Like hinges straining from the weight

Honestly, I have no idea where to begin, and I need to write down everything that's happening! I will begin with my trip to Europe.

First of all, it was the most spontaneous thing I've ever done in my life, and I was feeling pretty unsure about the whole thing because I did it so hastily. Only by His grace was this trip just plain amazing. I could tell you about everywhere I went and all the things I saw, but if I wasn't with the people I was with then it would have only been so good. God used each one of them in a special way in my life, and I am so thankful for their faiths and testimonies. What He woke me up to the most is that people who hate their sin and love their God talk about Him whenever they can. Flat out, and it's not weird! I used to feel like there was a designated time for Jesus talk; like maybe after church or prayers at the beginning of the meal, or when someone is going through something really hard. Mainly this was because I just didn't have much to talk about. Now what I'm not saying is that because we are Christians we should religiously make ourselves talk more about Him. I think the song "God With Us" by Mercy Me puts it perfectly:

"Sweet release, from the grip of these chains. Like hinges straining from the weight, my heart no longer can keep from singing. All that is within me cries. For You alone be glorified Emmanuel, God with us. My heart sings a brand new song. The debt is paid these chains are gone. Emmanuel, God with us."


Like hinges straining from the weight- that's what it's like to be consumed with the love of God. Do I do this all the time? No way. But when I talk to someone who loves Christ and we talk about our first and only love then it puts something in you that this is what you have to do for the rest of your life. If you don't feel like you have something to talk about, talk to someone about that! Ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will never decline. By the grace of God, through His Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirt acting in the Body of Christ we can come to a point where we say, "ALL that is within me cries!" We scream, we cry, we laugh, we whisper His glory! This is how He created us! Piper says the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. When we communicate how the happiness of God has been injected into our heart we are glorifying His Name! We are not talking about what we have done in our walk with God, but what He DID and what He is DOING. I don't know about anyone else, but this is when I feel most alive, and I need YOU to keep me accountable! I need my brothers and sisters in Christ! I'm sure you've heard of putting God back into the schools. Lets put God back in the lives of Christians (corny I know)! Every minute of every day is my suggestion!


And this can be accomplished so well with prayer! We all have something we are thinking about and praying about. How about let someone know about it! I am the worst at this. Just because I know what I'm supposed to be doing and can tell you about it, doesn't mean I'm doing it. Help me! I need to believe in prayer more. I need to pray to my Father and I need you to help me to do this. Mark Driscoll says we HAVE to view God as our Daddy and pray to Him in this way. Our prayer lives become so much more incredible when we realize we can pray to our Father about ANYTHING!

Okay. I think I'm finished for now. That got a little bit more intense than I thought it would, but I'm fired up, so that's always a good thing =D Please pray for me!