Untitled Hymn
by Chris Rice
Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die
Raise your head for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live.
Now your burden's lifted and carried far away
Precious blood has washed away the stain
So, sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live.
Like a newborn baby, don't be afraid to crawl
Remember when you walk, sometimes you fall
So, fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live.
Sometimes the way is lonely, and steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live.
Oh, and when the love spills over and music fills the night
When you can't contain your joy inside
Then dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live.
With your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace and laugh on Glory's side
And fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live.
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
And live.
I have a confession. I have been very impatient in my surroundings for the past couple of weeks. I have been longing to go to the orphans for years now, and now that I fly out in less than a month, I find my patience for excess lessening by the day...and that is both a good and bad thing. I have the desire to sell all I have, but I also have the desire to convict other people to sell all they have. Is everyone called to live a life of sacrifice, or just some people? Is it ok for some people to drive SUV's that their parents bought them, or does everyone need to strive to live in the minimalistic way that Jesus did? I honestly don't know. I don't have that answer. I would love to talk with someone about this, because I've been wrestling with this alone for far too long.
Days (and months) like this, I am so thankful...and humbled...that Jesus would die just so He could be with me here, in this wrestling, telling me that where He's leading me is where His heart is too. I'm not alone.
Thank you, Father, for comforting me in my confusion...
by Chris Rice
Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die
Raise your head for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live.
Now your burden's lifted and carried far away
Precious blood has washed away the stain
So, sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live.
Like a newborn baby, don't be afraid to crawl
Remember when you walk, sometimes you fall
So, fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live.
Sometimes the way is lonely, and steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live.
Oh, and when the love spills over and music fills the night
When you can't contain your joy inside
Then dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live.
With your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace and laugh on Glory's side
And fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live.
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
And live.
I have a confession. I have been very impatient in my surroundings for the past couple of weeks. I have been longing to go to the orphans for years now, and now that I fly out in less than a month, I find my patience for excess lessening by the day...and that is both a good and bad thing. I have the desire to sell all I have, but I also have the desire to convict other people to sell all they have. Is everyone called to live a life of sacrifice, or just some people? Is it ok for some people to drive SUV's that their parents bought them, or does everyone need to strive to live in the minimalistic way that Jesus did? I honestly don't know. I don't have that answer. I would love to talk with someone about this, because I've been wrestling with this alone for far too long.
Days (and months) like this, I am so thankful...and humbled...that Jesus would die just so He could be with me here, in this wrestling, telling me that where He's leading me is where His heart is too. I'm not alone.
Thank you, Father, for comforting me in my confusion...
posted by My_Doxology at 2:02 PM
5 Comments:
Jenny! I'm amazed by your blog! I have in fact been wrestling with the same thing...are we called to give up all of our possessions and live with nothing? I'm thinking that we are called to indeed live with very little, and we need to follow the example of our early Christians... live with little, and share among each other. I would love to get into this further. Coffee and Jenga? Let me know! Terence
No doubt that we as christians are called to live sacrificially. But it gets hard when we ask what that looks like. At one point in my life all this ment was "not buying an iPod", but I have heard of people who were so convicted and had such a heart for the poor that they could not indulge themselves in such things as "butter and milk", whom only lived on rice and oatmeal. I think it comes down to love, how much do we love our neighbors on the street and in other countries who are starving to death, or who cant afford to goto a doctor. Keep searching this out for your self and among your friends as you are. Encourage others to give, and tell them how you are giving.
1st off... that is a powerful song. Chris Rice is one of my favorite singers.
2nd... I want in this club. Well, I am already in. I wrestle all the time with the things I have. I am sure you noticed when you were in my room that I have so many nice things.
I have often been tempted to sell or even give away much of them. There are always some people that talk me out of it by pointing out the use that my possessions get; Which is very true. My nice TV brings tons of guys through my room, my instruments bring joy to those who get to play them, my truck is used a lot by others, my nice coffee pot gets used in channeling a lot of discussions... so is that good enough? Is it ok to have nice things if I don't treat them as my own but as gifts through which others can use and be blessed?
You know the hardest part of eating beans and rice everyday lately? It's knowing that for many they are not choosing to eat beans and rice every day, it is actually their ONLY choice of nourishment for the day. For us here in America, when we get sick of the same old beans and rice each day we can spice it up with any type of meat we want... not true for most of the world.
It's not fair. How can I enjoy my possessions, my food, my living space? How can I wake up in the morning and wrestle over what to wear in the day while the only thing on many people's minds are whether or not they will eat at all that day?
Here's one thing that I believe in response to all of these questions that I wrestle with often: The Gospel is not a message of guilt; but of hope.
I think that people were moved by the joy of their new hope to sell their possessions and let go of the security of the world. I think that our blessings should be enjoyed because God is a giver of good gifts. I think that we should delight in sacrificing our blessings when we see a need because God has richly blessed us with treasure that can't perish, spoil, or fade.
I think we make the mistake sometimes of measuring the material status of a person as what makes them happy or sad. Obviously, those who need food are in desperate need, but I know that those who have just enough are often times richer than those who have abundance.
Just some thoughts...
Look forward to you joining us on Thursday for beans and rice. Your welcome to contribute a can of beans or something, but NOTHING is required.
Grace and peace,
J-Red
I too have been thinking about this a lot. I am working so that I can buy more video stuff when I am aware of the things my money can do. But in the end my logic agrees with J-Red.
I wish I could sell everything I own and simply work to give money. But for some reason God has given me a gift and talent that requires money and resources.
It kills me to buy stuff and things, but when I understand what God can do with my Jeep, camera, computer, books, over priced education, etc.. I see the blessing he has given me.
Jenny Kitten your mind, actions and passions motivates and excites others around you. I Love it every time I read your words and see your smile. You are truly an angel of God. and I would be honored to be in that club as well.
Shalom
jred
I dont know if I can agree with your views about possesions. If the community we live in is only ACU, if our neighbor is only those whom live in the dorm with us, then I would agree. I do think the way that you are using your possesions is great. And I'm not claiming to know your heart, but many people would say the same thing to justify many of the things they own, just because they cannot bring themselves to let go of them. Certainly you love the guys in your dorm and you want to bless them by sharing your TV and Truck with them. But do we not meerly justify keeping our possesions and not selling them to send food to 3rd world coutries or even to people here in the states that have no food, just becasue we can't see their faces and enjoy our gifts with them? Certainly we should strive to find a way to bless people who are near us so that we can enteract with them and bless them by having fellowship with them. But should not our love for others want to bless those who are dying this very hour, by giving money for food and medicine, rather than choosing to serve others in a manner that also serves ourselfs? Maybe some of this comes from the amaricanized way of thinking I have about efficiency and instant results. Don't get me wrong, I dont myself eat nothing but rice and oatmeal and only have 2 pairs of clothes or any lifestyle close to this. But I think it is not a fully correct view to say that we are to enjoy the blessing we have from God, rather I think because we are bless, we can enjoy the fact that we are equiped to bless others with what we have been given.
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