Smiling at the future

Shootings, floodings- All heartrending stories- particularly not knowing the status of all those souls. (Rev. 20:10; 2 Thes. 1, 2; Proverbs 31:25) Headings of local news and I could not help but laugh. Sounds insensitive to the pain and anguish of others, yet on contrary it is because I know that Satan has been defeated and it is only a matter of time before God’s glory is displayed for all eternity.

I pray that my feet will be firmly rooted in Him, that I would cling to Him, thus never wandering or running, but strengthened by abiding in Him, so as to face the things to come.

Idleness. No, but I said sick

She eats not the bread of idleness, v. 27

Savior, hear my humble cry.

“go home”, “take it easy”, “get some sleep”. All that I hear is not my excuse for idleness, as sickness seems to bring. The virtuous woman loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure… and has more true satisfaction in having given meat to her household and is not searching for praise- for Her own works will praise her.

A simple cold has shown my idleness.

The wallpaper of my life...

Isa 42:5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it, "I am the Lord and I have called you in righteousness, I will hold You by the hand and watch over You..."
Isa 43:7 ...Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory...

Hallowed be Your Name

Hallow : transitive verb
1 : to make holy or set apart for holy use
2 : to respect greatly : venerate
Holy: Adjective
1 : exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2 : divine
Venerate: transitive verb
1 : to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference
2 : to honor with a ritual act of devotion

Falling in love…

Am I falling in love? Is it true?

The consuming thoughts I can’t get away from,
Having my breath taken away by your love,
Do you really love me that much?
The way you have displayed your love- it consumes me.

I am unaware of the boundaries.
I am caught up with you.
I am desiring more- I want to be continually pursued until I am no more.

To think I’ve been blind. All these years.
You were there wooing me.
With the same intensity from the beginning,
Yet where was I looking?
What was I doing that distracted me?
Looking back over time, now I see.

You knew I was yours before I even knew your name.
You knew what I had to go through before I’d respond.
You have whispered in my ear and now I shout with joy!
I am yours and You are mine for all eternity.

…with my Savior

ENGAGE REV/O

From January 21-27, 2007, I attended Evangelical Free Church of America International Mission's (EFCAIM or soon to be known as ReachGlobal) Engage-Readiness Evaluation Event/Orientation. The purpose of ENGAGE is to glorify God by assessing, coaching, and integrating healthy individuals into healthy teams throughout ReachGlobal in order to multiply healthy churches among all people. All of us potential missionary candidates were evaluated on our cross-cultural, spiritual, emotional and relational health. We also received training in these areas. Nine candidates were accepted as workers with ReachGlobal. This was the 3rd Readiness Evaluation Event since starting the new missionary induction process a year ago. ReachGlobal holds three per year, with the next ones scheduled for May and September.

When I walk by the Spirit...

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Cor 12: 4-7

Called by God to live:

Hospitality
Knowledge
Evangelism

Defined:
Hospitality has the ability to meet the basic social needs of and to extend care to persons (strangers) beyond one's immediate circle of friends.
Knowledge has the capacity to cognitively comprehend the complexities of God's Truth and to explain these complexities to others.
Evangelism has the capacity to discern when and how the Gospel message should be communicated to persons outside the Christian community.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Gal 5: 22-25

You wove me in my mother’s womb

INFP Temperament - Idealist Healer

Introversion
Intuitive
Feeling
Perceiving

E/I differentiates between social styles. Introverts tend to draw energy from private, solitary activities. S/I differentiates between types of focus. Strongly intuitive folks seem more at home in the abstract, conceptual world of ideas. The T/F assesses how people govern themselves and make decisions. Strong Feelers can be more easily swayed by emotions and tend to be more sympathetic. J/P measures how people process information. People high in Perception like to keep their options open, gathering information and looking for opportunities and exploring possibilities.


Ps 139:13-16

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

StrengthsFinder

1. Adaptability- "go with the flow"/ "carpe diem"
2. Connectedness- reason and link between everything/ bridge builder
3. Ideation- ideas and connections woven together/ free thinker
4. Strategic- idea arranger/ask "what if"
5. Input- collector of ideas and information

4 of 5 are Thinking Strengths for working smarter (the first is Striving Strength for working harder)

Said another way:
1. enables me to respond willingly to the demands of the moment even if they pull me away from my plans... on some level, I actually look forward to them.
2. Everything happens for a reason or more succintly put: God is sovereign.
3. An idea is a new perspective and I actually receive a jolt of energy whenever a new idea occurs to me.
4. I see patterns in the clutter, questioning the next step and looking around the corner filtering through all the paths.
5. I am inquisitive and collector of facts. I acquire, compile, and file information because perhaps one day it will prove valuable!

Ah, but the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Ps 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Ps 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble. Ps 59:17 O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness. Ps 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Ps 147:5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

Biblical motivation to give

I Kings17:8-16
God told Elijah to go to a town where a woman would feed him during a time of famine. She was a Gentile woman who believed in Yahweh. She said she barely had enough for one meal for her son and her. Elijah asked her to feed him first and then herself and as she did so she would not run out of food during this drought. She then acted in faith and did what she was told. So, what do you think happened?! The Lord fulfilled his promise because of how she LIVED OUT her faith in her actions. What a call to TRUST and OBEY His Word and specifically to give FIRST to the Lord.

Malachi3:8-12
Malachi was addressing Israel’s rebellious spirit in specifically robbing God. They had turned away from faith and obedience in God. I find it interestingly that the Israelites claimed ignorance, “How have we robbed you?” They were either blind to their sin or denying their guilt of not giving their tithes and offerings. A reminder for me pointed out in James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all”. However, back to the point, failure to support God’s temple was robbing Him. God promised blessings to the Israelites when they obeyed His commands and curse if they did not.

Matthew6:19-21
Ahh, treasure… What is our treasure?! Where do I put my time, energy, skills, money? Where is my heart? Jesus calls us to store our treasures in heaven. Why? Everything on earth decays or is stolen or lost. Where as everything in heaven CAN NEVER be!. Where are you storing your treasure? Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there is your heart found. What do I love? What does God love? What do I need to change?

Luke 8:3;10:1-7
Here in scripture, many women were giving out of their own for the ministry of Jesus and his disciples. They witnessed the power of God and on their own accord of their own means, motivated by what Christ did for them; they acted out their thankfulness and belief in giving what they could. In chapter 10, Jesus sends out followers in twos to 1. pray for workers 2. warning it will be dangerous 3. travel lightly and with haste 4. stay in homes where they show hospitality for their provision of food and place to stay is wages for the followers work.

2Corinthians 8:1-15
Paul speaks of the generosity of the churches of Macedonia. They gave an over and beyond, were joyful in their hardship that was a result of the over generosity, not only gave, but had a desire to give so much so they “begged” to participate. WOW! How many times have I done that? They gave themselves to God first and then to them by God’s will. Paul encouraged them to continue on in the love they are demonstrating by reminding them of Christ’s demonstration. He became nothing that we could have everything.

I Timothy5:17, 18; 6:17-19
The elders, those who were in charge of overseeing the congregation, preaching and teaching, were worthy of wages for their work, even double wages. Paul was instructing those who had wealth not to fix their hope in it, but to put their hope in God and in so doing put them to good works, sharing generously. This is the way to store up treasures in heaven. For life is not made up of material possessions which can not be kept, but of Christ himself, which is eternal and can not be taken away.

3 John 1:5-8
John was commending their hospitality and particularly to the “traveling missionaries” for providing for them as worthy of God. Giving generously to them was as giving to Christ himself. They went out for the honor of Christ’s name and Christians are under obligation to support such “to work together for the truth”.

God receives glory and gives blessings to both the giver and receiver at their faith demonstrated in their obedience. The giver and receiver are also united in the body working together for the truth. My motivation to have others partner with me: I can’t do anything alone. I need God’s hand and the body of believers. I can ask others to give because they are like minded and understand (play in the same sandbox). It is understood that it is our calling to work together as a body, to generously provide for others needs for the purpose of Christ being proclaimed and glorified. People can give their time, monetarily, in prayer, with words of encouragement, and counsel.

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.

Thanksgiving... This is why I am thankful.

It breaks my heart... the pain in this world: the fatherless, the hungry, the hopeless, the castdown. Who is not searching for comfort from fear, anxiousness, and loneliness? Who does not want happiness?

But where do we go? Why do we spend money on what is not bread, and our wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Him, and eat what is good, let us delight ourselves in abundance. May we incline our ears and come to Him.

Listen to live. (Is 55:2-3a)

Do we not know? Have we not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Is 40:28-31)

Behold, His servant will prosper. He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at Israel, His people. So His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand. Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground, He has not stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him. Nor appearance that we be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And like one from whom men hide their gace. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. (Is 52:13-53:12)

The ultimate sacrifice, the undeserved gift; what else can come from me, but thanksgiving.

He is the father of the fatherless. He gives food for the hungry. He provides an eternal Hope and continual joy in all things. He is my Counselor. He gave me peace. He knows my every thought and is with me whereever I go.


Why would you say no?

-thursday, thanksgiving, thoughts from Montana...

with Sarah,





Tyler,











& Emily

a lack of hunger for God

The lack of hunger for God reflects a hunger for something in His sted. Be that as it may, but only an idol of the heart. If it is not God it is an idol. We are called to worship, delight, and seek but one.

In Him I shall take delight.