So after the week of never-ending snow (aka being inside your house for a week!) ;) my sister and I decided to venture out and use some giftcards received over the holidays.
At the end of our shopping trip we were both pretty hungry and decided to use another gift card at the local Panera and grab a sandwich and have a peaceful little lunch. As we are sitting down to eat it became quite obvious to both of us that at the table right next to us there was quite an intense debate/conversation happening about whether the Bible was God's word and wether or not God really exists etc. I enjoy those type sof conversations and we couldn't help but hear it since the guys voice was quite loud. Haha... we ended up getting brave and asking them to come over to our table and continue the discussion. It was great - and Candace (the girl) believes the Bible and Jordan was questioning and saying he didn't feel like he could and wanted evidence. It was a good conversation.
I like meeting random people in Panera and discussing God. Jordan is currently attending Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and just finished taking a class called "The Problem of God." I thought that was so interessting seeing as I so strongly believe that God is the answer to the problem (the problem being sin.) Hmmm... good thinking thoughts. I enjoy. :D
December 26, 2008
December 23, 2008
Overwhelming Love
I could not have had a more beautiful birthday. Lately my heart has felt overwhelmed with love and I don't even know how to handle it all. There are so many incredibly, beautiful people in my life who I know love me way more than I deserve but I thank the Lord so much for allowing all these people into my life - they have helped shape and challenge me and have been there through the hard times to remind me of who I am in Christ and challenge me to joy through all circumstances. I am so humbled at all of this love and am honestly overwhelmed with love. Pure love.
Fruit and Gifts
Lately I have been thinking alot about the fruits of the Spirit verses the gifts of the Spirit.
A fruit is the product of what is cultivated.
A gift is freely given by the Lord and is ours to receive or reject.
So - fruit of the Spirit is something that can be grown and cultivated only through the vine, Jesus Christ (John 15) and is affected by our surroundings/environment/choices. Fruit flourishes under the right conditions or dies. It can also look good on the outside but inside be worthless.
The gifts of the Spirit is something that God gives us freely to further His kingdom and is ours either to receive and use for His kingdom or to hoard and be selfish with. It's a gift to use to further the Kingdom not something we are supposed to sit on and keep for ourselves. I think a gift shared and given to others is so beautiful.
A fruit is the product of what is cultivated.
A gift is freely given by the Lord and is ours to receive or reject.
So - fruit of the Spirit is something that can be grown and cultivated only through the vine, Jesus Christ (John 15) and is affected by our surroundings/environment/choices. Fruit flourishes under the right conditions or dies. It can also look good on the outside but inside be worthless.
The gifts of the Spirit is something that God gives us freely to further His kingdom and is ours either to receive and use for His kingdom or to hoard and be selfish with. It's a gift to use to further the Kingdom not something we are supposed to sit on and keep for ourselves. I think a gift shared and given to others is so beautiful.
December 20, 2008
"Secrets"
“Secrets”
6/18/2008
It started out as something so small
A neglected heart at the edge of the crowd
What draw the crowd has – one may never know
But she stands at the edge –feeling alone and left out
There is a war going on much deeper than she knows
It started almost before time
So how can she fight if she doesn’t know?
The war for a soul – defenseless and standing at the edge of the crowd
What secrets held inside?
Secrets that are meant to be shared
Secrets that stay inside only bind you in fear
The voices that no one hears but scream at you at night
They hold you alone and keep you at the edge of the crowd
That’s part of the war that started before time
The battle for a soul – Satan has no right
He stretches out the tentacles that keep you locked up in fear
Freedom seems impossible
Secrets are what bind you in fear
The father of lies is the father of secrets
When you hold them inside the secrets control you
Not only the secrets but the father of secrets
Each secret a tentacle –keeping you from your freedom
Each secret a chain and lock that must be opened
To be able to trust and to gain your freedom
You can’t hold these secrets they don’t belong to you
You were bought at a price before you even knew what love was
The chains held by the father of secrets
Keep your soul locked and bound
Can be opened and freed – you must trust and get rid of these secrets
Secrets held in the dark will only tie you down
You must shed light on them
Though your eyes squint and you shudder from what used to hold you down
The light will expose the dark secrets and the darkness will flee
When you trust and share the secret
Only then can you be free
6/18/2008
It started out as something so small
A neglected heart at the edge of the crowd
What draw the crowd has – one may never know
But she stands at the edge –feeling alone and left out
There is a war going on much deeper than she knows
It started almost before time
So how can she fight if she doesn’t know?
The war for a soul – defenseless and standing at the edge of the crowd
What secrets held inside?
Secrets that are meant to be shared
Secrets that stay inside only bind you in fear
The voices that no one hears but scream at you at night
They hold you alone and keep you at the edge of the crowd
That’s part of the war that started before time
The battle for a soul – Satan has no right
He stretches out the tentacles that keep you locked up in fear
Freedom seems impossible
Secrets are what bind you in fear
The father of lies is the father of secrets
When you hold them inside the secrets control you
Not only the secrets but the father of secrets
Each secret a tentacle –keeping you from your freedom
Each secret a chain and lock that must be opened
To be able to trust and to gain your freedom
You can’t hold these secrets they don’t belong to you
You were bought at a price before you even knew what love was
The chains held by the father of secrets
Keep your soul locked and bound
Can be opened and freed – you must trust and get rid of these secrets
Secrets held in the dark will only tie you down
You must shed light on them
Though your eyes squint and you shudder from what used to hold you down
The light will expose the dark secrets and the darkness will flee
When you trust and share the secret
Only then can you be free
December 19, 2008
prayer continually
This is the Stockbridge Boiler Room Prayer Garage. They host 24/7 prayer times throughout the year and this past week they had another one. People sign up for hour time slots and they have prayer going on non-stop for a week. I went with my friend Christiana one morning this week and it's just wonderful. The prayers written out in the prayer journals, through art on the walls, nailed on the cross, the music. I don't pray enough - in fact I am really bad at praying. I'm really good at worrying first and praying second. God has been speaking to me alot about prayer lately and it is an area of my life i am striving to re-vamp and break old habits in. Old-habits die hard however. So if you are reading this I would appreciate prayers to pray more and first. Thank you for that...
Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~
December 15, 2008
Joy
Joy to the world - the Lord is come!
Joy is so incredible. I love how the Bible talks about Joy -
"Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2)
Once again that seeming contradiction of the Bible. But is it really? Why would it be joyful to face a trial? Maybe because in the facing of a trial you become closer to Christ and his suffering on the cross and understand His heart better. What if through that trial you become more like Christ? What if through that trial you're joy becomes more pure because you have been in the valley and walked through it and up the other side and have been better prepared for something that God is calling you towards but would have no idea how to handle if you hadn't walked through that trial. Ultimate pure joy.
At church yesterday, Rod was talking about when we truly are seeking Christ we sometimes become poor, suffer and are rejected, and yet it says this is pure joy. The world offers popularity, wealth, success etc. which can look very attractive. Except those are empty and do not bring about the type of everlasting joy. True joy comes at a cost. Jesus is joy.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Phillipians 2:6-10)
Joy comes from surrender and that also brings about freedom. Jesus made himself obedient to death. Why would we not? Jesus is joy. Do you want deep, pure, joy? Try surrendering as Jesus did and die to self and live only in Him and through Him. Joy is a choice not an emotion... Especially through the hard things that is when we must choose joy because it is bringing about Jesus in our life.
Joy to the world - the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing...
Joy is so incredible. I love how the Bible talks about Joy -
"Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2)
Once again that seeming contradiction of the Bible. But is it really? Why would it be joyful to face a trial? Maybe because in the facing of a trial you become closer to Christ and his suffering on the cross and understand His heart better. What if through that trial you become more like Christ? What if through that trial you're joy becomes more pure because you have been in the valley and walked through it and up the other side and have been better prepared for something that God is calling you towards but would have no idea how to handle if you hadn't walked through that trial. Ultimate pure joy.
At church yesterday, Rod was talking about when we truly are seeking Christ we sometimes become poor, suffer and are rejected, and yet it says this is pure joy. The world offers popularity, wealth, success etc. which can look very attractive. Except those are empty and do not bring about the type of everlasting joy. True joy comes at a cost. Jesus is joy.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Phillipians 2:6-10)
Joy comes from surrender and that also brings about freedom. Jesus made himself obedient to death. Why would we not? Jesus is joy. Do you want deep, pure, joy? Try surrendering as Jesus did and die to self and live only in Him and through Him. Joy is a choice not an emotion... Especially through the hard things that is when we must choose joy because it is bringing about Jesus in our life.
Joy to the world - the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing...
December 5, 2008
Called verses Qualified
"God doesn't call the qualified - He qualifies the called."
~Andy McDaniel~
My dad has some pretty good one liners. Some are funny, some are serious, some are funny yet serious seeing as it's my dad. But that one up there is pretty awesome. We live in a time where qualifications mean everything. We are constantly placing our value forward. People ask for qualifications when hiring for a job. We are really good at proving ourselves.
But yet we long for that place of resting in Christ where wo don't have to prove anything anyways, because He already knows. We long to be known and yet we are always trying to prove ourselves. We are contradictions.
Lord let me not get caught up in qualifications - when looking at others or in trying to prove myself. Let me come to you as an empty vessel that You alone can fill me up to be used for Your purposes alone. Call me to You first and foremost and let me not place value in my qualifications but rather in my calling to be called to you.
~Andy McDaniel~
My dad has some pretty good one liners. Some are funny, some are serious, some are funny yet serious seeing as it's my dad. But that one up there is pretty awesome. We live in a time where qualifications mean everything. We are constantly placing our value forward. People ask for qualifications when hiring for a job. We are really good at proving ourselves.
But yet we long for that place of resting in Christ where wo don't have to prove anything anyways, because He already knows. We long to be known and yet we are always trying to prove ourselves. We are contradictions.
Lord let me not get caught up in qualifications - when looking at others or in trying to prove myself. Let me come to you as an empty vessel that You alone can fill me up to be used for Your purposes alone. Call me to You first and foremost and let me not place value in my qualifications but rather in my calling to be called to you.
November 23, 2008
Jesus' Love
"You are the blood over, the door of my heart. What pain you spared me from, how could I know it all?!"
~Bethany Dillon~
I was thinking about this song lyric earlier and how absolutely intimate, caring and personal is Jesus' love for me. Just as in the book of Exodus it talks about a passover lamb and putting their blood over the doorframe so that the Lord would pass over their houses and not harm the Israelites, so does Jesus blood do that for me now. Nothing can "pass through" the door of my heart that doesn't directly impact Jesus, because His blood is over my heart and covers me. He cares and knows what is going in and out of the "door of my heart."
Wow.
~Bethany Dillon~
I was thinking about this song lyric earlier and how absolutely intimate, caring and personal is Jesus' love for me. Just as in the book of Exodus it talks about a passover lamb and putting their blood over the doorframe so that the Lord would pass over their houses and not harm the Israelites, so does Jesus blood do that for me now. Nothing can "pass through" the door of my heart that doesn't directly impact Jesus, because His blood is over my heart and covers me. He cares and knows what is going in and out of the "door of my heart."
Wow.
November 19, 2008
Contradiction, or not?
A few weeks ago I was at Evensong which is a weekly worship gathering of about 500+ college age students. They had a speaker come in named Thomas Mollhagen. He started Open Arms for Asia, an orphanage in India. http://www.openarmsforasia.org/
He was saying how one morning they didn't have any food and didn't have any money to get food and he was worried. One of the little girls came up to him and said, "Thomas did you pray yet?" He said, "yes I've prayed." She said, "then why are you worrying?" They all prayed together and a truck pulled up to the door and this guy had had a huge party the night before and had tons of left over food and asked if they could use it. God provides.
Then I was reading in Jeremiah 50:4
"In those days, at that time,"declares the LORD, "the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God.
Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life
Doesn't that contradict eachother? Being able to seek the Lord in tears and yet not worrying? Crying is a strong emotion, that Jesus experienced as well. Tears can be triggered by many things. So being able to seek the Lord in tears - I've been there but so often it can be associated with worry. The Bible is full of what seems to be contradictions. I myself can feel like a walking contradiction sometimes, but I think God understands our hearts. We are told not to worry but that can be literally impossible. I think not giving into a constant state of worry and learning about surrender is what God wants and being able to surrender through the hard things. I would like to be more like the little girl talking to Thomas. "Did you pray? Then why are you worried?" God knows we need to be able to come to Him in tears and cry and seek Him with those strong emotions, but being able to ultimately say - "I trust You, Lord and I will surrender even though this is hard."
Surrender. Wow, God understands our hearts so intimately. That is a beautiful concept!
November 6, 2008
Home
I've had alot of girls talk to me lately about feelings of loneliness or being left out. Having people go out and do things and then they find out about it later. Feelings of not belonging.
Girls like to be pursued and have a tendency to rely alot on expectations. If things don't go the way we think or had hoped it can tend to crush us.
I was thinking about this since alot of girls had expressed feelings of loneliness etc and it just reminded me that this is not our home. Sure we can have wonderful earthly families that God can bless us with and friendships but no matter how wonderful people can be they are still people and will let us down. This is not the end for us. This is not "home." We are going to have feelings of "left out" or not completely home. But what do we do with those feelings? In Luke it talks about how Jesus actually pursued lonely places to talk to God.
Luke 5:16
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
How many of us would acctually chose to often go to lonely places. Being lonely is usually associated with being a bad thing. I remember when my family first moved to Miami that was one of the most lonely times for me. I didn't have any friends - was 17 and didn't have a car. My sister (who is my best friend) stayed in Michigan for school. But that time was so wonderful. I look back on that time and wish I had a little more of that in my life now. I had so much time to just pour into my relationship with Christ. He shaped me and really did so much in my heart during this "lonely" time.
People long for "home" and what all that means and deep friendship and people long to be known intimately and loved for who we all are.
We aren't home yet - but being lonely is not bad. There are glimpses of home here that God gives us and those moments are beautiful reminders of what it will be someday. Thank you, Lord for those moments of "home" before we are home.
Girls like to be pursued and have a tendency to rely alot on expectations. If things don't go the way we think or had hoped it can tend to crush us.
I was thinking about this since alot of girls had expressed feelings of loneliness etc and it just reminded me that this is not our home. Sure we can have wonderful earthly families that God can bless us with and friendships but no matter how wonderful people can be they are still people and will let us down. This is not the end for us. This is not "home." We are going to have feelings of "left out" or not completely home. But what do we do with those feelings? In Luke it talks about how Jesus actually pursued lonely places to talk to God.
Luke 5:16
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
How many of us would acctually chose to often go to lonely places. Being lonely is usually associated with being a bad thing. I remember when my family first moved to Miami that was one of the most lonely times for me. I didn't have any friends - was 17 and didn't have a car. My sister (who is my best friend) stayed in Michigan for school. But that time was so wonderful. I look back on that time and wish I had a little more of that in my life now. I had so much time to just pour into my relationship with Christ. He shaped me and really did so much in my heart during this "lonely" time.
People long for "home" and what all that means and deep friendship and people long to be known intimately and loved for who we all are.
We aren't home yet - but being lonely is not bad. There are glimpses of home here that God gives us and those moments are beautiful reminders of what it will be someday. Thank you, Lord for those moments of "home" before we are home.
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