about the actions, it's about the heart. You can sing songs and raise your hands and in reality not be worshiping at all, but merely having the appearance that you are doing so. On the other hand, you can not utter a word, yet your heart can still be screaming words of worship.
How many times have you walked out of church and said, "Worship wasn't that great today"? I know I've been guilty of that before, but my reasons behind that were pretty lousy. Some of the things were:
-they didn't play they right songs
-the band didn't do that great
-the choir didn't harmonize very well
-they didn't have the words on the screen, so I lost interest

Pretty lame excuses huh? You see, I was so focused on the physical things, and all of the faults instead of God. Some of the times I have felt like I was worshiping God the most is not when I'm in a big youth room, with cool lights, a sound system and a really good lead singer, but in my shower. Me with the C.D. player singing at the top of my lungs to God. Just praising him and loving him. My question to you is when you worship, what do you think about, the seen or unseen?

3/25/08

Love for Strangers

It was a feeling like no other, one that I've never really felt before. It happened at the market on Friday in Mexico looking at all of the people. My heart breaks for them and my mind can't help but wonder if they know Christ? Questions flooded my mind as I pushed away any signs that I wanted to cry. I was surrounded by people who were lost, and many of them if they were to die today, wouldn't go to heaven, but spend forever in Hell. As I walked through the narrow streets of Market 28 I wondered how many of them have ever heard the gospel or knew of Christ love? Going to the market it something I will never forget. My heart was filled with love for them even though that was the first time my eyes had laid sight on them. It was a love and burden that could only come from God. Maybe, just maybe that experience is a seed being planted for something that is yet to come.

Dear God,
I come before you in awe of you. You are great and mighty and I know you can do amazing things. Lord, you have shown me your everlasting love, and I thank you for it, but God I pray right now for the Latins, especially the ones in Market 28. God, I pray that you will send someone to show them your mighty love. I know your love can completely change a person, and I pray you will transform the hearts of the people in Market 28. Thank you for your love God. Amen.

3/15/08

3 Simple Words

Three simple words, words which so many people long to hear.Words which people will do anything to hear. The words? I love you. Who would have thought those three woulds would change the world.
How many times have you longed for someone to say that to you? Was it the cute guy you have lunch with, or maybe it's your mom, who seems to only know words of hate? My friends I hate to say this, but they may never utter these words. You may never live to hear your mom say she loves you. That cute guy may end up liking your friend instead of you. But let me let you in on a little something, there is someone who loves you. He always has, and always will. He loves you more than you can imagine. Now this someone isn't just an anyone, in fact it's God. That's right, God, the creator of the Universe loves you! He loved you so much, He sent His son to die for you. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that who shall ever believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". Will you accept his love (with no stings attached)? If you would like to accept his love, or just know more please feel free to email me at Kaclemons@sbcglobal.net

3/13/08

Harvest

The feeling is coming again. Part of me wants to push it down and forget about it, but how could I do a thing like that? Sometimes I just want to forget about it, throw it away, but it is burning so hot inside of me, I could never do it. Although it would be easier to just forget about it and put it away and go on living my merry life, I can't and won't do that! The feeling you ask? my sorrow for the lost souls. My heart if truly broken. Every day I see hundreds of people who if they were to die, wouldn't go to heaven! I see girls give away their hearts and bodies to be "loved" by a guy.
Yes, it would be easier to just ignore all of this and move on with my life. I don't need the extra drama anyways. That was the thinking of the "me" side of my mind. But there, there's the other side, the side attached to my heart. That heart yearns to tell my peers about the love of Christ and how he can set them free. There have been countless times where I have cried over the lost souls of people I know. Two instances stick out in my mind. The first one was in school about a year ago. I was minding my own business, standing towards the top of the hallway and could see most of the kids, when BOOM it hit me. The faces I saw were not just faces, they were souls. And the part that almost brought me to tears-most of the souls were not heaven bound. The 2nd instance was last Aug. I was at a youth retreat when God really laid one couldn't get her off my mind. I didn't know if she was going to heaven or not.
God has truly been softening my heart this past year and really opening my eyes to how big the harvest and how few the workers are. Are you willing to be a worker? Take a look around you, you are around people everyday who don't know the Lord. It's anyone from the old lady at the grocery store to you bff. Take every moment you can to share the Gospel with others, you never know when their time is up.

3/10/08

The Reason I don't have a boyfriend

I know many of you have a boyfriend, but I don't (and never had). But, there is a reason for that (and it's not because I haven't been asked). It all started when I was in Elementary School with Kaleb (one of my first crushes). He was really cute, and I got to eat lunch with him! However, he decide he liked my best friend, not me. Then I moved into middle school, were my friends went from having crushes to "going out". I had my eye on a guy, but he moved away. So that didn't work out either. Now I'm in High School, and most of my friends are dating and have boyfriends, but I don't. The reason I don't have a boyfriend is because I have another man in my life. This man thinks I'm beautiful. Not only does he think I'm beautiful, but he loves me too. He loves me unconditionally, even though he knows my deepest darkest secrets. No, he's not prince charming, actually he's a KING! Now, you may be wondering who exactly this man is, well I'll tell you-it's God. That's right, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, thinks I'm beautiful. But you know what, he doesn't just think I'm beautiful, He thinks your beautiful too! Psalm 45:11 says "The King is enthralled by you beauty; honor Him for He is your Lord." Let that sink in for a minute. God thinks your beautiful! Romans 5:8 (But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.) shows He also loves you, and has proven it. If you struggle with how you feel about yourself, or how you look (or just can't understand why God would give you so many freckles), remember, God is enthralled by YOUR beauty.