Young, Dumb and In Love.

I've already bragged about this guy once, but let me tell you about him once more.

mat kearney's new cd is most excellent. He's such a poet with a guitar. I've had a crush on him since junior high.

There is something different about his third and latest album. It is infused with this vibrant energy and just ooooozes love. I did some digging and low and behold I found out that he just got married. love that. His songs reflect this new life with His love.

One of his song's is called Young, Dumb and In Love. I listened to it, and then listened to it again. and as I kept on pressing repeat I thought...this is the song of our generation. And when I say generation, I'm not just talking about the teens and 20s. I'm talking about the young and the old returning to Jesus.

To be Young is to live like a child. It is to be poor in spirit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." What does that even mean?

You see when you live a life not only aware, but actively responding to this idea that EVEN on my best day it is only by the grace of God. I can pray for the sick and see them recover. I can have outrageous moments in the glory...I can get a raise, make a friend, etc. But when you realize that it is all by the grace of God, you living knowing that you have NOTHING to lose AND everything to gain.

When you live young and poor, you live with a declaration of DEPENDENCE. I can do nothing apart from the power, authority and love of the Holy Spirit.

I hope this next one doesn't offend anyone, but when you are literally IN the Love of Jesus you just act dumb sometimes. And I mean that in the best possible way. Those of you who have been in love know that sometimes you do really dumb things. all to be with that person. You just have to be with them. You almost become consumed. You talk, eat, breathe, think, everything about this person..which results in some crazy and wild things. Being in love with Jesus is no different. I don't go up to someone and share the love of Jesus because I feel obligated. I do so as a response to His all consuming love wrecking my life. And when I say wreck, I mean that as in the best thing that ever happened to me. I was on the bus and I heard the Lord give me a word for someone I was sitting next to. And for a quick second, i thought nooo way I'm not talking to her. She'll think I'm crazy...And then I realized, how can I not pour out the contagious love that has filled my life. Who am I to not share some lovin. You know, when you get prompted to respond to God's love...in whatever way that looks like. It is important to remember that if not you, then who?

In Love:

I don't dance around, shout, cry, laugh, jump, sit, lay, etc. in worship for God's love. I do it as a response to His love. I've shared this before, but I can honestly say that for the first time in my life, I'm in love with Love. The very nature of God is love. I live for those encounters where you walk in one way and you leave another. It is the kindness of the Lord that leads people to repentance.

There were these old, lifeless habits that I used to have that left me lonely and even more desperate. But ss I began to experience the Love of God daily, that old wine so to speak (literally and figuratively) just was old news to me. As you enter into the presence of God you are changed. renewed. restored.

I think we as body have misrepresented the love of God. There are lists of what to do and what not to do. Some legitimate. But eventually a list of rules gets dusty and loses it pristine, shimmering appearance. And then all you are left with is a moldy list. But when you live everyday to encounter and experience Jesus, you're never the same. You realize how ALIVE everything is. you become awakened to the rhythms of GRACE and freedom!

you shout and dance around because you can't contain this love. you have to do something.

if you're still working out this whole Jesus thing, or maybe you're dried up and left feeling like this whole Christianity thing is for the birds. I just encourage you to ask the Father to show you His love. Get alone with him, and just ask. And His very word says He will come to you. His love never fails. It won't fail you. All you have to do is ask. You'll be awakened to His sweet mercies.

Live in love with Love.

Best Face Lift I've Ever Had.

My favorite secret places with the Lord are my car and my room. I can sing, dance, shout, cry, dance some more...and just be with the Father. I have had just the neatest encounters with God alone in my car and in my room. This one particular time, I locked myself in my room and started worshipping. And one of the most exciting things about spending time with the Lord is you NEVER know what is going to happen. Seriously.

Ok so this one time I just got stirred up and started a little dance party for myself...2 hours worth of a dance party.

• Here's a quick side note. If you don't think there is freedom in the Kingdom, then you gotta shake yoooo self a little bit. I used to hate to dance...After the Lord broke the chains though, I have become a dancing fool...most of the time that is.

Anyways. I'm dancing around. and I walk outside my room to hydrate myself and Emily, that roommate of mine says to me, "Oh my gosh Alex, you are glowing. Like seriously, you are glowing."

Now I wash my face daily, but she sure wasn't talking about some sort of pretty skin color.

Let me show you something.

When Jesus died on the cross he tore the veil. This veil was the worst. I'm not kidding. It separated the Jewish people from the Holy of Holies WHICH is where the presence of God rested. ok, so what? Well this represents the distance between man and God. In Isaiah 59 it talks about how the sin of man separated them from the Father. LOOK IT UP.

Talk about a bad day.

Matthew 27:50: "But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last. AT THAT MOMENT, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces."

Talk about a good day.

By Jesus giving up His life, sin which the veil is symbolic for, was torn and nothing can EVER separate us from the Love of God. Nothing. It is done. Paid for. We live in perfect freedom.

In 2 Corinthians it says:

"Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are, --face to face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of His face!"

There is no longer an excuse to live without a God face-lift. Sorry. That might've worked 2000 years ago. But this is the 21st century, folks. Jesus is alive. He is waiting to meet with you and transform you into His likeness. Tuck yourself away to your favorite place. Even if you don't have a secret place to hide away in, or you don't have a prayer to lift up. That is ok. For He will meet you.

Let me ask you this real fast. If you knew you could have all your credit card debt, bills, mortgage, car payment, etc. paid off...free of charge. No mail in rebate, or secret sign your life away contract. Just the opportunity to live debt free and STAY debt free. Would you do it?

DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

You can live a life in that same freedom TIMES a million. It was paid for. Don't go another day with chains around your feet and handcuffs around your wrist. You were created for something so much more...and your face will SHINE with the brightness of His face! yeah, yeah, yeah.

Lover of the Presence

I love being awakened to the Presence everyday. It is always new. Always refreshing.

Talking about the 'presence' is just another word for the Love of God. When Jesus walks in the room, love rests. The very nature of God is love.

If all you have is 5 minutes throughout the day, take it and just soak up the very nature of God. Even those 5 minutes spent in His goodness will sustain you, recalibrate your heart, ignite and send you off in joy and restoration. His banner over you is love. Just ask beloved to feel Him today. ohhhh, you'll never be the same. LIVE for those encounters. You know the ones where you walk in one way and you leave another. Yeah, yeah, yeah. everyday. live for that.

also, i was just recently introduced to this husband and wife team. their worship is so good. so real. go bless someone!

The Talk of the Nations

Psalm 126

It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,

when God returned Zion's exiles.

We laughed, we sang,

we couldn't believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations--

"God was wonderful to them!"

God was wonderful to us;

we are one happy people.

And now, God, do it again--

bring rains to our drought-stricken lives

So those who planted their crops in despair

will shout hurrahs at the harvest,

So those who went off with heavy hearts

will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

Are you the talk of the nations? Are you the talk of the town? Do the people at your work buzz around in awe of the Goodness in your life? Can people just not hold their tongue because of how gracious God is to you? Are we one happy people?

God has set you free. That is a reason to throw a party. To come home laughing. To never stop giving thanks. You are living a dream that is actually to good to be true. But you are serving a God who makes it come true.

When I read this Psalm, I see ribbons, festivities, people in the street. I see a community basking in the Love of their Creator. I see a simplistic joy in the Holy Spirit. Can you really believe your life? ohh how God is so good.

HEY MOMMA LADY!

The sound of the rest of the summer.

Dancin' around. Little somethin in our lemonade. Sunshine. JOY and Freedom! THISBESTLIFE party. Celebrate with some Mat Kearney and watermelon.

Don't forget to love on each other.