The Cross

For most of my life, my problem has been self-hatred...I'm the type of person to beat myself up for the things I do wrong. I think that's a common thing in the teenagers of America and the sad part is that most teenagers really do buy into the thoughts that they are someone not worth liking and the even sadder part is that this is most common in Christian teenagers.

What I have learned to help myself get over this was a hard road. The trouble was, growing up in the church, most of the things that I heard to help this became cliche and it made my heart hard towards believing them.

1. Jesus would've died for me if I was the last one on earth...

True statement. And the thing is...Christ didn't die for my ability to hate myself...but to free myself of it...and I can't say that I would die for something I didn't do...He thought of each and everyone of us...

2. Believing that God doesn't love you because of your mistakes is you saying that you are above the blood of Jesus...

The creator of everything and the very air you breathe right now...made himself a man...a man that felt pain, rose above temptation and was perfect...He was the ultimate sacrifice...self hatred is something that says that His sacrifice wasn't good enough for you...

That sounds horrible but its the God honest truth...

The thing that has helped me is to remember that above all God desires me more than I desire Him...

Camping

The wagner family and madison and kenzie child are going camping. We leave tonite and will be back sunday night. I'll tell you this...i love technology, i am blogging through my phone! Pictures daily!!! Woohoo!!! Anyways, we brought our guitars and laptops (like most rugged mountain do) in hopes of making some great tunes...

Fragile love...

Love is the act of learning the song of someones heart...and singing it back to them when they've forgotten...

Photo by: hannah angier

Now is the time!

Christians...followers of christ...friends of God...whatever is the new hip thing to call ourselves:

We are failing and failing miserably...

I'm sick of our little: "It's not a religion...its a relationship" thing...we think dumbing down our faith is what gets people to listen...WHO CARES if they think you're religious? They'll believe what they see IN you...they'll believe when they see that it's because of YOUR God that differences are being made through us...the whole coining of our relationship not religion thing is slowly destroying us...we are focusing on the wrong issue...

The world sees us and says "hey...they sure like to talk about God but it is kinda dumb because nothing really happens and then they judge me for not believing"

I'm the first to admit that my direct response is..."NO...i'm not like them..."

BUT I AM!

I judge, I gossip, I find myself talking about worldly things...and doing wordly things....

The greatest boxer of all time was Muhammad Ali...his phrase was "Float like a butterfly, sting like a be" That phrase meant that he could dance around and look good but also have some substance behind it...

I think Christians like to dance a lot without much substance...

Forget being labeled a Christian...it doesn't matter! It was a word to describe people who's lives were being followed by signs and wonders unlike any other religion out there! People came to Christ because they saw the fruit in our lives and today we settle for judement, gossip, ect. and as much as we claim that not to be us...they are right about the lot of us...see...they may do the same things and aren't put in the light about it but they aren't also claiming to be part of a higher calling like us...

Over time, we started to stop dreaming, to stop believing...just accepting God and being ok with not making any impact...and the world around us saw...we liked to dance with no substance behind it...giving the Christian faith a bad name...so then we decided to find clever ways to make ourselves relevant so we could blend in a little more...we hate talking to people because they say "hey you're religious..." so how about we show them what we are really about...show them who our God is and stop trying to be clever disguising who we were called to be...

LETS START BELIEVING!!!!!

The creator of the universe is INSIDE OF US!!!! We have so much untapped potential...i'm sick of not seeing signs and wonders follow me...it is time...this world needs us so bad...there are so many lives begging to be saved that haven't seen how big our God is because we haven't showed them!

"Now is the time for us to shine...shine with the face of Christ devine...no comprise for all heaven cries...now is the time" -Martin Smith

The Love That Never Fails

God is a friend...the best kind.

I've had my best friend stare me in the eye and lie to me and not lose any sleep over it. I've been hurt and betrayed more by my best friends that anyone else?

But when has God ever done that.

I think what propels us into being able to obey God is understanding that He will not ever fail us. His plan in flawless. It's completely impossible to say that He has ever done something that has affected me in a negative way. His love never fails. I can't exactly put it into words that you haven't been hearing since sunday school but understand that is what moves us into obedience.

A word of encouragement...

Here is a conversation that I had with my youth pastor yesterday over text message. He's the guy that got me into ministry...but anyways, life has been quite the adventure and as usual Pastor David comes through...even over texts...

Aaron: Pastor David, it's been way to long since I've told you how much I love you. I love you alot.

Pastor David: I love you too bro, hope you had a great 4th, we are out of town and come back weds. How is everything?

Aaron: Alright. Just trying to keep busy.

Pastor David: I understand, hang in there, the world needs you...

Love that guy...

New worship songs are on the way, I am laying down guitar and vocals right now and should have an EP out soon...

My daily bread...

I think the biggest struggle in my attempt to be like Christ is my distractions and all the things I have to do; worship teams, bands, working, meetings, and so forth...all these things are usually what I use to justify the time that I'm too busy for God and can't commit time in a day to Him.

I'm not even going to begin to give you the impression that my life has been great...in fact the last six months or so have quite honestly been the worst times of my life. I have found myself always feeling like I'm lost in the woods and God is just sitting there not saying anything knowing exactly where I should be. I've been actually quite angry at God and the fact that I feel like he's not being of any help at all...but in the last week or so I have come to the realization that I have been trying to find my way. I haven't asked Him what He desires as far as how I should go about things...it's been a very "me, me me,"mentality.

My very problem lately is that I have been frustrated with people who say they love me and their actions would beg to differ entirely. It has been quite an up and down rollercoaster and I've been so angry and bitter towards alot of people.

But how have my actions towards God been any different? I claim to love God with all my heart, I claim to follow Him. But how have my actions aligned with my words?

They haven't...at all.

When you love someone, you desire to sacrifice your desires for them. I haven't been willing to sacrifice anything lately!

A few days ago, so much anxiety and fear built up in me that I had no where else to go except to Him; and let me tell you...there is freedom in turning off the t.v., shutting off your computer AND your phone, blasting the iPOD with some phenomenal worship and soaking, praying, finding out and experiencing Gods love. I'm not saying this is how you have to do it by any means but it worked for me and i HAVE to be with Him. I NEED to make time for Him...my true love...He has never lied to me, he has never hurt me, and will never do so. How can i not make time for such a great friend?


With all distractions aside,
Aaron

King Forever

This is the first ever worship song I've written. Keep in mind that the recording isnt outstanding but its the rough idea. I wrote it one night on my trampoline looking at the stars.

for the mp3: http://aaronwagner.webs.com/King%20Forever.mp3


KING FOREVER



You are the love that never fails
You are the grace that always forgives
Who am I, I've done nothing to deserve this

Here I am surrendering to you
I lift my heart so you can make it new

In all of your power and all of your goodness, You amaze me, You amaze me
In all of your beauty and all of your wonder, You amaze me, You amaze me

You are the joy that can't stop dancing
You are the peace that always sustains
Your love is a river that is always flowing
So let it rain down (Rain down on me)

Hallelujah, King forever, I adore you, my life's yours

In all of your power and all of your goodness, You amaze me, You amaze me
In all of your beauty and all of your wonder, You amaze me, You amaze me

Hallelujah, King forever, I adore you, my life's yours

Hallelujah, Hallelujah