love is an offering

All praises, glory and honor to the One who provided the victory Who would humble himself on the cross for our liberty Though his birth was one of the most phenomenal events in history  To the distracted and religious, it remained a mystery  The angels would proclaim, but a handful would listen Not even the world leaders  would pay him a visit  No hospitality for this very first Christmas A virgin gives birth to God, and most of the world missed it? He came into his own, but his own didn't receive him Only the lowly and the rejects would even believe him The Roman soldiers would soon gamble for a piece of him But those who gave everything would find peace in him If mankind could miss God in the flesh What makes us think spiritually, we can't do less?

How important is your identity?  Why does it matter, who you think you are? I believe your identity impacts everything around you.  The way of engage people in conversation, the way you treat people, the kinds of relationships you develop, even what or who you worship, is greatly impacted on our identity or our lack of one.  Our identity affects the everyday choices we make as well.  Ultimately, even our successes and failures are viewed through the lenses of our own identity. "Right after "Raymond" I had a world-is-my oyster attitude, but I found out I don't like oysters. I had this existential emptiness.  What is my purpose? Who am I? I had a big identity crisis." Ray Romano of "Everybody Loves Raymond" As a believer in Christ, my identity is crucial to my purpose and destiny in life.  I believe Satan was aware of that long before I even I cared.  It definitely explains why he attacks our identity with such tenacity.  He even had the nerve to

      I would never want to go back and relive anything I've done. There are many things I wish I'd never done or would do differently, but I'm finally over the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" syndrone.   Realizing that even if I could change or alter history, who's to say that I my life would be better today? The history of human nature declares things could be drastically worst.   No, I'm no longer haunted by the desire to change my past.   I'm not delusional, nor am I futurist.   I am entering a new journey in my growth as a person.   However, my desire to grow closer to God has exposed my tattered clothing.   One doesn't grow closer to the light without shrinking the darkness.   But when the darkness fades, you can truly see how dingy your clothes really are.   One doesn't get closer to a Holy and Righteous God without realizing how raggedy and "holey" your own righteous is. As a result, I was presented with

Ephesians 1:3  How do you beat already blessed? Blessed before birth? That's what we are in Christ. Blessed. Blessed before we even knew what to ask for. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  Blessed with everything we need for the spiritual life. Already given, like an inheritance. What's already given should be asked for, it should be appropriated.  Could it be that everything I've been looking for, I've already been given at the point of salvation? The Promised Land was not something Joshua had to ask for, God had already given it to the Israelites! (Joshua 1:3-6) They had to have the faith to possess the land. Our faith in Christ activates the blessings. How do you beat already blessed? You don't and praise God!

there's a man who walks the chosen path he sacrificed everything he had tired but he smiles every single day cause finally he knows the way he travels light a bag for his bread and a blanket for the night any extra cash is good for burning too much baggage delays the journey so he walks a cadence a step at a time in rhythm with God he stays in line at times it looks he's on his own but don't deceived he's never alone though there's pain along the way he walks on, he walks on through the storms and the rain he walks on, he walks on when so many get lost or led astray he still walks the path everyday

thinking about my now and forever getting my collective thoughts together the crimes i've committed and whether i can finally reach for a life that's better the weight of sin pulls like a gravity force but truth lights the path and grace opens doors when salvation rains love opens pores and i realize that repentance is greater than remorse i wanna turn away, wanna turn the page stop acting a fool, i'm getting off the stage now that i've found the exit from this hellish cage i don't ever have to be afraid to pray, to reach, to cry to sing, to dance, to try to do more than merely just survive it feels so good to be justified

like my favorite part of my favorite song like waiting for her, why it takes so long? i know her like a held hand that swings along or like chocolate cake in the morning's wrong i know her like a soothing hand so undemanding like a smile that needs no understanding i know her like a miracle that's never late or the air i breathe and the breath i take i know her like the days we live this abundant life or the special way solomon knew his wife i know her this is love