Tender Shoot

Plant me by

your holy water

So my roots

can surely grow

I know Lord

That I am only

A tender Shoot

In Your eyes

God's Power in our Life

There is no joy that compares to the joy given by the Holy Spirit.  I Peter even says it is an inexpressible joy.  Everyday, I try to wrap my head around the workings of God.  We are so limited and small compared to someone so vast and powerful; and we are gifted with His presence, His guidance, and His joy that exceeds our expectations.


God is infinitely big. Still, something so infinite and powerful dwells inside of us.

How powerful is God that He breaks through the physics of this world with a new set of supernatural laws.

How powerful is God that people are willing to give their life as a living sacrifice, without even seeing Him.

How powerful that He controls the ways of the world with His perfect and preordained plan.

How powerful, that the concept of time does not apply to Him.  

"...Though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory"

- 1 Peter 1:8 

Since this world raises us with so many distractions, I believe a lot of people visualize God as just something and not the something.  Even Christians, pure-heartedly walk with God, but don't explore the power God wants to use in them.  His ways and thoughts are above ours, and when we are willing to work for God, anything can happen.  Because we can't physically see God, we tend to put him in a box, and are only comfortable in the workings we can rationalize.  But the truth is, God's way and guidance is our rationalization.  Society, and all the other ways of man are not what limit our decisions.  We work for a supernatural God; which means our life can be filled with supernatural events.  And through His workings there are no limitations.  We don't live in this realm anymore, we live according to God's realm.  It is a realm that is so powerful, we are willing to give up anything in this world for.  The only peace we receive as followers of Jesus comes from Him.  How can we not receive and trust in Him alone when He has proven to be so powerful, true, loving, and everlasting?

Let Go and Let God

Since this world raises us with corruption and deceit, we constantly have to be under self-reflection.  We have to be diligent in knowing God.  As we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. (James 4:8). Our minds and actions must be influenced solely by the workings of the holy spirit.  God's spirit, the one that dwells inside of us, is the only way we can truly change in this earthly world.  Through the power of God's spirit, our viewpoint on life, our mindset, and actions will change. Our lives will change. There is no denying the power of God to those who have experienced Him.

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.  And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. -  1 John 3:24 

A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.  And I will put my Spirit within you. -  Ezekiel 36: 26, 27. 

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. -  John 4:24

Therefore I remind you that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hands -  2 Timothy 1:6

It is vital as spirit-filled beings to walk and live in His spirit.  These verses are self-explanatory.  As we discard the life we lived of this world, we have new life in His spirit.  And through that spirit we abide in God. God is spirit. and He is in us.  Through that same spirit is how we live our life, for the rest of our days.  With joy, we should be stirring up His spirit.  It's a beautiful gift from God that we have access to as supernatural beings.


As we walk with a new set of eyes, our sight is dramatically changed.  We see through a Holy Spirit, and our lives are influenced 100% by that power.  Through that influence comes an outpouring of love and holiness.  However, there are many christians that think because we are human, we are never going to stop sinning.  There are many who believe that because we are imperfect, and cannot compare to the holiness of God, that we will sin.  They believe that their is forgiveness through Jesus Christ, but then what? More sin?

The truth is that because of Jesus, we are called out of darkness and into light.  We are called to walk and live in a spirit of holiness. That's why He is called the Holy Spirit. We are to live as holy followers of God. We are to be holy just as He is holy. A pure and holy God, who dwells inside of us, molds us into righteous beings. And through Him being forever-faithful, there is no excuse for us to not walk with Him.






1 John expresses the reality of truly living a spirit filled life; and through that spirit-filled life there is no sin.


First, there is a test of knowing Him, and it's very clear.

1 John 2:  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The connection of God and His spirit in our lives is beautiful.  Since God is spirit, and His spirit is inside of us, that also means that the love of God is perfected in us? Perfected.


Secondly: We are not called to sin. We are called to be purified by Jesus. If we keep sinning, we do not abide in God.

1 John 2:15:  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 3: 3-10:  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

This verse really speaks.  The life we are called to live is answered by a yes or a no.  When we say yes to a marvelous life with God, we are able to live in His spirit.  We are to be influenced 100% by Him.  We are to let Him mold us.  We are to live that righteous life.  If we live righteously, we abide in Him.  If we do not, we are of the devil.  It's black and white.


I understand that this may be presented in a very overwhelming way.  A flourishing relationship with God may not be something to happen over night.  It requires diligence and a true desire in your heart to receive God's spirit.  Through His mercy we are forgiven. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we now have access to a beautiful spirit-filled life.  When we truly are touched by His love, the least we can do is surrender all with joy.  And through diligence, our time, effort, we shall receive His spirit.  Again, some people may view this as an overwhelming lifestyle, but the truth is that God's spirit is overwhelming.  And the overwhelming is joyous.  With an overwhelming power inside of us, comes an abundant overflow of His spirit.  God's spirit is so powerful, so loving, and so beautiful, that it is a very natural lifestyle for Christians.  It is a very natural and joyous way to live.

1 John 5:3:  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

1 Peter 1:3:   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

God wants to pour His spirit and blessings upon us.  He does not want to see us sin. He desperately wants to build a holy relationship with us, and to keep us there.  Yes, we are human and by nature we sin, but the hope comes from Jesus Christ, and through God's power and influence of the holy spirit, we are kept holy.  Praise God.

In this we rejoice.

The question is: How often are we willing to let go and let God?  How often are we willing to live in His spirit?  The beauty and presence of His spirit is too strong to be taken lightly.  This is life.  A spirit-filled one.

Man-Made Barriers

The sky desperately pours out beauty and craftsmanship for our eyes.  It paints a beautiful and infinite picture for us to notice.  The wind scours mountain-tops for a receiving end.  The trees branch out their wooden hands inviting us to their world.  The earth uproots flowers so they can grow and flourish. Trees, again, start as seeds to eventually grow and bear beautiful fruit.  Unfortunately, It's hard to understand [if not notice] the vastness and beauty of nature.  Many things of this man-made world raise us to formulate barriers between certain things.  Society raises us with values that deter us from the simple beauty of life.  It deters us from our spiritual side.
.

Careers. Technology. Cars. Business. Money. Politics. Education. Even Religion.  Humans have fabricated such a complex world, that it's hard to see past a system of man-made values.  In fact, most people happily conform to the ways of this world and do not question anything.  They are born and raised into a myriad of concepts that they do not even contemplate what it means to be human.  What does it mean to be a living creature on earth?  Are the ways of this world so strong to man that it's hard to detach yourself from society?  Why do people so easily conform to the system of man?


The complexity of this world leads us astray from the beauty and peace available to us.  We are supernatural beings.  Yes, we are created with access to a spirit that goes beyond our comprehension.  We are walking, living, breathing beings that are powerful.  Individually we have characteristics that accent our soul.  Yet, we tend to look at ourselves from a biological sense.  We see flesh and organs, so we think of ourselves as a system of flesh and organs.  We learn about cells and whatnot in school, so we passively accept that as a limit to who we are.


Joy for the ones who challenge the ideas of the world.  Joy for the ones who have a mindset that goes beyond the ways of this world in search for the core of life on this earth.  Joy to the ones who are able to connect to their inner spirit that is so powerful and true.


God desperately seeks you.  Like the sky, He invites you to a world full of beauty and wisdom.  Like the wind, He scours in search of ones that would be willing to say yes to spirituality.  Like the trees He branches out His hands hoping you would take His.


He wants to put a new pair of eyes in you.  He wants to activate your spirit, so you see not through a biological-iris, but through your supernatural heart.

The sky cries for your eyes
Silently speaks secretly
To you
What do you say?

The wind wonders when to stop
Searching all the mountain-tops
For you
Where are you?

Walk down past your friends
That branch out their wooden hands
For you
Give me your hand

Your spirit ties to outer space
The moon looks down at your earthly face
And cries
Don't you see?

And when you feel all alone
There's hope living inside every bone
of you
You're not alone

And when you feel all afraid
There's a place that takes you away
Inside
Just open up your eyes

Look around
Life sings a beautiful sound
For You
You are beautiful
You were made to live.


Psalm 19:1"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." 


Psalm 103:5"As for man his days are as a flower of the field, so he flourishes"


Isaiah 44:24"...I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself."