Worth More Than Coins

As I have been reading through the gospels it's hitting me that in everything Jesus said He always pointed to the love of the Father. Something in his speech always revealed the love of the Father. His purpose in coming to this world was to give eternal life to all and this is eternal life: that they may know the Father [to know his heart], the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom the Father had sent. (John 17:1-6) And Jesus revealed the Father in everything that He did and said. This is so amazing and yet said of Jesus before His birth. "You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever."

Jesus is a man. Yes, He is fully God, but He is also fully man. So, as I think about Jesus being fully man and pointing us to the Father and openly revealing the love of the Father to us I see that Jesus as a man is speaking these things. Jesus the man - though in His Godhood He knows the Father and has known the Father from the beginning of time - has grace poured upon His lips. This grace is can be seen in all that He has said and all that He didn't say. Even in the smallest, seemingly unimportant things, Jesus points us to the Father's love.

The Pharisees were always trying to trap Jesus in His words. They were so great at trying at to flatter Jesus and say all the right things in the wisest ways in order to trap Jesus into saying something that could get Him in trouble or go against scripture or the law of the land. Matthew 22:15-22 is a small story with great significance. The Pharisees are again trying to trap Jesus by asking Him if it's right to pay taxes to Caesar.

Jesus responds sharply, knowing they were trying to trap Him. He said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying?" So the Pharisees brought him a coin and Jesus proceeded to ask them whose portrait and inscription were on the coin, which was Caesars. He finished by saying, "Then give unto Caesar that which is Caesars..." but He didn't stop there, "..and to God what is God's." Money around the world has the faces of the Presidents or leaders of that country who the money belongs to. Their portrait and inscription is on that money. So it belongs to them anyway. Therefore, yeah, pay your taxes.
But, Jesus finishing with the response give unto God what is God's seems almost like one of those Christian things you just throw in there that is true, but, I've never connected it the way Jesus connected it.

In light of the Student Awakening going on at IHOP-KC, I'm beginning to see how God views His children. The Father has been so good and calling His children to Him and showing us that we are His and that He made us. A lot of people have been getting free from self-hatred due to body image issues, or to things that they have done or things that had been done to them in the past. But as God was revealing through leaders, our bodies were made perfect by God and instead of looking into the mirror and agreeing with the lies from the enemy and hating ourselves we need to agree with the Father and looking at ourselves should cause us to worship Him. In Genesis God says to God, "Come, let us make man in our own image."

We were made in the image of God! "Whose portrait is this? (Caesars.) Then, give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." What Jesus is saying here is, because the coin bears the image of Caesar give it to Caesar. He connects then the command to give to God what is God's. In connecting the two Jesus was saying the coin has Caesar's portrait on it, so what has the portrait of God on it?

PEOPLE!! WE HAVE THE PORTRAIT AND THE INSCRIPTION OF GOD ALL OVER US!!

What grace that has been poured upon His lips!? Jesus was revealing again the Father's love. We were created to bear the image of God. We BELONG to HIM! God was saying a few things in that small phrase. "Save souls. Love your neighbor. Commit yourself to the Lord. You belong to the Father. The Father made you to bear His image." We should look at ourselves and the see the glory of the Father all over us! HIS IMAGE IS ON US!!! WHOO! Oh, my goodness I'm so excited! COME ON PEOPLE! The Lord has set His image on you! He has set His image and inscription on each individual person. His signature is on you! How beautiful the Lord is! That each individual person with their unique features reflects the beauty of the Lord. This so tears down the lie of the enemy that there is this ridiculous standard of beauty that no one really meets (and that those who have met it are dying (literally) to maintain it.) Why is the enemy attacking our image? Because He is trying to distort the image of God! If he can get us to view ourselves with hatred, he can then quickly turn that toward hating God and not seeing the beauty of the Father.

Satan sees that humans are the most beautiful, perfect and beloved creation of God. This is why he attacks the human image. The lie is that there is this standard of perfection and no one really thinks they've met it. Think about it. The supermodels who are on drugs, or who are getting plastic surgery because they're always trying to be more beautiful or maintain whatever standard of beauty they liked the best, if they thought they were perfect they'd be alright. Ha! Fat chance. The only way we're gonna realize the perfection and appreciate the beauty of our bodies is to stop and realize that we reflect the image of God. And God is perfect. And it goes further than our bodies physically. It goes to our personalities, our intellect, our giftings and skills and talents, etc. Those things also reflect the beauty of the Lord who created all things, and is in all things.

Romans 12:1 - Offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. This is the same as give to God what is God's. Our bodies are the Lord's. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We belong to Him. That is good news! He is a good Father.He is perfect and He loves us. We are His children and He is taking care of us! To offer our bodies to Him in humility and say, "Lord, you made me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made," and begin to worship the Lord because He has made us. We need to realize that in us being fearfully and wonderfully made means that God is wonderful and seeing just how good and perfect He is should cause us to fear Him. In us are the awesome qualities of the Lord. We should then begin to look at each other and realize how amazing God is! To see the beauty of God in all people. To judge others based on appearance is to judge the image of God. And who are we to really pass judgment on the image of the Most High? Scary thought... I feel like there's so much more that could be said on that tiny line from Matthew 22:21.

Just remember: We all bear the image of God. He made us. We belong to Him. He desires us! We all have the amazing and perfect qualities of the Father inside us and on us. We're worth much more than coins.

"Father, open our eyes to see the beauty of You on our lives. Would you reveal Your love to us through our bodies. Through the way we view ourselves. Lord, come and reveal our true beauty. You call us beautiful! And we are only beautiful because of the infinite and perfect beauty of You! Break down and silence the lies of the enemy. Father, show us how much You desire us as the good and loving Father. Show us how we are made perfect in Your sight; in the image of You and Your Son. Open our eyes to see Your love. Dispel the darkness, and let the light of Your love shine in our hearts and in our beings. Set people free with Your perfect love!"

IHOP - Week 1

Well, well... here we are... another week. But, not just any other week! An amazing week!

God has been truly faithful and so good to me. This week seems like it's been much longer than it is. It's a good thing because there is still so much more to be gained and to learn.

The trip down to IHOP was... tiring. I slept on the planes and stayed awake through the airports. Pretty much like I thought would happen. Got to Anchorage airport around 6:30a. I was slightly worried that my bags would be too heavy, or that I forgot something at home or security with all of my stuff would be terrible. I brought my portable Bose stereo, the laptop, and clothes and books... It was some intense carry-on baggage. So intense that whenever I stored my bigger bag into the overhead bin I a) almost dropped it on myself or some unsuspecting passenger, and/or b) had to really push it in there to get it to fit. Which it eventually did! And I got through all of my security check-points pretty easily.

I left Anchorage around 8:30a on Tuesday the 29th. That flight was wonderful! It wasn't full, and the dude next to me was quiet and we didn't bug each other. I sat in the window seat. I like window seats... on not so crowded planes. We land in Seattle around 1p and I proceeded to find food! So everyone knows where to food court is in Seattle, and I was trying to decide between Qdoba (which reminds me... I need to register that points card...) and Maki. I chose Maki cuz Zach had it on our way down to Orlando and it was really good. I remembered being jealous of it! So, I had it for myself and it was nummy! Problem with that food court was that it was so full of people! I couldn't really find an empty table. I walked around for a bit and finally found an empty bar spot behind Starbucks. That was great! After eating, I found a nice spot near the last gate I was at. The gate for my departure to Chicago wasn't determined yet... so they told me to wait near the gate I got off from. I did that which was wonderful and sunny and I have pictures! But... sad part was... there was no internet. I had to pay a ludicrous amount for the time I was gonna be there... thanks for being there for me ATT... Anyway, that left me time to just chill with music and write letters that I mailed off to some of you! (Those that are waiting I'm waiting to get to a post office...) My flight was boarding around 5p and it was about 4:30 when I heard where my gate was for departure... it was far away. Not so happy bout that, but, got there in time and still sat around for a bit.

Took off from Seattle... and that flight was FULL. I again got the window seat, but, it was so cramped and no one in my row talked to each other. Finally, I talked to the guy next to me about something silly and we had like a 5 sentence conversation. Then... I had to go to the restroom... I had to ask him and this bigger lady with a really terrible shirt (some of her buttons were missing... and revealing.... ick..) who I almost dropped my heavy carryon onto to move. And so they did, then I went to the restroom... and by the time I got back, the lady had just started to put her seatbelt back on and she wasn't happy with me... 'cept... I don't understand why. Better for her that I got back then, instead of later. And I dunno why she was putting on her seatbelt cuz really... I was coming back! Anyway, landed in Chicago around midnight.

In Chicago I went to baggage claim to get my bag. I was told over the phone that I should be able to check my bags in as soon as I got to the airport. If you're confused at this point allow me to clarify. Bought 1 ticket with Alaska Airlines using mileage from ANC to CHI. I did this because there were no mileage tickets to Kansas City and I had to get to IHOP at a certain time. I had a 9 hour layover in CHI before getting to MCI (Kansas City, International). So, AlaskaAir couldn't check my bags all the way through if it was over an 8 hour layover... sadness. So, I got my bag, and apparently the check-in counter was closed til 3am. Which meant I had to do something til then... There was no food on my concourse opened that late, so I had to take a rail to another concourse which had this very lame deli that was opened 24hours. Got a sandwich, and then, got some internet and did some stuff. I had to pay for interent there also, but, being there so long... it was worth it. The concourse I sat in was in the international flights. So I sat across from Jordanian Air and some other middle-eastern countries. LOL After a while of doing stuff and realizing that I accomplished all of my internet NEEDS, I decided to check in. It was round 4am. I did that and it was smooth. No problems. Security was lame. There was just this one big fat annoying security guard that kept repeating himself over and over and it was like herding cattle... We wanted to hit him. No one was new in the line. And he would say it after one person went through. I'm about 6 people away from walking through security and this other line opens up behind me... then another... It was rather depressing. Anyway, got through security with no problems. Found my gate and chilled there... after getting a donut and coffee from Dunkin Donuts! It was a coffee roll and a caramel mocha. Both pretty good. Got to the gate and decided that I was gonna take a nap... So I put all of my stuff next to this pillar near the gate and slept behind this row of chairs. When I woke up... people were sitting in the chairs (which was alright) but, I think they were surprised that I was there... I'm assuming they didn't notice me. I felt awkward. I got some pictures with the sunrise and then waited to board. The flight from CHI to MCI was probably the best! It was so sunny and relaxing and there was almost no one on the plane! A whole row to myself for like an hour and a half flight, which I slept on, of course. It was cool. A really nice plane too.

Landed in MCI got bags from baggage claim. It was all so easy. Then, I found an outlet really close to baggage claim and airport pick up as I waited for Celia to come get me. Pulled out my lappy and just chilled til she got there like 2-3 hours later. Not a big deal, it was still really early. Anyhow, she came as soon as she could and it was awesome! Got my gear loaded and went through Kansas City to IHOP. It was a good drive. Got to see the city a bit.

I arrived at IHOP pretty close to check-in time, but, still a wee bit early. Celia and Ryan were very EXTREMELY gracious hosts! It was so nice that God blessed me by providing that and truly returning the favors that I've given others. We went to Higher Grounds the coffee place on base (or campus, whichevs.) It's good! I had some for the first time yesterday. Finally... an iced caramel white mocha with an extra shot that's actually really really good. I knew it could be. Anyway, we were trying to figure out where I was supposed to meet and what to do. By the time we figured out it was the place we went to originally where no one was when we got there, a lot of people were there and they kept coming in! Seal and Ryan stuck around and waited for me to be really checked-in... which I appreciated. They introduced me to some folk and that was cool. But, then they left and I had to introduce myself to some other ppl's.

First was Caleb. He's got red hair and I soon discovered, a coffee connoisseur! He's so awesome and I will get to know him well.
Then, I met some of the staff as they walked us through registration process.
After going through the line they took us as a group to get our photos taken for our ID's... which we still have yet to receive. In my group was Anthony (really intense guy... pretty smart), Cherish and Deni, a couple of girls that are pretty awesome! Deni reminds me of Shea and Cherish reminds me of someone else who I have yet to figure out. I also met Rex! He's a core leader and totally reminds me of one of the leaders for MC-Wasilla I think.

Afterwards, got my room assignment and got to settle in and possibly nap. My apartment is the tightest ever! The place is amazing. We have this amazing wall in the kitchen next to which I will take photos! The guys are so awesome and we're so different yet so much alike.
First there's my immediate roommate: Isaac. From Michigan though born in Minneapolis. He's 18 and totally athletic. I don't recommend running with him if you are new to running... He's a track 2 student, having been through track 1 before he's been pretty much showing us the ropes and helping us all get along. It's good to be an immediate roomie with him. He's really clean. Challenges me to be cleaner. He doesn't know that... yet.

In the other room is Caleb (different one), David Vaught and David Rich.
Caleb is pretty weird. But, in a good way! He's so likeable and just everyone loves him. He's got dreads, listens to weird music that's not so weird at all, loves Calvin and Hobbes and Farkle (we're a Farklin' bunch of fools now... lol) I think he's from Arkanas or Alabama... I think it's Alabama... And he's also a track 2 kid and knows Isaac pretty well. He loves his friends which is evident by the stories he tells. It's endearing... :p

Vaught is the oldest. He's gonna be 23 here soon. It's really cool. It's nice to have a dude older than me, but, not by too much. It's really refreshing! He's from 4 hours south of here... so I think it's Alabama or Arkansas... I don't remember. But, he's a really great guy.

David/Rich/Dave (we're still trying to figure out what to call him) is from Traverse City, Michigan (??) He's the youngest coming in at 17. Pretty atheltic. Seems really smart. Totally funny guy and he doesn't even have to try or do anything! Vaught and I think he's pretty much like Matt Damon. And seriously... he is.

The cool thing about my suite-mates (I like that term... though it's an apartment... whatever) is that it's evident we're all here to love God and help each other grow. We're all really respectful of each other thus far. I think the no prank rule might help with that. lol

But, before I go on too long or... actually... finish this blog for today... I just got a new roomie last night! His name is Jack. (I've never met a Jack... so it's kinda cool) Reminds me of Jack from Dawson's... but, only cuz of dark features. That's where the similarities end. I don't know too much about him. I know he's moved a lot, from Michigan. Toured in a band. They were/are pretty good and have an album sold in Best Buy. But, he left all of that to do what he felt God was calling him to. Has an awesome testimony and I'm excited to see how we gel and how God works in him.

I'm also excited with how God has been working in me! I wanna tell y'all... but, alas... my lap is tired and I'm done for today.

Coming next blog: Prayer Room awesomeness! and some other exciting things like JD doing a backflip!

Mine Own Thorn

As I read my Bible it is becoming increasingly clear to me that my Biblical hero is Paul. He has such authority and uses it to advance the kingdom of God. It's never for his personal gain, but, for the glory of God. In 2 Corinthians Paul mentions that no one should brag about anything but Christ; not to show how good the human is, but to show how fragile he is and how awesome Jesus is through him.

Paul mentions in Chapter 12 the "thorn" in his flesh. I've heard numerous purity sermons and teen-friendly sermons that discuss the thorn that Paul could be referring to. Every time I read this chapter or hear this sermon, I can only think of the thorn that is in my flesh. Only recently am I thinking of mine own thorn in a new light:

⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Firstly, my thorn is not anything that I will divulge details on here. The point of this post is for me to gain understanding through typing out thoughts but, also, to encourage and glorify Christ through the revelations gained from my increasing understanding of Him.

As a worship leader it is my biggest struggle to be in front of a group of people, especially teens and be obedient and lead others into His throne-room and to declare His heart for His people and lead others into crying out their hearts and feelings of adoration, depravity and need of Him. The struggle lies in the thorn. I know where I am weak. I am weaker than what I let most anyone know.

Every time I stop to think about the leadership position I am in, especially after God uses me and speaks through me, I find myself in complete disarray. I know where I fail and I feel unworthy and scared. My thorn always pricks me and reminds me that I am a failure and that I am not perfect. Who am I to be declaring the word of the Lord? To say, follow me as I follow Christ? My thorn is a constant reminder of how much of a failure I am.

Only within the past two years have I experienced God use me as his mouthpiece. This is my desire: To be His vessel that He uses to speak life into His people through worship. To His songs to us, and to sing our songs back to Him. God has shown Himself faithful and the true giver of the desires of my heart in this area. So, in reading verse 7, I realize, God has given me many revelations and the feelings of unworthiness from my thorn may be a way that God keeps me humble. I know those words aren't from me. I am dirty, unclean, unfit for any pure thing. But, as God says to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Aside from the thorn reminding me of my impurity, the thorn has tormented me for years in other ways. Some days I am okay with it and rest in the peace and grace of God. Other days, I struggle to stay afloat. I hate it and question why God would do this to me. "If you know me and love me why would you allow me to deal with this!?" I still have no answer, but, I feel, like Paul, that I have asked God to take this affliction from me and I am recently reminded that when I am weak, through Christ, I am made strong that He may be glorified.

Paul talks about boasting in His weakness. I do not know if I will ever be able to boast about my weakness completely and truly openly to anyone. I suppose Paul actually does not boast about it so openly either. He mentions that he is weak and has issues to deal with that God has given him to keep him humble. Paul does take joy in his weaknesses, afflictions, persecutions, insults and difficulties. I am learning to take joy in these as well. For this is another facet and step toward a likeness of Christ; being humble and accepting and rejoicing in Christ's goodness, mercy, grace, peace and strength, knowing that nothing I do is of my own power. Though Paul lived thousands of years of ago, I take comfort that I am not the first or only person ever in history to go through something of this nature. For all I know, Paul's thorn could be mine own.

Song of Myself

This is an assignment I did in 10th grade. My English teacher apparently thought it was worth publishing, but, I never did it.

A Song of Myself - Josaphat D. Chambers

I celebrate myself, I sing myself,
And what I know, you know.
For the Creator who created me, created you.

I look with my eyes and the eyes of my soul feast.
They take in all the delicious beauty of the nights,
and the days.

My body, mind and soul love to learn.
We learn from more than school, or our parents.
Now, like our parents we have also learned from experience.
We learn from experiencing nature, circumstance, energy;
We learn from trials and error, which in some cases are
good to begin with.

My mind, body and soul enjoy the precious arts
which occupy our room.
We wonder if these sometimes abstract, beautiful or
ugly pieces of art shall mean much
We have use this gift for good and are delighted in all
these gifts have taught us.

We sing of our life; our life of learning and understanding.
We, in our life of learning, often are as naive as children;
And in this "naivete" we have learned many things.

My body, mind and soul love the experience and value of learning.
We enjoy being taught, whether it be right or wrong, I may not know,
But, through future experiences all that I have been taught will be good in the end.

I sing because I am happy, I sing because I am free
For the Creator who gave you the the ability to experience and learn,
Also gave that gift to me.

Starving for Humility

I live my life like it's all about me. I think I know it all. I think I have wisdom and understanding. I hate when things don't go my way. I hate not knowing what's next. I'm frustrated when I'm wrong. I'm frustrated when people don't believe me or listen to me. I'm frustrated when I'm misunderstood. Whoever said it was all about me?

As I look at my life through the lens of Christ's love, I recognize I am depraved. I am starved. Christ lived the humblest of lives on this earth. He has called me His child and am called to live the life that He led. I must be humble for Him.

I pray that I will starve for humility - and strive for it. In humility, thinking of others better than myself. Never giving in to selfish ambition or vain conceit. In humility walking in the Spirit, not the flesh. Serving my fellow brothers and sisters as I would be serving the Lord. Offering them the fruits that come out of me through the Spirit. The fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It's my desire to starve for humility. To be like the Servant of All. The One who is truly glorious. Praising His name and His mighty deeds. Declaring the praises of the One who is worthy. The One who is not lacking, the One whose grace meets my depravity. Father, make me more like Christ. May I decrease that You may increase.