In about 20 minutes we are starting our traveling. I cannot even believe as I sit in the terminal that my trip is here. If I had any doubts about the trip before they are all gone now. The faithfulness of God is evident and he has provided for me in so many ways this morning already. He is the sole reason I am going to Germany and he is worth any fear I may have. Right now I am speechlessly pondering all of the qualities of our Lord. What an honor I have to serve him.
And if you were wondering at all, my team is amazing. I am sitting looking around at the wonderful people who were hand picked by God to accompany me on this trip. I am anxious to know them and to walk with God with them. If you would please pray for us the next 19 hours are going to be flying over oceans and mountains and so much more.
Time flies and now so must I. Next time I write I with be in Berlin! I can hardly believe it!
Pray for:
1. Endurance of faith, body, and spirit
2. Smooth plane rides
3. That all of our baggage arrives
Love the Lord more!
ps...my bag only weighted 42lbs!!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Germany in reach
As the day is coming to an end and the hours are drawing nearer to May 12th my heart and mind are racing. I was reading this morning in Ezekiel about Lord commissioning him to serve the nation of Israel. He described this weird vison of cherubims he had. He described in the senses of sight and sound how they flew around. Tehn suddenly they stopped. Only one thing could make these creatures stop, their creator and God. Ezekiel was paralyzed by the fear that came from simply hearing the Lord's voice. That fear, however, drew him closer to God and created a sense of knowing. There was no doubt in Ezekiel's mind that this was God, the one true God.
While I do not see cherubims nor hear the unimaginable audible voice of the living God, I am still struck with fear. Fear of the unknown and the unimaginable. This is the time when I am so thankful for the Bible. A gigantic book full of truths about the faithfulness and steadfast love of God. Every word of it proven true. By this and by this alone I will go to Germany. Without the promise of guidance and protection from the Lord I could never go. For Him and through him I leave this country.
I agree wholeheartedly with what Paul says, "I consider all things a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord." Seeing just one person come to know Jesus is worth leaving and losing everything else. I can find rest in that.
While I do not see cherubims nor hear the unimaginable audible voice of the living God, I am still struck with fear. Fear of the unknown and the unimaginable. This is the time when I am so thankful for the Bible. A gigantic book full of truths about the faithfulness and steadfast love of God. Every word of it proven true. By this and by this alone I will go to Germany. Without the promise of guidance and protection from the Lord I could never go. For Him and through him I leave this country.
I agree wholeheartedly with what Paul says, "I consider all things a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord." Seeing just one person come to know Jesus is worth leaving and losing everything else. I can find rest in that.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Amen to Pursuit of Holiness..so far
Hi!
Recently I have been reading The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. I am a big fan of older books and what I mean by that is, books that were written well before my time, 70s and back. I love the honesty and the truth that sprung from that time period and just the style of writing. After I finished That's Why They call Him Savior, I was randomly looking for a book and found The Pursuit of Holiness.
I am a redeemed reformed Christian woman. I knew before this book that God calls us into a Holy Life with him, but we are all still sinful by nature and therefore doomed to sin. Well Bridges seems to have a different take on a Holy Life that has convicted me beyond belief.
At the beginning of the book he states very plainly that, like I said before, Christians are called to a Holy Life, but why? He explains that we must be Holy because God himself is Holy and that Holiness is not an option. It says in Hebrews that, "without holiness no one sees the Lord." I want to see God and I want to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. Bridges goes on to say that, Holiness has to do with more than mere acts. Our motives must be Holy, that is, rising from a desire to do something simply because it is the will of God." Not only that but in the next chapter Bridges convicted me by saying that because Christ died to our sin, we are now set free. But since we have been a slave to our sin for so long our mortal body still sees itself as sinful, which causes us to continue to sin. Therefore making sin a choice.
At this point in the book I was convicted and ashamed. I needed to talk with God. I pleaded with God and repented for being so wrong and deceitful. Then I sat in silence and asked the Holy Spirit to speak to me. Through this much needed quiet time God revealed that He loves me in spite of my sin, yet He desires for me to a Holy child. What a great God do we have! One who is willing to love His children even though they are evil and constantly running away.
I applaud Jerry Bridges for his work, so far, in the Pursuit of Holiness. This book has given me a wake up call to a new life of Holiness, by God standards, not by the standards the world has set for us. Please pray for me, as I will for all of you, that we may live in Holiness, so that we can see our Lord and creator.
Recently I have been reading The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. I am a big fan of older books and what I mean by that is, books that were written well before my time, 70s and back. I love the honesty and the truth that sprung from that time period and just the style of writing. After I finished That's Why They call Him Savior, I was randomly looking for a book and found The Pursuit of Holiness.
I am a redeemed reformed Christian woman. I knew before this book that God calls us into a Holy Life with him, but we are all still sinful by nature and therefore doomed to sin. Well Bridges seems to have a different take on a Holy Life that has convicted me beyond belief.
At the beginning of the book he states very plainly that, like I said before, Christians are called to a Holy Life, but why? He explains that we must be Holy because God himself is Holy and that Holiness is not an option. It says in Hebrews that, "without holiness no one sees the Lord." I want to see God and I want to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. Bridges goes on to say that, Holiness has to do with more than mere acts. Our motives must be Holy, that is, rising from a desire to do something simply because it is the will of God." Not only that but in the next chapter Bridges convicted me by saying that because Christ died to our sin, we are now set free. But since we have been a slave to our sin for so long our mortal body still sees itself as sinful, which causes us to continue to sin. Therefore making sin a choice.
At this point in the book I was convicted and ashamed. I needed to talk with God. I pleaded with God and repented for being so wrong and deceitful. Then I sat in silence and asked the Holy Spirit to speak to me. Through this much needed quiet time God revealed that He loves me in spite of my sin, yet He desires for me to a Holy child. What a great God do we have! One who is willing to love His children even though they are evil and constantly running away.
I applaud Jerry Bridges for his work, so far, in the Pursuit of Holiness. This book has given me a wake up call to a new life of Holiness, by God standards, not by the standards the world has set for us. Please pray for me, as I will for all of you, that we may live in Holiness, so that we can see our Lord and creator.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Faithfulness is surely evident.
Hi everyone!
Sorry I haven't blogged in a long time. I am new to this and the last couple of weeks have been really packed to the brim. Here's an update on what has been happening in my life.
Since my last(first) blog:
1. My roommates moved out of 545.
2. Two new girls moved in.
3. I housed our sisters who went to Jamaica.
4. I had my last week of work at the Y.
5. I became very close with Sharon while planning her wedding.
6. I started reading Isaiah. (There is soo much goodness in this book!)
7. The wedding became top priority.
8. Kent, Sharon, and I bonded.
9. We moved Kent and Sharon into their new house!
10. Sharon moved out.
11. I hung out with the boys like three times a week.
12. I played tennis like other day.
13. I moved into like three different houses.
14. Sharon and Kent were married!
15. I moved in Alpha Chi Omega.
16. I came back to Illinois for a day and a half.
17. My sister and her boyfriend of two years broke up.
All of these things were so completely good. God has allowed me to use my time to grow relationships with other rooted in Christ. Even though I was stressed, worried about others, tired, and sometimes lonely, God was faithful.
It says in 1st Corinthians that we can continue to learn more and more about the Father because He has given us the Holy Spirit. This summer through the power of the Holy Spirit I have witnessed how completely faithful our God is. He sees us through in the tough times and brings us joyous times so that we can praise Him and bring glory to His name. 2009 hasn't been what I expected and I am so glad of that! I hope that one day I can ask God to bring me trials because I want the maturity and endurance that comes from the pains of the world. And ultimately hope in Him through everything.
I know that I am unfaithful. I am a wretched sinner and I will let myself and others down. It is a miracle of grace that I have been saved and now loved by Christ. He was faithful to me and I am completely confident that He will continue to be. How great is our God!
Sorry I haven't blogged in a long time. I am new to this and the last couple of weeks have been really packed to the brim. Here's an update on what has been happening in my life.
Since my last(first) blog:
1. My roommates moved out of 545.
2. Two new girls moved in.
3. I housed our sisters who went to Jamaica.
4. I had my last week of work at the Y.
5. I became very close with Sharon while planning her wedding.
6. I started reading Isaiah. (There is soo much goodness in this book!)
7. The wedding became top priority.
8. Kent, Sharon, and I bonded.
9. We moved Kent and Sharon into their new house!
10. Sharon moved out.
11. I hung out with the boys like three times a week.
12. I played tennis like other day.
13. I moved into like three different houses.
14. Sharon and Kent were married!
15. I moved in Alpha Chi Omega.
16. I came back to Illinois for a day and a half.
17. My sister and her boyfriend of two years broke up.
All of these things were so completely good. God has allowed me to use my time to grow relationships with other rooted in Christ. Even though I was stressed, worried about others, tired, and sometimes lonely, God was faithful.
It says in 1st Corinthians that we can continue to learn more and more about the Father because He has given us the Holy Spirit. This summer through the power of the Holy Spirit I have witnessed how completely faithful our God is. He sees us through in the tough times and brings us joyous times so that we can praise Him and bring glory to His name. 2009 hasn't been what I expected and I am so glad of that! I hope that one day I can ask God to bring me trials because I want the maturity and endurance that comes from the pains of the world. And ultimately hope in Him through everything.
I know that I am unfaithful. I am a wretched sinner and I will let myself and others down. It is a miracle of grace that I have been saved and now loved by Christ. He was faithful to me and I am completely confident that He will continue to be. How great is our God!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
My First Blog
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything and my time has come to blog! I am honestly not sure what I am doing but I am always willing to try new things. I have written this first blog to state my mission for this endeavor in the form of goals.
The first goal I have for this blog is that it brings more glory to the Kingdom of God. I am confident that our Lord Jesus Christ can use anything to further His Kingdom and I do not plan on seeing the fruits of this ministry. I know that if I faithfully stick to my purpose the blog will breed a 100% success rate, for no wrong can come from the Truth.
My second goal is that it will create a wider community of believers. God calls everyone into community and clearly states in Genesis that it is not good for man to be alone and that "If one of you should wander from the truth, someone should bring him back" James 5:19. It is our duty to love and serve others faithfully. God demands us to share the Truth boldly and as we are told in other scripture the world will think us foolish for doing so.
Finally, blogs are an excellent way to fellowship and share ideas. I am hopeful that I will be challenged, proven wrong, and corrected. I enjoy learning from people who are more intelligent and are more mature than I. It is through conversation and debate that people, not only become more tolerant, but also learn.
For all of this is for His glory. I would not be where I am today without the love of Jesus Christ and community He has provided for me. Thanks be to God!
The first goal I have for this blog is that it brings more glory to the Kingdom of God. I am confident that our Lord Jesus Christ can use anything to further His Kingdom and I do not plan on seeing the fruits of this ministry. I know that if I faithfully stick to my purpose the blog will breed a 100% success rate, for no wrong can come from the Truth.
My second goal is that it will create a wider community of believers. God calls everyone into community and clearly states in Genesis that it is not good for man to be alone and that "If one of you should wander from the truth, someone should bring him back" James 5:19. It is our duty to love and serve others faithfully. God demands us to share the Truth boldly and as we are told in other scripture the world will think us foolish for doing so.
Finally, blogs are an excellent way to fellowship and share ideas. I am hopeful that I will be challenged, proven wrong, and corrected. I enjoy learning from people who are more intelligent and are more mature than I. It is through conversation and debate that people, not only become more tolerant, but also learn.
For all of this is for His glory. I would not be where I am today without the love of Jesus Christ and community He has provided for me. Thanks be to God!
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