Beyond the Warrior Within

My preacher mentioned this one Sunday. I thought it was a good illustration. Referring to the ones Jesus raised from the dead. (Luke 7:11-16 : John 11:38-43) He said people bring up Jesus was not the only one to according to the Bible that beat death. You should see two things here. One being that they could not have been reborn without Christ, and two They both eventually died again. Christ ascended. He lived, died, and rose on the third day to reign in Heaven and prepare a place for us. It encouraged me. Hah.

All for Him.
<3
Zachary Piontkowski, PFC USMC.

Quick little update before bedtime. Church tomorrow morning. I’ve done the math. Six of my friends are getting married in the next month or two of their lives, and three other friends of mine are married with their first kids on the way. One, even has twins. Still, I’m single as ever without even a woman with a mild interest in me. Hah. Anyways thought such was interesting. Goodnight.

All for Him.
<3.
Zachary Piontkowski, PFC USMC.

If you’re calling bout my car I sold it. If this is Tuesday night I’m bowling…

I’ll have you know. I have asked to be the best man in three weddings. Coming up within the next few months or so. I’m a bit excited. Yet, I still have no desire to end being single. I have my moments, like today for instance, I got a text from an old friend. My mind went crazy just what she said brought my mind back to when I was so in love. Heh. Then I realized it’s October 2007 and I haven’t been home going on close to a year. I think I’ve finally just reached the point I can have women as friends and not get too attached. Mainly for two reasons. One being, I always get screwed somehow. Always end up open and heart broken, not the place I intend to be when I start. Two being, Faith in the Lord God Almighty. That He will bring the woman of my dreams to me, and us together.

So that is it. Living by Faith. Enjoying everyday just about. Getting fit. Growing in the Word. Loving Christ. Getting closer to that much needed time home with my family and friends. Thanking Him for every new day. Being tested by fire and shaped for the life He has in store. Hah. Thanks for all the continued prayer. I love you all.

All for Him.
<3.
Zachary Piontkowski, PFC USMC.

One of these days, you’re gonna love me. 

I’ve written three posts in the last hour. None of which felt like it was worth anything. I’ll leave it at this.

You ever just feel like nearly everything you’ve tried to hold onto is slipping away?

Sigh. I guess it was bound to happen. I just thank God that He is so gracious and merciful.

All for Him.
<3
Zachary Piontkowski. PFC, USMC.

If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven’s scenes,
they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

So I had a great weekend to say the least, but came up with two rather large realizations. The first being, that I am really not ready to have a kid just yet. I babysat a 6 month old for eleven hours. And came to the conclusion life is wonderful right where it is. Though, I would like to be married so I can have a nice house and my own home.

The second realization being that Iraq is very likely in my future. I spent a weekend with my friend Mike Bono. Bono is now in 29 due to he is beginning his Viper training. (The last form of training before Iraq) He is leaving in less than two months and today may be the last time the two of us hang before he heads out to the sandbox. My brother leaves again in January and Allen leaves in March.

Just another reason I will choose to remain single. I don’t think there is a woman who wants that with me. Or if I’d even bring someone else into such.

All for Him.
<3
Zachary Piontkowski, PFC USMC.

No feeling stronger than numbing. Blankest expressions are calling.

    So I was gonna do another Bible Study tonight, but God had something totally different in store. I just presented my testimony to Fletcher. Tonight was incredible to say the least. Life is too good.

All for Him.
<3
Zachary Piontkowski, PFC USMC.

I wanna wrap the moon around us and lay beside you skin on skin.

Matthew 4:1-10

The King of Kings, our Prince of Peace. Quotes the scripture to deter tempting. When your friend asks if you want to go drinking on Friday, how many of us quote some type of scripture as a way of saying no? I know I don’t. I’ll give them a no, or a ‘I’ll chill but I’m not drinking.’ Which, brings up another point. I’ve been reading the Purity Principal by Randy Alcorn and it brought such situations up. I love this illustration. It’s speaking on my very response. When we are trying to avoid sins and truly want to but expect prayer to be all we need, and go about it all the wrong way.

‘If you told your children, “Don’t play in the freeway,” what would you expect them to do? To go down by the freeway, sidle up to the edge, climb on the guardrail, dangle their legs out, or dance along the white line on the shoulder?
Obviously not. That’s flirting with disaster.
“but we didn’t go on the freeway,” they might say. Maybe not. But if you keep seeing how close you can get to the freeway, it’s only a matter of time before you get run over.
That’s what I don’t like about the question of “How far can we go?” What are we really asking here? What exactly are we asking here? How close can we get without actually sinning? Tell me where the line is so I can inch my toes right up to the edge.’

A reference is made after that to 2 Timothy 2:22

2 Timothy 2:²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Anyway, I hope that had some type of impact on you that it did on me.  It cuts to the core of me because that is exactly what I ask.  Mainly, because such is my vice. And I’m sure it was just by chance Matthew suggested this book to me. Hah. That, or God’s Sovereign Will. Anyways, back to my original thought. Jesus using His own Words to deflect Satan’s attacks.

Alright I was searching for another verse and then God speaks, and lays this on my heart.

Romans 8: ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I love seeing things like this. This has my mind racing a million different directions. The Bible, The Love of God…It blows me away every single day. I have so much crap that goes on constantly. So much that just takes my focus off the Love of my Savior. Problems and uncertainties. Vices and emotions such as depression or loneliness. Feeling like everything I’ve known is leaving me behind. The fact I talk to my Mom maybe once a week for five minutes. I don’t know where I’m going for Christmas, where I’ll spend my next three years, if I’ll go to Iraq, if I’ll make it out alive, all these thoughts plauge my mind through the day. Then, I come here. Sigh. And none of it seems to matter. I forget that Grace is sufficient. That He is the bread of life. The water of eternal life. The source of Joy everlasting. I forget what the Word says about worrying.

Matthew 6:²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^?

Is that not incredible? I forget this everyday. I wake up and get dressed and first thing I’m calling my boy and asking ‘Yo, Johnny T…When we going to chow?’ then first thing after PT in the afternoon. ‘Where we eating tonight Johnny T?’ It’s never, ‘What do you have to provide for me Lord?’ Of course I bow my head in routine thankfulness, but so many times I eat, and get fat and nasty and just begin to expect it. I forget how God made every part of that food, not to mention, provided it in such an easily accessible manner. For me. Haha. Getting a bit deep I know. But it’s true. I can have faith in the Lord that I will always have my basic needs.
Anyways. I love my ADD. Though, as I explained it to Matthew its just me enjoying all life has to offer, but here its me seeing everything God has done.
Everytime I read this I get mad at myself. For wanting, for worrying, for getting God has me. From EVERY one of those things listed above. For using this blessed life He gave me for my own things. For worrying. For my lack of faith in even the most basic things.
If I can’t put faith in the Lord in the smallest things what does that say about my faith? I love conviction. I love breaking down and realizing what I am for in this life. To Glorify God.

1 Peter 2:¹Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Pretty straight forward. Saw that while seraching for this next one.

1 Peter 2:¹¹Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. ¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Once again. This world is not our place. We have been transformed by the blood of the Lamb. allow God to shine through you. Glorify Him with everything you are. All for Him. I put it at the end of every entry, its how I think our lives should be. Sigh. I need to go work on myself more than write in this thing. Hopefully this was an encouragement. If not, I’m sorry. Haha. Remember, any good you see here is not me. Only God working through me.

1  Peter 2: ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

I leave with that and pray for those who read this.

All for Him.
<3
Zachary Piontkowski, PFC USMC.

I feel I’m moving to the rhythm of Your Grace. Your fragrance is intoxicating in a secret place.

    Something has to go wrong very soon. I’m starting to prepare for it. Life is too incredible right now. I’m in shape, happy with how I look, satisfied in every way I can think of, and everyday another opportunity to talk about Jesus comes my way. We were discussing our plans after MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) training today. And I list mine as follows, ‘Tire for the bike, gym, shower, chow, bible study, and sleep. And through a lengthy conversation me and a few other Marines have decided to put together a Bible study on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. I don’t know how to thank God enough. I thank you all for the prayers. I know someone is praying for me somewhere. Haha. I’ll write more later this week. Breakfast with my boys in the morning.

Oh and btw, less than two months in 29 Palms. Hopefully, I’m stationed in Lejeune I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.

All for Him
<3
Zachary Piontkowski.

It says even the heavens proclaim His Glory. And even the stars cry out His Name. I will not be outsung by some burning ball of gas who hasn’t tasted redemption. Amen.

“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character…Would you slow down? Or speed up?”