Get up and Go.

Ready?

"20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets." Luke 6:20-23 ESV

When you read that, what do you think? I get excited, personally.

You see, when I was a kid I always held a soft spot for the poor, the hungry and the estranged. I have a mommy and daddy that love me, a warm house and tasty food, so why can't they? It perplexed my young mind to no end. Why was I so well provided for when so many others suffered. I fell in love with soup kitchens and food banks and toy drives and homeless shelters and any orphanages I could find simply because they were working to do everything I couldn't.

Then I learned about a man who all the little children loved, the beggars and the lost, and who He loved in return. No I'm not talking about Santa, or Ghandi, but good try. No, no, I'm talking about Jesus Christ.

Jesus. People think of Him as this stoic hardcore individual who, while He was both fully Man and fully God, never laughed or really smiled. He was like Jiminy Cricket meets Tom Brokaw. The good conscience meets boredom. I mean, come on, have we not learned that throughout the bible God had a love that attracted children like no other. In fact, if you look at Matthew 18:3-4 you'll find that not only does God attract our kids, He wants us to be like them!

"3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3-4 ESV

Good news for us "big kids" right?

Listen, the point is people these days are missing out on a truly amazing and wonderful relationship. Yes Jesus is humble, yes Jesus is strong and powerful, yes Jesus is God. That being said, Jesus is also loving, kind, tender, passionate and understanding. He is, was and will be.

---------------

I visited a church in California recently called "The Crystal Cathedral". It's made mostly out of glass! I was excited, since I had dreamt of a church just like it, see through so that everyone knew what we were doing, why and where they could join in. This building however, just missed the boat.

It was made of mirrors, with no handles on the door to get in, just to get out.
Reminds me of a verse... "23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." James 1:23-24 ESV

Their premise behind the whole thing was an encouragement to come and know Jesus, and He was depicted throughout the campus as smiling, laughing and happy to see you. Now, I'm not one for big bronze statues of My Father, and I promise if you asked Him He'd agree that all the money that went to the building of those "idyllic" representations of Him could have been better spent on the poor and the hungry and less on the creation of a temple. I will say, however that at least He was happy and not pulling a "Tom Brokaw".

To their credit the founders of this very building state that it was designed to be a beacon to all those seeking Him and an understanding of Him. To solidify their prayers that a new generation would rise up and proclaim the good news of Jesus to all the earth. I learned a lot from what My Father had to say while visiting, and I tell you now that generation, is us.

Too long have we sat in our little pews or chairs and sang happy songs and praised amongst each other. Too long have we been comfortable in our own little "Jesus world". Don't get me wrong - I love worship immensely, understanding what it is in comparison to what so many of us do. We seem to struggle with the concept of constant prayer and worship. We rely on a building to hide in and make our songs and worship. We rely on a building to meet in "safety" from the cold dark world. We rely on a building we've come to call "church".

Enough is enough.

Get up. I'm serious. Get up, get out there and tell someone you love them, and when they ask why, you can tell them because He loved us first.

Be a doer of the Word.

"19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:19-27 ESV

Go.

Not my will but Yours be done Father, let us heed Your call.





-- Othniel

What is worship? The first of many...

What is Worship?

I believe Worship:
- is a heart based action
- should be constant
- great form of communion
- does not require any song, music or "sweet sounding melody"*

* according to OUR standards of what one is.

1 Chronicles 16:23-24 ESV

"23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before hhim, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

"Worship is at the core of what we do." - Pastor Micah Knox, unitednw church

How often do you consider worship when you speak to Him? It's a built in sweet-spot just for God, reserved solely for Him and His exaltation. I had to ask myself, how often do I actually worship God?

Psalm 138 ESV
"1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."

I wasn't happy with what I found, let me tell ya. I had committed to nothing more than secular songs and a great lack of praise. My life? Wasn't constant communion, constant exhalation, it was actually, kinda boring.

I decided to change my thinking and consider worship, every time, to be exciting. More than any action movie, roller coaster or football game.

He's asked you to lay your life down, what first He gave He also is due. Don't be careless, don't shrug it off, take it serious.

Remember what He said? Everything you say, from the heart, can make or break you.

Matthew 15:10-20
"10 And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:
11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
15 But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
16 And he said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

This then I ask of you, raise Him up with me, Sit with me in singing His name; Stand with me in declaring His glory; Walk with me to baptize nations and through our faith and dedication to the one High King the world will open up in song.

Worship with me, church, that we may see His Glory.





Not My Will but His done.


-- Othniel

Location:72nd St SE,Auburn,United States

The smell of flowers, small sweaty stuff

Have you ever heard the phrase "you gotta stop and smell the flowers" every now and again?

I asked myself one day, what does that really mean?

I remember once, when I was in school, how flustered or distracted I could get. Midterms, finals, dances, who my Friday date would be, where I'd be on Saturday night etc. Why I hadn't done my homework and what I'd be having for lunch. All these questions buzzing through my head made it Really difficult to think of anything else at any point of the day. I began to swarm myself with so much that I couldn't think or see straight.

You ever had one of those days?

At any rate I began running from class to class, reading my schoolwork in-between jaunts trying to stay one step ahead. I decided to take a moment to switch gears and I opened my bible to this verse:

"8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

I thought "Huh that's cool, the God of peace be wit-ahhh!" I had tripped.

When I looked up my books were on the ground but right in front of me was a little flower that had fallen off the tree next to the path I was careening down. I picked it up and took a deep breath.

It was exquisite.








How funny. I had taken a moment to stop and smell the flowers. I had peace in that moment. Inexpressible yet simple peace. I carried the flower with me to class, and hung onto it all through English 210 until someone asked me "what's with the flower?"

They had that same, rushed and eager look I had but an hour before.

I smiled, and handed them the flower saying "sometimes you just have to stop and smell the flowers."

The bible teaches us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time and a place for everything (Ecclesiastes 3 specifically) and even more interesting is what the Gospel of Matthew says:
"25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

Worrying about tomorrow, about all these frivolous little things, mean nothing in the light of everything He's got in store for you. The best way to look at it? The next time you're having, you know one of THOSE days?

Don't sweat the small stuff, and take a moment to stop...and smell the flowers.







Not my will but His be done,

-- Othniel

Location:72nd St SE,Auburn,United States

Vows Renewed

What does it mean to renew your vows?

Well www.idotaketwo.com says this:

"Vow Renewals are not second weddings.

Unless somewhere along the way to happily ever after you and your spouse divorced and are now remarrying, this is not a second wedding. This is, however, an opportunity to reaffirm your marriage vows and love of one another, or perhaps a chance to have your marriage blessed by the church."

Think about this for a second. Here you are, confessing your love for someone, promising it for infinity and beyond, so why renew that?

Personally, I feel it's not for anyone but you and the other person. Sure, having people there to recelebrate what they helped with years ago is great, but are they needed, or they wanted?

Sometimes, a renewal of your vows is a declaration that through everything, you still love them. Through it all you're still hopelessly devoted to them.

That's Jesus.

He's still there, loving you willing to tell you again and again. My Father knows what you've been through, where you're going and why.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Can you imagine that? A God that knows your next turn, your next main squeeze, how many characters your next text will have- no! *gasp*- or maybe even what you could really be in this life, where you really belong.

"12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13 ESV

Can it really be that easy? A God that answers when you call? My own mother doesn't pick up the phone half the time I call, but there's a God that loves me who always answers. Who always...picks up.

I have been baptized before in my life, but this past weekend I got baptized again at a local church, even gave me a nifty little tshirt:




The cool part? I didn't have to get baptized again. I did it because I wanted to, as a declaration of my CONTINUED love and dedication to the One who set me free. He called and I answered with a resounding "Bro, I love you! Thank you for your sacrifice." His response?

I love you too.

I am His. His love, His Joy, His delight.

His.

Who knew it could be that easy? Who knew it could be that refreshing?

I renewed my vows to Jesus.

What have you done for Him today?





-- Othniel

Location:72nd St SE,Auburn,United States

A new reason for an old hat

This is being written from the old home, for a new reason.

Initially I began this blog as an attempt to get into blogging in the first place. You see, the idea was, I would write blogs and make videos reviewing new technologies (and some old ones) as well as just share some basic thoughts.

This was all fine and good until I was reintroduced to an old friend.

For the second time in my life, I met Jesus.

Now some might simply say "that's great!" or "good work ol'chap!" etc., to which I of course am grateful. However, this is much more than just a visit from an old friend. This was an awakening.

I was given a new name, a name I use more often than not. Allow me to introduce you to it, as well as my new reasoning for blogging now:

Othniel - God's Lion, Gods strength.

This blog, as well as the rest of my known life will be used to serve Him and further His kingdom. He saved my life, He gave me life, and I will strive to honor this gift always.

So in other words, if you don't like hearing about God, hearing the truth about your life and what He gave you, feel free to navigate your cursor to your nearest address bar, head to google, and search for your nearest shrink. I'd suggest one specifically who deals with denial and maybe chronic lying, because what you will find here is my experiences, my walk and how I shall strive to follow Him always and ever.

John 15:15-27
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'
26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

He is my friend. He is my brother. He is my Father. He is my king. He is my savior.

He is my life.

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."








Not my Will but His be done.

-- Othniel

Location:116th Ave SE,Renton,United States

So today...

..I met my good friends baby boy. I gotta tell ya the kid was adorable. His cute little cheeks and bright curious eyes reminded me what it mustve been like at his age. No real
Worries except food and sleep and stimulation. I mean come on what a carefree and beautiful life babies have.

I want a redo.

No honestly I think that babies do
Something well we don't. They don't sweat the small stuff you know? Sure they don't have jobs or bills or cliques or fashion senses or a sense of bad breath or any clue what calculous is...*shakes fist* but they DO know what love is...essentially. And where food is and can bring joy with just the smallest whisper or giggle.




I bet I was like this as a baby but since I don't remember...we'll never know.


PS whosever baby this is I just wanna thanks and you has an awesome baby.




-- Post From My iPhone

First blogs...

They're always the hardest especially when you're trying to sleep.



Club me.

Goodnight.


-- Post From My iPhone