Heaven Suffers Violence

i may have posted this a while ago but can't remember. but its good. its something i forget time and time again. i just read it again today in my journal and got encouraged and wanted to share for anyone who reads this. so here's the excerpt:

"Until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent take it by force."
-Matthew 11:12

The violence is found in rest and hearing God. Rest is the opposite of how the devil works. Violence in God's terms doesn't necessarily mean yelling and screaming. Resting in God builds faith and opens our eyes to see clearly. Restful communion with God is violence. It gives us peace and confidence in Jesus to see His glory and know how He really loves us. In this rest and communion with the Holy Spirit, with Jesus, with the Father, we resist the devil and His Kingdom comes. Intimacy. Amen

abide in My love

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."
-Jesus (John 16:12-15)

I was made for Love!

yea sometimes life is hard, and sometimes for a good thing you have to suffer a little and sacrifice some. how worthy is something if it has zero cost? zero value? i like the challenges of life. i like the unpredictability, the danger. Jesus knows this. He made me this way. and He made me this way for a purpose. it's not something i've grown into. it's the way ive always been. and it is for His purpose. to use me for things He can't use others for because He made them for things that i wasn't made for, that i cannot do. He is my joy. through these past couple, and life changing, years with Jesus ive come to find im filled with the most joy and hope and love for Him when i realize i need Him. and He has never let me down. sometimes i may be looking for Him to move in one way while He decides to move in another and i don't see it, but He's still moving and loving and redeeming His creation.

Man was never made to die
Man was made to live in the Joy of His presence
and splendor forever
We were made for the Garden of His heart
Full of Life

King of Joy

the secret place is so beautiful!
so peaceful
so safe
so love
so merciful
so powerful
so fiery
so pure
so clean
so clear
so Holy

is this secret place Your heart?
is this secret place a place of being consumed in who You are?
deeper

There is a Fountain Filled with Blood

There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains,
lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away,
washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he,
washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more,
be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die,
and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy power to save.
I’ll sing Thy power to save,
I’ll sing Thy power to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy power to save.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared,
unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward,
a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years,
and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears
no other name but Thine.

Let the fire in Your eyes erupt a fire in my heart, Jesus!

i hear people say things like "it's just a word?" (usually in a cussing situation).
but "just a word" created this entire universe.
you're/my words carry a heavy weight
they will create something
something good or something evil
but they will create.

You think about Your words, Jesus
and You liked the sound of my name
i can only imagine the love with which you first spoke my name
taylor, because Your creation of my being excited Your heart.
i am Yours
You are mine.

what is the width, length depth, and height of Your love
that you have for us?

i just want to know You

why do i always read scripture, specifically the gospels, as if Jesus is mad at me? was i raised this way? was i raised in a church that believed that Jesus is always disappointed in them? i remember at times "teachers" in sunday school saying there is nothing we can do to please God. but this just straight up is not true.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
-Hebrews 13:16 for example

there are many times in scripture that the Lord isn't pleased with unrighteousness and people believing the Lord isn't good...

You have wearied the LORD with your words.
"How have we wearied him?" you ask.
By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"
-Malachi 2:17

i was just reading John 4 where Jesus says to a man who has come to Him to save his dying son, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." (v.48). i always read that as if Jesus is frustrated. but why? i have no reason to believe this. is it because i grew up in a sarcastic society that i read the scriptures as Jesus being sarcastic and with frustration? i mean, the man left believing the Word of God when Jesus told him to "Go your way; your son lives." (v.50) without even being where his child was to see if he was healed. the man just believed what Jesus had said to him. how could Jesus be mad that a man was believing His Word? was the man not accounted for righteousness by believing the Word of God? for doing the work of God?

Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He sent."
-John 6:29

give us revelation and wisdom and intimacy to know who You are Jesus!
to come to You for life.
Amen