With the Eyes of Barnabas

This is taken from Jesus Freaks - Revolutionaries. It got me thinking a lot tonight:

"Don't be a fool, Joses. The man is a murderer and a spy! He only wants to come to us so that he can gather names to give to the council and bring us all to trial as he did Stephen. He will stop at nothing to see us all executed. No, we cannot let him come here, no matter what he claims. Brother Barnabas, we know you mean well as always, but you must see the reason in protecting ourselves. We cannot let Saul come to meet with us. Brother Peter, I turn to your leadership as always in this matter; please tell Barnabas that we would be exposing ourselves to unnecessary risk.

Peter looked from the speaker to Joses, whom the members of the first church had nicknamed Barnabas, the "son of consolation," because of his constant encouragement to the brethren. Barnabas looked troubled by the words, but Peter could tell he wasn't finished pleading his case. "Brother Barnabas, you have something else to add?"

"Only that I know the change that came to my life from accepting Jesus as the Messiah. And I know the change that came to your life, Brother Peter. And yours, Brother Isaac, and the change that came to the rest of you here today. Didn't Jesus preach that all who call upon His name would be saved? Well, Saul has called on that name. He also met with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. I know the man who held the coats of those who stoned Stephen as we stood by helplessly, and I know the man who reasoned with the Jewish Brethren and Greeks in Damascus that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the same man on the outside, but not the same man on the inside. Saul is no longer a persecutor, but a brother in Christ. In fact, he left Damascus in fear for his own life because of the boldness of his testimony. What good is Jesus' sacrifice and Stephen's forgiveness of those who killed him if we cannot look past the flesh of a man and accept what Jesus has done to change his heart?"

Those in the room grew quiet for a moment, then Peter spoke for all of them. "As always, Barnabas, your words have spoken straight to my heart. I cannot refute fellowship to any who will call upon His name, as Jesus himself said He would not. Can any of the rest of you?"

As Peter looked around the room, no eyes met his gaze, but many nodded their heads in agreement with him. They knew the danger of rejecting Jesus' words was greater than any threat to their lives.

It was in such a way that Saul, who was destined to become Paul the apostle, was admitted as a brother to the church in Jerusalem by Barnabas, "the encourager."

Barnabas continued to travel with and encourage Saul for some time after that. They journeyed together to Antioch in Syria, where they taught and argued the cause of Christ so well that the members of the church in Antioch were the first to call themselves "Christians". He also supported Paul as he returned to Jerusalem to persuade the brethren there that Christianity was not to be a sect of Judaism - following all the laws of the Old Testament and just adding Jesus - but it was a transformation of their covenant with God into something new through Christ, surpassing the law to a life in the Spirit made possible by Jesus' death and resurrection.

Barnabas was such an eloquent speaker and preached with such passion and convincing doctrine that he was the chosen speaker over Paul on their first missionary journey. However, when God began to bring Paul to the forefront, Barnabas the encourager took the lesser place without complaint. He was not worried about position as much as seeing the call of God being fulfilled in Paul's life.

John Mark, Barnabas's nephew, had deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey when things looked like they were getting rough, but he repented and asked to go along with them on their second journey to the north. Paul refused to let him come along because of his earlier desertion, but Barnabas stuck with John Mark much as he had stuck with Paul before the brethren in Jerusalem years earlier.

Thus Barnabas and Paul went separate ways, Paul took Silas and headed to Syria and Cilicia, and Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus. Barnabas eventually encouraged John Mark to travel with Peter.

Being originally from Cyprus, Barnabas stayed on there preaching Christ to all who came across his path. Such a following rose up that he fell into contention with a Jewish sorcerer who was losing business because the things Barnabas taught freed the people from their fear of him and what his "magic" could do to them. Because of this, the sorcerer stirred the non-Christians of the city against Barnabas. They soon falsely accused Barnabas of some crime and had him thrown into prison.

When a time was set for Barnabas to come before a judge in Salamina, fearing the judge would discover his innocence and release him, a mob led by the sorcerer raided the jail, put a rope around Barnabas's neck, dragged him outside the city, and burned him."



Barnabas was not swayed by the views of the mainstream. When everyone else flowed idly with the currents of fear or popular opinion, he took his paddle in hand and fought hard to get their boat back into God's flow of love and acceptance, even if he was the only one paddling. He judged people by the confessions of their hearts and how they lined up with the Word of God, not by their past or what they looked like. Where others saw a lost cause or an enemy, Barnabas saw great potential and a brother or sister in the Lord that needed the support of an encourager. He stood by those others rejected, and by doing so he helped them to realize greater things in their own lives than he did in his own.

In a world where self-promotion seems to be a key to success, there are not many like Barnabas. How many of us would be willing to help those around us go on to accomplish greater things than we do ourselves or befriend the unpopular because they claim they belong to Christ?

God claims YOU, if you've claimed Him. Do NOT believe otherwise. You are loved, and just like Barnabas saw great potential in those that others didn't (and was right!)...God sees great potential in YOU. Anything in your head, heart, or soul that says otherwise is from Satan. Not Jesus. Be loved, Be forgiven, Be accepted, Be redeemed, and above all - Be sure of who you are in Christ - His Child, His Beloved, His All-in-All. :)





Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts. ~ 1 Peter 1:22

Enough is Enough!

Satan,

We need to talk. Here's the thing, I haven't been able to be myself in a few days...3 to be exact...and well, when I am - it's been a constant battle against self. And I'm really weak right now, frustrated that I've given you any ground at all lately. I've been hurting, tired, frustrated and even scared. It's like fighting you everyday, but always feeling like I'm barely holding, or worse - Losing ground! Don't you know that you're not supposed to have power over me? Better yet, don't I know it?!? After all, I've been praying against this very thing since it started. I know the cause isn't anything or anyone here, it's the demons you sent to take places in my life....

So tell your flunkies to get away from here. Now.

Better yet, allow me:

"Demons, there is a clearing of my heart, mind and soul in this moment. A clearing of my eyes. I see you now, and I recognize the part you've had in me. It seems you like to keep coming back to finish what you started years and years ago....

But I recognize something more now...I know you no longer have a hold on me anymore! You, my uninvited "friends", are scabs that have just fallen from a sore. I have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I claim that cleansing now.

I was born for this "New Life"...you were just hoping I wouldn't claim it weren't you? Well I do! I won't live for the demons in my life. I see you - selfishness, bitterness, pride, hurt, fear, lust, tyranny, hate, doubt, pain, lies, anger, frustration, gossip, and the rest of you that I don't recognize on sight. I banish all of you, in the power of Christ. And in Christ alone! I, a child of the Most High, brother of Jesus the Nazarene, Possessor of The Holy Spirit, Saint in the battle the rages daily...with the Authority of my Savior, Jesus Christ, give you place in my life and heart no more! Be gone!

I see you all! But I see them too! God's angels, and I recognize them too - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, Humility, Forgiveness, Healing, Courage, Modesty, Benevolence, Faith, Truth, and the rest of His Heavenly Host! :D

I've started this letter to let you know how much power you had over me...and how I resented it. But now, I thank you for it! Because I needed to feel overwhelmed, I needed to be disgruntled, I needed to struggle with your forces. Why? Simple, because I needed to realize that it was you, Beelzebub, that was attacking my mind. God has already beat you. :) You have no power over me, except what I give you :) You have failed oh dark ones, I am a son of the light. Flawed yet Holy. Sinner yet Saint. Fallen but Redeemed!

I will still encounter pains, but I'll embrace those pains. I would not barter them for any earthly pleasure. All the delights of sense, heart, or intellect, with which you could once have tempted me, even the delights of virtue itself, now seem in comparison to the half nauseous attractions of a raddled harlot would seem to a man who hears that his true beloved whom he has loved all his life and whom he had believed to be dead is alive and even now at his door! I am caught up in a world where pain and pleasure take on the transfinite values and all our knowledge is dismayed. I guess you could say that I've been reintroduced to the inexplicable ;) And I like it!!! :)

Thank you demons! I know where I've been, where I am, and where I'm going! I will be a better friend, brother, and man. Not by my strength, but through my flaws! I will forgive, forget, and love my neighbors and my enemies. I will recognize the presence of darkness, and seek my strength in the giver of light! My God is the God who saves! He is Mighty to Save!

Thanks for your time satan ;)

Never Yours,

Daniel

*ROUND TWO STARTS NOW! (and I read the ending already ;)*

:)

Only in You

I can only move, when I move in You.

I can only breathe, when I breathe in You.

I can only rest, when I rest in You.

I can only choose, when I choose in You.

I can only surrender, when I surrender in You.

I can only succeed, when I succeed in You.

I can only laugh, when I laugh in You.

I can only love, when I love in You.

I can only trust, when I trust in You.

I can only hope, when I hope in You.

I can only stand, when I stand in You.

I can only be strong, when I'm strong in You.

I can only be humble, when I'm humble in You.

I can only show courage, when I show courage in You.

I can only do right, when I do right in You.

I can only believe, when I believe in You.

I can only have faith, when I have faith in You.

I can only stop thinking of You....well that day will NEVER come.

I can be all things good, but only in You. Only in You, can I let Your will be done. So, Abba, let Your will be done, always. If it costs me something, or everything. If I gain the world, or lose it. If i live or if I die. I will obey. Only in You. Only in You. Can I truly be myself.

Light Up the Sky

Indescribable

God never gives up. :)

When Joseph was dropped into a pit by his own brothers, God didn't give up.

When Moses said, "Here I am, send Aaron," God didn't give up.

When the delivered Israelites wanted Egyptian slavery instead of milk and honey, God didn't give up.

When Peter worshiped Him at the supper and cursed Him at the fire, He didn't give up.

When I rejected His truth and said, "I'll never believe in You," He didn't give up.

Though I make mistakes everyday, He never, ever, gives up on me.

And when my hands fastened the divine hands to a cross with spikes, it wasn't the soldiers who held the hands of Jesus steady. It was God who held them steady. God, who would give up His only son before He'd give up on you and me.

"God's business is putting things right." Psalm 11:7 MSG

Jesus, You are ridiculously INDESCRIBABLE! God, I don't deserve you! Thank God, literally, that none of us get what we deserve! :D

Grace

If I learned one thing in life it's this: There's Only Grace...I won't sing Matthew West in this moment...maybe later ;)

(The Message, Romans 5)

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!"


I'm a sinner, and regardless of anything that ANYBODY believes...there will never be a day in my life that I get it all right. Just reading the words above...that's why I believe. That's why I will run the race to the best of my abilities. That's why I must die to myself daily, because of that kind of Love. A love that nobody in this world can compete with...a love that though the thought humbles us...we still can't fully comprehend it. Only God loves us like that. Only God can fill the God-sized void in our hearts. Only God can use that which is broken, and then make it new.

I remember vividly the choices I made to deny God. There was even a time, 6 years ago, where I told Him that I'd rather go to Hell than to go to a place that was run in a system like His...

I can't never take those words back.

I meant them at the time.

But no longer....

Sunday my pastor spoke about forgiveness. And all I could think about was the fact that I don't deserve it. I guess that's the point, after all...none of us do. He mentioned that grace was a gift. Romans 5 is a part of that promise to us. I can't take back what I said, but I can live for Him now. I can't change my past, but I will change my future. I can't be good enough, smart enough, kind enough, patient enough, trusting enough, wise enough, or strong enough, by my own merit.

Praise God for Jesus! :)

Tonight, I look back on everything that has brought me here. And I say to Satan, all that's happened was in God's hands. And all that will happen is in God hands! My life is so blessed and I can't stop smiling at how amazing it is! :) But even if God said to me, "Daniel, it's time to break you, again." My response would finally be, "Lord, I trust you. It's not safe, I might get hurt, but I know that You love me and that everything that You do is, ultimately, for my good. So I guess what I what I'm saying to You is that...Your will be done."

Praise God when it rains, and when it shines :)

But don't think that doesn't mean that I won't be beaming when it's shining! :D

Bowfire!

Adventure

It's the weekend! Well, close enough to qualify anyway.

I have a confession to make. I really, really want to be somewhere else right now....

I desire to be a cowboy, out riding into the sunset. I desire to be a bard, playing across the land. I desire to be a hero, standing against the onset of evil. I desire to be a wanderer, roaming the hills of Europe. I desire to be...for the moment...somebody else.

I suppose I should clarify, I don't really mean this...it's a thought that just needs sleep to pass. I LOVE my life. I always will! It's a gift from God, and I'm blessed beyond belief. And if I wanted to take this point a step farther, since I've been back from Fort Worth, I'm a new man, with a new found faith. A new passion, joy, and trust. In other words, I'm SOO glad to be where I am. I wouldn't trade the people in my life for the world!

....I just...I really want an Adventure that takes everything in me to complete! I want a challenge that leaves me exhausted, but satisfied...knowing I overcame! I want to look evil in the face and challenge it head on! Is it sad to know that being a real man is about what's on the inside, not the outside...and yet still feel the need to measure up? To desire to know that I could be a William Wallace from Braveheart? Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice? Maximus from Gladiator? Luke from Star Wars? Aragorn from Lord of the Rings? Peter from Narnia? Moses, Gideon, Samuel, Daniel, Elijah!

But you don't judge by appearance. You judge the heart of a man. Lord bring me back to the place I need to be, it's all about you...and not about me. It's about my heart and not my stature, help me to seek you...through tears and laughter! I know these thoughts won't consume me, but I still request that You teach me to see. That my desires should be on one thing alone, ending my life knowing that Your light in me shown!

Wind Waker Unplugged

This made me smile :)

Commit and Rest

It's late, almost two in the morning. But I can't go to sleep without focusing on an idea that's been in my head all day and night. I've been reading in Galatians and that has been a very good thing!

The sky is black. The world is asleep and dreaming. But the day is coming....

The stillness of the dawn will be replaced by the by the busy pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

In those hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, because of His price, I'm free to choose. And so I do.

I Choose Love...

No occasion in life justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and the people that He puts in my path.

I Choose Joy...

I will keep God's joy in my heart. God is bigger than circumstance. I will refuse the temptation of being cynical...I will refuse to see people as anything less than human being, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for the moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness...

"I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me."

I Choose Goodness...

I will go without anything I need before I receive it dishonestly. I will before I boast in anything but Christ. For He is the only thing that's good in me. I will confess before I accuse. I will choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises. Those that trust me will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. My parents, siblings and friends won't question my love. I will meet the needs of those that need me.

I Choose Gentleness...

Nothing is won by force, not permanently anyways. I choose to be gentle. "If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself."

I Choose Self-Control...

I am a spiritual being...everything is spiritual.
"After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ." I choose self-control.


The Fruits of the Spirit. To these I commit my day. If I succeed I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And now, as at the end of this day...I will place my head on my pillow and rest. In God alone.

Audience Of One

...let it find within me, a heart that beats to praise You!

Stand to Fall

I've been sitting in the chapel for the last hour. Trying to find the words for a tune that's been in my heart all day. They came, I listened and now I can haunt this church with my singing :) lstm. I think I'm going to title it: Stand to Fall



I've spent my whole life searching, for what...I don't really know.
I've spent my whole life striving, to be the kind of man who would go.
Yes, I've spent plenty years believing, that I could never follow Your call.
No, I can't believe I was so foolish, it's time to stand...which means it's time to fall....

And I fall, to my knees, it's the only place that I want to be!
And I fall, upon this ground, God I sense Your Spirit...it's all around!

'Cause in weakness, You are my strength! In my shame, You're my victory!
And In my sin, I know I'm redeemed! In my pain, you've caused me to sing!

And I fall, to my knees, it's the only place that I want to be!
And I fall, upon this ground, God I sense Your Spirit...it's all around!

'Cause in weakness, You are my strength! In my shame, You're my victory!
And In my sin, I know I'm redeemed! In my pain, you've caused me to sing!

I've given most of my heart, for the things of this earth.
I've given most of my heart, so I could fill up my hurts.
Yes, I've spent plenty years believing, that I could never follow Your call.
No, I can't believe i was so foolish, it's time to stand...which means it's time to fall....

And I fall, to my knees, it's the only place that I want to be!
And I fall, upon this ground, God I sense Your Spirit...it's all around!

'Cause in weakness, You are my strength! In my shame, You're my victory!
And In my sin, I know I'm redeemed! In my pain, you've caused me to sing!

And I fall, to my knees, it's the only place that I want to be!
And I fall, upon this ground, God I sense Your Spirit...it's all around!

'Cause in weakness, You are my strength! In my shame, You're my victory!
And In my sin, I know I'm redeemed! In my pain, you've caused me to sing!

I've been offered a choice, to respond to His love.
I've been totally washed, yes cleansed by His blood.
Yes, I've spent plenty of years believing, but now Lord I'll respond to your call!
No, I won't deny that I was so foolish, but I'll take my stand! Lord, I'll take my fall!

And I fall, to my knees, it's the only place that I want to be!
And I fall, upon this ground, God I sense Your Spirit...it's all around!

'Cause in weakness, You are my strength! In my shame, You're my victory!
And In my sin, I know I'm redeemed! In my pain, you've caused me to sing!

And I fall, to my knees, it's the only place that I want to be!
And I fall, upon this ground, God I sense Your Spirit...it's all around!

'Cause in weakness, You are my strength! In my shame, You're my victory!
And In my sin, I know I'm redeemed! In my pain, you've caused me to sing!

Jesus I fall, to my knees, You're the only one that I'll ever need!
Jesus I fall, upon this ground, I need Your Spirit...Lord Your mercy abounds....

:)

Father, how I love you. I've spent two-thirds of my life ignoring and rejecting you. I've spent the remainder hurting you...time and time again. I've sinned every day of my life.

And how do you repay me?

With a Grace beyond my imagination. With forgiveness that just isn't fair. With love that I rejected and don't deserve. I'm so unworthy...so well, messed up.

And yet, I've been given everything! There are no blessings I deserve, yet I am blessed beyond all I could imagine.

If ever someone deserved all the Love, Praise, Faith, Hope, Trust, Laughter, Dedication, Determination, Will-Power, Knowledge, Skills, Talents, Time, and Everything else that's within this body...this Spirit...it's You Lord. It's only You!


I just saw the movie, What If?, with my mom! It's incredible. And honestly, Camp Rock two kind of made me laugh too... (My sisters made me watch...but I suppose I'm glad they did ;) lstm. God is so good! ~ Understatement of the Century.

To God Alone

Follow the link, apparently it prefers running directly from Youtube. But it's worth it!

Such a Beautiful picture of how God works....