Just to inform all of you...
IT WAS SNOWING TODAY...
burrrrr....freezing cold...but very exciting...!!!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Friday, December 15, 2006
finals, my birthday, christmas...so many things...
Hmmm...well this blog is definitely a mumble-jumble of things...I finished finals finally (no pun intended) Praise the Lord!!! and even though I haven't gotten my grades back yet...I think that they all went quite well, which is definitely a praise! Now that I am on this wonderful thing called break that you wait for the entire semester...my mind has been able to relax a little and focus on Christmas. My birthday was also on Tuesday and my parents blessed me by finally, after 15 years, let me move into my OWN room (and I totally get to redecorate it)! Unfortunately I had a final that day so there wasn't much celebration that day exactly, but Wednesday and Thursday were great! My dad took me out for breakfast on Wednesday morning and Thursday night...my sister surprised me with a surprise birthday party!
I was getting a little suspicious after she had been on the phone ALL DAY! As many of you know, my sister is not a huge phone person...she actually doesn't like it very much at all! But, we had already planned, (or so I thought) to have a get-together on Saturday...so I thought there might be something special on Saturday or something like that! I went to chorale practice for church and mysteriously, my sister had to babysit for my cousins...for which we ALWAYS babysit together. Casie Neal, one of my friends, took me to chorale practice and surprisingly, we got out over an hour early, so poor Casie and Becca, another good friend of mine, had to buy some time by taking me to Starbucks and then to the grocery store to get soda...I thought that was a little weird! They were so sneaky...they didn't say a word. They dropped me off and pretended to start to drive away. I rang the doorbell three times, thinking that the door was locked and when no one came I decided to try it...of course it was unlocked and as soon as I got in the door, what do you know but EVERYONE was there! I was in shock! They came jumping out everywhere! It was crazy...I definitely felt very loved. My mom/sister had cooked a lovely dinner and it was amazing...all my favorite foods...yum! After talking for quite awhile, we cleared the floor and started swing dancing, which, of course, was so much fun and at around 11:30 pm...we all got a "bright" idea to start a movie. The night was amazing and I blessed more than I could have ever imagined. I really meant a lot to me that everyone was there and I could tell how much thought and effort had been put into it by my family and my friends! Thanks to everyone who was there!
Now Christmas is coming up and it's time to start thinking about what to get everyone, but more importantly the true meaning of Christmas and how God came in the form of man, a baby actually, to live a life on this earth and eventually die to save us from our sins! What great hope, truth, and sacrifice! Christmas is my favorite time of year and there are so many things to look forward to!
I was getting a little suspicious after she had been on the phone ALL DAY! As many of you know, my sister is not a huge phone person...she actually doesn't like it very much at all! But, we had already planned, (or so I thought) to have a get-together on Saturday...so I thought there might be something special on Saturday or something like that! I went to chorale practice for church and mysteriously, my sister had to babysit for my cousins...for which we ALWAYS babysit together. Casie Neal, one of my friends, took me to chorale practice and surprisingly, we got out over an hour early, so poor Casie and Becca, another good friend of mine, had to buy some time by taking me to Starbucks and then to the grocery store to get soda...I thought that was a little weird! They were so sneaky...they didn't say a word. They dropped me off and pretended to start to drive away. I rang the doorbell three times, thinking that the door was locked and when no one came I decided to try it...of course it was unlocked and as soon as I got in the door, what do you know but EVERYONE was there! I was in shock! They came jumping out everywhere! It was crazy...I definitely felt very loved. My mom/sister had cooked a lovely dinner and it was amazing...all my favorite foods...yum! After talking for quite awhile, we cleared the floor and started swing dancing, which, of course, was so much fun and at around 11:30 pm...we all got a "bright" idea to start a movie. The night was amazing and I blessed more than I could have ever imagined. I really meant a lot to me that everyone was there and I could tell how much thought and effort had been put into it by my family and my friends! Thanks to everyone who was there!
Now Christmas is coming up and it's time to start thinking about what to get everyone, but more importantly the true meaning of Christmas and how God came in the form of man, a baby actually, to live a life on this earth and eventually die to save us from our sins! What great hope, truth, and sacrifice! Christmas is my favorite time of year and there are so many things to look forward to!
Monday, November 27, 2006
MY SPORTS CAR...yeah that's right!
I'm a Chevrolet Corvette!
You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.
Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
time, trusting, and falling back on Christ (a mumble-jumble of all my thoughts lately)
hmmm...
It's funny how life comes at you...you never really realize how fast time goes by until its gone, at least I never do...
It seems like the semester just began. God has been so gracious to bring me through the many trials that have come my way since the beginning. Now I'm facing finals and I'm realizing that I'm just gonna have to trust Him to do it again. Honestly, a lot of times I feel like I can do it on my own and then I fall backwards and realize that I'm borrowing God's air and I can't live without Him sustaining me. So, I've basically come to grips with the fact that if I pass finals it will be all because of Him.
As I was thinking about that, I realized that the reason that I'm this far along in school is to glorify Him. Sometimes, when I examine my own heart, I realize that many times I take the glory for myself. I find my mind drifting so far as to start believing that I got myself to where I am now, when in fact, it's all because of Christ. I want the reason that I live to be all for Christ and not for me. I want the glory to go to Him. I want people to look at where I am in school and in the long run, my life, and be able to not say, "Wow, look what she did!", but instead to say, "Wow! Look what Christ has done in her. Isn't He awesome!".
So now the time has come to trust Him again, because He is faithful to never leave us or forsake us. Because just like the verse says, "When I am weak, then HE is strong". May it be that way in me. Anyways, I thought I would let you all know about my life currently, and now I must get back to studying.
It's funny how life comes at you...you never really realize how fast time goes by until its gone, at least I never do...
It seems like the semester just began. God has been so gracious to bring me through the many trials that have come my way since the beginning. Now I'm facing finals and I'm realizing that I'm just gonna have to trust Him to do it again. Honestly, a lot of times I feel like I can do it on my own and then I fall backwards and realize that I'm borrowing God's air and I can't live without Him sustaining me. So, I've basically come to grips with the fact that if I pass finals it will be all because of Him.
As I was thinking about that, I realized that the reason that I'm this far along in school is to glorify Him. Sometimes, when I examine my own heart, I realize that many times I take the glory for myself. I find my mind drifting so far as to start believing that I got myself to where I am now, when in fact, it's all because of Christ. I want the reason that I live to be all for Christ and not for me. I want the glory to go to Him. I want people to look at where I am in school and in the long run, my life, and be able to not say, "Wow, look what she did!", but instead to say, "Wow! Look what Christ has done in her. Isn't He awesome!".
So now the time has come to trust Him again, because He is faithful to never leave us or forsake us. Because just like the verse says, "When I am weak, then HE is strong". May it be that way in me. Anyways, I thought I would let you all know about my life currently, and now I must get back to studying.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World
Ok, so here's the blog I promised all of you and just to prove to certain people that I wasn't lying (see comments on previous post), I have written a blog about my trip to Minneapolis for a conference about the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World. So here it goes...
At the conference there were 6 main speakers, who were Tim Keller, D. A. Carson, David Wells, Mark Driscoll, John Piper, and Voddie Baucham. The last three of these amazing men of the faith were the ones that left more of an impact on me than the first three although all of the speakers did an amazing job. I hope that I can explain to you in a clear and concise manner all that I have learned, but since I know that is nigh on impossible the following is my best effort to attain that standard...
Voddie Baucham was the first out of these three men, to speak and he did a phenomenal job. Here are some of my notes from his teaching of the Supremacy of Christ in Truth:
What I learned from Voddie Baucham:
There are two main worldviews:
~Christian Theism
~Secular Humanism
Christian theism believes that there is a necessary, intelligent, sovereign, all-knowing God. Some other unchanging beliefs of Christian theism is that all humans are specially made and that the ethics that we as humans have ethics, which are absolute.
Secular humanism believes truth is relative and humans are glorified ape-like creatures. Secular humanism also believes that ethics are based on culture so your ethics really all depend on your culture.
Voddie stated that in the course of every human life a person will strive to answer the following 4 questions:
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What is wrong with the world?
How can what is wrong be made right?
The answers to these questions according to secular humanism are stated below:
Who am I? I am a glorified ape-like creature without rhyme or reason.
Why am I here? I am on this earth to consume and enjoy.
What is wrong with the world? The reason the world is off is that humans are insufficiently educated and/or governed.
The true biblical answers to these questions are stated below:
Who am I? I am the crowning glory of God's creation, created by Christ and for Christ.
Why am I here? We are not here to consume and enjoy, rather to glorify and honor Christ.
What is wrong with the world? Me!!! I am hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds.
How can what is wrong be made right? It can only be made right through the sacrifice of Christ. The spotless, sinless Son of God was crushed for our iniquity.
Voddie also said that if you are asking the question:
"How can God be so good and all-knowing and let bad things happen?" you need to rephrase the question. The correct way to state the question is "How is it that God saw what I did yesterday and what I thought last night and did not kill me in my sleep?". Once you have stated the question in this way, then the topic is open for discussion.
The following are some of my notes from Mark Driscoll:
Many times, in our culture, Jesus's incarnation or His supernatural being are exaggerated, so people don't seem to be able to relate or imitate Jesus. Both of these views of Christ are faulty; we serve a God bigger than that.
In order to face the postmodern world that we live in today we must do 2 things:
1. Contend for the truth.
Contend for truth always without compromising. Contend for things such as the scriptures, the virgin birth, sovereignty of God, hell, etc.
2. Contextualize.
Share the gospel in such a way that you are not compromising in any way on truth, but you are still being relevant and in the culture in order to win some.
It is not compassionate to withhold the truth of Jesus Christ's subsitutionary atonement.
Finally, don't be seeker-sensitive, be seeker-sensible.
Don't have relavitism, have relevantism.
What I learned from John Piper:
1. God - the Father - the Son, and the Holy Spirit, this one God, is the only Being that has no beginning and no end, therefore, we all must rely on Him for being and value.
We are so much lower in value than the triune God - Isaiah 40:15-17
2. Since the beginning God has been supremely joyful, therefore he had no deficiency or need to create this world.
3. God created mankind in His image for His own glory; to display His glory.
Psalm 9
Colossians 1:27
2 Cor. 4:6
Isaiah 66:5
Joy comes from knowing the glory of God.
4. Christ came to earth, lived and died, so that we might know Him, in order to be fitted to serve Him forever.
What the law could not do, weak as it was in the flesh, God did by sending Jesus to die.
Nothing is more crucial for humanity, but to escape the wrath of the infinite God.
1 Peter 3:18
5. The enjoyment of God above is the deepest way, in which His glory is reflected back to Him.
Joy was designed by God. Joy rises as a witness to something that you treasure. There is no hypocritical joy.
6. The enjoyment of Christ is the spring of all visible acts of self-denying, sacrificial love that is displayed to others, which shows how important God is to us. Matthew 5:16
Rejoice that Christianity is so weird. We have an amazing perfect Savior in heaven; His name is Jesus. The postmodern culture needs to hear the gospel, but they also need to see sacricial love on our part.
7. The only joy that reflects the Word of God and overflwos in God-glorifying love is rooted in the true knowledge of God.
Nehemiah 8:12
John 17:13
1 Samuel 3:21
Jesus is honored when we know and enjoy Him fully.
8. The right knowledge of God and His ways is the servant of God-glorifying joy and the love for His people.
If you cut truth out of friendship, then the joy that comes from that friendship will not honor God.
9. Let us not marginalize or minimize the doctrine, the gospel, the truth.
10. May the church become the buttress of truth, and therefore of love, and joy and display God's glory which is the very reason we were created.
There is one more thing that I learned from this amazing conference and that is this (something that all the speaker's stated):
We have no other Jesus to give to this postmodern culture. He is the same today and for all eternity and He is the only one that is truly capable of saving a person from their utter and complete bondage to sin.
Anyways, these are just my thoughts on the conference. I hope that they make sense, and since I know that I could not do the conference justice, the audio is free at desiringgod.org. I would highly reccomend that you listen to the entire conference because it was awesome!
At the conference there were 6 main speakers, who were Tim Keller, D. A. Carson, David Wells, Mark Driscoll, John Piper, and Voddie Baucham. The last three of these amazing men of the faith were the ones that left more of an impact on me than the first three although all of the speakers did an amazing job. I hope that I can explain to you in a clear and concise manner all that I have learned, but since I know that is nigh on impossible the following is my best effort to attain that standard...
Voddie Baucham was the first out of these three men, to speak and he did a phenomenal job. Here are some of my notes from his teaching of the Supremacy of Christ in Truth:
What I learned from Voddie Baucham:
There are two main worldviews:
~Christian Theism
~Secular Humanism
Christian theism believes that there is a necessary, intelligent, sovereign, all-knowing God. Some other unchanging beliefs of Christian theism is that all humans are specially made and that the ethics that we as humans have ethics, which are absolute.
Secular humanism believes truth is relative and humans are glorified ape-like creatures. Secular humanism also believes that ethics are based on culture so your ethics really all depend on your culture.
Voddie stated that in the course of every human life a person will strive to answer the following 4 questions:
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What is wrong with the world?
How can what is wrong be made right?
The answers to these questions according to secular humanism are stated below:
Who am I? I am a glorified ape-like creature without rhyme or reason.
Why am I here? I am on this earth to consume and enjoy.
What is wrong with the world? The reason the world is off is that humans are insufficiently educated and/or governed.
The true biblical answers to these questions are stated below:
Who am I? I am the crowning glory of God's creation, created by Christ and for Christ.
Why am I here? We are not here to consume and enjoy, rather to glorify and honor Christ.
What is wrong with the world? Me!!! I am hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds.
How can what is wrong be made right? It can only be made right through the sacrifice of Christ. The spotless, sinless Son of God was crushed for our iniquity.
Voddie also said that if you are asking the question:
"How can God be so good and all-knowing and let bad things happen?" you need to rephrase the question. The correct way to state the question is "How is it that God saw what I did yesterday and what I thought last night and did not kill me in my sleep?". Once you have stated the question in this way, then the topic is open for discussion.
The following are some of my notes from Mark Driscoll:
Many times, in our culture, Jesus's incarnation or His supernatural being are exaggerated, so people don't seem to be able to relate or imitate Jesus. Both of these views of Christ are faulty; we serve a God bigger than that.
In order to face the postmodern world that we live in today we must do 2 things:
1. Contend for the truth.
Contend for truth always without compromising. Contend for things such as the scriptures, the virgin birth, sovereignty of God, hell, etc.
2. Contextualize.
Share the gospel in such a way that you are not compromising in any way on truth, but you are still being relevant and in the culture in order to win some.
It is not compassionate to withhold the truth of Jesus Christ's subsitutionary atonement.
Finally, don't be seeker-sensitive, be seeker-sensible.
Don't have relavitism, have relevantism.
What I learned from John Piper:
1. God - the Father - the Son, and the Holy Spirit, this one God, is the only Being that has no beginning and no end, therefore, we all must rely on Him for being and value.
We are so much lower in value than the triune God - Isaiah 40:15-17
2. Since the beginning God has been supremely joyful, therefore he had no deficiency or need to create this world.
3. God created mankind in His image for His own glory; to display His glory.
Psalm 9
Colossians 1:27
2 Cor. 4:6
Isaiah 66:5
Joy comes from knowing the glory of God.
4. Christ came to earth, lived and died, so that we might know Him, in order to be fitted to serve Him forever.
What the law could not do, weak as it was in the flesh, God did by sending Jesus to die.
Nothing is more crucial for humanity, but to escape the wrath of the infinite God.
1 Peter 3:18
5. The enjoyment of God above is the deepest way, in which His glory is reflected back to Him.
Joy was designed by God. Joy rises as a witness to something that you treasure. There is no hypocritical joy.
6. The enjoyment of Christ is the spring of all visible acts of self-denying, sacrificial love that is displayed to others, which shows how important God is to us. Matthew 5:16
Rejoice that Christianity is so weird. We have an amazing perfect Savior in heaven; His name is Jesus. The postmodern culture needs to hear the gospel, but they also need to see sacricial love on our part.
7. The only joy that reflects the Word of God and overflwos in God-glorifying love is rooted in the true knowledge of God.
Nehemiah 8:12
John 17:13
1 Samuel 3:21
Jesus is honored when we know and enjoy Him fully.
8. The right knowledge of God and His ways is the servant of God-glorifying joy and the love for His people.
If you cut truth out of friendship, then the joy that comes from that friendship will not honor God.
9. Let us not marginalize or minimize the doctrine, the gospel, the truth.
10. May the church become the buttress of truth, and therefore of love, and joy and display God's glory which is the very reason we were created.
There is one more thing that I learned from this amazing conference and that is this (something that all the speaker's stated):
We have no other Jesus to give to this postmodern culture. He is the same today and for all eternity and He is the only one that is truly capable of saving a person from their utter and complete bondage to sin.
Anyways, these are just my thoughts on the conference. I hope that they make sense, and since I know that I could not do the conference justice, the audio is free at desiringgod.org. I would highly reccomend that you listen to the entire conference because it was awesome!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
promise
Ok...I just wanted to state that I just got back from one of the most amazing conferences I've ever been to. I would also like to promise you all that as soon as I have my thoughts together I will post!!! I promise...
Friday, September 08, 2006
Finally Back to the Blogger World
Wow! It has been a long time since I have posted...sorry guys...I've been pretty busy...
Just to let you all know, school has been going well. I am still looking for opportunities to openly share, but I have had some chances to let the people in my classes know that I'm a believer.
Something that I've been thinking about lately is this:
Why must we, as Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ, argue over small, tiny issues?
Now I know to many of you out there, this sounds a little, judgmental and at times, hypocritical but I am talking to myself to. I honestly have been pondering this for quite some time and even though I think it is good to discuss doctrine and try to reason certain biblical issues, I believe that many times discussion turns into more heated discussion, and finally, if the issue is not solved, it turns into an argument. Now I know that you can grow from "tense", but nevertheless fruitful discussions, but is an argument over a controversial issue really loving in God's sight. Do our arguments always resemble this:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Yeah, I know, people will be saying, "Man, Amy, you're so judgmental, arguments aren't all bad. You can learn stuff through them that you never knew before!", but seriously, think about it...once a discussion gets to the point of argument is it showing the love of Christ? Also, is it really what you would define as "fruitful" conversation? What I have found to be true is this: once a conversation reaches to the argument point, the only purpose left in the conversation is to prove your point no matter what the cost. No one can deny that. If you were truly out for the good of the other person involved, it never would have reached the argument point, but what I have noticed in myself is that once the conversation turns into a full-fledged argument, I have to physically bite my tongue to stop myself from continuing because my natural instinct and tendency is to absolutely totally and completely make sure, under all circumstances to have the last say in the matter to PROVE MY POINT! It is engrained in me, a natural, sinful instinct that tells me, "You must win!". Now I know that no one is perfect, but still, where should the line be drawn with discussions and where do we actually draw the line?
Let me know what you guys think on this. I would love to hear some opinions on this issue (always in love of course)!
Just to let you all know, school has been going well. I am still looking for opportunities to openly share, but I have had some chances to let the people in my classes know that I'm a believer.
Something that I've been thinking about lately is this:
Why must we, as Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ, argue over small, tiny issues?
Now I know to many of you out there, this sounds a little, judgmental and at times, hypocritical but I am talking to myself to. I honestly have been pondering this for quite some time and even though I think it is good to discuss doctrine and try to reason certain biblical issues, I believe that many times discussion turns into more heated discussion, and finally, if the issue is not solved, it turns into an argument. Now I know that you can grow from "tense", but nevertheless fruitful discussions, but is an argument over a controversial issue really loving in God's sight. Do our arguments always resemble this:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Yeah, I know, people will be saying, "Man, Amy, you're so judgmental, arguments aren't all bad. You can learn stuff through them that you never knew before!", but seriously, think about it...once a discussion gets to the point of argument is it showing the love of Christ? Also, is it really what you would define as "fruitful" conversation? What I have found to be true is this: once a conversation reaches to the argument point, the only purpose left in the conversation is to prove your point no matter what the cost. No one can deny that. If you were truly out for the good of the other person involved, it never would have reached the argument point, but what I have noticed in myself is that once the conversation turns into a full-fledged argument, I have to physically bite my tongue to stop myself from continuing because my natural instinct and tendency is to absolutely totally and completely make sure, under all circumstances to have the last say in the matter to PROVE MY POINT! It is engrained in me, a natural, sinful instinct that tells me, "You must win!". Now I know that no one is perfect, but still, where should the line be drawn with discussions and where do we actually draw the line?
Let me know what you guys think on this. I would love to hear some opinions on this issue (always in love of course)!
Monday, August 14, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Gospel Opportunities
Well, every now and then our church will have specific nights where we get together a group of people and go out intentionally to share the gospel with people. This past Friday was one of those nights, actually my first time going, although I have heard a lot about them. I was assigned a partner, who was quite timid approaching people, but once the conversation had been started she was totally willing to talk and really had some great things to say. This time we went down to Mill Ave. and there were at least 2 other groups of 'christians' down there evangelizing, so my friend and I, in an effort to find people willing to talk decided to cross the street. As we were walking up to the street corner, I noticed a young man, probably mid-twenties standing on the corner passing out what my friend thought were tracts or something of the sort, but I immediately noticed that instead they were vip passes for some sort of bar with very...revealing images on them. I told my friend and we decided since we had to wait for the light that we should talk to him. We were passing out pretend million dollar bills with the gospel message on the back and I went up and asked him if he would be willing to answer a question. He immediately asked if it was the question on the million dollar bill and that he had received a ton of those and that by now he was a billionaire, basically stating that he had already answered our question ("Would you consider yourself a good person?"). He said that the people that asked him that question told him that his lifestyle and the things that he was doing were so bad that he wasn't good enough, according to God's standards, to get to heaven. We asked him what he thought about all that and he said, "Well, it sucks, but I'm not as bad as some people and that God would give him some forgiveness." He went on to say that he didn't think that he was "that bad" and that he had never killed anyone, but he said, "I'm not going to lie to you. I've had premarital sex and I go out and party all the time and go out with girls, but I'm not that bad." Thankfully my friend could relate and she started to share her testimony and how she used to stay out really late drinking and partying. She then asked him if he was happy with the way he was living. He said that he was and that someday he would change and do something with his life, but that right now he was enjoying life. My friend then continued with her story and she asked him this vital question, "Do you know where it all ended? I was 26, and I had done nothing with my life it was completely empty and I had nothing to live for." Our conversation swung into a discussion about how life is short and that we don't know when we're going to die. I went on to explain that we weren't there to judge him...we aren't good enough to get to heaven either, in fact no one is and if that's just the end of the story then what point is there to live. My friend pulled out the 2 Ways to Live tract and I walked him through it. We talked about how Jesus died for our sins on the cross to save us from hell so that we could be perfect in God's sight, covered in "the blood of the lamb". When we got to the last page I said, "There are only two ways to live and every person has to make a decision whether they want to live their own way and do what pleases them, but the consequences for that choice are obvious, or there is another way, which is submitting to God, repenting from your sins and following him." We pleaded with him to please consider what we talked to him about and at this point he seemed very serious and thankful that we had talked to him and he thanked us for talking with him and his exact words as we turned to leave were, "Thank you for talking with me, it really seems like God is with you girls." For the rest of the night the gravity of that statement weighed on my heart and I was so joyful that we were able to set an example for Christ. We forgot to ask him his name although we sat there and talked to him while several opportunities for us to cross the street passed, but it was worth it. Please be praying for him! God knows who he is and pray that he would not have rest until he comes running to Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would draw him to Himself.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
sharper then any double-edged sword
Here's a couple verses that I just happened to read as the lightning, thunder and rain poured last night...
"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle? What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm...
Job 38:22-25
I have also recently had some trials in my life and these verses have encouraged me greatly:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
To keep me from becoming conceited because of thes surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:7-10
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Cor. 4:7-11, 16-18
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. IN this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!
John 16:33
And to end with a quote...
"When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that God is enough."
~Maude Royden
"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle? What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm...
Job 38:22-25
I have also recently had some trials in my life and these verses have encouraged me greatly:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
To keep me from becoming conceited because of thes surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:7-10
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Cor. 4:7-11, 16-18
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. IN this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!
John 16:33
And to end with a quote...
"When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that God is enough."
~Maude Royden
Sunday, May 14, 2006
A Work in Progress
Well, we've been going through the whole graduation process of high school and Community College and I must say that even though there's all this change, surprisingly, I don't feel any different. You always think that when you have your next birthday or come up on one of the huge milestones in your life that you're going to feel...oh I don't know...changed, more experienced, more mature. When I look at my life right now, all I can see is the flaws, the shortcomings, the issues, the sin. I wish so badly that I could change it all, that I could make it go away. But, I'm learning and growing, through a long, painstaking process, that I can't do it on my own.
I once read in a book an analogy that I think applies perfectly. The author gives the example of a child in a car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. The child has a small, pretend, toy wheel on their car seat to keep them entertained, which they steer violently, trying to move what they think is their car. After a while, they finally realize that they aren't driving the vehicle and that they have to sit back, enjoy the ride, and talk with the Driver (in this situation, the Almighty God). I think I am finally coming to the true realization that, unfortunately, I am that child. The fortunate part about it is that I get to sit back and converse with the Driver. What a privilege! In some ways, I love the fact that I'm not in charge, because if I was, well...let's just say...it wouldn't be good. But, I don't have to be anxious about anything, since ultimately God is in control. He's the one that runs the vehicle. He is the Driver!
Another part of me, the sinful part for sure, screams that it wants to run the show, but will it? No. I have been saved by grace...redeemed, and nothing can ever change that or snatch my salvation away.
So, I press on to attain the goal. Even when the going gets rough, when the times get hard, when the trials seem unsurmountable...I will trust in the Lord. He is my strong tower. His promise to all who trust him is that He will never leave us or forsake us and He never lies. Faith is essential! These lyrics to Strong Tower by Kutless have recently had a big impact on my life.
When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way
I go running to Your mountain
Where your mercy sets me free
[chorus]
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek
In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul
I once read in a book an analogy that I think applies perfectly. The author gives the example of a child in a car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. The child has a small, pretend, toy wheel on their car seat to keep them entertained, which they steer violently, trying to move what they think is their car. After a while, they finally realize that they aren't driving the vehicle and that they have to sit back, enjoy the ride, and talk with the Driver (in this situation, the Almighty God). I think I am finally coming to the true realization that, unfortunately, I am that child. The fortunate part about it is that I get to sit back and converse with the Driver. What a privilege! In some ways, I love the fact that I'm not in charge, because if I was, well...let's just say...it wouldn't be good. But, I don't have to be anxious about anything, since ultimately God is in control. He's the one that runs the vehicle. He is the Driver!
Another part of me, the sinful part for sure, screams that it wants to run the show, but will it? No. I have been saved by grace...redeemed, and nothing can ever change that or snatch my salvation away.
So, I press on to attain the goal. Even when the going gets rough, when the times get hard, when the trials seem unsurmountable...I will trust in the Lord. He is my strong tower. His promise to all who trust him is that He will never leave us or forsake us and He never lies. Faith is essential! These lyrics to Strong Tower by Kutless have recently had a big impact on my life.
When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way
I go running to Your mountain
Where your mercy sets me free
[chorus]
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek
In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
An Eye-Opening Experience
Ok, so I didn't really experience this myself, but my mom did! She told me all about it. As you all know, if you know my mom at all, she is very outgoing and LOVES to share the gospel, making an opportunity at of every circumstance.
A couple weeks ago she met a lady who went to our gym as she was leaving one of our long night workouts. She was actually sharing the gospel with a worker at the infamous 24-hour fitness, when she happened to meet Rosetta. Rosetta actually was a Buddhist and even though my mom did not think that she would accept the gospel, but rather think that it was crazy and blow her off, she still continued to share the gospel with Rosetta and Miki, the other worker at the gym. To my mom's complete surprise Rosetta was actually quite intrigued and asked my mother where she went to church. My mom went absolutely crazy and became immensely ecstatic, as you all know her when she is extremely excited about something. When my mom came back to the gym the following week, Rosetta informed her that she had tried to find the church, but was not able to. My mom was able to give her directions more in detail and agreed to meet her at the 10:30 service the following Sunday. Well, as all of you who go to East Valley Bible Church know, last week Neil Pitchel, one of the pastors at our church, reinacted a typical Seder dinner that the Jews would have had during Passover, like Jesus had the night before He was betrayed.
Unfortunately, when you do not come from a Christian background and have no information concerning the old Bible stories that are frequently told, Rosetta was oblivious when the topic of the Passover was brought up. The pastor talked about Egypt and how the firstborn son of every household was killed unless God found the blood of an unblemished lamb across the door of every house, therefore, the firstborn of every Egyptian perished. Since Rosetta was clueless about all this history behind the story, the only thing that she came out of the service saying was that, "We Buddhists are peaceful people and we do not kill people, like the firstborn child of every family." She was confused and she was unable to see past this fact. My mom tried to explain and shared the gospel again with her, but Rosetta's only response was that she would see my mom at the gym.
Last night (Monday) is the first night of the week that we go back to the gym. To my mom's complete surprise, Rosetta came up to her and said, "I have a quick question for you. When you took communion, I didn't take it because I didn't know what it was for. Why did you take it?" My mom had a chance to explain to her the importance of communion and how good it really was that she didn't take it because it was for believers. She then was able to go right into the gospel telling Rosetta that she needed a Savior just like all of us. She went on to explain that God created us and the world we live in and the sins that we think are secrets to everyone else, God knows completely and he knew about them before we were even born. She explained that whoever did not know Jesus as their personal Lord, Savior, and friend, was not at peace with God and she told her why Jesus came to die on the cross to save our sins. At this point, Rosetta was almost brought to tears by the words she was hearing and since she was leaving the gym she told my mom that she was going home to pray to Jesus.
Pray for Rosetta! Pray that God would work in her heart to draw her to himself! Rosetta also told my mom that she would be willing to come back to East Valley again! Praise God! My mom came in and said that she had just had one of the best chances in her entire Christian walk to lay the gospel out clearly and we all prayed together that Rosetta might come to know Jesus with a personal relationship. May the Lord do great and mighty things!
Also, although this experience was not near as close to sharing the gospel and the previous, I have another situation that needs prayer. I student teach every Tuesday and today I went in to help teach at Dobson Academy (a charter school on Dobson and Elliot). When I arrived, the kids were in Spanish class and they were all talking about what they were going to do for Easter. I was chosen to speak by one of my lovely students and so I told them how I was going to be singing 6 services at my church for Easter. All of a sudden, an ingenious idea popped into my head (definitely the work of the Holy Spirit). Wouldn't it be great if I could invite the main teacher of the class to the Easter services. I quickly called my dad and asked him for the service times since I had estimated times, but they were far from exact. My mom heard and when she came to pick us up, she had brought Easter service invitations. I quickly ran back to my room, wrote my phone number and the location of East Valley on the invitation, and finally what it was about. I held it up for the teacher to see, since she was teaching and mouthed, "This is for you". She smiled and nodded. Pray that she will be able to come and that she would hear the gospel. She is married and is about to have her first child, the beginning of her family. It would be amazing if God would do a work in her life to bring her to himself. Please be in prayer for her and that I might have an opportunity when I go back to share the gospel.
A couple weeks ago she met a lady who went to our gym as she was leaving one of our long night workouts. She was actually sharing the gospel with a worker at the infamous 24-hour fitness, when she happened to meet Rosetta. Rosetta actually was a Buddhist and even though my mom did not think that she would accept the gospel, but rather think that it was crazy and blow her off, she still continued to share the gospel with Rosetta and Miki, the other worker at the gym. To my mom's complete surprise Rosetta was actually quite intrigued and asked my mother where she went to church. My mom went absolutely crazy and became immensely ecstatic, as you all know her when she is extremely excited about something. When my mom came back to the gym the following week, Rosetta informed her that she had tried to find the church, but was not able to. My mom was able to give her directions more in detail and agreed to meet her at the 10:30 service the following Sunday. Well, as all of you who go to East Valley Bible Church know, last week Neil Pitchel, one of the pastors at our church, reinacted a typical Seder dinner that the Jews would have had during Passover, like Jesus had the night before He was betrayed.
Unfortunately, when you do not come from a Christian background and have no information concerning the old Bible stories that are frequently told, Rosetta was oblivious when the topic of the Passover was brought up. The pastor talked about Egypt and how the firstborn son of every household was killed unless God found the blood of an unblemished lamb across the door of every house, therefore, the firstborn of every Egyptian perished. Since Rosetta was clueless about all this history behind the story, the only thing that she came out of the service saying was that, "We Buddhists are peaceful people and we do not kill people, like the firstborn child of every family." She was confused and she was unable to see past this fact. My mom tried to explain and shared the gospel again with her, but Rosetta's only response was that she would see my mom at the gym.
Last night (Monday) is the first night of the week that we go back to the gym. To my mom's complete surprise, Rosetta came up to her and said, "I have a quick question for you. When you took communion, I didn't take it because I didn't know what it was for. Why did you take it?" My mom had a chance to explain to her the importance of communion and how good it really was that she didn't take it because it was for believers. She then was able to go right into the gospel telling Rosetta that she needed a Savior just like all of us. She went on to explain that God created us and the world we live in and the sins that we think are secrets to everyone else, God knows completely and he knew about them before we were even born. She explained that whoever did not know Jesus as their personal Lord, Savior, and friend, was not at peace with God and she told her why Jesus came to die on the cross to save our sins. At this point, Rosetta was almost brought to tears by the words she was hearing and since she was leaving the gym she told my mom that she was going home to pray to Jesus.
Pray for Rosetta! Pray that God would work in her heart to draw her to himself! Rosetta also told my mom that she would be willing to come back to East Valley again! Praise God! My mom came in and said that she had just had one of the best chances in her entire Christian walk to lay the gospel out clearly and we all prayed together that Rosetta might come to know Jesus with a personal relationship. May the Lord do great and mighty things!
Also, although this experience was not near as close to sharing the gospel and the previous, I have another situation that needs prayer. I student teach every Tuesday and today I went in to help teach at Dobson Academy (a charter school on Dobson and Elliot). When I arrived, the kids were in Spanish class and they were all talking about what they were going to do for Easter. I was chosen to speak by one of my lovely students and so I told them how I was going to be singing 6 services at my church for Easter. All of a sudden, an ingenious idea popped into my head (definitely the work of the Holy Spirit). Wouldn't it be great if I could invite the main teacher of the class to the Easter services. I quickly called my dad and asked him for the service times since I had estimated times, but they were far from exact. My mom heard and when she came to pick us up, she had brought Easter service invitations. I quickly ran back to my room, wrote my phone number and the location of East Valley on the invitation, and finally what it was about. I held it up for the teacher to see, since she was teaching and mouthed, "This is for you". She smiled and nodded. Pray that she will be able to come and that she would hear the gospel. She is married and is about to have her first child, the beginning of her family. It would be amazing if God would do a work in her life to bring her to himself. Please be in prayer for her and that I might have an opportunity when I go back to share the gospel.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Girl Talk
Girls, girls, girls! Sometimes, even though I happen to be one, I don't understand us at all. Ok, so I can relate to all our funny, quirky topics ranging from clothing to guys, but we, in general, are very complex! (I really never thought I would find myself saying this and I know I'm going to get tons of comments from guys that are readily agreeing with me and all I have to say to you is that...you're too easy to understand! just kidding)
For all our issues, "complex and confusing" problems, and other personal troubles, I love girls. I love the great and awesome and Godly conversations that we can have together even though our focus strays occasionally. I love the fun, little, unimportant conversations that Hannah, Heather, Megan and I share. For us, they're so meaningful, but I would love to see a guy's reaction from just listening to us. Wow, that would be classic! The only thing that I think would be going through the guy's mind is petty...petty...petty. Yes, we know. We like it! But, I do have to say that I love all the other conversations that we can have with guys and girls about important topics that make a difference, and not that we don't as girls, but it's great to have that leadership from guys. I guess what I'm basically trying to say, using small words, is that I appreciate all of the fellowship that I receive from the body of Christ, including all the petty conversations and all the important ones. I don't know if this makes any sense at all since I am writing it at 1 am, but hopefully it's remotely clear. Goodnight everyone!
For all our issues, "complex and confusing" problems, and other personal troubles, I love girls. I love the great and awesome and Godly conversations that we can have together even though our focus strays occasionally. I love the fun, little, unimportant conversations that Hannah, Heather, Megan and I share. For us, they're so meaningful, but I would love to see a guy's reaction from just listening to us. Wow, that would be classic! The only thing that I think would be going through the guy's mind is petty...petty...petty. Yes, we know. We like it! But, I do have to say that I love all the other conversations that we can have with guys and girls about important topics that make a difference, and not that we don't as girls, but it's great to have that leadership from guys. I guess what I'm basically trying to say, using small words, is that I appreciate all of the fellowship that I receive from the body of Christ, including all the petty conversations and all the important ones. I don't know if this makes any sense at all since I am writing it at 1 am, but hopefully it's remotely clear. Goodnight everyone!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Stuff...in general
Well, lots of things have been going on lately. I just finished about a week of studying 24/7 for midterms and I only have one more on Monday! Yep, it's pretty exciting! Megan Johnson, one of my very best friends has just joined the blogosphere (very exciting too)! But, recently God has been teaching me, convicting me, and molding me in ways that I was not expecting.
Lately I have been reading in Jeremiah because over the past couple months I have been hearing from so many people about how awesome it is. I think that sometimes when I start reading in the Old Testament, I tend to get the mindset that it doesn't apply to me when it actually really does. Jeremiah has been talking about how God is going to basically wipe Israel off the face of the Earth because of their unfaithfulness to follow Him, but the thing that really hit home for me was that Israel "thought" that they were being faithful, because they still offered sacrifices to Him, but they had allowed idols into their lifestyle.
Now, when I was first thinking about this I was not struck at all because I "knew" that I wasn't bowing down to any asherah pole or wooden idol or any man made statue of some sort so I really didn't think that I had a problem in this area. The more that I continued to read, the more convicted I was. God really revealed to me the fact that even though I'm not bowing down to any idols necessarily, there are other things in my life that can take priority over God, the Creator of the Universe, my Lord and Savior, the All-Reigning King, the Messiah, and the list goes on and on. So often I find myself putting petty, unimportant things before God and I never even truly realize that I'm doing it. I get so caught up in everyday life, in the little problems and issues that have to be made right, when I should be looking and striving towards the goal. I should be running hard to win the prize, running hard after Christ, but instead I continue to see myself falling short.
So, I started reading Jeremiah thinking that it would be a good book, but not really seeing it as applicable, and ended up writing a blog about it because I was so convicted. Yes, that's how God works. Therefore, I am continuing to run the race, striving hard to follow after God because some day I want to be able to say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day..."
2 Timothy 4:7-8a
May God be glorified in my life!
Lately I have been reading in Jeremiah because over the past couple months I have been hearing from so many people about how awesome it is. I think that sometimes when I start reading in the Old Testament, I tend to get the mindset that it doesn't apply to me when it actually really does. Jeremiah has been talking about how God is going to basically wipe Israel off the face of the Earth because of their unfaithfulness to follow Him, but the thing that really hit home for me was that Israel "thought" that they were being faithful, because they still offered sacrifices to Him, but they had allowed idols into their lifestyle.
Now, when I was first thinking about this I was not struck at all because I "knew" that I wasn't bowing down to any asherah pole or wooden idol or any man made statue of some sort so I really didn't think that I had a problem in this area. The more that I continued to read, the more convicted I was. God really revealed to me the fact that even though I'm not bowing down to any idols necessarily, there are other things in my life that can take priority over God, the Creator of the Universe, my Lord and Savior, the All-Reigning King, the Messiah, and the list goes on and on. So often I find myself putting petty, unimportant things before God and I never even truly realize that I'm doing it. I get so caught up in everyday life, in the little problems and issues that have to be made right, when I should be looking and striving towards the goal. I should be running hard to win the prize, running hard after Christ, but instead I continue to see myself falling short.
So, I started reading Jeremiah thinking that it would be a good book, but not really seeing it as applicable, and ended up writing a blog about it because I was so convicted. Yes, that's how God works. Therefore, I am continuing to run the race, striving hard to follow after God because some day I want to be able to say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day..."
2 Timothy 4:7-8a
May God be glorified in my life!
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Unfocused and a little confused
"I don't know how to say this, I don't know where to start, I don't know where to put my feet or where to put my hands..."
These lyrics by Sara Groves describe how I feel right now.
Have you ever felt like life comes up behind you and stabs you in the back, when you feel like you're trying so hard and it avails to nothing, when you know that your focus should be on the Lord, but instead it's on other insignificant, unimportant, and discouraging topics. I know that God is always with me and will never forsake me, but I feel as though all my efforts aren't amounting to anything, as though in all my trying...I fail miserably. I don't know...I guess I've been trying to run my own life, instead of trusting in God. I have to realize that "what I know, trumps what I feel", but sometimes it seems like I'm drowning in feelings that I can't get away from and then I remember this verse. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13) I know that it's true, but at times it's so hard to grasp. I know that God puts us through trials to instill perserverance and trust in Him, but sometimes what I feel drowns out that knowledge. A lot of times the circumstances that God puts in my life seem so hard that I don't think I can do anything else but cry, but I know that God will bring me through it. Well, as I was writing this blog, I thought of my favorite Crowder song called 'All I Can Say'. This song has encouraged me so much in the past.
All I Can Say
Lord I'm tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I'm so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in,
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I'll stop
Rest here a while
Chorus:And this is all, this is all that I can say right now,
I know it's not much
And this is all that I can give
That's my everything
And didn't You see me cry'n?
And didn't You hear me call Your name?
Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You'd remember
Where you sat it down
Bridge:I didn't notice You were standing here
I didn't know that
That was You holding me
I didn't notice You were crying too
I didn't know that
That was You washing my feet
God's mercies are new every morning and what an awesome blessing that truly is. I don't know how I lived without Christ, without hope, without peace. But, now I know, that it is better to carry His burden, which is light, then to carry the heavy burden of my sin that kept me in bondage. So, even though I feel engulfed by my unfocused mind...what I know, trumps what I feel.
These lyrics by Sara Groves describe how I feel right now.
Have you ever felt like life comes up behind you and stabs you in the back, when you feel like you're trying so hard and it avails to nothing, when you know that your focus should be on the Lord, but instead it's on other insignificant, unimportant, and discouraging topics. I know that God is always with me and will never forsake me, but I feel as though all my efforts aren't amounting to anything, as though in all my trying...I fail miserably. I don't know...I guess I've been trying to run my own life, instead of trusting in God. I have to realize that "what I know, trumps what I feel", but sometimes it seems like I'm drowning in feelings that I can't get away from and then I remember this verse. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13) I know that it's true, but at times it's so hard to grasp. I know that God puts us through trials to instill perserverance and trust in Him, but sometimes what I feel drowns out that knowledge. A lot of times the circumstances that God puts in my life seem so hard that I don't think I can do anything else but cry, but I know that God will bring me through it. Well, as I was writing this blog, I thought of my favorite Crowder song called 'All I Can Say'. This song has encouraged me so much in the past.
All I Can Say
Lord I'm tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I'm so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in,
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I'll stop
Rest here a while
Chorus:And this is all, this is all that I can say right now,
I know it's not much
And this is all that I can give
That's my everything
And didn't You see me cry'n?
And didn't You hear me call Your name?
Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You'd remember
Where you sat it down
Bridge:I didn't notice You were standing here
I didn't know that
That was You holding me
I didn't notice You were crying too
I didn't know that
That was You washing my feet
God's mercies are new every morning and what an awesome blessing that truly is. I don't know how I lived without Christ, without hope, without peace. But, now I know, that it is better to carry His burden, which is light, then to carry the heavy burden of my sin that kept me in bondage. So, even though I feel engulfed by my unfocused mind...what I know, trumps what I feel.
Friday, February 24, 2006
God is Doing Mighty Things
All over the world God is doing amazing things! Many people are hearing the gospel and coming to know Jesus Christ. As I was thinking about the amazing work that God is bringing to completion all over the world, a song by Matt Redman impacted me greatly.
All Over the World
Even as the world began the stars they sang
And all the angels
Shouted for joy, shouted for joy
And looking back through history
Your people they have always had
A song they must sing, a song they must sing
We are the people of God
We'll sing Your songs here on the earth
All over the world Your song will resound
All over the world Your praises ring out
Were living to see Your name and renown
All over the world
Young and old, near and far
There's a place or ev'ry heart
To join Your song, join in Your song
Ev'ry nation, tribe and tongue
Come together join as one
Give glory to God, glory to God
All over the world Your song will resound
All over the world Your praises ring out
We're living to see Your name and renown
All over the world
Great is Your name and great will be Your song
Great is Your name and great will be Your song
We lift up our hands and pray
We lift up our hands and pray
For holy is Your name
This really shows what we live for. We live to give God glory and see His renown all over the world. I was also recently reading a newsletter from a missionary family in Papua New Guinea. They have been working with the Mibu tribe. When they arrived, there was no written language, so they had to develop the language and learn it before they could start sharing the gospel with this tribe who were lost in their disilusions concerning many things. The following is what is currently happening in the Mibu tribe.
"I walked in on a conversation the other morning that sent my hopes soaring. I had gone down to Mibu early before teaching and stopped by my friend Sesi's house. When I got to the doorway of his hut, I could hear lots of people talking. When I called out, they invited me in. About a dozen people were sitting around the fire pit earnestly discussing recent events in light of what they were learning in the Bible lessons! This, of course, put a smile on my face! The village was being threatened with sorcery by the local delinquent. He took the credit for the most recent death which he said happened by his power (the man died of TB), and said another 51 people would soon die if his demands were not met. The demand being a wife... Of course, nobody wants to give up their sister or niece or daughter to such a fate, but there was more to it than that. Now more than ever their old beliefs are in direct conflict with what they are being taught in the Bible lessons. As I sat in Sesi's hut listening to men telling each other that sorcery has no power over them, and that they should not give in to his demands because they believe what God is saying now, my stomach did flip-flops. This is it! This is what it's all about! Even where they are at now, not even knowing who the promised deliverer will be, they are choosing to side with what they know about God and His Word and His power!They asked for my opinions, but I told them that I talk all the time, and to keep on in their discussion. Truth is, I wanted to just listen. To hear our friends siding with God even when it goes against everything else they have ever learned... I will never forget the moment. When it was time for us to go down to begin teaching, I left by adding this thought. I held up a flashlight very, very close to the page of a book. Just a sliver of light showed around the edge. "This," I said, "is the small amount of light or understanding that has been given to you by the teaching of God's Word. You are choosing to trust in it, to believe it, and God will give you more light. And more. As you choose to put your belief in Him, He will increase your light" (as I held the flashlight gradually farther from the page).To those of you sharing in the journey with us, let us praise God! We are not yet to the crux of mankind's salvation, but they are allowing what they are hearing to permeate their lives and thinking. If they will just continue to choose to believe the truth, it WILL set them free!!
"...and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thes. 1:9).
Yesterday, they sent out another newsletter that said:
The day of the beginning of the Mibu church is here!! Join us in praising our awesome God for the following people who have each professeclear testimonymony of their faith in Jesus Christ:Men: Royfo, Sesi, Kivisi, Samuel, Dopeke, Navang, Tima, Benny, Gero, Hone,Keteng, Semi, and JepiriWomen: Rao(Devit's wife), Yoonare, Eson, Nimoke, Joonoomeng,
WatikiyoRoyfo: "Thank you for telling me this! Jesus died in my place. Now I know I am going to heaven."
Sesi: (While still an unbeliever) Upon hearing about Davi's conversion said, "I'm so happy for him. Soon I will understand and believe too. Two days later, he gave a clear testimony of his own salvation. d
Kivisi: "Now I understand. It is finished. What is there to say!!"
Tima: "Just as people in the Old Testament offered animal sacrifices thinking, 'These animals are dying in my place', so I look to Jesus who died in my place."
Samuel: "Thank you for bringing this talk. May God bless you bringing this talk."There are also many others who are so very close to really understand how to it was that Jesus' death bought their forgiveness. We are overjoyed to tears at each new testimony shared with us, and expectantly watching more of the others on whom light is beginning to dawn. God's Word is very powerful!!
Having read all of these things, I have been in wonder at how awesome, amazing, wonderful, powerful, loving, amazing, and many more things, God IS. Praise Him!
All Over the World
Even as the world began the stars they sang
And all the angels
Shouted for joy, shouted for joy
And looking back through history
Your people they have always had
A song they must sing, a song they must sing
We are the people of God
We'll sing Your songs here on the earth
All over the world Your song will resound
All over the world Your praises ring out
Were living to see Your name and renown
All over the world
Young and old, near and far
There's a place or ev'ry heart
To join Your song, join in Your song
Ev'ry nation, tribe and tongue
Come together join as one
Give glory to God, glory to God
All over the world Your song will resound
All over the world Your praises ring out
We're living to see Your name and renown
All over the world
Great is Your name and great will be Your song
Great is Your name and great will be Your song
We lift up our hands and pray
We lift up our hands and pray
For holy is Your name
This really shows what we live for. We live to give God glory and see His renown all over the world. I was also recently reading a newsletter from a missionary family in Papua New Guinea. They have been working with the Mibu tribe. When they arrived, there was no written language, so they had to develop the language and learn it before they could start sharing the gospel with this tribe who were lost in their disilusions concerning many things. The following is what is currently happening in the Mibu tribe.
"I walked in on a conversation the other morning that sent my hopes soaring. I had gone down to Mibu early before teaching and stopped by my friend Sesi's house. When I got to the doorway of his hut, I could hear lots of people talking. When I called out, they invited me in. About a dozen people were sitting around the fire pit earnestly discussing recent events in light of what they were learning in the Bible lessons! This, of course, put a smile on my face! The village was being threatened with sorcery by the local delinquent. He took the credit for the most recent death which he said happened by his power (the man died of TB), and said another 51 people would soon die if his demands were not met. The demand being a wife... Of course, nobody wants to give up their sister or niece or daughter to such a fate, but there was more to it than that. Now more than ever their old beliefs are in direct conflict with what they are being taught in the Bible lessons. As I sat in Sesi's hut listening to men telling each other that sorcery has no power over them, and that they should not give in to his demands because they believe what God is saying now, my stomach did flip-flops. This is it! This is what it's all about! Even where they are at now, not even knowing who the promised deliverer will be, they are choosing to side with what they know about God and His Word and His power!They asked for my opinions, but I told them that I talk all the time, and to keep on in their discussion. Truth is, I wanted to just listen. To hear our friends siding with God even when it goes against everything else they have ever learned... I will never forget the moment. When it was time for us to go down to begin teaching, I left by adding this thought. I held up a flashlight very, very close to the page of a book. Just a sliver of light showed around the edge. "This," I said, "is the small amount of light or understanding that has been given to you by the teaching of God's Word. You are choosing to trust in it, to believe it, and God will give you more light. And more. As you choose to put your belief in Him, He will increase your light" (as I held the flashlight gradually farther from the page).To those of you sharing in the journey with us, let us praise God! We are not yet to the crux of mankind's salvation, but they are allowing what they are hearing to permeate their lives and thinking. If they will just continue to choose to believe the truth, it WILL set them free!!
"...and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thes. 1:9).
Yesterday, they sent out another newsletter that said:
The day of the beginning of the Mibu church is here!! Join us in praising our awesome God for the following people who have each professeclear testimonymony of their faith in Jesus Christ:Men: Royfo, Sesi, Kivisi, Samuel, Dopeke, Navang, Tima, Benny, Gero, Hone,Keteng, Semi, and JepiriWomen: Rao(Devit's wife), Yoonare, Eson, Nimoke, Joonoomeng,
WatikiyoRoyfo: "Thank you for telling me this! Jesus died in my place. Now I know I am going to heaven."
Sesi: (While still an unbeliever) Upon hearing about Davi's conversion said, "I'm so happy for him. Soon I will understand and believe too. Two days later, he gave a clear testimony of his own salvation. d
Kivisi: "Now I understand. It is finished. What is there to say!!"
Tima: "Just as people in the Old Testament offered animal sacrifices thinking, 'These animals are dying in my place', so I look to Jesus who died in my place."
Samuel: "Thank you for bringing this talk. May God bless you bringing this talk."There are also many others who are so very close to really understand how to it was that Jesus' death bought their forgiveness. We are overjoyed to tears at each new testimony shared with us, and expectantly watching more of the others on whom light is beginning to dawn. God's Word is very powerful!!
Having read all of these things, I have been in wonder at how awesome, amazing, wonderful, powerful, loving, amazing, and many more things, God IS. Praise Him!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Great Friends
Ok, I really had to update this blog because one of my very best friends just got a blog...Megan Johnson!
I totally just got back from the gym. I AM SO EXHAUSTED! Yep, but it's all good! This is my new phrase that I have picked up from my amazing "sister", Heather Testa. Wow! Lately I have just been realizing how much I appreciate the wonderful friends that God has put in my life! I don't know if all of you will read this, but I am so encouraged by you guys.
Heather, you are an amazing friend. I love the close relationship we have and how we can hold each other accountable with our 'girl issues'. I totally remember meeting you a year and a half ago, but I never dreamed that we would be such awesome friends by now! I love how you spur me on to be more like Christ and to follow His word and...lastly...to guard my heart. Oh, by the way, thanks for teaching me swing dancing! I love it!
Brent, I am constantly encouraged by your love for the Lord. You are such an encouragement to me and, I know, my family. I'm glad we started hanging out more often now. We kind of all got busy and stopped for a period, but we're back in the swing of things. Thanks for being such an awesome friend!
John, well, where to start. I don't think I can say that I've met anyone like you, but...for the month that I've known you well, it has been awesome to hang out with you and get to know you more. I am constantly encouraged by your love for the Lord and your knowledge of Him. I praise God that we met you!
Hannah, thanks so much for always being there for me, even when times get rough. You are such an awesome sister and I love the great relationship we have. Yeah, you are quite unique and eccentric...but you are still very special to me and I thank you for the constant encouragement that you give me and how you spur me on to follow hard after Christ!
Megan, you are such an amazing friend and sister in Christ, and you always point me back to Him. It has been so awesome getting to know you over the past, oh, I don't know 3 years and I am so glad that I can be a part of your life! I love you so much girl, and you know nothing will ever change that! Thanks for helping me through the hard times!
I appreciate you all so much! I praise God that you have all come into my life. There are many more of you that I love and admire so much, but you don't have blogs so you probably wouldn't be able to read this, but you are all so awesome and I am constantly encouraged by the wonderful examples that you are in my life.
I totally just got back from the gym. I AM SO EXHAUSTED! Yep, but it's all good! This is my new phrase that I have picked up from my amazing "sister", Heather Testa. Wow! Lately I have just been realizing how much I appreciate the wonderful friends that God has put in my life! I don't know if all of you will read this, but I am so encouraged by you guys.
Heather, you are an amazing friend. I love the close relationship we have and how we can hold each other accountable with our 'girl issues'. I totally remember meeting you a year and a half ago, but I never dreamed that we would be such awesome friends by now! I love how you spur me on to be more like Christ and to follow His word and...lastly...to guard my heart. Oh, by the way, thanks for teaching me swing dancing! I love it!
Brent, I am constantly encouraged by your love for the Lord. You are such an encouragement to me and, I know, my family. I'm glad we started hanging out more often now. We kind of all got busy and stopped for a period, but we're back in the swing of things. Thanks for being such an awesome friend!
John, well, where to start. I don't think I can say that I've met anyone like you, but...for the month that I've known you well, it has been awesome to hang out with you and get to know you more. I am constantly encouraged by your love for the Lord and your knowledge of Him. I praise God that we met you!
Hannah, thanks so much for always being there for me, even when times get rough. You are such an awesome sister and I love the great relationship we have. Yeah, you are quite unique and eccentric...but you are still very special to me and I thank you for the constant encouragement that you give me and how you spur me on to follow hard after Christ!
Megan, you are such an amazing friend and sister in Christ, and you always point me back to Him. It has been so awesome getting to know you over the past, oh, I don't know 3 years and I am so glad that I can be a part of your life! I love you so much girl, and you know nothing will ever change that! Thanks for helping me through the hard times!
I appreciate you all so much! I praise God that you have all come into my life. There are many more of you that I love and admire so much, but you don't have blogs so you probably wouldn't be able to read this, but you are all so awesome and I am constantly encouraged by the wonderful examples that you are in my life.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
The Dangerous Duty of Delight
Recently, I've been reading a book by John Piper entitled "The Dangerous Duty of Delight". I have only begun the book, but already, I have been hugely impacted on how much we as human beings are too easily satisfied. We are too easily pleased. In this book Piper quotes C.S. Lewis and says,
"When infinite joy is offered, we are like an ignorant child who wants to go
on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Our purpose on this earth is to glorify, honor, serve and proclaim God's name! We are able to accomplish this purpose by delighting and rejoicing in God. Piper says that,
"God created you so that you might spend eternity glorifying Him by enjoying Him forever...Worship is not added to joy, and joy is not the by-product of worship. Worship is the valuing of God. And when this valuing is intense, it is joy in God. Therefore, the essence of worship is delight in God, which displays His all-satisfying value."
God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him. We want Christ to be glorified in everything. Paul writes in Philippians 1:20-21 that Christ will be exalted in His body, whether by life or by death. He goes on to say that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain. Should it not be the same way with us? God will be glorified through our death if we look at it as gain, but we exalt Christ in life by experiencing Christ as our all-surpassing treasure. John Piper states that,
"...life and death, for a Christian are acts of worship-they exalt Christ and magnify Him and reveal and express His greatness - when they come from an inner experience of treasuring Christ as gain. If Christ's honor is our passion, the pursuit of pleasure in Him is our duty."
Christ is praised by being prized. We are commanded, not just to make decisions, but to have feelings; to delight in Christ and to have a personal relationship with Him. A lot of people believe that feelings don't count when following Christ, so just do it. But we need to understand that, yes, it is our duty to delight in serving Him, but He is more glorified when we actually find pleasure in delighting and serving Him. Serving the Lord, increases our joy in the Lord, so we shouldn't pity ourselves, especially when serving the Lord. We should DELIGHT in doing good. The pursuit of pleasure is not recommended - it is mandatory.
"We don't pity or excessively praise those who are simply doing what will make them the most happy...The only way to glorify the all-sufficiency of God is to come to Him because in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasure for ever more."
~John Piper
The pursuit of true gain is an essential motive for every good deed. Genuine love always relates to God as gain. The nature of genuine love can be seen in four things according to Piper:
"When infinite joy is offered, we are like an ignorant child who wants to go
on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Our purpose on this earth is to glorify, honor, serve and proclaim God's name! We are able to accomplish this purpose by delighting and rejoicing in God. Piper says that,
"God created you so that you might spend eternity glorifying Him by enjoying Him forever...Worship is not added to joy, and joy is not the by-product of worship. Worship is the valuing of God. And when this valuing is intense, it is joy in God. Therefore, the essence of worship is delight in God, which displays His all-satisfying value."
God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him. We want Christ to be glorified in everything. Paul writes in Philippians 1:20-21 that Christ will be exalted in His body, whether by life or by death. He goes on to say that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain. Should it not be the same way with us? God will be glorified through our death if we look at it as gain, but we exalt Christ in life by experiencing Christ as our all-surpassing treasure. John Piper states that,
"...life and death, for a Christian are acts of worship-they exalt Christ and magnify Him and reveal and express His greatness - when they come from an inner experience of treasuring Christ as gain. If Christ's honor is our passion, the pursuit of pleasure in Him is our duty."
Christ is praised by being prized. We are commanded, not just to make decisions, but to have feelings; to delight in Christ and to have a personal relationship with Him. A lot of people believe that feelings don't count when following Christ, so just do it. But we need to understand that, yes, it is our duty to delight in serving Him, but He is more glorified when we actually find pleasure in delighting and serving Him. Serving the Lord, increases our joy in the Lord, so we shouldn't pity ourselves, especially when serving the Lord. We should DELIGHT in doing good. The pursuit of pleasure is not recommended - it is mandatory.
"We don't pity or excessively praise those who are simply doing what will make them the most happy...The only way to glorify the all-sufficiency of God is to come to Him because in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasure for ever more."
~John Piper
The pursuit of true gain is an essential motive for every good deed. Genuine love always relates to God as gain. The nature of genuine love can be seen in four things according to Piper:
- Love is a work of divine grace. - 2 Cor. 8:1
- This experience of God's grace fills us with joy - 2 Cor. 8:2
- This joy overflows in generosity to meet the needs of others.
- This results in giving even your smallest possessions. - 2 Cor. 8:3-4
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Caborca '06
Wow! I just returned from a mission trip with my church to Caborca, Mexico. We had a team of around 29 people and it was awesome to see how God unified us over the week that we were there. On this trip, I was reminded at how sovereign God is. We had a huge response from the people of Mexico and it was amazing to see so many people seeing their need for Christ and salvation from their sins. We also had 7 people come up from Mexico and we really were able to accept them as part of our team and even though there was a language barrier between us, we were able to overcome it. The body of Christ was so evident when someone was struggling; everyone would just begin to pray for comfort and healing for their brother or sister in Christ. Our goal and purpose was to serve Him, glorify Him, and make His name known. To the best of our ability, we strived to do this. We do missions because worship does not exist in certain areas of the world. God's name was extended and through this trip, many people came to know Him in a personal relationship. Praise God!
Monday, January 02, 2006
My 2006 Discoveries concerning Life
Life is difficult. Sometimes you think that you have it down and you know what's going to happen but...you never do. There have been a lot of times over the past year that I felt like just giving up, but I didn't. I kept going. Christ always gave me the strength to get through the trials and struggles in my life and He was faithful to His promise that He will never leave me or forsake me AND that He will never give me more than I can handle. What a comforting promise for those that love Him! Throughout my whole life, I have been able to see first-hand, how he fulfills and follows through with His promises. When I was younger we (my family) decided to go to Mexico as missionaries. Although there were times that we struggled with not having some of the bare necessities, Christ always was with us and He brought us through those times of difficulty. God IS faithful!!! So even though life gets hard and we go through many times of trials and hardships, God is able and capable to bring us through those times, and He gives us times of great joy. How can we enjoy the good times, if we have not gone through the down times?
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