music monday// in the light

ok, moment of truth, i am a sinner. i am not perfect and i won't pretend to be. i'm under a standard of grace, not perfection. as long as i'm in this physical body, my spirit and the carnal part of me will continue to fight to have control over me. i'm thankful for grace, truly. so because of grace[undeserved favor], i choose to intentionally walk with Jesus and not live in an unbroken pattern of sin. 

via

confession. sometimes the sin nature in me takes over. and that's because i begin to focus on me, myself, leaving my heart unguarded for the enemy to throw parties in my heart of hearts. i can be really judgmental deep down, criticizing people in the chambers of my mind. and my excuse is that well, Jesus didn't say i can't acknowledge the faults of others, what He did say is that i shouldn't go fixing others when i have my own unresolved flaws. although this is true, i wonder why i'm so quick to see the flaws in others rather than the lovely in them. hm, Jesus is still working on this with me.

and when it comes to forgiveness, it can be such a struggle for me. i'm this super sensitive person who can sense the state of emotions and wrong vibes from people, but then again, i sometimes tend to read too much in between the lines. oh, and anger, i'm getting better with not letting the sun go down on it. and the love your enemies bit? urm, let's just say, not an easy one for me. more grace is needed here.

also, i'm realizing the sensitive bit of me makes me tend to withdraw from people more than i should. so i end being like an onion, all wrapped up in layers, sometimes with unnecessary walls around me. why? cause i do not want to get hurt. i do not want people to know my insecurities. and that leads me to being real picky of who i choose to hang around with. and i know all the layers and brick of walls i put around me may keep out pain, but it will keep out love too. 

it's like i would want to be sure you're not going to hurt me before i open up to you. but there's no guarantee for this, right?  and i know it's wise to be intentional in choosing godly close friends, but it doesn't mean i can't be friendly to others outside my circle of friends. oh, but how i like to only be with 'my kind of people', my kindred spirits who get me. 

and other times i don't even want to be with my kindred spirits. i just want to be with me and Jesus. i crave lotsss of 'me time'. 'me time' is good, but i know, oh, i know, my crave for it can be a lil too much. i know unlike extroverts, i recharge on 'me-time' but i have to watch it so it doesn't over exceed and turn into a selfish habit. but with the help of my sweet Jesus, the self is making room for the Spirit and i'm learning to be more like Jesus, my Light. 

this song really convicts me of the selfish me hiding, lurking in the corners of my being. i hope it convicts you too in the areas you struggle with.

in the light ~ anthem lights and jamie grace

i keep trying to find a life on my own apart from You

i am the king of excuses, i've got one for every selfish thing i do.

what's going on inside me? i despise my own behavior.

this only serves to confirm my suspicions

that i'm still a man in need of a Savior.

i wanna be in the light as You are in the light

i wanna shine like the stars in the heavens.

oh, Lord be my light and be my salvation

all i want is to be in the light

all i want is to be in the light.

the disease of self runs through my blood

it's a cancer fatal to me soul

every attempt on my behalf has failed to bring this sickness under control

honesty becomes me (there's nothing left to lose)

the secrets that did run me (in Your presence are diffused)

pride has no position (and riches have no worth)

the fame that once did cover me (has been sentenced to this earth)

"when Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' " john 8:12

"i do not understand what i do. for what i want to do i do not do, but what i hate i do. and if i do what i do not want to do, i agree that the law is good. as it is no longer i myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. for i know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. for i have the desire to do what is good, but i cannot carry it out. for i do not do the good i want to do, but the evil i do not want to do- this i keep on doing. now if i do what i do not want to do, it is no longer i who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." romans 7:15-20

"if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. if we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us." 1 john 1:8-10

"so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. they are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." galatians 5:16-17

"put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. because of these, the wrath of God is coming. you used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. but now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." colossians 3:5-8

"I[Jesus] am the vine, you are the branches. if you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." john 15:5

"do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." matthew 6:19-21

"no one can serve two masters. either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. you cannot serve both God and money." matthew 6:24

"but seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." matthew 6:33

what are the things you struggle with? how is Jesus changing your heart?

xoxo, gen delali.

music monday// lighthouse

this song echoes the urgency i need to have as a Christian to not slumber on my duty to proclaim Christ as i pass through this earth to my heavenly home. it's a wake up call to all of us.

via

lighthouse~anthem lights

like ships bound for shipwreck most people just simply drift along

and miss their destination without knowing anything is wrong.

no direction and without a care

feels so good and then you're lost out there.

don't you remember how it felt till someone showed you the way?

it's up to you, it's up to me to be the lighthouse

they should know they're not alone.

so shine so they can see the lighthouse and find their way back home.

tragically we've forgotten the reason we're even here at all

worse still, we remember, it's just that we feel so comfortable

do we notice? do we even care? all the people that are lost out there

so climb to the highest point, scream in your loudest voice

there's a Lifeline waiting for you

strike up the brightest fire, fan the flames and let it burn

just let it burn, the world is waiting.

"you are the light. a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. instead they put it on its stand. and it gives light to everyone in the house. in the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." matthew 5:14-16

"for we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." ephesians 2:10

so what are we screaming on the highest point with our words and our lifestyle? 

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." romans 3:23

"if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 john 1:9

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. no one comes to the Father except through me." john 14:6 

we are proclaiming that

"if you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." romans 10:9

we are proclaiming God's greatest commands 

"Jesus replied: 'love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' this is the first and greatest commandment. and the second is like it:'love your neighbor as yourself.' all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments." matthew 22:37-40

how do we love God? 

"Jesus replied, 'anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. these words you hear are not my own, they belong to the Father who sent me.' " john 14:23-24

we are declaring the importance of living out the great commission of exalting Christ among all unreached peoples of the world.

"then Jesus came to them and said, 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. and surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' " matthew 28:18-20

dear Christ follower, let's not get too comfortable on this earth, knowing that we have an all important task to fulfill here wherever we find ourselves-home, school, work, vacation-everywhere. let's reflect Jesus, the Light of the world. dear unbeliever, i love you, i do. and God loves you wayyy more. i pray you come to believe in His Son, Jesus and walk closely with Him before it's too late. 

when we pass on, there are two places our souls will go to-heaven or hell. a life with Jesus leads to heaven. choose wisely.

xoxo, gen delali.