Pruning

I praise God for the testing of my faith! What joy I have right now! May God's spirit dwell in me richly. The Lord keeps me humble. I am truly tickled that God has put you in my life. For He disciplines those He loves. He challenges us no more that we can handle. He provides a way out for every temptation. If we are not convicted by our own sin then we are not growing and God has given us over into our sin because we are stubborn and harden our own hearts. The Lord declares that He has great plans for us! Yes! better than we can imagine! I'm excited (I can't find the best word to describe this excitement) for what I see God doing in my life through you. You have forced me back on my knees to evaluate my heart. Lord, may you search me and know my heart and find any hurtful way in me and direct my path. May I be quick to hear and slow to speak. May I be living out your word and not just hearing it.

You are a beautiful child of God and He loves you and has compassion on you. He desires for you to experience His love and grace and for you to have immeasurable joy and peace! As we turn our hearts to the Lord, He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and He relents from sending calamity.

I am reminded of John 8:1-12. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5"Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." 12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

The adulterous woman could be anyone- for none of us are without sin. My flesh wants man's affirmation, but I am reminded that my faith and hope is in God and my conduct is before God in fear, knowing God sacrificed His son for my sins and out of reverence and hopeful expectation of His promises, I know that He is coming quickly without warning and He will render judgement and reward to everyone according to what they have done. No man (I use that term loosely to refer to male and female) no matter age, background, maturity will fulfill our longings and expectations here on earth, but it is in Christ, He alone who is the same yesterday, today, and forever that is our help. He who is the Maker of heaven and earth. May God grant you grace to know Him.

Katrina Cleanup

August 29, 2006, will be exactly a year since Hurricane Katrina drilled through the southeastern corner of the United States, leaving nothing much but a resemblance of what could be likened to a 3rd world country. The extreme devastation has left lasting impressions on the land, economy, but more importantly on the hearts of the people. Again, almost a year ago, slipping out of our minds, How bad could the effects be today?

When it all began, the storm surge left 80% of New Orleans under water, flooding most homes above the roofs, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph damaging an area up to 150 miles inland. Devastating the environment and economy along the way, there were approximately 1800 people who died and 400,000 people who were displaced and redistributed across the southern United States.

On June 5, 2005, thirteen individuals from NorthCreek went to New Orleans, Louisiana for a week joining EVFree’s Hurricane Relief and Rebuilding Team. We witnessed, even 9 months later, abandoned homes, neighborhoods, and shopping centers mile after mile. One would barely drive 3 miles without seeing a deserted, rusted car along the side of the road, windows smashed, tires and license plate missing.

It becomes so familiar while driving until one over-looks the I-10 freeway onto the marsh and grassland below, and shockingly discovers hundreds of cars like the ones above all neatly lined up, easily mistaken as a parking lot if they were not in the same maimed condition. Whether it was the rusted piles of deserted cars, the houses left untouched and filled with black mold, or the “widow maker” trees (called that for a reason if you happen to be beneath one when it falls from its precarious position), the physical devastation is still widespread today.

The emotional devastation is just as severe. We met people at the stores, at restaurants, in the neighborhood, and even on the plane whose tears are still fresh and emotions still resonate with pain. Everyone had a story to tell and they freely shared to a listening ear. Meet Fran, a believer and single mother and grandmother of a family of 9. Her roof was smashed in by falling trees. She and her family have been living in a two-bedroom apartment since the storm while her home is being repaired.

We met Fran on our last day there and we finished gutting the ceiling that needed replaced. However, more of the team’s time was spent listening to her share than accomplishing the tasks. Yet, she was so grateful for all that Compassion Ministries and our team has done for her, because she knows how difficult it would have been without the physical support and spiritual encouragement of all the volunteers. Fran’s faith and hope-filled statements of praise to God, was a reminder of James 2:5, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”.

Not every story is filled with the same hope. Since the storm, the suicide rate in New Orleans as increased dramatically. When people lose all they have and they do not have Jesus, what is there to live for? People have realized their vulnerability and lack of control and are thirsty for a drink that satisfies. At the end of the week, the team sat in reflection and all of us agreed that completing the task at hand, although needed, shadowed in importance to the conversations we had. We were able to demonstrate God’s love in our physical labor and in turn that opened the door to our conversations and God’s love being proclaimed and exulted.

On EVFree’s Compassion Ministries’ waiting list there are 300 (updated?) homes like Fran’s that are waiting to be gutted. NorthCreek is sending another team October… They are looking for individual workers who have a heart for service and compassion. Professional skills appreciated but not required.
· arborist
· carpenter
· cook
· counselor
· electrician
· flooring worker
· mechanic
· plumber
· roofer
· sheet rock hanger and/or taper
· tree climber

Will you go?

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Saints should...

I know nothing of meekness, for if I did would not it be lived?

Yes, the meek do not resent adversity because they accept everything as being the effect of God's wise and loving purpose for them, so that they accept injuries from men also, knowing that these are permitted by God for their ultimate good.- Bibliography. F. Hauck, S. Schulz

Lord, I entrust myself to you. You are my Father who is in Heaven, you cause your sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

I am far from righteousness and humility. The distance keeps His anger unveiled, yet I desire for nearness so to be hidden.

What I should be is never quarrelsome, kind to all, teachable, and patient when wronged. (2 Tim 2:24) that is if I would consider myself a bondservant of Christ's.

Hmm...

It is all HIS - everything I have and everything I am

I have experienced the power of encouragement to live out and follow the Holy Spirit's leading. As it comes in steps, may it come with a voracious intensity that would never cease- the conviction to follow His teaching on my soul. What is gain if it can't be given? What I have is His, is it not? Shall I hoard it as my own? -No! and may I confess my hesitation. May God get all the glory for every step of obedience, as this act is only VERY small and may it lead to so much more from me as I learn how to deny myself for Christ's sake.

With Christ we have overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that has overcome the world. May God's will be done. 1 john 5:5

Detrimental Blessing... if not cared for according to the directions.

Blessed I was in Africa. Kenya specifically. I had no wardrobe, no laptop, no loofah even. (I actually used a sock as a wash cloth).

Now, after reading the memoirs of a missionary that comes in monthly newsletter form, I am convicted of the contentment I have in my life as I look over my billowing down comforter of a double bed at the pile of clean clothes on my papazan chair (who I could dare say be parked there for at the least a week without need of owner's use) as I type from this piece of metal (plastic?) that is worth more than a dozen kids' living expenses for a year- housing, food, clothing, and school.

Money isn't everything. I'm sure you've heard that quote before. However, have you noticed it is a common slogan most people would profess to know, but don't live? I have noticed and I am one of them. When you have the monetary provision you tend not to see those who really need it. I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed. Yet this is not where I wanted to be.

Africa was both simple and wild and I quote the writer "The simple and wild parts of me feel at home here and I am drawn to a way of life that is unwrapped. It calms my raw American nerves and redefines the use of the word need. This life requires trust in the Creator of the earth for even the simplest needs.."

I knew someone whose life was challenged by way of living at a certain income. As raises came, the bonuses were only given away. He supported his wife and kids with a simple life that was more rich than the King of Versailles. What a challenge, yet what a life.

When your focus gets blurry.

When my focus gets blurry, it is usually because I have become nearsighted. I put on my glasses to read what is before me, but that disillusions my ability to see far and limits my awareness of hindsight because I am so intently focused on the immediate story before me.

Extravagent Devotion

Mary, with an alabaster vial of perfume, poured it over Jesus' head. Standbyers saw and scoffed and scolded her publically. The story is told to the world as provocation: This is the type of devotion that is required of us! It looks stupid to the world.

Extravagent Devotion is the evidence of the gospel's work in our life. Extravagent Love can not be concealed. It is expressed! Serving! Loving! Witnessing! It is the increasing experience of the converted.

How can I become more like Mary?

Conversion doesn't leave the conflict of sin. Before conversion there is no conflict because we are ignorant of our offense.

It was the day before I left on a plane to study in Taiwan for a semester; the day before the one that would be known as 9/11. It was September 10, 2001, mom and dad gave me an NIV pocket Bible and Oswald Chambers’, “My Utmost for His Highest”. Here it is Sunday, January 01, 2006.

I praise God for whose wing I have been covered by. He has kept me His when I have fought for my own will. I have seen His care and protection and many blessings. Today, the urging from OC is, “Let us keep to the point.” Philippians 1:20 “My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed, but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage.” It begins with an absolute and entire surrender of our will for His.

OC frankly states, that “God’s order has to work up to a crisis in our lives because we will not heed the gentler way. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him, and we begin to debate; then He produces a providential crisis where we have to decide- for or against, and from that point the ‘Great Divide’ begins.”

I choose you, Lord.