Happy New Year!

So the new year has finally come and my goal of reading through the bible is complete! It has been an incredible journey through God's word and one that has greatly changed the person I am.
These past 40 days, leading up to the New Year, I have been in a time of fasting, not just from food, but the disractions in life that keep me from God's word and prayer.
No matter what, we NEED His word, Our sould crave for it. Like our bodies need nutrients, without the Word, we are lacking everything needed to sustain us through this world. Did I completely rely upon these words a year ago? I did not... I wanted so desperately to make His word a valued part of my life, but I kept going back to the cookie jar and all the comforts I found elsewhere.
Taking food away for 40 days was not easy, but with God's word being at my every side, I can say I would do it again in an instant. The beautiful thing is that I still will and still can. I have trained my body to satisfy the word with more of an intense hunger than ever before.
This is something we all can do. Fasting from something that takes time, energy, or thought on the things of the world, to time, energy and thought on God, will leave you in awe of our King.

Will I read through the bible again in a year? That is an easy, yes.

I am so thankful for where God has taken me in the year 2011. The numbers add up to 4, and sure enough, it was a year of testing in so many ways. In the horizon, is a year of grace. I want to see God do miracles each day, I want to see His radiance shine in Cabo and to all the nations, I want to see God change me more into the image of grace He has for me. I want to rejoice, dance, and shout for joy at the things He is doing!
Glory a Dios!

Wake-Up Call

        Yesterday I woke up late and had a slow start to the day. I didn't think too much of it because it was a Saturday after all. I just needed time to sleep in a little.. All in all it was a productive day, but by the end of it I realized... I had not focused on God and allowed my emotions to get the better of me, and everything on my mind was completely off of God's love. God instantly gave me a wake up call! I sat there and prayed, cried, and allowed myself to get vulnerable before the Lord because I knew I needed His wake-up call and His guidance to overcome my selfishness.

       I know I will frequently make mistakes again and again, but God is continuously faithful to keep moving us to the next level in our faith. It may be a steeper road and less traveled, but it is far worth it. I realized last night that I had been doing my day to day tasks through the eyes of the world and not of God. I had escaped from my soul purpose of loving others as Christ loved us. God whispered to me, "Grace, my way is simple. Pursue love".

"For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully, just as God has fully known me. But for now, three things last- trust, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love. Pursue love!" 1 Corinthians 13:12-13

Food and Family

         I have a new favorite hobby. Well… maybe it’s more of an obsession. I never grew up learning how to cook, and cooking for family meals was a very rare occasion in my household sadly.  However, recently I have been staying with a family for a temporary time and learning what it means to eat together as a family and cook meals together. It is so exciting learning something like cooking! More exciting is that cooking brings people together, shows hospitality to those who need comfort and care, and is the time when we get to interact with our families most.

I love how we can use something as simple as cooking a meal, to spread and share God’s love. The ministry I am working with is starting a restaurant business in our congregation, and I am learning fun ways to cook and serve. It is becoming an everyday love. There are so many ways that we can share God’s love! Like the time of Christ, we can see miracles by opening our homes and our kitchens to invite guests for a meal together.

“When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors; for they may well invite you in return, and that will be your repayment. Instead, when you have a party, invite poor people, disfigured people, the crippled, the blind! How blessed you will be that they have nothing with which to repay you! For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:12-14).

A Story of Hospitality

We are approaching the holiday season, a time of love, joy, and peace. God had been doing many miracles through hospitality, and I feel like there is no greater time to share the gift of hospitality.

A couple weeks ago, me and a friend were dog-sitting for a couple. We left the condo as the maid had just arrived to clean. Her name was Patty, and every time we saw her, she was always full of Joy. My friend and I walked around the Marina with the dog and ran many errands, and by the time we came back, the sun was long set. We walked in tired and ready to rest, but Patty, the maid was there, and she was still cleaning, trying to fix the broken blinds in the laundry room. We could not believe she had stayed for all those hours, so we quickly got headed to the fridge to make our special tuna melt for her and set the table, so we could now serve her after all her service to us. She was extremely surprised and asked why we were making her dinner. We told her that she had spent all her life serving others, and now was her time for others to serve her. We found out that her husband died a month ago and she has three children. We prayed for Patty and invited her to church and we are continuing to pray that she can come. The power of hospitality not only made a difference in Patty's life, but in my life as well, as I am seeing how Jesus was the ultimate servant to us. I pray that this holiday season, we can serve one another in love and be givers of the many blessings God has given us.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2

A Simple Holiday Favorite

 Spritz Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg

1 tsp almond or vanilla extract

Directions:

Heat oven to 400, mix margarine and sugar. Mix in remaining ingredients.

Place dough in cookie press, and form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set, but not brown, 6-9 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. You can add icing and sprinkles to decorate.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

When you go out

Batikart



It has been a week now that I have been away from Cabo and tomorrow I am headed on a mission trip to Germany for the grand opening of TOS minitries new church location! http://www.tos.info/home/. This ministry is a very unique in that descendants of Nazi soldiers are now coming together through Jesus Christ and removing the veil of silence that has covered germany since world war II. These Christian believers are reaching out to the jewish people and building relationships of love, joy and peace.

The TOS ministry is an example of relationships being built between Jews and Christians. Today, all around the world, relationships are being made through the most unlikely of people. It is only the move of God to bringing nations who despise one another together through Christ.

" For He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in our ordinaces, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

Ephesians 2: 14-16

 

Here is the Sea

My first sight of the Pacific Ocean!

   "Here is the sea, great and wide,

   which teems with creatures innumerable,

   living things both small and great.

   There go the ships,

   and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it."

Psalm 104: 25-26

How great is our God! When I look out into the vast expanse of the ocean, I cannot help but feel overwhelmed not by a pretty sunset or the crashing waves, but by the beauty of God. I am so blessed that I can look out among the waters and see God, the creator of all things whose wave of the holy spirit has washed away my sins. 

Blessings

It has almost been two months here in Cabo and I am about to go home for a while. Me and the missionaries that I am staying with are going back to Dallas to try to raise funds for our ministry. I am excited for the opportunity to go back home and recongize it as a blessing to be able to reconect with friends and family. Not only that, I am excited that I have the oppotunity to share here on my blog, all that I am learning from my journey with God.

I have been learning that everything is a blessing. Waking up each morning, breathing air, having a meal to eat in the morning, or being able to love someone. We have been so blessed and highly favored by God. He wants to bless us so that we can bless others in love. When I think from the standpoint of God, I can imagine that God would want to love as many people as possible. This must mean that God overflows blessings to those that are in His will! But how can we use God's blessings to bless others when we don't even recognize His blessings? This must make God very sad when He blesses His people, yet they only forget Him or use His blessings to curse others. :(  The sad part is, I don't recognize God's blessings all the time!

I know my life would drastically transform if I only began recognizing all the blessings of God and using them to love others more. What do you think? How has God recently blessed you and what are some ways that you are using that blessing to love others?

Do Not Forget

Oh how I have missed my blog so much! I cannot say how happy it makes me to be writing once again. Now that I am back, and that is for good, I want to share what God has been whispering to me these past few weeks. Three words: Do not forget.

"Be careful not to forget Adonai your God by not obeying his laws, rulings, and regulations that I am giving you today." Deuteronomy 8:11

God continually blesses me more than I can imagine. He shows signs and wonders, miracles day by day, and above all, He shows me so much love. Yet, I forget. I forget all the things God has done for me. I will say, 'Thank you Lord', and proclaim the name of God believeing that I will serve Him with everything I am. However, the next day comes, I forget God's blessings, and I turn back to living for myself.

"Oh, how I wish their hearts would stay like this always, that they would fear me and obey all my laws;so that it would go well with them and their children forever." Deuteronomy 5:26

The people of Israel said they would listen to everything God told Moses and do it. They made this as a promise to God. But within days, they went to worshipping idols. It grieves God that His children forget Him. Reading through the books of moses you find that everything is repeated. Deuteronomy begins as an overview of all God has done for the people of Israel so that they will remember.

Do not forget. These are the words spoken to me by God that I may never forget the blessings He has shown me.

Merciful

I want to share a story of God's mercy.

There once was 5 kids between the ages of 13-18. They were all camping together and learning how to work togther as one. They sought desperately after God's own heart and with questions they sought after a bible study with their pastor. Wanting to bless these kids, the pastor took them out of the heat and into the air conditioning where he answered all their questions and more. The lesson: faith. What these kids learned that night was that God wanted to bless them with faith, they just needed to believe that He could. The pastor, in all his love decided to bless the kids even more and take them all out for dinner and ice-cream. It was beyond their belief that the pastor would be so kind to them, but he was teaching them to have faith. With rich blessings and a full stomach, the kids went on their way home and played together until they could no longer keep their eyes open.

The next morning, the kids woke up late. The alarm that was supposed to ring for 7 a.m., rang for 10 a.m.! Realizing they had slept in too late they quickly arose and set out to their responsabilities. One of the kids left for a party, three of them left to run the weekly errand, and the third stayed behind. When the three returned, they all went their seperate ways with their thoughts on when they could go swimming or what they would cook for dinner. When the pastor came as they were all back together eating their supper, he asked if they had any questions for another bible study. The kids were silent. They realized they had no questions, that they had gone the whole day never thinking about God. They woke up, lived life, and never once gave thought to God. A normal routine of waking up at 7 and reading God's word, giving thanks to Him, it was all lost. It was lost because they forgot. The pastor asked if they had questions and they had none. After being richly blessed the night before, they never acknowledged God's blessings and instead only acknowledged themselves.

In utter conviction, they cried out to God to forgive them and admitted to the pastor of their sins. Then the first thing out of their pastor's mouth was, "I can see God is moving in all of you." "Really?", the kids thought. Not only that, the pastor told them that they would be the ones to save an entire congregation that had lost their love for God. Save a congregation? After their disobesdience to God? Impossible! But God who is rich in mercy taught them the meaning of grace. That He would love His children despite their disobedience and He would use them to save the lives of a congregation.

What these kids learned:
1. Do not forget God's blessings
2. Do not be lazy
3. Do not separate yourself from one another
4. Listen to God's whispers (convictions)
5. Don't forget God

God is always going to give you favor. Be mindful of satan's schemes and in all ways, acknowledge God. Do not forget God because the minuite we forget, His whispers fade the the world begins to shout. And remember, God is merciful. When you mess up, get back up on your feet and tell God, here I am Lord, how can you use me today! God is so rich in mercy!

Faith Beyond Imagination

Tonight I had a bible study. It was not planned and all in consisted of was asking questions. If I ask my pastor one question, he will literally take an hour to explain the answer. He loves questions. From our questions we went from discussing how to defend your faith, to what faith really is.
Better yet, do we really believe in having faith?

Many times we say we have faith but what does that mean?
Satan has faith that God is real and probably has more faith in the power of God than we do.

Thankfully, God expects that many will have faith only as small as a mustard seed! For example, if you have faith God can help you find a minimum wage job and pray as if God has already granted your request, He might just bless you beyond what you expected. Then your faith increases as God answers prayer. So you pray for 1,000 dollars and God gives you 5,000. You increase in faith. You pray then for 10,000 dollars and God blesses you with 100,000. so on and so forth.

God has to teach us how to grow our faith. We can't teach ourselves to have faith just as we can't bring a person to faith. That is all by God's power and His power is far beyond what we can imagine. So start imagining and pray as if God has already granted your request. He loves hearing from you and you can know for sure, as a father, He loves giving to His sons and daughters. It is a joy for Him.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

Romans 11

I know to chosing to write about the topic of Romans 11 is a lot, but it has been the cause of my life being overwhelmed by God's grace than ever before. First we have to take a look at the Old Testament to understand.

Hosea 4:1
"Hear the word of God
people of Isreal!
For God has a greivance
against the inhabitants of the land:
there is no truth, no faithful love
or knowledge of god in the land."


Isaiah 6:  verse 10
"Make the hearts of this people sluggish with fat
stop up their ears, and shut their eyes.
Otherwise, seeing with their eyes,
and hearing with their hearts,
they might repent and be healed!"


verse 12-13
"until God drives the people far away,
and the land is one vast desolation.
If even a tenth of the people remain,
it will again be devoured


But like a pistachio tree or an oak,
whose trunk remains alive
after it's leaves fall off, the holy seed with be its trunk."

What does this have to do with grace? If we read into Romans 11, it paints the picture. Think of an olive tree. This olive tree represents the people of Israel, the chosen people of God who we read about all through the Old Testament. The Jewish people stumbled, and God who was rich in mercy sent a Savior to save both Jew and Gentile. So why then are the Jewish people so blinded by this mercy?

There is a purpose.

In Romans 11 it says, "It is by means of their stumbling that the deliverance has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy...they were broken off because of their lack of trust."vs 11
God broke off the Jewish people from their own tree! Instead, He has grafted us Gentiles into this Jewish tree through the Messiah.
"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you- a wild olive branch-were grafted in amoung them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree...remember, you are not supporting the root, the root (the Jewish people) are supporting you." vs. 17-18
" Just as you yourselves were disobedient to God before but have recieved mercy now because of Isreal's disobedience: so also Israel has been disobedient now, so that by showing them the same mercy God has shown you, they too may now recieve God's mercy." vs. 30

What Mercy! What Grace!

Paul says in Romans 10 that his deepest desire and prayer for Israel is their salvation. If the Jewish people are blinded so that we, as Gentiles can be saved, how then should we be praying?
In Matthew 23, Yeshua is speaking to the people of Israel saying, "For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." vs. 39

We will not see Jesus return until the Jewish people are grafted back into the tree that we share with them. However, that is happening right now and the ministry I am working with is seeing Jewish people come to know the Messiah and we worship as Jews and Gentiles together just like the church of Ephesus. It is beautiful and I do believe that God is taking the blinders off the Jewish people that have been there for 2,000 years. More Jewish people have come to know the Messiah in the last 20 years than the past 2,000 years prior. Yes, He is coming soon. I know this is a lot to think about, but it all makes God's grace for a gentile like myslef so overwhelming.

Bible Reading Plan

I have been trying to read the bible through in a year doing the chronological plan and I was folling it well for a good amount of time. I must admit though, I found it a struggle to read straight through and I wasn't being fed the word properly. I wasn't in the best condition as I soon stopped absorbing what I was reading and mainly tried to achieve my goal more than learn from God's word.

Coming here to Cabo, I was introduced to a reading plan entirely different and everyone seemed to love this plan. I am going to finish reading the bible completely through this year, but this time I am picking up this reading plan and finding so much joy in opening up God's word every day. Maybe you might want to give it a try?

Section 1                                            

Genesis         
Exodus          

Section 2
Leviticus          
Numbers         
Deuteronomy   

Section 3
Joshua   
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel

Section 4
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles

Section 5
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon 

Section 6
Psalms

Section 7
Proverbs

Section 8
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel

Section 9
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

Section 10
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts

Section 11
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Hebrews
Revelation

Section 12
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude

Sorry this is so long... Basically, you read one chapter in one book of each section per day. For example, if I'm just beginning this reading plan ,I read Genisis 1:1, Leviticus 1:1, Joshua 1:1 and so on. So you read 12 chapters a day because there are 12 sections. It probably takes 45 minutes each day, so you can always split it up however you want if you wish to read a shorter length of time. You will never repeat the plan the same because there are different amounts of chapters in each section. That's what makes it fun! I love this plan and maybe you might want to take it on as well!

July 13, 2011

Exactly a year ago, I was on a mission trip to Boston with my youth group. It was on July 13th that I felt the presence of God. He was placing a calling in my life for full time ministry. With tears filling my eyes, I spoke with my youth pastor who confirmed a peace about my calling and who has guided me this past year. In my heart I desired to be a missionary. The world would tell me this was not my will, but I knew deep in my heart and by the presence of God that He wanted me to be a missionary. I was anxious this past year trying to figure out where I was headed and what I was doing with my life. I knew God had called me to full time ministry, but the world put many obstacles in my way.

It is tonight, One year later, as I am here in a Messianic congregation in Cabo, Mexico, that God has revealed to me His grace. It did not hit me what day it was today until the spirit of God filled our congregation and almost everyone accepted the holy spirit into their lives tonight by the grace of God. It was beautiful and tears stained my cheeks as I tried to take pictures and document everything. Then it hit me. Exactly a year ago, I felt God's presence calling me to be a missionary and now here I am, in Cabo, living in a tent inside a church; a missionary for God.

I was overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and grace. I fell crying. I was so overwhelmed by this grace God had shown me. Many came up to me to give me hugs as I prayed and just held me as I sobbed. They did not know what was going on in my heart, but that had love for me. It was that love that has shown me so much grace being here. I am astonished by such love in this church. God is pouring out His love to me through the people of this church and I am truely thankful for where God has brought me this past year.

I am so overwhelmed, I am sure my words are not very clear, but what is clear is that God is a God of Love.

Cabo San Lucas

There is so much to say as I sit here in my tent on the 8th day of being here in Cabo. I wish I could explain in simple words all that God is showing me. Unfortunately, it will take me a few more blog posts before I can begin to bring about an understanding of all that is happening. First off, God's love is amazing and even more so when you see His love working in the lives of everyone in your congregation. Secondly, the life of  a missionary is quite difficult especially when the enemy wishes to tear you down. However, love truely conquers all. I have been showered with many blessings of love.

I want to share a new bible reading plan that I have learned about here in my church congregation. I have found it to be quite amazing. I'll post it very soon. :)

Prayer

Prayer:
The silent prayer
Can go anywhere
Through the times of rejoicing
To the times of despair


An uplifter of the soul
A peace to the mind
Strength in the battle 
And a heart that's divine


Prayer is medicine
For the weary of heart
It is the key to life
In a missionaries plight


Prayer unanswered 
Can do wondrous things
For God searches the heart 
And knows all your needs


A prayer in short 
Can be so strong
With words of passion 
And words of Psalm


Lets not worry to pray
Just to pray every day
But pray with your whole
Heart, soul, mind, and strength


This is my last night here in Texas, before I leave for Cabo. The one thing I need most, more than anything, more than a packed suitcase, a checked off to-do list, or a good night's rest is prayer. I sat through service today at church as pain shot through my stomach. All day long my stomach has been in tremendous pain. I got still and prayed for the pain to go away and instantly it did. One week ago, my stomach was in similar pain as I was about to help with a church service. I prayed and instantly the pain went away and I felt better. I believe more than anything that God knows our hearts and He remains faithful to answer prayer. 


He is King or Kings and Lord of Lords and able to do exceedingly more than we can imagine. He is a God of miracles! 


"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24


And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21: 21-22

Another Closing Chapter

I am ashamed to say I have only posted on my blog once this past month. I have let my busy schedule overtake me. Well here it is, the beginning of July where summer is at its peak and so much is happening!

On a personal note, I would love to share what is changing in my life. It has been a time to say goodbye to family and friends, but of course it is only for a while. However, I am saying goodbye forever to the life I am so familiar with. God has set me on a new path and I am very excited for what lies ahead. As an update, in about two days I will be heading to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where I will be living for this first year of college. I will be working in the ministry while starting my studies online. I wish to keep you all posted on all that is happening along my journey and continue blogging all about God's incredible word. Right now I am refreshed from a wonderful time at youth camp and I am ready to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ. I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life and the wonderful friends and family that are always there for me.

One of my new jobs in Cabo will be to document all the miracles happing in the congregation. One of the greatest miracles that God has done in my life is answering my prayers, bringing some of the greatest friends into my life. 

Faithful

God is faithful


Many times I have heard that statement yet not pondered upon how true those words are. Normally it is not until I see His faithfulness that I rejoice. Yet I am learning that God is faithful in all times, and worthy to be praised.


"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 136:1


My story of God's faithfulness goes something like this...  July. I know in my heart God is calling me to full time ministry, though I have no idea how I will get there. September. College applications seemed endless and the overwhelming list of what a Senior must do to prepare for college was a bit much. I went on, unsure of where I was going or what I was doing. March. Everyone around me seemed to know where they were headed and what major they were perfectly destined to study. Me, on the other hand had no clue.  All I knew, was God would provide, but that was hard to rejoice in when it seemed like time was running out. April. I think I know the perfect school for me, it has everything I want in a school and much more. May. My decision letter FINALLY comes and yep, it's a decline. One hour later. I get an email from a ministry I know well down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, asking if I might be interested in studying online while working in the ministry. Umm... I'm thinking at this point my parents would never agree and I would be left studying at a community college. But, they agreed! June. Many kids are being saved through church ministry and God is continually doing miracles. 


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20


I do not say any of this to boast in what God has done in my life, but to boast in how faithful God is. I know that we all have a story, maybe even our college decision, where God has shown himself so faithful. Not only faithful when everything works out, but in the times of uncertainty because His plan is moving forward in our lives, we just can't see it yet. 


"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." Phillippians 4:4

Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied,

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?

I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign,

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign

And Lord, You promised that if we believe

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want- But, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fulness of love

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd know that I give and I save... (for a start),

But you'd not know the depth of the Beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for Thee.'

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me. 

And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still, 'WAIT.'"

~Unknown

Mourning Into Dancing

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy," Psalm 30:11


Have you ever found a way to turn sadness into joy? It's tough, isn't it. The bible tells us that we do have a reason to rejoice, even in our sadness. But how do we do that?


1. Realizing suffering can be a good thing.
Back in the fall my mentor taught me that if we never suffered, we would have a reason to worry. (James 1: 1-2) This is because suffering makes us stronger and as we see in scripture, God allows his children to suffer so they can fulfill his great plan for their lives! 


2. Realizing you have people there for you.
God created the church not just so we could learn about Him, but so we could encourage one another and build each other up. The body of Christ wants to lift you up in your time of mourning. Go to fellow believers and open up about what is going on in your life and there will be much blessing.


3. Realizing Pray is your greatest weapon
Fighting times of sadness, depression, loneliness, hurt, betrayal, or loss can be almost near impossible without prayer. It is vital we go to God before anyone else. As one of my leaders in the church would say, "Go to the throne before the phone." Sharing your feelings with fellow Christians is important, but going to God first is most important. I find in the times I am most down, kneeling down to pray for at least five minutes, automatically lifts up my spirit and I find reason to rejoice in my King. He is so faithful to hear our prayers. (1 John 5: 14-15)


Remember, If you can rejoice in times of mourning, think of the great witness you could be! 

Show Me Your Glory

If I could just see a glimpse of the glory of my King. It seems like the earth is crying out, yearning for more. The end of the world was predicted to be May 21, and now it's predicted in 2012. But as believers we know we will not know the day or the hour for not only Christ or the angels in heaven know. Yet we long to be in the presence of our King for we are in the beginning of birth pains and those that are believers yearn to be with Christ.

"I long to look on the face of the One that I love. Long to stay in Your presence, where I BELONG."

His Glory With Us

Rowena R

I don't want to live 

If not for you, Oh God

May everything I do

Be a light of love burning for You

"For me, to live is Christ, to die is Gain." Philippians 1:21

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

A friend posted this video up on facebook last night and it really lifted me up. Many times we feel like we're falling in our faith, we can't measure up, or were disappointing God, but what does God really say? Check out this skit. :)

Save Me, O My God

"O Lord, how many are my foes! 

Many are rising against me; 

many are saying of my soul, 

there is no salvation for him in God.

But you, O Lord, are a shield

about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head."

Psalm 3: 1-3


You may not realize, but there is spiritual warfare raging all about us. Our King fights for us and shields us from our enemy. Glory be to Him!

HairstonM

Time is moving, and so is God's Spirit

Wow! I have not been keeping up with my blog as I should! So much has happened these past couple weeks that I would love to share with you all. I feel like I have not shared much about the girl behind these written words on a webpage. Well, now's the time. :)


First off, this girl does not have it all together and never will she. I will admit continually that I have so much to learn about myself and about my King. I write because I am inspired to seek after my God. I am inspired that He would show me more of His Character. I am no theologian, philosopher, or no writer for that matter. Just a girl who loves to write and loves Jesus!
........


I am officially graduating from High School in less than a month! Whoa! It's official. I received my first graduation gift, gave my Senior semonette today at a girls retreat, had my senior recognition service, and I'm now ordering my plane ticket to where I'm spending the next year of my life!  

Here I am, Lord send me!

.......

In less than two months I will be writing to you all from outside the U.S. I am excited for my new journey but I am also anxious of what God has in store for me on my mission field. I will be living in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a year, working with youth in a church congregation while starting my college studies online. For one, I have never been to Cabo and have little idea of what to expect. It seems I have jumped into the running stream of the Holy Spirit and He is taking me to a new place. But I am very excited. I have found so much love in the people I will be working with and I haven't even met most of them! I will make sure to give you all updates about my new journey ahead. 

........

Living by the Spirit can mean a lot of Spiritual Warfare. It seems like satan wants to make me as miserable as can be and wants to desperately crush God's plans for me. He is taking away a lot of my focus in one of the busiest seasons in my life, giving me feelings of low self-worth, loneliness, and sickness. My soon to be home in Cabo faces persecution and I realize the road ahead may not be easy, but there is greater power in He who lives in us than he who is in this world trying to wreak havoc on our hearts. I'm telling satan to flee and I am desperately guarding my heart against his attacks. 

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On a better note, our God is proving himself faithful. I came back from a wonderful girls retreat with my church this weekend where I had the opportunity to love on middle school girls who were honestly inspirations of faith and blessed me tremendously. They lifted my spirit and it truly humbled me to hear stories of younger girls starting revivals in their middle schools by sharing the gospel of Christ! AMEN! There is so much beauty in that picture and it keeps me going in this time as I look forward even more to the opportunity to invest in the lives of younger students. 

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Lastly, the girl behind this blog loves hearing how God is moving in your life! There is so much beauty in one's encounter with Christ and it inspires me to hear the stories of faith written on many blogs I follow. I also promise that in the coming weeks, I will work harder to post on my blog and share with you all of my encounter in God's word. It has really been my shield against satan's attacks. 

.......

What to expect in the coming months with my blog:

1. A large look into the Psalms of David

2. Updates of my journey to Cabo

3. A Giveaway!

Happy Mother's Day!

I have had one convicting week. A week teaching me that Life is not all about "me". A decision letter that was not an acceptance, and a time with my mother that was a great lesson of selflessness. Appropriately, mother's day falls today where I appreciate my mother's guidance in reminding me that my life is not about myself, and God's ways are surely greater my own.

In 1st Samuel we see Hannah's great faith as she prays for a son. She weeps and the Lord hears her cries, she fasts, and the Lord strengthens her faith. The bible says that in due time the Lord gave her a son and his name was Samuel, a high priest, prophet and judge who greatly feared the Lord and plays a large role in God's plan for the people of Israel. It's a beautiful story, because Hannah bears three more sons and two daughters. The Lord greatly blessed her faith and used her to raise a son that proclaimed the name of God. God blesses exceedingly more than we may ask for. We can have hope that when situations seem dire, God will bless us if we keep faith in His ways. His ways are surely greater than our ways.

"My heart exults in the Lord; 

my strength is exalted in the Lord. 

My mouth derides my enemies, 

because I rejoice in your salvation.

There is none holy like the Lord;

there is none besides you; 

there is no rock like our God."

1 Samuel 2:1-2 (Prayer of Hannah)

Sadness

amandamabel

I cannot hide the fact that I am sad. I have been sad for some time now if I am really honest with myself. It's not that I come across as sad. I do a great job of masking my sadness that I myself believe it's not there. I'm in the word, my prayers to God are deeper than they have ever been in quite a while, so why then do I face such grief? I have either let my heart grow weary, or God is tearing me down bit by bit so He may build me back up. 

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

When you feel sad, do you have a scripture you turn to? Maybe a verse that lifts your spirit?

The True Worshipper

Mary Caroline Mann

This is a year of many lasts for me. Of course there are many new beginnings ahead, but it's hard saying goodbye to my high school years. I praise God for an awesome time of worship last night with my youth group, at an event we have throughout the year called Collide. It was a closing chapter for me. 

I've found myself pondering on the meaning of worship a lot this past year, learning that worship is far more than the songs we sing, the notes we play, the hands we raise, or the words we say.  Worship is a lifestyle. It means resting our thoughts on God, working heartily for the Lord, using our gifts to give glory to his name, and constantly lavishing God's word. I cannot wait to experience worship in heaven!

Here's one of my journal entries I found on worship.

December 6, 2010

"I used to think worship meant going to church and singing hymns. To be honest, I thought it was boring and I truly didn't worship God, but more myself. I thought worship was meant for one day a week and that it would not make sense otherwise. But I have found I cannot live without worship in every aspect of my life because it IS my life. Worship is like a chocolate cake. The icing is the church and I am but a sprinkle on top. Worship is much greater than myself. Worship is what brings the people of the church together and what brings churches together as one. If we want to focus on Christ then we need to stop focusing on the smaller picture. It is not my church that I attend every week, but God's church. I do not go to church for attendance or the comfortable feeling I get when around the people I love, but I go to worship the same God others worship all over this world. That is the God that created me and you and sent His Son as a gift, a sacrifice for our wrongs. Whatever denomination, whatever church, whatever tradition, whatever music, whatever sermon, whatever events, charities, ministries; none matter without the heartbeat of worship for Christ.  So I now look at worship as a much greater picture far past what I can imagine. The awe I feel when I worship is the awe I have of a God who is so unimaginably great. How can I live my life day to day and not stand and worship! God, may I praise your name all my days from now into eternity."

The Gateway Home

I’m in the valley

No one around me

I’m picking up

Walking on

Looking around me

Trying to find my pathway home

No where I know

But I’m searching for somewhere

Don’t got a family

Who will take care of me

I’m sticking low

In the cold

Wishing I could flee

Is there a place that I can go

Who’ll accept this unknown

Cause she’s searching for something

 ….

My child

Don’t ever grow weary

I’m here with you through the valley

You’re not alone

I died to take you home

Take my hand

I am the open door

My way

It’s through that narrow gate

Free for you to pass

But it’s the hard way

Accept by faith

It’s the only way

Than you will find me

I offer eternal grace

…..

I don’t know if I can go through the narrow gate

This way’s unknown, it’s unseen, it’s a steep escape

I can’t go back, turn away, or trust my own self

Oh God

I’m taking a leap of faith…

Agape

I long for a moment to gaze upon the world, and see the image that God's sees. I long to understand the complexities of life that reach far beyond my mind. I long for a deeper understanding of the need for God's LOVE to reach the nations. However, how can I understand the fullness of God's love when I'm surrounded by superficial relationships, distasteful media messages, and a broken family of my own? I cannot. I can never understand the fullness of Agape love that was nailed to the cross and suffered the fullness of God's wrath on the sins of all mankind, that made Christ sweat tears of blood for the sins He would carry to the grave. A King once on His throne in Heaven, pure, holy, and innocent, yet dying on a cross! A cross... He stepped down from His throne, abandoned His home, and humbled himself to death on a cross. That is love and it's power was seen as Christ was raised from death to life! Why can we not understand this love? We love those who give up some time for us each day, but Christ gave up His life for us. We are constantly plagued by love messages that degrade what real love is. If we're not careful we can start viewing love in all the wrong ways. Agape love is not the warm fuzzy feeling you get in your heart for the person you feel is "the one", it is not the puppy love of passing notes in class and late night phone calls, it is not the movie that makes you cry the thousandth time you've watched it, it is not your favorite dessert that grandma spent hours baking.

Agape
God is Love.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." John 4: 7-12

How do we show Agape?
Follow Christ's example.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12: 9-13


Yesterday at my church, I watched The Passion of The Christ. It was my first time seeing the film. I don't believe anyone walked out that night without their eyes stained with tears. Christ is Agape. You cannot seek or find any other Love like this. Agape love changes lives, saves souls, heals sinners, lifts the lowly, shows no partiality, forgives always, is so undeserved, yet God Loved us so much to offer this Love to all. What a beautiful King!