The thought cross my mind tonight as I was watching some videos on YouTube. What happens if we enter a time in this world where famine, war, and disease come and we are made to endure it? How many of us would turn away from God if their lives were completely shattered., and everything they know in this life is ripped away? Do we think that we will not have to go through these things?

I wonder how much people can change in 5 years.......

It's good to call to memory the reasons we are free.

I am reading this.

There are some painful things going on in me right now, and I am sure that they are for my good. I will grow because of it. It is just never fun to go through them. There is the other side. I just have to remember that.

We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. We all know it but we all do it. I heard the question the other day "How many of us can say we serve God with a pure conscience?" I honestly have to say I don't think I can say that. If I really take a God look at my life, I can't say that in everything I do, from the surface of my life to the core, I serve God with a pure heart. My motives are often tainted by selfishness. My thoughts are consumed with the things of the world and the desires of the flesh. My life is plagued with sin. It's not that I can't live a pure life before God, but simply that I won't. My ideas of God is are less than who He is, and in thinking less of Him, I have found the truth that I live less than the child of God He has said me to be.

He is completely Holy and completely Love, but I am neither because of my love for self and my self-righteousness.  I make plenty of excuses. I am really good at making excuses. What would it take me to live the holy and loving life of the child of God?

I made it back to Atlanta safe last night. My goal this week is to make a plan to make a plan (thanks Piper). I am not really in a good frame of mind right now, but I think that is more to do with waking up from a nap unnaturally, which always seems to mess me up.

The weekend was cool. Friday we made it to the beach. Marcus had a blast. We only stayed there about an hour, but it was fun. We played in the surf, which was kind of high because of the storm, and on the sand dunes, and left and went to Wal-mart to play video games. Jen came along and took pictures. The water was still a bit cool, but it was fun.

Saturday we got up and went to breakfast. We packed up and grabbed a quick bite for lunch. I ran into someone I hadn't seen in a while, who connected me to an old friend. That was cool. On our way back, we ran into police road blocks. The fires had shut down a bunch of the main roads, so we had to detour around them. When I was able to finally get on I-75, we were the only ones on there. I saw maybe two cars in 10 miles. It's a weird feeling driving on a major interstate, where everything is grey and you are the only one on the road. Kinda erie feeling. Anyway we made it back to the Atl safe. Fun times.

I am off to the beach with Marcus. He lives here in Atlanta andhas never been to the beach. It's gonna be great. I'll update when we get back.

Let me first start by saying this is not something I am currently experiencing, but I thought that it may be good to share in case you are experiencing it.....

I was talking with one of my soul mates today. No I am not married nor is this a significant other; yes he is a guy. He is an incredible friend who I instantly had a spiritual connection to the moment we met. But that's another story.....

Anyway he made the reference to David and Saul that brought up something I can't say I had given a whole lot of thought process to before. Even though David was attacked by his leader, he still remained submissive to the leadership that was over him. I wonder how often we have been attacked by our leaders, whether by slander, or some other thing that we consider unjust, but instead of remaining submissive to the people God has over us, we back-bite and retaliate. I guess it is good to remember that God rewarded David for his faithfulness, even when he suffered unjustly. It brings to mind another story of One who suffered for no wrongdoing of His own, but for the ones He loved.

Check this out.