I'm sorry to say that I was late this week. And with no excuse. The reason simply being that I have had the mother of all colds chasing me for the longest time, and it caught up with me this weekend.
My little sister is now snug in her bed on campus at ASU Main, and though she is sometimes a loner, I will miss seeing her, and laughing with her, now that she is not just down the hall.
Last week was a tough one for me. I sorted a lot of emotions and anxieties. I faced myself, and didn't deal with me to well. But yesterday, I reminded me that God sees how He can be glorified in my weaknesses, and handed Him all my fears. Now, a new week faces me.
This new week is full of excitement and promise, not because of the things that I have filled it with, but because of the God who fills me. I just need to commit each moment to Him.
Today was spent out in this world, and hopefully God can use each encounter to bring those I met closer to Him. I am going to devote this moment to His work. And this night, and tomorrow, and this week, and this year.
I challenge you to do the same. Good night. See you next Sunday... really.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Search
Today we are having company over for my brother's birthday. I am full of joy for how God has worked in him and his family over the last year. I love him and can't wait to see what the next year will bring for him. :) The picture above is him and my nephew with their matching hair do!
Steven and Stephani, on their way to California.
Steven and Serene at the petting zoo a couple years ago.
Steven with his MJ cupcake at Sky's birthday party! The best picture I have of him.Happy Birthday Steven!
It is always fun and exciting when birthdays come in my family. My mom loves to make birthdays special, and I have many fond memories of cakes, parties, or just a special card or my siblings and I on our birthdays. However, as an adult, I now realize why my parents seemed so stressed right before our parties. When you have company, the house must be clean!
Today, I rushed home from church because I didn't finish cleaning a few things last night, and I wanted my bedroom and bathroom to be company-ready. It reminded me of dorm cleanings in school. At the Bible college, we are required to keep our rooms clean. In order to make sure this happens, every week there is an inspection. On Wednesdays, you will find otherwise normal and happy college students, down on the ground, scrubbing like their lives depended on it hoping that the inspection can be held off until they can remove the mold from the shower tile grout. They make certain that they have done their very best to rid their rooms of dirt, dust, mold, or any other thing that does not belong.
Throughout the week, most students keep their beds made and their belongings tidy. The trash is emptied, and the floors are mostly clear. Food is kept out of the room, and shoes are stowed under the beds or in the closet. But on Wednesdays, there is an inspection, and so the students make sure that there is nothing to be held against them.
This is how I feel as I approach Communion. I live my Christian life before God fairly clean. I try to seek Him in everything, and though I sin, I am repentant and continuing to serve Him. However, Communion is an opportunity for me to inspect myself, to seek out anything that I might have missed. But unlike my dorm inspections, God is not an inspector who comes in after I have cleaned to punish me for what I missed. He comes along side of me to help me clear it away. In fact, He just shows me what I've missed, asks me if I want to get rid of it, and then clears it out Himself. Although I may feel ashamed of my proverbial mold in the grout of my heart or the dust in the corner of my mind, I can know that Christ already took the punishment of that sin.
Therefore, I should be earnestly seeking out any concealed sin all the time, and not dreading this heart inspection. I should keep my spirit company-ready. I should remember that my body is the temple of the Lord. It is not what goes in that matters, but what is inside that will likely spill out. I pray that don't cough up the dust of sin, but that my mouth would overflow with words of praise.
I am on a search this week. And I challenge you to join me.
Lord, search me and know me. Change me from the inside out so that others may see You in me, and know that You are God.
Amen.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Peruvian Elephants, and Other Things
It's funny how during the Holidays, you can become so distracted by little things, like the Christmas gift you misplaced, and forget what is really important, even momentarily. I am fortunate enough to have something to keep me on track... my blog. :)
Right now, it is December 31st, the last day of 2009. It has been a crazy year, but since I explained that in my last post, I won't dwell on that.
Tomorrow I am going with my dad on a road trip because I have been invited to share at my aunt's church in the town where I was born. That is why I am writing my blog early, although, hopefully it will post Sunday afternoon. I will be gone all weekend. I am excited, but, honestly a little nervous
I am now trying to think about all that I wish to share at this church, and I am sure of a few things that I wish to tell them, but I don't know these people very well, so it's a new situation, and therefore makes me a little nervous. I am planning to share a little about myself, a little about what I've done in Peru, and a little about what I am expecting from my next trip. I also want to share with them something that I think is very important. I want to tell them how important it is to be part of missions.
So many people think that missions is an offering or a position or a trip, but that's not true. It's a call of God on the life of every believer. Let me explain. In Psalm 108: 3 David said, "I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples." (NIV) God is a God who is to be declared. He desires us to share Him with others.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus sent the disciples out with what we call the Great Commission. He told them to "Go and make disciples of every nation." He wanted the Good News to spread.
So, all Christians have a responsibility to share the gospel. But some do it in other parts of the world. I am one who is now going to another nation to share. This is what we call missions.
But I am not the only one who will receive a heavenly reward for my work in the mission field. anyone who takes a small part in sending me will also take part in any blessing I receive.
You who pray for me, who encourage me, who support me in so many ways, who learn from my ministry, all are as much a part of it as I am. You receive the same as me. This is your part, and it is sooooo important.
Romans 10:13-15 says:
Right now, it is December 31st, the last day of 2009. It has been a crazy year, but since I explained that in my last post, I won't dwell on that.
Tomorrow I am going with my dad on a road trip because I have been invited to share at my aunt's church in the town where I was born. That is why I am writing my blog early, although, hopefully it will post Sunday afternoon. I will be gone all weekend. I am excited, but, honestly a little nervous
I am now trying to think about all that I wish to share at this church, and I am sure of a few things that I wish to tell them, but I don't know these people very well, so it's a new situation, and therefore makes me a little nervous. I am planning to share a little about myself, a little about what I've done in Peru, and a little about what I am expecting from my next trip. I also want to share with them something that I think is very important. I want to tell them how important it is to be part of missions.
So many people think that missions is an offering or a position or a trip, but that's not true. It's a call of God on the life of every believer. Let me explain. In Psalm 108: 3 David said, "I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples." (NIV) God is a God who is to be declared. He desires us to share Him with others.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus sent the disciples out with what we call the Great Commission. He told them to "Go and make disciples of every nation." He wanted the Good News to spread.
So, all Christians have a responsibility to share the gospel. But some do it in other parts of the world. I am one who is now going to another nation to share. This is what we call missions.
But I am not the only one who will receive a heavenly reward for my work in the mission field. anyone who takes a small part in sending me will also take part in any blessing I receive.
You who pray for me, who encourage me, who support me in so many ways, who learn from my ministry, all are as much a part of it as I am. You receive the same as me. This is your part, and it is sooooo important.
Romans 10:13-15 says:
For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." How then shall
they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they
believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As
it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of
peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" (NKJV)
And you are sending me! The type of logic Paul uses here is ascending points in which each point is more important than the previous and the last point ("And how shall they preach unless they are sent?") is most important. I might have beautiful feet as I preach the gospel to children in Cuzco, but you are sending me!
Thank you! And Happy New Year!
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