Dude, my computer was messed up so I sent it to apple and its fixed. Cool? Haha I hope so.
On another note, i can't afford it right now due to a college budget and I don't know if I'd want to spend my money on clothes when there are so many better things it can go to ( I'm thinking about funding a legacy scholarship for invisible children, www.invisiblechildren.com).. BUT if you're looking for Christian clothing: c28.com, p4cm.com, and you can find more if you search on google. But yea, DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT ENDORSE ALL OF THEIR CLOTHING, so don't talk to me about being outraged..just don't buy it.
Anyways, it's random I know, but enjoy and I'll be back with more.
Enjoy this clip of the lifehouse skit "Everything".
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
A Note on that last note.
Also, Let's stop attempting to trick God. Who is He that He can be tricked by His creation?? That is the dumbest belief that many hold, and says a lot about our egos as human beings. You might be thinking "That's dumb, I'd never do that!" O yea? How about all the times you've tried to teeter totter on doing anything that's not specifically listed as a sin?? He knows what He's convicted you about, so when you reach the pearly gates and He asks you "Why did you (insert issue here)?" And you say "But God, you didn't write that down as a sin!" And He says "You're right, but I gave you My Spirit and specifically told you that was wrong EVERY TIME YOU DID IT! But you disobeyed Me.."
How dumb are you gonna look then. How will you feel? Will you wish you didn't try to just get in to Heaven? I'm not saying you'll be dropped into the inferno, but I am saying that's for you decide if you want to disobey Him or not. When you live on the edge, it's easy to get pushed over. Instead of trying to trick Almighty God who knows all things and hearts, why not strive to be as close to Him as we can possibly be in this life? Instead of seeking "not to sin", why don't we seek to be pure and holy and blameless before Him? I can guarantee you that when you do that, those sins that held you down before never will have the same power over you! Now, you will never be perfect. But you can strive for perfection, strengthening your relationship with your Heavenly Teacher and Guide on the way!
Just stop thinking you're smarter than God. You're not. Game Over.
In Christ,
Ryan
P.S.
(Just for an example, who will be a better athlete? He who strives to be the best on the team, or he who strives to be the best ever? Reach higher.)
How dumb are you gonna look then. How will you feel? Will you wish you didn't try to just get in to Heaven? I'm not saying you'll be dropped into the inferno, but I am saying that's for you decide if you want to disobey Him or not. When you live on the edge, it's easy to get pushed over. Instead of trying to trick Almighty God who knows all things and hearts, why not strive to be as close to Him as we can possibly be in this life? Instead of seeking "not to sin", why don't we seek to be pure and holy and blameless before Him? I can guarantee you that when you do that, those sins that held you down before never will have the same power over you! Now, you will never be perfect. But you can strive for perfection, strengthening your relationship with your Heavenly Teacher and Guide on the way!
Just stop thinking you're smarter than God. You're not. Game Over.
In Christ,
Ryan
P.S.
(Just for an example, who will be a better athlete? He who strives to be the best on the team, or he who strives to be the best ever? Reach higher.)
Be a Doer of the Word.. No more 'lukewarm' Christians!
James 1:22 (Amplified Bible),
"..But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. 23 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)."
Be a doer of the Word! This is relevant because SO MANY have been tricked, through the american culture's turning away from Christian values, into simply claiming Christianity though not actually living a Christian life. Sometimes they claim Jesus as their savior just for fire-protection and do not actually live, or truly make an effort to live, the life that Jesus commanded us to live. This transforms their claims of Jesus as their Lord and Savior into vanity, as God knows our hearts and plans to bring those who LOVE Him up to Heaven. Matt. 7:21-23 states
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
You cannot use Jesus simply for FIRE-PROTECTION!!! YOU CAN'T USE GOD JUST FOR PROTECTION FROM HELL!! YOU CANNOT USE JESUS SIMPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION!!
That must be emphasized. If you don't want him, then GO! Why even worry about Jesus if its simply for appearances or to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside? If you're gonna be lukewarm, then you better go out and drink yourself into debt, be loose with whoever you want and completely disobey Him. Maybe then you'll finally realize how much you TRULY TRULY TRULY NEED HIM in life as well as death. And hopefully you'll have enough time left to flee from your lusts and jump into His arms by then!
Now! That was just for emphasis and to get you to understand the point. No, I don't want you to be "heathens" or anything like that, not my intent. Just understand that because you say "Lord, Lord" does not save you from the second death, so move beyond that! Get past it! God calls us to be servants of His divine will, to trust Him that He is not out to destroy those who love Him, and that He loves you MORE than you could ever love Him or comprehend. So give Him your all, because He gives you His. This is an eternal marriage, that WILL not work the way we do marriage nowadays in the world (41% of first marriages end in divorce). Remember that He abides in those who love Him, and even defines it in John 14:23, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'"
SO.. OBEDIENCE IS THE KEY! Do not be like the man who "looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like." The constant observance of the Word is to expose your flaws, that you may understand and with God's aid (He won't allow you to successfully do anything without Him, bc your pride would swell up) fix it to continue the perfection process. Remember that the Word is the light used to expose the hidden dark places! It is your mirror to see that spinach stuck in your teeth after lunch, and that pimple in the middle of your forehead. If we could see in the spirit and not the physical, you best believe we would be in the bible and worshipping Him at every hour of the day like we're in the mirror and at the gym,etc. Remember also, just like if you don't check your teeth after you eat, if you don't check yourself in the Word the hidden things will be exposed one way or another. Either you can expose them between you and God, and fix them... Or you can be publicly exposed and embarrassed the next time you smile.
Take this Word and do something with it!
This is meant in completely Love and In Christ,
Ryan
"..But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. 23 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)."
Be a doer of the Word! This is relevant because SO MANY have been tricked, through the american culture's turning away from Christian values, into simply claiming Christianity though not actually living a Christian life. Sometimes they claim Jesus as their savior just for fire-protection and do not actually live, or truly make an effort to live, the life that Jesus commanded us to live. This transforms their claims of Jesus as their Lord and Savior into vanity, as God knows our hearts and plans to bring those who LOVE Him up to Heaven. Matt. 7:21-23 states
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
You cannot use Jesus simply for FIRE-PROTECTION!!! YOU CAN'T USE GOD JUST FOR PROTECTION FROM HELL!! YOU CANNOT USE JESUS SIMPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION!!
That must be emphasized. If you don't want him, then GO! Why even worry about Jesus if its simply for appearances or to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside? If you're gonna be lukewarm, then you better go out and drink yourself into debt, be loose with whoever you want and completely disobey Him. Maybe then you'll finally realize how much you TRULY TRULY TRULY NEED HIM in life as well as death. And hopefully you'll have enough time left to flee from your lusts and jump into His arms by then!
Now! That was just for emphasis and to get you to understand the point. No, I don't want you to be "heathens" or anything like that, not my intent. Just understand that because you say "Lord, Lord" does not save you from the second death, so move beyond that! Get past it! God calls us to be servants of His divine will, to trust Him that He is not out to destroy those who love Him, and that He loves you MORE than you could ever love Him or comprehend. So give Him your all, because He gives you His. This is an eternal marriage, that WILL not work the way we do marriage nowadays in the world (41% of first marriages end in divorce). Remember that He abides in those who love Him, and even defines it in John 14:23, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'"
SO.. OBEDIENCE IS THE KEY! Do not be like the man who "looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like." The constant observance of the Word is to expose your flaws, that you may understand and with God's aid (He won't allow you to successfully do anything without Him, bc your pride would swell up) fix it to continue the perfection process. Remember that the Word is the light used to expose the hidden dark places! It is your mirror to see that spinach stuck in your teeth after lunch, and that pimple in the middle of your forehead. If we could see in the spirit and not the physical, you best believe we would be in the bible and worshipping Him at every hour of the day like we're in the mirror and at the gym,etc. Remember also, just like if you don't check your teeth after you eat, if you don't check yourself in the Word the hidden things will be exposed one way or another. Either you can expose them between you and God, and fix them... Or you can be publicly exposed and embarrassed the next time you smile.
Take this Word and do something with it!
This is meant in completely Love and In Christ,
Ryan
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Oh Well
This is only a piece of the song, but get this album Lions & Liars and share it with your friends! It really goes hard, get it.
SPRING HAS SPRUNG.
You know what that means... (drumroll please)
Booty shorts.
Yes, you do have eyes. And yes, you will see them everywhere.
SO...
Don't look twice. NO SECOND GLANCES! Stare at the sky and think WWJD.
Seriously.
Ryan
Booty shorts.
Yes, you do have eyes. And yes, you will see them everywhere.
SO...
Don't look twice. NO SECOND GLANCES! Stare at the sky and think WWJD.
Seriously.
Ryan
(cont') So this all led up to this Mountains and valleys understanding. (It's all summed up in the comment on this post in case this is confusing)
After all this (concluding with the testimony), I was spiritually (and physically) exhausted. I was so completely tired, that I did not want to get out of bed in the morning. I was somewhat in a depressed state and was yelling in my head "Agh God take me now!" I was in sweats daily and I'm not gonna lie, was not feeling like going to classes at all.
But the Lord kept on telling me that this isn't gonna last forever, and I knew that if I'm going through it, then there is something I need to learn from it. (Mom always says, "Don't go through it, grow through it.")
So, after bible study that thursday, my two friends and study leaders (get to be friends with yours!) went to IHOP. To my surprise, I wasn't the only one feeling drained (you're usually not, it's just that everyone likes to keep their business to themselves), but after a pep talk from one of the leaders, I was temporarily recharged.
I was up and down for a couple of days when I decided to call my grandma to tell her what was going down, and she said something extremely profound, "Well Ryan, you know, you just had a mountaintop experience. There's always a valley after those.." Thank God for old folks!
That reminded me of 1 Kings 19 where after the prophet Elijah created a 3 year drought, called down God's fire from Heaven, called the rain to come back to the land and had all the prophets of Baal destroyed in the name of God, he ended up exhausted and praying under a tree that he might die! "I've had enough, Lord... take my life, I am no better than my ancestors."
If that happened to Elijah, the only prophet to be lifted up to heaven in a whirlwind, then WHY OH WHY would that NOT happen to me?!?
That's the thing, prepare yourself, bc on the journey you WILL get tired and lose strength. However, in that same story, we gain hope that God will REVIVE us.
1 Kings 19:5 "Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night."
He will restore you and preserve your strength so don't worry.
--This part doesn't really mesh as well with what I was just talking about, but it is a great message, so I encourage you to read it.--
And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Note: when you're exhausted, you will feel alone, but you really aren't. However, the Lord will make provisions. Next in the story, Elisha becomes Elijah's mentee until the Lord takes Elijah up into the sky.
God Bless,
Hit me up or comment with questions
Ryan
But the Lord kept on telling me that this isn't gonna last forever, and I knew that if I'm going through it, then there is something I need to learn from it. (Mom always says, "Don't go through it, grow through it.")
So, after bible study that thursday, my two friends and study leaders (get to be friends with yours!) went to IHOP. To my surprise, I wasn't the only one feeling drained (you're usually not, it's just that everyone likes to keep their business to themselves), but after a pep talk from one of the leaders, I was temporarily recharged.
I was up and down for a couple of days when I decided to call my grandma to tell her what was going down, and she said something extremely profound, "Well Ryan, you know, you just had a mountaintop experience. There's always a valley after those.." Thank God for old folks!
That reminded me of 1 Kings 19 where after the prophet Elijah created a 3 year drought, called down God's fire from Heaven, called the rain to come back to the land and had all the prophets of Baal destroyed in the name of God, he ended up exhausted and praying under a tree that he might die! "I've had enough, Lord... take my life, I am no better than my ancestors."
If that happened to Elijah, the only prophet to be lifted up to heaven in a whirlwind, then WHY OH WHY would that NOT happen to me?!?
That's the thing, prepare yourself, bc on the journey you WILL get tired and lose strength. However, in that same story, we gain hope that God will REVIVE us.
1 Kings 19:5 "Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night."
He will restore you and preserve your strength so don't worry.
--This part doesn't really mesh as well with what I was just talking about, but it is a great message, so I encourage you to read it.--
And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Note: when you're exhausted, you will feel alone, but you really aren't. However, the Lord will make provisions. Next in the story, Elisha becomes Elijah's mentee until the Lord takes Elijah up into the sky.
God Bless,
Hit me up or comment with questions
Ryan
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